Greetings from Gate D-88
-
- June
- 27
Here we are at the Frenchy Fuqua International Airport in Pittsburgh.
Back when I made these flight plans, it seemed perfect. Arrive at LaGuardia around 11:15 a.m., grab some lunch in Queens and head over to Shea Stadium with plenty of time to spare to cover the game.
Then we had a rainout, the doubleheader was scheduled and now I have to race out of LaGuardia to get to Yankee Stadium then fight traffic going back to Queens. In all, this will be about a 19-hour day from wake-up call to getting home.
But the good news is I get to go to Shea Stadium to see Sidney Ponson pitch. Print and save this post for the next time you think, “I’d love to be a sportswriter.” It’s generally a great job and I should not complain. But unless Marissa Miller is covering the game for Sports Illustrated and has the seat next to me in the press box, it’s not going to be a five-star day
But thanks to Red Bull, it should be OK. Lots and lots of Red Bull. If Red Bull made an I.V. I would pick one of those up.
Meanwhile, I saw the greatest thing today. A guy was talking on his cell phone in the security line. As he got to the x-ray machine, he put the phone in a bin without hanging up, went through the metal detector, then picked up the phone on the other end and kept talking.
Now that’s dedication to the call.
Memo to the mayor of Pittsburgh: Invest in another cab. The one you have is always busy.
Check back later for the lineups. The Yankees have a late report today and no BP. The paper has everybody but the gardening columnist covering the doubleheader, so we’ll have plenty of info to pass along as we go through the day.
This entry was posted
on Friday, June 27th, 2008 at 9:16 am by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
hey, pete… you should badger Michael Kay about jumping on his chartered bus for the ride over to Shea. he was talking about it on his radio show the other day.
its the least he could do for us having to put up with his nonsense on the broadcast.
As Artie Lang would say “WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.”
Lets just hope Ponson can get lucky and give us 5 innings. That’d be golden.
Pete I’m going to school for journalism and to be a sports writer. You’re killing me. Covering a mediocre to low level division 1 school for free is not fun. The Yankees must be great.
“Pete I’m going to school for journalism and to be a sports writer. You’re killing me. Covering a mediocre to low level division 1 school for free is not fun. The Yankees must be great.”
I think he did that also when he was getting started.
I wouldn’t touch journalism with a 10 foot pole, but that’s me
(I was almost a literature major (19th century British lit), but decided on math. Couldn’t be happier ;-))
“Lets just hope Ponson can get lucky and give us 5 innings. That’d be golden.”
You’re setting the bar a little high.
Pete:
Did anyone in the Yankees organization give any thought to contacting the Pirates BEFORE agreeing to this doubleheader?
Pirates will sellout what, a half dozen games a season (3 Yanks games, Opening Day, maybe 1 or 2 more)? These games were rare “big box office” for the Pirates. I have a tough time with the notion that they are wrong for not moving this game to the daytime. It hurts them in attendnace and TV ratings (TV, buy the way is why this doubleheader can’t be played on Saturday).
I’d like life to be as easy on the Yankees as possible, but I’m not really buying their beef here. What they went thru last night is sometimes the life of a ballplayer. Ain’t always easy.
Russell NY-
I know.
It’s early. I’m sure I’ll come to my senses once the coffee kicks in.
“It’s early. I’m sure I’ll come to my senses once the coffee kicks in.”
Prepare for the crash and burn once he starts pitching. Talk about going high to low. We can only hope the game gets rained out lol
The 70’s football reference tells me the Red Bull has kicked in. Keep it flowing Pete.
Pete, enjoy the day and the games … I think.
hey Pete, might i suggest moving from Red Bull to Rock Star? its got a lame name, but it comes packed with more caffeine and a bigger kick, and is significantly less expensive…
i drink the one in the bright blue can with no carbs, and havent gone back to Red Bull since, unless my friendly neighborhood bartender wants to mix me up a drink or two.
I’ll work for free! Please hire me!
Pete walk with Sam, he might get there before you if you drove.
Or better yet take the subway! Take it down town to Grand Central than take the train to Shea.
Please send my regards to Marissa Miller…I don’t know her but it sounds like I should! Have wonderful day Pete!
or, take the D Train down to Penn Station, and the LIRR to Shea… its literally 15 minutes from Penn Station to Shea.
thats how i get to Shea myself, and its super easy.
Heh, the Syracuse peoples didn’t think I was good enough for journalism. Medieval history it is!
Anyway, probably shouldn’t tell you all that I’m headed out to game one in a little less than an hour, given my record this year…
I’d be a great replacement for Hideki, imagine me batting behind or in front of A-Rod!
I’m CHEAP! I’d work for league minimum and donate THAT to charity.
Please?
Is that really the name of the airport? Am I the only one who thinks that’s hilarious?
“I’d be a great replacement for Hideki, imagine me batting behind or in front of A-Rod!
I’m CHEAP! I’d work for league minimum and donate THAT to charity.
Please?”
you convinced me. lace ‘em up and get in the box.
I’m on the way!
mel:
I just googled Frenchy Fuqua. It’s a person:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fuqua
For Real!! Played for the “Stillers” (as they say in Pittsburgh).
You sure do complain a lot, Pete. I know this isn’t the easiest of days for you, but every job has its share of hardships. I’m pretty sure I’d rather fight traffic in Queens to watch Ponson pitch and be able to call that a rough day versus what some other people out there have to do for a living.
Thanks for the donations already guys - excellent stuff. I’m headed off to the Stadium now for Game 1 — I’ll be posting updates on my blog throughout the day (faceoff.lohudblogs.com) once I get to the Stadium, and I’ll send some to Pete here as well. Pray for no rain, please!
By the way (and here comes the jinx), I totally expect a remake of David Wells perfect game tonight for Ponson. Anything less and I want him CUT! =)
Pete, you should join Sam Borden on his walk. You don’t even need to do it for charity…
Hey Pete
So is Ponson going to wear number 21 tonight?
Sam: Best of luck. It’s a wonderful thing to do, hope you get to $10,000!
Some damn good pitching in baseball yesterday! Garza, Lee, Maholm…
Doreen,
LOL. You can swear at someone in a French accent:
Hey, you’re blocking the view, you foo-kwah!
I see that Fuqua has a candy to commemorate the Immaculate Reception: The Immaculate Confection. This screams Nick in SF.
I hope the old Pedro stays away today…. good luck Ponson…
“By the way (and here comes the jinx), I totally expect a remake of David Wells perfect game tonight for Ponson. Anything less and I want him CUT! =)”
umm? yah.. if Ponson throws a perfect game… then we might as well call up Igawa and put him as our number 1
That guy with the cell phone is awesome.
BTW, I have perused through previous blog entries so I don’t know if this was discussed, but personally after seeing Moose take 30 pitches to get through the first inning, I wasn’t that disappointed it got rained out. It didn’t look like Moose was locating well and was getting hit pretty good. He also walked 2 as well. It might have been a rough outing so that weather might have been a reprieve -
Breaking News: “Sidney Ponson of the New York Yankees will dawn pinstripes for the first time tonight in part of a day-night doubleheader against the Mets. He will be wearing Number 21, that of the famed Paul O’Neil, to honor the number of White Castle burgers he was able to devour in a 3 minute time limit.”
sunny: Moose was much better in the second.
Pete, you don’t stand a chance with Marissa Miller even if they locked you two up in a room for a month. Hahahaha.
actually russell, this will be the second time Ponson dons the pinstripes.
Rebecca - true, but Moose is a touchy feely kinda pitcher. I do remember him still giving up hits tho in the second and third innings - I’ll have to double check that…
Then we had a rainout, the doubleheader was scheduled and now I have to race out of LaGuardia to get to Yankee Stadium then fight traffic going back to Queens
4 to Grand Central, 7 express to Shea Stadium. I’m just sayin’.
mel -
It sounds like something Inspector Clouseau would say!
sunny615 and Rebecca -
I read “Living on the Black” and got some really good insight into what goes on in a pitcher’s mind. This is relevant because Tom Glavine talked about how it seems like it should be easy for a pitcher when his team scores in the top of the first inning, but it many times is not. One of the reasons he had was because after warming up in the pen you just want to go in the game. The scoring messes up the timing a bit, but also, though it shouldn’t, it kind of messes with your mind set. Glavine said it’s almost better if you get the first inning out of the way, and THEN your team scores. (So, this would be a road situation, I’m guessing. And it is important to note that Glavine made it clear he was not complaining that his team got him runs and he acknowledged that it is his job to NOT give us runs.)
why anyone would try and drive from stadium to stadium when they dont have to is beyond me.
i realize the subways are how the lowly fans and cost-cutting riff-raff travel, but it really makes things a lot easier.
doreen - that was very interesting. I can see that playing into Moose’s head as he’s a creature of habit. Anything that messes up his routine can cause problems for him. But Rebecca was right that he did settle down somewhat for the second and third… which was a good sign.
PeteAbe, you should try Monster Energy… its tastier than Red Bull and twice as big.
Thought I’d have some fun here… (sometimes my profession of graphic designer comes in handy)… heh.
Also, for those of you who want to believe in the power of the stache - take a close look at these pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/sunny615/FunStuff
The good aspect about last night is that the bullpen got a day off in front of a double header.
Let’s hope we see 2 saves for the GOAT, Mariano!
Turn Two-
Pete probably plans on driving home after the game(s), plus he’ll have a suitcase.
“You’re setting the bar a little high.”
Russell, you shouldn’t mention the word ‘bar’ around anything to do with Ponson. At that rate we’d be lucky he showed up for his start.
sunny615 -
Jeter with a ’stache gives me the creeps!
What about ARod, though????? Or does he not need more power?
Tell you what Pete, I’ll buy you a copy of the Maxim with Marisa Miller, you can peruse that to your liking, and I’ll cover the games today. Deal, big guy?
sunny-
That’s hilarious! Looks like Jeter is Groucho Marx in that one photo.
TKinDC -
Every cloud has a silver lining!
“actually russell, this will be the second time Ponson dons the pinstripes.”
Sunny - don’t blame me, blame the news source that broke the news
jk
I meant to say “For the first time back”
“Pete probably plans on driving home after the game(s), plus he’ll have a suitcase.”
yeah, fair points. i was really talking more in general than about Pete specifically.
“Russell, you shouldn’t mention the word ‘bar’ around anything to do with Ponson. At that rate we’d be lucky he showed up for his start.”
I’m praying for rain JR.
Sunny - those pics of Jeter with the stache are hilarious. He looks like Mario from the Mario Brothers.
How great would it have been to have Pedro pitch a game at the stadium. We could have broken out the Who’s your daddy chants.
Jennifer - if I was at Shea tonight, I still would have been trying the chant.
“He looks like Mario from the Mario Brothers.”
LOL. I thought that about Damon when he was rockin’ the stache’.
Doreen, it can also be said that every silver lining has a dark cloud.
“What about ARod, though????? Or does he not need more power?”
If equipped with a ’stache, A-Rod’s mighty swings will sunder the very earth itself
I wonder if the Mets are purposely not having him pitch at YS.
If arod had a stache, he probably would have punched that double through the wall yesterday.
Sunny-
Those are amazing. I’m pretty sure that would be Jeter look, had he played in the early 80’s.
Ah, Green Beret 7, ’tis true enough, just depends on your point of view (or whether you’re having a bad hair day!).
Thanks DMan - I’m taking requests on the next Yankee to be stashified!!
“I wonder if the Mets are purposely not having him pitch at YS.”
i heard yesterday on the radio that Pedro told Mets officials when he got to NY that he’s much more comfortable pitching at night, for whatever reason…
sunny615-
Hmm. Matsui with an adult-film star stache could be entertaining to see.
Before we worry about a stash, can someone puh-lease talk Jetes out of that fade he wears? Talk about retro.
Love the guy, but anything would be better than that.
“I wonder if the Mets are purposely not having him pitch at YS.”
What is Pedro throwing now? 90mph tops? With the short porch in right, his balls would be crushed.
“i heard yesterday on the radio that Pedro told Mets officials when he got to NY that he’s much more comfortable pitching at night, for whatever reason…”
the reason is… the man who says “you don’t cry in baseball” was caught crying in baseball in pure daylight.
Too bad we couldn’t have one of those old Moose Pedro’s duels. I also could have been a duel over who throws slower.
Too bad we couldn’t have one of those old Moose Pedro’s duels. I also could have been a duel over who throws slower.
Just arrived at the stadium happy to say there is a slight breeze so not as stickey as I thought but then again game time is still a few hours away
Just an idea for those who want to show solidarity with The Big G.
http://www.freemoustache.com/
Doreen, I was just starting off the day for the wave of negativity that will start after the first Mets hit and first Yankee out. You know it’s coming.
I am quite shocked to see your cruel mention of hair and for those follically challenged, my ACLU lawyer will be in contact with you.
Getting back to an earlier discussion, Homerun Derby has the “All Jheri curl team” (posted in Rob Neyer’s blog):
http://homerderby.com/archives/2283
“folically challenged”? Doesn’t sound politically correct enough for the ACLU.
How about pro-pate?
Good luck today Pete
Today is a great day to be a fan, should be fun.
Pete-
While I’ve had my fair share of delays in airports and with schedules, I can’t possibly sympathize with you. You have the pleasure of watching baseball and writing about it for a living. I have to sneak away from my desk to watch clips of games and read about the rest of it. So, while today may seem dreary, at least you don’t wake up @ 4:30 every weekday and get home @ 8:00 p.m. Trust me, you are a VERY VERY lucky guy.
A Matstache eh? I could do that. I’d have probably tried Hughes next, but all I’d have to do is put peach fuzz on him. How about the Joba-stache? I know… the Moose-stache!
Did they let you in the stadium yet?
“Thanks DMan - I’m taking requests on the next Yankee to be stashified!!”
Sunny - Melky Cabrera or Chad Moeller.
When has the AcLU ever worried if it was polically correct. They only care about whether they get publicity, regardless of how they get it.
Pascual Perez had the best Jheri Curls hands down. They probably were the cause of him getting lost driving to Atlanta Fulton County Ballpark in the 80’s before a start, either that or all the blow he was doing.
The Jheri Curls makes a better if not funnier story.
Chad… haha! That’d be funny. I’ll definitely throw those two names into the hat too. The all-stache team…
Girardi ’stache please.
You got it pat.
Peter, don’t diss the Burgh. Yes, the cab situation is decidedly small town, and if you’re not a Stillers fan the obsession with the team can be a little grating. But the town deserves more respect. I lived there three years and loved it. Pittsburgh is a great city, if a little depressed and a tad provincial. Now that I’m on the East Coast, I really miss my awesome house in an awesome neighborhood (go Squirrel Hill!) that cost less than $130k. Go Stillers!