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Please sign for me, Chipper

Peter Abraham
June
25

chipperIf you grew up in New York, you had your choice of baseball teams to root for. But what if you grew up in Nebraska?

For Joba Chamberlain, the solution was on television.

It’s amazing how many big leaguers grew up fans of the Atlanta Braves. Thanks to so many of their games being on TBS from 1972-2007, it was easy to get to know the Braves. Plus Atlanta had such good teams during the decade of the 1990s.

During the pre-satellite TV era, Atlanta was MLB’s national team in terms of television coverage.

For Joba, facing Chipper Jones last night was the thrill of a lifetime. He even asked Chipper to sign a jersey for him before the game.

“Man,” he said. “Chipper Jones. That was my favorite player. Nice guy, too.”

David Robertson, who grew up in Alabama, said he and all his friends were Braves fans. Phil Hughes remembers seeing Braves games on TBS when he got home from school. Nick Swisher, too. For those guys, playing against the Braves is a big deal.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at 10:30 am by Peter Abraham.
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103 Responses to “Please sign for me, Chipper”

  1. Wait till they come to OUR house AGAIN

    World Series rematch baby.

    Let’s make it a threepeat!

  2. Patrick

    The Braves were the team of the 90’s until the Yanks started winning championships. I’ve always had a ton of respect for them.

  3. scoopemup

    Show you the power cable networks had.Sort of like the 30’s and 40’s when the Cards and Yanks Blanketed the airwaves.

  4. Tommy H

    Joba said something, laughing, to Chipper as he walked off the mound after Chipper’s “great peice of hitting” earlier in the inning- wonder what he said…

  5. Wait till they come to OUR house AGAIN

    Repost: You realize what a weird game yesterday was?

    Getting perfect gamed through five innings (despite their starter getting knocked out w/a line drive by OUR starter).

    Having our first baserunner picked off but not really.

    Getting our manager ejected.

    Tying the game w/the backup catcher’s first HR.

    Having the coldest hitter in the league up w/the bases loaded and getting the big hit.

    Scoring five more runs so that we ended up w/more runs in four innings than in the past two games and five innings combined.

    Having Mo bat.

    Hope this game was a turning point!

  6. Hokiehill

    yeah, the Braves being great in the 90s made having their AAA team in town (Richmond Braves) a lot of fun as well…it’s a shame the bunch of clowns we have running this city couldn’t manage to build a new ball park while amazingly Gwinnet Georgia and their 10 people found a way to get it done very quicly…don’t suppose any Yankee minor league teams want to move into a decrepit ballpark with poor attendance anytime soon?

  7. Angel Berroa

    The Braves are a joke. They let the Mets get ahead of them in the standings.

  8. Arenoso

    I grew up in Puerto Rico and I used to rush from school to catch the Braves and Cubs on cable. My grandfather was an avid Mets fan and i used to tell him: “Why do you like them? They suck!”

  9. Brandon... "Farve 3, NFL FRUSTRATED RETIRE ALREADY FANS 0"

    The Braves will take over the lead in the NL East soon.

  10. Andrew

    Being pretty much the same age as all the guys Pete cites (Joba, D-Rob, Hughes), during the Braves’ glory days a lot of the baseball-loving youth seemed to be split between idolizing Jeter or idolizing Chipper (not to be gender-specific, but especially a lot of the girls back in those days were big fans of one or both of those guys). It’s probably a big north vs. south split, in terms of allegiances. Funny, though, to see the Yankees’ young guys showing some love for Lar-ry.

  11. raymagnetic

    “The Braves will take over the lead in the NL East soon.”

    Not with that offense.

  12. Rishi

    funny stuff:

    http://deadspin.com/5302236/to.....-joe-mauer

  13. Whatever

    Joba has good taste in ballplayers. I also think he wishes he were in the NL so he could hit. Of course, he might get thrown at a few times, but I’m not sure that would bother him.

    He did well up there yesterday, especially with the bunt. Also hustled down to first whenver he could. Kid loves to play ball.

  14. Sony

    Yep. Even my boss’s 19-year-old son got hooked on the Braves via TBS, and he’s from Jersey. It’s funny to think about (and makes me feel pretty darn old), but maybe the Yankee championship years were just slightly before his time.

  15. tampayank

    great atmosphere last night at the game, lots of Yanks fans…maybe it’s b/c schools is out for the kids but the last few road night games have been great

  16. Brandon... "Farve 3, NFL FRUSTRATED RETIRE ALREADY FANS 0"

    “Not with that offense.”

    Solid SP, a better BP than the 3 out of the 4 teams in thier division. Chipper, McCann, McLouth, Escobar. Watch.

  17. Boogie Down Bob

    Great night for Cervelli last night. His homerun really sparked the offense, and the team overall.

    It’s going to be interesting next year to see how the Yankees catching situation takes shape.

    Things certainly would be much easier for all involved if Posada only got a 3 year extension instead of that 4 year deal he got.

  18. Patrick

    Brandon,

    With the massive injuries the Mets have I could definitely see the Braves make some noise in that division. I like their team – especially the pitching.

  19. Andrew

    The question for the Braves is will Chipper be on the field consistently to remain an anchor in the middle of their lineup throughout the summer. His body has not cooperated in the last few years, which has not helped the Braves’ chances.

  20. Brandon W

    Whatever,

    I agree with you about Joba loving to play ball. He usually does pretty well fielding his position (he’s made some nice plays covering home, for example) except for a couple throwing errors (like last night). He also seems to enjoy batting.

    When I see Joba play, I see a ballplayer, not just a pitcher. He may not have the most athletic build, but that doesn’t mean he can’t do more than just pitch. He gives it his all every time.

    That’s a big part of why Joba is my favorite Yankee. I’m not saying he’s the only one on the team that’s like that, but it stands out. Also, I personally like the fist pump and such. People get up in arms because it seems like he’s showing other guys up, but I see it as him getting into the game and going with his emotions. It makes him look human, which I like.

  21. Reggie Miller

    All I know is this blog is much more attractive without having to listen to Trisha with her always rosy outlook and not seeing through the smoke and mirrors. Sometimes it’s good to talk about the “bad” things about a team.

  22. Vincent

    I’ve been living in Atlanta for a while and the Braves have the least passionate and knowledgeable fans in the game.

    It was fun being there last night. Looking forward to tonight and psyching Garrett Anderson out again.

  23. Steve B

    “Solid SP, a better BP than the 3 out of the 4 teams in thier division. Chipper, McCann, McLouth, Escobar. Watch.”

    Pretty easy group to pitch to after their 1st 4 hitters. They need one more bat IMO. Back end of the pen is excellent. On days like yesterday when they had to go to the pen early, they are a little exposed. Starting pitching is probably the best in the NL East, though if Ricky Nolasco finds his groove, and it’s looking a little like he might, it may not be as strong as the Marlins.

  24. Reggie Miller

    Just curious what would be said if he was talking about being a Red Sox fan.

  25. raymagnetic

    “Solid SP, a better BP than the 3 out of the 4 teams in thier division. Chipper, McCann, McLouth, Escobar. Watch.”

    They have one of the worst offenses in the league. i don’t care how solid their starting pitching is. You have to be able to score runs and the Braves can’t.

  26. DB

    Following the AL primarily my whole life, Chipper is one of those players that you don’t appreciate until you see him in action. What a good hitter. The way he set up Joba last night for that poke down the left field line was classic.

  27. Whatever

    We agree, Brandon. Who can forget the bellyflop in Cleveland to catch that bunt? His enthusiasm and taste for the war is a huge part of his popularity.

  28. Sean Serritella

    “Just curious what would be said if he was talking about being a Red Sox fan”

    Reggie Miller, if he ever said that, then I would look at him suspiciously the rest of his career. Even if he was a Red Sox fan, I don’t think he’d ever admit it because he knows about the hatred between fans.

  29. Rob

    I couldnt agree more with that, obviously i was a diehard yanks fan but i used to love watching braves games, i actually was wondering the other day why i havent seen their games on TBS lately too bad they stopped doin that it was cool watchin NL games

  30. DB

    Atlanta has scored more runs than the Cubs, who would have thought that? McLouth, Chipper, and McCann are bonafide hitters.

  31. Brandon... "Farve 3, NFL FRUSTRATED RETIRE ALREADY FANS 0"

    “Brandon,

    With the massive injuries the Mets have I could definitely see the Braves make some noise in that division. I like their team – especially the pitching.”

    Ppl keep thinking they are the sisters of the poor, IMO they are pretty solid offensively, they need one more bat to make noise in that division. Wren has really improved that roster.

  32. raymagnetic

    “Just curious what would be said if he was talking about being a Red Sox fan.”

    Phil Hughes grew up a Red Sox fan, so did the Yankees first pick in the draft this year.

  33. Hokiehill

    Pete’s a Sux fan but we get along with him just fine, for the most part

  34. DB

    So after all that debate about frenchy and swisher, they both hit homeruns last night. Swisher did have the catch of the night though. Man, he makes almost every play an adventure. I voted for Swisher for the Chevy Player of the Game. I’d like for him to not have any more vapor locks before he is off my poop list. He’s got a week’s reprieve from me.

  35. Brandon... "Farve 3, NFL FRUSTRATED RETIRE ALREADY FANS 0"

    “Just curious what would be said if he was talking about being a Red Sox fan.”

    We’d say look at that Red Sox fan shutting down the team he rooted for.

    You do know Carl Pavano was a diehard Yankees fan right ? :lol:

  36. raymagnetic

    “So after all that debate about frenchy and swisher, they both hit homeruns last night. ”

    That’s what always happens on this blog. Any player who get hammered during the day on here will more than likely have a spectacular night at the plate.

  37. YanksFan09

    I think “Chipper, sign my shirt” was the pick up line that Hooters waitress used on him in ‘95. The rest is history.

  38. JT

    I wonder if Joba wears high socks because of Chipper Jones. When I was a kid, we all started wearing high socks cause Chipper was doing it. Even though we were Yankees and Mets fans.

  39. Trevor

    “You do know Carl Pavano was a diehard Yankees fan right?”

    And Gerrit Cole…

  40. sab

    not sure who on this blog said Mclouth was a liability in the outfied but he looked pretty darn good chasing down those 2 gappers – unlike swisher, damon and even melky and gardner at times as it looiks like they are walking in quiksand while backing up on a fly ball..

    sometimes watching a player play will tell you more than checking out the geek defensive stats (UZR, DOA, MIA etc..)

    oh and he looked good batting as well…

    Francessa signing out….

  41. sab

    raymagnetic
    June 25th, 2009 at 11:39 am
    “So after all that debate about frenchy and swisher, they both hit homeruns last night. ”

    That’s what always happens on this blog. Any player who get hammered during the day on here will more than likely have a spectacular night at the plate.

    =========================================================
    God i hate the way jeter, damon, tex, arod, cano, swisher, gardner and cervelli approach the art of hitting – i wish we could sit them all down and/or trade them for the entire houston astros players!!!!

  42. Dan

    If the Giants don’t want him, then trade Matsui to the Braves to give them some offensive firepower.

  43. Andrew

    “If the Giants don’t want him, then trade Matsui to the Braves to give them some offensive firepower.”

    How could either of these teams want Matsui when he can’t even play the field for 2 weeks during interleague play? They aren’t paying 13 million (or whatever is left on his deal this year) for a pinch hitter.

  44. Steve B

    “If the Giants don’t want him, then trade Matsui to the Braves to give them some offensive firepower.”

    All the reasons this won’t happen are covered at:

    hecantplaythefield.com

    and

    hestoomuchmoney.com

  45. DB

    sab, nice try bro. I wish it was that easy to get these guys to it. Sometimes it makes you wonder if the players read this blog though.

    I’m still a little curious as to what Girardi and Cashman said to Swisher in that meeting yesterday. The lineup change made it even more curious. Melky wasn’t hurt since he did pinchhit later in the game and roped a double.

  46. DB

    Nady played right field last night in Scranton and went 1 for 3 with a double.

    Help is on the way.

  47. The Ghost

    So Pete you didn’t ask Joba, Robertson, Swisher et al the obvious question – did they hate the Yankees growing up because of ‘96 and ‘99?

  48. DB

    Who gets released / sent down when Nady comes back? They need Ransom as a utility guy who can play a lot of positions. Pena can play SS, 3b, and 2b. They obviously don’t need 5 OF’s and 1 exclusive DH. The gutsy move would be to release Matsui. The probable move would be to send Pena down.

  49. sab

    DB – i honestly thought (hoped) that melky was going to get traded to KC (coco crisp gone for the year) when that lineup change went down last night – i actually went nuts for awhile and envisioned something like melky, melancon, and 2 other arms for teahen and soria – but then my senses kicked backed in and figured it was just another “much ado about nothing” scenario

  50. Bronx Jeers

    Ted Turner sure made a great business model.

    I never disliked the Braves then again who can hate the team that layed down like lambs for us.

    I know ARod grew up a Met fan but his favorite player was Dale Murphy.

  51. DB

    sab, been a lot of talk about DeRosa from there too. Something does smell a little rotten in Denmark lately

  52. aase and aardsma

    I’ve followed this blog for a long time without commenting, because for the most part it’s filled with interesting discussion. My family moved to Maine from Philadelphia in 1967, the year of the “Impossible Dream,” and I could not HELP but become a Red Sox fan at a young, impressionable age. I missed the 40s and 50s and didn’t really start to root against the Yankees until 1978. I have a lot of Yankee fan friends, and I enjoy talking baseball with them. This whole “troll” business is puzzling to me. I think a lot of people my age in different parts of the country became Yankee fans in the 50s and 60s because only one game a week was on TV and it was usually the Yankees against somebody. I admit I started watching the Braves on TBS in the 1980s when they STUNK (the Dale Murphy, Rick Mahler years), and though I hadn’t ever cared about them I started kinda liking them. So when they got good in ‘91 I found myself rooting for them. Now I’m back to not caring.

    Two observations: A lot of Sox fans like me started disliking the Yankees in the early days of free agency when Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter et al signed with NY and they won. It’s gratifying that the NYY can’t seem to do the same thing with A-Rod, Randy Johnson, Sheffield, and the other big-name free agents they’ve signed since 2003. People root against the Yankees because of all that money. This year the new stadium and the 3 big FA signings in the midst of a recession give us more reason. The 1996-2000 teams were easier to admire than hate, as they had good players like Paul O’Neill, Bernie Williams, and the then-young core of Jeter, Posada, Rivera, etc. The second observation is that the Red Sox are the new Yankees, a well put-together TEAM that doesn’t need a superstar at every position. Mark Bellhorn was our long-awaited answer to Bucky Dent: a player who basically sucks most of the time but that you gotta love. His homer in game 6 basically ended GENERATIONS of frustration. If we say bad things about the Yankees, it’s only because we have suffered much at their hands. It’s good to have the shoe on the other foot.

    But I’m not here to talk smack, but baseball. I can hope the Yankees lose, but admit that a young pitcher like Joba Chamberlain is scary good. I watched the game earlier this season when the Red Sox got to him in the first inning and couldn’t touch him thereafter. I enjoy seeing A-Rod fail and am glad he didn’t sign with Boston. Pedroia and Yook aren’t superstars, but they’re gamers. Johnny Damon is a gamer. Too bad he’s past his prime, and I’m really sorry he’s a Yankee. For the record, I think it’s shameful that he’s booed in Fenway Park, after what he did in 2004. I’m hoping my man Derek Lowe pitches a good game tonight.

  53. Andrew

    My guess at the Nady roster move is the DFA’ing of Brett Tomko. Pena is too valuable defensively to go to the minors, since Cody Ransom as the only back-up infielder would be a defensive nightmare. They could also send Robertson to AAA because he has options, which would keep them from losing Tomko but be an idiotic subtraction from the bullpen even though D-Rob has gotten slightly dinged in his last two appearances. But, worry about that when Nady is ready I suppose.

  54. sab

    DB – derosa plays for the indians but i would think he’d help just as well as teahen – although i don’t think cleveland has anyone as good as soria (veras maybe? now that he’s pitching somewhere else)

  55. TIME FOR #27

    What is it with atlanta? our back up catchers always seem to hit big home runs there….

  56. RockinDaBronx

    TBS should have kept the Braves on there, I would always watch them when nothing was on the tube, which was pretty much all the time. Dale was always fun to watch and then seeing emergence of the greatest pitch staff ever assembled, along with a kid called Chipper. Dont wanna forget Ted either, every baseball team needs a oddball owner.

  57. Denise

    Bobby Cox won as voted by the MLB players: “Manager I’d most like to play for” and you can’t vote for your own manager, and 25% voted Bobby Cox.

    Joe Torre came in second with around 15%

  58. Bronx Jeers

    aase and aardsma,

    Nice post.

    Your thoughts are always welcome here.

  59. Angel Berroa

    Go away you Yankee hater.

  60. DB

    I was a little worried about Soria since he went on the dl earlier with shoulder problems. Not to mention, he is a complete stud and would command half the farm in a trade.

    Oof, forgot about Tomko. They can definetely afford to dfa that guy. Ace and Hughes can give you more than one inning if needed. Robertson is a little suspect lately and Bruney is our defacto 8th inning guy. 5 guys enough for the pen?

  61. DB

    forgot abot coke, sorry. that would give us 11 guys..more than enough

  62. Andrew

    DB I say 5 guys is enough in the pen as long as the starters keep rolling like they have been lately, especially CC proving he’s healthy Friday night. If Marte ever comes back things get tricky in terms of who stays and who goes but that seems a long ways off, but after Nady (and then Molina) returns the roster is basically back at full strength for the first time all year.

  63. Steve B

    A & A:

    Interesting post. For all the talk of a decades old rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox, I think it might be safe to say that it’s only been truly heated in short spurts over the years. 1948-1950, mid to late 70’s and 2003-present. I have friends who are Red Sox fans who tell me the what you’re saying about the 1995-2000 Yankees. They just felt they were a group that was hard to dislike but easy to respect.

  64. DB

    aase and aardsma, very nice intelligent post. But, since you are posting on a Yankees blog, allow me to retort.

    I never understood why someone would go to a rivals blog or website to even read it. I have no desire to read a RS blog, let alone a Met’s one. But, to each his own.

    Never having rooted for a team that has met with opposition that has utterly dominated them through the span of 80 years I can see how fans could get infatuated with the Yankees. All I can say is enjoy the past 5 years sir. Boston has a long way to go to catch up to the Capital of the World.

  65. m

    Good morning, guys.

    *Pete, thanks for the friendly reminder on the rules. Long overdue for the restless natives.

    *Did Joba knock Kawashima out of the game? Chipper “got on” Joba for that.

    *People, Swish said Joe fired up the team with his ejection.

    *Alex got his key hit, because he watched a ton of video and knew that guy’s tendency was to try to blow his blazing fastball on 0-2. Alex finally guessed right. Unless Pena was yelling that stuff at him during his Rocky moment.

    *The Duke comment was cute, but someone did a study and Duke was best at producing pro players. That’s historically, so don’t need to jump all over me. And that’s without the one and dones.

  66. SJ44

    Steve,

    You left out one other:

    hehasafullnotradeclause.com.

    McClouth is not a good CF. He made a nice play last night. There is a difference.

    Last week, he misplayed two balls that cost the Braves runs.

    Any player in baseball can look good for one or two nights. You judge them over the long haul and over the long haul, McClouth is not a good defensive CF.

  67. Steve B

    “*The Duke comment was cute, but someone did a study and Duke was best at producing pro players.”

    Yes, but where do they rate at producing GOOD pro players?

  68. m

    Steve B,

    HaHa. You could do worse than drafting a Duke player.

  69. SJ44

    They aren’t going to go to 11 pitchers. If/when Nady is ready, it probably means Pena goes to AAA to play SS everyday for the rest of the year.

    AL teams, especially the Yankees, need 12 pitchers. 5 starters, a combo guy (Aceves), a closer (Mo) and 5 other guys (Robertson, Coke, Bruney, Tomko and Hughes) in the pen.

    If they get rid of Tomko, it would be to add another bullpen arm (Marte, Dunn or Melancon) to the mix.

  70. Tom in N.J.

    Who has been the best college for producing NBA players over the past decade or so?

  71. m

    Oh, yeah one more bullet point.

    Jennings had some good stuff on Nady. How he tried to warm up, warm down, and go out again.

    But alas, Nady was disappointed that not a single ball came his way.

  72. Andrew

    But McLouth more than makes up for his statistical not-that-greatness with his Paul O’Neill-iness, apparently.

  73. DB

    I also can’t understand how Boston gets a free pass with money. All the Yankees did was take the money they earned from their Championship Dynasty and dump it right back into the Team and Stadium.

    The Red Sox make almost as much money as the Yankees but, the Yankees are vilified for putting it back into it’s players. Red Sox are louded for making smart baseball decisions (albiet have two rings to prove it) but, didn’t want to spend a few extra million to lock up the best player on the market.

    Indeed, if there is an MT curse and karmic resolution means anything in this universe, Mark Tiexiera will have the last laugh.

  74. Andrew

    SJ that to me makes no sense re: the roster move for Nady. Pena is not going to become a better major leaguer by playing every day in AAA, plus he brings so much more to the table as a reserve in the majors thanks to his superior glove and the fact that he can be called on to pinch run and steal a base when necessary. Ransom? He isn’t doing any of those things, he’s a AAA DH masquerading as a utility infielder.

    Don’t they in essence have 3 similar guys in Aceves, Hughes and Tomko, in that they can all fluctuate between short relief and pitching 3 innings? So why keep 3 similar guys around? Tomko is the weakest link by far of that group, which is why I think he should go. I say let the situation dictate if they absolutely need to carry 12 pitchers. If the rotation keeps pitching into the 6th or 7th innings of games, the need for 12 arms isn’t there. However if there is a bad stretch where two starters get KO’ed early in the same week, I can understand 12 pitchers.

  75. Angel Berroa

    Getting Marky is the best thing we could ever do at 1B. I hope Red Sox “Nation” burns to the ground.

  76. Steve B

    “The Red Sox make almost as much money as the Yankees but, the Yankees are vilified for putting it back into it’s players”

    DB:

    They don’t make anywhere close to what the Yankees do.

  77. Angel Berroa

    They don’t? Well good, we’re better. :)

  78. DB

    Well, it really would be a rare instance that you absolutely have to have 2 back up infielders. But, I just can’t see carrying 6 people who can play the outfield and 1 who can’t play anywhere. (Ransom can play OF too.)

  79. SJ44

    DB,

    Its the hypocrisy re: the Red Sox from the mainstream media.

    They still push the “little engine that could” storylines with the Red Sox and they are as every bit a large market team as the Yankees. In some ways, moreso.

    Its funny, the Yankees are “awful” for spending 180 million dollars on Mark Teixeira. However, the Red Sox would have been “smart” in the eyes of Peter Gammons and the rest of the mainstream media if they signed Tex for the 172 million that was on the table for him in that fateful meeting he had in Dallas with Sox ownership.

    Its why those who get riled up about the generalities the ESPN boys and others in the mainstream media make about the Yankees and Red Sox can’t be taken seriously.

    Its all contrived controversy and nothing more.

    Today is a perfect example of contrived controversy in the media involving the Yankees.

    Tony Pena is now a “leader of men” because he did what Joe Girardi told him to do last night.

    All of a sudden, because they won a game and ARod delivered a big hit, Pena now should be the manager.

    You have talk show clowns actually trying to sell last night as some momentus occasion in Yankeeland.

    That’s what passes for “sports talk” these days.

    Its why a generation of fans are so dumb when it comes to talking about sports. They get their “information” from talk show hosts who are dumber than they are, which is saying something.

  80. Mark in Tampa

    Why doesn’t TBS show Braves games anymore? Did Turner sell the team or something? Or did he sell TBS?

  81. SJ44

    Andrew,

    Pena’s future in the majors is as a SS. He also needs AB’s. He can’t do both in NY at this time.

    If he was 27-28, with no major league future, you keep him around as a utility guy.

    However, he’s only 23. If he can get a little stronger physically and at the plate, he has a chance to hit .270-.280 and be an everyday SS in the majors because of his glove.

    For those who think he can’t get to that level offensively, Omar Vizquel was as bad a hitter as there could be early in his career. He worked at it and became a much better hitter and, IMO, that will punch his ticket to Cooperstown.

    A kid like Pena needs to play everyday. Veteran guys like Ransom (or DeRosa, or someone else) are the guys you use in utility roles because they are better suited to being used to not playing everyday.

    Pena’s career is better served by getting 150-200 AB’s the rest of the year in AAA. It will make him a better player in the long run, IMO.

  82. Patrick

    Funny how quiet the blog is after the Yankees win..

  83. sab

    Mclouth was a golden glove winner in 2008 – now i know that at times golden gloves are handed out like lollipops at the doctors office but you can’t be THAT bad in the OF and win a GG – can you?

    also i looked at the route he took to the ball (gardner takes bad routes) and how he glided without hesitation (melky isn’t as smooth) – those are things you can’t teach – i would assume – and are natural traits –

    i’m no expert but the way he caught those balls yesterday seems to me he isn’t as bad as people may think…he’s no BJ Upton but he’s more BJ upton then johnny damon –

    johnny damon is a bad outfielder

  84. SJ44

    Ted Turner sold the team 7 years ago to Time Warner. They decided to take the games off TBS and put them on their own regional sports network, now called Peachtree TV.

  85. S.o.S.

    Whats up fellas. So i leave for a few days and all hell breaks loose. Pete having to post common sense recess rules and the yanks till yesterday forgetting to bring their bats to the box.

    BFF,
    Im back on the Spurs wagon. Getting rid of 3 old farts and picking up a 29 years old all star just made them young again. I still think they are going to look to trade Manu.

  86. DB

    Are you sure about that Steve B.?

    The Yankees Net Worth is 1.5 billion and the Red Sox is 1.1 Billion. The Yankees have a negative liquidity last year and are worth that much because of the stadium. Where is Boston spending a billion dollars?

  87. Patrick

    Agreed with SJ44, it’s best for Pena’s future (and maybe the Yankees’ future) if he goes down to AAA and plays every day.

    The Yanks can live with Ransom at SS or 3B once in awhile. I’d like to replace Ransom with someone like DeRosa, especially if A-rod can’t play much but I’m okay with Pena going down.

  88. SJ44

    Rafael Palmeiro once won a Gold Glove at first base for playing a grand total of 12 games at the position. Hosed Tino out for the award that year.

    He’s not a good OF. Average at best. Melky is a better CF than McClouth. I’d like to see Gardner by the end of the year, once he’s been around the ballpark and I bet (with the exception of his arm) he will also be as good as McClouth.

  89. CompassRosy

    ***I never understood why someone would go to a rivals blog or website to even read it.***

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    DB ~

    I know your comment wasn’t directed at me, but since I am a fan of a team other than the Yankees and read this blog often (post only occasionally) I’ll try to explain my rationale….

    The first fan forum I ever read/posted on was the Yankee Forum on the NY Times in 2001 – although it was quite by happenstance. I had gone to the online paper originally to get news about 9/11 and came upon the forum there and started reading/posting during the ALCS. Obviously, it was a very disappointing post season for my team, but I was hooked on the forum (and read/posted there until it’s demise a couple of years ago).

    since then, I have “settled in” at what I think is a great M’s forum and that’s where I “hang out” for the most part. But, I continue to visit rival sites (especially a particular Angel forum) because I enjoy being informed about my teams competition.

    Am I really that odd?

  90. Hokiehill

    I don’t know as much as most and I wouldn’t be suprised if they were wrong or just making stuff up, but the ESPN announcers last night kept praising Mclouth for his high fielding percentage…

  91. SJ44

    DB,

    The Yankees “losses” are creative accounting. They just funnel their profits through the YES Network and not the baseball team.

    While John Henry likes to cry poormouth, and the media gladly joins in, the Red Sox are a money machine and every bit as profitable as the Yankees.

  92. MaineYankee

    S.o.S.
    June 25th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
    Whats up fellas. So i leave for a few days and all hell breaks loose. Pete having to post common sense recess rules and the yanks till yesterday forgetting to bring their bats to the box.

    BFF,
    Im back on the Spurs wagon. Getting rid of 3 old farts and picking up a 29 years old all star just made them young again. I still think they are going to look to trade Manu.

    ——————————————————–

    Good move by the Spurs. He’ll bring them some good energy.

    Even though I’m a Celtic fan I always had alot of respect for Robinson, Duncan and Pop.

    The people that called them boring didn’t like good fundamental basketball.

    Of course it would have been nice to have gotten Duncan in the draft that year. :lol:

  93. Mark in Tampa

    SJ44,

    Thanks, I don’t keep up with the Braves or Ted, but it makes me feel really out of the loop have not heard that for 7 years.

    RE: Pena and offense. Ozzie Smith was a lifetime .262 hitter, but never even hit above .257 until his 8th ML season, and had a grand total for his career of 28 HRs. Pena is no Ozzie defensively, but we are going to have to realize that we have been spoiled by one of the greatest ever offensive SS ever, regardless of his shortcomings. Whoever follows will be a step down. Same goes at the catcher’s spot. These are traditional good field/any hitting a bonus positions.

  94. SJ44

    I think there are plenty of fans from other teams who come on here and are solid posters.

    Dennis and Ray from the Red Sox, Rosy and others bring value to the space.

    Honestly, I think the trouble on here starts from childish Yankee “fans” who believe its their birthright to win every game. They also believe its their “right” to trash any player or coach without reproach because they are “Yankee fans”.

    If you go back and see most of the game thread issues, they come from crybaby Yankee fans for the most part.

    For every “mo’s flat cutter”, there are 10 children who have a hard time dealing with the ups and downs of a baseball season. Unfortunately, those children on here are Yankee fans.

  95. Andrew

    SJ, I definitely understand all those points about Pena and trying to see if he can develop more as a hitter. I just worry about the scenario where Jeter has a minor injury and you have Cody Ransom playing shortstop for 2 or 3 straight days, or even the defense sacrificed when Al is out of the lineup resting once a week or whatever it becomes. The team is clearly not built to worry about the defense they get from their backup infielder, but this year the backup infielder spot seems more important just because of A-Rod’s need for rest and Jeter’s inevitable bumps and bruises.

    That said it would definitely be nice to see if Ramiro could grow into a full-time SS, simply because it’s a position at which the Yankees have done nothing at prospect-wise since developing Jeter. Simultaneously, if he is going to AAA to play every day from now until September (which I am not convinced is actually going to happen), I hope Cashman can find someone else besides Cody Ransom to be the reserve infielder.

  96. MaineYankee

    SJ44
    June 25th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
    Rafael Palmeiro once won a Gold Glove at first base for playing a grand total of 12 games at the position. Hosed Tino out for the award that year.

    He’s not a good OF. Average at best. Melky is a better CF than McClouth. I’d like to see Gardner by the end of the year, once he’s been around the ballpark and I bet (with the exception of his arm) he will also be as good as McClouth.

    —————————————————–

    Didn’t he also start at first in the AS game that year?

  97. S.o.S.

    mainyankee,
    I was about to jump off the wagon being that they looked aged and go to Cleveland. But after watching that fit Lebron threw after losing to Orlando. I couldnt switch from a class act orginization to the opposite of that. I think they are one big man away from competing with the big boys again.

    Do you think the Celtics should have traded Rondo? IMO, they still have a good 2 years with a healthy Garnett as is.
    I wouldnt mess with it. Rondo is improving every year and could end up being one of the elite point gaurds in the game.

  98. Steve B

    “Are you sure about that Steve B.?

    The Yankees Net Worth is 1.5 billion and the Red Sox is 1.1 Billion. The Yankees have a negative liquidity last year and are worth that much because of the stadium. Where is Boston spending a billion dollars?”

    You were talking about making money, not net worth. Yankees generate far more in terms of revenues than Boston does. It’s not close. Yankees probably have more debt now than Boston has, which might go some distance to explaining the relative closeness (if 73% is actually close) of their respective net worths.

  99. Bronx Jeers

    Not to take anything away from Tony Pena because I think he would make a fine manager but I think Girardi’s “self imposed” ejection was a great move.

    Obviously he was justified in arguing but he pulled one out of the old playbook and his team responded.

    Girardi’s job is safe barring a complete meltdown. They don’t make the playoffs and he’s most certainly gone. In that situation i think they’ll pursue a name brand manager with no prior connections.

    Regardless I think Girardi’s a good manager. Just not 100% sold the Yankee team is a good fit for him.

  100. sab

    amoung MLB centerfielders in 2009 mclouth has had 180 total chances (#4 on the list)this year and hasn’t yet made an error – he is also #2 in assists – and if it means anything (it doesn’t to me)#4 in range factor and #12 in UZR (2 spots behind bj upton who is #10) …

    i’d take him over melky and gardner every day of the year and this isn’t even including his batting stats…

    i’m not saying he’s the best CF’er out there – he isn’t – but don’t compare him to our “4th” outfielders in melky and gardner…

    i think cashman would trade both melky and gardner for mclouth in a heartbeat…

  101. Wait till they come to OUR house AGAIN

    I bet Gardy will be a good CF’er.

  102. saucY

    never understood why the Braves were allowed to broadcast all over the place, while you can’t get YES outside of NY and NJ without some sort of baseball package. And even those are blacked out…

    why did the braves always get a pass?

  103. The Ghost

    saucy, it was because Ted Turner owned all the TBS stations and he owned the Braves. The stations were broadcast by satellite at a time when cable tv was the wild west.

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New York Yankees baseball fans cheer during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) New York Yankees baseball player  Mariano Rivera, bottom, waves during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) Floats carrying the New York Yankees baseball team make their way along Broadway during a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) New York Yankees baseball players Alex Rodriguez, second from left,  Francisco Cervelli, third from right, and entertainer Jay-Z, left, celebrate on a float  during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez, right, and entertainer Jay-Z celebrate on a float during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) Floats carrying the New York Yankees baseball team make their way along Broadway during a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) New York Yankees' Hideki Matsui, the World Series MVP, celebrates from a float during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) Baseball fans cheers as the New York Yankees were honored along Broadway in New York on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, with a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
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Thoughts and discussion on the 27-time World Champion Yankees.

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About the authors
Chad JenningsChad Jennings joined the The Journal News in October 2009, having spent the better part of seven years covering baseball in Scranton, PA. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and an award-winning beat reporter and features writer. E-mail me at cjennings@lohud.com
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Sam BordenSam Borden is an award-winning journalist who joined The Journal News and LoHud.com in January 2008. He covered the Yankees for the New York Daily News from 2004-06, and has also worked as a columnist for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville. E-mail me at sborden@lohud.com
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Sam BordenJosh Thomson has done some of everything since joining The Journal News in March 2003. He began working for the Gannett weeklies during the winter of 2002 as a freelance writer. He joined the daily staff soon after and has since covered various high school and pro sports. E-mail me at jthomson@lohud.com
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