 Wednesday, October 31, 2007
NBA Picks. Happy Halloween!
It's that time of year again. The NBA tipped off last night and please find my picks below. The top three seeds are the respective division champions.
NBA Picks
Eastern Conference:
1. Boston
2. Chicago (If they are able to get Kobe without giving up too much, they can win it all.)
3. Washington
4. Detroit
5. Cleveland
6. Toronto
7. New Jersey
8. Orlando
Dark Horse: Milwaukee, Miami, and NY Knicks. If Shaq can hold the fort around .500 until DWade comes back in about a month, the Heat could make a playoff push.
Conference Champion: Boston Celtics.
Western Conference:
1. San Antonio
2. Phoenix
3. Utah
4. Dallas
5. Houston
6. Denver
7. Memphis
8. L.A. Lakers
Dark Horse: Golden State, New Orleans, Seattle. (I would have picked Portland but the loss of Greg Oden to knee surgery is too much to bear. The Trail Blazers will be fun to watch but lose too many close games.)
Conference Champion: San Antonio Spurs.
NBA Champion: Boston Celtics.
Bottom Line: Since I am not Boston fan, this hurts but the combination of hungry vets like KG, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce PLUS a relatively easy but improving Eastern Conference (compared to the hard as nails Western Conference.) Believe me, if these guys played on any other team, I would root for them but I can't. It's bad enough that the Red Sox won the World Series, but the Patriots are poised to run the table to a perfect 19-0 season if they win this weekend at Indianapolis. Boston College is #2 in the BCS. This is my perfect sports storm nightmare. I think we all need to repent as the Sports Apocalypse could be soon spread to the four corners of the sports world. Please send your prayers and positive thoughts and energy to all Boston based team opponents. Many thanks in advance.
Sincerely,
The Tank
Happy Halloween!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Red Sox Decade
I've seen this movie before. Patient hitters running up the pitch count and not swinging at bad pitches. Every at-bat a mini war. Small ball. No reliance on home runs for most of the offence, but can kill you with the long ball at any time. Then combine that with a solid rotation and great bullpen. Good combination of home grown talent and veterans. That was the Yankees in the 90s. This is the Red Sox of the 2000s.
The Yankees owned the 90s. They won 4 World Series in the 90s. (The year 2000 technically is the last year of the 90s and it is fitting that was the last time the Yankees won the World Series.) The touch has passed. Looks like it is turning out to be the decade of the Red Sox. After losing out to the Yankees in the ALCS in 2003, the Red Sox have won two World Series this decade (and the Yankees none.)
While this may piss off a lot of Yankee fans, the Tank included, Yankee fans have to accept reality. (Mets fans too.) Boston has the magic combination to sustain future championships: youth, pitching, hitting, and a dedicated ownership. While the Yankees try to buy championships, the Red Sox went out and earned two this decade. The Red Sox of the 2000s remind me of the Yankees of the 90s. Baseball watch out, this may just be the beginning.
Posted by Steve in New York
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Rockies on The Ledge
The Red Sox have taken a commanding 3-0 game lead in the World Series, making them look like the next champs. Colorado has a very large hole to try to pry itself out of. This plays into the Tank's theory that the Rockies were cold waiting 9 days to play the World Series after winning the NLCS.
After two years in a row of teams that were on a roll stalling in the Fall Classic since they had to wait, maybe MLB will finally change the dates around of the playoff schedule.
Part of me wants the Red Sox to win, mostly to enhance the Yankees' Rivalry. If the Sox win, it is the Red Sox that have won more World Series this decade than the Yankees. As much as the Yankees hate to admit it, it is good for the rivalry. Before the recent Red Sox revival, it was just the Yankees always winning, not much of a rivalry.
Posted by Steve in New York.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
NFL Week #8 Picks
Last Week: I was 2-1 in last week's picks and 8-4 on the season.
This Week's Fearless Picks:
Barring jet lag and a bad batch of fish and chips, the Giants will destroy the winless Dolphins in London.
The Jets beat the Bills in a close game at the Meadowlands. Is it Chad Pennington's last game as a starter? Will Kellen Clemens relieve him part way through the game?
Posted by the Tank in NY.
Friday, October 26, 2007
College Football Week #8 Picks
Last Week: I was 4-0, touch wood. I am 18-8 on the season.
This week's fearless picks:
#1 Ohio State wins at #25 Penn State.
#4 Arizona State beats #21 California.
#8 USC wins at #5 Oregon in a barnburner.
#10 South Florida wins at #23 Connecticut.
#11 Florida beats #18 Georgia at Jacksonville.
Local Teams:
Sorry Kathleen, #6 West Virginia wins at Rutgers.
Syracuse has a bye this week.
Posted by the Tank in NY.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Too Much Rest?
Last week on Steve and the Tank, Steve argued that rest is a good thing and the Tank said that too much rest will cool off a team. Well, the Rockies clinched the NLCS via a sweep, following a sweep in the NLDS after winning like 15 out of 16 games at the end of the season. To say they were hot was an understatement. But they had to wait 9 days to play the Red Sox. The Red Sox got hot at the end of the ALCS and are going into the World Series on a roll. The Red Sox won last night 13-1, giving evidence, like Detroit last year, that winning the LCS too early can be a liability, not an asset. MLB needs to revamp the schedules so if a team sweeps the LCS they are not waiting around 9 days to play their next game. Posted by Steve in New York
Rudy Guiliani Must Hand Over His Primo Tickets and Fan-In-Chief Title to the Tank
I was shocked and dismayed to learn that former NYC Mayor Rudy Guiliani said that he would root for the Red Sox in the World Series while campaigning in Massachusetts.
I understand that he is from an older generation who are loyal to their respective leagues. I remember Linda telling me that her Mom roots for the National League team in the World Series even if it isn't the Mets. For instance, after the Mets lost to the hated Braves in the 1999 NLCS, she rooted for those very same Braves who were thankfully swept by the Yankees. (Full Disclosure: I was at Game 4 of the Sweep.)
Even if you have a gun to your head, a Yankees fan can't root for the Red Sox. (The only possible exception of Ronjon. Happy Birthday Ronjon!)
As for Mayor Guiliani, he lost many friends (and possibly votes) in NY and elsewhere. There are many Yankees fans in swing states like New Jersey and Florida. We'll see what affect that has next year.
Contrast Mayor Guiliani with his possible general election opponent, Senator Hillary Clinton. Senator Clinton claims to be a "Yankees fan" but grew up a Cubs fan.
Finally, current NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg may run as an independent in 2008 for President. He grew up a Red Sox fan and has diplomatically eluded the issue.
These politicians need to get with the program and be with the people.
Bottom Line: The USA and NYC are doomed unless you vote SteveAndTheTank.com as your presidential ticket. Steve is 35 and I am 37 so we are constitutional eligible to be Vice President and President, respectively. I ask for and hope to have your support. Go Rockies!
Posted by the Tank on the road to the White House.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
World Series Predictions
Tonight the World Series kicks off and most analysts are predicting the Red Sox. Of the 10 ESPN analysts predictions, only 2 are going for the Rockies. There are many reasons to choose either way so I am going to stake my ground with the Rockies: Rockies 4- Red Sox 2. It will be fun seeing the Rockies light up Dice-K. Some bad news for the Red Sox, 17 game winner Tim Wakefield is being left off World Series roster due to shoulder issues. Posted By Steve in New York
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
What about the Red Sox? The Rockies? The Mets?
The back page has been dominated by the Yankees in the last 10 days. The headline the other day: "Steinbrenner picks his nose, by the way, the Red Sox force Game 7." Do the Yankees do this on purpose? I actually think that to some degree they do, but for the most part it is just that their season is over and it is time to make some moves. (Mets fans usually hate when the Yankees do this but they are happy to have the attention focus on the Yankees problems since misery loves company.) To contribute to the media feeding frenzy, S&TT will contribute some more fodder: Joe Girardi has been interviewed, spending 6 hours yesterday in Tampa. Don Mattingly is to be interviewed today, and Tony Pena (because you always need to interview at least 3) is up tomorrow. Expect fast movement on this issue, before the end of the World Series so they can negotiate with their 3 big free agents: ARod, Posada, and Riveria. Make no mistake, the Yankees will be a different team next year, a new manager, a new pitching coach, and there is a good chance that they will lose 1 of the three players to free agency. (My money is that ARod will jump ship.) The first days after World Series + 10 will be fun to watch, maybe even more exciting than parts of the actual season. Posted by Steve in New York.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Why are we waiting 3 days for the World Series?
Last night the Boston Red Sox routed Cleveland to take Game 7 and go to their second World Series in the last 4 years. A week ago tonight the Colorado Rockies cliched a four game sweep and have been waiting. Why do we have to wait until Wednesday for the World Series to start, three days after Boston wins and eight days after Colorado? If the Fall Classic goes into seven games, it will end on November 1st. November? Sure Derrik Jeter is "Mr. November" for his home run after midnight on 10/31/01, but we had baseball in November only after 9/11 when we had a week of the regular season delayed, and the last two games of that series were played in Arizona. There is too much time between the Division Series and the League Championship Series and thus the World Series. There should be only 1 day between the end of the Division Series and the League Championship Series and only 1 day between the LCS and the World Series, and have less days in-between the games during the series, only 1 day off after game 2 and 1 day off after game 5 should be allowed. This series with the Red Sox and Indians seemed to drag on forever. For example, the Indians went 4 games in the ALDS to defeat the Yankees and still had to wait 4 days to play the Red Sox, who had to wait 5 days after sweeping the Angles. The Rockies and Arizona both had to wait 5 days after sweeping their respective teams in the NLDS. Even without a sweep, they would have had to wait too many days. There have been arguments in some quarters that the Rockies are now cold and stale since they have had 8 days off. I am not so sure that I buy that, after 162 regular season games, the 1 day playoff, the NLDS and the NLCS, a few days off is great, and the extended days off can be used very wisely by the coaches with simulated games, batting practice, etc. We'll see, if the red-hot Rockies go down fast like the hot Tigers did last year, maybe MLB will start to listen to our complaints. Posted By Steve in New York
Sunday, October 21, 2007
The End of the Torre Era
My friend and former colleague weighed in on the Yankees' past, present, and future in the following post. Thanks and take it away Otto!
Well, my Friends!
All good things have to come to an end. But let's face it the Yankees are a team in transition whether Torre stayed or not. This is a team that has serious issues that need resolution. They can be competitive and they can make the playoffs but it is highly unlikely that they can advance to the world series and win it. Consider for a moment the 1998-2000 Yankees (I know it's not fair to compare any team to that team but it will illustrate a point). Every player in that lineup and you know them well: Girardi, Martinez, Knoblauch, Jeter, Brosius, Curtis, Spencer, Williams, O'Neil, Davis and Justice could hit, field and run the bases intelligently. Today I see a lineup that top to bottom has defects. I'm not asking for 9 DiMaggios but the late 90s squad did everything right - not spectacular but right. In short they played fundamentally sound baseball which I have not seen from this team since 2001. Consider:
Catcher: Posada - great year but definitely aging, can't run bases at all and can't catch up to hard fast balls especially late in the year.
1st Base: Mientkiewicz - great fielding can't hit for average or power but good bunter. Giambi - steroids, injury, no fielding and I'm being generous.
2nd Base: Cano - great hitter but God almighty has there ever been a 2nd baseman who "just misses" ground balls like this guy. Am I the only one who noticed this. His range seems to be good enough to just miss balls. On top of that he makes many errors and sometimes plays too nonchalantly.
SS: Jeter: great hitter - but let's face it ZERO range at shortstop, especially to his left and since 2002 his playoff performances have left a lot to be desired.
3B: A-Rod - no point in discussing - the stat machine is a head case in October. Maybe leaving NY is best for him.
OF: - Matsui: solid hitter and fielder, Cabrera: good field - no hitting, Abreu patient at the plate, good arm but slow in the field and virtually no power from a power position and Damon - solid but aging.
And I did not address patient hitting (taking balls and swinging at strikes). Not swinging at every pitch may have been a death-penalty offense where Cano and Cabrera are from and Jeter strikes out way too much for a 2 or 3 hitter.
The Yankees have a lot to address and the most serious has to be defense up the middle. I wonder if Jeter is at the beginning of the end of his time at SS. If his range decreases any more it's something that has to be considered. Cano may simply be too big to be a second baseman. His "just misses" may be a product of being unable to get down fast enough for some of these hot grounders. But the Yankees are building for the future with one of the finest crops of young pitchers I have ever seen: Hughes, Joba, Kennedy and other in the minors. And if they are building on pitching then they need defense, especially up the middle. They need to get better defense and they need consistent hitters who don't get streaky. I'd rather have a consistent .280 25 HR hitter than a streaky .320 54 HR hitter (anyone we know?). And now there is the question of Mariano. Do we keep him? Who do we have who could close? The Yanks have some work to do so let's hope for the best.
Otto
Written by Otto and Posted by the Tank in NY.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
NFL Week #7 Picks
Last Week: I was 1-1 in my picks last week and 6-3 on the season. The darn Jets didn't come through. Chad Pennington's days as starting quarterback are numbered.
This Week's Fearless Picks:
The Giants beat San Francisco at home.
The Jets lose a close game at the Bengals. This maybe the last game that Chad Pennington starts.
The Bills lose a tough game at home to the Ravens. Look for the defense to key on ungrateful star running back Willis McGahee. After McGahee's near career ending knee injury a few years ago in the BCS Title Game against Ohio State, Buffalo was the only place to give him a chance and drafted him a few months later. Whatever his issues with management, McGahee should have kept his thoughts about
Buffalo to himself.
The Bills odds maybe helped by Ray Lewis who is a game time decision. Look for an interesting beginning from rookie QB Trent Edwards played well against the Cowboys (as I was at Game 4 of the Yankees-Indians series). The J.P. Losman era as starting quarterback may come to a close like Chad Pennington's.
Most importantly, injured Bills TE Kevin Everett wrote a very touching thank you note detailing his first steps with the assistance of a walker. No, thank you Kevin for inspiring us all. Best wishes on a full recovery. Keep the faith and God Bless!
Posted by an emotional Tank in NY.
Friday, October 19, 2007
College Football Week #8 Picks
Last Week's Review: I was 2-1 last week and now 14-8 on the season. LSU should have won at Kentucky in regulation. I knew it would be a tough game in Lexington. College sports are magical and unpredictable, especially given a large home crowd which urged Kentucky unto victory.
This Week's Picks:
National:
#15 Florida wins at #7 Kentucky. Kentucky is due for a let down after beating LSU last week. More importantly, it's a tough time for the Gator program after a recent tragic motorcycle accident took two young lives, a walk-on defensive back and the girlfriend of the freshman quarterback. May their memories be eternal.
#16 Missouri beats #24 Texas Tech at home.
#4 LSU bounces back and beats #17 Auburn at home.
Local:
My alma mater Buffalo loses at my boyhood team Syracuse.
Posted by the Tank in NY.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Joe Torre and the Yankees Part Ways
I received an e-mail alert from the Yankees a short time ago stating that Joe Torre turned down a one year, $5 million offer to manage in 2008. One million dollar bonuses would be paid for each round of the playoffs that the Yankees made. Therefore, he would receive $8 million if the Yankees made the World Series in 2008 and the contract would be vested for 2009.
Most everyone expected the Yankees to give Torre a yes or no. However, this contract offer appears to be a compromise and reflects the in-fighting amongst the different Yankee factions. Who really runs the Yankees? The Boss? His sons Hank and Hal? That information will probably be declassified in 30 or so years.
I don't blame Joe for turning the offer down. Too much grief. As I said long ago, 2007 would be the last year with the Yankees win, lose, or draw. It's sad that it ended short of the Promised Land. I wish Joe a happy and enjoyable retirement and I look forward to seeing him inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in a few years.
I hope the Yankees find the right manager -- be it Don Mattingly, Joe Girardi, Tony Pena, Larry Bowa, or someone outside of the Yankee Family like Tony La Russa.
Once the 2008 manager issue is finalized, that will really start the free agent merry-go-round as certain players will relate better to Mattingly, Girardi, or whoever. Buckle up for even more fireworks. It's going to be a really warm hot stove season. Keep the faith. Go Yankees!
Posted by a saddened Tank in NY.
Tick..Tock
The clock is ticking for the Yankees and Joe Torre. RUMOR: The rumor is that the group deciding the fate of Joe is meeting today via conference call and then will give the Boss their recommendation and the final decision can come today. The rumors are that they are deciding between a 2 year deal for Joe, a 1 year deal for Joe or cutting him lose in favor of Don Mattingly. Posted by Steve in Rumorville
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Not looking good for Joe Torre
In our Podcast yesterday the Tank indicated that the length of time we wait for the decision by the Boss on Joe Torre's fate, most likely the better. I agreed with the Tank at the time, but now it is Wednesday and still no word yet. If the Yankees wanted to bring Joe back they would have made a quick announcement, like Omar did about Willie. That is the best way to do it, come right out and make the statement. The longer they wait, the more they are taking time to do damage control, PR spin, etc. The longer they wait the more damage they do since more speculation blogs like this one go up drawing attention to the action and making it a media event. Prediction: The Yankees let Joe go. Posted by Steve in New York
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Ladies and Gentlemen Your 2007 World Champion Colorado Rockies....
Last night playing in the relentless rain at Coors Field the Rockies won their ninth consecutive game, their 20th in 21 and are on the verge of a sweep of the Diamondbacks in the NLCS. Is there anyone who can stop them? No, order their World Series rings now. Sure they have to finish off the Diamondbacks and then face the ALCS champion Red Sox or Indians, but they are firing on all cylinders and will most likely clinch tonight and then have the rest of the week to take batting practice and wait for the outcome of the ALCS. The same thing happened last year, the Tigers were hot, blew past two opponents and then had to wait a week to face either the Mets or Cardinals. The Cardinals had a 7 game war with the Mets that went to the bottom of the 9th with bases loaded, but came back and beat the Tigers quickly. Some say that it is better to have the time off (Steve) and some say it is better to be hot and roll right in (The Tank.) Will history repeat itself? Steve has his money on the Rockies. (And by strange coincidence he will be in Denver tomorrow on business, maybe he can join the party for winning the NLCS.) Posted by Steve in New York.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Saturday, October 13, 2007
NFL Week #6 Picks
I was 2-0 in last week's picks thanks to Dallas' late comeback. I am 5-2 on the season.
This week's fearless picks:
The Jets beat the Eagles in a must win at the Meadowlands.
The Giants beat the Falcons on a tough Monday night game in Atlanta.
The Bills have a bye this week.
Posted by the Tank in NY.
Friday, October 12, 2007
College Football, Alcohol, and the Tank Help Crime Scene Survivors and Witnesses Cope
JH and I hung out on the Upper East Side this past Saturday to watch college football, especially my game of the year nominee, #9 Florida at #1 LSU. While JH rooted for Florida, I rooted for LSU because I picked them. I couldn't help but notice eight young male professionals sitting to my right who were rooting for Team Alcohol. These guys drank everything -- beer, shots, you name it. They really didn't care who was winning and thoroughly enjoyed my sports commentary, especially my replay commentary of Stanford's successful 4th and goal conference to beat USC. (USC was 41 point favorite, at home, and Stanford's starting quarterback was injured. What the heck? But that what is great about college football.. So who am I to argue?
On various tables, there were sheets of paper which read Florida, LSU, Clemson, etc. But their's read "The Four Knives Club". Were they a college fraternity? Were they a secret society like Skull and Bones? I didn't say it out of respect to the Florida fans at the table to my left. The Florida fans must have been ridiculed after a young student was recently tazed for asking John Kerry about his membership in Skull and Bones. ("Don't taze me bro!" the young student pleaded as the campus police were tazing him.) No, they but a group who called themselves the Four Knives Club as they had witnessed and thankfully survived a knife wielding maniac who stabbed two people with four knives the night before at the Gemini Diner on the East side.
We often get too caught up in life about which team we root for. For the Four Knives Club, living to live and enjoy another day is the most important game of all.
Last Week's Picks Recap: The Tank was 6-2 last week to bring my season record up to 12-7.
This Week's Fearless Picks:
Rutgers beats Syracuse in the Carrier Dome.
#1 LSU wins at #17 Kentucky.
#6 Oklahoma beats #11 Missouri at home.
Posted by a grateful Tank reporting Live from the Upper East Side in NY.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Confessions of a Mets fan
Last Sunday when the Mets blew it I was close to 5,000 miles and 7 times zones away and many of my friends thought that I had jumped off the ledge. The truth is that I already knew they were going to blow it and was not all that mad. Mets fans were out for blood and in "shock" last Sunday and I was not. I was prepared for the collapse when I saw it was inevitable around Wednesday of the week before-and the warning signs were there a week before that. Not many Mets fans will admit this, but the implosion is just part of being a Mets fan. While I wanted to win, we have a history of losing and are use to it. I was not happy. Since I was prepared for the collapse it was not a shock, but it still hurt. I looked at the final standing and seeing Philly in first place while not really earning it, but benefiting from the Mets demise, poured salt into the wound. That said, seeing the Phillies lose in 3 straight games made the pain easier. Seeing the Yankees lose in 4 games and the turmoil it has caused made the pain easier. Watching the Phillies lose and taking joy from that is because they represent the chance the Mets could have had and watching them celebrate the NL East was not fun. So that made me happy. It shouldn't, but it does. Watching the Yanks lose did not make me happy insofar as the lose, but the aftermath of the loss takes the focus off the Mets and hey, misery loves company, all of NY is just plain pissed. So we are in it together. Now that the New York teams are playing golf, Steve and the Tank will cover the playoffs without a New York spin. We'll cover hot stove and the A-Rod decision and play the role of blogger GM. Sometimes the real fun is the winter trades and free agent signings, this year promises to be one where the Mets should spend like crazy for bullpen and pitching and the Yankees, well are the Yankees, expect them to run up the national debt for some sluggers and old pitchers. Posted by Steve in New York PS Steve also hopes that the Tank is more realistic next year and stops picking the Yankees over the Mets in the World Series in 7. (We all know the real prediction should be Mets over Yankees in 7.)
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Don't Fire Joe Torre
All signs are leading that the Yankees will fire 12 year manager Joe Torre. Never mind that he has delivered 12 years in a row of post season play, 10 division titles, 6 world series appearances and 4 championships. The last three years the Yankees exited in the first round, and four years ago was the collapse against Boston. Yesterday GM Brian Cashman admitted, "I'm sick of losing." Hinting that this might be the busiest off-season of the last decade, with multiple free agent signing/departures on the horizon. This is exactly what the problem of the Yankees is. In years past the Yankees were about pitching and small ball. This won them 3 championships in a row and 3 in 5 years. They did this with quality pitching and small ball-nobody on the Yankees hit over 30 home runs in those years. Ever since they signed Jason Giambi and went the route of the long ball, things changed. They started failing in the post season. Good pitching shuts down good hitting and anything can happen in a best of 5 series. You witnessed it the last 3 years in a row. This is not Joe's fault. He has done the best with the team he has. We are judging him by the team performance in the post season. Sure there has not been a championship in 7 years. But each of those last 7 years Joe has managed well and gotten the team to the playoffs. Thats more than any other team can say, no other team has made the playoffs 12 years in a row. (Actually the Yankees are 13, but we are only looking at Joe.) Keep Joe Torre at least another year until Don Mattingly is ready. Posted by Steve in New York.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Is it Joe Torre's Last Walk to the Dugout?
As I entered Yankee Stadium, Reggie Jackson threw out the ceremonial first pitch on the 30th Anniversary of his three home run game against the Dodgers.
Instead of pitching Mike Mussina, Joe Torre went with Ching-Ming Wang on three days rest. Wang hasn't been good on three days rest but you have to be a riverboat gambler. Grady Sizemore hits a lead off home run after throwing initial strike. Cabrera grounds out to Mientkiewicz. Hafner grounds down the third baseline where A-Rod wasn't because of the shift. Martinez grounds out to Wang but Hafner advances to second on the force. Peralta singles to shallow center to score Hafner. Lofton grounds out to Wang to end the top of the first.
At the end of a half, Indians 2 - Yankees 0.
How will the Yankees answer the bell against Indians starter Paul Byrd?
Johnny Damon comes up to loud applause but grounds out to short. Jeter is hitting .083 in the ALDS and due to breakout, God Willing. The Captain delivers on the first pitch with a single to right thank God! Jeter doesn't steal often but has speed and steals in crucial situations. Abreu singles to the almost the same spot in right. My buddy A-Rod comes up to bat to the chant of "MVP! MVP!". Will he repeat Reggie three home run night 30 years earlier? It's unlikely, but that's why they play the game. A-Rod strikes out. Darn it! Posada is only 1 for 10 coming into tonight. Posada hits it to left but Lofton makes a great diving catch. Darn it! At the end of the first, Indians 2 - Yankees 0.
Gutierrez singles to center. Jerry DiMaggio is getting surgery at Sloan-Kettering according to the radio broadcast. Good luck Jerry! (Speaking of Sloan-Kettering, please sponsor me in the run against cancer in the NYC Marathon through my Sloan-Kettering Home Page and Donate links.) Blake singles past Jeter to left. Mussina is up warming up to pitch to Shoppach. Shoppach walks down first as was hit-by-pitch. But, was he hit by the pitch? All six umpires confer and decide that the original call was right. The Indians have bases loaded with no one out and Sizemore coming to the plate. That's it for Wang. Here comes for Mussina. Let's see what the veteran has. Can he stop the bleeding? Will this be like his 2003 ALCS relief appearance against the Red Sox? One can only hope.
Moose chants ring throughout the Stadium. Sizemore grounds out into a 4-6-3 double play. Gutierrez scores to make it 3-0. Cabrera singles in Blake on what should have been strike three on 1-2 and the Indians take a 4-0 lead. Hafner walks. Martinez is Paul Byrd's personal catcher. Garko is available off the bench. Martinez grounds out to Cano. At the end of an inning and a half, Indians 4 - Yankees 0.
Matsui leads off in the second. There is an argument at home plate. Did the catcher's mitt hit Matsui's bat? No, after argument from Joe Torre. Byrd was winding up and then Matsui calls time. The replay according to the radio broadcast proves Joe right but the Yankees didn't get the call. Matsui works out a walk after being down 0-2. I'll say it once, I'll say it again, you have to take pitches, especially against a location pitcher like Byrd. If he's off just a bit, you can get in his head. Cano singles to center. Melky Cabrera pops out to Blake. Mientkiewicz should bunt. We'll see if he does. Mientkiewicz fouls several pitches which is in my sayings "Increase the pitch count, increase the peace.". Mientkiewicz works out a bunt. Damon pops up to the left field line. Jeter hits the ball to Blake who keeps the ball in the infield. The Captain comes through again. Abreu pops out to center. At the end of two, Indians 4 - Yankees 1.
Can Moose stop the bleeding? Peralta leads off and walks after the 2-2 pitch was close. Lofton pops up to Melky Cabrera. Gutierrez strikes out looking. Sweet as "Moose" chants echo throughout the Stadium. Blake strikes out swinging.
Clips from the new classic "300" are displayed on the Jumbotron in right center field. Will the Yankees "stand and fight?"
A-Rod leads off the third. He can't swing a long golf swing to hit a five run home run. Just get on base. A-Rod strikes out looking on a pitch that appeared to be outside. Posada hits a double to the right field wall. "Hit Hit Jorge!". Matsui grounds out to first but Posada advances to third. Cano pops out to near the Warning Track in center. At the end of three, Indians 4 - Yankees 1.
Shoppach hits a ground rule double to lead off the fourth. Sizemore tries to bunt but stops trying after two strikes. Sizemore works a full count and walks. Asdrubal Cabrera tries to bunt. Asdrubal bunt was perfect down the third baseline. Moose throws to Mientkiewicz. Hafner is intentionally walked to load the bases. Martinez singles to left which scores two. Peralta grounds out to A-Rod who touches third and throws to first to get the double play and end the inning. At the end of three and a half, Indians 6 - Yankees 1.
Cabrera singles to lead off the Yankee fourth. Mientkiewicz bloops out to Peralta in deep, deep short. Damon pops up to right. Jeter lines out to Blake. At the end of four, Indians 6 - Yankees 1.
Hafner flies out to Cabrera to start the fifth. Gutierrez flies out deep to Cabrera. Blake strikes out looking. Great job Moose!
It's time for the "Will you marry me?" and Happy Birthday features in between innings. No need to panic ladies, the Tank is still available.  There were no proposals but a very touching thank you to a police officer for saving "Jeff's life." We often forget about the real heroes are in society and focus too much on those the playing field.
Abreu grounded out to first. A-Rod shortens his swing like I advised and singled to left. Posada lines out to second. Matsui flies out on the first pitch to shallow left. Darn it. At the end of five, Indians 6 - Yankees 1.
Moose comes out for the start of the sixth. Shoppach leads off the sixth as Jose Veras warms in the Yankee bullpen. Shoppach flies out to right. Sizemore grounds out to Mientkiewicz who threw high to Moose. Moose jumped and landed but the runner was called safe as boos ring out. John and Suzyn report that Sizemore is out. (This is another call that didn't go the Yankees way.) Asdrubal Cabrera flies out to Melky Cabrera. Joe comes to get the ball from Moose. He gave up two runs in 4.2 innings. Not great, but solid. Ron Villone is a last minute roster replacement for Clemens who can't pitch until the World Series if the Yankees make it. As in 3:30 pm Monday afternoon. A fan near me asks what the NFL score is and they are amazed that I have two Blackberries (to cover all the sports action for you). Bills 17 - Cowboys 10. Hafner flies out to Damon to end the top of the sixth.
Cano hits a solo shot to my right to lead off the sixth. Indians 6 - Yankees 2. That's it for Byrd. As the Indians go to their bullpen, the Jumbotron shows the "Rocky" theme.
Mayors Guiliani and Bloomberg get a mix of cheers and boos while Tino Martinez gets deafening cheers.
Cabrera steps to the plate while the "Let's Go Yankees" chant echoes around the Stadium. Perez is the Indians relief pitcher. Melky grounds out to Blake who spun around. Shelley Duncan comes in for Mientkiewicz. Almost everyone is standing except two guys in front of me. Shelley hits past the diving second baseman. Johnny Damon steps to the plate as the crowd chants his name. Johnny Be Good singles past the first baseman as Shelley Duncan sprints to third. Even the two two guys in front of me stand up as Jeter comes to the plate. The Indians bullpen has yet to give up a run. No time like the present as Perez throws another first pitch ball to Jeter. Jeter takes a strike on a 2-0 pitch. Jeter hits into an inning ending double play. Ouch! That hurts. At the end of six, Indians 6 - Yankees 1.
Farnsworth starts the top of the seventh. Martinez strikes out swinging. Peralta singles to left. Lofton fouls off a few pitches and flies out to Melky Cabrera. Gutierrez strikes out looking. Good job Farnsworth!
Get up and stretch! Roland Rynan sings sings "God Bless America." Well done Roland! He pumps his fist as he goes back to the stands.
Abreu struck out to start the seventh. A-Rod hits a foul ball a few sections from me. He then hits an A-Bomb to the Monuments. Wooo!!!!! My buddy A-Rod comes through. Indians 6 - Yankees 3. "Hip Hip Jorge" chants echo throughout but he grounds out to third for the second out. The Indians keep Perez in to face Matsui and Cabrera. Matsui walks. What a professional hitter! Cano grounds out to first. At the end of seven, Indians 6 - Yankees 3.
San Diego Rich checks in between innings. He asks if I caught the ball near the Monuments because it looked liked me on TV but unfortunately not.
Veras starts the top of the eighth against Blake and strikes him out looking. Shoppach doubles to Death Valley. It almost went out. Joe Torre comes in to talk to Veras. The Indians must be held here. Torre returns to the dugout as the fans chant his name. Sizemore is intentionally walked and then Joe pulls Veras to bring in Mariano. Is this Joe Torre's last walk to the dugout?
Cabrera grounds out to Cano who throws to Jeter for the force at second. Hafner grounds out to the Captain who gets the ball just in time to Shelley Duncan.
Cabrera faces Betancourt, the latest Cleveland reliever, and grounds out to short. The Giambino should hit a pool shot down the third baseline. Giambi strikes out swinging. Johnny Damon hits a foul ball which goes a section above me and then falls two sections over. Damon strikes out swinging to end the eighth. Indians 6 - Yankees 3.
In between innings, many fans start making their way to the exits, even a few Bleacher Creatures. Not the Tank. "Winners never quit and quitters never win.". A video montage of Tino Martinez get rousing applause again.
Victor Martinez leads off the ninth and singles to center. Peralta singles to right. Lofton grounds out to short to get the force at second for the first out. Gutierrez strikes out swinging. The fans in the section to my right start to jeer one of their own. Blake hits a ball deep to Death Valley but catches it at the warning track. Whoa!
Borowski lead the AL in saves with 45. Let's hope he returns to his April form where A-Rod hit a walk off home run.
Can Jeter, Abreu, and A-Rod repeat past heroics shown on the Jumbotron?
Father Alex e-mails me about the Bills. I ask him to pray for the Yankees. Jeter pops out to second. Abreu hit a solo shot above me. Woooo!!!!! Indians 6 - Yankees 4. Not dead yet.
A-Rod is 2 for 4 including a solo home run coming into this at bat. A-Rod takes a couple of close pitches as the "MVP" chant rings out. A-Rod flies out to right. Posada is .143 in the series and 1 for 4 coming to this at bat. Posada hits a ball that almost went out but went foul one section over from me. OMG! I almost get complete foul ball closure but Posada strikes out swinging. The Indians win the game 6-4 and the ALDS 3 games to 1.
Bottom Line: Given the bugs in Game 2 and at least three major calls going against the Yankees in Game 4, I tip my hat to the Indians who played well and wish them luck against the Red Sox.
When most gave up on the Yankees this season, the Tank did NOT. In the Yankees Comeback Blueprint on July 12, I predicted the exact number of wins regular season wins, 94. Yes, we failed in not winning the World Series and there will be many changes probably starting with Joe Torre. However, this was Joe's best managing job being a lightning rod absorbing criticism from the Boss on down. Many people call for firing Torre. I do not because his contract expires at the end of the month. I think Joe should walk into the sunset. He is 67 with a young family and it's not worth the abuse from the Boss and the fans. Bring in Giardi, Mattingly, or go to outside the organization for Tony LaRussa.
Furthermore, you can't rebuild overnight nor take a couple of years off like the Indians did earlier this decade. I remember former GM John Hart telling fans that they are developing young talent and asking their fans to be patient. I had a chance to see some games of their AAA affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons, in the 1990s and it is some of the best attended games in the minors and they develop their talent. It worked for them but it's a much different media market and overall culture than impatient gotta have it yesterday New York.
The Yankees also got younger and better this season. Yes, Roger Clemens was a very expensive band-aid but the lessons learned by young pitchers like Chamberlain, Hughes, and others will be reaped for the next decade or so.
The next step is for the Yankees to lighten up the payroll. Carl *#@! Pavano's $10 million a season deal ends at the end of 2008. The Yankees should get a refund for the past three seasons and I should get a date with his ex-girlfriend. Giambi's, Farnsworth's, Mussina's (option for 2009), and other mega contracts contract end in the next year. Use that money to go after good young and proven free agents and not have to pay luxury tax to ungrateful teams like Tampa and Florida.
If you can't be excited by a young core of pitchers like Wang, Hughes, Kennedy, Chamberlain (who should be a reliever not a starter), and others in 2008 and beyond, I can't help you because you have more issues than me. Combine other young players like Cano, Cabrera, Duncan, etc. with veterans like Jeter and Damon. Posada and Rivera will almost re-sign with 100 percent certainty (God Willing), Matsui about 75 percent, A-Rod 60 percent, and Abreu is above 50 percent because his second half surge and ninth inning home run last night. I like Betemit and Molina as solid backups.
Posted by a grieving but optimistic Tank reporting Live from Yankee Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.
Monday, October 08, 2007
The Rocket's Last Stand?
I went to a familiar place, Yankee Stadium, but sat in an unfamiliar spot, the right field loge. This is one of the few corners of the Stadium I have never sat in before. I miss my Bleacher Creature brethren and my seats which have a better view. Plus, I have a blind spot of the right field porch below me.
Coming into the game, I liked the Yankees chances. Of course, the Yankees should have won on Friday to get the split in Cleveland. However, it didn't go our way. Before global warming the Indians used to be known as June Bugs, now they are known the October Bugs.
I liked the Yankees chances because of the pitching matchups. Westbrook has a 12 ERA against the Yankees this season and the Yankees have Rocket with Hughes, Mussina, and a cast of many from the bullpen. If there is a Game 4, I like Wang over Byrd. That would setup Pettitte versus Sabbathia in Game 5. I'll roll the dice with anyone on that one.
Infield single by Cabrera scored the first Indians run. The Yankees went down in order so the Indians lead 1-0 at the end of the first inning.
I knew the Indians are going to bunt because of Roger's tender hamstring. Lofton was hitting .714 going into this at bat. I wish he could have done it when he was on the Yankees. Lofton pops out to Jeter.
According to the radio broadcasters, Nixon hadn't hit a home run in ages (July 7 against Toronto to be exact) then of course turns around and hits a home run to right field. The Indians lead 2-0.
Sizemore singles to right and then steals second. Cabrera flies out to Melky Cabrera. The Indians lead 2-0 after an inning and a half.
As I am showing my fellow fans A-Rod's photo with me, he hits to left. Posada grounds out into a ground play. Giambi grounds out to shallow right field. Darn it!
As the Indians come to bat in the third, Philip Hughes is warming up in the bullpen. Gene Monahan the Trainer, Joe Torre, Ron Guidry, and the team gather at home plate after Roger throws a few pitches. Roger convinces them that he'll be okay, touch wood. Hafner gets on with a walk. Clemens' good intentions and assurances don't work out as his left hamstring is injured and he comes out of the game to thunderous applause. Is this the Rocket's last stand?
Hughes takes his time to warm up. Hafner advances to second on Hughes' wild pitch. Peralta doubles to right field and Hafner scores from second. Lofton flies out to left.
On one good leg, Matsui hustles out an infield single. Cano works a full count but grounds out to first. Since Matsui was running on the pitch, he avoids the double play. Cabrera hits the ball in front of home plate. Martinez threw to third but Matsui hustled to third. Safe! Boo yeah! Damon works a 3-1 count and singles to right. Matsui scores and Cabrera thinks twice about going to third. Yeah!
The Captain comes to the plate with one out. He is only hitting .111 and hits into his second straight double play. At the end of three, Indians 3 - Yankees 1.
Can the Yankees bullpen hold the Indians here to get back in the game?
Hughes gets Nixon to strike out. Blake flies out to Cabrera. On a full count, Sizemore strikes out. Boo yeah!
In between innings, Disco Stu and friends are up to their dancing ways. The cameraman should have focused more on the brunette with a red top and sun glasses instead of Disco Stu IMHO.
Abreu grounded out to Westbrook. A-Rod comes to nervous cheers. He flies out to shallow left on the first pitch. You have to take pitches. Does anyone listen to me? Many people blame A-Rod but Posada is 0 for the ALDS coming into this at bat. A fan to my right starts the "Hip Hip Jorge!" chant. Posada grounds out to second to end the fourth. Indians 3 - Yankees 1.
Hafner hits a grounder past Cano. It was rightly scored an error. Martinez flies out to Cabrera. Garko is struck out on three straight pitches.
A "Bug Off Tribe Go Yankees" sign is shown on the Jumbotron in between innings. Well said! I get a family photo of similar sentiments after the game.
Giambino needs to hit a pool shot down the third baseline. He doesn't and strikes out. Darn it! Matsui hits a hard single to left. What a true professional! Cano needs to hit it the opposite way. He doubles to left. Boo yeah! Someone finally listens to me. Thank God! Cabrera comes to the plate while a deafening "Let's Go Yankees!" chant surrounds the Stadium. The Melk Man delivers and listens to me with a left field single. Matsui scores to close the game to 3-2. The Indians bullpen starts warming up with double barrelled action. During a meeting at the mound, the Beastie Boys "Fight for your right (to Party)" echoes throughout the Stadium. Damon listens to me and takes the third pitch to right field. Yankees 5 - Indians 3. Woooo! What a home run but my obstructed view from my new seats |