FullCountPitch - The Full Count: Jack Curry

Jack Curry discusses CC Sabathia's contract and more

Jack Curry was a long time sportswriter for the New York Times before joining the YES Network prior to the 2010 season. In 2000, he co-write Derek Jeter’s autobiography, “Life You Imagine: Life Lessons For Achieving Your Dreams”. Today he joins us for a session of The Full Count.

FCP: We’ve all seen the decline of newspapers in this country. I still can’t have my breakfast without my morning sports page in my hands. Do you foresee a day when there will be no “paper” newspapers?

Jack Curry: I also enjoy reading the actual newspaper. Having worked at The NY Times for 22 years, I always enjoyed the routine of scooping up the paper in the driveway. That being said, the business has obviously changed a lot and a generation of “readers” get their info off the ‘net and not in the actual newspapers. I also think newspapers will be around, but I wouldn’t be shocked if some papers are someday forced to become online only.

FCP: If Yankees like Nick Swisher and Jorge Posada continue to struggle, do you see Brian Cashman trying to make a big splash for another bat or just deal for a serviceable bat (a Jeff Conine type for example)? Any chance Jorge Vazquez gets a chance in the bigs?

JC: A couple of weeks ago, Cashman told me that he makes daily evaluations of the team and is always searching for areas in which they can improve. At that time, Cashman said he wasn’t ready to move to do anything with Posada. He said Posada deserved the chance to emerge from his funk. He didn’t day mention Swisher that day, but I’m sure he feels the same way. The easy solution for the Yankees is for Posada and Swisher to be similar to the players they’ve been in their careers. If they’re not, like not, that’s when it gets dicey. It’s easy to say a GM should “go get someone,” but the execs I’ve spoken to say the market is bare right now. Vazquez has earned the shot to play in the big leagues. It’s just a matter of whether Yankees will pull trigger.

Click here to read the rest of this article for free at fullcountpitch.com.

CC Sabathia Jorge Vazquez Hector Noesi Ivan Nova

Wildcard Weekend

Ok, so I had a terrible time picking NFL games this season. Something tells me I'm not the only one though with the inconsistency in NFL play this season.

For all the years I have played fantasy hockey and baseball this was the first season I played fantasy football. I joined a Yahoo public league and finished the regular season 7-7. That wasn't good enough for the playoffs, but I had fun anyway.

I also ran the first My Pinstripes pick 'em with point spreads. I finished 114-135, by far the worst I've done in years and the first time I've finished under .500 for as long as I can remember.

But it's a new season today. The playoffs, where the Giants should be, but are not. There are some great matchups in wildcard weekend, so here we go.

Saturday night - Jets at Colts

The Jets had their inconsistencies much of the season, which made their fans nuts. Of course when coach Rex Ryan is blustering about Super Bowls all year it is very easy to disappoint. But the Jets won't this weekend.

The Colts are not the same team that beat the Jets 30-17 in last year's AFC championship game. Yes, Peyton Manning is still there, but much of the team is injured. Two of Manning's biggest weapons Dallas Clark and Austin Collie are out. The defense's best all-around player, Bob Sanders, is out. And speaking of the defense they can't stop the run for anything.

So what that means is that though Mark Sanchez's shoulder may be hurt a lot more than he's letting on, LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene should have big days, which will help open up the passing game.

The final score - Jets 23 Colts 20 Enjoy it Jets fans because if you have to play the Patriots next week, you are done.

Saturday afternoon - Saints at Seahawks

Yes, a 7-9 team is hosting a playoff game. The Seahawks crowd has an earned reputation as being one of the loudest fandoms in the NFL. What that means today is that maybe the Saints will score 30 points instead of 40.

Drew Brees had another big season, but not nearly as his near perfect 2009. The Saints defense isn't close to how it played in helping to raise the Lombardy Trophy last year. But this Seahawks team is bad, and though they had to win the final game over the Rams to win the NFC West, well..this team is bad.

Matt Hasselback has been banged up for much of the year and coach Pete Carroll actually considered starting Charlie Whitehurst at quarterback. He may still go that route if Hasselback and the offense don't move the ball.

The final score - Saints 33 Seahawks 17

Sunday early game - Ravens at Chiefs

KC surprised everyone this year. The media kept waiting for them to collapse and for the Phillip Rivers' led Chargers to storm by them. Except it never happened. The Chiefs have plenty of weapons on offense. Jamaal Charles (1,467) and Thomas Jones (896) combined for over 2,300 yards on the ground. Matt Cassel fought off an appendectomy, missing just one game, to throw for 3,116 yards and 27 TDs. He was intercepted just seven times. His favorite target was Dwayne Bowe who caught 72 passes for 1,162 yards and got in the end zone a league leading 15 times.

But and it's bigger than Nate Newton's butt before his tremous weight loss, the Chiefs have to go up against the Ravens defense. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, you know the drill. It's a squad that gave up just under 17 points per game. And this isn't a bad offense either.

Ray Rice has run like the Ray Rice of 2009 of late and the offense goes as steady QB Joe Flacco goes. Anquan Boldin and Derrick Mason both caught over 800 yards and scored seven TD's each, though Boldin has been a disappointment at times. Rice was also the 2nd leader receiver in catches on the team and he'll be utilized plenty on Sunday. What it should come down to is a good, close, low scoring game.

The Final Score - Ravens 17 Chiefs 13

Sunday afternoon - This is the one everyone is waiting for Packers vs. Eagles. Aaron Rodgers vs. Michael Vick.

The Packers have an underrated defense and it will need to play it's best on Sunday because the Pack has no running game. Aaron Rodgers will put the ball in the air plenty of times and will have to combat the Eagles blitzes. But..no not as big as the previous one...the Eagles defense is overrated.

You heard me. They make big plays, cause turnovers, but give up plenty of points. 377 to be exact. The Eagles allowed 26.8 points per game in their 10 wins. But oh that Eagles offense.

Michael Vick claims to only be at 75%, but that could be a ploy. He has dangerous weapons in DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy, and plenty of team speed.

This should be an entertaining game with a team that has green in their uniform holding off the other one late. Okay...

The Final Score - Packers 23 Eagles 16

There you have it..and never never never bet based on what I say. That is all.

CC Doesn't Flinch in a Pinch

Written for Baseball Digest.

With his team sputtering through the month of September, manager Joe Girardi wasn’t fooling around when it came to last night’s New York Yankees – Toronto Blue Jays game. Girardi altered his pitching plans to send ace CC Sabathia to the mound and the big man rewarded his skipper and his teammates with a dominant performance that clinched a playoff spot for the ball club.

Alex Rodriguez knocked in a pair of runs and Derek Jeter scored three times as the Yankees topped the Blue Jays 6-1. The story of the game without a doubt though was the performance of Sabathia, who got knocked around in his last start against Tampa Bay. He allowed two hits through the first eight innings, both by Travis Snider (Who also supplied the lone Toronto run with a solo home run), before putting the first two hitters aboard in the 9th. It wasn’t a save situation, but again Girardi was taking no chances- enter Sandman. Mariano Rivera retired the final two hitters to preserve Sabathia’s 21st win of the season and set off a celebration as the Yankees clinched a playoff spot for the 14th time in 15 years.

The Yankees remained in second place in the AL East as the Rays also clinched a playoff spot with a shutout of the Baltimore Orioles. The Rays had their ace, David Price (19-6), going as well in the 5-0 win over the O’s.

As champagne was sprayed about in the visitor’s locker room, Girardi would only confirm one thing- CC Sabathia will get the ball in Game 1 of the Division series. All that remains to be seen is who the Yankees opponent will be and whether or not they have home field advantage.

Race for the Flag

It's Monday night, August 17. About 1 1/2 months from the end of the Major League Baseball season. And while the NFL pre-season is underway, my eyes are still on the prize.

AL East

The Yankees play since the All-Star break has been phenomenal and has allowed them to build a 7 1/2 game division lead over Boston. The Red Sox are 6-9 in August and 11-17 in their last 28 games. They've not only seen their division lead go by the wayside, but their Wildcard lead as well. The teams meet up in a big series this weekend in Boston, with the Yankees having a chance to bury their rivals even more in the divisional race.

Also this week - Yankees at A's, Red Sox at Blue Jays

Al Central

Detroit has struggled at times, but so have the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins, enabling the Tigers to remain atop the central division. The Tigers strengthened their offense earlier today, acquiring Aubrey Huff from the Orioles for a minor leaguer.

Entering Monday night's play, the White Sox trailed Detroit by 2 1/2 games. They're 7-7 in August and just 2 games over .500. It remains to be seen whether the acquisitions of Jake Peavy, who has yet to appear in a Chisox uniform, or Alex Rios will be enough to put the White Sox over the top.

Minnesota, meanwhile is fading quickly from the picture. They're lack of hitting and a major injury to Kevin Slowey have really hurt the ball club. They're 5 games under .500 and 6 1/2 behind the Tigers.

Schedule - Tigers at Mariners, A's; White Sox host Royals, Orioles; Twins at Rangers, Royals


AL West

Mike Scioscia and the front office continue to get it done year in and year out. This year is no different despite a rash of major injuries, the tragic death of Nick Adenhardt, and a less than stellar bullpen. But the veterans have been steady, Brian Fuentes has stepped up in the closer's role, and an, at times, patchwork starting rotation has managed to get things done. Jered Weaver and Bobby Abreu, in particular, have really stepped up their games.

People have expected the Texas Rangers to fade from sight, but it hasn't happened yet. In fact, the Rangers entered Monday's play in the AL Wildcard lead after taking 2 of 3 from Boston. They're still within spitting distance of the Angels as well at 4 1/2 games back. Texas finally jettisoned Vincente Padilla today as rookie Tommy Hunter has stood out.

This week - Angels at Orioles (1), Indians, Blue Jays; Rangers host Twins, at Rays


NL East

The Phillies have had problems with consistency, but there's no NL East team strong enough to make a real run at them. The Marlins and Braves may be staying close, but it's not happening, take my word for it. Not with the way Cliff Lee is pitching. The Phillies should feast this week with games against the Diamondbacks and Mets.

The Marlins and Braves are very much in the Wildcard race, 2 and 3 games back of Colorado, respectively. The Fish have two of the biggest emerging stars in pitcher Josh Johnson and shortstop Hanley Ramirez.

On paper, the Braves don't look so special, but their starting rotation and a solid bullpen have kept them afloat. The Braves hopes could take a blow though if closer Rafael Soriano continues to be bothered my muscle discomfort in his right shoulder.

NL Central

The Cardinals were a good team that got immeasurably better with the acquisitions of Matt Holliday (.459-5-22 in 21 games) and Julio Lugo (.354 14 runs in 19 games). And of course there is Albert Pujols, who leads the team in just about every offensive category. You really can't see the Cards blowing their 5 game lead over the struggling Cubs. The Cards have a huge series beginning tonight with the Dodgers before facing the lowly Padres.

The Cubs are 5 games behind St. Louis, but it might as well be 20. They've had no consistency in any part of their game. Ryan Theriot (.301) is the only regular hitting above .300 and closer Kevin Gregg has not been very good. On the up side, the Cubs are just 2 games in back of the Rockies in the Wildcard loss column. The Cubs' schedule flip flops with the Cards, playing the Pads and then Dodgers.

NL West

Despite the horrific injury to Hiroki Kuroda, the Dodgers division lead is completely safe. They just need to get to the finish line in one piece. Just like the Cards, the Dodgers lead is "just" 5 games over the Rockies, but that lead is going nowhere.

The Rockies turned things around once Jim Tracy took the helm and past the Giants for the NL Wildcard lead. The Rockies can feast on the Nats for 3 games before a huge series with the Giants.

The Giants have played well all season, led by the outstanding pitching of Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, and the surprise season of Pablo Sandoval, who leads the team in batting average, HR, and RBI. After wrapping up a series with the Mets tonight, the Giants prepare for the Rockies series with a 3-game set against the Reds.

Breathing for One More Day

The Yankees staved off official elimination tonight, because Zach Jackson won his first game in two years and the Cleveland Indians beat Josh Beckett and the Boston Red Sox, 4-3.

Breathing for One More Day

The Yankees staved off official elimination tonight, because Zach Jackson won his first game in two years and the Cleveland Indians beat Josh Beckett and the Boston Red Sox, 4-3.