1) The Rays made a deal here that could never have been done in New York. From MLBtraderumors:
Rob Neyer at ESPN says the Rays' rotation shuffle from Kazmir to Wade Davis cuts their playoff chances from 10 percent to 8 percent and opines, "Giving up two percent in exchange for three talented young players ... well, on paper that's a move you'd be thrilled to make, every day of the week."
Think New York fans would have accepted the logic of trading a front line starter, not getting a big-ready player in return, while you were still in the hunt for the postseason? The downside to a two-team city is the competition to win "now" prevents this kind of long-term thinnking.
2) It takes some of the sting out of giving Kazmir away that the Rays are willing to give up on him already. Of course, if we'd have had him in '06-08, who knows where that would have landed us.
3) In unrelated news, I've been trying to figure out what team to root for the rest of the way that still has meaningful baseball to be played. Truth be told, it could easily be the Jankees, b/c I have lots of respect for the core of their team: Jeter, Posada, Mo, Tex, CC-- all guys who are great and play the game the right way. And I always liked Girardi from his playing days to his Marlins days. However, they are the Jankees, have the biggest d-bag of them all (A-Rod) vaccuuming up cash, the Steinbrenners, and one of the most obnoxious fan bases of all time. That's enough, on it's face, to prevent me from actually pulling for them, despite the fact they have some good guys.
The BlowSox? Can't do it to SHK. He's got to live with their s.
Cardinals and Cubbies would always be good options. But nothing compelling there. Sweet Lou is great, but Soriano? The Cards are easy to root for, but there's just no juice there for me right now.
But then I came across this last issue of SI. It had an in-depth on Lincecum and Cain. And how a team with two great pitchers, both completely different characters, has a shot at the playoffs despite one of the worst lineups ever. An all-pitching team, right up my alley. Oh, and they just happen to also be my legacy team. The team I should've been rooting for my whole life. If only.
So I'll root for the long shot Giants the rest of the way. And try to forget that it would put a smile on Russo's face. My Grandmother would've approved, anyway.
8 comments:
Funny you should mention your thoughts on the Janks. I've always kind of liked the actual team/players themselves (and of course Torre back in the day), but the fans keep me from ever rooting for them. This is unlike say, the pats, where I hate the players and coach.
As I was enjoying a Brooklyn '55 Pennant Ale last weekend I couldn't help but think it would be nice to have the Brooklyn Dodgers back as an option.
Eff the bums.
Two words for you: Bobby Thomson.
And two more: John McGraw. Finest manager who lived.
Of course, the '55 Pennant Ale has softened me up somewhat
I'm fine with any of the following: Sawkx, Angels, Twinkies, or Cards.
I think I'm gonna be all in for St. Louie though...
Yanks are the devil incarnate, Giants are boring as hell, Cubs are a team with too many sociopaths, Dodgers--well, even their own fans don't sit and watch a game...
Can't argue with the Cards. Twinkies and Angels are good too, as far as junior circuit teams go.
I have easily been able to get behind the Rays the past few seasons.
My current top 3 for beers (in no particular order, whichever's available is great with me):
Brooklyn Lager, Brooklyn '55 pennant ale, yuengling
Nice call. It's pretty impressive for Yeungling that a mass produced brew could be in the same ballpark with a "small batch", high end beer.
I'll trow Sam Adams Lager in there too.
Sam Adams is not bad, and always a good standby, although I like the taste of the other 3 better. Another good one from New Hampshire or Vermont is Long Trail Ale. I'd put it ahead of Sam as well.
Post a Comment