NEW A-ROD BOOK - TABLOID TRASH

An unauthorized book about Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez is coming out a month sooner than planned.

Harper-Collins announced that "A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez" has been changed
after a release delay that suspiciously coincides with A-Rod's DL stint.

The NY Daily News offers up a few details leaked out for promotional purposes.

As ESPN's Mike and Mike pointed out this morning, the NYDN's article contains terms such as "may have", "suspected of", "strongly suggests", "unnamed major-leaguer is quoted as saying", "anonymous Yankees", "A former high school teammate told" and "Another student said".

If that is the substance behind the book, then it is nothing more that tabloid trash that should be on display at the supermarket express lane.

Also, the NYDN article fails to remind us is that the books author, Selina Roberts, is the same person who as a NY Times reporter, played judge and jury in convicting 5 Duke Lacrosse players of a gang rape in 2006. Roberts now works for Sports Illustrated.

The accusation was proved to be a lie and the charges dropped. The North Carolina State Bar Disciplinary Committee unanimously voted to strip prosecuting district attorney Mike Nifong of his law license for his handling of the case. He was also jailed, fined and sued.

Roberts never retracted any of her reports and in fact continued to trash, some say slander, the innocent lacrosse players after the charges were dropped. While reporting on the case, Roberts used the same vague terms and unnamed sources being used against Rodriguez.

Anyone who would buy this trash is simply wasting their money and supporting yellow journalism.

FAT TOAD RETURNS FOR COMEBACK ATTEMPT

The Long Beach Armada of the independent professional Golden Baseball League (GBL) have have agreed to terms with former Yankee Hideki Irabu for the 2009 season.

"Hideki Irabu is a tremendous addition to our pitching staff," said Long Beach Armada Manager Garry Templeton. "I'm looking forward to the skill, experience, and professionalism that a player of his caliber will bring to the club and believe that this will be a great place for him to demonstrate that he is ready to return to the top levels of the game here or in Japan."

Irabu, now 40, was tagged "Fat Toad" by George Steinbrenner after failing to cover first in a spring training game.

His major league career record is 34-35 with a 5.15 ERA with the Yanks, Expos and Rangers.

We last heard from Irabu after he was cited by police in Japan following an altercation in a bar when he tried to skip out on a bar tab.

WANG GETS CHECK BY DOC

From the Star-Ledger

Chien-Ming Wang underwent a battery of tests in Tampa, Fla. on Thursday to determine if the Lisfranc fracture he suffered on his right foot last June has been the underlying cause of his massive struggles this season.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he believes the injury has affected the pitcher, even though Wang has maintained that he feels fine.

11 YEAR OLD AMPUTEE PLANS ON PLAYING FOR YANKS!

From the BIRMINGHAM NEWS:

Hasaan Hawthorne's take on living as an amputee surprises a lot of people.

Hasaan was born without shins, a condition called tibial hemimelia.

His parents, Demond and Felecia Hawthorne, reeled from the medical choices for their day-old son.

The main options: Allow Hasaan's legs and feet to grow, knowing he would require a wheelchair, or amputate his feet and legs through the knees.

Amputation would let him sit at a school desk and walk with prosthetics.

At 4 months old, Hasaan had the surgery. As a youngster, he moved around using Tonka trucks and push cars.

Hasaan got his first prosthetic legs at 14 months, and it wasn't long before his athletic side began to emerge, particularly in baseball -- a shock to his football-loving father.

By 4, Hasaan was running.

At 5, Hasaan said he wanted to try out for baseball, first through the YMCA and then with Pelham Youth Baseball.

Hasaan could balance while batting and fielding, earning him spots playing first base and third base. He even helps his younger brother, Chase.

Hasaan's athleticism often breaks the walking legs, requiring weeks for repairs.

In 2007, Hasaan qualified for a grant from the Challenged Athletes Foundation for a set of curved running legs. The legs, which cost tens of thousands of dollars, increased his speed and improved his baseball skills.

Mother, father and son have all overheard adults and children making fun of Hasaan with names like Robokid or wild stories about train accidents taking his legs.

Hasaan is now contemplating football or wrestling.

Hasaan confidently plans to be the first above-the-knee double amputee to play college baseball, then play for the New York Yankees, like Derek Jeter. He expects to own a Corvette and retire from sports as an orthodontist.

Click on picture for the full report.

NEW STADIUM MEANS END OF YANKEE TAX

The days of the Yankees paying into MLB's luxury tax (AKA "Yankee Tax") system seems to be over.

According to Forbes.com:

"The new stadium also means the Yankees will have to hand over a lower percentage of their revenue to rivals.....MLB permits teams to deduct stadium-operating and debt expenses from revenue before calculating the amount the league will take from them to subsidize other teams. Last season the Yankees had to hand over $95 million to the league so it could be distributed to teams like the Florida Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals and Tampa Bay Rays. In the new stadium the Yankees' deductible expenses will be around $100 million, enough to wipe out the windfall in revenue."

That is bad news for those teams that like to stick the Yankee money in their pocket, do not improve their teams and blame the Yankees.

They will still cry about the Yankees, but they will need to find another way to line their pockets.

http://nyyu.blogspot.com

YANKEE STADIUM WIND THEORY

Here is a theory about the wind issue that I can respect. It doesn't come from a fan or player, or sportswriter, or broadcaster.

It comes from a meteorologist. Someone with actual knowledge of wind patterns.

While I believe this whole wind thing is over blown (pun intended), Accuweather.com's Bernie Rayno believes that the cause is the shape of the structure and the slope of the seating.

Click on one of the photos for the full report.

"Although the field dimensions of the new stadium were designed to be exactly that of the old stadium, the shell of the new stadium is shaped differently. AccuWeather.com meteorologists also estimate that the angle of the seating tiers in the new stadium could have a different effect on wind motion across the field."

WHAT TO DO WITH WANG? YANKS DON'T KNOW!

After 3 starts Chien-Ming Wang is 0-3 with a 34.50 ERA. He has only pitched 6 innings total for his 3 starts.

Theories of what is wrong with Wang abound.

The manager made 2 statements on YES Network's Joe Girardi Show.

Host Michael Kay asked Girardi about how confident he is that Wang will be fine. Girardi first said that Wang "didn't forget how to pitch."

That's good, but then he added that Wang "has a track record" of winning.

This is the same reasoning given last season concerning Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy during their troubled days. They had a "track record" of winning at every level.

Do I believe that Wang is "done"? No, but, it wouldn't be the first time a good pitcher could not regain form after injury.

It is very possible that Wang simply isn't ready to pitch at this level yet coming off the injury.

It doesn't help when the manager and the pitching coach are not on the same page.

Dave Eiland's take is ""You don't get confidence by not pitching, so he's going to pitch, he's going to get confidence, and he's going to get better."

So, Dave...Just keep throwing him out there? Is that the fix? Your manager doesnt seem to know.

Girardi says, "how do we get him well? We don't have answer as of today."

Well Joe, since you don't know, I'll give you my unsolicited advice.

Put Wang on the DL with the ol' "tired arm" syndrome and send him to Tampa and work it out.

Bring up Phil Hughes with his 2-0 record at SWB until Wang is ready to go.

Another option is that due to the off day, the Yankees can skip Wang's start in FENWAY without messing with the rotation. Everyone would still pitch on full rest.

Can you see Wang pitching in Fenway right now?

Finally, quotes from teammates like what Johnny Damon offered don't help!

"We have six losses on the year right now and he's got three of them," Damon said. "And in all three of those games, we've been blown out and we've had to go to our bullpen. So maybe our bullpen's not sharp the following days. So I don't know what more to say, but hopefully he can figure it out because it'd be tough to keep on going like this."

Note to JD: Shut Up!

WHO REPLACES NADY?

With Xavier Nady headed toward Tommy John surgery, the Yankees are short a right-handed bat.

These are the top candidates to fill the roster void, at least temporarily:

Austin Jackson, Shelley Duncan, Todd Linden, Justin Leone and Angel Berroa.

(Click on name for current stats.)

The pickings are slim, so I would imagine a trade for a solid righty bat is in the works.

The issues with 5 listed above is that none of them are on the 40-man roster, so it's more involved than a simple call-up.

The Yankees seem not to want to rush Austin Jackson to the big club, but a 2 week stint while a trade is worked out might not be a bad thing.

Juan Miranda is having a solid start at Scranton, but he is a lefty.

UPDATE:

About an hour after I posted this, the Yankees announced they have recalled pitcher David Robertson from Scranton.

I figured they'd call up a bat.

MARK THE BIRD FIDRYCH DEAD AT 54

Mark "The Bird" Fidrych, 54,was found dead on his farm, said Worcester (Mass) District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.

Fidrych, the famed pitcher for the Detroit Tigers in the '70's, was found by a family friend underneath a pickup truck at about 2:30 p.m. He appeared to have been working on the truck at the time of the accident, Early's office said.

The colorful right-hander was the American League rookie of the year in 1976 when he went 19-9 with a 2.34 earned run average.

He was known for talking to the ball and getting on his hands and knees to make repairs to the mound by hand.

He spent all five of his major league seasons with the Detroit Tigers, compiling a 29-19 record and a 3.10 ERA.

In the minor leagues, Fidrych earned the nickname "The Bird" due to his tall, lanky build that bore a resemblance to "Big Bird" on the Sesame Street television program.

HARRY KALAS DEAD AT 73.

Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas has died after passing out in the broadcast booth before today’s game against the Washington Nationals, team president David Montgomery said.

"We lost Harry today," Montgomery said. "We lost our voice."

Mr. Kalas, who turned 73 on March 26, has broadcast Phillies games since 1971. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 as the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award.

Kalas also narrated for NFL Films, broadcast Animal Planet's annual Puppy Bowl and did the voice-overs for the Chunky Soup commercials.

Harold Norbert "Harry" Kalas was born in Naperville, Illinois, graduated from Naperville High School in 1954 and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1958.


Kalas began his career in 1962 calling minor league games for the Hawaii Islanders while he was in the United States Army stationed in Hawaii.

Kalas made his major league debut in 1965 with the Houston Astros. He was hired by the Phillies in 1971 and was the master of ceremonies at the 1971 opening of Veterans Stadium, and was paired with Andy Musser and Hall of Fame player Richie Ashburn.

Kalas joined NFL Films in 1975, and remained there until his death today

OBAMA REV HATES THE YANKEES

"I'm a fairly charitable person, but I have to tell you - I hate the Yankees."

That's the quote of Rev. Luis Leon of the St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, DC with President Obama and family in attendance during Easter Sunday services.

The New York Daily News, who broke the story, could not get a comment from White House staff.

DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN!

Thoughts on a lost opening day:

The Yankees starting pitcher went 4 innings throwing 96 pitches. Deja vu 2008.

A scrub starting pitcher got the win. Deja vu 2008.

A scrub infielder with 1 HR in his last 415 AB's hit a 2 run HR. Deja vu 2008.

Brian Bruney issued 2 walks, a single and a wild pitch. Typical day for Bruney. Deja vu 2008.

Damaso Marte entered with the bases-loaded and 1 out in the eighth. He gave up a 2-run double. Deja vu 2008.

Yankees used 5 pitchers. Deja vu 2008.

With a runner on 3rd and 1 out, Jeter hits a weak grounder to SS. Deja vu 2008.

5 Runs, 11 hits, 17 baserunners couldn't get a win. Deja vu 2008.

IT'S DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN!

HAL WANTS LOU BACK IN NY

Hal Steinbrenner told New York Daily News writer Bill Madden that he plans on hiring Piniella as a consultant when he's done managing the Cubs.

"I spent the best years of my life here," Piniella said, "and there's no other organization in baseball like the Yankees."

This has been rumored in the past, but Steinbrenner's public courting of the former Yankees player shows he really means business.

However, Piniella is very popular in Chicago, and if he gets the Cubs to the World Series this season, future Cubs owner Tom Ricketts could get Piniella to sign an extension beyond 2010.

VP BIDEN TO TOSS 1st PITCH

Vice President Joe Biden will toss out the ceremonial first pitch for the Orioles' season opener today against the Yankees, the White House announced this morning.

Biden will be the first sitting vice president to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at Camden Yards.

The game at Orioles Park at Camden Yards is scheduled to start at 4:05 p.m.

TV coverage on YES begins at 3:00 p.m.

FEARLESS PREDICTIONS FOR 2009

One thing about my annual predictions is that they are consistent. (Consistently BAD)

Click here to see my predictions from last season. I hit some dead on (like the Phillies in the WS) and some were just dead.

1. YANKEES PREDICTIONS:

a) The Yankees will win the World Series. CORRECT!
b) The man who will be playing CF in September is not on the team yet. WRONG
c) A-Rod will lead the team in HR despite missing the start of the season. WRONG He was 9 behind Tex
d) Joba Chamberlain will become the 8th inning set-up man. WRONG
e) Melky Cabrerra will be traded for a low level starting pitcher. WRONG
f) Robinson Cano will hit .300 with 20 HR. .320 25HR
g) Sabathia will win 20 games. WRONG he had 19!
h) Burnett will win 17 games. WRONG
i) Wang will win 17 games. WRONG
j) Pettitte will win 13 games with a DL stint. WRONG, won 14, no DL
k) Mark Teixeira will win the AL MVP. WRONG, he finished 2nd

2. A.L. EAST PREDICTIONS

a) Red Sox pitching will fall apart, but they will finish 2nd anyway. CORRECT
b) The Rays will return to form and compete with the Orioles for last place. WRONG
c) Orioles manager Dave Trembley will be fired. WRONG, 2010 option picked up.
d) Blue Jays GM JP Riccardi will be fired. Fired Oct 1.

3. A.L. CENTRAL PREDICTIONS

a) Cleveland will win the division. WRONG
b) KC will get the AL wild Card. WRONG
c) Jim Leyland and Dave Dombrowski will be fired by Detroit. WRONG
d) Detroit will lead in the "fire sale" department. WRONG
e) Ozzie Guillen will be fired by the White Sox after another blow up with the media. WRONG

4. A.L. WEST PREDICTIONS

a) The Angels will win the division. CORRECT
b) The rest of the division will be competing for last place. WRONG
c) Texas will fire Ron Washington. WRONG
d) At the end of the season, Oakland will send Billy Beane on his way. WRONG...as of now.

5. N.L. EAST PREDICTIONS

a) The Phillies will win the division. CORRECT
b) The Braves will win the NL Wild Card. WRONG
c) The Mets will finish 4th. CORRECT!
d) By mid-May, Sheffield will be complaining about playing time. WRONG
e) By mid-July, Sheffield will not be a Met. WRONG

6. N.L. CENTRAL PREDICTIONS

a) The Cubs will win the division. WRONG
b) Houston will fire Cecil Cooper. FIRED Sept 21
c) At the end of the season, the Cardinals will part with St. LaRussa. WRONG
d) Pittsburgh will flirt with .500 but finish a few games under. WRONG

7. N.L. WEST PREDICTIONS

a) The Dodgers will win the division AND the NL Pennant. HALF & HALF
b) Randy Johnson will spend most of the season on the DL. On DL from July 7 to Sept 17. Appeared in 22 games.
c) Manny Ramirez will be the NL MVP. WRONG
d) Clint Hurdle will be fired by Colorado. HURDLE FIRED MAY 29, 2009

WHATS WITH THE NET?

Note to the Yankees: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

The TV camera behind home plate is BEHIND the net! It looks terrible on TV.

"The foul screen in HD, only on YES!"

It reminds me of the 80's trying to watch Braves games from Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium on TBS.

$1.5 BILLION and nobody thought of this?

Hopefully they will come up with a solution by April 16.