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MLB recently held a think-tank meeting to improve the way baseball is played. They concluded that full-on instant replay is the way to go, calling a consistent strike-zone is important (are you sure?), and pitchers and hitters can't take too much time between pitches. While I agree with these, there are a couple that would be easier to implement and improve the game in a far more natural way. 1. Raise the mound The last 42 years have seen several rule changes, and every one has favored hitters. After 'The Year of the Pitcher' (1968), the rule makers tried to re-balance the game in the following years, but went way too far. They lowered the mound a full five inches (from 15 to 10) in 1969 and added the DH in 1973. In addition, bats got better, ballparks got smaller, and balls got juiced*. By re-raising the mound to a nice, even foot (15 inches is too large a swing in one year - if 12 inches doesn't make an impact, then go to 15) it would allow pitchers to not only get more plane on all their pitches, but would make them more comfortable throwing hittable pitchers (because they would be tougher to hit) and reduce injuries (due to less effort being exerted and throwing fewer pitches). There wouldn't be so much nibbling and we'd get to see more balls put into play (which I find more interesting than strikeouts and walks). You wouldn't have to impose silly rules like 20 seconds between pitches or batters can't step outside the box. Raising the mound would be an organic way to improve and speed up the game without imposing more rules. The higher mound worked just fine for 66 years before 1969. MLB wants to have its cake and eat it too. They want all the offense of the past 15 years while reducing the length of games. Sorry MLB, that won't happen until pitchers regain some kind of advantage. 2. Balance the schedule The Yankees will play 76 regular season games (almost half) against only four teams: the Sox, Rays, Jays and O's. To me, that is boring as hell. Playing 19, even against our biggest rival, is tiresome. Each games loses a bit of luster because we see them so often. And never mind the other three teams in which there's essentially no rivalry to speak of. Do we really have to see the Tampa Bay Rays 19 times a year?!** To account for all the divisional games, we'll only see teams like the Indians, Tigers and Mariners six times this season. I enjoy seeing different ballparks and different players rather than the same stuff over and over and over. How many damn times do we have to see Kevin Youkilis' chia pet, or listen to that stupid cow-bell? A balanced schedule would also give us a greater sense of the best teams. The Rays may very well be as good as any non-Yankees-Red Sox team in the AL, but since they have 38 games against them (as opposed to 12 for a non-AL East team), it could conceivably make a 10-win difference. What changes would you make? * I remember a great article (that I can't find now) talking about how baseballs aren't necessarily more lively than in the past, but the rules for baseballs are now stricter, keeping them within a smaller range of 'liveliness' (generally on the higher end), while there used to be a wider range, ensuring 'deader' balls would occasionally be used. ** The real reason behind the unbalanced schedule is purely Yankees-Red Sox. Getting that matchup 19 times a year boosts TV ratings (aka, revenue). MLB really doesn't care how the unbalanced schedule affects the other 28 teams, as long as they get the Big Matchup 19 times. They have to enforce the unbalanced schedule for everyone so as not to look biased.
Author : Travis G
We as New York Yankees fans are constantly being reminded not to get caught up in Spring Training results, especially right now when it comes to the fifth starter competition. It is true that no one is in regular season form, and that both pitchers and hitters may well be doing things differently than they will once the games actually begin to mean something. I mean, c'mon, if you think Austin Jackson is a better player than Curtis Granderson just because of one week of Spring Training you are just plain silly. And your opinion isn't worth bothering with. When it comes to who will be the fifth starter Yankee Manager Joe Girardi said the results of the first couple of spring outings are really not important. That might be good news for the struggling Joba Chamberlain and bad news for the currently un-hittable Alfredo Aceves. At this point, though, I do believe it is fair to wonder about Chamberlain. As the New York Post does. Joba Chamberlain says he knows the deal when it comes to the fifth starter’s spot in Joe Girardi’s rotation. Now he has to start pitching like it. "I understand what’s at stake," Chamberlain said after getting spanked by the Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium yesterday in a 9-8 Yankees victory. "You got to get better. You can’t worry about what [the competition] is doing. There is a sense of urgency but not a panic button." Chamberlain is correct: Two outings into spring training isn’t time to panic. Chamberlain’s body of work — since walking off a Texas mound with a shoulder problem on Aug. 4, 2008, that forced him to miss a month — has been pedestrian. In 42 games (31 starts), Chamberlain is 9-6 with a 4.59 ERA and has given up 178 hits in 1682⁄3 innings, walked 79 and fanned 147. That’s too many hits and not an acceptable walk-to-strikeout ratio. Yes, the Yankees didn’t help him last year in the second half, when they limited his innings as a starter. And he is 24. But by now the Yankees believed Chamberlain would at least be close to a top-of-the-rotation hurler. When Chamberlain surfaced in 2007, he charged out of the bullpen with a blazing fastball, filthy slider and was embraced by everybody. As a starter, there have been glimpses of that stuff but nothing sustained. When Chamberlain pitches Tuesday against the Astros, he will be facing the biggest spring training game of his young career. Because if Girardi is telling the truth — and there is no reason to believe he isn’t — Chamberlain’s evaluation clock will begin ticking loudly. Whether you believe Joba should be a starter or a reliever is not really my point. I think we all believed Joba would be a star. Maybe we still do. But, pedestrian is exactly the right word. He threw harder as a reliever during the 2009 playoffs, but he was nowhere near lights out. So, I do think it is fair to begin to wonder if Joba will ever meet the expectations he created for himself way back in 2007. Other Notes Yankees favorite among five teams for Cuban shortstop
According to sources, the Yankees remain the favorites to sign Cuban shortstop Adeinis Hechavarria. Shelley Duncan Starts Over
Shelley Duncan starts over with a new team after years of toil in the Yankees' farm system. Four minor leaguers suspended for positive drug tests
Four Dominican Summer League players have been suspended for 50 games following positive tests for steroids under baseball's minor league drug program. Two of them are in the Yankee system. Granderson Gets a Ride in the Jetermobile
"At first glance, you sit there and go, 'Man, you know, do I call home and tell my friends who I got a ride with?' " Curtis Granderson said. Don Mattingly confirms talks about succeeding Joe Torre
Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly confirmed that there have been talks about him succeeding Joe Torre. 
Author : Ed Valentine
Ever since I started the blogging business I received some pretty humorous emails. One claimed I was secretly the prime minister of Britain (true story) and one claimed I was Larry Lucchino (true story) Neither of those, however, came close to being as funny as the one I received today. The rest of this passage will be excerpts from the e-mail and my own comments about it. Dear Brandon C. As a fellow Yankees fan I decided to reach out to you through email. I am very upset to the Yankees start of spring trayning this season. The Yankees are not hitting good and are not pitching well. Please read this email and reply your thoughts on my ideas and thoughts. Thank you. OK, I'm not much of a grammar freak, but trayning? Seriously? Read on for the rest (believe me, it gets better) First issue is the Yankees trading for Curtis Granderson. Last time I checked Granderson is hitting .083 and Austin Jaxson is hitting .583. Jaxson was a top prospect for the Bronx Bombers. This trade has not panned out the way I would like, and Granderson is incapable of handling the Bronx. I say trade Granderson to the Mets for Fernando Martinez and Ike Davis. Ok, how many games have been played in Spring Training so far, 5? The idea of trading Granderson this early is funny enough, but for Fernando Martinez AND Ike Davis? Why do the Yankees trust Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain? Joba has shown he is not a capable starter and Hughes should be a closer. The Yankees should sign Jardo Washburn and Mark Prior to compete for the 5th starter job. Trade Joba Chamberlain to the Brewers for Prince Fielder and make him your new DH. Release Nick Johnson, he sucks massively. OK, so many things wrong here. Yes, Hughes and Joba have pitched poorly so far, but they've only had two appearances a piece. The idea of signing "Jardo" Washburn (Jarrod Washburn, I assume) AND Mark Prior (hilarious) is just plain wrong. Joba for Prince? I wish.....Nick Johnson I won't even comment on. Randy Winn, more like Randy LOSE.... OK, that is funny. Finally, when you're mommy tucks you in at night, does she say "don't worry, everything is going to be alright"? I bet she does. I also bet the Yankees come in 3rd place this year (Red Sox 1st, Orioles 2nd) and sign Carlos Crawford at the end of the season. Everything will not be alright. And a quick thought on the blog, sir, I was gunna post this in a "fanpost" but I have better things to do like breathing. If i did....you might wanna quit your fob, as I would be taking it after Ed offers me it....I write better than Pulitzer. OK, no comment. Come up with commentary on your own people! Just felt the need to pass along this brilliant email. Comments? 
Author : Brandon C.
Joba climbs the hill for his second outing of the spring. Phil Hughes will follow. Gametime is 1:05, but it will not be televised. UPDATE: Damon will not play today. He has turf toe. MLB did not cite a specific reason for the firings. Rob Manfred, MLB executive vice president, said, "The change in supervisors is part of our ongoing effort to make our organization as strong as possible." Yet, [a supervisor] said it was directly related to the errant calls in last year's postseason. Crew chief Tim McClelland, along with veteran umpires Phil Cuzzi and C.B. Bucknor, each blew key calls during the American League division and championship series. They retained their jobs. The Yanks were down 6-3 early but came back to win 9-8. Joba breezed through the first two innings before giving up six runs in the third. His overall line was 2.1 ip, 6 er, 5 h, 3 bb, 1 k, 1 HR. Hughes relieved him and pitched moderately well (2.2 ip, 1 er, 3 h, 0 bb, 2 k, 1 HR). He has the big, early lead over Joba for the fifth spot, sporting a 3.86 spring ERA (compared to Joba's 27.00). The offense exploded despite missing Jeter, Arod and Posada. Grandy went 2-3 with a walk, Tex went 2-3 with a walk and HR (off Phil Coke), while Jamie Hoffmann and GGBG each had a hit (Hoffmann's was a double). The hero, though, was 24-year old centerfielder Greg Golson, who hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth. 
Author : Travis G
Author : 3460kuri
He signed a one-day, minor league deal so he could retire from his original team. Nomar was definitely as likeable as a Red Sox player could get. Too bad he got screwed by the front office and fans. He'll join ESPN. 
Author : Travis G
The two home runs Nick Johnson hit in two at-bats Tuesday might be considered unexpected since Johnson hit just 8 in 457 at-bats last season. Johnson, though, has apparently been working with hitting coach Kevin Long and the duo hopes to unleash more consistent power from the Yankees' fragile designated hitter. As a lefthanded hitter he's always had a lot more Tony Gwynn in him than Ken Griffey Jr. He's not exactly a slap hitter, but Johnson has made a career of hitting the ball to all fields, always more comfortable going the other way than pulling the ball. "My whole life's been left field," was the way he put it yesterday. Not anymore. Yankee hitting coach Kevin Long is determined to unleash Johnson's power potential, and why not? At 6-2, 235 pounds, the guy isn't built like a 2-iron. Long took one look at him on tape after the Yankees signed him as a free agent and saw an obvious flaw that was draining his power from his swing. Basically, he wasn't using his legs to drive the ball. "When I watched him it was striking that his back foot was sliding out and collapsing," Long explained. "So that was the first thing we attacked, getting to use his lower half more efficiently and consistently." At the recommendation of Larry Bowa, the former Yankee third base coach who is also Johnson's uncle, the club's new DH flew to Arizona in January to spend a couple of days working with Long, and the work continued into spring training. The payoff came quickly, in Johnson's fifth and sixth at-bats of the spring, and the home runs were enough to make the Yankees salivate over what his new approach might produce this season. "Certainly it's going to take him to another level," said Long. "We were expecting Nick to get on base and contribute in that area, but I think he can do a lot of damage. "I know there's more power with his backside getting through, and he should hit for a higher average. It adds another power force in our lineup, another guy who can take the ball out of the ballpark at anytime - not by trying to, but just by working his swing the right way." And no, Johnson did not hurt himself rounding the bases. 
Author : Ed Valentine
Stacey Long of Camden Chat was nice enough to write a preview of her team. I believe they'll finally get out of last place in the division, not only because Toronto lost Roy Halladay, but because Baltimore has some great, young talent. The 2010 season promises to be different for the Orioles and their fans than the dozen or so years preceding. Unless things accelerate much faster than anyone anticipates, they won't contend, but vast improvement is certainly on the minds of management, the players, the fans, and the media. Having won just 64 games in 2009 and without a winning season since 1997, the time for improvement is long overdue, but Orioles fans are happy to finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. The Orioles' off season won't wow anyone as GM Andy MacPhail essentially performed triage on several positions in order to provide structure for the young players on the team to flourish. Starting pitcher Kevin Millwood, 1B Garrett Atkins, closer Mike Gonzalez, and SS turning 3B Miguel Tejada will join (or in Tejada's case, re-join) the Orioles for the 2010 season. Gonzalez was given a two year deal but the other three will be gone after 2010. Millwood should provide some stability to a very young rotation, Gonzalez has established himself as a very reliable bullpen presence, and Atkins and Tejada are acting as placeholders for minor leaguers 3B Josh Bell and 1B Brandon Snyder. Any real improvement by the Orioles in 2010 and beyond will be the result of the improvement of the young players already in place. Outfielders Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, and Nolan Reimold have potential to be one of the best young outfields in baseball with 4th outfielder Felix Pie providing outstanding defense and a bat with some pop off the bench. The much hyped catcher Matt Wieters stumbled a bit upon his promotion in 2009 but closed the season on a surge and looks poised for a good year in 2010. The infield is still littered with old guys including the aforementioned Atkins and Tejada at the corners, defensive wiz but unfortunately very light hitting Cesar Izturis at SS, and team veteran Brian Roberts at 2B. The 2009 Orioles had a terrible starting rotation that can only improve in 2010. Millwood will take the reins as the #1 pitcher, pushing 3 year veteran Jeremy Guthrie down a slot. The rest of the rotation will be built with three of the Orioles young pitchers. Brad Bergesen had a very successful rookie campaign in 2009 and will attempt to replicate it in 2010. Bergesen pitches to contact and is a groundball machine, projecting to be a solid mid-to-back of the rotation starter. Brian Matusz is the future ace of the Orioles. He made 8 starts for the O's in 2009, the last of which was a domination of the Yankees in New York, the memory of which has kept Orioles fans warm over the winter. Chris Tillman will be just 22 in 2010 and has good movement on his fastball and a great curve, but he'll have to improve his command if he wants to find success. If all goes right with the Orioles in 2010 they'll break their 12 year streak of losing seasons and be poised to play with the big boys in 2011. Without the resources to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox financially, the Orioles are banking on the success of their young players, and when the time comes, to use free agency for the final pieces. It's a gamble to be sure, but if it pans out the Orioles will have the core to play competitive baseball for years to come. Thanks, Stacey. I have no doubt the O's will be tougher this year than any in recent memory. 
Author : Travis G
This will already be the third matchup against Pittsburgh this spring ("I'm not going back to Pittsburgh!" (7:00 mark)). CC goes for the Yanks while some guy named Charlie Morton starts for Pitt. The game will air on YES at 1:05. Update by jscape: This made me laugh, via LoHud: For all you Edwar Ramirez fans out there: The Yankees just announced they’ve traded him to the Rangers for the immortal "cash considerations." Ramirez was designated when Chan Ho Park was put on the roster. If you consider that money will basically be used to offset Chan Ho Park's salary, it means that the Rangers are still paying for CHP. CC was awful in the first, great in the second, bad in the third (2.1 ip, 5 er, 7 h, 1 bb, 2 k). No worries though; CC's second ST start last year was nearly identical. Romulo Sanchez is becoming a dark horse for the bullpen with his dazzling velocity. He gave up a hit and a walk in 1.1 innings with two K's (and sat 94-97 MPH). NJ cracked two solo-homers and Grandy broke his Ofer-spring by shooting a triple to the right-center gap. Career minor-leaguer Jon Weber hit two doubles while Posada had two singles. 
Author : Travis G
Our New York Yankees are about a week into their exhibition season schedule. That makes today a good time to look and see what we have learned about the 2010 team thus far. - We have learned that controversy will never be far away from Alex Rodriguez. Mike Lupica of the Daily News writes today that A-Rod's silence thus far speaks volumes about the mess that could be brewing.
- The fifth starter? We have learned that Alfredo Aceves might just take care of this whole 'Joba vs. Phil' debate by outpitching both of them and earning the fifth slot. After four perfectinnings Tuesday, Ace has now pitched six innings of perfect baseball this spring. And the Yankee brass has noticed.
"I'd like to start, honestly," Aceves said after his 34-pitch performance as his changeup dominated the young Pirates. "I'll do whatever the team wants. It's not my decision, it's early yet, it's a long spring training, we'll see."
Brian Cashman was impressed.
"He's giving us something to think about," said Cashman, who came to this game and did not stay in Tampa, which tells you something, too.
"Believe me, I feel we have five guys competing for one spot right now that could legitimately be in almost any rotation in the game. We're going to have a tough decisions to make."
- This isn't really something we have learned, more like something that has been re-affirmed. We already knew Nick Johnson was a risky signing because of his injury history. It took one Spring Training game for Nick to remind us, but the Yankees think he can be worth the trouble. Johnson, by the way, returned to the lineup Monday.
- We have learned that Kei Igawa (16.87 ERA in two appearances) is still terrible.
- We have learned that maybe losing weight is not always a good thing. Jonathan Albaladejo lost about 30 pounds this off-season, and now seems to have at least temporarily misplaced his ability to get anyone out. In three games, Albaladejo has pitched 1.1 innings, surrendered 12 (yes, 12) hits and sports a bloated 47.25 ERA. I guess we can scratch him from the competition for the last spot on the pitching staff.
- We have learned the Robinson Cano (a scalding .778 avg.) really loves hitting when there is no pressure. Oops, I think that is another thing we already knew.
- I think we have learned that we might need to worry a bit about our man Francisco Cervelli. Two concussions a few months apart is not cool, even if Cervelli will be back to workouts today. You have to wonder what will happen the next time Frankie is in a home-plate collision or takes a wicked foul ball off the mask.
- We have learned that apparently nobody wants to win the competition for the final outfielder slot on the Opening Day roster. Jamie Hoffman is 1-for-14 (.071) and Marcus Thames is 1-for-9 (.111). In fact, Maybe none of the Yankee outfielders feel like hitting. Curtis Granderson (.000), Brett Gardner (.083) and Randy Winn (.143) are all scuffling.
Author : Ed Valentine
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