Friday, January 9, 2009
Squawker media alert: I will be on the radio today
Heads up: I will be squawking on Sound-Off With Sinkoff this Friday at 4:10 p.m. The show airs on Albany's ESPN 104.5 The Team. Click here to listen live to the show online. I'll be talking about Manny Ramirez, as well as the state of the Yankees.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Cleveland rocks - with Carl Pavano & Eric Mangini!
It hasn't been so great being a fan of the Mets and Jets lately, but it could be worse - I could be a Cleveland fan. First, the Indians, who not too long ago boasted CC Sabathia in their rotation, sign none other than Carl Pavano. The signing itself is not unreasonable - one year, $1.5 million guaranteed, with the possibility of earning $5.3M more in performance bonuses. But here's what Indians GM Mark Shapiro had to say about Pavano:
"I feel like we're getting him at the right time," Shapiro said. "He's very strong, in good shape now and extremely motivated. We thought he would benefit from a fresh start. It was a tough situation in New York and he was trying to justify the contract that he had."
So Shapiro has to explain to Indian fans that Pavano is in good shape now and, unlike when he was in pinstripes, Pavano promises to be "extremely motivated." As for being in a "tough situation in New York," well, who created that tough situation? Pavano!
Shapiro even guaranteed Pavano a sport in the rotation, though he did say it would be as long as Pavano was healthy following spring training. Good luck with that!
*
At one point during the 1994 season, the Philadelphia Eagles were 7-2. But the Eagles collapsed down the stretch, losing their last seven games. and coach Rich Kotite was fired. While other organizations were not exactly lining up at Kotite's door, one owner, the Jets' Leon Hess, saw a chance to hire a coach with experience who had made the playoffs two years earlier. Jet fans know all too well how that turned out.
At one point during the 2008 season, the Jets were 8-3. But they collapsed down the stretch, losing four of their last five (and should have lost the Buffalo game as well) and coach Eric Mangini was fired. While other organizations were not exactly lining up at Mangini's door, one owner, Cleveland's Randy Lerner, saw a chance to hire a coach with experience who had made the playoffs two years earlier.
Time will tell if the Browns made the right move. After all, Pete Carroll, the young coach the Jets replaced with Kotite, has gone on to have a highly successful coaching career. And it was only a few months ago that the Jets couldn't wait to get rid of Chad Pennington.
But as of now, I think the best ex-New Yorker Cleveland has acquired so far this offseason is the one player in the J.J. Putz trade I didn't want to see go - Joe Smith.
"I feel like we're getting him at the right time," Shapiro said. "He's very strong, in good shape now and extremely motivated. We thought he would benefit from a fresh start. It was a tough situation in New York and he was trying to justify the contract that he had."
So Shapiro has to explain to Indian fans that Pavano is in good shape now and, unlike when he was in pinstripes, Pavano promises to be "extremely motivated." As for being in a "tough situation in New York," well, who created that tough situation? Pavano!
Shapiro even guaranteed Pavano a sport in the rotation, though he did say it would be as long as Pavano was healthy following spring training. Good luck with that!
*
At one point during the 1994 season, the Philadelphia Eagles were 7-2. But the Eagles collapsed down the stretch, losing their last seven games. and coach Rich Kotite was fired. While other organizations were not exactly lining up at Kotite's door, one owner, the Jets' Leon Hess, saw a chance to hire a coach with experience who had made the playoffs two years earlier. Jet fans know all too well how that turned out.
At one point during the 2008 season, the Jets were 8-3. But they collapsed down the stretch, losing four of their last five (and should have lost the Buffalo game as well) and coach Eric Mangini was fired. While other organizations were not exactly lining up at Mangini's door, one owner, Cleveland's Randy Lerner, saw a chance to hire a coach with experience who had made the playoffs two years earlier.
Time will tell if the Browns made the right move. After all, Pete Carroll, the young coach the Jets replaced with Kotite, has gone on to have a highly successful coaching career. And it was only a few months ago that the Jets couldn't wait to get rid of Chad Pennington.
But as of now, I think the best ex-New Yorker Cleveland has acquired so far this offseason is the one player in the J.J. Putz trade I didn't want to see go - Joe Smith.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
What should Mark Teixeira's home run call be?
Now that Mark Teixeira is officially a Yankee, it's time to figure out something important. No, not where he should bat in the lineup, but what John Sterling's home run call should be for him!
Here are some suggestions:
Of course, I'm not the first Yankee blogger to try to come up with Sterling's Teixeira call. The Yankee fan blog Scott Proctor's Arm wrote these suggestions for the broadcaster:
Also, back in 2007, we made it into Deadspin when I tried to come up with Sterling's home run call for Shelley Duncan. Speaking of which, Duncan was designated for assignment yesterday. No word on whether Sterling will come up with a DFA call for him.
What do you think? Do you have any home run calls of your own? Leave us a comment!
Here are some suggestions:
- Tex wrecks it!
- Teix-share and share alike!
- Look-a there-a - it's Mark Teixeira!
- That was no M.T. hit - he got all of it!
- The Tex-Bino!
Of course, I'm not the first Yankee blogger to try to come up with Sterling's Teixeira call. The Yankee fan blog Scott Proctor's Arm wrote these suggestions for the broadcaster:
On the MarkAnd as Wikipedia notes in its entry for Sterling:
Tex Marks the spot
Mark it down
And guess which source the person used for that tidbit?:One of his signature radio remarks is his home run call "It is high, it is far, it is gone!" Sterling usually follows with one of his patented player nicknames, which have become well-known to the extent that new ones can be highly anticipated:[15]
^ Swan, Lisa; John Lewin (July 29, 2008). Let's come up with a home run call for Xavier Nady", New York Daily News. Retrieved on 4 August 2008.Whoo-hoo! We made it into Wikipedia! True, they misspelled Squawker Jon's name, but still!
Also, back in 2007, we made it into Deadspin when I tried to come up with Sterling's home run call for Shelley Duncan. Speaking of which, Duncan was designated for assignment yesterday. No word on whether Sterling will come up with a DFA call for him.
What do you think? Do you have any home run calls of your own? Leave us a comment!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Tacky day for Brian Cashman
I wanted to watch the Mark Teixeira news conference about as much as seeing a "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" type of show in which some zillionaire explains that he's going to put his new Rembrandt in the bathroom so it doesn't conflict with all his other treasures. But I did end up putting it on, just in time to see Brian Cashman explain how the Yankees switched gears to pursue the power hitter:
Our biggest need was to improve our pitching, but to use a sailing term, we might have tacked a little bit off the game plan.
When Cashman started using sailing terms, it occurred to me that the Yankees could have found a way to make yet another big-signing presser more interesting. They should have introduced Teixeira on a yacht. Put everyone in tuxedoes. Don't just talk about the carving board - show it, along with caviar and lobster.
I'd rather see the Yankees embrace being the big-money team, as it sounds like they will be doing with the new stadium, than have Cashman pretend they are no different than other teams. After the presser, Cashman went so far as to say that the Yankees, just like everyone else, were cutting payroll, and were now down about 15 or 20 million dollars from last year.
First of all, considering what last year's payroll was, this is like doctors congratulating a morbidly obese man because he's gone from 700 pounds all the way down to 600.
Then again, maybe it isn't, because the obese man will continue to try to lose weight, while the Yankees already have a $10M offer out to Andy Pettitte, and if that doesn't work out, who will be surprised if that sort of money or more goes to a different free agent. So the Yankees are likely to end up with the same payroll as last year. Or more - I seem to remember Cashman boasting about keeping the payroll down in 2007 when the season began before dropping $20 million on part-timer Roger Clemens.
My favorite thing Cashman did was when he momentarily forgot to introduce Joe Girardi and went straight to Teixeira. I wonder how long Girardi gets if the Yankees don't get off to a good start with their star-studded team.
As for Teixeira, it does look like he really wanted to be a Yankee. At least we didn't hear about any opt-out clauses in his contract.
As for the Mets, I hope there is some good news to report on them soon. As long as the Yankees don't have Pettitte in the fold, I fear they jump to the head of the line for the likes of Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez.
It will be bad enough if the Mets end up getting shut out on both Lowe and Perez. But then they at least should be able to spend money to spend on a corner outfielder, as long as they don't wait too long and see all of the good outfielders disappear as well. If the Mets end up filling their holes with the likes of Randy Wolf and Cliff Floyd, maybe they should hold that news conference on Lisa's Staten Island Ferry.
Our biggest need was to improve our pitching, but to use a sailing term, we might have tacked a little bit off the game plan.
When Cashman started using sailing terms, it occurred to me that the Yankees could have found a way to make yet another big-signing presser more interesting. They should have introduced Teixeira on a yacht. Put everyone in tuxedoes. Don't just talk about the carving board - show it, along with caviar and lobster.
I'd rather see the Yankees embrace being the big-money team, as it sounds like they will be doing with the new stadium, than have Cashman pretend they are no different than other teams. After the presser, Cashman went so far as to say that the Yankees, just like everyone else, were cutting payroll, and were now down about 15 or 20 million dollars from last year.
First of all, considering what last year's payroll was, this is like doctors congratulating a morbidly obese man because he's gone from 700 pounds all the way down to 600.
Then again, maybe it isn't, because the obese man will continue to try to lose weight, while the Yankees already have a $10M offer out to Andy Pettitte, and if that doesn't work out, who will be surprised if that sort of money or more goes to a different free agent. So the Yankees are likely to end up with the same payroll as last year. Or more - I seem to remember Cashman boasting about keeping the payroll down in 2007 when the season began before dropping $20 million on part-timer Roger Clemens.
My favorite thing Cashman did was when he momentarily forgot to introduce Joe Girardi and went straight to Teixeira. I wonder how long Girardi gets if the Yankees don't get off to a good start with their star-studded team.
As for Teixeira, it does look like he really wanted to be a Yankee. At least we didn't hear about any opt-out clauses in his contract.
As for the Mets, I hope there is some good news to report on them soon. As long as the Yankees don't have Pettitte in the fold, I fear they jump to the head of the line for the likes of Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez.
It will be bad enough if the Mets end up getting shut out on both Lowe and Perez. But then they at least should be able to spend money to spend on a corner outfielder, as long as they don't wait too long and see all of the good outfielders disappear as well. If the Mets end up filling their holes with the likes of Randy Wolf and Cliff Floyd, maybe they should hold that news conference on Lisa's Staten Island Ferry.
Mark Teixeira meets the press
So it's official - Mark Teixeira is a Yankee. Mike Francesa was very negative about the press conference, but I enjoyed watching it. Like Michael Kay kept on saying, Teixeira actually looks happy to be a Yank. (Randy Johnson would win the "least happy to be a Yankee" contest!)
I was thinking of having five people introduce the next person before getting to my squawk, like at today's presser, but since Squawker Jon boycotted watching the press conference, I decided against it. So I'll have to go solo with my observations:
* I thought Mark was confident with the press, but seemed sincere, and not slick. He came off as a very likeable guy.
* Mark said something about having decided weeks before to be a Yankee. So it sounds like he did toy with the Red Sox after all. Gotta love it!
* When the microphone went crazy when Brian Cashman was talking, I half-expected a reaction shot of Scott Boras saying "sign Manny or else" to Cash.
* Mark said more than once that signing with the Yankees was a "no-brainer," to which I could imagine Yankee-haters' reaction of "no kidding" to that one!
* Hal Steinbrenner looks like his father, but with Tucker Carlson's hair.
* Boras looks like Tom DeLay.
* And Teixeira? Who does he look like? It's on the tip of my tongue, but I can't think of who it is.
* I guess No. 25 won't be retired for Jason Giambi, after all!
* Besides being a great hitter, and the best glove the Yanks have had at first since Tino Martinez, Teixeira seems like he will fit in well with the Yankee way.
* Loved hearing Teixeira gush wearing a Yankee cap and rooting for Don Mattingly while Teix was growing up in Baltimore.
How many days is it until pitchers and catchers? I can't wait!
What did you think of the Mark Teixeira press conference? Leave us a comment!
I was thinking of having five people introduce the next person before getting to my squawk, like at today's presser, but since Squawker Jon boycotted watching the press conference, I decided against it. So I'll have to go solo with my observations:
* I thought Mark was confident with the press, but seemed sincere, and not slick. He came off as a very likeable guy.
* Mark said something about having decided weeks before to be a Yankee. So it sounds like he did toy with the Red Sox after all. Gotta love it!
* When the microphone went crazy when Brian Cashman was talking, I half-expected a reaction shot of Scott Boras saying "sign Manny or else" to Cash.
* Mark said more than once that signing with the Yankees was a "no-brainer," to which I could imagine Yankee-haters' reaction of "no kidding" to that one!
* Hal Steinbrenner looks like his father, but with Tucker Carlson's hair.
* Boras looks like Tom DeLay.
* And Teixeira? Who does he look like? It's on the tip of my tongue, but I can't think of who it is.
* I guess No. 25 won't be retired for Jason Giambi, after all!
* Besides being a great hitter, and the best glove the Yanks have had at first since Tino Martinez, Teixeira seems like he will fit in well with the Yankee way.
* Loved hearing Teixeira gush wearing a Yankee cap and rooting for Don Mattingly while Teix was growing up in Baltimore.
How many days is it until pitchers and catchers? I can't wait!
What did you think of the Mark Teixeira press conference? Leave us a comment!
Yankees should throw Andy Pettitte a bone
Yikes! While we wait for the big Mark Teixeira press conference today, there is other news out of Yankeeland, and it's not good for Andy Pettitte fans. According to Tyler Kepner of the New York Times, Pettitte is saying no to the Yankees' $10 million, one-year offer.
Even though the Yankees went on a shopping spree for the ages this winter, they apparently are treating Andy Pettitte like something they found at the dollar store. Then again, Pettitte was all "I want to be a Yankee for life no matter what," so he shouldn't be surprised that they are trying to nickel and dime him.
Should Pettitte have to get a pay cut from his $16 million salary from last year? Absolutely, given his lousy second half - not to mention the Mitchell Report. But it makes no sense for the Yanks not to budge on the $10 million offer. While Brian Cashman did fly down to Houston to talk to Andy, one would hope he would dig through the Yankee couch cushions and dig up another million or two for Pettitte.
If the Yanks do offer Andy, say, $12 million, and he still turns it down, then shame on him. But given that they are paying A.J. Burnett $16.5 million a year, I don't think it's unreasonable for Pettitte to want the Yanks to upgrade their offer a little.
It's funny - Pettitte was front and center with all the Yankee Stadium closing ceremony stuff, with all the other "four rings" teammates. Yet the Yanks appear to be thisclose to cutting ties with him for the second time in five years. Unreal.
What do you think about Andy Pettitte? Leave us a comment.
Even though the Yankees went on a shopping spree for the ages this winter, they apparently are treating Andy Pettitte like something they found at the dollar store. Then again, Pettitte was all "I want to be a Yankee for life no matter what," so he shouldn't be surprised that they are trying to nickel and dime him.
Should Pettitte have to get a pay cut from his $16 million salary from last year? Absolutely, given his lousy second half - not to mention the Mitchell Report. But it makes no sense for the Yanks not to budge on the $10 million offer. While Brian Cashman did fly down to Houston to talk to Andy, one would hope he would dig through the Yankee couch cushions and dig up another million or two for Pettitte.
If the Yanks do offer Andy, say, $12 million, and he still turns it down, then shame on him. But given that they are paying A.J. Burnett $16.5 million a year, I don't think it's unreasonable for Pettitte to want the Yanks to upgrade their offer a little.
It's funny - Pettitte was front and center with all the Yankee Stadium closing ceremony stuff, with all the other "four rings" teammates. Yet the Yanks appear to be thisclose to cutting ties with him for the second time in five years. Unreal.
What do you think about Andy Pettitte? Leave us a comment.
Last chance to enter our DVD contest
The deadline for entering our Subway Squawkers DVD giveaway is just a few hours away - noon today, to be exact - so get your entries ready. Click here for details on how you can win a copy of the short film "Gandhi at the Bat," a mock newsreel about the little-known (and totally fictional) incident when Mahatma Gandhi pinch hit for the Yankees in 1933.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Mets can't let both of Boras' pitchers get away Scott free
Nobody thought that Mark Teixeira would be a Yankee until it happened. Could Brian Cashman's next stealth signing be Oliver Perez? I certainly hope not, but Kevin Kernan makes the case that the Yankees are better off with Perez than with Andy Pettitte.
Kernan's recommendation of Perez to the Yanks comes alongside his recommendation that the Mets ante up for Derek Lowe. Unfortunately, we know how this situation is likely to play out. The Mets will be outbid for Lowe (worst-case scenario - the Phillies) while the Yankees will swoop in and take the only other good free-agent starter on the market.
I am probably in the minority of Met fans in that I want Perez as much or more than Lowe. Perez is 27, a lefty, has shown he can pitch well in New York and has enormous upside. And these were exactly the reasons I figured the Yankees would jump on him once Perez became a free agent.
So far, though, nobody has shown much interest in Perez. Presumably, teams are waiting for Boras to lower the price. And maybe, just like with Teixeira, the first time the Yankees will publicly show interest is when they announce they have signed Perez.
Ollie's career record against the Yankees:
Starts: 6
Innings: 41.1
W-L: 5-1
ERA: 2.61
Batting average against: .199
WHIP: 1.11
Derek Lowe has also shown he can pitch in big games in big markets, and he's had a chance to pitch in bigger games than Ollie has. And while there's a Good Ollie and a Bad Ollie, there's no such split with Lowe (just the occasional Derek Lowe face). If I had to choose between Lowe or Perez in a big game, I would have to go with Lowe.
But as long as we are talking upside, I think Perez is worth the same sort of offer the Mets have given Lowe. Neither may be enough for a Boras client, but the Mets should at least try.
And even if Ollie has had mixed results, check out his record against the Phillies in their championship year of 2008:
Starts: 4
Innings: 26
W-L: 1-0
ERA: 0.35
Batting average against: .181
WHIP: 1.08
Pretty good for the guy nobody seems to want.
Here's my biggest nightmare: The Phillies (or Braves) sign Lowe. Then, when attention turns to Perez, the Yankees swoop in. Desperate to make a splash, Omar Minaya signs the pitcher the Yankees didn't want - Andy Pettitte. And the Mets find out why the Yankees didn't want him.
Do you want Oliver Perez back on the Mets? Tell us what you think.
Kernan's recommendation of Perez to the Yanks comes alongside his recommendation that the Mets ante up for Derek Lowe. Unfortunately, we know how this situation is likely to play out. The Mets will be outbid for Lowe (worst-case scenario - the Phillies) while the Yankees will swoop in and take the only other good free-agent starter on the market.
I am probably in the minority of Met fans in that I want Perez as much or more than Lowe. Perez is 27, a lefty, has shown he can pitch well in New York and has enormous upside. And these were exactly the reasons I figured the Yankees would jump on him once Perez became a free agent.
So far, though, nobody has shown much interest in Perez. Presumably, teams are waiting for Boras to lower the price. And maybe, just like with Teixeira, the first time the Yankees will publicly show interest is when they announce they have signed Perez.
Ollie's career record against the Yankees:
Starts: 6
Innings: 41.1
W-L: 5-1
ERA: 2.61
Batting average against: .199
WHIP: 1.11
Derek Lowe has also shown he can pitch in big games in big markets, and he's had a chance to pitch in bigger games than Ollie has. And while there's a Good Ollie and a Bad Ollie, there's no such split with Lowe (just the occasional Derek Lowe face). If I had to choose between Lowe or Perez in a big game, I would have to go with Lowe.
But as long as we are talking upside, I think Perez is worth the same sort of offer the Mets have given Lowe. Neither may be enough for a Boras client, but the Mets should at least try.
And even if Ollie has had mixed results, check out his record against the Phillies in their championship year of 2008:
Starts: 4
Innings: 26
W-L: 1-0
ERA: 0.35
Batting average against: .181
WHIP: 1.08
Pretty good for the guy nobody seems to want.
Here's my biggest nightmare: The Phillies (or Braves) sign Lowe. Then, when attention turns to Perez, the Yankees swoop in. Desperate to make a splash, Omar Minaya signs the pitcher the Yankees didn't want - Andy Pettitte. And the Mets find out why the Yankees didn't want him.
Do you want Oliver Perez back on the Mets? Tell us what you think.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Shocker: Red Sox fan defends the Yankees' spending
Writer Russ Smith of SpliceToday.com is a lifelong Red Sox fan, who says that his "Yankee-hating bona fides are second to no one."
Which is why it was shocking to read Smith defending the Yankees' $423.5 million spending spree. Smith writes:
Which is why it was shocking to read Smith defending the Yankees' $423.5 million spending spree. Smith writes:
He's not kidding about the hyperbole. Smith found an outrageous quote from would-be Red Sox Nation President Peter Gammons:The recent commotion from baseball media commentators—in print, on the tube, online and at parties—after the Yankees signed free agent Mark Teixeira for $180 million has been the most knee-jerk, naive and plain dumb hyperbole that’s occurred in the past year. The Yankees are ruining Major League Baseball! The Steinbrenners Hal and Hank (and GM Brian Cashman) don’t play fair! Locking up three players—aside from Teixeira, they nabbed C.C. Cheeseburger and A.J. Burnett—for a total of $423.5 million is unseemly during a crippling recession and the world’s most famous sports franchise is once again spitting at people with prudence and manners!
What a load of hooey.
Gammons rebutted the whining about Boras with this zinger: “Boras doesn’t want to be the good guy, and doesn’t care who gets burned as long as his clients get the best deal; didn’t [legendary lawyer] Edward Bennett Williams do the best he could for Joe McCarthy and Sirhan Sirhan?”
Sounds like Peter is taking that whole Teixeira thing a little too hard. Sheesh.
* * *
Reminder: I will be squawking on Sound-Off With Sinkoff this Friday at 4:10 p.m. The show airs on Albany's ESPN 104.5 The Team. Click here to listen live to the show online.
What do you think about the state of the Yankees? Leave us a comment!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
What are your favorite - and least favorite - 2008 baseball moments?
Happy New Year. Hope everybody is enjoying 2009. Since the baseball hot stove is not exactly simmering right now, I thought now would be a good time to ask readers about their favorite and least favorite baseball moments of 2008.
Wondering what Squawker Jon will pick for his favorite Met moments. I know what mine is - them blowing the last game of the year, for the second year in a row, and missing the playoffs, for the second game in a row. And then having their farewell to Shea ceremonies after that game. Nice!
And how about this - the Mets' Mike Pelfrey, who played Santa Claus for the team this year, showed he was woefully unqualified for the position. In an interview with MLB.com, Pelfrey could only name three of Santa's reindeer. Three! It's not like there was a song or anything about them - oh, wait.
Forget about Anna Benson as Mrs. Claus - Pelfrey's stunning lack of knowledge of the holiday classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," when he was set to play Kris Kringle for the kids, is the real Santa sacrilege.
I don't really have any on-the field fave Yankee picks from last year - that's what happens when the Yanks have a third-place finish - but my favorite Yankee moments of 2008 are Derek Jeter's speech at the final Stadium game, and the Yanks snatching Mark Teixeira from the Red Sox. (Update: I'm smacking myself upside the head for not writing about Mike Mussina getting 20 wins. Not exactly a good start to the year!)
My two least favorite Yankee moments for last year are the Yanks missing the playoffs, of course, and them re-signing Brian Cashman However, I do have to give him tons of credit for the Mark Teixeira deal, and for wooing CC Cabathia. And if Cash can re-sign Andy Pettitte, I will be even more pleased.
As for the Red Sox, my least favorite 2008 moment was Dustin Pedroia winning the AL MVP. My favorite moment would be any part of the delicious Manny Ramirez drama.
And on a football-related but Squawker-centric note, I did have to say that I am really enjoying seeing Brett Favre finally get his comeuppance a little this week. Guess he's not "Broadway Brett" any more. Jon, I told you this summer he was bad news for your Jets, and I was right. Favre shows up when he wants, thinks he's bigger than the team, and he makes his retirement decision into a drawn-out drama. He's your very own Roger Clemens!
Tell us your 2008 favorite and least favorite MLB moments! Leave us a comment.
Wondering what Squawker Jon will pick for his favorite Met moments. I know what mine is - them blowing the last game of the year, for the second year in a row, and missing the playoffs, for the second game in a row. And then having their farewell to Shea ceremonies after that game. Nice!
And how about this - the Mets' Mike Pelfrey, who played Santa Claus for the team this year, showed he was woefully unqualified for the position. In an interview with MLB.com, Pelfrey could only name three of Santa's reindeer. Three! It's not like there was a song or anything about them - oh, wait.
Forget about Anna Benson as Mrs. Claus - Pelfrey's stunning lack of knowledge of the holiday classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," when he was set to play Kris Kringle for the kids, is the real Santa sacrilege.
I don't really have any on-the field fave Yankee picks from last year - that's what happens when the Yanks have a third-place finish - but my favorite Yankee moments of 2008 are Derek Jeter's speech at the final Stadium game, and the Yanks snatching Mark Teixeira from the Red Sox. (Update: I'm smacking myself upside the head for not writing about Mike Mussina getting 20 wins. Not exactly a good start to the year!)
My two least favorite Yankee moments for last year are the Yanks missing the playoffs, of course, and them re-signing Brian Cashman However, I do have to give him tons of credit for the Mark Teixeira deal, and for wooing CC Cabathia. And if Cash can re-sign Andy Pettitte, I will be even more pleased.
As for the Red Sox, my least favorite 2008 moment was Dustin Pedroia winning the AL MVP. My favorite moment would be any part of the delicious Manny Ramirez drama.
And on a football-related but Squawker-centric note, I did have to say that I am really enjoying seeing Brett Favre finally get his comeuppance a little this week. Guess he's not "Broadway Brett" any more. Jon, I told you this summer he was bad news for your Jets, and I was right. Favre shows up when he wants, thinks he's bigger than the team, and he makes his retirement decision into a drawn-out drama. He's your very own Roger Clemens!
Tell us your 2008 favorite and least favorite MLB moments! Leave us a comment.
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