A Standing O: Wimbledon, Wiffleball, and White Barbecue Sauce

Once the weather gets nice, most people look forward to baseball season really getting under way. But Alex O has another sport that has his attention once the seasons turn. Summer just started and Alex O is back to talk about Wimbledon, Wiffleball, and give you a recipe for barbecue sauce (editors note: posted a day late which is my fault)

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Summer is almost a week old. The 3H days are upon us---- Hazy, Hot and Humid. I was born in the summer so it is no surprise that it is my favorite season. It is the time to barbecue, head to the beach, and enjoy the sports of the summer.

One of my favorites sporting events to watch in the summer is Wimbledon. A trip to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club is high upon my bucket list of sporting events to witness live. I can still remember the epic Wimbledon match in 1980 between John McEnroe (my favorite) vs. the Bjorn Borg.I have yet to watch the HBO documentary on these two but am looking forward to it.

There is something special about this tournament that holds on to its traditions, and is the only major tournament still played on grass. When I was growing up in the 80’s the Australian Open was still a grass tourney and the US Open was grass until 1974. One of the strict rules is that players must wear mostly white. Here is a link to some outfits that caused a stir at Wimbledon. The tournament this year is now wide open on the women’s side since the Williams sisters lost as did the #1 seed Wozniacki. The favorite now is the grunting Maria Sharapova, it is all about her ability to serve if she will be able to get her second Wimbledon title. She won her first when she was 17 back in 2004.

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Trivia Tuesday: Missing out on October

It hasn't been all smiles for Adam Dunn and the ChiSox (Chicago Tribune)

Adam Dunn is having an awful first season in Chicago and his White Sox currently sit 5 games out of first place. If Dunn and his White Sox don't make the playoffs, he'll extend his major-league leading active streak of the most regular season games played without making the playoffs. His streak currently sits at 1515 but 8 other active major league players have at least 1000 games played without making a playoff appearance. Can you name those other 8?

Bonus Question: obviously, Dunn is also on the list of players who have never made a World Series. But his 1515 games only ranks 12th among active Major Leaugers who never have made a World Series appearance. Can you name those top 11?

Put your answers in the comments below. No cheating! We'll reveal the correct answers later. Good luck!

(Constant) Tino Martinez Hits A Bomb On Old-Timers' Day

Tino rounding 1st after Coney gave up the bomb.  (Daily News)

I just wanted to pass along this gem from yesterday's Old Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium.  For anyone who grew up during the Yankees' heyday of the late 1990's, this is especially meaningful.  Tino Martinez blasting a 2-run HR into the right field seats off David Cone with Bernie Williams on base?  Just typing that sentence brought back all kinds of wonderful memories.  Enjoy:

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Interview With Jets DE Mike DeVito

Aside from writing for NYAT I also have have a radio show on 89.5 FM WSOU. Today I had on Mike Devito to talk about the Jets and the NFL lockout, give it a listen...

View from the Seats: Old Timer's Day at Yankee Stadium

On a beautiful, sunny day here in the Bronx, the View from the Seats comes today from Old Timer's Day and the Rockies at the Yankees. Today I'm in 431B, row 2, and watching a lethargic-looking Yankees after a very exciting Old Timer's Day. Joe Torre, Lou Pinella and Bernie Williams were back in the Bronx for the event which included a very nice ceremony to honor Gene Monahan.

The Yankees have done nothing against Rockies starter Juan Nicasio. Actually nothing. Through 4 innings, they have no baserunners. On a day when Don Larsen, David Wells, and David Cone are in attendance, Nicasio is pitching a perfecto so far as the Yankees look hopeless against the Rockies' rookie.

On the other side, Ivan Nova has pitched well against all the Rockies, except the bottom half of the lineup, giving up solo bombs to Ty Wigginton and Chris Iannetta. The Yankees are currently down 3-0 halfway through here in the Bronx.

-Andrew

My Three Biggest "Times Square Momements" with Joe Girardi: Sacrifice Bunting

I like Joe Girardi as a manager. For the most part he seems to have a good handle on his team, doesn't misuse any one player, and does not try to do anything too extreme as a manager. He understands the game and he understands the perspective of an entire season over sacrificing one game--no matter who they are playing. But he certainly has his "Times Square" moments. I have given it this name after my evening commute which takes me through Times Square, an annoying, confusing, illogical and all-together frustrating experience that leaves me throwing my hands up. (Yes, please, family from out-of-town, let's all fan out, hold hands, and then decided to stop and turn around without any warning to take a picture. That sounds like a wonderful idea that's not going to bother anyone else on the street.) I'm going to start on a series of my three biggest Times Square moments with Joe Girardi with today's entry: Sacrifice Bunting

Joe Girardi needs to add a note to his binder: DON'T BUNT (NYT)

If you are warm and have a fireplace in your place of dwelling, you have two options, you can either take your cash to store and buy some firewood or you can burn that money. Sure, burning that money will keep you warm since it is flamable and it's really easy since you don't have to go outside in the cold to get it but it's a really inefficient and it's a lazy way about going about things.

Truthfully, no one would actually burn money instead of going to the store for the firewood, but in many senses, the amount of sacrifice bunting that some American League teams do is on that level. It's inefficient and it's frankly lazy managing. Basketball, Hockey, Soccer, Football, and many other sports have a clock; baseball has no finite time-frame, only a finite number of outs. They need to be protected like unobtanium in Avatar and yet they really are sometimes given away. I'm not saying that one should never bunt (more on this later), but some of the great hitters who are given the sign to lay down the sacrifice make me scratch my head.

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Meet Brett Gardner, the 12th Best Position Player In MLB

Brett Gardner flashing some leather.  (Credit: Zimbio)

According to this Fangraphs article, Brett Gardner is the 12th best position player in MLB.  And by "best," I mean that Gardner's WAR -- Wins Above Replacement -- is currently ranked 12th in baseball, behind such names as Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Adrian Gonzalez, Joey Votto, Jose Bautista, Matt Holliday, Troy Tulowitzki, and Evan Longoria.  And believe it or not, Gardner's 9.2 is only 0.6 short of being ranked third on that list of perennial MVP candidates.  Impressive.

Now, I realize that's a big statement to make about a sprightly left fielder who was hitting .244/.372/.696 three weeks ago.  Yet I just can't disagree with Fangraphs' assessment.  WAR isn't just about big sluggers putting up gaudy power numbers.  It also values defense, which may be Gardner's best asset -- his 14.1 UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating) is currently tops in MLB.  (Oh, and by the way, Gerardo Parra's second-ranked UZR is an incredible 12% lower than Gardner's.)  In essence, Gardner uses his speed to track balls down and his strong arm to nail foolish baserunners.  Exhibit A = this beautiful catch-and-throw double play that recently preserved the Yankees' 3-2 lead over the Cubs with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning:

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Rory McIlroy toasts to victory + Moneyball trailer

I am officially a member of Team Rory.  Having been captivated by the Rory McIlroy Show for the past four days, it's safe to say that we all just witnessed the emergence of the Next Great Golfer in the history of the sport.  Aside from his utter domination over the entire field of the 2011 U.S. Open, I know this for several reasons.

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Ode to Mike Emrick, the Voice of the NHL

Although it's over a week old, I just read a wonderful article about Mike "Doc" Emrick, who is widely considered the Voice of the NHL.  Growing up in North Jersey, I listened to Mike Emrick on a regular basis, since he has been the play-by-play voice of the New Jersey Devils for as long as I can remember.  Much like John Sterling with a Yankees baseball game, I simply associate Emrick with the sound of a hockey game.

But unlike Sterling, my admiration for Emrick isn't based in mere nostalgia or a sense of entertainment.  It's because Mike Emrick is damn good at what he does.  I think Sam Flood, the executive producer of NBC Sports and VERSUS, put it best:

"No one calls a hockey game better, no one paints a better picture, and no one is better at building up a moment.  He is the voice of hockey in this country, and as talented a play-by-play guy as there is in any sport."

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View from the Seats: Red Sox at Yankees

Well this has sucked so far. Armed with main-level seats and Mohegan Sun Sports Bar passes for my dad's birthday, I figured it would be a fun night in the Bronx. But here I sit halfway through the game wondering how this Red Sox team was so bad early in the season and how the Yankees can find some pitching to shore up their rotation.

It's 7-1 and I'm now sitting in Main Section 210. It's cooled off a bit but it's still steamy here in the Bronx. The Yankees bats have been pretty cooled off against Tim Wakefield but the Red Sox continue to pound the Yankees starters.

And, of course, without David Ortiz or any Red Sox hitter getting hit or even brushed back. It's amazing how soft the Yankees are at times in situations like these. AJ Burnett really can't drill Ortiz or Dustin Pedroia? Well, I guess it takes a lot of aim to hit Pedrioa and Burnett has none of that today. Another frustrating night in the Bronx hoping for some cool air and some crooked numbers on the scoreboard in the bottom row. For my dad's birthday, at least.

Happy birthday dad!

-Andrew

Miami, Police Ask For Help Locating Lebron's Offense

The Miami Heat and South Florida Police are asking for the public's help in finding Lebron James' offense, the main part of the 26 year old basketball player which disappeared before game 4 of the NBA Finals. James--who police warn is clearly mentally unstable for deciding to host a one-hour "Decision" on where he would play basketball in the 2010-11 season--has been declared a missing talent case following game 4. Last year it went missing towards the end of his days in Cleveland, notably quitting in the final game loss to the Celtics, so the public shouldn't be that concerned as its happened before. This time however it could be much more serious as his doctors have warned the public that the bigger the stage, the more the offense tends to vanish--and it doesn't get much bigger then the Finals that Lebron is en route to blowing.

According to teammates in Miami, his talent has been going through a serious crisis brought about by the move to Miami. In the finals especially, the offensive ability of James seems to be trying to play more like J.J. Barea or a hybrid mix of Raymond Felton and your average NBA shooting guard, than like the MVP known for drives in the lane and putting up massive amounts of points. Said teammate Dwayne Wade "I know it has been hard for his offense, he was so used to being the star, and now he feels obligated to like, have assists and stuff, it's really different."

Inside sources have blamed Chris Bosh for the disappearence. An unnamed coach said "Bosh needs the ball, so Lebron feels obligated to help feed him it so he doesn't have another meltdown like he did after we lost to Chicago."

Here in the Finals Lebron has taken this role to heart, feeding Bosh to the tune of 24 points in game 4, and the game winning shot in game 3. This deferment has caused his offense to be as much of a mirage as his championship rings.

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Five Things I Was Dead Wrong About in Major League Baseball

I know that I haven't gotten to blog a lot lately (and I apologize for that), but I'm back here with a mea culpa--one some really bad calls I made so far this baseball season:

I doubled ouched on my Jose Bautista prediction (NYT)

1. Jose Bautista was a one-hit wonder. Ouch. Double ouch when you consider that I had him in a keeper league and DROPPED him in order to keep Nick Swisher. I thought Bautista was the second coming of Brady Anderson and not the second coming of Barry Bonds. Bautista actually reminds me a lot of another Blue Jay, Carlos Delgado, who looked like he was just going to be an okay Major Leaguer--and probably someone who would have to platoon--until something kicked in and you just couldn't throw anything over the plate to him. Bautista has to be eating Popeye's spinach at this point as these results really have no explanation. I'm still waiting for the other shoe to fall, but until then, I'll just watch in wonder for a guy who is much more than a one-hit wonder.

2. John Danks was a Cy Young candidate. Well he's 0-8 with a 5.25 ERA. Holy crapola. I have four fantasy baseball teams and drafted him on all four. And I still have him. I think this is a fluke. I wasn't the only one sending praise Danks way. Now, it's really just trying to figure out what the heck happened here. Some of this is bad luck, but Danks hasn't been an ace this season by any measure. At this point, he's become the Nintendo cartridge that you would blow on for like 20 minutes knowing that it probably still wasn't going to return to normal. You wonder if this guy may just need a change of scenery from Chicago to reboot his career, but right now he's been more Cy Yuck than Cy Young.

3. The Yankees weren't going to be able to rely on Freddy Garcia or Bartolo Colon.

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