Most exciting homestand ever?
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on May 23, 2009 
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Hey all, Sam here, back among the internet-capable — hope you all enjoyed your Memorial Day Saturday. I was outside – which was good – but meant I didn’t catch much of the game. I was, however, near a TV for Alex’s blast and the subsequent Cano/Melky heroics.
A-Rod had a good quote in the postgame scrum, saying, “Right now, I’m probably the happiest .200 hitter in baseball.” Considering that he has only 11 hits this season but eight are homers, he’s probably right. And, to be fair, you’d have to say his shot in the ninth inning today was as much a “new Stadium homer” as any of the others but then again, if the Yankees are going to be victimized by those sometimes, they might as well reap the rewards, too.
As I was driving home, I was thinking about the insanity of this homestand. I’m not nearly enough of a historian to know where this one ranks in history, but I’d have to think it’s among the most exciting the Yankees have been involved in. Consider this day-by-day:
May 15 vs MIN: Brett Gardner hits inside-the-park home run and ninth-inning triple, then scores winning run on Melky Cabrera’s two-run walkoff single.
May 16 vs MIN: A-Rod gets his first hit at new Yankee Stadium with game-winning two-run homer in the 11th inning.
May 17 vs MIN: Johnny Damon gives Yankees third-straight game-ending hit with 10th-inning home run to win it. Yankees clubhouse chefs put rush order on more whipped cream.
May 18 vs MIN: Mark Teixeira homers from both sides of the plate and the Yankees reverse their magic, scoring six in the first inning instead of rallying late.
May 19 vs BAL: A-Rod and Teixeira homer again and Yanks score seven runs in the seventh inning to turn a tight game into a laugher.
May 20 vs BAL: Yankees hit three homers in a row in the second inning and blast Baltimore to back Phil Hughes. As games on this homestand go, a pretty boring night.
May 21 vs BAL: Joba Chamberlain goes down two batters into the game after being hit by a comebacker, but the Yankees bullpen doesn’t break and they win again, their ninth in a row.
May 22 vs PHI: Jimmy Rollins homers on the very first pitch of the game and the Yankees don’t recover, finally losing.
May 23 vs PHI: Back to old reliable – the walkoff. Down two in the ninth, A-Rod hits a two-run homer to tie it; Melky Cabrera drives in Robinson Cano with the winner moments later.
So, to sum up: That’s nine games, eight wins, four walkoffs. Oh, and by the way, the pitching match-up for today’s homestand finale is CC Sabathia vs. Cole Hamels. Not a bad stretch of baseball, right?
I’ll be out at the Stadium tomorrow for that match-up. Since I’m sure there’s a late report time for the players, don’t look for the lineup too early but check in all afternoon for plenty of live blogging.
I’ll be at the game too. can’t wait. Figures to be a good one.
Thanks Sam
Have fun Jennifer. Bring the Yankees good luck.
“And, to be fair, you’d have to say his shot in the ninth inning today was as much a *“new Stadium homer”* as any of the others but then again, if the Yankees are going to be victimized by those sometimes, they might as well reap the rewards, too.”
I disagree. That would have been out at the old stadium as well.
Hey, I dunno if you guys saw this, but K-Rod has been hospitalized from the pain due to the back spasms
http://blogs.nypost.com/sports.....apses.html
I’ve never had back spaspms, but I’ve had spasms in other parts of my body…and I really can’t describe how painful it is. It makes you want to die, pretty much.
“And, to be fair, you’d have to say his shot in the ninth inning today was as much a “new Stadium homer” as any of the others”
Bless ya, Sam, but please don’t help propel this. You said yourself a day ago to give it a full season before making a determination.
so is swish barred from batting 5th now…. say yes
I’ll be at the game too!!!! gonna give the new metro north train station to the Stadium a try…
Thanks Fran. I hope to bring them luck!
Rebecca, do you think that Putz had anything to do with it? He really want to be the closer!
fran- You might be on to something. Putz might have a voodoo doll.
Bull pen at full strenght tomorrow? Bruney maybe not yet
Al Late and Close:
BA: *.666*
OBP: .800
SLG: 2.167
OPS: 2.967
3 HR, 6 RBI
He’s got the beast’s calling card.
BTW
“Brandon “Would love to meet Tim McCarver under the Oneill banner”
May 23rd, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Fox games they just don’t win them.”
Boy was I wrong.
got to love those odd numbered years
I have to agree with Sam.
Alex’s homer was about two rows deep over the WB Mason sign.
Go watch the replay on YES.
I swear, WB Mason is getting a bang for their advertising buck.
Yep, the juice – from the players into the baseballs. Gotta keep fan interest.
“I have to agree with Sam.
Alex’s homer was about two rows deep over the WB Mason sign.
Go watch the replay on YES.”
I have and it was further back than that. Also, if the dimensions are .314 in RF like the wall says, that’s the same at the old stadium. The only difference should be the height of the wall. The ball was back enough that it would have cleared both walls IMO.
In the end, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that we won. Woohoo!!
I agree Bo Knows…..Rawlings has juicd the balls for 09
LOL at Sam trying to take something away from Alex’s HR………wow, he only has 11 hits. It’s only Alex’ ST – sheesh.
Jumping in to go back to the Melky comment from last thread…
I wonder if the first pie Melky got was shaving cream. He had been rubbing his eyes quite a bit after it. That might explain why he didn’t like getting pied much.
A few thoughts on some of the comments from there as well…
It seems to me that the reporters should take a lead in checking out the baseballs this season. Either there are more players using some PEDs or the balls are juiced. This should be easy enough for them to check. Just compare a ball from this year to last year, if MLB doesn’t fess up.
If the balls are made differently so they tend to fly further then the Ortiz HR woes looks even worse, doesn’t it?
Betsy, et. al:
I wasn’t trying to take anything away from Alex’s hit nor was I saying his homer was cheap. If it came across that way, it wasn’t intended. I was just saying that for those who are following the so-called “new Stadium” homers, for me, A-Rod’s fit the bill. Then again, as I wrote a few days ago, I’m not someone who is particularly interested in that issue to begin with; I was just pointing out that this was one instance where those Yankees fans who believe the new stadium is bad may have actually been helped by it.
As for A-Rod’s hits to homers ratio – hey, as he said, I’m sure he’s feeling just fine right now.
Hope that clears things up a little. I’m heading to bed since it’s an early morning tomorrow. Night all.
Man that gameday thread was extra pathetic today. I hate whiny Yankee fans.
Possibly that’s it, Much Ado – maybe Melky is just not used to this tradition – I don’t even know if he knew about it. I wish he could enjoy it, but if he doesn’t, maybe AJ shouldn’t do it to him.
Everybody noticed Fox’s screwing up the ID of Mayberry Sr. Here’s one more:
With the count 0-2 on Jeter in the 8th, they flashed a graphic saying that his last two homer game was against the Dodgers on Aug. 27, 2006. Two things jump out as wrong with that: interleague isn’t played in late August and the Yanks didn’t play the NL West in 2006.
Sure enough, on double check, the game in question was an 11-8 W against the Angels (on the west coast swing following the five game Boston sweep).
High quality production values.
The wind was actually blowing in this afternoon. It didnt help A Rod’s home run. A Rod hit it like a Tiger Woods stinger 2 iron.
Sam, thanks for the clarification. I guess I got defensive because I’m sick and tired of the media beating the dead horse. There have been games where HRs weren’t a factor and also games where the HRS hit were just monsters. If the Yankees and the opposing team would pitch better, then there wouldn’t be so many HRs. Considering the fact that the Yankees have won 10 out of 11, many in comeback style (you know, the close games they didn’t win last year and the type of wins that mediots say good teams have), you’d think the media would be focused on that. Nah, instead of giving credit to this team, they prefer to kill the Yankees over this issue.
This is all well and good, but what is the Taiwan media saying about Wang???
It’s the middle of the day over there!
The Yankees should take out a ruler and measure from home plate to the RF wall. Maybe HOK made a mistake and it is only 300 feet and not 314. JK!!! With the wind it seems to be playing that way. The wind is obviously crazy strong or something because 314 feet isn’t what it used to be in the old stadium. It seems like Tex hits a home run in every game.
>High quality production values.
They get their facts from FOXNews, what did you expect? :p
I think A-Rod is getting pretty close to getting his swing back.
He’s hit the dingers of course, most at very opportune times, but that one today was the first he’s hit to the opposite field.
He had some good swings yesterday including that double he ripped down the line and another couple of really good ones today.
Watch out if A-Rod starts hitting like we know he eventually will and Posada returns to the lineup within the next 10 days or so.
Jeter really hasn’t gotten hot yet and you know he will.
D 4-5 that’s what everyone forgets, for the talk of it being wind aided, the wind was blowing in he just pushed the crap out of it out of the stadium.
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....id=4696017
I thought Mayberry was going to catch it, kid is 6’6 in RF and athletic as hell.
I said Alex’s homer was hit two row deeps. I’m sorry.
I was wrong.
It was actually only one row. It bounced off the lady in the purple (beside the guy in orange) in the first row.
http://tinyurl.com/ozhg2n
a homer, is a homer. it counts.
If I am a batter I’m aiming for WB Mason.
The wind was blowing in today. That was a homer at the old stadium. Now if that would have been in the 2nd deck…
9 games, actually… 8 wins.
DT – OPPC Member (It’s in our blood) May 23rd, 2009 at 11:53 pm
I have to agree with Sam.
Alex’s homer was about two rows deep over the WB Mason sign.
Go watch the replay on YES.
——-
I’m having trouble getting my head around this. How does a shot that’s “only” two rows deep justify a “band box/jet stream/New Stadium shot” — when a hit that goes 1 tier up is somehow legit? (Well, maybe not really ‘legit’ because *EVERY* homer in the new place is now under question apparently — as most sports media hacks just go right to the total number with no distinction of location.)
Based on who has glommed on to the latest lead-story herd mentality doctrine, smart money is on a series of snowstorms in July and August that will quell the record pace of dingers. Or maybe it will just happen naturally and reveal these opening weeks for what they are: a spike in the data over the long run.
It’s all just speculation until Bob Watson issues his ruling tomorrow on whether the homer will count.
You just had a feeling after he hit that game was over, it was 4-2 Philliesand then BANG it was KO punch, then Robi rabbit punches and then Melky w/ the left hook KO
Where is the weather vane? It better be in George’s Den.
should be on the flag pole
Isn’t Watson now in charge of traffic signals in Larkspur?
btw Thank you Metropolitans – we owe you one
http://www.wfan.com/Winning.....ntRating=1
Here’s what the great Mariano said to me last nite: “Winning leads to fun. If you’re losing, basically you won’t do it, because it shows up the other team, but when you WIN you can have a lot of fun. We have a lot a new guys, and we do things together.”
The Swisher’s, Nady’s and Burnett’ s have gotten the approval of one Mariano Rivera.. to me, the MAJOR “core player”…and THAT is why they’ve loosened up a bit. Mariano was the “judge” in the Court yesterday…and it was Mariano who told a dejected Burnett, who was taken out of a game to “get out there and keep the karma going” when Damon hit his walkoff home run. The coming together of the old and the new players….it happens BECAUSE the team is winning. Not the other way around. Keep winning, pies in the face are acceptable…lose, it’s not so funny!
***Well of course, we would only see a pie in the face after a win, not a loss, so I’m not quite sure what Suzyn’s point is. Also, this team was reportedly a much closer-knit team than most recent vintages, even before the season started. Sure, maybe they are having more fun specifically related to the game itself now that they are winning, but these guys liked each other a lot even when they were not playing well
FTV, the local station that broadcasts Yankees games, says that Wang will be pitching as relief to Chamberlain, and if C is unable to start, then Wang will get the chance. But I am not quite sure if that part about Wang starting is a ploy to boost its ratings.
local station in Taiwan, that is
Thanks, TW. I think Joba will be able to start, but if he isn’t, no one else would be able to unless they bring someone up. So it would be Wang.
Is the media there saying anything about his release point still being too high or about his pitching mechanics?
TW wondering is it ALL about Wang there or do people watch games when Wang is out?
PS can’t wait to get CMW back
Sheesh, Melky: apparently he said this in an interview:
“Yes, that Austin something dude, yeah he can come and buy me some leche churros for desert….this is my job hombre.”
let’s see, he can’t see the humor in being pied and he’s got to take potshots at a kid who hasn’t done a thing to him. Melky’s been great this year, but he is not close to being good enough to being that arrogant. I think he’s in for a fall……. I thought for a moment after I read that quote that it was a joke
6.6 v. 5.9
I know FTV:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9.....110366060/
“Also, if the dimensions are .314 in RF like the wall says, that’s the same at the old stadium. The only difference should be the height of the wall”
RAB had a good article on this awhile back.
The fences are straight across now, where before they were curved.
Bottom line, pitchers still have to make good pitches. Batters still have to connect.
http://riveraveblues.com/2009/.....ark-10299/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8.....4/sizes/o/
“Where is the weather vane? It better be in George’s Den.
should be on the flag pole”
—–
Great call. This would settle everything.
Was Melky wearing a shirt in that interview? Was the interview conducted by another porn star?
Betsy May 24th, 2009 at 12:33 am
Sheesh, Melky: apparently he said this in an interview:
“Yes, that Austin something dude, yeah he can come and buy me some leche churros for desert….this is my job hombre.”
—-
Where did you see this?
Betsy
May 24th, 2009 at 12:33 am
Sheesh, Melky: apparently he said this in an interview:
with who what paper or TV outlet?
ugh im tired of the “new stadium homer”. who the heck is anyone to say that that home run isn’t a home run anywhere else or in the old stadium?
i bet if brett hit his homer in YS and not in rogers center that also would have been called a “new stadium homer” just b/c it was brett doing the hitting
i understand that SOME were wind aided, but the fact that now every homer hit is now under scrutiny is extremely annoying.
“Sheesh, Melky: apparently he said this in an interview:
“Yes, that Austin something dude, yeah he can come and buy me some leche churros for desert….this is my job hombre.”
let’s see, he can’t see the humor in being pied and he’s got to take potshots at a kid who hasn’t done a thing to him. Melky’s been great this year, but he is not close to being good enough to being that arrogant. I think he’s in for a fall……. I thought for a moment after I read that quote that it was a joke”
your joking right…where did you find that
Nice review of NYS from the Philly blog:
“Nice digs
I wasn’t blown away by Citi Field. I can’t say the same thing about the new Yankee Stadium. They did this place right, and somehow succeeded in making an ultra-modern ballpark feel retro. The most impressive aspect of the new park? It’s got to be the giant video board in center field. The thing is huge, and the picture clarity looks better than the flat screen television in my apartment. I haven’t had a chance to sample the concessions, but the food in the press box puts everything else in the major leagues to shame. By far the most impressive new park I have been to. I really like Citizens Bank Park, but if I had to cover 81 home games here, I wouldn’t complain.”
““Yes, that Austin something dude, yeah he can come and buy me some leche churros for desert….this is my job hombre.” ”
First off that’s a lie. Second, Melky will prbly be in RF or LF when Jackson arrives b/c when that kid arrives ain’t no one taking his spot. I hope Melky can continue to be what Choo is to the Indians for us.
Sheesh, Melky: apparently he said this in an interview:
“Yes, that Austin something dude, yeah he can come and buy me some leche churros for desert….this is my job hombre.”
let’s see, he can’t see the humor in being pied and he’s got to take potshots at a kid who hasn’t done a thing to him. Melky’s been great this year, but he is not close to being good enough to being that arrogant. I think he’s in for a fall……. I thought for a moment after I read that quote that it was a joke
===============================
What the heck? When did Melky say that?
an outfield of melky/ajax and ______ could be tantalizing…it would be extremely good on defense…
Brandon “Would love to meet Tim McCarver under the Oneill banner”
May 24th, 2009 at 12:39 am
““Yes, that Austin something dude, yeah he can come and buy me some leche churros for desert….this is my job hombre.” ”
figured.
Betsy is someone impersonating you OR did you repost inflamatory statements without fact checking?
Wow, this is going to be a problem:
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....?track=rss
It’s frustrating,” said Pettitte, who was victimized for a solo shot in the second by Raul Ibanez and a three-run bomb in the fifth by John Mayberry Jr. in just his second major-league at-bat. “You’re gonna give up home runs. I mean, if you leave anything up in the zone and if guys get the barrel on it, it’s gonna be a home run. You just can’t let your guard down, ever.”
“This ballpark, obviously, is in your head,” said A.J. Burnett, who was victimized for three bombs in Friday’s 7-3 loss. “As soon as the ball’s in the air, you start thinking about it.”
**If it’s in our pitchers’ heads, that is a terrible thing. I know AJ said yesterday that he’s not bothered by the park as he’s pitched in Coors Field and other hitters parks, but still… I don’t like either of these comments from the standpoint that our guys now are going to pitch scared. It’s in their head? Oh brother
The guy on the right in that FTV pix couldn’t praise Wang enough while commentating during the game, but a newspaper reported him saying after the game that he was upset that the Yankees hadn’t done much to get Wang fixed the right way. He suggested that his agent took the issue up with the Yankees on his behalf if language barrier was a problem.
Don’t have the figures for this year’s ratings. But last year, after Wang was injured, both ESPN and FTV held emergency meetings to decide if they should continue broadcasting the games. When Wang was pitching the rating was like 1.6 to 1.8 and occasionally 2.2. When he was not, it fell below 1, mostly to 0.6. Considering that both stations are giving away a lot of prizes this year, I would think that the ratings are down.
“What the heck? When did Melky say that?”
Never, pulling our legs here.
Ralphie hopefully and I say that b/c the kid has a history of getting distracted but hopefully continues to progress defensively and offensively, Melky in RF or LF would improve us defensively, hopefully he remembers to hit the cut off man sometimes and think OBP % when he bats. Kid is improving for the first time in his career.
I read about the Melky interview on another board – I will see if I can find out where it’s from.
“ugh im tired of the “new stadium homer”. who the heck is anyone to say that that home run isn’t a home run anywhere else or in the old stadium?”
—-
Thank you! Help keep the ‘Band Box Alarmist’ ilk on the defensive, until they just *have* to go away…
Joba joke to the Taiwan media CMW should appriciate him because is him let CMW had the chance back to yankees; and CMW will pitch behind Joba next Tuesday.
I guess you want the Yankees to rebuild the stadium when we go to Texas? Tell Pettitte to make his pitches and stop looking for a bailout.
““Yes, that Austin something dude, yeah he can come and buy me some leche churros for desert….this is my job hombre.” ”
I call foul on that one. Dessert has two “s”
the phillies are a home run hitting team, if you give them a pitch to hit, they are going to smash it
ibanez has 17 homeruns, they were victimized by HIM not by the stadium winds.
I’m not trying to pull anyone’s leg- I read that on a board and didn’t see any reason not to believe it. If the guy that posted it there was joking, then all of us forumers on that board got punk’d.
“If it’s in our pitchers’ heads, that is a terrible thing. I know AJ said yesterday that he’s not bothered by the park as he’s pitched in Coors Field and other hitters parks, but still… I don’t like either of these comments from the standpoint that our guys now are going to pitch scared. It’s in their head? Oh brother”
Pettitte left a cookie to Mayberry, it couldn’t be anymore down the middle, same w/ Ibanez, AJ 2 nights ago left a cookie to Carlos Ruuiz Ruth, left another cookie to Jason Werth who has absolute legit power. Stop throwing it down the middle and you won’t have to worry about it.
Thanks for the info, TW, all very interesting. I was an english teacher in Taiwan back in the 90′s and I don’t remember too many people wearing Yankee caps (but there were a lot of Chicago Bulls shirts!). When I went back in 2007 for a vacation, it was Yankee caps everywhere.
Betsy
May 24th, 2009 at 12:46 am
I read about the Melky interview on another board – I will see if I can find out where it’s from.
I know early in the season there would be a guy that would post things like ” did you see hoe gardner dissed Melky at the end of the game? type stuff that was never true
Betsy sorry but you should check BEFORE you post stuff like that. Can’t give Melky the benefit of the doubt?
Betsy you guys on w/e board it was posted just got punk’d.
MLB opened a store in Taipei, its second in Asia after Japan, in 2007.
Betsy
May 24th, 2009 at 12:49 am
I’m not trying to pull anyone’s leg- I read that on a board and didn’t see any reason not to believe it. If the guy that posted it there was joking, then all of us forumers on that board got punk’d.
You’ve earned an “F” today. Don’t you know anyone can post ANYTHING? Inflamatory comment DEMAND a source.
““Yes, that Austin something dude, yeah he can come and buy me some leche churros for desert….this is my job hombre.” ”
leche churros sound like they would be soggy and not at all appealing. the beauty of a churro is in the crunch.
If the leche churros are soggy, then you would want them out in the desert, wouldn’t you?
Now I’m wondering if the porn star hotel interview was fake too!
Betsy, you pulling a Selena Roberts? Citing “reliable anonymous sources”?
Now people are making up quotes about Melky LOL
Melky is probably chillin in his apartment with Mary Carey right now wondering how he lost his job in the Spring to a track star LOL
Betsy May 24th, 2009 at 12:49 am
I’m not trying to pull anyone’s leg- I read that on a board and didn’t see any reason not to believe it. If the guy that posted it there was joking, then all of us forumers on that board got punk’d.
==============================
I saw where you got this from on the other forum.
Did anyone else actually see “the funny interview” and hear those quote from Melky?
Now I want churros!
>Now I’m wondering if the porn star hotel interview was fake too!
We’ll know soon enough. Like if Melky’s drug test came up positive for AZT.
BTW first guy to tackle Melky today– GGBG
You can’t stop the Yanks – You can’t even contain them
Oh please… how can anyone believe that was a real quote from Melky?
He doesn’t even speak English to reporters.
Brandon, that’s what I think, too. Enough with the excuses……and I’m sure AJ has given up plenty of HRs on the road (this coming from his biggest fan). Andy was fine today, but hadn’t been great at all recently himself. I’m disturbed about the quotes because it sounds almost as if they are defeated even before they begin to pitch….a really bad attitude to take to the mound
What’s wrong with not liking to be pied? Melky is allowed to feel that way
I’m sure a lot of players feel the same way, but will play along just so it won’t cause a stir. These isin’t little league. One person’s idea of fun is another person’s idea of overdoing it.
Burnett just making excuses.
Start executing your pitches. Carlos Ruiz should NEVER see a fastball when he had his filthy curve working.
Ok, jeez Uncle Ellsworth – calm down. I’m sorry for offending you and for even posting it.
Keith Hernandez destroyed Papelbon on the broadcast tonight LOL
This looks yummy:
http://buttersugarflour.com/20.....che-sauce/
Melky is destroying this team.
Beltway, nothing is wrong with Melky not liking it. I guess I’m sort of surprised to hear someone say that they don’t because I think it has to be great fun, but really – if he doesn’t like it, he should tell AJ that and AJ shouldn’t do it to him.
Not everyone is a “pie guy”. It has nothing to do with a sense of humor. For some, it might be considered amateurish.
Mike, at this point I almost think AJ should cool it with the pies. I’m his biggest supporter on this board, but that quote just annoys the heck out of me.
Beltway
May 24th, 2009 at 1:03 am
What’s wrong with not liking to be pied? Melky is allowed to feel that way
did Melk say this with a smile on his face? anyone see? was he mad? anyone know?
GIMME A FN BREAK
MELKY HATES AJ because he pied him
take a great win and add some made- up crap to it!!!!
SA
Churros with whipped cream is the ticket or else you’re not a team player.
Pat, you’re right…..leche churros don’t even make sense. Brandon, I’m gullible, so yes……I do believe I got punk’d. I do apologize for posting that – there’s no edit function here or else I would delete it.
Complaining about the ballpark is like complaining about injuries… it may be true, but it isin’t good when players/coaches complain about it publicly. It looks bad.
Pel, lol – I am working on a book about Melky, but I’m waiting for him to hit a game winning HR in the WS to release it.
lol pat. Of course!
I agree, DC………but it does also make the players look bad – excuse making 101.
exactly,
burnett you dont want players to hit homers off of you? then how about you stop laying cookies in there when your up 2 strikes!!!!!! sheesh.
I still don’t know what’s better, a J.A. Happ or a hapless A.J.
CC vs. Hamels tomorrow tomorrow
Should be a great game. Two of the elite lefthanders in the game.
http://mlb.com/news/article.js.....id=4907152
“The Yankees have the longest streak in the Majors with 10 games without an error. It is their longest errorless streak since June 20-July 1, 1995″
1995? daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayum
S.A, those look FANTASTIC, lol. I love churros AND dulce de leche……
Tampa is quietly 7-3 in their last 10. They are really starting to heat up.
Pel shhhhhh
don’t say nuttin.
You gotta have faith, I agree……I don’t know why AJ had to say this when, after his game yesterday, he didn’t make any excuses. He blamed poor execution of his pitches and specifically stated that he has no problem with the new stadium as he’s pitched in hitters parks like Coors Field. Today’s quote seemingly contradicts that post-game interview. Granted, he’s talking about when the ball is already in the air, but I hate self-defeating talk like what he and Andy gave us today.
The milk man delivers again. How does he do that? Everytime
-nick swisher’s twitter
You just got a big hit to win a game and are probably exhausted and dehydrated and you’re trying to conduct an interview… then someone comes up to you and smacks you in the face with whipped cream in a towel.
C’mon… How can you not see how someone may not be a fan of that?
That quote from AJ reminds me of that quote from Coke when he said everyone was afraid when the BP phone rang
I can’t wait till posada or jeter hits a walk off, do they get pie’d? lol it will definately take a pair. haha
I really don’t blame Andy and AJ for making those comments…its true. I would assume it is impossible to throw 100 pitches and not leave 1 over the plate or a little bit up in the zone. Not every pitch that is over the plate is a home run. But it seems that if it goes in the air it has a good chance of going out. Like Span’s that he hit off the ground, Ruiz’s that just barely went over, Jeter’s home run to LF. It is not just to RF that they are flying out. You know how sometimes you hear the announcers say he just missed that one? Well in this ballpark you will probably never hear that. It is very hard to be perfect on every pitch. Which is what a pitcher needs to do in this ballpark.
Aside from the Rollins HR which was debatable, the other HRs he gave up would have gone out in any park. And from what I remember, most of the HRs in his other starts were legit too. Burnett is not in a position to complain.
Pettitte does have a gripe though. He has given up some cheap HRs like Longoria and Mayberry today
If Matsui hits a walk off they should use wasabi.
Melk and Robi were laughing the whole time.
NON ISSUE! STOP.
gotta have faith,
lol, I doubt AJ would pie Jeter or Posada, especially Posada.
He has to know his limits. I’m sure some of his teammates will also like it if he starts to concentrate more on lowering his ERA rather than pies.
Nick-
Are you two timing that Hapless joke?
Andy sounds mad. He’s given up 1 HR on the road and 7 at home. He says what he feels though, and that’s what I like about him.
Buddy: I think it got lost in the shuffle the first time. I watched the entire game on dvr, virtually jokeless. It’s all I had.
Good for Andy and AJ
About time the players start calling out this joke of a ballpark we play in.
I am curious about something regarding the homers: Yankee officials, including Girardi, seem sensitive to the idea that this park could yield a lot of home runs. So do some players (Jeter) and Yankee fans. Why so defensive? Who cares if it’s a bandbox? There are some parks in baseball where it’s easy to homer. Your World Champion Philadelphia Phillies play in one – ain’t hurting them. Heck, fans love homers, don’t they? A-Rod isn’t being paid all that cash for his personality, that’s for sure. Think the Mets would like to see some dingers hit at Citi Field?
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/yankees/
Feinsand is way off base here
We are the New York Yankees. Yankee Stadium is a cathedral of baseball. It prided itself on neutrality. It had unique dimensions that favored lefty hitters and pitchers, but remained neutral.
Now we play in a pinball machine where harmless pop flys go out of the park. We’re about to shatter last year’s HR total by the All-Star break this year!! Nobody sees anything wrong with that?
If Posada or Jeter get a walk off hit AJ is going to have to call the bullpen and ask Mo if a pie is allowed for the corporate oldies. I could picture Posada and his temper punching him lol. Then AJ can tell them that Mo the leader gave him permission. They should take away AJ’s whipped cream until he gets another win.
The problem with playing in a bandbox is it cheapens everybody’s stats. It also completely nullifies what we tried to create by signing these expensive pitchers.
“They should take away AJ’s whipped cream until he gets another win”
Excellent idea and I’m sure his teammates would agree lol
No need for good pitchers in a bandbox? Maybe we can trade CC to Japan for Rasner.
Hey, I haven’t read all these comments, but did anyone point out that Sam Borden’s math is wrong? “So, to sum up: That’s eight games, seven wins, four walkoffs.”
By my count, it is NINE games, EIGHT wins and four walkoffs.
Site’s having redirect issues again.
Pat m, are you around? What a day, huh? As good as it gets.
“I am curious about something regarding the homers: Yankee officials, including Girardi, seem sensitive to the idea that this park could yield a lot of home runs. So do some players (Jeter) and Yankee fans. Why so defensive? Who cares if it’s a bandbox? There are some parks in baseball where it’s easy to homer.”
I agree. It’s like they don’t want to admit the Emperor has no clothes on. Granted, the wind currents may well change once the old stadium is down, but right now it’s playing like Camden Yards North. The defensiveness (and total ignoring of statistical facts) by the Yankee brass is really annoying to me.
The home run factor at New Yankee Stadium:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....eason=2009
A-rod’s HR may have been out in both stadiums, but it was still a cheapie. Almost a check swing HR. lol.
m: I have to go to bed in a few minutes, but I’m still curious about something we discussed before. Do you think the Yankees were dishonest about the reason Wang was brought up to the big club on Friday?
m,I’m not cetain I’d cakk Alex’s dinger a cheapie…He muscled that pitch into a good stiff wind……Lakers bounced back nicely tonight….They may just sweep the series now
If Burnett and Pettitte make their pitches from time to time they’ll keep the ball in the yard.
Sabathia has made four starts at the new Stadium and has allowed one dinger despite only one good start – his last outing against the O’s.
Band Box. Gorebal Warming.
I’m not certain I’d call ….Damn percocets
Nick,
No, I don’t think they were dishonest. It just seemed like a panic move.
I still think that we could’ve gotten by with fresh relievers from Scranton.
If Joba makes his next start, when’s Wang going to get his work in?
Are they really making him a reliever until he starts? I think it would’ve been better to stick to the original plan.
Just saw it again on SC: not a cheapie to these eyes.
It was absolutely a panic move by the Yanks to activate Wang yesterday.
They obviously thought he wasn’t ready yet since he was headed for at least another start in Scranton – maybe more.
They had over two weeks before they had to activate him.
Now they have no choice but to let him figure things out in the bullpen – which makes things much harder.
Not a cheapie, but it definitely was an “excuse me” HR. He really caught up to it. I didn’t think we’d tie it up on his bat because he’s done it so many HR in such a short amount of AB. Law of averages thing.
But, like I said earlier. We are now seeing the difference between Alex with a good hip as compared to late last season. We are all witnesses.
On ESPN they just had an interview with Arod from after the game and you could see the WWE belt in his locker. lol
GF,
Thank you. A lot of people trying to rationalize what happened, but I’m not buying it.
I am encouraged, though, that Wang is on his way back. Besides, they have no choice but to stick him back in the rotation. I’ll predict that Hughes will stick around until Wang has a successful start.
Dayum. I’ll ask again. How is a baseball thrown by a pitcher hit over the fence by a batter a ‘cheapie’?
m: ok, fair enough. Earlier it sounded like you thought there was something fishy going on when it seemed very clear (to me) that the move was a reaction to circumstances. And it would be been fresh reliever in the singular from Scranton and not one able to go more than two innings in a non-reckless situation.
And if Joba makes the start, pencil Wang in for the 6th, 7th, maybe 8th if he’s on a roll.
LoHud commenter TW reports that a Taiwan baseball analyst is quoted as saying “after the game that he was upset that the Yankees hadn’t done much to get Wang fixed the right way. He suggested that his agent took the issue up with the Yankees on his behalf if language barrier was a problem.”
Young Master Hughes is here to stay for at least 2 more starts…..
Can someone explain the WWE belt thing to me?
Pat m,
What a game. I was yelling at the tv the whole game. Half the time at the Lakers, the other half at the officials.
I was worried about this game because the Thuggets play so well at home, but we got back home court advantage. Let’s hope the old axiom “the better team will win over a 7 game series” holds true.
Playing with house money on monday.
(something might be a mistake, but that doesn’t make it irrational; there are understandable and logical reasons for the move)
Goodnight!
With such a great comeback a la Lazarus in the bottom of the 9th, people are still complaining about the park?
Some people can’t just enjoy a win.
saw this comment on another board and thought it was really funny,
“A-Rod eats fruits, like Lidge, for breakfast.”
lol idk maybe its funny bc im in a good mood, anyways goodnight everyone!
what a great day to be a ny baseball fan!
We are enjoying the win. Some of us just wish the park played a little smaller because if it did, we probably wouldn’t need so many walkoffs to win games.
m, The Nuggets aside from Billups are thugs….However I look for The Lakers to come out tomorrow with a high degree of urgency as Phil Jackson got into several Lakers faces for loose play……Basically gave them a kick in their ares’s……
http://msn.foxsports.com/video.....ab234a3fbb
Type yankees in the video search near the bottom and click the CC sabathia interview. Its pretty good.
Melky’s quote as from Sam was
“I don’t like it,” Cabrera said, “but as long as we’re winning, I’ll take it.”
operate words…I’ll take it.
Pies are for walk offs only and you can be damned sure if Posada or Jeter gets the hit, they too will be cleaning off whipped cream.
In 96 Duncan had the clubhouse loose and said “We play today, we win today”
This team gives you championship belt when you contribute most to the win and you get a good natured pie when you drive in the walk off. Gotta love it.
Enjoy it Melky, your just an 0 for 10 from being out of the lineup……So enjoy now while you still can…..Maybe Melky;s head is swelling a tad….
UPDATE, 8:48 p.m.: A-Rod is on a bit of an Adam Dunn-ish streak here: Since he’s been back he’s got eight hits, six of which are homers, and he’s struck out eight times. Meanwhile, here comes Wang for his third-ever relief appearance.
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/200.....t-yankees/
————————————————————
You be sure to remind everyone when Dunn doesn’t have a career of striking out 33% of his at bats. 4018 at bats and 1303 strikeouts.
pat & betsy the yanks needs to dump melky ASAP! they don’t need a productive 4-5th outfielder.
Sam,
I agree, this has been one exciting stretch of games from the Bronx Bombers. It rivals the Boston Massacre II from 2006 when they took 5 out of 5 at Fenway. Good times.
You have been doing a great job covering for Pete. Thanks!
The homeruns Andy gave up were waist high right down the middle of the plate, it was no surprise to me to see either leave the ball park.
dunn strikes out 33 % for his career? that is a lot.
if we can just get boston out of our heads & if burnett can get it going.
right now he is the weak link.
The vast majority of home runs have been well out. I agree with the concept that no home run off a major league pitcher is cheap. Weren’t about 2/3 of Maris’ home runs betweenthe 296 sign and the 344 sign. Inever considered those cheap either.
bru
May 24th, 2009 at 8:13 am
dunn strikes out 33 % for his career? that is a lot.
Yeah, that’s in his at bats, not plate appearances. Striking out at a 33% rate when he doesn’t get hit by a pitch or walks is ugly. There are 24 players in major league history with 4,000 at bats that have a career batting average of .333 or better,
Steve Politi of the Newark Star Ledger has written a story in strong support of saving Gate 2. I hope a lot more people jump on that bandwagon.
About the Melky quote about not really liking the whipped cream in his face – I’d venture to say most people wouldn’t like the pie-ing either, from a pure “ickiness” factor. However, he did say as long as they’re winning, he’d certainly take it. That’s the important part of that statement, as far as team spirit goes. The ickiness only lasts until you wash your face, the good feelings about having done something to deserve it lasts far longer.
I’m also not bothered so much about Pettitte’s and Burnette’s comments about pitching in the stadium. First off, they are being asked questions. Second of all, I believe that when each of them takes the mound, they are pitching to the best of their abilities on any given day. I believe that in the moment they are not thinking, “if I don’t make this pitch it will go out.” I believe they are thinking about the batter, making the pitch – which is what they always think about. I do think that after the fact, after a game, they might reflect on whether or not the stadium is giving up HRs. And apparently it is a matter of concern for the team, since Girardi himself is referring to it. And by team, I mean the entire organization. Which is a good thing. This means they will be looking at this data in a comprehensive manner at the end of the season. And they will make a determination as to what, if anything can or should be done about it.
As I’ve said ad nauseum, and I apologize for that, it is absolutely senseless to continue to bring it up because they are not allowed to do anything about making structural changes to the stadium until after the season.
In the meantime, they need to continue to do what they should do anyway – minimize baserunners. Most of the time solo HRs are not gonna hurt you as much.
Great, great win yesterday. I hope the pitcher’s duel advertised between CC and Hamels goes as anticipated. You know how sometimes these hyped match-ups end up being disappointing. But it’s a gorgeous day. Whoever’s going today – enjoy!
“Hey, I dunno if you guys saw this, but K-Rod has been hospitalized from the pain due to the back spasms”
Caught the very end of the Met game last night and heard this report too. K-Rod was described on the broadcast as “collapsing” outside the locker room and being in tears. There’s also this:
http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....llpen.html
Back spasms, or lower back pain, comes from a lot of different things, from simple muscular problems to sciatic nerve issues and even worse; something else leads to the lower back pain.
K-Rod said it came on while he was getting his running in, so let’s hope Frankie is just in need of some muscle relaxers and stretching.
The best reliever related news of the evening, however, has to be Pabelbone’s implosion. The icing on the cake was seeing him come flying out of the dugout onto the field, a la George Brett in the pine tar incident, when the ump called Youk out at 2d in the 9th? LOL! What a tool.
Brandon “Would love to meet Tim McCarver under the Oneill banner”
May 24th, 2009 at 12:39 am
““Yes, that Austin something dude, yeah he can come and buy me some leche churros for desert….this is my job hombre.” ”
First off that’s a lie. Second, Melky will prbly be in RF or LF when Jackson arrives b/c when that kid arrives ain’t no one taking his spot. I hope Melky can continue to be what Choo is to the Indians for us.
=======
Stop comparing him to Choo. Choo is an awful fielder. He’s a guy they’re hiding in the corner. Cabrera is a legit CF who has a great arm, therefore has a great RF weapon.
Defensively, worlds apart.
Dan
May 24th, 2009 at 12:58 am
Now people are making up quotes about Melky LOL
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I believe this as much as that supposed “track star!” epithet supposedly directed at Gardner after Melky hit that WO HR off Giese.
Nonsense.
I’m still laughing at the replays showing Pooplebon bolting out of the Socks dugout like a raging fool.
The goof is no more than a John Rocker wannabe.
Don’t look now, but the AL East race has officially begun to heat up. 4 teams within 3.5 games of first place.
Can’t wait for Bruney to get back.
bru
May 24th, 2009 at 8:15 am
if we can just get boston out of our heads & if burnett can get it going.
right now he is the weak link.
=====
I do not buy for a minute the media-induced cockeyed idea that Boston is “in our heads.”
We always have a bad record vs them early, and then take the later series.
Fans and media are obsessed w/Boston – not the players.
I was at the game yesterday. Two great things happened.
1. My 21 year-old stepson fianlly opened up with me, and we had a great afternoon of talking about life, sprinkled with baseball. Before the game even started, I had a win.
2. The Yanks won in the 9th. We weren’t in our regular seats (weeknight, section 212), but had gotten online tix for section 433, past the LF pole. We were surrounded, about 50-50, by Phillies fans who had bussed in for the weekend. They’re better than Red Sox fans (not nearly as drunken and nasty), and some were pleasantly conversational, but they’re rooting was really starting to get on my nerves. Well, Alex’ shot shut them up real fast, and Robbie’s and Melky’s heroics sealed the deal.
We even got out of the garage in only 10 minutes. Got home in time to see Santos’ shot off Papelbon.
A great day all around.
Let’s win again today.
Joe from LI -
Sounds like you had a great day!
I have a step-family. While it was relatively easy for me with my step-dad, the sibling stuff was tougher for us all. It worked out very well over the years. I’m glad for you that you and your stepson had a winning day.
Doreen, Thanks for the support.
melky is really doing a great job this year.He’s not only hitting 320 but he’s been clutch as well.
yankees could be nm 1 in the Al East by the end of the day…wow
Joe from Long Island:
Great news, buddy. You’re obviously doing something right.
My daughter and her stepmom get along very well and it’s a wonderful thing for me to behold that they have their own relationship and that it makes both of them happy. Only thing is that my daughter is a…. Mets fan.
Where did I go wrong?
Joe from Long Island
May 24th, 2009 at 9:31 am
I was at the game yesterday. Two great things happened.
1. My 21 year-old stepson fianlly opened up with me, and we had a great afternoon of talking about life, sprinkled with baseball. Before the game even started, I had a win
==========
This is why I like this site. (Of course, I would have preferred “talking baseball, sprinkled with life
).