Hinkse To Yanks: Bye Bye, Cervelli? Sit Down Swish?

Reports are surfacing that the Pirates' Eric Hinske has been traded to the Yankees for two minor leaguers. Hinske has split time this season in right field, and at first base and third base.

The move seems to indicate that the Yankees are trying to solidify their bench. He would join Ramiro Pena and Cody Ransom as Yankee reserves. Also, with Xavier Nady unlikely to return this season, he could contribute in the outfield as well.

What it could also mean: A demotion for Francisco Cervelli. If both Pena and Ransom are kept on the roster the move could also mean that the Yankees have decided not to carry three catchers when Jose Molina returns, which should be very soon.

Another possibility: Less playing time for Nick Swisher. Swisher is a fan favorite and has a good eye for the strike zone. But there's not much else to his game. I love Swish, but he can be brutal at times. Hinske might be an upgrade.

Welcome to the Bronx, Eric.

Bernadette

Casual Friday: A Departure

Today I take a departure from my normal Casual Friday post to honor the memory of one who departed from this earth yesterday: Michael Jackson.

He is probably most well known for his solo career, when he cemented himself as the King of Pop. But my fondest memories are of times long before that. Before he was a solo artist, Michael Jackson was, of course, the lead singer of the Jackson 5. They were the Beatles of the early '70s. Their music was the soundtrack of my childhood:




A true musical legend.

Rest in peace, MJ.

Bernadette

Donald Fehr: Good Or Bad For Baseball?

When the MLB Players Association announced yesterday that Donald Fehr was stepping down as its chief, the debates began on sportstalk radio about whether or not Fehr was good or bad for the game of baseball. It's a moot point, when you really think about it.

Fehr's sole purpose in running the player's union was to to do everything in his power to generate the best possible conditions for his constituency, and that is what he did. It was not his job to improve baseball or to make it worse. That was, and is, the job of the Commissioner of MLB. That is where the debate truly should be.

It is only a union's job to improve an industry only so much as it improves the industry's workers. That's a tough pill to swallow for some people, including myself. I've never been a big fan of unions. But, I believe it is true. It is up to the baseball commissioner (and the 30 owners) to actually improve the game, and doing that includes a sufficient defense against a strong union. They failed to do that. Over the years, team owners and various commissioners have been too busy caring about their own individual bottom lines rather than the game as a whole. As long as they themselves made money, who cared about the game as a whole?

Donald Fehr should be remembered as one of the most important people in baseball history and that is all. He was neither good or bad for baseball.

Bernadette

Is Alfredo Aceves Ramiro Mendoza, Or Not?

The Yankees like to think of Alfredo Aceves as a 2009 version of Ramiro Mendoza. Mendoza was a jack of all trades on those late '90s Yankee championship teams, appearing as a starter and as both a long and short reliever for the team.

When Aceves relieved CC Sabathia in the second inning of Sunday night's game against the Marlins in Florida, I was expecting a Mendoza-like long relief outing. Instead, Joe Girardi pulled Aceves after 2 and 2/3 innings, in favor of Brett Tomko who eventually let the game get out of hand. Aceves had given up only 1 hit and had struck out a batter. He didn't appear to be fatigued at all. "Fatigued" seems to be a controversial word in Yankees Universe these days. Questions arose as to whether Alex Rodriguez really was fatigued after he was seen at a South Beach night club with Kate Hudson over the weekend. Did they not want another "fatigued" player on their hands?

Seriously, though, if Alfredo Aceves really is today's Ramiro Mendoza, why not let him pitch another inning or two Sunday night? Why not leave him in and give yourself a chance to win, rather than a chance to lose with Brett Tomko. Tomoko has been anything but lights out this season, and Aceves has been lights out. I know that hindsight is 20/20, but the stats speak for themselves. If you're going to call Aceves Ramiro Mendoza, treat him like Ramiro Mendoza.

Bernadette

Casual Friday: In Sickness & In Health

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.

* For the second time this season, Dontrelle Willis of the Tigers has been placed on the 15-Day DL because of an anxiety disorder. Does this anxiety disorder really exist? If it does, Willis should have a talk with Zack Greinke of the Royals. You can beat this, D-Train. Zack did.

* Raul Ibanez has also been placed on the DL. The Phillies slugger has a groan problem. Oh, I'm sorry, I meant groin problem. I was confused by all his groaning about steroids lately.

* Does Randy Wolf of the Dodgers have whooping cough? He's been bothered by a persistent cough for six weeks and he thinks that's what it might be. Relax Randy. You probably have allergies.

* Manny Ramirez will be going on a rehab assignment before he returns to the Dodgers. He was suspended for using illegal drugs. Is playing in a minor league game the type of "rehab" Manny needs?

That's all I have this week. A reminder: There will be no LATB Radio this Sunday in observance of Fathers Day. Tune in next Sunday night at 9PM Eastern for the next episode.

Bernadette

Sammy Sosa: Say it IS So

Like most people I was not surprised to see yesterday's New York Times article alleging that Sammy Sosa is on the list of 104 players who tested positive for PEDs back in 2003. I was not surprised about that and I was not surprised that it came only a few weeks after Sosa had made comments proclaiming his innocence.

If, in fact, Sosa is on the list of 104, he must have known that there was a chance that his name might surface at some point in the future. His statements of a few weeks ago now seem like an attempt to brace both himself and the world for what was to come.

Sosa, along with Mark McGwire, gave the world one terrific show back in 1998 with their home-run chase. Along with everyone else, I ate up every minute of it, loving all the attention that was being paid to baseball after it nearly died a few years earlier when the players went on strike. Little did we know that the attention Sosa and McGwire brought to the game would turn so negative. Or, maybe we did know. I recall how I vehemently refuted remarks made by some fans, accusing these guys of juicing. How could they be? I asked. The media isn't saying anything about it.

Now everyone is saying everything about it. We've yet to hear from Sosa on this latest bit of news. I don't know why. There is only one thing for him to do: Say it IS so.

Bernadette

The Lady Has An MLB By-Line (For A Day, At Least)

I was lucky enough recently to get an opportunity to write a review about a new DVD Set from Major League Baseball Productions. The name of the DVD set is New York Yankees Perfect Games and No-Hitters.

The review was posted today on Yankees.com, the team's official MLB.com site. Here's a link to it:


Relive Yanks'Great Pitching Performances

I am truly grateful to MLB and the Yankees for giving me this opportunity. I hope you enjoy reading it. I meant every word of what I wrote.

Bernadette

Casual Friday: Click On These Links

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.

Do something really easy this Casual Friday. Enjoy some cool stories and people by clicking on these links:

The blog post about Raul Ibanez which Ibanez, having not read it, wrongly criticized: JRod, Midwest Sports Fans.

The 2009 First Year Player Draft took place this week. Here's a recap: 2009 Draft Coverage at MLB.com.

After his wife's shocking sudden death, Scott Schoeneweis has returned to the Arizona Diamondbacks:Jimmy Scott's High & Tight.

The Rays might be interested in Pedro Martinez. Two posts: Rays Index, 6/11/09, 6:40PM and 8:21PM

One of the best baseball shows on internet radio, hosted by Mark Healey: Baseball Digest Live .

Follow two ladies traveling around the country, enjoying the national pastime: Traveling Baseball Babes

The Traveling Baseball Babes will be guests on LATB Radio on June 28th. They'll talk all about their latest trip. Until then, don't miss the show's next episode, this Sunday at 10PM Eastern, all about the Subway Series.

Have a great weekend!

Bernadette

The Mis-Handling of Chien-Ming Wang

The Yankees have announced that Chien-Ming Wang will remain in the Yankees rotation and make another start, next week against the Washington Nationals. Opinions differ on this decision. Some want him in the rotation, some want him out of it. I want him in the rotation. Here's why:

* Wang missed the second half of last season because of that foot injury. The Yankees told him that when he worked out during the off-season, he should avoid working his legs so as not to aggravate the foot injury. [Source: Andrew Marchand, 1050 ESPN Radio]

* Assuming Marchand is right, Wang came into Spring Training this year with the Yankees knowing his legs were not in shape. Yet, correct me if I am wrong here, but they let him go through the Spring seemingly without any type of special conditioning program for his legs. They acted as if his legs were, in fact, in shape and that he was ready to start the season on time.

* Wang was put on the DL so he could finally prepare, properly, for the 2009 season. Yet, that preparation was cut short when Joba Chamberlain got hit in the knee by an Adam Jones line drive. Wang was driving to a rehab start when he was called back by the Yankees and told to sit in the bullpen in case the next Jobamania Show had to be cancelled. It wasn't cancelled, but Wang didn't get to finish his rehab.

* Knowing that Boston was looming on the horizon, the Yankees put Chien-Ming Wang back into the rotation against the Rays, after only a few relief appearances, still lacking that final rehab start.

Now Joe Girardi is saying things like, "...this is not a developmental league," as if Wang is solely to blame for this debacle. Some in the media are blaming Wang as well, including Ken Davidoff, who wants Wang out of the rotation now.

Wang has won more games for the Yankees in the last three years than any other pitcher. He was their ace until they decided to go shopping via free agency this past off-season. True, he's been a total disappointment so far this year. But this isn't all Wang's doing. The Yankees need to step up and take some responsibility for the mis-handling of Chien-Ming Wang.

Bernadette

On Raul Ibanez and Steroids

I first learned of this story yesterday morning, but was unable to post anything about it because every media outlet I turned to for information failed to mention the name of the blog that was the original source of it. I don't know if that was done on purpose. My suspicion is that is was, but again, I don't know.

Anyway, in case you have not heard, earlier this week JRod of Midwest Sports Fans wrote a post about Raul Ibanez and performance enhancing drugs. On Wednesday, John Gonzalez of The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote an article criticizing JRod for the post. The title of the article is A Cheap Shot at Ibanez. In Jim Salisbury's article yesterday, Ibanez angrily refuted JRod's "claims."

Everyone knows what Ibanez said, including:

"...Unfortunately, I understand the environment we're in and the events that have led us to this era of speculation. At the same time, you can't just walk down the street and accuse somebody of being a thief because they didn't have a nice car yesterday and they do today. You can't say that guy is a thief..." and, [Philly.com]

"I'll put that up against the jobs of anyone who writes this stuff. Make them accountable. There should be more credibility than some 42-year-old blogger typing in his mother's basement. It demeans everything you've done with one stroke of the pen." [Philly.com]

Ibanez is absolutely right about the environment we live in. He's also right about how wrong it is to accuse somebody based on appearances.

Maybe he needs to practice what he preaches.

It sounds to me that Ibanez did not even read what JRod wrote. He read only the John Gonzalez article and drew his conclusions from there.

I read JRod's post. It is well thought out and carefully written. Here's an excerpt:

"...It’s time for me to begrudgingly acknowledge the elephant in the room: any aging hitter who puts up numbers this much better than his career averages is going to immediately generate suspicion that the numbers are not natural, that perhaps he is under the influence of some sort of performance enhancer. And since I was not able to draw any absolute parallels between his prodigously improved HR rate and his new ballpark’s hitter-friendliness, it would be foolish to dismiss the possibility that “other” performance enhancers could be part of the equation.

Sorry Raul Ibanez and Major League Baseball, that’s just the era that we are in — testing or no testing.

Personally, I am withholding judgment until we see a full seasons’ worth of stats. Many players put together terrific runs of 150-250 ABs in the midst of otherwise normal or just slightly above average (based on their career numbers) seasons. Ibanez’s terrific 219 AB run since Opening Day is just magnified right now because it came at the start of the season."

At no point in the post does JRod state emphatically that Raul Ibanez is now on or has ever been on performance enhancing drugs. Yet, Ibanez judges JRod on "appearances," drawing on that tired image of all bloggers being 42 year old losers, typing away in their mothers' basements.

Raul, wake up and smell the philly cheese steak. It's time to lose that stereotype.

Bernadette

105 and Counting

As of last night, 105 home runs have been hit at the new Yankee Stadium. At this rate, the old record for home runs hit in a single season at a single stadium will surely be obliterated.

So, what's the deal here? Why is it happening, how bad is it and what should be done about it? Well, let's see.

Why: Who knows? The Stadium's dimensions are exactly the same as the ones at the old Stadium. The seats are not as close, however; they don't hang over the field (taking away that particular advantage for the Yankees). I've also heard that the field itself is about 30 feet higher at the new park than it was at the old one. Another possible factor are the outer walls in left field and in right center field. There aren't any. If you've ever been on a southbound subway train heading toward the Stadium, you'll know what I'm talking about. The "walls" there are actually huge metal screens through which people can peer through, albeit with difficulty.

How bad it is: It's bad, if you ask me. The media has once again insulted (Yankee) fans by saying that we don't care. Yes, it's fun to watch all the home runs, but honestly, by the time Johnny Damon had hit the go-ahead home run last night I was tired of it. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad the Yankees took the lead, and I understand that Andy Sonnenstine doesn't walk people; he's usually around the plate. But, at that point in the game, doing it via the homer sort of cheapens it. The whole thing was a little embarrassing.

What should be done about it: Nothing, yet. Let it play out for an entire season. That's what the Yankees are going to do and it makes sense. Unlike those in the media who would have you think otherwise by talking about future pitching signings and the like, something will be done about this before the 2010 season gets underway. If not, I'll be shocked.

In other news, Baby Clutch Gets A Treat! Congratulations to the Melkman, Melky Cabrera, for winning the Pepsi Clutch Performer Award for the month of May.

Bernadette

The Great Subway Series Giveaway!

*Deadline Extended*

The Subway Series returns this Friday when the Yankees host the Mets at the new Yankee Stadium. It continues in two weeks at the new Mets ballpark, Citi Field. These two parks have yet to produce any real memorable moments that fans can turn back to again and again. For now, they will have to be content with the memories they have collected from the old ballparks.

Here are two great ways to relive those memories: The New York Yankees Essential Games of Yankee Stadium and The New York Mets Essential Games of Shea Stadium:

Each of these is a 6-DVD set of six historic games played in each of these historic ballparks.

I have two copies of each set to give away!

All you need do for you chance to win is to send an email to latbradio@gmail.com. In the email, please answer the following question:

What was the name of the annual mid-season exhibition game played between the Mets and Yankees between 1963 and 1983?

Please include your DVD set preference (Yankees or Mets) in your response.

Four winners will be chosen at random.

Winners will be chosen during this Sunday's broadcast of LATB Radio and also will be announced here on the blog the following day. Please get your entry in by this Sunday, June 14 at 10:30 PM Eastern. Good luck! (Deadline extended. See below.)

Note: Your email address will be kept confidential and you will not be spammed or otherwise contacted by me in any manner.

Bernadette

Update, 6/15/09: The contest deadline has been extended! The new deadline is Sunday, June 28th at 9:30 PM Eastern. Good luck!

Casual Friday: Ageless, Aging, Aged

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.

* Congratulations to "Big Unit," Randy Johnson on winning the 300th game of his career. A usually ornery Johnson smiled and spoke politely during his postgame press conference. This was a complete turnaround for the 45 year-old veteran, who once spoke like an old man to a photographer on a street in New York City, saying "Don't talk back to me!"

* Tom Glavine was released by the Braves this week. Glavine has won 305 games, most of them for Atlanta, yet they have put him out to pasture. Look for Glavine to land back in New York real soon, wearing a Mets uniform.

* "Big Papi," David Ortiz, has agreed to have his eyes checked. He says he still has 20/20 vision but he's willing to try just about anything. Does that include women's fertility drugs? Oh, I'm sorry, he's already tried those (indirectly). They no longer provide any "protection."

That's all for now, ladies and gentlemen. Don't forget to tune in to LATB Radio this Sunday night at 10 PM Eastern. It's all about the Tampa Bay Rays!

Bernadette

Baby Clutch Strikes Again

Derek Jeter is known as Mr Clutch. Call Melky Cabrera Baby Clutch.

Baby Clutch came through yesterday, once again, with a tie-breaking, go-ahead, two-run homer in the 8th inning, leading to the Yankees 8-6 victory over the Rangers. He's been the team's most consistent clutch hitter all season. What a difference a year makes. Last year he was all but forgotten, relegated to punching bag status on message boards all over cyberspace. Now, a complete turnaround.

Melky Cabrera is on the ballot for the Pepsi Clutch Performer Award. I think he deserves some votes. Don't you?

Back later with "Casual Friday."

Bernadette

[Photo: Simmons/Daily News]

These Are No Longer Joe Torre's Yankees

These are no longer Joe Torre's Yankees. I hope Derek Jeter knows that now. He scored on Mark Teixeira's 4th-inning take-out play during last night's game against the Texas Rangers, and after he crossed the plate he looked back at 2nd base with a look of utter surprise (in my opinion). His must know that this would never have happened under the reign of his Precious Mr T. I'm sure he also knows that AJ Burnett's subsequent brush back of Nelson Cruz would never have happened under the reign of his Precious Mr T.

He has to know, if he remembers some other games this season:

* CC Sabathia threw behind an Angels catcher after Jeter was hit by a pitch.

* Burnett made Evan Longoria hit the deck after a Rays pitcher had brushed back Nick Swisher.

* Joe Girardi barked accusations at the Twins first base coach and got into a shouting match with Ron Gardenhire during a series at the Stadium against Minnesota.

* Johnny Damon and Nick Swisher got themselves ejected for arguing balls and strikes.

I know. Getting ejected for arguing balls and strikes is nothing to laud. The point I'm trying to make is that there is a fire to this team that wasn't there under Joe Torre. For twelve years the Yankees were doormats when it came to things like this. Remember Pedro Martinez? How about Roger Clemens? There is no way that this Yankee team would ever allow themselves to be abused by players like that today.

So, accept it, Derek Jeter. These are definitely not your "father's" Yankees.

Bernadette

The Yankees: A Great Defensive Team?

On Monday night the Yankees set an MLB record for consecutive games played (18) without committing an error. Does this mean they are a great defensive team? Of course not. It does mean they are a pretty darn good one, though.

How did they set this record? Two things come to mind:

1) The starting pitching

2) Mark Teixeira

The starting pitching is self-explanatory. Mark Teixeira, however, deserves a closer look: Not since Tino Martinez has there been such a stellar defender at 1st base for the Yankees. Derek Jeter has only 2 errors this season, remarkable for a short stop. He has Mark Teixeira to thank for that. Also, I'd be willing to bet that Tex forces the other three infielders working with him to step up their games.

He has that effect on the pitchers as well, as evidenced by Mariano Rivera's game-ending play on Monday and, of course, Joba Chamberlain's 5th inning, belly-flop play.

Bernadette

[Photo: Duncan/AP]

Mobile Post: The Yankees have set an MLB record for consecutive errorless games. Does that make them a great defensive team? The answer, later...

Coke Is Flat: Phil Not Refreshing For Yanks

Yesterday reliever Phil Coke was flat coming out of the pen for the Yankees. Again. A walk he issued led to the winning run in the game against the Indians in Cleveland.

After the game he blamed home plate umpire Jeff Nelson for the walk, saying he usually gets the call when he makes that particular pitch in that location. Where? In the Major Leagues? This is only Coke's first full season in the Majors. Surely, he doesn't think he'll be treated like a veteran that soon! This year the guy has a 4.79 ERA, 9 walks and 12 strike outs in 20.2 innings pitched. Not outstanding by any stretch.

I would say that Coke should keep his mouth shut, but I guess I would sound old. In this, the age of Sportscenter, Joba Mania and the like, young players say and do what they wish, whenever and wherever they want, no matter how flat and unrefreshing it is.

Bernadette