Skip to content

The Boss Says Goodbye

Posted by on 13 July 2010, 2:20 pm
As most baseball fans know already, New York Yankees owner died this morning at 6:30am in Tampa, Florida. Mr. Steinbrenner was 80 years old.

The Boss was one of my idols. Many disagree with me because of his winning-only motto and demanding ways.

Find me someone who does not want to win? I know I sure do.

Winning is demanding, in any aspect of life because if it was easy it would not define people as much as it does.

Mr. Steinbrenner was the architect for free agency that changed the future of not only baseball, but of sports forever.

Not only was he the Boss of the Yankees, but he was beyond generous to the less fortunate. The Boss would beat you to the punch by asking, “What do you need?” Just fly down to Tampa, FL and ask anyone what he has done for the city.

Being able to make fun of yourself is what defines an extraordinary man, this makes a man authentic and enables people to relate. This was signature of the Boss.

It makes his passing so surreal on the day of the All-Star Game, as George Steinbrenner was an All-Star of sports and he will be sorely missed by all of New York City and especially his Yankee fans.

Related articles by Zemanta

Tagged , , , , , , , ,
2 Comments

Yankees Did Not Lose They Got Beat

Posted by on 20 May 2010, 1:03 am

I was not a devoted fan tonight.

I left the New York Yankees game in the seventh inning, as the Tampa Bay Rays were up 6-2 and Boone Logan was jogging to the mound.

The Yankees looked tired. This does sound like an excuse, which it completely is but it is still a fact. The Boston Red Sox were just in town, meaning games are intense, long and both Monday and Tuesday’s tactics were no different. Both went down to the wire and last night they played till around 1am.

At the same time, the Tampa Bay Rays provide a full-court press on the Yankees. This group pushes and pushes stealing six bases tonight off AJ Burnett, who has only allowed six this season.

Burnett got beat tonight; as the Rays are abundant everywhere and the fourth inning topped the cake with a result of 6-0, Rays.

It was not completely Burnett’s fault. The Rays could see Burnett’s pitches from the get-go, and they utilized on it.

The bottom line is the Rays out played the Yankees, I saw it with my own eyes, and I could not watch it anymore.

Leaving the game was a better option, even though I listened on the subway as Logan did exactly what I thought he would do. Continue reading ‘Yankees Did Not Lose They Got Beat’ »

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,
3 Comments

Can Joba Rule Without Having Any?

Posted by on 4 February 2010, 12:22 pm

Days before the Superbowl, always a slow time for the baseball world, as players enjoy their last days before Spring Training.

With an opening in the fifth starter role, debates about this decision are in full swing.

Surprisingly, one Yankee will arrive in Tampa in just a week. His goal is to bind all the work he put in since winning the World Series, determined to prove himself once and for all.

Joba Chamberlain traded in DWI and strip bar brawls, for a daily exercise regimen in preparation for the battle. Joba name has not been a headline since World Series; his virtual silence giving goose bumps to Yankee Universe theory of the choice of what could happen.

The only certainty is Joba went to New Jersey to throw and talk baseball with teammate CC Sabathia.

Joba knows that Phil Hughes worked out all previous off-season, and it showed. Hughes switch to the bullpen was a pivotal role in changing the 2009 season’s attitude to winning.

Hughes confidence and grace had matured; along with his body noticeably fuller. Hughes has a usual demeanor seemingly more right to work seven plus innings.

My mind has never wavered from Joba to Mo and Hughes as a starter, until now.

Listening and reading Joba’s campaign is opening me up to see what he is capable of doing. Joba loves trouble, as clear since the infamous ‘Bug Game‘ against the Indians in Game 2 of the 2007 playoffs.

What a relief not to have to hear about the ‘Joba Rules’ that no one was perfectly clear on, including Joba which obviously affected him. No rules, no innings or frequency counts, no-fault excuses anymore for Chamberlain opening the door for a decision to be made.

The truth is both these young guys could be starters, but reality has to be faced. Mariano Rivera is almost 41 and the Yankees coming closer needs to have a period setting up for Mo. The two top candidates are these two players. It is only reasonable not jeopardizing the futures of two promising players.

Thoughts of a Yankee team without Mariano makes Yankees Universe shake too much that avoidance or denial makes sense. Mo’s time left remains unknown, but it is not much.

Playing musical chairs with Joba and Hughes for another term would be wasting it, instead of embracing it.

“The first rule is not to lose. The second rule is not to forget the first rule.” – Warren Buffet

Related Blogs

Related articles

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off

Two Teams, One Goal, Same Season

Posted by on 11 January 2010, 4:17 pm

From a Yankees fan’s point of view, the Mets and the Rays players should be hungry as ever to get back some respect in baseball.

Commonly, both team’s seemingly share a lack in leadership internally within the players.

That makes David Wrights job very hard with the Mets continuing to fail over the last few seasons. The Mets need everything and everyone to make something go right to get the trend going again.

David Wright finds a way to do his job, even it entails wearing a bigger helmet to get back out on the field. A field where once fans filled every seat and winning was a common theme.

Tampa Bay Rays started becoming dominant in 2006 and by 2008 made it to the World Series. Tropicana Field had become a home for fans.

For the Rays, playing in the AL East with the two power-house teams of the Yankees and Red Sox is no easy feat. As a Yankee fan, the Rays made me shake in 2008 and were the team to beat in 2009.

The question remains to be answered, were the Rays a threat or are the Rays a threat?

Evan Longoria is the player on the Rays who can collaborate with their dynamic manager, Joe Madden to get back to the World Series again.  To a fan, the Rays acting like spoiled brats in 2009 still sulking over their lose to the Phillies.
keep reading….

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2 Comments

A Little Red Engine VS. Lucky #27

Posted by on 28 October 2009, 5:15 am

In just a few hours, the Yankees host Phillies in the first game of the 2009 World Series.

Here is the pre-series preview:

LITTLE RED ENGINE VS. LUCKY #27

The Phillies are the reining champs from 2008. For the franchise, winning back to back would be a first but the Phillies would be only the second National League team in the history to accomplish this feat.

The Cincinnati Reds of 75′-76′ earned the label”The Big Red Machine”. Phillies would finally give them some company in the NL record books.

Jimmy Rollins said it better as to the teams goal, “Hopefully, they’ll be calling us the Little Red Machine.”

The Yankees know number 27 proceeds number 26. 26, is currently, the number of titles the New York franchise has won. It is about time to get the Universe a Yankee once again.

Yankee skipper Joe Girardi choose #27 to don his pinstripes, so the goal is no secret. The team wants to give importance to this act for one man. Someone who has given everything and anything to this franchise.

There is no better reason then Mr. George Steinbrenner.

Truly, ‘The Boss’ is like no other. He has rules which are law, he involves himself in all set aspects; no ones job is ever considered safe; and a slogan of nothing other then winning, winning, winning.

Since 1973, critics call it a dictatorship, and in Yankee Universe you are damn right it is. Oddly, at the same time, no one can deny that the ailing owner has served this team from the heart.

The Yankees would not be the most optimal franchise in sports if it were not for Mr. Steinbrenner. The truth is The Boss’s Yankees win and demands respect which is constant.

Mr. Steinbrenner time is taking its toll but certainly not his glory, as The Boss is making the difficult journey from Tampa to the Bronx to support the players.

This would be a beautiful testimony from the team and a well deserved honor for The Boss.

THE CONCLUSION

The 2009 World Series has two teams, with more to win for then just merely being the elite athletically.

Both the Yankees and the Phillies truly respect the game, love the game and play the game.

The fans can all only thank them, for bringing the passion back to the game.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Posted by on 8 October 2009, 5:12 am

Tuesday night, baseball fans across the country watched in anticipation to witness something that has only happened four other times in MLB history.

I have to say that the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers lived up to more than anyone could have expected. It was one of the most intense, well-played baseball games I have ever seen. Both teams played with such heart it was inspiring and I am a Yankee fan.

And to hear the Tigers, who just experienced a loss of that magnitude, more than gracious remarks after the game speaks volumes of the ball-club from Detroit.

The respect that the Tigers gained last night from all fans will not mend the wounds but all over the sports world today it was mentioned. Losing graciously after that game just summed up the capability of this evening.

The City of Detroit should be extremely proud of the Tigers.

The Minnesota Twins claimed more than just the AL Central on Tuesday.

This is a hot team, finishing 11 of 12 to end the regular season, winning a playoff deciding tiebreaker and literally flying into the playoffs to play the Yankees.

Safely, I can admit that as a Yankee fan I was scared death before tonight’s win against the Minnesota Twins. Keeping in mind that it is one game but I forgot and got a nice reminder.

A reminder because for a minute I truly forgot, how good my Yankees are.

How could any New York fan not be worried? The amount of reference to David is going to meet Goliath remarks all over newspapers and ESPN the minute the game ending hit a nerve.

Thoughts of Arod leaving runners stranded on base and just thinking of CC’s last game in Tampa were rampant in my head all day.

The team with all the “heart” will win was said to me over the TV and even by my own doorman, the prime example of the Yankee fan who never gives them any credit.

Some might call it brainwashing but any NY Giant fan knows the David besting Goliath theme all to well.

Than I realized that the Patriots and the Yankees were not the same team. My Yankees have heart and anyone who says that is not true has not seen the Bombers play this season.

The Yankees are loaded with money, players and stadium so the scrutiny comes with the territory, granted. Does that make the players heart-less or less deserving? Does being born into a more fortunate family than you co-worker make him/her automatically have a better character? Does someones at work get more praise because you have a nice home?

No it doesn’t in life nor in sports. A bad attitude has nothing to do with money or wins. It has to do with the individual spirit and that is why the Giants won the Super Bowl in 2007.

The G-men played with heart just as the Twins, the Tigers, the Rockies, the Cardinals, the Red Sox, the Phillies, the Yankees and many more teams have done all season long.

Game one was not a perfect night for New York but good enough. CC preformed very well, not a lights out night but he did his job. The hitters worked to get a comfortable lead. The bullpen’s Hughes to Joba to Coke to Mo finished the game nicely.

Arod drove on two runs and this Arod seems to be here to stay. Alex has been a reformed man this season, blame it on Kate Hudson but also the relief of the letting the world know the truth seemed to life a lot from this super-star’s shoulders.

In the post-game interviews the Yankees are very aware that the Twins were tired and that Minnesota is a very hot team. The Yankees are not the Patriots of 07′ and are very familiar with the feeling of losing.

The Yanks struggled in the first half of the season. The Red Sox swept the Bombers eight games before the All-Star break. The Yankees overcame many obstacles this season and fought their way to the position there in today.

As a fan I will do my job better and not let Sports Center or Pat my doorman get me to jump off the bandwagon so easily ever again.

My Yankees deserve as much glory as any other team. Attitude and performance are what champions are made of.

The Tigers were the perfect example of a winner, when they lost the other night.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off

Ending On A Sweep And The Yankees Will Weep

Posted by on 4 October 2009, 2:01 am

The Yankees are playing the last series in the regular season. A standard three games down in Tropicana Field against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Remember back when everyone thought the Rays were the team of the future in the American League East. The young group of players is talented to the point of terrifying. Tampa had MVP Evan Longoria playing, 2009 All-star MVP Carl Crawford and the older Upton brother, BJ in the outfield to name a few.

Tampa Bay Rays was the team who was on the way to making a name as a franchise in 2009.

Imagine being a Ray’s player and having the Evil Empire, come into your house. This was not supposed to play out like this furthermore pissed, frustrated, depressed was like a virus in the clubhouse.


The Rays have the nothing to gain as the team’s season is capped out. Last season it was Tampa, not New York heading into October and eventually to the World Series.

It is safe to say that beating the Yankees, hitting for a cycle, crushing CC Sabathia’s hope of a 20th win and possibly sweeping the Yanks right into the playoffs could not be a bad feeling for the Rays.

The Yankees lost to Tampa. Let me try that again, the Rays beat the Yanks to a pulp and it is surely not the way a team wants to enter the post season.

Regardless of resting more starters and getting the young bucks some playing time Girardi doesn’t want to lose. The skipper knows that losing and getting your ass kicked are entirely two separate scenarios.

Pettitte and Sabathia are surely not benefiting from bad starts preceding the pressure of the playoffs being next.

In the playoff’s, the first series is out of five games. The room for error is zero. It has been a hot topic to change it to seven games to make it a standard for October. This has not happened and it has been talked to death so hopes should remain low.

A seven game series at the least gives a team a minute to breathe and best pitchers can be available twice with more rest.

Point is the Yankees must outplay the Rays in the final game of the series, moreover of the season. A sweep digs deep for any team, at anytime, with not one constructive aspect ever coming after the embarrassment.
The Yankees need to shut-up this group of spoiled brats that have become the Tampa Bay Rays.

The other two losses can go away “when” the Yanks hammer the Rays on Sunday.

No credit needs to go to this group of Rays for what happens to the Yankees in the future.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4