Despite AJ Burnett getting beaten while showing Steve Phillips type control in a room full of Lewinsky look a likes, despite Texiera evoking memories of Vintage Postseason Arod 2005-2007 and despite a lineup in Game 5 that featured 3 hitters (Jeter, Damon and Arod), the Yankees are still in complete and utter control of this seasons fall classic.
Here's TPC's take and why Yankee fans should get the Budweiser ready (I hate Champagne. For starters it's French. Secondly, it tastes like cheap Beer and Third, it's French.).
1- Going into the Series, we knew the Yankees had two clear cut and distinct advantages. a) They would have a huge edge in starting pitch in at least 5 of the 7 games. That has not changed. Pettitte and Sabathia are distinctively better than Pedro and whoever has the guts to take the ball from Manuel in Game 7 (gotta love Lee copping out and not going Game 4 and & and Hamels hoping the season ends already. It's Ph-aaan-tastik!!! Philly style). b) They have a big edge in the bullpen (which is magnified by their starting pitching edge) especially with Rivera at the end. Games 4 and 5 showed us exactly how big that edge is. Lidge blew Game 4 despite having 2 outs and no one out in the 9th, and Madsen all but gave away last nights game except Jeter and Tex decided to be nice and cho--and make big outs late.
The Phillies will not be able to breath easy, no matter the score until the final out has been made, while the Yankees know if they have a lead going into the 8th, it's game, set and match. That edge has mentally worn down the Twins and Angels and will continue with the Phillies, especially after last nights near implosion by the Philly pen.
2- The lineup changes the Yankees make in their home park is a decided advantage for them. Just look at last nights lineup with Swisher, Cano, Gardner, Molina and the Pitcher now being replaced by Matsui, Posada, Cano, Swisher and Gardner. Your going from a borderline Triple A end of the lineup to one that has some real pop. The length of the lineup will cause Pedro- even if he has his good stuff- to max out at 6 innings and that will lead to the parade of clowns we saw yesterday. Pettitte is used to throwing against the extra hitter and despite his big hit in Game 3, he will gladly take a seat for Godzilla's stick in this one.
3- Manuel made a very curious decision last night leaving in Lee to start the 8th. Lee was not his usual sharp self all game, walking 3 to that point and going deep in counts all night. He was already at 100 pitches and Manuel knows he's going to need him in relief if there is a Game 7. Knowing he has no confidence in his bullpen, Manuel left Lee in too long. It did a few things that I think sealed the Phillies faith. a) It showed the utter lack of trust Manuel has in his pen which is going to kill him the next two games when he will need to go to that same pen early and often. b) It gave the Yankees confidence that no matter what the score they can and will come back on the Phillies. c) if they do face Lee in Game 7, the armour has been pierced. The Yanks know they can get to him. Plus, Lee will be thinking a little differently now that he gave up those 3 late runs. He might also be a tad more tired which is the most curious of all reasons why Manuel left him in.
4- This Yankee team is much different than the 2004-2008 versions. It used to be the Yanks would go down a few runs and it was over. This year it's different. Anyone who has watched these Yankees knows they feel they should win every game, and no lead is safe. It's why the Yankees leading the league with 51 come from behind wins was no accident. It's the result of a good bullpen keeping them in games, a deep lineup which allows them to get to the other teams middle relief and the confidence that they can and will win when down late no matter who they are facing.
5 -Redemption for Pettitte. The last time Pettitte had a chance to close out a World Series for the Yankees he got shelled in Game 6 of the 2001 Series against Arizona and Randy Johnson. Pettitte has been a fighter all his career and will gut his way out to this win. He will beat Pedro and will pitch well in doing so.
Showing posts with label arod. Show all posts
Showing posts with label arod. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
World Series 2009- TPC's Take
Elvis impersonators, Casinos and bachelor parties belong in Vegas. Surfers, freaks and Movie Stars belong in Hollywood, the World Series has come back to where it belongs, the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium in 'da Bronx, NY.
Yankee Stadium will host Game 1 tomorrow night featuring the AL's best, Bronx Bombers and the NL's best (for two years running) the Philadelphia Phillies in a very intriguing matchup with numerous subplots, which The People's Champ will breakdown right here-right now!
Who will be A Team for the Ages
The 2009 version of the Yankees have drawn comparisons to the Great 1998 Yankee squad, which many consider the greatest Yankee Team of all Time. This years version features what may be the greatest offensive infield ever to play the game at one time, with the AL's HR and RBI leader, Mark Texiera playing 1B, Robinson Cano and his .320+ average, 25HR's and 204 hits at 2B, Derek Jeter in one of his finest seasons hitting .334 and 214 Hits (Jeter and Cano became the first middle infield combo in MLB history to both amass 200+ hits in a season) and the Great Offensive force in Baseball, Alex Rodriguez at 3b (30HR and 100RBI in only 124 games after his preseason hip surgery). They have a borderline Hall of Fame Catcher in Posada, a productive OF in Swisher, Damon and Melky. Their starting pitching, although lacking in depth, features CC Sabathia, who will finish at worst, top 3 in this years CY Young Voting and was the ALCS MVP, AJ Burnett and the winning pitcher in postseason history, Andy Pettite. Despite his struggles to date in the postseason, Phil Hughes was as dominant a force as any out the bullpen this year and the Greatest of them All, Mariano Rivera is as dominant as ever (statistically speaking, Mo's best two seasons were his last which is incredible considering most closers lack of longevity).
The Yankees led the league with 103 wins. They led the league in HR's, Runs, On Base Percentage and were second on Batting Average. They were tied for third in the AL in ERA despite playing in the friendliest hitters park in the league and led the league in Strikeouts. They dispatched a good Twins team in 3, and beat an Angel team that has been a nemesis for them for years in 6. A win in this World Series would justify their offseason $400M shopping spree on Tex, Sabathia and Burnett (not to mention the already inflated payroll). It would also cement their place as one of the great Yankee squads of all time.
The Phillies? Well, all it will do for them is become the first NL team to win back to back World Series since the Big Red Machine in the mid 70's. While the Yankees were slugging their way through the AL, the Phillies were doing likewise to the NL, leading the circuit in HR's and Runs. A lineup featuring the games biggest slugger in Ryan Howard, all World 2B Chase Utley, former NL MVP and the only legitimate comparable to Jeter, in Jimmy Rollins at SS. They are clearly the most stacked team in the league and their postseason bludgeons of the Dodgers have not veered anyone off that opinion. While their pitching has been an issue (we'll get into that soon) and their bullpen is their biggest weak spot (despite the apparent re-emergence of Lidge being a dependable closer), the Phillies are as tough as Rocky Balboa (Philedelphia's best known athlete). They get hit, they get bruised but they keep coming back. A win here will cement their place in history and with a core in their primes, they could be the next great Baseball Dynasty.
Arod and Howard
Coming into this postseason, Arod was the most maligned star this side of Lindsey Lohan. We all knew about his failures to perform in the clutch. He was Mr. April thru September to Reggie and Derek's Mr. October (s). He was the guy managers would intentionally load the bases to face in big spots. He was the guy with all glitter and with no glory. But a funny thing happened on the way to 2009. He got divorced in a public mess. He was named as the only one of 104 MLB players that were supposedly anonymously tested for steroids (after of course proclaiming many times he never touched the stuff- most famously on 60 Minutes). He then went public in an interview supposedly in a tell all interview that many felt was staged and didnt tell all. He then missed the first month of the season and Spring Training with hip surgery. He then realized that maybe all this stuff has gotten the "I always need to be perfect" monkey off his back. It got him to relax. To enjoy the moment and to trust his teammates. He no longer cared that this was Jeter's town and he should be happy to be along for the ride. He started getting big hits. Big Home Runs. He played a flawless 3b all season. But all tjis would mean nothing if he couldn't carry it into October. Well, all Arod did in October was produce the most clutch and dominant offensive performance we have ever seen. He has 5 HR's so far, 3 of which tied games in the 7th, 8th and 11th innings of games. He has been walked 6 times in the last 3 games, including twice late in the game with 2 out and no one on, a situation so against the book but with Arod, it's the right move now- rewriting a new book. He looks possessed. You see his eyes and you know he's going to do damage. He has become Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Mark Messier and Tiger Woods all rolled up into one. It says here he will have a World Series for the ages- if Manuel decides to even pitch to him.
Howard had fared a little better than Arod through his run last year and has been as dominant as Arod this season, albeit without the huge clutch hit. Howard had a dominant NLCS with 2 HR and 8 RBI's in 5 games. He is already the games most feared HR hitter and a great World Series will fuse his place forever in baseball lore.
This years winner between the two titans will play along way as to who wears the ring.
It happens almost every year. The Yankees sign the best and brightest (and of course- most expensive) of the Free Agent Class, have a blow out press conference, all smiles and back slapping, and then the business of actually playing baseball starts.
Usually around the middle of May the fans get impatient because the $10-$20M a year guy is hitting .230 or the pitcher is sporting a 5.76 ERA and we all remember the focus and attention in NY is unlike any other place, especially after someone signs a huge contract. The pressure is enormous even for the best of them.
It happened to Giambi, Arod, Pavano, Abreu, Clemens, etc, it always takes time for the player to adjust. The main reasons are simple 1) getting used to living in a place like NY, and 2) getting used to the constant media and fan pressure which a big contract brings upon oneself in a place like NY.
What the whole Arod saga did was make people forget (and the scrutiny on Arod will only get bigger once he reports to camp and when the book comes out in May) the big contracts signed by Sabathia, Burnett and Texiera. Amazingly, living in NY I haven't even heard a peep about the Big Three in weeks. Normally, the pressure and scrutiny -especially- on Sabathia and Texiera would be so great, they would be hard pressed to succeed right off the bat. It's rarely done here in NY. Mussina had some early success, but other than him I don't recall a big Free Agent that got off to a fast NY start. Arod has helped these guys immensely and in turn the Yankees, amazingly as that might sound.
Yankee Stadium will host Game 1 tomorrow night featuring the AL's best, Bronx Bombers and the NL's best (for two years running) the Philadelphia Phillies in a very intriguing matchup with numerous subplots, which The People's Champ will breakdown right here-right now!
Who will be A Team for the Ages
The 2009 version of the Yankees have drawn comparisons to the Great 1998 Yankee squad, which many consider the greatest Yankee Team of all Time. This years version features what may be the greatest offensive infield ever to play the game at one time, with the AL's HR and RBI leader, Mark Texiera playing 1B, Robinson Cano and his .320+ average, 25HR's and 204 hits at 2B, Derek Jeter in one of his finest seasons hitting .334 and 214 Hits (Jeter and Cano became the first middle infield combo in MLB history to both amass 200+ hits in a season) and the Great Offensive force in Baseball, Alex Rodriguez at 3b (30HR and 100RBI in only 124 games after his preseason hip surgery). They have a borderline Hall of Fame Catcher in Posada, a productive OF in Swisher, Damon and Melky. Their starting pitching, although lacking in depth, features CC Sabathia, who will finish at worst, top 3 in this years CY Young Voting and was the ALCS MVP, AJ Burnett and the winning pitcher in postseason history, Andy Pettite. Despite his struggles to date in the postseason, Phil Hughes was as dominant a force as any out the bullpen this year and the Greatest of them All, Mariano Rivera is as dominant as ever (statistically speaking, Mo's best two seasons were his last which is incredible considering most closers lack of longevity).
The Yankees led the league with 103 wins. They led the league in HR's, Runs, On Base Percentage and were second on Batting Average. They were tied for third in the AL in ERA despite playing in the friendliest hitters park in the league and led the league in Strikeouts. They dispatched a good Twins team in 3, and beat an Angel team that has been a nemesis for them for years in 6. A win in this World Series would justify their offseason $400M shopping spree on Tex, Sabathia and Burnett (not to mention the already inflated payroll). It would also cement their place as one of the great Yankee squads of all time.
The Phillies? Well, all it will do for them is become the first NL team to win back to back World Series since the Big Red Machine in the mid 70's. While the Yankees were slugging their way through the AL, the Phillies were doing likewise to the NL, leading the circuit in HR's and Runs. A lineup featuring the games biggest slugger in Ryan Howard, all World 2B Chase Utley, former NL MVP and the only legitimate comparable to Jeter, in Jimmy Rollins at SS. They are clearly the most stacked team in the league and their postseason bludgeons of the Dodgers have not veered anyone off that opinion. While their pitching has been an issue (we'll get into that soon) and their bullpen is their biggest weak spot (despite the apparent re-emergence of Lidge being a dependable closer), the Phillies are as tough as Rocky Balboa (Philedelphia's best known athlete). They get hit, they get bruised but they keep coming back. A win here will cement their place in history and with a core in their primes, they could be the next great Baseball Dynasty.
Arod and Howard
Coming into this postseason, Arod was the most maligned star this side of Lindsey Lohan. We all knew about his failures to perform in the clutch. He was Mr. April thru September to Reggie and Derek's Mr. October (s). He was the guy managers would intentionally load the bases to face in big spots. He was the guy with all glitter and with no glory. But a funny thing happened on the way to 2009. He got divorced in a public mess. He was named as the only one of 104 MLB players that were supposedly anonymously tested for steroids (after of course proclaiming many times he never touched the stuff- most famously on 60 Minutes). He then went public in an interview supposedly in a tell all interview that many felt was staged and didnt tell all. He then missed the first month of the season and Spring Training with hip surgery. He then realized that maybe all this stuff has gotten the "I always need to be perfect" monkey off his back. It got him to relax. To enjoy the moment and to trust his teammates. He no longer cared that this was Jeter's town and he should be happy to be along for the ride. He started getting big hits. Big Home Runs. He played a flawless 3b all season. But all tjis would mean nothing if he couldn't carry it into October. Well, all Arod did in October was produce the most clutch and dominant offensive performance we have ever seen. He has 5 HR's so far, 3 of which tied games in the 7th, 8th and 11th innings of games. He has been walked 6 times in the last 3 games, including twice late in the game with 2 out and no one on, a situation so against the book but with Arod, it's the right move now- rewriting a new book. He looks possessed. You see his eyes and you know he's going to do damage. He has become Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Mark Messier and Tiger Woods all rolled up into one. It says here he will have a World Series for the ages- if Manuel decides to even pitch to him.
Howard had fared a little better than Arod through his run last year and has been as dominant as Arod this season, albeit without the huge clutch hit. Howard had a dominant NLCS with 2 HR and 8 RBI's in 5 games. He is already the games most feared HR hitter and a great World Series will fuse his place forever in baseball lore.
This years winner between the two titans will play along way as to who wears the ring.
It happens almost every year. The Yankees sign the best and brightest (and of course- most expensive) of the Free Agent Class, have a blow out press conference, all smiles and back slapping, and then the business of actually playing baseball starts.
Usually around the middle of May the fans get impatient because the $10-$20M a year guy is hitting .230 or the pitcher is sporting a 5.76 ERA and we all remember the focus and attention in NY is unlike any other place, especially after someone signs a huge contract. The pressure is enormous even for the best of them.
It happened to Giambi, Arod, Pavano, Abreu, Clemens, etc, it always takes time for the player to adjust. The main reasons are simple 1) getting used to living in a place like NY, and 2) getting used to the constant media and fan pressure which a big contract brings upon oneself in a place like NY.
What the whole Arod saga did was make people forget (and the scrutiny on Arod will only get bigger once he reports to camp and when the book comes out in May) the big contracts signed by Sabathia, Burnett and Texiera. Amazingly, living in NY I haven't even heard a peep about the Big Three in weeks. Normally, the pressure and scrutiny -especially- on Sabathia and Texiera would be so great, they would be hard pressed to succeed right off the bat. It's rarely done here in NY. Mussina had some early success, but other than him I don't recall a big Free Agent that got off to a fast NY start. Arod has helped these guys immensely and in turn the Yankees, amazingly as that might sound.
Monday, February 9, 2009
The Reaction to Arod
Here are some of my initial thoughts to date on the Arod situation .
1- It's a disgrace and somehow very convenient that out of a list of 104 players (of a supposed anonymous test) Arod's is the one name we know. It's BS. And although Arod is 100% wrong, this witch hunt directed at him and him only is unfair. I think these sources need to be held accountable.
2- Arod did the right thing to an extent by admitting he was wrong and stupid. He took the path that has shown the most forgiveness (ala Pettite and Giambi) and went away from the denial path of Bonds and McGwire. However, he didn't come off that well in the interview. How can he not know what went into his body? Just say what you took and move on. Let's get over this already. there's no more downside for him. Every admission would only help his cause now.o
3- While this taints things, the bottom line is this is the first guy that has come out that was a steroid user and his performance stayed the same post steroids (he has been continually tested since 2004- although there still isn't an HGH test out there). I think Arod's records are legit as opposed to Bonds, McGwire and Sosa who all had a huge increase in production with the 'roids and all basically fell off the map after they were exposed. Arod was exposed in 2004 and still has performed at an amazingly high level since.
4- Stop talking about past guys and they didn't use PED's First off, there has been steroids around since 1960's and we don't know who was or wasn't on it. Every Hall of Famer and ex-player you hear from the 50's-70's you hear talks about the obscene amount of amphetamines they took in order to be able to play and stay focused. Why are they given a free pass? Why just the steroid guys? Plus, steroids was technically legal in baseball up to 2003 assuming they were under a physicians care. Why only the steroid guys? Why is he different than the guy who was popping amphetamines to play at his level? The answer is there is no difference, so everyone in the media should get off their hypocritical high horses and get back in touch with realty.
Guys in the NFL get a 4 game suspension and move on with nothing to worry about after sterpoids and guys in baseball fail one test and they are done for life. Why the hypocrisy?
1- It's a disgrace and somehow very convenient that out of a list of 104 players (of a supposed anonymous test) Arod's is the one name we know. It's BS. And although Arod is 100% wrong, this witch hunt directed at him and him only is unfair. I think these sources need to be held accountable.
2- Arod did the right thing to an extent by admitting he was wrong and stupid. He took the path that has shown the most forgiveness (ala Pettite and Giambi) and went away from the denial path of Bonds and McGwire. However, he didn't come off that well in the interview. How can he not know what went into his body? Just say what you took and move on. Let's get over this already. there's no more downside for him. Every admission would only help his cause now.o
3- While this taints things, the bottom line is this is the first guy that has come out that was a steroid user and his performance stayed the same post steroids (he has been continually tested since 2004- although there still isn't an HGH test out there). I think Arod's records are legit as opposed to Bonds, McGwire and Sosa who all had a huge increase in production with the 'roids and all basically fell off the map after they were exposed. Arod was exposed in 2004 and still has performed at an amazingly high level since.
4- Stop talking about past guys and they didn't use PED's First off, there has been steroids around since 1960's and we don't know who was or wasn't on it. Every Hall of Famer and ex-player you hear from the 50's-70's you hear talks about the obscene amount of amphetamines they took in order to be able to play and stay focused. Why are they given a free pass? Why just the steroid guys? Plus, steroids was technically legal in baseball up to 2003 assuming they were under a physicians care. Why only the steroid guys? Why is he different than the guy who was popping amphetamines to play at his level? The answer is there is no difference, so everyone in the media should get off their hypocritical high horses and get back in touch with realty.
Guys in the NFL get a 4 game suspension and move on with nothing to worry about after sterpoids and guys in baseball fail one test and they are done for life. Why the hypocrisy?
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