Comments on: Today in The Journal News

By: rover

rover — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:56:34 +0000

wish i could tell jokes, would give my left one to do what crystal is doing. might even include someone elses left one if necessary.

By: saucY

saucY — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:54:01 +0000

Annie, I know you’re a met fan first so

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2008/news/story?id=3286984

“Country singer Garth Brooks has played in spring training games, helping raise money for his Touch ‘em All Foundation. He was 1-for-22 (.045) in 1999 with the San Diego Padres, 0-for-17 the following year with the New York Mets and 1-for-8 (.125) in 2004 with the Kansas City Royals.”

so if 2 or 3 at bats for Crystal today is “comprimising his team”, what does 17 at bats do?

By: jk

jk — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:04:02 +0000

Go easy on Pete. He is still in shock from the Pats amazing Super Bowl loss. (sorry Pete, I will use any excuse to mention this)

Maddon ran his mouth after the Cervelli play and Girardi made it clear he was not happy about the play. Something had to happen here. Does Maddon still want to talk about his favorite wine with Girardi? I don’t think so.

It was no accident Pettitte was scrathed and half the team was in Tampa. Justice, Girardi style has been served. As others have said, this should be the end of it.

By: sunny615

sunny615 — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:42:28 +0000

Actually, Pete works in baseball but is a fan of football. I’m sure he enjoys his job, but I don’t recall Pete ever declaring any favoritism toward any team - Boston or otherwise.

By: keith

keith — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:38:11 +0000

Hey, I love this blog and appreciate everything Pete does here, great job. BUT It’s not name calling when he actually is a Red Sox fan. I’m sure if you ask him he’d say he’s not a fan of any team because as a reporter he has to be objective. You can be damn sure he was enjoying himself the night they won the series.

By: Annie Savoy

Annie Savoy — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:35:46 +0000

Once the first pitch is thrown, the game takes on a life of its’ own. The players rely on both preparation and instinct. With a new, younger manager, the Yankees have also taken on a new persona. Whatever happens during these bang-bang plays is not premediated, it is the instinct of each individual player. Get used to it.

IMO - this afternoon we will see the results of the first poor PR move made by Derek Jeter. In an effort to be a good friend to Billy Crystal he has compromised his team.

By: Ranting Guy

Ranting Guy — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:30:48 +0000

Letter 10 -

Watch the video clip - he went feet first into the guys shin/knee area. It wasn’t a ‘gentlemanly’ play, but there have been much harder and much more dangerous slides going into second. Ask Ron Oester who used to play for the Reds.

By: johnny7

johnny7 — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:19:46 +0000

Jack Palance on Billy Crystal: — I’ve taken bigger sh•ts than you! –

By: Letter10

Letter10 — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:18:33 +0000

This is weak! He really doesn’t even lead with his spikes, it was more of a high knee. I played second base through college and have had way worse slides happen in the course of a normal game with no messages needed. I have the scars on my shins to prove it!

There are harder slides in high schools across America that no one even thinks twice about, stop whinning about all of this and play baseball. As for the slide on the catcher that was just a kid trying to make the team by showing can play hard with the “big boys” it was unfortunate the guy got hurt but that happens.

By: Ranting Guy

Ranting Guy — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:15:17 +0000

Joe Maddon went from old school tough guy to drama queen pretty quick didn’t he?

The only thing I’d worry about if the bad blood continues on and on between these two teams is if Farnsworth is free after his contract is up and the Rays sign him. I say trade him to an NL team before the deadline if he’s struggling up to then.

Shelley made a hard nosed play and he made a little statement. Maybe a little more hard-nosed and a little more statement than most people would’ve wanted, but it’s not like he bowled over Iwamura like Gomes tried to do to him. Of course he wanted to make contact but he clearly wasn’t going after Iwamuras ‘nads or his face … that picture at he top of yesterdays thread was after he made contact much lower.

When talking to the press, Shelley should learn not to allude to that kind of stuff several days before it happens. If he hadn’t, he might have gotten away with not being ejected and Gomes might not have been so compelled to be a tough guy. Waiting until he’s barreling down on their catcher a few games later might’ve been better, but that was the play that happened and you move on. Regardless, that should have been the end of it.

Then there’s Gomes coming out of left field (right field actually) and it starts all over again.