The Yankees have reportedly signed Joe Girardi to a three-year deal. Wasn't he supposed to end up in Chicago? I mean, who wouldn't leave the Yankees to go to the Cubs? Wait... nobody? Just checking.
Apparently the team options for Kerry Wood and Lance Berkman and the mutual option for Nick Johnson were all declined by the Yankees. Wood's was $11 million for one year, Berkman's was $15 million, and Johnson's was $5.5 million. The decision on Johnson was a no-brainer. Berkman is not worth that much money, but we don't think he's coming back anyway. The Yankees will likely sign Marcus Thames instead, and two DHs (three, if you include Posada) are just too many. Wood should definitely be brought back, but the Yankees can probably sign him to longer-term deal with less money per year.
As far as other free agents go, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are definitely coming back. It's just a matter of how much and how long. Andy Pettitte will retire; the stupid Clemens court case hanging over his head would be too much of a distraction to the team if he were to come back. Austin Kearns and Javier Vazquez are goners. And Cliff Lee will be signing on the dotted line before Christmas.
Unfortunately, the likes of John Lackey, Mike Cameron, and Marco Scutaro are no longer on the market, since the Red Sox snatched them away from the Yankees and signed them to multi-year deals last offseason. Then again, maybe it's for the best.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Postseason Log 13
The Good News:
We were right about one thing; the Giants are in the World Series.
The Bad News:
The Giants won Game 1.
Our World Series prediction is for the Rangers to win in six games. (This pick has nothing to do with what happened last night; we had chosen before the game started and just didn't get around to posting.)
By the way, did anyone notice what a great pitcher's duel it was last night? Check that; the starters gave up 10 runs between them, didn't they? Okay. Just checking to see if you were paying attention.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
We were right about one thing; the Giants are in the World Series.
The Bad News:
The Giants won Game 1.
Our World Series prediction is for the Rangers to win in six games. (This pick has nothing to do with what happened last night; we had chosen before the game started and just didn't get around to posting.)
By the way, did anyone notice what a great pitcher's duel it was last night? Check that; the starters gave up 10 runs between them, didn't they? Okay. Just checking to see if you were paying attention.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Anybody Sick Of This Yet?
Brett Favre. Has anybody groaned and left this webpage? The Green Bay Packers played the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night. The Packers won in a close contest that came down to the final minute of the game. But instead of focusing on the victorious Packers, NBC's cameras followed Brett Favre across the field and through the tunnel. Undoubtedly they would have followed him all the way into the locker room had their cameras been allowed.
This is just the most recent example of the media's obsession with Brett Favre. Granted, there's a lot to talk about. He's been the epitome of a drama king for the past few years, and his problems have multiplied this season. But what about the game? The NFL is, after all, about football, not the off-field problems of individual players, or even an individual player's injuries.
Unfortunately, the obsession with Brett Favre is part of a bigger problem. Pregame shows and other media outlets choose one or two topics to obsess over each week. Anyone who has watched an NCAA football pregame show on ABC knows the analysts latch onto one or two featured teams or players and pretty much focuses on them. Denard Robinson was a shoo-in for the Heisman until his dreadful game a few weeks ago. Alabama was the greatest team ever until they were defeated by South Carolina. Teams like Nebraska (who, granted, is not the greatest team ever)? Ignored until they played on ABC - and then their defense was called the "Blackhawks" instead of the "Blackshirts." Disgraceful.
Many sports have introduced salary caps to level the playing field. While we don't agree with salary caps, it would be nice if the media introduced a "coverage cap" to level the "broadcast field."
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
This is just the most recent example of the media's obsession with Brett Favre. Granted, there's a lot to talk about. He's been the epitome of a drama king for the past few years, and his problems have multiplied this season. But what about the game? The NFL is, after all, about football, not the off-field problems of individual players, or even an individual player's injuries.
Unfortunately, the obsession with Brett Favre is part of a bigger problem. Pregame shows and other media outlets choose one or two topics to obsess over each week. Anyone who has watched an NCAA football pregame show on ABC knows the analysts latch onto one or two featured teams or players and pretty much focuses on them. Denard Robinson was a shoo-in for the Heisman until his dreadful game a few weeks ago. Alabama was the greatest team ever until they were defeated by South Carolina. Teams like Nebraska (who, granted, is not the greatest team ever)? Ignored until they played on ABC - and then their defense was called the "Blackhawks" instead of the "Blackshirts." Disgraceful.
Many sports have introduced salary caps to level the playing field. While we don't agree with salary caps, it would be nice if the media introduced a "coverage cap" to level the "broadcast field."
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Postseason Log 12
The Good News:
Ha!
The Bad News:
The Yankees lost.
When you can't pitch and you can't hit, chances are you're going to lose. The Yankees will sign Cliff Lee in the offseason, stop trusting David Robertson in the postseason (c'mon, Girardi!), and be back next year for another shot at the World Series.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
Ha!
The Bad News:
The Yankees lost.
When you can't pitch and you can't hit, chances are you're going to lose. The Yankees will sign Cliff Lee in the offseason, stop trusting David Robertson in the postseason (c'mon, Girardi!), and be back next year for another shot at the World Series.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Postseason Logs 9, 10, and 11
The Good News:
Basically, the Yankees aren't dead yet, and the Giants are leading the Phillies 3-2.
The Bad News:
The Phillies aren't dead yet, and the Yankees are going to have to go through Cliff Lee to make the World Series.
If any team can come back and win the ALCS under these circumstances (losing their #3 hitter, Teixeira, and playing against one of the best postseason pitchers in the game, Cliff Lee), the Yankees can. But if any team can have such a resurgence in confidence and quality of play in Game 5 and then fall flat on their faces in Game 6 to lose the series, the Yankees can. It all depends on whether they can hit those runs in.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
Basically, the Yankees aren't dead yet, and the Giants are leading the Phillies 3-2.
The Bad News:
The Phillies aren't dead yet, and the Yankees are going to have to go through Cliff Lee to make the World Series.
If any team can come back and win the ALCS under these circumstances (losing their #3 hitter, Teixeira, and playing against one of the best postseason pitchers in the game, Cliff Lee), the Yankees can. But if any team can have such a resurgence in confidence and quality of play in Game 5 and then fall flat on their faces in Game 6 to lose the series, the Yankees can. It all depends on whether they can hit those runs in.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Postseason Log 8
The Good News:
Don't even mention it.
The Bad News:
The Yankees got embarrassed by the Rangers, and the Giants got embarrassed by the Phillies.
This was the problem with starting Phil Hughes in Game 2. Assuming Cliff Lee's start in Game 7 is an automatic win for the Rangers, the Yankees have to win the next three games. Two of which are being started by A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes, respectively.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
Don't even mention it.
The Bad News:
The Yankees got embarrassed by the Rangers, and the Giants got embarrassed by the Phillies.
This was the problem with starting Phil Hughes in Game 2. Assuming Cliff Lee's start in Game 7 is an automatic win for the Rangers, the Yankees have to win the next three games. Two of which are being started by A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes, respectively.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Postseason Log 7
The Good News:
The Giants beat the Phillies in the first game of the NLCS on Saturday night. The Yankees came back from five runs down on Friday night to beat the Rangers in the first game of the ALCS.
The Bad News:
The Yankees lost to the Rangers with a horrible performance by Phil Hughes on Saturday night, and the Phillies beat the Giants rather handily on Sunday night.
Well, if our teams win every other game, we'll end up on top. *Gulp*
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
The Giants beat the Phillies in the first game of the NLCS on Saturday night. The Yankees came back from five runs down on Friday night to beat the Rangers in the first game of the ALCS.
The Bad News:
The Yankees lost to the Rangers with a horrible performance by Phil Hughes on Saturday night, and the Phillies beat the Giants rather handily on Sunday night.
Well, if our teams win every other game, we'll end up on top. *Gulp*
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Postseason Log 6
The Good News:
The Rangers beat the Rays in Game 5 last night, which brings our predictions to 3-1.
The Bad News:
The Rangers played darn well last night.
The Rays made such a huge deal about getting home field advantage in the ALDS. What did they do? Go out and lose all three home games.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
The Rangers beat the Rays in Game 5 last night, which brings our predictions to 3-1.
The Bad News:
The Rangers played darn well last night.
The Rays made such a huge deal about getting home field advantage in the ALDS. What did they do? Go out and lose all three home games.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Postseason Log 5
The Good News:
The Giants finally clinched in a nail-biter against the Braves.
The Bad News:
The aforementioned Giants are going to have to step up their game if they're going to beat the Phillies in the NLCS.
Um, did anybody else notice who made the last out of the Braves/Giants series? The Melk-man must have had a flat tire on the way to his delivery.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
The Giants finally clinched in a nail-biter against the Braves.
The Bad News:
The aforementioned Giants are going to have to step up their game if they're going to beat the Phillies in the NLCS.
Um, did anybody else notice who made the last out of the Braves/Giants series? The Melk-man must have had a flat tire on the way to his delivery.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Postseason Log 4
The Good News:
The Giants won, thanks to some awful defense by the Braves, and now lead their series 2-1.
The Bad News:
The Rays beat the Rangers (darnit), which means that series is going back to St. Petersburg for Game 5. Of course, the Rangers won the first two games at St. Petersburg, so that shouldn't be a big deal. Also, the Phillies completed a sweep of the Reds.
The good news about the Rays/Rangers series is that both teams are playing better on the road than at home. Looks like the Yankees might have been better off winning the wild card (read: being the away team) instead of the division. First getting to play the Twins, then playing on the road more...
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
The Giants won, thanks to some awful defense by the Braves, and now lead their series 2-1.
The Bad News:
The Rays beat the Rangers (darnit), which means that series is going back to St. Petersburg for Game 5. Of course, the Rangers won the first two games at St. Petersburg, so that shouldn't be a big deal. Also, the Phillies completed a sweep of the Reds.
The good news about the Rays/Rangers series is that both teams are playing better on the road than at home. Looks like the Yankees might have been better off winning the wild card (read: being the away team) instead of the division. First getting to play the Twins, then playing on the road more...
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Postseason Log 3
The Good News:
Oh, boy. None.
The Bad News:
The Giants aren't going to sweep the Braves after losing last night. The Reds are now down to the Phillies two games to none, and are likely not going to win the series. (Although if they do, it will be in five games.)
This is why we cheer for the American League over the National League. The NL just won't cooperate.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
Oh, boy. None.
The Bad News:
The Giants aren't going to sweep the Braves after losing last night. The Reds are now down to the Phillies two games to none, and are likely not going to win the series. (Although if they do, it will be in five games.)
This is why we cheer for the American League over the National League. The NL just won't cooperate.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Postseason Log 2
The Good News:
Anyone who would like a taste of toasted Ray: Please line up outside Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas on Saturday. Bring your own fork. The Yankees beat the Twins yet again, this time with help from Lance Berkman and Andy Pettitte. (Still don't understand why the media was freaking out with worry about him.) Tim Lincecum of the Giants threw a complete-game shutout against the Braves.
The Bad News:
None.
We would like to personally thank the MLB umpires for their cooperation in the fulfillment of our postseason predictions.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
Anyone who would like a taste of toasted Ray: Please line up outside Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas on Saturday. Bring your own fork. The Yankees beat the Twins yet again, this time with help from Lance Berkman and Andy Pettitte. (Still don't understand why the media was freaking out with worry about him.) Tim Lincecum of the Giants threw a complete-game shutout against the Braves.
The Bad News:
None.
We would like to personally thank the MLB umpires for their cooperation in the fulfillment of our postseason predictions.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Postseason Log 1
The Good News:
The Yankees squeaked out a win last night, courtesy of Mark Teixeira. The Rays lost to the Rangers in decisive fashion.
The Bad News:
Yikes. So the Reds were no-hit by Roy Halladay of the Phillies. That doesn't look promising for our predictions, even if Orlando Cabrera was right and the ump was giving Halladay everything. Umps have given guys pitches before, and there has only been one no-hitter (perfect game, actually) in the playoffs before.
All in all, it was a satisfying day for us, both as Yankee fans and Ray haters. Oh, and postseason predictors.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
The Yankees squeaked out a win last night, courtesy of Mark Teixeira. The Rays lost to the Rangers in decisive fashion.
The Bad News:
Yikes. So the Reds were no-hit by Roy Halladay of the Phillies. That doesn't look promising for our predictions, even if Orlando Cabrera was right and the ump was giving Halladay everything. Umps have given guys pitches before, and there has only been one no-hitter (perfect game, actually) in the playoffs before.
All in all, it was a satisfying day for us, both as Yankee fans and Ray haters. Oh, and postseason predictors.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Postseason Predictions
We have decided on our postseason predictions, and we are never wrong. Except when we're wrong.
The Yankees will beat the Twins in the first round - probably in four games. After all, the Twins are the Twins, and the Twins always lose in the first round.
Meanwhile, the Rays will lose to the Rangers in four games. The Rays are simply not good enough to beat the Rangers.
As far as the National League goes, the Giants are going to sweep the Braves, and the Reds are going to beat the Phillies in five games.
In the League Championship Series, the Yankees will beat the Rangers in six games, and the Giants will beat the Reds in five games.
Naturally, the Yankees will win the World Series, beating the Giants in six games. However great the Giants's pitching staff is, they are in the National League. West.
These predictions are brought to you courtesy of a pair of baseball fans who once stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to watch the Yankees get pounded by the Los Angelos Angels of Anaheim. As you can see, we're a very unbiased duo.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
The Yankees will beat the Twins in the first round - probably in four games. After all, the Twins are the Twins, and the Twins always lose in the first round.
Meanwhile, the Rays will lose to the Rangers in four games. The Rays are simply not good enough to beat the Rangers.
As far as the National League goes, the Giants are going to sweep the Braves, and the Reds are going to beat the Phillies in five games.
In the League Championship Series, the Yankees will beat the Rangers in six games, and the Giants will beat the Reds in five games.
Naturally, the Yankees will win the World Series, beating the Giants in six games. However great the Giants's pitching staff is, they are in the National League. West.
These predictions are brought to you courtesy of a pair of baseball fans who once stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to watch the Yankees get pounded by the Los Angelos Angels of Anaheim. As you can see, we're a very unbiased duo.
Hydra
6-4-3 double play... Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!
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