YANKEES & CUBS OPEN FIRE!

When you're talking spring training, everybody talks predictions and excitement over the players returning from the offseason, how will the new acquisitions pan out. One of the most overlooked things about this time of year is how the rivalries heat up. Everybody's record is 0-0, and every fan is laying claim to the prediction that this is the year for their team and the trash talking reaches fever pitch. It's like Alec Baldwin told John Krasinski a few years ago, "Go ahead. Celebrate in April. We'll dance in October."

That said, we have reached new heights because apparently teams' Twitter accounts aren't immune from the rivalry bug. Yesterday, the Yankees and the Cubs got into it on the popular social media site that started with an innocent tweet from a fan about how the Yankees Twitter account was better than the Cubs. Then this happened:

Not to be outdone, the Yankees responded with a Derek Jeter "Wow" picture. Which got the Cubs to return fire with a Joe Maddon "That's right." Maybe it was the fact that there's no love lost between Joe Maddon and the Yankees (think Elliot Johnson sliding into home and breaking Francisco Cervelli's wrist in spring training back in 08). So the Yankees fired this off that brought a whole lot of media attention.

Okay, maybe it was a bit much. Like the John Krasinski's response ("We will kill you in October!") I have to admit, I thought it was hysterical. It was the online equivalent of benches clearing. Grown adults managing these accounts throwing these barbs at one another, it was the kind of contest I remember when I was in grade school. It might not win any maturity awards, but these sparring matches are part of the fun! They are a critical component of the fabric of baseball in society.

Eventually, a cease-fire was called, and both sides went back to their corners. Everybody went back to being polite, but not before a few hundred retweets, likes, replies, and taunts from both sides. Yup, we're almost back to playing baseball. As for the Chicago Cubs, here's a trivia question. When Babe Ruth hit his "called shot home run", against whom did he hit it? That's right. We will see you in October!

--Ike Dimitriadis, 
BYB Senior Staff Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon






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AROUND MLB & EDDIE MONEY

That's one way to get a hit: Ichiro Suzuki got a shirt hit last night. I know, you have no idea what that is, right? Ichiro cranked a hit to A's pitcher Jarrod Parker and the ball fell into his shirt. Ichiro ran out the hit and Parker struggled to try and get it out of his shirt.  He couldn't. Base hit Suzuki.

The video is HERE.  Really weird and a highlight real for years to come. It reminds of of the time when Terry Mulholland had the ball stuck in his mitt and threw the whole mitt to first base back in 1986. I think I just dated myself.  Whoops.


42: I cannot wait to see this film.  Chadwick Boseman plays Jackie Robinson, one of the bravest men in the history of this great nation.  I am a baseball movie freak so this is a film that I will no doubt recommend when it comes out in April 2013.  Give the trailer a look. "You give me the uniform. You give me a number on my back. I'll give you the guts." God Bless Jackie.

The Washington Nationals clinch: Wow, that was fast. It is the first playoff spot for a Washington baseball team in 79 years. According to the Washington Post, Adam LaRoche said “This is no doubt a big day for this organization and this city... Not to downplay the day at all, but guys aren’t satisfied at all. We don’t look at this like mission accomplished.” Read HERE. Congrats on clinching, but yeah, there's still a ways to go.

Stand up guy: Elliot Johnson of the Tampa Bay Rays is cool as hell.  What other athlete is tweeted by a fan to come out and play catch with them in the parking lot before a game and they actually do it? The full story is HERE. The video is HERE.  Bravo Elliot Johnson, it's nice to see this kind of stuff once in a while.

Time's up!: Eric Duncan retired. You remember Eric Duncan right? He was a Yankees farm hand and last season he was in AA for the Royals.  According to NBC Sports, "Duncan was the Yankees’ third baseman of the future, as the 2003 first-round pick ranked as the game’s 36th-best prospect in 2005 according to Baseball America and then cracked the top 100 again in 2006." It turns out, he retired now at the age of 27 and will help coach at Seton Hall, read about it HERE.




Money's Back!: Eddie Money is still around and thank god.  Sure, Money has nothing to do with baseball, but I have to tell you, I laugh hysterical every time I see this GEICO commercial above.  Enjoy it.

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WHY THE RAYS PUT ON A CLINIC AGAINST SABATHIA

(Photo: Andrew Theodorakis/New York Daily News)
It was a marquee match up on Friday at the Stadium. CC Sabathia for the Yanks and David Price for the Tampa Bay Rays. But only one of those guys stepped up in this one, and it wasn't CC as the big fella gave up a career high five home runs, all of which were solo shots.

It's now back to back starts that CC has not pitched up to his capability. He went eight innings though, so at least he gave the bullpen a breather. He allowed 10 hits, five which left the park, while not allowing a walk and seven strikeouts. The home runs he allowed came from Casey Kotchman, Kelly Shoppach, Johnny Damon, Elliot Johnson, and Evan Longoria. Maybe the six man rotation is messing him up a bit. We'll find out his next time out as the six man rotation will end on Monday.(Photo: Andrew Theodorakis/New York Daily News)
Meanwhile, Co-Ace David Price was great in this start. He went eight innings, allowed six hits, one run, two walks and four strikeouts. The Yankees as a team are now 0-5 in games in which CC and Price oppose each other.
Obviously with Price dealing the Yankees couldn't muster up much on the scoreboard. They were able to get a two out rally, which was started by a Robinson Cano single, a Nick Swisher walk, and an Andruw Jones double to right center. Robbie scored on the double, but Swish got thrown out on a close play at the plate. Tough luck for Nick.

Final Score: Rays 5 - Yankees 1

The Yanks now fall to 19-20 in series openers. Not good. But, Phil Hughes (2-4, 7.11 ERA) will try to make his case to stay in the rotation as he faces Jeremy Hellickson (10-7, 3.05 ERA) on Saturday.



--Jesse Schindler, BYB Staff Writer




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