When I first heard that Dayn Perry had authored “Reggie Jackson: The Life and Thunderous Career of Baseball’s Mr. October,” I was pretty excited to see this biography. I’ve been a fan of Perry’s work – dating back to when I first read “Baseball Between The Numbers.” And, having now finished this new work, I can share that this book more than met all my expectations.

I found Perry’s “Reggie Jackson” to be remarkably well researched.

To be candid, sometimes this is a problem for some authors. They get so locked into sharing facts that they lose sight of the story-telling goal. But, this was not the case here.

“Reggie Jackson” was informative while also being very entertaining – and therefore engrossing.

To many baseball fans – especially Yankees fans – under the age of 40, the clock on the Reggie Jackson story probably starts in 1977. But, there’s so much more to it than that. And, Perry covers it all in this book – going back to Jackson’s childhood, college days, minor league travels, and his entire major league career.

There’s a lot shared in “Reggie Jackson” – and, it’s not just about Reggie. In fact, this book does a great job at painting the picture of what was going on in all of baseball – and Amercia – during the late ’60′s, 1970′s, and early ’80′s.

In fact, you don’t have to be a Yankees fan, or even a Reggie Jackson fan, to enjoy Perry’s “Reggie Jackson.” It’s a book that any baseball fan would relish – and learn from it. (For the record, even though I like to consider myself as someone who knows 1970′s baseball, even I discovered a few things, for the first time, reading this book.)

One thing that I found extremely appealing about “Reggie Jackson” was the pace that Perry used to tell the story. It was perfect and a pure pleasure. This was not only true in telling the story of Jackson’s life but also in covering game accounts. Too many times, in reading baseball books, I’ve found authors who either gloss over game accounts or, worse, go crazy with minutiae to the point where it becomes tranquillizing. However, Perry finds the sweet spot every time in this book when providing details on game action.

I highly recommend checking out “Reggie Jackson: The Life and Thunderous Career of Baseball’s Mr. October.” As shared previously, this one’s not just for Reggie fans or Yankees fans. It’s a great read for any baseball fan – especially those with an interest in 1970′s baseball and the years which bookended that decade.

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Close one. Too close, actually.

Some thoughts:

• Watching Hisanori Takahashi handle the Yankees for six innings…all I could think about was Kei Igawa. Man, how bad is Igawa if Takahashi can cut through the Yankees line-up like he did with slop? Ah, the secret of throwing strikes.
• Great night for Kevin Russo. (I’m a fan of his, in case you don’t know.) Bad job by the YES booth for giving him tardy props on getting his first big league knock.
• Related, that was the Yankees offense this evening – Kevin Russo and bad Mets fielding. Yikes. A really bad showing by the Yankees bats here.
• I thought the Yankees were going to lose the game in the seventh – first when Marte came in and then, again, when Chamberlain came in. Somehow, I thought one of them would blow it. Lucky pitch by Joba getting Wright looking in that frame. (I was a little nervous about Mo in the ninth after the Davis hit. But, not as much as I was in the seventh.)
• Javier Vazquez. Interesting. He allowed three baserunners and zero runs in six innings. That’s really good. But, then he bruised his index finger bunting in the seventh – and Javy is supposed to be the king of sac-bunts, right? You know, when he made his last start, and lost, allowing only two runs in seven innings, a friend of mine told me afterwards “Yeah, he gave up two because the Yankees were shutout. Somehow, I’m sure, if the Yankees had scored two runs in that game then Vazquez would have given up a third run. He’s just a guy with a knack for being good, but, not good enough to win.” Maybe there’s something to that? Maybe with Javy “it’s always sum-din”? Well, at least the x-rays were negative…
• I’ve mentioned this a lot at this blog, but, it’s worth repeating – one of my favorite baseball truisms is: Each season, every big league team is going to win 60 games, no matter what, and, every big league team is going lose 60 games, no matter what – and it’s what they do in the other 42 games that will define their overall record. And, tonight was one of those “other 42 games.” Take the win and be happy about it, Yankees fans. Maybe it was given more than taken, stolen more than earned, and more fortune than cultivation, etc. But, like they tell the kids in preschool: You get what you get and you don’t get upset.

Hopefully the Yankees will make a better showing tomorrow. And, if they don’t, hopefully the Mets will be just as bad as they were today and the Yankees will still get another win.

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Via Chicago Breaking Sports –

The July 31 trading deadline is more than two months away, but one of baseball’s best pitchers has asked to be put on the market.

Houston Astros ace Roy Oswalt, a three-time National League All-Star, has asked owner Drayton McLane Jr. to be traded, a source said Friday.

Oswalt, 32, is in the fourth year of a five-year, $73 million contract that will pay him $15 million in 2010 and $16 million in 2011. His contract includes a $16 million team option for 2012 or $2 million buyout.

Could the Yankees use Roy Oswalt? Would a package of Javier Vazquez, David Robertson, Eduardo Nunez and David Phelps be enough to get the deal done? (Here, I assume, that the Astros would use Vazquez for a while and then flip him, around July, to a National League contender.) Seriously, how many other teams can afford Oswalt? Oh, wait, the Yankees have a “budget” now…never mind.

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Is anyone else noticing/annoyed by Kay’s pronunciaion of Cervelli’s last name?

He goes back and forth between saying “Cervelli” and “Shervelli.”  Sometimes saying his name twice in a 30 second span both ways.

He also says “Ewes” instead of “Hughes” on occassion, but that’s for another day or something…

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The Yankees have beaten the Mets 42 times since “inter-league” play was adopted. (Below is a list of all those Yankees wins.) How many games will the Yankees win this season against the Mets? Related, how many games should the Yankees win against the Mets this season? Lastly, if the Yankees split or lose the series to the Mets this year, as a Yankees fan, how upsetting would that be for you?

.

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I was driving into work this morning and listening to WFAN. It was some time between eight and nine. Ron Darling was being interviewed. He was talking about all of David Wright’s problems. (And, is it just me, or, are they just killing Wright these days in Metsville? Remember when they were calling him the Mets version of Derek Jeter? Well, that didn’t last too long, did it?) Darling also talked about the importance of the Mets making a good showing against the Yankees.

Darling is a Met. And, as he disclosed on the interview this morning, his father is a big Red Sox fan. That’s a lot to be turned off by…if you’re a Yankees fan.

However, and I’ve said this before, Ron Darling is incredibly good as a baseball analyst. He’s probably the best in New York, in my opinion.

The Yankees/YES have some good announcers. But, they don’t have anyone in the class of Darling.

If I recall correctly, Darling was doing Washington Nationals games before coming to the Mets. Shame the Yankees missed the chance to get him. But, that said, maybe there’s someone else out there doing work for a team who’s great, like Darling, who’s looking to upgrade to the big stage in Yankeeland?

If you could pick one announcer/analyst from another team and get him hired by YES, who would you pick. For me, it’s Ron Darling. How about you?

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CenterNetworks has the story. (H/T to BBTF.)

I never understood some of these Yankee Stadium policies. You can’t bring in a video recorder – but you can bring in a “still” camera that allows you to record video. And, they have Wi-Fi at the Stadium, but, you cannot bring in a laptop…or, apparently, an iPad. Then again, I’m not sure why you would want to bring an iPad or a laptop to a baseball game…if you’re not a member of the media. And, the media can bring those in…so, maybe, the Wi-Fi is just meant for the media members? If so, then the Yankees shouldn’t brag about the Stadium having Wi-Fi…since it’s not for everyone, in the end.

And, yeah, I played with the title on this one…leaving off the “i”…just for kicks and giggles.

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Yup, with these two losses, the Yankees have now dropped eight of their last twelve games. And, during this “run,” New York has gone from being just one-half game out of first place to now being five full games behind the Rays.

Sure, it’s early – there’s still three-quarters of the season to be played.

But, what’s really bothersome is the way Tampa Bay came into the Bronx and pushed around the Yankees in this two game set. New York may be the defending champs, but, the Rays didn’t play them yesterday or today as if that intimidated them in any way. If anything, in these two games, it was the Yankees who looked like the deer in the headlights.

I won’t go as far to say it was like men playing against boys. But, it did appear as if it was a more confident and aggresive squad against a reeling team hoping to delude their opponent with a shadow of greatness.

On the bright-side, next up for the Yankees are the Mets. And, so far, this season the Rays are to The Juggernaut as the Mets are to The Ant Hill Mob when Chug-a-Boom has a flat. (Yeah, I guess that would make Jerry Manuel out to be Penelope Pitstop.)

Just don’t lose two or more to the Mets, O.K., Yanks? ‘Cause, if you do, well…do I really have to say it? Let’s just say that the media heat may be turned up a few notches if that happens…and probably deservedly so…

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Via RotoWorld -

Yankees senior vice president of baseball operations Mark Newman will be in the Dominican Republic on Thursday to scout Cuban right-hander Yuniesky Maya.

Maya is now eligible to sign with any major league team and figures to draw interest from baseball’s top spenders. The 28-year-old right-hander was 48-29 record with a 2.51 ERA over six seasons in Cuba and pitched in the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009. He boasts a fastball in the 92-94 mph range with a complete arsenal of secondary pitches. He doesn’t possess the upside of the younger Aroldis Chapman, but he might be polished enough to contribute in the major leagues in short-order. The Red Sox, Mets and White Sox were also mentioned as potential landing spots over the winter.

Didn’t many say the same thing about Osvaldo Fernandez back in 1995? And, also about [insert name of Cuban pitcher] back in [insert year said pitcher defected]?

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Out of curiosity, I just noticed that WasWatching.com is currently among the Top 50 Baseball Blogs on Technorati and among the Top 100 Baseball Blogs on BallHype. Not too shabby.

That said, this does mark a good time to go all Bartles & Jaymes on ‘ya and say “… and thank you for your support…and for having an interest in WasWatching.com…”

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Via the Daily News Insider –

One day after Dr. Anthony Galea was charged with providing human growth hormone and other drugs to professional athletes, Alex Rodriguez had very little to say about the doctor to whom he was linked earlier this year.

“I haven’t really gotten much into it,” Rodriguez said Wednesday when asked about how the latest news on Galea might impact him. “I really have nothing to add to that.”

A-Rod said he had “seen a little bit” of the news regarding Galea, but then added, “I’ve been pretty busy, but I appreciate you asking.”

Asked if he had ever spoken with the feds about his involvement with Galea, Rodriguez said, “I can’t get into any of that,” then ran out of the clubhouse to go hit in the batting cage.

At some point, the media is going to stop asking Alex about this…and just go out and get some answers somewhere else. So, wouldn’t it make more sense for A-Rod to get in front of this one and control the direction it may take?

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Here’s the Yankees Organizational Depth Chart for catcher – via B-R.com:

.

The call will probably go out to Chad Moeller. But, it will cost the Yankees someone off their 40-man roster to call him up.

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Yeah, I know, going 14-12 in your last 26 ain’t terrible. But, when you take out going 5-1 against the Baltimore Orioles, the Yankees record in their other games is 9-11 (during that 26 game span).

It’s been a rough four weeks in Yankeeland.

Yes, there have been some injuries. But, Andy Pettitte only missed one start with his elbow issue. Therefore, the Yankees starting pitching has no excuses. And, Granderson has been out – but he wasn’t doing anything when he was in there either. Ditto Nick Johnson. Ditto Chan Ho Park too. What does that leave? Aceves, Swisher and Posada.

So, does that mean this Yankees team can only play .500 baseball when it’s missing Alfredo Aceves, Jorge Posada and Nick Swisher? Really?

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Jorge Posada has been diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his right foot and may miss up to four weeks.

Things like this happen when your starting catcher is 38-years old.

No matter if you feel Posada is a liability in the field, defensively, or not, this is a huge blow to the team – since Jorge has been one of their best bats so far this season.

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On June 1, 2010, Major League Baseball Productions and Shout! Factory will release MLB Bloopers: Baseball’s Best Blunders on DVD. I had a chance to review this one before the release and can share that it’s full of entertaining stuff.

The main program of the DVD is 90 minutes long – but, it also comes with 30 minutes of extra bonus content. MLB Bloopers: Baseball’s Best Blunders contains all the classic “bloopers” that you would expect – but, it also features a lot of content from last season as well…and this includes a fair share of the “fun” which the 2009 Yankees experienced.

Click here to see a trailer for the DVD. I’ve watched MLB Bloopers: Baseball’s Best Blunders twice already – once by myself and another time with the kids. And, I enjoyed watching it the second just as much as the first. This stuff just doesn’t get old. If you’re into seeing players as human beings and laughing at, and along with, them…you’ll want to check out this DVD.

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I would just like to point out that in 98% of baseball situations, I hate hate hate bunting.

Here is when you can bunt…in my opinion anyway.

1. If you are a pitcher.
2. If you are a really, really bad position player batting ninth with good players following you.
3. If you are really, really fast and basically bunting for a hit.

And that’s about it.

I know that last night in the bottom of the ninth inning down by 1, with a man on second, zero outs, and Francisco Cervelli (and not Jeter, or Teixeira, or Arod, or Cano, or Posada, or or or) at the plate, it is a “textbook” bunting situation, but as I was watching it happen, I was thinking ‘this probably won’t work.’

It wasn’t so much that I disagreed with Cervelli bunting, so much as I had zero faith in Miranda or Winn to get a fly ball so Cano could tag up.  That basically meant that if Thames couldn’t drive in the run, then no one was driving in the run.

Thames took the walk.  The Yankees did not score.

If you can’t trust the players following the bunt to get the fly ball, then the bunter (one who happens to currently be batting near .400) should swing away himself.  I’m sure; however, that if you were to ask Girardi about it, he would say that he did expect Miranda and/or Winn to come through.

Now perhaps Francisco Cervelli wouldn’t have driven in Cano, but I would rather he try for a sac fly to get Cano to third so that the possibility of a hit is greater than just giving the out away.

This is all especially true when you factor in that Cervelli has been absolutely on fire lately, and that Papelbon has been struggling against the Yankees (at least in the immediate past).

And don’t get me started on one Derek Jeter and his fabulous habit of bunting in the first inning…though at least he hasn’t done that since moving to leadoff.

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A look at the Yankees production, by player, coming into tonight’s game, via the Complete Baseball Encyclopedia:

RCAA                           RCAA      OWP      PA
T1   Jorge Posada                 13     .810      101
T1   Robinson Cano                13     .726      168
3    Brett Gardner                10     .711      150
4    Marcus Thames                 9     .829       68
T5   Nick Swisher                  8     .685      141
T5   Alex Rodriguez                8     .660      169
7    Francisco Cervelli            7     .780       76
T8   Juan Miranda                  0     .573       15
T8   Kevin Russo                   0     .000        2
T8   Curtis Granderson             0     .510       91
T8   Mark Teixeira                 0     .496      179
T12  Derek Jeter                  -1     .482      181
T12  Nick Johnson                 -1     .466       98
T12  Greg Golson                  -1     .000        5
15   Randy Winn                   -2     .331       59
16   Ramiro Pena                  -3     .138       40

RSAA                           RSAA    BR/9 IP     BFP
1    Andy Pettitte                12    10.52      178
2    Phil Hughes                   9     8.80      170
T3   C.C. Sabathia                 5    10.29      238
T3   A.J. Burnett                  5    12.72      219
5    Mariano Rivera                4     7.30       46
T6   Sergio Mitre                  2     9.95       76
T6   Romulo Sanchez                2     4.91       13
T8   Ivan Nova                     1    12.00       12
T8   Alfredo Aceves                1    11.25       53
T10  Boone Logan                   0    16.39       43
T10  Damaso Marte                  0    14.46       43
12   Joba Chamberlain             -2    11.78       78
13   Chan Ho Park                 -3    13.50       29
14   David Robertson              -6    21.60       61
15   Javier Vazquez              -13    16.32      140

It would be nice to see better numbers from Messrs. Teixeira, Jeter, Vazquez, Robertson and Chamberlain at this point in the season, no?

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For the second start in a row, Josh Beckett not only embarrassed his teammates, but he has embarrassed the game.

For those who missed it, this occurred during last nights game against the Red Sox, in the bottom of the 2nd inning. There were runners on first and second, none out with Cervelli up to bat. Beckett deliberatly waited in the set position (trying to throw off the runners timing) for a long time and Cervelli called for and received time from the umpire. No big deal, right? This is almost the same set of events that ticked Beckett off on May 7th. Beckett then proceeded to start walking toward the batters box with his arms stretched out at either side barking at Cervelli. Now, either Beckett was doing his best Bret “The Hitman” Hart impression, or he was telling Cervelli something along the lines of get your butt in the box before I nail ya with a pitch. I thought Beckett was going to throw at him then and there, but he didn’t. Cervelli ended up grounding out, and on his way back to the dug out yelled a few choice words at Beckett that was caught on the YES camera.

A-Rod ran across the mound and it’s a national story. Beckett continuously shows a lack of respect toward his opponents and the game and it’s not even mentioned locally. Will it take Cervelli getting nailed before someone says something?

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Check out these numbers…

2009 After Yankees 1st 39 Games:

Tm  W   L W-L% GB
TOR 27 15 .643 --
BOS 23 16 .590 2.5
NYY 22 17 .564 3.5
TBR 20 21 .488 6.5
BAL 16 23 .410 9.5

2010 After Yankees 1st 39 Games:

Tm  W   L  W-L% GB
TBR 28 11 .718 --
NYY 25 14 .641 3.0
TOR 24 17 .585 5.0
BOS 20 20 .500 8.5
BAL 13 27 .325 15.5

In summary, the Yankees are 3 wins better, at this stage, than they were last year. But, they’re only a half-game better in the standings because of those high-flying Tampa Bay Rays.

Losing the 2004 ALCS was one of the most terrible things to happen in my adult Yankee fan life. It just changed the way the baseball universe worked, from that point forward, in my opinion. But, right after that – in terms of leaving a mark – came the day that the Rays were no longer afraid to play the Yankees. Again, it’s an event that just made the Yankees world spin a different way. I can’t remember the exact moment that happened. I want to say it was around May and June of 2005. But, maybe it was later than that? Maybe it was this game? I dunno…

Whenever it happened, it’s still going on now…and I expect the next couple of days may just show us some more in terms of what it’s all about…

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So, we’re at the game on Sunday. And, before the contest, Tara – the guidette priestess of the Yankee Stadium 101-by-59-foot Mitsubishi Diamond Vision LED display in center field – makes an announcement about how the Yankees are selling Silly Bandz at the Stadium Team Store by Gate 6.

If you have no idea what Silly Bandz are, then click here.

Now, my kids are 6 and 8, and into this latest craze. Therefore, at this point, after Tara is done gushing about the Yankees Silly Bandz, with the kids watching the whole thing, I’m trapped and I have to agree to get them some.

The price at the Yankee Stadium Team Store? It was $9.19 a bag. Yes, Nine-nineteen for what is a “nickel-bag” size bunch of rubber bands. And, since I have two kids, I had to purchase two bags. Yup, $18.38 for two small bags of rubber bands.

When my wife sees the price, she asks me if I’m nuts. At this point, I’m trying to make the best of it and offer that these are special, they’re baseball and Yankees-related shapes, etc. But, I’m flying by the seat of my pants on this one…

And, now, today, my wife tells me that she saw the same Yankees Silly Bandz (and Mets ones) in ShopRite for $2.99 a bag.

Great.

Just wonderful…

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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.

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Their 9th inning rally notwithstanding, tonight’s game was unacceptable.  If the Yankees can’t try harder to win games, I won’t try harder in my recaps.

The Good:

• For battling through miserable weather and a string of solid but unspectacular starts, I give CC Sabathia credit for battling through seven innings and only giving up one run;
• A-Rod continues to slash hits left, right and center.  He’s the team’s best player and it shows with increasing regularity in his AB’s this year.

The Bad:

• If I see Mark Teixeira pop out to the 3rd baseman on the first or second pitch of an AB with RISP I swear I will turn on him faster than I ever turned on #62 last year;
• I don’t care if his arm is a wet noodle, Johnny Damon would’ve caught that ball over Randy Winn’s head.  Ever heard of no doubles defense, Randy?;
• Marcus Thames has no business playing the outfield in the major leagues.  You want to use him as a DH, fine.  An outfielder, no way.  Tonight’s misplay should be enough for Cashman to go sign Jermaine Dye for $500,000.*  He stinks in the outfield but he doesn’t drop routine balls;
• He may be the best closer in baseball history but Mariano Rivera absolutely stinks right now.  The rest of the Yankee bullpen may stink but the Yanks aren’t going anywhere as long as Chamberlain and Rivera can’t lock down easy wins.

*Yes, I’m being facetious here: Jermaine Dye doesn’t belong here.  But the fact remains that the Yankees need to find themselves another OF.  Boone Logan should be optioned to Scranton and his roster spot needs to go to someone that can play a capable defensive game at the corner outfield spots.

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Yes, it’s “game time” in the Bronx – but, the start of tonight’s game is delayed by rain.

Fear not, to help you pass the time, the Red Sox Josh Beckett will entertain you with a little song and dance number.

Yeah, I know…it’s not really Beckett. And, maybe this one was a little crass…but, hey, it’s just a joke, OK?

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Looks like one of the former members of the “Bridge to Mariano” club has gotten himself a coaching job at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, NJ (h/t Baseball America).

For a lot of kids, high school baseball represents the last time they will play organized ball in a structured setting with coaching and instruction.  When I think back to my HS baseball days and I think of who our coach was — a graduate assistant coach from the Manhattan College Jaspers baseball program that didn’t care one iota about the job — and then I think of what it must be like for the kids at Bosco to know that they’re getting instruction from a World Series winner…yeah, I’m more than a little jealous.  Stanton made somewhere in the range of $30M in his playing career so he clearly doesn’t need a job yet he’s finding time to commit to the kids at Don Bosco.  Good for him.

Incidentally, it’s neat that Stanton put down roots in the NY area.  I guess he enjoyed his time on the Yanks and in New York, otherwise he probably wouldn’t have stayed around here.

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Via the AP –

U.S. authorities have charged a Canadian doctor with unlawfully treating professional football players with unapproved drugs, including human growth hormone.

Dr. Anthony Galea, of Toronto, is named in a federal criminal complaint filed Tuesday in Buffalo.

The complaint charges the doctor with lying to federal officials, smuggling, unlawful distribution of HGH, introducing the unapproved drug actovegin into interstate commerce and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

According to court documents, Galea’s clients include at least three American pro football players. One allegedly had two HGH kits delivered to his home while another received actovegin injections.

Galea also treated major league baseball players and pro golfers, but the charges pertain to the National Football League players. No athletes were named.

Good news for Camp A-Rod, eh?

Update – more from ESPN:

According to documents obtained by ESPN, Mary Anne Catalano, the former executive assistant, identified 23 athletes during interviews with U.S. and Canadian authorities that she said Galea treated in the U.S. between last July 22 and when she was stopped at the border Sept. 14. Catalano said she frequently accompanied Galea and met with athletes in “hotel rooms and their homes” to provide various medical treatments. Along with paying for the treatment, Catalano said the athletes also paid all travel expenses for herself and the doctor.

The pro athletes, some of whom had multiple visits from Galea, were not identified by name in legal documents. Their sport is also not identified, but it is presumed the majority to be football and baseball players. Court documents filed Tuesday listed at least three unidentified NFL players.

Galea is alleged to have treated athletes in eight major U.S. cities last summer. His busiest destination proved to be Cleveland, where he cared for 11 athletes. According to Catalano, he also treated three athletes in New York during that time, as well as two each in Boston, Tampa and Washington. He also visited athlete patients in Orlando, San Diego and San Francisco.

The legal filings do not spell out, however, if the individual athlete played for a franchise in the city in which he received treatment.

Last August, alone, she told authorities that Galea made 13 stops in the U.S. treating athletes. In three separate trips to Cleveland between last Aug. 27 and Sept. 11, she identified 11 pro athletes he treated. Only two were identified with HGH therapy, while most of the others were said to have received a recovery IV drip containing various vitamins and Actovegin.

The presumably most lucrative patient for Galea, identified in documents as “Athlete B,” was paid a visit by with the doctor in New York last July 22, July 30, Aug. 6, Sept. 1 and Sept. 10. He is alleged to have received an HGH cocktail on the last three visits, including one specifically described as an injection in his knee.

O.K., so, maybe this story isn’t over yet? On the bright side, the Yankees were in Chicago on July 30th last year. And, they were in Baltimore on September 1st.

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I noticed over at BBTF that Ian O’Connor is writing a book on Derek Jeter. O’Connor’s book “Arnie & Jack: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Golf’s Greatest Rivalry” got pretty good reviews. (I never read it.) I wonder if the Jeter book will be any good…and will it cause any issues in Yankeeland when it comes out?

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Jon Paul Morosi says that we should not be shocked to see Marcus Thames come through with a big homerun.

I noticed something interesting about Thames on Sunday. He started the game in right field and seconds before the first pitch of the game, he quicky ran to the warning track and wrote something in the dirt with his finger. Anyone know what it was?

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Steve Phillips writes “Think You Can Be GM? You Have No Idea” and shares some of the job duties for a big league General Manager. Among them were:

• Building the 25-man roster in the big leagues.
• Reading, understanding and acting on the six or seven minor-league teams under his guidance.
• Keeping tabs on the amateur scouting department and their preparations for the Rule 4 draft in June.
• Managing the professional scouting staff.
• Act as the primary spokesman for the team with the media.
• Take the lead role in interacting with local groups: little league programs, schools, politicians, the chamber of commerce, etc.
• Conference with the team physician and trainers on a near daily basis getting updates on the health and well-being of the players.
• Pulse check with the field manager, team coaches and players with respect to the team’s performance, strategy, and staffing decisions.
• Evaluate his own personnel against that of his competition.
• Utilize scouting reports and statistical analysis as a talent evaluator.
• Interface with other GMs and player agents as needed.

Related, which skills/tasks do you think Yankees G.M. Brian Cashman has mastered and which ones are his weakest? And, which of these are the most important ones for the Yankees G.M. to excel at?

For example, personally, I think that Cashman is great at acting as a “primary spokesman for the team with the media” – even if he can be thin-skinned at times. But, I feel that Cashman is not great at utilizing “scouting reports and statistical analysis as a talent evaluator.” And, to me, the latter is a more important skill than the former. But, that’s just my two cents. What are your thoughts?

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Where to begin?  I know frequent commenter “clintfsu813″ has been begging for a walk-off win.  I know a recent string of injuries has left the Yankees paper-thin, requiring the regular deployment of at least three replacement-level players in the daily lineup.  I know the RAB boys talked about the testing of Phil Hughes as he faced a team for the second time around.  So many different things at play last night…so many different highs and lows.  I had the extreme privilege of being there and, let me tell you, what a blast it was!

The Good:

• A-Rod!  For those that have complained about his relatively low HR total, be thankful that he’s still mashing with RISP ( .405/.490/.757, 28 RBI in 37 AB’s); and
• The rest of the lineup reached base at least once and each Yankee starter logged at least one hit.  If the Yanks are going to continue trotting out the JV portion of their lineup (Cervelli-Thames-Winn-Pena), we can only hope for more nights like these.

The Bad:

• Pitching #1.  Being in the stands, it’s hard to watch the game with a critical eye since we lucky 48,271 didn’t have the benefit of DVR’s and multi-angle replays.  I can’t critique Phil Hughes’s performance other than to say that it seemed like Dustin Pedroia’s at-bat in the fifth inning was the straw that broke the camel’s back.  No, Hughes wasn’t dominant or efficient last night.  But it seemed like he was going to make it through a full six innings and around 105-110 pitches.  One long battle with the mascot Red Sox second baseman later and the wheels fell off.  His final line looked only slightly better than Dice-K’s, which is a shame.  Better luck next time, Phil; and
• Pitching #2.  Another game, another bullpen implosion.  I have confidence that the bullpen will improve by the end of the season but, thus far, my impression is that the entire corps of Yankee middle relievers is one giant ball of suck.

PS – To the two Red Sox fans sitting in front of me last night, thanks for coming out to the Bronx and being obnoxious all night long, it made the last moments of the evening so much sweeter for me.

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Via Wally Matthews -

Since July 2007, [Jonathan] Papelbon is 0-5 with a 7.85 ERA and has allowed five home runs vs. the Yankees, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Well, that’s a tad misleading. It’s basically been about five games since July 2007 where Papelbon has choked against the Yankees. Here they are:

May 17, 2010
April 7, 2010
September 28, 2008
July 6, 2008
September 14, 2007

So, as a Yankees fan, which one of these five is your all-time favorite Papelbon meltdown?

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