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KRS-One - South Bronx
I absolutely LOVE the game of baseball, and the past season has boiled my fervor for America's pastime. From the collapse of the New York Yankess, and Mets...to the rise of the Philadelphia Phillies, and Tampa Bay Rays...things have been outright interesting. However it is the off season that has somewhat overshadowed the joy of October, as the Yankees have, as always gone shopping for new talent and headlines.
A Bronx Tale
The Yankees had plenty of highs and lows last summer, from the 2008 MLB All-Star game, and the closing of their historic stadium, to missing the playoffs, and finishing with a sub par 89-73 record...times have been tough, and CHANGE was very necessary.
Like his father before him, Hank Steinbrenner has invested millions of dollars into All-Star caliber players, in an effort to put the most famous team in all of sports, back on top. After signing the top free agent pitchers CC Sabathia, and AJ Burnett, the Yanks have emerged as a true contender by adding power and dexterity with Mark Teixeira. The first basemen brings youth, and power from both sides of the plate, infusing an offense that boasts the likes of Derek Jeter, AROD, Robinson Canoe, Jorge Posada, Melky Cabrera, and Johnny Damon.
Unlike Sabathia and Burnett, the signing of Teixeira came out of nowhere, as the Yankees made one offer several weeks ago, and stayed pat, while the Orioles, Rex Sox, Nationals, and Angels vied for his services. Yesterday at about 2pm, it was announced that he would don the pinstripes, becoming a New York Yankee...coming from another American League franchise, much like Reggie Jackson did over 30 years ago.
Will the World Series return to the South Bronx...only time will tell, as Yankees look good on paper, but the Phillies are champions until proven otherwise.
Happy Holidays baseball fans.
Photos: Jeffrey Zelevansky/Getty Images
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3 comments:
As a Yankee fan of course I have World Series aspirations every year, but they have GOT to stop overpaying these players. Seriously. Tex is 28 years old and they've committed 10 years to him and of course he'll have a no trade clause(the thing that has kept the Yankees from getting better because they can't move anybody)The C.C. deal really left me scratching my head because they were only competing with themselves. The first offer was for $140 when the highest offer he'd received prior to that was $100 and somehow they end up paying $160! wtf? Cashman has been horrible over the past few years and it must stop. Now of course if we win the World Series this season, I take all of this back. ;)
The only thing that I can say, is that the New York Yankees make not only the baseball season interesting, but also the baseball off season as well. I just don't want people to forget that the Phillies are the champions, as big signings like this make people forget things...
$424 million is a lot for three free agents, but Steinbrenner has never been shy about writing checks.
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