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Are the Yankees stealing the spotlight in 2012? I think not

Posted by on 9 May 2012, 2:49 am
New York Yankee closer Mariano Rivera before a...

New York Yankee closer Mariano Rivera before a game against the Baltimore Orioles on May 8, 2009 in Baltimore, MD. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What MLB stories have hogged headlines so far in the 2012 season?

Shockingly, it is not the New York Yankees, as the Universe is in mourning and adjusting to life being Mo-less, which is about all they can handle now anyway.

So for those Yankees fans who have lived in a box since Opening Day; or if you need to make/fake an impression with some baseball knowledge; or maybe you decided to become a baseball fan yesterday…well, whatever it is you came to the right place.

So, in no particular order, here are the 5 biggest headlines from the first month of 2012 season. I included links to both the baseball blogosphere, and MLB experts/analysts under each subject line.

Enjoy!

Fragile closers.

MLB Analysis: It’s Not Easy Being a Closer These Days – Opposing Views

There’s only one Mariano Rivera – Baseball Insider; CBS Sports

Fragile bunch in high-risk job – Republican-American

Marmol likely out as closer – Cubs Den

Closer Turnover In 2012 – Beyond the Boxscore

Phillies Cole Hamels names himself president of MLB’s welcoming committee, just ask Nationals rookie Bryce Harper.

Spike Eskin Says: The Bryce Harper Incident Was Cole Hamels’ Free Agency Audition – CBS Sports Philadelphia.

Cole Hamels Pays a $468,750 Price for Honesty – Forbes Magazine.

The Juice: Bryce Harper steals home, Jayson Werth breaks wrist in Phillies win – Big League Stew

Charlie Manuel wishes Cole Hamels hadn’t been so honest – High Cheese Continue reading ‘Are the Yankees stealing the spotlight in 2012? I think not’ »

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Cliff Lee Signs with the Philadelphia Phillies: A Bad Decision for Both Sides

Posted by on 14 December 2010, 1:03 am

Now, even Brett Favre can breathe again with free-agent ace Cliff Lee finally making a decision to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Favre is on a growing list of fans, athletes, sportscasters, beat writers, my doorman and pretty much anyone who reads the NY Post who were annoyed with Lee’s decision making of where he is bringing his talents, basically until his 40th birthday party.

Lee had a serious offer of $160-plus million for seven years on the table from the New York Yankees.

He also has about five different contracts proposals from the Texas Rangers, who went over and above, in attempts to compete with the Yankees resources.

Days passed with no “decision,” so it made perfect sense that another team is in hot pursuit and one that Lee deemed worth the wait.

The Philadelphia Phillies is that team, but Lee just makes no sense for such a heavily loaded ballclub as Philadelphia.

Philly traded Lee’s talents without a hitch last season to attain Roy Halladay from the Toronto Blue Jays. Later, the franchise added Houston Astros ace Roy Oswalt to the rotation of Halladay and Cole Hamels.

Halladay has a three-year contract worth $60 million, with a fourth year option but a lot of stats have to be fulfilled for that to happen.

Oswalt is slated to make $16 million in 2011, but his contract is up if the Phillies want it to be. Oswalt does have an option for 2012 at $17 million.

Both Halladay and Oswalt turned 33 years old in 2010, so adding another 32-year-old arm at $20-plus million doesn’t make much sense.

Why?

1. Lee wants years and two offers already on the table are for seven seasons. If Philly didn’t sign Halladay for more than three years, why would they sign a less durable, injury-prone pitcher to more?

2. Outfielder Jayson Werth took his talents to the Washington Nationals a week ago, leaving Philly with a huge gap to fill in their lineup. Werth was clutch for Philly, especially in the last three years and his absence won’t go unnoticed. Philly’s priority should have been re-signing Werth.

3. Another option for Philly would be to go after closer Raphael Soriano. Brad Lidge has proved unreliable for long stretches and it cost the team. Soriano is way better and any team who has him finish games is significantly better. Lidge could setup for Soriano, making a lethal one-two in the eighth and ninth innings. Continue reading ‘Cliff Lee Signs with the Philadelphia Phillies: A Bad Decision for Both Sides’ »

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World Series Rematch? Why Phillies Would Be Favored Over Yankees

Posted by on 28 September 2010, 7:48 am

Monday night, the Philadelphia Phillies won the NL East for the fourth straight season in a row.

Up in Toronto, the New York Yankees evening could have been a champagne party too. Instead, AJ Burnett imploded worse than ever on the mound and the Blue Jays won the game 7-5.

Burnett could not even get out of the third inning, and he was to blame for all seven runs scored.

Rock bottom?

I thought that already happened for Burnett, as he showed glimpses of why the Yankees acquired him in the first place just a week ago.

Well, whatever it is holding AJ back seems to be an off the field issue that is eating away at him. The best Yankee fans can do is just hope Burnett figures himself out, as he is a big piece of the playoff puzzle.

Looking at the playoff picture so far, the Phillies are unanimously the NL favorites to make it to the World Series for the third year in a row.

It would be hard for anyone to disagree with that predictions, considering how hot a September the Phillies are having posting a 19-5 record.

A lot of that success has to do with the pitching rotation, which includes Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, and Roy Oswalt. It is by far the best threesome in baseball and they keep getting better.

This month their combined record is 13-1, pitching just shy of 95 innings, have a strikeout total of 87 and the month is not over yet.

Another critical component on any team is the closer, and the Phillies have been a roller coaster ride with Brad Lidge since 2008 ended.

Now Lidge has found his swagger again. His 27 saves this season don’t do how he is pitching justice, as Lidge only earned the team’s trust back the last two months. He admitted he needed to change due to loss of velocity on his pitches.

No need to explain how good the Phillies hitters are because the proof is in the names alone: Utley, Howard, Werth, Rollins, Ibanez, Victorino, Ruiz, Valdez, and I think you get the point.

So, could it be a rematch from last year’s World Series?

Sure it could, but the Yankees need to clinch officially and for any team to match-up with Philadelphia my advice is to bring your A-Game.

It would be a treat to fans to see a Yankees-Phillies World Series, because if it is anything like 2009, it is sure to be exciting for baseball as a whole.

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Two MLB Teams Not To Give Up On

Posted by on 19 July 2010, 10:31 am

MLB’s second-half of the season is officially in full swing.

Thus far, in 2010 is proving to be one for the books. With so many tight division races, fans will have plenty of excitement to keep them occupied.

Still, fans tend to throw in the towel and write-off their teams chances of playing in October. A few teams stand out that might not be division leaders now, but still have the potential not to be counted out yet.

Remember, that pennants are not won in July and baseball can look decidedly different from week to week.

Here, are two teams, one from the AL and the other from the NL that should not be counted out:

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Angels lost their best player for the season, 1B Kenny Morales, which has finally impacted the team. Still, this is a group who has won the AL West six of the last seven years and it would be foolish to consider them out this soon.

Even with the first-place Rangers acquiring SP Cliff Lee, the back of rotation is not significant. The Angels have an ace in Jered Weaver. Weaver beat out Seattle’s King Felix for the third time this season, but the Angels have to give Weaver some run support. The vets need to step it up now specifically Abreau, Hunter and Matsui to stay in the mix.

Truthfully, they are not the same Angels from 2009. They lost a lot of speed on the bases, which played a enormous role in their past successes. The Halos should pick-up a solid bat before the end of July. Rumors that Red Sox Mike Lowell or Orioles Miguel Tejada are possibilities, but are a tad too old to get that excited or could be the difference makers.

The Angels remain just four and a half games out, and the next two weeks are the time to make a move on Texas. Angels are a second-half team, with a proven history and now’s time to prove it.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies, even worse than the Angels, have been hit with injuries. So far 12 players have seen the DL, including three All-Star hitters, the closer, a setup man, two starters and both their starting and backup catchers. Things have been far from sunny in Philadelphia. Continue reading ‘Two MLB Teams Not To Give Up On’ »

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Oh Roy, Oh Roy Will Be What Team’s Newest Toy

Posted by on 30 November 2009, 4:27 pm

Rumors are swirling around the baseball world; about Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay.

The possibilities of who, where and what it will take to get this stud are endless.

WHO – is in the running? Any GM with a pulse is going to weigh options.

This inevitably becomes Halladay’s decision as he has a no-trade clause. Toronto has limitations in regards to their excitement because if a team is not on Roy’s short list he will play thru his contract thru 2010 and become a free agent for 2011.

Halladay has said whom he won’t be resigning with in 2010; that is the Blue Jays. So, getting players is almost emanating for the team’s future. The Jays know what is possible to expect in return and so it is ideal to get it done.

Everyone knows that Roy wants a ring and a fruitful contract so Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox and Angels are the logical choices.

WHERE – the answer is EVERYWHERE, as all teams are drooling over just the possibility or the dream of Hallady playing in their uniform.

It has been reported that Halladay is a tad jealous of his old teammate’s year-old uniform, blue and white pinstripes. Oh and I am sure AJ Burnett’s World Series ring as a New York Yankee is very appealing.

If not the Yankees, the next best thing would be to shove it in the Bombers face and it has been said that Boston Red Sox made the cut as well. Boston’s GM Theo Epstein is supposedly willing to comply. It’s been heard that December 7th kind-of quickly, as Epstein wants Roy secured in Bean-town before the Winter Meeting that start in a week.Hallady has other “where” possibilities to choose from as both Los Angeles teams are supposedly displaying major interest.

The Angels chances are slim to none on taking John Lackey back, so Halladay would be an above and beyond replacement on the mound.

Joe Torre’s Dodgers need a big time, game winner like Halladay. This was evidently their biggest issue that needs to be addressed after this past post-season.The Dodgers are supposedly scraping together an offer with the hopes the Jays desperation will go into effect, if the big teams offers flop. The Dodgers have some solid prospects, but it will come down to if Chad Billingsly’s included in the mix or not. This makes up for the lack in finances in going up against the endless bank accounts of baseballs richest. Also have to consider if Roy’s idea of playing with Manny will be any kind-of a factor here.
Two other National League teams with big interests are the Mets and Phillies, who are fully joining this hunt too.

The Phillies cannot afford to give any more chances for Cole Hamels because losing the World Series was enough. Pair that with Hamels bad attitude and you can’t rely that he will ever be back to where he was in 2008. With a huge and surprising disappointment now on the team’s shoulders, Halladay would be a perfect solution. Continue reading ‘Oh Roy, Oh Roy Will Be What Team’s Newest Toy’ »

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Don't Get In The Way Of The Yankees

Posted by on 2 November 2009, 5:22 am

Going into Philadelphia tied at one, to play three against the defending champs left the notion of uncertainty among the Yankees faithful.

Well, Yankees fans can sleep well tonight. The Bombers have taken the first two of three in Philly, securing a 3-1 lead.

One win away from being the champions feels pretty sturdy but it’s still not over, till that last out.

The Yankees are playing extremely solid baseball, taking advantage anytime given.
Anytime has a lot to do with not having the Phillies ace Cliff Lee on the mound. The rest of the Phillies pitching is unreliable, which was on full display for the Fanatic and company to witness.

In case you forgot or want to see what happened, read on for a fan’s outline of game three and four.

GAME 3 – Rain-storm went away and Yanks beat Phillies to close the day.

Saturday night’s game looked near to be a wash-out as the rain came down in Philadelphia. The downpours stopped about an hour after the real start, but the drizzling continued for the rest of the game.

The weather was not the only variable in Citizens Park, but Phillies own Cole Hamels, last year’s World Series MVP.

Hamels gave a burst of his MVP stuff for the first two innings. In-addition, Jayson Werth,

added with on of two homers to take an early lead.

Then Yankees responded with a two-run ruled homer by Arod, followed by a Swisher double and a thriller by Godzilla to give the Yanks a continuous advantage.

In the fifth, Johnny Damon whacked a true Damon style double, after our Southpaw hit a line drive single. Both adding RBI’s for the Yanks.

Pettitte looked like a conventional hitter at the plate, as well as got the job done on the mound. The first inning was an adjustment but Pettitte got back to himself after the second inning.

Record breaking #17 will go down in books for the most number of wins for any pitcher in the playoffs, in history, as Andy Pettitte’s to keep.

Cole Hamels walked off the field to the sound of sorrow from his fans. This has been Cole all season, so it is not that much of a surprise especially in Philadelphia. Hamels is not the same MVP pitcher that has been his only consistency.

Game finished up in typical Yankee tradition. The dominant Mariano closed out the win, with a result of 8-5 and Yankees to take 2-1 series lead.

The Phillies manager, Charlie Manuel made some poor choices that only cemented the Yankees win. Not pinch-hitting Ben Francisco in the sixth, with a runner on first and Pettitte over 100 pitches just made no reason.

The second issue, is why did Manuel not take Chad Durbin out of the game? No one even got up in the dugout to warm-up, when Durbin was struggling.

GAME 4 – Winners play to win, as Yankees prove that in Philly

Two things best to sum up game four of the World Series.

The first is a quote from former Yankee player and manager, Billy Martin.

“Another club can be beating you for six innings but for some reason the good ball clubs get tough and win them in the last three.”

The second is the standard for this quote, which was clearly, seen in the performance of Johnny Damon.

Damon is a formidable player this is common knowledge but it takes a talented player with passion and knowledge that becomes inspirational.

Pedro Feliz hit a home-run in the eighth to tie the score, and the Philly crowd went wild with the reality of a win.

That feeling turned to revolt pretty quickly with two outs in the top of the ninth.

Damon fought off wild-card closer Brad Lidge and finally hitting a single into left after nine pitches.

The once strong Lidge and company shifted over for Mark Teixeira lefty bat with no respect for Damon. Damon stole second, saw no one at third and took advantage of the Phillies mistake.

Smart baseball at its best as Damon still on top of his game in the ninth is what a champion is made off.

Lidge apparently shaken went onto hit Teixeira, give up an RBI double to Arod and finish a two-run single from Posada.

Lidge caught the virus from Hamels this season as he blew 11 saves, highest in the majors. Lidge seemed back to himself again at the beginning of the playoffs but in fact he should have been covering third-base.

The Yankees won 7-4 because in the World Series careless mistakes cannot be made. The Phillies regard to staying mentally in sync is hurting. Team leaders Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins struggling, a wild-card closer and a starter who just wants the season to be over.

Champions need to win and will do what it takes to get there. That is clearly what the Yankees came to do in the World Series thus far, and it shows.

In game five the Yankees have the burden of Cliff Lee who is an genius of a pitcher. Burnett will take the mound for the Yanks on three days rest and cannot have a rough inning, nor 15 crazy pitches in a row. AJ was impressive in game two but now facing Lee he has no other option.

Yankees can win the whole thing on Monday night, and if things continue on, there will not be a game six in New York. That I can guarantee you.

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Pitching Will Predict The Phillies Verdict

Posted by on 27 October 2009, 12:22 pm

The Phillies are a terrific team, no doubt about it. Consistently performing at this high level to have another opportunity to win the championship says enough.The defending champions have everyone watching, learning and hopefully incorporating some of that swagger.

When looking at the Phillies the players are the first a sense of teamwork and I thought this last season too. Their line-up is dangerous when it works but as it is loaded with lefties. Their pitching is Cliff Lee and without that pick-up at the trade deadline, the Phillies would not be playing in the World Series.

The question is the teams grey areas include the possibility of turning to black hole and somehow the team figures itself out.

Cole Hamels is nowhere near MVP caliber he was last season, as batters are hitting him now. Hamels is not a deep innings pitcher anymore. He did not give up hits in 2008 and he does now.

Pedro Martinez is not a reliable starter anymore. He has the history and he has pitched well thus far, but Pedro is a child when he starts to allow runs score on him.Remember that ‘Pedro being Pedro’ is very familiar in the Bronx and the record is not found at all. The Yankee fans will make sure he remembers, and if any of the old Red Sox left in him it could get ugly. Continue reading ‘Pitching Will Predict The Phillies Verdict’ »

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