When I am Emperor, or, at the very least, Commissioner of Major League Baseball, one of my first orders of business will be do eradicate the mid-summer classic: the All-Star Game. There is no longer anything right about this mostly meaningless contest and so much that is wrong. What is especially galling to me is that for four days, right smack in the middle of the season, there is NO baseball to watch.

Yeah, yeah. I could the home-run derby, but honestly couldn't really care less. Go to a game early, watch batting practice. It's about as exciting as that. Cano got booed in KC? Oh well. Don't care. Really. And the game itself? Don't pretend that it counts when the players' actions give every single indication that it is not. I don't know; maybe get rid of the rule that every team has to be represented and then maybe let those teams play would at least give us some baseball.

Four days? It used to be three; one on each side of the game and that made sense. And then some teams got Thursday off too. Okay. Fine. Travel time. Scheduling conflicts whatever. But at least there was baseball on. I was considering watching a game or two from the past decade when I miss games for around two weeks each summer while running around in a desert in the middle of nowhere. It usually takes the doldrums of winter to get me to contemplate digging through the MLB archives, not perfect summer temperatures and temperament.

Great. The National League won, again. That's three years in a row that the senior circuit got home field advantage for the World Series. When I was a kid the NL always won. Then the pendulum swung to the AL and they seemingly had a lock on the game. Unlike the divisional races there seems to be some sort of parity going on. Just wished I cared.

With inter-league play, fans get to see the stars from the other league play, so a whole bunch of the "thrill" is gone. Next season, with the move from the NL to the AL of the Houston Astros and what will lead to an odd number of teams per league means that there will be inter-league play EVERY day in the MLB schedule. Thrilling indeed.

This, of course, could mean the eventual contraction of a couple of teams (unlikely) but more likely will mean two more expansion teams at some point further watering down the talent in the game. I heard Keith Hernandez state that the reason pitching is so good is solely because there are too many teams meaning too many guys in the big leagues who can't actually hit. He could be right: I can't say that he's not. But more teams will also mean more required players in the all-star game.

Unless I get my wish...

Cheers,
Brian

The New York Yankees head into the all-star break with the best record in all of MLB (52-33/ .612 winning percentage) and the biggest divisional lead -- 7 games ahead of the O's -- in the game. Despite that lofty standing, the team really has yet to fire on all cylinders which could bode well in the second half should some injured players return and contribute and some of the slackers (yeah, A-Rod, I'm talkin' to you) start pulling their weight and living up to the backs of their baseball cards.

And while it wasn't crucial to make a statement vs the bosox this past weekend, taking three out of four did it anyway. The Yanks left fenway in first as previously mentioned, but they also dumped the home team into last place, ten games back in the loss column. If the season ended now, the sox wouldn't make the playoffs, but neither would the Rays, which is surprising.

Speaking of surprising, that remains the play of the Baltimore Orioles. In my next piece for the Bronx Baseball Daily I will be reviewing the O's and asking the question, "are they for real?" and hopefully giving some answers toward that. Personally, I still find it hard to take them all that seriously.

Meanwhile, across the country, Giants fans should be taking the total tumble of Tim Lincecum seriously. The guy has a 9.00ERA on the road; he has given up more runs this season than ALL of last. Perhaps the Giants knew something when they didn't lock him up long-term -- like his staff mates Cain and Baumgarner -- this past winter and just gave him two years sparing going to arbitration; bet they wish they had been willing to let someone else determine his 2013 salary. You gotta wonder if that could be the last season of The Freak in the Bay Area.

And maybe a change of scenery is what the guy needs: clearly it worked for AJ Burnett. His ten wins over the 1st half -- and one that he started on the DL -- is part of the difference that sees the freakin' Pittsburgh Pirates in first as the unofficial halfway mark passes. It's not going to happen, but sure would be interesting to see how Yankee fans in the Bronx would react should AJ pitch against the Bombers in the World Series.



I can't imagine I am the only writer (by a million) to pay his bar tab with his book, but that's sort of what happened last night...

Cheers
B.

Well, if I was going to miss one of the games out of the four versus the hated bosox this weekend, last night's game, part of the day/night twin-bill, was clearly the one to miss. Already being indulged by my weekend company, who is far better looking than say Darnell McDonald in pinstripes for the weekend, I couldn't submit her to two games in a day and the MLB television black-out rules made last night the easy choice.

A note on McDonald: he has DFA'd by the sox last week and the Yanks picked him up; some reports said just so he wouldn't clear waivers and boston could send him to Pawtucket (although it's been looking like the Yanks have been playing the sox' AAA club this weekend); there were other reports saying the Yanks were just going to keep his speedy, right-handed bat for the 4games in 3 days series against the rivals. And baseball is a business and the players mostly understand that fact, thing is-- with the Yanks personal grooming code, it meant McDonald had to lose his dreadlocks. Sometimes it sucks to be a pawn in the battle between the bosox and "The Evil Empire."

The Yanks have started each of the three games so far with a strong outburst of first inning runs having scored 5,4 and 3 runs respectively. They let the sox tie Friday night's game only to come back again and again and take the contest 10-8. Yesterday's day-dip of the double-header saw the only good starting pitching so far, as Freddy Garcia ran that lead into the 7th for the W. Garcia, who had been banished to the deepest parts of the bullpen -- he went almost two weeks without pitching, although it seemed both longer and shorter depending on whom you ask -- has stepped up since the injuries to CC and Andy and got his first win as a starting pitcher of the 2012 season.

Last night's game marred by porous defense and Phil Hughes inability to overcome it was the downfall in a 9-5 loss proving "you can't win 'em all." Tex had gotten things off to a good start with a 3-run shot in the top of the first, but it was mostly downhill from there.

In tonight's finale and the last game before the All-Star game break, it's Nova vs Lester in a good match-up; Lester normally fares well against the Yankees, but the Bombers crushed him last time so here's hoping that keeps up tonight. It's pretty damn hard to sweep a four game series especially one that contains a double-header, but a victory tonight wins the series and leaves the bosox nearly ten games out at the break in what I like to call a good start toward burying them completely.

That's what the "Rose" promotion cards I have been scattering about look like. Okay, my friend Kristin has been doing far more of the promo'ing and the scattering, but I made the cards and I stand there sheepishly as she tells cashiers and museum guards and passersby about the "famous author" in their midst and about his first book.

Yesterday was something of a break-even kind of day in regard to book sales. Yes, I did sell a copy to the museum guard (okay, full disclosure: she was a friend), but I also gave one away to another friend who is in the hospital undergoing physical therapy after breaking her back in a fall from a trapeze. I signed that latter copy chastising her for disproving the whole "descended from monkeys/swinging from trees" thing...

Cheers,
Brian

The Kindle and print editions of my first book, a short-story collection entitled "A Rose by Any Other Name: an Alphabet of Tales About a Man and a Woman" or just "Rose" for short, was released three months ago. I am still trying to find the time to be able to have the book release party/reading/signing, but I have been awfully busy being a caregiver for a friend of mine. Such is life, art, etc....

But for the last few weeks, the stories have been slightly edited, serialized, and, more interestingly, illustrated by my friend Meital Bar Natan and appeared in the Jerusalem Post Lite. The above artist's rendition is for the fourth story in the collection, "Someone's in the Kitchen With Dinah," and it's one of my favorites so far. Am I nuts for starting to consider a later addition with the complete set of illustrations? Probably...

Signed copies of the book are available from me and from one other top-secret location somewhere in Wisconsin. Well, it's a book store, but I'm not exactly sure where, so it's a secret to me. If you're in Wisconsin, you'll probably know the place. If not, drop me a line and I can sign one, roll it up and shove it in the pneumatic tube we all have in our pantries and you can hold it in your hand. You'll be happy that you did; I will probably be happier.

Here's what a few recent reviewers on Amazon have had to say about "Rose"

Last night, I bought it and read it before going to sleep...when I finally rested, I dreamed I was the size of a brownstone, with NYC tap water running through my veins. When I woke up I had 26 girlfriends and spoke 17 dialects of English. CHECK IT OUT!

Each story had enough to suck you in. And keep you riveted. And then left you wanting. And if you know anything about seduction, well...consider me seduced. 26 times. It was lovely. I put the book down to go out into the world, and I would fantasize about coming home to read it. I can't remember the last time that happened, and certainly not with short stories.
I loved it. I'm actually weirded out by how much I loved it.
Do yourself a favor and bring this one home.

As someone who rarely ventures away from non-fiction, I am thoroughly grateful to have indulged in this quick, riveting read. Whether you're trying to get the girl or get rid of the girl (or boy for that matter) you just might learn a trick or two while being fully entertained. Mazo is quick to turn a phrase, twist a plot and tug at your heartstrings. This book is a perfect balance of what a collection of short stories should be. Only wish there were more letters in the alphabet...

Purchase for the Kindle

Purchase print edition

Thanks and happy Summer reading to you...

Brian

Welcome back, “Sweet” Lou

God only knows how late Yankee owner, George M. Steinbrenner, would feel about the team’s off-season moves, but I’d like to think that The Boss would have given the news that Lou Piniella had returned to the fold the thumbs up. “Sweet Lou” – nicknamed for both his great swing and sarcastically for his fiery on-field persona – who was part of the Bronx Zoo teams that took home the World Series trophies in 1977-78, was brought back to work in the YES television booth this year.

Having had the pleasure of hearing him talk about the game this winter during Spring Training games, I was very happy to hear his voice the last few nights doing the games versus the White Sox. Teamed with Michael Kay and Paul O’Neill, who Piniella managed back in Cincinnati, Lou is a real, old school baseball man and has a lot to offer a broadcast. In the Bronx for Old Timer’s Day (Sunday), Piniella is making his mark in the booth; his banter with O’Neill is some priceless stuff; his insight on hitting, as well as managing, really make him a great addition even if we only get him here and there (I suspect “there” will be his own territory of Tampa)—enjoy it while you can.

For you younger Yankee fans, who maybe only know Sweet Lou as the grumpy manager of the Cubs, picture a guy who was a cross between Nick Swisher and the aforementioned Paul O’Neill. Piniella was a righthanded-hitting corner outfielder and DH who the Yankees and GM Gabe Paul “stole” from the Royals for Lindy McDaniel following the 1973 season. Lou, who was Rookie of the Year in 1969 and actually the very first batter to appear for the new Kansas City team, was about as solid a player as you could find. He was the very first batter I can recall who had been described as sometimes, “throwing the bat at the ball.” When Piniella did it, it often resulted in a base hit.

A lifetime .291 hitter, Piniella hit .330 and .314 respectively in those championship years of 1977-78. Occasionally overlooked in significance to the Bucky Dent three-run homer in Fenway Park on October 2, 1978, Piniella made the most important defensive “play” in that historical one-game playoff. With Bosox shortstop, Rick Burleson, on first base, diminutive secondbaseman, Jerry Remy, hit a line-drive to right. An afternoon game and the sun field left Piniella blinded – he didn’t see the ball coming – but Lou pounded his glove as if he had a bead on it, freezing Burleson. When the ball dropped in front of Number 14, he was able to stick his glove out and snare it—keeping Burleson to second. And yes, while the laws of predictable outcomes can never be assured, the long fly that Jim Rice hit next surely would have scored the tying run as a sacrifice fly. Following Piniella’s heads up play, it was just a can of corn.

Most likely the only guy to play, manage, perform the duties of General Manager and now (again) broadcaster for the New York Yankees, he is also a tie to some additional great Yankee history. Not only did he play for famed manager Billy Martin, he even replaced him as skipper in 1988. Piniella, much like Billy, was famed for his eruptions at umpires; I am sure YouTube can probably bring some of his fiery tirades to your screen.

Known to be outspoken, I would have a little trepidation in regard to his job security in the YES booth, but I have a hope, even if it may be ancient history, but the new Bosses may be predisposed in their affection for Sweet Lou. I vividly recall this as a kid as I was collecting the Yankee/Burger King baseball cards that were issued in 1978, but I am going to let Piniella’s former teammate, Sparky Lyle, tell you this anecdote. This comes from what is in my opinion the best baseball book ever, “The Bronx Zoo:”

"George loves Lou and hates it when he doesn't play. Lou is also George's son's idol. Last year when Burger King put out a set of baseball cards with the pictures of the Yankee players on them, they forgot to include Piniella, and George called them up, reamed their ass, and made them print a special Piniella card to add to the set."
 

Welcome home Sweet Lou and keep up the great work on the TV broadcasts. I am looking forward to another summer with you back finally as part of the greatest franchise in sports history.

Yesterday, despite winning their 5th game in a row, was a bad, bad day in Yankee world. Announced prior to first pitch, CC Sabathia is headed to the 15-day DL with an adductor strain; call it a groin pull if you wish. It's not severe or even very serious -- Yankee brass said had this been September and not June -- he'd pitch through it, but as it stands the rotation will be without its #1.

That was compounded when the Yanks #2 starter -- and the other lefty -- Andy Pettitte took a line drive off his leg that fractured his fibbula during his start yesterday. Reports have Pettitte out four to six weeks, but with a forty year old who really knows the time table. The Yanks have the best record in MLB and a pretty decent lead in the AL-East, but this could set off something approaching panic.

For now, Freddy Garcia, who got the win in relief yesterday, will get some starts; Adam Warren is coming up from AAA to take Pettitte's place in the rotation. But with the trade deadline looming in a month, one has to know that GM Brian Cashman will be hearing from the GMs of clubs already out of contention offering up the likes of Matt Garza, Wandy Rodriguez, Ryan Dempster and Francisco Liriano and while a number of them are seemingly an upgrade over the tandem of Garcia/Warren, one hopes Cash doesn't actually panic and make a trade that doesn't help out in the long run.

Dodgers without Kemp/Ethier simply can't hit. Playing six games in the East Bay they scored a total of two runs. The Giants wrapped up a sweep last night, having shut out their division rivals three games in a row. That hadn't happened in the 123 years the two teams have been playing each other. The win also vaulted San Fran into a tie for 1st place with LA.


As for Rose stuff, I've ordered some promo biz-cards that I will start scattering around the Twin Cities; hopefully setting up some signings/sellings soon. As for now, just looking for ways to beat the heat. It was 91 when I biked home at 10pm last night. For me it's probably a movie, but if I were you, I'd go here: https://www.createspace.com/3527985 and get a copy of "Rose" for some summer reading.

Thanks,
Brian

Yup, another pure baseball blog today. This is my rant of an open letter to Yankee catcher, Russell Martin that will appear on Bronx Baseball Daily tomorrow. Next week I will get back to some other stuff and mention my book again. But until then:

J’accuse Russell Martin

Yes, I am aware that Chris Barca ranted about the Yankee catcher only a month ago on this site, but it’s time for another. Maybe this open letter – in a language he understands – may get the point out, but Russell Martin is becoming something of a black-hole at the backstop position. He needs to let his bat and his glove do the talking, but instead we are getting something of the weirdest season from a Yankee catcher than I can ever think of.

Listen: it was great during the winter when you came out and said you hate the Red Sox. We hate them, too; we get it, although not much of what we say can potentially come back as clubhouse bulletin board material. That you then later backed off the quote made you look more Swiss than Canadian. And yes, it’s great that you tweet in French, that you honored your mother’s family by including the “J.” on the back of your Dodger uniform although none of my friends in Los Angeles knew what it was for. But you’re a Yankee now – and apparently you sort of want to stay one – and we don’t put our names on our backs. Get it?

Want to figure out a new way to impress your mom? How about hitting more consistently? It was nice to see you finally crawl off the Inter-State and get your batting average up over the Mendoza-line finally, but what have you done for us lately? Weakly hit grounders that are tailor-made double plays. You said, “I’m starting to feel dangerous at the plate,” a couple of weeks ago; little did we know at the time that you meant dangerous to Yankee rallies.

When Girardi even tried to bat your predecessor, Jorge Posada, ninth (that’s last here in the American League) it caused a major eruption. The skipper bats you last and you don’t even bat an eyelash although it probably doesn’t matter: even if you did bat one, you’d probably swing and miss.

Perhaps you need a muzzle behind your mask. Seriously, what were you thinking calling out umpire Lars Diaz? Do you honestly think telling the newspapers that the home plate umpire is a dick is going to get your pitcher more strikes? Shut up and play the game, J. Martin; you sound like a whiny six-year old who didn’t get his nap when you tell the world that the umpire wouldn’t let you throw the ball back to the pitcher.

Of course you want to follow in the line of great New York Yankee catchers. Who wouldn’t want to be mentioned in the same sentence as Bill Dickey, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, Thurman Munson and Jorge Posada? You see how I left your name out of that sentence? Running your mouth and not even hitting your weight (with what I see as only occasional pop from your bat) is not going to get you that long-term contract you were seeking this winter. You’re going to play yourself out of this town the same way you played your way out of Los Angeles. Last season, you had us all wondering why the Dodgers would non-tender you; now we know why. Maybe you felt safe when we traded Montero; maybe you saw sending Cervelli to AAA as a vote of confidence.

Joe Girardi came out quoted giving you some credit for the starting pitchers turning it around, but unlike him and your mom, I don’t have to find something nice to say. With a big mouthful of a name like Russell Nathan Jeanson Coltrane Martin, Jr. you must think you’re a real New York kind of guy. Why don’t you shut your mouth, start playing or, if I had my druthers, you could be banished to battery-mates with AJ Burnett out in Pittsburgh.