Monday, April 30, 2007

Parsing Steinbrenner's Statement

Dear Yankee Apologists,

Well, "George" has spoken. Or should I say, Howard Rubenstein has put pen to paper and held George's hand as, crying, George made a wobbly, shaky 'X' on the signature line and babbled "Billy....fire him!....oh, Billy...why?? Whhhyyy?"

"The season is still very young, but up to now the results are clearly not acceptable to me or to Yankee fans. However, Brian Cashman, our general manager, Joe Torre, our manager, and our players all believe that they will turn this around quickly. I believe in them. I am here to support them in any way to help them accomplish this turnaround. It is time to put excuses and talk away. It is time to see if people are ready to step up and accept their responsibilities. It is time for all of them to show me and the fans what they are made of. Let's get going. Let's go out and win and bring a world championship back to New York. That's what I want."



Let's take a closer look, shall we?

"The season is still very young"


Translation: You have one month from today to turn this around, otherwise heads will roll. Consider yourself warned.

"But up to now, the results are clearly not acceptable to me or to Yankee fans".


Translation: I really, really, really hate losing to the Red Sox and to the Devil Rays. Haven't I made this abundantly clear?

"However, Brian Cashman, our general manager, Joe Torre, our manager, and our players all believe that they will turn this around quickly."

Translation: Cashman, and you, Frank Torre. Or Joe. Or whoever. You're the ones who I will fire.


It is awful quiet today out there in Yankee-land. No one has surfaced to talk smack or take potshots. They are bruised and battered. So as George has his head cradled and lifted by Howard Rubenstein, and as his dried, arthritic fingers reach once more for the Craftmatic remote, and as he grips his sippy-cup with two hands and softly cries and whimpers, the end of an era is near. Nigh on six years and counting since championships. Over a Billion dollars in payroll expended.

See no evil. Speak no evil. Hear no evil. The Yankee Way.

Oh, and one last thing. So Jeter comes out and gets all angry with his vehement statement of support for Torre. Do you think A Rod, reading that in the papers today, might be a little miffed? Might think, gee, that's great DJ, but...where were you when I needed you, Cap'n?


Yours,

The Editor

Some Interesting Statistics & Quotes Of Note

Dear Yankee Apologists,

Some numbers and sentiments you might be interested in perusing this morning:


*"I'm satisfied with the effort". Joe Torre, when asked about his team's performance versus Red Sox #5 starter Julian Tavarez.

*The Yankees have used at least 5 pitchers in each of their past 10 games, the longest such streak in the major leagues over the past 50 years. (Elias Sports Bureau)

*In their 5 losses against Boston, the Yankee bullpen's ERA is 8.66. Boston's in those same games: 1.35. (NY Times)

*Boston's bullpen has posted the lowest ERA in baseball, and has allowed only 1 earned run in it's last 15 and 2/3rds innings.

*Jonathan Papelbon has 8 saves in 8 chances.

*Hideki Okajima held Yankee batters to a .167 average during the five games in which he made appearances.

In the month of April, Hideki Okajima allowed a home run on his first ever major league pitch, to John Buck of the Kansas City Royals. Since that day, April 2nd, he has not allowed a run. He has a .071 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 12 and 2/3rd innings.

The Red Sox have the best record in the American League.

Alex Rodriguez's much-ballyhooed April came to a cold and depressing close once he ran into the Red Sox. He went 3 for 18 with no RBI over his last five games.

Bobby Abreau is on a 1 for 20 skid, the longest and worst of his career.

Sunday, April 29, 2007

I Told You Not To Bring Out Ronan Tynan

Dear Yankee Apologists,

Well, I hate to be the one to say I told you so. You thought yesterday's win meant something, right? I know you did. I could feel it. I didn't want to be the one to let the air out of your tires, but the sad fact remains that you have now lost 8 of your last 9 games, you reside in the cellar of the AL East in last place, 6 and 1/2 games back from the Red Sox, who are in first place.

I know it's April. I know there's lots of baseball left. But look at the Mets. Look at the Cards. They both had shitty Augusts, but had built up such commanding pre-break leads it didn't matter. And now look at your pitching staff. The Kid on Tuesday. Rusty Moose. Then, whatever. The pen continues to be a disaster. I mean, I'm running out of material here.

And the fact remains that aside from Jeter's home run in the too-little-too-late category? You guys put one good swing on a ball today, and it was Doug Mentkaweiczzicwieickwicks who did it. Against Julian Tavarez. Who looks like he should be running the Netas in San Quentin.

Enjoy the papers tommorow, Yankee Fans, I know I will!

The Editor.

Good God, Not Ronan Tynan

Dear Yankee Apologist,

Just as I'm sitting here questioning myself about this blog, asking myself, "you know, do you really want to be in the business of negativity like this, even if it is The Yankees?"....Just when I am wondering if maybe I need to divert my energies elsewhere, your team brings out jug-eared, drunken Irish tenor Ronan Tynan for yet another overwrought, quiveringly sincere rendition of God Bless America, and the sanitation workers go wild.

God, I Hate The Yankees.


The Editor.

Al Leiter, Student Of The Michael Kay School

Dear Yankee Apologist,

Al Leiter is bordering on Kay/Sterling/Waldman/McCarver level annoyance. In discussing Okajima he just said "he's got a real good curveball, what we call a 12-to-6 curveball".

"What we call"?

Al, please let me explain something to you. "12-to-6 curveball" is not equivalent to a super-top-secret NSA code word for a dark-of-night black ops invasion operation. It is a commonly known and widely used phrase, one which even casual baseball fans have knowledge of. You are not a font of individual insight and knowledge.


The Editor

Bobby Abreau, Serial Bunter

Dear Yankee Apologist,


OK, seriously, what is up with Bobby Abreau and the bunting??? Bizarre.

The Editor

Michael Kay Announcing School

Dear Yankee Apologist,

Granted, this is kind of a stretch post, because I have to admit that most Yankee Apologists actually dislike Michael Kay as much as anyone else, but still, his particular brand of annoyance sticks out from time to time.

For instance, during today's game, Manny hit a shot to right center, and Bobby Abreau jogged over and caught it at the track. It was a good catch. Not spectacular. But Kay's announce made it sound like Bobby was the Say-Hey kid reincarnate. All hoarse, full-throttle excitement.

And then he kills Lugo's bobble at short of a Jeter grounder. Yeah, we get it, we traded defense for offense in living with Lugo. But what about Derek Jeter's league-leading errors? Any word on any of that stuff, Michael?

No, I didn't think so, you fat, dandruffy Homer.

OK, clearly last night's loss still stings. I want this one today, bad. Sox up 4-3 bottom of the sixth.

The Editor.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Yeah, Whatever...

Dear Yankee Apologist,

We're still winning the series. And since Karstens is out with a broken leg, it got me wondering: why isn't this a strategy employed by teams more often? Seriously: why wouldn't batters TRY and hit the pitcher and knock him out of the game, not to mention some weeks of play? I advocate this. As for the loss, well, when we win the series, it's still curtains for the Tankers.

I am bitter.

Your Editor.

Oh, Well, That'll Fix It

Dear Yankee Apologist,

I don't think I could make this stuff up if I wanted to. Now comes word that a white knight appears on the horizon. A valiant leader whose steed rides strong and brave. A man whose chiclet-teeth are framed by a vintage 1992 goatee. A man whose barrel chest proudly says "my dad is incredibly rich".

Yes, Dear Yankee Fan....your savior appears. And his name is...Jim Dolan.

Yes, Yankee Fan. From the "how could this get worse" file comes word that noted "Cable Bumbler" Jim Dolan wants to buy your team.

Now, before you get upset, try and see the positive side to all this. This would be good news for Joe Torre. Jim Dolan likes underperforming coaches, that is clear. Isaiah Thomas will be calling Joe soon and sending over a case of Bigelow Green Tea to welcome Joe to the family. And he likes homer, see-no-evil broadcasters on both TV and Radio, so Mike and Sterling and Georgie Girl would all be safe, too.

But as for "the product", as Jim is wont to refer to the team? Well, that might be a different story.

As a Sox fan, I plan to sit back today, enjoy the local papers, replete as they are with various panicked responses by Yankee players, disguised as non-panic responses, and countdown the hours until 4pm, when we get to do it all again.

Selah.

The Editor.
"I think he had too much rest," Torre said of Pettitte, who went 42/3 innings, allowing five runs and six hits. "He mentioned to Gator [pitching coach Ron Guidry] that he was too strong."

Dear Yankee Apologist,

Those word belong to your current manager, Joe Torre. They proffer his thoughts as to why Andy Petitte looked so awful last night. "Too strong". Hmmm. You sure about that, Joe? Because to me it looked like he got behind most every batter he faced, grooved hittable pitches right down the pike on hitters counts, and generally looked as discombulated as all get out.

Do I think Joe's job is on the line? I suppose it always is, a little. I am a firm believer that the Yanks should have made a change at the end of last year's disappointing run after being swept by the Tigers. But they didn't. I think the first to go will be Ron Guidry. That's because when you look at the Yankee bench, like many clubs, it's a Hall of Fame lineup, not a coaching lineup. Guidry may be "Louisiana Lightning" and "Gator", but is he a "coach"? There is a big difference. Is he a patient and knowledgeable teacher of the art and science of pitching, or is he a legend who knows something about the game and how to play it?

The difference was made clear the other day when I heard Met pitching coach Rick Petersen talking on the FAN. This guy clearly is not only a coach, but a pitching and motivational obsessive. Any wonder the Mets pitching has been so good?

Today should be a good day for the knuckleball, but the Yankees are destined to break out of this slump as some point. But the reality is that even when they do start swinging the bats, they just aren't built to win with their current pitching staff.

Best,

The Editor

Friday, April 27, 2007

DYA Mystery Photog Snaps

WEATHER SERVICE ADVISORY


000
WGUS43 KDMX 271400
FLWDMX

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
COWARD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW HAVEN, CT
849 AM CDT FRI APR 27 2007

IAC015-049-169-280200-
BOONE IA-STORY IA-DALLAS IA-
849 AM CDT FRI APR 27 2007

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEW HAVEN HAS ISSUED A COWARDICE WARNING IN...
BRONX COUNTY, NEW YORK

* UNTIL 900 PM CDT FRIDAY.

* AT 849 AM EST...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
CONTINUED TO REPORT AN INCREASED LIKLIHOOD THAT THE NEW YORK YANKEES WOULD PUSS OUT AND WIMPILY CANCEL THEIR FRIDAY EVENING GAME VERSUS THE DOMINANT BOSTON RED SOX DUE TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE FLIMSIEST EXCUSE HAVING TO DO WITH A LIGHT RAIN.

IN BRONX COUNTY...LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS A STRETCH OF EXTREME DENIAL
CONTINUING TO HOVER OVER THE VICINITY OF YANKEE STADIUM AND ITS ENVIRONS...LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS TWO CONFIRMED INSTANCES WHERE YANKEE MANAGEMENT, OUT OF DESPERATION, WENT BACK ON EARLIER PRONOUNCEMENTS REGARDING THE CARE AND BABYING OF HIGHLY TOUTED PITCHING PROSPECTS AS WELL AS AVOWED REFUSALS TO USE CLOSER MARIANO RIVERA IN ANYTHING BUT THE 9TH.... IN BRONX
COUNTY...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTS AN OMINOUS FEELING THAT THE YANKEES WOULD JUST AS SOON STOP THE BLEEDING AND NOT HAVE TO PLAY THE RED SOX TONITE AFTER THEIR SIX GAME LOSING STREAK.

A COWARDICE WARNING MEANS THAT PUSSYING OUT IS IMMINENT OR HAS BEEN REPORTED.
ALL INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS IMMEDIATELY. YANKEE FANS ARE ADVISED TO BEGIN COMPOSING BLINDERED RESPONSE PATTERNS WHICH OBVIATE THE NEED FOR ANY ACTUAL FACT OR REALITY.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM RECENT HEAVY COWARDICE WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE
ELEVATED LEVELS OF SERIOUS PUSSIFICATION, NOTABLY IN THE CONTINUED REFUSAL TO RETALIATE AGAINST RED SOX PITCHERS WHO DROP THE PURPLE-LIPPED ALEX RODRIGUEZ ON HIS FAT PHONY ASS AND PLUNK THE GOLDEN BOY AND SUPPOSED "CAPTAIN" DEREK JETER REPEATEDLY, AND WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE.

YANKEE FANS: DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE KNOWLEDGEABLE BASEBALL FANS MAY BE PRESENT. THE REALITY DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY TO THE SECURE ENVIRONS OF YOUR DELUDED BELIEF THAT NOTHING IS CURRENTLY WRONG WITH YOUR FRANCHISE. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

THE STOCKPILING OF BIGELOW GREEN TEA IS ADVISED.

LAT...LON 4151 9424 4151 9381 4187 9382 4187 9324
4221 9323 4221 9417 4186 9416 4186 9427

$$

KINNEY

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Say No Mo


Dear Yankee Apologist,

I am sorry. I feel badly. I feel upset that Willy Mo Pena went and hit that grand slam to beat the O's.

I am sorry that, while that was happening, you were being embarassed yet again in front of the Blue Jays and a bunch of sanitation workers at Yankee Stadium. I shouldn't really say "a bunch" because that implies that there were a lot of fans in attendance. They all left once you were down six nothing in the seventh. I guess it's understandable.

I am sorry that all your players were wearing those dumb "hoodies", as Michael Kay, your announcer, called them. It was cold out there. Cold in the way that chill wind blowing through the tomb reserved for Former Yankee Managers is cold. The door is opening. Are you ready, Joe?

By the way, I have a lot to say about Michael Kay, but I will say it another time, when your team isn't so embarassingly awful that the subject of Michael Kay would kind of be a redundant effort at piling on.

Anyway, back to tonite's developments. Wow. 6 games in a row.

Bob Shepard. Is he still alive, Yankee Apologist? Or did they record him saying those 7th inning stretch things so they could play for all eternity? Or at least as long as the Yankees insist on delaying games with showy, self-important displays of pomposity like playing God Bless America or having some mangy, caged eagle fly around the infield, or bringing out that jug-eared drunk Ronan Tynan for some quiveringly emotive and earnest singing. What must it be like to adopt the mantle of patriotism for an entire nation. No wonder George cries all the time. He's got a lot riding on this thing.

Anyway, back to the game. Wow. Did you lose a big one tonite. Those bats must have been cold to the touch. Like bone.

But at least Joe seemed into it. I mean, every time they cut away to Joe on the bench, he seemed like he was concentrating really hard. Maybe he had one of those tough little nuggets he hadn't passed yet. Like he'd had some corn or something with beans in it for dinner. I don't know, he looked mad, is all.

But I guess if he were to sort of move about a bit or talk to some of the players, what would he really say, anyway, right? "Play better!"..."Hit the goddamn ball!""You're embarassing yourselves out there!".....I mean, maybe Lou Piniella would say stuff like that, but that's not really Joe's style, is it? I learned that from Alex Rodriguez. He sort of helpfully pointed that out in his HBO Real Sports interview for that piece they did about Lou Piniella a few months back. I'm sure he didn't at all mean that as any kind of a dig at Joe Torre, though.

It was really cold in the Stadium. I wonder if Joe had some Bigelow Green Tea? He sure likes that stuff. It probably helps him keep calm. Maybe he really has some fire in his belly, you know? Like he wants to yell at the guys and tell them to play harder and stuff but the tea sort of keeps him calm and serene. It's definitely working.

Anyway, six in a row. And guess who's coming to town tommorow?

Yours,
The Editor

Hold The Line, Love Isn't Always On Time

Dear Yankee Apologist:

Since you probably haven’t seen one all season, I wanted to make sure you saw what a great night’s pitching line ACTUALLY looks like, just in case you happen to stumble across one, even though that is highly improbable given the state of your team’s epic, five-games-and-counting collapse:

Curt Schilling (W 3-1) 7.0 5 1 1 2 3 1 90-59 3.27
Hideki Okajima 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 11-8 0.93
Brendan Donnelly 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 12-9 0.00


And since you were probably confused by those low ending numbers for the second two players, I wanted also to confirm that “0.93” and “0.00” are NOT “Percentages of Games Played By Carl Pavano Since You Paid Him $40 Million”.

Since you probably haven’t seen ERA numbers like that from your own team, just wanted to avoid any confusion.

Gotta run, just heard Joe Torre is warming Petitte up for another relief stint. Maybe he’ll sip a nice cup of Bigelow Green Tea while Steinbrenner drools on his white turtleneck and crys and builds a ship and has Howard Rubenstein change his diaper.


Best,

The Editor