New Yorker, New Yorker

I stopped in mid-concept with this title. I was originally going to rant about the overreaction to and misunderstanding of the satirical New Yorker Obama cover, and how it reflects the obtuseness of the American public, but that can come next time. It's All Star Break in Baseball Land, and this latest event occurred in the capital of Baseball Land, Yankee Stadium. And for me, once a New Yorker, always a New Yorker, to wedge in the title.

Some of my greatest childhood memories rested in that venue, from the first moment in 1955 when I saw the Yanks play the Tigers (and lose) in a doubleheader. Three of those players were at pre-Game tribute, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, and Al Kaline, and that was over fifty years ago, oh fucking my. I shed a few tears at the nostalgia blast that the festivities provided, but mostly because they were salutes to a Yankee team that has continued to deteriorate despite its financial success.

Although the Yanks have a better record this year than they did last, when a surge brought them into the play-offs, those same elements don't exist this season. Two major starters are injured, Joba Chamberlain is already part of their scotch-taped staff, and there is no new blood to invigorate the team. Only Arod and Giambi are providing power; Matsui is pretty much gone, and Damon is game but lame. With talented teams maturing like Tampa Bay, it's a good bet that this will be the first year since 1993 that hasn't made it to the post-season (I include strike-shortened '94 because the Yanks were a top team that year).

I find it interesting how the Yankees have followed the same career path of the Atlanta Braves, who also had a post-season string of 14 years before they yielded to younger teams. Atlanta began in 1991, three years earlier than the Yankees skein. Both teams had steady managers, powerful owners, choice pitching and solid veterans. The Braves won four pennants in their streak, one World Series, and then started fading out in the divisional series. The Yanks won six pennants, had four championships, and now have lost the three divisional series since their horrific 2004 collapse against Boston. The Braves have stuck too long with their veteran pitchers and are struggling in a division of stronger teams. The Yanks rely mostly on Mussina and Pettitte now, and aging veterans like Jeter and Abreu who have seen better days. Neither is likely to be playing in October.

Other than Tampa's rise and the Tigers' sputtering start, the season has not been terribly surprising. Boston's adroit pitching and young line-up has proved they can win with Manny and Ortiz in questionable shape. The Angels continue to be the best-managed and least appreciated team in the game. The goofy A.L. Central will go to whoever is hot in September, and that could be any of three teams; I still go with Detroit, as Verlander rights himself and Jones is deemphasized as a closer.

The National League has two great races and one that's close but a yawner. The Mets have stepped it up after poor Willie Randolph's departure, finally getting help from their young starters along with Santana and a usually competent Oliver Perez. Florida is surprising but not the Phillies, whose offense is very impressive. Ultimately I think they will win the division, with the Mets perhaps snagging the wild card. That's because the three-way battle in the Central division will probably cost two of those teams enough wins to beat the Mets. It should be down to the wire between the Brewers with Sabathia and Sheets, and the Cubs with that wonderful line-up. Cue the Cubs for the pennant this year. Just a hopeful thought. And there has to be the NL West, but unlike last year, they are not going to send two of their teams to the championship series. It's Dodgers youth vs. Arizona pitching, and the latter should prevail because of Saito's injury, robbing the Dodgers of necessary bullpen strength.