Hey, Cash, the players have a request
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Apr 29, 2008 
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The visitors clubhouse in Cleveland has all the standard luxury items that big leaguers enjoy. Comfortable leather chairs, flat-screen televisions and all the Red Bull you can drink.
What is unique are the two arcade-style video games in the middle of the room: Big Buck Hunter and Golden Tee.
Big Buck Hunter is a shooting game. Basically you take a pump-action shotgun and kill whatever woodland creatures come across the screen. These include deer, elk, rabbits, wolves, coyotes and raccoons. It’s very realistic.
Watching Kyle Farnsworth play this game is like watching the first 10 minutes of Saving Private Ryan. Everybody dies. After watching Farnsworth handle a gun, I may never jab him again on my blog. He missed his calling, he should be shooting for the U.S. Olympic Team. He never missed.
Farnsworth (who, on the record, is a very nice guy when you’re not asking him about pitching poorly) said he’s buying the game for his vacation home. It retails for $5,000.
A few of the other Yankees played Big Buck Hunter, mostly the southern boys. Johnny Damon handled the gun like he was Tony Montana. Bobby Abreu tried it and was pretty good. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, not so much.
Golden Tee was the game of choice for Hughes, Kennedy Chien-Ming Wang and Jose Molina. Damon played a lot, too.
If you were around in the 80s, you probably played Golden Tee at a bar somewhere. It’s a lot of fun and with the advanced graphics, it’s very realistic as well. Hughes had the second-highest score in the machine with an 8-under round.
The Wanger was hilarious to watch. He showed far more emotion playing video golf then I’ve seen on the field.
Damon was playing today and motioned me over. “They need to get us one of these games at home,” he said. “Make it happen.”
So, Brian Cashman, if you want to be even more popular in the clubhouse, get Hank and Hal to spend $5,000 on one of these games. Joe Girardi took away the ice cream and candy, at least let the kids have their video games.
LOL !
“If you were around in the 80s, you probably played Golden Tee at a bar somewhere”
If you go to bars in 2008, you see Golden Tee. And its popular as ever.
This is hilaaaaaarious. I love hearing these kinds of stories!
nice to see the fellas having some fun
lol, Pete.
I thought they were requesting a regular lineup or a freezer full of ice cream novelties.
Hmmm, I wonder if the lack of offense is because the players don’t have their sugar highs anymore.
Now they want to veg out with video games and munch carrots. No wonder Giambi is batting interstate.
Best blog ever.
I wonder, though, if memories of Joel Zumaya’s Guitar Hero injury will prevent the players from getting video games in the clubhouse. What if Farnsworth develops a a repetitive stress injury as a result of such frequent use of his trigger finger? What if Wang breaks a finger on his follow through on a big drive on Golden Tee? Too dangerous. Give ‘em an Atari 2600, the stress there is on the thumb of your non-dominant hand. Plus the games will bore the hell out of anyone under 35.
Around in the 80′s to play Golden Tee..? Out here in Oregon, specifically Corvallis, home of the Oregon State Beavers, GOLDEN TEE IS AT ALMOST EVERY BAR!!!!!
these types of stories are what makes this blog so unique and great. thanks Pete! get on it cashman. If this is what it takes for Farnsworth to perform, it’s a small price to pay.
i was BORN in the mid-80s (so I guess I was around lol) but Wednesday nights in Orlando are definitely nickel beer and golden tee nights at the sports bar lol
Ethan – you’re right, 5 mill invested, what’s another 5 thousand to keep his recent results lol
See if anyone is playing GTA4 in the clubhouse tomorrow Pete
emobacca – hopefully they get some sleep and aren’t waiting online for it – make that giant asian kid in the dugout get the game for them lol
^^^ Gordan Damer is giving away free copies on ESPN radio tonight
just make your case why this game is your last dieing wish, another words why do you want it.
if farns could just change that buck hunter accuracy to pitching accuracy, we’d be set
this is one of the best things ive read yet…
Laughing out loud at 5:55AM.
Thanks Pete
It’s not a arcade without Big Buck Hunter and Golden Tee. Nice to see the players enjoying themselves.
Cash needs adopt the same policy we use in our house;
if you want a new video game, use your allowance to buy it. Now shut off the video game and go outside and play.
Golden Tee is wonderful fun. It’s also too dangerous for the Yankees, a team with enough of its own injury problems as it is. Anyone who plays Golden Tee is familiar with the injury warning on the machine from attempting to spin the track ball too hard. These are injuries that should be reserved for middle-aged, beer-drinking bar goers such as myself. Not middle-aged, beer-drinking baseball players like the Yankees. I wonder if you’ll find Golden Tee in the Cleveland clubhouse. That thing is a bear trap.
Hahahaha
Too funny
Had a dream last night the Yanks won the pennant, I woke up before the world series had started, but it was against the Phillies.
Dont want to toot my own horn but I have been known to have many prophetic dreams. Some to the point where the have seriously upset and scared alot of my friends and family because they were so true.
Let’s hope this is one of them.
The team has spent so much time on the road that Mariano may have forgotten that he actually has a restaurant in New Rochelle.
http://www.mosnewyorkgrill.com/
“Watching Kyle Farnsworth play this game is like watching the first 10 minutes of Saving Private Ryan. Everybody dies.”
Pete this was a hysterical line – no wonder the joker at NYY says you are a “Rock Star”
Keep it up!
Dr. Cox -
Get back to sleep and finish that dream!!!!
Pete -
I love this kind of stuff that you bring here. It humanizes the players more than any post-game interview ever could. (I’m sorry I missed Ensberg’s interview though — I fell asleep after trying to listen to Mussina’s interview — because it sounds like he’s a real cut-up, plus I would have like to have seen how he looks in eyeglasses — is that nuts or what??!!)
It would be a really beautiful thing if the new pitch that Farnsworth has added helps him to be as effective as he was in last night’s game, wouldn’t it?
Joba’s gotta start before the season is over. I think the Yankees will be just fine with an assortment of pitchers to set up Mo, especially if Farnsworth has made improvements and the guys in the minors prove to be as good as reported.
It must feel so good for these guys to be coming back for a homestand! Girardi looked so relieved last night.
I thought ARod came back too soon. When will these guys learn they are doing no one a favor by rushing their returns from injury? One or two extra days, even three, in the long run not only serves the team better, but themselves. Yuck.
I freaking love Buck Hunter. Too bad it costs a fortune to play at a bar.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....8;c_id=mlb
This is pretty bad for Clemens….
HA-HA Damon was asking you to get them a video game.
thanks, Pete. great story from inside the clubhouse. this is what makes this blog so great.
pat- Maybe buy it, but it is only turned on the day after a win. You lose, no game.
“When will these guys learn they are doing no one a favor by rushing their returns from injury?”
Because guys are lionized for playing hurt, and lambasted for asking for an extra day. It’s kind of up to the manager to MAKE them be smart out there, but it doesn’t always work.
From Mark F’s blog NYDAILY NEWS
“They have already won four one-run games, and they have four wins when scoring three runs or less – almost matching their total of six from last season.”
PETE!! I want your job!! Haha. I used to have Golden Tee on my PC about 10 years ago. It worked and I owned the competition! I’ll take on Phil Hughes any day haha. Id love to see Wanger being emotional playing a video game though. Hmm…I wonder, if the bars in Taiwan have Golden Tee? Bet they’ll be getting it now. What with the stock market soring after Wangs 1-0 win and all
.
Law
Wow… Pete…
You had a nice hour last night, going 2-for-2 with these back-to-back entries. What excellent reading.
Your paragraph about The Natural in the previous post, as well as this insightful and funny post about Big Buck Hunter is what sets you apart from the rest of your sportswriter bretheren.
Great writing. Thanks for the blog!
PS– How about this Clemens stuff?
PPS– Zito to the bullpen?!?! For $126M? To think there were posters on here two winters ago screaming for Cashman to trade Randy back to ARZ and sign Zito… The NYY missed a bullet on that one, no?
“Watching Kyle Farnsworth play this game is like watching the first 10 minutes of Saving Private Ryan. Everybody dies. After watching Farnsworth handle a gun, I may never jab him again on my blog.”
This has to be one of the funniest paragraphs I’ve ever read, on this blog or anywhere for that matter.
Wow…
who could have EVER seen Zito blow up like this, and so quickly?
i think we all can agree that everyone figured he would regress, and that he’d never live up to the entire contract… but still, not even 2 full seasons in and over $100 million left on the contract, and he’s been demoted to the bullpen?
wow… just wow.
whozat -
I know, I know. It’s the culture of baseball that dictates that a player needs to “tough it out.” I guess it’s not that easy to change a culture. But if a guy has a history of playing almost every day, shouldn’t he be given the benefit of the doubt if he takes a day or two more to recover? And I agree, the manager should step up — he’s the one who makes the lineups.
“How about this Clemens stuff?”
This isn’t a tabloid.
“The NYY missed a bullet on that one, no?”
It’s almost like Cashman knows what he’s doing…
“This has to be one of the funniest paragraphs I’ve ever read, on this blog or anywhere for that matter.
Wow…”
You have to read a little more…
I heard Zito was hitting 82 on the gun now. What was he throwing when he was with Oakland. He isn’t even 30 how could he lose so much on his fb. Makes me wonder if he has a shoulder injury. If I were the Giants I would send him for Mri’s.
I read Cliff’s 2:03 am post and I kind of agree nwith the injury issue on Golden Tee, not Big Buck Hunter.
As someone that bartended my way through college, and now run a bar, I’ve seen many Golden Tee fatalities.
Most people, when using the track ball, are smart and just use their thumbs. But to add yardage to your drive, a lot of people slowly pull the ball back, step back, and then slap the ball forward with a punch-like motion, yet the hand is kept flat, kind of like a karate-chop.
I’ve seen many fingernails torn out and broken fingers from drunk dudes trying to add yardage off their tee-off.
Given, every bar I’ve ever worked in and run is in Red Sox Nation (Boston and Coastal/Southern Maine), so I guess I wasn’t dealing with an entirely educated or bright clientele anyway…
But if anything, Cashman, get them a Bick Buck Hunter….
Less injury factor and a great stress reliever!
You have to read a little more…
I read six newspapers a day and a novel a week (usually fiction, but I get around). This is by far the cream of the crop. Its not just Pete, either. I like Sam Borden’s columns as well.
A great duo, Sam and Pete.
Screw Golden Tee, Silver Strike bowling is what it’s all about. I got the highscore at a local bar and won myself a case of beer.
wow, funny one!
Is it sad that the big buck game is a pretty good description of life down here in redneck country? You have to be careful come October/November walking in my backyard since it’s deer season, you never know who’s shooting for their dinner!
Don’t worry, Amanda, its not sad. Thats how it is in Maine, as well. Can’t walk my St. Bernard in NOV b/c she “looks like a deer” and could wind up someone’s dinner.
Brian Sabean = Worst GM in the league
$126 million long reliever
Trading Boof Bonser, Liriano, and Joe Nathan for the one year rental of AJ Pierzynski
I worked in a bowling alley here in Daytona for 3 years and we had Big Buck Hunter in the arcade. Everyone loved the game, but the game everyone wanted to play was Crazy Taxi. There is no chance of hurting yourself on a Crazy Taxi machine. Golden Tee are death traps.
Bronxbomber77-
good to know I’m not alone!
Kyle’s pitching fine lately, but I was ready to suggest a new Yankees hat with antlers on it just in time for next deer season.
i like the bowling games too. i’m sure the injury issues are the same as golden tee though, pretty much the same concept.
and you can never go wrong with a regular pinball machine. most realistic graphics to date.
Can the Yankees use a catchers mitt disguised as a racoon when Farnsworth pitches?
Doreen,
YES has part of Morgan’s interview up here
http://www.yesnetwork.com/medi.....?oid=36019
Doreen,
Tried to post a link to the Yes media page, it has Morgan’s interview on it. Can’t get the link to post though
Yeah BBH is the best game ever. Every friday afternoon you can find me and some of my friends in the bar taking three treks across the country killing animals. Our animal of choice? The Moose. I’m a surgeon with that shotgun. lol
YanksAngel -
Thanks for directing me to the YES page. I watched the interview. Loved – LOVED – it. It was the most relaxed player interview I’ve EVER seen. Bar none. I enjoyed his take on their ‘big’ inning.
He looks a lot (almost exactly) like the actor who starred in Rent – the movie and as an original cast member on Broadway, as well as having played Charlie Brown on Broadway. Anthony Rapp is his name. Morgan Ensberg could be Charlie Brown!
Great reporting Pete- very interesting to hear about Farns’ accuracy with the plastic orange rifle. I hope he can keep it up with the little white ball too.
ah, now my link has finally showed up lol
Doreen,
It was a good interview. Love the way he referred to that inning as justice.
Maybe we should call him Charlie Brown from now on, and he can come out to music by Snoopy (Snoop Dogg!!)
SPY HUNTER……..is my all time favorite!
The video games are fine; but NO RED BULL!!!
My Chinese Medicine Dr., who is one of the top 10 martial artists in the world, says it destroys the adrenals, and leaves you exhausted. IT’S THE LAST THING a veteran team, which is usually tuckered out by October, needs.
So:
VIdeo Games, yes.
Red Bull, no.
I am surprised that sergeant Girardi didn’t have the video games taken out of the clubhouse with the ice cream. It probably will have a sheet over it the next time the Yanks play there with a sign..do not touch unless you want to be fined.
It’s time for Jirardi to let Yankees players to eat junk foods, maybe that will fix this pathetic team.
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