Diamond Thoughts

Bob Costas Cries Too Much

2008-03-31T23:32:56Z

Can I just say that I am sick and tired of hearing Bob Costas constantly cry about the Yankees payroll? Stop whining. It's why his pathetic little book that posited MLB should pattern the league after the NBA. Yeah, because the NBA is so relevant today. Bob Costas proves that idiots can be successful in life.

New Look MLBLOGS

2008-03-30T02:13:01Z

OK, I'm hoping that a little more control comes to the layout as they work the bugs out but I like the new look.
Tomorrow I'll put up my season predictions. As if anyone other than me cares. :)

What I Like About The Fight: As a Fan

2008-03-15T22:55:40Z

Last year, I often thought the Yankees would have benefited more if Torre had a little more fire in him defending his guys. I've never understood how the Red Sox seem to get a pass for all the batters they hit and all the fights they get in but when the Yankees do, Chicken Little and all of his cousins come running out of the woodwork to cast the spell of death upon them. Self proclaimed princes shriek about bully’s and Girardi’s “questionable” past. Heck, even I gave Girardi some grief over what I thought was his over-reaction. Last year the Yankees had 2 people in the top ten beaned batters. 3 in the top 15. That is too many.
As a fan of the Yankees I have often thought they needed a little more “fight” in them. I thought quite a few times last year that Torre needed to get out there and argue a little with the umpires. I think that this was a bit of an over-reaction but I like that Girardi is going to get a little lippy--have a little edge to him . I like that they’re willing to get their jerseys a little bloodied. I know all the prognosticators are saying how weak the Yankees are and how they don’t have a chance to win the division this year or even make the play-offs. I hear and read how the Blue Jays, Red Sox and maybe even the Orioles are better and I do not care. Here’s the thing, this team is just a little of good chemistry away from maybe being able to put together a heck of a season.
As a Yankee fan I’ve been hearing all the experts talk about how this will be the year the Yankees finally don’t make the playoffs. I guess sooner or later someone has to be right, I mean now one makes the playoffs every year, right? But even if they don’t make the playoffs, I don’t think being willing to mix it up on the field is such a big deal.

It's Time for Girardi and The Umps to Take Responsibility For "Spring Gate"

2008-03-15T10:33:00Z

I’m not even going to touch the disparity of the suspensions. It’s time we take a much closer look at the umpires who were working the game between the Yankees and Rays that lead to “Spring Gate.” The pitch that “hit” Evan Longoria barely touched him. If the kid had moved at all, it would have missed him completely. Let’s be honest, the Yankees pitcher wasn’t exactly a picture of control up to that point but supposedly he magically had pinpoint accuracy? Come on. That’s just silly.
Now, let’s talk about Duncan’s slide. Yes, his leg is up. But he didn’t even touch the guy. His leg is up and not extended. HE DIDN’T EVEN MAKE CONTACT WITH HIS FOOT. For someone to say that he was trying to send a message with that slide must mean that they saw a different game than I did or that they think Duncan has the physical co-ordination of a second grader. Maybe they just don’t like the Yankees.
This whole thing is greatly overblown because of Girardi’s dumb comments. If he doesn’t act like the silly spoiled rich kid who’s upset his AA player got hurt and keeps his diarrhetic mouth shut Duncan makes his slide and nothing happens. A few jaws might would have been exercised.
This ‘story” best illustrates the responsibility of leadership. For this game, both Girardi and the umpires blew it.

It Would Appear That Players Are Not The Only One's Doing Drugs

2008-03-14T15:26:58Z

Come on! Is this guy nuts? Sponsors? [make Mora Face] SPONSORS!!! $20!!! Get to 10 posts.
Here's his exact pitch:

Information comes at the expense of time. And time, these days,requires money. For Dan Weisman to continue bringing the best of baseball to your eyes (ears, throat, etc.) sponsorships are key. Future plans call for special sponsorship perks TBA as well as tax deductible 501(C) status. But for now, please help Dan Weisman help you...At least where it comes to unique postings and insights about our great game of baseball. A suggested sponsorship amount of $20, or more, sent to Dan Weisman at P.O. Box 8402, Rancho Santa Fe, Ca. 92067, would be greatly appreciated and keep this Blog alive!!!

Public Enemy #1

2008-03-10T22:17:06Z

By now, you've probably seen this video but if not, take a look at one nasty curve ball. In a few days let's talk about whether or not Joe Torre actually makes the Dodgers significantly better. What's his greatest weakness?

Fantasy Frenzy

2008-03-07T22:10:24Z

Drafted my second team tonight. Offense, points only league.
Scoring is as follows:
AB, R, H, S, RBI, SF, SB, BB, TB = 1 point
2B= 2 points
3B= 3 points
HR = 4 points
Somehow I drafted 5th again. Here's my line up.
C-Posada
1b-Giambi
2b-Uggla
3b-Blaylock
SS-Hanley Ramirez
OF-Vlad
OF-Fukodome
OF-Abreau
Ut-Geo Soto
Ut-Carlos Delgado
Bench
Willy Taveras
Evan Longoria
Freddy Sanchez
Corey Patterson
Willy Mo' Pena

Do You Want To Play Fantasy Baseball?

2008-03-06T19:54:50Z

Anyone who would want to play a live draft, offense, points only league can sign up at Yahoo.

League I.D. is
Password is winter

Live draft Friday night at 7.

One Team Down, A Couple More to Go

2008-03-06T01:37:26Z

C-Joe Mauer
1b-Jason Giambi
2b-Robinson Cano
3b-David Wright
SS-J.J. Hardy
OF-Jacoby Ellsbury
OF-Justin Upton
OF-Fukudome
Util-Carlos Delgado
SP-Dontrelle Willis
Sp-Ian Kennedy
Sp-Annabel Sanchez
Rp-Mariano Rivera
Rp-Joe Zumaya
p-Gil Meche
B-Tom Gordon
p-Tom Glavine
B-Geovany Soto
B-Hank Blaylock
B-Corey Patterson
B-Joey Gathwright

So, what do you think? I picked 5th. Took Wright with my first pick.

Fantasy Baseball

2008-03-05T22:36:24Z

Ok, I've never played in a live draft fantasy league before. Tonight that changes. I want to join a money league but before I do that I am going to make a run at it with my non money league tonight. I'm playing in a points only league which is also a first for me. I'm still going to play in my yearly "just for fun" auto draft league but to me so much of that depends on luck so we'll see if the real draft changes anything. We draft at 9:45.

What To Think of Hank?

2008-03-05T19:46:54Z

ESPN always cracks me up. If you go to page two you’ll find a host of articles disparaging Hank. However if you read the Mag (BTW, I’m quoted in the latest edition, the March 10th edition. See page 18) there’s a rather interesting article that seems to cast him a good light. I have to be honest I don’t know what I think of him. On the one hand his statements crack me up but on the other I just want him to shut up. Let the game be played on the field. I hope he’s not his father reincarnated from yesteryear. I hope he allows Cashman to run the team. I’m not a blind Cashman apologist but I do think he deserves the chance to run this youth movement out. The truth is I just don’t know what I think of Hank.

9 Things I Learned About Life at a Baseball Game

2008-03-03T15:33:24Z

This is the third installment of a 9 part series of things I've learned over the years about life whiling playing, coaching, watching or umpiring baseball. You can find principle #1 here and principle #2 here.

Principle #1 is “Losers Make Excuses, Winners Make Changes”

Principle #2 is “Don't Worry About What Just Happened; Focus On What is About To Happen”

Principle #3 is "Without the Will to Prepare, the Will to Win is Pointless. Nothing More Than Glorified Hubris."
Most of the time baseball is a game that is won before the first pitch is ever thrown so preparation is the key (Note: I only say most of the time because I shudder at universal statements). Sure the walk off Larry gets the most attention but how much preparation goes into that moment? How many decisions over the course of the game lead to that moment? Recently I watched a game end in a 2-0 shut out. The losing pitcher gave up zero earned runs. He still lost. I wonder if the short stop or the right fielder put in enough practice time to be confident in that game situation.
It always amazes me how people seem to think that successful people just wake up one day as successful people. It just doesn’t work that way. It takes hard work and preparation. The will to win without the will to prepare to win is useless.
Success follows preparation, period. It’s true in baseball and it’s true in life. I used to work in the food service business and nowhere was this principle more evident to me than there. The difference between successful servers and non-successful servers was the fact that the successful ones prepared. The difference in a good shifts and bad shifts was the level of preparation that went into each shift.
No one can step up to a plate and just hit successfully. No pitcher can be successfully over the long haul if he doesn’t prepare. If he doesn’t hone his skill and study his opponent he will not succeed on pure talent alone. It’s in the preparation that we hone those skills. How does a guy who can’t hit a curveball learn to hit it? You guessed it, preparation. So baseball has taught me that preparation is the key to success. Prepare, prepare, prepare. Study, study, study.
Hone your skills. If you try something and fail, study what you did. Look at what went right, what went wrong. Schedule time in your day to look at what you’re doing. Take time to prepare. Have a will to prepare, at the end of the day that is far more important than your will to win.

4 Life Lessons

2008-03-03T14:49:49Z

When I was a teacher I used to make every class I taught learnthese. I would make athletes that I coached learn them as part of earning their letter. I offer them here for your perusal. My friend Lance Fry shared them with me many years ago.

Life is not fair, so get over it
Life is tough so be tougher
Life changes, adjust
Life is short, make it count

Oh Those Funny Phillies

2008-02-18T12:58:22Z

I laughed. I wonder what happens if they really have to trade him someday. I'll bet in our PC society someone gets at least verbally reprimanded for this.

More Holes in McNamee's Story

2008-02-10T01:04:36Z

Yahoo is reporting that Roger Clemens lawyers have launched the most devastating hole into McNamee's story about him offering proof that he was never at Jose Canseco's party that was supposed to be the party that started all of this.