Leaving On A High Note

Many are doubting the decision of Mike Mussina to retire. Of course if he stayed and had a bad season, those doubters would be the first to harp on his being too old. Personally, while I will miss Moose, but I have to give him credit for getting out while his star is still sparkling.

Too often players stay too long and are remembered more for their last bad year then the impeccable resume they created. Some players try and come back on their own terms, instead of retiring, Roger Clemens is a good example.

Clemens' career could have ended on a quiet note when he retired from the New York Yankees, however he choose to continue to play. By playing, Clemens got pulled into the spotlight of steroid scandal and linked to a possible sexual scandal. Not the way Rocket should be remembered.

Happy Retirement Moose, hope to see you at Old Timer's Day soon.

C.C. Sabathia Is Fiscal Irresponsibility

Granted Sabathia has a great arm, but that does mean he deserve millions, hundreds of millions that is from the New York Yankees. He's 28, 290 pounds, and been in the majors for 7 years. He's a coronary waiting to happen, and statistically he averages less than 14 wins per season. Come on Brian and Hal, is that the best use of money. This fan thinks not.

Sabathia represents decaying talent, yes he still has some, but how far did that get the Milwaukee Brewers this year? And why has no one gotten his weight under control? Why does he remind me so much of another Yankee mistake....Sidney Ponson. I guess since the NYY Front Office gave Sidney a second chance, a cheap chance, they are willing to blow millions on a pitcher who waning before he has even reached the age of 30.

I say pass on C.C. He's too much of a gamble. Take the money and see what you can trade for. At the very least give some to Pettitte and Mussina. C.C. is not worth it. And to boot he comes with lots of attitude.

C.C. in my mind should not be made a Yankee. He reminds me of another bad free agent deal, the Jason Giambi deal and look how long it took for the Yankees to get rid of Giambi's money.

There may be players in baseball worth millions, but they are rare. Sabathia is not rare and not worth millions.

Tranactions

Six days after declining his option the Yankees have signed Damaso Marte to a new contract. This is part of the Yankees off season pursuit of pitching. Marte appeared in 25 games this past season for the Yankees, with a 5.40 ERA. That however should not be held against him as in his 25 games he struck out 24, walked 11 (10 walks, 1 hit by pitch) and allowed 14 hits resulting in 11 earned runs. Not bad stats when you consider how bad the Yankees played behind him.

According to Yankee owner-son/blow hard Hal Steinbrenner, the Yankees plan to spend in the off season. According to Brian Cashman, the emphasis is again pitching. Numerous injuries and the questionable status of their home grown staff have the Yanks in the pitcher acquisition mode.

The most interesting pitching acquisition was actually Huston Street going to the Colorado Rockies. Street, a promising youngster seesaws more then the Dow Jones Industrials. It will be interesting to see what the Rocky Mountain air does to his pitching stats.

As to Hal Steinbrenner's spending. I hope he keeps it under control. In this economic downturn, the rich have money, but the fans don't. Any more payroll increases by the Yankees will price the common fan out of live stadium baseball. I guess Hal isn't following the global recession.

Sports could actually help the economy by drawing a line in the sand, but they won't. I would like to see a $1,000,000 salary max per year in sports. I am sure Jeter, A-Rod, et al can survive on that; especially with the endorsements. Think of how the fans would benefit: ticket prices would come down, concession prices would come down, and families could once again afford to include a sports event in the entertainment budget.

Were They Wright or Were They Wrong?

MLB has announced their Golden Glove Awards, and as usual everyone has an opinion. In case you missed it the list is to the left.

Most notable ESPN hot air Michale Kay has a problem with David Wright being named. I don't see the problem, Wright played the most innings of all players in his in the National League. Since errors go up with innings played, the award is not without merit on his behalf.

Kay's commentary then went on to claim that Bernie Williams never deserved his Golden Gloves, according to Kay he was a mediocre center fielder. I don't know what games he was watching, but for most Yankee Fans, Bernie commanded the outfield, chasing down balls like a gazelle. Yes he didn't have the strongest arm, but the award is for fielding, not for tossing. But then with Michael Kay no one can be as great a ballplayer as Alex Rodriquez.

Kay's commentary takes the shine off of Wright's award. Awards after all are for achievement. In this case voted by the baseball writers. Kay's negative commentary is reminiscent of how those in society sometimes react to other touted with an award. Negativity instead of acknowledging the accomplishment. Maybe you were up for an award and lost it to someone else. Did you acknowledge their achievement gracefully or go off with a sour puss to pout?

Often their is a lot more pouting then smiling on the part of the loser. Whether that loser is sports, a professional association or politics. The question becomes, why can't we all just be nice and accept we didn't win?

Its not that being gracious isn't in our nature; we start out that way. Somewhere along the line some of us become narrow minded and self centered. It becomes about that individual their needs and those needs being met. Instead of being gracious in defeat, they become mean. Sometimes the meanness become violence.

Tuesday was a day of great change for many people in the USA. The population elected Barack Obama the 44th President of the USA. The winning side is elated, the losing side, well some of them are being gracious and some are being mean. The mean ones need a good kick in the butt.

I'm a registered republican, I voted for Barack. I'm not a traitor to my party, I didn't elect a "nigger" as some are calling him. I voted for him because in my mind, he was the better candidate. One of my siblings voted for McCain, he's graciously accepted Obama as the President Elect, he is willing to give the man a chance.

Michael Kay is a professional hot air balloon. He always has something negative to say, his comments on the Golden Gloves are his style. However his style would be better left off the air. Children mimic what they see or hear. The negativity, even as commentary sets a bad example, begrudging David Wright his award. It can lead to violence in society.

My message is this, so you didn't win the prize, be gracious and acknowledge the winner. Act like John McCain did on Tuesday night, be willing to work with the winner.