MLB has started this Hometown Heroes contest. Fans vote at the stadium or on line for the “Most Outstanding Player in each club’s history.”
OK, fair enough. Kind of pointless but marketing is marketing.
Here are your choices for the Seattle Mariners:
Jay Buhner
Ken Griffey Jr.
Edgar Martinez
Jamie Moyer
Ichiro SuzukiNo A-Rod. How ridiculous is that? As Frank Costanza once noted, Jay Buhner had a rocket for an arm. But he was no A-Rod.
Posts Tagged A-Rod
Projecting Much?
Posted by Pork Flu Ribs in Uncategorized on June 4th, 2009
One of Pete’s charms is that, although he constantly claims to be busy with ‘newspaper work’ during games, he has no end of time to delete critical comments and to engage in spats with his commenters.
During today’s game against Texas, fans were making critical comments about Wang’s sub-par return to the starting rotation. And thus Pete vomited up this juicy morsel:
Peter Abraham's Self-Awareness: 0
Peter Abraham has spent almost the entirety of his three-year tenure as Yankees beat writer for the Journal-News mocking, badmouthing, and advocating the trade of Alex Rodriguez. No one with a voice as influential as Pete’s (except for that tool at WasWatching, if you want to call him ‘influential’) has spit so much vitriol at the Yankees’ third baseman.
He delights in A-Rod slander. He ruts in it. He rolls in it and covers himself in it like a protective coating from the sun. For reasons I’m sure Freud would be overjoyed to analyze, Peter Abraham has centered his career around shrinking A-Rod. As Potato Chowder pointed out in the post below, he is still trying to make the discredited claims of Selena Roberts stick. This man is allegedly a professional, yet he continues to treat his blog as a venue for his personal vendettas.
“You must have a sad life when you take pleasure in the problems of other people.” So, true, Pete. So true.
Math vs. A-Rod
Posted by Potato Chowder in Uncategorized on June 4th, 2009
Honestly, I don’t know where to start on this. After Selena Roberts’s claims that A-Rod was tipping pitches were discredited by every single reputable source, Abraham still carries it like an idiot torch.
Here he cites a former beat writer:
Miguel Tejada, then with Oakland, hit .350 overall against the Rangers, but jumped to .472 when the margin was at least five runs either way. He had nine homers in 36 at-bats when the margin was at least five. Rodriguez, who hit .284 against Oakland overall, hit .333 when the score was five or greater.
Seattle’s Carlos Guillen, a teammate of Rodriguez’s for three seasons with the Mariners, went from .307 to .318. in “out of hand” situations. Rodriguez, however, jumped from .264 to .391 against the Mariners in those situations.
First of all, 36 at-bats? Second, of course your average is going to go up in blowouts. That’s when scrub pitchers are in and hitters are teeing off. But most interestingly, you’re telling me that you can tell Carlos Guillen exactly what pitch is coming and his average only goes up 11 points?
I should also point out that, by this criteria, a serious investigation should be organized to find out if Josh Beckett is tipping his pitches to Derek Jeter (.341 vs carreer .316) and if domed stadiums are tipping pitches to Sal Fasano (.240 vs career .221).
It should be noted that Peter Abraham has an honorary degree in Predictive Analytics from the University of Phoenix.
Sweet Lou?
Posted by Green Cabbage in Uncategorized on May 18th, 2009
From the Pinstriped Bible Blog
• What if A-Rod just never gets his timing back? Remember when Lou Piniella, a guy who hit .300 six times, batted .196 over a full season? These things happen sometimes.
The same Lou Piniella who only played 74 games in 1975? The same player who didn’t qualify for the batting title played a “full season”? The Lou Piniella who OPS+ed 110, 138, 129 in the next 3 years (or since you’re on a BA kick .281, .330, .314)? That one?
I don’t know what Steven Goldman was thinking when he wrote this but pulling historical precedents out of your ass just to make a point and seem smart only works when the history you’re referring to is even tangentially related and doesn’t contradict your point.
There are no words
Posted by Green Cabbage in Uncategorized on May 17th, 2009
Man, what a shot. Yankees win, the Yankees win. Everybody goes home happy.
But did that moment give you pause, if only for a split second? Be honest. I’d be curious to hear what you think because I sure can’t come up with an answer.
…
Did anyone notice that he answered the question he posed?
Sexy is back!
Posted by Green Cabbage in Uncategorized on May 8th, 2009
First pitch?
Stop hatin' and start participatin'
Ham extra spicy after devastating loss.
Posted by Jalapeno Cheddar Stuffed Enchiliditos in Uncategorized on May 7th, 2009
Leave it to the LoHud Journal’s finest beat writer to pick up the spirits of Yankee fans everywhere, or at least maintain some semblance of impartiality towards the team’s marquee player, in a time of need:
We have a winner! Funniest comment in LHYB history is revealed
From “Kingdome” at 11:21 p.m. this evening:
A-Rod will provide the leadership and heart this team needs. He is a winner and a leader. He will show us why he is the best player in baseball and what we missed the past month.
Congratulations. We’ve asked the Yankees to provide a prize and they said Kingdome can buy the $2,625 seat of his or her choice for the next game.
It is all there. The derision of his own readership, the scathing wit regarding the Yankees front office, and the smouldering hatred for Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez.
Intrepid reporter Peter Abraham risks life and corned beef sandwich to get a picture of the Great Leader
Update Friday May 08th, 9:46 PM - WELL, WELL, WELL, look who showed up and decided to tell CC how to fucken pitch and also won the game with a HR!
Envy of the Enemy
Posted by EggFooYoung in Uncategorized on May 6th, 2009
Peter Abraham seems conflicted, caught between the worlds of the sports writer and the gossip columnist. Today’s post from P-Abe is titled “A-Rod’s final day in Florida?” and starts out rather predictably, noting that Alex has been coming closer to a return to the team by the day. The story then takes a darker turn, segueing into Madonna’s recent appearance at an NYC event, going after her fashion sense (at a party for the Costume Institute, no less) and then citing Wikipedia of all places as to a list of men that Madonna has dated.
Wow, Pete, project much?
This just smacks of jealousy to your humble reporter, and I’m guessing that Ham wasn’t the kind of guy who got the attention of the popular chicks in school. Or in college. Or professionally. Or anywhere the words “and extra cheese” aren’t commonly bandied about.
Origins of an Obsession
Posted by dead fish plate in Uncategorized on May 3rd, 2009
Ham’s blatant distaste for Alex Rodriguez has been a topic of discussion for readers of his blog for some time now. But where did this deep-seated hatred originate, and when? Let’s delve a little deeper into the gravy-soaked archives of Ham’s blog:
The 2006 season was Ham’s first full season with his blog. Indeed, Hammy had little to complain about at the time and routinely defended A-Rod.
posted by Peter Abraham @ 7/26/2006
Even as the playoffs approached against Detroit, Abe defended the Yankees MVP when Joe Torre batted A-Rod sixth:
Monday, October 02, 2006
Gotta go to Mo. But not in the eighth inning?Joe Torre made plenty of news today. Along with throwing A-Rod under the bus, he insisted that Mariano Rivera would only pitch the ninth inning. “We feel we have enough support leading up to him to be able to do this,” he said. Hmm. Either Mo is more injured than we have been led to believe or this is another Torre plan that quickly goes asunder.
After two games of less than ideal playoff production, Abe still states just facts regarding Rodriguez. Fair analysis, if based on a small sample size:
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Off to the Motor City* Several Tigers admitted they caught a break with the day game. Hard-throwers like Verlander and Zumaya are tougher to pick up in sunlight. By the time Zumaya came in, he was untouchable. “I couldn’t see the pitches,” Alex Rodriguez said. * A-Rod is now 4 of 34 (.118) with no home runs, no RBI and 11 strikeouts in his last 10 playoff games. *
And now, you see a change. The wave of Ham begins to turn on Rodriguez:
Coverage of Game 2
I’m off to Detroit this morning and will check in from Comerica Park this afternoon. In the meantime, The Journal News has shown some excellent new-media sensibilities and posted all of our Game 2 coverage already. The greatest lineup ever, or so some say, got exposed by the Tigers in Game 2. It’s up to the Unit now. Alex Rodriguez can’t get it done in the playoffs.
Aftermath of a disaster
* First off, a round of blog applause for DW, who posted from Comerica Park and when he got home. Impressive. * The Journal News game story has details about how ugly the offense has been and some strong words from Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon. * The Yankees have lost nine of their last 12 playoff games. If they lose tomorrow, I think there’s a real chance Joe Torre gets fired. Maybe I’m just reacting to what some other writers think. But doesn’t it seem possible? * A-Rod is a strange guy, perhaps the strangest athlete I have ever been around. When the Yankees win and he plays well, he often gives short, clipped, almost angry answers before storming off. Today, they lose this terrible game and he was eloquent in his answers and stood there for close to 15 minutes. I don’t understand him in the slightest. *
Pregame ALDS Game 4: Yankees at Tigers
Pregame chatter: I’m never surprised much in this business. But A-Rod hitting eighth was a stunner. “I didn’t talk to him,” Torre said. “He’s one member of the team and we’re all trying to get something accomplished.” Or, in other words, when we come to you in two months, accept the trade to Anaheim you howling dog.
What an entirely uncalled for shot by Ham there. Here’s where the unprofessional Abe kicks in.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
End of a tedious day
Congratulations, Torre haters. But this could be one of those deals where you should be careful what you wish for. A-Rod will stay because Piniella will convince the Yankees he knows how to get the best out of him. Now, instead of just being the guy who can’t get it done in a big spot, A-Rod will become the guy who can’t get it done in a big spot and helped drive kindly Joe Torre out of town. Let’s see him survive that if the Yankees don’t win the Series next season. * Trade A-Rod for anything, preferably a starting pitcher. He just doesn’t fit here. *
What? Where is this coming from? Your crush on Torre is clearly affecting your writing, Ham.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Let the A-Rod trade talk beginThe Sunday notes column this week leads off with a look at what teams would be (are?) interested in Alex Rodriguez. It seems to me that A-Rod’s relationship with the team is beyond repair at this point and he needs to get traded.
There you have it folks. Abe transitions from A-Rod defender to basher, in mere months. Why is that?
It’s all fair game.
Posted by Potato Chowder in Uncategorized on May 3rd, 2009
Abraham on Girardi defending Rodriguez:
But if Girardi actually believes what he is saying, it’s amazing that somebody so naive about how the world works these days is managing a team in New York. If somebody becomes the president or the best player in baseball, people are going to be interested in their lives. That’s just how it works. If you won’t want somebody to be interested in your life, don’t go into public life. It’s really not that complicated.
I will have this quote ready for when Abraham sends his first complaint email.
I’m also assuming this is a CYA move for when Abraham releases his book on Joe Girardi: The Man Who Took the Candy Away.
Update: Abraham should get his server checked out. Comments critical of him are getting deleted. It can’t be him deleting them as he believes in the sanctity of the public forum.