boom! goes the dynamite.
Yup, the Twinkies won and smoked a phat one while the ChiSox did not inhale…
YEA, and Mauer played a hell of a 1B… 
I know there are a lot of Yankee haters up in this place, and I can understand despising a team very easily. I am astounded by my own irrationally extreme ‘dislike’ of the Cowboys. But all team loyalties aside, I need to mention how incredible a day it was for baseball in general this past Saturday, and not just because Jeter got his 3000th hit.
There was an inspirationally great day for baseball in NY this past weekend, and sure it’s really great if you are a Yankee fan because they took 2 out of 3 from the Rays, but there was something more going on at the stadium for those 48 thousand people, that went beyond the winning and losing of a game.
There was a focused energy of love for a pretty much unassuming player, much akin to a guy like Ripkin, who just came to work everyday and gave it his all without half the hype of most of the ‘bigger’ names in baseball. And Jeter is not a ‘great’ player as much as he’s consistently recognized as being a great person. And on the incredibly beautiful day in the Bronx this weekend, 48 thousand of his fans came out to respond to that fact and express there admiration.
And, as magically as Phish responds musically when the audience focuses their love back to the stage, Jeter magically went 5 for 5, driving the winning run home with a single, and driving his 3000th hit into the left field stands. The statistical odds of this happening to a player with Jeter’s numbers lately were pretty impossible, and yet, with every at bat, it seemed like a hit was inevitable. And everyone knew it, almost as a matter of fact.
But what topped the day even more was the hero the hero begat, possibly as the spirit of the whole day had intended. Christian Lopez was the one out of 48000 who ended up with Jeter’s 3000th hit, and instead of walking off with his prize ball rumored to be worth 250K at auction, decided to give it back to his hero. From his attempted explanation, he recognized that there were more important things in his life than money. Things like baseball and the hero player he had grown up admiring, and loving for the heart he put into the game.
Saturday was an amazing love fest for a lot of people, and frankly it’s a good thing to see happening in this country than most of what is thrown out in front of us every day. Yes I’m a Yankee fan, and it’s easy for me to feel this elated about Saturday, but it doesn’t diminish that it was a great day for baseball just because there was some powerful positive emotions together in one place.
^Great move by that kid. Although I heard this morning that the state is forcing him to pay taxes on the season tix and gear and that he already owes like $100,000 in tuition for college. That blows.
Oh, and YANKEES SUCK!!! 
^that’s why his old man wanted him to keep and sell the ball. To pay all of that nonsense off.
But who’s to say that his moment of glory isn’t worth being in a financial hole? Have to believe his good heart will be rewarded. That’s what makes fairy tales.
I just learned that a good friend of mine is the pitching coach for the Peninsula Pilots. They are in the Coastal league, which is a wooden bat league that plays in VA and NC, and made up of mostly college kids and a few select high schoolers. One of the high school kids leads the team and was just drafted by the Yankee’s, Jake Cave. Though he’s committed to LSU, I guess he’ll need to decide which path is his.
Now, I’m all for good things humanity, and I think that Jeter should step up and either :
a) pay off the kids student loans
b) pay off the taxes that the kid is being charged for all the fluff the Yankees gave him
I mean, it’s not like the money would hurt Jeter, and it’s like a hugely ginormous “thanks man!” for returning the ball with no strings attached.
Either that or give the kid a weekend with Mika Kelly! 
I mean, isn’t $100,000 worth the chance to stick your finga in Minka’s stinka!
(really that last sentence was just a chance to type out "Minka’s stinka!)
I think “kid” is a stretch. The guy’s bigger than two Jeters.
Yeah, not so much a kid, but the sentiment is still the same.
…and the dismantling of my NY Mets begins…
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/columns/story?columnist=oconnor_ian&id=6764570
Did anyone else watch the Home-run derby?
Was that not the best one in years?
The homers were awesome, but the story line was perfect.
Robinson Cano having his father pitch to him! So cool.
Especially seeing the love between them with the hugs.
…Not to mention him & A. Gonzalez crushing the ball.
And the NL won the All-Star Game! 
Did anyone see that guy who died right in front of his kid when he leaped to catch the baseball the other day?
That was horrible.
Yeah, I heard about that, but I can’t bring myself to watch the video.
That whole story is heartbreaking.
Kid’s first game.
Drove like 3 hours to get there.
Hamilton is the kid’s favorite player.
Dad was awake when they took him out, telling the paramedics to look after his kid 'cause he was alone.
Not to mention that a recovering addict was the one who tossed the ball.
I hope this doesn’t send him spinning.
Just a terrible story all around… 
Ouch, pretty weak performance for the AL last night. Of course, when you’ve got CJ Wilson pitching in the 4th inning of the All Star Game, it’s probably expected…all those pitchers that didn’t play certainly didn’t help things. And what’s with Washington knowing that certain pitchers weren’t playing yet still not letting anyone go more than 1 inning…weak.
As for the hitting, I blame Derek Jeter. Yes, because he didn’t show up, everyone was demoralized and thus couldn’t hit. Now, I don’t believe any of this but I like to blame Jeter for things. And seriously, Jeter…pay for the guy’s college tuition!
From the SF Chronicle:
The fan who returned Derek Jeter’s ball from his 3,000th hit will get a bit of memorabilia to keep - his own baseball card.
Topps says it will produce a trading card featuring Christian Lopez that will be included in sets later this year.
“We thought what he did captures the essence of what baseball and the Topps company is about,” said Mark Sapir, Topps vice president for sports.
The recent college graduate with outstanding student loans will get some financial help, too.
Memorabilia dealer Brandon Steiner and sporting goods CEO Mitch Modell said they will make sure Lopez gets at least $50,000 toward his outstanding student loans of $150,000.
Steiner set up an auction of memorabilia that will include baseballs signed by both Lopez and Jeter and said Modell is pledging 5 percent from the sale of Yankees-related merchandise at the Modell’s chain during “Christian Lopez Week.”
What impressed the sports executives - as well as countless fans across the country - was the way a 23-year-old mobile phone salesman passed on the chance to sell the ball.
Instead, Lopez gave it to Jeter, saying he deserved to have the keepsake.
“Can you believe how good a mensch this kid was?” Steiner said.
The promotional/marketting wheels are at work, so I don’t think Lopez will be in debt much longer.
^Yeah, I just read that today. Good times.
That’s pretty effing cool.
I want my own baseball card!
Word on the street here in Chicago (ESPN 1000) is that Soriano may be on the move! Looks like we may have found an AMERICAN league team to take on some of this guys contract. Who in the right mind… Don’t worry Chicago fans, we will be eating about %75 of his remaining salary-making this financially, the worst deal EVER in baseball! Congrats to Jim Hendry!
At this point, I don’t think it’s that bad. Pay what you got to pay, and get him the hell out of here!
Go young, let the kids play, and see what we have to work with next year.
Then, during the off season, the $40 million will come off the books, move some of the other big names, and make some room for Fielder and the kids.
Fielder is young enough that you can build a team around him, while he still gets his money.
Next, hog tie Hendry, throw him on the Metra, and see where he ends up. Do whatever you have to do to NOT bring him back next year.
On the same note, sorry Quade, but you had your shot and it didn’t work out. Yes, you were surrounded by crappy talent, but c’mon, not even 40 wins by the All-Star break??? See ya…
At this point, go back to Sandburg with your tail between your legs, tell him you made a mistake, and offer him the position. He’s been working in the minors with many of the kids you’re going to bring up, so there is that familiarity there. Besides that, he’s been pretty damn successful with these kids, so give it a shot. Can’t be much worse than what we’ve got this year.
So then, when Sandburg gets the job, he’s going to bring in Greg Maddux as the new pitching coach. This just has success written all over it.
And finally, Ricketts needs to just come out and say, “hey, bare with us. We are officially rebuilding, but in 2-3 years we are going to be as competitive as we’ve ever been. Just stay with us.”
That, and STOP RAISING TICKET PRICES!!!
Now, with all that said, we’re only 12.5 out of the NL central lead!!!
THIS IS THE YEAR!!!
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out Soriano!
I don’t give a shit if the Cubs paid another team to take him and his salary in full. Get him outta here.
And if he in fact does go back to the Evil Empire we might be able to convince them to actually pay his contract.
Next, Aramis Ramirez.
Hendry will go when Quade goes. Which will probably be at the end of the season.
I mean why fire Quade now? It’s not like anyone would want this job and really, what would that accomplish?