The Yankees' season is officially over, one which Derek Jeter called a failure, but it's only the beginning of what promises to be an eventful offseason. With both Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium dark in October — and with dates with a wrecking ball — the Giants and Jets are suddenly front and center. That means more people will be paying attention Plaxico Burress' insubordination and Brett's New York Jets — and the minute detail of the undefeated, first-place Giants' quest to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
Less people will notice, or even care, that the Rangers begin their regular season Saturday in Prague against the Tampa Bay Lightening. I'll be posting random thoughts on the team on my Blue Lines Blog throughout a campaign where it's essentially the Eastern Conference Finals or bust.
On the YES end, some exciting projects are in the works with the New Jersey Nets, that is until the Yankees sign a top-shelf free agent or swing a major trade.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Stadium sings its swan song
Beautiful music was created Sunday night in the Bronx. It wasn't a sad farewell to Yankee Stadium, it was
a celebration. Bernie Williams received the largest ovation of the evening and it was a memorable marathon day for the fans.
Maybe I don't make six figures, but nights like this is one of many reasons why I decided to get into the journalism business.
Including Sunday night, my Stadium memories are plentiful: Playoff games in 1997, 1998, and 2004-2006. Alex Rodriguez driving in 10 runs. Bernie's final regular season home game as a Yankee (to date, anyway), when he served as acting manager. Randy Johnson besting Tim Wakefield, 1-0 on September 11, 2005. Welcoming back Bobby Murcer on Opening Day 2007 and ghost writing his exclusive column. Josh Hamilton's incredible performance at the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game the following night.
Personally, two stand out: Walking the Stadium with my dad, "The Walk" as we called it, talking Yankees history. And playing our guessing game during the handful of Old Timers' Days we attended, trying to beat each other on naming the player before he's announced to the crowd.
a celebration. Bernie Williams received the largest ovation of the evening and it was a memorable marathon day for the fans.
Maybe I don't make six figures, but nights like this is one of many reasons why I decided to get into the journalism business.
Including Sunday night, my Stadium memories are plentiful: Playoff games in 1997, 1998, and 2004-2006. Alex Rodriguez driving in 10 runs. Bernie's final regular season home game as a Yankee (to date, anyway), when he served as acting manager. Randy Johnson besting Tim Wakefield, 1-0 on September 11, 2005. Welcoming back Bobby Murcer on Opening Day 2007 and ghost writing his exclusive column. Josh Hamilton's incredible performance at the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game the following night.
Personally, two stand out: Walking the Stadium with my dad, "The Walk" as we called it, talking Yankees history. And playing our guessing game during the handful of Old Timers' Days we attended, trying to beat each other on naming the player before he's announced to the crowd.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Posada: Leave Joba in the pen
The Yankees' starting rotation needs reinforcements, but if you ask Jorge Posada, Joba Chamberlain isn't part of the solution.
"Leave him in the bullpen," Posada said.
Can't the Yankees just nip this in the bud? Just like Joe Girardi finally putting Robinson Cano in his place, too many issues lingered and festered for way too long. I'm only being fair, but Joe Torre never let that happen.
Meanwhile, on to a much more important situation. A good friend of mine has started his journey towards a second bone-marrow transplant. Please keep Mike Coyne in your prayers.
"Leave him in the bullpen," Posada said.
Can't the Yankees just nip this in the bud? Just like Joe Girardi finally putting Robinson Cano in his place, too many issues lingered and festered for way too long. I'm only being fair, but Joe Torre never let that happen.
Meanwhile, on to a much more important situation. A good friend of mine has started his journey towards a second bone-marrow transplant. Please keep Mike Coyne in your prayers.
Friday, September 12, 2008
The final countdown
It won't hit me for awhile, but in nine days, Yankee Stadium will be closed forever. Yeah, a fabulous new ballpark is opening next season, but the old House that Ruth Built has meant so much to so many, for so long.
I'll have my say, as will players old and new, on September 21, but for these next nine days it's the fans' chance to share their thoughts. A few weeks ago, my mother suggested a story about a patient of hers — she's an office manager for a chiropractic center — whose father was once an advance scout for the Yankees. This week I caught up with Robert Cuccinello, a retired detective from the Nassau County Police Department. As one reader put it, "These unknown human stories woven into all the big stuff are some of the most interesting ones for me."
Robert is a great guy and it's proof how much of an emotional impact a team and Yankee Stadium can have on people.
Meanwhile, David Justice pulled no punches in our latest column. He's been saying all season the Yankees weren't a championship caliber team, but little did we know they weren't even a playoff caliber team. It's been easy for fans to blame Joe Girardi, Brian Cashman and Alex Rodriguez, but Derek Jeter is essentially Teflon.
David played with Jeter in 2000 and 2001. He knows he has the respect of the team, which is why he urged the Yankees captain to be much more vocal. Forget this lead by example stuff. "He knows what it takes to win. Express it. He has the respect of each of his teammates, so vocalize it," he writes.
Easier said than done. It's also easy for the casual fan to forget that Justice owns two World Series rings and played in six World Series. The man's a winner and he was never afraid to call anyone out. Neither of us suggest Jeter is afraid, but some of the younger players — read Robinson Cano — need to be scared straight. "They're kids," said Crash Davis. "Scare 'em."
I'll have my say, as will players old and new, on September 21, but for these next nine days it's the fans' chance to share their thoughts. A few weeks ago, my mother suggested a story about a patient of hers — she's an office manager for a chiropractic center — whose father was once an advance scout for the Yankees. This week I caught up with Robert Cuccinello, a retired detective from the Nassau County Police Department. As one reader put it, "These unknown human stories woven into all the big stuff are some of the most interesting ones for me."
Robert is a great guy and it's proof how much of an emotional impact a team and Yankee Stadium can have on people.
Meanwhile, David Justice pulled no punches in our latest column. He's been saying all season the Yankees weren't a championship caliber team, but little did we know they weren't even a playoff caliber team. It's been easy for fans to blame Joe Girardi, Brian Cashman and Alex Rodriguez, but Derek Jeter is essentially Teflon.
David played with Jeter in 2000 and 2001. He knows he has the respect of the team, which is why he urged the Yankees captain to be much more vocal. Forget this lead by example stuff. "He knows what it takes to win. Express it. He has the respect of each of his teammates, so vocalize it," he writes.
Easier said than done. It's also easy for the casual fan to forget that Justice owns two World Series rings and played in six World Series. The man's a winner and he was never afraid to call anyone out. Neither of us suggest Jeter is afraid, but some of the younger players — read Robinson Cano — need to be scared straight. "They're kids," said Crash Davis. "Scare 'em."
Monday, September 8, 2008
Matt Serra: "I want to retire Matt Hughes"
My debut article for MMAjunkie.com, a popular Mixed Martial Arts Web site, tells the story of former welterweight champion Matt Serra. A fellow Long Islander, Serra and I talked about an array of topics during our 30-plus minute conversation, during which he made it clear more than once that he wants to not only fight Matt Hughes, but retire him. This feature was also syndicated on Yahoo! Sports as part of a content-partnership deal between the two sites.
One of the great things about MMA is that it features the theatrics of boxing and professional wrestling, but not only has a triangle choke hold on the public (unlike the former), but it's for lack of a better term, "real" (unlike the latter). Look, I may not be as big a wrestling fan than I was in the past, but "fake" is a dirty word . The difference is that while pro wrestling's results are pre-determined, and the industry promotes itself as sports entertainment, it's more real that anyone — especially the ignorant — can possibly imagine. The average person, even many who are supremely conditioned, wouldn't last 30 seconds training with a pro wrestler or a mixed martial artist.
Getting back to the point, what happens inside an MMA ring — the octagon — is real from start to finish. And the hype to each fight tells a compelling story and makes you give a damn about each fighter. Each has a story, a rival, a vendetta, and the UFC does a tremendous job of striking the emotional cords of their audience.
One of the great things about MMA is that it features the theatrics of boxing and professional wrestling, but not only has a triangle choke hold on the public (unlike the former), but it's for lack of a better term, "real" (unlike the latter). Look, I may not be as big a wrestling fan than I was in the past, but "fake" is a dirty word . The difference is that while pro wrestling's results are pre-determined, and the industry promotes itself as sports entertainment, it's more real that anyone — especially the ignorant — can possibly imagine. The average person, even many who are supremely conditioned, wouldn't last 30 seconds training with a pro wrestler or a mixed martial artist.
Getting back to the point, what happens inside an MMA ring — the octagon — is real from start to finish. And the hype to each fight tells a compelling story and makes you give a damn about each fighter. Each has a story, a rival, a vendetta, and the UFC does a tremendous job of striking the emotional cords of their audience.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Update: Justice's state of the Yankees
My latest column with David Justice expands upon my views in my previous post. His take on Joba Chamberlain: The Yankees' future closer.
What would you do with Joba? How is he more valuable, as a frontline starter or perhaps the only one who'd come remotely close to stepping into Mariano Rivera's spot?
What would you do with Joba? How is he more valuable, as a frontline starter or perhaps the only one who'd come remotely close to stepping into Mariano Rivera's spot?
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Pertinent questions for 2009
I'm finally back in the blogosphere after laying low the last couple of weeks. First was my son's first birthday party, which brought a three-day weekend, quality time with family and friends, and serious bonding time. Then there was Labor Day, which afforded three more days of R&R, BBQ and father-son bonding.
Since melting against the Red Sox and Blue Jays, the Yankees broke out the lumber in wins over the Tigers and Rays. Exciting right? In a word, no.
The season is over. I know what Yogi Berra said and I'm aware that on this date in 1995, the Yankees were 7 1/2 games back in the Wild Card race and seven entering tonight's action, and remember what the Phillies and Rockies did last season. Thirteen years ago, however, the Yankees were a different team. They were gritty & gutty, down & dirty. So were the 2007 Phillies. So were the 2007 Rockies, who won the National League pennant.
This season? The Yankees are old, banged-up with no sense of fundamentals, right now incapable of putting together an extended winning streak and a sum about 1/4th its parts on paper. Watching the Yankees pound the ball against the Tigers and Rays made me wonder where this was against Tim Wakefield and Paul Byrd. And if I received a nickel for every time Alex Rodriguez struck out, popped up or grounded into a double play with runners in scoring position, I'd apply for early retirement.
If I'm wrong I'll say I'm wrong, because anything truly can happen. But I'm sticking with my word: Forget about this year. This team is in store for a major reconstruction. Some decisions are easy. First, this should beJason Giambi's final season in pinstripes. Second, I don't care if Carl Pavano goes 6-0. If - and that's a big if - you want him back, you offer him one year and that's it. Third and fourth, Jorge Posada will be back behind the plate and Chien-Ming Wang as the Yankees' ace.
Other decisions aren't as easy and need more time to digest:
Andy Pettitte: Stay or Go?
The crew from Dugout Central debated this topic in their weekly point-counterpoint segment for YESNetwork.com (Stay | Go). In two stints with the Yankees, Andy Pettitte has started 31 playoff games, won four World Series and has been right guy on the mound for a plethora of big regular season contests. Today, he's 36, enduring a down season and is signed only through the end of this campaign for $16 million. There's talk that Pettitte's best days are behind him and he's no longer a "big-game" pitcher, and his performance in Game 1 of that crucial three-game series against the Red Sox last month (six runs, 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings pitched) supported that statement.
On the surface, it's easy to say part ways with Pettitte - who may not want to pitch anymore, anyway - make room for at least one young pitcher and save as much money as possible to make an all-out push for CC Sabathia. I've also heard a few times that you can never have enough pitching. And wasn't Mike Mussina supposed to be washed-up? Last I looked he has 17 wins and is the MVP of this otherwise disappointing Yankees team.
What about Moose?
Speaking of Mussina, one of few compelling storylines left in 2008 is whether Mussina (17-7) will win 20 games for the first time in his career. Al Leiter broke it down Tuesday night on YES, and The Journal News' Peter Abraham presented it in writing:
"The Yankees have days off scheduled for Sept. 11 and Sept. 22. If Mike Mussina pitches every five days he would get starts on Sept. 7 (Seattle), Sept. 12 (Tampa Bay), Sept. 17 (Chicago), Sept. 23 (Toronto) and Sept. 28 (Boston). If the Yankees stick with a five-man rotation, Mussina would get only four starts. At 17-7, this could have a direct impact on whether he wins 20 games for the first time."
What will help Mussina is the removal of Sidney Ponson from the rotation. If Sir Sidney (18 runs in 9 2/3 innings over his last three starts) is skipped, Moose would be lined up to start the season finale in Boston. As Abraham indicates, Joe Girardi has been stubbornly loyal to Ponson, even getting testy with reporters (again) when it was suggested Ponson's spot would be in jeopardy. Why not show some gratitude to Mussina, especially if he doesn't return next season?
Would you re-sign Mussina for another year? Like Pettitte, it makes for a healthy debate. He won't flirt with 20 wins again, but is there anyone better to fill the back-end of the rotation? Phil Hughes? Perhaps. I'm one of the dwindling few who believe Hughes will be something special. Ian Kennedy? How far has he fallen?
Solution? Tell Mussina and Pettitte Father Time is cruel and offer one of them, depending on if Sabathia or A.J. Burnett agree to play in the Bronx, a take-it-or-leave-it one-year deal.
The Joba Rules Part II
Joba Chamberlain is back in the bullpen and that will apparently continue through the start of next season. It's wholly tempting to throw who I firmly believe is the future ace of this staff, and who develop into the Yankees first successful, homegrown pitcher since Pettitte, immediately back into the rotation. But think about this long and hard. Chamberlain is 22 years old. He just missed a month with rotator cuff tendinitis. Anything involving a rotator cuff would scare the daylights out of me.
Anyone who complains that Chamberlain is a front-line starter and not a set-up man, you're right. But what's the rush? He's 22 with a history of arm trouble. You cannot be too careful and too overprotective of your most valuable resource. And why start him when your season is theoretically over?
Trade Cano?
Robinson Cano is the Yankees' biggest disappointment this season. Period. Not only was he, entering Wednesday, 38 points below his career average, his head has been up his rear end and his attitude has been deplorable. This has the Yankees' return investment on the $30 million they agreed to pay him for four years. Rather than take the heat on Saturday after a careless throw cost the Yankees a game, he snuck out the back door while reporters surrounded Alex Rodriguez's locker listening to A-Rod gallantly accept blame for once again failing in the clutch. Privately, players have grumbled to reporters that the Yankees made a huge mistake by bending on their policy of not giving long term deals until after a season. They jumped to lock up Cano, while Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera all had to wait.
Does Cano go? Even if the Yankees want to trade him, they can't. His value has plummeted, and quite frankly, it's a blessing in disguise. Unless Brian Cashman or whomever the GM is (more on this later) is blown away by a knee-buckling proposal (Roger Clemens for David Wells, Graeme Lloyd and Homer Bush in 1999), Cano is too talented to throw away after one bad season. Want proof? See Jose Reyes.
Another thought: You retain Cano this winter. He puts together decent numbers, but an incident either uncovered by those infamous "sources familiar with the situation" (even though there are three sides to the story) or goes no further than flies on the wall, convinces the Yankees to trade him. A few teams step forward, enticed by Cano's talent, age and upside, and positive that a "change of scenery" will help him. The Yankees pull the trigger and get more for cutting their losses.
Will Cashman return?
The New York Post reported that the Steinbrenners have decided they want Brian Cashman to remain as general manager. But does Cashman want to come back? He started with the Yankees as an intern and it's the organization he knows. Hank and Hal will remind him about loyalty, sell him on the new Yankee Stadium and of course offer him a sack of money. But the Phillies will also be calling. So will the Nationals. Ditto the Mariners. If money isn't the top priority, Cashman will be tempted to work in an atmosphere where he can take a deep breath and fully exhale.
Stay tuned.
Since melting against the Red Sox and Blue Jays, the Yankees broke out the lumber in wins over the Tigers and Rays. Exciting right? In a word, no.
The season is over. I know what Yogi Berra said and I'm aware that on this date in 1995, the Yankees were 7 1/2 games back in the Wild Card race and seven entering tonight's action, and remember what the Phillies and Rockies did last season. Thirteen years ago, however, the Yankees were a different team. They were gritty & gutty, down & dirty. So were the 2007 Phillies. So were the 2007 Rockies, who won the National League pennant.
This season? The Yankees are old, banged-up with no sense of fundamentals, right now incapable of putting together an extended winning streak and a sum about 1/4th its parts on paper. Watching the Yankees pound the ball against the Tigers and Rays made me wonder where this was against Tim Wakefield and Paul Byrd. And if I received a nickel for every time Alex Rodriguez struck out, popped up or grounded into a double play with runners in scoring position, I'd apply for early retirement.
If I'm wrong I'll say I'm wrong, because anything truly can happen. But I'm sticking with my word: Forget about this year. This team is in store for a major reconstruction. Some decisions are easy. First, this should beJason Giambi's final season in pinstripes. Second, I don't care if Carl Pavano goes 6-0. If - and that's a big if - you want him back, you offer him one year and that's it. Third and fourth, Jorge Posada will be back behind the plate and Chien-Ming Wang as the Yankees' ace.
Other decisions aren't as easy and need more time to digest:
Andy Pettitte: Stay or Go?
The crew from Dugout Central debated this topic in their weekly point-counterpoint segment for YESNetwork.com (Stay | Go). In two stints with the Yankees, Andy Pettitte has started 31 playoff games, won four World Series and has been right guy on the mound for a plethora of big regular season contests. Today, he's 36, enduring a down season and is signed only through the end of this campaign for $16 million. There's talk that Pettitte's best days are behind him and he's no longer a "big-game" pitcher, and his performance in Game 1 of that crucial three-game series against the Red Sox last month (six runs, 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings pitched) supported that statement.
On the surface, it's easy to say part ways with Pettitte - who may not want to pitch anymore, anyway - make room for at least one young pitcher and save as much money as possible to make an all-out push for CC Sabathia. I've also heard a few times that you can never have enough pitching. And wasn't Mike Mussina supposed to be washed-up? Last I looked he has 17 wins and is the MVP of this otherwise disappointing Yankees team.
What about Moose?
Speaking of Mussina, one of few compelling storylines left in 2008 is whether Mussina (17-7) will win 20 games for the first time in his career. Al Leiter broke it down Tuesday night on YES, and The Journal News' Peter Abraham presented it in writing:
"The Yankees have days off scheduled for Sept. 11 and Sept. 22. If Mike Mussina pitches every five days he would get starts on Sept. 7 (Seattle), Sept. 12 (Tampa Bay), Sept. 17 (Chicago), Sept. 23 (Toronto) and Sept. 28 (Boston). If the Yankees stick with a five-man rotation, Mussina would get only four starts. At 17-7, this could have a direct impact on whether he wins 20 games for the first time."
What will help Mussina is the removal of Sidney Ponson from the rotation. If Sir Sidney (18 runs in 9 2/3 innings over his last three starts) is skipped, Moose would be lined up to start the season finale in Boston. As Abraham indicates, Joe Girardi has been stubbornly loyal to Ponson, even getting testy with reporters (again) when it was suggested Ponson's spot would be in jeopardy. Why not show some gratitude to Mussina, especially if he doesn't return next season?
Would you re-sign Mussina for another year? Like Pettitte, it makes for a healthy debate. He won't flirt with 20 wins again, but is there anyone better to fill the back-end of the rotation? Phil Hughes? Perhaps. I'm one of the dwindling few who believe Hughes will be something special. Ian Kennedy? How far has he fallen?
Solution? Tell Mussina and Pettitte Father Time is cruel and offer one of them, depending on if Sabathia or A.J. Burnett agree to play in the Bronx, a take-it-or-leave-it one-year deal.
The Joba Rules Part II
Joba Chamberlain is back in the bullpen and that will apparently continue through the start of next season. It's wholly tempting to throw who I firmly believe is the future ace of this staff, and who develop into the Yankees first successful, homegrown pitcher since Pettitte, immediately back into the rotation. But think about this long and hard. Chamberlain is 22 years old. He just missed a month with rotator cuff tendinitis. Anything involving a rotator cuff would scare the daylights out of me.
Anyone who complains that Chamberlain is a front-line starter and not a set-up man, you're right. But what's the rush? He's 22 with a history of arm trouble. You cannot be too careful and too overprotective of your most valuable resource. And why start him when your season is theoretically over?
Trade Cano?
Robinson Cano is the Yankees' biggest disappointment this season. Period. Not only was he, entering Wednesday, 38 points below his career average, his head has been up his rear end and his attitude has been deplorable. This has the Yankees' return investment on the $30 million they agreed to pay him for four years. Rather than take the heat on Saturday after a careless throw cost the Yankees a game, he snuck out the back door while reporters surrounded Alex Rodriguez's locker listening to A-Rod gallantly accept blame for once again failing in the clutch. Privately, players have grumbled to reporters that the Yankees made a huge mistake by bending on their policy of not giving long term deals until after a season. They jumped to lock up Cano, while Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera all had to wait.
Does Cano go? Even if the Yankees want to trade him, they can't. His value has plummeted, and quite frankly, it's a blessing in disguise. Unless Brian Cashman or whomever the GM is (more on this later) is blown away by a knee-buckling proposal (Roger Clemens for David Wells, Graeme Lloyd and Homer Bush in 1999), Cano is too talented to throw away after one bad season. Want proof? See Jose Reyes.
Another thought: You retain Cano this winter. He puts together decent numbers, but an incident either uncovered by those infamous "sources familiar with the situation" (even though there are three sides to the story) or goes no further than flies on the wall, convinces the Yankees to trade him. A few teams step forward, enticed by Cano's talent, age and upside, and positive that a "change of scenery" will help him. The Yankees pull the trigger and get more for cutting their losses.
Will Cashman return?
The New York Post reported that the Steinbrenners have decided they want Brian Cashman to remain as general manager. But does Cashman want to come back? He started with the Yankees as an intern and it's the organization he knows. Hank and Hal will remind him about loyalty, sell him on the new Yankee Stadium and of course offer him a sack of money. But the Phillies will also be calling. So will the Nationals. Ditto the Mariners. If money isn't the top priority, Cashman will be tempted to work in an atmosphere where he can take a deep breath and fully exhale.
Stay tuned.
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