YANKEES LIKE ROBBIE RAY, BUT THEY SHOULDN'T

Some baseball insiders seem to think that Robbie Ray is the answer to the Yankees pitching search. I could be in the minority here but, I'm not sold. I've seen enough of him the past couple of years here in Arizona to know that he has some issues. Some of these issues just won't translate well in Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees are going to continue to be linked to every starting pitcher that may or may not be available....along with numerous other teams. In fact, the Astros, Phillies and now the Brewers are also looking at Ray according to Jon Heyman. I get it, nothing wrong with looking and depth is good. I just don't think the Yankees will get the return they expect out of him.

Maybe I am wrong. I mean, Peter Gammons is sold on him. Maybe I have watched him too much and just know how to spot what I don't like about him.

I think Ray would be a good addition to a contending team as long as they understand what they are getting from him. If he's traded his new team gets one more year of team control from arbitration which is always a good thing. Ray can be exciting to watch. He is a strike-out pitcher with almost 12 strikeouts per nine rate and as attractive as that is, it also comes with concessions. This is where I say I am not sold on Ray.....

I like the strikeouts, who wouldn't? I don't like the walks at 4.5 per nine rate and I especially don't like that if he's pitching at Yankee stadium. If you walk too many guys at Yankee stadium things can get away from you fast. Yankee stadium is too hitter friendly, Chase field is pretty hitter friendly also but they don't have the short right porch to worry about. It really doesn't matter WHERE Ray would pitch, unless he can get the walks under control it is going to be a problem. Right now he has 56 walks for the season, on pace to break his record for walks in a season and is a league leader in walks. Not a good combination.

The home runs would also concern me. So far he has 16 for the season, his career high is 24. He also has control issues so a home run prone pitcher in Yankee stadium is also worth considering. I have a hard time imagining how a NL pitcher with a 3.81 ERA is going to be effective at Yankee stadium. It won't especially with too many walks and home runs added into the equation.

I just don't see how this would make the Yankees pitching staff better, but maybe I am wrong. I think Ray is an option, but I also think there are other options out there that the Yankees should give equal consideration to. Gammons may like Ray, but I'm not sold. I don't think he is the upgrade the Yankee are looking for.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

YOUR TIME IS UP, MR. GAMMONS

I'm not too sure where to begin.  I guess you could say that in recent years, I've had a hard-on for Peter Gammons.  I used to love the guy.  A true baseball mind full of contacts and sources and information that no one had.  He was a God. Then, over the past few years, things started to change.  The sources weren't entirely that good and the information was read or heard elsewhere.  I began to have a slogan, "It's not new, it's Gammons."  While I understand how hard it is to do a job like Peter Gammons does, let's face it, in the real world, if you're not doing the job well, there comes a time where you retire, or they let you go.  What Peter Gammons said today about Alex Rodriguez was despicable and not only to ARod but to many people who were shocked and disappointed.  And despite the apology, despite his reputation as being a "great baseball mind" and current Hall of Famer, there's not much analysis going on with this statement, other than ruffling everyone's feathers in the baseball world.  It's like your grandmother in the nursing home that shares your very private secret with the rest of her blue-haired friends... it's embarrassing and it should have never been blurted out.

Mr. Gammons was on Mike Lupica's Radio show talking about ARod today. During it, in a state of being provocative, stupid or just senile, he said this about Alex:

"I’ve had people with the Yankees say this to me, he is just — he wants to blow up the world. You know, he’s like the marathon bombers... It’s just, he’s going to get them.”

I read it, I heard it and I was disappointed and ashamed.  That not only stings ARod, it stings everyone in America, and especially Boston who were affected by those bombings directly.  It's shameful. But let's back up for a moment...Gammons isn't the only one who says dumb things.

 I first had beef with Bill Madden of the New York Daily News earlier this year for comparing Alex Rodriguez to Mob thug and murderer Whitey Bulger.  Back then, it was dumb, read HERE and it's still dumb.  Last time I checked, nothing happened to Bill Madden. Now, once again, Mr. Punching bag Alex Rodriguez is the lightening rod and I sit here thinking about Peter Gammons comparing Alex Rodriguez to the Marathon Bombers and realize something;  The "great" baseball analyst is no longer "great" and no longer good at analyzing anything.  He took a giant leap and whether or not he knew what he was saying is another story.  He said it and he can't take it back. The man appears to have a screw loose and like Madden, they need to stop trying to be provocative and actually do some writing and analysis.  In other words, stick with what you know and if you’re too old, maybe it’s time you go.

Alex Rodriguez is not a murderer.  Alex he is a cheater and trying to compare him to killers, and couching it suggesting that "people with the Yankees" said that to him, is not only inexcusable, it’s a fireable offense.  I know I’m not the only one who believes this.  Now, let's also state that Peter's full of crap. NO ONE from the Yankees would say something so stupid... this came from Gammons' decaying mind. That's my opinion.

Look, it is also my opinion that Peter Gammons is trying to stay relevant, but he no longer is.  His time is up and that’s OK.  Hey, people get old.  Hey, people lose their mind and he’s one of them. Sure, he did some terrific analysis over the years, but when has he done it recently? The last time I remember him "really" blowing it, wasn’t too long ago.  It was when that North Carolina reporter named Dan Tordjman floated a  false story about Robinson Cano accusing him of steroid use. (Read FALSE RUMORS DAMAGE A PLAYER'S SOLID REPUTATION for a full background on that.) That young reporter had a “source”, a “source” that turned out to be false.  But the bigger story was the one that everyone missed, except for us at Bleeding Yankee Blue.  Shortly after that story came out, and before it was dismissed as B.S., Peter Gammons, not to be outdone, said he knew about it and said on a radio show, "I heard something . . . about three weeks ago."

As if to suggest that this Hall of Fame baseball analyst, the great Peter Gammons, already knew that… "Hey, it’s old news!"  Well, once Dan Tordjman got fired, Gammons disappeared.   Strange right? Now we have old man's loose lips blabbing again, but this time people noticed.  This one is much, much worse.

Now this is going to sound strange coming from me, but here it goes… I like Peter Gammons. For many, many years he was a tremendous source for real good baseball news.  He was “in the know” but, let’s be honest, I can’t say that anymore and much like Bobby Valentine, he’s overreached far too often to try and stay relevant. Now he’s apologized for his stupid comment. No idea if Alex has accepted, but don’t forget, this is the same guy that allegedly has a good relationship with ARod and was the only one who scooped that interview with him for admitted PEDs use on ESPN. But come on, with friends like this, who needs enemies?

Many people reached out to Gammons today, asking "Why? Why would you say that?" To Peter's credit, he responded saying it was "stupid" and that "it was a poor choice of words." But to fans, me, maybe you, we were ignored on Twitter today.  The irony is crystal clear to me... the same guy who does analysis and offers criticism of players, doesn't like to be criticized or analyzed himself. Not by the fans, not by anybody. Now in fairness, Craig Calcaterra of Hardball Talk got an explanation today.  I love Calcaterra, he's one of the good ones. I'm apparently not. This is what I asked Gammons point blank today:

@pgammo What went through your mind when you compared murderers to AROD? "Be provocative" or "I'll pile on and no one will notice." #BOO
— Bleeding Yankee Blue (@BleednYankeeBlu) November 21, 2013

It's a legit question.  I didn't get an answer. I wasn't surprised.

Many are upset.  Fans wrote several posts after his comments were revealed. Here are a few:

Peter Gammons says A-Rod is "like the marathon bombers" aaaaaaand I am beyond speechless. What a horrific thing to say.
— Can I Pettitte? (@CANiPETTITTE) November 21, 2013

However you might feel about Alex Rodriguez, can we at least all agree that he's nothing like the Marathon Bomber, like @pgammo suggests?
— Pinstripe Alley (@pinstripealley) November 21, 2013

Shame on Peter Gammons. Absolutely disgusting
— Rich (@RAKcity27) November 21, 2013

I read another one from Jesse Spector of the Sporting News though and I was kind of baffled from it. It was this:

Good on @pgammo for quickly owning that it was stupid. And he’s about the easiest person to forgive.
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) November 21, 2013

Sure, good for Peter Gammons to apologize, but sorry Spector, you and I don't have to forgive him. ARod does, the families victims in Boston do.  I know you're probably buddies with the guy, doing alittle damage control, but Gammons is a big boy, he needs to do this on his own, no offense.

It just seems weird to me that the guy who wants to be at every baseball party suddenly isn't available.  Maybe he's calling the victims of the Marathon bombings, or the Mayor of Boston to apologize. Lord knows he should.  Maybe he should go on ESPN tonight, his employer, and address the country?  What he said was dumb and I'd be ashamed and embarrassed if I said that, but I'd also take my lumps and do some damage control ASAP.

I believe Gammons time is up. You may disagree and that's OK.  As far as I'm concerned though, it was fun while it lasted,  it was also great, but no longer can we have this guy strolling around the stadiums and doing radio shows. It's now dangerous.  

Awful analysis this time Pete. Check yourself…seriously.

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STANTON: "I DON'T LIKE THIS AT ALL"

Great reporting by Peter Gammons HERE, although you have to wonder if after this interview with Giancarlo Stanton, he wasn't trying to recruit Stanton to play for the Red Sox.  I kid. I kid... maybe. Anyway, this is what Stanton told Gammons about this whole mess in Miami.

“I do not like this at all... This is the ‘winning philosophy?’ Then to say it’s not about money? What is the motivation? There comes a breaking point. I know how I feel. I can’t imagine how the city and the fans feel.”
 
“Jose, Bonifacio, Hanley … all three are gone now. I had people warn me that something like this could happen, but it runs against the competitive nature every athlete has, that nature that everything is about winning. This kind of thing is what gets talked about all the time around this team. Former Marlins come back and they warn us. It gets talked about during the stretch, in the clubhouse, after games, on the road. Again, I do not like this at all.”

So, if former Marlins are warning current players that something could happen, and if fans are pissed and the Marlins star player is pissed, plus, you couple that with guys like Yoenis Cespedes and Albert Pujols both meeting with the Marlins last season and then darting for the West Coast... something or someone looks real bad in Miami.

Where's Crockett & Tubbs when you need them?

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WHY DEREK JETER IS THE GREATEST

Sure, when the reporters asked Derek Jeter about the comments Skip Bayless made in regards to Jeter and his HGH accusation, Derek could have told the media to tell Skip to go “F himself.” He could have looked into the camera and pulled a “Skip, why don’t you come over here and test me!” You know, a Gary Sheffield type attitude that is totally out of character for Derek Jeter.  He didn’t.  He merely suggested that he didn’t want to get involved in it.  He was disappointed and said:

"This is a first for me, man...I don't know what to tell you ... What do you want me to say?  I ain't getting involved with this, man. You can say whatever you want to say now, huh? There's no repercussions."

"Whenever you have people that anytime you bring something like this to light with guys that are doing things, it's like, now you have everybody questioning everything....That's the unfortunate thing. Maybe Skip should be tested." (Read more HERE .)

(In Photo: Derek Jeter on Wednesday night)
I love Jeter. Jeter joked about it...he knows the whole thing is BS.  Then, with as much class as you can expect from a Captain and Major League baseball icon, he went on the field on Wednesday night and cranked a home run.  He’d forgotten about it. That’s his job. We fans never forget. That’s our job. We protect our boys and we will damn sure protect Derek Jeter.

What has happened to ESPN? Sure bias is fine and we call out ESPN for their slant against the Yankees and we’ve heard plenty of it over the years.  They twist their coverage, not always in an obvious way, but intentionally yes...they slap the Yanks from time to time without a doubt. This is America, they have that right I guess.  They have Peter Gammons, a former Boston Red Sox writer for the Boston Globe from 1969 to 1986. Now, oddly enough a Baseball Analyst.  I never understood that one. Once you write for a team for that long, it's pretty obvious you're a fan. If you think I'm being silly, I counter that...why else do you become a writer for a certain team in the first place?  Let’s be fair, if he has an allegiance to the Sox, let him analyze the Sox. What do I, a Yankee fan, care what Peter Gammons says about the Yankees or any other team for that matter? 

They you have Skip Bayless who has built a career, good for him. I remember when he was a writer in Dallas.  He’s made a name for himself, not being too creative mind you, he just spews stuff to push everybody’s buttons, but that’s his job now.  Bottom line, It’s not about being responsible, it’s about him being provocative.  I guess if you know that going in, you accept it.  But what he did to Derek Jeter was horrendous.  For those of you who don’t know, Skip said this in reference to Derek Jeter: "I am shocked by what I'm seeing from Derek Jeter right now. They all said he was washed up. All of a sudden, this man has turned 38 years of age in June and already he has more hits than he had last year. ... I'm seeing a whole new guy this year from last year ... Are you kidding me? You would have to have your head in the sand or your head somewhere else not to at least wonder, 'How is he doing this?' " Read more of that stupid stuff HERE.

Now, if anyone in ESPN actually had a brain in their head, they’d bring Skip in and tell him, “Shut your mouth. Accusations like that don’t fly.” But, they won’t.  You want to know how I know? Because Rick Sutcliffe was in rare form too the other day and it had nothing to do with Derek Jeter and everything to do with ethnicity.  I was taken back by Rick Sutcliffe suggesting that Melky Cabrera should be “deported”  for his recent failed test that suspended him for 50 games. Read HERE.  

It’s a bit outrageous.  Again though, ESPN should sit Sutcliffe down and tell him to shut his mouth.  Melky should sue them.  That doesn't seem like an opinion from Sutcliffe as much as it's seems like a threat…it’s over the top and like I mentioned the other day in PINEDA'S DUI IS WORSE THAN MELKY'S LIE. DON'T GET IT TWISTED, Melky is hurting himself, not others with his PEDs use. Yes, what Melky did was stupid, but Melky should get deported Rick? I'm not seeing the connection.  ESPN used to be the gold standard in Sports news.  They are a bunch of hacks that grasp desperately at topics to get as many clicks and views as they can.  My goodness.

But back to Derek Jeter for a second.  I don’t think in all the years he’s been in baseball has anyone ever NOT called Jeet a competitor.  Sure, in 2010 they called him “slower” and “older” but one thing he never lost was the fire in his belly.  This is a guy that won 5 championships with the Yankees. This is a guy that has manned shortstop officially for the Yankees since 1996.  This is a guy that leads this team when the team can’t win.  He’s always there and if he’s not hitting, his reaction is the same as if he was.  He pushes the others to do better and knows that he’ll come around soon enough.  He our Golden Boy. He’s Major League Baseball’s Golden Boy, like it or not.  Derek Jeter is the ultimate athlete.

I recently wrote a piece about Jeter and his hit record and how Jeter is about 1000 hits away from  Pete Rose .  Read CAN JETER CATCH ROSE? NEVER SAY NEVER IN NEW YORK  I have a feeling and it’s just a feeling…Derek Jeter will break that record.  Here’s why…  If you think about it, Derek Jeter has never been a fan of individual records.  He feels uncomfortable and uneasy when he’s standing there as an individual holding up his helmet to a standing ovation.  

That’s why 2008 at the old Yankee stadium was so symbolic.  It was Jeter standing there with 25 guys holding their caps high, as a team! That’s what he represents. But there’s more to it.  If there is 1 record in baseball that you want, especially the type of hitter Derek Jeter is, it’s the hits record.  Sure 1000 is a long way off, but he’s broken so many records already that while he’s appreciative of all of them and the players he's passing, he’s not “thinking” about it.  Now, he sees Pete Rose in his sights and as he makes this historic run, I think he’ll think to himself “I’ve always been a team player, but 4256 is staring me in the face. How do I NOT go for it?”  Sure, he won’t over think it, that’s not his style, but it will be the only record in the back of Jeter’s mind right now. It should be at least, whether it’s Jeter’s personality or not...eye on the prize.

Jeter needs this for him first, then us. Sure, it's easy for him to say, "I'm already going to the Hall of Fame, why bother?" But why would he do that?  Yes, it won’t be easy, but this is Jeter we’re talking about. If he stays healthy and just plays the game the way he has always done it, there is nothing he can’t accomplish.  I believe that. Why? Because Derek Jeter is the greatest...that's why.

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THE BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE NEWSSTAND III

In case you missed it, be sure to check out our other insanely popular Newsstand pieces...THE BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE NEWSSTAND I AND II.  Now here's III:

JETER'S CLIMBING THE HIT LIST: Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger is the guy who finally had the nugget I was looking for.  Many knew that Dave Winfield was Jeter's idol growing up, but not many talked about it right around the time Jeet hit his 3111th hit to pass Winfield for sole possession of 18th place on the all time Hits list.  

Carig writes: "Derek Jeter used to keep a poster of Dave Winfield on his wall. Growing up, Jeter viewed the former Yankees star as his idol... In the Yankees’ 6-2 victory against the Red Sox, Jeter singled in the second inning, moving him past Winfield for sole possession of 18th place with career-hit No. 3,111. Padres legend Tony Gwynn is next on the list with 3,141 hits." Read Carig HERE. Keep going Jeet, we love ya!

SHOULDER SURGERY FOR MOSELEY: Remember Dustin Moseley? He was with the Yankees for a few minutes.  Well, he ended up playing for the Padres and now it appears that he has shoulder damage and has opted for surgery. He has a right rotator cuff and labrum injury.  MLB.com has the piece HERE.  The surgery will take place on May 2nd according to the article.  Moseley says: "It's not a matter of if I'm going to fix it [through surgery], but who is going to fix it... I'm not in limbo anymore." It appears he's chose New York physician David Altchek, the guy who worked on Johan Santana.

GAMMONS GETS CALLED OUT...FINALLY:  I've never been a fan of Peter Gammons because anyone who clearly has an allegiance for a team and reeks of it as they try to fool the rest of the baseball world that they aren't a fan of say... the Red Sox, needs to step aside, that's not journalism, that's bias and I know where Gammons falls. Finally the Boston Globe has done it! They've outed him. Read HERE. The Globe writes: "During his weekly appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Felger and Massarotti’’ show last Wednesday, Gammons asserted that Globe reporter Bob Hohler should reveal the anonymous sources from his bombshell story last October on the factors contributing to the Red Sox’ historic collapse. Those factors, according to Hohler’s sources, included manager Terry Francona’s personal issues and a fractured clubhouse in which a clique of pitchers were drinking beer and eating chicken during games. It was an absurd suggestion. Betraying the trust of a confidential source would be journalistic suicide." True, but it get's better. They then write of Gammons: "It’s the fan (Gammons) who pleads for last September to be forgotten and for the team to start winning again. A journalist wants to know why the collapse happened, and uses every ethical tactic in his or her reportorial arsenal to find the answer. That’s what Hohler did. If Gammons can’t agree with it, he should at least recognize it." Bravo Boston Globe... Bravo, time for more to call out Gammons.

PUDGE CALLS IT A CAREER: Ivan Rodriguez is set to retire.  Pudge is probably one of the best catchers that I've ever seen, although I have a huge love for Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, Thurman Munson and Jorge Posada as well.  The Sports Network and Miami Herald write: "Rodriguez is the all-time major league leader with 2,427 games caught and set a record with 13 Gold Glove awards. He had a career average of .296 with 311 home runs and 1,332 runs batted in over 2,543 games." Read HERE.  Don't forget, Rodriguez was part of the Yankees very briefly in 2008. That's why we're mentioning him in Bleeding Yankee Blue's 3rd addition of the Newsstand.

ORDER A BYB SHIRT NOW, DROB WEARS ONE! Also, Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/19/2757419/pudge-to-call-it-a-career.html#storylink=cpy

WHY IT COULD BE A TEXAS “YU” STEP

I hate the waiting game. The baseball world is watching. I think about how the Mets are in this funk right now and realize it could be worse for the Yankees, after all they have a real good ball club, but for Christmas all I really want is a starter. The waiting game for Yu Darvish is draining.

Watching Peter Gammons refer to the Nippon Ham Fighters as “Foo Fighters” was at least relief during this waiting game. I heard him say it last night on MLB and I have to admit, I laughed. I guess we have to laugh because if I had to predict, it would be the Texas Rangers who will be the ones who win this sweepstakes for Yu.

The Yankees reportedly made a “modest” offer for negotiating rights, read HERE and to be honest, I don’t know if I believe it or not. The way this winter is going for the Yankees, it almost makes sense that they would push hard for Yu and then, all this hurry up and wait the Yankees are doing would all make sense. I just don’t know what to make of it.

I remember how exciting it was when the Yankees signed Hideki Matsui and the lead up to it had a true live energy in Yankeeland. I remember when Daisuke Matsuzaka was being bid on, there was an exciting energy in New York that we might get him. True, he went to the Red Sox, but the energy was different than it is now with Yu Darvish. New York seems flat right now, like we know it's not going to happen for us. There was confidence among Yankee fans then, not now.

This waiting game for me is personally nerve racking, not exciting. The information is coming out in drips and drabs and while there are a lot of teams that put a bid in, I just am not so sure the Yankees have this one in the bag. Again, I feel like it’s the Rangers. Which brings me to another point. Would Yu even decide at that point he’s coming to the states? It’s been reported that he’s perfectly happy staying with the Nippon Ham Fighters, which, to put it simply, it would have to be a pretty good team to want to come to the United States...a team with a true chance to win. I have no doubt that the Yankees need to be that team, but I put nothing past Texas. They lost CJ Wilson and they’ll need a leader on that rotation. Yu could be that leader where in New York, CC is our leader. That being said, ego needs to take a back seat to winning as a team and I just hope the Yanks have lied to us all and the bid for Yu is more than modest, otherwise… there’s a very big chance the Texas Rangers would win this battle. I hope not. After all, it just wouldn’t be Christmas without a big gift under my tree this year.

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WHY GAMMONS IS OVERRATED

This isn’t a Yankee thing. This is a WTF thing. I’m sorry, I take issue with Peter Gammons. Look, I know this guy is a Hall of Famer, but let’s be honest, when I listen to Peter Gammons, I'm not so sure I'm learning anything new and I know many of you aren't either.

On May 31st, Gammons went on the Dan Patrick Show. Now, I love the Dan Patrick Show. It's so much fun and I learn a ton of stuff about baseball and a lot of different sports, plus, I laugh. But I have to tell you, I got alittle aggravated. They were talking about Toronto's Jose Bautista
with Gammons when suddenly Peter told Dan that years ago Dale Sveum told him that Bautista was going to be something special and that he hates when people accuse Bautista of PEDs. Here is the transcript of that:"There is suspicion and I find it unfair. I've heard people on the radio and I've read people that don't believe it.... now I can say this, about 6 or 7 years ago, Dale Sveum was a coach with the Red Sox and he managed Bautista. And he said 'You know, something's gonna get figured out. He's got a world of talent. I don't think it's going to be 2nd base but he's an unbelievably gifted athlete.'

So last year when he took off I asked J.P. Riccardi...and I said 'J.P. what's the story' and he said 'It's very simple, he's always had great bat speed... he could never get the timing down, but in September 2009, he finally got it.' It all came together."

OK look, If Gammons wants to tell a story about something that may or may not be true, go ahead. That's fine, I have no beef with that. I do however find it alittle odd though that Bautista had 54 home runs last year and before that, his season high total in homers was 16. Look HERE. Now, do I think the guys on PEDs? I'm not looking to accuse the guy, I don't care. That actually is not what I'm upset about. I'm upset about this next statement by Gammons:

"You know, I don't remember people questioning Joey Votto when he had his great breakout year."

Really Peter, really? I thought you were a well respected baseball man? Why would you throw another great baseball player like Joey Votto under the bus to protect the one your talking about in Jose Bautista? That's irresponsible and disrespectful.

The fact of the matter is Joey Votto's numbers show a progression of power, average and everything else leading up to his "breakout" year as you like to call it. Look HERE. But, if you look at Bautista’s numbers, there is a gigantic increase in 2010 to his previous season which is why everyone is led to believe that something fishy is going on. By the way, here' the interview: Peter Gammons Interview - May 31, 2011 . Listen to it for yourself. Tell me if you find that to be ridiculous, or not. Anyone from the outside looking in can see the numbers on the page and know that something isn't right.

So, back to my point, clearly sports analysts can say whatever they want and no one challenges them. Us bloggers write anything slightly controversial and we're accused to being brainless and a wannabe.

I love Dan Patrick and I think for him, it was a respect thing to get Peter Gammons on, and not really probe. Hell, maybe he didn't even notice what Peter said, who knows. I tweeted Dan yesterday to asked him to please challenge that horrendous comparison between Bautista and Votto. It just didn't make sense to me. My God, can you imagine if he attacked a Yankee with that crap? It would have been World War 3.

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