Today in The Journal News
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 25, 2009 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Derek Jeter rejoined the Yankees yesterday and he wants to play as often as possible to get ready for the season.
A.J. Burnett looked sharp again last night, this time against the Red Sox. This notebook also has updates on the lineup, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Phil Coke.
————
Chad Jennings is down here in Tampa, so check out his blog for news and views from the minor-league camp.
————
In case you missed it, check out this strange story regarding Jose Tabata’s wife. The Yankees may have made a smart move with that trade.
————
The Yankees are off today. Big Stein Field is closed and the players were told to stay away. However Andy Pettitte wants to stay on turn and will start today for Single-A Tampa over at the complex with Jose Molina catching.
The game is at 1 p.m. and we will be over there to watch the lefty pitch. Check back later for reports.
Tabata’s wife is 43 years old? Tabata’s 20. I’m a little icked out.
Why do I have a feeling that that story about Tabata’s wife would have been all over ESPN and the rest of the goofy media if Tabata were still in the organization. Pete’s right, that alone makes the trade worthwhile. I’m not sure if the lead on that story is that Tabata’s wife may be fruit loops or that she’s 23 years older than he is.
Yikes!
Yes, the Yankees definitely made a smart move with the Tabata trade. Because I’m sure they knew months ago when they made the deal that his wife would someday kindap a child. What a bunch of geniuses.
Yes, if he was in the Yankees system this would have been all over ESPN today. Instead, this is the first I’ve read about it, not a word on ESPN radio this morning.
Poor Jose, doesn’t get a day off. I hope Joe will give him Friday off and tell him not to come to the park.
This is interesting.
Club officials actually have been heartened by their belief — whether true or not — that Rodriguez has seemingly begun to scale back his association with celebrity agent Guy Oseary, who they believe orchestrated Rodriguez’s disastrous interview with Katie Couric more than a year ago as well as his embarrassing photo shoot in Details magazine that hit the stands recently. Though others close to A-Rod say that he is still in some contact with Oseary, who’s better known as the agent to A-Rod’s former companion, Madonna.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....index.html
I think the Yankees need to do their best in laying down the law on this. I think him getting all these PR people has hurt him greatly. They aren’t interested in Alex the baseball player, they are interested in Alex the celebrity.
Mike- Clearly you don’t follow the Yankees farm. While the kid has great talent, he can’t seem to keep himself out of trouble. He makes poor decisions. He has been suspended from the Yankees a few times, And clearly one is his choice of a bride that is more than 20 years older than him.
Bill Porter and Ellen I’m not sure what you guys are talking about.
The Tabata story is front page ESPN and the story was posted at 10:30 last night.
I’m all about the ESPN bias and double-standard but it didn’t happen in this case.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=4013539
Funny how sexist the world is. Men marry women 30 years their junior all the time and you never here a peep.
If you do have any interest in the minor league clubs, Jennings and Ashmore have it covered in their blogs. MUST reads, especially Jennnings. He updates tirelessly year round and seems to have a professional working relationship with the players, which gives him some interesting insights.
It’s all relative I guess.
If I reeled in a wife of just 43 years I would be deemed a cradle-robber. lol. (though come to think of it that’s how old the ex is).
But if I found out she was smuggling babies into the spare bedroom I’d probably have to draw the line at that regardless.
Farm system is in good shape… moving Tabata was no doubt a good thing. We got ARod damage control to focus on now…
Now the trade looks even worse. That baby was a better prospect than Tabata.
(I know it was a girl; play along)
Actually Ray, I’d probably be as icked out if a guy reeled in a girl 23 years his junior too. That’s just wrong.
sunny615
Sunny agreed. If some 43 year old man married a 19 year old girl, I’d think it was disgusting and cradle robbing.
Sunny,
Cindy Crawford is almost 43 years old. Check out this recent picture.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....78171.html
Sorry, I forgot how to post it as a link.
“Burnett had a one-hit shutout going after four innings. But two singles, a walk and a hit batter gave Boston a run in the fifth. David Ortiz’s single drove in the run.”
Pete,
Burnett gave up that run in the sixth inning!
She was 23 when he was born.
More importantly, as Brett Gardner continues to make his case for CF, what is to be done with Melky Cabrera?
Idk if this roster can afford a bench player that can only play the outfield, especially since we already have a platoon @ RF.
Miggs, I didn’t say it wasn’t there, however the volume is pretty subdued. My sense and point is that it would have been a Sports Center lead if it had been a Yankees story.
I guess though one has to take the good with the bad: When you’re the biggest you get noticed the most and that’s not going to change. No sense bitching about it cause there’s no sympathy or commiseration coming from any corner anywhere…
Clay don’t post that garbage man, some of us are at work here.
>>raymagnetic March 25th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Funny how sexist the world is. Men marry women 30 years their junior all the time and you never here a peep.<<
Really? Show me three examples and I’ll believe you. It’s highly uncommon.
It’s relative to the age – the ickiness factor, that is. If a 60-year-old guy marries a 40-year-old gal, it’s not as much of a big deal. They are both, presumably, mature at that age with a lot more in common than a 40-year-old guy with a 20-year-old girl. Same thing if you reverse the genders in the age comparisons.
Although, it will never be as commonplace nor as accepted for a woman of a certain age to find love and happiness with a man 20 years her junior. It just won’t. (Unless you’re talking about the 80 to 100 year old set. Anything goes if you get to be that age! Plus, there’s a whole lot smaller pool of available men when you get past 70.) See Bruce Willis/Demi Moore situations. Willis “marries” a woman 22 years his junior and no one really cares. Demi has been in a relationship with what’s-his-name who is probably just as much younger (maybe a little less) and it’s still an oddity, no matter that the relationship has lasted.
If we trade away Melky or he doesn’t make it through waivers, what happens if Gardner can’t keep up his ST pace (which I doubt he will)? I think if we trade Melky it won’t be until closer to the All-Star break so we can be certain of what we have with Gardner. The only way I think we trade away Melky now is if we’re getting a better CF than Gardner or Melky…
Putting the fact that John Heyman is Scott Boras mouthpiece aside, the most interesting thing to me in the SI article linked above was not Alex being sent to the Principals Office or his associations outside of baseball.
It was, “he could return to play at “85 to 90 percent” sometime in May”
What does Alex at 85-90% look like? Is his offense or defense more likely to feel the 10-15% deficit?
Clay
I see the lather didn’t cover the mole though…
the one on her cheek…
on her face…
Gee you don’t thonk that Gardner can keep up hitting 400? Sign this guy out to be a scout. They wont trade for a cf until they see what they have in Gardner and then Jackson. And why would they trade Melky when he has a low salary contract? Just a ridiculous post, wake up hokie.
they can carry melky & gardner but it will be tight.
12 pitchers leaves 13 spots open
posada
molina
tex
swisher
cano
jeter
cody
damon
matsui
nady
that leaves 3 spots left
melky
gardner
this would lead to one spot left for a backup infielder wich can be cody when arod get’s back.
this would be ok because we can always call another catcher up if one goes on the dl,swisher is a backup first baseman & outfielder.
i think we keep gardner & melky with cody at third & a backup infielder until arod get’s back.then the yankees have to make a tough decision.
do they get rid of or send down cody,gardner,melky or whoever get’s the back up infield spot.
when arod comes back we can keep cody as the backup infielder & still keep gardner & melky.
posada
molina
tex
cano
jeter
arod
damon
gardner
nady
swisher
matsui
melky
cody
“If we trade away Melky or he doesn’t make it through waivers”
No way he makes it thru waivers. Minimal trade value, but if he’s free, plenty of teams will lineup. He’s a 4th outfielder almost everywhere, with the exception of the White Sox and maybe the Mariners, but one who is serviceable replacement for someone injured long term.
I suspect that Gardner probably hits 140 points less than what he’s hitting in spring, but it’s not as though replacing that with Melky is an upgrade. So long as Gardner is playing solid defense and getting on base 1/3 of the time, the Yankees can live with that til the trade deadline and perhaps beyond.
Posada’s performance/health so far eases a lot of the roster strain. I don’t think it is even a consideration at this point to carry a third catcher, but it was a legit concern at the beginning of ST.
“What does Alex at 85-90% look like? Is his offense or defense more likely to feel the 10-15% deficit?”
Lot of hip action in the offense.
Patrick,
Sorry about that.
One question, though, an artistic photo of Cindy Crawford is too racy for work, but strip club ads are ok?
Cindy Crawford is not Mrs. Tabata. And that’s still wrong. When Tabata is 45, he’ll be spoon feeding his 67 year old Cindy Crawford or Pereria (?) her apple sauce dinner.
The one example I can think of was Anna Nicole Smith and that was still icky.
Thank god he’s not on the Yankees! Tabata is not a “team” player! He didn’t stick by his wife until death do them part and what not.
Clay – the artistic photo had someone nekkid. The ads have women dressed. Scantily dressed, but still wearing clothes. I don’t know about your workplace, but mine frowns on the nekkid part.
I shrink my screen to avoid that disgusting ad for showing.
Both Gardner and Melky will be kept to start the season. The remaining questions are the final bullpen spots and whether it’s Berroa or Ramiro Pena as the utility infielder until Alex returns.
sorry to be off topic but look at this
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/ne.....;type=lgns
that kids arm is going to explode
“One question, though, an artistic photo of Cindy Crawford is too racy for work, but strip club ads are ok?”
I’m not sure, I didn’t see the photo. As soon as I clicked on it I saw what was in the URL name so I immediately closed the window. Most workplaces have no tolerance for photos like that.
If you are going to post something like that please at least say that it’s not safe for work.
I too dislike the strip club ads and I don’t get why Lohud doesn’t just block them.
Patrick you probably shouldn’t be spending your time on the Lohud blog all day at work anyway.
Its your responsibility to use discretion.
I’m sure your bosses wouldn’t like to know you blog all day instead of working. I’m not sure how viewing a photo of Cindy Crawford is that much worse than blogging.
Spoonfeeding at 67?? LOL…I know plenty of people in their 60′s who look great and can run rings around people a lot younger. It’s not the early 1900′s …60 and 70 year olds live very full and active lives …haven’t you heard ..60 is the new 40…
)
I’m in my 50′s and most people can’t keep up with me …I’m always on the go and barring any health issues I’m hoping to be the same in the next decade.
I know last night was only spring training but I love when the Yanks beat the Red Sox …ANYTIME !!!
Go Yankees 2009 !!!
I’m not on here all day, I check in from time to time when work is going slowly. Who are you to tell me how I should spend my time? If they have a problem with it they can tell me.
“The Yankees have agreed to pay Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration $10 million for seats, foul poles, *urinals*, ticket booths and other memorabilia that belong to the city from the old stadium, The Associated Press reported, citing an unnamed source. Under the tentative agreement, the Yankees would then sell the items on their own, along with all the memorabilia that belong to the team.”
Okay, who in their right mind is going to buy one of the urinals from the old stadium? I’m all for collecting memorabilia, but you have to draw the line somewhere.
“If we trade away Melky or he doesn’t make it through waivers”
“No way he makes it thru waivers. Minimal trade value, but if he’s free, plenty of teams will lineup. He’s a 4th outfielder almost everywhere, with the exception of the White Sox and maybe the Mariners, but one who is serviceable replacement for someone injured long term. ”
Disagree here Steve. First of all, he’s not “free”. Any team who picks him up would have to pay his salary. That’s why they think they can pass him through waivers, they doubt anyone will claim him. Also, in these economic times, I doubt any team will want to pay him 1.2 million to be a 4th outfielder.
At work I have Foxfire and they don’t show the strip ads on that server …
Go Yankees 2009 !!!
I just find it amusing that you would be critical of someone posting a picture when you’re surfing the net on your employer’s dime.
As an employer, I don’t see the difference between blogging and viewing photos. Either way, you’re not doing what they pay you to do.
Yeah, anybody who buys a urinal is making a piss-poor financial decision..
Jose Tabata is cougar bait. Who would have known? I guess A-Rod is too with that whole Madonna thing.
miggs
If he clears waivers, wouldn’t he be free to sign with anyone instead of accepting assignment to Scranton and the Yankees would still be on the hook for the money?
The Greek— you’re an idiot…read a post before you react as you said exactly the samething I did (they won’t trade Melky until they know what they have with Gardner) Not sure where your over-the-top reaction came from, but it’s people like you that make reading the comments section really obnoxious at times…
Steve B, i agree the he won’t make it through waivers, although he does make a lot of money for a 4th outfield. Maybe not alot to the Yankees, but a lot to most teams that may need him. I just worry that once he’s gone, Garnder may hit a slump and we won’t have much in the way of options in CF
If a team picks up Melky, it won’t be as their 4th outfielder. There are some teams out there who would take Melky and use him as their CF. It’s a risky move either way.
Fangraphs has a good read on the Yanks farm system:
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs.....rk-yankees
“miggs
If he clears waivers, wouldn’t he be free to sign with anyone instead of accepting assignment to Scranton and the Yankees would still be on the hook for the money?”
No Pat that’s not how it works. Remember a few years back the Sox put Manny through waivers. If he was free, every team would have claimed him. Yet not one team did. That’s because they would have been responsible for paying his 20 million/year salary.
And he would have to go to the team that claimed him, he wouldn’t be allowed to choose which one he wanted to go to.
That’s why with his salary and ability in these economic times, he probably would make it through. And if he clears waivers, then he could be assigned to the Yankees minor league team.
It’s pretty gross that his wife is 23 years his senior
Well, I guess Tabata likes his ladies older. So do her other kids call him daddy, even though they might be older than him?
miggs,
Again, it is none of your concern what I do.
I was just trying to point out that it is common courtesy on the internet to point out a link that is unsafe for work.
Additionally, note the terms of service of this blog: “Use the site to post or transmit any unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane or indecent information of any kind, including without limitation any transmissions constituting or encouraging conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any local, state, national or international law.”
Really miggs this is none of your concern, stick your nose some place else.
Patrick you’re ridiculous.
You’re upset someone posted a photo and you’re worried about getting in trouble for viewing it at work. Yet if you weren’t on the site when you should be working you wouldn’t have that problem.
But you’re the one who’s indignant. Its a sports blog. There are stripper ads on the site. And you’re worried about a photo of Cindy Crawford. You’re lucky I’m not your boss, you’d be collecting unemployment.
And I understand a lot of people blog at work and I’m not against it.
Just don’t go complaining about the content when you know you shouldn’t be on here anyway.
The baby-snatching made Buster’s column as:
“The wife of a Pittsburgh player is suspected in a baby-snatching case.”
at least it wasn’t “former Yankee propesct and Pittsburgh player”
miggs,
I simply asked him to not post pictures like that and he said he wouldn’t. End of story. I don’t understand why you are extending the conversation by scolding me. Lets see if you’ll understand this concept if I say it a fifth time. THIS ISSUE IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, MOVE ON.
Perhaps if I worked in a McDonald’s you’d be my boss as I doubt you have the mental capacity to manage anything greater. Fortunately for me, I don’t.
Jose Tabata, GILF Hunter.
I once had an affair with a woman 20 years older than me. Didn’t you guys see The Graduate? It’s a rite of passage.
Marriage though is another story and a definite mistake. No one should get married at 19-20 no matter how old their partner is.
Obviously this lady’s got some serious problems. She’s probably a golddigger to boot so somebody’s got to sit down with Tabata and bring him back down to earth.
Wow 6 posts in the last hour. I guess that qualifies as “checking the site occasionally”.
I feel bad for your bosses. Paying you must be equivalent to flushing money down the toilet.
Now I’ve had enough of this nonsense.
Miggs,
It’s no big deal. Patrick asked me not to post stuff anymore pictures , so I won’t. I wasn’t offended by his comments.
Back to the Yankees: I hear Matthews Jr. and his 33.5 million dollar salary wants playing time. I’d still rather have Cashman get Cameron. Jury is still out on Gardner and I’m not sold on Melky either. The acquisition of GMJ would also block Austin Jackson next year. I’m a no.
MLBTR:
Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. spoke to reporters yesterday, resulting in articles in the L.A. Times, MLB.com, and the O.C. Register. Matthews wants to play every day, and admitted to having “candid conversations” with Angels brass. It’s not known whether Matthews would waive his no-trade clause, which is full for 2009 and limited to four teams for 2010-11. He’s owed $33.5MM for 2009-11, plus another $500K assignment bonus if traded.
Matthews is hitting .412/.500/.941 this spring in 20 plate appearances, which doesn’t do much to change the fact that his contract is burden.
There’s a story in the Clemens book that Mike Piazza used steroids. Anyone surprised? Because I’m not.
miggs
March 25th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Wow 6 posts in the last hour. I guess that qualifies as “checking the site occasionally”.
I feel bad for your bosses. Paying you must be equivalent to flushing money down the toilet.
Now I’ve had enough of this nonsense.
I’m curious how people who blog while they are at work would feel if they were the company owner paying the payroll.
I used to pontificate about people spending their lives blogging, ‘wasting’ time and energy that they could have spent accomplishing something at or even after work — or paying some attention to their family and friends instead of the screen. I remember some time back making fun of a blogger here who over a two day period (I went back and checked the times) had posted on average every quarter of an hour during the day. Not only did I see this person as having no life but as having no prospects of getting one as long as all of her attention was focused on the mostly bland and silly commentary here.
But now I wonder if it’s such a waste. A lot of people have jobs that aren’t of great intrinsic interest other than providing a living, and/or personal lives that may be more full of tedious obligation than stimulating interaction. Why shouldn’t they while away the time here in exchanges that may be more pleasant — and even when they are not the conflicts are trivial and completely without real consequences?
And I look back at the times when I was full of ambition and initiative and wonder whether the things I accomplished were of much greater import than a bunch of bland and silly commentary, and whether all the moves and changes that my professional advancement necessitated didn’t take at least as much away from my family as their hunching over the screen may take away from theirs?
So now I think if this stuff makes them more content with their life and work, why not? Who’s to say they’re worse off spending their days here than I am dropping in and catching up once in a while?
Not I. Or not anymore.
sunny,
Here’s an article on Austin Jackson. I didn’t realize that Reggie was such an active mentor.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....8;c_id=mlb
Personally, I’m loathe to trade for any contract of significance (meaning more than what Melky makes!). I like having Gardner’s speed in CF. I’d also like to see if Gardner can have a Victorino-type effect for our club. Vic’s legs also made a difference on the basepaths in the playoffs.
Im not advocating and saying that people should be posting links that are suggestive on here, but if you see a link with the address of cindy crawford naked , why in the world would you proceed to click on it if you are at work?
miggs,
You’re right, I shouldn’t be posting on here at work. I can do much more productive things instead of argue with you. This will be my last post while I’m at work.
“There’s a story in the Clemens book that Mike Piazza used steroids. Anyone surprised? Because I’m not.”
What Clemens book?
I’m with you M…i think i’ve just gotten my fill of older guys with big contracts…I’d much rather experiment with Gardner and the excitement he brings to the basepaths, or see if Melky can have a come-back year than bring in a guy like Gary Matthews Jr (or even Cameron for that matter). I know you need power hitters in the lineup but I think we have enough of that this year with guys like Matsui, A-Rod, Tex, etc…we need to sprinkle in some youth, grit and a little speed
This one, Bronx Jeers:
http://www.amazon.com/Rocket-T.....0061724750
deadspin has had some excerpts on its site.
I bet Lohud would suffer significantly if everyone stop reading/posting on this blog during work…
“What Clemens book”
The book is called ‘The Rocket That Fell To Earth’ which is out today.
It’s a book about Clemens. Obviously there’s things in there about his PED use and Brian McNamee.
In there there’s some sources who Piazza trusted that he told he took steroids. Things in there about the acne on his back and players knowing about his usage etc..
Some people were grossed out that a young guy would be with such an “old” woman, so I posted the picture to show that some 43 year olds (Cindy Crawford) don’t look “old”
Folks, the Cindy Crawford picture was in yesterday’s Daily News. It’s not as if I posted a picture from Penthouse.
I’m excited about what I think Gardner will contribute — IF the Yankees are smart enough to play him enough, including through the slumps. (Smarter than Torre was, for example, not to play Kenny Lofton more or even bunt on Curt Schilling during the “Bloody Sock” game that I believe Torre’s stupidity allowed to be added to folklore forever. ( I also believe that his handling of the bullpen enabled the Red Sox to become the first team in any major professional sport to come back from a 3-0 deficit, too. Thank goodness he’s gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! His departure alone makes the Yankees 90% less nauseating for me to root for.
Just as it did last night, I believe his speed will make an enormous difference on both sides of the equation — offensively and defensively.
hey, the url clearly has the word “naked” embedded in it. hello?!?!
I found it to be right-click worthy, myself. Thanks for the link.
article on Tex:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=4013015
Rishi, thanks for the link. It’s interesting that as much pressure as that article seems to put on Tex’s shoulders, we haven’t really heard much from the fans and media regarding him thanks in large part to the A-Rod circus and a heavy amount of focus being placed on the new pitching staff. It has to be a little refreshing for Tex to kind of be “under the radar” a little during ST, especially playing for the Yankees. I hope and expect that he has a great season.
43???? I don’t think Jose is really thinking ahead here. Does he not realize when he’s only 35, she will be a whopping 58? Something is telling me that marriage will end up in a divorce.
and maybe sooner rather than later with this very bizarre episode
I’m actually surprised that ESPN didn’t list the story as “Former Yankees prospect’s wife…” rather than their current headline “Pirates prospect’s wife…”!