More Bird Problems

The much anticipated arrival of A-rod was as predicted, useless. Yes he homered on the first pitch of his first at bat and put the Yankees in the lead; but he has not done much since Friday night.

Friday night's win was all about pitching. A complete game shutout by C.C. Sabathia, finally something to justify his $23,000,000 a year salary. Friday was what the fans anticipated since the C.C. signing.

However Saturday was ugly. Hughes didn't last and when he was finally pulled in the 2nd, it was too late. The Yanks were down 8-0 and would never come back.

Sunday got interesting with the Yanks down 3-1 at the end of the first Inning. However great plates performances by Johnny Damon took the Yanks to a 5-3 victory and allowed them to escape to Toronto with a winning series in Baltimore.

This leads to the next series with the Blue Jays. The Yanks are in Toronto for 3, with shaky but adequate catching, and players who notorious play poorly on the artificial surface in Toronto, A-Rod being one of those players.

A-Rod who is now batting 0.143; despite the crowning of his godliness by the Yes Network's Michaela Kay and many other sportswriters after his home run Friday night. A-Rod, who I have watched careful this past series is not playing defenses at MLB level. He should be sent to Trenton or Scranton for more work. His presence in the lineup does not add numbers to the boards, and impairs the Yankees ability to play an effective 3rd baseman. He clearly is not aggressively fielding, and was lucky to have Derek Jeter as the shortstop. Jeter clearly was playing both his and A-Rod's postion all weekend.

Heads up A-Rod, Rogers Centre is bigger than Camden Yards, and Jeter won't be able to carry you on his back fro another series. Move it or lose it.

Chapter 10 in the A-Rod Saga

For those who came in late I will recap:

Chapter 1: A-Rod opens mouth and disses Derek Jeter, causing the first of many controversies.

Chapter 2: A-Rod comes to New York Yankees from the Texas Rangers, bringing his all about me personality into the team oriented New York Yankees clubhouse; the Yankees begin a down turn.

Chapter 3: A-Rod admits to frequenting poker clubs, reviving the Pete Rose question about gambling issues associated with sports players.

Chapter 4: Mrs. A-Rod appears at the stadium in a controversial T-Shirt, making the front pages of the Daily News and New York Post, all his money can't buy good fashion sense.

Chapter 5: A-Rod seen with mystery blond in Toronto during the Yankees stand against the Blue Jays.

Chapter 6: Mrs. A-Rod institutes divorce proceedings after A-Rod and Madonna are linked as having extramarital affairs with each other.

Chapter 7: Madonna dumps A-Rod and divorces husband Guy Richie.

Chapter 8: Joe Torre talks extensively about "the A-Rod problem" in his new book, confirming A-Rod's self centered selfish attitude.

Chapter 9: A-Rod admits to steroids, receives many invitations to discuss this from the United States Congress, the US Attorney regarding DEA Issues and Major League Baseball. A-Rod's defense: "My cousin made me do it."

Chapter 10: A-Rod develops hip cyst which could end his career, and so I begin:


Chapter 10: The Hip Cyst:

• Hip Cysts typically are sign of osteoarthritis. Not necessarily a true cysts, they are weakened areas in the bone plate; and a weakened hip joint is never a good thing, once you have pain, the damage is done.
  
• Oh by the way, Osteoarthritis is one of the indicators of intravenous drug abuse and a documented side effect of HGH abuse. By screwing around with the body's normal metabolism by taking pharmaceuticals not prescribed for your condition, bad stuff happens.
  
  Never mind not playing in the world baseball classic, something I want moved to November and not the middle of Spring Training; A-Rod has bigger issues. He could be looking at surgery to fix his hip. Quite easily depending on the size of the area, he has potential for permanent injury, ending his career. While I would like to see A-Rod and his story banished from the Yankees, you don't want a career ending injury to befall anyone.
  
  In the end he only brought it upon himself. Using illegal obtained, non prescribed, performance enhancing substance can cause health problems, just ask Jason Giambi. A-Rod could be looking at early retirement from baseball, a life with an artificial hip, walker or in a wheel chair.
  
  So here you go boys and girls, a lesson, never cheat, especially in sports, because:

Paybacks are a Bitch!

C.C. Sabathia Deal is not Penny Wise but Pound Foolish

Every few years the Yankees get stung in pitching. I predict that the rumored deal with C.C. Sabathia will sting worse then any before. To spend $160 million for a 7 year deal on Sabathia is pure stupidity. Yes he can pitch, but for how long?

Sabathia has a weight issue. He has talent, but the extra baggage around his middle will eventually wear on his talent and his body. I would not have made the deal. I would offered him 3 years at $15 million a year and NutriSystem.

When the Yankees made a "great deal" with Jason Giambi, it backfired on them. In the end, amid Jason, PHD issues, the Yankees got stuck with s mediocre player. No one would touch the contract to acquire Giambi. I see similar issues coming down the road for C.C, only not steroids, cardio meds for when his CHF kicks in from his weight issues.

The Winter Meetings this year are in Las Vegas. The Yankees are acting like they are already there. They are gambling big money on someone who does not value health.

There are many things I can say about the money given to Alex Rodriquez, Derek Jeter or Roger Clemens, but come their due, they were fit and looked like baseball players. C.C. looks like he should be doing a stint on ABC's "According to Jim" Come to think of it Jim Belushi looks to be in better shape than C.C. Sabathia.

Sabathia is too unfit to even be in the NFL.

Here we go again, can anyone say Kevin Brown.............................. Really Cash haven't you learned anything yet?

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.

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.