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Strange stats for Giambi

May
18

I don’t know how long Jason Giambi can keep this up (not that he wants to) but he has more home runs (8) than singles (7) after 43 games.

Barry Bonds did it once, hitting 73 homers in 2001 and collecting only 49 singles all season. Mark McGwire had 65 homers in 1999 and only 58 singles.

Meanwhile, you’ve heard the tawdry tale of the “thong” that Giambi sometimes wears for good luck.

It was a good story – 10 years ago.

Giambi was given it as a joke by an equipment rep when he played for Oakland. It has been hanging in his locker ever since. The Boston Globe did a story about it once, as have a lot of papers.

But Conde Nast Portfolio magazine decided it was a “secret” and put together a story based on old quotes. Giambi said the writer never spoke to him. Then the New York tabloids got involved and pretended it was a new story. ESPN, of course, hopped on board.

So yesterday the clubhouse is full of clueless TV types (and a few clueless newspaper types) who were under the impression the Yankees all dress in lingerie.

It’s a strange business sometimes.

————

Other than CNN in hotel rooms, SportsCenter and games, I think I last watched television in January. Lack of time, lack of good shows, etc.

Woke up early this morning and checked to see what Tivo had recorded those past few months and came across the movie Se7en with Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey.

It’s not a great movie necessarily, but it’s certainly right up there in terms of a memorable last few minutes. You have to wonder why they never made a sequel. Dectective David Mills gets out of the psych ward, becomes a cop and chases down another serial killer. Seems like a natural.

What’s in the box?

————

It’s raining in the Bronx but supposedly will stop by game time. Mets-Yanks at 8 p.m. on ESPN. Check back later for the lineups.

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 18th, 2008 at 3:51 pm by Peter Abraham.
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46 Responses to “Strange stats for Giambi”

  1. rackem

    Se7en was a great movie!

  2. Jeff NJ

    First of all Peter, re the thong, is that what you said on ESPN News? I can’t sit through the NBA and NHL talk to get to your interview.

  3. PreteFunkEra

    I’m going to the game tonight. Hope it stops raining.

  4. Peter Abraham

    Jeff: Sure did.

  5. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    PreteFunk: Where are you sitting?

    I’m going too :-D

  6. 2008 Yankees

    I hope they get the game in, but more than that, I hope they don’t screw the fans again by waiting until game time and then cancelling the game, like they did on Friday.

  7. Tommy

    Interesting to hear about the history of the “thong” story. Nice blog.

  8. FLM

    I’ll be there as well,they better get this game in and not just take my parking and beer money

  9. 51Yankees

    Detective Mills’s wife’s head, played by Gwyneth Paltrow was in the box. This is one of my favorite movies. Another by the same director David Fincher is “Zodiac” from last year, about the serial killer of the 60′ 70’s in the San Francisco Bay area, with a great cast including Robert Downy Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Jake Gyllenhaal.

  10. TKinDC

    Like all of those “Mort Report” exclusives (Eli Manning out for 4 weeks :) ), nothing happens in US sports until ESPN says it has happened.

  11. Jeff NJ

    I don’t know how fans can complain about cancelling the game at game time. I’ve been to plenty of games including infamous 2006 Mussina cancelled playoff game vs. Detroit that they made us wait for at least 2 hours before cancelling it. Worst part of that game is that is was barely even raining, but they didn’t play based on the forecast. The teams should just play ball, if it rains hard stop, the over-analysis of weather patterns should not be reason for a rainout.

  12. Tseng

    Cliff Lee finally got roughed up, skyrocketing his era to around 1.2 . He sure had a good run.

  13. whozat

    “The teams should just play ball, if it rains hard stop, the over-analysis of weather patterns should not be reason for a rainout.”

    They’d rather err on the side of trying to get in a full 9 inning game rather then starting when they think there’s a good chance that they’ll only get to play 6. Which I can understand.

    Of course, these days, if the away team’s not coming back to town, they’ll push to get the 9 innings in even if they shouldn’t.

  14. 2008 Yankees

    The problem I have with gametime rainouts, like Friday, is that they KNOW it had been raining all day, the forecast was for it to keep raining. So people go to the park anyway, pay for tolls, gas, parking, food and drinks. They sit down, ready for the first pitch and then are told, Game Cancelled.
    So people paid $50-$75, besides the tickets and get nothing for it.

  15. PreteFunkEra

    Rebecca: Tier 26

  16. TKinDC

    “Cliff Lee finally got roughed up, skyrocketing his era to around 1.2 . He sure had a good run”

    So Brian Cashman springs into action and offers Kei Igawa for Cliff Lee? (like Paul Gasol for Kwame Brown)

  17. jennifer- I got your back Girardi

    Jeff NJ

    My cousin was at that game. I called her to tell her the game was called. She’s like it isn’t even raining here stop bsing me! She would not believe me. We knew at home before any announcement was made at the stadium. I think it was like 20 minutes before she called me back and said they finally said something.

  18. MOBoy

    Pete-

    There was a sequel to be made but it never came too.Morgan Freeman was already signed but nothing happened.

  19. Rhapsody in Blue

    Sound like good seats Rebecca, I was in section 16 loge May 8 against Cleveland,had seats in the first row and wasprotected from the rain, have a great time.

  20. mel

    Pete,

    You said that Jeter did it when he was slumping. What is it? Wear the thong or hang it in the locker?

    Doreen,

    Lithe is what a ballerina is. Wiry is taut with muscles. :)

  21. Evil Empire

    I’m in tier 29, I have a feeling the game will be rained out or a long delay. I really don’t feel like goin in either and dealin with rain

  22. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    PreteFunk: Loge 17 Row F

  23. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    See, I take the train in. Don’t have to worry about parking!

  24. PreteFunkEra

    Evil Empire…

    You could always go to Stadium Pizza for 3 beers for $12. It’s less than a block away from the stadium. Also you could party with the parking lot crew until the game is on (shielded from the rain).

  25. Abepeter

    Don’t know if anyone posted this yet, but Steve White got hit hard, 6er, in getting the loss today. His era went up over a point to 3.55. Trenton winning but the game is delayed

  26. Doreen

    Of Giambi’s 8 homeruns, does anyone know how many are solo shots and how many had runners on base?

  27. Nick in SF

    It’s better for our fellow fans in Taiwan if the game is delayed a little. Except the ones who have to go to work in the morning.

  28. Laura

    Se7en was a good movie, but one you only need to see once. Very dark and violent. Not sure that there is a market for the sequel. I most certainly don’t want to see it.

  29. PreteFunkEra

    Rebecca – loge eh? You’re lucky. With all the empty seats tonight, I’m definitely sneaking into the loge to be shielded from the rain. Like normal :)

  30. Doreen

    mel -

    There ya go – that’s where my terminology comes from – dance/theater.

    So, wiry it is, then.

  31. whozat

    “Don’t know if anyone posted this yet, but Steve White got hit hard”

    He was walking guys and hitting guys too. Sounded to me like he just had no command. Of course, he walks a lot of guys in general, so…

  32. Jeff NJ

    Jennifer, same thing happenned to me. My cousin at home told me that ESPN had posted it was rained out. I took that clue and left way before it was announced at the stadium. That to me, is even more annoying, holding back the info to the fans in house after a decision has bben made.

    Rebecca and others, I suggest you keep in touch with people at home if there is a delay.

  33. Doreen

    AbePeter -

    Trenton was losing 1-0 in the 4th when the game was suspended. Did they pick it up for an inning or so before suspending it to the end of the month?

  34. Matt Saracen

    Not sure what took you so long to get around to seeing Se7en. Covering UConn basketball that stressful?

  35. Doreen

    No, Trenton was losing 1-0. (And I had previously stated McCutchen had 4 strikeouts; he had 6 – I was “indisposed” for a half inning and missed 2 of them.)

  36. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Mission 2708

    Prete: Just make sure you say hi!

    I have no problem giving updates but someone’s got to email me a phone number to text –rebecca@puristbleedspinstripes.com My phone doesn’t have enough memory to load LoHud, so someone’s gotta give me a number to text with updates!

    My brother and I are leaving in a little while.

  37. Bronxbomber77 (from worst to first in 2008!)

    I could have sworn Gwenyth Paltrow’s head was in the box, Det. Mills’ wife.

    I thought that Se7en was a great movie, but I thought Brad Pitt ruined it with his performance in the alst few minutes.

    The whole “No!… Ahhh, God, No! No!” scene.

    But what do I know?

  38. xryanx

    SE7EN SPOILERS BELOW!

    theres no need for a sequel to SE7EN. john doe dies, morgan freeman retires, and mills is presumably headed to jail for murder. there have been a few rumors about a sequel to SE7EN every few years but nothing concrete. i personally think it should be left alone. great thriller/horror movie.

  39. Abepeter

    You’re right Doreen my mistake. I agree whozat White was giving up alot of walks too, just not good all around.

  40. AlbanyYankee

    We made the call to not make the trip down to the Bronx for the game because the weather reports were so lousy. So, the rest of you should enjoy perfect weather and an incredible game. That’s just the way my luck works.

  41. Doreen

    Albany Yankee -

    I don’t know. Our superstition is if we bring the rain gear, it stays dry; if we forget it at home, we get caught. Today we were fully prepared for rain (Trenton game at 1 pm) and lucky for us, too, because it did rain. it’s plain lousy out today.

  42. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    True, Se7en was all about the ending…take away the last few minutes and it’s just an average crime procedural…

    Since Pete brought up the topic…

    What other movies are notable for their surprise endings?

    In no particular order, here are a few I like:

    1. The Usual Suspects
    2. The Sixth Sense
    3. No Way Out
    4. The Manchurian Candidate (the original-I didn’t see the remake)
    5. House Of Games

    What are your favorite movies with surprise endings?

  43. Brandon

    If this Giambi story is old news, show us the old articles.

    You should have no problem digging them up and showing us the old thong articles.

    Also, where are the beat reporters yelling what you are yelling? Why arent they yelling that they have seen this thong for years!

  44. tonyb

    I think my favorite thing about Se7en was the MTV Movie awards parody they did with William Shatner back in 96. If you liked the movie, and are a fan of Shatner’s campy stylings, you’ll probably dig this:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZseK_2IVXtU

    Enjoy!

  45. Yankee2123

    One more year left of clubhouse cancer juicing Giambino, just one more year. Then he can take that thong to any team dumb enough to sign this waste of space. I hope he’s like Bonds, and on the unemployment line next year.

  46. Kev Van

    oh my, that was a sick backdoor fast ball.
    sick sick strike out by Wang

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Peter AbrahamPeter Abraham is the Yankees beat writer for The Journal News and LoHud.com. E-mail me at pabraham@lohud.com

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