Via the Las Vegas Review-Journal today -

SIGHTINGS

Actor-turned-musician Joaquin Phoenix, performing three hip hop/rap songs at Lavo (Palazzo) on Friday. Earlier, he ran into the Miss America delegation near The Palazzo waterfall and playfully engaged them. He flirted, tried on their tiaras and sashes and sang to them. … Phil Hughes of the New York Yankees and Jermaine Dye of the Chicago White Sox, in separate parties at LAX nightclub (Luxor) on Friday. Also in the VIP area: Miss Ethiopia Kidan Tesfahun.

Pitcher and catchers report to Spring Training in four weeks.

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Jerry Crasnick wrote this at ESPN.com a month ago, but, I didn’t see it until Friday when my print version of Baseball America showed up in the mail. It’s some interesting stats on Bobby Abreu:

In any number of categories, Abreu stacks up against players who have been All-Star fixtures, made speeches in Cooperstown and been hailed among the game’s all-time greats:

This year Abreu joined Barry Bonds and Rickey Henderson as the only players to amass 200 homers and 300 stolen bases while maintaining a .400 on-base percentage.

Abreu is one of five players with 100 RBIs and 100 runs scored in each of the past two seasons. The others: Chase Utley, Adrian Gonzalez, David Wright and Alex Rodriguez.

His run of six straight 100-RBI seasons is third-longest among active players behind Rodriguez and Pujols.

In 2008, Abreu amassed 35 or more doubles for the 10th straight year, tying the record held by Colorado’s Todd Helton. Hall of Famer Tris Speaker is next on the list with nine straight 35-double seasons, and he did his best work during the Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge administrations.

Abreu has the longest-running streak of 20-steal seasons in the game, with 10. Jimmy Rollins, Ichiro Suzuki and Juan Pierre are next in line with eight.

Abreu is currently working on a streak of 11 straight seasons with 150 or more games played. The only big leaguers with longer streaks are Willie Mays, Billy Williams, Pete Rose and Cal Ripken Jr.

So in the areas of productivity, durability, consistency of performance and popularity in the clubhouse, Abreu has it covered. The only thing left on his agenda is finding a job.

Back on November 4, 2008, about Abreu, I wrote:

After auto-piloting an OPS of .781 during the first half, Bobby Abreu went on a salary drive with an OPS of .930 in the second half (for the Yankees in 2008).

Abreu is no longer the player he was in 2004. But, his production in 2009 should match his rate of the last two years.

However, he wants a three-year deal this off-season.

Now that Xavier Nady is in Yankeeland, I don’t see New York giving Abreu three years. Expect Abreu to sign somewhere and bat in the middle of the order…like he did in New York…at least for one more season.

He very well might sign with the team who wanted Manny Ramirez the most…but just missed getting him as a free agent. And, since, reportedly, Manny may wait until January to sign a deal, Abreu may have to wait a while for his next contract.

And, I still stand by those comments. Abreu will get a deal for 2009 – somewhere – and be an above-average offensive performer while also being a defensive liability in the field. And, I could see him going to a team like the Dodgers if they don’t re-sign Manny. Or, maybe Abreu goes to a team like the Giants if they don’t, say, trade for Xaiver Nady or Nick Swisher.

But, under no circumstances do I want to see Abreu return to the Yankees in 2009.

The Yankees of 2005-2008 were not in the same class as the Yankees of 2001-2004. (And, the Yankees of 2005-2008 were no where near the same class as the Yankees of 1998-2000.) Yankees fans, in the last eleven years (under Brian Cashman) have seen their team go from a World Series winning crew (1998-2000) to a team that wins 100 games a year and then chokes in the post-season (2001-2004) to a team that cannot win 100 games and who gets bounced from the playoffs in the first round and can barely manage a win in October (2005-2008).

Hey, let’s face it. What’s been going on in Yankeeland the last four years has not been working. It’s time for new blood. The team elected not to make a change at the top this off-season. So, cleaning out the players is the only thing left. Therefore, after watching Bobby Abreu for the last three years in the Bronx, it is time to say good-bye…and move on from there.

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In two weeks, it will be the 2-year anniversary of when I dropped 65 pounds. Since I’ve maintained that loss all this time, today, I decided to it was time to go through all my shirts, keeping the mediums and the “small” larges – and making a pile of the “large” larges and extra-larges. Most of what I own falls into that latter size set – since that’s the shirt size I needed pretty much from the ’90′s through 2006. Why do this? Well, it creates a lot more free space in my dresser and closet. Besides, it’s like seven degrees out today…a great day for indoor overdue chores.

The game plan is to take that pile of shirts that are too big and give-away the ones in good condition and toss the ones that are pretty much past their prime. And, this includes some of my older Yankees T-shirts.

Is it just me, or, is it hard to throw out Yankees shirts – no matter how aged, ratty, faded or out-of-size they may be? There’s just something, at least me, about Yankee fan gear where it just doesn’t seem right to let it hit the trash. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that Yankees T-shirts are right up there with the American Flag or something. But, I dunno…I almost feel like me, we, us…you know, Yankees fans…should hang on to these puppies even if they no longer serve the attire purpose they were meant to fill.

Then again, I once owned a Rolling Stones T-shirt for something close to 16 years…so, maybe this whole thing is just the pack-rat in me?

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Thanks in advance. And, please feel free to add comments on your opinion in the comments section below.

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Via Kevin Kernan -

[Tony] Kubek hasn’t been back to Yankee Stadium since ’94.

“I don’t look back at all,” he said. “I enjoyed it when I played; I enjoyed it when I was a broadcaster. I wasn’t burned out. It was just time to move on. It was time to go and I decided, ‘I’m going.’”

He got an invitation to the final game at the Stadium, but declined. That night Ralph Terry called and asked why he wasn’t there.

Kubek told his old teammate that he received an invitation, but decided not to go. Kubek then asked Terry, “Why aren’t you there?”

“I didn’t get an invitation,” Terry said.

Kubek was stunned, noting Terry won 23 games in 1962, the most by a Yankees right-hander since 1928 and he pitched the 1-0, Game 7 gem to beat the Giants to win the World Series that year.

“For whatever reason, I didn’t want to go,” Kubek said he told his friend, “but as long as I know you didn’t go either, I’m happy.”

Shame, it was a big night. But, at least the Yankees asked him. So, you can’t blame them for this one.

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I just read this in a Jeff Bradley feature at ESPN the Mag:

When Theo Epstein, the now-legendary 31-year-old GM, is asked about contract negotiations, he often replies, “We’re always willing to walk away from one player, because it’s a 25-man team.” Epstein says this to cover himself in the event that, say, the Mets offer Pedro a fourth year. He says this because it’s often true. If you lose a Martinez or a Derek Lowe, or if you trade Nomar Garciaparra, you have no choice but to move on.

But while Epstein is never going to add credence to the early-November rumor that the Yankees were ready to trade Jorge Posada for Randy Johnson and sign Varitek as a free agent, he does say this: “Jason is a player we did not want to lose to anyone.

…the Yankees were ready to trade Jorge Posada for Randy Johnson and sign Varitek as a free agent…

Wasn’t Johnson a free agent this winter? In any event, this one is almost as good as the “rumor” that said the Easter Bunny and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man were spotted together exiting the Mynt Lounge and holding hands…

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Via Tyler Kepner -

“Our catcher and closer are coming off shoulder surgeries,” Cashman said. “That’s what concerns me, and that’s what people should be focused on. Everything is coming along fine, but nobody usually has hiccups this early. Posada’s just throwing at 90 feet on flat ground and Mo’s not even throwing yet.”

Posada will not be able to catch by the exhibition opener Feb. 25, Cashman said, but he is on track to be ready for the regular-season opener April 6. Rivera does not throw in January even when he is healthy, so his schedule is not alarming. But it is Cashman’s job to fret.

“Mo’s surgery wasn’t as serious as Posada’s,” Cashman said. “But it’s still shoulder surgery.”

So, would it not make sense to have a semi-decent “Plan B” to address both catcher and closer in case Jorge or Mo can’t answer the bell? Or, are the Yankees fine giving 300+ Plate Appearances to Jose Molina and asking Brian Bruney to close?

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Not sure if you saw the American Idol Phoenix audition show on Tuesday…but, if you did, you’ll know what I’m talking about here…

When that girl in the bikini put the lip-lock on Ryan Seacrest and Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” was played in the background, well, does TV get any funnier than that?

Maybe you have to be into the whole Idol thing to dig it? I dunno…

But, I’m still chuckling to myself every so often over that one…

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Dave Studeman makes a case for this, over at The Hardball Times, yesterday via his new stat “Postseason Probability Added” (or “PPA” for short).

Hat tip to BBTF on this one…

Hey, PPA…it’s no longer just something to stop your dog from pissing on your furniture…cool.

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Feel free to use this post as a place for you to comment on anything Yankees-related (or within reach of tagging the bag of being Yankees-related on a decent slide) today. It could be a casual conversation offering, or, something you saw in the news, or something very detailed that you want to share that’s within the territory of Yankeeland.

Or, comment on something that someone else has posted here in the comments…

Have fun. Play nice. And, remember, keep it Yankees-focused.

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It’s really cold in the New York City area. No better time for a baseball fix. Here’s a highlight from the Yankees game of June 24, 1970:

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SNY.tv checks in with Tim Dierkes of MLB TradeRumors.com. The video is below:

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An Oscar winner? Nah, never…

But, this one provides a nice capture of the Disco crazy which was the late 1970′s. It terms of being a late ’70′s artifact, it’s right up there with the Tube Top.

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The AP has the story. I loved this part:

[The] attorney [for Ryan Ward, the Joba Chamberlain impersonator] , Constantine Bardis, called the charges against Ward a “tragedy.”

“What’s the crime in pretending to be someone?” Bardis asked. “I’m Mel Gibson; want to have a drink? He just goofed around because he kind of looks like the guy.”

Ward then corrected his lawyer.

“He looks like me,” Ward said.

Nothin’ like going down swingin’ huh?

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In case you didn’t happen to see this over at Bronx Banter, Todd Drew (just a few months shy of his 42nd birthday) passed away today.

I never met or spoke to Todd. And, we never exchanged e-mails or the like. In fact, I’ve never spoken (or had some other form of communication) to anyone about Todd – until now.

But, from reading his blog as well as his work at Bronx Banter, I did (somewhat) get a feel for the type of person he was…and he seemed like a pretty cool dude.

It’s incredibly sad to hear of his passing – especially given his young age. The Yankee-bloggers circle lost a good one today.

I would bet that his family will be looking at comments left over at Bronx Banter today regarding this news. If you’d like to convey condolences, I recommend stopping by there (again, if you haven’t already) and doing so…

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At this moment, I find myself thinking about the N.L. West in 2002 and the A.L. Central in 2006. (And, thanks to WasWatching.com reader “Raf” for giving me this thought.)

In the N.L. West, back in 2002, the Diamondbacks, Giants and Dodgers all had very good seasons – winning 90+ games each. And, in the A.L. Central, back in 2006, the Twins, Tigers and White Sox all had very good seasons – winning 90+ games each. Yet, the Dodgers did not make the post-season in 2002 and the White Sox did not make the post-season in 2006.

Could we see something like this in the A.L. East in 2009 – where the Yanks, Rays and Bosox each win 90+ games and one team does not make the post-season? It’s very possible. Heck, the Yankees almost won 90 games in 2008 – and they did not make the post-season last year while Boston and Tampa did reach them.

So, what would the Yankees have to do to ensure they are not the A.L. East team left out of the dance at season-end this year? If you ask me, it means they have to win every game possible.

Yeah, I know, that sounds silly – after all, that should be every team’s goal, right? But, by this, I mean that they have to win games in April and May – and not coast through the first part of the season and then try and catch up to the other teams with a surge later in the season. In fact, getting off to a strong start in 2009 just may be the biggest key to the Yankees making the post-season in 2009.

Anyway, that’s today’s wild thought….

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Feel free to use this post as a place for you to comment on anything Yankees-related (or within reach of tagging the bag of being Yankees-related on a decent slide) today. It could be a casual conversation offering, or, something you saw in the news, or something very detailed that you want to share that’s within the territory of Yankeeland.

Or, comment on something that someone else has posted here in the comments…

Have fun. Play nice. And, remember, keep it Yankees-focused.

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Via a print version of Baseball America last month -

The Twins moved to bolster their bullpen options by taking Yankees righthander Jason Jones with the 21st pick in the major league Rule 5 draft.

The 26-year-old spent most of the 2008 season at Double-A Trenton, going 13-7, 3.33 in 25 starts.

Jones likely will be used as a long reliever, and the Twins will continue to eye trade targets as well as the free agent market for late-inning relievers. Though Jones, a 2004 fourth-round pick from Liberty, stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 225 pounds, he is not a hard thrower. Instead he relies on pitch efficiency and keeping the ball on the ground.

“He’s got a lot of pitchability and strike-ability,” vice president of player personnel Mike Radcliff said. “He’s always been in a starting role. The key will be if he’s able to apply his pitches and tools to being a reliever.”

But can Jones transition from a starting role to the bullpen? He has worked mostly as a starter in the minors and last season he tossed 160 innings, striking out 102 and walking 50, between Double-A and Triple-A.

It was a confidence-boosting season for Jones, who throws everything at opposing batters, including a low-90s four-seam fastball, a split-finger, a sinker, a slider and a curveball.

“Having confidence this year has been the biggest difference for me in my pitches and my mechanics,” he said.

The Twins have to keep Jones on the 25-man roster all season or place him on waivers and offer him back to New York for half of the original $50,000 fee. The Twins also could shape a deal that would allow them to maintain Jones’ rights while sending him to the minor leagues in 2009.

“He gives you a little insurance, if he can perform and make the team,” director of pro scouting Vern Fallowell said. “If everything stays as is, then he would probably need to vie for the bullpen to stay with the club.”

You know, it’s very hard to find any source that says Jason Jones is a desirable pitching prospect. He’s not a kid and his fastball is a tad short. However, he’s got good control and has seemed to turn the corner a bit after picking up a split-finger fastball.

Yet, I dunno…I keep getting this vibe that the Twins picked the Yankees pocket with this one…

Could it be “ESP”? Well, actually…yeah, but not Extra-Sensory Perception…

…it’s probably more like Erratic Sleep Patterns catching up with me…leading to this feeling. I clearly need to start getting more sleep.

Let’s see if I still feel the same way about Jones after that happens.

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Pete Abe, today, is dead, solid, perfect on this topic. And, he didn’t even bring in the Tampa Bay Rays into his pool of pitchers comparison study. If the Yankees want to be considered with the other big dogs in the A.L. East this season, they must bring in a starting pitcher that they can pencil into their 5th starting slot who is a lock for at least 25 starts and 150 quality innings. Leaving that last spot open and hoping that someone steps forward from within the Yankees organization to own it is a mistake.

Well, it’s not a mistake in the sense that it means the Yankees season is over. More so, it’s a mistake in the sense that it does not position the Yanks in a manner where their starting pitching lines-up favorably the other contenders in their division. In the end, it could be the difference between the Yankees winning 90 games in 2009 and them winning closer to 100 games this season. And, when you consider that Boston and Tampa are no chumps, that difference could be the make or don’t make the post-season break mark this year.

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Today’s wild thought…

…assuming that no one is willing to sign Garret Anderson, should the Yankees consider giving the long-time Angel a non-roster invite to their Spring Training camp?

Even at his age, Anderson is a league-average bat, thereabouts, these days. And, he’s been through the mill. So, it’s not like playing in New York should rattle him. From most reports, he’s a first-class guy as well.

He could be some nice insurance to have during the camp…in case Matsui has issues or if Damon, Swisher or Nady get hurt (or, if someone may be traded). And, if he makes the team, even as a bench player, that’s probably a better tool than some of the Yankees current options.

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Feel free to use this post as a place for you to comment on anything Yankees-related (or within reach of tagging the bag of being Yankees-related on a decent slide) today. It could be a casual conversation offering, or, something you saw in the news, or something very detailed that you want to share that’s within the territory of Yankeeland.

Or, comment on something that someone else has posted here in the comments…

Have fun. Play nice. And, remember, keep it Yankees-focused.

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Via the National Post -

New York Yankees president Randy Levine has been subpoenaed by a state assembly committee investigating the public funding used to build the team’s new stadium.

Levine has been scheduled to appear at a hearing Wednesday, according to assemblyman Richard Brodsky.

Both Levine and Brodsky confirmed the subpoena and consequent hearing Tuesday during interviews with New York radio station WFAN.

The issue in contention is the Yankees’ spending of millions of dollars in public bonds to finance their extravagant new stadium, which will open this upcoming season.

The Yankees recently requested for another $260 million in tax-free bonds and $110 million in taxable bonds. The team already has received nearly $940 million in tax-exempt bonds for the ballpark.

Brodsky and the committee have accused Levine and the Yankees of illicit negotiations with New York City that have significantly altered the the value of the property. Brodsky also has claimed that the stadium will not create enough new jobs to warrant the public funding.

And, via Richard Sandomir –

The Yankees have hired a division of a prominent Manhattan residential real estate brokerage, Prudential Douglas Elliman, to help sell some of their prime real estate: unsold premium seats and luxury boxes at the new Yankee Stadium.

“They have some customers we may not be able to reach, and they can, so we entered into a nonexclusive agreement with them,” Randy Levine, the Yankees’ president, said Tuesday. “They have customers they have sold real estate to, or will in the future, and they can sell our seats in an innovative way.”

Levine said that hiring Prudential Douglas Elliman was not an indication of a slow sales pace on high-end seats at the $1.3 billion stadium. Seven luxury suites remained to be sold, out of 59, and about 1,000 of 4,000 premium seats were available.

Did you know that “Randy Levine” is an anagram for “Any Evil Nerd”?
I’m just sayin’…

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Via the Hollywood Reporter with a hat tip to WasWatching.com reader Tresh Fan -

[Fox Entertainment president Kevin] Reilly also confirmed that this is the final season for “Prison Break.” In addition to the remaining four episodes, there’s a possibility a couple more episodes could be shot.

And, via the AP -

Fox TV is bringing “Prison Break” to an end after four seasons.

The network said Tuesday that the drama starring Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell will begin airing its final episodes this spring. The series took a break after its December season debut and will conclude with about a half-dozen episodes starting April 17.

Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly told a meeting of the Television Critics Association that the decision allows the series to end on a high creative note.

I feel like I’ve just been punched in the gut.

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To watch SNY.tv’s weekly Hot Stove Edition of New York Baseball Today, which features a rotating panel of experts and previews the offseason, click play below:

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The video via SNY.tv:

The sad part of this, for me, is that R.S.N. is going to take over Cooperstown on Rickey’s big day. Should make it an ugly day for any Yankees fans who make the trip there to see Henderson…I would imagine.

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Please consider taking the following poll:

Thanks in advance. And, please feel free to add comments on your opinion in the comments section below.

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Feel free to use this post as a place for you to comment on anything Yankees-related (or within reach of tagging the bag of being Yankees-related on a decent slide) today. It could be a casual conversation offering, or, something you saw in the news, or something very detailed that you want to share that’s within the territory of Yankeeland.

Or, comment on something that someone else has posted here in the comments…

Have fun. Play nice. And, remember, keep it Yankees-focused.

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“What’s the matter with revenge? It’s the perfect way to get even!”
– A. Bunker, circa 1970′s

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Nope, it’s not A-Rod on the Hudson… Check out these two:

Photo: Chris Preovolos/Stamford Advocate

Why was Brian Cashman spotted today hanging out with Bobby Valentine? You can read about it in the Stamford Advocate.

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It was announced today that Rickey Henderson received 94.8 percent of the vote by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and he will now be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown on July 26, 2009. For me, this is thrilling news.

As I’ve mentioned here before, I’m a big fan of Rickey Henderson. In fact, back in the 1980′s, when I last played ball, Rickey Henderson was the player that I wanted to be…which is funny – because I can’t run a lick. But, I wore my stirrups just like Rickey did in the ’80′s – and had white spikes like him too. And, when I would lead-off base, I would tap my toes into the ground like Rickey did when he took his lead…

It wasn’t always this way for me. In the 1970′s, I was more of a Thurman Munson and George Brett guy. And, actually, the Brett thing stayed with me into the ’80′s as well…as I patterned my stance and swing, albeit from the right-side, after Brett. (But, for the record, during BP, I used to goof around and try and use the “young” Rickey Henderson batting stance – where he had the one-inch strike zone.) Further, once my playing days were over, in the 1990′s, I was more of a Cal Ripken and Paul O’Neill guy. But, I never lost my respect for Henderson.

Back in 2004, when Rickey Henderson was playing for the Newark Bears, I thought it would be cool to have a picture of him in his Bears’ uniform. Given Henderson’s greatness, I figured it would be like having a nice photo of Babe Ruth in his Boston Braves uniform.

So, I called the Bears and asked them if they had any photos of Rickey for sale. They put me in touch with Rickey’s personal assistant. When I spoke to his assistant, and told him that I wanted two pictures – one for my daughter, then two-years old, and one for my son, who was recently born – he asked me if I wanted them personalized, with my kids’ names. How cool is that?

So, for the last four years, both of my kid’s rooms have a picture of Rickey Henderson, in his Bears uniform, hanging on the wall – autographed by Rickey, personalized by Rickey for them…by including their name above his signature. (The photo above is the one that’s in my daughter’s room.) Someday, I hope they learn to appreciate having these pictures…when they learn more about the history of baseball.

It was nice to come home from work today, and see the kids (now 4 1/2 and 6 1/2 years old) just before they went to bed, and talk to my children about how the baseball player on their walls is now a member of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. (They understand ‘Cooperstown’ well as my daughter was there in 2003, 2005 and 2008 and my son was there in 2005 and 2008.)

Me? It was cool this evening, as I was eating dinner, to watch vintage clips of Rickey on the MLB Network. Man, in his prime, he was a treat. When he was on base, he just wrecked the game for the other team. It was amazing to see him lead-off base, and laugh at the opposing pitcher, because he knew – as well as the pitcher knew – that he could steal whenever he wanted and no one was going to stop him.

What I wouldn’t give to go back in time, to 1978, to go see Henderson as a 19-year old playing for the Jersey City A’s…as it was so close to my home at the time…but, who knew (back then)?

In any event, here’s some stuff that I’ve shared here about Rickey Henderson in the past…in case you missed it back then:

Babe Ruth, Rickey Henderson and Alex Rodiguez, to date, are the only “young superstars” to join the Yankees after establishing themselves elsewhere and then play for the Yanks for a while.

Babe Ruth, Roger Maris, Reggie Jackson, Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson, Paul O’Neill, Jason Giambi and Alex Rodriguez are the only players who have come to the Yankees from other teams and who had a “monster” batting season while with New York.

During his time in New York, Rickey Henderson was just as good as Reggie Jackson was when he played for the Yankees.

And, Rickey Henderson is probably the greatest “superstar” player who was ever traded away from the Yankees while he was still in his prime.

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