THE DODGERS ARE THE NEW EVIL EMPIRE? NOT SO FAST

First, they signed Roki Sasaki. Then came Blake Snell. Next, they brought back Teoscar Hernández. And just when you thought they were done, they went and signed Hyeseong Kim—prompting most fans to Google "Who is Hyeseong Kim?" only to get mad when they realized he was now a Dodger. The reaction across the league? "This is over. It's unfair. One team shouldn't be allowed to sign all the stars!"

If you’re a Yankees fan, this panic should feel eerily familiar. Sound like 1998 to you? The 2024 Dodgers might look like the ’98 Yankees, but they’ve got a bit of the ‘96 Braves in them too—those Braves who boasted a rotation that could strike fear into anyone: Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz. A trio so good, they seemed invincible in a short series. Well, until they weren’t. The Yankees knocked them off. Repeatedly.

The '98 Yankees were a different beast altogether, one of the greatest teams ever assembled. With 114 wins in the regular season and a postseason that ended with them at a ridiculous 125-50 record, they were a juggernaut. Their ERA? Sixth best in baseball. Their runs scored. League-leading. This wasn’t just a team—it was a finely-tuned, record-smashing machine.

Now, back to the Dodgers. Their roster? It’s a veritable who’s who of baseball talent. Their rotation? Strong enough that their sixth starter might be better than some teams’ aces. Their payroll? The kind of money that makes other teams weep. But before you throw in the towel, remember this: baseball is wonderfully, maddeningly unpredictable.

The 1996-2000 Yankees were a masterclass in smart team building. They built up to it by nailing their drafts, grabbing Derek Jeter early and finding gems like Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte in the later rounds. They scoured the globe for hidden talent, unearthing Mariano Rivera, and pulled off clever trades like the one that brought Paul O’Neill to the Bronx. Scott Brosius was plucked off the A's bench—no one thought that move was season-defining, but it was.

Clemens joining the squad in 1999 as the moment the Yankees became the baseball equivalent of a Death Star. 

By the early 2000s, the Yankees shifted from precision to sheer accumulation. Jason Giambi.

But back to 1996 for a second, the Yankee build up to their run.  The 1996 Braves were untouchable—until they weren’t. The 2003 Yankees were packed with talent, but they fell to the plucky, wildcard Marlins. Even the Dodgers, for all their might, are vulnerable. Just like the Braves were dethroned by a scrappy, cobbled-together Yankees team in '96, the Dodgers can be beaten.

Yes, the Dodgers have it all: chemistry, depth, star power, and enough financial firepower to outbid anyone. But so did the ’96 Braves. And we all know how that story ended. The season’s not over until the final out. And in baseball, any team can have its Cinderella moment.

So go ahead, be mad at the Dodgers for doing what every team dreams of—stockpiling stars like it's a Black Friday sale. But keep rooting for your team. Because this is baseball, and in baseball, anything can happen. Just ask the ’96 Braves. Or the 2003 Yankees or even the 2001 Yanks. Sometimes, the Goliaths fall. And that’s what keeps the game so exhilarating.

By the way, shout out to Yanks go Yard for keeping us all thinking about stuff like this. Good Article.

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor

BOONE AIN'T NO GENERAL, HE AIN'T NO MANAGER OR LEADER... HE'S A HACK

This entire series was predicted... by me.  

It takes a true leader to lead a team.  I have said this for years. Aaron Boone is not that leader.  He doesn't truly understand how to manage a short series, and he doesn't truly understand what needs to get done during tough times. This, my friends is the toughest time of his career and he is a no show, he's nowhere. He ain't no manager, he surely ain't no General.  

Generals are tough. Managers are smart.

Yup General Patton is there, for good reason.  Now you can get angry at me and say that war is not baseball and how dare you.  My imagery is for heavy reaction because it's not about Patton leading soldiers to war... it's about a leader leading his players to deliver.   Boone doesn't understand what it takes. He has been exposed. How else to you explain changing up the lineup last night and pulling Austin Wells, putting in Jose Trevino to replace him, and then pinch-hitting Wells for Trevino later on?  

That's a manager second guessing himself.  For me, it was the most glaring indication of a manager that is unclear on how these games work and the importance of a short series.

I don't know why any Yankee fan is surprised by the way this World Series is going.  The New York Yankees are the most inconsistent team in 2024 and Bleeding Yankee Blue has been harping on this and writing about it since the season began.  They are just moving along, a win here, a lose here and a hot streak in the beginning of the season and a hot one near the end.  It was like a fake season. And by the way, absent Boone had really nothing to do with anything except make bad decisions and trust me, Bleeding Yankee Blue has documented all of them.

I don't understand what is wrong with the integrity of these Yankee players.  They defend Aaron Boone for "Backing them".  If backing them means he argues ball and strikes as theater to get kicked out of try and fire up the fan base, I have news for you, that's not what true leaders do.  If that's what they hang their hat on they are also part of the problem and they should all be fired.

Last night the Yankees had a big opportunity, probably the only one they were going to get all game.  Gleyber Torres at bat, men on base and on a ball out of the strike zone and high. The umpire calls a strike three.  Now for you, for me, for Gleyber, for my mom, for the typical Dodger fan that at this point takes pitty on us... we ALL knew it was a ball and an opportunity to walk and maybe Soto could have started something big... you know, momentum.

Got him!

Torres is caught looking at strike 3 up in the zone.

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/YDLHNBlVVt

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 29, 2024

  

But Gleyber struck out on a bad call.  And what do we get? We get a cutaway of Aaron Boone spitting out seeds.  No fight in a game that actually means something.  All season long this guy looked like a fucking clown arguing balls and strikes in meaningless games.  But this is when we need him most. This is a leadership moment.  And he doesn't budge.  He spits his bacon ranch seeds and sits there lifeless.  WHERE IS OUR MANAGER?

Let me also state the worst part of last night's game and something a lot of Yankee fans do not know.  Joe Davis is on the Dodgers broadcast team. John Smoltz is just anti-Yankee ever since the Yankees beat him and the Braves in the '90s.  So, it's no wonder why they took every opportunity to slam the Yankees with backhand compliments and critical comments for the past 3 games.  My favorite "rooting of the Dodgers" moment came when the Yanks pegged out the Dodgers runner at home.  Listen to Smoltz:

My favorite highlight of Game 3. Because he was wrong. pic.twitter.com/0VL59opESL

— Robert Casey (@BleednYankeeBlu) October 29, 2024

Now I'm sorry but why are you rooting?  

Look, the broadcast BS doesn't help, but back to our weak leader in Aaron Boone.  This note's to Hal Steinbrenner....

Dear Hal,

We have tried it your way for a few years now.  It's clear that Daddy Boone made a phone call to someone in the Yankees front office to get Aaron Boone a job.  And we tried it, but it's not working.  Aaron Boone is a guy that hit a home run against the Red Sox in 2003 and everyone seems to forget that we actually LOST that World Series and then he broke his leg in the offseason and violated his contract. So, he is hardly a noble, hardworking and smart individual capable of managing the biggest franchise in baseball.  But what's worse is the fan base has been telling you this for years.  Fire him.

Thank you.

Fondly,

Casey 

The Yankees can win the World Series, but obviously the percentage is very low.  But if they do not we can blame this entire World Series on one play.    

Aaron Boone not bringing in Tim Hill into the game in Game 1 and instead going to a guy that hadn't pitched since September 18th.  If Freddie Freeman doesn't hit that Grand Slam, we are in a much different situation today.  Why?

Momentum.  

Momentum is a very powerful thing and much of the momentum that surround teams comes with a subtle move made by their leader.  It could be a fired-up speech in the clubhouse before the game. It could be a last-ditch effort of putting Wade Boggs in to work a really good at bat.  It could be a moment in time where a pinch hitter bunts in a suicide squeeze.  And it could also be a guy named Tim Hill coming in in that inning with that sick windup and hopefully shutting Freddy Freeman down.  

But Boone didn't make the right decision.  He chose the friend zone, not the must win. He chose Nestor at the worst possible time and that moment killed the Yankees, brought momentum to the Dodgers and will ultimately (hopefully not) cost the Yankees the World Series.

And after this season, win the Series or not, Aaron Boone MUST BE FIRED. Because he is not a manager, he is not a General... he's a hack.  That's the bottom line.

1995

(GREG REEKIE/AFP/Getty Images) 

In 2007 I was given a great birthday gift by my then girlfriend/ now wife.  She got me two tickets to see the New York Giants play the New England Patriots at the old Giants Stadium.  It was cold as hell that night, but the electricity in the building kept the Big Blue Faithful warm.  The Football Giants took it on the chin that night by a small 3 point margin.  The amazing thing about the game was that EVERY New York Fan left the Meadowlands that night happy and truly excited.  I spoke to a handful of perfect strangers as we slogged out of the stadium.  We were in agreement.  That game brought the Giants to the next level.  

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

We all knew that if Big Blue saw the Pats again they'd knock those Massholes on their asses....ladies and gentlemen...THE 2007 NFL CHAMPION NEW YORK GIANTS!

As a Yankee fan that game in 07 reminded me of a feeling I hadn't felt since 1995.  Back then, as a student at Syracuse University, I saw the Bombers lose to the Mariners in a game for the ages...I wasn't sad, I was elated! 

Photo: Society for American Baseball 

The Yankees WOULD be back.  And, like Steve Austin, they'd be better, faster, stronger than they ever were before.  The kids (known now as the immortal Core 4) were progressing quicker than anyone could have foreseen.  The Bronx was back.  I couldn't wait for pitcher and catchers to report.  The league was on notice, whether they wanted to admit it or not.

Photo: New York Daily News

The other night, after Game 7 concluded, I had that old feeling again.  The Yankees were in a "Building Year" according to the experts like Olney and Heyman (By the way, can we take the "baseball insider", expert label away from those two knuckleheads?)  Bird, Judge, Sanchez, Sevy, Didi...they don't listen to experts.  They don't hear Joe Buck or John "I NEVER beat the Yankees" Smoltz.  These Yankees just play baseball...and they play it without fear.

Sure, they Yankees aren't going on to LA.  They lost to a really good team with 101 wins.  But the Yankees aren't heading home in shame, they are reloading for 2018. 

Photo: Getty Images

They have what they need and will add pieces.  Yankee fans, feel good.  Shake this one off.  The Baby Bombers have arrived....I absolutely guarantee it.  It's like 1995 again. 

Photo of Jimmy Leyritz

The Yankees are coming and coming faster than Baseball thought.  The league will watch the Astro and Dodgers and wonder what that rumbling is in the distance.  It's the coming storm of a team that is loaded and hungry. 

Photo: Getty Images

TIME TO FEED THE BABY BOMBERS.

** This was on EVERY pregame mix tape I'd ever made.  It is the song for the 2018 New York Yankees.  The Stadium will rock!  The Bombers will attack next season with a blood lust for the W!  I'm telling you.  Enjoy the off season!

 
  --Mike O'Hara
BYB Contributor
Follow me on Twitter: @mikeyoh21

TOPPS CARDS: ULTIMATE CARD GIVEAWAY!

And now a word from Topps Cards about a great offer this season!

The latest from Topps:

"Baseball season is back, and it begins with the launch of 2017 Topps® Baseball Series 1. Every year since 1952, The Topps Company, the exclusive trading card partner of Major League Baseball, has released its annual baseball card set that includes fan favorites, superstars, up-and-coming rookies and the recent addition of popular First Pitch™ inserts.

Today, baseball fans around the world can start ripping packs and collecting cards of amazing moments, rookies and superstars. As announced last week, Chicago Cubs third baseman and 2016 NL MVP Kris Bryant was voted by fans to be on Card No. 1 for 2017 Topps Baseball.

Bryant joins a long list of great players who have been represented on the first Topps card of the year from Jackie Robinson and Ted Williams to Mike Piazza and Derek Jeter. Also included in the series are special cards depicting on-air personalities from the MLB Network, including Hall of Famer John Smoltz, hosts Greg Amsinger and Lauren Shehadi, and former players Harold Reynolds, Sean Casey and more.

The first 10 cards of this 29-card set will appear in 2017 Topps Baseball Series 1 and the rest within the June release of 2017 Topps Baseball Series 2 and the October release of 2017 Topps Baseball Update.

Additionally, Topps is giving away two million cards in The Ultimate Card Giveaway, giving baseball fans a chance to find original Topps cards from throughout its 66-year history. There will also be opportunities to win great prizes including Topps Now™ and Topps BUNT® cards as part of The Ultimate Card Giveaway.

'Topps Baseball Series 1 is the official launch of the baseball season and a part of Americana as generations of fans eagerly await the annual baseball card release,' said David Leiner, General Manager and Vice President of the North American Sports & Entertainment Division at Topps. 'Each year, Topps Baseball includes the best players and must-have rookie cards. Collecting cards is the perfect hobby to enjoy with friends and family, and we are proud to keep that tradition alive.'

Photo: Getty Images

Much of what makes baseball and Topps cards great is celebrating what happens on the field. This year’s annual release looks at memorable moments and milestones including Jackie Robinson Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, and special throwback nights showcasing Clubs’ classic uniforms. Topps is also honoring MLB’s award winners from 2016 with special cards made for the AL and NL Most Valuable Players, Rookies of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year, among others.

Topps’s popular First Pitch™ insert cards also return, depicting newsworthy moments of celebrities throwing out first pitches prior to games. The set’s popularity has grown since its inception two years ago.

'As the game has evolved so has our product offering,' said Clay Luraschi, Topps Vice President of Product Development. 'This year’s release features a modern design and includes players’ social media information on the backs of cards, all while celebrating the rich history of Topps and Major League Baseball.'

Opening a pack of cards brings joy to long-time and new collectors alike. Parents and grandparents can share the thrill and excitement of a lifelong hobby with younger family members. They can also teach them about Topps’ history with special cards dedicated to 1987 Topps, featuring the memorable wood-grain design that can be found in the new packs. Topps Baseball blends its rich heritage of traditional cards with new technologies including Topps NOW, on-demand trading cards, and digital cards from Topps BUNT®, which can also be found in the BUNT app.

The celebration doesn’t end there. With The Ultimate Card Giveaway, Topps is randomly inserting two million original Topps cards into packs beginning with 2017 Topps Baseball Series 1. Fans can find cards from The Ultimate Card Giveaway throughout the year in other products, including Topps Baseball® Series 2, Topps Baseball® Update, Topps Heritage® Baseball, Topps Allen & Ginter® Baseball and Bowman® Baseball.

The Ultimate Card Giveaway includes a great blend of new and vintage cards, giving collectors a taste what Topps has offered throughout its 66 years of creating baseball cards. Many of the cards will include a special foil stamp to celebrate the joy of rediscovering Topps Baseball, from fabulous memories of the past to the game’s greatest moments as they happen.

You can also find rookie cards of the newest rising stars, including 2015 No. 1 Draft pick Dansby Swanson, 2015 No. 2 Draft pick Alex Bregman, international star Yoan Moncada, and New York Yankees standout Aaron Judge. Don’t miss out on the thrill of opening new packs of 2017 Topps Baseball Series 1 starting Feb. 1.

Celebrities and newsworthy moments depicted on the First Pitch collection insert set:

Judd Apatow

Deshauna Barber

Stephen Colbert

Luis Coronel

Brett Eldredge

Lou Ferrigno

John Goodman

Joan Jett

Leslie Jordan

Victoria Justice

Jon Lovitz

Bethanie Mattek-Sands

Keegan-Michael Key

Chris Lane

Joe Mantegna

Mase

Bob Odenkirk

Jeremy Piven

William Shatner

Paul Wall"

Be sure to check out Topps at their website: TOPPS.COM.

IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE #WORLDSERIES

From the first pitch, to the last, it has been an incredible #WorldSeries.  No one could have predicted this kind of excitement when we experienced the first pitch of the season back in April.  As Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said prior to Game 7, “If you’re a fan of baseball, this is the best outcome that you could possibly hope for in a World Series anyone’s been alive for,” reported the New York Times.  You are talking 1908 and 108 year-old drought for the Cubs and 1948, a 68 year-old drought for the Indians.  It's been a wild ride. Here's a recap of the 2016 World Series.

Game 1: Lived up to the hype with more than three generations of Cubs fans and at least two generations of Cleveland fans looking to quench their thirst for a World Series Championship. As SB Nation reported, "Cleveland was in control throughout, as it put up two runs against Jon Lester in the first inning to give Corey Kluber and the Indians’ bullpen plenty of breathing room for the rest of the game." Kluber was nearly flawless in his 6 innings pitched, charting a franchise record of nine strikeouts and four hits.  The Tribe took Game 1,  6-0 behind the dominating offense of Roberto Perez. Cleveland leads the series 1-0.

 Game 2: It was the Cubs' turn to strike and it was the comeback kid Kyle Schwarber's night to shine.  Behind the dominance of Jake Arrieta, the Cubs built back their confidence from dropping Game 1. "In many ways, it was a game of gumption, and Chicago moved ahead early by scoring once in the first inning on a long double off the right field wall by first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Designated hitter Kyle Schwarber then singled in a run in the third to double the lead," reported The Guardian.  The Cubs flew the W in Game 2, tying the Series 1-1 with a 5-1 victory over the Indians.

Game 3: After making the Series even at 1, the Cubs headed home with the Indians hot on their trail. The first World Series game in Wrigley since 1945 ended with a 1-0 deficit for the home town crowd. Tribe pitcher Josh Tomlin allowed only three base runners all night long and shut out the Cubs.  This was not the welcome party Chicago hoped for when they jetted back toward Murphy's Bleachers, a fan favorite for the locals.

Game 4: The Cubs needed a win here after dropping in the Series 2-1 much to the dismay of fans in Wrigleyville, but behind the Game 1 winner, Corey Kluber, it just was not happening.  This time the Indians called upon Jason Kipnis to get the job done offensively and he didn't disappoint.  Kipnis beat up the Cubs with three hits and scored two runs as Cleveland took Game 4, 7-2. As our local news NJ.com captured in a post game interview, "We've got one more to get and it's probably going to be the hardest victory of the year, but this is a special night for me and this team to take the first two here," said Kipnis, who grew up a Cubs fan on the north side of Chicago.

Game 5:  The Rocky Theme prevails; Anthony Rizzo hyped up the team with Rocky movies in the clubhouse and the theme was his walk up song for his first at bat.  Rocky made his way from Philly to the North side of Chicago and gave the Cubs the much needed kick in the butt to help them take W for Game 5.  Cubs’ offense demonstrated multiple ways of scoring with a Kris Bryant homer, a bunt single by Javier Baez and a David Ross sacrifice fly to take the lead in the 5th.  Then it was lights out with Aroldis Chapman giving his team 8 outs.  3-2 Cubs taking Chicago back to Cleveland for Game 6.

Game 6: Was all Chicago- almost too much Chicago based on Joe Maddon's expression who looked concerned even after the Cubs handily beat the Tribe 9-3, with Chapman coming in to be sure in the 7th.  Addison Russell's grand slam solidified the lead for the Cubs, who looked confident heading into the 9th inning.  Perhaps Kris Bryant's post game interview said it all, "You dream for this."

Game 7: It was a winner takes all Game 7, the 37th Game 7 in World Series history.  Dexter Fowler got things going with one swing of the bat, and just like that, a home run  against the sparkling Kluber, who has silenced Chicago bats up to this point, dominating in Games 1 and 4, was down 1-0 in the first inning.  As Fox announcer John Smoltz reported in the game last night, the Cubs picked the right time for their bats to get hot.  Down 3-1 in the Series the Cubs battled for the chance to win it all in Game 7.  Chicago picked and picked at Kluber and they finally knocked the Indian hurler out of the game in the 5th inning.  The Cubs weren't afraid to test outfielders' arms and kicked their running game into full force.

Fox Sports asked David Ross to wear a microphone to listen in on the sounds of the game.  They captured the anxiety and excitement on the field from the vantage point of the young players that played their hearts out in front of millions of viewers across the world.  It was Rizzo who leaned on Ross's shoulder and said, "I'm a nervous wreck."  This emotion from a guy who drove the comeback bus for Chicago and carried his team into this Game 7.  But it was veteran Ben Zobrist that broke up the 6-6 tie in the 10th inning and allowed the Cubs to go ahead, 8-6.  More drama in the bottom of the 10th as Cleveland came within one run, 8-7, but a slow roller ended Cleveland's night and World Series hopes as the Cubs held on and became the 2016 World Series Champions of Baseball.

According to the Chicago Tribune's rules for flying “The W” Cubs "fans are supposed to take down the flag at the end of the season unless they win the World Series; then they get the entire off-season to fly it high."

Fly the W Chicago.  Congratulations and thank you for a great Series!  It's been an incredible #WorldSeries and an incredible end to the MLB 2016 Season.  107 days until pitchers and catchers report.  It will be here before we know it, but right now, I am happy to share my excitement for the Cubs who are goatless in 2016...Go Cubs Go!

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer
BYB Hot Stove Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof

OCTOBER 26, 1985

The title of this post is also the date on the console of Doc Brown’s infamous Time Machine in the 80’s hit “BACK TO THE FUTURE”. A young Marty McFly finds himself caught up in a bizarre trip back in time once the good Doctor’s invention hits 88mph on the speedometer. Today, in New York City, we are also rocketing toward the past. And just like that night in Hill Valley it’s 1985 all over again. The 1985 Mets came in second. In '86, they won the championship.  The Yankees back then? Yikes.

I hated the mid 1980’s as a baseball fan. The Yankees were lousy and the Mets (who I looked at as a USFL team) were the toast of the City That Doesn’t Sleep. I saw friends start wearing light blue and orange caps on the school bus. I remember walking into my buddy John’s room (a pal I went to many a Yankee game with) to see a Dwight Gooden poster on his wall. WHAT?! How did this happen?

The Yankees were the other team in New York and the Mets were the hot ticket in town. I would actually get ribbed by other kids for wearing my plastic Yankee batting helmet to school. (Side note: that was actually OK when I was little). This was Bizzaro World! The Mets were created to give Dodger fans something to root for when Brooklyn’s Pride caught a train to the west coast…they were like “Joey”, the “Friends” spin off.

Now the Mets are back. Their pitching is OUTSTANDING! It’s like Maddux, Smoltz and Glavine good…only will be BETTER! They have a nicer ballpark in Queens. Sorry, it’s true. We got a mall; the Mets built a Baseball Stadium. Their Top Brass suddenly looks great compared to the garbage Lon and Company are spewing. The Mets are fan friendly. They cost less and give more…it makes me sick and what’s more, sad.

Are the Yankees awful? No. They could easily put a good year together if all the pieces fall into place…but that’s A LOT of pieces, gang. We have the same health, age & financial limits, due to albatross contracts, that will make it an uphill battle in the Bronx again this year…but we made our bed.

I don’t know how long it will last. I mean the Mets didn’t actually win the series…their lineup isn’t all that scary…but still. The New York Mets seem to be holding all the cards in the poker game for the city’s heart and dollars.

I’ll hope the ghosts from the Old Cathedral wake up, come across the street and watch over the Yanks again. We need a little help from above, because the teams in Queens are now Kings.

** Here’s a tip of my cap to the New York Mets and their fans. A little ditty from the some local boys, THE GREAT RUN DMC. RIP JMJ.**

 
 
 
--Mike O'Hara Senior "Features" Writer
Twitter: @mikeyoh21















 
Thank you for your loyalty to Bleeding Yankee Blue. 
Please shop at the BYB store!  
On Twitter: @BleednYankeeBlu 
On Facebook, LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue!
Don't forget to check out the BYB Hub. 

THE BEASTIE BOYS VS. 3rd BASS

I truly love baseball and music.  Here at BYB, my Skipper has been good enough to let me tag my posts with a little bit of Punk, Hip Hop, Metal, Ska or other.  These are two topics I could literally talk about forever and never get tired of either one.

The 2015 METS AND YANKEES have stirred my memory of an old beef in the Rap World. This old school feud has some striking similarities to the rivalry between the Empires City’s American and National League clubs.  1st, it all started in the GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD.  Both of these Rap acts got their starts on the streets of New York.  One was a groundbreaking juggernaut and the other was 3rd Bass.  Hey, MC Serch, Prime Minister Pete Nice and DJ Richie Rich (the band’s members) are a solid crew of MCs (and DJ).

Their first record “The Cactus Album” was a really good record.  I have it and still listen to it today.  “Licensed To Ill” on the other hand was an all-time great record, and the Beasties followed it up with what I consider one of the Top 5 greats records in Hip Hop History, “Paul’s Boutique”.

The tension between the Yauch, Diamond and Horovitz and the members of Def Jams second attempt at a white rap group started when the Beastie Boys left the Seminole Rap Label and took their act to Capitol Records.  Def Jam executives saw the opportunity to attack one of the groups that put the company on the map with the band that was created to replace them…the alternative or second string if you will.  It was the understudy that was taking shots at the lead actor.  It was sort of sad in a way.  3rd Bass could stand on their own as artists.  They didn’t need to drum up a needless rivalry to try to sell records…but they did.

Are you starting to see the similarities? The Mets and 3rd Bass, both products of the Borough of Queens, are second on the depth chart.

The Beastie Boys and the New York Yankees are the starters.  The Metropolitans are a really good team this year and have had runs where they’ve grabbed a bit of spotlight…the 1980s were a great time for the Mets and their fans.  They had a really strong club in 2000 and at various other times in their history…not to mention the Miracle Mets.

The Yankees are just on another level.  Even when the team is fairly lousy they still are the Yankees.  They float above the sport itself.

When someone says, “White Rappers” the BEASTIE BOYS are the first to come to mind (sorry Eminem)…3rd Bass…well, if you really follow Hip Hop music you might remember them 3rd of 4th.

When someone says, “Major League Baseball” the New York Yankees instantly come to mind…even the biggest anti-Yankee person would HAVE to admit that.

Mets’ fans want this rivalry…Yankee fans only think about the Mets when the Yankees play the Mets.  Did they win last night?  I don’t know until I listen to the WFAN in the morning.  I simply don’t care.  I don’t hate about the Mets.  I don’t sweat them.  They are the other team.  Their fans can lose sleep over the Yankees or hope for a Pinstripe collapse…but like my Uncle would say, “Wish in one hand and crap in the other and see which one gets filled first.”  In other words, go waste your time I don’t care.

So the Mets are a good club and have the pieces in place to make a big October run.  They have young pitching and those guys might be better then Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz when all is said and done…but the Mets will still be 3rd Bass and the Yankees will still be the Beastie Boys.

** Like I said, 3rd Bass is a good group and I like some of their stuff.  Here’s one for you guys out in the Royal Borough.  Best of luck…try to enjoy yourselves. Or don’t. **





** Yankee Fans!  MAKE SOME NOOOOISE!! **




 
--Mike O'Hara Senior "Features" Writer
Twitter: @mikeyoh21



 
    
You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in history. Now shop at the Bleeding Yankee Blue store!  Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook!  Also, don't forget to check out the BYB Hub!