http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/ en Copyright 2009 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:23:43 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://www.connpost.com/blogs.]]> http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/06/new_blog.html http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/06/new_blog.html Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:23:43 -0500 HOME SWEET HOME – The battle between the AL’s top two teams – record-wise – turned into a real laugher Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. The Bronx Bombers torched Vicente Padilla and a combustible bullpen in a 12-3 victory in front of 43,948 at the House that George Built. The Yankees pounded out 13 hits and a pair of three-runs homers – Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada. “We scored a lot of runs tonight and A.J. (Burnett) was great (on the mound),” Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira said. For most of the Yankee starters, a seven-inning effort was all that was required of them before skipper Joe Girardi called in the JV squad to finish things off. “We still got good pitching and good defense,” Girardi replied.. I DON’T LIKE YOU – Teixeira probably won’t be inviting Padilla to a backyard cookout any time soon. After hitting homers off Padilla the first two times he faced him in his career, Teixeira has gotten used to being hit by the 31-year-old hurler with an attitude. On Tuesday, Padilla drilled Teixeira twice – once in the shoulder in the second inning and again in the buttocks in the fourth. “It’s not the right way to play the game and unfortunately that guy has been doing it his whole career,” said Teixeira, who was clearly upset after the second shot but added he would never charge the mound. “That’s not the kind of player I am.” GOOD ENOUGH – Burnett didn’t need his best stuff with plenty of run support, but he did enough to improve his record to 4-2 on the season. Burnett went seven innings and allowed eight hits, three earned runs and one walk while striking out eight. He threw 71 of his 111 pitches for strikes and yielded one home run to Nelson Cruz in the third inning.. “A.J. had one blip of an inning, but still gave us seven innings,” Girardi said. ELITE COMPANY – Derek Jeter became the fourth Yankee to join the 1,500-run club when he scored on Alex Rodriguez’s fielder’s choice in the bottom of the fourth inning. The other three Yankees in that club – Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle. END OF AN ERROR? – The Yankees’ MLB-record 18-game errorless streak ended in the top of the fourth inning when catcher Jorge Posada mailed a throw into center field trying to nab Elvis Andrus stealing second base. New York set the record Monday night in Cleveland, surpassing the 2006 Boston Red Sox’s mark of 17 games. The Yankees previous record for errorless games was 10, which they have done three times (1977, ’93, ’95). STATUS QUO ROTATION – Girardi said before the game he has no plans to make changes with the Yankees’ starting staff to accommodate the return of Chien-Ming Wang. That means Andy Pettitte (bad back) will take his turn Wednesday night against the Rangers and Phil Hughes (3-2, 5.45 ERA) is still on the schedule to start Friday at the Stadium against the Rays. "Yeah, we've had discussions and at this point nothing has changed,” Girardi said. “Our guys are still on schedule. We're happy with the progress (Wang’s) made, but at this point we are staying on schedule." When pressed on the issues, Girardi stuck to the rotation remains the same mantra. "We haven't made any changes up to this point,” he added. “We are staying on schedule and continue to evaluate it every day” Since returning from the disabled list (hip weakness), Wang has made three relief appearances and allowed only two earned runs over eight innings, dropping his ERA from 34.50 to 16.07 in the process. CHICKEN MESS YOU UP – A quick thumbs down to the media room chef at Yankee Stadium who prepared possibly the worst chicken I have ever had. My jaw still aches from trying to chew through a piece before I gave up and went for a grill cheese. http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/06/fireworks_at_yankee_stadium.html http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/06/fireworks_at_yankee_stadium.html Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:10:50 -0500 The Bronx Bombers are a happy bunching on their return home after a 5-2 road trip pushed them into first place in the American League East with a 30-21 record. Texas is percentage points ahead of the Yankees for the best record in the AL at 30-20 going into this three-game series. Tonight A.J. Burnett (3-2, 4.78 ERA) goes up against a powerful Rangers squad that will be without star Josh Hamilton - at least for tonight. Hamilton, who lit up the old Yankee Stadium at last year's Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game, did not arrive with the team in New York. He stayed back in Texas awaiting word on the MRI results on a strained right groin and was expected to join the team later. SITTING ONE OUT - Outfielder Nick Swisher is out of the lineup tonight, but skipper Joe Girardi said it was just to give him a rest. Swish broke out of a lengthy slump Monday night with a 2-for-4 outing in Cleveland, including a two-run double in the seventh to break a 1-1 tie. It was Swisher's first multi-hit game since going 2-for-5 on April 29 at Detroit. NO RAIN - After a brief afternoon shower the skies are clear at the new ballpark and the Yankees are taking batting practice and chatting with the Rangers on the field. http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/06/loosey_goosey_yankees.html http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/06/loosey_goosey_yankees.html Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:04:42 -0500 Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes are on the DL. Carlos Beltran stayed in the dugout, and Ryan Church might not wear a Mets' uniform again. Who needs them? Six walks from Johan Santana and four strikeouts by David Wright - and these Mets still win! Maybe the patchwork Mets are just better than the big-money ball club that broke camp at the end of March. Sweeping the worst team in baseball is hardly something to boast about, but it was a nice way for the Mets to cap off a 13-games-in-14-days run that leaves them in first place in the National League West after Wednesday night's 7-4 victory. The 26-20 Mets get a day of rest before the Marlins come to Citi Field for a three-game weekend stay. Florida's 6-2 win over Philly gave the Mets a half-game cushion lead in the division. MURPH RECLAIMS HIS TURF - Daniel Murphy limped into Wednesday night's game with only nine hits and five RBIs in his last 22 games. He doubled that RBI production against the Nats with a 3-for-4 night with one controversial homer (maybe Murph can get a Subway gig after that long ball), a career-high five RBIs and a pair of extra base hits. DON''T MESS WITH THE JOHAN - Usually Mr. Santana is the one to pick up his Mets teammates, but this time around the mates were the ones lending a hand. Santana did earn his seventh win with six innings of work, allowing three hits, three runs and six walks while striking out 11. Gary Sheffield drove in a pair and Murph did the rest at the plate. Bobby Parnell, Pedro Feliciano and J.J. Putz combined for two scoreless innings before K-Rod struggled a bit to finish the job in the ninth. Amazing that Frankie Rodriguez is even on the mound after Saturday's back pain sent him to the hospital in Boston. Apparently modern medicine can work wonders! HOME NOT SO SWEET - Perhaps David Wright just doesn't like the new Citi Field. How else can you explain the difference between his home and road numbers this season? Wright is hitting .405 with nine doubles, one homer and 20 RBIs. At home, Wright was .293 with two homers and 10 RBIs going into Wednesday's game before he went 0-for-4 - with all four outs coming on strikeouts. FERNANDO MANIA CAN WAIT - Prized rookie outfielder Fernando Martinez went 0-for-4 in his second day with the Mets and is still waiting for his first hit. http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/05/meet_the_new_mets.html http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/05/meet_the_new_mets.html Wed, 27 May 2009 22:37:16 -0500 The New York Mets continued their babying of ace Johan Santana on Monday night when they pulled the southpaw after 108 pitches with one out in the seventh inning. Not to just single out the Mets here, but can anyone go more than 100 pitches these days? Everyone gets treated like a delicate genius and organizations are fearful to just let their guys stay out there and pitch. Santana is making $137.5 million for his six-year deal with the Mets - let him earn it. I mean who else would you rather have out their for Mets? NO. 29 and Counting - One of the better young players - who basically plays in the Russian Front of baseball known as the Washington Nationals - extended his hitting streak to 29 games Monday night. Can you name him? On a team going no where this season, third baseman Ryan Zimmerman has been one of the few bright spots, going 4-for-5 with four RBIs in an 11-7 loss to the Giants on Monday. If the Nats can figure out a way to clone Zimmerman and pitcher Shairon Martis, who is 4-0, than maybe they can challenge in the NL East some day ...... just not now. FAR-WEATHER BIRDS? - After trucking along for 44 games, the Blue Jays get a little taste of the AL East this week with the Yankees in town for three games. Tonight's game has the potential to be a pitching gem with Doc Halladay (6-1, 3.29 ERA) starting for the Jays against former teammate and current Yankee A.J. Burnett (2-0, 5.26). The rest of the month we should find out a little more about the Jays with three game against the Yanks and six with the Red Sox. http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/05/kid_glove_treatment_for_starte.html http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/05/kid_glove_treatment_for_starte.html Tue, 12 May 2009 01:39:13 -0500 and the Philly Phanatic. Though judging by the company the Phanatic is keeping there, we should drug test him, too. I think we might find out what's become of Dick Chaney in the process. Manny being Manny is just the latest example of a chemistry experiment gone bad in the Major League Baseball. Since somewhere around the time baseball returned to work from the 1994 stoppage it seems like PEDs have become has as commonplace in the game as the seventh-inning stretch, peanuts and Cracker Jack. Bud Selig all the way on down to the bat boys turned a blind eye to what was going on over a decade-long span while fannies fill up the seats at ballparks everywhere and everyone involved in the game got rich. Stinking rich. Poor Manny wants us to believe an innocent trip to see Dr. Van Nostrand somehow led to him being given a drug that is banned by baseball and that it's not his fault he took it before testing positive. While it is conceivable that Manny would be dumb enough to take a woman's fertility drug, does anybody really buy his excuse? It's better than the A-Rod dumb cousin one, but not by much. The sad thing is these big-name stars being busted are so rich that it really doesn't matter that they have been outed. They've earned millions of dollars over the years and a little vacation from the game - doesn't Manny take one mid-season every year anyways? - is hardly a fitting punishment for their crimes. About the only time we might get some justice is on Hall of Fame day when many of these cheaters are going to be denied entry into baseball's hallowed hall. We'll see how much sympathy Roger, Barry, A-Rod and Manny get when that time comes. Until then, I won't waste my time getting worked up over some other jerk cheating on the baseball diamond. ]]> http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/05/nothings_shocking.html http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/05/nothings_shocking.html Thu, 07 May 2009 23:21:15 -0500 .... random thoughts while watching the Mets, err, Yankees bullpen implode. The way Jose Veras and Damaso Marte have looked in the seventh inning I am having flashbacks to last September at Shea with the Mets. Hide the women and children, this one has turned ugly in the seventh with the Tribe batting around-plus and scoring nine runs to blow open this game. Veras poured the gasoline for the fire with a walk and back-to-back doubles. Marte lit the fuse and cleared out the place- including coughing up Grady Sizemore's grand slam that prompted chants of "We want Swisher, we want Swisher!" Today's attendance is 48,271. It's considered a sellout even though 2,000 standing-room oonly seats were not sold. http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/04/the_new_mets.html http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/04/the_new_mets.html Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:54:11 -0500 And the first home run hit at new Yankee Stadium belongs to ....... catcher Jorge Posada. Posada cranked a 2-1 offering from Cliff Lee into the new monument park in center field in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game at 1. It was Posada's 223 career homer, which moved him into eighth place all-time with the Yankees. Donnie Baseball has 222. The home run was one of the few highlights in the first five innings. Despite a pair of aces being on the mound in Lee and CC Sabathia, the game has progressed at a snail's pace on a mid-50s afternoon in the Bronx. New York has stranded eight base runners in the four innings, but might have something brewing now with two on and two out. Cody Ransom, who is filling in for A-Rod and made a great diving stop in the fourth inning, is up to bat. http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/04/jorge_juiced_one.html http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/04/jorge_juiced_one.html Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:04:18 -0500 While Alex Rodriguez is enjoying his afternoon in Florida, here's a few things he missed out on: First batter - Grady Sizemore. First pitch - Ball, by CC Sabathia. First out - Sizemore ground out to first baseman Mark Teixeira. First Yankee out - Derek Jeter, who flew out to center. Jeter also made the last out at the old ballpark. First hit - Johnny Damon with one out in the bottom of the first. First hit by pitch - Teixeira, who was nailed by Cliff Lee in the bottom of the first. PREGAME TIDBITS - Carl Pavano received the loudest boos, Derek Jeter the most cheers and just about every former Yankee who had nothing to do today showed up for the pregame events. Pavano, who remains quite the fan favorite even at the new stadium based on his reception, is scheduled to pitch Sunday against A.J. Burnett. A PIECE OF THE BABE - Before making Jeter made his first plate appearance, a bat used by Babe Ruth was placed on home plate - perhaps blessing the new park?? The bat was the one Ruth used on April 18, 1923 to hit the first home run in the first game at the original Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won that game 4-1 against Boston. The bat is now part of Richard Angrist's collection, but he loaned it to the team for today's game. It will stay at Yankee Stadium until the All-Star break and will be housed in the Yankee Museum. http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/04/i_wonder_what_arod_is_doing.html http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/04/i_wonder_what_arod_is_doing.html Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:07:11 -0500 To quote Yogi Berra, the new Yankee Stadium is "big" and "beautiful." Berra, shortstop Derek Jeter and skipper Joe Girardi meet with the media this morning prior to the pregame festivities. All three men tipped their cap to the man responsible for the Yankees' new home - owner George Steinbrenner. "I think he's pretty proud, but I don't want to speak for him," Jeter said. "He's the reason why we are hear today." Berra said despite their differences over the years he considers the Boss a close friend. "I've known the guy a long time," he said. "He's changed a lot, but he still wants to win." The Yankees will try for their first regular-season win in the new ballpark in about 20 minutes when CC Sabathia - one of the Yankees other high-priced new additions - takes on his old mates the Cleveland Indians. NADY UPDATE - Girardi said before the game Xavier Nady was placed on the disabled list, but he did not know if it was for 15 days or 60 days. The team called up pitcher David Robertson to replace him on the roster. Nady said little in the Yankee clubhouse before the game about the injury (right elbow). YOGI'S TAKE - On the size of the Yankees new locker room, Berra replied "If you want to talk to a guy you have to walk a half a mile." The man responsible for this new creation is on the big screen in center field waving to fans http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/04/pregame_chatter_at_the_new_bal.html http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/04/pregame_chatter_at_the_new_bal.html Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:11:11 -0500 Former Tiger teammate Kirk Gibson might have summed up The Byrd the best - "Very charismatic guy. A great teammate. Very energetic every day. He played baseball with great passion and he lived his life that way." KING DAVID – Mets third baseman David Wright became the first player from the home team to homer at CitiField when he launched a three-run shot over the left-field wall in fifth inning. Wright would have preferred the win, but said all the right things after the game. “It was a lot of fun. We are going to play some good baseball here,” said Wright, who finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs. “Obviously we wanted to win the game, but there’s a lot more games to be played. I like where our team is at right now as far as fight. We are having some good at-bats and we are coming back after we get down early. “We just need to jump out to a lead and hang on to that. We have the team to do that this year.” Wright thinks the outfield could play to the Mets advantage during the season at the plate. “There’s some big gaps and it’s going to give us a chance to hit some triples and turn some singles into doubles,” he said. CIT FIRSTS – Here’s a look at some firsts at the Mets new ballpark on Monday night: First hit, homer, RBI and run – Padres’ lead-off man Jody Gerut did it all with a homer in the top of the first inning. First walk – The Padres’ Chase Headley in the first inning. First strikeout – Mets starter Mike Pelfrey rang up Nick Hundley in the top of the second. First win – Edward Mujica, Padres. First loss – Brian Stokes, Mets. First save – former Met Heath Bell. HOT PODS – The team nobody liked going into the season is in first place in the National League West. With Monday night’s 6-5 victory, the San Diego Padres are off to a 6-2 start on the season. Second baseman David Eckstein said the key to the Pods’ success is simple – they work hard. “I think the biggest thing for us is we’ve played hard,” he said. “We have a plan when we step onto the field in the sense of how we are going to attack the pitcher and we’ve stuck to that and put together really good at-bats. No matter if we didn’t get him the first time, we keep putting pressure on them and play hard. And our pitchers have come up and down there jobs. “There’s no much expectations on us, but we have them for ourselves and we understand we have to keep playing hard.” NO RINGING THIS BELL – Heath Bell wears a Padres’ uniform now, but he still has a soft spot in his heart for the Mets even though he slammed the door of his former mates with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. “I’m a Padre and I’m going to go out there, play hard and give it everything I got but the Mets still have a small spot in my heart always,” Bell said. “They gave me my first opportunity in the minors and in the big leagues, so it’s icing on the cake right now (to get the first save here). All I need to do is win a World Series right now and I think that’s the only thing that would be better.” ]]> http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/04/musings_from_citifield.html http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/04/musings_from_citifield.html Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:42:13 -0500 Canseco told the crowd that Ramirez's "name is most likely, 90%," on the famous list of failed drug tests that led to A-Rod being outed.Canseco later admitted he had no way of knowing whether Ramirez was on the list and was just throwing out his opinion. Times writer Kurt Streeter tracked down Manny after the incident and wrote this: Late Saturday, I tracked down Ramirez to tell him what Canseco had said. The immediate response is pure Ramirez: He laughs. Sitting at his locker, he says, "I got no comment, nothing to say about that. What can I say? I don't even know the guy." Fantasy focus - One game into the baseball season, the quick leaders in the fantasy clubhouse are Braves pitcher Derek Lowe and rookie Jordan "Don't call me Morgan" Schafer. Lowe spun a gem in Philly last night with eight innings of shutout ball, allowing two hits, no walks and striking four. (Wonder if A.J. Burnett will look as good in his Yankee debut later this week?) As for Schafer, he went 2-for-3 and hit his first major-league homer - a solo shot in the second inning off Brett Myers. He also got called "Morgan" Schafer during the game by ESPN announcer Jon Miller, who must have had partner Joe Morgan's name on the brain when he made the snafu. Oh by the way, Schafer served a 50-game suspension for use of human growth hormone last season after failing a drug test in the minor leagues. As far as I know, Canseco has had no comment on the player. ]]> http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/04/no_red_sox_today_more_manny.html http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/04/no_red_sox_today_more_manny.html Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:18:32 -0500 2009 PREDICTIONS American League East 1. Red Sox -- Best pitching in the division, but need Papi to bounce back. 2. Yankees -- Money can buy talent, but can it also buy a pennant? 3. Rays -- Loaded with young talent, but bullpen suspect and was 2008 a fluke? 4. Orioles -- Actually have a farm system again, but young arms at least year away. 5. Blue Jays -- Worst GM in baseball wasting the prime years of Halladay. American League Central 1. Indians -- Best 1-2 punch in division with Lee and Carmona, plus Sizemore is a star. 2. Twins -- Liriano healthy, but need to protect Morneau in lineup to challenge Tribe. 3. White Sox -- Good pitching staff, but can old men still drive in the runs? 4. Royals -- Quietly piecing together a solid squad, but not ready to contend just yet. 5. Tigers -- Nothing seems to work in Detroit these days. American League West 1. Angels -- Lost big names, still loaded with talent. 2. Rangers -- The key to contending will be if the starting staff can produce. 3. Athletics -- Castoffs and retreads fill lineup, but where have all the starters gone? 4. Mariners -- Ibanez departure leaves Ichiro, King Felix and lots of junk. National League East 1. Phillies -- Hamels' health a concern, but have heart of champion and the bats. 2. Mets -- Look the part, but will they ever Advertisement show up in September to back it up? 3. Braves -- The sleeper of the NL that just might steal the division. 4. Marlins -- Young and feisty, but maybe a year away. 5. Nationals -- Ditching GM Bowden a plus, but can't win with nine OFs and suspect starters. National League Central 1. Cubs -- Just like the Mets: have all the pieces, but need to show up in the postseason. 2. Brewers -- Continue to replicate 1990s Indians -- have bats, need pitching. 3. Cardinals -- Duncan's magic with pitchers and Pujols make them live threat. 4. Reds -- Lots of prospects but until winning starts, they all remain suspects. 5. Astros -- Have the boppers, but only one legit starter in Oswalt. 6. Pirates -- 16 losing seasons and continue -- will it ever end? National League West 1. Diamondbacks -- Webb and Haren like having two aces, but need kids to swing the bats. 2. Dodgers -- Lots of hype, but are Torre and Manny enough to win? 3. Giants -- Love the pitching. Hate the offense. 4. Rockies -- Going in wrong direction two years removed from Series. 5. Padres -- Shedding payroll and no help in the minors = last place. ------ AL playoffs Divisional series -- Red Sox over Indians, Angels over Yankees (wild card) Championship series -- Red Sox over Angels NL playoffs Divisional series -- Phillies over Diamondbacks, Mets over Cubs Championship series -- Phillies over Mets World Series Red Sox over Phillies http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/04/predictions_predictions_predic.html http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/04/predictions_predictions_predic.html Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:59:12 -0500 For the local teams (Red Sox, Mets and Yankees) the regular season won't start until tomorrow, but I can't wait that long. In today's Post I made my predictions for the season and have already taken some heat for picking the Sox - hey, they have the best pitching staff in the AL East and maybe all of baseball! Here are my picks for a few of baseball's top awards: AL MVP 1. Justin Morneau, Twins 2. Mark Teixeira, Yankees 3. Grady Sizemore, Indians AL Cy Young 1. Roy Halladay, Blue Jays 2. Jon Lester, Red Sox 3. Francisco Liriano, Twins NL MVP 1. David Wright, Mets 2. Albert Pujols, Cardinals 3. Manny Ramirez, Dodgers NL Cy Young 1. Johan Santana, Mets 2. Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks 3. Carlos Zambrano, Cubs ]]> http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/04/play_ball.html http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/04/play_ball.html Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:59:21 -0500 Friday’s first semifinal game is a matchup between two of the 10 Hobey Baker finalists, which is the award given to the top collegiate hockey player in the nation. Air Force sophomore Jacques Lamoureux, who leads the nation in goals with 32, and Michigan’s Louie Caporusso, who leads the Wolverines with 24 goals, square off in a 3 p.m. game at the Arena at Harbor Yard. For Caporusso, the battle means little compared to what is at stake for the Wolverines. “When I get on the ice I really don’t care about being a Hobey Baker finalist,” Caporusso said. “I care about the University of Michigan beating Air Force, that’s the main thing on my mind. They can concentrate on it as much as they want, but I won’t be concentrating on it.” Nope, Caporusso will be too busy worrying about generating offense for UM. “Getting the puck out (of our zone) and putting the puck in the next are the two things I am concerned with,” Caporusso said. The Hobey Baker list will be reduced to three finalists after this weekend’s games. **** Tomorrow’s games are sold out, according to Yale SID Steve Conn. http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/03/two_baker_finalists_square_off.html http://forum.connpost.com/diamond/2009/03/two_baker_finalists_square_off.html Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:03:05 -0500