Below are some comparisons of characters from Breaking Bad to Yankee players.

Warning: some spoilers lie ahead (more…)

Some excerpts: (more…)

ESPN was already a dominant and expanding force, after all, while FOX was rolling out regional sports networks and MSG seemed to cover whatever was left over in the New York area.

The Yankees and their late, great owner George Steinbrenner have never been ones to find reasons NOT to do something, however. The greatness of the franchise comes from its willingness to make bold moves, most of which have worked out.

Ten years later, you can put YES Network into the win column for the organization. Along with pulling in healthy viewership for the team, the channel also boasts fine programs like Yankeeography, Centerstage, SportsMoney and many others.

It also had to be more than coincidence the New Jersey Nets, which YES began a partnership with, advanced to consecutive NBA Finals appearances after many years of struggling.

And one of the genius moves of the YES Network was simulcasting the already popular “Mike and the Mad Dog” radio program from WFAN. Although now split up, the pair was the best in the sports-talk business and became a national brand too. How ironic, it must have been, for Chris Russo, aka “Mad Dog” to get paid in part from a team he loathed. (Mike Francesa continued the program in solo fashion on WFAN/Yes Network and the show hasn’t missed a beat).

Russo’s not alone in hating the Yankees though, and that’s fine. One has no choice but to respect their remarkable 27 World Series titles and the success of the YES Network, however.

• Cashman met face-to-face with Posada to tell him he will be the DH next season. That must’ve went well, I imagine it went something like this. What I would give to be a fly on the wall during that conversation.
• The Yanks brass met with Jeter and agent Casey Close, and, apparently, it went well and all parties were “pleased” (although no talks with Mo took place.) However, Joel “Where’s My Goddamn Room Service” Sherman reports the team might go the route of arbitration.
• Cashman met with Cliff Lee and his camp Wednesday in Arkansas. No contract talks took place, it was just a get-to-know-you meeting.
• GMS and Bill Shannon were posthumously honored by the BBWAA.

In other MLB news, the Silver Slugger awards were handed out Thursday…here they are:

C: Brian McCann (Atl);  Joe Mauer (Min)

1B: Albert Pujols, third consecutive and sixth career SS (StL);  Miguel Cabrera, third SS, (Det)

2B: Dan Uggla (Fla); Robbie Cano, second SS (NYY)

3B: Ryan Zimmerman (Was);  Adrian Beltre (Bos)

SS: Troy Tulowitzki (Col); Alexei Ramirez (Chi)…what, no Jeter?!?!? Shocking

OF: Ryan Braun (Mil); Jose Bautista (Tor)

OF: Matt Holiday (StL); Carl Crawford (Tam)

OF: Carlos Gonzalez (Col); Josh Hamilton (Tex)

P: Yovani Gallardo (Mil)

DH: Vlad Guerrero (Tex)

The hero of the game was Curtis Granderson, who went 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs and drove in a career-high-tying five runs. It was his seventh career multi-homer game and third this season. Grandy has a seven-game hitting streak in which he’s batting .310 (9-for-29) with four homers and 11 RBI; he’s also scored a run in six straight games. Since he rebuilt his swing with Kevin Long, he’s been on pace to hit 49 homers.

Jeter also had a big night, going 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. He recorded hit number 2,909 and 2,910, so, obviously, he is 90 away from 3,000 for his career. On an emotional night, Jeet tied Mickey Mantle for third on the franchise runs scored list with his 1,677th tally.

Swish Dog recorded two hits and an RBI while Frankie Cervelli went 3-for-4 with three runs scored.

SuperNova pitched well for the first five innings but came apart in the sixth. He finished with a line of three runs on as many hits with four strikeouts to two walks in 5 2/3 frames. My biggest gripe about the game, if I’m allowed to gave one since they won, was that Girardi left SuperNova in for too long. Why would he not yank him after the first two guys got on base?

What’s even more baffling is why Girardi brought Logan and Gaudin in for the sixth. I assumed it was because D-Rob and Kerry Wood pitched yesterday, but then they both pitched in the seventh. WTF? Girardi scares me sometimes with the moves he makes. Oh well, they got the win.

Final thought: I’ve got a funny feeling that Mo is nursing an injury and not telling anyone. He blew two saves in the last nine days coming in and almost blew one today. That’s very un-Mo. I hope I’m wrong but I fear I’m not.

Post-game quotes: (more…)

*Monday: SuperNova (1-0, 4.30) vs. Matt Garza (14-8, 3.88)

Tuesday: Philthy (16-8, 4.31) vs. Panty Shields (13-12, 4.86)

Wednesday: AJ (10-13, 5.08) vs. Wade Davis (12-9, 4.19)

Thursday: CC (20-6, 3.05) vs. David Price (17-6, 2.79)

*If you are going to Monday’s game please get there early. The team is unveiling a monument in Monument Park for George Steinbrenner prior to the game. The festivities are set to begin at 5:00 p.m.7:00 p.m., so, as I said before, get there early. What’s interesting is that Hitman and Joe Torre will attend the ceremony (the Dodgers are off Monday). It will be the first time either of them have stepped foot in either Yankee Stadium since their departure in 2007. Should be a good time.

Prior to the game, the Yanks honored longtime owner George Steinbrenner and longtime PA announcer Bob Sheppard with a special ceremony. The shindig included video tributes to both men, a speech from Jeter before a moment of silence and Mo leaving a pair of roses on home plate — one for GMS and one for the Voice of God. Between innings the big screen in center field played video tributes to Steinbrenner and other memories, such as his appearance on Saturday Night Live from the early 90′s and player reactions to his passing.

Jeter: (more…)