"Start spreadin' the news..."
Well, the 2009 World Series is in the books and the Yankees beat the Phillies in six games to claim their 27th title. It was a great series, one that will remembered for many reasons. A-Rod finally produced in the post-season, Andy Pettitte showed that he’s still got it, all the money the Yankees shelled out to get Teixeira, Sabathia, Burnett and Swisher paid huge dividends and Chase Utley was outstanding, tying Reggie Jackson’s 1977 record for home runs in a world series with five.
Game six saw Hideki Matsui blast a two-run shot in the second, a two-run single in the third, a two-run double in the fifth and that was all the Yankees needed behind the impressive pitching of Pettitte. Matsui hit .615 in the series, was named MVP and his six RBI in game six tied a world series record. Pettitte, the winningest pitcher in post-season history (18) left the game in the top of the sixth with a 7-3 lead. The Yankees bullpen locked things down from there with Mariano Rivera, the all-time saves leader in world series history, doing what he does best by recording the final five outs.
History was repeated in some ways in 2009. In 1923, the Yankees opened the original Yankee Stadium and went on to win that year’s world series in six games over the New York Giants. In 2009, the Yankees opened the new $1.5 billion Yankee Stadium and won the world series in six. Check out USA Today’s Mel Antonen’s article here - for more on the similarities between 1923 and 2009.
So now we wait. We wait through the cold winter until the boys of summer head back to Florida or Arizona to begin another spring training. Shortly after the big leagues get underway our thoughts will turn to another Northern League season and look forward to what is sure to be a great 2010. Everyone around the Goldeyes office is very excited about the upcoming year with the two new teams in Rockford and Lake County joining the league. Judging by the comments I’ve heard from season ticket and mini pack holders, and even some casual observers of the Goldeyes and the league, I think the office’s excitement is shared by others as well.
If you are a current Goldeyes mini pack or season ticket holder, thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you in the spring. If you are a former ticket holder who was waiting for the league to expand, or if you have thought about picking up a package, now’s the perfect time to do it. There are great seats and great packages available. We’ve got many exciting events planned for the 2010 season including more fireworks nights. Check out the ticket page at goldeyes.com by clicking here. If you see a package you like, and would like to find out what seats are available, give Blake (blake@goldeyes.com) or Dennis (dennis@goldeyes.com) a call in the box office at 982-2273 and they would be happy to pick some out for you.
In the meantime, for all my fellow Yankee fans out there, here's Frank singing New York New York.
Opening day is only a little over six months away, May 20 vs. the Lake County Fielders!
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Until next time…
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
From the Desk of the GM - October 28, 2009
"Wednesday Mailbag"
Here's a note I received from the PA voice of the Goldeyes, Ron Arnst, with his take on this year's World Series and instant replay in baseball:
I don’t know who to cheer for in the World Series. Cheering for the Yankees and Pay-Roid doesn’t sit well with me. I would cheer for the Phillies but they sent Coste to Houston so they are off the list. Besides they beat Sherrill. Boo on them. So I guess I will cheer for the umpires. It appears they need the help.
On that topic (umpires and replay), I believe it is inevitable. The baseball traditionalist in me is not in favour of it – but you can’t ignore the future. My argument against replay technology and “challenges” is based on watching a few games over my life. How many times have you seen a player complain intensely about a ball-and-strike call and then swing at a pitch 2 feet outside or in the dirt? I think one of the things that keeps baseball apart – and I believe elevates it above other pro sports – is its long history, tradition and unrelenting reliance on the human factor. For better or for worse. Baseball is about stories. Reduce the human element and you will reduce the quantity and the quality of the stories. Let ‘em play, I say.
However, I believe replay will come to baseball sooner rather than later. If it has to come, I agree that a limited number of challenges (one per game is good) sounds like the best way to go. To help offset the time lost while we all wait around for a challenge to be decided, I suggest a couple of other changes. I believe we should also limit the number of times a batter can step out of the box to one per at bat and I believe we should limit the number of visits to the mound by the catcher or other players to one per inning. This would not include visits made by the manager or pitching coach. I see no entertainment value in watching a hitter adjust his gloves, sweatbands, cap, shirt, pants, socks and rebalance his investment portfolio after every pitch. I also don’t get a huge kick out of watching a mound meeting three times per half inning. Call me crazy but I think baseball would be better with less posturing and more playing. - Ron Arnst
For up to the minute information about the Goldeyes, check us out on Twitter.
GoldeyesGM on Twitter
Winnipeg Goldeyes on Twitter
Until next time…
Here's a note I received from the PA voice of the Goldeyes, Ron Arnst, with his take on this year's World Series and instant replay in baseball:
I don’t know who to cheer for in the World Series. Cheering for the Yankees and Pay-Roid doesn’t sit well with me. I would cheer for the Phillies but they sent Coste to Houston so they are off the list. Besides they beat Sherrill. Boo on them. So I guess I will cheer for the umpires. It appears they need the help.
On that topic (umpires and replay), I believe it is inevitable. The baseball traditionalist in me is not in favour of it – but you can’t ignore the future. My argument against replay technology and “challenges” is based on watching a few games over my life. How many times have you seen a player complain intensely about a ball-and-strike call and then swing at a pitch 2 feet outside or in the dirt? I think one of the things that keeps baseball apart – and I believe elevates it above other pro sports – is its long history, tradition and unrelenting reliance on the human factor. For better or for worse. Baseball is about stories. Reduce the human element and you will reduce the quantity and the quality of the stories. Let ‘em play, I say.
However, I believe replay will come to baseball sooner rather than later. If it has to come, I agree that a limited number of challenges (one per game is good) sounds like the best way to go. To help offset the time lost while we all wait around for a challenge to be decided, I suggest a couple of other changes. I believe we should also limit the number of times a batter can step out of the box to one per at bat and I believe we should limit the number of visits to the mound by the catcher or other players to one per inning. This would not include visits made by the manager or pitching coach. I see no entertainment value in watching a hitter adjust his gloves, sweatbands, cap, shirt, pants, socks and rebalance his investment portfolio after every pitch. I also don’t get a huge kick out of watching a mound meeting three times per half inning. Call me crazy but I think baseball would be better with less posturing and more playing. - Ron Arnst
For up to the minute information about the Goldeyes, check us out on Twitter.
GoldeyesGM on Twitter
Winnipeg Goldeyes on Twitter
Until next time…
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
From the Desk of the GM - October 27, 2009
“World Series 2009 and Instant Replay”
The 2009 World Series will feature the Phillies and the Yankees. So, my prognostication wasn’t bang on, only 50% right. The Phillies were just too much for the Dodgers both on the mound and at the plate. The Yankees seem to be firing on all cylinders as well. A-Rod is doing what a guy paid $50 million per year should be doing, and the two huge off-season acquisitions in Sabathia and Burnett are, thus far, making Brian Cashman look like a genius. Andy Pettite hasn’t looked too bad either for an “old” guy.
It should be a great series played out in two places that will have similar weather to Winnipeg in late October/early November. It’s going to be cold and windy so it will be interesting which team is most affected. The Phillies didn’t seem to have any issues with the cold last year and will be looking to be the first team to repeat as champions since the Yankees did it back in 1999 & 2000.
One common theme to this year’s post-season has been incredibly bad umpiring. There haven’t just been a few bang-bang plays missed, there have been more than a few blatant terrible calls, right in front of the ump making the call. In this writer’s humble opinion, it is time for instant replay to be used in major league baseball, and for more than just home run calls. The technology is there, why not use it? Why not get the call right? The NFL uses it, as does the NHL. Mr. Selig needs to embrace technology instead of continuing to stick his head in the sand and pretend it isn’t there, or that it doesn’t belong in the game.
While listening to a sports talk show on the drive home this week, a sports writer was discussing instant replay and his thoughts on what should happen. His idea was to have each team be allowed one challenge per game. One challenge per game by each team is not going to dramatically increase the length of the games. If each team has one challenge, they aren’t going to use it to challenge a close play at first, or whether a guy was tagged out trying to steal second. They will use them on plays similar to the play in the Yankees/Angels game where Nick Swisher was called out on appeal for tagging up too soon on a fly ball. If that play was challenged it would have taken about four seconds for replay to show that he did not tag too early and the run would have stood. That game ended up being a blow out, but what if the Yankees had lost that game by one run?
If you agree with me on instant replay, or not, or if you want to give me your prediction on the outcome of the World Series, send me a note to andrew@goldeyes.com. Also, let me know in your email if I can use it in an upcoming blog.
I’m sticking with my earlier prediction of the Yankees winning it all in 6.
Go Yankees!
For up to the minute information about the Goldeyes, check us out on Twitter.
GoldeyesGM on Twitter
Winnipeg Goldeyes on Twitter
Until next time…
The 2009 World Series will feature the Phillies and the Yankees. So, my prognostication wasn’t bang on, only 50% right. The Phillies were just too much for the Dodgers both on the mound and at the plate. The Yankees seem to be firing on all cylinders as well. A-Rod is doing what a guy paid $50 million per year should be doing, and the two huge off-season acquisitions in Sabathia and Burnett are, thus far, making Brian Cashman look like a genius. Andy Pettite hasn’t looked too bad either for an “old” guy.
It should be a great series played out in two places that will have similar weather to Winnipeg in late October/early November. It’s going to be cold and windy so it will be interesting which team is most affected. The Phillies didn’t seem to have any issues with the cold last year and will be looking to be the first team to repeat as champions since the Yankees did it back in 1999 & 2000.
One common theme to this year’s post-season has been incredibly bad umpiring. There haven’t just been a few bang-bang plays missed, there have been more than a few blatant terrible calls, right in front of the ump making the call. In this writer’s humble opinion, it is time for instant replay to be used in major league baseball, and for more than just home run calls. The technology is there, why not use it? Why not get the call right? The NFL uses it, as does the NHL. Mr. Selig needs to embrace technology instead of continuing to stick his head in the sand and pretend it isn’t there, or that it doesn’t belong in the game.
While listening to a sports talk show on the drive home this week, a sports writer was discussing instant replay and his thoughts on what should happen. His idea was to have each team be allowed one challenge per game. One challenge per game by each team is not going to dramatically increase the length of the games. If each team has one challenge, they aren’t going to use it to challenge a close play at first, or whether a guy was tagged out trying to steal second. They will use them on plays similar to the play in the Yankees/Angels game where Nick Swisher was called out on appeal for tagging up too soon on a fly ball. If that play was challenged it would have taken about four seconds for replay to show that he did not tag too early and the run would have stood. That game ended up being a blow out, but what if the Yankees had lost that game by one run?
If you agree with me on instant replay, or not, or if you want to give me your prediction on the outcome of the World Series, send me a note to andrew@goldeyes.com. Also, let me know in your email if I can use it in an upcoming blog.
I’m sticking with my earlier prediction of the Yankees winning it all in 6.
Go Yankees!
For up to the minute information about the Goldeyes, check us out on Twitter.
GoldeyesGM on Twitter
Winnipeg Goldeyes on Twitter
Until next time…
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