The Captain VS. Todd Jones

Here’s a new (and pretty cool) Gatorade commercial that features the captain, Derek Jeter, as he gets one of those patented clutch hits. How great is it to be in a commercial like this? I can only imagine…

What’s funny about this commercial, that I just realized, is that Alex Rodriguez can never be in a commercial like this one. How sad is that?

Congressional Meeting Pushed Back

From ESPN:

WASHINGTON — The congressional hearing involving Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and former trainer Brian McNamee was postponed Wednesday until Feb. 13 so lawmakers can gather evidence and coordinate their investigation with the Justice Department.

This is going to be a mess.

MLB 08: The Show

 

I had to say something about it. I’m not a big video game nut, but I absolutely love the “MLB: The Show” series. The Show is probably the best series of baseball games for Sony PlayStation consoles (PS2 or PS3). I played it once and liked it so much that I actually bought a used PS2 just to play it regularly. If you haven’t heard much about the game but enjoy other baseball video games, I definitely suggest you check it out.

Last year’s title (MLB 07: The Show) had David Wright on the cover (David Ortiz was on cover the year before). After the monumental collapse had by the Mets, it appears as though the Phillies are reaping all of the benefits, as Ryan Howard will be the cover-boy for this years’ upcoming title. Now, all I need is a PS3. But, $500 for a video game console? What’s that about?

Hank’s Man Crush on Santana Continues

Kat O’Brien is reporting that Hank Steinbrenner still wants Johan Santana, stating that a trade with Minnesota is “definitely still a posibility.” Although there is nothing “new” to report (said by Steinbrenner himself), she did manage to pry a few more details out of him that make things extra interesting.

“The bottom line is, it’s my decision,” Hank Steinbrenner said, “but there’s disagreement within the organization. I’ve got to keep everybody happy in the organization, including Brian … That includes my partner, which is my brother.”

Clearly, Hank loves having the power. He explicitly states that “it’s my decision,” but then goes on to say that he also must keep Cashman happy (who doesn’t want to trade young players) and Hal happy (who doesn’t want to pay for the ace pitcher). He acts like, in the end, it’s totally his move to make, yet that does not seem accurate.

Steinbrenner goes on to say the following:

“The payroll would just be out of this world this year,” Steinbrenner said of potentially adding Santana, “but only for this year. When you’ve got to trade top young talent and pay a lot of money, it gets very risky.”

If the Yankees do complete a trade for Santana, Steinbrenner said they would not go beyond a five-year contract extension (one that expires after the 2013 season).

“I wouldn’t do it if it were a six- or seven-year contract,” Steinbrenner said. “I wouldn’t go past five, on an extension.”

Oh that crazy Hank Steinbrenner. It seems like he’s tacking on some ending statements that essentially neutralize his earlier comments. Whereas before he was pretty clear in how much he wanted Santana. Now he’s playing it off a bit because of the money, the years, the young talent involved in a trade, Cashman, Hal, etc.

I think Hank knows that, although he wants Santana, it probably won’t happen, so he’s providing everyone with reasons as to why it won’t happen this year.

Rubenstein Confirms Hank & Hal as Equals

So it is confirmed. Howard Rubenstein of the NY Yankees spoke with Pete Abraham today and told him that Hank and Hal Steinbrenner have an equal amount of power when making decisions. Also, their father, George Steinbrenner, is still able to provide input, and Brian Cashman, the GM, is still able to… ummm…. get them coffee.

This Guy Deserves His Coverage

Enough about Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee. Granted, I’ve posted a ton of information pertaining to those two colorful characters on this blog. Whether it was their wacky late-night phone calls, or their propensity for performance enhancing drugs, all of that should take somewhat of a break today in order to congratulate Goose Gossage and his acceptance into the Hall.

I for one, can not recall ever watching Goose Gossage play. From what I can remember, I’ve only seen video clips of him online and on television, and was actually around 8 or 9 when he retired from baseball. At that time, I liked baseball, but I was still pretty busy trying to color correctly while preventing my mother from giving me haircuts, so you can understand my position.

But, I can still appreciate the legacy that he has left behind and the part he has played in terms or relief pitching and its importance in the game. His numbers, at first glance, are great, although one must evaluate them through a historical sort of lens in order to understand the intrinsic greatness captured by the figures. Relievers were crafted differently back then (and therefore were used differently), and this is what makes Goose Gossage worthy of the HOF (that and his moustache of course).

With that said, congratulations to Goose Gossage, a pioneer in relief pitching. Here’s a nice portion of text from an article in the Daily News about Gossage, his HOF bid, and what it meant for him to be a Yankee (both as a fan and ballplayer).

No more so than when he came to the Yankees as a free agent after the 1977 season in what he says was a dream come true for a kid who grew up a Yankee fan in Colorado. In his seven years with the Yankees, he led the AL in saves twice – again when saves were saves – striking out 512 in 533 innings. And his biggest save, he said, will always be the 2 2/3 inning effort against the Red Sox in the ‘78 playoff game.

“When I put on the pinstripes in 1978 it was like an out-of-body experience,” Gossage said. “I had grown up watching them with my dad on TV in the Saturday “Game of the Week” with Dizzy Dean and Pee Wee Reese and we didn’t miss a game. I played with nine teams, but there was nothing like playing for the Yankees. The ‘78 playoff game against the Red Sox was the biggest game I ever pitched in, and it’s too bad there had to be a loser. After that, the playoffs and Series were anti-climatic. The saddest of my Yankee tenure was that last year (1983) when all that stuff with Billy (Martin) was going on and I just needed a change of scenery. The fun had been taken out of the game for me.”

George Steinbrenner, who obviously played a large role in the turmoil that led to Martin’s departure, congratulated Gossage through a statement issued by Yankee PR guru Howard Rubenstein. “The New York Yankees are very proud of his achievement and I, personally, would like to congratulate him and his family on this wonderful honor!” the statement said.

But even though he will be inducted into the Hall on July 27 with Dick Williams, his manager with the San Diego Padres whom he considers the best he ever played for, Gossage will go in as a Yankee.

For it was in the Bronx where Gossage’s legend – the menacing scowl, the Fu Manchu mustache that bordered on defiance of Steinbrenner’s no facial hair code, the Goose’s snorting, flailing delivery  – took full bloom only to reach a long overdue fruition Tuesday.

Say It Ain’t So

 

The best first baseman in Yankees history (and maybe of all time) will not be returning to the club in 2008. Please, lock it up and wipe the tears from your eyes immediately (seriously).