Sabathia keeps it loose before the game
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on May 30, 2009 
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One of baseball’s many unwritten rules is that you’re not supposed to talk to the starting pitcher before the game. The reasoning, I suppose, is that the starter has such a monumental task ahead of him that he needs his full powers of concentration.
Then you have CC Sabathia.
At 5 p.m. today, he was on a couch in the clubhouse playing old-school Nintendo RBI Baseball against Brian Bruney. It was a rematch of the 1986 World Series with CC as the Red Sox and Bruney as the Mets.
Sabathia crushed Bruney, using video Roger Clemens to hum fastballs by Wally Backman, Darryl Strawberry and Keith Hernandez. Meanwhile Brett Gardner, Robbie Cano and other players were offering commentary on the game.
Then Sabathia went out and threw seven solid innings against the Indians. That’s no coincidence, said Joe Girardi.
“I think that’s a good personality to have. That means he’s relaxed and he’s not over-thinking when he goes out there. He’s not putting a lot of pressure on himself,” Girardi said. “He’s the same guy every day and I think that’s why guys love him so much. He’s such a great teammate.”
Here’s CC’s postgame interview:
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Here’s Jorge Posada, too:
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If you listen closely in the background, you can hear Derek Jeter being an agitator. As Posada talks to reporters, Jeter is ready to leave and he yells out at one point, “Hey, Larry King, let’s go!”
Them Yankees are in a good mood. Girardi said the team is playing the best they’ve played since he became manager. Posada said it’s the best since 2006. It’s hard to disagree when you look at pitching, offense and defense.
I am glad I was too little to know much about baseball in 1986. If there was ever a rematch between those two teams in the World Series, I would have to root for the Mets. And I’d rather move to Canada.
YAY!
Woohoo, today’s my birthday! No matter what happens this afternoon, I can still celebrate the Yankees being in first place.
Unless there are rainouts, the Subway Series should be
Burnett vs. Maine
Pettitte vs. Livan
Sabathia vs. Santana (wow!)
Of course, a lot could change. Oliver Perez could come back, we could slide Wang into the rotation etc.
Heh, I was actually born during the seventeen-inning game between the Mets and ‘Stros in the LCS that year. Legend has it, my mom was in labor and my dad was telling her to pipe down because he couldn’t hear the game.
Anyway, good showing tonight. Hopefully the homer is a sign of Swisher getting out of his funk and onto another hot streak. Also, where are the idiots declaring CC a bust four starts into the contract now?
http://kimberlyjones.mlblogs.c....._clev.html
Lots of guys were keeping it loose today, lol…….What is a Cornhole bean bag game?
LOL at Tex………
As to Phil (for some reason, I couldn’t post in the other thread), I will just be happy with a solid performance (don’t expect another Texas-type game)……no matter what the Yankees do against Pavano. I just want to see Phil continue to progress…….
LEBRON JAMES CANNOT PITCH THE 8TH INNING!!!
the final piece of the puzzle would be to cut Veras and Berroa
From Newsday:
Sitting in an empty stall next to Posada’s locker in the visitor’s clubhouse here is a Newsday back page from May 17, 2006.
“By Jorge!” it reads. “Posada HR in ninth caps Yanks’ 14-13 comeback win.”
The picture is of Mark Teixeira, then with Texas, crashing into Posada on a play at the plate, with Teixeira leading with his left forearm.
The reprint of the page is enclosed in glass. Teixeira said he received it from his sister, who was living in New York at the time. Teixeira recently inscribed the print and gave it to Posada.
“Thanks for your forgiveness,” it reads. “Now we are best friends!” (signed) Mark Teixeira.
Funny that you bring up LBJ, Nick. Making Joba a one-inning reliever so he can be the next Mo would be like making Bron a fifteen-minute/night spot-up jump shooter so he could be the next Robert Horry.
It’s good to be in first.
Rebecca-Optimist Prime
May 31st, 2009 at 12:28 am
It’s good to be in first.
woooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yankees magic number : 112
When did the Yankees reach first place? I stopped watching 3 weeks ago because of all of the talk about the season being over.
From Kim Jones’ Blog –
“Last night, we walked with Mariano from the clubhouse to the team bus. We had to go through the Indians family room and up a flight of stairs. At the base of the steps, a young Cleveland player and his wife were struggling with their baby’s stroller. The player was holding their sleepy daughter and the wife couldn’t manage to lift the stroller on the steps. So Mariano did what a lot of people wouldn’t have — he carried the stroller up the stairs. You should have seen the looks on the faces of the Indians player and his wife. They were completely in awe. Mariano and the couple exchanged some words in Spanish and then he got on the bus.”
Mariano is amazing. He’s such a classy guy and I feel so lucky to have been able to watch him pitch all these years. Sure wouldn’t see Papelbon doing that.
I was camping in Bear mtn during 86 series. Was one of those moments that you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing. Driving on rt 17 during Buckner fiasco.
So, Nick, you think LeBron should be a starting pitcher then? Brilliant! Then we could move Joba to the 8th!
“So Mariano did what a lot of people wouldn’t have—he carried the stroller up the stairs.”
what? I’m sorry I’ve never seen that happen. People help out people with babies and their strollers all the time. Is it nice, yes, but it’s not something oh so amazing.
veras and berroa for a mcdonalds dollar menu
I’ve always believed chemistry affects a team’s performance in tangible ways. I think this group feels like they belong together and everyone has a stake in the achievements of the team. If you look at the RBI totals of all the players, they’re all within close range of one another. The pie-in-the-face ritual seems to have obliterated the corporate seriousness that has plagued teams of recent past. CC took the Yankees to watch the Cavs play. What happens shortly thereafter? The team puts up 10 runs for CC. Coincidence? Mabye, maybe not. This team has a different feel and it’s all good.
Looks like I missed a good game. I like the direction we’re headed and the one Boston’s headed as well!
Cornhole? Isn’t that a beanbag type of game? Some athlete was so into it, that he had a celebrity cornhole tourney and the other athletes loved it. I want to say Carson Palmer?
And love that story about Tex & Posada. LOL. BFF.
Bret,
I couldn’t agree more. I love the chemistry on this team. Somehow, good chemistry has a way of making a team better. What more could you ask for than a team that’s winning and having so much fun with each other? You know that every one of them has each other’s backs, it’s awesome to see.
>Sure wouldn’t see Papelbon doing that.
Well, if you need a towel, he’ll be more than happy to toss you one.
I love cornhole! It’s a staple at college tailgating. Here’s a picture of some people playing:
http://www.unturned.net/blog_images/cornhole.jpg
Basically, you and a partner try to beat the other team to 25 (the winning score differs) by at least 2. You get 3 points if the bean bag goes through the hole and 1 point if it lands on the board.
Haha, considering that Larry King threw out the pitch last Saturday, that “Larry King” line suggests he was in the clubhouse before the game and wouldn’t shut up to the players.
Kara
May 31st, 2009 at 1:08 am
I love cornhole! It’s a staple at college tailgating. Here’s a picture of some people playing:
http://www.unturned.net/blog_images/cornhole.jpg
Basically, you and a partner try to beat the other team to 25 (the winning score differs) by at least 2. You get 3 points if the bean bag goes through the hole and 1 point if it lands on the board.
———
horseshoes for the squemish?
I couldn’t bear to watch the 86 series..tuned it out completely. I had some satisfaction knowing that the RS blew it again though. My only solace.
wow BC and Texas are in the 23rd inning!!! sj’s nephew must be tired
you can watch the game on ncaa.com
wow 24th inning.. insanity
I was just reading about the UT/BC game and apparently the Texas closer threw 169 pitches. Yikes!
ANDY PETTITTE CANNOT PITCH THE 24TH INNING!!!
The Texas closer threw 169 pitches?
Yikes. He’s been Proctorized!
I wonder if the manager will make a dumb comment like “he might be unavailable tomorrow”
Proctorized? Not even Joe could do that much damage. That’s Dusty/Prior, circa 2003 right there.
“CC took the Yankees to watch the Cavs play. What happens shortly thereafter? The team puts up 10 runs for CC. Coincidence? Mabye, maybe not.”
Yes. Very, very big coincidence. Very.
I love posts like these. This is what makes you a cut above the rest, Pete. Thanks for the great inside the clubhouse info.
Keep up the great team mojo, Go Yankees!
This is really cool and I love how they play new before playing in their games. Talk about a way to warm up for a game. We sometimes crack out the video games while college tailgating its great.