Joba Chamberlain only pitched three innings on Sunday.  That’s okay because the Yankees are building him back up slowly.  I think he now has a better idea of the plan that was put in place with him.  It was worked as he worked quickly and the Yankees won. 

Aceves was unfortunately hurt but the rest of the pen was great, knock wood. 

Joba will hopefully be built up to get his 160 innings in.  Lots of people are critical of this but MLB is littered with young pitchers who jumped up too quickly in innings from one season to the next.  Who is the last Yankee farm hand who developed into an ace?  Andy Pettitte is the last pitcher would could be considered an ace.  Andy is more of a clutch pitcher than an ace.  Of course, Mariano is the best but he is a reliever, NOT a starter.

The Tank’s Bottom Line: It’s been more than a decade.  It’s expensive and risky to sign free agents.  For every CC, there are Kevin Browns, Carl “The Quitter” Pavano, and countless others.

Posted by The Tank who is ok with living by the new and improved Joba Rules in NY. 

Some Yankees fan have been down on Sergio Mitre.  Look, not every starter is an ace like CC Sabbathia.  I have always liked Mitre and my belief in him was proven on Saturday.  He pitched a one hitter for 6.1 innings before being hit on the right forearm.  X-rays were thankfully negative.   

Sergio is only 13 months removed from Tommy John Surgery according to MLB.com.  I think Sergio can be in the Yankees rotation the rest of the season and into the future.  Andy Pettitte is going to retire one of these years and it’s hard to say how good Wang will be if and when he returns. 

Chad Gaudin pitched for the final 2.2 innings.  They combined to pitch a one hit shutout which is very impressive.  It is awesome to have another potentially good young pitcher.  Yankees GM Brian Cashman should be given more credit for rebuilding the Yankees farm system.

Posted by an excited Tank in NY.

This past year has been a horror show in Queens.  The Madoff Scandal and injuries have been among the major issues for the Mets this year.  Steve is now watching cricket out of depression instead of taking my suggestion out of enjoyment a few years ago.

SATT were among the first (if not the first) to blog about the Madoff Scandal affecting the Mets I happened to be listening to Bloomberg's Business Radio instead of ESPN 1050.  ESPN 1050 later cited the Bloomberg Radio report.

I couldn't believe my eyes yesterday when there was a Captivate report in the elevator yesterday as I was leaving work at One World Financial Center home to Dow Jones, The Wall Street Journal, and company I currently work for.

I had to check online to see if the latest Madoff-Mets story was true.  Remember, two sources.  Yes, it was according to the New York Times.  The Wilpons are denying it.  I hope the Wilpons don't have sell.  I have often criticized the Wilpons in the past for their over glorification of the Dodgers and Giants.  However, I don't know who would succeed them.  I doubt MLB would allow a fan friendly owner like Mark Cuban to buy the Mets.  They shut him down at every turn to buy the Cubs.  I don't expect things to change.  In the meantime, I am going to see if I bought the winning ticket in last night's $333 million Mega Millions drawing so I can put a down payment on the Mets.  If I did, my first act would be to hire Steve as the GM of course.  :-)

Posted by a concerned Tank in NY.

Monday was 20 years since Pete Rose was given a lifetime ban for gambling on baseball.  I think it was the appropriate punishment.  I worshipped Pete as much as I did Thurman Munson or Reggie Jackson growing up.  I slid face first into home.  Pete played the game the way it was meant to be played.  I felt personally betrayed by his gambling.

Pete's former teammates like Mike Schmidt have come out of the woodwork to comment on his standing.  Schmidt was on "Mike and Mike".  Schmidt was Rose's "liaison" to the Commissioner's Office.

Does Pete Rose belong in the Hall of Fame?  Statistically yes but only after he finishes serving his lifetime sentence.  It's sad that I have to hold this line but he has to pay the price.  He has not shown remorse and continues to be a prisoner of his gambling addiction.  ESPN’s Jayson Stark favors Rose’s admission into the Hall of Fame.  But even Stark admits how Rose screwed up his chance in 2003 by going from a meeting with Commissioner Selig to a Vegas sports book appearance. 

I know some will say that steroid users cheated the game and should be barred from the Hall of Fame like Pete Rose.  Yes, they did but the rules were NOT present or murky at best until the past couple of years.  Rose saw anti-gambling rule every time before he stepped on the field.  Did he ever bet against his team?  That would be an unforgivable sin. 

Posted by a disappointed Tank in NY.

The Jets named Mark Sanchez as their starter.  I think the Jets held a fair quarterback competition.  But, I think Sanchez always had the edge as he was given such a large contract.  Plus, Kellen Clemens only has a year left on his current contract.  Clemens has been a victim of bad timing and luck.  He had to compete with Chad Pennington and Bret Favre. 

I know many people thought last year was a failure for the Jets.  Yes, the ending was disappointing.  But how many people thought the Jets would have won at New England and at 10-0 Tennessee in consecutive weeks?  Not many.  Bret Favre was the difference.  I think it was worth the gamble as even the most optimistic Jets fan didn’t think the Jets would go to the Super Bowl in the pre-season. 

Anyway, back to this year.  I caught some pre-season action and thought both had good and bad moments.  Sanchez threw a great pass in his first throw from scrimmage.  But, the Ravens cooked up some surprises in his next appearance and intercepted him for a touchdown.  Clemens should have thrown the ball out of bounds shortly before half.  Instead, the Ravens intercepted him too and returned it for a touchdown.  Clemens should have known better. 

Where Do We Go From Here: I think the Jets did the right thing for the following reasons: 

(1) Sanchez is making the big bucks and is the future.  No use in wasting anymore time.      

(2) Rex Ryan has been around rookie quarterbacks.  He saw Joe Flacco lead the Ravens to the AFC Championship Game. 

(3) Sanchez played in a pro style offense at USC.  He will have to adjust but it will be easier for him than others.

(4) Sanchez doesn’t need to throw 40+ times a game.  He needs to focus on managing the game.  Don’t do too much.  If the play isn’t there, don’t take a chance and throw it away.

Posted by The Tank in NY.

The Mets and Roid Sox were able to close a deal trading Billy Wagner for two players to be named later.  I blogged this possible deal a few days ago.  The Roid Sox system is deep so the Mets will get some value.  One of the prospects may make it to the big leagues and the other could be used a trade piece.

Will Billy fit in with the Roid Sox?  Papelbum thinks the Roid Sox have enough relievers.  Papelbum should hold his tongue as he’ll get older.  The chairs turn quicker than he’ll think. 

Wagner unfortunately will probably help the Roid Sox as he is hungry for a new contract, an experienced veteran, and a left hander.  We’ll see what happens.

Posted by The Tank in NY.

Mets ace Johan Santana is going to have season ending surgery.  It is “only” bone chips in his left elbow as many feared Tommy John Surgery.  BTW, I met Tommy John at the Yankees Home Run Derby Classic two days ago.  We are pictured in the Yankee home dugout.

More on the Yankees Home Run Derby Classic in a future post. 

Johan is the last of the Mets major players, Delgado, Beltran, Reyes, and Wright to go down with injury.  I am concerned that Omar appeared NOT to know the results of the MRI according to an article sent by Editor in Chief and PermaGuest Outlaw Jack.  This paragraph is as disturbing as any:

“The pain, Warthen said, was unrelated to the elbow discomfort Santana felt in Spring Training, when the Mets scheduled an MRI but never followed through with it. When asked about the relation between that issue -- which threatened Santana's Opening Day start -- and the left-hander's current woes, Minaya said he could not recall Santana's Spring Training health problems. Minaya also did not know what Santana's All-Star break examination had revealed.” (Bold added by The Tank.)

The Tank’s Bottom Line: Why didn’t the Mets follow-up on the Spring Training MRI?  How could Omar NOT recall Santana’s Spring Training healthy problems or the results of the Santana’s All-Star break?  Does he need ginkoba for memory loss?  Perhaps he was too distracted with the Binghamton Brawler mess? 

Of all the injuries the Mets suffered this year, this is the most disturbing. 

Posted by a concerned Tank in NY.

The subject of this post is a great lyric from Meatloaf.  It also captures the Yankees two victories out of three games at Fenway Park this weekend. 

CC Sabbathia was the ace he was signed to be on Sunday.  He gave up three earned runs and was just what the doctor ordered after Saturday’s rout.  The Captain led the way with a first pitch home run off Roid Sox ace Josh Beckett.  Hideki Matsui hit two home runs in the Yankees 8-4 victory over the Roid Sox. 

The Yankees now lead the Roid Sox by 7.5 games.  Keep the Faith!  Go Yankees!

Posted by a psyched Tank in NY.

AJ Burnett’s Boston horror show continued yesterday at Fenway Park as the Yankees lost 14-1.  His ERA is now over 14 at Fenway this season.  He was seen and heard talking to himself on the mound.  When he is on, AJ is as good as anyone.  When he isn’t, he isn’t the ace that he was signed to be.  This is a concern going forward especially if their is a rematch in the ALCS.

Posted by a concerned and dejected Tank in NY.

Hideki Matsui had a career high seven RBIs to lead the Yankees in a 20-10 rout over the Roid Sox 20-11.  Andy Pettitte was solid early but let a few runs in the middle of the game.  The Yankees chased Roid Sox starter Brad Penny early. 

The bad news is that Johnny Damon was injured early in the game.  He hurt his knee.  I can sadly relate.  I went for a run Friday morning in Central Park.  It was kind of depressing from all the down trees from Tuesday’s storm.  My knee hurt a little but I felt even worse from the sauna like temperatures and humidity.  I have spent most of the day in bed and almost slept through the game.  I felt bad as I missed hanging out with Vermont Bill and his family in a rare Long Island homecoming. 

The Yankees victory cheered me up.  Anyway, I hope Damon gets better soon.  The Yankees are now 77-45 and lead the Roid Sox by 7.5 games.  

Posted by a psyched Tank in NY.