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Grading The Champs

Posted by on 17 March 2010, 9:24 am

As baseball season begins, all eyes are on the Yankees attempting to answer the ageless question.

Are the defending champs strong enough to repeat?

Let’s take a look:

Line-up:

The Yankees lead the league in both home-runs, with 244 and runs scored with 900 in 2009. Even with Matsui and Damon’s bats gone, the Yanks bats are still the best.

Reasons being that Granderson will smash it at home at least facing righties; Arod is available all season; Cano will hit behind the Captain in the two spot; Johnson will fare well enough as a regular DH; and the mainstays are back again. This is still just as frightening a line-up to face.

Winn and Granderson love to steal bases, an improvement in overall speed

Defense:

Granderson is a real upgrade in the outfield. He is young, and his spirit will display right when mixed with the older guys. Gardner is better defensively than Damon, and he is fast as they come. Gardner will have to be accomplished all the time as Randy Winn, Jamie Hoffman and a recently signed Marcus Thames will be glad to take the responsibility for their own if Gardner slips. This kind-of competition, that keeps players fresh through the long-term. It made Gardner better last season.

The Yankee infield is Jeter, Arod, Tex, Cano and Posada/Cervelli. Need I say more?

GRADE: A

Pitching:

CC, AJ and Andy are not the question, as the three can stand their own. The point is Javier Vazquez, who in 2009 dominated playing on a struggling Braves team, otherwise might have been the NL Cy Young winner. Vazquez’s last stint in pinstripes, in 2004 is one Yankee fans do not want to be reminded off. He will be third or fourth in the rotation, so less weight on his shoulders, to aide for a successful round two.

Rivera is the best closer still, and either Hughes or Joba will be celebrated in the eighth.

GRADE: A

Bench:

The Yanks can lack here, and they do. The depth off the counter is not impressive but if the starters are healthy, each will play 150+ games. This is not a perfect world, so banking on no injuries is uncertain.

Pena is not as reliable as Harriston Jr. in the utility role. Pena is young, and spring training is the time to iron out his kinks.

GRADE: B-

Coaches:

Girardi and company, stay the same staff as 2009, which seems to work. Girardi has gradually relaxed, a crash that should stay. If only Joe could not refer to his trusty binder in the dugout and leave it in the locker room, he might prevent any over managing. Middle-inning, musical chairs in the post-season are particularly unsettling to witness.

Hopefully, these rumored ‘Hughes Rules’ are untrue, as let the boys pitch.

GRADE: B


 

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Joe Girardi’s Secrets: How The Yanks Took A Halladay

Posted by on 5 August 2009, 9:17 am

The Rogers Centre was at full capacity tonight up in Toronto. The fans looking relieved, confirming it was just a nightmare, as Roy Halladay, the best pitcher in baseball, walked onto the Blue Jays mound once again. Toronto’s ace looked like a goner before the trade deadline but the cost for Roy’s arm was just to high a price, even for the Yankees.

Halladay is so dynamite that if any opposing team’s starter has got to be basically perfect. It is inevitable that hitters will not be able to produce against Halladay, so in preparing for a game like tonight’s the idea of how to win has got to be under this assumption.

And that is exactly why Joe Girardi is such levelheaded manager. Not afraid to humbly admitted that the Yanks had to give it everything and anything to beat this individual ace.

It is refreshing that Girardi tells it like it is no. No matter who the player, the treatment has now consistently been shown to be equal. Not one guy gets treated any differently, which is a huge part of the comradeship that has formed.

The definition of “team” is what Girardi has accomplished in his last season and a half. That is no small feet with the amount of all-stars with huge paychecks the Yanks have. Then having to fill a hero’s shoes in Torre, only to have that same man he once called his skipper sell the team out for all to read about didn’t make the new Joe’s job any easier.

Girardi is now in sync with the players and it has shown in the determination to win over and over again. Beating Halladay was just another full blown example of what is happening and Girardi is responsible for the team’s success.

Along with our skipper, the players are so proud of their team to let that go.

This was seen tonight but the outstanding job done by Andy Petite who pitched seven plus solid innings. Commanding the plate with his cutter, Petite struck out Alex Rios for his sixth strike out and that was in the bottom of the seventh. Continue reading ‘Joe Girardi’s Secrets: How The Yanks Took A Halladay’ »

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The 3 Teams of the American League East

Posted by on 15 July 2009, 4:02 am
The American League Eastis hands down going to be the toughest division race, yet again. I am not

English: Boston Red Sox Cap Logo

Image via Wikipedia

saying this cause I am a Yankees fan but as a baseball fan. The top three teams being Tampa, Boston and New York are all loaded with star players, old rivalries and new ones that have started.

The second half, the middle-man being the All-Star break of this long baseball season begins and with it comes a fresh start. Let the races begin….

The Rays are hungry as they tasted what it is liek to get to the Championship and how awesome it is to win, they learned that first-hand watching the Phillies celebrate a tough world series for both teams played well. I have said it all season that these Rays are hungry, young and so talented I almost slip-up on the teams name. “Talented Bay Rays” are hungry and it looks like the sneak attack has begun.
The average age is 26 and already household names with Longoria, Crawford, Garza, Shields, Uptown, Pena and that is just to name a few.

MY ADVICE: All in the Rays path better get ready cause watch out, cause here they come.

The Red Sox are the new Yankees. They have been solid and consistent all season never really hitting a slump like most teams. Everyone participates, all the players are good. Continue reading ‘The 3 Teams of the American League East’ »

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Many Nations Live In The Universe……

Posted by on 28 June 2009, 4:49 am

Here is a nice fact about the current American League East, the Yankees cannot lose a game until the Red Sox do.

The games, being four, that is the divide between first and second place is at critical point. The two possibilities are for the Yanks to gain and make this a one or two game difference to be in a position to pounce; which entails Boston to start coming undone. Could it happen? Anything could happen but the odds are in the Red Sox favor because the team is consistent with winning series. It means the Yankees have to put all else out of mind and keep winning.

The worst scenario is for the Yankees to stop being able to hit all together, runners being stranded on base which leads to frustration. The Yankees are on a winning streak. Even though it is against the Mets who are injury ridden and a mess the Marlins beat up on my Yanks so better or worse team is irrelevant. This would leave the Yankees in a six or seven game whole going into the break. Not where this team needs to be or should be.

Instead the Yankees need to only be about the Yankees. Worry about no one but themselves by playing steady, fundamental baseball. Basically not worrying who the opposing pitcher is that night but on how they are going to hit that night. Don’t worry who the specific batter at the plate is instead how that ball is not getting by you and obtaining that out. Continue reading ‘Many Nations Live In The Universe……’ »

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Who Sent The Memo "The Nationals Turn To Nasty???"

Posted by on 19 June 2009, 3:59 am

The Nationals took the series from my Yankees tonight by winning their second out of three games. Am I that surprised? No.

Why? I look at the weeks prior to this series and in years past this is the time right before the all-star break where the length of the season starts to take its toll. Everyone is tired, players, managers are a little burnt out but its just part of baseball.

I know this sounds like an excuse but I am neither the fan, nor the type of person who comes up with excuses for my favorite team to make myself feel better. There is no reason for it because the performance will speak for itself in the big picture. The word discouraged comes to mind when losing two of three to the worst team, by far in the entire majors. I can promise you that my discouragement will turn to anger if the Yankees miss the playoffs by a game. Not only did the Yanks lose an easy series but also Jeter had to be taken out in the first game. It was evident to all watching by his ankle being in pain as Derek limped to first base. Any fan knows that our Captain does not like sitting out games and always wants to play. When Girardi called on Jeter to pinch-hit tonight I was uneasy which I will sustain over the next few games as losing Jeter cannot occur. Our Captain is so vital words cannot express; that’s why he has that title and honor.

In second game of this series against Washington, Chien-Ming Wang was starting and Jeter not on the roaster. All who love the Yanks knew the prerequisite for the game was that Wang had to prove himself again and that was mandatory. Yes, I agree that he was improved compared to his previous starts. And I hate to be blunt and completely unoptimistic but Wang stunk in all his prior starts this season. I am actually being kind when I come to think of it.

Regardless of a pitchers contributions in past seasons this is about the current season and the current season only. I am in full agreement that a player who is not near the age of retirement, along with a track record that Wang obviously possesses does deserve the benefit of the doubt for whatever the reason that it is not the norm. Then Yankees have been more then generous in terms of showing their confidence in allowing Wang to be in the rotation. I cannot think of a better boost of confidence than a team that continues to lose games when you start and still not getting discouraged in your abilities as a player. Enough is enough here. I don’t think the miracle is going to happen to Chien-Ming Wang. Continue reading ‘Who Sent The Memo "The Nationals Turn To Nasty???"’ »

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Playing Against The Yankees In a Red Sox Nation….

Posted by on 17 June 2009, 3:52 am

 

Tonight’s game was just was pretty uneventful except for the few minutes where the Yanks were actually losing to the worst team in baseball. I was actually joking earlier today with a friend that the Nationals would probably sweep the Yankees knowing how the Yankees luck was at a teetering point lately.

Why would this have not surprised me? Imagine or really envision being on an opposing team imagine how it must feel to play the Yankees, especially at home in the Bronx. Intimidating to say the least but jealous with genuine admiration at the same time.

I heard it described by many players as feeling like you are in the playoffs or the World Series even. Winning in Yankee Stadium, against a lineup that rivals that of the all-star game brings out the competitive edge a player must want in their own home field. The fans roar and not only in NYC but anywhere the Yankees travel. Rarified air must have the Yankees Logo next to it in the dictionary because the normally half filled if that, is all of sudden sold out.

It’s no wonder that teams my Yankees should destroy will win and win well sometimes. In defense of this years club I believe that was the Yankees of the last five years, not the 2009 club. Why you ask? Finally the reality that this team is not the best, hasn’t won the World Series in years and didn’t make the playoffs after acting like it was the law. I think the new team realizes that that history is history but realistically it is a Red Sox nation now. Every game played must not be played differently, almost as if to be colorblind and no names of opposing teams able to be seen.

The motivation for this change as a fan, an observer, a follower is the obvious team comradery so evidently being missed. It is the quintessential part of winning, hands down. I think we all have encountered this in just our own personal, day-to-day dealings that if you like the person/people and respect the other people involved, whatever the situation may be, you work considerably harder to achieve. I promise you that I would defend any of my friends’ dear to my heart with all I got especially when they’re threatened or hit intentionally by a 90 mile an hour fastball.

No team can win without having that bond. Prime examples are the NY Giants winning the super bowl in 2007 or the Tampa Bay Rays of 2008. Unfortunately I deem the dreaded ‘big ego’ stung but I hope for baseball it will not dictate their future. The Rays are sure not acting like the new guys as they stroll onto the field. Tampa was the team I worried most about before the season but whatever it was that binded them last year is far gone and it shows. If teams like the Rays think they have proven themselves enough and wear it on their sleeves it’s going to be a lengthy stretch before that team will get on the main stage again. Trust me on this one, as I am a Yankees fan so I know from experience. Continue reading ‘Playing Against The Yankees In a Red Sox Nation….’ »

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Dare I Even Blog To This…….

Posted by on 10 June 2009, 3:29 am

Wow did the Yankees ever waste my time tonight and I thought I was watching a different team. Pretty scary when you think about Yankees line-up of yesterday compared to what I witnessed tonight. As of the past 6-7 weeks the Yanks have been absolutely destroying teams in their way and good teams to back this fact. Tonight, the destroying got destroyed!!!

I do no think anyone who is not from Boston really needs me to recap the game, anymore then I just did in the paragraph above. Here are three things I experienced during this game:

  • Big Papi still got it and I was clapping for him. I will respect and cheer for any athlete like David Ortiz. He is rarified air in sports these days. How you might ask? Ortiz, Jeter, Federer, Mickelson, Eli, Mariano to name a few on this short list all possess the same quality that makes these athletes adored by everyone who gets the honor of watching them. You cannot ‘how’ yourself into having this characteristic, it comes from the individual way each of these athletes define themselves. Each man on this list know that what they do in sports is a privilege which each one of them respect and understand that they are role models to the future. With this respect they use it as an opportunity to be leaders both when playing and when not. When I watch Mariano Rivera blow a save he loses with more grace then when he wins. And each of these distinguished men and the few more I haven’t name are blessed with a gift. So that is why I was so happy for Big Papi tonight. WELL, DONE PAPI!

Continue reading ‘Dare I Even Blog To This…….’ »

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