It's Gone

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Line of the Night

48 points. 12 assists. 6 rebounds. 4 steals. 3 blocks. Dwyane Wade.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Brett Gardner and Joey Gathright: Separated at Birth?

Not at first blush, but River Avenue Blues takes a closer look. The similarities are striking. To wit:

Both players were drafted at age 21 and then assigned to a low level squad in the minors (Gardner went to the short season NY-Penn League, Gathright to the Low-A South Atlantic League). Both players started their age 22 season at the High-A level and earned a midseason bump to Double-A, then started the next year back at Double-A before being promoted to Triple-A in the middle of the season. In their age 24 season, their third full professional season, each player started the year in Triple-A before being called up to the big leagues during the summer and finishing the year there.

The fun doesn't stop there, though. After breaking down their career statistics, both from the minors and the majors, RAB seems to think Gardner will outperform Gathright in the long run, so to speak.

[W]e can expect Gardner to be a more productive big leaguer than Joey Gathright. He’s shown better on base skills and a better ability to hit for power throughout his minor league career, and he’s a much more efficient basestealer. Simply put, Gardner’s proven to be much more capable of turning his physical gifts into baseball skills, and in turn, offensive production.

I, for one, would be satisfied if Gardner produced at a level equal to that of Gathright. That he might even be a better all-around player gives me even more hope for the upcoming Yankees season. Although Gathright's career numbers aren't anything to write home about, if Gardner produces at or above a similar output, he won't exactly kill the Yankees as a regular center fielder, even if he's splitting time with Melky. Based on RAB's analysis, Gardner might even help the Yankees-- or least land them a pretty good lefty reliever.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

A-Rod Shocks World With Uncharacteristic Sound Decision

According to various sources, Alex Rodriguez has decided to have partial surgery on his torn right hip labrum Monday, which would allow him to rejoin the team by mid-May. After discussing his various options with Brian Cashman, his agent, Scott Boras, and noted hip specialist Dr. Marc Philippon, Rodriguez opted to undergo a limited procedure, a so-called "hybrid" approach to repairing the injury rather than simply playing through the pain or fixing in full the bone irregularity in his hip. Rodriguez will reportedly wait until the end of the season to go back under the knife for a more extensive procedure.

"The goal here is to allow Alex to rehab rapidly in a safe manner," said Philippon, who co-runs the Steadman-Hawkins clinic for sports medicine and orthopedic surgery in Vail, Colorado. "The approach we're using is much safer than letting Alex play the way he is now."

Philippon said he was about 85-90 percent certain this first operation would be successful, and almost 100 percent certain A-Rod will need further surgery after the season.

All things considered, I do think A-Rod made the best decision available to him and the Yankees. Although he will be out for at least the first month of the season, the partial operation should help alleviate at least some of A-Rod's most immediate pain, protect his long-term health and enable him to play in the majority of games this year. Seems like a win-win for him and the Yankees, who have to be sweating A-Rod's increasingly problematic contract which handcuffs him to the team through 2017.

Also, as Bernie Williams already noted, A-Rod gets to take a much-needed break from baseball and the intense scrutiny of New York in bucolic Vail. Don't think for a second that A-Rod's two-month exile isn't entirely welcome or won't do him a world of good.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Play Ball!

I know it's only the World Baseball Classic, but baseball is officially back. I trust I'm not alone in thinking this past winter has been one of the longest on record. Ever since the Phillies knocked off the upstart Rays on a rain-soaked October night, I've been chomping at the bit to watch meaningful baseball games again. The quasi-resurgence of the Knicks has been a welcome distraction, but baseball, I find, is a much more pleasant viewing experience. There's just something soothing, even reassuring, about the game, which basketball, and its frenetic 82-game schedule, while compulsively entertaining, can't offer.

Needless to say, then, I'll be watching the Netherlands take on the Dominican Republic this morning and, later, Team USA against Team Canada this afternoon, instead of the Pitt-UConn rematch. Of course, the beauty of baseball also includes the opportunity to check in on other games in between pitches and innings.

To help you get in the proper baseball mood, here's a Dustin Pedroia commercial for MLB 09, a video game which seems to think the 2008 AL MVP and Team USA starting second baseman can't hit the inside fastball. Pedroia begs to differ.