What a debacle the Dodgers are.

FUCK Frank McCourt.

Is Michael Kay not allowed in Canada, and if so, can Canada annex Yankee Stadium?

[3] We need to investigate this

IIRC, correctly, Cecil threw a changeup last year, and of course, the 2010 Yankees couldn't hit a changeup with a paddle.

C'mon CentWAR!

Robbie sure seems to have left his selectivity back in 2010 ...

Alright ... it's FAT BASTARD time!

Bah, Yanks left fielder again incapable of a key 2 out bases loaded hit.

My mother has determined that Bartolo Colon is "too fat to pitch."

[10]

I like your mom.

Bartolo just exhaled and a suasage fell out.

[12] That just doesn't sound right at all ...

Poor MattPat11, going to be disappointed in the number of games Cervelli isn't going to play this year ...

yoo hoo banter!

martin really seems like a nice pick up right now. Grandy!!

Batting practice!

so hey, i'm very excited to tell you all that i think i'll be at next wednesday's game! i'm in nyc for work and boss is said to be scoring tickets. let's go yanks!

I'm listening to the Jays feed on the radio. I'm very impressed with the PA announcer at the Rogers Centre...he's an old fashioned, deep voiced, understated, PA announcer. Nice.

[17] and that will be my first Yankees game since 1989.

Given the matchup, I thought only of this

http://www.beanyandcecil.com/

[20] lol

GAH!!

oh that sucked

Ugh. Still batting practice.

The Jays tv announcers are very impressed with Colon.

If Aaron Sele pitched to Arencibia, my head would explode.

[25] I think they're closer to the truth than you are, but time will tell ...

Colon looks good so far, but the Yankees are going to have to score a lot of runs with this pitching staff.

[1] I feel most sorry for Mattingly. Finally gets a ML manager's slot and he's got a mess to deal with. I actually approve of what Selig did here, it may help to keep the Dodgers competitive.

[28] To steal from someone's comment a week or so ago (maybe Weeping?): the Yankees have fine sixth-inning guy, seventh-inning guy, eighth-inning guy, and closer. But their first-inning guys are a little shaky.

[29]

Unless MLB treats the Dodgers like they did the Expos .... not likely of course.

Safe.

I don't know how cool it is for a player to touch an umpire, even if innocently asking about a call.

close but out. damn

Oh, good, a play. My favorite.

Oh, obviously safe, jeez.

[29] I'm not much of fan of these things. Now, maybe if Selig was afraid that the Dodgers would go bankrupt, the league might be justified to take over the team. But why should the league intervene to keep the Dodgers competitive? The ownership is in shambles so they may stink for a while. So what?

Anyway, that's the way I view it.

[31] True. But the Expos were the Expos, Dodgers are a premier team. I suspect either the judge or Selig is going to force a sale, and if Selig bungles the running of the team, the value will be lower and the McCourts could sue for the difference. What an ugly situation.

[14] I'm not convinced

[37] You and I know the Dodgers are a premier franchise...but still, I don't think that some franchises should be treated differently than others by the league.

[36] It isn't about being competitive, it's about being viable. McCourt is essentially hawking the team's future at cut rate prices just to stay afloat (e.g. his latest 30 million dollar "personal" loan from FOX just to make payroll).

[36] Teams are franchises, so the league does have the right to excercise some control over poorly run organizations. If the Dodgers go bankrupt, it would be bad for baseball, so Selig has a responsibility to ensure that the team is being run properly. The recent suggestion that McCourt might leverage the team's TV rights over the next 20 years probably scared Selig into action. It's almost like having a GM trying to save his job by trading prospects for marginal players. At some point, you have to take away control.

[38] Of course, of course.

How about a $25 BBREF sponsorship bet that Cervelli won't start 2 out of every 7 games in 2011 that both he and Martin are eligible for?

[40][41] I guess my threshold for league action would be much, much higher. I largely don't care if the owner of a team wrecks his team. I mean, if the job of the commissioner is to make sure a "team is being run properly," then the league should take over about a third of the teams in the league!

[43] "Best Interests of Baseball" FriendO, "Best Interests of Baseball" ...

[43] The thing is, it's not even clear who the owner is (are). It appears that the law firm that did the prenup screwed up and the Dodgers are community property. But until a final decision is made, Jamie may have the right to challenge every business decision, including player salaries, meaning signing Pujols in the offseason. It's not bad ownership (I get to see the Fords' mishandling of the Lions every fall) it's paralyzed ownership.

[44] Yes, indeed. I tend to think the best interests in baseball are served by teams being left alone. Or the league should go in the other direction and take over operations of at least a third of the league since easily ten teams are run incompetently.

[45] Yikes...the Lions...egads!

[47] Yeah. I'm inflicted with their games. Anyone can have a bad decade or two, but when the same owners have the team for 50+ years and only one playoff victory, that's on ownership. I would not support a take over just for mere incompetence.

[46] Really? 10 teams? How quaint; please, do explain (and don't forget to show your work) ...

I really like this new Teix philosophy of hitting in April

DOUBLE SAC!!!

Yanks hitting Cecil much better than last year

[51] Indeed.

Excellent ... Excellent!!!

I was pretty bummed that Alex did not play last night. Not as bad as watching a bunch of hosers lose their minds watching Mo blow a 2 run lead. The bitterness. It burns......

Meh ... where have you gone Marcus Thames-i-o ...

Nice ... Fat Bastard hitting 94!!!

I know its early, but I'm liking the latest version of Brian Cashman's fat fetish more than the Ponson era(s)

Hughes who?

This is......shocking. Go Bartolo!

Dag, Bartolo looking nifty n nasty!

So far -

Blue Jays Announcers: 1
MP: 0

This is……shocking.

Have you watched Fat Bastard this year???

This is *exactly* what he's been doing since he took the mound for the 1st time in Spring Training ...

Is he really 37?

Random Thoughts:

Number of HRs since 8/12/2010 (the day Granderson returned to starting after having his swing reworked by K. Long)

Bautista 23
Granderson 19
Pujols 18

Hey! Bennie and Cecil (along with Crusader Rabbit) were childhood faves, thanks for the reminder.

McCourt is a dimwit, the Dodgers management fail to properly market the team in SoCal (remember Fernando Mania). This team should beloved from Fresno to Mexicali. I hope McCourt goes soon, and I feel badly for Donnie and Vin Scully.

And this is tough crowd for chubbies, remember "the gamer" Wells, and CC kinda gained back those 25 since spring. Colon is smart and very thankful for the chance. William...is 5 runs enough?

And Mo has to give it up once in a while so we know there is blood flowing in there

[49] Hm, looking at high levels of incompetence over the last, say, five or so years, I would include: Cubs, Royals, Blue Jays, Orioles, Pirates, Mets, Nationals-Expos, Mariners. of late Houston and Arizona, to which we could add the Dodgers (since it is consensus here that they are in such a shambles that the should intervene).

In some cases the incompetence has ben shorter term; in some the teams are starting to recover from longer term stretches of incompetence (the Blue Jays and Orioles seem to be moving in the right direction). A couple of organizations seem hopeless (Pirates, Royals). The Cubs never really appear all that interested in winning even when accidentally they stumble into some success.

My larger point is that incompetence is pretty widespread in any sports league---silly or unstable owners, poor GMs, bad coaches, failure to develop younger players, overpaying mediocre veterans, etc. I tend to believe that the league should not intervene in the vast majority of instances.

Maybe the situation in LA is qualitatively different and demands greater league intervention.

[63] Damn straight I've been watching FB caddy each of Hughes' starts. I still find it shocking. I am wondering how long he can hold up.
C'mon, Derek. Hit it outta the infield for the love of Mo.

Or that. Bollocks!

Does Jeter have a 'No Trade' clause in his contract?

[62] What happened? I had to leave the game for a while.

I know this is bordering on the fickle, but Captain Fungo hit into a double play!

[66] True, but I'm sure he and I both prefer the ice water...

[67] All the other teams have been able to meet payroll, mostly by being cheap. McCourt wasn't able to meet payroll on his own. There's probably a clause in the CBA that the players get paid.

[74] Wasn't that the same issue with Texas last year?

[72] He's making it pretty tough these days for me to defend him.

Also, to add to the Dodgers/McCourt thing, the recent parking lot beating may not have gotten much play on the East Coast, but it's just the latest in a string of Dodger fan on Opposing fan violence related incidents since McCourt has taken over.

I used to feel ok wearing Giants gear (my NL team) to Dodgers games, but absolutely haven't in the last 3-5 years.

Nobody should fear for their safety or life wearing their baseball team's gear to a baseball park, yet that's undeniably part of Frank McCourt's legacy in Los Angeles ...

That's all I ask. Talk it over with the other umps.

Clear doubleplay.

[67] Funny you should mention the Cubs...

Robbie!

70 pitches through six?

[75] I'm not sure. Just that his finances were in a shambles. Could have been.

[80] Am I to understand that there may have been corruption in Chicago?

[83] i think Hicks couldn't meet payroll and MLB had to step in. Which is why there was a minor uproar when they were able to add Lee's salary

[80] EXTREMELY interesting... especially a recap of the suspectious plays.

[67] The only *remotely* similar team is the Mets. If you don't think this Dodgers' situation is applicable, just wait, just wait ...

suspectious?

[77] It used to be the other way around, you couldn't wear Dodger gear in Candlestick...the cold foggy night combined with alcoholic thugs were a dangerous combination. I lived in LA as a Giants fan in and never had a problem at Dodger Stadium wearing a SF cap.

[76] It is heartbreaking and exhausting after last year defending him as a fan. For the year to start like this for Jeter, does not lead to a lot of confidence that it will get better.

Cult, that was me, not MP.
I am pleased to be out-witted by the Jays' announcers today!

Lets go Boom Alex.......

[84] You can also take the far more popular (if mean-spirited) view that it casts a longer shadow over the validity of Boston's three most recent championships...

FUCK.

So, Weeping will be very happy that we have no homers today, huh? And the Jays do have one, so they deserve to lose.

[90] Oh, fine, be that way!

:-)

[90] Phew. It's nice not to be the one outwitted for a change.

[96] See [25].

The Fat Man has to be coming back out, right?

[3] If only.

[89] Yeah, but Candlestick in the 70's/80's isn't Pac Bell in the 00's and Dodger stadium pre-McCourt isn't Dodger post-McCourt.

I've been going to Dodger games since I moved to LA in 1989 and the atmosphere at Dodger games has gotten *EXPONENTIALLY* worse since McCourt has taken over.

Oh Christ, not Logan.

Did David Cone just say "Colon always gets his tremendous weight moving towards home plate?"

[100] Worse⁴ or w! or (Worse⁴ x w!)?

[102] Poetry...

[89] Here's an eyewitness from the 1st 2 games of the Dodgers-Giants opening weekend series at Chavez Ravine:

The atmosphere at Dodger Stadium has been deteriorating for years, but what happened opening weekend was extreme, and certainly a result of different circumstances than in the past, the first being the Giants were coming off a World Series victory. Before the opener, much had been made by the Los Angeles media about trash talking Giants fans who had vowed to come to Dodger Stadium to rub in their victory. This rivalry had taken a bit of a dark turn in recent years, and the media stirring the pot didn't help. Secondly, the home opener was an evening game, meaning people started drinking much earlier. Thirdly, security was definitely much more passive in the past -- McCourt and the Dodgers deny this, but they are full of ####. Parking lot security after the game was pretty much non-existent, except for traffic cops. Fourth, a serious dark vibe permeated the stadium, and the lack of security seemed to fuel that vibe. Incidents that would have been squelched quickly in the past were allowed to escalate, increasing tension as the game went on. All hell was allowed to break loose in the parking lot after the game.

After the beating, McCourt was on the news and in the papers, having a "Brownie, you're doing a hell of a job" moment. He said things like "this one isolated event should not detract from a wonderful opening day" and that "security was superb; nothing needed to change." His tone was not remorseful over the incident, but indignant. Throughout the day Friday, the local media was riding the story. While there was no senseless beating Friday night, the atmosphere seemed even darker. Once people arrived, they realized that security was lax, which made the denizens even more brash. There was also a younger, very drunk, vocal, and large contingent that wasn't as prevalent as the day before. Like the night before, things became worse as the night progressed. To cap it off, the Dodgers introduced a new promotion in which fans are allowed to go in the field to watch the fireworks. However, you are only allowed on the field from the outfield field level, so masses of fans were exiting and re-entering at the bottom of the stadium. The dipshits in charge of the fireworks were launching the fireworks in the parking lot not far from this mass, meaning thick clouds of gunpowder was enveloping the masses, causing some people to choke and have asthma spasms, meaning the few cops there suddenly had other problems other than security on their hands. Roving mobs were running through the smoke, taunting people. The entire atmosphere after the fireworks was beyond surreal.

What the hell was that?

Love to see a little league mistake like that!

Hah! Oh, man.
A circus.

WELL DONE FAT BASTARD!!!

Hah. That was hilarious.

It's kinda funny seeing two guys standing on a base at one time...

Arencipid!

Whew, I was about to say that now would be a good time to let Fatboy Slim take a bowl... I mean, bow...

[105] Youtube has lots of corroborating evidence for your statement.

[111] Why didn't one of them run when they saw Tex hurtling toward them?

[103] How did you do the superscripts? The 'sup' tag doesn't work for me.

Alright, let's go Dry Hump Davey!

Did Bartolo give a high Colon(ic) to the Rays?

Colon's pitch count wasn't high..was he losing it? Only Gameday here this morning..

[115] On Mac you can use the Special Characters/Numbers menu. ⁰ ¹ ² ³ etc.

Cool!

This opens up a whole new world...

[118] I imagine Girardi got nervous at the thought of not deploying a seventh-, eighth-, and ninth-inning guy.

WAY too good a pitch on 0-2.

[105] That is ominous and not a place to be with family, etc. Plus at Chavez Ravine, you can be stuck for over an hour waiting to move out of the parking lot.

[115] I used the "Special Characters" palette under Edit in Firefox...

Screw. Almost had him, Dave.
Good at-bat.

The Rays are hot. 2nd place with a 9-9 record.

[118] He was in the pen last week. Probably still working his way back to starting. 89 pitches is decent.

[119] [122] Huh, never saw that before. (I'm using Firefox on a Mac, so, perfect.)

[117] Of course I meant Jays, oy.

Coney was kind of impressive there! (I switched back, didn't like being outwitted by the Jays' guys.)

[114] That had to have been an amazing sight, a hurtling Tex. I know baseballs have been hurtling from his bat lately, so that had to have been an interesting twist.

[123]

I use Firefox, and I don't see that under the Edit menu :-(

Whoa, just read about the Dodgers! Yikes...if they weren't there already the McCourts have entered the Bad Owner HOF for sure.

[131] Are you using a Mac? It might be just a Mac thing...

I have to admit that I always enjoy hearing Kenny say "Posada".

Po-SA-dtha.

So did anyone ever figure out the great Micheal Kay & Canada mystery? Buddy of mine said it may be a Colonel Tom Parker situation..

[132] At least the Dodgers will be able to settle their issues out of (Mc)Court... (yeah, I seddit >;)