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New York Yankees: ESPN voted Derek Jeter not an MVP do you agree

Instead of mulling over the New York Yankees many troubles, which are still very real even after their 3-2 win over the Royals last night, I found another subject to focus my irritations on.

Derek Jeter at the New York Yankees vs. Colora...

Derek Jeter at the New York Yankees vs. Colorado Rockies game on June 19, 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And that would be non-other then the MLB award watch 2012 on ESPN.com, specifically the AL MVP.

ESPN decided to vote on all 2012 MLB awards as if the season ended today.

Here is what ESPN stated as the voting guidelines:

ESPN's MLB award watch 2012.

ESPN listed the top five vote getters for every award but the AL MVP group appeared wrong to me.

And I am not talking about the winner Rangers Josh Hamilton, as he is by far having the best season of any player in baseball, maybe ever.

Hamilton at the top was dead right but the fact that the next four did not include either Yankees captain Derek Jeter, Red Sox David Ortiz or Tigers Miguel Cabrera seemed odd.

Here are the stats of the ESPN experts’ five winners, and the three who got snubbed. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: ESPN voted Derek Jeter not an MVP do you agree’ »

2012 MLB Power Rankings – Week 6

The 2012 MLB season is about to hit the quarter mark, and a lot of teams who were considered ‘playoff contenders’ are still struggling to find their footing.

A lot of baseball fans are counting out the Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox, Angels and Tigers but be warned, there is a ton of baseball left to play and all five of these teams will lean on their experience to pull through in the end.

Still, it is week 6 and Orioles, Indians and Nats fans are living the dream so far. I hope they don’t get to ahead of themselves just yet, but can also enjoy their team’s moment in the spotlight.

Inter-league play is up next and that always makes things more interesting.

AL pitchers love to hit; and NL teams can take advantage of adding a DH to their line-ups.

Overall, the 2012 season has been a blast even if my Yankees are a pain in the RISP….

Here are my power rankings for week 6…..ENJOY!!

And always feel free to give your opinion in a comment.

Lady Loves Pinstripes - MLB Power Rankings - Week 6 - #1-15

Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Power Rankings – Week 6’ »

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

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 winBig 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’ »

2012 MLB Power Rankings – Week 4

Rays logo

Rays logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Texas Rangers have been kicked out of the #1 spot this week by the Tampa Bay Rays, who took two of three down in Arlington.

The Rays are 18-8, best record in baseball and have gone 9-1 in their last 10 games earning them the right to be on top.

Also, it has been a tough week for Yankees fans, as the great Mariano Rivera tore his ACL and will be out for the season. Luckily for the Yankees they have depth in their bullpen to cover the loss of Mo, but he is irreplaceable in every other way and it is not just a sad day for New Yorker’s but for baseball in general.

Otherwise, the Yankees and Phillies still remain in my top 10, as I think both teams will end up atop the AL East and NL East respectively by the time October comes round.

Here are Lady Loves Pinstripes week 4 power rankings: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Power Rankings – Week 4’ »

2012 MLB Power Rankings – Week 3

Wow….can you believe we are only a month into the 2012 MLB season

There have been ups and downs…

Numerous injuries to pitchers…

The witnessing of  historical feats, both good and bad….

And the too old playing like they are too young.

It has been insane.

Can’t think of a greater time to be a baseball fan.

To steal a quote from the great Walt Whitman:

I see great things in baseball. It’s our game — the American game. It will take our people out of doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair those losses, and be a blessing to us.

Here are my power rankings for week #3: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Power Rankings – Week 3’ »

Official MLB Press Release On 2012 Postseason Format

03/02/2012 2:11 PM EST

The Major League Baseball logo.

Image via Wikipedia

MLB Adopts Expanded Format for 2012 Postseason

Two Additional Wild Cards Will Form 10-Team Postseason in 2012, Marking First Change to Postseason Format Since 1994

The 2012 Postseason will feature a 10-team format that includes two additional Wild Card Clubs and an elimination game in each League prior to the Division Series, Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced today.

Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association agreed to the changes to the new Postseason format as a part of last year’s collective bargaining. The new Basic Agreement, announced on November 22nd, provided that MLB and the MLBPA would expand the Postseason no later than 2013; that a second Wild Card would be awarded in both the American League and the National League; and that a single Postseason game would be played between each League’s two Wild Card Clubs, with each winner advancing to compete among the three division champions from each League in the Division Series. Following further discussions to address player concerns, the parties agreed that the new format would be used in 2012.

The change, which was endorsed by the Commissioner’s 14-member Special Committee for On-Field Matters, marks the first amendment to the Postseason since MLB adopted the six-division, eight-team Postseason structure in January of 1994. The first Postseason to be played under that format occurred in 1995.

Commissioner Selig said: “I greatly appreciate the MLBPA’s cooperation in putting the new Postseason format in place this year. The enthusiasm for the 10-team structure among our Clubs, fans and partners has been overwhelming. This change increases the rewards of a division championship and allows two additional markets to experience playoff baseball each year, all while maintaining the most exclusive Postseason in professional sports.”

Michael Weiner, the Executive Director of the MLBPA, said: “The players are eager to begin playing under this new format in 2012 and they look forward to moving to full realignment in 2013. Our negotiating committee and the owners’ representatives worked hard to develop a schedule that should make for fairer competition and provide our fans with a very exciting season.” Continue reading ‘Official MLB Press Release On 2012 Postseason Format’ »

Maybe New York Yankees Alex Rodriquez respects Ryan Braun herpes

Ryan Braun

Image via Wikipedia

Let me be clear by stating that Alex Rodriguez has never said anything about Ryan Braun’s failed drug test having to do with him taking medicine for herpes.

Of course A-rod wouldn’t because he knows better, as Derek Jeter would have failed way before Braun… right?

Kidding again. But now to the point, as this Braun saga is getting annoying but I wanted to weigh in my opinion.

So, there are three things that bothered me after I heard that Braun’s 50-game suspension got overturned last Thursday.

Quick Summary of the Braun Saga (for the readers who live in a cave):

Last Thursday the news broke that Milwaukee Brewers Ryan Braun had beat the system.

Braun’s urine tested positive for a banned substance last October, but he will not serve one day of the standard 50-game suspension given to first time offenders.

It marks the first time an arbitrator has ever reversed a player’s appeal of the embargo set by MLB for a drug testing violation.

Braun’s legal eagles had the 50-game suspension overturned due to a loophole found in MLB’s Drug Treatment and Prevention Program Policies.

His lawyers made the case that the samples were wrongly handled by the authorized CDT Sports Collector, aka the test’s collector, which insinuates that there was possible tampering.

In the MLB Collection Procedures and Testing Protocols, the policy states that the sample is supposed to get to FedEx as soon as possible. Read policy HERE, page 18.

In Braun’s case the collector said that FedEx was already closed so he kept the sample in his fridge overnight and sent it out when FedEx reopened.

And that is the grey area that has won Braun his freedom from suspension, but what about his test results?

1) Braun you talk too much:

Braun finally addressed the matter for the first time last Friday, which was one-day post-verdict, at the Brewers Spring Training facility in Arizona.

To me Braun’s words sounded scripted and angry. He went on and on as if he was persecuted and unjustly framed due to a “fatally flawed” testing system.

He disclosed that the test’s collector did not follow the guidelines set under MLB’s Collection Procedure; there was no mention to whether Braun did or didn’t juice, or if the test was tampered with. He beat the system, but why does this seem to only happen in MLB?

The long-winded explanation triggered that feeling when you know someone is lying because they’re talking too much about why it is not their fault and in the end they come-off looking guiltier.

2) So ultimately Braun’s defensive team won citing incorrect protocol but what about his test results changed?

The answer is nothing.

Maybe you will find comfort in knowing that MLB Commissioner’s Office ‘vehemently disagrees’ by the outcome, but personally I find that a little hard to believe. Continue reading ‘Maybe New York Yankees Alex Rodriquez respects Ryan Braun herpes’ »