ISSUE #18

5 Golden Rings

(August 22^nd – August 28^th)

Yankees: Continue Beat-downs on the lowly teams

Mets: Attempt to play spoiler again

New York Yankees

77 - 48

1^st Place by half a game

            The Yankees are 13-5 so far in August and they have another week upon them playing below .500 teams. They had some offensive battles with the Royals, which I told you would be exciting games to watch. The whole HR review was spectacular controversy and the games were tight. The Royals know how to hang on, but they pitch like they have five AJ Burnett’s in the rotation.

            It’s the one definite thing Yankee fans know…AJ will not be a part of the rotation come playoffs in early October. He started out the season shockingly at 3-0, but since then…yes since April 13^th he has a 6-10 record. Another fine stat the “pie-tossing” pitcher accumulated is that he hasn’t pitched further than the 6^th inning in four starts and only completed the task once in his past eight starts. He went 8 innings against Baltimore on July 29^th and had 10 strikeouts in the game. Since then he only struck out 12 batters total in four starts. Decline, decline, decline and this is all without mentioning his 4.96 ERA on the year. This will be his last year in pin-stripes so I hope the Bronx Bombers can give him a ring box when he visits in a different colored uniform next year.

            I like his stuff don’t get me wrong, but when you have Bartolo Colon and Ivan Nova pitching more effectively from start to start there is just no room for a killer like AJ. His time could be up.

            The Yankees did the job though this past week and looked pretty good doing it. Alex Rodriguez returned on Sunday going 0 for 4, but just having his presence in the lineup will spark a new fury under the New York skin. These men have a lot of fight in them and the good news is that they are still the underdogs below Boston and the best team in baseball today (record-wise) Philadelphia Phillies. This is big and I think the fans here in NY enjoy it as well. Let ESPN, and newspapers and all else talk their heads off about how great the Red Sox are and the Phillies are, while the Yankees continue to win and continue to beat down opponents. The Yankees one problem is the Boston Red Sox, but they wouldn’t have to see each other until the ALCS and that again works in the Yankees favor. It’s heating up in the baseball world and no matter how far apart the Wild Card races are or Division leads become, the playoffs have their own tangibles…and it’s all who you play and how you play them. Anyone can be beat in a 3 game series so who knows what the final four will become.

            I know, I’m completely ahead of myself but it’s all officially getting near!

           

  

Athletics @ Yankees

Monday & Tuesday at 7:10pm

Wednesday at 1:10pm

            Are you scared of the no offense Oakland A’s? Some people said they would have been a threat this year, but the pitching didn’t live up to last year’s promise and the offense is just not powerful in the least. Yankees usually have their way with the West Coast forgotten and I think this 3-game series will prove no different.

            The only thing positive in Oakland A’s world is that Billy Bean will now drop his wife and family because he feels people think he’s really Brad Pitt.

           

Yankees @ Orioles

Friday at 7:10pm

Saturday at 1:10pm & 7:10pm (Day-Night Doubleheader)

Sunday at 1:35pm

           

            …And the flow and continuous stream of down on their luck teams maintain to face the AL East leaders and it doesn’t look good for the Orioles or Boston for that matter. This is the week to make some serious head way on Boston before they match up to play each other next week. The Red Sox will be in Texas for a four game set against a top Rangers ballclub then fly home to face the A’s who have actually given them problems in the past. Especially in the playoffs.

            The Yankees need to take advantage of the seven games they have this week. Get a healthy looking A-Rod back and the lineup will once again have very few holes. Jeter, Curtis, Tex, A-Rod, Cano, Swisher, Gardner…oh my lord they are built to last or at least do some damage! The balls will fly far in Baltimore over the weekend as Yankee fans travel down for cheaper prices and better seats. So essentially the Yankees have 7 home games this year.

New York Mets

60 – 66

4^th place (21.5 GB)

           

            Well the bumbling Mets had their shot at former closer Frankie Rodriguez and took it in the 8^th inning on Saturday. The blasted two homeruns and knocked in three runs against him for the lead, but by the end of the game and probably comeback “kid” Izzy’s career Frankie got the win. An odd stat in the baseball world, but that’s what happens.

            The Mets get a second chance at playing spoiler this week against what would be a very important week if the Amazin’s were still in the hunt. They are not so who knows what they can do against the top two teams in their division. One quote that stays true for this week and the entity of this season’s optimistic feel… “Don’t hold your breath,” cause you will suffocate and you will die.

             

Mets @ Phillies

Monday & Tuesday at 7:05pm

Wednesday at 1:10pm

             You gonna watch? Doubtful. Tonight’s Monday night National broadcast is this mess of a game. Come on Mets! Do something spectacular this year.

           

Braves @ Mets

Friday at 7:10pm

Saturday at 4:10pm (FOX)

Sunday at 1:10pm

                        As a Pirate fan, I hate this Braves team. The Pirates have never been the same since the home plate umpire gave the 19 inning/8 hour game to the Tomahawk chopping bastards in early July. There would be no bigger smile in the New York area then the one on my face if the Mets can pull of a home sweep of this bad hitting Braves team. Again Mets…do something spectacular this year, huh?

Adam Hammer’s “Loose Lips”

-         Since 2002 (including the playoffs) The Yankees are 64-20 against the Twins. Ron Gardenhire tried to turn the tide by playing with a zero-man bench and the Franchise, Joe Mauer in right field.

-         Francisco Rodriguez made his return to Citi Field this weekend. What would have been terrible for the Mets two months ago, K-Rod blew the save, giving up 3 runs in one inning. What would have been great for the Mets two months ago, K-Rod picked up the win. The Mets bullpen imploded, costing them the game but making everyone non-Mets fan chuckle. Both teams had a more difficult time trying to close the game than the cops in the Jon Benet Ramsey case.

-         The Pirates signed Jose Tabata to a six year contract extension. Shortly after he was traded to the Red Sox for a PTBNL.

-         The Giants placed Brian Wilson on the DL with an elbow problem. He injured it trying to perform the Robot in the clubhouse. It is unknown who will take over as closer, but it seems they will have a more difficult time trying to close games than the cops in the Jon Benet Ramsey case.

And now for your reading pleasure…

 

***

The Future; According to the Late-Great George Carlin

“Every part of the human body will become replaceable, but all parts will be back-ordered six months.”

Last Quip by Doctor Kas: “The Pittsburgh Pirates season lasted until one week after the All-Star break this season…sadly we die-hards call that a winning season…what do Mets fans call this season?”

“Also regarding the Giants losing their closer Brian Wilson to the DL this week, did they really need to put someone they won’t use on the DL? The team needs to score runs if they want a chance to save the game you know?”