http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/user/ladyinblue Recent Yardbarker Articles: ladyinblue en-us Well I am about to blog about the Indianapolis Colts (despite my New York partiality) for two reasons: 1) The Colts are blue so as my sn is ladyinblue technically they fall under my likes and (2) Mike Hart, the most impressive in my opinion from last night, went to Michigan (my favorite college team). I have known for the past four years that Mike Hart is a great runningback. He's small, but hey, so was Tiki Barber and that never stopped him, but effective. He runs great. He plays the game hard and not much stands as an obstacle to Mike Hart even losing his helmet (I'm told a recap of the Hart continued rushing after losing his helmet is somewhere on Youtube but I have not searched yet. Feel free to, it was a great effort on his part). He was the Freshman of the Year, his freshman (what else?) year at Michigan and (once again in my biased opinion) robbed of a Heisman. But last night, Mike Hart really got to show the Colts organization, the football viewing audience, and those 5 and then some rounds of teams that overlooked him in the draft in April, what an asset he is to any team. He led the team in yards last night with 53 yards on 4 carries and 28 yards on 3 receptions. I love what I see (like I always have) and am right now predicting a great season and great career for the young rookie Hart. Here's to hoping the Giants runningbacks play as well as Hart this year. Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:39:47 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/300711 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/300711 With Posada possibly out next season the Yankees are in need of a good, veteran catcher. Does that mean Paul Lo Duca, currently with the Washington Nationals? According to a nationals.com article, it could. Paul Lo Duca realizes that the Nats probably won't need him next year. They've got the young catcher Jesus Flores and Johnny Estrada when Flores needs a break. Currently, Lo Duca's been playing other positions-first base and left field. Lo Duca's a good hitter but at 36, he might not fit into next year's trying-to-build-a-young-team Nationals. Again, does this mean the Yankees? Possibly. Does this even come into play (now would be a good time for an excuse the pun note but if you're reading this you're probably used to my puns) now? No. For now Posada's still in the Yankees lineup even if he's not behind the plate. And Lo Duca's still with the Nationals even if he isn't behind the plate either (although for different reasons). I wouldn't be too surprised though. Lo Duca's a high profile player, who's used to New York, in fact even a friend (maybe not friend more like acquiantance) of the New York media (with the exception of that teenage tabloid scandal) and he'd fit in well back in New York. I think he even still resides there during the offseason. And as I said, the Nationals are trying to build a younger team. They want their younger veterans to step into leadership roles and that includes their intended starting catcher Jesus Flores. The Nats want a young team that they can mold into a great team and keep for years, not a catcher who could likely retire at anytime (unlikely for awhile, since he's still a great player and in great shape but a possibility nevertheless.) To be honest, Lo Duca as a 2009 Yankee makes a lot more sense than Lo Duca as a 2009 National. * "lo" is Hebrew for "no" Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:13:20 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295084 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295084 One day I'll stop with the punny titles I promise. Well I don't promise, but I'm sure one day I won't be clever enough to think one up. All season I've been following Jorge Posada, waiting for him to be healthy and behind the plate again, following his progress, etc etc. Well now it turns out that he's going to need to have surgery on his right labrum. He can either have the surgery now and be out the rest of the season or he can stay to play another position (first base was mentioned) and/or hit. If he stays now and delays the inevitable surgery, he risks missing the first game (and more) of the 2009 season. So, Jorge, the coaches, trainers, and organization have to weigh the pros and cons of waiting or getting it over with. According to Mgr Joe Girardi though the ball's in Jorge's court saying "You can't force a player to have surgery." I can certainly understand how much it sucks to not be able to play for the final, more important months of the year. And Posada is one of our better hitters and we certainly need them since Matsui might/probably is out the rest of the season. But I'll never understand how they can simply ignore the pain and keep playing. As Jorge himself put it "One day it hurt so bad I couldn't even lift my arm to brush my hair." Is that an amazing concentration on the game that they don't even feel the pain or just stubbornness? Maybe we should be asking Phil Hughes. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:56:24 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294837 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294837 Look at that two puns in one title. Easy puns that I don't even have to think all that much about make me happy. Almost happy enough to make me forget how sad, and three seconds later mad, I was when I heard (well to be more accurate read) that the Giants traded Jeremy Shockey. And then to realize not for any particular player but for a 2nd round and a 5th round draft pick. Automatically that annoyed me. I realize that draft picks are great but I don't care about next years draft picks going into this season. I want a return on our trades NOW. But if it will help us in the future I suppose I can get over it. But then 2nd and 5th rounds? Shockey is at least worth one 1st round! He's a first round draft pick himself and as far as his playing skills go, I don't think I've ever heard anyone in the organization say "Boy I wish we'd never drafted him." Of course now I'm reading that we're better off without him (which I choose not to believe and intend to stay bitter about the trade at least until something comes along to distract me) and a couple he-wanted-to-leave articles. If the latter is indeed the case, I am happy that he received what he wanted. Either way, I wish him well in all his future endeavors-except when playing the G-Men. :) Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:37:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294553 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294553