Race to remember

I never really watch this sport but tonight Nascar was the prime time sport event. This race was a historical race in many different ways and had some crazy events during it. First off a Daytona 500 has never been delayed like it was. It was postponed from Sunday to Monday, then from noon to 7. This was because of the rain. It was also the first Daytona 500 ran under the lights. Then finally the race started. With Danica Partick being the 3rd female to start a 500. On the second lap a crash happened already. Jimmie Johnson the reigning champion was out of the race. Then with about forty laps left Pablo Montoya's car suddenly broke and ripped a hard right. Right into a drying truck which is filled with jet fuel. This fuel burned for awhile causing an hour delay for the race. Montoya and the truck driver were miraculously alright. There was 11 cautions throughout the race and there was one on the last 5 laps. In the end Matt Kinseth won his second Daytona 500. Congrats to him and glad everyone made it out alive.

Yanks looking good

Can you smell it in the air? Spring training has started and players are getting ready for the 2012 season. All the teams are in search of one thing, and that is the world series trophy. The Yankees again are looking as good as ever. With the new players acquired in the off season and the talent coming back I feel that they have a great chance this year. The players have arrived excited and ready to play.
The Yankees made some great moves and got some great talent this off season, and this excites players and their ready to win. Mark Teixeira came to camp 15 pounds lighter, this could help him a lot. This will help with his range at first and his mobility and power at the plate. People have said to put him in the clean-up spot because he's still in his prime and put A-Rod at the 5 spot. I think this would be a good only if A-Rod could adjust. Jeter is ready to go again this year like always. He says he got a couple more years left of baseball and doesn't plan on being the next to retire. Jeter coming off a very historical year for him needs to carry it over. The team feeds off him and when he's up everyone's up. Russell Martin has been a big pickup for the team and has done real good things for them. There has been contract talk but the front office says there will be no deal till after this season, but if Martin hits free agency he will have many good offers. So I'm hoping he'll have another good year and the Yanks will resign him.
I could go on all day with each player but I won't. Like Cano is staying at the third spot since he did so good in the ALCS, and Girardi says he may make the lineup permanent. As long as everyone's healthy this could be the year they win number 28. We're about due for one.

Yanks Rotation

The Yankees rotation is filled with superstar arms. With CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, Joba Chamberlin, and new pickups Michael Pineda from seatle and Hideki Okajima from the Red Sox they are as strong as anyone one. Joe Girandi has not said what the starting rotation will be besides saying that CC with be starting on opening day, which is pretty much a given. The rest though, is uncertain. This spring training is going to be very crucial for the pitchers.

Joba is coming off a season which did not end the way anyone hope for. Joba torn liggiments in his arm and had to get surgery. Joba had Tommy John surgery and has been rehabing since. According to Chamberlin his rehab has gone just as planned and is feeling good with his progress. He said this was the best thing that has ever happened to because he was able to watch his son's first day of school, adding that nothing is better then that. Starting next week Chamberlin will be throwing 35 pitches three times a week. This is a big step for him and spring training is even bigger for him.

Michael Pineda is one of my favorite pickups this off season. He is a great pitcher for one and two he has a great attitude. He is so excited to put the pinstripes on and pitch for the Yanks. He threw his first bullpen on friday and he said he felt good about it, that he feels comfortable there. Pineda wants to lose some weight before the regular and add a changeup to his list of weapons. If he can do both of these and keep his attitude I know he will be a key pitcher this year. 

Ivan Nova had a break out season last year with 16 wins. Every time he took the mound i was confident that we would be getting a win. With only 4 loses and an era of 3.7, will he be able to do the same this season? Nova wants to work on his change up as well and will be most likely competing for the number two spot in the rotation with Kuroda.Nova said though that he does not care what number pitcher is as long as he is there. Nova is 100 percent healthy after straining his arm at the end of the season last year and is excited for the season to start.

Hideki Okajima could be a great bullpen pitcher. He is very hit or miss though and that makes me nervous. With only playing in a couple games last year and how high is era is also is another reason I am worried. He needs to stay healthy and work on that era. He has to be a solid pitcher to come in after our great rotation just long enough to get Mariano in there. So far though it's not looking that way, he failed his physical and won't be reporting to spring training. Okajima will be starting off this season in the minor and hopefully ending up in the bullpen soon.

This years rotation could be leathal as long as everyone stays healthy and can pitch the potential they all have. With CC leading the pack doesnt't hurt either. He is one of the most dominate pirchers in the league. So if the others can feed off of his energy and the Yankees offensive can give them some run support all these pitcher could have 20 win seasons. Spring training has begun so in a matter of no time they will be pitching for the that trophy.

Pirates get Burnett

Just wanted to announce that the Pirates have picked up A.J Burnett from the New York Yankees. The got Burnett for outfielder Exicardo Cayones and right-handed reliver Diego Monerno. The Pirates absorbed 13 million of the two years and 33 million remaining on Burnett's contract. The trade won't be official till A.J. passes a physical on Sunday. But great news for Pirates fans.

 http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=19195689&topic_id=&c_id=pit&tcid=vpp_copy_19195689&v=3.

Could this be the year?

Last year the Pittsburgh Pirates almost made history. No team has ever gone to the payoffs with a 57 win season which the Pirates were attempting. In the beginning of last season they were in 1st in the division and actually looking very well, which is uncommon for them. They did something they have never done before by selling out PNC Park consecutive nights. The bucco buzz in Pittsburgh was going wild. Everybody loved every second of their winning. I think Pittsburgh fan base is one of the best if not the best around. We sick behind our teams through thick and thin and when their doing good it is insanity. This wining only last till about the All-Star break unfortunately. This was devastating watching them lose game after game. This year though is looking very promising and if the Pirates can put together a full season I believe you will see them late in the playoffs.
The Pirates have had a very good off season with signing prospects, and they still are not done. General Manager Neil Huntington did his job quite well. While declining their options for Cedeno, Doumit, Maholm, and Chris Synder they had to pay a lot in buy outs, which I hope doesn't hurt the budget to much so we can sign more people, because people want the money now-and-days.They already have a great minor league team with some real good talent. Currently they front office is talking with Yankee A.J Burrnet. This could be huge for them if they get him. Some say he's past his prime but he is over a 50% win rate and he pitched for the Yankees the past couple years which is pretty impressive. They have also signed free agents Clint Barnes, to play at short, Casey McGehee, to compete against Garret Jones at first base, Rod Barajas, to play catcher, and lefty Erick Bedard, to make the rotation complete. Rod Barajis could be one of the most important pick-ups because the Pirates have struggled behind the plate with keeping a solid all around player, usually not being able to hit. If he can stay healthy and have a decent batting average and OBP that will be clutch. He got $4 million for 2012 and has a $3.5 million option for 2013. The have signed Nate Mclouth which I am excited for, I am a fan of him and think he does good in Pittsburgh. They signed him for a one year 1.75 million dollar deal. Pedro Alverez will be staying at third and is hoping to stay healthy. He was hurt half the season last year and was very poor BA. He will hurt the team greatly if he has another season like that.
I am exited for this season though and can't wait to be back in one of the greatest stadiums in the MLB. The pitchers and catchers report to spring training Saturday and the rest of the team on the 26th. Feels like the off season went so quick, which I am not complaining about. I just really hope we can put together a full season and be a contender come October. Mccutchen will be a leader of the team again and have another solid season we are hoping for. He is a key player on the roster, if not the best on team, and when he performs well I feel as if the whole team does, they feed off his energy. Our pitching rotation has gotten better and if we get Burrnet will be even better. Staying healthy and being consistent is the key for this season, as well as our new players to step up and play well. This season may be the one the Pirates are no longer considered bad and will be the great team they can be. Lets Go Buccos!

Career Interest

My career interest area is sport marketing. I am interested in the behind the scenes of sporting events. I have always been interested in this area but untill I went and worked a game for the Steelers I knew this is what I wanted to do in my life. I find great enjoyment in seeing other fans cheer and go crazy for their team and I would find more enjoyment if I was the one that interested them in going to the game. I hope to work for a MLB team but if not a football or hockey team will be just as good.

Quiet Offseason?

This off season many analyst were saying the Yankees were being quiet and not making any big moves, like they usually do. Many people made a great deal about this for awhile, I remember seeing it on Sport Center ever day. I personally was not to worried with the moves the yank's front office was making because the team they already had was all around a good team. But actually the Yankees did end up making some moves, and some big ones to, which will help them greatly. Russel Branyan was sign to a minor league deal and will be at spring training in Tampa. Spring Training starts February 19. Branyan has the longest home run at Yankee stadium so were hoping he can do that while wearing the right uniform this time. Branyan at 36 is getting older but I still believe he has some good baseball left and everyone that puts on that uniform plays a little better. The Yankee's also sign a solid utility player in Bill Hall. I am excited about seeing Hall play because he seems very excited about player for the Yankees, he told the people before the Yankee's even got to. He posted on twitter #iwannaring, which to me gets me excited. Hall was signed to a minor league deal and a trip to spring training. The Yankees picked up three red sox pitchers this off season including Manny Delcarman. Delcarman didn't pitch last year which makes me a little nervous but his career stats are not to bad. I just hope he can stay healthy and perform, if he makes the team. Hiroki Kuroda is a big pick up along with Pineda. Kuroda will most likely be number two in the pitching rotation behind CC. His career record is about even but is era is solid, around 3.5. Pineda is another great pickup. This is huge and can wing the ball. He throws around 95 on his fast ball. People have compared him to CC but CC's change up is better. Our pitching rotation has made some big moves and is going to be tough to hit. The Yankees as one are going to be hard to beat this year and I can not wait till spring training to start. Let's Go Yanks!

Hip Hip Jorge

On January 24, 2012 one of baseball's greatest catcher retired. Jorge Posada announced his retirement in a very emotional press conference. Jorge was with the Yankees for seventeen years and has five world series rings. Jorge played in over 1800 games and had over 1600 hits. He is part of the "Core Four" which included Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and, Posada. A group of guys that any coach would love to have on their team. This group has accomplished things people dream about, and Jorge was a key part. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest Yankees to put on the pinstripes. Going to Yankee stadium and not seeing Posada behind the plate or even batting is going to be a uneasy feeling. I've watched him since I've watched baseball. Thank you for all the good memories you made for the world Jorge, and thanks for everything you have done for the Yankee organization. You will be greatly missed.