Today in The Journal News
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 20, 2009 
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A.J. Burnett is adopting some new ways of thinking about baseball And Al Leiter approves. Burnett was a little wild last night but hung in there.
Robinson Cano is ready to get back to second base. This notebook also has updates on Joba Chamberlain, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Chien-Ming Wang, Melky Cabrera, Phil Coke and Hideki Matsui.
OTHER LINKS TO NOTE:
A bunch of us got to talking yesterday about baseball players we follow because of a particular connection to our lives. The discussion was part of this post if you want to check it out.
It was one of those fun discussions that sprung up suddenly. It’s a good example of the great community we have on this blog.
I have no idea who Bald Vinny is. But the Voice of Yankee Universe blog did an interview with him. Bald Vinny sounds like somebody not to cross, so I’m providing a link.
It was great to see AJ deal with a tough outing. I think he’ll haev a huge season in the Bronx. I’m also high on Robbie having a big season. I may start every season optimistic, but I believe my own BS a bit more this year…
Bald Vinny is the guy who starts every roll call. I guess he’s the de facto leader of the Bleacher Creatures. How’d you not know that one?
anyone who calls himself the ‘voice of the bleacher creatures’ is an a-hole
Anyone who’s at almost every Yankee game and doesn’t know who Bald Vinnie is MUST be sitting in the press box!
Pete,
How do you or any dedicated die-hard Yankee fam not know who Bald Vinny is??? He is like, THE Bleacher Creature..
He’s the person you here yell “Hey Johnny (or Melky or who ever is in center)” right before the roll call starts.
He sits in te center of the Bleacher Creaturesn is bald, as his name states, and where’s black sunglasses to every game even at night.
Pete, you really need to read up on your Bleacher Creature history.
If the Yanks are showcasing Melky for the purposes of trading him as you suggest, I hope it’s not so they can obtain another CF’er.
Gardner has earned the spot with a great spring. He’s improved his game in the areas the Yanks needed him to improve. He also gives the team added dimension they lack in – speed, defense, and grit.
On top of that the team has A. Jackson waiting in the wings. The Yankees have made a lot of mistakes in the past in picking up older players on the downside of their careers only to be disappointed with their play and stuck with the big contract.
Is it going to be deja vu all over again with Mike Cameron? Say it ain’t so, Joe.
How’s it that numerous players have referred to Bald Vinnie in interviews and you, who’s covered the Yanks for all these years, don’t know who leads the roll call? I love your blog and all, but get the heck out of the press box and in with the fans…
Thurm:
I’ve been covering the Yankees since 2005 and have never once heard a player refer to any fan by his or her name.
Meanwhile, I have a bunch of deadlines I need to meet every night when I work. I literally do not have the time to go sit in the stands. Whenever my paper does a story regarding fans (including the bleacher creatures), somebody else usually does it because I’m busy covering the team. That’s just how it works.
My job is to get my stories done and update my blog. I wish I had time to sit in the stands for a while. And when I get a day off, I try and hang with my friends and family and not go to the stadium.
BPs better looking brother -
How do you measure GRIT?
Bald Vinnie was on the first season of the Yankee Ultimate Road Trip Show on YES…being a bleacher creature they figured he was perfect for the show. He also has the Bleacher Creature and Boston Sucks T-shirt concession outside the Stadium. I see him every time I go to games.
He’s very well known among Yankee fans …
Go Yankees 2009 !!!
raym
if u don’t know what it is i guess there’s no barometer or yardstick that’s going to help u with that.
Funny story.
After the Pope performed his mass at Yankee Stadium, Cardinal Egan was chatting with Bald Vinny. The Pope was overheard asking one of his aides, “who’s the guy with Bald Vinny.”
Bald Vinny even made it on to YES’s first season of that Road Trip show… he’s a die hard, sells t-shirts over on river ave and sits in right field every game ive seen.
he was the guy who organized the tuxedo role call at the all star game.
also pete, no reason to get defensive… we all know you are a beat writer and not a fan. you do your job to know the team.
I always get Bald Vinny mixed up with Bold Vinny and Bad Vinny.
Then when you throw in the Bleacher Vincents, it really gets confusing.
Maybe the box seat folks can start a beat writer roll call.
PA’s name does have five syllables. ooh…A roll callers dream.
Vinny is the man. I only sat in Section 39 a few times at the old Stadium, but despite the reputation all those guys are actually really nice. Or at least as long as you’re not wearing any Mets/Red Sox gear.
Cool interview with Bald Vinnie. Thanks for the link. I’ve sat in the same seat at Yankee Stadium for 26 years and hadn’t heard of Bald Vinnie until now. You’re not alone, Pete.
anyone who saw yes ultimate road trip 1 knows who bald vinnie it, check it out
Bald Vinny is a cool guy, I see him in the RF bleachers all the time.
I had a partial plan last year in Section 39 and talked to Vinny on a few occasions. The last game I went to in September, he sat with us and we had a great time.
He along with some other people of Section 39 and now 203 are Die Hard fans and literally go to every game.
I will miss not being a part of the creatures this year. Its March 20th and still no 2009 invoice.
link to a picture of myself and Vinny last september by his t-shirt stand
http://thevinceblackshow.mlblo.....0Vince.jpg