WasWatching.com Water Cooler Talk 5/17/09
Posted by Steve L. on May 17th, 2009 · Comments (13)
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P.S. – Happy 11th Annie, Boomer! Say, it’s the Twins again today, right?
May 16th vs. The Twins
Posted by Steve L. on May 16th, 2009 · Comments (5)
I’ll be at the game tomorrow. So, that means I’ll be devoting eight hours of my day towards the Yankees – allowing time for getting there, seeing the game, and getting back home. Related, I had to get a lot of personal/family stuff done today to make up for the time I’ll be MIA in Yankeeland tomorrow – which meant I was only able to peek in at this game as time allowed.
I did get to see part of the pre-game coverage on YES – and saw that General Joe had a plan to make Joba throw a fake first inning in the pen before the game. And, I caught the score later in the game and saw that it was 3-2, Yanks, in the 5th. So, it appears, that Girardi’s plan helped Chamberlain – to some extent – today. Good.
Later, my family and I were in the car, and I turned on the radio, just as Mark Teixeira got that clutch, two-out, hit to tie the score at four in the 8th inning. At that point, I figured that the pen had a hand in allowing the Twins to go ahead in this one – and I found out later that it was Jose Veras. No shocker there*. We stayed with the game, on the car radio, through the bottom of the 9th inning.
Eventually, we left the car and entered the restaurant (where we were headed). It seemed like that only took minutes. But, as we were waiting to be seated, I noticed a TV in the bar, in the front of the restaurant – and it had the game on there. At this point, Mo was in his second frame – and it was the top of the 10th inning, no outs, and the Twins had runners on first and second. Yikes! However, Rivera got out of it by the time we were directed to our table. Whew.
I was able to angle myself at our table so that I could see another TV in the bar, over a three-quarter wall that separated our dining area and the lounge, if I cranked my head all the way to the left. I took a glance at one point and saw Alfredo Aceves pitching in the 11th inning. And, the very next time I looked at the game, I saw Teixeira rounding third with A-Rod right behind him – and realized that Rodriguez had blasted a walk-off. Cool.
Funny game. Alex will be the hero, more than likely, in the eye of many. But, really this game was all about Mark Teixiera. Four for four, with a walk, a big 3-run homer, a clutch hit in the 8th, and the walk in the 11th…
It was just a few days ago, on May 4th, where I said it would be nice to see Teixeira have a game like the one that Jason Giambi had…back in 2002…where the ‘Big G’ lost his Yankee-new-guy-cherry. And, now, today, in this game, which missed being the seven year anniversary of that Giambi game – also against the Twins – by one day, Tex gets the job done. Nice.
I hope the Yankees have saved something for tomorrow. I’m oh’fer two this year so far in terms of being there for regular season games to see wins. (And, both games were Sabathia starts – go figure!) It would be nice to finally see a win, in person, in the new Stadium…
_________
*See comments section for more on Veras.
WasWatching.com Water Cooler Talk 5/16/09
Posted by Steve L. on May 16th, 2009 · Comments (8)
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Only Tigers Worse In A.L. Than Yanks In Terms Attendance Drop From Last Year
Posted by Steve L. on May 16th, 2009 · Comments (14)
Via Sean Forman’s new toy…attendance per game in the big leagues, last year compared to this year – with 2009 being games through May 15th:
Tm (A) (B) DiffPerGame NYM 49519 38595 -10924 WSN 29923 19696 -10227 DET 36488 26648 -9840 NYY 50713 44491 -6222 ATL 30476 24753 -5723 COL 32097 27286 -4811 SDP 30770 25979 -4791 HOU 33720 29386 -4333 TOR 25485 21265 -4221 LAD 46622 42578 -4044 OAK 21233 18030 -3203 BAL 24412 21833 -2579 CLE 22628 21020 -1608 PIT 16262 15240 -1022 STL 40105 39213 -892 SFG 33775 33085 -691 SEA 26687 26089 -598 ARI 27819 27301 -518 CHC 39938 39423 -515 CHW 25300 24925 -375 MIN 24937 24782 -155 BOS 37618 37752 134 CIN 21294 21756 462 LAA 39227 40660 1433 TEX 21488 23025 1536 MIL 34014 35953 1939 KCR 17392 21232 3840 PHI 39215 43109 3893 FLA 14467 20386 5919 TBR 16822 25757 8936 (A) = 2008 Att/Gm (B) = 2009 Att/Gm
I’m sure that the Law Firm of Levine & Trost will write this all off to that crazy new math. Speaking of the Yankees Egomaniacal Esquires…
Just this morning, around 8:30 am ET, I was listeing to Richard Neer on WFAN and he was referencing a trusted Yankees insider who told him that, with Big Stein now being out of the picture, it was “the lawyers” who were truly making all the calls for the Yankees these days – and, according to the insider, per Neer, this is bad news for the Yankees organization. Hearing this, I thought back to what I wrote two years ago:
Maybe that’s the issue with this Yankees organization – too many white-collar, pencil-pushing, general-ledger types and not enough people who have grown-up in the game calling the shots?
So, what do you think? Was I right two years ago? Do we need to see Levine and Trost sent packing? Will it ever happen while Itchie and Twitchie Steinbrenner (meaning Hal and Hank) are running the team? (In Peter Goldenbock’s “George,” it’s reported that a Yankees executive said “Did you ever hear of ‘Itchie and Twichie’? Hal and Hank. If you took both kids’ feet together at the same time, they couldn’t fit into George’s shoes.”) Or, will we just have to wait until the team is sold to be free from the Law Firm of Levine & Trost?
Nice Story Behind 1st Ever Inside-The-Parker At New Stadium
Posted by Steve L. on May 16th, 2009 · Comments (0)
Via the Post -
After speaking to the media on one of the biggest nights of his young career, Brett Gardner reached into his locker stall in the Yankees clubhouse and found a small red bracelet attached to a pale yellow card. It was a special gift from a special child.
“I met with several different children, probably 15 or 20, and one little girl, she gave me a bracelet,” Gardner said of his pregame trip to Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital at New York Presbyterian yesterday, before he went out and played a huge role — including delivering an inside the park home run — in the Yanks’ 5-4 win over the Twins. “I asked what it was for and she said it was for me and she told me that if I kept it I would hit a home run and she said I’d hit a home run tonight.”
He kept the gift in his locker. He hit a home run. He did lots more. He met so many kids, he doesn’t remember the little girl’s name — but he remembers her face. And he’ll always remember last night.
They talked about this during the YES broadcast last night. The Yankees got in from Toronto around 3 AM on Friday morning. And, on short sleep, Gardner went to visit the sick kids and then had to be at the ballpark a few hours later. Sounds like Brett is a “character” guy. Good. The Yankees can never have too many of those.
May 15th vs. The Twins
Posted by Steve L. on May 15th, 2009 · Comments (3)
It’s mid-May and Brett Gardner now has twice as many homers as Alex Rodrguez. Baseball is a funny game, huh?
Watching this game, I can’t help but think back to what I wrote about Phil Hughes and Melky Cabrera back on September 15th of last year.
Back in 2006, I was a big Melky Cabrera fan. But, as I noted last season, Leche was bad in 2007 and terrible in 2008 with the bat. (And, some suggested that his attitude was lacking last season too.) So, what’s got into Cabrera this season? Is it just that he likes wearing the #53? Hey, whatever it is…Melk…keep it up.
Now, moving on to the favorite mouth-breather of Yankees fanboys across the nation – Keanu Hughes. This is the third bad start in a row for Phil. (When you walk four in five innings with Wally Bell behind that plate, dude, it means you have zero command of your pitches.)
Here’s the deal with Hughes: He’s proven that he can dominate minor league batters. After all, his career ERA in the bushes is 2.38 in 329.6 IP over six seasons. However, his lifetime big league ERA is about 5.50 over 25 games.
In the YES coverage this evening, David Cone brought up Edwin Jackson. As I noted last year, Jackson was once the prize pitching prospect of the minor leagues. Yet, it took him over 70 starts in the majors – and until he was 25 years old – for it to all click into place for him…where he started posting big league numbers to match his past promise.
So, what do the Yankees do with Phil Hughes? Do you send him back down to the minors, where he has nothing to prove? Or, do you keep running him out there, in the majors, pitching to an ERA that’s over five? You could do the latter, if you’re a rebuilding team. But, the Yankees are not…and cannot afford to give a guy another 50 starts in the big leagues with the hope that he uses those to work out his problems.
Too bad there’s no “Four-A” league out there now. Because, the way he’s pitched, over his whole career, that’s where Phil Hughes belongs…for now.
Prison Break Series Finale
Posted by Steve L. on May 15th, 2009 · Comments (3)
After four years of twists, and turns, and more twists and turns…it all comes to a close with…yes…you guessed it, twists and turns…and then joy and sadness.
Wow.
Has there ever been a better T.V. drama over the course of its first 81 episodes? Thank you Paul Scheuring, Matt Olmstead and the rest of the crew. It was one super roller coaster of a ride.
WasWatching.com Water Cooler Talk 5/15/09
Posted by Steve L. on May 15th, 2009 · Comments (28)
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SNY New York Baseball Today Video
Posted by Steve L. on May 15th, 2009 · Comments (0)
To watch SNY.tv’s New York Baseball Today, which features a rotating panel of experts, click play below:
Star Trek (2009)
Posted by Steve L. on May 14th, 2009 · Comments (4)
I went to see the latest Star Trek movie this evening.
First, a disclosure: I’ve seen every episode of every Star Trek series at least once – and often more than once. Yup, all of them: The Original Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise. (I have them on DVD.) I even watched the Animated Series when I was a kid. (I also have those on DVD but have not re-watched all of them yet.) And, I’ve seen all the Star Trek movies that came out before this new one.
So, obviously, I’m a fan of the Star Trek franchise/genre. However, I don’t own any Star Trek clothes. I’ve never been to a Star Trek convention. And, I don’t have any Star Trek toys or games – sans the holiday ornaments that Hallmark sells for Christmas Trees. (My wife and kids think those are cool – and I agree.) Therefore, I’m not a “Trekkie” – by any means. Again, I just enjoy watching the shows – because I find good sci-fi storylines to be entertaining.
When I first heard that they were going to do a Star Trek reboot movie, my initial reaction was “This could be good – but, there’s a great chance that it’s going to be terrible.” And, when I saw the very first trailer for the new Star Trek, immediately, I thought, “Oh, no, this looks as bad as when they made Lost In Space into a movie.” From that quick peek, via the trailer, it just appeared like the movie was too jumbled, commercial, etc.
But, then, the movie was finally released – and the reviews, from both the pros and the viewing public, were very good. As such, I became anxious to see the reboot…and made it happen today…one week after it opened in theaters.
Now that I have seen it…I can share that I was not disappointed. In fact, I thought it was great.
I’ve always felt that The Wrath of Khan and First Contact were the two best Star Trek movies of all time. However, now, I’m thinking that the Star Trek reboot is the best of the bunch. It had a great story. The cast was near perfect. The action and effects were top notch. There was drama and comedy to be found. And, best of all, it did what a great movie is supposed to do: While you watch it…you become so engrossed that you lose all track of time and space…meaning that it seems like you’ve been watching for minutes instead of hours and you totally forget that you’re sitting in a movie theater because you’re so focused on what’s on the screen.
I didn’t even mind that, in the reboot, they changed the storylines behind the development of some characters and their relationships with other characters. And, this is shocking to me – because that type of change usually ticks me off. I suppose it’s just another credit for this movie – tweaking things in the reboot and pulling it off successfully.
Now, if you’re a fan of Star Trek, you’re going to see this movie. So, anything I’m sharing here doesn’t matter. But, if you’ve never been much of a Star Trek fan, I would still recommend checking out this flick. It’s stand-alone enough that you don’t need to know much about Star Trek to follow along, etc. (You may not get some of the inside references and jokes – but that’s no biggie.)
I hope they do another movie after this one…as long as it’s just as good or better…and that they release it soon…like in 2011. Until then, I can’t wait for this one to come out on DVD – so that I can watch it again.
May 14th @ The Blue Jays
Posted by Steve L. on May 14th, 2009 · Comments (8)
Missed most of this one. Got home just in time to see the bottom of the ninth and the post-game. (Went to the movies tonight – will have a post on that later.)
I’m really starting to dig Frankie Cervelli at the end of a win. He shows some good emotion during the post-game high-fives. (And, he’s a fun interview with Kim Jones too.) By the way, is it just me, or, does Cervelli remind you of Goran Visnjic?
I just have a feeling that the kid will go on to have a nice major league career – one like Rick Dempsey, at the worst.
Sabathia was like an ace tonight – with a solid eight. Nice for CC to bookend this road trip with wins. That’s what you want from your big man.
Yanks now 17-17. Jeter is back. Matsui too. Mo’s looking better…
Here’s a question: If, at the end of this month, the Yankees are 26-24, would you be happy with that? Or, would that be considered a failure, at the first-third mark of the season?
Yanks Adjust BP Access Policy For Fans
Posted by Steve L. on May 14th, 2009 · Comments (4)
Via the Times –
For generations, die-hard fans have showed up early to baseball games to watch batting practice and get an autograph.
So fans at Yankee Stadium this season were dismayed to find out they could not go down to the field level before the game unless they had a ticket to sit there. Brenna Mahoney of New Jersey learned this when she took her son early to a game in April.
“I have been going to batting practice for about 20 years for this time-honored tradition of letting a kid who doesn’t sit in the premium seats where players are at close view and foul balls are regularly caught, have a shot at a wave from a favorite player or a prized ball to take home,” she said in an e-mail message last month.
Mahoney was not the only fan to complain, so on Thursday the Yankees changed their policy. Fans will now be able to watch batting practice from the seats along the left- and right-field lines and in the outfield (Sections 129 to 136 and 103 to 111).
Alice McGillion, a spokeswoman for the Yankees, said that after the team received complaints, it looked at the policy at the old Yankee Stadium. There, fans who had any field-level seat could watch batting practice.
“We liberalized the policy even more,” she said. “This is part of living in a new home and making adjustments. It’s only been a month.”
According to the new rules, posted on the Yankees’ Web site, fans can watch batting practice starting three hours before the start of each home game. Fans can stay on the field level and in the bleachers until the players leave the field or 1 hour 45 minutes after the gates open. Then “all fans will be asked to return to their respective seats.”
Sounds like a nice compromise to me. Sections 103 to 111 is prime BP homer territory. If I were going to hang out at the field level, before a game, as the players hit, that’s where I would want to be…
Pete Mrsich, Artist & Nice Guy!
Posted by Steve L. on May 14th, 2009 · Comments (0)
Just wanted to say thanks and give Pete Mrsich a shout-out for providing me with a new 750×190 sized banner for this blog, today. If you’re ever in need of a graphic artist, I highly recommend that you WorkWithPete.com. The dude has talent, vision, and is a pleasure to work with…and he’s a Yankees fan too!
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WasWatching.com Water Cooler Talk 5/14/09
Posted by Steve L. on May 14th, 2009 · Comments (83)
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Holy Orifice Batman! A-Rod Full Of Holes?
Posted by Steve L. on May 14th, 2009 · Comments (10)
A scout’s opinion on A-Rod, so far this season, via Jayson Stark -
Once again, the great scouting minds out there tell us what they’re seeing:
…On Alex Rodriguez: “His defense has been terrible. He doesn’t look like he could move off a dime. He’s a dead-stand-up stationary third baseman right now. But his biggest problem, I think, is at the plate. He can’t get to the low, outside fastball or the slider away. He normally takes those balls the other way, but he can’t get there. And as word gets around the league, he may have more holes than he’s ever had.”
…he may have more holes than he’s ever had…
Well, Alex always has been a bit of a playa, no?
Joking aside, scouts have been wrong in the past, right? So, we’ll just have to wait and see…
But, it will be interesting to look back at this, say, at the end of June and determine just how well this scout is at his job…and how Alex is performing at that time.
SNY New York Baseball Today Video
Posted by Steve L. on May 14th, 2009 · Comments (0)
To watch SNY.tv’s New York Baseball Today, which features a rotating panel of experts, click play below:
’09 Yanks Mediocre?
Posted by Steve L. on May 14th, 2009 · Comments (2)
Gary Apple, Eamon McAnaney and Mark Malusis, on SNY’s Geico SportsNite yesterday, debate the topic. Here’s the clip:
Wild Thought: Was Roberts Book On A-Rod Baseball’s Version Of Geraldo Rivera Breaking Into Al Capone’s Vault?
Posted by Steve L. on May 14th, 2009 · Comments (12)
Today’s wild thought is a quick one: Is it just me, or, has the buzz around the Selena Roberts book on Alex Rodriguez come and gone, in a flash, making about as much noise as an A-Rod post-season At Bat?
South Atlantic League No Match For Noesi
Posted by Steve L. on May 14th, 2009 · Comments (1)
Via mlb.com -
Hector Noesi hadn’t allowed a run in his first 20 1/3 innings this season. He was even better Wednesday night.
The 22-year-old right-hander struck out seven and walked one over seven hitless frames as the Charleston RiverDogs one-hit the Lexington Legends en route to a 3-1 victory at Applebee’s Park.
Noesi (1-0), making his third straight start after beginning the season in the bullpen, was on fire from the opening frame. He retired the first 19 batters, registering at least one strikeout in each of the first six innings, before issuing a one-out walk to Andrew Simunic in the seventh.
Despite losing his bid for a perfect game, the 6-foot-2, 174-pound native of the Dominican Republic kept his poise, getting Federico Hernandez to pop out to shortstop and Kody Hinze on a fly ball to center field to cap the best performance of his five-year professional career.
“I’m pitching for a future in the big leagues and I’ll do whatever I have to do,” said Noesi, who has struck out 35, walked three and allowed only 11 hits over 27 1/3 innings this year.
“I came into this year to concentrate and to do what I didn’t do in 2005, 2006 and 2007.”
Signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on Dec. 3, 2004, Noesi spent his first two seasons in the Dominican Summer and Gulf Coast leagues before sitting out the first 50 games of 2007 for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
A strained right elbow limited Noesi to five appearances with Charleston upon his return, but he did bounce back with a solid campaign in 2008, going 3-2 with a 3.33 ERA in 14 appearances (seven starts) between the GCL Yankees and short-season Staten Island.
“I knew him a couple of years ago when he was going through the suspension and had a little bit of arm trouble,” RiverDogs pitching coach Jeff Ware said. “We didn’t really know what to expect this year. He came into Spring Training in great shape with a Major League fastball. He’s put himself right back on the map as far as the way he’s been throwing.”
A-Ball is still a million miles away from the big leagues…so, we have to take this report for what it’s worth. Plus, this one scares me a bit…
May 13th @ The Blue Jays
Posted by Steve L. on May 14th, 2009 · Comments (6)
Andy Pettitte gutted his way through this one – and did that well. Jonathan Albaladejo on the other hand…walking two in the 9th inning, with one out and a 8-2 lead…well…I don’t call him Alba-la-no-no for nuttin’…
How crazy was that 2nd inning for the Yankees? Melky doubles. Gardner hits a 100-meter homer. Pena triples. After Cervelli grounds out, Damon triples. And, then, after a Swisher ground out, Teixeira doubles.
That’s all followed by an A-Rod walk and a Cano single.
Two doubles, two triples and a homer in the second inning? When I saw all those extra base hits, so early in the game, I thought, for sure, somebody on the Yankees would hit for the cycle today. In any event, thank you Scott Richmond. Now, if Sabathia comes through on Thursday, the Yankees have a shot at winning this series…and that would be nice.
School’s Out For Summer…Almost…But, First, There’s That Issue Of A Final Paper…
Posted by Steve L. on May 14th, 2009 · Comments (8)
Two WasWatching.com readers – one from the University of Delaware and the other from Syracuse University – recently contacted me regarding a final paper/assignment that they’re both doing on sports blogs – asking some questions on the subject matter for my input. Since their questions were interesting, I thought that I would share them here, along with my answers. Here they are:
WasWatching.com Water Cooler Talk 5/13/09
Posted by Steve L. on May 13th, 2009 · Comments (53)
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Isaac Hess
Posted by Steve L. on May 13th, 2009 · Comments (6)
So many Britt Burns memories came to mind when I read about Hess.
On Second Thought, I’m O.K. With The New Yankee Stadium Legends Suite Moat
Posted by Steve L. on May 12th, 2009 · Comments (50)
Via the AP -
Those empty seats near the field at the new Yankee Stadium are likely to remain unfilled – especially during batting practice.
Yankees chief operating officer Lonn Trost said Tuesday no changes were planned to the policy preventing fans with tickets in other parts of the stadium from getting close to the field during BP. Seats in the first nine rows, called the Legends Suite, cost $500 to $2,625.
“If you purchase a suite, do you want somebody in your suite?” Trost said Tuesday. “If you purchase a home, do you want somebody in your home?”
Because of the way the new stadium is structured, it is virtually impossible for fans to get player autographs unless they purchase tickets costing at least $500.
I’m not a Lonn Trost fan. To me, he’s a Steinbrenner sycophant who has managed to out live the king. And, as such, now Lonn is a tenured official in the Swelled-Head Senate of Yankees. I see Trost as the Yankees Mr. Tudball. (Say, does that make Brian Cashman to be Mrs. Wiggins? Hmm..food for thought…albeit somewhat dyspepsia inducing.)
That all said, I get what Lonn Trost is saying here. Shocking, huh?
To be candid, at first, I thought the Yankees were sticking it to the fans with this new Stadium policy of not allowing them down by the field during BP and such. I remember that happening, once upon a time, at the old Stadium – where fans could use that access as a chance to get a ball, or an autograph, or just talk to a player.
But, now, seeing Trost’s statement on this, the Yankees policy makes sense to me. If I were the one who paid beaucoup denaro to have those seats/suite, it would bug the heck out of me to be sitting there, during batting practice, and having an uninvited semi-throng in my personal space.
Put it this way: Say you have a ticket to a Yankees game. The seat could be anywhere – down on the field level, in the upper-upper-deck, or somewhere in between.
You get to the game about 90 minutes before the first pitch because you want to watch BP, shoot the bull with your friend, or just chill and soak in the Stadium experience while you enjoy a hotdog and a cool beverage. However, when you arrive at your seat, there’s some dude standing in the leg-room space directly in front of your seat. He’s stationed there like a Windsor Castle Guard.
Seeing this, you politely say to them: “Excuse me, but, this is my seat. I bought a ticket to sit there and you’re in my space.”
To this, they answer you with: “It’s O.K., I’m going to leave as soon as the game starts. I’m just here in case a ball from batting practice lands in this spot. Or, in case, someone from the team wanders by – so maybe I could get their autograph.”
At this moment, how are you going to feel? Personally, at this junction, the membranes in my eyes would turn white and my skin would begin to take on a nice shade of green.
Now, of course, some may want to say, here: “This is different. If someone pulled this stunt and my seats were far from the field, they would have no right to be there 90 minutes before the game started – or any time, for that matter.”
Really? Just because someone else’s seats are right on the edge of the field, it’s permissible for a strange party to invade their space and ruin their right to be there without intrusion? Come again? You get a buddy-pass on this because you have mediocre seats whereas they don’t because they have great seats? Huh?
Again, I know, in “the old days,” this stuff (meaning fans congregating in other people’s box seats by the field before the game) used to happen and it was not an issue. Nonetheless, today, with more and more fans getting to the game early, times are different. And, while I never thought I would utter these words, I can understand Lonn Trost’s position on this matter.
File this under: Strange but true.
May 12th @ The Blue Jays
Posted by Steve L. on May 12th, 2009 · Comments (6)
Since I’ve been a Yankees fan, I seen many a starting pitcher own New York when he has faced them. Jim Palmer and Chuck Finley come to mind – as well as Frank Tanana (when he threw hard), Larry Gura, and Mike Caldwell. Also, Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens, when they were in their absolute prime, threw several great games against the Yankees. David Wells always got up to face New York. And, somehow, even a guy like Geoff Zahn covered the Yanks like a wet blanket on several occasions. Lastly, of course, way back in the day, Nolan Ryan would knock the bats out of Steinbrenner’s boy’s hands – as he did to most teams. (Come to think of it, at times, Bert Blyleven, Luis Tiant, Mark Langston and Teddy Higuera – at their peak – were tough on New York too.)
But, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a pitcher consistently stuff it down the Yankees throats the way that Roy Halladay does…and the way he did today. Man, I just hate facing this guy.
Now, with Jeter, Matsui and Swisher hurting – and both Nady and Posada out – is every pitcher, at least for a while, who faces New York going to look like Doc Halladay? Geez, I hope not…but, it could happen…
WasWatching.com Water Cooler Talk 5/12/09
Posted by Steve L. on May 12th, 2009 · Comments (87)
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SNY New York Baseball Today Video
Posted by Steve L. on May 12th, 2009 · Comments (0)
To watch SNY.tv’s New York Baseball Today, which features a rotating panel of experts, click play below:
Halo’s Saunders: A-Rod No All-Star
Posted by Steve L. on May 12th, 2009 · Comments (11)
Via Tom Singer -
As Alex Rodriguez worked his way back to the Majors following surgery on his right hip, and finally arrived, the Yankees third baseman received mostly encouragement and sympathy from his peers.
Don’t include Angels left-hander Joe Saunders in his support group.
In fact, Saunders would probably like for A-Rod’s name to be recalled from ballots for the 2009 All-Star Game.
Following an offseason of steroid revelations and confessions, Saunders said he would not vote for Rodriguez, regardless of whatever compelling numbers he puts up.
As Saunders put it to the Los Angeles Times, “It’s over for him.”
Speaking following Saturday night’s game against Kansas City, flush with his 1-0 victory over previously unbeaten sensation Zack Greinke, Saunders didn’t buy that fans are greeting the returning Rodriguez with a “forgive-and-forget” attitude.
“I think the fans do care,” Saunders said. “Pretty much everybody wants a game without cheating.”
Saunders went on to say that the stain of steroid allegations aside, he considered Evan Longoria the American League’s most deserving All-Star candidate at third base, and that he would get his vote, regardless.
It’s an interesting question. Should Alex Rodriguez be on the 2009 A.L. All-Star squad this year? What do you think – and why?
Newsdays’ Best: Secondary Ticket Market Now Favors Buyers
Posted by Steve L. on May 11th, 2009 · Comments (4)
Via Neil Best -
For fans who initially said, “No, thanks,” the price of attending a game has dropped to the point of being downright reasonable. OK, perhaps just less unreasonable. But the point is, at this stage, especially for less attractive opponents on less attractive days, there is no sane reason to buy a ticket directly from a team.
“Effectively, it’s a new box office,” said Mike Janes, CEO of FanSnap.com, a site that aggregates offers from more than a dozen resellers. “There is a virtual box office that exists that is fan to fan.”
That box office has turned the resale market upside down, going from a place primarily to find tough-to-get tickets at a premium to one to find easy-to-get tickets at a discount. Nowhere is the trend more glaring, or under more scrutiny, than in the Bronx, where the Yankees generate by far the most active ticket market in sports.
A combination of the recession, inflated face values, the ease of Internet transactions and the increase in supply after New York legalized scalping in 2007 has led to more availability than ever at depressed prices – with as many as 10,000 tickets to any given Yankees game resold, 6,000 on StubHub alone.
StubHub spokesman Sean Pate said as of last week, the average resale price of a Yankees ticket was $79, down from $84 at this time last year despite the increase in face values.
[Pate said] “There is so much volume for Yankees and Mets tickets, the pressure to price down is incredible.”
Care to attend Monday’s Twins-Yankees game? As of Monday, you could choose from 14,495 tickets on FanSnap.
There are deals at all price levels. The Yankees host the Nationals June 16. You can sit in Row 3 of Section 20 behind home for $900 a ticket on the Yankees’ site, or in Row 4 for $500 via StubHub. (StubHub charges a 10-percent fee per ticket, with a $5 minimum, plus $4.95 per order for electronic ticketing.)
Section 428 against the Orioles next Tuesday? The Yankees charge $26, if you include Ticketmaster’s $4 fee. FanSnap had tickets for $9, $11, $12 and $14, including fees. Don’t cry for the Yankees, though. Like every big-league team except the Red Sox, they have a partnership with StubHub, and get a cut of resales.
If there are financial losers in all this, they are mainly season-ticket holders. “If somebody was buying to speculate this year, they’d take a bath,” Janes said.
So, a bunch of people bought 2009 season tickets from the Yankees at high prices. However, there are also many seats that the Yankees can’t sell – because of their high prices. This has brought cause for those with tickets and who need to sell them to list them on a secondary market at a price below cost…because no one will pay full-price or higher on the secondary market when they could buy the same seat directly from the Yankees at full-price.
As such, those selling tickets, outside of the team, need to offer a discount on their tickets, on the market, just to get something back – and avoid having the tickets become a sunk cost. Two things come to mind here:
1. How long until the teams, like the Yankees, start selling “can’t sell” tickets on the secondary market (directly) at reduced prices to also avoid sunk costs? And…
2. How long until those fans who bought tickets, this year, and who are now forced to sell them for pennies on the dollar, stop buying tickets from the team in the future – because of the loss risk on resale (when they can’t use the tickets)?
When both these things start to happen, in full force, will it back the teams – like the Yankees – into a corner where they will have to drop ticket prices in the future – rather than keep them where they are, or, raise them?
I’m not sure…as I spent most of my time in Economics I and II in college fussing with my Sony Walkman WM4 – listening to then somewhat new songs like Duran Duran’s Planet Earth and U2′s I Will Follow – and not spending enough time focusing on what they were trying to teach me. But, one can hope, right?
The Truth About Ruth And More: Behind Yankees Myths, Legends, And Lore
Posted by Steve L. on May 11th, 2009 · Comments (2)
Two years ago, I had a chance to check out Peter Handrinos’ The Best New York Sports Arguments – and I liked it. So, when I heard that Handrinos had a new book out, called “The Truth About Ruth and More: Behind Yankees Myths, Legends, and Lore,” I was more than happy to review this one as well.
The format of “The Truth About Ruth and More…” is very much like The Best New York Sports Arguments – except this one is completely Yankees-centric. Within this book, there’s chapters devoted to examining Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Casey Stengel, Roger Maris, George Steinbrenner, Reggie Jackson, Derek Jeter and Yankee Stadium (itself). Handrinos also offers opinion on the most over- and under-rated Yankees players and teams of all-time. And, there’s small sections of the book featuring Yankees such as Phil Rizzuto, Thurman Munson, Graig Nettles, Dave Winfield, Bucky Dent, Whitey Ford, Billy Martin – among many others.
As it was with The Best New York Sports Arguments, Peter Handrinos is not shy an offering a strong opinion on each of the examinations presented in the “The Truth About Ruth and More…“. And, while I agree with him on some and disagree with him on others, I enjoyed reading what he had to say on each.
Now, to be candid, there may be some members of the Pinstriped Pollyanna Fanboy Association who could take exception to some of the cases made in this book – as they are not all pure Yankees genuflection. But, anyone with an open mind, and who is interesting in learning someone else’s opinion – albeit favorable or not – towards any element of Yankeeland, will enjoy reading “The Truth About Ruth and More: Behind Yankees Myths, Legends, and Lore.” This is a fresh and easy, yet also engaging and informative, read. And, I recommend it.
