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Jeter, Teixeira And More Hardware For the Duo

AMERICAN LEAGUE:

C: Joe Mauer, Twins
1B: Mark Teixeira, Yankees
2B: Aaron Hill, Blue Jays
3B: Evan Longoria, Rays
SS: Derek Jeter, Yankees
OF: Jason Bay, Red Sox
OF: Torii Hunter, Angels
OF: Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
DH: Adam Lind, Blue Jays

NATIONAL LEAGUE:

C: Brian McCann, Braves
1B: Albert Pujols, Cardinals
2B: Chase Utley, Phillies
3B: Ryan Zimmerman, Nats
SS: Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
OF: Ryan Braun, Brewers
OF: Andre Ethier, Dodgers
OF: Matt Kemp, Dodgers
P: Carlos Zambrano, Cubs

Once again, my sincerest CONGRADULATIONS to Mark Teixeria and Derek Jeter for winning Silver Sluggers.

The Jeter Family will have to build a house just for Derek’s awards. Now the one the means the most to our Captain (because only one he seems to not have won, other then a Cy Young) the MVP Award will be announced on November 23rd. Jeter is well in contention for this honor and I think he deserves it for so much more then just his stats alone.

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And The Award Goes To…..

Gold Glove awards completed today, as MLB Award Season has officially started.

Spreading out nicely for the month after the World Series keeps talks and debates flowing. It also lightens the initial blow for baseball fans everywhere; whom are all adjusting to nights free of baseball.

Then before you know it, 2010 is upon us and hopes can fill fans hearts for the season to start.

My sincerest congratulations, to all the recipients thus far, who are in such an elite field.

Here are the 2009 Award Winners thus far (more to come):

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

American League – Aaron Hill, 2B – Toronto Blue Jays

After suffering a concussion in 2008, Aaron Hills baseball future was in question. Hill’s determination to prove doubters wrong is a true inspiration that hard work can pay-off. Hill had only seven errors, with.991 fielding percentage and was first in home-runs (36), RBIs (108), total bases (340) and at-bats (682) out of all second baseman. This is after it took months for Hill just to ride a bike again.

National League – Chris Carpenter, SP – St. Louis Cardinals

Chris Carpenter finished the season with a record of 17-4 with a 2.24 ERA. Carpenter only allowed seven home-runs all season. Carpenter came back to baseball this season after being out since the playoffs in 2006. Tommy John surgery and then at his initial return a nerve damage in his shoulder, more surgery for the right-hander.In 2009 Carpenter came-back from it all and is in talk for the Cy Young Award as well.

DELIVERY MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD:

Mariano Rivera, RP – New York Yankees

This is the award for the best relief pitcher of the season. In the 2009 season, no question, no doubt that it could only be Mariano Rivera. Rivera is the greatest of all-time and at 40 years old he doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Gotta go to Mo!!

GOLDEN GLOVE AWARDS:

American League

POS. PLAYER TEAM
C Joe Mauer Twins
1B Mark Teixeira Yankees
2B Placido Polanco Tigers
3B Evan Longoria Rays
SS Derek Jeter Yankees
OF Torii Hunter Angels
OF Adam Jones Orioles
OF Ichiro Suzuki Mariners
P Mark Buehrle White Sox

National League

POS. PLAYER TEAM
C Yadier Molina Cardinals
1B Adrian Gonzalez Padres
2B Orlando Hudson Dodgers
3B Ryan Zimmerman Nationals
SS Jimmy Rollins Phillies
OF Shane Victorino Phillies
OF Michael Bourn Astros
OF Matt Kemp Dodgers
P Adam Wainwright Cardinals

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There Will Be No Thrill-as….. Without Godzilla

The 2009 Worlds Series had a few firsts’ happen.

A full-time designated hitter won the MVP award for the first time. A 1960 record for most RBI’s r, with the nickname Godzilla, won his first World Series ring.

Hideki Matsui, also known as Godzilla won the MVP of the this years World Series. Matsui, who is a baseball icon in his homeland of Japan signed with the Yankees in December 2002. This was a huge accomplishment for anyone on earth but in Japan, Matsui became a hero.

On opening day in 2003 at the stadium, Matsui hit a grand slam. Another first for any Yankee to have accomplished. In 2007 he achieved his 2000th hit joined between his time in Japan and in MLB. Two months later he recorded his 100th home-run as a Yankee but in total he has 470 in his professional career total.

With his quiet, humble and professional attitude is admired, not only in Japan but by a vast amount of Americans too. There is never enough about what he has done as a player. This gets masked because Matsui does not bring any drama.

The above is just naming a few of Matsui’s accomplishments since coming to play in the USA. Baseball is a business. The Yankees are the biggest and remind us this each season. Regarding Hideki Matsui, he should stay in the Bronx. Here is some reasons why:

  • Matsui is a lethal clutch hitter. More importantly, as shown this season as a full-time DH, Matsui is consistent.

If you have ever watched this guy at bat, his focus is almost
surreal.

It is known that a DH is so important in the American League.
The Red Sox would not have won two rings without Big Poppi as
their DH.

The spot or need for the DH gets belittled but ignorant baseball
fans, who are blind to its vital importance. The DH makes the job
of the pitcher harder, the game more suspenseful and can be the
difference maker.

Matsui displayed this all season as the DH for the Bombers.
Godzilla makes the position more important and makes the Yankees
much more of a threat. There is no player on the free-agent
market, the Yankee farm system or really in MLB that has the
talent that Matsui carries with him. The Yankees are an AL team
and the DH counts big time in that league.

  • THE 3 MMM’S….

In Yankee language, Media = Money = Matsui.

The worldwide attention Matsui will carry with him wherever he
goes, so if he leaves the Bronx, so will the Japanese press and
fans. The Japanese fans are so dedicated and proud that time
difference is irrelevant   when Godzilla is playing.

  • There would be no World Series win without Matsui this year.

Some might disagree but I truly believe the Yankees would have not been the 2009 Champs without his bat. Matsui tied the
World Series record of scoring six RBI’s off his bat.

Ironically, it was in game six and the night that made the Yanks the winners and crowned champions.

All that is currently known is that Matsui did file for free agency earlier this week. He has made it clear that he is comfortable in New York. He wants to continue playing for the Yanks.

Most recently, it was announced that Matsui will continue playing in the USA and not returning home to Japan.

Hideki Matsui brings a sense of respect and professionalism that is not seen in pro-sports across the board anymore in the USA. He is a warrior and plays by the rules.

Brian Cashman is smart and he will sign Matsui to a one year deal.Cashman can count that the Seattle Mariners will be calling on Hideki. Matsui’s old Japanese teammate and recent Gold-Glove winner Ichiero Suzuki would love to have him on his team.

I can’t really think of any AL team who’s in need of a DH that would not be gunning to grab Matsui.

The thrill-as hit by Godzilla should remain in the Bronx or else the Yankees will kick themselves when they face Matsui next season.

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DO YOU CHANGE SOMETHING THAT WINS?

Do you change something that wins?

My answer is absolutely not, it would be stupid. If it ain’t broke, why break it? Why ruin a good thing?

Now the Yankees are at the top of the baseball world again. They are the champs and it was done as a team.

Let’s not forget that they are the Yankees, and they are never short of drama. The latest starting the second after Tex caught the last out at first base to win the World Series.

Will it be Hediki Matsui or Johnny Damon? Will both stay or will both be let go into the free agent market?

In my humble, fan’s opinion neither should go anywhere.

The pair happen to be two of the largest factors to this years success. Moreover, they shined where it mattered most, in the World Series.

Damon saved game four in Philadelphia and Matsui basically won game six.

Both are just darn good baseball players, who can handle the pressures of the spotlight by playing the game the smart way.

The debating game between fans and media is just starting.

In my following two posts I will give my plea for keeping both thesetwo players. Mainly focusing on what they have accomplished this seasonbut in this case the post-season would give me plenty of reasons tofight with already.

*Please not that the Yankees also have Andy Pettitte but that is a no-brainer, that is if Pettitte wants to continue to play.

*Other players of note Jose Molina, Jerry Hariston, Eric Hinske, Xavier Nady and Chien-Ming Wang contracts are all up.
Molina is the only real possibility of staying in pinstripes. Cashman will probably stay with in house Francisco Cervelli showing he can play, hit and got some nice playing time in the bigs.
Nady and Wang will not be ready when 2010 begins so bye-bye.
Hinske and Hariston switch teams as fast as Damon stole two bases on the Phillies. Hariston can be replaced in-house and Hinske was never really used.

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Ban The Fan

Ban the fan?

Yes, ban the fan. Specifically, the Philadelphia Philly fan and below lists the reasons why.

1. The difference between passion and anger is what can take sports fanships from fun to scary. If you come to cheer on your team in Philly land, beware that your life is in danger! Gender, age make no difference to the fanatics, as you are the enemy #1, with a bullseye on your forehead.

Looks of disgust would be getting by easy, as threats, screaming to get the f-out of Philly and my favorite the questions that the Philly fan has no intention of letting you answer.

For example, from a personal experience a Philly fanatic stopped me and yelled, “HOW DOES IT FELL TO HAVE TO BUY A TEAM?
Before my mouth even opens this person continued, even louder with, “THAT TEAM THAT SUCKS AND HOPE YOU LIKE TO LOSE. WELL, BETTER GET USED TO IT A-HOLE!!”

This can be followed by spitting on you or even pushing. It is not fun and doesn’t represent Philadelphia as a city very well. Uneducated, classless and unruly is how I would describe inmates in prison or fans of the Phillies.

2. Yankees have Jay Z and Alicia Keyes perform, Mary J and John Legend singing the National Anthem during the world series games hosted in the Bronx.

The Phillies had ‘The Monster Mash’ preformed by some zombies and the Phanatic and GLEE sing the National Anthem. GLEE is a TV show I have never heard of, ever.

I had the pleasure of being at both games. The pleasure being the Yankees won both games. Maybe the Philles fans are so embarrassed by this performance that the anger becomes justified.

Please, click the video below to see for yourself. This is straight from my camera so it is original.

‘The Monster Mash’

3. During the games there are fans everywhere that will heckle a player from time to time. Every baseball game has the fan that is head to toe in the home teams apparel but spends the entire nine innings, winning or losing just heckling the other team.

In Citizens Bank Park that is the majority of the fans. The negative energy is exhausting to listen too. Please note that every ballpark has this fan but no one like them anywhere.

Well, try thousands of “GOOD JOB AROD, GO AND F(*# MANDONNA! YOU F’N HOMO; DID YOU REMEMBER TO JUICE-UP BEFORE THE GAME?”
The chanting of “YANKEES SUCK” is the Philly fans definition of cheering on their team. Understand that is going to happen but when it’s all that happens, that’s when it is a problem. The problem being the team who is on your jersey, hat and underwear is losing.

As the saying goes, “Press is Press” and can’t feel so good if your playing on the field at home.

4. A continuation of the above banter or bullshit, whatever you want to call it.

We cannot forget about the towel spinning. The team’s color is red and it screams on it’s on. The need to freak out by spinning the red and white towels like your having a seizure is just annoying.

This is distracting to everyone who is involved, even the other fanatics involved in this routine. It’s like looking at someone wearing one of those dizzy t-shirts that you can only handle looking at for five seconds. There is no way this can help anyone, except the people who have the job of handing these out for free as you walk into the ballpark.

Other teams (aka Mets) are guilty of this act of god-knows-what and this fully applies to them too.

5. The Phillies Mascot is the strangest creature I have ever seen.
Wikipedia defines ‘the Phanatic’ as, a fat furry green creature that somewhat resembles a bird from the rear view with a cylindrical beak containing a tongue that sticks out. Continue reading ‘Ban The Fan’ »

OUR HOUSE IS NOW A HOME!!!!

NEW YORK YANKEES ARE THE WORLD CHAMPIONS!! #27 OVERALL BUT #1 FOR OUR NEW HOUSE THAT WE CAN NOW CALL A HOME!!THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES AND THE HEART TO WIN FOR NEW YORK!! YOU MAKE US ALL SO PROUD!!

Yankees Don’t Want To Party Like It’s 2004

The Yankees sure gave fans a flash-back, when game five wrapped up.

New York got a reality check from the Phillies Cliff Lee and Chase Utley. The pitcher and second baseman carried their team, in avoidance of having to pass on the title of champion.

AJ Burnett gave the Phillies some help back to the Bronx, getting pulled in the third inning. Burnett was far from the pitcher in-game two, but in all reality he was up against Lee.

Lee pitched well but more importantly the Philly bats picked him up, for the win.

The Yankees came on strong at the start of the game, hitting off the Lee. Then the bat of Utley smacked in a three run blast and that was only his first of the night.

At the top of the eighth, the Phillies lead 8-2. In typical Yankee fashion the Bombers scored three runs in the eighth and first two batters got on base in the ninth.

It just was not the Yankees night. Jeter hit into a double play and Tex struck out to end the game, 8-5.

Phillies had to win this game or else it would have been a New York celebration right in Citizens Bank Park. Don’t think the unruly and crazy (not in the good way) Philadelphia fans would have been able to tolerate it.

These fanatics could barely cheer for their own team and gave the Yankees a lot of energy. Energy that was wasted on the opponent, who took two of three games right in their home.

As the saying goes, press is press and the Phillies fans sure gave lots of noise for the Yankees. It gave much attention to a struggling home club.

That does not happen in New York. Surely, some Yankee fans are embarrassing and attack the visiting fans, but it is far and few. In Philly, never have heard so many angry spectators.

If I were Charlie Manual, I would ask the fans to stop focusing on the Yankees and help the Phillies. Manual could blame his managerial decisions on confusion, with all that towel waving and that dancing green animal.

The Yankees are home and thats exactly where their fans want them to be. Taking two in Philly is a job well done.

Game six features Pettitte and Pedro. It is just a classic for fans. Pettitte will be great and lets show the Pedro who his daddy is for one last time.

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