AS I WAS SAYING...

It's been a week since my last "confession," so let's start with the Yankees.

***LOVE THAT INTERLEAGUE PLAY***
Everyone knows I'm no fan of Interleague play, but it's nice that the Yanks get a week off from playing those tough AL teams. They're all playing well and even when they lose, it's hard to be depressed, because you just knew they would win tomorrow. In the meantime, Boston has had their problems, which just sweetens the pot for New York. As I'm typing, the Yanks are three outs away from sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers, a game which really seemed to end in the third inning when Sabathia struck out Prince Fielder with the bases loaded.
Milwaukee has looked intimidated the whole series, making a number of mental & physical errors. I was impressed when centerfielder, Carlos Gomez sprinted over to leftfielder Ryan Braun, when it looked like Braun had lost a fly ball in the sun. Faint praise for a team in first place in the NL Central.

***IS HE WATCHING THE SAME GAMES WE ARE?***
Writer Wallace Matthews says the Yanks are in trouble because they have too many weak spots including shortstop, starting pitching, the bullpen and Designated Hitter. Boston is by far the best team in the AL, he says, because they have no holes. Well, Matthews, how about their shortstop(s), outfielder Jason "No-Hit" Bay, DL Carl Crawford, who has yet to display his skills, a suspect bullpen and starting pitching with only two reliable starters. I forgot to mention the Yanks 2 1/2 game lead. Hard to believe this guy covers the Yanks.
Just heard the Red Sox have designated Mike Cameron for assignment. And they were so happy when they stole him from NY.

Michael Kay brought up an interesting point: what happens when Bartolo Colon and Phil Hughes join the team? The Yanks will have 6 legitimate starters vying for 5 positions. Quite a change from last March when the Yanks had nothing solid behind CC, Burnett & Hughes. Michael's suggestion to put Colon in the bullpen might be the best idea.

***THE NAME GAME***
I'm getting a kick out of some of the names of the ballplayers. I'm not making fun of anyone, but it is interesting. For example:
1st base - Justin Smoak (Great Baseball name)
Lyle Overbay (Sounds more like a dental problem)
Picasner's choice: Lyle Overbay (I have a good dentist)
2nd base - Macier Izturis (Love the first name)
Juan Uribe (Seems like a letter is missing)
Picasner's choice: Macier Izturis (Not a good name if you have a lisp)
3rd base - Yunel Escobar (A common last name, but Yunel?)
Emilio Bonifacio (Gotta love a guy with a "good face")
Picasner's choice: Emilio Bonifacio (Probably should have waited to see a picture)
Shortstop - Asdrubal Cabrera (Of all the Cabreras, this is best first name)
Tsuyoshi Nishioka (I'd hate to be the typesetter on this one)
Yunieski Betancourt (It just sings to you, doesn't it?)
And the winner is: Yunieski Betancourt (How can you go against a 7 syllable name?)
Designated hitter - Edwin Encarnacion
Picasner's choice: C'mon, an eleven letter name? Look no further.

More names in the next post.

From RJ Currie, Sports Deke:
"The website BetUs.com has released odds on how many University of Florida athletes will get arrested in 2011. What's the Gator's motto anyway? Tote that barge; post that bail?"

CP-