Dear Yankee Apologists,
I bet Rodger the Dodger loved reading this today on ESPN.COM:
"If you're wondering just where Roger Clemens will slot in the Yankees' rotation when he rejoins the club somewhere around June 1, look no further than No. 3 starter Mike Mussina.
"Roger is very good, but somewhere between a No. 2 and No. 3 starter is more likely what he's capable of being," Mussina said Monday, according to The New York Times. "Everyone has to remember that he's 44 going on 45 [in August]. He's not what he was the last time he was here."
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Even David Wells Thinks That's Fucked Up...
Wells doesn't agree with Clemens not traveling
ESPN.com news services
Roger Clemens has a big challenge ahead of him to get in shape and take the mound for the New York Yankees. But some around baseball think the Rocket is getting off too easy.
According to his contract, Clemens will not be forced to travel with the team when he isn't scheduled to pitch. He had the same deal with the Houston Astros. David Wells, a Yankees teammate of Clemens' in 2002 and 2003, doesn't agree with that.
"I don't think I would ever do it because of the fact I personally think it would disrespect the team and your teammates," Wells said, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "You look at the other players. How are they going to respect you? What are they going to think if you're not there pulling for the team?"
Future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux agreed with his San Diego Padres teammate.
"I can't imagine doing that," Maddux said, according to the Sun-Sentinel. "I like the game. I like the atmosphere. I appreciate what it has to offer. I want to play the whole year."
Wells was part of the trade with the Toronto Blue Jays that brought Clemens to the Bronx. The pair were then Yankee teammates beginning in 2002. Although Joe Torre said he cleared Clemens' arrangement with his veteran players, Wells told the Sun-Sentinel, "That's not the Yankee way. The Yankees have changed."
Clemens has been in such hot demand he has the luxury to not put his 44-year-old body through the extreme rigors of travel. But the pitcher knows that age won't be an excuse if he can't get into condition to help the Yankees.
"Mr. Steinbrenner, he doesn't care how old I am," Clemens said Monday. "He wants me to come back and play like I have in the past."
Clemens announced Sunday from owner George Steinbrenner's box that he was rejoining the Yankees. The Rocket has won seven Cy Young awards and two World Series rings. He will be paid about $18.5 million this season, but that's not what brought him back.
"If you think it's about money, you're greatly mistaken. I'm not going to put my body through the paces I put my body through to earn a few more dollars," Clemens said at a charity golf tournament.
Describing the decision to play for the Yankees, Clemens said it was a situation that unfolded very quickly.
"I didn't know the details of my contract sitting down yesterday," he said. "That's how quick the decision was made to do this."
Having played for Steinbrenner before, Clemens said all the right things about why he is returning to the Bronx.
"You're talking seven long years that we haven't been in the winners' circle," he said.
It's his past performances that earned Clemens a return trip to New York. He won titles in 1999 and 2000, then helped the Yankees reach the World Series in 2001 and 2003. They lost that final appearance to the Florida Marlins in what was billed as Clemens' farewell to baseball.
But when the Yanks let pitcher Andy Pettitte go to Houston as a free agent, Clemens changed his mind and followed his close friend to the Astros, where he pitched three more seasons.
The Yankees will pay about $26 million in salary and luxury tax in a one-year deal for the Rocket.
It's still uncertain when Clemens will make his debut this season. He said that will depend on how his preparations and conditioning go.
He'll start out in the minor leagues with workouts in Lexington, Ky., where his son, Koby, is playing with a Houston Astros' farm team.
Clemens is second on the career strikeouts list with 4,604 and has 348 career wins, putting him eighth on the list. Last season with Houston, he was 7-6 with a 2.30 ERA.
When asked whether this would be his last season in baseball, Clemens smiled a bit and declined to say.
"You know I'd be lying to you all if I said it again, because I'm not good at it," he said. "It's great to be able to make a great living, but when it's all said and done it's about how many rings that you have."
The more he thought about it, Wells warmed up to the idea of going for those rings as a part-time player.
"Roger might set the tone for the 40-and-above guys," Wells said, according to the Sun-Sentinel. "Hey, I might do it. He's a smart businessman."
ESPN.com news services
Roger Clemens has a big challenge ahead of him to get in shape and take the mound for the New York Yankees. But some around baseball think the Rocket is getting off too easy.
According to his contract, Clemens will not be forced to travel with the team when he isn't scheduled to pitch. He had the same deal with the Houston Astros. David Wells, a Yankees teammate of Clemens' in 2002 and 2003, doesn't agree with that.
"I don't think I would ever do it because of the fact I personally think it would disrespect the team and your teammates," Wells said, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "You look at the other players. How are they going to respect you? What are they going to think if you're not there pulling for the team?"
Future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux agreed with his San Diego Padres teammate.
"I can't imagine doing that," Maddux said, according to the Sun-Sentinel. "I like the game. I like the atmosphere. I appreciate what it has to offer. I want to play the whole year."
Wells was part of the trade with the Toronto Blue Jays that brought Clemens to the Bronx. The pair were then Yankee teammates beginning in 2002. Although Joe Torre said he cleared Clemens' arrangement with his veteran players, Wells told the Sun-Sentinel, "That's not the Yankee way. The Yankees have changed."
Clemens has been in such hot demand he has the luxury to not put his 44-year-old body through the extreme rigors of travel. But the pitcher knows that age won't be an excuse if he can't get into condition to help the Yankees.
"Mr. Steinbrenner, he doesn't care how old I am," Clemens said Monday. "He wants me to come back and play like I have in the past."
Clemens announced Sunday from owner George Steinbrenner's box that he was rejoining the Yankees. The Rocket has won seven Cy Young awards and two World Series rings. He will be paid about $18.5 million this season, but that's not what brought him back.
"If you think it's about money, you're greatly mistaken. I'm not going to put my body through the paces I put my body through to earn a few more dollars," Clemens said at a charity golf tournament.
Describing the decision to play for the Yankees, Clemens said it was a situation that unfolded very quickly.
"I didn't know the details of my contract sitting down yesterday," he said. "That's how quick the decision was made to do this."
Having played for Steinbrenner before, Clemens said all the right things about why he is returning to the Bronx.
"You're talking seven long years that we haven't been in the winners' circle," he said.
It's his past performances that earned Clemens a return trip to New York. He won titles in 1999 and 2000, then helped the Yankees reach the World Series in 2001 and 2003. They lost that final appearance to the Florida Marlins in what was billed as Clemens' farewell to baseball.
But when the Yanks let pitcher Andy Pettitte go to Houston as a free agent, Clemens changed his mind and followed his close friend to the Astros, where he pitched three more seasons.
The Yankees will pay about $26 million in salary and luxury tax in a one-year deal for the Rocket.
It's still uncertain when Clemens will make his debut this season. He said that will depend on how his preparations and conditioning go.
He'll start out in the minor leagues with workouts in Lexington, Ky., where his son, Koby, is playing with a Houston Astros' farm team.
Clemens is second on the career strikeouts list with 4,604 and has 348 career wins, putting him eighth on the list. Last season with Houston, he was 7-6 with a 2.30 ERA.
When asked whether this would be his last season in baseball, Clemens smiled a bit and declined to say.
"You know I'd be lying to you all if I said it again, because I'm not good at it," he said. "It's great to be able to make a great living, but when it's all said and done it's about how many rings that you have."
The more he thought about it, Wells warmed up to the idea of going for those rings as a part-time player.
"Roger might set the tone for the 40-and-above guys," Wells said, according to the Sun-Sentinel. "Hey, I might do it. He's a smart businessman."
Monday, May 7, 2007
Suzyn Waldman, Professional
Dear Yankee Apologists,
I am really enjoying the Clemens-signing backlash. It's surprised even me with its vehemence right out of the gate. The entire over-choreographed "spectacle" at Yankee Stadium yesterday had the unintended and typically Yankee result of embarrassing all involved. Clemens looks phony and disingenuous for his "handling" of the question of his "do whatever the hell you want" contract terms. The Yankees look desperate and needy for bending over backwards to accommodate a me-first player who wraps himself in the guise of responsibility and the shouldering of expectations even as he ignores the very real good he might do working with the Yankee's young pitchers when he is not pitching. The only thing missing was jug-eared drunk Ronan Tynan serenading The Rocket with "Still The One". Good Lord.
But nothing is as representative of the New Yankee Annoyance as Suzyn Waldman's hysterical, pants-shitting, saliva-spittling radio freakout as she "called" the Clemens owner's-box appearance. I haven't been able to find the raw, unexpurgated audio, but WCBS.com has a snippet at this link:
Suzyn Shits Herself
I defy anyone, even die-hard Yankee fans, to listen to that audio and not feel dirty. Suzyn Waldman is the furthest thing from any sort of credible "journalist", of course: we all understand that. But that's ok: that's not what she's there for. She is there to quiveringly and breathlessly describe the doings of "Jorgie" and "Jeter" and "A Rod" and "Joe" and the rest of her clubhouse "pals", while we on the other side of the speakers are made painfully aware of the disparity between the role those individuals play in her life, in her mind, and the reality of the role those individuals play in her life, in the real world. Suzyn Waldman makes Sweeny Murti look like the Carl Bernstein of clubhouse coverage. Even John Sterling was the model of restraint and decorum compared to Waldman's hyperventilating embarrassment.
And what, really, is there for her to be surprised about? That the Yankees overpaid for an aging superstar? Nope, no surprise there. That in the face of clear-cut evidence that the method in which this team was constructed has severe limitations and flaws, the team's reaction is NOT to put in place long term policies and plans designed to address the team's shortcomings but instead a flashy, short-term stop-gap measure designed to appease the Great Unwashed while fucking with the already delicate chemistry of a Yankee clubhouse already riven with problems? Also no surprise.
Let's examine the sad case of Ron Guidry. What, exactly, is Louisiana Lighting supposed to do now?? Do you think his word counts as much as Roger's? Roger, who has George's ear and pretends to represent the values that George worships, even as he dodges and ducks questions about why his name appeared on documents relating to the Jason Grimsley HGH investigation? As did Andy Petitte's, by the way. Clearly Roger's presence is SUPPOSED to "straighten out" the listing ship of Yankee Pitching. But what message is being sent when Roger can come and go as he pleases when he's not pitching. How is Guidry supposed to preach the philosophy of putting the team first when the biggest name in his stable doesn't have to play by the same rules as everyone else does? The short answer is: he can't. The medium answer is that Guidry has been chopped off at the legs by this move. And this is so so typical of the Yankees. Short-term. Stop-gap measure. And damn whoever else in the clubhouse and team is affected by it.
Classic. The Yankees single-handedly made the Red Sox look like the model of decorum and restraint. As we remain pleasantly above the fray here, I consider my team so lucky to have clear leadership at the helm. Now, it was a bloody and difficult process to get here, no question: there were very real and damaging growing pains in the sorting out of Theo and Larry's relationship. But we have clear leadership, we have a direction, and as a result, we have fielded for 2007 the best baseball team in the AL East.
Roger Clemens doesn't fix or answer anything for the Yankees. He merely points out the ongoing futility of moves like this. He illustrates the blindered, blinkered philosophy which continues to delude legions of Yankee players, fans, and executives: and that is that the answers lie in individual players, and not in organization-wide shared philosophies, patiently applied and lived-through.
Yours,
The Editor.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
$28 Million Way To Say "Desperate"
By Ronald Blum, AP Baseball Writer | May 6, 2007
NEW YORK --Roger Clemens returned to the New York Yankees, making a dramatic announcement to fans from the owner's box during Sunday's game against the Seattle Mariners.
At the end of the seventh-inning stretch, Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard told fans to turn their attention to the box, where Clemens was standing with a microphone. As the video scoreboard in right-center televised Clemens, the seven-time Cy Young Award winner made the announcement himself.
"Well, they came and got me out of Texas and I can tell you it's a privilege to be back," Clemens said. "I'll be talking to y'all soon."
Clemens, who will turn 45 in August, agreed to a minor league contract and most likely will join the Yankees after several weeks getting into shape.
"I'm about at playing weight right now," he said. "I feel pretty good.
Clemens left the Yankees after the 2003 season, saying he was retiring, but after Andy Pettitte signed with the Houston Astros, Clemens followed his friend to their hometown team.
Pettitte returned to the Yankees this year, and Clemens followed on Sunday.
"It's another challenge," Clemens said. "I expect to do things at the age of 44, 45 like I did at 25."
The Yankees have been beset by a rash of injuries to their pitching staff, contributing to a disappointing 14-15 start. But they beat the Mariners 5-0 on Sunday for their fifth victory in six games after losing eight of nine.
"As I pledged just a few days ago, I will do everything within my power to support Brian Cashman, Joe Torre and this team as we fight to bring a 27th championship to New York," owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement. "Roger Clemens is a winner and a champion, and he is someone who can be counted on to help make this season one that all Yankees fans can be proud of. The sole mission of this organization is to win a world championship."
NEW YORK --Roger Clemens returned to the New York Yankees, making a dramatic announcement to fans from the owner's box during Sunday's game against the Seattle Mariners.
At the end of the seventh-inning stretch, Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard told fans to turn their attention to the box, where Clemens was standing with a microphone. As the video scoreboard in right-center televised Clemens, the seven-time Cy Young Award winner made the announcement himself.
"Well, they came and got me out of Texas and I can tell you it's a privilege to be back," Clemens said. "I'll be talking to y'all soon."
Clemens, who will turn 45 in August, agreed to a minor league contract and most likely will join the Yankees after several weeks getting into shape.
"I'm about at playing weight right now," he said. "I feel pretty good.
Clemens left the Yankees after the 2003 season, saying he was retiring, but after Andy Pettitte signed with the Houston Astros, Clemens followed his friend to their hometown team.
Pettitte returned to the Yankees this year, and Clemens followed on Sunday.
"It's another challenge," Clemens said. "I expect to do things at the age of 44, 45 like I did at 25."
The Yankees have been beset by a rash of injuries to their pitching staff, contributing to a disappointing 14-15 start. But they beat the Mariners 5-0 on Sunday for their fifth victory in six games after losing eight of nine.
"As I pledged just a few days ago, I will do everything within my power to support Brian Cashman, Joe Torre and this team as we fight to bring a 27th championship to New York," owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement. "Roger Clemens is a winner and a champion, and he is someone who can be counted on to help make this season one that all Yankees fans can be proud of. The sole mission of this organization is to win a world championship."
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Today In Yankee Denial
Dear Yankee Apologists,
Here, in a nutshell, is exactly why so many of us find the Yankees so insufferably annoying and blindered.
Kei Igawa on his 4-inning, 9-hit, 8-earned run-on-3-home-runs outing:
"I don't feel like there was anything wrong, just the result. I just didn't do my job," said Igawa.
"I had a couple where the balls went in-between infielders," he added in denial, "and I had one bad ball I threw and it went for a home run. But overall I threw pretty well."
OVERALL I THREW PRETTY WELL????
Here, in a nutshell, is exactly why so many of us find the Yankees so insufferably annoying and blindered.
Kei Igawa on his 4-inning, 9-hit, 8-earned run-on-3-home-runs outing:
"I don't feel like there was anything wrong, just the result. I just didn't do my job," said Igawa.
"I had a couple where the balls went in-between infielders," he added in denial, "and I had one bad ball I threw and it went for a home run. But overall I threw pretty well."
OVERALL I THREW PRETTY WELL????
Friday, May 4, 2007
Wanna Know What Incompetence Looks Like?
K Igawa 4.0 9 8 8 1 2 3 78-46 7.63
C Bean 0.0 2 4 4 2 0 0 17-4 12.00
L Vizcaino 1.0 4 2 2 0 1 0 22-14 6.35
M Myers 2.0 4 1 1 1 0 0 25-15 2.51
C Bean 0.0 2 4 4 2 0 0 17-4 12.00
L Vizcaino 1.0 4 2 2 0 1 0 22-14 6.35
M Myers 2.0 4 1 1 1 0 0 25-15 2.51
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Telling Statistic
Dear Yankee Apologists,
Came across this interesting statistic that bodes very unwell for you and your team. Do you know what your record is in the Division? No? Well let me enlighten you:
it is 3 - 11.
Wow. Three and Eleven. You might want to call 311 and ask for some information from the city about what to do when your season is over in May. They might have some helpful tips.
The Editor.
Came across this interesting statistic that bodes very unwell for you and your team. Do you know what your record is in the Division? No? Well let me enlighten you:
it is 3 - 11.
Wow. Three and Eleven. You might want to call 311 and ask for some information from the city about what to do when your season is over in May. They might have some helpful tips.
The Editor.
I LOVE This Game!
Dear Yankee Apologists,
I thought I would bring this espn.com news item to your attention first thing this morning, it's just a really fun time to be a Boston Red Sox fan. I'm sure The Rocket is reading everything going on with you guys and thinking, 'yeah, that's where I wanna go pitch'.
Yankee season is over. I am calling it.
"The black and white of the pinstripes is more like dominoes these days because that's how the Yankees are falling.
It seemed the injury news could not get any worse but a New York Times report on Wednesday said that starter Carl Pavano plans to call Dr. James Andrews on Thursday to schedule an appointment after he experienced a setback with his strained right forearm.
Andrews is the noted Birmingham, Ala., surgeon who specializes in operations on the arms of major league pitchers.
"I don't think it ever gets easy," Pavano said, according to the newspaper. "I never dreamed it would be four weeks later and we're still concerned about it."
Pavano cut short a bullpen session on Wednesday in Texas and has been shut down for the immediate future. He hasn't pitched since April 9 and has made only 19 appearances for the Yankees since signing a four-year, $39.95 million contract before the 2005 season.
The staggering run of health problems with the Yankees played a major role in the team firing conditioning coach Marty Miller on Monday.
Prized prospect Phil Hughes was throwing a no-hitter into the seventh inning on Tuesday before leaving with a hamstring injury. He joined Pavano, Mike Mussina (hamstring) and Jeff Karstens (broken right leg) on the disabled list. Chien-Ming Wang was sidelined early in the season with a hamstring injury.
The Yankees' game against the Rangers was rained out on Wednesday."
I thought I would bring this espn.com news item to your attention first thing this morning, it's just a really fun time to be a Boston Red Sox fan. I'm sure The Rocket is reading everything going on with you guys and thinking, 'yeah, that's where I wanna go pitch'.
Yankee season is over. I am calling it.
"The black and white of the pinstripes is more like dominoes these days because that's how the Yankees are falling.
It seemed the injury news could not get any worse but a New York Times report on Wednesday said that starter Carl Pavano plans to call Dr. James Andrews on Thursday to schedule an appointment after he experienced a setback with his strained right forearm.
Andrews is the noted Birmingham, Ala., surgeon who specializes in operations on the arms of major league pitchers.
"I don't think it ever gets easy," Pavano said, according to the newspaper. "I never dreamed it would be four weeks later and we're still concerned about it."
Pavano cut short a bullpen session on Wednesday in Texas and has been shut down for the immediate future. He hasn't pitched since April 9 and has made only 19 appearances for the Yankees since signing a four-year, $39.95 million contract before the 2005 season.
The staggering run of health problems with the Yankees played a major role in the team firing conditioning coach Marty Miller on Monday.
Prized prospect Phil Hughes was throwing a no-hitter into the seventh inning on Tuesday before leaving with a hamstring injury. He joined Pavano, Mike Mussina (hamstring) and Jeff Karstens (broken right leg) on the disabled list. Chien-Ming Wang was sidelined early in the season with a hamstring injury.
The Yankees' game against the Rangers was rained out on Wednesday."
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Phil Hughes, Down
Dear Yankee Apologists:
It writes itself. We-weren't-gonna-bring-him-up-but-wait-we-did Rook phenom Phil Hughes throws six innings of no-hit ball...then leaves the game with a fluke hammie injury that's gonna KO him for six weeks.
On the flip side, you won 10-1. Phyrric victory with your morning pureed bananas, George?
It writes itself. We-weren't-gonna-bring-him-up-but-wait-we-did Rook phenom Phil Hughes throws six innings of no-hit ball...then leaves the game with a fluke hammie injury that's gonna KO him for six weeks.
On the flip side, you won 10-1. Phyrric victory with your morning pureed bananas, George?
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