When Will Girardi Learn?

The Athletics and the Yankees endured quite an intense battle Tuesday night. The Yankees, after trailing 6-0 going into the eighth inning, scored five runs and ultimately lost by just one run. The game ended with the bases loaded and a fly ball just four or five feet shy of a walk-off grand slam. The […]

No Arguing Replay

Few doubt the significance and the effectiveness of instant replay in Major League Baseball. Useless arguments and, more importantly, incorrect calls are now more or less removed from the game. However, some negatives have leaked into the process. In Thursday night’s series opener between the Yankees and the Twins, Justin Morneau hit a towering fly […]

Time to Take Realignment Seriously

Realignment is a complex issue filled with equal support and opposition. For some, it amounts to an unnecessary and indefensible change. For others, it is an exciting and thought-provoking issue. Both sides have a justifiable stance, but the key is to remain somewhere in the middle. Change for the sake of change is no good, […]

More Travel Means More Wins?

Realignment has become a serious issue in the ongoing labor talks in Major League Baseball. Everything from turning the Houston Astros into an American League team to abolishing divisions has drawn serious consideration. One issue, though, stands above all in complexity and also seems most logical. That issue has to do with evening out the […]

The Steroid Question

On last week’s edition of The Seamheads.com Radio Hour, George Kurtz, Phil Van Horn, and I were involved in a tough debate about steroids in baseball. We confronted a question long avoided by those in the baseball world. In two years, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Sammy Sosa will be voted on, and it’s time […]

The Punishment Doesn’t Fit The Crime

Following a vicious brawl between the Red Sox’s David Ortiz and the Orioles’ Kevin Gregg, Major League Baseball has punished both with a four-game suspension and a fine of an undisclosed amount. However, many initial media reports speculate the amount is around $2,500. This situation once again exemplifies the severe lack of respect players have […]

Math v. March Madness

On July 27, 1975, a child was born in Washington Heights, New York. Four years later, his family moved to the Dominican Republic, and soon after to Miami, Florida. He grew up rooting for the New York Mets, and idolized Cal Ripken and Keith Hernandez. Like most children, he dreamed about becoming a professional athlete. […]

‘Madoff’s Curveball,” Uncovered

If ever one article generated a deafening buzz, it is Jeffrey Toobin’s article, “Madoff’s Curveball,” in the May 30, 2011 edition of The New Yorker. The article outlines the problems faced by Met’s owner, Fred Wilpon, who allegedly had knowledge of Bernie Madoff’s infamous scandal, and who could be hit with a near-billion dollar judgement. […]

Where Have Our Values Gone?

Anyone who follows national politics knows of the ongoing fiscal debate, and the political mess that has come with it: Republicans want tax cuts for the wealthiest American’s, shifting all the burdens to the less fortunate, while Democrats have failed to form a cohesive resolution within their own party. More often than not it has […]

The Seamheads.com Radio Hour Now Taking Your Questions

The Seamheads.com Radio Hour is now taking your questions via e-mail. Send along your questions to radiohour@seamheads.com to be featured on the next edition of the show. Feel free to send questions during the show or throughout the week. Questions for guests are also encouraged. Just include your first name and location. The Seamheads.com Radio […]

Losing Sight on Replay

In yet another battle in the steep, uphill war for instant replay in Major League Baseball, it appears there has been but one more small victory. On Thursday, The Associated Press reported that MLB is “leaning toward” an expansion of instant replay that would include trapped balls and fair-or-foul rulings down the lines. Count me […]

MLB, Meet South Dakota

South Dakota legislators are attempting to push through a new law that would protect student athletes from a growing national epidemic: concussions. The law would require athletes to go through a series of tests before reentering the game if they show even the slightest symptoms of a concussion. It would also require parents and coaches […]

Can you buy wins in baseball?

New York Rangers – New York Islanders = $32,265,000 Los Angeles Lakers – Sacramento Kings = $47,539,063 New York Yankees – Pittsburg Pirates = $171,390,389 Above are three simple equations showing the range of team salaries in the National Hockey League, the National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball respectively. Clearly, Major League Baseball takes […]

Born in August? Welcome to the Majors

Fun fact: since 1965, players born on July 31 have spent a combined 30 years in the Major Leagues. Fast forward 24 hours to August 1, where players born that day have spent a combined 71 years in the majors. How could 24 hours make such a difference? It has been argued for some time […]

A Lesson From Rick Peterson

I had the great pleasure of speaking with former Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson Saturday at the Strat-O-Matic 50th year anniversary. Before speaking with me, Peterson took the stage with Stats, Inc. founder John Dewan to talk statistics in front of hundreds of Strat-O-Matic fans. Of all the fascinating figures that these two men presented, […]

Vernon Wells?

After teams were no longer talking about Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford, Adrian Beltre, and Jayson Werth, they began talking about Carl Pavano. That, in a nutshell, is the story of the 2011 MLB offseason: all or nothing. We can talk about how the Rangers and Yankees lost out on Cliff Lee, we can talk about […]

The Catch-22 Of Baseball

For a non-baseball fan, it seems ridiculous that a bunch of men holding a wooden stick can make millions of dollars for hitting a piece of leather stuffed with yarn. For a baseball fan, on the other hand, it’s all relative. If Alex Rodriguez makes $32 million, that’s fine; but how does that affect, say, […]

One Last Chance

Brian Cashman and the entire Yankees organization are still hiding under the covers. It’s been a rough offseason for New York; not necessarily because they missed out on talent, but because the organization was continually embarrassed. It started, of course, with Cliff Lee. After we were led to believe that Lee would be a Yankee […]

The Sun Will Rise Again in NY

Everyday on the way to school, I pick up a copy of AM New York, a local newspaper in New York City. While sifting through the pages, I see an article entitled “Yankees wait on Cliff Lee” Just then, my phone vibrated. It was an e-mail from my fellow writer Steve Lenox. “I was right,” he […]

The End of a Cliff (Lee)

Cliff Lee, Cliff Lee, Cliff Lee. Did I mention Cliff Lee? If you’re Brian Cashman, a Yankee fan or anyone living in or near New York, you are probably beginning to get tired of hearing the name of someone who, as of right now, has nothing to do with the New York Yankees. Sure, Lee […]

Change We Can Believe In

Turn back your clocks a little over a year to the 2009 American League Divisional Series between the Yankees and the Twins. The Yankees had home field advantage, and were heavily favored. They swept the series three games to none, but largely thanks to a disturbing phenomenon down the left field line at Yankee Stadium. […]

Sincerely, Adrian Gonzalez

What if you broke into the hotel room of Adrian Gonzalez, looked through his things, and found a diary? What would it say? Here is a possible answer: June 2000 I DID IT!!!! Today is a day I will never forget. I was the first overall pick of the 2000 draft today. Looks like I […]

Pride v. Power

Since 1901, only nine shortstops, age 37 or above, hit over .270 in a season. Derek Jeter will qualify to be the 10th player in that category next season, and the Yankees are well aware of that. Sure, if you are going to bet on someone entering that group – that happens to include six Hall […]

Goodbye to the Win

An important and long overdue message was sent to the baseball world the other day when Felix Hernandez, a 13-game winner, was announced as the winner of the 2010 Cy Young award over CC Sabathia, a 21 game-winner. The message was unequivocal. 21 of the 28 voters believed the 24-year old should win the award, […]

A History Lesson For The Yankees

After the 1934 regular season, Jacob Ruppert, then Yankees owner, offered to make Babe Ruth the manager of the Yankees’ top minor-league team, the Newark Bears. Ruth’s wife and business manager advised Ruth to reject the offer, and he took their advice. That would end his 15 year stint with the Yankees, during which he […]

Carl Crawford to the Yankees?

Besides Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford is possibly the most talented free agent on the market. He is near the top in stolen bases every year, he can hit above .300, and he is young. No team doubts the difference that Crawford can make. Thus far, Crawford has seen some interest thrown his way. The Angels seem to […]

AL East Losing Power?

Summing up the power of the American League East is simple. Just consider this startling statistic: In the last four years, three separate teams from the American League East have made the World Series. Furthermore, in 15 seasons since the wild-card was introduced, only five teams other than the Yankees or Red Sox have won […]

Yankees & Jeter: Where Business Meets Baseball

Pretend for a moment that you are the general manager of a Major League Baseball team. You have a bunch of money coming off the books this offseason, and your job is simple: Get your team to the World Series. As you enter the offseason, you have your priorities. In your particular situation, you need […]

All (Cliff Lee) or Nothing For the Yankees

Nobody doubts the power of Cliff Lee. In nine postseason starts in his career, he has an ERA below two, and a SO/BB ratio of above nine. After winning the Cy Young in 2008, Lee has blown away hitters in both leagues, recording ERA’s below 3.50 for three different teams in two seasons. Toward the end […]

Postseason Reform Is a Bad Idea

With the upcoming collective bargaining agreement set to occur, Major League Baseball is considering some ground-breaking changes that could change the course of baseball for years to come. ESPN reports that Major League Baseball could make a series of changes to the 2012 regular season and postseason. Changes could include shortening the regular season, making […]

Is The Bronx Zoo Returning?

If you followed the Yankees in the latter half of the 20th century, you know why the team earned the title “The Bronx Zoo.” From fights between Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson, to routine managerial firings, to passenger seat managing from George Steinbrenner, the Yankees were an absolute mess. As 2010 comes to a close […]

Was The Vazquez Trade Worth It?

Ever since Javier Vazquez made a name for himself in 2004, after giving up a grand slam to Johnny Damon in the American League Championship series, Yankee fans have dreaded the sight of the right-hander on the mound. When the Yankees traded for Vazquez in the 2009 offseason, mixed feelings were going around. He was coming […]

Book Review: Strike IX

“This is bad.” With those three words, the horrific truth of their future thrust upon the Providence College Friars. Paul Lonardo’s Strike IX highlights the final season of the Providence College baseball team. In this stimulating account of pride and passion, Lonardo brilliantly ties together the motivated young stars who put together a historic, memorable […]

Dear Yankee Fans: Be Proud, Be Grateful

Just a day removed from the Yankees elimination, it isn’t hard to find a disappointed New Yorker. The beloved Yankees are done for the year, and their dreams of a second consecutive world championship are diminished. As many love to do, we can sit here and talk about what could have happened and what should […]

2010 Off-Season Will Be Historically Tough For Yankees

Two seasons ago, the Yankees missed the playoffs for the first––and last––time this decade. They went into the off-season with a sense of urgency––a sense that holds none of the connoted nerves for Yankees fans, considering they always have the financial power to get the job done. And they did. The Yankees signed three of […]

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