Tagged: Pedroia
After Awful Loss, EJ Is… Elated?
I am ECSTATIC! There is sooo much to talk about today! All-Star Game replacements, The Futures Game, this is going to be a fun blog! Where do I begin…?
How about telling us how you felt exactly when you saw Andy Pettitte’s donkey handed to him on a silver platter?
Andy Pettitte has a donkey?
Oh yes, well that was not the most fun game of course, but who carrres, really? Life is too short to moan and groan about losing big to a team you knew you were going to lose to anyway. There’s so much baseball news to discuss!
Such as, THE FUTURES GAAAAAAME
I have always liked the Futures Game but I’ve disliked how it distracts me from watching the Yankees. Since we’re going to get hammered today, I’m probably just going to put it in picture in picture (I have a big TV, I can do that). The Futures Game, in case you’re new to the All-Star Break or just plain reclusive around this time, pits the best prospects in the system against the best prospects in the system. Chris Tillman will face down Desmond Jennings. Manny Banuelos(Yankees A ball guy, hard throwing 18-year old Mexican southpaw) against Angel Villalona, Madison Bumgarner against Danny Espinosa. It’s going to be great. Hopefully the Yankees’ prospects, Jesus Montero and Manuel Banuelos, will represent themselves and the organization very well. By the way, last year, Ramiro Pena was in the Futures’ Game. Did you know that? I sure did.
Now onto the replacements.
Trevor Hoffman replaces Jonathan Broxton
I had no idea Jonathan Broxton was injured, but apparently he is, so Trevor Hoffman(all time saves leader, really obscure dude) will take his place. Hoffman, now with the Brewers instead of the San Diego Padres where he’s most known, has had a great season after Milwaukee signed him. I think this is an appropriate replacement.
Carlos Pena replaces Dustin Pedroia, to participate in HR Derby
I don’t even care whether Ian Kinsler is better than Pena or not(you could make a good argument, better defense at a more valuable position, higher average, but Pena has been leading the league in homers since day one, also leading the league in walks, higher OPS+ than Kinsler, good defense), I’m just glad that Pedroia isn’t starting at 2nd. Look, he has a family problem, so whatever’s going on, I hope that it gets fixed. But he doesn’t deserve to start at 2nd, you know it, I know it, the American people know it(except for the New England area apparently).
Zach Duke replaces Matt Cain
This is also really big. Matt Cain has been one of the best pitchers in the game, but after taking a liner to the elbow, he’s going to be replaced by one of the more underrated pitchers in the game, Zach Duke, lefty of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Go and check out his numbers. And Julia, are you going to tell me that he doesn’t deserve it because he has as many wins as losses? If you do, that’d be hilarious. If you don’t, then you’d have to admit your extreme bias in saying that Tim Wakefield deserves to make the All-Star Game just because of his record, despite his very league average ERA. I believe this is what they call a checkmate, Julia.
The Song of the Day is The Seed (2.0) by The Roots. it’s a hip hop song, but it’s funky, souly, it’s upbeat, and it has a band! So, Julia, you might not dislike this song as much as other hip hop songs.
Two consecutive Julia references. Boy, I really need to stop talking to her over this blog.
Stay positive, Yankee fans.
-EJ the Kid From New York
I’ve Always Loved the Royals.
Welcome Back Alex!
Who didn’t see this coming? Honestly?
I mean, as soon as I found out A-Rod would come back on Friday, I literally thought to myself, “Watch him hit a home run in his first at bat.”
Welp, it turns out it wasn’t just his first at bat, it was his first pitch back from the disabled list that traveled into the left field stands for a 3-run jimmy jack. How fitting!
I didn’t get to watch this game and this at bat because I was at a dance as I stated in my blog yesterday, and I’m upset over that obviously. But it was a great game, I’m glad that that happened rather than another Yankee loss. Also, CC Sabathia, how about that? Complete game shutout for the big man, his second complete game of the year, he threw one on the road against the Tigers and lost, so this was his first real complete game. 4 hits, 8 strikeouts, 1 walk. The southpaw was on, and hopefully we can get some of that from our other starting pitchers.
And again, I have to turn it over to a comment I got from Julia on my last blog arguing over Dustin Pedroia and his MVP status. Let’s find out what she had to say as I proved her wrong on Pedroia being chosen as Most Valuable Player of the American League over Joe Mauer.
“EJ – the baseball powers to be have spoken. And a second baseman who can stop the ball from going into the outfield, take away hits, turn doubles into singles – I’ll take it. Those actions that can’t have a number assigned to them also matter when looking at a person who is an overall MVP. And face it – we Boston fans have a place in our hearts for the “little guy” – just look at Dom DiMaggio. It’s a new year – and anything can happen!”
Julia, Julia…
Look, I get that turning doubles into singles and taking away hits(even though he didn’t really take away that many hits, his range was average), stopping balls from going into the outfield(again, average range) is valuable. I get the value of those intangibles, it’s not like I’m trying to shut down the little things.
But honestly, do you think if Ian Kinsler and Dustin Pedroia switched places, and Pedroia was on the Rangers and Kinsler was on the Red Sox, that Pedroia would still have won MVP? Do you think that just having Dustin Pedroia would make a difference than having Ian Kinsler would give the Rangers more success, and that the Red Sox would have had less success all of a sudden? Of course not. You guys had a terrific team last year and it wasn’t Dustin Pedroia who was the main cog.
The fact of the matter is that you guys put too much value over things that, yes, are valuable, but definitely not quite as valuable as you think. Last year, I think a lot of people would have rather had Joe Mauer on their team over Dustin Pedroia, and that’s what value is. Value is not who did more underrated things(and don’t tell me what Dustin Pedroia did last year was underrated). It is about who is more valuable. And the person who you would rather have is more valuable. That’s just all there is to it in my opinion.
So, Julia, you take Dustin Pedroia who does whatever intangibles you think he does and hits pretty well, and I will take Ian Kinsler or Joe Mauer, who I can prove is better and more valuable, and we’ll see what happens.
Also, on a funny note, if Ian Kinsler was on the Red Sox and Pedroia was on the Rangers last year, Ian Kinsler probably would’ve been in the top 5 voting for MVP because he was a Red Sox and he had all these intangibles and he’s so underrated. Ai ai ai.
Stay positive, Yankee fans.
-EJ the Kid From New York
To My Dear Friend Julia…
“EJ – jealousy doesn’t suit you! lol! As shocking as it might be to you – the Red Sox actually have had – and continue to have – great players worthy of the awards they receive.”
Of course you say that, you’re a Red Sox fan. 😛
OPS+: 122
OPS+: 137
Joe Mauer is a catcher, Dustin Pedroia is a second baseman, therefore it is more valuable to have such offense from Joe Mauer rather than Pedroia. Also, you consider that Mauer had 2 more RBI and he had almost 100 less plate appearances and played for the weak hitting Twins, rather than the juggernaut offense of the Red Sox, and you get a pretty lopsided comparison.
Maybe I’m not jealous or biased, Julia. Maybe I just checked my facts before I ran my mouth.
OHHHH SNAP WHATCHU GON DO NOW JULIA!? XD
Stay positive, Yankee fans.
-EJ the Kid From New York
EJ Catches Up
Oh, there is much to catch up with…
Nick Swisher Traded To Yanks
The New York Yankees acquired Nick Swisher and Kanekoa Texeira for Jeff Marquez, Wilson Betemit and someone else I’m forgetting I think. I really liked this trade. Some people criticized it, saying Swisher isn’t good average and to get Teixeira anyway… those people are out of their minds, if they don’t mind me saying.
Nick Swisher can hit for a good average (.270, .280), provide solid power (30-35 homers) and his OBP is always fantastic. He can play OF and 1B. Some people compare him to Jason Giambi; that’s an unfair comparison. Swisher is similar to JG, but he’s better at everything pretty much. He’s a good contributor offensively and he’ll be good in the middle of that lineup, coming after A-Rod and hopefully Abreu. Now if we don’t resign Abreu, I’d like Milton Bradley or trade for an OF. Bradley is a little risky ’cause he gets into controversy and gets injured, but he’s a real offensive contributor. I’d say he’s better offensively than Abreu.
Anyway, good trade Brian Cashman.
CC Sabathia Agrees to Terms with Yankees
Holy shizznit! I found this surprising. I thought maybe he’d go to a West Coast team, maybe somewhere else, but I didn’t think the Yanks would sign him. Apparently so… now the Yankees rotation is nearly set. We have a great ace, one of the best in the game at the head of the rotation. He’s got great stuff, he can just absolutely PITCH. We’re going to appreciate having him pitch big games for us, and now we have a come back to Santana.
Now we just gotta sign Garland to be #4 and we’re all set in the rotation.
Dustin Pedroia Wins Most Valuable Player in AL
It should’ve been Mauer or Sizemore, but eh. This wasn’t as bad as they could screw it up. I’m happy for him, though he was undeserving. The guy had skin cancer and is a midget. I still hate him, but I’m happy for ‘im.
Okay, that did not make sense.
That’s about it for now, Yankee fans. I’m glad to be back, and I hope for more good news in the future as I’m sure you all do.
Stay positive, Yankee fans!
-EJ the Kid from New York
The Squad 