MLB2K10: $1,000,000 For Tossing a Perfect Game

In order to pump interest in its annual baseball franchise, 2K Sports is offering a $1 million prize to the first person that can throw a perfect game in the upcoming title MLB 2K10. The window to complete the challenge is March 2 (the release date for the game) through May 1, 2010. The perfect game must take place in a specific game mode that will release with the game. The rules also stipulate that you have a video recording of your game in its entirety. The results will be verified by the good people at Twin Galaxies.

I’m not sure what’s sadder to me about this promotion.  The fact that the youth of today is more likely to gets tendinitis in their thumbs from a video game controller instead of scraped knees and tight hammy’s on a real baseball field, or that some 8 year old gaming wizard is going to make $1 million dollars long before I do. 

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KRM, February 2nd 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Baseball, Random Stache'

My last post as a Mets fan

Fred Wilpon celebrates a Mets touchdown.

With Ben Sheets joining the ranks of free agents to spurn the Mets this offseason, Omar Minaya has taken a lot of heat, and deservedly so.   He’s a fucking moron, and he’s the only GM in the history of the sport to turn a 120 million dollar payroll into a heaping pile of dog shit.  Actually, scratch that, I’m pretty sure Steve Phillips accomplished a similar feat, which brings me to my point.  While no one can deny that the front office is completely inept, the Mets have a much bigger problem.  Ownership, namely Fred and Jeff Wilpon, has spent the past 8 years driving this franchise into the ground after buying out Nelson Doubleday’s stake in the team in 2002.  Since then, the Wilpons’ incompetence has trickled down throughout the organization, infecting the management and staff with some mutant retard super bug.  Lets take a look at some of the more notable debacles perpetrated by these two clowns.

-After firing Steve Phillips in 2003, the Wilpons allowed then INTERIM general manager Jim Duquette to trade away Scott Kazmir, one of the nation’s top prospects, for Victor Zambrano.  The first of many warning signs that the Wilpons were asleep at the wheel.

-That same year, Fred Wilpon took it upon himself to negotiate with free agent Tom Glavine, and gave him a 40 million dollar contract after the former Braves pitcher had the worst year of his career.  I guess the scouting department (AKA Jeff Wilpon) was on vacation that day.

-In 2005, Fred Wilpon hired former Montreal Expos general manager Omar Minaya.  Because that franchise had so much success.

-Jeff Wilpon played a large role in designing Citi Field in 2008, the Mets new stadium that honored the Brooklyn fucking Dodgers and made David Wright, the face of the franchise, look like Endy Chavez.  Nepotism at it’s finest.

-In 2009, the Wilpons decided to give 700 million dollars to Bernie Madoff.  Had I known that they were throwing away money, I would have sold them my “Memory Foam Throne” toilet seat idea.

-Yesterday, it was revealed that the Met’s front office has been operating without a budget for the past several years.  Even Carrot Top has a yearly budget for his steroids and tanning salon visits.

The bottom line is that this franchise is doomed.  Mets fans can only hope the Wilpons continue on this path and eventually bankrupt themselves and sell the team.  But I for one am not going to wait around and hope for a day when I can wear a Mets hat with pride.  Ownership has put the last nail in the coffin, and my time as a fan of this team has finally come to an end.  At least I’ll never have to endure another merengue night again.

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Dubbs, January 27th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , ,
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YMM Fantasy Baseball Preview: Second Basemen

Now that 2010 is here, the fantasy baseball season is right around the corner.  Your Mother’s Mustache will be previewing each position in preparation for your draft day.  All rankings are based on a points system which values overall player productivity, or OPS (On-base Plus Slugging).  Because if you’re still playing in a roto league, you probably also have a “Members Only” jacket hanging in your closet.

1. Chase Utley (PHI)- At the age of 31, Utley’s best days are probably behind him.  But that shouldn’t make you think twice about making him the first second baseman taken off the board on draft day.  He is the definition of consistency, and has averaged 29 home runs and 101 RBIs over the last 5 seasons, all while hitting .300.  He’ll once again bat in front of Ryan Howard, guaranteeing he’ll see plenty of fastballs to hit.  Expect another All Star caliber year from the slugging second baseman.

2. Dustin Pedroia (BOS)-When you look at his stat line, nothing really stands out.  Even in his MVP year in 2008, Pedroia only managed to hit 17 home runs and 83 RBIs.  But he walks almost twice as much as he strikes out, and his ability to stay healthy and hit for a high average atop the Red Sox dangerous lineup makes him a solid choice on draft day. 

3. Ian Kinsler (TEX)- You’d figure the only legitimate 30/30 candidate on this list would be the best second baseman available on draft day, but you’d be wrong.  While Kinsler’s speed and power numbers are off the charts for the position, his inability to stay healthy or show consistency with the bat make him a risky early round pick.  I’m still willing to bet that he can produce a batting average closer to his 2008 numbers than his 2009 numbers though.  3000 years of beautiful tradition, from Moses to Ian Kinsler, you’re Goddamn right I’m living in the past.

4. Brian Roberts (BAL)-The player who scored the 4th most points among second basemen last year fittingly settles right in to our 4th spot on the list.  Brian Roberts may no longer post a .300 batting average, but .283 is nothing to scoff at when it comes with 110 runs, 16 homers, 79 RBIs and 30 stolen bases.  Baltimore’s lineup should continue to improve this year with the emergence of Adam Jones and Matt Wieters, so Roberts might actually see an increase in his run production, even at the age of 32.

5. Ben Zobrist (TB)-Last year’s version of Nate McLouth, Ben Zobrist emerged from anonimity at the age of 28 to post the best OPS (.948) at the position.  If his track record wasn’t so short, he’d be much higher on this list.  Still, the Rays traded away starting second baseman Akinori Iwamura during the offseason to make room for Zobrist in the lineup, so they’re clearly drinking the Kool Aid too.  He may not match his .300 batting average from last season, but he should still post a high enough slugging and on base percentage to end the year as one of the position’s top players.

6. Robinson Cano (NYY)-Let me start by saying that I despise Robinson Cano, so this ranking may seem a bit low to some.  He’s a “me first” type of player, and if he actually put in the work he could contend for a batting title every year.  But because he relies solely on talent alone and refuses to work counts and lay off the garbage pitches, he usually pops out in RBI situations.  That means that you can only count on him for runs and batting average.  You’re better off saving your 5th round pick and getting similar production from Alberto Callaspo 6 rounds later.

7. Aaron Hill (TOR)-Another ranking that may surprise people, Aaron Hill broke out last season and led all second baseman with 36 home runs.  What most owners don’t realize is that he hit those 36 home runs in a whopping 724 plate appearances, the most in his 5 year career.  Hill has hit the disabled list and missed significant playing time in all but 2 of his pro seasons, and unless he gets a similar number of opportunities this year, you should expect his stats to regress from last year’s numbers.

8. Brandon Phillips (CIN)- A lock to put up another 20/20 season, Brandon Phillips is only held back by his sorry on base percentage and sub par batting average.  Still, batting cleanup for the Reds will give him plenty of RBI opportunities, and most owners would be very happy with a 10th round pick driving in 100 runs at a weak position.  If you miss out on one of the elite options on draft day, Brandon Phillips is an excellent value pick. 

9. Jose Lopez (SEA)-Not to be confused with the crappier Felipe Lopez, Jose Lopez continued to progress last season, improving on his career highs while hitting 25 homeruns and driving in 96 runs for the Mariners.  At the age of 26, there’s still plenty of room for improvement, and with the addition of Chone Figgins at the top of the lineup, he should see his RBI chances increase batting out of the 3 hole for Seattle.  His potential makes him another excellent value pick in this year’s draft.

10. Alberto Callaspo (KC)-The arrival of Chris Getz in Kansas City puts Callaspo’s playing time in jeopardy, but it’s tough to bench a player who hit .300 for the second consecutive season.  His 1:1 strikeout to walk ratio proves the average is legit, and he actually flashed some power last season in a full time role.  The peripherals lend comparisons to Dustin Pedroia, and if Callaspo played in a stronger lineup he could post similar numbers.  His late round draft price makes him well worth a look.

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Dubbs, January 22nd 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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YMM Fantasy Baseball Preview: First Basemen

Now that 2010 is here, the fantasy baseball season is right around the corner.  Your Mother’s Mustache will be previewing each position in preparation for your draft day.  All rankings are based on a points system which values overall player productivity, or OPS (On-base Plus Slugging).  Because if you’re still playing in a roto league, you probably also have a “Members Only” jacket hanging in your closet.

1. Albert Pujols (STL)- The reigning NL MVP is the type of talent that only comes along once in a generation.  He hits well over .300 and slugs over .600 every season.  Last season he walked twice as much as he struck out.  He’s never driven in fewer than 100 runs.  He has made at least 600 plate appearances every year since he entered the league in 2001.  No other player in baseball gives you the type of production guarantees that Fat Albert does.  He is the clear cut number 1  pick in this year’s draft.

2. Prince Fielder (MIL)- The only other first basemen to slug over .600, Prince Fielder had a career year in ‘09 after a disappointing 2008 season.  At the age of 26, he is just entering his prime, and has an excellent chance to repeat last season’s performance with few changes to Milwaukee’s lineup.  Pencil the fat bastard in for 40 homers and 120 RBIs with the potential for much more.

3. Mark Teixeira (NYY)-In his first season in pinstripes, Teixeira hit 39 homeruns and drove in 122 runs.  And that was after a long slump to start the season.  Now that Arod is healthy and will bat behind Big Tex for a full season, you can expect even better numbers from the switch hitting first baseman.  Ryan Howard may be the bigger slugger, but Teixeira’s average and on base percentage make him the more valuable player.

4. Ryan Howard (PHI)-Howard improved his batting average in ‘09 while maintaining his huge homerun numbers.  He still strikes out way too much (186 times last season), but his consistent RBI production batting out of the clean up spot in Philly’s high powered lineup makes him too good to pass up.  Playing at that little league field they call Citizen’s Bank Ballpark doesn’t hurt either.

5. Miguel Cabrera (DET)- Miguel Cabrera loves to eat.  And apparently after last year’s fiasco in Minnesota, he loves to drink too.  But he sure can hit a baseball, and that’s all we really care about in fantasy baseball.  Believe it or not, after 6 full seasons in the pros, he is only turning 27 this year, an age considered by many experts to be a baseball player’s prime.  The lack of offensive threats in Detroit’s lineup hurts his value, but he is the second most consistent first baseman on this list, making him a sure fire top 20 pick on draft day.

6. Joey Votto (CIN)- A sleeper pick in ‘09, Votto delivered… when he actually played.  After missing significant time due to “anxiety issues”, Votto returned to hit 25 homeruns and 84 RBIs.  Extrapolate those numbers over a full season, and you have a sure fire 30-100-.300 candidate.  Add the fact that he plays at the Great American Ballpark, and Votto has a chance to put up top 5 numbers at a 4th round price on draft day.

7. Adrian Gonzalez (SD)-Adrian Gonzalez managed to hit 40 homeruns last year while playing half of his games at Petco Park.  Granted, he only hit .244 and slugged .446 at home, but he more than made up for it when the Padres hit the road.  If San Diego trades him at some point this season, his value immediately sky rockets to top 3 at the position.  Considering the fact that the Red Sox have been interested in him for a couple years, and they have the pieces to get a deal done, Gonzalez might turn out to be the steal of the draft in 2010.

8. Kendry Morales (LAA)- The Cuban defector spent 4 years in the minors before getting his shot, but for Angels fans he was well worth the wait.  Morales came out swinging, and actually improved as the season progressed, slugging .614 after the All Star break.  While there are no guarantees that he improves on his numbers from last season, you have to like the trend.  Even if 2009 was his ceiling, I don’t know any owner who would turn down a 30-100-.300 player in the middle rounds on draft day.

9. Justin Morneau (MIN)-A back injury derailed Morneau’s season in 2009, and the Twins first basemen was shut down in early September.  The injury clearly affected his numbers, as he hovered around the Mendoza line after the All Star break.  The former MVP is clearly better than this ranking indicates, but at a position flush with sluggers, you’re better off taking a player with a clean bill of health. 

10. Billy Butler (KC)- This was a close call, but Butler gets the nod at the 10 spot on sheer potential.  The Cardinal Rule of fantasy baseball is to draft consistency early and take shots on potential late.  Butler can be had in the mid to late rounds, and after batting .314 and slugging .540 in the second half of ‘09, the 23 year old finally showed glimpses of becoming the big time slugger scouts projected.  I wouldn’t blame anyone for taking Youkilis over Butler, but after an injury plagued season, the soon to be 31 year old might be on the downswing of his career.

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Dubbs, January 14th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Baseball, Random Stache'

YMM Fantasy Baseball Preview: Catchers

Now that 2010 is here, the fantasy baseball season is right around the corner.  Your Mother’s Mustache will be previewing each position in preparation for your draft day.  All rankings are based on a points system which values overall player productivity, or OPS (On-base Plus Slugging).  Because if you’re still playing in a 5X5 roto league, you probably also have a “Members Only” jacket hanging in your closet.

CATCHERS

1. Joe Mauer (MIN)- The reigning AL MVP had a career year in ‘09, hitting .365 with a ridiculous .444 on base percentage.  Mauer has always been a great contact hitter, but his 28 homeruns and .587 slugging percentage raised some eyebrows.  He is just entering his prime, so it’s possible that he maintains the power numbers, but there is a distinct possibility that ’09 was the outlier rather than the norm.  Add to that his long list of injuries and the fact that he will be playing in a new ballpark in 2010 and you have a risky early round pick.  He is easily the best player at his position, so he is worthy of a third to fourth round pick, but reaching for him any earlier could be disastrous to your draft.

2. Victor Martinez (BOS)-A mid season trade brought Martinez to Boston, where he hit .335 with 7 homeruns and 36 RBI for the Red Sox.  Batting cleanup behind Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis will give Matinez plenty of baserunners to drive in, although he will lose some protection this year withthe departure of Jason Bay.  His eligibility at both catcher and first base gives him the slight edge over Brian McCann, and makes him a solid pick on draft day.

3. Brian McCann (ATL)- McCann’s season was derailed early on with an eye infection that resulted in a DL stint.  When he returned, he showed his old form and finished the year strong with a .280 batting average, 21 homeruns and 94 RBIs.  He will again serve as the Braves cleanup hitter this year, giving him plenty of RBI opportunities.  McCann’scareer arc has always alternated big years with ”down” years, so 2010 is lining up to possibly be his best season yet.  He could easily hit .300/25/100, making him a steal in the fifth to sixth rounds of drafts.

4. Matt Wieters (BAL)-I’ve never been a huge fan of drafting hyped prospects, because you will most likely have to spend a mid round draft pick to select them, but Matt Wieters is an exception.  He has the pedigree to be one of the best hitting catchers in the game, and his .300 average after the All Star break last season shows he has the ability to make adjustments to big league pitching.  His potential to put up big numbers this season is limited only by the uncertainty of where he will bat in Baltimore’s lineup.  Either way, catcher’s who hit for average and power don’t grow on trees, so if you miss out on one of the top tier options at this position Wieters is an excellent alternative.

5. Kurt Suzuki (OAK)- Suzuki enjoyed a breakout season last year, scoring the third most points of any catcher in a standard points league.  Some of his success can be attributed to his 598 plate appearances, second most among all catchers.  But he also showed the ability to put the bat on the ball consistently, and drove in a career high 88 runs for an Oakland team that lacks a prototypical middle of the order hitter.  His clean bill of health and relatively low mileage behind the plate make him an excellent sleeper pic on draft day.

6. Bengie Molina (FA)-Although Molina has yet to sign with a team, all indications are that he will be a Met before the season starts.  Citi Field has a way of neutralizing fringe power hitters, and Molina certainly falls into that category with a career .418 slugging percentage.  But if he can drive the ball into the gaps and produce some RBI, he’ll still be a  better option than anyone below him on this list.  If you decide to wait on a catcher until the late rounds of your draft, Molina is an excellent option.

7. Russell Martin (LAD)-Many owners will view Martin as a ”buy low” candidate in upcoming drafts after posting the worst numbers of his career in ‘09.  He didn’t hit for average or power, and his steal total dropped to 11.  But before you plan on taking Martin, remember that Joe Torre has the reputation for running his catchers into the ground (see Jorge Posada), so a bounce back year is far from guaranteed after averaging 150 games the last 3 seasons.  Martin was still able to produce the eighth most fantasy points among all catchers last season, but he is no longer an elite option.  Draft accordingly.

8. Geovany Soto (CHC)-Reefer.  Take it from your friends at Your Mother’s Mustache- it’s not easy to play a sport when you’re high as a fucking kite.  Soto got caught smokingthe peace pipe in spring training, and after reports of his failed drug test broke a few weeks into the season, he never recovered.  I’ve never been a big proponent of investing a mid round pick on a player coming off of a “sophomore slump”, but if you can wait on Soto until the later rounds he is well worth the risk.  He hit .285 and slugged .504 just 2 years ago, so the talent is there.

9. A.J. Pierzynski (CHW)-Nobody likes drafting A.J. Pierzynski.  Announcing his name on draft day will usually lead to a barrage of taunts and heckling from your fellow owners.  But if you take a look at the numbers, he produces top 10 numbers at the catcher position every year.  He’s getting up there in age, and at 33 the wheels could be about to fall off of the wagon, but I’d rather take a chance on a player with a track record than this year’s preseason fantasy darling (see Kelly Shoppach, Chris Ianetta, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, etc).

10. Jorge Posada (NYY)-The poster boy for what catching 140 games a year for 8 straight seasons can do to an athlete, Posada has struggled to stay healthy the past few years.  He still has one of the best bats at the position, and playing at the new Yankee Stadium will only help his power numbers, but his age and high mileage make him a risky pick on draft day.  Now that Nick Johnson has been signed to take over as the full time DH, Posada’s opportunities will be limited even further, making him nothing more than a platoon player for your fantasy team.

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Dubbs, January 5th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Baseball, Random Stache'

You Can’t Make This Shit Up

MinayaGetty2

NEW YORK — The New York Mets are nearing agreement on a minor league contract with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

Dickey, a 35-year-old right-hander, made 14 starts for Seattle in 2008 but was primarily a reliever for Minnesota last season, when he went 1-1 with a 4.62 ERA in one start and 34 relief appearances.

Pitching his entire career without the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, Dickey is 22-28 with a 5.43 ERA in 48 starts and 96 relief appearances in seven big league seasons. Doctors think he either was born without the ligament or it dissolved after a tear.

Omar is also scouting first baseman J.R. Smallcock, who interestingly enough was born without arms.

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Dubbs, December 23rd 2009 | Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Baseball

Lester Rodney dead at 98

RODNEY_

Lester Rodney, the onetime sportswriter who in the 1930’s and 1940’s was one of the fiercest and most insistent white advocates of the integration of major league baseball, died on Sunday, his family has announced. He was 98 years old.

Rodney’s advocacy found its forum in the pages of The Daily Worker, the house organ of the American Communist Party, from which he resigned in 1958. In 1936, he talked the paper into changing its paucity of sports coverage into a full-fledged section, of which he was hired as editor, even though he was not yet a member of the party. His writings consistently underscored a parallel few were willing to recognize, especially in sports: that the growing marginalization of the Jews and other religious and social groups by the Nazis in Germany and later Europe, had a too-close-for-comfort parallel in this country’s marginalization of African-Americans.
In a less violent but no less prejudiced aspect, Rodney noted that most Americans were appalled – or at least discomfited – at the thought that deference to Hitler led to our American team leaving Marty Glickman off the Jesse Owens-led relay squad at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. But few seemed disturbed that America was denying its greatest black baseball players an opportunity to reach whatever success they could achieve here.
Given how the color line was ultimately broken, it was particularly ironic that Rodney aimed much of his criticism at his favorite team, the Brooklyn Dodgers. As early as 1938 Rodney was advocating a baseball opportunity for a young multi-sport athlete from Southern California named Jackie Robinson. The writer would be completing his honorable military service in the South Pacific when Branch Rickey signed Robinson to a minor league contract for the 1946 season, nearly a decade after Rodney had begun to champion the cause most other white writers – and even fans – ignored.
Moving to California about the same time the Dodgers did, Rodney became, of all things, the religion editor of The Long Beach Press-Telegram. Ever the athlete, he was still playing competitive tennis at the age of 87. His children report that he passed away on the morning of the 20th, at home, and in what may be no surprise to anyone who knew him or knew of him, “he was with it until just before the end and thanks to hospice he had a pain free week.”
Robinson’s role in the integration of the game is obvious and Rickey’s has been lauded. Pressure from the great black sportswriters of the ’30s and ’40s, like Sam Lacey of The Baltimore Afro-American, is even acknowledged. Lester Rodney – writing in the most unlikely setting and advocating what was then the most unlikely of societal changes – was as important as any of them to the eventual righting of this extraordinary wrong.

It blows my mind that 99.9% of us, including me, have never heard of Lester Rodney.  It seems he was a major part of the integration of baseball which was not only important to sports in America but also to the Civil rights movement in this country.  As a tribute to Mr. Rodney’s work we bring you another one of his fellow Daily Worker alums George Castanza.

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KRM, December 23rd 2009 | Tags: , ,
Posted in Baseball, Random Stache', Sports, TV, Tunes

Javier Vazquez traded to the Yankees

javier_vazquez

Javier Vazquez is headed back to New York for a second stint with the Yankees. The Yankees and Braves have agreed to a deal that will bring the right-hander back to the Bronx, the New York Post reports.

The Yankees will receive Vazquez and left-hander Boone Logan in exchange for outfielder Melky Cabrera, left-hander Mike Dunn and right-handed prospect Arodys Vizcaino.

Vazquez will be penciled in as the fourth starter for the Yankees behind CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte. Either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain will be the fifth starter with the other becoming the set-up man for Mariano Rivera in the bullpen.

According to the New York Daily News, Brian Cashman did not want to deal Vazquez away following the 2004 season, but was forced to trade him to acquire Randy Johnson to please the Yankees executives.

In his only season in New York, Vazquez went 14-10 with a 4.91 ERA. He went 10-5 with a 3.56 ERA in the first half of the 2004 season, making the AL All-Star team before a tired shoulder led to a disappointing second half.

Vazquez, 32, went 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA last season for the Braves. He is due to make $11.5 next season.

Even though the ink on this deal isn’t even dry yet I have heard a lot of people saying they do not like it because Vazquez is overrated, he’s is a National League pitcher, he already had a chance in NY, etc…  The thing people have to realize is that Vazquez is not meant to be an ace for us.  He will be our 4th starter, so even if he pitches poor compared to his time in the NL he will still be huge for us.

I don’t know what kind of delusions Yankee fans have been having but we only had 3 dependable starting pitchers going into next year because you simply can not count on getting anything out of Joba or Phil Hughes.  Now that the Yankees were able to pick up a dependable 4th starter the options as to how to handle our young arms just became a whole lot more plentiful.  I can say without a doubt this is the smartest move made by any GM so far this off season.

I just want to say that if I was a Mets fan I would kill myself.  Even if they get Bay at this point it’s not a smart move.  The Mets need pitching, badly, and while Omar waits by the phone for Benji Molina to call the rest of the league is making moves…..

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KRM, December 22nd 2009 | Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Baseball, Random Stache', Sports, TV, Tunes

Yanks Sign Nick Johnson

nickjohnson

NY POST – The Yankees and Nick Johnson have agreed on a one-year deal that will become official after Johnson takes a physical Monday.

The deal calls for a salary close to $5 million with a chance to add another $1 million in incentives for Hideki Matsui’s replacement at the DH spot.

Johnson, 31, will get a chance to hit second if Johnny Damon doesn’t return. And at this point, Johnson’s signing pushes Damon closer to the exit.

Johnson had interest from the Mariners, Giants and White Sox to play first base. However, he decided the allure of returning to the organization he started with as a third-round pick in 1996 was too strong to pass up.  First base is not an option with the Yankees because Mark Teixeira is entrenched there.  Johnson batted. 291 with eight homers and 62 RBIs in 133 games for the Nationals and Marlins last year when he posted an impressive .426 on-base percentage.

I’ve been saying this whole time that the Mets should go after Nick Johnson.  He is by far the best value free agent out there right now.  He is an on-base machine and still is going to hit .280 with around 15 HRs.  I am so happy that the Yanks are smart enough to see this because while Omar Minaya is busy signing Japanese relievers that may or may not be any good, and trying to convince Mets fans that they need to be “patient” the Yankees continue to make their team better.

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KRM, December 18th 2009 | Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Baseball, Sports, TV

I Straight Up Hate Your Guts Omar Minaya

Metsfailure

NEW YORK — Hoping they found their setup man on the other side of the globe, the New York Mets agreed Thursday with Japanese reliever Ryota Igarashi on a $3 million, two-year contract.

The 30-year-old right-hander became the first major addition this offseason for the Mets following a 70-92 debacle that left them with a fourth-place finish in the NL East.

New York thinks Igarashi could fill the role of eighth-inning setup man for All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez.

“We’ve had an interest in Ryota for two years,” general manager Omar Minaya said in a statement. “He’s got a power arm and an outstanding split-finger.”

Igarashi went 3-2 with a 3.19 ERA and three saves in 56 games last season in Japan. He struck out 44 and walked 20 in 53 2/3 innings.

Hideo Nomo.  Kazuo Matsui.  Takashi Kashiwada.  Masato Yoshii.  Tsuyoshi Shinjo.  Satoru Komiyama.  Kazuhisa Ishii.  Shingo Takatsu.  Ken Takahashi.  And now Ryota Igarashi is the latest Japanese player to join the ranks of this elite club.  I’m glad we’re learning from our mistakes as an organization.  Being a Mets fan is like watching retards fuck.  It’s a complete disaster, but I can’t look away.

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Dubbs, December 18th 2009 | Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Baseball

So what have the Mets been up too?

mets blimp

The Mets are closing in on a two-year deal with Japanese bullpen import Ryota Igarashi, although they reportedly have competition from the Red Sox.

Igarashi, a 30-year-old right hander who throws in the mid-90s with a forkball and splitter, was in serious talks with the Mets last night. A team source said the club feels a deal “is going to happen” in the next few days.

Igarashi, who has regained his velocity after having Tommy John surgery in 2007, was 3-2 with a 3.19 ERA for the Yakult Swallows last season and would be a strong candidate to be the Mets’ set-up man to closer Frankie Rodriguez.

Oh now it all makes sense.  Instead of signing John Lackey, or getting involved in the Roy Halladay talks the Mets have been monitoring some bullshit Japanese reliever.  Literally the only good thing about this news for Mets fans is that when they finally sign this guy at least we can post an article with the headline “Konichiwa Bitches”, which is always a good time.

In all fairness though the Mets have been linked to Dr James Andrews favorite guinea pig, Ben Sheets, as well as Gil Meche.  Here’s some other winter updates on the Mets:

➤ The Mets plan to monitor former Yankee Chien-Ming Wang’s recovery from shoulder surgery and wouldn’t rule out an eventual offer if they are convinced he is healthy, according to a high-ranking team source.

➤ GM Omar Minaya said the Mets remain open to bringing back slugger Carlos Delgado on a one-year contract if Delgado proves he is healthy while playing winter ball in Puerto Rico. Minaya plans to fly to Puerto Rico to watch Delgado later this month.

➤ The Mets were among the teams that scouted hard-throwing Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman’s impressive workout in Houston yesterday, but the Amazin’s don’t expect to land him if he continues to seek as much as $50 million to sign.

➤ Jeff Francoeur, who played the role of Santa Claus at the Mets’ annual Christmas party yesterday at Citi Field, revealed that he had so little tendon left in his right thumb during surgery this off-season that doctors had to transplant a tendon from his forearm to fully repair the damage.

Francoeur, though, said he expects to be fully recovered by the start of spring training.

➤ Jon Niese said he is on schedule with his recovery from hamstring tendon surgery and expects to be full speed by the start of spring training.

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KRM, December 16th 2009 | Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Baseball, Random Stache', Sports, TV

What happened to my Wang?

Yankees White Sox Baseball

Chien-Ming Wang is no longer Yankees property.

The Yankees opted not to offer a contract to the injured, arbitration-eligible righty before Sunday night’s deadline, making Wang a free agent. The Yankees can still sign Wang, but he’s on the open market now.

“There’s no doubt that we had to make a tough decision,” general manager Brian Cashman said in a statement. “We are still hopeful that our relationship can continue, but those decisions are yet to be made.”

Whether that relationship does continue comes down to whether the Yankees and Wang can agree on a contract palatable to both sides. On Friday, Wang’s agent, Alan Nero, told The Post that the Yankees “would like to keep him and offer him under [what he would earn in arbitration].”

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KRM, December 16th 2009 | Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Baseball, Random Stache', Sports, TV

Sayonara Godzilla

yankees_1516810c

From Yankees World Series MVP in early November to gone 11 days before Christmas. That’s the road Hideki Matsui has traveled.

According to several sources, Matsui and the Angels have agreed to a one-year deal worth $6.5 million that will be finalized when the 35-year-old slugger passes a physical.

“I can confirm that we are in serious discussions with the Angels,” agent Arn Tellem said last night. “I have no further comment.”

If Matsui passes the physical, not a slam dunk considering he has undergone off-season surgery on each knee in the last two winters, the Yankees will be faced with filling a productive hole in the middle of their order.

Through Tellem, Matsui recently informed the Yankees he didn’t want to wait to see what the club did with fellow free agent Johnny Damon. The Yankees informed Tellem that DH wasn’t as high a priority as improving the pitching staff — starter or reliever — or left field.

Fearful of being left without a team, Matsui turned to the Angels, who will not bring back DH Vladimir Guerrero.

This move was pretty much inevitable, but still it’s sad to see Matsui go.  Matsui was clutch as a motherfucker while he was with the Yankees so I hope those filthy fucks in Anaheim realize what they’re getting……

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KRM, December 15th 2009 | Tags: , , ,
Posted in Baseball, Random Stache', Sports, TV, Tunes

Damn you Kate Hudson

Alex_Rodriguez_and_Kate_Hudson

Deadspin – A stunning report from the bowels of the gossip arena on a Tiger Woods break: Alex Rodriguez and Kate Hudson have apparently broken up. No golf clubs were swung, no hydrants were run over, according to reports so far.

This could be a tough one for A-Rod, as many people credited Hudson with his transformation into a cuddly superstar and the Yankees World Series win on the fact that he was dating a seemingly normal likable, Hollywood actress who he wasn’t cheating on all the time. It’s a pretty remarkable feat for Rodriguez, who managed to side-step the Kate Hudson curse, one that’s given trouble to most men who have bedded her in recent years. Chris Robinson and The Black Crowes went from multi-platinum selling artists to jam band also-rans during his marriage to Hudson. Golfer Adam Scott came down with an incurable case of the yips. Owen Wilson turned into Dylan Thomas after he was cuckolded by her. But A-Rod? He became downright lovable, more “human,” they say during his Hudson relationship. Poof.

This is total bullshit.  I give it about 3 days now before A-Rod starts going to Madonna concerts, and hanging out shirtless in Central Park with the Jonas Brothers.  You know maybe I’m delusional but I thought Kate would stick it out with A-Rod so we could win a few more titles but I guess you can’t have everything.

You know Kurt Russel cannot like this shit one bit either.  I mean who wouldn’t want A-Rod to knock their daughter up.  I bet you anything after A-Rod would drop a batch in Kate Captain Ron was right there to hold her legs up in the air.

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KRM, December 15th 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Baseball, Celebs, Random Stache', Scandalous, Sports, Tunes

Fire Omar Minaya

Mets vs. Rockies

BREAKING NEWS: Omar Minaya is fucking useless.

In a day that saw the Boston Red Sox sign the best free agent pitcher on the market, and the division rival Philadelphia Phillies trade for one of the best pitchers in baseball, all was quiet in New York.  Maybe Omar was busy organizing this year’s annual merengue night at Citi.  Or perhaps he was compiling a list of potential candidates to replace recently departed Tony Bernazard as his BFF.  Whatever he was up to, it clearly had nothing to do with improving this team.  I’ve spent the better part of the past three years being a Mets apologist.  They had too many injuries last year to be successful.  Their bullpen let them down in 2008.  Their starting pitching cost them a division title in 2007.  But I’m done making excuses for a completely inept organization.  From the Wilpons all the way down to the scouting department, this franchise is a complete fucking joke.  They’ve spent the past decade embarrassing a fan base that was already the red headed step child of New York baseball.  I could literally go on for hours recounting every blunder that this franchise has subjected us to, but I don’t have the stomach for it.  I’ve already wasted enough time on a team that does just enough to fill the ballpark, but not enough to deliver it’s loyal fans a championship.  Firing Omar Minaya clearly won’t fix an organization that is riddled with incompetence at nearly every level.  I just think it’s time for the mastermind behind two September collapses and countless other squandered opportunities to finally be held accountable.

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Dubbs, December 15th 2009 | Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Baseball
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