Hope you all had a good week.
10. I know I wrote here recently (scroll down) that teams should pass on Barry Bonds, but at that time, the Mets had yet to begin their salute to the infamous "Homer at the Bat" episode of "The Simpsons," with so many players going down. I wasn't thinking specifically of the Mets when I wrote that. Yet given what has transpired in the last week, I think the Mets should seriously consider signing either Bonds or Sammy Sosa.
In covering Bonds' pursuit of Hank Aaron last summer, what stood out most of all was how much Bonds' teammates resented the influx of media around the club. With the Mets (or Yankees, or Red Sox, for that matter), a huge group of media already surrounds them. The players are used to it. They might not like Bonds, but they wouldn't be able to blame him for making their lives considerably less comfortable.
If signing an indicted player is just too difficult for the Wilpons to stomach, then how about Sammy? His numbers against LHPs (.410 OBP, .613 SLG) while with the Rangers last year shouldn't be ignored. He could give Ryan Church a rest against lefty pitchers and, when he doesn't start, serve as a vaulable, late-inning weapon on Willie Randolph's bench. And he proved last year that he has shed his prima donna ways.
9. If you take your 4-year-old to see "The Lion King" musical, and you're thinking, "He won't understand the plot, he'll just enjoy the music and the scenery!"...he'll understand the plot.
8. I've yet to see replay of the collision (the aftermath of which is pictured above) between young Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli and the Rays' Elliott Johnson, so I don't feel comfortable passing judgment. But it is nice, regardless, to see Joe Girardi speak so passionately about any issue. Considering that Girardi arrived in New York with a reputation for holding back with the media, that really hasn't been the case, so far.
Odd sidenote: In this story, Don Zimmer recalled Joe Torre telling the Yankees in a team meeting that they shouldn't slide into Mike Scioscia when he blocks the plate. That would've been odd advice for Torre to dispense, since Scioscia retired after the 1992 season and Torre didn't start managing the Yankees until 1996. Perhaps Zim was confusing Torre with old Giants skipper Roger Craig.
7. This spring hasn't been easy for the Mets, but their prime challengers aren't exactly cruising, either. The Phillies' Adam Eaton has back problems, so don't count on a rebound year from him. And of course Philadelphia already lost Brad Lidge at the outset of spring training. And the Mike Hampton comeback with the Braves isn't going so great.
6. If you take your child to London, and he or she is cranky from the time change, take him or her to Hamleys. The visit will have the effect of a legal performance-enhancing drug.
5. Let's make it clear: Joba Chamberlain will not begin the 2008 season in the Yankees' starting rotation. It doesn't matter who else does what. In order to stick within his innings-pitched limit of 140, he has to start out in the bullpen _ unless the Yankees went to a hybrid, six-man rotation, which they don't seem inclined to do.
4. Randy Johnson makes his first start of the spring today. Here's betting that the Big Unit, 44, with 284 career victories, reaches the 300 mark before his final scowl.
3. Speaking of wagers, we have four takers on the "Astros make the playoffs" bet. In addition to Andrew, Jason H. and Tim, Bill V. signed up. If Houston qualifies for the postseason, I owe each of you a box of Dunkins. If the 'Stros fall short, we'll arrange for a nutritionally superior, economically equivalent donation to a homeless shelter in Newsday's neighborhood.
2. Since my wife and I struggled with the time change in London, we purchased "No Reservations" on the pay-TV channel. Thumbs down, and it featured what is now officially my most tired movie cliche: When the character comes home, hits "Play" on the answering machine, and hears "You have no new messages," to indicate the character's loneliness. Please, Hollywood, come up with something different.
1. Maybe it'll prove to be absolutely nothing, but with Josh Beckett's back hurting, it's worth a reminder just how much teams' pitching staffs tend to break down following a late-October run, particularly in the much more challenging American League. Look at the 2005 Red Sox, 2006 White Sox and 2007 Tigers, all of whom suffered huge pitching setbacks following postseason glory.
Comments (5)
We missed you - I thought that you went on the literary DL due to mere contact with the Mets. Or, perhaps your next trip is to Camp David or Crawford, Texas, as we haven't seen you and Bush in the same place ever.
Does the indcitment clause rule out Bonds - and also Spitzer throwing out the first ball this season?
Sure, bring on Corky or Fathead. I'm sure if I were a young player trying hard to make it (or just remain) in the Bigs, I wouldn't resent everyone asking me about the overgrown, overaged thug on my team.
On Joba, it's much more fun to speculate what happens if there are injuries and he quickly becomes not only a member of the rotation, but a key one.
On Johnson, I've never liked his image all that much, but he's such a fiery competitor that I'll be cheering for him if he nails three hunj.
And I am against breaking opponents' bones in the regular season, let a lone spring training. The postseason might be ok, though, depending on the circumstances.
Yes to Sosa. No to Bonds. I hope Randy gets to 300. The play at the plate was ridiculous for a spring training game. I wouldn't mind a 6-man rotation, but without it, Joba should be in the bullpen for now. Don Zimmer knows baseball, but otherwise he is a big bag of hot air.
The Yankees beat the Mets to Billy Crystal.
Do you think the Rays wil run Billy over too?
Let's go Mets!