Derek Jeter’s passing of Cal Ripken Jr. on the all-time big league hits list, puts him on a crash course with Napoleon “Nap” Lajoie—a ballplayer once part of one of the most childish yet comedic controversies in baseball history. Lajoie, who leads Jeter by 56-hits after Sunday’s game versus the Chicago White Sox, was a very popular player in the early 20th century. Like Jeter, Lajoie was a true professional. Per Baseball-statistics.com, Lajoie had “a combination of defensive ability, hitting ability and leadership that may be unparalleled in major league ...
Ian Kinsler has played some impressive ball this season, but he should be nowhere close to edging Cano in the MLB All-Star vote this year.In the latest report on the voting between the two players, the two were going at it for the starting second base position in the 2012 MLB All-Star game.Not only would it be unjust to have the Texas Rangers' 2B top the Yankees second baseman in the votes for the American League starter spot, it would also be—to use ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith's go-to word—blasphemous. ...
Have you ever seen that sign that says "maximum capacity is…" before entering a room? At this rate, the Yankees need to put up one of those signs in their rehab room. In the 1993 film The Program, James Caan portrays a hard-nosed college football coach. In one scene, Caan asks his running back, played by Omar Epps, "Are you injured?" He goes on to say, "If you’re injured, I can’t let you go back in, but if you are hurt than you can play.” CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte are injured.Both Yankee ...
There is a great scene in the film Dr. Strangelove when George C. Scott talks to the President, played by Peter Sellers, about the advantages of starting a nuclear war.At one point he says, "The truth is not always a pleasant thing. But it is necessary now to make a choice between two admittedly regrettable but nevertheless distinguishable post-war environments."That line reminded me of the current state of the Philadelphia Phillies. Now granted, they are not dealing with something as severe as starting World War III. But they do need ...
With CC Sabathia on the shelf for the next couple of starts nursing a groin strain, the New York Yankees have chosen to give his starts to rookie right-hander Adam Warren.Warren is one of the Yankees high-tiered pitching prospects, but not many fans are aware of what he can bring to the table.He is the definition of an innings eater, tossing 152.1 innings last season. In those innings, he struck out 111 and walked 53.By now means is he a power pitcher. He throws strikes and lets the offense put ...
Wednesday was a rough day for the New York Yankees, even though they beat the Cleveland Indians to complete a three-game sweep, because their two best pitchers were placed on the disabled list with leg injuries. CC Sabathia strained his groin during his start Sunday night against the Mets and is expected to miss his last two starts before the All-Star Break. Andy Pettitte was hit in the leg with a line drive in the fifth inning on Wednesday and fractured his left ankle. He will miss at least two ...
“If you cheat and fail, you’re a cheater. If you cheat and succeed, you’re savvy.” -Eric Cartmenez
By now, we’ve all seen Dewayne Wise’s amazing catch savviness in convincing the umpires that he caught Jack Hannahan’s fly ball while diving into the stands in the seventh inning of the Yankees’ 6-4 victory on Tuesday night. As with any horrible call, the error by umpire Mike DiMuro has stoked the fires calling for expanded instant replay during regular season games. After all, we have the technology to easily fix these problems, ...
The Yankees are going to make a trade for a starting pitcher. That is fact.It is as predictable as the sun rising in the morning. They have turned a moribund season around where they shot from a .500 record to the top of the division in a little more than a month.But yesterday, the Yankees had to put both Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia on the disabled list at the same time. In one swift stroke, the most effective 40 percent of their rotation was put on the shelf. And ...
When Andy Pettitte announced that he was returning, everyone was wondering how the New York Yankees would find a spot in the rotation for him. As the season moved along, it became obvious how important he would be to the starting five the rest of the year. Unfortunately, thanks to a Casey Kotchman liner right back up the middle, Pettitte will be out for six weeks with a fractured ankle.This came shortly after the team put CC Sabathia on the disabled list with a groin strain, though he is expected to ...
Losing CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte is far from out of the ordinary for the 2012 New York Yankees.How can Yankees fans not roundhouse the nearest newspaper stand and yell, “What the heck next!?” regarding the steaming pile of injuries unloaded on this team’s front yard this season. Never in my life have I seen anything like the level of brute attrition this club has endured. Perhaps the Yanks are trying to become the official sponsor of every pain-relief ointment known to mankind, who knows. One thing is for certain: ...