Mark Burhle Pitches Perfect Game for Chicago

Mark Burhle has pitched a Perfect game. He retired ever single hitter that tampa bay brought up to him, putting out 27 batters. This is Mark’s second No Hitter in his career but his first perfect game. I know some of you want to know what the difference between a no hitter and a Perfect game is so I am going to explain that for you. A no hitter is when a pitches does not allow a hit during the complete game. In a no-hitter you can allow walks and you can hit batters, the only thing you can’t do is allow a hit. In a perfect game, no batter reaches a base. So that means it is just ilke a no hitter, yet the pitcher will need to retire all 27 batters in a row. That means it’s 9 123 innings in a row! This Marks the 17th perfect game in MLB history so it is a pretty big deal. Check out Mark’s post game interview below

Jeff Wilpon is a spoiled CT kid with too much power!

I am sick and tired of watching Jeff Wilpon running the New York Mets into the ground. The day that his Father Fred took a step back, Jeff has acted like a jack off inside this team’s clubhouse. It’s almost like Jeff has been playing professional ball club owner for the last couple of years. This guy is a joke. He treats the people who perform, with little or no interest all while promoting his personal friends and personal favorites. This guy is a lot like Al Davis only he has never amounted any kind of championship during his reign over this team.

Jeff Wilpon’s lack of professionalism is a big problem for this Mets organization. With every incident it just becomes more and more obvious. I hope we all remember how this guy decided to handle the firing of Willie Randolph. Who sends the manager out to California and then pulls the trigger on firing him before he even arrives in New York? Only a jerk off like Jeff Wilpon.

With this new incident with Tony Bernazard, the fact that Wilpon hasn’t made any statements is just deplorable. Yeah we all know that Bernazard is a friend and favoirate for Jeff Wilpon, so it’s not surprising that he sends out his puppet Omar Minaya to handle all media issues and do damage control. This guy is nothing but a cancer and his character flaws have been well documented! For god sakes, Tony Bernazard plotted with Wilpon to push out Rick Peterson who had done nothing but produced with players like Oliver Perez and John Maine!

Jeff hasn’t even been around that long but his stupidity is already staring us in the MEDIA dead in the face. I am just wondering when everyone will realize that this guy is not the COO that any real superstar would ever want to play for. Just look at how he is letting K-Rod be treated this season. For god sakes Johan Sanatana is 11-7 this year, I would expect no superstar players to sign with the Mets anytime soon, because this organization is just that much of a wreck. Also hasn’t there been a lot of internal conflicts in this organization over the last 6 seasons? They try to demonize the wrong guys and I am hear to state the fact that without Jeff Wilpon the Mets would run much more smoothly.

JUST REALIZE THIS JEFF, you have put yourself in this position… YOU ARE A JACK ASS AND A MORON. THE DAY THAT DOUBLE DAY WALKED AWAY SO DID THE MET’S CHANCES AT BEING A CLASS ORGANIZATION! Just think how this is all happnenig because Frank has let his over entitled, spoiled rich Connecticut brat son run this New York Baseball team. Jeff Wilpon (AKA MLB’s young Al Davis) is not a professional or a New Yorker and is running our team and organization in to the ground.

I have only one thing to say to him, “HEY JEFF, you can suck my dick”

I am going to refer to a letter that this Jack off wrote to the Mets season ticket holders in 2008. It Reads as follows;

Dear Mets Fan:

All of us at the Mets are bitterly disappointed in failing to achieve our collective goal of building upon last year’s success. We did not meet our organization’s expectations — or yours. Everyone at Shea feels the same range of emotions as you — our loyal fans — and we know we have let you down. We wanted to thank you for your record-breaking support of our team this year.

Equally important, Ownership will continue its commitment in providing the resources necessary to field a championship team. Omar will be meeting with Ownership shortly to present his plan on addressing our shortcomings so that we can achieve our goal of winning championships in 2008 and beyond.

You deserve better results.

Many thanks again for your record-breaking support.

-Jeff Wilpon

Hey Jeff spare the season ticket the apology letter and the Public relations BS. Why don’t you just act like an owner and stop trying play Steinbrenner. “Queens is burning” already Jeff so maybe you should let someone who knows what they are doing handle this.

Mariano Rivera

In what we hope is now the post steroid era in MLB we were reminded tonight that no one is bigger than the game itself.
Mariano Rivera gave merely a grin as he was congratulated by Mark Teixeira after recording the final out on his 500th save. Teixeira actually fell down retreating to cover first before recovering to make the putout. Rivera however, always the professional, had sprinted to first to back up his teammate and was right there when the out was recorded.
In a time when players celebrate every little thing they do it was refreshing to see Rivera act like he’s been there before. 499 times before. There is no pointing to the sky, pounding his chest,triple sow cow fist pump, or hollering some post war battle cry. His performance alone speaks volumes.
From 1 to 500 Rivera has been a model of consistency. He has been described as mechanical, a machine, effortless. Yet he goes out every time with the same demeanor and approach: Here it is, hit it.
More times than not he ends up victorious. However, even in defeat he is gracious, professional and even consistent. Remember that wry smile as he walked off the mound in Arizona after losing game 7 of the World Series?
There is no telling how much he has left in the tank or if he will ever get the chance to close out another series clinching victory. However, if you are not enjoying it now for what it is then you are just not a fan of the game. For a guy who has been accused of having ice in his veins at least we know it’s only water.

Congratulations MO!

Endy Chavez Out For Season due to collision suffered in Mariners Game. See the video here!

So, Endy Chavez is out with a Torn ACL. Not surprising considering how small this guy really is. That hit was brutal and we wish the  young Venezuelan hustler, the best. Endy was best known for “The Catch” he made in a Mets uniform during the post season of 2006. Come see the video of the collision that put Endy out this season here. If you have yet to see “The Catch” he made while playing for the Mets check it out below. Endy is the man, it’s a real shame he is out for this season.

Mets are going after Mark DeRosa

The Mets have lost Carlos Delgado once again to Injury and I think it’s time they find a good backup plan. The truth is that the Tribe is slumping and looking for a new home for Mark DeRosa. The Mets could always use another bat and good Utility player to play first and or 3rd when Wright needs a brake. Mark DeRosa will be a free agent at the end of this season, so this move just seems all the more likely. If Delgado is out until august this trade makes sense. I just hope the Mets don’t give up the wrong prospect!  So poeple head this warning, don’t be surprised if you see the Tribes Mark DeRosa wearing orange and blue after this years trade deadline.

Come and buy, Yankee’s great, Bernie William’s new CD called Moving Forward

Yep, you would have to be living under a rock in New York if you didn’t know that Bernie Williams had a Jazz Guitar career while he was playing centerfield for the New York Yankees. In 2003 he released an album that did ok in the big apple, and his career has gone on from there. He decided recently to create the new album considering all the extra time he has gained since exiting baseball. The New CD is called, “Moving Forward” and has a great Jazz rendition of take me out to the ball game.

If you want to get your Bernie Williams memorabilia on, there are copies out there that have been personally signed by Bernie himself, so make sure to jump on that. Below is his music video for one of the singles for the album!

4,257: Can Derek Jeter Save Baseball?

So far Derek Jeter has everything Alex Rodriguez ever wanted. So why not take what MLB wanted, needed and hoped for him to do; save baseball. Jeter currently sits at 2,535. 1,721 hits shy of the all time hit leader Pete Rose. Jeter would have to sustain his average of 195 hits per season for nine more seasons to pass Rose. That would make him 44 years old and put him in his 22nd season as a Major Leaguer. It is highly unlikely that Jeter, a SS, would even last that long let alone continue to rack up close to 200 hits per year for nine more seasons. It would certainly be a great feat and surely would help baseball rise up out from the doldrums of the sports world.

In the wake of the Mitchell Report having been released, Jeter admitted he had put on too much weight in his decade long effort to bulk up in hopes to add more power to his swing. Yet his power numbers remained low last season as the rest of his offensive numbers dropped significantly. Perhaps last season was an indicator of things to come. As well, we all know that Jeter is no longer the premier position player he once was. He has certainly lost as step and judging by his perfomance in the WBC, though be it “pre season” he is far from where he was as an All-Star and World Series MVP.

Even passing Ty Cobb would be almost as improbable. At this point, baseball has not much to look forward to in wake of the recent economic collapse. As well, the current Administration having already backed off unrealistic promises and yet to overcome its love affair with itself is yet to even return from the campaign trail. Futher pushing an already long overdue economic recovery back until the Honeymoon is over. Which may not be until 2016 given its Carpenter like status.

So perhpas we will just have to wait until the next Babe Ruth comes along. Funny how what saved baseball the first time around is what ultimately killed it in the end. I just hope the next Babe Ruth is a sober, non-smoking, drug and disease free, athiest celibite with the heart of Secreteriat the charisma of Shaquille O’Neal, and my overwhelmingly charming yet devestaingly hadsome good looks. Who is born smack dab in the middle of the 39th and 40th parallels. West of the Mississippi and East of the Rocky Mountains under an Earth sign on a snow day in Spring.

Jackie Robinson day, a major league pain in the butt for announcers league wide!

The announcers worst enemy would have to be having everyone on every team wearing the same number wouldn’t it? To me it’s pretty stupid, so I just wanna say “nice job MLB”. It’s not like all the players could wear a patch with his number on it, no of course not, we need to make things just that more confusing. I love that fact that the idiots at the league office thought this was a good idea. I can just see it now, “Now batting, I think it’s maybe Robinson Cano!” My heart goes out to all those PA announcers and play by play callers who will screw up today, sorry I guess Bud doesn’t like you! I am pretty sure Jackie would have rather just been remembered some other way, without ruining the flow of the commentary and broadcasts of the game that he loved!

Drug Pushers

I have a “bone” to pick. MLB, ESPN, and WFAN call all kiss my ass! I am sorry that it took me this long to realize it and I apologize to our readers for not addressing this sooner. It has been 15 months since the release of the Mitchell Report. In that time we have seen the games biggest stars fall from grace. They have either been caught or accused of abusing illegal drugs in hope of enhancing their performance on the field. They have been disgraced as well as their families, teams, fans and countries. We have shamed them for it. We have listened to beat writers, talk show hosts and “analysts” talk about their influence on children and the negative effects they have on children.

Why is it then that all three of these major sports media outlets allow Pfizer to advertise Viagra during baseball games? Viagra is a performance enhancing drug is it not? Who is responsible for this? This is an outrage. How do I explain what erectile dysfunction is to my five year old daughter during the 5th inning of USA vs Canada? Which by the way was not a prime time telecast. Even tonight in the wake of The Netherlands upset over La Republica Domincana, ESPN is still firing away at Roger Clemens and the fabricated evidence against him in an attempt to tear him down yet after the story aired the next block of commercials included an add for Viagra. Give me a break!

Advertising during prime time when the kids should be in bed is one thing. Yet, Baseball is sacred. Is it not? I do not care what time it is, drugs should not be pushed on us during sporting events. It sends a terrible message. The wrong message. How can you take your kids to a baseball game when there are signs up all over the place with old ugly pediphiles on them trying to keep an erection?

You would think they would have pulled the adds considering the poster child for abusing performance enhancing drugs and lying about it was also peddling Viagra. Has anyone seen Rafael Palmeiro lately?

Flames’ Defense Burning Out

The Calgary Flames acquired Olli Jokinen at the trade deadline and many put them as the new Western Conference favorites—or at least up there with San Jose and Detroit—as a result. There is no doubt that acquisition of Jokinen will help Calgary’s chances of winning both the west and the Stanley Cup. However, since the trade deadline the Flames have gone 1-3 including losing three in a row by a combined 14-5. Granted, Calgary is on a long east coast road trip which is really hard for any team let alone a team from out west. That said, losing is one thing but giving up 14 goals in three games is pathetic. The Calgary Flames needed more help on defense than anywhere else and Jordan Leopold is a fine player but not enough to make a big enough impact to give Calgary the defensive improvement it needs (you heard that first here on sportsroids right after the trade deadline). So where does Calgary go from here? They are eight points ahead of the closest team in their division and it is doubtful this losing will continue once they leave the east coast so the playoffs are almost certainly in their sites. But as many fans, observers, etc. will tell you Calgary was not built to just make the playoffs but to be highly successful once they qualify. Size, offensive fire-power, and goaltending are all important aspects of what makes a successful playoff team; the missing part of that equation is strong defense. Limiting scoring chances takes pressure off of the goalie and the offense because if you don’t the offense cannot always outscore the other team who will net many pucks if a goaltender—no matter how great—is peppered with puck after puck. The Flames have a lot to figure out in the next few weeks because being outscored 14-5 is the sign of a team headed an early round exit, an abject disaster for Flames fans everywhere.

LIke what you see? Try these on for size:

NFL

http://sportsroids.com/2009/03/10/plaxicos-moment-of-truth-court-date-march-31st-is-upcoming-did-he-really-shoot-himself-in-the-foot/

NBA

http://sportsroids.com/2009/03/09/are-the-cleveland-cavaliers-ready-to-come-out-of-the-east/

MLB

http://sportsroids.com/2009/03/01/greener-pastures-for-jeter/

WWE

http://sportsroids.com/2009/03/10/it%E2%80%99s-official-world-heavyweight-championship-will-be-a-triple-threat/

MMA

http://sportsroids.com/2009/03/09/new-brutal-and-best-mma-knockouts-from-2008/

Hotties

http://sportsroids.com/2009/03/08/usc-trojan-jennifer-mueller-is-a-hottie/

Video Games

http://sportsroids.com/2009/01/07/nba-live-09-kobe-bryant-busts-a-chump-and-scores-96-points-highlight-video/

Jenny Finch: One hot Softballer

I never watch softball, I confess. I actually was just surfing the net when I saw a picture of this girl. Jenny was a 2-time Olympic Softball player on the USA national team. Now I don’t know if she really constitutes hot, but I would love for all you to comment and let me know if she deserves to be in the Sportsroids hotties section. Many people have told me she is hot, yet I am just not that convinced! Here are some pictures of her, I will be awaiting all your feedback!

Bud Selig Is A Crime Boss

Gambino… Genovese… Selig? What? I was shocked too. How could a complete dolt, a simpleton, a coward, find himself amidst the names of some of the most notorious figures of all time? Alas, it is true. Perhaps you have not heard or just had not paid much attention to the story. As well the mainstream media surely gave Allen Huber Selig Jr. a pass on this one. In fact they gave him a pass on more than just one occasion, but I assure you Mr. Selig is a criminal avoiding justice. As the old saying goes money talks…!

In 2002 the minority owners of the then Montreal Expos filed RICO charges against Mr. Selig and Jeffrey Loria. MLB could have been found liable for up to $300 million. Mysteriously, the case was sent to arbitration and eventually settled for an undisclosed amount. This is what happens when rich white men take large sums of money from one another. Lawyers get involved and as long as everyone gets their money all parties agree no one has to serve any jail time. This in itself is a crime as far as I am concerned. Especially when all this is going on behind closed doors at the expense of the hard working people who inexplicably sit idly by and continue to support this man and his sport.

Mr. Selig has also been part of a very hush hush collusion scandal that has been going on in recent years. On at least four seperate occasions since 2002 Bud Selig and the Owners of MLB have been have been cited for collusion ranging from money owed from revenue sharing to contracts including players such as Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez.

The latest scandal is that of banned trainer Angel Presinal. Who somehow avoided notoriety in 2001 after being banned from baseball for having been caught with steroids and syringes. Obviously his ties to baseball were strong and still are the even after having been caught Bud Selig never exposed him nor made it evident to any player to refrain from contact with this man. Presinal was also allowed to work with players in the 2006 World Baseball Classic; a Selig creation.

You be the judge but clearly Selig’s hands are dirty and it is only a matter of time before a young hot shot Federal investigator gets wise and takes him down. Elliot Ness where are you now?

Bud Selig

Is there a more worthless coward in professional sports than Bud Selig? No! There is not. This man is nothing more than a puppet on a string for MLB ownership of which he used to be a part. He was a terrible owner of a terrible franchise and now is the Commissioner of the most laughable and terrible product in sports history. Bud Selig is a big cry baby and a spoiled brat. He inherited the family business. As the old saying goes “you can always tell who built the empire and who inherited it.” He has watered down baseball with bad talent in bad markets with expansion. He was also a major player in the collusion scandal in baseball which thanks to his relationship with the media has gone relatively unnoticed in recent years yet still exists. 2012 cannot come soon enough. A year in which Selig plans to retire. THANK GOD! Many expect this to be the end of the world according to ancient Mayan calendars. Well I can tell you the village idiot is surely running the show in MLB.

He has created two teams in baseball in markets where the fan base would not know what a baseball was if you hit them in their aging elderly brains with one. He has initiated the worst rule in sports deciding home field advantage for the league championship be determined by it’s most meaningless game. His drug testing policy came 16 years after George Bush made steroids illegal in the U.S. A test that is now completely obsolete because they still have no test for HGH. Earth to Bud: you do not need a test for it. It is illegal. Therefore any player caught using should be banned for life. Much like Pete Rose was banned for his illegal gambling. Even David Stern, who allows the use of marijuana in his league, is laughing at you.

YOU ARE A JOKE BUD SELIG! And everyone knows it. The sooner you retire the better off we will all be. You are a disgrace to the game and this country. You are a nobody in the Hall of Shame of sports. You are a terrible human being, a worthless commissioner and common pimp among businessmen everywhere. YOU SUCK!

The Truth In Earnest

In 1986 weather you wanted to believe it or not, the baseball world was introduced to steroids. Then, an 11 year old kid, I was at the height of collecting baseball cards. I still have them and what fun it was to spend most or all of what little money I had buying up as many as I could. By the ripe old age of 12 thanks to Jose Canseco I could identify a “muscle head” or “juice head” from a mile away. By the 7th grade I was already wondering if I would ever even make it as a high school athlete because I thought that everyone who played football was on steroids. In the 8th grade I learned everyone was not on steroids, steroids were bad for you, and if you wanted some I could get them for you. That was 1989. Baseballs were “juiced” not players. The Cold War was ending and the Steroid Era in baseball was well underway. A year later The Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990 became law on November 29, 1990, when President Bush signed the Omnibus Crime Control Bill.

Why then since that day does MLB or any other professional sports organization continue to be held at bay by a players union that somehow does not think that the law applys to its members? How can any player who belongs to the union that plays under the same collective bargaining agreement expect anyone to believe they they are “clean” when their own union affords them the right to be “dirty”? Why would any fan, including reporters/beat writers/media etc. of MLB be upset or shocked to find out that Alex Rodriguez or any player for that matter used steroids? Why then would these same people call for everything short of a beheading of said players when they knew all along these “sacred” and “holy” records were already compromised?

As much as I detest Barry Bonds. As much as I hate the Yankees for having signed Jose Canseco, Jason Giambi and Kevin Brown and for resigning Andy Pettitte the lying, cheating, rat. And as much as I hate A-Rod for further disgracing the pinstripes I have to say according to the rules of baseball at that time, they crossed no lines nor broke any rules. (other than the law) But since that does not count in baseball, never has, never will – let the records stand. Everyone including Ownership, MLB Executives, MLBPA and its members, the media and us the fans should all accept our responsibility and just put it to bed and move on.

If MLB, MLBPA, U.S. Congress, or parents/teachers/coaches of children in the United States think that only now steroids is a problem at the high school level, they are sadly mistaken and grossly ignorant.

I Need A New Sport

My father used to say that Rodeo was the only sport. That no one was tougher than a Cowboy. He himself used to “bulldog” back in his day. Though those days were short lived after having seen a man have his head stomped in and spend the rest of his days talking to himself. Dear old Dad wore cowboy boots, snap button shirts and had a license plate that read RODEO: Everything Else Is Just A Game!

I have to say that with all that is going on in the seemingly unwatchable professional sports world that I must agree. Parity in football sucks. The last ten Superbowl champs just do not measure up to those before them. Baseball is a mockery now. The commissioner is coward. The players union is run by a s group of arrogant jackasses empowered by lazy good for nothing drug addict ball players. Even the government is standing on ceremony now in their day late and dollar short effort to rectify the situation. NBA basketball is a disgrace. Between what they allow on and off the court coupled with the FACT that they have a gambling problem how could anyone take it seriously? Hockey lost me when the Sabres lost to the Stars on a goal that should not have counted in a game that decided the Stanley Cup Champ. I would still rather be playing NHL Hockey on Sega. And don’t bother with any other sport. You are lucky I felt generous enough to include Hockey in the conversation. Next you will want to whine about soccer and tell me it is “so popular”. Yeah well not here in the real world United Stated where its biggest star bailed to go back over seas and play for less money. Soccer is a baby sitting service for terrible parents who do not love their kids and are afraid they might get hurt playing a real sport.

Which brings me to Rodeo. Beer drinking, tobacco chewing, jeans and denim shirt wearing men atop 1200lbs of raw power! Even the advertisements at these events are manly. You will not see advertisements (at least not yet) for weenie girlie men and their “E.D.” or hair loss. You see ads for trucks, guns, hunting, beer, sponsor tags for tobacco and even some good old fashioned down home Americana:  www.borderpatrol.gov. It is amazing. I love it. I can not get enough. I am sure one day ESPN and the advertising industry will ruin it like they have ruined every other sport worth watching. For now it really is the only thing worth watching.

The last three weeks, at work behind the bar, I have turned off both college and pro basketball, ESPN’s Sportscenter, MLB network and all three New York area hockey teams in favor of VS coverage of bull riding. At first I get “what the hell are doing?” or “Whoa, what the..” “Hey put that back”. Yet every time I put on the rodeo after the first bull comes out from the chute it gets very quiet as the entire bar is focused on the one tv that is showing the bull riding. The only noise you hear from the crowd is when a cowboy gets “throwed” from his horse. Absolutely no one is watching the other 5 tv’s that are all showing basketball, hockey etc.  And when I turn it off the whole place erupts with an emphatic “WHOAAAA, PUT IT BACK!”

Rodeo: Everything Else IS just a game.

Ruth Aaron Mays…Rice?

Lest we not forget Williams, DiMaggio and Mantle. I am not sure anymore what if anything the Hall Of Fame means or should mean to anyone outside of MLB. There is no scientific formula that separates one player from the next in terms of voting. The voters themselves seem to be arbitrary at best and frankly what makes them more qualified than the average fan? We do not need them to tell us who is and who is not the best we have ever seen. We can see it for ourselves or at the very least look it up.

After a while it all seems meaningless anyway. The Hall of Fame in my most humblest of opinions should be reserved for the best of the best. So I ask you all who was the best of the best? How do we decide who is eligible and by what standard? I will give you my all time 25 man roster and you can come back at me with anything you like.

1. LF Rickey Henderson

2. RF Henry Aaron

3. P Babe Ruth (dh what’s that?)

4. CF Willie Mays

5. 1B Lou Gehrig

6 3B Brooks Robinson

7. 2B Jackie Robinson

8. C Yogi Berra

9. SS Cal Ripken Jr.

Ted Williams

Mickey Mantle

Pete Rose

Phil Rizzuto

Josh Gibson

Ken Griffey Jr

George Brett

Sandy Kofax

Steve Carlton

Bob Gibson

Satchel Paige

Nolan Ryan

Mariano Rivera

Cy Young

Walter Johnson

John Smoltz

Shame Shame Shame

Alex Rodriguez has tested positive for steroids. Shocked? I mean really now. Does anyone even care? I never thought that MLB would be the biggest joke in professional sports. Certainly now if it was not already MLB has no credibility. There is only one way to fix our national sport. First MLB needs a new commissioner, one with a backbone and no allegiance to either players or owners. I suggest me. Second the MLBPA needs to be busted. Clearly, the union, like any other union is to provide a safe working environment for its members as well as insuring fair practice. They have failed. Third the owners must all be forced to sell. An arbitrator should hold bids for each franchise and settle fair market value for all. Lastly all players and coaches at the major league level should be sent packing. They can all receive full contract value from revenue collected when the teams are sold. Baseball could continue with the stars of tomorrow: today! In less than five years no one will remember or care about A-Rod, Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, Manny Ramirez or any other aging cheating superstars.

Manny To The Yankees

New York Yankees Then And Now

While it was true that the Yankees had spent money fill voids at second and third base the money well spent was on their bench. While most teams owners were unable or unwilling to keep up with the George Steinbrenner branch of the Bank Of New York, even the teams that could and would were no match for the money the Yankees could spend on filling their bench.

In 1998 the Yankees spent roughly $9,000,000 on players like Tim Raines, Chili Davis, Louis Sojo, and Joe Girardi. Lest we not forget the important contributions of players such as Ricky Ledee, Shane Spencer and Homer Bush. However, as it stands now those ever so important role players pale in comparison to the stars of yester-year. While they may be serviceable players such as Nick Swisher, Jose Molina, and Cody Ransom even home grown “talent” such as Melky Cabrera, Juan Miranda and Brett Gardner fall short of the standard set by the 1998 Yankees.

The log jam the Yankees have created for themselves in the outfield is the now the albatross they had for the past 3 seasons with Giambi. Although they have ”cut” payroll so far this season the Yankees must still find a way to solidify their outfield while also shoring up their bench. A perfect example is the 2009 version of Jason Giambi. Ten years ago it would have been a foregone conclusion that Giambi would have ended up in pinstripes this Winter. And at $4,000,000 for the year for Oakland that is a steal.

Off the bench Nick Swisher is a good start for the Yankees and a step in the right direction towards winning a 27th World Series Championship. However, I feel they still fall short of being complete just yet until they are able to round out the bench to compliment their high priced arsenal.

Phillies vs. Dodgers Intriguing Matchup for 2008 MLB Playoffs

There is one big reason I believe that this Series is huge. That is the fact that both teams making it to the World Series would be great stories.

First off, the city of Philadelphia hasn’t had a championship professional team in forever. So the Phillies getting to the World Series on that alone would be a great story. And if they lost, it would be another gut-wrenching blow to the fans of Philadelphia. And although they were good and it wouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see them win based on performance, people would still make a scene about it.

For the Dodgers, it would be a slap in the face to George Steinbrenner and the Yankees if the man they let go, Joe Torre, wins it all. And I don’t know what the Redsox were thinking, but if Manny Ramirez carries this team all the way to the title, then that too would be great to watch. Imagine that! A former Yankee and a former Redsox player may have combined to win a title for another team.

As for the Rays, they are interesting because of their surprising success, but they have no real back stories or drama-filled transactions to talk about. On the other side of the AL, the Redsox already had their story when they finally broke the Curse.

So I wonder what people think of that.

Say it Ain’t Joe!? A Farewell to Yankee Stadium?

The Boinger

So they said farewell last night to Yankee Stadium. Some people could care less others in my opinion care a little too much. I could go on about feeling sentimental for concrete and steel but that is not what I am here for today. Yesterday was a farewell to “The Stadium” and all that came to pass there. A chance to look back and reflect on all the wonderful moments in its history and a chance for fans to not only show their appreciation but for the Yankees organization to thank its fans as well as stick out their chest a big and blow some hot air.

I just have one question:

Where was Joe Torre? I know he is in L.A. taking the Dodgers to the post season but where was Joe Torre? There was no Joe Torre in the video montage. No one even mentioned his name. How do you say goodbye to Yankee Stadium, recognize everyone that came from start to finish including all of Joe Torre’s players who won those 4 World Championships and all the celebrated managers that came before him and NOT MENTION HIM?

That is just terrible. I mean they dragged out a bunch of stiffs to represent every dead Yankee legend as well as spouses and children of deceased players. They had some of the oldest living Yankees in attendance and no Torre? Even Mattingly was missed if you blinked. That is a disgrace to me, one of Joe Torre’s biggest and toughest critics. The man gave the team everything he had. Opened his entire personal life up to the team and its fans. Ate slept and breathed NEW YORK for 12 seasons and that is how you say goodbye?