Papi Goes the Weasel!

Seems like just yesterday when David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez were sharing a drink and a cigar on the golf course at Ortiz's charity golf touney. Through all of the allegations and scandal that ARod was dealing with, all was well in the cozy seat of a golf cart in the sun drenched beauty of the Dominican Republic.All was right with the world.....ahhhhhhh.

Well, A funny thing happened today on ESPN radio. The ever so boisterous talk show host Colin Cowherd had a chat with Joe Tacopina and within a blink of an eye, buried one of ARods few remaining friends in baseball. That bridge was burned when this comment was made by Tacopina...

“No one else was compelled to say anything and no one else did say anything,” Tacopina said about the time period when a Selena Roberts book was released detailing Rodriguez’s alleged PED use and the Times story broke. “People were denying stuff. And I’m not gonna start naming all the other players, but some of them are God-like in Boston right now, and people seem to forget that … Alex came clean and admitted something when he didn’t have to.” 

Let's get real, no one is really surprised by this comment. Ortiz has dealt with allegations of steroid use for years now and for good reason, as Cowherd stated...

When it’s too good to be true, it is … Here was a guy in May of 2009, batting .222 with a slugging percentage of .300, no injuries and he couldn’t hit … He’s significantly better today than several years ago. Interesting story. The story of David Ortiz hitting .733 is about as believable as Big Foot.” 

Although, with it coming from the mouth of Tacopina, this will certainly have an immediate backlash. Let it be known though, it certainly won't be coming from Yankee fans! 

The steroid accusation is so freely used by Sox fans (2nd only to "buying our team") as the reason for the Yankee's championship success. Even after Manny Ramirez and his suspensions for anything from steroids to his...female fertility pills..heh, heh...Manny being Mary? Anyway, it still seems that it just disappears within the gates of Red Sox nation. 

I figure, if ARod is going to keep shooting off cannons while the ship sinks, why not aim it at the Red Sox?

A Bomb: The Countdown

I used to love spring training. Seeing the players getting back together and running around like last seasons injuries never happened. Jeters wheels, Teixeras wrist and look over there...it's ARod!?!?

Is this really happening? Who knows, after today's A bomb by A Rod and the fact that he's trying to sue the MLPPA, nothing surprises me anymore. For all we know, he will not only show up, but he'll play and play well! Imagine him finagling his way into some spring games and hitting .543 with 8 hrs and 20 RBIs. Would you be that surprised? This guy is the ultimate enigma.

I just can't wait for the day that we go into Spring Training without anything worthy of Page 6 in the Post. An ARod free bottom line on SportsCenter? A season that has nothing to do with suspension reviews or court appearances?  I mean, can you imagine how this court hearings going to go?!

Judge: Mr. Rodriguez, what do you have to say about these charges against you?
ARod: Bud Selig is out to get me!
Judge: What? No I mean the...
ARod: it WAS THE PLAYERS UNION!!
Judge: Mr. Rodriguez! Please just answer the questi...
ARod: OMAHA, OMAHA...BLUE 42

Well, that might be a bit of a stretch, but I have to ask you....is it?

The sad part is, and I'm sure some of you fans can attest, I'm becoming immune. This guy could show up to court or spring training in a dress, dancing the Macarena and holding a puppy at gunpoint and I would just roll my eyes and grab another cup of joe. Nothing surprises me anymore.

Although, that doesn't mean I can't wait for the day...61 million dollars in the future...that I can love spring training again.

Luis Sojo: The Little Guy that came up Big

I just received an update that Luis Sojo was added to the AAA coaching staff. It is well deserved by a man that became one of my favorite Yankee's on a random October night in 2000.


I remember it like it was yesterday. My father, my brother and I, we were standing in line, surrounding our television in disbelief of what was happening. Two on and two out with Al Leiter on the mound and clearly on the ropes! This is one of those great October moments that we will cherish for year's...who's up next?

..and up comes Luis Sojo!?

Wait, what?? Of all the great Yankees on that 2000 World Series team, all our hopes were on a 5' 11" utility infielder named Luis Sojo?

Then my Dad spoke (which never happened during a Yankee game unless it was something vile against ARod or Michael Kay) He said, "Why not Luis?"

This was my father in a nutshell, always rooting for the underdog. He was the biggest fan of guys that are long forgotten. Alvaro Espinoza, Andy Stankiewicz, Ricky Ledee, Charlie Hayes...and his all time favorite Chili "Dog" Davis. He just loved rooting for the little guys.

Well, Luis was a little guy and as we started to turn our favor towards Luis, he proceeds to get a huge 2 out 2 RBI knock up the middle and the Yankees go on to win game. The rest, of course is history as the Subway Series is wrapped up and another title is on the Boss's shelf.

This was one of those defining moments that taught my brother and I so much about being a fan. It is so easy to root for the guy that sells the most jerseys, but to root for the little guy and have him come through...well, that's priceless.

Anyway, congratulations Luis, you will always hold a place in this Yankee families heart. Because of guys like you, I will always root for the whole team, not just the players that sell the overpriced jerseys.

"When we saw him in spring training in a Pirates uniform, you knew he wanted to be with us," said a champagne-soaked manager Joe Torre.

Fantasy Drafts: If I only had a Brain/Heart/Courage

In fantasy baseball, you have 3 different methods when drafting a team. While that seems logical, it really can become skewed when you are a Yankee fan! Lets review and see how far off the road you can veer from a championship while your allegiances stand with the Yankees.

Brain: This is clearly the smartest method (well, I hope it is?) By using your brain you should be checking stats, rankings and write ups throughout the fantasy landscape and then combine all of this with a logical conclusion. Simple!! This is going to be great, Championship here I come!

Heart: This is where things start to go askew. You are 4 rounds deep into a draft. You had a great start and have found some great bargains and then you see him. You look at him with the adornment that 5000 models/actresses have before...it's the Captain! Derek Jeter has singlehandedly destroyed my teams in years before with my taking him 5 rounds to early.  The difference between you and a model/actress though is that he is not leaving you a goody basket and cab fare! This is just one example if how quickly picking with your heart can literalllly destroy you. Other examples from last season include Mark Teixera, C.C. Sabathia and Hiroki Kurofa...sigh.

Courage: This is just a matter of making that pick that no one else sees coming. This is the type of pick that either makes other owners at your drafts slamdown their fantasy magazine in anger or snicker to themselves. This is the pick that goes down as brilliant (Chris Davis) or a historical laughing stock that will be remembered for years to come. ( Yes, I still get laughed at for drafting Kei Igawa years back)

Basically, you can mix and match these methods all you want but one thing you will always have in your back pocket is the fact that you are a Yankee fan. When the fantasy season ends and the playoffs begin and you know that no matter how bad you do, your "real" team will be in the post season because you have Brian Cashman picking...Vernon Wells...and Lyle Overbay.

Hmm, well anyway, in conclusion, the greatest thing about "real" and "fantasy" baseball is, there's always next year! Good luck and draft safely....unless Jeters available.

Why the Yankee signings will work

It's so easy to see this all crumble down on our heads. With Robbie leaving town and the infamous number that makes any pinstriped fan cringe (189), it is so easy to be timid with your enthusiasm for the upcoming season. Well, don't be!

The signings of Ellsbury, McCannn and Beltran bring more than just some extra pop in an annemic line up. These players are intense winners and that seems to be something that has been missing lately. The first thing that came to my mind with each signing was the intensity of each player. From McCann blocking the plate last season as a taunting Carlos Gomez rounded the bases, to Ellsbury screaming around the basepaths and diving without abandon to Beltran getting clutch hit after clutch hit in the playoffs. These guys come in with something hanging on their sleeves that the likes of A-Rod and Cano couldn't bring, and that's heart.

I know the Yankees aren't done yet and to be honest I am excited about what is coming next, but as of now I am thrilled with the new additions.

Third down?

Well, it's becoming very obvious that there is a better chance of Tim Tebow playing 3rd base for the Yankees this year than an actual MLB quality 3rd baseman. Two more names were removed from the list today, one of which was the back up for ARod last season, Eric Chavez. Yeah, we can't even fall back to...well, the back up plan. As much as I would like to ramble on about this and the small list of possibilities that will solve the problem, let's move on.

In other news, I went to my son's book fair tonight. A predictable trip it was, as he chose Star Wars books and Lego books and of course Star Wars Lego books. We even ran into his teacher who of course proclaimed "big surprise Aidan, those books have your name all over them!" So, on we trudged through the gymnasium until we came upon a rack of famous people throughout history. Well, after giving a typical fatherly explanation of anyone that I really didn't know about, he finally picked up one that I could relate to...Babe Ruth.

Ah, this one was easy to explain, seeing that the class report that i did on his life was the only A that I received in junior high. Unfortunately, by the time I got started, he eyed another Lego label and was off and running. That Lego label must be equivalent to the "bottom line" on Sports Center for fathers, because no matter what is going on or who is talking to me...my eyes are always transfixed on that puppy. (not to mention that for the times when the wife is talking, God blessed me with amazingly accurate peripheral vision) So, the Bambino lesson would have to wait.

It didn't break my heart, I know he is to young to care now. What scares me though is the fact that George Steinbrenner is no longer with us. The Yankees are done over spending and trying to build juggernauts, and my son might not be spoiled with World Series chances every season like I was.

 As a matter of fact, with the spending going up with other teams in the AL east, the Yanks could just be an....gulp...average team.

Although, when you look at the "glass half full" aspect of the whole situation, positives exist! He will not have to see 25 million dollars of 40 year old recovering in a out patient room! He won't have to see a 20 million dollar players batting average drop 10 points every season of his endless contract! He won't see endless 10+ million dollar yearly checks go out to 40 year old pitchers!

Heck, he might just see what a....breathe, Dana....prospect looks like!!! EEEEEK!!!

Well, we will see, but for now, stick with Legos kiddo.

They are much less painful...unless you step on one.

Hot Stove Revolution?

 How would you like to be a fly on the wall at this years winter meetings? Do the Yankees really have a salary cap? Do the Dodgers have any limit to spending? What is going on in bean town?

So many questions are stoking the fire in this years hot stove and it doesn't seem to be cooling off any time soon.

Yesterday, the Yankees released news that A-Rod would be having surgery in January and would be gone for a large chunk of the season. As appeasing as this might seem to some Yankee fans (hey, he can't get out if he's not in the line up!!) Others see a pile of millions, sitting in a gurney.

It didn't take long for the rumors to start swirling, from Youkilis to Keppinger to Chavez. Basically, if you have strapped on a 3rd base mitt, you have a chance at 10 mill in the Bronx.

With this news, came another little rumor of Curtis Granderson being dealt to clear up space in the self imposed salary structure. Add this to the multitude of 1 year deals that have already been handed out to an already well aged group of heroes from the 90's and...well, WHAT IS GOING ON!!

Where is Georges check book?? Why is this "luxury tax" suddenly such an issue. I mean seriously, has anyone in the offices of Steinbrenner inc. realized that the reason they have all of that money is because they invested into the NEW YORK YANKEES! And, not for nothing, across the states Magic Johnson has been an owner for 5 mins and he is throwing money around like he is still dishing assists for the Lakers.

Now, I am sure you are wondering, what could possibly set off such a level headed, patient fan of the bronx? How about the fact that the Red Sox dumped millions of dollars in dead weight last season and then today managed to bring in Mike Napoli and Shane Victorino for just under 80 million! Then they begin dangling Ellsbury and a surplus of catching (that of which the Yankees depth chart is topped by someone that they didn't even want on the team last year as a back up "Cervelli") and yeah, it's not a very "hot" start to the Yankee offseason.

But then, it's half over...soooo, anyway....yeah.