Casual Friday: To Argue Or Not To Argue

The Yankees are all about the pinstripes, in every sense of the word. The rest of MLB is more casual. This is the latest post in a Friday series called Casual Friday, in which I take a quick look around the rest of Major League Baseball.

These days it seems that all I am able to do are these Casual Friday posts. I don't want to re-name the blog Casual Friday, however, so going forward, I will try my best to post more during the week.
* Umpire Todd Tichenor ejected both catchers and both managers during yesterday's Red Sox-Twins game. He ejected Twins catcher Mike Redmond for arguing a call made on a play at the plate and Twins manager Ron Gardenhire for arguing after Redmond's ejection. Later, he ejected Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek for arguing balls and strikes and Red Sox manager Terry Francona for arguing after Varitek's ejection. Did Tichenor over-react? Is he incompetent? NO!! As I said in my previous post below, Varitek's and Francona's ejections were for arguing balls and strikes. Last time I checked, doing that is grounds for an automatic ejection.
* Carlos Zambrano was suspended 6 games and fined an undisclosed amount for his inappropriate and violent actions while arguing a play at the plate the other day. Zambrano, the Cubs number 1 starter, was foolish for getting himself thrown out of a close game and for consequently begin suspended. That being said, his performance that day has to go down as one of the best in MLB history.
* The All-Star Game candidacy of Manny Ramirez is gaining steam, thanks, in part to this website. Here's the argument (or, perceived one): The media thinks Manny should not be voted in and the fans think he should. This is according to the media. I have one question: Since when does the media speak for me? There is absolutely no way that I want to see Manny Ramirez in the All-Star Game. I am sick and tired of the media insulting my intelligence. They're painting fans with a broad brush with all of their condescending statements that make fans sound like imbeciles. Performance-enhancing drugs are a huge problem in MLB and I want them eliminated.
So there!
That's all for this week, ladies and gentlemen. Don't forget to tune in to LATB Radio this Sunday night at 10PM Eastern. My special guest will be switch pitcher Pat Venditte.
Bernadette

Mobile Post: Why is Todd Tichenor being blasted for 4 ejections yesterday? Two of them were for arguing balls and strikes: automatic ejections! More later...

Do The Yankees Have A Pinch Pie-Thrower?

AJ Burnett hasn't won a game in seven starts. He says he knows why and he'll be able to fix it when he goes to the mound tonight against the Texas Rangers. If he doesn't, I think it'll be time for a pinch pie-thrower.

During those seven winless starts Burnett began the Yankee tradition of walk-off pie-throwing. I don't have a problem with the pie-throwing itself. I do have a problem with the media making such a big deal about it. I have an even bigger problem with someone who's performing so poorly being the one throwing the pies.

So if Burnett can't turn himself around, I want to see someone else throwing the pie after the next walk-off win. I don't want to see Burnett's lanky frame racing by. Let Robinson Cano sneak up behind the game's hero wearing his trademark grin and dancing eyes.

On the other hand, if Burnett wins, he can carry on as usual. Better yet, if he pitches a complete game, why not beat him at his own game? I'd definitely pay to see that.

Bernadette

Phil Hughes Postgame Interview, 5/25/09

Phil Hughes pitched 8 shut-out innings yesterday against the Texas Rangers. He wanted the ball for the 9th inning, but Joe Girardi said no. Talk about babying pitchers.

Casual Friday: Greetings From Beautiful San Diego

The Yankees are all about the pinstripes, in every sense of the word. The rest of MLB is more casual. This is the latest post in a Friday series called Casual Friday, in which I take a quick look around the rest of Major League Baseball.

* Padres pitcher Jake Peavy will be on the mound in tonight's only intra-league game, as Interleague Play 2009 begins. Peavy had been traded to the White Sox yesterday, but he took advantage of his no-trade clause (which he has every right to do) and he's staying put. Peavy only wants to pitch in the National League, where pitching is easier. I'm sorry, but he's a wuss.

* Tony Gwynn, Jr doesn't have a no-trade clause. Therefore, he was traded yesterday, to the Padres. His father, Mr Padre, was the one who actually broke the news to him. To top off a storybook day, he scored the winning run last night. Junior's in for the same thing his father went through: Beautiful sunny days without the stress of a pennant race.

* The 2009 First Year Player Draft will begin on Sunday evening, June 9th. We all know that San Diego State's Stephen Strasburg (coached by Mr Padre) will be the number 1 overall pick. But did you know that his agent is Scott Boras? Scott Boras and the Washington Nationals are a bad combination. No way the Nats will sign the kid.

* Baltimore outfielder Adam Jones is from San Diego. Recently, Kim Jones of the YES Network interviewed him and he told her that he was from San Diego's inner-city. He was also quick to point out that, unlike that other Adam Jones, who goes by the nickname "Pacman," he has his head on straight and he is on the right path. Congratulations, Adam, and best wishes for the future.

That's all for this week, ladies and gentlemen. LATB radio has been postponed for the holiday weekend and will return on Sunday night, May 31st. Happy Memorial Day all!

Bernadette

Kangaroo Courts & Pies In The Face: They're Only Stories When The Yankees Do Them

Kangaroo courts are nothing new in baseball, but the Yankees haven't held one since around 1995. The one they held yesterday was a major sports news story here in New York.

A pie-in-the-face might be more old-school than a kangaroo court. The Yankees began a tradition of pie-ing walk-off heroes last week. Again, a major news story.

Really? Come on. I know, it's unusual for the button-down, corporate Yankees to do things like this but why is everyone acting as if the Yankees are the first team ever to hold a kangaroo court and the first team ever to throw pies in each other's faces?

This all reminds me of Robinson Cano.

Why? The media always makes a big deal about Robinson Cano being named after Jackie Robinson, as if he is the only baseball player to be named as such. I'm not sure but, I'll go out on a limb and say that Robinson Tejeda, Robinson Cancel and Robinson Checo were also named after Jackie. To Brooks and Frank: Sorry, guys.

The Yankees are like The President. It's a big deal when they watch a kid's soccer game (i.e., throw pies in each other's faces) but, for other teams? Not so much.

Bernadette

How To Keep Up With LATB Radio

Have you listened to LATB Radio, yet?

LATB Radio is the broadcast home of the blog you're now reading: Lady At The Bat. The show can be heard live every Sunday night at 11PM on BlogTalkRadio. Listen to LATB Radio to hear news and views from a woman who loves the game, via great guests, fun giveaways and diffuse but to-the-point commentary. Here's how to keep up with the show:

LATB Radio Show Page

LATB Radio Show BLog

LATB Facebook Group

Bernadette's Twitter Page

So, mark your calendars and don't forget to tune in. Talk to you Sunday night!

Bernadette

Swish & Chips, Anyone?

I received this media alert via email today:

Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant and NY Yankees’ Nick Swisher Team Up to Launch “Swish & Chips” Portion of Sales from Popular Menu Item to Benefit Swish’s Wishes™to Help Make a Difference in The Lives of Children

WHO: NICK SWISHER, New York Yankees

WHAT: Launch of Foley’s “Swish & Chips”

WHEN: Wednesday, May 20, 2009Noon – 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant (http://www.foleysny.com/)18 W. 33rd St. (near 5th Ave, across from Empire State Bldg.)

WHY: Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant will donate $1 from the sale of each order of “Swish & Chips” (Battered Fish with French Fries) sold from May 20 through the end of the baseball season to Swish’s Wishes. (http://www.nickswisher.net/)

Foley’s NY Pub & Restaurant and NY Yankees’ Nick Swisher Team Up to Launch “Swish & Chips. Portion of Sales from Popular Menu Item to Benefit Swish’s Wishes™ to Help Make a Difference in The Lives of Children.

Bernadette's Wishes: that she could attend, that she could try some and that Swish raises a lot of money.

Bernadette

Casual Friday: Bad Decisions

The Yankees are all about the pinstripes, in every sense of the word. The rest of MLB is more casual. This is the latest post in a Friday series called Casual Friday, in which I take a quick look around the rest of Major League Baseball.

* It appears now that Manny Ramirez did not take HCG, a non-steroid; the drug was not found in his system. That means that the synthetic testosterone found in his system is probably from steroids. Again I ask the question: Did he do them in Boston? I don't understand why no one is making a big deal about this. The question constantly comes up about whether or not Alex Rodriguez used PEDs while with the Yankees, and the Yankees haven't won any championships with him on the team. Why is everyone acting as if Manny wasn't on the Red Sox roster in 2004 and in 2007?

* Umpire Paul Schrieber apologized for nudging Magglio Ordonez when Ordonez was slow in returning to the dugout after being called out on strikes. This after Tigers manager Jim Leyland expressed concern that Schrieber would get suspended, after Leyland acted like a twelve year old about the whole incident. Jimmy, if you hadn't thrown a tantrum Schrieber wouldn't have felt the need to do what he did: apologize for nothing. I wonder if Schrieber and Glen "Big Baby" Davis are comparing notes.

* The Mets' Carlos Delgado (hip) and JJ Putz (elbow) are not available to play in the series against the Giants this weekend. Their injuries appear serious enough to DL them, yet the Mets will wait and see if weekend treatment will help. Hey, Met fans, remember Ryan Church's concussions? I smell a bad decision here.

That's all for now. Don't forget to tune in to LATB Radio this Sunday night at 11PM Eastern.

Bernadette

Lonn Trost: Yankees' Problems In A Nutshell

Yankees Chief Operating Officer Lonn Trost sums up everthing that is wrong with the Yankees right now. Why? He has no regard for the everyday fan.

At a press conference yesterday to announce the sale of memorabilia from the old Stadium, Tross said the team had no plans to change their policy of not allowing fans access to the premium level of the park during batting practice: '“If you purchased a suite, do you want people in your suite?” Trost said, referencing the pricey Legends Suites that are closest to the field. “If you purchased a house, do you want people in your house?”' [Lo-Hud.com]

First there was the botched ticket relocation program. Then came the empty Legends Suites and admission that they're too expensive in today's economy. Then there was Ticketgate. Now Lonn Trost seems to be telling fans that he, and by extension, the Yankees could care less that things like this happen. The rich are all that matter. Everyday fans can go scratch themselves where the sun doesn't shine.

Bernadette

Clemens On Mike & Mike This Morning: Phantom Interruptions

I just watched the "Mike & Mike" Roger Clemens interview. Are you kidding me?

What a complete waste of time. He did the interview, I guess, to refute a new book coming out today: American Icon: The Fall of Roger Clemens and the Rise of Steroids in America's Pastime, written by four New York Daily News reporters. He accomplished nothing of the kind. In fact, he lost me when he stopped talking to Mike & Mike for a few seconds to talk to his kids who had interrupted him.

Interrupted him? Aren't Roger Clemens' kids old enough by now to know not to interrupt him while he's doing something that important??? Even if they are not, could he not have done enough to prevent that from happening? After all, Clemens is fighting for his baseball life here. I would think that Debbie and/or whoever else is around to help out would make sure he'd be able to do the interview in peace.

Here's my point: The kids weren't even there. He just wanted us to think they were there so he'd have the opportunity to say to them (and I paraphrase) "I'll take you to school when I'm finished up here." He just wanted to make himself look good. Plain and simple.

Bernadette

Aubrey Huff's Idea Of Fun

So apparently, Joba Chamberlain is hated so much around MLB that, as we saw yesterday, players have taken to mimicking him during games.

I have one question for Aubrey Huff: Do you do the same thing to Jonathan Papelbon? How about K-Rod? Of course not. They're not Yankees. I am convinced that if Joba Chamberlain were a pitcher for, say, the Kansas City Royals, Huff and everyone else around baseball wouldn't have their shorts in a bunch over his on-the-mound antics.

Here's what Huff said after the game: "For me, it's just in good fun. I always told the guys that if I get him, I'm going to give him a nice fist pump. For me, it wasn't really showing anybody up. I was just trying to have some fun with it. He does it all the time and I figured, 'You know what, why not?'" Really, Huff? Wow, I can't wait to see you do your fist pump in front of Papelbon. (I'm not going to hold my breath for that one.)

No fist-pumping allowed for ESPN. They seemed to have forgotten that the Yankees beat the Orioles Friday night. In the opening to Sportscenter yesterday evening, the announcer screamed, "Could Johnny Damon help the Yankees avoid the sweep?!" I guess we'll never know, ESPN, will we?

Bernadette

Casual Friday: Bans, Deaths & Births (So To Speak)

The Yankees are all about the pinstripes, in every sense of the word. The rest of MLB is more casual. This is the latest post in a Friday series called Casual Friday, in which I take a quick look around the rest of Major League Baseball.

* Manny Ramirez says he took HCG, a women's fertility drug, for a "personal health issue," not to use as a PED. The drug is often prescribed to men for a number of different conditions, including male infertility. Perhaps Manny wasn't looking to gain an unfair advantage while performing on the field, but rather a level playing field while performing in the bedroom. If so, was he so embarrassed about having to seek medical attention for personal performance problems that he didn't appeal a 50 game suspension?

* Baseball lost two more of its own this week: Dom DiMaggio and Danny Ozark. DiMaggio, a younger brother of Yankee great Joe DiMaggio was 92. Dom was a 5-feet 9-inch bespectacled outfielder who played for the Red Sox in the 1940s. He took a lot of flack for his size as Dustin Predroia does today. But Predroia's talent seems to be closer to that of Joe D's than Dom's was. Danny Ozark was a long-time Phillies manager who'd never played a day in the Majors. Which brings me to my next point:

* Ozark never played a day in the Majors, but AJ Hinch has never managed on any level in professional baseball. In fact, he's never even coached at any level. A baby. Yet, he is expected to be named the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks this week. Doug Melvin was fired yesterday. What is GM Josh Byrnes thinking? I guess Eric Byrnes wasn't available.

That's all I got for you today. Don't forget to tune into LATB Radio this Sunday at 11PM Eastern for a special Mother's Day Show.

Until next weekend, ladies and gentlemen.

Bernadette

Manny Suspended For PEDs Use: How Long Has This Been Going On?

A Red Sox player has finally been nailed for using PEDs. True, Manny's no longer with Boston, but who's to say he didn't use PEDs while with the Red Sox?

We may never know the answer to that question, but we should, eventually, know if Manny is as innocent as he claims to be (The drug was for a "personal medical issue.")

Once again (Dare I say it?), Jose Canseco has been proven right.

Scary.

Bernadette

Another Dirty Half Dozen

Reader Libby left me this comment yesterday:

"...Hopefully things will go better tonight--or else we will have a "second half of dirty dozen" list for tonight."

Well, unfortunately, things did not go better, so here I am with Another Dirty Half Dozen. This one is simple: It's The First Two Thirds of the Yankee Batting Order.

With Jorge Posada now on the DL, the Yankee lineup is way too short to make much of an impact, especially against a team like the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees did get good production of out the 7th hole last night, thanks to Melky Cabrera going 3-4, but that's not going to happen every day. You can just as easily flip-flop him with Nick Swisher, who was 0-3 with a walk and 2 strikeouts in the 6th hole.

Alex Rodriguez's imminent return will only have the Yankees climbing up a greased pole. Yankee fans will have to wait until Posada returns at the end of the month to see a formidable offense from their team.

Bernadette

The Dirty Half Dozen

In the 1967 film The Dirty Dozen, 12 criminally convicted American soldiers go on what is thought of as a suicide mission to save the free world from the Nazis. Last night the Yankees appeared to be on a suicide mission of their own, trying their best to save their "world" from the Nazis (the Red Sox), but coming up short.

The Dirty Dozen were named as such because of their refusal to bathe or shave until they received hot water. The Yankees have all the hot water they need in their luxurious new Stadium. So, it's not the people who are dirty these days in Yankees Universe. It's the deeds. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Dirty Half Dozen:

1. During last night's long rain delay, Stadium personnel told scores of fans that the game was rained out. Soon after those fans departed, they found out the game was, indeed, going to be played. However, fans who'd left were not allowed back in, citing the Stadiums No Re-entry Policy.

2. Phil Hughes was unable to build on his good start against the Detroit Tigers: 4 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR allowed.

3. Jorge Posada injured his hamstring in the game. A potentially devastating development for the 2009 season. The Yankees faltered without his bat in the lineup last year.

4. The Red Sox are not 4-0 against the Yankees this season. But, this will be cleaned up eventually.

5. Mark Teixeira went 2-5 with 2 HRs. Yes, until he shows he has really broken out of his slump, this is dirty.

6. Selena Roberts' A-Rod book came out yesterday. Period.

Bernadette

And The Winner Is...

Renee from Georgia is the winner of the Tessuta Game Day Purse! Congratulations, Renee.

Thanks to everyone who entered. More contests and giveaways coming soon!

Bernadette

Win This Purse To Carry On Game Day

Tune in tonight at 11PM Eastern to hear the very first episode of LATB Radio. One lucky listener or reader of this blog will win the Tessuta Game Day Purse (above), in the colors and logo of their favorite Major League team. For a chance to win, send an email to latbradio@gmail.com, answering the following question:

When you go to a Major League Baseball Game, what's the one thing you must bring with you, the one thing you cannot leave the house without? Include your favorite team in your answer.

Click here to listen to the show. Good luck!

Bernadette

Casual Friday: Happening This Weekend

The Yankees are all about the pinstripes, in every sense of the word. The rest of MLB is more casual. This is the latest post in a Friday series called Casual Friday, in which I take a quick look around the rest of Major League Baseball.

Pay attention to these 3 series going on this weekend:

* Mets-Phillies. The NL East version of Yankees-Red Sox. The Mets might be in trouble. After two consecutive end-of-season collapses it seemed imperative that they get off to a good start this year. Instead they are 9-12 going into this weekend's series against the World Champions. If they lose this series they'd better swallow their pride and place a call to Pedro Martinez.

* Orioles-Blue Jays. The two teams in the AL East dismissed as irrelevant. The Blue Jays are percentage points behind first place Boston. The Orioles are the first AL East opponent they'll face this season. They've been cruising up until now, playing AL Central and AL West teams. Let's see where they stand at the end of this weekend.

* Royals-Twins. The Royals are in first place. I think they're for real. They'll hang around all season, making the AL Central the most competitive division in MLB.


Also happening this weekend: The first episode of LATB Radio, the new broadcast home of Lady At The Bat. Tune in Sunday night at 11PM Eastern at BlogTalkRadio. To listen click here.

Until next week, ladies and gentlemen.

Bernadette