Take it With a Grain of Salt

Alex Rodriguez made an official apology today while doing an interview with ESPN's Peter Gammons. I listened to most of the interview, and I thought it was pretty sincere. Then my common sense kicked in and told me there was no way in the world it was sincere. A-Rod is not sorry he used steroids, he is sorry he got caught for using them. There is a big difference.

Rodriguez said that it was "stupid" and "selfish" for him to use performance-enhancers. But then, at the same time, he tried to make excuses for using them. He said he just wanted to keep up and fill in the expectations of his Mega contract. He said he only used them in the 2001, '02, and '03 seasons. Sounds a little fishy.

Was it just a coincidence that he said he used them only in the three years before the MLB put the ban on them? He also said that he has great respect for the game. You don't have respect for the game if you cheat the game. Period. He also, during the interview, called himself one of the greatest players in the history of the game. Can anybody honestly call a cheater one of the greatest. I don't care if he used steroids for three years or three seconds, he shouldn't be calling himself that right now.

A-Rod has also publicly said that he never used performance-enhancers in the past. He only apologized because he was caught. Don't you think for a minute that A-Rod would have said anything about it had this information not come into the public eye. So, to all you who think that A-Rod is really sorry, I advise you to think again.

A-Rod Tested Positive For Steroids

Sports Illustrated has reported that Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez tested positive for anabolic steroids in 2003. Remember that back in 2003, the MLB did not punish players for the use of steroids. Starting in 2004, the league tested for steroids and punished the players they found to be using them. Their is a list of 104 players who tested positive in 2003. Right now, we only know the biggest name on that list: Alex Rodriguez.

Their have been whispers that A-Rod had used steroids, but nothing really definitive came out of it. This is the first legitimate evidence that proves that A-Rod used steroids. With Barry Bonds, it was obvious that he used steroids. But with A-Rod, a player at the top of his game, it wasn't as easy.

The real question everyone thinks of when they hear this story is: Well, does he still use them now? There is no way to know right now but, who knows, this may only be the first bit of evidence that links A-Rod to steroids.

This ruins A-Rod's legacy and his credibility. Everything he does from now will be questioned. He was once thought to be the opposite of Barry Bonds. He was the Clean Barry Bonds! Now, they are riding in the same boat together. The fact that fans thought Bonds was cheating didn't affect his game. I have a feeling it will affect A-Rod's game a lot more.

I hope that this is the last big name to be linked to steroids, but I know it isn't. In fact, it may just be the tip of the ice berg.

Yankee Stadium

Tonight will be the last baseball game at Yankee Stadium. It is a sad day for baseball and its fans. I don't care if you hate the Yankees, like them, or just plain don't care about them. This stadium is arguably the most historic in the country (possibly the world). I had the pleasure of visiting Yankee Stadium just last month. It was my first (and last) time there. The pictures in this post are pictures I took at Yankee stadium.

Yankee Stadium was constructed in 1923 and redone in 1973. I'm not going to give you a entire history of the Stadium, but I will mention some things. The Eagles even had a great moment at the Stadium. They clinched the 1960 NFL Championship on Chuck Bendarik's layout of Frank Gifford at Yankee Stadium.

When you think of the kind of players that competed there, you'll be amazed. Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Reggie Jackson, and Derek Jeter have all called it home. I know that people say that it is not even the same stadium because of the rendition in 1973, but I don't believe that it is that different. I saw that home plate was moved like ten feet, but that doesn't matter.

If you've ever been to Yankee Stadium, you know why they are closing it down. The playing field is beautiful, but the inside is cramped and falling apart. When I visited the Stadium, I was stuck in the hallway inside the stadium for almost an hour. There is absolutely no parking there either. Another question that comes into people's mind is, "Why don't they just keep it there and let the Yankees move across the street?" Well, that also has to do with the parking. The Steinbrenners are going to turn it into a parking area.

Everyone who has ever visited Yankee Stadium will miss the majesty of it. Just the fact that you are watching a game on the same place that Babe Ruth and the other greats played is amazing. I love how the park is right in the middle of the Bronx. That's one thing I don't like about the Philadelphia sports complexes. They are away from everything in a desert of concrete, barren parking areas.

Goodbye and Goodnight Yankee Stadium. All Will Miss You.

Yanks Struggling Despite Win

I was at the Yankee game yesterday afternoon. It was my first time at Yankee Stadium, but more on that later. Let's talk about the game. In the 13th inning, Yankee's outfielder Brett Gardner drove in second basemen Robinson Cano for the winning run. That gave the Yankees a 3-2 win over Kansas City.

It was actually a pretty boring game in the beginning. The Royals led by two until the seventh, when the Yankees tied it up. There was good pitching from both teams. Starters Sidney Ponson (Yankees) and Zach Greinke (Royals) both pitched well.

There seemed to be a double play every inning. The Yankees were getting hits, only to be thwarted by double plays. There were a combined total of seven double plays in the game.

The Yankees were having a extremely tough time driving in runs. And in the end, it wasn't A-Rod (upper right) or Jeter or any of the other stars that drove in the game-winning run. No, it was Brett Gardner. He of the .176 batting average, who usually receives little playing time.

A-Rod actually had two chances to win the game, one with a runner on second, in extras. If the Yankees want to be back in the playoff picture, they need more production with runners in scoring position. That's the same problem the Phillies have.

The Red Sox and Rays lost last night, which is very good for the Yanks. The Yankees are now 9.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East and 6 games behind in the Wild Card.

Hopefully later this week I will post about my actual experience at The Stadium and also show some pictures.

Pudge Headed to Bronx

The Yankees have been looking for a catcher because Jorge Posada is having a season-ending surgery.  Looks like they found their man.  The Yanks will receive Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez (right) from the Detroit Tigers.  The Tigers will get relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth.  Pudge is having a good season, batting .295 with five homers and 32 RBIs.  Certainly not as good as the old Pudge, but good compared to most catchers.  Farnsworth is a middle reliever with a 3.65 ERA.

The Yankees have certainly been buyers this year.  They already traded for Xavier Nady.  Pudge is definitely a step up from their starting catcher now (Jose Molina).  Remember in my midseason report, I picked the Yankees to win the AL East.  And that was before the acquired Nady and Rodriguez. 

The trade deadline is tomorrow at 4 p.m.  I will keep you posted on any other major trades.

Nady Headed to the Bronx

ESPN reports that the Yankees made a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The Yanks get outfielder Xavier Nady and Pitcher Damaso Marte.  The Yankees will ship four minor leaguers from the Pirates.  Xavier Nady (right) is quietly having a great season.  He is batting .330 with 13 homers to go along with 57 RBIs.  Marte is a quality relief pitcher and will help the Yankees bullpen. To read the ESPN report click here.

Nady is a underrated right fielder who should give the Yanks another bat with Johnny Damon and Jorge Posada suffering from injuries.  As I said in my second half preview, I think the Yankees are going to win the AL East.  Nady will definitely help them get there.

There is five days left until the trade deadline and there should be a few more interesting trades before it's all said and done.  Matt Holliday is supposed to be on the trading block.  He could give a team a great bat during the playoff push.  The Cincinati Reds are reportedly shopping the powerful left fielder Adam Dunn.  I went to a Phillies-Reds game this season, and, during batting practice , Dunn can absolutely kill the ball.  Of the pitchers on the market, A.J. Burnett and Eric Bedard are the most intriguing. 

Now let's get get to the Phillies.  Their bats were silent again tonight against the Braves.  They got beat 8-2.   I'm sorry to say it, but the Phillies are falling apart.  Their offense is in shambles.  Jimmy Rollins is really struggling so far.  He also got benched yesterday because he showed up late for a game at Shea Stadium.  He may argue, but he shouldn't.  Manager Charlie Manuel has said it all year long: he only has two rules, hustle and don't be late.  The Phillies are two games in back of the Mets now, and they better pick it up quickly. 

Review: Bronx is Burning

The Bronx is Burning was an 8-week series on ESPN about the 1977 New York Yankees. It ended last night. It came on every tuesday at 10:oo and ended at 11:oo. Just to give you an overview of the show, it is about how the Yankees overcame clubhouse issues and Red Sox to win the pennant and ultimately the 1977 World Series. Reggie Jackson is brought in by George Steinbrenner, the Yankees owner. Yankee manager, Billy Martin doesn't like Jackson's superstar attitude. The show also explains the police struggling to capture the .45 caliber killer. Steinbrenner wants to control the managers decisions and tempermental Martin doesn't like that. The Yankees win the Series in game 6 as Jackson hits three homers. They win it at home in Yankee Stadium (above). If you want to know more, they will probably show it again on ESPN.

I will give it 5 stars. Even if you are not a Yankee fan (I'm not really one), you will enjoy this great baseball story.

Baseball Update- American League East

A.L. East
W-L GB

1. Boston Redsox - 72-48 -
2. New York Yankees- 67-53 5
3. Toronto Bluejays- 61-58 10.5
4. Baltimore Orioles- 56-63 15.5
5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays- 46-74 26


Recap: The Tampa Bay Devil Rays held off the BoSox and won 6-5 last night. Andy Sonnanstine pitched 6 scoreless innings for the Devil Rays but then gave up 3 runs in the 7th inning. Daisuke Matsuzaka gave up 6 runs in 6 innings and picked up the loss. The Devil Rays broke it open in the 4th when they scored 4 runs. Devil Rays shortstop Brendan Harris got his 2 triple of the year. The first 3 batters for the Red Sox, Dustin Predroia, Kevin Youkilis, and David Ortiz, all went hitless. Jason Varitek hit a homer for the Sox in the 7th inning. The Red Sox got three of their 5 runs un the 7th inning. They scored all of their runs in the 7th inning or later. Baltimore beat the Yankees at Yankee Stadium 6-3 last night. Erik Bedard pitched 7 innings and gave up 4 hits and no runs for the Orioles. Phil Hughes pitched 5 innings and gave up 3 runs for the Yanks. Aubrey Huff had 2 RBIs for the Orioles. Alex Rodriguez was 4 for 4 yesterday. Shelly Duncan hit a homer in the bottom of the ninth as the Yanks scored 3 runs to tie it up. So it went into extra innings. In the top of the 10th, Aubrey Huff hit a 2-run homer as the Orioles scored 3 runs off Mariano Rivera. The Blue Jays won a close won at home over the L.A. Angles, 2-1, last night. Shaun Marcum picked up his 10th win for the Jays, giving up 1 run and 4 hits in 7 innings. Dustin Moseley pitched 5 innings and gave up 2 runs for the Angles. Alex Rios had 3 hits for the Jays. There was not much action in this low-scoring affair.

Prediction: This is a very bold prediction, I think the Yankees will win the division. I think they can somehow pull together and their pitching will get better and the hitting will continue. This is obviously a 2 team race. I think the Red Sox will fall apart. Their pitching will still be good but the hitting will slow down dramaticly. It will be a fun race.

Remembering Phil Rizzuto

A New York Yankee legend died yesterday. Phil Ruzzuto was beloved as shortstop and a broadcaster for the Yanks. Phil Rizzuto overcame his small stature to become one of the best shortstops in Yankee history. He was a part of 7 World Series Championship teams with the Yankee dynasty in the 1940's and 50's. He was American League MVP in 1950. By most though, he was known for being the Yankee broadcaster for four decades. He was the oldest living Hall of Famer when he died. He is also a hero by serving in World War 2 for three seasons. The Scooter, as he was known by the Yankee faithful, was elected to the Hall of Fame finally in 1994. As a broadcaster his famous line was "Holy cow!". Phil Rizzuto died at 89, Tuesday.