What Is Going Through My Mind Right Now

The Yankees are once again World Series Champions. Here is what I'm thinking right now: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Okay, but there are other things too. There's the obvious things: the first win in the new Stadium, A-Rod winning for the first time, and Matsui being the first DH (and Japanese player) to win the World Series MVP. Oh, and the over-discussed comments about Joe Girardi changing to number 28. (For the record, I bet he will.)

There's also the money discussion. The Yankees spending has finally paid off. CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira all had their moments along the way. And the future spending is discussed as well: Matsui and Damon are free agents, and both played extremely well this series.

And let's not forget beating Pedro.

But there are other things too. Things that escape some people's minds, but things that don't escape mine.

First of all; poor Mike Mussina. Dude always came THIS close, but never won anything. He came to the Yankees after they won in 2000, and retired before this season. Talk about bad karma.

When building the new Stadium, a Red Sox fan planted a David Ortiz jersey in the concrete, attempting to "curse" the new building. That didn't work out, did it?

Leigh Teixeira was a decision maker this off season. Mark was debating where to sign, and his wife told him to go to the Yankees. Good choice, Leigh.

And speaking of the future, what will become of Andy Pettitte? He's getting up there in age and ahs already contemplated retirement. What better way to go out-- as winning pitcher of the final game of the World Series.

The post-game interviews were so awkward. All the Yankees people were so mush-mouthed. I can't say I blame them. Oh, and Matsui had no idea what Bud Selig said to him.

Anyway, the fact remains: the Yankees are World Series Champions. Parade on Friday!

Mariano Rivera's "Spitball"

I don't want to touch this one, but I will.

Mariano Rivera spit near a baseball yesterday. Angels fans are up in arms, saying he throws a spitball.

This. Is. Moronic.

There's a video that clearly depicts Mo spitting near the ball. I can't deny that. But the video is at a very awkward angle, and is entirely inconclusive. The depth perception of the video is downright awful, and it's impossible to tell if he's spitting on the ball, or just spitting.

But watch the video for yourself (I've embedded it below), and notice how Rivera makes no attempt to hide his spit. He just does it, out in the open. You know, right in front of the third and second base umpires. You'd think they'd stop him if he actually did anything wrong.

Oh, and lest we forget that there was an Angels player on second base at the time. You'd think that if Mo had actually done this, the guy would have been a LITTLE upset.

But yeah, Mo has been cheating. For 15 years. In the open. Makes perfect sense, kids.

Here's some more good stuff about the topic.

Fack Youk

Deadspin

And, my personal favorite, Big League Stew. Why is it my favorite? Well, the Angels conspiracy theorists have provided beautiful screen shots depicting the loogie HITTING the ball! Pretty damning, no? Not quite, says the Stew. They provide blown-up pics of the screen shots, debunking this so-called evidence. The loogie in question is actually the sleeve of Mike Scioscia's jersey, which was fading into the picture at the time. Read the post for yourselves, and be sure to check out the pics.

And finally, the video itself, as promised, embedded below. Have fun.

Why The Yankees Lost

We could go through this a thousand times. The Yankees lost because they left too many men on base. Because they only tried to hit homers and not get on base. Because Joba isn't used to being a reliever anymore. Yadda yadda yadda.

We could list all the what-if scenarios and come up with plenty of reasons why every team has lost every game. I'm not doing that. The only one that's even worth considering is the Brett Gardner caught-stealing situation. Had he been on, Jorge Posada's subsequent homer would have knocked in two runs, and the game never makes it to extra innings.

But Gardner was in there to run, and run he did. The Angels knew this and were ready to throw him out.

This is not where the Yankees lost: it's where they failed to win. BIG difference. And like I said, I'm not here to discuss this. While this is more concrete than the other examples (thanks to being a specific, rather than general, example), it is not a reason why they lost.

The Yankees lost for one reason and one reason only: they were outscored. That's how every team loses. The Yankees gave up the winning run in extra innings, so if we want to discuss why they lost, we are only talking about that specific run.

So let's discuss it. How did the Angels score? Well, they got a runner (Howie Kendrick) on base off Alfredo Aceves, and that was followed up by Jeff Mathis' double, which scored him.

So Aceves was, in every facet of the word, the loser. The question, however, is why he was in the game to begin with.

Aceves came on in relief of Dave Robertson, who had pitched to all of two batters, and put them away. Robertson had been excellent all postseason long, and it would stand to reason that he'd stay in the game.

But Joe Girardi took him out for some reason. He replaced the righty with another righty, and that latter pitcher (Aceves) proceeded to lose the game.

So we've come down to this: the Yankees lost because Aceves gave up the winning run, and the question is, what was he doing in there in the first place?

Well, Girardi knew that Robertson relies on his fastball, and that Kendrick is a good fastball hitter. So he replaced him with the more versatile Aceves.

Had the move paid off, it would have looked like a brilliant bit of micro-managing on Girardi's part. What a great use of little-used stats! But it didn't. The move backfired and he lost.

And here's where I get angry: there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to do that much micro-managing. I understand Kendrick is a good fastball hitter. But there are so many other arbitrary stats you can look at. It's just one that Girardi cherry-picked.

Let's assume it had worked out. Most of us would still question the decision. The game was the second straight extra-innings affair between the teams, and taking a pitcher out so quickly would be unwise (and let's not forget he'd already made a curious bullpen decision by yanking lefty Damaso Marte after one batter to replace him with fellow lefty Phil Coke). Burning through pitchers like this is a very bad idea, especially after the game they'd just played a couple of days earlier.

In the end, Kendrick got on base, and scored moments later. Girardi's weird plan had failed.

This is why the Yankees lost.

Yes, there were missed opportunities. And yes, they'd have won if Gardner wasn't caught stealing. But let me reiterate: the Yankees didn't lose the game because of those missed chances. They just failed to win it.

The Yankees lost because Girardi got too brainy with his managing, and put the wrong pitcher in at the wrong time. That directly led to the game-winning run for the Angels.

It's not like Girardi had managed a perfect game and was subject to one brain-fart. (Remember Marty Brodeur against the Hurricanes last spring? He had a great series, but allowed one soft goal at the very end to give the Canes the series. This was not like that.) Giradi's bullpen managing was extremely flawed, and his overuse of pitchers was quite problematic.

Had the game progressed, the Yanks' bullpen would have been paper-thin. Phil Hughes, Chamberlain, Marte, Coke, Mo Rivera, Robertson, and now Aceves had all been used. The game could have gone on further, and Girardi would have been left with just Chad Gaudin in the pen.

Newsflash! The Yanks play again today, and CC Sabathia is pitching on three days' rest. A fresh bullpen would be rather useful, wouldn't it?

Girardi needs to stop micro-managing like this. It has led to one Yankee loss already, and it could severely hamper the team the rest of the way. Manage intelligently, but don't get too bogged down in stats. There are too many of them to worry about in-game. Go with what makes sense, and don't worry how a player hits on a 2-0 count with a runner on first in the seventh inning and beyond when the temperature is above 58 degrees on the 20th day of each month.

(That's not to take away from the other Yankee mistakes. But this is one that needs to be highlighted, especially in the wake of last night's loss.)

The Honeymoon Is Over

After twin 5-0 starts, the Giants and Super Freaks have lost in week 6. Actually, I still have Nate Kaeding going for me tomorrow, but unless he gets 38 points, the Freaks are 5-1.

The Giants game is more concerning, so I'll address that second. The fantasy game was mostly the result of unfortunate bye weeks. Ronnie Brown, my top arby, was off. Dallas Clark, the best tight end in the league, was also off. Tony Romo was off, but he's part of a three-kyubie rotation anyway, so he wasn't a critical bye. But he was a bye nonetheless, and he was the first quarterback I selected.

Matt Hasselbeck was supposed the slaughter Arizona's worst-ranked pass defense. He was horrible. But he's my third of three quarterbacks. Not a critical member of the team. LeSean McCoy got but one point against the smelly Raiders, but he's not a regular starter either. Kevin Smith was bad, and he's a concern I guess. But Randy Moss was unbelievable and Andre Johnson was really good, and although Cedric Benson underachieved against the Texans, he wasn't bad. I'm not worried about my team. They're good, and this week was an aberration.

But the Giants... oh the Giants. Sure, they were 5-0, and they'd looked unbeatable. Yeah, their competition was... nonexistent. But how they'd crushed them! They flattened the Chiefs, they murdered the Raiders! The Saints would be tough, but so are the G-Men, right?!

Right?

The offense was actually pretty good. No joke. They scored a bunch of points, and despite a couple of turnovers, didn't struggle much in this game. They may not have been a juggernaut, but the Saints actually have a good defense, and the Giants showed their O is for real.

The defense... well, that's a different story.

Let's be frank: if the Giants can't slow down Drew Brees, let alone stop him, there's no way they can win the Super Bowl. It's that simple. If a guy can make you look stupid, you're not going to beat him.

Remember two years ago, when the Giants lost to the Patriots in week 17, but beat them in the Super Bowl? They weren't decimated in that game! Brady looked at least human, and even if he did ultimately beat them, it was a GAME. That's why it wasn't the end of the world when they beat them in the Super Bowl.

But they had absolutely no answer for Brees today. I know they have injuries. But this was sad. Really, really sad.

The good news is the offense is for real. It got lost in the debacle, but it's important to remember. They're not a fluke team that can only beat the scrubs. They ARE legit. The defense needs some serious work, though. They won't give up 48 points to EVERY good offense, but they're putting a lot of pressure on Eli Manning and co. if they allow close to that. The defense is penetrable. And they need to fix that immediately, as the schedule isn't getting any easier.

Triumphant Return! Sorta.

This is my first post since October fifth, which consisted of nothing more than a link. But I'm not getting lazy, dear readers. I promise. And I am here to explain!



Before I begin, I would like to remind us all of rule number four of blogging: never apologize for not posting. It's a blog, and if you take some time off, so be it. It's not like there's a quota. Apologizing is unprofessional.



But today I will break that rule, because I just don't care.



I have begun to work full-time for renowned, Lester Patrick Award recepient, multiple Emmy-winning NHL analyst/journalist Stan Fischler. My duties include research, writing, producing, etc. I'm dabbling in print journalism and television production in the hopes of furthering my career. As such, I have had no time to work on my personal blog. All my efforts have gone into my job. (And graduate school, which I attend at night.)



I dare say the blog has paid off in that it's served as good practice until this point. But it is now taking a back seat. I feel bad, because my work now focuses solely on the NHL, and I am neglecting the other sports. But that's the way it is.



So my posts will now come few and far between, I guess. And if you're a fan of my work, I'm sorry. If you hate me, smile wider. But this sacrifice should result in more real-world time for me, and that really is what I'm shooting for.



Oh, and I'm still remaining anonymous. At least for now. Plenty of my readers know who I am anyway.



Perhaps the real-world experience will enhance the posts I do put up. Maybe when the season ends, I'll return to full-time blogging and the difference will be noticeable. Maybe I'll gain enough experience (and connections) to turn this free enterprise into something larger. Who knows?



But for now, it's not the priority. For now, Jersey will appear sparingly. But maybe you'll see my work elsewhere and enjoy it. You just won't know it's me. Unless, of course, you're one of those cool people who know who I am.



So, a semi-return to blogging with an explanation of the past and future. For the record, both the Giants and my fantasy team are still undefeated, so if you've been following that little series, there's your update.



I hope you continue to check back for further updates. I'm not abandoning this. You just don't need to check as often as you used to.



Until next time, friends, same Bat-time, same Bat-channel. This is Jersey for Imperfect Dynasty.

Hystericake

Click this now.

Via @williamfleitch

New Jersey Devils: Numbers To Be Retired

Due in part to a relatively brief history, the New Jersey Devils have retired but two jersey numbers: Scott Stevens' number 4 and Ken Daneyko's number 3.

Today, I got to thinking about what other numbers we might see hanging from the roof of the Prudential Center in the future. A lot of names came to mind, and I made a mental list of who I think will certainly receive the honors, those who simply won't, and a bunch of people in between. This is a compilation of those players. It's not a complete list of all Devils in history; just a few names that I mulled over.

I've divided them all into categories based on how likely their number is to be retired, and added a few comments of my own.

The No-Brainers

Martin Brodeur, No. 30

This one's easy. Brodeur is arguably the greatest goaltender of all time, let alone in Devils' history. The most wins, soon-to-be most shutouts, and three Stanley Cups are just a few of the standout achievements on Brodeur's resume. Fact is, in many ways, Brodeur IS the New Jersey Devils. He's the most recognizable face in franchise history, and if anyone on the team should have his number retired, it's this career-Devil.

Patrik Elias, No. 26

Elias, while underappreciated, is the Devils' all-time leading scorer. He's a career Devil and even spent a short stint as the team's captain. Elias will likely be the team's first forward to have his number retired, and it's tough to dispute that he's been the best forward in team history.

More Than Likely

Scott Niedermayer, No. 27

The only stain on Niedermayer's record is the fact that he left the Devils for Anaheim in the middle of his career. Barring a return to the organization, Niedermayer will not retire a Devil, something that displaces him from the likes of Stevens, Daneyko, and (as of now, at least) Brodeur and Elias. In fact, aside from Stevens, all the other players were career Devils. But Niedermayer spent most of his career in New Jersey, and what a career it was. His name appears toward the top of many team records, and he won three Cups and a Norris Trophy with the Devils. Oh, and he was the first to wear the captain's C after Stevens played his final game. He's arguably the best defenseman in team history (even if not as recognizable as Stevens), and it would be hard not to retire his number once he calls it quits. And then Mike Mottau would have to find a new number.

John MacLean, No. 15

MacLean may not have retired a Devil, but he spent most of his career with the team, and until recently was its most prolific scorer. He's still with the organization, coaching its AHL affiliate in Lowell, and will most definitely be considered for the team's head coaching job when it is next vacant. Lou Lamoriello has supposedly said that MacLean's number will be retired, and it's about time he came through on his promise.

Zach Parise, No. 9

Too early to tell? Not for this guy. He's already looking like the team's next big star, and while it's still early career, he could be a top forward in the league for years to come. In a Hart Trophy-worthy performance last season, Parise almost broke the team's record for scoring in a season, and will have many more chances to try and break that record in the future. He's not a no-brainer because of his age, but he's going to be a great one, and will get the special treatment.

Maybe

Sergei Brylin, No. 18

I know, it sounds crazy. But consider this: only five players were with the Devils for all three of their Stanley Cup runs. Two (Stevens and Daneyko) have their numbers retired, and two more (Niedermayer and Brodeur) are next in line. The fifth guy is Brylin. He was a career Devil who was never great, but always contributed, and won three Cups with the team. Sounds like Ken Daneyko, doesn't it? Okay, he didn't have the same impact as Daneyko, but I think being a career Devil and winning three Cups is enough to get your number retired. There will be many better players who won't get the honor, but I still think Brylin deserves it. Of course, I could hear many people disagreeing with me, which is why he's only a maybe.

Worth Considering, But Unlikely

Bobby Holik, No. 16

Holik spent a decent amount of time with the Devils, and helped them win a pair of Stanley Cups. And despite being known for his defensive abilities, Holik put up some pretty solid offensive numbers as well. There's a reason the Rangers gave him such a huge contract! He's definitely an important figure in Devils history, and he deserves consideration, but I think he falls short of having his number retired. He didn't spend a HUGE amount of time with the team, and his departure wasn't the prettiest of affairs. I know he retired a Devil, but it doesn't matter. He's not of the same caliber as the other players mentioned (sans Brylin, but I explained why he's the exception).

John Madden, No. 11 and Jay Pandolfo, No. 20

The Devils have been associated with defensive hockey (at times unfairly), and these two forwards personify that style. At times, they've each looked like the best forward on the team, despite not putting up huge offensive numbers. And for years, they were linemates in both even-strength and penalty-killing situations, which is why I lump them together. However, while they are interesting names to ponder, they're just not good enough. I love them both, but not enough to retire their numbers-- especially Madden, who no longer has the added bonus of being a career Devil.

Jamie Langenbrunner, No. 15

If any number 15 is getting retired, it's MacLean's. But let's not discount current captain Langenbrunner, who has always been a contributor, and broke the 30-goal plane on the top line last season. If he keeps up the scoring and proves to be a great captain in the long term, maybe my opinion will change, but as of now, he's not worthy enough.

Brian Gionta, No. 14

The only reason Gionta is even worth mentioning is his 48-goal season, which gave him the team's single-season scoring record. It will be tough to break the record, sure, and I've always been a big Gionta fan, but let's admit it: he's not a big-time scorer. He's a 20, maybe 25-goal player, and that one year was a fluke. 20-goal scorers don't get their numbers retired unless they have some other special quality. Don't get me wrong, I love Gionta, even now that he's in Montreal. But let's be realistic here. His number isn't getting retired.

Claude Lemieux, No. 22

Lemieux stands out because he won a Conn Smythe Trophy. There are a lot of players who stand out on the Devils-- Kirk Muller, Slava Fetisov, and Stephane Richer, for example-- and Lemieux falls into that category. He's a guy we all recognize, and his playoff-MVP-award bumps him up a notch into the discussion for having his number retired. That one trophy is enough to consider him, but it's not nearly enough to actually do it. He's another fan favorite, not an all-time great.



Brian Rafalski, No. 28

I'd love to see Rafalski's number retired. He was so good, and he was often overshadowed by the other great defenseman he played with. When he left town the same year as Scott Gomez, it was his loss that troubled me more. Talent-wise, he definitely deserves it. But he never did make his mark with the team, perhaps because he played alongside Stevens and Niedermayer. Even for a talented player like Rafalski, it's hard to become super-popular with those guys there. And then, of course, he went home to Detroit once he finally had his chance to be THE guy in New Jersey. I think had he stayed, Rafalski would be a no-brainer. But he did leave, and I just don't think he was enough of a star with the Devils to earn a number retirement. If it was up to me, he'd be up there. But I don't think too many people will agree.

No.

Colin White, No. 5

Yeah, he's been there a long time. Not enough. He's not good enough at all. Next.

Brendan Shanahan, Nos. 14 and 18

Shanny didn't spend enough time here, His biggest contribution was his involvement in the move that brought Scott Stevens to the Garden State.

Pascal Rheaume, No. 21

JOKING! Seriously, though, how many times has this guy been with the organization?

Scott Gomez, No. 23

If any number 23 gets retired, it's more likely it's David Clarkson's

Too Soon To Tell

Paul Martin, No. 7 and Johnny Oduya, No. 29

They may not have the name power of Scotts Stevens and Niedermayer, but they are the young future of the New Jersey Devils' blue line. They look good so far. Who knows, we could be talking about them in the future.

Travis Zajac, No. 19

He's no Parise, but he does center him. If the two continue to click, Zajac could grow exponentially as his career moves on. He's got plenty of potential, and we don't even know how good he can be. (And no, I'm not about to list ALL the Devils' recent first-round picks.)

I Wish

Kevin Weekes, No. 1

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Weekes. It takes a special kind of player to be Martin Brodeur's backup. It seems like an easy job, but NHL goaltenders want to play hockey, and behind Marty, it's hard to do that. Brodeur's had many backups during his career, but I've liked Weekes more than any of them. He's just so affable. His attitude was simply perfect, and I was sad to see him go this offseason. I remember one game last year in Pittsburgh: the bench wasn't big enough, so Weekes had to sit in the stand. He looked like he was having a great time, just chilling with the fans! How do you not love this guy? His number won't be retired, but I never miss a chance to discuss one of my favorite players.

That's my list. It's not comprehensive, just some musings from the mind of a blogger. Hope you enjoyed.

Say Goodbye To Brendan Shanahan

Tom Gulitti is reporting that Brendan Shanahan is no longer with the New Jersey Devils.

Shortly after putting Ilkka Pikkarainen on Injured Reserve to cut the roster to the required 23 players, the Devils opened up one additional roster spot today when Brendan Shanahan decided he did not want to continue with the team.

It seems, according to Shanny, that he agreed with Lou Lamoriello and Jacques Lemaire that if he didn't like his role on the team, he could back out. And, because the Devils wanted to play their youngsters more often, Shanahan would be relegated to fourth-line duty. Shanny didn't want that, so he was cut.

There are a few options remaining for the ancient forward. He could still be traded as of now, as he is still technically on the roster, or he can be waived. Lamoriello also said he could accept a position within the organization, according to Rich Chere. Regardless, he will be off the roster soon enough, and his one-million-dollar contract won't count against the salary cap.

I don't mind this too much. It's a surprise, and I'd prefer to have Shanny than not, but it's not a major deal. Shanahan has slowed with age, and would only have been a fourth-liner anyway. A nice addition to that line, but not a player critical to the team's success. If Shanny were to change his mind and return, or stay with the team in some other capacity (a la Tommy Albelin), that would be fine with me. If not, it doesn't really matter.

This will allow one more rookie to make the team, albeit only until Pikkarainen and Patrik Elias return from injuries. That's probably a good thing in the end.

This is the second time this offseason that the Devils have seen someone back out of a contract. A few months ago, head coach Brent Sutter walked out on the team to be with his family... then he reneged on that idea instantly to coach the Calgary Flames.

I was furious about Sutter, first for backing out of a contract, then for showing his ulterior motive, but I'm not upset about Shanahan. First of all, he apparently had a verbal agreement in place with the team about his role. Second, he's not lying to the team about missing his family, only to accept a job elsewhere. But mostly, it's just that he's not so important to the team. He's a fourth-liner, not a head coach.

So best of luck to Shanny, and who knows: maybe we'll see you again soon.

UPDATE: Apparently, it was Lamoriello and Lemaire who initiated the decision to cut Shanahan, and Shanny agreed. Shanny did NOT back out of his contract.

Joe Mauer Tipping Pitches

Courtesy of Deadspin.