Post On The Run: It Doesn't Matter What Alex Does

I'm in a hurry so I'll make this quick:

When this latest chapter in the saga that is the life of Alex Rodriguez first unfolded, I yawned and turned the proverbial page.

I'm still yawning.

Whatever it turns out that Alex did or did not do, it won't matter in the long run. Alex will still be a Yankee until the day he retires. He's too important to their lineup. So, even if he violated the terms of his contract, something will get worked out and Alex Rodriguez will still be with the team.

Gotta run!

Are We Ready For The Hughes Rules?

Joba Chamberlain was on an innings limit last year to preserve his young arm. This year, assuming he wins the 5th starter's job, he'll have no innings limit.

What if he doesn't win the job?

I was all for the way they treated Joba last season. I had no problem with them having him pitch three innings here and four innings there. I wasn't one of those people who kept saying, "Let Joba pitch!" I didn't think the Yankees were messing with his career. I didn't think he was being jerked around. I didn't think the Joba Rules were crazy. But, if he doesn't get the job I will think they were crazy. The Joba Rules will have all been for naught.

Isn't 2010 what the Joba Rules were for in the first place, building up his innings so that he can pitch without holding back in the future? The future is now, but Joba might be left in the past and, instead of Joba pitching without an innings limit, we'll be subjected to the Hughes Rules (because Phil Hughes will need an innings limit, too), and Joba will be back in the bullpen, having gone through what he went through in 2009 for nothing.

Now, I know Joba's not in danger of losing the 5th starter's job because of the one bad Spring Training outing he had last week. That's not the point of this post. (Trying to avoid unnecessary comments or emails here.) I also know that anything can happen; any of the first four starters could get hurt and both Joba and Hughes could be in the rotation  But whatever happens, there's a chance that we'll all have to experience the Hughes Rules in 2010.

Are we ready?

Eri Yoshida Meets Her Idol

That Japanese schoolgirl I wrote about last year finally met her idol. Isn't that nice? Watch:

New Name, Same Blog

Goodbye Lady At the Bat, hello LADYBATTING.COM. I have decided to use the blog URL as the title. No specific reason, other than I think it sounds better. So please update your blogrolls, bookmarks, etc.  The URL and title are one-in-the-same.

Jeter Will Play Wherever The Yankees Want Him To

The contract will get done. If anyone thinks it won't, they're not a  real baseball fan. Derek Jeter will be a Yankee until he decides to retire. The big question seems to be this: Will he remain a shortstop until the day he retires?

I read the article John Harper wrote in today's New York Daily News, where Harper seems to insinuate that Jeter may not leave the shortstop hole without a fight. I disagree.

The only fights that will go on are the ones among fans who debate among themselves over it and maybe among members of the media. Derek Jeter is a team player. He'll play wherever the Yankees want him to play. He may not like doing so, but he'll do it. I find it hard to believe that he'd want to do otherwise.

Harper thinks that all this fighting could go on behind closed doors and that we'll never hear about it.  I don't subscribe to that opinion.  Leaks are way to common in this day and age.

So, the Captain will be at the helm until he decides to retire, whether that "helm" will be shortstop or some other place on the Yankee (Clipper)Ship.

The Johnny Damon Saga: One Big Bore

I have refrained from posting anything about the Johnny Damon saga until now, partly because of my personal problems, but mainly because I just was not interested. The whole thing was one big bore to me.

Johnny Damon letting Scott Boras lead him around like a pathetic puppy: boring.

Johnny Damon asking the Yankees for too much money: boring.

Johnny Damon negotiating with the Braves and the White sox: boring

Johnny Damon saying he wants to come back to the Yankees eventually: boring.

Johnny Damon saying he always wanted to be a Tiger: Boring!

The only thing that was not boring in this whole soap opera was the fact that Scott Boras screwed up. I don't know if Boras is losing his touch or not, but I found his whole handling of the Damon affair a thoroughly enjoyable comedy of errors. Very entertaining. Thanks, Scott!

The Yankees will not see Johnny Damon until August.  In November he'll probably say he always wanted to play for the Nationals. Boring.

May The Tomahawk Chop It Off

This is a picture of ex-Yankee, and now Brave, Melky Cabrera, sporting a beard.

It looks horrible. Just because you can grow a beard now doesn't mean you should, Melk Man. Ugh. Chop it off. Please!

[Photo from Twitter]

Let's Do It Again!

Pitchers and Catchers. I love that phrase! Especially when it comes to the World Champion New York Yankees.  Spring Training started for Yankee pitchers and catchers today and it sounds like they're already in win-it-all mode. Here's what Phil Hughes told reporters:

“Last year was nice, but we have to do it again this year. At the end of 2010, I don’t think anyone will be talking about who won in ‘09.” [Lo-Hud Yankees Blog]

You got that right, Phil. Let's do it again!

RIP Judge Sylvia Pressler

Judge Syliva Pressler passed away on Monday.

Who was Judge Sylvia Pressler?  The woman who made it possible for girls to play Little League baseball. Here's an exerpt from her obituary, which ran in today's New York Times:

"...but she was best known for her decision in the Little League case, which she made before she was elevated to the bench. This was in 1973, when discrimination cases in New Jersey were heard by the Division of Civil Rights before government-appointed examiners, of which Sylvia Pressler, then a lawyer, was one.

The previous year, a 12-year-old girl, Maria Pepe, had played three games for a Hoboken Little League team before national Little League officials learned of her participation and threatened to revoke the local league’s charter if she continued to play. The National Organization for Women brought suit on behalf of the girl and all others in New Jersey. Ms. Pressler’s ruling in favor of them was upheld by the New Jersey Appellate Court, and in 1974 Little League Baseball agreed to allow girls to play on its teams and to start a softball division especially for girls..."

Good ruling, Judge Pressler, and rest in peace.

[Photo: New York Times]

Almost There!

Well, Pitchers and Catchers is almost upon us and I can't wait! I'm still without a home, but I'm still making this blog work. Look for more posts, more frequently starting in a week or two. Go Yankees in 2010!