Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Is everyone sick of the Alex Rodriguez playoff storyline yet? I know many people are, but it'll be hard to avoid until Rodriguez has that one or two big offensive games for the Yanks. In the meantime, Pete Abe has some interesting audio from Rodriguez, and Howard Bryant has a nice, long piece on the potential King of New York. I like this quote from Kevin Millar:
"When is he just going to say, 'I'm the baddest [dude] out there?' " Orioles first baseman Kevin Millar says. " 'I hit .320 with 40 and 130 RBIs, every [stupid] year, and what about it?' What is anyone going to say to that? Nobody can challenge him in this game because nobody else is that good. He spent a lot of time trying to be liked. I just want him to say, 'Don't [mess] with me, because none of you [guys] can do what I do.' That's all he has to do, 'cause he's a straight-up gangster."
...All you heard was Papa don't hit me no more!
I take a look at my fans and realize they think I'm a zero
But I've been blastin homers so long that
Even Kevin Millar thinks that my mind is gone
But I ain't never crossed a reporter that didn't deserve it
He be took pictures at the strip club, you know that's unheard of
Fans- you better watch how you talking, and where you walking
Or you and your homies might just see me leavin
I really hit the round trippers, but still they boo me
As they hate I see myself leavin for Wrigley, fool
I'm the kinda A-Rod that little homies wanna be like
On my knees in the night
Sayin' prayers to the pinstripes
Been spending most our lives
Living in A-Rod's Gangsta Paradise
i have a good feeling about rodriguez. this is his year.
i'm more concerned with our pitching. of course, that was what i was saying last october, too and it was our bats that came up empty.
man, thursday seems like it is months away right now. this is unbearable.
How do I know this? Coming Wednesday afternoon to ESPN - Outside the Lines will examine the pressure facing Alex Rodriguez in the 2007 playoffs. 3PM! Don't miss it!
Poor Bob Ley.
Allows me to take a breather before I start screaming and yelling at the TV again on Thursday...
http://tinyurl.com/253z9s
i really shouldn't be surprised.
Jose Molina: 29 G / 66 AB / .318 BA / .333 OBP / .439 SLG and an OPS+ of 107
Wil Nieves: 26 G / 61 AB / .164 BA / .190 OBP / .230 SLG and an OPS+ of 13
Replacing Nieves horrid rates with Molina's decent ones netted the Yanks a whopping 3 additional runs and 1 additional RBI.
I guess I thought, depite being a small sample size, there would have been a bigger disparity in their counting stats.
Still, I'm happy with the trade.
For fun comparisons, GOB finished his first full season in the Bronx at 24 with a 98 OPS+.
I just hoping he gets a couple pitches he can put into play. I'll be surprised if Sabathia and Carmona show him anything hitable. He'll have to remain calm and focused so he can capitalize on their rare mistakes, and/or do the bulk of his wrecking against less talented relievers.
Because opponents will likely pitch around A-Rod, it's unreasonable to expect him to have more than a few hits per postseason series. Whether those few hits result in RBI or runs scored will determine how he is "judged." He doesn't have to have a monster series to impress me, that's for sure.
As I'm figuring his bat will mostly be contained, I'm hoping he can pull his weight just playing solid heads up ball in the field, and between the bases. Just hold down the fort at 3b, Alex, and nobody will get on you. Don't lose your head on the bases, and you're as good as gold.
Oh yeah, and just get a couple big hits. Don't even have to be home runs, chief. Walk's as good as a hit. Brill cream, baby. A little dab'll do ya.
"Yankee fans may be glad to have avoided the Angels in the first round, but the club knows the Indians present big-time problems because they can score in different ways from all spots in the lineup and setup relievers Rafael Perez and Rafael Betancourt are nasty."
The Yankees scored the most runs in the majors this year. They scored 76 more runs than the next closest team. They scored 157 more runs than the Indians - almost a full run per game - who were 8th in the majors. The Yankee runs didn't all come against the league scrubs - for every D-Rays game the Yankees had, the Tribe had the KC Royals and the White Sox.
So Verducci says the Indians will present a problem for the Yankees. Well - duh. They are a playoff caliber team with decent pitching. But to highlight the Indian's offense? Compared to the Yankees offense? I mean - c'mon. The Yankees 7th place hitter his .306 with 19 home runs. The Yankees also stole almost double the bases that Cleveland did. The Yankees had the highest batting average, the highest on base percentage, the most home runs, the highest slugging percentage, and were second only to the Angels in the AL for stolen bases. You wanna talk Cleveland offense? Gimme a break. From an offensive standpoint - it's not a fair comparison.
There is no doubt the Yankees can go out and lay an egg like they did last year, but these preview articles are nonsense. With Verducci, it's always the other team that is good and the Yankees that are bad. I mean - geez. For a guy who's always tossing off those fancy stats, he somehow ignores the numbers when it casts the Yankees in a positive light.
So please - Verducci - give it a rest. Cleveland is a good team - and any team can win this series - but don't say silly things like "they can score in different ways from all spots in the lineup". No lineup is deeper or better than the Yankee lineup, top to bottom.
As far as relievers - just two words are necessary - Joba and Rivera. 'Nuff said.
Part about relationship with Leche and Robie very revealing, too.
Thannks for the jump.
As to Verducci, he's often an idiot.I see the Yankees and Redsox both win in 4 games. Bring on the ALCS.
i was at fenway early, standing in the drizzle beside he field as people were shouting all sorts of vile things at the guy.
meanwhile, he was playing catch with robbie, standing beside melky, cracking the kid up. then he breaks into song. singing a song en espanol. he seemed oblivious to everything being directed his way.
then he goes 1 for 3, 2 runs scored, a BB a HBP. yankees win 9-5.
"I'm taking a significant amount of Pride today. I don't usually allow myself that"
One of the most useless, incompetent, arrogant men to ever be involved in the sport said this and wasn't struck down on the spot.
No flailing at sliders off the plate. No swinging from his heels with 2 strikes when a single up the middle would suffice.
That kind of thing is all I ask.
And of course, defense.
OG.
It's both hilarious and apt.
he's one of those few people i wouldn't piss on if they were on fire ...
It's so expensive, especially considering that the only reason I want cable in the first place is to watch the Yankees.
Over the last 3 years: 2-8, 5.81.
I got the Banter recommended Joba the Hutt T-shirt and wore it to the Saturday game against the Orioles. At least 30, seriously, 30 people stopped me to take pictures and talk.
That stadium is all Yankees all the time. In fact, I don't remember seeing that much Yankees memorabilia even at Yankee Stadium.
I wouldn't call him a Yankee killer, but I feel like we either shell him or he shuts us down. No middle ground.
All I know is I shudder to recall how off-balance he can keep us. It's one of the most maddening things I've ever seen.
Kind of like Jamie Moyer.
Remember Sori facing Wakefield?
ha ha ha haha ha ha ah!!!
What you've described is a knuckleball pitcher - capable of being untouchable or of being battered mercilessly. But "Yankee killer" is just silly.
If I leave my desk by 6:30, I consider it a good day, then I got a 45min bike ride home ahead of me. Thank God for DVR.
The Bay Bridge had collapsed and he's on the television reporting with great solemnity, "There will be no baseball tonight."
O, woe betide us on that day.
What is it, five months to spring training?
In WS Game 3: Yanks trailing 3-2, top 8. Paulie works a walk. Trevor Hoffman comes in, walks Tino. Then Brosius hits the bomb to dead center. Steve Finley was in center. As he races back to the wall and realizes it's gone, you can clearly hear him yell "F*CK!". Obviously there was a mic in proximity, and everytime I replay that tape, I crack up.
Great memories and a pinstipe fix on a Yankee baseball-less day. Break out those Yankeeograhy's tomorrow, gang. I hope Joe has 'em playing in the clubhouse, too. Gets you pumped up!
What, exactly, is in those photos Isiah Thomas has of James Dolan?
Even the mention of his name gets me jazzed up.
:)
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