01/26: Met Johnny Damon
Posted by: Patrick
I briefly met Johnny Damon at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida last week. He made a scheduled appearance at the Puma booth. He was about 45 minutes late, if I recall, but my brother, Sean, and I were like the 6th and 7th people in line (after a couple of people felt they needed to cut, of course).
The Puma people didn't really think the whole thing through because they had a closed booth. Most of the booths at the PGA Show you can simply walk into easily. But, this one was closed at all sides with a relatively small entrance at the front. You can just walk right in, if you want, but it's not as inviting as most other booths. They do this to limit casual browsers, I'm sure and try to make it so that the people who go in are people who really want to buy Puma products for their golf club/organization.
We got there about 45 minutes early (scheduled for 4:00 PM) and got in line once someone else started one. And the line got longer... and longer... and longer. It was quite long when Johnny arrived. I don't think the Puma people expected this. I think they wanted it to be a sort of VIP event for people who were going to most likely buy Puma products - not the average Joe. They had some sort of deal with Nintendo where they had a Wii set up inside and, hours before it had set up, one of the Puma representatives had said that it would be an informal meet and greet with Johnny playing the Wii, etc.
But, if a VIP only event is what they wanted to do, they didn't do it as they should have because they listed him in the official expo publications (magazines, websites, etc.) as a celebrity appearance. If you do that, it's open to everyone, really. If you want it to be VIP only, you tell your VIPs directly and hand out invite passes during the day to come back later and meet Johnny. You don't advertise it. While they were generally nice and accommodating, I got the feeling that it didn't go exactly as they had dreamed. Still, it went well and it was cool to meet him.
Since it was a closed space, they only let a certain number of people in at a time. Maybe 20 or so. My brother and I went in with the first group. We spotted Johnny talking to some reporter or something and then spotted someone who was in line ahead of us talking to him, giving me an idea of where we needed to go to meet him. So, we waited a second and then walked right up to him. There were a lot of people waiting, so it was a quick thing, maybe a minute tops. We just shook his hand, introduced ourselves and said that we were big Yankees fans and got his autograph (plus one for my little brother who went home early). He was glad to sign the extra one, thanked us for coming out and seemed like a really nice guy. His attention was then called to by someone else. We were going to try to get a picture, but I didn't want to take up any more of his time with a line like that. Though I didn't study him by any means, he did appear to be in good shape which can only mean good things for us this season.
(While walking the floor, I also spotted Scottie Pippen and we met John Barmon, the actor that played Spaulding Smails in the classic movie, Caddyshack. Very nice man, as well).
The Puma people didn't really think the whole thing through because they had a closed booth. Most of the booths at the PGA Show you can simply walk into easily. But, this one was closed at all sides with a relatively small entrance at the front. You can just walk right in, if you want, but it's not as inviting as most other booths. They do this to limit casual browsers, I'm sure and try to make it so that the people who go in are people who really want to buy Puma products for their golf club/organization.
We got there about 45 minutes early (scheduled for 4:00 PM) and got in line once someone else started one. And the line got longer... and longer... and longer. It was quite long when Johnny arrived. I don't think the Puma people expected this. I think they wanted it to be a sort of VIP event for people who were going to most likely buy Puma products - not the average Joe. They had some sort of deal with Nintendo where they had a Wii set up inside and, hours before it had set up, one of the Puma representatives had said that it would be an informal meet and greet with Johnny playing the Wii, etc.
But, if a VIP only event is what they wanted to do, they didn't do it as they should have because they listed him in the official expo publications (magazines, websites, etc.) as a celebrity appearance. If you do that, it's open to everyone, really. If you want it to be VIP only, you tell your VIPs directly and hand out invite passes during the day to come back later and meet Johnny. You don't advertise it. While they were generally nice and accommodating, I got the feeling that it didn't go exactly as they had dreamed. Still, it went well and it was cool to meet him.
Since it was a closed space, they only let a certain number of people in at a time. Maybe 20 or so. My brother and I went in with the first group. We spotted Johnny talking to some reporter or something and then spotted someone who was in line ahead of us talking to him, giving me an idea of where we needed to go to meet him. So, we waited a second and then walked right up to him. There were a lot of people waiting, so it was a quick thing, maybe a minute tops. We just shook his hand, introduced ourselves and said that we were big Yankees fans and got his autograph (plus one for my little brother who went home early). He was glad to sign the extra one, thanked us for coming out and seemed like a really nice guy. His attention was then called to by someone else. We were going to try to get a picture, but I didn't want to take up any more of his time with a line like that. Though I didn't study him by any means, he did appear to be in good shape which can only mean good things for us this season.
(While walking the floor, I also spotted Scottie Pippen and we met John Barmon, the actor that played Spaulding Smails in the classic movie, Caddyshack. Very nice man, as well).
Posted by: Patrick
From The Canberry Times:
The report notes that Perkins will join the organization in 2010 as a catcher, after finishing up school.
Via Steve via Repoz.
The latest Canberra teenager bound for the big US baseball leagues is expected to sign a seven-year deal with the New York Yankees today.
Kyle Perkins, 16, joins the world's most renowned baseball club after being spotted by a Yankees scout during last year's under-18 national championship in Western Australia.
Kyle Perkins, 16, joins the world's most renowned baseball club after being spotted by a Yankees scout during last year's under-18 national championship in Western Australia.
The report notes that Perkins will join the organization in 2010 as a catcher, after finishing up school.
Via Steve via Repoz.
Posted by: Patrick
The AP has a long, but interesting interview with Hank Steinbrenner, covering many topics, from his dad and the Yankees teams of the mid to late 90s to his favorite clutch hitter and more.
Via Steve.
"I will be patient with the young pitchers and players. There's no question about that because I know how these players develop,'' he said. "But as far as missing the playoffs - if we miss the playoffs by the end of this year, I don't know how patient I'll be. But it won't be against the players. It won't be a matter of that. It will be a matter of maybe certain people in the organization could have done something else.'' ...
"Don't make any mistake about it: Our team in the late 90s beat everybody, and we beat everybody because we were that much better than everybody,'' he said. "And they had just as many players doing stuff - all the teams. I guarantee you go through every team in baseball, and they all have the same basic percentage of players doing stuff. They just weren't as good as us. You think the Red Sox didn't have players doing stuff back then? Give me a ... break. They just weren't as good as us, and neither was anybody else.'''
"Don't make any mistake about it: Our team in the late 90s beat everybody, and we beat everybody because we were that much better than everybody,'' he said. "And they had just as many players doing stuff - all the teams. I guarantee you go through every team in baseball, and they all have the same basic percentage of players doing stuff. They just weren't as good as us. You think the Red Sox didn't have players doing stuff back then? Give me a ... break. They just weren't as good as us, and neither was anybody else.'''
Via Steve.
01/25: Post Source: Cano Deal Done
Posted by: Patrick
A source told the Post that the Yankees have signed Robbie Cano to a 4 year, $30 million dollar contract with two option years, making it a 6 year deal, potentially.
Via SG.
Via SG.
Posted by: Patrick
From the official site:
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has rearranged its schedule of depositions or taped interviews in its review of Major League Baseball's performance-enhancing drug issue, moving Roger Clemens back from this coming Saturday until Feb. 5.
Brian McNamee, his former personal trainer, has been moved from next Thursday to Feb. 7.
Brian McNamee, his former personal trainer, has been moved from next Thursday to Feb. 7.
Posted by: Patrick
Ken Rosenthal reports that, according to sources, the Yankees are close to a four year, $30 million dollar deal with Robinson Cano. He mentions that the deal is expected to include club options that would allow the Yankees to pick up 1-2 years of free agency. Sounds good to me. Let's lock up Robbie and Wang.
Via Tony Gicas.
Via Tony Gicas.
Posted by: Patrick
From the Times:
Via Tony Gicas via Rotoworld.com.
José Canseco, the former major league slugger and admitted steroid user who exposed other players in his 2005 best-selling book “Juiced,” offered to keep a Detroit Tigers outfielder “clear” in his next book if the player invested money in a film project Canseco was promoting, according to a person in baseball with knowledge of the situation. ...
Four people in baseball confirmed that referrals were made from Major League Baseball to the F.B.I. regarding Canseco’s actions relating to the six-time All-Star outfielder Magglio Ordóñez, who was not mentioned in Canseco’s earlier book or in any other report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. All four insisted on anonymity because they said they didn’t have authority to speak about the events.
Four people in baseball confirmed that referrals were made from Major League Baseball to the F.B.I. regarding Canseco’s actions relating to the six-time All-Star outfielder Magglio Ordóñez, who was not mentioned in Canseco’s earlier book or in any other report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. All four insisted on anonymity because they said they didn’t have authority to speak about the events.
Via Tony Gicas via Rotoworld.com.
Posted by: Patrick
On his blog, Phil Hughes talks about the loss of velocity that he experienced last year.
After coming back from my injury last season my mechanics were a little out of whack. This led to a little loss of velocity and command. When Dave arrived in September we were able to work out some things and I think that had a lot to do with the success I had at the end of the season. It was nice to finish off the year on a good note so I have something to work toward to get back to my normal self in 2008.
Posted by: Patrick
Trentonian.com has an interview with Yankees prospect Alan Horne.
Via Ben.
after the Tommy John surgery?
A: I think everybody goes through that who has that surgery even as high a success rate as it is. There’s plenty of people who just do not come back to play the sport. It’s something that’s going to be in the back of your mind, but it’s not going to be something you really think about. You’ve just got to continue to put in the work every day and it’s a very strenuous physical and mental program and it’s definitely something that I went through. I don’t think there’s a single guy that’s had the surgery that can tell you it didn’t cross their mind at some point in time.
Q: On the other side of the coin, some people have said some pitchers come back even stronger after Tommy John. Did you notice any of that?
A: No, not particularly with me that I can tell any stronger or anything like that.
I do feel like my endurance is really a lot better as far as my arm goes. It really doesn’t get sore or really that tired any more. I didn’t have a big spike in velocity or anything that. I’ve come back pretty much as I was before. So I didn’t have anything there, but I feel good over a longer period of time now.
A: I think everybody goes through that who has that surgery even as high a success rate as it is. There’s plenty of people who just do not come back to play the sport. It’s something that’s going to be in the back of your mind, but it’s not going to be something you really think about. You’ve just got to continue to put in the work every day and it’s a very strenuous physical and mental program and it’s definitely something that I went through. I don’t think there’s a single guy that’s had the surgery that can tell you it didn’t cross their mind at some point in time.
Q: On the other side of the coin, some people have said some pitchers come back even stronger after Tommy John. Did you notice any of that?
A: No, not particularly with me that I can tell any stronger or anything like that.
I do feel like my endurance is really a lot better as far as my arm goes. It really doesn’t get sore or really that tired any more. I didn’t have a big spike in velocity or anything that. I’ve come back pretty much as I was before. So I didn’t have anything there, but I feel good over a longer period of time now.
Via Ben.
01/24: Knoblauch Missing
Posted by: Patrick
From the AP:
Via Peter Abraham.
Former major leaguer Chuck Knoblauch had not been tracked down as of early Wednesday evening by federal marshals trying to serve him a subpoena from a House panel investigating steroids in baseball, a committee staffer told The Associated Press. ...
Knoblauch, a four-time All-Star who played for the Yankees, Twins and Royals from 1991-02, originally was asked to appear Thursday for what was supposed to be the first of five depositions or transcribed interviews scheduled by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Knoblauch, a four-time All-Star who played for the Yankees, Twins and Royals from 1991-02, originally was asked to appear Thursday for what was supposed to be the first of five depositions or transcribed interviews scheduled by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Via Peter Abraham.
