All things baseball and some other stuff too... but mostly baseball
The On Deck Circle
Doctors of Mets catcher and Baseball Hall of Famer Gary Carter are deciding whether or not to give him more cancer treatment after several new tumors were found on his brain. The situation appears to be very grave. I hope the Mets push cancer research throughout the 2012 season with fans in New York and everyone visiting Citi Field. They can help make a huge community impact.
(via sportsnetny)
The long rumored release of new material from Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band has finally happened, as “We Take Care of Our Own”, the first single from Springsteen s 17th studio album Wrecking Ball (due in stores March 6) hit ITunes and Amazon.com Thursday.
At first listen this song left me thinking, this is familiar let strangely different. There are several reasons for this. As you listen to “We Take Care of Our Own.” you recall other messages from Springsteen songs past that resonate in the new material. At the same time you realize this is the first piece of music released without the saxophone stylings of the “Big man” Clarence Clemons whose saxophone is greatly missed. You can imagine how the song would sound different if he was still with us.
“We Take Care of Our Own” is “Badlands,” “Born in the USA”, “Long Walk Home”, “Living in the Future” and “Youngstown” all rolled into one but still with its own unique sound. It’s about remembering what is really really important and not abandoning those that got us to where we are today.
“We Take Care of Our own” is song about searching, longing for change. It’s about feeling abandon by those who are supposed to have our best interests at heart. It could be an anthem for the Occupy Wall Street movement, even though it was written months before anyone knew the term.
“I’ve been knockin’ on the door that holds the throne
I’ve been lookin’ for the map that leads me home
I’ve been stumblin’ on good hearts turned to stone
The road of good intentions has gone dry as bone”
Irony is not lost on Springsteen.
From the shotgun shack to the Superdome
We yelled “help” but the cavalry stayed home
There ain’t no-one hearing the bugle blown
We take care of our own
We take care of our own
Wherever this flag’s flown
We take care of our own
When an entire American city was in its greatest need there was no help to be found. This song is a politically charge message to rise above the political rancor that has bogged Washington and do what is right for the country.
Springsteen’s long time manager John Landau told Rolling Stone magazine, “Bruce has dug down as deep as he can to come up with this vision of modern life. The lyrics tell a story you can’t hear anywhere else and the music is his most innovative of recent years. The writing is some of the best of his career and both veteran fans and those who are new to Bruce will find much to love on Wrecking Ball.”
Just as the song the album is familiar yet different as well. “Wrecking Ball,” “Land of Hopes and Dreams” and “American Land” should all be familiar to Springsteen fans as they have already been heard live.
“Wrecking Ball”, originally written to say goodbye to Giants Stadium made its debut Sept. 30, 2009. “Land of Hope and Dreams” has been around since the 1999 reunion tour and “American Land’ was brought to us during the Seeger Sessions.
Other tracks include: “Easy Money,” “Shackled and Drawn,” “Jack of All Trades,” “Death of My Hometown,” “This Depression,” “You’ve Got it,” “Rocky Ground,” “We Are Alive,”
“Swallowed Up” and “American Land” appear as bonus tracks along with exclusive art work and photography on a special edition of the release.
European tour dates have been announced starting in May and continuing through August. A U.S. tour announcement is coming. Rumors have U.S. dates starting in March. The press release confirms U.S. dates this year.
“Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will be touring extensively in the US and Europe in 2012.”
The silence of the Yankee winter ended with a resounding boom that was heard around the baseball world last night.
After preaching patients since October Yankees’ General Manager Brian Cashman pulled the trigger on, not one but two, deals that he not only hopes will reshape the Yankees pitching rotation but potentially shift the balance of power of the American League.
The Yankees traded prized young catching prospect Jesus Montero and pitcher Hector Noesi to the Mariners for Michael Pineda.
Pineda, 22, was 9-10 with a 3.75 ERA last season for the light hitting Mariners. The Yankees also acquired 19 year old Eric Campos who was 5-5 with a 2.32 ERA for Everett.
Montero the Yankees prized prospect who was to be included in a deal with Cliff Lee that fell apart in 2010 because David Adams failed Seattle’s physical hit .328 with four homeruns and 28 rbi’s in 18 games at the big league level.
Noesi who figured to contend for the Yankees rotation this year posted a 4.47 ERA in 30 games with the Yankees last season.
The Yankees were not done there.
They signed Hiroki Kuroda to a one year $10 million dollar contract. In a matter of hours the sleeping giants in the Bronx had awaken to reshape an entire roster.
Kuroda was 13-16 with a 3.07 ERA for the Dodgers last year. Kuroda is 41-46 with a 3.45 ERA over his career.
It is clear how high the Yankees are on Pineda. They had said for two years they would only deal Montero for a top of the rotation starter.
Many believe Pineda has ace potential despite some glaring numbers last year. He compiled a 4.40 ERA away from pitcher friendly Safeco Field and pitched to the tune of a 5.12 ERA the second half of the season. He was just 3-8 after July 4 but also struck out 173 batters in 171 innings.
With the additions of Pineda and Kuroda that gives the Yankees a rotation of C.C. Sabathia, Pineda, Ivan Nova and Kuroda in the top four spots, leaving Phil Hughes, AJ Burnett and Freddy Garcia to battle for the final spot.
Cashman presumably had to get permission for the Kuroda deal from the Steinbrenners who want to be below the luxury tax threshold in the next two years despite continuing to raise ticket prices.
Cashman’s work may not be done as it would seem logical that one of these guys could be finding a new address, either for a bat or to reacquire a prospect for another deal down the road.
Happy New Year and welcome to The One Deck Circle.
What exactly is the On Deck Circle? It is primarily a baseball blog. Any and all aspects of the game will be discussed. There will also be occasional off topic pots regarding politics, music, technology, current events and mass transit.
Anything off topic will be posted under the headline of “Time Out.” These off topic posts will be extremely limited.
I have been a huge fan of the great sport of baseball for most of life. During much of that time I have been a fan of the New York Yankees. 2012 marks a crossroads in my “career” as a fan.
It will be the first time since January of 2000 that I am not a season ticket holder. The prices have skyrocketed and $20 bleacher seats just say no to me, so I will enjoy the baseball experience from a perspective that does not include regularly attended games. Since 2000, I have not attended less then 20 games per season with a peak of 65.
I have been told I have a unique perspective. That could be good or bad. Hopefully it comes through here in The on Deck Circle.
Play Ball!!!
