Hypocrisy knows no end and the saga of Joe Torre is living proof. Am I calling Torre a hypocrite? Absolutely not.  I think he's a genuine person who carries himself with integrity.  What I am referring to is the way that literally thousands of people can resort to revisionist history to suit themselves.

Prior to the 1996 baseball season, the hiring of Joe Torre by the Yankees was almost universally questioned and criticized. The tabloids tactlessly referred to him as “Clueless Joe”. His managerial record was atrocious during his stints as skipper of the Mets, Braves and Cardinals. He had the reputation of being a good human being who was a bad manager due to a simplistic and passive style of leadership (hence the title of Clueless). Quite frankly the description of Joe the person still remains exactly the same. How is it though, that after 12 seasons with the Yankees many of these same people now contend that he is a great manager?

I’ll tell you why. To their many legions of haters, everyday is a great day to criticize the Yankees. On top of that, this is exactly the type of story the media will exploit to no end.

Ask yourself this. Why is it that the majority of people who now defend Joe Torre are not fans or even followers of the Yankees? I may not have conducted a Gallup poll but I do know LOTS of Yankees fans. Most of the ones I know aren’t disappointed to see Joe go. Sad perhaps but not angry. Somebody will no doubt tell me that these Yankees fans are not upset to see him leave because Yankees fans are… and always have been… total A-Holes. Yeah, that’s a great argument…but bring it if that’s all you got. Besides, that would only serve to reinforce my point about the blind hatred of all things Yankee that so many have.

I remember when the team was on its run of 4 World Series titles in 5 seasons. The common perception of Joe Torre was that he was not an elite manager and that a #### could lead the club. The team had great players and anything they were lacking could be easily attained using their vast finances. All Torre had to do was kick up his feet, get caught picking his nose on camera at least twice a game, collect his check and enjoy the ride. The Yankees were the Evil Empire, they were “ruining” baseball by winning all the time and it had nothing to do with the ability of “Clueless Joe” (their words not mine).

Now that New York hasn’t won a title for 7 straight seasons Joe Torre suddenly becomes a great... no make that legendary manager.  Somebody please explain to me how that works. His teams win in the late 90s and according to his critics he had little or nothing to with it. Since 2001 Torre’s teams lose and these same pundits claim the players are a bunch of overpaid bums that are wasting the efforts of their divine leader.  The fact that he managed the team to post-season appearances every year of his tenure is now proof of his abilities, but it wasn't before? WHAT?!?!?!

It doesn’t matter if the Yankees win or lose because no matter what the situation there are those who will look to discredit someone or something within the organization. When they were on top Torre got zero props. Now that the team keeps falling short these same people use Torre as a means to take pot shots at the players.  Hate the Yankees all you want but at least keep your stories straight. Torre is the same manager he always has been… and that would be an average one.

The fact that so many Yankees players spoke up for Torre should surprise no one. For Jeter, Posada and Rivera he is practically the only manager they have ever known. They briefly played for Buck Showalter in 1995 but that was as late season call-ups. Other players would support him too. Why wouldn’t they? He doesn’t get on their backs when they play poorly and he lets them do their thing. He’s an emotional fatherly figure with a kind heart. How could they dislike him? They certainly wouldn’t blame him, nor should they have.

I’m not saying that teams need to fear their managers or love them to be successful. Ultimately it is a working relationship or at least it should be. Things obviously haven’t been working in Yankees Land during the last 7 post-seasons. You know... the land where only a championship will do. Yeah, if that were the case then Joe would have been axed no later than after the 2003 World Series loss to the Florida Marlins. Just pointing that out since "championship or bust" is another misconception Yankees haters harp on.

In reality the blame is shared between Joe and his former team. As we know you can't fire all the players and keep the manager. However, there is a fine line that separates an elite manager from an average one such as Torre. People only remember this next point when it’s convenient, but so much of achieving success in any sport is mental. The elite coaches are the ones who can provide their teams with an edge where it matters most. That would be in their heads. This ability is lacking in Torre and it always has been.  It just got covered up during the early years of his tenure with New York. The team won 4 World Series in spite of Joe Torre, not because of him. The real leader was Paul O’ Neill. For all intents and purposes he was virtually a player manager.  Paul led by example on the field and in the clubhouse. It’s no coincidence that the fire has been missing since he retired.  

George Steinbrenner should have conducted his business behind closed doors. Joe Torre was owed that. I’ll tell you this though. Joe Torre owes Steinbrenner and the Yankees a lot more than they owe him. They hired him when everyone else scoffed. They used a “blank check” policy to lavish him with players to field an elite level team year after year. They made him the highest paid manager in professional baseball…AND despite knowing better they still made him an offer to come back next season. An offer they knew he might refuse…but an offer that would have still kept him the most highly compensated manager in the sport by far. Just because it was a one-year deal that implied, "this is your last chance to win it all", doesn’t change the fact the Torre is the one who decided to leave. Point blank, the Yankees provided him with the opportunity to enjoy the best 12 years of his managerial life.

 I love you Joe Torre but good riddance. The distraction you had become to the team, along with your managerial flaws, is not worth 5 million dollars. Change is good.

 

What’s that saying again? I think it goes…every party has a #### that’s why they invited you. Or is it…someone always wants to rain on the parade? Seems to me that some people are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Take Roger Clemens for example. The Rocket has elevated modern pitching to heights from the distant past... he has aged as gracefully as fine wine and cheese…yet for many cheesy whiners he simply serves as a target of unjustified resentment.  

Last night Roger Clemens won his 350th game by pitching 8 innings of 2-hit ball to beat the Minnesota Twins. At the tender age of 44, Roger is showing that he continues to be better than most pitchers half his age. He doesn't throw quite as hard as he once did. Then again if he did people might start accusing him of using steroids without having any real evidence to support their claims.  In a moment where praise should be lauded upon him for his body of work, we find more fans lining up to hurl criticisms at the greatest pitcher of this generation. Actually make that two generations since he dominated the materialistic minded Big 80s as well as the Generation X 90s. If he manages to pitch until 2010 he’ll be able to boast having chucked heaters in four different decades. 

 

It seems like just yesterday when former Boston Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette provided us with some tiny pearls of wisdom. Way back in the fall of 1996 he uttered these famous words: “We see Roger Clemens as a pitcher in the twilight of his career.”  They do say that hindsight is 20:20 but history clearly proved that Mr. Duquette was either a blithering #### or came from outer space. My guess would be that Dan is actually from Jupiter, where it takes 11 Earth years to travel around the sun…or approximately the same length of time that has passed from his dubious statement until now.

 

After being run out of Boston, the former 3-time Cy Young Award winner signed with the Toronto Blue Jays for 2 seasons, then played with the Yankees for 5 more and finally headed home to Texas where he spent 3 years with the Houston Astros. 4 Cy Young Awards, 158 wins, 2,040 strikeouts, 5 World Series appearances, and 2 Championships later…maybe Roger is finally approaching twilight as Dan Duquette watches on from the largest planet in our solar system.

 

Which begs these questions: 1) Why do so many dislike the best pitcher that most of us have ever seen? 2) What is wrong with some people in America? (Perhaps Duquette brought them all here with him.) Every reason I have come across is riddled with utter nonsense, hypocrisy or both. .

 

The “Roger Is A Mercenary” Theory: Not to get all Yoda with people who feel this way but when Roger’s age you reach…waste your time you will not wish to do.  The man will turn 45 years old exactly one month from tomorrow. He has been pitching since 1984. He's started 695 baseball games not including the post-season. If he can pick and choose where he wants to play then so be it. He’s earned it. Robert DeNiro, Tom Hanks and Denzell Washington don’t have to audition for B-movies. Just sit back, relax and enjoy. Like rapper Main Source once said, “Watch Roger Do His Thing”... for just a little while longer anyway.

 

The “He's Overpaid” Excuse: Why does anyone care how much money Roger is making (Even if it is a rather fetching prorated wage of $28 million dollars this year)? In my humble opinion middle relievers who make $5 million dollars a year pitching mop up duty are pretty overpaid too. It’s George Steinbrenner’s money and he still has a lot left over. Check that…it’s Roger’s money now and he’d still have plenty if he were sitting at home. Would you have told Big George no thanks? Didn’t think so. Besides, what do truckloads of cash have to do with a legend winning his 350th game? Nothing unless you’re jealous…and last I checked he’s not robbing any of us.  

 

The “Who Does He Think He Is?” Club: Let’s approach this logically instead of with the all too popular knee-jerk reaction of the day. Roger does not want to go to spring training or pitch in the beginning of the season. Many view this as his way of saying that he is “above” the rest of the players on the team. Well, other than the fact that he is Roger Clemens and that thousands of extra fannies pack stadiums on days he pitches…he’s worth no more than anyone else (Ha Ha). The reality is that during his last full season in 2005, his aging body finally betrayed him. Roger had been losing steam down the stretch and his hamstrings finally gave out when his team needed him most. Unfortunately he had be lifted after just 2 innings of painful and ineffective work during Game 1 of the World Series against the White Sox. Roger did not pitch again in the series. The Astros were swept 4 straight despite being outscored by only 6 runs total. Now you tell me…Would you want Clemens feeling fresh in spring training and April/May or would you want him feeling fresh in the post-season? (please refrain from any "the Yankees won’t be in the post-season smack" for that is not the point) Clemens is a competitor and only he knows his body's current capabilities the best.

 

No matter how people feel about Roger (and the Yankees) the criticism of his motives to play are asinine. He’s just doing what he's always done. That would be pitch baseball games and make absurd amounts of cash. If you have a problem with that then you should have a problem with all the younger athletes who play with far less passion than Roger and for all the wrong reasons. Unfortunately it seems that so many of us save our ire only for the cream of the crop and the lowest of the low…in other words for superstars who do not kowtow to our way of thinking and “thugs” we cannot relate to.

 

Roger just won his 350th game. Let’s appreciate the fact that we got to see it and now have something else to tell our grandchildren about some day. Although it sometimes feels that way, it won't last forever. It’s been 44 years since the great Warren Spahn last won this many. The same 44 years that Roger Clemens has been breathing air on Earth. Coincidence? Who knows? Just don’t ask Dan Duquette what he thinks. He’s only had 1 "Jupiter year" to ponder his blunder back on the mother world. 

 

In case you hadn’t noticed Alex Rodriguez is having one heck of a season. My how times have quickly changed. Last October A-Rod was the butt of water cooler jokes around America. Just a scant few months later he is once again the toast of the baseball world. Thanks to a carefully placed clause in the 10 year- $252 million dollar contract he signed with the Texas Rangers in 2001, Alex can actually opt out of this deal at the end of the season and become a free agent.

As the situation stands A-Rod will earn $27 million dollars this season and is slated to make the exact same amount each year from 2008-2010 (when the contract expires). Back when mega-agent Scott Boras brokered the deal, salaries in baseball skyrocketed annually. It’s likely that Boras and A-Rod thought that their numbers could be surpassed over time. This “out clause” provided an escape in the event that Alex somehow wound up being “underpaid”. However, since then new contracts have basically stabilized. No other player has approached Alex’s high water mark. Even so, there is wide speculation that perhaps he will test the free agent waters. My question is: Why?

   

Can A-Rod Make More Money Elsewhere?

I suppose anything is possible but I just don’t see any team other than the Yankees paying A-Rod more than $27 million dollars a season. The Yankees and Rangers currently split the payments on this existing albatross of a contract, making it somewhat more bearable. If a new deal were made the next team would have to shoulder the load independently. That’s not overly likely to happen. Having already been labeled as greedy in certain circles, is this the type of public image the sensitive A-Rod would want to perpetuate? This would leave him vulnerable to even more nationwide scorn.

 

Is A-Rod Bitter Over All The Booing Last Season?

This is definitely a possibility, especially considering that he is a sensitive sort as I just stated. Factor in his recent troubles with New York tabloids that went out of their way to expose his extra marital affairs (Stray-Rod) and the plot thickens. Then take into account that these same tabloids did not always choose the kindest of words when writing about his notorious struggles and the motive to leave increases. Finally, keep in mind that he originally tried to negotiate a trade from Texas to the Red Sox in order to beat the Yankees and the wheels really start turning.  Boston is one of a few teams that could possibly afford him. Would a spiteful A-Rod stoop to this level of vengeance? They do say that revenge is a dish best served cold.

 

If You Can Make It Here, Can You Make It Anywhere?

All statistical accolades aside, and two MVP awards not withstanding, Alex has never won a thing. It don’t mean a thing, if you ain’t got that ring. In fact people have already begun to bandy about the so-called “Curse of A-Rod”. I don’t know how these things get created but they certainly are amusing. When something is hard to explain, let’s bring in the supernatural. Alex has publicly stated that he loves New York and wants to win a title with the Yankees. Then again the term "straight shooter" hasn’t always been associated with A-Rod. SSSHHHHHHH…don’t tell anyone but some people have even accused him of being a big phony. As the season goes along and we receive less and less information from Alex about his intentions, we’ll see how just badly he truly wants to win in New York.  Sticking it out in the Bronx would be a visible sign of toughness for the superstar with the “soft” reputation. Especially if the team misses the playoffs or he tanks in the post-season again.

 

Exactly How Much Does A-Rod Care About What We Think Anyway?

To hear all the closet shrinks theorize (feel free to include me in that group) Alex cares more than a little too much about what everyone thinks of him. He’s stuck his foot in his mouth on several occasions, has had his words twisted out on context at other times, and usually seems to be looking for the right thing to say instead of speaking earnestly from the heart. He is meticulous with his appearance to a fault and is on record for saying that, “Maybe people dislike me because I'm rich, bi-racial and handsome”. Hmmm…don’t hate him cause he’s beautiful. Yep, the R in Rodriguez is really short for Revlon. Even if some people do feel that way, the fact that he even stated this provides insight regarding his vanity. Or is it insecurity? I think it’s both. A-Rod has a very high opinion of himself and truth be told I can’t blame him. He is rich, bi-racial, handsome and perhaps the future career home run king after all. For the life of him (and me) he can’t figure out why so many people can’t stand him. The more time that goes by, the harder it will be to find the adoration he is desperately looking for.  

 

What Will A-Rod Do?

I’m not 100% sure what he will do but I am pretty sure what he won’t. In my opinion A-Rod’s legacy matters far too much for him to give his critics any more fuel to attack him with. He craves acceptance. Turning his back on the Yankees of all teams, perhaps the richest franchise in all of sports, in a quest for more money is marketing suicide. That move, even at the Yankees’ expense, would send further contempt his way. The sheer fallout involved there could be immense. If the first contract felt like the weight of the world, what would a bigger one feel like?

 

There are two things I feel A-Rod wants: A World Series ring and the adulation of spectators. If he stays in New York he is well on his way to winning over ALL the fans, if he hasn't already. Believe it or not he has always had more supporters than critics in New York. Those who boo sound a lot louder and are easier to pick out than those who cheer. If he decides to play elsewhere, mark my words, it will probably have to be for less money. If he does this it will lay to rest many negative innuendos about his character. It will show that winning and happiness don’t always lose to the almighty dollar. The willingness to play for a lower salary would probably earn him newfound respect in many places. Plus it won’t be for everyone’s favorite team to hate, the New York Yankees.

 

What’ll it be for A-Rod? Win over the New York fans and keep the most cash or win over everyone else and settle for less? Either way does he lose? I think not…unless the curse of A-Rod is real and if the only thing that truly matters is that diamond encrusted ring.  Then he’ll have his absurd bank account and the rest of his life to figure out where it all went wrong.

 

He should do what his heart tells him to…and then never look back. 

 

Sure the Yankeess may be 12 ½ games behind Boston in the AL East, and 7 behind the Tigers in the Wild Card race, but last night was a sweet treat for their fans anyway.

Yet another Yankees lead in Fenway… yet another come from behind Red Sox rally…and yet another dismal let down brewing for New York in what has been a damper of a season. The fact that it started raining buckets in the last few innings, made another potential loss seem even more fitting.

After the Yankees jumped out to a 4-0 lead against Josh Beckett, they quickly gave it right back to Boston. The Sox put a 5-spot on the board in the bottom of the 5th. To make matters worse it appeared that starter Andy Pettite hurt something in the inning, as he needed to get pulled during Boston's rally. Fortunately for the injury riddled and pitching light Yankees, it was determined to be just back spasms. Phew…

Boston nursed their 5-4 lead into the 8th. Enter newly crowned Yankees killer Hideki Okajima. Lick the glue, place the stamp, and send the mail cause this one is signed, sealed, delivered.  Umm…not exactly. The only thing getting killed was Okajima’s pitch, as Robinson Cano delivered it 400+ feet off the center field wall for a game tying RBI triple with nobody out. Quite frustratingly third base is right where Cano stayed as three straight teammates failed to bring him home.

 

With the Yankees bullpen having already held Boston in check since the 5th, most figured they were due to implode. Not so fast. Brian Bruny held serve in the bottom of the frame. Where did this guy come from anyway? He’s been throwing BBs at hitters all season long. However, with Jonathan Papelbon coming in to pitch the top of the 9th, and with Mariano Rivera likely to pitch the bottom on the inning, it didn’t look good (considering Mo’s track record of late against Boston).

 

Papelbon quickly retired Derek Jeter on a grounder to first and then blew away Bobby Abreu. He jumped all over Alex Rodriguez and instantly had him buried in an 0-2 count. Papelbon was throwing cheese…hot stinky Limburger cheese. Wait a minute Chester, you cheesy cat. That’s Not-Cho Cheese that you’re throwing anymore...It’s his cheese…It’s A-God’s cheese. Hey Jonathan... turn around your patented stare because your fastball just landed way out there. Your game face now gets the gas face. Much like King Midas, everything Alex has touched with his bat this season has turned to Golden Cheddar. How fitting that the man with the most “Cheddah” went deep again in the 9th.  How fitting it was that it closed out this week. A week filled with cheesy blond bombshells exposed on the side…cheesy “bush” league tactics shouting "HA-HA"-OR-"MINE"…cheesy Papelbon fastballs taking a RIDE! Yanks lead 6-5 as A-Rod flips off his critics with one swing of his stick.

 

Just one more place to go. Gotta go to Mo’s. Remember him? The greatest closer of his generation…the greatest closer of any generation…written off by many because of presumed degeneration.  A classic rain soaked battle with David Ortiz ensued to start the bottom of the ninth. Foul ball, after foul ball, after foul ball…then it’#### deep to right…it is high... it is far... it is caught. Manny Ramirez is next up to bat. Strike one---strike two---strike three. Oh well, that’s just Manny being sat down. That's just one more out to go. Up now is Mr. Kevin You-Kill-Us. The new Johnny Damon... the new bearded favorite.  Ooops...here take that...kerplunk; hope you enjoyed getting hit by a pitch... again! Who’s next? That tough guy Mike Lowell? The lowbrow looking man who likes to bowl over second baseman making plays halfway between the bags? That’s more “bush league” that yelling “HA”! But strike three you’re out too and the last laugh of this series was on you.

 

Yes the Red Sox have a big lead. Yes the Red Sox are in the driver’s seat. Yes the Yankees have things to work out and ground to gain. However, on one dark and soaking wet night the skies cleared for just a second...and Boston, for a change, was singing the blues in the rain.

 

Only 7 games back in the Wild Card? I'm feeling Lucky Seven. The way they've played it could be worse.  The Yankees are now 2-1 in June. It's a new month. You still willing to count them out? I sure hope so.

He’s your idol, the highest title, numero uno.

He’s not a Puerto Rican but he’s speaking so that you know.

Alex “Am I Dominican or am I American?” Rodriguez is serving notice (I never understood why that mattered so much to so many). Back off all you punks who jump up to get beat down, cause he’s back, way back, hitting home runs into the black back. Playing with silent inspiration.  Keeping an eye on the Holy Land.  A hypothetical destination.  Say, who is this walk-off man?  If you hadn’t heard A-Rod hit another one out, as the Yankees completed a three game sweep of Cleveland. This time, a 3-run jack, to cap a bottom of the 9th comeback, after being down 6-2 to start the inning in fact.    

 

I don’t know which shrink or sports psychologist Alex finally settled on, but whoever it is deserves double pay. The man is scowling at foes, cutting it up with teammates and openly enjoying life for the first time since he got to New York.  All you depressed souls out there might want to do some research and figure out who this good doctor is. Rather than asking for A-Rod’s autograph, you might want to ask for Professor Cure All’s business card instead.

 

I didn’t want to come out bragging earlier on but enough is enough. As Popeye once said, I’ve had all I can stands and I can’t stands no more. “Arrogant” Yankees fans like myself get blamed for everything from east coast bias to global warming. Apparently because we blow so much hot air. I figure if I'm going to get accused of it, I might as well live it every once in awhile.  You can take this slice of not so humble pie and stick it down your throat. Are all you A-Rod bashers liking how this tastes? (and this goes for  POSER Yankees fans that boo MVPs too) Revenge is a dish best served cold, but red-hot baseball style isn't bad either.

 

This just could go down as the best April of all-time. Alex already has 10 homeruns and 26 RBIs to go along with a most robust .351 batting average.  This in a month where the weather has made it seem more like February.  Wait until New York turns into Hot Town. What a summer in the city it could be. It’s still so early that it might as well be 5AM on Monday, but this is how seasons for the ages begin. This is how records get broken. It would be poetic irony if in the year that Barry Bonds passes Hank Aaron’s career homerun run record, A-Rod blows up like Chernobyl and claims the single season mark. Wouldn’t that drink go down nice and smooth at your local Player Haters Club?

 

Over hill, over dale, we have hit the dusty trail

And those Yankees go rolling along

In and out, hear them shout, on to Boston there's no doubt

And those Yankees go rolling along

 

Forget the Red Coats you stinking Bean Eaters. The Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming. If you live in Nebraska or somewhere else that isn’t “east”, and you just can’t stand anymore of the best rivalry in sports, then press the button to change the channel. Either that or avoid the Fox Network on Saturday and ESPN on Friday/Sunday altogether. To be honest, I can’t figure out what’s wrong with you. What do you have against a little playoff quality baseball in April?

 

A-Rod... A-Rod... A-Rod is on fire. He don’t need no water let your jealous envy burn. Burn jealous suckers…burn.

 

Damn that felt good.  I’ve been sticking up for him since day one.  And if you don’t know, now you know.

You Can Hate Me Now...But I Won't Stop Now...

Can You Hear Me Now?

Major league baseball players make up a pretty exclusive club. When it comes to good catchers the list is even more limited.  Wearing “The Tools of Ignorance” takes serious tolls on players’ bodies. It’s not actually the tools themselves, but what they protect from. Few players are able to handle the physical demands of the position, while maintaining productive offensive careers that withstand the rigors of time. You’ll hear of no Iron Man streaks among catchers. Even the strongest need several days off during the seemingly endless 162 game seasons.

If you were to examine the credentials of those to ever play the position, you’d likely be very surprised with how favorably Javy Lopez and Jorge Posada compare to the legendary names of the sport. When listening to discussions regarding great catchers from this recent era, the two names most often mentioned are Mike Piazza and Ivan Rodriguez.  Although Piazza is widely viewed as the best hitting catcher of all time, and Rodriguez the most complete backstop of his generation, I find it a bit unfair that Lopez and Posada do not receive more accolades for extremely productive, and dare I say Hall of Fame worthy careers.

                            AVG         OBP             SLG           HR           RBI         (Per 162 games)      

Yogi Berra                 .285           .348             .482           358          1,430       27 HR, 109 RBI

Roy Campanella        .276           .360             .500           242            856        32 HR, 114 RBI

Johnny Bench           .267           .342             .476           389          1,376       29 HR, 103 RBI 

Carlton Fisk              .269           .341             .457           376          1,386        24 HR, 86 RBI

Gary Carter               .262           .335             .439           324          1,225        23 HR, 86 RBI 

Mike Piazza               .310           .380             .552           420          1,292        37 HR, 114 RBI

Ivan  Rodriguez         .304           .343             .484           279          1,123        22 HR, 90 RBI  

Javy Lopez                  .287           .337             .491           260           864          28 HR, 93 RBI

Jorge Posada             .270           .375             .472           199           774          25 HR, 97 RBI

As you analyze the list, you’ll see the four current players paralleled with  five of the most renowned Hall of Fame catchers.  The categories of batting average, on base percentage, and slugging are all quite similar across players, with Piazza truly standing out. At first glance it would be easy to misconstrue the “power numbers” of Lopez and Posada and view them as lacking in comparison to their elite peers.  I would say, "Not so fast". The most telling statistic to me is how their power numbers translate over the course of a 162 game season. When their body of work is examined through this filter, you can plainly see that their levels of on-field productivity are very comparable with some of the best that have ever played the game.

Javy Lopez missed significant playing time in many seasons due to various physical ailments; otherwise his numbers would be even more impressive.  Count me among those who take into account time lost because of injuries.  Posada on the other hand has proven to be very durable. You can blame any deficiencies in his HR and RBI totals on manager Joe Torre.  From 1997-1999, Mr. Torre elected to either start Joe Girardi over Posada or platoon them, even though the light hitting Girardi hit 6 HRs total during those 3 seasons in the Bronx. This is no knock on Girardi’s skills, but Posada and Yankees fans waited VERY patiently for Torre to come to his senses and hand the job over to Jorge full-time. To be quite honest, it was akin to an apprentice whose time had come, but whose master refused to face the truth.  For right or wrong, Torre is a very loyal man and he was loyal with Girardi to a fault. Perhaps the lighter workload earlier on will help to extend Jorge's career, thus allowing him to continue and accumulate stats.

Assuming that Posada still has 3 productive seasons left, he has a very legitimate chance for over 1,000 total RBIs and could easily surpass 250 HRs. If he is able to mentor his inevitable replacement by playing in 40-50 games once his starting days are over, the totals could climb even higher. Carlton Fisk played productively until the age of 43 and held on until he was 45.  I see no reason why a player who takes care of himself as Posada does, cannot make it to age 40-41.    Javy Lopez on the other hand was just released by the Colorado Rockies. Unless he were to hook up with a team looking for a veteran catcher, which is always a distinct possibility, his numbers will stay as they are. If this is the end of the road for him, he will be missed.    

Lopez and Posada have quietly gone about their business on championship caliber teams their entire careers, and most people barely even noticed.  All I can say is that if you didn’t pay attention, then you should have. Once their careers are officially over, we can expect to hear their names mentioned again in the not so distant future as Hall of Fame merits are weighed. I know it's unlikely that Javy and Jorge will ever get their day in Cooperstown (especially since the modern player has to go above and beyond the accomplishments of those already enshrined), and perhaps rightfully so. Whatever the case may be, they're still far more worthy than most people realize. 

Coincidentally, Rodriguez, Lopez and Posada were all born and raised in Puerto Rico.  What were the odds that arguably three of the best four catchers since the start of the 1990s, all hail from the same small island?  Whatever legacies they leave, they will be forever linked and beloved down in Old San Juan, if not in upstate New York. Roberto Clemente, among others, would be proud.

 

 

 

Alex Rodriguez has come forward as the first to admit that his relationship with Derek Jeter isn’t what it once was (Like that was a big secret). He claims that he and his former best friend still have the utmost respect for each other and that they root for one another to do well. The ultimate goal is to win a World Series in New York after all.  Is this just more “Say the right thing”, coming out of Yankees Land, or is this a step towards healing wounds and relocating the chemistry that was a trademark of the championship teams?  We’ll see, but I’m actually more concerned with other things that have annoyed me for a long time. 

You can trace the deterioration of the friendship back to an interview with Esquire magazine in 2001.  In the article A-Rod, then with Texas, candidly expressed in a medley of ways that Jeter wasn’t as good as him. Among other things (I’m paraphrasing) he said: 1) It was unfair to Jeter to compare their numbers. 2) Derek had more talent around him. 3) Jeter never really had to lead a team. 4) Opposing teams worried more about stopping other Yankees in comparison to Derek.  

 

The funny thing is, back when A-Rod expressed these opinions, Yankees fans were the only ones who seemed outraged. Many others around the country would only admit that A-Rod’s comments came across as a bit crass, especially considering their highly publicized friendship. However, most of these same people claimed Rodriguez was right.  As a lifelong Yankees follower and fan of Derek Jeter, it absolutely kills me to hear the hypocrites at work in 2007.

 

Back at the time of those comments, all you would ever hear about Jeter was how he was the most overrated player in baseball. Insults flew down from Boston about how Nomar Garciaparra put Derek to shame. They even coined that annoying, "Nomar's Better!!!" chant. We also heard that "Derek couldn't sniff A-Rod’s jock" and that "Miguel Tejada was superior in every category too".  As with all things Yankees, a steady diet of criticism was directed at Jeter regarding his play.

 

 

Fast forward a few years and the picture clears up. Rational heads will tell you that home runs are overly glorified. You also cannot fairly compare the RBI totals of a player such as Jeter (who has spent his entire career batting lead-off or out of the 2-hole), with middle of the lineup guys.  One should never underestimate the value of a clutch hitter. Leadership takes place on the field not in the tabloids.  Nomar proved he was made out of peanut brittle and got run out of Bean Town. Tejada showed that the only thing he does better than Jeter is hit a few more out. A-Rod continues to look for the right sports psychologist to help cure him of a psyche as fragile as egg shells.  

 

As for Jeter, let’s just say Rodriguez coming to the Yankees was the best thing that could possibly have happened to him in the court of public opinion.  In the case of Alex there is someone FAR easier to direct biased filled venom towards. I’m not even saying that A-Rod doesn’t deserve a lot of it. Some of it is over the top but a great deal of it rings true. His recent post-season failures aren’t a mirage and that has to count for something. It’s not even about being the highest paid player in baseball, although that makes it even more ironic. Flat out he has sucked in the clutch.   

 

Just do Jeter, the Yankees, and all New York fans a favor. Don’t start lauding kudos on Derek now because it's an easy way to further vilify Rodriguez.  Back in 2001 he was "all hype" because of the New York media and East Coast bias. Now in 2007 he’s Mr. Clutch, an All-American hero, class act all the way, the face of the Yankees, the ultimate gamer etc..., etc…, etc…  The problem is, he was all of these exact things back then too.  You just wouldn’t give him credit for it. Now with Rodriguez to dump on, praising Jeter is an easy way to promote your agendas.

 

Now go find a way to spin A-Rod’s latest statements into more reasons why he’s a gigantic jerk. You know you want to. It’s the Yankees for goodness sake. You can’t help yourselves.

No matter how feel good the story, somebody will rain on the parade.

“Keeping It Real” is alive and well everywhere in America.

Old people are annoying and then you become Old School.

Just when you think you have it all figured out, you’re wrong again.

Some are usually right, some are usually wrong and some we can't decide.

Got an elbow? Got an opinion? Everyone’s an ####.

Sports are a walking cliché.

Barbaro proved that folks love animals way more than I thought.

I never knew so many fans hated the Phoenix Suns and Steve Nash.

A lady who knows sports is instantly prettier due to the personality principle. 

I still can’t figure out whether quality or quantity wins.

Everybody tells us to go all out, but if you try too hard nobody likes you.

Defensive people can come across as very aggressive sometimes.

We’re all haters at one point or another.

Mean people really do suck but they can’t help themselves.

A lot of open-minded people sure are intolerant about certain things.

There’s your trash, my trash and everyone’s trash.

Although, somewhere there’s a person who still thinks O.J. was innocent.

We all crave acceptance, just as long as it’s on our terms.

Every compliment feels good, but praise from some individuals means more.

We were all dumber before we started blogging.

At this rate I'll figure out how to post to the "other" category any day now.

 

 At one time or another I've been both these guys.

Baseball, once considered the National Pastime, is still most definitely America’s game. Football has surpassed it in overall popularity. Basketball may nip at its heels. Even so, no other sport provides us with a clearer reflection of modern day “Americana”.  Bear with me. That's not a good thing. 

I love baseball. The rest of the word may call soccer, “The Beautiful Game”, but here in the states nothing rivals baseball’s aesthetic appeal. It starts young, often with Little League. You can’t compare playing catch with children using a hardball and glove to tossing a football. It’s just not the same. From sun-filled summer days at your favorite stadium, to graceful athletes roaming the vast field, to majestic flights of homeruns hit over 400 feet; the sport is pleasing and easy on the eye. Even the unique symbolism of baseball uniforms signifies camaraderie. It reminds us that anyone, despite any limitation, can in some way belong (just like our country).

How then has such a wonderful game become so damn corrupt?

Baseball currently finds itself in a very foul condition. If something is rotten in the state of Denmark, then it’s absolutely rancid in the world of baseball. Everyone involved, from management to players, shares the blame. They need to own this fact, provide the public with the truth, clean up the game and move on. Take a stance on steroids and enforce it (for better or worse). The future is what needs to be protected. What’s been done is done.  This is the only way to repair baseball’s image. Bringing down Bonds as some type of sacrificial lamb, and thus avoid tarnishing the hallowed homerun record, is not the cure all.  Statistics are symbolic but impossible to compare across eras. Although they certainly have meaning and importance, they are hollow in essence.  Besides, it’s Baseball Inc. that needs fixing, not the record books. 

 

The fact that baseball has been unwilling to come forward with the truth should surprise none of us. It has long sought separate and unequal status in comparison to its peers.  We can trace this back to baseball’s antitrust exemption, established in 1922.  In essence baseball once held somewhat of a “monopoly” status. It was able to hold franchises and players hostage based on personal interests. For example, free agency was a hard fought battle and a long time coming for players. Ironically the owners claimed it would ruin the game. This is now an all too common criticism by fans today, since large market teams can sign all the best players away from their less affluent competitors.

 

Not all double standards come from management. The player’s association continues to  oppose any type of salary cap. Growth in wages may have slowed slightly, but an absurd amount of money is made. The other major sports annually tweak their collective bargaining agreements, yet baseball can’t even create one. I’ve always wondered how a group of people can belong to a “union” as baseball players do, but refuse to a uniformly established pay scale. I understand that players are the employees and the product. However, they are not entrepreneurs nor do they even work in the private sector. As I said, they belong to a union and union workers are supposed to have standards of compensation that are negotiated and set for a specific period of time.

 

Whereas other sports have instituted age minimums before young athletes can declare themselves eligible for the draft, baseball has no such standard. In fact baseball has gone so far as to set up “academies” in impoverished countries such as the Dominican Republic, where they literally try and cultivate children into the next great star. Some may argue that baseball is giving these people a chance to do something with their lives. I would respond by saying, "How arrogant"!  These are no more than boys being exploited and it’s immoral. What will baseball do for them after it becomes apparent that not everyone is major league material? Pay for them to go to college and get an education I suppose? Find them a job? Taking children from their families to play baseball would never fly in our country. Why is it okay somewhere else? If the motives were altruistic, then we’d see similar academies all across America, especially in urban areas.

 

Speaking of urban, have you ever noticed that many in society have the perception that there are more uneducated and violent athletes playing football and basketball, whereas baseball players are viewed more favorably? Could it be due to the ethnic make-up of professional rosters? Obviously the majority of athletes in the NFL and NBA are African-American and the majority of baseball players are white. The likes of Ryan Howard of the Phillies is becoming increasingly uncommon. Due to the nature of how players become professionals, more athletes in baseball have less education than in any other game. The vast majorities go straight to the minor leagues from high school and/or have been imported from Latin America. At least players in other sports have some higher-level education, even if just a year or two in some cases. How productively each individual spent his time at a university is a personal matter. We can’t deny that at least they were there.

 

 

Clearly, much has changed since 1922, but baseball continues to follow a different set of “rules” in comparison to other sports. Some of these are immoral, some hypocritical and all are self-serving.

 

Utopian ideals alongside materialistic practices? Simple purity contaminated by scandalous behavior? Age-old values shattered by hypocrisy and lies? Persistent double standards in the land of equality? It’s the good, the bad, the right and the wrong all rolled into one. That’s what life and greatness is all about. Yup…sounds like America’s, “The Beautiful Game” to me.

 

Sometimes you get tired of the mere formality that the regular season has become in sports. We all know that the Eastern Conference teams in the NBA have no chance against any of the various Western Conference juggernauts. It’s common knowledge that the American League baseball teams have far too much firepower in their line-ups for those inferior National League squads. In professional football the AFC rules. As a matter of fact, it sure was a great Super Bowl last Sunday between the Patriots and Colts, as some people openly considered it. 

I think the NBA champion Miami Heat, or the World Series king St. Louis Cardinals, might have a little something-something to say about that nonsense.  Are there any Florida Gators fans that want to chime in about things? I think I know what they might say: “Crown this!” sounds about right. Thankfully it’s required that the games actually get played.

Early Vegas lines have the Colts a 7-point favorite over the Bears. I know I’m in the minority, but I have to tactfully disagree. I’m here to drop my Super Bowl DIMES of knowledge.

 

Defense wins championships, or so they say. I don’t care what “slump” the Bears defense went through or what improvement the Colts have shown; Chicago’s defense is better. Don’t buy into the media’s accusations of vulnerability.  They have All-Pro playmakers in the trenches, among their linebackers and in the secondary. This is a championship caliber defense and such groups win Super Bowls. Now they’re the underdog and feel disrespected. It doesn’t matter if it’s true or not.  That counts for a ton and they are going to absolutely bring IT on game day.

 

Intangibles are easily overlooked or forgotten entirely. The Bears hold the advantage in this area of unpredictability. The Colts have atrocious special teams play. They repeatedly allow huge returns to their opponents on kickoffs and punts. Unfortunately for them, all-world return man Devin Hester plays for Chicago.  The Bears also force turnovers as well as any team in the league. Very few units are as adept at stripping the rock away from ball carriers.  Rex Grossman may have thrown too many interceptions, but it feels like no other quarterback has accounted for more “homerun” touchdown passes. Look for a couple in this game as Indy overloads to stop the run. Finally, even place kicker Adam Vinatieri can’t be considered much of an advantage for the Colts, since Robbie Gould of Chicago is as cool as they come.

 

Mentality is something the Colts do not have on their side. Peyton got the #### off his back when he finally beat Brady and the Pats in a meaningful game. Yadda, Yadda, Yadda.  Says who? It’s not a #### on his back in the first place. It’s freaking King Kong and he's still there.  Those same doubt-filled thoughts will be dancing in his head on Super Bowl Sunday. In fact I expect them to be even worse.  He’ll have two full weeks to think about things. If you don’t believe the fear of failure is still on his mind, and in the heads of all his teammates, YOU… ARE… NUTS. It’s just his legacy that we’re talking about here, and perception is everything to some folks.

 

Execution of the game plan (as usual) will be critical to winning. Thanks to their defense, this will be easier for the Bears. Just think back to the NFC Championship game and repeat after me: “Reggie and Deuce who”? Brian Urlacher and crew will do the same to Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes. They may seem to give up too much passing yardage, but that’s what happens when you stuff the run. Manning will get his of course, but the Colts will be forced to play one-dimensional football.  It’s been demonstrated many times that Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne can be disrupted by physical play. Don’t be surprised to see it yet again, leaving Manning overly reliant on his tight ends. The Bears will gladly take that exchange. On offense Chicago can stay true to their plan. They’ll pound the run to set up the passing game for the occasional deep ball. It’s a big if, but if Grossman protects the ball, the Bears will win this game handily.   

 

Staffing on the teams is remarkably similar. (Enter sarcasm) Hey, did y'all know that Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith are the FIRST African-American head coaches to ever make it to the Super Bowl?!?! Oh…you’ve already heard? Seriously, let’s think about Dungy for a minute. If you ask me, more comparisons should be made between him and Marty Schottenheimer, than with Lovie Smith.  Even though Tony has now made it to the big dance, and Marty still hasn’t, both coaches are notorious for having their teams fail when it matters most.  This goes back to when he was leading Tampa Bay into contention, and Lovie was one of his assistants (Watch as the apprentice bests his mentor this year). Tony couldn’t pull it off back then and he’s not about to with the Colts. Oh, and need I remind you that Jon Gruden won it all with the Bucs, the very same season he replaced Dungy? I don’t think it was a coincidence.  For the record I think Tony Dungy is a fine coach and an even better man. It’s just his karma.

 

Ultimately though, what do I know? I’m just not buying that