Here We Go Again

I'd like to leave this issue alone, but I just can't help myself. Here is Tom Verducci on pace (not time) of game issues:

Baseball is moving in the wrong direction. It was a faster game when people had fewer entertainment options and longer attention spans. But now as the world is speeding up, baseball is slowing down for no reason at all. The three and a half hour game isn't a bad thing for baseball; it's the slow-moving three and a half hour game that is the audience-killer. And if things continue to play out at the current rate, and a generation of young hitters crib from such a style, games will continue to have more and more dead time added.

Is this the reason Baseball opted to have the Yankees and Sox be the sole game on opening day? It's not as though the length of Yankees-Sox is anything new. Did MLB forget? Or is it a fact that even casual fans would rather watch a long Yankees-Sox game than a faster game between any other two teams (even if one of them is the Yanks or Sox?). Nobody cares if Nick Swisher steps out of the box between pitches (an example of the "nothingness" that is slowing down the game cited in the column/interview with Bud Selig). I have never ever heard anyone watching a ballgame suddenly yell, "Stop adjusting your gloves and taking practice swings! I have a plane to catch!"

I don't care if games in the olden days were shorter. They were shorter because the 7-9 hitters were automatic outs (there's a reason closers pitched multiple innings back then). AL line-ups in particular are not built that way, especially if we're talking Yanks or Sox.

At this point, this issue is quickly becoming old men yelling at kids to cut their hair. It's pathetic and embarrassing.

Yanks Take Home Opener

The Good

The day began with a very touching scene when the Yankees surrounded Matsui on the field for a big hug after Matsui received his ring. Other good things were the Yankees scoring 7 runs; Pettitte pitching 6 shoutout innings; and taking the first home game, something we failed to do last year against Cleveland of all teams.

The Bad

Bernie threw out the first pitch, and bounced it. We all love Bernie, so we can let that go, but can he at least retire already? He can't throw 60 feet, he's gonna come back and play outfield?

The Ugly

Mo had to come in to close the game because Dave Robertson couldn't wait to load the bases and then give up a grand slam to former Yankee, nice guy, and wallaphobe Bobby Abreu. The game was 1-7 in the top of the ninth and Robertson, the same Robertson who came into a bases loaded situation during the World Series (if I recall correctly) and got out of the inning not having allowed a single run, allowed four runs to come across the plate. That's ugly.

Ball Crushers

The Yankees continue to crush balls (really?), with both Derek Jeter and Nick Johnson hitting their first home runs of the season. The Bleacher Creatures wept, then called someone in the tier seats a gay slur.

Posada 2hr = $2
Granderson 2hr = $2
Cano 2hr = $2
Swisher 1hr = $1
Jeter 1hr = $1
Johnson 1hr = $1
Total = $9

The Most Important Matter of the Day

Today is the home opener and World Series ring ceremony. The most important question of the day, however, is how will Granderson respond when his name is called during the roll call. The roll call can make or break a player, unless that player is Jeter, who sort of flips his glove in the direction of the outfield whenever his name is called but is beloved anyway. Granderson, as I see it, has two choices. He can do a back flip, a la Ozzie Smith, or he can give the entire right field bleacher section the finger. I don't know if Granderson can do a back flip, but I assume that he can muster the necessary athleticism and dexterity to give the bleacher creatures the finger. From his position in center, the gesture will be clear to almost everyone, except those sitting in the upper left corner of the right field bleachers, who can see neither center field nor the tvs set up by the Yanks as a remedy.

Why the finger, you ask? Simple. First, aside from the roll call, the bleacher creatures are largely an annoying bunch who make sitting in that section of the park uncomfortable for anyone not in a biker gang or an amused (most likely male) teenager. They should be taken down a notch. Second, it is the most quintessentially New York thing he could possibly do. It would instantly endear him to the entire city, making everyone love him.

Sure, the moral police we call the press would have a field day. But Granderson could simply explain that it's all part of his process, and since he's playing so well that he is reluctant to change it. The baseball press can question anything, except a player's superstitions. Discussion over.

A Trade That Worked For All?

This morning I was thinking about how well Granderson has been playing for us, and how in the beginning there was some angst about parting with our star outfield prospect for someone like him. Usually in a trade that involves so many young prospects, you never know how it will turn out, and truthfully its too early to tell if this has worked out well. But there are some encouraging signs for all teams involved in this trade. Besides the amazing defense that Granderson has brought to centerfield, he has been off to a hot start batting .348 through the first two series of the season and belting a pair of homeruns. Contrary to popular beleif, Granderson has yet to wet himself when facing left handed pitching, granted its been a small sample size, and there are some lefties out there that are pant wetting worthy. Granderson has also stolen 3 bases, which really changes the dynamic of this team. Not only do you need to worry about the big bats in the lineup, now you need to be worried of some legitimate base stealing threats.

Ian Kennedy, one of the players moved in this Granderson trade, has made one start this season where he went 5 innings and gave up 3 runs, which doesn't sound that impressive. But he struck out 8 and walked none. In the NL, Kennedy may really flourish, though it is still early, and he still needs time to settle in.

Coke and A-Jax both ended up with Detroit, and have both been off to impressive starts. Coke has thrown 4.2 scoreless innings, and A-Jax is batting .313. That being said, he has 10 strikeouts in just 32 at bats, but this is apart of the growing process for him.

Its too early to tell, but at this point, it does seem like a very good trade for all the teams involved. I'll have to check back mid-season and reevaluate.

My brother and I were talking the other day about this shift we're having in the AL East. In the past, the Yankees have always been a second half team, that stumbles out of the gate each year making for a frustrating April-June. This year, they've been winning games early, and that with the slow starts of some of our bigger bats (Tex and A-Rod). The Red Sox on the other hand are having a rough start to their season, currently playing under .500. I know they won't continue playing that way, but its just strange to have this shift. Perhaps our early success is a result of having won our first championship in 9 years.

This Is Why

There's a reason the Yankees have their seemingly antiquated policies about facial hair and hair length. This is why:



If your screen isn't broken, then you're probably asking who is that and where can we find the beast that birthed it in order to put an end to its wretched existence. That's Phil Coke. That's what he looks like when he can grow a mullet and a creepy goatee. Let's all be grateful for the wise policy the Yankees have implemented.

Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Was Girardi really going to pull Sabathia on the verge of a no-hitter? Girardi has been preaching a team-first philosophy since last year, emphasizing that the Yankees are not about individual accomplishments. It obviously is a moot point after what happened in the game, but Girardi's insistence that Sabathia was not going to face another batter after Shoppach in order to protect Sabathia for the long haul is completely in line with Girardi's team-first emphasis. It may have made for bad press for a couple days, but Girardi's right that if we then lost Sabathia for a month or so because he let him throw 130 pitches in the second start of the season, we'd all hate Girardi for not showing more sense. It's a bit of a tough pill to swallow, but you're either about championships first or you're not. The Yankees, and Girardi, are.

Yanks Take Another Series

The Good

Burnett gave us 7 innings, allowing only 2 runs, despite a shaky first inning. Posada and Swisher both had home runs. Granderson continued to hit well and had an amazing defensive play in center that was stolen from him in a way that would make for the perfect set-up for any revenge themed movie.

The Bad

To the extent there was a negative, I suppose it would be that neither Teixeira nor Johnson managed a hit in the game. They did both reach base on walks though (one each).

The Ugly

Randy Choate, a former member of the Yankees organization, came in the sixth and promptly gave up a two-run home run to Jorge Posada. Everybody knows that, but what they don't know, is just how Jorge managed that feat. When he got up to home plate he turned to Dioner Navarro and said, "Hey, remember when you played for us but you sucked and we traded your @$$?" Navarro's eyes instantly welled up, distracting him from his pitch calling duties. Then Posada turned to Choate and yelled the same thing. We all know what happened next. Though I guess this probably should have led off the 'The Good.'

Bottoms Up

The bottom of the line-up continues to put in work, with Posada and Swisher supplying the power in yesterday's game. It will be interesting to see what happens when Teixeira and A-Rod wake up.

Posada 2hr = $2
Granderson 2hr = $2
Cano 2hr = $2
Swisher 1hr = $1
Total = $7

Road Trip Retrospective

Just thought I'd quickly mention two things that were interesting about this road trip for me. First, almost all our home runs have come from the bottom of the order, with only two coming from what would be considered the middle (Cano). The top of the line-up isn't without RBI, but the Yankees line-up seems even more balanced this year than it was last year. Granted, it's a small sample size, but you have to like what you've seen so far.

The other thing is that the Yankees managed to take both series on the road while losing the first game of each. As Curtis Granderson pointed out, that's hard to do. What I find interesting is that you usually get nervous when you lose the first game of any series, but particularly on the road, because it makes it tougher to take the series (you now have to win two in a row versus one of the next two). But I never had that concern with this team. And you get the sense that the Yankees were never worried that they wouldn't walk out of either Boston or Tampa Bay with the series in hand. There is an air of confidence around this team that is impressive, and possibly overwhelming for their opponents. I don't know whether it is the fact that most of these guys are coming off a championship run, or because they're just simply that good a team, but it's there. Hopefully, that's something that carries through to November.

Road Trip Opinion Piece

Obviously it is a small sample size, but after six games I think Curtis Granderson will be this year's Mark Teixeira. Teixeira was the best move by Cashman from last season. As important as CC and AJ were to the success of 2009, Teixeira's impact on offense and defense made him the best signing of the bunch in my mind. Granderson is hitting, slugging, and making some great plays in center. Today he made the type of catch that, while ruled a hit, hasn't been seen in a center field patrolled by a Yankee in a long time. Both Johnson and Vazquez will prove to be important pieces this year, but I think when all is said and done that Granderson will clearly be the best move Cashman made for 2010 (granted, he's probably already considered the best move from last winter, but who cares, I needed something to write about).

Yanks Take the Rays' Donkeys and Hand Them Back to the Rays

The Good

Isn't it obvious? Nick Johnson drew another walk, completely validating Bronny Cash's unwillingness to accede to Johnny Damon's and Scott Boras's unreasonable contract demands. Oh, and there was that almost no-hitter, the 10 runs, Mark Teixeira actually hitting the ball, great defense, tears in Joe Maddon's eyes, etc.

The Bad

Kelly Shoppach broke up CC's no-hitter like a complete jerk! I hate that guy.

The Ugly

Girardi claims that Shoppach was going to be CC's last batter regardless of whether he got on base or not. The long-term is the concern, not a historic and important career achievement, according to Girardi. Perhaps Girardi should start using a lower setting on his hair trimmer. Pull a pitcher after 8 no-hit innings? Crazy talk.

Robinson Crusoe

Robinson Cano is quickly emerging as the only Yankee who cares about children. He hit another bomb yesterday, ending the Rays' playoff hopes. "This is why we put him fifth," said Girardi. "Robbie cares about the children, and we need RJG's generous donations to help those children. It was the easiest decision I've ever made as manager."

Posada 1hr = $1
Granderson 2hr = $2
Cano 2hr = $2
Total = $4

Yanks Get Their [Donkeys] Handed to Them

The Good

Um . . . Well . . . There was the . . . um . . . first three innings or something. Joe West wasn't there, I guess that's good. Um . . . the weather was nice?

The Bad

Javy. Vazquez. In fairness, he only gave up 8 runs. If he was an NFL defense, we'd say that's not so bad. It's all a matter of perspective really.

The Ugly

Javy. Vazquez. Eight runs? Eight? Where's Kei Igawa when you need a starter who limits the damage? For goodness sake, just keep the ball down.

A Schilling If You Please, Sir

The Yankees refused to give any money to charity last night. No home runs were hit, and three panda puppies died as a result.

Posada 1hr = $1
Granderson 2hr = $2
Cano 1hr = $1
Total = $4