Construction worker buries Sox shirt in new Yankee Stadium.
April 11, 2008
Say it ain’t so, George!
A construction worker on a concrete crew at the new Yankee Stadium secretly buried a Red Sox T-shirt under the future visiting clubhouse in an effort to jinx the Yankees, the New York Post reported Friday.
The paper cited two construction workers it did not identify, saying they were not authorized to speak with the media. One of the workers said the T-shirt was poured in a slab in the visitor’s clubhouse.
“It sounds like a tall tale, and it would take more than a Red Sox T-shirt to put a curse on the Yankees,” team spokesman Howard Rubenstein was quoted as saying.
The Yankees move to the new ballpark in 2009.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL - 2008 OFFSEASON NOTES.
February 5, 2008
The winter has not gone well for RHP Bartolo Colon, who is trying to rehab a torn rotator cuff. Colon, 34, and never a picture of health, has thrown just 155 2/3 innings over the past two seasons. He apparently did not use any of his rehab time to lose weight, a point of concern for those scouting him in winter league ball. Worse, according to one scout, was his lack of velocity. “We barely had him in the high 80s,” the scout says. “If he is not throwing 94, I am not sure where he fits in.”
That bad news for Colon could be good news for another rehabbing righthander, Kris Benson. Unlike Colon, Benson did have surgery and is working his way back. His agent, Gregg Clifton, says Benson will throw again for teams this week and has targeted the first 10 days of February to sign a contract. Many of the same teams that were interested in Colon probably also are interested in Benson, 33. The Royals, Indians, White Sox, and Phillies likely are on that list. “There’s really no hurry,” Clifton says. “He is getting through his rehab, so nothing would change if he signed a contract now or in a couple of weeks.”
Cubs LF Alfonso Soriano caused concern among North Side fans last week when he said, “I don’t know how I feel about my leg,” in response to a question about the health of his torn quadriceps, which clearly slowed him late last season. The Cubs got only 19 stolen bases out of him in 2007, and if he is still worried about the leg, they won’t get many more this year.
At one point in November ‘06, the Blue Jays thought they had C Rod Barajas signed to a two-year, 5.75 million deal. He mysteriously backed out, though, and instead took 2.5 million from the Phillies to be a backup last season, then hit .230 in 122 at-bats. Last week, the Blue Jays signed him to back up Gregg Zaun for 1.2 million.
The Yankees, who usually don’t tie up young players with multiyear deals, have reached a preliminary agreement with 2B Robinson Cano on a four-year, 30 million dollar contract. This is further proof that Cano, without much fanfare, is a centerpiece of the Yankees’ future. After he hit .342 in his second season, Cano struggled early in 2007, but he rebouned to hit .328 after May 17.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL - 2008 OFFSEASON NOTES.
January 23, 2008
Billy Beane once said that by the time a GM decides to rebuild, it’s already to late; the decision has to be made a year in advance. Beane realized last year that the A’s would be .500 at best in 2008, so he started rebuilding for 2009. He has assembled a stable of eight to ten young pitchers who could make the A’s contenders for years. The latest are LHP Gio Gonzalez and RHP Fautino De Los Santos, both acquired in the Nick Swisher deal with the White Sox. Gonzalez throws 93-94 with a good curveball. “He’ll be a solid No. 3 starter,” a scout says. De Los Santos, according to one assistant GM,”is as good a pitching prospect as there is in the minor leagues”.
In Swisher, the White Sox got the hitter they really needed. Now if they deal Paul Konerko to the Angels, Swisher could play first base, opening up outfield spots for recently acquired Carlos Quentin and Cuban signee Alexei Ramirez.
Though Mark Prior might not pitch until midseason (shoulder rehab), several teams were interested in the former Cub. He could thrive as a Padre because he’s back home in Southern California, gets to pitch in a big ballpark, and has ex-teammate Greg Maddux for counsel. Plus, this is Prior’s walk year, so he’s motivated.
New Astros closer Jose Valerde led the majors in saves by going primarily with two pitches, his fastball and his split. If he continues to do that, rather than tinkering with a cutter and a bunch of other pitches that didn’t work, Houston has found its replacement for Brad Lidge.
Goose Gossage, who finally made the Hall of Fame in his ninth time on the ballot, should have been elected his first year. Gossage had 125 saves of at least two innings, third all-time behind HOFers Rollie Fingers and Bruce Sutter. Mariano Rivera, one of the greatest closers ever, has 11.
MILWAUKEE IS BREWING UP A TITLE IN 2008.
January 20, 2008
For the first time in franchise history, the Milwaukee Brewers have a problem they need to solve before the season opener on April 4th against the San Francisco Giants at home in Miller Park.
With three weeks left until the start of Spring Training in Arizona, the Brewers have an abundance of pitching - starting and relief.
The Brewers avoided arbitration with two players this week as they signed RHP Claudio Vargas on Wednesday to a one-year, $3.6 million contract. LHP Chris Capuano and the Brewers agreed to terms on a one-year deal, reportedly worth $3.75 million late on Thursday.
Vargas, 29, went 11-6 for the Brewers in 2007 with a 5.09 ERA in 29 games, including 23 starts. He will be among a slew of pitchers vying for openings in the starting rotation or bullpen during Spring Training.
Capuano made $3.25 million during a disappointing 2007 season, which came after he won 18 games in 2005 and made the National League All-Star team in 2006. He won his first five decisions, but then lost the final 12, eventually losing his spot in the Brewers’ starting rotation. The Brewers lost the final 22 games in which he pitched (0-12, 6.08 ERA during that span), though Capuano pitched well in a handful of those outings. He underwent surgery after the season to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, an injury that had existed for some time.
The Brewers starting rotation is as solid as its been in Milwaukee since the team last made the postseason in 1982. The starting rotation is anchored by staff ace, Ben Sheets. Jeff Suppan, Yovani Gallardo and Carlos Villanueva seem to have a lock on positions two thru four in the starting rotation leaving Dave Bush, Manny Parra, Capuano, and Vargas battling for the fifth and final spot.
The Brewers finally have a luxury they haven’t had since they moved to Milwaukee from Seattle in 1970, pitching, pitching, and more pitching.
The Brewers no longer have to call up a prospect from their farm system to get his tits ripped off because a starting pitcher went down with an injury. The Brewers have a legit eight starting pitchers on their roster heading into the 2008 preseason in Arizona.
Six bullpen spots are all but locked up leaving only one spot available in the pen for the three pitchers who fail to nail down the fifth starter’s spot.
That leaves GM Doug Melvin with some flexibility heading into the 2008 campaign. With quality starting pitching available for trade bait, the Brewers could land a key veteran player/players that could back up the new positions held by Bill Hall (3B) , Ryan Braun (LF) or Eric Gagne (Closer).
The Brewers bullpen got a major makeover as Eric Gagne is now the man in the pen. Milwaukee will once again use Derrick Turnbow as a setup man. The other roster spots locked in heading into Spring Training for the bullpen include: Brian Shouse, David Riske, Salomon Torres, and Guillermo Mota.
The Brewers will once again go as far as their pitching takes them. With the best pitching staff assembled in nearly 25 years towing the rubber for Milwaukee this season, the Brewers have to be the clear cut favorites to win the NL Central title this season.
If the pitching in Milwaukee lives up to expectations and the staff remains healthy throughout the season, the Brewers might be printing playoff tickets this year by Labor Day.
It will be the second consecutive year that Milwaukee has printed playoff tickets. The only difference between last year and this year will be I can use my playoff tickets to attend October baseball at Miller Park this season instead of framing the tickets I couldn’t use in 2007.
PRINCE FIELDER RIPS 50TH HOMERUN IN BREWERS WIN
September 26, 2007
Prince Fielder hit a pair of home runs Tuesday night to become the youngest player to hit 50 home runs in a season as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 9-1 as the Brewers moved to with 2 games of the Chicago Cubs in the race for the NL Central title.
Fielder’s feats overshadowed the fact that the Brewers drew within two games of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central — and Brewers owner Mark Attanasio’s assertion that manager Ned Yost doesn’t have to worry about his job for next season.
Fielder hit a two-run home run to right field in the first inning and a opposite field two-run shot in the seventh inning as he surpassed Willie Mays to become the youngest player ever to hit 50.
Fielder is 23 years, 139 days old as he put his name in the record books surpassing one of baseball’s all-time greatest stars. Mays was 24 years, 137 days old when he hit his 50th home run in 1955, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Fielder has clearly asserted himself as the front runner for the National League MVP Award. Fielder leads the National league with 50 home runs after Tuesday nights game. Fielder is third in the National league with 119 runs batted in. Fielder also leads the National league with a slugging percentage of .625.
Fielder faces his strongest competition for the Colorado Rockies left fielder Matt Holiday. Holiday leads the National League with 131 runs batted in. Holiday is second in batting average at .338, second in slugging percentage at .608, and he is currently fourth in home runs at 36.
Fielder is a clear cut favorite to win the award especially if he leads the Brewers to the NL Central title and their first post season appearance in 25 years. The last time Milwaukee advanced to the post season was in 1982 when they lost in the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.
With the past history of the Chicago Cubs, the Milwaukee Brewers could sneek into the playoffs as this years Cinderella team and rumor has it a Brewers fan delivered a goat to Wrigley Field on Monday.
Can you say the curse of the Cubs is back and if the goat don’t work rumor has it Steve Bartman will be in the stands this weekend at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.
NED YOST FIGHTING FOR THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS
September 25, 2007
Ned Yost has six games left headed into Tuesday night’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park in Milwaukee not only to save a very promising season that has gone south, but to save his job as the manager of the Brewers.
The Brewers enter play Tuesday night three games behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central and will need a miracle if they are to get to the post season for the first time since 1982 when they went to World Series where they eventually lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.
The Brewers at one time this summer had a 8 1/2 game lead in the NL Central. They where the hottest team in baseball and should’ve been on cruise control toward their first post season bid in 25 years. Thats when the Brewers began their downward spiral and it all began with Yost’s decisions on the field, especially his questionable calls with his bullpen.
Baseball is played over a six month period and a lot of things change over the course of a season. Players go through streaks all season long and when a player isn’t performing on the field, sometime a manager has no decision but to sit his star. Unfortunately for Brewers fans, Yost decided to stick by Derrick Trunbow as his setup man.
Turnbow and closer Francisco Cordero gave Milwaukee the best closing combination in the major leagues for the first two months of the season. Both players were virtually hitless as Turnbow took care of the 8th inning and Cordero was lights out in the 9th inning as the Brewers closer.
Then June came around and for some reason Turnbow hit a wall. Turnbow has some of the nastiest stuff in the major leagues but if you can’t throw the ball across the plate for strikes in the major leagues, you probably should not have a job.
In a sight all too familiar to Brewers fans this summer and fall, Yost would call on Turnbow in the 8th inning of a game which Milwaukee was leading. Turnbow would come in and pounce his first two pitch 10 feet in front of the plate and eventually walk the lead-off hitter and then proceed to walk the next batter in the same fashion.
Then the next batter knew exactly what was coming, a TBow fastball right down the pipe which they teed off on and usual sent flying out of the park. Ned Yost could then be seen, like clock work, walking to the mound with his head down and grabbing the ball from Turnbow now with his Brewers trailing in the game in which they eventually went on to lose.
Yost and Brewers fans across the country need a miracle this week if they plan on keeping their season alive come October. Do I believe that Ned Yost deserves to manage the Brewers in the future - yes but with one exception. When it comes down to pitching personnel and decisions, those decision should rest in the hands of the Brewers pitching coach, Mike Maddox.