On the Yankees beat

Kat,
You're doing a great job. That is encouraging info on Giambi, although I remember what happened when the Yanks tried to make him use the opposite field more a few years ago and it wasn't pretty.

I've always wondered how you broke into the business you are in, can you tell us how it happened for you? I think it would be an interesting story to share.

I've been saying for months on this blog that the Yanks should use Giambi's contract year to their advantage.

He knows he's not coming back next season and money is always a big motivator.

Let's just hope his better conditioning translates to better health in 2008. I'm not going to hold my breath but anything is possible when someone is playing for their next contract.

Let me preface my future comments by saying that I am the worlds biggest loser.

JOBA

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/sports/baseball/24yankees.html?em&ex=1204002000&en=7f8e040086748540&ei=5087%0A

favorite part =

TAMPA, Fla. — Joba Chamberlain recently tried to involve his fellow pitcher Mike Mussina in some postpractice recreation in the Yankees’ clubhouse.

Addressing Mussina by his nickname, Moose, Chamberlain asked if he wanted to join in playing video games. No, the 39-year-old Mussina told the 22-year-old Chamberlain; he does not play video games.

Want to watch me play video games? Chamberlain asked. No thanks, Mussina said. Well, Chamberlain continued, would Mussina like to play Ping-Pong? Without answering, Mussina kept walking out the door and turned left down the corridor.

So Chamberlain added in a loud voice, “Hey, is the hearing the first thing to go when you get old?”

Suddenly, Mussina reappeared in the doorway and replied, “I hear everything!” in a way that made Chamberlain smile and onlookers chuckle.

LOL...I friggin LOVE Joba!!!!! Lets hope the young man can stay healthy. I dont want another Mark Prior / Kerry Wood fate.

The older players on this team may not have the opportunity to sign extensions with the Yankees even if they have excellent years. This is because the Yankees have some players on the farm getting ready to break in at the big league level. So, don't see the Yankees making offersn next year.

A longer recounting of that incident reported Moose saying, "I hear everything you say... I hear everything you THINK!"

Kat, I assume you went out to eat with Girardi too? Make sure to spill the beans and tell us what he said!

Great news from camp huh? Giambi with a glove....how funny is that. Also terrific heartwarming stories about Tubby the Tuba sitting on his butt playing video games. Boy now I can see I have been wrong all along abnout how pitiful this pitching staff is. I can see why you all are convinced this motley collection of has beens liars and Jenny Craig customers is the next coming of the Orioles 1969 staff.

Boy that Tubby is soooooo cool. I didn't realize he played video games. I guess they will help him figure out how many damned pitches he throws. Ironic that in this day and age when parents and health officials credit video games for the poor physical conditioning of todays youth that the guy who was scouted as a health risk for being so fat is sitting on his butt playing video games. Hilarious....you just can't make stuff this funny up. This team is a rolling joke a minute. Giambi with a glove....really Giambi with a glove. I read it here. He is actually planning on playing the field. I cant picture if that is more funny...or dangerous.

We will see though, right? Tell me again where I am wrong.

I'm a booger-eating Mets fan and I have nothing better to do than troll a Yankees blog. And yes, I do have a major inferiority complex because my Mets have played second-fiddle to the Yankees for more than 45 years.

Have pity on me. I'm a Mets fan.

Jason Giambi may want to forget the 2007 season but he did just fine against the Red Sox.

He went 13 for 41 (.317) in the 14 games he played against Boston with 2 doubles and 2 home runs, 4 runs scored and 7 RBIs with a .451 OBP.

At least Giambi has always given us a good effort. More than we can say for Carla Pavano!!!

Item: Rookies are attending media training this afternoon.

I wonder if the beat reporters will notice any difference in the rookies after they attend this training.

I wonder if the rookies smile more, provide more than one word answers to questions and call the reporters by their first names after they complete their training.

Rick,

Did Giambi give you a good effort when he sat out game 5 of the 2003 World Series?

Or his going cold turkey on 'roids caused him to miss out the 2004 post season?

Or not being able to play the field last year?

3 of the 6 post seasons the Yankees have played in since his arrival you could point to Giambi and shake your head

With regards to Giambi's postseason statistics with the New York Yankees -
1) 2002 ALDS batted .357
2) 2005 ALDS batted .421

With regards to Giambi's regular season statistics with the New York Yankees -
1) 2002 Reg season 41 HRs 122 RBIs 109 Walks
2) 2003 Reg season 41 HRs 107 RBIs 129 Walks
3) 2005 Reg season 32 HRs 87 RBIs 108 Walks
4) 2006 Reg season 37 HRs 113 RBIs 110 Walks

You can focus on the negative or you can focus on the positive.

He appears to be in great shape this spring...I mean GREAT shape. I believe he is going to have a monster year.

Sully,

My thoughts exactly.

It's amazing and almost appalling how Rick can give a proven cheater and steroid user like Giambi every benefit of the doubt but downright refuse to do the same for A-Rod - a guy who has won two MVPs in his first four seasons with the Yanks.

Go figure.

Giambi does seem like a decent guy and all and someone who I think would be a fun guy to party with. That said, let's not forget that he has undoubtedly been a huge bust since his signing after the 2001 season.

He has essentially had two and a half good seasons in 6 years.

But, yeah, at least he gives Yankee fans a "good effort."

Nice Job Kat Woman ... you are a hard working reporter, at times more of a cheerleader for the team, but the NY Post is too negative and you sort of balance them out. If you like the team how can you not be biased? Look at Phil Rizzuto announcing.

A few comments ...

Good for Giambi with the haircut. The Yanks look good on the field.

What's with the nipple piercings for Brackman and Joba? Doesn't that hurt? What's the purpose? Are they Stone Age tribesmen in Africa? Neolithic? What's the point of doing this to yourself? If it doesn't matter, why did the NY Post report it?

How much revenue do the Yanks generate in Asia, TV deals, merchandise, baseball schools?

How can Hank Jr. praise Cashman? WTF? I mean, 55 mil for Igawa's 2 wins alone has to be the worst baseball move in recent memory, the Hampton and Kevin Brown free agent contracts not withstanding. With so many personnel decisions gone wrong and the never ending string of off field evil, isn't Cashman more of a textbook example of HOW NOT to run a team. The Paris Hilton of GM's? Sometimes you have to laugh at the spin.

Like Girardi talkinga bout A Rod and Jeter's friendship and the changing dynamic because A Rod is a family man.

Does that include the Vegas gal dynamic and the front page photo on the NY Post, not to mention C Rod's Tank Top?

I mean, it's so funny, like that movie Thank You For Not Smoking. You have to laugh. Do they not see how others view this though? It's like they live in this convoluted dream world, a parallel universe of its own Yankee pseudo reality. (See "I threw the broken bat at Piazza because I thought it was the ball.")

We all make mistakes but his are legion.

Anyway, it should be a fun season!

Jason Giambi was hitting the ball very well to both sides of the field.
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Let us know if Giambi's hitting to all fields continues. There is no way we want opposing teams to stop using the so-called 'Giambi Shift', especially the Red Sox.

Who could ever forget Melky scoring from first base with Giambi at bat and the shift employed by Francona's boys a few years back.

As I remember it Varitek kept changing the signs because he was obsessed with the Yankees stealing signs and the runner (Melky) jumping off of firstbase. Then he was doing his up and down and move at the last moment routine so the batter doesn't get a lock on the pitch location and all it does is confuse the pitcher.

Tek let the ball get away from him (just about 5 feet to his left) because he forgot what he called or where the location was going to be.

Melky only went about one third of the way to second and stopped but put Varitek in a panic and while still refusing to remove his mask,and without being set he threw the ball into right field.

This is where the lack of training on plays involving the 'Giambi Shift' did Varitek in.

Melky ran on to second and never stopped because there was no one covering third base due to the shift.

Varitek did his part by running to third base leaving home plate uncovered. Melky never stopped and ran right past Varitek and scored on an uncovered home plate.

I hope teams continue to employ the shift especially with a fast runner on first base.

Let's go Yankees!

I just read that both Posada and Molina claim Hughes is throwing harder than he did in 07.

Not to pour cold water on all your Yankee Benevolence....but every team in baseball plays charity games with colleges and organizations around the country. I know you only listen to things when the Yankee name is mentioned and anything not Yankee is like it never happened but dont act like the Yankees are some how the only team doing these things because they aren't

That said George Steinbrenner has been individually one of the more philanthropic owners in recent years. He has persomally aided victims and family of victims of local tradgedies from 9-11 on down.

We will have to see if Danny is still whooping about Giambi in June. Somehow I doubt it. Has there been a June when you fans where crowing about Giambi....I mean since he was a Yankee? I love it when people get all worked up about some "nothing else to report" news story. Giambi looks in great shape....same was said about Pavano last year BTW.......he is hitting the ball to all fields....against BP pitching.......Posada says his velocity is up.....and he thinks Clemens was truthful is EVERYTHING he said.

It looks like there is a Good Say Hey/Bad Say Hey thing going on here. Or else someone screwed up trying to be Say Hey. Could be the same guy who tries to be Nudge all the time too. But such is life.

Nice to see that Danny has such a fascination for the Sox. So do I...my spin on things is a little different, that's all.

Nudge is correct again...most teams play charity games against colleges to start the ST season. The Sox play two games tomorrow...one against Boston College at 1..and then Northeastern at 6. This has been happening for years...I assumed that all MLB teams were doing something similar.

CO,

Maybe Danny doesnt realize that there are 143 games NOT against the Sox that need to be played.

True enough..

Also...the match ups between the two teams this season, for the majority of the 19 games, are in the latter part of the season...which I applaud. The games seem to be more significant if played in August and September.

Nudge,

Here's my prediction.....

Now that the Sox have signed fat Bart...Giambi wont stand a chance.

I haven't decided if the Sox signed him because they actually think he may help the starting rotation....or they wanted someone to makes both Schilling and Beckett look thin by comparison.

Well August and September sound good to Danny. Thats probably about when Giambi will be coming off his first trip on the DL. Perhaps a foot fungus this year.

Another in the long line of overwieght pitchers whose careers ended abrupty due to injury.

Well...

Nice to see the Yanks youngsters are seemingly doing well so far this ST. Clearly the Yankees will be heavily reliant on their success this season. The Sox too, will rely on their youngsters...ie Lester, who by all accounts is ready for a breakout season...he is "tall and strong" this spring, and Bucholz who has impressed the likes of Lowell and Ortiz this spring to the point both have declared that this kid is a CY Young winner waiting to happen. Ellsbury may be the second ROY in a row for the Sox.

Danny should be excited about those 19 games this season between the two teams...we ALL may see some real homegrown future stars getting a taste of "the rivalry".

Should be highly entertaining.

CO,

I just can't get too excited about the anecdotal comments about young guys. What is a player supposed to say about a highly touted rookie......."I was unimpressed, I don't see what the team is talking about with this guy"? Also just about anything that happens in spring training is meaningless. A kid can look great till opening day and one bad outing for a pitcher and a bad week hitting for a position player and all that hype goes out the window.

This is why I always like it more when the young guys are introduced in season. Then they have a groove going and the get integrated and you get a pretty good idea about them. In spring it becomes 10 weeks of talk and speculation that gets wiped out once the season begins in earnest.

Well Nudge,

That is all true...except...by watching what transpires with these rookies/prospects in ST, it can be a determining factor in what sort of role they will be slated to play, and certainly the "raw" talent they display can be assessed...of course that does not guarantee what sort of performance they will have over the course of a season. But, if nothing else...it is an indicator of what might be expected.

In any case, watching youngsters develop is one of the better aspects of the game, from a fan's perspective. While it may be true that 9 of 10 "prospects will either not make it, or have a marginal impact at the ML level, there is always that 1 who goes on to stardom....and it may be that the Sox and Yanks both have 2-3 youngsters at this particular point in time who become future stars.

Certainly there is reason to be optimistic.

Disgusting. One more piece of baseball history up for sale.

Excerpted from AP story:

Sam Zell, chief executive officer of the Tribune Company, said Wednesday he won't hesitate to sell the naming rights to Wrigley Field -- even if baseball purists don't like the idea.

He plans to sell the Cubs and Wrigley separately and in his own time frame. He says Major League Baseball has approved "four or six" potential ownership groups and that any one of them would be fine.

The sale of the team has been delayed by Zell's plan to sell the team and the stadium separately.

------------

Whatever we may think about the business-like orientation of the Yankees, they don't sell naming rights, not to the Stadium, not to the Field.

CO,

Yes I know what your saying. But I have too often seen a guy pitch to a 1.29 ERA in spring training and pitch 5.92 in April and never be heard from again. ST Is a weeding out of sorts but I can't project forward beyond that. Once the season starts with 2 or 3 rooks starting...its hold your breath time all over again until the end of April. Then if they come close to what they did in spring.....you can be hopeful for the remainder of the season.

Diane,

If Wrigley Field were named Cubs Field....I think the decision process would be......slightly affected by that.

Nudge,

So it would be okay if naming rights to historic Fenway were sold to Burger King because it's not called 'Red Sox Park'.

It's fine that naming rights to Shea were auctioned off to a bank because it wasn't called Mets Stadium?

I guess we see things a little differently.

That's okay, I guess it makes the world more interesting...

The point is this:

Both the Sox and Yanks are in a position where they ARE reliant on more than one rookie/prospect/2nd year player...what ever tag you want to apply. Both team's over-all success for 2008 will be largely determined by the play of these youngsters.

Not that other MLB teams dont have the same situation...but it has been awhile since both the Sox and Yanks were in this position at the same time, and to this degree.

of course the Sox have fat Bart as "plan B". Dont forget that.

I am a big know it all loser

at least annoyi has learned from his/her past mistakes...

He/She got "loser" correct this time, instead of the typical "looser" that he/she usually regurgitates on most every post.

Diane,

The point is if your stadium is named after the team then changing the name of the stadium from that of the team to another companies name is disassociating the team from the stadium. Wrigley Field was named after a previous owner. He is no longer connected to the team. If the Field was Cubs field then changing the name to something else has a different effect/meaning whatever you want to call it.

You can mourn for the days when nothing ever changes and call it tradition. Thats fine but then be consistent. Traditionally teams didn't own cable networks or play with a DH or travel by airplane or let women reporters in the locker. I can go on more about old vs new. Things change like it or not.

Not that it matters, but Wrigley Field was originally called Weegman Field named after the guy who built the stadium.

The park was built for the Chicago Whales, a Federal League team.
The league folded but the stadium stood and the Cubs moved in and Wrigley named it after himself.

So not to put too fine a point on it... but it has already been renamed!

Sorry I went on and on, it's very understandable that tradition means less to fans of other clubs with less reason to care about it.

I think it depends on what type of change it is. Personally, I don't like the corporate names for stadiums. The amount of money that a team gets for selling the naming rights is like looking for pennies in the cushions of your sofa. I don't like that the Mets decided to sell the naming rights to Citi Corp and I would have liked to see them name their new park in a way that honors the two NL teams that they replaced. They could have sold billboard space to Citi Corp and given them a few panels on the outfield fence or something.

Football teams in the NFL do it all the time...in fact the revenue stream from selling the naming rights is HUGE. It aint pennies. I can see both sides of the argument, but in the end, it is the game itself that draws us in, not the name of the stadium. I would be disappointed if the Sox sold the name rights to Fenway, and it became "Bank of America Park" or something....but I'd get over it....wouldnt change the game itself for me.

Cas,

I know that NFL and NHL teams do it all of the time but, there's a certain romanticism connected with baseball and because of that, it seems tacky.

Define HUGE revenue stream for me my Maine Friend.

The Mets got 20 million for selling their naming rights. That's not a lot of money in the scope of things meaning I don't believe that it will go a long way in contributing to Santana's salary. (LOL).

Besides, their new park (and any new park either getting built or has been built in the last 10 or so years), have the luxury boxes to generate a lot of revenue. At least, that's what I'm assuming.

And if Boston sold the naming rights to Fenway, they'll be a revolt in New England! It will be the "battle of the Fens" and they'll be more people buried in the "Mahrsh" than that cop in The Departed

Hey casual observer - you are a big dumbbell

Well,

I'm not sure of the figures in every case John...but I think in some cases it is an ongoing revenue stream. I don't disagree with you regarding the tackiness....but that is what it has come down to....every ML level team, be it baseball, football or what have you is looking for every possible revenue stream it can find.

I just hope we never see company logo's on the uniforms of MLB players.

LOSER

Do you remember that movie with James Caan called Roller Ball? All of the teams were named after some corporation. Somehow, what's going on now with sports kinda reminds me of that.

I know; it's weird.

John G,

A correction on the Rollerball analogy....the CITIES were named after corporations. And Roger Clemens could learn a line from John Houseman...no one man is bigger than the game.

I look at change this way. If its good change, it sustains itself. If its bad change, it doesn't. Remember when they tried that stat Game Winning Hits. That stunk and went away. Naming rights has sustained so I think there must be something to it. I might not like all the change but it plays itself out in spite of the smug attitudes like the ones Diane puts forward. I have yet to meet any Yankee fans that I consider highly evolved in comparison to Kansas City royal fans.....but by her comments you'd think that Yankee fans have some higher moral ground of judging these things to stand on.

Thanks for the correction Nudge. I didn't remember that, but to me, it's still the same. Principle-wise at least.

I'm all for change if it's a good thing as you say. For example, I like interleague play as that has created some excitement. The same can be said for the 3 division format with a wild card. Both good things as far as I'm concerned.

I don't know about Yankee fans standing on some higher ground thing, but I understand the tradition stuff. I personally don't want the Yanks to do the same thing that other great, tradition laden teams have done such as the Celtics and Canadiens. There was something special about the Boston Garden and the Montreal Forum and that's missing now.

I may not be making any sense and I'm probably too much of a romantic about it, but it's just my opinion.

Thanks for the correction Nudge. I didn't remember that, but to me, it's still the same. Principle-wise at least.

I'm all for change if it's a good thing as you say. For example, I like interleague play as that has created some excitement. The same can be said for the 3 division format with a wild card. Both good things as far as I'm concerned.

I don't know about Yankee fans standing on some higher ground thing, but I understand the tradition stuff. I personally don't want the Yanks to do the same thing that other great, tradition laden teams have done such as the Celtics and Canadiens. There was something special about the Boston Garden and the Montreal Forum and that's missing now.

I may not be making any sense and I'm probably too much of a romantic about it, but it's just my opinion.

Stupid security code!!!!!

Sorry for the double post.

Not higher, Nudge. Nor morally better. Those are your terms.

Just different.

It's natural that fans of a team with a long and distinguished history would value tradition more than others. How does recognizing that fact represent a smug attitude?

When someone who is not a Yankee fan makes that very ordinary statement (and they have) do you find it smug? or just a common observation of human nature...

Maybe envy or resentment colors your perception of statements about history and tradition when they are made by a NYY fan.

John G,

Also remember that things also come full circle. The early days of ball the parks were small and cozy. Then they went big. Now the trend is back to small and cozy(and expensive). As for the 20M in naming rights for Citifield....I look at that this way. The team would make the same bottom line either way so thats 20M less that the fans would pay for tickets. Even if its a buck a ticket at least someone other than the fan is subsidizing the payroll.

As for tradition in general...well when does your tradition requirement begin? 1970...1920...1903...mu point being, there is no tradition other than what you yourself define. In 1903 the Yankees were the Baltimore Orioles. In 1910 they were the NY Highlanders. Do we return all traditions in our lives back to 1850, how about 1750 or why not just do what people did back in 1000BC?

Life and traditions have changed manytimes over in history. Being too tied to the past is generally not considered a healthy thing in our daily lives, but some how it becomes sacred in regards to sports. But sports actually is some peoples daily lives so why should they sacrifice the ability to move forward because people outside dont like it.

Enough philosophy. Hope its warmer in St Louis than on LI.

God I love to hear myself talk. or write

Diane,

The Yankees are not anywhere near the oldest sports organization. There are many with longer and just as distinguished histories that couldn't care less that the Yankees have a facial hair policy or monument park or the same facade of the stadium or whatever you cherish as important to baseball. Traditionally the Yankees played at the Polo grounds. I don't hear any outrage that they don't return to that tradition. Like I said to John....you can determine what your timeframe is for your tradition. Why should everyone else be forced to respect it?

John G,

BTW The naming rights is 20M a year. So by next year Santana is almost a freebee.

Nudge,

You keep inventing points to argue against and addressing them to me.

I never said the Yankees were the oldest franchise around, and my statement about feelings for tradition referenced 'team with a long and distinguished history' -- nowhere did I limit it to Yankees fans. Nor did I mention any expectation that others would care about the storied teams' traditions as their fans do.

How do you come up with this stuff?

Even more to the point, why address it to someone who never mentioned any of it?

Time to move on, I think.

I really am a lonesome loser.

would think that tradition begins when the team begins. Traditions have to start someplace. Just like a family starting a tradition at Christmas or something. I would consider the Orioles and Highlanders part of Yankee tradition. Bing too tied to the past as you say is not good so I agree with you there. But remembering the past and either using the lessons learned from past mistakes or enjoying the warm feeling that you can get from a memory is a good thing.

The naming rights thing is here to stay since so many teams in all major sports do it now. But I still don't like it. I know that the Mets are bringing in some extra revenue by doing it, but i still would have liked to see them name the place in a way that somehow honors the Giants and Dodgers. The rotunda at the new park looks like the rotunda that was at Ebbetts Field so maybe that's tribute enough.

I don't know about the weather in St Loo, but here in Phoenix it's around 75 and sunny.

Diane,

Other fans don't think the word revolves around their team as many Yankee fans do. To the 99.99% of the country that isn't Yankee fans this is obvious. To Yankee those fans it's proposterous. I,m sure your not really interested in the St Louis Cardinal traditions. If you'd like I'll go on and on about them so you can get the sense of how you sound. They have a heck of a lot more tradition thatn the NY Yankees.

John G,

Sorry for the geography error. I guess I had Ant on the brain. So I guess then Yankee Stadium and all can never be part of Yankee tradition since it didn't exist for the franchises first 20 some years.

I would consider Yankee Stadium, along with Highlander Park, the Polo Grounds and whatever park that the Orioles played in to be part of Yankee tradition no doubt.

This is not an attack, Diane, just one person's opinion. And, it is not to belabor the point, but to illustrate it.

Your comments earlier did suggest that "other" organizations may hold lesser standards than your beloved Yankees....much like your comments a few days back in which you stated that youngsters who are brought up through the Yankee organization are better prepared and exhibit more class and polish.

Whether these comments are intended to be pretentious or not, they are easy to read that way.