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Furthermore ...
While I'm on the subject of baseball, there is probably no bigger surprise, to me at least, than the season-long success of the Tampa Bay Rays. Since getting the "Devil" out of their name, they have played like the Angels, baseball's best team.
The Rays -- sounds like a rock group from the Fifties -- have great young pitching and excellent hitting. Their roster is full of names that the casual baseball fan wouldn't recognize. Names like Evan Longoria, Matt Garza, Edwin Jackson, Carlos Pena and James Shields.
And who can name their manager? His name starts with Joe. No, it's not Joe Torre. No, it's not Joe Girardi. It's not Joe Giroux, Joe Proctor or Joe Staves. It's Joe Maddon. Surprised?
Another surprise of the 2008 season is that the Steinbrenners, take your pick, George or Hank or any other, haven't had a knee-jerk reaction and canned Brian Cashman, the Yankees' general manager. The general manager is basically the wheeler-dealer and mover-and-shaker of a baseball team, and he is the one who has shaped the roster the Yankees now have.
It's the highest-salaried team in baseball, yet their #3 starter is Sidney Ponson, who they grabbed off the scrap heap. Their fourth and fifth starters in the rotation have changed from week to week.
And, furthermore, all the Joba Rules in baseball didn't stop Joba Chamberlain from getting a sore arm. All the months of counting pitches and counting days of rest and all the headlines about "Joba Rules" didn't prevent the "future Hall of Famer" from going on the disabled list.
Isn't it amazing how guys like Robin Roberts and Warren Spahn pitched over 20 complete games a year and never complained about a sore arm? Nobody knew from game to game what Spahn's pitch count was. It didn't matter. There was no pitching coach in the dugout with a ticker snitching to the manager that Spahnie was up to 140 pitches.
Furthermore ... have you noticed how the slugging numbers are down from the past many years? As of this writing, Carlos Quentin, another nice surprise in 2008, of the White Sox leads the majors with 34 home runs. He may finish with 40+ home runs, a far cry from the list of guys who were hitting 50 and 60 home runs over the past decade. I wonder why!
Finally, although I could see it coming, I am surprised and disappointed at the death of the radio/tv talk show "Mike and the Mad Dog." For 19 years they entertained sports fans with their chatter. They knew how to stir things up and they didn't always agree. I was a Johnny-come-lately to the show. But it became a part of my afternoon, especially during times when things in the Yankee camp were in turmoil.
The final weeks of the season will be interesting. A lot of prizes are up for grabs. Only a few teams are sure-things for post-season play. I'm sure the Yankees will find a way to make post-season play. After all, they have A-Rod and now I-Rod and Captain Jeter and Andy and Moose and, of course, the greatest relief pitcher in the history of baseball, Mariano Rivera.
It doesn't matter that the average age of these stars is 36 years. Or that the baseball season is long and grueling. They would have to cancel post-season play if the Yankees fall short.
You can bet they will be there in October. Or I'm not a 25-year-old blogger for the Press-Republican.
Comments
Foxy; As I sit at home in the middle of tropical storm Fay ! I must admit my Yankees may not make the playoffs this year! I will not discuss all the injuries, because good teams overcome these setbacks! I do agree that Tampa Bay Rays is a good story and if they can survive the September schedule; 3 games at Yankee Stadium and 9 road games against Bluejays, Redsox and Yankees and Twins at home and ending on the road with the Orioles. For Tampa Bay Fans Manager Joe Maddon, who hails from Hazelton, Pa, made history last Sunday night against the Rangers. Joe decided to walk Josh Hamilton with the bases loaded and bringing the potential winning run to the plate. The last American Leaguer given an intentional walk with the bases loaded was, You Remember? Napoleon Lajoie of the Philadephia Athletics on May 23 , 1901. On 3 occasions it happened in the National League - Bonds,1998, Bill Nicholson, Cubs,1944 and Del Bissonette, Dodgers in 1928. In each case, the team issuing the walk won the game.
In closing I think key injuries to the Rays Crawford, Longoria and Troy Percival will also be obstacles the team must overcome to complete a remarkable season. This Yankee fan tips his cap to the Rays,Twins and Red Sox Fans! You're the best This Year!
How about local young man Rick Ankiel of St. Louis Cardinals from a pitcher to the outfield - great feel good story of dedication and hard work overcoming injuries and major obstacles.
Posted by: Lenny Smallacombe | August 19, 2008 3:12 PM
The team from the bronx in my book are now known as the New York Yankees once again. The AL team in Florida is now known as the $%#@!* Rays.
The 52 inch split screen now has half Sox and half Rays instead of the Sox and Yanks.
Posted by: Rick K | August 19, 2008 10:04 AM
Foxy, you forgot one Ray (for us who are follically challenged) Rocco BALDelli. Yanks would be in better shape if Wang wasn't forced to run in the behind the times Senior Circuit!! Mad Dog will be fine once XM/Sirius $$$$ come rolling in a la Howard Stern. Don't know if I could take Francessa for the whole 5 or so hours solo.......Colin Cowherd on ESPN radio gets my vote for best show.
Posted by: Ross | August 19, 2008 9:59 AM
Me & Woody will be on the 3rd baseline a week from Saturday watching the Rays vs. Orioles @ Tropicana Field. Maybe, just maybe Longoria will be on 3rd - he says his wrist is better & may be back by the 1st. I can't wait - to eat some dogs and drink a beer or a Coke & yell for the Rays. But hey Foxy, I don't know about the Yankees making it into October - sorry Lenny. Sidney Ponson? Was I & all of Baltimore relieved when the Orioles canned him or what? I say, look for the Cubs to win the Series. We'll see ...
Posted by: Miney Rowlson | August 19, 2008 7:18 AM
What surprised me about the Rays is how fast they developed a rivalry with the Sox that is almost as contentious and entertaining as that between the Sox and the Yankees. The rivalry seems to have increased with the name change.
I got a Dollar that says it will be Girardi not Cashman that gets cannedl if the Yankees don’t make post season. It seems they rarely blame the G.M it’s always the coach’s fault.
JOBA! I think Joba wore his arm out throwing at the heads of batters he can’t beat or is afraid of, He’s a BUM!
Mike and the Mad Dog are gone? Woo! Hoo! Two fewer blow hard Yankee fans blathering on endlessly. You could almost see the Steinbrenner’s hands up their backsides running their mouths like puppets, you just made my day.
Fewer steroid enhanced bums fewer home runs.
There my two cents, Keep the Change.
Nuff Said!
Posted by: LaPoint | August 19, 2008 2:25 AM