Joba, Michael Kay and me (A Love Story)

MLB Baseball: JOBA WATCH

(Note: This was to appear on Wednesday Morning but due to poor internet service at Sal's Keeper's house [56k Modem] it appears today!)

So the game YES has been hyping for weeks happened... and what a flop it was.

Joba's first ever Major League start, his first ever pitching line as a starter is...

2.1 IP, 2 R, 4 walks but yet the Yankees fans were giving him a standing ovation. To which I reply, "wtf?"! These same fans rode Kevin Brown, Hideki Irabu and Jack McDowell's hide when they had bad outings (and did they), so much at times that McDowell responded to the Bronx cheer with the number one sign (though not the one where the index finger is used).

I love the two facing of Yankee fans, because they seem to be so knowledgeable and so caring of their team that they will just destroy their own players if they, as fans, don't feel satisfied. Case in point, Roger Maris. The New York press along with Yankee fans killed Roger Maris. While some might question Maris's heart or his head to handle the limelight of the Big Apple, I think Yankee fans need to examine themselves. Here was a man who wanted to play ball and hit home runs to help his team and fans are attacking him, booing him, causing him to lose his hair from stress. Then as soon as he hit #61, he gets a loud cheer and the Yankees dugout makes him tip his hat. Shame on Roger. Ted Williams would have never done that as a Yankee and Jack McDowell would have given two birds.

Though the media is partially to blame. The YES Network, owned by the team, massages itself with its broadcasting crew filled with partially knowledgeable broadcasters such as John Sterling, Michael Kay and numerous ex-Yankees who have little to no personality (sorry David Cone, but this means you). For those who live in New York and have to live with this network, YES was promoting Joba's start a week in advance. The promos were nearly proclaiming the divine rebirth of the Yanks. It's amazing to note that he was starting against another poor AL East team (like many of his relief appearances last year) and also that he has never started in a game in AAA or above prior to his start on Tuesday (thanks to zooperstar on that).

As Joba was relieved of his duty, Michael Kay said that he will, no doubt, get a standing ovation from this crowd. My jaw dropped because how in the world would that deserve an ovation. Throwing 8 shutout innings deserves an ovation. Hitting a game winning home run deserves an ovation. Striking out 21 batters deserves an ovation, not pitching two and a third and walking 4 batters.

Whatever happened to telling it like it is, it was a poor outing and Yankee fans need to seriously reevaluate the power of the pinestripes. There a new team in the AL East doing some talking and they're from Tampa Bay.

Sal Fasano Says: Seriously, Tampa Bay? He should have been traded there.