Presumably Hank Steinbrenner voted for Hillary; he’s got that defining sense of entitlement. And the ability to blame his troubles on something other than his own actions.
Of course it’s easy to laugh at the New York Yuckees. Particularly in a year when their astronomical payroll has barely got them a .500 record. But it’s particularly easy when Steinbrenner blames the National League for hurting his best pitcher by forcing him to run the bases, an amazingly difficult task for an American Leaguer.
“My only message is simple. The National League needs to join the 21st century,” Steinbrenner said in Tampa, Fla. “They need to grow up and join the 21st century.“Am I (mad) about it? Yes,” Steinbrenner added. “I’ve got my pitchers running the bases, and one of them gets hurt. He’s going to be out. I don’t like that, and it’s about time they address it. That was a rule from the 1800s.”
You can see his point, despite the irrelevant BS about rules from two centuries back. After all, the only point to the existence of major league baseball is to anoint the Yuckees, who deserve the title of World Champions every year regardless of their performance, because they spend more money than anyone else.
The pinstripes’ payroll is nearly four times that of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who lead them by three and a half games in today’s standings. Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi combined (you can substitute Derek Jeter for either if you like) make more per year than the Devil Rays’ entire team. I suppose A-Rod’s playoff record justifies his $28 million. Which by itself is more than the Florida Marlins payroll.
Plus, they play in New York, which in itself should guarantee them first place.
Unfortunately there’s the small matter of the rules. Long ago the AL decided its pitchers were not real baseball players, so they should not be forced to hit or run. On the rare occasions when they have to, they look like inept Little Leaguers, and it’s not unknown for them to hurt themselves doing something they never practice. The AL has retained this system, despite the harm its teams suffer every year in the World Series, for reasons unknown but likely related to the stubbornness, not to say stupidity, of the owners.
I’m aware of the Bill James argument that there is more strategy for the managers in the AL. He points out that in the NL there are many times when a player switch is required by the situation, and claims that such switches are not strategic because there’s no decision to be made, while in the AL managers must decide whether their pitcher can still get outs, regardless of the batting order. But that’s a separate argument, based on managers. I’m talking about whether a player is a real player, or just a part-timer.
“It is a manager’s worst nightmare when a pitcher is on a basepath,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “It is unfortunate.”
Tell him not to swing.
I voted for Senator Clinton. I am not rich. I do not have any particular sense of entitlement. I am no more or less racist than people who voted for Obama. I am just god damned sick of being insulted by all the sore winners in the Obama camp who should really be Republicans (you have their ability to maintain a sense of victim-hood even after you've won). You can't even write a sports post without putting in a dig at Clinton supporters. No power on earth could make me vote for McCain, but Obama supporters could make me stay home.
Posted by: cathy on June 17, 2008 7:33 AMHaving re-read my post, I don't see where I made any claim that Clinton supporters have a sense of entitlement, just that she does. That seems clear. Nor did I claim that they are rich, or racist for that matter. Steinbrenner is rich, of course, but I have no reason to think he's racist. Dumb, maybe. But that has nothing to do with Clinton supporters.
Note also that I predicted over a year ago that Obama would win, and that I wouldn't be able to vote for him. Nothing since then has caused me to change my opinion on either score. Thus I'm not an Obama supporter. Or a Clinton supporter, either Clinton. I didn't vote for him either time, or his VP, or Kerry either.
If you can't vote for Obama, join the club.
Finally, I note the importance of the war in the final outcome of the election. If Hillary had either done the right thing and voted against the war, or at least apologized for doing the wrong thing, she might well have won.
Posted by: Chuck Dupree on June 17, 2008 2:33 PM