Concession Speech in the Bronx Amuses Monkeys

The monkeys spend most of their time focused on the Mets, but we were amused to read Hank Steinbrenner's comments today. For those monkeys and humans that skip the articles on our floundering neighbors, below are some highlights:

"No team I've ever seen in baseball has been decimated like this. It would kill any team."

"Imagine the Red Sox without (Josh) Beckett and (Jon) Lester. Pitching is 70 percent of the game. Wang won 19 games two straight years. Chamberlain became the most dominating pitcher in baseball. You can't lose two guys like that."

For all the heat the Mets took in the preseason about their age, only three of their projected regulars began the season over the age of 31. In contrast, seven of the Yankees projected regulars began the season over the age of 31. Yet strangely, you rarely read about how age might affect the Yankees chances. It is far more surprising that an over 35 year old catcher hadn't broken down yet than it is that he finally did. Injuries to older players like Hideki Matsui are expected to happen. Yes, he was an ironman compared to Moises Alou, but not compared to players under 30. The reason Joba dropped so far in the draft was because of past arm issues and the feeling that he might have future issues so that was a risk the Yankees knew they were taking. Yes, it was unlucky that Chien Ming Wang got hurt running the basses as it was unlucky that Ryan Church had two concussions with the Mets, but most of the Yankees injuries should not come as surprises. In fact, the young Rays losing their top two offensive players at the final stretch of the season have a better argument that they have been unlucky.

The Joba comment is even more ridiculous. The monkeys would love it if he was on the Mets, but he only made it 7 innings one time. Mentioning Joba in the same breath as Roy Halladay who routinely completes games is ridiculous. Joba is getting there, but simply doesn't belong in a conversation that includes the aforementioned Halladay, Josh Beckett, Brandon Webb and our own unlucky Johan Santana.

Time to get back to worrying about our bullpen issues, but Hank does make a funny opening act, no?