AL EAST-
(1)Yankees-(99-63) (2) Boston (3) Tampa (4) Toronto (5) Baltimore
Al Central-
(1) Cleveland (2) Minnesota (3) Chicago (4) Detroit (5) KC
AL West-
(1) Oakland (2) LAA of A (3) Texas (4) Seattle
Wild Card- Red Sox
NL East-
1) Phillies 2) Mets (92-70) 3) Atlanta 4) Florida 5) Washington
NL Central-
1) Milwaukee 2) Cubs 3) St. Louis 4) Cincy 5) Houston 6) Pittsburgh (why are there so many NL teams?)
NL West-
1) LA 2) Arizona 3) San Diego 4) Colorado 5) San Fran
Wild Card- Mets
Yankees over Oakland, Boston over Cleveland, Yankees over Boston
Brewers over Phils, Dodgers over Mets, Dodgers over Brewers
WS- Yankees in 6
April 6, 2009 at 12:02 pm |
Yankees to win world series? How many years in a row have you been wrong with that prediction? Honestly, I don’t know what to expect from that team. The media is loving them because of the big signings and the starting five (probably the best in baseball), but they have a lot of old players and injury-risk players, no clear 8th inning guy, and a suspect defense. Plus, we have yet to see how Burnett and CC handle NY. I doubt it will be a problem for CC, although he clearly did not want to be a Yankee, but Burnett is a question. I think everything will have to break right to get them to 99 wins. I’ll go with a repeat of last year’s 89 wins, and no playoff appearance. I’ll take the Red Sox to win the division due to a deeper lineup and a much, much better bullpen. Rays in second.
As for the Metsies, starting pitching scares me a little, but everything else looks real strong. I’ll go with 93 wins and a division championship.
April 6, 2009 at 1:01 pm |
I’ll predict that every year I think its a valid prediction. Its not entirely unbiased many years, but this year I don’t see another team in baseball which I find more likely to win the WS. Shorten up the rotation in the playoffs, slam the door with Joba and Mo. His innings will be limited anyway, and as the 8th inning guy he is the best in the business.
93 might happen for the Mets, but so might 85. Your starters are not just scary, they are below average, Johan aside. And Santana is as much of an injury risk as any Yankee.
April 6, 2009 at 1:41 pm |
You are a fan of looking at stats as they are right now, right?
Look at the Spring- 2 pitchers who might possibly make up your 3-4 led the mets in ER.
Pelfry- 19 ER in 22 IP
Maine- 18 Er in 25 IP
Both of these individuals on their own beat CC and Wang’s combined ER in 40 innings pitched.
that goes along with oliver Perez’ wild inconsistency.
Your concerns about the yankees involve aging and the possibility of injury. The Mets concerns are lack of talent at key positions. I’d rather be in column A.
and your boys Garndner and Ransom look better than the scrubs you make them out to be. You see Posada gun down supposed Jeter-equal ryan theriot? Shoulder looking pretty good there.
and the Mets signed sheff, who is a DH, to play on an NL team? that doesn’t smack of the outfield looking “real strong”
April 6, 2009 at 1:54 pm |
But you can’t put “Johan aside”. With Johan, it’s an ok rotation, with potential to be very good. Who had a lower ERA last year? Maine or Pettitte. And I don’t give a crap about ST stats. They are beyond meaningless.
And yes, I saw Posada “gun down” Theriot. It was a pathetic looking throw. Theriot went back to first on Pettitte’s first move and then looked at home all the way to second. It must have been a hit and run, with Lee missing the signal. That throw was beyond weak-ass.
As for Sheff, late innings, runners on base, Church or Murphy coming up. Will they the bring the lefty in with Sheff on the bench? No. I like the move for that reason, and also because Sheff is a bad-ass motherf*cker. They could use some of that attitude after the last two years.
April 6, 2009 at 2:12 pm |
so now you can selectively choose to count stats? Whats a more reliable indicator of how a pitcher stands to fare at the beginning of a season, spring numbers or last years ERA.
I really love the confidence, but your ability to spin it with numbers doesn’t make it any less misguided.
You would be going crazy jumping on me if the Yankees were trotting out a staff as bad as the Mets. Last year your problem was holding leads. You addressed that this year, but those leads wont be there with your staff.
Good game by your one good pitcher going on right now though.
April 6, 2009 at 2:35 pm |
Yes, I choose to ignore spring training stats. If you think that there is something disingenuous about ignoring sprint training stats, I can live with that. But they are beyond meaningless.
And the Yankees trotted out a worse staff last year, but you insisted that Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes would lead to them the world series any way. How did that work out?
Damn, we are stranding too many runners today. That revamped bullpen will be tested early.
April 6, 2009 at 3:02 pm |
How did losing Posada, Wang, Hughes, Matsui and A-rod for significant amounts of time work out? Coming up with 89 wins while playing 36 games against the two teams who faced off in the ALCS? Not too bad. Yet somehow, with extreme upgrades in pitching and at first you have the Yanks with the same record based on assumed injuries?
April 6, 2009 at 3:27 pm |
Yes, I am assuming that guys like Arod, Posada, Jeter, Matsui, Damon and Pettitte will not go 162 games and/or will continue to regress as professional athletes.
I also think that your defense is weak — Nady is awful in right, Gardner can’t throw, Damon can’t throw, Jeter is awful, and Posada can’t throw — and that your bullpen is a huge question mark. You have some live arms out there, but no one has shown that they can be the 8th inning bridge to Mariano. Plus, you play in a division with the Red Sox and Rays, so I just don’t see you being any better than last year.
April 6, 2009 at 3:35 pm |
yet guys like tatis, church, schneider, castillo, perez, maine and #5 inspire confidence in you?
Even great defense won’t help you when your starters get hammered around the park.
April 6, 2009 at 8:21 pm |
Tatis is a bench player (and a pretty darn good one), Church is a much better all around player than your right fielder. Unlike your right fielder, Church can run, catch and throw. Those things are rather important in baseball. Schneider is just a defensive player. The offense can carry his glove. Castillo is healthy this year, and he’s our 8th hitter. If he can play some D and hit .270 with a high OBA, I’ll be very happy. And yes, Maine and Perez (who combined for 30 wins two years ago) inspire confidence.
April 6, 2009 at 8:53 pm |
2007 stats again? Smh, good luck with that
April 6, 2009 at 8:56 pm |
Perez had a good second half last year, and Maine was mediocre while pinching with a bone spur in his shoulder. They’re both young, developing players. If just one of them improves (with Pelfrey), the Mets will be fine. If not, they will be in trouble, and will be looking to deal for an arm at the deadline. And there’s always Pedro.
April 7, 2009 at 7:19 am |
Perez had a good July. His second half ERA was 3.97 with a 1,37 WHIP. this included a September ERA of 5.79 when the division was being choked away. Thats not good, thats just OK and bad when it counted most.
April 7, 2009 at 9:02 am |
Both Perez and Maine had lower ERA’s in 2007 and in 2008 than Pettitte. Yet, and in your eyes, they suck, and Pettitte doesn’t, notwithstanding that he is old and regressing and they are young and developing.
Your bullpen looked good in the 8th inning yesterday.
April 7, 2009 at 9:28 am |
I never mentioned Pettite, but you are grasping at the one pitcher who compares with any of the non-Santana mets arms. Perez and Maine are anywhere from your 2 starter to your 4 starter. Pettite may project as a 4, but in talent and probable results at this stage of the game, he is the 5.
I am not relying on Pettite to push the Yankees into the playoffs, or to win a playoff game. He’s a decent back of the rotation guy with experience, who can help the younger guys. You are counting on Maine/Perez to do win big, and at least one of them to take the ball in the playoffs if you make it. Its just a bad starting staff for a supposed contender.
Lets play the “better year” game, and we’ll record it for review later
Better year, for the sake of this discussion means-
Fielders- Hits, Runs, HR, RBI, OPS and defense where it might mitigate those numbers. (e.g.- 2 fewer errors by Wright doesnt erase a 10 RBI lead for A-Rod)
Pitchers- ERA, WHIP, W-L, BB, Wins (for my sake),
CC or Johan?
Pelfry or Burnett?
Perez or Wang?
Maine for Joba?
Pettite or Mets #5?
Mo or K-Rod?
Tex or Delgado?
Castillo or Cano?
Jeter or Reyes?
D Wright or A-rod?
Murphy or Damon?
Sheff or Matsui?
Beltran or Gardner?
Nady or Church?
Schneider or Posada?
April 7, 2009 at 9:47 am |
Johan, Burnett, Wang, incomplete b/c Joba gets hurt or moves to pen, Pettite, even, Tex, Cano, Reyes, DW, Murphy b/c Damon only get 450 or so at bats at most and Murphy puts up a .390 OBA, can’t compare a DH with a PH, Beltran, even in right b/c Nady will put up better stats, although he sucks in the field, and too hard to compare at catcher b/c different styles, purposes and roles.
And you are delusional if you believe that you will ever see the 05 and 07 Arod again. He turns 34 soon, has a bad hip, and presumably is off the juice. Those numbers will never be duplicated by him again. Last year (when he was worse offensively than Wright) will be his ceiling for now on.
Do you still think that Ransom is as good a defender at third as DW? And nice baserunning from Nady yesterday. I watched this guy for 2/3 a season in 06. He can hit a bit and mashes against lefties, but he is a shitty ballplayer. Can’t field, can’t run, doesn’t deliver in big spots. You’ll see. And how about that sliding catch by Church followed up by doubling up the runner at first. With Church in right, two outs and no one on. If Nady was in right, 1st and 3rd and no one out. These things matter.
And you missed one crucial comparison: Putz or Bruney? I’ll go with the guy who can throw strikes.
April 7, 2009 at 9:58 am |
Dave was killing it on base too
April 7, 2009 at 10:01 am |
How bout that gun show from Gardy in CF? One hop strike to the plate. Wont hit too much, but his speed will make things happen in later innings with Jeter and Damon behind him.
Also, Albaladejo and Coke will see more important roles in the future. Not Coke’s fault on the HR which was borderline interference.
April 7, 2009 at 10:08 am |
And how about the Brian Roberts’ ground rule double that Beltran would have caught with ease?
That was not interference on the homerun. That was gone. In any case, I wish they would build ballparks to prevent that crap rather than encourage it. Put the seats back a couple of feet and put a railing up in front of them. And what do you mean not Coke’s fault? He grooved a nothing fastball over the plate and a scrub crushed it. But Girardi should have pulled him before the 8th and started with a fresh arm. They got 1 plus of shutout ball from him. Should have been content with that and moved on.
April 7, 2009 at 11:05 am |
Yes, Beltran abilities to ignore looking directly into the sun while running full speed on balls carrying with the wind are well documented. Beltran is a better CF, I get it. You have terrible starting pitching besides Johan, but won’t bang that drum with nearly the fervor you would were the teams reversed.
The ball was dropping, and Damon makes the play if the girl in the sunglasses doesn’t slap his arm. It wasnt a towering shot, it was a makeable play that gets made if noone hits a fielder making a play.
April 7, 2009 at 11:57 am |
Damon might make the play. He definitely gets it in his glove, but balls routinely pop out of the glove when the outfielder’s wrist/hand hits the top of the wall. So, who knows if he catches it or not. Sheer speculation either way, but the fan had every right to go after that ball.
I predicted 93 for the Metsies and 89 for the Yanks. You predicted 99 for the Yanks, and ? for the Mets. What’s your number for the Mets?
April 7, 2009 at 12:12 pm |
read the post, the mest prediction is there…
There is a big difference between has every right and should have every right. It makes no sense that fans can grab at a ball that a guy has a chance on, so I agree with your idea. why should Endy Chavez be able to make that play with no obstacle but the wall but a Damon has to fight fans. Its not like it was a foul ball which is either an out or next pitch. .
April 7, 2009 at 12:41 pm |
I knew you had them with the wildcard, but I didn’t see the 92-70. At least we both agree that they will win more than the 89 the Yanks will win.
I’m looking to trade Tex. He came up with guys on first and third yesterday, and I’m rooting against one of my best players. That’s insane, I know. So, I offered Tex and Jason Bartlett for Aramis Ramirez and Rafael Furcal. It’s a pseudo-dynasty league, so he might do it to keep Tex for next year as well.
I’ve had plenty of Yanks in the past (Bernie for several years in a row as a protectable) and always manage to root for them, but I was listening to that blowhard Francesca on the way home as the Yanks were making a comeback saying a “crushing opening day defeat for the Orioles” was inevitable, with the Yankees lineup, and the Yankees throwing the big-guns, Bruney, Veres and Marte, at the Orioles the rest of the way, and I just had to root against them and Tex after being subjected that arrogance.
April 7, 2009 at 1:10 pm |
Slow starter but will pay to keep him.
April 7, 2009 at 2:27 pm |
Big time, but it’ll be more fun for me to root against him and join in with all the yahoos booing him in April than to reap the benefits of the hot streak which will come in June and last through September. I’ve owned him for a few years, and know him real well. We protect up to seven players, with a new draft every three years. I drafted him and kept him for two years. Lost him for a 1/2 year, and then traded for him last Summer and protected him against this year. So, this is four years in a row he has been on my team for at least part of the season.
But no one seems to be willing to offer me fair value for him. He’s a top 15 fantasy talent, and the best I’ve been offered is Carl Crawford. One guy offered me Adrian Gonzalez and Joba a few weeks ago. I countered for Prince Fielder and Joba, and he rejected me. Then he didn’t protect Joba, which meant the he rejected Fielder straight up for Tex. And he’s a Yankee fan, who generally knows what he is doing. I’d like to trade him, but I’m not gonna give a stud like that up for nothing.
April 8, 2009 at 3:03 pm |
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/tom_verducci/04/07/yearafter.effect/index.html
Verducci lists Pelfry as a red flag. That makes your 2-5 unreliable. Good luck.
April 8, 2009 at 4:13 pm |
With Cole Hamels was ahead of him. Sheer speculation, and the kind of conjecture which leads otherwise rational men to put starting pitchers in the bullpen for two months for no reason.
April 8, 2009 at 10:19 pm |
I wasn’t sure why you had the Dodgers going so far, until I read up a bit and found out Manny Ramirez stayed with them. I thought he was moving on.
I’m with you on not betting against the Yankees though. They’re the one team that always seems to be in the mix, at least for as long as I’ve been following baseball.
April 9, 2009 at 9:57 am |
My Tex and Bartlett for Aramis and Furcal offer was rejected this morning. Oh well. Tex will break-out today against this scrub the O’s are throwing out there.
If the O’s could get some pitching, they’d be dangerous. They scored more runs than the Yanks last year, Markakis and Jones are young studs, and they’ll be adding the top prospect in baseball to the mix in a few weeks when Wieters takes over for Zaun. But they have absolutely no pitching, whatsoever.
We’ll get to see today how Burnett handles the pressure of pitching for the Yanks, because he must be feeling some pressure to step up and prove himself after the last two starters flopped. Maybe you should stop worrying about Big Pelf and my Maine man, and start worrying about your own pitching.
Gotta go take some blood pressure meds and ant-acids, Big Game Ollie takes the mound at 12:30.
April 14, 2009 at 1:19 pm |
Where’s that “Coke Watch” you threatened me with?
. Still excited about the potential of Ransom and Gardner?
I know we’re just one week into the season, but u better hope you’re starting pitching is as good as advertised because your lineup is mediocre, your defense is weak, and you don’t have a clear bridge to Mariano. But great starting pitching can hide a lot of flaws.
April 14, 2009 at 1:44 pm |
Did you get your season Sat tickets again? Looks like it’s going to be a good season. I wonder how long the Mets and Yankees will have identical records?
April 14, 2009 at 1:44 pm |
Some rocky stuff from Coke so far, agreed.
Ransom is a stop gap, but hasn’t hit at all. Disappointing.
Gardner I will stick by, because his speed add a different and previously missign element to the team.
But you were right, Church looks much better than Nady in the field. Murphy too. Nice plays by some fine fielders.
Big Pelf looks as solid too. Not quite as solid as Wang, but you can’t be too happy.
The lineup gets Tex back soon and A-rod not too long after. Swisher looks like a good pickup, no?
April 14, 2009 at 3:03 pm |
Actually, Church made some great plays the first week, and then just literally dropped the ball last night. I never said Murphy was a good fielder. Nor would I. He’s a good offensive player trying to learn a new position in the majors. But to lose two games in a row because your corner outfielders drop flyballs is unbelievable. In any case, if Church’s defense was the Mets’ biggest concern, you could pencil them in for 120 wins. He’s pretty damn good in right field.
Swish is OK. Low BA and high K guy, but he walks a lot, works the count, and brings some energy to a veteran team that needs it. He’s a poor man’s Giambi. I like him a lot more than Nady. I’d play Swish everyday in right and platoon Nady with Matsui at DH, and give Nady one start in left and one start in right a week to keep his bat fresh.
I’m not worried about Pelf yet. Seemed to me like he lost his concentration after falling down in the second during his delivery, and paid for it. I’d be worried about Wang short-term b/c you gotta figure that for his pitches to be that flat his mechanics must be a real mess. Not exactly surprising. He’s coming off a serious foot injury. He’ll eventually figure out what’s wrong and remedy it.
Gardner blows. Completely over-matched by major league pitching. And his arm is as bad as Damon’s.
Hoping Tex will be back tonight.
April 15, 2009 at 7:13 am |
Gardner wins that game for the Yanks on the offensive side last night. Big bomb by the Captain to put it away.
8th inning bridge Bruney looked good, and the starting pitching was excellent as requested.
OP up for you guys again. Have a good one.
April 15, 2009 at 9:08 am |
I was watching the game last night and noted (and laughed to myself) that at 9:33 P.M., on April 14, 2009, our rooting interests aligned. That’s when Tex came up with two on and no outs in the top of the 8th. Bastard should have hit that hanger out of the park.
Gardner hit a routine flyball to left, but since his opponents respect his hitting “abilities” as much as an ordinary pitcher’s, Carl Crawford was playing about 20 feet behind the shortstop and the ball got over his head. And, by the way, Crawford is too shitty a fielder to be playing anyone that shallow. Gardner sucks. He can’t hit, and he can’t throw. He makes Damon look like Dave Parker. Gardner can only do one thing: run. In the long run, that will not be enough. I never thought I would say this about a major league centerfielder, but I think Melky is better than him.
I was walking the dog when Jeter went yard. Never saw it. Bruney struck out the side in the 9th of a laugher. It’s a lot harder in the 8th during a one-run game. As I have said all along, he’s the one guy in the pen with the stuff to pitch the 8th, but his control is suspect. You can’t walk guys late in games.
Going tonight. With Ollie on the mound, I’m going to have to start drinking around lunch time. Fortunately, there is a beer stand right near my seats that sells Beck’s. I gotta feeling I’ll be getting to know those vendors tonight.
Looks like Nady might be out for a while.
April 15, 2009 at 9:24 am |
I’ve got Sonnanstine going tonight. I’m sure you’ll be rooting for him.
April 15, 2009 at 9:30 am |
why pooh-pooh a big hit in a key spot, which would have driven in two and had him on third if the turface didnt hop the ball over the wall? He has 8 hits, plus 2 sac bunts which both led to runs. He’s started off decently. stop being a hater.
April 15, 2009 at 10:22 am |
I didn’t see the 9th inning. I presumed that you were referring to Gardner’s lead-off double in the 8th which led to his scoring of the go-ahead run.
I am no “hater.” I just know a one-tool player when I see one. If Yankee fans and the NY media weren’t hyping the guy, I wouldn’t be saying anything about him. But there are many (and you are often guilty of this as well) who believe that a player is good simply because he is wearing pinstripes. I’ve been dealing with that since college — my entire life — arguing with Yankee fans who insisted that Dave Righetti was better than Dwight Gooden, Mike Pagrialulo (sp?) was better than Howard Johnson, etc.. I remember when Ron Cerrone was the next Johnny Bench. Bottom line — if every Yankee player was one-half as hgood as their fans and the NY media believed, that Yanks would win 140 games and the world series every year.
April 15, 2009 at 10:25 am |
How could you miss a Jeter at-bat to walk the dog? Thats must-see TV.
April 15, 2009 at 11:12 am |
lol
April 15, 2009 at 1:09 pm |
From rotoworld:
News reports that Xavier Nady’s elbow will need season-ending surgery.
We’d wait to drop Nady until a more official announcement is made, but in the meantime, it’s time to add Nick Swisher in any mixed leagues where he’s still available. Apr. 15 – 2:03 pm et
There goes Matsui’s platoon partner at DH. I’m just hoping that Pelfrey’s healthy.
April 15, 2009 at 3:40 pm |
I’m watching Gardner face Sonnanstine on gameday thinking, “you just know this son of a bitch is gonna go yard today against my pitcher for your shitting on him to Charlie.” Fortunately, he just grounded out with Cano on second. But he’ll get a couple of more chances.
April 16, 2009 at 1:33 pm |
Second visit, but first game at Citifield last night . Pretty nice place to watch a game, and the food and beer were excellent. Ribs from Blue Smoke and bottles of Chekvar from beer island in the outfield. What an upgrade from Shea.
April 17, 2009 at 7:30 am |
whats your take on all the Citi haters? Seems a bit overboard considering where they used to watch games, no?
Going back to Yankee Stadium tomorrow. The word “wow” came up a lot last time in terms of the building.
April 17, 2009 at 9:35 am |
The citi haters are nothing but miserable no-nothings who’d rather complain than be happy. A bunch of miserable, ignorant fucks.
The sight lines are incredible, and there is not a bad seat in the house. I have been there twice and explored the place fully. These jerkoffs can’t tell the difference b/w an obstruction which blocks your view of the game (Mohegan sun bar at NYS or a support beam at Fenway, for example), and a minor blindspot which prevents you from seeing one or two plays in full a game. And they are too fucking stupid to understand that the blindspots result from being so much closer to the field. So, you might miss the left fielder digging the ball out of the corner once a game, but you see the rest of the game as well if not better than any other ballpark in baseball. Would they rather sit a thousand miles away from the action and see 100% of the game like shit like they did at Big Shea, or sit right on top of the action and see 99.8% of the game beautifully? That’s the choice, but these stupid fucks and the assholes in the media who are giving them a forum to voice their ignorant opinions are too stupid to understand.
My seats are second from last row in the upper deck (promenade) directly behind home. If the catcher catches a pop-up right behind home, right up against the backstop, I probably won’t see it. But my view from these crappy-sounding and relatively cheap seats is unbelievably good. That’s the trade off for a small, intimate ballpark. You are not going to have as many blindspots in Yankee Stadium, but you are going to be much further away from the action than at Citifield because the upper deck is much bigger and set further back from the field.
When did u go to new YS?
April 17, 2009 at 10:45 am |
I went to the Cubs exhibition and sat in the RF bleachers. Just a freaking palace to walk around. Lots of lookie-loos as opposed to the “Saturday afternoon still there during a rainy gamevs the Pirates” fans that I saw with my old season seats. The big screen is beautiful, the concessions are delicious and feature many more staff who know what they are doing. I agree about the distance thing, both because of the sound-effect that the looming upper deck used to give and for the probable lack of upper-deck HR, which were always fun. I will let you know how the game looks from upper left field after tomorrow.
I am really surprised with all the bitching about Citi myself. I have sat in many seats in both of the old buildings where you cans see way down in the corner…etc, but the fans let you know what happens on a close play.
People need to realize a) you are still in Flushing Queens, so you wont be sitting in 80 degree weather in April and b) Yankee stadium cost almost 2x more and shouldn’t be compared.
April 17, 2009 at 11:04 am |
Just because NYS cost 2x as much doesn’t mean Citi doesn’t compare. There are plenty of Yankee fans who have been to both who have opined that Citi is better. Granite exterior and teak arm rests don’t make a ballpark better. Just more expensive. Besides, what makes a ballpark “better” is mostly subjective and individualized.
My point in the comparison was that you should have fewer blindspots at NYS because it is bigger. But the tradeoff is that you will be further away from the action than at the smaller and more intimate Citifield. Bottom line — Citi is a much better place to watch a game than Shea and a much nicer place to spend three hours. NYS is a much nicer place to spend three hours than YS. But whether or not it will be a better place to actually watch a game is an open question at this time. The upper deck seems further away and more detached. YS was a good ballpark. Shea was not.
I can’t understand how people who have been going to shea for years can complain about Citifield. What did they expect from the new ballpark? To be suspended mid-air just above home plate for three hours while being fellated by a super model?
April 17, 2009 at 12:07 pm |
who are these mysterious “plenty of Yankee fans who have been to both who have opined that Citi is better”?
I think what you generally fail to realize is that the opinion of people, however misinformed you might consider it to be, is very, very important in a spectator sport. If fans aren’t happy with your ballpark, for whatever reason, they are less likely to pay money to go there. In the playoffs sure, people tend to come, but on an everyday basis the experience matters as much as the outcome. If fans inflate the value of Yankee players simply because they wear the pinstripes, they will pay more money to see them. If Jeter is overrated, he is more marketable. If people don’t know as much about baseball as you do, their money is just as good to the Mets and the Yankees. I’ve sat up in the nosebleeds with encyclopedias who I am positive know more than any of the corporate box folks. Who do you think the organizations would rather see walking in the door?
We dont live in a world where sports and business don’t go hand in hand. If a fan like you or me thinks being further away is a minus, we are still going to go to the game. If a dad or mom has to pony up 3-4 hundred bucks for a day at the ballgame, the seats being wider matters, the amenities matter, and even the simple aesthetic touches like a granite exterior matter.
I’ve said it before, Shea wasn’t filled during crucial pennant games last year. In a similar situation, do you think more fans will come to Citi Field this year? If the outcry is this severe so far, I’d be concerned. But hey, its early.
April 17, 2009 at 12:41 pm |
You are not the only Yankee fan I know. Just the one I argue with the most.
. Hell, I went to Citi the other night with a huge Yankee fan who has been to most of the new stadiums, and he thought it was great.
I’m not sure if I get the point of the rest of your comment, let alone how it responds to my last comment. I sure as hell don’t believe that there is a huge groundswell of opposition to the quality of the seating at Citifield. Just a handful of miserable fucks who like to complain getting airtime they do not deserve for their petty and unsubstantiated grievances. It seems that complaining and attempting to make issues out of non-issues is better radio than simply discussing the games and the players.
Not only are the sight lines great and the seats close to the action, but each seat is 2 inches wider than at Shea, with tons of leg room and beer holders like at a movie theatre. It’s a great place, and the bitching will end as soon as enough people get there and see for themselves how full of shit these cranks and scolds really are. The complaints have been that “if you sit in the upper deck in right field, you can’t see the ball down the rightfield line.” Well, no shit sherlock. That’s how it is in every ballpark, unless you want the upper deck to be about 7 miles away from the playing field.
As for the overrating of Yankee players, you are absolutely right and it is the direct result of the Yankees’ marketing of their players, history, tradition, cathedral, pinstripes, aura, championships, etc. Yankee fans love that shit, and many get brainwashed by it all. Personally, I taste a little vomit in my mouth whenever I hear it. And I am not alone.
April 17, 2009 at 3:29 pm |
To argue that the Yankee fan is merely brainwashed by marketing describes only a portion of the fanbase. It smacks a bit of jealousy that the team you got behind doesn’t have the history to make such makerting possible.
The tradition doesn’t come from nowhere, it come from being the most successful franchise in history. This isnt a ploy, or a marketing strategy, its simple facts. No pro team on record has ever won 26 world championships in the league where the highest level of competition is played. If the Yankees play that fact up, they certainly have the right to. They spend their considerable wealth on players and a sweet new stadium that everyone from the die-hard to the casual fan can enjoy.
Met fans have settled comfortably into the “we’re more real fans because we root for a losing team” chair that the Red Sox fans used to occupy. There are fewer of you die-hards, and the team hasn’t drawn enough casual/fairweather fans to even fill Shea during a pennant race.
you aren’t the only met fan i know either, and I have heard plenty of bitching from die-hard Met fans who wish their park was more like Yankee Stadium.
April 17, 2009 at 4:45 pm |
No, it is a clear marketing strategy employed by Steinbrenner since the 70’s. Some of it may ring true, but it was and remains a marketing ploy as well.
And I call bullshit on your claim that there are fewer Met die-hards. The Mets have just as many if not more die-hards. The Yanks just have the majority of the wagon jumpers and all of the tourists. And trust me when I say that the last thing I would want is an ostentatious, $1.5 billion monument to an overbearing franchise built with taxpayer money for the benefit of a convicted felon. Citifield is perfectly fine, naming rights notwithstanding. Go to Citi. Trust me. You will like it. A Yankee stadium like park for the Mets would be stupid.
Big dinger from Jeter today. But, man, that place is a real bandbox. How many homers today? Wait till it gets warm out.
Still not sure if Joba is healthy. He was consistently throwing 95-96 as a starter last year and touching 97, 91-92 this year and touching 94. Something’s not right.
April 17, 2009 at 6:56 pm |
How many people were born during a Yankee championship/pennant/dynasty year? How many met fans? How many Yankee fans are 3rd or 4th gen? Screw it, if this was 1996 you would be calling me a sheep bc I got on board in 1991-2. I live in NYC, have all my life, and I know who I run into. Long island and upstate ny I’ll defer to you on, bit I’ve never met someone whose grandpa was a met fan. Dodgers or Yankees
April 20, 2009 at 9:23 am |
I now agree with you that you can’t compare Citfield to NYS — Citifield is a major league stadium. NYS is the baseball equivalent of a McMansion. All the amenities in the world (granite, marble, teak, oversized flatscreens), but it is a piece of shit not suited for major league baseball.
Did you enjoy watching pop-ups go over the wall in right? DeRosa’s double off the wall that Swisher butchered — they would have called the infield fly rule at Citi. Even the biggest Yankee apologist out there — Mike Francesca — called the place a “joke” last night. They brought the fences in and lowered them, and didn’t bother to commission a wind-study with that $1.5 billion. Great planning.
But on the bright side, won’t have to move the fences in when they play the little league world series there.
April 20, 2009 at 11:19 am |
Piece of shit now? The name Shitty Field has already caught on, and its not referring to the park in the Bronx. Why not wait until more than 4 games have been played in the park before you rule the place a disaster.
Don’t quote Francesca to me, because he’s a blowhard. If we accept his comments on the Yankees park, you have to accept them about Ebbets Field 2. You know, the Dodgers museum that the Mets play in.
April 20, 2009 at 12:11 pm |
At least the Mets play baseball in their park. It appears that you guys are playing a baseball version of arena league football in Yankee McStadium. And the nickname “shitty field” alludes to the shitty bank, as opposed to the beautiful new stadium itself. I have called it that myself several times.
The Yanks did move in the fences, their lies notwithstanding. And they lowered them as well. They took the outward arc out from between the measurement spots in the gaps and replaced it with a straight line, and then had the temerity to say the wall was identical to the OYS. That place is a bandbox with an apparent wind tunnel towards right. And they have played 6 games already, including the two exhibitions with the Cubs in which an additional 1,000 or so homers were hit.
You don’t think that there is a potential problem? You are not at all concerned with the potential impact on your pitching staff and/or your ability to develop and/or sign pitchers? 90% of this game is half mental, and its hard to pitch effectively after getting bombarded in a bandbox. Look at the Rockies pitchers pre-humidor days. Some really good pitchers became so demoralized by the beatings that they took at home, that they couldn’t pitch any where.
What has Francesca said about Citifield? He may be a blowhard, but he is a complete homer when it comes to his beloved Yankees. Any criticism he levels at the Yanks is legit, unless its some personal bullshit involving some perceived slighting.
On the positive side, I fully expect 45-50 homers from Tex now.