Breaking News:

Link: http://blog.yoonew.com/2008/11/breaking-news-yankees-offer-cc-sabathia.html

As much as I love C.C., i'm just not sure. But we do have to make another big splash entering the stadium, but I have a feeling he's going to pass on us. I think he loves the National League enough to stay out there and I also feel he's a great regular season pitcher, but not playoff pitcher as evident. The pressure will get to him here in nYC.

A letter from a Spurs fan to Shaq.

A letter from a Spurs fan to Shaq which you should probably check out. Here's an excerpt:

So you beat us. You got your wish. Not when it counted of course, but if it makes you happy, that's all that matters right?

Last night, you put in a solid performance by fantasy and game standards. 15 points, 13 rebounds, and you didn't foul out. You went to the foul line and had two blocks. You're still one of the top 3 centers in basketball - there's no denying that. But that's really because there aren't any left in the NBA aside from Dwight and Yao.....

So you beat us. You got your wish. Not when it counted of course, but if it makes you happy, that's all that matters right?

Last night, you put in a solid performance by fantasy and game standards. 15 points, 13 rebounds, and you didn't foul out. You went to the foul line and had two blocks. You're still one of the top 3 centers in basketball - there's no denying that. But that's really because there's no good ones left in the NBA aside from Dwight and Yao.

Last season, your Suns lost for the 3rd time to us this decade in the playoffs. The Suns have only beaten us in one series in the last 11 years and that was in the year 2000 when we didn't have Tim Duncan. Fitting huh? But those numbers shouldn't matter to you Shaq - you weren't there. Neither did last year's loss to us because you were too concerned with rotations that didn't put you at fault, but your teammates. What else? They didn't give you the ball enough. Oh, and how can I forget "Hack A Shaq." Your disgusted with our coach who looks like he was a guest at the Last Supper too.

Its strange, after you guys barely beat us without Manu last night, they asked you about it post-game and you didn't mention a word of it. You know, your whole "they don't know how to play basketball. They make a mockery of the game by fouling me when they are up. I understand it only when you are down. That's why they got eliminated 2 rounds later and didn't win the title." Shaq, it's like one day you say something and the next it's like it never happened. Sort of like the whole Kobe "tell me how my ass taste" episode. "Oh it was nothing. Just me being an MC and joking around." Sure. Those were the only words you, a college graduate could come up with? Is LSU that bad of a school? You can do better than that Shaq.

I'm writing this because as a Spurs fan, I'm just sick of you. I really am. Your career has been full of praise. But once that Lakers dynasty died in Detroit, you've soured. And as most rappers, you've fallen off. Ok, you won a ring in Miami, but that was mostly your sidekick Wade. A ring is a ring, but you don't get that much credit for that one especially when Dallas absolutely choked like Nick Anderson at the line.

I just want to know why you hate us so much. Really, why? You created this make believe story when you entered the league about David Robinson not signing your autograph when you were a young prospect in San Antonio. So you're telling me that David Robinson, the closest thing to Jesus on earth, turned down a young prospect's autograph? Give me a break. Then you began hating on Duncan as he collected ring after ring. It also doesn't help that you guys are tied when it comes to playoff series. Let's take a look:

1999 Spurs sweep Lakers 4-0
2001 Lakers sweep Spurs 4-0
2002 Lakers beat Spurs in 5
2003 Spurs win in 6
2004 Lakers win in 6 after Fisher's shot.
2007 Spurs beat Suns in 5.

That equals a tie in playoff series and rings. You never thought someone would ever come close to matching you, but someone did. You know why you're lucky Shaq? Because everyone loves to be your friend and doesn't want to be your enemy. You are like the NBA version of Brett Favre. No one can touch you or criticize you. ESPN always wants to be in your good graces. But, I now know why you are the way you are - because you're jealous. Maybe fearful is a better word. Of who? Of Timmy. Last year, before the playoff series started you were quoted as saying: "I cant let Duncan beat me to 5 rings. I have to be remembered as the best big man of this era and that's always measured by titles." Correct Shaq. The same way Russell is always remembered over Wilt.

You see Shaq, you hate us so much because you see one man threatening your status as the only "sheriff" in town pun intended. If Duncan gets five, he may not be the most dominant center of all-time like you arguably are. But he will be the best big man to play post Hakim Olajuwon. Some people will say you are, but you're so sensitive that it will kill you that there's even a discussion.

So in final, deep down inside you know whether its Terry, D'Antoni, Hill, Phil, your old coach at LSU, or Pat, you cannot win a title with the personnel around you. There's just not enough defense. Not just from Amare or Nash or Diaw, but from you. You know you can't really help this team where they need your help. You can't block shots or grab 10 rebounds consistently. After 14 years, you still can't hit a free throw and it irks you that a team has finally figured out that they could beat you by just fouling you.

Duncan is 32, you are 36. You have 2 years left on your contract and will probably retire. Duncan has 4-6 years left in his tank and one of his co-stars is under 27 and the other is under 32 and plays on the bench. The Spurs have cap-room to spare after next season when they can really re-tool their roster. Reality is staring you in the face. Time is running out and you know it. But the sad part, and the happy one for me, is that while your at home watching TV or listening to the radio in your cop car, one day you will once again hear: "And the San Antonio Spurs and Tim Duncan have won their fifth title in the last __ years."

And it will hurt you bad Shaq. It will hurt you bad...

By: CEC21

It really has become what I now term it. I was there - I should know. Fights, curse words, 9 year-old boys bathed in beer, and Rays fans hiding in bathrooms. I'm just shocked cheese-steaks weren't flying in the faces of those poor folks who wore those "TB" navy blue hats. It looked like a Crips v Bloods battle in Citizens Bank Park last night and the former was definitely outnumbered.

Look, I've been to a few ballparks in my time. I've been to World Series games at the now "old Yankee Stadium" and even in San Diego when I was younger and my hometown team (NYY) played them. I've stood outside of Wrigley for a few, took in a game at Fenway, but never saw a game in Philly.

I don't know if the folks over at 700level.com agree or Daulerio or "The Good Phight" do, but Citizens Bank Park is now officially the toughest place to play in in baseball. There are no ifs, and's, or buts about it. It's not a shock that the toughest sports fans in the country now have the toughest stadium to play in. It should always go hand in hand.

But, let's take a look at Philly as a whole and their fans.

A lot of the toughness of Eagles fans left when they left the grungy, rat-infested, stuck to your seat Veterans Stadium for the oh so pretty Lincoln Financial Field. Sixers fans are only tough when Kobe is in town because they don't have a chance to be tough for anything else because no one is ever there. As for the "Broad Street Bullies," playing the Flyers is never tough. They create an environment which isn't the sweetest place to play in. Those fans keep it as authentic as Mitchell & Ness on Walnut.

But, I'm a Yankee fan and I can tell you that the luster is gone at the stadium in the city you Philadelphians love to hate. I'm a season ticket holder in that stadium and it shames me when I sit next to folks that don't know jack about us and think Torre is still in the dug-out calling the shots.

Yankee Stadium was hard to play in because of the things that have happened there; the Boone's, Jeffrey Maier's, Jose Offerman steal of 2nd base in the 1999 ALCS. You know all that umpire related stuff that benefited them. But that stuff has been gone for years and teams like Cleveland, Florida, and Boston have gone into the stadium and made the Yankees look like the tense ones, instead of themselves. We haven't had any of those umpire breaks in years and I feel a lot of that has to do with the fan base. When they aren't as rabid, the umpires aren't as scared. Same goes for Boston, but they never had as much luck with calls as the Yankees did. In the end, a stadium shouldn't be intimidating because of it's history, but because of it's fans and the effect they can have on the players and the umpires.

Which brings me to the city of Philadelphia's hunger for a title of any sort, the Phillies finishing August and September with a record of 19-9 at home, and continuing the success at home during the playoff run with a 5-0 record and a sixth win equaling a championship tonight possibly. Those are certified recipes for a hostile playing environment.

The stadiums I mentioned before are historic places. I don't necessarily think players are scared to play there. They are amazed by their surroundings, but once a few innings pass and the butterflies are gone, everything goes back to normal. But Citizens Bank Park isn't that. It isn't rich in tradition, its brand new. It shouldn't really be an intimidating place, but its turned into an open air version of the Metrodome of the 90's. It's that loud. Like Kirby Puckett game winning home-run loud. Kirk Gibson home-run loud. I could barely speak to the person next to me. What else could be considered a reason why this is now a tough place to play in?

Oh yeah, as I mentioned before, umpires blowing calls is another reason. They messed up the Crawford at 1B call in Game 3 which could have gotten that ump killed if Philly lost that game. In addition, yesterday's huge blunder on that Longoria tag on Jimmy. What else? The way the umps got in the heads of the Rays. Even manager Joe Maddon had to come out to complain about a spot being on Blanton's hat that really wasn't there.

The Rays have been completely stripped of their confidence. The series reminds me of the Cardinals v Tigers series, when everyone felt Detroit would run though the Cards and it didn't happen. What occurred was an absolute thrashing by the under-dog NL team to the AL team.

So next season, when Phillies fans are all calm and happy they have a title during the season, everyone will be like: "Philly fans aren't as hard-core anymore. They are satisfied." That's what you think...but it's the farthest thing from the truth. Philadelphian's are always hungry. One title will not be enough. Not enough.

As if the weak off-season we had (Roger Mason Jr does nothing for me) and the injury to Manu wasn't enough. Now, CNNSI/Sports Illustrated predicts us to win the title. They have us beating Boston in the finals which would be sweet and would shut-up those idiots who think KG is on TD's level which is blasphemy at best. KG couldn't shine TD's shoe, but enough of that rant.

What's their rationale? Is it that everyone is doubting us? Is it that it's an odd year and all our titles came in those numbers? Is it because they know like everyone else does that if Manu was healthy, we would've beaten the Lakers and beaten the Celtics as well. I don't know. But I'm just not happy. I equate them to the Madden cover and I just hope they don't curse us.

I will give our NBA preview next week before the season starts. All i know, is whenever I think the Spurs are due for a down year and at the end of the road, they surprise me like 07 and win the title. I have come to the conclusion that me, just like all other bloggers, know absolutely NADA!

You can really cost us the World Series guys. You really can.

Look, Cole Hamels can't save you all the time. He will only pitch Game 1, 5, and possibly a 7 if they throw him on short-rest. That's two wins your looking at most likely. Now, I know everyone is in amor with Brett Myers, but I can't trust him, Moyer, or even Blanton who's 4-0. The Rays starting pitching is much better than ours and the only advantage the Phils have with the ball in their hand is the bullpen.

But, if there's no hitting and your pitching fails to show up, the bullpen might as well get a big screen, a movie, and popcorn to watch something while their in the pen. Because it all comes down to this Philly, if the duo of NL MVP's, Howard and Rollins don't get their act together, I'm not sure the Phillies can survive another round without production from them. We got past Milwaukee and beat Sabathia. We made leaping catches at the wall against the Dodgers, survived Manny, and had Matt Stairs even contribute, but how long can we sustain that? How long? What this shows is that we are a great all-around team, but there's been plenty of teams who had great chemistry who went deep and couldn't close the deal for various reasons.

Last night, the Phillies were 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position and had one thrown out at home. It's totally unacceptable. In addition, Charlie give me a break already - it's time to end the "Ryan Howard" is due talk. He struck out three times and I'm almost as sick of this due talk as I am of his stupid Subway commercials. He began to heat up in Game 5 of the Dodgers series, but hasn't been able to put together a consistent back to back game since the regular season. Both of the Phillies "MVP's" have been missing throughout the playoffs. Want to take a look at their stats?

Rollins 267 Average with 2 RBI's and 2 homers.
Howard 229 Average with 7 RBI's and 0 homers.

If it wasn't for a few clutch homers here and there from Shane, Chase, and Pat, the Phillies would be fishing in the Delaware River right now.

Let me take a long pause because I'm going to get killed for saying this but...
I would be cautious about re-signing Howard. I understand we've been basically robbing him blind for the production he has put up, and he "deserves" the huge contract from us, but I'm just not sure about his ability as a first baseman (Manuel DH him for God sakes) and his continuous up and downs at the plate all season are a constant headache for fans as much as the manager/front office.

I'd actually go after Mark Teixeira who's a better defensive player and can put up 30 HR's a season. It's not the 50 that Ryan is capable of, but I don't think we'd have to worry about slumps as much as we do with Ryan. Plus, I think they would both command the same type of coin on the open market and I don't expect Howie to take a home-town discount any longer and I can't blame him.

We've tried year after year to get this guy to be patient at the plate and it just doesn't happen. Everyone in Philly gets pissed and doesn't want to re-sign him. Then comes August and he starts launching home runs to outer space and basically carries us like Sabathia did for the Brewers into the playoffs. It's really a love-hate relationship with Ryan. Look at his numbers this season:

"In the first two months of the regular season, Howard hit .206 with 15 homers. In September, he had 11 homers, 32 RBIs and an .852 slugging percentage."

Anywhere else he'd be loved no matter what - but this is Philly. Donovan took us to two Super Bowls and we are still a little iffy about him. I don't know anymore. I really don't. Well, what I do know is that he led the league in homers and RBI's and he just has to give us something more than what he has.

As for Jimmy, I can't really dog Jimmy too much. Other than his "bandwagon" statement, he's been a God-send for us and is the best shortstop in baseball. His ability may be down, but he is our version (better) of Derek Jeter and I'd still take him in a heart-beat over Hanley, Jose, or Troy.

All I know, is that we need you guys to produce. The Flyers have done zilch for us and so have the Eagles. Broad Street needs some floats and if you can't provide them this year, I don't know who will.

The cockroaches that never die. If the Spurs can be coined that, why can't Boston? They are both similar teams in eerily similar situations.

Last season, Charles Barkley, a fervent supporter of the Spurs, had them losing to the New Orleans Hornets in the 2nd round of the Western Conference playoffs. No repeat for them. He said the Hornets were the younger team who had the star player (Paul) and enough talent to take them down. Many thought the Spurs were a team that was past their prime. Their players were banged up and despite their four titles, all dynasties usually fall to an upstart and Barkley envisioned the Hornets as that team.

Sounds familiar?

The Rays were the young team that everyone from CNNSI to ESPN was predicting would slay the only team to win 2 World Series titles this decade. The same occurred with the New Orleans Hornets and the Spurs last season. The Hornets won the division and also had home court-advantage in the series.

But many of these experts didn't seem wrong until last night,  when everything may have changed for the Rays. They were dominating the series through 4 games and were up 3-1 and putting on their own version of "Home Run Derby" at Fenway with no All-Star game festivities included. The Rays entered the 7th inning leading by 7 runs with 7 outs to go. Sox fans began to exit and I couldn't blame them. The team was playing lackluster baseball and seemed defeated. But as Rudy Tomjanovich once said: "Never doubt the heart of a champion." Now, those same fans that left, are kicking themselves in their office desks regretting being  absent for one of the greatest comebacks in post-season history.

Comebacks are a familiar word in Boston. They were down 3-0 to the Yankees in 2004 and came back to win the next 4 games and go on to win the title. They were down 3-1 to the Cleveland Indians last year having to face Byrd, Sabathia, and Carmona in their last three games, and they defeated all to win the series. Last night, the Rays were up on the Sox 7-0 with 7 outs to go and couldn't seal the deal. This is when the collapse that made the stock market ones of the last month look miniscule occurred.

It started with a Pedroia scrappy at bat that drove in a run and a subsequent 3-run shot by David Ortiz to cut the deficit to three runs at 7-4. Francona then brought in closer, Jon Palpebon, who continued the momentum swing striking out 2 of the 3 Rays.

Then came the bottom of the 8th. Did the Sox give their fans and themselves false hope? That was the question on everyone's mind. Was that 7th inning spurt the hardest punch they could throw? Not at all. The best was yet to come.

Dan Wheeler walked Jason Bay to begin the 8th and then J.D. Drew stepped up. The man who earned his $14 million last year in the playoffs when he delivered with clutch hit after clutch hit, delivered again. Drew hit a 2-run shot that must've shook the ground in Boston when it landed in the right-field stands. Then came Coco Crisp, a guy who definitely isn't popular in Tampa Bay, and drove in a run to tie the game at 7. They hate you even more now Coco. The score: 7-7.

Then came the top of the 9th and Masterson mowing down the Rays to give the Sox a chance at winning and putting this game in all-time playoff lore. 

The inning began with a Pedroia pop-up and an Ortiz strikeout. I think everyone in Boston was happy, but dreading another replay of the near 6 hour Game two in Tampa. With 2 outs, extra innings seemed destined. Not so fast. Kevin Youkillis hit a bouncer down the line to 3B Evan Longoria who made a great scoop, but overthrew the bag and Youkillis reached first. Then came another walk to Jason Bay and up comes J.D. Drew. Now, even though he's been clutch, I still have that old "overrated, not worth a dime he gets paid" view of Drew. He may not be worth what he's paid for 162 games a season, but when it comes down to 21 games, he is "MONEY." Two run double by Drew and like that George Clooney movie: "Good night and God speak."

Will we see two days this weekend of baseball or just one? I'm not even a Red Sox fan, but don't let that series go 7 Tampa. Make sure you finish it out in Game 6, because the pressure will be squarely on you if it goes 7. If it does, ask the Hornets what happened. Dial up Chris Paul, Tyson Chandler, and David West. Experience will always trump youth. Always...

Manny/Papi 2012. The independents will love them.

"I want to see who is the highest bidder. Gas is up and so am I."

It's amazing how open Manny is with his words. He basically sent the message out there that you better pay the ransom and a six year deal is what it's going to take.

I never knew the economy was that bad in Manny's part of town. Gas prices must be killing his Black card. Oh...I read the Bill Simmons article, I know why Manny can't pay for gas - its because he always leaves his 800,000 paychecks in his locker without cashing them.

I'm starting to wonder who "Middle Class Manny" is voting for?

Whether you like him or not, whether you think Tim McCarver and Curt Schilling were right about him, Manny Ramirez, one of the top 10 hitters ever (yes, ever) has done more for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2 months than he has in the 8 years he was in Boston. I know, I know, you probably think I'm crazy for saying such a thing, but hear me out.

Boston's fan base was already set in stone. They sold out nearly every home game and despite their consistent failures before their 2 World Series titles, they were lovable losers similar to the Cubs and their fans couldn't emotionally detach themselves from attending the landmark that is Fenway.

But the same can't be said for the Dodgers. Actually, it can't be said for any team in California except for the Angels who have a solid fan base on a consistent level. Statistically, the Angels fill 91% of their stadium, while the Giants fill 85%, and the Dodgers 82% which ranks them as last in California. But that was over the course of the whole season, it doesn't take into account the spike in everything the Dodgers produce besides tickets since the Ramirez trade. Take a look below at the numbers compiled by the LA Times since the Ramirez trade:

"In accounting for revenue increases in ticket sales, parking, food, drink and merchandise, Ramirez generated an estimated $7.6 million. The Dodgers' average attendance jumped by 4,288 in the Manny Era. At an average ticket price of $29.66, according to Team Marketing Report, that's an additional $3.2 million in revenue. With fans spending roughly $17 a person on food, drink and parking, that's another $1.8 million.

The Dodgers also sold 14,000 Ramirez T-shirts at $29 each, 6,000 dreadlocks at $25 each and 500 authentic jerseys at $280 each. That's another $700,000 in revenue, strictly from stadium sales. We haven't even counted the revenue from their 4 playoff games."

In addition to all the revenue they've generated, remember, the Dodgers haven't paid Manny a cent this season. The $7 million he was owed for the rest of the season was picked up by the Red Sox.

In the last two decades, there hasn't been one player since Fernando Valenzuela to grip the Dodgers base and generate as much excitement like Manny has. The one common thread between Fernando mania and Man-Ram are that they are both Latino.

Los Angeles' Latino population sits at 48% and the Dodgers have already made inroads with the community by having an annual "Viva Los Dodgers" festival which draws close to 10,000 attendees yearly. The Dodgers Latino fan base was quoted at 45% by the end of 2006. With the addition of Manny Ramirez, the casual Latino baseball fan, if there is such a thing (most Latinos love baseball), will come out to support their Dodgers with Manny representing them.

With the Dodgers it will never be about money, or at least it shouldn't be. This isn't a case of C.C. Sabathia in small-market Milwaukee. This is Manny Ramirez in the city of dreams, the city of entertainment, and just like the Lakers have a superstar at guard, the Dodgers need a superstar in their clubhouse. Because if they don't re-sign Manny, it won't be because of his attitude or Boras' contract demands, it will be because they just don't want to - and baseball observers will term the Dodgers fans' bandwagons when attendance plummets next year, but I wouldn't use that word so quickly. Granted, LA is a casual sports market, but when you're main base is Latinos and they finally got someone who they can identify with and is a magnetic superstar, I think of the word betrayal before bandwagons.

It's not a money issue and if their worried about "Manny becoming Manny" again next year and not behaving as well as he did this year, you are gravely underestimating the abilities of Joe Torre. Joe Torre is the Phil Jackson of baseball. He can handle the Dennis Rodman like personality of Manny Ramirez and he's dealt with plenty of ego's and annoying ownership in NY and still managed to win 4 titles.

Mr. McCourt, you have one of the greatest managers of all-time in your organization, your young players love him, you have a talented young pitching staff, and you haven't seen this much interest since you bought the team in 2004. LA probably hasn't seen this much excitement since the Shaq/Kobe era. Do your fans, players, and coaches a favor - loosen up the wallet and give Manny his ransom. It's well worth it.

Cole Hamels is on the hill tonight for the Philadelphia Phillies with an opportunity to send the Dodgers vacationing to nearby Hawaii for the rest of the post-season and end the incessant Manny/ Boston World Series talk and bring it to the “Will he re-sign with the team” soap opera debuting in the off-season.

Hamels, who has been lights out this post-season, and threw a gem in Game 1 to put the Phillies up 1-0, has already been crowned NLCS MVP if the Phillies end the series tonight and clinch their first World Series berth in 16 years. But should he be considered? Of course he should because of his dominance throughout the post-season. But, there has also been solid pitching from Brett Myers, who not only took care of business on the mound, but at the plate as well. Myers sparked the Phillies Game 2 win with his timely hitting early in the game. But the MVP award, despite how deserving Hamels may be, should not be awarded to any player on the Phillies who doesn't play everyday, but the one who does and plays every game as if it were his last.

If you walk around the Phillies locker room and ask anyone who should be MVP, the overwhelming response would be the “Flyin Hawaiian” Shane Victorino. The scrappy Victorino has embodied what the city of Philadelphia stands for in this series and that's grit and toughness. If one man on the Phillies was going to be coined the “Broad Street Bully,” it would be him. He was a “Brewer Killer” in the NLDS, drove in five runs in Game 2 against LA and stole a Casey Blake home-run with a leaping catch at the wall, almost started a brawl in Game 3 that had him squaring off with Manny Ramirez, and hit a clutch game-tying home run in the 8th inning of Game 4 which eventually helped lead the Phillies to a comeback win and a commanding 3-1 series lead.

Entering the series, let alone the playoffs, the keys for the Phillies were listed in this order – Howard, Rollins, and Utley. There was never any mention of Victorino, but all that has changed. In these playoffs, Victorino has cemented himself as not only an important cog of the Phillies machine, but one of the 10 best clutch players in the sport. He not only has more RBI's combined than Rollins, Utley, and Howard, but he also leads all post-season players with 11 RBI's and has more hits and total bases than anyone of his 3 star teammates.

The performance put forth by Victorino has been , because he's also going through the same rough stretch his manager Charlie Manuel is going through. Both men lost important figures in their life – Manuel lost his mother before Game 2, while Victorino learned of his grandmother's passing after leading the Phillies to a Game 2 NLCS victory. In a time of grave pain for both, Victorino and Manuel have managed to block it all out once they step on the field and deliver for their ballclub.

The same team who Victorino is now helping to beat, is the same team that drafted him in 1999 and gave up on him. No champagne or MVP award can be as sweet as proving your old team wrong. Nothing at all.