Too tired to put up a real post and not wanting to spoil the tribute post to a recently passed well-known and respected contemporary jazz singer/entertainer, I’m tossing this up for discussions on various things baseball and Yanks related. Among those things:
Nick Swisher retired. Well, at least he didn’t drag it out too long. But he was one of those guys who always seemed to let the kid inside come out and play. I’ll miss that.
Both Tyler Austin and Mason Williams have injuries that, although not career-threatening, will certainly alter their destinations after Spring Training (unless they have super powers).
Front office is sounding quite jerky yet again. I mean, you can be right and correct, but you can also control the impulse to gloat about it, and Randy Levine continues to make the team (and its fanbase by proxy) look like complete [insert favorite expletive here]s. Which, maybe they are, but we don’t seem to want anyone else to say it. What it means down the road is almost obvious though, and it would be really disheartening to lose great talent because the person or people in charge are loose-lipped sociopaths, which is certainly a New York sports-related specialty of late.
Okay, never mind with the vague grinding of axes, let’s get on with the show already!
It was in one of the game threads when Nick was still a Yank; might have been 2009-10, but one of the moments that stands out for me was watching him when he hit one hard to right and it was just about to go out, but the right fielder made an incredible catch at or over the cushion to snag it. The look of utter disappointment on Nick's face struck me and made me sad for him. Here's a guy who wears his emotions on his sleeve without a thought, a grown man with the heart of a little kid who can't hide the hurt of having a big moment stolen away. No matter what he did or didn't do, you felt for him. That's why I'm glad he retired instead of continuing to fight such an uphill battle when it seems like he didn't have it anymore. But if he didn't, he emptied the tank with his effort and joy of playing like a kid. Clearly that's worth appreciating.
Yeah, I always liked Swisher. Levine, on the other hand, never.
Ball games on MLBN this afternoon. Urban Invitational, so Division III college ball, with the Pittsburgh g of the bat. But it's baseball.
What disgraceful behavior from Levine, though he's such a cretin I suppose we should expect it by now. If I was DB I'd tell Joe G I'm only pitching the 8th and no more than 65 IP. The Yankees are worth 3-4billion easily...and they play hardball with him over one million?? Sometimes I find it so hard to root for this team...
[3] To be fair (gasp!), I don't believe DB's value is as high as his agency was making it out to be, but what would I know? It was worth asking, and they were denied by an arbitrator, so that's that. But Levine likes to rub poop in wounds, and that will backfire massively down the line...
If you look at the conundrum the NY Knicks are now facing, they have a toxic situation that will repel any competent free agent, so they will be forced to draft and develop their own players (or trade for players without no-trade clauses who will also not fight the trade tooth-and-nail otherwise). And then what? If the situation remains or continues to grow more toxic (as it apparently has for almost two decades now), the groomed players will leave via free agency and they will be forced to start over again. Which the Knicks have been doing since their source of toxicity came into being.
The Yanks are in danger of repeating this nonsense; it's existed in this organization throughout and especially during G. Steinbrenner's reign. Levine is a holdover from that reign and apparently takes after his old boss so much, it could turn this organization back to its darker days if Cashman and his allies ever decide to up and leave. Before you say this is hyperbole over a mid-reliever, think about who has come and gone since this man has been in his position. Then look at the Knicks. It could easily happen, and as a fan I have to shout it out. Levine is a fool.
[3] Here's another opinion about this, and it does alter my view on Betances' value. Baseball has a lot of draconian values and rules about quite a few things that need updating or eliminating. My opinion about Levine has not changed the other way however, if anything it might be lower. And apparently I'm not the only one who thinks this...
Hi guys!!!
Levine is full of crap, but I really doubt it will affect Betances in the long run. When he's unrestricted, he'll make a lot of money, and my bet is that the Yankees will pay it. And it's the guys in the clubhouse who will matter when he decides whether he wants to be in Pinstripes, not the guys in the front office.
Damn, it's a fine day for baseball today in the northeast, huh? (I'm in Philadelphia for the weekend.)
[6] Hope you're right. Levine's victory crap on the clubhouse floor is what people are going to be talking about going into Spring training. They better clean up the mess like they did (for the most part) last year with Bishop Don Magic Lonn "I Don't Love Them Not-Rich Yankee Hoes" Trost.
[7] You're killing me, Chyll :)
[6] What up, RIYank! I feel like it's been 3 years since I've seen a baseball game, me and Jazz Jr are getting antsy.
Oh well, going to pass the time some more with this crazy collection of Peruvian rock/cumbia called 'The Roots Of Chica'.
Thanks for this Will. Yeah, I saw the usual act of arrogance by Levine. He is a throwback to the old days when George loved to humiliate his talent through the press. Only one who looked bad, however, was Levine.
[9] Dellin had some backtalk about it as well, but nothing unusual; pretty much what Jazz thought [3], to which CC chalked up to youthtalk. Can't blame him, really. He's homegrown and really good, which makes him a fan favorite. Nothing like needlessly antagonizing and chasing those guys off, right? For his part, Betances says he's done and moving on from it, so there is hope this is the end of it.
In other news, Yanks signed Jonathan Niese (and hopefully not Jon because Jonathan was pretty good, Jon not so much) to a minor league deal and have him compete in Spring for a starter or reliever role.
Speaking of wondering why, Chris Carter's signing became official and Richard Bleier Pitch Project was designated from the 40-man to make room for Carter.
Yanks are no longer fielding two Dominican Summer League teams; likely a casualty of the new international drafting and signing rules, but that doesn't mean they've left the island altogether. All their other teams in the DR remain intact (the Winter league probably being the most critical).
Girardi's in the last year of his latest contract extension, which would make about ten seasons? Is that right? Negotiations for an extension won't begin until the end of the season though (S.O.P.), so the hot seat will be in full view throughout. My initial guess it it would take a catastrophic meltdown to unseat Girardi at this point. But, yunnow, predicting what the front office and ownership will do is becoming a dicey prospect, so I'll leave it alone for now. I do wonder what Joe will do when The Notebook tells him to do something that he knows in his gut isn't the best decision; being his walk season and all... ?
Also, Swisher and The Non-Belth Alex will be guest instructors in Spring Training.
Lastly, here is the Spring Training Broadcast Schedule for your
inconvenience.[10] 10 years for JoeyJoeJoe! Guess my dream of seeing Bobby V in pinstripes is not going to come true..
[11] That would be a nightmare for me.
[11],[12] Think that'd be a nightmare for all involved...
Woo hoo, was able to get tomorrow afternoon off so I'll get to see the game. Yeah, it's spring training, but it's baseball.
Huzzah! Baseball. Kay and Singleton
Didi goes deep
Judge slams the gavel! Damn, off the scoreboard
And the Yankees win!
Just getting back in the swing of a new season. Can't let the opportunity pass to speak out about Levine. Low class, stupid and arrogant don't even begin to describe this weasel. He's an embarrassment to the organization. Whatever you thought about the relative value of Betances going into arbitration, the arbitrator made his decision and Betsnces was going to let it drop (his own words) then the schmuck Levine had to open his fat mouth and gloat. What an asshole! Hope he gets a bad case of Shingles.
I want Levine gone. His comments do nothing for labor peace. The union should fight harder on the Arab front.
And RIP Bill Paxton.
[20] However, they might spur changes in the arbitration process that he'll come to regret.