Series 1 In the Books

Yankees take 2 of 3 from a very tough Blue Jays team and all games come down to the end. I think this Blue Jays pitching staff (including the bullpen), if it stays healthy will be a very formidable foe. When BJ Ryan comes back, Jeremy Accardo goes back to 8th Inning and they will be tough to beat late in games.

Quick Notes:

Is it 1996 again with this 8th Inn/9th Inn combo? It feels like if the Yankees are ahead after 7 innings they will win the game. Joba has picked up right where he left off last year and Mo is just Mo. I just do not see the value of adding Joba to the starting rotation this year. The Yankee bullpen with him in it B plus to an A, without him C at the most.

Offensively it was a slow start and with the weather and facing that staff, it is understandable. Damon stung some balls last night and hopefully is coming out of it and I think he is the key to getting this offense going. Last year when he got hot, so did the Yankees.

Starters- Ching Wing-Wang will give him an A, Mike Mussina a C and Phil Hughes an A. Moose is just torture to watch. He reminds me Al Leiter his last few years, every batter goes to 3-2 and you are just waiting for the bomb or huge inning to happen. Hughes really stepped up and looked like he may be in for a big year. He battled through some tough innings and completely embarrassed Frank Thomas with his nasty curve and inside fastball. The way Melky and Hughes played this seires they made Cashman look pretty good for not giving them up for Johan. For the right price Johan would have been a huge addition, but those 2 were just 2 much.

A-rod- I know it is one series and does not make a season, but was he gripping the bat real tight in those couple big spots in this series? He has built up some trust from Yankee fans, but I hope he gets that big game bat back from last year.

Player of the Series- Has to be Joba Chamberlin/Mo Rivera combo. In the 2 games they won, they were just lights out and set the tone for that bullpen for the rest of the

Slide Gate

At least Joe Girardi has made this Spring Training interesting. I really could care less about Spring games except for seeing how healthy a starting pitcher looks. I must admit though, when I heard the brawl started I was on the net trying to find video of the slide(I only found pictures so if have the video please let me know).

I love the fire of Joe Girardi, every year all Yankee fans hated that the Yankees just let other teams hit Jeter, hit A-rod etc etc. and Torre would just turn the other cheek. I mean one year Pedro was pitching for the Red Sox first inning Alfonso Soriano leads off pitch one hits him on the wrist taken out of the game, Pitch two strikes Jeter in the wrist also and he is taken out of the game. I will give you one guess how many Red Sox were hit that day……..NONE. Torre was a great manager, but that is a perfect example of how lax he was with that type of stuff.

I think Girardi comes out looking bad to the media and to other teams in this. He was quoted as saying there was nothing wrong with Duncan’s slide and that he loves clean, hard baseball plays and that is what that was. UMMMM no Joe the play at home plate the other day was clean, hard baseball and within the rules. Do I think it is overboard to hit a catcher like that in a Spring Game…that is up for debate, but you can not debate it is within the rules to do it. That is one of those unwritten rules (i.e. do not bunt for a base hit when a guy has a no-hitter in the 6th or later) that some teams have and some teams do not. A player coming in spikes high and striking a guy in the upper leg, groin area is a dirty play….there is no debate about that.

I do love that the Yankees will not back down this year, but Girardi should have just said the famous Roger Clemens line that he mis-remembered the entire play. I mean if Rocket can say it on Capital Hill can’t Joe use it to Newsday.com? I can not believe I am looking forward to Rays vs. Yankees 18 times this year.

Tales from Yankees Spring Tranining

My Cousin Jason visited the NY Yankees in Florida and here is his report. A Side note Jason played college baseball with Joe Nathen the current Twins closer.

Here is his report from FLA:

I was at the Yanks Twins game on Sunday in Ft. Myers (home of the Twins). Since I had made plans to talk to Joe Nathan before/After game, this was the 1st time ever I had no Yankee gear on. Didn't want to disrepect the "Home Team".

Before Game the wife and I got to talk to Joe by the Bullpen for about 10 minutes. Game was getting ready to start so he said after game go by side exit and we could meet up again.

Was very excited to see Hughes pitch and hoped a couple of "Big- Names" made the 2 hr bus trip. By MLB rules you send 4 regulars on away games. I got Melky, Cano, Matsui, Duncan and Hughes. No jeter or A-rod.

REPORT CARD FROM GAME:

Hughes has Nasty stuff. Low-to mid 90's heat along with just filthy breaking ball. 4 innings no-hits. Twins didn't get 1st hit until 7th.- Matsui stung 2 balls. 1 would have been a HR, except for 3o mph wind in his face.- After the 5th inning Spring training games are pretty boring. I mean who the heck is #91,79 and 68.- Fully understand why Giardi was ticked- off about Ray crashing into Catcher. Everything was laid back, like going thru Motions.-

Back to Joe: Nathan told us he might be getting his first action of Spring, He said he might get the 6th or 7th inning and he was upset. I asked,"why" and he said, "b/c that means I am going against the real young hungry guys who every at bat they are Raking." He said "he would rather face a vetern who is just trying to get ready for the real season.-

POST GAME: We were able to meet up with Joe Nathan again and hung out in a VIP section where he was signing autographs and taking Pictures. Chatted for another 10 min. then our Bus was leaving so had to go.

P.s Yanks won the game and it was overall a great experience at the ballpark.

So far so Good

Except for a couple nagging injuries and some rookies getting blown up the Spring has been good so far to the Yankees. My Quick Notes so far and there effect on the season 1 yankee top hat being no impact/5 Yankee top hats being a big impact:

Matsui starting to DH- Per Joe Girardi Matsui will be 20 at bats behind once the spring is over due to his ailing knee. I do not think this is that big a deal. Godzilla is a seasoned veteran and he will get his work in and be ready. Look for a steady dose of Bob Shepard annoucing Hideki Matsui as tonights starting DH.

IMPACT: One Yankee Top Hat.

Mussina one good start/one bad start- I am glad the good start was just yesterday as it makes me believe he is working on things and progressing like a veteran does in the Spring. Moose is being counted on for 6-7 innings a night and has to prove he is a veteran and not a has been.

IMPACT: Five Yankee Top Hats= Moose has to bounce back or innings limits on rookies will kill them.

2 Kids get rocked- Joba Chamberlin and Ian Kennedy get rocked in there first outing. Not a big deal, Joba will be fine and I actually think Kennedy may be a long reliver/5th starter if needed. He had a great 3-4 starts at the end of last year and with his array of change of speeds and pitches will make him a solid starter.

Impact: Two Yankee top Hats

Shelly Duncan MASHING: I must say I love this kid and the fun he brings to the clubhouse and joy of the game will be contagious. The Yankees need a right handed power hitter and I can see him splitting time with Giambi and getting 2-3 starts a week if lefties are pitching. He can play some OF/DH and Pinch Hit. I think Shelly will be a factor this year.

IMPACT: Three Yankee Top Hats

Pettitte letting it all go- It looks like the Mitchell Report has been placed in Andy's rear-view mirror and he is getting his work in and producing results. Hopefully he will not miss chunks of time having to get ready for testimony in a criminal case against the Rocket. Andy is Yankee # 2 and he must pitch over 200 innings this year.

IMAPCT: 27 Yankee top hats (without a great season from Andy championship # 27 will not happen).

Be on the look out for guest columnist Jason Cifuentes. He will have an on the scenes report from Yankee vs. Twins and let us know how different going to a spring training game is when you know the closer for the Twins (Joe Nathan).

Hope Springs Eternal

Reading the NY Post the last couple days and you might as well sign the Yankees up for Division winner and the # 1 seed. I know it is the spring and it is supposed to be a lovefest and hoping all things will turn out perfect. It gets me excited and frustrated all in the same sentence, because you know it will not happen. Here are some things that are being thrown out there and if I think they will happen:

Jason Giambi Monster year and 1B all season:

All I keep hearing is he is in a contract year and did a new training program to get more limber and ready to take on an entire year at 1B. All the reports are that his foot is better, he lost weight (not being on the juice will do that to a man), and is ready to break out.

It is amazing what a player on a contract year can do. I think Girardi will give him enough days off to keep him fresh and I think Giambi will have a solid year. I am thinking .270 Avg., 30 plus HR, and 90-100 plus RBI. Not enough to get the $ 22 million picked up, but I think Yankees will get something for this huge contract.

Johnny Damon making sure he is talked about as a top tier player again

Damon had had one of his worst season in baseball and was so distraught prior to the season that he contemplated giving up $40 million and retiring (of course his wife bought 6 new cars and 2 new houses and his mind was made up to play). Damon now said he is ready and will have a bounce back year that is so good, he will again be mentioned as a top player in baseball.

I will go half way on this one. He will have a better year then last year as he has lost weight and Giardi will allow him to run all the time. He will not be a top tier player again, but he will be a top base stealer and run scorer which is exactly what the Yankees need him to be.

A-rod said “Derek Jeter will keep the MVP award in NY this year”

Derek is getting up there in age (god can you believe that is being typed, it seems like yesterday he was hitting a bomb in Cleveland in his first game). The reports are he has lost a step and Jeter has taken that personal. He started a program in the off-season all about quickness and improving his first step so he can get that range back.

This is all A-rod posturing, he looks good and becomes a great teammate by saying how great Jeter will be. If Jeter did not win MVP 2 years ago, he never will. He needs to win a Batting Title, lead the league in Runs Scored and steal 40 bases to get MVP. MVP voters love the long ball and RBI’s, so for any player that does not hit a ton of bombs they need to have a monster year in every other category.

Kei Igawa is throwing by his own program this spring and has showed a lot more command and confidence.

I will not waste my blog with this debate. If this happens, great, otherwise nothing to see here.

The Circus Comes to Capital Hill

What a joke yesterday was on Capitol Hill. I must say, I can tell why this country is an absolute mess and why nothing gets solved or done. It was unreal how all of these senators had there minds made up prior to even getting to the hearing and went right down party lines (democrats for Mcnamee/Republicans for Rocket). I mean one representative sat there for 20 minutes debating with McNamee if he was a drug dealer or not just an absolute joke.

What I think hurt both parties yesterday:

Pettitte and Knoublach confirm McNamee’s story.

It really hurts Clemens credibility when Pettitte and Knoublach both confirm what McNamee said. Why lie about Clemens when he told the truth about everything else?

Pettitte’s and Mrs. Pettitte’s depositions:

Clemens was an absolute mess when he was asked why Pettitte and his wife confirmed he spoke to Andy about HGH. I mean the words mis-heard should never be spoken on Capital Hill, I still do not know what it means. Clemens said 10 times Andy and I had such a close bond, if Andy used HGH he would have told me or asked me about it…..AHHHHHHH Rocket you just told everyone you were SHOCKED when you found out Pettitte used HGH, you obviously did not have as close a friendship as you thought.

McNamee lie, lies, lies-

On committee member went over all of McNamee’s lies for approx 5 minutes and all Mcnamee could answer was yes that was a lie, yes that was a lie over and over again. He just is not a credible person and would not hold up in the court of law. The guy is a weasel and can not make the NYPD proud.

Canseco BBQ-

If you’re having a steroid hearing must mention Jose Canseco, that is rule one. I think McNamee takes the hit on this one. To say over and over and in depositions and testimony that Roger spoke about steroids at this BBQ just kills a big part of your story. I mean the next day the game announcers mention a bunch of times that Clemens did not attend the BBQ. Just again proves this guy is not credible.

FINAL OUTCOME-

Pettitte sold Clemens down the river and out of all the depositions he is the most believable. Taking both sides (Clemens “I never did HGH/Steroids and McNamee “He did this and this and this) into account I think it falls somewhere in the middle. Clemens did HGH and maybe tried some steroids, but he was not a raging needle in his ass as he walks to the mound guy that McNamee is saying. Rep. Cummings said it best when he said you need to draw from the testimony of all parties and which one draws you to the truth. The one that appears to be from the most reputable source is Andy Pettitte and he said Rocket told him he did HGH. In my mind that closes the case.

Mr. Clemens your reputation is gone, you will not be prosecuted, but you will never be elected to the Hall of Fame. You did something illegal to get the results you achieved and for that you will pay with never reaching the pinnacle of your sport.

NY Post Exclusive

Post has learned Joba will be in the pen this season and likely for the entire season baring an injury to a pitcher in the rotation, or someone struggling. They do not want him to exceed 140 inns this year.


Here is the link:


http://www.nypost.com/seven/02122008/sports/yankees/its_a_setup_97303.htm

Why Bother!!!

The Roger Clemens and Brian Mcnamee show starts Wednesday February 13, 2008 and to everyone’s surprise the Committee has decided to let Andy Pettitte off the hook and he was excused from having to testify. WHAT!!!!

The members will have his 2 hour deposition and rumors are it will hurt Clemens, but give me a break. For the last 2 months all we have heard is the he said/she said (I will let you assign the he and she in this affair) stuff from Clemens and Mcnamee. I wanted to hear from Pettitte’s mouth what he knew and did not know. This will just be another circus show for MLB and get nothing done.

If you’re going to do it, do it correctly. The first round of hearings Giambi and Bonds are not there. The 2 biggest abusers of steroids and one guy that admitted under oath to doing it, are not there. During the second round, the one guy who can shed some light on it and actually a reputable source, Pettitte, is now excused. Man the gov’t is more f’d up then baseball will ever be……I guess we knew that already

Is it just me or isn’t there more important things to do right now in this country then have ball players testify? Do not get me wrong, I want to know and wanted to hear Andy speak, but why are multiple full days of the Senate Oversight Committee being utilized to try and find out about steroids in baseball. We are approaching almost 4,000 soldier’s dead in Iraq and this is what is being done by our Gov’t…just sad.

The Smoking Gun Arrives

Wow Brian McNamee brings out the evidence he has to prove Roger Clemens is an HGH/steroid user and it is a paper trail….oh wait no, it is bloody gauze pads and the actual needles he used on Roger in 2000-2001. This guy is sick, that is all I can say. I think Roger did it, but man McNamee was thinking about this day 7-8 years ago. McNamee has absolutely no respect for the man that took him in and gave him everything he has. I mean Roger paid him a ton of money and gave him other high priced clients that paid him a ton of money and for him to do this, just shows how low class he is. I am in no way defending Rocket for what he allegedly did, but McNamee is a complete jerk if these really are needles from 7 years ago.

Man did Roger pick the wrong trainer, Bonds trainer goes to jail for months on end so he can protect Barry and McNamee is holding needles and gauze from 7 years ago. I think if the needles show HGH in them and steroids in them with DNA from Rocket he is in trouble. I am not sure how much they will hold in the court of law though. I mean if McNamee did inject him with B-12, couldn’t McNamee have loaded the needles in the last 7 years with steroids.

I will take a wait and see on this one, maybe the testing can prove how old the substances are in the needles. If they can and DNA matches Clemens’, as well as HGH/Steroids in needle that is 7 years old he is done. There will be jail time possible and Hall of Fame is done.

Rough Off-season for Donnie Baseball

Kim Mattingly was arrested for public intoxication and this is the mug shot at her arrest. Holy S what happened to her? She refused to leave Mattingly’s ranch and he had to have her arrested for public intoxication, as per the AP reports. I always remember her in pictures when Donnie was playing I always thought wow, Donnie has a hot wife. This is a shocking photo and just shows money does not buy happiness.

What a decision by the Yankees this off-season. I know Mattingly was hurt by the Yankees hiring Joe Girardi, but it looks like they made the right call. Donnie baseball has had to resign from his position as bench coach with the Dodgers and take a lesser role of special assistant. He left for personal reasons as reports surfaced of his divorce.

Donnie Baseball gave us all a million memories to cherish; I hope all will out work for him and his family and hope he is on the Dodger bench sooner rather then later.

Johan traded and Yanks Get Morgan!!!!

Well the Mets waited all teams out and gave up pretty much nothing from there roster for the best pitcher in the game. The 72 hour window closes today at 5:00PM, which I do not even thing matters, they will get it done. My prediction of the contract:

$7 million signing bonus (that gets his contract this year to $20 million)
6 more years at $120 million and a vesting option if Johan pitches a certain amount of innings for the 7th year to kick in at $20 million. Signed sealed and delivered!!!!!

If I am the Twins owner I fire the Twins GM the minute this trade is completed. He tried to hold the Yankees and Red Sox ransom and could have had Phil Hughes and Melky Cabrera plus 2 prospects for Santana 2 months ago and now he gets 4 prospects and none of them are can’t miss have to have guys. I mean at least get Fernando Martinez over Carlos Gomez. All reports are Martinez is the stud of the Mets farm system.

The Yankees responded to this back page news with some major acquisition of there own drum roll please…………….Morgan Ensberg is a NY Yankee, YES!!!!!!!! Looks like Yankees are going with the quantity over quality theory at 1B. This is shaping up to be some competition. Jason Giambi-awful, Wilson Betimit- next, Shelly Duncan- if only hit and fielded as well as he celebrated, Jason Lane and Morgan Ensberg- both never played 1B regularly. Should be a fun Spring Training. I think the Ensberg signing is a good no risk possible high reward signing. He claims his shoulder is 100% and if that was the reason he sucked the last 2 years and he can get back to 2005 form it is a great move. We will see.

Time for Yankees to call Twins and try to see what else they are giving away. Pat Nesek, Joe Nathan want to wear pinstripes, they do, make the trade RIGHT NOW.

Johan oh Johan Where Will You Be

Rumors are out there that the Yankees and Red Sox are both lowering there offer to the Twins and the front runner if they had to handicap it right now would be the New York Mets. The rumors did not say who Yankees pulled out of trade but I doubt Hughes is that guy.

Currently the Mets will not part with there 19 year old OF prospect Fernando Martinez (if name is wrong who cares he is a Met) as part of a 5 player prospect filled package to get Santana. I must say I am not a Met fan and could care less what they do, but the Twins are trying to get every top prospect from them, if they will not put Reyes in trade. They pull this trade off and trade all 5 prospects there farm system is done for years to come. We all say who cares not all prospects will make it, but the Twins are asking for A. Heilman and there top 4 prospects seems like a little much.

I really think Santana will start the year with the Twins and at the trade deadline they may move him (although why would Santana waive his no-trade when he is 2 months from the Mets/Yankees/Red Sox in an all out bidding war for him). They will not receive close to what they can get now and might even have to throw Joe Nathan in (Jason that would be UNREAL, that is all I can say).

My 5 predictions for 2008 season (add yours in the comments and win a free T-shirt…Of course it will be one of my old crusty undershirts with Yankee pinstripe club in black marker on it, but hey at least you get something).

1-A-rod will be fine. 10 year deal or not the guy has too much pride not to work hard and play hard. Will he have a drop off yes, (who can keep up that pace) but he will still be the best player in the game.

2A- Mo Rivera will not be the Mo we know and love- Rumors will start to fly that Joba should be the closer. Mo will still be a good closer but the days of under 2 ERA’s and mowing down batters every outing will be over.

2B- Jorge Posada will drop off considerably. The guy had an unreal year and proved older catchers can play, but the years of catching and playing in all those post seasons will cause his offense to fall and I think he will be our #8 or # 9 hitter by all-star break.

Reason I put these together are that the 2 contracts Mo and Jorge signed this off-season the Yankees may be regretting them sooner rather then later.

3- Hideki Matsui will have a bounce back year. I do not know why I am feeling this, but I think the nagging injuries hurt a lot more then he let on and he will be more consistent this year. I know he had 100 rbi’s last year but he only played well for approx. 2 months last year.

4- Joba will be a stud no matter what role he plays. The stuff is just too good not to be an ace, Josh Beckett type starter. He has the lights out attitude that an ace needs to have and he will be an All-Star this year. He is the real deal.

5- The Yankees will make some sort of trade to bolster the bullpen. I have no idea what is out there, but I can not see them sitting tight with this pen. I mean Farnsworth is still in the talks as an 8th inning guy and Latroy Hawkins is a huge question mark. Sean Henn is the best lefty in the pen, that is a problem.

Is This Team Championship Caliber???

Is this the 2008 Yankees?

Are the Yankees done this off-season, will they make a final move to get Johan or Joe Blanton type starter:

Is this the lineup and staff we will end up with (1B spot in order depends on who is playing):

LF- Damon
SS-Jeter
RF- Abreu
3B- A-Rod
C- Posada
DH-Matsui
1B- Giambi/ S. Duncan/Jason Lane
2B- Cano
CF- Melky

Starters
Wang
Petitte
Joba
Hughes
Mussina

Main Bullpen guys:
Rivera
Farnsworth
Hawkins
Henn
Igawa
Ramirez
Ohlendorf
Possible bullpen guys Jose Veres and Sanchez

Is this team enough to bring championship # 27 to New York? At this point I have to say no……..I think they really need Johan to give this team any shot. As much as I do not want to give up Hughes it is time for Cashman to take over and get this team an Ace. You get Johan can put Joba back in the pen and get that bullpen in order. That bullpen is AWFUL if you ask me. This team may not even make the playoffs, The AL is stacked right now and while they will win a lot of 10-6 games this seems to be the same old story not enough pitching.

Team preview/breakdown is to come soon hope I will be putting Johan in my analysis.

Goose is Loose on the Hall of Fame

Congrats to Rich “Goose” Gossage as he has been elected to the Hall of Fame. The Hall just became a lot more fun with the Goose being there. As he said you can not compare his save numbers to the modern closers. When he retired he was # 3 on the all time saves list. The closer is such a specialized roll, when he was a “closer” he came in when he was needed and when the game became on the line. 52 of his 310 saves were 6 outs or more, that is pitching both the 8th and 9th inning and possibly coming in for the seventh. That is unreal.

Rich Gossage was a quote machine in his days and always said what was on his mind.

Once a reporter asked him how Steinbrenner felt about something and he said “I don’t know, why don’t you go upstairs and ask the fat man”

Joan Kroc (owner of the Padres and she was in control of McDonalds) when he found out she banned Beer at Padres games. “She is poisoning the world with her hamburgers and we can’t even get a lousy beer”

On his relief pitching “I was brought into situations God couldn’t get out of, and I got out of them”.

Recently he was asked could he check his ego at the door and set up for Mo Rivera “I would rather set up, I always wanted the harder job”

He was just a great guy who would tell it like it is. Should he have said he would have done steroids, probably not, but I respect the fact that he can acknowledge the choices these guys have and how hard it would be to say no. To prolong his carrer and makes tons of money he likely would have done it. He did not take the holier then thou stance of, I never did and never would have, these guys are all stupid…blah blah blah. Oh and Ethan I stole the Goose is loose line from Strat days, thanks.

Rocket Man Pulling out all the stops

Well it is approximately a month until pitchers and catchers will be reporting to camp, but the back pages are all Rocket and talk radio shows are Clemens this and Clemens that 24-7.

Things Rocket has done and what impact I think they have made on a scale of 1-5 Steroid Needles:

60 Minutes Interview IMPACT 2.5 Needles

Roger was angry and seemed to be sincere. Wallace Matthews did ask some tough questions but the entire interview I could not wait until he got to the Pettitte part and he asked one question about it, did not get into it further. I mean come on Andy and Roger have been best friends and training partners for years. Pettite did not ask Roger about HGH and stuff Mcnamme (Roger’s boy at the time) was using on him, reeks of deception. He let Roget slide on that one. I must say the most comical part; Mike Wallace: "Did you do steroids?" Rocket: "No" Wallace: "You swear" Roger: "I swear". Well there you go case closed. When he gets brought up on perjury, Roger will play that and say see judge I swore…

Suing Brian Mcnamee IMPACT 5 Needles

I have always said, you get “lied” about you better sue. Does he need to win to make this to slam dunk that he did not do steroids, no doubt, but at least Clemens has taken legal action.

Taped Call IMPACT: - 10 Needles

I think this taped call just blows up all Roger did over the last 2-3 weeks to try and clear his name. I mean to call a guy back and tape a call without him knowing, come on Rocket man that just shows how desperate you are. He even had his lawyer there as he did not want to be convicted of tampering with a witness. That call proved nothing, but it showed how crazy Roger is getting. Not once in that call did Mcnamee say he lied about Roger, or that he told Mitchell, just because he was pressured. Roger could not flat out ask him why he lied, or ask why did you say I did that stuff when I did not. He does that he is in jail for tampering with a witness. Just a waste of time and again proves Roger is really reaching at this point.

My overall feeling is in the court of public opinion Rocket will be guilty and that is that. Baseball fans are looking for poster boys for the Steroid Era, so why not the greatest pitcher of the generation to go along with Barry Bonds. There was no reason for Mncamee to lie, him lying would actually be worse for him, then telling them Roger did nothing. I also think Roger was the only smart one and he had everything go through Mcnamee. He was on Clemens payroll anyway, so to see money deposited from Roger’s to Mcnamee’s account was not uncommon. Brian Mcnamee bought all the stuff from Radomski and then injected it in Clemens. There is no paper trail for Roger, so he can deny, deny, deny unlike the players that wrote checks to Radomski.

Side note here is a great article going piece by piece in what Clemens has said:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=3185451&sportCat=mlb