Brett Gardner, the second coming.....

Our hero, our savior, man of 80 speed on 20-80 scale

Crazy Mets fan: "souvenir? I don't want no stinkin' souvenir!"

In the 4th inning today, A-Rod blasted a foul HR, deep to left field:


Apparently that confused fan wanted no part of the $12.99 baseball that beat the odds and made it up to his section. Forget that it had a commemorative logo honoring the last season at Shea. Forget that it was hit by possibly the greatest HR hitter of all time. Forget that it was a FOUL BALL, and did not tie the game, or have any impact on the score. That guy must have always wanted to "throw it back" and for better or for worse, he was going to do it.

Kudos to him... I guess.

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At least Chacon still has a career in the WWE

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=ApxRmmmsn8kZq

NYYSI presents: Great Moments in New York Yankees History - Abreu finally makes a catch at the wall

Mike Mussina - AL All-Star? I think not

I obviously have a history of being tough on Mike Mussina. However, if you know me personally, you will know that I have always believed that Mike Mussina has been UNDER-appreciated as a member of the New York Yankees. That debate aside, there is a new one brewing: should Mike Mussina be named to the 2008 AL All-Star team?

I have to admit, for the past month, I have been blinded by the win/loss record of Moose and Michael Kay's incessant babbling about the Mike Mussina renaissance. I figured if the guy has 12 wins at the break, how can he be denied a spot on the team? Then I realized, there is a lot more that goes into pitching and wins aren't exactly the best measure of who the best pitchers are. Here are some better measures and how Mike Mussina ranks:

His VORP is 94th in the American League among PITCHERS:

His ERA+ is 106, (can't find rankings, but he isn't anywhere close to the top). (he is 39th in ERA)

He is 10th in the AL in WHIP

He is 4th in the AL in K/BB

However, he is tied for the AL lead with 10 wins and we all know that is what anyone looks at.

So, who would I take before Mike Mussina on the All-Star team? Here are a few names:

Roy Halladay
Cliff Lee
Shawn Marcum
Scott Kazmir
Felix Hernandez
John Danks
C.C Sabathia

There is a derogatory nickname that has always floated around when discussing Mike Mussina - "Mr. Almost". If the for the AL All-Star game do the right thing, that moniker will certainly stick when considering Mike Mussina's 2008 All-Star game chances.

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My obsession for the past couple of months - Cent Sports

Here's the deal -

You sign up at CentSports.com, you get a free 10 cents to make sports bets and once you get over $20, you can cash out what started as 10 cents for free money. If you lose all of your money, you get a new 10 cents to play with. It is a lot harder than it sounds. I have been playing a couple of months, and I have yet to reach the $20 mark.

It is actually a lot of fun. Since I started playing, I have gotten WAY more into soccer and mixed martial arts than I ever thought I would be. Basically, it is the fun of gambling, without the depression of losing your hard earned money. Don't get me wrong, I was pretty peeved when I had a $17 balance and I placed just about all of it on some MMA fight that I knew nothing about and the -500 favorite lost the fight.

The best part of the site is getting your friends and family to sign up. Then, you get notifications of their bets, and you can comment on the bets and talk smack if you wish. It becomes something of a competition to see who can get their balance up faster.

Now, some caveats -

- The site is still in beta mode, so there are a LOT of bugs. Random bets disappear at times, bets are counted as wins before the game is over, etc etc.
- The max you can win on a bet is $10. Therefore, once you start making a lot of money, you need to make a bunch of small bets to max out your earnings (since you can't make more than $10 on one bet).
- The cash out system is constantly changing and there are no guarantees that you will be able to cash out on any given week. It is all dependent on the advertising revenue that the site has taken in that week.
- The site is ad supported, so if you are bothered by every kind of annoying ad on the interwebs, this site isn't for you.

The site is gaining momentum. Just last week, Forbes.com posted an article about Centsports' business model.

So, if you love sports and you have ever even DABBLED in sports betting, I highly recommend checking out the site today. You don't have anything to lose. How often can you say THAT about a sports bet?

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a DISASTER for the Yankees pitching core

Iceberg! Dead ahead!

Robinson Cano knows some people at Yahoo!

Yahoo! was having some issue with their gametracker yesterday. Either that or Robinson Cano had his agent work on getting his batting average back on track. Perhaps he should have been a bit more subtle?

The following is what they had for the Yankees 6th inning:


Sadly, even with that inning, Robbie would probably still be in the VORP basement.

All credit goes to Vegas Watch for the screen grabs. I noticed the error in score at the time, but not the historic inning by Cano.


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Subway Doubleheader scheduled for June 27, 2008

MLB announced the date of the gimmicky double header...

courtesy of rotoworld.com:

The Mets and Yankees will play a two-stadium doubleheader on June 27 to make up for the game that was rained out last month.
Major League Baseball announced Friday that the Yankees will host the Mets at 2:05 p.m. and the teams will play again at Shea Stadium at 8:10 p.m. The night game was originally scheduled for 7:10 p.m. but was pushed back to accommodate the teams switching stadiums.

This would have been cool and newsworthy if it hadn't been done before
.

For the record, the Yankees swept both of those "Subway doubleheaders". Lets hope for the same result.
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Down on the farm: Eric Duncan's battle with mediocrity

Spoiler alert - mediocrity wins.

We all remember Eric Duncan. He was the 27th overall pick by the Yankees in the 2003 draft and has been rushed through the system ever since. He is now in his second season with Scranton Wilkes-Barre, and he is in a very fascinating battle with mediocrity (at least when evaluating mediocrity based on batting average). Check out the graphical representation of his mediocre batting average below:



The pink line represents a batting average of .250. The blue line is his actual average. They don't like to get too far apart. If you are wondering, minor league game logs are apparently tough to find. I went game by game through the box scores to get his batting average throughout this season to date. Too much time on my hands? Possibly.

In an attempt at some sort of positive for Mr. Duncan, at least he fits right in with the parent club. When breaking down The Yankees' winning percentage so far this season, relative to the definition of mediocrity (.500), it is very similar to Duncan's batting average chart:


(hat tip to Replacement Level Yankees Weblog for the above chart)

So there you have it. My case for Eric Duncan to be a part of the 2008 Yankees. Not really.


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Peter Abraham gets exposed by NoMaas.org as the wacko that he is

UPDATE (6/10, 3:00 PM): Abraham has provided the following to cantstopthebleeding.com:

Mr. Abraham writes, “As I informed NoMaas, it wasn’t me. It was somebody impersonating me. It’s happened on a few Yankees blogs. I think it’s somebody who was banned from my blog for posting assorted obscene words.”

Since the Tubster probably has his job at stake here, I would take what he says with a grain of salt. Classic case of he said-she said. I certainly wouldn't put it past him. Read the original story below.

Since NoMaas.org doesn't have direct links to their posts, I will have to copy/paste this one. It is just too good for words:

06.08.2008 Somebody doesn't like NoMaas (and seems to be a little off his rocker)

We've put many, many hours of work into our site since we launched in May 2005. We try to bring a unique blend of insight, comedy, and analysis to our loyal visitors. When we recently launched our draft blog, we thought it would be a great resource for fellow draft-geeks to follow the many different storylines which surround these new prospects. But apparently, not everyone is a fan of our efforts.

In one of his first draft blog entries, NoMaas minor league correspondent Lane Meyer received the following comment from a user named "Interested Reader":

Interested reader Says:

June 4th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
No offense, “Lane” but you won’t even use your real first name on the information you provide. Yet you are presented as some sort of expert.

What credentials do you have?

It’s hard to trust anything on the internet, much less from somebody who’s pretending he’s a character in a cheesy movie. (Source)

And then a few entries later, Lane Meyer received another comment from "Interested Reader":

Interested reader Says:

June 5th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Schooled by LoHud. Ha. (Source)

These comments sounded a little suspicious to us, so we decided to do a little bit of research. We cross-referenced the IP address used by "Interested Reader" with the IP addresses of posters on our message board (accounts are email address verified). And wouldn't you know, our CSI:NoMaas team found a match. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you the Journal News' Peter Abraham.

Apparently, Peter goes out of his way to post messages on our draft blog in an attempt to discredit our work. Hey, that's fine. When you publish your opinions on the internet, you are fair game to criticism. It comes with the territory. We receive plenty of feedback from visitors who disagree with us. We think that's great.

We just find it highly amusing that a Yankees beat writer is fixated on a site run by a small group of fans with full-time jobs and who run NoMaas as a hobby. It's also odd for Peter to critique our anonymity, but then post inflammatory comments under an alias.

You're a weird guy, Pete. Very weird.

We all know that I have had a few run-ins with the wacky fat man. However, this is the most DAMNING evidence yet that the man is truly not stable. If I were the upper management at The Journal News in Westchester, I would definitely be a bit concerned. However, his blog is getting advertising from Strip Clubs left and right, so he is putting food on their plates (when he isn't scarfing it down before they get a chance to touch it).

On another note, when I was in Vegas a couple of weeks ago, this guy was my dealer while playing Rapid Roulette. I felt pathetic whipping out the camera phone, but tell me this isn't Tubby Abraham's long lost twin brother???





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NYYSI Rumor Mill - Source: George Sherrill to be traded before the deadline

Obviously, take this with a grain of salt, since I don't have any direct source in the Orioles front office to confirm or deny this. However, a family member works for the Orioles and was speaking to a member of Stadium Operations who apparently is in the front office meetings. The word out of the meetings is that the Orioles are trying to get George Sherrill as many saves as possible before the trade deadline and then are going to try to trade him for some young pitchers with front of the rotation upside.

My thoughts on this:

- It makes perfect sense - the Orioles may be in contention right now, but they know that they still have a poor - mediocre team. Trading Sherrill while his value is at its peak is a great baseball move - something the Orioles are not accustomed to.
- If they want young starters with front of the rotation upside, they are dreaming. Sherrill has been good this year, but he is definitely not a lockdown closer. He is the sort of guy that you want pitching in a big ballpark that is friendly to lefty flyball pitchers.
- He would be a GREAT fit for the Yankees bullpen, but the Orioles are sure to be asking a lot for him and he probably isn't worth the asking price. However, the Yankees could really use a quality lefty out of the pen, especially with their struggles in that area the past few years.

This should be very interesting. I can't wait to see if this source was correct.

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Possibly the greatest still shot of a baseball fight EVER... The time is now for a Yankees run

Check out this screen grab from the Tampa Bay Rays' website:


(full-size pic)

It looks fake - almost like a photoshop of Shields delivering a pitch. If you are a Rays fan (they do exist, right?), you have to be concerned with your young ace throwing haymakers like this. Not to mention the sweep your team just suffered at the hands of the Sox, even if it was in Fenway.

Predictably, Johnny Gomes got involved (you may remember him from the Shelley Duncan incident). The following comes from rotoworld.com about Gomes' involvement:

Gomes must have started running from the dugout even before Coco Crisp charged the mound, because he was out there in a flash to delivered several blows in Crisp's general direction with Boston's outfielder on the ground. He singlehandedly took the whole brawl up a notch and deserves a signficant suspension.

You stay classy, Johnny Gomes.



Another note from this game, while I'm talking about it. Jacoby Ellsbury left the game with a wrist injury sustained while attempting a diving catch. X-Rays were apparently negative, and the Sox are calling it a strain. Combined with Crisp's impending suspension and Big Papi's recent injury, this is hardly good news for the Red Sox.

Perhaps this is the time the Yankees make their run? The Rays will have Shields miss a turn and will have been smacked down to earth by the Sox. The Sox will have to play SOME games without Ortiz, Ellsbury AND Crisp. The Yankees just had a magical walk off victory thanks to the lucky golden thong. Its all in the cards people - you just need to know how to read them.

Update (6/5/08 10:21 PM): To add to the fun in this one, Manny Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis apparently got into a shoving match in the dugout in the 4th inning. Then, in the 7th, Manny had to leave the game with a hamstring injury. Is it now a possibility that the Red Sox will have to play a couple of games without Manny, Ortiz, Ellsbury and Crisp? Not to mention Dice-K and Bucky still on the shelf, while fatty (Schilling) is just starting to climb back up on the mound off of his shoulder injury. I repeat - TIME FOR THE YANKEES TO MAKE A RUN!

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Congratulations, Captain Clutch

I know, I know, I was very critical earlier. However, there is no taking away this memorable moment at the Stadium tonight. Derek Jeter will continue to pass legends and make history in the coming years. I can't wait to watch as my boyhood idol makes history.





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My thoughts and opinions on the current state of the Yankees with a special commentary on Derek Jeter

With the Yankees in their typical early-season swoon, it is time for me to take advantage of my little space on the interwebs and let some feelings/ opinions off of my chest on the current state of the Yankees. I typically pay close attention to the grammar and tone of my posts for consistency, but this is more of a stream of conscious, so I apologize in advance for any typos or the unexpected style. As an FYI, this originated as some emails back and forth with a friend and evolved into a blog post. Remember, these are just the opinions of one hardcore Yankee fan. Feel free to disagree with me and leave a comment in the comments section telling me about it! So, here we go...

I am a bit concerned with all of the young starters with historically fantastic control walking the ballpark all of a sudden once they arrive in the majors. However, I can live with the growing pains as long as they are developed properly and grow to become the pitchers they are projected to be.

That being said, this Yankee team is in a bad spot for THIS year. The bullpen is filled with at or below replacement level bums, and going outside of the organization is NEVER a good idea for the bullpen. While the major league rotation lacks a true ace, the Yankee offense has historically been able to overcome that. However, it seems that this year's version of the offense has taken a step backward.

The gaping hole at catcher should be fixed if Jorge comes back strong (and stays healthy). Even then, Jorge is an over 35 catcher and even at his healthiest is due for a decline. Anyone expecting last year's Jorge is crazy. However, the 2^nd base problem is becoming legit and Robinson Cano is truly COSTING the team runs (linked - last among all 2nd basemen in VORP. Not linked - third from last among ALL qualifying players in baseball in VORP . Melky has also forgotten to develop and the bottom of the lineup is starting to resemble a national league lineup. Add that to the fact that A-Rod is not being super VORP (yet) and that Jeter appears to be aging** and you have all of the signs of the mediocre offense that the Yankees have put forth.

So, why do I feel that they are simply in a bad spot THIS year and not in the future? Well, they have a BUNCH of power arms in the system for the bullpen, and a couple with middle-back end rotation potential (Horne, McCutchen). In addition, they have Austin Jackson as an outfield 5-tool threat and they have Brett Gardner as a 4^th outfielder speed demon poor man's Jacoby Ellsbury type. I still believe Hughes/IPK/Joba will all be good to great MLB starters, so I haven't lost faith there. I can't solve the Robinson Cano problem, but hopefully the front office can. Speaking of, I would look at trading Matsui/Damon right now when their value is at the highest it will ever be for the rest of their career. Maybe they can get a 2B prospect for one of those guys??? Is it too soon to consider this? Probably.

In the short term, they need to send Shelley back to the minors and bring up Alberto Gonzalez. Joe Girardi needs to grow a pair and bench Cano for a WEEK to hopefully humble him and get his mind right while playing A Gonz there (this is NOT going to help the offense, but it will hopefully wake Cano up. According to Michael Kay on YES, he had seen 3 or less pitches in something like 7 of his previous 10 ABs. THAT is sad). They need to replace the bullpen scrubs (Veras/Giese/ whoever the flavor of the day is) with David Robertson (AAA), JB Cox (AAA) and Chris Britton (they need to actually GIVE HIM A CHANCE, he has been good at every level in his career, even though he is fat). I would love for them to figure out a roster move to bring up Brett Gardner to take over for Melky in center or at least as a late inning pinch hitter/ speed threat to inject some life into the team. Basically, things can be done NOW to help this team and ALSO help develop for the future and I think they need to do it.

** More feelings on Derek Jeter:

I hope there isn't anything to worry about.

However, what made Jeter great wasn't just the timely hitting. It was the great baserunning (not so much the past two years), and the occasional slugging prowess. Now, he has become a singles hitter with average speed and a below average defender. I believe he will be a .300 hitter, but I think his days of being a VORP leader in MLB are over. So far this year his OPS + is 100 (the definition of average) and his VORP is 10.3 - only 14th among all shortstops, 6th on the Yankees and WELL below his PECOTA baseline projection of 31.8. His regression won't appear as steep to Joe-fan because his batting AVG. will still be .300 or higher and he will quickly start passing milestones. However, when you look at his SB numbers and SLG % rapidly decreasing, along with his always terrible defense, you realize how much of a crossroads it is going to be for the Yankee organization when his contract expires. I love Derek Jeter and I can't picture him playing anywhere else, but the Yankees need to think before giving him a Jorge/Mo/A-Rod contract. Of course they won't, and the Yankees will be paying for David Eckstein with a higher average once he is closer to 40. If they are smart they will force him to the outfield before he signs his next contract.

Negative outlook? Maybe. However, I really believe I will sadly be right.

Hopefully the Yankees can get another run in the playoffs and Jeter can get some more "clutch" hits. That will be his biggest asset going forward - post season prowess and expertise.

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NYYSI Visits Safeco Field!

On Friday, myself and the lady friend had the pleasure of visiting Safeco Field in Seattle. The ballpark is stunning and as clean and friendly as the rest of Seattle.

Great selection of food, friendly and helpful ushers, great atmosphere - couldn't ask for more.

Without further ado, check out a couple of my favorite pictures:







Notes:
- Row 43 in section 129 at Safeco field would NOT be my choice of seats if I could do it over again. Check out the picture above. It is like the mezzanine level back rows at Shea Stadium - you can't see anything hit in the air. The seats should be sold as obstructed view but aren't. I'm pretty pissed that those were the seats I got when I was clicking purchase as soon as tickets went on sale back in February.

- If you get Nachos Grande from the taco stand at the park, skip the beans. Your girlfriend will thank you. No more needs to be said about that.

- A little more on the food - the famed garlic fries are really good, but smell better than they taste. I thought they would somehow cook the garlic and parsley into the fries, but alas they didn't. Not disappointed, but the fries were nothing to write home about (or on a blog about?)

- Mariners fans have a lot to be frustrated about, but were surprisingly tame toward their lackluster bunch. When Carlos Silva gave up 7 runs in two thirds of an inning, they booed him, but it was more of a smattering than the vicious booing that my fellow Yankee fans have perfected. Everything is more laid back like that out in Seattle.

Overall, it was a great trip and I would recommend it to anyone.

Update (6/5/08 11:11 AM):

I would be remiss to point out that I visited Safeco Field right after the whole lesbian kiss controversey. Since I had been in Vegas right before visiting Seattle, I had been out of the loop on this whole lesbian kiss thing.

As my girlfriend and I entered the stadium, we heard a message over the PA that "inappropriate public displays of affection are grounds for ejection from the ballpark". This struck me as odd - I have been to many sports venues in my life and have NEVER heard such a thing. Heather and I had a laugh about it, and I decided not to pat her on the ass (even in a discrete manner) for the rest of the evening (at least until we were off the grounds of Safeco). Later on during our trip to Seattle, we heard a radio snippet from a morning show about the lesbian controversy, and we started putting the pieces together. Once I was back on the interwebs full-time (back at work), I was able to get the real deal from the always reliable Deadspin.com.

And no, I didn't see any hot lesbo action last Friday night (hotel room movie rentals are confidential, people). All I saw was a fat guy give up 7 runs in two thirds of an inning.

Also, I got a Seattle Mariners collectible train featuring JJ Putz as a giveaway when entering the stadium. If any Mariners fans read this and is it the missing piece of a collection, please email me and I will send it to you free of charge (you'll just have to cover postage).

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