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I’m Going To Mannyland

Posted by on 26 February 2010, 1:43 pm

Manuel Aristides Ramirez Onelcida, also known as ‘Manny’, is a baseball player; who dominates sports headlines as the baggy pants,

English: mannywood banner in downtown LA

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Bob Marley style dreadlocks ex-Red Sox turned LA Dodger outfielder.

As a player, Manny’s stats are staggering, with 500+ home-runs, 21 grand-slams, 9 silver sluggers, 12 time all-star, holds the post-season home run record of 28, has two World Series rings with the Boston Red Sox.

The list goes on about his athletic endeavors, but Manny is also known for just being himself.

‘Mammy being Manny’ is notoriously repeated as the explanation for the well-known antics, of the only MLB player busted for performance-enhancing drugs.

There is no denying that Manny is reckless. He is legendary for his careless statements and prima-dona behavior, but at the same time it is comic relief.

Manny takes bathroom breaks during games and in Fenway Park the Green Monster was also his office as he used his cell phone in between innings.

As a Dodger, Manny got ejected mid-inning of a game. He left the field and the stadium, to go have dinner.

In 2005 and 2008, the Red Sox were invited to the White House by the President to congratulate them on winning the World Series. Manny was a no-show both times.

President Bush even joked around about Manny’s repeated absence and same reason, “I notice Manny Ramirez isn’t here, his Grandmother must have died again”.

To say Manny likes to get his way is an understatement. It’s a consistent theme of being the bad-boy, but Manny’s talent makes him a badass. Continue reading ‘I’m Going To Mannyland’ »

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A Fan’s Guide To The Eight Playoff Teams – Part 2

Posted by on 7 October 2009, 3:34 pm
Now onto the National League teams. The NL has four teams that will be playing to go to the World Series to face the winning AL team.
Here are the National League teams from a Yankee fan’s point of view. Once again listed in no particular order.
PART 2 – THE NATIONAL LEAGUE

1.Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies are the defending World Champs and would love to repeat. The team works very well as a unit because players pick each other up in games when someone is struggling.The Phillies closer Brad Lidge has been far from the dominant closer he was in 2008. Skipper Charlie Manuel has shown confidence in Lidge but by keep ing him in his job but it has not paid off. Lidge blew 10 saves as of September. This will be a position likely to be filled by Brett Meyers. Meyers did well in the post before the season’s end. Lidge’s services will be utilized in less-pressuring situations, at least to open the playoffs. The closer component is vital to any baseball team’s success. Skipper Charlies Manuel has been around long enough to know what it takes to win. I am not to worried how the Phillies will handle this.Picking up Cliff Lee at the trade deadline (for scarcely anything considering what Lee’s arm is worth) to join Cole Hamels in the rotation. They are as reliable as a team one and two starters can get.The tandem with Joe Blanton most likely as the third will be a solid rotation.Phillies line-up is still very good with Rollins, Utley, Ibanez, Howard.
Are the defending champs good enough to repeat? That is a different story; guess we will find out soon.
2. St. Louis CardinalsThe Cardinals are could be the best team in the National League. Albert Puljos is the NL MVP and perhaps the best in the entire majors. He is what Jeter is to New York but in St. Louis. The Cardinals have two Cy Young Award possibilities in Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. This is the only team to have a one and two be Cy Young contenders. The mid season snatch of Matt Holliday to hit clean-up behind Puljos have both guys slugging over .600. Gold Glove catcher Yadier Molina is the brother of Yankees catcher Jose and is one of the best catchers. Yadier is the best-defensive catcher in the game. Runners do not attempt to steal as often and to score off a single from second base is out of the question when Yadier is controlling the game.
The Cards support it all on paper. Whether it gets used properly and effectively is another story. Continue reading ‘A Fan’s Guide To The Eight Playoff Teams – Part 2’ »

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Three Playoff Headlines No Yankees Fan Wants To Read

Posted by on 29 September 2009, 4:02 am

The playoffs are about to start for the baseball world. Teams are claiming spots on the October schedule and others are looking towards next season.

The Yankees swept the Red Sox on Sunday to win the AL East. The first team to clinch a playoff berth but immediately followed the Cardinals winning the NL Central, the Dodgers clinched a spot and just minutes ago I caught the Angels winning the AL West.

It made me start to think of what the possibilities, which are endless, that could play out this October. The ideas quickly turned to waves of anxiety that started to absorb my thoughts.

Here are the three that no Yankee fan hopes never to have to read….

1. Watching the Angels win was not thrilling, as it was a complete accident as I was innocently tuning to ESPN hoping for Sports Center.

I was not paying attention as I was on the web surfing when I heard the screaming fans and looked up. It was Ian Kinsler at bat and the bottom ticker read 1 Out For Angels To Win The AL West. The score being 11-0 it was not a promising situation for the Rangers.

Subsequently, Kinsler grounded a ball to third and Figgins threw to first for the easy out. Then the celebration began. Watching it felt wrong but it also made me realize that the Yankees do not have to see the Angels first round.

The Angels are like being on the other end of having to face Ray Lewis in the NFL. Lewis is the scariest defender and the Angels are that team.

I hope that the headline will not read ANGELS SWEEP THE RED SOX! MESSAGE SENT TO YANKEES: BRING IT ON.

2. The second headline is purely out of spite for our old skipper Joe Torre.

TORRE UP TO HIS OLD TRICKS: DODGERS WIN WORLD SERIES.

Look, it was hard enough to be at Torre’s last game but that turned to betrayal fast after the release The Yankee Years.

Call it bitterness and that would be completely correct. The Dodgers are not as much of a threat because the only place the Yankees can meet Torre’s team would be in the World Series. Do no think the Dodgers will beat the Cardinals or the Phillies (if they make it).

I just hope that the Dodgers do not even win a game. As for their manager, Mr. Torre is not in it for the team or the game of baseball. Gaining the trust of players as people, only to take personal club house on-goings and exploit them for his own benefit is being nothing more than a traitor.
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Sorry Mr. Torre but you do not hold a candle to the character of our new skipper, Joe Girardi.

3. THE CURSE IS STILL REVERSED

It is safe to say this is common knowledge to anyone that no Yankee fan could stomach this.

After the embarrassment of being 8-0 to Boston earlier this season to only come back to finish 8-8 is only the icing on the cake.

This rivalry has built so many heart-breaking instances and revenges for decades that the list is endless.

The only thing that Red Sox and Yankee fans firmly agree is on is that neither wants the other team to win.

I love the history and the intense competition the games bring. It is much better to win in the end, especially for the loyalty of each teams fan base.

Some have described the feeling of losing to Boston along the lines like being dumped by a guy you really like, out of nowhere.

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Hey Yankees…You Can Blame It On The Rain!

Posted by on 22 June 2009, 3:50 am

 

I thought the motto of ‘win series’ was going pretty well but have the tides turned on the second place NY Yankees. My Yanks lost a second series in a row to the Florida Marlins, who took two of the three games over the weekend.
I live in Manhattan, where it has been raining so much I think the sun might blind me when it does come out again, I am in a down state. Everyone else here is sick of this weather as well.

So when the Yankees were in first (no I swear for about two weeks the team was ahead of Boston…LOL!) it made the rain sort of tolerable. Since the return of the last Boston massacre in B-town the rain has been non-stop.

I am not counting the fact that the Yankees have been away from the Bronx and still lost. How can I declare this rule? Only because all of us, your fans, were still soaking wet still and so doesn’t count (got that motto from friend). In my head I will take the song line from one of my favorites and “Blame It On The Rain”!!

Now I give you my personal observations of this downward coil created by my Yankees. I want the sun to shine on our marvelous city again.

What did I learn watching the Bombers against the Florida Marlins in another inter-league series?

Arod was given a TO (aka. a time-out) to rest as something is just not clicking for him right now. He has played in every game since returning from his hit surgery. I will not excuse any player (except of your last name is Jeter) for poor performance but in this situation with Arod’s case is legitimate. Alex came back from a serious hip surgery and he came back from it rather quickly. Continue reading ‘Hey Yankees…You Can Blame It On The Rain!’ »

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