Cavs owner wrong with LeBron-to-NY "insult" rant

Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert attempted to stick it to the media on Thursday, blaming them rather than the ineptitude of the franchise for speculation that LeBron James will flee Cleveland after his contract is over for either the New York Knicks or future Brooklyn Nets.

He called the media's reporting of the issue out-of-line, "an insult to the city" and simple conjecture from bored soprts reporters.

PUH-lease.

Really, Dan Gilbert?!

Yeah, I guess LeBron James isn't best buds with Jay-Z, who just happens to be a co-owner of the New Jersey (soon Brooklyn) Nets?

Really?!

I guess the Nets and Knicks haven't been making trades, cutting players and clearing cap space for 2010 when they can make max offers to James and bring him to NY?

Really?!

Because Dan Gilbert isn't one of the worst owners in professional sports who didn't fall ass-first into the best player in the league and has YET to provide him with an acceptable supporting cast in order for him to take that sorry franchise all-the-way to an NBA title?

Really?!

Because LeBron James (noted front-runner aside) didn't wear a New York Yankees cap to a Yanks/Indians playoff game...IN CLEVELAND?

Really?!

When asked about New York, LeBron didn't specifically say he loves the city and thought it would be a great place to live and play?

Really?!

Because LeBron didn't come out with a limited edition line of a New York style of his shoes...only sold in New York City...featuring many Yankees references?

Really?!

Because LeBron is going to indicate his team's owner (who is currently paying him millions of dollars for the next two years) that he plans to leave? There is a max contract in the NBA, so the best the Cavs can do is match exactly what the Knicks and Nets will offer.

Really?!

Because LeBron doesn't have a clause in his Nike contract that promises to DOUBLE his endorsement deal if he moves to a major city like New York, Chicago or Los Angeles?

Really?!

Gilbert's not going to worry about a contract extension for the best player in the NBA who is disheartened with the lack of effort made and money the team has spent to fill up the rest of the roster with appropriate talent to compliment LeBron and help them win a title?

Really?!

Sports reporters are bored because they don't have the entire NFL season to cover, NCAA football every Thursday through Saturday, tight MLB playoff races, Brett Favre, O.J. Simpson, Lance Armstrong, (locally) Derek Anderson/Brady Quinn, Ohio State, etc.?

Really?!

THAT speculation is an insult to the city? Not the fact that the Indians made the playoffs last year and gave up on this season before the All-Star break? That Ohio State made it to two BCS title games and got whooped by superior opponents? That OSU just got bludgeoned to death by USC? That your 2008 gem of an NFL team is at the bottom of the league and about to lose their starting QB, coach, etc.

Really, Dan Gilbert?!

(Just for the record...I've been doing "Really?!" columns since the late 90s...so no posts about ripping off Saturday Night Live on this one. Thanks.)

Injuries not excuse but reason for Yankees fall

While no one will be pulling out the world’s smallest violin any time soon and playing a sympathy song for the New York Yankees, the fact of the matter remains that the massive amounts of injuries this team has incurred are the main reason they will break their streak of 13 consecutive playoff appearances.

Yankee haters will turn to the “injuries are no excuse” or “every team has injuries” cards, trying to diminish the extent and effect that these have decimated the team. Instead, they will argue that it is the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox who will ultimately be responsible for the demise of the 2008 Yankees.

I am here to tell the Yankees critics one thing: You’re wrong and the Baby Boss is right.

That’s right, amidst all the comments by the media that Hank Steinbrenner is a blow-hard (or worse), he has been right more times than he’s been wrong since taking the reigns of the Yankees.

He was right to choose Joe Girardi over Don Mattingly (as a Mattingly fan it pains me to say that), right that Joba Chamberlain should be a starting pitcher, right that Mike Mussina needed to pitch “more like Jamie Moyer” and right that, “There’s only so much you can do. They’re not supermen. (These injuries) would kill any team.”

Injuries are expected when your roster consists of men with such a high average age, but no one could anticipate the extent they occurred this year with 20 trips to the disabled list—20!

Let’s start at the top. Ace and consecutive 19-game winner Chien-Ming Wang starts the season 5-0 then injuries his foot on June 15 in an interleague game while running the bases—something he shouldn’t be doing in the first place. Out for the season.

Veteran newly re-signed catcher Jorge Posada injuries his right shoulder early in the season and never recovers—now out for the year. Starting left fielder Hideki Matsui and starting pitchers Phillip Hughes and Ian Kennedy have also been out for the majority of the year, forcing the Yankees to sign Sidney Ponson and deal with a combination of Daniel Rasner/Dan Giese to fill the fifth rotation spot.

Aside from the fact that the Yankees lost the bats of Matsui and Posada, more importantly they lost Posada’s ability to manage the Yankees stable of veteran and inexperienced pitchers. What could be more important? Oh, I forgot, losing your ace. Give the Yankees a moderate 8 more wins to this point from Wang and they’re battling for the division lead.

GM Brian Cashman has done an adequate job of replacing the offense in making spectacular trades for outfielder Xavier Nady and catcher Pudge Rodriguez though, at this point, it looks like too little too late. While not an excuse, it is inequitable to ignore the Yankees massive amount of injuries as the primary reason for their 2008 failures.

Steinbrenner placates to media about Bonds

Let me start by saying that I hope I don’t lose what few readers I have by posting two New York Yankees columns in a row. Some “news” stories hit me a certain way that I feel the need to comment and with the Yankees, well, what could be bigger?

Anyway, back to topic. Now that we’re over 100 games into the 2008 MLB season and former San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds is still unsigned by any club, just the mention of his name is sure to grab headlines. And, like him or not, Hank Steinbrenner has already learned the media-suaveness of his father and is using it to his and his team’s advantage.

Chances are every team at one point or another has had someone in their front office make a mention of Bonds. Whether it was in passing, a serious discussion or what-have-you, his name has been brought up in every front office around the league. The only stories we have heard about Bonds up until this point have been, “Nobody is going to sign him” even though everyone has discussed him. And nobody will sign him.

Following their normal annual meeting after the All-Star break at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa to discuss franchise and personnel decisions through the end of the season, A reporter asked Steinbrenner what issues were covered. His response?

"We covered everything, including Bonds."

Genius. Five words that in reality meant nothing but for sports writers meant an article with a headline of “Yankees may bring in Barry Bonds,” “Yankees talk about Bonds,” “Yankees to add Bonds?”

It is the non-story of all non-stories. Instead, they should be writing about how the Yankees are interested in trading for San Francisco Giants catcher Bengie Molina, Seattle Mariners pitcher Jarrod Washburn or Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Xavier Nady. But no, those are reserved for the last two paragraphs, with the prior being about a story that doesn’t exist.

At some point the media changed. It switched from reporting news stories about facts and rumors to reporting and inferring stories from quotes. Steinbrenner easily could have said, ‘We covered everything including trades and free agents.” But he didn’t, because he knew how to get the story, and it only took five words to do so.

Jorge Posada done behind the plate?

Love or hate them, the New York Yankees are never void of interesting news stories. In an offseason met with a lot of questions, the Yankees decided to keep a number of their veterans signing Andy Pettite for a season and Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada to multi-year deals.

As is often the case with older players signing these types of deals, Posada has been injured all season. The most recent diagnosis is that his right labrum is deteriorating and will require surgery. A catcher without a labrum is useless.

During spring training and in rare bouts this year, new manager Joe Girardi had Posada practicing and playing at first base, giving him another option to contribute aside from staying behind the plate. While not his natural position, Posada played well, but nevertheless fought the move:

"I want to catch. I'm a catcher; I'm not a first baseman," Posada said.

Now, with the only two options being to play first and DH or sit out the remainder of the season, Posada has thankfully changed his tune.

"It's not about me. It's about the team now," Posada said. "How can I help the team? That's why I'm going to go through the rehab. If I'm able to hit, I'm going to try to do that. If I'm not able to hit, I'm going to have surgery."

I love Jorge, let’s not get it twisted. He had a career season last year. Nevertheless, the quote disturbs me. “It’s about the team now.” Now? What about before? If Girardi, your manager, former teammate and catcher-in-arms thinks it is best for you to play first, you do it.

Considering the Yankees haven’t had an everyday first baseman since Tino Martinez, Posada should see this as a welcome move and a way of making his career in pinstripes last longer. On the other hand, the Yankees now need to find Posada’s replacement and find it before next season. Jose Molina is great defensively, but a Yankees catcher needs a strong bat.

On a seven-game win streak and now only 3.5 games out of first while missing both Posada and Hideki Matsui, perhaps the Yankees have finally righted the ship. Now if Posada can start hitting the ball like he did last year, he can fuel them back to the top.

MLB Delivers All-Star Game Present for My Birthday

It is my birthday so, needless to say, I’m taking the day off from the blog. More importantly, MLB gave me the best birthday present I could ask for last night with a touching tribute to Yankees Stadium, the New York Yankees and principal owner George Steinbrenner.

Even better was the game, a fantastic display of pitching, clutch offense and even cluthcer (yes, I know it’s not a word) defense in the extra innings. Am I exhausted today? Sure. But it was all worth staying up until 1:37 a.m. this morning. Maybe it was a little extra gift to have it last into the morning of the 16^th.

What is the most interesting is how the circumstances of this game came about. Bud Selig screwed up by calling a tie in the 2002 All-Star game, leading him to adopt the slogan, “This time it counts” and make future games decide home field advantage for the World Series. In effect, he is the reason last night’s game lasted 15 innings.

Of course all of the players want to play hard and have their team win, but if the World Series HFA wasn’t on the line, that game would’ve ended a helluva lot earlier. Instead, we had players like Brandon Webb and Scott Kazmir who never should have been in the game (because they pitched on Sunday) chancing injury to help their squad win the game. Interesting turn of events, huh Bud?

So much for not writing today! Be back tomorrow and please keep reading and start posting comments!

Who Does Papelbon Think He Is?

Honestly, who does this guy think he is? Lips-pursing Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon made an ass out of himself on Monday, stating to reporters that he deserves to close the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankees Stadium for the American League rather than future Hall of Famer and New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera.

"We've both earned that right; us, by winning the World Series and having the opportunity of having our manager there and our team being represented, and Mariano by what he's done for this role, we're in Yankee Stadium and blah, blah, blah," Papelbon said. "It's not that easy."

Then he recanted.

"I feel I owe a lot to this game and that's one of the things I owe to this game, to let an elder statesman go ahead of me."

It’s not that easy? Yes, it is. Winning two World Series in your career is nice, especially if one of them was last season. Let me know when you win FOUR and play in SIX. Let me know when you are the best closer in the history of the game and have 466 saves.

Let me know when you’re a nine-time All-Star selection and World Series MVP. Let me know when you hold the MLB records for lowest postseason ERA of all-time (0.77), most postseason saves (34), most consecutive scoreless innings (34 1/3), most appearances in postseason history (76), most…do I really need to continue?

This is all not to mention the fact that the game is at Yankees Stadium, and it is the final season of its existence. But...it’s not about age, last season or who is managing the team. What it's about is who is the best closer in 2008.

Oh, and Jon, why don’t you take this into consideration: Rivera is having a BETTER SEASON than you are—1.06 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and 23 saves for Rivera compared to your 2.43 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 28 saves.

Pathetic. Shut your mouth, stop blowing saves and start worrying about whether or not your team can hold onto that AL East lead after the break...or at least what flavor your next chapstick is going to be.

R.I.P. Bobby Murcer: 1946-2008

As a lifetime New York Yankees fan, I've seen and read about plenty of great players that have come in and out of the Bronx. For some it is merely a stop during their career, for others, it is the perfect place to end theirs. For Bobby Murcer, the New York Yankees were his life.

While I barely remember seeing him play, Murcer holds an important distinction as the only Yankee to play with both Mickey Mantle and Don Mattingly. He was immensely popular and hit .277 with 252 home runs and 1,043 RBIs in 17 seasons in the majors.

A five-time All-Star, Gold Glove winner and three-time Emmy Award winner, Murcer dealt with a malignant brain tumor for years; it never stopped him from continuing to help the team as a broadcaster even up to the middle of last season. All-in-all, Murcer spent nearly four decades in pinstripes as a player, executive and announcer. He spent his whole life as a great human being.

"Bobby Murcer was a born Yankee, a great guy, very well-liked and a true friend of mine," owner George Steinbrenner said. "I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife Kay, their children and grandchildren. I will really miss the guy."

"Bobby was a gentleman, a great ambassador for baseball, and a true leader both on and off the field. He was a man of great heart and compassion," Commissioner Bud Selig said.

"If there's a Hall of Fame for people, he's in it," Reggie Jackson said. "He was such a good person, and he was appreciative of the people who cared so much for him."

"Just a wonderful person, a great teammate and a heck of a baseball player," ex-Yankee teammate Lou Piniella said. "It's a sad day."

"I've never met a more genuine person," Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay said. "What he went through the last couple of years no one should ever have to go through, but he went through it with such grace. He was an amazing, amazing guy. He was a piece of work in the best way possible."

A-Rod's Affair with Madonna? Davis and Brand Opt Out, Ronaldo Not Re-Signed by AC Milan

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is no stranger to publicity and the media inciting rumors about his professional career and love life. Neither is singer and worldwide pop icon Madonna. Are both so used to the spotlight and controversy surrounding them that they are fueling it even more with an alleged long-time affair? The New York Post and Us magazine say so. All I can say to A-Rod is: Your wife's hot, Madonna's ugly, you have two kids, you just signed a record deal that you could lose half of in a divorce settlement...are you really that stupid?

I do not know why everyone is so surprised about Baron Davis and Elton Brand opting out of their contracts. Both play for sub-par teams with low market shares and neither gets the respect they deserve. All staying under contract does is limit their chances of winning a championship and earning their worth at the present market value. I hope both wind up in better situations, though Davis claims he is focused on Brand's former Los Angeles Clippers but prefers to re-sign with the Golden State Warriors. Speaking with ESPN's J.A. Adande via e-mail, Davis wrote: "Clipps r possible. G State is where I wanna b." Good thing the contracts don't take into account their grammer.

Three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldo met with AC Milan over the weekend, only to be told his contract with the club would not be renewed. After severing a tendon in his knee playing in a Serie A match against Livorno in February, Ronaldo has been recovering from surgery and is expected to return in early 2009. The non-renewal is interesting as Milan is said to be considering re-signing El Fenomeno if he can prove his health. Prove his health? Besides winning World Cups and league titles, I do not see what he has left to prove. If the man says he will return, he will return. Chances are he will not be re-signed and while he could go to Brazil and play at home, I would not be surprised to see a lucrative offer come his way from the MLS in the next six months.

Switch PITCHER vs. Switch Hitter

Any baseball fan has heard of and probably seen a switch hitter in action, but very few have seen, let alone thought about, a switch pitcher. Pat Venditte, an ambidextrous pitcher from Creighton recently drafted by the New York Yankees in the 20th round of this year's MLB Draft, has set out to change your line of thinking.

After the draft, Venditte was immediately sent to begin his pro career with the Class-A Staten Island Yankees. All was going well for Venditte who, on 39 occasions in college, struck out batters from both sidess of the mound in a game.

That is, until he met his apparent arch-nemisis, switch hitter Ralph Enriquez of the Class-A New York Mets-affiliate Brooklyn Cyclones. In classic fashion, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Enriquez enraged Venditte by continuously switching sides of the plate before the first pitch. Venditte countered by switching glove hands and sides of the mound. After an official time out, some warm-up pitches and a consultation with the rule book, everything ironed out.

Watch the highlight and full video of the at-bat here.

Venditte's father encouraged his son's ambidextrous pitching from the beginning. He uses a six-fingered glove that has two webs and switches hands depending on whether he's facing a lefty or righty hitter. As a toddler, Venditte's father traced his hands and requested a special glove from Mizuno (a baseball equipment company) and continued to do so as his son's hands grew.

Notes about Venditte:

• The Yankees wanted Venditte so badly that they actually drafted him in the 45th round in 2007, but he decided to stay in school.
• He throws 10 mph harder from his right side, up to 90, though has effective off-speed pitches with his left arm.
• He is a reliever rather than a starter.
• Being able to pitch from both sides does not limit pitch count, meaning he could be perfect for long relief or late inning substitutions in various situations.

Yankees Surge; Red Sox, Rays Tussle

The AL East is always a topic of conversation when talking about MLB. Usually the conversation is whether or not a team other than the New York Yankees can win the division. In recent years, especially this season, that conversation has changed. It has become, "Can the Yankees come back to win the division or get a Wild Card?" and "Are the Tampa Bay Rays for real?"

I'll answer the latter question first. Yes, the Tampa Bay Rays are for real. Any team with Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena stands a solid chance to win a division, especially when their young pitching and supporting cast is playing well.

As far as the tougher Yankees question goes, it is looking like it might get a little easier to answer. Looking back over the last week in baseball, it seems the tides may be turning a bit in baseball's best division. The Bronx Bombers are 12-6 in their last 18 games and have won four of the last five. Alex Rodriguez's return from the DL, coupled with the reemergence of Johnny Damon and Jason Giambi has propelled the Yanks offensivley. They are averaging 6.5 runs a game over the aforementioned span and put up eight or more runs in six of those games (one extra inning loss). Their pitching is struggling a bit, but Joba Chamberlain and Dan Giese's recent appearances should give them some hope.

On the other side, the division-leading Boston Red Sox and Rays are struggling. Injuries have plagued both teams; David Ortiz and Daisuke Matsuzaka are out for the Sox, while Pena and Rocco Baldelli are out for the Rays. Fights are occurring for both teams on the field against each other as well as in each team's dugout. The on-field fights led to suspensions for both teams while match-ups of Kevin Youklis/Manny Ramirez and Matt Garza/Dioner Navarro have stirred up both clubhouses.

With the Yankees surging, this is the worst time possible for the Sox and Rays to start infighting. With over a month until the All-Star break, there is plenty of ground to catch-up before the Yankees have everyone dissecting them while they are in the spotlight and hosts of the game.

A-Rod Powers Up

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez completed the second and final "game" of his rehab stint at the team's Minor League facility (Himes Complex) with what many Yankee fans hope is a dubious omen on his impact once he returns: a grand slam.

Earlier today, in a situation of the bases loaded with two outs, Rodriguez launched a ball off of the high center field fence for a grand salami--now it is time for him to do it in the big leagues.

The three-time American League MVP will be returning to the Yankees' line-up on Tuesday in New York against the Baltimore Orioles.

After straining his right quadriceps against the Orioles on April 28, A-Rod returned after just three games, a desperate move that backfired for the Yanks as he re-aggravated the injury. He has been eligible to return from the 15-day DL since May 15, but the Yankees decided to give him an extra five days to recuperate as they have a scheduled day-off on Monday.

After Sunday morning's simulated game, Rodriguez said it was the best he has felt since before the injury occurred.

"I did as full of a workout as I could do today," Rodriguez said. "I left it all out there. I felt nothing [in my quadriceps], so I'm ready to go."

This is his second Minor League home run in as many "games," as A-Rod made his first rehab start yesterday at the Raymond Naimoli Complex of the Tampa Bay Rays and hit a solo shot. He played five full innings.

The Yankees are 20-23 and in last place in the AL East. They trail Boston by 5.5 and Tampa Bay by 4.5 games respectively. It is important to note that New York has been without their top two power hitters from last year in Rodriguez and catcher Jorge Posada for the majority of the season.

Gold thong key to slump-busting?

Well, at least New York Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi thinks it works. While strange superstitions are nothing new in Major League Baseball, this one seems a bit out of, well, left field.

My question is this: You started this little trick in Oakland around the same time you and your teammates were 'roiding it up, right? Maybe there is some truth to steroids and their causation of smaller packages?

Then again, you're hitting .193 while your team is 20-23 with A-Rod finally coming back on Tuesday. I guess it can't hurt.

ESPN: Teammates have tried Giambi's lucky thong...