Gotham Baseball Winter 2012

MOHEGAN SUN

VOLUME 5 | ISSUE 3 | WINTER 2012

WORLD BASEBALL

COACH’S

CONVENTION

GUIDE S E E PA G E 1 7

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FROM THE FRONT OFFICE A Word from Mark C. Healey & Joseph M. Lara THE LEADOFF SPOT The Catcher... SAYS BYE. COOPERSTOWN ARCHIVE For The Love Of The Game ON THE BOOK SHELF Reading By The Hot Stove SPOTLIGHT ON The Magic is Back…Again?

SPECIAL FEATURE 2012 World Baseball Coach’s Convention Guide SPECIAL FEATURE Coach’s Convention Agenda at a Glance SPECIAL FEATURE Gotham Baseball 12 Hidden Gems PINSTRIPES Big Man Is Back SIMPLY AMAZIN' Ace Is The Whole GOING NINE Aftermath

[ GOTHAM BASEBALL • WINTER 2012

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FROM THE FRONT OFFICE

A WORD FROM MARK C. HEALEY & JOSEPH M. LARA

04

INTERRUPTING A LONG WINTER’S NAP www.GothamBaseball.com Gotham Baseball is very pleased to be the official guide for the 2012 Mohegan Sun World Baseball Coaches' Convention, an annual gathering of the best and brightest that baseball (and softball) has to offer.

We’re also proud to be the only magazine that covers the Past, Present and the Future of New York Baseball, and in this issue, we look at both of Gotham’s clubs to see what’s been happening since we left you last.

As excruciating as it was for Mets fans to watch Jose Reyes don a Marlins cap, Yankees fans have had an off season to remember. First, the team was able to avoid losing their ace, CC Sabathia, as the big left-hander signed a very reasonable extension instead of invoking his opt-out clause. Then, they celebrated the New Year in style, adding veteran free-agent starter Hiroki Kuroda (13-16, 3.07 ERA, 202 IP) with a one-year deal and acquiring young right-hander Michael Pineda (9-10, 3.74 ERA, 173 strikeouts, 171 IP) in a deal that sent young slugging prospect Jesus Montero to Seattle.

The aforementioned Reyes was allowed to sign with NL East rival Miami so the Mets could spend what little money they had in addressing their bullpen (adding Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch) and center fielder. Angel Pagan was shipped to San Francisco for the older Andres Torres (another money-saving move, but the team did get some value back in reliever Ramon Ramirez). The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t want Ronny Cedeno back, so he’ll back up Ruben Tejada, who’ll finally get the chance to start at shortstop with Reyes gone.

In Flushing, any chance at the postseason will begin and end with the healthy return of Johan Santana. The outfield walls will be closer (and painted blue, as if that matters), giving hope that Jason Bay will begin to resemble the player the Mets thought they were signing, even if it makes him too valuable to keep; an All-Star caliber season from David Wright is much needed at Citi Field as well. Ike Davis was sorely missed in 2011, and his steady progress is worth watching, as is that of left-hander Jon Niese.

[ GOTHAM BASEBALL • WINTER 2012

In the Bronx, despite the rotation revamp, a World Series won’t be possible unless Sabathia pitches like the ace he certainly is. While Derek Jeter finished strong, Alex Rodriguez is coming off the worst season of his life. The Yankees are still looking for a DH, and 2012 could (finally) be the last of Mariano Rivera’s illustrious career.

The Subway Southpaws will be front and center in 2012, so let’s hope it’s a season to remember.

Co-Publisher & Director of Advertising JOSEPH M. LARA t: 908.310.1659 • e: jmlara@gothambaseball.com Co-Publisher & Executive Editor MARK C. HEALEY e: mhealey@gothambaseball.com Creative Director STACY LAVENDER, BALLYHOO CENTRAL, LTD. t: 516.695.3030 • e: info@ballyhoo-central.com Art Director ADRIANA SOLER-KOZAROWITZKY BALLYHOO CENTRAL, LTD. Public Relations FAITH ARMONAITIS t: 201.288.6312 • e: faithpr@optonline.net General Counsel GENE BERARDELLI, ESQ. Fantasy Baseball Editor PAUL GRECO GothamBaseball.com Web Designer JOE MCDONALD, DAMOCLES DESIGNS Contributing Writers Gary Armida Chip Armonaitis Cecilia Tan Matt Sherman Jessica Quiroli Shai Kushner Jerry Milani Chris Vaccaro Special Thanks Bill Menzel John Pennisi Marty Appel James Paguaga Michael Dowd National Baseball Hall of Fame All illustrations by John Pennisi.

Gotham Baseball is a collaboration between t: 516-849-9996 e: mhealey@gothambaseball.com t: 908.310.1659 e: info@jmlmediagroup.com

Mark C. Healey

Joseph M. Lara

Co Publisher & Executive Editor

Co-Publisher & Director of Advertising

Entire contents © 2011 Gotham Baseball, except where noted. The publishers accept no responsibility for any claims made by advertisers. The opinions expressed in byline articles are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the opinion of the magazine or the publishers. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the express written consent of the publishers.

Photography by Bill Menzel

THE LEAD OFF SPOT

BY GARY ARMIDA

07

In every great dynasty, there are the unsung players who play the support role to the stars of the team. For 17 seasons, Jorge Posada has played his particular part well. As the remnants of that

[ GOTHAM BASEBALL • WINTER 2012

last

great

dynasty

are

beginning to finally erode, the Yankees are in that transition

phase

where

saying goodbye is necessary, but entirely awkward.

SAYS BYE The catcher’s tenure in the Bronx resulted in a .273/.374/.474 batting line along with four World Series titles. Posada wasn't the star of the team with Jeter and Rivera present along with some high priced free agents brought in along the way, but he represented what fans liked most about the team. He was a homegrown guy who was playing a position that didn't come naturally to him. He was one of the few core players who showed any type of emotion. He may not have been the star, but Jorge Posada was certainly the heart of the New York Yankees since 1998.

Baseball is a sport that lends itself greatly to reminiscing. We grow attached to our team and our players. It is inherent in the sport and it is this quality that separates a Baseball fan from any other sport fan. Baseball allows for loyalty, even in the age of free agency.

Perhaps because we see their faces and the pace of the game allows their emotions to come through, we grow attached to the players, not the uniform. It is why the sting of free agency does hit when a player actually leaves, but it is why Baseball fans actually

grow attached to a homegrown player.

It is the end that becomes most difficult. All players age. Few have the graceful exit that sits well with fans. We want them to leave on our terms and leave us with the image that we have conjured for all those years of great performances.

The Yankees are almost done with their transition from their last great dynasty. The two stars remain—Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter—but their support system is now gone.

Andy Pettitte retired before last season, and now Jorge Posada has as well.

Perhaps to label Posada as a role player is an insult to his career. But, given the teams he was on and the teammates that he had, Posada wasn't the primary focus of any team he played on. In certain years, he was their best offensive performer, but for the most part, Posada was the character and emotion behind the Yankees. Jeter has been the stoic winner, an all-time great shortstop. Rivera is the greatest closer in Baseball history. Posada was neither stoic nor the greatest catcher in

Posada's rise through the Yankees farm system is partly why fans got so attached. He was a 24th round pick in the 1990 draft. He began his career as a second baseman. He converted to catcher during his rookie season, playing 11 games behind the plate as a 20 year old. It wouldn't be until 1993 that Posada would catch more than 100 games.

As he learned the position, his offense would begin to catch up. Although he didn't show his trademark power that he displayed as a Major Leaguer, Yankees officials projected him as a power hitter. But, he had skills that were valuable. In six Minor League seasons, he would hit .258/.368/.436.

After a few brief stints in the Major Leagues in 1995 and 1996, Posada would appear in 60 games as Joe Girardi's backup. In 1998, he would play in 111 games, followed by 112 in 1999. The Yankees would finally deem his apprenticeship over after the 1999 season with Joe Girardi moving on to the Cubs. 2000 would be Posada's first season as the Yankees catcher. From that 2000 season through the 2007 season, Posada would average 142 games played, a .283/.389/.492 batting line along with an average of 31 doubles, 23 homeruns, and 90 RBI. Although his defense was often criticized over the years, his offense made him one of the best catchers in the league.

The switch hitter would go on to compile a career that ranks amongst the Yankees' catching greats.

Posada's 275 career homeruns is second to Yogi Berra on the all-time Yankees catchers list. His 1,065 RBI ranks third behind Berra and Bill Dickey. His 379 doubles are tops amongst Yankees catchers. His .848 OPS ranks just behind Dickey. His 1,664 hits are third, behind Berra and Dickey. In fact, Posada ranks in the top three in every offensive category amongst Yankees' catchers. While his defensive abilities were always in question, he did throw out 28 percent of would-be base stealers for his career.

In the case of players such as Posada, their value to a franchise over 17 years goes beyond statistics. It is about the moments.

It is about Jorge Posada standing in the dugout pointing at his head to tell Pedro Martinez that he wouldn't be intimidated. It's about his double in the bottom of the eighth inning in game seven of the 2003 ALCS against Boston to tie the game when it looked like Boston would finally beat the Yankees. It's the passion displayed during big moments. That 2003 ALCS can be encapsulated in two ways aside from the Aaron Boone homerun. It is the vision of Mariano Rivera draped over the mound with tears flowing and

[ GOTHAM BASEBALL • WINTER 2012

THE CATCHER...

history, but he was key member and a player whom Yankees fans will never forget.

it is

THE LEAD OFF SPOT

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

08

“No matter the end, Jorge Posada's position in Yankees history is secure.

He is one of the three greatest catchers the franchise has ever had.”

Jorge Posadas primal yell with his fists up after that game tying double. He was the passionate Yankee.

But, the end doesn't always work out. Watching a player slowly lose his skills is one of the most difficult things a sports fan has to endure. After an 11 year run as the Yankees only catcher, he was finally told that he no longer was needed for the job. It was a difficult year in many ways. He had a difficult time assimilating to the designated hitter role, hitting just .125 and .219 during the first two months of the season. The full-time DH was downgraded to platoon status leading to the infamous Saturday night against the Red Sox when Posada asked for a night off after being demoted in the lineup to the ninth position in the order. The backlash against Posada was felt, but eventually it faded into a back story of the season. The end was coming.

His final moments more than masked the sadness of the end. Posada was actually pressed into catching duties on September 10th against the Angels. It was one and only appearance behind the plate of the season. It would be his final appearance as the Yankees catcher. The Angels tested Posada immediately and he responded by throwing out the only baserunner to attempt a steal.

Playing sparingly at that point, there was question as to whether or not he would warrant a roster spot for the post season. Joe Girardi, this time Posada's Manager, put the veteran on the roster. Posada was the Yankees' best hitter of the series, batting .429/.579/.571 with 1 triple during his 19 plate appearances. His final series as a Yankee epitomized his entire career. Even while the team was losing, Posada played with passion and was able to overcome a poor final season.

Posada has ended a short-lived attempt to extend his playing career. At 40 years old, Posada could have caught on with a contender, considering that he is a switch hitter and showed that there was still a little left in the playoffs. Teams are always looking for that emergency catcher, first baseman, and designated hitter when the summer grows hot. And while seeing Posada in another uniform won't ruin the image he cultivated as a Yankee, it will probably not come to pass. If it does, it won't impact his legacy either. He will always be a four time World Series champion. He will always be the fiery leader who commanded the respect of a star-studded clubhouse. His career likely falls short of Cooperstown, but there will one day be a plaque in Monument Park and the number 20 will hang on the wall next to numbers 2, 42, and 46. He was one of the most important players in one of the more dominant periods in Yankees history.

Yankees fans were able to chant his name during game five of the Division Series as a way to say goodbye. Posada was clearly choked up after the game, unable to speak with reporters. While speculation would run rampant, eventually he would choose retirement. By doing so he would take the opportunity that so many players don’t ever get. There are few Cal Ripkens, Ted Williams, and in the future Derek Jeters and Mariano Riveras who are the ones lucky enough to get their goodbyes in their real uniforms. Jorge Posada, who wanted to keep on playing, despite the naysayers believing he was done went out with the style and grace befitting a New York Yankee. Many believe that his attitude on the field will likely find him in a manager’s chair before too long. In the meantime, Posada’s farewell is a fitting end to a career that was played with intensity and resulted in excellence.

No matter the end, Jorge Posada's position in Yankees history is secure. He is one of the three greatest catchers the franchise has ever had.

BY CHRIS VACCARO

COOPERSTOWN ARCHIVE

Photography courtesy of Chris Vaccaro

mind, he certainly didn’t seem like that same old player criticized by the media for so many years on this cool September afternoon.

He mingled with ushers and concession stand workers before fans were allowed to enter the stadium. His smile was contagious and his candidness was remarkable.

He admits he knew nothing about the Atlantic League before he signed to play there, but the situation has been golden for him. And, at this point in his career he is still learning.

“This is probably the only sport you can never know it all,” he says. “There’s something different everyday and everyone can get better.”

Everett has 202 homeruns, 792 RBI and a .271 average in 14 Major League seasons.

Alfonzo was a household name in the tri-state area from his days with the New York Mets. He signed as a free agent with them in 1991 and played regularly from 1995 to 2002. He played a few seasons with the San Francisco Giants and less than 20 games with both the Los Angeles Angels and Toronto Blue Jays in 2006.

Although his .256 average, 5 homeruns and 56 RBI with the Ducks in 2007 aren’t eye-opening, he is in a good place mentally and prepared to play another few years of professional baseball.

10

“I’ve enjoyed this season,” he says. “The club house is great, the stadium, the fans, the competition, everything is perfect.”

Former Mets Alfonzo, Everett & Graves and their 2007 season with the Long Island Ducks It’s 6 p.m. at Citibank Park in Central Islip, N.Y. An hour before game time and Carl Everett is strolling through the stands in his worn Chicago White Sox fleece and camouflage Under Armour. A Long Island Ducks hat shades his eyes, which have seen their fair share of baseball over the years.

knowing who you can trust and what you need to do to get back and stay in the big leagues, was kind of frustrating. Dave [LaPoint] has pretty much let us do what we want to do, while being professional, and I think that has a lot to do with the success of the whole team.

We’re just having fun again.”

Edgardo Alfonzo is sitting in a blue lawn chair in front of his locker sipping tea from a white foam cup. He’s talking to his children, who are scurrying around the locker room amidst former major and minor league ball players like they’re part of the family.

While the Ducks were eliminated in the playoffs by the Newark Bears, 2-0, in a best of three series this year, it wasn’t a disappointment for most.

“YOU CAN’T

[ GOTHAM BASEBALL • WINTER 2012

And there’s Danny Graves, who was missing in action for this interview for about 30 minutes because he was tucked away in a secluded room in the Ducks’ locker room playing Madden 2008 on PS3.

PLAY THIS GAME WITHOUT

Everett, who turned 37 in June and played his 18th season of professional baseball, never had that sense of added pressure on his shoulders. He believes in taking one day at a time and the numbers don’t mean anything.

“There is not one person on the planet that has had the same numbers every year,” says Everett, who was stressing that he has the ability to play anywhere, no matter what his numbers might say. “I’ve proven I can play the game, so if anyone has questions about me playing that is no longer an issue. People assume if you have one bad year you’re done.”

All three have come to realize something this season. Something so profound it crosses boundaries of life’s circumstances, far beyond the realm of a baseball diamond. They found – Danny Graves themselves and realized baseball is a game and In 2006, Everett hit 11 homeruns and 33 RBI in 308 they’re fortunate to play it for a living. Whether it’s at-bats with the Seattle Mariners and this season on in a big league ball park or an independent league on Long Island, Long Island he hit .314 with 25 homeruns and 97 RBI. Of course the they’ve shown they can play the game with the top tier of players in this talent isn’t Major League level, but the Atlantic League gets a lot of country and they all have the desire to get back there. respect for the level of talent it does attract.

Aside from this being one of the best club houses all three have been Everett, a first round pick (10th overall) of the New York Yankees in a part of, the game is simply more fun again.

1990, was an All-Star in 2000 with Boston and 2003 with the White “You can’t play this game without having fun,” says Graves, who led Sox. He won a World Series with Chicago in 2005, his 10th of 11 the Atlantic League with 33 saves this season, 10 more than the next Major League teams. pitcher. “The last few years being in organizational ball, not really While many were quick to judge Everett for his willingness to speak his

HAVING FUN,”

He’s going to play winter ball in Venezuela to get his body in year-round baseball condition and will see what the wind blows his way as far as spring training invites when the time comes.

His curly hair was tucked upward in a headband and his facial hair is beginning to have shade of grey, but he was the same old Alfonzo. His professional attitude hasn’t changed for his days in orange and blue just 40 minutes west and his work ethic hasn’t altered either.

There are over 8 million Baseball fans and players of all levels in New York...

Graves looked on at a tube television and said to give him five minutes longer to play Madden with teammate Bryant Nelson. He spit his chewing tobacco remnants into a plastic cup and focused as his Seattle Seahawks nearly clinched a 21-7 victory until he realized Gotham Baseball called.

He smiled and it felt like he was in high school. His sleeveless tee displayed his many tattoos, his spiked hair and jovial look just made you feel like this is how athletes should be. Relaxed, having fun and getting paid.

“Pointer makes it that way,” says Graves, referring to Dave LaPoint. “You have to be able to make your life not revolve just around baseball. For me coming here was a way for myself to see if I want to still play or not. You get released a couple times and it’s always in the back of your mind, ‘are you still good enough to play?’”

He sure can still play. He was 4-5 in 64.2 innings and he had a 3.90 ERA. Graves, 35, played 11 years of Major League ball, eight with the Cincinnati Reds where he was an All-Star in 2000 and 2004, and parts of other seasons with the Cleveland Indians and Mets. He had a 4.05 career ERA and 182 saves.

...Do they know who you are?

His take on getting back to the bigs? “It’s out of my control,” he admits. “I hope I get another shot and make something of it.”

They all do.

As the seasons change and these players get older they will have left their mark on New York baseball. All had some ties with the Big Apple and America’s past time, but it was 2007 that gave a rebirth and rejuvenation to their minds and careers.

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BY MARK C. HEALEY / JERRY MILANI

12

UPPITY

READING BY

THE HOT STOVE A TALK IN THE PARK The pace of baseball, affording ample time between pitchers and batters for a story or two or six, make its broadcasts different from those of any other sport.

The men — and, rarely, women — who for decades have spun those tales have kept millions entertained through nail biters and blowouts, making a connection with fans that the style and the long seasons produce.

So who better to capture the essence and flavor of the game than broadcasters, and who better to collect and organize them than Curt Smith, the former Presidential speechwriter who has studied baseball’s mikemen (and women) probably more than anyone else on earth.

[ GOTHAM BASEBALL • WINTER 2012

His latest work, A Talk in the Park (Potomac Books, 308 pps.), is a set of “as told to” stories of 116 Voices past and present, from Kenny Albert to Bob Wolff, impressively including several notable Hispanic broadcasters. Even die-hard fans will likely find that most of the stories are new to them, and even the ones they’ve heard are those that demand retelling.

Figuring out how to place the hundreds of interviews must have been a monumental task, and doubtless there were many others that didn’t make the book. But Smith’s system works, separating pieces on players, managers, umpires and owners, but also dedicating chapters to comments on Ernie Harwell, and minority broadcasters.

Smith draws mainly from his own interviews, borrowing a few from other sources. Though ostensibly the words of each broadcaster, the passages have Smith’s distinct style: no one uses the colon quite as often. But the stories are worth fighting through the sometimes jarring technique, and the great diversity of voices, from internationally known Frick Award winners to local names from coast to coast provide plenty of flavor, even a few reminiscences back to the likes of Dizzy Dean, and Wolff taking it back to the turn of the 20th century with thoughs on Clark Griffith.

There is lots of good Bob Uecker and Jon Miller material, and of course Wolff and Vin Scully contribute significantly. Equally interesting are the stories by Pat Hughes, Ken Korach, Denny Matthews and others who epitomize what a local baseball broadcaster means to a team’s fandom.

A MOMENT IN TIME It’s been exactly 60 years since perhaps the most famous moment in baseball history occurred. All these decades later, when discussing dramatic home runs, Bobby Thomson‘s three-run shot to give the Giants the 1951 pennant comes immediately to mind.

Baseball is a zero-sum game; for every home run hitting hero there is a pitcher who served it up. Often, like Mike Torres, Dennis Eckersley and, yes, Ralph Branca, he is as famous for having delivered the pitch as the batter for having swung the bat.

Thomson’s “Shot Heard Round the World” changed many lives, none more than those of the principles, who like many of the pitcher-hitter duos have become inextricably linked. For decades, Branca kept secret the knowledge that for the latter weeks of the ’51 season, including the fateful playoff at bat, the Giants had utilized a coordinated sign-stealing system involving powerful binoculars and an electronic buzzer system to erase a huge deficit to force the extra series to decide the NL crown.

That story was first told in Josh Prager’s The Echoing Green in 2006. But for the first time, Branca himself puts pen to paper on the subject in the newly-released A Moment In Time: An American Story of Baseball, Heartbreak and Grace (Scribner, 223 pps.), which delightfully details the New York native’s life. While the ’51 season and sign controversy is the flash that helps draw readers to the book, the rest of Branca’s story is well worth the read.

Branca’s story is a delicious slice of the baseball world in an intriguing time in its history. Jackie Robinson joined the Dodgers, changing the game forever, and he and Branca became fast, lifelong friends. Branca’s absolute love for the game comes through page after page, and his straightforward, tellit-like-it-is style gives his own perspective on some of the most significant figures of the time, including Leo Durocher and Branch Rickey.

Though he eventually developed a close friendship with Thomson, Branca to this day is distressed that the Giant never admitted to using the stolen sign on the winning home run. It’s one of the few tinges of sadness that can be found in what serves as a celebration of the life of a man who though many remember him primarily for it, has never allowed his life to be solely defined by a single moment in time.

For thousands of Yankees fans from the 1970s through the 80s, the trio of Phil Rizzuto, Bill White and Frank Messer meant baseball. They were the fans’ connection to the game on radio and television. Rizzuto was the all-over-the-place, unabashed fan in the booth. Messer was the consummate broadcasting professional. White was the bridge, a former standout National Leaguer who worked at his on-air craft at least as much as he had his batting eye in his playing days.

Though he was a pioneer as the first African-American to hold a fulltime play-by-play gig when he joined the Yankees in 1971, then the first to serve as National League president nearly 20 years later, White doesn’t necessarily see himself that way. His soon-to-be-released autobiography, Uppity (Grand Central Hardcover, April 1, 2011, $26.99), is a pulls-nopunches look at his almost accidental life in the sport.

White never thought he’d make a living in baseball; his dream was to be a doctor, but, as he writes, “baseball got in the way.”

While many of his experiences along the way, from hostility playing in the South to separate accommodations from his teammates in certain cities to breaking stereotypes may seem familiar to those who have followed the lives and baseball careers of Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby, Joe Black and many others. White’s position of strength in all of the pivotal moments of his life helps shape them. Not offered enough by the scout trying to sign him? White was ready to stay in college anyway. Hang around for an extra year in the majors? White found a new career in broadcasting, one that had started while he was still in uniform.

Then, when it was time to finally leave the game that had been a part of his life for so long, when White writes that he had no regrets, you have to believe him unreservedly.

If White’s friendship with Rizzuto provides some of the lightest moments in the memoir, and some of the most touching, his relationship with then-Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent and others in positions of power in the game shows White at his most unflinching.

That no-nonsense approach made White such an effective broadcaster and executive. His on-air style ensured not just a well-reported game, but that White would call it as he saw it – no sugar coating if something needed to be noted, and no cheerleading. His dealings with owners, teams and umpires displayed that same straightforward – and forward-thinking – style.

[ GOTHAM BASEBALL • WINTER 2012

ON THE BOOK SHELF

BY JERRY MILANI

13

BY JOSEPH M. LARA

...They MUST

Be Jealous.

With over a dozen different publications fighting to represent the largest borough outside of Manhattan, we've heard our share of trash-talk.

But only one can be the heart and soul.

The beginning and the end. The connection to the past and the introduction to the future.

Even though none of us know how the hot stove season is going to turn out, I already feel that sense of queasiness that usually sets in for most Met fans the last few years after the World Series ends. As talk consumes the media of the team shedding some of its core stars like Ike Davis and David Wright, we die-hards are surrounded with that all too familiar doom and gloom for our beloved team. If history has any chance of repeating itself, however, we may just find that we’re slowly beginning our ascent back upward.

So wash that Newspaper ink off of your fingers and be forewarned stepping into our world may cause a great hair style, the desire to eat at the best restaurants, or the sheer urge for Tiger's Blood.

A crazy thing to say, I know, but we’ve been worse off and looking back there are so many striking similarities between our modern day Mets and the stumbling, bumbling teams of the late seventies and early eighties when more people were singing “Meet the Mess” than “Meet the Mets”. In 1980 it would take the intestinal fortitude of Nelson Doubleday to start righting the ship, very slowly of course. Unfortunately, for our modern day team God has yet to find a way to alleviate us of our Wilpon problem, much the way he was able to get rid of Charles Shipman Payson in 1980. Ironically, by getting rid of one terrible owner in Payson, it actually brought us Fred Wilpon.

It isn't easy being the real King of Queens.

But we’ve worked hard to get here.

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www.astoriacelebrity.com FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Joseph M. Lara at 908.310.1659 or email: jlara@foresthillscelebrity.com

After Nelson Doubleday and his group purchased the Mets in 1980 they gave Madison Avenue Ad agency Della, Femina, Travisano and Partners $400,000 to resell the “New Mets” to the public.

The campaign would be laughable at first as not only were the Mets unable to get out of a game with any less than six errors, but the ads were centered around those old renowned Mets, Ralph Branca and Jackie Robinson. Is anything starting to sound remotely familiar yet? The ads would eventually change and focus more on the present “greats” of the Mets roster like Doug Flynn, Joel Youngblood, Steve Henderson, Craig Swan, and Frank Taveras.

They would also air television spots that would feature the camera panning around an empty Shea Stadium as chants of “Let’s Go Mets” were heard faded in the background. Suddenly the announcer’s voice would come in with a simple tag line “The Magic is Back”. The tag line was supposed to represent potential in the team, however it was about as effective as “We Believe in Comebacks” as your choking for three seasons. If only back then people had known that thirty-one years later the Mets new tagline would be “Prevention and Recovery” they may not have laughed so hard. However, when you’re much closer to 100 losses than 100 wins, as the Mets would remain until 1984, it’s easy to see how many found the campaign comical.

Here’s where things really begin getting freaky though. In 1980, the Mets brought in esteemed General Manager Frank Cashen to take the reigns of the franchise. Cashen came from the commissioner’s office to the Mets, and was known for being an integral part of the front office of the Baltimore Orioles who steamrolled the American League in the late 60’s and early 70’s leading to two World Championships.

In 2010, Sandy Alderson was hired from the commissioner’s office to the Mets, and was known for being General Manager of the Oakland Athletics teams of the late 80’s through mid 90’s who won four division titles, three pennants, and the 1989 World Series. He is also the father of the sabermetrics movement to assess and obtain relatively undervalued players.

While in different eras and time periods of history, both Cashen and Alderson have started out their tenures by committing to re-stock the farm system by acquiring minor league talent both via draft and trade.

Alderson sent Beltran to the Giants for the Mets new top prospect Zack Wheeler, as well as made a splash by drafting Brandon Nimmo, Michael Fulmer, and Cory Mazzoni. Cashen in his first three seasons drafted Kevin Mitchell, Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Randy Myers, Lenny Dykstra, Roger McDowell, and Rick Aguilera as well as acquired Ron Darling and Howard Johnson via trade. It is also

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worth noting that even though they didn’t sign, Cashen also drafted Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro, and John Wetteland in the same time period. Of course with every General Manger come a few stumbles. While letting Jose Reyes go may potentially prove to be Alderson’s first, we can’t ignore that Cashen traded both Mike Scott and Jeff Reardon.

Aside from the similarities in the front office, connections on the field also link the Mets of today with those horrendous past teams. Much like nowadays, those early eighties Mets could be trusted to take a 9-1 lead into the 9th inning and blow it as they did against the cubs on April 19, 1981. To make matters worse not many on the field had any grasp of the basic fundamentals. Bone-headed mistakes were commonplace as even their stars and veterans were letting errors pile up each game. Little did anyone know, however, that there was a spark starting to smolder.

The hopeless fans became even more hopeless in 1981 when local hero Lee Mazzilli was traded to the Texas Rangers. While the trade

would net Ron Darling for the Mets, fans looked at Mazzilli the same as we look at David Wright. Although we wince every time Sandy Alderson gives another one of his vague responses regarding Wright, you can’t help but think that possibly trading him will net us the next Ron Darling of our time. Fan sentiment would hit an all-time low, but the one major difference between those Mets and ours was that from ownership on down they didn’t give up. They saw the potential in the farm system they were building and knew that even though attendance was no where near what they wanted they needed to acquire solid veterans to lead their rookies to the charge. Those rookies, while they were relative unknowns on the field were the bright spot acquired during the Grant era that were now getting ready to take over. Mookie Wilson, Hubie Brooks, Wally Backman, Jesse Orosco and more started giving a much-needed dose of hope.

We all know the rest of the story, Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter were brought in 1983, and it would be 1984 with Davey

Johnson now at the helm that the Mets would finally start winning. As prospects panned out the team was now filled with a dynamite presence and a mix of stellar veterans and eager youngsters who would take the team all the way to the championship in 1986.

I can’t help wondering if this is our early eighties. Could the farm system Alderson is assembling be the eventual leaders to our next Championship? Will the Wilpons finally wake-up and stop trying to do everything to cut the teams knees off before they can stand?

Will the absence of Jose Reyes make David Wright the “Mex” of our generation? Who will take over the leadership role if Wright leaves? While the answers seem nowhere in sight, we can only continue to hold the torch for the team we love and hope they eventually get it together. We can only hope that one day the magic comes back… …In the meantime stock up on Rolaids it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

SPECIAL FEATURE

SPOTLIGHT

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

17

AGENDA AT A GLANCE TIME

TOPIC

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2012 (CONT.) PRESENTER

4:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Prefunction

6:15 pm - 7:00 pm

Break-Out #1: The Vanderbilt Pitching Foundation

Derek Johnson, Vanderbilt

Break-Out #2: Aggressively Defending the Bunting Game

Bill Currier, Fairfield University

TIME 11:15 am - 12:00 pm

Break-Out #3: Team Batting Practice: Rules, Routine, Rewards Rob Cooper, Wright State Extra Innings Batting Cage: Product Demonstration 7:15 pm - 8:00 pm

Break-Out #1: Getting Players Game Ready

Dana Cavalea, New York Yankees Strength & Conditioning Coach

Break-Out #2: Hitting the Pitch Edge to Edge

Bill Currier, Fairfield University

Break-Out #3: 7 Reasons for Athletic Inconsistency / What Keeps an Athlete from Being in the Zone

Buddy Biancalana

Extra Innings Batting Cage: Outfield Play Demo

12:00 pm - 1:15 pm

PRESENTER

Break-Out #1: The Absolutes of Hitting Success

Kevin Long, New York Yankees

Break-Out #2: Controlling the Running Game Slide-steps, Pick-offs & Timing

Ralph Treuel, Boston Red Sox

Break-Out #3: Everything You Need to Know about "Coaching the Bases"

Mike Leonard, Bates College

Extra Innings Batting Cage: Live Catching Demo…

Blocking and Receiving Drills to Improve Your Catcher!

Sal Fasano, NH FisherCats Manager

EXHIBITOR TIME/LUNCH BREAK Extra Innings Batting Cage: Product Demonstration Break-Out #1:The Pitching Sabermetrics of MoneyBall: The Story Behind It

Rick Peterson

Steve Trimper, University of Maine and Billy Cather

Break-Out #2: Hitting Analysis: Finding the First Cause and Identifying the Best Drill (Repeat Session)

Don Slaught, Rightview Pro

Break-Out #1: The Real A.C.E. Behind UCONN Baseball Attitude, Concentration & Effort

Jim Penders, UConn

Break-Out #3: Game Day – Pre-Game Preparation and In-Game Management

Bill Masse, Seattle Mariners

Break-Out #2: Game Day Pitching Routines

Derek Johnson, Vanderbilt Nick Giaquinto, Sacred Heart University

Extra Innings Batting Cage: Teaching the Swing with a Top Blue Jays Prospect

Anthony Iapoce, Toronto Blue Jays

Break-Out #3: Daily Throwing Program Outfielders, Infielders, & Catchers

Break-Out #1: Greatest Misconceptions about Teaching Hitting

Kevin Long, New York Yankees

Extra Innings Batting Cage: Product Demonstration

Jay Weaver, New England Catching Camp Don Slaught, Rightview Pro

Break-Out #2: A LHP's Perspective - Slidesteps, Pick-offs, Arm Slot, Pitch Selection & Side of the Rubber

Craig Breslow, Arizona Diamondbacks

Break-Out #1: Hitting Analysis: Finding the First Cause and Identifying the Best Drill

Break-Out #3: What a Scout Looks for in Amateur Players

Break-Out #2: PANEL DISCUSSION: Getting Your High School Players Ready to Play at the Next Level (Player Development Keys, Recruiting Ins & Outs, Mental Challenges...)

Derek Johnson, Jim Penders, Bill Currier, Nick Giaquinto & Roger Bidwell

Bill Masse, Seattle Mariners, Matt Hyde, New York Yankees & Gary LaRocque, St. Louis Cardinals

Extra Innings Batting Cage: Get Your Players Game Ready in 15 minutes: Proper Warm-up

Dana Cavalea, New York Yankees Strength & Conditioning Coach

Break-Out #3: Infield Play - Proper Footwork and Precise Execution

Rob Cooper, Wright State

Break-Out #1: Breakdown of the Pitching Delivery

Rick Peterson

Break-Out #2: Building the Aggressive/Selective Hitter

Anthony Iapoce, Toronto Blue Jays Mike Gambino, Boston College

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2012

Break-Out #3: Pre-Game Preparation: Warm-up to Pre-Game Infield…

7:30 am - 12:00 pm

Prefunction: EVENT REGISTRATION

Extra Innings Batting Cage: Bunting: The Lost Art (Demo)

Chris Podeszwa, UConn

8:15 am - 9:00 am

Break-Out #1: Teaching Infield Fundamentals

Mark DeJohn, St. Louis Cardinals

Ralph Treuel, Boston Red Sox

Break-Out #2: UMaine Baseball - How to Run an Efficient Practice, A to Z; Part 1

Steve Trimper, University of Maine

Break-Out #1: PFP - Pitcher Fielding Practice: Fielding Bunts, Covering Bases & Throwing to Bases…

Break-Out #3: Getting the Most Out of Your Catchers

Jim Penders, UConn

Break-Out #2: Developing a Winning Player, The World Champion St. Louis Cardinal Way!

Gary LaRocque and Mark DeJohn, St. Louis Cardinals

Break-Out #3: Preparing and Maintaining Your Baseball Field: A Primer for High School and Youth Coaches

Bryan Barkley & Jeff Paolino

Extra Innings Batting Cage: Hitting Drills, Drills, Drills (Demo)

Kevin Long, New York Yankees

Break-Out #1: Coaching Philosophy Roundtable Building a Winning Attitude

Rick Peterson, Sal Fasano, Rob Cooper and Steve Trimper

8:15 pm - 9:00 pm

9:15 pm - 10:00 pm

1:15 pm - 2:00 pm

2:15 pm - 3:00 pm

3:15 pm - 4:00 pm

Extra Innings Batting Cage: Catching Drills Demo

4:10 pm - 5:00 pm

Extra Innings Batting Cage: Product Demonstration 9:15 am - 10:00 am [ GOTHAM BASEBALL • WINTER 2012

TOPIC

Break-Out #1: The Pitching Star: Understanding Connection in the Pitching Delivery

Derek Johnson, Vanderbilt

Break-Out #2: UMaine Baseball - How to Run an Efficient Practice, A to Z; Part 2

Steve Trimper, University of Maine

Break-Out #3: What Coaches Should Know about the Scouting Process

Gary LaRocque, St. Louis Cardinals

5:10 pm- 5:50 pm

Break-Out #2: TBD Break-Out #3: Preparing and Maintaining Your Baseball Field: A Primer for High School and Youth Coaches (Repeat Session)

Extra Innings Batting Cage: Product Demonstration 10:15 am - 11:00 am

Bryan Barkley & Jeff Paolino

Extra Innings Batting Cage: Product Demonstration

Break-Out #1: Common Player Breakdowns and Exercises & to Prevent Them!

Dana Cavalea, New York Yankees Strength Conditioning Coach

5:50 pm - 7:30 pm

DINNER BREAK

Break-Out #2: Finding the "Perfect" Mechanics for Your Catcher

Sal Fasano, NH FisherCats Manager

7:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Break-Out #3: Strengthening the Mind-Body Connection Get the Body to Do What the Mind Wants

Buddy Biancalana

Break-Out #1: Talking Baseball with Boston Red Sox Manager Bobby Valentine Lead By Joe Castiglione

Extra Innings Batting Cage: Get an Advantage on the Basepaths - Baserunning Demo

Rajai Davis, Toronto Blue Jays & Roger Bidwell, UConn/Avery Point

Bobby Valentine, Boston Red Sox

*Program and presenters subject to change.

SPECIAL FEATURE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012

19

AGENDA AT A GLANCE SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2012 TOPIC

PRESENTER

7:15 am - 9:30 am

Prefunction: EVENT REGISTRATION

8:30 am - 9:15 am

Nehantic/Pequot/Paugusset Rooms: Baseball Speed Development

Dana Cavalea, New York Yankees Strength & Conditioning Coach

Abenaki Room: Town Hall Meeting - Video Analysis on Pitching Mechanics

Justin Blood, University of Hartford

Shinnecock/Nipmuc: Vision Training to Improve Hitting

Harvey Ratner

Schaghticoke Room: TBD 9:30 am - 10:15 am

Nehantic/Pequot/Paugusset Rooms: UConn Hitters….

Drills that Have Propelled Them to National Prominence

Chris Podeswa, UConn

Abenaki Room: 7 Reasons for Athletic Inconsistency / Buddy Biancalana What Keeps an Athlete from Being in the Zone (repeat session) Shinnecock/Nipmuc: Outfield Play Essentials Nehantic/Pequot/Paugusset Rooms: The Professional At-Bat Pyramid: Getting Ready for Every At-Bat

Anthony Iapoce, Toronto Blue Jays

Abenaki Room: Countdown to Opening Day: High School Coaches Checklist from First Practice to First Game

John Schiffner, Chatham A's & Plainfield High School

Shinnecock/Nipmuc: Managing the Game: Rap session with Sal Fasano, NH FisherCats Manager 10-Year Veteran Major League Catcher & 2011 Eastern League Manager of the Year Schaghticoke Room: TBD 11:30 am - 12:15 pm

Nehantic/Pequot/Paugusset Rooms: Cuts and Relays to "Perfection"

Roger Bidwell, UConn Avery Point

Abenaki Room: 5 Things You Can Do to "Quickly" Improve Your Pitchers

Wayne Mazzoni, Sacred Heart University

Shinnecock/Nipmuc: Proper Catching Set-up and Calling the Game: Things to Look for in Hitters

Mike Leonard, Bates College

Schaghticoke Room: TBD

[ GOTHAM BASEBALL • WINTER 2012

BE SURE TO VISIT OUR 2012 EXHIBITORS! • 3N2 LLC • Air Structure American Technologies Inc. • Akadema Professional • Anaconda Sports • Anthem Sports LLC • ARC Sports • Baden Sports Inc. • Baseball America • Baseball City • Baseball Heaven Inc • Bash Bat Company/Tater Grip • Batting Cages USA • Beaver Bat Company • BSN Sports • Bunt Down Bat • Cape Cod Baseball League • Connecticut Tigers • Cooperstown All Star Village • Coyote Promotions • Demosphere International Inc. • DGM Systems LLC • Diamond Nation • Disney Baseball and Softball

Thur: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Fri: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM | Sat: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

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12 HIDDEN GEMS

Mike Gambino, Boston College

Schaghticoke Room: TBD 10:30 am - 11:15 am

Gotham Baseball's

• Mattingly Sports Inc • Mercury Sports • Mizuno • MLS Strength and Conditioning • Mohegan Sun • MotionPro by CyberAccess123 Inc. • New Britain Rock Cats • New England Catching Camp LLC • NFP Sports • OC Sports • On Deck Sports • Pacific Headwear • Pickle-Ball Inc. • PIK Products • Planet Fastpitch • PMPM Sports – Zone Training • Protime Sports • Rawlings • Read Custom Soils • RightView Pro • Rip- It Sporting Goods • Ripken Baseball

• Rob Monte Art • Schutt Sports • Scott's Sports Supplies • Spalding/Russell • Spinets • Sports At The Beach • Sports Sales and Marketing • Sports Team Hotels • Sports Tutor • Super Net • Tucci Lumber • Turface Athletics • TYRUS Baseball Products • Under Armour • USAElite Training • Valle Baseball • Vero Beach Sports Village • W.S. Emerson • Wilson-DeMarini-ATEC • Worth Sports • Yale Pediatric Cancer Research • X- Grain Sportswear • Xtra Innings • Zeavision

Our partnership with the 2012 World Baseball Coach’s Convention got us to thinking. If we were to recommend twelve companies to our readers, whom would we recommend? In our usual style though, we had to make this unique. While recommending companies like Easton Bell, On Deck Sports, Louisville Slugger, or Mattingly Baseball was tempting, in the end these companies are so well known that it’s a no-brainer. To make things more interesting we’ve decided to compile a list of twelve of the companies that are making a lot of noise in the baseball industry even though they may not be a common household name just yet. Some specialize in equipment, some in training, and some in more fun stuff. What they all have in common, however, is that they are the best at what they do and are undoubtedly companies that you need to know.

Some of them will be exhibiting along side us from January 19 thru the 21st at the World Baseball Coaches Convention at Mohegan Sun so you’ll have a chance to get up close and personal with them and their products. We’ve put an asterisk next to those you can hope to meet, and contact info for all so you can check them out on your own!

A GLOVE OF THEIR OWN What started out as a children’s book has now turned into a full-fledged charitable organization attracting support and endorsements by Fortune 500 companies and major league legends past and present. A Glove of Their Own was written

by Debbie Moldovan, Keri Conkling, and Lisa Funari-Willever, and illustrated by Lauren Lambiase. While the book achieved success and won several awards, it would be with the help of father and coach Bob Salomon that they would build into what they are today. Their list of supporters includes Modell’s, Rawlings, Louisville Slugger, Joe Torre, Don Mattingly, Craig Biggio, Michael Cuddyer, Bobby Thomson, and many more all brought together by the story of kids who play with little, worn-out equipment because of a shear love of the game.

It is a story that has touched hearts and minds all over baseball, inspiring and leading the way to ensuring every child has a glove of his or her own.

Website: www.agloveoftheirown.com

✽ BASH BATS Bash Bats is one of the biggest little companies in the industry. What started as an entrepreneurial effort by Brian Carson has quickly turned into a thriving and expanding enterprise getting louder each day. While they initially started as a small bat producer, their product line now includes seven different bats, batting gloves, ultra durable laminate bats, and they’ve even formed a new partnership with TaterGrip bat grips endorsed by all-star Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Despite all this, Brian still takes the time to hand inspect all of the incoming wood used and each bat that comes off of the line to maintain the standard of quality that Bash Bat’s customers have come to expect. Website: www.bashbats.com; Tel: 845-202-0277

✽ BEAVER BATS Beaver Bat Company has the distinction of being the first custom wood bat manufacturer based in Long Island, NY. They make some of the most superior quality bats at the most affordable prices for all levels from the little leagues to the major leagues. What really caught our eye though are their green initiatives. Peter Curti has made it a primary goal of his company to be one of the most environmentally conscious bat companies out there. Not only is all of the maple, ash, and birch used for their bats grown locally in New York and Pennsylvania, but for every 100 bats they produce they plant a tree to rejuvenate the forests that give them so much. Furthermore, they also use some of the most technologically advanced green technologies in their bat making process, and are a partner of The Green Project of Long Island, a not-for-profit group which provides education and support in helping residents of the island go green. Website: www.beaverbatcompany.com; Tel: 516-442-1123

✽ EYEBLACK.COM Eyeblack.com has provided some of the most innovative new products to the baseball marketplace for both players and fans. The small company that Peter Beveridge founded in 2003 has now turned into an industry titan with a small business heart at its core.

Using 3M medical grade latex-free tapes, adhesives, and your logo they can produce a custom eye black for your team, company, or for personal use.

Furthermore, these custom eye blacks don’t just look good, but they’re functional too. Currently over 400 collegiate sports programs in the United States are using these custom eye blacks. They also have received official licenses from MLB and more. For all of their success, Eyeblack.com also knows how to give back by working with charitable causes including Breast Cancer, Autism, Alzheimer’s, and teams who have had players unexpectedly pass away or be seriously injured, among many others. Website: www.eyeblack.com; Tel:877-393-2522

SPECIAL FEATURE

TIME

21

S THE B SWING TRAINER

Major League Strength and conditioning is quickly becoming the new top name in athletic performance. Founded

by Yankees strength and conditioning coach Dana Cavalea and located in White Plains, ML Strength has created a comprehensive program that although geared for athletes is open to anybody looking for a challenging athletic workout. The program is based around seven elements: Evaluate, Educate, Prevent, Train, Compete, Recover, and Fuel, all working together to achieve a singular goal of bringing out the strongest, fastest, and most competitive parts of you. Each program is tailored to the individual person and individual sport, focusing on enhanced sports-specific movement and direct training to enter a game situation. Website: www.mlstrength.com; Tel: 914-437-8484

Squash the Bug Swing Trainer is very quickly becoming one of the most highly sought after hitting aids by players all over. James Caponigro’s invention was based off the premise of squashing a bug, hence the name, but quickly begins creating the power and balance hitters need to drive the ball. By enforcing the pivoting of the back foot into the ideal hitting stance, the Squash the Bug Swing Trainer creates muscle memory and perfect repetition of the motion that should begin every proper swing. With use for only 10 minutes a day, hitters will learn to instinctively fire open their hips and make the ball explode with every swing. Website: www.sthebswingtrainer.com

✽ PMPM SPORTS Working over multiple sports, Steven Yellin has combined his over thirty years of experience in sports training with 1985 World Champion Kansas City Royals shortstop Buddy Biancanala to create one of the most comprehensive drill and instruction programs to bring out the best in each athlete. Based on a unique set of drills and concepts, each athlete is taught to reach deep down into their full potential by slowing down time, shutting down the intellect, and experiencing fluid and effortless motion on demand. The pair of Yellin and Biancalana also collaborated to release the best selling book “The 7 Secrets of World Class Athletes” which has been lauded nationwide as one of the foremost reads on bringing athletes to the next level. Website: www.pmpmsports.com RBI PRO SWING

[ GOTHAM BASEBALL • WINTER 2012

Endorsed by former Texas Ranger and career .305 hitter, Rusty Greer, RBI Pro Swing is a hitting aid designed to enforce proper hitting technique, hand position, impact point, and hand speed. In creating RBI Pro Swing, inventor Rick Miller went from a father determined to help his son with his swing to pioneer in swing training with a product lauded by Yankees Hitting Coach Kevin Long, Mets Hitting Coach Dave Hudgens, and many more.

The product which fits snugly over any baseball or softball bat features four separate chambers filled with steel shot and a throttle valve at the top end of the opening. It is also the first device of its kind to feature instant audio feedback as a player swings the bat. A quick “swish” sound accompanies the compact inside swing path, while a longer “swoosh” sound indicates a loss of power and the incorrect swing. Coaches of all levels around the country including nine Major League Baseball teams have already adapted the RBI Pro Swing to give their players a fast, powerful, and more compact swing and a huge boost in success at the plate. Website: www.rbiproswing.com; Tel: 877-365-9284

✽ RIGHTVIEW PRO 16 year major league veteran Don Slaught had a vision that one day their would be a product that could bring coaches and kids together to evaluate the flaws in their hitting and pitching by using concrete examples. With that vision in mind, RightView Pro was born. When assessing the situation, he found that the only way to bring it to fruition was to use models of Major League Baseball players and professional softball players. Today, RightView Pro is the only video analysis software company licensed by MLB, MLB Player's Association and the National Pro Fastpitch League, and features a stable of integrated swing models including Albert Pujols, Ichiro Suzuki, Miguel Cabrera, Lance Berkman, David Ortiz, Victor Martinez, Paul Konerko, and more. Website: www.rightviewpro.com; Tel: 310-377-9221

SHOEBOX COLLECTIONS Shoebox Collections specializes in vintage images of the biggest names of baseball.

Founder Jason Fletcher began with the acquisition of a few unique, original negatives of baseball greats Babe Ruth and Dizzy Dean, and thus their amazing collection was born. The collection has grown over the years to hundreds of vintage negatives containing many never-before-seen images including Lou Gehrig’s Memorial Broadcast. Each piece is created through Gicleé developing methods using only with the finest chemicals and paper for photos that are far beyond of the quality of any others you may find, and adding tremendous value to the images. They are now offering masterfully crafted pieces of their amazing collection to the public for the first time, and also stage exhibits around the country.

Website: www.sbcgallery.com; Tel: 888-284-2516

✽ 3P SPORTS When your team consists of Rick Peterson, Al Leiter, Tom Glavine, Jim Duquette, former Yankees strength coach Jeff Mangold, renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews, biomechanist Dr. Glenn Flesig, and the late Harvey Dorfman you know the product has to blow away anything you’ve ever seen before. 3P Sports combines Peterson's coaching philosophies for conditioning, pitching drills and sports psychology with biomechanical analysis data helping pitchers of all ages work on a program used by All-Star Major League pitchers while improving velocity, pitching performance, accuracy, and reducing injuries.

Website: www.3psports.com; Tel: 732-927-4410

✽ TYRUS BASEBALL PRODUCTS Ken Fazio comes from a third generation baseball family that has a great love, honor, and respect for the game. This connection ensures that every product that comes out of Tyrus is only the highest quality while maintaining a price point towards the lower end of the spectrum so all can have access to truly superior products without breaking the bank. Currently their products include stock and custom wood bats, pine tars, and fungo bats. Also in the pipeline for the future are exclusive lines of apparel, batting gloves, and custom celebratory bats. Website: www.tyrusbaseball.com; Tel: 516-313-9680

SPECIAL FEATURE

✽ ML STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

23

BY GARY ARMIDA Photography by Bill Menzel

The New York Yankees are all about tradition. The tradition they adhere to most is that of winning and having the absolute best players available. The organization has had a litany of legends from Hall of Famers like Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle, DiMaggio, Grove, Ford, and Berra to the greats like Don Mattingly, Ron Guidry, and Thurman Munson.

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Today, there is Jeter and Rivera. But, for all of the tradition, the Yankees do not have many signature pitchers. Whitey Ford was that guy in the late 1950's and early 60's. There was Red Ruffing in the 30's and 40's, but the truth is that the most storied franchise in all of sports has never had a pitcher be the focal point of the team.

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The Yankees have always been built around offense. Pitching does win championships, as the cliché states, but the Yankees have never had that franchise pitcher who carried them for a decade. In fact, only 16 pitchers have won more than 100 games for the Yankees. Only three – Whitey Ford, Red Ruffing, and Andy Pettitte – have won more than 200 games. Starting pitching is the most valuable commodity in baseball, but the Yankees have never really grown attached to many of their starters.

But, the current Yankees are different. Their calling card is still offense, but to survive in this age, a team needs at least one above average starter who is flanked by at least two more competent pitchers.

The Philadelphia Phillies have an elite pitcher in Roy Halladay, flanked by two above average pitchers in Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels. The Red Sox, despite their September collapse, have Jon Lester and Josh Beckett. If Clay Buchholz can get healthy, they'll have a trio. The Yankees are different. With all of the questions surrounding their pitching staff, C.C. Sabathia is the single most important pitcher on their staff. He's so important, that he may actually be the most important pitcher in franchise history.

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keeping Carlston Charles Sabathia was vital to the Yankees' success in 2012 and beyond. For a moment, there was a slight worry that he would leave New York because of his opt out clause and leave a gaping hole in the rotation that couldn't be filled.

The Yankees and C.C. Sabathia didn’t even let it all become an issue. On Halloween, the Yankees announced that they agreed to a contract extension with their ace. If Sabathia had opted out of the last four years of his deal and left $92 million on the table, the southpaw would’ve hit free agency as the best pitcher available on the market. Except, it isn’t even all that close considering that the Rangers’ C.J. Wilson is a far second best alternative to the Yankees’ ace who has won 59 games over the past three seasons with a 3.18 ERA in 705 innings. Although he hasn’t won a Cy Young Award with the Yankees, Sabathia has been worth every penny of the $68 million that they have paid him since signing him before the 2009 season.

There is a general rule that quality General Managers follow. During Theo Epstein’s introductory press conference in Chicago, he made mention of the rule stating that a team signs free agents on future performance rather than on past performance. While that sounds like a great rule, the reality is that most free agents are signed because of what they did rather than the emphasis placed on what they will do. When Sabathia signed with the Yankees in the winter of 2008, his contract was one of the few handed out that could reasonably be expected to be fulfilled.

Sabathia has fulfilled the first three years. Now, because the Yankees were justifiably intent on

signing the left hander at all costs that winter, they are forced to pay up once again because of the opt out clause that they put in to lure Sabathia to the Bronx three years ago.

The opt out clause was a source of great concern when the contract was first announced, but the Yankees got what they paid for. Without Sabathia, there is no 2009 World Series title, a 2010 ALCS appearance, and a 2011 ALDS appearance. Arguably, Sabathia has been the American League’s most important player since 2009 considering the state of the Yankees rotation. In 2009, Joe Girardi went with a three man rotation with Sabathia taking the heaviest load, pitching 230 regular season innings and another 36.1 innings in the post season. In each of the next two seasons, he tossed 237 regular season innings with 16 and 8 innings in the past two post seasons. That all comes with the fact that the Yankees didn’t have more than one other rotation member who pitched more than 186 innings during the last two seasons.

Incidentally, that pitcher was A.J. Burnett in each season.

Sabathia’s importance to the Yankees put his prospective value even higher. Even though the Yankees have recently reloaded with Hiroki Kuroda and Michael Pineda, the CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

[ GOTHAM BASEBALL • WINTER 2012

IT’S ALL ABOUT

25

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

BY MARK C. HEALEY

Now, they are the best.

Obviously, the Yankees already knew this given the quick deal. Their handling of Sabathia’s opt out is far different from how they handled Alex Rodriguez’s situation a few years ago.

The Yankees said that if Rodriguez opted out, they would not resign him. They obviously changed course later on, but the Yankees made no such proclamations with Sabathia.

[ GOTHAM BASEBALL • WINTER 2012

The deal is essentially an extension that will keep Sabathia in the Bronx for two additional seasons. The original deal had four years remaining on it which would’ve kept Sabathia in the pinstripes until 2015. Now he signed through 2016 and has a vesting option for 2017. At 31 years old, Sabathia is getting a contract that will take him through his 38th birthday.

Any time a pitcher is handed a long term deal, there is inherent risk involved. Older pitchers tend to break down. Sabathia is known for his durability, but that is precisely what makes him risky. He has been one of the most durable pitchers in the game since 2007. He’s averaged 240 innings, totaling 1,199 innings over that span, almost half of his career total of 2,364.1 innings pitched. He hasn’t shown any signs of breaking down, but pitchers in their prime usually don’t exhibit such signs.

Of course, much will be made about his weight. His obvious weight gain towards the end of the 2011 season was disconcerting. It timed out with his six start span in August during which he compiled a 4.68 ERA in 42.1 innings while allowing 56 hits. His September ERA went down to 3.08, but he still allowed 31 hits in 26.1 innings. Those look like warning signs for an out of shape pitcher. Except, weight just doesn’t factor into Sabathia’s performance. Perhaps it was his .407 BABIP in August and .387 in September that led to the increase in hits allowed.

It’s easy to say he was out of shape and that his weight will curtail his career, but the fact is that none of that can be proven. Optimally, it would be great for Sabathia to be in world class shape, but he has been consistently dominant during his career. He’s never had one of those down seasons, ever. Weight just hasn’t factored into it.

Using the weight argument negates all that Sabathia has accomplished.

He’s been one of the best in the game. Using a weight argument or docking him ace points because of his weight is simply sloppy and taking the easy way out of evaluating a player. The real question comes if heavier pitchers age worse. There is no real proof. Even if there was, someone such as Sabathia doesn’t have all that many comparables. His future is unknown when it comes to health problems of all kinds as he has never shown any signs of any serious problem.

half of the deal. At 31 years old, Sabathia is essentially at the end of his prime, but he isn’t in the twilight of his career either. The Yankees will likely get four above average seasons followed by a decline. In that regard, they are paying a little for what he will do and a little for what he has already done. If he were a few years younger, giving him this extension wouldn’t be an issue. Now, there is a question about the long term value of the deal.

For most teams, the price is likely too much, especially given the unknown of the final few years of that deal. Sabathia has already pitched over 2,000 innings and to expect him to add another 1,500 over the next six years seems awfully unrealistic. Most teams cannot afford the backend of the deal when it becomes likely that he won’t be the 200+ pitcher anymore. That left only a handful of teams capable of signing Sabathia–the Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, White Sox, Rangers, Angels, Nationals, and Cubs.

No team, however, needs him as much as the Yankees. Without Sabathia, the Yankees are probably still a playoff team, but the team’s mission statement about anything less than a championship is a failure speaks to just how necessary Sabathia is. Given their resources, the Yankees can afford to over-extend for their ace. They will get value for the first half, but ultimately the value will be determined by how long Sabathia can hang on to being an ace or legitimate number one pitcher.

Even if he doesn’t age gracefully, the Yankees had to overpay. This isn’t an Alex Rodriguez situation. Rodriguez was one of the most prolific hitters at the time he signed the contract, but the Yankees already had a good offense. If they had actually stayed true to their word of not re-signing their third baseman, they could’ve found a suitable replacement at far less money. Perhaps they would’ve lost some elite production, but their lineup didn’t need elite offense. In Sabathia’s case, he is essential as he cannot be replaced. He never misses a start; he pitches 230 innings, and is one of the few pitchers who can match up with any ace an opponent can run out to the mound.

The Yankees had no choice. They had to extend his contract, even with the risk associated with the latter half of the deal. If they have championship aspirations, which they most assuredly do, resigning Sabathia was essential. There wouldn’t have been a market collapse like the one that happened to Alex Rodriguez. The Rangers and the other contenders were ready. It was a good position for Sabathia to be in. If he did sign elsewhere, the balance of power would’ve severely shifted. With their ace locked up, the Yankees can address their real needs: another member of the rotation and some depth to their aging roster. But, with Sabathia signed, they are once again favorites to win the American League pennant. They acted quickly and took the risk only they can afford to take.

ACE IS THE

WHOLE The last time Johan Santana pitched in a game that meant anything, it was Sept. 2, 2010. His last pitch that day finished off a strikeout (swinging) of Omar Infante.

He would leave the game after just five innings of work, earning the win over the Atlanta Braves, 4-2.

"I felt a little tightness here," Santana said after the game, pointing to his upper left chest. "(Then-manager Jerry Manuel) said I was done for the night. I felt I was able to go back out, but he didn't want to take any chances. I'll be alright."

He hasn’t pitched in a regular season game since.

Rewind back to Feb. 6, 2008. The Diamond Club at Shea had it last – and perhaps most healing – introductory Press Conference for its newest acquisition as the team introduced Santana to the fan base.

The New York Giants had just won the Super Bowl, and Big Blue aficionado Jay Horwitz (who also happens to the Mets’ longtime PR man), was beaming as various media members congratulated him on his team’s championship.

Everyone was upbeat, as much from relief as anything else. The Mets had gotten their guy, a player that most experts (including me), had predicted they had no chance at acquiring. That in and of itself had almost erased the terrible summer of 2007, when they blew a seven-game lead in the National League East with 17 to play.

Even though the Mets improved considerably since he had taken over the team since 2005, Willie Randolph was under incredible pressure following the team’s September swoon.

He was all smiles on this day, not realizing that his days as Mets manager were numbered. But that’s a story for another day.

The important thing was the Mets had needed an ace, and were hoping against hope that Santana would prove to be the true No. 1 the team had lacked since the days of Tom Seaver and Doc Gooden circa 1985.

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I wrote this in the Spring 2008 Issue of Gotham Baseball: Armed with Santana, a healthy Pedro Martinez, 15-game winners Oliver Perez and John Maine, and rookie Mike Pelfrey, the Mets now have the deepest rotation in the National League. Though the Mets' bullpen is coming off an uneven season, the trio of Billy Wagner, a healing Duaner Sanchez and steady Aaron Heilman manning the late innings, pitching will likely be a major strength in 2008.

Unfortunately for the Mets, Martinez was not healthy, and Maine and Perez slipped to 10wins apiece. The bullpen, decimated by a late-season injury to closer Billy Wagner and a 5.21 ERA by Heilman, cost the Mets another postseason berth. Pelfrey was a bright spot, 13-11 with a 3.72 ERA, but it was Santana that more than 4 million fans came to see at Shea Stadium that season.

In his first year in New York, Santana went 167 with a sparkling 2.53 ERA. It gave all of New York a glimpse of the star they had coveted.

Then, the injuries kicked in; knee surgery after the 2008 season. In 2009, after an impressive 3.13 ERA through 25 starts, Santana had arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips in his left elbow. 2010 came with more misery an outstanding season curtailed by shoulder surgery just 12 days after that win against the Braves.

The risk really comes down to how much Sabathia regresses in the last CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

[ GOTHAM BASEBALL • WINTER 2012

Yankees need Sabathia to head their rotation if they have any hope of returning to the playoffs. The Yankees are still left with some questions; who between the enigmatic Burnett and the questionable Phil Hughes will remain in the rotation.

Their top young prospects, Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos are still likely a season away from being Major League ready, and New York isn’t the most forgiving place for young pitchers trying to make their way during their rookie seasons. Asking one of them to lead a staff in their first year is unrealistic. Considering the Rays, Red Sox, and Blue Jays’ rotation before the deals, the Yankees would have been a clear fourth in terms of rotation ranking in the American League Eastern Division.

SIMPLY AMAZIN’

Photography by Bill Menzel

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 He missed all of a miserable 2011 for the Mets, aborting a late-season comeback when his rehab starts didn’t go as smoothly as he wanted. The Mets are confident that Santana will regain his form .

“He is an ace. Period,” Mets manager Terry Collins told ESPNNewYork.com’s Adam Rubin last season. “I’ve heard too many stories about how he’s pitched even when he wasn’t 100 percent, and he still pitched great. If his health is good, I know that with his competitivenes and ability to command the baseball, he’ll be as good as we’ve got.”

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If Santana is at the top of a Mets rotation that includes R.A. Dickey, Jon Niese, Mike Pelfrey and Dillon Gee, the Mets will have one of the deeper rotations in the National League.

Not everyone is optimistic about Santana’s fortunes for 2012. Some are skeptical of the Mets’ ability to self-diagnose their own personnel, while others refuse to pin their hopes on what many believe is a very difficult surgery to overcome.

Ron Patterson, who writes for Ed Ryan’s excellent MetsFever.com says Mets fans shouldn’t have such high expectation for Santana.

One of the only starting pitchers to return from this surgery, Chien-Ming Wang, who once lead Major League Baseball in wins from 2006-2007, started 11 games for the Nationals last season.

He went a modest 4-3, pitching no more than six innings an outing and was never really dominant over that time. Why should we expect that Johan's results would be drastically different.

So what should fans expect now? I certainly wouldn't expect an improvement on his presurgery numbers. Johan Santana peaked some time ago now, probably before he ever strapped on a Mets uniform. That isn't to say his career is over, but at the same time, fans shouldn't expect a Cy Young caliber performance next season.

Patterson’s points are valid, but Santana, who will make $24,000, 000 in 2012, is paid to produce a Cy Young-caliber performance.

That’s how important Santana is to the 2012 Mets. The engine that will make everything go.

Throw in an improved bullpen, and an offense that should improve after the modifications to Citi Field, and what looked like a disaster in the making could be one of those unlooked for years of competitive baseball.

One thing is for sure, it will not be for lack of effort.

"It doesn't matter how long you have been up here,” Santana said after joining the Mets. “You have to prove you can do the job. And you have to work hard."

Photo by Bill Menzel

BY MARK C. HEALEY Photography by Bill Menzel

GOING NINE

At press time, the Mets have so far "redistributed" the money they claim they had budgeted for Reyes on the bullpen, which a year ago was dreadful. Jon Rauch will set up Frank Francisco. Ramon Ramirez, they key player acquired in the trade that sent Angel Pagan to the Giants, is also going to be counted on in a big way. Andres Torres, the other player acquired in the deal, will replace Pagan in center field and it's said, will be the new leadoff hitter in place of Reyes.

Whether it was reality (the real reason) or strategic (the reason that the Mets and some of their fanbase is attempting to project), the end result is less than inspirational. Perhaps no one puts it better than Mike Vaccaro, esteemed baseball author and national sports columnist for the New York Post: Look, the idea that Jose Reyes is gone forever stings deeply if you invest yourselves in the Mets, the way casting free Darryl Strawberry did for one past generation, and the exiling of Tom Seaver did for another. If the Mets were owned by different people, they might even be able to sell the notion — and it’s a fair one — that a player who relies on his legs and has a history of leg problems isn’t worth six years and $106 million.

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But they aren’t owned by different people. They are owned by the Wilpons, and the Wilpons have done nothing — they’ve done less than nothing — since buying out Nelson Doubleday to be given the benefit of this doubt, or any doubt. Do you believe they will take advantage of their newfound payroll flexibility to strengthen a team earmarked for fifth place? Do you believe they aren’t meddling with Sandy Alderson’s plans any time those plans involve digging into coffers that ring hollow and empty, like so many Wilpon promises?

Then-Mets manager and now-Boston skipper Bobby Valentine once told me that Jose Reyes was the most

To some, Sandy Alderson is the "grown-up in the room", hired by the Wilpon/Katz ownership to "transform" the morbid – and expensive – Mets into an "iconic franchise" (Sandy's words). Others, including

yours truly, view Alderson's current job assignment as a directive from MLB to insure that the Mets do not fall any further into debt than they already are.

More from Vaccaro: Forget for a second the question of whether the Wilpons had any inkling what Bernie Madoff was up to; understand that without Madoff, they wouldn’t have had a prayer of being solo owners of the team in the first place. That deferred deal with Bobby Bonilla that earns them such ridicule now? Done because they believed they were smarter than everyone else, and entered into a dim-witted, house-of-cards arrangement that they somehow believed would yield an exclusive windfall.

Even if Madoff had been on the up-and-up, the Wilpons were gambling your baseball team on the volatile nature of Madoff’s feel for the Market; in truth, it would be like financing your house based solely on your betting-window performance at Aqueduct.

One only hopes that the minor league refurbishment headed by Assistant GMs Paul DePodesta and J.P. Ricciardi pays some dividends before 2014.

Recently, I was at a doctor's office for a routine checkup, and the receptionist noticed I was wearing a Mets jacket emblazoned with the 1969 and 1986 World Series patches.

"It's been a long time since we've won, isn't it?" she said.

"Yes, it has," I replied. "But 'Ya Gotta Believe', right?" I laughed.

"How long until we win another"" she asked.

"When the team is old to people who actually care about winning one." I said.

When that happens, maybe Mets fans can begin to "trust the process" ( a favorite saying by former pitching coach Rick Peterson, who somehow coaxed 15 wins from the maddening Oliver Perez).

Until then all we can do it wait.

exciting minor league player he'd ever seen. Watching preferable to watching the big-league Mets do their best to get Valentine fired), it was easy to see why.

Now the Miami Marlins will have the benefit of watching a 28-year Old shortstop enter the prime of his career. No matter who you believe as to why he will no longer play shortstop in Flushing, Reyes is no longer a Met. That's the reality.

"The Wilpons have done nothing — they’ve done less than nothing — since buying out Nelson Doubleday"

– Mike Vaccaro

[ GOTHAM BASEBALL • WINTER 2012

him play at Binghamton in 2002 (which was