Below is my next piece for Bronx Baseball Daily wherein I have some fun sharpening my claws and reviewing the rival Red Sox's changes for 2012.
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Previewing the 2012 Red Sox or: Something’s Foul in Fenway

Right about now, less than a week before the start of the 2012 Major League Baseball season, about the only thing the Red Sox Nation should be feeling good about is the additional Wild Card slot this year. And honesty, if I were them (and so happy the Good Lord chose to make me a Yankee fan) I wouldn’t even feel secure with the fact that third place in the American League East is even within their grasp. Counter in the fact that even should Boston be able to achieve that position, the resulting one-game playoff game could be up against the far superior starting rotations of the Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers or Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles (still causes me some discomfort to write that) and that cannot calm the collective brain of the Nation.

All kidding aside, consider the 2011 version of the club, a club that some writers were handing over the World Series trophy around this time last spring, then witness one of the greatest crash and burns the game has ever seen and after the rats left the sinking ship what is left? What indeed? Let’s spend some time dissecting the team the Boston Red Sox will put on the field this the one-hundredth anniversary of Fenway Park. Please disregard the smell emanating from the bloated corpse as we slice them open, but something’s really rotten in the state of Massachusetts.

The Front Office: As a Yankee fan, Sox’ GM Theo Epstein bugged me mostly because the wunderkind was the man who built their two championship teams. But in the wake of last season’s disaster, Epstein is gone; “traded” to the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Chris Carpenter, and not only is he not that Chris Carpenter, he’s injured, too. Jed Hoyer, who was Epstein’s heir-apparent, went with him leaving Ben Cherington the task of putting this club back together.

Cheringon let 2011’s shortstop, Marco Scutaro (.299/.358/.781) go to save money ostensibly so the club could bolster their hurting starting rotation and sign Roy Oswalt, only to be rebuffed. Losing closer Jonathan Papelbom to free-agency and potential replacement Daniel Bard to the rotation, the replacements of Mark Melancon and Andrew Bailey cannot be considered an upgrade.

In the wake of the PR nightmare that was their 2011 season, the new GM had no choice but to overpay DH David Ortiz to stick around and put a friendly smile on things. And while Big Papi did have a good season last year (.309/29HRS/96RBIs/.953OPS) paying nearly $15M this season is an awful lot for a DH on the decline.

The Red Sox have yet to play a single game this season and already the word out of Boston is that GM Cherington is squabbling with his new manager.

The Manager: And that new manager, as I am sure you’re aware, is Bobby Valentine. Now, I’m not going to stand here and say that “The Mouth” doesn’t possess a fine baseball mind, but all he’s done this spring, after instituting his “no beer in the clubhouse” rule has been to cause distractions from the team on the field he’s going to helm and who could blame him?

He’s taking over a team clearly on the decline with a lot of question marks and he’s replacing Terry Francona who was quite possibly the best and most successful of managers in Boston club history. Valentine started the spring by taking a misinformed pot-shot at Derek Jeter, another at A-Rod and even ruffled the feathers of the usually unflappable (okay, I’m kidding there) Ozzie Guillen in a meaningless grapefruit league game.

On the positive side, Bobby Valentine relishes being a lightening rod and could distract some of the intense Boston media scrutiny from the team he’ll be running out there this season.

Let’s get to the team:

Firstbase: This is one of the few spots on this ballclub that I can’t find much fault. Adrian Gonzalez is clearly the real deal (.338/.410/.957 and 27HRS/117RBI) while playing a Gold Glove winning firstbase. That said, Gonzalez turns thirty next month so perhaps his years of playing 159 games may be passing him by and he clearly benefitted from hitting in a Red Sox line-up after years of little to no protection in the San Diego. This may be the only spot on the field where I could give Boston a slight advantage over Tex at first for the Yanks.

Secondbase: Dustin Pedroia is a former MVP, but that was a few seasons ago. If you polled all the General Managers in the Major Leagues and asked them today if they’d rather have Pedroia or Robinson Cano I would go all-in that it would be unanimous in the Yankee secondbaseman’s favor. The numbers are still there for Pedroia (.307/.387/.861) but this is a guy with such a huge chip on his diminutive shoulder, that I seriously suspect precipitous decline. Yes, he’s small and scrappy, but the way he plays the game may start to lead in the number of games he’s healthy enough to be on the field. Chase Utley anyone? Anyone?

Shortstop: Do the Red Sox have a shortstop? A spring training competition between twenty-two year old Jose Iglesias and Mike Aviles was won this past week by the latter. Aviles has hit well this spring and fielded his position well enough to get the job; he’ll effectively maintain the string of average-at-best shortstops since Boston ran Nomar Garciaparra out of town. Even the most diehard of Bosox fans would take the soon-to-be thirty-eight year old Derek Jeter over what they have in the middle of their infield.

Thirdbase: “The Greek God of Walks” just ain’t what he used to be. Kevin Youkilis, the heart and soul of the Bosox, is a guy having an increasingly difficult task of staying healthy enough to be a mainstay in their line-up. And while that may also be true for suddenly-injury-prone A-Rod, Youkilis is in a serious decline from his career seasons of 2008 and 2009. The walks are down, the power is down and Valentine can’t really afford to give him a break at DH with Ortiz cemented in that slot or at first with the presence of Gonzalez. Add to this that Youkilis made nine errors at the suddenly-too-hot corner in 2011 doesn’t bode well either; he hadn’t made more than five previously and that was his rookie season.

Catcher: Jarrod Saltalmacchia is going to handle the bulk of the Red Sox catching duties in 2012 which means what it meant in 2011: a lot of stolen bases for their opposition. He put up decent enough power numbers (16HR/56RBI) in only one-hundred three games, but he’s having hip issues this spring and back-up Kelly Shoppach isn’t a guy you want to see out there too much. The combination of Russell Martin and Francisco Cervelli in pinstripes is clearly a Yankee advantage.

Outfield:  From the mouth himself, Bobby Valentine is “comfortable” with his outfield alignment for the coming season. Doesn’t quite sound like a ringing endorsement, does it? And who can blame him? The Bosox spent a lot of money to bring in Carl Crawford, who between injury and that growing sense that this simply is not the guy for Boston, was awful in 2011 (.255/.289/.533) with a scant eighteen stolen bases and starting this season on the disabled list due a continuing wrist injury shouldn’t excite the Fenway faithful. Crawford is a “legs guy” and the Sox are losing out on his big upside the first few years of this bloated contract. Time will tell which Crawford shows up – when he shows up – but I wouldn’t feel comfortable.

On the other hand, I do suspect new outfielder Cody Ross will hit some; if he couldn’t hit the San Francisco Giants would have held on to him. And while accentuating the positives in the Bosox outfield, Jacoby Ellsbury was healthy last season and should anchor center very well again in 2012. Even I can’t find fault in the numbers he put up in 2011 (.321/.376/.928) along with significant power numbers (32HR/105RBI) while nabbing thirty-nine stolen bases and scoring one-hundred nineteen runs.

But even a repeat season from Ellsbury won’t likely cover for Ryan Sweeney and Darnell              McDonald in the corner slots. The Boston Red Sox scored an impressive number of runs in 2011, but I don’t see a repeat of that in 2012 and the pitching won’t be able to cover for it.

Pitching: If I were Ben Cherington (and I am glad that I am not) I’d be on the phone to Tim Wakefield begging him to un-retire. I would also probably bemoan the fact of being stuck with John Lackey (out for the season) and Dice-K (if the Sox are lucky: a tax write-off) to my therapist. While Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz are a formidable starting trio when healthy what comes after that is suspect.

Compare the “problems” Joe Girardi has had in choosing his starting rotation this spring with the decision facing Bobby Valentine in picking between Daniel Bard (trying to get stretched out from set-up man to starter), ex-Yankee Alfedo Aceves, Felix Doubront and Aaron Cook for the last few spots in their rotation and the advantage is crystal clear. This is not a rotation that will be able to compete with what the Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays will be throwing out each and every game.

And while the Yankee bullpen is a definite strength, Boston’s has even more question marks than its starting five. Their closer, Jonathan Papelbom is gone as a free-agent to Philadelphia. Bard, as mentioned who was the heir to the job may, or may not be in the rotation. The Sox brought in yet-another ex-Yankee, Mark Melancon, at first for the closer spot.

The fire-sale in Oakland later landed Boston Andrew Bailey who was good, but in Oakland -- the competition in the AL-East is a whole other matter -- and only when he’s healthy which has been a major  issue as well.  And as bad as things may turn out to be coming from the Boston bullpen, they may be catching a break in that head-case and potential team-cancer, Bobby Jenks, may never be healthy enough to pitch for them.

The 2011 Boston Red Sox were about as schizophrenic a team as you can get: one of the worst teams in the Majors in April and in September and yet one of the best from May through August before the choke to end all chokes, the “beer and fried chicken” escapades and then this winter’s overhaul. And while I don’t see them being as bad as when they were really bad, I seriously doubt they will come close to being as good as they were last season during the summer months when they seemed to be living up to spring prognostics.

Yes, we had the Bronx Zoo in the 1970s, but what is going on in Boston now feels like the kind of failure on an organizational level that sees them not returning to the playoffs again in 2012. Already this spring, there’s been the aforementioned GM versus Manager issue, but there’s been more than that. Retired Curt Schilling has taken shots at Valentine and Josh Beckett fired back at the ex-Red Sox pitcher. Bobby Jenks has been arrested on DUI charges and that’s not to mention rather disturbing charges levied against a former member of the Boston front office. They let their captain, and the heart of their team, catcher Jason Varitek, depart without much fanfare, dignity or respect.

Clearly I am biased, but in keeping with the Macbeth theme from the opening, I don’t think the 2012 Boston Red Sox have a ghost of a chance this season. And if an immediate and sharp change of course doesn’t occur and with the very strong Yankee and Rays clubs and an emerging one in Toronto, the Sox could very well be keeping the Baltimore Orioles company down toward the bottom of the AL-East. The Orioles, a once great and consistent contender themselves, could use the company down there.

The Wedding Present @ 400 Bar 3/28/12

When I walked into the 400 Bar last night, the band on stage Toquiwa (formerly Pinky Piglets) reminded me instantly of the Japanese cheerleaders I’d seen first thing in the morning in the stands for the opening day baseball game (A’s vs. Mariners) live from Tokyo. This adorable four-piece have enough energy to get a stadium-sized crowd moving; the more intimate crowd on the West Bank had no choice but to fall under their sway and do as instructed - shake your body and mind! (It’s the band’s motto) After an energy-packed set, the four tiny Japanese girls were still dancing among the crowd. Bowing and pressing their materials in my hands, I could imagine how after seeing them busking in a Japanese train station, they would be asked to support The Wedding Present on their tour through the UK and US. Toquiwa have some pretty respectable fans having been asked to open for The Hoodoo Gurus, Guttermouth and Bad Religion as well.

On the other hand, the middle-child in last night’s bill, Washington DC’s Jet Age, didn’t do all that much for me. Originally thinking the band’s name was Zarigani$ because two thirds of the band were “that guy” wearing the t-shirt, but nope. Maybe they didn’t say who they were; maybe they’re not quite sure. I also mistook Jet Age for The Wedding Presents’ roadies at first and even after they started playing as their first few tracks sounded a lot like the WP, their next few songs sounded an awful like Ted Leo & the Pharmacists before they played a couple of Spoon-sounding songs. Good guitar stuff to steal from for sure, but there was a definite lack of originality in their sound(s).

Last time I saw The Wedding Present was a couple years ago at a much bigger venue (The Troubador in W. Hollywood, CA) when they were touring their 1989 lp, “Bizarro” in its entirety. Wondering then how the getting-long-in-the-tooth Gedge would play the extended and frenetic guitar parts on that album (fyi: he just cut the solos live; that’s how he dealt with it) I didn’t have the same issue heading in to see 1991’s “Seamonsters” played front to back last night.

Gedge lead the band through eight songs including “Anyone Can Make a Mistake” and “It’s a Gas” before we got to hear “Dalliance,” the opening track on the album. Catching himself early into it, Gedge said he wasn’t going to speak between songs as to maintain the flow of the full-length album, and then burned through “Dare,” “Suck” (it didn’t) and flipping to side two and playing “Lovenest, “Corduroy” et al.

And as everyone who has seen The Wedding Present live knows- they don’t do encores, although Gedge made that proclamation a little more politely than I’d heard him do back in Los Angeles. They wrapped up with “Drive” and closed with a real oldie and one of my personal favorites, “You Should Always Keep in Touch with Your Friends.” That last song serving as a reminder that the Wedding Present, now doing this for over twenty-five years, are a band still worth hearing. Seeing them in the tiny 400 Bar was an added bonus.  The tour headed out to the West Coast after last night’s show.

Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express: Turf Club March 25, 2012

In addition to the Bronx Baseball Daily, I posted my first piece for MusicScene-MPLS this week: a review of the Chuck Prophet show at the Turf Club. Here it is in its entirety if you didn't already read it there. Cheers, Brian
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This is my first piece for MusicScene-MPLS and also the first and only time I will make this particular confession: I got turned on to the performer I went to see last night from an in-flight magazine. Let’s just say my musical tastes and those you’d expect to read a fluff piece in one of those free rags, rarely cross. You flip through those things to find out what kind of scotch they have on board or if you’re looking for the airsickness bag. It’s once in a million flights that I’d come across a musician I’d be willing to cross the river for on a Sunday night, but the Turf Club was the place and Chuck Prophet and the Mission Express was worth the trek.

But before Prophet could lead his San Francisco-based band on stage, local luminary Dylan Hicks and the Toughies had it. I’m new to the Twin Cities so – sorry - but Hicks was unknown to me even though one of his bandmates happened to be the brother of a friend. Looking like he had come from a Royal Tenenbaums convention or playing  the Ramada ballroom, Hicks was limited mostly to dancing beneath his keyboard as they worked through their dozen song set. They grew on me a little, but the Ramada Inn kept coming to mind and I was there to see Chuck.

Thinking I was plucking Prophet’s set-list off the stage at the end of the night, I actually wound up with Dylan’s instead. “Remember drums and guitar drop on turnaround of 2^nd verse” was Hicks’ little crib note in reference to the song “What I Want.” Dylan Hicks’ first novel is coming out soon; see: I can play nice.

Chuck Prophet, looking like the lovechild of Weeds-era Kevin Nealon and John Doe (thankfully sounding much more like the latter), took the stage and gave immediate props and well wishes for recovery  to Slim Dunlap, with whom he’d played his first ever time at the Turf Club. Prophet made damn sure to win over the local crowd (and it was a really good crowd for a Sunday night, but if this is any indication of who was there:  the woman hitting on me was in her 50s) by also mentioning Bob Dylan and said that IF he still drank, the Turf Club would be the place.

Chuck Prophet had been the guitarist in the kickass, psychedelic garage band, Green on Red in the 80s who I had the great fortune to see.  The Mission Express, named for the bus that goes by Prophet’s SFO home, did not disappoint either. This was a guitar-laden, rock ‘n roll set with Prophet’s playing and showmanship supplemented by his significant other (Stephanie Finch) on Vox organ, back-up vocals and lead on a song of her own.

 Normally, this is where a decent, experienced reviewer (or at least one who did more homework) would tell you what songs were played, but I can’t help you much there: I know they played “Would You Love Me?” from 2007’s lp “Soap and Water.” CP and the Mission Express are touring their new, San Francisco-themed album, Temple Beautiful, which I haven’t picked up yet (or would have today had it not been $17 at so-called Cheapo Records/Uptown) so perhaps a bunch of the material comes from that just-released work. There was a Springsteen cover in the set, but Prophet made that his own.

In short: Chuck Prophet is going to remind you of the late, great Alex Chilton, Ray Davies and the aforementioneds; maybe you should have read that in-flight magazine, too. And yeah, you should have been there; you could have told me what songs they were playing. You can hear the new album here:

 http://soundcloud.com/yep-roc-music-group/sets/chuck-prophet-temple-beautiful/s-tuSdN

My first piece for Bronx Baseball Daily (http://bronxbaseballdaily.com/) will run tomorrow, but you get a sneak peak here and now. The blog below is about the Yankee bullpen for 2012 which took a big hit when Joba Chamberlain severely injured himself.
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Anyone who follows the game knows how the Yankee bullpen ends: Mariano Rivera. Never before, in the more than hundred year history of the game, has there been a player who inspires such unabashed confidence that he will get the job done as Mo. When we hear “Enter Sandman,” it’s as close to a “foregone conclusion” as you get in baseball.

The guys in the Yankee bullpen who get the ball to Rivera have changed over the years, although the bullpen put together for 2011 by Brian Cashman and employed to maximum efficiency by Joe Girardi was one of the finest in memory. Despite the pen losing to injury some of the more pricey stalwarts such as Damaso Marte (remember him?), Pedro Feliciano (yet to throw a pitch in pinstripes) and Joba Chamberlain (more on him in a moment, but I’m sure you’ve heard the bad news already) the 2011 bullpen pitched to an AL best ERA.

Home-grown arms like David Robertson, who really came into his own last season, and Boone Logan along with the scrap-heap supplements like Corey Wade and Luis Ayala (gone to Baltimore this year) helped turn the 2011 Yankee bullpen into a strength despite being called in for more innings than expected of most ‘pens (I won’t mention the guilty party here as I gave up taking shots at AJ Burnett for Lent).

The 2012 Yankee bullpen had very few question marks heading into the spring. There has long been discussion about the addition of a second lefty to the crew. While there is much speculation about that very thing, the Yanks had but Boone Logan throwing from the southpaw side last season and it could not be considered a weakness. The need for a second lefty is debatable; in back to back Grapefruit League broadcasts this week, Ken Singleton called a second lefty a “luxury” one day and something “you always like to have” the next.  Personally, I think Cashman and Girardi tab whoever is the best arm for the last spot in the bullpen. 

And that spot in question is really one of the few yet to be answered in the last two weeks before the team breaks camp. Should the Yanks go with a second lefty, two pitchers have distinguished themselves enough to warrant making the team. The more-seasoned Clay Rapada, slings it up there and looks pretty tough against left-handed batters: I saw him strike out Luke Scott and Carlos Pena of the Ray back to back this week. Cesar Cabral is the other lefty opening eyes for the Yanks down in Tampa; in that same game against the division rivals, he K’d six in two innings. Adding intrigue to the decisions facing the Yankee brain-trust is that both pitchers should they not make the big club will most assuredly not clear waivers; if they don’t come North with the Yankees, they more than likely will do with some other club.

Corey Wade, while not having the best spring is the most likely to be the Yankees long man, but he does face the challenge for that spot from both the aforementioned lefties as well as the potential “loser” in the battle for the starting rotation. While Girardi has said he may not make a discussion until possibly the starters’ sixth time out, Phil Hughes (who has proven he can pitch very effectively out of the pen) looks like a lock for the rotation with how well he’s pitched this spring.

 If Ivan Nova doesn’t make the rotation now, he is most likely destined for AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and not the pen. Unlike, Rapada and Cabral, the Yankees still do have minor league options on the young right-hander despite proving himself posting a  16-4 record last year.  I just don’t see Michael Pineda being in the bullpen or in the minors after trading our #1 prospect, Jesus Montero, for him this winter.

 This leaves Freddy Garcia, who was the only Yankee I didn’t hear gushing over the fact that Andy Pettitte should be back in the rotation come May. As there are only 2 scheduled days off in April, the 5^th starter is going to get some chances to prove his worth and stick. Garcia, if he accepts it, could really be a boon in the pen. I see him very capable of filling a similar job description that Ramiro Mendoza and Alfredo Aceves have in the past:  a guy who can spot-start, be a long-man or even the mop-up guy. Will he be ecstatic over the possibility? I’d think not, but the Yankee teams of the last few decades have been built on that “team first” ideal. You want that ring you shut up and do whatever the job asked of you.

But alas, all is not as simple and clean as that. Injuries, the wild card of spring training, have taken their toll on the Yankee bullpen. David Roberston, who is being counted on as the 8^th inning guy,  injured himself early in training and hasn’t been on the mound for some time calling into question his readiness for Opening Day. Hurting yourself kicking some empty boxes would seem like the bone-head play of the spring, had it not been for this week’s really bad news (I’m getting to it). But by all reports, Robbie and his bone bruise should be ready to go; the Yankees are traditionally cautious with nagging injuries, oft the price of a more veteran team.

Rafael Soriano, despite never quite looking like he wants to be on the mound, is a proven back-end of the bullpen guy and as a former (and possibly future) closer, he is up to the task should Robertson need a little more time.

This brings us to Joba Chamberlain. And what do you say? He should have kept his excitement to tweeting overly enthusiastically about the NY Rangers and stayed out of the kid’s playground? Recovering from Tommy John ahead of most time-tables and expectations, and really being counted on to take his place in the 7^th inning, Joba severely injured himself this week. His season is done before it got started; in fact his career may be in jeopardy after an open dislocation of his ankle (that means the bone came through the skin; he lost so much blood his life was considered in jeopardy, too) while playing with his son, Karter (I blame Roger Clemens for these pitchers’ kids names starting with “K”) on a trampoline. Prayers go out to Joba as he faces another long road of recovery. One thing is known: we won’t be seeing him in the Yankee bullpen in 2012.

The only “winner” in this debacle is David Aardsma, who outside of being the first guy in the Baseball Almanac is the most likely to take Joba’s job.  Recovering from surgery, the Yanks took a flier on him ($500K plus incentives for 2012 with a club option for next season) although he probably won’t be available until after this year’s all-star break; his recovery about a month behind Joba’s Tommy John surgery. But, in Aardsma, should he return to form, we’re talking about a guy who had nearly 70 saves 2009-2010.

 I can’t close my thoughts on the 2012 New York Yankee bullpen without a few more words on the greatest closer the game will ever see. Mariano Rivera has said that he has made up his mind regarding his eventual retirement. And while I believe him to be a man of his word, the return of Andy Pettitte can only make more real the feeling of leaving too soon as opposed to too late. Mo is still Mo and seeing him throw nothing but more scoreless innings this spring (like most springs, summers and falls) has done nothing to indicate that his skills are eroding. But we don’t have to worry about who “replaces” Mo in 2012. This season the Yankee bullpen, as it has since 1997, will be anchored by Mariano Rivera and with him there, that makes the pen one of the best in the game again this year.

But, hey go read it tomorrow too...

Thanks

Brian

Whether or not he's telling true, Joe Girardi said the starting rotation question may not be answered until the 4th, 5th or even 6th spring start for the pitchers competing for the numbers four and five spots. He does have a little wiggle room in that even after the season starts there will be a competition still brewing. Most likely outside of CC and Kuroda, the other spots in the rotation are subject to change when Andy Pettitte most likely returns around the beginning of May.

And while my first piece on BBD http://bronxbaseballdaily.com/ will focus on the status of the Yankee bullpen on Sunday, parts of the pen are likely affected by when/where Pettitte returns. Phil Hughes looked really good though five innings against the Rays yesterday. He made one fat pitch in the first that was sent almost through the batter's eye in centerfield for a 2-run shot, but that's all he gave up. Hughes has probably pitched the best so far of the starters and he does have both minor league options (rather unlikely) and bullpen capabilities (not outside the realm of the possible) but right now I would suspect he is earning himself a place in the rotation -- and it will be his spot to lose when Pettitte enters the ring.

Freddy Garcia, while pitching better than his normal slow start, may wind up the long-man and spot-starter. While this is not what he imagined he signed on for this winter, the situation has changed a few times since then. Garcia seemingly will not be happy with this decision and time will tell if that affects his pitching.

Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda are in a different boat from Garcia as they do both have minor league options. But if precedence is any sort of indicator, the Yankee brain-trust was willing to send Nova to AAA despite being big show ready and capable. I don't see the Yanks sending Pineda to AAA (although I wouldn't count that out when Pettitte returns) after sending their #1 prospect (Jesus Montero) to the Mariners for him.

Right now, we are two weeks away from Opening Day, but if the Yanks were heading north today, I would think this is how it would break down:

Rotation: CC, Kuroda, Hughes, Garcia & Pineda with the last 3 guys being on the "bubble" when Pettitte is added. If Hughes or Garcia lose their spot to Andy, they'd go to the bullpen; (although the Yanks may listen to trade offers for Garcia especially) if Pineda loses his spot, then AAA. And that would be where Nova would start the season as well despite proving last year that he is major league ready.

An abundance of riches is what it is, but injury and ineffectiveness are parts of the game.

Cheers,
Brian

Well, now that the whole Madoff/Ponzi Mets scam has been settled, the team can now just suck on the field; that much be of great relief to anyone foolish or forlorn enough to root for the Mets.

Miggy Cabrera took a ball off the face yesterday and hopefully it didn't actually hit him in the eye, but unlike what his manager, Jim Leyland, is saying that the shot would have hit any thirdbaseman in the league like that, but I doubt it. As a thirdbaseman, Cabrera makes a damn good DH, he makes a fine piece of furniture. Tigers just hoping he drives in more than he lets go by (they may start telling him to just let the left-fielder get that) - talk about WAR. Yeah, it's gonna be a battle at the hot-corner.

Speaking of battles, the return of Andy Pettitte is making the fight for the #s four and five spots in the Yankee starting rotation a little rowdy. Freddy Garcia is clearly not pleased about the big lefty coming back to the fold and pretty much being guaranteed a place in the rotation. Garcia is the most likely to get traded, although the return won't be great despite him being a rather reliable starter.

Ivan Nova is also feeling more heat then he expected; it was a little bush for him to take it out on back-up to the back-up catcher Gustavo Molina (I don't think he's a member of the famed Molina Brothers catchers rampant around MLB like the Baldwin Brothers of Hollywood) for poor pitch calling. But credit Girardi in not letting Nova off the hook so easy: throw your pitch even if it means shaking the catcher off 17 times and throw it with conviction was pretty much the message from the skipper.

In other, non-baseball news, I started the "Wasteland" project as the lit-manager calls it; I still refer to it as the "Caving" project, but with these high 70s temps and my proximity to the lakes, the view walking past my windows all day long have made being frozen inside seem more fantasy than reality.

I'll be posting the Sunday piece on Bronx Baseball Daily starting this week. Not sure what my first piece will be just yet, but I imagine I'll be cross-posting it here; killing two birds with one blog as it were.

A few days later, the first installment of my piece, "Turtle Power," will be published in the magazine section of the Jerusalem Post Lite with brand new illustrations by my friend Meital. This will be the first of hopefully many pieces including stories from the short story collection, which...

Will be coming out next month. Maybe in time for my birthday and no- I don't want a copy as a present. Well, buy one for yourself and that can be it.

Keep 'em crossed for some news regarding "Crawlspace Charlie" and for "Blacktop" which is going out somewhere else this week.

Oh, and I will start updating my regular writing website: http://stuffoflegends.tripod.com/ as a clearing house for all the upcoming work and should also be setting up a website specific to the "Rose" publication.

Thanks for reading,
B.

Andy Pettitte is a New York Yankee... again. The winningest pitcher in the post-season has returned after his self-inflicted one year "retirement" and has gotten to work reclaiming his spot in the rotation. Now, the current starting staff was already six men for five spots and this only makes that worse for Girardi and Rothschild, but as the old adage goes, "You can never have too much pitching." And while Cashman had been trying to throw some pretty big money ($10-12M for a year) at the big lefty from Texas over the last few winters, the Yanks signed Pettitte to minor league contract without incentives for $2.5M. This is clearly not about the money.

The announcement was made at the beginning of the Yanks/(g)Nats game yesterday afternoon (Yanks won 4-3 in 10); the story broken by YES's Jack Curry, although later in the day ESPN's Buster Olney took credit for it-- or tried to. And the joy of a spring training game meant that Cashman could be in the booth to talk about it, Girardi could be questioned about it on-camera and mid-game and Pettitte himself could call in discuss it with Yankee announcers Ken Singleton and John Flaherty.

And while there may have been some spin added to the tale (personally, my favorite part was that originally Michael Kay was being given some credit for at least verbally bringing the idea to Pettitte and Cashman, Pettitte either didn't know - or forgot - to credit the YES big-mouth much to the delight of me and Flaherty; I don't know how much of the chiding between the two men is serious, I know there's got to be a kernel of truth in there: Kay is just freaking annoying and he talks just way too much) this much is certainly true: If Pettitte returns to the rotation (most likely in May; he's been throwing but it's going to take some time to get his near-40 year old legs strong enough for pitching in the bigs) he will only do so if he can pitch like he did before he foolishly retired and if that be the case, we are talking about one of the better big-game pitchers we have ever seen.

And while I was pleased to think the rotation would be following the Rays path to youth and that the Yankees may have had 3/5 of their rotation 25 years of age or less, with Pettitte in there (Hughes seems the most likely to be moved to the bullpen but if he was feeling the heat yesterday, he sure responded with 4 very strong run-free innings in yesterday's win) that won't be the case. But with Pettitte in the rotation with CC, Kuroda et al a 28th World Championship feels very much within grasp this season. As a side note and with all hopes for a speedy recovery, not including AJ Burnett in this discussion is a great thing.

There's been some noise on the internet and sports pages that signing Pettitte is a sign of worry about the rotation which is just run of the mill, anti-Yankee sentiment. The rotation is healthy and it is strong and it is deep and it just got that much deeper -- and really for what amounts to a bargain in the current MLB clime.

I am really looking forward to seeing Andy Pettitte, cap pulled down low over his eyes, staring out from a mound again.

Thanks
Brian

Hmm... maybe it's been my fault. If you checked my Yankee spring training schedule of late, you'd most likely find it marked "WW;" that's "wasn't watching," for those of you who don't know the old poetry that was Phil Rizzuto. But I did just watch the Yanks v Nats game all the way til no one with a number under 77 was left in the contest. Yanks win 8-5.

Michael Pineda started for the Yankees and looked pretty good, striking out a few including Bryce Harper, but he did give up a couple runs to the anemic (g)Nats. The radar gun was not working or not working correctly depending on whose reports you listen to. Washington had announced that pre-game so it had nothing to do with concerns over Pineda's velocity. He mostly likely topped out at 92mph (93 if you're being too kind) but was definitely not burning it up in the 95-97 range. Again- this is spring training and early so guys really are not cutting loose.

The most interesting moment in the MASN broadcast was the work of FP Santangelo. Coming back from commercial after the Nats had scored off of Pineda with a double down the right-field line. Much had been made by big mouth Bobby Valentine about Jeter being out of position to be able to perform the classic "flip play." The Captain had actually said that they practice that, demonstrating earlier this spring.

Well, there was the ball down in the right-field corner and there's the throw up the first base line and there's Yankee shortstop for today's game, Ramiro Pena, on the line to catch the overthrow. FP made damn sure to stick it to Bobby V; wonder who outside of beantown will like this guy come the all-star break.

Pena left the game early after getting banged up getting caught stealing second. CM Wang, who was throwing great against his former club until he had to go anywhere near a base. This time the culprit was the first-base bag. Wang had fielded a slow roller and was racing Russell Martin to the bag. What I think the pitcher was trying to do was adjust his course to the bag to beat the speedy catcher. What he did was trip over one of his own feet and then the other before tumbling over the bag (he did get the out) and leaving the game with dirt on his shoulder (you don't want to see that on your starting pitcher especially an injury-prone one) with a hamstring pull. It could have been a whole lot worse considering his history.

Debate over whether Gardner should lead off instead of Jeter should quiet for at least tomorrow's papers. Gardy k'd three times in the lead off role today.

Okay, that's all you get.

B.

Because of the television schedule and the fact that I am actually working (okay- to you it may look like I'm going to the movies and scouring Netflix, but I *swear* it's work) on the new screenplay, haven't had the opportunity to see much of the grapefruit league games of late. I will be tuned in to the Yanks v. sox game this evening, so there's that. Girardi and Yanks are playing it like the meaningless game that it actually is; Bobby Valentine on the other hand is ... nuts. Should make things fun though.

Ozzie Guillen got tossed in an exhibition game yesterday that happened to be against Boston. Apparently there was Bobby V waving to the hot-blooded Miami manager as he left the field. Ozzie didn't notice him, but later said had he would have cursed at him in his native tongue. Gotta like that Ozzie...

Speaking of managers who need to do less, there's Bruce Bochy out in San Francisco. I think the Giants win despite him. Between informing the world that Posey won't be blocking the plate this season, he tossed an Angels' scout from a practice session last week. No one really knew why and obviously the Giants' scouts don't want retribution so Bochy had to apologize for his error. Just so bush.

David Robertson is out of the walking boot and back into the Yankee plans for the bullpen on opening day. I suppose the real big thing during spring training is not get injured. Well, that and don't get suspended for violating PED rules. But if you had Manny in your "Which A's OF will get nailed for drugs" you would lose to whomever had Jason Pridie in their bracket (see: I pay attention that it's March Madness): http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-athletics-pridiesuspension
And even if Johan Santana is healthy enough to start the season for the Mets, they may need him to be a lefty specialist out of the 'pen (Byrdak needs surgery) and maybe play third-base (Wright needs a new back). But I guess at least there still sort of with the team and not stuck in the DR like the player formerly known as Fausto Carmona. Charges were dropped against him for using a false identity, but he still lacks a visa and the Tribe have no good idea as to when he can get back to the States and start spring training.

In writing news: looks like the friend who was supposed to give me her "Rose" edits over lunch today is flaking. I have it out to two other friends and will just sit on my hands... Grrr...

But "Crawlspace Charlie" is going out to a few other rather well-placed production companies. Can you say "bidding war?" Not much would please me more these days... Well, that and the 70 degree temps we're getting here; who needs Florida for spring (training)?

Cheers,
B

Waiting is the name of this game...

More screenplays went out last week which really is great news. And now all I have to do is forget all about them. Out of my hands and nothing I can do about it. Well, I guess I could start writing actual script pages instead of "doing research" and "taking notes." But now I am keeping the lit-manager waiting and that's what it's all about, yaar?

Still waiting on "Rose" notes; some of the proof copies have been out for near three weeks, but not much I can do on that front other than gentles nudges. Nudge... Nudge... You know who you are.

Same for BBD. The rest of the staff correspondents are being added, but for the mean time I get to wait for that ball to get rolling as well. I guess I can link from here (or vice versa) to the ESPN site on the days that my pieces hit. And since we're all just waiting for games that count, that matter it is what it is.

And waiting on the Jerusalem Post to start running my stories. I guess the same note from above applies here.

One thing we didn't have to wait for was spring. It's been a sixty plus degree weekend and every roof-deck and patio bar is open and teeming with under-dressed MidWesterners; that is mostly not a complaint.

Thoughts go out to my friends in Japan as we reach the year mark from the devastating earthquake(s) and tsunami.

Thanks
Brian

Well, even though we have still yet to reach 50 followers on this site (so I am not sure if I have to give away the signed copy of "Rose") I still secured the blogging gig on Bronx Baseball Daily. I'll link to that from here, and in turn get linked from off the ESPN "Sweet Spot" website and that feels pretty kickass. Thanks for your help, but let's get 6 more followers here. Vote early, vote often...

I've committed myself to actually starting to write down notes on "Caving," the romantic dramedy screenplay. Honestly, the severe lack of a legitimate winter is/was my excuse for not performing all the requisite research for that movie idea although my life does keep imitating my art (or is it the other way around?) in regard to this project. But as I drag my heels through the slush, I'm attempting to pass a few of the screenplays that I wrote as works-for-hire on to the lit-manager. Yes, I'd have to split proceeds with the producers whose ideas birthed the screenplays and whose money paid for them to be written, but if they're just gathering dust they're doing none of us any freaking good.

I really wish I could pry the San Francisco Western script from its producer, but I seriously doubt that will ever happen; sadly I also seriously doubt he'll even attempt to make the film. Connected with him on linked-in it appears as if he isn't even working in the industry any longer. A coincidence of getting married/having a kid? I think not...

After taking the first two grapefruit league games from the Phillies and looking like what passes for invincible in spring training, the Yankees have dropped the last three in a row which, of course, means nothing. But Kuroda and Pineda have both looked good in pinstripes. Today's game is not being telecast so I suppose that means I can work on the screenplay.

Cheers,
Brian

Well, if the first two pre-season games have been a preview of the 2012 World Series, the Yanks are up 2-0 on the Phillies. A few windblown homeruns and some good Yankee pitching being the highlights. A-Rod going 3-3 in his first appearance yesterday including knocking the first pitch he saw from Roy Halladay to the opposite side and out was a great sign.

Game 3 of this mini-series starts in about 15 minutes with Michael Pineda making his first appearance in pinstripes and you know where I'm going to be.

Braun got booed by Giants' fans yesterday who chanted "cheater" at him which is pretty ironic as they were the only fans not getting on Bonds. As long as it's your guy, it's okay.

Manny is taking Cespedes under his wing for the A's, which Billy Beane said was part of the plan. But in other plans for the Oakland team, it appears as if the rights maintained by those aforementioned Giants to San Jose are going to be upheld. This is bad, bad news for the Athletics. Re-signing Beane and jettisoning many of their best players this off-season all seemed to be in preparation for a new stadium and a new city in 2014. But now, with that seemingly not in the cards, the dreaded contraction word has come up around the fallen-on-hard-times Swingin' A's. Seems like a noose may be in their future should this come to pass.

Harold & Kumar's 3D xmas movie suffers in 2D.

I finally wrote up a short synopsis of my romantic dramedy, "Caving" for the lit-manager. I'm saying it's based on a real phenomena as well as a true story (my own which apparently became a little more true this past weekend) but if 50+ degree temperatures are to become the norm in the upper mid-west during winter, it may be more fantasy than reality.

Oh, and before some of the short stories from "Rose" are published and animated in the Jerusalem Post, it looks like they're going to go with the old "Turtle Story" prior to that. Pretty psyched to see my friend Meital's art to accompany that piece and the paycheck could lead to some more art for me ie the 2nd elephant tattoo on my left arm.

Okay, time to turn my attentions to Florida and Yanks v. Phillies.

Thanks
B

Okay, I am feeling a wee bit guilty about AJ Burnett. Unlike in the case of Blake Snyder, the author of "Save the Cat," of whom I may have hastened his demise, I did not mean for any harm to come to the right-handed pitcher. Yes, more than just about anything, I wanted AJ out of Yankee pinstripes. If you follow my twitter account (@GeorgesGhost) you would see that while AJ was the center of my attention it was rarely aggressive. And unlike fans of the San Francisco Giants who do wish injury - even career ending injury - on Barry Zito, all I wanted was for Burnett to be gone.

And yes I exulted when he was traded to the Pirates I reiterate I didn't want any actual harm to come to him. So I apologize to AJ who pretty seriously injured himself practicing bunting during batting practice. And yes, it brings up the question as to why pitchers are hitting - they should not be. See the case of CM Wang, see this case for Burnett. Let pitchers pitch and hitters hit. I implore the NL to get with the program and employ the DH.

By the way, the very first designated hitter, Ron Blomberg, for the Yankees in 1973 was a member of the tribe. Speaking of MLB playing members of the tribe, the Ryan Braun PED scandal has not quite cooled off this week.

Meanwhile, Jesus Montero (traded this winter from the Yanks to the Mariners) was also injured in the first spring training game of the season yesterday. He has to leave the game after two consecutive pitches hit him in the jaw while catching. Speaking of DHs, which Montero should be, I claim that I had absolutely nothing to do with his injury.

Meanwhile, MLB approved expansion of the playoffs for the coming season with an additional 2 teams making the post-season via the wild card. Had this been in place last season it would have rendered moot one of the most exciting days in the history of baseball last year; the insane final day of the season when both the Braves and bosox were bounced from the playoffs. Had the additional 2 teams been part of the 2011 scheme baseball would have missed out on two epic chokes.

Clearly it's all for the money, to keep more teams in the playoff hunt as the season winds down. Time will tell how this plays out. If you want to know how the new system is being employed, read this:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120229&content_id=26927024&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

And as snow finally falls on the 612, I get to turn my attentions south to Florida where the 1st spring training Yankee game is being telecast at noon local time vs. the Phillies.

Still waiting on notes from friends on "Rose;" still hoping to be able to have the book release party on/about Steak & a BJ Day. Additionally, when I hit 50 followers on this site someone at random is getting a signed copy of the book upon the release, but you're on your own for the steak and the fellatio. Sorry...

Yesterday, I spent considerable hours updating, polishing and revising my kids' basketball script, "Blacktop," as the lit-manager is sending it out on the heels of "Field Trip" and "Crawlspace Charlie." How old was "Blacktop?" Had to change VHS to DVD, Malone to Melo and Sega GameGear to Nintendo-DS: that old.

Okay, an hour til "Play Ball!" and the official end to winter.

Oh, and if you have young readers in your midst may I recommend the work of Mac Barnett. Not only did he open the Echo Park Time Travel Mart/826 Branch (where I used to volunteer) but his writing for kids is excellent. I just burned through the 1st of the Brixton Brothers mysteries, "The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity" while watching the snow fall.

I know a 10 year old girl who will be getting a copy of that soon.

Cheers and welcome to the site,
Brian

While the Yankee/bosox rivalry hasn't been all it's been cracked up to be the last few seasons, boston's new skipper Bobby Valentine is attempting to rev it back up single-handed. And while it's clear that he's doing it more to deflect attention from the 2011 choke and from the less than up to snuff 2012 club, it has been pretty entertaining. Jeter & A-Rod the main subjects of his jabs realized them for what they were and didn't take the bait. Perhaps if George M. Steinbrenner was still "The Boss" there would be more a battle of words on the back pages of newspapers both in New York and beantown, but he's not so you're stuck with @GeorgesGhost, Jeter claiming Valentine is "bored," and A-Rod saying that his press secretary, Reggie Jackson, will handle his comments and/or retorts.

And while I can't say that reading this morning that AJ Burnett injured himself fouling a ball off his face during spring training BP yesterday, seeing him referred to as "Pirates SP AJ Burnett" did bring an upturn to my mouth and a settling in my stomach.

If Phil Hughes makes the starting rotation over Freddy Garcia, the Yankees will have 3/5 of their starting rotation twenty-five years of age or younger along with Pineda and Nova. It's not quite the Rays staff, but it is a very big step in a very good direction should they shoulder the burden along with CC and Kuroda.

In other news, the literary manager referred to me as "his client" in an email pitch that I was cc'd on and sent another of my screenplays out. I can get over the fact that he keeps misspelling my first name (he blamed that lousy auto-correct as the real culprit and I believe him) I am pretty psyched about material finally going out. There were cobwebs growing on the screenplay drawer (I know, I put them there; even "watered" them) and it's good to be pulling that open.

It is ironic, funny that as I am finally concentrating on putting "Rose" out into the world and had been turning my attentions to the novel next, I am being pulled back into the screenwriting world, but that is not a complaint. Not at all...

Okay, off to the word mine.

Brian