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Hey, logic finally prevails and the NYY wish to disassociate themselves from A.J.

Hey, if we are still stuck with him at least the front office has decided not to coddle the jerk. I’m liking that.

The Mets are picking up .220 hitters and chair throwing pitchers, but they are doing SOMETHING (besides building repelling).

I will readily admit that I found it hard to dislike Francona. He was a great manager for them. But Bobby V will be good for the Sox-Yanks rivalry. He knows how to get under people’s skins and he loves to beat the Yankees. And you know what he’s thinking: “This team without even trying is good for 85 wins and with me as a manager, I’m worth about 10-12 wins just by being in the dugout. And I’ll be able to out manage anyone in a playoff series.”

The interesting aspect to this is the tension that will occur between Bobby and the Sox front office team. The Red Sox after enjoying success over the past decade are now committed to the principles of sabermetrics fully. He said he didn’t believe in it when he was with Texas but has accepted it somewhat. He wasn’t fooling me any. He still doesn’t believe in it. It will be interesting to see that tension and when they meet up with the Yanks to see the mind of Bobby V go against Girardi’s “magic binder” which holds the secrets of Hogwarts and Mordor all in one easy to find index.

However, the stakes are high for Bobby because with the talent on the roster and the resources of the franchise, he’ll have no excuses. The Roundtable will be able to say to him just like Kirk said to Khan: “Khan, I’m laughing at the superior intellect.”

The Wild Card is fine, I like it too. But let’s face it, the format change is not for someone like me. I don’t need baseball jazzed up to be interested in it. I find it interesting on its own merits. It’s for the casual fan and for the younger generation that needs a little something extra.

The Red Sox decided they needed a disciplinarian who really knows the game. The fact that the new hire is a maniac does not bother them in the least. I LOVE THIS.  If there is a bigger contrast between Girardi and Valentine…….

Christmas comes early for Boston sports talk radio.

Maybe Bobby will have a team building exercise at his bar in Stamford – shots and wings and fake beards and eyeglasses all around.

P.S. Wild card playoff should be OK,  these things become part of the regular household furniture pretty quickly.

With the new deal, it seems it will be official:  Two wild card teams in each league. A one game playoff to determine the wild card winner.

Personally,  I like this.  As shown by this past year, there would be a lot of excitement surrounding a one game playoff.  I also like the idea of handicapping the wild card winner.  The team did not win its division, and now they have a one game chance to make it to the playoffs. Then when they make the playoffs, they’ve most likely lost their #1 starter for game 1.  Why should the wild card team have the same exact chance as the team that won the division?

I know this takes even more excitement away from the division race, but I think the trade-off is worth it. I guess an unfair part of this may be the following example: The wild card team from the American League East, that won 10 games more than the next American League wild card team, will have the same one game chance to make the playoffs.  But, hey, no system is going to be perfect.

Thoughts?

1. I think Francona will be named the next manager of the Cubs….Epstein will prob want to ensure the manager is someone he can work with…
2. With Ryan Howard out for 2012…I see Big Papi as an option for the Phils…2 year deal
3. Jose Reyes will be playing shortstop for the Giants
4. Pujols stays with the Cards
5. Prince Fielder will be playing for the Cubs

Yankees

1. Trade Burnett to the Cubs for Zambrano: Classic my problem for yours…Sabathia will be good for Zambrano…the NL will be good for Burnett..he will be comeback player of the year in the NL
2. Trade Eduardo Nunez and Jesus Montero to the Braves for Mike Minor and Jason Heyward; Braves need a shortstop and have plenty of outfield depth. Plus, a young player like Montero gives them options and a potential big bat. Braves are LOADED with pitching; Yanks get Minor – a 23 year old lefthander and Heyward. Heyward had a disappointing sophmore year in every department. But he’s left handed, big, has oodles of power, and a cannon for an arm. Perfect Yankee right fielder.
3. Sign C.J. Wilson. I don’t love Wilson – but I think he will flourish in NY. I don’t know why – just a gut feeling.
4. Sign Grady Sizemore: He’s still only 29. When healthy, he can be an offensive force. So, let him DH.
5. Chamberlain gets healthy and goes back to bullpen
6. See what you can get for Phil Hughes

2012 Yanks

1. Sabathia LHP
2. Zambrano RHP
3. Wilson LHP
4. Nova RHP
5. Minor LHP

 Lineup

1. Jeter SS 
2. Granderson CF
3. Teixeira 1B
4. Cano 2B
5. A-Rod 3B
6. Heyward RF
7. Sizemore DH
8. Martin C
9. Gardner LF

No news here, one of the favorite whipping boys for the ‘Table is back for more. I miss the Boss, even if he resigned Cashman he would have rained veiled or direct insults and threats on him. The good old days…….

These teams are better than the Yankees.

I find it sad that whenever a situation comes up where a big hit is needed, I think, “There not going to get it.”  Then, when they do get the big hit I think, “The Yankees wouldn’t have gotten it.” What happened? Am I just bitter?

Beer drinking and wing eating during games by off-day starting pitchers in the Fenway clubhouse. It’s as if high-living Babe Ruth was never traded from Boston. Tito couldn’t control the clubhouse and now Epstein is also headed for the door.

Did John Henry fire one or both of them? Gave them enough rope to hang themselves unless they brought in another ring in spite of the clubhouse chaos?

The Bronx Zoo, Boston version.

So.. my brother in law is a die hard phillies fan. On Facebook, my wife can view the facebook pages of my brother in law’s friends, who are all phillies fans. After the Yankee debacle, they were all making fun of the pinstripes. Then the phillies promptly went out and showed everyone how it’s really done! Well, that was bad karma my friend because the philly loss is probably worse. Losing 1-0 at home, after having the best record in baseball and supposedly one of the best pitching staffs of all time. Nice! They also lost to Chris Carpenter, a good pitcher, but let’s be honest —- the guy has had more surgery than Lee Majors in the Six Million Dollar Man. What a disaster! The only negative I can see out of that is Tony LaRussa’s head just grew a bit more. I think I’ll take that trade off.

We are all saying the same thing.  The offense lost this series.  What bothers me, with Swisher and Tex in particular, is that they refuse to adjust their approach when it is obvious to everyone that they are being pitched away. Selfish or stupid? Or both?

Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done with this team in the off season.  They only position player that can or should be changed is Swisher.  We don’t need a .300 hitter or a 30 home run guy.  We need a guy who knows how to put the ball in play.  I agree, bring up the killer B’s.  Let’s see how they do.