XM MLB Chat

Friday, September 29, 2006

SNEAKY NY TIMES' JACK CURRY---FOOLS YOU BUT NOT ME

IN CURRY'S USUAL SMUG, WITHHOLDING, PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE STYLE, HE FALLS IN LINE WITH DISNEY/ESPN & THE REST OF THE BASEBALL MEDIA MAFIA. HIS ARTICLE TODAY, 9/29/06 IS MISLEADING. FIRST, HE'S TICKED OFF THAT HE CAN'T FALL BACK ON SOMEONE ELSE TO CREATE A STORY FOR HIM (MR. STEINBRENNER), WHEN CURRY'S 25 CENT BAIT ISN'T TAKEN.
  • CURRY SAYS STEINBRENNER SAID "NOTHING," IN RESPONSE TO CURRY'S REQUEST FOR COMMENT. BUT IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH HE RELATES A STATEMENT FROM STEINBRENNER THROUGH HIS PUBLICIST. WHICH IS IT, JACK?
CURRY IS CLEARLY MIFFED THAT A PHONE CALL FROM HIM DOESN'T RATE, AND EXPLAINS THAT MR. STEINBRENNER HAS RETREATED FROM PUBLIC STATEMENTS RECENTLY.
  • ANOTHER WHOPPER. ABOUT A WEEK AGO, STEINBRENNER GAVE AN INTERVIEW TO AN AP REPORTER, THE CONTENTS OF WHICH WERE MADE PUBLIC. CURRY IS NO DOUBT AWARE OF THIS--IT WAS MENTIONED IN HIS OWN PAPER. BUT, HE LIES TO THE READER. WHY SHOULD ANYONE TALK TO YOU, CURRY?
THEN OF COURSE, CURRY PUTS IN A PLUG FOR A PITCHER, JOHAN SANTANA, BUT DECEITFULLY SO, RELATING VERY MISLEADING DETAILS ABOUT HIM.
  • CURRY SAYS THE TWINS WILL DO WELL BECAUSE THEY HAVE SANTANA, THAT SANTANA, AMONG OTHER THINGS, STARTED IN GAME 1 OF THE 2004 ALDS AGAINST THE YANKEES, THAT THE TWINS WON THE GAME, BUT LOST THE NEXT 3.
  • JACK, PLEASE SEE MY POST BELOW THIS ONE ABOUT JOHAN SANTANA'S PERFORMANCE IN GAME 4 OF THE 2004 ALDS (to Dan Graziano, another baseball writer in another New York newspaper). SANTANA WAS THE STARTING PITCHER, TOOK HIMSELF OUT AFTER 5 INNINGS, TWINS LEADING 5-1. THE GAME WENT TO 11 INNINGS, 6-5 YANKS. THE WINNING PITCHER WAS MARIANO RIVERA. SO, SANTANA BLEW THE DECIDING GAME OF THE ALDS, A GAME THE TWINS HAD TO HAVE, BY ONLY PITCHING 5 INNINGS. THE TEAM ALSO HAD 3 RUNNERS CAUGHT STEALING IN THAT GAME. IT'S ALL IN MY SEPT. 26 POST .
DON'T WORRY, ALMOST NO ONE WILL READ THIS AND KNOW EVERY WORD I SAID ABOUT YOU IS TRUE.

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Dear Dan Graziano of the Star Ledger,

Dan, I checked what you said on Monday about the Twins performance in the
2004 ALDS. You were wrong. In the deciding game 4, (at the Twins'stadium)
the Twins had more hitting than the Yankees. So confident were they that
Johan Santana apparently took himself out of the game after 5 innings,
Twins leading 5-1. The game was finally won in 11 innings by Mariano Rivera
IN ANOTHER OF HIS 2 INNING POST SEASON EFFORTS. Below is the game summary
from Retrosheet.

BATTING - (Twins)
2B: Morneau (2,off Vazquez); Ford (1,off Vazquez); Kubel (1,off Gordon).

HR: Blanco (1,5th inning off Vazquez 0 on 0 out).

SF: Hunter (1,off Vazquez); Koskie (1,off Vazquez).

HBP: Ford (2,by Vazquez); Koskie (2,by Vazquez).

Team LOB: 8.

BASERUNNING - 
SB: Ford (1,2nd base off Vazquez/Posada).

CS: Jones (1,2nd base by Vazquez/Posada); Cuddyer (2,2nd base by Loaiza/Posada);

Ford (1,2nd base by Loaiza/Posada).

PITCHING
New York Yankees      IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR
Vazquez                5     7   5   5   2   6   1

Loaiza                 2     4   0   0   0   0   0

Gordon                 2     1   0   0   0   2   0

Rivera W(1-0)          2     0   0   0   0   0   0

Totals                11    12   5   5   2   8   1

Minnesota Twins       IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR
Santana                5     5   1   1   3   7   0

Balfour                2     0   0   0   0   2   0

Rincon                 0.1   4   4   4   1   1   1

Nathan                 1.2   1   0   0   1   3   0

Lohse L(0-1)           2     1   1   1   0   3   0

Totals                11    11   6   6   5  16   1

WP: Rincon (1), Lohse (1).

HBP: Vazquez 2 (2,Ford,Koskie).

IBB: Nathan (2,Matsui).

They gave away 3 outs by being caught stealing. A "big hitter in the middle"
would've given them the edge, according to you. They had a 4 run lead, but
their pitcher took himself out of the game.

BATTING - (Yankees)
2B: Olerud (2,off Rincon); Rodriguez 2 (3,off Nathan,off Lohse).

HR: Sierra (1,8th inning off Rincon 2 on 1 out).

IBB: Matsui (1,by Nathan).

Team LOB: 10.

BASERUNNING - 
SB: Rodriguez 2 (2,2nd base off Santana/Blanco,3rd base off Lohse/Borders).

Unfortunately for you, the Yankees in spite of inferior starting pitching, didn't
have 3 caught stealing. And they had Mariano Rivera. Of course, the masses,
including you would rather drink a gallon of Drano than acknowledge Rivera. What
you do is encourage hate and envy by saying the whole thing could've been won by
a(costly) big hitter in the middle for the Twins.



Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

Monday, September 25, 2006

Dan Graziano desperately wants to be noticed, uses Yankees in vain attempt

Once again, his small voice dripping with hatred, this BBWAA voter begs to be the star. Notice me, he cries. This isn't a debate, as the BBWAA copywriters/ESPN/MLB types constantly tell you. If you think it's a debate, you'll sell ads for them, create controversy, fill up space and time TALKING ABOUT THEM. For the ignorant and uninformed, here's yet another example of a "New York writer" who needs attention so badly that he'll never vote for a Yankee for any post season award. THESE GUYS ARE LIFETIME POLITICOS. THE LAST THING THEY SHOULD BE DOING IS VOTING ON ANYTHING, INCLUDING DOG CATCHER. In case you missed it on XM today, Graziano (of the Star Ledger of Newark, New Jersey) told Chuck Wilson he doesn't think Derek Jeter is "there" in terms of being an MVP. ("There," is even more analysis than this "conscience" of the game feels you're entitled to---it's all about Dan). THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE YOU ARE TOO LAZY TO DO ANYTHING TO STOP IT.
  • You can say anything to Chuck Wilson--he won't question it in a broadcast format. He doesn't have the confidence for much give and take in this setting. (If it's a subject about which he's prepared and has an opinion, my experience is he may express it in a mild manner after the guest is gone). He let Graziano off the hook today and in last September's sad remarks. Last September's remarks were actionable, in my opinion.

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

Print & Broadcast media jobs tough to get in Boston

"Just last month, Radio One Inc. decided to sell off its Boston station 97.7 WILD-FM to Entercom Communications Corp. for $30 million. Entercom promptly replaced the urban music format in order to simulcast WAAF-FM (107.3) on the signal, leading to further job losses.
Meanwhile, both the Herald and the Boston Globe have gone through their own cuts and rounds of buyouts recently.
The heavy consolidation, coupled with a migration of ad dollars moving online, can make finding a job in broadcast or print journalism daunting, said Ted Wayman, a former anchor for Channel 38’s (WSBK-TV) now-defunct “Morning Show.”
“The jobs are becoming fewer and fewer because the revenue streams of those markets are being slashed and are going online.”
“I quickly realized (media outlets) are not hiring a lot of people,” he added. “And I’ll also tell you . . . they want you to work cheaper.”
Those who lose a media job in Boston have to consider moving out of town or even moving out of the industry to find work, said one local TV executive.
But Boston is a microcosm of the industry nationwide.
Consolidation and staff cuts are quickly becoming a fact of life in the nation’s media." From article by Jesse Noyes, Boston Herald, Sept. 25, 2006

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Dudes of the Week--Orioles Fans

"The 1,000 who walked out of Camden Yards Thursday to protest Peter Angelos' reign of error. Unlike the whiners who constantly complain about their teams on talk radio, these disgruntled Boo-Birds actually staged a meaningful protest - they walked the walk. Nine consecutive losing seasons is enough. Perhaps Knicks fans, who foolishly purchase over-priced tickets to see the garbage assembled by James Dolan and Isiah Thomas, can take a lesson from these fans and stage a walkout during a Knicks game." By Bob Raissman, NY Daily News, 9/24/06

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

GEORGE WILL, CELEBRITY ELITIST SHILL FOR LEGALIZED ROBBERY--MLB

An article attributed to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com appears on the letterhead of MGP Associates, a public relations and "crisis management" firm. Date 8/4/06. "George Will, whose love of baseball might transcend his passion for politics, is an unabashed Bud Selig supporter. He thinks Selig's record of accomplishment is every bit as impressive as those of his commissioner peers, Tagliabue and Stern. Will said. "I've written this before and I'll say it again: He is immeasurably the greatest commissioner in baseball's history. He's the ninth, and the other eight don't come close." (Continuing from the article):
  • "When Bud Selig is in a meeting and he's in some kind of fork-in-the-road situation, with steroids or whatever, I think he turns toward his lawyer first and says, 'How do we limit our liability and protect ourselves?' He should be asking, 'What's the right thing to do long-term for our reputation?' " Statement by Mike Paul, "sports reputation consultant," and president of MGP, Associates.
GEORGE WILL SAYS LET THE YANKEE FAN PAY MORE, EVEN THOUGH HE CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE HIS FAMILY TO A GAME. NOT 1 WORD ABOUT WHAT THE RICH OWNERS ARE DOING WITH THE PATHETIC YANKEE FAN'S MONEY. Will says in a widely reported Sept. 14 speech, DRIPPING WITH THE HATE AND ENVY THEME PUSHED FROM THE TOP:
  • Will advises Allen "Bud" and the gang of rich guys to RAISE THE LUXURY TAX AND REVENUE SHARING EVEN MORE, saying of local revenues:

    "There is no such thing," Will said. "Everybody sells Major League Baseball. If (Yankees owner) George Steinbrenner doubts that, let him play 162 intrasquad games at Yankee Stadium and see how many people show up."

NOT 1 WORD ABOUT HOW OUR MONEY IS SPENT. For all his alleged brilliance, George Will can't come up with ONE ORIGINAL THOUGHT. IT'S HATE AND ENVY, ROB THE STUPID YANKEE FAN, HE WON'T DARE COMPLAIN, GOD KNOWS MR. STEINBRENNER WON'T COMPLAIN, HE'S ADDLED AND IN HIS DOTAGE. And, by the way, did you know MLB gave $1 million (from its slush fund of Yankee fans' allowance) in August 2005 to the Mark McGwire Foundation for Children? That money looks like it's accruing interest for its administrators, according to the report on 10/5/05 by Darren Rovell on ESPN.com. Too bad Mr. Pappas isn't around anymore.

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

WORST MOVE OF THE WEEK

TYPICAL OF THE MANY WAS BY NY TIMES' RICHARD SANDOMIR IN HIS ARTICLE (9/24/06) ABOUT FALLOUT FOR YANKEE SEASON TICKET HOLDERS AND THE SECONDARY TICKET MARKET IN GENERAL. OF COURSE, THE ARTICLE IS GEARED TO CREATE HATRED AND ENVY TOWARD THE YANKEES--WHY? BECAUSE HATE AND ENVY APPARENTLY SELL COPIES FOR A DESPERATE NEWSPAPER. (IT'S ALSO EASIER THAN COMING UP WITH SOMETHING USEFUL). Within the article, but not highlighted is this:
  • "If the plan proceeds, the Yankees would follow the lead of 27 other major league teams that are already in the secondary market, including the Mets."
OH, THEN IT'S NOT JUST THE YANKEES TRYING TO BE GREEDY AND HATEFUL. A LOT OF TEAMS ARE TRYING TO BE GREEDY AND HATEFUL. SANDOMIR HAD ME CONFUSED FOR A MINUTE.

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

BEST MOVE OF THE WEEK

GEORGE STEINBRENNER IN PULLING A FAKE ON THE VOTING MEMBERS OF THE BASEBALL WRITERS ASSN. OF AMERICA (AKA MLB WRITERS ASSN.) HE GAVE AN INTERVIEW TO AN AP REPORTER, THE CONTENTS OF WHICH WERE PUBLISHED THIS WEEK COVERING HIS HEALTH, THOUGHTS ABOUT THE FUTURE, ETC. (AP REPORTERS ARE FORBIDDEN TO VOTE ON BASEBALL AWARDS DUE TO ETHICS CONCERNS). TABLES WERE TURNED--THE VOTING (OR AT LEAST PUBLICITY GENERATING) MEMBERS FOUND OUT THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN DO BUSINESS IN TOTAL SECRET. (This may not have entered Steinbrenner's mind, but I'm glad he did it for whatever reason).

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Noise in stadiums being examined in NFL---Why not MLB?

Could injuries like Nick Johnson's fractured leg today be reduced if players could hear each other better on the field? Please don't tell me you can't do anything about it. The NFL is. From the NY Times, 9/24/06:

"For NFL, Crowd Noise is Becoming a Headache," by John Branch

"Today at Qwest Field, an outdoor stadium with a roof that covers 70 percent of the 67,000 seats, league officials will be looking, and listening, for violations of the noise rules. Some have voiced concerns that the Seahawks and other teams pipe in artificial sounds to bolster the well-timed cheers of fans, which Seattle Coach Mike Holmgren has denied.

A recent analysis by The New York Times showed that penalties, particularly noise-related penalties like offensive holding and false starts, have been on the rise in recent years.

It found that more penalties, especially those for false starts, are called in domed stadiums, which tend to be louder."

  • Extrapolate this to baseball, Johnny Damon might not've been taken out of Fenway on a stretcher a few years ago. There are also less life-threatening errors caused by players who cannot hear another player calling them off.
"Teams also receive detailed and restrictive instructions from the league about ways to elicit reactions from their fans. Under the guidelines, some electronic messages "“Let'’s go crazy"and "Pump it up" are among those listed are not acceptable.

Other chants ("“De-fense!"”) are appropriate, at certain times. Encouraging the wave is not ever.

But N.F.L. fans cannot help themselves. So they keep cheering, often disrupting the communications and hard-thought intentions of the visiting offense and becoming, in effect, what Seattle fans and others call the 12th man. Once the opponents are rattled, the crowd cheers even louder.

Fans may think that is good. Other leagues may think it is super. The N.F.L. is not so sure.

With no reasonable way to curb enthusiasm without appearing stodgy, Roger Goodell, the new N.F.L. commissioner, is floating another idea: placing microphones in quarterbacks'’ helmets and speakers in the helmets of other offensive players, so that play calls and snap counts can be heard despite the din.

  • Quarterbacks now have earpieces that allow them to hear coaches, but the transmission is cut with 15 seconds left on the play clock."
The article states the NFL adopted a noise penalty in 1989, BUT IT HAS NEVER BEEN ENFORCED: "It adopted a noise penalty in 1989, allowing the referee, at the quarterback's request, to warn the home team that the crowd is being disruptive. The referee, who stands behind the quarterback at the snap, can dock the home team a timeout, or even call a 5-yard penalty, if he decides that linemen cannot hear the snap count.

Mike Pereira, the N.F.L.'’s vice president for officiating, has been in the league office for nine years. He said the rule had not been enforced in that time."

  • Nice.
“That'’s part of the battle of having home-field advantage, having a loud crowd, doing those kinds of things so the other team is not able to hear the count, not be able to hear those things, guard David Diehl said."
  • So, the team, the player, his family, all the people whose livelihoods are connected to the game, and the fans, can all go to hell.

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

Barry Zito's 'Strikeouts for Troops' charity

Barry Zito's recent appearance on Fox News to publicize his charity, in which a number of other MLB players are participating.

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

Re-Enter Sandman

Photo 1 from Newsday, 2nd from NY Daily News, 9/23/06. Daily News headline deliberately misleads. 'First outing since August' sounds a lot worse than First outing since AUGUST 31ST.'

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

Another day, another lie from MLB.com

I love the disclaimer at the end of their articles, "this story was not subject to the approval of MLB or its clubs." Hey, great job! Getting paid and SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF NO ONE.
  • Of course their latest duplicity is about Mariano Rivera, who pitched an inning on August 31, then did not pitch from Sept. 1-21. He pitched on Sept. 22.
  • MLB.com's report filed at 11:15PM on Sept. 22 states Rivera was "marking his first appearance in nearly a month."
  • See, NEARLY A MONTH sounds pretty bad; the EXACT ACTUAL AMOUNT OF TIME WAS 3 WEEKS, but that doesn't sound as bad as "nearly a month."
  • HEY, THIS MLB.COM'er MUST BE PITCHING A JOB AT ESPN, OR FOX,, OR AT LEAST BIGGER ASSIGNMENTS FROM MLB.COM---JUST LIE ABOUT MARIANO RIVERA, THAT'LL GET YOU IN GOOD WITH THE BIG BOYS.
P.S. THE N.Y. TIMES GOT IT RIGHT: "Back on the mound after missing three weeks to rest his arm, Rivera..." from Tyler Kepner's article, 9/23/06.
  • MLB.com is SLOPPY, AND SHOULD BE CLOSED DOWN. The only reason they continue to lie is because you let them.

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

Friday, September 22, 2006

Overheard on Red Sox radio Thursday night, Sept. 21st

Minnesota Twins at Boston Red Sox, Johan Santana pitching. Joe Castiglione, Jerry Trupiano, and another yet to be identified voice. (But you knew the guest voice in the booth was someone special). Johan Santana was involved in a mess that Joe Castiglione (and probably lots of other people) said would be 2 errors on the pitcher. Paraphrasing Castiglione:
  • Yes, the official scorer records that as 2 errors on the pitcher, Santana.
The guest in the booth has remained silent throughout the protracted mess involving Santana. Finally, Castiglione says to the guest:
  • "Do you agree that it's 2 errors on the pitcher?"
Without hesitation, he says:
  • "NO. I think the ruling will be changed."
So, not only does the guest give a differing view, HE PREDICTS THE RULING WILL BE CHANGED, only seconds after it had been made.
  • Within a few minutes, Castiglione says: "The official scorer has just changed that to only 1 error on the pitcher....."
When the inning was finally over, the guest was identified as JOSEPH MICHAEL MORGAN, who'll be inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame on November 9th.

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

Cleveland Indians to abandon Florida Spring Training for Arizona

Currently stationed in Winter Haven in Florida's Grapefruit League, the Dolan-owned Indians have signed a deal to move to a Goodyear facility in Arizona's Cactus League, effective 2009. Seems Arizona is being eyed by other current Florida teams. I hope Florida gets its act together, I don't want it losing any more teams.

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

Most dramatic injury report I've ever heard on Jeff Erickson's Fantasy Focus

Jeff lead into his daily injury report today but before the listener knew what was happening, we were hearing the voices of the radio play by play announcers (of one of last night's games) describing the unfolding of the drama of a team's star pitcher appearing to have some problem, we don't know what...the manager is coming out to the mound now....(paraphrasing John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman, one wondering to the other)...it looks like Halladay might be hurt....we can't tell for sure....well, now, it looks like he's injured and coming out of the game...what could've gone wrong....
  • The point being, you were transported back to the baseball game, without a hint this would be happening, re-living the drama of an important game for both teams, one whose outcome was still very much up in the air.
  • As it happens, this was a good time for Jeff to use this technique, as Suzyn and John were both DESCRIBING EVERY DETAIL, EVERY LOOK, EVERY MOVEMENT OF THE ALL IMPORTANT PEOPLE ON THE FIELD. This is baseball at its best and radio at its best.
  • I've heard many injury reports, but none using dramatic actuality to a general baseball audience on radio THAT HADN'T BEEN PROMOED OR HYPED. It came as a surprise.
Anyhow, I hope no one ever gets injured, especially pitchers, but this was the most interesting and valuable way to do an injury report.

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Maybe team members know something YES Network doesn't

TORONTO (AP) --"Derek Jeter poured champagne over Joe Torre's head. Almost half the team doused Mariano Rivera with beer. Bernie Williams flashed a grateful smile."
  • Well, I'll be danged. The AP is smarter than the YES Network. The AP noted someone named Mariano exists, and that "almost half the team doused Mariano Rivera" with beer. I guess team members know who their MVP is once again.
  • Although, AP made the standard mistake of saying Rivera's been sidelined since August 31--sounds bad--when really it's been since Sept. 1--sounds not quite as bad.
  • Did you know Rivera, in spite of his time off with injury, STILL LEADS THE AL IN IP AMONG LATE INNING RELIEVERS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF JJ PUTZ WHO HAS .1 INNING MORE (as of 10PM 9/20)?

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

The Clubhouse Leader in Oakland--Giambi--is Reborn in the Bronx--NY Times

A byproduct of the SI interview with A-rod was revelation of Giambi as clubhouse leader. NY Times' George Vecsey takes note:

"Instead of becoming a pariah for his involvement in the Balco drug scandal, Giambi has become the sergeant-at-arms of the Yankees’ clubhouse, the man who does the dirty work when dirty work needs to be done.

According to Tom Verducci’s compelling sounds-right-to-me article in the current issue of Sports Illustrated, it was Giambi who took Alex Rodriguez out behind the barn late last month in Boston and told him to shape up. Even the subsequent closed-door lecture in Seattle from Manager Joe Torre sounded less intimidating than Giambi’s warning to get with it.

Since then, his ego mussed up, his spotless uniform symbolically muddied, A-Rod has been playing significantly better. He had helped the Yankees close to a game of clinching their ninth straight division title going into last night’s game in Toronto.

But it took the pigpen personified, Giambi, to spatter some realistic glop on A-Rod’s self-image.

Profanely punctuating his lecture, Giambi told Rodriguez that walks and bleeder hits were not the reason he was being paid $252 million over 10 years by the Texas Rangers and the Yankees. A-Rod is being paid for power. So be powerful, Giambi urged him, in much stronger words than that.

Right now, Giambi has a sore wrist that makes him slightly doubtful for the postseason, but he has shown himself to be a major player in the Yankees’ hierarchy."

  • A brief word on Arod v Jeter from Vecsey:
"Then they took vastly different career paths. Jeter is real, taking emotional and educational lessons from his parents, showing a swagger that helped win four World Series. A-Rod is a phantom, a smile and a shoeshine, to use Arthur Miller’s words for his salesman Willy Loman.
  • Now he is in New York, a streak hitter, a streak fielder, a will-o’-the-wisp in a cold clubhouse. His aloofness became so bad that A-Rod found himself being lectured by Jason Giambi
He has to survive and produce, like Jason Giambi, who is no angel, yet earned the right to lecture A-Rod."

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Question about who's really building the new Yankee Stadium

"Dallas-based Turner to build new Yankee Stadium"--This headline from ESPN (9/20) But then this headline from Sports Business Daily:
  • "German company Hochtief picked to construct new Yankees ballpark." (9/20)
SBD says Turner is a US outlet of the German company, Hochtief. If that's true, then it couldn't be true the company is "Dallas-based."
  • Question: Which one is accurate?

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

Interesting--Dodgers don't usually allow cars back in once they've left...

"Exits clogged in the bottom of the ninth inning, when drivers who were leaving the ballpark met drivers who were coming back in. Those listening to Vin Scully on the car radio made quick U-turns. A line of taillights became a river of headlights.

We started getting calls in the command post that fans listening to the game in their cars were coming back,” said Lon Rosenberg, vice president for stadium operations. “Typically, we don’t allow that. But this was a unique situation.”" from the New York Times, Lee Jenkins, 9/20/06

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

ANOTHER CALCULATED BUNCH OF WHOPPERS FROM AN MLB.COM WRETCH

Mark Feinsand gives none of the truly hideous details, but merely says, a "day after watching their bullpen struggle to get the final three outs in a win over the Blue Jays, the Yankees appear ready to get their closer back." This from Feinsand on MLB.com, 9/19/06
  • If you follow the game at all, you know this is a gross understatement, but at least a mild acknowledgement of what's been going on with the bullpen.
  • But no MLB.com writer can be honest about Mariano Rivera.
Feinsand now sums up his article by telling you there were no problems in the bullpen in Rivera's absence. He says:
  • "The Yankees managed to get by without any major bullpen problems during Rivera's absence, but they will surely be glad to have the All-Star closer back in the fold. With him out, they used Scott Proctor in the eighth inning and Kyle Farnsworth in the ninth, so they can now shift them each back an inning, restoring order to the bullpen."
NOTHING IN THIS PARAGRAPH IS TRUE, BUT MLB.COM WANTS YOU TO THINK IT IS. WHY DO THEY GET AWAY WITH IT? BECAUSE YOU LET THEM.

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Baseball mafia on the job helping out Trevor, as always

The media are very helpful to Trevor--hours after he has a bad game, MLB.COM posts a HEADLINE excusing him for it, citing injury. And a long article by Barry Bloom seeking to boost Trevor's image--after all, the media have joined with team management in trying to get him every award except Rookie of the Year. Bloom's attempt is a farce--his story hides or leaves out facts.
  • For example, he says Rudy Seanez came into the game after Trevor and 'blew the save.'
  • According to Game Day, Trevor had blown the save as well, but Bloom only says Seanez had a blown save.
More garbage from Baseball Media: Bloom says, "Bruce Bochy revealed on Monday night that Trevor Hoffman, his star reliever, is dealing with some tenderness in his right (throwing) shoulder.

The soreness was a key reason why Bochy didn't go back to Hoffman in the 10th inning of Monday's 11-10 loss to the Dodgers, and instead went with veteran right-hander Rudy Seanez, who blew the save and the game by allowing a walk to Kenny Lofton and Nomar Garciaparra's two-run walk-off homer.

"I asked, but Trevor's been dealing with some tenderness in his shoulder, and we decided it wouldn't be wise to push it," Bochy said. "He only has a certain amount of bullets to use, and we decided not to use them.""

  • So, Bochy's not at fault BECAUSE HE ASKED TREVOR TO THROW MORE, BUT TREVOR MENTIONED THE SHOULDER PROBLEM.
  • BUT TREVOR'S NOT AT FAULT BECAUSE HE'S A SAINT AND WOULD NEVER USE ANY KIND OF EXCUSE.
  • BUT BOCHY MENTIONS THE FAMOUS "BULLETS," WHICH MEANS EXACTLY HOW MANY PITCHES IT WILL TAKE TO WIN AN AWARD.
  • THIS WHOLE THING IS A FRAUD--THE GUY HASN'T THROWN MORE THAN 1 INNING IN 2 YEARS, HAS BEEN ADAMANT THAT HE WON'T DO SO, AND THE TEAM HAS HIM THERE FOR THE 'ENTERTAINMENT VALUE' (per Sandy Alderson) of going after a cheap stat.
  • Even Kevin Kennedy today expressed doubt over the use of Hoffman, that there's too much emphasis on his going for a stat. Too much? That's all he's there for, it's right out there in the open.
  • STOP ALL BASEBALL WRITERS FROM VOTING ON BASEBALL AWARDS IMMEDIATELY.
P.S. AS DAY FOLLOWS NIGHT, MARIANO RIVERA WAS ALSO, OF COURSE, BROUGHT UP IN THIS ARTICLE. TREVOR AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS CAN'T PASS UP AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT MO DOWN. NEWSFLASH TO MLB: TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT RIVERA'S TOTAL CAREER INCLUDING POST SEASON. MARIANO CANNOT IN ANY WAY BE COMPARED TO TREVOR. HE'S IN A CLASS BY HIMSELF, HAS CHANGED THE WAY LATE INNING RELIEVERS WORK, AT LEAST AMONG TEAMS WHO ARE SERIOUS ABOUT WINNING. EG, THE RED SOX, THE BLUE JAYS, THE METS--ALL USED THEIR CLOSERS THIS YEAR IN THE REGULAR SEASON MORE LIKE MARIANO IS USED. NONE OF THEM HAS A PRIMA DONNA WHO ONLY WILL THROW 1 INNING.

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

Veteran Sports Writer Jerry Izenberg: Today's writers into hairspray

Star-Ledger of Newark's Jerry Izenberg, veteran of 55 years of sports writing, discussing changes he's seen. From Editor and Publisher by Joe Strupp, 9/19/06:
  • "When asked how sports columnists have changed in the 55 years since he began, Izenberg contends many are too filled with their own image. "We're not the story," he claims. "Someone once told me, 'don't fall in love with yourself because the difference between you and Hemingway is tomorrow you will be lining a garbage can'-- and he was right." Izenberg says sports columnists have gone through three periods. First, the "gee-whiz" stage, when athletes were only heroic figures. Next, the "screw-you" stage, when writers sought to attack them most of the time. Now it is the "look-at-me" stage. "Hairspray began to outweigh words," he contends. "

Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

Joe Christensen won't vote for Jeter, says he's on team of 'rich guys getting it done'

Joe Christensen's words on Charley Steiner's show today on XM provide proof if needed that baseball writers must be removed from MVP and Cy Young awards voting.
    Christensen has been campaigning for a player from his favorite team, happens to be his home town team. He says he's not biased. Fine. But he falls apart and Charley Steiner doesn't even have to help him. They start by talking about the 4 home runs the Dodgers hit against the Padres in last night's game, 2 of them given up by Hoffman, but Christensen feels it necessary to say,
    • "Trevor in my mind is the greatest closer of all time."
    Charley, self-described as "not a soap-box guy," (ie, he doesn't like getting involved in controversy), says,
    • "Wait. Greater than Mariano?"
    Christensen pauses a moment, then says,
    • "OK, you're right. You got me." Then he says, "But I covered the Padres when they went to the World Series in 1998." (This doesn't justify the "all time" award he was about to hand out, just that he has an emotional and historic connection to the team).
    • Joe should know Hoffman's performance in that series is one you'd want to forget anyhow. Judgments like this would be cause for a so-called expert in other lines of work to be fired.
    • Then, Christensen comes up with the phony total saves stat defense, the one where management and player agree he'll never pitch more than 1 inning no matter what it costs the team (because they're manipulating the total save stat to market the team and get an award for the player). Hoffman hasn't worked more than 1 inning in two years.
    Then Christensen explains to Charley why a player on the Twins deserves the MVP award. The Twins have more than 1 player in contention for this award. Along the conversation, Charley says to him, "Well, I offer you Derek Jeter," and gives a few reasons why. But, Christensen says,
    • No to Jeter, because he's on a "team of rich guys getting it done."
    Christensen offers a 2nd reason not to vote for Jeter:
    • He says to Charley,
    "Well, they have Mariano Rivera like you said."
    • Christensen a minute ago was ready to put Rivera on a back burner, turns around and uses the guy's presence on the team
    • AS A REASON NOT TO VOTE FOR JETER.
    IS RADIO GREAT OR WHAT!!!
    • Christensen has just put on a brilliant demonstration. Immortality will be dished out to a player and his team by someone unfit to make such appointments. Cash consequences apply for winners as well. Then you have Hall of Fame voting down the road. Voters in their expert deliberations will say so and so is more qualified because he won a league award
    • or less qualified because he didn't.
    ------------------------
    • Other reasons BBWAA guys say they should vote:
    It's their "reward." (Per Tim Kurkjian to Charley Steiner on XM, 1/13/06) And no one will say a word about it.

    Labels: ,

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Monday, September 18, 2006

    Maury Brown on Fantasy Focus with Jeff Erickson

    On Jeff's show earlier today, he hosted the editor of the new BizofBaseball.com site (it's about many different aspects of baseball business). I listened closely while the 2 talked about the upcoming CBA, and, as usual it seems my worst fears are being realized. Re: revenue sharing, Maury casually mentioned that "increasing the percentages" is being discussed. If he means what I think he means, the pathetic Yankee fan without a peep will roll over and pay more money for other teams' limos, summer houses and whims of idiot sons. He mentions the current recipients of the 50% on the dollar (Maury didn't name any figure, but this is accurate--the $200 million Yankee payroll automatically generated $100 million for other teams in revenue sharing and luxury tax) tax on the Yankees have just said that various things can contribute to enhancing the team. So, the idea of accountability is not raised. Why not? Why is this passed over in the discussion?
    • Because in socialism, a huge, all powerful bureaucracy makes tons of money, does whatever it wants, and treats the taxpayers (the Yankee fans) exactly like slaves. And the slaves are so beaten down and malleable, they just keep saying, 'beat me some more.' Thanks a bunch to the pathetic Yankee fan base. (As I said, Maury didn't seem troubled by this probability).

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Damon ejected, but for questioning a call on Matsui's swing, not his own

    Now an international celebrity, umpire Bill Miller just ejected Johnny Damon for politely questioning a checked swing call. But NOT on a swing of his own. Damon questioned a call Miller had given Matsui. Damon came up 2 batters after Matsui, who'd received the call (the Yankees' 3rd such of the night in Toronto). Just for the heck of it, I checked this vegasinsider report that lets you know various umpires' scoring habits. The chart last updated 1/06, wasn't too revelatory of Miller, but others had interesting numbers. (Update: After the game, Sterling says Damon said whatever he said from the on deck circle, so I don't know how polite that was, but apparently not in a loud tone, etc.)

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Sunday, September 17, 2006

    More PR from the Hartford Courant, more blatant spam by baseball mafia to blur the facts about Mariano Rivera

    This article from the Hartford Courant ran on 9/14/06 ("A Human Factor in Closing"). It's a typical puff piece that doesn't come up with anything new, but provides a skeleton for minimizing Mariano Rivera.
    • IT'S OPENING SALVO PRESENTS THE IDEA OF "1-INNING CLOSER" AND LINKS IT WITH--GUESS WHO--JOE TORRE--TO GIVE A PHONY LEAD LEGITIMACY.
    • THIS IS TO MAKE YOU BELIEVE THAT JOE TORRE'S CLOSER IS LIKE THEIR FAVORITE CLOSER--A 1-INNING ONLY GUY--WHEN THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE. TORRE HAS USED MARIANO IN MANY EXTRA INNING SITUATIONS, HAS IN FACT CHANGED THE RECENTLY EVOLVED PERCEPTION OF '1-INNING CLOSER.'
    • AS FURTHER PROOF OF THIS, SEE HOW THE BLUE JAYS HAVE HIRED AND USED BJ RYAN, HOW THE METS HAVE HIRED AND USED BILLY WAGNER, HOW THE RED SOX RE-VAMPED AND USED PAPELBON, HOW THE ANGELS HAVE USED FRANKIE RODRIGUEZ--NONE WERE USED JUST AS 1 INNING GUYS, BUT THE MEDIA GUYS DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS.
    "Yankees manager Joe Torre was a broadcaster when the notion of the one-inning closer was born in the late 1980s. "It didn't make a lot of sense to me then," Torre said. His opinion changed once he was back in the dugout. "All of a sudden, guys who were getting 1-2-3 innings in the eighth were getting knocked around in the ninth," Torre said. "And starters who went eight innings would fall apart if you left them out there for the ninth." The sabermetric community, which studies baseball using a scientific method, has struggled with the impact of the one-inning closer. Some argue that the way modern managers use their closers doesn't make a lot of sense. This argument says the Goose Gossage pattern, where the ace reliever is used in the late innings of close games, whether it's the seventh inning or the ninth, will save a team more runs over the course of a season. There is logic to this argument. After all, in a statistical sense, it doesn't make a lot of sense to use your best reliever when ahead by three runs in the ninth. Any major league pitcher ought to be able to get three outs before allowing three runs. And a reliever used in the Gossage pattern will pitch more innings and have a greater opportunity to save runs. But this may be where sabermetrics meets its limitations. Torre says there is an easy explanation why managers use their closer when ahead by three with three outs left. "That's what he's been conditioned to do," Torre said. "The rest of the guys haven't been conditioned to take the ball in that situation."***
    • THEY HAVE TORRE BACKING UP THEIR PREMISE, WHICH IS TO MAKE YOU THINK TORRE BACKS UP THEIR FAKE THESIS, A STATEMENT NOT AT ALL NECESSARILY SAID IN THAT CONTEXT. IT'S ANOTHER IN THE SPAM CAMPAIGN TO MAKE YOU THINK HOFFMAN IS ON THE SAME LEVEL AS MO. JOE TORRE, HIS USE OF A CLOSER, AND THE CLOSER HIMSELF, MO, HAVE CHANGED THE WAY CLOSERS ARE USED. THE POINT THEY WANT YOU TO USE IS ECKERSLEY FORWARD. THAT IS A CORRECT POINT, UP UNTIL MO.
    Torre's point is that ballplayers are human beings, something too often left out of the sabermetric equation. But should teams begin conditioning closers differently in the minor leagues so that baseball can return to the days of Gossage and Rollie Fingers? Perhaps not.
    • HERE WE GO--WE'VE READ ALL THIS WAY, AND THEY VERE OFF THE ROAD INTO NOTHINGNESS.
    What numbers there are (and there aren't enough to be considered conclusive) suggest that the modern, one-inning, lights-out closer may be more valuable than those used in the Gossage pattern. Tick the names off in your head: Eckersley, Rivera, Smoltz, Gagne. All have one thing in common.
    • THE ESSENCE OF A LIE AND MORE PROOF OF THE CAMPAIGN TO BLUR MO---"TICK OFF THE NAMES IN YOUR HEAD--AS CLOSERS, ECKERSLEY AND GAGNE, ESPECIALLY GAGNE WHO WAS GOING FOR A "TOTAL SAVES" STAT--WERE 1 INNING CLOSERS. THEY DON'T MENTION RIVERA'S POST SEASON AT ALL, THE MULTI-INNING SITUATIONS. IF IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL, HARTFORD COURANT, HOW COME YOUR GUY DIDN'T/COULDN'T DO IT?
    When they were closing, their teams tended to outperform their expected record, based on the Pythagorean method - a formula that predicts a team's record based on runs scored and runs allowed. For example, the 1998 Yankees, who scored 965 runs and allowed 656, would have been expected to win 108 games. They actually won 114. In any given season, such anomalies occur. Sometimes a team wins a few more games than expected (although rarely as many as six) and sometimes it loses a few more than expected. Although there are other reasons this occurred, the Yankees, with Mariano Rivera as a closer, have won more games than expected for eight straight seasons. During Dennis Eckersley's run as a closer, the A's exceeded expectations five straight seasons. During Eric Gagne's three-year run of brilliance, the Dodgers were better than expected all three seasons, as were the Braves in John Smoltz's three seasons as a closer.
    • Another fallacy--maybe they fell for the multi-million dollar publicity campaign run nightly on ESPN, the rock music or the neon lights at the stadium.
    This season, the Yankees are two games over expectations (through Tuesday) and the Red Sox, who had Jonathan Papelbon, are five games better than they should be. No such pattern exists for even outstanding relievers used in other ways. The A's, with Rollie Fingers, underperformed while winning three consecutive World Series in 1972-74.
    • WOW! THEY MENTION THE POST-SEASON! But, of course, NOT for Mo--are they really that ignorant about the greatest, most successful, most clutch pitcher ever in the post season? If so, maybe they could check with Eckersley or Rollie--they know the truth.
    Gossage's teams, while generally better than expected, were sometimes worse than expected, as were Bruce Sutter's Cubs. After checking individual closers, it seemed worthwhile to see if there was a pattern among teams. The save stat is much maligned. But since 2000, the seven teams that recorded more than 55 saves - all but impossible without a top closer used as a one-inning guy - all outperformed their expected record.
    • AGAIN, THEY'RE GOING NOWHERE EXCEPT TRYING TO SELL YOU THEIR GUY BY DIMINISHING SOMEONE ELSE.
    None of this proves that the modern method of using the closer is proper, nor that the old ways were flawed. But a basic principle of science is that bad ideas die while good ones remain. There may not be proof that the three-out closer is a sound concept, but until teams with top one-inning closers start losing more than they should, the idea isn't going anywhere."
    • "THERE MAY NOT BE PROOF??" I thought this whole article was supposed to enlighten us about some point? NEWSFLASH: MARIANO IS NOT A 1-INNING CLOSER. SINCE HIS ASCENDANCY WITH JOE TORRE, SEVERAL OTHER TEAMS INTERESTED IN WINNING HAVE STARTED TO USE THEIR CLOSERS AS THE YANKEES HAVE USED MARIANO (I listed the teams above).
    When they stop writing this garbage, I'll happily stop pointing it out. His PR campaign, however, has the media covered. Mariano must not have a PR conscious agent, or one who knew the extent of the other guy's sales team to get him into the HOF by minimizing Mo. September 14, 2006, by Matt Eagan, Hartford Courant

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Saturday, September 16, 2006

    Fox TV shows what YES Network adamantly refuses to

    John Sterling during game 1 of the Red Sox-Yankee doubleheader Saturday, Sept. 16...
    • John says, "We just saw a treat, Fox just showed some video" of Mariano Rivera throwing off a mound in a bullpen session today. He said Fox is doing the game today, they're the only one able to do so.
    Sterling notes this as a 'treat,' perhaps because the regular Yankee video source, YES, refuses to show any video of Rivera in pre, post, or during games. As I've written in letters to YES Network officials, they give the Yankee fan no video of Rivera, whereas other outlets (including the Yankee radio side with Sterling & Waldman, and SNY, the Mets TV station) acknowledge his worth.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Thursday, September 14, 2006

    93 Foul balls were hit in the August 18 Yankee-Red Sox game

    The game was the longest 9 inning game played, and 93 foul balls helped. Some veterans discuss this and pitch counts. Johnny Pesky still thinks they're really trying to hit home runs.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Jim Kaat to throw 1 last pitch

    Jim Kaat will throw the opening pitch at Yankee Stadium tomorrow, Friday, September 15, prior to his last evening announcing the Yankee telecast. Jim's now on with Mike and Chris on WFAN in New York, mentioned that Mr. Steinbrenner called him and made the offer about the game's opening pitch.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Will HBO help put an end to Cub Futility, as it did for the Red Sox in 2004? Documentary will be on Sept. 26

    Chicago Tribune, 9/14/06 The Cubs can only hope HBO does for them what it did for the Boston Red Sox. In 2004, the network aired a documentary on Boston's numerous heartbreaks. When the Red Sox went on to win the World Series a few months later, HBO compiled an updated version on the delirious aftermath. Now it is the Cubs' turn. "Wait 'til Next Year: The Saga of the Chicago Cubs" will appear on HBO at 9 p.m. Sept. 26. Given the HBO effect on the Red Sox, put the Cubs down as World Series champs in 2007, right? "We expect nothing less," John McDonough, the Cubs' vice president for marketing and broadcasting, said with tongue firmly in cheek. HBO actually should have done the Cubs first because their futility topped Boston. Heck, at least the Red Sox appeared in five World Series in the last 60 years. Summing up the Cubs' 98-year run without a title, actor and Chicago native Jeff Garlin said, "It is just a big bowl of wrong." Producer Joe Lavine documents all those Cubs wrongs throughout the years. There's the Billy Goat curse; the 1969 flop; the grounder that got past Leon Durham in San Diego; and of course, the sad tale of Mr. Bartman. HBO was able to unearth some great vintage Cubs footage. There's an interview with Phillip Wrigley when he unveiled his ridiculous "College of Coaches" scheme in 1961. He admitted he didn't know who would be first to call the shots. Little wonder that plan didn't work. HBO found a clip of Lou Brock dropping a ball with the Cubs; hence, the trade. You will see Leo Durocher making sure everyone knows he's boss when he becomes Cubs manager. There's a ton of old Jack Brickhouse "Back, back, back, Hey-Hey!" calls that never seem to go out of style. Former players such as Ron Santo, Billy Williams, Ferguson Jenkins and Ryne Sandberg give their perspectives. And there are celebrity fans, including Chicago native Dennis Farina, who serves as narrator. The core of the piece, however, is the regular fan. Like the Red Sox version, HBO's strength is being able to capture the unwavering bond Cubs' followers have to the franchise, no matter how bad it gets. It is their words that document the expectation and trauma of 1969, 1984 and 2003. Everyone knows what happened in Game 6 against Florida, but HBO tells it in a way that brings the pain even closer to home—through the fans. Ultimately, "Wait 'til Next Year" is a compelling testament to the long-suffering Cubs fans. Enjoy it and then hope HBO has to do another updated version after the Cubs win it all in October 2007. Don't count on it. It airs at 8 p.m. Thursday 9/26. Article by Ed Sherman, Chicago Tribune, Sept. 14, 2006

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Jack Nicholson refuses to wear Red Sox hat

    Lifelong New York Yankees fan JACK NICHOLSON refused to wear a baseball cap sporting the badge of his team's rivals for his role as a Boston, Massachusetts, gangster in new movie THE DEPARTED. Director MARTIN SCORSESE suggested the movie legend wear a Boston Red Sox cap for one pivotal scene, but backed down when New Yorker Nicholson insisted he wouldn't wear the head gear out of loyalty to the Yankees. Instead, the CHINATOWN star dons a Yankees cap in the scene, according to magazine Sports Illustrated. 14/09/2006 04:04 from Contactmusic.com via Baseball Think Factory
    • I've actually seen the dude at some Yankee games over the years. He sits in the front row, of course, right behind home plate, a few seats to the left. Usually Lorne Michaels is sitting in the same area. One time Chris Rock was with the group for awhile.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Wednesday, September 13, 2006

    It's not necessary for YES Network employees to be Yankee fans

    But it would be nice if they knew any or listened to any. I enjoyed seeing a camera shot of a YES cameraperson during the Yankee-Devil Ray game tonight, and I enjoyed the 1-hour pregame show. But thanks to
    • Kim Jones' thorough pre-game report, I knew that Mariano Rivera was at the ballpark. I waited for 4 and a half hours to see maybe 5 seconds of video of him, but YES said NO NO. MR. STEINBRENNER, ANYBODY, PLEASE. THERE IS NO REASON FOR A YANKEE FAN TO WATCH THIS NETWORK. THE PEOPLE MAKING DECISIONS ON THIS NETWORK HAVE NO FEELING FOR THE YANKEE FAN. I DON'T NEED OBVIOUS OR PHONY HOMERISM, BUT THIS IS A JOKE. AT THE VERY LEAST, THE PEOPLE WORKING ON THESE TELECASTS NOW SHOULD BE MOVED TO OTHER JOBS.
    Yes, I've written letters complaining about this including specific examples, and the fact that the team gets better representation on SNY (the Mets TV channel). Obviously, they don't care.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    "Special" to ESPN.com...Isn't every copywriter?

    Philly Rogers is "special" to ESPN.com. Philly shows you baseball awards are ONLY about drawing attention to the pathetic "voter." He's a celebrity--he uses the standard lie about how they see "all the games." Right. Why not boycott all ESPN advertisers until Rogers and all other so-called 'local' writers provide proof of this along with publication of their ballot? He votes every year for MVP? If there are only 2 votes per market per league, and he being from Chicago, how does he get to vote every year? I thank Fire Joe Morgan for illuminating this quote from Philly:
    • "I vote, and I await the backlash, which annually comes on two fronts: from outraged fans of runner-up players and from statistical analysts whose computers see things those of us in the Baseball Writers Association of America sometimes miss. Perhaps we are too busy at the ballpark covering games." 9/12/06 Extra "Special" to espn.com

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Jeff Brantley would consider Reds' radio booth

    Call of the Game notes an article from the Cincinnati Post discussing a possibile future for Jeff Brantley as Marty Brennaman's partner in the Reds' radio booth. The article says Brantley's contract with ESPN is up at the end of this season.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Tuesday, September 12, 2006

    Harold Reynolds gives first interview on XM Channel 175

    Harold came on via phone at about 2:05PM ET with Charley Steiner. The two had run into each other at an event recently and both thought it would be a good idea to do it.
    • Harold said he's "pressing charges to get heard," has date set with mediator and ESPN at the end of September. He was never told of charges by ESPN, they just came out in the media.
    • "I never went to Outback, they don't play in this whole story."
    • "No truth to" rumors about my acting on behalf of my brother Larry.
    • Leaks about "prior problems" also news to Harold. So-called "problems" were never mentioned to him before, and he's had 3 previous contracts with ESPN.
    • When he was summoned in, he had no idea what it was about.
    • This is the first time in 26 years he's been away from baseball.
    • He may appear again on Charley's show in upcoming weeks.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Lupica--Mariano Rivera is "the greatest money athlete of all time"

    "The Yankees don't win without Mo. After more than a decade as a power relief pitcher, the most remarkable run of power relief pitching anybody has ever had, Rivera remains the most valuable postseason player in the history of the Yankees and the history of baseball, the greatest money athlete of all time."
    • from Mike Lupica's column, NY Daily News, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006 (I believe Lupica is a Red Sox fan).

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Harold Reynolds upcoming on XM Channel 175

    Charley Steiner just announced he'll have Harold Reynolds on in an upcoming segment. Steiner's show is on til 3PM ET.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Sunday, September 10, 2006

    The YES Network gives all the glory to another team's pitcher, not that there's anything wrong with that...

    I like getting news about other teams, but on the YES Network, it's more than that. Today they love Johan Santana to pieces, and are doing their best to drum up Cy Young votes for him (something they'd never do for the Yankees' own best pitcher, as I've detailed). At the end of the post game show today they show a lingering, loving look at Santana as he leaves the field, doffing his cap, wiping sweat from his brow, and waving to the fans. But this is just a promo, folks. They go to a break and come back with a detailed rundown of what a great job Santana did (of course he took himself out after 6.1 innings, but don't linger on that). The YES Network, again clearly shows there's no reason for their existence from a Yankee fan's perspective. They've never and would never give this kind of coverage to the Yankee pitcher who deserves it most, which is my point. This network is a fraud and should be closed down.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Slanted or just false, take your pick with the Baltimore Sun's article

    "New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, out since Aug. 31 with a muscle strain near his right elbow, will get one more day of rest before testing his arm again. Rivera is to throw tomorrow in Baltimore, manager Joe Torre said yesterday before New York closed a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals."
    • The Sun published this on Sept. 7, but Rivera pitched in Detroit on August 31. Therefore he's only been out since Sept. 1st. This erroneous statement about Rivera has run in other publications. They also fail to mention he lead the leagues in IP among late inning relievers. It never ends.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    "Wang will be Yanks #1 pitcher eventually," Posada, Feb. 20, 2006

    "Jorge relates his high opinion of Chien-Ming Wang to a reporter, saying he has the best stuff on the club." From my blog Feb. 20, 2006

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Jim Baumbach shows he's more accurate than the MLB.com guys

    "Wang's 17th win was in jeopardy until the end. Torre had to manage his bullpen in a close game for the first time since Mariano Rivera was shut down last week because of his tight elbow."
    • This passage from Baumbach's Newsday column today on the 3-2 Yankee-Baltimore game gives you several facts along with crucial context that MLB.com fellows were apparently too busy to ascertain or communicate. This was the FIRST game Farnsworth saved since Mo went out on Sept. 1. AND, Joe needed to MANAGE it.
    Separately, it's just funny that Farnsworth's homerun is mentioned at the end of articles I've been reading, whereas if it had been Mo's homerun, it would've run right up top. So, Farnsworth's a lucky dude.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Kaat's meow--Jim Kaat signs off after 25 memorable years at the mike...Bob Raissman

    From NY Daily News: When the cameras are shut down and there is nothing left but silence Friday night, Jim Kaat will walk out of the Yankees' TV booth in the Bronx for the final time.

    Kaat, who has spent 13 seasons as a Yankees analyst (WPIX, MSG, YES), will retire. He walks away on his own terms - something he was not able to do when his 25-year pitching career ended with a telephone call. It happened during the All-Star break in 1983 when he was with St. Louis.

    Whitey Herzog had the dual role of manager/GM of the Cardinals. Joe McDonald, Herzog's contract man, made the call to Kaat. He told Kaat the Cards were releasing him and picking up Dave Rucker, a Tigers lefthander.

    Kaat told a United Press International reporter: "I knew one of these days that bullet would hit me. But I can't really show any signs of disappointment because of the good things that have happened in the last 25 years."

    The years that followed have left Kaat feeling blessed.

    Playing baseball fulfilled a childhood dream. Embarking on a second career, in which he was recognized as one of the best at his craft, was the kind of icing few of us ever get to taste.

    "I can't think of anybody in baseball over the last 50 years who had it better than I have," Kaat told me a couple of days ago.

    Kaat has been welcomed into millions of homes on summer nights. When he walks through Central Park with his wife, Mary Ann, fans want to talk baseball. The voice is still there. So is the insight. He turns 68 in November, but does not look his age.

    The man has some good seasons left at the microphone. So, why is he taking his final bow after Friday's Red Sox-Yankees tilt?

    "I'm just ready. It's my 50th year in professional baseball and yeah, I'm going to turn 68. I feel like I've had a nice run," Kaat said. "My playing career ended with that 30-second phone call, which at the time was a kick in the gut. But hey, I played for 25 years. No reason to whine, let's just move on.

    "I look at my broadcasting career the same way. I don't want to get nostalgic and look back," Kaat said. "I'll look at what's ahead. When the past comes up I'll reflect on it. I'll remember how much I enjoyed it and how fortunate I was. When I mention retirement my sisters say: 'What are you going to retire from? You never worked a day in your life.' In a way they are right."

    And yet, as Kaat described what amounted to verbal snapshots of what got him to this point, each picture showed him building a broadcasting foundation.

    During parts of four seasons with the Phillies, he would sit on the bench with Tim McCarver talking about the game. Sometimes it would sound as if they were doing a telecast. The picture is surreal. At the time, neither of them had any idea they were both destined to scale some incredible broadcasting heights.

    "When you are playing, you think you are going to play forever," Kaat said.

    As a player, Kaat was a good interview. He left an impression. The late Don Carney, who directed Yankee telecasts on WPIX-TV, was so impressed with Kaat after a rain-delay interview (remember those?) he reached out and hired him to work with Bill White and Phil Rizzuto in 1986. Carney did this knowing Kaat was not on the best of terms with George Steinbrenner.

    After Sports Illustrated put The Boss on its cover posing as Napoleon, Kaat wrote a scathing letter to SI accusing the magazine of poor taste. With so many great players in the game, Kaat wondered why SI would choose Steinbrenner. SI printed Kaat's letter. When Kaat pitched for the Bombers (1979-80) he also got into a contract dispute with Steinbrenner.

    Still, depsite the flaps over the years, The Boss twice gave his blessing to bringing Kaat into the Yankee booth. Steinbrenner again gave a thumbs-up when MSG brought Kaat back to the Yankees broadcast booth in 1995 after Tony Kubek retired. Kaat, now with YES, has been with the Yankees ever since.

    "There have been no problems with George," Kaat said. "Over the years I have come to appreciate his style."

    Kaat may have developed that appreciation by listening to the advice of White. "Bill gave me a good foundation. He taught me how to do Yankee telecasts without being a former Yankee," Kaat said.

    After that '86 season, Billy Martin was between gigs. Steinbrenner brought him in to replace Kaat. Martin's mission, fully endorsed by The Boss, was to stir the eternal Yankee pot and constantly second-guess manager Lou Piniella. White told Kaat not to take the move personally.

    "Bill told me usually to start here you last a year and then they go in a different direction," Kaat said laughing.

    The move actually worked out pretty well for Kaat. In 1988, he wound up in the Twins' booth. He stayed there for six seasons. He also broke onto the national scene doing games for NBC and CBS. At NBC Sports, Mike Weisman put Kaat on a backup game working with Dick Enberg. That's when Kaat learned how to let the pictures do the talking.

    At CBS, Kaat was frustrated. Figuring out what to talk about during a three-hour broadcast had become intimidating. He would bring notes into the booth, but found himself providing too much detail. He confided in his partner, Dick Stockton, that he wanted to work without notes.

    "That's the way (John) Madden operates," Stockton told Kaat.

    Stockton hooked Kaat up with Madden for a telephone seminar. Madden said if he brought notes into the booth he felt compelled to use them and would "force" something into a telecast. "Then John told me if he did his homework it would be stored in his memory bank," Kaat said. "And if it is important it will come out. If it doesn't, it probably wasn't that important."

    That was just another lesson.

    The more Kaat talked, the more it became apparent many of these career snapshots were about people who helped him along the way. Like Jody Shapiro, an executive at Home Team Sports who hired Kaat in 1981 during the players' strike to work minor-league telecasts with Ralph Kiner and Warner Fusselle.

    Or Mike McCarthy, the executive who worked closely with Kaat at MSG. Then there's John Filippelli, YES' executive producer, who hired Kaat as the network's No. 1 analyst, and Howard Katz, who brought in Kaat to be one of ESPN's first baseball studio analysts.

    And Kaat's wife, Mary Ann. "She always says: 'You just get to the game on time and find your way to the first tee. I'll handle all the other stuff.' She's done a great job with all of that," Kaat said.

    On Friday, Kaat will get to the Stadium on time. To hear him speak, it will be just another game. "I don't think anything is going to hit me. I think it will be the same as it is when you are a player," Kaat said. "If it tugs at me next spring that's when I'll have to deal with it."

    Make no mistake, when Kaat leaves the booth Friday night, it will end a wonderful run for a plain-spoken, entertaining broadcaster - an old-school baseball storyteller who will not be easily replaced. A man who learned his lessons well. Perhaps the greatest lesson explains Kaat's success. The words were delivered to him years ago by Del Wilber, a minor league manager.

    "He told me the game got along fine before you got here and it will get along just fine when you are gone," Kaat said. "No one is bigger than the game." Column 9/10/06, NY Daily News

    • Please don't go, Jim Kaat. There's no one else there even half as good as you. Thanks, Bob Raissman for the column.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Friday, September 08, 2006

    Heard on Red Sox radio play by play tonight

    Joe C.: That Ryan Franklin hit 2 more home runs tonight, he's really getting way up there...he'll be getting a lot of consideration for NL MVP... Jerry T: Well, anybody would have to say Albert Pujols is up there for MVP... Joe C: Those Mets have got a couple of guys who could be in there for consideration, they've been doing so well... Jerry T: (catching his breath) Well, but in those situations, they'll cancel each other out for MVP ...(quickly, urgently) No, for that race, it's just going to be those 2, Pujols and Franklin.
    • I've heard Jerry speak about awards before, he feels strongly he should be allowed to vote & that he's very objective. He's been quite emotional about them in the times I've heard him. Here, he automatically cuts out the idea of 2 players who might be equally qualified for MVP based only on the fact they're both on the same team, cuts off the discussion, stating emphatically he knows the finalists will be 2 other players.
    • Question: How does Jerry know this? Isn't it a bit early to decide the finalists in a league in which there will be tight stretch runs? His full time job is broadcasting for an American League team. I realize he gets notes and summaries, but it would take a lot more than that to decide emphatically who the 2 MVP finalists would be in the National League.
    • Unless Jerry has a video player on all the bus rides and plane flights he takes with the Red Sox and uses every spare minute watching video & listening to commentary for all 16 National League teams. Which I doubt.
    • Jerry has just proven he'd be a capricious voter at best.
    • Jerry is showing bias, and cuts off fair discussion with his partner who's as entitled to speak on the subject as he is.
    • I don't know who should win at this point. I'm just relating that Jerry does, broadcasts it, without condition. It's nice MLB allows him free reign to announce awards which hold millions of dollars of potential revenue for a recipient and his team.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Mets to use online lottery system for post season tickets

    They say you must register by midnight Tuesday at mets.com or losmets.com. (From the NY Times, Sept. 8, 2006): There is no fee or purchase required to enter the lottery, but there is a limit of one entry per person.

    The Mets abandoned the traditional method of making tickets available at box offices because the large number of season tickets left a limited inventory for public sale, said Dave Howard, the Mets’ executive vice president. He said that fans who are unable to register online may call the Mets’ ticket office at (718) 507-8499, and a representative will record their information and enter them in the lottery. Tickets start at $45 for division series games.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Thursday, September 07, 2006

    As I said---more LIES from the MLB monopoly about "Mariano Resting"

    Even though Farnsworth has had NO SVS AND NO SVO'S since Sept. 1 (Mo pitched thru 8/31), THEY'RE TELLING YOU FARNSWORTH IS ACTUALLY DOING THE JOB, LIKE SOMEONE ELSE IS CARRYING THIS BIG BURDEN SO MO CAN RELAX. HEY, MLB, HOW ABOUT THE 3 RUNS FARNSWORTH GAVE UP ON 8/27 V THE ANGELS, AND MO HAD TO COME IN FOR 2 IP AFTER THAT? SOME NEW CLOSER. BEWARE THE MEDIA BIAS. *MLB HEADLINES FROM MLB.COM 8:10 PM ET Thurs., 9/7/06 * Sanchezs no-hitter starting to sink in * Dynamic dozen up for Aaron Award * Francona's leadership shows in trying stretch * Others getting chances with Mariano out * Duffy does it all as Pirates drop Cubs * Rays impressed by Young's knowledge * VOTE: Aaron | Hometown | Man of Year | Comeback * More MLB.com News | MLB's Mark Feinsand states "Farnsworth has become the new closer" in Mo's absence. FALSE: Farnsworth in Sept. 2006: SVO=0 SVs=0 IP: 1 IP on 9/3 (didn't give up runs); 1 IP on 9/6, GAVE UP 2 RUNS. HEY, GUYS, MARIANO PITCHED THROUGH AUGUST 31. ON AUGUST 27, MO WAS FORCED TO PITCH 2 INNINGS IN ANAHEIM BECAUSE******FARNSWORTH********GAVE UP 3 RUNS IN THE GAME. NOW, JUST LIKE LAST SEPTEMBER, AS I'VE DOCUMENTED HERE, THE MEDIA WAS OUT EVERY SINGLE DAY SAYING THERE WAS A NEW CLOSER, MARIANO WAS BEING GIVEN A HOLIDAY. MLB -Newsflash---FARNSWORTH HAS NOT BECOME THE NEW CLOSER. HE HAS ZERO SAVES OR SVO'S SINCE 8/31. HE'S ONLY PITCHED 2 IP, and in 1 of them GAVE UP 2 RUNS.*************** THEY GET AWAY WITH THIS BECAUSE THE PATHETIC YANKEE FAN BASE ALLOWS IT. "In Rivera's absence, Kyle Farnsworth has moved into the closer's role." Quote from Mark Feinsand's article on MLB.com 9/7/06.
    • Update on 9/8/06, George King of the NY Post informs the MLB propagandist:
    " In the six games Rivera has missed the Yankees didn't get into a save situation, so Rivera's arm trouble hasn't cost them a win."

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Dan Uggla speaks about working in Anibal Sanchez' big game

    Dan, Marlins' 2B, is asked how it felt, said it was great was very happy for Sanchez, but had worked behind Sanchez in a few other games where he'd been no-hit through the 6th or 7th. Did Anibal sit off by himself during the late innings? Dan says no, there's not enough room on the bench there for anyone to sit far away. Ron (no Dibble today) & Kevin mentioned Uggla's working a helpful double play in the 8th.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Wednesday, September 06, 2006

    Employers' problems with workers' fantasy leagues

    To top it off, now they're saying if you have a "guys only" fantasy league at work, the gals might sue the employer. Article from USA TODAY. I guess you should never leave the house.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Tuesday, September 05, 2006

    Sporting News publication sold from Paul Allen to Newhouse

    It didn't sound like they were offering staff much reassurance. . This didn't mention Sporting News Radio, so it may or may not be included. Update: Sporting News Radio Network is included in the sale according to this article.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Feeding hatred and envy--the old reliables-easier than coming up with a new story

    This CBS Sportsline.com story is getting early dibs on bashing New York teams something really original. This kind of garbage makes money, so why try anything enlightening?

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Sunday, September 03, 2006

    Blyleven profanities heard on Twins broadcast, Sun. 9/3/06

    "Viewers tuning in for the opening of the Twins-Yankees telecast Sunday afternoon on WFTC got an unexpected surprise.

    Analyst Bert Blyleven, apparently thinking the segment was being taped, used two profanities after a slip-up during what is known as the standup. Blyleven seemed to think the segment could be shot again and was blaming himself for making a mistake.

    "We're reviewing the situation," said FSN North spokesman Brian Peterson, whose network produces the package of Sunday afternoon telecasts that air on WFTC. Both FSN North and WFTC are owned by Fox.

    WFTC could find itself in hot water with the Federal Communications Commission, which has the ability to fine a station for airing profanity. The words Blyleven used are high on the FCC's list of no-nos, and on the FCC website it clearly states such profanity cannot be broadcast between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

    In this case it happened right around noon.

    The site also reads: In 2004 alone, the FCC took action in 12 cases, involving hundreds of thousands of complaints, assessing penalties and voluntary payments totaling about $8,000,000. The Commission has also toughened its enforcement penalties by proposing monetary penalties based on each indecent utterance in a broadcast, rather than proposing a single monetary penalty for the entire broadcast.

    This is not the first on-air misstep for Blyleven this season. The former Twins pitcher also made what Peterson termed "inappropriate" comments during a May telecast in Anaheim. In that case, Blyleven asked Ace Young of "American Idol" fame a question about "AI" judge Paula Abdul.

    Blyleven heard from both the Twins and FSN North executives after that happened. Blyleven is an employee of the Twins, and his contract is set to expire at the end of this season. Team president Dave St. Peter said recently that both Blyleven and play-by-play man Dick Bremer are close to signing multiyear extensions. St. Peter could not be reached to comment Sunday, and it's unclear whether Sunday's incident will affect Blyleven's status.

    Blyleven worked the weekend series in New York with FSN North's Anthony LaPanta after Bremer's mother passed away last week." by Judd Zulgad, Minneapolis Star Tribune

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    A young fellow named Ben Jacobs is on board with anti-Mariano spam

    I knew it would ruin my day, but I read this propaganda anyway & had to comment: I see written on Foxsports.com by Ben Jacobs of Rotoworld & a few other places (Jacobs is a sports copy editor and freelance writer whose work can also be found on The Hardball Times) posted Sept.1, 2006, this is listed as a Fantasy Baseball column.
    • (Ben is out to confuse the facts, starting with the media darling...FALL IN LINE, BEN. Ben does, by MISLEADING YOU:)
    Closer: Trevor Hoffman (rock solid) (so Ben says): "Hoffman pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings* and earned two more saves in the past week. He's now 35-for-39 in save chances with a 1.98 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 37 strikeouts and nine walks in 50 innings. There's not much to say about him other than that he continues to get the job done even though he turns 39 in six weeks."
    • THIS IS DELIBERATELY MISLEADING. First, 1 of these 'saves' was only 1 out, with a 3 run lead, but it's sold here as no different from a save where a pitcher came in with men on base and only a 1-run lead.
    • Hoffman hasn't pitched more than 1 inning in OVER 2 YEARS yet you'll think he works harder than others from this story. The opposite is true. Hoffman was out of a job a year ago, and wasn't an automatic re-hire by San Diego. This has been reported, and that Sandy Alderson was hesitant. Hoffman is lucky any team, especially one in a low-pressure, temperate climate, national league pitchers' park was able to afford the luxury of hiring a guy who refuses to throw more than 1 inning under any circumstances, putting the burden onto other team members. He's desperately hoping this gimmick will get him into the HOF.
    Then about Cleveland Indians closer Tom Mastny, Jacobs says:"Mastny solidified his place at the head of Cleveland's bullpen by earning two ninth-inning-only saves this past week."
    • So Jacobs reveals he's able to discern such a thing as a "9th inning save," which he'll let you know about if he feels like it. (Learning a copywriter's bias is always fun--if this is the same Ben Jacobs I'm reading about, he was only 15 years old when Mariano Rivera emerged on the scene in the 1995 post season, and of course what life he's lived has been as a die-hard Red Sox fan. Add that he probably sees this field as his career path, & you see no Yankee fans of consequence in this entire field-- in spite of the fact that I've heard Joe Sheehan and Ben Kabak are. They both chicken out when it counts--they're weak fans, as are the few others online. They avoid the most important battles because their first priority it to retain a mass appeal audience and be accepted amongst their colleagues--which means back off when we tell you to).
    Finally young Mr. Jacobs knows his power, knows you're lazy and won't check up on what he writes. Onward to the continual dumping on Mariano: "Rivera allowed one run in three innings and earned one save (his first since August 15) in the past week."
    • What? He only "earned" 1 "save" which was "his first since August 15." Man, Rivera must be a lazy, worthless, barely above average journeyman. WHAT THE YOUNG MR. JACOBS DESPERATELY DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW:
    • First, Mariano wasn't 'resting' for 2 weeks. He had a 'Win' on August 20. He pitched 2 consecutive innings twice after August 15th, first on August 20, then on August 27. It may hurt Jacobs too much to remember the 2 IP on August 20 for the Win happened at Fenway Park. Between Aug. 20 and 27th, the Yankees were losing all the games with 2 exceptions--one they were ahead by 7 runs, and the other was the Monday day game against Boston, where Mariano had just pitched 2 consecutive innings about 14 hours earlier. But, Jacobs et al won't mention that--if anything, they'll say well Rivera was being "rested." It's only defined that way when Mariano is involved--not others.
    Jacobs, like others in the mass communications field of baseball (as opposed to people actually in the game like AL managers) seems to be confused, doesn't really have the time to check out his facts. He next goes on to glorify another pitcher not named Mariano, this time, Frankie Rodriguez: "Rodriguez has been so impressive this year, I can't remember the last time I had to say anything bad about him. He pitched another 3 1/3 scoreless innings with a win and two saves this past week, and he hasn't allowed a run in his last 21 2/3 innings."
    • OK, Ben, I'll remind you: FRANKIE HAS GIVEN UP 6 HR SO FAR THIS YEAR, 2 OF THEM IN 1 GAME (June 4); HE'S WALKED 19 YTD, 2 OF THEM IN 1 GAME, July 22-- if that had been Mo, you'd have remembered; THE WIN YOU MENTION IS 1 OF ONLY 2 HE HAS FOR THE SEASON. HIS IP= 57.1
    • Ben, MARIANO HAS PITCHED 71 INNINGS SO FAR, ALMOST 14 MORE THAN FRANKIE; HAS ONLY GIVEN UP 3 HR ALL YEAR, & ONLY 11 WALKS; MO ALSO HAS 5 WINS ALONG WITH HIS 33 SAVES.
    Ben's propaganda appears in several different venues from what I can tell. Anti-Mariano spam is around every corner, and most people too busy, lazy, or scared to expose this fraud.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Remembering Olympic Champion Bob Mathias

    SAN FRANCISCO Sep 2, 2006 (AP)— Bob Mathias, a two-time Olympic champion in the decathlon and former U.S. congressman, died Saturday. He was 75.

    The U.S. Olympic Committee said in a statement that Mathias died in his home in Fresno, Calif. His brother said the cause was cancer.

    Bob Mathias became the youngest Olympic gold medalist in a track and field event in 1948 in London, when he won the decathlon at 17. It was only his third decathlon competition, having qualified for the Olympics by winning two events in the United States.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Saturday, September 02, 2006

    The Baseball Thought Police are after your mind

    When it gets to be August, September at the latest, the baseball mafia dust off their "Mariano is being rested, Joe Torre is really resting Rivera" jingle. No exception this year, & they think you're too stupid to know Rivera leads the majors in IP by late inning relievers, has pitched for 11 consecutive years AND post seasons--you often hear that White Sox pitchers are probably tired from all that post season pitching from 2005. But I've never in 11 years heard anyone allow Rivera that leeway. Last September Rivera saved or won 6 1-run games, pitched 3 days in a row twice in a 2 week period, 6 out of 8 days. Yet Dibs and Dan Graziano from the Star Ledger told you the Yankees used Rivera so lightly that Tom Gordon was getting comparable closing duties. A LIE, but you people never complain, so they keep lying.
    • This year's rash of "Rivera is resting" articles is coming out of the xerox machine at breakneck speed. As I detailed on this blog this week, Mel Antonen on Charley's show was going to blow a gasket if he didn't get the point across that Rivera was RESTED. Why did he care so much?
    • Then we have 2 days in a row from Newsday, 2 different writers, today from Bob Herzog saying The Sandman Takes a Break. Yesterday from Jim Baumbach, in Newsday saying the Yankees are sneakily and craftily giving the guy a vacation. "That's why the Yankees sat him down for six consecutive days last week.," he says. A LIE.
    • "Sat him down for 6 days?" Pal, he's logged more IP than any other closer, plus has pitched for 11 consecutive post seasons, while his current would-be imitators were either sitting on a couch at home or running around a grammar school playground. But, like I said, allowing Mo credit is not on your list of talking points.
    • If you recall, he pitched 2 innings very late on Sunday night in Boston, and actually got the Win for that game. But you wanted him to come in 12 hours later and save the Monday afternoon game, too. You were really pissed off. Unfortunately, until the next time he pitched, the Yankees were either losing the game or had a 7 run lead--but you wanted him out there anyway.
    • So, finally after being "sat down" as you say, which I just explained was a lie, he came back and pitched 2 innings again. Was that enough? I mean, even a supposedly Yankee friendly website ripped Mo to shreds with innuendo about him "resting" and not being on the freaking mound every day. You see, beating this man into the ground SELLS. It's cheap and easy--beats actually coming up with an interesting story that required some work on your part.
    • Even after it became known he was injured, he went out and had to save the game for Randy Johnson BECAUSE THERE WAS NOBODY ELSE TO DO IT. Did that make you happy?
    This "rest" Herzog writes about today has consisted of exactly 1 day--Friday. In case you're still hoping the guy will crumble, don't worry about Joe Torre saying he won't overuse him for awhile--he's said that before and changed his mind the next day.

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon

    Friday, September 01, 2006

    Mariano Rivera deserves both Cy Young & MVP but won't win for 11th year--Joel Sherman

    'Rivera is doing this for an 11th straight year, and for an 11th straight year says Hall of Fame director Joel Sherman in his NY Post column today.
    • Sherman has achieved enough in his career that he has the courage to speak the truth about Rivera. However, apparently not enough to take the next necessary step. Which obviously would be very bad for the BBWAA.
    • Joel has BEEN A VOTING MEMBER OF BBWAA FOR A LONG TIME. KNOWING WHAT he KNOWs and just wrote about, WHY HAS HE NOT SAID OR DONE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE?
    • WE HAVEN'T EVEN HAD THIS YEAR'S CROP, BUT Joel says Rivera will LOSE AGAIN. Joel, you appear to be an accessory, which is almost as bad as a criminal.
    Detroit Manager JIM LEYLAND from the same article in today's NY Post ON RIVERA:
    • "This guy has had the most impact of any player in recent history.
    • My vote would have gone to Mariano Rivera for MVP of baseball [for this period]. I know a lot of guys hit 40-50 homers. But ... damn, you bring Mariano Rivera out of the bullpen, that is a big edge."
    Sherman's article:

    "SOMEDAY, YANKEES WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IRREPLACEABLE MO"

    NY Post, September 1, 2006 --' THE BULLPEN door opened Wednesday night and so did a scary window into the Yankee future. Scott Proctor, not Mariano Rivera, emerged and a Yankees' lead disappeared.
    • It was yet another reminder that some time soon "Enter Sandman" only will be played on Old-Timer's Day at Yankee Stadium and someone else will have to replace the most irreplaceable Yankee of them all.

    It is Rivera, not Joe Torre or even Derek Jeter, whose cleats will be the toughest to fill.

    • Only then will we fully comprehend that this elite run the Yanks have been on for a decade-plus has started at the end.

    "You can't replace him," GM Brian Cashman said. "You are not going to replace the all-time greatest at something. It is going to be about how much you can cushion the blow."

    • The issue became pertinent again yesterday, because the Yankees closer had to go for an MRI, which to the Yanks chagrin does not stand for Mariano Rivera Invincible. He has been feeling pain near his right elbow and, for what he described as "peace of mind," he underwent a more thorough test.

    The results were negative for any structural damage, an incalculable positive for these Yankees, who cannot get near the Canyon of Heroes without him. The problem, the team said, is muscular. Rivera was deemed healthy enough that when the bullpen door opened yesterday afternoon, less than 24 hours after Proctor's meltdown, it was Rivera who entered.

    • Like Proctor, Rivera got into trouble with a two-run lead and three outs to get. Proctor did not know how to get out of trouble.

    Rivera did by doing what he always does: He broke bats and hearts.

    • After Magglio Ordonez doubled to bring the tying run to the plate with no outs, Rivera splintered Carlos Guillen's bat to induce a slow grounder to third, though the switch-hitter was batting righty to avoid having his bat broken. Sean Casey dribbled a ball to the mound. Brandon Inge broke his bat fouling off a 96-mph fastball the pitch before rolling a ball that Jorge Posada turned into the final out. Rivera conserved his best fastballs until he was in difficulty. But they were there to evoke

    three meek grounders, a good sign.

    What happens, though, when they are not? With a big division lead, the Yanks can limit Rivera to one inning and perhaps find a week of September rest to prep for October, when the wraps will come off because, as Rivera says, "in October, you have to do what you have to do."

    • But Rivera is 35. He already has remained dominant in a job normally less friendly to the aging than supermodel.

    • He has been so good that, I think, he actually is underappreciated. He has not only been the best closer ever.

    • He has been better in the playoffs than the regular season.

    And he has done this not in Kansas City or Houston, but in New York. He has handled this smorgasbord of pressure impeccably.

    • Will his successor? Consider that Detroit beat the Yanks twice in seven tries this year; the games Rivera was not available, but Kyle Farnsworth and Proctor were.

    Now consider that Rivera is doing this for an 11th straight year, and for an 11th straight year

    • he will not win a Cy Young or MVP, though there is no doubt

    "When you see the Yankees take the field in the ninth inning, they have their chest out and feel the game is over," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "That is a hell of a feeling.

    • This guy has had the most impact of any player in recent history.

    My vote would have gone to Mariano Rivera for MVP of baseball [for this period]. I know a lot of guys hit 40-50 homers. But ... damn, you bring Mariano Rivera out of the bullpen, that is a big edge."

    • The Yanks had that edge again yesterday, won another game because of it.

    article by Joel Sherman, "Someday, Yankees Will have to Replace Irreplaceable Mo,"NY Post, Sept. 1, 2006

    Labels:

    Stumbleupon StumbleUpon