As CC Sabathia has nearly singlehandedly pitch the Brewers into the playoff picture, we’ve seen the big lefty rack up the pitch counts. 110, 124, 130, 117. The numbers are gaudy by today’s standards, and as we Yankee fans feel as though we’re entitled to Sabathia’s services next year, many have understandably expressed some concern about the pitch counts. But worry not, says The Hardball Times’ Josh Kalk who, after a rigorous study, determines that Sabathia is a-OK, high pitch counts or not.
I know what’s been missing: A Schilling quote
What did we do this season without a flurry of dumb Curt Schilling quotes? Maybe it’s the reason the Yankees suck. Ah, but that’s what he wants you to think. At least that’s how he comes across in this interview with WEEI radio, via The Big Lead:
People don’t like [New England/Boston] anymore. The euphoria in New York is palpable. The Yankees suck this year, and they’re bitter and mad and they’re making excuses over that. Now they got Tom going down, so New York is excited.
Oh, where do I begin? How about the connection with the “euphoria in New York” and the Yankees sucking. I dunno, Curt, but I have this hunch that the two might not be related. You see, the New York Football Giants faced the Patriots in the Super Bowl last year, and won. So, y’know, maybe it has something to do with that, and not with the Yankees.
As for the making excuses bit, well, I guess it depends on your definition of excuse. If you think we’re looking for reasons why the team failed, yeah, then I guess we’re doing that. In reality, there is no excuse. Unless you consider losing your top two starters an excuse. I suppose if Boston lost Matsuzaka and Lester, they might be singing a different tune up there. Yet it’s not an excuse, because the bulk of the blame lies with the bats.
More on this, of course, as the season winds down. In closing, though: Go to hell, Curt.
The end of an era
While waiting for the Sunday afternoon Yankee affair to begin in Seattle, I flipped on the first game of the Mets-Phillies day-night doubleheader. As I watched that Phillies’ victory unfold, my thoughts landed on the Mets’ starter, not long for the game, and I thought that I could be watching the end of an era.
Pedro Martinez didn’t make it into the fifth inning on Sunday. He threw just four innings and allowed six earned runs on seven hits and a walk. In a very un-Pedro-like fashion, he struck out just one Phillie. That loss would drop Pedro to 5-4 on the season with a 5.44 ERA. In 91 innings, he has allowed 18 home runs while striking out just 68, and he is Pedro in name only.
In two months, Pedro Martinez will be out of a job. His four-year deal with the Mets expires at the end of the season, and after various injuries and surgeries, he will have made around 80 starts for the Mets. For $53 million, they probably expected more.
Now, Pedro will probably get a decent enough contract offer for next year. He’ll be 37 come opening day, and this year’s troubles could be attributed to his rebounding from arm surgery. But no matter what, Pedro is not the Pedro from the days of Who’s Your Daddy? chants. He’s a different pitcher, no longer feared and not nearly as effective as he was while on Boston.
For me, this realization that Pedro is nearing the end is a somber one. In a way, it’s just a part of the changing of the guard in baseball. The kids grow up, they get old and they lose it. Baseball is fleeting; it takes away the skills of the very best after just a few years, and all that’s left are shells of what they once were. Rare are the Jamie Moyer’s, Mike Mussina’s and Mariano Rivera’s, pitchers who have maintained their effectiveness and, in Rivera’s case, dominance well past the usual expiration point.
When Pedro was on the Red Sox, I always wanted the Yankees to face him, and it wasn’t because they somehow managed to find ways to beat him. I wanted to watch Pedro pitch because what he did was an art. Remember September 10, 1999, nine years ago from tomorrow? That was the day the Yanks went 1 for 27 against Pedro, and he struck out 17 hitters. The Yanks scored a run on a Chili Davis home run, and Chuck Knoblauch reached on an HBP only to get caught stealing. It was dominance.
Over the years, Pedro would win some and lose some against the Yankees. But always the games would be fun. He would be cocky on the mound and a joker in the dugout when he wasn’t pitching. Pedro, a member of the hated Red Sox, will always be a part of the years of Yankee dominance. He was the best pitcher in the league during the years when the Yanks were the best in the biz, and he couldn’t do anything about it. But he gave it his all every time out much to my delight.
While Pedro once said that, to the Yankees, he just tips his cap and calls them daddy, I’ll have to tip my cap to Pedro when he finally retires. It was a pleasure watching him do his thing against the Yankees during his heydays on the Red Sox, and I’m sorry to see this era end as Pedro’s flame is seemingly dying in a hurry.
Girardi gets dreaded vote of confidence
“Joe will be back,” said Hank Steinbrenner yesterday. And that can mean only one thing: The Joe Girardi Job Watch is on. Whenever an owner goes out of his way to note that a manager, already under contract, won’t be fired, the storm clouds gather. Girardi hasn’t been the godsend people thought he would be, but the injuries weren’t his fault. He deserves to be back in 2009 and shouldn’t be questioned yet.
Bank of America nearing major Yankee Stadium deal
In the name of tradition, the Yankees have opted to forego selling the naming rights on their new stadium. Sports business analysts suggested that, in light of the Mets’ deal with Citibank, the Yankees could have gotten upwards of $25 million a year for the deal, but baseball tradition was strong with the Steinbrenners. Their home field will remain Yankee Stadium.
But, as I reported in February, the Yankees are going to sell naming rights on everything else in the stadium. We’re working on securing the River Ave. Blues bathroom as I type. (I kid.)
Yesterday, via Maury Brown’s Biz of Baseball, comes word that the Yankees and Bank of America are on the verge of signing a significant sponsorship deal for the new stadium. Terry Lefton, a staff writer for Sports Business Journal, reports:
While numerous sources said an agreement on the Premier Partnership package has been reached, an announcement date had not been set at press time for this story. Terms of the deal could not be confirmed and were difficult to discern. Early this year, the package was being shopped at $20 million a year. Sources familiar with the deal said last week that it was worth more than the New York Mets’ deal with Citibank and Barclays’ deal with the New Jersey Nets’ new home, each of which was said to be for an average of $20 million a year over 20 years and set a new benchmark. But another source said the Yankees’ deal was in the mid-teens per annum…
The deal includes a comprehensive financial relationship between the franchise and Bank of America. It also offers the company a vast array of inventory within the new ballpark, which will open next year, including prime signage in and around the park, large signs on the highways around the stadium, prominent exposure on Gate 4, the stadium’s main entrance, several fixed signs on top of the stadium affording an aerial view, a large sign atop the right-field scoreboard, even bigger signage on the back of the scoreboard that will face a new subway stop, signs on interior gates leading to the field, fixed and LED signs inside the stadium and the stadium bowl, permanent dugout branding and behind-the-plate signage and a logo on all Yankees tickets.
Also included are media on Yankees rights holder YES and flagship radio WCBS radio and access to some of the front-row Legends seats in the new stadium, which the Yankees will price at $500 to $2,500 a seat.
It’s hard to understate the impact the Yankees have on the sports business world. Even as a fourth-place team, they’re commanding more money for this non-naming rights sponsorship deal than any other team could ever dream of getting. In effect, they’re receiving the Marlins’ payroll annually from Bank of America in exchange for signage and sponsorship. Wrap your mind around that one for a second. Perhaps Chris Smith would like to amend his argument claiming the Yankees are just another team.
For the fans, all this means is a Bank of American inundation next year. BoA will have their logos literally all over the stadium. Their ads will be ubiquitous on TV and the radio. But for the money, who’s complaining? This game of baseball is, after all, a business, and this deal will be a record-breaker.
Pavano loses for the first time in 1174 days
Carl Pavano last lost a game three years, two months and 17 days ago. I guess he was bound to lose one at some point. That’s about the only nice — albeit sarcastic — thing I can say about tonight’s embarrassing 12-1 loss in Anaheim. And as I’ve always learned, if it’s 1:15 a.m. and you don’t have anything nice to say, just go to bed. So feel free to vent away, just as Pudge did when he attempted to but failed to egg on Vladimir Guerrero.
SI Yanks drop Game One
Triple-A Scranton begins the quest for the Governor’s Cup tomorrow. Chase Wright will take on some kid named David Price in Game 1 of the best-of-five series against the Durham Bulls. Check out those pitching matchups, that’s as good as it gets. I just wished they’d flip Igawa & Hughes, that way Phil’s guaranteed to make another start (he’d be on regular rest).
Double-A Trenton takes on the Akron Aeros (Indians) tomorrow in a rematch of last year’s Eastern League Championship Series. The Aeros will be without a rehabbing Travis Hafner as well as their ace Scott Lewis. Eric Hacker gets the ball in Game 1.
High-A Tampa’s season is over, they did not qualify for the playoffs. The Daytona Cubs lead the Fort Myers Miracle (Twins) 2-1 in the best-of-five Florida State League Championship Series.
Low-A Charleston’s season is over, they did not qualify for the playoffs. The Augusta Green Jackets (Giants) lead the West Virginia Power (Brewers) 1-0 in the best-of-five South Atlantic League Championship series.
Short Season Staten Island (10-7 loss to Jamestown) Jamestown leads the best-of-three series 1-0 … Jon Albaladejo will start Game 2 tomorrow with Jeremy Bleich likely to relieve him after he gets his work in
Addison Maruszack (17): 4 for 5, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 SB
David Adams (3): 3 for 5, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 E (throwing) – if your 1-2 hitters get on base a combined 7 times and no one drives them in even once, you deserve to lose
Dan Brewer (8): 1 for 5, 2 RBI, 2 K
Mike Lyon (24): 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Braedyn Pruitt: 0 for 5, 1 K
Mitch Abeita (19): 1 for 3, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K – matches his regular season HR total
Jack Rye (13): 0 for 4, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Jahdiel Santamaria: 3 for 4, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 E (throwing)
Ray Kruml (11): 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K
David Phelps (14): 1.1 IP, 5 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1-2 GB/FB – yeah, that’s a bad way to start the series
Cory Arbiso (22): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2-2 GB/FB
Jacinto Gonell: 3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 1-5 GB/FB
Andy Shetrone: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1 HB
Josue Selenes: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 2-0 GB/FB
The Rookie GCL Yanks’ season is over. The GCL Phils won the league championship.