We Have Been Waiting For This!!

ARod kicked ass last night! There is no other way to describe it. He's been hitting lately, but not like this. This story tells the tale. It's got to be satisfying for him. You know he's a better player than we've seen in New York. It was just a matter of time before he got comfortable and became ARod again.

I think all the cry-babies better get ready for some tears. It's starting to look like the Yankees are getting on track. As if it wasn't going to happen.



I think I need another RBI. 10 is a good number.





Looks like a grand salami to me buddy!





One gone, 2 to go!

Slow Start Indeed

Anyone else tired of this prolonged 'slow start'? I sure am. The Yankees just don't look like Yankees right now. I thought they would at least win one for our Captain today (Karen, not Jeter). You'd think they would have a better showing for her birthday.

Jaret Wright is on the DL. Same old thing, bad shoulder. Kevin Brown seems lost. ARod can't hit unless it doesn't matter. If there are RISP and he's up, well, you know the deal. The strangest thing to see is Randy Johnson giving up runs. A lot of them via home runs. This April is one to remember. Not for good reasons. I hope the boys get going soon. If not, they will be 20 games out by the break.

Hey, maybe we could have another season like 1978. Out by 14 1/2 games and coming back to force a 1 game playoff. That would be cool! Kind of nerve-wracking, but cool.

I'm just babbling here. No one to commiserate with at the moment and I need to let off some steam. I know that the Yanks will get it going. It's just hard to take before they finally get rolling. Let's hope they start tomorrow.

Baseball Purgatory

That's where this Yankee has been the past several days. While the Yankees were playing somewhere in the world that wasn't covered by any station I could get, the only games available to watch were between the Orioles (hated enemy #2) and the sux (most hated enemy #1). How sad. But at least there is Baseball on again. I can watch and get the Yankee score as the games progress. Imagine, a devoted Yankee forced to get his Baseball fix watching those 2 teams. Sheesh!

It is kinda cool that there is now a team in D.C. They are starting to televise those games too, since it's considered local. Even if it is National League, it's Baseball.

The Yankees are starting to look like they are getting in a groove. Winning 2 from Toronto was great. Moose got his first win this year (should have been #2) and the top of the order is still looking strong. Let's hope Kevin Brown has gotten on track and keeps it going tonight against Texas. His last outing only sucked for the first 2 innings. After that, he looked like the young Kevin. The Bull Pen looked good last night too (I read it here), so maybe things are finally starting to fall into place. We knew they would. It's just hard waiting. Especially for a Yankee living in enemy territory. I can't wait to get some payback when the Yanks are back on top in the A.L. East. That will be a good day.

Not Much To Say Today

Randy Johnson really didn't pitch all that badly last night. Just a few mistakes and it cost him. When was the last time, if ever, RJ has been plagued by the long ball? He is a notorious slow starter, so I don't worry too much about it. It's just weird to see.

I personally hate to lose to any team, but especially to Hideo Nomo. I've never thought he was all that great. How annoying.

Giambi got another home run. Maybe he's going to stay on his mini-roll. We'd really be hurting without Jeter, Shef and Matsui. Those guys are the only real consistancy in the lineup to this point. I guess Womack is getting on base a lot.

What's up with the Mets? 7 homeruns against a pitcher that usually owns them? I believe it's Willie's presence. (Because I want to believe it, that's why.) I'm not a Mets fan, but I've always been a Willie Randolf fan, so I can't be sad about it.

I was speaking to a friend recently and he reminded me about a conversation 2 years ago in which I was hoping the Yankees would go ahead and acquire Brian Roberts. We needed a full time 2nd baseman and the O's were trying to decide between Roberts and Hairston. I was really disappointed that no deal ever came through even though there were rumors. Now look. The guy is coming into his own. Maybe they are off to the good start because of Lee Mazzilli's presence?

Yep, everything is Yankees here. No apologies for it either. :)

Tonight we get the Jays. Look at the picture on Yankees.com of ex-Yankee pitcher Ted Lilly. It's not really flattering. He looks stoned. Let's hope he gets rocked tonight.

Hold on Tight! I'm Gonna Throw Page 2 a Compliment!

Awesome column from Page 2 today, discussing what is and isn't a true Yankee. It's weird because the guy seems to be getting on Yankee fans for being so damn fickle and only loving a winner -- and in this case, I absolutely agree with it. Shocker, I know. Because the past two weeks have made me look REALLY deeply at people who call themselves Yankee fans, and I'm beginning to hope that a slump makes some of these jackholes jump ship.

I asked some die-hard Yankees fans for their definition of a "true Yankee." One said, "Not anyone who is playing on the field currently."

Are you kidding me, supposed diehard fan? You don't consider Jeter, Bernie, Posada, Mo and Tino true Yankees? Matsui doesn't give his all out there and isn't worthy of Pinstripes? Are you shitting me?

But I think that's the point of this column. Check out the Are They True Yankees chart and you'll see what I mean. I love that Schoenfield gets all sarcastic here. I really mean that. It's as if he's saying "You have GOT to be kidding me, people."

Loved this in the Not a True Yankee category:
Alex Rodriguez: Doing anything to win might mean moving to a new position, but not slapping the ball away from Bronson Arroyo.

Seriously. Just...seriously.

I Thought This Was Funny

We have a guy who works part time here in the evenings as a second job. He's a big Yankee fan and we always talk Baseball together. Apparently last Friday night when the Yankees were busy losing 1-8 to the Orioles, when he went out for his dinner break he noticed several Yankee fans (obvious from their attire) and asked them if they knew what the score was in the game that was going on. I guess he didn't have his Yankee hat on and the people he asked mistook him for an Oriole fan being a smart-ass because their only answer was - they mooned him. Big shiny moons as an answer.

I suppose the Yankees down here are short on words when the boys aren't doing so well :)

Should've Expected It

I just added my comment to the earlier post when I came across this story about how George is pissed about the Yankees 'slow start'. Here are a few excerpts:

"Enough is enough. I am bitterly disappointed as I'm sure all Yankee fans are by the lack of performance by our team," Steinbrenner said in a statement issued immediately after the game.
"It is unbelievable to me that the highest-paid team in baseball would start the season in such a deep funk. They are not playing like true Yankees. They have the talent to win and they are not winning. I expect Joe Torre, his complete coaching staff and the team to turn this around."

Yikes!

"What did you expect him to say, we're playing great? Keep up the good work?" Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter said. "We haven't been playing well. It's easy to see. We just have to turn it around. That's basically it."

I like Derek's take on it. You really can't blame George. At least he waited for the Yanks to really get into the basement. I remember in 1998 when the boys were only 1-4 he went off and was rumored to be considering firing Joe Torre.

The one thing I didn't appreciate about all this is the way Joe Morgan seemed to be so happy about it. During his interview on Baseball Tonight he talked about the Yankee troubles with a definite gleam in his eye and said several times how there is a lot to be concerned about.

Hey Joe, The Yankees will wipe that smile off your face soon enough. Count on it.

Just a Thought

Anyone else think if the pitching keeps being assy for the next few weeks that Mel's head is going to be the first to roll? Especially considering last year (ie, the pitching stakes them to a deficit early on only for the lineup to bail the pitcher out)? I mean, I like the guy and all, but....

WTF?????

This game bites. This is rediculous! I could have watched The Incredibles. Geez! Maybe they can come back in the 9th? Blah.

Good Game. Bummer Ending.

Last night's game was at least entertaining to watch. The Yankees didn't win it but the game itself had plenty of fun stuff for all.

I thought that Francona, Ron Jackson and the sux actually had a good argument against umpire Greg Gibson. His strike zone wasn't consistent. I noticed that Bernie and Jeter both looked like they wanted to get on him a little about his calls at points during the game.

The whole Sheffield thing will probably be the story of the day. Shef should get an award for not decking that guy. The big story to me was RJ giving up 3 home runs and Hideki staying on a tear. (I don't want to have to mention how ARod is still pressing and hurting the team though. Let's let that one alone.) RJ won't always let that happen, so it shouldn't be a big concern. The Yankees not hitting with RISP is a concern.

I knew it was going to be a strange night when Womack got an infield hit to start the game and was called out without being tagged. Clearly missed by at least a foot.

Ah well, on to Baltimore for the weekend. Let's hope for better results.

Just Another Day at Fenway

I seriously don't want to hear it about New York fans. Not sure if that swipe was intentional, but WTF? Also, just saw the replay in super SloMo and the beer "spilling" was actually a dude throwing it at Shef. Not. Cool.

And WTF with the umps for letting that stay a triple? And that phantom tag of WOAHmack?

Gah.

Celebrating In Style

This morning when I got into my Jeep to get the day started the first song played on the CD just happened to be New York New York a la Frank Sinatra. Now, this might not seem like a big deal but I haven't been in the Jeep for 5 days so I had nothing to do with it being the first music I heard today. How sweet is that? Since I was still pretty high from The Yankees roughing up curtass last night it was a beautiful way to start the day. For a highlight of the Giambi homerun (and the sorry look on curtass' face) go to Yankees.com .

I've decided to celebrate last night's victory with a couple of haikus:

The Yankees whipped the sux,

it was a beautiful sight.

What the heck is a Trot anyway?

Beating curtass is sweet

it makes the day a pleasure

hey curt, where's your sock?

Ok, nothing short of genius, I know. No applause please, just throw money. ;)

Tonight we have Randy "Big Member" Johnson against freak boy arroyo. A good time to be had by all. ESPN is supposed to be carrying it so I may get lucky and see the Yankees again. Something to look forward to.

Random Baseball Stuff

So tonight we get Curt "I didn't bleed enough in my sock to die" Schilling for the first time this year. (Televised on ESPN2, thank you!) I'm hoping that the bats show up tonight. That last game was not so good but the Yanks do seem to have trouble with that knuckleball.

Jaret Wright gets another shot at becoming a Yankee. He's capable. I hope his head is in the game. My feelings about him have been told so I won't repeat them here.

The beginning of the year is always weird. The Jays in first place? The Orioles with a better rercord than the Yankees? I always have a touch of the impatience bug during the first mont of Baseball Season. Once the Yankees get rolling everything will be right with the universe again.

It's weird seeing Sammy Sosa in an O's uniform. I have to admit to hoping he would hit for the cycle last night. He hit a homer his first at bat and then a triple his second time up. I didn't watch the rest of the game because, well, it wasn't the Yankees. I didn't see any news today about him doing it so I guess he didn't.

Tonight @ 7:05, ESPN 2. Be there or be square.

Must. Read.

Saw this on Shannon's blog first and just had to spread the love.You guys? ESPN.com hates on the Sux BIG TIME. Not once today, but TWICE.

Go online? Blogs, blogs and more blogs. Boston baseball spawns more amateur sports journalism than Page 2.

I'm starting to get light headed and may need to get some sugar to get myself out of the shock...

A pic I took on friday

tino's first at bat at the first game I went to this year:

taken with my cameraphone as you can tell from the lack of quality, but it makes a dandy cell phone wallpaper. Wow, was it a beautiful night. (other than the game result)

C'mon Guys!

OK, now I'm concerned. It's 7th inning stretch time and the pitching hasn't shown up yet. Neither have the bats. I'm hoping the guys realize it's time to get something going. I am having flashbacks to last year when the Yanks had to keep coming back to win. Let's hope this start isn't a preview of the season to come. O's pitching isn't that great. C'mon guys.

I Love It When We Beat The O's

I really do. Next to whipping the sux, beating the Orioles is the best thing ever. Working in Baltimore, I guess you can see why it's pretty important to me. I hope we whip them again today.

I really didn't have any kind of a panic feeling during yesterday's game. RJ was off and they did hit him, but for some reason I had the feeling that the Yankees would pull it out. After Matsui tied it up with the awesome double (bloops can be awesome too) I had the feeling Ruben would do something nice. Mo looked a little better too. The speculation is that he's hiding an injury. Of course, Jim Palmer will say anything so who can listen to that guy? He is as bad as the FOX guys and I have no choice sometimes but to put up with him. Oh well, it's the price you pay to see the games sometimes.

Looking forward to todays game. The weather is pefect. I just wish I was in The Stadium to see it.

Sheesh!

Anybody else not enjoying this game?

Nights like this it's tough being a die-hard. I'm in it until the last out damn it!

Let's Go Yankees!!!

It's The Same Everywhere

MO is for sale on Ebay. Some goofball put Mariano up for sale on Ebay. I have to think that it wasn't a Yankee fan who did this. It had to be a fan of some lesser team thinking they were being funny. If it was a so-called Yankee fan, they obviously have way too short a memory to insult Mo like that.

They also suck no matter who they are.

Things are strange everywhere. I'm sitting here in Baltimore this morning listening to some of the talk about the Orioles. After the first game everyone here was sure they were the sleeper for the Series this year. Now after losing 2 in a row, everyone here is bitching about how they suck and they will be lucky to win 20 games. How strange. I personally think the O's will be OK. I'd expect them to win near to 80 this year, maybe more if their pitching holds up.

I know the Yankees and Mariano will be fine too. There are fair weather fans everywhere I guess. It's a long season and no way will Mo have troubles all year.

BTW, Mo's price started @ $2.00 and quickly went up to $99,999,999.00. Someone out there knows the truth about how great Mariano is.

Opening Day Genesis.

which tickled me so much i'm posting it everywhere.

And the Lord God formed, from the dust, a collection of elite players in His own image. The Lord God then breathed the breath of life into His creation. God called this creation the National League.

And God said, It is not good for the National League to be alone. The Lord God shall make it a mate. And thus, while the National League slept, God took several of its top players and created the American League.

And God blessed The Game, saying, Be fruitful and multiply. Put teams in every city with deserving fans, God added, even if this occurs at the expense of starting-pitching depth.

From time to time, God understood, The Game would be corrupted by the Serpent. The Serpent was more cunning than any other beast and he would take many wicked forms: the Black Sox, segregation, the Designated Hitter, the Reserve Clause, dead balls, juiced balls, spit balls, corked bats, George Steinbrenner, AstroTurf, the 1981 strike, collusion, lockouts, Pete Rose, the 1994 strike, greenies, cocaine, HGH, Andro, steroids, $20 parking, corporate mallparks, Scott Boras, Donald Fehr, and Bud Selig. [mcsweeney's]

WTF

Mike Vaccaro of The Post gets on the jackasses who booed Mariano at the Stadium yesterday. I read this after writing my own irate blog post, and it made me feel a lot better for some reason. I guess knowing someone in the press agrees with me as passionately helps.

This line KILLED me:

"There are always about 20,000 Red Sox fans here when we play them," Mariano Rivera said, a half-smile on his face. "Maybe it was only Sox fans who were booing."

But apparently it wasn't. It was people we call our fellow fans, reeming 1) one of the best players to ever put on pinstripes and 2) One of the gentlest souls to ever take the mound.

Sonofabitches.

Gotta Face The Facts

I blew off work yesterday with one thing in mind, seeing the Yankees whipping the Sux on ESPN. I knew it would be a tough game since Tim Wakefield was pitching. The Yanks have some trouble hitting him. Plus Moose can be a slow starter.

The game went exactly as I had thought; the Yankees scratching out a couple of runs against Wakefield and Moose keeping the game winnable. He didn't look sharp at all, but he still kept getting out of jams. It was a pretty good game.

The beanball that Timlin threw made me stand up and yell at the screen. I thought we were going to have a brawl really early in the season after that. Jeter handled it like a pro though. He knew it wasn't intentional and didn't get crazy. That's why he's the Captain. (I'd bet it would be a different story if it had been intentional.)

Then the Yankees get a run to go ahead and I started to wonder if Joe Torre would bring in Rivera or not. I guess I shouldn't have had to think too much about it. Joe is notoriously loyal plus he would have wanted Mo to get some confidence back after blowing the save the previous game. Well, the best laid plans of mice and men.....

Mo came in and immediately I knew we were in trouble. Everything he threw was up and he was staying outside. Almost like he was too much aware of how the sux had been sitting on his inside splitter. He walked the first batter and the rest is history.

The bobble by ARod may make the news as a major issue, but in that situation, I can see where the nerves would get to him. They shouldn't have been in that position to begin with. Granted, he blew the chance to get his pictcher and his team out of the mess, but still.

It's time to face the simple fact that the sux have seen Rivera so much over the past 3-4 seasons that he is not a mystery to them. He can't intimidate them. Joe needs to have someone ready in the bullpen when Mo pitches against them and also be ready to bring someone else in if/when he gets into trouble. He should consider giving someone else the ball too. That doesn't seem to be an option in his mind right now.

Mo is one of the greatest relievers in the history of the game, but even the best can have a weakness. Get some games and some saves under his belt and then let him take on the sux again. They won't get to him every time, but with that team, it's time to face the facts, Rivera may not be the answer.

random thought

i missed the game today due to this bothersome having to work thing, and seeing how it all turned out i'm glad i didn't have to witness any of it. nothing pains me more than a mo meltdown. i did have to sate my masochistic curiosity, though, and skimmed a gamethread to see how the gruesome events of an otherwise lovely april afternoon unfurled.

so in essence, mo stank the joint up again. you know, i (loathe facing it but i) know, and mike lupica is undoubtedly doing a happy dance because he knows that mo has a recent pesky habit of letting the sox walk all over him. now call me crazy, but in light of this seemingly obvious problem, is joe torre forgetting that he has not one but TWO closers at his disposal? shuffling things around a little in the pen to get gordon in a save situation against the sox next series can't hurt any more than it does right now.

or, memo to the yankee offense, the lineup could actually try not leaving men on base and avoid the problem altogether. :D

so umm....hi?

Thanks to the very kind Bisch for inviting me :)

I am not sure how this oligarchical blog thing works...

- if I post on my OWN blog, will it appear here too?
- if I post something HERE, will it appear on my personal blog too?

I shall experiment.

WOULD PEOPLE PLEASE STOP HITTING DEREK! WTF! HONESTLY.

In the meantime, I just want to say that not having YES at work sucks.

I also want to fill in the "Good to be a Yankee" survey:

If You Could Be a Yankee:

Position I would play: on basis of personality, I suppose I would have to pitch. :) I'd probably be a kooky lefty reliever with secret unfulfillable yearnings to be a power righty starter. But athletically speaking I would probably be best as a first baseman.

Number I would wear: 24, obviously.

My at-bat music would be: Probably "Move Your Feet", or maybe "Lovely Day" for day games....

I would befriend: Tino, duh! and Derek. And I would have Bubba for a pet.

I would stay away from: Ruben Sierra (I JUST DON'T LIKE HIM AND I'M NOT APOLOGIZING FOR IT), Tanyon Sturtze, Whiny-Ass Moose

My biggest asset would be: My passion to win. [goes off to practice own Mad Face in mirror]

Sunflower seeds, chew, gum, or other?: Gum

My nickname would be: flash :)

My pregame routine would be: nap & a snack... probably something proteinous

My in-game superstitions would be: tapping home plate with my bat when I step into the box (bottom, top, bottom) a la Scott Rolen. Hey, it seems to work for him.

Suzyn Waldman asks a long-winded question that you have no idea how to answer. You say: "Only __ can answer that." [<= insert randomly chosen teammate]

They would have to let me join because: one word: BLACKMAIL!!!! loooool

freddy sez!

Jeter Love From Enemy Territory

I stole this article from Shannon. It's hard to believe there is this much Jeter love coming from a Boston Newspaper. I guess even some folks in Beantown have it right.

An excerpt:

(From The Boston Herald)

The best player in baseball never has led his league in home runs or RBI, stolen bases or batting average. But he does everything well - especially win - and he does it here, in New York, the grandest stage in all of professional sports.

If there is a better baseball player in the world than Derek Jeter, let him come forth.

Game Time 1:05

Today we get to see Carl Pavano's Yankee debut. Game time 1:05, EST. I'm looking forward to this one. He had a decent pre-season and if he continues what he started last year, the Yankees will be on a roll.

I was watching the Cubs kicking the crap out of the Diamondbacks last night and was impressed with Rick Suttcliff and Tony Gwynn's take on the steriod policy. They both agreed that the penalties are bogus. Too weak. Rich went so far as to say that the first offense should be a 3 month suspension without pay. Tony agreed. Their point was that a pitcher can get 8 - 10 games for a beanball, which sometimes can be accidental. Taking steroids is not an accident and the person is taking their career in hand by cheating that way. I agree.

I saw that 28 (I believe it was 28) minor leaguers were busted for steriods recently. How can the League think their ploicy is tough enough? This will be an interesting topic this season, for sure.

I knew that ESPN would have to show that damn hit from the 2001 World Series, Game 7 as soon as Gonzalez came to bat. I still couldn't watch it. No matter how bad the end of last season feels, I still feel worse about that Game 7 loss. It bugs me much more for some reason. I still can't stand the Diamondbacks because of that one. Personally, I think they had a great record last year. (51 - 111) Let's hope they do at least that well this year. Can you tell I can hold a grudge?

Anyway, keep an eye on the scoreboard today. I forgot to set up my recorder, so I'll miss the actual game. For tomorrow's game, it's starting to look a lot more like an unexpected illness is coming on *cough cough* so I don't have to miss it too. You know, take one for the team. :)

Not Sure This Will Happen Again, But...

Just loved this line from Buster Olney's take on last night's game:

There were no formal handshakes between the Yankees and Red Sox before the season opener. Thankfully.

Snerk.

And if I'm not mistaken, there seems to be a tone of slight affection for the Yanks in this article. Rare for ESPN, and rarer for Olney who's seemed to grow so disenchanted with them over the years.

I know one thing -- last night was one of the first games in a long time where I didn't feel even slightly stressed. Maybe because it was Opening Day, but I think it was because we've suffered the worst and we survived. It's like we can just enjoy the game again without having to worry about what might happen if the Sux should beat us. I never really had this problem until 2003, so it was nice to return to "innocence" in a way.

Just worrying about the Yanks and no one else? What a feeling!

A Fine Start

The opening game of the year couldn't have gone better. (Unless Shrek had gotten beaned, of course.) The Yankee offense is alive and well. 9 runs on 15 hits. Matsui not only giveth, 3 for 5 with a home run, but he taketh away too, robbing Millar of a home run. Randy Johnson was sharp. David 'Turncoat' Wells was not. The Yankees got to him quick and he was so flustered, he even balked in a run. That was a good comedic spot to break the tension. Tino made an awesome defensive play that brought back memories. All in all, it was a good start. You can't judge a season by one game, but when the game is that lopsided and it was against the Sux, it sure does feel special.

Did anyone notice Paul O'Neill in the announcers booth? He looked as intense up there as he did when he was on the field. Paulie is a Yankee and he obviously was way into the game.

Now we have to wait until tomorrow for another game. The early schedule is always a little funny. The Yankees have their next 2 games in the afternoon. Wednesday's 1:05 P.M. start is on ESPN2. I think I feel a 'call-in-sick' day coming around mid week. *cough cough* Or I can just record the game and avoid all people and news until I watch it that evening. Perhaps that would be the grown up thing to do.

First Impressions

Just some notes from the game in progress. I'm not going to keep this going all game. Just for a while.


RJ looks good! 2 strikeouts to start.

Edgar Renterria looks really strange in that uniform. I remember when I liked that guy. Not anymore.

How come Ramirez's helmet is so messed up already? That was disgusting.

Wells looks retarded in that uniform!

Jeter is batting 1.000. Sweet.

Shef's swing is still awesome. Always a long foul first.

C'mon Ruben. Damn. Wells made you look bad there bud.

Freakin luck shot by Shrek. Man, I can't stand that freak.

Godzilla!!!! Matsui robs the idiot (self proclaimed). Sweet!

Another nausea inducing jerk, Varitek. Boy, I really don't like these guys.

Jay Payton. I remember when he was with the Mets. He was supposed to turn into a great player. Wonder what happened?

Damn! That sucks. RJ needs to get the slider inside more.

Mueller. I also remember when he sat out a bunch of games to win a batting title. Wimp. I wonder if he is of Amish descent? Odd way to spell the name.

C'mon Big Member. No walks!!

Sweet strikeout. Minimal damage. Let's go Yanks!

Sorry, that Nike Pro Apparel commercial is freaky. Don't like it.

I'll bet Lou is pissed about his guy Sanchez getting busted for steroids. The first of many I'll bet.

I keep looking for Willie Randolf. Guess I'll be looking for a while.

Nice Hideki. Back from way behind and getting on.

Geez Jorge. Wait and see a few.

C'mon Jason. Nice baby!!! Way to start.

Bernie! Bernie! Good job. Tied up now.

Tony Womak. Let's see what he's got. Damn. Oh well, good inning.

I'm not keeping this up. Nerves won't let me. 2 innings is enough.

Let's Go Yankees!!!

Time To Make Some Enemies.....

I was watching ESPN this morning and I saw the story of the 5th and 6th graders who are pushing for the rivalry between the Yankees and the Sux to stop. They want the teams to shake hands after the game and act all buddy-buddy. It was a sweet, sensitive sappy presentation. Oh, I forgot the other 's' word, sickening.

The Commisioner's Office called the idea 'fascinating'. Apparently the Yankee brass think it's a good idea. Again, sickening. Can you imagine the absolute fakeness of seeing the players walking around the field after a tough game, shaking hands and plastering those forced smiles on thieir faces?

Baseball will have to come out and say something positive about this whole idea. The PR machine will insist on it. Mostly because of another 's' word, steriods. They need something to get peoples minds wrapped around other than the steroid scandal. Luckily I don't have to worry about all that. I can freely say that the idea is the biggest load of crap I've heard of in a long, long time.

The rivalry is alive and well. It has been not only a tradition for almost 100 years, it's also not something you eliminate with handshakes. The Yanks and Sux don't like each other because they both want the same thing, The American League East Crown, The American League Championship and ultimately, The World Series Championship. But it all starts with the A.L. East crown.

They are the 2 best teams in the A.L. and that alone lends itself to some anomosity. Add in the feuds over the years and the recent playoff series (plural) they've had and you have not only a geographical rivalry, you have one that borders on bitter enemies duking it out for the 'toughest kid around' title.

As long as there is the possiblilty of both teams going into the post-season and eventually facing each other again (thanks to the Wildcard) there will always be a hightened awareness between the two teams that they need an edge each and every time they face one another. It may be the opening day game or the last possible game in a post-season series. It doesn't matter.

There is also the other angle to consider. The fact that it's a tradition for Yankees to dislike/hate the Sux and vice-verse. Kids who want to screw with the purist elements and traditions of Baseball don't know what they are saying. They haven't realized that things like this rivalry are a part that, first should never be changed and second, never will.

Kids, if you don't like it, switch to something more to your peaceloving, liberal frames of mind, like Figure Skating or maybe Bowling. Those 'sports' should better suit your more sensitive, emotional sides. Leave Baseball's rivalries alone. Come back when you know and understand what you are talking about.

Peace between the Yanks and Sux? Please!!!

Huh?

WTF is "The Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim" all about? There's a title for a ballclub. Sheesh!

Are You Really A Fan Or Not?

I took a trip to Subway for a couple of veggie subs today. While walking across the parking lot I noticed a guy coming toward me wearing a black Baseball cap. It looked to be just a black, undecorated hat. I remember thinking that maybe he just liked hats and didn't care if it was plain or anything. Nothing wrong with that.

Then as he got closer, I saw there was something on it, but until he was maybe 3-5 feet away, I couldn't make out what. When he got close enough I saw it actually had a Yankee emblem on it. A black hat with a black Yankee emblem.

Now, as I've mentioned in the past, I don't go anywhere without something Yankee plainly displayed on me. (Except for going to work of course.) It's not a conscious thing. It's just something I've almost always done. This time I had my new "Empire Strikes Back" shirt I got from Paul Katcher's site and my 1998 World Series hat on. I once was told that 'You must be one of those obnoxious Yankee fans'. Nope, I'm not obnoxious, I'm obvious. Well, this guy wasn't.

He walked right up to me and held up his hand wanting a high-five and said "Alright Yankee. Tonight's the night!" I never had seen this guy before, but it is opening day, so I went ahead with the high-five. I felt like Seinfeld when Putty (or Puddy, I'm not sure of the spelling) kept insisting on high fives. I kind of hesitated because high-fives are OK with friends at games, but it is opening day and he appeared to be a Yankee.

Afterward I started wondering about this type of thing. I wondered if he was a Yankee really, or one of those band wagoners who likes the Yanks because of the last decade or so of winning. Those hats to me are more of a fashion thing than a fan thing. I've met people who had the solid colored hats with the barely visable emblem and the ones I've mentioned it to always have said they weren't fans, they just liked the hat. I think this guy was a fan, but was he a true fan? I wish I had thought about all this in time to talk with him to see.

I really don't care for those hats. There is a lot of that type around. Hats colored yellow, pink, orange, black & green. Always the emblem invisible until you get close to the wearer. I've never seen a blue one, which would at least make a little sense. (There probably is one. I've just never seen it.) It's all a marketing thing, I know. But it annoys me a bit. The Yankees have never changed their hats and I prefer the true blue Yankee wool cap with the white interlocking NY on front. Any other version and I wonder where your heart really lies. (The exceptions are the special edition championship hats which I have several of. They are licensed by the league and the Yankees.) Maybe that's too old fashioned for those who aren't purists, but that's the way I feel about it. I guess the fashion world melding with the basball world is another revenue producing thing. That I understand. I just don't have to like it.

Well This Sure Didn't Take Too Long....

Kevin Brown will miss his first scheduled start of the season for the New York Yankees and could go on the disabled list because of a stiff back.

I saw this story first thing this morning. I guess Jaret Wright won't be on the shelf as long as he first thought. Maybe these early injuries, while not helpful at all for the Yanks, will be even more incentive to unload Brown? Personally, I'm hopeful.

Opening day here in Maryland is cold, damp and very windy. I'm hoping things are clearer in The Stadium tonight because I want the boys to kick ass without the Sux having any excuses to blame it on.

The anticipation is killing me! This will be a long day.

why is a raven like a writing desk?

tomorrow's projected lineup:

Derek Jeter
Alex Rodriguez
Gary Sheffield
Ruben Sierra
Hideki Matsui
Jorge Posada
Jason Giambi
Bernie Williams
Tony Womack

i understand that big rube's been hot and all, but oh my. cleanup? i'm starting to twitch already.

discuss.

It's Great To Be (Semi)Young And A Yankee

If You Could Be a Yankee:

Position I would play: I’m a natural 2nd baseman, meaning that’s where I normally play. I’m very far from being a natural though.

Number I would wear: #27. 5 is taken.

My at-bat music would be: Don’t Tread On Me by the Damn Yankees, Rat Race by Child’s Play, Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen (Just cuz I love Bruce)

I would befriend: Bernie – we could play guitar together, and Jeter because all the women like him and I could learn to like being a sidekick.

I would stay away from: Kevin Brown, Mr. Schizo.

My biggest asset would be: My quick wit (for deflecting attention from my errors).

Sunflower seeds, chew, gum, or other?: Sunflower seeds, sometimes. Gum mostly. It always helped with my timing when batting.

My nickname would be: Teflon because I’d have no stick.

My pregame routine would be: I’d binge on KFC and then throw up from the nerves.

My in-game superstitions would be: I’d have to do the YMCA dance evey game on the top step of the dugout.

Suzyn Waldman asks a long-winded question that you have no idea how to answer. You say: I defer to my Captain. (That’s why you’re the Captain, KB.)

They would have to let me join because: No one loves the Yankees more than YB. There are those who are at my level, but none more devoted. (Besides, I’d probably make them tired from all the crying I’d do if they left me out.)

The Bias is in Full Effect

ESPN.com has ranked their top 100->moments in sports for the 10 years they've existed. Where do you think the 2003 ALCS Game 7 ranks? And were do you think the 2004 ALCS Game 4 ranks? I'm sorry, a series-ending game on an extra-inning home run, where the winning team was down by 4 runs and came back late in the game to win is three spots behind a game where a team came back...with three games left to play? To me (and this is coming from my Yankeefied point of view, I know) the sudden deathness of Game 7, 2003 was FAR more important of a game than one that, while turning the series around, only changed momentum.

In fact, if momentum were more important, what about the Jim Leyritz homer in the 1996 World Series? It's ranked No. 80. Are we surprised?

It's just...I mean...Shut up, ESPN.com

It's Great To Be Young and a Yankee

So I wanted to post this for some time on my blog, but it seems very fitting for this one. I expect y'all to answer too...

If You Could Be a Yankee:

Position I would play: Um, I have a terrible arm and I couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. But I can run pretty quick, so maybe I could be a pinch runner.

Number I would wear: : 77, as 4 and 23 are already taken. And retired.

My at-bat music would be: Fame, by David Bowie; Sweet Emotion, Aerosmith; Take Me Out, Franz Ferdinand; and Hungry Eyes, Eric Carmen…juuuust to be different.

I would befriend: Bernie – he seems pretty laid back, and Moose, because he might play Trivial Pursuit with me.

I would stay away from: Tanyon. He might try to take me back to the mothership with him.

My biggest asset would be: My speed. Or the cupcakes I’d bring for every game.

Sunflower seeds, chew, gum, or other?: Sunflower seeds, nice and salty.

My nickname would be: Bisch, because it’s close to a bad word and we all know ballplayers love those.

My pregame routine would be: I’d scour my iPod to find a kick-ass song to have stuck in my head all game.

My in-game superstitions would be: I would have to guess the winner in the Dunkin Donuts Subway Race, or else I’d be convinced the team would lose and it would be all my fault.

Suzyn Waldman asks a long-winded question that you have no idea how to answer. You say: “I direct all questions to my Yankee Chicken.”

They would have to let me join because: I own The Good Luck Yankee Chicken. How else will they win?

I Had To Post This First....

....as my first official post here I had to bring Paulie along for the ride. I don't care how long it's been, it still feels strange without him out there in right. At least he'll be calling some games at The Stadium this year.

C'mon George, it's time to retire #21.

Patience Is A Virtue

To anyone who happens by, this site is under construction. Stop back in a few days to see the end result.

GO YANKEES!

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