Sunday, January 15, 2012

THEY MADE A MOVE ALRIGHT

***CASHMAN'S BIG SPLASH***
Friday the 13th was bad news for the rest of the AL East. In a New York minute, the Yankees solved their pitching dilemma with two - count 'em, two - top of the rotation starters. Hiroki Kuorda and Michael Pineda, along with a throw-in, Jose Compos, who may turn out to be the best of the three. This gives the Yanks seven starters with Sabathia, Nova and three guys fighting for the fifth spot: Burnett, Hughes and Garcia.
How good will the pitching be? On paper, great, of course, but they still only count the wins you get on the field. Dwight Perry had a different take. He says the Yanks should go after 6'4", 275 lb Prince fielder. Add him to 270 lb Pineda, 290 lb Sabathia, 280 lb Betances and 250 lb Garcia, and you've got a pretty good offensive line.
It's no secret that the Yanks would love to dump Burnett, but the money issue will not go away. How about this: package Burnett, Austin Romaine, Nick Swisher and cash to the Dodgers for Matt Kemp? Red Sox owner John Henry would be hollering "Evil Empire" at the top of his lungs. Sox manager Bobby Valentine (small letters for a small mind) wasn't impressed by the trade. He said Pineda was 'okay' and Kuroda was 'a year older.' Ouch, Bobby.
So congratulations to Brian Cashman for another last-minute, out-of-the-blue, stunner.

***THE BASEBALL WRITERS ASSOC. ANNUAL DINNER***
It's being held on Saturday, and the 1962 Mets are being honored, since it's their 50th anniversary. You have to wonder if somewhere in the association, there is a tongue firmly entrenched in a cheek, because the '62 Mets record was 42-120 (.259). Roger Craig lost 24 games, Al Jackson lost 20 games and Jay Hook lost 19 games. The Mets also made 240 errors, but they were the most lovable team in New York.

***THEY SAID IT***
In honor of the Mets, let's lead off with the most lovable: Casey Stengel.
In a mound meeting, he once asked pitcher Bob Miller how he felt. "I'm not tired," Miller said. Casey replied, "Well, your outfielders are."
When a writer asked, "How do you keep your boys on their toes?" Stengel said, "We raise the urinals."
For all his kidding and "Stenglese," Casey knew exactly what kind of team he had: "There will be two buses to the park from the hotel. The two o'clock bus is for those who need a little extra work and then there will be an empty bus leaving at five o'clock."
"Dennis Rodman announced plans to coach a new topless women's basketball team. There will be a short preseason followed by a full slate of exhibitionist games." -- RJ Currie
"Good news for you insomniacs out there: Just 9 ½ months until they play the next Alabama-LSU football game." -- Dwight Perry
"Preparations are under way for the Pinball World Championships. It's a lot like college football bowl season only with lower scores." -- Brad Dickson
"Hostess filed for bankruptcy three months after CC Sabathia went on a diet. Coincidence? I think not." -- Brad Dickson

CP-

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