MLB Talk: Manny lights up LA…the re-emergence of Oliver Perez…and random thoughts

After a two week absence, MLB Talk returns. They will return in two week installments through the rest of the season, but returning in force for the postseason.

Manny being Manny in Hollywood

Was their any real surprise that when Manny Ramirez was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trading deadline from the Red Sox that he begin to light it up again?

He was hitter near .500 before he was traded, but that was lost in all the injury and off the field issues. Still, when he steps into the batters box, only Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez rival him in terms of the best right-handed hitters in baseball.

Since his arrival, he has energized the Dodgers. They are poised down the stretch to run down the division leading Arizona Diamondbacks. From August 1 (Manny’s first game) through today (August 15), Ramirez is hitting a blistering .438 in 48 at bats, with 5 home runs and 16 runs batted in with OPS of 1.355.

Considering that he has trimmed some of his hair (took three weeks), is consistently running out of the batters box hard on home runs (as opposed to his famous “pimping”) and not sitting out games against tough pitchers, it becomes more obvious that he had “mailed it in” in his final days in Boston. Desperately looking to be traded in order to become a free agent at the end of this season rather than have the Red Sox in control of picking up the 20 million dollar option that existed on his contract over the next two years.

Now that he is in LA (it is still strange seeing him in the new uniform), the Dodgers become “ex-Red Sox West”, as he joins former teammates Derek Lowe and Nomar Garciaparra. His bat in the lineup already deepens an order featuring Russell Martin, Jeff Kent and youngsters Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier. Just have a presence like him in the starting nine on a daily basis provides protection for the other hitters and allows them to shine, which they have done so far

Their pitching is a mixture of high potential youth and veterans. While Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw continue to develop into top-level pitchers, Derek Lowe and Hiroki Kuroda try to provide veteran stability.

Brad Penny is the wild card. Perhaps burned out by weight issues or simple lack of performance, he has pitched below yearly levels. If is able to rebound, they have a great chances of passing Arizona and making the postseason.

Oliver Perez’s “switch" goes on

Nothing is more infuriating than watching a pitcher who has incredible talent not being able to harness it, and be focused on his task enough to pitch to the level of his capabilities.

Enter Oliver Perez.

Since his early years as a Pittsburgh Pirate, he has had the talent be a top starting pitcher in the league. His mid 90’s fastball and great slider makes for an uncomfortable at bat.

However, over the last four seasons, getting that talent out of him has been easier said than done. Inconsistency has plagued him. So much so that in 2006, fed up with Perez and his performance, the Pirates dealt him to the New York Mets as a throw-in.

While his inconsistencies continued, injuries to other rotation members forced him to pitch Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals. Though the Mets lost the game, Perez’s performance was not forgotten.

This season, his struggles again continued. After winning 15 games with a 3.5 ERA, he was again losing focus and saw his performance dropping. Nothing signified the word “enigma” in pitching terms than Perez. How could this still be happening?

But a funny thing happened after manager Willie Randolph was fired in the middle of this past June. A new manager and a new pitching coach apparently had the key to unlock to his full potential.

The last nine weeks has seen a different Perez. His reemergence has allowed the Mets to makeup for poor start to the season and are back in the NL East race.

In nine starts, Perez is 4-2 with a 1.97 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings.

With Perez set to be a free agent at the end of this season, the Mets are going to be faced with a very difficult decision. Does the team invest significant dollars in this pitcher knowing his past? Or, do they conclude that they have finally “fixed” him and will be pitcher he has been over the last seven weeks?

Either way, Perez stands to command big dollars from a team after the year if he keeps up. For the Mets, it is a decision that they probably do not mind facing.

Random Baseball Thoughts

After seeing him in person and during numerous instances this season, it is strange to say that Daisuke Matsuzaka is the most unimpressive 14-2 (2.74 ERA) pitcher in all my years of watching baseball.

Very quietly (or not so quietly), Jon Lester is emerging as one of baseball’s best left-handed pitchers.

To open his career, Lester is a remarkable 22-6. Comparisons to a young Andy Pettitte are very valid.

Would you boo a player consistently for striking out despite the face the player leads the National League in both home runs and runs batted in?

Philadelphia Phillies fans do for Ryan Howard and I cannot understand it.

Sure, he has struck out an incredible 155 times in 460 at bats (one in three AB’s), but he is at least producing major numbers.

It is not as if he were Andruw Jones.

Speaking of Jones, he is coming in hitting a cool .161 in 205 at bats, and is booed after every out while stealing…err, earning 18 million both this season and next.

Now he is worth booing.

I wonder how Roy Halladay’s career is going to be viewed after he retires in a few years if he remains with the Blue Jays.

For a couple of seasons, he was arguably the game’s best. But pitching in Toronto has given him limited to no exposure.

He throws over 220 innings a year and would be a multiple 20 game winner if not for some better offense and relief pitching.

Makes you wonder how he would be viewed if he were on either the Yankees or the Red Sox.

Think CC Sabathia (7-0, 1.55 ERA since joining Milwaukee) is having fun pitching in the National League?

I told you this would happen.

You mean to tell me a simple position of hands on the bat is the reason Carlos Delgado has suddenly discovered his ability to hit?

Explain to me why Jason Varitek and Kosuke Fukudome were chosen as All Stars again.

Congratulations go out to Oakland Athletics reliever Brad Ziegler, who went 40 consecutive scoreless innings to begin his career.

The Washington Nationals are a sorry excuse for a baseball team, while wasting a gem of a ballpark.

Let’s be honest, the suits over at FOX Sports are not going to be excited if the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Devil Rays happen to meet in the World Series.

Good to see instant replay coming at the end of the month.

Will that change several key plays that will not be reviewable such as non-tags or close plays at the bases? No.

The New York Mets have lost an incredible eight games when leading after eight innings. It appears no lead is safe with them.

If you are a Mets fan, how would enjoy this scenario:

Game 7 of the NLCS at Wrigley Field - Mets leading by a run and needing to get three outs from Billy Wagner to go to the World Series.

What percentage of confidence would you have in that situation?

The Los Angeles Angels have left no doubt in my eyes that they are the best team in baseball.

However, in a five game series, anything can still happen.

Political Talk: McCain keeping in striking distance of Obama

As I have been watching the race for president play out through the summer, I cannot help but notice that for all the attention surrounding Barack Obama, he has had a problem pulling away from John McCain. As my eyes watch and ears listen, only being few points behind should be looked as positive for McCain and troubling for Obama.

NOTE: Carl is a registered independent.

If you simply heard people on the street, or you are a listener and watcher of the rhetoric on some of pundit shows and were an unbiased observer, you would come away wondering just two months ago how John McCain could even be competitive in a general election race again Democratic nominee Barack Obama.

Unfortunately, the election is not played out on television, radio talk shows or internet blogs.

The “thought police” known as these pundits (also known as the political media) try to steer their specific agenda onto the public. If you are naïve, you will listen and choose a side. If you are rational, you will take their views for what they are.

Meaningless.

This brings to the presidential race between senators McCain and Obama, where Election Day is less than 90 days away. Obama, widely viewed by many as having essentially locked up the presidency when he defeated Hilary Clinton (with a little help from John Edwards) in June, does not have the pronounced lead that most people widely believe.

In most polls, it shows that Obama holds a lead of anywhere between two and five percentage points (within a polls margin of error). An absolute stunner when you consider this election season was supposed to be a death march for any Republican who dared to run for the vacant presidency left behind by George Bush.

You would think that everything would be against McCain in this election, and it is. From the sluggish economy, to the meteoric rise of oil prices. The housing crisis to unemployment. From the rising cost of living to the war in Iraq.

Facing those type of hurdles and also the Democratic machine that has had four years (in reality, eight) to build up their forces in addition to Obama’s unbelievable fund raising machine (to reach $500 million shortly), you would figure that McCain would not be able to compete and would lose in a landslide.

Somehow, through everything so far, he has stayed afloat. Early projections in each state show the election will be very close, which is all McCain could ask for going into the election.

In 2004, John Kerry was not running on his own merit, but rather tried to make it a referendum on incumbent President Bush then about anything relating to him.

Here in 2008, McCain is implementing a similar strategy. Though I personally am a McCain supporter, this election is not about him whether he likes it or not. It is about Obama and his meteoric rise to rock star persona and celebrity in contrast to “the old fart”.

The media has played into this as well. Watch the news or read the papers and one would think that only one person is running in the race unopposed. Is their media bias to favor Obama? Of course. To suggest otherwise is to not be paying attention, blind, or just ignorant. We all know he is the new face on the political scene. It was only four years ago when no one knew him and he made that dazzling speech in Boston at the Democratic National Convention.

This is why the media fawns over him. There is no shame in admitting that. He is a young, energetic man who is a terrific orator and has been able to put his talent to good work. Does the fact that he is biracial (yes, his mother is Caucasian for those who conveniently ignore that - including sometimes Obama himself) help him immensely? Absolutely. There is a lot of “getting to know you” with Obama that is still going on.

For the most part, many people know about McCain. He has been in the Senate for over 20 years and is a Vietnam veteran who was a POW for several years. He ran for President back in 2000 and lost to Bush. In reality, he is “old news”.

He has been universally accepted by both parties during his time in the Senate. Suddenly, when he ran for the country’s highest office, something changed. A vocal minority in the GOP did not think he was “Republican enough” for some fringe bases of the party, and thus voiced and put their support in protest towards Mike Huckabee, a loony dressed up in a suit and tie. And also Mitt Romney, who’s best attribute was being able to seamlessly flip flop positions on a dime, talk his way out of it and actually get people to believe him.

As it became clearer that McCain would be the presumptive nominee, the Democrats and media that referred to him as a “maverick” took a different tune. No longer was he that guy. Now, he was being lumped in with President Bush as if to suggest he has been his right hand man all these years. The “playbook” for beating him has been to suggest that by electing him would be to in essence give a third term to Bush. While the last four years of Bush have ranged from bad to downright awful, to compare the two would be like comparing Lindsay Lohan and Rosie O'Donnell and finding their only similarity is that they are women.

Think about this for a second…

If the approval ratings for the President are so low right now (less than 30%), and McCain is supposed to be dubbed as “another Bush”, ask yourself the following question:

Why he is only trailing Obama in most polls by such a small margin?

This is not just in national polls, but also in individual “battleground” states. It appears that a large percentage of people are either strictly voting the party line, do not believe in Obama, or many people really believe in what McCain is saying.

It was funny four years ago when President Bush defeated John Kerry and received the most amounts of votes ever in a presidential election (Kerry received the second most). As I would hear people talk about it, they would each say to each other and in group sessions the following:

“I don’t know anyone that voted for Bush”.

Well, 62 million people did.

Perhaps you may want to get out more and expand that circle of friends.

A similar scenario is likely to play out again in November. If McCain were to win, echoes of “who voted for him?” are set to rain down. Cries of racism and fear mongering are in reserve in the event that he actually pulls this off.

Back in the spring, I suggested if McCain were win the election this year in the worst year ever for a Republican to be running for president, it would be the greatest presidential election upset since Harry Truman beat Thomas Dewey in 1948 (known for the infamous “Dewey Defeats Truman” front page Chicago Tribune headline).

Listen to Obama very carefully and you will see a replica of Dewey. See McCain and you will see similarities to Truman. That election was 60 years ago. Here we are in 2008 and the same type of situation may be playing out.

Nothing else has come close since.

To use a football analogy, Obama is at the one-yard line with four chances to get into the end zone. All he has to do is push ahead thirty-six inches to score a touchdown and win the game (in the case, win the election) without turning the ball over.

McCain is looking to make an improbable goal line stand to pull off the upset.

Everything has been lined up for Obama to win and McCain not to have a chance. As of right now, he is running nearly neck-in-neck with the media anointed candidate as we go into the conventions and upcoming debates.

He realistically never could have expected that scenario.

You think that does not scare his opponent?

Giants Talk: Retrospective Edition: The "All Joe's" send Jerry Jones’ All-Pro Boys home

Though they had lost to them twice during the regular season, there was a sense of confidence in the air as the Giants went to Texas Stadium for their third meeting with the Dallas Cowboys. As it played, out, the third time was the charm with the team accomplishing one of their most memorable triumphs.

Originally written January 14, 2008

"I think we just upgraded from a battle to a war."

Grady Little, manager of the Red Sox during the 2003 American League Championship Series against the Yankees.

When it was over, as Eli Manning was at his own 20-yard line, under center in an alignment known as the "Victory Formation", I thought of those words that I had heard several years ago and applied it in the week leading up to and throughout this game.

The animosity that had grown inside over the last three years for Dallas Cowboys was starting to reach a "Red Sox" type level. No longer were these games just about two long time rivals going at it on field. It was personal.

The Cowboys, (self-proclaimed) America's Team had beaten the Giants the last three times. In the process, mocking them. Claiming they were inferior and threatening that the beatings they were handing out could have been worse, as if they were sparing them in some way.

76 points scored in the two meetings. They sported the NFC's best record, including twelve Pro Bowl players. Surely, the Cowboys had reason to think that on their worst day and the Giants best, they would still win.

All I was looking for was to get one more chance. Somehow, someway, we were going to make the third time the charm.

When R.W McQuarters intercepted Tony Romo’s fourth down and 11 pass in the end zone, that vision was realized.

Final Score: Giants 21, Cowboys 17

Historical context is not something I can put this victory into yet, but this certainly is a top five all time choice. Who knows where this magical ride will lead. Perhaps it will all end next Sunday night in Lambeau Field against the Packers. For years to come though, you will always reminisce with your friends that day when the Giants, dubbed as "All Joe’s" by Antonio Pierce during the week, went into Dallas and conquered the Cowboys on a Sunday evening in January.

I can watch this game 100 times and I will still come away wondering how they pulled off this upset. Seeing the first half and then watching the fourth quarter as the defense, playing on fumes and few quality defensive backs, turned the offense of Tony Romo, Terrell Owens and Jason Witten back time after time.

The first four minutes could not have started better. Amani Toomer took a routine curl route, eluded two defenders and saw Roy Williams’ horrendous attempt of tackling for a 52-yard touchdown.

For 15 of the next 19 minutes, the Giants essentially were without the ball. Dallas scored on a nine play, 96-yard drive in less than five minutes. Marion Barber looked like a man possessed. Bouncing off tackles and finding large seams in the middle of the defense.

Dallas would follow that up with a 20-play, 90 yard drive that lasted over ten minutes. Over six different occasions, there was a chance on third down to get off the field. Each time the Cowboys would find a way to get the necessary yardage. It was looking like a carbon copy of the last two games.

Frustration was mounting, as it appeared the defensive could do nothing to gain control of the line of scrimmage against their mammoth offensive line. You could see that the defense was tiring. The Cowboys had run 29 of the last 34 plays. Hands were on hips and exhaustion was setting in.

There was less than two minutes remaining in the half and the Giants needed to answer in some way to stop the way of what was appearing to be a second half Dallas onslaught that they had been noted for all season. A field goal would not be acceptable in this situation.

Who knows how this drive will be looked at month or even years from now. If the Giants go on to the Super Bowl next week, or even be lucky enough to win this thing, one would be able to reference the final 53 seconds of the half as the moment when Eli Manning officially took control as leader of the New York Giants and made it “his team”.

It took seven plays and 71 yards. With seven seconds on the clock, it was Toomer again the recipient of another Manning touchdown throw to tie the game.

It was inspiring to say the least. Young rookies Kevin Boss (stabilizing the tight end spot since Shockey’s injury) made a pivotal catch to set up a first-and-goal. Steve Smith, finally healthy and a contributor with those two big catches in the first half in Tampa that led to scores, once again proved why the Giants made him a second round pick. He made a catch for 22 and 11 yards. Then, he was able to draw Jacque Reeves (which is a code term for “Practice Squad”) into a 15-yard personal foul penalty.

Manning, showing the calm and collected poise that he had against New England and last week in Tampa, was able to take his team down for this important touchdown and you could sense the surreal silence inside Texas Stadium.

There was hope.

Halftime: Giants 14, Cowboys 14

For all that the Cowboys had done, they were no better than tied. It was puzzling, but there was belief (albeit slight). Anyone watching could draw the conclusion that the Giants were playing on borrowed time. The last two games saw Dallas leading at half by one and three points before seizing control.

The defense was back on the field at the start of the third quarter. Romo would lead his team down the field again into the red zone. Aaron Ross, who inured his shoulder in the second quarter but returned, attempted to make a take on Barber head on. Ross would re-injure his shoulder, throbbing in pain as he quickly ran to the sideline. The team already was without missing Madison and now this. How could this be happening?

On third down, Romo had Owens wide open for a touchdown but threw the pass behind him. I did not think about it at the time outside of thinking it was a lucky break. A field goal was all they got out of a drive that should have put them up by a touchdown.

Towards the end of the third quarter, R.W McQuarters returns a punt 25 yards inside the Dallas 40. Here was the chance to grab the lead. All it took was 6 plays and 38 yards for the Giants to stick it in the end zone. Brandon Jacobs stormed in from two yards out and proceeded to break a bulb in the play clock in the process.

Giants 21, Cowboys 17

Upset was in the air now. Over 13 minutes remained in the game. Could this possibly happen? How fast can the time tick away? It would end up being the longest 13:29 I have ever had watching football.

Both teams traded punts on their next two possessions. Time was ticking away. Manning and the offense are unable to generate any offense the entire half. Quality defensive backs were in short supply. Geoffrey Pope, who was on the practice squad, was now seeing a sizable percentage of plays. R.W McQuarters found himself with him on numerous plays. Lindsey Lohan was thinner than the Giants secondary now. This was not good.

It was in these moments that you thought back to all of the memorable meltdowns that the Giants defense has had the last 17 years. The Vikings game in ’97 at home, to the collapse in San Francisco five years ago. Regular season games that could and have been won if not for one stop on defense.

As the offense once again went three plays out and punted the ball back to Dallas with 1:50 to go, the game was now in the hands of this same defense to prevent them from going 48 yards for the potential winning score. All the history was there and not to ignore. The unit has been on the field for an incredible amount of the game and had been holding them off the entire quarter. Could they do it one final time?

Prior to that drive, it was becoming obvious that the Giants defense had started to frustrate and penetrate through the Cowboys offense. Osi Umenyiora was getting tremendous pressure on Romo. The timing between him and his receivers was off. Only dubious penalty calls by the referees was bailing Dallas out. Steve Spagnuolo was dialing up different blitzes and his throws were being rushed. If Romo had time, he would have noticed all the open receivers that were running free in the secondary during the second half.

Now, needing to make it work with a trip to the NFC Championship at stake, the defense would attempt to summon whatever energy they had left.

It took three plays for the Cowboys made it to the Giants 22 yard line. After a false start (which the referees refused to call for most of the game) made it first-and-15, Romo hit Witten for a short four-yard gain to the 23.

One down, three to go. 26 seconds left.

On second down, Romo try to connect with a pass to Witten. The pass fell incomplete as Umenyiora brought pressure and hit him as he was throwing the pass.

Two down, two to go. 21 seconds left.

Romo tried to hook up with Patrick Crayton down the right sideline on third down and the pass was overthrown. Crayton, for whatever reason, stopped for a split second on the play, then restarted, not in enough time to catch up with the pass.

Three down, one to go. 16 seconds left.

One more stop was needed. Jerry Jones had mysteriously made his way to the sideline and had his arms crossed and his face looking more and more pale as if he was a few seconds away from dropping dead on sight. The Giants and us as fans had come too far now to see this be taken away. The defense needed one more stop and time was working against the Cowboys, who were out of timeouts.

Romo took that snap from the shotgun. He stepped up and lofted a pass toward the end zone. The ball hung up for what seemed like forever. When it was coming down, Terry Glenn was the intended receiver. Instead, the ball found the hands of R.W McQuarters for a game clinching interception.

Game over.

Final: Giants 21, Cowboys 17

Because I was out watching the game, I was unable to listen to the radio call of the play until later that night. Hearing Giants play-by-play voice Bob Papa describing the final play brought a smile to my face.

Papa: Here we go… fourth and 11 at the Giants 23…16 seconds to go…Giants leading by four…Romo takes the snap…back to throw…has time…to the end zone…INTERCEPTED BY THE GIANTS! Intercepted by the Giants in the end zone…R.W. McQuarters!…and the Giants bench goes wild!

Jubilation ensured on the Giants sideline. The 20 people I was watching the game with along with myself were ecstatic. Dallas was now dead and the Giants were advancing to the NFC Championship Game this coming Sunday.

Who could have dreamt this? The All Pro’s of Dallas had been eliminated by the All-Joe’s from New York. Seeing the look of shock on the faces of Jones, Romo, Owens and Head Coach Wade Phillips were images that will last a long time.

Everything that I had thought about Dallas before this game was confirmed. The video I saw was not a mirage and that the Cowboys could be beaten. Six weeks of mediocre play was not a fluke. An initial fantasy had found reality in the most inspiring way possible.

The Giants did what no one said they could do. Now, they are one win away from playing for the sports ultimate prize. A season that was just a few weeks ago on the brink in Buffalo is now 60 minutes away from sunny Arizona and Super Bowl XLII.

Maybe I look back on this game and wonder how the hell they pulled out this victory.

Maybe I will not care. Dallas has been derailed.

Next stop: Lambeau Field on Sunday night.

Bundle up.

Yankee Talk: The Great Youth Experiment Gone Bad

To hear the Yankees organization tell it before the start of the 2008 season, it was supposed to be a year of “transition”.

It was to be a year where the older, veteran pitchers would be phased out and a new trio of younger pitchers with tremendous upside.

Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy were supposed to be the nucleus of a new future. They were to take their lumps this season and show the team the future would be secure in the hands of these three.

Unfortunately, the 2008 season has brought about more questions than answers.

While Chamberlain has emerged as a potential star, Injuries, underperformance and questions of mental toughness surround Hughes and Kennedy and have the Yankees wondering what the future holds for each of them.

GM Brian Cashman rolled the dice this past offseason when the Minnesota Twins asked for both Hughes and Kennedy in a trade for lefty ace Johan Santana and turned them down. While Santana has continued his success with the New York Mets, neither pitcher has won a game this season.

Here is an illustration of the difference between Santana and Hughes and Kennedy combined:

Santana: 9-7, 2.85 ERA, 161 IP
Hughes and Kennedy: 0-8, 8.51 ERA, 61 1/3 IP

The logic behind not making the trade was sound. Why one would trade two-fifths of a potential starting rotation for one pitcher and then on top, pay him $137 million (his eventual contract extension with the Mets) made terrible financial and baseball sense. It is compounded by the fact that you would then have to spend money on another pitcher to replace the additional one you just traded.

So the Yankees decided to take their chances. Last September, Kennedy was impressive. Hughes, after missing nearly three months with injury, pitched very well down the stretch in 2007 and in Game 3 of the Division Series against Cleveland, showed all the potential the team thought he had despite only being 21 years old.

When the 2008 season began, they both were different pitchers. For whatever reason, the confidence that each of them had the previous season had evaporated. Throwing strikes proved difficult and when their pitches did find the plate, they were hammered.

By the start of May, neither pitcher had a victory. Added insult was that Hughes was making another trip to the disabled list. It was explained that strained his right oblique muscle while sneezing too hard in a rain-shortened start in Chicago against the White Sox, but he never disclosed it.

Prior to that, he had problems finding the strike zone consistently. Though he showed glimpses of good, deep counts and high pitch counts worked against him. In his 22 innings, he allowed 47 baserunners an amassed an ERA of 9.00. The Yankees had set him on an innings cap of 150 for the season. Hughes certainly was not going to reach that cap now and this has a ripple effect into next season if happens to be a part of the rotation.

Kennedy’s struggles appeared to be mental. When asked of his performance, he complained about the pressure and scrutiny that existed pitching in New York and for the Yankees. By the end of May, he too would find himself on the disabled list with a shoulder strain. It was coincidental that his DL stint came one day after again being pounded in a three-inning start against the Orioles.

As I watched him closely, I could not help but to suggest that perhaps he was a “AAAA” type pitcher. Someone could dominate hitters at the minor league level, yet have an inability to get major league hitters out consistently. This was made clear after the Yankees sent him down to AAA after a terrible outing against Detroit on May 1. Somehow Kennedy found the strike zone in his one start there giving up one hit in seven innings, and was immediately called back up.

For two months, neither pitcher was seen or heard from. This past Friday against the Angels, because of the injury to Chamberlain’s shoulder on a Monday night in Texas, Kennedy was called up from AAA (by necessity) and was again given another chance. Two innings, five runs and nine hits later, he was out of the game, showing no progression from his time in the minors. It again left more questions about his ability to pitch at this level and whether he is mentally capable of being successful.

Though his innings cap was 180 before the season, his performance this year, his immaturity issues and with the Yankees potentially eyeing free agent pitchers CC Sabathia and/or Ben Sheets, and his future with the team is very much in peril.

Chamberlain is the only one to have broken out and emerged as a star. Transitioning beautifully from the bullpen in May to the rotation, he has absolutely sensational. In 12 starts, he was 3-1 with an ERA of 2.71. His intimidation on the mound was so pronounced that on two occasions, he forced Manny Ramirez to ask out the lineup in the two meetings between the Yankees and the Red Sox.

Everything was going great for him before he heard a mysterious "pop" in his right shoulder last Monday against Texas. Originally diagnosed as a stiff shoulder, the team went to the extreme sending him to popular sports surgeon Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion. Though Andrews said he would not need surgery, the fact the Yankees sent Chamberlain there should signal danger. He is on the disabled list right now and set to resume throwing in a few days. While he will pitch again this season, warning signs are up that at any point, injury and another trip to the DL is not that far away.
Adding it all up, all three pitchers have spent time on the disabled list. Two of them have pitched horribly. One of them appears to have mental problems. One of them has all the makings of a great pitcher if he can stay healthy. For this season, the great experiment has blown up like a volcano made by a third grader at a science fair.

“Generation Trey” as they were dubbed in Spring Training is currently down to “Generation Joba”, with the rest trying to make up serious ground. If this were a horse race, Chamberlain would be like Secretariat in the Kentucky Derby.

While youth may be on their side, this season has been rough for the young kids and has had a ripple effect on the team and organization as a whole. Time will tell if the faith that was put into them genuine, or lip service as a means to curb spending on high priced free agent pitchers.

To this point, it is a transition gone wrong.


Random Yankee Thoughts

Seeing Brian Bruney pitch in Texas the last week, I noticed that he was wearing long sleeves. Mind you, the temperature was 97 degrees! Was he trying to lose weight?

I do not understand it.

On Tuesday night in the eighth inning, I was referring to Richie Sexson as a “Tall Mountain of Strikeout”. One pitch later, he deposited a pitch into the left center field stands for a grand slam.

Coincidence?

A RIP to the Jason Giambi ‘stache. Once a phenomenon that spurred on a near two month hitting streak, he was 12 for his last 60 and decided to shave it.

It will be missed.

Since then, he has gone on to hit three home runs in a week.

Who knew?

I wonder if he changed his "lucky thong" too.

Despite Giambi’s good season, he was hitting an abysmal .204 with runners in scoring position. Perhaps that means that his statistics this season are somewhat inflated.

When Xavier Nady came in the trade from the Pirates, I suggested that his .330 average was a mirage. That he would come to the Yankees and revert to a .260 hitter.

Since his arrival (through Sunday), he has done this:

15 games: .365 AVG, 1.162 OPS, 5 HR, 13 RBI

Maybe I was wrong about him. Slowly he is becoming one of my new favorite players.

Of course, hitting near .365 will do that for you.

I am trying to think of what could be on the Wilson Betemit hitter’s scouting report.

Can hit fastball very well - Cannot hit breaking pitches to save his life.

End of scouting report.

Watch the games and that is exactly how it plays out.

I am hoping that Damaso Marte is not this season’s version of Eric Gagne circa 2007.

Do not allow me to think that.

Anytime I see Robinson Cano take a base on balls, I am just stunned.

Watching Melky Cabrera at the plate is like being at a funeral. Just a sad two-minute procession before the inevitable pop up or ground out.

Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez in a Yankee uniform looks weird.

Carl “American Idle” Pavano is apparently rehabbing in the minors. No, seriously he is.

I still give him two weeks before one of his “injuries” appears.

Angels Stadium is where Yankee dreams go to die.

Are this season’s offensive struggles simply an aberration? Does anyone really believe that simply signing Mark Teixeira is going cure the ills of not being able to get “the big hit” with men in scoring position?

In one word: No.

On The Road: Paying my homage to Yankee Stadium on my birthday

Carl made the journey on his birthday to Yankee Stadium to see the Yankees take on the Angels. While he took in a great game (despite the loss), this night was about more than just a game. It can be considered a historical field trip that will never be forgotten.

NEW YORK - You are taking the number 4 train just past 149th Street and Grand Concourse when you hear the voice address announcer say the following:

"The next stop is "161st Street-Yankee Stadium".

You hear that and you know what is coming next. Through the tunnel and into the sunlight (assuming it is not cloudy); you see the old ballpark in The Bronx staring right at you. Only yards away from it, you can sense the excitement that not only you, but the people around you have.

Some make the trek daily. Others have been to it enough to where they are not fazed. And there are those who are visiting the place for the very first time who look at the place in awe.

For me, I have been to The Stadium numerous times not to be fazed. This time it was different. I knew that there was the real possibility that this could be last time I may ever step foot inside Yankee Stadium.

It was my birthday and there was no better present I could be given than to take in a Yankees game on this night. Take all other gifts and ideas and just throw them away. Nothing else was going to top this.

I went on Craigslist early in the morning and within 30 minutes, there was a guy named Victor who had seats out in the right field bleachers for $50 each. Great deal. Mind you, the original face for those seats is $12, but those seats have always been underpriced. Headed down into Times Square around lunch hour to meet him to pick them up and I was set for the night.

Of course, getting there was part of the equation. For some reason, the subway was going unusually slow from 59th Street heading up. Was this Chicago here? I rarely see slow zones in New York, but this was a first. The conductor mentioned there were trains ahead, but the first pitch was minutes away and I had little patience.

My long time college friend Denis and I got to the game in the middle of the second inning. We were not trying to mimic the fans in Los Angeles; at least we had a legitimate excuse.

I looked around the place for a bit and took in the history that was not going to be there any longer. There is sign right behind us that informs not just me but everyone else how many (regular season) games are remaining in the park (on that night - 21). What started at 81 when Opening Night began has now dwindled to a precious few. With the Yankees currently out of the playoff race, those would be the only games left to be played.

My camera was going to work overtime on this night. I was not going to miss anything. What I noticed early was that I was at an angle that was going to affect my picture.

Since I was facing home plate, getting the panoramic shot of the stadium was out of the question. My zoom was causing some shots to come out blurry that brought the anger level up a few notches. But watching Sidney Ponson on mound evading trouble in several innings put a smile back on my face.

Both he and Los Angeles Angels starter Ervin Santana waged a game long duel. Each inning, we all waited and held our breath in the expectation of what we thought would be the eventual Ponson Breakdown, usually making its appearance no later than the fifth inning.

This is what it has come to over the last few years. Optimism has been replaced by pessimism and doubt. Expecting the worse almost all the time.

What have we become, Red Sox fans circa 1919-2004?

However, on this night, it was different. Ponson worked his way out of trouble like a crafty veteran. Bending at times, but never giving in. For seven innings, he dealt shutout baseball to shock and awe of all of us.

Who knew?

A performance like that would be good enough to earn a victory on most nights. Despite the four walks, he had only given up two hits. The problem was that Santana was equally as good, if not more dominant. Blazing fastballs inside and out to overpower Yankee hitter s, and throwing his hard slider and other breaking pitches to make them look foolish at the same time.

Damaso Marte held the fort down in the eighth inning and Santana did the same. It was on to the ninth.

Enter Sandman.

You hear the theme music and the Stadium erupts. Mariano Rivera steps out of the bullpen through the door and slowly makes the jog to the mound.

Cameras flashed everywhere (including my own) trying to capture the moment seeing number 42 with the interlocking "NY" on the cap, wearing white with navy blue pinstripes, no name and just the number on the back, as he makes his way to the pitchers mound.

When he came in, a sense of worry filled my mind. The stats were there to be seen. Of all the runs Rivera had given up during the season (eight), all but two came in games where the Yankees were either tied or trailing. It has to go as the oddest baseball query in this generation. How can a pitcher this great mysteriously struggle in these types of situations.

Mark Teixeira led off the inning with a walk and the crowd and I began to groan. We all knew the stats were in play again. Vladimir Guerrero then followed with a base hit to right field and pinch runner Reggie Willits motored from first to third base. Runners were now on the corners with no one out and the feeling of dread had taken over the Stadium.

On a 1-0 pitch, Torii Hunter took Rivera's pitch back up the middle for a base hit to give the Angels the lead 1-0. The only sounds you could hear were that of the Angels fans that found their way to The Bronx cheering. The rest of us were simply resigned to shaking our heads in disbelief. Rivera had once more struggled and gave a run in a tie game. By count, it has to be the fifth time this has happened this season.

There is something about the Angels to where this more often than not seems to happen. On Thursday, they clubbed the Yankees for three homerun and scored 12 runs. Now tonight, they were on the right side of this duel. Whether it is lucky bounces, great plays or clutch hits, the team with the red Halo on the hat seems to get it against them. For the last seven years, it has happened like this.

Rivera would eventually get through the inning not giving up another run, but the damage had been done. Now the game was in the hands of their closer, Francisco Rodriguez. As I looked around, many denizens choose to either beat traffic or subway congestion and headed for the exit. 35 other times the team had scored two runs or less. Facing their closer and this suddenly unbeatable team, it felt as if the Yankees were down by more than just run.

Alex Rodriguez struck out looking on a changeup for the first out. Jason Giambi (under going a 'stache correction at the plate) flied out to left field for the second. Robinson Cano ended it with a groundout to second base.

Final: Angels 1, Yankees 0

It was not the greatest birthday celebration I could want. Perhaps a little luck would rub off on the team tonight, but Santana, Rodriguez and the Angels took all of that away.

The strange thing was that I was not ready to leave yet. I looked around and knew that this reality of never seeing the place again could exist. I made sure I took some pictures of myself overlooking the field and the scoreboard. Even though the NYPD was ushering all of us to head out, I told one of them that I just wanted to savior the moments just a minute or two longer, which they allowed.

I just wanted to say goodbye, in case it really was for the last time.

As we exited and made entry to board the 4 train to head back into the city, I got a look at the outside of the New Yankee Stadium.

There is no doubt that the new place is going to be great, but things just will not be same. The bleachers, as we know it now, will no longer exist. More luxury boxes will be built. The price of the tickets are going up to where a good portion of people will either be priced out or will have to spend a larger amount than ever.

Times do in fact change. For one night though, they all stayed the same.

It was fun. Just hoping it will stay the same a little while longer.

Giants Talk: Retrospective Edition: Finally Getting Over the Hump in Tampa

The roller coaster that was this season found its way to the playoffs. For the Giants, this was a way to validate their season. In Tampa, on a humid Sunday in January, they would do just that eliminating several years of playoff ghosts.

Originally written January 7, 2008

Even though the clock had under two minutes remaining, there was still a nervous feeling that the impossible could still happen.

From the Minnesota game 10 years ago to the San Francisco debacle five years to the day, my eyes have been trained not to believe the game is over until the clock had two zeros on it.

Jeff Garcia’s final pass floated deep down the right sideline into the hands of R.W McQuarters. Just to add a little more drama, the referees had to check to see if both feet were inbounds, but neither he nor the Giants would be denied on this day.

Call it “Liberation Day” if you will. It was eliminating the stink of the last seven years. 60 minutes (more like 45) of football on a hot and muggy afternoon in Tampa, Florida is where the Giants and squashed the demons of their recent past and look to write a new future potentially.

The first quarter looked like a horror show. Offensively, the team did not resemble the same one that played near flawless the previous week at home against the New England Patriots. Breakdowns in the offensive line were the cause for not converting short yardage plays. Relentless pursuit by the oncoming Buccaneers defenders left the Giants with minimal gains with the run and near nothing from the passing game.

On defense, they were not able to get a handle on Jeff Garcia, an old Giants nemesis. When it appeared he was in trouble, he would artfully get away and find an open receiver. Other times, it was running back Earnest Graham finding different lanes to run to in the Giants defense. It took them ten plays and 51 yards for the Bucs to score near the end of the quarter.

Bucs 7, Giants 0

The entire season has been marked with inconsistent play. Looking like a championship football team one moment and a junior varsity team the next. All year it seemed as if there would be procrastination in getting the correct offensive play call. Often this would lead to delay of game penalties, unnecessary usages of timeouts and thorough confusion among the offensive line and other members of the team.

Needing a spark, the Giants decided to put the ball in the hands of Eli Manning. It was no secret as to what Tampa Bay was doing. Eight and nine men were stacking the line to take away the run and no holes were opening up. Manning completed two quick passes to Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer for first downs. Toomer later hauled in two more third down receptions. First at the Bucs 20 and then another to set up a first and goal at the five yard line. Suddenly the offense was moving the ball. On the next play, Brandon Jacobs caught a middle screen that Tiki Barber made famous and bulled his way to the end zone for a touchdown. All the bad play that had marred the first quarter, and now they had righted themselves and could officially settle into the game.

Giants 7, Bucs 7

You hear through the television that there was a large contingent of our fans that had found tickets to Raymond James Stadium for the game. During the week, the Bucs, fearful of our fans turning the stadium into a de facto home game, tried to restrict the sale of tickets to people only in the state of Florida. As if that was going to work. Nothing was going to keep us away. Besides, what does that say about that team when on Friday, you could go on Ticketmaster and still find decent seats to the game if you were willing to pay the $200. Worry about your own fans filling the stadium and you would not have this problem.

Michael Strahan then roared the Giants crowd with a sack on Garcia. What followed next made me cringe. He got up and did the imitation of a jump shot that the team did last season. A craze that took on a life of its own. So much so that opposing teams became offended and began doing it in retaliation. The rip comes from a rap song called “Ballin” by local Jim Jones. He even made a remix specifically for the Giants. After how last year played out, I wanted to part of anything that resembled the 2006 season.

The offense got the ball back again after the defense forced a punt and once again started to move the ball on their defense. Needing one yard on third down, Manning found Steve Smith at the Bucs 18-yard line for a 23-yard catch and run. It was good to see him not dropping passes anymore. Perhaps I can stop calling him “Butterfingers”. Two plays later, Jacobs went off left guard and followed the lead block of fullback Madison Hedgecock seven yards for another touchdown. One quarter of bad play was made up for with one great quarter and the Giants had taken control of the game.

Halftime – Giants 14, Bucs 7

One thing that was becoming noticeable was that Garcia was under pressure consistently. Even if he was not sacked, many of his throws were being made under duress. When he would throw, a Giants player would hit him and he was being taken to the ground. Playing without cornerback Sam Madison and Kawika Mitchell had not played any role to this point. It was interesting that Corey Webster, who was starting, was matching up the Bucs best player Joey Galloway. I should be upset about this, but it is not like there is that much depth on the roster for me to bitch about it. Do I think Kevin Dockery is going to do a better job? Probably not. Webster is making plays out there today. Maybe he can emerge from the doghouse to just having a leash.

The entire complexion of the game changed right at the start of the third quarter. With Tampa Bay receiving the kickoff, their kick returner Michael Spurlock was making his move to toward the right sideline when the football was dislodged and Webster (yes, him again – I know, I could not believe it either) recovered at the Bucs 30.

Unfortunately, only a field goal came out of the good fortune, but that was ok. Having a ten-point lead against an offense that was not doing much of anything was valuable. Sure, I wanted to go up 21-7, but I will take it.

Giants 17, Bucs 7

In control of the game, Garcia was going to be forced to make plays throwing the ball. This did not seem like a bad thing. Garcia was no Tom Brady. Galloway was a threat, but he was no Randy Moss. Ike Hilliard is a nice player, but he was not in the same league as Wes Welker.

On second down, Garcia would move to his left and lofted a pass for Galloway in the end zone. The pass was underthrown and intercepted by…Corey Webster! Yes, him again. Who could have predicted this? It was as if he was a man possessed out there. This could not be the same guy who has been stealing money the last two years? Maybe someone else had taken over his body or he ate some of that Popeye spinach that gives you super human abilities. Whatever it was, it was working. I take back my insults now. All of what I was saying to him was out of love because I know there is a talented player inside that body just ready to burst out but has been MIA all along.

The time was now to put this game away. Up by ten, it was time to make one final statement. A punt would leave the ball at the seven-yard line with 1:37 in the third quarter. Getting a field goal would not be the objective. This would be like Mike Tyson in his prime going for a knockout and looking to send the opponent to the hospital.

Methodically and masterfully, they would march down the field. Ahmad Bradshaw was getting first downs. Kevin Boss was contributing. Toomer and Burress were doing their part. Fourteen plays and 88 yards later, they found themselves at the Bucs five-yard line. It was third down and goal. Manning would work from the shotgun with four wide receivers. Toomer would motion himself left just slightly. At the snap, Manning looked to his left. He pump faked the ball in order to get cornerback Ronde Barber (who did more talking than tackling), who was on the opposite side, out of position. Barber bit on the fake and he was able to come back to the right with enough room to find Toomer in the end zone.

Touchdown.

TKO.

Giants 24, Bucs 7

You could not ask for better execution. Great play calling. Tremendous blocking and expert decisions by the quarterback who showed that last week’s game was not a fluke. Maybe that game really did have a positive effect on him. It certainly has appeared that way the entire game. Considering I was an advocate for resting all the players last week, it looks as if they have emerged with more confidence than anyone could have ever imagined.

I see Strahan slow to get up with just under six minutes to go and the training staff is out on the field checking up on him.

“Nooooooo!”

This was too good to be true. Something was bound to happen to screw this up. He was able to make it to the sideline and is doing some stretching exercises. It looks like it is not too bad. I hope that it does not linger into next week (assuming everything with game works out).

Garcia would try to lead his team down the field. Each play would run and the clock continued to tick. It took them though just over five minutes of time, which I was willing to exchange for a touchdown.

Giants 24, Bucs 14

Two things I was hoping for now. No idiocy and no fumbles. As long as they do not mess anything up, this game is ours.

Both would be accomplished.

It seemed that the clock would not move fast enough. Tampa Bay had one more possession. However, with 1:53 left, R.W McQuarters would officially clinch the game intercepting Jeff Garcia’s final pass of the day.

Final – Giants 24, Bucs 14

Amazingly, this would be their eighth consecutive road victory. Maybe they should just play all of their games on the road.

Las Vegas odds may have listed the Giants as favorites (-3), but it sure did not feel that way. Maybe it was the burden of all these years that weighed on not only my mind, but also the others around me watching the game. Having this fatalistic approach somehow has made us paranoid. We see things that others do not and can predict trouble where others cannot.

However, on this day, it was okay to feel positive and have a sense of gratification. Not only were they winners, but their reward for victory is a trip to Dallas next Sunday afternoon to face the Cowboys at Texas Stadium for Round 3. This is what I wanted all along. One more chance against that team to make amends for the two prior losses. Perhaps, the third time can be the charm.

FOX showed a graphic that it would be the first time these rivals have ever met in the postseason. This just adds to the hype that this week will bring.

We have gotten over the hump. Bring on Dallas.

Giants Talk: Update: A Reflective Look Back

Last month, I mentioned that I was going to be bringing out from my archives, a running sports diary of the New York Giants memorable Super Bowl run that I chronicled. After waiting for so long, those tales can now be told.

It started with what I thought was a simple story that was being done recapping a Wild Card playoff victory. What ended up unfolding was a tale for all-time that rolled over with each playoff game through Super Bowl XLII. It was something I never expected to explode the way it did.

What I will do is that once a week leading up to September 4th (Opening Night vs. Washington), I will feature an archived story from each playoff game. The final story will be featured in days before the first game of the new season.

The evolution of the stories comes from mental notes that were marked in my mind while these games were going on. From there, I relive the game and give you my exact thoughts at the time situations arose. For accuracy purposes, I use the assistance of my DVR to be sure of certain plays.

One of these stories may or may not be used by the company Gameday Publishing, who is doing a commemorative book of the World Champion Giants written by the fans themselves and has asked for me to be a part of it. Hope you'll enjoy.

BE ALERT...these stories are written in pseudo-short story form. These are NOT for quick reading. Settle in, grab your favorite drink and take a trip down memory lane.