The 2009 Boston Massacre

Andy Pettitte was doing just fine until the 5th when he came out and walked Jason Varitek. Now whether that was directed before he walked out, non one knows. However telling Pettitte to intentiallay put on Kevin Youkalis ranks as the dumbest move by Dave Eiland and Joe Girardi. Pettitte should have been allowed to pitch to Youkalis.

One characteristic of this weekend's massacre of the Yankees by the Red Sox's is the number of times Soxs were intentionally put on base. You never put a Red Sox on base intentionally. You pitch to them, no matter how dangerous.

My only consolation to this catastrophe is that the Indians and Red Soxs are going at each other in Cleveland, which could result in a few Red Soxs losses. The Yankees however have flown into Detroit.; where the Tigers have been mauling the competition and sit surprisingly in first place; playing 0.600 baseball and have a 4-1 record at home. The Yankees on the other hands are playing 0.500 baseball, and have a 5-9 road record.

One thing the records don't reflect is the Tigers are not playing anyone of real power. This is the time for the Yankees to turn it around, especially in Comerica Park which takes the long ball out of the game. The Yankees have to play basic baseball; hit, get on bases, steal when you can, and score in each inning. If they don't they will rapidly be sinking into the AL East cellar and hearing George roar.

No Pitching Plan

It took 3 games of Wang not being Wang for the Yankees to realize Wang was not ready. Chamberlain got yanked too early Friday night, resulting in Rivera being unavailable and the Yankees folding again to the Red Sox on Saturday evening.

Bruney and Wang are now in Tampa for medical tests, and no one has yet to fire Dave Eiland. I guess the new approach of the Yankees is not have a pitching plan and just let the cards fall where they may. Clearly there is no pitching plan; and whose fault is that….Dave Eiland.

It’s the responsibility of the pitching coach to calm his pitcher when they are stressed or in a jam. Eiland allowed Chamberlain to come out and pitch in fear of hitting a Red Sox after Ortiz’s mouth off in the New York Post. He should have told Chamberlain to pay no mind and just go out and do his job.

Again on Friday he allowed Rivera to come in relief of Ramirez and finish the out, even though Marte was available which had catastrophic effects. A pitching change that will always be questioned and never be understood.

On Saturday, after Burnett was done , pitchers were brought in for specialty out. No one was told to go long, and again, catastrophe.

Fast ball strike out pitchers are not pitching striker, specialists are not pitching to their specialty, and Dave Eiland still is part of the staff. Wake up Cashman, fire him before he continues to wreak the pitching staff.

There is no reason with the talent on the pitching staff that the Yankees have, they should be in this pitching mess. What is unforgivable is that the pitching coach can’t sense trouble in his pitchers, and nothing is being done about it.

All hopes of Yankee fans turn tonight to Andy Pettitte. Andy is his own man, he won't need bad advice from Eiland. Hopefully Andy can stop the Boston bloodbath, because clearly Eiland can't

A-Rod, Disappointment, Cheat, Liar and Fraud

Yesterday on ESPN's "Sports Reporters", Michael Kay, Yankee broadcaster and Alex Rodriquez cheerleader admitted he was not shocked but disappointed to hear A-Rod had done steroids. The question remains is how that will alter, or will it alter Kay's perception of of A-Rod from this point on.

Disappointment is when you don't get your toy from Santa, when your parents cancel a planned outing. It is a an emotion generated from the loss of something we look forward to in life. Like it or not, personality and all, we all enjoyed watching A-Rod play. He has talent. Talent that will most likely be overlooked going forward in his baseball career. He will forever be tainted by steroids.

Personally I am neither shocked or disappointed. I blame A-Rods' agent, Scott Boras. An agent is supposed to bolster his client when he or she is insecure. A-Rod requires constant ego maintenance. An agent is supposed to furnish that to his client to keep him from stupid things, like steroids. A-Rod for all his natural talent is highly insecure. He is also image focused. Using steroids and thinking it would not come out is image suicide.

This morning, A-Rod used the lame excuse, I didn't do steroids. Later int he day he recanted, using the I dind't know defens. Alex, Alex, Alex, how stupid do you think people are? They got the records from the Baseball Player's Union. Lying about it intinally only made you look like an ass.

Was I surprised A-Rod went to denial? No, because once again it's his image. If he believes it, it won't be true. Well Alex you can deny it to yourself, but then their is the lab test that says you are a liar. Which would you rather be a fallen legend or an example of a liar and cheat? I personally would take the hit on my reputation for being stupid then for being a liar, then an idiot by admitting it and saying he didn't know. I will admit my mistakes. I have enough self-confidence in myself to admit my many faults; apparently Alex Rodriquez does not. He still believes the A-Rod fairy tale; and this fairy tell has an unhappy ending.

When Andy Pettitte got named in the Mitchell report, I was upset. However Andy came out and admitted to his nasty deed. It proves Andy is a mature person and can handle his own stupidity. When Roger Clemens was accused, he lied, of course, that didn't change my opinion of Roger either, watching him pitch for 20+ year,s you knew it was all about him. And unlike A-Rod, Roger will not be denied Cooperstown, he holds too many records, before he loaded up on the steroids to keep pitching. Alex on the other hand can probably kiss the Hall of Fame goodbye.

Had A-Rod fessed up today and been honest the first time, he might have got a pardon from the Baseball Writers. But Alex initially denied the truth, the truth that is plain in a printed lab report. Lying is something the Baseball Writers will not forget. Honesty and open dialog is the basis for their craft. Alex is not honest or open unless it benefits. Why then would they place him one day in the shrine of the immortals? Lying removes his reward for immortality. Had he gone with unknowingly stupid at first, he might have at least gotten an invite.

My parents always said, honestly is the best policy. In this day of tainted role models, what example does A-Rod's no, then maybe I didn't know defense teach our youth. It teaches them to lie, cheat and sneak to be successful. The fast track to disaster.

The biggest thing about this latest A-Rod Drama is the example it sets for those who want to be like him. And that is something we cannot allow. No matter how much talent, how much ability or success you attain, you should not be rewarded for attaining it unfairly.

As Kellogg's and USA Swimming stripped Michael Phelps of his rewards, the same should be done for all athletes who attain their success through cheating. Why it will not upset me if a talent like A-Rod is denied the Baseball Hall of Fame.

It is time to draw a line in the sand, the line of setting a good example. Those who cheated set bad examples, and bad examples requires punishment.

The moral of this tale, stupidity should never be rewarded and honesty is always the best policy.

Andy Pettitte Bargain

I'd like to think Andy Pettitte resigned at $5.5million because the country is in an economic recession, but truly he did it because he wants to end his baseball career as a Yankee. It makes you wonder why the Yankees let him go. Maybe they have finally learned how to staff their pitchers................Nah!

I love Andy, of my all time Yankees, those who lived in my adulthood, Andy, Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter, take 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Why Andy? It's not a knock on Bernie or Derek, Andy in first, because he always gives it his all even when he is awful.

Andy came up as a young pitcher from the minors; it's a hard job; look at the current crop of Yankee AAA pitching talent and what has befallen them. Whenever Andy would lose, the Post and News would start rumors he was trade bait. but he was never traded; and is part of the reason the Yankees have some of those shiny World Series trophies from the Torre era.

Yes Derek is a superstar, but fielding isn't' as demanding as pitching. Pitchers have to think: they carry the responsibility for wins and losses. Derek just as to worry about his ERA, RBIs and Errors.

Yes the Yankees let him go; because of his arm; stupid move when you consider all the money the Yankees had singed to other pitchers who never made it out to the mound in the Bronx. Would I have gambled, yes but I'm biased.

With Andy resigned, his function should be to get all the youth talent ready for a new era. The children of the future need an older mentor, Moose is off in PA on his farm, so that leaves Andy.

But come the new season, who will be the better man pitch for pitch, C.C. Sabathia or Andy Pettitte. CC singed for the money first, being a Yankee second, Andy singed to be a Yankee.

Money can't buy you happiness, but being a Yankee can.

To quote another famous Yankee: "I want to thank the good Lord for making me a Yankee....Joe DiMaggio"

Pecked At, But Not Swept

Andy Pettitte gave the youngsters a class today, a class sorely needed, pitching. Behind Andy, the team played baseball, Yankee baseball; even despite two late in the game rain delays. The Yankees came away victorious, 7-1, after a lousy weekend in Baltimore.

Supposed ace of the staff Chien-Ming Wang got chased in the 5th Wednesday night, despite that, the Yankees prevailed 15-9. However Then their was Mussina, Hughes Kennedy, who combined for a 3 games losing streak. Hughes made it to the 6th, when he was sent packing on Friday. Kennedy was sent packing in the 3rd on Saturday.

Mussina who has been giving Hughes and Kennedy pointer should just defer to Andy. Watching him today was a treat. Today Andy was the Ace of the Staff.

The Yankees needed the win as they are still on the road and head to Chicago to play those other Soxs. The Chicago White Soxs are 11-7, with Wang having to deal with Jose Contreras on Tuesday. Ex-Yankee Contreras pitches well except against the Yankees.

The real threat in Chicago is Jim Thome who is close to matching White Sox team records. Mussina will toss against Javier Vasquez on Wednesday and Joe Girardi has yet to announce a starter for Thursday.

Who ever he picks he will have to be better then Cliff Floyd. The road ahead is as hard as the one the Bombers just left.