Brian Cole's story is a must-read, and I refuse to summarize it for you

The hardest stories to write about are ones like Brian Cole's, a tragedy that is so gut-wrenching that it's almost impossible to capture in words. 

The writer also has to best to be respectful in the way he gathers information but realize that even the most difficult details to repeat cannot and should not be left out.

"This is a story that a lot of writers go their whole careers and they don't get anything like this," said Michael McKnight, the author of "The Best Player You Never Saw" in Sports Illustrated's baseball preview issue. "I just hope I did it justice. It's so powerful. Never came across anything like this."

After reading this eight-page masterpiece, I hope the sources who shared the most moving parts of Cole's story are glad they weren't left out because they help give Cole's story the justice it deserves.

I deleted my several attempts to write an abridged version of Cole's story because it just felt wrong to retell it in blog form. Stories like Cole's are why I hope long-form journalism will continue to exist despite the short attention span of my generation.

Sports Illustrated poll: A-Rod, Jeter & Joba ‘most overrated’ in baseball

Not exactly shocking news, but according to the 185 players polled by Sports Illustrated, Alex Rodriguez, Joba Chamberlain, and Derek Jeter are the most overrated players in baseball (in that order). Click the image on the right to enlarge.

This year SI also revealed its results from fans voting on Facebook, which Jeter led as the most overrated by far, taking 45 percent of the vote. David Ortiz (17 percent) and A-Rod followed Jeter (15 percent).

In my opinion, none of these guys are the most overrated in baseball today. That man is Hanley Ramirez, who is making $11 million this year for the Marlins and hitting an abysmal .210 with four homers and 17 RBIs. ($11 million may not seem like a lot to us Yankees fans, but he’s by far the highest paid on the team and makes up one-fifth of the team’s total payroll.

Who do you think is the most overrated player in baseball?

Verducci: MLB should have two wild cards in each league

Sports Illustrated writer Tom Verducci just posted a convincing argument for adding another wild card to each league, creating a “Wild Card Elimination Game” in which the loser goes home and the winner advances to the Division Series to play the team with the best record.

I like the idea. A lot.

One of the points he made that I strongly agree with was the Yankees and Rays aren’t in any real race right now, but they could be. Sure, one team will get to play the wild card, but both teams can choose to rest their players with the comfort of knowing they’ll play a five-game series.

Add another wild card spot in each league and the Yankees and Rays will fight hard to win the AL East and avoid a one-game, sudden death playoff.

Verducci said he already had run the idea by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. His response:

“I don't like the season coming down to one game,” he said. “You play 162 games and it all rides on one game. I'm not sure that's fair.”

That’s the only counterpoint I can think of, and I don’t think it’s very strong. As Verducci mentions, baseball has lacked tight playoff races, win-or-go-home games and good TV ratings down the stretch.

One-game playoffs are more exciting than five- or seven-game playoff series are. I’m not advocating all playoff series should be one game, but a couple extra guaranteed March Madness-style games each year would add a lot of excitement.

What do you think? Is Verducci on to something? Or is there too much at stake for one game in a 162-game season?

SI picks Yankee Stadium’s Lobel’s prime beef sandwich for All-Star Ballpark Menu

Sports Illustrated posted a unique interactive feature on its website today, complemented by this article on all-you-can-eat sections at big-league parks.

On its All-Star Ballpark Menu, Lobel’s Prime Beef Sandwich served at Yankee Stadium was listed as one of the options for the main course.

I’ve had the steak sandwich before at Yankee Stadium, and it was on a memorable night. A sneak peek for that last link: I was standing up while holding the Lobel’s sandwich as Derek Jeter broke Lou Gehrig’s hit record. Definitely check out my story!

Here’s Ben Kabak’s review of the steak sandwich posted on SI:

“Lobel's, an Upper East Side staple since 1840, has taken its wares to Yankee Stadium. They have a carving station in the stadium, and the meat is then cooked to a juicy medium rare before stadium employees stack it high on an onion bun. The meat melts in your mouth, and while a horseradish topping is available, the sandwich is definitely flavorful enough without the added spice.”

Mariano Rivera featured on E:60 tonight

It’s pouring out in Detroit as of 5:43 p.m. ET, meaning all the Yankees fans will need to find something else to watch on TV tonight. I’ve found the obvious choice for most.

Mariano Rivera is being featured on ESPN’s investigative TV show E:60 tonight at 7 p.m. The picture above shows you can get a sneak peek from ESPN New York’s homepage.

I remember reading Tom Verducci’s SI cover piece on Mo and I was impressed. I expect tonight’s video piece on Mo will be just as compelling.

As for the Yankees, I agree with Journal News beat Chad Jennings: doubleheader tomorrow.

Sports Illustrated cover jinx: Part … Yankees’ Core Four

Nothing’s official yet, but all signs are pointing in the direction of the disabled list for Andy Pettitte, who left Wednesday’s start after just 77 pitches.

Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York is reporting Sergio Mitre or Alfredo Aceves would replace Pettitte in the rotation — not Joba Chamberlain or Ivan Nova, the best young starter for Triple-A Scranton.

Either way, Pettitte’s not healthy, and I’m blaming this Sports Illustrated cover of the Core Four. I don’t normally believe in jinxes, but this is getting ridiculous. Since the issue was released, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and now Pettitte have sustained injuries.

All I have to say is: Derek, watch out!

Yankees’ core four featured on Sports Illustrated cover

Of course, my Sports Illustrated subscription just expired so I’ll have to buy this one individually.

The Star-Ledger offered an excerpt from Tom Verducci’s lunch date with Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera. Here it is:

SI: I want to go back to 1992, when Andy was throwing to Jorge, a converted second baseman, in Class A in Greensboro, N.C.

Posada: Go back to 1991. I was catching a bullpen from him [at short-season Class A] Oneonta, and he’s throwing me knuckleballs. The ball hit me right in the knee. I said, ‘No more knuckleballs.’

Pettitte: I had a knuckleball when I signed.

Jeter: Yeah, you’re still throwing knuckleballs.

Pettitte: I’d get two strikes on somebody and throw it as hard as I could. Struck everybody out. And then they told me after the first year, “You’ve got to can it.” They said, “After you’ve pitched for 10 years in the big leagues, if you want to break it back out, you can.”

SI: So now you can throw it again.

Pettitte: It’s no good now. I lost it.

Jeter named SI’s Sportsman of the Year

Yet another cover of Sports Illustrated for Derek Jeter will release this week after he was named Sportsman of the Year today, confirming early reports from Gawker.

The award goes to a player who captures both achievement and sportsmanship in a year. Past winners include Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Lance Armstrong and Brett Favre. But Jeter is the first Yankee ever to take home the honor.

Congrats, Jete.

Verducci features Mariano Rivera in Sports Illustrated

I just finished reading Tom Verducci’s long feature on the Yankees’ Hall-of-Fame-bound closer. “One Man, One Pitch” is a fully-detailed profile of soft-spoken Mariano Rivera from the mistake of finding a cutter to his World Series significance.

My favorite quote from the story:

“Rivera alone is responsible for a small forest of destroyed wood, so much so that hitters have been known to use their batting practice bats against him rather than risking their gamers.”

Another quote I liked:

“He can throw the classic cutter on the hands of a lefty or he can start it off the plate and cut it back to the outside corner, known as the backdoor cutter. Further, by varying the pressure from his fingertips, he can vary how much the ball cuts. And finally, he almost never misses his intended spot.”

This little nugget pretty much describes what goes through my mind as I watch him set up for each pitch. I can relate personally to Rivera as a pitcher with control. I can’t throw 90 MPH (probably around 80), and I can’t put it exactly where I want every pitch. But I had to have some control for me to get batters out in my summer league at a high success rate.

When I’m on the mound, I focus on location as much as anything. The mechanics have to come naturally. If not, then the pitch is going to ride right down Broadway. When I hit a spot, even if it is bouncing a curve in the dirt, it’s a great feeling. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be as precise as a single inch, but I do get to share the same joy that Rivera does when I watch him hit his spots.

Sports Illustrated: Yanks are team to beat

This picture pretty much recaps my recent question responses. Check out Ted Keith’s power rankings here.

This story got me thinking of who I expect the Yankees to face, and eventually beat in the World Series (I’m not superstitious). And I also will not fray from my preseason predictions. The Yankees will host and take down the Dodgers of Los Angeles in the World Series. I will tell you in how many games when the World Series comes around.

Why the Dodgers? They have one of the top offenses in the league when they are going right, and their lockdown bullpen. Here are a couple of names that you probably have never heard of: Ronald Belisario and Ramon Troncoso. Combined they hold an ERA of 2.28 in 138 games. Add on guys like George Sherrill, Hong Chiue Kuo, Charlie Haeger, Guillermo Mota and that guy with 36 saves, Jonathan Broxton. I would be scared to fall behind against that bullpen, even with a comeback-team like these ‘09 Yanks.

How about their manager? That guy who won four World Series championships with the Yankees, Joe Torre. This team is built all-around just like the Yankees but subtract a little power.

Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez do far more damage than Manny Ramirez and Andre Ethier. But I bet you didn’t know Ethier has 105 RBIs and Matt Kemp has 100. Not even the Yankees have two guys with over 100 RBIs.

Let’s face it. This is the World Series matchup that Major League Baseball is hoping for. It would yield by far the highest TV ratings than any other plausible matchup this year. With all of the history, the two Joes and the huge markets, MLB would be basking in gold. For me, I think it would be the most exciting, and the most pleasurable winning experience. But that’s just me.

Prodigy Bryce Harper says he wants to be a Yankee

Sixteen-year-old Bryce Harper of Las Vegas High School is said to be Baseball’s LeBron James.  More importantly, he told SI’s Tom Verducci that he wants to be a Yankee.

“When asked about his goals as a ballplayer, he replies, “Be in the Hall of Fame, definitely.  Play in Yankee Stadium.  Play in the pinstripes.  Be considered the greatest baseball player who ever lived.  I can’t wait.”

The cover of this week’s edition of Sports Illustrated points out that Harper has hit 570 foot homers and throws 96 MPH off the mound.  He’s also a catcher, so he has pretty much conquered every aspect of the game.

Wouldn’t it be nice if his dream of becoming a Yankee came true?

Greinke hits S.I. cover

I received my copy of S.I. today only to find Zack Greinke on the cover.  He is 5-0 with an 0.50 ERA this season, and leads the majors in both categories.  This was not news to me because I have a good friend in my hall bragging about his greatness in my ear every day – thanks to an idiotic bet I took him up on.

I gave him 10:1 odds that Zack Greinke will not win the Cy Young Award this season.  I know it’s only April, but he’s 5-0, and who else in the American League is going to take it from him?  If Greinke wins the award, I have to hand him a c-note.  FML.

The Yankees took two out of three from the Royals earlier this April, and fortunately evaded Greinke’s start in the rotation.  Hopefully by the time the two teams meet again at the end of September, Greinke will have cooled down just a little bit.