Last night I'm at Hawaiian Tropic Zone in Manhattan hanging out with two friends, both of whom are in the sports industry and pull no punches with their takes. Behind the sight of hot women dancing and wearing skimpy attire was four television screens, one in each corner, picture-in-picture of a space at least 200x200 feet. Each aired Yankees vs. Blue Jays on YES, with the Yankees getting blasted 13-0 by the time I left. Every player wearing gray were wishing they had some swimsuit model giving them undivided attention. Manager Joe Girardi sat defeated in the dugout, probably wishing he was back in the broadcast booth.
We went to the Zone not for baseball, but for cheesecake, but we couldn't ignore the Blue Jays smacking around Sidney Ponson, David Robertson and Billy Traber. In the top half of each inning, the Roy Halladay was treating the, um, vaunted Yankees offense made me think of "The Sandlot," when Benny Rodriguez's team made fools of their neighborhood rivals.
Okay, the season's still not over. I remember last season's Phillies and Rockies. But what makes anyone think this Yankees team can suddenly turn the volume up to, never mind 11, but 111, just like that? For comic relief, or depressing perspective, today's New York Post started its' tragic number countdown. Any combination of Rays wins and Yankees losses totaling 23 eliminates the Yankees from the AL East race, wrote George King. Any combo of Red Sox wins and Yankees losses equaling 24 kills the Yankees' Wild Card hopes.
If I'm proven wrong, so be it, but time to look ahead to Yankee Stadium's farewell party on Sept. 21. I'll be there, but I won't be reporting a funeral. I have too many Stadium memories to let what's realistically a transition season tarnish that upcoming experience. Today's task: An interview with MMA fighter and fellow Long Islander Matt Serra, my first assignment for MMAjunkie.com.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
King for a Captain?
Forgetting about the Yankees for a minute - today they decided that Carl Pavano will play a role in whether their season is resurrected or burnt to a crisp - readers of my Blue Lines Rangers Blog for SNY.tv shared some feedback on who should serve as team captain next season whether Mats Sundin signs on or not. Some choices were obvious: Markus Naslund, Chris Drury, Brendan Shanahan (if he returns), but there was one I didn't think of, Henrik Lundqvist.
The King may have warranted an 'A' if NHL rules allowed it, but may not have that hell fire and brimstone mentality to wear the 'C'. I've interviewed Lundqvist after many games. He's cool under fire, but the fire in his belly burns when he's between the pipes. He's not one to argue with a linesman or tell a player with a lazy work ethic - you listening, Nikolai Zherdev? - to get his act together.
At least optimism reigns with the Rangers, who quite frankly need to get beyond the second round for their season to be considered nothing less than a disappointment. The Yankees are toast yet, but they're carrying that disappointment label like a 300-pound gorilla. Win or lose, they'll be interesting to watch down the stretch. You never need to sell this team. Even with Pavano pitching Saturday, some fans will tune in out of morbid curiosity.
The King may have warranted an 'A' if NHL rules allowed it, but may not have that hell fire and brimstone mentality to wear the 'C'. I've interviewed Lundqvist after many games. He's cool under fire, but the fire in his belly burns when he's between the pipes. He's not one to argue with a linesman or tell a player with a lazy work ethic - you listening, Nikolai Zherdev? - to get his act together.
At least optimism reigns with the Rangers, who quite frankly need to get beyond the second round for their season to be considered nothing less than a disappointment. The Yankees are toast yet, but they're carrying that disappointment label like a 300-pound gorilla. Win or lose, they'll be interesting to watch down the stretch. You never need to sell this team. Even with Pavano pitching Saturday, some fans will tune in out of morbid curiosity.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The Yankee Meter
Today, Aug. 19, 2008, as the Yankees return from an off day, they sit 10 games out of the AL East penthouse. Technically it's not over, but forget the division for a minute. They're a more manageable 5 1/2 games behind the Red Sox - 4 behind the Twins - for the Wild Card. It's very easy to dismiss them, but for the last three seasons, they've somehow dug deep enough to make a relentless and successful push to the postseason. Even though I'm sticking to my word that the Yankees will fall short this time, it's not over yet.
The last time the Yankees were in this much trouble was 1995. On this date 13 years ago, they were 10 1/2 behind AL East-leading Boston and 11 from the Wild Card spot (Credit: www.baseballrace.com). That team finished 26-7 to sneak into the playoffs on the season's last day.
Back in '95, I was a college graduate watching from afar. That team, robbed of a division title by the baseball strike the year before, had the horses to make a run. There was Wade Boggs, who finished that season batting .324. Bernie Williams and Andy Pettitte were in the early stages of their careers. Williams batted .307. Pettitte (12-9) finished third in AL Rookie of the Year voting. Paul O'Neill was 32, in his third season in New York, and his competitive fire was a prelude to him winning four World Series rings. Then there was David Cone. The "hired gun" went 9-2 after being acquired from the Blue Jays on July 28.
The last few seasons were less of a grind, but almost as stressful. A Yankees team a little older each season someone pulled it together to overcome periods of sub-.500 baseball to keep its postseason streak alive from 2005-07. But there's a tangible difference this season. Many of the core players are at a point when Father Time slowly erodes your skills and those nagging injuries bark a bit louder. Those seasons of treating every game down the stretch like it was do-or-die takes a toll. And just when the Yankees make a run and you're feeling good about their chances, their offense flames out and succumbs under the pressure of driving home runners in scoring position.
Furthermore, there's neither a David Cone, nor a Shawn Chacon, nor an Aaron Small, to step up and bail them out. The Brewers imported CC Sabathia, the Cubs Rich Harden, the Dodgers (apparently) Greg Maddux, the Red Sox Paul Byrd. The Yankees? Looks like Carl Pavano (yes, him) will be called upon to start on Saturday. The way this crazy season has unfolded, imagine Pavano playing that hired gun and going 6-0 down the stretch?
Fallacy! Don't attach that word to the Yankees' playoff hopes, but a lot will have to have to go right, like in 1995.
Meanwhile, Mats Sundin wants to play for the Rangers or call it a career, depending on who you believe. If they can fit him within their salary cap, Sundin remains an impact player who would make a huge difference.
The last time the Yankees were in this much trouble was 1995. On this date 13 years ago, they were 10 1/2 behind AL East-leading Boston and 11 from the Wild Card spot (Credit: www.baseballrace.com). That team finished 26-7 to sneak into the playoffs on the season's last day.
Back in '95, I was a college graduate watching from afar. That team, robbed of a division title by the baseball strike the year before, had the horses to make a run. There was Wade Boggs, who finished that season batting .324. Bernie Williams and Andy Pettitte were in the early stages of their careers. Williams batted .307. Pettitte (12-9) finished third in AL Rookie of the Year voting. Paul O'Neill was 32, in his third season in New York, and his competitive fire was a prelude to him winning four World Series rings. Then there was David Cone. The "hired gun" went 9-2 after being acquired from the Blue Jays on July 28.
The last few seasons were less of a grind, but almost as stressful. A Yankees team a little older each season someone pulled it together to overcome periods of sub-.500 baseball to keep its postseason streak alive from 2005-07. But there's a tangible difference this season. Many of the core players are at a point when Father Time slowly erodes your skills and those nagging injuries bark a bit louder. Those seasons of treating every game down the stretch like it was do-or-die takes a toll. And just when the Yankees make a run and you're feeling good about their chances, their offense flames out and succumbs under the pressure of driving home runners in scoring position.
Furthermore, there's neither a David Cone, nor a Shawn Chacon, nor an Aaron Small, to step up and bail them out. The Brewers imported CC Sabathia, the Cubs Rich Harden, the Dodgers (apparently) Greg Maddux, the Red Sox Paul Byrd. The Yankees? Looks like Carl Pavano (yes, him) will be called upon to start on Saturday. The way this crazy season has unfolded, imagine Pavano playing that hired gun and going 6-0 down the stretch?
Fallacy! Don't attach that word to the Yankees' playoff hopes, but a lot will have to have to go right, like in 1995.
_______________________
Meanwhile, Mats Sundin wants to play for the Rangers or call it a career, depending on who you believe. If they can fit him within their salary cap, Sundin remains an impact player who would make a huge difference.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Local kid Biggio to have number retired
The Houston Astros will retire Craig Biggio's No. 7 before Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks. I've had two encounters with Biggio, who grew up near my hometown of Smithtown, N.Y. Both were positive.
The first was in June 2003. One of my first assignments for YES was to cover the Yankees' three-game interleague series against the Astros. My feature article was of local interest, Biggio, and we spoke for more than 20 minutes about growing up in the area and his career in the big-leagues. As fate had it, I reported history later that evening, though it wasn't exactly what my employers had in mind. Six Astros pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter against the Yankees. I didn't speak to Biggio afterwords, but I was in Joe Torre's office. Whoa boy.
The second was at the Thurman Munson Awards in February, when Biggio was honored for his excellence in competition and philanthropic work within the community. He was newly retired after becoming the only player with at least 3,000 hits (3,060), 600 doubles (668), 400 stolen bases (414) and 250 home runs (291), but those gaudy numbers never got to his head. In a day and age where many players' egos dwarf skyscrapers, Biggio stood humbled at being compared to his role model, Munson.
Remember, Biggio began his career as a catcher. He's also one of the great guys in sports, deserving to be compared to Munson. Deserving to have his No. 7 never to be worn again in Houston.
The first was in June 2003. One of my first assignments for YES was to cover the Yankees' three-game interleague series against the Astros. My feature article was of local interest, Biggio, and we spoke for more than 20 minutes about growing up in the area and his career in the big-leagues. As fate had it, I reported history later that evening, though it wasn't exactly what my employers had in mind. Six Astros pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter against the Yankees. I didn't speak to Biggio afterwords, but I was in Joe Torre's office. Whoa boy.
The second was at the Thurman Munson Awards in February, when Biggio was honored for his excellence in competition and philanthropic work within the community. He was newly retired after becoming the only player with at least 3,000 hits (3,060), 600 doubles (668), 400 stolen bases (414) and 250 home runs (291), but those gaudy numbers never got to his head. In a day and age where many players' egos dwarf skyscrapers, Biggio stood humbled at being compared to his role model, Munson.
Remember, Biggio began his career as a catcher. He's also one of the great guys in sports, deserving to be compared to Munson. Deserving to have his No. 7 never to be worn again in Houston.
Dead meat? No. Cold as ice? Yes.
The front page of today's New York Post has a tombstone affixed with a Yankees logo and an epitaph on the 2008 season. The headline and subhead, respectively, of George King's story reads: THE DIE IS CAST; YANKS ARE DEAD MEAT AFTER 3-7 TRIP.
"Their supporters are urged to pay their respects privately today for the team that is looking toe-tag dead in the AL East and wild card races," King writes.
Technically, it's too early to stick the fork in the Yankees. Yes, they've looked embarrassingly hideous during a 3-7 road trip. They're a whopping nine games out of first place and six out of the Wild Card. But you have to learn from history. I wrote last week (scroll down David Justice's column to see the inline box) that on Aug. 26, 1995, the Yankees were off an eight-game losing streak and eight games out of the Wild Card race. They finished that season 26-7 to sneak into the playoffs on the final day. And there are a handful of examples, most recently last year's Mets, that prove the season is a 162-game marathon and that Yogi Berra is a genius.
The Yankees aren't dead and buried, but I've said since June they're not making the playoffs. The injuries of Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain are too much to overcome - if not for Mike Mussina, I'd declare the Yanks dead and buried - and the offense has been the season's biggest disappointment. The core players are a year older. David Justice and I have discussed this repeatedly. When you're older, it's human nature for your skills to slowly erode and a nagging injury you can shake off when you're younger is now more stubborn and barks a little more louder each day. David once told me, "Johnny Damon may be in the lineup, but that doesn't mean he's healthy." Damon is another year older. So is Derek Jeter. So is Bobby Abreu. There's no conincidence the latter two are having down seasons. Are their careers in a decline? Not necessarily, but we're looking at this downcast 2008 season in a vacuum.
Damon hasn't been the problem. There's been lots of them as my colleague and friend Howie Karpin writes in his great blog, "Howie Karpin's 3 Balls, 2 Strikes." Howie, among other things, is like many others are trying to make sense of Robinson Cano. Thirty million for four years and his mind is on anything except baseball.
"Their supporters are urged to pay their respects privately today for the team that is looking toe-tag dead in the AL East and wild card races," King writes.
Technically, it's too early to stick the fork in the Yankees. Yes, they've looked embarrassingly hideous during a 3-7 road trip. They're a whopping nine games out of first place and six out of the Wild Card. But you have to learn from history. I wrote last week (scroll down David Justice's column to see the inline box) that on Aug. 26, 1995, the Yankees were off an eight-game losing streak and eight games out of the Wild Card race. They finished that season 26-7 to sneak into the playoffs on the final day. And there are a handful of examples, most recently last year's Mets, that prove the season is a 162-game marathon and that Yogi Berra is a genius.
The Yankees aren't dead and buried, but I've said since June they're not making the playoffs. The injuries of Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain are too much to overcome - if not for Mike Mussina, I'd declare the Yanks dead and buried - and the offense has been the season's biggest disappointment. The core players are a year older. David Justice and I have discussed this repeatedly. When you're older, it's human nature for your skills to slowly erode and a nagging injury you can shake off when you're younger is now more stubborn and barks a little more louder each day. David once told me, "Johnny Damon may be in the lineup, but that doesn't mean he's healthy." Damon is another year older. So is Derek Jeter. So is Bobby Abreu. There's no conincidence the latter two are having down seasons. Are their careers in a decline? Not necessarily, but we're looking at this downcast 2008 season in a vacuum.
Damon hasn't been the problem. There's been lots of them as my colleague and friend Howie Karpin writes in his great blog, "Howie Karpin's 3 Balls, 2 Strikes." Howie, among other things, is like many others are trying to make sense of Robinson Cano. Thirty million for four years and his mind is on anything except baseball.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Leetch, Richter forever linked
After a week of decompressing following the MLB trade deadline, I dusted off my hockey hat to react to Brian Leetch and Mike Richter's induction into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. There's too much to get into for everything to fit in one blog entry - I didn't even get into Richter's accomplishments playing for the U.S. Olympic and the World Cup of Hockey in 1996 - but in a vacuum, all you need remember is 1994.
That Rangers team wasn't just hockey's biggest story. For much of that spring and summer, hockey took over the city of New York. The Rangers, in ending that 54-year drought, became national and international news. There were many who stood out that season. I'll give you three names: Leetch, Richter and Mark Messier.
That Rangers team wasn't just hockey's biggest story. For much of that spring and summer, hockey took over the city of New York. The Rangers, in ending that 54-year drought, became national and international news. There were many who stood out that season. I'll give you three names: Leetch, Richter and Mark Messier.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Trade deadline mayhem
The trade deadline came and went with no new additions to the Yankees after Ivan Rodriguez. Pudge is pumped for the stretch run, while the Yankee players are pretty thrilled that Manny Ramirez is out of their hair. People in Boston are happy too, for much different reasons, but David Justice, speaking to me for his latest column, stood up for his old teammate.
Meanwhile, I provided a different take on Pudge for the good folks at the MLBPA's Web site. There's certainly more to this future Hall of Famer than meets the eye.
Meanwhile, I provided a different take on Pudge for the good folks at the MLBPA's Web site. There's certainly more to this future Hall of Famer than meets the eye.
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