HIGH AND TIGHT
Did you ever play ball as a kid with someone who had all the tools and talent that you wished you had: natural power, speed like a gazelle, and great hand/eye coordination, but no clue how to play the game? The kind of guy who would always throw to 3rd, whom you would run into at 2nd base on a fly ball with 2 outs, whose recognition of the rules of baseball indicated that he had never even seen a game before?
I give you Brett Gardner of the New York Yankees.
Last night, "Brett The Jet" killed a bases loaded, 2-out Yankee rally by getting tagged out at home on a short passed ball with Mark Teixera at the plate. On Saturday, I witnessed him turn his HBP courtesy of Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson into being picked off on the last of 4 very loopy throws to first.
Finally, with the bases loaded an 1 out, he ran on an obvious soft liner by Derek Jeter to first baseman Casey Kotchman, who merely had to walk to the bag to end the inning. BTW, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira were to follow.
Could this be why Joe Girardi has been reluctant to remove Jeter from the leadoff spot? Don't they have programs for kids like him?
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Get Well Soon, Jose
HIGH AND TIGHT
My sources inside the New York Mets front office assure me that they have brought on the finest doctors and most modern facilities to treat All-Star Shortstop Jose Reyes.
Or maybe he should try an HMO...
My sources inside the New York Mets front office assure me that they have brought on the finest doctors and most modern facilities to treat All-Star Shortstop Jose Reyes.
Or maybe he should try an HMO...
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Game 111: Joe Girardi's Graduation
HIGH AND TIGHT
Cue Pomp and Circumstance
I'll keep this one brief today, but last night's 3-2 win over Boston to take over 1st place in the AL East to me represents a major step in the career of Joe Girardi as a winning manager.
With New York down 2-0 with 2 out in the bottom of the 5th, things were set up well for the Sawx with the bases loaded and Adrian Gonzalez stepping to the plate against Bartolo Colon, at 94 pitches for the evening.
Colon was pitching well, but I give Girardi major props for recognizing the highest of high leverage situations, the opponent's best hitter up with a chance to do damage, even put the game away.
He summoned "LOOGY" (Lefty One Out GuY) Boone Logan, who promptly got A-Gon to flail at strike 3 in the dirt, ending the threat. The Yankees then scored 3 in the top of the 6th to take a lead they would not surrrender.
Since the "LaRussa-ization" of the save rule, many managers go strictly to formula on the use of their relievers, and especially their closers, leaving sacrificial lambs to pitch in the middle innings.
Joe Girardi has been guilty of this with his reliance on that damn binder of his. The situation last night, however, is where games are typically won and lost, hence the concept of leverage.
In making the move he made last night, and especially using David Robertson in the fireman role to quell rallies, Girardi has taken a page out of the "old school" book where the focus was foremost on winning and losing.
Congratulations, and good luck with you future!
Cue Pomp and Circumstance
I'll keep this one brief today, but last night's 3-2 win over Boston to take over 1st place in the AL East to me represents a major step in the career of Joe Girardi as a winning manager.
With New York down 2-0 with 2 out in the bottom of the 5th, things were set up well for the Sawx with the bases loaded and Adrian Gonzalez stepping to the plate against Bartolo Colon, at 94 pitches for the evening.
Colon was pitching well, but I give Girardi major props for recognizing the highest of high leverage situations, the opponent's best hitter up with a chance to do damage, even put the game away.
He summoned "LOOGY" (Lefty One Out GuY) Boone Logan, who promptly got A-Gon to flail at strike 3 in the dirt, ending the threat. The Yankees then scored 3 in the top of the 6th to take a lead they would not surrrender.
Since the "LaRussa-ization" of the save rule, many managers go strictly to formula on the use of their relievers, and especially their closers, leaving sacrificial lambs to pitch in the middle innings.
Joe Girardi has been guilty of this with his reliance on that damn binder of his. The situation last night, however, is where games are typically won and lost, hence the concept of leverage.
In making the move he made last night, and especially using David Robertson in the fireman role to quell rallies, Girardi has taken a page out of the "old school" book where the focus was foremost on winning and losing.
Congratulations, and good luck with you future!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
I'm Back: Yankees, Mets @ Trade Deadline, NFL(!)
HIGH AND TIGHT
I took a little break, as news was very slow until the trade deadline, until a fluffy of deal in the last 36 hours. The Yankees and Mets were quiet, and I think both Brian Cashman and Sandy Alderson accomplished what they needed to.
Well be doing a CTV show in the fall on the Knights of Columbus' activities on Staten Island, and with that, I had the opportunity to interview Yankees' GM Brian Cashman. Mr. Cashman and a gaggle of players graciously assisted with a lemonade stand for Megan Ajello during "Hope Week", and we focused on the team's charitable activities. I also got to see him in action with the real media, deftly sidestepping questions.
The Yankees at the time we in negotiations with Colorado for starter Ubaldo Jimenez, who ultimately went to Cleveland for a far inferior package of prospects than required from the Yankees. Since Mr. Cashman's efforts are focused on improving the Yankees and not restocking the Rockies, he was correct in turning down a deal sacrificing 4 MLB ready players.
Mr. Cashman has also taken heat as Theo Epstein added pitchers Dan Haren and Eric Bedard to his rotation. Here are three pertinent questions:
1. With the Yankees now a game out of 1st, are the Red Sox really some uber team if they had to add Haren (good) and Bedard (not so much) to their rotation?
2. Aren't the Yankees better off with recent and potential "adds" Rafael Soriano, Jesus Montero, Ivan Nova, Manny Banuelos, Eric Chavez as well as Alex Rodriguez on their roster?
3. How sure are you that Ubaldo Jiminez is still the pitcher that started last year's All-Star Game? His drop-off is parallel to that of Phil Hughes.
As for the Mets, kudos to Sandy Alderson, as pitcher Zack Wheeler is exactly the type of prospect they needed in return for Carlos Beltran. And as hard as this is to say, the Mets arc is a lot higher chasing the NL Wild Card with next year's team.
Now to the NFL:
1. Thank God everyone came to their senses, and ended the game of Russian Roulette they were playing with two-fully loaded guns! If only the NBA would do the same.
2. The Jets took a high risk flyer on Plaxico Burress, but one that could do the same thing for Mark Sanchez that it did for Eli Manning.
3. Giants coach Tom Coughlin, all talk of him being replaced quashed because of the lockout, is definitely on the hot seat this year. His players have grown tired of his act, and another collapse will cause Mara Tech to turn on him.
4. Why do I believe that Chad Ochocinco will become a model student in New England?
5. Randy Moss to the highest bidder mid-season?
I took a little break, as news was very slow until the trade deadline, until a fluffy of deal in the last 36 hours. The Yankees and Mets were quiet, and I think both Brian Cashman and Sandy Alderson accomplished what they needed to.
Well be doing a CTV show in the fall on the Knights of Columbus' activities on Staten Island, and with that, I had the opportunity to interview Yankees' GM Brian Cashman. Mr. Cashman and a gaggle of players graciously assisted with a lemonade stand for Megan Ajello during "Hope Week", and we focused on the team's charitable activities. I also got to see him in action with the real media, deftly sidestepping questions.
The Yankees at the time we in negotiations with Colorado for starter Ubaldo Jimenez, who ultimately went to Cleveland for a far inferior package of prospects than required from the Yankees. Since Mr. Cashman's efforts are focused on improving the Yankees and not restocking the Rockies, he was correct in turning down a deal sacrificing 4 MLB ready players.
Mr. Cashman has also taken heat as Theo Epstein added pitchers Dan Haren and Eric Bedard to his rotation. Here are three pertinent questions:
1. With the Yankees now a game out of 1st, are the Red Sox really some uber team if they had to add Haren (good) and Bedard (not so much) to their rotation?
2. Aren't the Yankees better off with recent and potential "adds" Rafael Soriano, Jesus Montero, Ivan Nova, Manny Banuelos, Eric Chavez as well as Alex Rodriguez on their roster?
3. How sure are you that Ubaldo Jiminez is still the pitcher that started last year's All-Star Game? His drop-off is parallel to that of Phil Hughes.
As for the Mets, kudos to Sandy Alderson, as pitcher Zack Wheeler is exactly the type of prospect they needed in return for Carlos Beltran. And as hard as this is to say, the Mets arc is a lot higher chasing the NL Wild Card with next year's team.
Now to the NFL:
1. Thank God everyone came to their senses, and ended the game of Russian Roulette they were playing with two-fully loaded guns! If only the NBA would do the same.
2. The Jets took a high risk flyer on Plaxico Burress, but one that could do the same thing for Mark Sanchez that it did for Eli Manning.
3. Giants coach Tom Coughlin, all talk of him being replaced quashed because of the lockout, is definitely on the hot seat this year. His players have grown tired of his act, and another collapse will cause Mara Tech to turn on him.
4. Why do I believe that Chad Ochocinco will become a model student in New England?
5. Randy Moss to the highest bidder mid-season?
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