MLB ON FOX AND CAPTAIN OBVIOUS

I hate when the Yankee games are broadcast on Fox Sports Saturday. Not because I necessarily like the YES broadcast better, but becauae I have come to really dislike Tim McCarver.

Tim had his time as a player and even as a color commentary man about a million years ago, but his time has passed. Aside from the fact he makes constant flubs (eg: “Kevin Long had been working with Curtis and Granderson” – HUH?), I can do without the pointing out the obvious during a game. I KNOW what a pitch count clicker looks like. I don’t need Tim to not only tell me what one looks like but how it works. Hey McCarver it’s called a CLICKER – the name really says it all. I also don’t need to be reminded the wall in left field of Fenway is really big – that’s why they call it the Monster. Lastly, I don’t need you to tell me some long winded story about how Bob Gibson pitched 50 years ago.

Frankly, unless it’s a Yankee game or post season baseball, I try to avoid watching Captain Obvious on Fox.
Here is the one thing Captain Obvious has seemed to have overlooked – he has turned into Ralph Kiner!

For the record, I am not too thrilled about his sidekick Joe “do you know who my Dad was” Buck either.

JERSEY STRONG

With the depature of the Nets basketball team to Brooklyn, I wanted to write about New Jersey and the sterotype that comes with being from and living in this beautiful state, with the hope of setting some things straight.

For those of you only familar with New Jersey through the television media, let me set something straight – I suppose it started with The Sopranos. Over the last 15 years people have come to think that everyone from New Jersey is Italian, which is simply not true. People from NJ are represented by almost every different culture there is.

On that note, I have to say Snookie from the “Jersey Shore” or the Real Housewives of NJ do not represent women in New Jersey. By the way, Jersey Shore was named for where it was filmed not where the people were from; and the women on RHNJ are mostly from NY. Growing up, “Jersey Girl” was a term I was proud of. It comes from a song by Bruce Springsteen. I am hoping instead of people seeing a “Jersey Girl” as stupid and drunk (yes, YOU Snookie) they see her as strong and intelligent.

The state of New Jersey is filled with beautiful landscapes and talented, successful people – just as all states are in this country. Perception has become reality. One day I am hoping that changes.

In the immortal words of Bruce Springsteen “Cause nothing matters in this whole wide world when your in love with a Jersey Girl” No truer words have been put to music.

As for sports, we LOVE our sports here. Yes, we lost the Nets, but we are tried and true fans of our teams. We love our Jets and Giants; our Yankees and Mets; our Rangers and Devils; our Knicks and Nets. It doesn’t matter if they are actually playing in NJ or across the river. People from NJ are devoted-sports is a big part of that devotion.

It’s easy to knock New Jersey. We are New York’s little brother. But when we need to – we step up. Immediately following the moments of 9/11 – boats of all kind, large and small deployed from the docks of Jersey City, Hoboken, Secaucus and like to help. It is estimated boats from NJ transported close to 100,000 people that tragic day.

At the end of the day, I and the millions of people who live and work here are always…

JERSEY STRONG!

MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS FOR THE YANKEES

Phil Hughes wasn't terrible.  That is about the best I can say about his outing tonight.  He went 5.2 innings and gave up 4 runs on 4 hits.  Boone Logan followed him and on a misplayed ball by Nunez, they score 2 more runs.  Raphael Soriano gave up 1 more run, for a total of 7 runs scored by Baltimore.  However, the only way the Yankees were winning tonight was if Phil and those that followed pitched a shut out. With the Yankees only run coming off the solo home run by Curtis Grandrson in the first inning.  One run, that was it from the Yankee offense.  So, as much as Phil didn't pitch great and Nunez made errors in the outfield, the Yankees lost because out of 10 players going to the plate, only three (Jeter, Granderson and A-
Rod) got hits.  It was an ugly and painful at times to watch game.

The Yankees team batting average is at .273, which is 4th in MLB.  Keep in mind, however, Jeter currently has a .400 batting average.  So, think what that team average would look like if you didn't have Jeet's hot bat factored in.  The Yankee offense is anemic.  The pitching is starting to look like the good part of this team (and that isn't saying much).  

The obvious answers right now is you don't have Swisher or Gardner in the line up.  I think it was a mistake for the Yankees not to have put Gardner on the DL and call up someone from the minor leagues.  Not only could you use the bat, you really needed it for the outfield.  Clearly, Nunez is struggling.  Before last night, he never played the outfield in his major league career.  I am sure he was wound so tight worrying the ball would find him (which it did).  Andruw Jones and Raul Ibanez cannot handle the outfield every night.  The Yankees took a chance on trying to piece the outfield together without Swisher and Gardner without putting them on the DL.  They rolled the dice and lost. 

The bats are cold and the pitching is mediocre at best right now. We all know it's early yet.  But things have a way of slipping quickly in baseball, if you don't stop the bleeding. 

Yes, there are certainly more questions than answers right now for the Yankees and they need to find some of those answers now.  Hopefully, Swisher and Gardner will be back sooner rather than later. 

As for Phil Hughes, like I said, he wasn't terrible.  I don't know if moving him to the bull pen is the right decision now.  He did do better than his outing (which isn't saying much); but they may not have a choice but to keep him as a starter.  The next big start will come from David Phelps, who is taking Freddy Garcia's spot.  The results of his start may answer one of the starting pitching questions. 

Tomorrow, hopefully the Yankees can salvage the series and take 2 out of 3 from Baltimore and then it's on to Kansas City.  Let's hope so.

As usual, GO YANKEES!

FOR HUGHES, TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT

For Phil Hughes, "Tonight is the Night" by Outasight may be his song. His start tonight is where the rubber meets the road..

Cliches aside, tonight really is an important start for Phil. If Hughes pitches the way he has so far this year, it may be his last time as a starter. The Yankees have called up DJ Mitchell as a reliever from Scanton. With David Phelps taking Freddy Garcia's start, DJ is the one they will go to if Phil struggles early in the game. If that happens and Mitchell comes through, the Yankees would be crazy not to move Phil to the pen and keep Mitchell in as a starter. It's all up to Hughes and how he does against Baltimore.

I personally think Phil Hughes is a relief pitcher. He did he best pitching in 2009 as just that. Unfortunately, every young pitcher wants to be a starter. It's where the fame and money are (or so they think). In baseball, if you are highly successful at what you do, fame and money will come; regardless of what role you play-just ask Mariano Rivera.

Whatever happens tonight - Phil Hughes needs to find the thing that got him to the big leagues in the first place, which is confidence. Whether it's as a confident starter or reliever.

Good luck to Phil Huges tonight and...

As always, GO YANKEES!!

NOW THAT IS WHAT YANKEE FANS HAVE BEEN WANTING TO SEE

Finally! The Yankee fans got the start from Kuroda we have been waiting for. The final line on Kuroda was 7 innings, 1 run on 4 hits. He got the win as the Yankees beat Baltimore 2-1 tonight. Great job!

The 8th and 9th belonged to David Robinson and Mariano Rivera respectively. Robertson struck out the side, keeping his ERA to 0.00. Forget Houdini - he is becomming the invisable man. As for Mariano - it was Mo being Mo, including 1 broke bat and a game ending endused double play.

The two runs came from a two run homer by Eric Chavez, who also played third, giving A-Rod a 1/2 day off. Chavez is one of the most overlooked players on this team. He is clutch, plays a great 3rd base and never complains about the amount of playing time he sees. He is just glad to get in there and be productive. He is the definition of team player.

Speaking of team players - Andy Pettitte made another minor league start. He said afterward he felt great after throwing appx 90 pitches and although gave up five runs - the start was more about getting his pitch count up. Andy also said that he just wants to get back to NY so he can start helping the team. But followed that up by saying he knows he has one more Trenton start to make. He is not going to fight Cash on that - he is just getting a little antsy. So are we Andy - Yankee fans are as anxious to get you back pitching in the Bronx as you are. Andy's first start in Yankee Stadium is no doubt going to have the electicity of a playoff game. Andy is loved in the Bronx and he will have no doubts about that when he comes home.

Tonights games was what the Yankees needed. Fabulous win by the Bombers!

Once again, GO YANKEES!

YANKEES AND PIE-GATE?

The New England Patriots had spygate. Do the Yankees have pie-gate? Now don’t get me wrong, spygate was about the possibility the Pats were cheating via videotape. Pie-gate is not even close to being something that serious. Actually, it’s kind of funny.

On Friday night, the Yankees went into the bottom of the 9th, score tied. Jeter got on and made his way to 3rd. With nobody out, Jeter was 90 feet from scoring the winning run, A-Rod came up to bat. A long pop fly or base hit The game is over. However what did happen was a wild pitch, Jeter took off from third and slid into home safely. Game over and theeeee Yankees win! So, walk off win – someone is getting pie right? With AJ gone, reporters wondered aloud who would replace AJ as the pie guy? Giradi was quoted as saying “Probably Swish” when asked during Spring Training. It made sense. Nick Swisher said he was all for it, that he loved the tradition and thought it should continue sans AJ. He even contemplated who would sub for him if HE got the walk off. So, pie for Jeter delivered by Swisher, right? Wrong!

Many theories abounded about why no one got Jeter with the walk off pie. They ranged from the tradition left with AJ going to Pittsburgh to it wasn’t really a walk off. I, myself, have my own theory. Everyone knows Jeter likes to be in control in situations, especially those not on the field. For Swisher, he probably thought that Alex would get the fly ball to score Jeter and he hits Alex with the pie (as we know conversely to Jeter, Alex lives for that type of attention). But that damn wild pitch and slide into home changed everything. I’m sure Swisher, in those first monments, didn’t know what to do. For Jeter’s part, he played better than anyone could have. Instead of looking over his shoulder like a nervous cat, he kept his eye on the screen in centerfield during the post game interview, which the interview was being shown on. Using it like a rearview mirror, in the event anyone was going to try to give him a puss full of pie. Smart man. Of course, nothing happened.

Then began the questions by reporters. As Woodward and Bernstein did years prior, they tried to get to the bottom of this potential “cover up”. Swish was quoted as saying “I’m not the guy, it can’t be a position player” TRANSLATION “There was no way I was hitting the captain with a towel full of whipped or shaving cream – I’m no dummy”. But saying that makes Derek look like he is not a team player – and that is even worse than the pie. So, he went with “who me?”. Maybe what he could have said was “We won on a wild pitch, who get’s the pie? Detroit’s pitcher?” and walk away laughing. So, the truth behing pie-gate remains a mystery..

Obviously, this is all tongue and cheek and in my opinion, it really doesn’t matter either way if they continue the walk off pie tradition. So long as the Yankees win, I don’t care how they celebrate.

As I said that night – two rules in life are no one puts baby in a corner and no one hits Derek Jeter with a pie!

HERE COME THE ORIOLES...

It had been a long time since any Orioles game was significant BECAUSE it's the Orioles, yet this is what is happening.

The Orioles and Buck Showalter come into Yankee Stadium for a three game series starting tonight. The Orioles are currently in first place, with a one and half game lead over the Yankees. Obviously, sweeping the series would put a the Yankees in a much better position in the standings, but it goes beyond that.

The Yankees are not just going against the team but also their manager, Buck Showalter. Buck was the manager before the Joe Torre reign. Buck always acts like the girl never asked to the prom. Now that his team is in first, he looks like "How do you like me now" We cannot let him leave having that same look. In addiion, if the Orioles sweep or win this series is puts the Yankees in an even deeper hole in the standings.

Tonights game can clearly set the tone for the series. Kuroda can turn the page on his first few starts. He appeared to have figured some things out his last outing. Hopefully, he can give us that same type of start.

This is not just on Kuroda. Yankee hitters need to get those timely hits that allow the base runners, they are currently stranding, to score.

Let's take this first one from Baltimore abd hopefully getting some momentum towards getting the sweep.

As usual - GO YANKEES!