Greetings from Gate B-40
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jul 07, 2009 
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Here we are at the Joe Piscopo International Airport in Newark waiting to go to Minneapolis. The B Terminal here is the land that time forgot. The “restaurant” is a Pizzeria Uno stand with bagels that appear to have been wrapped sometime last week. Meanwhile, of the roughly 250 magazines at the news stand, 247 of them had Michael Jackson on the cover. The exceptions were Playboy, Popular Mechanics and the New England Journal of Medicine.
But there are amusements. There’s a family of five at the gate and they’re all wearing the same tie-dyed t-shirts. The parents seem quite happy at their choice of attire. The two younger kids don’t know any better and the oldest seems seems to be contemplating running away from home. He has a “maybe I can sneak onto this flight when Atlanta when nobody is paying attention” look.
I feel comfortable speaking for my sisters in writing that had Mom and Dad Abraham decided we were all going to wear the same t-shirts on a flight, there would have been a mutiny. U.N. Peacekeeping Forces would have been needed to quell the uprising.
The coming road trip for the Yankees should be interesting. The Twins were swept in a four-game series at the Stadium back in May and can’t be too happy about. Meanwhile the Angels seem prepared to rush by the fraudulent Texas Rangers and take over the West. If the Yankees come out of the trip 3-3 or better, they’ll have done well.
A few people wrote to ask why I didn’t opine here on the All-Star Game selections. Two reasons: I was off over the weekend and didn’t spend a whole lot of time thinking about baseball. Plus I don’t get too fired up about the game. There are 66 players selected. As honors go it’s not exactly a big deal. I think Johnny Damon and maybe A.J. Burnett had a case, but not enough of one to get too riled up about.
Anyway, they’re about to call the flight. Check back later for the pitching matchups for the series and of course the lineups this afternoon. With any kind of luck, I won’t be sitting near the Deadhead Family.
Pete
I had to laugh at your observations on the t-shirt clan. See that a lot at Disney World and it never ceases to amuse me. Like you can’t tell your family members with a shirt. Maybe it makes for easier packing and dressing – if it’s Tuesday it must be blue t-shirt day, or something.
** can’t tell family member withOUT a shirt.
Not that anybody cares besides me, but I was listening to my iPod this morning during my morning commute…just jamming to some tunes…when I looked up, and there standing in front of me was Manny Ramirez.
I stared at him for like 15 seconds before realizing I looked like a stalker and I continued on my way.
I’ve been in NYC ~1 month and I’ve already seen like 5 celebrities. They’re everywhere!
It certainly is easier for the tie-dye family to keep track of each other in a crowded airport. Funny stuff
Is it a done deal that Aceves is starting Thursday?
Brent – Pretty neat, I’d say.
There’s a line in a song from the musical “In the Heights” that goes “don’t take the Deegan, Manny Ramirez is in town this weekend.” It always cracks me up.
Don’t know why, but I went to sleep at 6 last night. So now, I’m wide awake.
Speaking of famous people and asking for autographs, you guys remember when Joba signed someone’s brand-new i-Phone?
LOL. funny stuff
btw, if you ever see a Sabarro at the airport, i have to recommend the stuffed sausage pizza
Hahaha I do remember that. The guy sent the picture in to Pete, right?
More on Tennis v. Golf:
http://golf.fanhouse.com/2009/.....mina/#cont
I don’t know, I’ve been traveling quite a bit the last few years and all I see is Red Sox gear. I mean seriously, is it is pre-requisite to live in the New England area that one must purchase at least 4.5 pieces of Sox flare in order to be a member of ‘red sox nation’?
But seriously, I find it more disturbing that wherever I travel I see whole families sporting various red sox clothing (i.e. t-shirts, hats, logo’d shorts, windbreakers, etc.) all at once. It’s as if Sox fans consciously go on the road and only bring their Sox gear. And the reason I find it disturbing is that I get the feeling that the Red Sox define them as a fanbase / region / culture.
There are millions of Yankees (or Mets) fans throughout this country, but I never see them all sporting their colors together as a family unit – as if to prove some ‘point’.
/rant
97 Games 48 and 32 = .600 (One game worse than first half)
96 Games 47 and 33 = .587
95 Games 46 and 34 = .575 (Probably gets division due to 3 way parity)
94 Games 45 and 35 = .562
93 Games 44 and 36 = .550
92 Games 43 and 37 = .537
91 Games 42 and 36 = .525
90 Games 41 and 39 = .512 (Probably gets wildcard due to parity)
89 Games 40 and 40 = .500
88 Games 39 and 41 = .487
Have a great flight Pete!
I’m shocked that Manny Ramirez wakes up before noon.
if joe girardi was the manager of AL team, he can argue his case for selecting brett gardner and nick swisher on the all star team.. such is the state of all star selection these days.. its actually getting worse by the year..
I don’t think 90 wins will be enough. The Yanks, Sawx and Jays should all pass that number.
Does Cervelli get the start tonight since it’s his last game before being sent to Scranton.
it doesn’t change anything, but I was still glad to see the head umpire admit the mistakes. I doubt any umpire wants to blow a call and I think fans under-rate how difficult it must be to check the replay after a game an realize you’re wrong. still, missing the call is one thing but blowing the explanation is another and if he did in fact say “he doesn’t have to tag you to be out” then he’s an idiot. Pete’s right though, the Yankees can’t blame the loss solely on the umpires and need to move on (as I’m sure they have). Who knows how the offensive approach may have changed were the Yankees leading or only down 1 or 2 runs towards the end of the game.
Why would the Yanks be happy with 3-3? Totally average.
Historically, playing in Anaheim has not been kind to the Yankees
I agree Paulie…I and I imagine the Yankees expect to win both series. If they would be happy with something less then they should give up now. It won’t be the end of the world if they go 3-3 which is probably closer to Pete’s point, but I don’t think anyone should be satisfied with that.
You are satisfied if you win a series and you’re not if you don’t. ‘Nuff said.
CC will pitch two of the six and AJ will pitch another.
We Miss Paulie July 7th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Why would the Yanks be happy with 3-3? Totally average.
————–
Why?
Because the Yanks have had more headaches against the Angels than any other team the last 15 years.
Torre’s teams couldn’t beat them either.
And the Twins are tough at home. They are probably going to play with a chip on their shoulder this week.
Don’t worry, the Red Sox are not going to go undefeated the rest of the week. They lose games on occasion, too.
.500 on the road and win at home. Usually a good formula. Of course you don’t TRY for .500, you try to win every game. But if they end up 3-3, that’s considered a decent road trip. The Angels are playing well again, with players returning, and are going to be a little tougher than the first go-round with the Yankees. But the games have to be played (duh) – look at the results in Boston last night.
If Wang is going to be out a long time, why not take a shot with Paul Byrd? He did pretty well with Boston in the 2nd half last year. I know he’s not a guy who blows people away, but he’s a smart pitcher who changes speeds effectively and keeps his team in the game. Wouldn’t cost anything but a little money.
Seems like the Scranton Yankees are stretching out Melancon and Ramirez….Both throw over 40 pitches last night….I wonder if that was in the plans….It seem that Ace will make the start on Thursday….I guess if he does well, Do they bring up one of those 2 to take his spot as the long man?
John C:
Paul Byrd? I’m all for acuiring an innings eater. IMO, Aceves is superior to Byrd and he’s already on the payroll. The issues regarding Aceves to the rotation are: 1) how long to stretch him out? and 2) what does that do to the bullpen? It may be easier/cheaper/smarter to back-fill a bullpen arm to replace Aceves than to acquire another starter for the second half.
Can’t count on a sudden “click” from Joba to make him more than a 5 inning guy this year and Pettitte remains inconsistent. Hughes is too valuable/too inexperienced to try to make the transition back to starting without real rsik of injury IMO.
Maybe Ace is the answer after all.
Byrd wasn’t good last year (5.14 FIP). This year, who knows what he’d do? He hasn’t even pitched, so he probably wouldn’t be ready much sooner than Wang, anyway. The Yankees have much better internal options.
“If Wang is going to be out a long time, why not take a shot with Paul Byrd?”
the yankees probably have enough to cover wang, but it’s the next starter that goes down that needs covering.
i’m hoping cashman trades wang and releases the poor guy from his clutches.
if cashman were a doctor he’d be charged with malpractice on his handling of wang. of course he didn’t do very well with hughes either for two years and then there’s his jerking joba around like a yoyo form starter to bullpen to starter without proper stretching time in between.
paul byrd would be good.
cashman couldn’t really hurt him because he’s already old and abused.
C’mon GF, you know better…..
The Red Sox never lose at home….
The Red Sox never lose to last place teams….
The Red Sox never trail in games….
Anything less than a 6-0 road trip by the Yankees is unacceptable.
I’d take 3-3 right now, head into the ASB and look to have a strong homestand to start the second half.
Anything better than 3-3 is a bonus.
Doc Holladay…
Now that he is on the trading block, you think we clear out our farm system for him??
Would you do Joba and Jesus Montero for him??
Imagine: CC. Doc Holladay and AJ Burnet!!!??
Doc Holladay…
Now that he is on the trading block, you think we clear out our farm system for him??
Would you do Joba and Jesus Montero for him??
Imagine: CC. Doc Holladay and AJ Burnet!!!??
“I’m shocked that Manny Ramirez wakes up before noon.”
Count me among the shocked. Maybe he was still up from the night before?
SJ44,
I think you are setting expectations too low.
I understand why you said yesterday was a bonus to win since we already won the series. However, I believe every game is of the same importance unless you are facing a division rival or until it gets down to it in September.
If the Yankees are a playoff team, then at the very least they need to win series. 3-3 is not winning series. They need to go 4-2 for me to be satisfied.
“Would you do Joba and Jesus Montero for him?? ”
Nope.
Here you go, Mel:
The Buster Olney AL All-Stars
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 | Feedback | Print Entry
We’ll repeat Monday’s All-Star exercise, this time for the American League: Imagine if the All-Star Game was something more than an exhibition, and that the managers actually did run the game as if the fate of the family farm rested on a win or loss on the mid-summer classic. Imagine if the managers managed the same game every other day of the baseball season — with 25-man rosters, no rule about having at least one player from every team, the starting pitchers perhaps working deep into the games, and relief and bench specialists perhaps playing a major role.
If the goal was only to win the game, I would be loading up on guys with acute splits — players who were the best against either left-handed hitters or right-handed pitches and hitters. I’d want some guys who could come off the bench with some pop, some guys who could run, and a strong defensive team to finish off a lead. If the goal was only to win one game, what follows is what my AL team would look like. A major standard applied here is that you’ve got to pick players based on performance in the first half of the 2009 season.
To see Buster’s AL All-Stars, get the latest trade word from Milwaukee, the news on Pedro and Philly, how Hairston may affect the A’s and Holliday, plus much more, you must be an ESPN Insider.
Vs. a Right-handed starter
RF Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
C Joe Mauer, Twins
3B Evan Longoria, Rays
1B Justin Morneau, Twins (A .998 OPS vs. right-handed pitchers, the best among first basemen other than Russell Branyan; I’d start Morneau because of the defense).
LF Adam Lind, Jays (A .999 OPS vs. right-handed pitchers)
2B Ben Zobrist, Rays (A .934 OPS vs. right-handed pitchers)
CF Adam Jones, Orioles
SS Jason Bartlett, Rays
P Zack Greinke, Royals
P Roy Halladay, Jays
P Felix Hernandez, Mariners
P Justin Verlander, Tigers
Closer: Joe Nathan (opposing right-handed hitters have a .312 OPS against him)
Middle: David Aardsma, against whom right-handed hitters have a .474 OPS.
Randy Choate, Rays. Left-handed hitters have an OPS of .237 against him.
Jose Mijares, Twins. Lefties are hitting .079 against him.
Bench: Branyan, Mariners; Derek Jeter, Yankees; Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox; Ian Kinsler, Rangers; Juan Rivera, Angels; Brandon Inge, Tigers; Jorge Posada, Yankees; Mike Napoli, Angels; Carl Crawford, Rays.
Notes: I’d go with three catchers, figuring that I might pinch-run for Mauer, and that created a real quandary about whether to go with Crawford or Torii Hunter as the last outfielder on the bench against right-handed pitchers. I went with Crawford, figuring that he would be a weapon as a late-inning replacement. I kept four starters — unnecessary, I know — but I’d feel pretty good about bringing either Hernandez or Verlander out of the bullpen in a late-inning situation.
Vs. a Left-handed starter
SS Jeter (Third-best OPS against lefties in the American League this year.)
2B Kinsler
1B Youkilis
LF Juan Rivera, Angels. He has a 1.231 OPS against lefties this season.
C Napoli, Angels. He hammers lefties — he has an 1.400 OPS against them this season.
3B Inge. He ranks sixth in OPS against lefties, at 1.032.
CF Jones
RF Suzuki
Bench: Mauer, Morneau, Longoria, Branyan, Posada, Crawford, Zobrist, Bartlett, Lind
Notes: This lineup might wreck a left-handed starter, and I’d love the choices coming off the bench against right-handers. The toughest choice here would be whether to start Mauer against a lefty, and lean toward defense, or go with Napoli, whose numbers against lefties are just ridiculous.
http://insider.espn.go.com/esp.....ney_buster
Dustin Pedroia missed a game as he tended to his pregnant wife.
That is why he was out yesterday:
http://www.projo.com/redsox/co.....ed1a4.html
Watching the reaction to Nomar in Fenway and the comments about it this morning plus reading some columnists tell baseball fans how we should feel about Manny made me think of something.
Nomar and Manny both seemed to find their way out of Boston after they reportedly quit on their team and a series against the Yankees seemed to bring both to a head.
“I’d take 3-3 right now, head into the ASB and look to have a strong homestand to start the second half.
Anything better than 3-3 is a bonus.”
Yup, too many fans forget that the baseball season is a long marathon and there are times when you have to tread water. A six game split against two good teams on the road just before the ASG break is pretty good.
I guess it’s really just semantics here…I’m not going to say at the end of the road trip if we’re 3-3 it was a failure of a road trip…but if you ask any player on the team right now if they could just not play the games and take 3-3, if they say yes, I would personally be disappointed. I hope, and imagine the Yankees think they can win both series and are going to do everything in their power to do so…that is what I would expect as a fan anyway. So to say the team would be happy with 3-3 is just a little off IMO…they’d be happy with 4-2, but can live with 3-3…but like I said, I think we’re really just debating semantics at this point.
Doc Holladay…
Now that he is on the trading block, you think we clear out our farm system for him??
Would you do Joba and Jesus Montero for him??
Imagine: CC. Doc Holladay and AJ Burnet!!!??
I’d much rather preserve the farm and go after a low cost guy like Brian Bannister. Halladay is going to cost another arm and a leg when he becomes a FA in 2010.
Doc Holladay…
Now that he is on the trading block, you think we clear out our farm system for him??
Not sure you have to include joba or montero – i’d wait until wang gets off the DL and package him with 2 other above average AAA pitchers – maybe a melancon along with one of their plethora of starters (yes you’ll have to give up something good)along with either Melky and/or Swisher (if you have to include another position player you can include one of the other AAA catchers – Romine maybe) and have them include either Rios or Wells since they’d love to get rid of those horrific contracts….
halladay will be gone after next year anyway so if Ricciardi “is listening” now I’d think he’d want to get this deal done this year….
Dustin Pedroia missed a game as he tended to his pregnant wife.
That is why he was out yesterday:
He’d better keep his kid away from his brother.
Here are the projected matchups for the next 6 games:
Sabathia vs Baker
Burnett vs Perkins
?? vs Slowey
Chamberlain vs O’Sullivan
Pettitte vs Saunders
Sabathia vs Weaver
The first two games against the Twins favor us. The third probably favors them, even if Aceves pitches.
The matchups against the Angels are a little harder to predict. O’Sullivan is a very raw rookie but you never know what you’re going to get from Joba. Saunders at this point is better than Pettitte but he hasn’t been that great this year. Also Pettitte is due for a good start if he follows the same pattern. Sabathia vs Weaver is another toss-up.
Beating the angels 2 out of 3 is going to be tough but it’s not like they have a huge advantage over us beyond home-field advantage.
I think 4 out of 6 is very doable and considering the Yankees have the third best record in baseball we should expect at least that.
Patrick,
I’d love 6-0. But, I look at it this way….
The TR starter is up in the air….
Anaheim has been a Yankee house of horrors for years.
I like winning series but, 3-3 on this roadtrip is acceptable given the above circumstances.
We all would be very happy with 4-2, but I can live with 3-3 because I know it could be worse with two series losses.
Slowey is on the DL.
3-3?
Well that’s OK but I’d love for them to take 2 in Anaheim.
They’ve been pushed around far too long to keep bending over.
Patrick,
The Angels do have an advantage over the Yankees. They’ve been eating our lunch for many years now especially at their home ballpark.
True, I was looking short term for Doc..if we were to trade for him, we would have to sign him also, and I would assume he would cost 100 mill…..I guess it would be foolish to commit over 300 mill for 3 guys in the rotation….
How does one “expect” to win 2-3 in Anaheim when the Dynasty Teams had trouble winning in Anaheim?
“Expect” is too strong. Especially given the Yankees problems out there over the years.
The Red Sox upcoming 6 games:
Beckett vs Eveland
Wakefield vs Cahill
Penny vs Hochevar
Lester vs Bannister
Smoltz vs Meche
Beckett vs Chen
Of course, only the Red Sox would get lucky enough to miss Greinke. The Sox have the pitching advantage in basically all of these games except maybe the Smoltz vs Meche and Wakefield vs Cahill.
Obviously this is somewhat pointless because anything can happen but the Sox have a pretty easy 6 games ahead of them. They should easily win 4 games, maybe more.
Because a playoff team and division winner should expect to win every series. Do you think the Yankee players are saying to themselves “Boy we’d be lucky to take one from the angels this weekend.” ?
I’m sure they are thinking “Let’s go out and win the series, maybe with a little luck we can sweep”
That’s exactly what I’m saying too.
I’m surprised no one’s learned you can’t predict the games based on the matchups by now.
‘Tis a folly.
I like the way the team is playing though. And I think that Cone and Kay made a very good point yesterday when they said the Yankees may get some benefit from not having to go to Anaheim first – no flying to California from the east coast, since they have a stopover in Minnesota first. Now, I haven’t checked, so I don’t know if it makes much of a difference actually, but perhaps mentally, it could. And then they know they’re getting the 4 games off for the ASB.
But even that kind of conjecture gets silly. Just can’t predict the future.
What they are saying and what happens are often 2 different things.
The Dynasty teams expected to win every game. Doesn’t always work out that way.
Of course you want to win every series. But, no team wins every series in a season. Not even the Red Sox.
Patrick,
You’re talking as if you’re a part of the team. Of course, their expectations should be higher than fans in winning as many games as possible. However, I’m just a lowly Yankee fan so my expectations are not as high.
Pauly
July 7th, 2009 at 9:54 am
“Dustin Pedroia missed a game as he tended to his pregnant wife.
That is why he was out yesterday:
He’d better keep his kid away from his brother.”
I have to ask what is the point of bringing this up? Just because Pedroia has a sleaze for a brother that does not reflect on Dustin Pedroia.
Give it a rest. It is inappropriate and in poor taste. It would be like me bringing up that a prominent Yankee pitcher has a drug dealing mother in Nebraska. That fact does not reflect on that particular pitcher.
The Sox are 6-13 vs the AL West. They have plenty of issues.
-dennis
Doreen,
I know you can’t predict the games but you can take a look at the match-ups and have an idea.
Sj44,
Obviously what they say and what happens are different. As a fan I root for my team to win every series. I am disappointed when that doesn’t happen.
Sorry if I’m not afraid of the big bad Angels with their outrageous +31 run differential. They are not that good this year.
The Yankees should win 4 games of the next 6. Anything less is a disappointment.
Well I’m obviously not a part of the team, if I was I wouldn’t be talking to you bozos
Why should fans expectations be less than those of the team? Why is it wrong that I should expect 4-2 over the next 6?
I guess optimism is a bad quality around here.
Remember this trip last season?
Actually it was a few weeks later and they hit Texas first but it just killed them. Remember Betemit and Cano watching that grounder go between them?
It was pretty much over by the end of that trip.
So now 3-3 sounds pretty good.
Patrick -
It’s one thing to be optimistic that they can win 4 of the 6 games. I’m optimistic, too. But you go one step further and say you’ll be disappointed with anything less, even if they go 3-3. That’s not optimism, to me, anyway.
It just seems a shame too set the bar so high that you’re more apt to be disappointed instead of allowing yourself to enjoy what a 3-3 road trip would be against 2 very good teams. I’m not saying you should be happy if the Yankees go 2-4 or 1-5 or worse. No one would be happy with that.
I consider this team a possible playoff team and a possible division winner. I go into every series hoping (and expecting) to watch the Yankees win.
I don’t really understand being satisfied with them going .500. It really doesn’t make much sense to me.
Minnesota and Anaheim are very much average teams this year. They aren’t anything special.
Patrick,
When you get a little older than perhaps you’ll know what we’re talking about.
Anaheim average????? You need to back off of that comment because considering what they went through this year with injuries and the tragic death of a player, they’re right behind the Yankees record.
What Cash is King said, plus, Minny is always tough to play in that dome with the trash bags.
You don’t want the Yankees to play .500 ball overall, but there are going to be stretches where .500 is good, and there will be stretches where they’re going to play way above (like recently), which makes up for that and then some.
When I’m older? That’s somewhat offensive Cash.
Why do I have to be older to expect my team to go .500? Does it bother you that much that I am optimistic about my team? You are a joke, get the hell out of my face with this age nonsense.
Cash, go look at Anaheim’s record and more specifically their run differential. Also, look at their run differential from last year. Not so good.
Can’t beleive Twins are moving into a new ballpark without a retractable dome next year. You know how cold it is in April and early May up there? And in October if they make the postseason? Fans can’t be too happy, or the players for that matter about losing the dome after this year.
Looks like Aceves will get the start on Thursday. Igawa pitched 6 innings last night and Mitre has said he is definitely pitching today. Who else could it be?
Aceves, Kevin Towers, Ivan Nova.
“When I’m older? That’s somewhat offensive Cash.
Why do I have to be older to expect my team to go .500? Does it bother you that much that I am optimistic about my team? You are a joke, get the hell out of my face with this age nonsense.”
Patrick,
I might be a joke to you, but in the coming years, you’ll find out what I’m talking about.
Perhaps if you were a bit more specific I would understand what the hell you are talking about. Right now it just comes off as arrogant and condescending.
I’ve followed the Yankees since the early 90′s, about 15 years. So in a few years I’ll learn to be more pessimistic about my team? What will I learn in a few years that I didn’t learn in the first 15*?
My nature is to be optimistic about my team and hold it to high expectations. Age has nothing to do with it. Perhaps when you get a little older you’ll understand that. Then again, after seeing the quality of your posts, perhaps not.
* Note, I am not 15, I’ve been a fan for 15 years.
I can’t explain it you because you haven’t gone through it yet. When you’re rooting for a team when you’re a kid it’s different and your perspective keeps changing as you age. Your expectations will change along with how you deal with losing changes. You just have to experience it for yourself to know what I’m talking about and you will in time.
Don’t put your pessimism onto me. As I said, I’ve been watching the Yankees for 15 years. I’ve watched 95% of every season since 2002. I’ve seen them lose. When they lose a game I forget about it pretty much as soon as the game ends.
I still don’t see how this pertains to our conversation. I think you are just attacking my age because you realize you are wrong.
Don’t make assumptions of others based on your own experience.
I’ve read enough. This is no assumption, you are clearly an idiot. I’m done responding to your nonsense. Enjoy the games this week.
Yeah, whatever.
Let me point out the obvious 3-3 equals .500 and 4-2 equals .667. No one with any brains expects their team to go .667 on the road even against average teams. By definition over the course of the season a team will play on average, an average team and .667 equals 108 wins… on the road…
Now we don’t expect our team to play .500 ball either against average teams, but on the road .500 sound more logical than .667 especially when Joba is clueless about how bad he is, Andy is coming of a very weak start, Wang is out and neither CC or AJ have been that consistant lately. Which makes it all the more amazing that we’re 10 for 12 recently.
If we go into the ASB 3-3 I’d be pretty happy with that.
Washburn was lights out last night.I wonder if Cashman is working the phones for pitching,sure he is!!
As someone who travels every week for work, probably as much as Pete, I too can tell many stories of the interesting folks and scenarios you come across at airports. The matching tie-dyed tshirts though, that is fantastic. Did they have logos on them?
i would trade joba melancon nunez for halladay
that would pretty much be a WS title