"Please Holden, get over yourself.”

“You don’t know baseball.”

“Cliché article.”

“Michigan sucks balls.”

    For East Coast Bias’ one year anniversary, I proudly dedicate this column to the faithful Sun readers who have unabashedly torn me apart for my many misinformed, slanted and downright foolish evaluations, predictions and musings on, most commonly, my beloved New York Yankees.

(I actually even knew the guy who felt the need to tell me “Michigan sucks balls”).

On April 14, this column ran a piece on Yankees second baseman and current AL MVP contender Robinson Cano. As was written:

“What can frustrate Yankee fans more than anything, however, is Cano’s overall demeanor and apparent work ethic. On good days he makes quick flips to first from the outfield grass and strong pivots on the double-play ball. On bad days he seems lazy, unfocused and immature in the field. On good days his swing is smooth, strong and relaxed. On bad days it’s undisciplined, impatient and unbalanced. He is the picture of inconsistency, a talented ballplayer without enough practice, a child among men –– the last player you want up at bat or in the field in the proverbial ‘clutch.’”

Cano’s contribution to the Yankees and his performance this season needs no introduction; he has certainly been the team’s best hitter, ranking in the top 10 in the league in BA, RBI, OBP, SLG, HR and R. While this observer ventured that discipline, focus and consistency were traits of no “Cano I know,” without Cano’s offensive skill set, the 2010 Yankees would be certifiably dead in the AL East waters. As of August 30, Cano registered a 6.2 Wins-Above-Replacement –– a statistic that measures how many wins a player represents to their team. If those 6.2 wins were to be lost, the best team in baseball (by most measures) would be barely a few percentage points above the struggling and heavily injured Boston Red Sox, who are currently only an after-thought to make the postseason.

I was flat-out, completely and 100 percent wrong, and those users who have taken advantage of the Sun website’s “comment” feature below every article have done their best to reassure me of that.

Following the Bronx Bombers’ victory over the Phillies in last year’s World Series, this column featured on Nov. 19 a story entitled “Keys to Another World Series,” outlining 10 moves the Yankees almost assuredly will, if not at least ought to make in order to assure a repeat in 2010.

“2. Sign Matt Holliday […] Unless the Yankees make another big-time outfield acquisition, I bet my spring semester tuition Holliday is roaming left field in the Bronx in 2010.”

This false prediction does not entirely apply, because in fact, the Yankees did make what at least at the time seemed like a “big-time” acquisition with the trade for centerfielder Curtis Granderson. That said, Granderson has been nothing short of a big bust. Since his rookie year, Granderson has never hit for a worse average or for a worse slugging percentage, and has only stolen ten bases. Meanwhile, the assumed prodigious power that The House the Boss Built was anticipated to bequeath the Yankees new outfielder has not quite come to fruition; he has thus far hit only a modest 14 homeruns. Back in Detroit, the young talent who represented the core of the Granderson trade, Austin Jackson, is a rookie of the year candidate with an impressive .307 BA. Be that as it may however, the prediction was for all intensive purposes incorrect, and Glenn and Ilene Steinhauer will be unhappy to hear that that very large check they wrote in January may have to be redirected to the collective Sun readership.

“3. Get Andy to retire.”

No defending that; it was foolish even at the time. The Yanks need him back off the DL and ready for the postseason more than ever in recent history.

“6. Keep Joba as a starter. [….] 7. Keep Hughes in the bullpen.”

Too much ink has already been spilled over what has already carved-out its place in Yankees lore as the Joba Debate. I would contend that more time will be needed to see how Joba further develops and where his talents best fit the needs of the team.

Regarding Hughes, as was written one year ago, “[he] has only ever thrown two pitches with consistent success in the majors- his fastball and curveball.” That has certainly changed this year. Beating out the rest of the field for the 5th start spot in spring training, Hughes has showcased a solid cutter and above average changeup in his arsenal, and has put together a very good season, made only better with excellent run support. Without an innings limit, he could get very close to 20 wins.

“10. Give Wang a chance.”

Perhaps my worst sports faux pas since striking out in the West Meadow Beach lifeguards vs. Cedar Beach lifeguards ’08 softball game.

To those of you have taken the time to keep the Sun sports staff honest, and have filled online user comments and e-mail inboxes with suggestions, corrections, and even some profanity, I thank you.