Never Underestimate the Heart of a Champion

Never Underestimate the Heart of a Champion

 

 

When discussing his injury and when/if he will be back on the field, Derek Jeter had the following to say: "When it heals, I'll be ready to go. It is frustrating that I can't magically make it heal sooner than it is taking. But there is no doubt. I have no doubt." I believe him and it’s not because I’m a Yankees fan, but because I know Derek Jeter well. Derek is one of the few athletes in this world who is fueled by hatred and negativity. He doesn’t allow it to get to him, he thrives on it. Ever since he went down with the broken ankle all he’s heard is that he’s done and he’ll never be the same. Unfortunately, that is the world we live in these days. Every injury, every suspension, every slump is touted as the be all and end all of life. Fortunately for baseball fans and more importantly Yankees fans, this is what Derek Jeter needs to hear.

In sports it’s rare for a player to have a killer instinct or to be gain motivation from being slighted or looked over but when it happens, look out, because there is no stopping that player. The prime examples of this are in basketball due to its more one on one aspect of play. Michael Jordan was cut in high school and to this day probably wouldn’t throw water on that coach if he was on fire. He used that motivation of being told he wasn’t good enough to make it to North Carolina. While there James Worthy was the more prominent player but Jordan got his chances to shine. After being drafted he wasn’t the Bulls go to option yet and was being dominated by the Bad Boys of Detroit. He used this as motivation to elevate his game and become the greatest to ever play the sport. Same goes for Kobe Bryant. He’s heard about living in Shaq’s shadow, he’s heard he’ll never be as good as Jordan, he’s heard the boos and the hatred from the fans. Most guys would wilt under that scrutiny. Speaking of Wilt’s, Chamberlain got dominated by Russell because all Russell heard was how much better Wilt was. David Robinson got abused by Hakeem Olajuwon in the 1995 playoffs because Hakeem felt disrespected by the fact Robinson won the MVP Award and was being called the best center in the league. Shifting to football, Aaron Rodgers fell in the draft and has played with a chip on his shoulder for the whole league and most especially the San Francisco 49ers, his hometown team who passed him up. Derek Jeter has dealt with scrutiny and hatred before and exceled because of it. This time will be no different.

Derek Jeter was being projected as a number one pick in the 1992 draft, a pick that was held by the Houston Astros. Houston passed on him out of fear for the money he would be asking for. Four other teams passed on him as well, allowing him to fall right into the laps of the New York Yankees. Jeter has never forgotten this and it is one of the main reasons he has been the player he is. Another factor is all the shortstop talk he heard early on. He couldn’t hit for power like other shortstops (Nomar Garciaparra and Alex Rodriguez), he wasn’t even the best shortstop in New York because he had no range, unlike Mets shortstop Rey Ordonez. Well a funny thing happened because of all that talk. Rey Ordonez never materialized to much of a player at all, Garciaparra had a decent career but nothing to write home about, and that Rodriguez guy, the one who was supposed to be the greatest shortstop of all time, Jeter started seeing him every day to his right playing third base. See A-Rod agreed to switch positions to third to accommodate Jeter, knowing full well the Yankees were his team and also knowing there was no way in hell Jeter would switch positions especially for Rodriguez. That right there is the fundamental difference. Guys like Rodriguez will do whatever they have to in order to feel liked and to fit in, whereas guys like Jeter or Jordan will tell their team to f**k off. Their competitive nature and their willingness to be the best doesn’t allow them to work that way.

Many people will laugh and challenge Jeter’s claim that he will be back and be the same player he always has been. The joke however, is on them. He hears every single one of you loud and clear and when he’s hitting game winners, leading the Yankees to the playoffs, and possibly another World Series win or two, you’re comments and jokes will be running through his mind fueling his performance. Me? I’ll be sitting there with a huge smile on my face reaping the benefits of having one of the greatest play for my team.

 

It Pays to Be a Ray

It Pays to Be a Ray

 

 

 

Growing up, those of us who love sports have dreams of playing professionally. No matter what game it is you favor or excel at you dream of the big moment when the pressure is on you to deliver for your team and come through in the clutch. There is however another thing we wish about our professional career while growing up and that is having the most fun we possibly can while playing the sport we love. Nowhere is that fun atmosphere we all seek on display better than in Tampa Bay.

Manager Joe Maddon is known as The Mad Scientist because of his unconventional approach to the game. Whether it is from a tactical aspect and the crazy shifts he employs for hitters, or from a team building, chemistry aspect, and his themed road trips or decisions on how to keep the team loose. No manager in baseball can compare to Maddon. His shifts are studied and copied by other teams and no manager has a better feel for his team and the pulse of the clubhouse.

A lot of old school types who are afraid of change and never heard of adapting with the times will disagree with his style and question his decisions, but team management and more importantly, the players who play for him will never say anything bad about him. They will go to war for him and have his back through anything because they appreciate his effort, they know he would have their back as well, and there’s something to be said for someone who doesn’t take everything so serious and can cut loose and have fun.

This past weekend Oakland was coming into Tampa playing about as well as anyone in the game and Tampa was playing exactly the opposite. They couldn’t score runs, they couldn’t hit for power, and were losing games. Enter The Mad Scientist. Coming off a win Friday night and sensing the turnaround Maddon brought in a DJ to the clubhouse on Saturday to spin classic rock and hip hop tracks for the team. The team followed that up by winning an ugly grinder of a game 1-0. The next day, players entered the clubhouse to find a magician performing tricks. It may sound like a second grade assembly at your elementary school, but the thing is, it’s so unique, and we all want to be kids again, so you know as well as I do you would be entertained. Tampa then took the field and completed the sweep of Oakland. Monday night C.C. Sabathia and the Yankees came to town and got hit around by the suddenly hot Rays.

The DJ and magician are just two examples of how Maddon keeps things loose. The team has themed road trips where everyone who boards the team plane must abide by the theme rules no exceptions. Some examples of themes are: letterman jackets, pajamas, nerd wardrobe, and bad golf outfits. There’s nothing better than winning and having fun while doing it and that is something Tampa and Joe Maddon excel at. I leave you with a few photos showing the team during these theme trips and defy you to tell me this isn’t a team you want to play for.

 

 

Why the Mega Powers Dodgers Need to Start Panicking

Why the Mega Powers Dodgers Need to Start Panicking

 

 

 

It may be unfair of me to call the Dodgers the Mega Powers because well let’s face it Hulk Hogan and Macho Man Randy Savage won championships, but the fact still remains, this team was put together with an open checkbook and built to win now. In this scenario, Frank McCourt will be playing the role of Macho Man Randy Savage. Hated, booed, and vilified by fans for their actions, but a face turn would change all that, or in McCourt’s case, having to sell the team. Fans loved the guy once they knew he would be out and unable to continue doing all he had done to run a storied franchise into the ground. Now enter Earvin “Magic” Johnson, the Hulk Hogan of Los Angeles. He could do no wrong, he walked on water, he was the fan favorite like no other and he was going to be the figurehead that was going to save the Dodgers. With the backing of the Guggenheim group this team was going to assemble a roster built to win World Series championships and take over baseball. They came out of the gates guns blazing. They traded for Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, and Josh Beckett in two separate blockbuster trades, not just because of the name power but also the required checks going to be required to pay these guys. The team would also open up the checkbooks for Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier to ensure they stay in Dodger blue and in one final monumental move would sign Zack Greinke to a six year, $145 million dollar deal. These moves would push team payroll over $200 million for the 2013 season and show this team wasn’t kidding around when it came to spending to win. While all this was going on, staff ace, and arguably the best pitcher in baseball, Clayton Kershaw has yet to be signed to a new deal. With his stats, accomplishments, and a Justin Verlander contract as a basis, Kershaw will be paid by this team as well, really pushing that number for payroll up to great heights.

With everything completed and the team ready to start the season, the pressure would be on the Dodgers to perform to the levels of their contracts and get this team back not only to the postseason but to the World Series as well. A funny thing happened though on the way to all this. Hanley Ramirez injured his thumb during the WBC and would require surgery that would land him on the DL for the start of the season. Zack Greinke would break his collarbone during an altercation with Carlos Quentin of the Padres after hitting him with a pitch and Quentin deciding to charge the mound. Matt Kemp would decide to start the season batting .200 with no home runs thus far and only four walks. The pitching staff other than Kershaw is not performing well. They are giving up too many runs, and with a stagnant offense, that’s a recipe for disaster at least thus far. Finally, in addition to all the “star” players the team has, and its ability to spend like wildfire, they’ve done a poor job with the surrounding pieces. Giving guys like Nick Punto, Luis Cruz, Jerry Hairston Jr., and Skip Schumaker decent playing time when it may be too generous to call them even replacement level players is mind boggling. The Dodgers may well be on the road to implosion if the mediocrity keeps up and Kemp and Ethier can’t join Gonzalez and Crawford in the hitting parade and if Greinke when healthy and one other starter don’t step up and perform well.

With a 7-10 record thus far, already six games back of the division leading Rockies, the team is showing no signs of regrouping and making a run. In addition to the lead they need to overcome to catch Colorado, they have the Giants and Diamondbacks ahead of them as well. The same San Francisco Giants that have won two of the last three World Series and know how to weather the storm of a season, and a Diamondbacks team that has adopted the personality of its manager like no other team. Kirk Gibson was gritty, hard-nosed, and refused to go down without a fight and these DBacks have shown that same resolve thus far. Plus, if you listen to Eric Hinske, the Snakes have the best player in baseball in Martin Prado, so they have that going for them as well.

The Mega Powers imploded when Macho Man once again turned heel, and since Frank McCourt isn’t coming back into the fold we need another guy to step up and start yelling at Miss Elizabeth and causing turmoil. My vote is for Josh Beckett. He’s just prickly enough to fill the role and can easily be hated. I just hope no one orders fried chicken and an Xbox 360 to the clubhouse to speed the process along.

State of the Yankees

The 2013 Yankees: Why A-Rod, Teixeira, and Granderson Need to Stay Away

 

 

 

Before the 2013 season started Yankee fans were up in arms over some of the signings made by the team. Vernon Wells? What the hell do we need him for? Travis Hafner? Don’t we have enough injuries? Kevin Youkilis???? This is a joke right? Is this really happening? He’s the enemy!!!! Then the season started and the Yankees lost 2 of 3 to the hated Red Sox. That’s all the vindication the fans needed. End the season now, there’s no reason to play another 160 games, this team is pathetic and dead in the water. Since that point though the team has gone 8-3 and is showing signs of a team that is in it for the long haul. The fans? They’re back on the bandwagon in full force ready to cheer this team into the World Series. Funny, who would have thought a New York fan base would overreact? No one saw that coming.

These 2013 Yankees aren’t your Daddy’s Yankees, hell, they aren’t even your little brother’s 2012 Yankees, and that is a very, very good thing. These new additions are playing with a chip on their shoulder, eager to prove they still have what it takes to perform at the big league level on an everyday basis. Same goes for Francisco Cervelli, a Yankee veteran but a guy trying to prove he can be a starter in this league despite the fact that he isn’t going to put up huge numbers. He’s been around this team, he knows the pitchers, and all he needed was a chance. This effect of trying to prove something and grinding out at bats is rubbing off on the rest of the team and is making this group a fun one to watch.

Another big difference between this team and ones of years past is the home run dependency. Sure, the ability to hit the long ball isn’t lost on this group but they can put crooked numbers up on the board by stealing bases, playing small ball, and driving pitches into the gap as opposed to the upper deck. And therein lies the rub. When Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, and Curtis Granderson return it completely changes the dynamic and makeup of this team.

Alex Rodriguez at this point, to Yankee fans, doesn’t even exist. This is pure speculation (wink wink) but he’s breaking down with injuries and not putting up typical Alex Rodriguez numbers because he stopped juicing and using performance enhancers. Besides all that and despite the fact that he was a big part of the 2009 World Series win he can’t escape Derek Jeter’s shadow and will never live up to his standards despite superior numbers, and even though he would never admit it, it eats him alive and he made a mistake staying here as long as he has. Rodriguez has a reputation of not being comfortable in his own skin and trying desperately to have everyone like him, and here in New York, even if you help win us a World Series, you’re not going to get a pass forever.

Mark Teixeira is a wizard defensively at first base there’s no denying that. There’s also no denying that he can hit monster home runs to sections of seats other wish they could hit, but on offense his at bats result in walks, home runs, or strikeouts. He’s Adam Dunn with a glove. He is a switch hitter but most at bats come from the left side and at Yankee Stadium all that means is eyes bulging out his head staring down that short porch in right field. He fell in love with the long ball and his game has suffered because of it. Same goes for Curtis Granderson, the same guy who in 2007 became only the 7^th player ever to hit 20 doubles, 20 triples, and 20 home runs in the same season (Jimmy Rollins also achieved this feat the same season). Yes there’s a big difference between Comerica Park and Yankee Stadium but Granderson too fell in love with the long ball. Although unlike Teixeira his at bats usually don’t result in the occasional walk, only home runs or strikeouts.

Adding these players, despite the money they are being paid, to a lineup that excels at what they fail at is a recipe for disaster. If the Yankees were smart they would look to trade Granderson yesterday. He can bring back some value and a change of scenery will do wonders for him. He is a classy guy who says and does all the right things, that can’t be taken away from him, but in order for him to be great once again, he needs to go. Getting rid of Teixeira and Rodriguez is a pipe dream. They’re stuck here and will eat up at bats this season and in future seasons from guys who deserve them more and would be better suited to help this team win but so is the life of a Yankee fan nowadays. Too much money doled out for too little in return.

Shipping Up To Boston

Shipping Up To Boston

 

 

 

As a New Yorker and a Yankee fan I will be the first to admit I’ve had my fair share of moments where the hatred for the sports teams of the city of Boston has overtaken me and I’ve said things that are unfit to print. However, events like those that occurred yesterday help remind all of us that despite sports allegiances, city allegiances, and state pride, what matters most is the allegiance to each other as people. Boston, like New York is a wonderful city in this country. There are so many similarities between our attitudes, our upbringings, and most importantly our fighting spirits that never allow us to cower or get down when adversity strikes. Maybe in the grand scheme of things that’s why we feel the way we do about each other, we’re exactly the same and we don’t like it.

For as long as I could remember Patriots Day and the Boston Marathon have always been one of my favorite days as both a sports fan and as an American. Watching the 11:05 Red Sox game and keeping tabs on the Boston Marathon happenings were a beloved pastime. They still will be in the future but I will no longer be able to think about it without first recalling the bombings of yesterday. Patriots Day and the Boston Marathon are supposed to be happy times when we realize spring is here and summer is right around the corner. Damn those responsible for tarnishing what we had.

Yesterday’s events were plain and simple acts of terrorism. There are no two ways about it. Whether those acts were foreign or domestic we’re unsure of at the moment but it goes without saying that regardless the outcome, we as Americans will not let it break us.

Unfortunately with the world we currently live in there is always going to be that threat and in the back of our minds whatever huge gatherings we attend as sports fans, music lovers, or anything else we as society flock towards in masses, we will be wondering if something will happen. Terrorism is always going to exist but terrorists are nothing compared to the massive numbers of good hearted people who will do whatever it takes to help others and stand united against the threats against us.

Too many innocent lives have been lost because of acts of terrorism and too many more will be lost in the future but always remember we are fighters, our spirits cannot be broken, and good will always far outnumber evil. With that said, I’m now going to pull up a stool at Warren Tavern, order myself a Sam Adams, and drink to the lives lost and those severely injured yesterday. I’m not even going to end this by saying “Stay Strong Beantown” because we all know you will.

The NL East Arms Race

The NL East Arms Race

 

 

 

The most exciting part of being a baseball fan, besides possibly getting to watch your team make a World Series run, is watching young prospects come up and perform to their potential or possibly beyond. Year in and year out new stars make their way to the grandest stage with all the hype and hyperbole one can muster up and are thrown into the ocean, being told to either “sink or swim.” Taking a look at the NL East this season and you get the feeling that there are some great swimmers who won’t be needing a life raft. Some are far more established than others but all 5 teams have a young pitcher who can carry a rotation and carry a team for years to come.

The Philadelphia Phillies are the first team to come to mind and their ace Cole Hamels is a grizzled veteran and ready for the retirement home when compared to the other pitchers who will be profiled. Hamels is 29 years old and is beginning his seventh year in the majors. Besides all that, he is already a World Series champion, winning with the Phillies in 2008. In addition to the ring Hamels also won both the NLCS and World Series MVP posting a 4-0 record in the postseason. His lifetime record in the postseason is 7-4 so he has proven not only that he is an ace but also has the moxie to handle the playoffs. The Phillies have an older roster surrounding Hamels and their postseason successes may be few and far between over the next few years but Philadelphia fans and all of baseball know that Hamels will do all he can to make sure that failure isn’t an option.

Next up are the Atlanta Braves. The Braves have a plethora of young arms but the one that stands out above the rest is Kris Medlen. Medlen started his career as a reliever and spot starter for Atlanta but last year was converted to a full time starter and since then both he and the Braves haven’t looked back. In twelve starts last year Medlen posted a 10-1 record to go along with a 1.57 ERA. He had 120 strikeouts and of the 12 starts, two were complete games, one being a shutout. So far this year Medlen has a 1-1 record with a very respectable 1.50 ERA. Tim Hudson may be the veteran leader and the guy all the other pitchers will turn to for advice and guidance, but they all know that Kris Medlen is the key.

The next stop on the tour around the NL East brings us to our nation’s capital. The Washington Nationals, like the Braves, have a number of young pitchers but the ace of the staff and the engine that makes the car run is without question Stephen Strasburg. Already in his career Strasburg has had to undergo Tommy John surgery and rebounded quite well from it, even if the controversy of shutting him down last year was a hot topic around baseball. My personal opinion, they were justified in doing so. Gio Gonzalez was having a Cy Young year, the rest of the pitching staff was quite formidable, and with the money they have invested in Strasburg they wanted to protect both his future and the future of the franchise. Strasburg before he is done will have a Cy Young or two on his mantle along with a World Series championship or two. The young core of players that Washington boasts will carry them to success for many years to come.

As readers of this blog know I am from New York City, the craziest, wildest media circus known to man. Here in New York, Mets fans like to think that there is a rivalry between themselves and the Yankees, when in reality, we all know to be considered a rivalry there needs to be sustained success on both sides. However, with all that being said, the future sure looks bright for a rivalry to be brewing. Despite their financial struggles, which according to the team are over, the Mets have built a good young nucleus of players to carry them forward for years to come. Besides “Captain America” David Wright the one name that comes to mind with the Mets future is Matt Harvey. Harvey made his Major League debut last season as July call up for the team and pitched well despite a 3-5 record. The problem last year was the Mets were a horrible run scoring team, whereas this year they lead the league in that category. All Harvey has done this season is remind fans of Doc Gooden, posting a 3-0 record while allowing only six hits in 22 innings pitched. Those numbers are ridiculous and are almost incomparable. Some records Harvey has already set are being the first pitcher since 1900 to win first three starts by having 25+ K’s and 6 or fewer hits yielded. Also, since World War 2 only three pitchers have started a season with 7+IP, and 3 hits or fewer allowed, those being Jim Rooker, Nolan Ryan, and Matt Harvey. In 13 career starts Harvey has 95 strikeouts which rank him 3^rd in franchise history through that many games trailing only Nolan Ryan and Doc Gooden. Whether Yankee fans like it or not the Mets will be for real soon enough and will boast the best pitcher in the area by far.

Finally we look at our youngest contestant in the contest for best young pitcher in the division. Down in South Beach the Marlins do things that make fans scratch their heads and turn on the franchise on a consistent basis. I shudder to write anything positive about this guy for fear he will be traded because of his stats thus far and the unwillingness to have to pay him in the future. The man I am talking about is Jose Fernandez. Fernandez is all of 20 years old and has never pitched above A-Ball but since making his debut last week due to injuries in the rotation, all he has done is shut down the Mets and Phillies. Fernandez is of Cuban descent and has one hell of a story to tell about getting this far, including three thwarted defection attempts that led to prison terms, and on his fourth attempt, which was successful, his mother fell overboard and Fernandez had to jump in and save her. Dealing with circumstances like that isn’t going to affect a guy standing on the mound staring down any hitter in the box. His fastball hits 97 and his breaking pitch has the velocity of a slider but the movement of a curve. He is also working on a changeup that will be devastating as well from the looks of it once he has mastered it. Last night against the Phillies he also showed an ability to hit as he drove in a run on a base hit to left field. His swing is forceful and one of a guy who knows what he is doing in the box. Hopefully he is a pitcher that Marlins fans can enjoy and cheer on for years to come, but so often that isn’t the case and he will end up somewhere where he can be truly appreciated by fans and ownership alike.

The next few years in the NL East will provide a lot of good games and matchups people will go out of their way to see. The fights for division titles and playoff spots will define excitement, and as a baseball fan I’m glad I have a front row seat.

From The Bash Brothers to The Bernie: How Oakland is Taking the Game by Storm

From The Bash Brothers to The Bernie: How Oakland is Taking the Game by Storm

 

From the beginning of last season the Oakland Athletics have amassed one of the best records in baseball and without a doubt have had the most fun while doing it. Watching this team regularly you can’t help but notice how close everyone is and the camaraderie being off the charts. Their offensive approach was changed by hitting coach Chili Davis and they have reaped the benefits. It’s a lot easier to have fun when you keep going through every team that stands in your way. Also, knowing that you’re never out of a game because you had 15 walk off wins last season between the regular and postseason helps to boost confidence and solidarity.

It all started last year when Coco Crisp changed his walk up music to the song “Bernie Lean” by ATM and IMD. The song is a tribute to the cult classic film “Weekend at Bernie’s.” From that point on whenever something good happened players would do the Bernie Lean and not soon after all the fans followed suit. Catching on like wildfire the dance soon took over Oakland. For those completely unaware there is a video involving A’s players which can be seen here The Bernie Lean.

This season the Bernie Lean lives on in Oakland to the point that the A’s have scheduled a Coco Crisp Bobblehead Night in which Crisp’s likeness does the Bernie Lean Coco Crisp Bernie Lean Bobblehead. Also, the team chemistry is as strong as ever. Whenever a player hits a home run and returns to the dugout he must run through the home run tunnel as seen here Home Run Tunnel. In addition to the home run tunnel and the Bernie Lean there was also the game last season in which Josh Reddick celebrated a Coco Crisp walk off sacrifice fly by running out onto the field in a Spiderman outfit to give him the shaving cream pie SpiderReddick. The team is a joy to watch and looks again to be a contender, currently riding an 8 game win streak in which they have scored at least 6 runs in every game. They may not be filled with household names but these guys love the game and love playing with each other. There’s not much else that can be said about this team and how great they are so I will leave you with this: When all else fails, just