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2012 MLB Team Preview: Washington Nationals

Posted by on 6 March 2012, 10:57 pm

Washington Nationals Logo

As the Washington Nationals head into their eighth season, they finally have something to get excited about.

What started last off-season by signing Jason Werth, the ownership has continued that they want this team wants to contend now.

The franchise’s best divisional finish was in 2011, as they placed third place in the NL East with an 80-81 record just a game short of .500. The Nats did go 81-81 in 2005, but that was only good enough for last place that season.

Even though the Nationals have brought little success, the organization seems to be headed in the right direction but is it enough for the team to compete in 2012? Or is it another season of continual rebuilding?

THE POSITIVES:

Being the worst is finally paying-off…. Since becoming the Nationals in 2005, the team has been the literal bottom feeders of the NL East, until finishing in third last season. From 2008-2010 the team only won a combined 187 games, which did give the Nationals a lot first round draft picks and now the results are starting to emerge.

The Nationals starting rotation has much improved by trading for Gio Gonzalez and signing Edwin Jackson in addition to Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmerman.

Gonzalez is coming off a great 2011 with the Oakland Athletics, as he went 16-12, with a 3.12 ERA and those numbers should get better coming from the AL.  As for Jackson, who inked a one-year deal with the Nationals, is presumably hoping to hit the free agent market again following 2012, so expect him to want to perform as best he can. Last season he went 12-9 splitting time between the White Sox and the Cardinals, and pitched just shy of 200 innings.

The Nationals bullpen was already good with duo Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen but they went out and solidified it by signing now ex-Phillies closer Brad Lidge. This should pose for few problems at the end of the games, and having a solid group of relievers is so vital for a team down the stretch; and especially since it takes pressure off the starters a bit, which the Nats can benefit from.

THE NEGATIVES: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Washington Nationals’ »

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New York Yankees: Sabathia To Opt Out Tonight

Posted by on 31 October 2011, 1:15 pm

The latest news is that the New York Yankees have made a new contract offer to ace CC Sabathia.

CC Sabathia

Image via Wikipedia

NY Times David Waldstein got confirmation that the offer was made over the weekend, but the unidentified source would not give specifics.

All MLB player and club options expire at midnight tonight, and according to Jon Heyman of SI.com, Sabathia is going to opt-out of the remaining four years and $92 million left on his original seven-year, $161 million contract. Sabathia is going to hit the free agent market.

After talking to some New York fans, all were on board that tacking on more money and years to Sabathia’s contract was the right thing to do.

So, knowing the situation it is easy to presume that the Yankees offer was lucrative.

I know that Sabathia retracted past statements about how he would not opt out, and everyone understands that he should get a new deal with more years etc. I just assumed that if Yankees made an offer, Sabathia would sign on the dotted line.

Where I went wrong was thinking the opting out part would only be exercised if the Yankees were being stubborn. And why wouldn’t I after listening to Sabathia state how much he loves New York, the fans, and blah-blah-blah. It seemed exercising the opt out would be Sabathia’s last straw. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: Sabathia To Opt Out Tonight’ »

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Perturbed In Pinsrtipes

Posted by on 17 December 2009, 1:57 am
English: Hideki Matsui

Image via Wikipedia

Have you heard the news today?

Roy Halladay and John Lackey have new places to call home, as two of baseball’s top free agents current deals leaked all around the news today.

That was HUGE.

There was one thing definitely missing from the sizzling MLB hot stove today?

That would be the Yankees.

For once Cashman and company were not in the mix of doing anything at all, signing no one and actually letting players freely be swept away.

For many Yankee fans, complete confusion is starting to set in.

What the hell are we doing allowing Hideki Matsui to sign for one season at $6.5 million with the Angels?

The Yankees could have, and should have offered the MVP of the World Series at least that.

The Angels line-up just got better and even more popular.

In addition to Matsui’s undeniably clutch batting, the entire Japanese press follows their icon wherever he goes. Matsui also has huge fan base that come to the ballpark and Los Angeles will experience his Godzilla-like effects immediately.

I was very sad to learn of Hideki Matsui’s departure today.

My utter respect for him as a player, but even more so as a person will stay in my heart.

No matter what uniform Matsui wears, Yankee Universe will always cheer for our Godzilla. Continue reading ‘Perturbed In Pinsrtipes’ »

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DO YOU CHANGE SOMETHING THAT WINS?

Posted by on 8 November 2009, 5:06 am

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

Posted by on 6 November 2009, 5:50 am

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’ »

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

Posted by on 4 November 2009, 4:07 am

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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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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