The Yankees Just wrapped up one of the most encouraging season openers that I could have dreamed for. If your asking yourself why, well then let me explain.
Over the past few years , I think you could make the case that Torre was the kind of manager that just sat back and waited for the "3 run homer" . This mentality wasn't entirely his fault. The Yankees Brass decided that they would like to go with " The Allstar Team " rather than a really good baseball team. I think you could make Giambi the poster boy for this movement.
Torre got so used to the big boppers winning games for him , his managerial abilities and tactics took a back seat then eventually began to deteriorate. This kind of outlook could work in the regular season. But in the Post season , it just doesn't make the cut.
As we enter the "new" Joe era, changes have already begun to take place. It all started with spring training. Where players ( even the veterans ) took place in hardcore workout regimes and actually did break a sweat. Girardi implemented the small ball style of play which is very beneficial in one run games ( Playoff games ).
Usually when these kind of reports take place , its all a bunch of bull crap. Once the season starts players revert back to their old ways and the whole spring training shpeel is up.
But this year even though its only 3 games in , all arrows are pointing that they actually mean business.
In game one , In a solid pitching match up between (unbelievably underrated Wang vs the heralded Doc Haliday) proved to be as good as advertised. Wang kept the ball low, and the only mistakes he made were low in the zone, which is a great sign. The yanks struck early and wasted no time to get on the board.
With the combination of a solid start from Wang and great relief from a back end of a bullpen that can go up against just about anybody and on plus of that we get timeley hitting from the Fielding star of the game Melky, with a shot that barley cleared the fence . That was the recipe for a victory and will be a recipe for success throughout the season.
I was extremely giddy when the opener came to a close.
Game two, The moose was as loose as your gonna see him in his old age.
I'll take that kind of performance from the moose every start of the year. Bottom line is, Mussina is a pretty good 4Th or 5Th starter. If he gets the run support he eventually will get with the bombers he should win at least 10 games this season. And I'm fine with that. In the other dugout was a Blue Jays club finally watching the huge contract that they threw at Burnett pay off. I think Burnett will finally have the season that everybody is waiting for and he will actually stay on the field and make at least 30 starts. Burnett simply out pitched the Moose, simple as that.
Game three, was a text book Yankee win.
I don't know how Hughes was baffling hitters with an 89 mph fastball . Lets just hope that it will get faster because sooner or later in this league that will get hit. But other than that I have zero complaints. His breaking stuff was downright filthy and he got the strikeout when it was needed. Another encouraging sign was Billy Traber striking out a tough hitter in Overbay then Bruney shutting the door in the 7Th, this made Girardi's bullpen final cuts out spring look like all the right decisions . I know its extremely early, but its very important for this young team to have a good first month. Confidence is a big factor here. We can not under any circumstances have a start like we had last season and expect to over come it.
Girardi's mindset of small ball won us this series. This is a great sign for the Yankees and the right way to win one run games. I'm pretty sure the Yankees will improve upon last years bellow .500 record in one run games and Girardi is the sole reason.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
SAM I AM SPORTS BLOG UPDATE
ATTENTION FELLOW BLOGGER'S
This will be my first time covering the baseball season on this blog. So I thought it would be the right thing to do by telling you all ( my mini but loyal fan base) the way it will be done.
I will not cover each game individually, but I will cover a series on a whole. Either a series preview or a series recap.
Occasionally if something extraordinary happens I will write a little piece on it.
I will also sprinkle in an article every so often on just about anything if something is on my mind. This can range from anywhere in the sports department.
If you have any suggestions or any changes on how things are run around here, I'm all ears. After-all I do this for YOU guys.
SAM I AM
This will be my first time covering the baseball season on this blog. So I thought it would be the right thing to do by telling you all ( my mini but loyal fan base) the way it will be done.
I will not cover each game individually, but I will cover a series on a whole. Either a series preview or a series recap.
Occasionally if something extraordinary happens I will write a little piece on it.
I will also sprinkle in an article every so often on just about anything if something is on my mind. This can range from anywhere in the sports department.
If you have any suggestions or any changes on how things are run around here, I'm all ears. After-all I do this for YOU guys.
SAM I AM
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
WHO ARE YOU FOOLING?
A day after the the festivities of the final home opener at the stadium being postponed by rain, Is a day that America has come to cherish and savor. That day is non other than April Fools day.
Around the country Americans are pranking their friends and getting away with it with the magic words "April Fools".
In light of this day, My favorite website, River Ave Blues (better known as RAB) . Have posted an April Fools prank by saying that Pettitte will be sidelined for 6 to 8 weeks and Kei Igawa will be taking his place.
http://riveraveblues.com/2008/04/01/with-pettitte-out-6-8-weeks-igawa-to-join-rotation-2454/
Naturally myself and every other of the thousands of the daily readers cringed to say the least. Rumors have it that some people that didn't get around to finishing the post and were still under the impression that these false rumors were true have done things I fear to mention on this blog...
Although this was done in jest, it was not a laughing matter. I believe that when you say something untrue , it brings a jinx upon that person.
Hours after that writeup was written. News out of Yankees camp stated that "Andy Pettitte will miss his scheduled start and his time table of returning is unknown". Buster olnley on ESPN NEWS said he may miss up to 6 starts and that the Yankees Are in an early hole to start the season.
I know that the folks over at RAB meant well , but come on..... I place the blame on them alone.
Oh by the way........... APRIL FOOLS
(In case you need me to explain, RAB did write that up but everything after I made up and had fun doing so)
Around the country Americans are pranking their friends and getting away with it with the magic words "April Fools".
In light of this day, My favorite website, River Ave Blues (better known as RAB) . Have posted an April Fools prank by saying that Pettitte will be sidelined for 6 to 8 weeks and Kei Igawa will be taking his place.
http://riveraveblues.com/2008/04/01/with-pettitte-out-6-8-weeks-igawa-to-join-rotation-2454/
Naturally myself and every other of the thousands of the daily readers cringed to say the least. Rumors have it that some people that didn't get around to finishing the post and were still under the impression that these false rumors were true have done things I fear to mention on this blog...
Although this was done in jest, it was not a laughing matter. I believe that when you say something untrue , it brings a jinx upon that person.
Hours after that writeup was written. News out of Yankees camp stated that "Andy Pettitte will miss his scheduled start and his time table of returning is unknown". Buster olnley on ESPN NEWS said he may miss up to 6 starts and that the Yankees Are in an early hole to start the season.
I know that the folks over at RAB meant well , but come on..... I place the blame on them alone.
Oh by the way........... APRIL FOOLS
(In case you need me to explain, RAB did write that up but everything after I made up and had fun doing so)
Monday, March 31, 2008
YANKEES VS METS : BENCH
We have finally arrived to opening day. The grueling off season has mercifully come to an end. Now we can Enjoy a game that we all love, at that is the game of Baseball.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my viewers, without you guys and gals , this blog wouldn't be possible. Thank you all for making my off season a tolerable one.
This will be my first season covering the Yankees on the blog. I'm looking forward to everything that's in store for me and I am honored to make your Yankee coverage as enjoyable as it possibly can.
We still have some unfinished business to attend to. So before the clock strikes One and Four and the Yankees and Mets seasons begin. Let me get to it.
A little over a month ago, I started a Yankee Vs Mets position by position debate. With the help of My friend Abie (A.K.A. Pecker) we more or less got this done.
The Only category in which I did not have a writeup for was the Bench (sorry for not getting this done sooner. I really was strapped for time, but no excuses)
The Yankee Bench is very deep.
Mollina is a top notch backup catcher. He definitely can start on at least ten teams in Baseball.
Shelley Duncan is a great guy to have on your bench. He's got pop and can play both corner outfield spots decently.
I love Morgan Ensberg. I was a huge fan of his on Houston and Picking him up this offseason was so uncashman like . He makes this bench that much better.
Wilson Betemit is extremely versatile. He plays every single position in the infield to an average to above average.
The Yankees are missing that speedster off the bench. They almost brought Gardner on board , but they decided against it due in large part of stunting his growth by rotting on the bench.
Remember I said this, The Yankee bench today will look allot different in October.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
At backup catcher the Mets have a guy who's avg. a homer per 10.5 at bats last season. I was so happy that he stayed and wasn't offered a big contract somewhere else .This guy can start for at least 2/3 of baseball and is a good defensive catcher I am a little skeptical of schneider and would not be surprised if castro was the starter by mid season. He probably will just face all lefty pitchers now so calling him a backup may be an insult.
As for the rest of the bench, the Mets fill every need except the big power bat hopefully they will allow castro to PH a little so he can bring that pop of the bench.The Mets have the speedy backup outfielders in Angel Pagan and Endy Chavez ,with pagan starting in place of Alou. I believe this can strengthen him when he comes off the bench later in the year. Endy needs no description..also Brady Clark is OK but he will prob be gone when alou is healthy .
Backing up the infield. Is Marlon Anderson probably the Lenny Harris of this generation last year in 69 Ab's he had 25 RBI and a BA of 319.Also in the infield is Damion Easley who when he was healthy last year hit a couple of big homers late in games.One guy on the roster now, is Raul Casanova as backup catcher he has a lill pop but I don't think anyone knows what to expect from him. This bench is a huge upgrade from where it was least season , especially now that we don't Have Julio Franco.
(Bottom line, Its not fair to compare an Al Bench to an Nl Bench. Is part of what the difference in the leagues are. But the Mets do fill more of their needs in their bench. They are missing the power bat but if you want that hit they have the guys it takes to get it.
On the other side of town, The Yanks have the power but lack the ability of getting that hit and don't have that speedster off the bench.)
FINAL OUTCOME
-------------------
First Base -Mets
Second Base- Yankees
Short Stop- Reluctantly Yankees but very skeptical ( Jeter will probably have the better year but Reyes has the potential to be GREAT. )
Third Base- Yankees without question
Catcher- Yankees (Yanks win this in a laugher)
Center Field- Mets (In a landslide)
Right Field-Yankees (Church is unproven and Abreu is on his walk year)
Left Field-Yankees (Alou cant stay on the field)
Starting Pitching-Mets (Half the Yankee rotation is unproven and the other half is an injury waiting to happen.)
Bullpen-Yankees
Bench- Mets
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my viewers, without you guys and gals , this blog wouldn't be possible. Thank you all for making my off season a tolerable one.
This will be my first season covering the Yankees on the blog. I'm looking forward to everything that's in store for me and I am honored to make your Yankee coverage as enjoyable as it possibly can.
We still have some unfinished business to attend to. So before the clock strikes One and Four and the Yankees and Mets seasons begin. Let me get to it.
A little over a month ago, I started a Yankee Vs Mets position by position debate. With the help of My friend Abie (A.K.A. Pecker) we more or less got this done.
The Only category in which I did not have a writeup for was the Bench (sorry for not getting this done sooner. I really was strapped for time, but no excuses)
The Yankee Bench is very deep.
Mollina is a top notch backup catcher. He definitely can start on at least ten teams in Baseball.
Shelley Duncan is a great guy to have on your bench. He's got pop and can play both corner outfield spots decently.
I love Morgan Ensberg. I was a huge fan of his on Houston and Picking him up this offseason was so uncashman like . He makes this bench that much better.
Wilson Betemit is extremely versatile. He plays every single position in the infield to an average to above average.
The Yankees are missing that speedster off the bench. They almost brought Gardner on board , but they decided against it due in large part of stunting his growth by rotting on the bench.
Remember I said this, The Yankee bench today will look allot different in October.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
At backup catcher the Mets have a guy who's avg. a homer per 10.5 at bats last season. I was so happy that he stayed and wasn't offered a big contract somewhere else .This guy can start for at least 2/3 of baseball and is a good defensive catcher I am a little skeptical of schneider and would not be surprised if castro was the starter by mid season. He probably will just face all lefty pitchers now so calling him a backup may be an insult.
As for the rest of the bench, the Mets fill every need except the big power bat hopefully they will allow castro to PH a little so he can bring that pop of the bench.The Mets have the speedy backup outfielders in Angel Pagan and Endy Chavez ,with pagan starting in place of Alou. I believe this can strengthen him when he comes off the bench later in the year. Endy needs no description..also Brady Clark is OK but he will prob be gone when alou is healthy .
Backing up the infield. Is Marlon Anderson probably the Lenny Harris of this generation last year in 69 Ab's he had 25 RBI and a BA of 319.Also in the infield is Damion Easley who when he was healthy last year hit a couple of big homers late in games.One guy on the roster now, is Raul Casanova as backup catcher he has a lill pop but I don't think anyone knows what to expect from him. This bench is a huge upgrade from where it was least season , especially now that we don't Have Julio Franco.
(Bottom line, Its not fair to compare an Al Bench to an Nl Bench. Is part of what the difference in the leagues are. But the Mets do fill more of their needs in their bench. They are missing the power bat but if you want that hit they have the guys it takes to get it.
On the other side of town, The Yanks have the power but lack the ability of getting that hit and don't have that speedster off the bench.)
FINAL OUTCOME
-------------------
First Base -Mets
Second Base- Yankees
Short Stop- Reluctantly Yankees but very skeptical ( Jeter will probably have the better year but Reyes has the potential to be GREAT. )
Third Base- Yankees without question
Catcher- Yankees (Yanks win this in a laugher)
Center Field- Mets (In a landslide)
Right Field-Yankees (Church is unproven and Abreu is on his walk year)
Left Field-Yankees (Alou cant stay on the field)
Starting Pitching-Mets (Half the Yankee rotation is unproven and the other half is an injury waiting to happen.)
Bullpen-Yankees
Bench- Mets
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