Why Didn't the Yankees Look at Mike Lamb?

Starting 9 for 4/28/09:

 

1. According to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News (via MLBTradeRumors), the New York Mets have signed Mike Lamb. The first question that popped into my mind was why the Yankees didn't look into him? I know they would have to clear room on the 40-man roster to bring him up, but he's a much better hitter than both Cody Ransom and Angel Berroa (3 out of 4 seasons in Houston he posted an OPS+ of 112 or higher) and he actually plays third base (unlike Berroa).

Maybe it had to do with the fact he spent less than 50 days on the Yankees roster after being traded there in 2004. But the Yankees were making room for A-Rod...and all the postseason success that has come with him since...

2. Speaking of bench names. Frank Catalanotto is also a free agent (he's from Smithtown, NY) and he has a career .314 average against the Red Sox. But it's not like they could have used his bat at all this past weekend off the bench. Maybe it's because he defected and played with Italy in the 2009 WBC.

3. Sports and Twitter: CNN's article mentioned Kenny Smith, Shaq, Lance Armstrong, Alexander Ovechkin, and the NHLTweetup I went to. CNBC's Darren Rovell talks about how twitter allows athletes an opportunity for quick endorsements in his Sports Biz blog. (Also, Swine Flu hysteria is spread on Twitter)

4. The Mets have made some weird moves since 2000. That was the year they went to the World Series and since then, they've done some things that will make you scratch your head. Jorge Says No! went through a roster of the worst free agent contracts from 2000-2004 and notes how many Mets there are on that list (mostly thanks to Steve Phillips). That's not even counting the trades they made in that time. They picked Oliver Perez over Derek Lowe in the last offseason and now are debating, according to David Lennon, whether it's worth it to skip a start of his and then demote him to the bullpen or send him to Class AAA (according to Ben Shpigel of the New York Times). Now that's a quick fall from grace. Also in that David Lennon blog post, we learn that the Mets DFA'ed Casey Fossum...right after they DFA'ed Nelson Figueroa to add Fossum to the roster. Not sure what's going on over in Flushing. The 'Ropolitans posted this very odd Mets lineup from last night (although it seemed to help). Lastly, Citi/Taxpayer Field has really tough security according to Deadspin. If you weren't allowed to hold up a sign that says to fire the coach in Madison Square Garden, there would have been no Knicks fans for years (well...actually...). Deadspin finishes with this hilarious quip: If they start throwing people out for booing this season, then the attendance will drop by 97%. Pepsi will be pissed if that happens.

5. Back to the Yankees: Ken Rosenthal states two things I have said on NYaT: Joba should not go to the bullpen yet and the bullpen arms will be better when they have to work normal amounts (not like they've had to do lately with all their starters working short starts). River Ave Blues still thinks the Yankees won the Sheffield deal despite releasing Humberto Sanchez (I happen to agree). Steven Goldman of Pinstriped Bible thinks that the Hughes for Wang swap is a very good move for the Yankees (H/T Paul). Two Yankee haters go to the NYY Steak restaurant in NYS and give their review for ESPN.com. And, lastly, the Yankees have decided to lower their ticket prices (H/T Paul).

6. Speaking of ESPN.com, not sure how many of you saw my post about it being hacked into, but, alas, the problem is now solved according to Deadspin (though they do have a cached version of the homepage which is worth a look).

7. It's not just Tim McCarver or John Sterling who have trouble with live broadcasting. Deadspin points out that Matt Vasgersian and this guy from Boston had some real trouble recently as well

8. A few randoms: a really good one-on-one with Brian Leetch (I met the author at the NHLTweetup in NYC), a story about a junior high history teacher who is also a professional wrestler, according to Deadspin the Vancouver Canucks lead the league in trash talk research, The Blue Screen has some UDFAs signed by the New York Giants, and Darren Rovell again on who made and lost money in the NFL Draft

9. I keep on forgetting to post this, but I think it's hilarious that Isiah Thomas got a job coaching FIU. Amazingly, the team has sold more season tickets for the upcoming year since the announcement than their average attendance for last year. So it's sure to put some fannies in the seats (if only to boo)