It only looks like A-Rod is crying; really, Matsui just farted in the dugout.

 [[Editors Note: by way of an inexplicable string of what can only be described as technical "snafu's" this piece by your correspondent "Hank Baron" has been published by me, the aforementioned editor, and man's best friend: The Venuist.  Sorry for the confusion and for the wait.]]

A-Rod’s repaired right hip is doing fine, according to reports. This further adds fuel to the speculation (mostly my own) that the Yankees are doing their best to circumvent current MLB by-laws since there is no clear ban on cyborgs. It should also be noted that cyborgs don’t cry.

Damon (L) and Papi Ortiz (R) in a thumb friendly wrestling match... moments before he ripped Damon's arm clean off.

Boston’s own Jesus-turned-Judas Johnny Damon, on the other hand, isn’t doing so hot. He’s currently a free agent and in the middle of negotiations with the Yankees. Honestly, who needs to negotiate with the Yankees? Their bank is practically mainlining from the US Treasury Department (I mean, probably). If they want you, they will pay you twice what anyone else will pay. Meanwhile, Camp Damon is stating he’s still interested in playing with the Yankees, but is waiting for money. I’ve heard this same song and dance before with Damon v. Sox and I know how it ends. Johnny better start packing his bags to whoever the hell wants him now.

In the meantime, Derek Jeter is still such a classy guy.

Rare view inside the SI editorial offices.

John Lackey has just one question to the fine people of Red Sox Nation: "do you party?"

Have this many aces moved in one day before? Red Sox get Lackey, Phills get Doc Holiday, and Cliff Lee (Mr. Tuff Nuts of game 1 in the WS this year) is moving to Seattle. Monday was crazy.

Obviously the California Angles of Anaheim by way of Los Angeles must not be too thrilled  (sad rally monkey). I don’t think the Matsui signing will be what everyone is talking about by the infinity pool this morning (sad thunder sticks).

The Mets are also big losers in this shuffle with the Phils getting a pitcher who will mow down NL and the Sox taking the best pitcher off the FA market.

Its like the drinking game “asshole” where you have to give up your best cards to the President and Vice President. The Red Sox and Phillies are the Prez and Vice and the Mets and Angles are the asshole. They have to wear silly hats and get John Henry beer. The Sox and Phills can also make up rules… either this analogy has legs and I’m a genius or I just drink too much.

Seattle just got a whole lot better, and with the Red Sox all but out of the JBay sweepstakes Seattle might be a logical landing place for the best Canadian free agent. That would give the rainy city some power to go with their already impressive speed, defense, and newly acquired one-two punch of Lee and King Felix. They’ve got money and a hungry fan base that has never had a championship in any major sport. Look for Seattle to make some noise next year.

You have to think that this is just the beginning for the 2009/2010 off season as far as big moves are concerned. Bay and Holliday are yet to land and there are over 250 free agents on the move.  This is great, especially for us who love whatever is cooking on the hot stove.  With the CBA (collective Bargaining Agreement) up in 2011 things might a little different in years to come. If you think this is exciting, check out next years’ FA class.

Is it just me or does John Lackey look like Landfill from Beerfest?

[[Editor's note to 33 Problems: The Venuist has been on top of this story for months.]]

Fortunately, when John Lackey's 'original' Landfill died in Beerfest, Landfill 2 (featured above) saved the squad

I get the ‘defense wins championships’ thing, but don’t you find Cameron’s 8.5 million per year a little nuts.  Boston media is all crazy about the two moves, but they pose as many questions as they answer. Are they going to trade Ellsbury along with Bucholtz for Adrien Gonzalez?  (If so, 33 Problems’ sister would literally move to San Diego and claim that she was a lifelong Padre’s fan.) Are they just going to platoon Hermida and Cameron? Really?

Really?

They’s something else going down. So much for that bridge year.

"Don't Cry for Me Minnesota"

Joe Mauer Needs to Stay Put:

You would think the Twins would become players in something soon if they want to keep Joe Mauer happy. [[Editors Note: See Cleveland Cavaliers, Lebron James.]]  Any contract the Twins could possible afford to give Mauer would be a require a hometown discount. No way the Twins are going to match what the yankees, Red Sox, or Mets would be willing to pay for his services.

The way to keep Mauer would be to sign or trade for a serious guy (JJ Hardy does not count) to show that they are willing to build around Joe, then to offer him a contract rich for the Twins (roughly 40,000 grand a year plus health insurance but no 401k matching).  This guy is from Minnesoooota. He grew up rooting for the Twins. This is the only leverage they have. Joe can make more money, a lot more if you include endorsements  (Accenture is looking), in a big East Coast Market. He’s also going to be a contender every year. The Twins can’t just punt like they did on Santana when they got fleeced by the Mets.

Mauer needs to stay in Minny because I like watching good baseball games with good players with some semblance or competitive balance.

Mauer needs to stay in Minny because he is the heart of a quality franchise was the only interesting thing about the end of the season last year.

Mauer needs to stay in Minny because it will give the AL Central a bona fide superstar.

But mostly Mauer needs to stay in Minny because it will serve as an example that players aren’t just in it for the money, that small market teams don’t just serve as a glorified farm team to the big guys in Boston and Philly and LA and New York. It will be something that we can all point to when we get cynical about this sport.  Stay put Joe. They’ll name a street after you.

Hideki Matsui

Update (Wednesday 12:52 PM): The Angels have made it official by signing Hideki Matsui to that 1 year, $6.5 million deal according to the Associated Press and SI.com.

Now that Matsui to the Mets rumor doesn’t have to start. If Bay and Holliday fall through, Vlad is an option due to this signing. This doesn’t improve the Angels by that much. By losing Figgins to the Mariners and Lackey to the Red Sox, it looks like the Mariners can take control of the AL West.

Original: The New York Yankees 2009 World Series MVP looks to be headed to the LA Angels for a 1 year, $6.5 million deal according to SI’s Jon Heyman. This would mark the end of the 6-year Vlad era in LA.

This is good news considering that if the Mets cannot strike a deal with Bay or Holliday, they can land Omar’s good friend on a 1 year basis or so and wait for F-Mart to develop further.

Media Savvy Granderson Should be a HIT in NY.

One day after acquiring Player To Be Named Later from the Washington Nationals for one of their crappy relief pitchers, the Yankees made a bigger splash in a three team trade. The Yankees dealt more surplus mediocre pitching and a prospect-wannabe for all-star Curtis Granderson. The smooth centerfielder is one of four players in baseball history to hit 20 doubles, 20 triples, & 20 homers while stealing 20 bases in the same season. The departed Yankees include P Phil Coke, P Ian Kennedy, & OF Austin Jackson. Yankee fans are already downplaying the loss of Jackson who was once viewed as an invaluable prospect. The trade all but spells doom to the possibility of both Damon AND Matsui returning to the Yankees. Granderson was responsible for one of the Yanks more embarrassing playoff defeats in the decade. After his first full season in 2006, Granderson helped oust the Yanks from the playoffs with a .294 Avg, 2 HR’s, a triple, a steal and 5 RBI in the LDS. Coke and Bruney will certainly not be missed as they contributed to the only weak link of the Yanks recent playoff success, the middle relief corpse.

 Lorient vs GF38 

Lieu : lorient

buts : cesar 36eme (1-0), matsui 63eme (1-1), juan 71eme (1-2), gameiro 92eme (2-2)

avis du match : actif

voir la vidéo du match

Japan today, then the Dominican Republic, and “Play Ball” is just around the corner.

A few words about the cards and ratings that will allow us to play not only the big leaguers from Japan, but also the greats from the Japanese leagues who didn’t make it over here. Fred Bobberts, Len Durrant and others should take a bow (sorry). It’s fantastic to see players like Shigeo Nagashima and Masaichi Kaneda included in our project.

As such, this is going to be a deservedly strong team. If I had only the MLB guys to pick from, it would include a decent lineup, almost no bench, OK starting pitching and a strong bullpen. With the Japanese leagues’ players included, they’re strong almost all the way around except in the depth department. The lineup is much stronger than the backups.

Ichiro is one of my favorites and I could talk about him at length. He visited George Sisler’s grave when he was in St. Louis for the All-Star Game … could you imagine any other player doing something like that? The guy just gets it. And he might even be honored to participate in this thing, who knows.

But I want to turn the clock back to the 1970s and discuss Sadaharu Oh. Hank Aaron had just broken Babe Ruth’s career home run record. But in Japan, Oh was about to pass Aaron. He would finish his career in 1980, with 868 homers.

Not much was known about the Japanese leagues then. Oh’s home run total wasn’t taken very seriously because the ballparks were too small, the competition was like Triple-A, any number of reasons. It was true that guys like Randy Bass were going over to Japan and succeeding where they hadn’t in the States. But Oh certainly could have succeeded in the majors with that Mel Ott type leg kick. No one else was close to him in Japan.

The feeling started to change when Cecil Fielder made a mid-career stop in Japan. He returned, hit 51 homers in Detroit, and Japan was getting baseball attention in the U.S. again.

Next came Nomo. He took the U.S. by storm in 1995 and while his career didn’t sustain at that level, he proved that a Japanese player could succeed.

Ichiro came in 2001 and is still performing at the level he was when he arrived. He seems certain to get 3,000 hits, not even counting all the ones he had in Japan. Hideki “Godzilla” Matsui arrived a couple years later and has done well for the Yankees, and made history with his MVP performance earlier this month in the World Series. There are other guys with big postseason moments here such as So Taguchi, Tadahito Iguchi and Dave Roberts (born in Okinawa).

For the manager, we could go with Oh or Nagashima, but I’ll take Tetsuharu Kawakami, who won nine consecutive Japan Series in the late 1960s and early ’70s. Sort of like UCLA basketball at that time.

If you’re looking for a dark horse candidate to win this thing, look no further. Remember, Japan won the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009. They know how to do it.

JAPAN SAMURAI

CA Shinnosuki Abe
2B Shigeru Chiba
RH Yu Darvish
OF Kusoke Fukudome
OF Isao Harimoto
2B Tadahito Iguchi
RH Kazuhisa Inao
RH Hisashi Iwakuma
2B Akinori Iwamura
CA Kenji Johjima
LH Masaichi Kaneda
RH Hiroki Kuroda
OF Hideki Matsui
SS Kazuo Matsui
RH Daisuke Matsuzaka
LH Masanori Murakami
3B Shuichi Murata
3B Shigeo Nagashima
RH Hideo Nomo
CA Katsuya Nomura
1B Sadaharu Oh
LH Hideki Okajima
OF Dave Roberts
RH Takashi Saito
RH Kazuhiro Sasaki
RH Eiji Sawamura
OF Tsuyoshi Shinjo
OF Ichiro Suzuki
OF So Taguchi

Next: The final team, the Dominican Republic.

Free Agent Matt Holliday is trying to support his family during his unemployment. He's currently filling out applications with the MLB for a permanent position in the spring and at Best Buy for seasonal help.

This Thanksgiving will be a somber one for the family of Cardinal free agent, Matt Holliday. Holliday recently reached free agency this November and is currently looking for a position within his skill set in Major League Baseball.

“It’s gonna be a tough year. With this economy, you just have to hope for the best. It was great to find a position with the Cardinals, even though I knew going in it was going to be temporary.” Holliday said while flipping through the weekly help wanted ads. “It’s great to add National League Central Champion to my resume. Hopefully that will get me some looks from some organizations.” While Holliday remains hopeful, sources say that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the New York Yankees have already stated that they will be passing up Holliday for other applicants.

“He’s a great player and all, he just didn’t really have the qualities we were looking for in an applicant,” said Yankee’s GM Brian Cashman, “Plus we’re trying to find placed for Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon. Those two have been with the organization for a while now and we’re big on employee loyalty. We just couldn’t really find it in our hearts to let one of those guys go after what they’ve done for us this past year. I’m not gonna look one of those two in the eye and tell them that we’re bringing in someone else to do their job. Come on man, it’s the holidays.”

Holliday says that he is thankful for his family who have been extremely supportive throughout the entire ordeal. “We’re gonna stand behind Matt through this tough time. He’s done a lot to support his family and we support his career choice,” said Holliday’s wife Leslee in a statement issued last week. The life of a baseball player can often be a difficult one, with travel being routinely required, contracts usually only lasting a few years, and a lot of teams issuing performance based incentives. “He’s worked hard to get to this position in his career, and while it’s tough for a family to have a member unemployed during these hard economic times, me and Matt will be a united front and I’m confident that our family will make it through this.”

The Hollidays are currently living off of their savings. Matt was fortunate enough to hold a position with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals this past year and made 11.5 million dollars between the 08 and 09 seasons. “That’s gonna help us get through this. I was fortunate enough to put some of that money back into savings so I’m confident that even though things may be tight. We’ll make it,” said Holliday.

Holliday said he has considered taking other positions since the tough economy makes finding a job hard these days. “I have thought of taking a position in maybe right field, or as a medical assistant or middle management somewhere. I know I just have to be flexible.” Holliday maintains the fact that he would like to stay in the MLB. “I know it’s hard to get back into the industry if you make a career change, so I’m hoping something opens up. So far the only team I’ve seen taking out help-wanted ads are the Baltimore Orioles and I’m just not sure that’s a place I want to work,” said Holliday.

Holliday said he hopes to get signed soon. “I just can’t bare to look my family in the eyes and tell them that we only have about $500,000 to spend on Christmas this year. That’s not something a father ever wants to do.”

If you would like to help this family during their time of need, donations can be sent to:

St. Louis Cardinals’ Free Agent Fund

100 S 4th St

Saint Louis, MO 63102

the Yankees have always been the cream of the crop. they have now won 27 world series championships. no doubt that this world series was joyous, but it raises some concern. now i know that the Phillies are a good team but the Yankees should have been hitting all over their pitchers. they have only one solid pitcher, thats Cliff Lee. yet there were only 4 players to hit over .300 (really 3 Andy Pettitte  hit 1-3). the usually hot hitters were not present. i mean A-Rod and Tex only hit 2 homers combined. gardener who played in 5 games did not even get one hit. truly Matsui was the MVP (3 hr , .615 average). there is also a hole in our pitching staff. Joba was not to good this year, and Wang was dreadful (i would cry every time he was pitching) his ERA was 9.64 over 12 games. i know he was hurt last year but he is a big risk to send out to the mound. and Joba needs to stay where he was in the bullpen. other than that the Yankees look strong. they win when they need to. and a shout out to the MVP he deserves that award. if this was his last game in pinstripes then what a way to go.

This is probably one of the best cards to come out of SPx baseball in a long time.  I think many collectors would agree that SPx baseball has fallen off the wagon a bit, but this is one of its better cards.  To this day, this card still sells for over $200.00.  Back in 2003 these were selling for a lot more, but thats understandable because Matsui was new to American baseball.  Being MVP of the ‘09 World Series can’t hurt the demand for these cards either.

Rating:

Location: 273 W 38th St (btw 7th Ave & 8th)

Price: Varies $5 (plain) – $12.50 (grand slam)

In the hype of the Yankees winning the world series and Matsui winning the MVP award for the series, my favorite Japanese curry joint has been getting quite a lot of attention (NYtimes CBS)  .  This restaurant located in the garment district of midtown west is pretty much the shrine to all things Matsui.

Although Go! Go! Curry is a fast-food chain in Japan, this location is the only one in the stateside.  But, the food tastes nothing like any fast food I’ve had!  The brown curry tastes like it’s been simmered all day and is full of flavor and layered on top of that the Katsu Pork is crispy/juicy, as good as any good Japanese restaurant would make it.  The beauty of this food is that truly it feels/tastes like comfort food for any soul who longs for such a thing.

The best deal is to go with another person and get the Grand Slam for $12.50 which is plenty for 2 people and it comes with an boiled egg, sausage, and huge piece of Katsu.  But, they have any size to fit your need and your hunger.  Just be careful if your new yoga studio ends up right by this place …dangerous.

.:cL

Grenoble Foot ne battera pas le record du plus grand nombre de défaites d’affilées ! C’est un grand soulagement d’avoir gagné le point du match nul, notre 1er point ! Il fallait bien que ça arrive un jour, et ce jour est arrivé. Comme toujours, les Grenoblois commençaient la racontre avec beaucoup d’envie, à l’image d’une frappe d’akrour, malheureusement pas cadrée. Mais le temps passe et monaco dominait de plus en plus le jeux, il faut un énorme le crom pour sauver 2 fois de suite Grenoble Foot, 1 fois sur une tête de mollo et une 2eme fois sur une reprise de ce même joueur. Les 2 équipes se quittent à la mi-temps sur un match nul, certe assez décevant pour le spectacle mais très rassurant pour les joueurs de Bazdarevic. En 2eme péridoe, même envie qu’en début de match pour Grenoble Foot, qui voit de plus en plus son 1er point se dessiner. Matsui inquétait souvent les monegasques sur son côté gauche mais il fallait continer à défendre face au 3eme de ligue 1. La fin du match est sifflé par l’arbitre de la rencontre, le 1er point est gagné et c’est sur un grand cri de soulagement, que les joueurs Grenoblois peuvent dire à dieu à ces défaites, pour surprendre et commencer une nouvelle période. allez Grenoble Foot

The New York Yankes Victory Parade in Pictures

]]> http://jahshuwah.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/start-spreading-the-news/ Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:06:36 +0000 jahshuwah87 http://jahshuwah.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/start-spreading-the-news/

So this morning I woke up around 4:30 AM and headed out to the Aberdeen-Matawan train station and took the PATH train (first time I’ve ever done that) and headed up to see the Yankees Ticker Tape Parade through the Canyon of Heroes. It was a really special event for Yankees fans everywhere, as we got to see our favorite players celebrate something special for the first time in what seems like an eternity. The day itself could be characterized as nice, but probably too cold for Gelato (sorry Emily), though after standing still on Broadway for about 7 hours, I could definitely used some food (I wound up getting a Falafel from a surprisingly nice street vendor) . Anyway, all that aside, I took some pretty cool pictures of what I saw, as well as some video (which I won’t really upload yet.) After the parade, there was just simply (and cliche-ily) Mayhem in Manhattan. I wandered around asking cops how to get to the WTC PATH station, and all of them told me something different. I have a pretty good sense of direction, but after all of that I was a little disoriented. One of them pointed out that I should “Go to Canal Street” because I won’t miss it. So I did, only to find out the officer sent me to the freaking post office (or Canal Street Station). Eventually, I made my way back from a really interesting day, but I was certainly happy to get home a put my feet up for a while.

In other news, I really hate posting two picture galleries in a row without providing some content, so I’ll try and make up for that. Though I can’t promise much quality, as usual.

Everyone that has ever played baseball on any level has dreamed about it. Playing in the World Series in Yankee Stadium with the Championship on the line and delivering one of the greatest performances in baseball history to clinch the Commissioner’s trophy.

In game 6 of the 2009 World Series, New York Yankee Hideki Matsui lived that dream and took a distinguished place in the proud and immortal legacy of Yankee lore.  New York’s most famous and prestigious sports tradition boasts some of the most unforgettable icons and moments in the history of major league baseball:  Babe Ruth’s called shot in 1932, Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 Series, Reggie Jackson’s 3 Home-run spectacular in game 5 in the 1977 series. The list is long and so a part of baseball’s collective soul that they will forever live in the hearts of baseball fans everywhere.

The Yankees have, possibly, the richest and most treasured history of any sports team in America. The special players that have worn the pin-stripes have become not only icons of the sporting world but icons of American pop culture as well. For many the terms “New York Yankees”, “World Champions” and “Excellence” are synonymous. That is why it takes a very rare and special feat to be worthy of inclusion among such illustrious figures and achievements.

In Game 6 of the 2009 World Series, playing in possibly his last game, Hideki Matsui transformed himself into a legend with a record-tying performance that single handily lifted the Yankee’s to their 27th world title in club history.  Going 3-4 with a 2-run HR, 2-run Double and 2-run Single, Matsui tied a single game WS record for RBIs (6) set by Bobby Richardson in 1960. Matsui’s performance scored 6 of the Yankee’s 7 total runs and guaranteed the Yankee’s return to the highest summit of major league baseball. Game six was the zenith of a masterful World Series for Matsui which saw him bat an incrediable .615 (8-13), 3HR, 8 RBI.  To put that in perspective, Matsui hit more RBIs in the 2009 World Series than Babe Ruth hit in any one of his 10 World Series appearances. Matsui hit more HRs (3) in this series than Joe Dimaggio hit in any of his 10 appearances in the fall classic. In addition, Matsui set a record for the highest batting avg for a 6 game set in a World Series matchup at .615.

From now and for always, for as long as is baseball being played in the New York, Yankee fans will talk in reverent tones about Matsui’s magical game 6 the same way they speak of Reggie Jackson’s game 6. Matsui has become Mr. November to Jackson’s Mr. October.  The Yankees will almost certainly retire Matsui’s number 55 for inclusion among the other great Yankees from victories past.  Old time fans of Yankees baseball will hang pictures of Matsui alongside New York heroes like Billy Martin, Mickey Mantle, and Wade Boggs.

To be counted among the Yankee greats is to be included among the greatest and best of all-time. On November 4, 2009 in Game 6 of the 2009 World Series, Hideki Matsui more than earned his place and we were lucky enough to see it.

Zatch Pouchprom

The New York Yankees have done it again! For the 27th time in their history this amazing team has won the World Series of baseball.
What about the MVP of the series, Hideki Matsui. He practically won the game for the team. Who can ignore Alex Rodriguez, What a team! What a dynasty! Let’s go Yanks!

Anyone who knows me knows that I do not like baseball or most spectator sports. However, I do like good-looking athletes. I am crushing a bit on Matsui Hideki whose Yankees team just won the World Series.

Somehow I never liked Suzuki Ichiro, another famous Japanese baseball player in the US. Not because of his talents, or lack thereof. He’s just too skinny and, well, ugly looking. Yes, I am shallow.

松井様、おめでとう！Which athletes do you think are hot?!

(ps: Major yucks. I think in the background on the left is the rich dude who just bought himself a 3rd term as mayor. Stay away from the good-looking athletes, ok?).

Where Yankee Outfielders Go To Retire

The Mariners. That’s who.

I know, this is crazy, minutes after I make my first post I have a post, on my new  Yankee blog, about the Mariners. I don’t care. This is how I roll.

So many moves where made yesterday and the Yankees didnt make anything big. Do I care? No, there’s no need to force moves just because other teams are. I personally think the Red Sox overpaid for Lackey but I guess the Yanks overpaid for AJ last year. Still, nice to see another team overpay . Makes me think that Theo and Co. are worried about how great the big moves worked for the Yanks, while their bitch moves of sigining scrubs backfired. Or maybe it worked. Because theyre scrubs played like scrubs.

Still, back to Seattle….

As Wikipedia has so nicely put it, Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik has “developed a reputation as a baseball executive who excels in finding, drafting, and developing talented young ballplayers.” Well I agree. That’s pretty obvious. Look at who they have, King Felix. So that in itself show his knack and finding and drafting talent. But what really impresses me has been his recent moves.

The Mariners signed Chone Figgins to a 4-year deal. Why is this big? Figgins is a great threat to start off an order. He hits for average, is fast, and can swipe bases. Plus, he is no longer on the Angels; the division rivals. I could go into detail but basically the combo of Figgins and Ichiro will make the Mariners a threat to steal, hit and run, and score more often.

Then they trade for Cliff Lee. Lee struggled a little in early 2009, mostly because the Indians sucked, and then went on a tear in the second half. You could argue that no other pitcher is as hot as Lee is right now coming off his performance in the WS. Now you have a 1-2 punch of King Felix, and Cliff Lee. Even if you only have Lee for 1 year, you still have a great shot at winning the division.

Now, the Angels are falling apart. Lost Teixiera and K-Rod last year, Lackey and Figgins this year. Halladay is all but signed in Philly. They need pitching and power, and from all the latest trade rumors, its not happening anytime soon. Sure they have Matsui, but he isnt playing the field like they think he is.

So, right, this is a Yankee blog. What does this mean for the Empire? Well, the Mariners will get stronger, but the Angels get weaker. Does that balance it out? Only time will tell.

[[Story from AP newswire]]

Above: Hideki Matsui

Los Angeles, CA: 12/15/2009

Newswire services reported that in a whirlwind of moves yesterday, that the Southern California American League baseball representative, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, were stripped of their pitching ace when the Boston Red Sox, led by the clever tactician, GM Theo Epstein, stole John Lackey from under the noses of their sunburnt, rhinoplastied fans and management.  

After the Lackey deal was reported, AP caught up with Angels GM, Tony Reagans on a beach near Balboa Island just after he had returned from catching some truly gnarly waves.  Said Reagans of Lackey’s move to Boston, “This, this is a bummer man.  Y’know?”  Plus, I heard that Toronto had a really, like, super-good pitcher [ace, and former Cy Young Roy Halladay] that we maybe could have traded for, but I guess that didn’t happen.”  Then he added, “I dunno, it’s the hollidays man so I’ve just been kicking it with the fam, drinking a little sambuca by night and hitting the surf by day, na’mean?”  He then went on to reassure Angels fans by saying that he was “pretty sure” that the “dudes back at Angels HQ — that’s what we call our offices, it sounds all Dragnet and shit, y’know — any way, they told me they were working on signing Godzilla to be our new DH.  Which, dude, you gotta admit is pretty gangsta.”  Reagans went on to discuss the details of what he understood to be Godzilla’s scouting report.  According to the GM, Godzilla was a creature of semi-apocalyptic proportions who was “at least” three hundred feet tall, utterly terrifying, and could “dollars to donuts” hit for both power and average.

Upon learning that a “pitcher dude who was really good for the Indians” — i.e. Cliff Lee, a player which the Angels may have acquired themselves with the right package of prospects going to the Philadelphia Phillies — was sent to the AL West rival, Seattle Mariners as part of the trade which sent Roy Halladay to the Phillies, Reagans released the following press statement:

“Fuck me.  My bad, dudes.” 

-AP

[[AP update:]]

Angels GM publicly expressed shock upon learning that the mythical beast Godzilla that he had hoped would lead his team to another division title was in fact merely a 30-something Japanese ballplayer with arthritic knees who the “effing New York Yankees” were not even willing to overpay for.  On the other hand, Reagan noted, “I’m still told he can hit for both power and average.”

-AP

BTW – This story is a satire; cleary.  No one at the actual AP even knows this fake story exists.

I just heard on TV today that the Japanese baseball player Hideki Matsui, who was recently chosen as the New York Yankees MVP (Most Valuable Player) in the World Series game that they just played not long ago, will be changing teams after playing for the Yankees for six years.

Once the 2010 professional baseball season starts, Matsui will begin his one year contract playing for the Los Angeles Angels baseball team…and will earn US $6.5 million (about JPY ¥583 million).

Hideki Matsui started his professional baseball career playing for the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants baseball team from 1993 -2002.

He was given the nickname “Godzilla“…originally because of his bad skin complexion, but later it referred to his powerful batting.

Tokyo Giants

In 2003, he began playing for the New York Yankees of the Major League Baseball (MLB) in America.

Even in America, he was still called “Godzilla“…and he still batted powerfully!

Godzilla demolished his bat!

I guess New York Yankees fans are disappointed to see him leave for Los Angeles…possibly the same way Tokyo Giants fans felt when he left to play in America six years ago.

Jason Bay

The Mets, Angels, and Mariners are the front-runners for Jason Bay right now, but Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports that the Yankees have contacted Bay’s representatives. The Yankees currently have Melky Cabrera, Curtis Granderson, Brett Gardner, Nick Swisher, and Rule V Pick Jamie Hoffman on their 40-man roster.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Yankees make a surprise move and get Jason Bay. Acquiring Jason Bay would probably require the Yankees moving Melky Cabrera, but the Yankees have their DH spot open after Hideki Matsui agreeing to a contract with the Angels. With Mike Cameron going to the Red Sox, it seems more likely that the Yankees will try to re-sign Johnny Damon rather than signing Bay since Damon is a better fit defensively and in the #2 spot in their lineup. I certainly hope the Yankees don’t surprise their cross-town rivals by signing Bay with their limitless amount of money and only leaving Minaya and the Mets with trade options for a power bat in LF (or outbidding the Cardinals for Matt Holliday.)