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Last evening I commented on the daily trade rumors surrounding Jose Quintana. Today MLBs’ HotStove did not disappoint, and talk about Quintana and is as hot as ever. Now it’s the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Huston Astros turn. After my original post on the Quintana rumor mill Sporting News published their spin:

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/news/yankees-still-searching-for-rotation-help-new-york-jose-quintana/jhq9idfbfcr1oc2ydaezglopThe article boils down to this

For me, this paragraph sums up the article, and why they are called rumors:

Quintana, who is signed over the next four years at a decently affordable $35 million, went 13-12 with a 3.20 ERA and 181 strikeouts last season. Still just 27 years old, he is on the upswing of his career and would be a valuable addition for the Yankees in the competitive AL East.

Outfielder Clint Frazier or infielder Gleyber Torres are the Yankees’ top-ranked prospects. It would likely take one or both of them to snatch Quintana away from Chicago.

The question is whether or not they will be willing to meet the demand as the season draws near.

If the Yankees were crazy enough to make this trade, Fraizer and Torres for Quintana, the fans would go nuts, and Cashman would lose his job at some point in the season. The Yankees would not include these players for Chris Sale, so why now would they trade them?

Baseball HotStove with its rumors is one of the cool fun elements that separates for all the other major sports make baseball’s off-season and entertaining. But some of these rumor/news articles are real head-scratchers.

Next up Bill Mazeroski!

Reference Sporting News By Alex Brzezinsk Ominisport

 

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Will Jose Bautista sign with a team before Pitchers and Catchers report February 14th?

Will Jose Bautista get an offer beyond one year?

Buck Showalter
August 2, 2013
TAMPA, Fla. — The way Buck Showalter sees it, Alex Rodriguez’s possible suspension would mean that the New York Yankees would end up with Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters in two years.

Fast forward two years free agent Matt Wieters still not signed. Will this catcher be home when Pitchers and Catchers report for Spring Training?

Buck Showalter, as usual, did his whining about the Yankees, who as it turns out do not need Matt Wieters and it seems that Buck Showalter also does not want his after all.

The Pool In Right Center Field Must Be Leaking!
Diamondbacks demand/sue as they claim they need a need stadium to replace the 19-year old Chase Field.
A disturbing trend seems to be arising; the Braves open their new ballpark, SunTurst Park, this season; after only 20-years in Turner Field.
The Rangers are another team that recently got approval for a new 1 billion ballpark, their current ballpark Globe Life Park in Arlington opened in 1994.

White Sox having daily Quintana talks with teams.
I must be missing something when it comes to Jose Quintana, 5 years 46 W 46 L!

Not a MLB News day goes by wihout a new rumor linking Quintana to (fill in the) ______________  as a possiable landing spot.

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When it comes to Yankees News that I read along with all the teams, it is always interesting how the same interview, in this case, GM Cashman on MLB Hot Stove can be viewed.

The New York Daily News posted this (link) article 16 hours ago

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-unwilling-give-key-prospects-short-term-gain-article-1.2927974

NJ.com posted this article one hour ago

http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2016/12/mlb_hot_stove_yankees_hint_willingness_to_trade_pr.html

My real take away from this is the baseball off-season never stops entertaining the fan while waiting for Spring Training to begin in 44 days from today December 30.

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My new toy the FujiFilm Instax Wide 300 arrived today from B&H ( they are good). The first test shot was of our Christmas Tree as it will be leaving the apartment tomorrow for recycling.
All I can say is, I’m already having fun with the camera. The film cost per sheet is $1.19, and that can get pricey. But none the less I’m enjoying it and starting on January 1, will be taking one shot every day for the year 2017, to be posted on blogs and Twitter.

My Nikon , lens 70-200mm f2.8 FujiFilm Instax Wide 300 & First Polaroid. Shoot on my iphone 5s Paul Plaine/Ballpark Prints LLC
My Nikon, Lens 70-200mm f2.8, FujiFilm Instax Wide 300 & First Polaroid. Shot on my iPhone 5s Paul Plaine/Ballpark Prints LLC

Like Indiana Jones in the ‘Last Crusade’  “You must choose but choose wisely” picking photography as my profession of choice all those years ago, I did.

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My early fascination with photography came through viewing the family albums with mom. The portraits of my grandparents were always my favorite.

In the 50s’ my Uncle, Sam had a Polaroid Land Camera that  I always remembered as both elegant and magical because you had the picture in your hand in an instant Polaroids were also very popular when I was in the Army you could send pictures home in letters in quickly.

Polaroid Land Instant Camera Model 95
Polaroid Land Instant Camera Model 95

The other hidden feature about Polaroid Cameras was the early models gave you control of the aperture and shutter, this was helpful when shooting studio setups with 4 x 5 and 8 x 10 view cameras sync the Polaroid first to check the shots lighting saved us time and money.

I have always loved the instant film concept and the look of polaroids. For some time now I have been looking on and off at instant camera’s on B&H website, and today I bought the Fuji Instax 300 with a lot film.

FujiFilm Instant Wide 300
FujiFilm Instax Wide 300

As the title of this blog says, ‘Photography Should Be Fun’ it’s always been fun to me, but have the ability to hand out that instant moment will be a bit more fun to share with friends and family.

 

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The first pitch of 2016 Baseball Season is a few short hours away. Every year for more years than I will admit to I have studied and followed the teams that play in my opinion “The Greatest Game” ever created.

Unlike the 2016 season picks, the usual safe bets; I feel this season will be full of surprises. That will make this one of those “Miracle Seasons” like the 1914 Braves, 1967 Red Sox, and the 1969 Mets.

Let the games begin!David WrightLorenzo Cain after scoring for the Royals

Wrigley Field 1978
Wrigley Field 1978

Yadier Molina

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Late yesterday the Mets signed Yoenis Cespedes for three years with an Opt-Out clause after one year. This made think of Charles Oscar Finley maverick owner of the A’s  who passed away twenty years ago. In March 1960, he purchased the Kansas City A’s and for the next 20 years, would be a thorn in the side of two Baseball Commissioners and the other owners.

As an owner, he was behind baseball playing World Series games at night, and the Designated Hitter. Now after 42-years it appears in 2017, the National League will finally adopt the DH. Other ideas, like using an orange baseball for night games were considered silly.

Courtesy of Nancy FinleyCharles O. Finley
Courtesy of Nancy FinleyCharles O. Finley

But, Charles Finley’s biggest contribution to baseball and all sports, is Free Agency. Through his failure during 1974, baseball season to meet certain obligations in Catfish Hunters contract, an arbitrator declaring Hunter, a free agent and his subsequence signing of a five-year contract with the Yankees. Following the 1975 season, a grievance was filed by Andy Messerschmitt of the Dodgers and Dave McNally of Expos, arbitrator, Peter Seitz ruled for the players declaring them free agents. This verdict ended the Reserve Clause that tied players to teams forever. Charles Finley then said what may be his boldest idea “Make Them All Free Agents Every Year”. Marvin Millet opposed this knowing it would it would keep player salaries low and the owners were afraid of the concept.

What was once scared owners and maybe the players is now taking hold in a unique concept, the opt-out after one to three years now being part of bigger contract signings.

It is early in the game, but as the opt-out becomes more attractive in contract negotiations, it will make for some exciting times in player and team moves.

 

 

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February 19th Baseball Spring Training camps official open for most MLB teams, with full squads reporting the following week between 23rd and 25th. Today team equipment managers are going over their list checking off items and packing up trunks getting ready for some time around February 10th, when those big 18 wheelers will be pulling away from the ballparks on their way to the Florida and Arizona, for that other annual rite of Spring Training “Truck Day”.

2015 NY Yankees truck leaving for Spring Training
2015 NY Yankees truck leaving for Spring Training

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I am a New York Yankees fan and have been for 60 years, and I’m rooting for the Mets, to win the World Series.
I grew up in Bronx section known as Highbridge between the Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium.

The Red Dot was the building we live in

My father and grandmother were big Dodger fans. Except for my uncle taking me to Yankee games, (my first was Old Timers Day 1952) the Dodgers were the team on our television.

Sixty years ago on October 4, 1955, the Brooklyn Dodgers defeated the Yankees 2-0 to win their only Championship.

I remember it clearly I came home from school and watched the end of the game I was both happy and sad. October 4, 1955, was also my 9th birthday. That night my father and grandmother were very excited and my birthday took a back seat.

After the Dodgers had moved to Los Angles, my father and grandmother lost interest in baseball.

Then 1962 along came the Mets.

New York Mets Spring Training March 1963, the early years
New York Mets Spring Training March 1963, the early years

Those early years were rough, but my grandmother and I would talk baseball and about the Mets. She loved the Mets would watch or listen to every game on the radio. When they played, on the west coast she would stay up until the game was over. My grandmother went to mass every day, and the only thing that would cause her to swear was when the Mets lost a close game. Something they did a lot in 1960’s. She lived to be 92 and passed away in 1980 just before the start of the baseball season

So of course I will be rooting for the Mets tonight. Every year we go to Queens and see a few games. We have been to Citi Field more than many Mets I know.

The Yankees will always be my main team, but I will also continue to root for the Mets.

Lets Go Mets!