Open Thread: The Giambino Returns

June 23, 2011 by Mike Axisa 346 Comments

It’s been three years since the Yankees parted ways with Jason Giambi, but he’s coming back to the Bronx this weekend as a visiting player with the Rockies. Yeah, he came to Yankee Stadium with the A’s in 2009, but I think it’ll be little different now since some time has passed. Giambi hit .260/.404/.521 as a Yankee and is hitting .262/.361/.639 this year, and he’ll be Colorado’s designated hitter during the three game series. He was a big time personal fave, so I’m looking forward to seeing him one last time. I miss the taters.

Anyway, here is tonight’s open thread. Very light baseball schedule today, though MLB Network is carrying a game (teams depend on where you live). That’s pretty much it, but use this thread to talk about whatever you want. Go nuts.

Ivan

Well how many of you will be viewing the NBA draft.
- Brian
  
  F*ck the NBA.
  - Rainbow Connection
    
    At least the players in the NBA have to mostly be in shape, unlike MLB.
    - http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
      
      see: Colon, Bartolo
mike c

I remember when I told my girlfriend about giambi’s leopard print thong… she was like “EWWWWW! him???”
Avi

Mark Melancon is another example of a prospect that the Yanks were too conservative with promoting. Most teams would’ve had him pitching in the majors in ’09 (all year) and an argument could be made that he was “bored” in triple A in 2010.
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
  
  I’ll agree with you here. I would have liked to see Melancon in the big league bullpen for more of 2010. He was ready, and he wasn’t given much chance to sink or swim.
  - YankeesJunkie
    
    Never given a real shot. I mean he would come in like once a week which is ridiculous for a good relief prospect.
  - Brian
    
    Fat Elvis was pretty good for us in the playoffs though.
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
      
      Agreed.
- mike c
  
  he had too much of the deer-in-headlights thing going on
  - Avi
    
    Adam Warren and David Phelps (till he got hurt) should be on this team. There’s no doubt Montero should be up too. If he’s not ready to catch in the big leagues is another 20 games or so going to help? It almost seems as though they’re keeping him down to protect his trade value which is a poor way to run a franchise.
    - http://twitter.com/aviatkin Avi Atkin
      
      I’d like to see them up as well, but what about trade value? I’m fine with keeping down there for a few turns if it means avoiding a huge hit in trade value. In Montero’s case he needs the Posada/Jeter’s 3000th situation resolved.
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

I promise to send a lovely fruit basket to the GM of the Bobcats, Kings, Jazz, Suns, or Pacers after one of those lovely individuals selects Jimmer Fredette tonight before the #17 pick comes up, thus preventing the Knicks from making one of the biggest mistakes they could make.

I’m counting on you boys. Save us from ourselves.
- http://twitter.com/SteveH_MandAura Steve H
  
  My dream scenario for the Knicks pick.
  
  http://goo.gl/F5mEL
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
    
    I chuckled.
    
    Seriously, though, I want Markeiff Morris. And then I want to buy a low first rounder and draft Darius Morris. I want the non-conventional Morris “twins”.
    - Esteban
      
      I honestly have no idea who the hell the top prospects are, outside knowing Kyrie Irving and Jimmer Fredette.
      - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        It’s a deep draft, but there’s no legit turnkey studs in there. Obviously, a few players nobody expected to be a star will blossom and become stars, but nobody really knows who those players are yet.
        
        Pat D
        
        You think this draft is deep? All I’ve heard is that it’s pretty weak since so many guys stayed in college (thanks for that, Harrison, John and Tyler).
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        It’s deep because there’s still going to be players drafted in the 40s and 50s who can make an NBA 8-man rotation.
        
        IMHO.
        
        Esteban
        
        Forgot about Kemba, obviously. Doubtful he gets to the Knicks, but should the Knicks take him if he does? I say yes.
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        The two players I don’t want to see in Blue and Orange at all:
        
        Jimmer
        Kemba
        
        Pat D
        
        I agree.
        
        And add Kyle Singler to that list, too. Because I’d rather punch Kyle Singler in the face thousands of times in a row rather than see him play NBA basketball.
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        Seconded.
        
        Ivan
        
        I understand Jimmer, but Kemba to me, while im not in love with the guy but can score and is better at handling the point that even compared to Douglas.
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        I bet a decade from now, when looking back at this draft, there will be 20+ guys from this class who were all better pros than both Kemba and Jimmer.
        
        They’re not busts, but they’re not starters. They’re role players, and others will be better role players.
        
        Ivan
        
        No way he reaches the Knicks at 17.
        
        Ivan
        
        This Draft reminds me of the 2000 NBA draft. Ok it’s better but like the 2000 draft it was sorta deep but lacked any legit All-Star player or automatic All-Star player.
    - http://twitter.com/SteveH_MandAura Steve H
      
      I’m just happy that the draft doesn’t mean much to me. I wouldn’t be surprised if Danny chAinge does something big though, he’s not one to pull punches.
      
      Any way Faried drops to #25 or has his stock gone too high?
      - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        Apparently the Blazers have the hots for him, have since last year when he declared and then pulled out.
        
        Celtics keep getting linked to Jeremy Tyler, a raw American kid who skipped school and went to Europe (with disastrous results). It’s a good upside play, I like the move if Ainge takes him. Worthy gamble in the 20s.
        
        http://twitter.com/SteveH_MandAura Steve H
        
        Yeah I’ve read up a little bit on Tyler, I’d be ok with him. Tough to say if the Celtics think they have one more run in them or not. I know Ainge doesn’t want a repeat of the first big 3 aging and getting nothing for them, but at least their expiring contracts will have value, if their games no longer do.
    - Pat D
      
      Chad Ford had them taking Chris Singleton, saying they need defense and he’s the best defender. Thoughts?
      - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        I’d rather take an elite defender who doesn’t play Carmelo’s position. I’d take Shumpert over Singleton.
        
        I wouldn’t complain too much about Singleton, though, he’s got solid upside.
  - mike c
    
    I’m looking for vuvecic, the big from USC, and maybe the best upside project guard josh selby with a bought pick
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
      
      I’d be okay with that. I like Markeiff more than Vucevic, though. More physical.
      - JohnnyC
        
        Don LaGreca joked that Markieff could be introduced to the plaintive tones of Biz Markie. They yucked it up on ESPN radio this afternoon over that one.
        
        boogie down
        
        ANSWER IT!!!!!!!
- http://twitter.com/Bismarck1872 Jerome S.
  
  I feel like the Knicks are about to become the Mets of basketball – never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
- CP
  
  I don’t think he’d be a good fit on the Knicks, but he’s going to be a solid NBA player for a long time because he can shoot.
http://kierstenschmidt.com Kiersten

Giambi hit .260/.404/.521 as a Yankee

My memory/public perception suggests he hit more like .250/.330/.410.
- Slugger27
  
  the batting avg is what surprises me most. i remember him hovering around 240 seemingly every single season. i guess taht 2002 season boosted it.
  
  by the way, color me surprised giambis rockin a 1000 OPS in 2011. i dont care about the sample size, im impressed.
- http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
  
  He was great early, and somewhere between horrendous and decent for 4 of the last 5 years of the 7 year deal. The Yanks lost their shirts on that contract. So your perception isn’t wrong, you just picked him up late.
http://twitter.com/rebeccapbp Squishy Jello Person

The Nets are still fucked, aren’t they?
- Greg
  
  what do you mean by fucked?
- Esteban
  
  If you’re team name ends in ets, then yes.*
  
  *Except the Jets are good.
  - Pat D
    
    I look forward to them not getting to the Super Bowl again this year.
    - http://kierstenschmidt.com Kiersten
      
      +1
      - Esteban
        
        ha, they’re better than the Dolphins at least.
        
        Pat D
        
        And the Giants are better than the Redskins. Big whoop.
        
        Esteban
        
        Back to back AFC championship games is not too bad.
        
        Pat D
        
        No, it isn’t, but if they lose in that round again, they’ll be the Eagles, circa early 2000’s.
        
        And you compared them to the Dolphins, so I made a similar statement.
        
        Esteban
        
        I did that because Kiersten is a Dolphins fan IIRC.
        
        Pat D
        
        OIC.
        
        http://twitter.com/#!/billreichmann breich315
        
        Not for long!
        
        http://kierstenschmidt.com Kiersten
        
        Hey now. The Dolphins WILL win a Super Bowl before I die. Maybe.
        
        http://kierstenschmidt.com Kiersten
        
        Also, go Canes. College football all day.
    - Greg
      
      Still will probalby go further than the Giants this year.
      - Pat D
        
        Hard to predict that since we have no idea what’s going to happen in free agency.
- Kevin G.
  
  They’ll be alright
  
  I hope
- Max
  
  No
- CP
  
  Here was my thought for them…
  
  Package Lopez, some of their #1 picks and whatever else it takes and make a run at Dwight Howard.
Ivan

Bill Simmons had a very interesting and quite funny thought of the NBA draft.

He said that if he was running Cle, he would draft Derrick Williams, basically forcing Minnesota to have the trade the pick (to Utah since they need a PG and they take Irving), then screwing up everybody’s draft boards. Then at the 4th pick, Cle pick Knight as thier Point Guard.

To be honest, that would be ballsy on Cle part, but hey somewhere along the lines, something is going to screw up that plan.
- Pat D
  
  That’s just because he wants to see chaos. But it also sounds like he thinks Cleveland would want to intentionally screw with Minnesota. But why would Cleveland do that? Did Minnesota run over their dog?
  - Ivan
    
    So Bill Simmons = The Joker
    
    Nevertheless, I mean if you really think about it, whats the difference between Irving and Knight? I mean the difference is minimal and Williams might still be the best player coming out of this draft.
    
    It’s crazy but I wouldn’t go and say stupid.
Pat D

How ’bout Jim Riggleman, eh?

David Schoenfield said he won’t get another managerial job. I’m inclined to agree.
- http://twitter.com/rebeccapbp Squishy Jello Person
  
  He’ll get another one, but he won’t like the options.
  - Pat D
    
    He won’t even get a minor league job.
- JohnnyC
  
  Unless Riggleman already has an iron in the fire, that was a stupid move on his part.
  - Jimmy McNulty
    
    He said he’d quit unless they talked about an extension, they didn’t so he left. I’d say he did the right thing.
    - JohnnyC
      
      As Keith Law tweeted, Riggleman is easily replaceable. He’s not Earl Weaver.
    - Pat D
      
      I don’t think so at all. Now he’s a “quitter.” Try to get rid of that label, if you can.
- http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
  
  Will never work again. If you were an owner, would you hire a guy who walks out on a contract in the middle of a season? In the middle of a winning streak, no less.
  
  From the Nats perspective, nothing had changed. He wanted them to pick up the extension, they said they don’t discuss such things in season, and he quit. If not having 2012 guartanteed was such a problem, be a professional and tell them last off season so they can hire someone else.
Esteban

Ron Artest is changing his name to Metta World Peace. OK.
- JohnnyC
  
  Not as good as World B. Free.
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
    
    Wonderful Terrific Monds III.
    
    http://outsidetheboxscore.blogspot.com/2009/01/you-just-cant-make-this-stuff-up.html
Kevin G.

Would you rather have Irving or DWill2?
- JohnnyC
  
  I’ll take Derek because Kyrie’s a girl’s name.
Roger

I was at Coors field when he took Papplebon deep for a walk off last summer. What a joy that moment was. Love the Beast!
jon

if anyones bored you TMC is playing the natural, you can catch the end

god i love that scene
Jimmy McNulty

So the other day I was wondering who was each franchise’s greatest player, off the top of my head something like this:

Yankees: Babe Ruth
Red Sox: Ted Williams
Rays: Carl Crawford
Orioles: Cal Ripken Jr. (a strong argument could be made for Frank Robinson)
Blue Jays: Roy Halladay

Indians: Bob Feller (argument for Speaker, but he spent too much time with a different franchise)
Tigers: Ty Cobb
White Sox: Frank Thomas
Twins: Harmon Killebrew
Royals: George Brett

Angels: Nolan Ryan
Mariners: Ichiro Suzuki (argument could be made for Edgar Martinez, and maybe Felix in a few years)
Athletics:Rickey Henderson
Rangers: Michael Young

Phillies: Mike Schmidt
Mets: Tom Seaver
Marlins: Wow, I guess I’d say Miguel Cabrera or Hanley Ramirez
Braves: Hank Aaron
Nationals: Ooooh, with the Senators it’s easily Walter Johnson

Cardinals: Stan Musial
Reds: Joe Morgan
Brewers: Paul Molitor
Astros: Bagwell or Biggio
Pirates: Honus Wagner
Cubs: Ernie Banks

Diamondbacks: Randy Johnson
Giants: Barry Bonds
Rockies: Todd Helton
Dodgers: Sandy Koufax
Padres: Tony Gwynn
- jon
  
  Mariners use to have this short stop i forget his name but he was pretty good
  
  A something
  - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Matt Imbrogno
    
    And this other guy. He was someone’s son…
    - Jimmy McNulty
      
      Yeah, I knew I was forgetting someone obvious…Jr was with them for longer. Probably their greatest player.
  - Jimmy McNulty
    
    He spent what? Six years with them? He was probably the best player that they ever had (him or Jr.) but spent more time with the Yankees, anyways. Hell, Ruth played for Baltimore at the end of his career.
    - Pat D
      
      Boston Braves, not Baltimore.
      
      And he played for the Red Sox first.
      - Jimmy McNulty
        
        Ahh yes, that’s right.
- Greg
  
  I’d argue Johnny Bench for the Reds,
  - Yan
    
    Pete Rose! no brainer here
- Greg
  
  I would consider Robin Yount for the Brewers because Molitor left.
  - Jimmy McNulty
    
    Yount’s probably the better pick.
- first time lawng time
  
  Mariners: Ichiro, Felix, or Griffey Jr.
  
  Rangers: I’d go with Arod
  
  Unless you have a set limit on the number of years the player had with the team.
  - Jimmy McNulty
    
    A-Rod was with the Rangers fore what? Three years? Doesn’t count, Young’s given them a decade plus of great production.
    - http://twitter.com/SteveH_MandAura Steve H
      
      How about Pudge for the Rangers?
      - Jimmy McNulty
        
        He’d be a fine choice too, but I think he’s my most hated non-Red Sox player ever.
    - first time lawng time
      
      Yeah I know. Just wasn’t sure about the criteria.
      
      It really bothers me when Texas fans boo Arod and chant “you did steroids!”…he I’d it whn he was on their team!
- Pat D
  
  The Nationals aren’t the Senators. The 1st Senators are the Twins, the 2nd Senators are the Rangers.
  
  The Nationals are the Expos, so pick between Carter, Raines, Dawson and maybe Staub.
  
  Definitely Yount for the Brewers and Bench for the Reds. I’d consider Jackie, the Duke or Campy for the Dodgers as well.
  
  Ripken’s definitely the right pick for the Orioles, Frank wasn’t there long enough. Jimmie Foxx and Lefty Grove could also be considered for the A’s. Walter Johnson could be the Twins’ pick, but I see what you were going for there. Nolan Ryan doesn’t seem right for the Angels, but they’ve had so few great players. Frank Thomas doesn’t seem right for the White Sox either, but, yea, not sure if I’d go with Luke Appling or Eddie Collins (since he played elsewhere) ahead of The Big Hurt.
  - Jimmy McNulty
    
    As far as the As, Foxx left and so did Grove. I guess Rickey did too, still, he’s an extremely underrated all time player, I’d easily put him in the top 15 or so all time. I think he’s better than A-Rod.
    
    The White Sox? Meh…I dunno, there I saw Thomas and he was fucking awesome in his prime. Best hitter since Ted Williams is what most people said…incredible bat. He was a rich man’s Miguel Cabrera.
    
    Nationals…yeah, Washington baseball’s been a mess for a while, so I felt bad for them and gave them the Big Train.
    
    Bench over Morgan? Perhaps, it’s kinda subjective sort of a best player/face of the franchise, sort of thing…check Joe Morgan’s 75-76 stats. Morgan’s best years were better than Mays’ best years.
    - Pat D
      
      Morgan’s not a “bad” pick, but he played substantially for other teams, too. Bench was a career Red. If I’m picking “face of the franchise,” Bench qualifies better than Morgan, to me.
      
      Foxx and Grove didn’t leave so much as they were sold off by Connie Mack. But Rickey’s a good pick, too.
      
      What would be an interesting thing to do would be to consider franchises that have moved separately. But, at the same time, it would be quite hard to come up with good players for the St. Louis Browns or Kansas City Athletics. And that’s not even considering the Seattle Pilots.
      - Jimmy McNulty
        
        Yeah, you’re right. I keep forgetting that Bench was a career red, it’s arguable who’s the better player anyways. The Career Red tips it in his favor.
        
        Yan
        
        Pete Rose is banned from baseball AND from this thread?
        
        Jimmy McNulty
        
        Rose just played FOREVER probably costing his team wins during his pursuit of the hits record.
        
        Yan
        
        I dont know, I do not think its even close. No dis on Bench off course, the best catcher maybe ever, but Charlie Hustle is a franchise Red. He also won a few games for the Reds in his day. Maybe Bench, but to consider Morgan over Rose is a little pushing it.
        
        Pat D
        
        Pete Rose is one of the most overrated players in baseball history. He was a glorified singles hitter (yes I know he hit plenty of doubles) with negative defensive value.
        
        Yan
        
        Oh, we talking power hitters, my bad.
        
        Pat D
        
        No, I’m saying that Rose wasn’t as good or as valuable as everyone seems to think he was.
        
        Yan
        
        Morgan WAR (Cin 8 years) 61.3 or 7.66/ 8 AS, 0 MVP,
        Bench WAR (Cin 17 years) 71.3 or 4.19/ 14 AS, 2 MVP, ROY
        Rose WAR (Cin 19 years) 74.6 or 3.92/ 13 AS, 1 MVP, ROY
        
        Rose is an icon in Cincinnati. Native Cinci kid, blue collar, they named a street running across downtown Pete Rose way. There is a Ruthian like obsession with Rose in Cinci, but I dont know if it qualifies as a frenchise player. Bench and Morgan stats speak for themselves, but Rose was no scrub.
        
        Pat D
        
        Uhhhhhhhh….Morgan won the MVP in ’75 and ’76. Try again.
- The BIG 3
  
  Hard to understand what you’re criteria is, but I’ll take Delgado anyway, and Robinson easily. Gonzalez over Young.. probably a couple of others too. I’m bored.
  - Jimmy McNulty
    
    Delgado over who? Robinson over Koufax? Meh…Koufax was pretty damn great in his prime. Juan Gone over Young? Meh…Juan Gone’s got the roids and the whole unlikable asshole thing going on. What’s the criteria? Ehh…I dunno. Sort of a mix of best player, face of the franchise, had the best seasons with the team, etc. I’m bored too…have some fun with it!
    
    Thinking about Jeter, Helton, Ichiro, and Young leading their respective franchises in hits got me thinking who was each franchise’s greatest player and how many of them we’ve had the opportunity to see personally.
- Thomas Cassidy
  
  Red Sox best player is Ted Williams. Fuck him, he doesn’t have anything on Casey Kelley. I don’t care if he was traded, he would have been the most dominant pitcher of all time. Now he will have to do it on the Padres.
  
  Athletics- Rickey Henderson? NO. Bobby Crosby.
  
  Gammons’d.
- DCBX
  
  My changes in bold:
  
  Yankees: Babe Ruth
  Red Sox: Ted Williams
  Rays: Carl Crawford
  Orioles: Cal Ripken Jr. (a strong argument could be made for Frank Robinson)
  Blue Jays: Roy Halladay
  
  Indians: Bob Feller (argument for Speaker, but he spent too much time with a different franchise)
  Tigers: Ty Cobb
  White Sox: Frank Thomas
  Twins: Rod Carew
  Royals: George Brett
  
  Angels: Nolan Ryan
  Mariners: Jr. Griffey C’mon son!
  Athletics: Jimmie Foxx
  Rangers: Michael Young
  
  Phillies: Mike Schmidt
  Mets: Tom Seaver
  Marlins: Wow, I guess I’d say Miguel Cabrera or Hanley Ramirez
  Braves: Hank Aaron
  Nationals: Ooooh, with the Senators it’s easily Walter Johnson but since this is the Expos: Gary Carter.
  
  Cardinals: Stan Musial
  Reds: Gotta go with Charlie Hustle here
  Brewers: Paul Molitor
  Astros: Bagwell or Biggio
  Pirates: Honus Wagner
  Cubs: Ernie Banks
  
  Diamondbacks: Randy Johnson
  Giants: Willie Mays!
  Rockies: Todd Helton
  Dodgers: Sandy Koufax
  Padres: Tony Gwynn
- CS Yankee
  
  Good list, my exceptions;
  O’s…Brooks
  M’s…Junior
  A’s…Reggie or Vida
  Marlins…JJ (in 5 years) or Pudge (only cause of ring)
  Reds…Bench
  Brewers…Yount
  Astros…Scott or Ryan
  Giants…Willie McCovey (pre-roids)
  Rox…Tulo (in 7 years)
  - CS Yankee
    
    err, wrong Willie
- Kosmo
  
  Johnny come lately-
  Willie Mays over Bonds
  Reggie over Rickey
  Brooks Robinson over Ripken
  Ripken has prettier numbers but Brooks was the greatest defensive player at his position in the history of the game.
- MannyGeee
  
  Honus Wagner over Roberto Clemente huh… hater
  
  /PuertoRicanStereotyped’d
http://www.youcantpredictbaseball.com bexarama

this is really, really legit funny:
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2011/6/23/2240147/seattle-mariners-washington-nationals-jim-riggleman
- The BIG 3
  
  Yes is it.
Colin

Anybody remember this game: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA200406130.shtml ?

Matsui-Lofton back to back with 2 outs in the 9th to tie it and come back win in the 12th.

Awesome game, for some reason the Giambi highlight made me think of that game.
- Alfredo
  
  is this a Yankees Classics?
http://twitter.com/Bismarck1872 Jerome S.

Following all y’all on Pick Six. kinda creepy, but meh.
Esteban

“Rolling in the Deep” needs to never be played ever again. Holy shit, every single radio station on earth played that song 2 months ago and now ESPN is polluting the draft broadcast with it. I liked that song when I first heard it (I like the John Legend cover better ) but JUST GO AWAY ADELE.
- Jose the Satirist
  
  You must be new to pop radio.
  - Esteban
    
    Haha, I know, I know, I shouldn’t be surprised that radio plays out a song, but WTF is ESPN using it now?
    - first time lawng time
      
      ESPN is trying to be hip.
      
      You know speaking of “hip”,
      “Derek Jeter is very hip, if I may use that young term. In fact, I think he’s one of the hippest players in baseball.” –Tim McCarver
- first time lawng time
  
  Music in general today is just awful.
  
  I still don’t see how Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, and Ke$ha have careers with no raw talent and no good looks.
  - Esteban
    
    Uhhh. Katy Perry no good looks?
    http://www.fhm.com/images/media/fckimgs/image/Katy_Perry_boobs_PVC.jpg
    - first time lawng time
      
      Alright, you’re a guy. But still, you have to admit, she is not pretty. Especially that bright pink lipstick. What the hell is that? Ugh I can’t stand her.
      
      All these singers rely on autotune, which destroyed music BTW.
      
      What is appealing about their music? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
      - Jose the Satirist
        
        “Especially that bright pink lipstick.”
        
        No guy who clicked that even looked at her face.
        
        Pat D
        
        +Boobies
      - Jimmy McNulty
        
        JUST OWN THE NIGHT!!!!!!
      - DCBX
        
        Katy Perry not pretty?
        
        FTLT, put down the Haterade. Step away from the Haterade.
        
        first time lawng time
        
        Lol, seriously I don’t think she has a pretty face or hair. You can disagree with me, though. I just don’t see it.
  - http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
    
    THIS. R.I.P Biggie and Tupac
    - first time lawng time
      
      I was alluding to old shool Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys, but you know whatever works for you is fine with me.
      - Esteban
        
        LOL, old school Britney Spears was just bad pop music like today. Backstreet Boys the same.
        
        first time lawng time
        
        It least they had raw talent and didn’t rely on the autotune. “I Want it That Way” is a classic.
        
        Also, Spears has totally gone down hill, in terms of music. The “oops I did it Again” and “Baby one more time” transitioned into “Toxic” and “Outrageous.”. Now that I’m okay with. But “Three” and “If you Seek Amy” are just crap, IMO.
        
        ****BTW this post probably only applies to people who like(d) pop music.
        
        http://www.youcantpredictbaseball.com bexarama
        
        I’m pretty sure Britney Spears had about 0 actual talent. She could dance, that’s about it.
        
        Pat D
        
        That’s dancing?
        
        Jimmy McNulty
        
        Yeah, the dance adds something to the music. I can’t even listen to the Party Rock Anthem breakdown without thinking of the awesome breakdancing. What Britney DID was hard, now she’s pretty out of shape and old…got a lot of wear and tear on that body.
        
        first time lawng time
        
        Technically. It’s actually a typical workout routine on the Flirty Girl Fitness DVD. If you call now, you get your very own Flirty Girl Fitness poke for only $1.00!!
        
        No I am not making this up. Google it. I swear it exists.
        
        Jimmy McNulty
        
        To top it off, neither her nor the Backstreet Boys wrote their own music. Something that Godga does.
        
        first time lawng time
        
        Yeah, but their jobs are singers/entertainers, not songwiters.
        
        Gaga can get bonus points for writing her own work.
        
        But Taylor Swift doesn’t get the points. She’s a shit singer/songwriter.
        
        This is what she does: she dates some ugly guy in his thirties, then breaks up with him, then writes a song about him, then sings th song on stage, but she sounds like a dying cat or mule inthe process. She has NO talent. IMO, at least. Oh yeah, she also throws on country boots to make it look like country rather than pop (Which is what it really is).
        
        Jimmy McNulty
        
        She doesn’t even play at her concerts, she plays air guitar but has a real guitar and someone in the back plays in the songs.
        
        first time lawng time
        
        Exactly. She’s, as Holden Caufield would put it, “a phony.”
        
        Also I’ve heard that if you lister to her album (the one with the song “Love Story”) the background music or beat is the same for each song.
        
        first time lawng time
        
        She doesn’t have that good of a voice, but I liked her old songs.
        
        Jimmy McNulty
        
        I still get requests for “I Want it That Way” to be the song that plays during the first dance at weddings. I can mimic three of their voices and sometime’s Howie’s but I need someone else to do Lance’s or Howie’s parts if they want to sound anything like them.
      - http://www.youcantpredictbaseball.com bexarama
        
        wtf, Britney Spears is largely terrible and always has been
        
        first time lawng time
        
        She had good music back in the day. (if you like pop music, that is)
        
        Pat D
        
        I never considered suicide until I heard her cover version of “Satisfaction.”
        
        Pat D
        
        Oh, and I was at the Virgin Megastore in freaking Disney World when I heard it, so it takes a special kind of pain to make you consider suicide at Disney World!
    - Esteban
      
      Amen, but it’s not all bad. Kanye West is sick, Jay-Z is still hanging on. J.Cole is pretty good too.
      - Jimmy McNulty
        
        Lady Gaga is actually grotesquely talented. The same chick wrote: Poker Face, Just Dance, Bad Romance, Monster, Judas, Born This Way, and Paparazzi. Sick dance tracks, epic pop radio friendly songs, and dark songs that lend themselves to several darker and heavier genres.
        
        <3 her.
        
        http://www.youcantpredictbaseball.com bexarama
        
        Good man.
        
        Esteban
        
        Yeah, Lady Gaga is legitimately talented, though her new songs are pretty crappy compared to her first album.
        
        Jimmy McNulty
        
        though her new songs are pretty crappy compared to her first album.
        
        This is a perfect example of a false statement.
        
        Esteban
        
        That’s fine. From what I’ve heard and the reaction I saw from critics to “Born this Way” (the song) and “Judas”, she’s not getting as high praise. And they’re all starting to sound the same to me.
        
        first time lawng time
        
        Fact: all pop music sounds the same.
        
        Whoever created autotune or made it “the” thing should be shot.
        
        first time lawng time
        
        Lady Gaga has a few good songs and a few shit songs. She also has issues. Who wears dresses made of meat? Animals are for eating, not wearing.
        
        Owen Two
        
        Animals are for eating, not wearing.
        
        Leather?
        
        Jose the Satirist
        
        I respect the talent that Lady Gaga has at creating catchy songs that people obsess over. I just don’t understand the whole wear something crazy thing. To me that just seems like attention whoring.
        
        http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
        
        This.
      - http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
        
        True, I’m also a fan of Jay-Z. But Biggie Smalls and 2pac are unequaled.
        
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MURVgOu5dUE&feature=youtube_gdata_player
        
        legendary
        
        first time lawng time
        
        I’m not into rap, but I do have a few Jay-Z songs;he’s not bad. I’m not a fan of Eminimen, though.
        
        This is my problem with him: he walks around all the time, putting on this show of like “oh I hate the world! Fuck all of you!”. He’s way too angry. Seriously Eminem, get over yourself, you ungrateful spoiled little brat with okay songs. You make millions of dollars, stop being so angry and prancing around hating.
        
        Jimmy McNulty
        
        The dude’s a seriously depressed guy, I have a feeling he’ll end up the subject of a Chris Benoit/Harvester of Sorrow story.
        
        Pat D
        
        Chris Benoit had head trauma and the brain of an Alzheimer’s patient in his 80’s.
        
        Not quite sure that Eminem is at that point.
        
        first time lawng time
        
        Don’t get why he’s so depressed. I personally feel that it’s all an act now, because he’s running out of material, so he acts all pissed off at something the tries to rap about that.
        
        He’s overrated IMO. He’s got some good songs, but that’s it. I don’t see what the fuss is about.
        
        Jimmy McNulty
        
        Hey, I never said it was deserved or anything like that (referencing to Chris Benoit too) just that he’s probably going to kill his wife and kids (mom too, actually) then off himself.
        
        first time lawng time
        
        No, I know. I was just saying that Eminmem has issues and seems fake.
        
        You know, he and Swift should date. They have something in common: writing shitty “songs” about their exes.
        
        Esteban
        
        Video of it:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdKbVpNMLdE
        
        “I got 7 Mac 11s, about 8 .38, 9 Nines, 10 Mac 10s/ The shits never end/ You cant’t touch my riches….”
        
        Favorite freestyle of all time.
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        Oh my god, I’m droppin shit like a pigeon/
        I hope you’re listenin, smackin babies at they christening/
        
        http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
        
        Biggie Smalls is the greatest
        
        “And if you don’t know, now you know niggaaa”
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        I got techniques drippin’ out my buttcheeks/
        Sleep on my stomach so I don’t fuck up my sheets/
        
        Esteban
        
        “And ain’t no stoppin at the red lights, I’m sideways/Thug life motherfucker crime, pays!”
        
        As a New Yorker, I gotta take Biggie over Tupac. Tupac was schizophrenic with his music. From “Hit ‘Em Up”, the best diss track ever, to “Keep your Head Up” and “Changes”.
        
        http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
        
        That is part of the reason why I like Biggie better. He seemed more down to earth. Maybe I’m biased, but I tend to think Tupac is the one who started the animosity between the two. Which leads me to this neat little video I found the other day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN1f2U2D5kA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        Tupac isn’t even in my top 5.
        
        Big
        Jay
        Nas
        Rakim
        KRS-ONE
        
        http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
        
        Tupac deserves a little more credit than that. That being said, EAST COAST MUTHAFUCKAS
        
        JobaWockeeZ
        
        Earl Sweatshirt. That is all.
        
        http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
        
        Earl Sweatshirt………………Is interesting
- Rainbow Connection
  
  Why would anyone EVER listen to FM radio? You deserve what you get.
http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Matt Imbrogno

A TYA commenter on Giambi:

http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/2011/06/off-day-thoughts-31211#comment-56594
- http://www.youcantpredictbaseball.com bexarama
  
  Duh, Innings! is so fucking terrible.
  - http://www.youcantpredictbaseball.com bexarama
    
    I mean:
    
    . Just like they would’ve kept Soriano had his tie-breaking solo shot in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series stood up to be the Series-winning shot.
    
    No. Look, Soriano was a good player, but when it was Soriano + a not exactly tippy-top prospect at the time (thank you for taking Arias, not Cano, Texas) for one of the best players in the universe who was right there in his prime, you bet your ass they weren’t keeping Soriano.
    - Esteban
      
      I liked Soriano a lot, but that was one of the better trades ever.
  - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
    
    At some point, you stop reading certain people’s responses.
    
    The guy personally attacked William for the Dice-K/Igawa piece he wrote a few weeks back. William’s as good a blogger as there is, and if you disagree with something he writes, fine. But he starts off calling him stupid and it devolved from there. Done.
- Jose the Satirist
  
  What is your point? He is purposefully trolling. It is so easy to bait people here.
  - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Matt Imbrogno
    
    No, he’s not. He comments on the site a lot and seems to mean every word of what he says.
    - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
      
      Yeah, he’s a daily reader and I have no doubt he believes what he says. He’s also a good fan, anyone who writes 4 paragraph comments obviously cares a lot about the topic. But in terms of substance and being able to disagree without being disagreeable, he has a long way to go.
Avi

Klaw on Cito Culver is his chat today:
Have you talked to anyone who had anything good to say about Cito Culver? I’m still perplexed about the pick. What is the best Settlers of Catan tip you have?
Klaw (2:10 PM)

No – area guys that year all pegged him as third round or below, and the majority opinion had him moving to second base. Tuesday was my first post-draft look at him, and I’m not optimistic. At least with Williams you can dream on the athleticism.
- Esteban
  
  So KLaw is basing his opinion on what he saw AND what local scouts think. They might all be wrong, but why was KLaw getting attacked for his opinion on Culver like he had some sort of agenda? He’s clearly not alone in his opinion.
  - Avi
    
    I’m not sure. Some people have a hard time saying the Yankees made a sucky pick I guess.
    On Bichette:
    Mark (College Park, MD)
    
    You have probably answered this elsewhere but what are your thoughts on Dante Bichette Jr? How comparable is he to his dad? However, since Daddy only had 11.5 fWAR over a 14 year career (though this is brought down by a -9.2 WAR on defense) with a peak of 3.0 (and no other seasons over 2) this doesn’t seem to be much of an upside. Thoughts?
    Klaw (2:31 PM)
    
    Not even sure he’s like his dad. Junior is all clean-and-jerk pull power, swing is a mess, requires a lot of cleanup. I didn’t think he was worth a pick in the top two rounds.
  - YankeesJunkie
    
    No he is not.
  - Jimmy McNulty
    
    He’s clearly not alone in his opinion.
    
    Who here remembers when he was picked?
    - Esteban
      
      Who?
      - Jimmy McNulty
        
        Culver, given the haterade that Law’s serving up.
        
        Esteban
        
        I think most people here would remember that he was their 1st round pick last year.
        
        Jimmy McNulty
        
        Meaning if they remembered the universal reaction of disgust to a player whose upside was pretty much Elvis Andrus.
Greg

Speaking of the last topic, I was thinking of creating an all time Yankee team.

C-Yogi Berra
1B-Lou Gehrig
2B-Open to suggestions (maybe Willie Randolph)
3B- Either Nettles or ARod
SS- Derek Jeter (could argue Rizzuto)
OF-Joe diMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth
DH- Reggie Jackson

Starters:
Whitey Ford, Ron Guidry, Red Ruffing, Andy Pettite, Jack Chesbro (nostalgic pick)

Relievers: Sparky Lyle, Goose, Mo, Allie Reynolds, Mike Mussina, Ralph Terry

Bench:
Don Mattingly, Bobby Murcer, Phil Rizzuto, Thurman Munson,

Any other suggestions?
- Jimmy McNulty
  
  Best second basemen is Joe Gordon, and A-Rod easily takes third.
- Esteban
  
  Joe Gordon is a Hall of Fame 2nd baseman.
  - Greg
    
    He had some good years in Cleveland following his Yankee career. Another name I discovered was Tony Lazzeri.
  - Pat D
    
    A borderline one, at that.
    - Jimmy McNulty
      
      There’s like six second basemen that are legitimate hall of famers. Collins, Lajoie, Morgan, Kent, and some obvious ones that I’m forgetting. So that’s still pretty damn good, even by all time standards.
      - http://twitter.com/Bismarck1872 Jerome S.
        
        hornsby!!!! that asshole.
    - Jimmy McNulty
      
      Hornsby, duh.
      - Pat D
        
        Kent’s not in the HOF yet.
        
        There are more legit HOF 2B than HOF SS: Lajoie, Collins, Hornsby, Frisch, Gehringer, Jackie, Billy Herman, Bobby Doerr, Morgan, Bid McPhee, Sandberg, Alomar.
        
        Questionable or worse HOF 2B: Johnny Evers, Red Schoendienst, Lazzeri, Nellie Fox, Bill Mazeroski, Joe Gordon
        
        Jimmy McNulty
        
        I’d put Doerr and Herman in that questionable category. Probably Frisch too. So comparing: Hornsby, Lajoie, Robinson, Collins, Morgan, Sandberg and Alomar to
        
        Wagner, Vaugh, Rodriguez, Jeter, Ripken, Cronin, Yount, Larkin, and Banks
        
        I dunno…I’d take the shortstops. Probably a flawed comparison, anyways.
        
        Pat D
        
        Well, yea, it’s a flawed comparison. Frankie Frisch is not a borderline HOF’er. Now, he helped a lot of borderline HOF’ers get elected, but that’s another story.
        
        You can’t put ARod and Jeter in the comparison because they’re not HOF’ers yet and ARod might not get in. And he’ll probably have logged more innings at 3B by the end of his career. Also, Larkin’s not in yet and Yount’s career was almost split between SS and CF. But I’ll give you Yount.
        
        Jimmy McNulty
        
        I was talking about strength across the history of the position, and saying that A-Rod and Jeter aren’t in yet is like saying we don’t know that Katy Perry’s next album will suck yet.
        
        Pat D
        
        You didn’t say that.
        
        And I also didn’t include Rod Carew as a 2B.
        
        Jimmy McNulty
        
        You said more legit HOF second basemen than shortstops. I thought you were suggesting that second base is a historically stronger position than shortstop.
        
        Pat D
        
        Oh. No, I was strictly talking in terms of those enshrined.
- http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
  
  2B as of right now is Tony Lazzeri (although Cano is only a couple stellar seasons away from surpassing him.)
  - http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
    
    Oh man, I forgot about Joe Gordon. Scratch that. Also, Cano has got a lot of work to do before he’s better than either: http://www.fangraphs.com/graphsw.aspx?playerid2=1004874&playerid3=1007422&playerid4=3269&playerid5=
- Pat D
  
  Randolph, Tony Lazzeri or Joe Gordon for second base.
  
  Lefty Gomez > Chesbro, Reynolds, Terry
  
  Plenty of other guys that could be considered: Winfield, Charlie Keller, Tommy Henrich, Elston Howard, Vic Raschi, Herb Pennock, Waite Hoyt, Bob Shawkey, Bob Meusel, Earle Combs, Gil McDougald, etc., etc.
  
  You could come up with an All-Time Yankees “B” team, and it too would be quite successful.
  - Greg
    
    Thought Gomez played for other teams in his career. OK replace Terry with Chesbro in the pen and insert Gomez into the starting rotation.
    
    That’s four lefties in the starting rotation.
    - Pat D
      
      Gomez pitched 4 2/3 innings for Washington at the end of his career. That’s it.
      
      What does it matter if the guy played for other teams? Especially when you’ve get Reggie as your starting DH. He played more for other teams than the Yankees.
      - Greg
        
        I confused Lefty Gomez and Lefty Grove.
        
        Pat D
        
        Gotcha.
      - Greg
        
        YOu can say the same about Mussina as well. ITs tough.
  - http://kierstenschmidt.com Kiersten
    
    The Yankees’ All-Time B team would kick most other franchise’s A-Teams’ asses.
    - tom
      
      Tom Boswell in the Washington Post, writing about the Yankees’ 1998 team, said it was like an all-time Yankee team, only with the first ballot Hall of Famers excluded — a team of all Tony Lazzeris & Willie Randolphs & Allie Reynolds. Obviously subsequent history has moved Jeter and Mo into sure HOF territory, but, for the rest, he was pretty much right…and look what that team achieved.
      
      Which makes your point.
- Jose the Satirist
  
  This list reminded me that Rizzuto being in the hall of fame is a joke. Take out that one MVP year and his numbers drop even more.
  - Pat D
    
    Yea, he is borderline as a HOF’er. But so are Hughie Jennings, Joe Tinker, Rabbit Maranville, Bobby Wallace, Dave Bancroft, Travis Jackson, Joe Sewell, Luis Aparicio and, to a certain extent, Ozzie Smith.
    
    Rizzuto also lost his age 25-age 27 seasons to World War II.
- http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Matt Imbrogno
  
  http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/2010/02/the-run-scoring-of-an-all-time-lineup-15182
  
  The average lineup containing these players would score 7.385 runs per game. In a 162 game season, that means 1,197 runs. The modern record for runs scored in a season was set by the 1931 Yankees, who scored 1,067. This team would beat that tally by 130 runs. That’s disgusting. Words cannot describe the awesomeness of this lineup.
  
  The best projected lineup would be Ruth/Gehrig/Lazzeri/DiMaggio/Mantle/Jackson/Rodriguez/Berra/Jeter, which would score 7.499 per game (1,215 per 162).
  
  The worst projected lineup was Berra/Lazzeri/Rodriguez/Jeter/Jackson/Mantle/Gehrig/Ruth/DiMaggio and even that scored 7.004 runs per game (1,135). So even the “worst” lineup consisting of these nine guys would break the runs scored record.
- DCBX
  
  C- Yogi Berra
  1B- Lou Gehrig
  2B- Tony Lazzeri!
  3B- A-Rod
  SS- Derek Jeter
  OF-Joe diMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth
  DH- Reggie Jackson
  
  Starters:
  Whitey Ford, Ron Guidry, Red Ruffing, Lefty Gomez, Jack Chesbro (
  
  Relievers: Goose, Mo, Johnny Murphy, Ryne Duren, Dave Righetti
  
  Bench:
  Don Mattingly, Dave Winfield, Phil Rizzuto, Thurman Munson
jon

Taking a look at the all time great players on a team who would have the best team?

its gotta be the yankees right?
- Pat D
  
  The only teams that could even compete would be the Red Sox, Giants, Dodgers and maybe the A’s and Cardinals. Don’t think the Cubs, Pirates, Red, Orioles or Tigers would be in the same range.
Grit Storage

Check the milb.com league transaction pages – lot’s of apparent movement between Charleston and Tampa today.

http://tinyurl.com/63vybnm (milb.com SAL transaction page)

To Tampa/From Charleston: Murphy, Heathcott, Roller
To Charleston/From Tampa: Higgy and Mahoney

Kind of odd that Heathcott is going since he was/is on the DL. Roller too, I think. So maybe some sort of weird paper move, not sure. But Murphy is in the lineup tonight for Tampa.
http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7

A lot of international players are being drafted early.
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

I was really hoping the Raptors were gonna take Jan Vesely, so Colangelo could continue his goal of building the worst defensive team ever, a/k/a “The Bargnani Project”.
- Pat D
  
  Bargnani? Is this a player of some kind?
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
    
    It’s debateable.
http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7

I love how the crowd boos David Stern every time he steps up to the podium
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
  
  It’s because he’s a dirty Jew.
  
  /Tynan’d
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS, THANK YOU CHARLOTTE FOR TAKING KEMBA!!!

One down, one to go.
- http://twitter.com/Carlosologist_7 Carlosologist
  
  Kings just took Jimmer. Awesome.
http://twitter.com/Carlosologist_7 Carlosologist

So the Bobcats took Walker. Who do you all see the Knicks taking this draft?
- Phife Dawg
  
  Marshon Brooks from Providence. Can score like crazy but plays absolutely no defense.
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
    
    He also has a crazy-high usage rate to score so much (like Jimmer did).
    
    The Kobe Bryant comps are a bit ridiculous. He’s more Jamal Crawford than Kobe Bryant.
    - Phife Dawg
      
      Yeah watching him play at games, you could definitely see he has a scorer’s mentality to him though. The former coach at PC Keno Davis had a very similiar run & gun, fast paced system compared to D’Antoni. He would be a good fit nevertheless.
      - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        He would be a good fit for D’Antoni’s system, yes. Unfortunately, D’Antoni’s system is not a good fit for the Carmelo/Amar’e Knicks.
        
        Hence, Marshon Brooks would be a bad idea. This team needs rebounds, defense, and passing.
        
        Ivan
        
        Yeah. Because your not getting rebounds from amare or the passing from Melo, and the defense, well yeah that speaks for it’s self.
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

PRAISE JEEBUS THE BUCKS FUCKED UP AND KEPT US FROM FUCKING UP!

(Please, Mo, don’t let this be a “we’re making this pick for New York” pick. Please, please, please.)
http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7

The Bobcats took Jimmer. HA!
- http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
  
  When I said the Bobcats I meant the Bucks of course
  - CP
    
    You mean the Kings?
    - http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
      
      drafted by Bucks in proposed trade to Kings
http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Matt Imbrogno

WOO GO BOBCATS.
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

Bah, Warriors took Klay. I knew he wasn’t going to fall to us, but I was hoping.
Jimmy McNulty

So that Boston mobster finally got arrested. 16 years evaded the FBI. Holy Shit.
Esteban

Wait, who is making the pick for the Knicks? Is Donny Walsh doing the draft?
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
  
  Reportedly. He’s resigned as GM, but he’s still serving as an advisor for another year. Since no successor has been chosen yet, this draft is Donnie’s.
  - Esteban
    
    Or maybe Isiah and Dolan are making the pick together, bringing back nightmares of Mardy Collins.
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
      
      Meh, Mardy sucked, but so did pretty much everyone else taken behind him.
      
      I won’t dock anyone for missing on Paul Millsap, he kinda came out of nowhere.
      
      In general (other than passing on Rondo for Balkman), Isiah drafted well.
      - Esteban
        
        Yeah, at least he didn’t have any Frederic Weis over Ron Artest moments.
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        I wonder if Scott Layden sends Isiah Thomas a lovely fruit basket once a year to thank him for making people forget what a horrible GM he was.
        
        Isiah spent a shitload of money on Steph Marbury, Eddy Curry, and Steve Francis?
        
        Layden spent a shitload of money on Howard Eisley and Shandon Anderson.
        
        Check and mate.
        
        Ivan
        
        Hated both of them.
        
        Layden was the uncontrolled blaze of fire that destroyed Chicago that just mistakenly happen.
        
        Isiah was the can of gasoline to “stop” the fire.
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        That’s an awesome, awesome description of the Layden/Thomas Reign of Terror.
        
        CP
        
        What is Dolan in this scenario?
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        Fire itself.
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

DAMN YOU SUNS
Esteban

Aww Marcus is cwying.
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

Will Kawhi Leonard fall into our laps?
- Esteban
  
  Nope.
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
    
    Apparently that Leonard pick may be for the Spurs.
    
    Tony Parker to Indy?
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
      
      Scratch that, George Hill.
      
      Hill for Leonard: SAS win.
- Ivan
  
  You could of just been quiet about it you know.
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
    
    Yes, I jinxed it.
    
    Sincerely,
    Idiots
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

(crosses fingers)

No Marshon, Big man, Big Man, no Marshon, big man, big man, no Marshon, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand… STOP!
- Greg
  
  Stop on a Whammy!
- Pat D
  
  You’re just setting yourself up…
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
    
    It’s not a big man, but it’s a big guard. Very quality.
    - Pat D
      
      Well, I’m still posting this because frankly I can’t resist:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpu2W9QHAK8
      - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        One of the great game shows of our lifetime.
        
        Pat D
        
        RIP Peter Tomarken.
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

Side-note: The NBA really needs to change the draft in the new CBA to end the “picking for some other team” nonsense.

Make the Pacers actually trade the pick to San Antonio first. The trade announcement before the pick is one of the best moments of the NFL draft. The NBA way is confusing and a bigger buzzkill than Buzz Killington.
- Pat D
  
  I agree. I blame Stern.
- http://twitter.com/SteveH_MandAura Steve H
  
  Agreed. I remember missing the draft one year, getting home and seeing that the Celtics had drafted Dahntay Jones and Troy Bell. I was pissed. Of course the whole time they had already been traded.
  - Pat D
    
    The worst example of that was when Antawn Jamison and Vince Carter were drafted right after each other, Jamison by Toronto and Carter by Golden State. They made them come back out onto the stage and trade caps.
    
    The whole time the announcers were just yucking it up how they’d been college teammates and now traded for each other. Douchenozzles.
Esteban

Preemptively boos
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

Shumpert? I can totally live with a 6’6″ guard who can defend and slash.

Two thumbs up. I wanted a big, but at least we got a servicable guard with upside. Daddy likes.
- http://twitter.com/SteveH_MandAura Steve H
  
  Can defend? That shit’ll get him benched in D’antoni’s system.
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
    
    D’Antoni’s about to get benched himself.
    - Pat D
      
      Yea, I think he’ll be fired during the year.
      
      By the way, if they bring back Isaiah, I may have to go kill Dolan. Wanna help?
    - http://twitter.com/SteveH_MandAura Steve H
      
      I want D’Antoni coaching in the NBA, as long as he’s not coaching my team. He’s Paul Westhead II.
      - Ivan
        
        Or Donny Nelson.
      - Pat D
        
        Loyola Marymount FTW!!!
        
        RIP Hank.
        
        http://twitter.com/SteveH_MandAura Steve H
        
        Did you see the 30 for 30? Pretty awesome.
        
        Pat D
        
        Yea, I watched it. I was only 9 at the time of the incident, but it’s one of the first times I for which I have memories of college basketball, so I remembered the story.
- Ivan
  
  I like the pick. In this league, you need swingmen who can guard the Kobe’s, Wade’s, Rose’s, and Westbrook’s of the world.
  
  Not to mention the growth to become good on offense. I like.
  - Esteban
    
    Is he taking Landry’s minutes?
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
      
      He’s probably taking Toney Douglas’s minutes (or replacing them as Douglas gets traded this summer for… Jonny Flynn?)
      - Pat D
        
        Ewww. I’d rather they trade for Wayne Ellington and remind him he could shoot in college.
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        Flynn’s upside is probably worth Toney Douglas, though.
        
        Pat D
        
        So he’s not past the point of reclamation? Fine, then.
        
        I was just showing my North Carolina vs. Syracuse bias anyway.
        
        Ivan
        
        To be fair to Flynn, he was in the worst possible situation ever. Baqd team, bad coach, franchise wasn’t even committed to him and played with some not so great teammates.
        
        I do think Flynn can be a very good player in the right situation.
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        He’s still got Bobby Jackson/J.J. Barea/Kemba Walker upside, at minimum.
        
        Ivan
        
        He still need to improve his shooting. Nevertheless he does have alot ability if put in the right circumstance, especially with a good coach.
    - JohnnyC
      
      Technically he’s a point guard. He’s going to take some minutes away from Toney Douglas unless they trade Billups.
http://twitter.com/Carlosologist_7 Carlosologist

Knicks took Shumpert. Anybody have anything on him? Kind of at a loss here.
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
  
  6’6″, 220 guard who’s an NBA caliber defender out of the box. Bad shooter, tons of athleticism.
JohnnyC

Maybe a trade? Pick for someone else?
Esteban

I think I would have preferred a big man. Oh well, what the fuck do I know?
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
  
  I would have preferred a big man too, but most of the big men who did what we want (bang, rebound, shotblock) left the board before us.
  
  If not Markeiff, Biyombo, or Vucevic, who? Tyler’s too raw; Faried is too small. Shumpert is a better value than either of those flawed bigs.
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

http://twitter.com/rkref/status/84067239984246784

+1
- Esteban
  
  LOL.
- Pat D
  
  He probably will.
- http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
  
  Isn’t it something of an unwritten rule for us regulars that there’s no partisan politics?
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
    
    I’m not taking shots at a legit political figure or partisan position, I’m goofing on a puppethead.
  - Ubu
    
    Nope, tsjc isn’t clever enough without taking cheap shots at the Right. See, there is no one pathetic, hateful or stupid that does political commentary on any other network… and is not a recognized fair game- i.e. those “evil right-wingers”
    
    Always like to reissue the challenge oh mighty Upside Elder? Still waiting to see any of your hilarious wit against those of the political Left. There is an absolute gusher of pathetic bigots, liars and general losers to pick on MSNBC, CNN, endless left-wing sites, left wing celebrities.
    
    But that would actually take some courage and actual wit to find satire and humor coming from your political side of the aisle. Oh, I know, TSJC the Left just doesn’t do anything worth ridiculing, yep… still waiting for you to provide some actual proof that your not just some Lefty troll who takes the Daily Show or HuffPo as their main news source.
    - http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
      
      You sounded even more biased than you made TSJC out to be with that dumb-ass comment.
http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder

Ooh, the T’Wolves got Motejunas, a/k/a “The rich man’s Nikoloz Tskitishvili”.
- Greg
  
  Rumors are they are trading him to the Rockets for somebody
  - Greg
    
    WOlves trade Jonny Flynn and Motiejunas to the Rockets for #23 and Brad Miller.
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
      
      And a pick.
      http://twitter.com/#!/chadfordinsider/status/84072426232758273
      
      Miller, whomever they get at #23, and a future pick >>>>>>>> Flynn and Motejunas
      - Greg
        
        Wolves have just traded #23 to the Bulls for 28, 43 and cash.
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        I like it. There will be a good player there at #43.
  - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
    
    Makes sense, Houston loves foreign bigs and their entire roster is for sale anyway.
http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.

Season Team WAR Dollars Salary
2002 Yankees 7.0 $18.1 $10.4
2003 Yankees 5.0 $14.1 $11.4
2004 Yankees 0.1 $0.2 $12.4
2005 Yankees 4.3 $14.6 $13.4
2006 Yankees 2.9 $10.8 $20.4
2007 Yankees 0.5 $2.1 $23.4
2008 Yankees 2.1 $9.3 $23.4

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=818&position=1B/DH#value

Yanks got killed on Giambi’s contract. George looked smart for the first two years, but after that they got crushed.
- http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
  
  1st 2 years-$32.2 dollars/21.8 salary
  
  Next 5 years-$37.0 dollars/93.0 salary
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
  
  His body broke down. 677 PA per season during his prime (last dour years in OAK, first two in NYY), 462 PA per season in the last 5 years of the Yankee deal.
  
  Can’t earn that salary from the trainer’s room.
  - Pat D
    
    Did they ever figure out what caused that stomach ailment? Steroids are not an acceptable answer.
    - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
      
      Half the team got sick when they went to Japan, Giambi just didn’t get better. Giambi wasn’t exactly known to get a good night’s sleep, so between that and the roids I think that explains it.
  - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
    
    No doubt, but anyone who ever saw his zit-covered back in that very same trainer’s room knew why he was breaking down. The Yanks had to know as well, but chose to give him 7 years.
    
    BTW-By all accounts, that was a George deal. Brian wanted to bring Tino back for 1 year, then work in Nick Johnson. Not that Nick Johnson ever had Giambi’s career, but that signing forced Cash to deal Nick for a pitcher, who turned out to be Javy Vazquez. A cascade of bad moves off the Giambi deal. Maybe they (George) should have just let Brian do his job.
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
      
      Oh, sure. There’s the steroids explanation, and there’s also the fact that we were only paying for two years of his prime and 5 years of his decline.
      
      Steroids or no, players tend to get injured more from 33-37 than from 27-32.
      - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
        
        Which is one of the reasons why Cash started paying more attention to the draft/IFAs. What you laid out is the nature of free agency. Teams that develop players usually get their best years, especially when it comes to pitchers.
  - http://twitter.com/SteveH_MandAura Steve H
    
    Can’t earn that salary from the trainer’s room.
    
    Unless your trainer is Greg Anderson.
  - CP
    
    It’s not even a general breakdown. He had two bad and injury plagued seasons.
    
    Other than ’04 and ’07 he basically lived up to his contract – underpaid early and overpaid later.
Greg

Thunder take reggie Jackson from BC. Most people thought he would go to the Nets
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
  
  Solid pick. Glad they didn’t do that “Kyle Singler fits what we do” silliness.
- http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
  
  Mr. October can do it all
Rainbow Connection

So…it’s a Lance Berkman ass-licking contest on MLBN, huh?
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
  
  Have you ever licked puma ass? It’s quite tasty.
Pat D

Blazers take Nolan Smith at 21. Isn’t that a reach?
- http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
  
  He wasn’t supposed to go until the second round, so yes.
Greg

Nets have traded with the Celtics
- Greg
  
  Nets moved up to take Brooks. Celtics get the Nets pick and future seond rdr.
Pat D

So Oswalt was force to leave his start with back stiffness and the Phillies had Lee pinch hit for him? Habba wha?
Mister Delaware

I don’t watch the NBA, don’t really care at all, yet I always watch the draft. Why?
Greg

The Timberwolves are playing Chess with the draft picks. The pick that Chicago just made for them is being traded to the Heat.
- Greg
  
  and the Heat pick that they got in return was just sold to the Nets for cash.
Alfredo

anyone know why Jesus Montero did not play in tonights game?
- Pat D
  
  He didn’t take his 5 Hour Energy.
- http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7
  
  see: DOTF
Greg

Knicks just got Josh Harrelson from the Hornets
- Pat D
  
  Problem for me with him, other than I hate Kentucky, is that he has the “big, dumb white guy” profile.