Today in The Journal News
Remember that pop-up A-Rod dropped on Opening Day? It proved to be a good thing.
The Indians are burying the past.
Roger Clemens is ready to go. This notebook by Mike Dougherty also has an update on Hideki Matsui.
The Yankees have a workout at Jacobs Field this afternoon. Back later with the details and plnety of audio.





I didn’t know what to think on opening day when A-Rod missed the popup. It ended up foreshadowing the rest of the year, though when he came back later in the game and belted a home run. He has fought off all of the adversity. Just wondering, will Matsui have to undergo surgery after the season for his knee(s)?
Does anybody know if the Yankees have set their ALDS roster yet? I just heard that Bronson Sardinha was going to make it. That cant possibly be, or at least I hope not.
i think bronson will be limited to a pinch runner type role. not a bad idea…
Couple of things:
It would NOT surprise me if Bronson makes it we have room with only 11 pitchers and he is someone off the bench who can pinch run with speed.
Second did anyone else see the ESPN Newsclip of the Jeter interview when he was asked about Arod and his problems last year in the postseason? if someone can find it and post it is is fantastic he kept talking about “our problems” in the postseason and “we” have had problems. I love the fact that this seems to be a WE team and everyone is taking responsibility for everone else
Why does it seem like all writers use the “Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS as a starting point” as if the Games 1-3 never happened. PeteAbe is unique using Game 5(probably because ARod had an RBI or HR in game 4), but still c’mon. Not to mention he was outstanding in the 2004 ALDS. I guess it doesn’t make ARod sound quite as bad when you include “gasp” playoff games that actually happened before then to make a point.
I personally don’t care how ARod does, but would really like the team to play well.
The Yankees are here to win. They have something about them this year.. Let the ‘experts’ and other teams focus on Arod and all that.. The Yankees will just focus on winning.
Having Sardines as a pinch runner will be useful in the late innings. In the postseason especially, you always need someone off the bench who can steal a base or go from first to third on a single, anything to provide a spark. Or to provide as the kids say- “Energy, Energy, Energy!”
Man.
Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow, you’re only a day away…
…Anyone else singing with me?
Not that the games tonight aren’t important, and all…
Gayle-
I saw that clip this morning as well, and had to laugh as Jeter was walking away yelling “We!” Too funny. Here’s the clip…
http://sports.espn.go.com/broa.....8;n8pe6c=1
11 more wins and 3 more celebrations.
Gayle,
I noticed that too. Its not only that Jeter said WE when the reported brought up ARod but the tone was telling. It sounded like Jeter was going to punch the stupid who was trying to bring up ARod as the onyl reason for last year’s failure in the face. It finally appears those guys are enjoying each other as team mates (if not more). Good for Derek. Good for Alex. Above all, good for us (the yankees).
I love Jeter.
you’re not kidding rebecca. i’ve been finding myself aimlessly wandering the house the house this week. a house that is cleaner than it’s been in months (not saying much).
J-Dawg: Sardinha has gone from 1st to Home on a single. It’s awesome.
I agree about Sardinha as well. Given Jason/Hideki will be on bench we will have a handful of situations where one of these guys will pinch hit for someone like Shelley/Doug or even Melky late in the game. Helps to have Sardinha who not only can pinch run if Jason/Matsui gets on base but also can give us a backup if we have to pinch hit for Melky.
Everyone seems to only point a finger at Alex, when everyone disappeared after game 4 of the alcs in 2004. ALso we never would have made it to the alcs without Alex. He was instrumental in us making it past the Twins, with the steal of 3rd and making it home on a pass ball/wild pitch.
Ok, so I was looking on the TV, and they gave a 2:30 start time to the Phillies/Rockies game today (I’ll probably watch it as I have nothing else to do today. Stupid no school) and I looked on the little guide button, and from 2:30 to 3, it’s a little pre-game thing. So perhaps for all the 6:30 games they’re 7pm starts and the 5:00 games they’re 5:30 starts, and so on. Unless the times Pete got were actually start times and not the TBS advertising times. Just a thought!
Andrea the 630 is game start time TBD will have their pre game before then.
I think and I may be wrong that when their is more then one game like today they will only have 1 pre game as each game should run into the other
Ah well, I was just trying to be opitmistic about it. That does make sense though, since there’s more than one game going on. This is also the first real playoff game, other than that one Rockies/Padres game, so maybe they want a little half hour intro.
At least we don’t have the 2.30 start time; I’d miss the entire first hour of the game at class!
Rebecca: you cancell class. I definitely skipped undergrad classes for playoffs. That was in 2004
Funny though. Turned out I didn’t REALLY skip class. Class was cancelled. The professor had a “family emergency.” Yeah, a family emergency called the ALDS!
Yah an afternoon start time would be no fun!
It’s funny how anyone could buy into the fact that the Indians can bury the past. I assure you, if the tables were turned and they beat us 6 in a row, the press would be playing that up, big time. What is equally great when the Yankees win, is that the Bston fans AND all the Yankee Haters in the world are in turmoil. This team is playing the best baseball of ANY team for a very long time ( since the 2nd Half started ) and there is NO reason to think they can’t continue into the postseason. A-Rod will silence all the critics and I can see the Yankees losing no more than 4-5 games over the entire postseason. I truly pray that I get the opportunity to hear all the naysayers answers to why we ended up sweeping the Indians 3-0, to go 9-0 against them for the year. I am quite sure that they will play it down and predict that the Yankees collapse in the ALCS against whoever we get matched up against.
My biggest concern is that our pitching doesnt show up this series and we have to out hit the indians. Wang and Pettite have had some bad outings recently. Who knows what to expect from Clemens. This team might have to go the 2002 angels route(outslug our opponents). Maybe im over reacting a bit but the good news is we can play any style of ball and still win games. Unlike the recent past.
Hope our pitchers bring it like their capable of.
SoS: the good news is, the games where Wang and Pettitte haven’t brought there A game have been games that didn’t matter at all. When it matters, they do what they’ve got to do.
Not that I’m saying it’s ok to have bad games, but I’m saying they’ll do well when it matters.
As totally unbiased fans who have nothing to gain from today’s 3 games, who are you cheering for?
I’m cheering for the Phillies and have no rooting interest in the other two games.
A month ago, I would’ve wanted Boston to win, but they’re probably stocked and reloaded. The Angels look like they’re on the ropes, but we’ve always had trouble with Anaheim. They should just be called the Anaheim Angels.
I guess it’ll be ABB. Anybody but Boston because the only thing more satisfying than a Boston loss is a Yankee win.
Andrea – Maybe you don’t remember Pettitte’s start in the most recent Boston series. We gutted out a win .. but it would’ve been much easier if Andy had pitched better.
I just got the funniest Met letter!! I fowarded it to Pete, It is pretty long so I don’t know if I should post it here.
Looking for that Kay podcast you guys were talking about. Couldn’t find it, but found this instead:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn.....ortCat=mlb
Check out number 19. There’s a funny dig at Sheffield.
Does anyone have a link to the Kay/Mets diatribe?
Aaronedge, I’m not making excuses for Andy, but that was I believe, the fifth time that Boston had seen him this year. That’s one thing about seeing a division foe so much. It does not matter what pitcher it is, when you see him so much, the novelty wears off. It’s easy to pinpoint a pitcher’s tendencies and to know exactly what is coming. Andy happened to be a victim of that cat-and-mouse game.
Mel- I’m rooting for the Cubs today, just because they are the Cubs.
I dont think Ill be awake long enough for that cubs game. 10:00PM start? whew thats late.
Aaronedge: I guess. I don’t really remember that being very badly pitched though. It seemed to be unfortumate. And that game didn’t really matter that much, as much as we all like to think that the Boston games mean the world.
Mel -
Here’s the ESPN/Michael Kay Link:
“Kay Podcast”:http://espn.andohs.net/espnpod.....071001.mp3
Mel –
“Link to Podcast Page”:http://sports.espn.go.com/espn.....id=2693958
whoa, look at that little mp3 icon!