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MLB Truths: Totally Different Story If Jose Bautista Was A New York Yankee

Posted by on 24 May 2011, 7:30 pm

Wait…give me a chance.

This is not another article by a delusional New York Yankee fan who thinks everyone can and wants to play in the Bronx.

It is a simple point that if current Toronto Blue Jays super-slugger and baseball’s newest poster boy, Jose Bautista wore a different uniform my guess is things would be much different.

For example, imagine if Bautista had become a Yankee back in 2009 and not a Blue Jay?

Sure you can Photoshop a uniform onto your grandma, but I am referring to his career prior to 2010.

After playing for five different teams over six seasons, no one could or would have anticipated that Bautista would ever knock-in 56 home-runs, 148 hits, 35 doubles, three triples and 124 RBIs in one season.

Not even in their wildest dreams, considering this same utility player the year prior posted 13 home-runs, 79 hits, 13 doubles, three triples and 40 RBIs, which were standard numbers judging over the years of watching Bautista’s capabilities.

Bautista’s best career home-run season was back in 2006 when he hit 16. Then you look at the fact that he has only hit 63 RBIs once, which up until 2010 was a career milestone for the utility player, as that RBI number was usually 10-20 points lower.

So, getting back to the idea that if Bautista was doing all this in Yankee pinstripes would it be the same storyline? And would the media be so kind and would MLB be as forgiving?

Doubtful considering MLB, along with the press generates so much revenue when the Yankees dominate the headlines. The media capitalizes off the negative by constantly over-hyping or make-up stories about the Yankees; it is to the point where any baseball fan, without realizing it, is getting brainwashed.

Two of the zillion of articles hailing Bautista a baseball god really caught my eye.

The first was from yesterdays New York Times written by Dan Rosenheck and the article was called Keeping Score: Bautista’s Stats Approach Those of the Greats, praising Bautista like he is  the hitter baseball has been waiting for.

Next was by Cliff Corcoran of Sports Illustrated who keeps an Awards Watch page all-season, and the most recent article from today read Bautista dominating AL MVP race while NL’s is wide open.

Let me start by saying that Corcoran’s assessment of Bautista being on top is totally fair considering Bautista’s current numbers. What really pissed me off was that Corcoran did not have Yankees Curtis Granderson on the list at all, but instead gave the Grandy-man an honorable mention at the bottom with about 10 other players. That is just pathetic and completely inaccurate.

It got me thinking that if Granderson being a Yankee has anything to do with it?

It sure makes you wonder.

This is the same reason the media hasn’t gone nuts about the real possibility of Bautista using steroids because the stats are quite alarming. Continue reading ‘MLB Truths: Totally Different Story If Jose Bautista Was A New York Yankee’ »

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New York Yankees: Curious About Bartolo Colon And Not Jose Bautista

Posted by on 24 May 2011, 1:54 am

Let me start by saying that I am not accusing Bartolo Colon or Jose Bautista of any misconduct regarding MLB’s Performance Enhancing Drugs Policies.

I am merely conveying a comparison of two players who are playing well beyond what seems humanly capable.

The two happen to be playing each other tonight at Yankee Stadium, where in the first inning Bautista went yard off of Colon bringing his home-run total to 19 this season.

Bautista and his Toronto Blue Jays got the better of Colon’s New York Yankees, taking the first of this three game set 7-3.

BARTOLO COLON:

In Bartolo Colon’s case, his talents were never in question. From the moment he took the mound for the first time in the majors back in 1997, Colon was a rising star. Following his rookie debut, in his first full season in 1998 he was voted an All-Star at the age of 24-years-old.

Colon’s biggest silver came from winning the 2005 CY Young Award, which is the pitching version of the MVP Award. (In case you need a refresher, the CY Young is given once a season, acknowledging the two most impressive arms from each respected league, the American and the National. It is the prize every pitcher dreams about, so the list of winners is the most elite in the history of the game.)

The three seasons following 2005, Colon was on three different teams and had a incurred an injured elbow that was not healing. Colon looked to be heading out the door.

Instead, as he sat out of the entire 2010 season Colon decided he wasn’t done just yet, so when he heard of this progressive procedure that if successful could get him back on the bump again, he jumped.

Serge F. Kovaleski of the New York Times wrote an article recently describing the actual surgery:

Dr. Joseph R. Purita, an orthopedic surgeon who runs a regenerative medicine clinic in Boca Raton, said he and a team of Dominican doctors that he led treated Colon in April 2010. Purita said he employed what he regards as one of his more pioneering techniques: he used fat and bone marrow stem cells from Colon, injecting them back into Colon’s elbow and shoulder to help repair ligament damage and a torn rotator cuff.

Well, the procedure, along with a noted attitude change has worked.

Colon is pitching not just well, but great again. This has caused enormous speculation that HGH was used during the procedure, which all involved completely deny.

Dr. Joseph R. Purita even told ESPNNewYork.com that he is willing to take a lie detector test to prove that he did not use human growth hormone in an elbow surgery that may have saved New York Yankees starter Bartolo Colon’s career.

There has been no proof stating otherwise, but Colon, Dr. Purita and Colon’s agent all understand the position that MLB has taken by conducting an investigation to make sure everything was legal.

JOSE BATISTA:

Why am I bringing up Toronto Blue Jays OF Jose Bautista in relation to the Colon-drama?

Bautista’s bat had a 2010 that will go down in the books as one of the best on record, with the 54 home-runs sticking out the most.

Now in his ninth pro-season, Bautista is defying all odds and is hitting even better so far in 2011.

So, it makes you wonder where this guy was the first seven years, and why had no one even batted an eye at him over that time span.

No one noticed because Bautista wasn’t even an above average hitter. If you want proof all you have to do is check out the facts…. I mean stats. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Curious About Bartolo Colon And Not Jose Bautista’ »

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New York Yankees Are Not Immune To Slumps

Posted by on 15 May 2011, 12:25 pm

THE LATEST:

As if listening to FOX’s Joe Buck for nine innings wasn’t bad enough, the New York Yankees tacked on another ugly loss, as they fell 6-0 to the Boston Red Sox for the second straight night.

Add that to some internal Yankee drama with ex-catcher, now DH Jorge Posada removing himself from the line-up, about two hours after he was moved to the ninth spot in the order.

It’s no secret that Posada has not been happy in his new role, nor has he been exceling in it either. To his credit Posada has posted 6 home-runs, 15 RBIs, two doubles, 18 hits and 15 walks so far in 2011, which is not horrific but his last home-run was back on April 23rd. Posada has the lowest batting average for players who have more then 100 plate appearances with a .165.

Posada needed a night to clear his head, nothing wrong or nuts about that as we have all been there before. So, try to give Posada a break, end of story.

THE SLUMP:

Overall the bigger problem is that Yankees are not playing well. The good news is that if the team hasn’t hit rock bottom already, they are darn close. For once the media’s antics will actually help the Yankees get their sooner.

Without a doubt it absolutely sucks when a team is slumping. For players it can’t be fun, but speaking as a fan I try to remind myself that this is standard and unavoidable bearing in mind the extent of a 162 game season.

The Yankees are not immune to slumps. Trust me, I know how maddening it is to witness, as it seems never ending. Then you turn on ESPN or pick-up the Sunday paper only to be reminded how ugly it is.

Remember how bad things were for the Red Sox or the reigning World Champion San Francisco Giants the first few weeks of 2011? Or look at what is going on in Minnesota, as the Twins are 12-25 and sitting in the cellar of the AL Central.

I was actually really bummed for the Red Sox because I love the rivalry. I even defended the Red Sox because I knew that this was a temporary situation up in Boston and had no doubt in my convictions.

Look, truth is the Yankees are flirting with a mini-collapse if things don’t change now. This is due to their upcoming schedule, as the Bombers face the hot Tampa Bay Rays, the Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays over the next 10 days. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Are Not Immune To Slumps’ »

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New York Yankees: Bartolo Colon’s Debut Shut Me Up

Posted by on 21 April 2011, 12:32 am
Toronto Skydome (Rogers Centre), NY Yankees vs...

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What year is it…2011?

Well, you could have fooled me as it sure felt like 2005 up at the Roger Centre in Toronto tonight, watching New York Yankees pitcher Bartolo Colon throw a gem in his first start filling in for Phil Hughes who is still on the DL with a dead-arm.

After losing a heartbreaker the night before in the bottom of the 10th inning, Colon led his new Yankee teammates to a well needed win. It came as a surprise, but not a shock after the impressive numbers Colon had in Spring Training.

Colon exhibited such an aura of confidence that you would have never guessed it was his first start on a Major League mound since July 24, 2009. He allowed seven hits and two runs over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out seven batters in the tough and hard-hitting Blue Jays line-up, while walking just two. At one point he sent 12 Blue Jays down in a row.

More proof that GM Brian Cashman knows what he is doing, as when Yankees bench coach Tony Pena suggested Colon, Cashman didn’t listen, he acted immediately.

Cashman got such grief, me included before the 2011 season started and all the while he was just doing his job and well I might add.

Looking forward to watching Colon in his next start because after tonight he certainly earned another start on the bump.

Hey, it is about time the low-risk/high-reward actually worked for the Yankees.

The odds were in the ball-clubs favor, as Cashman probably learned after his first few failures of taking on older talent in hopes of a re-birth.

So, could the 37-year-old Colon be turning back into a pitching machine?

As isn’t the never-ending mystery of sports why fans love it in the first place?

Darn right it is….

My advice to Hughes is you better get to work and wake-up that arm because you spot is not guaranteed after the show Colon put on in Toronto tonight.

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New York Yankees: Mariano Rivera Is Human After All

Posted by on 20 April 2011, 4:46 pm

What baseball fan doesn’t love the extra inning, walk-off win?

Maybe the fans whose team didn’t win and get to witness their favorite players partake in baseball’s version of a mosh-pit of joy.

Well, last night that was my life, but ten times worse, as the New York Yankees lost in the 10th inning to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Why was it 10x’s worse?

It is like a dagger through any Yankees fans heart when Mariano Rivera is the culprit because it so seldom happens.

Understand that Mo allows New York fans to be cocky, without any disagreement from even the biggest Yankee haters. He is our ego.

In comparison it feels like you just got dumped because, speaking for myself, that same pit comes back in my stomach.

Mo is not supposed to have bad days because Yankee fans really believe he is super-human. So when a game ends like yesterday’s it makes Mo seems real, and that is the one thing he is not.

AJ Burnett imploding; Joba loading the bases; or even Boone Logan giving up a homerun are disappointments Yankee fans expect.

Sincerely, acknowledging that the day when Enter Sandman will be no longer play in the ninth inning is coming makes each appearance by Mo that much more extraordinary. Which, in turn makes a loss like last night’s become very personal.

Look, it happens and it will happen to Mo again but that doesn’t make it any easier for Yankee fans to swallow.

See, each of Mariano Rivera’s 566 saves or one of his 978 appearances in relief means special to someone because they get to say that they saw the greatest closer ever.

He defines what rarified air is in sports, but what makes Mo stand out even more is that even his superior talents can’t surpass his individual character.

Toronto battled in the ninth inning to tie the game, and then win it in the 10th with a score of 6-5.

The Blue Jays well deserved the win, as they outplayed the Yankees, even it did break chip away at my soul  just a little.

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New York Yankees: Pitching Test For AJ Burnett Vs. Toronto Blue Jays

Posted by on 19 April 2011, 7:07 am

The New York Yankees are up in Toronto to play a quick two-games against their AL East Division rival Blue Jays.

The Bombers left New York after taking two of three games from the Texas Rangers, who they had not seen since the 2010 ALCS, so the team is feeling pretty confident right now.

For the Blue Jays, coming home was not nearly as sweet following a tough, 3-7-road trip.

With both teams having good reason behind taking the first game, let’s look at Tuesday night’s match-up on the mound.

AJ BURNETT, NYY:

In the first game on Tuesday night, the Yankees will send AJ Burnett to the bump at the Roger Centre, a very familiar place for the ex-Blue Jay.

Unfortunately any fond Canadian memories are long gone for Burnett, as his spectacular month of April could come crashing down if history dictates anything.

In 2010 Burnett’s last start against the Blue Jays he got pulled after 2.1 innings of crap, allowing two homeruns, seven earned runs, a walk, a strikeout and he managed to hit one of the 16 total batters he faced.

The Yankees have lost to the Jays the last four times Burnett started the game, two of which were in Toronto.

This could certainly end Burnett’s 3-0 April winning streak, as Burnett is known to start off every season hot only to fall on his face. This is the ideal situation for past-disasters, so this is a big test for Burnett to earn some real trust back.

Burnett is up against a Jays-team that is 4-2 at home, with nine homeruns so far this season.

It comes as no shock that slugger Jose Bautista is responsible for two of the long balls. Bautista has continued right where he left off last season hitting .455 thus far.

In his nine at-bats against Burnett, Bautista is hitting .444, with four hits, one double, two homeruns, six RBIs, drawn two walks and struck out twice.

Pretty sure Burnett will be watching out for Bautista, who might not be ready for Burnett’s resurrected change-up. This change-up proved dominate against the Orioles just day ago and Burnett claimed he has not thrown this pitch in over 12 years. It is certainly a nice addition to his wicked curveball and mid-90’s fastball.

KYLE DRABEK, TOR:

Toronto will counter with 23-year-old righty Kyle Drabek, who has pitching in his blood, as his dad is former CY Young winner Doug Drabek.

So far in his first three starts Drabek has been phenomenal posting a 1.93 ERA, with 17 strikeouts in just shy of 19 innings pitched. Drabek’s only real issue is the 11 walks he has allowed, which could potentially be a real problem facing the patient Yankees line-up. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Pitching Test For AJ Burnett Vs. Toronto Blue Jays’ »

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New York Yankees Sign Juan Paniagua And The Future Of The AL East

Posted by on 13 March 2011, 1:41 am

With 2011 Spring Training in full swing, the Yankees are not only working on the now, as scouts continue to work on maintaining the franchise’s future.

That is why it came as no surprise when Dominican reporter Dionisio Soldevila reported to Baseball America and via Twitter, that the Yankees had agreed to terms with 20-year-old Dominican right-hander Juan Carlos Paniagua for $1.1 million bucks.

Paniagua hails from the Dominican Republic and just finished serving a one-year suspension for age fraud.

There is not much on this young kid, but here is what Baseball America wrote about Paniagua:

Paniagua, who had previously been suspended by Major League Baseball for one year due to age and identity fraud, is 6-foot-1, 170 pounds with excellent arm speed and a power fastball that sits around 93-95 mph and touches 98. Some scouts said Paniagua has shown feel for a curveball and a changeup that could become above-average offerings in the future, though other scouts weren’t quite as sold on his secondary pitches.

Age or identity fraud has become a problem, as Dominican players cannot sign with an MLB team until the age of 16 years old. Not only are players lying about being older to ink MLB money, older players are falsifying their age down to be a more valuable talent, which will get them a bigger signing bonus.

Future Of The AL East:

The AL East still remains the toughest division in baseball. Not only because it is home to the big spending Yankees and Red Sox. The Tampa Bay Rays have proven that through smart drafting and scouting talent, a team can be just as victorious working even with a payroll the size of A-rod’s paycheck this season.

This is a well-known victory for the smaller market teams and it also keeps baseball authentic in a sense. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Sign Juan Paniagua And The Future Of The AL East’ »

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