Obviously, by now, we've probably all heard the comments by Joe West about the pace of games between the Red Sox and Yankees. (In case you haven't, here's a link to the article from our very own commentor, Rich Mahogany). Recently, Mo responded to those comments, suggesting Joe West find something else to do if he's too busy to sit through the whole game.
Putting aside issues of Mo's clear awesomeness, West's remarks and Mo's response have raised the issue of pace of games. Even John Heyman took a break from peddling misinformation on behalf of Scott Boras to chime in on the issue (he feels West's comments, while misguided and inappropriate, did have a measure of truth, and he blames Papelbon for the problem, which makes him my favorite columnist).
Most members of the media and Nobel laureates have been patiently awaiting RJG's response to the issue, so here goes . . .
We've been hearing about pace of game issues for a long time, but the truth is nobody gives a $#!%. Let's consider the following three scenarios: Going to a game; Watching a game on TV; and following a game online.
Going to a game: For our purposes, let's assume hypothetical fan X is going to a live Yankees game. If he lives in the city, he's probably taking the subway, which means at least one-half hour of travel time to the game and, because of foot traffic after the game, at least an hour to get home. If you're driving, even if you live at the Bronx County Courthouse, you've committed yourself to something between 2 and 8 hours of total travel time, most of it spent looking for parking and not moving in traffic. It's possible you even traveled to New York from a far enough distance that you preferred a train or plane, and to make a weekend of it. Point is, you don't care how long the game is (regardless of who they're playing), because you probably dumped your life savings into the two to four tickets you bought and you weren't hoping to squeeze the game into your lunch hour anyway.
Watching on TV: Let's assume a worst-case scenario from the 'games are too long' perspective, you have the YES Network and thus are pretty much subjected to every hour of every game of the season. Poor you. The length of the games forces you to stay up late every night. Pretty soon you're oversleeping, coming in late for work, getting fired, missing your mortgage payments, and turning all those mortgage back derivatives into toxic assets on the books of our most hallowed financial institutions. Thanks a lot, Yankees, you ruined the global economy. Unless of course viewers have some semblance of will power, only watch full games on weekends or when they otherwise have time, and are perfectly content to find out the final score for most games the next day since there are, after all, 162 of them. So, safe to assume, home viewers don't care either.
Following Online: This is the way most of us follow games, allowing us to keep tabs on our favorite team and avoid doing any work between the months of April and November. Frankly, you wonder what the hell the rest of the world does during the day considering that despite the existence of Gameday, America is still the most productive nation in the world. Half the purpose of following a game online is to get you through your workday, generally between 8 and 10 hours. The longer the game, the less time you have to refresh your email inbox and google your own name. Online viewers aren't concerned with pace of game, except when the games are over too quickly. Then they might have to actually do some work.
Now, we see that none of the viewers are actually complaining, but who is? Joe West is, that's who. And for some reason, in Joe West's world, we should care what he thinks. If MLB really has a problem, then the games could be shortened by cutting out or limiting TV breaks, as the aforementioned Rich has pointed out. They could also limit the problem by not letting ESPN begin coverage of big games at 8pm, forcing the games to end later than they need to. Of course, they could just blame players for taking too many pitches and trying to hold runners and things like that, you know, things which make teams successful. Either way.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Yankees-Rays Preview
As the Yanks get prepared to play the second lap of their toughest stretch of the season (Boston followed by Tampa Bay followed by Anaheim? Seriously?), and particularly since yesterday was an off-day which generated absolutely no news, we thought it important to preview the series against the Rays.
The Yanks
You already know these guys fairly well. The big story line here is that Javy Vazquez will be trying to make amends for the what happened in 2004. Well, as long as he doesn't give up a grand-slam on his first pitch of the game, mission accomplished.
The Yanks are coming off a series win against the Red Sox, and now have a chance to firmly establish themselves as the team of the week if they can succeed against the Rays, to whom we now turn.
The Rays
The Rays are a young and dynamic team. All of their players were either handing you movie theater popcorn or semi-competently filling your order at McDonald's within the last three years. Most of them no longer require the use of a retainer. Now they're major leaguers, and a team that will threaten for second place in the division (first if both the Yankees and Red Sox give up).
All this should make for a good series, but it's April so it could be a completely awful show of baseball. You never know this time of year, which is what makes it so exciting.
The Yanks
You already know these guys fairly well. The big story line here is that Javy Vazquez will be trying to make amends for the what happened in 2004. Well, as long as he doesn't give up a grand-slam on his first pitch of the game, mission accomplished.
The Yanks are coming off a series win against the Red Sox, and now have a chance to firmly establish themselves as the team of the week if they can succeed against the Rays, to whom we now turn.
The Rays
The Rays are a young and dynamic team. All of their players were either handing you movie theater popcorn or semi-competently filling your order at McDonald's within the last three years. Most of them no longer require the use of a retainer. Now they're major leaguers, and a team that will threaten for second place in the division (first if both the Yankees and Red Sox give up).
All this should make for a good series, but it's April so it could be a completely awful show of baseball. You never know this time of year, which is what makes it so exciting.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Yanks Take Rubber Match
The Good
Obviously Pettitte, Park, and Granderson all played big roles in this game. But I'd like to highlight Granderson's two home runs to right field in this series. This is certainly a good sign for a lefty who plays in Yankee Stadium. I think it's safe to say we can expect an air show from this guy over the course of the season.
The Bad
Whenever Papelbon blows a save or leaves a game with runners on, he sits in the dugout with this ugly look on his face. I mean, don't get me wrong, he's already ugly, but he manages to somehow get uglier. Then we, the viewing public, have to be subjected to regular shots of him as the rest of the game plays out. It's not only bad, it's unjust.
The Ugly
After Granderson grounded out in his last at-bat of the opener, Joel Sherman of the Post wrote a column in which he argued that Granderson would have to fight the legacy of Damon and Matsui, two guys the Yankees were always comfortable with in a big spot. Well, last night Granderson hit a go-ahead (and ultimately game winning) home run against Jonathan Papelbon, the same Papelbon against whom he grounded out in the opener. But Sherman still hasn't apologized (in writing or in person), retracted the column, or been fired.
The Power Surge
You may want to check and see whether your appliances are still working, because there has been a power surge on the Yankees. Well, not really. This team is basically built to knock the hell out of the ball, but I'm going with the power surge thing anyway. Granderson hit another home run against the defenseless Papelbon, who spent the rest of the game crying uglily.
Posada 1hr = $1
Granderson 2hr = $2
Cano 1hr = $1
Total = $4
Obviously Pettitte, Park, and Granderson all played big roles in this game. But I'd like to highlight Granderson's two home runs to right field in this series. This is certainly a good sign for a lefty who plays in Yankee Stadium. I think it's safe to say we can expect an air show from this guy over the course of the season.
The Bad
Whenever Papelbon blows a save or leaves a game with runners on, he sits in the dugout with this ugly look on his face. I mean, don't get me wrong, he's already ugly, but he manages to somehow get uglier. Then we, the viewing public, have to be subjected to regular shots of him as the rest of the game plays out. It's not only bad, it's unjust.
The Ugly
After Granderson grounded out in his last at-bat of the opener, Joel Sherman of the Post wrote a column in which he argued that Granderson would have to fight the legacy of Damon and Matsui, two guys the Yankees were always comfortable with in a big spot. Well, last night Granderson hit a go-ahead (and ultimately game winning) home run against Jonathan Papelbon, the same Papelbon against whom he grounded out in the opener. But Sherman still hasn't apologized (in writing or in person), retracted the column, or been fired.
The Power Surge
You may want to check and see whether your appliances are still working, because there has been a power surge on the Yankees. Well, not really. This team is basically built to knock the hell out of the ball, but I'm going with the power surge thing anyway. Granderson hit another home run against the defenseless Papelbon, who spent the rest of the game crying uglily.
Posada 1hr = $1
Granderson 2hr = $2
Cano 1hr = $1
Total = $4
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Yankees Even Series
The Good
In what seemed like forever, the Yankees finally won a game. Burnett pitched five innings, allowing four runs, three earned. Not great, but for the first start of the season, as good as you can expect. Posada and Burnett had dinner afterwards, even trading their pbj and fluffernutter sandwhiches respectively. Nick Johnson has a .500 OBP, all walks. It's not so much that he hasn't gotten a hit, he just doesn't feel like running. Joba pitched well in the eighth and Mo locked it down, making Jacoby Ellsbury look completely stupid in the process; payback for Ellsbury's steal of home last season against Mo's good friend Andy Pettitte.
The Bad
Last year the Yankees followed a World Series winning formula of losing eight games in a row to Boston, then going on to win the next nine out of ten. Only time will tell whether this new, bold strategy of winning games early pays dividends.
The Ugly
I don't even have to make this up today. David Ortiz, hitless so far this season, was asked by a reporter whether he was worried that these first two games would lead to talk of a slow start. His response?
"I'm not talking," Ortiz said before going on to talk. "You guys just wait for $#!% to happen, then you talk $#!%. Two #@$%*!& games already, there are 160 left, ain't that a #!&@#."
Ortiz must really miss Manny . . . and steroids, mostly steroids.
Chicks Dig the Long Ball
Cano hit a home run in the ninth, widely criticized in Boston as an unsportsmanlike padding of the score. Not cool.
Posada 1hr = $1
Granderson 1hr = $1
Cano 1hr = $1
Total = $3
In what seemed like forever, the Yankees finally won a game. Burnett pitched five innings, allowing four runs, three earned. Not great, but for the first start of the season, as good as you can expect. Posada and Burnett had dinner afterwards, even trading their pbj and fluffernutter sandwhiches respectively. Nick Johnson has a .500 OBP, all walks. It's not so much that he hasn't gotten a hit, he just doesn't feel like running. Joba pitched well in the eighth and Mo locked it down, making Jacoby Ellsbury look completely stupid in the process; payback for Ellsbury's steal of home last season against Mo's good friend Andy Pettitte.
The Bad
Last year the Yankees followed a World Series winning formula of losing eight games in a row to Boston, then going on to win the next nine out of ten. Only time will tell whether this new, bold strategy of winning games early pays dividends.
The Ugly
I don't even have to make this up today. David Ortiz, hitless so far this season, was asked by a reporter whether he was worried that these first two games would lead to talk of a slow start. His response?
"I'm not talking," Ortiz said before going on to talk. "You guys just wait for $#!% to happen, then you talk $#!%. Two #@$%*!& games already, there are 160 left, ain't that a #!&@#."
Ortiz must really miss Manny . . . and steroids, mostly steroids.
Chicks Dig the Long Ball
Cano hit a home run in the ninth, widely criticized in Boston as an unsportsmanlike padding of the score. Not cool.
Posada 1hr = $1
Granderson 1hr = $1
Cano 1hr = $1
Total = $3
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
New Lineup Sparks Controversy
Tonights lineup has been posted and it boasts a curious right-left pattern all the way down. "It was meant to confuse the enemy." Explained manager Joe Girardi. "You throw to a lefty, and then, what's this? A righty? Whoa, how do I adapt to this? Oh no a homerun!" Girardi continued.
But not all members of the Yankees are as excited for this lineup, which features Granderson batting 9th.
"First he takes my position in centerfield, and now he takes my place in the lineup!" Argued Brett Gardner. "Joe [Girardi] is going to hear about this."
A few minutes later we caught up with Gardner to hear how his talk with the manager went.
"Joe took it all in, and seemed to understand, but after I finished he told me 'You're new nickname is going to be Kinder-gardner! Get it!' Using a play on my name and the word kindergarten. It didn't make any sense, but I cried anyways."
This latest controversy comes on the heels of a devastating defeat that has left the Yankees winless on the season.
"Goodbye October." Said one Mets fan, but not in reference to the Yankees.
But not all members of the Yankees are as excited for this lineup, which features Granderson batting 9th.
"First he takes my position in centerfield, and now he takes my place in the lineup!" Argued Brett Gardner. "Joe [Girardi] is going to hear about this."
A few minutes later we caught up with Gardner to hear how his talk with the manager went.
"Joe took it all in, and seemed to understand, but after I finished he told me 'You're new nickname is going to be Kinder-gardner! Get it!' Using a play on my name and the word kindergarten. It didn't make any sense, but I cried anyways."
This latest controversy comes on the heels of a devastating defeat that has left the Yankees winless on the season.
"Goodbye October." Said one Mets fan, but not in reference to the Yankees.
Focus on Posada and Burnett
With an off day yesterday, there was not much Yankees news to report on. Coverage, therefore, is largely focused on the relationship between AJ Burnett and Jorge Posada, which soured last year after some ugliness in the clubhouse.
"So I'm sitting in the clubhouse," explained one witness who asked to remain anonymous so that he could discuss the situation openly. "I'm looking in the mirror thinking to myself, 'I wonder if Kate will think this haircut makes me look like Jeter.' Then Burnett walks in with the yellowest Tonka truck you ever saw. It had the arm for digging in the sandbox, and a bulldozer. Posada's all 'Can I play with it?' But Burnett was like, 'Later, but you can be the first to use it after me.' Posada was really looking forward to playing with it. He left and when he came back Molina was playing with it. It did not go well from there."
Burnett and Posada, who had previously been best friends, were no longer talking. Posada even told CC Sabathia that Burnett had cooties, widening the rift between them. At the beginning of Spring Training, Joe Girardi took the two squabbling players aside and told them that they had to play nice together or not play at all. Since then the two have been observed sharing in the clubhouse, a gesture many see as a sign of caring.
Will Girardi's tough love approach pay off? Only time will tell. For now, however, Posada and Burnett are back on the same page.
"So I'm sitting in the clubhouse," explained one witness who asked to remain anonymous so that he could discuss the situation openly. "I'm looking in the mirror thinking to myself, 'I wonder if Kate will think this haircut makes me look like Jeter.' Then Burnett walks in with the yellowest Tonka truck you ever saw. It had the arm for digging in the sandbox, and a bulldozer. Posada's all 'Can I play with it?' But Burnett was like, 'Later, but you can be the first to use it after me.' Posada was really looking forward to playing with it. He left and when he came back Molina was playing with it. It did not go well from there."
Burnett and Posada, who had previously been best friends, were no longer talking. Posada even told CC Sabathia that Burnett had cooties, widening the rift between them. At the beginning of Spring Training, Joe Girardi took the two squabbling players aside and told them that they had to play nice together or not play at all. Since then the two have been observed sharing in the clubhouse, a gesture many see as a sign of caring.
Will Girardi's tough love approach pay off? Only time will tell. For now, however, Posada and Burnett are back on the same page.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Yankees Drop Opener
The Good
Posada scored the first run of the season on a home run in the second inning. Curtis Granderson also hit a home run in the same inning, coming on his first at-bat as a Yankee. The offense was alive and well, limiting Beckett to 4.2 innings of work and making his children cry.
The Bad
As Sabathia put it, he "nibbled too much." Sabathia continued, "By the end of the fifth, I was hungry. I had a bag of Cheez-its and Fig Newtons in my glove, and I was just nibbling too much, hands got greasy, left some balls over the plate. I was also upset because every time Jorge would toss the ball back to me he'd crush my Cheez-its. He didn't have to throw so hard, you know?"
The Ugly
As Granderson headed to the dugout after his second inning home run, one less than impressed Red Sox fan yelled out to him, "You suck, Granderson!" Granderson, seeing his first opportunity to get involved in the rivalry retorted, "Oh yeah, well you live in Boston and I live in New York City." The whole stadium fell silent as the realization of the inferiority of their city hit the Boston fans. Most didn't even cheer on the win from their home town team, too depressed to even bother.
"I spoke to him about it afterward," said Girardi to a distraught Boston media. "Sometimes, when you're in the thick of it, you say things that, while true, you don't mean. I told Granderson it's okay to strike back, but you don't need to go that far. You're trying to razz them, not hurt them."
Respect Jeter's Gangster Is for the Children
The Yanks lead the Majors with two home runs, one each from Granderson and Posada. I actually have no idea what's going on on the donations front, so I'm just going to tally some numbers and let my brother figure that out.
Posada 1hr = $1
Granderson 1hr = $1
Total = $2
Posada scored the first run of the season on a home run in the second inning. Curtis Granderson also hit a home run in the same inning, coming on his first at-bat as a Yankee. The offense was alive and well, limiting Beckett to 4.2 innings of work and making his children cry.
The Bad
As Sabathia put it, he "nibbled too much." Sabathia continued, "By the end of the fifth, I was hungry. I had a bag of Cheez-its and Fig Newtons in my glove, and I was just nibbling too much, hands got greasy, left some balls over the plate. I was also upset because every time Jorge would toss the ball back to me he'd crush my Cheez-its. He didn't have to throw so hard, you know?"
The Ugly
As Granderson headed to the dugout after his second inning home run, one less than impressed Red Sox fan yelled out to him, "You suck, Granderson!" Granderson, seeing his first opportunity to get involved in the rivalry retorted, "Oh yeah, well you live in Boston and I live in New York City." The whole stadium fell silent as the realization of the inferiority of their city hit the Boston fans. Most didn't even cheer on the win from their home town team, too depressed to even bother.
"I spoke to him about it afterward," said Girardi to a distraught Boston media. "Sometimes, when you're in the thick of it, you say things that, while true, you don't mean. I told Granderson it's okay to strike back, but you don't need to go that far. You're trying to razz them, not hurt them."
Respect Jeter's Gangster Is for the Children
The Yanks lead the Majors with two home runs, one each from Granderson and Posada. I actually have no idea what's going on on the donations front, so I'm just going to tally some numbers and let my brother figure that out.
Posada 1hr = $1
Granderson 1hr = $1
Total = $2
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Finally!
Opening Day is finally here. After a long winter, we once again have something to talk about at the water cooler, prompting many Americans to return to work (hence the most recent jobs report). The Yankees begin the season looking strong, but with a string of minor injuries. More worrisome, however, are some of the unanswered questions hanging over the Yankees. Will A-Rod ever meet with the Feds? Will A-Rod start dating Sandra Bullock in the coming weeks? Will Montero get a September call-up?
Many teams would buckle under the weight of such questions, but not these Yankees. They are a team of high character guys who only care about core family values like increasing revenue and winning.
Fittingly, the Yankees begin their quest for number 28 by facing a team who haunted them in the first half of last year, their biggest rival, Boston. It should make for an interesting opening series, since the more pessimistic amongst us will have a chance starting from day one to make dire predictions about the Yankees chances this October.
Enjoy the return of Baseball, everyone!
Many teams would buckle under the weight of such questions, but not these Yankees. They are a team of high character guys who only care about core family values like increasing revenue and winning.
Fittingly, the Yankees begin their quest for number 28 by facing a team who haunted them in the first half of last year, their biggest rival, Boston. It should make for an interesting opening series, since the more pessimistic amongst us will have a chance starting from day one to make dire predictions about the Yankees chances this October.
Enjoy the return of Baseball, everyone!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Yankees Decide on Finishing Touches
It has been a long off season, and a seemingly long spring training, but with the season starting in just two days, the Yankees have done everything they have needed to do to be ready. After making decisions about their 5th starter, centerfielder, bullpen and bench, the Yankees are left to finalizing the finishing touches before the season starts.
"The last couple days of spring training aren't about the games. They're really just about the minor details that make a team great." Explained Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher. "Like for example, today I'm going to work on my hand shake with Robinson Cano. Its going to be a one hand, double tap, around the back, high five, point to the sky, point to each other, and fade away. We gotta have it ready by Sunday."
Other players were also putting finishing touches to their routines.
"I spent the entire spring trying to pick out my entrance song." Explained third baseman Alex Rodriguez. "I have it between 'Empire State of Mind' by Jay-z and the Superman theme song. I was leaning towards one, but basically I need to make up my mind by Sunday."
The players are not the only ones who need the last couple days of spring training to put the finer pieces together.
"I have a real problem on my hands." Explained manager Joe Girardi. "I mean, who do I have bat 8th? The lineup we have has 8 premium hitters and 1 number 9 hitter. So who do you have getting protected by Brett Gardner in the lineup? Someone has to. Balancing ego's is hard. Like last year when I put together the lineup, I would put numbers 1-4 in the lineup and then after that they'd be 4a, 4b, 4c and on. They all thought they were cleanup hitters! This year I think they'll catch on."
"The last couple days of spring training aren't about the games. They're really just about the minor details that make a team great." Explained Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher. "Like for example, today I'm going to work on my hand shake with Robinson Cano. Its going to be a one hand, double tap, around the back, high five, point to the sky, point to each other, and fade away. We gotta have it ready by Sunday."
Other players were also putting finishing touches to their routines.
"I spent the entire spring trying to pick out my entrance song." Explained third baseman Alex Rodriguez. "I have it between 'Empire State of Mind' by Jay-z and the Superman theme song. I was leaning towards one, but basically I need to make up my mind by Sunday."
The players are not the only ones who need the last couple days of spring training to put the finer pieces together.
"I have a real problem on my hands." Explained manager Joe Girardi. "I mean, who do I have bat 8th? The lineup we have has 8 premium hitters and 1 number 9 hitter. So who do you have getting protected by Brett Gardner in the lineup? Someone has to. Balancing ego's is hard. Like last year when I put together the lineup, I would put numbers 1-4 in the lineup and then after that they'd be 4a, 4b, 4c and on. They all thought they were cleanup hitters! This year I think they'll catch on."
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Derek Jeter Releases 2010 Guide to all his Press Answers
Today, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter released his 2010 guide to all his press answers. Its a useful tool members of the press can use for quotes throughout the 2010 season. Among some of the highlights are the following:
After a Win:
"I'm excited to win, but its one game."
After a Loss:
"We need to play better."
After an A-Rod controversy:
"He's our teammate."
Derek Jeter is pretty strict to the adherence of his quote guides. Last season a journalist was asking him questions, and he just told the guy a page number and walked away. The good news is, we already know exactly what Jeter will say in pretty much any situation next season. Here's to the 3 day countdown to meaningful Yankees baseball.
After a Win:
"I'm excited to win, but its one game."
After a Loss:
"We need to play better."
After an A-Rod controversy:
"He's our teammate."
Derek Jeter is pretty strict to the adherence of his quote guides. Last season a journalist was asking him questions, and he just told the guy a page number and walked away. The good news is, we already know exactly what Jeter will say in pretty much any situation next season. Here's to the 3 day countdown to meaningful Yankees baseball.
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