I clicked to the Mets Today blog with the illustrious Joe Janish one day and read a feature about the ‘Citi’ in Citi Field being under threat of enforced retraction [original SN article here]. I’m open to it. The team has an identity problem. It’s bad enough that Daryl Boston was called upon to represent Dwight Gooden’s number in the Shea Stadium Closing Ceremonies, but the “Mets” and their members deserve recognition from the organization, before Jackie Robinson assists with political favors and before CitiBank pitches in $400M. In fairness, it’s a real problem for many teams: how do you both honor the organization’s history, and provide innovative and profitable sources of revenue?
That said, an impromptu think tank came together [myself, jrz, buddio, GiantDamnYankee, macphistto01, dallasbomber7] in August of last year on the DN discussion pages… (more…)
Save Citi Field!
“That’s Why He Went in the 9th Round”
…PART 2 of 5…
In part 2 of my series outlining 5 Red Sock stories that are deserving of NY Sports Media coverage, yet remain snow jobbed, I will now tell the tale of just how the Red Sox spent 10 long years setting themselves up to get completely owned by the Yanks and their successful pursuit of Mark Teixeira.
I present the following frame-by-frame account of the slow-motion train wreck that was the Red Sox’s role in the Mark Teixeira negotiations, from a fan’s perspective, sitting calmly, as it were, on a tractor in a nearby field while the derailment and carnage ensued. For the purpose of posterity:
1876 The National League is chartered, beginning a long, continuous line of professional baseball leagues to the modern day.
1920 Babe Ruth is sold by Harry Frazee to… (more…)
Snow Job – The Biggest Baseball Stories That Are Getting Buried
PART 1 of 5
As I gazed out of the kitchen window into a winter wonderland this morning, I couldn’t help but feel that the entire Northeast has been thoroughly snowed over. I opened the computer and clicked into the web, I couldn’t help but feel that the entire NY sports world has been thoroughly snow-jobbed.
Mort Zuckerman’s printing presses have been pumping out reams of yellow paper criticizing the Yankees on all levels.
Since a week ago, I number no less than 16 articles associated with the Joe Torre book, which contains “fresh” storylines that have been running plots for 14 years now, “revealing quotes” that are simply rehashes and/or summations, and ”revelations” that, likely, any Yankee fan could tell you about off the top of his/her head. Even more confounding, it seems a cottage industry has popped up like a Liliputian tent… (more…)
Hand to Shoulder
Pitchers and catchers report February 14th.
While the media melodrama surrounding the “revelatory” Joe Torre book pitches loudly like an Italian opera, that tome essentially outlines old storylines.
A baseball offseason continues.
The NY Post picks up the trail again, quoting Brian Cashman on the progress of Torre-era stalwarts Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera, both of whom closed their 2008 seasons on the operating table with open shoulders:
“It’s very early in the process for those guys,” Cashman said yesterday. “I do have concerns just because I have a closer who we desperately need who’s coming off of shoulder surgery, no matter how minor it may be…And I have a catcher who is a perennial All-Star, one of the premier players at that position in this game and a potential… (more…)
Sign, Andah, Sign!
Andy Pettitte is close to returning to the Pinstripes, reports the credible Bryan Hoch on MLB.com. Canadian media reports the figure at $6M base + $6M incentives, 1 year, eh.
This deal would augment the current rotation, forming a formidable front line of CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, and Phil Hughes.
And what about Joba Chamberlain, LB? The Yanks are busting the box and breeding a 2-inning closer. Meditate on that. You heard it from LB, first.
I believe the regular crew around here and Uncle Sal’s called it around $12M. Handshakes & Backslaps. Hey honey, bring us another round, wouldja?
Question: If Andy gets a 6×6 deal, can we expect to see the same-type structure in a Mets / Ollie deal?
UPDATE: Andy gets $5.5M/1yr +
… (more…)
Required Reading
Book reports will be due April 1st.
Joe Torre, with the help of NJ-bred sportswriter Tom Verducci [SI, et al], has opened up and told-all in a vast 400+ page narrative that essentially covers the Torre Years from the inside-out. Somewhere written in the scroll are lambasts of the organization, including details of the relationships with George Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman. Even more gory seem the descriptions of ARod [Sporting News].
In “The Yankee Years,” due to be released on Feb. 3, Torre describes general manager Brian Cashman as a less than supportive ally who betrayed him on several fronts, and says that his star player, Alex Rodriguez, was often referred to by his teammates as “A-Fraud” and was obsessed with his perceived rival, shortstop Derek Jeter.
NEWSFLASH: ARod is a
… (more…)
Snapshots of the New Fenway Park
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Yanks, Nady Avoid Arbitration >UPDATE: Melky Gets His Million
The Yanks and Xavier Nady have agreed to a 1-year $6.7M contract. In doing so, arbitration proceedings [that would last through February] are avoided.
This would be Nady’s highest contract ever.
However, it’s not certain that Nady will finish the season with the Yankees. A 1-year contract is precisely the kind of lower-tier risk that bargain hunters may bite at, given the right circumstances.
In any case, Nady manages a workman’s RF and provides punch from the 6 or 7 holes in the batting order. It’s a win-win for both parties.
The downside:
Young Female Japanese Teacher [dubbed to English]: It’s Godzilla! He’s turning around and heading for the water!
Japanese Schoolchildren [also dubbed]: No! Don’t go, Godzilla, don’t go!
Also in the news, The Soxies brought back all-decade all-eugenics… (more…)
Yanks, Mets, Common Sense Win the Day
YES!
$1.5B of Granite ramped, Danger Roomed, 2-inch Rebarred, artillery-hardened, terrorism-defeating, stainless steel-trimmed, 8-story HDTV-toting , Steak-selling, Metro-training, parking garaged, redeveloped waterfront green-fielded glee.
Congrats are also in order for the Mets….
The homerun apple will now receive a fresh coat of all-weather paint [rimshot].
Cherry Cigarillos and Tequila for all the banditos!
Young Moves to Third
Michael Young has agreed to move to third base to make way for rookie SS Elvis Andrus.
The quotes:
“My focus is playing for the Rangers, playing for a winning club and playing the best third base that I can,” Young said. “Yes, I was adamant about staying at shortstop. But at the end of the day, after looking at everything, the chances of being traded were slim and the team wasn’t really pursuing a trade.
“They wanted me to play third base and I didn’t want this to drag on. I don’t want my focus to be on anything but being ready for Spring Training. I’m focused on having a big year and the last thing I wanted to do was have anything take away from that.… (more…)
Youkilis Signs for HOLY SH!T A PLANE JUST CRASHED IN THE RIVER!!!!
No fatalities, thank goodness.
News and footage here. The culprit may have been a low flying flock of Canadian Geese [millions of them up here, always passing through] or it may have just been a double-flameout. In any case, the angels were at work and the pilot glided to safety over the frigid waters.
2 excellent citizen journalist pictures, plus a brief bio of the pilot here. This guy has skills. Age 57.
Hey, let’s hope this serves to reverse a sickening trend in our society. The nation holds a vast reservoir of older talent who have the guts and the know-how to do great things, in spite of this culture’s breakneck pace to modernize. Much to be said about human experience; this event, a miracle… (more…)
