Its a Festivus Miracle!

The New York Yankees just gave their fans a Festivus Miracle.  I've followed the Yanks for a long time but this one caught me by complete surprise. Mark Teixeira is now a Yankee! 

Nothing better than a slick-fielding, switch-hitting, good-hitting, first baseman for your team . . .

Best of all, this means someone else gets stuck with Manny Ramirez.

Update on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at 08:45AM by Kim Riddlebarger

To anyone wanting to whine about the Yankees "ruining baseball," please read Buster Olney's essay on the Yanks' recent maneuvers (Click here: ESPN - Buster Olney Blog) and this recent article on the Yankees' business plan in the NY Times (Click here: Sports Business - Tax Shelter Helps Yankees Afford Big Salaries - NYTimes.com)

Comments

[Felix Ayala]

Being a yankees fan is worse than being an arminian

Blech

[walt]

Happy festivus!

[John Yeazel]

Who says they might not go after Manny too? With the money they got I would not be surprised.

[matt holst]

I'm having a harder time reading this blog. What's next, a secret deal for Pujols?

[PB]

Remind me again why they needed public funds to help build the new stadium?

[Lloyd]

The biggest sports story of the day, continues to be the Boston Celtics (the Yanks of the NBA).

Celtcs fans are no longer trying to figure out which team can stop the C's on their way to their 18th title, but we are now trying to figure out which team this current edition compares to of Celtics lore.

The Celtics of the 1960's hold the pro sports record for most consecutive championships -- a remarkable eight in a row! The last one in 1969, when Bill Russell pulled down 40 rebounds in his last game as a player -- against Wilt Chamberlain, as the Celts, once again downed the Lakers for the championship. (They have defeated the Lakers in nine out of eleven NBA finals.)

[Charles S]

They spent almost half a billion dollars on three free agents...that should get them to 2nd place in the division behind Boston.

[Ken]

Go Sox!

Money can't buy you love (or a championship, at least not the Yankees).

[timinator]

matt holst,

Being a Yankee fan is a good thing. This blog has so many subjects like the Dog House to Christmas it has something for everyone. So quite winning like the Angel fans who lost last year and lost their first baseman Festivus.


Go Yankees! Go Yankees!

[James Paul]

Hey, all the more power to you and the Yanks. I live in a town whose teak will never afford such players but I'd surely never complain if they ever did. Baseball has never been fair, and it never will be.
But teams like the Yankees are under obligation to win it all, and if they don't it really looks bad on them. My Pirates are under no obligation to even finish .500, so if they do and if they even contend, its more of a big deal than the Yankees winning the world series, in my book.

In towns like Pittsburgh, we just get our baseball kicks playing fantasy leagues and owning players who will never don a Pirate uniform.
I've Mark Teixeira since he was a rookie so I know what theyre getting in him. If he's healthy, he'll hit alot of home runs.
A healthy Xavier Nady will hit great too, so considering the other good hitters, and Sabathia, if they dont win 100 games I'll be very surprised.

(Beware of Sabathia taking a while to get in a groove. I think his weight has a lot to do with why he usually stinks the first couple months).

[John Yeazel]

Something has to be done about this salary cap. There really is not a salary cap as major market teams have figured out the loopholes. With the rules as they stand we will never see the Pirates, Brewers, Royals or other small market teams compete in a World Series.

However, as the evil empire expands and consolidates power the drama of a David arising somewhere and slinging his rock in Goliath's grill makes baseball as fun to watch as ever. I still like the Rays in 09 even though i hold pipedreams for a subway series in Chicago.

Lloyd, I would not spout off my mouth so quick about the Celtics. It looks to me as if the Lakers have the better team this year-esp. when Gasol plays more aggressively. There looked to be some kinks in the armor of the Celtics this past game they played. I'm picking the Lakers to go all the way this year.

[Lloyd]

John:

Gasol is as soft as a Krispy Kreme donut. In the playoffs, the NBA calls a totally different game. They let the teams play a physical, half court game, and the good defensive teams always win. (Please notice how the Suns run everone out during the regular season, and they can never beat the more physical Spurs in the playoffs.)

You'll see Gasol (will someone please give him a bath?), revert back to his cream puff ways when the two teams meet again in Boston.

Also, the Celtics have had seven back to back games this season, so they were pretty tired, and they still almost beat the Lakers, even though the C's played poorly.

[John Yeazel]

Some good points Lloyd buy your bias and presuppostions may be getting the best of you. Gasol looked meaner and more aggressive than I have ever seen him. Personally, I like the players on the Celtics more than those on the Lakers. I was a bit miffed about Pierce's rather blatant open rebuke of Ray Allen during the game. It seemed a bit arrogant to me and arrogance can be the downfall of a team. Is Paul Pierce beginning to believe all the press clippings about himself instead of humbly playing his role on the team? Human nature usually cannot handle too much glory and when teams start believing that garbage they usually crumble under their own ego's.

[John Yeazel]

I meant to say but your bias not buy your bias- I do that all the time and do not catch my errors before posting.

[Lloyd]

Hi John:

Gasol is who he is. He is not an agressive player. The Lakers viewed the Celts game as a "must win." You'll see the real Gasol back in Boston. (A wimp doesn't just become a tough guy, if he is not born tough.)

I live in Phoenix, and the Suns are always fighting over which player gets the most touches. Paul Pierce never says stuff like that. In fact, Paul has even said that he is more than happy to be just a decoy, if it means winning. He is a true Celtc -- team first, stats second.

Please keep this in mind. The NBA playoffs are almost as physical as the NFL. Finesse teams like this current Lakers squad, do not fare well in such situations. Again, pls look at the Suns of a couple of years ago, against the physical Spurs. (By the way, the Suns are on the right track with ex-Spur Steve Kerr as G.M.)

How are you doing, in your new church?

Blessings,

Lloyd.

[John Y]

Thanks for asking Lloyd- they are going well. I am beginning to get more and more involved with some fellow Lutherans. I am involved in a couple reading groups going through the Book of Concord. In fact, the Church that started the John the Steadfast groups is one of those groups. It is in Naperville, Illinois and the leader of the group is Pastor Rossow. He is quite the interesting fellow- if Luther were living today I would imagine his personality would be like that of Pastor Rossow- even more so than Rod Rosenbladt. The Church is also having a national conference in February with Todd Wilken and Chris Rosebrough (extremetheology blog site) as the main speakers. Looking forward to that one. Hope things are going well with you.

I have had to go incognito on the Riddleblog as I have a new and disguised name at the end of my posts. Pretty tricky eh?

I enjoy your insights into the Celtic and Laker brewing (the word I want has escaped me) storm (that is not the word I wanted). The battles should intensify as the season goes on. We will see if you are right. The Cavaliers may become a part of the equation but I do not see them at the level of the Celtics and Lakers yet. If the Bulls can pick up some big men for Derek Rose they may be a team to watch in the near future. Rose is fun to watch play and is a nice kid. Do not let his passive disposition lull you to sleep- there is a fire that burns in him which you see glimpses of on occasion.

Your remarks about Gasol are interesting and funny- I think the Zen Master is trying to work on his head a bit. Perhaps Koby is too. I'm sure both teams will probably make some moves before the playoffs start to correct the weaknesses each team has in matchups with each other.

[John Y]

Have always been a fan of Steve Kerr too. I think he is a fellow Lutheran if I am not mistaken. An alumni of the Lutheran Lute Olson at the University of Arizona. Luke Walton also went their did he not? I know a lot of people do not like Bill Walton but I get a kick out of him. He always has some interesting commentary- even if it is a bit "off the wall" at times. He always has to bring some quote by Bob Dylan into his commentary.

[John Y]

I believe it was Steve Kerr who suggested to John Paxson that the Bulls hire the new no-name coach they have. He seems to be doing a pretty good job with the rebuilding Bulls. Not a real passionate guy but very patient and a good teacher. At least that is the word on the street about him.