FanNation

Phelps is Amazing

As a former high school swimmer (and not a particularly good one), I can tell you that it is a lot more than just swimming back and forth in a pool.  Most people think it's just swimming back and forth in a pool as fast as you can.  It may not demand that you sustain the physical punishment of a sport like football or rugby, and you don't necessarily have to have the gift of superhuman hand-eye coordination required for baseball.   But to be even a less than good high school swimmer, like I was, you do have to employ muscles from almost every inch of your body.  You need strong legs to kick, you need strong arms to pull you through the water.  You need to generate power from your chest and shoulders and you have to have a powerful core to speed through turns and tie it all together.  For four years in high school (not just the school season), I took part in practices -- ranging from 5,000 yards for a light practice to 12,000 yards for my coach's "Christmas Eve Bah-Humbug Special".  And for those that have never seen a practice, this is all done on intervals, so it's not just swimming back and forth until you swim x number of yards -- you swim 10 100 yd free style sprints on an interval, and usually the interval is designed to test you.

The Name No One Wanted to Hear....

Joba is making a doctor visit and Yankees fans are terrified.  Read my comments here:  http://illinoisemaker.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/08/the_name_no_one_wanted_to_hear.html

Playoff Push for the Cards and Yanks

Two interesting games yesterday, and I can only draw two conclusions from the outcomes....  The Yankees are alive and well, and while I still would not be shocked to see this team on the outside looking in when the playoffs start in October, the Rays and Red Sox have enough questions swirling about them that the Yankees could sneak past either of them and with the AL East or possibly the Wild Card if the Central Division teams continue to beat each other up.  Pitching is still a huge problem, but thankfully it looks like it might be just the rotation that needs to be addressed, and I still see a trade for a pitcher like Jarod Washburn.  The fact that the Yankees didn't blink at the deadline and give up more than was originally offered tells me that they'll get the help they need without crippling the organization for the future.

....Or Maybe I was Right about these Yankees

After two wins against the Red Sox, I started to believe.  The loss on Sunday didn't really change my thinking much -- they were due to lose one, and it's not like the Red Sox are a mediocre team or anything.  But then dropping two against the Orioles -- in humiliating fashion, no less -- and I'm wondering if a playoff berth is realistic again.

The comeback late in the game was a nice little boost, but ultimately it fell short, and as I was watching the game's final outs, I couldn't help but think "This is EXACTLY the type of game the Yankees ALWAYS won back in the late 90's".  I think Girardi is getting quite a bit out of this team.  I am just starting to float back a bit towards the realization that this team just isn't good enough to contend.

I think I may have been wrong about these Yankees

I've held to the assumption that this year's version of the Yankees didn't have what it took to make the playoffs.  Obviously, teams can change considerably at this time of year, and only a fool would think the Red Sox and Rays will stand pat as the trading deadline approches.  But, after taking the first two games from the Red Sox, today's in especially convincing fasion, I'm starting to think that Girardi's way is starting to settle in with this team, and this team might just have that intagible quality that can carry them into the post season.