Monday, December 29, 2008
Swinging For The Free Market
Here's an item I missed during the Christmas week. The Yankees' acquiring Mark Teixiera made all sorts of headlines. But huge of an increase is that on the Bombers' budget over the past season? Umm, actually, it creates no increase. In fact, the Yankees '09 budget is projected to go down from last year: From $209 million on Opening Day 2008 to somewhere between $201-205 million on OD '09. Yes, that's more than other teams, but so what? In the context of their budget, the Yankees haven't moved into another stratosphere. Furthermore, as the Shysterball blogger notes,
But, because of the New York Yankees, baseball has a competitive balance problem? (Speaking of which, how is it that the NFL -- the paragon of "parity" in sports -- managed to produce both an undefeated team and a winless club in consecutive years?)
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...Let's not go crazy talking about salary caps and manifest injustice and all of that jazz. The Yankees have spent extraordinary amounts of money this decade. The result of that has been the ability to bypass the typical success cycle by never truly cratering competitively and always being in the playoff hunt. The result of that has not been the disruption of overall competitive balance or the prevention of success on the part of the other teams such that radical changes are necessary, let alone desirable.In fact, since the Yankees last won in 2000, seven different teams have won the World Series, the Red Sox being the only repeat champion (though the Beantowners were in the Top Four in spending). What happened during that same period in the salary-cap sports? In the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers won the title three times (and making the finals two other times), the San Antonio Spurs twice, the Pistons won one championship, lost another and have made the conference finals five years in a row. In the NFL, the Patriots won the Super Bowl three times and made it to another.
I will grant you that the former point is somewhat disheartening, but it is certainly not devastating. If you don't like Tampa Bay as an example of why the Yankees' spending isn't terrible (i.e. because it took a decade in the wilderness for the Rays to get where they are) I'll give you the Angels. Or the White Sox. Or the Phillies. Or the Twins. Or the Marlins. Or the Cardinals. Or any other team that has found success without spending $200 million.
But, because of the New York Yankees, baseball has a competitive balance problem? (Speaking of which, how is it that the NFL -- the paragon of "parity" in sports -- managed to produce both an undefeated team and a winless club in consecutive years?)
Labels: baseball, New York Yankees
Thursday, October 30, 2008
The Politics of Sports...
Long-time reader ERA writes: "The Philadelphia Philles winning the World Series preceded the beginning of the Reagan Era in 1980. Does the Phillies not winning the WS again until 2008 provide a bookend to part of history or portend the beginning of a new Era? Both?"
Thoughts to ponder.
Here's another: The corollary to this is that -- as I believe I mentioned once before, after discovering a few years ago -- the New York Yankees, in the George Steinbrenner era, have never won the World Series with a Republican in the White House. In the Bush era, they made it twice, but lost both times.
So, though it's hardly a surprise that New York will vote for Barack Obama this year, Yankee fans have even a stronger reason to see him win. In fairness though, having a Democrat in the White House doesn't mean that Yankee problems will be fixed overnight: Bill Clinton took office in January of 1993 -- and the Yankees didn't win the World Series until October, '96.
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Thoughts to ponder.
Here's another: The corollary to this is that -- as I believe I mentioned once before, after discovering a few years ago -- the New York Yankees, in the George Steinbrenner era, have never won the World Series with a Republican in the White House. In the Bush era, they made it twice, but lost both times.
So, though it's hardly a surprise that New York will vote for Barack Obama this year, Yankee fans have even a stronger reason to see him win. In fairness though, having a Democrat in the White House doesn't mean that Yankee problems will be fixed overnight: Bill Clinton took office in January of 1993 -- and the Yankees didn't win the World Series until October, '96.
Labels: baseball, New York Yankees, politics
Sunday, September 21, 2008
End of The Cathedral
After an 85-year career, Yankee Stadium packs it in tonight. Tom Verducci has a wonderful Sports Illustrated essay on the history of the venerable edifice. The New York Post editorial page says goodbye as well (check out the previously-unrevealed bit of trivia connectding Pope visits and Yankee postseason appearances).
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Thanks for the memories, old girl.
Labels: baseball, Yankee Stadium
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Manny Goes Hollywood
Not a bad week for Yankee fans: Bombers get Xavier Nady and reliever Damaso Marte from Pittsburgh for next-to-nothing. Pudge Rodriguez comes in as a more-than-adequate fill-in for Jorge Posada (bonus: Kyle Farnsworth leaves town in the bargain). And now, Manny Ramirez gets to take his tired act out West!
Manny gets to be Manny in Hollywood! Joe Torre should have much fun.
By the way, all those people who complain about the Yankees free-spending ways: please note that the Red Sox are paying all of Manny's remaining salary this season just to get rid of him! Once upon a time, the MLB commissioner would have blocked a trade that relied so much on cash exchanging hands. Not anymore.
P.S. Mets fans should be happy as well. Most reports today had Ramirez going to the Florida Marlins -- who are right behind the Mets in the National League East (and just knocked the Amazin's out of first place by taking two of three).
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Manny gets to be Manny in Hollywood! Joe Torre should have much fun.
By the way, all those people who complain about the Yankees free-spending ways: please note that the Red Sox are paying all of Manny's remaining salary this season just to get rid of him! Once upon a time, the MLB commissioner would have blocked a trade that relied so much on cash exchanging hands. Not anymore.
P.S. Mets fans should be happy as well. Most reports today had Ramirez going to the Florida Marlins -- who are right behind the Mets in the National League East (and just knocked the Amazin's out of first place by taking two of three).
Labels: baseball, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Sports
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Mets Suck
Not just because the highest payroll in the National League has been playing under .500 for the season.
No, because after letting Manager Willie Randolph dangle in the wind for weeks, they let him fly cross country, beat the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels (the Mets' third win in four games), have a press conference -- and then fire him, announcing it by press release at 3:15 AM EST.
Shame on Omar Minaya and the entire New York Mets organization
By the way, this has nothing to do with whether Randolph should have been fired after last season's historic collapse or because the team under-achieved this year. This is about the right and wrong way of doing something.
The Mets treated an honorable man shabbily. Once again, shame on the entire organization.
UPDATE: The Daily News' Bill Madden lets the Amazin's have it.
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No, because after letting Manager Willie Randolph dangle in the wind for weeks, they let him fly cross country, beat the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels (the Mets' third win in four games), have a press conference -- and then fire him, announcing it by press release at 3:15 AM EST.
Shame on Omar Minaya and the entire New York Mets organization
By the way, this has nothing to do with whether Randolph should have been fired after last season's historic collapse or because the team under-achieved this year. This is about the right and wrong way of doing something.
The Mets treated an honorable man shabbily. Once again, shame on the entire organization.
UPDATE: The Daily News' Bill Madden lets the Amazin's have it.
Labels: baseball, New York Mets, Willie Randolph
Monday, March 31, 2008
Batter Up!
Ah, chill in the air or otherwise, Opening Day in Major League Baseball is finally here!
Sorry, Sawx fans, but the two-game interlude last week in Japan doesn't count (yes, the Japanese like the sport, but baseball is still our national pastime).
Sorry, Nationals fans, but your nice debut in your new stadium last night doesn't count (a one-game series!?!? And, besides, DC isn't a state, right?).
But, today is the real day. An historic season as the New York Yankees open one last season in the classic Yankee stadium, against the Toronto Blue Jays, before moving across the street for a new park in '09. The Mets open on the road in Florida (before beginning their final season at Shea Stadium next week). Fading into the past are last season's disappointing end for both Big Apple teams and a tumultuous off-season -- especially for the Bronx Bombers, who endured a change in managers for the first time in twelve years and had to deal with the Mitchell Report's information on the Yankees' role in the Steroid Era.
Nope, today spring officially begins; change and hope (not the Obama variety) are in the air and all things are possible!
Baseball is back!
Play ball!
UPDATE: Or don't play. Ya win some; ya lose some -- and some get rained out. Let's hope the weather is better in Florida!
UPDATE II: And, yes, the weather is better. And Johan Santana was great: The Mets win!
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Sorry, Sawx fans, but the two-game interlude last week in Japan doesn't count (yes, the Japanese like the sport, but baseball is still our national pastime).
Sorry, Nationals fans, but your nice debut in your new stadium last night doesn't count (a one-game series!?!? And, besides, DC isn't a state, right?).
But, today is the real day. An historic season as the New York Yankees open one last season in the classic Yankee stadium, against the Toronto Blue Jays, before moving across the street for a new park in '09. The Mets open on the road in Florida (before beginning their final season at Shea Stadium next week). Fading into the past are last season's disappointing end for both Big Apple teams and a tumultuous off-season -- especially for the Bronx Bombers, who endured a change in managers for the first time in twelve years and had to deal with the Mitchell Report's information on the Yankees' role in the Steroid Era.
Nope, today spring officially begins; change and hope (not the Obama variety) are in the air and all things are possible!
Baseball is back!
Play ball!
UPDATE: Or don't play. Ya win some; ya lose some -- and some get rained out. Let's hope the weather is better in Florida!
UPDATE II: And, yes, the weather is better. And Johan Santana was great: The Mets win!
Labels: baseball, MLB, New York Mets, New York Yankees
Thursday, February 14, 2008
A Few Good Baseball Men
|Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Rocket's Red Glare
Only sporadically got a chance to check in on Roger Clemens' congressional testimony. However, ESPN's Jayson Stark blogged it (scroll to bottom and then work up). His verdict: Clemens defintely faces some problems, but still came across as a generally strong witness. His former trainer, Brian McNamee has some major credibility issues.
Oh -- surprise! -- the hearing became partisan: As the Times' noted in its own running blog, Democrats -- starting with the execrable Henry Waxman kicking off the hearings by saying that Clemens' earler depostition was "not true" -- going after Clemens; the Republicans went after McNamee:
UPDATE: A wrap-up of the left-over questions and possible legal hurdles now faced by Clemens. Oh, yeah, and his "nanny problem," too!
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Oh -- surprise! -- the hearing became partisan: As the Times' noted in its own running blog, Democrats -- starting with the execrable Henry Waxman kicking off the hearings by saying that Clemens' earler depostition was "not true" -- going after Clemens; the Republicans went after McNamee:
This is not surprising: the committee chairman, Henry A. Waxman, is a Democrat, and those in his party clearly want to emphasize his belief that this hearing (as well as others) is necessary and important. Painting Mr. Clemens as possibly guilty of perjury is important to that end.Also not surprisngly, Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) in particular was on fire in attacking McNamee.
Meanwhile, the Republicans, less eager to back the Democratic committee chair, have focused on McNamee’s credibility, all but asking, “Why are we wasting our time with this guy?”
Given both sides’ analysis and accusations of motives, this dynamic appears relevant as well.
UPDATE: A wrap-up of the left-over questions and possible legal hurdles now faced by Clemens. Oh, yeah, and his "nanny problem," too!
Labels: baseball, Roger Clemens, steroids
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Needles and Pins
The Mitchell Report on steroid use in baseball is said to include "several prominent Yankees".
ESPN reported this morning that one of those names is Roger Clemens. The Rocket's (and Andy Pettitte's) former trainer is said to have told Mitchell that he supplied Clemens with steroids.
If this is true, that means that arguably the best position player (Barry Bonds) and the best pitcher of the current era may have padded their stats with performance-enhancing drugs.
The report is to be released today at1 2 P.M.
UPDATE (1:00 PM): Barry Bonds, obviously, is facing a trial for perjury in the BALCO steroids case. It will be some months before that is resolved. Depending on how that trial goes, the appearance of Roger Clemens in the steroids story may, ironically, enhance Bonds' chances of going to the Hall of Fame. Many sportswriters were saying that they wouldn't vote for Bonds because of the steroids issue -- even though he had already amassed a Hall of Fame career before he apparently started juicing (circa 1999). If it now looks like Clemens started doing the stuff around the same time, will sportswriters make the samed conclusion that the Rocket should be kept out -- or will they conclude now that this is a completely tainted era (including the best pitcher and the best player, among many others) where players should be judged on their stats apart from when they started taking stuff (if that can be ascertained). Keep in mind that if Bonds never plays again and Clemens officially retires (as it is now almost certain he will), they would both be eligible for the HOF in 2012.
While this isn't a good thing to contemplate, I'm thinking that Major League Baseball is "happy" that a big white superstar like Clemens has been implicated. There was an undercurrent in some articles that Bonds was being persecuted because he was black -- while white stars like Mark McGwire and Jason Giambi hardly got much attention. Now, of course, the main reason for that is that Bonds was still playing and he was chasing one of the sports most cherished records. McGwire was thoroughly humiliated after his 2006 congressional hearing -- an appearance that cost him election to the Hall of Fame the next year. Meanwhile, the majority of players suspended for steroids/HGH use throughout baseball (including the minors) have been Latino.
Fairly or not, having a white superstar gets MLB off the hook of looking like this is an attempt to unfairly target minority players. (Yes, I recognize that players like Rick Ankiel, David Segui and Paul Byrd have been named in previous performance enhancing stories, but they aren't in the same category as a Bonds or Clemens).
UPDATE II (2:15 PM): Here's the full Mitchell Report -- all 400 pages!This list was circulating around earlier today. Use it guardedly, as a possible, ahem, "cheat-sheet" to compare with the official report.
UPDATE III: Current and former New York Yankees players of some prominence mentioned in the Mitchell Report: Clemens, Giambi, Pettitte, Chuck Knoblauch, David Justice, Gary Sheffield, Kevin Brown, Ron Villone...
UPDATE IV: Sports Illustrated reports that this is hardly the end of the "naming of names." Ongoing investigations will inevitably bring more names to light.
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ESPN reported this morning that one of those names is Roger Clemens. The Rocket's (and Andy Pettitte's) former trainer is said to have told Mitchell that he supplied Clemens with steroids.
If this is true, that means that arguably the best position player (Barry Bonds) and the best pitcher of the current era may have padded their stats with performance-enhancing drugs.
The report is to be released today at
UPDATE (1:00 PM): Barry Bonds, obviously, is facing a trial for perjury in the BALCO steroids case. It will be some months before that is resolved. Depending on how that trial goes, the appearance of Roger Clemens in the steroids story may, ironically, enhance Bonds' chances of going to the Hall of Fame. Many sportswriters were saying that they wouldn't vote for Bonds because of the steroids issue -- even though he had already amassed a Hall of Fame career before he apparently started juicing (circa 1999). If it now looks like Clemens started doing the stuff around the same time, will sportswriters make the samed conclusion that the Rocket should be kept out -- or will they conclude now that this is a completely tainted era (including the best pitcher and the best player, among many others) where players should be judged on their stats apart from when they started taking stuff (if that can be ascertained). Keep in mind that if Bonds never plays again and Clemens officially retires (as it is now almost certain he will), they would both be eligible for the HOF in 2012.
While this isn't a good thing to contemplate, I'm thinking that Major League Baseball is "happy" that a big white superstar like Clemens has been implicated. There was an undercurrent in some articles that Bonds was being persecuted because he was black -- while white stars like Mark McGwire and Jason Giambi hardly got much attention. Now, of course, the main reason for that is that Bonds was still playing and he was chasing one of the sports most cherished records. McGwire was thoroughly humiliated after his 2006 congressional hearing -- an appearance that cost him election to the Hall of Fame the next year. Meanwhile, the majority of players suspended for steroids/HGH use throughout baseball (including the minors) have been Latino.
Fairly or not, having a white superstar gets MLB off the hook of looking like this is an attempt to unfairly target minority players. (Yes, I recognize that players like Rick Ankiel, David Segui and Paul Byrd have been named in previous performance enhancing stories, but they aren't in the same category as a Bonds or Clemens).
UPDATE II (2:15 PM): Here's the full Mitchell Report -- all 400 pages!
UPDATE III: Current and former New York Yankees players of some prominence mentioned in the Mitchell Report: Clemens, Giambi, Pettitte, Chuck Knoblauch, David Justice, Gary Sheffield, Kevin Brown, Ron Villone...
UPDATE IV: Sports Illustrated reports that this is hardly the end of the "naming of names." Ongoing investigations will inevitably bring more names to light.
Labels: baseball, George Mitchell, Mitchell Report, New York Yankees, steroids
Monday, October 29, 2007
Yanks For The Memories
Any fleeting sense of triumphalism I might that my Mattingly post appears to have had the desired result, is gone with the crushing realization that the New York Yankees may be in for some several frustrating years. The team's most successful manager of the last half-century is gone; the hated Red Sox have won their second World Series in four years (with a great mix of young talent and -- and their best player has decided to opt out of his contract.
Knowing A-Rod, he'll probably try to sign with the Sox. Of course, given that each team he's joined has arguably gotten worse, that may be a preferred development for the Yankees.
Still, with the Boss in ailing health, his sons seemingly behind the Torre putsch and the leadership of the team becoming a Hydra-headed monster, the beginning of the 21st century is looking a lot like the start of the 20th: Boston ascendant and New York struggling to find an identity.
UPDATE: The Yankees officially make an offer to Joe Girardi. The "curse" seems to have been avoided.
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Knowing A-Rod, he'll probably try to sign with the Sox. Of course, given that each team he's joined has arguably gotten worse, that may be a preferred development for the Yankees.
Still, with the Boss in ailing health, his sons seemingly behind the Torre putsch and the leadership of the team becoming a Hydra-headed monster, the beginning of the 21st century is looking a lot like the start of the 20th: Boston ascendant and New York struggling to find an identity.
UPDATE: The Yankees officially make an offer to Joe Girardi. The "curse" seems to have been avoided.
Labels: Alex Rodriguez, baseball, New York Yankees
Friday, October 26, 2007
Don NO!
We were a little bit sports-heavy here at RT this week (between World Series, Rudy Giuliani -- and the usual Pigskins Previews), so I hesitate to post another one. However, as a New Yorker -- and a general observer of various cultural/historical moments, I have to make this point.
Don Mattingly would be the absolute worst choice to be Yankees manager. I'm glad that Brian Cashman appears to be wavering on this. Do I base my views on any sort of great baseball knowledge? Not really -- though the fact that he has NO experience as a manager should be a factor.
No, my objection goes to a point I made once before: Mattingly IS the "curse" of the Yankees. He is the best player the Yankees have ever had WHO NEVER WON ANYTHING. I made this point in one of my earliest RT posts. Time has proven my point even more: The Yankees haven't gotten out of the first round of the playoffs since Mattingly returned to the team as a coach.
And, circumstantial evidence suggests that this is not just a coincidence. Aside from starting pitching problems, what differentiates the Yankees of the last four seasons ('04-'07) from their dynastic brethren of '96-'03? The answer is patient clutch pitching. Failure to get that clutch two-strike, two-out hit has doomed the Yankees in recent years. Who was the hitting coach in three of those four years. Yep, Mr. Donnie Baseball -- the man who came up to the major leagues just when the Yankees concluded a four World Series/two championships-in-six-year-run. The team wouldn't make it back to the Fall Classic until the year after Mattingly's last year.
He returned in '04. The rest is history.
In a game where superstition accounts for quite a lot, Don Mattingly is the black cat, the broken mirror and the crack in the sidewalk all rolled into one.
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Don Mattingly would be the absolute worst choice to be Yankees manager. I'm glad that Brian Cashman appears to be wavering on this. Do I base my views on any sort of great baseball knowledge? Not really -- though the fact that he has NO experience as a manager should be a factor.
No, my objection goes to a point I made once before: Mattingly IS the "curse" of the Yankees. He is the best player the Yankees have ever had WHO NEVER WON ANYTHING. I made this point in one of my earliest RT posts. Time has proven my point even more: The Yankees haven't gotten out of the first round of the playoffs since Mattingly returned to the team as a coach.
And, circumstantial evidence suggests that this is not just a coincidence. Aside from starting pitching problems, what differentiates the Yankees of the last four seasons ('04-'07) from their dynastic brethren of '96-'03? The answer is patient clutch pitching. Failure to get that clutch two-strike, two-out hit has doomed the Yankees in recent years. Who was the hitting coach in three of those four years. Yep, Mr. Donnie Baseball -- the man who came up to the major leagues just when the Yankees concluded a four World Series/two championships-in-six-year-run. The team wouldn't make it back to the Fall Classic until the year after Mattingly's last year.
He returned in '04. The rest is history.
In a game where superstition accounts for quite a lot, Don Mattingly is the black cat, the broken mirror and the crack in the sidewalk all rolled into one.
Labels: baseball, Don Mattingly, New York Yankees
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Rocky Mountain Way
Lest there be any doubt on where I stand on the World Series: Unlike the mayor, not only do I support any team playing the Boston Red Sox, I love the pluck and fire of the guys from Colorado!
Go Rockies!!!
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Go Rockies!!!
Labels: baseball, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, World Series
Monday, August 13, 2007
Why Did I Allow My Faith To Desert Me?
I should have believed more when I made this declaration. Virtually tied in the wild card race -- and only 4 back in the AL East. It's got that Spirit of '78 feel about it!
Damn Yankees!
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Damn Yankees!
Labels: baseball, New York Yankees
Friday, August 10, 2007
Needlin' Barry
Baseball had a controversial moment this week, and I chose to not bother commenting on it. However, this story puts Barry Bonds' record-making swing in proper perspective.
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Labels: Barry Bonds, baseball, steroids
Monday, July 02, 2007
Taps For Pinstripes
This has been pretty painfully obvious for some time now, but I might as well say it publically, so that I can allow the other stages of grief, i.e. acceptance, set in.
After a twelve-year streak of making the playoffs that included winning the division in ten of those years, making the World Series six times and winning it all four times, the New York Yankees are toast in 2007.
Oh well, at least Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriguez made the All-Star Game. Shockingly, no one from the pitching staff -- including Mariano Rivera -- did.
Maybe my colleague Joel Sherman has the right idea.
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After a twelve-year streak of making the playoffs that included winning the division in ten of those years, making the World Series six times and winning it all four times, the New York Yankees are toast in 2007.
Oh well, at least Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriguez made the All-Star Game. Shockingly, no one from the pitching staff -- including Mariano Rivera -- did.
Maybe my colleague Joel Sherman has the right idea.
Labels: baseball, New York Yankees
