Yankees will almost surely win the World Series
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on Feb 04, 2009 
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According to this Web site, the Yankees are 5-to-2 favorites to win the World Series this year, best odds in the majors. The Phillies are 11-to-1. Those gritty, gutty Rays are 12-to-1.
If I were a gambler – and I certainly wouldn’t admit it on here if I was – I’d be interested in the Angels at 11-to-1. For a longshot, I like the Diamondbacks at 30-to-1, if only because the NL West is so murky and once you get in the playoffs, anything can happen.
Here’s the complete list (by the way, as I write this, LeBron just hit a 25-foot three-pointer and has 16 points in nine minutes):
Arizona Diamondbacks 30/1
Atlanta Braves 35/1
Baltimore Orioles 150/1
Boston Red Sox 15/2
Chicago Cubs 7/1
Chicago White Sox 25/1
Cincinnati Reds 50/1
Cleveland Indians 25/1
Colorado Rockies 60/1
Detroit Tigers 20/1
Florida Marlins 40/1
Houston Astros 40/1
Kansas City Royals 150/1
Los Angeles Angels 11/1
Los Angeles Dodgers 17/1
Milwaukee Brewers 35/1
Minnesota Twins 25/1
New York Mets 7/1
New York Yankees 5/2
Oakland Athletics 55/1
Philadelphia Phillies 11/1
Pittsburgh Pirates 200/1
San Diego Padres 200/1
San Francisco Giants 40/1
Seattle Mariners 100/1
St Louis Cardinals 30/1
Tampa Bay Rays 12/1
Texas Rangers 60/1
Toronto Blue Jays 60/1
Washington Nationals 150/1
Lebron is amazing! Can’t wait for him to be on the Knicks.
In other news, I agree that the Angels and D-Backs are nice bets. I also like the Twins at 25 to 1. They are a really well run organization with young talent like Mauer and Mourneau. I also think the Braves are interesting at 35 to 1. I think they could win the east this year.
Team USA plays an exhibition game against the Yankees on March 3, meaning Jeter will be playing AGAINST the pinstripes for the first time.
———–
How weird is that?
I’d love to see Jeter vs. Joba.
I would say Joba wins that one.
For those not watching MLBTV, Mitch Williams was explaining the difference between East Coast fans and West Coast fans. “West coast fans, during a bad game, fans get up in the 7th inning and go home and watch TV. East coast fans, during a bad game, fans get up in the 7th inning and would go home, get the TV and come back to the park and throw the TV at you.
Watch Hot Stove interview with Larry Bowa.
Agreed, the D-backs are by far the best “longshot” bet on the board.
“West coast fans, during a bad game, fans get up in the 7th inning and go home and watch TV. East coast fans, during a bad game, fans get up in the 7th inning and would go home, get the TV and come back to the park and throw the TV at you.”
=============================================
Hahahahaha
I’m sorry, but there is no way the Cubs are 7-1.
Also, I spilt marinade all over my oven tonight. Now my entire apartment smells like wine…
Unless the Angels pitchers are going to pitch shutouts on a daily basis. I cant see how their offense will get them into the World Series let alone the playoffs.
I love Bowa. Probably too fiery and in your face for a manager but he’s a great coach.
Welcome back to the game Knicks.
yOUR RIGHT – The dbacks are an excellent gamble at 30 to 1. One, they are in a ridiculously weak division in which any one can win (even though torre thinks it was some kind of proof that he is a good in game manager). Two, LOOK AT THEIR STARTING STAFF!!! ive heard a few people say that lights out starting pitching can win in the playoffs even if you dont have four quality pitchers, a solid three or amazing duo could get it done (as arizona has already proven).
The dbacks just happen to have two of the best pitchers in baseball in Brandon Webb and Dan Haren. Webb is arguably the best pitcher in baseball right now winning or finishing runner up in the cy young voting in 2006, 2007 and 2008. He is 56 and 25 the past three seasons with an era of 3.
Haren is also money in the back when it comes to 200 inning seasons reaching that IP four years in a row. He had an era of 3.07 in the stronger AL west in 2007 and followed it up with a 3.33 era in 2008 even though all of his peripheral numbers improved going to the NL west including whip, era+ and more strikeouts.
I would almost guarantee that his era drops below 3 in 2009. Both of those pitchers are shoe-ins for 210-230 innings of 3 era ball in a weak division. Facing those two in a short playoff series two times each is a VERY scary proposition as they are two of the most dominant pitchers in the spot. They are both workhorses and they are both young. And lets not forget the phenom, max scherzer who could easily have a breakout season. They also have a decent, young but promising offense to go with that. I would take those 30 to 1 odds in a heartbeat.
On a side note, it’s a shame that Pete isn’t around to comment on Springstein playing at Bonnaroo this year.
(More importantly, Phish will also be playing there this year.)
pat
February 4th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
I love Bowa. Probably too fiery and in your face for a manager but he’s a great coach.
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Pat, in an interview right after the season, Bowa was asked whether he wanted to manage again, and, his answer was no. He said it took up too much time and he wouldn’t have enough time to do what he really loves doing….teach. I forget exactly what he said, but, basically he said that Cano has a chance to be a huge star….one of the best, but, needs to be reminded of that, but also needs a swift kick on occassion.
I guess ESPN reads this blog too…
CENTER OF ATTENTION
Move Jeter to CF and kill two birds with one stone.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/?topId=3883754
This is one of max scherzers projections for 2009:
2009 5 Category Projection (about 170 IP): 11 W – 3.66 ERA – 179 K – 1.28 WHIP
Combine that with 450 innings and 35 – 40 win from haren and webb and that is at least 46 wins out of their top three starters. The dodgers finished 84 and 78 last year and 2 games ahead of the dbacks. The dbacks add a full year of scherzer, the dodgers lose a half a year of manny, Maddux and Lowe. Yeaaa…
Not to mention, a top three of Haren, Webb and Scherzer in a five or seven game series would be absolutely brutal.
The yanks should NOT have 5/2 odds nor should any team in the sport. We are in the toughest division in the MLB or probably almost any division in sports. Neither the sox nor the rays have declined this off season by any stretch of the imagination. The yanks did improve the most of any team but if just a few things go wrong we will struggle to win the division nevermind win the series. Those odds are ludicrous. Besides, what the heck were the yanks odds before last season? I bet they were pretty high than as well. And guess what? We didnt even make the playoffs so these numbers seem pretty bogus.
From the article’s teaser:
“One area in which the present really shouldn’t compare poorly with the past is in legend-making. How the story gets told might be different, but we still have heroes on the diamond whose reputations transcend what they do and how well they do it. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the case of future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter.
The debate over Jeter’s virtues as a defender has long been a basic touchstone of the sabermetric landscape. Assessments of his value with the glove mark one of the most startling specific divisions between analysts and scouts, between performance and anecdotal observation, between documented statistical evidence and reputation. But the evidence against his glovework at short has become so damning that a compelling case can be made for The Captain to move where the Yankees need him most, center field.”
Yea, jeter moves to center and then what? Who plays at short? Arod and then, who plays at third? If we dont have a shortstop ready to jump in to the spot, why move jeter even if he is in decline? Should we sign cabrera?
Good job Sam. Tell Lebron to take it easy on my Knicks
Melky can play 3rd. Or Gardy can play short.
Can’t wait for LeBron to join the Nets in 2010…
Ohhh. Good stuff Nick. THE logic is flawless.
Is cabrera even still a free agent?? I am wondering where exactly these jeter should change position comments are coming from without a legit major league replacement available.
5/2 odds on paper guys. Nothing is certain until we get out on the field and play.
You know spring training is just around the corner when BP dusts of the old Jeter’s a bad SS routine.
Ah, its like seeing the first robin of the year…
Actually Tex has played 3b. So Arod to ss, Jeter to 1B and tex to 3B. Problem solved.
wouldnt mind lebron going to the knicks or nets i hope by 2011 they move to brooklyn i wanna have a hometown team so yea i will attend that first game
Folks come one now. Its simple. Short stop will be the new first base. Short stop by commitee. Ransom,Swisher and when Molina isnt catching he relieves those two. Any other problems we need to fix?
the ecommony?
Arod has gotten too big now for short. As iv mentioned earlier. Its either 3rd or dh for him being that Tex was signed long term.
Here is a good low risk, good reward chance for a lefty reliever. Sign him and let him rehab in the minors and see what he has to offer.
From MLB Rumors-R-Us.
Tyler Johnson – The youngest of the group, Johnson was also non-tendered by the Cards. He missed the entire ’08 season with shoulder problems. He held lefties to a .224/.307/.418 line in 2007.
GB7,
I want your opinion on what the best war movie ever made was. My associate said he watched the new spike lee war movie and gave me the dvd to watch. So it then started the subject or the best one made. I went with saving private ryan. My associate went with full metal jacket(was my second choice). Thoughts?
Wow, as much as I hate the red sox, i think their team is as good or better than ours right now. 15-2 is a great bet
dave,
orlando cabrera is still available.
tarheel,
Are you kidding me? Tex is the best defensive first baseman in the game. You would want them to move him out of his gold glove winning position so we can move jeter out? And arod has vastly improved in third base and now, put him back at short after not playing there for five years? That would be an absolute and utter disaster switching three out of nine players positions all in the same season. All of them would likely struggle at times learning a new position in the major leagues and it would cost us wins im sure.
There is only one way jeter moves positions – we acquire a solid shortstop and boot gardner to fourth outfield bench.
Does braveheart count as a war movie?
I meant 3 out of 8 players obviously.
Maybe not best war movie but definitely Top 10 – Platoon. Private Ryan great. Enemy at the Gates I liked also
Spike Lee movie – isn’t that historical fiction? if so, I’d keep that out of my top 10.
“Can’t wait for LeBron to join the Nets in 2010…”
Not happening. Lebron would only come to play if they are in Brooklyn by then which they wont be. Even Lebron couldnt fill seats at the Meadowlands and the fact that he is cool with Jay-Z means nothing.
“GB7,
I want your opinion on what the best war movie ever made was.”
I liked We Were Soldiers, Platoon, and Dead Presidents off the top of my head. Dead Presidents is half war movie, half life in the 70′s but I liked it.
dave
February 4th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
tarheel,
“Are you kidding me? Tex is the best defensive first baseman in the game.”
Tex is a very good defensive first baseman, however I think it is very close between him and Youkilis about who is the best defensive first baseman. Youk had four errors last year at first base with Tex having five. The year before Youk had almost no errors at first and won the gold glove.
I am not taking a thing away from Tex. I am just saying it is debatable who is the best defensive first baseman.
dave,
If little league can play musical chairs for positions, I cant see why we cant. Jeter isnt moving anytime soon.
gmen21,
I dont think it would count as a war movie im talking about. But it does count as the best movie ever made,IMO.
Albert Pujols is the best fielding first baseman.
dave
Thats right. Also Cano has played at least 1 game at catcher, so i say we get rid of molina and have cano as back-up catcher. And if Posada has a setback he can take over full time. Since we get rid of Molina I say we sign dave Gullible to be our super sub and cat and dog washer.
I liked the Thin Red Line the best.
Good to see you in here ray. I think We Were Soldiers was a sleeper. Dont be a stranger.
Iv had great laughs reading your responses to others comments in the past. Closest thing to hmmm. Dont be a stranger.
Never heard of Enemy at the Gates. What year was it made?Behind Enemy Lines wasnt too shaby.
“Tex is a very good defensive first baseman, however I think it is very close between him and Youkilis about who is the best defensive first baseman.”
According to David Pinto’s probabilistic model of range, Pujols is the best 1b, followed by Carlos Pena.
Teixeira is 5, Youkilis is 11th.
Doreen, thanks so much for the recap. I’m hardly surprised at Verducci’s antipathy towards A-Rod and Cash. That 2006 SI piece on Alex was fit for bird-cage lining and his slash and burn article on Cash last year was even worse. Verducci praising the Sox, A’s and Indians and torching the Yankees? I’m shocked…….not
I’m also saddened that Joe would go out of his way to torch a good friend. Brian apparently thought of Joe as a father figure -talk about a betrayal. Again, Joe thought he was bigger than the franchise…….and he killed a friendship over it. Brian, I’m happy to note, has many friends in
baseball, but it’s still sad to lose one.
I think someone made a good point earlier (Clare?) about how Jeter and A-Rod were able to heal their relationship AFTER Torre was gone. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that Torre played a part in widening that rift. Joe is not just not a saint (which is unfair to him anyway – no one is perfect), but he’s machiavellian. Up until now, he’s gotten away with it. Not anymore.
OH BOY, Angelos has officially killed the O’s for the 15th straight yr now,,,150-1….catching up to pirates,,pathetic..
if O’s put any team on the field this div would be crazier than usual i guess..
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba…r_pumped_.html
Now I am exceedingly pumped. Honestly? I’m jumping out of my skin with excitement – I can’t wait a day, forget a week, for ST to being. It’s nice to see Jeter truly excited – the additions of CC, Tex and AJ have energized the players, it seems, not just the fans.
Just looked up enemy at the gates. I did watch it and your right. It was pretty good.
Tom,
I fell asleep watching a thin red line. I was pretty young and felt like it didnt have enough action. Maybe i need to watch it again as an adult.
S.o.S.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
GB7,
I want your opinion on what the best war movie ever made was. My associate said he watched the new spike lee war movie and gave me the dvd to watch. So it then started the subject or the best one made. I went with saving private ryan. My associate went with full metal jacket(was my second choice). Thoughts?
————————————————————
WOW…tough question. I suppose it depends on whether you like a particular actor in war pix (john Wayne, or historical/factual pix like “The Longest Day” or “To Hell And Back”. I like the historical movies, personally….To Hell and Back, The Longest Day, Midway, Battle Of The Bulge, The Great Raid, The Wind Talkers and Patton. I rate them all even, because I can’t decide. I also loved “The Blue Max”. For pure entertainment, (no surprise) The Green Beret. There just hasn’t been any good movies made on the Vietnam War and very few on Korea. The Green Beret was rather bad acting and bad photagraphy, but, a lot of the things that were shown were factual. Didn’t like “Black Hawk Down” at all.
What’s up S.O.S? I never come here during work anymore and after work I’m here sporadically. I do read a lot of the comments though….
On another note according to David Pinto’s PMR Dustin Pedroia did NOT deserve the gold glove and he was only SLIGHTLY better than Robinson Cano.
Both guys were middle of the pack defensively. There were also 12 shortstops WORST than Derek Jeter.
Yankees 5/2 vs redsox 15/2?????
Posada Varitek – Yanks
Tex vs Youk – Yanks
Cano vs Pedroia – Sox
Jeter vs Lowie – Yanks
Arod vs Lowell – Yanks
Nady/Swish vs Drew – Tie because of health
Gardner/Melky vs Ellsbury – Sox
Damon vs Bay – Tie or sox because of health
Matsui vs Ortiz – Sox
CC vs Lester – Yanks
Wang vs Beckett – Tie
AJ vs Dice k – Sox because of health
Pettitte vs Wakefield – Slight edge Yanks
Joba vs Penny/Smoltz/Buckholz – Yanks
Mo vs Papelbon – Tie
Yanks – 6.5 wins Sox – 4.5 wins Ties – 5ish
Outside of Arod over Lowell, Jeter over Lowrie and Ortiz over Matsui is hard to say there are any real big differences in terms of impact but arod is a world better than lowell and jeter a world better than lowrie while matsui if healthy could potentially put up numbers close to ortiz although highly unlikely. Joba is no doubt better than there fifth spot but the potential from smoltz or bucholz is there. We have two potential aces in CC and wang but they have two potential aces in Lester and Beckett. All in all, the yanks have the advantage but it is NOT as drastic as these numbers suggest IMO.
Enemy at the Gates was a very good film. Glory was good as well.
Does anybody consider Schindlers List to be a war movie?
ray,
Nothing much bro. Work is slow as hell and this blog keeps me sane and saves me money from going to a shrink. A cure for depression. Hey didnt mean to post dont be a stranger a hundred times STALKER STYLE. I just miss the old school guys from last year. Whozat,hmmm,yourself and cb has also been missing lately. GB has been holding the fort lately. Doing a good job at it i must say.
GB,
Why am i not surprised that you mentioned john wayne. Can you please buy cable or go to a movie that isnt in black and white? I liked the ending of black hawk down. But it is way back in line. I liked Wind talkers. It came out the same year i believe as the mel gibson one ray mentioned.
Schindlers list was a great movie.
Although not my favorite Kelly’s Heroes had a great cast.
mo vs pap tie? man the yanks always get to pap.
Dave Gullible – sounds good to me. That kid was stellar in trenton last year. Might as well move him up. I must have missed a lot of convos about jeter moving spots because this is the first i am reading about it this off season. Didnt know it was the “in” debate right now. I didnt keep up with the times.
Pujols had one fantastic season at first while tex has been amazing for quite some time. Youk had one amazing season with the bat while tex has been doing it for quite some time. nOTHING against either one of them but i would rather have tex’s glove. I would rather have pujols bat obviously but tex is better than youk right now. There can be no debate to the contrary.
Tom,
Gotta throw in the pianist if Shindlers on that list.
Amovie that is a must see if you can find it about Vietnam is a movie called “When Hell Was In Session”. Nit a typical war movie, but about the life of a POW. It’s a true account of Alabama Senator Jeremiah Denton, who was a OW for 8 years. It went through what he and the others in the NVA camps like Hanoi Hilton. He was in prison for about 5 years and he was one of the POWs that was interviewed by a Swiss TV crew. During the interviews (there was a series of them) Denton was blinking out morse code that they were being tortured, and proceded to blink out the names of the POWs in the camp. He was thefirst POW off of the plane at Clark Air Force Base, Phillipines in 1973.
carl,
This is not comparing how each player does when the two teams player each other. i WAS speaking overall. Pap has the stuff and the youth but Mo has the stuff and experience. Both of them are unhittable on their best days. Overall, Mo has obviously had the better career with pap just starting but papelbon is younger and that has to count for something. I think with Mo at his age and pap at his, they are pretty close to each other. Obviously, that was all subjective.
dave
Sorry dave, I thought it was so absurd that it was obvious. But I have another idea,I heard CC likes to bat, so I was thinking maybe he is our answer at DH.
S.o.S.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
ray,
Nothing much bro. Work is slow as hell and this blog keeps me sane and saves me money from going to a shrink. A cure for depression. Hey didnt mean to post dont be a stranger a hundred times STALKER STYLE. I just miss the old school guys from last year. Whozat,hmmm,yourself and cb has also been missing lately. GB has been holding the fort lately. Doing a good job at it i must say.
GB,
Why am i not surprised that you mentioned john wayne. Can you please buy cable or go to a movie that isnt in black and white? I liked the ending of black hawk down. But it is way back in line. I liked Wind talkers. It came out the same year i believe as the mel gibson one ray mentioned.
————————————————————
I watch John Wayne war flix, but, they aren’t my favorites. I’ll watch any good movie, color or black and whit.
Yeah Sam – because a lot of non sports bettors are scrolling through Baseball Futures while at a Knicks game. Eyes rolling.
Surprised no one mentioned the deer hunter.
2 words: General Patton.
pt 109
I’ll give a WWWI film a nod-Gallipoli
that should be WWI
Tarheel,
Have you read some of the comments posted in here? At this point, nothing i read sounds sarcastic to me because i am so used to the shocking statements that i have adapted.
Mash, Kelly’s Heroes, The Dirty Dozen, and for serious Apocalypse Now!
Tom
February 4th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
that should be WWI
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I was wondering if the world wide web had been in a war or if you meant wicked world war I.
Platoon was a good war movie too.
manchurian candidate
Found this list of war movies!!
http://www.franksreelreviews.c.....antwar.htm
If you want to watch a true WWI movie (sorry, it’s black and white) with James Cagney and Pat O’Brien, watch “The Fighting 69th”, about the NY 69th Infantry. Great historical facts. Pretty true to life.
wat would you guys do if you placed a 10,000 dollar bet for the dbacks today and then, in october, the yanks played the dbacks in the world series? That is 300,000 if the dbacks win or basking in the glory of victory after 8 looong years if the yanks win.
I’d say go Dbacks…
Winning 27 is priceless..
Have a good night people.
The “Forgotten Soldier ” was a great book. I never saw the movie.
declineoptions07
February 4th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Yeah Sam – because a lot of non sports bettors are scrolling through Baseball Futures while at a Knicks game. Eyes rolling.
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Do your eyes really roll when you say something stupid?
Yankee Trader
Thats a great list.
Lee
Bosh
James
Curry
Duhon
I think they will get Stephen Curry in this year’s draft. See you 2010.
http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....a4s-1.html
“The idea that there could be a new Yankee Stadium or any Yankee Stadium without Joe Torre being in it, without him having a plaque at Monument Park and without having his No. 6 retired is ridiculous. It is as ridiculous as the hysteria, especially the original hysteria, over Torre’s new book.”
I hate Lupica with a passion. Anything Yankee related he always sides with the enemy. During the season he sides with other ball-clubs bandwagoning for the Rays and others. When its Yankees and Sox he always questions the Yanks passion and dedication, while lauding the Sox players as “hard working” and “clutch”. Now this putting together a pity-party for Torre. I’m sorry I cannot accept that, Torre gladly took millions of dollars from the Steinbrenner family over his tenure with the bombers now hes acting like a martyr sitting at their mercy. Spare me! This is the biggest managerial job in sports and he knew that, the fact that he is bitter shouldnt change that idea. Bottom line he got money hungry and figured if he could make a couple of million by breaking the number 1 rule in baseball then so be it. Joe Torre has lost all respect from me and my only revenge is that I have instructed everyone I know to NOT buy his book. I work hard enough to not have to hear a millionaire manager complain about coaching the best team in the history of the world. Thats its I’m done rant over.
“or if you meant wicked world war I.”
That’s what they call it in New England, GB.
The “The Fighting 69th”, eh. I’ll have to pick it up.
the knicks only lost by 5 points to the cavs, not bad.
Tom
February 4th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
“or if you meant wicked world war I.”
That’s what they call it in New England, GB.
The “The Fighting 69th”, eh. I’ll have to pick it up.
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It’s a good movie from the historical view….not a ton of action, just a good movie. Another non-war war movie to look for is “The Execution Of Pvt Eddie Slovak”. It goes thru the start of charges and up to the execution of Eddie Slovak during WWII. He was the only US soldier executed during WWII for cowardice. Starts Martin Sheen.
Lupica thinks its ridiculous that torre aired all of the yanks dirty laundry and then, they decided they are not going to retire his number or have him back at the stadium??? Is he some sort of gigantic moron? So if someone wrote a book about Lupica and all of the dumb things he has done and said in his life in the privacy of his own home or work, Lupica would be friends with this person, congratulate him and invite him over to his house to celebrate how much money this guy made from Lupica’s embarrassing life stories…
Frankly, lupica needs to get some perspective or perhaps, even think before he speaks. I know that is difficult for him and may be asking for too much but as a writer, you would think he could learn how to have an intelligent thought or even two.
Not to change the subject, but to change the subject, whom do you think will be some of the non-roster invitees to Yankee ST?? Jim Edmunds? Andruw Jones?? Manny Ramirez????
lol.
Yankee Trader
My guess is Yadel Marti and outfielder Yasser Gomez.
The first 15 minutes of Saving Private Ryan is terrifying.
I thought the Band Of Brothers series was just great as well.
ray (sox fan)
February 4th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Tex is a very good defensive first baseman, however I think it is very close between him and Youkilis about who is the best defensive first baseman. Youk had four errors last year at first base with Tex having five. The year before Youk had almost no errors at first and won the gold glove.
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Some people still use errors and Gold Gloves as measuring sticks for defensive ability?
Do you still rub 2 sticks together to make fire too?
I could take Andruw Jones as a non roster invitee but some dumb team is gonna pony up a ML contract.
Lupica got rid of his email address and allows no comments with his articles.For a guy with a big mouth he sure comes across as a coward.
An FYI for everyone. If you want the Torre book, Amazon has it for $15. Might as well get it as cheap as possible.
ray (sox fan)
February 4th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
dave
February 4th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
tarheel,
“Are you kidding me? Tex is the best defensive first baseman in the game.”
Tex is a very good defensive first baseman, however I think it is very close between him and Youkilis about who is the best defensive first baseman. Youk had four errors last year at first base with Tex having five. The year before Youk had almost no errors at first and won the gold glove.
I am not taking a thing away from Tex. I am just saying it is debatable who is the best defensive first baseman.
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I’d nominate Lugo for the “Lead Glove”.
Evening, Ray. How’s the (red sox fan) family, tonight? You’re right, though. I’d hate to have to live on the difference between Teixeira and Youkilis on defense. Both are outstanding and, I think Youkils could have won a “Gold Glove” at third if he had stayed there. I’ll take Teixeira on offense, though…but, damned, Youkilis hurts NYY all of the time, or, so it seems.
yankeetrader – all 3 of course!
bobmac – its because even he knows that he can say some of the dumbest comments of all time and he doesnt want to have to hear the massive criticism that would bring on him.
Guys,
I have a question. Why did Sam keep saying that if the yankee fans were so mad at torre he would have expected boos or jeers at the book signing? The reaction of the fans that actually show up to meet torre can not be expected to be the reaction of the average yankee fan. Those are people that are clearly going out of their way to meet him and clearly are the fans that like him more than most. And who would boo someone at a book signing anyway? That is beyond ridiculous. I think that the reaction of those fans implied absolutely nothing as to the general opinion of the yankee fan towards joe. It seems as though every one was very cordial at the book signing which should have been expected while the general opinion seems to be far more negative in blogs and on radio.
Ben Sheets is still without a team and apparently contract talks with the Rangers died today. 1 week til ST and no team for Sheets, where does he go?
1 week til ST and no team for Sheets, where does he go?
—————————
I bet back to Milwaukee. No one wants to take the risk AND lose a draft pick.
Tex vs Youk?
They both make great plays but Tex is just so smoooooth. Like Cano only he actually makes the play and you don’t want to wring his neck.
Youk is all sweaty and dirty. He’s like Pigpen out there.
All kidding aside and with due respect to our Red Sox compadres, Youk is an awesome player and quite worthy of our sacred rivalry.
He’s also half as expensive and for half the years committed. Yikes!
Sheets wants two years. If he settled for one year and an option, i think he would have signed already. He might as well sign one year, hope for the best and go back into free agency in a better market.
“According to this Web site, the Yankees are 5-to-2 favorites to win the World Series this year, best odds in the majors.”
My heart is broken and I have a feeling I won’t get a wink of sleep tonight about the following:
“Boston Red Sox 15/2″
And then there’s this:
“Los Angeles Dodgers 17/1″
I heard the Dodgers came in at 2 to 1 but the numbers shifted dramatially when Torre’s book came out!
I have to say the Yankees are typically at the top of the leader board when odds are set at the beginning of the season.
GO YOU BEAUTIFUL, TALENTED, TREMENDOUS 2009 WORLD CHAMPION YANKEES!!!!!
bronx jeers,
Tex is a proven commodity – his talents are already known (his bat and glove). youk might be as good defensively or close but he has only been superb at the plate for one season. Tex is a far better player IMO just because we all know what he brings to the table. Youk still needs to prove that last year was not a fluke or a career year.
Rebecca,
Is “spilt” a real word or are you a “closet” Southerner?
The Dodgers play the Mets in mid July and that may be a good time to check out Citi(or whatever it’s going to be called)and let Joe know what a stand up guy he is.I’d rather watch a game than stand in line to rip up his book.
Don’t get me started on Lupica. Lupica is at his best when he’s on WEEI sucking up to the Sox broadcasters. Lupica lives to trash the Yankees. So the best way he can start his season out right is to say that Torre’s book is just fine. In Lupica’s life it is perfectly acceptable for Torre to trash the Yankee organization and throw players under the bus because that’s basically what they deserve. In fact it is desirable because his seething jealousy allows him to do no less. Lupica lives to trash the Yankees. It’s his life’s work, the very oxygen he breathes!
What a four-eyed moron.
If you bet the same amount of money against the Yankees 162 times next season, you will come out ahead when the season is over.
I don’t read Mike Lupica – haven’t done so in years – so nothing he says bothers me. The guy is an arrogant horse’s you-know-what who hates the Yankees with a passion. I honestly would not give him the time of day. I promise if you ignore him, you will feel a lot better. He’s just not worth the aggravation.
trisha,
Do you know what the odds were of them making it last season? Im sure it was far too high. These numbers mean nothing- the season has to be played. This team is great but the AL east is tremendously competitive.
Sam, Dave has a very good point. Maybe in a flush economy with people happily gadding about, people with time on their hands and a ton of resentment toward Torre just might show up to boo his book. But even then, seriously, who shows up at a book signing to boo the author? People just don’t do that.
I also agree that the average Yankee fan isn’t the person standing in line to get a glimpse of his saintliness. There are Randis and PatMs in the world, and they would likely be at the book signing.
I take nothing from any observation about Yankee fans at other than the fact that the seeming minority of fans who feel Torre’s book is fine would like his autograph.
i love how lupica criticizes the organization for stating that torre wont be invited back to the stadium or have his number retired rather than torre for actually writing the book that rips on yankees players and management who started the whole controversy. Of course, it is lupica but he makes blatantly moronic statements that would be obvious to any one whether they were a yankees fan, a redsox fan or completely neutral. Even sox fans would have to agree with the yanks FO that torre should not be invited back to the stadium … I mean cant he think a single intelligent thought? Its not even hating on the yanks, he is just being the full blown dumb@$$ we all always knew he was.
dave, I don’t remember the exact odds but they were right up there. I remember looking at the odds after the 2004 season and the Yankees were still the odds leader!
I just take a great deal of joy in seeing the Yankees always rated at the top!
By the way, I typically agree with the odds every season because I always expect the Yanks to end up at the top of the heap. The difference is that this season I KNOW they’ll be there!
Betsy I don’t bother reading Lupica either. He’s a transparent moron.
bronx jeers,
Tex is a proven commodity (TRUE!)
– his talents are already known (his bat and glove)(TRUE!).
youk might be as good defensively or close but he has only been superb at the plate for one season.(TRUE!)
Tex is a far better player IMO just because we all know what he brings to the table.(AGREED!)
Youk still needs to prove that last year was not a fluke or a career year (TRUE!)
Hey no need to twist my arm. I’m sold!
http://www.talk-sports.net/mlb.....n_Youkilis
Well I think I will get back to the way I tend to spend a lot of time during the season: going on eBay and Stub Hub to try to find good seats at a good price…
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....8;c_id=nyy
The signing of Andy was the best thing for Phil. I still believe that he has top-of -the rotation potential. He’s got the arm and he’s got the makeup – what he desperately needs now is good health. If healthy, the FB command Phil was known for will return – that’s the most important thing. He has an aptitude for pitching – if given the time he needs, the time he was deprived of by being rushed and injured, I feel that this time in AAA will serve him very well. He can gain consistency with the curve and cutter and work on his change. Overall, I’m excited to see what Phil does this year……..
Even the blog is against Phil, striking out my comment about Phil having ace potential, LOL.
Lupica is the biggest fair-weather hack of a writer in NY.
After 2006 he was getting front page headlines screaming about Torre getting fired. Next season, Torre’s a genius again.
I’d sooner read a bus schedule than submit myself to his garbage time opinions.
I’m with you on Phil all the way.
For anyone interested, this person on eBay has field box tickets (right field) and tickets right behind home plate for all games except Opening Day, Red Sox and Mets.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Yankees-Fi.....dZViewItem
http://media.ps3.ign.com/media.....ids_1.html
For anyone with a PS3, some new vids of MLB ’09: The Show.
“For anyone interested, this person on eBay has field box tickets (right field) and tickets right behind home plate for all games except Opening Day, Red Sox and Mets.”
I hate these “super-scalpers”. There’s no way these tickets are going for face or less. This guy is no Yankee fan, he’s a profiteer and it’s guys like him that are making it harder for the average Joe get a decent seat.
In a former life I would buy this guys tickets, get twisted on wine, then bum-rush the field and slide into home plate. Of course I’d make sure I had his tickets in my hand so the Yanks could revoke his ticket license.
Then of course I’d get Jackie Childs to represent me in court!
Betsy- I sort of lost faith in Phil as a front-end guy but I still think he can be a solid 3. His lack of velocity and lack of a 3rd pitch have me up in the air about Phil.
A very perceptive blog entry from Kepner:
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/.....ntroversy/
If you spend time around the team as a beat writer, you hear stuff like that from Yankees personnel. You can’t write it because it’s understood to be off the record, but it’s there. To say it is not is to discredit the reporting of Verducci, who is at the very top of his field, and to deny the blessing given it by Torre, who approved the book’s contents and is responsible for how it reads.
Do teammates like Alex now? Sure, plenty of them do. He helps them win a lot of games, and nobody questions how hard he works or how badly he wants to succeed. That is also conveyed in the book. But make no mistake: Torre is doing more than spinning now; he’s backtracking on the A-Fraud stuff to soften its impact
Bronx, with the fact that money just isn’t around, these super scalpers are definitely going to end up having to lower their prices. I think they know it too. I don’t know what field boxes are going for – I guess it’s easy enough to find out – but so far the reserve hasn’t been met and the bidding is at $100. I only mention his auction because the tickets are available all season.
I would bet that if someone wrote to him and offered him face value for an off day (middle of the week, nondescript team or something) they could get these tickets. There is just no way that the scalpers are going to be able to sell their tickets at premium prices all season. Not this season.
I know you have, Al, but all any of us can do is wait and see how things unfold. My new philosophy is not to hang on every word the “experts” say about Phil (or, in the future, any young Yankee) because in the end, their opinions (or ours, for that matter) don’t mean anything. I honestly think a lot of Phil’s problems can be traced to poor health, so I’m anxious to see how he does this year in AAA. I’m going to continue to have faith until reality punches me in the face, lol.
“If you spend time around the team as a beat writer, you hear stuff like that from Yankees personnel. You can’t write it because it’s understood to be off the record, but it’s there”
Betsy even more interesting because this flies in the face of what Borden said about privacy being out widow and the clubhouse no longer being a place of sanctity.
And so, I’m sure, was it understood that when the press wasn’t around, what happened in the clubhouse was also off the record – until Torre made it otherwise.
“But make no mistake: Torre is doing more than spinning now; he’s backtracking on the A-Fraud stuff to soften its impact”
Funny, Derek Jeter came out and said that nobody on the team referred to Arod as “Afraud” – but Torre came out and said the opposite on Letterman (tripped himself up once again) and tonight’s “version” was that while it turned into a joke between Bowa and Arod, it was borne of comments by players feeling that Arod
“If you spend time around the team as a beat writer, you hear stuff like that from Yankees personnel. You can’t write it because it’s understood to be off the record, but it’s there”
Betsy even more interesting because this flies in the face of what Borden said about privacy being out widow and the clubhouse no longer being a place of sanctity.
And so, I’m sure, was it understood that when the press wasn’t around, what happened in the clubhouse was also off the record – until Torre made it otherwise.
“But make no mistake: Torre is doing more than spinning now; he’s backtracking on the A-Fraud stuff to soften its impact”
Funny, Derek Jeter came out and said that nobody on the team referred to Arod as “Afraud” – but Torre came out and said the opposite on Letterman (tripped himself up once again) and tonight’s “version” was that while it turned into a joke between Bowa and Arod, it was borne of comments by players feeling that Arod
continued
feeling Arod wasn’t being sincere. Now that differs from the spinning Torre did elsewhere. It removed it from the realm of “just a funny joke” to “a joke that came from player comments that weren’t a joke.”
Torre wouldn’t know truth if it hit him in the face.
“But make no mistake: Torre is doing more than spinning now; he’s backtracking on the A-Fraud stuff to soften its impact”
I don’t think anyone would accuse Kepner of having an axe to grind here. We know that Verducci is a Torre sycophant and has been for a long time.
At this point I don’t think many are fooled by Torre’s attempted snowjob.
So be it.
I’m extremely optimistic about this season, but please don’t look too much into odds. These same people gave the Mets, a team who has completely self destructed the last two seasons and MISSED THE PLAYOFFS each year, a better chance than the Red Sox to win it all. I absolutely HATE the Red Sox with every ounce of me but come on, that is a joke. All the Mets have done is resign Oliver “Look at all my potential that I can never realize” Perez…. maybe if they signed Manny I’d believe it. But nah. Way too high of odds for the Mets.
And Trisha is dead on, especially with that second to last line
Love Oakland at 55-1.
Here is an ordered list:
New York Yankees 5/2
Chicago Cubs 7/1
New York Mets 7/1
Boston Red Sox 15/2
Los Angeles Angels 11/1
Philadelphia Phillies 11/1
Tampa Bay Rays 12/1
Los Angeles Dodgers 17/1
Detroit Tigers 20/1
Minnesota Twins 25/1
Cleveland Indians 25/1
Chicago White Sox 25/1
St Louis Cardinals 30/1
Arizona Diamondbacks 30/1
Atlanta Braves 35/1
Milwaukee Brewers 35/1
San Francisco Giants 40/1
Houston Astros 40/1
Florida Marlins 40/1
Cincinnati Reds 50/1
Oakland Athletics 55/1
Colorado Rockies 60/1
Texas Rangers 60/1
Toronto Blue Jays 60/1
Seattle Mariners 100/1
Washington Nationals 150/1
Baltimore Orioles 150/1
Kansas City Royals 150/1
San Diego Padres 200/1
Pittsburgh Pirates 200/1
Dave…
I agree with your assessment of Sox vs. Yankees.
One of the biggest advantages the Red Sox have over the Yankees is a lot of the core players a younger and younger players tend to not break down.
One of the biggest advantages the Yankees have over the Red Sox is they just happened to pick up the best pitcher available and will plug him into a rotation and relieve the pressure from some of the other pitchers.
Sometimes that’s what it takes (a la Liebrandt coming to the Braves in 1991, Morris going to the Blue Jays in 1992 and Schilling coming to the D’Backs and then the Red Sox)
I also am not drinking the Tampa Kool Aid yet.
The current state of baseball means teams can skyrocket up fast and collapse just as fast.
Remember how the White Sox were supposed to win a bunch of titles with that pitching?
And then the Tigers were going to be a powerhouse?
Then the Indians?
A lot broke the right way for Tampa. Yes they had injuries but they also had the “Man, nobody expects us to do anything” looseness.
When they won their 71st game, it was the highest the franchise had ever climbed.
I think the Red Sox and Yankees are actually pretty evenly matched.
They also have tons of “ifs” in the pitching staff that if one or two break their way they could indeed both win 95 games.
But there will be a team that makes us all say “Who would have guess them?”
(Oakland? Toronto? Texas? Seriously after Tampa last year what guess could sound far fetched?)
I have been calling for the Yankees to go after A Jones & they do..so what happens he turns down a minor league contract…He needs to talk to someone,if he’s in shape he would be the CF for the Yankees in 2009 for sure. Nothing wrong in a play for pay,he plays and plays well he will be paid well.
Really Enjoyed this. thanks!