Correspondence

To: Philadelphia Bullpen
From: Pedro Martinez

Please for the love of all things holy, I gave you seven shut out innings. I made like it was 1999. Please don't blow this!


To: Pedro Martinez
From: Philadelphia Bullpen

Erm. We tried.


To: Philadelphia Bullpen
From: Pedro Martinez

...

I thought I left the Mets?

Manny Tests Positive for Something; 50 Game Suspension

Conversation:

Me: Manny Ramirez tested positive for a [banned substance] and is suspended 50 games.

Elizabeth: Juan Pierre must be thrilled.

A Preview A Day Keeps the Winter Away, #10

For the month of March I will be doing a season preview, with a new team each day, going in alphabetical order by team so I can save the Yankees for last, because I am, in fact, that devious.

As this is a Yankees' blog, the previews for AL East teams will be more detailed than those of AL Central and AL West teams, and any AL team previews will be more detailed than NL team previews, save maybe for the Mets. Each preview will involve consideration of how much 'threat' a team is to the Yankees, for fairly obvious reasons.

Up today: The LA Dodgers

I won't lie: the fortunes of the Dodgers this year will be on the mind of many Yankees fans, and for one reason: Joe Torre.

Yankees fans are, of course, lucky that the managing job Torre got was in LA, meaning that the Dodgers' fortunes are unlikely to impact our own, and thus, Torre fans need not feel bad rooting for him, and Torre haters may not feel bad rooting against him.

Anyway, as for the Dodgers themselves...last year, there was a large issue with the veterans and the youngsters being, shall we say, not the best of friends. They've got a great starter in Brad Penny, and some solid bullpen arms (well, at least until Torre has his way with them), but their line up has some serious question marks--they were the team that bit on Andruw Jones after an awful year with Atlanta last year, as well as with Jeff Kent and Rafael Furcal.

Threat to the Yankees: Green, Proceed Normally

If the Dodgers can figure out a way to work out all the kinks, they might have a chance at a Wild Card spot, but given the other competition, especially in their own division from Arizona, Colorado and San Diego, it's not likely.

The biggest threat the Yankees will have is when Torre comes to town to play the Mets, and steals a back page or two.

Just Some Notes

The charity auction I mentioned here is beginning to wrap up, so if you want to put some bids in, you might want to think about doing it soon, here.


Over the past week or so I've added a few blogs onto the side-bar; all of them, including the non-Yankee ones, are worth a look.


My cousin is a big Dodgers fan, so I felt obligated to send him an email telling him to hide the Dodger's bullpen at all costs. Especially Scott Proctor.


I've been spending most of tonight working on The Season; it's been so much fun to write so far, and hopefully it will continue. The best part today, however, wasn't the writing, but rather when I realized that certain things I have planned plot-wise actually fit together very, very well. I won't get into any more detail than that, but suffice it to say I am extremely excited about this!

I love the weekend.

The Sun Also Rises

(Thank you, Mr. Hemingway)

The darkest hour is just before dawn.

I’m not always one for overdone clichés, but this one seems to hold a particular resonance with me right now.

When you consider that on Sunday night Yankee fans were hit with the double whammy of archival Boston winning the World Series AND Alex Rodriguez not only opting out of his contract, but insulting the team by refusing to meet with them as well, it’s quite amazing that today seems, all and all, to be such a good day.

Joe Girardi was named manager; while all three managerial candidates were good, most people I’ve talked to (including Brent over at The Bronx Block and Andrea at Joblog Chamberlain ) agreed that Girardi was the best choice. He’s got a very different style than Joe Torre, did wonders for the Marlins in 2006, winning Manager of the Year, and has both played and media-ed for the Yankees.

While Mattingly will not remain with the Yankees, which was the proper option (and if you listen to Mattingly’s press conference, the guy is NOTHING but class), Tony Peña will, and by many accounts, including Pete Abraham, Peña is a class guy that is very close with the kids, and, well, if you saw the picture from the interview, Peña’s got some great fashion sense as well!

Joe Torre landed a gig with the Dodgers, which is great for two reasons: 1) Torre was a Dodger fan growing up, and 2) as an NL West team, the Yankees are unlikely to be concerned with them, except in the event of the World Series. Torre fans can still root for Torre and not feel bad about it.

Oh, and case you didn’t know, it’s been mentioned that Paul O’Neill, a guy whose name is more or less synonymous with drive and winning, could come back as a coach.

Yes, the Yankees need a third baseman, an entirely new bullpen (save Mo), and there are questions about right field (though Abreu’s option is likely to be picked up), 1st base and starting pitching, but one can’t help feeling that we’ve left the era of 2004-2007 (excepting June-September 07) when the Yankees were more a collection of stars than an actual team.

Because A-Rod opted out when he did, and the Yankees, once Torre announced he wasn’t coming back, did not take forever to name a new manager, the Yankees will likely be able to negotiate with Mo, Posada and Pettitte all that much sooner. In fact, Mo was in Tampa today (yesterday?), with his agent. Obviously there’s no reason to rush to a conclusion, but it’s a distinct possibility that whatever Mo wants, he’ll get (unless it’s 10 years and $250 million, of course). Same for Posada.

Are the Yankees a lock for the playoffs in ’08? Of course not, but ask yourself if the Yankees were a lock for the playoffs in ’07 anytime before they went 19-9 in July, and Seattle had the adolescent teenager of all collapses (the mother belongs to the ’04 Yanks and the father the ’07 Mets). Ask yourself if the Yanks were a lock for the playoffs in ’07 in April and May, as even while A-Rod was the Yankees, the team was only 21-29.

2008 is a year where the Yankees have the All-Star Game and that is also the last year of the old Yankee Stadium, a year where we’ve got three pitchers under 24, a year where Derek Jeter can not just be the captain in name.

Is it likely that 2008 will pass without at least some sort of memorable, classic, history-making moment?

Didn’t think so.


Every journey, even one to twenty-seven World Championships, starts somewhere. Sunday, yesterday and today we took the first steps.

I Don't Believe What I Just Saw! (Random Baseball Trivia, inaugural edition)

Today is the 19th anniversary of Kirk Gibson's famous home run--you know, the one where he was gimping so bad he couldn't really stand on his own, came up to pinch hit and then sent the Dodgers a 5-4 Game 1 World Series win, the one considered one of the greatest calls ever by Jack Buck "...it's a gonna be a home run! Unbelievable! The Dodgers win 5-4, I don't believe what I just saw! I don't believe what I just saw!"

Yeah?

That one.

So in honor of that, and since I can't find anything tidbit-ish enough, today's edition we have this tidbit on Vin Scully (who had quite a memorable quote of his own):

On the TV show "The X-Files", Dana Scully is named after...yep, you guessed it...Vin Scully!

And this tidbit on the 1988 LA Dodgers World Series run:

Despite Gibson's home run, Orel Hershiser won the World Series MVP, having an ERA of 1.00 over two starts.


Sorry for the short entry, but you had four from me yesterday! Four!

Back later with ALCS game 2 notes, but only if the game ends sometime before, oh, I don't know, one AM?