Ethical Baseball Players Don't Count At Bat Stats

Much ado has been made of Derek Jeter's hitting slump. Much ado about nothing. Sports writers in an attempt to get noticed have pointed out Matsui is 11/20 while Derek is 1/20. Sorry folks it's about time Hideki found his swing, and as for Jeter; we are are grateful he doesn't have something broken.

It amazes me how short minded sports writers are. Comparing the current batting stats of Derek and Hideki is like comparing a triangle and a circle. Derek is injured, given his work ethic is the only reason he is in the Yankee lineup. There are players of lesser ethics, some past Yankees would be bench sitting on the DL right now; but not Jeter.

That is not to say Matsui is not ethical, he is. You can see it when he is not hitting. The only comparison to be made between Jeter and Matsui is that of their individual work ethics. Both struggle for various reason from time to time; but both continue to strive and improve.
Both players know this is their job, to come to the ballpark and play, and barring a disabling injury, both will crawl into work and beg for their place in the lineup.

So in a mediocre sports day, instead of drawing a positive comparison, the professional sports writers and talkies point out the negative. Now I ask you who really lacks a work ethic?

That Sound in the Bronx, It's the Boo Bird

That sound is the call of boo birds who have emerged from their nest. They were loud this weekend, in response to the Mets rout of the Yankees. They were loud again tonight, until they fled to warmer ground. One may ask what is a Boo bird.

Boo birds are distinguished by their fading chameleon coloring and inability to perch for long periods during games the Yankees lose or play poorly. Boo birds are noted for their boo call and uncontrolled cussing. Boo birds are bad sports and usually fair weather fans. Many consume excessive amounts of alcohol during sporting events. Boo birds, once an endangered species between 1996-2001 have arisen to record numbers and now can be classified as pests.

Enough already!

I've been a Yankee fan for 43 years. I've seen good and bad. I've seen bad starts that ended in playoff berths. I've seen slow starts that produced World Series trophies. There are 19 teams in the American League, 5 in the East. You can't be perfection every year. The guys are down, they don't need the fair weather fan jumping down their backs. They work for the Steinbrenners. Isn't that punishment enough?

As to tonight's game, the Jeter injury, the Hawkins high toss, the bench clearing challenge. Well that is all part of baseball. Was Hawkins right, did he do it on purpose. Right, in his mind, not in mine, I don't like head shots. However retribution is expected. Hawkins who will probably get a suspension and fine is now the Yankee clubhouse hero for retaliating for Jeter's game ending hand hit. Maybe something positive will come out of this. Someone has to light a spark under the Yankees.

I predict smoke and steam coming from Mount Hank in the next day or two. Hank has the same volcanic personality of his father, George. The Yankees don't need Hank's mouth to add to the boo birds; but they do need to pay attention.

This Yankee team is making mistakes, mistakes they shouldn't. It's time to clear the cobwebs boys. Shake off the losses and play the season one game at a time.

If for no other reason then to silence to annoying Boo birds.

Human Rights and Compassion

Dave Doyle had asked all belonging to Out of Write Field to Blog on May 15 for Human Rights. I must confess I was busy last week. I din't even blog in my own forum about baseball. Also contrary to what Dave belives, a mass belonging will get everyone's attention. For people to care and react they have to compassionate. And frankly I don't see that in everyone. What scares me is the mass growth of egotistic self-centered interests.

This country was founded by those looking for a new frontier. Instead of gold, the early settlers found farmland and forests where they could grow crops and raise livestock. Many followed the early explorers to escape persecution in Europe. Most settlers in the English colonies just wanted to be free to worship their own religions. mostly Quakers and Catholics. Unfortunately along the way to growing a nation we enslaved a race; and still to this day we have not made it right yet.

I have been following the election. I am as an American concerned about the direction this country is going. Clearly it is going to hell and hand basket because many non longer are concerned for the good of the whole but for their own self interests. We are on the verge of putting a non-white man in the White House. And what do we see, we see, we see racism from the candidates and racism from the voters.

Most disappointing was to see the race card played by the Clintons. Former President Clinton owed his eight years in the White House to minority America. It leads me to wonder did he mean all those promises or was he convenience shopping; as now both he and his wife look like hypocrites.

The key to human rights is eliminating racism. It would be nice if everyone had the same features, but they don't. The first step towards human rights is stomping out racism. It has gotten better in 40 years, but clearly when you watch the reports on the 2008 election, racism still lingers in this country like a festering sore.

Eliminating racism requires compassion. You cannot be more concerned with your own interests and needs. America was once the land of opportunity, but the growth of a wealthy upper middle class and an increase in poverty due to the growth the wealthy sector has eliminated many opportunities. Self interests prevail. That has to stop; before all we have is the poor and rich.

I blame religion or lack of it really for this plague of self interests. I am not the best practicing Catholic, but I do believe in the final judgement. I also believe in the phrase do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Without this compassion you don't care what happens to others; and liek it or not religious teachings help nourish compassion.

You don't have to be a Holy Roller. I definitely am not, but I do believe that I am here on earth for some purpose or God would not have wasted his time. Often the purpose is unclear. I do hope that when my time come the big guy lets me know why.

Likewise i don want to make a good impression when my time comes. I believe in the principal of the uniting of soles. I look forward to an after life and seeing my family, friends and departed pets live in eternal peace. I am not perfect either, so when I do mess up I apologize for doing the to the person and to God.

Alright I am not out to change the world, but my little corner of it. I don't have time to change the world. I can try and change those around me. To understand it is not all about them; its about us.

I recenlt pointed this out to my bosses. They are trying to encourage employees to go the extra mile but insituting a very handsome recognition program. My reply to that was if they didn't learn it as children, the likelihood of reforming them now is limited. The time for gold stars is in grammer school; when you teach the future of America the right way to behave.

Personally I don't need a gold star, I can assess myself. I don't need my name in the newsletter or a special cash prize to do my job. I love what I do, my goal is the feeling I get from doing it right the first time. I am hardest judge on all fronts; my work and my behavior. I don't like being singled out, it is embarrassing.

I write this blog for myself, I have opinions about baseball and other sports, I write them down. Some are interesting, some are dull. It helps me analyze the sport and work through my frustration when my team is sitting in the cellar. Other items I write are lesson for people. I am natural leader and teacher, or so I have been told. I know all this "stuff" knowing all this "stuff" and keeping it to your self is selfishness. Besides maybe someone else can take this "stuff" and get it to work better, so I share my "stuff".

You want to improve human rights you have to encourage sharing and compassion. The best way is start with the young, trying to change the old is almost impossible.

You want to improve human rights, start in this country. Anyone over 18 has a right to vote. Exercise that right based on electing competent officials who will be responsible to you the voter not to self interests. Why is human rights an issue, because in the USA a country founded for human rights; we don't practice what we preach.

You want to change the world start in your own little corner. You can support external causes, hunger, disaster relief, etc. But if we, the largest democracy in the world can't set a good example, we cannot make others follow.

Think of it in terms of an avalanche, it starts out small but has it rolls down hill it picks up size and speed.

Wait Till After The All Star Break

My good friend Danny utters these words each year, nothing matters till after the All Star Break. And he is correct; history, especially recent history has shown us that the second half of the season has made silk purses out of sows ears.

The Mets, Marlins, Indians and and the Yankees have all gotten off to bad springs and risen to new heights in the second half. Boston who looked to be on the way out in 2004 arose like Lazarus from a lifeless corpse to win the World Series.

That said many are uttering wait till A-Rod is back or wait till Posada is back. Personally I think Posada is the greater loss. While he does not have Alex Rodriquez numbers, he is a strong arm tosser and a student of the game. Posada is aware of batters and provides detailed instruction to the pitchers to get to the job done. Add to that his lefty-righty batting. Not only can he impact on defense but offense as well. Have a switch hitter who can hit; even one who is slow runner still makes the job harder for the opposition.

A-Rod is still a loss. His numbers cannot be denied. He provides that element of respect in the lineup because he is a dangerous hitter. In Saturday's game, an ace like Johan Santana still feels his A-Rod scars. He would get better pitches. In yesterday's Bronx slaughter, it would not have mattered. Perez was tossing garbage, not even hittable garbage. Most of Perez's balls were at the ankles. A bat would not have worked. A 9 iron would have been better.

In defense of the NY Mets, I saw something last night that indicated growth. The Mets did not flame out and stomping on the Yankees in the Yankees house can give you a lot of confidence. The Mets have always been the step child of New York. The Yankees the favored son.

Willie and his Mets have been roasted, tarred, feathered and buried by various columnists each year; including the current. This weekend many were forced to look at the Mets differently. Now if they can only carry through on the momentum.

As for the Yankees, there is still a lot of baseball left to played and they really have no place to go but up.

The Bronx Bombers

It's terrible to say they lived up to their nicknames, but they did for 2 days in a row. The most excitement has been watching Willie Randolph get tossed tonight. This has been a tough week for the Yankees. In the cellar in the AL East and losing 2 to the NY Mets. The Monday morning News and Post will shame them. Maybe it will spark a cure for what ails the Yankees. Somehow I don't think so.

I was at tonight's game. The 4th inning ran from 8:57 to 9:33. Most of that was because Chien-Ming Wang did something unusual he pitched to the side. That rattled Wang and he was lost for the rest of the game.



In contrast I saw a good defense by the Yanks. Cano's must be taking acrobatic lessons from Jeter, because he he beginning to look like a younger 2nd base version. I don't' blame Gonzalez for his E5 in the 1st, he had to look straight into the lights. He tried.



Unlike many I am not ready to flush the Yankees yet. They were in this state last year, the Bronx is full of Yankees miracles. While I don't see another White Hat Cowboy galloping in to save the pitching, you don't know what deals are in the works. Frankly if the youngsters can be saved, I would keep the status quo. The potential of our youth is worth a Roger Clemens deal. What the Yankees really need is another switch hitter.



As for me I washed off the stink of tonight's game by stopping by M&M World in Times Square ( They are open 9AM-midnight). Wild Cherry M&Ms did the trick.



The morning NY Daily News is already heralding Perez, he stunck, he threw 1 hittable strike for every 5-6 balls he tossed. The Yankees were dumb they chased the balls. Why they got out; patience would have been better for the Yankees.

The Kei Didn't Work In the Lock

As I suspected Kei Iqawa can't picht to MLB hitters. He he faced the Detroit Tigers tonight. Three innings, 11 hits and 6 earned runs by the Tigers, he was yanked in the 4th and replaced with Jonathan Albaladejo. It will be interesting to see if Albaladejo holds off the Tigers, as they mauled him on May 1.

More game to come; but I hope the Kei Iqawa experiment is over. If the Kei doesn't work, replace it with a new one.

The Return of Kei Igawa

Kei Igawa has been called up from Scranton to be the #5 Starter. He will face the Detroit Tigers in Detroit this weekend. Given his track record, I am hedging my bets. The question remains if Kei has been fixed or if he will revert to his old bad habits. We can only tune into the games to watch.

The return of Kei is another sign of the Cashman's reluctance to put Joba in the starting rotations and that Cashman is still calling the personnel shots.

Of course if Kei goes down in flames, then I think there is a good chance that Chamberlain makes a start.

Time to get out those good luck charms, as Kei is not yet proven himself as a valuable south paw. And for those that argue that Andy Pettitte had troubled Yankee youth with growing pains, well Andy at least made it to the 5th in his worst games.

And if the Kei does not fit, will it be Joba or another Scranton call up?

Baseball Player's Drugs of Choice

I spent the better part of my professional career as lab rat / pharmaceutical engineer testing anabolic steroids and HGH. The correct drug name for HGH is Somatropin and the anabolics are Nandrolone decanoate (Deca-Durabolin) and Nandrolone phenylpropionate (Durabolin). I worked for the drug company, that manufactured them, they still do, thought I have moved on to provite consulting.

Anabolic Steriods

The anabolic steroids are sterile injections. The drug active is solubilized in Sesame Oil and filled into pre-sterilized vials or syringe for sale to hospitals. It is sued to promote tissue growth in after trauma, either trauma from ambulation or surgical removal. It is commonly given to women who have radical mastectomies to promote growth of the breast tissue and muscle that is removed with the cancer. Having handled the product for testing, I cannot imagine injecting it; it’s like injecting a tablespoon of oil under the skin. Its use is to promote muscle and tissue growth after cancer or where limb amputation has occurred.

The powder forms of the drug actives are common sold to illegal drug manufacturers. They manufacturer the liquid forms. The liquid forms must still solubilized in an oil solvent, however the activity is limited. True performance of the product is from injecting the sterilize liquid under the skin. The only approved legal form of both drugs, a sterile injection. Both active drugs are destroyed in the stomach, therefore oral medications have limited activity until a liquid partially absorbed in the oral mucosa.

The two active substances, Nandrolone decanoate and Nandrolone phenylpropionate are chemically synthesized. Not of animal origin but similar to the naturally occurring hormone in the body. Both materials have been around as approved since 1959. My knowledge of these drugs and Somatropin, HGH comes from the extensive safety precautions we were trained in just to test he materials, raw material and finished drugs.

HGH, Somatropin

Somatropin was originally obtained from urine. The drug hormone was extracted chemical and recrystallized to be prepared for an injectable substance. The original assay for testing the product involved animals. The original drug manufacturer was Eli Lilly & Company of Indiana.

In the late 80’s with the advances in tissue culture, a synthetic form of Somatropin became available. This was desirable due to the issue surround natural substances. Substance of animal origin must be tested for infectious diseases including viruses, especially the hard to detect HIV/HTLV viruses as well as Hepatitis B and C. The new substance could be made using mouse cells implanted with the HGH production gene. The new form of drug manufacture was cheaper and safer.

With the new technology came a new requirement. There must be a validated analytical test for the product, no more animal assay. The FDA and industry does not like animal assays, they have issues, beyond the use of animals. Approval of the better from of HGH required a repeatable analysis other than an animal assay could quarantine the safety of the patient taking the drug.

The new assay for Somatropin using High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for testing the product. It still uses a rat assay as well as HPLC in testing the drug raw material. However the official test is the HPLC Assay.

For the non chemists out there, HPLC generates a wavelength pattern unique to the material tested. Each pattern is fingerprint, unique to that product. This test has been around and approved or 15 years now, despite claims from MLB Commissioner Bud Selig it (the test) didn’t exist. The International Olympic Committee and other international athletic organization have been using this test to detect HGH use in athletes since the early 90s.

Somatropin is also a product only absorbed through injection. While some absorption through the mouth or through the skin can occur, the official route of administration is injection. It like the anabolics steroids is a very dangerous drug with serious side effects.

None of these materials were designed to be used in the athlete's game of Russian Roulette for enhanced performance.

Official dose information and route of administration on HGH and anabolic steroids can be found on the FDA website, http://www.fda.gov/.

MLB Owner Admits Some Drugs Are OK with Him

Until this morning I thought Hank and George Steinbrenner had the greatest brain to mouth dysfunction. According to ESPN, an unidentified major league baseball team owner (not from New York) came out and stated he really isn’t concerned about his athletes taking performance enhancing drugs, he is concerned with alcoholism, cocaine and marijuana use: substances and drugs that can impair performance. If that is the truth, it explains the hesitance of the commissioner’s office to test for HGH. It’s back to being all about the money not player health.

One truth for sure, the HGH era has lead to a rise in baseball profits, on both the major and minor league level. During this era of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs, we have increased the number of major league teams, and expanded the minor leagues.

Minor league baseball, once an endangered species north of the Mason-Dixon line, has seen expansion by the major teams of Baltimore, Philadelphia, St. Louis, the New York Yankees, the New York Mets and the Boston Red Sox’s. The majority of the minor league training program for both Philadelphia and the New York Yankees is concentrated within a 90 minute drive of each team.

The Phillies have 6 minor league teams, two housed in Florida, the Clearwater Threshers, an “A” level team and the Gulf Coast Phillies, an “R” or recruitment/rookie training team. The rest of the Phillies organization is in PA, except for one of two minor league “A” teams, the Lakewood Blue Claws, located in Lakewood NJ.

The New York Yankees also have 6 minor league affiliates, however three, the Staten Island Yankees, the Trenton Thunder and the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Red Dogs are located in NY, NJ and PA respectively. Despite this strong presence of MLB farm teams; there are many other minor league teams, with no MLB affiliation that are turning a baseball profit.

In the last decade, the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) has expanded. The league has no affiliation with any major league baseball team this league operates in MD, PA, NJ, NY, and CT. The league founded in 1998 has brought baseball to areas where it once had faded. With that rise of baseball fever, came the MLB minor league teams to the same area, to cash in on the dollars. In search of affordable family fun, a night at an ALPB game or any MLB minor league can be less than $100 for a family. The same type of event in the MLB could run over $500 for a family.

For MLB teams, acquiring the northern minion league teams brings them new facilities. Most stadiums are less than 15 years old and designed to bring the family to the ballpark. The Yankees in the last 5 years have moved “AAA” and “AA” operations to Scranton and Trenton. And with the local popularity of baseball in NJ and PA, it guarantees they will fill the stadium; by allowing access to their developing replacement players or a site close to home for the injured to have rehab starts.

In contrast the ALPB is league of ex-players. While there are some young minor league players, the vast majority of the league is ex-MLB pros, who aren’t ready to turn in their spikes. Most notably among the names are John Rocker and Jose Canseco. The league maximum is $3000 a month, and most survive on endorsements or a well –invested MLB salary. However the stands still fill each night.

The Mitchell Report was Pandora’s Box, a plaque on baseball. Like the movie “Outbreak” the plaque continues to spread, however as of yet, no impact on baseball profits has been seen. Like watching Ian Kennedy pitch I am waiting for the other shoe to drop on baseball profits. And with this latest anonymous owner comments you have to wonder if they were just looking the other way all this time.

How will America respond now that some owner has hinted it is all about the money? We can only wait and see.

Eight Belles Places Then is Euthanized

Eight Belles, the only filly in the Kentucky Derby field of 20 today broke both ankles after coming in second at the Derby this evening. The 3 year old horse was euthanized immediately, taking the joy from her trainers and owners who moments before were excited she had come in second, 4 1/2 lengths behind Derby winner Big Brown.

Two years ago, Barbaro the 2006 Derby winner suffered a similar fate in just one leg at the Preakness in Baltimore, the 2nd leg in the Triple Crown. Extensive surgeries were performed, however Barbaro was eventually euthanized in January of 2007 and in January of this year, Barbaro's ashes were buried at Churchill Downs.

A Real Long Shot

As an aside to baseball, there is another traditon, the Triple Crown, which starts today in Kentucky. Many baseball owners and curernt and former player own race horses. Notobaly the Steinbrenners and Joe Torre have had horses contend for the Derby in recent years.

Today marks the 134th Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs. The post positions for the 6 PM race are this:

I like Gayego

and the filly Eight Belles.

Of course predicting the winner of a horse race is even more a gamble then predicting the World Series winner in baseball.

Off the Critical List

After being swept by the Detroit Tigers, the Yankees put Chien-Ming Wang on the mound and came away with a 5-1 win. The win, also marked the return of Yes Network Broadcaster Bobby Murcer to the broadcast booth. Murcer underwent a second brain biopsy in March. The biopsy revealed the mass to be only scar tissue. Our best goes out to Bobby for his improving health.

As for the Yankees, I think they still have a long road to recovery, but finally are taking the right medicine.

As predicted Hank has spoken again; however a little more toned down. Hank spoke to the media in Tampa Friday, stating his disappointment with the team’s start.

As to the Yankees' recovery….. see the 2007/2008 comparison:

As you can see the Yankees are in better shape today, with shaky starting pitching and the loss of Posada’s bat then they were this same day last year. And pitching seems to be improving for Mike Mussina, who has struggled a lot this April.

While the Yankees have not recovered yet, Spring Fever appears to be abating and May will tell if the Yankees climb or sink.

The infusion of youngsters, excited and talented youngsters from the minors seems to have given the Yankees the Geritol shot they needed.

Anything can happen from day to day in baseball, and no one can make a solid bet on where a team will land in September. However right now I am taking the Yankees from Critical to Cautionary as improvement has been shown.

The All Star Game Carrot Dangling

The NY Yankees are in the midst of a dilemma, give up All-Star Game tickets to the season tickets holder with plans A, B and C or make MLB and FOX television network happy by comping the baseball sponsors and the Hollywood crowd that works on FOX Shows. The Yankees are caving to FOX and MLB.

To date only Plan A holders have been allowed to purchase the allotted tickets. Tickets for the holders of B and C plans are on hold. In response I have entered the All-Star Game ticket lottery. Lonn Trost is putting the screws to the fans again.

Trost is all about the buck. The Yankees, already the most expensive ticket in regular season sports, is losing seats in the new digs. In response, Trost has created luxury seating costing between $500-2500 per seat per game for the privilege of being part of the chosen few behind home plate.

Now Lonnie is about to rip out the fan's hearts, deny most access to the All-Star Game. Shame on you Lonn and shame on the Yankees for chasing the buck and not the fan base.

George Steinbrenner may have told the fans at ground breaking he was doing this for the fans, but clearly the heirs to the house that George is building don't give a damn.

Baseball is a business, and this proves the new Yankee management would rather make a buck. Old King George would have told Fox and MLB to wait, and not kept the All-Star carrot dangling in front of the fans.

This makes me wonder what direction the new Yankee management will take as they steer this team through this century. It's not look so far; one can always hope.

Roger Who?

Anyone who believes baseball players or any celebrity, athlete or any overly compensated person is a saint is also a believer of the tooth fairy. That said I still admire Clemens, for the same reason I can respect, Jeter, Pettitte, A-Rod, etc. They give back to the community, mainly to make a better life for the the future of this nation.

Hell if I was good looking and a 20 something I would sleep with Roger. That does not make him a leaper.

I am not the biggest A-Rod fan, and he has documented himself as a two-timer to the then pregnant Mrs. A-Rod. But despite that Alex has donated millions to the Boys/Girls Club of America, not to be memorialized, but because he is where he is in MLB because of that organization.

Alex recognizes what is important in molding the future of America to be good citizens.

I like Angela Jolie as a talented actress, as a persons she is misguided. She reaches out to Africa to adopt children and donate money, a chic Hollywood/celebrity fad. I don't' care, I hope the UN and WHO feed and cares for them all, but Angie baby there are thousands of children here in the US who need love and sustenance also. Start here. When you concur our children ,t hen go global. Be like Alex, Derek, Roger and all, Do for our children first set the example then you can help the billions.

My personal opinions about A-rod aside, he gives back here first. We have problem here, the baseball athletes give back to where they came form, the US, Central America, South America, Asia. Mo helps the the kids in Panama, Abreu in his native land, Posada in Puerto Rico with Bernie William, part of the reason I love baseball. Jeter provide to children through the US, first starting in Michigan, New York and New Jersey. But he message is clear. Help the kids be good citizens and you will improve society.

Hollywood goes and adopt children from foreign lands, it's chic. What have they down for the 4 year old child in Newark who has no one to love her or him? the child who's life is set to be a dud? Fix our problems with poverty and unwanted children who need loving homes first, then go and deal with another continent. Athletes aren't ignoring our unwanted unloved kids, but Hollywood is.

That is part of my love of baseball, even if they aren't saints, the players give back, back to the kids, help them achieve, aspire, be better. Roger could be a polygamist for all I care, he gives back. Judge him or A-Rod as you feel, but first account for all the good they have done with the money they have earned as super athletes. That goes a long way in my book.

Don't judge me wrong, the kids in Africa need help too, but start here, fix here first, then go global. The USA is the great bread basket tot he world, but we cannot ignore our own. Our basbeall players rarely do. My reason for if they sin greatly I can forgive. They give back to make better life.