On the Yankees beat

Wow...who would have thought around last august that Pavano would have a chance at opening day starter?

Blasphemy

I know this is exactly what I had in mind for the 2007 Yanks opening day, Carl Pavano as the staff ace!

OMG - Where is my machete????

i will be there on opening day and not looking forward to it. please, start rasner !! after a few beers, i guess i won't care who starts.

I see the game is on ESPN today...perhaps I'll watch and see how Pavano looks.

George

By the time you finish one beer, there's a real good chance Rasner will be pitching.

On the other hand, I have Scott Kazmir on my fantasy team, so opening day is looking pretty good.

Stop kissin up to Casual Observer. If you saw the highlights, a lot of his pitches were out of the strike zone that the Reds swung at and a better team will do him in. . He had over 100 pitches, that is $1million a pitch if you will, in 5 innings.

Rick

I've got Pavano on mine. We will be dueling thru our respective surrogates for who gets the W and the 4 points!!

I gotta feel pretty good about my chances the devil rays aint exactly packing...I hope for all our sake Pavano does well and we can all get behind him

So, little tony,

Because I'm not a Yank fan...I'm automatically the enemy eh?...classy.

You may of seen yesterdays highlights...I saw every pitch. In fact I've seen every pitch Dice-K has thrown in those games that were televised. This kid is something special...and you will, undoubtedly, have many opportunities to watch "highlights" through-out the season...because he is gonna make alot of them.

Big Tony, it sounds like you saw the same highlights I did. In addition, a lot of Dice-sox's pitches were obviously way outside of the strike zone and he was given the call of strikes. That's why the Reds were swinging at so many bad pitches. It appeared as though one of the Reds was going to bash the umpire for his outrageous officiating. Was the umpire Japanese or Bostonian by chance?

DiceK - he's the 2nd coming of Hideo Nomo, just more expensive !

Big Tony, did you see the highlights where Dice-soxi was running around the outfield after he pitched? They said he was running for a very long time, causing a major distraction, and couldn't figure out why he would need to run AFTER the game. I hope this guy doesn't think he's going to run around the Yankees outfield when he comes here. We'll just have to send him outside onto the Bronx streets to get his postgame "conditioning" in. He'll have lots of good company out there.

Got to love Kat. She definitely is the best at updating her blog and giving Yankee Fans the scoop.

Another great new place out there is www.yankeenation.typepad.com. It's got all things yankees plus a sense of humor. Check it out.

He won't be showered with love and kindness if he runs around The Stadium like that. Somebody will need to show DiceK the ways of the Bronx. I hope he parks his car on the street.

LMAO....

Sour grapes...how do they taste?

You clowns who make those sort of idiotic statments would give your left one to have Dice-K.

Thanks for the laugh....keep up the good work!

There are only 36,000 red sux fans. They "fill" that toilet bowl Fenway park every nite. 36,000 is a bad rainy nite in the Bronx.

Big Tony, do you sense some caustic animosity and hatred in our Yankees forum? I mean, this is a Yankees forum, isn't it?

Big Tony, I also feel some mosquitoes buzzing around the forum, trying to bite us to get attention. Did you bring your fly swatter?

The animosity has been turned up a notch by those loser Red Sux fans ever since they lost 5 straight at home last year. They need to bring some here of course. The baseball Gods do not like Boston, although they took a year off in 2004. But before and after 04 have been grand. Now they spend over $100million to buy themselves out of the doldrums, on an unproven guy,who looks like Nomo. That is Bad Business but typical of Boston.

You know, Big Tony, while we're waiting for Kat to bring us some YANKEES updates, I want to say that Red Sox fans love to play the game on paper, mostly in "psychic" fasion, because that's how they can win more than once a century.

...oh, and we can talk like this about the Red Sox because THIS IS A YANKEES FORUM. It would be classless, rude, and caustic if this were a Red Sox forum.

I'm trying to look on the bright side of having Pavano start opening day. The crowd is going to be juiced, there's going to be a lot of electricity in the stadium, he won't get booed as soon as he takes the mound. If he goes out against the Rays and gives up 1 or 2 runs over 5 2/3 or 6 innings then Torre will come out, take the ball, he'll get a standing ovation and build some confidence for his next start.

The only thing I would care about if I were a Red Sox fan about yesterdays game is this...what the hell is Francona doing letting his pitcher throw over 100 pitches in a spring start? Why is this not discussed more? Everyone is in love with the fact that he typically throws 300 pitches between starts in the Pen, that's great. And if I drive my car at its top speed every time I'm on the road my engine is going to blow out a lot sooner than it would if I drove it responsibly. If Matsuzaka keeps up this pace I don't see him making it to 30 without going under the knife.

Somebody put Rick on suicide watch. If Pavano is tagged for opening day, he's jumping.

I've been in favor all spring about Pavano. However, opening day will lose some luster with him on the mound.

CHIP-
Yea, "...and they lived happily ever after".

Chip,

I dont disagree with your point....but to be fair..this is the next to last ST start...most pitchers should be stretched out to hit the 100 pitch mark in that start...before toning it back to 40-50 pitchs in the last start before the season begins...this is not uncommon, or uncalled for, in my opinion.

Roy, the season is less than a week away, there is no point in taking a "glass half empty" view of what Pavano might do this season.

I'm not looking for him to throw up 20 wins with an ERA under 3.50 and racking up 300 k's while pitching 220 innings. If he can go out there, get between 12-15 wins, an ERA around 4.50 and keep the ball in the park and not gas the pen in each start, I'll be happy with that. It's the same with Igawa, I look at what the combination of Wright, Chacon, Small, Karstens, Rasner, Kris Wilson, Sindey Ponson and Corey Lidle gave the team last season from the 4&5 spots (combined 25 wins (11 from Wright) ERA around 8.00) and that was enough for the team to still win the division walking away, Pavano and Igawa should easily be able to improve on that.

Casual Observer doesn't know his ass from his elbow.

Yes Jason,

I'm pretty sure I do.

Well, Chip, you know the Red Sox motto: Win first, health last. That's why they used Papelbon until his arm practically fell off.

Noteworthy: Although the Reds didn't get any hits, they were hitting the ball. There were a couple of fly balls that would have been out of the park if not for the strong winds that kept them in. Of course, these don't show up in the stats.

Good point Lucy, he wont be that lucky in the AL East

If the Red Sox can get one good season out of their pitching god and win another World Series -- while sacrificing his health in exchange -- they would do it, no doubt, guaranteed. I'm sure they'd feel it would be worth their $50 million conversation as well.

Any Yankees updates yet?

Well I am happy that yesterday was a good day for Igawa, Karstens, Andy and even Wang. Perhaps the panic level will come down a little now. Opening day is special guys, but like JT says, there are 161 other games to play so nobody will remember opening day by late May.
This is a marathon, not a sprint. I'd rather have Andy Pettitte in October than April, same w/ all the others. I realize every game makes a difference but to risk someone being out for a very long time just to pitch opening day is not smart, IMO.

We Yankee fans should be "focused" on our "own" team. If the Yankee players play up to their proven ability, everything will take care of itself.

Roy's comment is very wise, "sagacious" if you will.

True, Big Tony, the Reds are from the National League. An American League team would have produced yet another great hitter (instead of a pitcher), resulting in a much higher pitch count -- sooner than the 5th inning.

Lucy

Chill. He's been respectful. He's not the typical Redsox clown who comes in here and embarrasses himself. Give him a break if anything he wants to talk with people like us because the Redsox fans are mostly morons.

PS. Matsuzaka running around the outfield gyrating his arms did look completely ridiculus.

Sagacious, indeed, and I bow to Roy's great wisdom. Typically, I do abide by the Yankees mantra: We care about our own team, we focus on our own team, and "everything will take care of itself" (just as Roy said.) I admit, I did get distracted, though, trying to swat at the mosquitoes buzzing around our forum. Of course, it's a waste of my time since those mosquitoes die their own death without any help from Yankees fans.

Its cool that Lucy sticks up for us Yankee fans. Keep up the good work Lucy, knock that Casual Observer out when he makes inane baseball comments !

I agree, Rock 'em Sock 'em Lucy !

Well, Phuck, I did sense some caustic animosity earlier. I don't think Yankees fans should be called clowns and idiots in our forum just because we evaluated a Red Sox pitcher. If this were a Red Sox forum, such animosity would be totally justified. Once again, the comments speak for themselves.

What does Kat look like?

My bad I didn't know he did all that.

She's beautiful.

She's Irish.

Her hair is an amber-red with eyes of emerald green...

Here's a quote from the Red Sox fan "casually" POLICING our forum:

"Sour grapes...how do they taste?

"You clowns who make those sort of idiotic statments would give your left one to have Dice-K.

Thanks for the laugh....keep up the good work!"

Since when do we need to uplift and compliment the Red Sox in our Yankees forum?

With silky skin and ruby red lips.

Her voice is soft and sweet, whispering words of love and encouragement about our beloved Yankees.

You go, Kat.

Final Results are in, all agree, the Casual Observer Sucks.

For the past couple of weeks I have been monitoring this blog. My thought was to get a "feel" or pulse for how Yankee fans felt about their team this Spring Training. I thought I would get an insiders view to some of the more unknown players...the ones that dont get the lions share of press. Some insight that a Sox fan who lives in Maine wouldnt typically be a party to. I figured perhaps I could do the same for Yankee fans who may be curious about the progress of Sox players. Let's face it...the two teams are irrevocably intertwined. I expected to get some grief...being a Sox fan. I expected that most of it would be "good natured" and kinda figured a few of you to be a little more vehement in your disdain for anything Red Sox. I also expected I would be able to reach a few who would be interested in the exchanges...and to my delight, I have. I'd like to thank those of you who have been accomodating.

To be honest, what I have found is that a majority of you fall into the vehement catagory. You make ridiculous statements like what a "toilet" Boston is. Not that is matters much to me...I live in Maine, but Boston is a city steeped in rich tradition and history...it is a great town. Much like NYC. You make remarks like how "hostile" all Sox fans are, when what I see is hostility on your part. You try and taunt me with silly pathetic comments about the Sox players....like somehow this is suppose to bother me. I mean if it makes you feel better...go for it..I really dont care..I know where the little "x" is in the corner of the screen if I get tired of your childishness. I do understand your sense of ownership of this blog...even though in truth you have none. I see the same thing..and it is as ridiculous...on the Sox blogs. You'll notice that I have never been offensive, impolite, disrespectful, or obnoxious in my posts. The same cannot be said for some of you.It occurs to me that some of you really like it this way...and want this sort of idotic behavior to continue and to even accelerate. Hey...nothing wrong with a bit of good natured ribbing...but that is not what I'm talking about...or what some of you are doing. You ought to be ashamed. For what it is worth...there are so called Sox fans who have heard the same from me...and probably like you..it sometimes falls on deaf ears. I am of a mind that people who would rather spend their time disparaging other teams, and their fans, rather than enjoy the game...are not fans at all.

Meanwhile, I will continue to browse this site...make comments when I feel it appropriate, and hopefully establish a few relationships with Yankee fans so we can have each others perspectives through-out what promises to be a barn-burner of a season.

Hah Kat sounds like a catch.

said sucks !

Casual Observer states:

"I have never been offensive, impolite, disrespectful, or obnoxious"
but then he writes:

He is here for "Yankee fans who may be curious about the progress of Sox players" (like we have no other way of finding out IF WE CARE.)

"A majority of you fall into the vehement catagory. You make ridiculous statement" Any Yankees fans appreciate being scolded?

"You try and taunt me with silly pathetic comments about the Sox players."
Anybody come here for the purpose of taunting this wretched soul?

"Some of you really like it this way...and want this sort of idotic behavior to continue." I mean, really, whose behavior is idiotic?

"You ought to be ashamed"?
Anybody here ashamed of CO's behavior? I am.

Would any Yankees fans "hopefully establish a few relationships with" this vile-filled person? You can count me out.

Well Lucy,

Obviously, you have deaf ears...which is just fine by me. Label me vile if you like..and it makes you feel better. Try looking in the mirror darling.

I can anticipate future comments that I should ignore this self-proclaimed "persecuted soul," and I will try, but I'm just taken aback by his/her degree of phoniness, condescension, and immensely contradicting comments and behavior. It's clear he/she is trying to incite us and I have to berate myself for falling into his/her mindless trap.

Gee...I hope not Lucy...you do such a great job of proving my points.

CO: We have seen incivility lately, and it wasn't you. It wasn't even directed at you.

Most on this blog seem to prefer civility. I wouldimagine that as long as you do, too -- and as long as you stay in 'your place', that is, the place you advertise for yourself as the Casual Observer -- you may be able to pass among us peacefully. When you step out of that self-defined role, you will be seen to be flying under false colors and, I would expect, will be treated accordingly.

Casual

I for one have enjoyed your visit to our blog. You seem cordial and knowledgable on baseball matters. I think the problem is mostly an age or generational thing. I have talked about this at length on previous threads. The younger generations seem to be less civil than older ones. I hope you don't hold all Yankee fans in the same light?

Just to clarify, the "traps" are mindless (meaning they serve no civil, intelligent purpose). Unfortunately even mega-geniuses can fall into traps from time to time and Yankees fans are not immune to falling into them. I just want to put that into proper perspective. I'm glad we have an admission here of mindless wrongdoing.

Not at all Rick.

I have enjoyed our exchanges too. I look forward to keeping the line going this season.

For the most part it's pretty easy to ignore the idiots...but you know how it is...every once in awhile you just cant help but poke em with a stick to see if they are still breathing.

I do the same thing with the morons who proclaim to be Sox fans too.

Well, Rick, if CO resorts to calling you an idiot, maybe you'll sing a different tune. It's not generational. It's called treating people with common decency. If this person doesn't like to hear negative evaluations concerning Red Sox pitching, then they shouldn't visit here. It seems CO treats people differently.

Children, if you all don't start getting along I'm going to turn this blog right around and we're going home.

Ok, now that that is out of the way. I'm all for getting the opinion of a Red Sox fan every so often. There are things I want to know.

For example, does the Red Sox fan feel good about replacing a heart and soul guy like Trot Nixon with an over priced, injury prone JD Drew who is often accused of not caring? Does the Red Sox fan worry that Curt Schilling looks like he spent the winter eating every potential closer candidate? Is the Sox fan a little annoyed that with the money his team has thrown around he is essentially watching his team become what Sox fans mocked the Yankees for becoming after the 2000 season? Are they confident in the health of Jason Varitek? Are they worried about what prospect they are going to have to trade to reacquire Doug Mirabelli if Kottaras can't catch a knuckleball? Was Josh Beckett last year just a fluke or will he mirror the failures of other NL East pitchers who came to the AL East? Will Papelbon's shoulder hold up to closing or will they be looking for closer candidates by June with Paps on the DL? What about Manny be Manny? Will Lowell repeat or regress?

These are all subjects that I have an opinion on and my opinion is clouded by the fact that as a Yankee fan I loathe everything Boston, but I am interested in knowing what an intelligent Sox fan thinks about them.

He's a typical snobby arrogant New Englander, and they all root for the red sux.

"It's pretty easy to ignore the idiots"

"I do the same thing with the morons who proclaim to be Sox fan"

oh, this person deserves a hand. Let's just pat him on the back for being rude and nasty.

Rude and Nasty is the way up there in Losertown MA & right up the coast into frigid Maine. With those stupid New england accents.

The best way for me to answer your questions Chip, is to tell you....watch and see what october brings....

Well, Chip, I guess "children" have more integrity than adults because they demand to be treated with respect in their own "home," so to speak. CO's CONSTANT name calling should not be tolerated and commended. That's where the childishness comes into play.

You want to know how desperate I am to change the conversation? Here's what I'm going to do, I'm going to write the following:

I think the Yankees are a vastly better team with Alex Rodriguez than they will be next year without him, and while I hope he doesn't opt out of his contract and become a free agent I am certain that he will and the Yankees will be stuck trying to replace him with either an over priced Mike Lowell or Joe Crede or by moving Robinson Cano from 2nd to 3rd and either signing a second baseman (usually a little less expensive than a 3rd baseman) or by promoting either Andy Cannizero or Alberto Gonzalez.

Casual Observer:
Your post is very sensible and I respect your right for comment.
To be candid, however, (and if you review your own posts) some of your inflammatory remarks have elicited the "hostility" that you experience from others on this Blog.
Good natured ribbing about opposing players is common place, attacking someone personally is not acceptable.
For the record, I've watched Dice-K with interest, hoping to find flaws that would ease the pain of Cashman not being successful in acquiring him. During the three starts that I've watched him, he has thrown filthy stuff, and if he stays injury free will be a force in the AL.
And If we could rewind to 5 months ago - November 2006, virtually every Yankee Fan was singing the praises of Matuszaka as the key acquisition of the 2007 NY pitching staff. It didn't happen so we move on from there.
One thing we can all look forward to, however, is the fact that NY likely has the best pitching prospects since its dynasty days of the 1950s.
Its gonna be a great future for Yankees Fans!

I for one don't want to talk endlessly about Dice-K...I would much rather talk about Kei Igawa a Yankee pitcher who has availed himself rather well don't you think ?...I really don't need a Red Sox perspective on the game of baseball ,especially Yankee baseball ! I don't care how erudite they may think they are.Cough cough.

Well said Chip, and I too want his comments on all of those quiestions.

Lucy, don't take personal offense to my use of the word "children" I'm just having flashbacks to long car rides where my father used to say that to me and my brother.

Casual, That wasn't the question, the question was, how do you feel about it? I could say the same thing about Pavano, the state of the Yankee rotation as a whole, etc, but that's no fun. Admitting that there are aspects of the team you are skeptical about does not make you a bad person or a bad fan.

Chip

Exactly, I too want to hear what a cordial and knowledgable Sox fan has to say. And, yes, they can give us some perspective on a number of questions.

Chip : whatcha got ,lets talk Yankee baseball !Please no A-Rod!

Ruse,

You're right, for all the doubters, Igawa has put together a fairly decent spring and while he still walks too many hitters he seems to have an ability to work his way out of jams and is improving from one start to the next. Like I've said a few times, the comparisons are going to be there between him and Matsuzaka, can't be helped, but they are unfair as one is being looked at as an ace and the other as a back of the rotation guy.

Like I said earlier today, if he and Pavano out perform what the team got last year from their 4&5 pitchers, the team will be very solid and I'll be happy with that level of production.

A Red Sox fan giving a Yankee fan" perspective on a number of questions" ? Like when Tavarez will implode and Papelbons arm falls off? and Romero can't get lefty out or Donnellys lost a foot off his fastball or Timlin may be done.Stuff like that?

Lets bring back Carl Pavano and Arod questions to end this bickering. If, I see a war of words going on. I usually just move on and stay out of it because their are no winners just tired fingers, the way I type.

Carl Pavano pitching today is a good thing. Hopefully he'll have a good day mechanically, physically and mentally. As I said before, so many times before it seems. If, BC decides to keep Pavano which seems to be the case then Carl you have my full support. I want the best 25 guys that we can assemble going North. I hold no grudges against Carl. He's wearing the navy blue pinstripes. Carl, just get it done!

If, we think the road to the WS is straight without hills and valleys then all we have to do is forget about Toronto, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago and LA. After this we'll take on the NL. EZ, NO.

To set matters straight so I don't appear to be igniting controversy, Big Tony and I were discussing Dice-k's outing and joked about his postgame jog. OC proceeded to call us "clowns" and "idiots," who would "give our left one" to have him, and that we were "tasting sour grapes." There was more which I'll refrain from rehashing, but I'll say to those of you defending this person, you should review all the facts before you voice your opinion in this person's favor. To step into the middle of an argument and take sides, without knowing the cause or provocation, is unacceptable, in my view.

Chip : Exactly ! and they have Rasner/Karstens to fill in if need be...I'm still in much anticipation of what we have in Humberto Sanchez...once again the season begins in a few short days and ITS GREAT TO BE A YANKEE FAN!

Ruse,

Let me ask you a question - and while this involves Alex he is not the topic - but if Alex leaves there will be a significant drop in terms of power from the right side of the plate. The two best free agent hitters on the market besides Rodriguez will be Andruw Jones and Mark Texiera, both represented by Scott Boras, do you think the Yankees would negotiate with either if Boras took A-Rod to the free agent market or would they focus on players represented by other agents?

OK alvaro..and Chip,

Trot. Trot will be sorely missed...he was well loved by Sox fans, even though his production has slipped sgnificantly. J.D. Drew...he is no more injury prone that Trot..and will put up far better numbers...can cover more ground in the field and has as good an arm. He is a solid number 5 guy in the order....I think
Sox fans are gonna love J.D.

Schilling is having an awesome spring...he looks healthy, has developed another "out" pitch...a change up to go with the rest of his pitches...and one he can use on days when his splitter sucks. Most sox fans expect Schilling will have a very good season...pencil him in for 18+

The money...most Sox fans dont give a sh*t about the money...didnt care when the Yanks (who still are...btw) were spending oodles...dont care that the Sox are...it aint out money.

Mirabelli...who we refer to as "beerbelli"..sucks...and no we are not worried about Koteras...or his ability to catch the flutter-ball...most of us think trading Josh Bard was Theo's biggest mistake...to this point.

Josh Beckett....Beckett is having an outstanding spring...he has gained command of his curveball....Beckett will make a run at the Cy in 07.

Papelbon is the next Mariano Rivera....you know it...and we know it.

Manny will be Manny...he will be 320/40/120

Will Arod be Arod?

Lowell maybe the smoothest fielding 3rd baseman I've seen since Brooks ...I think you will see Lowell be what he was last season...a solid 285/20/60 guy with a fantastic glove...I'll take that in the number 6/7 hole.

Lucy,

Who would you rather see in the Yankee bullpen - Henn or Villone, Britton or Beam?

To add my two cents, I had no problem with Casual Observer. We had an exchange, just like two guys sharing a beer and talking baseball. Fans do not affect what happens on the field. The sooner yankee and red Sox fans understand this then the better we will all be.

Casual,

I will only pick on one of your points, Papelbon being the next Mariano - I heard the same thing about Gagne, K-Rod, Lidge - it takes more than one great season as a closer to be a great closer, certainly more than that to be the greatest closer of all time.

Lucy : You're great ! Don't worry about it .Who was it that said "opinions are odious at best" ? Mine,yours,whoever.

You are right Chip.

That'swhy I said he will be the next Rivara, not that he was.

No question about this kids talent or ability....if that shoulder stays healthy...Papelbon swears it's water under the bridge. I hope so...not only because he is a Red Sox...but it is always a shame to see such talent wasted by injury.

Thanks for your support, Ruse.
I knew I could count on you.

Thanks for the redirection, Chip. I'm going with Villone.

Larry, just don't joke about Dice-k. It appears to be a sore point.

Ruse, I prefer "opinions are like a$$holes, in the end you're going to think everyones' stinks and is full of S*it other than your own"