99 problems and a loss ain’t one
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Aug 13, 2008 
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The Yankees were listening to 99 Problems by Jay-Z when the clubhouse opened to the media tonight. It was the first time in what like seemed like forever that the boys were enjoying themselves after a game.
Let’s admit it: A loss tonight would have put the kibosh on the season. On the day Hank Steinbrenner declared the Yankees would win it all next season, a walk-off loss against the Twins would have been devastating.
(By the way, can Hank wait until next season before saying that? Seriously, it was the earliest nutty prediction in sports history.)
Instead Jose Veras was perfect for two innings and A-Rod crushed No. 545. Then the greatest Yankee ever, Xavier Nady, drilled one off the recessed football bleachers.
Cue Jay-Z and now they have a chance to win a series for the first time since Fenway Park back on July 25-27.
On a night that a victory was denied him, Mike Mussina put it best.
“We haven’t been playing well,†he said. “For us to find a way to win that game is a big deal.â€
(By the way, 99 Problems is a great song, albeit a little obscene. So when the media crowd started to gather around the Moose, Andy Pettitte turned it down. Classy guy that Andy Pettitte. Yo, people from YES, thank the big lefty for saving you there.)
Pete,
Hank made that statement so you writers will get off his boy, Girardi’s back.
dude, i can not believe you went the whole day without mentioning the fact that springsteen is going to be the super bowl halftime entertainment. i’m shocked.
Crawdaddie: How does predicting a third place team will win the world series next season ease the pressure off the manager?
“By the way, can Hank wait until next season before saying that? Seriously, it was the earliest nutty prediction in sports history.”
Hmmmm…a big mouth, trash talking owner, now who does that remind me of???
The apple don’t fall from the tree, do it Pete?
Was it the dirty or clean version? 99 problems but a chick ain’t one isn’t really obscene.
I heard on espn radio that the D-backs are sending Owings to Cincy for Dunn.
If that’s true, it’s a little puzzling. Has Owings’ star faded? Quick check shows it has.
Still something about Owings having to clear waivers first. Per mlb.com
I hope the players were personally insulted by Hank’s comments. If it wakes them out of their coma all the better. Still pretty strange to have a team owner talk so much. Maybe not. Jerry Jones, Mark Cuban…
A loss tonight would have put the kibosh on the season.
This is irresponsible “journalism”. Okay, it’s your blog; I guess it’s not held to the same standards as the paper. (Which would explain your penchant for making up some of the weirdest stuff – not to mention your incessant and immature unprovoked attacks on Girardi and a handful of certain players.)
But it’s still a ridiculous statement.
I’m not predicting a Division or WC title for our team (you referred to the Yanks as “your team” yesterday when it suited you), but with 42 games left anything can happen. All it takes is one good week while the Sox and Minnesota have a bad week — and then suddenly we’re talking about the playoffs again. (and the Angels… ugh.)
WTF,
I can see Pete’s point. The chasm between a loss today and a win today is pretty vast.
But yeah, I could live with a little less fatalism.
What was with Moose early on? The Twins were jumping all over his offerings.
WTF:
For starters, don’t post as WTF. Keep it clean.
Secondly, I didn’t write the phrase “your team” once all day. Or my team or anybody’s team. You sure you were reading my blog?
And what weird stuff was I making up? I assume like other tightly wound folks, you mistake some sarcasm for me being serious.
As for whether a loss would have killed the season, it’s an opinion. I’m not sure how that is “irresponsible journalism.”
Relax dude, it’s just baseball. Take a valium.
“As for the Yankees, I’m fresh out of stuff to report to you. Your squad’s in trouble, but you knew that already. Unless they figure it out pretty soon, Sept. 21 will be closing time at Yankee Stadium.”
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/200.....m-gate-26/
I think everyone’s been a little ‘tightly wound’ since this awful run began, bloggers and posters alike.
It’s too bad Phil Hughes will need another start in the minors before getting called up.
Tonights arod homerun might of saved the season but if we got out and lose tomorrow it doesn’t help at all we need to build on this and make it 2 in a row then try and beat the royals if we can do that were prob back on track
RayBlay,
Thanks. Now I have that inane song “Closing Time” running through my head.
And yeah, the 4 losses streak made everyone turn into crankypants.
I don’t get it, is not your squad? Who’s is it then?
I don’t understand it. But that’s fine. I’m going to sleep anyway. Thanks for reading, all.
Now is someone going to jump down Pete’s throat for suggesting someone take unprescribed medication?
That would be par for the course.
Oh, and wouldn’t it be funny if CC signed with the Dodgers and Moose and Pettitte both retired and then Hank came out and said “never mind”?
“Now I have that inane song “Closing Time†running through my head.”
Ha, that was like my elementary school graduation song. Great song, they should play it after the final game of the WS at Yankee stadium when FOX is signing off.
OUR squad… You’re one of us Pete, you just happen to get paid to be a Yankee fan…
Pete,
Let me translate. Yesterday you said, “blah, blah, blah about your team.” WT thinks you’re a fair weather writer and that you’re writing them off too soon.
But we know you root for stories and players, not for teams.
WT, we settled this a loooong time ago.
Like Kareem Abdul Jabbar did with Pat Riley in 1988 after the Lakers won their second NBA title in a row, somebody needs to stick a wet sweaty towel in Hank’s mouth!
DFox,
That song came out like 5 years ago. Please tell me that you’re a teacher and not a student.
“Great song, they should play it after the final game of the WS at Yankee stadium when FOX is signing off.”
Ever the optimist. ‘Cos you know ESPN isn’t playing it on Sept. 21.
Pepitone,
Any word on Bynum? Oden worked out today. Our opener is against the Blazers.
“That song came out like 5 years ago. Please tell me that you’re a teacher and not a student.”
If we’re talking about the same song, by Semisonic, then boy, does time fly
Try TEN years ago. I was a student, I’m 18 now so I must have been about 9 or 10 I think then.
“OUR squad… You’re one of us Pete, you just happen to get paid to be a Yankee fan…”
wrong. he’s paid to cover the yankees for a newspaper, not root for them. pete’s made it pretty clear on this blog several times that he’s more a fan of individual players than he is any baseball team.
dude’s a pats fan, not a yanks fan.
“Ever the optimist. ‘Cos you know ESPN isn’t playing it on Sept. 21.”
Haha, that would be such an unfitting way for it to come to an end.
Actually no, it could be good if they play “Closing Time” then Nick, but instead Peter Gammons and Dustin Pedroia can be singing it!!! Now THAT would be fitting.
“Oden worked out today. Our opener is against the Blazers.”
oden’s out of shape. which was to be expected. he’s also the world’s oldest 20-year-old. dude looks like bill russell. like, 2008 bill russell.
DFox,
Yes, that’s the song and they still play it. Or it’s still playing in my head.
You’re only 18? My lord. Freshman?
“You’re only 18? My lord. Freshman?”
Yeah, I start college in a few weeks.
“a big deal” = Moose’s favorite phrase ever
“Let’s admit it: A loss tonight would have put the kibosh on the season.”
I don’t agree with this. Regardless of whether the Yankees won or lost this one game, their playoff chances wouldn’t have changed much. Coming in to the game, the odds of the Yanks making the playoffs is slim, I’d say about 10%. Their chances are a bit better now, but not by much. If they lost, their chances would be a bit worse, but not by much.
Thats awesome, one of the best Jay-Z songs. And 10% chance? lol theres like 40 somethin games left 5 back is nothin, hell they can comeback from 8 down now that the Rays have some key injuries.
99 problems but a pitch aint one.
If the Yanks do end it up on 09/21 there is actually a Frank Sinatra song ” there used to be a ballpark here” that would be the perfect sign off for the stadium
That was actually a clutch homerun by A-Rod. It redeemed what would have been a devastating loss on a number of levels. If the Rangers could play at Fenway it could have been a good night
Pete, you say this blog should be clean but everyday I see that stuart poster call people “s tupid MORONS”…how’s that keeping it clean?
folks getting nitpicky on Pete’s verbiage, just what i wanted to read today
so was it the version of 99 problems from the grey album? that album rules.
I happen to agree that a loss last night would have done in the season last night. That’s just how it felt. As it is, I’m annoyed that Moose didn’t get the win, but I can’t get too mad since Mariano rarely ever blows saves, especially not like that. It was frustrating enough when Boston still managed to beat Texas. Damn they have no pitching whatsoever (Texas, I mean).
saucY said it before I could. “The Grey Album” version of “99 Problems” is amazing.
(It’s DJ Dangermouse of Gnarls Barkley. He mized up Jay-Z’s Black Album with the Beatles’ White Album. “99″ is mashed-up mainly with the riffs from “Helter Skelter”. And it is awesome.)
testing