O Captain, My Captain!

Longtime Boston Red Sox catcher and captain Jason Varitek has announced his retirement after 15 seasons with the team.

Varitek embraces Jon Lester after his no-hitter in 2008, Varitek's record fourth caught.

Varitek hit .221 with 11 homers and 36 RBIs off the bench in 2011. He played in a limited role, mostly when Tim Wakefield and Josh Beckett pitched. He hit .256 with 193 home runs and 757 RBIs over his 15-year career.

This move was forthcoming. With his colleague Tim Wakefield retiring and the direction in which the Red Sox are headed, this move was one I expected but hated to admit.

While Varitek is nowhere near Hall of Famer worthy in any respect, (unlike the previously mentioned Wakefield), in his prime he was one of the best catchers in the game and he holds the major league record with four no-hitters caught, (Hideo Nomo in 2001, Derek Lowe in 2002, Clay Buchholz in 2007, and Jon Lester in 2008).

I genuinely liked Jason Varitek and hoped he would return for another season.

He's the Mann!

Mario Manningham MUST return to the Giants in 2012 and beyond!

He is an integral part of the Giants offense and deserves to return on a 2 or 3 year deal. As a solid third wide receiver. The chemistry between him and Eli as well as his past performances proves his worth to the G-Men is far superior than it is to any other team.

Jerry Reese, I IMPLORE,

Bring back Mario Manningham!!!

Hot Stove!

Former New York Mets OF Mike Cameron has announced his retirement after 17 seasons in the major leagues. Cameron hit just .203 in 2011 but did manage to hit 9 home runs and drive in 27 runs. Cameron spent a total of 2 seasons patrolling right field for the Mets, a stint defined by his collision with Carlos Beltran in 2005 in San Diego.

Cameron rounds third after hitting a home run.

The End of An Era

After 17 seasons in Boston, RHP Tim Wakefield has announced his retirement from professional baseball.

"Although the Boston Red Sox and the fans here in New England will tell you that they were five outs away in the eighth inning, leading by three...AS BOONE HITS IT TO DEEP LEFT! THAT MIGHT SEND THE YANKEES TO THE WORLD SERIES! BOONE A HERO IN GAME SEVEN!" (Joe Buck)


Wake went 7-8 with a 5.12 ERA in 23 starts and a few relief appearances in 2011. He was 200-180 with a 4.41 ERA and 2,156 strikeouts in his career.

Wakefield was one of the few Red Sox players that I really, genuinely liked. I have fond memories of him, such as Aaron Boone's home run, both championships he helped the Sox win, and his willingness to do anything to help his team win. He was constantly bounced from starter to reliever, used as a setup guy, and even sometimes a closer. He was a genuine good guy who did much charitable work and I will miss seeing him play against the Yankees.

Now, folks, it is customary to ask this after a player retires: Will he make the Hall of Fame?

On first glance, that question seems like a joke. However, look at these career stats:

*Record (W-L): 200-180 (Third all-time in Red Sox history, behind Cy Young and Roger Clemens)
*Career ERA: 4.41
*2,156 strikeouts
*1-time All Star (2009, aged 42)-second oldest All Star ever named (Satchel Paige was 45).

*Red Sox career leader in innings pitched, games started as a pitcher, home runs allowed, walks allowed, hits allowed, losses, earned runs allowed, wild pitches, hit batsmen, and batters faced.

*7th on all time hit batters list
*.121 career batting average with 1 home run in 1993 for the Pirates.
*1995 American League comeback player of the year
*2010 Roberto Clemente Award winner
*2-time World Series Champion (the only two Red Sox championships since 1918)

Now consider this. Wakefield went through at least SEVEN (7) different catchers (talk about lack of consistency), as well as 11 different pitching coaches as well as many different bullpen coaches as he was alternated between starter and reliever.

John Cumberland: 1995-Jul 19, 1995
Al Nipper: July 19, 1995-May 1, 1996
Sammy Ellis: May 1, 1996-1996
Joe Kerrigan: 1997-August 16, 2001
John Cumberland: August 16, 2001-September 4, 2001
Ralph Treuel: September 4, 2001-2001
Tony Cloninger: 2002
Goose Gregson (Interim): April 5, 2003-April 22, 2003
Tony Cloninger: April 23, 2003-May 29, 2003
Goose Gregson (Interim): May 30, 2003-June 8, 2003
Dave Wallace: June 9, 2003-2005
Al Nipper (Interim): 2006-August 8, 2006
Dave Wallace: August 8, 2006-2006
John Farrell: 2007-2010
Curt Young: 2011

But you must also remember this.

Knuckleballers are a special type of pitcher. They can lose a game based on wild pitches, and are erratic, throwing 8 shutout innings, only to blow the lead in the ninth inning based on weather, (as weather can control where a knuckleball goes due to the pitch's lack of velocity).

Now, let's compare here,

Through the 1978 season, Hall of Famer Phil Niekro had won 197 games and lost 171.

Wake, on the other hand, had fashioned a record of 151-134.

So Niekro, going into what would seem to be the twilight of any career, was 26 games over .500. From age 40 through 48 he was an additional 18 games over .500

Now, Wakefield since hitting age 40 has gone 32-25, (as of 2009).

Now the first thing people will notice that Phil is plus-46 in the win column and is also plus-37 in the loss column.

Under the age of 40, Phil Niekro made 86 additional appearances, 83 of which were starts.

He also had an additional 83 decisions, which is not surprising when you see that as a product of his era Niekro had 245 career complete games to Wakefield’s 62.

Part of the strength of Phil Niekro’s case is that he is one of only 16 players with 3,000-plus strikeouts. But when you look at Phil vs. Wakefield in a head-to-head comparison, Wake strikes out 6.1/nine for his career, Niekro only 5.6/nine innings of work. Also remember that we are in the Steroid Era, where big, juiced up hitters like Rafael Palmiero and Jason Giambi tear up pitchers in blow out games using their "artificial" talent.

In 17 seasons, Wakefield averaged 13 wins per year, and a .535 winning percentage. Niekro's winning percentage is .537.

Wake only led the league in losses once, whereas Niekro did it four times (1977-1980). Both pitchers averaged about 78 walks per season, (more than Hall of Famer Goose Gossage).

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/181212-mr-wakefieldits-the-hall-on-line-one

Info courtesy of Paging Wakefield: It's the Hall on Line One? by David Allan of Bleacherreport.com.

The BOSOX will undoubtedly reitre his number 49, and induct him into their hall of fame. But, when it all comes down to it...

Tim Wakefield should go to the Hall of Fame, and as a longtime Yankee fan,

I couldn't argue against it.

Hot Stove!

The New York Yankees have dealt troubled starting pitcher A.J. Burnett to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In the deal, they received RHP Diego Montero and Exicardo Cayones. GRAND SLAM!!! I wish Burnett all the best and hope he can revive his career in Pittsburgh.

LHP Hideki Okijima failed his physical and will be released by the Yankees.

Time Warner Cable has FINALLY agreed to end the Madison Square Garden (MSG) Network blackout.

And finally, the Yankees will likely sign washed up outfielder Raul Ibanez and washed-up infielder Eric Chavez. They cannot hit, have a terrible arms, cannot play defense, and sre just plain old. These deals make NO SENSE and they will hurt the Yankees in the long run!

Chavez breaks his foot running. I know, it's hard for a 33 year old PRO ATHLETE to run...(yeah right...)

Lin-Sane In The Membrane!

The New York Knicks have been saved by Point Guard Jeremy Lin. With the Knicks falling to the point of no return, "Linsanity" seems to have saved their season. At 14-15 (hopefully going to .500 tonight), they are 8th in the Eastern Conference, but sailing along now with "Linsanity" in full swing. If Jeremy Lin, Carmelo Anthony, and Amare Stoudomire can work in a system and if the Knicks' defense can step up even slightly, this NBA season will bring about the beginning of a new era, a renaissance in New York Basketball.

One Last Look

With the rise of Lin-sanity, the end of the football season, and the NHL season well underway, let us not forget (but how could we?) that baseball is right around the corner.

But while most teams have their rosters set, a few free agents left could benefit the Yankees and the Mets...

Yankees
Eric Chavez is as good as retired. The Yankees have Ramiro Pena and Eduardo Nunez to replace him.

Jo-Jo Reyes, a lefty specialist, could provide a cheap, well-needed boost to the Yankees bullpen. If the Yankees don't see him as a solution, Arthur Rhodes could be picked up cheap and traded by July if need be.

Mets
The Mets bullpen hasn't gotten much better, save for Jon Rauch. Jason Isringhausen should return on a 1-year deal to help boost the pitching staff for 2012. Xavier Nady could also be a quality addition to the Mets, as the former Met and Yankee would be great off of the bench and could be found cheaply. If Nady won't do, then former Red Sox Shortstop and 2010 World Series MVP Edgar Renteria, a longtime favorite of mine, could serve as a backup infielder or pinch hitter off of the bench. And lastly, if Johan Santana is not healthy by opening day, re-signing Chris Young to a minor-league deal as a NON-ROSTER INVITEE could serve the Mets well, as he is a proven hitter and pitcher if he can remain healthy throughout the coming season.

Even though we may have reached the "bargain bin" free agents, if you will call them that, there are many of these types of players who can deliver in New York, and are worth a small gamble with the possibility of a huge reward.