We need Bernie Back!

Alex Rodriquez and Mickey Mantle have one thing in common.......stupidity. Had Mantle behaved himself, he would have not needed uppers to play and downers to sleep. Instead Mantle painted the town red white wearing the pinstripes. He was a party boy; taking advantage of his fame. In the 1961 season, Mantle acquired a festering sore from his butt injections of uppers and downers. It effectively ended his home run race with Roger Maris, and nearly hurt the Yankees chance of wining the division.

A-Rod prefers low key, uses drugs he should not have, cheated, and now has a hip cyst and a torn acetabular labrum, he represents, while stupid, an offensive weapon against all teams. Cheating or not, Alex can hit the ball. Pitchers know that and plan strategy around his portion in the Lineup.

What other weapons are out there? One fan favorite and still scary bat, Bernie Williams. Williams a victim of Brian Cashman's stupidity a few years back was cut. Arguments by NYY coaches, Joe Torre and Tampa to keep Williams were not weighed. Cashman felt he was done; and in his new position of power cut Bernie Williams. Williams is not a power hitter, he is a switch hitter and that causes pitchers and managers to rethink their strategy. Yes the Yankees have Posada, but adding Bernie to the 40 man would be a smart move

Its time to admit you were WRONG Brian Cashman, and suck it up and re-sign Bernie Williams. Bernie represents a significant offensive distraction. Bernie can still hit. With A-Rod out Williams would be my choice for a bench player and DH for the time. (Especially since Mannie re-upped with LA).

Somehow I don't think Cashman is that smart, or George would have a few more American Leaque and World Series titles. Time to wise up Brian, you don't know squat about talent!

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.

Will The Yankees Retire Anyone This Year?

The truth be told, New York Yankee fans expect that the organization will retire Paul O'Neill's number. They finally nudged him to play in Old Timer's Day last years; and it wouldn't be fitting to retire his number in the new stadium. So the question remains is that the real reason why Hawkins gave up the shirt?

Rumors have been flying since Paulie retired that any season now, the Yankees would honor the warrior.

There are two retired Yankees who dwell deep in the hearts of fans, Paul O'Neill and Bernie Williams. O'Neill is on good terms with the Yankees, Williams I have no clue. No one has seen him since he was ousted before he wanted to go.

Both players have made stadium and Yankee history. Williams stands in the top 10 in many Yankee records. So that brings me back to this question, are we retiring any numbers this year? To do justice to one, without the other would be un-Yankee like; and Williams like O'Neill deserves to have his number retired in the House That Ruth Built.