Wednesday, January 31, 2007

YANKEES: Bernie Has Been Made an Offer


According to SI.com, the Yankees have offered Bernie Williams a minor league deal with no guarantee for the major league team.

I originally suggested that Bernie learn to play first for the Yankees, replacing Phillips/Phelps. God knows he is a better offensive player but his defensive skills are in question.

Which leads you to the question, why did the Yankees give him the invite? The SI article states that people forget the wonderful job he did as a fill in last season. If two out of the three first baseman (Minky/Phillips/Phelps) turn out to be duds this spring training, then there could be room on the roster for Bernie after all. This would mean 1 of 2 things: a) Bernie plays first alongside the one acceptable first baseman or b) Bernie sits as a fill-in and the first baseman becomes full time.

As is, it looks like Bernie retiring is the most probable. I, for one, still think he can hit and be an asset to the team. We didn't think we would need him last season and look what happened. Do we really want that to happen again?

Peter Abraham's says, "There is not a chance in hell Bernie plays first. I personally like Bernie and he has been a heck of a player. But you don’t take a guy with marginal baseball instincts and make him a first baseman, particularly at this stage of his career. Just. Not. Happening. You ever watch the routes he takes to fly balls? You want him at first base trying to dig out throws and figure out relays?"

I would take Abrahams' word over mine any day. He is around the players, goes to the meetings, and knows his baseball. He has most likely even talked to Bernie personally before. There is, however, still a part of me that wants him to be wrong and to see Bernie back in pinstripes for one more season...

YANKEES: Tickets on Sale

Yankees Single Game tickets went on sale today (January 31) at 10:00am. This was my first time buying tickets right when they went on sale. Overall, it was just as bad as trying to register for classes when at Nassau Community College. I ran 3 computers trying to get Boston or Mets tickets, and started them right at the buzzer. Waited about 10 minutes to find out that none of the tickets are available, only to see them being sold on stubhub for about $45/ticket as bleacher seats. I guess this is understandable as they are premium games. Why do people have to do that?

Anyways, I got the $5 fujifilm games that I wanted and am just as happy with them. Going to the games on April 5 and 25 and sitting in the rowdy bleachers. Should be fun! I am really looking forward to that game on April 5. This offseason seems like it is taking forever!

Also, my girlfriend Patty bought me tickets to tour Yankee Stadium, which was really nice of her. We are going the Saturday after Valentines Day (February 17). I haven't taken the tour yet and it is a must-do considering the new Stadium is projected to go up in 2009.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Fiber Optic Cables and BitTorrent

No matter how fast or powerful your computer is, its transfer rate is only as fast as the fiber optic cables allow. If you are building up a new computer, or upgrading your new computer with improved hardware, with the hopes that it will download faster, you might be sadly disappointed. You need to upgrade your connection.

Always remember, when using a file-sharing program and downloading peer-to-peer, the other persons connection speed affects both his and your transfer rate. Choosing peers that have a good connection will ultimately benefit you. Of course, if your connection is terrible, you will always have your limits (56k modem).

When using a program such as BitTorrent, remember that the more seeders you have, the better. Seeders are the people sharing the file while leechers (yourself) are people leeching onto a file, sucking it onto their computer. Once your file is completed and you have the file at 100%, you are then a seeder. This will explain why certain older files won't download; no one is seeding and everybody is trying to leech, but there is nothing to leech onto.

Funny Clips on PimpMyCodeSpace

Found a whole bunch of funny short clips to put on your website at PimpMyCodeSpace.com. Normally I find these sites cheesy but I did chuckle at a few of the clips. I think you will like these.

Here is one that I thought was pretty funny:

PimpMyCodeSpace.com is your one stop myspace resource

Random Thought (Blog Editors)

I found a thought on blogging in a book I am reading called The World Is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman (a book I strongly recommend for business majors). In a small portion of the book, it details the problem of presenting false information in blogs and how this information can often distort the truth drastically, and even destroy reputations. The book says:

Yes, the reader in me loves to surf the Net and read the bloggers, but the citizen in me also wishes that some of those bloggers had an editor, a middleman, to tell them to check some of their facts one more time before they pressed the Send button and told the whole world that something was wrong or unfair.
Lets face it, no one is perfect. People make mistakes and there is often too much information out there to analyze at once. In many situations, people do just not have enough time to get all the information and include it in their arguments. Often, those missing pieces invalidate the argument. This is where blogging can get messy.

Sports, in particular, is one area where bloggers consistently judge players and organizations because they have a bias. If you read sports blogs, you realize that bloggers and those who leave comments often commit such errors. It is the readers responsibility to research each argument that is important to them, outside of the blog, if they believe someones argument is false so they do not fall into a circle of wrong and unfair discussion.

Lets say, for example, a blogger reads off an untrustworthy site that Curt Schilling was caught shoplifting a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Boston, Massachusets. A blogger gets the information from the site, presents it to his readers, and the news spreads like wildfire, destroying his reputation (as if it wasn't destroyed already). This could happen to me, you, and anybody else out there. There is nothing wrong with remaining skeptical about everything you read and/or are unsure about. As WWF Wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin was infamous for saying, "DTA: Don't Trust Anybody."

However, I like to have trustworthy bloggers that I trust will present me with fair and unbiased (to a point) positions. There is nothing wrong with having a sweet disposition toward a team and blogging in favor of that team. There is, however, something wrong with distorting the facts and using them to support your argument. Always be on your toes.

YANKEES: Chinese Agreement

The Yankees and the Chinese Baseball Association (CBA) have reached an agreement (partnership) where the CBA will receive the Yankees' guidance in training baseball players. In return, you can expect that a few years down the road the Yankees will be sending some talented prospects over to the United States to join the Yankees organization. The agreement"will allow the two clubs to exchange coaches, player development, scouting and training personnel between China and the club's facilities in the U.S.," announced Bryan Hoch of Yankees.com.

It was the Yankees who received a call from the CBA about six months ago, when discussions about this venture began. It is believed that the CBA's respect for the organizations history of success, and recognition all around the world, contributed largely to the invitation.

Why would the Yankees want to venture into China? With a population of more than 1.3 billion, it could turn the country into baseball's next greatest frontier.

After spending a few days in China, sightseeing at the Great Wall, the Yankees will then head to Japan to meet with owners of the Yomiuri Giants. They will also visit the Hashin Tigers to thank them for their clubs assistance in acquiring Kei Igawa.

MLB: Barry's Back!

According to the Associated Press, Barry Bonds has signed a one-year contract with the Giants. It's official, there is no God.

Monday, January 29, 2007

MLB: Helton Going Nowhere

It was just recently announced by the Rocky Mountain News that the Todd Helton trade talks have ended and he is going nowhere. Judging by Red Sox fan's arguments on various MLB blogs, the deal appeared to have been all but completed. That is what happens when you over-speculate.

"It didn’t work out," said Monfort (Rockies' managing general partner). "When you are taking about a player of Todd Helton’s abilities, you need to get someone back who will be an impact player, and it didn’t work out."

The Red Sox were hoping to come away with a steal on this deal considering Colorado was the one seeking to empty his expensive, long-term contract. Apparently, the package of players wasn't enough to convince them to send Helton to the Evil Empire Redux. This is a win-win for both the Red Sox and the Yankees. The Red Sox do not age themselves even further and tie themselves down with a lengthy contract. The Yankees do not have to see Helton in the near future.

Music Artists Poor by Downloading

South Park discussed the idea of illegally downloading music and the consequences of such actions. I think you know where this is going. If you don't catch the sarcasm, you might need padded rooms.

Mario and Luigi visit Vice City

Found this YouTube video posted on my friend Rob's MySpace page. Mario and Luigi take a wrong turn into Vice City (Grand Theft Auto's city) after taking a detour for a closed bridge. They find out that life is a little tougher in the real world.

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Random Thought (Egocentricity)

I no longer believe the problem with people in my area is solely narcissism. It is more egocentricity. Narcissism resembles a bit of self-pride while egocentricity exerts a false sense of reality. You are not the center of all things. The sooner you learn this, the better. Some take it to the extreme.

It is acceptable for children to be egocentric, not adults.

MLB: The Coors Field Effect


MathTrek released an article called "The Coors Field Effect" in May 2006. The articles purpose was to prove that Coors Field (Colorodo Rockies playing grounds) is a hitters park by nature. It states that the team's home field is at a significantly higher elevation, making the air thin. This causes the ball to carry further so it is easier for players to hit home runs. Also, because the ball carries further, outfielders have to play further back and it is therefore easier to get a single into the shallow outfield.

Overall, it was calculated that the average initial velocity for a ball to clear the fence was lower at Coors Field than at any other stadium. Also, with help of the shallow outfield, the Rockies had 4 players combine to win 6 batting titles over the past decade.

[It is] estimated that, because of elevation, a baseball travels about 10 percent farther at Coors Field than it does elsewhere.
I won't go into the effect that this ballpark has on a player's statistics but if you would like to read the article you can find it here. It was found that this ballpark in particular does help a players statistics.

Much of this information in this article was taken from a Science News article called "Home Runs and Ballparks." In this article it was found that "When baseball slugger Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals hit his record-breaking, 62nd home run on Sept. 8, 1998, the ball barely passed over the left field fence at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The same hit would not have been a home run at, say, Fenway Park in Boston."
Why does this pertain to my interests? It is interesting to note that all-star players could have their statistics slightly skewed by natural factors in their team's home ballpark. Also, Todd Helton is a member of the Colorado Rockies and is involved in recent trade talks with the Red Sox.

YANKEES: Bernie Rumors and Todd Helton Talks (Red Sox)

There has been lots of talk about Bernie Williams recently. Will he play this year? Will he play for another team? Will he come back to the Yankees? If he comes back to the Yankees, will he come back as a first baseman, designated hitter, backup outfielder (only with a Melky trade), coach, minor leaguer, or make a mid-season move to the team in the event of an injury? Will he continue with baseball or retire and go another path (music?)? Lots of questions and the answer should be coming soon but I feel as if I have heard it all by now.


Also, there are talks going on with Todd Helton believed to be interested in moving to the Red Sox from the Rockies. This would demand a large amount of money or decent prospects (if Colorado was to pay some of his remaining $90+ salary for the remaining six seasons he has left on his contract) from the part of the Red Sox. What do people think about this? Helton is clearly out of his prime, entering his mid-30's, and has a very lengthy contract that will guarantee him money until 2011. There is a $4+ million buyout option for 2012. At that time, he will be Bernie's age and will most likely be an average player at best. Plus, there will be a noticeable decline in performance as he moves from the NL to AL (though I have been told that he might benefit from Fenway's low right porch). On the up side, he provides immediate impact, is an OBP machine, and provides protection for Ortiz and Manny, who haven't had protection for a while now. The acquisition of JD Drew will also help the Red Sox, though he is prone to injury.

Overall, I hope the Yankees don't fall into the trap of bidding on Helton, for the sake that they may actually win the bidding war. The last thing the Yankees need is another aging player, especially with his lengthy contract. Peter Abraham's mentioned in a previous post that the Yankees could be waiting on someone like Teixeira and the clear indication is them only signing a one-year fill-in this 2007 season with Meintkeiwicz. We'll see what they do and it all will depend on if they can hold out with an average 1B throughout the season. I think they can. Meintkeiwicz and Phillips are an upgrade on the field and the other Yankees offense is certainly strong enough to score runs and win games.

Helton may put the Red Sox over the top for the moment but as the Yankees have learned (with their all-star lineup over the past few years), you aren't going very far in the postseason with overpaid, past-their-prime, players. What made the Tigers so good last season was youth, one thing that the Yankees now have once again. A lot of young pitchers are ready to try out for the big league team this spring training and it is very likely that there will be some key pieces in their recent pool.

Accordion Round 2

The accordion player returned for round two today at my job. He set up in the same place, right in the middle of the lobby and played for about an hour. The difference this time was that his return wasn't out of the blue. His good pal Mr. Torino gave a notice to the concierge and we were telling residents all day about his performance. I enjoyed it a bit more the first time, maybe because I noticed some of the songs were repeats. It was still nice to hear him play.

Good ol Mel asked if he would play for parties and Mr. Torino said "If he is available, he would love to come." Sounds like Mr. Torino is his agent. The performance would be free of charge, which is very generous. It is nice to see someone enjoy playing their instrument that much, it brings me back to the days of high school band. Also, because playing requires constant compression and decompression (which creates the sound), it looks as if he is dancing along to the music.

His Bell accordion is black and has his name in bright silver letters printed alongside the keys.

It's a brand new (kinda)... desk!

A resident gave me a desk today that they were holding in storage to be discarded. It was exactly what I was looking for. I have tons of papers as I am often shuffling through books, printouts, magazines, etc. and this desk was the perfect size to store everything. My current desk holds my laptop and a few necessities so it often gets crowded and unworkable. You can say I am a bit of a neat freak but it is very satisfying when you don't have to spend 2 hours looking for your PSP. Although, it did take me about 4 hours to clean/rearrange everything.

Friday, January 26, 2007

FILM: Epic Movie

Saw Epic Movie tonight and though it gave me a few laughs (loved the inspirational Rocky theme song), the majority of it was fluff. Superman gets shot in the eye, Paris Hilton gets crushed by a woman who fell out of a plane, and the "hairy beaver" gets kicked around a few times. Those were some funny parts that kept me laughing for a few seconds. Then the laughter stopped as Captain Swallow (no I did not spell that wrong) and his boat crew broke out into a pointless, lengthy rap on his immobile boat. The jokes were kiddy humor that never quite hit their mark. A few were dragged out, such as dumb blond Lucy who repeated everything Susan said. The addition of hot, barely dressed women in every other scene was clear desperation to keep everyone focused.

Some might enjoy this movie but since a large portion of it was making fun of the Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter I guess I was left out of the loop, not having seen either of them. I still probably wouldn't have found the jokes funny. I sort of knew what I was getting into when the 7:30 showing emptied out and the age range was 13-15.

One thing my friend Rob mentioned as we came out of the theater that I agreed with: there weren't enough characters. If you go to the Epic Movie Website, all characters on the intro page are pretty much the entire cast.

Overall, they could have been a little more imaginative with the jokes. It just wasn't funny to watch a champagne bottle get thrown at P-Diddy's head. Also, they could have done a little more with Borat instead of just sticking him in there in the end. Alas, there were the girls in bikini's in the next frame to keep us from nodding off!

How do I rate this film? A random reviewer wrote that it was better than Date Movie but worse than Scary Movie. Sounds about right.

New Feature: Countdown to Spring Training

A countdown clock was added to this blog for the date that NYY Pitchers and Catchers report to spring training.

As many of you already know, pitcher and catchers are the first players on the team to report to spring training, followed by the position players. This date (February 14 for the Yankees, also Valentine's Day) is the official beginning of spring training. It is the date that all baseball fans have impatiently been waiting for since October.

As given in a previous post, here are the reporting dates for all major league teams.

YANKEES: A-Rod's Clutchness

Replacement Level Yankees Weblog did an article on A-Rod's Clutchness (or Lack Thereof). I found this interesting because, unlike other writers who just tell us he is failing every time he strikes out with the Yankees down by any amount of runs, this was a scientific study. Real statistics were used to evaluate his clutchness, including statistics specific to the latter innings. One of the ways they evaluated him was by studying his stats when the Yankees were down by 1, 2, 3 runs or tied in the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings. They singled out those statistics. After looking at the chart, they determined you "can see a pretty severe falloff" though it was only statistics for 204 plate appearances. The article also deals with other claims, such as: A-Rod only comes through when the Yankees are already ahead. I'll let you read it.

I have always been a fan of A-Rod, whether or not he comes through in the clutch. He is an intimidating figure at home plate and is yet another deep bat on the Yankees lineup. Not to mention he is right handed and the Yankees are left-hand heavy.

MLB: Mets (Sele) and Boston (Drew)

In baseball news outside the Yankees, the Mets have made another insignificant acquisition, signing Aaron Sele to a minor league contract. He went 8-6 with the Dodgers in 2006, posting a 4.53 ERA but his second half was terrible. Rotoworld predicts that he is a long shot for the starting rotation. They also believe this was the best offer he was being given this off-season, at his age.

And out in Boston, old news has been revived as the Evil Empire Redux is set to announce its acquisition of JD Drew. I believe the contract took so long because Boston wanted to ensure it had a big enough safety net in case Drew lands a spot on the DL. Rotoworld reports, "If Drew goes on the disabled list with a right shoulder problem in the third year of the deal, the Sox can void the final two years of the contract. If he is disabled in the fourth year, the Sox can void the final year of the deal." Don't you wish the Yankees had that security with Pavano?

It's Getting To That Time of the Year

That's right. Baseball season is just around the corner and spring training is right at our doorsteps. Finally we will get to shed a little bit of light on the talent the Yankees have acquired this off-season and how it will stack up against the drastically changed Boston pitching staff. Here is a list of worth-mentioning start dates for the Yankees:

  • February 14 - Pitchers and Catchers report (Valentine's Day!)
  • February 15 - First workout
  • February 19 - Position Players report (Presidents' Day)
  • February 20 - First full workout
  • March 1 - First spring training exhibition game (against the Twins)
  • March 12 - Yankees exhibition game at Boston
  • April 2 - Yankees Home Opener (against Tampa Bay)
Unlike last season where the Yankees' first games were on the road out west (starting against the Oakland A's I believe) the Yankees are starting this season at home against Tampa Bay. It should be fun. Single game tickets go on sale this Wednesday, January 31, at 10AM.

The 2007 Spring Training Reporting Dates are slightly different for all teams so be sure to check that site if you are a brother from another mother. The Mets' schedule is a day or two behind the Yankees in terms of reporting for spring training.

MLB.com reports that the Yankees will be hosting Interleague games against 3 NL teams: Mets (Subway Series), Pirates, and D-Backs (Randy). The dates when Boston comes to the Bronx are April 27-29, May 21-23, and Aug. 28-30.

Click here for the full 2007 Yankees Schedule, starting with spring training games in March.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

METS: Willies Deal Set to Avoid Embarassment

Michael Kay mentions on a January 24th that the Mets were originally offering under $1 million per year in his contract. They were, in effect, spitting in his face with such an embarrassing number. When the Wallace article came out, the Mets quickly rushed to avoid embarrassment and offered him a better contract. We have seen the true colors of the Wilpons. The Mets organization has vastly overpaid on its recent players but Randolf was a key player in getting the Mets to the playoffs. The Mets organization is making a lot more money now with SNY and its new ballpark coming soon and this original offer by the Mets is a shame. No amount, not even the new, slightly better offer, can make up for this. Torre was rewarded in 96 for his job well done with an increased salary, so every day that Willie's contract lingered it was becoming more and more an embarrassing toward the organization. This is why they rushed to a new contract for Willie, not because they cared or appreciated his efforts. SHAME SHAME SHAME!

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Connery and Everyone Else

I have recently heard arguments that the new James Bond (Daniel Craig) is just as good, maybe even better than the original Bond (Sean Connery). I say, it is a bit presumptuous to make such a statement after only one performance. The performance was good nevertheless, Casino Royale was fantastic.

I went a little old school tonight, watching From Russia With Love starring Sean Connery. The tricks in the older bond films may be less dramatic and daring but they still have a similar effect. In a way, they are just as entertaining. What is exceptional about the Connery series is the superb story line (the original Bond films were based on Ian Flemming's novels. The newer films, notably Pierce Brosnan and after, were all new scripts) and an increased concentration on the characters.

Connery is fun to watch. He comes across as suave, something his predecessor had a hard time imitating (Peter Sellers played James Bond in the 1967 Casino Royale). Even a few of his successors did not quite get it right. His relaxed demeanor is something I admire, always staying cool under pressure. There is no over-dramatic acting, every action seems to hold the same expression. Whether he is having a conversation with a beautiful woman, a fellow agent, or a murderer, he remains cool under pressure and is able to think constructively, uninhibited by fear, anger, or other emotions.

This is who James Bond is. If Daniel Craig can continue this trend then I do say he will be remembered.

Why You Should Have Anti-Virus

Found a funny/imaginative video a while back and just relocated it. It's about a stick figure virus gone mad, wreaking havoc on the desktop and a few applications. I won't tell you who wins. Pretty funny.

METS: No, I Don't Want No Scrubs

Found an interesting article in today's Newsday ("Mets spend on everyone but Willie") in which Wallace Matthews believes the Mets have overspent for almost every player this off-season except, it appears, on Willie. He describes Willie's treatment as "the kind of thing the Yankees do, the kind of thing the Mets were supposed to be better than." The Yankees were supposed to be the "Evil Empire" and the Mets were supposed to be "The Amazings." When a team decides to up their payroll (as the Mets recently have) there will always be questions about why certain players received such generous contracts. But the Mets are now the Yankees in this sense. They spend ridiculous money on big-time players, some succeeding and some failing (look at the Red Sox organization, they coined the phrase "Evil Empire" then go out and spend $50.1 million to negotiate with a Japanese pitcher who has never thrown a pitch in the majors). The Mets also held the biggest payroll in the National League in 2006, behind 5 American League teams. There are reasons why a pitchers ERA is supposed to improve when he moves from the AL to NL.

Here are a bunch of criticism's from Mr. Matthews in which he believes players this off-season were overpaid/undeserving compared to the treatment Willie is getting:

  • $10.8 million for three years of Scott Schoeneweis
  • $1.25 million for Jorge Sosa
  • more than doubled the yearly salary of Endy Chavez, from $800,000 to $1.725 million
  • bought a plane ticket for 41-year-old Ruben Sierra (joke)
  • rewarded Guillermo Mota for his drug suspension with a two-year, $5-million deal, even though he won't start earning his pay until Memorial Day (who gave him the drugs?)
  • threw $10 million at Tom Glavine without another serious bidder in the hunt (aside from the Braves)
  • $7.5 million for 40-year-old Moises Alou
All of this, and they don't even seem to be willing to give Willie the contract he deserves, as the Manager who brought the injury-ravaged rotation so far in the playoffs. The reason why the Mets were left with no viable options was not because of Willie, it was because of a lack of foresight in the front office.

The Mets clearly had no problem spending on aged and ineffective players this off-season so why is it taking so long for them to give Willie a contract? As Matthews says, "Now, they are treating him as if he should just be thankful to have a job." After all Willie has done, what a disgrace it is on the part of the Mets.

The Yankees have had their share of criticism from Pavano to Johnson to Wright. Now none of them seem to be playing an important role in the Yankees 2007. The Yankees turned that page and have looked to get younger this off-season (but still managed enough veteran presence to compete with the high-spending American League). The Mets seem to be approaching that page (aging Pedro, shaky Wagner, ridiculous contract for Carlos Beltran, not to forget the smaller contracts where the Mets still appear to be overspending). It is the baseball circle of life.

Even after being rejected by 12 teams in his quest for a manager's job, one thing is for sure. Willie definitely deserves better than the jerking around the Mets are giving him.

UPDATE: Just a few moments after the Newsday article was released, new news came out that the Mets and Willie have agreed to a three-year contract ($5.45 million in total) with a $2.5 million club option for 2010. In those three years, Willie will be making a little more than Jorge Sosa. That would have been some really bad publicity if he didn't. I hate to say that the timing is just a coincidence. Nonetheless, Willie deserves this extension. CONGRATS!

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

MLB: Tomo Ohka

The Toronto Blue Jays have apparently come to terms on a one-year deal that will bring Tomo Ohka into Canada.

If this isn't a sign that the Mets are content with filling their rotation with farm arms, then I don't know what else there is. The Mets, whose entire rotation is one giant question mark, must have bigger plans in mind after passing on Zito and Ohka. Tomo Ohka was once praised by Ken Davidoff of Newsday as a reasonable solution to the Mets' bottom-of-the-rotation issues. Those talks waned soon after the article.

I guess his 4.82 ERA in the AL wasn't very attractive and I don't fault the Mets for that (though he most likely would have seen better numbers in the NL). Plus, he would still be playing with a damaged shoulder. The Mets' offense will likely carry them into the post-season again in 2007 and Ohka is not a playoff solution. They are better off going with their farm arms than Ohka, giving Maine and Perez their deserved shots. There is always room for improvement into the season as the Mets do have some trading chips in the minors.

YANKEES: Cano to #24

The New York Post reports that Robinson Cano has changed his number to 24. This was done to free up Roger Clemens' number: 22.

"I was happy to give up the number to a future Hall of Famer if Roger comes aboard," Cano said in a statement. "Hopefully, he will be one of my teammates, I'll have the pleasure of playing with him."

In 1999, Roger Clemens had to switch his jersey number to 22, one above the jersey number he held in his previous stints with Boston and Toronto. At the time, Paul O'Neill wore number 21. The Yankees wanted to make sure he didnt have that problem again.

Take all this as a sign that the Yankees are very interested in Clemens and believe they have a good shot. Certainly many things work in their favor. Money surely won't be a problem as the Yankees have freed up millions of dollars in trades this offseason and Cashman is a big fan of the flexible short-term contract that Roger would be demanding.

YANKEES: P. Abrahams on F. Rodriguez

I recently inquired about the Yankees' interest in Francisco Rodriguez with LoHud Yankees Blog writer Peter Abrahams. Here is what he thinks about Rodriguez and the closer role for the Yankees in the near future:

Russell writes: I noticed Francisco Rodriguez is eligible for free agency after 2008. What do you think the chances are of the Yankees going after him? My personal opinion, but I believe he is the second best closer in the majors behind Rivera.

Answer: K-Rod makes sense on plenty of levels. But I think the ideal plan would be to sign Mo to an extension for two years and then see what develops internally. It could be Scott Proctor, who has plenty of guts. Or maybe Cashman takes one of his many high-ceiling kids and converts him. There’s a theory that every organization has a pitcher who would make a good closer, it’s just a matter of figuring out who that is.

Monday, January 22, 2007

Long Island Job Fair

Went to the Long Island Job Fair at the Marriott Hotel in Melville, NY today. It wasn't exactly what I was looking for. Out of the 17 total companies looking for work, a good 80-90% of them were looking to hire for a sales position and/or had commissioned pay. I am looking for something more with a base salary.

I went in looking for a position in purchasing/distribution only to be told by many companies that those operations are done at corporate headquarters, a good distance from where I live. One of the guys said he would fax my resume to headquarters but I don't expect much nor do I wish to travel to New Jersey 5 days a week.

Some of the jobs looking to hire were sort of a joke. Linens N' Things and Sleepy's were there and looking for sales representatives. A few mortgaging and investment companies that didn't promise much in terms of pay or benefits. I inquired about purchasing at Sleepy's and she said she would "keep my resume on file." Not too promising.

Overall, me and the friend I went with (Matt) looked like the youngest people there. Everyone looked as if they were in their 40's. We made friends with a woman behind us who was looking for medical insurance since her husband doesn't get any with his job and they need some for the kids. I saw her right before she walked out and she looked disappointed with all the people looking to hire for sales. Even the Army was recruiting there.

I came home with a smile on my face and my mom knew what it was all about. She told me that job fairs are rarely a good place to go when looking for employment. She even threw out a wild guess and asked if Burger King was employing. She was right.

This fair was a disappointment but at least I learned a lesson. Don't waste your time going to the fair unless they give you a list of the companies hiring (and the positions they are hiring for). Often they are looking to fill cheap, low-level positions.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

NFL: Saints/Bears - Colts/Pats

2 NFL playoff games today, Saints vs Bears (3pm on Fox) and Colts vs Patriots (6:30pm on CBS Channel 2). I'm hoping for a Saints-Colts Super Bowl.

Super Bowl stuff:
Pregame - Cirque du Soleil
National Anthem - Billy Joel
Halftime Show - Prince and Beyonce Knowles

All Super Bowl data can be found here.

Reason for wanting Saints: New Orleans itself could really use a boost after hurricane Katrina a while back. Also, Brees, Bush, McCallister, and Colston are amazing. Colston is an alma mater of Hofstra University, my alma mater.

Reason for wanting Colts: Other than disliking the Red Sox organization and some of its fans (Patriots are in New England, Massachusets), Peyton Manning deserves some credibility and I would hate to see his abilities questioned.

Game Time for Saints/Bears (3rd - 11:20):
Bears are up on Saints 16-14, a much better score for the Saint's considering they were down 16-0 at one point. Saints have gotten off to a rough start, fumbling 3 times in the first quarter but a strong 80-something run by Bush in the 3rd put them back in the game. Saints have the ball.

(4th - 14:23): Touchdown by Chicago puts the Bears up 25-14.


UPDATE:
The Saints lost to the bears but the most important game was a win for me! The Colts beat the Patriots and are advancing to the Super Bowl! Manning deserves this every bit and his time has finally come. It couldn't have been a more beautiful/breathtaking game. I love watching Brady lose.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

When the Weather Outside is Frightful...

Boy is it cold outside! Especially at the Wyndham Condominiums where there is a 10 degree drop in temperature from the buildings bowl-shaped structure. The wind just grabs the side of the building and wraps all the way around, reaching its peak right at our doors. The residents don't notice it as much because they are only out one or 2 times a day, but we do. Nothing we can do but take the hit. There is one study I would like to do however.

How many times do we actually come from inside the lobby to the residents car door just to close it for them? We certainly don't make it there in time to open it for them unless the resident is preoccupied with something inside the car or if we are standing outside already. And I do have to say that 90% of them are capable enough to give it that light tap themselves. Management is looking over our shoulders and we are expected to respond. One bright outside (non-resident related) visitor give me her humble opinion the other day that I thoroughly enjoyed hearing, calling our job "gaudy," meaning it is showy but in a tasteless way. Much wasted effort to try and 'class' up the place. What makes it worse is that management has a board of residents that waste their time holding meetings about such topics. Do they ever ask the guys on the front line what is best for everyone? Hardly, management acts as the boards liaison (not ombudsman, they are required to register a fair settlement). To sound unbiased, I do have to say I understand management wanting us being on our toes. People need baskets, elderly need their canes and groceries picked out of their back seats, and sometimes they even need a hand getting up. This is not the problem though because most of these people are easily distinguishable. What is the problem are the younger residents who get out of the car with enough ease that they don't really need our help. Most tell us to stop wasting our time but there is not much you can do with the boogie man on your back. You spend a good amount of time racing people to their doors, braving the cold, moving in and out of the heat, and developing pneumonia. Not that I expect any of this to be changed, the place is run with an iron fist (at least on its facade). It's just good to get some of this off your chest sometimes.

Despite all this, the day wasn't half that bad. As I mentioned in an earlier post, depending on who I work with, my day is either bright and sunny or dark and grim. Today was bright, worked with Ricardo, a fellow Rocky and technology freak. We talked about the potential of the PSP, the upcoming iPod 6th generation, Blockbuster's Online system, computer maintenance, LCD television screens, and all that jazz. Worked with Mel also, who is the same as always... telling guests that their parents' apartment is 3 blocks away. Good times.

Another thing to beef up my day was a visitor who decided to bring his accordion and play it in the lobby. This is the first time I have seen anything like this at work. The residents really enjoyed his music and some even came from their apartments and took a seat to watch him play. He started playing out of nowhere (they didn't stop to question him because they identified him as former resident), but after he was done he told us that he promised a friend he would do it for the building. Nice music, all upbeat. I admit, I was very captivated. It has been a long time since hearing a real musician, one that doesn't have their music enhanced in the sound studio. It brought me back to my days in high school ensemble.

Unfortunately, right before I left work today I had to help a resident off the floor in his bedroom and onto his bed. He wasn't feeling well enough to stand up and his wife wasn't able to lift him by herself. This man has had multiple trips to the hospital (most by ambulance) and I don't see why no one has considered him being under a more watchful eye. The apartment, as are many of them, was 100 degrees and smelled like Mrs. Campbell's apartment; hate to be gruesome but it smelled like rotting flesh (as if I knew what that smelled like).

Friday, January 19, 2007

YANKEES: On Trading A-Rod

Alcoholic: Yankees needs to Trade Arod and make room for Bernie for the last time

I hope the Yankees Trade Arod make room for Bernie. Andy Phillips will have to play third base to replace Arod.

Who cares about Yankees losing Arod with his power on the right side? Arod’s not clutch and chokes in the playoffs anyway

Yankees can scores alot of runs without Arod. Yankees could get more young prospects in return for him.

-----------------------------

My Response: I have to say, I am an A-Rod fan. I enjoy watching him on the Yankees though I cringe every time they throw him a + fastball inside. Something’s wrong with him, he used to be able to turn on that fastball for a double down the left field line.

As for trading A-Rod… are you guys mad? We are a PRIMARILY left-hitting lineup with our big bats (homerun guys) coming from A-Rod, Giambi, Matsui, and Cano. Not only is A-Rod a threat but he is the only right-hander. i don’t care if he isn’t clutch. He carried us into the postseason 2 ago and did fine last season. This isn’t football, you don’t lose 3 in a row because one guy sucks.

As for trading A-Rod and putting Phillips at 3rd… Damon, Jeter, Abreu, Giambi, Matsui, Cano, Posada, Meintkeiwicz, Phillips… I don’t think so. Look at the middle of that lineup… lefty, lefty, lefty, lefty. You gonna stick Posada up in between Giambi and Matsui? or Abreu and Giambi? Posada is good, but that is not the force that the Yankees are looking for. It certainly doesn’t contend with Boston’s lineup when A-Rod is taken out.

As for signing Doug… he is a veteran with an awesome glove who signed a 1-year contract at a cheap price for the Yankees. Wait till the free agent market has a few promising 1st baseman and then we will see the value of signing Doug for 1 year.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

The Yankees Roll Call

Here is a clip of the infamous Yankees Roll Call. It never gets old. This is why you want to sit in the bleachers when you go to the Stadium. Even better, it is happening at a Yankees-Boston game and the first person called on is Johnny Damon!

Do You Remember the Time? - Jackson

Came across the Budweiser commercial having fun with Janet Jackson's half-time SuperBowl "performance" with Justin Timberlake. We all know how funny those SuperBowl ad's can be, which, according to The Wall-Street Journal, can cost a company up to $2.6 million for a 30-second commercial slot. For that kind of money, the commercial better be good, and it better stick (get it?)

I think this one does the trick:

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

MLB: Gonzalez to Atlanta

Reports have it that Mike Gonzalez of the Pirates has been traded to Atlanta for Adam LaRoche and an unnamed player/prospect. It was, at a time, rumored that Melky Cabrera would have been included in this trade, sending Gonzalez to New York, but those talks died down. Gonzalez would have been a valuable addition to the Yankees bullpen but after the Johnson trade, in which the Yankees acquired Vizcaino, there wasn't as much a dire necessity for the LHP.

Melky Cabrera has been saved for yet another day but may may still remain trade bait if the Yankees were to spot something else of their liking. Cabrera is the Yankees' 4th outfielder and a fan favorite, most remembered for robbing Manny Ramirez of a homerun in the late innings of a close game between the two rivals.

The Price is Right, But Can I Keep Going?!

Just saw one really unintelligent lady on The Price is Right TV show.

She was playing something called the "Card Game" and was playing for a brand new car (the make and model are irrelevant). The whole idea of the card game was to come within $2,000 of the price of the car, without going over, and she would win the car. The way it worked is they gave her a set of cards, face down, and she was to select one card. The card that she selected had a monetary amount on it; she selected $2,000. The $2,000 was added onto the fixed amount given, which was $10,000, so for all you math majors, she had $12,000 to start. They then gave her a new set of cards that were actual playing cards and were also turned face down. She selected one card at a time until she wanted to stop the price. For example, a 5 of clubs adds $500 to the price, a 9 of spades adds $900 to the price. She got 2 or 3 cards until she stumbled on a wild card. This is where it got interesting, ha ha! The wild card allows her to add ANY AMOUNT to her current price. This card was designed to be a lucky card, where she wouldn't want to pick up any more cards after because she would be at the amount she thought would win her the car. I know you see where this is going...

She asked Bob if she could select more cards after giving her amount!

Bob kept asking her why she would want to select more cards if she was sure about the price but she kept consulting with the crowd then repeatedly asking if she could select more cards after. Clearly didn't get it. So she gives her amount but she doesn't even give the amount she wants to add on. She gives the amount that she wants it to add up to (perhaps she can't do math either). He puts the number on the board and guess what she does?

She asks if she can continue selecting cards!

Bob told her no and that she is not allowed to select any more cards because the allotted time is up. Good move, you don't want to confuse her any more. She might put up a fight saying the rules weren't clearly explained to her or something.

Turns out she lost by $5. No joke. Stupid is as stupid does, she got what she deserves. And they saved the car for someone who is less accident prone. They should really check to see if people passed their drivers license test before offering them a new car.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

TGI Fridays Deal and Yankees News

TGI Fridays is supposed to be having some limited-time deal. I believe it is $12.99 for an appetizer, meal, and desert. Sounds nice, the chicken in the commercial made my mouth a little wet so I am headed over there tonight with my girlfriend to get some!

On another note, Yankees agreed to terms with Luis Vizcaino: one-year, $3 million. Also, Peter Abraham's believes that by signing a one-year contract to Meintkeiwicz, the Yankees are freeing up a spot next season to sign Mark Teixiera (1B), who is coming to the end of his contract with Texas. That would be nice as Giambi isn't looked at much by the Yankees as a full-time first baseman anymore.

METS: Ruben Sierra Minor League Deal Expected

The Times reports that the Mets are likely to sign Ruben Sierra to a minor-league deal, in case they need an extra bat. Sierra has played with Texas, Oakland, Yankees, Cincinnati, Toronto, Mets, Seattle, and most recently with the Twins. The Mets are believed to be the only team interested.

I like Ruben Sierra but as a full-time Designated Hitter, he is like Big Papi with a lot less clutch. Still, the Mets could use his bat if and when they are to play American League teams.

Monday, January 15, 2007

Tony's Problem

Here is Tony's problem:

"Have you ever noticed how nice it is to be around someone who is complimentary and sincerely kind and warm? Conversely, have you ever thought about how annoying it is to spend five minutes with the person who's always finding fault in everything and everyone?" - David Lieberman

Try spending an 8-hour shift with the latter. Just as Lieberman says, "These people seem to drain the life right out of you." Which explains why I go to sleep after working with Tony and go out with my friends every time I work with Nick or Wendell. People, I won't name names, don't like working with Connie because he is limited with his bad knees. I love working with Connie because he creates a positive work environment. That is most important to me.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

NFL: Brady

NFL: Chargers and Pats

The Chargers play the Pats today in their home field at 4:30, Channel 2. LaDainian Tomlinson is expected to be a big factor if the Chargers were to come away with the win. LETS GO CHARGERS!!!

UPDATE: Pats win. What a disapointment.

Saturday, January 13, 2007

24 and Clemens Update


... so bad a$$!

24 has two, two-hour episodes coming this Sunday and Monday night, both 8-10pm. I will be missing Sunday night but you can bet I will be taping and watching it before Monday's. Jack Bauer is back and better than ever! 24 is a nice little segue from the NFL post-season into the MLB start of spring training. When camp starts, there is going to be a lot on TV to watch (and a lot of games to attend). American Idol starts up this Tuesday also, but who knows where that show's going to be without the Soul Patrol!?

Update on Clemens: MLB.com is reporting that Clemens is behind schedule and could need more time than last season if he were to return. This news puts further pressure on the Yankees to find someone internally to fill the void until possible trade talks or a late Clemens acquisition. Who knows, they might even find that Hughes or Sanchez is MLB ready and they won't need Clemens at all. It certainly couldn't hurt though.

NFL: Colts and Saints

Yes! Both my teams moved further in the playoffs. More the Colts than the Saints. Colts have Manning, Saints have Bush and Brees. Both capable of dismantling Brady and the Patriots.

Colts game wasn't too exciting. Lots of field goals, no touchdowns.

Saints game was incredible. Though I like Philly with Garcia (plus they are hometown of Rocky), I was rootin for the Saints because I like watching Bush and it's an incredible underdog story, coming off last season with a win percentage of (I think it was) .188%. Now that's amazing even though they got some help from new key players this season. Long live McAllister!

FILM: The Illusionist

2nd time watching. First in theaters, second in my living room. Enjoyed it thoroughly both times. The Illusionist is an all-around nice film. Starring Edward Norton (one of my favorite), the beautiful Jessica Biel, and Paul Giamatti, it is a story of the art of illusion that requires your fullest attention. Try not to watch it with outspoken person(s) because you will not fully enjoy its manipulation. I, myself, try not to watch such movies with my dad while my mom is in the room because the dogs follow and she has to go through her routine of saying rediculous things aloud such as "I don't understand why the dogs are drueling all over the couch and my leg while I am sitting here eating ice cream," or something like that. Same routine every night.

Anyway, here is a shot from the film. I know you will enjoy this one, unless you are one of the outspoken =P

Thank You Pet Supplies

Weeks later, my double-charge from Pet Supplies has been resolved. I bought my mom a gift certificate a few days before Christmas and problems with their computer system lead to a double-charge. I came back about a week later when I noticed it on my credit card bill and they told me they would take my information and credit me back the next week when the lady comes in. The lady came in the next week but they didn't tell me that they needed my credit card to process the credit. Luckily I called back and they told me it didn't go through because they needed my credit card. Thanks for telling me :::sarcasm:::! They got it this time and it showed up on my statement a few days later.

Amazon Order Frustration

Damn you, Computer Geeks!

Ordered a Grandtec Ultimate XP Pro through Amazon, being sold by Computer Geeks, and it had no mention of being used. After spending a good amount of time on the phone with Computer Geeks, before the purchase, they gave me no impression that what was being sold on Amazon was a used item. They weren't even that sure about the item being sold, saying things like "The picture shows cables, so it must come with cables." Though the picture on their site (1 of 3) shows cables, the Amazon site did not. Can't get in touch with them until the weekend/holiday is over because their customer service only runs on business days. When I received the shipment information though, it did link me to the product, and IT IS USED. Barring any exchange problems, with ground shipping being up to 6 days and having to exchange this product, I should finally have my product in a couple of weeks... thanks for nothing.

Friday, January 12, 2007

YANKEES: Spring Training Non-Roster Invites

The Yankees have 20 non-roster invites to camp. Here they are, alphabetized by last name (I bolded the guys I a m looking forwardto seeing):

INF Andy Cannizaro
C Francisco Cervelli
INF Angel Chavez
C Raul Chavez
RHP Tyler Clippard
C Ben Davis
INF Eric Duncan
OF Brett Gardner
RHP Phil Hughes
RHP Steven Jackson
LHP Ben Kozlowski
RHP Ross Ohlendorf
INF Ramiro Pena
C Peter Pilittere
C Todd Pratt
C Omir Santos
OF Jose Tabata
INF Marcos Vechionacci
RHP Kevin Whelan
RHP Steven White

Humberto Sanchez (one of the three players acquired in the Sheffield trade) was put on the Yankees' 25-man roster. He is another guy I am looking forward to seeing.

This site has all current Yankees and prospects.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

3 Important Pieces of Technology

For me at least.

Found all 3 of these pieces of technology for bargain prices on Amazon.



First is a GE AV23294 A/V & Game Switch which is exactly what is says: an A/V switch that lets me easily move between my DVD player, PS2, and laptop. With this switch, I no longer have to pull out the component cables in the back of the television and reinsert the new cables for the device I want to use. I simply plug all my component cables (up to four) into the back of this switch and when I want to use a device I press the number on the front of the switch that corresponds with the cables. Bingo! No longer have to rotate my TV, unplug and replug any component cables (except when I plug them into this switch :) Found this on Amazon, which was offering it through Beach Audio. It was cheaper on the actual Beach Audio site ($17.99) but I wanted to consolidate all my items into one purchase through Amazon. Price: $22.39.



Second is a
Grandtec Ultimate XP Pro PC to Video Component Converter. Yet another extremely confusing name for a simple product. Well, not really that simple. This component converter is supposed to be my answer for getting picture on my laptop converted onto my television set. I have tried this before but to no avail. Went to MicroCenter and was informed that I need to tell my laptop to output the signal to the TV through the graphics card settings. You can get to these settings by right clicking the desktop, clicking properties, settings tab, and then the advanced button. What was confusing for me (and what took so long to make a decision) is whether I should use the S-Video or VGA jack on my laptop for the best picture. My television, as well as every other one we own, is component cable only. There is no S-Video jack, which is available in newer TV's. I was told that VGA would be better than S-Video for my laptop so I decided to buy the converter, which comes with an S-Video cable also, but I think that might be for the Television and not the computer. I am still a little shaky about buying this product though. I mainly want it to play movies saved on my external hard drive and am hoping there will be very good picture quality. I won't know until it comes. Also, the component shown on Amazon does not show or list the device as coming with cables or a remote, as it is offered at RadioShack. However, on their website, and as the customer service guy at ComputerGeeks.com (the company that is offering the device through Amazon) said, it is only pictured with the cables and remote; not shown individually. At nearly half the price they offer at RadioShack I figured it's worth a shot. A man at RadioShack told me that I would want to buy the Grandtec Ultimate XP Pro to convert the RGB laptop signal to the NTSC and PAL signals of the TV but I wasn't willing to pay $100 for the device. Luckily, searching Amazon, I found it cheaper, being offered through ComputerGeeks.com. Price: $52.99.



Thirdly is a Logitech MX518 Gaming Optical Mouse which I need because my Microsoft optical mouse's right click button just decided to stop working. Frustrated with the defect I decided to buy a Logitech mouse, which I heard was more reliable. The mouse has a cool ergonomic design with a nice looking metal cover. It was a little more than I was willing to pay since I don't plan on using it for gaming or anything, but I was sold on its quality and performance. Plus, I like its multiple buttons that are programmable to do different things on different applications. It will be especially helpful with web surfing, having 'back' and 'forward' click buttons right next to my thumb. The mouse is corded... I already have a cordless mouse for travel, plus cordless mice tend to falter sometimes in their response. Price: $39.99.


YANKEES: Pettitte Press Conference


Andy Pettitte press conference is over and it was a good one. You won't find many people that I have as much admiration for as Andy. I can't even put the press conference into words. Look for it on YESNetwork.com. WELCOME BACK ANDY!!! (about time)

METS: Far From Exciting Offseason

Not only is Pedro still reiterating that he will return mid-season (July/August) at the earliest, but the Mets still haven't picked up another reliable arm for their rotation, which consists of the aging Glavine + El Duque, John Maine, and Oliver Perez. The Mets offense is strong enough to withstand the weakness in their rotation but don't expect it to be a cake walk like last year.

The Mets have already whiffed on B. Zito (Giants), D. Matsuzaka (Red Sox), K. Igawa (Yankees) and M. Mulder (Cardinals). They were also believed to be looking at T. Ohka but those talks have been no where in sight as of late. Now Newsday reports that the Mets have reached a preliminary agreement with Scott Schoeneweis for $10.8 million over 3 years. Not only is this an unwise move to spend this much on a decent (at best) pitcher, but he is also 33 and it is a long contract for someone who has a career ERA around 4.25. He has been in the majors around 8 years and they certainly can't expect him to be pushing into his prime at this point. I haven't looked at the free agent market but I am willing to bet that he was one of the only decent lefty relievers left out there (they should have taken a closer look at Villone since the Yankees appear to be relying on Vizcaino). This comes after the Mets failed to sign John Thomson, who refused to sign with the Mets citing he didn't want to pitch to Paul LoDuca and he doesn't trust Cliff Floyd's defense (Floyd is no longer with the team).

Though he didn't come straight out and say it, I don't blame him for not wanting to pitch to Pauly. Matter of fact, I don't see how any player with teenage kids would want to join the Mets as long LoDuca is hanging around. As some may remember, LoDuca was reported last season meeting little girls at 18+ Long Island clubs (such as Bridgeview). LoDuca was still married at the time and has a child. Notice that Mets were offering a chatting session as a prize on MLB.com a while ago and LoDuca was not included in that sweepstakes. Friends of mine have also spotted LoDuca at Posh (the Garden City Hotel's club--older girls, whew) with David Wright and Cliff Floyd. Wright is believed to be the one who did all the talking for LoDuca at Bridgeview, needing to mention that LoDuca is a Met.

You can tell I'm no Pauly fan.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

METS: Shoenwho?

Scott Shoeneweis is believed to be on the verge of signing a 3-year deal with the Mets. I am going to take this from Rotoworld.com since I couldn't put this any better:

"Scott Schoeneweis is due $10.8 million under the terms of the three-year deal he's set to sign with the Mets.

And we thought the Jays were crazy to give him a two-year, $5.2 million contract two years ago. After a decent first year in Toronto, he was awful last season and the club was thrilled to get rid of him at the deadline. Now he's getting an even better deal after 14 1/3 good innings with the Reds over the final two months of last season. We'd still like to know if he had even one two-year offer on the table from another team. Score another one for agent Scott Boras."

Stay away Mets! You still have Feliciano.

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

YANKEES: Johnson Offically Gone

Randy Johnson is officially with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the four respective players have been handed over to the Yankees. This has been seen as a fair trade for both sides though I can't help but think the Yankees walked away with a steal on this one. Though the Yankees didn't get any of the D-backs best prospects, they still obtained four workable players, including Luis Vizcaino, who is in the majors. They also managed to only send $2 million to Arizona, saving $14 million dollars this upcoming season on this trade alone.

Of course, they are also the intangibles... freeing up a spot for Clemens or giving another Yankee a shot, and ridding the club of Johnson's personality, which Clemens clearly dislikes.

To Arizona's credit, their division/league is much less competitive than what Johnson would face if he had stayed with the Yankees, and they should get somewhat of a better performance if his back heals fine.

Turning Down Interviews

I have respectfully declined 2 job interviews. One a recruiting firm and the other as a stock broker trainee. I have decided the recruiting firm is not in my line of work and the stock broker job is not enough pay for the sacrifice in hours. The 7-7 work day is not a killer, but travel adds another 2 hours to the day. There are benefits included but I have my doubts about the line of work.

I am fresh out of college, perhaps a trip to the career center will serve me well.

Monday, January 8, 2007

YANKEES: Welcome Kei Igawa

The press conference for Japanese pitcher Kei Igawa (YES Network) is officially over. When asked about the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, he compared it to the rivalry his Japanese team had with Matsuzaka's team in Japan. He expects it to be similar in that sense and recognizes that the Yankees need to beat the Red Sox...

Sunday, January 7, 2007

The End of My Shift

The day started out nice. Worked with Mel and Ricardo until 3:30. Ricardo and I talked mainly about football, the iPod, and a book he was reading for one of his classes called "The Belly of the Beast" which is a compilation of letters written between Jack Abbott, a convict, and author Norman Mailer. I didn't get a chance to read the book, though I did skim the critic reviews on the back. Chances are I will pick it up by the end of this week. I am into a book right now called "The World Is Flat" which explains how people all across the world have practically become our next door neighbors with all the technology developed over the past few decades (fiber-optics, etc.). It is a good read for a business major but far from exciting. Maybe I can switch between the two books.

I got in a conversation with my girlfriend the other day and now she has me seriously considering buying another iPod (aside from my nano) with a video. Before I bought my nano, I had heard rumors of a 6th generation coming out soon that will have a totally different design. I decided to hold up on the video, and was glad I did, because the nano's size is perfect for running. There seems to be speculation about the release date and design for the 6th generation iPod so I am not exactly sure what I am going to do. No hurry.

On to football. Mel, the God that he is, unleashed his television for the games today. It came in handy as us New Yorkers got the sheer joy of watching the Jets get slaughtered in the 4th and Giants lose by 3. How disappointing. I am not much of a football fan, more of a baseball fan as you can probably tell, but my interest is slightly rising. I am impartial between the two NY teams. I see qualities in both that I like. Odds are that I will favor the Jets being that one of the only reasons I enjoy watching the Giants is Tiki Barber and his career appears to be over. Baseball season starts soon!

So at 3:30 Nick and my sister came into work. Nick and I spent the majority of our talks on the topic of possible Yankee trades. He is all giddy about acquiring Scott Kazmir and I think that would be an awesome idea, except it would take an arm and a leg to get him away from Tampa at this point. But who knows, Cashman acquired some decent prospects this offseason and we may be in for a surprise come the trading deadline, depending on which direction Roger Clemens chooses.

Nick is a funny guy and I respect him a lot. He has a lot of heart and barely ever talks trash behind peoples backs, which is more than you can say for most people around us. Talk, talk, talk, that's all they do. Complaints about the places inefficiencies but nothing gets done because RSC wouldn't listen. Not that I mind, I'm just a part-timer. Just cause I told him I would, here is a picture of Nick (on his organizer, I won't tell =P):




One funny thing that always has people worried is the security camera that observes the door. As the story goes, Frank, one of the older concierges, was caught leaving his Dunkin' Donuts cup of coffee on top of the lobby desk. Management personally came to him with a picture of the cup on the desk. Yes, I understand, this destroys the classiness of our service, and all that jazz, but do they really need to carry a picture of the incident around with them? Printing out a photo of the cup adds unnecessary drama. It could have been discussed without throwing evidence at him (it shouldn't be conducted like a trial, it should be conducted as a constructive conversation between an employer and an employee). This is not the problem though. I understand management not wanting the cup of coffee sitting on the desk for a prolonged period of time but this story has been used to explain why doorman shouldn't do anything but stand there like a stool. For example, as a doorman, we are running around, and we often hide beverages that keep us hydrated. In a lonely lobby, when no one is around, taking a swig in front of the camera is forbidden. Why, do you ask? Management supposedly has a personal live feed on their laptop to watch our action. Isn't that a vote of confidence in your employees, using a camera to continuously monitor your employees' actions while you are home. God forbid a resident catches us going for a drink, we might need to be reprimanded. Countless concierge's have reminded doormen of the spooky camera that watches over us when we sleep (kind of like Santa Claus - he knows when we are sleeping and he knows when we're awake). Get a life Santa Claus.

So my shift comes to an end at 9pm, but not exactly. The 9pm guy has to walk Mrs. Campbell's dog, BeeCee, every single night after their shift is over. We are not on the clock but we are expected to walk the dog. She gives us $5. So, with my luck, the rain pours down at 9pm sharp and I make my way, with protest (as usual), up to the smelly, 200 degree, room. I place BeeCee in the stroller (this dog is no longer allowed to walk on the Condominiums carpets because it peed on it a few times--previously had bladder problems) and make my way into the pouring rain. BeeCee tries to get me to walk around the Condo's lawn, but I won't let it. No point in getting my shoes soaking wet so the dog can drag me through the mud and squat a dozen times. To be blunt, the dog hasn't gone to the bathroom once since I have been taking it out at 9pm and the doormen should no longer be EXPECTED to walk the dog anymore. I now walk BeeCee all over the Wyndham lawn, as nosy, dog-hating, residents snoop from their apartments above. I am hoping to get busted as the dog poops on the lawn, cleaning it up of course, so there can be a discussion about Wyndham employees walking the dog and this can all come to an end. Condominium's management has 'wisely' implemented a $100 fine for every time the dog deficates on Wyndham property so that would probably have to be included in the discussion. I am willing to take one for the team! Not that I am hoping for this but the resident can't walk the dog herself (she has dog walkers come to walk it for her) and if no one will be willing to walk the dog at 9 anymore, she is going to be in a jam. Not much I can say about that except that she needs an aide. She used to call down to the front desk every hour to ask for someone to come turn on her TV. She doesn't understand that her cable is coming from the cable box and that also needs to be on. I wrote her instructions to refer to for every time she has that problem but that failed miserably.

So I get done walking the dog and take the $5 she leaves for the 9pm doorman. I get back to the lobby and my sister is starving and wants me to go pick her up some food. Just great. I made a deal that I would sit behind the desk, the concierge on duty would become a doorman, and she would pick up her food. She gets to the underground Chinese food place (that Nick so brilliantly recommended, haha) and they want to charge her $13 and change for a small thing of sesame chicken. Yea right, she told them that she wouldn't accept it and that was that.

My day seemed so simple before I wrote this.

YANKEES: Kei Igawa


Japanese pitcher Kei Igawa is expected to be announced as a Yankee tomorrow (Monday).

Saturday, January 6, 2007

The Job Hunt

I started a job search diary, indicating my progress from this point on. My New Years resolution, as mentioned in a previous post, was to find a job. I have tried job hunting through online job sites: Monster, CareerBuilder, Craigslist. No progress thus far but it is only the beginning. Throughout my years at the Condominiums I have seen some college graduates find a job immediately and some take years. "Just keep posting and applying" they tell me. The more I post the more I increase my chances. I will start applying to jobs through the paper soon but I don't expect any more than what I will get through the online sites. Newspaper postings always seemed to me to be more geared toward people with years of experience to fill something higher than an entry-level position.

YANKEES: What About Villone?

Ron Villone, Yankee reliever, declined the Yankees' arbitration offer a few months ago. He is apparently looking for a 2-year deal and hasn't spoken to the Yankees since he declined the arbitration. He has been quoted as saying "Several other teams are more than interested" but he would like for the Yankees to be interested.

One team that has shown interest is the Mets, who need to upgrade their bullpen after reliever Guillermo Mota received a temporary ban for using illegal performance-enhancing drugs. Mota provided some important innings during the playoffs for the Mets (who faced a number of injuries to big players: Martinez, Sanchez, and El Duque) but the Mets have to wonder if it was him or the drugs that produced the results. One thing is for sure, pitching wasn't the problem during the playoffs because the Mets got surprisingly good pitching performances from their youngsters. Much like the Yankees (who failed to hit against Detroit's hard-throwing pitchers and Kenny "Pine Tar" Rogers), the Mets failed to get the hits when needed.

YANKEES: 2007 Yankees

Here is a good idea of what the Yankees' 25 man roster will look like beginning in 2007 (as of now):

Position Players

  1. Johnny Damon (CF)
  2. Derek Jeter (SS)
  3. Bobby Abreu (LF)
  4. Jason Giambi (DH)
  5. Alex Rodriguez (3B)
  6. Hideki Matsui (LF)
  7. Robinson Cano (2B)
  8. Jorge Posada (C)
  9. Doug Meintkiewicz (1B platoon)
  10. Melky Cabrera (Backup outfielder)
  11. Andy Phillips/Josh Phelps (1B platoon)
  12. Miguel Cairo (Utility infielder)
  13. Wil Nieves/Raul Chavez (Backup catcher)
Starting Rotation
  1. Chien-Ming Wang
  2. Andy Pettitte
  3. Mike Mussina
  4. Kei Igawa
  5. Pavano/Karstens/Rasner/Hughes/Sanchez/Clemens? - depending on who pitches and how they perform at spring training, there could be a slight shift in rotation spots. Obviously if Clemens were to come to NY, he wouldn't be slotted at #5
Bullpen (not in any specific order)
  1. Britton
  2. Bruney
  3. Proctor
  4. Farnsworth
  5. Vizcaino
  6. Myers
  7. Mo
That fills all 25 roster spots. As you can see, no room for Bernie. My guess is that the platoon at first is his only chance. Though the New York Post has suggested (albeit a small chance of it happening) that other chances include Cairo being the right-handed platoon/utility infielder alongside Doug, or Melky being traded. I have mixed feelings about the two suggestions.

METS: Trachsel Gone?


MLB.com reports that the Nationals have extended an offer to a number of free agents, including veteran Steve Trachsel. Trachsel is the only remaining Met from the Mets 2001 ballclub. Since then the team has practically been completely rebuilt.

YANKEES: What About Bernie?

Chances at the Yankees bringing Bernie Williams back for another season in the Bronx look slim with the platoon at first and Melky Cabrera filling the spot for backup outfielder. It is not that the Yankees wouldn't love to have Bernie back for another season but rosters are limited to 25 spots and he just does not fit in. He didn't fair well as a pinch hitter last season and the Yankees would certainly rather have an extra reliever in their oft-overworked bullpen than a backup-backup outfielder.

YANKEES: Welcome Back Cairo

Bryan Hoch (MLB.com) and Peter Abraham have both reported a one-year, $750,000 deal to bring Miguel Cairo back to the Bronx. This fills the last position player hole on the Yankees. Miguel was an important piece to the Yankees last year as he played in 5 different positions for the team including an extended time at second base when Robinson Cano went on the disabled list. Despite not having a very high average (which is tough when you don't play every day), Cairo has always struck me as a guy who comes up big when the Yankees need him. He might not hit the big homerun but you certainly wouldn't mind seeing him up with the bases loaded.

Friday, January 5, 2007

METS: Newhan Schmuhan

Mets signed David Newhan, previously with the Orioles, to a 1-year contract. RotoWorld compares him to Chris Woodward, only he is left-handed and a worse infield fielder. "He's an adequate 25th man, but that's about it."

The Mets haven't had much off-season action thus far but after losing out on the Zito sweepstakes they are inclined to pick up a middle-of-the-rotation guy in due time.

YANKEES: Welcome Mientkiewicz


Doug Mientkiewicz passed his physical and is now a New York Yankee. 5pm conference call to announce the new signing. YES Network's Steven Goldman practically predicts Doug will be a bust and will kill them at the bottom of the lineup. Time will tell.

YANKEES: What the Padres Were Offering

Padres were reportedly offering the Yankees reliever Scott Linebrink and their best 3B prospect Chase Headley (who was a 2nd round pick in 2005). Linebrink is a clear upgrade over Viscaino and, whether you like to hear it or not, the 3B prospect could be just a couple years away from replacing A-Rod. Padres scouts say Headley is all there except his power, which they expect to develop.

Back in November, the Red Sox were on the hunt for reliable relief pitching, often inquiring about Linebrink from the Padres. According to RotoWorld, "The Red Sox could potentially move either Coco Crisp or Wily Mo Pena for Linebrink" but the deal never happened. This failure on the Yankees' part to acquire Linebrink might be an open window for the Red Sox, who recently acquired Pineiro. Pineiro seems to be nothing close to a sure deal so it looks in the Sox's best interests to keep pursuing.

Clearly, this package is stronger than the package offered by the D-backs.

On the up side of not trading with the Padres, the Yankees kept Randy Johnson happy by moving him back to the team that is closest to his home. Also, Headley is still only 22 years old and he only has one minor league statistic (he hit .291 in Single-A), though he is regarded as a great prospect.

The big reason the Yanks did not lean in this direction is because the Johnson trade was mainly a salary dump. To get the two players from the Padres, the Yanks would have had to pay roughly $7.5 million of Johnson's 2007 $16 million salary. I understand that the players might be better but $2 million for 4 players opposed to $7.5 million for 2 players seems good if you have the mindset that the prospects haven't fully developed yet and you are not yet fully sure of what you are getting. Cashman seems to think that the more good prospects you have, the better the chances of one of them growing into a major league player. Also, there is $5.5 million more to throw at Clemens.

One thing is for sure: The Yankees have a lot of options for Johnson's spot and it is more likely than not that they have that option already in their system. An acquisition of Linebrink over Vizcaino would have seemed smart because it would give the Yanks the option to move Proctor into the starting role, but I don't think the Yanks are looking for more young, unproven starters. For now, Johnson's hole will seem to many as the Yankees' demise given Boston's strengthened rotation. Honestly though, how much worse is the Yanks rotation from last year with Johnson now gone? Not much if at all considering all their options. And as for Boston, Beckett wasn't pretty last year, Schilling is showing signs of old age, Matsuzaka has still yet to throw a pitch in the majors (though Red Sox banter would have you believe otherwise), Papelbon will start to realize that he is more hittable given that hitters will start to see him two, three, maybe even four times around, and left are Wakefield and Lester. Wakefield has given the Yanks some fits but he isn't lights out and Lester is still recovering from last year. Let us not even make a comparison of the two bullpens.

One thing that scares me is Clemens' interest in Boston last season. If the Sox were to get Clemens then the Yanks have a world of worries, but Johnson wouldn't have made any difference. Getting rid of Johnson only improved the Yankees' chances of getting Clemens, so WHY NOT?!