Today in The Journal News
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on May 17, 2009 
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A-Rod talked his way into the lineup yesterday then won the game in the 11th inning with a home run.
Joba Chamberlain threw a good first inning twice. This notebook also has updates on Chien-Ming Wang, Brian Bruney, Xavier Nady and Jose Molina along with news of a minor trade.
The Baseball Beat looks at how the Yankees will be getting stronger soon.
Go to bed, man.
lol
this game probably should have been over sooner. Melky had Cuddyer dead to rights at home, all he has to do is hit the cutoff man which was a pretty routine throw
Glad we traded Hacker. Having both a Hacker and a Swisher on the 40 man roster goes against our patient batting philosophy.
We gained another giant Sanchez in return from the pirates. We now lead the universe in large pitchers named Sanchez
wow pete.You work hard!!You’ve got a great blog man
I don’t always agree with you on the gardner/melky stuff but that’s what this blog is all about,open discussions..
Thanks for keeping me updated on the yankees from far far away
it is a good problem to have with both melky & gardner playing well.
time has a funny way of determining who would or should be playing.maybe both.
A great job by Arod yesterday.
I think A-Rod should grow a mustache…That makes people forgive you for doing steroids
YES clubhouse reporter Kim Jones lost her voice but gamely asked questions for the postgame report. Even the media has to play hurt.
have the ghosts moved across the street?
looks like you can prove the pitch tipping thing is a big lie:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05.....score.html
When will Joe stop trusting Veras. It seems Joe sees something “special” in this kid but forgets that he ca’t throw strikes. I’m hoping I wake up tomorrow and Pete posts that veras has been DFA and Ramirez has been sent down with Melancon and Robertson being called up. The 2 young guys deserve as much a chance as Veras and Edwar got. They can’t be any worse.
That’s great Rishi
I like this Alex quote, too:
Meanwhile, Rodriguez was asked about the improvement Teixeira has made with Rodriguez hitting behind him.
“We’re going to make a good team because he’s lefty [actually a switch hitter] and I’m righty,” Rodriguez said. “And more often than not, if he doesn’t get you, I will.”
I thought so, too, carl – you would think if someone was going to actually write that they would take the time to do the analysis and not just say ” a little birdie told me”
Seriously Rishi, it most likely came from someone who didn’t like him in the clubhouse. They probably didn’t like the fact that he was able to call pitches…or maybe he suggested the wrong pitch before
Thanks for the read, Rishi.
In terms of Alex’s “clutchness”, I have known about those HL numbers but you cannot persuade people who prefer to think of him as a choker, no matter what kind of numbers you confront them with.
Nor can you convince them that ARod has been unofficially pitched around and had jack to hit in many of these “failed” postseason showings. This is about the time when viscera takes over, and their eyes begin to roll around in their heads and they start foaming at the mouth, screaming “Choker!!! He sucks!!!”
That’s when you decide it really isn’t worth the trouble.
*Arod actually came through in a must win situation,thats*
*a first.*
Hopefully the tide is turning for Alex here. He looked genuinley happy after he hit that walk-off, and now maybe some legit proof that the pitch tipping was a bit of a reach. I just hope he doesn’t do anything to shoot himslef in the foot and keeps on making changes that make it easier for him to just play ball.
It was arod 5th Yankee walk-off home run, so obviously not the first time he’s come through for the Yankees….not even counting 2007 – the year he pretty much carried the team…
How is that a first?
He has 5 walkoff HR’s as a Yankee and 4 other walkoff hits.
That’s just the walkoff hits.
Doesn’t seem like a “first” to me.
GMTA, SJ
“Surely the Yankee fans who were insisting the ballclub was better off without him, citing better team chemistry without his superstar ego, are rethinking that notion since his return.
For one thing, he is not the leper in the clubhouse that some people seem to think. Some teammates will always roll their eyes at some of his antics, to be sure, but Rodriguez is not the outsider he once seemed to be. He is revered by young Latin players such as Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano, friendly with most everyone, and judging by what you see of them in the clubhouse, A-Rod and Derek Jeter seem more comfortable with one another than ever.”
Read more: “Alex Rodriguez vows to shut mouth, and his play for Yankees in telling” – http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....2UT&A
This whole A-Rod is not likeable and not popular is a media-circus created by people like Pete who do not like him for whatever reason.
But look at this way. Every year he was one of the highest vote getters for the All Star Game voted by fans across the country (or world). That tells a different story. This year he will not make it as he has not played enough due to injury.
Peter Arod has nine years left can we stop posting stuff like last post please?
“Arod actually came through in a must win situation,thats
a first.”
If by must win situation you mean game 36 of the 2009 season then yes you are correct, he did finally come through in the end there.
“Surely the Yankee fans who were insisting the ballclub was better off without him, citing better team chemistry without his superstar ego, are rethinking that notion since his return.”
Was that Yankee fans or the media who started that?
Fans get their information on team chemistry from the media.
I think if Arod hits walkoff Hr in game 7 of the world series peter will make a post right after Arod using peds
Btw can some answer this, why did Fox pick to broadcast Mets-Giants?
If I had to venture a guess, I would say they liked the Santana-Johnson matchup.
Johan vs the big unit
What about tonight on espn
In terms of giving guys days off,
How about JoeG gives Cano a blow.
Kid has played in every game, and in some of them, the team has stood around on the field for long stretches. Looks like he could benefit from a little respite. Just don’t give him and ARod the same day off.
did pete ever answer the giambino question?? he goes to bed with him with blindfolds on and yet, while everyone else is moving on, he still has to bring up ped’s w regard to a-rod…. if he’s going to do that after every a-rod HR, it will get old quick.. oh wait…it’s already old.
The Yankees only get to play Sunday night games at home on getaway day when they have a long West Coast trip comming up
Thanks for those links Rishi
So, Alex isn’t treated like a leper after all.
I’ve said for 3 seasons on this blog, and gotten trashed for it, that the “Arod is hated in the locker room” stuff is a myth perpetuated by guys in the media who don’t like him.
He’s not hated in that locker room. Do some guys not understand why he does some of the stuff he does? Absolutely.
But, that’s not “hate”.
In fact, it shows you how much they like him because they CARE about him enough to not understand him.
When guys hate another guy in the locker room, they could care less if he self-imploded. In fact, they root for it.
In all the years he has been with the Yankees, I have never gotten the impression guys root for him to implode.
He has a lot of guys, Jeter included, in the locker room who like him. They just wish he “stays out of his own way”.
Judging by yesterday’s comments, Arod would seem to concur with that assessment.
Rishi, thanks!
I think the media is just a little behind on the “Alex is not a leper in his clubhouse” idea. As to his relationship with Jeter, it’s convenient that they (up until now, at least) didn’t remember how much better it was after Alex admitted he and Jeter weren’t BFF anymore. That spring (was it two years ago?), they were clearly more relaxed with each other than they had been in years. You could see them laughing on the field all the time…..yet all we heard from the media is how Jeter hated Alex and how Alex wanted to be Jeter. They all tried to play dime store psychologists…….and did a lousy job of it. Even when Alex returned in Baltimore, they analyzed every comment he made to Jeter. At one point, Alex said something about him needing Jeter’s help because he was nervous and Jeter apparently looked at him oddly – the media made it sound like it was an awkward situation. Every look, every word between the two is picked apart – really to the height of ridiculousness.
Want to make sure everyone sees this that I posted earlier, too:
Rishi
May 17th, 2009 at 8:44 am
looks like you can prove the pitch tipping thing is a big lie:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05.....score.html
So much for this team having no heart?
Now if the pen could fix itself, IMO this team is ready to take off. Burnett could make it a lot easier with 8 strong innings.
Vader,
The “Team has no heart” stuff is brought on by the bridgejumpers in the game threads. Anybody who has watched the games this year and thinks the team has “no heart” simply don’t know baseball and should stick with video games.
The team has plenty of heart. But, it takes more than “heart” and “passion” to win games. Good pitching and timely hitting helps.
SJ, I agree. When I don’t care about or respect someone, what they say or do simply doesn’t affect me – I don’t spend anytime thinking about them. I’ve never bought into the idea that Alex wasn’t liked in his clubhouse…..mostly because I’ve never seen proof of that and, unlike the media, I don’t analyze every glance or word between Alex and his teammates. Also, I don’t trust the media – they have an agenda and they pursue it with a passion (esp. with regards to Alex). They don’t like him and they don’t think anyone else can possibly like him either.
“looks like you can prove the pitch tipping thing is a big lie:”
obligatory-”just because the stats don’t show it doesn’t mean it’s didn’t happen. I mean, there where –figments of Roberts’ imagination– unnamed sources who said it did, so it must be true.”
I mean SI made this story front page news on there site for three days. Will they link to this story?
tom – I’m going to go with “doubtful” – but I’m waiting to see if buster links to it in his blog today…
oops, “their” site.
Need. More. Coffee.
You can tell a lot about people’s personalities watching them on the field on seeing their interviews. You can see a guy like A Rod, while extremely driven to succeed, also wants to be liked. Who doesn’t? I am sure he gets along just fine with teammates. He doesn’t go out of his way to befriend the media though and beat reporters hate that.
Depending on what Wang and Bruney do at AAA outings today, Veras, and Tomko should have their bags packed. Berroa or Phil Hughes could be on the bubble unless it’s time for feel comfortable with A-Rod.
Here is my problem with the pitch tipping “story”.
Arod is not the most popular guy in baseball. Pitch tipping, unlike steroid usage, is not a crime and isn’t the kind of stigma (necessitating one to be an “unnamed source”) as PED use.
Therefore, why be an “unnamed source” on it? Clearly, the person(s) making this allegation don’t like the guy.
So, why not put your name on the allegation publicly if you are so sure about it?
Its why everybody in baseball is debunking it and another reason why the book bombed.
Selena Roberts accomplished the impossible. She made Arod a sympathetic figure in the eyes of many fans and the baseball community.
What he does with this newfold benefit of the doubt remains to be seen.
However, even his biggest detractors have to admit, he’s off to a good start with this second chance thus far.
can pena play 2B as well?Maybe it’s time to give robbie a day off
I would keep Tomko before I would keep Veras.
This bullpen needs a veteran arm they can abuse a bit. Plus, Tomko, unlike Veras, throws more strikes.
At some point, the organization can’t live in fear.
Jose Veras is what he is. Big arm, little command. There are a TON of guys like him in the game.
He’s not going to morph into Jonathan Papelbon if they let him go.
If they DFA him upon Bruney’s return, they have 10 days to either make a deal for him or release him.
If they can make a trade for Eric Hacker, they sure as heck can find a home for Jose Veras.
Can’t the Yankees find a reason to DL Veras and work on his mechanics? I’m surprised they haven’t done this before…….
I noticed Kim Jones’ voice and just hoped she didn’t have a cold that could knock out the Yankees if she was contagious.
Jorge Posada on Alex Rodriguez:
“He’ll be my friend forever.”
There you have it: Mr. Yankee Dynasty, Mr. Heart & Soul, Mr. ‘You’d-better-put-it-all-out-there-or-I’ll-be-up-in-your-face’ Jorge.
That’s not dislike, neutrality, diplomacy, teamspeak, that’s going on on a limb with a heartfelt declaration of friendship.
for those interested MLB is showing the 1976 ALCS game 5 vs KC.
New post with today’s line-up.
Hi Everyone!
So, now I think I need to pretend I’m still on vacation. Seems like my guys in the Bronx (and on the road!) did pretty good while I was not watching.
Did Joba end up pitching last week with the bruised thumb?
I figured the best thing for them to do with him vis-a-vis the first inning blahs was to get him to pitch the first inning before the game started. Glad they got that memo!
The game they lost in Toronto – was that Burnett v. Haliday?
See, I did not watch, nor did I read the newspapers, and barely saw ESPN highlights. Though I was watching ESPN the night Melky got his walk-off – they had put up the 4-3 score, and I thought they’re ninth inning rally would fall short and one second later they flashed the 5-4 final. That was the closest I got all week to ‘watching’ a game.
Pete -
Your post about whether to root for ARod and other tainted players was a good one. Thoughtful. And it does present a dilemma of sorts. But then, sports always has. Not everyone who puts on a uniform is a “good guy” – and I’m not even sure how you define that term. I root for ARod to do well because I want the Yankees to do well. I sincerely hope he has told the truth about not using steroids. Ultimately, though, what you tell your kids about it is if a guy has cleaned up his act, if he works hard, there is such a thing as redemption and forgiveness. And if not, well, then, you just root for your team and don’t buy the merchandise that aggrandizes the player(s) who are questionable. I guess.
David
May 17th, 2009 at 10:42 am
I noticed Kim Jones’ voice and just hoped she didn’t have a cold that could knock out the Yankees if she was contagious.
=======
LOL. You’re like me. I’m at the game yesterday, and they’re jumping all over Alex, and I’m going “Get OFF of him! He’s coming off SURGERY!”
LOL Great Q & A with AJ:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/05.....038;page=1
He’s a very interesting guy….lost of fun facts, from the fact that he almost quit baseball after his trade to the Marlins, to the fact that he named his bats, to the fact that he broke his foot bowling while drunk, lol. Swisherlicious? Love it……….
AJ knows he’s not the most consistent guy out there, but it’s not for lack of trying. He’s going to be an big asset to this team…….maybe he’ll get it going today.
Roger(the new amsterdam yankees )
May 17th, 2009 at 10:28 am
can pena play 2B as well?Maybe it’s time to give robbie a day off
======
Pena can play 2B, but not at the same time he plays 3B. They’ll have to rest Robi and Alex on separate days.
Rishi, thanks for the link. I think Manny’s positive test took immense pressure off the A-rod situation. I’m thinking Selena Roberts and her publishing co. could not have been pleased with the timing. After all, what, you’re going to villify A-Rod and not Manny? Manny, with all his quirkiness, gets treated like an idiot savant, Alex, like a club house pariah.
I also think that they miscalculated how inundated the public has been with Alex stories. We’re sports fans. Let’s talk baseball. Or better yet, let’s talk Yankees. As long as he produces, I’ll get behind him, whether I like the guy or not.
Alex is a nudnik. He does and has done stupid things. Right now, all that interests me is how is natural talents helps the team I love. Moral code some other time.
Keep Tomko. Lose Veras.
Teixeira!!
You have to get out of this jam now.
Great job! Now we have all the momentum in the world.
I guess Tomko is our 8th inning man now, lol.
We actually really need to score here because I don’t want anyone but Mo having to face Mauer and Morneau in the 9th inning.
That might have been Arod’s pitch to hit.
Why is Pettitte pitching to Morneau?