On the Yankees beat

And that is why he is the Captain.

He can captain my ship any day, park his boat in my dock whenever.

I love my Jeter!!!

If only Alex, Hal and Hank could learn a few things from him.

2009 Free Agent Class
----------------------------------
Catchers
Rod Barajas (33)
Michael Barrett (32)
Johnny Estrada (33)
Kenji Johjima (33)
Jason Kendall (35) - club option for '09; vests with 110 games played in '08
Paul Lo Duca (37)
Miguel Olivo (30) - $2.7MM club option for '09 with a $0.1MM buyout
Ivan Rodriguez (37)
David Ross (32)
Jason Varitek (37)
Gregg Zaun (38) - $3.75MM vesting option for '09; vests with 160 games played in '08

First basemen
Ben Broussard (32)
Sean Casey (34)
Tony Clark (37)
Carlos Delgado (37) - $16MM mutual option for '09 with a $4MM buyout
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Jason Giambi (38) - $22MM club option for '09 with a $5MM buyout
Scott Hatteberg (39)
Eric Hinske (31)
Doug Mientkiewicz (35)
Kevin Millar (37)
Richie Sexson (34)
Mark Teixeira (29)

Second basemen
Mark Ellis (32)
Mark Grudzielanek (39)
Orlando Hudson (31)
Tadahito Iguchi (34)
Jeff Kent (41)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Mark Loretta (37)
Aaron Miles (32)
Jose Valentin (39)

Shortstops
Orlando Cabrera (34)
David Eckstein (34)
Adam Everett (32)
Rafael Furcal (31)
Cristian Guzman (31)
Cesar Izturis (29)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Edgar Renteria (33) - $11MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Juan Uribe (30)
Omar Vizquel (42) - $5.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout

Third basemen
Casey Blake (35)
Hank Blalock (28) - $6.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Joe Crede (31)
Morgan Ensberg (33)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Wes Helms (33) - $3.75MM club option for '09
Chipper Jones (37) - $8-11MM vesting option for '09
Dallas McPherson (27)

Left fielders
Moises Alou (42)
Garret Anderson (37) - $14MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Milton Bradley (31)
Emil Brown (34)
Pat Burrell (32)
Carl Crawford (27) - $8.25MM club option for '09 with $2.5MM buyout
Adam Dunn (29)
Cliff Floyd (36) - $3MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Luis Gonzalez (41)
Raul Ibanez (37)
Jacque Jones (34)
Kevin Mench (31)
Jason Michaels (33) - $2.6MM club option for '09
Craig Monroe (32)
Jay Payton (36)
Wily Mo Pena (27) - $5MM club option or $2MM player option for '09
Manny Ramirez (37) - $20MM club option for '09
Juan Rivera (30)

Center fielders
Rocco Baldelli (27) - $6MM club option for '09 with a $4MM buyout
Mike Cameron (36) - $10MM club option for '09 with a $750K buyout
Jim Edmonds (39)
Jacque Jones (34)
Mark Kotsay (33)

Right fielders
Bobby Abreu (35)
Casey Blake (35)
Milton Bradley (31)
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Brian Giles (38) - $9MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Ken Griffey Jr. (39) - $16.5MM club option for '09 with a $4MM buyout
Vladimir Guerrero (33) - $15MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Jacque Jones (34)
Brad Wilkerson (32)

DHs
Milton Bradley (31)
Pat Burrell (32)
Adam Dunn (29)
Jason Giambi (38) - $22MM club option for '09 with $5MM buyout
Vladimir Guerrero (33) - $15MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Raul Ibanez (37)
Manny Ramirez (37) - $20MM club option for '09
Juan Rivera (30)
Mike Sweeney (35)
Frank Thomas (41) - $10MM option for '09; vests with 376 PAs in '08
Jim Thome (38) - $13MM club option for '09 with $3MM buyout
Jose Vidro (34) - vesting option for '09

Starting pitchers
Jeremy Affeldt (30)
Tony Armas Jr. (31)
Kris Benson (33)
A.J. Burnett (32) - can opt out after '08 season
Paul Byrd (38)
Roger Clemens (46)
Matt Clement (33) - $8.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Ryan Dempster (32)
Chad Durbin (31)
Josh Fogg (32)
Jon Garland (29)
Tom Glavine (43)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Livan Hernandez (34)
Orlando Hernandez (43)
Jason Jennings (30)
Randy Johnson (45)
John Lackey (30) - $9MM club option for '09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Jon Lieber (39)
Esteban Loaiza (37) - $7.5MM club option for '09 with a $0.375MM buyout
Braden Looper (34)
Derek Lowe (36)
Greg Maddux (43)
Pedro Martinez (37)
Matt Morris (34) - $9MM club option for '09 with a $1MM buyout
Jamie Moyer (46)
Mark Mulder (31) - $11MM club option for '09 with a $1.5MM buyout
Mike Mussina (40)
Brad Penny (31) - $8.75MM club option for '09 with a $2MM buyout
Odalis Perez (32)
Oliver Perez (27)
Andy Pettitte (37)
Mark Prior (27)
Kenny Rogers (44)
C.C. Sabathia (28)
Curt Schilling (42)
Ben Sheets (30)
John Smoltz (42) - $12MM club option for '09
Brett Tomko (36)
Josh Towers (32)
Steve Trachsel (38)
Tim Wakefield (42) - perpetual $4MM club option
Kip Wells (32)
Woody Williams (42) - $6.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Randy Wolf (32)

Closers
Joe Borowski (38)
Ryan Dempster (32)
Brian Fuentes (33)
Eric Gagne (33)
Trevor Hoffman (41)
Jason Isringhausen (36)
Todd Jones (41)
Brad Lidge (32)
Joe Nathan (34)
Al Reyes (38)
Francisco Rodriguez (27)

Middle relievers
Doug Brocail (42) - club option for '09
Juan Cruz (28)
Alan Embree (39) - $3MM club option for '09
Scott Eyre (37)
Kyle Farnsworth (33)
Aaron Fultz (35)
Tom Gordon (41) - $4.5MM club option for '09 with a $1MM buyout
LaTroy Hawkins (36)
Matt Herges (39) - club option for '09
Bob Howry (35)
Steve Kline (36)
Brandon Lyon (29)
Damaso Marte (34) - $6MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Guillermo Mota (35)
Will Ohman (31)
Darren Oliver (38)
Juan Rincon (30)
Russ Springer (40)
Mike Stanton (42) - $2.5MM club option for '09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Mike Timlin (43)
Salomon Torres (37) - $3.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout
David Weathers (39)
Dan Wheeler (31)
Kerry Wood (32)

Off of MLBTRADERUMORS.com....

I think re-signing Bobby Abreu depends on how our young outfielders do when given a chance at the MLB level. Jackson, Tabata and Gardner are going to decide his fate as a Yankee.

It would be nice if we could get Jackson in at CF so we could move Melky to right field. Melky would do a lot better from right with his cannon of an arm.

I look at that FA list and a couple of things jump out at me:

1. CC Sabathia is going to be a very, very, very rich man and
2. The Yankees will buy Giambi's contract out so fast the check might catch fire.

Here is a tidbit of info from usatoday.com that might be of interest and will come as some relief to Yankees fans like me:
From USA Today:
Phil Hughes is throwing harder now than he did last year, said Yankees catcher Jose Molina.
Hughes somewhat agreed. "It's not so much the velocity," Hughes said. "It's really the fact that I've felt more comfortable and I've been able to trust my body. I don't have any inklings or thoughts in the back of my head that something will flare up again. I think that's the key, to trust all my pitches and finish everything." Hughes' velocity definitely slipped last year from where he was in the minors, taking his sky-high stock down one or two notches. If he's back hitting 94-95 mph on the gun with some frequency this year, the Yankees will be very pleased that they held on to him.

Never been a big Melky fan so I hope he does well enough to get traded.

Sure, he's got a great arm but that's about it. He would be a fourth outfielder on the vast majority of AL teams. He's not a good everyday player.

I would prefer to let Abreu walk after this season no matter what.

Jackson will probably be ready in another year if he continues to progress. Tabata probably won’t be ready until late ’09 or early ’10 - although he could very well get a September call-up this year.

The team should continue the youth movement path instead of going nutso on free agents simply because a lot of money is coming off the books. Just because they have the money doesn't mean they need to spend it like drunken sailors. Increased payroll flexibility is another key to long term success. The more youth on the team, the easier changes can be made if they don’t work out - especially in the bullpen.

I also hope they don't splurge on Sabathia because I see him as a long term financial bust. His size and weight are too big of a concern to his long term health.

HMMM...I like that FA list, couple gems on there. Forget CC, lets target = K Rod and Ben Sheets for the same price. Id take a shot with Sheets at a discount rate, then spend the rest of K rod.

As far as Derek....McCarthy nailed it...THATS WHY HE WEARS THE C.

K-Rod isn't going to sign with the Yanks.

He's a closer - and a great one. He's not going to sign a deal with the Yanks to set-up Mo for two years and then maybe take over the closer's role after Mo retires.

The same can be said about Joe Nathan.

Agreed...how about Wheeler, Howry, Lyon or Rincon. Also if thats the Juan Cruz Im thinking of from the D-backs, he's a nice option as well. The RP should be 35 or younger.

Jim A,

Some thing you may be missing about the Mays catch.

First he caught that ball about 450 feet from home plate. He turned at the crack of the bat...ran full speed at at the right time looked up and the ball was there. He caught it over his shoulder like a wide reciever would.

Then the good part. From 450 feet sprinting full speed to center he stopprd turned and threw the ball back to the infield....holding the runners to their bases. Mays always said the hardest part of the play was the throw.

Cleveland fans of the time spoke of how their jaws just dropped in disbelief at the play. Of course at the time their was no replay so people had to wait the next day to see it again...if the had TV's.

Viper,

How about Mo sets him up for his last 2 years.

Lets hope and pray Texiera stays on this list. I wouldn't mind buying out Giambi for 5mil and signing Texiera to a long term deal worth a boat load of money.

Nudge,
I understand that and I'm not saying it was a great catch for that era when I don't think players were as "athletic" as they are now and Mays seems to have been the exception to what is now fairly routine. I think almost every CF in the game right now is capable of making that kind of play and a few of them have the arm to make the throw that came with it.

Hell, the no name dude on the Mets made a fantastic catch in the playoffs a couple years ago that not many people outside of Mets fans remember.

Nudge,
I hosed up the beginning of my last post. It should read:
I'm not saying it wasn't a great catch, especially for that era......

Brain working faster than fingers....

Nudge,

Um, no. Mo is the Yankee closer until the day he retires.

Dru,
Of everyone on this blog, you would be the last one I would think would be talking about signing bullpen help from the garbage heap.

Guys like Wheeler, Lyon, Howry etc. aren't getting any better unless they hire Brian McNamee or something so I'd like to see the Yanks turn the bullpen over to the young guys.

Viper,

Isn't it reasonable to assume that by next year Mo's continued slide will make him less effective than K-Rod since he's about there already? Or are you blindly commited to him regardless of his performance. As Diane says...does he play because of his resume only?

As a Yankee/Giants fan growing up in the NY area in the 50’s, I saw a lot of Willie Mays. Joe DiMaggio called him the greatest CF he’d ever seen. Another former player claimed that he was almost an on the field manager who read the catcher’s signals, knew batters hitting proclivities and stationed himself and other OF accordingly. He was easily one of the most exciting and dynamic players I’ve ever seen.

By the way, in addition to his trademark basket catch, he was well known for running out from under his cap in chasing fly balls. That was, at least according to what I’ve read, a bit of showmanship. Willie purposely wore his hat size a bit big so that it would fly off when he went flying after flies.

After they moved to SF and I stopped rooting for the Giants, I positively hated to see him come to bat against Whitey Ford (or any other Yankee pitcher, but especially Whitey, who he absolutely owned!) in the 62 WS or All Star games.

As for Ruth, he certainly not be called the ‘greatest pitcher’ ever, but many experts claimed that he COULD HAVE been one of the greatest lefthanders ever had he pitched his entire career. In fact Ruth only pitched three full seasons for Boston. During that brief period he went 18 - 8, 23 -12 and 24 -13. In 1918 and 1919 he was more outfielder than pitcher, but still went 13 -7 and then 9- 5 (in 1919 he also led the AL in HR with 29 and RBIs with 114.)

His career record was 94 -46 (a .671 winning percentage) with 17 shutouts in 163 games and an ERA of 2.28. For many years he held the record for most consecutive shutout innings in the WS until Ford broke it in the early 60’s. Not too shabby. In fact, anything but ordinary Nudge – by today’s standards or the standards of his time. In his time as a starting pitcher, he was definitely considered one of the top LH in baseball.

Incidentally, a small quibble, but he did indeed pitch for the Yankees and he went 5 – 0! While he completed 4 of those five games, he was certainly a shell of his former self as a pitcher, with a pretty high ERA.

I bow to no one in my admiration for Willie Mays. But I can’t think of any other athlete, in any other sport, who owned similarly diverse and dominating skills in two widely different areas of their game as the Babe. But it’s obviously one of those arguments that are meant for cold winter nights when one has nothing better to do!

Jim A there is no 450 ft common OF so even in todays market NO PLAYER makes that play on ANY roster becasue the tools is just not there many players have a hard time doing that play at 300 -399ft , holding the runners as well.

as for jeter great response but he could have as well gave a slight thank you to Arod for the compliment.

to add to that comment by Jeter , he could have stated

I appreciate Alex's comment but my goal is for me and him along with the WHOLE team to win.

Iwould pay money to see babe CHASE a 450ft bomb then throw it back in the field from the wall, if you want to admire a player what about satchel paige?

Jim...its nice to have options. Im not suggesing building our pen out of the FA market, but there's nothing wrong with a couple pieces. Farny, Hawkins, Bruney, Moose and probably Andy will be gone after this season, so it wouldnt be a bad idea if we add a Wheeler, Howry, Lyon or Rincon ( all in their early 30's and all still effective ) to complement the young guys. When you add in K-rod and Nathan, that group of players is much better than what was available this year.

#1 on my wish list is Teixeria though, that guy can hit and field! I think that's gotta be our #1 target at the end of the year.

Nudge,

Not "blindly" committed to anything. He signed a three-year deal with the Yanks a couple of months ago to be the closer - not a set-up man.

Secondly, Mo's "continued slide" is a bit exaggerated. Is he the same lights out Superman he was 7-10 years ago?

No. But he was also on another planet in those days and he's finally coming back down to Earth with the rest of the pack now.

I did the research on this in October. Last year’s stats suggest that he did not have a very good season. While he did struggle a bit more than we are used to seeing from him, he's still an elite closer.

And most of his struggles in 2007 were against two teams:

Mo vs. BAL and BOS: 8.33 ERA with 3 blown saves

Mo vs. everyone else: 1.69 ERA with 1 blown save

As you can see, Mo’s struggles were primarily against two teams who have faced him more often than anyone else throughout his career. It’s the same reason why Yankee hitters have far more success against Red Sox pitchers than other teams in recent years.

And finally, both Nathan and K-Rod will be free agents in November. I don’t see a significant “decline” in Mo’s production in 2008 that would warrant the aforementioned elite closers to sign a long term deal with the Yankees - believing they will be able to take over the closer’s role.

Ain’t gonna happen.

Bomber,
That's my point about today's athletes. I contend that just about all of them (OF's) could run down a ball that was crushed to the biggest part of a ballpark. Just because the parks are smaller doesn't mean they can't do it, all it means is they don't have to do it. Are you saying you don't think Torii Hunter in his prime could catch up to a ball hit 450 ft. if he didn't have a wall in the way? If so, I disagree.

Man, I really wish Bo Jackson had never hurt his hip. You talk about an athlete, that guy was unbelievable. Remember him running up the wall at Yankee Stadium?
Bo probably could have run down a ball hit 450 ft, run in and tagged out a runner at the plate who was trying to tag up from third. Obviously that was an exaggeration (call me A-Rod!) but you know what I mean.

Jim A..

Tori Hunter may have caught the ball but too turn around and fling back it back to second preventing advance. Not gonna happen.

Willie mays was a beast simple as that
you mention being more athletic today. with that comment you just won the case for Willie
Imagine him with the same tools these players have , shoot imagine the mick with that.

Players then played with skills and instincts.

Today players play with video tapes and reports

BO jackson was a freak and true he may have had to be placed in the same category as an superior athlete

Viper,

Then your research makes getting K-Rod a must do then. Since Mo was hammered by the team that is the most important to beat then its an obvious thing to do. And that was last year. 3 more years of age and what do you expect from him.

I don't think his 3 year contract garrantees a closer role. I think if they had K-Rod and asked him to RETURN to the 8th inning role for the good of the team, he would say, "whatever you want me to do". Wouldn't that be better than watching him decay slowly before your eyes in the role that he was so great at?

To use a Casual Observer phrase...better to part one year to soon.

Nothing wrong with playing the video tapes and reading scouting reports.

Tony Gwynn revolutionized that practice and it worked pretty well for him at the dish.

Jim A

Totally agree about Bo Jackson. The guy was a stud and I thought the Yankees were going to target him heavily once he became a free agent.

Unfortunately, his hip injury against the Bungles derailed that plan.

The guy would have been an even bigger superstar playing for the Yankees. He struck out a lot, but he was one of the greatest athletes I've ever seen in my 34 years.

Bronx Bomber - As for admiring Satchell Paige, that is a totally unrelated subject if you were referring to my comments about Ruth and Mays. Satchell Paige, from everything I’ve ever read, has to be one of the all time greatest pitchers, if not THE greatest, who ever lived. I also think that I made it abundantly clear that Willie was an OF with remarkable skills. Babe Ruth would certainly not have made that play on Vic Wertz. But Ruth was, nonetheless, a top notch OF, with a great arm (obviously) who simply changed the way the game was played (never mind saved it in its time of dire need.)

Also, while Mays was a tremendous CF (again, as I’ve pointed out), as defensive OF go, there have been many, many CF who may have – defensively – been just as good. Not only in our time, but in Willie’s day as well and somewhat after that too. A few that I can think of, just off the top of my head, include Jim Landis and Jimmy Piersall. Later on Paul Blair may very well have defined what defensive greatness was all about. So, I agree with Jim A. that even today there are many CF who have outstanding skills but I, for one, wouldn’t know how to begin to compare them in any other way but subjectively. Perhaps some of you would know how to do defensive match ups statistically.

Now before people start jumping all over me, remember that I’m talking about DEFENSIVE OF. No way do I include any of those players with Willie Mays overall.
Also, before anyone launches any attacks on my appreciation of the defensive skills of the players mentioned, I would hope that you also saw them all play, as I did, because I’m also obviously talking about a subjective evaluation (in other words my opinion.)

Nudge gave me credit for someone else's comment when he posted at 14:26, "As Diane says...does he play because of his resume only?"

Viper,
I still laugh at the video clip of Bo breaking one bat over his knee like it was a pencil after a strikeout and another time he broke it over his head while walking back to the dugout. The best part is, you see the guys on the bench all look at each other in disbelief and then they get the hell out of his way.

Speaking of getting out of the way, do any of you older folks remember a game between the Yanks and Orioles back in the '70's when Earl Weaver said something to Lou Piniella (had to be about his mama) and when Piniella walked toward the Orioles dugout, all the players left Weaver sitting by himself and went to the opposite end.
Weaver looked at his players like "You got my back right guys?.........guys?........guys?"

Anon- If you don't believe Torii Hunter could make the catch and throw, what about a 22 year old Ken Griffey Jr? Don't even tell me he couldn't do it. I'm all for giving a nod to the plays and players from the past, but today's players are in prime condition and they make so many things look routine that weren't many years ago.

You're not listening, Nudge.

K-Rod isn't going to sign a big money long-term deal with the Yanks because Mo's production in 2008 isn't going to warrant signing another elite closer to replace him.

Stack the rotation with arms that will eat innings and there is less of a need for a Joba or K-Rod like set-up man.

The Yanks revolutionized the big one-two punch in the pen in 1996, but they quickly broke up that tandem and let Wetteland walk once they saw that Mo was the more dominant pitcher.

Neither K-Rod nor Nathan is going to sign with the Yanks unless they are guaranteed the closer's job. No way are the Yanks going to make that promise, so they will end up signing elsewhere.

Besides, the Yanks have enough young guns in their own minor league system over the next few years that they won't have to splurge big money on another elite closer.

no there is nothing wrong with That but to posess the skills a willie did in his day and still with all of that "reporting" no player today is in his league. His defense was incredible and he may been the MODEL for 5 tool player. think about the staduims he played in , POLO GROUNDS and CANDLESTICK Park and he was not that bad on defense for the METS as an OLD MAN (42 years old. The man is a freak. Viper mention Gwynn.

So I guess Rose , Williams , Cobb is gods then since they did'nt use that in the beginning of their careers

Viper ...

YOU HOPE the yankee young arms would come to the plate, you also forgot to mention that MO was a somewhat two inning reliever(closer) for alot of his career, meaning once he declines to being a one inning closer then the need for that 7th 8th inning guy increases that is why STATS prooved that last season with Joba's arrival our one run to two run lead games was seeing more victories unlike prior to joba arrival when we was LOSING alot of those games. in fact last season STATS showed that the begining season yankees wins was based on either blowouts or late rallies yes this was due to shaky SP but the pen was not help at all. in fact in the chase wright 3 hr give up he was not the loser in fact the PEN lost that game

Babe Ruth WAS perhaps the best hitter...although Ted "th' Head" Williams is arguable in that slot (imagine what his numbers would have been if he had not missed 4 seasons in the service of our country)...but, Willie....Willie could do it all...run with the best of them whether he was stealing bases, or running down fly balls, hit for average, hit for power, drive the ball to all fields, make one spectacular catch after another...a bazooka for an arm....but you know what makes him the greatest? (above all the just mentioned that is)....when he got done playing a game, he'd often go out in the street and play stickball with the kids....the man lived to play baseball....that exuberance and effervescence that Mays had for the game, along with his incredible talent, in my book, makes him the best ever.

BTW...Ruth WAS a great pitcher....and yes he did hold the record for most scoreless innings in the WS.

Those who like a belly laugh, go to this link and scroll down to the picture in the left column of a guy in a red tee shirt:

http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/

Clue: the picture is labeled 'the competition'... lol

Jim A.,

The most amazing thing I ever saw Bo do in a game was this:

I forget the year, but the Royals were playing the Sox in Fenway...I was watching the game on t.v. and Jackson got a single ....he then got picked off at 1B on a very close play as he dove back to the bag...in utter disgust at himself for being pickoff, WHILE laying on his back, and WITHOUT touching either of his hands to the ground....he flipped up on his feet and stalked off.

I've never seen anyone ever do that before....never seen it since either.

Observer,
I saw that! It was fantastic and I hurt my back trying to do it.

Diane,
Looks like Mr. Beckett enjoyed the offseason a bit, ay? Good for him!

two words ...

ozzie smith

Bomber,

We've always had a completely different fundamental approach and solution to the bullpen problems and that will never change.

Let's leave it at that because nether of us is going to persuade the other.

Again, the bullpen's success will be largely determined by their workload. The more innings the rotation gets - the fewer innings the bullpen gets. That formula worked wonders for this team from 1998 - 2000.

A year from now, the Trinity's workload should increase 30 innings from this season and all three will be at or very near the 200 IP cap (Joba and Hughes will be around 180-190 IP and Kennedy will be over 200 IP).

In the pen, it's smarter to have more options with the kids because of the competition level in addition to roster flexibility.

If a kid doesn't work out in relief, they've got plenty more arms in the system to take his slot. That's the best way to get the most bang for their bucks - not overspending on other relievers they can't send down or trade if they don't produce.

They've been burned so many times in recent years by spending money on marginal talents and it come back to bite them. It's time for a new strategy.

Wiz,

I saw Ozzie do his flip dozens of times and I think he can still do it but I never saw him do what Bo did. From flat on his back he sort of bucked his body and in a flash was on his feet. Try it right now and tell me if you can do it, if you can then I guess it's true that "Nobody beats the Wiz".

I've never seen anyone ever do it, except Bo. I'm not sure it is humanly possible.

and, if you recall Jim...when Bo did it...it appeared to be effortless on his part...Just majorly pissed at getting picked off

The best thing about Bo Jackson is that he was an even better football player than a baseball player.

Had he stuck to football and the hip injury had not derailed his career, he could have been one of the greatest running backs of all time.

The guy's athleticism and speed for such a big mutha was simply unreal.

Speaking of Bo...

Check out one of the best commercials of it's time...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekL3Nm4VD0M

Another great "Bo Knows" commercial....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GPxkpjCvWI

Man, I'm really getting old.

Remember when Bo RAN OVER the Boz? That was the end of his football career and the beginning of his B Movie acting career. Bo was a MONSTER! I had the pleasure of seeing him jack a HR at the All Star game in 89, dead center! The guy had freakish skills.

Jim A, Bo ran up the wall at Old Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. But I agree I wish he would of picked one sport to pay. How about the All Star Game in 88 in Anaheim. He hits a homerun that I think is still traveling. He once made a throw from the deepest part of the left center wall and threw it on a fly to third base. He was absolutely the greatest athlete I ever saw play both football and baseball. Bar none. I will say this..the greatest ballplayer of all time was Babe Ruth. I didn't say it..the greatest hitter of all time did..and that was Ted Williams..finally since we have nothing left to do with our lives..who announced Bo's homerun in the all-star game in 88. He was an old baseball announcer and actor..i am sure i gave the answer away.

Take care...

Anon- I remember the padding on the wall ripping from his cleats, that's why I thought it was Yankee Stadium, but since I live an hour from Baltimore that is where I may have seen it.

Jeez...I can't remember the announcer without your hint but I guess it's Bob Uecker.

I see ozzie walk real slow then just do a double flip like it was nothing then catch a relay throw behind his back with out looking