Isn't it interesting that, as my friend Sully notes, neither of the two most-talked about ballplayers in New York this year played one inning last year? Of course, Alex Rodriguez and Matt Harvey missed 2014 for very different reasons, but still.
Anyhow, I have zero expectations that the Yankees will do anything this year. Way too many things would have to happen for them to make even a wild card berth. Unfortunately, this is not going to be a good team, or even an interesting team. And I agree with Pedro Martinez about Masahiro Tanaka -- I don't think he is going to last the year. To quote a Smiths lyric, I know it's over (and it never really began.) And that goes for Tanaka's elbow and for the Yankees' 2015 fortunes.
Oh, and since Brian Cashman didn't even think that anybody from the farm system was capable of being even a utility infielder, there really isn't a rookie position player to get excited about. Ho hum.
The one bit of excitement and anticipation I have about the Yankees' Opening Day is because I am very curious to hear what reaction Alex Rodriguez gets. I think it will be the loudest of all the players, with the combination of cheers and boos. But I think the cheers will be louder than the boos (I think 70/30), at least for the first at bat. (Of course, if he strikes out, the boos will be back.)
There was a pretty interesting story on Vice.com about what type of reaction A-Rod will receive this year. Bleacher Creature Bald Vinny, of all people, said some really positive things about Rodriguez (he used to despise him, and then he met him and changed his mind.) Now he is selling pro-A-Rod shirts and arguing with Yankee fans who don't like Rodriguez (welcome to my world -- at least the latter part!). Vinny said (emphasis added):
"A-Rod could've walked away from all of this, stopped having to deal with the Yankee fans who vehemently hate him. He's already made himself the laughing stock. Cooperstown is out of the question. And he's got more money than he could ever spend. He could have disappeared, but he' s coming back to play for pride. He's got passion and wants to prove people wrong. The guy's gonna' be forty-years-old, has two bad hips, and he's busting his ass. I think it's kind of awesome. If Yankee fans can't respect that a little bit... How do you not support a guy like that?"I agree. I want to see A-Rod have a great year. I want to see Willie Mays in the stands cheering Rodriguez on when he breaks the Say Hey Kid's record. (Imagine how much Hal Steinbrenner would squirm over that. Oh, wait, he doesn't actually go to games! Scratch that -- imagine how much Brian Cashman and Randy Levine would squirm!)
And I want Alex to use one of my theme song ideas. He could pick the great Mark Ronson/Bruno Mars song "Uptown Funk" for his walkup music -- specifically, the part that says "Don't believe me, just watch." (Listen to the song here.) I think it would be a great choice. And it actually is plausible that he might choose this.
But I have one other pick that would get people to flip out and lose their minds. He ought to pick Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" -- it is such a catchy, infectious song, isn't it? (An aside -- there is a reason "Saturday Night Live did that skit about adults becoming Taylor Swift fans! Every time I hear "Shake It Off,", I want to dance around the room!) Don't these lyrics work well here for him?
But I keep cruising
Can't stop, won't stop moving
It's like I got this music
In my mind
Saying, "It's gonna be alright."
'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake I shake it off, I shake it off
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