Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio? 9/2/11

Last week someone said to me, “You are so smart, so intelligent, how did you do it?” To which I replied, “Years of failure.”

NEWS & CURRENT EVENTS

Seriously why is it that Barack Obama feels he has to give in to everything? First he gives in to Republicans who want to poison the air we breathe while allowing their big business cronies to line their pockets by shelving legislation that would increase EPA regulations, and next week he wants to announce his plan for creating jobs, which all Republicans would gladly embrace if it were not coming from the big black president who wants to take away their guns, bibles and tax breaks for the wealthy.

He asked to address a joint session of Congress to which Speaker of the House and perennial crier John Boehner replied that he should change the date from Wednesday September 7^th to Thurday the 8^th. Why? Boehner cited “security concerns;”  odd considering that the Secret Service has been known to guard the president pretty well, and I doubt anyone in Congress is coming in with a firearm. Could it be that Boehner wants to once again antagonize the president by making him compete for ratings with the opening of the NFL season on Thursday night? It’s not like you can rely on the American public to save their own economic lives, they would rather watch grown men tackle each other while consuming large quantities of nachos and pork fat than watch the president speak on what really matters to them. Why can’t Obama just say “I am the President, and I will speak on Wednesday.”

Now I’m sure we can all breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Obama’s speech will be over by kick-off time. You know what Obama’s should have done? Actually go to the game and schedule the speech during the Pre-Game or halftime.

And I’m sure that since no jobs were created last month, it’s all the president’s fault. Certainly not the fault of the “job creators” who somehow are unable to create jobs, even with the so-called “job creating” Bush era tax cuts still in place.

And how utterly hateful were those MTV Video Music Awards? I only watched the beginning because “Entourage” was on, but I really thought the world was coming to an end when I saw Brian May come out and play with Lady Ga Ga. Then Beyonce decided to make the Awards all about her and not any of the winners or performers by taking the opportunity to announce that she is knocked up on national TV.

There were no performances worth noting, and no surprises of any substance, like a Van Halen reunion, or Kris Novacelic cracking his head open with his own bass, or Motley Crue getting into a fight with Guns n Roses. Damn…those were the days. When did music get so boring? Someone call Howard Stern and bring Fartman back! I am convinced the only reason I watch this is because I have battered wife syndrome.  

SPORTS

This really was an important series for the Yankees. Not only because it was against the hated Red Sox, but because the idea of a six man rotation is not going to go into October and they have to figure out who is going to sit. Phil Hughes didn’t help his cause by blowing a 5 run lead against Josh Beckett, someone who the Yankees had yet to figure out. AJ Burnett is having an awful season no matter how good everyone says his stuff is, so clearly a decision has to be made.  

Now the Yankees have a real commodity in Ivan Nova, and he needs to be allowed to pitch. Regardless of AJ Burnett’s outing last night, and he did pitch well, Nova is someone who needs to be in any five-man rotation scenario the Yankees put forth for the end of the season. Adding him to a five-man rotation a month ago would have pretty much given him the AL Rookie of the Year Award.

What has to happen is this, and it’s something I really hate to suggest but it does make perfect sense. Phil Hughes, at least for the rest of this year, needs to go to the bullpen. He is the only starter who actually has bullpen experience. Sure it might set him back a bit, but given his arm strength issues this year it makes sense. However, you keep AJ Burnett on a short leash, and you are sure that Hughes is used in a way that makes him readily available for long relief whenever Burnett is starting, just in case AJ tanks his start.

So what did you think of Jesus Montero? Regardless of his line last night, I think we have seen the future. Now in a perfect world, you do what the old-time Yankees used to do, you get the aging current player to train his replacement. Think DiMaggio and Mantle (eventhough they didn't like eachother), or Dickey and Berra. But that is no longer the world we live in. The Yankees catcher situation is certainly a delicate one. Jorge Posada says he won’t retire, and his contract is up so we may very well see him as a DH somewhere else next year (that’s gonna be tough to watch). Russell Martin is an All-Star so you can’t exactly send him out to dry, and Francisco Cervelli is a fan favorite. I think the Yankees still go with three catchers next year, I just think Posada is no longer one of them, and I would have liked to see the transition between him and Montero unfold the old school way. But alas, in a world of inflated egos and contracts, it is just not to be.