On the Yankees beat

Great work Jim B. Keep the nuggets coming. I really like seeing Mussina take on a leadership role, this is a big change for him.

I second that, good work Jim.

I have a question for you Jim - do you think its better that we have people like Mussina pushing Pavano (maybe upsetting him) or that we leave him alone and hope he doesnt go fragile?

Jim A.:To me Mussina taking on a leadership role translates into playoff wins.He should talk? A big change for Mussina would be wins when it counted!

Cash cow drying up

http://www.newsday.com/sports/printedition/ny-sppow155094877feb15,0,683116.column?coll=ny-sports-print

Hey, Jim Did you read Article by Yankees hater Shaun Powell? Shaun Powell was talking about how the Yankees spends outrageous amount of money through the years, and can't offer a contract extension to Mariano. Who's fault is the Mr. Shaun Powell? It's not Yankees fault, blame Mariano Rivera's agent for settling $10 million on his contract.

Did he Forget the Yankees spends money also on their homegrown and pays them like Jeter, Mariano, and Pettite, and Bernie. That's how the Yankees run Business, wait until the contract runs out after the season ends. That's The reason Why Jeter's got $20 million on 2000 because Cashman didn't offer contract extension to Jeter before a free agency period.

Mr. Shauwn Powell is Mets Fan who's blaming the Yankees overspending and ruining baseball. He's a Yankees hater. It's always Yankees, Not the Redsox or the Mets. Redsox who spent alot of money this offseason and Mets who are signing pitchers up garbage thru scrap heap..

Jim B

Great work, keep it coming! Like I tried to tell alot of you guys over the winter, Pavano has big problems in that clubhouse! That is why he WILL be traded. And, I like Mussina standing up for the team. He is the player rep and a very intelligent guy.

It also sounds like JT is seeing things the way I see them. That we don't need four 1B to bat 9th. He told Bernie HOW he could make the team. My bet is Bernie shows up.

Jim A

Can't wait till August.

RICK: I think Bernie will show up too.

I agree that he prob had problems in the clubhouse but I don't think he will be traded if he is out there and pitching well. All problems (kinda) go away if he does that.

Rick: Mussina' might be what you would call "intelligent" because he went to Stanford on a baseball scholarship.Holy Cow Batman .Wow! He still hasn't lead on the field w/ clutch playoff victories.Player reps I hear have to have an IQ of at least 100 to qualify...Suddenly an underachiever is the spokesperson for the team...although if Pavano is traded then all this clubhouse blather is for nothing

One other thing ,if Torre lets Mienky play against both lefties and righties how does that benefit Bernie?He still needs ABs to be an effective contributor.Bernie sitting on the bench would just frustrate him in the long run.Outside of Ricks "respect" factor how would this be in the teams best interest?...

ruse

I tagged Mussina intelligent because he graduated from Stanford in 3 years. I don't think the "100's" of the world do that.

Rick: Yes they do if they have tutors and scholastic ringers

a lotta fireworks and issues to work out in tampa.

OK ruse, whatever you say. I'm not in the mood to argue today.

Ruse,
I'd like to see more out of Mussina in the playoffs for sure. At this stage in his career I'm afraid he'll always be one of those guys that becomes unnerved by an error or bad call or something, I hate the fact that he let's that stuff bother him. Andy Pettitte always seemed to try very hard to bail out a teammate when an error occurred but Moose seems to let the floodgates open right after a miscue.

Rick: August it is and a great time will be had by all!

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070215/SPORTS08/702150308/1129

Lynn Henning of the Detroit News speculates that the Tigers could have interest in signing Alex Rodriguez should he become a free agent after the 2007 season.

How about trading Miller and Tata, low prospect for Arod? What do you guys think?

To Jim B: Once again, keep it comming.

Mike Mussina finding issue with Pavano's comments. This is good. The senior man who may not have a ton of playoff wins but takes the ball and tries his best (approx. 240 wins). Is letting the younger underachiever with a ton of talent wake up and smell the coffee.

As far as Bernie is concerned. His stubborness or feeling sorry for himself does not help. He clearly has to show the ability to help the team. He has no guarantee as before. With Cairo to play first base the few times a year. There maybe a spot on the team. So much can happen injuries or trades.

To Starbury: I would not trade Arod. His talent is not fading and he's the best 3rd baseman the Yankees have had since Gil McDougal. We are about WS wins. I believe that he can bring one to us this year. If, he leaves after 2007 than so be it. He was cheap to have at 16 mil a year.

Yeah, Mike Mussina stinks in the playoffs. He only beat Randy Johnson twice in the '97 ALDS, he only struck out 18 Indians in the ALCS that same year, he only saved the Yankees season in Game 3 of the 2001 ALDS, he only saved the season again in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, he only would have won Game Five of the 2004 ALCS if Tom Gordon doesn't choke it up, oh yea, I also recall him pitching pretty damn well in Game one of the '05 ALDS, coming off an injury. [ Yea, he got hit in Game five, but don't forget the collision between Crosby and Sheff]

Moose has had his bad post-season games, but so has Andy Pettitte, so has Mo Rivera, so has everyone else.

God bless you Mike Mussina! After 6 years you have finally earned your pinstripes by calling a spade a spade. I think the yanks are hoping that Pavano has a good spring, then they can trade in and open up a spot for Hughes.

I'm sorry, but where is it Mussina's place to say whether a player needs to get his teammates' "trust" back? What exactly has Mussina done for him to speak so strongly?

Last time I checked, Pavano has a ring (while beating the Yankee$ to do it!) and Mussina is still looking for his first, and Mussina is coming off yet another choke performance in the playoffs.

And what is Torre supposed to say, that Bernie has absolutely no shot to make the team? LOL. Of course he's going to say there are situations where Bernie could make the roster. Torre might be a stupid in-game manager, but he's not a stupid person.

As a Red Sox fan, I would love to see Bernie make the team. It only makes the Yank$ worse if he made it. Unfortunately, Cashman actually knows what he's doing and he'll tell Torre Bernie is done and has been for years.

Yet who wanted him many years ago? Red Sox..

First off why is there a dirty Sox here? Shouldn't he be at his Sox cult meetings in Vermont? Second we need to stop with this whole Mariano thing. The Yanks will sign him. If he is healthy and pitches well this season he WILL come back. Why don't people give Cashman credit. Do you think he is that dumb when this whole offseason all he did was prove how smart of a GM he is by dumping old waste players who can't cut it in NY. Mariano might be getting up in age but he is a very important to this organization. He will be back.Don't buy into the hype. It is so they sell more papers and create more to a situation then it is.That is what they get paid to do. Sports paparazzi. What is this about A-Rod being the best 3rd baseman since Gil McDougal? Didn't we have somebody over there by the name of Scott Brosius? What was he chop liver?

AJ: yes, the Yankees won WS with Brosius. He doesn't compare to Arod. One could brake Babe Ruth's Hr record and is a definite hall of Famer. I don't think more should be said because I like Scott Brosius. He was a gamer. I'm surprised you didn't mention Nettles?

to redsox fan:

GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!

AJ- Compared to A-Rod, Brosius was indeed chopped liver. I loved Brosius, partly because he had a knack for playing above his ability when it counted, but he was nowhere near the talent that A-Rod is. Brosius got hot during the WS in '98 and had a great HR against AZ in 2001, beyond that, he didn't contribute much, of course that is more than A-Rod has done in the playoffs but there's still hope.
If you go back to the 2001 Series it could be argued that a defensive miscue by Brosius cost us game 7, Rivera even alluded to that in a book about the game.

Larry: Was Nettles unbelievable in the '78 WS or what? Or was it '77? All I remember is him diving on every other play (so it seemed) and making tons of spectacular plays. I spent a lot of time diving for balls as a kid trying to emulate him. He's still in my top 7 all time favorite Yanks. As a matter of fact, here's my list, I'd like to see everyone else's too:
1. Thurman Munson
2. Don Mattingly
3. Graig Nettles
4. Mariano Rivera
5. Derek Jeter
6. Goose Gossage
7. Bernie Williams

....or Wade Boggs a Hall of Famer...Rick I wasn't trying to argue,my point is Mussina hasn't really led by example,he's always come up a little short,it's not 8 or 9 innings pitched in the playoffs it's 6 and Torre needs to get an overtaxed bullpen up,it's never a shutout but 3-2 or even,Mussina has even been referred to as even Steven,the 02 04 and 06 playoff failures rest somewhat on his shoulders,none of the pivitol games he started did he come out on top,and in 06 the most recent, he couldn't hold a lead ...Pavano who I'm no fan of did pitch a clutch game against the Yanks in the 2003 WSs...I like Mussinas professionalism and I do like watching him pitch ...none of the teams he's been on have won a WSs....maybe this yr

Steve Swindal got a DUI, that won't make George very happy.

It is way to hard to pick JUST 7 favorites or to rank one over another, but I'll give it a try.

1. Billy Martin
2. Mickey Mantle
3. Thurman Munson
4. Derek Jeter
5. Andy Pettitte
6. Don Mattingly
7. Mariano Rivera

Nettles in 1978 w/Guidry on the mound .Lists 1)Mantle 2)Whitey 3)Yogi 4)Guidry 5)Jeter 6)Stottlemyre 7)Munson 8)Mattingly 9)O'Neill 10)Rivera Honorable Mention -Elston Howard,Sparky Lyle,Bobby Richardson,Craig Nettles,Bernie Williams,Roy White...There's so many !

Sounds like the makings of a very happy clubhouse!

Mussina dumps on Pavano.
Pavano lives in la la land.....tickets are only $5 mill each!
Posada feels Bernie wouldnt make it back....watch your back Jose, your next after Mo!
Mo plays Deal or No Deal...or considering his new restaurant maybe its Meal or No Meal!

Joe either retires, gets fired or rehired.
and...the best of all...Derek Loves Alex Round 4!

The Bronx Zoo is back...and George is just sittin by....

I know there are so many, that's why I had to stop at 7. I only listed players I've actually seen play, otherwise, Mantle, DiMaggio, Yogi and Whitey would have been included. I also didn't include managers or Billy would have been there too. Man, I loved Billy.

It’s our Fault Why George Son in law and Future Owner of the yankees why Steve got arrested for the DuI today? Every Yankees Fan are putting pressure on Yankees and wanted contract extension for Mariano . The Bernie Situation is a mess. I encourage all Yankees Fans to please stop. Thank You.

Jim A...guess I am older

All Time Yankees:

1b - Lou Gehrig
2b - Bobby Richardson
ss - Derek Jeter / A Rod / Scooter
3B - Clete Boyer / Gil McDougal / A Rod
OF - Babe Ruth, Joe D, The Mick
C - Yogi
P - Whitey Ford
R - Mo
Manager - Joe McCarthy / Casey
Reporter - Jim B from Newsday!

WOW, I forgot O'Neill and Guidry too.

BB Dad:
Since you've added a manager category, I'd say mine is Billy.
I'm ignoring the sucking up to Jim B. :)

So you are telling me you are old enough to have seen Gehrig play? Wow...again, I love the history of the team but just missed the Mickey Mantle years so I couldn't put him on my list.
I'll say this, I miss the announcing team of Scooter, Bill White and Frank Messer more than anything. I didn't get to hear Mel Allen except on TWIB.

Guidry, O'Neill and Alvaro Espinoza would've rounded out my top 10. Okay, Just kidding about Espinoza I'm thinking number 10 might've been Righetti.

I like the position method for picking the players:

C - Munson
1B - Mattingly
2B - Randolph
SS - Jeter
3B - Nettles
OF - Mantle
OF - O'Neill
OF - Murcer
SP - Guidry
RP - Rivera
MGR - Martin

These are the ones that I have seen in person.

Don't anybody get the idea that Ted Lilly isn't on my list either, just because I didn't mention him. I had limited space.

I also loved Jimmy Key and Boomer and Coney, and Sparky Lyle.

Rick,
Okay, here's my team by position:
c-Munson
1b-Mattingly
2b-Randolph
SS-Jeter
3b-Nettles
OF-Bernie
OF-O'Neill
OF-Winfield
SP-Guidry
RP-Rivera
Mgr-Billy

Jim A, ok, I didnt see Gehrig, Ruth or Dimaggio....was only 2 when he retired...but I did see The Mick...awesome player...and if he didnt get hurt!!...only one who came close in my mind was Willy Mays for sheer excitement and overall impact.
Now that I need a new First Baseman....I always liked Moose Skowron, but Donny Baseball was better and for the OF, Mick, Winfield and ....probably Bernie!

its funny, everyone raves about Balls (Nettles) wish u would have seen Clete Boyer play - he was the Yankees Brooks Robinson without the fame...and the bat, until he got traded to the Braves!!

I only listed players I've had the pleasure of seeing...Rick ,Murcer is a curious choice over Bernie.I was a fan of Scooter but I never found Messer or White to my taste...Sparky Lyle was one of the reasons the Yanks won it all in 1977,he won the Cy Young award and made 1 of the greatest relief appearances in playoff history against the Royals pitching 5+ innings of relief in game 4 after pitching 3 innings the day before +winning 2 games...Cone ,Boomer,Key...Let's boogie

DH- Rice
C- Fisk
1B- Foxx
2B- Doerr
SS- Nomar
3B- Boggs
LF- Teddy
CF- Speaker
RF- Evans

No team coud beat that. None.

Speaking of broadcasters I was old enough to listen to not only Mel Allen but also Red Barber ,two broadcast poets if there ever was.

Sox Rule!: I bet outside of Nomar you never saw any of those players perform in BoTox uniforms.

ruse,
Pretty funny that you liked Scooter but not White or Messer, usually it was the other way around with people. I thought they were great with Scooter, Messer would reel him in when he strayed too far off and White was very steady.

Sox Rule: I think your team should include Damon, Clemens, Boggs, Mike Torrez and Luis Tiant.

Cloninger

Maybe Pavano should show Mussina his world series ring and say look nice right. where was this mussina when david wells was in his ass?

All Star game 2008 Yankees

When Bob Shepard annnounces Terry Francona's name on All Star game in Yankees Stadium. It's not Joe

" Now The Manager of the American League Terry Francona"

"The Designated Hitter - David Ortiz"

I;m going to throw up and puke if this happens..

Jim A : Speaking of Rizzuto there is a book ,probably out of print, of some of his on the air banter which is absolutely hysterical...If any of you guys enjoy Yankee history I see there is a book due out soon called 'Raschi,Reynolds,Lopat 1949-1953' a pictorial history of those 5 championship seasons and I guess it chronicles the big 3's contributions.

Baseball Dad, I'm glad that you mentioned Clete Boyer (as great as Nettles was - and I loved him!), Boyer was simply unparalled. Brooks himself called Clete the greatest 3B he had ever seen.

I would agree with everyone's listing of favorite Yankees and add Hank Bauer (check out those WS performances!), Bullet Bob Turley, Tony Kubek, little Bobby Richardson. By the way, did anyway mention Roger Maris?!

Finally, speaking of Nettles, I also loved his personality ("some kids want to grow up to be MLB players, some want to join the circus. I was lucky, I got to do both" - or words to that effect.) Does anyone remember him talking to his bat while waiting for "The Big Bird," Mark Fidrych to finish talking to the ball? Or how about one of the funniest baseball lines I ever read in a newspaper. When Nettles doctored bat shattered and the little 'super balls' went all over the infield, a columnist wrote the next day that Nettles thereby became the first man in BB history to have bounced out to the 1B, SS, 2B and 1B simultaneously.

It's probably a question of taste and what you grew up with, but Mel Allen was the greatest BB announcer I ever heard.

The Bronx Zoo minus George equals Peer Pressure to perform. The best kind of pressure to motivate or move on. This is the proper way to win in the clubhouse not directed from the Boss.

Mike Mussina has taken off the dust of a principle of winning. Who cares if he breakes bread with Pavano, get him to pitch to his ability for the team or value on the market.

People can spout off stats about Mussina .. bottom line, he has yet to lead a team to the promise land.

Didn't Moose have a 3-1 lead vs. the Tigers last year? Hey, thanks for holding that lead.

Maybe Capt. Jeter should be making these comments instead of Moose. Or, Maybe he should step in and tell Moose to pipe down.

Pavano has to prove his value to his boss .. and that's about it.

I'm annoyed the name Bernie is even mentioned. He's like that virus you get on a computer that just won't go away.

i tell you this , if this man bernie comes and stinks up his role during the season and this pHelps kids hits 300 somewhere. all you idiots who supported this crap should then take your pc's and crack it across your heads!! and if GOD FORBID TWO infielders go down and we have to trade prospects because the contract absourbing greedy man cannot play the infield! again if this happens and we see our selves messed up.

Again Torre is leaning TOWARDS FAVORITISM!!!!!!!!! for one player and eliminating two younger healthier bodies. so what does Phelps and Phillips have to bat to get a spot? 500 ba ?

Hey re that Red Sox lineup seems it could be beat as not a WS ring among them.

Yanks 61 - (great name by the way - that was my favorite Yankee team -- if only The Mick didnt get hurt!)

Yes Mel Allen - How Bout That! - was superb ...remember his weekly baseball show...I was luckly to meet him and get an autograph years ago...funny, I also liked Jerry Coleman...he is still doing Padres games...and you can hear his voice around the park as they broadcast the game inside the stadium....and I also liked Lindsey Nelson ...and his sport jackets!
Red Barber was a classic, known for announcing the very first broadcasted baseball game...but he was also a Dodger announcer and I didnt like the Dodgers....I did like Curt Gowdy....and Harry Caray was classic....as was the original Jack Buck...a bit different than his boy

BB Dad,
Vin Scully and Jon Miller are two of my favorite voices of the present, of course Scully goes back to your era too.
I really hate the Yankees announcing teams of today, maybe I'm getting old but John Sterling is way too annoying to even try to listen to and Suzyn Waldman, with a clear New England accent no less, is always so darn giddy. Michael Kay is "oh Kay" but feels the need to scream when the Yanks win a May thriller against the vaunted DRays.

Baseball Dad : I totally forgot about Jerry Coleman another Yankee great and an excellent broadcaster.

Jim A: I know we've talked about this on a prior blog 2 months ago,but I too cannot stand listening to Sterling&Waldman.He is way over the top and she really doesn't have much insight as a sidekick...

Baseball Dad and Ruse,

All the broadcasters mentioned were (are, in the case of Scully and Coleman)great. I had the pleasure of hearing at least a little of them all. Living/working in France for the last 22 years means that I only get a few weeks a year to listen to the new guys (gals in the case of Waldman.) Thanks for the book tip, Ruse. By the way, speaking of Scooter's broadcasting, I've also read some perfectly hilarious Coleman and Kiner comments from when they were doing games. There should be a book with a compilation of those guys gaffes!

I worked as a busboy on weekends in a fancy restaurant in Jersey in 61. It had a bar attached where patrons often took a drink before dinner or while waiting for a table. I got to see more games that summer than at any other time in my life. Besides the obviously celebrated M & M boys chase of Ruth, Ford's spectacular year, etc., it seems to me that I recall the Yanks winning more games coming from behind in the 8th and 9th innings than at any other year in my lifetime. Does anyone else remember it that way?