Leggett Out
Assorted
“Curses”
by Michael Leggett, FN Corresspondent
Perhaps, Baseball runs on so called “Curses”, because of the fact it gives fans a shipload of excuses, as to WHY their team hasn’t won anything, in the last number of years. It, allegedly, adds to mystique: Frankly, it’s all sheer nonsense, as these are usually Management Issues, of what they have done, and what they have FAILED to do. The “Curses” are things of Lore, by and large, bad jokes, to make people laugh; The Chicago Cubs are the Victims of STRANGE Ownership. They wouldn’t upgrade Wrigley Field, nor install lights. While Phil Wrigley was alive, he was a Baseball Man of his times. His son, Bill, was NOT, but was a sheer penny pincher. Bill’s High and Mighty Comment on Night Baseball was “Baseball is a day game and shall be played without lights.” So much for Tradition, as the 1969 Cubs will tell you. On August 15th, 1969, the Cubs had an 8 1/2 Game lead over the St Louis Cardinals and a 9 1/2 Game lead over the NY Mets. The Cubs were a power and pitching-laden team. But, the Summer Heat in Chicago, known to be warm and humid, eventually sapped the Cubs from all that day baseball on the North Side and the “Curse Of The Billy Goat” grew in stature. Bad Management Prevailed.
For a period of 86 Years, if one is to believe “The CHB”, it was “The Curse Of The Bambino”, with Babe Ruth being sold to the NY Yankees for $120K. Actually, Babe Ruth was a partying wild man, who would disappear for a few days at a time and action had to be taken. Harry Frazee is never given credit for pushing to save the World Series in 1918, which the Red Sox, power of that time, won over the Chicago Cubs. After Frazee, various owners just never got the message, nor did various managers. Today’s Internationally-Acclaimed Red Sox, would never have played for Pinky Higgins and other assorted characters who managed the team, as the Yawkey Ownership, tended to be a “Hands Off” Operation, leaving everything to The Baseball People. It took “Hands On” People like Messers Henry, Lucchino and Werner to right the ship.
“The Curse Of A-Rod”-Frankly, the NY Yankees don’t have the pitching, if Mike Mussina is any indication. At Any Given time, Andy Pettitte’s Back will bother him. So, the NY Yankees re-sign the Ultimate “Me, Me, Me” Player, a stats padder called Alex Rodriguez, who called a Press Conference during the 8th Inning of Game 4 of The ‘07 World Series, to tell the world that he wasn’t re-signing with the Yankees. His Contribution to Team Chemistry? ZILCH, wherever he’s been. But, The Yankees Problem has been Pitching, hence early exits from ALDS in ‘05, ‘06 and ‘07, as well as the Historical Collapse in the ‘04 ALCS, and this is well-known, that A-Rod never seems to get a hit in a key situation, which is currently happening, especially in a Comparably-Balmy April. Last Year’s Rather Chilly April, was when A-Rod was at his hottest.
“The Curse Of Keith Hernandez”-According to those who watched him with the Cardinals, he was the Slickest-Fielding 1st Baseman, EVER, in St Louis Cardinals History. The Cards defeated the Brew Crew Brewers of Milwaukee, in a 7 Game World Series. Keith was said to have snorted the 1st Base Line, as he was a “Blowhead”, a term for Cocaine Users. So for 25 Years, Cardinal Teams might go to Postseason and get blown out, right away, or wrecked in The Fall Classic.
“The Curse Of Ray Knight”(C.O.R.K)-The 1986
World Champion NY Mets, the Screwiest And BADDEST Bunch of Players, ever to
win a World Series, from Bench-Clearing Brawls, to bar fights, to totally
destroying the Interior of The Plane, carrying these Lunatics back to NY,
from Houston, after winning the ‘86 NLCS. It cost Doubleday And Company,
The Mets Primary Owner, $25K for Plane Damage. Ray Knight was something of
a Spirited One, just like Keith Hernandez, Kevin Elster, Kevin Mitchell and
Company. The Mets Parted company with Knight, after winning the ‘86
World Series and got rid of Kevin Mitchell, because he would be a bad influence
on Darryl Strawberry. Trouble is, Both Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden,
would be 2 of the biggest blowheads and drunks, ever to wear a Mets Uniform.
That team was broken up by Ownership and that Team has NOT been the same since
‘86, with the ‘86 Limited Partner, now as Majority Owner, is seen
as More-Meddlesome by Insiders than George Steinbrenner is with the Yankees.
I guess a World Series Flag is only Good for The Sherry Sippers at Citi Field
and not for those Loyal Denizens of Shea Stadium;So much for curses, or for
we natives of Brooklyn, “Coises”.
Mike Leggett writes a Primarily Red Sox Blog(Along With His Own Personal Rantings) @ http://www.rfredsoxnyc.info. He can be contacted @ twc6462626298@gmail.com. He wonders why the Fenway Faithful do The Wave and stood all during the 8th Inning of Sunday, April 20th, ‘08’s Game. It’s easy-Those Grandstand Seats can be AWFULLY-Uncomfortable(Ouch). He should know-he was there.
“Roger?
You Lie Like A Rug”
by Michael Leggett, FN Corresspondent
Actually, that would be picking on an inanimate object,
so it would not be fair to the Rug Community(LOL). Why would William Roger
Clemens NEED an anesthetic to have a Vitamin injected into him. when he could
have gone to the Vitamin Shop, and purchased the bottle of B12, to take a
B12 Pill @ anytime he wanted or needed one? This is UTTERLY Preposterous.
Why would anybody want to subject themselves to being numbed to get a Vitamin
injected into one’s buttocks? Common sense says that this is ridiculous.
In talking about Andy Pettitte, thinking he was confused over hearing 3 older
men talking about steroids in a movie, was Roger watching “Going In
Style”, starring George Burns, Walter Matthau & Art Carney? They
played 3 men on Social Security, who thought about robbing a bank. Now, I
know of a Retired Line Of Duty-Disabled NYPD Officer, who walks using a cane.
He has required Steroid Injections to the damaged part of his ankle. Lidocaine
is injected ahead of the steroid, as the injection is close to bone. After
being numbed, the prescribed steroid is then injected, to aid in the healing
of the ankle. The Retired Officer thinks Roger is full of it, by the way.
Oh, about that Vitamin B12, Roger? It’s not Oil Based like a Steroid.
It was that Oil Based substance, injected into your butt, which caused for
that little bit of bruising, as well as contributing to your Legendary Larger
Than Life Look, you’ve sported. Your head did not get big on its’
own. But, your ego is larger than the Sears Tower in Chicago. And that’s
what landed you before the Halls of The House Of Representatives.
Michael Leggett writes a (Mostly)Red Sox Baseball Blog, in his home borough of Queens, in New York City. He can be reached @ twc6462626298@gmail.com. He’s also an avid Mac User.
Roger Is A "Flop" In More Ways Than One
by Michael Leggett, FN Corresspondent
And I have seen Roger do it TWICE in 2001 in person. In August, 2001, it was a Saturday Afternoon Game, with the Cleveland Indians facing "The Rocket", in August(A FOX Game). From what I remember of that day, The Yankees won 9-6 and Roger's Pitching was questionable, giving up those runs. If it had not been for a strong Yankees Offense, Roger would've been a sure-fire loser. This was in the 5th Inning, when, suddenly, Roger fell on the mound, his legs going out from under him.
Torre came rushing out of the dugout, as his Ace collapsed on the mound, but "The Rocket" stayed in until the 7th Inning.It was the ALDS in October & it was Game 5 & with 4 2/3 innings gone, Roger collapsed on the mound. Things were NOT going well for him. I had been thinking back to 2000, when he had a blank stare after beaning Mike Piazza, later telling the NYC Press Corps that the beaning was an accident, to which that same Press Corps said 'Yeah, Sure'. Coupled with throwing the broken bat, and mistaking it for the ball, I wondered at this point about what kind of drugs, Roger had been using. He looked like a deranged coke head. The word "Steroids" had not yet entered the lexicon in Baseball.
That lexicon was usually reserved for Professional Wrestling, not Baseball. But Baseball Players were getting bigger. One example is Lenny "Nails" Dykstra, who in 1986, during the World Series, while playing for the 1986 New York Mets, didn't look more than 140 Pounds, Soaking Wet, but he homered in Fenway Park and still looked skinny as a rail. But, in 1989, he showed up in Spring Training, tremendously-bulked up. He was traded in Mid-Season of 1989 for Juan Samuel, to the Phillies.
Now, by 1993, Roger showed up in Spring Training, a number of pounds heavier than before and wouldn't last as long as he used to and showed up with a string of 4 mediocre seasons in Boston. One wonders if he had been either experimenting or just celebrated the new contract, by getting fat. Guys who throw almost exclusively heat, tend to break down a lot quicker, than those with a good mix of pitches, so the assessment by Mr Duquette and Company was NOT unfounded, in 1996.He had one last season, supposedly doing it naturally, in 1997 and won the Cy Young Award and had a strength coach, later his personal trainer named Brian McNamee, some guy from Rockaway Beach in Queens, about 25 minutes by car from my home. The next year, Ol' Roger started off in mediocre fashion, making many wonder if he was done. Then, McNamee introduces Roger to his "Fountain Of Youth", commercially called Winstrol, which is Stanolozol, an anabolic steroid. Roger went on a tear after that, going 16-0 for the rest of 1998. He was now in "The Enhanced Era".
Having realized that the Toronto Blue Jays were going NOWHERE, he demanded a trade to the NY Yankees & got his wish, but was nothing spectacular in 1999. It was in 2000, when he got his power back, through Winstrol and Testosterone "Therapy", combined with Human Growth Hormone, turning him into a monster, as well as a crazed maniac, if the Piazza Beaning was any indication. Roger couldn't deal with the success that Mr Piazza of the Crosstown NY Mets, had versus Roger, so the beaning took place, in July,2000, which in Roger's Mind, perhaps affected by all that "Therapy", was an "Accident." Roger also knew that in the American League Parks, he would never have to come to bat, so he expected no comeuppance for the consequences of his actions, hence no accident. In '01, Roger was the ultimate power pitcher, winning 20 Games & losing 3 Games(Two of which were to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays), winning his 6th Cy Young Award. The "Therapy" Continued & it was his last good season. In reality, it wasn't THAT good, because Roger had no complete games. He, as a young, lean pitcher, in 1985, had 10 COMPLETE Games. In '02, when he wasn't being injected with his "Therapy" Junk, he was hurt. In a Saturday, June 15th, 2002 Game at the Home Of The Mets, Shea Stadium (to be torn down in November, '08), Roger had to pitch in the National League Park. He didn't have his backup of the Designated Hitter, there & had to bat for himself. Rumors swirled around the Site of Game 6 of The 1986 World Series, that Roger was going to be plunked with a pitch. Mets Pitcher Shawn Estes threw a pitch behind Roger, throwing him & his game way off-balance. Now according to one of my associates, Mr Joseph Francis Buck of FOX Sports, was calling for Roger to get his comeuppance, in the form of being hit with a fastball, for a taste of Roger's own medicine. While Mr James Timothy Mc Carver, Mr Buck's Booth Colleague was telling the Audience of Millions that the rift between Roger and Mike Piazza had healed, Buck became more-strident in his tone of voice, calling for "Rocket's" comeuppance.
Mr Shawn Estes hit a 2 Run Homer off "The Rocket" into the Left Field Area, sending fans in Shea Stadium into delirium, while the sarcastic, cascading chant of "Roger", grew loud. In the next inning, Mr Michael Piazza homered into the Left Field Bullpen, as Roger looked stunned, with the derisive chanting growing as loud as an English Soccer Stadium. NY Mets & Boston Red Sox Banner Flags were being flown, as this went on. Roger doubled off Estes in the next inning(With Fans Screaming "Throw at Him"), but came up lame at 2nd Base. In the bottom of that inning, on a fielder's choice, he hurt his foot. Roger was gone for a month and a half after that, with fans serenading him with the derisive chant of "Roger". The NY Yankees lost 8-0. When Roger's name was announced as the Losing Pitcher, a long cheer went up. It was the beginning of the end for this dude. There was '03 when he won his 300th Game at which he promptly donned a Commercial Sponsor's Cap, something which Mr Glavine did NOT do, when he won his 300th Game in '07. There was his last Yankees World Series where he came up lame. He announced that he was retiring after the '03 season.
Then, he joined old Yankees Pitching Teammate Andy Pettitte,
with the Astros in Houston with a Sweetheart Deal and had one LAST Good Season,
winning his 7th Cy Young Award and declined further in '05, going lame in
his 1 WS Game, as he was without his "Therapies."
He pitched 1/2 Season with Houston, which started to spin its' wheels in the
mud, in '06, for huge money;
Then there was one last gasp of "The Texas Con Man", as the Late
Will Mc Donugh, would call Roger. in May, '07, with a declining Yankees Ball
Team. The Announcement was made in a packed Yankee Stadium that he had returned
to lead the Yankees to Ultimate Victory in '07. Yankees Radio Commentator,
Suzyn Waldman's famous "Oh, My Goodness Gracious, Roger's in George Steinbrenner's
Bawx", would be all time mockery material, especially on WFAN 660-NY.
Roger was a FLOP in his attempted, money-driven revival, at the cost of $18.7M,
as he had NOTHING in his tank.
For a last postseason appearance, he had a pulled muscle in the 2nd inning of Game 3 of The ALDS, which a number of Red Sox Bloggers figured would take place in the 1st 3 Innings of that game & it did in the 2nd Inning. In the Prayer, "Salve Regina", "O Clement" is "O Clemens" in Latin, meaning merciful. This Clemens was unmercifully about HIMSELF:He tried to fool Nature with Injected Chemicals. Because he used these chemicals, he tried to rationalize why he did outrageous things, as mis-judgements and accidents.
And there were the times when he came over as a PUNK,
when he made the comment in 1986, after winning both the AL Cy Young Award
& AL MVP, when Baseball's All Time Home Run King, Henry Aaron had opined
that perhaps Pitchers shouldn't be eligible for MVP, as they're not everyday
players. Roger offered this remark that he'd like to put Aaron at the plate
so Roger could drill him with a fastball, possibly to Aaron's Head. From that
point on, I disliked Clemens and figured that he might be headed for trouble,
down the road;
And there was the threat to Umpire Terry Cooney, who ejected Roger from a
1990 ALCS Game, when Roger told him that he'd like to find out where Cooney
lived, so Roger could 'Take him out'. I'm surprised that Roger wasn't suspended
for 20-30 Games by either the League or Commissioner's Office.
Roger's Rationalizing that The Piazza Beaning was an "Accident", sent me over the edge, making me wonder if Clemens had gotten hold of some mind-altering drugs, as his expression looked blank. WHY was Baseball so afraid to do anything to him? Were some of those Higher Baseball Executives his "Lodge Brothers"? His wisecrack on "The Late Show With David Letterman", "It Doesn't Matter whether you win or lose at least that's the way it was in Boston", was to say the least, sad. His proverbial "Throwing John Mc Namara In front Of a Speeding T Commuter Train", over Roger's leaving Game 6 Of The 1986 World Series, over a blister, by claiming it was forced on him by Mac, when Roger was fearful of losing control of that game, was contradictory, all a part of Clemens' repertoire. I also never knew that Toronto was closer to his home in Texas, which is a farce in itself.
I remember some girl in a Catholic School, in Bay Ridge,
Brooklyn, in 2003, brought her "Show & Tell" Project to School.
The "Show & Tell" Project was, sure enough, Roger himself. As
this girl is probably taking her SATs' in her Junior Year in High School this
year, I wonder if she's been turned off by the appearance of Clemens in "The
Mitchell Report", turned off by Baseball & the Yankees, or was moved
to tears. I just hope that her friends aren't teasing her to tears because
of all this. And there's his utter nerve for demanding that when he goes into
the Hall Of Fame, he wants to go in as a NY Yankee, or he'll skip the Ceremony
and take his mom to Palm Springs for an old fashioned barbeque;
For the past two seasons, he's been an EXPENSIVE Part Time Player, who has
hustled owners like a pool hustler and gave false hopes to the fans in NY
and Houston. In short, Roger Clemens is a FLOP. I would advise that Roger
Clemens not to let the door hit him in the arse on his way out. If it did,
he'd be crying for his Lidocaine to relieve HIS pain; But, What about the
Fans Pain, which he's caused?Or, for that Matter, Baseball's Pain?
Or, even that of HIS Family?
Michael Leggett in NYC, writes a Predominately
Red Sox Blog, which is @ http://www.rfredsoxnyc.info & his e-mail is twc6462626298@gmail.com
New Fenway Overdue
by Michael Leggett, FN Corresspondent
September 1, 2007—Perhaps long overdue. Thirty-six thousand plus seats doesn’t really cut it, as far as revenue-generation and comfort are concerned. Given the sold-out status of Fenway, fans in this bandbox consider four games to be a lot to attend in a given season.
This reminds me of another famous little bandbox in Brooklyn, called Ebbets Field—home to The Dodgers. Ebbets didn’t always sell out, but it does serve as a model for today’s modern retro parks. Mr Henry has to be looking at that possibility right now. He realizes that the New "Retro" Yankee Stadium, truer to the Old Stadium on the outside, will seat 53,000 and generate much more revenue—even with 4,500 fewer seats. Unless Janet Marie Smith is thinking of Electronic Board Sky Boxes, over the right field bleachers, a New Fenway Park could incorporate all of the best features of the current park, without all those poles in the way.
I was at the Friday, August 31st game, seated in cramped Box 90, by Grandstand 4 (with the State Champion Taunton High School Softball Team) and a woman and her daughter were seated right behind me. I was in an aisle seat and it was any wonder that I got to see the game at all—with people running to concession stands all game long. No wonder people do “The Wave” before the 7th Inning Stretch—they’re getting cramps from sitting too long in those seats. The woman behind me, mentioned that she was at Shea Stadium, in Corona, Queens, something of a destination for displaced Fenway Faithful, because of the ease of getting Mets tickets. Of course, to be fair, in the Upper Level there, you can end up on a first name basis with pilots on approach to La Guardia.
Even in a New Fenway Park, the fans will still be fun, will “Still Believe”, will “Keep The Faith” as they always have. The difference will be that they will have comfortable seating and leg room. Selling nostalgia to sit in an out-dated park will not generate the revenues to compete. This is the 21st Century, Mr. Henry. Ow, my back-ouch!
Mike Leggett can be reached at twc6462626298@gmail.com
Of Poles & New parks
by Michael Leggett, FenwayNation Columnist In New York City
It was Saturday, September 2nd, 2006 & I was at The Old-New Ball
Yard. Remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto, threatened to turn Boston into a
river, if the Game had started at 7:05PM, so new plans to get the game with
the Toronto Blue Jays, played, were in motion.
I had just arrived home from work, in Lower Manhattan, &, as is my custom,
I headed to my Mac to check my e-mail. I opened up an e-mail from the Red
Sox, announcing the Game Time Change, from 7:05PM to 1:05PM. I later received
another communication from the Writer of Brooklyn Sox Fan, on Born In To It,
advising me to get to Chinatown-Lower Manhattan, very-early to catch the earliest
bus to South Station. As I had bought these tickets 1 week in advance, I had
no trouble changing my departure time & left 139 Canal Street @ 8:37AM.
It was a 3:45 trip from the foot of the Manhattan Bridge across 4 Boroughs,
Westchester County, & CT, before getting on to Mass Pike to the Old-New,
“Never Gets Old” Pantheon called Fenway Park. While passing through
Worcester, I realized that Boston was not far away, as Worcester is the westernmost
city of M B T A Rail. I finally arrived at South Station Bus Terminal at 12:25PM,
& hurried myself to my Subway Connections.
Took the Red Line to Park Street & changed for Green Line C Light Rail
to Kenmore Station. The Green Line didn’t feel like a traditional Subway
ride at all. At Kenmore Station, as I was exiting, the ticket scalpers were
offering tickets at BELOW Face Value.
I got to my seat & had a wonderful view of the many sections of the park,
which were renovated. I had a great view from Section 16, Row 3, Seat #1,
of the field. But, there was one problem, & it was called a Column or
Pole. Now, the team had been decimated by injuries(David Ortiz, Jason Varitek
& this was supposed to be Jon Lester’s Next Start, but on 9/1, the
horrific news about his Cancer Of The Lymph Nodes, was announced, plus Manny
& his Knee, Etc). To me this looked like a “Bleak Futures At Fenway”
Game, to say the least.
I noticed that Grandstand Seats, which I 1st sat in, during a June, ‘97
Game with Detroit, looked like they haven’t changed in appearance, since
my 1st trip to Fenway, Does the New Ownership Group think that this seating
is charming, or do they think that people are really stupid?
The Red Sox Lost 5-1 to Toronto., so my record is 0-2 at Fenway, when I’ve
been seated in Grandstand(Both Outfield & Infield), though I’m 2-0,
when having been seated in the Lower Bleachers(Both Games in 2000).
While I had a great time, with great fans(From NY, NJ, PA, VA & MA), &
the party atmosphere can’t be beat, it is my belief that one cannot
keep adding sections of the park & new seating without taking care of
the Grandstand viewing problem with all those old poles obstructing one’s
view.
Another thing is capacity. As Fenway keeps getting sold out all the time &
seats are not that reasonable, unless one can get bleacher tickets, or has
Donald Trump’s Expense Account to sit in the Monster Seats or the E
M C Club Section, Red Sox Fans will head to Baltimore to catch Red Sox-Orioles,
Toronto to catch Red Sox-Blue Jays, or, as I’ve observed over this Spring,
Summer & Autumn, to Mets Games at Shea Stadium, which will be replaced
in 2009 by their 45,000 seat new ball park, paying tribute to Brooklyn’s
old Ebbett’s Field, with the Junk Yard Area being eliminated for areas
to party & for hotels & other fun places.. The 7 Line Elevated &
Subway, is beginning to sound somewhat like the Green Line to Kenmore.
Just looking at PETCO Park in San Diego, makes me wonder “Why Not Us.”
What next? “Cask ‘N Flagon Sky Boxes?”
Mike Leggett Can be reached at twc6462626298@earthlink.net
On Sox Pitching & Fielding
by Michael Leggett, FenwayNation Columnist In New York City
Spring Training is a time of warm-ups and practice. Games don’t count. Bronson Arroyo’s bad start in Spring Training, was for him, a time to work out the kinks in his delivery of pitches. He eventually did that and in his last Spring start, he appeared to be back on track.
Then, the Front Office intervened and traded Arroyo for a “Promising, Power-Hitting Outfielder” named Wily Mo Pena. According to Mr Terry Francona, Field Skipper of The Sox, “We have a Surplus of Pitching.”
Pena’s fielding is somewhat akin to a Mets outfielder named Lastings Milledge, so you get the picture, which is pitiful. He does hit, but not as advertised. Arroyo, with the Cincinnati Reds, is pitching well, but just recently won his 10th Game, perhaps due to their porous bullpen.
Speaking of porous bullpens and starting pitching, Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen are awful. The surprise best pitcher of the recent past has was Julian Tavarez, with 2 1/3 Innings of sparkling pitching (Did Wallace perform a miracle), allowing 1 hit last Friday. Keith Foulke was fine, just back from rehab at Pawtucket. Ironically, Jason Johnson pitched fairly-well in Firday's 1st Game, before the ‘pen played Arson Squad, was designated for assignment to make room for Foulke.
Without the horses, there is no race. And, at this rate, with blowing it, badly, in Kansas City and Tampa Bay, it’s going to be a long winter of discontent all over Red Sox Nation. The bleeding has to stop NOW. Does any body have ANY idea of what it’s like living amongst braying, jackass fans from Yankees Land? Some days, I hate living in New York, where the braying is most-constant.
On FOX Saturday Baseball Coverage
By Michael Leggett, FN Contributor
July 24,2006—Actually, my focus is on “exclusivity” in this series, which has been seen since 1996. FOX, as many of you know, has the exclusive TV rights for baseball from 1PM to 7PM, ET. Even for those of you paying for the MLB Extra Innings Package on cable or satellite, you may be out of luck, if your favorite team’s game is being played at 4:05PM, ET on Saturday.
A few weeks ago, a number of us gathered to watch The Red Sox at our favorite pub in Manhattan. It was an inter league game, involving the Marlins at Miami. On the evening before, we watched the Sox on FSN- Florida, which was no bargain, but it was NOT the YES Network, which we in NY-RSN, so despise. The Saturday night game started at 6:05PM, ET. Just earlier, the NY Mets ruined Randy Johnson’s Day, by smashing the Evil Empire, 8-3, (replete with Joe Buck & Tim Mc Carver, performing “Verbal Butt-Kiss”, over an A-Rod Homer, which would’ve been foul in most other ball parks.) It was 6PM, ET and all we received was the following Extra Innings message: “Game Not Available In Your Area” Because of the start time of the game, we couldn’t watch it. Luckily, a Good Samaritan, who was a Yankee Fan, actually had his notebook hooked up to his cell phone, so we got MLB TV for a shadowy image of Red Sox-Marlins. The Red Sox won that game, though everything looked like we were watching on a 3 inch screen, from an old television, from 1947.
Did The Marlins schedule a 6:05PM Game, so only South
Florida and New England could have the Game to themselves? The Marlins barely
have fans going to the ball park, while the Red Sox have a Nation—and
a STRONG ONE at that. Besides, Jeff Loria, the Marlins owner, is a long-time
Yankee Season Ticket-Holder, so the 6:00PM start isn’t surprising to
me. Extra Innings Subscribers should be given a choice as to which feed to
watch and for what game. They’re paying for it-let ‘em have a
choice. That includes choice of which FOX Game to watch.
Hey! It’s Your airwaves and your team.
On Dave Wallace—Pitching Guru
By Michael Leggett, FN Contributor
July 19,2006—The last time the Dodgers were in contention for a playoff spot, Dave Wallace was Pitching Coach and Mike Piazza was National League Rookie of The Year. Orel Hershiser was the staff’s gem of a pitcher. Let’s fast-forward to 1999. The NY Mets Pitching Staff, under the direction of Mets Pitching Coach and personal friend of Bobby Valentine, Bob Apodaca, was faltering. After getting blown out in the 2nd Game of the "Subway Series" at Yankee Stadium, Mets General Manager G. Steven Phillips, called for heads to roll. Dave Wallace was named Pitching Coach by Phillips. Bobby Valentine, who absolutely despised Phillips, also despised Wallace—because Wallace was Steve’s Choice and Wallace was a friend of Phillips. So, Valentine subscribed to the theory of “The Friend of My Enemy, is my Enemy.” Other new coaches were brought in, to stabilize the Mets, to make them contenders, for their 1st Post-Season run since 1988.
The results included an appearance in the 1999 NLCS, where the Mets lost to the Braves, 4 Games to 2, with some help from Kenny Rogers (Mr Key-Lol). The results in 2000 were even better, when the Mets made it to the World Series, but lost. After all that, Wallace departed. Bobby V got his way with Pitching Coaches, again, and boy did the Mets ever go bad! That’s why Bobby V is back in Japan, winning their World Series and not the one in North America. He was a control freak, who thought that he knew it all, while Wallace was the key to those two good seasons. Sorry, Bobby, but you’re overrated in my book.
Fast-forward to 2003: Wallace, a New Englander, is named Red Sox Pitching Coach. He toiled first under Grady (Should I Or Shouldn’t I Take Out Pedro) Little. The Red Sox made it to the ‘03 ALCS, before losing 4 Games to 3 to the team which would blow a 3-0 lead in the ‘04 ALCS. The next year was the Big Cherry for the Red Sox, and we all know the rest of that great story, even if Tim Mc Carver keeps getting it all wrong. Anyway, Dave Wallace was in the middle of it all. He doesn’t get all the credit, but he deserves more than he’s given. Hurry back, Dave—you just might salvage “Rudy & Julia.”
Shea As Fenway South?
MAY 9, 2006. Fenway Park is old & sold out all the time. Granted that the existing facilities are being upgraded, but this will not solve the problem of not-enough seating. There is nothing charming about paying $45 to sit behind a pole. I am located in the New York Metropolitan Area, in the Borough of Queens, as some readers may know. Putting seats on the Cask & Flagon will not alleviate this short-capacity situation. A ballpark needs 45,000 comfortable seats to keep the fans coming in, as well as amenities. A 36,000 seat park, built before World War I, just doesn’t cut it.
This is what is taking place as we speak:Families from Boston, who cannot get Red Sox Tickets, will follow the team on the road to Baltimore or Philadelphia, as Fenway is sold out. But, an increasing numberof families are either driving down to or taking Amtrak to New York City to catch METS Games at Shea Stadium. I met a number of these "day-trippers" recently coming from Boston. The 7 Subway Line is starting to sound like the Green Line to Kenmore Square.
Their
reasons for this are:
(A) Fenway is sold out;
(B) Fenway is priced out;
(C) The Upper Level at Shea Stadium is reasonably priced.
Tickets for this past Saturday’s Mets-Atlanta Braves Game were $16. The attendance was 48,639, with seats to spare. A father andhis 2 sons came down andgot tickets, easily right at the Shea Ticket Window. Red Sox Fans all over Shea Stadium got into the game chanting “Let’s Go Mets.” (That chant sounds so cool in a Boston Accent.) Both sets of fans let loose with a chant of “Yankees Suck.”
The Mets are beneficiaries from the overflow from Fenway Park. But, that need NOT be the case in Boston. A New Fenway, with 44-45,000 seats & plenty of room, would solve the problem. Next month, the Mets will begin to construct their new field of dreams, in the Shea Parking Lot. It’ll seat 45,000 fans. Building seats on top of the Fenway Scoreboard, or on the Citgo Sign, or on top of the current Green Monster Seats, just won't do. Just what’s in the Minds of the NOG?
Maybe, they’re waiting for the team to return to losing ways so the team can be unloaded on another NOG. One of those owners, the ones who own 17%, are reporting a revenue shortfall in their core business. Tough Times may be ahead.