Talk Bronx New York

Much has been made about this year’s World Series champions, the New York Yankees, and their astronomical payroll. Many critics point to the estimated $208 million the Yankees spent in player salaries in 2009, and claim the “Bronx Bombers” simply “bought” the World Series championship. While it’s true that the Yankees far outspent any of their opponents this past season, it’s hard to argue with the results: they are baseball’s best in 2009.

With this in mind, we’ve decided to take a look at World Series champions over the past 10 years and analyze whether big bucks can buy World Series success.

The Yankees have spent big dollars throughout the decade, and it’s paid off with playoff appearances in nine of the past 10 seasons, and four World Series appearances, but you’ll never believe how much they actually spent to get there. With the likes of A-Rod, Jeter and CC, the Yankees were able to bring the World Series championship back to the Bronx for the first time since 2000. The Red Sox have matched the Yanks as far as titles, and have kept up with New York in spending as best they could. It took a group of “idiots” and the greatest series comeback in postseason history to reverse the Curse of the Bambino in 2004. Read more..

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This has to happen. Pedro Martinez has to take the ball in the Bronx tonight and cut and curve and quick-pitch the overhyped Yankees hitters into knots. He has to lick those long fingers and throw those 76 mph high changeups and put the entire tri-state region into a palpable state of panic.

He has to beat the Yankees tonight, force a Game 7 and hand some smart tabloid editor the chance to make backpage history. Pedro has to glare in at Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez after punching them out in a big spot, and his photo has to appear tomorrow with the obvious headline:

The Man Who Stares At Goats.

This just has to happen. Pedro has to knock them out with his sheer force of will, just like George Clooney does to the real goats in those incessant TV commercials. This whole thing has unfolded like some kind of corny baseball movie. Only we don’t know how this one will turn out. You can go to the movies tonight, but I have news for you: Michael Jackson dies in the end. Pedro vs. the Yanks? We don’t know what’s going to happen.

All we know is that, for drama, for fun, for pure entertainment value, the Phillies have the perfect guy on the mound. Pedro has been called a lot of things in his brilliant career, but how about this for a first: best bargain in baseball. Commissioner Bud Selig ought to hand Martinez a bonus for all the eyeballs he will attract tonight. The Phillies signed Martinez for $2 million. For the record, the Red Sox [team stats] paid about 10 TIMES THAT for the worthless pitching trio of Brad Penny, John Smoltz and Takashi Saito. Read more..

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Pedro Martinez of the Philadelphia Photo | Pedro Martinez of the Philadelphia Phillies speaks to the media during a press conference at Yankee Stadium. (Nov. 3, 2009)

This will be Pedro’s 19th career start in the Bronx, including postseason action.

 Even Andy Pettitte and Derek Jeter discussed it  late Monday night, when it became apparent this World Series would return to the Bronx. The participants themselves are not oblivious to when they’re taking part in great baseball theater.

“Just how strange is this, after all the battles with him being in Boston?” Pettitte said, detailing the nature of his conversation with the Yankees’ captain. “I know I’ve faced him a bunch of times. I don’t know about the playoffs. I can’t really remember that.

“But in the course of a regular season, and big series, and stuff like that, and then to come full circle, this many years have passed, him with the Phillies and me back over here and stuff like that, it’s going to be neat.”

Need we even introduce the mystery person of whom Pettitte speaks? You of course know that it’s Pedro Martinez, set to start for the Phillies tonight in World Series Game 6.

Looking, with his team trailing 3-2 in games, to keep the Yankees from going up the same Canyon of Heroes to which Pedro could not lead the Mets.

Martinez, as he often does, credited his God, to help him “actually have such a long career go full cycle around. Actually be able to compete once again in a World Series, on one of the biggest stages. Just see two old goats out there doing the best they can and having fun with it.” Read more..

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Pedro Martinez faces the New York Yankees on the biggest stage of them all tonight, as he tries to give the Philadelphia Phillies a commanding two games to none lead in the World Series at Yankee Stadium.
Hated by Yankee fans during his time with the Boston Red Sox, then later with the Mets, Martinez, is no stranger to the Bronx. In 32 regular-season starts against the Yankees, he has a record of 11-11 with a 3.20 earned run average.

“I think in every aspect, the way you guys have used me and abused me since I’ve been coming to [Yankee] Stadium,” said Martinez on being cast as the villain to Yankee fans. “I remember quotes in the paper, ‘Here comes the man that New York loves to hate.’ The man? None of you have ever eaten steak with me or rice and beans with me to understand what I’m all about as a man. You might say the player, the competitor, but the man? You guys have abused my name. You guys have said so many things and have written so many things [about me].”

The veteran right-hander had been 8-4 in the old stadium and pitched perhaps his best game there back in 1999 when he allowed one hit and struck out 17 in a complete game win.

This, though, will be his first appearance in the new ballpark. Read more..

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What, the Yankees worry? The crushing Game 5 loss on Thursday? No big deal. Memories of the 2004 ALCS collapse to the Red Sox? That was a long time ago. The Yankees’ struggles in the past against the Angels? This is a different Yankees team. Torii Hunter’s bold plan for the Angels to “shock the world” this weekend in The Bronx? Get serious. “Coming into this series, all the talk was how they’ve dominated us over the years and how they were going to be a big problem for us,” Derek Jeter said. “And then, we’re up 3-1 and we lose one game and then people say, ‘Oh, well, we wasted an opportunity’ and ‘What’s wrong with the Yankees?’ It’s a long series. Last I checked, I think we’re in pretty good shape.” Andy Pettitte is not surprised the ALCS is back in The Bronx. The Yankees’ scheduled starter for Game 6 tonight knew the Angels were a terrific team before the series began - and he knows they remain one now. “This was not going to be an easy series,” Pettitte, the man poised to pitch the Yankees to their first World Series in six years, said yesterday. “I know I said all along that it was going to be a battle, and that’s what we’ve got on our hands.” Fresh off the Angels’ comeback victory in Game 5 in Anaheim (or the Yankees’ blown opportunity, if you prefer) the two teams will square off tonight at Yankee Stadium - weather permitting. Pettitte will be opposed by fellow left-hander Joe Saunders. The Yankees, despite blowing a two-run lead in the seventh inning of Game 5 and giving the Angels renewed confidence, publicly are certain about the series. It’s hard to blame them. They will be home for the next two games and they were baseball’s best home team this year. They’re undefeated at home in the playoffs (4-0) and even if they can’t clinch the series tonight, they will have CC Sabathia (who has been absurdly good in his three postseason starts) set to pitch again in Game 7. “We’re still in the driver’s seat,” pitching coach Dave Eiland said. “We’re up 3-2. We’re not down 3-2.” Nevertheless, Hunter vows his team will not go down without a fight. “I promise you, that’s the plan . . . to shock the world,” the Angels center fielder told The Post’s Kevin Kernan during a workout yesterday in Anaheim, Calif. “We never give up.” Read more..

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