It's incredible to see that it's become a common thought that the New York Yankees should pursue Prince Fielder. Yankees Universe is downright giddy at the prospect of having the lefty slugger playing for their team in 2012. Being a Yankee fan, I am forced to admit that signing Fielder would be complete overkill. We all know the Yankees ridiculous payroll numbers and the fact that they're not afraid to use it. That being said, where do you draw the line between rational and excessive? The Yankees first focus should ...
When you break it down, most sports are simple to understand. I've been able to teach my wife the basics of baseball in two easy lessons: pitching and defense.She now sits watching baseball games with me and makes astute comments about pitching and defense. For example, after AJ Burnett exited Game 4 of the ALCS, she commented how Curtis Granderson had saved his butt with those two fine catches.Now, if she gets it, why can't the Yankees brass? My wife understood that AJ Burnett's Game 4 pitching line looked good ...
Heading into the 2011 season, and during the season itself, the conversation surrounding the Yankees centered almost entirely around an uncertain starting rotation. This talk was justifiable, of course, as the Yankees, in all games not begun by C.C. Sabathia, were typically starting someone who was either too brittle, too inexperienced, too unreliable or just too much of an unknown. As the season progressed, though, the starting staff began to over-deliver on expectations on a routine basis. It is forgotten, for instance, that A.J. Burnett was actually a serviceable pitcher through June, posting ...
Mickey Mantle “arrived” in 1956 when he won the Triple Crown, but the truth is that he really “arrived” when his contemporaries praised his achievements rather than his potential. Ted Williams was one of the greatest hitters of all time. Mantle at his peak barely approached Williams as a hitter, but Williams knew how good Mantle had become.When asked if Mantle had a chance to bat .400, Williams didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely. Mickey has everything going for him. He has the speed to beat out bunts, so they can’t play him ...
When the "experts" compared Mickey Mantle to Willie Mays, the first thing they mentioned was each player's batting average. Then they compared the number of home runs each player hit and that was usually followed by comparing their slugging averages. Finally, RBI totals and runs scored were cited. Mantle struck out much more than Mays, which was considered a tremendous negative. Mantle walked much more than Mays, but on base average didn't become an official statistic until 1984. After each had retired, Mays was generally considered the greater offensive player, ...
If there's anything the New York Yankees don't need right now, it's another player like David Ortiz.And if there's one team on which Ortiz's talents would be squandered, it's the Yankees.See where I'm going with this?After a long and successful tenure with the Boston Red Sox, Big Papi may be on the way out of Beantown as a free agent, with some "baseball insiders" suggesting he may cross over to the (other) Dark Side to suit up in pinstripes.The only issues? He and the Yankees simply don't need each other. ...
For the second year in a row, the New York Yankees' main focus in the offseason will be starting pitching.There's a good chance that Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia won't be back with the team.Phil Hughes still can't be depended on.A.J. Burnett could be shopped around this winter in a trade.And CC Sabathia could opt out of his contract, although many expect the Yankees to re-sign him to another long-term deal.There has been a lot of speculation as to whether the Yankees will show interest and pursue Texas Ranger left-hander ...
The rambling, shifting, stream-of-consciousness syntax of Casey Stengel has filled thousands of newspaper and magazine pages with anecdotes ranging from amusing and wise to droll and banal, and sometimes vulgar. More than a million references to No. 37 exist on Google and Yahoo. He was on the cover of Time Magazine twice. And there are quite a few books about him and his New York Yankees of the mid 20th century. Like former president Harry S. Truman, Stengel hailed from Missouri and wandered in the wilderness before finally hitting ...
It's been a rough year for Alex Rodriguez.From a professional standpoint, he battled numerous injuries throughout the long baseball season and when his New York Yankees needed him the most, he went hitless in the American League Division Series, helping the Detroit Tigers to send his club packing.His personal life wasn't faring much better. Rodriguez was dumped by his girlfriend and Hollywood superstar Cameron Diaz, even after the two were caught coddling each other and she hand-fed him popcorn at the Super Bowl.Needless to say, 2011 was a year to ...
C.C. Sabathia would be wise to consider one of the biggest rumors to hit MLB free agency this week. His job is simple: opt out and sign with the Texas Rangers. I know there is a great deal of you to scoff at such a suggestion. I call you people Yankees fans. The rest of us understand that Sabathia would be far better off in a new locale, and Texas is better than any possible franchise. ESPN reports the Texas Rangers are set to target Sabathia in free agencies this offseason. They, ...