Thursday, January 13, 2011

A New Setup Man in Town

The Yankees got some much needed help today when they added All-Star closer Rafael Soriano to act as setup man for Mariano.

The deal is for three seasons - Soriano is 31 years-old.  Might he be the closer-in-waiting for the Bombers?  If his 2010 season is any indication of what this guy's capable of, things look good in the 9th inning for the future.

Over the past two seasons (2009 in Atlanta, 2010 in Tampa), he's racked up 72 saves, 4 wins, 159 K (only 41 BB) in 138 innings (only 89 hits).  His ERA is low, as you could have guessed - 1.76 to be exact.

They didn't add the ace of the staff, but they have one of those in CC.  Burnett (if he can ever get his shit together) has the stuff to be an ace.  He's as streaky as he is inked up.

About to turn in for the night.  Later troops.

Jets vs. Patriots

The Jets are now making a big deal over Tom Brady rubbing it in after a TD pass to Deion Branch in the Patriots 45-3 win earlier this season.

Who. Gives. A. Shit.

They're enemies.  They compete for division titles.  Their coaches hate each other.  Their players despise one another. 

There is nothing but taunting in the NFL, so why the hell are the Jets throwing themselves a pity party?  Because Brady jawed at their sideline after a poor job of tackling by the Jets secondary?  Are the Jets better than that?  Don't they have strength coaches who stick out an inadvertent knee to trip up a Dolphins player?

Cromartie sounded off in an expletive filled tirade directed at Tom Brady.  Rex Ryan simply said, "In this country you're allowed to have opinions and all that kind of stuff" - but if the Patriots responded to that, there'd be a shitstorm in New York media.

Bottom line, who cares.  It's football.  It's a rivalry.  It's the end of the season on the line for one of these teams. 

As the chairman says on Iron Chef America, "Let the battle begin"!

Tragedy in AZ; Oh Duke!; Heat get Cooled Off & Karma's a Bitch

This Jared Loughner guy is some piece of shit.  This phenomenon is something that seems to happen all too often.  But who's at fault? 

Police?  Not really.  You can't expect them to keep an eye on every single person alive - scouring profiles, internet posts, articles; interviewing friends, classmates, acquaintances.  It's not realistic. 

The guy?  Probably.  His parents?  Unless they're legally blind in both eyes, then yes.  They're just as much a part of this mess as their son.

I am not waxing poetic about what it takes to be a parent (Lord knows I have no idea, but I'll let you know come April).  But this is your son, your flesh and blood.  You can't tell me they don't speak or communicate with him.  I  know it's wrong to judge a book by the cover, but this guy looks the part of a killer.  He's looks like a cold, deviant, psychopath. 

He kept articles on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in a safe.  What do you keep in a safe?  Money?  Jewelry?  Family heirlooms?  Chocolate even.  But the things you generally associate with being kept in a safe are things that hold some value to you.  I never had a safe.  If I had, I probably would have put my Frank Thomas (The Big Hurt) baseball card collection in there - instead, I stuffed them into shoe boxes.

Communicate.  I am 29 years-old and speak with my parents regularly.  He was what, twenty-two?  As parents, you have got to see something wrong, abnormal, off with your son.  All it takes it communication.  When I was twenty-two, I spoke with my parents regularly.  Maybe this guy's family was a pack of jackasses, or maybe they were just too dumb to see what a monster they had raised.  Were they embarrassed?  Afraid of him?  Ignorant?  Blind?  I'm going with all of the above. 

What happened was a tragedy.  Are there more people like this loser running around out there in the US?  Yes.  Are we gonna stop them all?  No.  Just make yourself aware of the people you surround yourself with.  If someone looks shady, chances are they are.  If you hear them talking about creepy shit, walk the other way and/or tell the police.  Be safe friends, family, co-workers, Blog Army!

On a lighter note (for some), sports.  As you already know, #1 Duke lost in Tallahassee last night to the unranked Seminoles.  There was no inside game for Duke, the shooting was horrid, and they made this Derwin Kitchens guy look like Michael Jordan.  Miles Plumlee is soft which directly related to their lack of an inside presence.  Five points and five rebounds a game?  You're 6'10" tall.  Act the part.  Thirty-one percent shooting?  35 three-point field goals attempts?  15 turnovers to 9 assists?  It seems like every time they play down there, they lose (it's actually only the third time in 9 years).  Derwin Kitchens?  10.2 PPG on the year and he goes off for 22 points?  Put a hand in his face, the guy was 9-13.  Anyway, it was a good run as #1, we'll see how far they fall from here.  Back to Cameron Indoor for a game against the Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday.  (I'll be stuck at Draddy for a Manhattan game).

NBA basketball sucks.  Except when the Clippers (13-24) beat the Heat (30-10) and LeBron James gets hurt, all in one night.  I don't wish ill upon anyone, but this guy just runs his mouth left and right.  Blake Griffin is a BEAST (24 pts./14 rebs. - 30th double-double this season).  LeBron only sprained his ankle, so he probably won't be out for long, but he tweeted about karma the other day when the Lakers pumped the Cavs by 55.  Soon after, karma bit back.

Time to get busy!