Off day notes and links: Cashman speaks, doesn’t say much
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on May 09, 2011 
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While I was flying all across the country today, Brian Cashman was in New Jersey for a Pinstripe Bowl charity golf tournament. He told reporters that Derek Jeter’s offensive saga, “has given other aspects of the offense some cover.”
As Joe Girardi said roughly 700 times last week, Jeter actually has one of the highest batting averages in the Yankees lineup.
A few other small notes to take from Cashman today:
On Luis Ayala: The GM said the Yankees are “ready to do something” with Ayala after a strong two-inning relief appearance for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last night. Cashman indicated the Yankees have to decide whether to activate Ayala in New York or option him to Triple-A.
On Boone Logan: Obviously the Yankees lone left-handed reliever is struggling, but Cashman has said many times that he doesn’t expect to be able to acquire anything significant before the June draft. “There’s no aspect of the club I’m worried about making changes on,” he said. “We’re still trying to decipher what is real, what isn’t real.”
On the lineup: Cashman indicated the Yankees are at least considering changes to the batting order. “I think we’re currently trying to determine and decipher where one through nine we need to be offensively,” he said.
Some other notes and links from today.
• While I was writing my previous post about the minor leagues, Jorge Vazquez ended his home run drought by hitting one in Buffalo. And just a few minutes after the post was finished, Vazquez hit another one.
• Good story from a good man: Pete Caldera wrote this weekend about Yankees traveling secretary Ben Tuliebitz and all that his job requires: Everything from player ticket requests to making sure a truck is ready to haul equipment.
• George Steinbrenner’s FBI file reveals that he cooperated with two investigations and blamed his illegal campaign contribution on bad legal advice. The Associated Press has the story.
• Heading to a Tampa Yankees game this season, or planning a trip to major league spring training next year? Check out this review of George M. Steinbrenner Field.
• Houston’s closer of the present is none other than the Yankees former closer of the future. Mark Melancon stepped into the closer role after Brandon Lyon went on the disabled list, and he’s converted his first big league save.
• I don’t have an account with the Sports Business Journal, but it’s reporting that Alex Rodriguez has signed with agent Dan Lozano, according to MLBTradeRumers.
just left the trenton game, stopping for food on the way home. good pitching all around a combined 4 hitter by betances (5 innings 1 hit), arbiso (2 ip/1hit) and schmidt (2 ip/2hits) and a 2-0 win over the reading phils!
and a beautiful day at the park
“As Joe Girardi said roughly 700 times last week, Jeter actually has one of the highest batting averages in the Yankees lineup.”
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Really hope those comments from Joe are just fluff.
it’s reporting that Alex Rodriguez has signed with agent Dan Lozano
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Whew! That’s a relief! One less thing to keep me up at night.
“On whether he sees Jeter as one of the best hitters in the lineup, and thus, deserving to lead off …
I am a firm believer that your best hitters should get the most at-bats, period. That’s how you should construct a lineup. And Joe, I talked to him about what the lineup should be and I think over time that’s what maximizes the value on your offense.
We’re currently trying to determine and decipher where one through nine we need to be offensively. (Manager Joe Girardi) is ultimately finding who he should and shouldn’t be mixing and matching with.”
Wow,the Twins averages are atrocious
is there like a schedule you guys work out so that there is constantly someone ragging on jeter 24/7?
You know it’s bad when you can’t muster a run off okajima
Wow Chad. I am highly offended by that review of GMS field and is critique of Tampa Yankee fans as I am one. First off, the idiot went to probably the worst game you could go to. The easter egg hunt was a joke, they invited schools, church’s and every other person in Tampa to that game. Those people dont go to normal games. The concession stand lines are never long because no one goes to the game. Also, I dont know what kind of people he expects to live in Tampa, thats just the kind of people that live here.
YsGuy May 9th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
is there like a schedule you guys work out so that there is constantly someone ragging on jeter 24/7?
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douchebagsonjeter.com
is there like a schedule you guys work out so that there is constantly someone ragging on jeter 24/7?
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Who is ragging on Jeter?
Yep, Choke-a-jima is awful….
They need to walk Youk and go after Ortiz here
IF (a BIG IF) the Red Sox do make it to play-offs, they are going to be killed by lefties. AGom, Crraw, Ortiz, Drew…etc..
DocTodd May 9th, 2011 at 10:28 pm
Wow,the Twins averages are atrocious
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They are terrible, but the whole league is way down…
LGY May 9th, 2011 at 10:25 pm
“On whether he sees Jeter as one of the best hitters in the lineup, and thus, deserving to lead off …
I am a firm believer that your best hitters should get the most at-bats, period. That’s how you should construct a lineup. And Joe, I talked to him about what the lineup should be and I think over time that’s what maximizes the value on your offense.
We’re currently trying to determine and decipher where one through nine we need to be offensively. (Manager Joe Girardi) is ultimately finding who he should and shouldn’t be mixing and matching with.”
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Huh? Since he is trying so hard to say nothing, I guess that the answer is no. Not that it matters, because I can’t imagine Joe leading off with two lefties (Gardy and Grandy) at the top of the lineup. So, Jete is the leadoff man by default. This suits me just fine…
Ok Chad, that guy loses all his credibility. I dont even care what he has to say anymore. His little screenname thing is stpeterays and he rated Tropicana a 3.9. He is a Rays fan so of course he is going to tear down the Yankees.
# Ghostwriter May 9th, 2011 at 10:38 pm
DocTodd May 9th, 2011 at 10:28 pm
Wow,the Twins averages are atrocious
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They are terrible, but the whole league is way down…
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It’s an epidemic. I know the economy is playing a huge role in baseball attendance but the lack of offense might have something to do with it too.
I would be ok with it if Selig allowed this Twins team to take steroids.
Against All Odds May 9th, 2011 at 10:52 pm
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I really don’t get it. It’s way too soon to tell, but I wonder if MLB hasn’t made some conscious effort at shortening the game times, perhaps through the umpires or perhaps deadening the ball a bit. If this lack of hitting persists, the conspiracy theorist in me is going to get very curious.
Somehow I don’t think the lack of offense is effecting ticket sales that happened before the lack of offense started.
LGY May 9th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
I would be ok with it if Selig allowed this Twins team to take steroids.
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Heh. Good one!
Irreverent Discourse May 9th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
Somehow I don’t think the lack of offense is effecting ticket sales that happened before the lack of offense started.
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Ticket sales are a result of the economy. The hitting is something else.
In the “So you think you had a bad day”category.
Slade Heathcott got hit by a pitch to load the bases. Then was promptly picked off for the third out. This in front of 2000 home fans.
“Ticket sales are a result of the economy. The hitting is something else.”
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Most MLB players couldn’t afford to juice up over the winter. The economy is hitting everyone.
LGY May 9th, 2011 at 11:00 pm
“Ticket sales are a result of the economy. The hitting is something else.”
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Most MLB players couldn’t afford to juice up over the winter. The economy is hitting everyone.
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Sooo, ARod makes $32,000,000 per year, and good steroids cost $32,000,001?
Explaining The Twins With Venn Diagrams
http://www.twinkietown.com/201.....?ref=yahoo
How about, in the wake of steroid testing, all the extra speed and defense on teams is cutting down LD production? Is there somewhere to compare the league-wide GB/FB/LD rates over the last few years?
http://www.baseball-reference......ting.shtml
Then you can go to splits for the league and see what the BABIP is each season on LD
ID,
Given the league batting averages, I think that it’s pretty safe to surmise that GB rates are up across the league. You almost don’t need to see the numbers. I would be astonished if GB eren’t way up…
When you Hideki Okajima pitches 2 innings and throws 40 pitches and you can’t scratch across a run, it’s time to pack it up and start thinking about 2012.
Jerkface May 9th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
LOL! That was awesome!
Interesting. According to Bballreference.com, hits and runs have trended down since 2006, while BB have remained fairly steady.
OK, I looked back 5 years…
Runs/game have dropped steadily from 4.8 to 4.1 over the time period.
HR% (of all hits I assume) has not actually moved much at all.
SO% is up 1%… BB% is steady so pitchers are getting more k’s.
GB/FB has steadily risen from .79 to .83, LD% is steady, HR/FB has dropped… and IFFB’s are up.
Seems to me like the pitchers have literally gotten better at inducing weak contact, or avoiding it all together…
Cold weather and change-ups…
And fewer greenies
Irreverent Discourse May 9th, 2011 at 11:28 pm
=============================================
Or umps widened the strike zone, or the ball is not wrapped quite as tight is it used to be. Or it could just be happenstance—there isn’t enough information to tell…
Frankly, if MLB did take measures to shorten the games some, then I’m all for it. I like offense, but who has the time to watch 4-hour ballgames every day? And fast-moving games are more fun anyway….
Heck of a pitching matchup on tap for tomorrow, Doc Halladay vs. Josh Johnson.
God night, all
Lots of really good hitters have left the game while their replacements aren’t yet up to par. Look at the next in line, not many great bats there. Guys like Markakis, BJ Upton, et al have struggled.
This theory is probably wrong, but I’m sticking to it!
Gustavo Molina might hit 5th for that Twins team. Just awful the # of injuries they’ve had to deal with.
And throw in the fact that Pavano looks like Javier Vazquez out there now… Joe Nathan hasn’t recovered, etc etc.
Now I guess the question is are the pitchers getting better or the batters getting worse. There are quite a few players with exceedingly high strikeout totals lately. Are they enough to skewer the numbers?
Year – (league average K’s) (# of players over 150k’s) (# of players over 170 k’s)
2010 – 111 12 6
2009 – 107 12 5
2008 – 106 8 4
2007 – 103 8 1
2006 – 101 10 3
2005 – 99 3 0
2004 – 101 7 2
2003 – 98 4 2
2002 – 101 7 3
2001 – 105 10 3
BD (Boston Dave) May 9th, 2011 at 11:36 pm
Delmon Young is due back this week, Nathan last 2 outings have been clean (zero runs) If they can get Mauer back soon maybe they will wake up and get in the race
Way too much has been made about the importance of the batting order. It might be good to shake it up so players don’t become too attached to any given spot in the order.
Baseball attendance is down not only due to the economy; unfortunately it’s popularity among kids is dropping.
Lots of good hitters are struggling rite now including Pujols with only 2 doubles and a BA of .248.
Others include Rios, ARod, Kinsler, Cargo, Werth, Tulo and Tex with a couple near .260 and many well below that.
VY – I just got back – they left the asylum doors open earlier?
Wide open, a bleepin stampede…………………………..LMAO !
Lots of good hitters are struggling rite now including Pujols with only 2 doubles and a BA of .248.
Others include Rios, ARod, Kinsler, Cargo, Werth, Tulo and Tex with a couple near .260 and many well below that.
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Tex has a .954 OPS. How is he struggling?? He has been probably the 3rd best 1B in MLB so far.
Alex is in a huge slump, but he was so insanely productive in the beginning of the season that his production to date is still top 3 for 3B in MLB.
Tulo has an .864 OPS which is great out of a SS. Reyes is probably the only SS that has been better.
adam dunn
Hanly Ramirez .205 .297 .270 what’s up with him?
BA = Batting Average.
Thanks for your input though.
h. ramirez, ar. ramirez
Who would have thought that Derek Jeter (3) would have more doubles than Albert Pujols (2) on May 10th.
Tar May 10th, 2011 at 12:17 am
Before tonights game he went and got some bats from his great 2009 year to try and shake things up.
Having a low BA does not necessarily mean a player is struggling and having a high BA does not necessarily mean a player is performing well.
VY
If it was only that easy.
VY
Buster Olney tweeted that Derek Jeter doesnt get any different reaction from the press as any other hitter who is struggling. I follow a lot of general baseball reporters and there are probably 3 times as many articles posted about Jeter’s struggles than there are about Pujols. To me it seems that they are focusing much more on Jeter than many other struggling hitters.
In the game I believe Hanley got a hit in his first AB with one of his old bats. The camera showed him on first laughing. Maybe he thought it was that easy. LOL !
more focus on jeter because more people pay attention to jeter. take it as a compliment. certainly jeter is more recognizable and has a higher name recognition.
tyanksfan36 May 10th, 2011 at 12:24 am
That is kind of funny being that Pujols is in a contract year. Maybe more scrutiny of Jeter because of being in the NY market ?, his age ?, and the new contract he signed ?
What do you think ?
and as hit send, letterman makes a jeter joke.
Fun fact Jeter is batting .310 in the #1 hole
and .409 when leading off an inning.
Good night LGY
Yup, too many fans overrate the importance of AVG, in part because they fail to recognize the role of luck on balls in play.
Jeter’s struggles get a lot of attention because they date back to last season, he is old and crusty, he is approaching 3,000 hits, his groundball problems are record breaking, and because he is super popular.
So based on Tar’s stat, should Jeter be PH for after his first AB?
“So based on Tar’s stat, should Jeter be PH for after his first AB?”
Yeah I was thinking maybe Gardner…. Oh wait..
VY
I would think that Jeter’s age plays an important role in his criticism and that contract he signed. Maybe because Pujols is a power hitter and has a reputation for power they just think he is having some issues. Didn’t David Ortiz start out really slow last season? He ended up picking it up and not looking back.
Rich in NJ May 10th, 2011 at 12:31 am
Yup, too many fans overrate the importance of AVG, in part because they fail to recognize the role of luck on balls in play.
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all you have to do to overcome that as a fan is watch a team that is in a hitting slump that has a linuep that is not striking out all the time. You see that they are hitting the ball just always to the wrong place. when you look at stats, you dont see that. you just see the numbers.
Jeter bats 1st vs LHP.
He has yet to have a problem hitting LH.
ty:
That is so with Ortiz, a terrible start and then he finished with a solid productive year. Maybe with Pujols in STL. he is a bit under the radar with the media.
BTW, how did that library book thing work out for you ?
Pujols has only struggled for a little over a month and he is still in his prime.
I don’t think there is any real reason to be concerned about him.
“Yeah I was thinking maybe Gardner…. Oh wait..”
As I said, I think the idea that you can’t change the batting order for fear of offending someone is nuts.
So I would shake up a batting order with regularity.
“Jeter bats 1st vs LHP.
He has yet to have a problem hitting LH.”
Gardner bats 1st vs RHP
oh never mind— I was just kidding anyway.
VY
Well with Pujols I think they just expect him to snap out of it so they arent worried about him.
I never did return the library book, I told them that I lost it so they stopped charging me 10 cents a day but I still have to pay the fee and a lost book charge. 25 dollars for an 11 dollar book. A total ripoff if you ask me.
“So I would shake up a batting order with regularity.”
Didn’t Torre do that and get kind of slammed for it? I seem to remember him changing the order a lot.
“Didn’t Torre do that and get kind of slammed for it? I seem to remember him changing the order a lot.”
Apart form panicking in the 2006 ALDS, I don’t recall that, but maybe my memory is off.
I thought there was one year in particular that he kind of went crazy changing the order. But it could be my bad memory as well.
‘Pujols has only struggled for a little over a month and he is still in his prime’.
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Which is basically since the start of the season (5 weeks or so) Yes he is in his prime, perhaps the cold weather is affecting some of the hitters mentioned here who are hitting below their norm.
tyanksfan36 May 10th, 2011 at 12:46 am
Sorry to here about the book ordeal.
Pujols will be fine especially with his supporting cast of Holliday, Rasmus and Berkman around him. I think as the weather heats up alot of these guys talked about here will go on hitting tears.
Free Agency Pressure is playing in Albert’s head
That’s what Boras’ butt boy attributes Jeter’s 2010 slump to. I don’t buy it.
Boras’ butt boy! Hey watch your mouth that’s my uncle you are disparaging.
Maybe pressure was a poor choice…What I was attempting to convey is that the contact situation has led to an uncomfortable situation for Albert as it’s been reported many times that he wants to stay in St. Louis……..The situation has to be playing in his head somewhat………And who or what is a Boras’s butt boy ????
Wouldn’t Jetes feeling the pressure of FA contradict a lot of the intangible stuff Heyman spouts off about him?
I think umps have raised the top of the strike zone to where it’s supposed to be. A few years ago, the belt was the effective top of the zone. Now a lot of high strikes get called.
The whole batting order thing is a good debate; for many teams actually. I probably get too caught up in it myself. I was watching some Boston sports talk show on TV (no I am not a Red Sox fan) and the callers were calling in lambasting Francona on his choice of line-ups. I guess that is what makes baseball debates wonderful because any five of us would come up with a different line-up. That being said, I would love to see Jeter not bat leadoff, I still would like to see Cano third, and I feel that Martin deserves to be moved up in the line-up.
David in Cal May 10th, 2011 at 2:24 am
I think umps have raised the top of the strike zone to where it’s supposed to be. A few years ago, the belt was the effective top of the zone. Now a lot of high strikes get called.
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It’s funny that you say that and you are correct IMO. I remember as a kid playing stickball or whiffleball; the strike zone was always from the top of the knees to the letters. Nowadays, I really could not tell you what a strike is. The umps have their own “interpretation” of the zone. You think they were freaking artists or something.
NW Yankee Fan…..When I played it was the arm pits area……Now aday ir dropped to the belt and the pitchers got 2 inches off the corners
Pat M. May 10th, 2011 at 3:05 am
NW Yankee Fan…..When I played it was the arm pits area……Now aday ir dropped to the belt and the pitchers got 2 inches off the corners
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So true! Fans talk about lively ball vs less lively ball or steroids vs. not using any. All are valid but IMO the way to control the hitter/pitcher balance is the strikezone. The only other factor would be raising the mound. I am dating myself but 1968 was one crazy season, all pitching.
Some quick thoughts about all the arguing on this blog. First off, it is human nature, people argue. Second, there needs to be limits as to no name calling and of course stalking is just plain off the charts. Third, we could argue ferociously and still respect one another; this should not be a zero sum game. Last, usually when people stop arguing and get along, it is because they find common ground. All in this blog should have the common ground of being Yankees fans. That alone should temper some of the bad feelings.
Being a Yankees fan is a special thing for me. My dad was a Yankees fan and like many of you, it is something I inherited from him. Even when we couldn’t get along, we could always talk about the Yankees. I will get off of my soapbox now. Let’s just show some respect for one another and save our anger for more important things….like the Red Sox or the Rays. And yes GB7, I will probably repost this tomorrow as it is late and I want to make sure many of you see it. Good Night.
yes it is off the charts someone and someone will be going to jail for it.
Hi YsGuy!
I actually think there are 3 reasons that offense is down 1) drug testing 2) less dominant hitters 3) more dominant pitchers.
Im not so sure #3 isn’t the biggest cause……pitching throughout baseball is so good and so deep right now. Everybody seems to throw 95 mph…..you hear retired players all the time talking about how many hard throwers there are in the game right now. Its probably cyclical to some degree…..and.there are just more great pitchers now than great hitters
Is it possible the pitching is more dominant b/c SP don’t pitch as far into games any more?
hi kate! hi morning people! (whoever we can muster anyway!)
beautiful night in trenton last night, sat in a t shirt all the way to the last out! not a very big crowd on a monday night, it seemed like there was an even amount of phillies and yankees caps as they were playing reading.
reading has a big hitter batting 3rd (matt rizzotti ) who’s from floral park! he shot up from high a ball to aaa last year then struggled and started this season in reading. nice to see LI represented.
some very uncomfortable hacks vs. dellin, it looks really hard to pick up his release then the ball is past the hitter, very impressive!
Kate,
I think that possibly has some effect….guys aren’t pitching tired anymore. They go as hard as they can for 100 pitches and then go to the bullpen. The specialization in pitching these days has changed things…..hitters rarley face tired pitchers anymore.
Betances looks like he hides the ball pretty well behind that big body.
im definitely going to have one eye on that j johnson v roy halladay matchup tonight while watching the melky and the royals come to visit YS.
hiding the ball is part of it, but he also has a really slow and deliberate windup that kind of hypnotizes you into thinking he’s not going to throw heat, then, wham out from behind his head it’s out and past you. hard to pick him up and i was sitting right up in the 3rd row. it seems like maybe his arm action on his breaking pitches is slower, but if you are looking for that slower arm action, you have no chance on the fb .
sounds like a fun night Ys
Doc vs JJ is an awesome matchup…..Ill def be keeping an eye on that as well.
well, it was a fun night once i actually go to the park but the nj state police and the trenton police tag-teamed me with a double detour off rte 1 then through some nasty trenton local streets and i didnt get in until the 3rd inning. after that it was great!
Doc vs JJ is an awesome matchup
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A long ways from last night’s Blanton/Vazquez tilt. Hope the hitters got their licks in last night.
we also get a look at eric hosmer with the royals tonight, listed as the #1 prospect to come up this year on some lists i saw. the hype in kc caused a sellout his first game up!
good for kc, a great city with a great stadium and a team trying to become the newest version of the tampa rays.
I have Melky on my fantasy team, but I am willing to sacrifice his points for a Yankee win
we also get a look at eric hosmer with the royals tonight, listed as the #1 prospect to come up this year on some lists i saw.
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Definitely says something that KC felt compelled to bring him up when they did rather than wait on it for whatever service time advantages they could gain. They couldn’t get him in AAA. .525 OBP with a 1.107 OPS.
The Twins are a full 10 games back now……I think the magic may end this year for them. They just aren’t very good……of course they could get healthy and climb back in as Cleveland will probably come.back to the field …but they just look bad overall.
i dont have a single yankee on my lohud fbb team, they all got overdrafted imo,not surprisingly.
i also dont have any red socks! i am heavily dependent on bautista and lind though. and zobrist (and krazy kyle) have been big too!
Blake-
I want the WS to fall out of it so we get a shot at Danks.
actually surprisingly tex was drafted much later than i had him on my board in the end of the 2nd round, but miggy cabrera was still on the board when i drafted, so i had to pass.
I have a mix, some Rays and Tigers and Reds…teams I like…no sox.
Krazy Karl is doing remarkably well this year!
The Twins are a full 10 games back now……I think the magic may end this year for them. They just aren’t very good……of course they could get healthy and climb back in as Cleveland will probably come.back to the field …but they just look bad overall
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Morneau just looks lost at the plate. You wonder if he’ll ever be the same. You knew sooner or later using fringe major league players in the middle infield was bound to bite them in the backside. Can’t explain why it’s taken like 8 years, but it finally has.
If you’re the Royals then why not….the division is wide open right now….why not make a run at it and if nothing else they can get some.cash from the attendance boost.
MTU,
I.would.as well.
Mell,
I said the same thing during the game last night…he looks like a shell of himself. It would be really unfortunate if he weren’t able to.get it back.
Last night was party night.
cgrand14 had a great time with teammates, coaches and Yankees staff tonight. Reggie Jackson watch release party, then Kevin Long book release party
and they didn’t invite us?
Good morning.
Derek is “healed” now so the Yankee press corp has moved on to taking Alex’s temperature today.
If 9 guys are going to write the same story are 8 of them really necessary? (I vote Chad gets to be the one to stay
)
i finallly gave in a couple of weeks ago and opened a twitter account and, just like everybody told me, it is a treasure trove for baseball fans! lomomarlins (logan morrison) is quite the chatterbox (at least while on the dl), and granderson always has some community related event he’s plugging (love that guy!)
and i really like stuff like jeff karstens rallying the buco’s fans this a.m. “karstens27 Jeff Karstens
Thank you everyone for all the support. Let’s keep it going tonight and raise that jolly Roger up again for all you pirate fans.”
plus a taste of Pabe is always fun even when he’s ranting!
reggie jackson watch release? is he still dragging that soup guy around?
…it is really good soup, though….
What soup guy? The Soup Nazi???
The NY media really is a fickle and a “what have you done for me lately” bunch. I guess they have to have something to write about each game..baseball just isn’t a sport made to analyze every day or even every week.
One reason for the NFLs popularity is that it just fits the hype driven and fast pace of society so well…..6 days of hype and one day of football.
yeah, but it isn’t limited to the NY media…espn had quite a few segments on Jeter’s supposed struggles…meanwhile we haven’t heard anything about Tulo’s lack of hits
New Post: Before. During. After?
Pedroia is also hitting. 237 with a sub .700 OPS. Hanley has yet to hit his way out of a paper bag.