Greetings from the lobby
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Sep 28, 2007 
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So there’s some sort of convention in Baltimore and when we arrived at the hotel, there were no rooms available.
So at the moment, Mark Feinsand (News), Ty Kepner (Times) and I are typing away in the lobby, having taken over a table and all the electrical outlets in the room. Ed Price (Star-Ledger) is lurking around somewhere as well.
At some point it will become Sportswriter Survivor as we all try and bribe our way into a room. The clock is ticking because we’re all in shorts and t-shirts and need to shower and change before going over to the park.
Yes, covering the Yankees is a cool job. But it would be OK to be something else today. Maybe Jessica Biel needs a spokesman. I’ll check with Jeter.
Pete – You have a great job!! Don’t ever doubt it!
Dont look now, but the check out who has the best numbers in sept:
Mussina: 1.93ERA(3-0) 2.60 K/BB
Hughes: 2.73ERA(3-0) 1.80 K/BB
Wanger: 3.27ERA(3-1) 1.29 K/BB
Pet: 4.45ERA(2-2) 2.33 K/BB
Clemens: 4.50ERA(0-1) 1.50 K/BB
So for all those Hughes bashers out there, you know who you are. Eat it
good luck pete
Oh Pete, clearly you sked has kept you hopelessly behind on the trash gossip scene. If you want to get with the hotness that is Jessica Biel, you’ll have to check with Justin Timberlake. Then again, not sure who the capt. is with these days, but I have a sneaking suspicion that you DO know–and enquiring minds want to know so….tell!
lol
Being a Yankee beat writer is a “cool job,� but it’s not an easy one. I don’t know how you guys keep up with all the travel. My travel plans consist of having a MetroCard in my wallet and, of course, I have the annual because I can’t keep up with switching cards every month.
I didn’t even know there was an annual metro card. I could never have that one. I’d be too afriad of losing it.
Just how long ago did you guys find out the Yanks were playing in Balty-more this weekend?
Welcome to Charm City Pete, sorry to hear about your plight. Hopefully you find something soon, if not you can crash on my couch, I live within walking distance of camden yards.
You have kind of a cult following down here, I turned on some fellow Yanks fans to your blog and now they read it daily.
Looking forward to some Yanks baseball this weekend, I’ve tix for all 3 games. Maybe I’ll bump into ya.
Any idea who’s gonn abe managing Sunday? I’d like to see A-rod, if not Mo would be cool.
If you are headin out to check out some bars, definitly stop by Geckos on the 2200 block of Fleet st. Great food with that Cheers kinda atmosphere.
Aaron
oh yeah say HI to Mark and Ty for me, their blogs rock too!
Pete, you ROCK. This “day in the life” stuff is what makes this bliog superior to any other ones out there.
And if you need to?Just start calling the 800 number for the hotel and celling the other reporters’ reservations! Alls fair!!!
Pete meant that no rooms were ready. Not that they were booked.
yo Pete, last night on the post game interview with Hughes, you could slightly see the tat on his right arm. Cool contest for the off-season blog, photos of the player’s tats and we have to guess which tat matches with which player.
Andrea,
No reason to be afraid. It’s payroll deducted weekly and if you lose it they cancel the card and issue a new one. I’ve had it for three or four years and haven’t lost one, yet.
if you buy it with a credit card, you can have it replaced if lost, i believe.
i’m surprised your paper makes you responsible for all of your own travel arrangements pete. you’d think there would be someone booking rooms, flights, and whatnot for all the people they have travelling all of the time.
jennifer 27 in 07,
Pete meant that no rooms were ready. Not that they were booked.
Yeah, I knew that, I was just trying to give Pete a hard time.
Pete, how about you take over my govt. job and I’ll take on coverage of the Yanks?!?!?
West Coast Fan – I saw that, too. I started trying to figure out what it was. I did find out that he has a swallow on his back for the town he’s from in California. I think it’s interesting to hear the stories behind the tattoos!
Phils tat is a cross
Dear Pete,
If you check with Jeets, you’ll find that Jessica Biel is SOOOOO yesterday………….
Saucy or anyone – Is there a place where I can see what “shortcuts” you can use for URLs and other formatting within these comments? The reason I ask is that Saucy posted on another blog entry that for URL’s you can type the “title of URL” : then URL, but with no spaces in between, and it will provide the link. Just curious if anyone knows. I’ve looked and haven’t found anything.
Thanks!
Uhh, Pete? You actually get to go to the Yankee games!
not that I’m complaining or anything…
There is one that Dr. uses, but I don’t remember the site. Maybe snip url something like that.
Is it a Furries Convention?
sherri,
sunny posted a “blog entry”:http://sunnyart.blogspot.com/2.....ol-on.html a while back that has a bunch of them….
Ah. My job wasn’t considered “full time” at the publisher I worked for, so I wasn’t allowed to have that crazy annual metro card, even though I worked more hours than most of the “full time” people. Oh well. Made for a sweet paycheck!
Pete, you should try to stop by Boog’s BBQ out behind right field because Boog usually shows up for Friday/Saturday night Yankee match ups. Last time I was there I didn’t realize it was him and walked on by.
Oh and the BBQ is amazing. Even though it’s an enemy AL East park, I love Camden Yards.
jennifer & Sherri: I believe he uses tinyurl.com
I’m not saying it’ll happen, but it would really make me laugh if the Yankees ended up winning the division running their backiups out every night and the Sox running out their main guys.
It would definitely make me giggle.
QUestion though–if Cleveland has the better record and the Yankees win the division, do the Yankees face the Angels?
-QUestion though—if Cleveland has the better record and the Yankees win the division, do the Yankees face the Angels?-
yes. best record would face the wild-card (unless in same division), which would be boston, and yanks would face anaheim.
bah.
i think the whole thing with the AL Division winner getting to pick how many days off they get is silly. they should just give it to the series with the teams that have to travel more.
That’s what I thought. I was just making sure. For some reason that sounded wrong to me. Maybe because I’m an idiot sometimes. Just because I’m an idiot doesn’ty mean you have to totally cross out my question!
i’m more of an idiot apparently, i was trying to make italics
What difference does it make which team the Yankees face? If they go through Cleveland and the Angels get Boston out, they would still have to face the Angels.
Team records in head to head match ups from the season don’t always follow what happens in the post season.
Personally, I want to see the Yankees go against the Angels and knock them out.
saucy: i think it’s ONLY the team with the best record. I don’t know if that means the team with the most wins in the entire league (i.e. the Indians in the AL) or the team with the most wins in each series (so the Indians when it’s Indians vs. Yankees and then the Angels or Sox whenever they finish figuring out which one of them has the better record). I haven’t quite figured that out. I’m sure the team with the better record will take travel into account when they decide which series they choose.
I see you are seated next to a window. Please open the blinds and check for squirrels.
Yes, I know about tinyurl.com, but you have to be trusting when you click those links, because you can’t really tell what you’re getting sometimes. Of course, I trust Dr. A.
Saucy – Thanks! I’ll check that out.
andrea, you’re right. i just re-read my post and the wording didn’t make much sense…
saucy, do you know if just one team gets to choose the type of series, or if 2 teams choose?
best record in AL gets to pick schedule/# of days off
Andrea–Only one team gets to chose, because there are only two series to chose from, and they can’t play two of the same without running into serious TV problems
i love how we sit here asking each other these things. We could just ask Pete and he could answer us in 3 seconds. I think this way is more fun
that’s what I thought saucy, and then your crazy talk got me all confused!
Rebecca: i’m not sure the MLB gives a crap about the TV schedule. They don’t show all the games anyway.
wait. TV shows all the games, but they don’t show all the games in all the areas. Sorry. That didn’t make the most sense in the world.
I am actually a bit concerned playing the Indians. I understand our record against them is 6-0, however we never faced Sabathia and Carmona. and right now, the Angels are beat up….so does anyone else feel my sentiments?
Pete? am I wrong?
I am going to the game tonite too! I’m the one that looks like a dead ringer for Jessica Beil!
Ok, so do any of the starters play much this weekend or will they be resting until next week when the playoffs start?
I hope they get some limited play for 2 reasons:
1. to stay sharp and keep momentum going
2. because I have tickets to home game 4 of the ALCS and the only reason I want those tickets to be worthless is because we’ve swept the Red Sox (ie, not because we didn’t make it there, not because we lost before game 7…). I suppose I’d be also be fine with these tickets being worthless if it’s because we beat Boston/Cleveland/Angels in 4, 5, or 6 games, but I’d prefer a sweep of Boston or LA. But if there’s a game 7, I want it to be in NY. Not just because I have tickets, but because we play better at home (obviously).
I also wouldn’t mind sweeping Baltimore while Minnesota takes 2 or 3 from Boston this weekend. May not be likely, but the Division is not lost yet and I would really like home field advantage, if we can do so while giving guys proper rest and time to setup the rotation.
Jeter’s future wife: we have faced Caroma this year, and he didn’t fare very well.
On the Cleveland vs. LAA thing, I say bring on whomever. the Angels might be beat up, but they have had our number. Cleveland might be hot, but so are we.
Even the ESPN clowns said the Yankees are the team people don’t want to play, so let LAA, Cleveland, and Boston worry about US….
Interesting stat: Sabathia is 1-7 against the Yankees.
Another interesting stat: He hasn’t faced the Yankees in four years.
It will be interesting, to say the least!
I could be wrong…but I have a hunch no matter who the Sox or Yankees play first they will be facing each other for the American League title. I look forward to that possible match up!
It seems pretty strange not to have faced a pitcher in X number of years..
I wonder if thats rare.. Changing leagues aside..
DMan: I agree. That’s strange.
I wouldn’t jump the gun on that thought…..The Angels could very well put Boston out of it! Beckett sure didn’t look like Cy last nite!
_Ok, so do any of the starters play much this weekend or will they be resting until next week when the playoffs start?_
yeah, i’m wondering this for fantasy team reasons. i won’t win, but i might take 2nd, which gives me $$$
Chris
I read in the paper today that Petitte will pitch this weekend but only 50-60 pitches. I think it also said that Moose will pitch with no pitch count and Joba will be off until Sunday and he will come in during an inning. Sunday one of the non-playoff starters will pitch.
Position players will be rotated in. You’ll probably see them rest half the regulars each game and let the others play just like they did last night.
Baltimore is a dump.
Yeah, the people are as freindly as you are
Have you guys read John Delcos’ blog today? He says Mets fans are “passionate” and Yankees fans are “entitled”.
http://mets.lhblogs.com/2007/0.....ment-26255
barnsy,
I actually really like Camden Yards.
Nice to see some Yankee fans putting him in his place.
I think I’ll look for a Baltimore OR a BoSux Blog to post on……I hope they welcome me with open arms and really, truly respect and respond thoughtfully to my opinions. Gee That’ll Be fun ! ( all sarcasm, FYI )
The weekend will see the Yankees in a mode similar to the final week of spring training in March. The regulars will play but up to a certain point, then removed. Those on the bubble of being on the playoff roster will be watched closely as final decisions are made.
Only Boston falling apart will change anything.
Yah, probably see a bit of Ross and Edwar in the next few days.. Those guys are fighting for a spot.
i though barnsy was talking about the city, not the stadium.
if that’s the case, i may have to agree. but i really haven’t been many places besides the stadium, so what do i know…
Jeter’s Future Wife
I am not at all predicting what will happen and neither am I underestimating the strength of the Angels. It is very true that Beckett didn’t have his best game last night. But you may also remember that the last time that Beckett faced Wang he beat him convincingly and Wang didn’t exactly look like Cy on that particular night. The bottom line is that both Beckett and Wang are having exceptional years but that doesn’t mean either one of them is guaranteed to win every one of their games.
Not sure if anyone knows who Ken Marino is (The State, Wet Hot American Summer), but the guy on the left in the picture looks A LOT like him.
MJL: ha, you’re right.
I hope Hughes pitches on the road in the playoffs. He’s got a knack for pitching well away from the Stadium, so far this year.
Pete, isn’t Kim Jones from Baltimore? If so, can’t you crash at her parents’ house? I’m sure they wouldn’t mind a bunch of beat writers sleeping in the living room.
Who are the guys in the photo? Is that Mark on the right (if so he should lose a few pounds. How are we going to defeat the Boston sports writers next year if we are not in shape?)
Translation:
ray (sox fan): Bla, bla, bla OR Wa- Wawa, wa Wa-wa-wa ( imagine Charlie Brown’s Teacher’s Voice there ) “As a beloved BoSux Fan and endearing myself to the Yankees Fans of this blog, my opinion is…….”
For those who are obsessive and have nothing else to do during the day —
I’ve been trying on and off all day to score some ALDS tickets by just constantly trying as I’ve been sitting at my desk. Home game 1 has been no luck since 10:02 a.m. Home game 2 had been no luck either — until just about ten minutes ago! I scored a bleacher 39 row A seat!
I think it pays to just randomly try for tickets throughout the day, each day; Lord knows if someone’s credit card fails them and another seat opens up. Especially as we get closer to the actual games….
Once again Vito makes a post on here that is informative and adds to the discussion.
wood is good: well done! I got tickets through my season tickets on Tuesday and I couldn’t even get bleacher seats that good! I wasn’t about to spend the money on any other section because I got tickets to the ALCS and World Series as well and I’m but a lowly grad student (tear). Did you get a single ticket? Congrats though. I love when stuff like that works out.
vito is ray’s babelfish!
ray; you never answered my question from the other day. Are folks in RSN in as much of a panic as the NY media would have us believe?
*too bad IPK is shut down. i was very impressed w/ him and would like to have seen him pitch some more. i also think ohlendorf would do well from the pen in post season. Does anyone have any idea why he warmed up last night, and then they went w/ BVeras? I’d take ohlendorf,
veras, the viz, not sure who else i’d trust out of the ‘pen, the way they pitched
Andrea,
I think the only people panickin at this point, are Mets fans.
Albany,
I read somewhere that IPK is an option later in the playoffs. WhooHoo!
mel: i read that too. they shut Kennedy down for the regular season, but they haven’t determined yet if he’s down for the playoffs.
that couyld be good new indeed!!! thanks mel
cashman must love all the choices for pitching next year. all that talent is a problem i am sure alot of gm’s would like to have.
I sincerely hope Beckett doesnt win the Cy Young…
Not because he is a red sox player… but I just don’t like his attitude. and okay, ya he’s a red sox player.
too bad Eric Bedard got hurt — he had it wrapped up.
Hopefully CC Sabathia throws a nice game tonight, gives the writers something to think about. 19 wins v. 20 wins… 3 wins v. Santana…
Funny that they are selling tickets to a possible home game #3 (there’s optimism for you) – for those interested, you can get tier level seats. . .
Andrea,
I haven’t had the opportunity to see a lot of the New York media articles, but in all honesty I think the Red Sox fans that are not reactionary realize that the Yankees will be a tough team to beat so there is some panic in Red Sox nation.
With that being said there is some comfort in RSN that Manny is back and hitting well and that Ortiz continues to hit well even though he has a bad knee. I personally get very nervous whenever they put Gagne in the game during the eighth inning…but I guess we will see!
Yeah, I don’t think that pitchers who curse at other players embody the spirit of the award. Sabathia has the momentum now.
i wonder if IPK being shut down, but available for playoffs has to do with an inning limit for the year. could be.
Andrea: I got my Tuesday tickets too but ignored the ALDS that day as I just wanted to be sure to cop the best ALCS and WS tickets first and save my dough. Of course, when today 10 a.m. rolled around, I couldn’t help myself and started trying for an ALDS ticket. I actually had a chance for a home game 1 that immediately popped up, but it was for the main reserved and I really hate those seats, especially as it was smack dab in the middle of the row and it’s a pain trying to get in and out of the row. (Plus I’m 6′ 4″ and my knees get slayed in those seats.)
After I gave that one up and tried again, it was too late — nothing else was available again. But I kept on trying and dang if I wasn’t lucky! Yep, it’s just a single ticket, but I go by myself anyway. (The fiancee is a Mets fan, can you believe it?!?)
saucy,
They want his back strain to “get right”
And I would say Boston is more than a little bit nervous about the Yankees being in the playoffs..
Any fan that says ‘Whatever, we took the divisiom’ or ‘Who is in first place again’… is just an absolute hypocrite. You can’t say that realistically after 10 years of being in the reverse position.
But since they have that 2004 comeback under their belt, there will be no real panic until they are eliminated and lining up their golf bags.
saucy
September 28th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
vito is ray’s babelfish!
That I am, Saucy, that I am…
Tyler Kepner kinda sorta looks like Jon Stewart if you squint your eyes and tilt your head.
_But with no clear-cut choice for 2007, there have been plenty of hands clamoring for the lineup card on Sunday at Baltimore. Calling it “the toughest one” of all his selections, Torre said that Rodriguez, Posada, Damon and Mike Mussina are all being considered as candidates for the honorary task._
Is this a Torre thing, Yankee thing, or baseball thing?
i kinda look like brad pitt, if you squint your eyes, tilt your head, drink a few shots, and spin around a bunch of times.
Torre thing…but there are a few other managers who do it, as well.
i would like to thank wood is good. i never would have thought of trying for tickets until the world series, but i just scored a kickass seat to home game 2 of ALDS… box 317. Scooterville!
what is this i hear of phil hughes probably ‘securing his spot in the post season’ with his pitching last night?
pete mentioned it earlier and bryan hock said it as well in his blog.
How far do some of you travel to get to the Stadium and do you drive or use public transportation? Just curious. The thought of the drive is a drag, so we haven’t been to the stadium for a long time (Paul O’Neill was in right). Well, actually my husband did go to a playoff game against the Red Sox in 2004. He went straight from work tho, on the subway (which I am slightly paranoid about). And has anybody every used the ferry to get there?
When is IPK’s wedding… will that keep him out of games? Was it delayed?
IPK is getting married October 6th and it’s an off day. I think I read that he has permission from Brian Cashman to travel to his wedding, spend the day, and then he and his new wife would join the team. Their honeymoon would have to be postponed until next year, because right after what would have been their honeymoon, she begins practices. Soccer?
or 5th.
Wow… he’s a glutton for punishment. I couldn’t imagine having all that on my mind at once.
Hopefully he’ll have a ring to set off the airport metal detector on his honeymoon!!!
Thanks for the info!
Doreen, I’ve driven. except for the 2 years i lived in the city, then it was the 4 or the D.
the construction was a pain this year though. but i was able to find free parking on the street.
not sure how i’ll get there next week though..
Doreen,
Yankee Stadium is walking distance from home, but I come straight from work on the D or 4 trains on weekdays. There’s no reason to be paranoid. There are only people like me and maybe a few rats down there.
baltimore is a decent city. like most city’s, it’s got its good and bad neighborhoods. I don’t know it very well, but have seen some of the nicer areas around the Inner Harbor, etc.. as well as some of the ghetto’s up the street to get to them.