Inside the American League clubhouse
-
- July
- 15
It’s strange seeing Big Papi in Jorge Posada’s locker. Or Roy Halladay holding court where Mike Mussina usually does. Johnny Damon is gone and Kevin Youkilis is there in his place.
Ichiro Suzuki asked for his locker to be between two former teammates, George Sherrill and Carlos Guillen. Ichiro, they said, is one of the best teammates they’ve ever had. “People have no idea,” Sherrill said.
Michael Young is right next to Derek Jeter. Joakim Soria was busy getting a jersey autographed by Mariano Rivera. “My hero,” he said.
Yankees clubhouse manager Rob Cucuzza said how impressed he was with the Red Sox players. A few of them asked to see Thurman Munson’s locker. “Those guys and Terry (Francona) have been incredibly respectful,” he said. “I didn’t really know them before this and they’ve been great.”
Then we have Jonathan Papelbon, who is wearing a sleeveless blue t-shirt with a drawing of a hand making an obscene gesture. Yes, that obscene gesture.
Classy.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, July 15th, 2008 at 4:39 pm by Peter Abraham.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Share and Enjoy: 
| 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Peter Abraham
So how obsessed with Papelbon are you Pete?
I know that you’re just trying to get blog hits, but this is pretty sad for you.
aaron:
Wake up. Paps is a punk.
Aaron:
I reported what the guy said and I reported what the guy is wearing. How is that trying to get blog hits? Should I post pictures of flowers? It’s not my fault he acts the way he does.
Then we have Jonathan Papelbon, who is wearing a sleeveless blue t-shirt with a drawing of a hand making an obscene gesture. Yes, that obscene gesture.
Is Papelbon trying to get a date with Cynthia Rodriguez or something? lol
The hits just keep coming for Papel-sux he has shown his classy side here in NY these past few days. Does he think wearing a shirt like that will get him cred in the AL locker room, think again boy.
Aaron,
How obsessed are you with Pete?
Wow, Papelbon is quickly becoming like my least favorite person, ever.
I think that’s papelbon’s formalwear
Clay,
Great minds and all that…
Well, that sucks.
Chris Russo finally [kinda] gets it.
He said on the air a little while ago that he gets the impression that the Yanks would see falling short of the postseason as the end of the world and believes this is a bit of a transitional season.
He emphasized “I’m getting that impression” like three times as if he’s not sure if that’s the case or not.
Ya think?
I guess someone has to hit these morons with a sledgehammer because it has been clear for the last 9 months that the club was headed in this direction.
But, of course, the other moron Francessa doesn’t see it that way. He said he can’t see the Yanks going in that direction and there would be a backlash of epic proportions if the Yanks don’t make a significant move and miss the postseason.
Unbelievable morons. One guy is finally starting to catch on a bit and the other is still completely clueless.
They are absolutely not going to make a bug splash at the deadline and that has been clear for months.
These chumps couldn’t be more out of touch with the happenings in that Yankee Front Office.
Way to go Pete never censor the truth he knew what he was doing when he put on that shirt this morning. Pete wasnt in his hotel suite picking out Paps clothes how is it his fault for reporting what he sees?
George Steinbrenner is going to be honored on the field as part of the pre-All-Star Game festivities, The Post has learned.
The plan is to have Steinbrenner in a golf cart while a video tribute plays for him in the final season of this Yankee Stadium.
Yankees officials and Commissioner Bud Selig were insistent that Steinbrenner be able to have a spotlight moment for this momentous occasion and the anticipation is that he will receive the largest ovation of the evening.
Selig has said he put the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium this season as a way to not only honor the final year of this historic building, but to honor Steinbrenner’s 35 years as owner of the team.
Steinbrenner is not around the team in New York much any more and his health is always now a worry. But sources say he was convinced to take this final bow.
He will not throw out the first pitch, but the hope of Major League Baseball officials is that Steinbrenner’s presence in a golf cart on the field will be similar to what Ted Williams’ presence in a golf cart was before the 1999 All-Star Game at Fenway Park.
There was no plan to have all of the All-Stars come pay their respects to The Boss, but the expectation is that Yankees All-Stars Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Alex Rodriguez will come by and that Steinbrenner will be surrounded by his family.
It kind of sounds like Papelbon is doing his best to appeal to the moron element of the Boston fanbase. I don’t think anyone expects him to wear an “I heart NY” T-shirt, but the guy just seems to be going out of his way to rile everyone up.
I mean I want to knock his sphincter-like mouth onto the other side of his face as much as anyone, however let’s just ignore the wee punk. I’m sure he’ll get his comeuppance from the Yanks soon enough, as well as his other MLB peers who are witnessing (and listening to) all his nonsense.
So Papelbon chose to wear that shirt on a day when Yogi, Reggie, Goose, or other baseball luminaries might wonder in to shake hands with the players.
Fair point Pete, fair point.
That “obscene gesture” in the Bronx just happens to be the state bird of New Jersey. I see it at least once a day driving to and from work.
Jon Papelbon is definitely talented, but he needs to take a look at the list of pitchers that have closed ballgames over the last decade. There are many cautionary tales in there, and a lot more Eric Gagnes than Mariano Riveras or Trevor Hoffmans.
I look forward to an issue of SI in July 2012, “Where Are They Now”–with Papelbon back in his shack in the Louisiana swamps, “if it wasn’t for that shoulder injury in the second half in ‘08…I could have been a Hall of Famer.”
This inspires me to paraphrase Mamet and Baldwin:
“And to you, Papelbon, the ninth inning is gold, and you don’t get it. Why? Because to give it to you would be throwing it away. The ninth is for closers.”
I had enough of Papelbon earlier in the year when he did some promo spot for Fox when it was Yankees vs Red Sox. He could barely get a word out without fumbling and sounding like an idiot. Just to give some insight as to how the whole thing went down, I think he started with “MA NAME’S JONATHAN PAPELBON, AND MA FRIENDS CALL ME PAP”.
Wow.
George is going to cry.
What gesture?
Middle finger?
NEW YORK — San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum was taken to a New York City hospital Tuesday afternoon after complaining of not feeling well, a Giants spokesperson said. That same spokesperson said Lincecum was dehydrated and had flu-like symptoms.
Lincecum is in New York for the All-Star Game, but began complaining before the red carpet ride through midtown Manhattan on Tuesday. The Game is tonight in the neighboring borough of the Bronx. Lincecum will be hydrated and monitored at the hospital.
Lincecum, a 24-year-old righty in his second major league season, last pitched on Sunday, going eight innings in Chicago and beating the Cubs to run his record to 11-2 with a 2.57 ERA and 135 strikeouts. This was his first All-Star Game.
@aaron..nothing wrong with calling a jerk a jerk.
re lincecum - the cover curse?
I had enough of Papelbon earlier in the year when he did some promo spot for Fox when it was Yankees vs Red Sox. He could barely get a word out without fumbling and sounding like an idiot. Just to give some insight as to how the whole thing went down, I think he started with “MA NAME’S JONATHAN PAPELBON, AND MA FRIENDS CALL ME PAP”.
Papelbon could get a part in the remake of Deliverance.
Papelbon is disgusting. A lot of people here say they hate Red Sox players like Pedroia, Youkilis, and Manny, but in reality, they’ve never completely disrespected the Yankees like Papelbon has. I mean what has Pedroia ever done to get all the hate he does here? And besides Youkilis getting upset at balls that almost hit him, he hasn’t really done anything either… And Manny is just Manny. The guy who Yankees fans should really hate is Papelbon. He’s the disrespectful one, he’s the one trying to steal the spotlight, and he’s the one who doesn’t seem like a nice person.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/sports/baseball/16rhoden.html?_r=1&ref=baseball&oref=slogin
Willie gets an invite…
Poor Lincecum! I hope he gets well soon!
pap will be one day a yankee and he wil regret his behavors becasu bosoton wont give a big contract when he will be mid 30s but yanks will (ask johnny damon)… so PETE please tell to behave
“I mean what has Pedroia ever done to get all the hate he does here? ”
complained about hard slides into 2nd
For a franchise that produced such luminaries as Billy Martin and now employs that upright citizen Sidney Ponson, NY fans seem to have a bizarre fixation with “class.”
Gee, I wonder who is going to get the loudest boos tonight during introductions. lol
What a classless piece of trash Papelbon is.
In other words, probably most Red Sox fans’ favorite player.
“Willie gets an invite…”
That’s really cool.
I’m not sure if anyone else heard this rumor, but George Steinbrenner throwing out the first pitch tonight? That would simply be amazing.
PAPELBLOWN!!!!
he really is a strange guy. he’s even stranger than arod
D, I read he was going to be on a golf cart (I think in the last thread). My guess for first pitch = Bernie or Yogi.
“Wow, Papelbon is quickly becoming like my least favorite person, ever.”
Rebecca, he just shot up to #3 on my list.
1.Osama bin Laden
2.Hitler
3.Jon Papelbon
4.Ben Affleck
5.Craig Carton
Pete–
Can I make a request for one of those Ichiro quotes that sounds like a finely crafted piece of poetry?
I hope they get a close-up of Papeltool’s face tonight as Mo closes out the game and the crowd goes nuts.
AlexCT, at least A-Rod dresses well.
Dear Tim Lincecum:
The hot dog, roasted nut, and shawarma carts are for local New Yorkers ONLY, whose stomachs have adapted to the food over the course of decades. Out-of-towners cannot digest this cuisine, and should confine their eating to the chain restaurants in Times Square.
Enjoy your trip to an inner-city ER in summertime; perhaps Chris Russo can hold the straw in your bottle of Gatorade so that you may sip it.
Sincerely,
Guy Incognito
LOL. The trolls can’t handle the Pap-hate.
Paps has like a 9th grade education what would you expect?
Dude is just a Big Chooche!
Clay Buchholz stole my laptop (aka Joe)
sorry but no humen being should ever be in the same sentence as hitler!
i was offened by that. and i too hate papalblown!
Wow, I might just watch this all star game only to see The Boss….
mel, basically, he’s a d@uche. the differences between the way mo represents himself and his organization, and the way papelbon represents himself and his organization, are amazing. and very telling.
“D, I read he was going to be on a golf cart (I think in the last thread). My guess for first pitch = Bernie or Yogi.”
Ah, that makes sense. Bernie or Yogi would be cool. Maybe they’ll do the thing where a number of people throw it at once. If they do that, I think Papelbon should be once of those people. Afterall, he did win a World Series.
Clay Buchholz stole my laptop (aka Joe)
“sorry but no humen being should ever be in the same sentence as hitler!
i was offened by that. and i too hate papalblown!”
Al,
It’s not like I put Papelbon on the list above Hitler. Hitler is still worse.
Seriously, though. I am sorry that I offended you. I apologize.
Pete has a man-crush on Paps. Either that or he is extremely jealous. He is all Pete talks about these days.
Lincecum is probably wasted or really hung over.
The problem wasn’t with Papelbon saying he wanted to close. That’s normal.
It’s the way he said it. Saying he deserved to close b/c his manager was managing the All-Star game. “…and Mariano by what he’s done for this role, we’re in Yankee Stadium and blah, blah, blah,” Papelbon said.
That last quote was what really bothered me. It’s the things he says that are classless. Not the fact that he wants to close the game… that’s just competitiveness.
Guy Incognito gets the award for making me laugh in this thread the most… well done!
Let the fans throw the first pitch. Put Papelbon on the mound and have 55,000 fans throw balls at him.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/07152008/sports/yankees/george_steinbrenner_to_get_pregame_honor_120039.htm
seems boss will get his respect for bringing respect to the house that ruth built
D - ha. and i thought that thing on his hand during the parade was a ring pop.
quick, someone go buy paps a hot dog from a cart. shawarma and roasted nuts, too.
Papelbon and C-Rod would make a pair or at the least, their t-shirts!
Funny line about Papelbon trying to get a date with Cynthia.
The Red Sox are nothing if not colorful. A mustache is what passes for color on the Yankees.
papelbum is just trying to get attention
but no 1st pitch
hope torre will
Sox Fans and Players still can’t just enjoy there recent success, they always need to keep up the BS. You would think after winning 4 Rings…Ooops 3 Rings and 1-ribbon, that they would just friggin relax already and appreciate tonights game for what it really is, a tribute to the Greatest Franchise in Sports History!
What’s a shawarma?
I really doubt it will be Bernie. I read that he was set to perform at an All-Star Game event on Sunday night and he very pointedly said that he was there by invitation of MLB, not the Yankees; he seemed to be implying that if the Yankees had invited him, he would have turned it down. Unfortunately, it looks like there’s still a lot of bad blood there.
Pap is probably a great guy. Other players love to be around him, despite how he’s being trashed on this site.
I cannot see Bernie throwing out the first pitch. It would have to be someone with a longer history, like Yogi and/or Whitey Ford or a combination of the two. Bernie would be more appropriate at another time, but not the All Star Game.
George Steinbrenner doing it would be a nice touch, also.
Papelbon obviously does not “get it.” Too bad for him. He’s certainly no ambassador of the game. But he’s already gotten far too much attention here, no? So, in a way, we are all accomplices…
mel, a shawarma is actually quite delicious. it’s a middle eastern wrap sandwich. usually made with chicken. i dont want to generalize too much, but it’s like a middle eastern burrito.
Wow, does Papsmear need a binky or something?
As a Sox fan I must confess that I am embarassed by Papelbon’s antics at the all star game this year.
Perhaps he should focus on closing something besides the game this evening!
rb,
Thanks, I was pretty close. I was thinking Shah-warmer.
a fan would have to remove that shirt or turn it inside out, i believe… should the clubhouse be any different?
welcome to the dark side, ray. you know you want to…
ray,
you’re wearing the boxers, right?
Wow. Wait ’til Bernabe finds out that Willie got invited to sit in one of the owner’s boxes!
Before I leave work, just want to say Go Yankees and I hope everyone else falls flat on their faces tonight. Who cares if the AL loses. If we make it to the WS, we already have a winning road record!
Doreen
I said Whitey throwing to Yogi this afternoon. Yanks need to show appreciation for the Legends while they still can.
Heed to this Pete, you got problems of your own…..
More often than not, I can only see your posting and not the comments section after the advertisement. I have to refresh multiple times. Is this your ploy in trying to increase the # of hits? Either that or the advertisement is really slowing down this site.
Willie should bring Bernie as his +1
pat -
Ah, that was you who said that! I’m with you. That woudl be too perfect. Time is really running short, these days, you know. I don’t expect George, Whitey or Yogi to be with us for too much longer. Sad to say, that’s one of the thoughts I had when Bobby left us.
rb15 and mel
Not fair…you guys are joining forces!
Well Said RAY
Ray, you’re already a member of the family.
A black sheep, sure, but still a member.
ray,
Resistance is futile…you are getting very sleepy…Don’t forget to order your blue American League uni personalized with “ray (sox fan)”…
come on ray… join us. [said in creepy brainwashed pod-people voice]
“Pap is probably a great guy. Other players love to be around him, despite how he’s being trashed on this site.”
Pap is getting a richly deserved trashing on this site for his arrogance, as in his statements yesterday about closing the All Star Game (which he tried to soften today) and his classless choice of clothes. If other players love arrogance, that’s up to them, I suppose.
“Scott
July 15th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Pap is probably a great guy. Other players love to be around him, despite how he’s being trashed on this site.”
That may very well be. But I haven’t heard anything good or bad in terms of how “other players” feel about him. There is still no excuse for wearing that shirt though.
It’s good to see that the little dust mite at 2nd base will be able to combine some work with pleasure while in NY.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD_bqXMO5aY
Papelbon’s team might have won a couple baseball games last year but he seems like a major loser.
Bad news about Matsui and Johnny. My first reaction is to blame age, but then Phil Hughes and IPK have also been injured. I was so hoping Matsui could be the DH for the ASG
I also can’t believe Ben Sheet is starting for the NL meanwhile our very own CMW or Moose couldn’t make the team. It sucks all around. I hope we’re just getting all the bad luck out of the way with now and will have great luck from this point on to Oct.
Anyone at the parade?
Ichiro looked like a rock star
Arod looked really happy and got the most love
Jeter was Jeter - Mo was Mo
Papi got respect - so did Francona
Papel did not (he was the last of the AL guys)
Varitek and the rest nothin special
Was Manny there????
Reggie was really into it and so was Cal
I left after David Wight passed
Take a chance on Sexson
pap is a piece of sh*t
Oh and Hamilton was well recieved as well.
Ray
Assimilate into the BORG
When does Hamilton become a FA? How could he not fall in love with New York after last night’s response to him?
mel: Not soon enough.
You guys are killing me here…lol
The simple explanation of Papelbon is he mirrors the city he represents.
Josh Hamilton is a free agent in 3 years.
Hamilton got a huge ovation at the start of the parade and people were yelling “Come to NY”.
Let’s not forget about Papelbon’s idiocy before this weekend… How about the incedent last year where he let his dog destroy the final pitch of the World Series baseball? He thought it was cute and funny, but in reality, that ball could have drawn TONS of money for charity or meant a lot to another player who respects the game. It just shows how he’s a true idiot. He shouldn’t have ever said his dog ate it, even if he did eat it.
I don’t think Hamilton would be a good fit in NY. Way too many ways to get in trouble.
Is the parade on TV? Anyone know which channel?
Mel, I was thinking the exact same thing last night about Josh Hamilton. But it’ll be a while before he is an FA.
The Papelboner probably got a good talkin’ to from Terry Francona. If he didn’t he shoulda. Even if he was having a better year than Mo this year, which he’s not, it’s still Mo’s house.
Now if Mo was blowing more saves than he was making, and had a 4+ ERA, then maybe he’d have a leg to stand on. But Mo’s rockin so the Littleboner best be shuttin’ his verb orifice.
Francona, I believe, will do the right thing and pitch Papelbon in the 8th then bring Mo in for the 9th.
It would be sweet if he just sits Flatu-bon for being such a butt plug with a spiked knob on it. Or if he brings the butt plug in to pitch the 6th, or pitches him in the 8th but has Mo come in with 2 outs & has Papelbon hand the ball to Mo while Sandman is blasting on the loud speakers. Francona would get an applause for doing any of these.
Ray, you already admit you’re confused, you’ve taken the first step. Just eleven more to go.
DFox - yeah, and he has too many ways to hit baseballs into orbit too.
Papelbon is a John Rocker wannabe.
ha, rebecca.
come to the darkside ray. You know ya wanna. We have cookies!
DFox, there are definitely more actions overall in NY, but when it comes to drugs, I don’t think it makes much difference whether he’s in a big city or a small town. Addicts are the most determined people in the world. If they want a hit, they’ll find a way regardless of where they are.
I bet Papelbon was trying to avoid a Mienkiewicz fiasco (wow did I spell that right?) so he kept the world series ball and used the ‘my dog ate it’ story as a diversion.
The butt plug.
Don Larsen to Yogi Berra for the first pitch?
Hello..my name is ray and I am a Redsoxaholic. S.A., rb15, mel, and Rebecca>>>> all say hello ray!
Question - is it possible for me to despise the little sperm that got away, that would be Papelbon, more than I did yesterday?
Answer: That would be such a yes there couldn’t be a bigger yes if it tried.
Note to Yankee clubhouse attendants: please fumigate every square inch where that fungus placed his ugly carcass.
Thank you.
So if Josh Hamilton is ever on a team that makes the playoffs what is he going to do when everyone pops champagne? That would kind of suck for him, he’d have to go off by himself. What if a teamatte was ignorant of his situation and sprayed him with champagne?
Lambshop Louie
You know, I really DO see the resemblance between Papel(insert foul word here) and John Rocker. Maybe they have the same uncledaddy.
ooh, rob, i like.
I guess for Terry Francona, the best case scenario is that the AL is winning by a lot and there is really no need for a “closer,” per se, and then he can bring in K-Rod, Papelbon and then Mo in the top of the 9th, because it won’t really matter, and he can be magnanimous and let Mo be the last pitcher on the mound.
Otherwise, I’d had to be Terry Francona tonight and make the “wrong” move. The argument Rob Dibble and Billy Ripken were making was that Francona’s guy is Papelbon and he (Francona) has earned the right to use his guy because his team won the WS last season. Kevin Kennedy disagreed and said Mariano is the best closer in baseball, and there’s no doubt Mo should be the closer. And then someone brought up that K-Rod thinks he should close because he’s got the most saves in the AL so far this season. Listen, it’s not all that easy and it’s not all that cut-and-dried, and like I said, I’m glad I’m not Terry Francona. Dibs and Ripken both agreed that although the game is at Yankee Stadium, and they are honoring THE STADIUM, the ASG really is not about the Yankees, and I have to say, they have a good point.
My thing is that Papelbon has blown a few saves this year, and so has K-Rod, and so, don’t you want the surest guy on the mound to close? And that would be who?
Papelbon’s daddy shoulda pulled out.
Dee
Fox at 7 for the parade.
“I don’t think Hamilton would be a good fit in NY. Way too many ways to get in trouble.”
there’s a city in america that doesn’t have a drug problem?
Papelbon graces Boston like no other athlete.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu43lbTrvOQ
OK, sorry everyone I’ve been dumbing it down a little too much. I gotta finish work then go home.
Papelbon’s a real butt pipe.
Sorry.
Couldn’t help it.
Must be my Tourette’s.
Either that or Papelitis somehow became my role model.
OK I’ll take my meds now.
Thanks Pat!
So excited about 1st pitch. if I had to guess I’d say Yogi, but not sure. I just hope it’s not the president or some other famous people who have nothing to do with baseball.
I don’t think I’ve ever hated another player as much as I hate Paplebon. If he was hurt and could never throw another pitch again, I would have a huge smile on my face and that would make me very, very happy.
How about Andy Hawkins throwing out the first pitch to Bob Geren?
“My thing is that Papelbon has blown a few saves this year, and so has K-Rod, and so, don’t you want the surest guy on the mound to close? And that would be who?”
Thats what it comes down to IMO. This is the 2008 all-star game, what players did in 2007 regular season or post season shouldn’t matter. Mariano has been the best closer in 2008 so he should close the all-star game.
“there’s a city in america that doesn’t have a drug problem?”
There’s no city in the world that has a night life like NY, or is like NY. And from what they said yesterday, that he doesn’t even trust himself when he does ANYTHING, and has to bring his friend with him to make sure he doesn’t get in trouble, you don’t see any problem with NY? Parties, wild nightlife, lots of clubs, etc. For someone who has no trust in himself I doubt he would come to NY, but I’d love him to if he thinks he can handle it.
“For someone who has no trust in himself I doubt he would come to NY, but I’d love him to if he thinks he can handle it.”
Yeah I wish he was on the Yankees but I doubt it will happen.
Do you guys realize that Hamilton was almost as good a pitcher as he is a hitter? In high school he could throw 96, and don’t forget, he’s a lefty. He could be one of the most talented players in decades, hopefully he can continue living up to that potential.
and to think that papelbon went to that “prestigious” catholic high school in jax….they pride themselves on sportsmanship and courtesy; oh how one must love BKHS kids
Did someone already post Francona’s press conference explanation for why he didn’t choose Mo to start? He called Mo the “greatest reliever of all time” so Mo will definitely be closing tonight.
Just saw Papelbon on the news. He said the NY papers misquoted him.
Papelbon just passed Billy Cooksey (Sam from Diff’rent Strokes) on my least favorite person list.
Papelbum should not even be mentioned in the same sentence with Mo, the comparison is a joke. I don’t care if the game is being played in NY, Calif. or in Alaska Mo should be closing. Mo has been the best closer in baseball for 12 years now!! What has that bum done that compares to Mo’s career? He is not even the 2nd best reliever on the team..Nathan is. You dont hear anyone else complaining and throwing a hissy fit about it, then again no one would be so stupid to say the things that he does. Let Papelbum do it for another 3-4 years and then we can talk.
we know what we feel about papelbon, youkillis, pedroia varitek,and beckett.
now if cashman could take it personal the way we do about these guys maybe he’d get serious about trying to beat them .
… because it is personal. we really don’t like them.
i realize i’m taking liberties with “we”, but i think most yankee fans feel the same way about these players. they really do need to be beat to take away some of the false arrogance they carry around.
nothing better than winning #27 asap.
Justice would be for Papelbon to get hit hard (the pitches he makes, not fists flying) and out of the game quickly.
“now if cashman could take it personal”
Yes. The yankees are losing because Cashman doesn’t hate Kevin Youkilis enough. It’s not because Wang, ARod, Posada, Damon, and Matsui have all missed significant playing time. In addition to the drastic underperformance of Jeter, Abreu and Cano. In addition to the ineffectiveness and injury of three of the team’s most promising young pitchers.
“For someone who has no trust in himself I doubt he would come to NY, but I’d love him to if he thinks he can handle it.”
he’s the closest i can remember seeing over the years to mantle. the yankees have a strong support system if a player wants to use it. i would love to see hamilton play on the big stage.
he looks made for yankee stadium.
Papelbon said that all the New York beat writers misquoted him? That explains the t-shirt.
What about espn? They wrote the same thing.
Conspiracy. Paranoia.
I don’t think NY is as dangerous or full of temptations as often perceived. It is well-documented that NYC has a much lower teen pregnancy and drug addiction rate compared to small town USA.
Papelbon is doing the ol’ politician thing, deny - deny - deny.
What would really be priceless is for his “cold - blooded stare” to be up on the jumbotron and the whole place just starts laughing.
Just read that Papelbon and his wife are expecting their first child.
Oh god.
“NYC has a much lower teen pregnancy and drug addiction rate compared to small town USA.”
That would be great if Hamilton was a teen girl or someone who hadn’t already been addicted to drugs, alcohol, etc. Look, I’d LOVE to see him here also, but I’m not going to pretend that NY is the best place for him.
On a different note, did anyone just here Joe Nathan on the Michael Kay show? That’s how a player should conduct themselves. He’s such a nice guy. I know people who have met him and they say the same. Papelbon should try to follow him as an example.
Paplebon was jesturing to Pete on his imbecile columns he wrote about him. LOL
“What about espn? They wrote the same thing.”
He should use the Clemens Defense. The writers must have all misremembered what he said.
Dee’s correct about small town USA. My feeling about NYC being not right for Hamilton has more to do with the intense pressure here, where there is no escape from the media and the tabloids. The newspapers, I think, would be on his side since he seems to be accessible to a degree. But don’t you think that if he were here there would be people who would make it their business to make life miserable for him? It’s just that kind of place. Sometimes NYC likes to knock people down, chew them up and spit them out.
And the people who would want a piece of Josh Hamilton, can you imagine that? Maybe at some point, he’d think he could handle it. But I have a feeling that small doses like last night probably are enough. Or for the better, anyway.
Then again, I’m not Josh Hamilton and I shouldn’t presume to speak for him or his situation.
It’s going to be sweet seeing Varitek hitting the game winning homer and Paps closing the 8′th with 3 straight K’s.
Of course you guys would still have something negative to say with Pete leading the way.
“Yes. The yankees are losing because Cashman doesn’t hate Kevin Youkilis enough. ”
whozat-
that’s right. he runs the yankees without passion. you like that because you’re into the cerebral stat side of the game, but that’s not where the game is played. it’s played on the field and if losing to the red sox doesn’t feel like eating dirt to a player or management personnel than that person isn’t really a yankee.
you think i’m a pain in the #$$$@, and i think you are with your pompous know it all phd attitude when you’ve probably never set foot on a pro baseball field that you didn’t pay to be on.
but that emotion and dislike between us makes for competition and sparks debate. may the best ideas win.
if cashman took that attitude of dislike with the red sox maybe the yankees would have some fire to them instead of just going through the motions.
actually if cashman had some of your intensity, as misguided as it is, he’d be better off and so would the yankees.
Very few of the players actually live in NYC. Most live in the suburbs in Westchester County or Northern NJ.
Joe
Can only speak for me but once the game starts, rivalries take a back seat to winning.
“if cashman took that attitude of dislike with the red sox maybe the yankees would have some fire to them instead of just going through the motions.”
You think the General Manager’s emotional state would impact the on-the-field attitude of the team? Seriously?
If Cashman hated Youkilis, Jeter and Abreu would get on base more often? ARod and Giambi would hit better with RISP? Melky and Cano wouldn’t make an out 70% of the time? Are you kidding me?
““NYC has a much lower teen pregnancy and drug addiction rate compared to small town USA.”
That would be great if Hamilton was a teen girl or someone who hadn’t already been addicted to drugs, alcohol, etc.”
My point is it’s a misconception that one can have much easier access to drugs in NYC than in other places in the country. Hamilton is with the Texas Rangers. Plano, TX a few years ago was reported to have the highest teen heroin addiction rate in the country. Sure Hamilton is not a teen, but if a 13 year old can easily access heroin, what does that mean for a major leaguer with money?
“if cashman took that attitude of dislike with the red sox maybe the yankees would have some fire to them instead of just going through the motions.”
Let’s turn this around for a minute. You must think that, because the Red Sox have won world series in the last couple years, Theo Epstein embodies these values of which you speak.
So…you think the Red Sox have won because THEO hates Derek Jeter and other Yankee players. Because Theo takes it personally when the Sox lose to the Yankees…and that somehow guides his player acquisition strategy? Or that he somehow makes the players he has perform better because HE gets personally upset when they lose to the Yanks?
Do you understand how ludicrous that sounds? You’re the one who has this idea that the Sox are a better run organization that the Yankees, that they make better business decisions in terms of player acquisition, retention, and development.
I challenge you to find me a businessperson that says it’s a good idea to make organizational decisions based on emotional responses.
whozat-
john henry and lucchino like nothing better than sticking it to the yankees.
it is a major motivation with them.
Pete - The Globe did a pretty convincing job of reporting that Papelbon said that Rivera should close. http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2008/07/tabloid_takes_s.html
I think the more reasonable explanation for what he said is basically to some reporters he argued that he is a good closer and is competitive and doesn’t step aside for people, and then when he realized that tabloids would report that incorrectly/simplistically, he explained himself in no uncertain terms.
FWIW, I don’t like or dislike players as individuals. That isn’t a part of baseball I enjoy. I try not to judge people, esp those I do not know.
Man what a bunch of whiners.
“I challenge you to find me a businessperson that says it’s a good idea to make organizational decisions based on emotional responses.”
whozat-
no, bill gates or larry ellison or steve jobs never let their emotions affect how they fought each other.
of course business people get fired up when they are getting their butt kicked by a competitor they don’t like.
with theo i will give you that he is probably the more rational of the red sox management troika but he is a red sox fan at heart. he doesn’t like the yankees and never has.
the thing with emotions is that you have to channel them and use them to your advantage, but the emotion has to be there. maybe not in the academic world but in both sports and business world.( and the academic world is probably more cut throat than i think)
cashman just doesn’t have that fire that is necessary to run an organization. he’s a good person to have as a team member , but not as the ceo or in baseball. the gm.
whozat/randy l.,
From a mediator’s standpoint, I gotta say this:
Randy, running a team via emotional response is a recipe for disaster. In a sense, wasn’t that what Steinbrenner was doing by pulling all these All Stars in and decimating our farm?
It does feel like eating dirt when the Sox beat the Yankees. It makes me cringe and I am sure Cashman doesn’t enjoy it either.
Sure, Sox management loves sticking it to the Yankees and vice versa, but not at the expense of making a poor business decision.
whozat,
It is fair to argue that the Sox have made better personnel decisions over the past few years than the Yankees have. Or rather, that the Yankees were paying for past mistakes. I think Epstein caught on to the “Billy Beane Perpetuate the Farm + Spending Spree = World Title” theory faster than the Yankees have. Is that Cash’s fault? Not necessarily. In fact, its probably the ownership’s fault.
whozat-
surely we agree on what murphydog in his inimitable way said about papelbon.
“Paps is a punk.”
i’m just saying channel the dislike and take away the swagger that papelbon has.
NEW YORK (AP)—Hideki Matsui’s left knee swelled, increasing the possibility he will need season-ending surgery and perhaps giving the New York Yankees reason to contemplate signing Barry Bonds.
General manager Brian Cashman said Tuesday that Matsui was running out of options to rehabilitate his knee, which has sidelined him since June 22 and kept him from playing the outfield since June 15.
Cashman rarely rules out any options, so he wouldn’t exclude adding Bonds, who has offered to play at the minimum salary but has been shunned by all 30 major league teams this year. Cashman’s answer to a question on the field before the All-Star game, however, was intriguing.
“I would say any rampant speculation on us involving a player of that magnitude would be extremely premature,” Cashman said. “I would caution everybody to not misunderstand that since I’m not saying no to it, that that means, `Oh my gosh, that that might be happening down the line.’ It’s not something we’re focused on at this point. We’re focused on getting Hideki Matsui back rather than, you know, what we’re going to do if he’s not back.”
Richie Sexson, released by Seattle last week, could be another option for the Yankees, short-handed because of injuries to Matsui and Johnny Damon.
“I’m not going to tell you if we’re pursuing him or not,” Cashman said. “I’m sure he’s evaluating whatever his choices are.”
Matsui will travel to New York from the team’s complex in Tampa, Fla., and is expected to be examined by team doctors Friday. His return this season appears increasingly unlikely.
“It’s a setback,” Cashman said. “The doctors may have a few more tricks up their sleeves, but if they run out of those tricks eventually and it’s not responding, then surgery is the last resort.”
Matsui did not hit Tuesday. The Yankees had hoped he might be ready to return when he’s eligible to come off the disabled list on Friday.
“Perhaps you can say so, it’s a short-term setback,” Matsui said through a translator at the Yankees’ minor league complex. “You try, believing that you’re going to be able to go back this season. If it comes to the point where I have to decide surgery, then that’s that.”
Damon, eligible to be activated Sunday, continues to have soreness in his injured left shoulder, and probably won’t start hitting off a tee until at least late this week. He underwent treatment only on Tuesday.
“It feels a little better today,” Damon said. “It still feels horrible waking up. I’m still kind of down because I know (Yankees manager Joe) Girardi wants to put me in the lineup on Sunday and I’m not sure we can do that.”
Cashman also said right-hander Chien-Ming Wang (injured foot) won’t return until September at the earliest.
“The margin for error is very short on him,” Cashman said. “We have to expect that he’s not coming back even though it’s possible that he will.”
Notes
Eric Milton, signed to a minor league contract, threw 25 pitches in his first bullpen session. The left-hander had elbow ligament replacement surgery in June 2007. “This is kind of like taking a flyer,” Cashman said. “That could be something that becomes interesting or it could be a non-story.” … RHP Brian Bruney (injured foot) will report to Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre as he keeps up his rehab. He will need several outings before rejoining the Yankees.
AP freelance writer Mark Didtler in Tampa, Fla., contributed to this report.
wth paps? He said “i rather be in the popemobile-with the bullet proof shield” Wow! And when they asked” last 2 guys in the ‘pen, will it be u or Mariano, he said” we’ll see” wow, U SUCK
Paps has really moved up the hated list in New York lately.
The Mad Prince in Pinstripes-
how about being so ticked off it motivates you to get really rational?
A Papelbon’s response. http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view/2008_07_15_Irate_Papelbon_fires_high_heat_at_NY_tabloid/srvc=sports&position=0
Seems like that should have been somewhat easy to figure out from “Inside the American League Clubhouse.”
And more details of his pregnant wife being yelled at during an all-star parade.
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2008/07/paps_peeved_at.html