Freeh-dom Fighting

A few quick hitters on Penn State before explaining my take on the Freeh Report.


Should the statue of Joe Paterno be taken down?

It's a sad story...with all of the good things that Paterno has done over the years. But, it is what it is. (AP Photo/Centre Daily Times, Nabil K. Mark)

It's got to go. It has to come down. It will forever be associated with this scandal. If the university is condemning the scandal, and in turn the football program for its involvement....Why would there be a statue to honor Paterno?


Isn't it ironic that there were kids willing to camp out around the statue to "protect" it from vandals? A statue of a man who himself had an opportunity to "protect" kids - and did not.



Should the NCAA levy the "death penalty" on Penn State?

The NCAA - a borderline criminal organization in its own right - has a tough decision to make. Regardless of how people want to spin it, the Sandusky scandal would not have been possible without the role of the football program in both looking the other way, and in allowing him access to his victims despite his previous indiscretions. (Photo from Houston Press)

My first impression was that a harsh NCAA cleansing of the PSU football program would punish all the wrong people. The football team members were 4-8 years old when the first Sandusky incident went down. They, along with the current coaching staff, have done nothing to warrant getting the death penalty.


That said, I'm starting to change my tune a bit seeing all of the outpouring of support that Joe Paterno is getting out in Happy Valley. These people apparently have blinders on, or are unwilling to accept the facts of this case, and in that regard a message needs to be sent. They just don't get it.

The "death penalty" is a bit harsh, but some debilitating sanctions are certainly not.

And now, without further ado...



Freeh Report Vibe

In two previous blogs on Sandusky and the Penn State scandal, I've been highly critical of those at Penn State who were involved in looking away from this. That being said, I was waiting to see the outcome of the Freeh Report before passing further judgement on the involvement of PSU's highest in command.

Even with Joe Paterno, as critical as I was when the initial media reports came out, I was willing to see what the Freeh Report would turn up before fully damning him for his involvement.

After reading the Freeh Report (all pertinent parts at least), I do not see how it is feasible to defend his involvement in all this. Any opinion that I have formulated comes as a direct result of reading quotations from e-mails uncovered in Freeh's investigation. Assumptions made about what "probably" happened do not carry nearly the clout that this written proof does.

I'll be more clear...There is no written proof that Paterno was intimately involved in the orchestrating of "sweeping it under the rug," but there is proof that he had a mild hand in it (Proof below). What's more, Paterno was keenly aware of the allegations on multiple occasions and said NOTHING while the University continued to allow him uninhibited access to all facilities. Sandusky even had an office in the same building as Paterno!

The Lasch Building at PSU. No need to keep Jerry out. Wonder if they gave him a reserved spot close to his office? (Photo from PennLive.com)

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Proof of Paterno's culpability:

After Mike McQueary reported the incident he witnessed (and after Paterno had reported this to the big wigs) the university administration devised an action plan that included 1) report the incident to the Second Mile, 2) Report it to the Department of Welfare, and 3) Tell Sandusky to avoid bringing children alone into Lasch Building.

The AD subsequently e-mailed the other administrators and stated that he had changed his mind about the plan "after giving it more thought and talking it over with Joe Paterno yesterday." He then proposed that they should offer Sandusky "professional help."

The president accepts this proposal and even states "the only downside for us is if the message is not 'heard' and acted upon, and we then become vulnerable."

No shit.

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I will concede that Paterno's involvement seems to pale in comparison to that of Curley (AD), Schultz (Senior VP - Finance & Business), and Spanier (President). They were the ones who had continued to correspond about whether they want to go to authorities or not. They were the ones who knew that in 1998 Sandusky had been warned by an investigating police detective "not to shower with any child" which Sandusky agreed to.  They were the ones who received the report in 2001 of what Mike McQueary had witnessed...in the shower with a child.

So he was told not to do it again. He did it again. And for 10 more years he was allowed full access to PSU facilities.

Let's suppose that at best there was no criminal activity....wouldn't the mere insubordination with something this sensitive merit complete removal from association with the school?

Maybe THIS is what Jerry thought they meant when they told him "no more showers with kids"...Honest mistake. (Photo by Bob's Blitz)

The trio of upper administration (Curley, Schultz, and Spanier) had consistent communication as these incidents were reported. While JoePa could have made more noise in getting Sandusky out of there, these men were the ones that could have most readily made it happen.

And because of their fear for what the exposure of these incidents would mean for the university, they did nothing.

While those fears about the university's reputation have come true and then some, these men need not worry.

They have bigger things to worry about now.

R.A.vaged

Most of you that know me, know me as a rather grounded Yankee fan. Especially during the regular season. I try never to get to low when the team isn't playing well, and never to get too excited when they are rolling. This is an outlook that has been cultivated by their regular appearances in October. Not gloating at all. That is simply a fact. Any regular season spike (good or bad) is offset by the consolation that lies in knowing that they will be there in October. Until proven otherwise (on a regular basis), I see no reason to feel differently.

Overhyped by the media, but Mets fans usually are absolutely gaga about their yearly meetings with the Yankees. Aside from local hype, it's just another 6 games (soon to be 4) on the schedule for both teams. While the players are likely to share my view, Mets fans continuously use these games as a measuring stick.

The Subway Series (regular season version) is not nearly as important to Yankees fans as it is to Mets fans. Yankees fans can usually rationalize regular season Subway Series losses by being in the race in October, while Mets fans are at home. This year's version was spiced up a bit with the Mets in contention for a playoff spot. The Mets (again, just stating the facts) are a team of unknowns who have played some unbelievable baseball at times this year. Their success has injected some energy into the crosstown rivalry by giving Mets fans the window of opportunity to believe that their team is on a parallel with the Yankees.

However, they were sorely smacked back down to Earth this weekend in losing 2 of 3 to the Bombers at CitiField. While this will likely have no long-term implications on the Mets playoff hopes, it is a subtle reminder that they still have a long way to go. I ordinarily would not feel the need to point out that the Mets ate some crow, but there are three reasons that lead me to bring this up.

1. Frank Francisco's "Chickens" Comment

Honestly, who is Frank Francisco to make a comment like that. The guy is continuing to cement his status as one of the "boobs" of MLB. Give him credit for having a relatively solid year thus far, but make him take his medicine for this ridiculous statement. Aside from the obvious that the Yanks lineup has some proven hitters, they also swept them at Yankee Stadium in early June!

Frank Francisco throwing a chair in Oakland and hitting a lady in the face. Who's the chicken again Franky?

Add to that the fact that the Mets had a clubhouse attendant get a chicken that they playfully referred to as "Jeter" before settling on "Little Jerry Seinfield", and they just look ridiculous here. I appreciate the Seinfeld reference as much as the next guy, but come on with this. Putting a nice bow on all of this is that Francisco was placed on the DL today with an oblique strain. Karma is a b*tch Frankie.

2. Mets Organization Employees Complaining About the HR's at Yankee Stadium

I respect Terry Collins as a baseball man a lot. But come on, this is Baseball Knowledge 101. You can't complain about ballpark dimensions if BOTH TEAMS are playing a game in the same ballpark. The Yankees are built for that park? Guess what, they are built for a lot of things. And they hit a lot of home runs on the road as well (as the Mets found out). I wonder how much of an issue this would have been if Ike Davis had popped a couple of "generous" home runs over that right field porch. Maybe they should evaluate that.

Cry me a river. Last time I checked both teams get a shot at popping one over the 314 marker.

Part of this was drummed up by Mets media announcers who brought this up during the game. But Collins also referenced the "friendly" home field for the Yanks in interviews. I just don't see how you can go down that road. Especially since most of the newer parks in baseball are bona fide band boxes. Where's the gripe when the Mets play at Great American Ballpark or Minute Maid?

3. R.A. Dickey's Hype for Sunday Night Baseball

I like Dickey a lot (TWSS). I have rooted for him this year, and will continue to do so. This is not anything that was really in the ORGANIZATION'S control. Dickey is a humble guy who would just as prefer to make another start and be on his way. This is more an issue brought up by the media and perpetuated by Mets fans than anything else.

A perfect example....and I will take an anti-Yankee position on this. When the ESPN announcers were talking about the matchup during last night's game, they said "We could be watching both All-Star game starters here tonight."

Sabathia has had a nice year (9-3, 3.45 ERA) but certainly will not be the AL starter. David Price (10-4, 2.90), Chris Sale (8-2, 2.24), and even Matt Harrison (10-3, 3.24) might have something to say about that. Dickey has a real shot to start for the NL.

Dickey has a real shot to start for the NL. Sabathia is having a solid year, but is a longshot to start for the AL. Mets fans were frothing for this opportunity to show off their Dickey. Both guys underwhelmed.

This just illustrates how overhyped this matchup was. C.C. and Dickey were each mediocre, and the game was decided in the bullpens.

FINAL VIBE

Just to re-focus, I don't want it to seem like I'm raining hate on the Mets. I am happy for my Mets fans friends that have suffered through the Madoff scandal, the Jason Bay disaster, the Jose Reyes exit, and other hard luck moments over the past 5 years. They are about to endure some meaningful summer baseball, and that's a great thing.

As for using the Yankees as a measuring stick....you're just not there yet.

Rubber Dickey

Every baseball season brings its share of surprises. Players who inexplicably underperform (see Lind, Adam and Lee, Cliff). Star players who experience resurgence (see Hamilton, Josh). Players with a new opportunity who take it and run (see Cabrera, Melky). And of course, young players who experience a breakout and make an impact earlier than expected (see Trout, Mike and Harper, Bryce).
But every once in a blue moon we see a journeyman player who figures something out and emerges to an All-Star level out of nowhere. The last man cut from this mold in recent memory was Kent Bottenfield in 1999 (journeyman pitcher who had never won more than 5 games with 5 different teams prior to winning 18 with St. Louis that year).

Aging hefty, lovable pitcher from a Disney movie? No, 1999 NL All-Star Kent Bottenfield who had just 26 career wins prior to winning 18 with the Cards that year. Subsequently, he faded away into oblivion. Will Dickey suffer the same fate? Not likely.  (Reuters)

This year's Kent Bottenfield Award goes to R.A. Dickey. To be perfectly honest, the Mets signed him prior to 2010 to be a placeholder in their rotation. Actually, that's being pretty generous. When he came on with the Amazin's, he had not even a guaranteed rotation spot. Despite pitching pretty admirably over the past two seasons (2.84 and 3.28 ERA, respectively), Dickey has never established himself as a standout pitcher in this game.

Apologies to my fans of locker room humor, but this guy has garnered more respect than to receive an unabated barrage of jokes about his last name. "Knuckling Dickey" (see above) is about as edgy as I'll get here. (Jesse Thorn)

This year has changed all that. Not only does Dickey sport an 11-1 record to go with a 2.00 ERA, but he also leads the National League in strikeouts (103). What makes this all the more remarkable is that prior to 2006 (at age 31), Dickey had never thrown a "knuckleball" in the major leagues. After battling arm troubles across 5 spotty seasons with the Rangers, Dickey elected to re-invent himself by transforming his knuckle-esque forkball into a true "hard knuckleball." This year, he truly is spinning stuff that has hitters baffled.

What grip would suit Dickey (that's what she said) if this card photo were shot today? (Baseball Almanac)

Now, Dickey is starting to threaten the baseball record book. He's the first pitcher in 25 years to throw back-to-back one hitters. On top of that, he has not allowed an earned run in 42 2/3 innings. Because of his unconventionally nasty "stuff", there is no hitter in baseball looking forward to facing him right now. As of this blog, he is poised to start for the NL in July's All-Star Game.

It remains to be seen whether Dickey will continue his assault on MLB, or if he will threaten 20 wins (as it appears he will). However, one thing he has done is provide Mets fans with an anchored player who is truly easy to root for. In the interest of focusing this blog, I will not even get into his troubled upbringing (and sexual abuse endured as a child). All this does it make it easier to pull for the guy.

He has become a player who is the voice of the team. Someone who their young guys look to for leadership. When you hear him speak, his humbled tone is remarkable. He gives the impression that he is counting every blessing that he gets. He has taken this second chance and made the most of it. What makes it all even better is that he is 37 years old, and does not appear to be slowing down any time soon.

Hodge Podge

Expect more blogs moving forward...
Due to a number of external obligations, it's been awhile. Below I will offer an unabated blitz on relevant sports topics over the past few weeks. Short, sweet, and to the point.

"The Tickle Monster"

Is this how you pictured the tickle monster? I'm not certain how many people actually envision who their "Tickle Monster" is, but I'm pretty sure this guy isn't it. Makes you want to full-out yak into a bag.

Sandusk. Jesus H. Christ.  The rundown from witness testimony is absolutely disgusting. This entire case is why people have a hard time dealing with the credibility of defense lawyers. How do you defend something like this and continue to have a clear conscience? I guess there is money to be had, and that is what talks. These proceedings can't be completed soon enough. I hope that this guy goes down hard and that he's removed from society for the rest of his days.


Deal with the Devil

What? You can get a name jersey for $175? F*ck me eh?

I have come to the realization that I tend to root for evil teams. Yanks, Cowboys, MCFC, and the Devils. OK, so I spent an exorbited amount of money on a Devils jersey. I love playoff hockey. I just can't follow the sport too closely during the regular season. I think that playoff hockey takes on a completely different nature than regular season hockey does.  I was pumped when the Devils took out the Rangers in the East, but figured that they were up against it in the finals. You can't undersell the value of a hot goalie in the NHL playoffs. Brodeur was hot. Quick was hotter. That was the difference.

It makes me sad that Parise will likely jump ship to another team, as his talents have outpriced the Newark market. However, it's hard for me to feel like the Devils will not bounce back, as they have been able to sustain success for longer than just about any Metro-area team outside of the Yankees. They went through similar turmoil when Scott Gomez left (although I admit Parise is a better talent than Gomez).


King Crab

"Not one championship, not two, not three, not four..." etc. I would love to know how you reconcile rooting for this guy. I know it's kind of cliche to root against LeBron....But consider me on board. Can't wait to see him lose again.

This Lebron James guy. I just can't root for him. I know the comparisons to Jordan are in the air. And it makes me less likely to pull for him. And I hated Jordan. But I respected him.

I don't have a lot of respect for LBJ. I think he's a tremendously talented player. However, I don't think you'd ever hear Jordan say "I'm taxed by playing the 4" or anything else resembling an excuse. I hate to be a bandwagon "Heat Hater" but I am. I feel that he has made Dwayne Wade into a player that is difficult to root for. 

All Thunder baby, all the way.

Schmo Hitters

These two Mets hurlers have helped the team stay near the top of the standings this year. Let's not get greedy though.

I was all over the Johan Santana no-hitter. Although a Yankee fan, I'm not a Met hater by any means. It makes for a great summer when both teams are good.  What Terry Collins has done with a team of Omar Quintanillas, of Kirk Neuwenhius', of Lucas Dudas' is remarkable.

I think that Johan deserved his no-hitter, as umpire's decisions are part of the game. I wonder how many no hitters were aided by an umpire's call here or there. I bet there are a few. I think the Santana no-hitter is a great story. And I am happy for Mets fans that they got to experience it. But the Dickey appeal? Come on guy!

They would have been better off just taking the high road and moving on. You can't appeal the play that they did. David Wright doesn't ever make that play against BJ Upton.  They appear to be "no hitter" whores, despite their manager's attempts to minimize the appeal.

Dickey has had a phenomenal year. His back-story makes it even more phenomenal.  He will be a NL All-Star at age 37 and that is to be commended. But let's not try to reach for unearned successes. Could you imagine if the appeal is won?

The Mets two "no-hitters" in history would be on a blown call, and on an appeal. That's no good.

Valentine's Day Massacre

The present-day victims? Francona era World Championship holdovers in the Red Sox locker room.

The Boston Red Sox knew when they hired Bobby Valentine that he walked around with a gasoline can, setting fires from time to time that needed to be put out. He was clearly brought in to ruffle some feathers after last year's brutal collapse due to clubhouse discipline issues.

I'm not sure this is quite what they had in mind.

Valentine succeeded in ruffling some feathers, but might have lost his team in doing so. His openly "ho hum" criticism of fan favorite Kevin Youkilis might have resulted in a permanent divide between the team's world championship "holdover" stars and the new regime. The issue is actually best framed by simply looking at the quotes.

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The Bomb

Bobby Valentine
“I don’t think he’s as physically or emotionally into the game as he has been in the past for some reason..”

The Vibe: Translation...He's not physically preparing himself the way he should be, and doesn't have the fire that we have seen from him in the past. I don't know why this is. Probably because he just got engaged to Tom Brady's sister and he's complacent now.

Would you marry Julie Brady? Kevin Youkilis would. Looks like "Tom-with-hair" if you ask me..

Wait a minute...Tom has hair.

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Kevin Youkilis (on Valentine's comments)
“I’m more confused than anything. Everybody knows I go out and play the game as hard as I can.”

The Vibe: Translation...What the hell is that bullsh*t?!?!

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Dustin Pedroia (on the situation)

“I really don’t know what Bobby’s trying to do, but that’s not the way we go about our stuff around here. He’ll figure that out. The whole team is behind Youk.”

Asked if Valentine was trying to motivate Youkilis, Pedroia said, “maybe that works in Japan”

The Vibe: Translation..Who does this guy think he is? We run the show around here. Where's your World Series ring Bobby V?

In Japan, Bobby V (shown above) was the biggest star on his team - as an ex-MLB manager. He also led his team to great success while over there. In America (the land of Dustin Pedroia), he is a ringless manager who has been run out of two jobs for running his mouth.

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The Aftermath

Valentine (to the media)
“I should have been more specific. Physical is about your swing, emotional is about not being happy when he doesn’t hit a ball off the wall.”

The Vibe: Way to cover yourself man. So you just reiterated that his mechanics aren't where they need to be, and that he isn't as bothered (or doesn't have the urgency about it) as he usually is.

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Valentine (on his apology to Youkilis)
“I don’t know if he accepted my apology. It was sincere.”

The Vibe: Youkilis didn't leave Valentine's office with them on good terms. If he had, Bobby V would have a damn good idea whether the apology was accepted or not.

Bobby better hope he has some more tricks up his sleeve to win back this locker room. 

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Valentine (on his relationship with Youkilis going forward)
“I’d be surprised if Kevin didn’t know I was totally behind him,” he said. “We’re big boys. I think he’ll get it. If not, I’ll talk to him a lot more.”

The Vibe: Translation...Youk's gotta man up and not worry about petty BS. Get the guy a box of tissues if he wants to cry about it.

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Youkilis (on his moving on from this)
"We're good. We're one happy baseball family."
"It's always good when your teammates have your back. We stick together. The environment here in Boston can be tough. We have to stick together and we've done a pretty good job of it."

The Vibe: Translation...I'm smart enough to know that I have to play nice with the media if we're going to have the kind of team we need to have. Much love to my teammates for backing me up. I'm moving on, but I don't trust this guy anymore.



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Final Vibes

Since the comments, the Sox have lost both games... The most recent a lackluster 18-3 drubbing last night at the hands of the Texas Rangers. To complement the loss, Youkilis wore the golden sombrero with 4 strikeouts at the plate. It is still unclear whether he was pissed off enough after his last K to satisfy Bobby V.

The long term impact remains to be seen, but it's tough to follow a general who you don't trust. While baseball managers play only some of the role in the team's success (batting order, bullpen management, etc), it can certainly create negative energy in the clubhouse if the players do not trust their skipper. Right now, they are at a point where Bobby V is going to have to earn back the trust of his players.

Bobby V and Youk might both find themselves out of Beantown before too long. With Youk struggling to hit bombs, and Bobby dropping them at will, it doesn't look right now is either is part of the solution in Boston.

He's too much of a loose cannon to do that. There's going to come a point where he says something else to the media that causes a stir in his locker room. It's bound to happen based on who he is, and on the intensity of the media coverage in Boston.

He's got turmoil in his bullpen, Ellsbury is hurt, and their rotation has health issues. Based on their play so far, and on what's been going on off the field. This could very well be a two-year maximum stay in Boston for Bobby V.

As for Youk, I think he's on his way out of Boston as well. Perhaps even sooner than Valentine. His production is sharply declining as a function of his health, and it appears that ownership isn't particularly thrilled with him. I could see him getting the "Nomah" treatment with a one-way ticket out of town.

Detooled and Reloaded

2012 New York Yankees

SEASON PREVIEW

Last year's tool, AJ Burnett. (Calabrese/AP)

Last season's end left a bitter taste in the mouth of those in the Bronx. It was a season made memorable by the fantastic (Curtis Granderson, Robbie Cano, CC Sabathia, David Robertson, Mariano Rivera), the disappointing (AJ Burnett, Alex Rodriguez, Phil Hughes), and the controversial (Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada). At season's end the starting rotation was the number one area needing attention.

The fact of the matter is that with Andy Pettitte gone, Burnett was supposed to step up as a solid #2 and Hughes the #3. While Hughes battled injury all season, Burnett just proved to be more harm than help most of the year. His second consecutive Coors Field-like ERA punched his ticket out of town.

For Yankee fans, AJ Burnett has never looked so good. Wearing another team's jersey. What is that a roll of silver dollars in his back pocket?!?! (Brad Barr/US Presswire)

 Don't get me wrong. Ivan Nova was an exciting (apologies to Tim Tebow) surprise. Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon gave the team much more than could have been expected. It just wasn't supposed to be like this. The old baseball saying goes: "You can never have enough pitching."

The 2011 Yankees were evidence of that.

This year brings hope as aggressive, yet adulterous, general manager Brian Cashman worked fervently to address the starting rotation. Here's how:

1) Burnett and Colon OUT
2) Garcia signed a one year deal to pitch in more of a versatility role (a la Ramiro Mendoza)
3) Michael Pineda added via trade with Seattle
4) Hiroki Kuroda added via free agency.
5) Andy Pettitte un-retired to add depth

I'm really not sure what to make of Andy Pettitte coming back. I mean I will always love seeing him don the pinstripes. I just think it will be interesting if CC, Kuroda, Nova, Pineda, and Hughes are all pitching well come May. Do they go with a 6-man rotation? I hope not. Do they put Pettitte in the bullpen? I don't believe that's why he signed. Do they take one of the effective guys out of the rotation? That would suck as they are all young, developing starters. It's a situation that bears careful watching.

The last time Andy Pettitte threw off the Yankee stadium mound... Ceremonial first pitch on October 2nd...caught by Jorge Posada. Perhaps this year the roles in that battery will be reversed.

Overall, the Yankees will have another solid, 90+ win season this year. They will be a playoff team and will be fighting for their lives in October against an improved American League. Tampa Bay is their biggest threat in the AL East, and their 1-2-3 punch of Shields, Price, and Hellickson will be a force to be reckoned with. You can certainly see these two teams doing battle down the stretch this year.

OFFENSE

Projected Lineup
1. Derek Jeter SS
2. Curtis Granderson CF
3. Robinson Cano 2B
4. Alex Rodriguez 3B
5. Mark Teixeira 1B
6. Nick Swisher RF
7. Russell Martin C
8. Raul Ibanez / Andruw Jones DH
9. Brett Gardner LF

Why You Should PANIC...

I am not sure what the Yankees expect from the Raul Ibanez/Andruw Jones platoon, but that is the obvious weak spot in this lineup as it stands. Jones will play against lefties (2011 vs. LHP - .286, 8HR, 25RBI) and Ibanez will play against righties (2011 vs. RHP - .256, 16HR, 60RBI).

On paper that's a DH who had a stat line of .263, 24HR, 85RBI, which isn't bad. I just don't see this being a spot where they will be able to count on consistent production. I doubt it will end up as a perfect platoon. Likely they will use Eric Chavez, Eduardo Nunez, and even one of these two to spell some of their aging position players. Expect A-Rod, Tex, and even Jeter to grab some at-bats at DH this season.

No all-star caliber DH? The sky is falling!

Why You Should Feel Like You're Going to Win the World Series... 

Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson give you no reason to think they won't continue their torrid production from last season. Each was an MVP candidate last year, and expect each to have a solid year in 2012. Russell Martin fits perfectly as a role player in this lineup, and his defense was stellar last year.

Teixeira and Alex will put up run-producing numbers (I think Alex still has a lot of production left). Neither will be MVP-caliber, but each will contribute mightily to one of the best offenses in the AL. Derek Jeter bounced back to hit .297 last year, but only scored 84 runs. He'll be looking to continue proving his haters wrong.

His swag is so fresh that he kicked Minka to the curb. You wanna hate? He's beating you at life. (Peeping Tom/Some Blog) 

PITCHING

 Projected Rotation
1. C.C. Sabathia
2. Hiroki Kuroda
3. Ivan Nova
4. Michael Pineda
5. Phil Hughes
Others Receiving Votes: Freddy Garcia, Andy Pettitte

Projected Bullpen
Cory Wade
Boone Logan
Rafael Soriano
David Robertson (setup)
Mariano Rivera (closer)

Why You Should PANIC...

Another year of Boone Logan? Awesome. Coupled with Rafael Soriano, this is one of the more shaky 6th-7th inning pairs in baseball. Soriano came to the Yankees to boost his future stock as a closer, and ended up turning into a poor man's Tom Gordon. He needs a big rebound year, both for the Yankees and for himself. I know its frustrating, but Robertson can't pitch every day. They will need some of these other guys to step up and get some outs.

Why You Should Feel Like You're Going to Win the World Series...

While lacking the star-studded 1-2-3 punch that a team like Philadelphia has, the Yanks have a tremendous amount of depth in their starting arms now, and might have the best collective 1-5 in the AL.

C.C. Sabathia is a horse and a legitimate #1 starter - Cap'n Crunch or not. Hiroki Kuroda gives them a legitimate #2, as he has done nothing but improve since he came over from Japan. He is 37, but is coming off back-to-back seasons with a sub-3.40 ERA and around 200 innings. He must be thrilled that he isn't stuck in run-support purgatory anymore. The 3rd-5th spots are less proven, but the odds are good. Pineda and Nova were ROY candidates last year, and Hughes was an all-star two years ago. Even if just 2 of those 3 have a solid year, the Yanks rotation will be formidable. 

Kuroda is being counted on as a bona fide #2 in this rotation. He could be the biggest key to the Yankees success this year.

Mariano Rivera is the greatest closer of all-time and has done nothing to show that we should not expect vintage Mo' this year. Robertson gives them a solid, dominant strikeout pitcher to set Rivera up. You may not know this, but Robertson finished 10th in AL Cy Young voting last year. Remarkable for a relief pitcher on any team. Even more remarkable for a relief pitcher on Mariano Rivera's team.

FINAL OUTLOOK

The Yankees are built, if nothing else, for regular season success. They have a lineup with few weak spots and a rotation that is deep from 1-5. They have the best setup-closer tandem in baseball. As is usually the case in Yankee land, the question is can they succeed in the postseason? They've seen plenty of Yankee teams hum right along in the regular season, only to run into a swift playoff exit. The answer to this question? You will have to read tomorrow's MLB preview.

RECORD: 96-66 (1st in the AL East)

P.S.
It's worth noting that Joba Chamberlain and his injury were not mentioned at all in this blog, thus cementing his status as irrelevant in Yankee-land. 

Pansy Scheme

2012 New York Mets

SEASON PREVIEW

"But they moved the fences in" said a Mets fan who I spoke with about this season, "Jason Bay and David Wright will have more jacks." That's cute. It's important to remember that they won't be moving the fences back out when the Mets are playing the field. As these two Mets thumpers will be trying to get their HR totals above 20, the opposing teams will be taking full advantage of the hitter-friendly modification to the ballpark. 

On second thought, can we just have the grounds crew take down the fence after the bottom half? (Jim Mancari)

 The team is clearly in a rebuilding phase. Likely, they are at least two carefully planned years away from returning to relevance in the NL East. And I feel that's being pretty generous. They are a team of "IF's."  

If David Wright and Jason Bay return to form. 

If Johan Santana and Ike Davis stay healthy.

If Lucas Duda, Daniel Murphy, and Dillon Gee build on last year.

If Pelfrey, Niese, and Dickey step up and have career years they've proven capable of in the past.

And the list could go on and on. It's just too many things that need to break right. They have the right manager in place to oversee these young guys, but they are several key pieces away from being competitive. A successful year for the Mets would be to see growth from their young guys, along with sense and brains from their front office.

OFFENSE

Projected Lineup
1. Andres Torres CF
2. Daniel Murphy 2B
3. Jason Bay LF
4. Ike Davis 1B
5. David Wright 3B
6. Lucas Duda RF
7. Josh Thole C
8. Ruben Tejada SS

Get Excited About ....

These guys play hard for Terry Collins, and a few of them enjoyed promising "jumpstart" campaigns last year. Lucas Duda hit .292 with 10 HR and 50 RBI in just over half a season, giving fans promise that he will develop into a run producer. Daniel Murphy has proven he can hit at the big league level (.320, 6, 49 last year) and looks to make his mark as the everyday second baseman.

Don't get excited about his defense though. We didn't see this in the Tom Emanski instructional video. (Jeff Roberson/AP)

Be Unsure About...

Josh Thole showed he could develop into a serviceable big league backstop, but the Mets really need him to take a step forward this year to sell fans that he's the answer behind the plate. Ruben Tejada faces a tall task in replacing the Mets most popular player, but is said to be among the slickest-fielding young shortstops in baseball. Offensively, he's a work in progress, but you can get by with your shortstop hitting .260 if he's saving runs on defense. Tejada hit .284 last year in 328 at-bats, but the Mets would be happy with .260 and gold glove caliber defense. We will see. Andres Torres is likely going to be shopped for prospects as soon as his stock rises. There are always plenty of teams looking for a speedy 4th outfielder come trade deadline.

Thole shows some flashes of brilliance at the plate but is very streaky. A consistent offensive season would cement him as a nice complimentary piece that the Mets can use in their rebuilding. (AP Images)

Throw Up About...

Jason Bay is an absolute disaster. He is one of the main reasons the Mets are in their current situation. Think about this...the Mets had a choice in the 2009-10 winter to go after Matt Holliday or Jason Bay. They pursued Bay as their #1 guy. How did that work out?
 

Jason Bay 2010  - .259, 6HR, 47RBI 2011  -  .245, 12HR, 57RBI

Matt Holliday 2010  -  .312 28HR, 103RBI 2011  -  .296, 22HR, 75RBI (...oh, and a World Series title)

In case you're wondering, this is not a Monday Morning QB job. I killed the Mets for going after Bay at the time. They had some fly ball formula that showed that Bay would've had more home runs at CitiField. Nice formula.

Ohhh...THAT'S who came up with the Jason Bay fly ball formula (see left).

David Wright is officially in career decline and does not look to be pulling himself out of it any time soon. His plate discipline is deteriorating, his power numbers are down, and he has no one in this lineup to protect him. Expect big strikeout numbers again as he gets impatient with the junk he is given. One more season like last (.254, 14, 61) and he can take a seat on Jason Bay's lap in the disappointment chair.

Ike Davis could really be in any of these three categories. I feel bad for the poor guy, but he just can't get out of his own way. It won't be his performance that puts him in this category, but his inability to stay healthy. Mets fans should expect another up-and-down season for Davis in which he gives them a spark, but misses significant time along the way.

PITCHING

Projected Rotation
1. Johan Santana
2. Mike Pelfrey
3. Jonathan Niese
4. R.A. Dickey
5. Dillon Gee

Projected Bullpen
Pedro Beato
Bobby Parnell
Manny Acosta
Ramon Ramirez
Jon Rauch (setup)
Frank Francisco (closer)

Get Excited About...

If there is any place where they have some promise, it is their bullpen. Though they lack a true "closer," their back four of Acosta, Ramirez, Rauch, and Francisco is solid. If they had a top closer in here we'd be calling them among the best bullpen in baseball. As it stands, they are still solid.

Please don't tell Frankie I said he's not a true closer.

Be Unsure About...

Obviously, Johan Santana. What will you get from him? I sure don't know the answer to that. My gut feeling is that when he is healthy, he will give you 6 solid innings. Cautious optimism should be tied to Jonathan Niese and Dillon Gee as well, as their continued development could leave the Mets one legitimate arm away from a solid 2013 rotation. The jury is still out on Gee. I can definitely see a sophomore slump as a possibility...he's not going to sneak up on anyone this year.

Throw Up About...

Mike Pelfrey and Bobby Parnell. Each once considered to be a highly touted Mets prospect, both have one foot out the door going into this year. Parnell has done far less in his career than Pelfrey and still is considered to be relatively young. Pelfrey has shown dominance (first 10 starts of 2010) which makes his situation a more urgent one. He is one more down year away from being a staple in the Kansas City Royals rotation.

Ironic? The stereotypical "ball of nerves," Big Pelf has left many Mets fans with their head buried in a bucket over the last year and a half. His placement in the "make you vomit" section is warranted. (AP Images)

FINAL OUTLOOK

The team plays hard all year. A few of the young guys prove they should stick around, while some others prove to be expendable. They'll be pesky and hang around (within 8 games of first) until the All-Star break, but ultimately they will fade in the second half. They get inconsistent #4/5 starter-type production out of Pelf, Niese, Dickey, and Gee, which will not be enough to make a run at a .500 record.

RECORD: 77-85 (5th in a very competitive NL East)

Hunger Game: A Teblog

The attention-hawking New York Jets are at it again. Hungry to snag an opportunity to grab the NY football spotlight, the team made a splash by trading for Tim Tebow from the Broncos in exchange for a pair of draft picks. I'm not a Jet hater....not by a long shot. In fact, let me make two more things clear right off the bat. I'm not a Tim Tebow hater, and I'm sure not a Mark Sanchez hater.

Big Mouth Billy Bass and company have found yet another way to grab the NFL spotlight. One thing is for sure, when Tim Tebow kneels down to kiss the feet of Jesus, there's at least one person in the Jets locker room who will be right down there next to him.

In fact, I think the sequence of events in this whole situation left a number of people getting a raw deal. First, Peyton Manning got one in getting released by the Colts. Then, Mark Sanchez got his first raw deal when the Jets went after Peyton (while pretending they weren't) and superficially "rewarded" Sanchez with an extension when they didn't land Manning.

Manning goes to Denver. Raw deal for Tebow. Although you really can't kill Denver for doing what they did, given that their upper management were not the ones who brought in Tebow. But it was a tough pill to swallow for Tebow.

You can kill his mechanics and upside as an NFL QB all you want, but the fact of the matter is that in his second year he took a team to the playoffs (while going 7-4 as a starter) and then was sent packing. That my friends is a raw deal. (AP Images)

Tebow gets traded to the Jets. Raw deal #2 for Sanchez. Raw deal for Drew Stanton. Jets totally pulled the rug out from under him. He chose to come to NY over other teams who were offering competitive money and a guaranteed backup job. A real classy move by the Jets. Good luck signing free agents in the future. At least they did the right thing by trading him to a better situation, but their reputation as an organization takes a hit with that "bang up job."

Again, I don't wish any ill will towards the Jets. I'm just being objective. They could not be more inept as an organization. They just don't understand what it takes to build a championship team. I mean they really think that Tebow is going to come in and help clear up their locker room issues. He's the backup quarterback! What's more, don't they see that Tebow-mania has much more of a chance to divide their locker room than unify it? You have a bunch of selfish guys in your locker room, so you bring in someone who's going to get more attention than anyone on the team....and won't even really be seeing the field. It's laughable.

What team succeeds without two starting quarterbacks? What organization succeeds without two CEO's? What ship navigates without two captains? (AP Images)

The football side of the move shows no common sense either. Tebow will back up Sanchez. Tebow can't run the same offense as Sanchez does, so what happens if he gets hurt? If the Jets are 9-1 and Sanchez gets hurt, they're gonna change their whole offense? Smart planning.

They will use him to run the wildcat. Really? How many plays do you plan on running out of the wildcat during a game? 4...maybe 5? Some goal line situations? You're paying Tebow a lot of money to be on the field such a small amount. And if he sees the field more than that, you're paying Mark Sanchez a lot of money to come out of the game for 10+ plays.

To top it off, we all know how impatient Jets fans are. As soon as Sanchez starts to struggle or the team starts to lose, they will be calling for Tebow.

As much as people think Sanchez had a "down" year last year, there are teams that would kill to get Sanchez's first three years out of a first round QB pick. Like Denver for instance.

It basically comes down to this...


Neither Mark Sanchez nor Tim Tebow will be able to grow and develop effectively in the current situation. They will not push each other, because they are two different types of quarterbacks. Tebow won't develop as a passer if he's just running the wildcat as a backup, and Sanchez won't develop as a leader if he's coming off the field for some key plays throughout the game.

As for the Jets, all I can say is at least they'll have the spotlight on them..

NFL Two-fer Thursday

Thank you, NFL for providing us with bloggable topics as we wait for baseball spring training to wind down !!! It's been a wild offseason week in the NFL, and next week proves to be quite the interesting one as well with Manning on the market! Lastly, happy birthday to my wonderful wife! Enjoy.
 
Un-canonized Saints? 

Yet another story of greed, coverup, and corruption in the Catholic Church. The feel good (for some) rise of the New Orleans Saints in the wake of Hurricane Katrina - behind the lovable Drew Brees - has been dealt a significant blow. Confirmed reports of defensive player bounties have hit the airwaves this week, as they have found themselves in the middle of a brewing controversy.

See...the Saints aren't the only bounty hunters with religiously-driven intentions. OK....I know I sold out by going with the obvious pop culture reference (a picture of Dog), but sometimes you just take what's given. Got it brah?

 To most, the big issue arises from the payment of bounties related to injuring opposing players. It's one thing (albeit illegal) to offer up incentive for a player with the most tackles, most sacks, or defensive play of the game. It's another to offer up money for a player to go out and mess with someone's career.

Viewed with an objective critical lens, this flies in the face of everything that unions have ever stood for. Unions are predicated on the collective strength of a unified membership that operates in the best interests of the group. Members look out for each other....they ensure that others are able to perform their work as effectively as possible for as long as possible.

Imagine if the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters hung its members out to dry like the NFLPA did? Who would be there to watch over these guys?

 The NFL Players Association actually defended the Saints players involved.... (?!?!?!) I guess because they didn't want any of them to get in trouble? That's got to be it. What about protecting the players who they went after? An interesting piece of this whole argument.

The Vibe's Take

Listen, I'm not going to overblow anything here and flip about this being so incredibly terrible. If the Saints defense had a bounty program, it failed with flying colors this year. That said, I can't get on board with those (some even ex-NFL players like Mike Golic) who are completely minimizing this. Imagine the precedent it would set if no action is taken. Open season on defensive bounties around the league. The "boys will be boys" and "it's a warrior's game" arguments don't hold any water here.

Gregg Williams penalty? He has to fish-hook himself for 8 hours straight while watching re-runs of Mr. Belvidere.

I can almost see some playful non-injury-related bounties adding to team camaraderie and helping a defense unite. However, bounties that promote going after someone's livelihood are just not right....even if it is against Brett Favre. That said, I'm also not on board with a complete decapitation of everyone involved. NFL disciplinary action should be taken against Sean Payton, Gregg Williams, and any other coach deemed to have involvement or knowledge of the program....but no one should lose their job over this. Fine them, strip them of draft picks. Make it harder for them to have success. That's appropriate. Meanwhile, the NFLPA should make it a point to advise its members to avoid this type of practice in the future.

The Vibe coming to the defense of Brett Favre? What's next...props to Jay Cutler?

Pey-ment Delinquency 


Peyton Manning is no longer a Colt. Not to have a predictable, cookie-cutter opening...but I still can't believe it even as I type. I watched the press conference yesterday in disbelief as the most skilled (carefully stated....not "greatest") quarterback in the history of the NFL was cast aside at the not-so-old age of 35. The team that turned from a laughingstock for most of the 1980's and 1990's, into a viable Super Bowl threat in the 2000's has turned its back on the man who carried them there.

From 1977 to 1999 (21 seasons), the Colts had ZERO seasons of 10 wins or more. From 1999 (Peyton's second season) to present day, they had ELEVEN. Sometimes when a team has success, you are able to say "Well, he's pretty good...but they could have done well without him too." This is not one of those cases. Peyton Manning WAS the Colts for 14 years. No team's success (Pats included) was more closely tied its quarterback than the Colts. So, I ask you...where's the loyalty?

Cut that meat! Cut that meat! ...One of Peyton's best commercials. Kind of ironic given the current situation, no?

 You can tell me that they have paid him over $150 million in his career. You can cite the money he's made on endorsement deals. You can use these to try to tell me that he's been handsomely taken care of by the Colts, and that he should be on his way.

And, you'd be dead wrong.

The Vibe's Take

They go 2-14 with him on the path to recovery all year. They happen into the first overall pick. And, all of a sudden...they panic.  They see a blue chip, "can't miss" (really?!?!) QB prospect available, and they cast aside the best quarterback they have ever had (apologies to Johnny Unitas...it's fact).

He's injured you say? He's getting old you say? For all the success, media attention, and goodwill he's brought them over the years...doesn't he deserve a chance to find that out with the Colts. Shouldn't he get to leave the team on his own terms? They'd owe him a $28 million dollar roster bonus? So what!

There's a sap willing to overpay at every NFL draft!

Furthermore, they could have likely gotten a team to mortgage its entire draft (Ditka-style) for the chance to take Luck. They could have built a young, talented foundation and added some pieces to help right the ship. Instead, they are going to roll the dice with Andrew Luck. Yeah, it's definitely rolling the dice, no matter what you saw from Luck in college. The Colts have been down this road before....twice! They've seen both sides of it. In 1990, they took "can't miss" Purdue QB Jeff George with the top pick. The consensus was that the Indiana native would lead the Colts to the promised land. How'd that work out? In 1998, they were on the good end of things, taking "can't miss" Peyton over another "can't miss" named Ryan Leaf. Many teams had Leaf projecting as a better NFL player.

Who can forget Jeff George's 1991 "No Trim 'Til the Colts Win" campaign that saw the team go winless through Week 10. Seriously, if there is any consolation prize for the Colts for drafting him, it has to be the super-mullet and porn 'stache that George brought to the fold.

My angle isn't about the money....Obviously not. I realize that Jim Irsay went to that press conference and stated that he "wanted to keep" Manning, instead of cutting him loose. They just "couldn't afford" him. I just don't buy that whole "we're loyal to Peyton, but he's off our team" angle, regardless of what the financial factors are. What if Andrew Luck is Jeff George? (or worse....Ryan Leaf) How ridiculous will the Colts look?

It's a humbling dose of reality for NFL fans everywhere. Peyton Manning sent packing.

The Next Big Thing: Lin or Out?

The most talked-about athlete on the planet right now...

At the time of my last blog, I must admit that I had no idea who Jeremy Lin was. Lin played a collective 48 minutes in 20 games prior to February 1st. Two weeks later, he has me writing the first non-Lebron NBA blog since February of 2011 (Knicks acquisition of Carmelo Anthony).

The Knicks' sheepish start to the season had sufficiently stomped out my NBA rooting interest after the NFL season. It was promising to be a long month and a half before baseball opening day. The tide began to sway on February 10th with a simple text message from my wife: "Lin is amazing"  My reply: "who?" 

This fan likely had no idea who Jeremy Lin was last Valentine's Day.

What prompted the exchange of texts was Lin's dominating 38 point performance against the Lakers, in a game that the Knicks were without both Carmelo and Amare. It was this performance (not his previous three 20+ point efforts) that catapulted him to "household name" status. He absolutely lit up the Lakers on ESPN. A remarkable run for an undrafted player from basketball power Harvard who bounced around last year and was on nobody's radar yet this year.

How big is Jeremy Lin? Go ahead, type "jer" into google. The first three quick search terms are (in order):

jeremy lin
jersey shore
jerry sandusky

I'm not making that up. Try it. That's how big he is. Bigger than Snooks. Bigger than Sandusk.

Can't hide from Google...

OK...so 3 of the first 4 quick search terms...who cares about Jersey Gardens anyway?

In the 7 games since Lin began to rack up 30+ minutes per night, he has averaged 25.0+ppg with roughly 10 assists per. He has pulled the Knicks out of an 8-15 hole to .500 and into the 8th playoff spot in a span of 10 days. He may have single-handedly saved Mike D'Antoni's job. He has provided, in advance, the spark that people were expecting from a healthy Baron Davis.

He has endeared himself to America as the lovable underdog. The sports fan loves to embrace something they don't see every day. As an Asian-American player who is Harvard-educated, Lin would fit that criteria.

Only 3 players in the history of the NBA have come from Harvard...His Taiwanese heritage contributes to the his lore, as he is among the few Asian players in the NBA.

Will he have staying power? Only time will tell...but usually you don't put up the type of numbers that Lin has the past ten days and then fade away into obscurity. Is he a 25ppg player? Probably not. When the Knicks are at full strength, the scoring responsibility will be spread around. Lin could be a solid 15.0 ppg, 8.0 apg presence on the floor going forward.