First Time Ever: Mets, Yankees Meeting In New Stadium

The first Subway Series in 2009 kicks off in the Bronx this weekend. The Mets will have a chance to prove that the new Yankee stadium IS definitely major league baseball's premier homerun paradise.

So far in 2009, 105 homers have been hit in 29 games in the Yankees new ballpark. If the pace continues almost 300 homers will be hit over the regular season, more than 140 homers more than were hit in the old stadium last year. The record number of homers in a season, 303, was set in the Colorado Rockies Coors Field in 1999.

Back in Queens only 47 homers have been hit, a rate that would lead to season total of 136.

The Mets have been homerun challenged at home in 2009 with just 21 hit. They rank 28th in the majors with a total of 37, only Pittsburgh (33) and San Francisco (31) have less.

The Subway Series will certainly have the fans and players on the edge of their seat but its the Yankees front office who will be biting their nails as they wait for the attendance figures. The Yankees have failed to sell-out any of their home games in the new bandbox.

Joba Chamberlain (3-1) starts Friday night for the Yankees against Livan Hernandez (5-1), Andy Pettitte (6-2) goes Saturday against John Maine (5-4) and A.J. Burnett (4-3) follows Sunday against Johan Santana (8-3).

The Subway Series will be especially important to the Mets as they struggle with baserunning blunders, untimely hitting and shabby defense. A sweep by the Yankees could land the Mets 4 games out of first with the Braves and Marlins on their tails in the NL East.

Playing at Yankee Stadium may give the Mets a chance to see what it's like to hit homeruns, like their division rivals - the Philadelphia Phillies.

Alex Rodriguez Goes From "A-Fraud" To "A-Roid"

According to a report on the Sports Illustrated website, Alex Rodriguez, the homerun hitting third baseman for the New York Yankees tested positive for anabolic steroids in 2003. That was when baseball granted players immunity while it conducted survey testing with the hope that the number of cheaters would be low and the performance-enhancement problem would go away.

In that report, 104 major leaguers were identified as having tested positive. At the time, the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) guaranteed the players that the results of that "survey" would be kept confidential with no chance of it ever being released to the public.

This is more bad press for Alex following the assertion in Joe Torre's book "The Yankee Years" that his Yankee teammates nicknamed him "A-Fraud" and that he had a "single-white female"-like obsession with Derek Jeter.

Rodriguez reportedly tested positive for Primobolan and testosterone while playing for the Texas Rangers, but does really matter where it was, or when or for how long? Unless he or baseball, or both, can effectively counter another damaging blow, Rodriguez takes his place in the ever-expanding enhancement holding pen, a shadow cast across his career

No word yet from A-Roid or his agent, Scott Boras, in regard to the SI report.
It will be interesting to see what stance A-Roid will take on the matter. Will he come clean like Jason Giambi and Andy Pettitt or will he go the way ala Mark McGwire and Roger Clemens and deny, deny, deny.

It's obvious that steroids in Major League Baseballwill not go away!

Despite all-things-A-Roid, the Yankees are contractually obligated to Alex Rodriguez until 2018 and will have to put up with the distraction.

I wonder what Madona thinks about all of this?

source:nytimes.com

Minnesota Twins Owner Dies At 93

Carl Pohlad, a billionaire banker whose Minnesota Twins won two World Series died yesterday, January 5, 2009. Mr. Pohlad bought the Twins in 1984 and is credited with keeping baseball alive in Minnesota.
Back in 1984, Pohlad bought the Twins franchise from Calvin Griffith for $38 million. Back in the 80s Pohlad inherited a promising group of baseball greats including Kent Hrbek, Gary Gaetti and the late Hall-of-Famer Kirby Puckett.
Minnesota won the World Series championships in 1987 against the St. Louis Cardinals and in 1991 against the Atlanta Braves.
Over the last 22 years, the Minnesota Twins have had two different managers, three GMS and two presidents. The reason for this is Carl Pohlad hallmarks were loyalty and stability.
Nothing drastic will change with the Twins. They are lead by their president Dave St. Peter and Senior V.P. and General Manager Bill Smith. The Twins will be managed again by Ron Gardenhire.

Team USA Doing It Wright For 2009 World Baseball Classic

The New York Mets All Star Third Baseball, David Wright has committed to the USA baseball squad for the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Wright, wil be the only New York Met playing for the USA in the tournament.
Other Met players are playing in the World Baseball Classic but not for Team USA. First baseman Carlos Delgado and relief pitcher Pedro Filiciano have given their intentions to play for Puerto Rico. Pitcher Johan Santana and newly acquired relief pitcher Francisco Rodriguez have stated they will play for their homeland - Venezuela. Shortstop phenom Jose Reyes would like to play for the Dominican Republic.
The addition of David Wright to Team USA will help to attract the MLB fan base to the tournament. David Wright is a downright good guy and a true American patriot - that's what the fans love about him. He gives 100% all the time and doesn't complain like many other primadonas in Major League Baseball.
Team USA disappointed in the World Baseball Classic in 2007, only making it to the second round. They lost to South Korea and the eventual champion Japan.
This year, the Americans will play their opening-round matches in Toronto, within a pool that includes Canada, Italy and Venezuela. The Double elimination tournament opening round is scheduled for March 5 - March 12.



Round One
There are 4 pools in round one:

Pool A - China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea

Pool B - Australia, Cuba, Mexico, South Africa

Pool C - Canada, Italy, USA, Venezuela

Pool D - Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico


Round Two

Will be be held March 14 - March 19 in a double elimination format

Pool 1 will be played in San Diego, California and consist of:

Pool A Winner

Pool A Runner-Up

Pool B Winner

Pool B Runner-Up



Pool 2 will be played in Miami, Florida and consist of:

Pool C Winner, Pool C Runner-Up, Pool D Winner and Pool D Runner-Up


The Semi Finals

Will be played in Los Angeles on March 21 and March 22 in a single elimination format:

Game 1: Pool 2 Winner vs. Pool 1 Runner Up

Game 2: Pool 1 Winner vs. Pool 2 Runner Up


The World Baseball Classic Finals

Will be played in Los Angeles on March 23. It will be one game

Semi-final 1 Winner vs Semi-final 2 Winner

Manny Ramirez - The San Francisco Treat?

Could Manny Ramirez end up as a San Francisco Giant for the 2009 MLB season? It isn't likely, but never say never.
The Giants front office believe there is no reason not to explore the possibility of Manny Ramirez moving "upstate" to play with the Giants.
The Giants are in a desperate need for a cleanup hitter and Manny fits the bill. Based on his .396 batting average, 17 homeruns and 53 RBIs, he has proven he can carry a National League team to the playoff.
The buzz about Manny to the Giants has risen lately. The Denver Post led the parade by reporting that the Giants were "aggressively pursuing" him. San Francisco's KPIX-TV reported that the team had offered Ramirez a multiyear contract. And SI.com's Jon Heyman wrote that the Giants had "entered the bidding" for Ramirez.
But is it all hype or are the reports true?
Based on the needs of the Giants [they need a offensive infielder desperately] and the price tag [would put them over their payroll limit and might force them to trade another outfielder], a deal isn't likely. And Manny is considered by many to be too much of a defensive liability.
But how does Manny feel about playing in San Francisco? Money talks! Adn the economic times might make him think twice about passing up the possibility. In his heart though, many feel he wants to go back East - close to his roots in Washington Height, NYC.
Regardless of what you hear in the press, expect both New York teams to be in the Manny hunt. The Yankees could maximize his bat by making him the DH and the Mets would certainly welcome his power.
Stay tuned as the Manny saga continues.