Cano York City

If someone has the answer to how to stop Robinson Cano, please, keep it to yourself.  With A-Rod hitting a cool .250 and Teixeira hitting a whopping .139, a little bit of Robinson never hurts a Yankee fan.  

He hit 2 bolts off left-handed pitchers, proving the whole strategy of bringing in a lefty in to pitch to Cano is just plain silly.  Granderson scalded that ball up the middle the very next AB but the Castillo gloved it.  Garndner laced a double off this Castillo guy as well, so he is definitely not the situational lefty the O's are looking for.

Burnett was dominant on the bump, if he only had that kind of stuff every fifth day.  I mean he is another case (see Jon Lester) of a guy having filthy stuff and getting shelled way too often.  But hey, a series win is a series win, even if it was against the lowly Orioles.

Tampa is the team to beat in the AL East, and they don't look to be slowing down.  They got some real good arms throughout their rotation and a lineup that has some pop, some team speed, and a skipper who just got a hoodie from Bill Belichick.

Headed down to the field, more work to do.  May head down to Somerset to see the little brother play, I don't think he's pitching though.

Later fools.

Target

wife cooked me up some dinner - got home after 10 grueling hours at the baseball field, hands are filthy, gonna have to wash them up before i eat dinner - the things we do for these kids here at MC.  there are still kids who bitch about their playing time, bitch about the stuff they get/don't get - what i don't get is how there was not one kid who was available to come help me recuild the pitcher's mound between 10am and 3pm - that's what i don't get

portabello pizza for dinner - after dinner, gotta head to Target to get some new underwear - i'm fresh out of clean undies and don't really feel like heading to the laundromat to wash them tonight

Today in Sports History

Just because I like to take frequent digs at the Red Sox: 

On April 29, 1997, every California Angels outfielder threw out a Boston Red Sox baserunner in a 5-4 win at Fenway Park.  Those 3 outfielders were:  RF Tim Salmon, LF Garrett Anderson, and CF Orlando Palmeiro.

Spurs-day

The Spurs are looking to close out the Mavericks in 6 games tonight, with a home game at 8:00pm on TNT.  I hate the ever-loving shit out of Mark Cuban - his antics are old, his comments are lame, and his WWE skills are poor.  Timmy and the crew have better shut it down tonight at the SBC Arena, because heading back to Dallas, where they are 1-4 this season, will be a daunting task - #1, DAL will go in having won the last 2 games, and SA has to win a Game 7 on the road, with the Little Troll sitting front row.

Boy, I'd like to see ex-Net Richard Jefferson step-up and score more than 4 points in 32 minutes - that's like .125 points a minute - and that ain't good.  He seems to have taken every other game off in this series -Game 1 - 4 points, Game 2 - 19 points, Game 3 - 6 points, Game 4 - 15 points, Game 5 - 4 points.  Good thing it's an even-#'d game.  I'm saying he lights it up for 18 points tonight.  He needs to play aggressive on the offensive end, Tony Parker said it, and I'm agreeing with him - he seems to know his stuff. 

Now I am not a big fan of the NBA, but I plan on watching this Game 6 tonight, and wearing my Silver and Black (helps being a Raiders fan).

Spurs in 6 on Spurs-day.

bus ride home

first of all, there is nothing i dislike more than riding on a bus. not quite sure why, i always get headaches. we just finished a 3 hour 45 minute game in gale force winds against Albany. we won big, 17-6. this mobile blogging isnt helping my headache any, but i just realized i haven't posted all day. sorry for the short entry I'm about to produce.

we pounded out 17 hits i think. it was a good day to hit. we pitched pretty well too. 1 run scored on a passed ball. 1 on a wild pitch. 1 scored when the cather forgot to backup first on a double play - throw got away from the first baseman and normally the catcher is hustling up the line to back up in case of a bad throw - our catcher had a brain fart and didn't. he did hit a 2-run HR but that still doesn't excuse a mental lapse. the easiest thing to do in sport is hustle. it literally takes NO talent to hustle but kids forget. oh well. my eyes are starting to hurt. we'll be on this damn bus for another hour and a half, so I'm gonna throw the earbuds in and listen to some tunes.

adios compadres.

Baltimore Orioles

I'm a Yankee fan through and through, but I cannot stand watching them lose to cellar-dwelling teams.  I realize that all 30 MLB teams are professional teams, but I mean the Orioles?  They just tried like hell to give the Yankees that game.  "OK, guys. We've won two games in a row. If we win tonight, its called a winning streak. IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE."

I mean as bad as their record was going into tonight (3-16), let's take a look inside the record.  Let's review:

• They are hitting .244 (20th) as a team, 4 points better than the NL West-leading SD Padres.
• Their Starting Rotation is a paltry 2-10 with a 4.75 ERA
• Their Pitching Staff has 1 less strikeout (132) than the Phillies (133) and 4 more than the Yankees (128)
• Only 7 teams have allowed fewer walks as a Pitching Staff

Meaningful Offensive Statistical Category Ranks: 
OB% - .304 - CWS (.303) & HOU (.281) have lower
R - 62 - HOU (60) is only team that has fewer
RBI - 59 - HOU (58) is only team that has fewer

Can't get guys on, can't get em in.  That's a pretty simple equation for failure.

They just beat the Yankees though, so they got themselves a win streak.

What's For Dinner? Ravioli and Baseball?

I will discuss my hunger pangs and baseball all in one entry - the thoughts that go through my mind about food will be in a RED font, baseball will be in the BLUE.  I wonder if this is why I can't focus.

Have you ever caught yourself stuffing your face right before you were ready to start cooking dinner?  Like it's so damn hard to wait another 30 minutes before eating?  Well, sometimes, it is.  Hughes, figure it out - bases loaded and a 2-0 count.  I stuffed my face with White Cheddar Cheese Puffs.  Bases loaded walk? Shit.  Man those puffs are good to go man, I can eat a bag of those suckers in one sitting - EASY!  Let me go start the water boiling.  Big double play, A-Rod going to his left - nice turn.  Water is boiling, ravioli will be taking a bath in about 15 minutes - I know it's pretty late to be eating.  My wife is taking graduate classes to get her professional diploma in counseling and practice was over at around 6:20pm so I got a late start - then I had to take Nathan out to do his business - and yes, I bag the crap and throw it away.  Unlike most people here - there are shit landmines all over the place - grass, sidewalk, curb, street - it's a battle zone here.  Man vs. Dog.  SWISHERR!!!  Man am I hungry - I can't even focus up right now to write this - BASE HIT SWISHER! - entry, but I will try to get it together for all 3 readers I have. 

Good for the Yankees, signing autographs for the troops before the game, giving bug hugs - Cervelli was hugging all the soldiers - THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR COUNTRY!!  Millwood has some pretty good run on his fastball.  Let me go check the water, see if it's boiling - a watch pot never boils, which is crap, because it has to, once the temperature gets to 212°.  Way outside - whoa, almost let it get to the backstop.  Gotta go check the ravioli - may top it with a la Vodka sauce - mix it up a little bit.  Let's go A-Rod, get a hit.  LET'S GOOOOOO!!!

I am heading to finish getting dinner ready.  Ravioli and Yankees Baseball.  This is some battle, pissed on, Tejada made the catch.  Bye!

Head Automatica

Was at this show at The Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn - still patiently waiting for the new album to come out.  Check out Heat, great song. Head Automatica - Heat.

Smokin' On That Cancer Stick

Today I was walking to work from my apartment and saw something I see a majority of mornings - the same 40-to-50-something woman, with half a cigarette left, 2 steps from the door to her building, feverishly trying to suck in as many carcinogens as she can before she walks through the door.  Now why not just put the damn thing out and wait another 30 minutes before you take your first of 10 smoke breaks throughout the day?  I mean it's not like a fresh cigarette is really fresh, is it?
Nothing freshens my day (read: chaps my ass) more than having a co-worker come up to me with the smell of fresh cigarettes on their breath - especially if they're a close-talker.  What's a person to do when faced with such a situation?  Hold your breath?  Have a long exhale?  Look away and act busy?  How about just coming out and saying, "Still smoking I see.  Have some gum!"  Maybe they'll get the hint for the next time they come flapping their smoke-hole in your face.

Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds, so you can gladly give everyone else around you cancer while trying like hell to get it first.  Stay upwind of a smoker, otherwise you'll smoke that same cigarette unwillingly, unless you're a fast walker such as myself.  I pride myself being an above-average walker - this comes in handy when I need to pass a smoker on the street.  The pace of my strides is comparable to the rate at which this woman was trying to inhale her cancer.

Here's 3 quick facts, totally random, about smoking:

1. Each day, over 3,000 children smoke their first cigarette
2. Every :30 seconds, someone in the world dies of lung cancer
3. 19.8% of all American's smoke - if it ain't you, it's probably one of the next 4 people you'll see

Eat well, and for the sake of those around you, mix in some gum after a smoke.

Today in Sports History

Coors Field opened it's gates 15 years ago today, and the fans watched the Rockies beat the Mets 11-9 in 14 innings.  Dante Bichette hit a walk-off HR off LHP Mike Remlinger with 2 on, 1 out. 

Side Note:  Yankees skipper Joe Girardi went a cool 4-7 with 4 runs scored

Food Network

Whenever I find myself watching the Food Network (which is quite often), I am always inspired to cook.  Take today for example.  I was watching Guy's Big Bite - he was making short ribs and used a Dutch Oven (insert lame one-liner here) and I went out to Bed Bath & Beyond and was looking to buy a Dutch Oven.  Am I sick?  I may have been distracted by the way the short ribs looked or by Guy's bright white hair, but I really thought I needed this Dutch Oven.

I am constantly looking for recipes, but since my schedule is hectic and there is no real prep time for dinner, I tend to stick to the easy recipes, and then put my own spin on them.  Tonight is Taco Night, I know, it's not yet Taco Tuesday, but I'm still making them.  I'm a big sauce/condiment/topping fan, so I am always looking for different ideas.  Today I just went with my gut - cilantro, baby spinach, lime zest, lime juice - smells good, and looks pretty good.  I wasn't so ambitious with the salsa, I bought a jar of Green Mountain Gringo. 

Dinner Time.

OK back - dinner was pretty good as far as tacos go.  Watching Jeopardy, got one whole category correct - Inside The Actors Studio, where James Lipton read the clues.  Gonna go spend some time with the wife and dog - I'm sure there'll be another post about something that catches my attention.

Wheel of Fortune is almost on, that's Lindsay's favorite show.  If anyone has any in's to get on the Wheel, let me know.

1st Song of the Day

Just like I do every morning, I put my iPod on the portable player, turned it on, clicked Songs, hit shuffle and on came:  Plush by Stone Temple Pilots.  Truth be told, this was one of my favorite bands growing up out in Long Island.  Scott Weiland, Robert and Dean DeLeo, and Eric Kretz formed one of the best rock bands of the early-to-late 1990's.  This album, Core, went 8x platinum, believe it or not. BELIEVE IT!

Scott Weiland had that distinct voice that allowed you to know it was him by just tuning in to the radio or popping in the good old Mix CD - after his initial STP days he fronted the band Velvet Revolver and has also embarked on a solo career.

STP is coming out with a new full-length release on May 25th, self-titled Stone Temple Pilots.  I mean had I been a religious fan, I'd be stoked for this, but instead I am rather intrigued to see how they have evolved over the years - like a fine wine or like stale chips?  I will give a fair shake and maybe review it here for you - whoever you are!

Headed to work in a few minutes, then to get my wife at the Newark Airport.  Gotta get some sushi before I head to the airport, pretty sure she'll be starving when she lands.

WHAT'S THE FIRST SONG YOU LISTENED TO TODAY?

Yanks Go Yard

Thanks to my man Andy C over at Yanks Go Yard - nice enough to give me a link on his blog. 

As for the NY Yankees, Javier Vazquez stunk the joint up again today, ERA actually went up to a 9.00.  That's a run an inning for your baseball-illiterates.

Happy 30th Post-It Notes!

Happy 30th Birthday Post-It Notes!

Movie with Post-It Notes:  Memento.

Stat of the Day

Javier Vazquez (2,016) trails Randy Johnson (2,182) in total Strikeouts since 2000.

Sunday Funday

Yesterday was a big day in sports - lot of action on the baseball diamond, the hardwood, the draft room, and the rink.  It's still early to get a read on the baseball season but things are starting to take shape.  I did catch myself watching the NBA last night, a little weird, but the Thunder wooped up on the Lakers to even the series at 2-2 - it was good to watch.  The NFL Draft hogged up all the ESPN airtime the past few days, so thank goodness that's over - no need to televise the 3rd through 7th rounds.  On the ice, an overtime goal by Pascal Dupuis moved the Penguins to the next round, where they'll face the Capitals/Canadiens winner.

Today, there is also plenty going on - minus the NFL Draft - Thank God!  I am gonna stick with America's Pasttime today

Just going over the days pitching matchups and there really isn't a good duel in the making.  I'm sure by the end of the day there will be a game worth watching.  The one that sticks out is the Braves vs. Mets game - Tommy Hanson vs. Mike Pelfrey - two young guns having good years.  Pelfrey hasn't given up a run in his last 19 innings - that's one way to keep Los Mets in the game.  I am certain he won't get to the 59 inning scoreless streak Orel Hershiser put up in the 1988-1989 seasons - and that's not including the 1988 postseason.  ESPN has that game tonight on Sunday Night Baseball - I'll tune in to that one. 

The Yankees play at 3:35pm out in Anaheim, trying to win their 6th straight series to start the season.  Vazquez is on the hill looking to get that ERA down below 8.00 on the year.  Yanks got a great pitching performance from Andy Pettitte yesterday - 8 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K - beat the Halos 7-1.

Matchups/Predictions for the rest of the MLB today:
BAL vs. BOS: Hernandez vs. Wakefield - Wakefield is like 50, still knuckleballing the Sox to W's LOSS. If Yankees lose, I can care less about this pick.
TOR vs. TB: Morrow vs. Price - Rays stay hot, Price K's 10 WIN. (Price had 9 K's)
SEA vs. CWS: Vargas vs. Danks - Sox win a low scoring game WIN. 3-2 CWS, DANKS-you
MIN vs. KC: Slowey vs. Bannister - Twinkies are hot, Mauer/Morneau dominate LOSS. No Mauer Power
DET vs. TEX: Porcello vs. Lewis - I got a hunch with this Colby Lewis guy WIN. Lewis 6.1 IP, 10 K
NYY vs. LAA: Vazquez vs. Kazmir - Kazmir got lit up @ Stadium when I went, chalk up another L LOSS. Vazquez got torched.
CLE vs. OAK: Masterson vs. Gonzalez - Gonzalez has a dirty breaker, A's win WIN. Shutout City.

SD vs. CIN: Richard vs. Bailey - Saw Bailey pitch in Philly 2 years ago, he stunk, Go Padres! LOSS. Boo!
LAD vs. WSH: Billingsly vs. Olsen - Dodgers roll LOSS. 1-0? Seriously, Olsen's ERA was 11.74!
PIT vs. HOU: Morton vs. Myers - Who cares? I've heard of Brett Myers, Astros win WIN. Buc's Suck.
CHC vs. MIL: Wells vs. Bush - Brewers 2-0 on Sundays so far, make it 3-0 LOSS. 12-2 thrashing
STL vs SF: Penny vs. Cain - Matt Cain is able - Giants keep Redbirds down LOSS. Cain did his job. The offense didn't show up.
PHI vs. ARI: Kendrick vs. Lopez - Kendrick 8 shutout vs. ATL last start, he'll get another W LOSS. Phillies bullpen woes continue.
FLA vs. COL: Volstad vs. De La Rosa - Thank you 1993 expansion; Volstad has nasty stuff, Fish win! LOSS. Volstad didn't have anything remembling nasty stuff - he outing was nasty!
ATL vs. NYM: Hanson vs. Pelfrey - Scoreless streak ends, Braves tomahawk chop Los Mets LOSS. Rain-shortened 1-0 Mets win, Pelfrey's scoreless streak still alive, who woulda thunk it?

That's my time for now, I will check back in later and let you know my record - this will be an ongoing thing throughout the 2010 MLB season.  Let's hope I get off to a good start.  Time for breakfast.

PLAY BALL!

Bears, Mayors, Scraps, & Bones

Just purchased the new Cancer Bats album off of iTunes - one of my vices, very aggressive, it's mood music.  iTunes download didn't work - skipped my download of three tracks, so I emailed them and they got them to me right away.  The internet is something else, I tell you what.  The guy wrote me back and said "I have placed the three missing tracks onto your account" - what the $#!&?  Rocking out!

- Track List -

01. Sleep This Away ( 3:20)

02. Trust No One ( 2:43)

03. Dead Wrong ( 2:40)

04. Doomed To Fail ( 3:15)

05. Black Metal Bicycle ( 3:31)

06. We Are The Undead ( 2:53)

07. Scared To Death ( 3:22)

08. Darkness Lives ( 3:41)

09. Snake Mountain ( 2:48)

10. Make Amends ( 3:04)

11. Fake Gold ( 2:52)

12. Drive This Stake ( 2:41)

13. Raised Right ( 4:46)

14. Sabotage ( 3:00)

Six Minute Saturday

Just took Nathan for a walk.  Went to see the men's lacrosse game, first quarter.  He me a nice black lab named Max.  Did they ever hit it off.  It was a real hot one out there on the blacktop so he kept needing some sips at the water fountain.

Not sure what to do the rest of the day - practice went well, 9-12, pitcher's looked very confident, located their pitches, pitched well.  4-3 we won/we lost - intrasquad. 

Trying to find some baseball on the TV, not sure if there are any games airing on the DirecTV - oops, here's the Mets game - playing the Braves - no score.  One site I can't stop looking at, it's like a college baseball heaven site is http://www.d1baseball.com/ - been hooked for years.

Weather forecast in Birmingham goes a little something like this:  Thunderstorms, Strong Winds, Rain, clear for an hour, Scattered T-Storms.  Kind of glad we are still in NY, although it's supposed to be pretty nasty here tomorrow - oh well, beats the hell out of getting scooped up by a tornado.  I'm into the Storm Chaser shows, but I ain't ready to be a part of one.

Game's on.  Take care.

Five Minute Friday

Threats of tornadoes and rain and just overall crappy weather cancelled our trip down South.  My wife went down to Myrtle Beach SC to see her sister.  It's just me and the pup, Nathan -

he is a pretty cool dog, a Dachshund.  I just ordered a mini pizza with artichokes, peppers, mushrooms, and prociutto - and a celery, fennel, mozzeralla, and prociutto salad - Nonno Tony's.  Nathan is chewing up some cow's ear, just hanging out.  Sorry this is one big paragraph, it ain't like anyone is reading this blog, but I will keep on plugging.  Maybe it'll get to one person, one day.  They say idle hands make waste, so I figure if I can make someone laugh or curse me based on my posts, so be it.  My time is up.  I'm not much of a quick typist today it seems.  Ciao!!  Food's here!

Sweet Road Alabama

Welp, tomorrow we head down to Alabama - Birmingham to be exact.  Although I'm not really sure what Birmingham is all about, I know we're there to play baseball and I know the forecast looks a lot like rain and thunderstorms.

Just scoured the internet to try to dig up some information on Birmingham, and here's a 6-pack of facts:

1 - Birmingham occupies Jones Valley - all the way in the foothills of the Appalachian Trail - so I guess I could trek down there if I wanted to
2 - It is almost like the Pittsburgh of the South - the steel industry played a big role in the local economy - not so much the case anymore - HealthSouth is headquartered here now
3 - The tallest building is the Wachovia Tower - at just over 450' tall - I'm sure the skyline is comparable to the bright lights on NYC

Birmingham

NYC

4 - 230,000 people call Birmingham home, just short of the 8.2 million in NYC

5 - The University of Alabama Birmingham Blazers athletics programs are the most popular sports in the area - they're kind of like the Yankees organization, if it was located in Birmingham.  The Birmingham Barons are the AA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.  Ozzie Guillen may wind up here if his son keeps mouthing off via Twitter.

6 - Birmingham's finest, Sir Charles, once quoted as saying, "This is my schedule: I wake up in the morning, decide where to play golf and drink beer all day."  I cannot think of a more American American.

See you in Birmingham y'all.

Dog Sniffing Tendency

Why is it that dogs always sniff other dogs poop before they decide on an ultimate resting place for their own?  There has to be some sort of scientific study done on this.  I mean Nathan (my dachshund) sniffs around, hunts out the other dogs poop, sniffs it repeatedly, and drops off his own - I pick it up of course.  I mean I get that dogs live a large part of their lives through their sense of smell, but crap can't be all that alluring a scent.

As for other dog's asses, that's another thing I don't get - I guess we should count our blessings that that's not the way humans get to know eachother - none that I know anyway.  Imagine smelling other people crotches/arm pits before finally beginning a conversation with them?  I'd rather not!

Practice at 3:30pm, I am sure there will be some poop out on the field, gotta make sure I bring some plastic bags.

Keep on pickin' up the poop. Enjoy the day, it's a great one here in the Bronx - 65 and sunny.

BP Overrated?

Batting practice is overrated, especially at the college level - we won 2 games today and we didn't even hit before the game, but they did.  These are the same kids who complain when they only get 4 pitches for their Hits Round before they leave the cage.  I mean these kids are swinging 33" and 34" barrels, I mean batsthat have a warning label on them claiming "Use of this bat can cause serious harm or even death."  Gives me confidence if I'm a pitcher - better work the corners.  Today was a good day for the pitchers, and a just good enough day for the hitters.

We're off to Alabama this weekend.  Safe travels and keep on keepin' on.

this thing can kill you: