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2012 MLB Power Rankings – Week 5

Well another week in the 2012 MLB Season is in the books, and so far each one brings more excitement and drama than the last.

And this week history was made both good and bad.

First, the Yankees are learning what life is like without the greatest closer in the history of baseball. Losing Mariano Rivera to a torn ACL and a newly discovered blood clot did not just take a toll on Yankees fans, as it sadden baseball fans all around the world. There is not anyone like Mo on the mound, or off of it. He is the definition of rarefied air.

The Rangers are dominating baseball this season and so is slugger Josh Hamilton. Hamilton achieved something that has only been done 16 other times in the Majors, hitting four home-runs in one game. It was an incredible feat, and one that will be remembered for decades to come.

Now to my Week 5 – Power Rankings… as don’t you want to see what I think of your team this week?

Also, whether you agree or disagree please let me know in the comments below.

Enjoy!

Week 5 rankings 1-17.

Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Power Rankings – Week 5’ »

New York Yankees: 3 reasons to tune into Spring Training

 For the most part, Spring Training stats and standings (wins and loses) can be ignored. But that doesn’t mean fans should completely ignore watching any Spring Training games because there are some worthwhile and interesting situations to keep an eye on.

Here are three reasons that I keep the channel on the YES or MLB Network every March:

  1. Injuries are what I watch for in Spring Training, both new and old. A lot of players are returning from serious injuries and fans want to see if they are still effective. This holds especially true for pitchers and looking at their K/9 and K/BB can be very useful. Also, observe their mound presence by re-watching a few innings prior to the injury and compare their general motion etc. Unfortunately, Spring Training also means new injuries will occur all over the place, and all fans can do is have to pray that their team avoids any that are season changing.
  2. Watching players fight it out for a job. You want to try to avoid emphasizing actual stats when judging a spring competition. Try and look at the bigger picture I guess from of a skipper’s viewpoint instead of judging as a fan. If that makes sense, but it does depend on what job is up for grabs too. Is it a starting role or a backup? If it is a bullpen job, how they fit into the overall puzzle. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees: 3 reasons to tune into Spring Training’ »

New York Yankees: Not Today It is Tebow Time

ESPN’s First Take host Skip Bayless, whom I adore, has been in Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow‘s corner since day one.

Admittedly, I have not been on the Tebow bandwagon yet and still am not aboard, but you cannot deny that this guy is inspiring to watch. Just read this recent Tebow article on FOX SPORTS that just confirms this might be some divine intervention from above.

Here is a brilliant rap video made by ESPN’s First Take talented crew, about this young man who has been become a national icon already:

New York Yankees take note….

“All He Does Is Win.”

 

NFL Funniest Video Kid Hates Patriots Tom Brady

Since the MLB off-season is a snooze so far, here is a fan video that will give you a laugh.

You might have already seen this kid’s video pop-up on other sports sites but I had to share it because it is hilarious. It also explains how young the anger starts for Philadelphia Eagles fan.

As this kid really HATES New England Patriots QB Tom Brady, as this video was filmed during the November 28 game between the Eagles and Pats……aka the Philly Massacre at the hands of Tom Brady who won the game 38-20.

ENJOY…but please try to block out when the kids dad offers for him to take a swing at the TV, another glimmer of fine American parenting at work.

Yankees Mo Makes History But His Eyes Are On October

Mariano Rivera celebrates a victory against th...

Image via Wikipedia

Congratulations to closer Mariano Rivera, for achieving a baseball milestone clocking his 600th career save, and leading the New York Yankees to a 3-2 win against the Mariners on Tuesday night.

The perpetually humble Rivera hugged his teammates before telling YES’s Kim Jones that the team won is what was important. Mo also went on to say:

First of all, I have to thank God, my wife and my kids. God gave (the cutter) to me. Thank God he gave it to me. (600) is a great number, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t look for those things.

Here are a few of Mo’s greatest career accomplishments:

-       600 Career Saves (only behind closer Trevor Hoffman who has 601).

-       42 Postseason Saves (most-ever).

-       12-time AL All-Star.

-       5-time Rolaids Relief Award Winner.

-       1999 World Series MVP.

-       2003 ALCS MVP.

-       5-time World Series Champion in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009.

All I can say, as a sports fan there are not many athletes that have, or ever will have such natural talent like Mariano Rivera.

All I can say, as a person is that there are not many human beings built like Mariano Rivera.

Mo is as unpretentious, as he is competitive. This man is a winner, a father, a husband and just an overall good person who never takes his accomplishments for granted. He is the greatest teammate. Continue reading ‘Yankees Mo Makes History But His Eyes Are On October’ »

New York Yankees: Not Enough To Trust Phil Hughes

Location was the word New York Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes used about a zillion times following his first good start this season.

The Bombers beat-up on the Chicago White Sox for the second night in a row, but the 6-0 win only went lasted six innings due to rain.

What almost superseded the game itself was the fact that the Yankees are running a six-man rotation and Hughes was pitching for his spot. Hughes has been pretty much ineffective or on the DL since the 2010 All-Star Break.

Without question, Hughes pitched well vs. the White Sox. No doubt, this was his best start since but that was not too hard.

Still the question remains, was Tuesday night’s performance enough for you to trust Hughes again?

My answer would be no because you have to look at the bigger picture in this situation, and here are my four reasons why:

  1. It would be ludicrous to let one adequate start wipe Hughes’ slate clean. Reality is that Hughes has been a mess for so long that tonight’s win against the White Sox should be viewed as a fluke until proven otherwise.
  2. Winning 18 games in 2010 is an easy number to cling too, but realize Hughes got some major help from the Yankee bats who averaged 6.75 in run support. That number was the highest across the majors last season. A 18 game winning pitcher does not normally post a 4.19 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP unless he has had some help. There is nothing wrong with a pitcher getting some wins due to run support, but what about in the playoffs or in late September when that becomes almost obsolete?
  3. In the post game, Hughes said that once he saw 94 and 95 mph on the radar gun in the first inning against Chicago his confidence went up. This kid needs to stop focusing so much on his fastball’s speed because it cannot dictate his performance. Hughes needs to consistently win, which entails learning how to win without depending so much on his fastball’s velocity or else he will have a short shelf life.
  4. This is the nitty-gritty part of the baseball season, as games really matter in August and September. Skipper Joe Girardi tends to give guys multiple chances to prove themselves worthy. Hughes has had proven success coming out of the bullpen and due to the timing that is where he should be. Not forever, just for the rest of the 2011 season and then start a clean slate for next year. When Hughes moved to the bullpen in 2009, his dominance was a vital turning point that led the Yankees to winning the World Series. That is a fact.

So, looking at both sides of this argument you cannot deny that Hughes looked great against the White Sox. He threw first strike pitches to 14 of 19 batters, didn’t allow a walk and struck out four.

This positive start was almost mandatory for Hughes, as it was what needed to happen. For me, it proved that Hughes can have good stuff; at least once in a while. Hughes still has a lot of work to do, but this is not the right time for this kind-of drama.

This Hughes situation will not be fixed after one almost great start, as he doesn’t even know what he is capable of and that is never a good sign.

Please note that I am not insinuating Hughes as un-fixable, not even close. This is unfortunately just not the right time, as it is totally unfitting.

Just mark my word, if this charade continues it will cost the Yankees games they can’t afford down the stretch and I would hate to see it cripple them in getting to October.

New York Yankees: Injury Update On Mariano Rivera

Following the game, I was driving back to the city from the long July 4th weekend listening to 1010 News for traffic updates.

As the news anchor was going over the sports scores, he was summing up the New York Yankees 6-3 loss to the Cleveland Indians. He said AJ Burnett was perfect through six innings until he gave up a three-run homer to ex-Yankee Austin Kearns; how Curtis Granderson hit his 23rd home-run in the eighth…. this was all true.

Then the one-thing Yankee fans don’t want to hear was uttered; that All-Star closer Mariano Rivera was not available even if skipper Joe Girardi needed him. It was due to a sore left triceps and the newscaster went on to say that no tests were scheduled for Rivera at this point.

AP Sports Writer, Tom Withers confirmed the news after Girardi revealed it following the game in Cleveland. This is not comforting for Yankee fans, as masking the severity of injuries is a Bomber specialty.

The Sporting News is insinuating that this is enough of a reason for the Yankees to really explore obtaining the New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez, better known as K-rod.

K-rod has already said that he would happily accept a set-up role if traded to the Yankees.

The question that remains whether the Yankees trade for another possible closer, or just use should-be All-Star David Robertson for the time being, while keeping their fingers crossed down the stretch.

Regardless, the 41-year-old Rivera is the rock of this ball club posting 21 saves and a 1.91 ERA on the season so far.

All fans can do is just pray that the Yankees are not down-playing this one because as of right now, this is not encouraging at all.

All I know is that life without Rivera is no life at all.