I'm very busy this week, so this will have to be a quick Squawk. (And yes, Squawker Jon and I are fine after Hurricane Irene hit the area, and we hope all of our readers are doing well.) Aside from seeing CC Sabathia finally beat the Red Sox this year, I loved seeing him all fired up when Francisco Cervelli got plunked last night by John Lackey. Great passion!
And I had to laugh about Boston's selective outrage over Cervelli clapping his hands with glee after hitting a homer. How many times over the years have we Yankee fans witnessed David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez showboating after hitting homers? Both of them would be great on Broadway with their song and dance routines. Not to mention Jonathan Papelbon literally dancing on the mound after a big save. But all that is apparently fine and dandy with Red Sox Nation.
Yet Francisco Cervelli shows the least bit of emotion, and the benches clear over it. Can't we just say that it's Frankie Being Frankie, and leave it at that? Good grief.
What do you think? Tell us about it!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Javier Vazquez Can Pitch Well in New York After All
On Tuesday night, Javier Vazquez pitched seven shutout innings as the Marlins beat the Mets, 6-0.
In 2010, Vazquez won a total of three games in New York all season.
In his two stints as a Yankee, Vazquez managed as many as six shutout innings while pitching in New York only once - and that was also at Citi Field, on May 21, 2010.
It was the second time this month that Vazquez pitched well in New York. On August 1, Vazquez allowed one run in seven innings at Citi Field, getting a no-decision in a 7-3 Marlins win.
After an awful first half, Vazquez has found his form, with quality starts in 11 of his last 12 appearances.
If the stingy Marlins cut Vazquez loose after the season, would the Mets give him a look if the price were right? Yes, Vazquez was terrible last year in the Bronx, but he does have years of success in the NL East.
***
By the way, Squawker Lisa, here are Vazquez's numbers with the Yankees in 2010, which caused him to be run out of town, compared with A.J. Burnett's numbers this season:
Vazquez: ERA 5.32; WHIP 1.40; W-L 10-10
Burnett: ERA 5.31; WHIP 1.44; W-L 9-11
Those numbers look pretty similar, whether or not you are smoking the objective pipe.
In 2010, Vazquez won a total of three games in New York all season.
In his two stints as a Yankee, Vazquez managed as many as six shutout innings while pitching in New York only once - and that was also at Citi Field, on May 21, 2010.
It was the second time this month that Vazquez pitched well in New York. On August 1, Vazquez allowed one run in seven innings at Citi Field, getting a no-decision in a 7-3 Marlins win.
After an awful first half, Vazquez has found his form, with quality starts in 11 of his last 12 appearances.
If the stingy Marlins cut Vazquez loose after the season, would the Mets give him a look if the price were right? Yes, Vazquez was terrible last year in the Bronx, but he does have years of success in the NL East.
***
By the way, Squawker Lisa, here are Vazquez's numbers with the Yankees in 2010, which caused him to be run out of town, compared with A.J. Burnett's numbers this season:
Vazquez: ERA 5.32; WHIP 1.40; W-L 10-10
Burnett: ERA 5.31; WHIP 1.44; W-L 9-11
Those numbers look pretty similar, whether or not you are smoking the objective pipe.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
I Will Be on South Florida Radio Today With The Amigo and Phil Dizz
I am going to be on South Florida's WFTL Sports radio station today, on the New York Sports Report. You can hear me squawk with Larry Milian -- aka The Amigo -- and co-host Phil Dizz at 11:05 a.m. today. I will be talking about the Yankees, Hurricane Irene, and Hurricane A.J.!Go here to listen live online, or turn your AM dial to 640 if you are in the Miami area.
Friday, August 26, 2011
What's More Shocking: That the Yankees Hit Three Grand Slams in One Game, or That Derek Jeter and Minka Kelly Broke Up?
It was a big day in Yankeeland, with them overcoming a 7-1 lead to win, 22-9 thanks to a record-setting three grand slams in one game. Then I woke up this morning to hear the really big news, that Derek Jeter and Minka Kelly have broken up.
Remember Derek Jeter's stated reason for having HBO cameras film for a documentary, including all sorts of footage of him with Kelly? He said it was so when he had kids, they could see what he was like as a player? (Yes, because Jeter just languished in obscurity all those years -- until allowing HBO to film him, all they would have had were some old kinescope clips!) Now any future children will see him with the woman who is not their mother. Awkward!
Anyhow, ever since Jeter went on a hot streak since hitting DJ3K, I've heard some fans suggesting that anybody who fretted over his career decline over the past year owes an apology, needs to eat crow, blah, blah, blah. Um, no. We're not talking about, say, writing Mariano Rivera's career off when he blew three games in a row earlier this month. We're talking about over a year's worth of data.
The captain hit .270 in 2010. And for an entire year -- June 2010 to June 2011 -- he hit .255, with a .666 OPS. And his power has been way down. It was not unreasonable to talk about him slipping, no matter how well he has hit over the past month and a half. And if this issue involved any other player, nobody would feel such a need to do this "I told you so" thing. But this is Derek Jeter we're talking about, and he's never allowed to get any criticism, ever, without the "Shut Up, He's Got Five Rings" contingent having a hissy fit.
I'm glad Jeter's doing better right now, because it's helping the team win more games. Isn't that enough?
Remember Derek Jeter's stated reason for having HBO cameras film for a documentary, including all sorts of footage of him with Kelly? He said it was so when he had kids, they could see what he was like as a player? (Yes, because Jeter just languished in obscurity all those years -- until allowing HBO to film him, all they would have had were some old kinescope clips!) Now any future children will see him with the woman who is not their mother. Awkward!
Anyhow, ever since Jeter went on a hot streak since hitting DJ3K, I've heard some fans suggesting that anybody who fretted over his career decline over the past year owes an apology, needs to eat crow, blah, blah, blah. Um, no. We're not talking about, say, writing Mariano Rivera's career off when he blew three games in a row earlier this month. We're talking about over a year's worth of data.
The captain hit .270 in 2010. And for an entire year -- June 2010 to June 2011 -- he hit .255, with a .666 OPS. And his power has been way down. It was not unreasonable to talk about him slipping, no matter how well he has hit over the past month and a half. And if this issue involved any other player, nobody would feel such a need to do this "I told you so" thing. But this is Derek Jeter we're talking about, and he's never allowed to get any criticism, ever, without the "Shut Up, He's Got Five Rings" contingent having a hissy fit.
I'm glad Jeter's doing better right now, because it's helping the team win more games. Isn't that enough?
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
MLB Eyes A-Rod Role in Earthquake
Did you feel the earthquake yesterday? I did, as did Squawker Jon, although neither of us quite realized what it was at first. Then, we heard what it was, we both wondered if some bitter MLB writer would find a way to blame it on Alex Rodriugez. After all, A-Rod gets blamed for everything these days. So, given that he jammed his thumb this week, we figured the injury could be blamed on him shaking the earth to cause the quake! Thus, today's silly headline.
Speaking of A-Rod, the New York Post has written about the latest casino kerfuffle.Alex reportedly went to Ruth's Chris Steak House at Mohegan Sun, tipped $100 on a $260 meal, and still had some snarky waitress say Jeter was better. And he was also criticized for supposedly not wanting to pose for photos at the casino saddened somebody who watched it. Um, A-Rod not posing for a photo at Mohegan Sun that could end up being sold for five or six figures to the, um, New York Post is about the most sensible thing he's done all year!
Anyhow, the Post also wrote that A-Rod "was spotted last Monday in a high-stakes gaming room" for two hours. But here's the deal -- Bobby Soper, the CEO of Mohegan Sun, said that Rodriguez did not gamble:
According to TheDay.com, "Soper said the casino does not generally discuss what celebrities do at the casino but noted he wanted to set the record straight about Rodriguez’ visit." But even though the New York Post story was updated more than once, they somehow never got around to including that quote. Neither did most of the other breathless reports about A-Rod at a casino. Shocker, I know.
Oh, please. Aside from the fact that Cashman has to bring down other players to A.J.'s level to prove his point, his argument is stupid. Nobody would be mad if Burnett was cursing at himself over his poor performance. But instead, he cursed at Joe Girardi, his manager, something The Powers that Be in Yankeeland don't want to acknowledge, and something that none of his other teammates have done for the world to see.
At any rate, plenty of times in the postgame Burnett was practically singing "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" in interviews, not seeming the least bit upset. Of course, if some reporter were to point that out to Cashman, he'd find a way to defend that, too.
What do you think? Tell us about it!
Speaking of A-Rod, the New York Post has written about the latest casino kerfuffle.Alex reportedly went to Ruth's Chris Steak House at Mohegan Sun, tipped $100 on a $260 meal, and still had some snarky waitress say Jeter was better. And he was also criticized for supposedly not wanting to pose for photos at the casino saddened somebody who watched it. Um, A-Rod not posing for a photo at Mohegan Sun that could end up being sold for five or six figures to the, um, New York Post is about the most sensible thing he's done all year!
Anyhow, the Post also wrote that A-Rod "was spotted last Monday in a high-stakes gaming room" for two hours. But here's the deal -- Bobby Soper, the CEO of Mohegan Sun, said that Rodriguez did not gamble:
“He did have dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House,” Bobby Soper said of Rodriguez. “He went straight there and straight back out. He did not gamble.”
According to TheDay.com, "Soper said the casino does not generally discuss what celebrities do at the casino but noted he wanted to set the record straight about Rodriguez’ visit." But even though the New York Post story was updated more than once, they somehow never got around to including that quote. Neither did most of the other breathless reports about A-Rod at a casino. Shocker, I know.
* * *
In other news, Brian Cashman is at it again, defending A.J. Burnett's juvenile actions on the mound Saturday:“I’ve got CC Sabathia cussing in his glove, I’ve got Paul O’Neill, who for a huge run here, was kicking water coolers. It’s not an issue. It’s just silliness. I’ve got other guys on our team doing the same stuff,” Cashman said. “I like seeing passion. I don’t want a guy walking off the mound singing ‘Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah’ and having a skip to his step after a performance like that.”
Oh, please. Aside from the fact that Cashman has to bring down other players to A.J.'s level to prove his point, his argument is stupid. Nobody would be mad if Burnett was cursing at himself over his poor performance. But instead, he cursed at Joe Girardi, his manager, something The Powers that Be in Yankeeland don't want to acknowledge, and something that none of his other teammates have done for the world to see.
At any rate, plenty of times in the postgame Burnett was practically singing "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" in interviews, not seeming the least bit upset. Of course, if some reporter were to point that out to Cashman, he'd find a way to defend that, too.
What do you think? Tell us about it!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
That Boy Ain't Right: A.J. Burnett Throws a Hissy Fit, Shows Up Joe Girardi
Squawker Jon and I went to Asbury Park for a day of fun in the sun at the beach, so I missed most of last night's game. When I got into the car to head home, I heard John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman talk about the 9-1 score, and how Aaron Laffey did a good job after the game was out of reach. They went on and on about Laffey, without ever mentioning who put the Yankees in the hole in the first place -- A.J. Burnett!
Anyhow, when I got home, I looked up what happened, and made a snarky remark on Facebook referencing Brian Cashman's Objective Pipe, I wondered how he would insist that A.J. really had a good game, even though he gave up seven runs in 1 2/3 innings. Then I heard from Facebook friends about A.J.'s hissy fit -- how he cursed at Joe Girardi when taken out of the game, saying "That's B*llsh*t," and stormed into the clubhouse after being removed. Then Girardi followed him into the clubhouse, with the body language of an angry father. A.J. came back into the dugout, then left again, after the runs scored, before the inning was over.
I couldn't quite believe Burnett would be so outrageous, but sure enough, the clips shown in the postgame showed exactly that. To their credit, YES analysts Ken Singleton and Bob Lorenz were very critical of what A.J. did, and called it like they saw it. My thoughts after seeing Burnett in action was to channel a Hank Hill line, about how "That boy ain't right."
But then, in the postgame, Joe Girardi came up with a ridiculous story about how Burnett was really upset with the umpire, not him, and was really cursing at the ump calling that pitch to Joe Mauer Strike Three, and not Ball Four. Girardi was very confrontational with YES' Jack Curry, one of the most respected voices in baseball. Joe blamed the media for making something out of nothing, and trying to make a problem with Burnett and Girardi when there was none. Basically, Girardi said to the press, "Who are you gonna believe? Me or your lying eyes?" (Read the transcript of the conversation, and watch the exchange here.)
Look, there are plenty of times when the media makes something out of nothing -- like Mark Feinsand's absolutely shameful attempt to link Alex Rodriguez to the University of Miami football scandal because A-Rod is on the school's Board of Trustees, even though there isn't a shred of evidence linking A-Rod to it. But the Burnett issue isn't one of them. For one thing, Burnett was looking at Girardi, not the ump, when he cursed. Second, according to Burnett, Girardi asked him if the comment was directed at him. And finally, Burnett has a history of losing his cool like this -- it wasn't reported much at the time, but Burnett started taking off his uniform in the dugout after being taken out of a White Sox game a few weeks ago. Also, remember how he cut up his hands after slamming them on the clubhouse door last year?
And I find myself agreeing with ESPN New York's Wally Matthews, of all people, in his very critical assessment of Girardi's coddling of Burnett:
You know, for all the grief the media has given A-Rod for being "bush league," I don't remember him ever showing up his manager, even when the manager showed him up by batting him eighth. Yet A.J. gets away with it. Why? As Matthews writes:
I completely agree. Enough is enough. Burnett needs to be taken out of the rotation. Now. How can there be any justification for keeping him in, when Phil Hughes is pitching his heart out these days -- and acting a heck of a lot mature, to boot.
As for Burnett, that boy ain't right. And somebody needs to be a grownup in Yankeeland and hold him accountable until he gets right.
What do you think? Tell us about it!
Anyhow, when I got home, I looked up what happened, and made a snarky remark on Facebook referencing Brian Cashman's Objective Pipe, I wondered how he would insist that A.J. really had a good game, even though he gave up seven runs in 1 2/3 innings. Then I heard from Facebook friends about A.J.'s hissy fit -- how he cursed at Joe Girardi when taken out of the game, saying "That's B*llsh*t," and stormed into the clubhouse after being removed. Then Girardi followed him into the clubhouse, with the body language of an angry father. A.J. came back into the dugout, then left again, after the runs scored, before the inning was over.
I couldn't quite believe Burnett would be so outrageous, but sure enough, the clips shown in the postgame showed exactly that. To their credit, YES analysts Ken Singleton and Bob Lorenz were very critical of what A.J. did, and called it like they saw it. My thoughts after seeing Burnett in action was to channel a Hank Hill line, about how "That boy ain't right."
But then, in the postgame, Joe Girardi came up with a ridiculous story about how Burnett was really upset with the umpire, not him, and was really cursing at the ump calling that pitch to Joe Mauer Strike Three, and not Ball Four. Girardi was very confrontational with YES' Jack Curry, one of the most respected voices in baseball. Joe blamed the media for making something out of nothing, and trying to make a problem with Burnett and Girardi when there was none. Basically, Girardi said to the press, "Who are you gonna believe? Me or your lying eyes?" (Read the transcript of the conversation, and watch the exchange here.)
Look, there are plenty of times when the media makes something out of nothing -- like Mark Feinsand's absolutely shameful attempt to link Alex Rodriguez to the University of Miami football scandal because A-Rod is on the school's Board of Trustees, even though there isn't a shred of evidence linking A-Rod to it. But the Burnett issue isn't one of them. For one thing, Burnett was looking at Girardi, not the ump, when he cursed. Second, according to Burnett, Girardi asked him if the comment was directed at him. And finally, Burnett has a history of losing his cool like this -- it wasn't reported much at the time, but Burnett started taking off his uniform in the dugout after being taken out of a White Sox game a few weeks ago. Also, remember how he cut up his hands after slamming them on the clubhouse door last year?
And I find myself agreeing with ESPN New York's Wally Matthews, of all people, in his very critical assessment of Girardi's coddling of Burnett:
Either Joe Girardi is one of the staunchest managerial defenders of any and all players who have ever worn a Yankee uniform or he is a lot more afraid of his own players than he is of looking foolish and untruthful on live television.
There really is no third choice.
You know, for all the grief the media has given A-Rod for being "bush league," I don't remember him ever showing up his manager, even when the manager showed him up by batting him eighth. Yet A.J. gets away with it. Why? As Matthews writes:
"A.J. was angry at himself," Girardi said afterward.
Well, it's about time someone other than A.J. got angry at A.J. Someone like the manager, who turns the other cheek each time he gets his face publicly spat on, or the GM who signed Burnett to the five-year, $82.5 million deal and now admonishes fans to "smoke the objective pipe" and see A.J. through pinstriped glasses.
I completely agree. Enough is enough. Burnett needs to be taken out of the rotation. Now. How can there be any justification for keeping him in, when Phil Hughes is pitching his heart out these days -- and acting a heck of a lot mature, to boot.
As for Burnett, that boy ain't right. And somebody needs to be a grownup in Yankeeland and hold him accountable until he gets right.
What do you think? Tell us about it!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Jorge Posada Sez He Could Play for Another Team Next Year
I was listening to much of Saturday's Yankee game live on the radio. And when Jorge Posada was 3-for-5 in the game with six RBIs (thanks in part to hitting a grand slam), after not playing for a week, I said to Squawker Jon that Jorge ought to announce his retirement right then and there after the game. After all, he is most likely never going to have another day like that in his career, so he might as well end his career on a high note, after getting a curtain call from the hometown fans. Jon said that retiring would be perceived as Posada quitting on his team.
We disagreed on that (I argued that a part-time player retiring would hardly be like the Carlos Zambrano hissy fit the other night.) But both of us would agree that 2011 will be Posada's last year. Yet today's New York Post suggests that Posada wants to play again in 2012, even if it means playing for another team.
Posada was never Jason Varitek, a catcher that pitchers loved to throw to. Posada was a great catcher primarily because he was a great hitter. But he also used to be able to throw guys out as well. By the summer of 2010, that part of his game was gone for good, with opponents running wild on him. Remember when the Red Sox did a double steal on him twice in one inning?
Anyhow, I get that ballplayers are competitive, but at a certain point, a player has to realize when it's time to say goodbye. If Posada didn't have the pedigree, and the rings, and that whole Core Four connection, chances are he would have been released months ago, and sitting at home collecting the rest of the $13.1 million he is owed for 2011.
In the Post article, Jorge brings up how the New York Mets wanted to give him a five-year deal after the 2007, and he was "very close" to moving to Flushing. But he also batted .338 that season, with a .970 OPS. Big difference. At any rate, thanks to Omar Minaya being seen with Posada at Le Cirque, he got the fourth year he coveted from the Yanks, the year they didn't originally want to give him. Posada should be happy that he got that, and realize that the end is near.
I think I can safely assume that no MLB team is going to sign Posada to a major-league contract in 2012. But he might get a minor-league offer from somebody else. Is Posada really going to want to do that -- ride the buses with the kids, hoping for another shot at the big time? Come on now.
Posada has had a great career. He ought to figure this is his last year, and begin to accept that his career is nearly over. Just because he had one stellar day doesn't mean that he's a viable MLB player for 2012.
What do you think? Tell us about it!
We disagreed on that (I argued that a part-time player retiring would hardly be like the Carlos Zambrano hissy fit the other night.) But both of us would agree that 2011 will be Posada's last year. Yet today's New York Post suggests that Posada wants to play again in 2012, even if it means playing for another team.
Posada, a career-long Yankee who is celebrating his 20th year with the organization, said he would consider playing for another team once his contract is up at the end of this season.Right, because MLB teams are going to be lining up to sign a 40-year-old catcher who can't throw anymore. Or maybe it's that they want him to DH with that stellar .237 BA and .700 OPS. Not to be mean, but those are the facts.
"It could [happen]," Posada told The Post yesterday. "I don't know what's going to happen after this year. But we'll see."
Posada was never Jason Varitek, a catcher that pitchers loved to throw to. Posada was a great catcher primarily because he was a great hitter. But he also used to be able to throw guys out as well. By the summer of 2010, that part of his game was gone for good, with opponents running wild on him. Remember when the Red Sox did a double steal on him twice in one inning?
Anyhow, I get that ballplayers are competitive, but at a certain point, a player has to realize when it's time to say goodbye. If Posada didn't have the pedigree, and the rings, and that whole Core Four connection, chances are he would have been released months ago, and sitting at home collecting the rest of the $13.1 million he is owed for 2011.
In the Post article, Jorge brings up how the New York Mets wanted to give him a five-year deal after the 2007, and he was "very close" to moving to Flushing. But he also batted .338 that season, with a .970 OPS. Big difference. At any rate, thanks to Omar Minaya being seen with Posada at Le Cirque, he got the fourth year he coveted from the Yanks, the year they didn't originally want to give him. Posada should be happy that he got that, and realize that the end is near.
I think I can safely assume that no MLB team is going to sign Posada to a major-league contract in 2012. But he might get a minor-league offer from somebody else. Is Posada really going to want to do that -- ride the buses with the kids, hoping for another shot at the big time? Come on now.
Posada has had a great career. He ought to figure this is his last year, and begin to accept that his career is nearly over. Just because he had one stellar day doesn't mean that he's a viable MLB player for 2012.
What do you think? Tell us about it!
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