Paul Merchan - Baseball Analysis

Once the last game was completed, the press in Boston all but buried their hometown team. Their New York counterparts have been lauding their Yankees. What was supposed to be a chess match turned into a beating that evoked memories of the original sports-oriented ?Boston Massacre? in September of 1978. Read more »

The richest team in sports, the Evil Empire, the team run by the most playoff hungry boss in sports is coming down the stretch run of the season without a big chunk of their payroll on the playing diamond. We?d be hard pressed to hear a collective sob from the rest of the baseball world, who actually hate this team, also known as the Yankees. Detractors will have to admit, though, that its actually is pretty amazing to see a team in first place in mid-August without having two-thirds of their opening day outfield for almost the entire season. Read more »

When you think of the potential Cy Young Award winners in the American League, household names aren?t the only ones that pop into people?s minds anymore. Some candidates this season are Francisco Liriano, Justin Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman. Another surprise candidate this season has been Yankees? sophomore sensation Chieng-Ming Wang, who in a rotation including Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina, has been the Yanks? most reliable starter this season. Read more »

There is no bigger mistake than to underestimate a contender. It only brings out the best in them. That?s what the entire baseball world did with the Detroit Tigers. When they started off the season hot, it was easy for many detractors to blurt out the word fluke, since the Tigers have not been in serious contention for years. However, the boys from Motown are proving the world wrong, as their magical season continues well into the summer. Read more »

Most Yankee fans were looking for an uneventful July as far as the trade market for their team. With sluggers Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui coming back from injuries in a month, and a platoon of youngsters and veterans holding down the fort well in their absence, that might not have been a bad idea. Now, the great experiment for Joe Torre begins, with new additions to the chemistry set that could either provide a winning formula or blow up right in their faces. Read more »

The resurgence of the Mets in the National League has been well-noticed in New York. Their substantial lead in their division has impressed some, but hasn?t convinced all. The Mets will never win the hearts of the other half of the city, but they?re vying at least for the respect of the rival fan base. Read more »

Should the Yankees pull a trade before the deadline to help themselves remain in contention? Should the trade be for a solid bat in the outfield or a reliable arm in the bullpen? These are questions that every team needs to answer before July 31 every year, but the concerns for the Yanks are a little more pressing this year. Read more »

For all the criticism the Yankees get about buying talent to remain in contention, the heart and soul of their teams over the past decade continues to be their home-grown talent. We can point out specifically the man that they turn to at the end of every game. He?s been there throughout the whole dynasty and allows a breath of fresh air every ninth inning, even well into his 30s. Read more »

On a night we saw one Latin right fielder with a rocket for an arm and a pure swing hit a eye-level 98 mph fastball for a home run the opposite way, Major League Baseball honored that man's Jackie Robinson. Read more »