01/24: Interviewing the Yankees Blogosphere: SG, Replacement Level Yankees Weblog
Posted by: Patrick
Our next guest in our series of interviews is SG of Replacement Level Yankees Weblog.
When you're not blogging about the Yankees, thinking about the Yankees, talking about the Yankees, reading about the Yankees or watching the Yankees, what are you doing?
Mainly working long hours for my large IT corporation employer. When I'm not working I like to work out, play guitar or read.
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
About 2 years. I started out just reading Larry Mahnken's stuff and then when he went on hiatus he asked a few of to help him out.
Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?
I like Bronx Banter, noMaas.org, Yankees Chick and YanksBlog.com. There are a lot of other good ones that I check out from time to time, but I worry about reading too many things that will color my opinions before I blog them.
What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?
I remember bits and pieces from the late 70's teams, although I didn't really get into baseball until the early 80s. I think Guidry's '78 sticks out in my head as the subliminal reason I became a Yankee fan, as I was living in Brooklyn at the time and he was all the rage.
Did you grow up rooting for the Yanks? Was your Dad or someone in your family influential in making sure you pulled for the Yankees?
Actually, my Dad hates baseball. He can't understand it at all. I started watching it when it pre-empted Woody Woodpecker on WPIX and just fell in love with it.
Who is your all-time - past or present - favorite Yankee and why?
Dave Winfield was probably my favorite player ever, although Mariano Rivera is up there, too. Winfield was just an amazing athlete to watch. He could run, he could throw, he could hit for power. Just an entertaining player to watch.
Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?
I guess I'd say Gene Michael, just because of his foresight in building the late 90's Yankees.
In your wildest dreams, what position would you like to play for the Yankees and why?
I think it'd be cool to be a dominant closer with a 100 mph fastball.
How often do you make it to the stadium to see a game?
When I lived in New Jersey I went to about 20 games a year, but I've moved to the south so I don't get to go very much unless I'm up in New York during the summer. I try to go to at least one a year.
Should Bob Sheppard have a place in the Hall of Fame?
I think so. Anyone who's devoted that much of his life to baseball and done it with class and dignity deserves to be in.
Of any retired former Yankee that is not in the Hall of Fame already, who is the one that most deserves to be?
Goose Gossage.
What do you think of the moves that the Yankees have made this offseason?
I've had a hard time dealing with the Damon signing from an emotional standpoint, but other than that I am happy that they held onto their prospects and are making marginal improvements in areas of obvious weakness (the bench, the bullpen). I still would like to see them add a good defensive corner OF who can hit passably well to spot Matsui and Sheffield in the OF.
What do you think we'll see from Chacon and Wang this season?
Both guys were great last year, but there are markers of concern with both. Wang has sick stuff, but his low K rate concerns me a little, as well as the shoulder issues he's had in the past. If he can stay healthy, I think he will bump his K rate up, and be at least league average next year. If he gets a better plan as far as setting up hitters and further refines his ancillary pitches, I could see him doing much better than that.
Chacon is very interesting to me. He had a 92-94 mph fastball in his peak in Colorado, but was around 88-90 as a Yankee. He was very good last year, but his peripheral stats were not overwhelming and seem to indicate a decline. I do think if his fastball gets those few extra ticks back, he could be really good. It's tough to know what they'll get with him, as I would throw out his Coors career completely.
Of current Yankees, if the sky is dark and the mountain high and you need someone to make something happen, who do you want at the plate?
I'd take Giambi. You know he will make the pitcher work hard and the more pitches a pitcher has to throw, the more likely he is to make a mistake. He's also less likely to make an out than anyone on the team.
Thanks for stopping by.
When you're not blogging about the Yankees, thinking about the Yankees, talking about the Yankees, reading about the Yankees or watching the Yankees, what are you doing?
Mainly working long hours for my large IT corporation employer. When I'm not working I like to work out, play guitar or read.
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
About 2 years. I started out just reading Larry Mahnken's stuff and then when he went on hiatus he asked a few of to help him out.
Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?
I like Bronx Banter, noMaas.org, Yankees Chick and YanksBlog.com. There are a lot of other good ones that I check out from time to time, but I worry about reading too many things that will color my opinions before I blog them.
What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?
I remember bits and pieces from the late 70's teams, although I didn't really get into baseball until the early 80s. I think Guidry's '78 sticks out in my head as the subliminal reason I became a Yankee fan, as I was living in Brooklyn at the time and he was all the rage.
Did you grow up rooting for the Yanks? Was your Dad or someone in your family influential in making sure you pulled for the Yankees?
Actually, my Dad hates baseball. He can't understand it at all. I started watching it when it pre-empted Woody Woodpecker on WPIX and just fell in love with it.
Who is your all-time - past or present - favorite Yankee and why?
Dave Winfield was probably my favorite player ever, although Mariano Rivera is up there, too. Winfield was just an amazing athlete to watch. He could run, he could throw, he could hit for power. Just an entertaining player to watch.
Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?
I guess I'd say Gene Michael, just because of his foresight in building the late 90's Yankees.
In your wildest dreams, what position would you like to play for the Yankees and why?
I think it'd be cool to be a dominant closer with a 100 mph fastball.
How often do you make it to the stadium to see a game?
When I lived in New Jersey I went to about 20 games a year, but I've moved to the south so I don't get to go very much unless I'm up in New York during the summer. I try to go to at least one a year.
Should Bob Sheppard have a place in the Hall of Fame?
I think so. Anyone who's devoted that much of his life to baseball and done it with class and dignity deserves to be in.
Of any retired former Yankee that is not in the Hall of Fame already, who is the one that most deserves to be?
Goose Gossage.
What do you think of the moves that the Yankees have made this offseason?
I've had a hard time dealing with the Damon signing from an emotional standpoint, but other than that I am happy that they held onto their prospects and are making marginal improvements in areas of obvious weakness (the bench, the bullpen). I still would like to see them add a good defensive corner OF who can hit passably well to spot Matsui and Sheffield in the OF.
What do you think we'll see from Chacon and Wang this season?
Both guys were great last year, but there are markers of concern with both. Wang has sick stuff, but his low K rate concerns me a little, as well as the shoulder issues he's had in the past. If he can stay healthy, I think he will bump his K rate up, and be at least league average next year. If he gets a better plan as far as setting up hitters and further refines his ancillary pitches, I could see him doing much better than that.
Chacon is very interesting to me. He had a 92-94 mph fastball in his peak in Colorado, but was around 88-90 as a Yankee. He was very good last year, but his peripheral stats were not overwhelming and seem to indicate a decline. I do think if his fastball gets those few extra ticks back, he could be really good. It's tough to know what they'll get with him, as I would throw out his Coors career completely.
Of current Yankees, if the sky is dark and the mountain high and you need someone to make something happen, who do you want at the plate?
I'd take Giambi. You know he will make the pitcher work hard and the more pitches a pitcher has to throw, the more likely he is to make a mistake. He's also less likely to make an out than anyone on the team.
Thanks for stopping by.
