Simply Smoov

Top 10 Moments of 2009

2009-11-24T18:18:00.001-05:00

First and foremost, an official congratulations to the New York Yankees on winning their record 27th World Series championship!

(Yes, I know it's three weeks late. Sue me.)

It's been a long time since I've actually put time into a blog post. I know I promised write-ups of the top moments and final report cards. Unfortunately with schoolwork piling up -- and with no immediate means of income coming my way anytime soon -- I have decided to simply list the Top 10 Yankees Moments of 2009 (playoffs included):

YANKEES PHINISH OFF FILLIES: Matsui, Pettitte lead Bombers to record 27th World Series title
ONE CAPTAIN PASSES ANOTHER: Jeter becomes Yankees all-time hits leader on solemn September 11th anniversary
YANKEES CLINCH IN STYLE: Red Sox fall victim to division-clinching sweep
HISTORY AT CITI FIELD: Mariano notches 500th save & 1st RBI to finish sweep of crosstown Mets
REBIRTH OF A-GOD: Alex bookends regular season with HRs, smashes postseason criticisms
DAMON DOUBLE STEAL: Johnny steals two bases on 1 pitch to beat Fillies
WALK-OFF WEEKEND: Melky, A-God, Damon leave Twins hanging
HEART OF ORDER SWEEPS AWAY SOX: Damon, Teixecutioner, A-God lead 2nd half surge vs. Boston
TOUR DE LECHE: Melky completes first cycle since 1995
SWISH PITCHES IN: Swisher throws perfect inning in blowout loss to Tampa Bay

Again, I apologize for not going into a full-depth analysis but everyone (should) know the backstories of each moment. I'm just glad that I was able to get this on the blog for my loyal readers and followers to see.

--------------------------------------

Also, I need all Yankees fans with blogs to send me URLs so I can put the blog roll together. You can message me on Twitter or Facebook to get this done.

Winter Decisions

2009-11-03T21:14:00.002-05:00

So here we are on the last off-day of the baseball season. The 2009 baseball season will come to an end either tomorrow or Thursday night. Either the New York Yankees or the Philadelphia Phillies will claim the title of Baseball's Best for 2009.

This has been one of the better Yankee teams in recent memory. Its mix of the Old Guard (Jeter, Posada, Pettitte, Mo Rivera), a younger home-grown core (Cano, Hughes, Joba, Cabrera, Gardner) and the right imports (A-Rod, Damon, Teixeira, Sabathia, Swisher, Burnett, Matsui) has made for a very exciting season in this the inaugural season of the New Yankee Stadium. It could all culminate tomorrow night with the long-awaited 27th World Series championship.

But what happens after that?

General Manager Brian Cashman has four key players headed for free agency this winter: Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Andy Pettitte and Jose Molina. Each man has played an important role in getting the Bombers within one victory of the 27th title. Here's a case for all four with lingering questions:

Johnny Damon: Playing his free-agent season in the New Stadium was the best thing for the leftfielder as he matched a career-high with 24 HRs. His speed remains a major asset in spite of his low SB numbers, and his bat control would be key to whichever team signs him. My major concern with Damon is this: what will he be looking for in the FA market? If he is willing to accept a one- or two-year deal (and possibly an everyday DH role) then no doubt he'll stay in pinstripes. Now, if another team offers a three- or four-year deal similar to the one he got with the Yankees ...

Hideki Matsui: Click here for the earlier post on the Sayonara Kid. Long story short, he has been a godsend as Alex Rodriguez' lineup protection. Matsui showed everyone that despite his deteriorating knees he can still be the same hitter he's always been, and is making the Yankees re-consider rotating the DH spot in 2010. But will it matter? We'll see in the coming weeks and months. (Also keep in mind that it is entirely possible he'll retire if he gets that elusive WS ring.)

Andy Pettitte: AP's case is the most interesting of the four. At 37, he is still one of the most reliable starting pitcher in the game. He also became the winningest pitcher in postseason this October. Having essentially grown up in the Yankees organization, there isn't a doubt in my mind that Pettitte would love to win one more championship. Here's what unique about Andy's situation: If he gets that ring and retires, it leaves the Yankees short-handed in the rotation for at least the first half of 2010 (Chien-Ming Wang, remember, is not scheduled to return until July). Should he retire or not? Stay tuned ...

Jose Molina: Molina's future as a Yankee depends more on the futures of Damon and Matsui. Should the Yankees sign one of those two to be the regular DH, The Panda will likely be gone as Francisco Cervelli figures to be the backup moving forward. If JD returns as the LF and it is decided that Jorge Posada will be the DH, that greatly improves Molina's chances of returning as the Yankees would have to carry an extra catcher. The problem: it leaves you short a solid bat on the bench.

Just something to think about tonight and moving forward, regardless if the Yankees finish off the Fillies.

--------------------------------------

I know I'm falling behind on what I wanted to get up on here, but the Top 10 Plays and Season-Ending Report Cards will be up before Thanksgiving. Thanks for bearing with me.

A TRUE New York October

2009-10-28T00:16:00.006-04:00

On the eve of the 40th World Series appearance for the New York Yankees, it finally feels like a New York October .. rain aside.

Don't get me wrong, it's been a pretty standard October: Fall is giving way to Winter. The school semester is already halfway done. Halloween is right around the corner with Thanksgiving fast approaching. Football is in full tilt and basketball is about to get underway. But something had been missing, something that had not been experienced in New York since 2003.

That something was accomplished -- finally -- on Sunday night, when Mariano Rivera struck out Gary Matthews Jr. to clinch the AL pennant.

For most other baseball fans, six years without a pennant isn't considered too long; just a winning record would leave most fan bases impressed with their respective teams. But as we all know, New York City is a completely different animal. In a city where anything less than a World Series title is considered a failure, the Yankees wilted under the pressure after Aaron Boone broke Boston's heart in that classic seven-game battle in 2003. By no means were Yankees fans the most-suffering fan base throughout this championship "drought" -- it just seemed that way because it's the New York Yankees and they play in the largest market.

No matter how anyone on the outside looks at it, things on either side of 161st St. & River Ave. had not been the same since the last pennant. You know how things went down from 2004-2008: Four playoff appearances. Three division titles. Three disappointing 1st round exits. One historic collapse. Zero American League pennants.

ZERO.

Many of the faces were different from 2003; only Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Hideki Matsui remain from the last pennant-winning Yankee team. Me-first personalities dominated the clubhouse, destroying team chemistry. Pressure from within built aggresively year after year, sometimes resulting in desperate acquisitions.

Thanks to a more relaxed clubhouse and a balanced attack, the anxiety from the players seems to be gone. A-God and CC Sabathia have all but exorcised whatever playoff demons haunted their impressive careers, the bullpen has re-emerged as a strength and the offense has shown that they can give you different looks and beat you in so many different ways. Our Yankees are destined to bring the World Series trophy back to New York. The city is buzzing over a $200 million team on the verge of adding to its rich history and at the same time erase all the horrible memories of recent playoff past.

Yup, it finally feels like a New York October. And I wouldn't want it any other way.

ALCS Game 5 Wrap-Up

2009-10-23T00:15:00.002-04:00

I absolutely HATE these kinds of losses -- the ones where my team has a chance to put the opposition away and misses by thismuch. With that in mind I only have two things to say about this game:

Joe Girardi is not to blame for this loss. As much as he has been scrutinized for his practicing "Creeping LaRussa-ism" on a daily basis, the pitcher still has to make his pitches. Phil Hughes is lucky that Vladimir Guerrero didn't send that 2-strike fastball to Oakland. While I am not a fan of Girardi's bullpen management (similar to how I grew tired of Joe Torre's bullpen management), the pitcher -- Hughes, in this case -- needs to shoulder some of the blame for wasting a tremendous comeback by an offense that finally clicked as a whole.
Looking at Twitter and Facebook during the game, I found it rather interesting that a lot of Yankees fans seem to have lost trust in Joba Chamberlain when he enters the game in a close situation. As someone who supports Joba as a starter, I knew this day would come eventually. Here's what I wanna know: weren't these the same people who didn't want him to be a starter because they overreacted to his inconsistency as a starter? Weren't these the same people who booed Joba off the field after his last start of the regular season at the Stadium?

Just keep those two things in mind as the focus now shifts to Game 6 on what should be a rainy Saturday night and the Yankees attempt to close out the Angels with Andy Pettitte on the mound. Hit me up on Twitter if you'll be at the game, and I hope I'll see some of you there.

ALCS Game 3: The Good, Bad and Ugly

2009-10-19T23:28:00.002-04:00

Today the Yankees opened the Stadium up for fans to watch Game 3 of the ALCS. The good news for me was that I was not scheduled to work, meaning that I was able to sit in the Field Level seats AS A FAN and enjoy the game like I had done before being employed at the Stadium last season. All things considered, it was quite an experience.

THE GOOD

I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK!!!!
The fans around me were terrific and into the game from first pitch to last pitch. About five or six of us went through the seats twice with a huge "GO YANKEES" banner (anyone with pics of that banner please post them on Twitter or Facebook).
It was free admission, and free is always great.

THE BAD

The Yankees lost -- need I say more?
I didn't get a chance to run into a few of my friends like I planned to (sorry Evan, Rebecca and Marisol).
I didn't have nearly enough money to overspend on food, so I went hungry.

THE UGLY

Apparently, Johnny Damon and Hideki Irabu had an illegitimate child together -- he showed up at the game (click here for clarification -- video courtesy of my friend Rebecca)
The Yankees apparently flashed back to last season and went hitless with RISP, scoring all their runs on solo HRs by Derek Jeter, A-God, Damon and Jorge Posada. Joe Girardi also made countless questionable decisions, most notably removing David Robertson after he retired the first two Angels in the 11th for Alfredo Aceves, who promptly gave up a Howie Kendrick single and Jeff Mathis double to end the game. No wonder "Creeping LaRussa-ism" is so unpopular with Yankee fans.
Only one concession stand was open, and each line was backed up for at least 20, 25 minutes.

Whatever the case may be, it was a fun experience being able to be at the place where I work and not worry about performing a job but rather kicking back and watching a game ... even if it was played 3,000 miles away. The Yankees scored major points with their fan base, and I can't wait for them to do this again.

---------------------------------------------

I would also like to take this time to personally thank my followers on Twitter. I have been truly blessed to be associated with some of the best Yankees fans in the world, and I am glad that I have gotten to meet some of you and talk baseball with all of you. There's never a dull moment and I am grateful to y'all for keeping me loose. Hopefully I can meet more of you in November if and when our boys bring the trophy back to NYC.

As for the three readers of Simply Smoov, I know I'm slacking a little bit but I have not forgotten you. I will start writing up my Top 10 Yankees Moments for 2009 and my End-of-Season Report Card. My goal is to have both done before Thanksgiving, if not earlier.

Once again, thanks for bearing with me and my ridiculous schedule. Keep up with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Tough Choices for October (REVISED)

2009-10-03T12:03:00.002-04:00

Well, guess my initial analysis of the playoff roster was a little off.

With the playoffs set to begin next week -- and the Yankees still unsure of whether Detroit or Minnesota will play in the Bronx -- let's take another crack at "Guess the Playoff Roster":

LINEUP
SS Derek Jeter
LF Johnny Damon
1B Mark Teixeira
3B Alex Rodriguez
DH Hideki Matsui
C Jorge Posada
2B Robinson Cano
RF Nick Swisher
CF Melky Cabrera

BENCH
C Jose Molina
C Francisco Cervelli
UT Jerry Hairston, Jr.
UT Eric Hinske
OF Brett Gardner
OF Freddy Guzman

PITCHING STAFF
SP CC Sabathia
SP A.J. Burnett
SP Andy Pettitte

CL Mariano Rivera
SU Phil Hughes
RP Alfredo Aceves
RP Phil Coke
RP David Robertson
RP Joba Chamberlain
RP Brian Bruney

Joe Girardi is set on bringing ten pitchers, and even more hellbent on one of them being the surprisingly inconsistent Chamberlain. For those wondering about Chad Gaudin, he'll likely be saved until the ALCS, should the Yankees make it that far. Also worth noting among the pitching: as much as Girardi would love to have a second lefty in the bullpen and as much as Bruney's struggled this season, his recent strong stretch should be enough to get him on the roster -- unlike in 2007, when Joe Torre infamously left him off the playoff roster. I also wouldn't worry about Robertson; he hasn't experienced any trouble with his elbow and should be fine for October baseball.

As far as the lineup and bench, don't expect any surprises here. Hairston looks fine as far as his wrist it concerned and should be ready to go. Guzman adds a second pinch-running threat to go along with GGBG. A lot has been made of Molina being the DH in last night's loss to Tampa. I'm not entirely sure how much tor read into this, but this could mean that The Panda will indeed be A.J. Burnett's personal catcher for the playoffs -- hence, the addition of Cervelli to the roster.

We'll see what develops in the last few days before that first playoff game on Wednesday.

A solemn anniversary

2009-09-11T08:40:00.002-04:00

It still feels like yesterday.

I'm sure everyone remembers where they were on September 11, 2001, when terrorists flew those hijacked planes into the World Trade Center. Me? I was in 1st period Religion 9 on the 3rd day of freshman year at Xavier HS. Oddly enough, my friend sitting three seats in front of me would lose his father in the attack. The thoughts running rampant through my mind as we were rushed into the cafeteria, the idea that someone very close to me could have been killed that day with no remorse from the hijackers. New York City's spirit was shaken, and while many of us have "moved on" it still resonates with us every day whenever we take time to remember those who risked their lives to save others'.

One of the biggest factors in returning to normalcy was baseball. The Mets and Yankees did everything they could to provide comfort to those who lost loved ones in 9/11, whether it was donating money to various foundations or simply showing up and talking with the families. We all remember that magical postseason where our Yankees lifted the city's hopes with big HR after big HR. Now eight years later, we could see history at Yankee Stadium.

Derek Jeter, the author of the game-winning HR in Game 4 of the 2001 World Series (set up by Tino Martinez' two-out, 2-run HR in the ninth inning which tied the game), can pass Lou Gehrig (2,721) and become the Yankees' all-time hits leader tonight. Forget that it would be the first truly major moment in the New Stadium; Jeter getting that one hit to pass The Iron Horse would be such a HUGE lift to this city and add a positive memory to go with the negative.

Whenever you get a chance, say a special prayer for those innocent people who lost their lives. Show our Finest and Bravest that you appreciate the hard work they do. Watch the Yankee game tonight and cheer on our Captain as he places himself among the Pinstriped immortals.

September 11, 2001 -- Never Forget, Never Surrender

Tough Choices for October

2009-09-01T11:41:00.002-04:00

With the rosters officially expanding to 40 men today, I thought it'd be a good time to start contemplating who would be on the postseason roster. The biggest "concern" would be the bullpen, which could in effect impact who's on the bench. These are the locks:

LINEUP: Jeter, Damon, Teixeira, Rodriguez, Matsui, Posada, Cano, Swisher, Cabrera

BENCH: Molina, Hairston, Gardner

ROTATION: Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte, Chamberlain

BULLPEN: Rivera, Hughes, Coke, Aceves, Robertson

That leaves four spots up for grabs. Joe Girardi has many options here: Sergio Mitre, Chad Gaudin, Brian Bruney, Damaso Marte and Eric Hinske. Girardi could decide to carry 13 pitchers, but that would leave the bench short a bat off the bench. Or Hinske could come on and Girardi could have two long relievers and a middle man, or two middle men and one long man. In my personal opinion, I go with Hinske, Mitre, Gaudin and whoever pitches better between Marte and Bruney in September.

This should make for one interesting September in the Bronx.

The Case For Hideki Matsui

2009-08-27T20:17:00.002-04:00

I've been waiting all year to make this post. Fitting that this is the 50th post in the history of Simply Smoov.

(The following post piggybacks what the talented writers of River Ave. Blues have been saying over the last couple weeks.)

Hideki Matsui, the pride of Ishikawa, Japan, has gotten the Bobby Abreu treatment this season from management and fans alike. What I mean by that is he's putting up solid numbers in what I consider a "lame-duck contract year". He has almost no chance of coming back in 2010 as the Yankees would like to clear the DH spot for the likes of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada.

But Godzilla isn't going out without a bang.

With four multi-HR games this season, including three this month -- two against Boston, and a key walk-off HR, Matsui has shown the Yankees that he is still the force he was when he first arrived in 2003. Some would say it is the typical "contract year syndrome", others credit his being a full-time DH after surgeries on each knee in the last two winters; whatever the case may be, he's looking like the Godzilla of old. When he's going strong he's the perfect #5 hitter behind A-Rod; he can adapt to most any hitting situation. either drive the ball to the opposite field for a double or pulling the inside pitch to the RF porch. Never mind the fact that he is one of the rare LH hitters who hits southpaws just as well as righty pitchers.

Hideki's a free agent after this season, as is fellow teammate Johnny Damon. Damon has played himself into earning one more three- or four-year contract. Now my thinking is that one of these guys will be re-signed, most likely to be the regular DH; you have to figure that the Yankees would love to have both Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner in the outfield until prized prospect Austin Jackson is ready ... or unless Carl Crawford opts out of his deal with Tampa Bay and test the FA waters (more on this later). If I'm the Yankees a few thoughts are running through my mind: Would Johnny come back in a somewhat decreased role for a hometown discount? Will it be worth it to rotate the DH spot and have Jose Molina/Ramiro Pena hitting 9th every game? How close is Jackson to being MLB-ready?

It's a lot to think about between now and the off-season. But unlike the Abreu situation last year, Matsui shouldn't be cast off to the side so easily.

Why I hate Barry Bonds

2009-08-21T20:52:00.003-04:00

Normally when black celebrities are under any type of scrutiny, I try to find a positive that will eventually outweigh the negative. Unless the evidence against someone is blatantly obvious, I give these men the benefit of the doubt.

I can't say the same about Barry Lamar Bonds.

For whatever reason, I can't find it within myself to defend the current all-time HR king when it comes to the steroid allegations surrounding him. It's more than the fact that his stats are inflated, or that his change in body type is as obvious as Wesley Snipes at an all-white party. I've been searching for an answer for a few years and think I've finally found what I was looking for. I came across an old ESPN.com article (which I remember reading when it was first published) that detailed the very moment that Bonds decided to start using performance-enhancing drugs. Here's an excerpt from that piece:

In the winter following the 1998 season, Bonds brought his family on vacation to Orlando, where he could also visit his longtime buddy. After spending a day toting his two kids around Disney World, he headed to Griffey's house for dinner.

On an otherwise ordinary night, over an otherwise ordinary meal, Griffey, Bonds, a rep from an athletic apparel company and two other associates chatted informally about the upcoming season. With Griffey's framed memorabilia as a backdrop, and Mark McGwire's obliteration of the single-season home run record a fresh memory, Bonds spoke up as he never had before. He sounded neither angry nor agitated, simply frustrated. "You know what," he said. "I had a helluva season last year, and nobody gave a crap. Nobody. As much as I've complained about McGwire and Canseco and all of the bull with steroids, I'm tired of fighting it. I turn 35 this year. I've got three or four good seasons left, and I wanna get paid. I'm just gonna start using some hard-core stuff, and hopefully it won't hurt my body. Then I'll get out of the game and be done with it."

Silence.

According to others in the room, Griffey was uncertain how to react. At age 29, he was at the top of his game, fresh off a season in which he compiled 56 home runs and 146 RBIs. As the pressure to indulge in performance-enhancing drugs mounted, the man known as 'The Kid' stayed clean. Sure, he, too, could see the physical differences in many players, including some on his own team. But to him, baseball wasn't important enough to risk his health and reputation. "If I can't do it myself, then I'm not going to do it," Griffey says. "When I'm retired, I want them to at least be able to say, 'There's no question in our minds that he did it the right way.' I have kids. I don't want them to think their dad's a cheater."

Nevertheless, Griffey understood how Bonds felt. For most of the past decade, they had been the sport's two top players. Now, from their point of view, men with significantly less talent were abusing drugs to reach their level. Where was the fairness? The integrity? Griffey didn't agree with Bonds' position, but he certainly empathized.

Translation: Barry Bonds used PEDs because of jealousy and his already oversized ego.

A lot of the reasons given by those who were suspected of or caught using PEDs were definitely sketchy. But you're one of the top players in the game, coming off a season where you set history by becoming the first (and only) player to reach 400 HR and 400 SB in your career and pretty much punched a ticket to the Hall of Fame -- and you STILL felt the need to give yourself an unfair advantage just to soothe your ego.

No wonder people hate his guts.

There you have it, boys and girls -- the root of my deep hatred for Barry Bonds. The most dominant hitter of our generation felt compelled to comprise his integrity ... all just to make himself feel like the King of the World.

Open Letter to Yankees Fans

2009-08-03T23:05:00.002-04:00

Dear New York Yankees fans,

I am absolutely PISSED that I am writing this open letter at this point in the season. Normally, something like this is reserved for a Yankees team that has underperformed throughout the season but is still within striking distance of a playoff spot (i.e. last season). However, I feel it prudent to remind our fellow Yankees fans of one very important detail about the 2009 Yankees:

They are in first place in the division with the second-best record in the American League.

I know they lost three of four to the White Sox over the weekend, and managed to look ridiculously horrible in doing so. No big splash was made at the trade deadline. They're still winless against the Red Sox. Chien-Ming Wang suffered his 2nd straight season-ending injury. It's been rough; I get that. Still, that doesn't mean lose your freaking minds and feeling some sense of entitlement just because the Yankees are the Yankees.

At some point, we as Yankees fans need to understand that our beloved baseball team is human, after all. There will be plenty of ups and downs over the course of a baseball season. Just because Brian Cashman didn't mortgage the future for Roy Halladay and Jarrod Washburn doesn't mean that he isn't trying. It apparently hasn't occurred to some people that when the biggest concern for a contending team is finding a NUMBER FIVE STARTER, that isn't really cause for panic since those type of pitchers grow on trees. I am rather sickened to be associated with this type of fan -- the one who will never be happy unless his/her team goes 162-0 with everyone hitting .400 with 40 HR and 145 RBI.

I've had with people bitching and moaning about little crap that is of small concern, if any at all. Like I always say: whoever wants off the Yankee train, feel free to get off. We will move forward without you.

Truly yours,
Christopher J. Johnson

P.S. Congratulations to Melky Cabrera for accomplishing the cycle. It is refreshing to no longer have to say that the last Yankee to hit for the cycle was Tony Fernandez.

Time to step up

2009-07-29T09:33:00.002-04:00

If you read my report card for the pitchers, you'll remember me noting that Andy Pettitte and Joba Chamberlain needed to be more consistent in the second half in order for the Yankees to go far in the playoffs.

Well, that urgency just went up about five notches with the news that Chien-Ming Wang, the pride of Taiwan, will have season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder. Wang ends his season 1-6 with a 9.64 ERA in 12 games (9 starts) and 42 IP. Hope you recover fast, CMW, and play a key role on the 2010 team.

As for Joba and Old Man, Wang's misfortune means they will have to pick their games up to take pressure off not only CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett but also the #5 starter, whether it's Alfredo Aceves, Sergio Mitre or whoever Ca$hMoney acquires in a trade.

It's basically now or never, Joba and Andy. Time to get that money.

Simply Smoov Report Card (PITCHERS)

2009-07-15T17:52:00.004-04:00

I got the mid-season grades for the pitchers. Like I did with the position players, I'll be going on the stats and from what I've seen through the first half of the season.

Without further ado ... the report card for the pitchers:

SP CC Sabathia -- Like fellow big-name free agent Mark Teixeira, Sabathia had his struggles early in the season. In due time, however, the big man out of Vallejo, CA put everything together in his May 8 start at Baltimore, and has carried the pitching staff on his back since. Look for more dominance and success in the second half.
GRADE: A-

SP A.J. Burnett -- Burnett has done everything in his power to convince his doubters (including me) wrong. So far, so good, I'll say. After struggling over the course of a calendar month, A.J. has really come along as a steady cog in the rotation and currently leads the rotation in ERA and strikeouts. Looks like that $82.5 mil stop burning.
GRADE: A-

SP Andy Pettitte -- After an offseason of uncertainty regarding his future, "Old Man" Pettitte took a massive pay cut to return to the Bronx. Expected to be an innings eater in the #4 slot in the rotation, he has been up and down so far in 2009. Despite sharing the team lead in wins, AP's ERA is the highest it has ever been (4.85, creeping towards 5.00) and has not done well at home (4-3, 5.72 ERA in 10 starts). If the Yankees are to reach the playoffs, they need Pettitte to pitch better at home.
GRADE: C+

SP Joba Chamberlain -- Joba has had a very strange year. His velocity is down, he isn't attacking the zone like he was doing the previous two seasons and like Pettitte, he has been below average at home compared to on the road. In spite of all this, he has only suffered two losses this season. He has only ten decisions as a starter in his young career (he has made 29 career starts), a result of his lack of economic pitching. Even more alarming is his newfound lack of accountability, exposed after his last start July 10 in Anaheim. While the Yankees don't seem to be in panic mode just yet, it could make for a very long second half if Joba doesn't pull things together.
GRADE: C

SP Chien-Ming Wang -- As strange as Joba's year has been, Wang's has been even stranger. He started as the #2 starter and went 0-3 with a 34.50 ERA before heading for the DL. He was brought back towards the end of May as the long reliever and appeared in only three games before being switched back into the rotation for Phil Hughes. He has since won his first game, that against the Mets which helped Mariano Rivera notch his 500th career save. In each start since returning to the rotation CMW has showed signs of returning to form, but will now miss the next month because of his shoulder. The back end of the rotation must step up in the second half, and Wang needs to be a huge player in a possible resurgence.
GRADE: F

SP/RP Phil Hughes -- After starting the season in AAA, Hughes was called up when Wang first went on the DL. He, too, was less than stellar as a starter, posting a 5.45 ERA. Once he was switched with Wang, however, the light bulb came on. He has been outstanding as a reliever, forming a dynamic 1-2 punch with Phil Coke and setting off our new "Philthy" t-shirts. Whether he returns to the rotation this year or stays in the bullpen, Hughes will be very important to the Yankees' success in the second half.
GRADE: B+

CL Mariano Rivera -- It's been just another year at the ballpark for Rivera. Every year, questions arise as to how long he can keep up his stellar performance. And every year he continues to defy the critics. He's got probably the shortest memory after bad outings, and there's no doubt it is a huge reason he is who he has. He notched his 500th save (second closer to do so) and his 1st career RBI in the same game against the Mets and their All-Star closer, Francisco Rodriguez. No question he's a lock for 40 saves and a sub-2.00 ERA. Keep doing what you do, Mo.
GRADE: A

RP Brian Bruney -- Penciled in as Joe Girardi's 8th inning guy on Opening Day, Bruney has not delivered. He pitched once between April 21 and June 16, and has posted a 7.04 ERA since. In addition to his suffering performance, he drew the ire of Girardi by essentially lying about the severity of his elbow injury. This is the time for Bruney to salvage his season and play the key role that was expected of him in April.
GRADE: D+

RP Phil Coke -- Coke has been one of the bright spots in the bullpen through the first half. Forming the new "Philthy" duo with Phil Hughes, he has been near unhittable since June. He has had his problems early on in the season, taking the loss in Joba Chamberlain's first start against Kansas City, but overall the good outweighs the bad. Expect more solid outing from Coke in the second half. (On a side note, his dad Doug is one of the most down-to-earth people you'll ever meet. If you see him at the Stadium -- he'll have on his son's jersey with "PHIL'S DAD" on the lower left -- say hey. He's really a cool guy.)
GRADE: B+

LR Aflredo Aceves -- The man everyone calls "Ace" continues to be a revelation for the Yankees. Despite not making the Opening Day roster as Girardi failed to carry a long reliever for the second straight season (which bit him in the ass when Wang stunk up the joint), he has thrived in every situation. It doesn't matter if he faces one batter or throws four innings, Aceves will get the job done. He will be an important piece in the bullpen for the near future.
GRADE: B+

RP David Robertson -- Another revelation in the bullpen, Robertson has been impressive more often than not in 2009. He was an early-season call-up and has quietly more than held his own in a bullpen desperate for consistent arms aside from Mo and the Philthy Boyz. It's a shame this guy doesn't get more important work (a la Chris Britton), and here's hoping Girardi uses him more often in the second half.
GRADE: B

RP Brett Tomko -- A mid-season call-up after starting the year as Triple-A SWB's closer, Tomko has been less than stellar in the bullpen. Like Robertson, he hasn't had too many meaningful innings handed to him; however, it is up to you to make the most of what's given to you and Tomko hasn't been able to do so.
GRADE: D

RP Edwar Ramirez -- Edwar has been a disappointment. He was expected to play a key role in the pen (along with now-DFA'd Jose Veras, currently on the Indians), but did not show any signs that he could handle such an important role, leading to his demotion to AAA. When you're best pitch is a circle changeup, that's a clear sign that you are not ready to face big league hitting. If he wants to return to the Majors, he needs to improve his average fastball and below-average slider.
GRADE: F

RP Jonathan Albaladejo -- "Johnny Apples" did not make much of a good impression while he was on the big club. He shows flashes of brilliance at times, but has become a forgotten man with the relievers. When given the chance, Albaladejo can be a solid option as a situational righty.
GRADE: D

RP Mark Melancon -- Believed by many to be the eventual successor to Mariano, Melancon (pronounced muh-LAN-son) was the hard luck loser in Friday's loss to the Angels. He only appeared in five games in two different stints, but look for him to play a bigger role late this season and beyond.
GRADE: INC

RP Anthony Claggett -- Claggett only pitched in one game as a Yankee and was unfortunately the first man asked to clean up CMW's mess at home against Cleveland. It remains to be seen how much of a role he stands to play with the Yankees.
GRADE: INC

RP Damaso Marte -- Marte was abysmal in seven April appearances but hasn't pitched since April 25. He will start a rehab assignment on Thursday and look to be a key contributor in the second half.
GRADE: INC

And last but not least ...

Nick Swisher -- No pitching report card would be complete without the comedic relief Swish provided in Tampa April 13. As I alluded to in the hitters' report card, he volunteered to pitch the bottom of the 8th inning and pitched the best out of everyone that night, allowing only one hit and retiring the side otherwise. While Jorge Posada didn't seem to find the matter funny, it set off the still-hilarious "Swish for Cy Young" movement on the 161st & River forums. Easily the greatest moment of the year.
GRADE: whatever's higher than A+

And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen: your official Simply Smoov Report Cards for the 1st half of the season. Stay tuned for much more throughout the second half, and don't forget to stop by 161st & River for your one-stop location for Yankees news and updates.

Simply Smoov Report Card (POSITION PLAYERS) -- Grade changes for A-Rod, Cano & Ransom

2009-07-14T09:49:00.006-04:00

Well, since I failed to put together that season preview I promised all of you, I owe it everyone to do a 1st-half report card. I'll be going on the stats and from what I've seen through the first half of the season.

Without further ado ... the report card for the position players:

SS Derek Jeter -- Another typical Derek Jeter year, evidenced by his 10th selection to the All-Star Game. Unlike last year, Jeet has seemed to re-discovered his power stroke with his 10 HRs (one fewer than last season's total) and his speed with 17 SB (already his highest total since 2006). Defense has been a huge topic of discussion the last few years, but he's showing that he hasn't lost too much in the field (career-high .988 FPCT, 4 errors).
GRADE: A

LF Johnny Damon -- It's an important year for Damon as he is playing for a 2010 contract (little-known fact). So far, he hasn't disappointed. While the average is a little low and he hasn't showcased the speed on the basepaths, JD has more than held his own with the game on the line at the plate. It's gotten to the point where the RF porch has been nicknamed "Damon's Deck". He's slowed a bit in the field, but it isn't too alarming just yet. For those that don't know, Damon's son was the one who suggested giving out the WWE Championship belt for every Yankees win.
GRADE: B

1B Mark Teixeira -- The $180 million man has come as advertised. His April struggles were the norm for Tex throughout his career, and it was only a matter of time before he would start earning that contract. Like Damon, he's got an uncharacteristically low average but the power numbers and timely hitting more than makes up for it. Just as impressive is his defense; there's no telling how many errors he has saved the infielders this season, showing flashes of Yankees favorites Donnie Baseball and the BamTino and earning his 2nd All-Star selection.
GRADE: A

3B Alex Rodriguez -- What an year so far for A-Rod. He admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs while he played in Texas, then found that he needed hip surgery and would miss the first month of the season. So what does he do in his first game back? HR on the first pitch. The power is there and the defense has been solid; however the batting average is significantly lower, reaching as low as .202 and causing Joe Girardi to bench him for two games in Miami. It's definitely helped as the BA is up to .256 and should only get higher in the 2nd half.
GRADE: B+

DH Hideki Matsui -- Like Damon, Matsui is in the final year of his contract and there is little chance that he will be brought back in 2010. The man they call "Godzilla" in Japan is still feeling some effects from his recent knee surgeries, but he looks to be running well on the bases and has come up with some important hits in pressure spots.
GRADE: C+

C Jorge Posada -- The heart of the Yankees, much like Paul O'Neill was, Posada is quietly putting together another solid season in pinstripes. Even while he missed 31 games on the DL, he came back raking like he was never hurt. His throwing may still be affected by the shoulder which bothered him last season, but that could also be a testament to his being 37 years old.
GRADE: B

2B Robinson Cano -- Well, look who actually decided to show up for the 1st half. A notorious slow starter before the All-Star break, Cano has put together an All-Star caliber season. His modified stance and newfound patience has done wonders for him so far. Despite this, however, a new flaw has arisen: hitting with runners on base. He has been one of the worst hitters in this spot and it is driving Yankees fans nuts, reaching a breaking point on July 4 when he attempted to bunt on every pitch of the at-bat, even when the count reached 3-0; he got the bunt down but (SURPRISE!) it was horrible as Teixeira was forced out at 3rd. His numbers with RISP (so amazingly terrible I won't post them) are the only thing keeping him from an A.
GRADE: B-

RF Nick Swisher -- Swish has been the most important Yankee ... in the clubhouse, that is. His fun personality has been instrumental in loosening up the team, even in a blowout loss to Tampa Bay when he volunteered to pitch the 8th inning and retired the side in order. He has become a Bleacher Creatures favorite, and there's no telling it has helped him relax after a tough year playing for Ozzie Guillen in 2008. His numbers took a huge hit once the rest of the offense started to click, but look for him to provide more hilarity in the second half. Nick is also a Twitter fiend and has recently been involved in a semi-serious beef with 161st & River favorite Doug "Douggy Bombs" Mientkiewicz.
GRADE: C

CF Melky Cabrera -- What a difference a year makes. This time last year, "Leche" thought he was Carlos Beltran and struggling to hold on to the starting CF spot. Now, he's got it in a headlock ... sort of. He took advantage of Brett Gardner's early-season struggles and earned the Smoov-proclaimed nickname "Chief Walk-Off", after his penchant for the walk-off hit (he's got three this year and six since the 2006 season). He has rebounded nicely from his dreadful 2008 and has teamed with Gardner to form a effective 1-2 punch in center field.
GRADE: B+

CF Brett Gardner -- The Gutty & Gritty One won the CF battle with a torrid Spring Training, but struggled to consistently hit for contact early on. In spite of this, he kept up the spectacular defense and began to come around hitting-wise in June. No matter what he does in the second half, the memorable moment will be his inside-the-park HR he hit against Minnesota after making an emotional visit to a kidney transplant patient who gave him a bracelet which would help him hit a HR for good luck. As always, Brett's speed is his biggest asset and he leads the Yankees with 18 SB. Look for him and Melky to keep bringing excitement in the second half.
GRADE: B

C Francisco Cervelli -- He may only be a potential stopgap behind the plate for Jesus Montero and/or Austin Romine, but Cervelli more than held his own as the starting catcher while Posada and Jose Molina were both on the DL. Although he had never played above Double-A before this season, Frankie showcased why he could be a solid Major League catcher. He deserves some credit for CC Sabathia's success in May and June, and made strides as a hitter by batting .269 and popping his first ML home run in Atlanta. Remember this man's face; you'll be seeing a lot of him in the near future.
GRADE: B

IF Ramiro Pena -- Another prospect who never played above Double-A before 2009, Pena filled in admirably at 3B for A-Rod and Cody Ransom. He provided excellent defense filling in all around the infield and got a key hit at home against the Angels, showing that he can successfully hit big-league pitching. Ramiro's another one to look out for -- he could very well be Jeter's successor at shortstop.
GRADE: B

IF Angel Berroa -- Why did the Yankees sign him, and keep him on the roster long after he overstayed his welcome? At least Pete Abraham found a way to poke fun at him.
GRADE: INC

RF Xavier Nady -- Bad things always seem to happen to the best people, and that has been the case with Nady. After winning the RF job over Nick Swisher, X-Man only played seven games before his elbow began acting up. He will now need Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of this season and most of next season; adding insult to injury, he is a free agent after this season. It's a shame that his Yankee career ended so soon, and I wish X nothing but the best.
GRADE: INC

UT Eric Hinske -- Acquired from Pittsburgh on June 30, Girardi waited until July 6 to play him. Of course, Hinske homered in the game. He also homered twice in Saturday's loss to the Angels and has instantly become popular with the Bleacher Creatures for his flexing acknowledgment to Section 203. Look for him to add left-handed pop and some versatility off the bench.
GRADE: INC

C Kevin Cash -- Not much to say about the veteran catcher. He came up as Cervelli's backup and did what he was asked of him.
GRADE: INC

C Jose Molina -- Molina was surprisingly effective at the plate before he went on the DL and missed significant time. I would expect this to be Molina's last hurrah as a Yankee and Frankie Cervelli to be the backup next season.
GRADE: INC

IF Cody Ransom -- Very ineffective, both at the plate and in the field, before and after he came back off the DL. With Ramiro Pena breathing down his neck, Ransom needs to have a strong second half of the season.
GRADE: INC

TOMMOROW: The pitchers' report card

Open Letter to Joba Chamberlain

2009-07-11T13:18:00.002-04:00

(Click on the title to read this on 161st & River)

Dear Joba Chamberlain,

What’s goin’ on with you? Your stuff in general has taken a serious hit from last year, your 4-seam velocity is down and you haven’t been attacking the zone like we fans know you’re capable of doing. You keep nibbling at the corners like you’re 39 and topping out at 83 mph, and it obviously cost the Yankees a win last night.

On top of all that, you have the audacity to tell Peter Abraham that your stuff has been the best it’s been all season your last two starts? The same two starts where you’ve gone a combined 8 innings, allowing 7 earned runs and 3 HRs? You sound more delusional than Trevor Ariza and Kei Igawa put together and are making it difficult to defend you being a starter.

You better take the All-Star break and get your stuff right and come back with the same demeanor you had last season. PLEASE. Whatever you gotta do to get back to the aggressive Joba, do it. It’s gonna be a long 2nd half if you don’t.

Truly yours,
Christopher J. Johnson

New look at 161st & River

2009-07-07T19:09:00.005-04:00

No, I'm not talkin' about the actual intersection. Our website has a new blog layout as we are really working towards our goals to be the one-stop site for all news and updates relating to the New York Yankees.

Be sure to check it out if you haven't already: http://161st-and-river.com/.

Also check out our Twitter profile.

Mariano Rivera

2009-07-01T08:37:00.002-04:00

What's there left to say about Mariano Rivera that hasn't already been said? The man never ceases to amaze everyone around him; his poise and calmness are legendary, as nothing seems to phase him. He's all about substance, not too much flash ... aside from his 94-95 mph cutter. No Soulja Boy-type gimmick, just a monster packed into his 5-11' frame. Everyone says that Joba Chamberlain has the demeanor to be the next closer for the Yankees, but just watch the Sandman work outing after outing -- you'll see exactly how all relievers should handle their role.

As great as Mariano has been all these years, we Yankees fans are guilty of taking him for granted. Not many people know this, but there were many instances early in his professional career where he was close to not being a Yankee. In the minors, he could have been unprotected for the Rule V Draft as he hadn't built up his strength. Once reaching the majors, he was nearly traded to Detroit for David Wells before they got David Cone from Toronto. Later that offseason, he was almost traded to Seattle for shortstop Felix Fermin because Yankees brass was unsure if a 21-year-old phenom by the name of Derek Sanderson Jeter was ready to be the everyday SS. (There's your "what if?" moment of the day.)

And all the blown saves ... oh, the blown saves. To Mariano, they weren't anything to worry about; just get 'em next time. To us, however, they were absolutely devastating, magnified by the fact that he was damn near automatic for so long. It seems like ever since Game 7 in the 2001 World Series Yankee fans have been waiting for the day where Mariano finally loses it completely, the day where he becomes a detriment to the team.

He hasn't let that day come yet.

It's amazing that Mo has done all this with basically one pitch. That cutter has developed into the single-most difficult pitch to get around on in baseball. You know it's coming, but you still can't hit it. He has a simple delivery but the ball jumps out of his hand and gets up on you in a hurry.

Pay close attention to Mariano Rivera, Yankees fans. Watch him carefully. Enjoy his near-automatic talent. When he retires, don't you wanna live to say that you saw the greatest closer ever pitch?

To Mo, I just want to say thank you for straight dominating for nearly fourteen seasons. There will never be another you.

Whew, what a day!

2009-06-26T13:08:00.002-04:00

Some day yesterday was:

THE GOOD

Made it through my first Mets game at Citi Field without any incidents or any serious ribbing from the Mets faithful
Lucked out and got discounted NBA Draft tickets
Met the world-renowned Sondra Fortunato a.k.a. "Miss Everything" (she owes me a pic with her hahahah)

THE BAD

Watched as the Knicks get screwed out of Draft favorite Stephen Curry
Learned about the unfortunate passings of icons Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett

All in all, it was an up-and-down day. Please say special prayers for Michael and Farrah throughout the weekend, then gear up and support your team in this weekend's installment of the Subway Series at Citi Field

Pray for me tomorrow

2009-06-24T21:57:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow looks real rough:

1) I make my first trip to Citi Field against St. Louis -- Johan vs. Albert. Of course I'll be decked out in Yankees gear. Now I've heard mixed reviews about the Mets' new stadium; I just hope it's better than Shea.

2) Apparently, a district attorney wants to speak to me about an incident at the Stadium, so I gotta make a call to him. Hopefully, this is just to verify some facts and nothing more. Gotta say, I'm a little nervous about this.

Say a little prayer for me and a bigger prayer for Ed Harris, the HS football coach in Iowa who was killed this morning in a shooting at his school's weight room. He has produced some NFL players and was one of the best HS coaches in the country. It's a shame for someone to go out like he did, so keep his family in your hearts.

Some random thoughts

2009-06-21T14:29:00.002-04:00

First and foremost, Happy Father's Day to the dads out there. For all that's out there about the terrible fathers out there, it's nice to know there's still some out there who know what it means to go out and handle their business. Those pops deserve our recognition, and for those who are slackin' ... STEP YA GAME UP!!!!!

Now here's some stuff I've been thinking in the last five days (feels like it's been longer between posts):

Contrary to popular belief, John Lannan and Josh Johnson are two of the better young pitchers in the game today; there is no shame in losing to them. What I'm worried about is the 13 runs they've scored this week (least in the American League) after smacking Johan Santana around for 15 runs last Sunday.
A-Rod wasn't benched for fatigue, although it would make sense given that he has played every game since returning on May 8. He's also inching closer to the Mendoza Line and has no business being the clean-up hitter right now.
The gates should never have been opened for Thursday's tilt against the Nationals. I will forever stick by that (even when I see that check on Wednesday hahahahah).
Where is all this stuff about Jorge Posada hurting the Yankees on defense coming from? Did he all of a sudden turn into Mike Piazza or something? Last I checked, the Yankees have made the playoffs every year he's been healthy.
Friday's double aside, why is Angel Berroa still in the majors? With Xavier Nady rehabbing his shoulder, another big bat is needed on the bench. Tweeting Shelley Duncan or John Rodriguez ...
I said it before the season and I'll say it now: Joe Girardi's job depends on him making the playoffs -- there's no way around it. The Steinbrenners can't settle for missing the playoffs a second straight season.
The next person that says ANTHING about putting Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes in the bullpen deserves to get run over by a subway train. (More on this later.)
I'll be lucky to play baseball ONCE this summer.

Glad to get some of that off my chest like a Girls Gone Wild girl's bikini top.

Dousing the fire

2009-06-16T08:13:00.002-04:00

Are we second in the division (and first in the Wild Card) or last?

Seriously, you wouldn't know it by taking a listen to talk radio or reading Yankees forums (including 161st & River -- you don't know what you're missing). 0-8 against the Red Sox? SEASON OVER. Bullpen can't hold a lead? PUT JOBA!!!!! IN THE BULLPEN. Shut down by Fernando Nieve? FIRE GIRARDI. JOBA!!!! struggles in a start? PUT HIM IN THE BULLPEN.

Think about it: We're almost halfway through the season. We had our 3B (A-Rod), RF (Nady), both catchers (Posada & Molina) and two important bullpen arms (Marte & Bruney) out with injury; inconsistent starting pitching and horrendous bullpen work (not to mention, A-Rod is struggling right now). AND WE'RE STILL TWO GAMES BACK IN THE A.L. EAST. For real, y'all: Calm the hell down and let the rest of the season play out. I'm tired of hearing/reading about these "quick fixes" from so-called "fans" who are just about ready to jump ship because the Yankees aren't dominating the league like it's 1999, like they can run the team better than Ca$hMoney and Girardi.

This isn't Red Sox Nation, circa 2002. You wanna jump ship, go ahead. You wanna call it a season, be my guest. The Yankees Mission #27 Train will move forward without you ... and we won't miss you one damn bit.

No love?

2009-05-24T23:16:00.004-04:00

I know that there's been a lot of negative vibes coming from us security officers this season. With all the ever-changing policies thrust upon us (many of which are absolutely RIDICULOUS), I completely understand why you, the fans, would feel unwelcomed at the New Stadium. You guys have every right to demand nothing but the best from us officers day in and day out.

However, I'm tired of everyone only focusing on the "evil" of us officers. I find it draining to read about how one officer prohibited Paul O'Neill from loitering by the press area, or how another officer told Ken Singleton he couldn't hang around the indoor batting cages. Hell, Freddy "Sez" was held out of the Stadium because of a general misunderstanding. It isn't enough that the stories that come out about us are negative and reflect poorly on us (never mind the in-house shit that goes on daily), but that's all you read about in newspapers and countless blogs.

This is an official call to the newspapers and blogs: SHOW SOME LOVE TO THE OFFICERS WHO TRULY DESERVE IT!!!!! Stop focusing on what goes wrong with Yankee Stadium security and start writing about the security officers who make the Stadium one of the most pleasant venues to enjoy a baseball game. Why should negative actions be all that gets reported? Where is the love for us security officers who put in the effort to put smiles on your faces? I understand that newspapers are dying out, but I don't see what's wrong with heaping praise on the people who understand what it means to provide impeccable customer service.

Where is the love, guys?

GREAT NEWS!!!!!

2009-05-14T19:25:00.001-04:00

Looks like Trost & Levine finally got with the program. Check it out: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090513&content_id=4708954&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy

Good job, sirs. You just made millions of Yankees fans a little happier.

What about the kids?

2009-05-12T18:21:00.003-04:00

Just when we thought the "Dream Team" of president Randy Levine and COO Lonn Trost couldn't look or sound any worse ...

If you have attended a Yankees game this season, I'm sure you know that there is no admittance into the lower level seating without a ticket (and wristband for Legends seats). But what many fans didn't know was that you can't even go down during batting practice to take photos or try to snag an autograph, unlike across the street at the old Stadium. Now I can't speak for any other usher/security officer, but I for one enjoyed seeing the look on the kids' faces when they came back up with a signed ball from their favorite player. In spite of fan backlash against this new policy, Mr. Trost dropped this gem earlier today in an article for ESPN.com:

"There's an area by the Legends Suite which is not an area that fans can get into," Trost said. "If you purchase a suite, do you want somebody in your suite? If you purchase a home, do you want somebody in your home?"

Before I take Mr. Trost to task, did anyone from ESPN bother to ask about the Field Level seats down the foul lines? Because THAT'S where most of the die-hards and the kids flocked to so they could get the autographs and pics. There's the more pressing issue than the "moat" which separates the Legends seats from the Field Level.

Now to you, Mr. Trost. First, that comparison was absolutely terrible. You can't use the home or hotel suite to prove your point -- those are private properties. The lower level seating is in a public place for the fans' enjoyment; not the best choice there.

And to the even more pressing issue: what about the kids? Do you have any idea how it feels to tell a 7-year-old with his parent(s) that he'll never get the chance to see BP up close? Or that he'll never have a chance to get Derek, Mo and CC to sign his souvenir baseball? It's not a good feeling for everyone involved: the parents are angry, the child is upset and I (the security officer) feel like the bad guy for following such a bullshit policy.

So much has gone wrong with the New Stadium (need I remind you of Shaq's Shower Curtain?), it ain't funny. Someone needs to step up and make Yankee Stadium feel like home for everyone and stay in touch with its die-hard fans who make the Stadium experience special.

And it should start with pink slips for Randy Levine and Lonn Trost.

Really? AGAIN?????

2009-05-11T18:19:00.002-04:00

Joba Chamberlain just can't catch a break, can he? In addition to his mother's recent arrest and the never-ending starter vs. reliever debate, he now has to deal with his fist-pumping ... AGAIN.

In Sunday's start against the lowly Orioles Aubrey Huff smacked a 3-run 1st inning HR, during which he playfully mocked Joba's fist-pump TWICE. The joke in the Orioles' clubhouse, apparently, was that Joba popped the blood vessel in his right thumb (which temporarily put his start in jeopardy) while doing one of his fist pumps. Of course, like his previous start against Boston, Chamberlain recovered and put together another solid start, getting the win.

Now here's my thing: I have no problem with either Joba or Huff (or ANY player, for that matter) showing emotion after a big moment. My issue is more with those who call out Joba for a simple fist pump while saying nothing about Jonathan Papelbon acting like a goddamn drunken prick that same night against Tampa Bay, or Francisco Rodriguez having a seizure after every single cheap save. Why the double standard for Joba? Should he tone it down a little? Absolutely, he should; he's slowly realizing that he doesn't have to get too excited after a meaningless K. But to say Papelbon and K-Rod are acting "Joba-esque" when it's the other way around ... if that ain't hypocritical, I don't know what is.

If Joba Chamberlain doesn't care, why should anyone else?

Also, a belated Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers and mother-like ladies out there, especially the single mothers handling their business ... like my mother and grandmothers, who I dearly love and care about very much. They've always been there for me, and I always return the favor.

And finally, a very special Mother's Day salute to my late great-grandmother, Annabell Crayton, who would've turned 94 on Sunday. She was the sweetest lady in the world and showed unconditional love to EVERYONE. R.I.P. Grandma ... I'll see you soon.

Feeling the love ...

2009-05-08T22:33:00.003-04:00

Well, well, well ... look who's gettin' some love (completely unbeknownst* to me). This is courtesy of the guys at New Stadium Insider:

Special Shout-Out

Friend of the blog and security guard at the new Yankee Stadium, Chris is heading back to his post at "Shaq's Shower Curtain." He missed the first home stand after some serious finger surgery. He isn't quite back to playing ball yet, but he is well enough to resume his duties of keeping people from sneaking down to the expensive seats. Chris is one of the good guys in the security force and he really enjoys his job. Please join us in welcoming him back to the stadium.

Aside from tooting my own horn, Ross and Nick are very talented writers and their stories are must-reads. Appreciate the love fellas, and keep up the solid work. Lookin' forward to catching up at more games this summer.

*funniest word EVER

Stroke of Genius

2009-04-25T09:45:00.003-04:00

Let's face it: Yankees management has royally fucked up when it comes to commemorating its rich, illustrious past. While few die-hards will admit this much, it is the sad truth that the franchise's front office suits have become out of touch with its fans, most recently Randy Levine's comments regarding MLS and its commissioner. I'll let you all read that and ridicule him on your own because this post is about a nobler cause.

One fan has created the Yankee Stadium Memorial at Heritage Field website, which calls for the Yankees and New York City to allow for the preservation of Gate 2 from the old Yankee Stadium. The basis for this proposal is for there to be some sort of "proof" that the Cathedral of Baseball not only existed but originated at Heritage Field. It would serve as a gateway into the field and as a symbol of the transition from the old to the new.

I have only one word to describe this: GENIUS. I don't see how this wouldn't work out. Me and my guys at 161st & River have talked about possibly playing some baseball up at Heritage Field and this would help the new field live up to its name, not to mention help restore Yankees management's image. If I'm Hal Steinbrenner, I give serious thought to this proposal.

But what do I know? I'm just the 21-year-old blogger in the room.

(NOTE: The first two links are courtesy of New Stadium Insider.)

GOOD NEWS!!!!! (One-Handed Post #5)

2009-04-20T20:23:00.002-04:00

IMPORTANT INJURY UPDATE!!!!!!

Your favorite Yankee Stadium usher is healing nicely from surgery and has been cleared to return to work next Monday. This means that I will be back behind Shaq's Shower Curtain starting April 30th vs. the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, California, West Coast, United States, North America, Western Hemisphere, Earth.

It is also worth noting that, courtesy of Peter Abraham, Chien-Ming Wang will skip his next start to figure out why he's been struggl-ING so far in 2009. Joe Girardi is making the right move here, mostly because it's the ONLY move. With the way the sinkerballer has been stankin' up the joint, he couldn't go out there against Boston and figure things out then. Let's just hope that Girardi and Dave Eiland can get the Wanger back on track.

Lose-lose situation ... (One-Handed Post #4)

2009-04-19T00:59:00.005-04:00

With Chien-Ming Wang's horrendous start to the season, there has been chatter among Yankees fans about sending him to the minors to fix something that can easily be done with the big club: keep the arm from trailing his body. Now, Wang has been absolutely terrible to start the season but there is one major snag in sending the two-time 19-game winner to Scranton Wilkes-Barre, as pointed out by Peter Abraham on his blog:

"Giving up 23 earned runs in six innings over three starts is beyond struggling, of course. It’s reason to consider a demotion. That, though, is not possible according to Girardi. A team cannot send a player to the minors unless they have options or the player agrees and has at least five years of service. Wang has no options and hasn’t been in the majors long enough.

Girardi did say that the Yankees will consider skipping Wang’s next start, which is scheduled to be Friday in Boston. The day off on Thursday would enable that."

Basically, if the Yankees put Wang through waivers, he's gone. Who would pass up the opportunity to pick up a SP of Wang's caliber and screw the Yankees over? And even if Wang goes to SWB, think about it: Hughes comes up and pitches lights out. Wang corrects his flaw. Who gets screwed? Joba Chamberlain. Why you ask? He'll end up in the bullpen, which fucks up the Yankees' master plan for him.

See? Major reprecussions if you decide to send Wang to SWB, regardless of whether or not he clears waivers. Use the off-day wisely and skip his next start.

Two more days ... (One-Handed Post #3)

2009-04-18T10:25:00.004-04:00

THIS JUST IN: Being in a hand splint sucks. And the Yankees' inconsistency doesn't necessarily help.

Hopefully I'll be outta this damn splint on the 20th, when I follow up with my hand specialist. I don't know how much longer I can take being one-handed. Life is that much more difficult when you're one-handed ... and that hand isn't your natural one. (I, of course, am right-handed strictly using my left. This must be how Jim Abbott feels, respect to Mr. Abbott.)

With the Knicks headed for yet ANOTHER NBA lottery, I need something to keep my interest through the spring and the summer. TRANSLATION: The Yankees better get their act together ... and fast. Yeah they're 6-5, but the bullpen looks horrible half the time, the offense has failed yet again to grasp the idea of situational hitting and the starting pitching has been up and down. Inconsistency will definitely keep them out of the playoffs for the second straight year, so they better find a way to get right before things really get outta hand.

Also, I am now on Twitter. Follow me here: http://twitter.com/C_Smoov

R.I.P. Nick Adenhart (One-Handed Post #2)

2009-04-11T10:44:00.002-04:00

As I'm sure you know by now, Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, 22, was killed in a hit-and-run accident after pitching six scoreless innings Wednesday against Oakland. Adenhart himself was not drunk, but the driver of the minivan was. Andrew Thomas Gallo, also 22, was driving "substantially" above the blood-alcohol limit and initially fled the scene before being captured a mile away. Gallo faces numerous charges, including three counts of murder, and could face 55 years to life in prison if found guilty of all charges.

It's another reminder of how precious life is, and how anyone can go at any time. As much as Yankees despise the Angels for their success against the Bombers over the last decade, Adenhart's passing is a huge loss for everyone associated with the MLB. He underwent Tommy John surgery after being drafted in 2004 and had since been determined to prove that he belonged in the big leagues. It's a shame that the one start where he proved he belonged turned out to be his last.

My sincerest condolences go to the Adenhart family and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization.

R.I.P. Nicholas James Adenhart (8/24/86-4/9/09)

I'M BAAAAACK!!!!! (One-Handed Post #1)

2009-04-11T10:33:00.002-04:00

Guess who's back ... back again ...

I sincerely apologize for yet ANOTHER long hiatus, but I suffered an unfortunate dislocation to my right index finger while playing baseball. It required surgery last Sunday when the ligaments blocked the bone from being popped backed in by hand, and because of it I cannot go back to work until the 20th at the earliest. (By the way, I can be found at section 120a-120b aka "Shaq's shower curtain" -- NO HOMO)

So yes, I am typing this one-handed ... and will be for quite a while. Wish me well.

March Madness 2009

2009-03-22T22:41:00.002-04:00

OK, so here's how my bracket's gone so far:

All my Final Four teams are still intact (Louisville, Pitt, Memphis and Syracuse). I've lost some Elite 8 teams, but I'm not really too worried about it just yet.

Aight y'all, got a fantasy draft tonite at 11:30. Also got schoolwork to take care of and work in the coming days, so that season preview's gonna be a while. But it IS coming, count on it.

What'd I miss?

2009-03-13T11:00:00.002-04:00

Who got hurt again? Some guy named A-Rod?

Never heard of him.

(Kidding, of course.)

Sorry about the month-long hiatus; just got started with classes and finally moved across the street to the New Yankee Stadium. But yes, I'm still alive and haven't forgotten about y'all. I'll have a season preview for y'all before the exhibition games in April (hopefully).

Oh yeah, and I become legal tomorrow, so ... HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!!

LoHud Yankees Pinch-Hit Blog

2009-02-04T11:19:00.003-05:00

As I promised you yesterday, here's my pinch-hit post for Peter Abraham's blog. So far it's been great reviews.

Here's the link: http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2009/02/04/pinch-hitting-simply-smoov/

And the text (in case the link doesn't work):

Any other year, a third-place finish for my Yankees would make for a miserable season. No playoffs, abysmal offensive production, all the injuries. Too many negative factors to count. Except I got to be an usher at Yankee Stadium for the final season — and had the most fun of my life.

To me, working in Yankee Stadium is more than just a free seat to a game. It was great to take in the atmosphere of every game and every event that took place in the Stadium and reflect on the great moments that I got to see live and on TV as a fan. I learned to completely appreciate the 13 seasons I spent watching games on 161st & River Ave., a ten-minute train ride from 125th St. Normally I don’t like to brag, but I managed to become the envy of my friends.

I also experienced many firsts in 2008 while working the 3B side (box 86-88 from Opening Day through the Angels series, box 56-58 the rest of the season): my first Red Sox game, my first Old Timers’ Day, first time in the Field Level. All experiences I don’t think I ever would’ve experience had I not signed up to be an usher at the Stadium. I also got a chance to interact with the fans, play manager and witness moments like Josh Hamilton’s display during the Home Run Derby. I couldn’t ask for a better experience.

Not bad for a soon-to-be 21-year-old college student from the hood, huh?

But with the good comes the bad:

Cotton-Eyed Joey needs to go back where he came from. Save “God Bless America” for weekend games; it really is overkill at this point. Working on the 3B side of the Field level in the summer is unbearable

But those would be small prices to pay for a chance to work across the street. I’m not sure yet what to expect at the new Stadium; many things will have changed. But one thing never changes: whether you are a fan, player or employee, the Yankee Stadium experience is what you make it. I plan to do everything I can to make the Yankee Stadium experience enjoyable for everyone if I get rehired.

April 3, 2009 – hopefully I’ll be greeting you all from the Legends/Field seats. See you all across the street.

Before I forget ...

2009-02-03T10:47:00.002-05:00

Quick reminder: Look out for me pinch-hitting for Peter Abraham tomorrow on The LoHud Yankees Blog. I'll provide a link to the site for all to see and also display the actual post on here, so tell your friends and family who are Yankees fans; I promise you'll be in for a treat.

As far as the recent inactivity, I've been too busy between school, work and the internship. But the posts will pick up soon, I promise!

2008-9 Offseason Analysis

2009-01-09T11:31:00.007-05:00

Finally got around to it ...

CC Sabathia -- Surprise, surprise. The Yankees get the big prize of the Winter Meetings. Carsten Charles had one of the best second halves of any SP in history, basically carrying the Milwaukee Brewers into the playoffs. While many expressed concern about his arm after pitching so many games on 3 days' rest, he has never shown an signs that he is destined for a serious injury. An overall great guy, CC should fit in nicely and handle the NY spotlight with ease.
GRADE: A+

Mark Teixeira -- A true surprise for this blogger. Apparently there had always been interest from the Yankees, but they completely blindsided everyone with their quick offer two days before Christmas. Big Tex is a complete player - he hits for average and power, he's a terrific run producer, and provides Gold Glove defense like no other. Following in the footsteps of his idol Don Mattingly, Teixeira should also handle the spotlight easily.
GRADE: A+

A.J. Burnett -- High risk, high reward here. A.J. has the stuff to be just as great as any ace in the game. He always shows that he can be very effective ... when he's healthy. His main problem, to no fault of his, is that he seems to get injured in non-contract years. Coincidence or not, Burnett has a lot to prove, mainly that his injuries are behind him and he will stay injury-free throughout his contract. Of course, this space could be Derek Lowe's, so it could be worse.
GRADE: B

Nick Swisher -- Versatile switch-hitter who adds intrigue to Girardi's decision-making while putting together a lineup. Acquired from the White Sox for the forever immortal Wilson Betemit, Swish was originally penciled in to be the starting 1B before Teixeira arrived. Now he is likely looking at part-time duty as the backup 1B/OF with an outside chance to start in LF if Johnny Damon is named the starting CF. He is on the rebound path after a horrendous season in Chicago and would like to return to his Oakland form.
GRADE: B-

So now, the potential Opening Day roster looks like this:

LINEUP
LF Johnny Damon
SS Derek Jeter
1B Mark Teixeira
3B Alex Rodriguez
DH Hideki Matsui
C Jorge Posada
RF Xavier Nady
2B Robinson Cano
CF Brett Gardner/Melky Cabrera

BENCH
C Jose Molina
IF Nick Swisher/Shelley Duncan

IF Cody Ransom

OF Cabrera/Swisher

ROTATION
SP CC Sabathia
SP Chien-Ming Wang
SP A.J. Burnett
SP Andy Pettitte
SP Joba Chamberlain

BULLPEN
CL Mariano Rivera
SU Damaso Marte
RP Jose Veras
RP Edwar Ramirez
RP Brian Bruney
RP Jon Albaladejo/Dave Robertson
LR Dan Giese or Alfredo Aceves

There ya go folks, my analysis of the Yankees' offseason moves. Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving comments.

COMING SOON: The post that I will use for Pete Abraham's blog

Need Your Input

2009-01-05T12:15:00.004-05:00

First and foremost, I hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year's! Glad to get 2009 started right. Make sure you try your hardest to stick to your resolutions. Now onto business ...

As you may have noticed, there's a poll to your right. That's because I need to choose a topic for my post for Pete Abraham's blog on February 4th. Just choose an option, and hopefully the most votes will be the one chosen for the entry. Thanks for the help and love, and be sure to keep reading. Don't forget to check me out on 161st & River, also.

Yankees offseason analysis coming soon ... I promise!

New Year's PSA

2008-12-31T18:21:00.003-05:00

Hey all, just stopping by to wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year's!!!! Enjoy yourselves, don't get into any big trouble or do something you'll regret the whole year, and above all, be safe.

Also, look for me on The LoHud Yankees Blog on February 4th filling in for Peter Abraham. (Meant to mention that earlier but I've been swamped with work and school/internship.)

Like the Terminator, I'll be back in the new year with full analysis of the Yankees' signings and the post that I will use for PA's blog in February.

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S TO ALL!!!!!!!

Smoov's 2009 Yankees

2008-12-04T10:04:00.012-05:00

Like my good pal Douggy Bombs of The Sports Asshole before me, I wanna give you my ideal roster for the 2009 New York Yankees. I know it's early December and this does not reflect the intentions of the Yankees, but if the Bombers are to recover from a disappointing 2008 certain changes need to be made.

Without further ado, here are The Smoov One's 2009 New York Yankees:

LINEUP

CF Johnny Damon

SS Derek Jeter

3B Alex Rodriguez

RF Manny Ramirez (4 yrs, $100 mil)

DH Hideki Matsui

C Jorge Posada

LF Xavier Nady

2B Robinson Cano

1B Nick Swisher

BENCH

C Jose Molina

IF Doug Mientkiewicz (1 yr, $1-2 mill)

IF Cody Ransom

OF Brett Gardner/Melky Cabrera

ROTATION

SP Carsten Charles Sabathia (6 yrs, $140-150 mill)

SP Chien-Ming Wang

SP Andy Pettitte (1 yr, $10-12 mill)
SP Joba Chamberlain

SP Phil Hughes/free agent veteran (1 yr, league minimum-$1 mil)

BULLPEN

CL Mariano Rivera

SU Damaso Marte

RP Jose Veras

RP Edwar Ramirez

RP Phil Coke

RP Brian Bruney/Chris Britton/Jonathan Albaladejo

LR Alfredo Aceves/Dan Giese

Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman are intent on not spending all of the $80 mill or so coming off the books this offseason. With that being considered, most of the money should be spent improving both the rotation and a lineup that disappeared with runners on base. Like Douggy said on his blog, the set-up of the lineup leaves room for versatility both this season and beyond. With Dead-Arm Damon and Matsui coming off the books after 2009, Gardner can slide into center and Austin Jackson can move into left, leaving ManRammed to DH. If Jackson isn't yet ready, either Damon or Matsui can be signed to a short-term deal with a significant pay cut to DH with ManRammed staying in RF. Throw in Nady's ability to play three positions and Swisher's ability to play four, and Joe Girardi can have fun all day putting his lineup together. Sabathia's signing gives the team a true #1 starter, taking pressure off Wang to perform at a ridiculously high level, Pettitte would be able to train in the offseason the way he normally did without worrying about any legal issues with Roger Clemens, and JOBA!!!!! and Hughes can get their work in without worrying about going eight innings every time out. All around, this could be one of the better teams put together in recent seasons.

Finally, an official THANK YOU to Mike Mussina for eight terrific seasons in pinstripes. You weren't always the best pitcher on the mound, but you were certainly the smartest. Your drive to be the best while maintaining the highest level of class will be greatly missed in the organization. We the fans appreciate everything you have given to the Yankees, and even though you never got that World Series ring you will always hold a special place in our hearts. Congratulations on getting that 20-win season, Moose, and enjoy your retirement. Hope you get inducted into the Hall of Fame one day.

Plaxico Fallout

2008-12-03T15:12:00.003-05:00

WOW ... this is what I get for following my family to South Carolina for Thanksgiving.

I'm sure everyone knows by now that Giants WR Plaxico Burress, all 6'5" of him, accidently shot himself with an illegal handgun this past Friday. He was with LB Antonio Pierce and a third teammate, believed to be RB Ahmad Bradshaw. He was admitted to the hospital under the alias "Harris Smith" although he was easily recognizable. He was recently arraigned on Monday and is due back in court March 31.

Now to go off on Plax and Mayor Bloomberg:

To Plax -- What the fuck are you doing with an illegal handgun? YOU'RE PLAXICO FUCKIN' BURRESS!!!!! What do you need a shotgun for? Where were your mans'n'em to hold the gat? How retarded can you possibly be? It's bad enough you couldn't play on Sunday anyway because of your hamstring, and we could handle all the other shit you did this season. Now not only did you shoot yourself off the Giants, but possibly out of the NFL into jail for at least 3 1/2 years. Why star athletes put themselves in these dumb-ass situations is beyond me. Bloomberg wants him prosectued to the fullest extent of the law, rightfully so.

Speaking of Mayor Bloomberg, where the fuck were you when Gov. Spitzer was spending taxpayer money on booty? You can't take down one public figure for a felony while letting another go scot-free. Why hold our ex-Governor to a different standard than the Giants go-to receiver? Gotta be consistent, Hizzoner.

You know what the funniest thing about this is? The Giants may never lose a football game again. Even with Plax's case, they just keep showing us why they're the defending Super Bowl champions. They'll run over you, burn you, air it out and stop you like Malcolm -- by any means necessary.

Let this be a lesson to any athlete that dreams of making big money: DON'T PUT YOURSELF IN SITUATIONS LIKE PLAXICO'S. You wanna own a gun, fine -- just register the damn thing. And above all, be safe out there.

Some random thoughts ...

2008-11-24T14:12:00.002-05:00

Got some quick random thoughts I need to get out before I leave NYC for South Carolina on Wednesday (in-depth analysis to come after I come back):

Donnie Walsh = GENIUS!!!!!!! How many other GMs can take a team condemned in salary cap hell and put it in position to snag TWO big-name free agents in 2010 by trading its top two scorers (Jamal Crawford & Zach Randolph) in two hours??? Not even David Blaine can work that type of magic. Kudos to you, Donnie.
Nick Swisher to the Yankees is a better move than people think. Not only can the man play 1B and the outfield, he is looking to rebound from an abysmal 2008 and can definitely loosen up the clubhouse.
The football Giants keep showing the rest of the NFL why they are primed to win another Super Bowl as they have continue to beat teams any way they can, whether it's by running wild against the Ravens' run defense or by airing it out against Arizona without the benefit of that running game (sorely missing Brandon Jacobs). They are clearly a force to be reckoned with in the NFC and the whole NFL.
You better believe Major League Baseball is damn happy that Hal Steinbrenner is taking over for King George. Everyone must realize that Hal is nothing like his daddy, and shouldn't have to be. Should make for one interesting Thursday dinner in the Steinbrenner household; wonder if there's an over/under on how long it takes Big Bank Hank to blow his lid.

That's it 'til after Thanksgiving weekend. Hopefully Carsten Charles Sabathia will have signed by then, and maybe -- just maybe -- Stephon Marbury will no longer be a distraction to the New York Knicks. HAPPY THANKSGIVING, and make sure you eat twice your weight in food!!!!!

CHANGE IS HERE!!!!!!

2008-11-06T11:02:00.002-05:00

Ladies and gentlemen, America has a new President. And he's destined to bring us back to the top.

In the most important Election Day of our lives, Illinois senator Barack Hussein Obama easily beat out Arizona senator John McCain to become our nation's 44th President. With voter turnout at record highs, especially among young first-time voters (including myself), Obama ran away with the election.

THANK FUCKING GOD.

No question America needed Obama to win, although McCain clearly held his own in spite of his campaign and his odd choice for his running mate. In a time where the young people are feeling more of a responsibility to help change the government, it is refreshing to see a relatively young face become Commander-In-Chief. There's no telling the possibilities of how much president-elect Obama can change the country.

But even more importantly, Obama's victory (a "real celebration" compared to the O.J. verdict, according to ex-Dallas Cowboy Michael Irvin) opens yet another door in terms of dreams for young African-American children. Can you imagine how difficult it was to hear that we could be anything we wanted, yet there wasn't enough (if any) faces like mine in fields that we wanted to enter, like being President? It is a great day for the United States of America and for young Black children to finally grasp the idea of being ANYTHING they wanna be. If you get a chance, take a look at the New York Daily News and read the article by cartoonist Bill Gallo and let his words sink in ("I think of Barack Obama as today's Jackie Robinson"). It's one of the better pieces I've read on Obama's winning the election.

I am hoping that Obama's election can also help bring Black people further away from being labeled as "niggas". Over the last 130 years, there really hasn't been a feeling that we as a people are REALLY free. The Civil Rights Movement, the murder of Emmitt Till, the case of the Jena 6, Sean Bell's story ... none of these have truly brought on the change needed to better the Black community as a whole. Here's hoping that the success of Barack Obama can bring us from being "niggas" to being "free" ... the true meaning of "free", not free as the Constitution defines it.

America, we got our guy. Now let's begin on the road to being back on top.

Some love triangle

2008-11-04T10:36:00.003-05:00

OK, who else expected Stephon Marbury to not play in the first three games of the season?

Anyone? Anyone at all?

Me neither.

We Knicks fans already knew that Scarbury's time in New York was coming to an abrupt end. It was believed that even though he was no longer the starting point guard (Why'd we sign Chris Duhon?) he'd either play well enough to get traded or be enough of a distraction to force a buyout.

But here's my question: If D'Antoni's gonna go against Donnie Walsh's apparent wishes and deactivate Steph, why have him with the team causing that distraction? Hell, it's bad enough the Knicks couldn't take advantage of Milwaukee losing their best player in Sunday's team, essentially getting beat by a backup PG. But now even THAT loss is overshadowed by how poorly the Marbury situation has been handled.

I mean, really, Walsh and D'Antoni have taken a page outta the Mets' playbook and drawn this out way too long. Either let Stephon play to earn his $22 mill and hope Denver or Miami show enough interest to propose a trade, or give him his money to go the fuck away ...

BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF THIS SHIT!!!!!!!!

UPDATE, 12:48am: Some resolution: According to ESPN.com, Stephon Marbury will earn his money riding the Garden pine. Scott Layden thinks this has gotten outta hand.

It's Election Day ... You Voting?

2008-11-04T10:28:00.002-05:00

I'm sure by now you all know by now that today is an historic day in America, as we may be electing the first African American President in our country's history. Voter turnout is supposed to be a record high, and no other Presidential election year has garnered so much coverage and caused so much controversy. Besides Barack Obama's apparent landslide victory (don't wanna jump the gun, but just some wishful thinking), we could also see the most odd Presidential pairing ever for the Republicans with the oldest Presidential nominee ever (Sen. John McCain) and the first woman Vice President (Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who knows less about being a VP than Isiah Thomas does about running a basketball team ... and a whole league). Lotta intrigue surrounding today's election, and I hope you get a chance to go out and vote today.

PSA over. Now onto actual sports ...

Reason #649320 why no one takes the Knicks seriously

2008-10-27T21:36:00.003-04:00

For all the Knicks fans out there, y'all know that Knicks management has done everything in their power to distance the franchise from its glory days over the last seven seasons.

This is the last straw for me.

Earlier today, the Knicks announced that they have cut Patrick Ewing, Jr. The second-round draft choice of the Sacramento Kings impressed fans and coaches alike late in the preseason, but it apparently wasn't enough to catapult him over $30 million mistake Jerome "Big Snacks" James and virtual unknown Anthony Roberson as the 15-man roster is finally set for opening night Wednesday vs. Miami.

SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

How the fuck do you cut the only one of those three mentioned above that actually produced during the preseason???? Big Snacks (owed $13 mill over the next two seasons) didn't even play and Roberson shot 2-10 (20% for the slow people out there) ... yet Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni felt it necessary to carry a second fat sack of shit (Eddy Curry's the other) and a useless combo guard on the roster.

And don't gimme that bullshit excuse about money not impacting the decision. BULL-FUCKING-SHIT!!!!!!!! If money wasn't an issue, Big Snacks woulda been gone already. Besides, you've got two small forwards in Jared Jeffries and Danilo Gallinari injured; wouldn't it have made sense to bring along the son of the greatest Knick of all-time?

It's shit like this that make the Knicks not matter to anyone outside of NYC ... or even in NYC, for that matter. Walsh had a great opportunity to bring good PR to a franchise marred by the sex harass suit and Larry Brown's reckless criticisms. Instead an already depleted roster looks much thinner:

F #21 Wilson Chandler
G #25 Mardy Collins
G #11 Jamal Crawford
C #34 Eddy Curry
G #1 Chris Duhon
F #8 Danilo Gallinari
C #13 Jerome James
F #20 Jared Jeffries
F #42 David Lee
G #3 Stephon Marbury
F #50 Zach Randolph
F #23 Quentin Richardson
G # 5 Anthony Roberson
G #4 Nate Robinson
F #31 Malik Rose

That's six guards (one too many), seven forwards (two of whom are hurt) and two overweight, underachieving centers (neither of whom figure to get any significant PT). You mean to tell me Pat Jr. wouldn't make an impact for at least a month, until Jeffries comes back?

Thank you guys, for showing why no one gives a shit about the once-proud New York Knicks franchise.

(NOTE: What's funny is I still plan to show up at Union Square tomorrow for NBA Tipoff '08)

PA-TRICK EWING JR!!!!!!!!!

2008-10-26T02:16:00.006-04:00

Yes Knicks fans ... the son of the greatest Knick of all-time finally stepped on the MSG court in a Knicks uni, and made quite an impression against the Nets by going 3-for-3 from the field, including his SECOND highlight dunk of the preseason

Hopefully that is enough for him to make the roster, with awkward-ass Jared Jeffries and Danilo Gallinari hurtin'

Perfect example of the type of parent you SHOULDN'T be like

2008-10-26T01:51:00.003-04:00

This shit has gotten WAY outta hand ...

If you haven't heard already, there are reports that a 47-year-old man was transported from the Westchester, NY home of ex-Knicks coach/President/pariah Isiah Thomas early Friday due to an accidental overdose on sleeping pills. While it is believed that the man taken to the hospital was indeed Isiah, he has denied these reports by claiming his teenage daughter was the one with the drug issues ... and his 20-year-old son is in on the "cover-up", as Harrison Police Chief David Hall hinted at in an interview.

Way to damage your rep even more, Isiah.

Listen, whoever OD'd on sleeping pills, I hope they get better and have a speedy recovery. But if Isiah did use his daughter to cover up his accidental abuse AND use his son to help out, he's even less of a man in my eyes. There's absolutely no excuse to use your family to mask something as serious as a drug overdose. You'd think after all Isiah's been through over the last calendar year he'd keep a lower profile or try to repair his rep.

Thank you, Isiah, for showing all men what type of parent (and person) you are ... now I know how NOT to act when I have children.

JOBA!!!!!!'s wake up call

2008-10-21T10:45:00.004-04:00

From here on out, hopefully Joba Chamberlain will have this thought lingering in his head:

I'm lucky to be alive.

You better believe you're lucky to be alive, big man. I hope and pray that you take this matter seriously and think twice before getting behind that wheel more wasted than the $40 mill given to Carl Pavano. Mike Lupica from the New York Daily News wrote a feature on JOBA!!!! in today's edition and I think this part emphasizes his main point that he needs to nip this in the bud and make sure this never happens again:

Maybe Chamberlain doesn't need help, just needs to wise up before he hurts somebody else, or himself. Or maybe he does need help. If he does, it isn't for (Hank) Steinbrenner or anybody else to give it to him, it's for Chamberlain to seek. Joe Girardi is another one who felt compelled to issue a statement yesterday about what happened near 77 and Old Cheney Road, after a single conversation with his pitcher.

"I believe he has learned a valuable lesson," Girardi said, "which he can grow from."

Girardi doesn't know that. He also doesn't know, off one DUI, whether the kid has a drinking problem. That is for the kid to know, or learn about himself.

I wholeheartedly agree with Lupica here. Whatever JOBA!!!!! needs to do, he should do for himself and quickly before he falls into his never-ending family history of alcohol abuse, which has affected his estranged mother.

Nip it in the bud now Joba ... Yankee fans would hate to lose you for something as brainless as drunk driving.

Ratings Nightmare ... Baseball Purists' Dream

2008-10-21T10:33:00.002-04:00

Betcha FOX isn't too happy about this, but Phillies-Rays, World Series Game 1, starts up tomorrow night.

While this matchup is, indeed, a nightmare for TV ratings (as many were hoping for a Red Sox-Dodgers World Series, effectively causing Big Bank Hank to lose plenty of sleep), there is plenty intrigue on both sides. For instance ...

When was the last time the 'Illadelph won a professional championship, WWII? (1983, actually -- 76ers beat L.A. in the NBA Finals) How many times have Philly's fans suffered thru heartbreak everytime one of their pro teams comes close and missed by an ounce? Seriously, if it wasn't for Cleveland Philadelphia would be the epitome of long-suffering major sports cities?

And let's not forget about the Rays. Fresh off their first true test of the postseason after nearly going the way of the 2004 Yankees and 2007 Indians at the hands of the Red Sox, you can best believe Joe Maddon has his ballclub as relaxed as ever heading into the Series. They don't need me (or anyone else, for that matter) to use 10 previous seasons of futility as motivation to finish the unimaginable worst-to-first success story.

Bottom line: I know one person that will watch this World Series, and who knows? Maybe it'll be one of the greatest World Series ever played ... maybe.

Say it with me one time ...

2008-10-20T01:21:00.001-04:00

THE TAMPA BAY RAYS ARE THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONS.

And they deserve every bit of it.

More on this tomorrow ... or whenever I get back on. Goodnight.

Bad JOBA by JOBA (fuck you john sterling)

2008-10-19T02:38:00.002-04:00

Just peeped this off PA's blog:

Working on a story now for the paper tomorrow. This is what is known so far:
Joba Chamberlain was arrested for driving under the influence early Saturday morning near his hometown of Lincoln, Neb.

Deborah Collins, a spokeswoman for the Nebraska State Patrol, said that the 23-year-old Chamberlain was pulled over after being observed speeding in a 2006 BMW 750i shortly after 1 a.m. on U.S. 77.

Chamberlain was arrested after an odor of alcohol was detected and an open container of alcohol was observed on the front passenger seat. Chamberlain was taken to the Cornhusker Place Detox and booked on charges of driving under the influence, having an open container of alcohol and speeding.

This story was broken, based on what I know, by the Journal Star newspaper in Lincoln.

Working on trying to obtain a comment from Joba, his agent, Brian Cashman and/or the Yankees. Nothing as of yet.

This post will be updated as more information becomes available.

UPDATE, 10:49 p.m.: The Yankees have no official comment on the arrest of Chamberlain according to Media Relations Director Jason Zillo.

Not much to be said here, other than JOBA!!!!! made an elementary major league mistake for a 23-year-old by allegedly drinking and driving and hopefully he can learn from this and be better for it.

Just another case of JOBA!!!! needing to grow up a lil' bit more

Remember that collapse that the Rays were gonna suffer during the regular season?

2008-10-19T02:27:00.003-04:00

Well, it appears to have reared its ugly head in the playoffs.

And it couldn't come at a worse time.

Really, guys? ONE MORE WIN AND YOU'RE IN THE WORLD SERIES!!!!!! Is that so hard to accomplish, even against the defending champs? But apparently, Josh Beckett decided he was facing the 2003 Yankees again and Jason Varitek decided to disguise himself as a halfway-decent hitter to tie the ALCS at 3 games apiece.

Come on Tampa Bay ... don't suffer the same fate as the 2004 Yanks or 2007 Indians. Garza better pitch the game of his life, or Joe Maddon better say a few extra Hail Mary's 'cuz it's gonna take one helluva miracle to not choke that 3-1 lead away.

Damn, I sure could use Diddy's vodka right about now ...

Big Bank Hank Speaks

2008-10-17T09:19:00.004-04:00

In the late 70's George M. Steinbrenner III referred to pitcher Ken Clay as a horse that "spit the bit". This morning, I compare Hankenstein to Big Brown being the last horse to cross the finish line when he dropped this gem after the much-overhyped organizational meetings (courtesy of Pete Abraham):

“The plan as of right now is Chamberlain is going to be a starter. Everybody’s pretty much in agreement with that,” he said.

THANKS, HANK!!!!! We've only know for three weeks since Ca$hMoney comfirmed that on WFAN. See, this is why these meetings are as useful as a Dominican girl with no titties -- nothing newsworthy develops and when it does, it something we already know.

So thank you, Hank, for wasting that statement on shit we already knew ... good job.

Shameless Plug

2008-10-17T07:56:00.004-04:00

What better way to start the day than with a cheap plug?

[Actually, I can think of one better way ... but that's another story for another day ;-)]

Now, me and four of my boys were able to take a Facebook group for Yankees fans to not only talk baseball, but various other topics as well, and turn it into a fan site -- 161st & River. We had been talking about the site for a year and a half, oddly enough coinciding with Facebook becoming a carbon copy of Myspace. So the site is almost ready for the full launch on October 30, and hopefully we will be just as big as the Facebook group.

Site URL: http://www.161st-and-river.com
Forums: http://www.161st-and-river.com/forums

Be sure to catch me discussing various sports topics on 161st & River!!!!!!

Trivia Question: Which Yankee shares a place in history with Derek Jeter and Joe DiMaggio?

2008-10-17T00:59:00.005-04:00

If you answered Tom Tresh, you'd be correct. The 1962 Rookie of the Year passed away Wednesday at the age of 71. Here's a little information courtesy of the Yankees via Peter Abraham:

Tresh was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1962, batting .286 with 20 home runs and 93 RBI, helping lead the Yankees to the World Series title. A Yankee from 1961-69, Tresh was a member of three World Championship teams (1962, ’63, ’64), was a three-time All-Star (1962-both games and 1963) and won the Gold Glove in 1965.

The switch-hitter started at shortstop on Opening Day in 1962, a feat that would not be accomplished by another Yankees rookie until Derek Jeter in 1996. He also joined Joe DiMaggio (1936) as the only Yankees rookies to start for the AL squad in an All-Star Game.

The family will hold a memorial service on Sunday. Central Michigan University, where Tresh played college baseball and returned in the off seasons to earn his college degree, will hold a memorial open to the public at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 24, at Theunissen Stadium on campus. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that a donation be made in Tom’s name to the Unity Church of Venice. The address: 125 North Jackson Road, Venice, FL 34292.

Yogi Berra: “Tommy was a great teammate. He did everything well as a ballplayer and was an easy guy to manage. He was a good man and great friend. We’re going to miss him.”

Whitey Ford: “Tom was a great teammate. We all loved him and we’re sorry that we’ve lost him. He will be missed.”

Joe Pepitone: “This hurts. He was my roommate for six years of my life, my hitting instructor and my best friend. He let me be me, but he was also the guy who kept me in at night. Tommy was a constant in my life and a calming influence. He was always there for me and stuck up for me. He was like my brother. When I had personal issues, he was always the person on the team I would turn to. During some rain delays, he would take out his guitar and we’d sing and dance.”

Moose Skowron: “He was a heck of a person and a tough ballplayer. He loved people. He’d always ask me why I was riding him so hard, and I told him I made a promise to his father that I’d always keep him in line. And I did.”

Bob Turley: “Tom was a good friend of mine when we played, but also long after we hung up our spikes. He was a wonderful, happy-go-lucky guy. I don’t think I can ever remember him being mad. When my family held my retirement party in Atlanta back in 2000, he was the only former teammate who came to celebrate with us.”

My condolences go out to the Tresh household. Say an extra prayer for Tom Tresh; he will never get into the Hall of Fame or have his number retired, but he still holds a special place to Yankee fans. R.I.P.

DAMN, DAMN, DAMN!!!!!!

2008-10-17T00:44:00.002-04:00

You know, I had a nice post all ready to be typed out for when the Tampa Bay Rays clinched the American League. They were the most pleasant surprise of this baseball season, and were on the verge of an historic worst-to-first turnaround.

So what the fuck happened?

The Red Sox, for one night, played like the "Idiots" of 2004 and, in the illustrious words of Kevin Millar aka the original Gay Lumberjack, "Cowboy'd Up".

You'd think that a seven-run lead in a clinching game when the team close to being knocked out has their CLOSER in the game to hold the score at 5-0 in the 7th inning (which he didn't) is safe. But so is the harsh reality of baseball -- and sports in general.

Ahh well, Tampa Bay ... just get 'em in St. Pete on Saturday

(NOTE: If I EVER use "Cowboy Up" again, beat me with my Black Hammer bat.)

Welcome!

2008-10-16T14:41:00.006-04:00

Ladies and gentlemen ... welcome to Simply Smoov! I go by C-Smoov or CJ (which is what many of my peeps call me anyway). Here you'll find my personal opinions on the top stories in the sports world -- especially those pertaining to the Yankees (NOTE: None of the actual stories are written by me; I only give my 100% honest opinion) -- and on occasion, the happenings of the rest of the world. You all are more than welcome to respond and comment to my posts, all I ask is that you be respectful to other posters and open-minded to other peoples' thoughts.

Enjoy, and don't be afraid to write what you think!