Skip to content

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’ »

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comment

New York Yankees Rumors: Go To Starbucks And CC Sabathia To The Phillies

Posted by on 28 June 2011, 9:38 pm

Every afternoon, I hit up Starbucks for my midday coffee fix and today was no different.

As I waited for my triple-skim-grande-wet cappuccino with an extra shot, the part time manager was behind the machines and he happens to be a huge Seattle Mariners fan, as well as a stats guru.

Having our normal banter, I told him how good young ace Michael Pineda looked and was surprised that he had no innings limit for the rest of 2011.

Also, I said that in if Seattle could trade for a legit, big bat they could win the AL West. He agreed completely, but was happy that I took notice.

As he handed me my drink, we are going back and forth about pitching, he remark about how stellar CC Sabathia has been. I concurred, and went on to ramble about how lucky the Yankees were to have Sabathia.

That is until I heard this angry voice behind me say, “Sabathia is not a good pitcher, not even close.”

In complete shock I spun around to see a larger woman glaring at me with a Philadelphia Phillies lanyard around her neck.

Rarely am I ever at a loss for words, but in this instance I froze. The woman didn’t stop, as she continued on her crusade.

“Sabathia stinks in the Post Season, like he did in 2009. He is not good at all.”

My shock quickly turned to anger, “Do you not remember 2009??? FYI.. Your Phillies are not the ones with the World Series rings.”

Not responding to my question, this Philly fan went on a tangent, “Sabathia is gone after this year anyway because he is going to become a free agent and go elsewhere. He wants to leave too for more money.” Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Rumors: Go To Starbucks And CC Sabathia To The Phillies’ »

Tagged , , , , , , , ,
43 Comments

2011 MLB Team Preview: Philadelphia Phillies

Posted by on 23 March 2011, 7:27 pm

Over the past four seasons, the Philadelphia Phillies have easily been one of the top three teams across Major League Baseball.

In that time the Phillies have been the NL Champions three times, the 2008 World Series Champs, went back to World Series again in 2009 and made the post season in 2010. Also, the team won 97 games last year, which was the most in baseball.

This ball-club is clearly popular favorite with fans, in Vegas and with players because everyone seems to want to a piece of the Phillies. This off-season proved that after Cliff Lee chose the Phanatic over the Yankee pinstripes.

The pressure is on for this team in 2011, can they live up to the World Series or bust position they’ve put themselves in?

Let’s take a look at the Philadelphia Phillies heading into the season.

The Positives:

Pitching. There is no better rotation heading into 2011 across baseball.

Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels (and Joe Blanton) almost seems surreal, but then you realize this is reality in Philadelphia and that is nuts. Each of the names already so respected in the league by itself, that it would be no surprise if they went down historically as the best starting rotation ever. Just think about the fact that Blanton is the team’s fifth starter and anywhere else he would easily be a #2 or #3 guy.

SS Jimmy Rollins talents shine when the spotlight is on him and this season it is glaring in his face, as Rollins is in a contract year. Last year was an utter disappointment, as he played in just 88 games, posting just eight home-runs, 41 RBIs and a career low .243 batting average. Rollins showed up this Spring in incredible shape and is healthy as can be, so expect those numbers to shoot up big time because he knows that at 32-years-old, this will be his last big contract.

If the team ever needs a pick-me-up, the Phillies fans will surely give them that extra motivation. Citizens Bank Park will be packed without question for every home game, as the fans are nuts for this team.

It doesn’t hurt that the Phillies are managed by one of the best skippers in the game Charlie Manual. Manual is one cool customer and the players literally worship him.

The Negatives:

All-star 2B Chase Utley’s injury situation keeps looking more grim with each passing day. The latest confirmed by MLB Trade Rumors is the worst news yet, as the Phillies have signed Mets throwaway Luis Castillo. Castillo got kicked to the curb by NY’s other team a week ago, despite having to eat $6 million owed just to get him to leave.

This is the Mets, who financially are in serious hot water, presumably wouldn’t waste money unless the situation was dire. Same reason the Phillies went out and grabbed Castillo, desperation because Utley knee must be really bad. It is embarrassing for the Phillies, as Utley must have felt his knee had a problem during the off-season. Utley has yet to play in a game this spring. YIKES!

It would be impossible for the ‘fab four’ to throw for nine innings every start, but my bet is they will try. Handing the ball to Brad Lidge after working eight shutout innings does not reassure a win at all. Lidge hasn’t been the same since 2008 and a closer has to be consistent. Lidge has been flirting with biceps tendonitis this spring but he did pitch an inning in a minor league game and it went well. Lidge has to get back to his World Series Championship form so the starting rotations efforts aren’t a total waste.

I have said from the moment Jayson Werth was not re-signed that the team would seriously regret it. This I still firmly believe as Werth was their only power right hitter. Werth really carried the team in 2010 when Utley, Rollins and Ryan Howard were all on the DL.

Werth still preformed pretty much knowing he was a goner at the end of the season.

How did he know this? Continue reading ‘2011 MLB Team Preview: Philadelphia Phillies’ »

Tagged , , , , , , , ,
2 Comments

Jumping The Gun: 7 MLB Headlines You Might Be Reading At 2011 All-Star Break

Posted by on 29 January 2011, 12:53 am

Every MLB season, the All-Star break is viewed as the halfway point of the 162 games season. Even with still a lot of baseball to play, this is the time when a team’s reputation and attitude have been backed by enough play on the field.

At this point, there are the obvious observations that only a miracle could change, but there are many more what if’s than anything.

Now, I have gotten way ahead of myself, in predicting seven headlines that fans might be reading at this 2011 season’s half-time. The headlines, in no specific order, are the forecasts, while the summaries below give the present reasons why each lead could be future news.

1. New York Mess: Finally Cleaning Up The Mets

No one from the fans to the players expect much out the New York Mets until 2012. Still, Citi-Field’s atmosphere certainly feels different, with a new GM and Skipper.

Even without Santana, the Mets have the pieces and it’s about time the puzzle started coming together.

The team should be more relaxed, respectful and the players’ natural competitiveness to win, as that’s what pro athletes like to do, could actually do just that. My bet is 2011 will be a nice surprise for Mets

fans, to finally get some genuine hope.

2. Twins, White Sox, Tigers – AL Central Looks To Be A Fight To The Finish

The AL Central will be a tight three-team race that should continue till the end. This division did have to have a tiebreaker back in 2009, when the Tigers lost to the Twins in a literal baseball dual.

Definitely throw the White Sox back in mix for 2011. If the AL Central didn’t house the Royals and Indians, it could rival the AL East for toughest division.

3. Perfection Or Bust: Philadelphia Phillies Aiming For Better Second Half

The moment the Phillies signed Cliff Lee expectations soared in Philadelphia.

Now, the 2011 season is a World Series or bust situation. Lee came to win; the Phillies broke the bank to get Lee in order to win; which makes leading the NL East at the All-Star break by a half-game completely

unacceptable. Phillies should only lose every fifth game and they might have to start to if they get behind the Marlins and Mets.

The Phillies should effortlessly win a minimum of 98 games or else the Lee signing will look like a failure. Lucky for Philly fans the team always plays better post-All-Star break.

4. Jeter Still Finished? No Way As The New York Yankee Captain Is Proving Everybody Wrong

I can guarantee what a bad idea mocking the Yankee Captain’s ability was this off-season. Jeter wills and hard work is going to shut-up his detractors in 2011.

Hopefully, Jeter will earn the well overdue respect from all who have criticized this man’s every move.

Jeter is moving all right, but it isn’t away from shortstop, as Jeter has taken his off-season workout up a few notches. He is already in Tampa, and amped-up for the start of Spring Training.

5. Giants Are Struggling Out In San Francisco

The Reigning Champs felt so good in 2010, that they did nothing in the off-season. Why mess up a good thing?

Well, reality bites and the Giants will realize that winning the World Series once is just good timing, but repeating is what makes a team truly worth keeping together. It is presumable that their young pitchers will have growing pains as a group. The bats can’t not score runs like last year, but Posey and Huff have to lead the way. Also, Cody Ross will prove to be a postseason fluke or a legit player??

Lucky the NL West is home to D-backs, Padres who pose no threat this season. Still, Giants are not in the clear as the Colorado Rockies have the complete package, while the Dodgers will either be much better than expected, or embarrassingly awful.

6. For What It’s Werth: The Phillies Miss Jayson’s Clutch Hitting Continue reading ‘Jumping The Gun: 7 MLB Headlines You Might Be Reading At 2011 All-Star Break’ »

Tagged , , , , , , ,
3 Comments

2011 New York Yankees: Why Gardner And Granderson Need To Come In Hot

Posted by on 20 January 2011, 12:05 pm

In 2010, the Yankees were adamantly clear that it was repeat or bust.

The reigning 2009 champion New York Yankees lost in the ALCS, eventually passing the World Series crown to the San Francisco Giants.

Most teams would be elated if that was how their last two seasons had panned out, but up in the Bronx expectations run high.

Reading the 2011 roaster is not going to provide much comfort, as the Bombers have more holes to fill this season compared to the last two combined.

Still, there are positives that weren’t there in 2009 or 2010, in particular the emergence of outfielders Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson.

Gardner and Granderson’s roles are more vital than ever this coming season.

The Yankees are confident in this duo’s abilities, so much so that GM Brian Cashman did not go after Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth during the offseason.

Why, and how, is this tandem so important in 2011?

Let’s look at both guys individually:

Curtis Granderson:

Granderson’s first year in pinstripes did not start on the right foot. After hitting a game-winning home run in Fenway on Opening Day weekend, Granderson started to struggle, which turned into a slump and fans were starting to stamp him as a bad trade.

Granderson had only posted seven home runs, 24 RBIs and 51 strikeouts in the first half of the 2010. He also missed the entire month of May due to a pulled hamstring.

Things were not looking good, and frustrations were growing on both sides. Had Grandy forgotten his talents in Detroit? At the All-Star break it sure seemed that way.

After tweaking his swing with Yankee hitting coach/miracle-man Kevin Long, Granderson starting crushing balls again, and he hasn’t looked back since.

In the second-half of 2010, Granderson more then doubled his home runs going from seven to 17. His meager 24 RBIs in the first half raised by 19, as in July, August and September he had 43 RBIs, 71 hits, nine double and four triples.

Granderson has been known to strikeout a ton, but in those three months he only bit it 72 times in 282 at-bats, which was a marked improvement.

Granderson has always been an elite outfielder and his skills never faltered defensively in 2010, which kept Yankee fans optimistic.

What I love about Granderson is that neither clutch situations, nor location faze him. It is as simple as, he is either hitting or he is not. Continue reading ‘2011 New York Yankees: Why Gardner And Granderson Need To Come In Hot’ »

Tagged , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off

MLB Offseason Sleeper: Jayson Werth Not Only Richer But Smarter as a National

Posted by on 23 December 2010, 12:15 pm

Initially, when hearing a productive and established player such as Jayson Werth signed with the Washington Nationals, it was bewildering.

The Nationals had stunk for years now with the only shining start, pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg already out for the entire 2011 season, as he needed Tommy John surgery. Not good news for any pitcher, especially a 21-year-old as the blame is on the organization. The Nationals’ meager fanbase turned up in droves for Strasburg, only to have him taken away—an all-too-common theme since settling in Washington five years ago.

Regardless, the Nats’ 2010 record speaks for itself, as it was the NL East’s worst finish with 69 wins and 93 losses. At home, they were above .500 closing out 41-40; but on the road, 28-53 is nauseating and not numbers that draw big stars.

Then consider facing the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, the unpredictable New York Mets and the up-and-coming Florida Marlins 18 games a season doesn’t help the Nationals’ cause either.

With crappy stats the only resolve is to go after a semi-star, like Werth, then pay up with a big contract. Werth is a star but he not the same level as Carl Crawford or Cliff Lee, making the dollars number so outrageous that the player will at least meet with you. The Nationals came with a plan, first by promising Werth that his money would not cap out the club, as the Nats pockets ran deeper to find him some more help.

That is still just talk about things that had not happened yet, and it is the Nationals making it easier said then done. What must have caught Werth’s attention was the Nationals farm system because this club is stacked for the next few seasons.

I guess sucking for so long does have its positives—just look at the Tampa Bay Rays, who made a 180 from bad right into the World Series in what seemed like nano-years.

Unlike down in Tampa Bay, the Nationals claim to have money to spend. So, presumably holes can be filled and if not by the green, then the Nats can head on down to the farm.

Remember that quality not quantity does apply here, meaning talent doesn’t come in numbers so it is taking a chance. Any club who wants to win now has to think like the Yankees or Red Sox. The one or two times trading works out has usually been the difference maker for a successful season.

So, who are these youngsters? Other than Strasburg, I watched the other three in the Arizona Fall League and each caught my eye.

Stephen Strasburg, SP

The most hyped rookie in MLB history. Strasburg is an outstandingly talented pitcher that every baseball fan salivated over during his brief stint in 2010. This is a special kid, as he won games, is only 22-years old, sold 78,00 jerseys in June and literally filled an empty Nationals ballpark. In his first 68 innings pitched in the bigs, Strasburg finished with a 2.91 ERA and 92 strikeouts.

Bryce Harper, OF

The 2010 No. 1 draft pick will be just 19 on his next birthday. Harper bats with plus-power, attacks pitches and can hit to the opposite field. He already posses the ability to make changes at the plate and has an above-average throwing arm in the outfield. This kid will make his debut in 2011 and you can bet Harper will be a superstar.

Derek Norris, C

Norris is 21-years old, hits with power, has long at-bats and draws ample walks. Norris has a strong arm, but mechanics and technique need some improvement but experience can fix any slight flaws. Keeps getting better. Continue reading ‘MLB Offseason Sleeper: Jayson Werth Not Only Richer But Smarter as a National’ »

Tagged , , , , ,
1 Comment

2010 MLB Winter Meeting: Donde Estas New York Yankees?

Posted by on 7 December 2010, 12:25 pm

Hasn’t the New York Yankees brass put us fans through enough already?

So far, the 2010 offseason has been emotionally draining for those loyal to the pinstripes.

To be fair, we were warned the moment owner Hal Steinbrenner uttered the word “messy” pre-captain Derek Jeter’s negotiations.

After weeks of vandalizing Jeter, one of the most luminous Yankees ever, and seemingly giving Mariano Rivera the silent treatment, Yankee fans have had about 24 hours of peace.

That was Saturday, today is Tuesday and the Winter Meetings are in full swing.

The MLB Network has around-the-clock coverage, filled with interviews and introductions. The first 24 hours a majority of teams’ GMs and owners sat down to give their respective clubs plan for 2011. I learned a lot:

  • The West Coast, NL version of Yankees Mark Teixeira has left San Diego for Beantown, as Adrian Gonzalez is now with the Boston Red Sox. During his press conference, Gonzalez said he couldn’t wait to beat the Yankees. Boston gave up three coveted prospects and one player to be named later to the Padres for the All-Star. GM Theo Epstein said Kevin Youkilis would move to third-base, so Gonzalez can play at first. Gonzalez is described as a left-handed Manny Ramirez and hit .337 in 2010. Merry Christmas Red Sox fans!
  • Jayson Werth signed a monster contract for seven years and $126 million with the Washington Nationals. So, now you know Scott Boras is in attendance. As for Werth, he better hope rolling around in dollar bills will ease the pain of losing. Not to worry as no one watched the Nationals games and Stephen Strasburg won’t be back till 2012 so stash some of the green in your locker, too.
  • My love affair continues to grow stronger with White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, as he once again told it like it is and it is so refreshing. Ozzie was elated about his team’s new addition of Adam Dunn from the Nationals. Ozzie said his White Sox are AL Central’s team to beat. Ozzie ended his talk by stating he wished he was Jayson Werth’s wife.
  • Also, heard from higher-ups of the Rangers, Mets, Braves, Padres, Phillies, Angels and others who took the time to inform us what they are up too. Also, the Red Sox have officially been labeled the favorites to win the 2011 World Series.

So, what news came out of Yankees camp?

Well, we were told that Andy Pettitte is leaning towards retiring, according to a friend of a friend. That is very reliable reporting.

Has anyone found the guy who heard this news from Pettitte’s buddy? Continue reading ‘2010 MLB Winter Meeting: Donde Estas New York Yankees?’ »

Tagged , , , , , , , ,
8 Comments
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3