The Magic Carpet

By Matthew

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Welcome back, NFL fans.

And, if this is your first visit to The Magic Carpet, you will soon understand that I am talking TO certain fans and will infuriate others. Because no matter what is happening in the Country, Major League Baseball and the NBA are Democrat sports and Football is the GOP Game.

A Free Enterprise Democrat like Guru LOVES a players league where the best talents make the coin and drive the interest - that's Baseball. In Baseball, once you've proven your value - you are in line for a pile. The GOP types pull their hair out over the love for Manny, Alex and the Yankees and cannot understand why the Schillings get blasted instead of championed by other players and urban media. City people in Blue Places fill Baseball stadiums, rural folks in Red ones bitch about steroids and pine for the 'old days', but as in all of their nostalgia, those old days featured even MORE winning by the Yankees and top dollar talent flowing towards places where it got paid. Democrats LIKE strong unions, strong opinions, diversity, foreigners in on the party and wave after wave of young talent flowing in on the schedule that talent creates. Free Enterprise lovers LIKE meritocracy, businesses that thrive or fail based on productivity and a straightforward path to wealth for talent.

A Feudalist Republican PREFERS an owners league, staffed by subjugated employees who have to stay healthy to get paid, have their salaries 'capped' by men who have vast fortunes/generate massive revenues from the Sport who pool their interests so nobody loses from not winning and everybody wins as long as the TV money flows in (and Jerry has to share his apparel revenue!) In Football, the Pile is there for a select few BEFORE they've proven a thing and the established talent are taunted and gimmicked to keep their cost down. When a player moves into a higher echelon of compensation in a lot of NFL places, the implied message is 'home team discount' and, if that don't fly the whispers start about attitude and that guy will be shipped, regardless of production, rather than PAID what he's earned - that money, of course, goes instead to talent who come from only ONE source the 'system' from college Football, under league restraint. Those kids who wander off of Dominican fields or Japanese Company leagues onto MLB rosters don't exist in the NFL. Feudalist don't really dislike socialist principles, they only dislike them when they benefit the employee and they think Capitalism means what is good for Capital (meaning them), not economic dynamism that generates quality. The NFL is the auto-industry of the '60s, they want to keep things JUST THE WAY THEY ARE and, with no competition, they can keep it going.

In Baseball, the best players who ever played - play now. In Football, the parity means teams flare up and down and that is the draw, not the quality.

Jones is the NFL Steinbrenner, and like him, the players all want to wear his uniform, live like kings and be the center of attention and the other owners and fans despise him for not walking in lockstep on 'us' versus 'them' and the demonizing of minority loudmouths. Here its the Warners who get the L-O-V-E and the TO, Chad and Romo who are the 'bad guys', Tedy Bruschi is his coaches hero for being a selfless overachiever but Assante Samuel and Richard Seymour get banished for having the balls to think they should command top dollar for their HOF skill levels.

A season after the collapse of Cowboy health and leadership took the consensus NFC Champs all the way down to 9-7 and a playoff-less season with a trashing at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles and NFL fans watched in HORROR as the cretin Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals, they of no tradition, no fan base, and a 3-7 Regular Season record against the actual NFL (6-0 against the NFC Western chump change - Rams, 49ers, Seahawks)...

One thing is clear. There is only one way for things to go and that is UP.

For Guru, the NFL has been a diminished commodity since the establishment of the Salary Cap in the mid '90s and each season has generated a little less excitement. Last year, on the heels of the thrilling Giants/Patriots Super Bowl and the possibility of a truly great Cowboy team that would generate the sorts of interest only the Cowboys can...the excitement crept back in. But Brady was hurt in week one. Romo was hurt in week 4. Teams nobody cares about like the Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons rose from nowhere behind rookie QBs and Arizona made the case against salary cap sports emphatically.

Perhaps the worst year in NFL history.

BUT...there was some good news, The Pittsburgh Steelers, behind terrific young coach, Mike Tomlin, are compelling squad of stars on both sides of the ball, who play for energetic fans and stress team and players, not 'system'. Like Chuck Noll, the legendary Steeler Coach who created the dynasty of the '70s, Tomlin avoids the sideline/interview spectacle of Bill Cowher and keeps the focus on the FIELD. With Big Ben Roethlisberger at QB and holding 2 Rings in his pocket, Polamalu and Harrison leading a dynamic defense and Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward and Heath Miller catching flies - the Steelers are as compelling a Champion as Arizona is disheartening.

The good and bad of the NFL.

Over the winter the bad boys got a lot of ink, Pacman lost his Cowboy gig and may or may not wind up in Canadian football, a Tennessee prison or a Reality TV Series on VH1, Terrell Owens lost HIS Star and ended up in the frozen wasteland of Buffalo (enjoy!), Michael Vick is free and ready to spread his Eagle wings and restore his place as a fan thrilling attraction ON the field, Shawn Merriman celebrated his Steroid use with a choke-hold on his 4'11" girlfriend, who is ALREADY a Reality TV star - so no need for a development effort, its all readymade. In the Meadowlands, Plaxico got 2 years of Jail for waving a gun around and plugging himself in the thigh, but wingman Antonio Pierce the anchor of the Defense avoided time and stud DE Osi Umenyiora went AWOL but returned in time to play his heart out for the openly despised Tom Coughlin, who vies annually with Parcells in Miami, and his various proteges - Bellichick in New England, Mangini in Cleveland and Josh McDaniels in Denver for the title of NFL's biggest JERK (McDaniels has had such a strong start, this category may be the easiest to predict in 2010!).

Brett Favre, who collapsed physically and mentally and sabotaged an 8-3 Division Leading J-E-T-S in the stretch drive of '08, got the call and the cash to lead the Minnesota Vikings to....where exactly? Perhaps the Vikings took note of those OTHER veteran QB's who looked useless and washed up in the Meadowlands, before resurrecting their careers (to the chagrin of people of taste) at the expense of exciting young QB talent in Arizona (Warner, with his James Dobson politics and sickening spouse over Matt Leinart the charismatic SoCal stud) and Tennessee (Kerry Collins, bigot pickup guy over Vince Young, who might have been the most exciting rookie to lead a team when he arrived but has had some growing-up pains since). There is nothing worse than watching retreads with terrible histories in place of compelling kids with bright futures, its a league killer and Favre is the latest example of the trend. Like Bellichick/Parcells and the top-down 'system' of faceless role players ascendant and the punishment of captivating personalities (Chad OchoCinco was AWESOME chewing up the bigot moron Joe Buck on HBO) the No-Fun league seemingly never loses a chance to market itself to the lowest common denominator in American society and push what was once the greatest player league into Reality TV every Sunday afternoon.

So, you get it. A 40 year NFL fan who is down, down, down on the NFL product and has spent less time with the league since the Super Bowl than in any off-season since the Era of the St. Louis Rams (and Warner!) first turned off the joy a decade ago. Accordingly, the in-depth previews of past seasons just isn't possible this year, but Guru WILL look at each division and pose questions for fans to answer.

And as for Jerry Jones, who pours himself into his team, his brand and his league and is adored by players and Cowboy fans for it and despised by all those who think everything would be 'perfect' if those players did not care so much about Money, if the high talent skilled minority athletes would be the faux humble, Tio Tom routine perfected by Albert Pujols in Baseball instead of being who they are, unapologetically. These folks think that America is the land of FREEDOM, of course, as long as everyone acts like a suburban, Megachurch attending, caucasian, heterosexual who doesn't carry a library card but proudly carries the NRA card. Jerry doesn't care who you fuck, what you do to party, or that you want to make as much money as possible - SO DOES HE, and he knows that players want owners to WANT them to make coin and grab attention, that his fans expect top dollar talent, high exposure regardless of the results on the field - the point is to leave no stone unturned to make everything the best it can be for the player and the fan - the product and the customer. Meanwhile Woody Johnson, who inherited billions of dollars and owns the Jets sticks his fans with a tenant status in 'Giants' stadium and plays hardball with the union while bragging at the GOP Convention that he is against 'limits' on wealth, that is he is against limiting HIS Wealth!

AFC East

New England Patriots
New York Jets
Miami Dolphins
Buffalo Bills

New England Patriots

New England is a mystery as well. Their consistent excellence leads all to expect great things upon Brady's return and there is little doubt they will be the better prepared, better constructed squad in games against their AFC East opponents, who are all in various states of flux. But a look at the Patriot roster and questionable moves of recent years (letting 25 year old stud CB Assante Samuel walk and trading DE Richard Seymour) make it hard to determine how they are going to effectively run the football (underachiever Maroney, aging Fred Taylor, doing it with mirrors Kevin Faulk) or Defend elite teams (after Mayo and Thomas, which Patriot defender impresses?).What IS worth loving is watching the incomparable Brady and Moss do their thang, if it comes along with Bellichick and Faulk, well nothing is perfect!

New York Jets

Jets are on the come, Eric Mangini wore out his welcome with that crusty Parcells act and his former players are jumping through hoops to have the engaging Rex Ryan in town (who seems to have none of his father Buddy's jerkiness). Ryan has brought along stud ILB Bart Scott to join a group of dynamic young defenders in a scheme that will allow more athleticism and energy. On Offense, the kid QB from USC, Mark Sanchez, gives the Jets exactly what those fans in Arizona, Tennessee and Minnesota do NOT have - a chance at a future with a young QB worthy of development (sure worked in Atlanta and Baltimore), Jets have Cotchery to catch it but a list of suspects behind him and unsettled roster situation at RB, but they will be on the right road in '09.

Miami Dolphins

In Miami, the 1st Place schedule, Jet improvement and return of Brady in New England will usher them out of the playoffs this season. Parcells organizational skill and Tony Sparano's quality coaching gave them a pop in year one, just as the Tuna popped in Dallas on arrival, but you can only go so far with that and it will take time for the young talent to emerge - a step back for Phins.

Buffalo Bills

I have no idea. At one point last year, I thought the Bills were becoming the Cowboys of the AFC (or Chargers of the East) with an exciting bunch of athletes whose penalties and turnovers sabotaged them weekly. They have pieces on Defense, a young QB of quality (Trent Edwards) and a stud RB (Marshawn Lynch) but injuries and disarray have dominated so far in preseason and its tough to know what they have going on.

Accordingly, The Magic Carpet sees no Playoff wins for the Patriots, who are the Eastern champions by default and a possible Wild Card tease from the young Jets falling short this season.

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Speaking of Tio Tom! The ultimate phony uncle, Tony Dungy (sliming his pious arm around Michael Vick the way fellow homophobe, GOP, uncle-tom Reggie White used to 'adapt' troubled players made Guru puke!) is gone and while he may be faux as a man, he was one hell of an NFL coach. Colts are past the Championship window in terms of their core talent, but with Peyton and some key Defenders at full health, they can still pop if more talented teams crumble in on themselves (San Diego, Pittsburgh).

Tennessee Titans

I like Jeff Fisher, but I loathe Kerry Collins. Titans play tough on both sides of the ball, but lack the sort of game changers who win titles. Solid, candidate for Wild Card, but not a Ring.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Two years ago, I thought Jacksonville was RIGHT there under coach Jack Del Rio, but they had a suite of injuries to their top defenders and Byron Lefwich hurt his foot and was replaced by backup, David Gerrard, who is 'just a guy' and now, the Jaguars? They are 'just a team'. Yawn.

Houston Texans

Hate their city. Hate their owner. Hate the way the slimed the Oilers out and got this team as a 'reward'. LOVE their defensive kids and think they can jump up and make something happen, but who cares?

Colts rule, Titans and Texans might flip in the second half, neither can win a playoff game.

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers
Baltimore Ravens
Cleveland Browns
Cincinnati Bengals

Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike Tomlin looks like he is settling in for a decades long Steeler coaching career, they got the right guy - again. Big Ben has two in the pocket and only a bike crash and internal surgery has stopped him as a pro, the Defense is young, gifted, relentless. The Offensive line remains a concern, opening holes for the run-heavy offense and protecting Ben, the franchise being so critical and that keeps the Steelers from bring presumptive choices for a repeat.

Baltimore Ravens

Joe Flacco freaked on arrival and the Defense held up despite age concerns, but Rex Ryan and Bart Scott depart, signaling a team moving from a Defense rich/QB poor version to a QB dependent/average Defense group. The change in stylistics doesn't change the fact that they are simply not in the Steelers class.

Cleveland Browns

Eric Mangini is a decent guy, I think. I thought he was growing up and improving with the Jets, but Favre's collapse killed him there and subsequent comments from players indicate he was not moving away from the Parcells script after all. All of which has been proven in a paranoid circus Pre Season in his debut with the Browns. Brady Quinn is terrific and young, he should be the guy. The problem in Cleveland is Defense. 3rd place.

Cincinnati Bengals

Marvin Lewis has failed year after year and still has a job. Carson Palmer looked all-world for awhile, but is settling into Bledsoe avenue...Chad is a big market guy in a small minded whole. Bengals DEFINE last place.

AFC West

San Diego Chargers
Oakland Raiders
Kansas City Chiefs
Denver Broncos

San Diego Chargers

Great talent. Merriman, Rivers, Tomlinson HEALTHY would make things hum. Norv Turner makes one believe that no matter how much talent, however, they will run into a well coached obstacle in the AFC Playoffs and head home.

Oakland Raiders

More talent. Raiders have drafted early and well in recent years and made a key trade to reel in stud DE Richard Seymour from NE, but the coaching carousel and non-stop Front office intrigue always seem to undo this squad and Seymour is holding to get paid, understandably, before risking his health unprotected on an Oakland squad with high-school level coaching, since no coach with resume would deal with Davis. Davis will pay Seymour and the talent will lead to .500.

Kansas City Chiefs

Ugh. Matt Cassel, all of one season in a stacked deck gets the big deal (see preamble) and then gets hurt. Thigpen was actually playing OK later in '08 and Edwards left some Defenders in his time. KC is rebuilding for next two years.

Denver Broncos

If there is one team, other than the NY Mets, whose fans must want to slice the old wrists over - its the Broncos. They fired Mike Shanahan, a control freak who choked players so tight they played tight and hired Josh McDaniels, a third generation control freak who instantly alienated the most important person in any American males life - a franchise QB with a big arm in his 20's. I cannot imagine how it felt to watch Jay Cutler walk away and Kyle Orton walk in, it can't be a good feeling for sure and Brandon Marshall is only being logical in trying ANYTHING to get the hell out of this place. The AFC version of the Arizona Cardinals, an instant root-against.

San Diego should win and be deep in the AFC Championship against the Steelers, but Norv has failed before and until the talent shows up when it counts, they seem like paper chargers.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
St. Louis Rams

Arizona Cardinals

I like the coaches, from the Steelers. I like the talent they have on both lines and at WR. I dislike the QB and can't be objective, easily the best team in the West.

San Francisco 49ers

I like Mike Singetary.

Seattle Seahawks

I dislike all Hasselbecks. I dislike all Moras. I dislike this team (but I love Julius Jones!).

St. Louis Rams

Good new coach, but same old Bulger.

Nada from this crew.

NFC North

Chicago Bears
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
Detroit Lions

Chicago Bears

Bears look good to me. I think they will have some similarities with the Ravens in moving from a Defense team to a QB team, but I think the Defense will be better than expected and the talented wing guys will finally LOVE their QB. I like the Bears to challenge in the NFC.

Green Bay Packers

Cheeseheads have good young talent on both sides of the ball and Aaron Rogers is terrific and improving, they will push the Bears all year in a classic 'Norris' division tussle that could go either way or end with both in the Playoffs.

Minnesota Vikings

Favre was brought in for ticket sales, not on-field success. That is like Roger Clemens coming back to the Yankees in 1997 with nothing left - its called 'wish theory' and those wishes aint gonna be answered.

Detroit Lions

Got a new Coach and a new QB and hope for better in the future, the future is not now, however.

Bears, Packers NFC elite. Vikes to underachieve, Lions take first steps back.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons
New Orleans Saints
Carolina Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Atlanta Falcons

Everything fell horribly wrong for the birds in '07, the franchise QB went to jail for something out of left field, the hot college coach bailed during his opening act and they looked dead. Enter new coach, new QB and new hope, now add another year of Defensive shoring and Tony Gonzalez from the Chiefs and the Falcons look best here.

New Orleans Saints

I think Drew Brees is a stat guy who will never be a winner and will change my mind when he proves me wrong. This is a scoring machine but not a scary opponent physically, and while they will challenge for the division and the wild card, I see them short on both scores.

Carolina Panthers

I love John Fox and despite the fact his roster show no reason to believe, he has always found a way and has enough running game to stabilize if things break badly up above for more talented Falcons and Saints. Can finish anywhere on the board in the South.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Changing everything all at once, too old is out, too young is in. Good in spurts but not competitive in '09.

No NFC Playoff wins from this crew.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins

Dallas Cowboys

Dallas has the best roster in the NFL, top to bottom. They have a Defense which blew away the rest of the NFL in sacks and has added more weapons, they have the fastest starting CB duo in the NFL, both healthy and a terrific depth they've lacked in secondary previous years when they were shallow and slow. They have a great inside LB in Bradie James and the best Defender in the NFL outside in Ware. Romo is only 39 starts into his NFL career, free of TO and Jessica distractions and has the running game all QB's dream of with Marion Barber back from his toe problems, Felix Jones, the NFL's fastest offensive player and Tashard Choice grinding yards through and over defenders. They lack names at WR, but Miles Austin is a blur with gifts and Roy WIlliams should handle things mid range, Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett are an embarrassment of TE riches. Offensive line is suspect against elite coached Defenses, but Romo is quick and elusive and the RB Game unstoppable, so they should be OK there.The main problem is the Head Coach, Wade Phillips, like Norv with the Chargers, has never won or had a team play crisply - Dallas leads all NFL in penalties, turnovers and finding ways to lose games they control and to get blown out when they face a well prepared unit. NFL football depends upon coaching and precision, and this team is built more for highlight reels than Rings. Enjoy them, then watch them crash again late.

New York Giants

The Giants have some terrific young Defenders and a terrific young QB, a bruising RB combo and a balanced, effective Offensive Line. They have some interesting young receivers from the draft as well. But. Manning is not Romo (check the numbers, they are not close) and Dallas has consistently handled this team when Romo and Barber are both healthy and seem to have moved ahead with the blinding DB speed and RB talent. Giant DL is still solid, but the gap between the team in Sacks is tough to see being closed, given the rosters, Giants USED to have Strahan and Umenyiora on the wing, now they don't and their depth took a hit in the preseason. They are hurt but will heal and be better in second half.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles have come from nowhere the last two years to playoff, against all odds. They have Westbrook and McNabb and the best coach around the division in Andy Reid. They have great tackles on the line and DB talent as well, but they are not as gifted as Dallas and will struggle with division opponents on the road. Choosing amongst these teams is like sorting out the AL East this Spring, I saw it NY/BOS/TB and it came down, here its DAL/NY/PHIL so we'll see.

Washington Redskins

They don't defend well enough to scare their divisional opponents and Jason Campbell is inconsistent. Also, I hate the Redskins and always put them last!

Cowboys win the division, lose in the playoffs? Giants claim Wild card and win in the playoffs? That was 2007, is it that way again? We'll see.

Posted by Matthew at 12:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Matthew Storey

When last we spoke, the Yankees were through 57 games, sitting at 34-23. Since then:

Game 58 Loss at Boston Red Sox 7-0
Game 59 Loss at Boston Red Sox 6-5
Game 60 Loss at Boston Red Sox 4-3 (Lose series 3-0, Trail season series 8-0)
Game 61 Win vs. New York Mets 9-8
Game 62 Lose vs. New York Mets 6-2
Game 63 Win vs. New York Mets 15-0 (Win series 2-1. Lead season series 2-1)
Game 64 Win vs. Washington Nationals 5-3
Game 65 Lose vs. Washington Nationals 3-2
Game 66 Lose vs. Washington Nationals 3-0 (Lose series, season series, 1-2)
Game 67 Win at Florida Marlins 5-1
Game 68 Lose at Florida Marlins 2-1
Game 69 Lose at Florida Marlins 6-5 (Lose series, season series, 1-2)
Game 70 Lose at Atlanta Braves 4-0
Game 71 Win at Atlanta Braves 8-4
Game 72 Win at Atlanta Braves 11-7 (Win series, season series, 2-1)
Game 73 Win at New York Mets 9-1
Game 74 Win at New York Mets 5-0
Game 75 Win at New York Mets 4-2 (Win series 3-0, Win season series, 5-1)
Game 76 Win vs. Seattle Mariners 8-5
Game 77 Win vs. Seattle Mariners 8-4
Game 78 Lose vs. Seattle Mariners 8-4 (win series 2-1, lead season series 2-1)
Game 79 Win vs. Toronto Blue Jays 4-2
Game 80 Win vs. Toronto Blue Jays 6-5
Game 81 Win vs. Toronto Blue Jays 10-8 (Finish 1st 81 Games, 50% of Season at 48-33, 96 win pace)
Game 82 Lose Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 (Win series 3-1, lead season series 5-2)
Game 83 Win at Minnesota Twins 10-2
Game 84 Win at Minnesota Twins 4-3
Game 85 Win at Minnesota Twins 6-4 (Win season series 3-0, season series 7-0)
Game 86 Lose at Los Angeles Angels 10-6
Game 87 Lose at Los Angeles Angels 14-8
Game 88 Lose at Los Angeles Angels 5-4 (Lose series 0-3, trail season series 2-4)

Yankees were 34-23 (after 57 Games)

Games 58-88 17-13

Current Record 51-37 (.580/94 Win Pace) 2nd Place (3 Games Boston), 1st Place WildCard (2 Games Texas)

Recap

Yankees went through their worst stretch of the season, followed by another surge and capped it all of with their typical drubbing at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels, the only team to hold a winning record against the Yankees in the decade and who have now beaten them to the tune of 17-5 in Anaheim last Five seasons!

Individual Player Updates, First Half Grades and Second Half Projections

Note: Grade is based upon Players OWN potential. How much of what he CAN do has he done.

Outfielders/Designated Hitters

LF Johnny Damon (B)
.276 Avg/.362 On-Base/.510 Slugging/16 HR/50 RBI/8-8 Stolen Bases

Johnny is a horrible Defensive player at this point, his bad arm now matched by vision issues that have made his vaunted Ball-Catching skill more of a hit-or-miss thing. But boy can he RAKE. He has slumped badly in July, but even so, his numbers speak for themselves. He has hit for power, hit in the clutch, hit in situations and taken advantage of being moved out of the leadoff slot to put up 50 RBI's in little more than a half-season while continuing to be a source of excellent baserunning (5th in AL Runs, 8-8 in Stolen Bases). Johnny needs to be a full-time DH at this stage, but a team that gives him that chance can expect Edgar Martinez sort of DH performance. No reason to project any change for Johnny in the 2nd Half.

RF Nick Swisher (B)
.237/.360/.434/14/47

Nick has been an upgrade Defensively from Bobby Abreu, but the loss of Xavier Nady has made him the fulltime RF and his Offensive output is a steep downgrade from Abreu. In the midst of an awful July, Swisher is an On-base machine (5th in AL, just ahead of Abreu, who outhits him by 80 points) and his spirited, knucklehead presence has gone over well with his buttoned-down teammates, making him a positive intangible in a way the low-key Bobby was not, since he just added to the sleepy atmosphere. Not a knock on Bobby (there really aren't any, except his ball tracking in the OF), just a roster composition issue for the Yankee clubhouse.

Nick is a hit-and-miss, streak hitter and can't really be relied on day-in, day-out to contribute. Of course, the 70 Strikeouts that provoke that dire review of his contributions would only make him 4th Worst on the Rays (Pena 111, Upton 99, Longoria 77) or 3rd Worst on the Red Sox (Papi 78, JD Drew 74), so maybe I should be gentler?

CF Melky Cabrera (B)
.285/.347/.439/8/34/5-7 SB

Melky has been the Starting CF, but his versatility move him to RF or LF when Girardi sits Damon or Swisher. At any of the three OF slots, Melky is a Defensive Star, providing Gold Glove heroics in all three slots with a big arm that has so thoroughly proven his point - nobody runs on him anymore. Offensively, he is much improved from last season's fiasco and is back at the proven performance level of 2006 and 2007. He hits equally well from either side of the plate for Power and Average, plays the game with intelligence and has proven to be a terrific situational/clutch hitter throughout the first half. He rarely strikes out and runs occasionally (5 of 7 SB) and has been one of the Yankees best performers. With his glove, arm and smarts, if he can slug .439 - they should keep him his whole career, the versatility of playing all three OF slots with that skill, the big arm and the switch-hitting
make him the sort of asset the Yankee system never used to develop and now seems to do so from every corner.

Melky's next HR will be a new Career high and he will only turn 25 on August 11 so no reason not to expect continued improvement.

CF Brett Gardner (B)
.282/.352/.404/3/19/18-22 SB

Originally the starter in CF, Gardner lost his job to a hot Melky early on and skeptics (like Guru) clamored to forget him and ship him to the NL destination his Speed/Slap hitting seem to be destined for. But, like Melky himself, Brett didn't use the demotion to sulk, but rather has contributed every time he has been in the lineup. His blinding speed is on the short list of the AL's fastest (Crawford, Span, Gomez) and his ball-tracking skill and base-stealing are as good as it gets. His arm is weak, however, and were he a more experienced MLB player - LF would be the ideal spot for him (he replaces Johnny Damon's old role as a Basestealer/Table Setter/Ball Tracker). Offensively, he has gone out and PROVEN that he belongs in MLB. With his legs and glove, if he can post .280 with .400 slugging, he will always have an MLB role.

Brett is 25 and in his first full MLB season, so he should only improve.

RF Eric Hinske (Inc)

This recent pickup was a bit of a head-scratcher, Yankees have Swisher who is a similar OF/IB/DH type with thump and have better options to back up Alex Rodriguez when he rests his Hip at 3B (Ramiro Pena, sent to minors and Cody Ransom). But Hinske cost nothing (Pirates just dumping him) and is a professional power hitter (3 quick pops already) who has played in the AL East his whole career and been in last two World Series, like all Yankees, he is thrilled to be given the shot at wins and riches and will benefit from the RF porch. But his Defense already cost them the final game in Anaheim, which was ironic since it looked like an Abreu moment while Abreu was watching from the LA Bench. His presence makes one wonder if there may be another move before the trade deadline with one of the other marketable OF types listed above.

No clue what to expect from Hinske, his role or his potential tenure.

DH Hideki Matsui (B)
.265/.367/.517/14/40

At every one of these updates, I've pointed out how fragile Hideki's two surgically repaired Knees looks and how likely it is that the magnificent warrior is one slip away from retirement. But the NL Games provided and unwanted but, as it turned out, wonderful chance for Hideki to get a mid-season respite (he pinch-hit in each game) and he has been frisky since returning to daily DH. Despite his leg woes, that keep him from playing OF anymore, his production is comparable with other AL DH's and he hits in situations, hits in the clutch and walks as much as he strikes out (36/40).

Matsui will rake as long as he can stand, how long that will be is impossible to say, but Damon/Swisher/Hinske are similarly productive DH options and would allow the full-time presence of Melky/Gardner on Defense and the bases, so Yankees are not vulnerable in the OF.

Infielders/Catchers

1B Mark Teixeira (B)
.275/.378/.535/21/63

Mark has had an uneven beginning to his Yankee tenure as the latest in a string of great Yankee 1B from Chris Chambliss to Don Mattingly to Tino Martinez to Jason Giambi....While Teixeira's switch-hitting power and spectacular glove make him a worthy heir to the line, all players go through an adjustment to playing in The Bronx and all families/individuals go through an adjustment period as well. Roger Clemens took two years to fit in, Randy Johnson knew after two years, he never would. Teixeira is not only gifted, he is INTO IT...he wants it so bad and is so pumped over the moon about being in Pinstripes, he forgets to breathe...he struggled in April, flourished in May, playing like an MVP, then sagged a bit in June. His numbers are huge even though and his Defense, coupled with the two youngsters in the OF and suite of young, slick-fielding back-ups, gives the Yankees impact Defensively at every spot on the field. Mark has been outspoken about the lethargic approach the Yankees bring to the field, what he calls 'thinking we can just throw our gloves on the field', but he doesn't yet understand the Yankees play it that way because their season is designed to go long into October every year and the hype around the team makes every....single....day....high drama if you let yourself get caught up in the flow. They will always run into more energetic, competitive squads, particularly early in the year...but the Yankee way is just to show up, punch the clock and put the better players on the field, counting on talent, not desire, to win the day.

When Mark stops trying to 'make' things happen (like Alex does) and just LETS it do so, like Derek and Damon. The Yankees will hoist flags in The Bronx.

2B Robinson Cano (A)
.308/.341/.490/13/46

Cano has had a dominant year Defensively, with 3 errors in 87 games, while being 3rd in Total Chances for a commanding lead in fielding Percentage (.993) over his closest rivals in balls reached (Hill, Kinsler) both of whom have twice as many errors. His arm, range and double play prowess are unmatched in the game by any 2B. Then, there is the bat! Cano has ridden torrid 2nd Half Streaks to lift up sub-par first-half numbers in each of his previous 4 seasons, with his .300 plus 2008 2nd half salvaging a brutal early season slump. In 2009, the slow-start was avoided, putting down a solid foundation for his second half heroics. If Cano has his typical 2nd Half, the Yankees are looking at .320/30/100 and a Gold Glove from their 26 year old Second Baseman.

Cano, as noted, has been a 2nd Half/hot-weather player all his career, no reason to expect that to change. He will likely settle in with his infield mates in 2010 for an all Infield top-of-the-lineup of Jeter-Cano-Texeira-Alex that could be in those slots for 5 years, or until Derek breaks Rose's record.

SS Derek Jeter (A)
.321/.396/.461/10/37/17-20 Stolen Bases

Wherever Derek goes, he is the man. In every marriage, there is, since 1996 a contractual agreement that if Derek shows up at the door, the man will provide his wife and prepare food and drink for afterwards, and an understanding that to do anything less would be to deprive a woman and her daughters of a world where there ARE good men. Derek goes to the WBC and is the man, comes back to The Bronx and is told he will hit leadoff, so he goes back to stealing bases and hitting for average, clubs HR's when needed, responds to the lesser men who criticize his Defense with a 4 error (2nd) first half, while being 5th in Total Chances and 2nd in Fielding Percentage to a guy who plays indoors (Scutaro).

Likely to finish with an average close to his career number (.316), 20 HR, 30 SB and fewer than 10 Errors.

3B Alex Rodriguez (B)
.256/.411/.548/17/50

Alex should have listened to his body and had the hip surgery in the offseason, and should have had help with those decisions from a Yankee front office which mishandled every injured Yankee on its roster this winter. That said, his incredible healing powers and ability to maintain a pharmacological edge on MLB's testing regimen (for you Paranoids out there!), led to his surreal return in Early May and a 1st Half with numbers that any OTHER 3B would feel pleased with. He slumped badly as he was overplayed in his first 35 games back, but once rested adequately, he went on a typical Alex tear and blasted by MLB's greatest all-time sluggers on the all-time list, which will have him sometime in the next few days nestle into 9th place ahead of Harmon Killebrew, before his 34th Birthday on July 27. His hip has sapped his speed and burst on the bases, but he has been spectacular at 3B (5 errors) and the booming power is all the way back.

Will likely feel more comfortable with greater rest and the All-Star downtime for the first time in his career, he remains the indispensable Yankee. Call it .290/40/125.

UT Cody Ransom (D)

Cody was awful at the plate and in the field when filling in for Alex early in the year, then blew out his quad for two months, which revealed Ramiro Pena as a switch-hitting contributor with Gold Glove prowess in the IF. When Ransom returned, the Yankees sent Pena down and gave Cody back his job and he has thus far continued to show rust, but DOES have skills with both the bat and glove and is likely to reward the faith with steady 2nd Half contributions, OR be demoted and allow Pena to be that guy. Either way, Yankees are well covered around the entire Infield.

C Jorge Posada (B)
.285/.369/.508/11/40

Jorge has been the lone Yankee to return from 2008 Surgery with his game intact, as Joba, Wang, Bruney, Alex and Mariano all went through varying stages of after-effects in 2009. Jorge missed a few weeks with a hamstring pull, but the time off did his shoulder well and allowed the Yankees to discover the Defense excellence and Offensive pluck they have in Rookie Francisco Cervelli (threw out 10 of 21 SB attempts) and Jorge never missed a beat from either side of the plate or behind it either before or after the pulled hammy. He is one of four regular switch-hitters with power in the everyday lineup (Teixeira, Swisher, Cabrera), has been effective as a pinch-hitter or DH when called upon and been the leader they missed without him in 2008. Defensively, he has worked through shoulder surgery to throw out 30% of runners, many of them running to test his arm and succeeding early in the year. If the Yankees have a healthy Jorge and Hideki throughout this season, they may come to point to their unexpected time off as a key to their fortunes.

If Jorge is healthy, he rakes, defends and leads. He is healthy.

C Jose Molina (Inc.)

Molina blew out his leg right after Jorge and Cody did, Cervelli is the future backup and, perhaps, Jesus Montero, is the heir to Jorge, but Jose provides the veteran glove, smarts and top-gun wing to contribute the rest of 2009.

Starting Pitchers

LH CC Sabathia (B)

See Mark Texeira's summary for the reality of adjusting to life as a Yankee/New Yorker, its a big deal and a big change and takes awhile. CC is a horse, throws 98 mph heaters at the knees, sliders, curves, change-ups...he pitches deep in games, leads in the clubhouse, shows up, stands up, speaks calm. He can dominate with stuff or moxy, pitch a complete game with 10 K's or 2. Everything you could ask for.

CC will be his typical self in the 2nd Half.

RH AJ Burnett (B)

AJ pitched in some poor luck at times in the first half, as the Yankees went through some valleys with injuries and production that often found him being victimized by poor run support. Lately, however, he has been cruising and winning, striking people out and pitching deep into every start. Has embraced being a Yankee and being in New York more than anyone could have imagined, the Blue Jay players said they were amazed at the AJ they see in Pinstripes - a talented young person who has come into his own skin.

AJ looks good from here.

RH Chien-Ming Wang (D)

Poor Chien. Dominant throughout his Yankee career, he broke his damn foot in a freakish accident last June, sat out extra months to insure its healing and managed to rust from inactivity, then have to try and recapture his stuff on a big -league hill (Catastrophe), in the minors (worked), the bullpen (worked well) and finally, back into the rotation where, in his last start, he FINALLY looked like the Chien-Ming Wang who piled up the 54-20 record as Yankee ace from 2005-08. Then, he injured his arm. He's only 29, so even a lost year is no biggie, the important thing is to get him HEALTHY and bring him back to the guy he still can be, too young, too strong, too good to lose.

No idea what to expect, Yankees have lost Chien and Mussina, their best two starters from '08, defeating the purpose of the new 'depth' - with Wang, Joba and Bruney at a fraction of their previous ability, the entire staff has been shifted to plug Hughes into the spot Bruney occupied and the back end of the rotation has gone from the anticipated strength to the glaring weakness of this Yankee team.

RH Joba Chamberlain (C)

So much nonsense is written about this kid 'needing to learn how to pitch'. That is bullshit. He is smart on a hill and knows what to do, but his stuff is simply not the same since he walked off the mound with a sore shoulder last August 4 in Texas. As a starter in 2008, he threw 34% of his pitches at 95MPH or better, and with the other 2/3 of his pitches being the biting slider and change-up, that led to low BAA, low pitch counts and the ability to work in the strike-zone. In 2009, the loss of velocity has turned Joba into a nibbler, trying to work off-speed on the corners, getting into bad counts and managing walks and thumped baseballs from middling fastballs left over the plate. The Yankees and Joba insist his stuff is fine, but that is childish. The naked eye and the radar gun do not lie and, while an Andy Pettitte or Mike Mussina can be expected to adjust to becoming a finesse pitcher in their mid '30s, to watch the Yankees most exciting homegrown starters in decades BOTH (Wang, Joba) lose their arm-strength in the same season and battle to overcome injury has been the scariest thing about the season. Power pitchers go through this. Justin Verlander went from 102 to 92 last year and is back to his dominant stuff this season, so it CAN be done and Yankees have to hope it will be by Joba, because if he is bringing the stuff he has now to the mound, he aint Joba and they might as well call him 'Jason' and ship him to Kansas City.

The key not only to the Yankees season, but to many Yankee seasons. A dominant homegrown power pitcher with a brilliant future or an early-career blown arm?

We'll see.

LH Andy Pettitte (C)

This grade may be a bit harsh. Andy has been what he was in 2008, a guy who can win and cruise when he is feeling great and playing a team with young hitters he can fool or who lack lineup depth, but lacks the stuff to get outs against elite teams and hitters who are familiar with his arsenal. A decent back of the rotation starter, but of no value in a playoff setting, which points out the critical importance of getting Wang or Joba right during the 2nd half. He needs to make the adjustment that Cone, Mussina and other power arms made late career to throw more soft stuff and more variety to allow his bread and butter cutter to be more effective. If they keep trying to throw a ball by hitters who know their movement well, they get THUMPED (check out Schilling's 2006 HR numbers trying to throw his old heater by hitters, then his 2007 numbers when he figured it out).

Andy is strong, healthy and a winner. He'll win more than he loses, but struggle with the best teams.

Bullpen

RH David Robertson (C)

Called up to replace the previously brilliant but hopelessly lost Jose Veras (Cleveland Indians on waivers) and Edwar Ramirez (11 k's per 9 innings in his Yankee career, but walks by the bushel in '09). 24 year old Robertson has actually begun to pitch just like Edwar. He gets lots of Strikeouts with his biting curve and sneaky 93MPH (34 K's in 22.2 Innings), he can strike out any hitter...WHEN he throws strikes! (16 walks). He is young enough, talented enough and deep enough in the bullpen mix to be given the rest of the Summer to figure it out, but come September, he needs to be throwing strikes or be back in MiLB.

Up to him.

RH Alfredo Alceves (A)

Was great as a September starter for the Yankees in 2008, was great in the Rotation in Spring Training, was great back in the minors, was great as a long-man in the Yankee bullpen, was great a a short-man in the Yankee bullpen, was great throwing long relief (4 innings) and spot-start (3 2/3) in back-to-back emergency duty when Wang shifted from pen to rotation, Hughes went from reliable starter to short inning relief and then Wang hurt his wing after Hughes had been reconditioned as a short-guy. Aceves isn't the guy they plan around, he is simply part of the solution whatever the plan requires. The sort of guy they have suddenly come up with in abundance in this year when the bigger name, bigger gift guys are fighting their bodies. Aceves has the experience of pitching in regular rotation for YEARS in the Mexican leagues and is like El Duque working over hitter after hitter. Implacable and professional, just the way Yankees should be.

A gift. Will he keep on giving? He is only 26 and has a 2.45 ERA in 73 Yankee innings, as well as a ratio of 36 K's to only EIGHT walks in his 43.1 Innings this year. A strike throwing machine.

LH Phil Coke (B)

Yet another mid '20s Yankee arm with a terrific arm. Coke controls hitters (26 hits in 38.1 Innings), but can begin to cruise and leave pitches up in the zone. He has been victimized by control issues, resulting in walks (14, to 31 K's) and HR balls (6). Needs more experience and command to be a dominant force in the Bullpen for a long time.

Already solid, could be great or go backwards.

RH Brian Bruney (D)

Like Wang and Joba, Brian got hurt in 2008 and has struggled with his health and unable to return to previous arm strength in 2009. When right, Bruney is 98 mph heat and biting sliders on the black. Unhittable stuff and precision command. But he is clearly not there in his second return from the DL this season. Instead of 98 on the black, its been 94 in the middle, with predictable results. His issues have forced Yankees to move starter Hughes into Bruney's role, thus depriving themselves of a stud young starter just as Wang, Joba and Pettitte are wavering.

Not good.

Difficult to feel confident about Bruney, since his broken foot and strained elbow are fresh in all our minds. That said, he's another power arm who is only 27 and has proven stuff (200 K's in 199 MLB innings) and has worked to return from injury and remake his once portly body. He may not contribute in 2009, but should be kept healthy and given the chance to return to the dominant arm he was so recently.

RH Phil Hughes (A)

Phil had the same basic route as Aceves. His arm is a given and the wait with him has been about his experience and health. He did a serviceable job in the Yankee rotation early with 5 good starts and only one bad (a 5/9 Debacle against the Orioles at the Stadium) that is almost all of his 2009 ERA (8 ER in 1.2 IP). Once Wang reclaimed his Rotation slot, Hughes was moved into a short, late-inning role and has thrived. He surrendered a 2-Run pop to Kevin Youkilis in the first inning of his second relief stint against the Red Sox at Fenway and those have been the only runs he has surrendered in 13 relief appearances over 18.1 Innings, he has struck out 19 and walked only 5 and 5 hits in the 15 innings since Youk went yard. He is three weeks into his 23rd year, throwing 96 mph gas at the knees with what might be the best curve ball South of Halladay. A dynamic talent, who is HEALTHY, which is critical with Wang and Bruney down and Joba on the ropes.

Phil will be in the pen for now, perhaps all of 2009 and will move into a long-term starters job in 2010. Brian Cashman had the only word that makes ANY sense on the whole debate between the relative merits of staff members stating 'any decent starting pitcher is going to be effective in a set-up role, but only a few set-up guys can be effective front-end starters. Nobody in Baseball doubts that is what Phil Hughes will be for long and long.

RH Brett Tomko (C)

Veteran filler has adequate stuff (96 mph) but has never performed to it in 15 big league seasons or as a Yankee, purely a mop-up the slop guy who will be displaced by Labor Day from within by a returner (Damaso Marte) or a call-up (Mark Melancon).

RH Jonathan Albaladejo (B)

Big Jon is an effective middle guy who gets ground balls, throws strikes and can provide multiple innings in situations when the starter has left early or game is in need of a hold while the bats make hay. Another young (27) arm with moxy, who can help the Yankees now and in the future. He slipped early in the year, but made the most of his send-down and has been terrific since returning and could be here to stay.

Look for Jon to solidify a secondary role in the Bullpen in the 2nd half and continue packing donuts by the box full!

RH Mariano Rivera (A)

Mo had some hiccups after his typical brilliant Spring, with poor outings in 3 of his 36 appearances (4/24 in Boston, 5/7 and 6/6 against Tampa Bay), but has been casually brilliant for the rest of the time. He adds 43 K's and 3 Walks in his 37 2009 Innings to his 2008 totals, giving him a ratio of 120 K's to 9 BB's in his last two seasons, over 107.2 Innings, a period in which he has saved 62 of 64 chances. MOney in the bank and showing no signs that he won't be signing yet ANOTHER contract as Yankee closer come the end of 2010.

MOre Mo. The greatest of the great in all of sports, Derek may have privileges with your wives and daughters, but Mo has full access to your home, car, possessions and slave labor upon request. He owns you as he has owned the American League and makes the histrionics of men like K-Rod and Pap-B seem almost as dated as those of Al Hrabowsky, despite being a dozen years older than either man. Will remain long enough to outlast Trevor Hoffman and become the first man to save 750 games and to be a closer past his 50th Birthday. Will retire in October 2020 after his 26th Year.

Manager, General Manager and Coaches

Joe Girardi (A) is the ideal guy for this team. He leads by example, being the fittest Yankee with pipes, abs and ridiculous body fat. He has been masterful with the bench and the platoon of young CF'ers Melky and Gardner, and adjusted on the fly when the bullpen standouts of 2008 and arms they counted on for 2009 (Bruney, Marte, Veras and Ramirez) ALL failed to reasons of health and ineffectiveness and rebuilt things by switching from short-guys to recast starters (Hughes, Coke, Robertson, Aceves) who could pitch multiple innings and throw strikes. Juggling the health of veteran position guys nursing injuries and getting production from minor league call-ups. Has Yankees running the bases (5th in Stolen Bases, succesful 80% of the time) and been an arbiter of relaxation in the sometimes tense world of NY clubhouses where the hostile media (National and Local included) cover the team like the Nixon White House, thinking about making careers with nonsense and gossip. The new chemistry, that has been an adjustment for Yankee veterans AND Yankee fans has been an unqualified success. They have more fire but still have professionalism, are loaded with guys who LOVE being Yankees, play through pain and put their teammates first. The kind of team Joe Girardi PLAYED on. This is the best Defensive and Situational Yankee team since 1999, and, if healthy - the best lineup in MLB. The rotation problems with Wang and Joba are the only issues which can derail Joe from his first of many, many Championships. If Derek has dibs on your wife, and Mo on your assets and activity, think of Joe Girardi as the person who can come into your community and provide you and your neighbors with plans for the coming decades, all in about an hour.

He has seen all, done all, won all in the Uniform, but also been on terrible teams, on NL squads, managed a young, small market outfit as well as the Yankees. Knows everyone, knows everything about the situation he is in, remains in control of himself in all situations. Has less interest in the spotlight and is less fascinated by the media than Torre was, so silly little dramas don't pop up and appears genuinely in sync with his contemporaries Cashman and Yankee principal owner, Hal Steinbrenner. Yankee-haters speculate Joe might be on the hot seat if 2009 does not put the world of Baseball back on the footing it lost in the awful last half-decade, but the locker the team built for Joe's son in the clubhouse should signal everyone that Joe is here for a decade or more and will retire in the company of Stengel, McCarthy, Huggins and Torre for Yankee longevity and success. There is no greater bet in Professional Sports than betting on Girardi, and the Yankees know what they have.

Hitting coach, Kevin Long (B) has dealt with a lot of injuries and nonsense in the typical early season Yankee adjustments, but the team leads MLB in runs, homers, slugging, on-base percentage, OPS....they walk almost as much as they strike out and have yet to really see anyone perform at a higher level than previously established form.

Pitching coach, Dave Eiland (C), has managed to oversee devastating injuries to critical performers and varying degrees of unreliable performance from previously reliable arms. That said, the 3.82 staff ERA after the 15-17 early season struggles makes it clear the team has a comfortable position in all facets of the game.

GM Brian Cashman (B)

A nice job for a guy who will spend the next two decades with Manager Girardi and Owner Hal Steinbrenner counting championships, producing Yankeeographies and adding to the miseries of New England men and women who have suffered for eons from the deficiency of their menfolk between the temples and the hip flexors. Unable to achieve satisfying sexual interaction and limited to choices of programs about Dancers, programs about Fat people and programs about Fat people who dance - the 'Nation' will begin the post-Manny decades without continued on-field success, but at least they have clams AND cranberries!

In Conclusion

Yankees have answers at Bat, on the Hill, on the Bases and in the Field and control their own destiny. If Wang and Joba are healthy and contribute, the World Series is a formality. If not, they will scratch and claw and be in the mix. Either way, the future is bright and the present fruitful and the Yankees appear poised to lift the Black Cloud that has covered the game since 2001 the same way Obama has removed the stain of the Bush years. When America looks back on the these past years, in both Sports and Life - this time will be known as 'The Worst Time Ever', but the time since November 2008 will soon make it as forgettable as the years between 1981-1992 (previous worst time ever).

Luckily, the Yankees are here to insure all will be well in the future!

Posted by Matthew at 10:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ah...SpringTime...a Blizzard in the air, babes bundled up like Babuschka, belly battling gravity and LOSING...

WAIT A MINUTE! He did what?

Turns out that little Bastard in Punxsutawney and the Fakir on Staten Island have decreed that Winter remains...that must explain the conditions I just mentioned. I'm not one for hunting and can't abide hurting anything that doesn't speak English...but sometimes, Phil...TO THE MOON!

OK, ok..so the Super Bowl IS over, but there is time before the Spring is ACTUALLY upon us...so let's find some Sporting solace to sustain us...

*NBA

No solace here. No Professional Franchise in any sport is damaged more by the Economic crisis than Guru's team - The Nets, whose proposed move to Brooklyn is left in limbo.

And let me tell you, the difference between playing before an Urban audience in one of the hallowed cradles of the game in a state of the art facility and a city of 8 million fans within reach of public transportation and remaining in a suburban parking lot, on refilled marshland, accessible only by automobiles that most of your likely customers do not OWN before fans who already know you are DYING to leave them behind...

THAT is limbo!

The team itself has a strong, young, deep roster but since trading Jason Kidd, has lost any semblance of leadership or court intelligence and have a coach who has been tuned-out by his club. The Nets feature a backcourt with two premium one-on-one players in Devin Harris and Vince Carter and multiple promising young big men. Failing any coaching from the sideline OR the point-guard position, the team allows either of its scorers to break down the opposition on each possession for their own shot or to kick out for a three and plays absolutely Z-E-R-O Defense. IF Harris and/or Carter are hitting their shots and Rookie sensation, Brook Lopez, catches a few of their errant bombs - the Nets have a punchers chance in any given game. But they have no plan and their impressive work in the draft is certainly not being used to develop the kids into two-way NBA players (the sort they used to feature and who, if I'm not mistaken, have proven pretty effective in San Antonio and Boston).

There is no halfcourt plan, no defensive plan, just schoolyard - last one to shoot, wins. The same game their GM, Kiki Vandeweghe played...he must be so proud.

In their defense, the team in Brooklyn would be a marquee franchise and draw any and all talent it sought. MIght as well keep the coach as long as they are in limbo...In New Jersey, it is just a place to play while waiting for the next career phase. Those seven straight playoff runs, two NBA finals and smart, aggressive, Defense-minded clubs seem like decades in the past and the irony of FINALLY having the one piece those teams lacked (Athletic big men) and the lost promise of Brooklyn only makes it worse.

It could be a decade before the NBA matters again for Nets fans...

Pass.

*NHL

What could be worse than the Nets situation?

Meet Guru's Hockey team - the New York Islanders.

True, the Islanders still play in the barn they once shared with Dr. J and the New YORK Nets, back in the ABA days when Guru became a fan - but that was more than THIRTY YEARS AGO!

Today, the Islanders are the worst team in the NHL, have a Goalie/Franchise player who signed a FIFTEEN year contract three years ago and subsequently has had surgery on BOTH knees and BOTH hips! (can't make this stuff up...). The veteran coach and class act declined to remain with no chance to compete and the new guy is learning on the job, as are the waves of kids he has to coach.

They have no choice but to play the kids and we all hope they find some gems and become competitive at some point in the future, but right now, they are playing to get the #1 Pick, Jonathan Tavares - who is supposedly the next big thing. They certainly NEED him, but its a hell of a thing to watch them lose their way to that place. Certainly no solace this Winter.

Pass.

*College Hoops

What could be worse than the Islanders situation?
(stop me if you've heard that one somewhere....)

Meet Guru's College Basketball Team, the St. John's Red Storm!

When Guru was hanging around Alumni Hall (now Carnesseca Arena), in the mid-'80s - my two years were filled with Two Big East Championships, One Final Four, Two #1 NCAA Tournament Seeds, Two NCAA Player of the Year ('85, Chris Mullin, '86 Walter Berry), Five NBA players including a Dream Teamer (Mullin), the NBA All-Time #2 in assists and Rookie of the Year ('87 - Mark Jackson), Berry, Bill Wennington and Shelton Jones.

In the late '80s, some schmuck named Jim Calhoun, took over the moribund Connecticut program and DARED to state he intended to supplant SJU (then known as the Redmen) in the Big East. I always despised the guy and ridiculed him for such nonsense, but here we are twenty years later - UCONN has multiple Big East and NCAA titles, sends studs to the NBA and is the current #1.

He talked smack, and he backed it up.

Meanwhile, back in Queens, the program continued to be a player of sorts, going to the Elite Eight in '99 behind Stud Ron Artest and winning the consolation prize, NIT in '03 but then there were scandals - well scandal is a relative term - apparently (SHOCKING!) players were getting some coin on the side, riding in SUV's, hanging out at strip joints, getting high...college kids? jocks? poor kids in NYC? What could me more horrific???

Of course, when Guru was hanging with Mullin and jockey Chris Antley in the '80s, we partied all night long, did lines off barmaid boobs and hooked a sweet ride with a 'driver' for the team. We thought that was what guys like us did. Apparently that was no longer cool by 2004, cause the same behavior killed the program by taking away its scholarships long enough to bury it in the minds eye of recruits. The talent still comes from NYC, but now it heads directly to the ACC, Louisville (Rickie...) and, god forsaken Western Connecticut!

The program has slipped into such irrelevance that Father Harrington (President) was going on about how much 'integrity' current coach, Norm Roberts, has restored to things and, to be honest, they have some talented recruits and have had horrible luck with injuries...apparently the new breed are not like WE were and actually spend time in class, are nice to their moms etc.

So let me see...OLD SJU: Big East Titles, NBA Studs, Final Fours, #1 Rankings, Undisputed NYC dominance and full houses at Madison Square Garden as well as a dozen National TV games per season. NEW SJU: Nice coach, nice kids, 12-9 record with an outside chance of QUALIFYING for the Big East Tourney and the NIT.

Pass.

* NFL

What could be worse than St. Johns Hoops?

Oh wait, I've already written about the Dallas Cowboys glorious season, going from Presumptive Super Bowl Champions to 3rd Place/Out-of-the-Playoffs and I just cannot muster another wor.....

So what does this leave a truly entertainment starved Guru?

Well...'Life on Mars' is back on TV, I dig that. 'Survivor' returns on 2/12 and 'Reaper' returns in March...'Chuck' is cool and 'Sarah Connor Chronicles' is solid Sci-Fi with the positively delicious Summer Glau ('Firefly' and 'Serenity' and the director of those classic Sci-Fi gems and 'Buffy', Josh Whedon, is back with 'Buffy' alum , Eliza Dushku (Red Sox Nation but hot enough to get by that...) in a tasty looking Sci-Fi show called 'Dollhouse' so TV is helping.

Baseball has enough dangling Free Agent puzzles (Mets SIGN MANNY NOW!), the World Baseball Classic on March 5, where you root FOR your favorite countries and root AGAINST anyone important getting hurt simultaneously!

And then, as I wrote earlier today....62 days from now, Yankee Opener! Ten days after that, the New Yankee Stadium opens (April 16) and the Mets will open their new stadium, although, like 'Enron' Field and 'Pac Bell' Park, it might never be 'CitiField' since 'Citi' is teetering...NFL Draft in April, although Cowboys don't really need PLAYERS - can they draft a Head Coach?

And, in May, Beautiful Belmont Park opens up for Thoroughbred Racing, Fast Pitch Softball season begins for Guru, The Kentucky Derby...pretty young thangs traipsing around, FORMERLY pretty young Guru traipsing right back.

Sigh...I can DO this! I can make it...

What a relief, thanks for the session, Dr. WhattaIoweya?

Posted by Matthew at 06:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Guru woke up this morning, the sun was shining, the business is rocking and the Democrats are in power...

What could be wrong?

I made a mistake, that's what. I broke my OWN rule and ventured into the sea of ignorance known as...

The Sporting News TOPIC AREAS!

With toxicity levels approaching Chernobyl, double-digit IQ's and a decidedly un-cosmopolitan audience, it might just be the L-A-S-T place a Guru like your Guru should tread.

But it was early...first puff of the day, getting ready to walk Scout and then go walk Chester, diet-coke poured...I got cocky, I waded in to those topic areas...

Ouch!

I ended up reading an article in which, Mark Attanasio, owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, called for a Salary Cap, reasoning that if the Yankees can afford to sign three players for more than his franchise is worth, their absolutely HAS to be something wrong and then added that if the Yankees sign a Type 1 player off HIS franchise and he doesn't get a #1 draft pick because they've already ceded that pick...

'But he thinks that when Milwaukee received only a pick at the end of the first round and one in the second for losing the left-hander that carried them to the postseason, something's wrong.'

(of course, he doesn't mention that this particular veteran was a member of his team for TWO MONTHS and was acquired specifically to get the Brewers into the Playoffs and then provide them with Type A picks, a bluff the Yankees called by getting all their needs met in ONE off-season and thus limiting the draft damage with a Farm System that was #2 at AAA and repeat MILB Franchise of the Year at AA).

Well then, you K-N-O-W Guru's peaceful Sunday was going to blow up, and there is NOTHING wrong with the Peace pipe (which is why there was no loss of life!)...so I went into FULL culture warrior mode, as I am wont to do when somebody plays off what is good for THEM as being good for everyone.

I said;

The Definition of a Loser...

vagabondguru on 31 Jan 2009 23:34
Attanasio should get a grasp on the History of Baseball...when New York clubs are winning - the Sport thrives, when they struggle - the game shuts down. For an owner in Milwaukee, a god-forsaken no-place where nothing has ever happened nor ever will to be presumptious enough to propose POLICY changes is an almost surrealistic bout of Ego. If the state of Wisconsin suddenly vanished, it might not even be NOTICED, much less the Brewers - it is encumbent upon such places and people to SHUT their pie-holes and take their medicine, or have that medicine shoved down their measly little throats!!!!

May he and his suffer greatly all of their days.

And that outrageously creepy invective had the desired effect, attracting culture war flies like a pile of fresh...well, you know....

BayAreaBandito on 01 Feb 2009 09:00

Bandito remembers a time period when the Yankees were a bunch of has beens, and baseball still went on as programmed. Heh, I make self laugh, the Yankees are once again has beens! Laugh Paco, it scare that ugly, bitter, mean man in your mirror away.

Bandito, here are the Facts
vagabondguru on 01 Feb 2009 09:24

There have been only two periods since 1920 that the Yankees went a protracted period without playoff baseball.

1965-1975 (11 Seasons) - In this period the game dropped to unwatchable levels, with only the New York Mets of 1969 providing any semblance of baseball history. While there were great teams that arose, the fact that they played in Oakland (West Coast), St. Louis (The ******* of America) and Cincinnatti (Ditto) cast a pale over their accomplishments. When the Yankees won the Pennant in 1976 over the odious and filthy Kansas City Royals, they saved the United States from an all-garbage World Series between worthless places filled with worthless people and allowed the legitimate Baseball Fan (read: Urban, East Coast) to enjoy the game that is designed for his or her pleasure, once again.

1982-1993 (12 Seasons) - Once again, the New York Mets provided the only bright spot during this phase with their stirring 1986 Championship, otherwise it was garbage from end (St. Louis) to end (Toronto), filled with only ONE Great Team, another Oakland version, who somehow managed to turn their dominance into two upset losses in the Series. The 1985 Tussle between St. Louis and KC might very well represent the sport's ALL-TIME low point. IN 1994, the Yankees were B-A-C-K, but a disgraceful action by ownership led to them not being able to take the best record into the Playoffs.

then...

rokes on 01 Feb 2009 11:26
Hey Vagabondguru

How about they just re-distribute all of the major league teams amongst the 5 burroughs and tag some of the teams across the country for specific areas of New York. Then they could all have a piece of the NT pie. Everyone knows only NY baseball matters.

THAT snapped my head back and I realized what an over-the-top Asshole I was being, saying things I do NOT mean to people I should not bother with. I responded accordingly, with a bit of measure...
My readers know I am simply giving the writer of this piece, Mark Attanasio and the readers of this piece some of their OWN medicine.

'New Yorkers have no illusions about competition, it is part of every moment of our lives. We don't want to get rid of any other place or its team. You will never hear New York fans calling themselves 'Brewer-Haters' for instance, or a Yankee player saying what Curt Schilling said 'I want to shut up 50,000 New Yorkers' or see Yankee Stadium play a sarcastic dig towards NYC as the Arizona Diamondbacks did as a way of celebrating their 2001 World Series victory - not two MONTHS after 9/11.

The POINT of the venom I put in these ridiculous comments is that there is no such thing as 'proportional' when it comes to competition. Israel does not have to limit itself to the weapons of its enemies when those folk have identified themselves AS enemies, they fight with everything they can muster - which is considerable and they fight FOR themselves. It is the same with the Yankees, it is absurd to suggest, as Attanasion does, that a franchise with the intrinsic advantages of population and tradition that the Yankees (and Mets) enjoy should base their expenditures and efforts upon what Attanasio and his ilk can afford.

To be a New Yorker is to believe that everybody is entitled to live/do/say/believe whatever they wish as long as it does not infringe upon ME. Yankee management is NOT beholden to Attanasio, it is in competition with him. It is NOT incumbent upon them to gauge the feelings of self-described 'Yankee-Haters' when making moves for its team. It is beholden to:

1.) Paying customers

It's goals are:

1.) To make money.
2.) To grow the value of the franchise.
3.) To win on the field, insuring items #1 and #2.

Since the Steinbrenner's purchased the team, that is exactly what they have done, creating a mirror image of its city - a place where every amenity is available to those who can perform and relentless competition will chew up those who do not.

This system has a name, it is called 'Capitalism'.'

And THEN...

BrewIsBrewin on 01 Feb 2009 15:04

Hey Vaga...How does it feel for a "no name team" (the Brewers) to make the post season when your beloved Yanks did not. I find it very funny that you're talking down on the Brewers the year after New York fails to do anything. At least the Brewers don't have an owner whose brain doesn't function. The world does not evolve around the Yankees. New York's world does, but that's just because you have nothing better to do. Get this in your head. The entire country hates you!

Ta-Da!

Mission accomplished, Guru...bringing yourself to the level of BrewIsBrewin, how proud you must be!

Hardly...

'Now, you understand why I speak of you the way I do - like Islam speaking of Israel, you 'Yankee-Haters' and NYC-Haters feel justified in hating us and feel that we should somehow agree to play on an equal footing with you.

The Brewers (like the A's, Pirates, Rays etc.) have done an excellent job of using the high draft positions to draft and develop talent, there is nothing to prevent the Brewers from competing for the post-season except their owner's willingness to KEEP HIS OWN TALENT. When Fielder, Braun etc, are ready to make market-rate salaries, will he ante -up? The reality is contained in his comments, he is planning to work on changing the system to guarantee his costs - something that every player in the game has heard him say. Insuring that NOBODY who HAS options will choose Milwaukee in the future.

As for 'the entire country hates you', more Americans live in my neighborhood than live in your city, five times as many Americans live in my city than live in the STATE of Wisconsin. My city is the face of America for people all over the world ,who come here in admiration as do we New Yorkers when we go to visit them. NYC is the capital of business, finance, culture, fashion and media in the United States and is comprised of people from all over the world, including Wisconsin, who wish to live and work amongst free, tolerant, impact people. New York's strength is AMERICA's strength - freedom, tolerance, capitalism - and it is why we have been impactful for 400 years. The ONLY people in the world who hate NYC are those people who want the world to look a certain way and reject immigrants, minorities, gays being on an equal footing and competing evenly with white, christian, heterosexual natives.

Being hated by such garbage (Sarah Palin, Dubya) is a badge of honor.'

And onandonandon...another day in America, another day online talking with Americans who see the world in almost completely OPPOSITE ways.

As you can tell from reading the absurd particulars, it has almost NOTHING to do with Sports.

Guru is not one to throw the first punch (my experience with the Lyndon LaRouche operative notwithstanding - another column!), but I am a TRASH TALKIN' MOTHERFUCKER, if you got stuff to say that is cultural in nature and you get in my face, you can ALWAYS expect to take a 2 X 4 in the face.

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