Yankees tour The White House
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Apr 07, 2009 
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Vice President Joe Biden tossed out the first pitch yesterday and then spent some time with John and Suzyn in the radio booth.
Meanwhile, some of the Yankees used their day off today to visit The White House.
A group of 22 players, coaches and others on the travel party were given a private 90-minute tour that included the West Wing, Rose Garden and Oval Office. Players in attendance included Xavier Nady, Nick Swisher, Joba Chamberlain, Cody Ransom, Edwar Ramirez, Jose Veras, Phil Coke, Jonathan Albaladejo and Ramiro Pena.
Kevin Long, Dave Eiland, Mike Harkey, Mick Kelleher and Rob Thomson were there as well.
Swisher was named Secretary of Loud Music later in the day.
only 22? Oh well they’ll be back there in november…
There’s at least five guys that have been there before under presidential invitation – can’t blame them for not going back.
i really do love this team, i feel like this is the kind of team thats never out of a game and will make a lot of come backs, as long as the pitching is good, this year should be something special. and according to the poll on the right, many agree lol
Too bad that slacker Obama is on an extended vacation (latest stop: Iraq) and he can’t be around to party with the crew.
It’s nice that you have faith, but what’s really concerning is the team’s bullpen. Other than Mariano, there’s not one really dependable arm there. This will matter a lot, because the Yankees figure to find themselves in a lot of close games.
Getting out of the gate strong is also critical. This team can’t afford to be flirting with (or below) .500 in mid-May. Not in this division.
Who were 3 players that didn’t go?
Yeah, the bullpen was awful last year. Just awful.
Trevor
5 coaches and “others on the travel party” tells me that there were more than 3 players that did not go – World Series winners and other jaded vets and commies.
sorry for the size of this, but i took this picture Friday. but noticed something strange just now.
http://img17.imageshack.us/img.....432009.jpg
she should have her seat forfieted to me!
Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, now a full time resident of Washington, was not able to stop by to greet his old friends.
Did they hold the doors open for Joba?
“It’s nice that you have faith, but what’s really concerning is the team’s bullpen. Other than Mariano, there’s not one really dependable arm there.”
Last year the Yankees had the single most valuable bull pen in all of baseball.
The yankees pen saved 69 runs compared to a bull pen filled with rag tag relievers. 69 runs better. That is remarkable.
And while Mo was of course the biggest reason – he was far from the only reason.
Let’s do this thought experiment. Let’s just pretend Mariano wasn’t in the pen last year. In fact, let’s handicap the yankees pen even more – just pretend that they didn’t even have someone to replace the innings mariano threw. Pretend it was only the rest of the relievers there. How far would the yankee’s pen have fallen?
Under that ridiculous circumstance, the yankees pen would have still been the 10th most valuable bull pen in all of baseball.
10th best. Think about that. 10th best without Mariano. The pen saved 38 runs without Mo’s contribution. 38 runs without Mo at all.
Say they didn’t have Mo last year but had called up Coke earlier or called up Melancon – they would have still had a top 8-9 bull pen.
The pen is not the problem. It’s simply not. There is no evidence to expect that it will be.
saucy
I was never good at Where’s Waldo – what is the strage thing you noticed?
the woman with the red purse on the right is sneaking a smoke!!!
Scofflaw!
saucy,
She looks like she is drinking some soup. Maybe shes in a chumky soup commercial and she’s Brittons mother.
Is she not eating ice cream?
Too bad the Prez wasn’t around to chill with the guys.
I don’t get this chicken squak about the BP. What is it ADS? The bullpen was top numbers last year with very high innings and in the AL East. The two established relievers were dealt because they were ineffective. It’s been explained over and over. And the SOS keeps dribbling down. It’s bloody embarassing to keep seeing it. Like get a clue, stop quoting stupid people. The Yankees have the deepest bullpen in the Majors.
Established relievers – how did established Hawkins make out last year in the AL East. It’s April and cold outside.
saucy email it to the Yankees.
What I want out of each and every one of you is a hard target search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in that area. Checkpoints go up at fifteen miles. Your fugitive’s name is Dr. Kimble. Go get her.
“Established relievers – how did established Hawkins make out last year in the AL East.”
Good point, Bo. I was happy to see Cashman realize he could build a better bullpen with cast-offs, misfits, and never-will-be’s (plus Mo).
Saucy
After looking at an enlarged pic you can tell she is clearly
eating ice cream.
The poor woman – falsely accused
haha I think she is eating ice cream. Either that or she is dumping ashes into the plastic Yankee hat that you get when you buy ice cream.
“And the SOS keeps dribbling down.”
Huh?? I swear i know how to eat soup without spilling.
jennifer
who would be “the one armed man”?
CB,
Sure there is “evidence”. They didn’t pitch well yesterday. That’s all the chicken littles comprehend.
In fact, I’m not sure you are aware but the baseball season ended today for the Yankees.
The Red Sox won today. That means, in the chicken little world of Yankee fans, the one game “deficit” is too much to overcome.
It would be funny if it wasn’t so sad how little some folks know about the game and how disinterested they are to learn about the game.
Anyone else craving some ice cream?
“The poor woman – falsely accused”
The lengths people go to have someone forfiet their Yankee seats.
I’m not at all worried about the pen this season. The numbers from last season don’t lie.
Here are some AL rankings for the Yankee pen:
543.1 IP (#2)
3.79 ERA (#5) Red Sox ranked #7 (4.00) despite throwing 64 fewer innings
.235 BAA (#3)
.310 OBP (#2)
.373 SLG (#3)
.683 OPS (#3)
9 [Fewest] Blown saves (#1)
1.27 WHIP (#3)
8.66 K/9 (#1)
That’s pretty good production for a group that threw the second most innings in the league behind only Texas.
And they will be better this season with more experience, a significantly reduced workload, and more options in the minors at some point (Melancon, Robertson, etc, etc).
does anyone have a pic the screen/press box/home plate camera?
S.o.S.
My apologies, I was on a roll there and got carried away. The nice sight picture of that phenomenom.
What you didn’t care for the chicken squawk, I rather liked that one.
“Anyone else craving some ice cream?”
I want the ice cream she’s having. Evidentally its so damn good it makes you forget theres a game to watch.
Guiseppe
But what about Manny Delcarmen!!!
I watched the video of Joba taking his DUI test. It might just be me, but he looked he passed with flying colors.
“What you didn’t care for the chicken squawk, I rather liked that one.”
I like it know that i know
Chicken squawk doesnt=S.o.S.
Good job Bo.
looked LIKE he passed with flying colors.
“now that i know”
My CV makes me feel like an utter failure. Just FYI.
Why is no one talking about Jeter’s brain cramp. Man on third, one out, 1,0 count and he dribbles an up and in pitch down to third, this from an inside out hitter. He couldn’t have lifted that pitch with a pitch fork. That was depressing. Basics
SOS, in response to your question from the prior thread:
I started watching the Yankees about 1983/1984, so I understand what it’s like to REALLY root for bad teams. Imagine having to send out the likes of Steve Trout and Andy Hawkins? Alvaro Espinoza and Bobby Meachem anchored the infield and our big slugger was Steve Balboni. I don’t consider myself a spoiled fan and I don’t have a sense of entitlement about the Yankees. In fact, I feel rather priviledged and extremely fortunate that I have gotten to experience 1 WS in my lifetime…..nevermind 4. For those who claim that it’s been ages since the Yankees won, well……..that may be so, but most teams would kill for the kind of playoff run the Yankees gave us. The Angels won a WS a few years ago and they haven’t won one since. They are considered amongst the most successful franchises in the game. The Yankees are just held to a higher standard.
I have faith in the individual hitters on this team – they’re good, they’re very good. Collectively? We shall see.
Here’s a positive piece:
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....8;c_id=nyy
Obviosly haven’t spent much time around chickens on an insect diet.
Sorry Saucy, that poor woman is eating ice cream.
Secretary of Loud Music? LOL
I could use some ice cream right now
SJ,
Too many yankee fans really seem to have no perspective on what baseball is really like for most teams – even good ones.
And besides the yankees would be better off without Alex camp – nowhere does that become more apparent than with the bull pen.
I don’t think people fully realize how putrid and awful most pens are and in turn how hard it is to get an even slightly above average group of guys.
With bull pens there are two issues that you must take into consideration when judging performance. How well they’ve pitched (e.r.a, whip, etc) and workload. It’s simply not fair to compare the performance of a pen that’s thrown way too many innings to a pen that’s thrown fewer because they’re likely exhausted.
What the yankee’s pen did last year was remarkable. They threw 38% of the team’s innings. Usually when a pen throws more than say 34-35% it just collapses because they guys arms die.
The yankees had the 7th best bull pen ERA in the league last year.
But they threw the 6th most innings in all of baseball.
Who were the top 5 pens in innings pitched – the rangers, pirates, braves, nationals, and padres.
All of those bull pens ranged from horrendous to bad.
Of those teams the best bull pen ERA was recorded by the Nationals – they had the 19th worst bull pen era in the game last year. The rest of those 4 clubs were amongst the 10 worst in the game.
So that means every team that threw more bull pen innings than the yankees last season finished in the bottom 11 in terms of ERA.
When you look at high workload bull pens and performance – the yankees pen sticks out like a sore thumb. It was so disproportionately better than any other pen that threw a lot of innings it’s remarkable.
A lot of the was obviously Mo. But given the ridiculous number of innings the pen threw there’s no way it could only be Mo. Even when you take him out of the mix they were terrific for relief pitchers.
SJ you’re right. It’s hard reading some of this drivel. People say you don’t have to read it, but there are some good posters on here that you want to read what they have to say. I guess you have to weed through and find the people that know baseball and don’t overreact to every game, inning, pitch, etc. It’s unbelievable sometimes.
SJ44,
Too many yankee fans really seem to have no perspective on what baseball is really like for most teams, even good ones.
And besides the yankees would be better off without Alex camp – nowhere does that become more apparent than with the bull pen.
I don’t think people fully realize how putrid and awful most pens are and in turn how hard it is to get an even slightly above average group of guys.
With bull pens there are two issues that you must take into consideration when judging performance. How well they’ve pitched (e.r.a, whip, etc) and workload. It’s simply not fair to compare the performance of a pen that’s thrown way too many innings to a pen that’s thrown fewer because they’re likely exhausted.
What the yankee’s pen did last year was remarkable. They threw 38% of the team’s innings. Usually when a pen throws more than say 34-35% it just collapses because they guys arms die.
The yankees had the 7th best bull pen ERA in the league last year.
But they threw the 6th most innings in all of baseball.
Who were the top 5 pens in innings pitched – the rangers, pirates, braves, nationals, and padres.
All of those bull pens ranged from horrendous to bad.
Of those teams the best bull pen ERA was recorded by the Nationals – they had the 19th worst bull pen era in the game last year. The rest of those 4 clubs were amongst the 10 worst in the game.
So that means every team that threw more bull pen innings than the yankees last season finished in the bottom 11 in terms of ERA.
When you look at high workload bull pens and performance – the yankees pen sticks out like a sore thumb. It was so disproportionately better than any other pen that threw a lot of innings it’s remarkable.
A lot of the was obviously Mo. But given the ridiculous number of innings the pen threw there’s no way it could only be Mo. Even when you take him out of the mix they were terrific for relief pitchers.
SJ,
I wrote a detailed response to your last post about the pen. Unfortunately for some unclear reason the stupid filter won’t let it through. I tried posting it twice.
It’ll come up soon hopefully.
>chicken littles
SJ44 with the reminder of KFC’s worst move ever: canceling chicken littles.
For shame, KFC. For shame.
It’s easy to play baseball in July. This time of year, you can’t warm up, you seize up, you pull something swinging a bat. You just want to get through it.
Edwin Jackson getting the job done for the Tigers. He’ll be big for them this year (he better be).
Betsy,
Maybe i should have used the word accustomed. But yes the 80′s were rough and i have to admit that winning 4 out of 5 titles in the 90′s made it feel like it was going to be an on going thing. Who would have guessed then that we would have an 8 year drought? I mean 26 championships in a century=winning a quarter of the time. But at least we continue to see a competitive team out there. Unlike the Royals or Pirates. Hell, they made me forget the 80′s for a second.
#27 in 09!!
http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread.php?t=117116
Pictures of the obstructed seats in the bleachers. Rf isn’t too bad, left is awful can’t see first base, cf or rf
So form that list, it looks like only the low salaried/young players went to visit LOL
Jennifer,
Thanks for the link to those pics of the obstructed seats. Those LF bleacher seats are a disgrace with how much of the field is cut off.
I cannot believe for the life of me how a team builds a top dollar stadium and has a screw up like this.
Between that and the netting on TV, it’s really a joke. These things never should have happened.
Those seats are ridiculous. All that for a restaurant? How times have changed. I guess its no longer about watching the game and rooting for the team you love till the final out. Its a corporate hang out to eat and go home in the 7th inning. Did i forget to mention eating ice cream looking away from the field?
I have a question – was the restaurant part of the original design, or did they add it on? That might explain how this happened. Not excuse it, but explain it.
G. Love
They should just block off some of those seats especially lf. That is a joke.
Doreen- Now that you mention it, I don’t think it was part of the original design, not sure when it was added though.
“Its a corporate hang out to eat and go home in the 7th inning. ”
For a minute there, I thought you were talking about Dodger Stadium (which coincidentally, is a great place to watch a game)… exiting the parking lot is a different story.
What makes those LF seats even more lame is the fact that the TV monitors aren’t angled to the people with the worst seats. Buyer beware.
I had tickets to a Yanks-Angels in Anaheim a couple years ago, and I got seats in foul territory, down the RF line, but due to the park’s configuration I couldn’t see the action in left or center. Very annoying, but hey I was desperate for seats.
Guiseppe – thanks for the data about the ‘pen from last season. I knew they were good, overrall, but the numbers look even better. And that’s with all the innings, etc. I’m really looking forward to Dave Robertson and Mark Melancon. If only Bruney could understand that Kyle’s approach doesn’t work.
Rebecca – what’s with your cv? What’s going on?
“Why is no one talking about Jeter’s brain cramp. Man on third, one out, 1,0 count and he dribbles an up and in pitch down to third, this from an inside out hitter. He couldn’t have lifted that pitch with a pitch fork. That was depressing. Basics”
Bo,
The outcome of the at bat was terrible but I do think you’re coming down a bit too hard on Jeter with respect to his judgement.
I think you have to put yourself in Jeter’s spot there and consider what happened to the two batters before. Just imagine yourself watching what Jeter saw and I think you’ll see why he swung at that pitch.
Jim Johnson is very inconsistent but he has a very live arm and very nasty stuff. He has a ton of natural movement on both his four seam and two seam fastball. A ton of movement. When he keeps his fastball low in the zone and just lets it run it’s an awful pitch to try to hit.
Look at the Swisher at bat. Johnson threw him two very nasty fastballs. The ball Swisher doubled on was the only pitch Swisher saw that was up in the zone.
Perhaps even more important then the pitch Jeter did swing at was the first pitch Johnson threw to Jeter and the even before that the pitch he threw to Gardner.
The pitch Gardner bunted was a good pitch to bunt as it was low in the zone but it was a nasty pitch to try to hit.
The first pitch Jeter saw was almost the same as the one Gardner saw.
Jeter swung at a pitch that was up and was similar to the one Swisher doubled off of. That pitch was likely a mistake pitch. So he swung. Swisher usually takes a ton of pitches – he saw that pitch – the third of his at bat and went after it probably because it was up in the zone and a mistake.
For $5 – I’d take those seats.
Lon trost told Mike Fran. that restaurant
it was planned to be like that.
I’m not convinced
I’m sure they were aware of the site line issues long before they finalized the design. It was probably just a business decision that space used for a high end restaurant/bar would generate more revenue than a hundred or so seats in the bleachers would. The fact that they thought they could get away with it without fan outrage is incomprehensible. But then again, they have not responded to the issue with the net (during broadcasts)… they are probably just hoping that it will eventually go away as well.
Joe,
That’s precisely why I’m worried about the ‘pen. They finally have quality depth in AAA to take over for the underachievers.
At some point this season, Melancon will not only get the call IMO but, when he does, it will be a one way trip.
That kid is the real deal. A little more seasoning and he’s going to play a big role in the bullpen this year. So will Robertson at some point during the year.
Also, the starters will pitch more innings than last season. That will also make the bullpen more effective as the season goes on.
The restaurant/batters eye is a smart move design-wise. Generating revenue from an area that can’t have seats is pretty smart. However, they should’ve found a way to better utilize the obstructed area. Maybe they could’ve tapered the restaurant, with back of house/kitchen functions occupying the dead space.
I can speak from experience, the architects know what they are doing… issues like this are typically on the owner. Throughout the design process, the architect will conduct sight line studies (perhaps with the help of a consultant) and present them to the owner, and the design will morph based on the combination of these studies and programmatic requirements. Without knowing any of the real details, I blame the Yankees for sacrificing these seats, not HOK Sport.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06.....38;emc=rss
2005 NYTimes article about new Stadium
Resaurant was depicted look for slide show.
If it makes anybody feel any better, Tim Lincecum only pitched 3 frames today. So 4 aces, 4 Cy Young winners (CC, Lincecum, Cliff Lee, and Brandon Webb) stumbled out of the gate on opening day. It happens to the best of them, but there’s seriously nothing to worry about.
SJ44 – I wish I could understand what’s the deal with Brian Bruney. Even I could see that he was overthrowing yesterday. I hope he saw Krazy Kyle on TV today, throwing that 97 mph heater to Jim Thome in the 8th, and what happened to it. If Bruney doesn’t get it, then he could wind up getting voted off the island by the people who count.
John and Suzyn should be in the TV booth. And Michael Kay should be in Guantanamo.
Pauly,
I mentioned the same thing on the last thread. I believe Halliday also had a rough start.
vin,
Im in Socal and i thought that Anaheim stadium was a pretty good place to watch a game.
Iv heard on the radio the nightmares of Dodger stadium parking lot. I havnt been there for at least 15 years.
Re the pen I am curious as to why in Scranton they are making Tomko the closer. Chad Jennings blog said so that the younger guys could get more innings.
Hmm, I guess it was ice cream.
But why was she being so sneaky about it?
CB
Thanks for the input. I agree with what you’re saying but we’ve seen Jeter do this before. At that point any ball to the right scores the run and that’s my beef. Make an effort, compete. It’s not as if the pitcher has great control so put yourself in a situation to succeed. Offering at that pitch eats him up all day long, that’s why I call a it a brain cramp.