The concept of “celebrity” is a relatively new notion. As the means of communication exponentially continue to increase and evolve, the idea of who is a celebrity and how they are viewed is also transforming right before our eyes. For Generation X and Yers, and arguably for the Baby Boomer generation as well, there was no single person who garnered more attention than the late Michael Jackson. To become a celebrity, you must have at least one of the following: talent, beauty, intrigue, luck, scandal, tragedy. (Notice “intelligence” did not make the list.) Michael Jackson not only made high marks in all of these categories, but he in fact maxed them out at some point in his life. The public’s reaction to his death has been beyond fascinating and it has made me have to completely reconsider what this country values most and more specifically why we hold celebrities in such high regard. (Don’t worry, there is a sports angle buried in here somewhere… This is the Pinstripe Post, after all.)
The media firestorm over the past two weeks has been unlike any other we have had in quite some time. Normally, Farrah Fawcett and even Billy Mays’ deaths would have attracted much more attention than they did, but post mortem, Michael Jackson has truly proved how important of a celebrity he was. Although Jackson has been out of the talent spotlight for over a decade and a half now, his scandals at Neverland Ranch and his ever-metamorphosing appearance have kept him in the public eye. The “King of Pop’s” revolutionary music continued to be played throughout nightclubs and car stereos by both young and old, but since his acquittal of sexual harassment, he rarely showed himself anymore. Tragically, while he was feverishly preparing to reveal himself to his nation of fans via a blockbuster world tour, his heart ceased to beat. This made his music beat one thousand times louder.
The media could have focused on a few of different angles when this happened: 1. His ground-breaking music career. 2. His inexplicable psychological make-up. 3. His propensity to nap with small children. 4. The amount of debt he has racked up in the past 10 years. All of these points were touched on in bits and pieces, but overwhelmingly, they have put the microscope on how his music was not only innovative (first black star on MTV, etc.) but how his music touched so many people’s lives in positive ways. Twitter and Facebook were overloaded with updates on everyone’s individual thoughts on the man’s passing. 24-hour news networks delved into every detail about the man, from the Jackson 5 era until his death. It was literally impossible to avoid Michael Jackson news.
More shocking than the news of his death, was the public reaction. Grass-roots memorials sprang up in small towns and on Hollywood Boulevard alike. People aged 2-102 were sobbing in front of the camera, explaining how they were dramatically impacted by “Thriller” or “Beat it” or one of MJ’s live performances. Although they had never met Jackson, they felt a very deep connection, as if they had lost a family member. I am by no means judging these people. While I enjoyed his music, just like the rest of the world, I don’t think I am a better person because of it. But clearly, many people felt differently. They were able to overlook the scandalously outrageous life that he led and solely focus on the good. Of course, this happens on some level with anyone’s death, but more so with Jackson. That brings us to Manny Ramirez… (bear with me and pardon the rocky transition.)
After Alex Rodriguez’s admitted steroid use, Manny became the sport’s “clean” torch bearer. That lasted about a month and a half until Manny was also busted. After serving his 50 game suspension, the public and media reaction to Ramirez again has been mind boggling. His return was hyped up and hailed as if he was making a miraculous return from a life threatening injury. Fans turned out in droves to support Manny in the minor league games prior to his big league return and held up signs supporting him. ESPN counted down until his return and his fans gave him a rousing ovation upon his first at bat. Somehow, in that 50 game span, people completely forgot that he cheated our national pastime. Clearly, the general population does not care that Manny used steroids, just like they don’t care that Michael Jackson was a psychological mess.
There is really only one conclusion here. 10 years ago, neither one of these men would have gotten the free pass that they’ve clearly received for their wrongdoings, but in this time of economic depression, job loss and despair, people will take any opportunity they can to have something to support and be positive about. Political sex scandals, murder, war, and rape are splashed across our television and computer screens on a daily basis. Often times, celebrities are singular sources that everyone can relate to. Whether you have every album ever recorded by Michael Jackson, or have casually tapped your foot to “Beat It”, an appreciation for Michael Jackson’s music is a commonality that almost everyone in America shares. He is an icon that died young, (probably from a preventable drug overdose) yet people have still banded together to remember him in a positive light. As a country, we are grasping for anything and everything to hold onto close to our hearts, things such as our most beloved sport and pop icons. This may give us some sense of comfort in the short term, but the best way for this country to create a generation who can pull us out of this mess is to realize and celebrate the real accomplishments of real people. The injured war veteran who lives next door, the local politician who is truly trying to better his community, the social worker who is working 70 hours per week for minimum wage to place foster children in loving homes and the entry level pharmaceutical worker who is trying to save enough money to move out of his parent’s house.
God-willing, ever-expanding technology will not hasten our eventual demise. (By the way, you can Tweet that, it’s less than 140 characters.)
Monday, July 13, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Even Mr. Met is on the DL with an injured...Face? It's all he has really.
Yesterday, Mets superstar shortstop Jose Reyes (thankfully uninjured) was involved in a car accident while crossing the RFK Bridge on the way to his doctor’s appointment. At this point, the plight of the Mets is becoming sadistically comical. This team cannot catch a break, however, they continue to remain within striking distance of the Phillies, who are also slumping.
So, just how bad are things for the Mets right now? The following is just a sample set of all things wrong with the boys from Queens and why statistically speaking they should be in last place right now.
1. Fernando Tatis was the clean-up hitter yesterday. Yikes.
2. Three of the four best players on the team (which happen to be three of the best players in the entire National League) are now on the DL after Carlos Beltran’s injury.
3. As a whole, the team has hit 44 home runs. Albert Pujols has hit 26. To clarify for those non-sports fans, Albert Pujols is one baseball player, while the New York Mets are an entire baseball team.
4. If Derek Jeter were on the Mets, he would be leading the team in home runs.
5. Even the best pitcher in the world, Johan Santana, is slumping. His ERA in the month of June is a hefty 7.33 and has given up seven home runs in that stretch. Perhaps the most telling statistic is that Santana had 42 and 44 strike outs in May and June respectively. With one more start left in June, he only has 11 K’s. God help us all if he’s hurt.
6. Pitcher, Oliver Perez, is leading the team in batting average at .429. Okay, I just threw that one in there for fun.
Clearly, considering the preceding facts and all of the uncontrollable mishaps the Mets have suffered, they must be at least 8 or 9 games back in the NL East, right? Wrong. As it stands on June 23, they are only 1.5 games back. So how have they done it? The hell if I or any other baseball fan knows, but somehow they’ve hung in this thing. To be fair, there have been a few bright spots for the Mets. Catcher Omir Santos filled in brilliantly for an injured Brian Schneider and Gary Sheffield has produced more than anyone could have expected him to. Despite one of the most glaring errors in the history of sports, Luis Castillo has actually had a pretty good year this far. And, until slumping recently, the revamped Mets bullpen had been the best in the league after last year’s sub-sub par performance. So, where do the Mets go from here? It’s quite simple, and Mr. Minaya (Mets GM), feel free to print this out and take it to your next meeting.
1. GET HEALTHY.
Really, Jerry Manual is off the hot seat. How can a manager be expected to perform week in and week out with the type of line up he’s putting on the field these days? First Delgado, then Reyes and now Carlos Beltran are all on the DL. Imagine taking three players of this caliber off of any other Major League squad. Take Jeter, Teixeira and Rodriguez away from the Yankees right now, and replace them with Ramiro Pena, Angel Berroa and Shelly Duncan. You think the Yankee suck now? Imagine them with that trio. Take away Pedroia, Youkilis and Bay from the Red Sox. No way they would be anywhere close to first place. My personal theory, which can be saved for another blog post, is that the Mets training staff and team doctor’s are to blamed for the star-studded Disabled List. For now though, Mets fans just need to pray that Reyes and Beltran hurry back and anything you get from Delgado for the rest of the season will be a bonus.
2. GET SOME POWER.
Go ahead and blame over-sized Citi Field for the Mets power woes this season, but David Wright has one home run on the road. “But Scott,” you’ll say, “David Wright changed his batting stance because he knew it would be hard to hit home runs at Citi Field. This has translated to away games as well.” I don’t care that David Wright has the best batting average in the league, and Mets fans shouldn’t either. This game is about SCORING RUNS. 39 RBI’s at this point of the season out of Wright isn’t good enough. The Mets need a power hitter, preferably in a corner-outfield spot. When Sheffield plays, he can hit the ball out, but he can’t play everyday. The Mets need to sign… I can’t believe I’m saying this… Adam Dunn. There are a million reasons not sign Dunn, the main one being that adding him to that outfield defensively would be like adding Scottie Smalls to the Bad News Bears (before Scottie ever met Benny the Jet Rodriguez). It would not be pretty. But, they need a strong force in the middle of the line up. Dunn may strike out every other time up, but if he gets a hold of one, Citi Field won’t be able to contain him. He hits the ball further than anyone else in the league. I know this will anger some Mets fans, but if the Washington Nationals will only accept Fernando Martinez in a trade offer, then the Mets should do it. I get a bad feeling about Fernando Martinez and besides, the Mets already have too many players named “Fernando” and/or “Martinez.”
3. GO WATCH A LITTLE LEAGUE GAME
Take notes on how to run the bases and catch fly balls. The Mets are so fundamentally flawed it’s incredible. They get thrown out on the bases way too often. Fire Razor Shines (Mets third base coach) and hire me for a couple hundred thousand dollars a year. I can’t do any worse.
4. DO NOT TRADE FOR A STARTING PITCHER.
Starting pitching is not the Mets problem. Santana will definitely turn it around and the rest of the staff really is not that bad. Big Pelf and John Maine are not the best number two and three starters in the league, but they’re adequate. Livan Hernandez has been an unexpected success and hopefully Nieve can continue his early achievements.
Again, it is an absolute wonder that the Mets are as well off as they are right now. When a successful team doesn’t play good fundamental baseball (i.e. the Yankees) then you can pin their success on power hitting. When a successful team doesn’t hit for power (i.e. the Angels) then they are usually good base-runners and fielders. The Mets are neither. They have had clutch hitting (at times) and a fairly solid bullpen. This has gotten them by for 68 games, but it won’t get the job done for the full schedule. At some point, the Phillies will get break from their slump and start to run away with it. The Mets will have to keep pace because the Wild Card probably will not come out of the East this year.
Clearly, the most obvious and inexpensive option for the Mets at this point is they must remember to eat their Wheaties every morning. This will not only give them some much needed power hitting, but also help to keep them off the DL.
So, just how bad are things for the Mets right now? The following is just a sample set of all things wrong with the boys from Queens and why statistically speaking they should be in last place right now.
1. Fernando Tatis was the clean-up hitter yesterday. Yikes.
2. Three of the four best players on the team (which happen to be three of the best players in the entire National League) are now on the DL after Carlos Beltran’s injury.
3. As a whole, the team has hit 44 home runs. Albert Pujols has hit 26. To clarify for those non-sports fans, Albert Pujols is one baseball player, while the New York Mets are an entire baseball team.
4. If Derek Jeter were on the Mets, he would be leading the team in home runs.
5. Even the best pitcher in the world, Johan Santana, is slumping. His ERA in the month of June is a hefty 7.33 and has given up seven home runs in that stretch. Perhaps the most telling statistic is that Santana had 42 and 44 strike outs in May and June respectively. With one more start left in June, he only has 11 K’s. God help us all if he’s hurt.
6. Pitcher, Oliver Perez, is leading the team in batting average at .429. Okay, I just threw that one in there for fun.
Clearly, considering the preceding facts and all of the uncontrollable mishaps the Mets have suffered, they must be at least 8 or 9 games back in the NL East, right? Wrong. As it stands on June 23, they are only 1.5 games back. So how have they done it? The hell if I or any other baseball fan knows, but somehow they’ve hung in this thing. To be fair, there have been a few bright spots for the Mets. Catcher Omir Santos filled in brilliantly for an injured Brian Schneider and Gary Sheffield has produced more than anyone could have expected him to. Despite one of the most glaring errors in the history of sports, Luis Castillo has actually had a pretty good year this far. And, until slumping recently, the revamped Mets bullpen had been the best in the league after last year’s sub-sub par performance. So, where do the Mets go from here? It’s quite simple, and Mr. Minaya (Mets GM), feel free to print this out and take it to your next meeting.
1. GET HEALTHY.
Really, Jerry Manual is off the hot seat. How can a manager be expected to perform week in and week out with the type of line up he’s putting on the field these days? First Delgado, then Reyes and now Carlos Beltran are all on the DL. Imagine taking three players of this caliber off of any other Major League squad. Take Jeter, Teixeira and Rodriguez away from the Yankees right now, and replace them with Ramiro Pena, Angel Berroa and Shelly Duncan. You think the Yankee suck now? Imagine them with that trio. Take away Pedroia, Youkilis and Bay from the Red Sox. No way they would be anywhere close to first place. My personal theory, which can be saved for another blog post, is that the Mets training staff and team doctor’s are to blamed for the star-studded Disabled List. For now though, Mets fans just need to pray that Reyes and Beltran hurry back and anything you get from Delgado for the rest of the season will be a bonus.
2. GET SOME POWER.
Go ahead and blame over-sized Citi Field for the Mets power woes this season, but David Wright has one home run on the road. “But Scott,” you’ll say, “David Wright changed his batting stance because he knew it would be hard to hit home runs at Citi Field. This has translated to away games as well.” I don’t care that David Wright has the best batting average in the league, and Mets fans shouldn’t either. This game is about SCORING RUNS. 39 RBI’s at this point of the season out of Wright isn’t good enough. The Mets need a power hitter, preferably in a corner-outfield spot. When Sheffield plays, he can hit the ball out, but he can’t play everyday. The Mets need to sign… I can’t believe I’m saying this… Adam Dunn. There are a million reasons not sign Dunn, the main one being that adding him to that outfield defensively would be like adding Scottie Smalls to the Bad News Bears (before Scottie ever met Benny the Jet Rodriguez). It would not be pretty. But, they need a strong force in the middle of the line up. Dunn may strike out every other time up, but if he gets a hold of one, Citi Field won’t be able to contain him. He hits the ball further than anyone else in the league. I know this will anger some Mets fans, but if the Washington Nationals will only accept Fernando Martinez in a trade offer, then the Mets should do it. I get a bad feeling about Fernando Martinez and besides, the Mets already have too many players named “Fernando” and/or “Martinez.”
3. GO WATCH A LITTLE LEAGUE GAME
Take notes on how to run the bases and catch fly balls. The Mets are so fundamentally flawed it’s incredible. They get thrown out on the bases way too often. Fire Razor Shines (Mets third base coach) and hire me for a couple hundred thousand dollars a year. I can’t do any worse.
4. DO NOT TRADE FOR A STARTING PITCHER.
Starting pitching is not the Mets problem. Santana will definitely turn it around and the rest of the staff really is not that bad. Big Pelf and John Maine are not the best number two and three starters in the league, but they’re adequate. Livan Hernandez has been an unexpected success and hopefully Nieve can continue his early achievements.
Again, it is an absolute wonder that the Mets are as well off as they are right now. When a successful team doesn’t play good fundamental baseball (i.e. the Yankees) then you can pin their success on power hitting. When a successful team doesn’t hit for power (i.e. the Angels) then they are usually good base-runners and fielders. The Mets are neither. They have had clutch hitting (at times) and a fairly solid bullpen. This has gotten them by for 68 games, but it won’t get the job done for the full schedule. At some point, the Phillies will get break from their slump and start to run away with it. The Mets will have to keep pace because the Wild Card probably will not come out of the East this year.
Clearly, the most obvious and inexpensive option for the Mets at this point is they must remember to eat their Wheaties every morning. This will not only give them some much needed power hitting, but also help to keep them off the DL.
Friday, June 12, 2009
So this is what it feels like to be the underdog
I became a Yankee fan in 1992. Go ahead and call me a front-runner if you want, but I was six years old at the time. Since then, the boys in pinstripes have controlled 7 pm to 10 pm on most summer nights. The Yankees went through an incredible run in the late 1990’s and have fallen off a bit since, but until now, I was never afraid of any team. Even when the Red Sox came back and beat the Yankees after being down 3-0 in the American League Championship Series in 2004, I told myself it was a fluke. Since then, the Red Sox have taken the reigns from the Yankees as the team to beat in the AL and even more so, have pounded my beloved Yankees. I hate to say it, but I now fear our bitter rivals to the north. Unfortunately, it’s clear that the Yankees and Joe Girardi do too.
Before this week’s series started, the Yankees had lost all five games they played against the Red Sox. “That’s okay,” I told myself, “The Yankees were awful in the beginning of the season.” Coming into this series, the Yankees were playing their best baseball. Starting pitching and clutch hitting (the two most important ingredients to victory) were clicking together and it was producing victories for the Yanks. For some reason, though, something psychologically happens when the Yankees see navy and red in the opposing dugout.
Game one of the series is a throw away game. Wang is awful right now and the whole world knew the Red Sox were going to turn his pitches (the few that got over the plate at least) into Green Monster pellets. “No problem,” Yankee Universe told themselves, “we got AJ pitching next. He KILLS the Red Sox.” Wrong. He couldn’t find the plate either. He got beat up and the Yankees comeback attempt fell short. We HAD to salvage one game. With ace CC Sabathia on the mound, we were definitely going to win a game and tie the division race. CC pitched a gem into the seventh, gave up a few hits, and then the Yankees glaring hole, the bullpen, blew it. Zero out of eight. We have lost eight games this year to the Red Sox, nine in a row going back to last year. This is beyond concerning. Beyond frustrating. Yankee fans, it’s time to panic.
Think of this series as a microcosm of what’s going to happen in the playoffs to the Yankees if changes are not made. Yes, it’s true that our starting pitching will be set up better for the playoffs, but logic dictates that CC and AJ will be the one and three starters in a playoff series. The Red Sox just beat them both with a unwavering, smug confidence as if they just took the Yankees younger sister to “Make-out Point,” had their way with her and there was nothing the Yankees could do about it. So, how do we fix the Yankees? On paper tangibly, it’s easy:
1. Give Wang one more chance. If he screws it up, put him in the bullpen and have Hughes take his spot.
2. Xavier Nady is coming back soon (hopefully) and the more I watch Nick Swisher play, the more I realize that he’s not as good as the first quarter of the season has indicated. He makes dumb decisions running the bases and he’s an average fielder at best. There are contenders out there though who could use his powerful bat in the line up. Trade him for a good reliever. “But Scott,” you’ll say, “he’s such a good guy to have in the clubhouse! He’s so happy-go-lucky and funny!” The whole notion of having a good “clubhouse” is one of the most overrated concepts in sports. Pies in the face and kangaroo courts are great, but they DO NOT translate to victories. Ask Reggie Jackson and the 1978 Yankees about their clubhouse. They all hated each other, but still won. While we’re talking trades, let’s trade Jose Molina while we’re at it. Francisco Cerveli has proven himself to be a more than adequate back up catcher and Kevin Cash is third in line. Molina has done a great job for us, but at this point he means more to the Yankees as a valuable trading chip.
3. Tell AJ Burnett to remove his head from his sphincter and trust his “stuff.” Rumor has it, he has some of the best stuff in the league. Seems to me he left his stuff in Toronto.
4. Put more organizational pressure on Joe Girardi to win the big games. If George Steinbrenner were still running the show, he would come out and say Girardi’s job is in jeopardy after losing eight games to the Red Sox.
5. Fire Brian Cashman and make me the General Manager of the Yankees.
The Yankees do not play the Red Sox again until August, so we will have these eight losses sticking in our craw for the next couple months. Minus the eight games we’ve lost to the Red Sox, the Yankees have been the better team this year. The Yankees have to come out and beat the teams they are supposed to beat, specifically the Blue Jays and the Rays, and worry about the Red Sox when the time comes. If the Yankees get crushed by them for the rest of the season, there is no reason to think they can win a playoff series against them.
Side Note to Red Sox fans – Yes, you’ve beaten the Yankees every game, so I have nothing on you. But, PLEASE stop embarrassing yourselves by giving standing ovations to David Ortiz every time he hits the ball out of the infield. This is Major League Baseball. David Ortiz is not the “special” kid on a recreational little league team who is a little smaller and less developed than the other boys. He has a multi-million dollar contract to hit home runs and get RBI’s. Curtain calls for homers that barely wrap around Pesky’s Pole in right field at Fenway and wouldn’t make it out of any other Major League stadium are unwarranted. Let Big Papi go gracefully into the Boston sunset and appreciate him for the illustrious World Series hero he was to you in the past. Don’t patronize him while he ambles clumsily toward the end of an otherwise extremely successful career.
Before this week’s series started, the Yankees had lost all five games they played against the Red Sox. “That’s okay,” I told myself, “The Yankees were awful in the beginning of the season.” Coming into this series, the Yankees were playing their best baseball. Starting pitching and clutch hitting (the two most important ingredients to victory) were clicking together and it was producing victories for the Yanks. For some reason, though, something psychologically happens when the Yankees see navy and red in the opposing dugout.
Game one of the series is a throw away game. Wang is awful right now and the whole world knew the Red Sox were going to turn his pitches (the few that got over the plate at least) into Green Monster pellets. “No problem,” Yankee Universe told themselves, “we got AJ pitching next. He KILLS the Red Sox.” Wrong. He couldn’t find the plate either. He got beat up and the Yankees comeback attempt fell short. We HAD to salvage one game. With ace CC Sabathia on the mound, we were definitely going to win a game and tie the division race. CC pitched a gem into the seventh, gave up a few hits, and then the Yankees glaring hole, the bullpen, blew it. Zero out of eight. We have lost eight games this year to the Red Sox, nine in a row going back to last year. This is beyond concerning. Beyond frustrating. Yankee fans, it’s time to panic.
Think of this series as a microcosm of what’s going to happen in the playoffs to the Yankees if changes are not made. Yes, it’s true that our starting pitching will be set up better for the playoffs, but logic dictates that CC and AJ will be the one and three starters in a playoff series. The Red Sox just beat them both with a unwavering, smug confidence as if they just took the Yankees younger sister to “Make-out Point,” had their way with her and there was nothing the Yankees could do about it. So, how do we fix the Yankees? On paper tangibly, it’s easy:
1. Give Wang one more chance. If he screws it up, put him in the bullpen and have Hughes take his spot.
2. Xavier Nady is coming back soon (hopefully) and the more I watch Nick Swisher play, the more I realize that he’s not as good as the first quarter of the season has indicated. He makes dumb decisions running the bases and he’s an average fielder at best. There are contenders out there though who could use his powerful bat in the line up. Trade him for a good reliever. “But Scott,” you’ll say, “he’s such a good guy to have in the clubhouse! He’s so happy-go-lucky and funny!” The whole notion of having a good “clubhouse” is one of the most overrated concepts in sports. Pies in the face and kangaroo courts are great, but they DO NOT translate to victories. Ask Reggie Jackson and the 1978 Yankees about their clubhouse. They all hated each other, but still won. While we’re talking trades, let’s trade Jose Molina while we’re at it. Francisco Cerveli has proven himself to be a more than adequate back up catcher and Kevin Cash is third in line. Molina has done a great job for us, but at this point he means more to the Yankees as a valuable trading chip.
3. Tell AJ Burnett to remove his head from his sphincter and trust his “stuff.” Rumor has it, he has some of the best stuff in the league. Seems to me he left his stuff in Toronto.
4. Put more organizational pressure on Joe Girardi to win the big games. If George Steinbrenner were still running the show, he would come out and say Girardi’s job is in jeopardy after losing eight games to the Red Sox.
5. Fire Brian Cashman and make me the General Manager of the Yankees.
The Yankees do not play the Red Sox again until August, so we will have these eight losses sticking in our craw for the next couple months. Minus the eight games we’ve lost to the Red Sox, the Yankees have been the better team this year. The Yankees have to come out and beat the teams they are supposed to beat, specifically the Blue Jays and the Rays, and worry about the Red Sox when the time comes. If the Yankees get crushed by them for the rest of the season, there is no reason to think they can win a playoff series against them.
Side Note to Red Sox fans – Yes, you’ve beaten the Yankees every game, so I have nothing on you. But, PLEASE stop embarrassing yourselves by giving standing ovations to David Ortiz every time he hits the ball out of the infield. This is Major League Baseball. David Ortiz is not the “special” kid on a recreational little league team who is a little smaller and less developed than the other boys. He has a multi-million dollar contract to hit home runs and get RBI’s. Curtain calls for homers that barely wrap around Pesky’s Pole in right field at Fenway and wouldn’t make it out of any other Major League stadium are unwarranted. Let Big Papi go gracefully into the Boston sunset and appreciate him for the illustrious World Series hero he was to you in the past. Don’t patronize him while he ambles clumsily toward the end of an otherwise extremely successful career.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Yankee Stadium Conspiracy Theory
Who doesn't love a good conspiracy theory?
Ever since the first homestand, baseball fans have been complaining that the new Yankee Stadium is yielding far too many home runs. Baseball purists are calling up WFAN 660, the local sports talk radio station, and saying that the new Yankee Stadium is a silo and that this takes away from the strategy of the game. So far this year, after hitting four home runs tonight to beat the Rays 5-3 (all of the runs being scored on dingers) the Yankees have hit 88 home runs, with an astounding 53 of them coming at home. Next to the Texas Rangers, who also play at a homer happy ball park, the Yankees have the second most in the league. Particularly in the steroid era, people say this is what is wrong with baseball. Too many home runs, not enough "small ball."
Strangely enough, before the season started, no one predicted that there would be an abnormal amount of home runs hit at the new stadium. The dimensions are the same as the old ball park, and it was literally built across the block, so why would things be different? Experts say the reason for the power streak is because of wind currents. If the ball is lifted in the air, particularly to right (which is very important to my theory) there is a very good chance it is going to carry over the wall. Yankee management says they had no idea this would happen. It's just a fluke. Or at least that is what they would lead you to believe.
Going back to the 1920's and Murderer's Row, the Yankees have has historically had line ups built around power. Ruth, Mantle, Maris, Jackson, and now A-Rod and Teixeira. A-Rod was signed to a long term contract before the plans for the new stadium were set into motion. So, the Yankees knew they would most likely have Alex Rodriguez for the remainder of his career right in the middle of the line up. Additionally, moreso than anyone else in the league, A-Rod is EXTREMELY strong when going the other way. He hits a lot of home runs that way. Let's go next level with the rest of their line up.
1. Derek Jeter (R) - Not too powerful, but most of his homers go to right.
2. Johnny Damon (L) Has some pop, particularly when pulling it down the line.
3. Mark Teixeira (L) Quintissential pull power hitter.
4. A-Rod (R) Enough said.
5. Jorge Posada (S) Still good for 25-30 homers a year.
6. Hideki Matsui (L) also still good for 25-30.
7. Nick Swisher (S) Power hitter more than an average hitter
8. Robinson Cano (L) Young lefty who is getting stronger.
9. Melky Cabrera (S) Also a young guy with some pop.
THIS IS A POWER LINE UP. And most of their power is geared toward right field. This is where the conspiracy comes into play. The people running the Yankees are not stupid. They know what they have on their team. But they also know that if they simply made it 300 feet down the line in right, then they would get a lot of ridicule from the league and from fans. So, instead, I think the team paid engineers and physicists to study the wind currents in the Bronx to find out exactly how to arrange the stadium to get the most from their power. It's not an accident! They paid hundreds of millions of dollars to build this stadium. They knew exactly what they were doing. (The blind spots notwithstanding.)
It makes so much sense. The key to professional sports is trying to find every advantage possible to defeat your opponent. Particularly in baseball, this brings the structure of the ball parks into play. Teams can build their teams around the ball park. If you have a big park that doesn't give up a lot of home runs (Citi Field) then you should focus on getting quality pitching and fast outfielders. If you have a Green Monster in left field (Fenway) then your general manager should acquire right handed power. For years to come, the Yankees are going go after power hitters. Now, perhaps you don't like the brand of baseball. Maybe you like National League style baseball. Manufacturing runs. That's fine, but if you are a Yankee fan, do not criticize the Yankees for their stadium. Realize that what the Yankees have done is brilliant and that for decades you are going to see your fair share of incredible mammoth shots by some of the game's best power hitters.
Ever since the first homestand, baseball fans have been complaining that the new Yankee Stadium is yielding far too many home runs. Baseball purists are calling up WFAN 660, the local sports talk radio station, and saying that the new Yankee Stadium is a silo and that this takes away from the strategy of the game. So far this year, after hitting four home runs tonight to beat the Rays 5-3 (all of the runs being scored on dingers) the Yankees have hit 88 home runs, with an astounding 53 of them coming at home. Next to the Texas Rangers, who also play at a homer happy ball park, the Yankees have the second most in the league. Particularly in the steroid era, people say this is what is wrong with baseball. Too many home runs, not enough "small ball."
Strangely enough, before the season started, no one predicted that there would be an abnormal amount of home runs hit at the new stadium. The dimensions are the same as the old ball park, and it was literally built across the block, so why would things be different? Experts say the reason for the power streak is because of wind currents. If the ball is lifted in the air, particularly to right (which is very important to my theory) there is a very good chance it is going to carry over the wall. Yankee management says they had no idea this would happen. It's just a fluke. Or at least that is what they would lead you to believe.
Going back to the 1920's and Murderer's Row, the Yankees have has historically had line ups built around power. Ruth, Mantle, Maris, Jackson, and now A-Rod and Teixeira. A-Rod was signed to a long term contract before the plans for the new stadium were set into motion. So, the Yankees knew they would most likely have Alex Rodriguez for the remainder of his career right in the middle of the line up. Additionally, moreso than anyone else in the league, A-Rod is EXTREMELY strong when going the other way. He hits a lot of home runs that way. Let's go next level with the rest of their line up.
1. Derek Jeter (R) - Not too powerful, but most of his homers go to right.
2. Johnny Damon (L) Has some pop, particularly when pulling it down the line.
3. Mark Teixeira (L) Quintissential pull power hitter.
4. A-Rod (R) Enough said.
5. Jorge Posada (S) Still good for 25-30 homers a year.
6. Hideki Matsui (L) also still good for 25-30.
7. Nick Swisher (S) Power hitter more than an average hitter
8. Robinson Cano (L) Young lefty who is getting stronger.
9. Melky Cabrera (S) Also a young guy with some pop.
THIS IS A POWER LINE UP. And most of their power is geared toward right field. This is where the conspiracy comes into play. The people running the Yankees are not stupid. They know what they have on their team. But they also know that if they simply made it 300 feet down the line in right, then they would get a lot of ridicule from the league and from fans. So, instead, I think the team paid engineers and physicists to study the wind currents in the Bronx to find out exactly how to arrange the stadium to get the most from their power. It's not an accident! They paid hundreds of millions of dollars to build this stadium. They knew exactly what they were doing. (The blind spots notwithstanding.)
It makes so much sense. The key to professional sports is trying to find every advantage possible to defeat your opponent. Particularly in baseball, this brings the structure of the ball parks into play. Teams can build their teams around the ball park. If you have a big park that doesn't give up a lot of home runs (Citi Field) then you should focus on getting quality pitching and fast outfielders. If you have a Green Monster in left field (Fenway) then your general manager should acquire right handed power. For years to come, the Yankees are going go after power hitters. Now, perhaps you don't like the brand of baseball. Maybe you like National League style baseball. Manufacturing runs. That's fine, but if you are a Yankee fan, do not criticize the Yankees for their stadium. Realize that what the Yankees have done is brilliant and that for decades you are going to see your fair share of incredible mammoth shots by some of the game's best power hitters.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Yankee Stadium vs. Citi Field
Although I’m strapped for cash (like the rest of the world) I decided that visiting both new stadiums early in their fledgling seasons should be a priority for me. While I’m obviously a fan of baseball and sports in general, I’m also an avid stadium and arena enthusiast. I explored the ins and the outs of both stadiums, and the following is how the head-to-head match-up played out:
Beer - We’ll start off with a must have at every baseball game – the suds. Both stadiums offer 12 oz. Bud Lights at a somewhat reasonable $6, but if I wanted to drink a bottle of water, I could pay two dollars less. Behind centerfield at Citi, there are a host of food and beverage options, including the Beer Garden, which offers over 20 different varieties of beer for $8 a piece. I tried some California Kona Lager, which wasn’t spectacular, but I won’t hold that against Citi Field. That was my own fault.
Yankee Stadium had a stand with bottled beers, such as Yuengling and Coors, for $8.50 and a one called “Beers of the World” with 16 ouncers on tap for $11. The edge here goes to Citi for both price and selection. Edge - Mets
Ambiance – My favorite part of Citi Field was the entrance way. The Jackie Robinson Rotunda is unlike anything I have ever seen at any other ballpark. It is basically just a large room with some banners, but pretty cool nonetheless. However, as you may have heard elsewhere, looking around the stadium, you wouldn’t know that you were at the home of the Mets. There is no memorabilia commemorating the great teams and players of Mets’ past, and for this they lose points. I don’t go to the ball park just to just see a baseball game, I want the complete experience. Particularly when the Mets are playing as poorly as they are right now, having lost four in a row, I may need a reminder of why I invest so much time and energy in my team.
The new Yankee Stadium, on the other hand, was filled with history. Life size posters of all the MVPs can be found in the Main Level halls and they kept the wonderful façade in tact. Although there are less seats in the new stadium than the old, the place is enormous. It took me two innings just to walk around the stadium. Unfortunately, the stadium lacked something for me. It lacks the “ghosts.” I remember the first time I walked into the old Yankee Stadium at the ripe age of 10, being completely awestruck. Perhaps my advanced age plays into this, but I don’t think the energy from the old stadium has made its way across the street yet. There were too many empty seats behind home plate (we can blame high ticket prices and the economy for this, which is a different topic altogether) and I just didn’t get that feeling. Hopefully, as the playoffs near, this will change. Edge – Tie.
Food – The food selection at both stadiums was phenomenal, but I don’t think I can in good faith pass judgment on the food quality in the stadiums as a whole yet. At Citi Field, I went with the barbecue stand. The Chipotle Barbecue chicken wings and pulled pork sandwich I sampled were both excellent. At Yankee Stadium, however, I went the traditional route with a hotdog with mustard and onions and a soft pretzel. Both stadiums had much more to offer though – Italian, Japanese, Yankee Stadium even has the beloved Johnny Rockets. Without a larger sample set, this one is still up for debate. Edge – TBD.
Visual Amenities– Both stadiums have all of the high-tech up-to-date viewing pleasures you could possibly want. Out of town scoreboards, large replay screens, you name it, they got it. However, the Yankees get the edge for two reasons. 1. The Jumbotron – I would imagine this is the largest Jumbotron at any Major League Baseball park. It is HUGE. It can be seen in (what seems like high definition) from anywhere in the park. You don’t have to strain to watch replays or see a player’s stats. It’s pretty ridiculous. 2. Old School Scoreboard – The Yankees goal was to integrate the new technology with the old sense of nostalgia, and they’ve done a pretty good job of it. In left center field, they have the old school scoreboard with the guy behind the fence that has to manually change the numbers every inning. I appreciated this solely because I thought what a great job that would be. This is how I would imagine my life would be if I was that scoreboard guy:
(I’m at a swanky bar in Manhattan and I approach a good looking lady)
Me : Hi, I’m Scott, what’s your name?
Girl: I’m Jennifer. What do you do for a living Scott?
Me: I’m the manual scoreboard changing guy at Yankee Stadium.
Girl: Want to come home with me?
Me: Sure.
Edge: Yankees
Ballpark Sightlines: I have heard a lot of people complain about the blind spots at Citi Field, but from my perspective, it looked like they’re even worse at Yankee Stadium. From where I sat, in the upper deck in the right field corner, I could not see the home run that Robinson Cano hit down the line, or a couple of the doubles that hit the wall. Of course, I was able to watch the replay on the unfathomably large Jumbotron, but it’s not the same. Also, I noticed that if you are sitting in the bleachers in dead centerfield, you literally cannot see half of the field. There is a restaurant section that juts out into the bleacher section and if you’re sitting right next to it, then you are blind to an entire half of the field. When buying tickets, beware of this and make sure you check out where your seats are before you purchase them. In Citi Field, I was in the upper deck down the left field line and could see everything perfectly. I suppose it is different in certain sections, but for now Citi Field wins. Edge – Mets.
Travel – I’ve realized that taking the train from Jersey to any of the ball parks in New York is a pain in the ass. It literally took me three hours to get home from the Yankee Stadium, taking the subway, the train to Morristown and then the drive to Whitehouse Station. Not to mention, I was sitting in Swine Flu infested trains with a bunch of Swine Flu infested people and annoying Long Islanders. The trip on the LIRR seemed a little smoother, but annoying nonetheless. Edge – Both suck. Drive with a bunch of people, brave the traffic and split the $30 parking.
Stadium Name - Although I going with Citi to be their sponsor was being pretty clever, because Citi Field isn't as harsh on the ears as the Izod Center, for example, nothing can compete with Yankee Stadium. Kudos to the Steinbrenners for not messing that up. Edge - Yankees.
Overall – It’s tough to pick a winner, because both are beautiful, but I expected more from Yankee Stadium. I expected to be blown away, and I wasn’t. My mindset was different at Citi Field, just looking to have a fun day at the ball park with some buddies and I didn’t have as much invested in the game. For those who are worried about price, though, don’t. Of course you won’t get tickets in the lower levels for anything below $50, but I spent a total of $35 to get into BOTH games. So, I encourage you all to get to both stadiums and pass your own judgments, but due to unfulfilled expectations, I unfortunately have to give Citi Field the win. Edge – Mets.
Beer - We’ll start off with a must have at every baseball game – the suds. Both stadiums offer 12 oz. Bud Lights at a somewhat reasonable $6, but if I wanted to drink a bottle of water, I could pay two dollars less. Behind centerfield at Citi, there are a host of food and beverage options, including the Beer Garden, which offers over 20 different varieties of beer for $8 a piece. I tried some California Kona Lager, which wasn’t spectacular, but I won’t hold that against Citi Field. That was my own fault.
Yankee Stadium had a stand with bottled beers, such as Yuengling and Coors, for $8.50 and a one called “Beers of the World” with 16 ouncers on tap for $11. The edge here goes to Citi for both price and selection. Edge - Mets
Ambiance – My favorite part of Citi Field was the entrance way. The Jackie Robinson Rotunda is unlike anything I have ever seen at any other ballpark. It is basically just a large room with some banners, but pretty cool nonetheless. However, as you may have heard elsewhere, looking around the stadium, you wouldn’t know that you were at the home of the Mets. There is no memorabilia commemorating the great teams and players of Mets’ past, and for this they lose points. I don’t go to the ball park just to just see a baseball game, I want the complete experience. Particularly when the Mets are playing as poorly as they are right now, having lost four in a row, I may need a reminder of why I invest so much time and energy in my team.
The new Yankee Stadium, on the other hand, was filled with history. Life size posters of all the MVPs can be found in the Main Level halls and they kept the wonderful façade in tact. Although there are less seats in the new stadium than the old, the place is enormous. It took me two innings just to walk around the stadium. Unfortunately, the stadium lacked something for me. It lacks the “ghosts.” I remember the first time I walked into the old Yankee Stadium at the ripe age of 10, being completely awestruck. Perhaps my advanced age plays into this, but I don’t think the energy from the old stadium has made its way across the street yet. There were too many empty seats behind home plate (we can blame high ticket prices and the economy for this, which is a different topic altogether) and I just didn’t get that feeling. Hopefully, as the playoffs near, this will change. Edge – Tie.
Food – The food selection at both stadiums was phenomenal, but I don’t think I can in good faith pass judgment on the food quality in the stadiums as a whole yet. At Citi Field, I went with the barbecue stand. The Chipotle Barbecue chicken wings and pulled pork sandwich I sampled were both excellent. At Yankee Stadium, however, I went the traditional route with a hotdog with mustard and onions and a soft pretzel. Both stadiums had much more to offer though – Italian, Japanese, Yankee Stadium even has the beloved Johnny Rockets. Without a larger sample set, this one is still up for debate. Edge – TBD.
Visual Amenities– Both stadiums have all of the high-tech up-to-date viewing pleasures you could possibly want. Out of town scoreboards, large replay screens, you name it, they got it. However, the Yankees get the edge for two reasons. 1. The Jumbotron – I would imagine this is the largest Jumbotron at any Major League Baseball park. It is HUGE. It can be seen in (what seems like high definition) from anywhere in the park. You don’t have to strain to watch replays or see a player’s stats. It’s pretty ridiculous. 2. Old School Scoreboard – The Yankees goal was to integrate the new technology with the old sense of nostalgia, and they’ve done a pretty good job of it. In left center field, they have the old school scoreboard with the guy behind the fence that has to manually change the numbers every inning. I appreciated this solely because I thought what a great job that would be. This is how I would imagine my life would be if I was that scoreboard guy:
(I’m at a swanky bar in Manhattan and I approach a good looking lady)
Me : Hi, I’m Scott, what’s your name?
Girl: I’m Jennifer. What do you do for a living Scott?
Me: I’m the manual scoreboard changing guy at Yankee Stadium.
Girl: Want to come home with me?
Me: Sure.
Edge: Yankees
Ballpark Sightlines: I have heard a lot of people complain about the blind spots at Citi Field, but from my perspective, it looked like they’re even worse at Yankee Stadium. From where I sat, in the upper deck in the right field corner, I could not see the home run that Robinson Cano hit down the line, or a couple of the doubles that hit the wall. Of course, I was able to watch the replay on the unfathomably large Jumbotron, but it’s not the same. Also, I noticed that if you are sitting in the bleachers in dead centerfield, you literally cannot see half of the field. There is a restaurant section that juts out into the bleacher section and if you’re sitting right next to it, then you are blind to an entire half of the field. When buying tickets, beware of this and make sure you check out where your seats are before you purchase them. In Citi Field, I was in the upper deck down the left field line and could see everything perfectly. I suppose it is different in certain sections, but for now Citi Field wins. Edge – Mets.
Travel – I’ve realized that taking the train from Jersey to any of the ball parks in New York is a pain in the ass. It literally took me three hours to get home from the Yankee Stadium, taking the subway, the train to Morristown and then the drive to Whitehouse Station. Not to mention, I was sitting in Swine Flu infested trains with a bunch of Swine Flu infested people and annoying Long Islanders. The trip on the LIRR seemed a little smoother, but annoying nonetheless. Edge – Both suck. Drive with a bunch of people, brave the traffic and split the $30 parking.
Stadium Name - Although I going with Citi to be their sponsor was being pretty clever, because Citi Field isn't as harsh on the ears as the Izod Center, for example, nothing can compete with Yankee Stadium. Kudos to the Steinbrenners for not messing that up. Edge - Yankees.
Overall – It’s tough to pick a winner, because both are beautiful, but I expected more from Yankee Stadium. I expected to be blown away, and I wasn’t. My mindset was different at Citi Field, just looking to have a fun day at the ball park with some buddies and I didn’t have as much invested in the game. For those who are worried about price, though, don’t. Of course you won’t get tickets in the lower levels for anything below $50, but I spent a total of $35 to get into BOTH games. So, I encourage you all to get to both stadiums and pass your own judgments, but due to unfulfilled expectations, I unfortunately have to give Citi Field the win. Edge – Mets.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Mark Tex-Share-A the Homers
Of the four major sports, it is popularly believed that baseball is the most individual of all. It is also believed, however, that one single player cannot make an entire team better. For example, in basketball, Lebron James is said to be the best layer in the league because of his ability to take his entire team up a notch. Mo Williams has been one of the best scorers in the league for Cavs this year because of Lebron's ability to create opportunities for him. In football, Tom Brady's pin point accuracy and football IQ made the Patriots entire offense that much more productive. In baseball, however, it's widely accepted that one player can only do what he can do, and doesn't have much of an impact on the rest of his team. To this, I say "Nay!" A baseball line-up is much more than nine individual players looking to pad their stats each night. It is a living, breathing organism which works as one to manufacture as many runs as possible. One phenomenal player's abilities go far beyond his own stats. Hall-of-Fame caliber players can impact an entire game, even when they're not at the plate. Upon deep review of the following case studies lurk the wonderful strategy and mystique of this thinking man's sport.
Two case studies in particular prove the impact that one player can have on an entire line-up. Mark Teixeira struggled early this season, but upon the arrival of Alex Rodriguez, he has turned into one of the best players in the league. Through the first 25 games while Rodriguez was on the Disabled List, Teixeira hit a measly .192. This is incredibly disappointing production from a player the Yankees invested $180 million in. However, Teixeira has been on a tear since Rodriguez's return, hitting .342 with five home runs and 13 RBIs. Rodriguez now hits clean-up in the order behind Teixeira at third, and although Rodriguez did not start the season on fire, his reputation still preceeds him. Opposing pitchers must be cognizant of Rodriguez's potential to hit the ball out of the stadium on any pitch, and thus, they cannot afford to pitch around Teixeira, risking a walk. Teixeira is seeing more fastballs and he's clearly taking advantage.
Still not convinced about the impact one player can have on a team? Admittedly, it was a given that Mark Teixeira was eventually going to turn it around. Let's put an entire career into perspective then. David Ortiz. To date, Big Papi has had an awful season. He's hitting .208, but most shockingly, he's yet to hit a home run. Is his offensive drought due to his age? No. While he may be beyond his prime, nobody could have expected his offensive production to decline this much. Did he stop taking steroids? Possibly, but testing has been in effect for the past four years, so there would have been no reason for him to stop now. The reason is one word: Manny. Since Manny Ramirez fled to Hollywood, Ortiz's safety blanket is gone. Kevin Youkilis now hits in the fourth spot for the Red Sox, and in his absence since his injury, Jason Bay has held that spot down. Youkilis and Bay are very good offensive players, but they don't instill fear in pitchers like Manny can.
Even as a young player, prior to Ortiz's arrival in Boston in 2003, Ortiz did not hit as well as he did with the Red Sox and Manny. From 1997-2002 with the Twins, Ortiz hit a home run in every 25.47 at bats. With the Red Sox from 2003-2008, he averaged one home run every 13.65 at bats. That's almost twice as often. That's not to mention baseball's most important intangible - clutch hitting. Ortiz was arguably the most clutch hitter in the game with the Red Sox for the past six years. I cringe thinking about how he smacked the Yankees around. Now, he's fallen off the radar. Things have gotten so bad for Ortiz that he just took an entire weekend series off. He's not hurt, he's just taking a break. This is unheard of for baseball's superstars, but Red Sox manager Terry Francona wanted to give Ortiz a chance to "clear his head."
Clearly, A-Rod and Manny are the two best hitters on the planet, and the proof is in the pudding. Their own offensive numbers are well documented. Both clobber the ball and get more extra base hits than Derek Jeter and John Mayer get Maxim Top 100 Women (albeit, just barely.) But the impact they have on their teammates cannot go unnoticed. The Yankees probably planned on getting about 50 home runs per season out of Rodriguez, but also knew they could tack on another ten dingers to whoever is hitting in front of him in the order. Justifying a $300 million salary to play a game is an impossible task, but in baseball terms, this argument does bring to light just how important Manny and A-Rod are, and ultimately adds to their legacy.
Two case studies in particular prove the impact that one player can have on an entire line-up. Mark Teixeira struggled early this season, but upon the arrival of Alex Rodriguez, he has turned into one of the best players in the league. Through the first 25 games while Rodriguez was on the Disabled List, Teixeira hit a measly .192. This is incredibly disappointing production from a player the Yankees invested $180 million in. However, Teixeira has been on a tear since Rodriguez's return, hitting .342 with five home runs and 13 RBIs. Rodriguez now hits clean-up in the order behind Teixeira at third, and although Rodriguez did not start the season on fire, his reputation still preceeds him. Opposing pitchers must be cognizant of Rodriguez's potential to hit the ball out of the stadium on any pitch, and thus, they cannot afford to pitch around Teixeira, risking a walk. Teixeira is seeing more fastballs and he's clearly taking advantage.
Still not convinced about the impact one player can have on a team? Admittedly, it was a given that Mark Teixeira was eventually going to turn it around. Let's put an entire career into perspective then. David Ortiz. To date, Big Papi has had an awful season. He's hitting .208, but most shockingly, he's yet to hit a home run. Is his offensive drought due to his age? No. While he may be beyond his prime, nobody could have expected his offensive production to decline this much. Did he stop taking steroids? Possibly, but testing has been in effect for the past four years, so there would have been no reason for him to stop now. The reason is one word: Manny. Since Manny Ramirez fled to Hollywood, Ortiz's safety blanket is gone. Kevin Youkilis now hits in the fourth spot for the Red Sox, and in his absence since his injury, Jason Bay has held that spot down. Youkilis and Bay are very good offensive players, but they don't instill fear in pitchers like Manny can.
Even as a young player, prior to Ortiz's arrival in Boston in 2003, Ortiz did not hit as well as he did with the Red Sox and Manny. From 1997-2002 with the Twins, Ortiz hit a home run in every 25.47 at bats. With the Red Sox from 2003-2008, he averaged one home run every 13.65 at bats. That's almost twice as often. That's not to mention baseball's most important intangible - clutch hitting. Ortiz was arguably the most clutch hitter in the game with the Red Sox for the past six years. I cringe thinking about how he smacked the Yankees around. Now, he's fallen off the radar. Things have gotten so bad for Ortiz that he just took an entire weekend series off. He's not hurt, he's just taking a break. This is unheard of for baseball's superstars, but Red Sox manager Terry Francona wanted to give Ortiz a chance to "clear his head."
Clearly, A-Rod and Manny are the two best hitters on the planet, and the proof is in the pudding. Their own offensive numbers are well documented. Both clobber the ball and get more extra base hits than Derek Jeter and John Mayer get Maxim Top 100 Women (albeit, just barely.) But the impact they have on their teammates cannot go unnoticed. The Yankees probably planned on getting about 50 home runs per season out of Rodriguez, but also knew they could tack on another ten dingers to whoever is hitting in front of him in the order. Justifying a $300 million salary to play a game is an impossible task, but in baseball terms, this argument does bring to light just how important Manny and A-Rod are, and ultimately adds to their legacy.
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