Wrapping up the day at Legends Field
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Feb 19, 2007 
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Let’s see, what else happened today …
* The gritty, gutty Carl Pavano managed to get through his bullpen session.
* Hideki Matsui checked in and spoke to us. His wrist feels fine and he’s cool with however many days off Joe Torre wants to give him.
* Jason Giambi’s wrist has healed up and he started dry swings (meaning no contact) a few weeks ago. He may not push it for a few weeks but he seems to be fine. He said he likes playing first but he understands why they want him to DH.
I kiddingly asked Giambi how the parties were in Vegas (where he lives) during All-Star weekend. He grinned like a little kid and said, “They were so cool.” He said he was hanging with Kobe and Tracy McGrady.
Giambi did not see Roger Clemens when The Rocket was in Vegas a few weeks ago but sent his regards through friends. “Andy (Pettitte) is the guy you have to ask,” he said. “They share the same lung.”
* Brian Cashman admitted he’s surprised Bernie Williams never called him back. I know most fans love Bernie. But he needs to either get to camp and fight for a job or announce that he has retired. His silence puts Cashman, Torre and his teammates in an uncomfortable position. It’s unprofessional.
* As we left the clubhouse today, Kei Igawa was walking the other way. Here is our conversation:
Me: “See you tomorrow.”
Igawa: “See you tomorrow, esta manana”
Me: Espanol?
Igawa: Si. Good bye.”
I started laughing and Igawa joined in. I don’t know if he can get anybody out but he’s a good dude.
So Carl didn’t come up with anything else so he could miss another session? Wait till he hits barnes and noble again.
Good to see Kei is getting comfortable here. And just wait till he see the rest of the other players, they’ll be teaching him all the dirty sayings.
Peter, I will say this again – you may have earned your current position, but you are a very lucky guy. What a job! And from what little I have read, Igawa seems to have great attitude and might turn out to be a favorite for the writers.
“Gritty, gutty” Carl Pavano, overcoming tired legs to get a bullpen in. Gotta love it. On his way to only 90 days on the DL this year!
If Igawa can pitch, its going to be “Fernando mania”-like for his starts. A great personality. Easy to root for guys like that.
Pete, Does Matsui talk to you guys in English or does he still have his interpreter on board?
Yea does Matsui speak english?
Did Hughes throw another Bull Pen?
“Same lung” — that’s priceless. Thanks for bringing us with you, Pete!
I have to agree with Pete on the Bernie situation. By not making a decision and leaving the Yankees in the cold, it seems pretty unprofessional. Come in or retire. This is getting to be ridiculous.
Rob: I covered college basketball for a long time and Class AA ball for four years before I got “lucky.”
There are some great reporters and writers on this beat. Nobody got lucky to be here, everybody earned it one way or another.
That said, I fully realize I have a good job. But they don’t just hand them out.
First, let me say that I enjoy this blog better than anything on the Web….Peter will be working for big bucks somewhere next year when the Times picks him up.
Second, Brian Cashman will be the object of an officially announced man-crush by me if he can trade Giambi and Pavano in a package for Posada’s successor and a bag of broken bats.
Third, I already like Kei Igawa and I think he’s going to be a success story in New York.
So Mr. Igawa speaks some Spanish, eh? What a character! I hate the t-shirts that include a Yank’s number AND name – why should a t-shirt be different from a jersey – but I would buy a t-shirt with Igawa’s number and “Quest” above it.
Peter-
I will never go anywhere else for my news, the Arod Iview was terrific to listen to, the Igawa thing was great and mebbe he will have less pressure on him than Matzo up in Bahston and I also love reading others comments here, fills in the blanks sometimes.
I’ma thinkin Joe Torre been around long enuff to know when to call in sick and a lot of this stuff will work itself out by the time he gets back and he won’t have to address it. With Jeter on deck tomorrow, Joe may take an ‘insurance’ day off.
http://www.sanspo.com/mlb/top/.....22003.html
Igawa Meeting Matsui For The First Time
The Article is in Japanese. You have to translate the article to english in order to read it.
[QUOTE]Here’s small piece from the article translated to english
Matsui to Igawa (Japanese)
Keys to success in MLB/NY:
1) Don’t rush yourself: SP will go on until the end of March.
2) Recognize the difference in the size of the strike zone between JPB and MLB
3) Try not to avoid the NY media and their often-harsh questions
Side Notes: They had never talked face-to-face, but Igawa said Matsui bought him an ice-cream when I gawa was a rookie. Matsui went, “Did I?”[/QUOTE]
I have a feeling Igawa will be a media and crowd favorite. Seems like a real character… hopefully he can get some people out!
Peter, I am sure you served your time and I hope you don’t think I was minimizing your accomplishments. I have always felt that you have to be good to be lucky. And I agree with everyone here who says how great this blog is. This is my first stop every morning and I check it constantly. Keep up the good work!
That Matsui’s streak is over is the small silver lining of his injury.
This is without a doubt the best beat blog on the nets. No one else is as committed or as funny. Thanks, Peter.
Igawa seems hilarious. Hopefully he pitches as well as he quotes.
I have to disagree how is a non-roster invitee holding everybody up. You make it sound like they are holding a spot for him. He owes the Yankee’s nothing. If he waits to long to come to camp then he doesn’t make the team. He doesn’t have to live by anybodys time table but his own. Calling him unprofessional is a little to much.
Pete, a lot of us Yankee fans were liking your work way before this blog. Congrats on all of your great, hard work, and the success of this great blog.
The last line is classic. I laughed my ass off.
“His silence puts Cashman, Torre and his teammates in an uncomfortable position. It’s unprofessional.”
Peter, I couldn’t agree more. I’m not surprised that a lot of fans out there think that Cashman and Torre are being disrespectful to Bernie. The fact remains that, as the 25 man is constructed, Bernie doesn’t really have a spot. If he comes to ST and plays well, maybe they can rethink carrying both Phillips and Phelps. But what he’s doing is definitely unprofessional. I hope he comes out and says something to the effect that he still has the desire to play but not the ability and is thankful for everything from the Yankees. We’ll see.
Already loving Igawa a thousand times more than Carl “Heavy Legs” Pavano, and he hasnt even pitched yet. I hope Igawa has a great year!!
Not for nothing Pete, your doing a great job and all, but the sound quality on Daily News blog is much better. You might want to look into that.
Canada: The sound largely depends on where you are and where the player is. There are large group of people, so you can’t always be in front.
We do what we can.
Pete,
If you keep up the good reporting, the players are going to talk to you exclusively.
Please try to keep us updated on Igawa, he’s more interesting to read about than ARod.
what else happened today…oh yeah, pete was on espnnews chattin’ it up about the boys in blue – a-rod/jeter drama, bernie’s lack of contract, and a bit of hopeful pavano trade talk.
good to see you on the idiot box pete – you come across much better than most journalists who try it.
between the a-rod/jeter circus and the bernie melodrama, this is shaping up to be another fantastic circus, er season. just shut up and play, alex. if you’re waiting for jeter’s take on the “rift”, here it is, and i’m paraphrasing: “it’s fine. we’re fine. we’re all here to win.”
the bernie stuff is right on, pete.
i was kind of hoping that, with sheffield and the big eunuch gone, this season might be a little different in terms of yankee “drama.” evidently, i underestimated them.
Gee, when was the last time that gutty and gritty were used to describe Pavano—even if just in jest?
Better yet….when will be the next time—for real?
“it’s fine. we’re fine. we’re all here to win.�
Isn’t that what Alex said? Well expect for the sleepover part
fan27,
pretty much, yeah. after he’d dropped that bombshell that he and derek weren’t close anymore. really?! you mean it, alex? any idiot could see that they weren’t exactly bosom buddies. and only an idiot would care about stuff like that. these guys don’t have to be best friends to go out, do their jobs, and win.
Yaknow, if Bernie stays in shape or even gets in better shape, works out with some ex pros so he doesn’t lose his skills and the team has a few unfortunate injuries, he could get a mid season phone call. But I think he has to make the first call now. Who knows, mebbe he could even share a lung with Posada or whatever it is Giambi is sharing with teammates these days.
A-Rod will get criticized from some people no matter what he says. Unreal.
what does Matsui mean in the difference in strike zones between NPB and MLB? is one bigger? which?
thanks to y’all for the insight.
I’m really hoping Igawa pitches well, because he seems like a very entertaining, likeable guy.
rich,
it’s not just a-rod. it’s the bernie situation, the pavano situation and everything else. i just wish they’d show up and play baseball.
Where is Boras on this whole Bernie fiasco? Could he actually be stupid enough to advise Bernie to go into hiding until the Yankees offer a guaranteed deal (which everyone can plainly see is not going to happen)?
For the money that smarmy, aluminum-siding salesman gets paid, you’d think he would sit Bernie down and talk some sense to him.
Rich, you gotta learn to ignore that stuff. “Baseball stupid” is as old as the game itself.
Pete, I know you earned your position, but there are some I do have to wonder about, like Joe Cowley (remember him?) for one.
Another is a guy who used to cover baseball for my hometown paper. He would use statistics and would be wrong half of the time. It was as if he never used a reference book. He just came across as just plain sloppy.
You do have to wonder about guys like that.