I want to start by saying, you guys (Lakers Fans) are great.  There are only a couple times each year where I root against the Lakers, that's when they play the Bulls.  I'm a New Yorker who likes Chicago and roots for LA any time possible.  I hate Boston and anything that comes from the place. 

   When I was younger I always said the Lakers were my second favorite team when in reality I didn't like anyone except MJ and the Bulls.  But as I grew up, the superstar I got to see all the time was Kobe.  And I became a huge fan of his.  Then I became a bigger fan of his after all the allegations (I'm not condoning his alleged actions, but I was rooting for him to come back and be great again--which he clearly has become). 

   This series has been a lot of fun to watch and my fingernails are getting low, but I'm pulling hard for LA.  And I'm nervous today about this game, I don't know how you guys are handling it.  And besides, my brother and I bet a case of beer on this series.  And I already lost one case to him when the C's beat the Cavs, so here's hoping LA can pull it off tonight.

   I don't have any predictions for you guys, but I'm going to say that it will be tough for Boston to stop Pau tonight.  He's a beast and he wants this more than anyone on Boston, I think.  He's locked in.  And obviously, you have Kobe and Fish.  It should be fun.

   Good Luck, guys!  Let's Go LA!

Last season, during the playoffs--and even toward the end of the season, at the games the Yankees played a version of "Tonight's Gonna Be a Good Night" by the Black Eyed Peas.  But in it, they had radio calls from John Sterling and calls from Michael Kay that kinda made it their own.  I have been searching for video or at least the song with those calls in it for some time now.  Does anyone have any clue where to find it?

Also, I know that "Empire State of Mind" probably was the team's anthem, especially since it was Jay-Z, but I think I  remember this song being played at the clinching game of the east and definitely at game 2 of the ALDS.

So if anyone knows where to find this, it would be awesome. 

THANKS AND GO YANKS!

       I was just thinking, what if somehow we blindside the Cavs tonight and pull off a win.  OK, great- series is still 2-1.  But then somehow do it again on Sunday and it's tied.  Think about it, what if the Bulls actually make this a series again?  How awesome was it last year in the C's/Bulls series, if only Ben Gordon didn't take that wild 3-pointer when he could have driven the lane. 

       It'll be tough to pull out two wins in this series but this Bulls team knows something about coming from behind.  When you have a 10-game losing streak during the year and still make the playoffs, there should definitely be something said about your resiliency.  The Bulls have to play like there is no pressure on them, go out and be loose.  LeBron's not going to shoot 70% every game or probably any other game.  This could happen, this could be a series again.  And if by some chance Chicago pulls out two-in-a-row, then they'll get in Cleveland's head, and maybe just maybe they can win two more after that.

       Here's Hoping!

            During the 2008 season, while the Yankees slinked to a 3rd place finish in the AL East, I said something to my dad that ended up coming true. I said, “Ya know, Dad, if the Yankees pick up CC Sabathia, Teixeira and Burnett it will put them over the top next year.”  My dad scoffed at me and said they’d never get all 3 of them.  I agreed with him thinking they probably wouldn’t but if they could we would win it all in 2009.      

            Here we are on April 20, 2010 and the Yankees are in the process of defending their title.  I was right.  I have absolutely no complaints about either CC or Tex.  I mean how could you complain about a 19-game-winner and an MVP runner up.  I don’t really have a complaint about AJ, either.  Although my girlfriend has plenty, as she and I always argue about how good he is.  She agrees that some nights he’s unhittable but when he’s not unhittable, he’s too hittable.  I see her point but I digress.

            I’m not concerned about what AJ is going to give us when he’s pitching.  The Yanks won, correct me if I’m wrong, 22 or 23 of his starts last year, even though he got the W in only 13 of them.  AJ is a workhorse and he eats up solid innings start after start.  Some nights he’s the best pitcher in baseball, see Game 2 of the 2009 WS—other nights, not so much, see game 5.

            Here’s my concern with him.  AJ Burnett has notoriously been an injury risk—10 DL Stints in his career, the last in 2007.  When is he going to get hurt again?  My feeling is that an injury is on the horizon.  Trust me, I’m hoping as much as the next guy that AJ is over that part of his career.  But he’s older than he was in ’07.  And when you get older, you get hurt easier.  If he gets hurt, that would be devastating to our rotation.  We need AJ to throw 200+ innings and strikeout 190+ guys.  This guy is a beast and is a tremendous pitcher.  But what happens if he doesn’t stay healthy?  I’m worried about him, he’s looked great as a Yankee, so far, but with a guy that has been hurt so often, how much can you really trust him to stay healthy?

          Do I still have a valid concern about AJ's injury-plagued past or is he now the pitcher that we all knew he could be?  An inning eating workhorse who wins games--and slings pies?

 I hate when the Yankees lose, almost more than anything I can think of--except when there is a day off after a loss.  That really takes the cake.  I hate waiting an extra day to see the Yanks play and try to topple their opponent, and in this case it's Boston.  But tonight, I'm glad we have a full slate of things going on.  Duke v Butler, a bunch of other games and of course "Chuck" is on tonight.

Last night's game, though, was one that really irks me.  I mean, the Yanks had the game in hand.  But the bullpen struggled--as they have early in the last two seasons before something solidified them.  Say what you want about Girardi but that guy knows how to manage a bullpen.  Joe Torre doesn't.  I'm confident our 'pen will be one of the best again this year, Robertson looked good last night.

I think CC looked good early and it looked like he got tired in the fifth and sixth; he'll be fine.  Jorge and Grandy's back-to-back and belly-to-belly shots were also a sweet sight.  A-Rod's laser off the monster would have been gone pretty much anywhere else.  Although we lost, there were a lot of good things from last night.  Jeter had two hits, Posada had two, even the speedster Gardner had a nice couple hits--he's going to be a force at the bottom of that lineup.  But I do have a question, why is everyone calling him GGBG?  Someone please answer me!  I'm a little confused.

Like I said, the lineup looked solid last night, 7 runs in a game is going to win 9 out of 10 games (Except in Fenway park).  There are still 161 games to go and I fully expect to win...all of them.  Well, that's dreaming but we lost the first game last year and went on to-- as Tom Berenger said in "Major League"--"Win the whole f***ing thing."  So, let's do it again!

Maybe this one hurts a little more because it was against the Red Sox, but I think AJ will be great tomorrow and I'm so excited baseball is back. 

Alright, here's the deal.  "Over the Monster" has a top moments of the Red Sox season on their page.  Which is good and dandy.  I have absolutely no problem with it.  At least they can cheer about something (although they didn't win anything).  Their no. 3 best moment of the season was when Jason Bay hit the game winning homerun off of Mo.  So I basically said that it was great that one of their top moments was that and that our top 3 moments was a World Championship, 15 Walk-Off wins and winning the AL East against the Red Sox. 

Tonight I went back to see any reply's to my comment and I found that I was banned from their site.  In reality, I don't care that I was banned.  But in all seriousness if they can't take any constructive criticism, who cares? 

I'm a Yankee, forever and always, I'm a Yankee!!!!!

Do it again in 2010!

Every day I read up on what the Yankees are doing on the Hot Stove front and most days I am disappointed as nothing new has happened.  I want to see the Yanks make a move every day that will make them leaps and bounds better than Boston and the rest of the Baseball world.  Last year, they did that.  This year, it won’t happen.  That’s fine.  (Next year’s acquisitions of Joe Mauer and Cliff Lee will make it happen again, though.—I say that sort of tongue in cheek…But not really.)  Anyway, back to my original point. 

I argued with my brother about the Red Sox situation after they acquired Lackey and Cameron.  Does anybody actually think they improved that much.  They downgraded in their outfield.  Cameron is a former steroid junkie and he’s 37, Jason Bay is in his prime.  They signed a good pitcher; a work horse, a bull dog, a whatever else you want to call him.  But they signed a guy that has what, 23 wins the last two seasons combined?  CC Sabathia won 19 games this past season.  I like Lackey and I would have loved to see him in Pinstripes, as a fourth starter—behind Pettitte.  Not as my number 2 or 3 guy like the Sox expect him to be.  With Lackey and Beckett, the Sox have two guys who spend quite a bit of time on the DL.  I’m not saying they will this year, but the point stands.  This Red Sox team signing Cameron and Lackey sounds like the Yankees team of most of this decade.  A team that is getting guys who are past their prime, yes I believe Lackey is past his prime (he will not reach 200 innings this year, mark my words) and obviously Mike Cameron is past his prime, he won’t have any 4-homerun games for the Sox.

Today, while working, a co-worker said, “Hear who their interested in now?  Nick Johnson.”  I loved it.  He’s a lefty who will hit 20-25 homers, if not more for the Yankees.  A little story, in 2002, I think, my father and I went to a Giants/Yankees game at the Stadium.  Bonds hit a ball that I think is still travelling, it was a 3-run shot.  Later in the game, Nick Johnson hit a bloop homerun into right field to tie the game.  The Yanks lost, but it’s a memory I will always have of Nick Johnson.  I think the possible acquisition of Johnson improves the Yankees lineup because it gives you DH/1B depth.  On the days when you want to rest Tex, you have a more than capable backup.  On the days when you want to DH A-Rod, Jorge or Derek, then you bench Johnson.  But the guy can hit, trust me, if he’s healthy he is going to hit for us.

I don’t believe the Phillies got too much better, obviously getting the best pitcher in the game by giving up one of the top 5 pitchers in the game makes you better, but not considerably.  The Blue Jays got the prospects they want and Oakland (I didn’t even know Oakland was in on it) got something or someone, not really sure.  But the team that everyone needs to worry about now is the Seattle Mariners!  HOLY COW!!!  They have the best 1-2 punch in baseball, Lee and King Felix or King Felix and Lee, however you want to put them.  They just got Figgins and they’re still lurking around for Bay or Holliday.  They scare the hell outta me.  Glad they’re not in our league.  They won, I think, 89 games last year.   Not too shabby.  Griffey may be playing in his first World Series next year if that team stays healthy.

Some closing thoughts about Granderson and Matsui.  I will miss Hideki, his cool demeanor has been a Yankee mainstay for the last 7 years.  The guy is doesn’t have A-Rod or Jeter’s talents, no, but he is a true Yankee.  And that’s a fact.  My two fondest memories of Matsui will be his first game at Yankee Stadium and his last game at Yankee Stadium (as a Yankee).  Pure Class.  As for Grandy, Welcome.  Thanks for giving Joe number 28.  I’m sure this team will improve with your glove and when Kevin Long starts working with you, I’m sure you’ll start hitting lefties!!!

Guess Hot Stove didn't get my tongue!

World Series on the Brain?...That's OK, me too.  Late October when the Yankees are still playing baseball easily becomes my favorite time of the year. 

But then I start breaking down the matchups and reading all the "experts" and all the fan posts and it becomes a burden, a welcomed burden, but a burden none-the-less.  I start worrying, "What if the Yankees don't come through?"  "What if the Phillies actually beat them?"  But then I think, "We're in the World Series, finally, after all this time." 

This time of the year I'm usually consumed by thoughts of superstition.  And sometimes it becomes too much.  I think, "If I put my Yankees hat here, maybe it'll help them win...but what if they lose?"  But I guess baseball is full of superstition.

Tomorrow night, though, we can finally throw it all out the door.  All my worries, all my superstitions and the entire burden.  Because tomorrow night the Yankees and Phillies will start.  And I, for one, could not be more excited. 

CC Sabathia will oppose his former teammate and fellow former Cy Young Winner, Cliff Lee.  Cliff Lee has been great since going to the NL and he has become the best move they Phillies could have made.  Getting him turned their season around and made them look unbeatable when he took the hill.  With that being said, expect CC to be dominant, as he's been thus far.  Expect Lee to be good, but not CC.  Yankees win game 1, 6-1.  And they will take that momentum through the series and win it in Philadelphia in 5 games.