The Stars are Out: Postseason Edition

 These aren't the last Stars Are Out customs of the year...as there are a few stragglers that are going to hit soon, but all of these occurred during the postseason, which means like 90% of these are gonna be MLB personnel. Which isn't bad. Just...don't expect a renegade rock singer or rodeo rider or anything.

I'm starting with Youk so I can get him over with first. Kevin Youkilis is obviously beloved in Boston for tormenting the Yankees for like 8 years or so, and hitting home runs like hell. So he was a natural choice for a first pitch, though...a bit less natural than the other 2 Red Sox first pitches coming later.

Onto teams taken out in Championship Series':

 The Astros had a few, mostly commemorating their 2005 WS gig, instead of past teams (though Mike Scott appeared, even if I didn't customize him). Lance Berkman is, of course, a hero over there, even after he went and joined not only the Yankees, but the state rival Rangers. His mid-2000s years are still remembered fondly there, even if he looks odd in the new orange.

As does Roy Oswalt. Another guy who's a legend there thanks to his sharp work in the 2000s, Oswalt was a perennial Cy Young finalist, a strikeout artist, and an NL Central horror figure. Even though his career was a bit less graceful than Berkman's, he still gets to come back and throw out a first pitch, which is nice.

Meanwhile, in the losing NLCS city:

 A few legends showed up in Milwaukee. One was Prince Fielder, because...of course he's a legend there by now. He and Ryan Braun even hugged it out. Prince, in a t-shirt and everything, came off like the Jack Black of baseball, and I mean that as a compliment. Plus, he's still young enough to have some velocity in that pitch, I imagine.

Bob Uecker needs no introduction in Milwaukee. He is their beloved voice, and the face, and vocal chords, of Milwaukee sports for several decades. The standing O must have lasted hours. Good for him.

 Next, some World Series players. Reggie Smith, having been a part of a World Series team in 1981, was a nice stroke of good luck for the Dodgers, as well as a treat for older fans.

And then there's Orel, who's a treat for just about everybody. A guy who won a Cy Young, an MVP of a World Series, an ALCS and an NLCS, and tons of respect from Dodgers fans, Orel was one of the catalysts behind the 1988 team, and a strikeout killer. Also, fun fact, Orel went to my high school. And so I collect him. It's that simple.

 And yes, the team that won the damned thing gets some as well. Especially Pedro. The last time he was anywhere near a World Series, he was saying the Yankees were his daddy, so this was kinda nice. Of course, Pedro's a legend anywhere he pitched, but especially Boston, where his Cy Youngs, strikeouts, and ferocity were beloved. Yeah, he also made serious playoff runs with the Mets, Expos and Phils, but he doesn't get a welcome there like he does at Fenway.

...Still, I've gotta end on Yaz. Carl Yastrzemski is Boston baseball, and was more than just Ted Williams' replacement. He was legendary, and he was an extraordinary hitter. And I can only imagine the respectful applause he got when he threw out a first pitch that night, in the World Series. He deserved it, too.

I still have one or two more of these left. I imagine I'll post them eventually.

It's Official...

...Kevin Youkilis is no longer my least favorite player. Not even in the top 10 anymore.

Sorry, Cody. You're a troll, and I hate you. Don't sign with the Yanks or I'll keep hating you.

So yeah. Kevin Youkilis is a member of my team. I'm a bit relieved that we don't have to rely on the terrible fielding of Eduardo Nunez, and the terrible everythinging of A-Rod. He'll be a solid third for a while, and then A-Rod'll come back and HOPEFULLY play DH for a while.

So yeah. This deal makes me happy.

In other news, the Yankees are closing in on re-signing Ichiro. This will make me happier.

An Enemy in Pinstripes

 Say there's this guy you've known for a while now. He's good at what he does, but he's a huge jerk, and nobody you know likes him. Then one day, some years later, you see him again, proposing to your sister. Now, like it or not, you're gonna be in the same family as this clown.

That's the best way of describing Kevin Youkilis' rumored contract with the Yankees. He's marrying into the family, and none of the fans will want him there initially.

But, really, once you look at it a little bit, it makes sense. Really, it does.

Please, fellow Yankee fans. Put down the pitchforks for just a second and hear me out.

First of all, we needed a new third baseman. A-Rod won't be playing too much this coming year, and our only backup just fled to Arizona. So, logically, a hard-hitting third baseman would really help, even if it is Youkilis. McGehee isn't coming back either, I might add. Signing Youk may be our only hope of having a decent offensive (and defensive) power at that position. Eduardo Nunez is an amazing defensive player, but he can't hit.

Secondly, not only do we need him, but he needs us. Last year was not the best year for Kevin Youkilis. Sure, the week of the trade he was a great ballplayer, but he fell apart. Last year, the Greek God of Walks fell behind in the walks division. Which should not happen. It's like Chipotle running out of tortillas. He needs a team like the Yankees in order to bounce back, and get back into the spotlight. Hell, it helped Raul Ibanez.

Lastly, you have to remember that we've been pretty good with signing the enemy. Wade Boggs was a menacing player for Boston. So what did we do? We signed him, and he became a menacing player with a world series ring. Johnny Damon was a scruffy, annoying player. So we signed his ass and made him less universally hated. Red Ruffing, Hideki Okajima, and so many others were menacing Red Sox made lovable by being Yankees.

Babe Ruth was a Boston Red Sock, before his sale to the Yanks. From then on he'd be remembered as a Yankee and nothing less.

So maybe this will be good, for both Youkilis and the Yanks. Maybe, if it happens, we'll finally have a corner we can trust, for the first time since 2007. Maybe Youk will get his second ring.

Anything can happen, as this signing has taught me (the hard way). If the trade goes through, Youk will drop from my Least Favorite Players list, one that Cody Ross already heads.

Part of me just wants the contract to go through. Just to see what happens.

Custom Card of the Day: Youk Edition

 

Is it bad that I waited until Kevin Youkilis was out of a Boston uniform to make a custom of him? Naw. He deserves it.

The first time I saw Youk play, it was in a Spring Training Game, on St. Patrick's Day. Which means tons of beer-sipping Boston fans were around us in Ft. Myers, watching the 2006 Red Sox attempt to look cool. First of all, I thought it was hysterical that the Sox were starting a breakfast cereal in center in place of Johnny Damon. (Said breakfast cereal is currently with Oakland, and he's not so GRRRRRREAT)

Then, whenever Kevin Youkilis got up, the entire stadium of Sox fans all shouted at once a thunderous yet slightly drunken howl of "YOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUK!" I thought they were booing him. This was the same confusion that led to my aunt always thinking Yankee fans would boo Lou Piniella. 

Of course, sometime after this, we saw a Yankees-Red Sox game, in the blistering heat, at the Stadium. And who comes beating down on my Yankees but Youk. This was before he started growing the trademark goatee that overstays its welcome and latches onto the underside of the chin (Kids, this is why we don't use Scott Spiezio as a role model). Still, he had a number of hits against us that day, and it kinda hurt. 

Our luck being our luck, how many other teams besides the Yankees did Youk repeatedly beat with a tire iton? Zero. Whenever Youk would play the Yankees, from 2006 to about 2010, he'd be on his game, to the point where it would be hard to whack the final mole and end the game. 

So, in a span of two years, Kevin Youkilis transformed from a harmless figure for (insert third drinking joke here) Bostonians to worship, into the second coming of Ellis Burks. And I did not like this guy one bit.

Granted, I'm kinda relieved that he's in Chicago right now, but I'll admit that I'll miss booing him. I'll miss repeatedly trashing the man, and I'll kinda wince when I move Youk down a few slots on my Least Favorite Players list (Cody Ross, meet the top spot. Top spot, meet Cody Ross).

One thing I won't miss- him hitting homers every time he played the Yankees. Hopefully this will cease in Chicago, where there are nicer, friendlier, more sober fans to yell "YOOOOOOOOUUUK!"

Coming Tomorrow- Speaking of Chicago, a prospect finally reaches his prime on the north side. Coincidentally, this one also got his start in Boston, but made his way here through a bunch of trades.

Good Riddance, or So long Youk

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Bobby grabs you by the cheeks, commands you where to go
So make the worst of this trade, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a request, and we must try

It's something quite predictable, but in the end it's right.
Us Yankee fans will boo you all your life.

So take the broken bats, and goatees in your mind
Hang it on a shelf with injuries and no time
Tattoos of memories and 2 World Series rings
And maybe of New York fans yelling countless things

It's something quite predictable, but in the end it's right.
Us Yankee fans will boo you all your life.




So get your suitcase packed and head to Comiskey
And get prepared for being managed by Robin V
But just remember all the great times that you've passed
Look on the brighter side- you could still be in last.


It's something quite predictable, but in the end it's right.
Us Yankee fans will boo you all your life

Thanks for all the memories, Youk. Though we won't miss the countless times you've paraded the basepaths after a home run, we will miss flat out despising you. Enjoy Chicago, and dread whenever you have to play the Yankees.

(Please don't sue, Billie Joe Armstrong)