Oh Em Geeeee!

I have a crush on this man.
*dies*

Booing: The new tough love.

For as long as I have been able to comprehend sports, I have never fully understood booing. Why degrade when clearly the player needs support? They're like toddlers potty training. They need positive reinforcement.

Could the fate of my Yankees have been swayed by a little post season jeering? I think so. It definitely didn't do any good. Soft hearted guys like Nick Swisher and Robbie Cano were affected, for sure.

They're still young guys, most of these athletes. You tell me where in the world have you ever been told "You suck!" a hundred times and turned around and did your job incredibly. How would YOU feel? And, yes, they make millions to play a game so many of us would play for free, but there's a reason they're getting paid and we're not.

I'm not saying baby them, but can we just stick to a solid "boo" and not personal attacks on family? In what household did you grow up in? Tell me when it's ever ok to throw insults to people, especially people we don't even know. I know, as fans, most feel like players are property to be owned and sold, but they're still PEOPLE.

And, call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure the actual player that you're booing is beating himself up enough and wondering what you're wondering. "What is the problem?" "What am I doing wrong?" So...seriously, what good does it do to put that on someone when they're most likely giving it to themselves?

The post season decline of Nick Swisher.

"Swisher! *clap, clap* Swisher! *clap, clap* Swisher!"

...is a familiar chant in Section 203 before first pitch at Yankee Stadium. The chant is soon followed by a salute of respect to the crowd. But, now those adoring chants are overshadowed by jeers and boo's. Why? .154, that's why. The salute that follows lately is half hearted.

.154 is Nick Swisher's post season batting average as of last night and in no way, a number to smile about. But, the boo's don't help a guy like Swisher. He's sensitive. Remember, this guy's not like Alex Rodriguez who seems un-phased by his own post season mediocrity. Swisher is affected by the chants of "Goodbye!" in right field by a group he called his "creatures". He might even know that his time in New York is up. He's voiced his upset at his own struggle in several interviews. "Fans" whom he used to connect with on Twitter have even gone so far as to insult his wife; Joanna...and Nick is all too aware of it.

So, if you're soft hearted, try getting up to bat with all that on your shoulders...and not to mention the pressure of the game itself. The guy feels bad. Clearly. Sometimes, declines of this magnitude genuinely have no explanation at all. But in a lineup full of declining but well paid superstars...it's hard to feel badly for the once smiling Swisher when all the man has to do is produce at the plate and make plays in right field. Catch balls. Hit balls. Get into some form of physical contact with the ball in general in a 3 hour period.

Still, I feel bad. When I think back to playing organized sports as a kid and even as a teenager, there was always that one person on my team whose positivity brought us all together. Sometimes it was me. Sometimes it was the girl who hugged the bench all season. My point here is, every team needs that one voice of "Hey, we can do this!" or "Hey, we're lucky to be here at all so let's enjoy it!" because it's supposed to be fun, right? Right?

Unfortunately, professional baseball is a business. A serious business. Players are investments who can be purchased and exchanged for a newer model for any reason at any time. Baseball fans are investors in these players as well. The revenue they produce for the team creates the salaries of these acquired players. So, as with any purchase made with hard earned money, fans want a product that holds up for a while. And if they get a lemon...they let the management know about it.

Such is the case of Nick Swisher. A once fan favorite who isn't producing. What do you do with a guy who is just so happy to be on a baseball field that he smiles from ear to ear even when striking out? I think the answer is obvious, though, it makes me sad for him. I feel his days are numbered in the Bronx.

Perhaps it's as simple as tweaking his swing in the off season. Maybe we'll get one more season to find out. Hopefully the fans in right field can wait til then...

Big Changes in 2012

What was it, like 2 weeks ago we all had a heart attack over the trade of Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi for Micheal Pineda and Jose Campos? "How could they do it?" some asked regarding Montero. No more John Sterling yelling "Jesus is loose!". I think that trade was a little risky. He only played in the majors for, what, 9 games? We barely got a taste of his potential. He was supposed to be our Golden Child! Grrrrrr....

Brian Cashman probably knows how that trade looked. Pineda will do us some good for a little while. Then we have Campos who is 19 years old. Spent 2 years in the Minors. This could either be really good or really bad. Young talent is great but only if that talent is finely tuned. I'm anxious to see how it works out for us. I mean if we have guys like AJ Burnett or even sometimes Hughes crumbling under pressure (And they've been with us for a while)...how's a kid going to be? Maybe he'll be a fearless kind of newbie instead of the timid kind. Who knows...

I'm pretty excited that Joba is coming back, I follow his tweets on Twitter and from what I gather, he says his arm feels good. The man himself even responded to an inquiry of mine regarding his arm post-Tommy John surgery this past summer! (Click the photo to see it better)

The Yankees also have a DH spot to fill. It warms my heart to see that Matsui and Damon are being talked about. How awesome would it be to get number 28 with Godzilla hitting a monster homer?!

I still say we need to get AJ Burnett the hell out of the Bronx, though. Buuuuuuuut, we did get HIROKI KURODA! And the best thing was the news about him came not long after the Montero trade and my Twitter and Facebook timelines all had a Yankee themed orgasm lol Woohoo!

This season sounds pretty good already! Oh, and Monsieur Russell Martin is back and so is Andruw Jones! Oh and *mumbles* Boone Logan, too...... -_-

Goodbye, Jorge.

I'm writing this first draft on Macy's receipt paper on my lunch break. I'm kind of wishing I had something better to write on but, I was always told if you have a thought, to write it down right away. To never chance losing it forever. So, I'm doing just that. And, I certainly have many thoughts on today.

So, here goes...

I have been dreading this day for weeks. It's not everyday that my favorite Yankees catcher announces his retirement. After the 2011 season, I knew it in my heart what was coming. I could see that Jorge knew it, too. After such an up and down season full with outstanding highs and saddening lows, being moved down in the batting order to hitting a grand slam that literally made me cry with happiness. Jorge Posada had a tumultuous year, but ended the season his way. Giving the team that had given him so much, one more shot at the post season.

His gift to the fans...or that's how I saw it, at least. One more act of heroics in (2nd version of) the stadium that made him great. I will never forget it. I feel many will agree with me. One more great moment to add to the already long list.

How can we forget who caught the ball Derek Jeter "flipped" and who's quick reflexes tagged a stunned Jeremy Giambi out. I wouldn't have wanted anyone else in that situation.

On Twitter, all of my loyal Yankee followers and fans are running the play by play, like we have so many times during so many Yankee games. I, unfortunately, am at work and will watch it later...with tissues nearby.

Posada means a lot to me. Maybe because I connect with him on a personal level, I see a little of myself in him. It's hard to see pro athletes as human, their legend is sometimes so great that we forget. But, Jorge is human. He's had struggle. He's had moments of personal greatness. Every time he has fallen, he has gotten back up with grace and class. He's able to recognize his weaknesses. And, what's best, is he wasn't afraid to expose them to us.

Playing among these God like ball players, Mariano...Pettite...Jeter. We all seem to think they can do no wrong, mainly Derek Jeter. But, not Jorge...at least not as of late. He was not as lucky to have the fans blind faith in him. I feel that he knew that. That's why he worked so hard to be better and seemed to beat himself up when it seemingly wasn't enough. I can relate to that. I believe that's why I've always been so fond of him and was always so ecstatic to see him succeed.

I know a few Yankee fans who didn't like Jorge or that said (lately) that he wasn't worth a thing. It's ironic today to read their sad tweets and hear their comments upon his retirement.

I always say, I'd rather be respected than loved. Respect means more to me. I feel, if anything, fans owe him the respect and gratitude he deserves, whether they liked him or not. Respect for what he did for our team. For our city. Because, very few play or have played with the passion that Jorge Posada did. New York would be very fortunate to see another man and catcher such as he.

So, with that being said, I wish you, Jorge, a happy and blessed retirement. I know that we have not seen the last of you and that this is the beginning of a great new adventure.

Thank you for everything.

P.S. You still have the cutest ears in baseball. :)