"Player of the Game: Mariano Rivera" (John Sterling on Yankee Radio)

It's only 1 game, and the 'nattering na-bobs of negativity'* can send their spam and talk about Arod, etc. I'm not a Fantasy player but I want to personally say:

• CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FANTASY BASEBALL PLAYERS AND WRITERS WHO HUNG IN WITH MARIANO RIVERA--YOU GOT YOUR REWARD TONIGHT--
• A 1.1 INNING SAVE, ENTERING IN THE 8TH WITH 2 MEN ON BASE WITH ONLY A 1-RUN LEAD, 3 MORE OUTS IN THE 9TH, 3 VINTAGE MARIANO GROUND-OUTS (including one from the 8th) AND, HE FACED TORONTO'S 2, 3, 4 AND 5 HITTERS.

SORRY, NO CHEAP SAVE HERE TONIGHT. NO GUY COMING IN WITH A 3 RUN LEAD AND NO MEN ON BASE.

• *'Nattering na-bobs of negativity' is a phrase made famous by Spiro T. Agnew, one-time Vice President of the U.S. I try and throw some culture in when I can. Since the AP sports staff is unlikely to write a long article praising Mo, this small blog will have to suffice.

ADDENDUM, From the NY Times article tonight by Tyler Kepner-(DARES TO MENTION 'SAVE OPPORTUNITES,' NOT JUST 'SAVES'--This might cost him a job at ESPN. Oh, well).

• TORONTO, May 30 — "The Yankees are not the worst team in baseball, but their season has possibly been the strangest. The best example may be the case of Mariano Rivera, possibly the greatest closer ever, who has been unable to do what he does best.

Before Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Center, Rivera had just five save opportunities all year. Thirty other major league pitchers had more: one from every team, including two from Philadelphia.

• It was no wonder, then, that Manager Joe Torre was so eager to use Rivera this time.With two on and two outs in the eighth, Torre summoned Rivera for his first save opportunity since May 3. He converted, helping the Yankees hang on for a 10-5 victory that snapped a five-game losing streak."

From NY Times aritcle by Tyler Kepner, 5/31/07, "After Odd 9th, Strange to Say, SAVE for Rivera."

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Suzyn Waldman--AROD WAS SET UP

On Suzyn Waldman's pre-game report on Yankee radio a few minutes ago, she said the following (paraphrasing):

• We've stooped so low as a society that it's acceptable for a restaurant to supply an athlete car service and an evening at their restaurant with a twist. The restaurant hooked up with a photographer ahead of time to take pictures of the athlete which would then be sold to certain media. The profits from the sale of the pictures were then split between the photographer and the restaurant.

She was quite angry about what was an apparent set-up, though emphasized it's entirely Alex's business what he does in his personal life. I appreciate Suzyn's information on what did seem like a very neatly wrapped media package. Unfortunately, focusing on "society" as Suzyn does, will never alleviate the problem. That's much too large a target. The individuals responsible know this and knew they'd get away with it.

• (She and Sterling reference this again in the top of the first inning).

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Recent Yankee history puts all pressure on their own pitchers who've delivered some miracles, eg. 2001 ALDS, Game 3

Game 3, 2001 ALDS, the season on the line, the Yankees having lost games 1 and 2. Game 3 was played in Oakland. No one was betting the Yankees would win.

• In 2001, it was Oakland who had the "bombers," not the Yankees:

Oakland's lineup in Game 3, 2001 ALDS:

• Johnny Damon
• Miguel Tejada
• Jason Giambi
• Jermaine Dye
• Eric Chavez
• Jeremy Giambi
• Terrence Long
• Ramon Hernandez
• Olmedo Saenz, PH
• F.P. Santangelo 2B
• Frank Menechino
• Greg Myers, PH-C

The Pitchers:

• Barry Zito and Mark Guthrie

The Yankee lack of hitting portended their season ending at the beginning of Game 3, October 13, 2001:

• A post season elimination game--if the Yankees lost, the A's go on to the ALCS.

• The Yankees had not had a lead over Oakland in 72 innings
• going into this game. Since the Yankees couldn't hit, all the pressure was on the pitchers.

• The crowd in Oakland was the biggest to ever see an Oakland A's game, 55,861.

• The Yankees had no hits through 4 and a third innings until Posada's solo homerun.
• It was the first time in 76 and a third innings the Yankees had a lead against Oakland. (Michael Kay notes this from Elias). Score 1-0.

• The famous Jeter play at home tagging Jeremy Giambi
• in the bottom of the 7th kept the score from being tied. It also ended the inning
• leaving a runner in scoring position.

• After 7 innings, Mike Mussina was replaced.

The final 2 innings were pitched by Mariano Rivera with the season on the line. Score 1-0.

• There would be almost no chance the Yankees could come back if Oakland got even a small lead.

• In the Yankees 8th, they went down 1-2-3.

• In the A's 8th, they got 1 single, but 3 others made out.

• In the Yankees 9th, they again went down 1-2-3, this time to Guthrie who replaced Zito. Talk about a team not hitting.

• In the 9th, the season on the line, Mariano Rivera pitches to
• Jason Giambi who grounded out 2nd to 1st.
• Dye hits a double.
• Eric Chavez struck out.
• Jeremy Giambi grounded out 2nd to 1st.
• Final score, 1-0 Yankees.

• Yankees come back from the dead to live another day. They finally won the last 2 games from Oakland and moved on to the ALCS against Seattle.

• After that, they played 7 games in the World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, which ended
• on November 4th, 2001.

I've never seen this game on the YES Network. It probably should be shown once a week.

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Is someone at the YESN Network dating Papelbon?

Adoring and romantic editorial footage constantly being run by YES Network studio personnel within Yankee programming is odd considering its subject, Papelbon, has yet to pitch one big league season, forget about 3 levels of post season play, and has his various struggles. Unless the YES Network is under new ownership of which I'm unaware, the most likely reason for this lush, highly promoted treatment of 1 non-Yankee player is a powerful person at the YES Network may be dating and/or in love with Papelbon. I mean hey these things happen, maybe someone at YES is young and cute and she and Papelbon are an item or something. I mean Fillippelli (sp?) and Doria like each other so that could help, but there must be a bigger angle here. True love must be involved with this latest non-Yankee lovefest force fed to soon-to-be-former Yankee fans. We're tolerant and all that, but we'll be that way without watching your adorable infomercials for Papelbon or any other crap you put out.

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The Steinbrenner Interview--NY Times left out in the cold, takes predictable shots

It fell to Richard Sandomir to vent the wrath of NY Times guys like Jackie Curry and Murray Chass on having been passed over again in the Steinbrenner interview sweepstakes race. How do I know this? Because the Times sells the article by questioning George's health (whether drooling or a blubbering idiot shut-in, I mean this is what happens when the floundering NY Times gets passed by). Curry and Chass sputtered themselves last time they didn't get the interview. Why should anyone give such phonies the time of day? (especially Curry). But Sandomir has a more recent insight at the end of his article. The failure of this year's Yankee team calls into question the future of the YES Network and the new Yankee Stadium.

• I do not watch Yankee games when the team is losing. Advertising rates have to plummet. The media spin that the business is a bottomless pit of money is demonstrably false. I hope they go in the tank for no other reason than the revenue sharing and luxury tax stolen from Yankee fans and given to lazy, rich owners will decrease. Without the winning Yankee team, why keep the YES Network around? Sell that place back to ESPN, and like a smart commenter to this blog suggested:

• Mr. Steinbrenner should take the Yankee games away from YES, start a channel just for Yankees and their fans, and let the YES guys continue the crap they put on now. Which is of no interest to any half-awake Yankee fan.

Article referenced NY Times article by Richard Sandomir, 5/30/07, "Does the Man Who Put the Fire in 'Fired!' Still Have It?" (The Times' cute way of saying, George must be a drooling idiot).

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NFL MEDIA BLOGGER TOLD, "YOU BLOGGERS ARE CONSPIRACY THEORISTS"

Now I get it. If you simply type, "I just saw this" or "I just heard or read that," you have a good chance of being ridiculed as a "CONSPIRACY THEORIST," as this NFL media watch blogger was. The put-down of the blogger said in effect, it doesn't matter if the big guys are good or bad because they have all the marbles. The NFL media blogger likes MNF and looks to the new ESPN ombudsman, Le Anne Schreiber to address his concerns. (4/6/06) He says:

• "Schreiber sounds reasonable, and I liked her debut column. I hope when she says she'll see how the new lineup works on MNF, she means she'll thoroughly explore what ESPN is doing with its most expensive and most popular property. Replacing Joe Theismann with Ron Jaworski was a great step in the right direction. Now Kornheiser needs to improve."

Here's the mental-case put-down by the elitist to the serf:

• "2. Nothing personal Michael, but instead of the conspiracy theories, why do you bloggers never mention the Nielsen ratings? MNF is supposedly ESPN's highest-rated show.

Posted at 8:42AM on Apr 6th 2007 by tc"

SO THE BLOGGER'S COMMENT POINT IS COMPLETELY IGNORED, HE'S ACCUSED OF BEING A WACKO FRINGE GEEK. THE PAYOFF: WOW, BIG RATINGS. BIG. RIGHT. WHERE IS THE LINK TO THE RATINGS, DEMOS, TRENDS, SKEW, QUALITATIVE, ETC. FORGET IT--WE'RE BIG SO SHUT-UP.

• This is a good example of how the internet facilitates hate-speech spammers. They quickly demonize a civil, truthful or factual voice. As noted in the Washington Post column on the subject (posted here), this environment causes legitimate voices to stay away.

From NFL-Media-Watch.aolsportsblog.com, 4/6/06. Sorry for all the facts and evidence.

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YES NETWORK & ESPN MAN-LOVE (and bad grammar)

The YES Network hires and supports morons. Their announcer at 6:20 PM just said, "I never WOULD HAVE WENT (THERE)." 'WOULD HAVE WENT?' This announcer has been with the YES Network for at least a year and he still can't speak English. This also means George Steinbrenner promotes illiteracy. It's a job speaking on tv, communicating, and the guy doesn't know basic grammar.

• Since this is tolerated by the Yankees and the YES group, one wonders if any of them speak English. Why should the Yankee fan support a network who can't be bothered speaking common English grammar? An unprofessional disgrace.

(WHY SHOULD SPONSORS SUPPORT CARELESS SUB-STANDARD JUNK?)

• NOW YES NETWORK SHARES MAN-LOVE WITH ESPN FAVE: At 6:53PM, THE YES NETWORK IS SHOWING LONG, LOVING, SLO-MO CLOSEUP ADORATION FOOTAGE OF THE BOSTON CLOSER GOING INTO A BREAK. THEY SAY THEY'LL GET BACK TO TELL YOU MORE ABOUT HIM AFTER THE BREAK. THE KID HAS NEVER MADE IT THROUGH ONE SEASON, STRUGGLED LAST NIGHT AND GAVE UP A RUN. BUT THE YES NETWORK IS ON BOARD WITH ESPN, ETC. GLORIFICATION OF THIS KID. NEVER, NEVER HAVE THEY GIVEN THEIR (EXCUSE ME, THEY OBVIOUSLY DON'T CONSIDER THEMSELVES RELATED TO THE YANKEES) OWN LATE-INNING RELIEVER/CLOSER FOR 12 SEASONS AND POST SEASONS, MARIANO RIVERA, THIS KIND OF LOVING EMBRACE. I'M SIMPLY REPORTING WHAT'S ON THE SCREEN. WHICH IS WHY I SUGGEST ALL ADVERTISERS ON THE YES NETWORK CANCEL THEIR SCHEDULES. THE EDITORIAL VIEWS ARE QUITE OUT IN THE OPEN, NO SECRETS INVOLVED.

CLOSE DOWN THE YES NETWORK IMMEDIATELY. IT IS AN INSULT TO YANKEE FANS. ASSUMING THERE ARE ANY YANKEE FANS LEFT WHO HAVEN'T BEEN BEATEN INTO SUBMISSION. STOP GOING TO YANKEE GAMES AND STOP WATCHING THIS ABORTION OF A SUPPOSED YANKEE TV CHANNEL.

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Change Mo from 'Closer" to "Fireman'--Balsamini

• "From here on in, Mariano Rivera is not the CLOSER. He is the FIREMAN. Like the days of Sparky Lyle and Goose Gossage, I want Joe to bring in Mariano for the most important outs...not the last three outs.
• Crazy you say? Is it any crazier than the fact that Mariano didn't even make it into the game? Or the fact that with the game in the balance, Proctor was your man?"

First, the last 3 outs have to be part of the picture for Rivera. They often are the hardest, so don't exclude them. You cannot win without a good closer, but if you want to expand the role and call him a "Fireman," fine. Mo has expanded the modern role of the closer anyway, making his greatest mark being available for more than 1 inning, including his 112 2/3 post season innings. Some teams use closers just to hype awards & accumulate cheap saves. It has worked well marketing those teams. Unfortunately for Mariano, the Yankees haven't been a team with a luxurious bullpen. They've had to lean on him for the most grueling, difficult games.

• Rivera, Sparky Lyle and Goose Gossage have all actually won the 'FIREMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD' given by The Sporting News since 1960. The award's name was changed to 'Reliever of the Year' in 2001 TO APPROPRIATELY RECOGNIZE GREAT RELIEVERS, NOT JUST CLOSERS. (They must've seen how the "total save stat" was being manipulated by some managers as mentioned by Ken Rosenthal during the Fox game on Saturday, May 26 and noted on this blog. sm)

If you rely on ESPN or the BBWAA for news, you won't know about this award.

• Mariano Rivera, 5x winner Fireman/Reliever of the Year

• Goose Gossage, 2x winner Fireman of the Year

• Sparky Lyle, 1x winner Fireman of the Year

Mr. Balsamini's idea has been broached in a general way by others, but his suggestion for its use in this particular situation at this moment in time is quite helpful. From his Staten Island Advance article, 5/27/07.

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Joe Torre Becomes Yogi--Dave Anderson, NY Times

NY Times columnist Dave Anderson quotes Joe Torre almost making a Yogi-ism today. Yogi's original comment, per Dave:

• “It gets late early out there,” Yogi grunted."

"In a semantic twist to Yogi’s line, after yesterday’s 4-3 loss to the Angels at the Stadium, Torre said,

• “We’ve been bad early in other years, but not this late.”"

From Dave Anderson's NY Times article, 5/28/07, "Sometimes It's Over Even When It Ain't"

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KEN ROSENTHAL MOVES THE BALL FORWARD: OPINES ON THE PHONY "SAVES" STAT

Ken Rosenthal said during the Fox Phillies-Braves game on Saturday, May 26, 2007, 5:54PM ET:

• "THERE ARE TOO MANY MANAGERS WHO MANAGE ACCORDING TO THE 'SAVE' RULE."

Which is a polite way of saying managers are in the business of giving "gifts" or "cookies" before other priorities. Way to speak about THIS MEDIA-HYPED RUNAWAY TRAIN. Maybe others will have the guts to take on the subject that has gotten way out of hand, ie "Give him the Cy for his Total Saves Stat." The discussion occurred surrounding Brett Myers' being used "FOR MORE THAN 1 INNING" by Charlie Manuel. Joe Girardi avoided the controversy, just saying it depends on how deep your bullpen is and what the game calls for. Well, that's true, but a couple of teams have used the "Saves" stat as a promotional and awards device FIRST.

• (Load up those 1 out saves or no runners in scoring position or no more than one inning, or high pressure pennant race performances, etc.)
• P.S. UH-OH, ESPN MUST BE PISSED--JON MILLER IS HYPING THE B-JESUS OUT THE THE SAVE STAT TONIGHT ON THE INDIANS-TIGERS GAME, AND JOE MORGAN IS JOINING IN, MENTIONING CONCURRENT, A-HEM...AWARDS VOTING....MAN, WHEN YOU 'DEFINE THE DAILY DISCOURSE' AS ESPN DOES, THE TRUTH DOESN'T HAVE A CHANCE. ESPECIALLY WHEN BASEBALL CONSUMERS DON'T CARE.

Update: Rosenthal's comment on Saturday afternoon brought out the ESPN guns on Sunday night, now Hoffman's precision PR machine puts out a long AP sports article on his next "Total Save Stat" benchmark. Meaningless, utterly without context, and an insult to several people, notably Lee Smith about whom they make a misleading reference. They do it because they can.

• This is an embarrassment. There is no comparison between Lee Smith and Hoffman. Any moron can see that. ie, Lee Smith was not a compiler of a cheap stat. He worked much harder than that.

UPDATE****THE HOFFMAN/ESPN PR MACHINE CONTINUES WITHOUT SHAME, COMING UP CURIOUSLY AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME (6/1/07) WITH ANOTHER ESPN PHONY POLL. POLLS ALLOW YOU TO MAKE UP 'NEWS'--THIS IS WHAT THE TV NETWORKS DO CONSTANTLY TO ADVANCE A CAUSE OF THEIR OWN. THEN THEY CLAIM IT'S NEWS. SO CRASNICK'S NAME GOES ON TOP OF AN ESPN POLL ABOUT HOFFMAN GOING TO THE HALL OF FAME. "Surveying Hoffman's Hall of Fame Case." MUCH FLUFF FROM THE PEOPLE THEY POLLED, HOLLOW, INDEFENSIBLE. One voter ESPN digs up (amazingly) elevates Hoffman by comparing him to Mariano then states a "belief" about Rivera that is factually impossible. John Delcos, the "believer" already has a track record on paper of minimizing Rivera in 2005:

""Wagner: I'm No Mo," by John Delcos, Westchester Journal News

I'm mainly posting this article to show another example of SHODDY PERFORMANCE BY BASEBALL AWARDS VOTERS. John Delcos, an awards voter who voted this year (2005) for the AL MVP, reports comparisons between Billy Wagner and Mariano Rivera. In the article, Delcos, who's covered the Yankees since 1998, says Rivera "has had 32 playoff saves." False. Rivera has 34 playoff saves. Any so-called baseball writer should get it right, but this is even a local guy who gets it wrong. Maybe Delcos doesn't care." (Posted on this blog, 11/23/05).

• This is the John Delcos bio from his current job:

"John Delcos enters his second season of covering the Mets for The Journal News after eight seasons on the Yankees beat. Prior to coming to New York, John covered the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians." From LoHud Mets Blog, 6/6/07.

• (Any news organization considers it normal to give its reporters' backgrounds. This hasn't been done in billion-dollar baseball news to any degree because it's been a monopoly. I give baseball media backgrounds when I can find them, which isn't too often. HERE'S THE TWISTED, BOILERPLATE TEARFUL SPIN ON HOFFMAN POPULARIZED BY THE MEDIA MACHINE, SAID HERE BY DELCOS:

""There's no question Trevor Hoffman gets my Hall of Fame vote. I covered the Yankees for eight years and got to see Mariano Rivera on a regular basis." *********(NOW GET READY FOR THIS--GET THE VIOLINS)**********

• "Unfortunately for Hoffman and other relievers of his era, they are compared to Rivera's body of work in the playoffs. There's no denying Rivera's greatness, but had the Yankees had Hoffman instead, I believe they would have been just as successful.''

-- John Delcos, The Journal News (New York)

• Delcos, Hoffman had surgery in 2003 and missed almost the entire season. Mariano Rivera's 3 consecutive scoreless innings in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, A TIE GAME, couldn't have been done by anyone recovering from surgery. Seeking "regular season?" Hoffman never in his life did what Rivera did in Sept. 2005. Delcos' own future career is in the hands of baseball writers and ESPN, and his words are exactly what they want to hear. I've documented much on this topic--I apologize for so much proof and evidence.
• AND DELCOS SAYS 'OTHER RELIEVERS OF THIS ERA' HAVE BEEN SLIGHTED TOO BECAUSE OF THIS TERRIBLE PROBLEM. WHAT OTHER RELIEVERS, DELCOS? ESPN ADVERTISERS SHOULD BOYCOTT ESPN FOR TARNISHING HALL OF FAME STANDARDS. WHY SHOULD THE HALL OF FAME REMAIN IN EXISTENCE IN THE INTERNET AGE? INCORRECT INFORMATION IS TOO EASILY ACCEPTED AS TRUTH.(sm)

• ***I CHECKED OUT THE READER COMMENTS TO THE ESPN "POLL," AND MOST THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE. THE ESPN GUYS NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION IF THEY REALLY TAKE THEMSELVES THIS SERIOUSLY. HERE ARE THE COMMENTS:

• crazyed17 (6/1/2007 at 8:35 AM)

The closer position is now a joke...and racking up loads of saves is not impressive anymore. Gossage needs to get recognized before any of these other closers, including Rivera. I believe the closer should be used as your shutdown guy when the game is on the line. They are used literally as the closer, which is overly hyped. If it were up to me...I would bring in my 'closer' even during the 6th or 7th inning, if the fate of the game depended on it.

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ElBlakeman16 (6/1/2007 at 12:15 PM)

While Hoffman has been dominant and a clear HOFer, it should always be mentioned that Rivera's a step above. You can't discount two crucial facts, which are either not-mentioned or under-emphasized in the article: 1) Rivera's the all-time leader for pitchers in postseason games played (73) with 34 more saves; and 2) all of Rivera's saves have come in the American League, and during the heart of the steroids era, rather than in the weaker National League. Comparing those two to Gossage and the other historical (pre-1990's) closers is tough, but Rivera's been a cut above Hoffman throughout his career. I do, however, agree that the Yankees may have been just as successful with Hoffman as closer and not Rivera, but we'll never know. Hoffman wasn't given those opportunities, and did blow a few of the meager ones he had.

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Avielth (6/1/2007 at 3:49 PM)

Whether or not you think Hoffman deserves to be in the Hall, which I personally believe he does, Gossage should be in there. Gossage was one of the most dominating players of his time and the type of player the hall is suppose to celebrate. Who cares about the order at this point in time...just because they screwed it up the first time doesn't mean you need to take first round consideration from Hoffman. The hall voters collectively have questionable judgement at best, so who knows what will happen...

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brentuga1 (6/1/2007 at 4:36 PM)

Calling Jayson Stark - did you see that total? 58 of 62 writers consider him a first ballot hall of famer? That's pretty loud and clear proof that he is not underrated, but instead valued properly or overvalued.

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JoeMesa2007 (6/1/2007 at 4:57 PM)

So now it's Hall of Fame time if you're the all time leader in saves. What about all those years Lee Smith was the all time leader? Why didn't that count? If Hoffman should be in the Hall of Fame then so does Lee Smith. I think it's a travesty that Smith is so overlooked when he was the all time saves leader for a quite a few years before Hoffman finally passed him. Relievers are starting to get Hall of Fame recogntion, yet the guy who held the all time record up until just last year is ignored? It's a joke!!

INGY_BINGLEBOP (6/1/2007 at 8:12 PM)

WELL, JAYSON STARK'S OPINION ON TREVOR HOFFMAN IS PRETTY POINTLESS ANYWAY. AT LEAST THEY PUT HIS AS THE VERY LAST ONE IN THE ARTICLE. WHATEVER STARK SAYS, I TEND TO EITHER BELIEVE THE OPPOSITE, OR WAIT FOR A MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE WRITER TO GIVE A CONFIRMATION. EVER NOTICE THAT MOST OF HIS "RUMBLINGS & GRUMBLINGS" ARE THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPEN?

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jts_cornershop (6/2/2007 at 10:49 AM)

I think that Mariano Rivera is more of a slam dunk than Trevor Hoffman for Cooperstown. Granted, Hoffman didn't get the postseason chances that Rivera did, since the Yankees ALWAYS made the postseason while the Padres anemic offense often kept them out of the playoffs, but their regular season stats are very similar. So Rivera's postseason success gives him a notch up. But Hoffman still does deserve to be in the HOF. But like some of the writers said... Rich Gossage and Lee Smith deserve to be there too, and hopefully this is the year that the BBWA and the veterans committee decide to correct that injustice. Remember, the Goose was also a starter early in his career (like Eck) and changed to closer midway through. So if Eckersley can make the Hall, Gossage should too.

moleman92106 (6/2/2007 at 11:54 AM)

As a Padres fan, i can say that the ninth inning is over when Hoffie is in. And you can pick out a team or two each year that unravels because of ninth inning nonsense. That CAN ruin a team's morale. That said, Goose needs to get in and the contemporary closer role is a joke. I want to see the old breed of closer who can pich 2-3 innings (a guy like Scot Shields) and close things up. Although being a closer may now be joke, no one seems to be able to do it good for more than 3-4 years. Contradiction? MLB should probably tweak the rule, like the inherited runners rule with 1 out or 2 outs. The game is not really on the line when you have a 3 run lead in the NL.

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vinman14 (6/4/2007 at 10:22 AM)

I believe Gossage, Smith, Hoffman and Rivera should all be in! Please, I would put in a closer before I would even think of putting in a DH. Look at all these closers that do it for a few years, and then fall apart. These guys have done it for their carreers, and they should be honored for it.

My solution as always, REMOVE VOTING ON BASEBALL AWARDS FROM ALL MEDIA.

• ANOTHER UPDATE: What a coincidence, another article blurring the truth of the Hoffman case from Larry Stone of the Seattle Times on May 29, 2007. THIS BASEBALL AWARDS VOTER PUSHES THE FOLLOWING INTO VOTERS'/READERS' MINDS TALKING ABOUT BASEBALL "RECORDS:"
• THE 'TOTAL SAVE' STAT IS EQUIVALENT TO THE HOMERUN AND THE TOTAL HITS STAT. THIS IS FALSE, AS THE TOTAL SAVE STAT HAS MANY MORE VARIABLES AND RELIES ON A MANAGER AND AN OWNER'S WILLINGNESS TO SELL THEMSELVES FOR A FAKED PRIZE. AGAIN THE WRITER WANTS TO SELL YOU THAT MARIANO AND HOFFMAN ARE IN ANY WAY SIMILAR. WHICH IS A JOKE.

As an above commenter noted, the Hoffman "saves campaign" has cheapened the real work involved in more complicated saves. The Eric Gagne "saves campaign" of a few years ago did the same. ESPN has mega-hyped both of these.

• ANOTHER UPDATE****JUNE 8, 2007****THE BULLIES CONTINUE THE RELENTLESS CAMPAIGN FOR HOFFMAN AND THE FAKE COOKIE STAT:

BUSTER OLNEY Hoffman saves items for Hall Updated: 6/8/07

• SUGGESTION to all ESPN ADVERTISERS: CANCEL YOUR ADVERTISING. THE HALL OF FAME HAS BEEN TARNISHED BY THIS CAMPAIGN.

"Have" a Save ".... ...Have a Manager & a Franchise who... On "having" saves, the LA Times' Bill Shaikin adds to the fraud 6/10/07--why not, there's big money in it:

• "No one else has 500 saves. Mariano Rivera could save 40 games this year and 40 more next year, and he'd still fall short of 500.***

Rivera has a fastball, at least. Hoffman blows no one away. He dominates in his own way, making him the perfect anchor for the Padres' bullpen. The Padres' bullpen dominates in its own way. This is the best bullpen in the major leagues, and it's not even close."

• THE ENTIRE BASEBALL INDUSTRY FROM MLB/ESPN ON DOWN, A MULTI BILLION DOLLAR SLEDGE HAMMER, ARE ALL UNITED TO DENY MARIANO RIVERA THE RECOGNITION HE LONG AGO DESERVED. I'VE DOCUMENTED THIS COUNTLESS TIMES ON THIS BLOG. THEY DO IT BECAUSE THEY CAN. WITHOUT A TWINGE OF CONSCIENCE. BECAUSE HE'S THE GREATEST YANKEE IN DECADES--ALSO DOCUMENTED. SHAIKIN, WITH 80 MORE REGULAR SEASON SAVES, HE'D HAVE 534, but THAT WOULDN'T BE THE REASON HE'S BETTER. UNLIKE YOU, WE'RE NOT MORONS, AND WE'RE NOT BUYING YOUR PHONY COOKIE SAVE STAT.

YOU DENY HIS 34 POST SEASON SAVES, THE MOST GRUELING, HIS 112 2/3 INNINGS OF WORK OVER 12 CONSECUTIVE POST SEASONS. BECAUSE YOU CAN. YOU'RE A CHEAP FRAUD, EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN'T VOTE ON BASEBALL AWARDS FROM THE LA TIMES, IT ONLY TAKES A FEW OF YOU TO KEEP THE BILLION DOLLAR ROTTEN SYSTEM GOING.

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Schilling has another post mentioning Mariano Rivera

Following up on his "Mo has the best cutter in the game," blog entry I noted here on May 21st, Curt Schilling seems to address some teary ESPN types but goes a step further. Those guys just want to ignore Rivera, but Mr Schilling is actually in the game and knows quite a bit more. And he's probably not desperately looking to ESPN for future income as others are.

• From his blog 38Pitches.com on May 25, 2007, Q&A Section:

"Q-Who do you think is a better closer at this point, Papelbon or Rivera?

A-Not a question that can be answered with anything but opinion really. Mariano is, in my opinion the best closer of all time. His resume better be a unanimous first ballot Hall of Fame one.*** On the other hand I think Paps is the best closer in the game right now."

• ***To the uninformed, why would Schilling even mention his concern about Rivera being a 1st ballot HOF? Because he knows how BBWAA members operate.
• Regarding his other statement, we'll see how the season goes. You notice he didn't MENTION TOTAL SAVES--SINCE HE ACTUALLY PLAYS THE GAME, HE'S AWARE THAT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC JUDGE OF A CLOSER, AND MARIANO RANKS #32 in the Majors in SAVE "OPPORTUNITIES" right now. #32. That's the meaning of the "save" stat--no opportunities, no saves, just regular innings.

Item from 38pitches.com, 5/25/07, Q&A Section XIII

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Joe Torre

I remember reading Joe Torre's book about the 1996 season, in which his opening words to the players were, "We. Us. Team." Then he said if you don't like it, you can leave right now. He appeared with Mike and Chris last winter after it was confirmed that he'd be back in 2007 and I heard a loud thud. He sounded like a stone wall, dismissive and aloof about any criticism, offering no reason to hope for a great season. The fan has absolutely nothing to hang onto here. The only thing that might help is to stop going to games--immediately.

• P.S. But great job today by Wang and Mariano Rivera who came into the day ranked #32 in the Majors in SAVE OPPORTUNITIES--any BBWAA members going to write about those "opportunities"? I didn't think so.

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ESPN types gossip & praise each other & call it "Journalism."

William Rhoden in the NY Times today takes a different route, headlining the latest baseball gossip in essence, THE MEDIA IS RIVETED BUT FANS DON'T CARE. Shockingly, Mr. Rhoden mentions a baseball player OTHER THAN JASON GIAMBI. And to top it off, NOT EVEN A YANKEE! Wow, here's a reporter who does some work. Rhoden:

• "So as a reward for a breakthrough season, (Gary) Matthews signed a contract with the Los Angeles Angels worth $50 million. He seemed to be on the way to being one of baseball’s positives.

But earlier this year, Matthews was pulled into the ever-widening vortex of performance-enhancing drugs when his name was linked to an illegal steroid ring.

• Matthews continues to insist that he is innocent, but his reputation has been tarnished. In the coming months, more names — some expected, some not — will trickle out as the ever-expanding net widens.

The question I find myself asking with greater frequency is, how many fans truly care? That is, how many care enough to stay away?

• In the N.F.L., where there is no test for human-growth hormone and players are as big as buildings, attendance is soaring."
• THANKS, MR. RHODEN. ALL THE ESPN BASEBALL GUYS AND NY DAILY NEWS GUYS WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO SOME WORK IF THEY EXAMINED THE PARADOXES HERE, AS TIM MARCHMAN OF 'THE SUN' DID. (sm)

"We have not come close to determining the extent of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. Yet, despite the disclosures and innuendo, fans are flocking to baseball games in record numbers.

• Where’s the outrage? There is none.

For one, we get performance enhancement. It surrounds us, thanks to advances, mostly legal. We heal quicker and live a little longer."

Then Rhoden says,

"The steroids story is a greater passion for those of us who cover the games, who write the stories and are charged with the responsibility of validating a player’s authenticity. We made heroes out of certain players — literally named a highway after one — and had to tear it down."

Yes, you guys are enthralled with it, but I DON'T LOOK TO ANY OF YOU TO VALIDATE A PLAYER'S AUTHENTICITY. THIS IS THE PROBLEM-- JOURNALISTS AND OTHERS HAVE THE IDEA THEY ARE SEEN AS JUDGES, VALIDATORS, EVEN OWNERS OF SUPERIOR MORAL CHARACTER (this last part has been said by BBWAA members--of course that's ridiculous). Here Mr. Rhoden is bestowing a judicial position on himself for which he may in fact be qualified, but that's something that can only be decided by others. JOURNALISTS have to be vetted, as they're all quite human. Just look at the Dallas Press Club scandal that's been going on for a few years. Please.

• (On a slightly different angle, Curt Schilling has used his own direct communication with media and fans, circumventing what he felt were unreliable members of the press. From what I read, they continue to take shots at him for that).

The biggest goof to me is even with Mr. Rhoden, the press guys think obtaining leaked confidential, legally bound data on baseball players is the essence of "journalism," that this is the best use of their skill, digging and uncovering. But IT'S NOT--IT'S THE LAZIEST, MOST UNETHICAL IF NOT ILLEGAL WAY TO GET SENSATIONAL HEADLINES AND PRAISE FROM OTHER PRESS GUYS. He continues,

• "Steroids use is the perfect story, a whodunit, a dig for truth and rationale and a much-needed tracing of the roots of performance-enhancing drug use in sports. This has become a more passionate issue for journalists than for fans, peeling away layer after layer of deception to get to some honest answers, if not the truth."

Thanks for your effort, Mr. Rhoden, which was more than others in the baseball media. But you're not being passionate journalists here, peeling away layers. You're just waiting for some personal, legally protected data and a weak, corrupt person at MLB, Inc. to violate the law for you.

• Items from the NY Times column by William C. Rhoden, 5/26/07, "Fans Tolerate Doping, and Media Remain Riveted." NY Times Select (monthly fee)

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Suzyn Waldman identifies Pat Milton, winner of latest George Steinbrenner interview

Pat Milton is a female who's often reported on court matters in the Long Island area, says Suzyn Waldman on Yankee radio tonight. Milton also wrote on the Howie Spira court case a few years back, she adds. Ms. Milton apparently called George on the phone and he called her right back and gave a spirited interview. As I noted elsewhere, the last "surprise" interview was also given to an AP reporter. Certain media members in the past have counted on George answering their phone call, enabling them to embellish their own resume and self-importance. At the same time, these kinds of reporters are happy to fuel hatred and envy against aspects of the Yankee team. After all, their future cash and fame depends on the approval of other media members, not the Yankees or their fans. (Ms. Milton was also a contributing reporter on a recent Ronald Blum AP story about overflowing trash at Legends Field and other signs of Mr. Steinbrenner's decreasing involvement).

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Crimes committed by leaking confidential MLB legal information involve celebrity media types

You call that ace "investigative reporting," some newspaper twirp simply being a vessel (in this case the NY Daily News) to funnel illegal information from the billionaires' independent nation-state of MLB, Inc. to sell more newspapers and fill up radio airwaves with more no-talent lackies looking for attention?

• There's plenty that needs to be investigated about the owners and central offices of MLB, Inc. involving finances, personnel, ties to Disney and ESPN, etc. If anyone really were an "investigative" reporter they'd look there. Simply waiting for a hateful criminal to give you a piece of illegal information means YOU SHOULD GO TO JAIL ALONG WITH THE LEAKER.

Just to confirm things were status quo, I listened to narcissistic Jayson Stark doing his usual boring, say nothing while using up a lot of time-radio interview with Michael Kay sitting in for Dan (my son is a Red Sox fan) Patrick. Stark takes long breaths while he's trying to think of something meaningful to say. He gives you this: in gooey, self-important tones, this latest non-story is "one of the biggest stories of our time," that its impact is now in "the COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION." What a grandiose statement--but the brain-dead will buy it. Remember, ESPN "DEFINES THE DAILY DISCOURSE," per Bob Ley.

• (GET IT FOLKS--THE MEDIA GUYS HAVE THEIR OWN COURT, JUDGE, JURY, AND GUILLOTINES--WHICH SEEMS TO BE JUST FINE FOR THE AVERAGE PASSIVE BASEBALL FAN).

Then Jay-Jay slowly reveals to Kay, "LEAKING ACROSS THE BOARD IS NOT AN ACCIDENT," referring to various "leaked" drug info of all kinds over the past few years. THE TRUTH IS:

• FANS ARE PAWNS IN AN INFORMATION GAME CONTROLLED BY CRIMINALS AT ESPN AND MLB. TRAFFICKING IN ILLEGALLY OBTAINED OR TRANSMITTED INFORMATION IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. ANYONE INVOLVED SHOULD BE ARRESTED IMMEDIATELY INSTEAD OF BEING ALLOWED TO PROFIT FROM IT. WHO'S LOOKING INTO THAT?

On the entirely separate matter of Giambi's recent remarks to a BBWAA member, he was guility of being stupid but nothing else. On the whole, I'd never speak to a BBWAA member if I were a baseball player, nor is there any reason for reporters to be allowed in athletes' dressing rooms. The idea itself is strange--speak to the players after they're dressed.

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Austrian Olympic Committee Fined $1 million for 2006 Doping

Remember this when MLB, Inc. and Gene Orza, Inc. say the WBC will have no problems as Olympic drug testing and standards are just great and infallible. AP Story. The Newsday headline of course is misleading, just referencing a 'crackdown.'

• VIENNA, Austria -- "Austrian Olympic leaders pledged to crack down on national ski team officials after being hit with a $1 million fine by the IOC for the doping scandal at the 2006 Turin Games.

The International Olympic Committee fined the Austrian Olympic Committee on Thursday for failing to prevent the blood doping violations at last year's Winter Olympics. It is the largest fine to be levied by the Switzerland-based body. The decision came a month after the IOC issued lifetime Olympic bans on six Austrian cross-country skiers and biathletes involved in the doping.

• The scandal also cast a shadow over Austria's bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. The Austrian city of Salzburg is competing against Sochi, Russia, and Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The IOC said the AOC "breached its obligations under the Olympic Charter, the IOC code of ethics and applicable anti-doping regulations."

• It also said the AOC was guilty of a series of violations despite having received a "severe warning" in 2002 after a blood doping scandal at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

In addition, the IOC also said the evidence proved "significant collusion within the Austrian team, involving not only the athletes, but also coaches, trainers, management and medical personnel" and stressed that the AOC was also responsible for the "acts and omissions" of the national ski federation.

• Earlier this month, an IOC disciplinary panel held hearings in Lausanne, Switzerland, into the role of Austrian Olympic and ski officials in the scandal.

The investigation put several Austrian sports officials under scrutiny, including ski federation chief Peter Schroecksnadel."

• (This is only one of many Olympic doping and drug testing scandals). sm

AP Story from Newsday, 5/24/07

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Congratulations to Peter Abraham and his LoHud Yankees Blog

• Takes 3rd place in 2007 EPpy Awards:

Best Media-Affiliated Sports Blog
WINNER: Seahawks Insider - Tacoma News Tribune
SportsJustice (Chron.com) - Houston Chronicle

• The LoHud Yankees Blog (LoHud.com)

From Editor & Publisher, 5/24/07, via Poynter.org/Romenesko

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Derek Jeter passes Joe DiMaggio for all-time Yanks hits

This from the NY Post 5/27/06 on Jeter's 2000 hits. I'll be looking for another like this on 5/24/07 for this year's record. Of course Jeter joins Bernie Williams in having passed Joe D.

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This man, Edward M. "Teddy" Kennedy, a well-known swimmer

Can afford to go to as many baseball games as he wants. Photo via Lucianne.com

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Selling "nice guys" on ESPN platforms, the NY Times is on board with BLAND

"It is proving to be very difficult to replace Imus," concludes Richard Sandomir in Wednesday's New York Times and that's true. He notes about WFAN's Chris Russo and Mike Francesa, "few could be certain 18 years ago that they would become afternoon drive-time powerhouses and the dominant personalities at the station in the post-Imus era.

• In the month and a half without Imus, Russo and Francesa filled in during the first two weeks while continuing their afternoon show, and they returned to the morning shift early this week. WFAN has also brought in the former Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason, with Russo and with the commentator Monica Crowley; Cris Collinsworth; CNN’s Lou Dobbs; Geraldo Rivera; John and Patrick McEnroe; David Gregory, NBC News’s chief White House correspondent; and Leslie Gold, the Radio Chick of WXRK, an FM station that, like WFAN, is owned by CBS Radio. Jim Cramer, the host of CNBC’s “Mad Money,” fills in today through Friday."
• (I choose Cramer, but he has another job). sm

But Sandomir's article primarily about the ESPN morning guys, Mike and Mike, speaks about how the two recently beat WFAN in AM drive in the important Men 25-54 demographic (latest Arbitron ratings) during which time Imus was still at the station.

• THIS INFORMATION SERVES ONLY ESPN, WHICH SANDOMIR REFERS TO AS AN 'EMPIRE.' HE DOESN'T GIVE ANY FRAME OF REFERENCE. IN OTHER WORDS, HOW HAVE THE RATINGS BEEN TRENDING OVER THE PAST YEAR? ONE RATING BOOK IS NICE, BUT SANDOMIR COULD EASILY HAVE TOLD READERS IF THIS WAS A BIG INCREASE, CONTINUATION OF A TREND, REVERSAL OF A DOWNTREND, ETC. IT'S PROPAGANDA IN ITS CURRENT STATE.

PRAISING WALLPAPER OR BACKGROUND RADIO'S SUCCESS IS FINE AND LEGITIMATE--WOR'S JOHN GAMBLING (father of the one currently on WABC) WAS HUGELY SUCCESSFUL IN AM DRIVE FOR MANY YEARS WITHOUT CONTROVERSY. THAT'S NOT THE POINT HERE. BEYOND BEING BLAND AND BEING ATTACHED TO ESPN, WHAT PURPOSE DO THESE GUYS SERVE? I DON'T NEED ANOTHER NY TIMES ARTICLE SELLING IGNORANCE AT THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT IN TIME. THANKS ANYHOW.

• From Sandomir's article about Mike and Mike:

"They are the beneficiaries of employment by an empire that can provide them with almost any guest and can simulcast their program each morning on ESPN2 (when one host speaks, the other is often preoccupied with what is on his laptop), cast them in the poker series “Tilt” and make them game announcers for the Arena Football League. ESPN unleashed them as the ringmasters of a 16-week-long promotion last year on their show that led to two fans being married on ESPN (with Bill Walton as a guest); turned them into cartoon characters, portraying themselves, on ESPN.com’s “Off Mikes” series; and gave them a page in each issue of ESPN’s magazine.

Last week, they were featured in ESPN’s upfront presentation to advertisers at the Nokia Theater in Manhattan. Next Thursday, they will be commentators for ESPN and ABC for the Scripps National Spelling Bee."

• Bland, cowardly, braindead. The one guy overeats--often a sign of hidden anger. I realize the NY Times would like us to follow like lemmings and have no opinions of our own. But I'm not quite dead yet, thanks. We need Imus.

(P.S. I sold radio advertising for 20 years).

• From the NY Times article by Richard Sandomir, "ESPN's Nice Guys May End Up Finishing First," 5/23/07

• WHAT EXACTLY IS A "NICE GUY?" SOMEONE WHO PROVIDES WALLPAPER OR SOMEONE WHO GIVES ME A GOOD IDEA? I'LL TAKE THE GOOD IDEA. The Times, I guess, prefers the "metrosexual" angle deeming it important enough for the article's opening line. That alone will get me to avoid the show.

The term "METROSEXUAL" itself is a catch phrase to elude definition, ie, the guy's not a man or a woman, or at least says "I'm a tolerant, nice person, see, having no overt tendencies toward maleness or femaleness." It's the supreme passivity of civilization combined with implied superiority and "progressiveness."

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More reporters cover Red Sox than the Pentagon, WaPo writer laments

"Let's see if I can do this without insulting either baseball fans or bloggers. Blogging baseball fans, I ask for your forgiveness preemptively.

• I went to a Red Sox game on Saturday, and up above home plate I couldn't help but notice the press box: five, six, seven tiers of desks, filled with print, radio, television and who knows what other media all reporting every move and anomaly. It dawned on me that there are more reporters covering the Sox, just one baseball team, than cover the Pentagon.

I couldn't help but notice that the baseball aficionados felt quite confident about their knowledge and views. Everyone had an opinion on the game; everyone was an expert."

(Truer words were never spoken). sm

• "For the super-fans who can actually afford to go to the games, or who commit their lives to the Sox, the professional reporters are hardly the enemy."
• (In the case of the Sox, I don't get the impression this is entirely true). sm
• "These are people who can't get enough news and analysis. They depend on the news media for commentary and amplification and insight; they study and memorize the statistics.

I've often thought if we could cover the military like sports, with transparency and intimate knowledge and a play-by-play that was both affectionate and unsparingly critical, we'd have a healthier debate. Interest and knowledge on the part of the typical American in foreign affairs and national security would actually increase."

• From Washington Post article by William M. Arkin, "If Only War Reporting Were More Like Sports Reporting, 5/22/07. The author writes about National Security issues. Via Poynter.org/Romenesko

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Joe Girardi on with Michael Kay---BIGGEST PROBLEM IS YANKS PITCHERS TOO SOFT

This has been said for years and nothing has changed, Girardi notes. Yankees pitchers refuse to make Red Sox hitters uncomfortable, just to "make them move their feet." Derek Jeter and Soriano went to the hospital courtesy of Pedro, yet Mussina refused to even make any of the other team feel a breeze. David Ortiz might as well be sitting on a beach chair for how much trouble they give him. (That's my analysis).

• Girardi notes David Cone, Doc Gooden and Jimmy Key could make guys "move their feet" or feel uncomfortable without beaning them.

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Bob Ryan, Boston Globe, NESN, & ESPN on WFAN with Mike & Chris

Ryan says Alex Gonzalez is the best shortstop he's seen on the Red Sox in the past 42 years. He notes Yankees' problems are "severe," mentions Smoltz said Red Sox can't be caught. Red Sox fans will be happy to hear that Chris Russo says Johnny Damon is still a Red Sock--is still very bitter they let him go, is conscious of everything they do every minute. Ryan doesn't comment on this, moves along.

• (I didn't know til yesterday that Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe also works for NESN. He's a frequent guest on XM but I've only heard them mention his Globe affiliation. If the NY Times deems it necessary to list peoples' affiliations, XM should as well).

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Who throws the best cutter? Curt Schilling's answer: Mariano Rivera

"Cutter? Mo. 7 days a week and twice on Sunday. There are a lot of guys with very good cutters, John Lester has a great one, but no one touches Riveras cutter, literally.

• Given the praise people have for him I still would argue that he’s incredibly underrated when thinking all time best.

This guy has constructed a first ballot HOF career on ONE PITCH. He knows he’s throwing it, the hitter knows he’s throwing it, the fans know he’s throwing it, and you still can’t hit it.

• He’s pitched the highest leverage innings his ENTIRE career, and dominated, with one pitch. No one else has ever done that, ever."

Curt Schilling, March 27, 2007, from his blog, 38pitches.com, Q&A Section

• Call it a version of the FAIRNESS DOCTRINE in baseball. Since most of the news is bad, here's something from the other side. sm

P.S. AND FROM SOMEONE WHO'S ACTUALLY IN THE GAME.

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2005--YANKS TRAILED BOSTON TIL SEPT. 21--Tyler Kepner won't tell you this

On Sept. 4, 2005, the W-L was:

• BOSTON 80W-55L
• Yankees 77W-59L

On Sept. 14, the W-L was:

• BOSTON 85W-60L
• Yankees 82W-62L

Sept. 15:

• BOSTON 85-61
• Yankees 83-62

Sept. 16:

• BOSTON 86-61
• Yankees 84-62

Sept. 19:

• BOSTON 87-63
• Yankees 86-63

Sept. 20:

• BOSTON 88-63
• Yankees 87-63

Sept. 21:

• Boston 88-64
• YANKEES 88-63******

Sept. 25: TIED

• BOSTON 91-64
• YANKEES 91-64

(Regular season ended Oct. 2, both teams with 95 wins, but Yankees won 1 more game in their series so won the pennant).

• YOU SEE THE BRUTAL PENNANT RACE ABOVE IN 2005, BUT THEY DON'T TELL YOU THE BRUTAL DIFFERENCE:

WHO SAVED OR WON SIX 1-RUN GAMES IN A 2 WEEK SPAN IN THIS 1 MONTH? (NO CHEAP SAVES EITHER--ALL APPEARANCES 1IP OR MORE).

• WHO PITCHED 3 DAYS IN A ROW TWICE IN A 2 WEEK PERIOD THIS MONTH (14, 15, 16 and 19, 20, 21--the 21st being the first time the Yankees went ahead of Boston by half a game)?

WHO PITCHED 75 INNINGS IN THE REGULAR SEASON WITH A 1.32 ERA AND WAS EXPECTED TO SAVE PLENTY MORE FOR THE POST SEASON? HE PITCHED TIL OCT. 20TH IN 2004 AND OCT. 25TH IN 2003.

• IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, YOU QUALIFY AS A BBWAA VOTER, AN MLB, ESPN/XM EMPLOYEE, OR MOST CELEBRATED YANKEE BLOGGERS.

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Giamatti knew radio was best for baseball

Bart Giamatti from "Green Fields of the Mind:"

• "The real activity was done with the radio-not the all-seeing, all-falsifying television-and was the playing of the game in the only place it will last, the enclosed green field of the mind. There, in that warm, bright place, what the old poet called Mutability does not so quickly come."

Which is why I prefer baseball on radio. XM interviewers and MLB publicity usually fail to identify baseball's "radio" broadcasters as such, only calling them "broadcasters." Too bad. Since the Yankee season is over in my opinion, I can focus on more important things like this. Mr. Giamatti's piece opens thusly:

• "It breaks your heart. It was designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then, just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops. Today, October 2, a Sunday of rain and broken branches and leaf-clogged drains and slick streets, it stopped, and summer was gone."

From "The Green Fields of the Mind," by A. Bartlett Giamatti (a Red Sox fan).

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The Yankees should demand a retraction from NY Times' Selena Roberts

10 years of grindingly repetitive negative rants about the Yankees have gone on largely because Yankee management has been too lazy or ill advised to put a stop to it. I limit the time I spend on baseball media now as a result. I happened to glance at Ms. Genius, Selena Roberts latest crap in the NY Times now calling "Into Question" the "Entire Yankee Dynasty." So you wonder has she uncovered something new? No, she hooks you in on a phony premise. She mentions Giambi's comments this week but then,

• refers to the Dynasty as only the 4 years 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000.
• Selena, Giambi wasn't on the team then. Jesus.

The Yankees advertisers have lost me and many other fans because of the constant negative propaganda round the clock via the baseball media types. We just avoid the whole thing.

• TO YANKEE MANAGEMENT: YOU WILL LOSE A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS. WE THE FANS ARE SICK OF THIS.

The Selena Roberts article was NY Times select, which you have to pay extra for so I can't create a link.

• P.S. Please don't give me the line of 'attendance is at an all time high.' It portends as much for the future as 'the stock market is at an all time high' or 'Johnny Damon is a good bet because he's never been on the DL.' These kinds of statements often mean a change is likely.

HATE HATE HATE BASH BASH BASH HATE HATE HATE BASH BASH BASH HATE HATE HATE

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Thoughts of the Day

1. "Saltalamacchia" is the coolest name in baseball.

• 2. Tim Kurkjian is a human bobble head doll known for dramatically lit solo television bits saying what a great player Arod is AFTER he's hit a bunch of home runs and BEFORE he goes back to being what he normally is.

• 3. For over 10 years, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, baseball radio talkers, baseball tv talkers, reporters, etc. have spewed constant negative propaganda about the Yankees.

• 4. I'm anxious for the Yankees to spiral further down the tubes. This will enable the 24 hour negativity and hatred to continue but it will have a different tinge.

• 5. The word "hate" has become the most used noun, verb and adjective in the world. Those on the left made it popular by accusing those they disagreed with of being 'haters.' Now the word is used constantly and has grown to be an illegal act. I call for an end to the use of the word 'hate.' Try explaining what you mean without using that word.

• 6. How I get through the baseball season is as follows: never watch any Saturday games on Fox no matter what, never watch any Yankees-Red Sox games of any kind, never watch any games when it's clear things are going badly for the Yankees. For several years, I've used the time to do chores and clean the house. I do check in to see how bad the score is once in awhile, but that's all (either via John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman or by computer). Even if it's going well, I assume that will change. This year I've added a new hobby to distract me: container gardening.

P.S. I'm working on a couple interesting pieces for this blog which will be posted in the next few days.

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Howard Fineman is less than honest--not a "Fairness Doctrine"

Newsweek's Howard Fineman suggests the playing field should be leveled in radio, that this is a prime goal of the Democrat Party, but he doesn't mention Air America Radio nor his own appearances there. In their own tv documentary Air America personnel were heard saying how important their radio network would be in assuring victory for the Democrat Presidential nominee.

• Which is fine except in his entire article about how the Democrats feel underserved by talk radio, Fineman doesn't mention Air America. The network pretty much flopped because it didn't attract enough of an audience to make it successful, despite infusions of cash from sympathetic persons and organizations.

Simply acknowledging Air America would've ruined Newsweek's and/or Fineman's thesis. Equal time exists. It just didn't turn out equal results. What a crazy obsession these people have for the wrong reasons. Now he says they want to bring back the "Fairness Doctrine."

• "Level the Field" Fineman? You've got CNN, MSNBC, much of Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS, The NY Times, the LA Times, the Boston Globe, Time and Newsweek, etc., etc. Not bad for those guys.

Newsweek article 5/15/07 by Howard Fineman, "Leveling the Media Playing Field."

• Their premise is wrong. The ratings have followed the talent. Air America and its funders have always seen it backwards, wanting to "start shaping the national debate the way that Right Wing talk radio does every day." They attribute a national movement to radio alone incorrectly. They'll never find anyone who can compete in the 'arena of ideas' and also has a personality like Michael Savage, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Grant or even Don Imus. (sm)

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Controversy on radio--nothing new for the Bland Police

Renewed pontificating about the Imus issue, latest supposed examples of fallout therefrom, etc. Let me explain something about the latest angle on tap--the "consumer/advertiser" making their voice heard. I sold radio advertising for 20 years and for the later portion of that time the term "controversy" was mentioned in some ad agency media buying criteria. If for example Proctor and Gamble wanted to sell some soap via radio ads, they'd give you their requirements: age, income, occupation, leisure activities, children in household, education, etc. You might think "great!" my station has some hours where we're number 1 or 2 in the market in all those areas, have lots of success stories selling things like soap, etc. THEN, P&G would in all seriousness say the following:

• "NO HOWARD, NO RUSH, NO BOB GRANT."

At the time what this meant was, "No Howard Stern, No Rush Limbaugh, No Bob Grant." There were other names from time to time but those 3 were prominent. For extended periods of time, these 3 gentlemen literally killed everyone else in the ratings (the most desirable 25-54) to the point where you almost couldn't believe your eyes. Huge, huge numbers, often along with good education and income. Tops in that group was Howard Stern which many wouldn't guess. He had very, very high income and education and sustained that group over many years. All these guys were foreground--like Imus--and could sell the soap off the shelves for anyone.

• Everyone took this seriously except me. If an ad agency person told me the requirement, I'd discuss it with them rather than just accepting it. Other sales reps and sales managers always mentioned it like it was a dead serious thing--"NOOOOO Controversy for that client..." I always thought they were nuts.

• Somehow some weirdos got into the cubicles of other weirdos at places like P&G and convinced them it was a good idea to have no opinion on anything (why they'd want this "no opinion" environment to prevail is what you should be asking today, because this is what they wanted).

First of all Rush Limbaugh and others got plenty of other advertisers who did very well with them. Do you think P&G or Bob Costas and his group would ever believe that Rush Limbaugh never discussed the topic of "race" on his radio program, at least up until his ESPN episode? Never, yet certain people had convinced others that it was true. It was 100% false--Rush was written of and spoken about like this was a big deal with him and it was all a lie.

• So, this latest pitch is as phony as the others--the "consumer" and "advertisers" having their say--advertisers were scared out of anything "controversial" years ago before ever hearing a word of the alleged speech. The answer here is the same as in baseball and most other things today: mobs rule, they have all the rights to speak and the individual has none. Result: a bland, cowardly, deathly life.

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ESPN staffer balks at wearing AFL shirt

An ESPN staffer has journalistic ethics and principles and is peeved his superiors want him to wear an AFL shirt when welcoming AFL guys to the office/campus in Bristol. Via Romenesko:

• "ESPN content veep John Skipper wants his employees to wear their complimentary AFL shirts "as a symbol of welcome to our Arena Football guests." A staffer writes to Romenesko: "I find it increasingly difficult to square such promotional stunts with my journalistic ethics and principles. We're supposed to objectively cover the AFL, and yet we're being asked to wear an AFL t-shirt to show our support when the league's bosses walk through the newsroom?""

From Poynter.org/Romenesko, including memo, 5/15/07"ESPN Staffers Told to Wear Arena Football League Shirts."

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Hate-mongers taking over web sites---WashingtonPost.com

"You would think Web sites would want to keep the hate-mongers from taking over, but many sites are unwitting enablers. At washingtonpost.com, editors and producers say they struggle to balance transparency against privacy. Until recently, many of the site's posters identified themselves with anonymous Internet handles -- which were the site's default ID. Now, people must enter a "user ID" that appears with their comments.

• But on the Internet, Mr. anticrat424 is continually elevated to the podium, where he can have his angriest thoughts amplified through cyberspace as often as he wishes. He can call people the vilest names and that hate-mongering, too, will be amplified for all the world to see.

If Web sites required posters to use their real names, while giving the shield of pseudonymity when it's merited, spirited online debate would continue unimpeded.

• It might even be enhanced by attracting contributors who are turned off today by name calling and worse. Except for the hate-mongers, who wouldn't want that?

These days we want "transparency" in all institutions, even private ones. There's one massive exception -- the Internet."

• From article by Tom Grubisich, WashingtonPost.com, "Sunshine for the Virtual Town Hall, " 5/14/07 via Poynter.org/Romenesko

P.S. Of course it gets worse when ambition and money are the motivation. When most of the money is being paid by and information approved by basically 1 organization, well, you get people such as 'Nadia' or 'xyz,' etc. Usually these types also consider themselves to be very tolerant of others--as long as they agree with them. So if you see yourself here, complain to the author of the article, not me. Or ask your Mommie to.

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How to read this item about Boras and Baseball Awards***Oscars***

Boras' idea for an Oscar-type tv show for baseball awards has already been pitched according to the APSE website Sept '05 and Oct. '05 memos, following url's. Dick Clark Productions was in talks with the BBWAA (The Awards show would be called the "Baseball Writers' Association Awards"). Strange in that fewer and fewer newspapers allow their employees to vote on these awards, especially the League Awards--Cy Young, MVP, ROY, etc.--due to ethics concerns. The last paragraph of the 9/28/05 memo states that Dick Clark Productions would NEGOTIATE DIRECTLY WITH THE PLAYERS ASSN. FOR ACCESS, INCENTIVES, ETC. WITH THE PLAYERS. They thought of everything.

• Memo 1, APSE website, 9/28/05 to vote for or against the idea at their upcoming meeting at the World Series. Details proposal of Dick Clark Productions, how evening would be staged, how events would be timed leading up to the TV awards show, etc. Handled by the BBWAA "Television Committee."

• Memo 2, APSE website, 10/31/05 notes the vote was taken and failed.

• TAKE A LOOK AT DICE-K'S AND AROD'S CONTRACTS--BORAS HAS DETAILED INCENTIVES IN EACH ONE SHOULD A BBWAA MEMBER SNEEZE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR VARIOUS BORAS' CLIENTS FOR 1ST PLACE VOTES, 2ND, 3RD, ETC. SORT OF GIVES THE BBWAA SYSTEM A REASON FOR EXISTING, NO?

From Boras' Bloomberg article via Newsday, "Major League Baseball also could hand out annual awards then in an Oscar-style show, rather than releasing them to the news media on weekday afternoons following the season. "We have to have the stars of our game noticed," Boras said in an interview. "To deliver the awards through a wire service, I've never understood that."

• Boras, 54, said he's sent a letter to Commissioner Bud Selig about his idea. The NFL plays the Super Bowl at a predetermined neutral site, and has become a magnet for business entertaining.

"The key to this is the business dynamic," Boras said. "We need to embrace corporate America." Major League Baseball spokesman Pat Courtney said Selig received the letter and declined to comment further. The first modern World Series, won by the Boston Americans over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1903, was a best-of-nine matchup. After skipping 1904, the National and American leagues resumed the title series in 1905 in a best-of-seven format. They played best of nine again from 1919-21."

• The opening paragraph was: "Agent Scott Boras, who counts Alex Rodriguez and Daisuke Matsuzaka among his clients, said baseball's best deserve a bigger stage than the best-of-seven World Series championship.

The title round should be best of nine games instead, and feature the first two on a weekend at a neutral site to create an atmosphere similar to the Super Bowl, Boras said."

• Article by Bloomberg News published in Newsday, 5/11/07, "Superagent Borus Pitches World Series Reform."

(The article's title references "World Series Reform," but there's quite a bit more going on). If your aim isn't to make money trafficking in human beings (baseball) then this might concern you.

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Good story on Twins radio about what a schmuck Billy Ripken was

Listening to the Twins game on XM today, great story involving weasel Billy Ripken, Twins manager Tom Kelly, and pitcher Scott Erickson. It's mostly told by the color guy whose name I didn't hear but may've been Dan Gladden, as he spoke about his own experience on the Twins and with Tom Kelly as manager at the time of the Ripken pay-back.

• It was the opinion of Tom Kelly and most of the team at the time that Billy Ripken had deliberately hit a Twins player in the face. It might've been a short stop, and Ripken threw a ball directly and willfully to damage an opposing player. The Twins radio color guy today tells the story.

He's at the point where it's now 3 years since Billy Ripken damaged a Twins player and Tom Kelly has been counting the minutes for the right time to pay him back. Kelly had been saying for 3 years that they wouldn't forget what Ripken did and would let him know it. 'Dan' mentions a Twins pitcher named Allan Anderson whom Kelly expected to participate in the pay-back but who failed in his opportunity to do so while on the mound. Following that particular game, Kelly had a closed-door meeting with the team, saying Anderson was selfish and had let the team down.

• Some time after the Anderson whimp-out, the Twins found their man for the job: pitcher Scott Erickson (a known plunker). Erickson made little Billy pay (hit the deck or feel the pain in some fashion) TWICE IN 1 GAME. Tom Kelly was said to be pleased, as he had waited 3 years to give coward Billy Ripken his calling card.

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Check out the view from Bud's office--

photo from NY Times, 5/12/07 by Darren Hauck; The Yankee fan paid for both walls of glass.

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Mr. Steinbrenner, we need you. We need somebody.

• In John Sterling's play by play in the bottom of the 9th tonight v Texas, 2 separate people ran onto the field during Mariano Rivera's outing, during which play had to be stopped. My own experiences at Yankee Stadium have been mediocre to poor with 1 exception. The stadium staff are all rude and appear unsupervised. With the exception of the yahoos trying to keep you from getting too close to the field--they're just rude and look bored. In recent times, persons running onto baseball fields have savagely attacked various official personnel there doing their job.

• IS ANYBODY IN CHARGE OF THE YANKEES ANYMORE? YOU HAD THE AP STORY A FEW WEEKS AGO ABOUT TRASH AND VERMIN STREWN ALL OVER THE TAMPA COMPLEX, NOW YOU HAVE THIS SUPPOSEDLY TOP NOTCH ORGANIZATION ALLOWING 2 PEOPLE TO GET ONTO THE FIELD IN NEW YORK. I PROMISE YOU, HAD I TRIED ANYTHING LIKE THIS I WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN PAST THE 10TH ROW.

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Future of Minnesota Star Tribune discussed on Minn. Public Radio

"Media ethicist Jane Kirtley: "I think it's looking more and more likely that there will only be one [Twin Cities daily] left standing and if this slow bleed continues to occur....

• I think it's very likely to happen before the end of next year that we'll only have one paper left, and who knows, maybe none at all.""

• From Poynter.org/Romenesko, written from audio on Minnesota Public Radio, 5/9/07

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IMUS ATTORNEY MARTIN GARBUS ON MICHAEL SAVAGE SHOW

Garbus appeared via telephone on Savage's radio show to discuss first amendment protections that may apply to Imus' lawsuit against CBS Radio. Garbus has many years' experience in the field going back to comedian Lenny Bruce. Garbus highlights:

• Imus' contract stated he was to deliver controversial material.

• The owners had a dump button and the audio was on a delay. They chose not to use the button, although Garbus says they're now claiming they didn't have one. He names a recent example of some audio connected to Chris Matthews that proves they did have one.

• Imus' contract also said the owner could "edit" his material as they saw fit.

• If CBS Radio had "just cause" to terminate, they were required to give one warning in writing noting the objectionable offense, which they did not do. Is taken for granted that in many hours of radio talking, there will be slip ups.

• GARBUS NOTES MANAGEMENT SHAKE-UP AT CBS RADIO. The Imus incident happened in the middle of this. This point was mentioned but not highlighted by the Wall Street Journal. When I read it, I highlighted the fact on this blog as the main reason events took place as they did.

• GARBUS MENTIONS THE SEPARATE ISSUE OF CBS 'IMPAIRMENT' TO IMUS ABILITY TO DO THE KIND OF WORK HE DID: ie: Interviewing presidents, senators and personalities of all viewpoints.

• Savage also notes Garbus' new book on his view of the Supreme Court. Garbus is convinced the FDR era was the best. At this point his views go so far off the deep end I won't even comment. But he makes complete sense on the Imus issues.

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U.S. Baseball Players Shouldn't Go To China--They Admit Poisoning Pet Food

"CHINA'S quality control watchdog acknowledged in a notice on its website today that two Chinese firms illegally added a deadly chemical to food products blamed for killing thousands of US pets.

• The companies, Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co Ltd and Binzhou Futian Biology Technology Co Ltd, added melamine to food additives and labelled them in such a way as to avoid detection on export.

"The two companies illegally added melamine to the wheat gluten and rice protein in a bid to meet the contractual demand* for the amount of protein in the products,'' the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said, citing the results of an investigation."

• From the Herald Sun, Australia, 5/9/07

*"A Contractual Demand" is a different way of saying "to meet standards for not murdering domestic pets," or even "a requirement."

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Schilling speaks on WEEI on Big Cheater--5/8/07

Schilling said during an interview with Boston radio station WEEI:

""He (Bonds) admitted he used steroids. There's no gray area," Schilling said on WEEI. "He (Bonds) admitted cheating on his wife, cheating on taxes and cheating on the game."

• (Bonds told a grand jury that he believed Anderson had given him flaxseed oil and arthritic balm, a substance that turned out to contain steroids).

"Hank Aaron not being there, the commissioner (Bud Selig) not knowing where he's going to be, it's sad," Schilling told WEEI. "I don't care if he's black, green, purple or yellow or whatever. It's just unfortunate there's good people and bad people.""

Reported by Breitbart.com, 5/8/07, "Bonds cheated on wife and game, says Schilling." via Drudge Report and not Dan Shaughnessy

• P.S. Since I don't work for ESPN, MLB, or certain websites, nor am I a member of BBWAA, I usually don't post anything mentioning Bonds' name. I made a rare exception here because I liked the Schilling angle.

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"The media has become Steinbrenner," posted on LoHud blog, 5/7/07

You walk into a store, find an open cash register with millions of dollars, no one is around, the coffee pot is cold. Enter the baseball media. WHEN SOMETHING DIFFERENT HAPPENS, I'LL GLADLY NOTE IT.

• james May 7th, 2007 at 12:16 am ("The media has become Steinbrenner.")

"The worst part of being a Yankee fan these days is everything they do is negative with media. This is a great day for the Yankees and their chances and all they're doing is running the team down, the bullpen down and of course Rocket. It used to be when your team did something good, something positive you could turn to listen to the radio, watch tv and enjoy it. Not anymore.

• They cover this team like its football where every loss is magnified ten fold. However, every win is quickly dismissed with a callous wave an impudent “means nothing, its not October.” Admittedly the owner says this too but he owns team not me. I’ll enjoy what I want to.

Its funny to me the media has become Steinbrenner.

• When I grew up all I heard and read about was what a terrible person he was to be involved with sports now they have less patience than he does. When he doesn’t fire the manger 3 weeks into an injury plagued season they say surely this now proves Steinbrenner now sits around all day drooling on himself."

And... StandingO'Neill May 7th, 2007 at 3:04 pm, Yankees Lohud blog

"Pete I have a point here I wish you or the media would comment on….

Now I’m not naive to believe that 95% of what brought Clemens to the Yankees had to do with money. Yankees needed Clemens, Clemens needed money and a situation to stroke his ego = perfect match.

• But why is it that when a free agent signing involves the Yankees, most of what you hear is “well what a shock, Yankees buy another player”. But say Boston signed Clemens, I really don’t think the money story would be the headline.

I respect Peter Gammons, who deserves his HOF status, but his blog entry really did sound bitter, and the headline was basically what I wrote above. If Boston had signed Clemens, it would of been a heart warming story of how he has returned home to where it all started.

• Also last year it was obvious the Yankees wanted Clemens, maybe not for 28 million, but I’m sure they would have ponied up at least 20 million. Yet it was Houston that won, with a bid for $20 + I believe, which was a record breaking deal at the time. Still, there wasn’t the negative overtone hanging over that story. The negativity was more directed to Clemens for being a mercenary then towards Houston for paying him.

My point is this, I understand why other fans hate the Yankees, and I know a lot of Yankee fans(as you can see by checking these message boards) don’t make it easy for other people to like us,

• but can’t the headlines and the talk be about something other than the damn Yankees buying another player, and about another chance to watch a HOF pitcher(whether you like him or not). It's a double standard, one I have learned to accept in being a Yankee fan, but really its getting old and until the Yankees completely bottom out like they did in the early 90’s, I don’t see it ending, no matter how cautious Cashman becomes with spending money.

Long winded point, I apologize, but anyone care to comment?"

• Yes, Standing. You thought being a quiet Yankee fan they'd let up on bashing you, the team, and the highest performing individual players. Many others thought as you did. Into that vacuum over the past 10 years came the baseball media you see today. You mention they'll be quiet if the team bottoms out, but they won't. That's not how society or media works today. Go back to the way you were, stand up for yourself. Your team gave around $100 million this year to other teams and their leadership whose main preoccupation is to keep bashing the Yankees til they get their last penny. With Mr. Steinbrenner ailing, no recent effective PR office, and a questionable philosophy at the YES Network, they're finding it an easy job. sm

Posts from James and Standing made to Peter Abraham's LoHud Yankee Blog

• P.S. Mark Feinsand is no friend of Yankee fans. He's just another who's used them and the graces of the organization to make an international celebrity of himself. His continued success will be assured if he follows the baseball media dogma--which so far he's done perfectly. And I detect a cry-baby, too. sm

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Minnesota Twins sell Total "Save" stat to window guard company

• I enjoy listening to various games on XM radio, so heard a bit of post-game of the Twins guys after the Red Sox-Twins game today. First, interesting the Twins won't see the Red Sox again all season til the end of September. Pretty lucky on their part. Then, an announcer says in effect,
• "The Twins didn't "HAVE A SAVE" today, but when they do GET A SAVE, it's brought to you by XYZ Window Guard Company."

The selling of the "total save" stat has been on a roll for about the past 5-8 years. Whether it's a 1 out save with no men on base and a 3 run lead, or a 5 or 6 out save with men on base and only a 1 run lead while trailing in the final weeks of a brutal pennant race. A 'Win' a closer might have that "saved" the game might be harder but wouldn't be counted. I'm aware of other marketing vehicles in the "saves" arena, but this one makes them especially sound like popsicles or the like.

• The next item on Carl Pohlad's team's post game show--MENTION THE YANKEES IN THE CONTEXT OF THREATENING THE EXISTENCE OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. Their guy interviewed the team's first base coach and among the questions to him:

'WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE YANKEES' HIRING ROGER CLEMENS AND WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL?"

• Jerry White answers in effect, "I don't worry too much about the New York Yankees, I just try to focus on what the Twins are doing."

Most teams feel the same way. I'd rather not think about Clemens either, as the Yankees radio and tv people talk about him excessively.

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ESPN HEARS NOTHING, SEES NOTHING, KNOWS NOTHING

Among the invented sanctimonious crap on their web page at the moment are these:

• "Many have misread the mood of the nation on Barry Bonds' historic home run chase -- in more ways than one. Jayson Stark."

How can you sell yourself like this Stark, et al.? First, you don't get to judge the mood of the nation. Second, you don't get to judge if anyone else misread a mood if there even was one. Third, you don't get to create news out of thin air. No one cares about Bonds except ESPN.

• Next, ESPN TRIES TO INVENT MORE NEWS BY CONCOCTING A "POLL" AND TELLING YOU THE "POLL" IS THE NEWS. BEST--THE NY TIMES JUST FAILED AT TRYING TO DIG UP A RACISM STORY IN SPORTS A FEW DAYS AGO, BUT NO MATTER. ESPN MUST BE DESPERATE FOR RATINGS.

• "Poll: Whites, blacks differ on Bonds ." Right into the toilet ESPN.

• AND FINALLY, A NICE BIG PICTURE OF MARIANO RIVERA ALONE, HEAD DOWN, DEFEATED. THIS IS SUNDAY NIGHT MAY 6, 2007. BUT THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO DIMINISH RIVERA NEVER ENDS. AFTER BOB NIGHTENGALE'S MISLEADING ARTICLE ABOUT RIVERA DOMINATED THE HEADLINES FOR A FEW DAYS, NOW ESPN PICKS UP THE TORCH VIA TIM KURKJIAN, SHOWING YOU WHAT A PATHETIC FIGURE RIVERA AND RIVERA ALONE IS. THIS IS ALL MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WILL SEE. NOT THAT RIVERA MORE RECENTLY GOT ANOTHER 2 SAVES IN ONE DAY FOR THE 5TH TIME IN HIS CAREER.

• HOW ARE THOSE BOOK SALES GOING, KURKJIAN? GLAD TO HEAR YOUR BOOK IS FULL OF REFERENCES TO YOUR SELF-DESCRIBED FAVORITE PLAYER, RIPKEN. NOBODY SHOULD BUY IT UNLESS THEY WANT TO BE BORED TO DEATH.

Will the "Fairness Doctrine" apply to ESPN as it will to regular news and talk stations? Vince Doria will probably puke. I'll ask Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-NY who's working on the issue.

• MORE: I just tuned to ESPN radio, 1:45AM Monday morning 5/7, and they're copying the website's content--it'll complete the cultural transformation of the nation's 'MOOD'. IE-They're interviewing a black MLB.com writer to discuss racial implications and his "feelings" about Barry, and WHAT DOES HE THINK ABOUT THE (PHONY) ABC/ESPN RACE POLL? I kid you not.

P.S. Hey, Disney/Espn, you say the nation has a mood, you know what it is and we don't. OK, how does this fit with your "mood?" Today one of your guys, Al Sharpie Sharpton, champion of tolerance and diversity much like yourselves, said this (quoted in the NY Times) in a debate:

• "“As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyway, so don’t worry, that’s a temporary situation.”"
• Are you going to do a new "POLL" to revise your last pathetic racial poll which you tried to disguise as news? I didn't think so.Quote from The NY Times, 5/7/07, "Hitchens, Sharpton and Faith," by Sewell Chan

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Chien-Ming Wang, #57, Time Magazine's Top 100 of the Year

"Whenever he pitches, whether it's a live telecast or a rerun, Taiwan ditches its political woes and personal cares to huddle in the most unlikely places—from bars to beauty parlors to boardrooms—to cheer Chien-Ming. No matter that the fan shouting alongside is mandarin or mendicant, from the mainland or local born, a great-great-grandma with bound feet or a bare-bottomed tot, the voices are one."

• Wow. Congratulations to Chien-Ming Wang and thanks to those who allowed him to become who he is.

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