Something Truly Sad

Over the last week or so I've learned something about myself. Something kind of sad. Something I'm not too proud of.

As every fan of the team knows, the Yankees are in their first real slide of the season. They have lost something like 10 of their last 15 games. They are not hitting. They are not pitching. They are not healthy. They need to turn it around now before it is too late.

During these 15 or so games I have noticed that my moods have been not too good, to put it mildly. I have been, at times, anxious, worried, angry, sad and depressed. I really wasn't experiencing any of these moods while the Yankees were winning, and back then I was still living in a homeless shelter!

My moods are determined by the success of the Yankees. Now, that is truly sad. But hey, I'm not the only one. Ross of the Stadium Insider blog feels the same way and tweeted it last week. That is what made me really start to think about it.

Who else out there feels this way? I am sure Ross and I are not the only ones. Do your moods go up and down depending on how well your favorite team is doing? Share your comments!

Time To Catch Some Rays

It is a beautiful day today in New York City. The temperatures are warm but comfortable. The sun is shining brightly. Time to catch some rays!

It's also time to catch some rays of another kind. The Tampa Bay Rays just pulled off a two-game sweep of the New York Yankees. New York is now 5 games behind first-place Tampa Bay in the American League East.  Yes, it's time to catch some Rays, but there is also time to catch some Rays.

Some fans in Yankees Universe don't seem to think there is time. They look poised to press the panic button. A few think the season is over. One or two might already be thinking about football season, turning their attention to NFL betting and counting down the days until the Monday Night Football commercials start up again.

Hold your horses, Yankee fans. Keep your sportsbook on the current page. It is May 21st. The season is only about 6 weeks old. There is a full 4 months of baseball left. Anything can happen. The Yankees were swept by the Rays partly because of injuries and partly because two of their top pitchers had bad outings. Injuries will heal and top pitchers usually have good outings. Things will turn around, and when all is said and done, the Yankees will be right back in the playoffs.

So everyone stop worrying and get out there and catch some rays!

Under Protest: The Hanley Ramirez Fiasco

The Yankees played last night's finale against the Red Sox under protest. The reason for it might be a bit silly, depending on what you think. I'm not going to go into it. You can read all about it here. What I do want to go into is the silliness of Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez.

I was listening to Mike and Mike this morning and heard the story about Ramirez's lack of hustle in a recent game and his subsequent insults directed toward his manager Fredi Gonzalez. After his stunt, Ramirez was pulled from the game by Gonzalez. Later, when speaking to reporters, Ramirez said his manager never played a game in the Major Leagues, so he doesn't know what he (Ramirez) is going through.

I ABSOLUTELY HATE IT WHEN PLAYERS PLAY THAT CARD!

Ramirez is only the latest player to utter those words. Several players have gone down that road, including Alex Rodriguez, who was referring to  Buck Showalter when he went there. Now Ramirez has joined the club.

Mike Golic summed this ridiculous statement up perfectly when he said (and I paraphrase), "I may not be a chef but I know a good meal when I have one."   Gonzalez may not have played in the Majors but he knows lack of hustle when he sees it. That's something you're taught not to do in little league, Hanley.

I wish I could file a protest as a fan whenever a player says something stupid like that. Why not? Major League Baseball doesn't really have to get involved. They could put together a board of, say, bloggers to review each protest. If the protest is upheld, the player has to donate game tickets to fans who would otherwise not be able to afford them. 

A fan protest. The more I think about it, the more I like it. How about you? What do you think?

Suzyn Waldman Needs To Stop Groaning

In case you haven't noticed, Suzyn Waldman is a groaner.

Waldman is the sidekick to the radio voice of the Yankees, John Sterling. She is a very talented woman with a lot of experience under her belt, which is why I don't understand the groaning. During yesterday's call by Sterling of the grand slam given up by Mariano Rivera, Waldman elicited a groan that made her sound as if she were in pain.

It isn't the first time she's groaned on the air. She seems to do it everytime a player on an opposing team gets a big hit, right at the beginning of, but sometimes right in the middle of Sterling's dramatic calls. I wonder how he feels about that.

Sometimes she even groans at the sound of loud, rowdy fans nearby.

Does she know her mic is picking up these groans? Does she even know that she's groaning? Shouldn't someone say something to her about it? Perhaps she's received letters from listeners:

 "Dear Suzyn, stop groaning. Thank you." 

She probably groaned after reading them.

Waldman needs to stop the groaning. But will she? Probably not.

Grandma I Love You But Don't Cross My Mound!

AJ Burnett uttered those words last night after seeing footage of Oakland pitcher Dallas Braden's grandmother on the mound with him after he pitched his perfect game against the Rays. I almost laughed out loud when I read them. Such a funny guy, that AJ.

Imagine if Alex Rodriguez had said the same thing.  No one would be calling A-Rod a funny guy, most likely.  Somone would find something to criticize about it. You'd see headlines to the affect of "A-Rod Disses Grandma Braden." (I know, her name is Lindsey. Just humor me for a moment, please.) 

What Alex actually said about the perfecto was this:

"I've learned in my career that it's always better to be recognized for some of the great things you do on the field. Good for him. He threw a perfect game, and even better he beat the Rays."

Nice and bland. Nothing about it to find fault with.

Grandma Braden, on the other hand, was more colorfull. Here's what she said:

"...stick it, A-Rod."

So, that's where Dallas gets it from. Stay tuned for more of it, now that he has the perfecto under his belt. (Sigh)

Wrapping Up the Core Four SI Cover Jinx

If you believe in jinxes, or think they're funny, check out Yankee beat writer Bryan Hoch's blog post about the Core Four (Jeter, Rivera, Posada and Pettitte) and the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx.

The solution to keeping Derek Jeter from becoming the fourth and final victim of the jinx? Bubble Wrap! Lol. Very clever.

[Bubble Wrap Photo: Bombers Beat]

I'm Moving. Will Javy Vazquez Be Doing The Same?

As I get ready to leave the ranks of New York City's homeless population, I can't help but think about the Yankees number 4 starter, Javier Vazquez.

Vazquez's ineffectiveness this season has been well-documented. No need for me to go into the details. They're too boring at this point.  What is more interesting right now is speculation about what will happen to him.  Will he stay in the rotation, or will he be moved? If he is moved, will it be to the bullpen? If not the bullpen, will it be to the DL? If not the DL, will it be to another team?

Does he even know?

I've spent the last six months not knowing where I was going to end up. Would I end up moving to another borough? Would I end up moving in with family in the Atlanta, Georgia area? Would I end up with family in the Washington, DC area? Would I end up in another shelter? Turns out I'm going to be not too far from where I used to live, in the same zip code. We can only hope, for Javier Vazquez's sake, that wherever he goes, he ends up back where he used to "live" as well, in the Yankees rotation.

Readers, wish me luck as I start this new chapter in my life, and let's all wish Javy Vazquez luck as he continues his quest to re-write the Yankees chapter in his career.