Angst in 5 ... 4 ... 3 ...

Opening Day for the Yankees is tomorrow. I'm watching the Braves and Nationals and Joe Morgan, who's the Paula Abdul of baseball color guys (commentators, not black), agrees. Now the season has started. Not on U.S. soil? Doesn't count.

To my point about Morgan. Lastings Milledge? Has the potential to be a great player. Hanley Ramirez? Potential to be the best player is the National League. Who else Joe? How about Rance Mulliniks? How does he stack up? Look at the form. He could have been a great one.

Anyway, my blood pressure's already rising. Yanks face Roy Halladay tomorrow, with Chien-Ming Wang on the hill for the good guys. Great, the Doc versus a very strong Wang. Ha ha ... "strong Wang." I'm hoping for good things. Really, I am.

He's a gambling man

Hideki Matsui got married Wednesday. More importantly, he used that to leverage cash from teammates Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu. Nice job by Matsui. I always say you never make a bet unless you know you're going to win.

Legends Field was renamed. For George Steinbrenner. Whose idea was this? Probably Hank and Hal's. I'm guessing there's a a reason the field is named "Legends." Perhaps it's because the Yankees have so many notable names in their past they couldn't decide who to name it after. Mantle Park would have been nice. Or Huggins Field. But no. George M. Steinbrenner Field.

I know the Red Sox have opened the season, but it doesn't feel that way. Season's got to start on American soil, and it can't come soon enough. Just a little more than three days and we are all reborn. I'm happy steroids and drug have some what sunk to the back burner. Hopefully the garbage with Clemens and McNamee can wait until after the season to raise it's ugly head once more. The only guy happy with all of this must be Barry Bonds. Unemployed? Yes. The poster boy for the tainted era. Not so much anymore.



Scientists worry an asteroid or other space junk will destroy the Earth at some point soon. I'm worried the Earth might collide with Bonds' head.

Been a while

So, the regular season started ... in Japan. Why?! This plan killed the Yanks a few seasons ago and I'm hoping it has the same effect on the Sox. At least Manny Ramirez is in midseason "look what I can do" form. Is there another guy in MLB that deserves to get drilled in the face more than this guy? He's a complete space cadet and maybe that's why no one has ear-holed him yet.

It's hard to believe this is the last year for the true Yankee Stadium. A few years ago, I would have been worried about the ghosts getting angry and leaving, but now, not so much. I think the next generation of Steinbrenners is doing a dandy job of exorcising any magic the team may have had. What do Yankees fans have to do to get rid of these people? George we suffered through (and won because he got bounced from MLB for a few years) and now the fruit of his corrupt loins will be around for years to come, meddling, ruining the team. It's only a matter of time before they get impatient a start trading the young talent for overrated vets in an effort to "improve the team." I wonder if Brian Cashman sleeps with a gun under his pillow.

On the bright side, the urgency of getting to the Stadium a few times this season is at an all-time high and the energy should be crazy. Maybe this is what the Yankees need to jog them from dormancy. That and a pitching staff that stays healthy the entire season.

Where's Ben?!

Giuseppe Franco and Gary Busey are huge parts of the Yankees' season. That Procede commercial will run at least 2,000 times during the season on YES, and that hug between those two, oh, that hug ...

Apparently Jennifer Garner doesn't watch YES or she'd be aware of what an accomplished and equal-opportunity embracer Gary Busey is. Busey apologized today for hugging Garner during the red carpet march at the Oscars. C'mon Jen, cut the guy some slack, he's 63, he's crazy and he was probably drunk. Maybe he mistook you for a light post or a mailbox.

Anyway, the big question is: Where was Ben when this was happening? Granted, getting in Busey's face is an invitation to meet Mr. Joshua, who is impervious to pain, but you gotta defend you territory.


Do not make eye contact with Busey. It makes him angry.

Get going already

Sooooo ... the preseason continues. I'm trying, but I just can't pay much attention to it. Even with quasifights and cleats to the groin, it's just so ... boring. And it pains me to say that. I love baseball. My wife loves baseball. We love baseball. I get there has to be some preseason. The veterans need to get their work
in, rookies get a chance to make the big club.

But, does it need to be so long? Probably not.

I know Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada will hit when it counts, but guys, how about inspiring some confidence? Jeter's hitting .222 and Posada's hitting .182. They have 10 hits in 46 at-bats as of this morning. They have 8 strikeouts and 4 walks. Not pretty.

Go get 'em Phil

Young Phil Hughes takes the mound today for the Yanks. He's looked great so far. I'm hoping for big things from him. He should be a 15-game winner with no problem, provided the Yankees bullpen, I'm talking about you Kyle Farnsworth, doesn't screw up.

Has Mike Mussina been tested for performance-enhancing drugs? Probably not, he's only throwing in the mid-80s. That's good enough now, but it'll get him clobbered in the regular season.

Fight! Fight! Fight!

Billy Crystal struck out. No one’s surprised.

A-Rod asked for the ball. It’ll be sold for charity, no doubt, and some sucker will pay a stupid amount of money for it. Good for charity, bad for civilization.

You lived your dream, now go away, Billy.

This, it turns out, is the only bad decision Derek Jeter has made in his career as a Yankee. Apparently he made the Crystal thing happen. Hey Derek, next time you have an idea, keep it to yourself ... please.


More importantly, the Yankees were in a brawl. Well, a baseball brawl anyway. I'm a day behind on this because I wanted to soak it in, savor it.

The best part, of course, is Rays right fielder Jonny Gomes bouncing off Shelly Duncan after he was called out and thrown out of the game. (Yankees rookie lefty Heath Phillips got the start but was ejected after 2/3 of an inning) Gomes, who can’t even spell “Johnny” correctly, had about a 200-foot running start and that’s the best he could do? Duncan’s big, but common buddy, head up, shoulders square. You could have severed Duncan’s spine. But you what ... tripped over second base maybe? In the video, Gomes appeared to be on his way down well before he got near second base. That’s why the Rays are losers. They execute a blindside cheap shot correctly.

Nice job by Duncan by the way. If he causes fights this frequently, Yankees fans will riot if the team doesn’t keep him around.

What's wrong with this picture?

So, the Yankees have signed Billy Crystal to a one-day contract, allowing him to play in a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. While I have no doubt a team of aging celebrities could beat the Pirates, celebrities have no place in professional sports other than in their luxury boxes.*

Crystal is known to be a huge Yankees fans. That’s fine. You know who else is a huge Yankees fan? My grandmother. If Kim Jong Il were to return his military outfit to the costume shop and exchange it for a pinstriped baseball uniform, she’d have nothing but nice things to say about the man. She didn't get a contract.

Bud Selig blessed this public relations stunt. Another job well done Uncle Bud.

I’m embarrassed for the Yankees and embarrassed for baseball, since no one else seems to be. Manager Joe Girardi is outraged by a Rays rookie - a AAA guy trying to make that woeful team - plowing through Yankees catching prospect Francisco Cervelli but no problem pencilling Crystal into the lineup.

This is OK in Joe's book.

But this isn't.

That makes complete sense.


*Jack Nicholson is the exception for this and every other rule.

Hot under the collar

Rays rookie Elliott Johnson broke the wrist of Yankees rookie Francisco Cervelli toward the end of Saturday's game, prompting criticism from Joe Girardi. Girardi, a former catcher, is dead wrong. If Johnson goes in differently, maybe he's the one that gets hurt. If he lets up and allows himself to be tagged out, maybe he gets cut because he isn't hustling in the eyes of the coaches.

Injuries happen. They're unfortunate, but part of the game.

What's more important about that game, however, is Mike Mussina not sucking. I saw a familiar scenario play out from the bottom of the first into the top of the second, however, with the Yankees loading the bases and not scoring, than going out and immediately falling behind. That stuff doesn't matter in preseason, but the Yankees did that too often last year. I hope they don't get into that trend this year.

Phil Hughes looked strong Sunday. A lineup built primarily of minor leaguers and backups beat up the Twins for six runs. Even Kei Igawa threw two scoreless, hitless innings. But, he walked three. What's with this guy? The Yankees staff walked 10 men in the game and their were 18 walks between the two clubs. Ick.

Why are base coaches wearing helmets? Is this what we've come to? They're grown men. Part of the fun of baseball is watching them avoid line drive and thrown bats. Remember Tommy Lasorda getting whacked by a bat shard in the 2001 All-Star Game? Watching the old fat guy stumble, stumble than tumble his way into a different baseball history book was priceless.

(Sung to the lyrics of "Smooth Criminal")

Tommy are you OK?

Are you OK Tommy?

You've been hit by, you've been struck Vlad Guerrero ...

Blogger's note: If anyone IS reading this, I know a Rockies coach was killed. From a blow to the neck. Not sure what protection a helmet offers in that regard.

They're human ...

So, Joba looked shakey in his outing against the Twins. It's time to panic. The league's caught on! The magic is gone!! Or, maybe he just missed his spot, or the batter saw the ball well. He said afterward baseball is a game of failure. He's right ... as long as he knows failure is OK now, but unacceptable when the the real thing comes along.

Same thing for Ian Kennedy. He gave up a solo bomb in two innings.

Robbie Cano is a unstoppable hitting machine. He deserved the big contract (four years, $28 million with teams options) he got and should have no trouble living up to the expectations.

Jorge Posada, on the other hand, is 0 for the preseason. Nothing to worry, yet. But if he starts the regular season slowly, the critics will be out in bunches. Four years and $52 million. Big numbers for a 36-year-old catcher.

God how I hate the preseason.

Moose was finished two years ago

Mike Mussina got lit up, again, in his start Monday against the Astros. If there is a more overrated front-line starter in the history of baseball, I can’t name him. No pitcher out-thinks himself more, no pitcher, with his reputation, self-destructs as quickly or as unexpectedly as Mussina.

Now he’s a mentor for the young pitchers the Yanks will rely on this season. Great.


It’s all right Mike, we’re used to seeing this expression on your face.

Bobby Murcer, who’s easily the most insightful and enjoyable Yankees broadcaster, may have suffered a setback in his battle against cancer. That’s too bad. He makes the Yankees games much more enjoyable to watch and has legitimate ties to the team’s history. Good luck Bobby.

The more things change ...

Caught my first Yankees pre-season game today. A few innings anyway.

It's good to see Yogi Berra going so strong. I wonder what's it like to be a living legend.

Although it's a new a new season and hope spring eternal, it's good (probably bad) to know some things remain constant on YES.

I was reminded how much I missed Guiseppe Franco and his amazing Procede hair product, even though he doesn't own any part of the company. That hug he gets from Gary Busey warms my heart. Just use it once every 90 days! Check it out here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nDiGqloDSY

And those dancing robot draught keg girls from Heineken? I'm not a beer guy, but if I was a creepy painted robot guy with two other creepy robot guys in me, I'd be all over that sexy beer dispensing trio. Check it out:

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

But this guy's ahead of me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJdgzmfCvv4

Kyle Farnsworth and Sean Henn are already in midseason form. Tentative and wild in the zone. I hope I'm wrong, but Farnsworth is going to force Joba into the bullpen by mid-May.

Thanks in advance for nothing Kyle.