-The Yanks made two more deals yesterday sending Kyle Farnsworth to the Tigers for catcher Ivan Rodriguez and then saying good riddance to LaTroy Hawkins by moving the failed reliever to the Astros for Single-A infielder Matt Cusick. Trading Farnsworth is a little startling considering he had done a solid job becoming Joe Girardi’s trusted eighth inning setup man for Mariano Rivera. However, Brian Cashman had to address a pressing need upgrading at catcher with Jorge Posada getting ready for season-ending surgery. So, acquiring the 36 year-old 14 year All-Star and 13-time Gold Glover was understandable cause while Jose Molina is an outstanding defensive backstop, he’s basically an automatic out at the plate. Clearly, Pudge isn’t the player he used to be when on the juice but he’s still a solid bat which should upgrade the Yanks’ bottom third. As for losing Hawkins, nobody ever got that signing to begin with. Simple put. Addition by subtraction. Brian Bruney is also rehabbing there as well and could be in the mix as a replacement in the late innings.

-It’s also worth noting that on the same day they moved Farnsworth, the Yankees finally elevated relief prospect Mark Melanchon to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre where he made a good debut tossing two perfect innings in a win which also saw Chase Wright fare well in his first start in AAA after being moved up from Trenton. However, it’s the 23 year-old Melanchon who bares following as he’s comeback strong from Tommy John surgery which forced him to miss 2007. Before this season, he was last seen on the winning mound out here in Staten Island saving the Baby Bombers’ fourth New York-Penn League championship. Baseball America still had him ranked the club’s ninth best prospect and the University of Arizona product’s done little to sway that going from High-A Tampa all the way to Triple-A this summer. Was he rushed? It’s hard to argue when he dominated in Trenton going a perfect 6-0 in 19 appearances with a 1.81 ERA plus a couple of saves. In 49 and two thirds, he allowed 32 hits while walking 12 and striking out 47. The Yanks appear to be readying both Melanchon and J.B. Cox for late August call ups. By the end of the season, the look of the Yanks’ pen could be totally revamped and much younger.
-On the field, the Bronx Bombers finally lived up to that name hammering the O’s for 13 runs in a 13-3 pasting avoiding a sweep and amazingly picking up a game on the slumping Red Sox, who again fell to the Angels 9-2 at Fenway. If you’re the Halos, you have to wonder why it’s so much easier to beat Boston in the regular season. Well, if they do trade Manny Ramirez in this proposed three-team deal which would send the big slugger to the Marlins while also involving the Pirates with Jason Bay being reported as returning to the defending champs, it might be a little easier to beat the Red Sox if they see October. No guarantee with how well the Rays are playing. They won again 3-2 over the Jays with Carlos Pena hitting a homer to go three up on the Sox and remain four ahead of the Yankees.

-Bobby Abreu was the big hitter for the Yanks slugging two home runs, scoring three and driving in three while A-Rod also went yard and Xavier Nady had a pair of hits, runs and RBI’s in support of Joba Chamberlain, who improved to 4-3 working six frames of two-run five hit ball fanning six and walking none. Even though they again struggled with Baltimore, the Yanks have to feel pretty good because they’re just a game behind the Sox for the wild card. The remaining question is whether Cashman will go out and get another starter with Seattle’s Jarrod Washburn being linked? We’ll wait and see as the deadline hits later this afternoon at 4 ET.

-As for the Mets who fell in Florida 7-5 losing two of three and falling a half game behind the Phillies, who got homers from Chase Utley and the underrated Shane Victorino in an 8-5 win over the Nats, thus far they’ve remained pat with the red hot Fernando Tatis becoming the starting left fielder. And really. What’s the point of changing something which is working with the veteran possibly in line for NL Player of the Month hitting over .400?!?!?!?!?!?! If Omar Minaya does pull off a deal, it should be for some relief help to shore up a pen which isn’t always reliable. Wouldn’t George Sherrill look good in a Met jersey setting up Billy Wagner?

-As for the game, Mike Pelfrey had a rough fourth permitting five runs to suffer his seventh defeat. Returning from Tommy John, Josh Johnson notched his first win in a couple of years working into the seventh permitting four earned on eight hits walking and K-ing a pair. He even supported himself with an RBI double in the big inning which saw the bottom of the Florida order come up with big two out RBI hits. Following a Damion Easley three-run dinger which pulled the Mets within one, All-Star second baseman Dan Uggla dialed long distance for a deciding two-run shot off Joe Smith in the eighth. The Mets didn’t go quietly against closer Kevin Gregg, who after getting the first couple allowed three straight hits including a Ramon Castro pinch hit run scoring base hit putting the potential go-ahead run at the plate in Jose Reyes. However, Reyes flied out to end it allowing Gregg to pickup his 23rd save pulling Florida closer in the NL East. Here’s a closer look:

1.Phillies 58-49 -

2.Mets  58-50 0.5

3.Marlins 57-51 1.5

Who wants it most?

-With the Manny rumors circulating in South Florida, a couple of rumored Marlins Josh Willingham and Jeremy Hermida both answered questions regarding the circus.

Willingham:

“I thought about it until about 7:05, and once the game started I was locked in on the game.”

Hermida:

“You put that aside when you step between the white lines. I’ve still got a Marlins jersey on. It didn’t affect me whatsoever.”

-As for Manny, the laid back future Hall of Famer had some fun with a sign saying he was getting traded straight up for Brett Favre. You got to love his sense of humor.

Is it a distraction for his teammates who have seen this act before? Probably not as they’ve won their first two World Series since 1918 with the guy. Remember last Fall when he said if they lose to Cleveland, it doesn’t matter or something to that effect? Of course, the media killed the former George Washington HS star for it but his team was down 3-1 and he was just trying to take the pressure off. The pressure was squarely on the Indians, who not surprisingly buckled under with Ramirez and those Sox reeling off seven straight sweeping the Rockies and bringing back images of 2004.

On whether this deal is going to happen, the Marlins denied it. Until I see it happen, I’m not buying it. Bay’s a fine player and might even be a good fit in Fenway but even if Ramirez wants out and wants a new contract, they can still win a third world title with him. He’s one of those rare star sluggers who doesn’t feel the pressure under the spotlight. If the Sox made October with him and somehow repeated, they would be called a modern day dynasty. I would go for it.

-If this Mike Jacobs for Bengie Molina rumor goes through, either it’s a ripoff like I believe or I’m just not seeing what the Marlins see here. Molina’s a solid catcher and has playoff experience. So, he’d be an upgrade behind the plate but Jacobs is six years younger and has 22 homers and 60 knocked in. It certainly would help the light hitting Giants.

The Staten Island Yankee bats continue to remain hot. They bounced back from a 5-2 home defeat to Brooklyn by outslugging the Lowell Spinners 8-6 in Massachusetts last night.

Baby Bomber shortstop Addison Maruszak got the scoring started with a leadoff home run to tie teammate Brian Baisley for the club lead with his fourth. It was part of a big night in which the 21 year-old from South Florida finished 3-for-5 with three runs and three knocked in.

After starter Casey Erickson got the Spinners in order getting the last two swinging, the S.I. Yanks batted around for five runs off Matt Goodson. With the bases stacked and one out, Maruszak delivered a two-run base hit KO-ing the Lowell starter. Second baseman David Adams greeted losing reliever Drake Britton by depositing a three-run home run over the left field wall for his second of the summer and a six-run lead.

Erickson continued to dominate striking out the side in the second en route to a season best nine K’s in four innings of one-run ball. The performance followed up five scoreless and six K’s at Jamestown.

However, with the starter replaced by Nick Asselin, Lowell spun back with a five-run fifth to tie it off the ineffective reliever who lasted only one third being charged with all five after permitting three hits and plunking two batsmen. A Rafael Cabrera two-run single cut it to 6-3. Two batters later, Kade Keowen followed suit with a run scoring hit forcing Pat McMahon to opt for Andy Shive. After a walk and a strikeout, Shive allowed a Rafael Gil two-run single which tied it at six. He got out of further trouble by fanning Ryan Dent.

Shive settled down tossing a 1-2-3 sixth finishing with one and two thirds scoreless on a hit, walk and three K’s to pickup his fifth win.

With the contest knotted, the McNamara Division-leading Bombers plated a couple in the seventh off Britton, who was in his fifth inning of relief. Maruszak and Baisley each singled putting runners on first and second but moved up a base on third baseman Mike Lyon’s fielder’s choice for the second out. Left fielder Dan Brewer came through with a clutch two out base hit to right scoring the go-ahead run.

Catcher Mitch Abeita delivered an insurance tally off new pitcher Seth Garrison with an RBI single to left scoring Baisley but Lyon was pegged out at home 7-2 trying for more. Garrison got Melky Mesa swinging to end it.

Daniel Kapala worked two effective scoreless frames setting up Brad Rulon, who pitched around a single to strikeout the side for his second save.

Notes: The Bombers improved to 25-16, staying three up on Hudson Valley, who also were 7-3 winners over Tri-City. With a 4-3 road win at Vermont, Brooklyn remained five back while Aberdeen dropped to last six out after being doubled up 10-5 by Oneonta. … Five Baby Bombers had at least two hits with Maruszak, Adams, Baisley, Brewer and Abeita combining for 11 of the team’s 14 scoring six and knocking in all eight runs. … In a losing effort, Lowell’s Cabreja and Dent each had a pair of hits. … Goodson went only one and a third permitting five earned on five hits, walking and fanning a batter. Britton took the loss falling to 0-2 despite working five giving up three earned on six hits while walking one and striking out three. … The game took three hours and 23 minutes to complete. … Staten Island plays two more in Lowell before returning home Friday night to host the Cyclones for the start of another big four-game series concluding in Coney Island next Monday before Tuesday’s day off.

-The Mets rebounded with a 4-1 win over the Marlins thanks to Carlos Beltran’s two out go-ahead single in the sixth plus some insurance off the big bat of Carlos Delgado, who took Marlins’ lefty Renyel Pinto deep for a two-run blast in the eighth for his club best 23rd of the season. Oliver Perez went six innings allowing only a run on five hits while walking three and fanning five tossing 100 pitches. He wasn’t lights out but did just enough to give his team a chance escaping a first and second one out situation with a 1-6-3 double play. He notched his seventh victory dropping his ERA to 4.02.

New York also got solid relief from Aaron Heilman, who after walking a couple in the seventh settled down to toss two scoreless while fanning four. Billy Wagner retired the side in order whiffing a pair for his 27th save.

-For the Marlins who dropped a couple out of first, Scott Olsen wasn’t bad by any stretch matching Perez for nearly the same amount but couldn’t get that final out in the sixth walking Delgado and then giving up Beltran’s go-ahead base hit. Following a Fernando Tatis single, the lefty was pulled having gone five and two thirds while allowing two earned on six hits walking a pair and striking out five.

You have to wonder why Florida skipper Fredi Gonzalez didn’t stay with reliever Matt Lindstrom after he baffled the Mets for one and a third scoreless with two K’s. Something Howie Rose and Wayne Hagan alluded to on the radio cast when Pinto came in to start the eighth, allowing the Mets to ice the game.

If there’s an aspect the Marlins lost this game, it was stranding runners as they left 16 on compared to New York’s nine. They aren’t the most fundamentally sound club as evidenced by their D the previous night and their continued free swinging approach which saw them K 11 times including All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez going for the hat trick. There also was a big at bat where former Met Mike Jacobs pinch hit in the seventh with the tying run just put on via a walk on five pitches by Heilman. Instead of being patient, he swung at the Met setup man’s first offering harmlessly popping out. It might have been wiser to be more patient in such a big spot. But often with younger teams, they’ll be overly aggressive showing inexperience.

That’s an area Florida will have to continue to get better at if they want to seriously contend over the next couple of years.

-The Yanks again were victimized by the opportunistic Orioles who broke open a one-run game by putting up a four spot in the seventh off the combo of Darrell Rasner and recent lefty pickup Damaso Marte in a 7-6 win. With Rasner in trouble, the ex-Pirate came on and subsequently gave up three consecutive hits including a bases clearing double to hitting star Aubrey Huff and a Melvin Mora RBI two-bagger making it 6-1. Till that point, the Yanks had their lone run on Alex Rodriguez’ solo shot for his 22nd off Daniel Cabrera.

With Joe Girardi sending out Mariano Rivera to get some work after a few days off, the closer couldn’t escape Huff, who earlier in his at bat just missed a right field upper deck homer. It would take a couple of more pitches before he straightened out a fastball which got too much of the plate serving it out into the short porch for his 22nd putting the stamp on a four hit, four RBI night. As it turned out, that big swing proved large because the Bronx Bombers rallied for three in the home half versus closer George Sherrill.

Following a Johnny Damon leadoff hit, Derek Jeter walked. Then Bobby Abreu doubled in a run putting the tying run to the plate but A-Rod struck out swinging. A Jason Giambi two-run base hit suddenly made it a one-run game. When pinch runner Justin Christian swiped second, they had two shots to get him in but Sherrill buckled down getting both Robinson Cano and Wilson Betemit swinging to end any chance of a miraculous Yankee comeback.

-The loss prevented the Yanks from gaining a game on the Red Sox, who were no-hit for eight and a third by Angels’ ace John Lackey Fenway before second baseman Dustin Pedroia broke it up. Though he lost his shutout bid on a Kevin Youkilis two-run dinger, Lackey finished the game with a two-hitter walking a couple and K-ing four on 120 pitches with 91 for strikes in improving to 9-2. The 29 year-old Angel ace who tossed his 12th career complete game got a nice hand from the Boston faithful.

-Off the field, Lackey’s team made some big headlines by packaging first baseman Casey Kotchman along with 24 year-old Double-A pitching prospect Stephen Marek to the Braves in exchange for 28 year-old first base slugger Mark Teixeira, making it the second straight year before the deadline the former Texas Ranger star was dealt. In 103 games this season, the former Georgia Tech star was hitting .283 with 20 homers and 78 RBI’s plus a .390 OBP and .512 slugging. In 157 total games as a Brave, Teixeira totaled 37 home runs, 74 extra base hits and 134 RBI’s. In the final year of a contract, he’ll now go West to LA to try to help deliver the Angels’ second world championship in six years. He’s making $12.5 million in the last year and could become a UFA this November.

Said Teixeira of the deal:

“Hopefully, I can just go over there and be one more piece of the puzzle.”

It should make the Halos even tougher to get out. Particularly with a middle of the order which now features Vlad Guerrero, Torii Hunter and Teixeira.

The slugger also added of his new ballclub:

“The Angels have always been one of the best teams in the league. They’ve always had great pitching, great defense and find a way to win games. I want to be the one who hopefully gets them over the top.”

The two-time Gold Glover also paid tribute to his former team where he enjoyed his brief stay:

“The last couple days I knew it was coming, so I prepared for it. It’s a little bittersweet. I really enjoyed my time here. I had a great year here. I love this team. I love this organization. I love this city. It’s tough to leave.”

Class all the way.

-In Milwaukee, Carlos Zambrano helped the Cubs to a second straight win over the Brewers easily outpitching Ben Sheets by going eight strong scoreless scattering five hits walking two and fanning nine as the NL Central leaders prevailed 7-1 extending their lead to three games. Four Cubs had at least two hits and Aramis Ramirez finished with four, two runs scored plus an RBI as Chicago put a hurting on Sheets scoring six times on 11 hits in five and a third to hand him his fourth defeat. Every Cub had at least one hit including Zambrano, whose infield RBI base hit to short highlighted a five-run sixth which broke open a one-run game. Japanese rookie Kosuke Fukudome and veteran utility man Mark DeRosa each drove in a pair giving the Cubs their third straight victory while dealing the Brewers their third loss in a row.

-With the Cards prevailing 8-3 against the DL-plagued Braves who just lost Tim Hudson for the season and placed leading hitter Chipper Jones on the DL, they’re within a game of the wild card behind Milwaukee. Albert Pujols slugged his third long ball in four days scoring three times and catcher Yadier Molina added three hits and two RBI’s.

-The Phillies remained a half game behind the Mets thanks to a stellar effort from Brett Myers, who went seven innings allowing just one unearned on four hits, walking one and striking out a couple for just his fourth win. A much better effort than his prior one against the Amazin’s which was good news for the Phils, who just sent Adam Eaton back to Triple-A to get straightened out. The Phillies got a two-run homer from Chase Utley (26th) which was enough to edge the Nationals 2-1 keeping pace with New York.

-The first place Rays gained a game on Boston going two up and four on the Yanks thanks to a 3-0 complete game shutout by Matt Garza, who outpitched Roy Halladay for win No.9. He got an Eric Hinske inside the park homer and a two-run Evan Longoria two-run eighth inning triple as he five-hit the Jays on 106 pitches walking one and striking out five. In a losing effort, Halladay went eight frames allowing three earned on six hits walking a trio while fanning eight in falling to 12-8. He tossed 118 pitches. What a horse.

-The Twins rallied from 4-0 down scoring five in the fifth and one in the seventh to comeback and beat the White Sox 6-5, pulling within half a game of first. Justin Morneau’s bases clearing double was the big hit but as it turned out teammate Joe Mauer’s run scoring single proved to be the difference due to a Nick Swisher solo homer off closer Joe Nathan in the ninth. Nathan then got the final batter to notch his 29th save.

When the Staten Island Yankees first came here 10 years ago, they played their home games on the College of Staten Island campus better know as CSI to people out here in Shaolin, NYC.

I can still remember it like it was yesterday when then MTV’s own Tom Green decided to visit a ballgame and play one of his unpredictable pranks by doing his own version of PA announcing in a game between the home club and the Expos Low-A affiliate. To say the zany Canadian comedian took it to a whole new level would be understating it a bit.

His announcing got so loud that it distracted players from both sides. He was even tossing in some play-by-play which eventually got him the heave ho from the plate umpire. There aren’t many workers left these days but current Community Relations VP John Davison is still there and was in view on the infamous episode escorting him out of the press box.

It’s still one of the more memorable skits from his show and of course one of my personal faves. If you haven’t yet, see it for yourself now:

Tom Green PA Announces at SI Yankee Game
It still cracks me up till this day.

-The Yanks have dropped two straight after coming out of the All-Star Break winning their first eight to get back in the AL East race. Last night, Mike Mussina didn’t have it giving up two second inning home runs to Yankee killer Kevin Millar and Ramon Hernandez putting the home club in a four-run hole they wouldn’t climb out of against O’s starter Jeremy Guthrie, who allowed just one run on Xavier Nady’s solo shot in the seventh which broke up a shutout. In five innings, Moose allowed six earned on eight hits walking two and striking out four to fall to 13-7. Rookie David Robertson was even worse getting tattooed for five runs on four hits in just a third of an inning. Rookie Adam Jones took him yard for a grand slam in the sixth putting the game out of reach.

Fortunately for the Yanks, both Tampa Bay (3-1 loss to Jays) and Boston (7-5 loss to Angels) lost meaning they lost no ground in the race remaining two behind the Red Sox for the wild card and three in back of the Rays for the division.

-As radio broadcaster John Sterling pointed out, Mussina was due for a bad outing as he had been lights out for a while. However, the way he and partner Suzyn Waldman made Guthrie sound was like the second coming. You would’ve thought he had 11 or 12 wins and a sub-3.00 ERA the way they gushed over him instead of winning his seventh and lowering his ERA to 3.49. The 29 year-old late bloomer out of Stanford has developed into a good pitcher but come on. They made it sound like it was mission impossible for the Yanks to comeback. Sorry but this wasn’t Roy Halladay.

-The Mets fared no better in their first game down south losing to the Marlins 7-3. The story was John Maine, whose right shoulder stiffened up forcing him to leave with one out in the fifth leading 2-1. A couple of batters following John Baker’s leadoff homer which broke up the shutout, the Mets staff took no chances taking out the 27 year-old righty taking precaution as they don’t want to lose him for any extended period. The Met pen couldn’t hold a 3-2 lead in the eighth allowing five Marlins to come across. After Dan Uggla’s single tied it, Cody Ross put Florida ahead with a base hit to right off Scott Schoeneweis, who replaced Joe Smith after starting the inning. When it looked like he’d escape a bases loaded no out situation down only a run, he uncorked a wild pitch allowing insurance to come in. Pinch hitter Robert Andino, who earlier this year beat the Amazin’s on a walkoff homer delivered a two-run double making the Marlins 7-3 winners to pull them within a game of first while the idle Phillies are just half a game back.

Tonight, the resurgent Oliver Perez goes up against fellow lefty Scott Olsen while Philadelphia begins a three-game series in Washington.

-It’s hard to fathom how white hot Fernando Tatis is with the bat. Last night, the 33 year-old veteran left fielder had two more hits knocking in two of the Mets’ three in defeat. Once a power hitting third baseman for the Cardinals after coming over from Texas near the beginning of his career, Tatis fell apart after being dealt to Montreal and eventually was out of the bigs altogether in 2004, 2005 and even last year. Over the past month, he’s been unbelievable for the Mets sparking them into first with clutch two strike hits which would make Alex Rodriguez jealous. Following a quiet June in which he did essentially zilch hitting .236 with three RBI’s while fanning 16 times in 55 plate appearances, Tatis is hitting a ridiculous .415 (27-for-65) with six homers, 14 extra base hits and 18 RBI’s. How does one explain the meteoric turnaround for a veteran who hardly played four of the past five years? It’s a great comeback story. Given how we can’t take things for granted anymore these days,  you just hope it’s on the up and up.

-C.C. Sabathia threw 124 pitches (77 strikes) in earning a no-decision in second place Milwaukee’s 4-3 loss to the Cubs to start a big four-game set. I just thought you should know.

-Isn’t it something how good buddy John Giagnorio’s favorite Cub Alfonso Soriano comes back and immediately starts contributing in a big way in the last two wins to stay two up on the Brew Crew?

-They might have lost last night to the Pirates but I still say the Rockies if they play their cards right are coming back to take the NL West because the two teams in front of them just aren’t that good. That’s also why Matt Holliday shouldn’t go anywhere the next few days.

-Don’t ya think either the Yanks or Mets would love to have as scrappy and heady a player as Pitt’s Nate McLouth manning their center field a few years from now?!?!?!?!?!?!

-Reported on the Bottom Line: Brett Favre just crossed the street into town to have lunch with his family.

-I just don’t get how they can have another 90210. That Tori Spelling’s Donna character is being brought back doesn’t say much for her career. Though Shannen Doherty’s Brenda character should still be interesting. Is Jennie Garth’s Kelly really coming back too? Got to say she still looks good on these What I Like About You repeats.

-It was interesting listening to discussion on WFAN in New York about Carlos Delgado’s sudden resurgence. Perhaps Staten Island Yankee official scorer Kevin Nasta is onto something about the Met first base slugger not putting out much effort for former manager Willie Randolph. And isn’t it odd how Jose Reyes went from a basket case who would’ve worked for that classic Green Day video to suddenly back to being the most dangerous leadoff hitter in the game with MVP consideration? Players are pampered way too much these days. I could just see Delgado and Reyes getting away with that in the Yankee locker room.

-I was talking with fellow Giant blogger Ryan Kratz just the other day about how little respect Big Blue is being given despite pulling off three of the biggest upsets en route to a third Lombardi Trophy. Here they are without the retired Michael Strahan, who will be missed due to his veteran presence and headache Jeremy Shockey, who won’t be missed in the least as they head into camp. They still got Eli, Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer and the two-headed ground attack of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. Plus second-year players Steve Smith and Kevin Boss. Then there’s the D which still boasts one of the most dangerous pass rushers Osi Umenyiora, riser Justin Tuck and a healthy Mathias Kiwanuka. Who isn’t excited to see how rookies Kenny Phillips and Mario Manningham fit in to help bolster both sides of the ball? Plus Aaron Ross and Corey Webster in the secondary.

Will it be tough for Tom Coughlin’s group to defend their title? Absolutely. But when you see the same so-called experts who had them losing last January to Dallas, then Green Bay and then the big bad Belichick Pats already writing them off behind the Cowboys and Eagles for the division, it’s maddening. What do they have to do to garner respect? Maybe they’ll have to win it all again to silence the doubters.

-I’m no expert but this Renaldo Balkman trade to the Nuggets moving one of your best energizers who can rebound and defend as well as anyone for more guards. Is this really what the new plan is for the Knicks? Just more proof that it doesn’t matter who’s running the Dumb and Dumber Clown Mgt 101 franchise.

It’s that kind of night. I just feel like throwing together some cool old school stuff which once owned back in the day.  So, get ready to be taken to a new dimension as it’s come to our attention without much mention. Jump in our video time machine and feel the power!

Snap: “Rhythm Is A Dancer”

i’m going to say either late 1992 or early 1993. the beat was always cool to get down to. “You could feel it. You could feel it.“

Technotronic Fea. Felly: “Pump Up The Jam”

who didn’t play this at a house party back in the day or get down to it. heck. it became a common song played at Chicago Bulls games. when i hear it, i think of the misery MJ caused around these parts.

Salt N’ Pepa: “Push It”

this song was hot. no other way to put it. Salt N’ Pepa ruled. they had a lot of good stuff.

Run DMC: “Tricky”

they’re legends in every sense of the word. originators who set the standard. love this video as it’s just comical with a classic ending. Run DMC just rocks!

Quad City DJ’s: “C’mon N Ride It (The Train)”

i’m going to say 1997. i remember it frequently being played whenever New Dorp came out during their home bball games.

Tag Team: “Whoomp! (There It Is)”

Whoomp! Shaka laka! Whoomp! Shaka laka! Shaka Laka! Shaka. Whoomp! Late 1993. the end of this is hoooooottt!

69 Boyz: “Tootsee Roll”

i don’t know what makes me smile more. this or their classic “Daisy Dukes” track. classic beat. check. trendy. absolutely. it wouldn’t work today. i hadn’t heard the latter in forever. it’s a better song. and my god. i would blast this.

2 Live Crew: “Shake A Lil Somethin‘”

everyone knows that their stuff was too offensive for stations to even show. god damn this country is hypocritical sometimes. honestly, they’re stuff is off the hook. enough said!

Sir Mixalot: “Baby Got Back (I Like Big Butts)”

another epic from a different time. he comes right to the point. don’t ya think?!?!?!?!?! haha

Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch: “Good Vibrations”

there’s something about this song. well the video. working out and sex. it’s just a perfect combo. the beat always was great and the video really works. of course it made it’s big cameo in the first Mighty Ducks. yeah. of course i know! i also like the piano and keyboard as it just brings such a good background to the music. the most amazing thing is Marky Mark, better known as Mark Wahlberg made a smooth transition to acting yet it’s rarely ever covered.

C & C Music Factory: “Gonna Make You Sweat”

1990. God. I remember where I was. That’s kinda sad.

Naughty By Nature: “Hip Hop Hooray”

Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho! Hey! Hoooooo!!!!! i love this song. classic 1994 Naughty. They had so many good tracks.” OPP!” “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright.” Or the infamous soundtrack from Juice, “Uptown Anthem.” All I know is that was one great album. They had other good hits too but that’s the year of Naughty IMHO and what they’ll always be known for. The one thing that really stood out about all these hit songs were how well shot the videos were. It made you feel like you were there in the streets or ghetto. Whoever produced and directed it knew what they were doing.

I could easily link up more old school stuff and make this a crazy long entry. But I want to sleep at a decent hour. So, I’ll check back later.

Hope you enjoyed this retro video edition.

Later tonight, the Staten Island Yankees will look to make it three straight against their Verrazano rival Brooklyn Cyclones at the ballpark in St. George.

After losing the big four-game series opener Friday despite a furious ninth inning rally which fell short, the Baby Bombers have responded with back-to-back wins taking Saturday’s game 4-1 and blowing out the Baby Bums at Keyspan last night 15-2. Staten Island batted around in the first inning scoring five runs KO-ing Cyclone starter Tim Stronach.

First baseman Brian Baisley continued to swing a sizzling bat driving in two of his game high six with a two-run triple getting the party started. Consecutive RBI hits by Addison Maruszak (double), Dan Brewer (single) and Mike Lyon (triple) made it a five-run inning.

While winning starter David Phelps was busy putting up zeros in the first five for his fourth victory of the season, his teammates continued to pound Brooklyn pitching putting up an eight spot in the fourth highlighted by a Baisley grand slam (team-leading 4th HR) and left fielder Taylor Grote’s first home run as a pro- a three-run job with the two dingers accounting for seven of the eight runs with Lyon’s run scoring double sandwiched between.

Though the ‘Clones scored a run each in the seventh and eighth off relievers Tim Dennehy and Jacinto Gonell including a Jose Jimenez solo shot, a game which included a lengthy one hour and 35 minute rain delay had been long decided. The Bombers tacked on two more in the ninth on RBI singles by Ray Kruml and Jahdiel Santamaria putting the exclamation point on the blowout win.

Andy Shive came in and fanned two of three to finish off a game which took nearly five hours due to the rain (3:08 overall).

The Bombers (24-15) lead the McNamara Division by four games over Hudson Valley (20-19) with Aberdeen trailing by five and Brooklyn six out with tonight’s series finale on tap. They’re 13-6 at home compared to 11-9 on the road.

Former Bomber Updates:

1.3B Mitch Hilligoss has struggled in his first season for Tampa hitting .244 with a homer, 17 doubles and 28 RBI’s along with 12 steals in 91 games for the High-A affiliate. Once rumored to be in a potential deal for Johan Santana, the 23 year-old Windsor, Illinois native who the Yankees took in the 2006 sixth round hasn’t been able to follow up an impressive second season in Charleston which included a South Atlantic record 38-game hit streak. There’s still five weeks left in the Florida State League season for him to finish strong.

2.Seth Fortenberry has also had a rough go of it going from Charleston to Tampa. The former S.I. Yankee star who teamed with Hilligoss to help them repeat two summers ago has gotten into 86 games and is hitting .242 with seven homers, nine doubles, seven triples and 22 RBI’s while swiping eight bases. Despite that, his .348 OBP isn’t bad and he has hit better in July (.282) than in prior months. The 24 year-old former Baylor star who the Yanks grabbed in Rd. 11 in 2006 can still finish with decent numbers if he puts it together.

3.George Kontos nearly was included in the six-player trade with the Pirates this past weekend but he and teammate Phil Coke wound up staying in Trenton. Apparently, someone failed a physical which was why the deal was changed. We may never know who. The 23 year-old former Northwestern star who the Yanks tabbed in the fifth round in 2006 has struggled lately in for the Double-A affiliate suffering his 10th defeat of the season the other night allowing six earned in six frames while walking four and striking out seven. While the Bomber hero who K’d 11 in six scoreless to help S.I. repeat two years ago has more than a K-per-inning over the last 51-plus, he’s 1-6 during that span with over a 5.00 ERA. In 21 outings, he’s 3-10 with a 4.05 ERA including 110 K’s in 113 and a third.

4.Kevin Smith has fared better than his teammates in Tampa hitting .277 with four homers, 23 doubles and 45 knocked in including 127 total bases in 92 contests. The 24 year-old first baseman who also starred on the 2006 Staten Island championship team was selected by the Yankees in Rd.39 in 2006. He finished very strong last year for the River Dogs hitting .297 with eight dingers and 52 RBI’s in 83 games. He’s continued to perform respectably.

5.Jonathan Hovis has followed up a solid first two pro seasons in Staten Island and Charleston with an even better third one with Tampa. The 24 year-old out of North Carolina who the Yankees signed as a free agent on 7/3/06 has done a good job closing games for Tampa posting a 2-0 record with a 1.14 ERA and 10 saves in 21 games. In 23 and a third, he’s allowed 13 hits while walking only three and striking out 24 with opposing hitters batting .155 against. Last season, he saved 30 games for Charleston.

6.Colin Curtis has had mixed results in his second season with Trenton. In 101 games, the 23 year-old left fielder out of Arizona State who the Yanks took in Rd.4 in 2006 is batting .258 with five homers, 17 doubles, two triples and 51 RBI’s while stealing five bases and posting a .336 OBP (46 walks). The former S.I. Yankee 2006 center fielder has fared better than his initial stint last year where he hit .242 with three long balls and 15 RBI’s. With top prospect Austin Jackson playing center, Curtis has made the transition to left and will try to help the defending Eastern League champs repeat.

7.James Cooper is still adjusting to life in Double-A where he’s hitting just .205 with two doubles and 10 RBI’s in 83 at bats since getting promoted from Tampa after batting .311 with a homer and 22 RBI’s in 66 games. The 24 year-old Los Angeles native who’s in his fourth pro season after the Yanks took him in the 2005 ninth round has battled back from leg injuries to get his chance. He was a member of the 2005 Staten Island championship team.

8.Justin Snyder has continued to progress well following an impressive first pro season which included Penn League AS honors by hitting .293 with 34 extra base hits including 26 two-baggers and three triples while knocking in 46 and totaling 159 bases with Charleston. The scrappy 22 year-old out of the University of San Diego who the Yanks grabbed in Rd.21 last year continues to get on-base drawing 42 walks along with a .361 OBP with a slugging of .416 in 98 games. He’s also a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts. Last season, he set new club records for Staten Island in average (.335) and hits (87) while totaling 26 extra base hits, 68 runs and a gaudy .459 OBP (58 BB) out of the leadoff spot. He batted first some this summer but lately has been moved to the middle of the River Dogs order.

9.Wilkins De La Rosa has successfully converted from right field to an effective left handed pitcher for Charleston. After struggling mightily at the plate in 2006 for the Bombers, the 23 year-old Santo Domingo native who the Yankees signed on 11/15/01 became a pitcher last year going 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA in 12 games for the Gulf Coast Yankees fanning 32 in 24 frames. This summer, he’s risen up the charts posting a 6-3 mark with a 2.32 ERA in 27 games. After starting the year as a reliever, De La Rosa is now starting games and faring well. In his last five starts, he’s gone into the sixth allowing two runs-or-less while striking out 34. Overall in 81.1 IP, he’s permitted 55 hits with only two long balls while walking 35 and whiffing 102 with opposing batters hitting only .192 against.

We’ll have more updates on former Staten Island Yanks later.

-Rafael Nadal took another step closer to the No.1 ranking by defeating veteran German Nicolas Kiefer 6-3, 6-2 to capture the Rogers Cup in Toronto yesterday for his ATP Tour leading seventh title of the year. It also marked his fifth consecutive tournament win and extended his match win streak to 29 straight. The 22 year-old No.2 ranked Spaniard also captured a fourth straight French Open and first ever Wimbledon becoming the first male tennis player to win both since Bjorn Borg in 1980. He defeated Scot Andy Murray in straight sets to reach the final after Murray had upset No.3 ranked Serb Novak Djokovic in the quarters of an upset marred tournament which saw top ranked Roger Federer, No.4 Russian Nikolay Davydenko, No.5 Spaniard David Ferrer and No.6 American Andy Roddick all bounced in the third round.

Nadal was able to avoid the upset bug to capture his first hard court tournament of the season. Though Kiefer raised his level early in the second set getting a few break points in the fifth game, the resilient Nadal fought them off and held serve before breaking the German’s spirit with two breaks to take the last four games for the championship.

If he continues to get solid results on the hard courts, then Nadal has to be considered a serious U.S. Open contender. He now believes he can win on any surface:

“I win on every surface, no? I win on grass, on hard, on indoor, and on clay, too. So if I am playing my best tennis I can win on every surface, no?”

In his career, Nadal’s now won 30 titles, making him the third youngest player to win that many behind Borg and Jimmy Connors.

He now trails Federer by just 300 points in the rankings boasting an impressive 61-7 record in 2008. So, can he finally overtake the 12-time slam winner who’s held the top spot a record 234 weeks in a row?

“Every player wants to be No. 1, no? I would love to be No. 1, but I am No. 2 right now. I’m very happy for be No. 2. Because with my titles, with my points, in a normal situation I, well, would have been No. 1 before. So I think I have to be happy, very happy anyway if I am No. 1 or No. 2. Because if I am No. 2 it’s because in front of me there is amazing player like Roger (Federer).”

-The Mets got a much needed complete game from Johan Santana, who tossed the club’s first CG of the season in an 9-1 blowout win over the Cardinals taking two of three at Shea before they hit the road for a big three-game series in Florida. The 29 year-old southpaw got plenty of support off the big bats of David Wright (20th HR), Fernando Tatis (2-run shot) and Ramon Castro (solo HR) as the Mets plated five in the sixth to put away a three-run game before Albert Pujols slugged his second dinger in two days in the seventh to break up the shutout. That was the only mistake Santana made as he went the distance on one run, six hits walking one and fanning five to improve to 9-7 lowering his ERA under 3.00. He also tossed a season high 118 pitches for his seventh career complete game.

-The Mets hope it’s a trend as they need their ace more than ever to deliver a big second half to hold off the offensive minded Phillies, who once again dialed up the offense with two five-run outbursts erasing an Atlanta 5-0 lead to win 12-10 and remain a game back. The Phillies got five home runs from different sources with Chris Coste, Shane Victorino (3-run shot), Pat Burrell (26th), Jayson Werth (2-run HR) and Jimmy Rollins (solo) all going yard to keep pace.

-Meanwhile, the Marlins blew 5-0 and 6-5 leads to the Cubs allowing four in the seventh at Wrigley to fall 9-6 for a split of the four-game series. Former Met Mike Jacobs two long balls in the second and third weren’t enough and neither was Dan Uggla’s 25th as Alfonso Soriano (3-run shot) and Derrek Lee (solo HR) combined to slug the Cubs back with the biggest hit coming courtesy of a pinch hit Mike Fontenot bases clearing double. The Marlins enter their series against the Amazin’s in third place trailing by two games.

-The Red Sox finally snapped the Yanks’ eight-game win streak by bombing Sidney Ponson for seven runs in the first four innings in what amounted to a 9-2 home victory avoiding the sweep and pulling within two of first place Tampa, who fell in KC 6-1. Manny Ramirez let his bat do the talking with three hits, two runs scored and two RBI’s and David Ortiz hit his first home run since returning and drove in three as the Sox took a two-game lead over the Yanks in the wild card. Trailing by seven, the Yankees did have one chance to get back in it when they plated two runs off Jon Lester in the fifth and still had the bases packed with nobody out. However, Alex Rodriguez lined out to third, Xavier Nady flied to shallow center and Robinson Cano grounded back to Lester allowing him to escape. For the first time since the break, the hot hitting Cano was held hitless in four at bats. Nady followed an 0-for-3 with another collar making him 0-for-7 thus far. He also stranded five. The Yanks as a team left 16 on base.

-The Mets lost a marathon 14 inning affair to the Cards 10-8 at Shea. A game which featured 18 runs, 37 hits and a preposterous 55 runners left on base took over five hours to decide with more than 53,000 rooting on the first place club in Queens. Despite two Carlos Delgado home runs and Fernando Tatis’ tying dinger in the ninth off St. Louis closer Ryan Franklin, the Amazin’s fell short due to Albert Pujols going yard off the last man standing Aaron Heilman for a two-run shot for the Cards’ first homer of the night. The final Met reliever predictably ran out of gas in his third inning finishing with 57 pitches (41 strikes). Try explaining that to a few Met fans who still want to kill one of their best setup men for what was an understandable loss.

New York had plenty of opportunities for someone to be the hero in extras but stranded all seven runners including the bases loaded on walks in the 12th before Tatis grounded back to Kelvin Jimenez. They went quietly in the 13th and 14th allowing Brad Thompson to pickup the win in relief. That he hails from Vegas seemed appropriate given how crazy this game was which featured 16 pitchers (eight apiece) and 24 position players plus ex-Met closer Braden Looper as a pinch hitter for the opposition.

Met manager Jerry Manuel summed it up best:

“We had chances, we just couldn’t push it across. It was just one of those nights.”

Still, the Mets showed plenty of resiliency after falling behind immediately 4-0 as veteran Brandon Knight struggled before steadying the next four while teammates picked him up even getting the lead on Jose Reyes’ 12th dinger. The Cards cameback with a four-run sixth off three Met relievers to go back ahead 8-5. But the big bats of Delgado and Tatis made it a very long night and ride home for supporters who stuck it out.

-The loss dropped the Mets’ division lead to a game over both the Marlins (3-2 in 12 over Cubs) and Phillies, who used a seven-run fifth to rally past Atlanta 10-9. Greg Dobbs slugged the go-ahead pinch hit three-run home run which allowed the slumping Phils to overcome a nine-run Brave fourth in which they shelled ace Cole Hamels. He was charged with all nine with five unearned due to a couple of errors including by Chase Utley and himself. It didn’t matter because six Philly relievers combined to shutdown Atlanta the rest of the way tossing five and a third scoreless with closer Brad Lidge going 1-2-3 for his 23rd save.

The Marlins got two solo homers from Jeremy Hermida and a Jorge Cantu run scoring double which plated Hermida for a 3-2 extra inning win in Wrigley. They’ve taken the last two from the Cubs with the fourth game later today.

-Meanwhile up in Beantown, the Yankees ran their perfect post All-Star mark to 8-0 by defeating the Red Sox 10-3 at Fenway. Trailing on two early runs, they used a Bobby Abreu RBI single and a Robinson Cano solo shot to tie it. Center fielder Melky Cabrera then manufactured a run by beating out a bunt down the third baseline, swiping second and then coming around to score on Johnny Damon’s two out base hit in the fourth.

They broke the game open with a four-run sixth including a Derek Jeter RBI single, an Abreu RBI two-bagger followed by an Alex Rodriguez run scoring base hit. Though All-Star MVP J.D. Drew went deep for his 19th in the sixth, the Bronx Bombers poured it on with three more off Craig Hansen highlighted by the hot hitting Cano’s two-run double as they pulled within a game of the wild card while remaining three behind Tampa, who prevailed 5-3 in Kansas City.

Andy Pettite rebounded from a tough opening inning working six allowing three runs (1 ER) while walking three and fanning seven in improving to 12-7. Four Yankee relievers including new lefty Damaso Marte (0.1 IP, 1 K) held the Sox to one hit over the final three frames.

Also debuting in left field batting seventh behind Cano was Xavier Nady, who took the collar in three trips with a walk and caught stealing.

-The hottest Yankee has been Cano, who after a dreadful first half which saw him hit just .246 has erupted to go 18-for-35 (.514) with three home runs and 10 RBI’s. Interestingly enough, the 25 year-old second baseman has done his best work in the second half hitting .341 following the break the past three campaigns. To hear Damon tell it, the timing couldn’t be any better:

“The All-Star break came at a good time for this team. Robinson was able to gather his thoughts. He was swinging the bat well. He’s a big reason we’re on the streak we’re on now.”

The Yanks are clicking on all cylinders and will aim for the sweep and a tie for the wild card if Sidney Ponson can outduel Jon Lester later tonight.

-The Brewers won for the 10th time in 11 scoring two each in the seventh and eighth including a tying Ryan Braun homer along with a Bill Hall go-ahead single and run scored as they rallied to defeat the Astros 6-4 pulling into a tie with the Cubs for the NL’s best mark. Both teams are 60-44 with 58 left.

-The Rockies used a four-run fifth to get past the Reds 5-1 for their fourth win in a row pulling to 11 under (47-58) and remaining six behind Arizona, who took their second straight over the Giants 5-3 to stay a game in front of the Dodgers (6-0 over Nats). NL ROY runner-up Troy Tulowitzki had three hits including the game-winning RBI single for Colorado. For the Diamondbacks, ace Brandon Webb went seven innings of three-run ball allowing four hits while walking two and striking out eight for his 14th win. The former Cy winner who eclipsed 1,000 career strikeouts was overshadowed by second-year Giant star Tim Lincecum, who struck out career high 13 while allowing two runs in seven innings.