lohud.com

Sponsored by:

The LoHud Yankees Blog

A Yankees blog by Sam Borden, Chad Jennings and the staff of The Journal News

Hinske needs a home run call

Peter Abraham
July
13

Here at the LHYB, we try and be helpful. So when Suzyn Waldman reported that John Sterling did not have a home run call for Eric HInske, we sprang into action.

If anybody could help John out, it’s our readers. So what to do you have?

Not much rhymes with Hinske and I don’t know of any particular nickname he has. But we’ll take the best three suggestions and present them to John for consideration. Give it your best shot in the comments section.

I came up with “Hinske tattooed it!” because he’s covered in tattoos. But nobody would get that. How about, “There is goes, further evidence that the Yankees should have improved their bench long ago!” No, too long.

You guys figure it out. If John actually takes your suggestion, I’ll get you a media guide.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 13th, 2009 at 11:00 am by Peter Abraham.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print This Post Print This Post | Email This Post Email This Post

743 Responses to “Hinske needs a home run call”

  1. Elvin Street

    A Hericinski home run!!!!!!

  2. ditmars1929

    How about a simple, “Hinske hits one out of the park” and then Sterling just shuts the hell up? Or is that asking too much?

  3. bru

    kim jones on wfan saying that she doesn’t know if hughes,montero,ajax is enough to get halladay.

    i would not give up hughes or montero.
    joba,ajax yes with one or two more but not hughes,montero or both hughes & joba.

    the mets got santanna for nothing at the time & it looks terrible now.

  4. Jack B

    I’m not good at this stuff, but while you are at it, come up with a new call for Teixeira. The whole “You’re on the Mark…” thing just plain stinks. He deserves better.

  5. dwight

    Hinske, always helps out in a pinchske!

  6. Elvin Street

    Pete, the NYY have to beat the Angels and the Red Sox. Both of those teams are in the minds of the NYY and will come back to haunt them if they make the playoffs. It’s a pity the “intelligentsia” on this board doesn’t get that!

  7. Me

    I can’t decide if Sterling planning these things out well ahead of time is pathetic or cheesy or both.

  8. tinkinrocks

    ” A Hinnnske Hommmmer!” (insert john sterling inflection)

  9. JMZ

    Me — It is both, and more.

  10. Wow.

    Not bad, Dwight.

  11. gianthinker

    I’ve always lived by the keep-it-simple-stupid philosophy. “Hinske hits one!”

  12. Smythe

    Over the Wall-Ski for Hinske!

  13. David

    The Penske truck delivers

  14. Juan

    Hinske’s the Key for the Yankees

  15. Chris Fitzwater

    In an attempt to play on how much Hinske looks like the actor Kevin James, of “King of Queens” fame (IPS); how about, “There it goes… a special delivery from Eric Hinske!”

  16. scott

    Me thinkski another dinger for Hinkse

  17. bru

    a hurculian home run by hinske

    or hinske with the hammer

  18. Stooge2

    Actually the fact that Sterling doesn’t have a lame cookie cutter call for Hinske is what makes it my favorite one. If it ain’t broke…

  19. James

    “Eric the Barbaric does it again!”

  20. andrew harts

    “it is high, it is far, ittttt isssss gone! who needs a master key when youve got eric hinske!”

    i just came up with that haha

  21. Scott

    His nickname is Mr. Beautiful according to wikipedia

  22. James (one of the many)

    Hinske, unlocks and unloads!…

  23. Meryl

    I have a couple:

    A shot of whiskey from Hinske

    Hinske playing the long ball

    Hinske Frisky

    Homeric numeric from Eric Hinske (had fun with RhymeZone with this one)

  24. SCRANTON

    Hinske hits one to Helsinki!

  25. bru

    Chris Fitzwater

    nice

  26. JZ

    Here are a couple….

    Eric the Red, Hit that Ball Dead !!

    It is Hinske, It is Farskee, It is Outskee !!

    or for Suzyn Waldman

    “ERIC HINSKE HAS JUST HIT A BALL RIGHT OVER GEORGE STEINBRENNER’S BOX…AND THAT BALL IS NOT COMING BACK…OH GOODNESS GRACIOUS !”

  27. Jabbz

    Hinske for the Winske!

  28. Bill from NJ

    Scranton is the winner..

  29. Erica - always OPPC

    Got it-

    Hinske Hit-it-ski!!!!

  30. Manger

    HINSKE WITH YOUR BEST SHOT.

  31. Brooklyn

    When a team has gone the gamut by getting Sabathia, Burnett, and Teixeira and still have a missing piece, you go the extra mile and get that piece if it means solidifying a playoff berth.
    Chamberlain will be of no consequence in a playoff scenario – Halladay will. A 4-man rotation is needed and Pettitte’s playoff experience trumps over a No. 5 starter.

  32. i am not good

    hinske to helsinki… an international shot from number 14

  33. Trevor

    One thing that bothers me is when host on the radio and the media suggest trade proposals of prospects they know nothing about.
    Kim Jones likely heard Jesus Montero name in passing and is suggesting that him Hughes and Jackson isn’t enough. Obviously she knows nothing about Montero because that is likely enough to get Halladay.
    But Cashman isn’t stupid, he’s not going make that trade.

  34. i am not good

    hinske with your best shot wins.

    end of thread.

  35. Fran (the original) and OPPC member

    ERIC WITH THE ATMOSPHERIC SHOT

  36. Erica - always OPPC

    Manger
    July 13th, 2009 at 11:19 am
    HINSKE WITH YOUR BEST SHOT.

    ***
    I agree. This is it Pete. Contest over

  37. Rob

    “Swung on and hit in the air to deep right! That ball is high mmm it is far mmmm iiiiiiiiiiit is gaaaahn. Oh Eric Hinske. A two-out, two-run homer to right. And Eric Hinkse drops the Hammer again! “

  38. Patrick

    I’ve got nothin, I’m sure Sterling will come up with something…

    Maybe AN H-BOMB FROM HIN-SKE!

    Lame

  39. Andy

    bombinske for Hinske

  40. Greg

    A Herculean Hinske Homer!

  41. Bill

    “It’s an H-Bomb from Hin-ske”

  42. Homer

    A Monica Lewinsky for Hinske!

  43. JK

    Hinske hits it all the way to Minsk(e)!!!

  44. Patrick

    “Eric dropped a hint-ski in the lower deck in right and the Yankees lead 3-2!….”

  45. ohgodno

    Manger
    July 13th, 2009 at 11:19 am
    HINSKE WITH YOUR BEST SHOT.

    ***

    This wins, hands down. You can’t mess with the Benatar.

  46. dennis mugno

    it is high it is far… ittttt is goone.. eric scotty hits a hotty over the right field wall. its a home run for hinske the yankees take a 1-0 lead in the 8th.

    email me my rewards

    =P

  47. bru

    hinske with the hammer.

  48. JOEJOE

    “A big stick from Eric.”

  49. SteveB

    It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Hinske!!

  50. RickeyBeingRickey

    Another play on how he looks like Kevin James (driver for UPS on the show King of Queens):

    * What can Eric Hinske can do for you? How about delivering a home run…right on time!

  51. Clapton100

    Hinske with your best shot is great-but it’s Chris Berman, not John Sterling

    Sterling’s musical references don’t go much past 1954 (pre-rock and roll era)

    How about

    Eric Hinske rips one, a winske for the Hinske

  52. bru

    a lot of good hinske calls.

    i hope we bring pena back up,get rid of ransom & tomko.

  53. bru

    melancon is not ready also.

  54. Blazini

    SCRANTON wins

    Hinske hits one to Helsinki!

  55. Dan

    Hinske for the win-ske. And Eric the Red took a battle axe to that one!

  56. dan

    Holy SHinske, It’s GONE!

  57. Jeff

    Hinske hooks one!

  58. ohgodno

    @ Clapton100 -

    Sterling will surprise ya every now and then… I can totally hear John saying that.

    “Swung onnn, anddddd… THERE IT GOES TO RIGHT…… IT IS HIGH… IT IS FAR… IT IS GAHHHHHN! Eric Hinske with a monumental blast into the Damon Deck. HINSKE WITH YOUR BEST SHOT! And the Yankees now lead 5-1 over the Orioles.”

  59. Scott

    Mr. Beautiful makes pretty with a shot over the fence.

  60. Drew

    A Hinske Hack

  61. Ken

    Damn I was 5 min late to jump on the “bomb” bandwagen. I got some more though, A Tex-Bomb for Teixeira, or a Damon Bomb, for Damon. Or how about every time Rivera strikes someone out, Mo-stikeout, Mo-Problems.

  62. EricVA

    He can just stick with his normal HR call:

    It’s is hiiiiigh, it is faaaarrrr, it is…..caught in shallow left field.

  63. Vincent

    “Put it on a tee for Hinske”

    “Give him the Hins-key to the city”

    “It is high, it is far, it is caughtskey by Canoskey on the infield grasskey”

  64. Stultus Magnus

    ditmars1929
    July 13th, 2009 at 11:05 am

    How about a simple, “Hinske hits one out of the park” and then Sterling just shuts the hell up? Or is that asking too much?

    ===============

    It’s asking too much. But I agree.

  65. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    For those interested,

    AL All Star line up Ichiro RF, Jeter SS, Mauer C, Teixeira 1B, Bay LF, Hamilton CF, Longoria 3B, Hill 2B, Halladay P

    NL All Star line up: Hanley(SS), Utley(2B), Pujols(1B),Braun (RF),Ibanez (LF), Wright (3B), Victorino (CF), Molina (C), Lincecum (P).

    I’d put my money on the NL.

  66. pat

    Hinske makes you grin-ski
    Hinske takes a spin-ski
    Hinske is no has-been-ski

    a 1 run HR- E1 and that’s no error
    a 2 run HR- Hinske with the twin-ski
    A walk off- Hinske with the win-ski

  67. Homer

    A monster Lewinsky (as in big blow) for Hinske!

  68. Steve B

    Um, what’s this got to do with trading for Roy Halladay???

  69. sab

    NO!! if halladay actually pitches for more than 1 inning on tuesday he won’t be able to start on friday for the yankees!!!

  70. LES Tom

    John Krasinski, You won’t be seeing Hinske!

    (Krasinski plays Jim in the Office, set in Scranton)

    Is this mic on?

  71. Drew

    “Hinske makes it Hail”
    “Honk if you’re Hinske”
    “A Hellacious homer by Hinske”

  72. BLACKACCORD

    TTTT-errific from Eric….

  73. Bill

    JZ: Hinskee, Farskee, Outskee! Good one! LOL!

  74. Homer

    Rebecca, have you watched the last 12 years? Or are you just thinking its time for the NL?

  75. Jason @ IIATMS

    “Gimme some skin, Hinske!”
    “Hinske skinned that one!”

    - – - – - – - –

    “I wishke Suzyn wouldske shutske the hellske upske.”

  76. jpb1973

    I don’t know if any has alraedy posted but, Sergio Mitre pitched 8 innings of shutout ball (six hits and only 82 pitches) in AAA yesterday. He’s due for a callup…even if they use him in long relief, he’d be better than Robertson or Melancon.

    Another Yankee minor league pitcher who is doing well is Kanekoa Texeira at Trenton. He started the season in the bullpen and had an ERA greater than 5.0 in early May. They have moved him to the starting rotation and his ERA is now down below 3.0. He pitched 5.1 inning for Trenton yesterday (still being stretched out) and didn’t give up an earned run, struck out 7 and didn’t walk anyone. He may be due for a promotion to Scranton soon.

  77. G-C

    I wouldn’t trade Joba or Phil for Doc straight up.

    Just last year over the course of 12 starts Joba Chamberlain was the BEST starting pitcher in baseball. Not just a good starting pitcher, but the BEST starting pitcher in the entire league. Sure, he’s scuffled this year, but that talent didn’t go away over the course of the last twelve months. Maybe it takes him until next year to find it, but when he does, he’s going to be scary for a very long time.

    Phil Hughes is 23 and at the very worst will be an excellent number three starter for the next ten years. But given the stuff we’ve seen from him this year, such a projection seems to be on the lower end of his probability spectrum. As a starter he was throwing 92-94 consistently, and couple that with the curve, cutter, and exceptional command he is capable of and he’s a pretty decent bet to be a 1-2 starter in the future as well. Honestly, watch Yovani Gallardo. Then tell me why Phil, once he gets things going, can’t be that good. They are very similar pitchers, its just taken Phil a while longer to find the confidence to attack the strike zone consistently.

    Anyone who wants to commit to another 30 + year old starter on a massive contract long term, particularly when its at the expense of two young, highly projectable front of the rotation starters, is just delusional. Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes are the future cornerstones of this franchise and the reasons why (aside from a 200 million dollar payroll) that the Yankees will remain very relevant even as their offensive core begins to age quickly.

  78. TIME FOR #27

    How about winning against boston and the angles? who cares about hinske’s home run call? GO GET HALLADAY!!!

  79. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    Homer: The NL is way due, it’s in the NL park and frankly I think the NL has better pitching (Rivera only pitches one inning, after all…), and a better constructed line up.

  80. Giuseppe Franco

    Speaking of The Office, I believe Jenna Fischer is supposed to be part of the celebrity softball game (or whatever celebrities do) during the ASG festivities.

  81. Pasqua

    “How do you score? Here’s a Hinske: Eric hits it out!”

  82. Patrick the Prospect Hugger

    Haha just add “ski” to everything

    Interesting Rebecca.

    Looking at those lineups, sadly I must admit Teixeira, Hamilton, Victorino and Molina don’t deserve to be starting.

    I’d sub in Morneau, Hunter, Upton and McCann.

    Although is Hunter even going to play?

    Also the NL only has one CF on the roster. I don’t like that all OF’s are lumped into one group. CF is such a defense intensive position they should be separate.

    Ah well, it doesn’t really matter anyways. Should be a fun game to watch.

  83. Chris

    Hinke + skedaddle = Hinskedaddles it out of the park

  84. mko

    IT’S OUTTA HERE. You better not blinkse with Hinske!

  85. Hokiehill

    Hinske with the bobinski

  86. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “I don’t know if any has alraedy posted but, Sergio Mitre pitched 8 innings of shutout ball (six hits and only 82 pitches) in AAA yesterday. He’s due for a callup…even if they use him in long relief, he’d be better than Robertson or Melancon.

    Another Yankee minor league pitcher who is doing well is Kanekoa Texeira at Trenton. He started the season in the bullpen and had an ERA greater than 5.0 in early May. They have moved him to the starting rotation and his ERA is now down below 3.0. He pitched 5.1 inning for Trenton yesterday (still being stretched out) and didn’t give up an earned run, struck out 7 and didn’t walk anyone. He may be due for a promotion to Scranton soon.”

    It’s pretty evident the Yankees would call up Mitre. Barring a trade, he really is their only option.

    Wouldn’t it be something if Kanekoa Texeira stuck as a SP, made it to the big leagues to help the Yankees out, and all it cost us was Wilson Betemit? Oh, and we got Nick Swisher, too!

    Only knock on Texeira is that he pitches in an extreme pitcher’s league. He’s got a long ways to go yet.

  87. Hokiehill

    Badabinski!

  88. Patrick the Prospect Hugger

    Homer and Les Tom those are so utterly pathetic but also so incredibly funny ;)

  89. Vin R

    It is gone! Eric Hinske, take four bases, not three.

    It is gone! Eric Hinske puts the fans in jubilee and the Yankees lead ___ to ___.

    Hinkse picks one from the homerun tree.

  90. Sean Serritella

    Now, how does hinske sound? Like hin… ski? Or hin skay?

  91. TheKatzInTheHat

    “Easy E! Another blast by Eric Hinske!”

  92. Hokiehill

    I thinkske it’s a homer for hinske..

    I’m done now

  93. Patrick the Prospect Hugger

    Hinkse is the KEY

  94. Hokiehill

    Badabinski! it’s a homer from Hinske!

    Now I’m done.

  95. Bret the Hitman

    HOME RUN HINSKE

    OH SO CLINCHEE

    THIS ONE HIT FOR THE WINSKEE

  96. New York - Removed

    “And there it goes! Hinske blasts one off to Helsinki!”

  97. Patrick the Prospect Hugger

    How about

    Hinkse!
    Is the key!
    To victory!

  98. LES Tom

    haha i try!

    I like “Badabinski! A Homerun from Hinske” (nice Hokiehill) simple and ridiculous. Perfect for Sterling

  99. jpb1973

    Wouldn’t it be something if Kanekoa Texeira stuck as a SP, made it to the big leagues to help the Yankees out, and all it cost us was Wilson Betemit? Oh, and we got Nick Swisher, too!

    ——————————————————-

    In 3 years when Nick Swisher is struggling while earning $10 million and the trade looks like a bust, we might find out that Kanekoa is the silver lining behind the Swisher cloud.

  100. Sean Serritella

    Hey, I think I see a winner. I like…

    “Badabinski! it’s a homer from Hinske!”

  101. Patrick the Prospect Hugger

    Swisher won’t even be a Yankee in 3 years …

  102. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “In 3 years when Nick Swisher is struggling while earning $10 million and the trade looks like a bust, we might find out that Kanekoa is the silver lining behind the Swisher cloud.”

    In 3 years we should have another, decent, Nady-ish RF that we can platoon with Swisher =D

  103. Blazini

    Now, how does hinske sound? Like hin… ski? Or hin skay?

    hin ski

  104. sab

    hinsk hits it to minsk – a home run for eric the red…

  105. Tarheelyank

    After the Angels series how about “El Comedulce”.
    Then we can pretend Bobby is still out there. j/k

    My vote goes to “Badabinski! it’s a homer from Hinske!”

  106. G. Love

    I think I’d like to see Sterling give us CLUE fans a little nod;

    It is high, it is far, it is GONE!!! Professor Hinske in the ballpark with the baseball bat and the Yankees lead…..

  107. SCRANTON

    Bartender get me a shot of Hinske!

  108. John

    “he knock the hinskes off that one”

  109. BobK-NH

    Oh, Hinske Hin-SKYED One deep into the seats in ……….

  110. Miles Roche

    “Oh, Eric, ever the energetic!”

    or ” Oh, Eric, never a generic!”

  111. Hokiehill

    “Bartender get me a shot of Hinske!”

    I like it!

  112. jpb1973

    Swisher won’t even be a Yankee in 3 years …

    ————————————————-

    I hope that you’re right…but I can’t see any else taking on his contract. Although he only makes $3.5 million this year his salary climbs to $5.5 million next year, $7.5 million in 2011 and $10 million in 2012. I just can’t imagine who would be so gullible as to take on such a contract.

  113. Patrick the Prospect Hugger

    G. Love that would be the greatest thing ever but I don’t know how Hinkse relates to Clue at all. Still, it would be hilarious.

  114. Bronx Jeers

    Sterlings Dilemna?
    Not too sure if he knows who
    eric hinske is.

  115. Jonathan

    Hinske hit it to Helsinki!

    It’s dumb but isn’t that the point of a sterling home run call?

  116. nick

    that ball hid-in-skied off that wood like it’s name was sonny bono

  117. ohgodno

    Nothing has swayed me from my first favorite… HINSKE WITH YOUR BEST SHOT

    Can’t you just hear John:
    “Swung onnn, anddddd… THERE IT GOES TO RIGHT…… IT IS HIGH… IT IS FAR… IT IS… GAHHHHHHHN! Eric Hinske with a monumental 2-run blast into the Damon Deck. HINSKE WITH YOUR BEST SHOT And the Yankees now lead 5-1 over the Orioles.”

  118. G. Love

    Patrick,

    I agree. I think it’s too cerebral for Sterling.

  119. zatchmo

    What about “Hinske plasters it all the way to Helsinki!”

  120. nick

    THAT ONE’S ON THE GONDOLA for Hinkski

  121. pat

    Jeter batting 2nd and Tex batting clean-up for the AL All Stars

    AL: Ichiro RF, Jeter SS, Mauer C, Teixeira 1B, Bay RF, Hamilton CF, Longoria 3B, Hill 2B, Halladay P

  122. bru

    trading both hughes & joba in addition to more prospects would be foolish.

    if one of hughes or joba turn into a great pitcher it would hurt.
    if both turn into great pitchers it would sting for a while.

    i would understand if we did nothing at all.

    kim jones has betsy from our blog on wfan.

    kim asked are you betsy from pa blog.

    she said yes.

    kim said oh my god you are a celebrity.

    kim said i was reading the blog & you were all over it last night.

    way to go betsy.

  123. tony

    maybe the hack Sterling can lose the lame gimmick calls and just call the game.

  124. bru

    kim treating betsy like a celebrity.

    fantastic stuff.

  125. Jake

    “(Pitcher), better take the Hinske! You cant throw it there!”

  126. Ed in PR

    Heh, Besty on the fan right now. She sounded a little embarrassed. Great points brought up by Betsy

  127. jennifer

    Hinske was frisky with that homerun shot.

  128. zatchmo

    I can never figure out why I always try to post here because 99% of my comments never seem to post. I have no idea if you folks are screening them (not that any of mine are offensive), but there’s no excuse that there are plenty of repeat posters on here (Rebecca is a good example) yet I can’t make one measly post about Hinkse! The only reason I’m frustrated is I really love the blog. What gives?

  129. bru

    you go betsy.

  130. KennyH123

    “George, get me the Hinske file!”

    “Hinske Hammers it!”

    “Another Hinske Hammer!”

  131. Providence

    How about borrowing from a former Net:

    “…and HIN-sanity strikes again!”

  132. Joe L

    Baddabinski is the best

  133. TB

    Picture perfect poke from Leonardo Da Hinske and Yanks take a *fill in the blank* lead

  134. SteveB

    Well done Betsey, and a nice job by Kimmy in recognizing her.

    Bloggers don’t get the credit they should get by the mainstream. There are a lot of great ideas in the ‘blogosphere’.

  135. SteveB

    “Betsy” — sorry for my fat fingers

  136. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    Awesome Betsy, congratulations!

  137. Ry-Guy

    Hinske Hammers a Homer! (Can’t go wrong with triple alliteration)

    or Hammerin’ Hinske Hacks a Homer (Unless that’s too insulting to Hank)

  138. FMK

    Eric Hinske’s middle name is Scott.

    So to add on to someone’s previous.

    how about Great Scott, Hinske with your best Shot.

  139. bru

    arod said hopefully i’ll be an allstar again next year.

  140. Brandon W

    Manger
    July 13th, 2009 at 11:19 am
    HINSKE WITH YOUR BEST SHOT.

    ——————————–

    I approve of this. I was going to make a sarcastic comment about Sterling and his botched calls, then I read that. My only complaint is that it would sound better with “his” instead of “your”, though that would kill the allusion. I still like it as-is.

    Dan
    July 13th, 2009 at 11:29 am
    Hinske for the win-ske. And Eric the Red took a battle axe to that one!

    ——————————–

    I also like these, though I have a harder time imagining them coming from Sterling.

  141. CC Bigs

    Hinske hits it OUT-ski!!

  142. Jake

    FMK – I like “Hinske with your best shot” so as it is!

  143. TD

    Hokiehill
    July 13th, 2009 at 11:41 am
    Badabinski!

    I vote for this one!

    badabinski!…

  144. sab

    Bru – lets hope arod is an allstar from friday through the end of october – i’d prefer that over next year..

  145. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    Hinske with your best shot gets my vote, too.

  146. Drew

    Too bad he doesn’t have red hair..

    “Eric the Red has put that one to bed”

    That sounds as dumb as some of John’s :)

  147. matt

    I can’t take credit for this, but a friend of mine came up with “A dingskie, by Hinskie!”

  148. Sergio Gonzalez

    It’s a Hinske-dink!

  149. Drew

    “FMK – I like “Hinske with your best shot” so as it is!”

    That is good, but you’ll have to explain the reference to John since he will have no clue.

  150. Clay Buchholz Loves Laptops

    I like, “that’s definitely Hinske material!”

    A nod to the classic Seinfeld episode (”You’re not Penske material!”

  151. betsy

    Yes, that was me ,lol. I didn’t even give my actual location – I live on Long Island. I’ve no idea why I lied……I was actually more nervous talking to the screener. When I’m on the phone with Kim/Adam, it’s like having a conversation, to be honest. As long as I don’t hear how weird my voice is, I’m fine……..and they were really nice. I couldn’t believe Kim recognized my posts. I guess she really does read the blog….

  152. KennyH123

    Better is…

    “Right from the Hinske File!”

  153. bru

    all we need is a solid # 3 starter.

    cc
    burnett
    lee/halladay/etc
    pettitte
    joba

    with wang hopefully coming back soon to add debth.

    keep hughes in the pen & we are fine.
    obviously halladay is better than a 3 but if we can get him with joba,ajax,romine & one more prospect i do it.

    if it takes less fine.

    can we wait for joba to find it if he ever does??
    do we send him to the pen?

    we are one pitching injury away from being in big trouble.

    to big of a chance to take.
    we made a mistake with wang by bringing him back to soon.
    we made a mistake by putting hughes in the pen but not the end of the world with hughes there.

  154. Clapton100

    Mitre-I would call him up as well, and get Aceves back to the pen, but have you looked at Mitre’s ML totals?

    10-23, with a 5.36 ERA in the NL-and that was before he was suspended for PED’s

    He’s probably the best short term option, but’s he’s not exactly David Price either

  155. TB

    Random:

    “opposing pitcher’s name” offered cheese but Hinske prefers mincemeat

  156. betsy

    Thanks, guys ! It was neat and I wasn’t that nervous, but I was sort of embarrassed – plus I didn’t want to yell because I’m at work.

  157. Derek

    “Hinske just hit that one into the Jet Ski!”

    Jet Stream + Hinske = Jet Ski.. Get it?

  158. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “Yes, that was me ,lol. I didn’t even give my actual location – I live on Long Island. I’ve no idea why I lied……I was actually more nervous talking to the screener. When I’m on the phone with Kim/Adam, it’s like having a conversation, to be honest. As long as I don’t hear how weird my voice is, I’m fine……..and they were really nice. I couldn’t believe Kim recognized my posts. I guess she really does read the blog….”

    You had the guts to do it in the middle of the workday, too!

    But hey, female LoHud WFAN callers UNITE!!

  159. KennyH123

    Mitre is and always was horrendous. Yankees pinpoint some scrub in the minors, the guy makes a couple good AAA starts and they fall in love with him.

    He will get pummeled in the bigs, as usual, and be released in a couple weeks.

  160. Jose

    A Hitske Homer!!

  161. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “cc
    burnett
    lee/halladay/etc
    pettitte
    joba”

    Lee and Halladay are not three starters. They would push Burnett to a three starter. The Yankees don’t need that given the cost; they need a four or five starter.

    “10-23, with a 5.36 ERA in the NL-and that was before he was suspended for PED’s

    He’s probably the best short term option, but’s he’s not exactly David Price either”

    Mitre was pitching with a bad arm, which is why he had Tommy John surgery.

    I don’t expect anything great, but he’ll probably pitch a little better than those numbers.

  162. Y 27

    Unless you get a Halladay or Lee… there really isin’t much out there that is better than what we have.

    That’s why Cashman is in a tight spot. Remember, we’re bringing someone to the AL East, NYC, and a pennant race. It’s not realistic to pluck some mediocre starter from a last place NL team and expect him to come here and perform better than what Andy and Joba have been giving us.

    I’m sure Cash recognizes we need reinforcements… but the reinforcements may not be there to be had unless he wants a big fish.

  163. T-Bone

    Great call by TB “Picture perfect poke from Leonardo Da Hinske and Yanks take a *fill in the blank* lead”

    You get my vote!

  164. Hokiehill

    “all we need is a solid # 3 starter.

    cc
    burnett
    lee/halladay/etc
    pettitte
    joba”

    Burnett would be the #3 in that rotation…with Lee or Halladay and it would be debatable who the #1 is with Halladay…

  165. LES Tom

    “Leonardo Da Hinske” hahahahahahahahahahaha brilliant!

  166. Mike in Harrisburg

    John Sterling needs no man’s help in coming up with lame home run calls, thank you very much.

  167. Sevrx

    Seattle isin’t even sure to be sellers. They just took 2\3 from Texas this weekend and have taken 2\3 from the Dodgers and Boston on the road in the last 2 weeks.

    And if they are, with the year Wasburn is having, I’m sure there will be teams willing to give up more than we are.

    We are not the only team looking for pitching and Washburn is the best 2nd tier pitcher available by a mile (considering his track record and AL experience along with his current season). All the teams who don’t want to give up a lot for Halladay will be after Washburn.

  168. bru

    betsy

    your voice was fine.

  169. bru

    sounded sexy

  170. godzilla sr.

    The home run laureate Eric Hinske! (rhymes with pinsky) the worst hr call ever! does anyone know what time david cone addresses the old farts in washington for the sotomayor hearing?

  171. Doreen

    Betsy -

    You want on the FAN? Good for you! I could never :) And how great is it that you were “recognized!!” Way, way, cool.

    What did you talk about?

  172. bru

    i don’t know how but we have to straighten the rotation out.

    at least 3 solid starters & 2 serviceable ones.

    i think pettitte should slot into the 4th spot with joba in the 5th spot.

    having pettitte in the 3rd slot matches him against other teams number 3’s who have better numbers.

    it would be a shame to be so close & not make a move only to crash-n-burn.

  173. yyyyy

    I’m not reading the comments so I don’t know if it’s been said, but its gotta be Eric the Red

  174. Susie924

    Eric hits an Epic Shot!

  175. Dan

    my wife and I came up with ‘A Hitsky from Hinsky’ but it is impossible to pronounce. which is why john sterling should adopt it.

  176. Doreen

    Did any of you see the recent Kids on Deck? The Posada/Mo segment? About the toothpaste cap? Pretty funny. Posada had to interpret into Spanish what the question was about. Actually Spanish and mime. :)

  177. yyyyy

    “Picture perfect poke from Leonardo Da Hinske and Yanks take a *fill in the blank* lead”

    Actually that gets my vote as well

  178. The Cragister

    you guys are way overthinking this.

    Not every call has to rhyme, and many of Stering’s dont… “The Giambino,” “Jorgee Juiced One,” “The Melk Man Delivers,”….

    Here is how I imagine the Sterling call for Hinske should go…

    “…and the 2-1 pitch… Swung on and HIT IN THE AIR RIGHT… That ball is high… It is far… It… Is… GONE! A long 2-run home run into the second in right field… HINSKE HAMMERED IT!, and the Yankees take a 3-1 lead!”

  179. YankeeRay

    “An over the wall bop from the Mall Cop”

  180. bru

    hammering hinske does it again.

    i think hinske with your best shot as they are playing the actual song would be great.

  181. David Cone's Camera Face

    i LIKED

    “a homerunske from hinske!”

  182. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    It’s tough to be creative when all the best ones have already been put out there!

    But here’s my try:

    You don’t need any Hinske to figure out where that ball went! Eric has e-ricted another homer!!!

  183. J-Boogie

    In the spirit of “gettintg jiggy with it” why not, getting Hinske with it. Something corny like that is right up Sterling’s alley.

    “It is high. It is far. It is gone! Eric Hinske. Getting Hinske with it. And the Yanks take a 3-2 lead.”

  184. Brandon... I'M AWESOME !

    I swear I wish I could call Sterling’s final HR call.

    It’s it is high, it is farrrr, it issssssssssss gone !, no no it’s not… wait this has just been handed to me ! it could be, no it’s not, yes it is, John you have been extended for 2 more yrs. ! no my mistake, myyyyy mistake, I misread it…. it’s a pink slip, no it’s not, yes it is, John here’s your pink slip !!!

  185. Clam

    “it would be a shame to be so close & not make a move only to crash-n-burn.”

    I agree. I hope Cash realizes this could be a special team and does whatever necessary. However, the combination of him not wanting to part with prospects plus the fact that there are very few options out there, does not bode well for a trade…. atleast for anyone worthwhile. I’m sure we could get Broson Arroyo. But is he going to be better than Andy?

  186. YankeeRay

    “Hinske hit it half way to Comiskey”

  187. SJ44

    So betsy, let me get something straight…..

    Are you one of those time sucking corporate weasels wasting valuable company work time talking to Kim Jones on the radio???

    What is the world coming to!!! lol

    Keep it simple for John since he probably needs help recognizing if the ball actually leaves the yard.

    “Hinske hammers it”.

    This way, when its off the wall instead of over the fence, he’s covered.

  188. betsy

    This caller wants the Yanks to get Doc at all costs and would protect only Jeter, Mo and I forget who else……hilarious.

    About the call – when your voice is recorded or on the radio or whathave you, that’s actually how your voice sounds. When you speak in real life, you’re not hearing how you actually sound (I forget why, but someone scientific would know). I hate how I sound on tape because I have a NY accent, but thanks!

    Doreen, I asked about Phil and AJ (big surprise, lol) – just the same stuff we talk about here…

    Rebecca, I did that once before at work to – this was years ago, when I called in to Michael Kay. I was able to do my work and call, so it was no big deal ,but I had to work hard to speak softly as I have a naturally loud voice, lol.

  189. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    Switching gears: this is what the guy (from the other forum) who reports on the minors has to say about Joba. He was the first person to even mention Joba’s name to us and that was when Joba was first in the minors. He has loved him forever. I don’t know what you think about his take but I thought I’d put it out there.

    “IMHO Joba is the victim of bad Yankee coaching.

    He “should” come out firing his heat in the first two innings to get batters set up for it. I’m not talking the 93 mph fastball he is using lately. I’m talking the 97 mph stuff we all know he can throw.

    The current Yankee coaching philosophy is that Joba should gear down his stuff to make him last longer AKA more innings per start. But that is a dipsplit mistake. Instead he should come out throwing fire for two innings and then start throwing that slider. If they are used to seeing 93 mph heat they can lay off that pitch. But if they have seen the 97 mph stuff then they can’t lay off it. If he only throws 5 innings that way then so be it. At least we go into the fifth having given up no runs or maybe one run.

    For a catcher Girardi this year has shown a surprising lack of understanding in the pitching aspect of being a manager. The Yankees need Aceves to be the long setup man for Joba and use him that way every time Joba pitches. Joba starts Aceves, as he is well suited for that role, finishes.”

  190. Fran (the original) and OPPC member

    Betsy, I heard you on WFAN – good job.

    Doreen, that segment was funny. I was really impressed with Damon’s car collection.

  191. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    Trisha, given that baseball is already the most innuendo-ish sport out there, I’m not entirely sure you want to talk about Eric erecting anything…

  192. Ted

    Hinske uncorks the Whisky!

  193. Brandon... I'M AWESOME !

    OT I didn’t realize how quick the media is, damn day 1 they already have pics of Kate and Al in California on thier R&R time.

  194. betsy

    LOL SJ – the answer is apparently yes. I feel guilty about it – I will repent this sin on Yom Kippur, lol. I actually on did this because it was Kim (and Adam is nice, too). I would never call in to Joe or Evan (not that they aren’t nice) …..and heaven forbid, Mike.

  195. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    “Trisha, given that baseball is already the most innuendo-ish sport out there, I’m not entirely sure you want to talk about Eric erecting anything…”

    :lol:

    I have to tell you that when I was writing the whole thing it sounded so ridiculous. And that’s what made it so perfect, if you get my drift!

    :)

  196. pat

    Quote from Halladay at todays AS Game presser courtesy of WEEI.

    Interesting that he named Yankees as guys he’d prefer not to face.

    “–He would not mind going to the National League, based on the challenge of pitching in the A.L. East.

    “I’d rather hit than have to face Jeter and A-Rod and Matsui,” he said.”

  197. Michael Monico

    How about a Big Bop from Mall Cop or A Homerun from the King of Bronx?

  198. Homer

    Besty, You sound hot! Can I get your telly # ?

  199. Sam

    “Eric! Eric! A young baseball’s journey from Milan to HINSK!”

  200. Rob M

    “To the window, to the wall and gone! HIN-SKE-SKE-SKE-SKE-SKE-SKE!!!”

  201. David B

    you guys are way overthinking this.

    Not every call has to rhyme, and many of Stering’s dont… “The Giambino,” “Jorgee Juiced One,” “The Melk Man Delivers,”….

    Here is how I imagine the Sterling call for Hinske should go…

    “…And the 2-1 pitch… Swung on and HIT IN THE AIR RIGHT… That ball is high… It is far… It… Is… GONE! A loooong 2-run home run from Eric Hinske… HINSKE HAMMERED IT! … into the second in right field, and the Yankees take a 3-1 lead!”

  202. pat

    oops Forgot the link.

    http://fullcount.weei.com/spor.....-a-chance/

  203. Brandon... I'M AWESOME !

    LMAO Rob M…..:lol:

    BTW OT Kim/Adam >>>> Joe/Evan >>>>> Diet Coke

  204. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    RT @leokitty RT: @BenBadler: Aroldis Chapman has signed with Athletes Premier International for representation

  205. Angel Berroa

    Swung on and hit in the air to deep right…it is high it is far it is…..GONE!!!!!!!!! Eric Hinske does it again! A 2 run shot into the upper deck. Oh what a beast from the east Suzyn! And the Yankees take a 5-3 lead.

  206. you gotta have faith (aceves, you da man!)

    okay, so i was gone for the weekend which was apparently a good thing the way the yankees played but i caught up on what happened and i dont see why people are getting ready to jump of the ledge.

    our offense put up enough runs the 1st 2 games and they put up 4 yesterday, the pitching just didnt have it this series, sometimes your offense can overcome it and sometimes it can’t.

    im disappointed that we lost some ground but this team has shown that if they loose ground quickly they can just as quickly gain ground. step away from the ledge. lol

  207. Fisher

    “Eric wreaked it!”

    “A wreaking ball from Eric”

    something like that…

  208. S.A.--Relax, Relate, Release

    Betsy, earlier I was in the car on a coffee run and heard your call to Kim and Bull on WFAN. Good job! :lol:

  209. Matt

    Home run-ske for Hinske!

  210. you gotta have faith (aceves, you da man!)

    “I’d rather hit than have to face Jeter and A-Rod and Matsui,” he said.”

    or he can just pitch for the yankees, that’ll work too ;)

  211. Whatever

    Joba was the best starter in baseball last year? How did I miss that? Maybe I tuned in after the 5th or 6th inning and missed all the great performances.

    And Sterling needs to change Tex’s HR call to “That one left a Mark.”

  212. Cash is King

    “kim jones on wfan saying that she doesn’t know if hughes,montero,ajax is enough to get halladay.”

    Let’s face it, Kim’s forte isn’t baseball knowledge to begin with and she has little clue as to what kind of players Montero and Ajax are if she made that comment.

  213. alex

    ”…Hammerin’ Hinske does it again!” (added by Mobile using Mippin)

  214. Brandon... I'M AWESOME !

    Betsy called WFAN ?

    work on that breaking ball Aroldis we don’t want to delay your progress to the bronx much.

  215. alex

    And hinkse sinks one into the 2nd deck (added by Mobile using Mippin)

  216. pat

    “or he can just pitch for the yankees, that’ll work too”

    That’s where I was going.

  217. bru

    Clam
    July 13th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
    “it would be a shame to be so close & not make a move only to crash-n-burn.”

    I agree. I hope Cash realizes this could be a special team and does whatever necessary. However, the combination of him not wanting to part with prospects plus the fact that there are very few options out there, does not bode well for a trade…. atleast for anyone worthwhile. I’m sure we could get Broson Arroyo. But is he going to be better than Andy?

    ————————————————————

    prospects are only prospects.

    most of them do not make it.

    it is pretty safe to say that both hughes & joba will not end up better than halladay.

    ajax can be replaced,romine if he is one to go is no big deal.we have a ton of catching prospects.

    one thing i do not do is trade both joba & hughes or montero.
    everybody else is on the table.

    i am not sure if i trade hughes either.i would have to sleep on it.

    joba,ajax,romine,brackman or mcallister i would do.

    what i see this year is that we are almost even with the sox & i think we were closing the gap with hughes in the rotation & wang getting better but we all know what happened.

    we have a 4 man rotation & one injury to a starter hurts us immensely.

    i would of left hughes in the rotation & gotten a reliever.

    if we keep all our prospects i don’t think it is the end of the world but halladay could be the difference over the next 2 years.

    boston can’t match up with
    cc
    burnett
    halladay

    close but not happening & they still will battle us all the way

    1b (wash)
    2b (wash)
    ss (yankees)
    3b (yankees)
    lf (rs)
    cf (rs)
    rf (wash)
    c (yankees)
    dh (wash)

    bullpen it is to early to tell but the sox have more debth & a slightly better rotation.

    our starting pitching debth at one time & the hopes we had for joba put us slightly ahead of boston,even or very close.
    i think they pulled ahead of us again.

    only time will tell if keeping most if not all of our kids will work but when you have a chance to make a team much better instantly you do it.

    the rs did it with becket & it won them 2 ws.

    do we sit still?
    get an ace?
    get just a decent pitcher or two?

  218. tessa

    “Someone pinch me, it’s a homer from Hinske!”

  219. Dan

    Manger
    July 13th, 2009 at 11:19 am
    HINSKE WITH YOUR BEST SHOT.

    I think this one is the winner but changing the your to his

  220. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    Does anyone know what “Hinske” is (meaning what would the country of origin be)

  221. Cash is King

    Damn, I missed hearing Betsy/Rocketbooster with Kim. Anyhow, I’m happy to read comments that you did a fine job on WFAN.

  222. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    For those of you around last night, I took my post on stretching out Hughes and expanded it, if you’re interested. If n ot, no worries, y’all must be sick of me by now anyways :-P

  223. FanMan2000

    If the Yanks are looking for an “in-house” solution to their starting rotation problems, why not consider Bret Tomko? He’s been a serviceable starter in the big leagues and he’s the least important member of the bullpen. If they were going to trade for a “back of the rotation” starter without giving up top prospects, would they really get anyone better? My suggestion for the Hinske call: “Hinske hammers one!”

  224. SJ44

    The “guy in the other forum” doesn’t know what he is talking about.

    Nobody on the Yankees has ever told Joba to “dial it down” velocity wise. Never.

    No staff EVER teaches their pitchers to dial it down coming into a game. That’s not how you pitch in the major leagues.

    Velocity is a byproduct of three things. Mechanics, leg drive and conditioning. If you are lacking in any one of those areas, it affects the other two areas.

    Joba isn’t in the condition he was 2 years ago. Because of that, he has a hard time repeating his mechanics and there haven’t been many instances he has used his legs effectively in his starts so far this year. Then, lack of endurance kicks in and he tries to “trick” hitters with off speed stuff because he is getting tired in his outings.

    At this time of year, pitchers should be able to throw 110-125 pitches per start. Joba can’t even hit a 100. That’s not coaching, that’s on Joba.

    He was throwing 98 in the first inning in Cleveland and in the 7th inning. In the first inning against Boston, he was throwing 95. He was throwing 96 in the first inning against both the Mets AND Blue Jays. He was throwing 95 in the first inning Friday night.

    If he can do that in those starts, how does it jive that he is being coached to “dial it down”.

    Honestly, the excuses have to stop re: Joba.

    Here is the short list of people who have been blamed for Joba’s struggles so far this year:

    Girardi, Cashman, Posada, Molina, Arod (its ALWAYS Arod’s fault) Cody Ransom (the poorman’s Arod in terms of the blame game) too many errors behind him, Eiland, global warming, the recession, the lack of sellouts, the lack of fist pumping, Aubrey Huff, first innings, Mike Harkey…..

    Am I leaving anyone out?

    One person, and one person only, is responsible for Joba’s struggles. That’s Joba.

    One folks understand that simple reality, its much easier to figure out what to do about it.

  225. David Mincer

    “It hitched a ride on the Hinske Highway!”

  226. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    He can sure make you wince-ski. Another monumental homer from Hinske!

  227. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    SJ: FWIW, Cody Ransom’s just a meme. No sane person is seriously blaming him for Joba’s struggles ;)

  228. sab

    do you know what the ironic part (or funny part depending on how you look at it)is..

    if cashman decides to hold on to his beloved prospects he won’t be the GM of this team once they are actually playing for the yankees..

    because a rotation of CC, AJ, Joba ,Pettite and your minor league scrub of the week will enure the yankees missing the playoffs and good ol’ cash looking for another GM job – i hear the Nationals GM job will be open next year..

  229. Tony Vegas

    How about “It is high, it is far, it is….long pause….gone! No wait, is it foul? No, it’s gone. Hinske with a home run to center field. I was distracted by Susan under the table and I couldn’t tell if it was fair or foul.”

  230. rover

    Hinske Hanger
    Hinske Hammer

  231. yankee23

    Bring his home town into it, something like:

    “The Manashah Masher (mash-ah) does it again!”

  232. FanRod

    “IT’S A SLAMMER FOR THE HINSKE HAMMER!”

  233. Patrick the Prospect Hugger

    SJ44,

    More like the lack of global warming, it’s been freezing this year!

    “One person, and one person only, is responsible for Joba’s struggles. That’s Joba.”

    Enough said.

  234. S.A.--Relax, Relate, Release

    Here is the short list of people who have been blamed for Joba’s struggles so far this year:

    Girardi, Cashman, Posada, Molina, Arod (its ALWAYS Arod’s fault) Cody Ransom (the poorman’s Arod in terms of the blame game) too many errors behind him, Eiland, global warming, the recession, the lack of sellouts, the lack of fist pumping, Aubrey Huff, first innings, Mike Harkey…..

    Am I leaving anyone out?

    ==================================

    Mother nature, Santa Claus, my mother(I blame her for a lot of things, why not add Jobber’s struggles to the list)

    :P

  235. Danny from Brooklyn

    Jack B
    July 13th, 2009 at 11:06 am
    I’m not good at this stuff, but while you are at it, come up with a new call for Teixeira. The whole “You’re on the Mark…” thing just plain stinks. He deserves better.

    ****
    I totally agree. I’ve hated this one since the beginning of the year. Personally, I think Tex Marks the spot would be perfect! Pass it along, Pete.

    As for Hinske, the Pat Benetar isn’t a bad choice… I’d add fire away at the end of it, like in the song lol.

  236. Cash is King

    SJ44,

    Do you agree with me that the Yankees need to reevaluate their offseason training program for their pitchers especially when it comes to building up strength in their trunk area.

  237. sab

    Bru the redsox won only 1 World series with Beckett – granted he and lowell were 2 of the biggest reasons they won that WS but it was only one..

    schilling and lowe (among others like Manny and joe torre)were the reason they won the first one..

  238. TMai

    How about a little Eric Cartman…..

    Eric “Respect my Authority” Hinske

  239. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    I wonder if the things in his personal life are distractions. If so, that would hardly be making excuses for Joba. It could go a long way to explaining his erraticism. I personally don’t believe he has lost his touch or forgotten how to pitch. Nor do I believe he is full of himself or has let his “press” get to him.

    Paul O’Neill is a true warrior and played in the world series the day his father died. Bernie Williams is a more introspective soul and really had problems playing when his dad was sick. He eventually left and spent time with his dad since he was totally ineffective in the field and at bat. Two Boston players (their former closer who played for Oakland, can’t remember his name now) and another player both had huge problems when they were going through divorces and it showed up in their game. One actually left for the season. Beckett said that his game was affected when his parents were going through a divorce. He talked about it the next season.

    Joba has been through a very public DUI and all the problems with his mother, including her arrest for drugs.

    He has been through a heck of a lot in his young life. Bigger people than Joba have been affected by life’s circumstances.

  240. Yazman

    It’s a HinskeDinger!

  241. sab

    I totally agree. I’ve hated this one since the beginning of the year. Personally, I think Tex Marks the spot would be perfect! Pass it along, Pete.
    ============================================================
    sadly we haven’t heard any Tex homerun calls for most of june and july….

  242. Jimmy

    The King of Queens is felxing his muscle in the Bronx

  243. matthew frags

    John Sterling: “It is high, it is far, it is gone…. Did he? He DID-ske, a homer by Hinkse!”

  244. Brandon... I'M AWESOME !

    Part of me wants to blame Eiland (IDK why I keep coming to that) I know it’s not him but can we get a new pitching coach ?

  245. Peter Rabbit

    PUT HIS NAME ON THE MARQUEE, HINKSE TEES OFF INTO LEFT FIELD!

  246. Jake

    how bout…

    “HINSKE HIT IT OVER THE FENCE-SKI!”

  247. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    I thought of Hinske with his best shot (instead of “your”) but then thought it would lose its entire effect.

    How about this to make sure people got the symbolism?

    HINSKE WITH HIS BEST SHOT, AND ANOTHER ONE JUST JETTED OUT (OF T/HERE)!

  248. marathon shirt

    JACK Daniels Old Kentucky Hinske!

  249. SJ44

    Trisha,

    Possibly. More likely, Joba has been inflicted with the virus called, “Too much, too soon”.

    23 in New York and so much of a star that he has one name recoginition. He’s making seven figures off the field (unheard of, given his limited performance resume to date), fame, part of the Yankees overall marketing program (something that would have NEVER happened if George was still in charge), are the more likely factors.

    Joba isn’t a bad kid. He’s not some wack job. He is however, a stubborn kid who is trying to get by on talent alone and not hard work. You can’t do that in the majors. Its too competitive.

    If you think you are working hard, work harder because somebody is ALWAYS working harder than you. That has to be his motto going forward.

    You always find out more about a player when they are struggling. So far, the early returns from Joba in that area aren’t promising. Especially, the lack of accountability.

    My hope is, Harlan sets him straight during the break and he comes back more focused, more coachable, and more accountable. If he is, he will pitch better in the second half.

    Cash,

    The overall conditioning program was overhauled this past off-season. CC, Phil (who is much stronger this year), and AJ don’t seem to have problems with endurance.

    Wang was in rehab and they took the doctors advice and had him stay off his foot in the off-season. He couldn’t participate.

    Joba simply didn’t put in the work in the off-season and its showing right now.

    The program is fine. Its some of the participants that need a kick in the butt every once in a while.

  250. Bill G

    That’s Hinsk-tastic! haha

    A Hinkse-Homer!

  251. The Monarch

    How about,

    “…it’s gone. And Eric Hinske delivers a home run for the Yankees, and how in the world do I still have a job in radio with this stupid shtick?”

  252. Mike

    Guys . .Evan on WFAN just brought a name flying under the radar. May not cost as much as Halladay . But what about Cliff Lee!..

    That’d be a nice addition. !!

  253. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    I have to say that there have been a ton of good calls!

    I asked about Hinske’s background because I thought you might be able to play off it. Not sure what he is. If he was Danish:

    The prince of Denmark has done it again! (I wonder which hamlet that homer went to!!!) :)

    If he were Swedish:

    And Eric once again hits is on the Swede spot!!!

    If he were Polish:

    And Eric hits it from pole to pole!!! (I don’t know if that sounds rude.)

  254. Matt

    HINskee gets the Yankees a step closer to another WINskee

  255. Chris from NJ

    The call should be:
    “I should retire”, “I’m a terrible announcer”, or “The Hinske Bitsy Spider climbed up the water spout!”

  256. Jeff G.

    Hinske is from Menasha, Wisc., 17 mi. north of Oshkosh.

    What about:

    “The Menasha Masher …. by gosh, just north of Oshkosh … was all over that pitch!”

    Pretty self-explanatory, and has the right cadence for Sterling.

    Oshkosh is known for its overalls, so “all over” is a subtle play on words, which passes as wit on baseball broadcasts.

  257. G. Love

    yankee23 July 13th, 2009 at 1:01 pm

    Bring his home town into it, something like:

    “The Manashah Masher (mash-ah) does it again!”

    I’ll throw this one a vote.

  258. Paul Martinez

    How about referring to one of Hinske’s homers as an “H-Jack” as in “Hinske H-Jacks the ball deep into right field.”

    Paul Martinez
    Espanola, New Mexico

  259. Mac Daddy

    why do we contribute/encourage this ego maniac and hack of an announcer by even discussing this non sense? how a team like the yankees has such a lame act as their announcer is embarrassing

  260. Rhumbe

    Swung on and hit in the air to deep right! That ball is high, it is far, iiit is gaaahn.

    All Hail Hinske!

  261. Erica - always OPPC

    Mac Daddy
    July 13th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
    why do we contribute/encourage this ego maniac and hack of an announcer by even discussing this non sense? how a team like the yankees has such a lame act as their announcer is embarrassing

    ****
    Who invited the party pooper???

  262. Mike

    Mac Daddy . .Sterling is awesome ! he adds something to the game with his calls .

  263. ohgodno

    “Swung onnnn and… THERE IT GOES TO RIGHT… NN-IT IS FAAR… NN-IT IS HIGGH… NN-IT IS… GAAHHHHHHN!!! ERIC HINSKE with a HUGE blast to give the Yanks the lead… HINSKE WITH YOUR BEST SHOT… FIRE AWAY ERIC! Wow did he ever hit that Suzyn?”

    “Yeah John, it looks like he got a 2-1 curveball that just hung right there. He just stayed back just enough to hit it over the wall”

    “Yeah, that’s right Suzyn, keep trying to act like you know what you’re talking about. Well Cody Ransom is up now. He’s looking to make up for his 9,000 Errors he made last inning while filling in for A-Rod at third today.”

  264. Jason Whitman

    A home-run-ski! For Hinske!!

  265. Southern Yankee

    Whoopie Hinske doo !!

  266. 86w183

    Well if Matsui would get out of the way it could be “a Home run by E-H the D-H”

    Of course Ditmars 1929 nailed it with the second response 2 1/2 hours ago.

    I know it’s dead during the all star break, but do we have to try and come up with new inane things for John Sterling to say?

  267. Charlie

    Why not just Hammerin Hinske?

  268. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    I, on the other hand, have found Joba to be extremely accountable, especially when he was “allowed” to share the mound with a swarm of midges and instead said he should have been able to pitch through it and blamed himself.

    Joba doesn’t seem like the kind to assess blame to outside factors even when he has every reason to. Therefore I think he is being more affected than he lets on and is using some defensiveness to mask it.

    I would guarantee you that Joba was brought up by Harlan to be nothing but accountable. I think the kid has a lot on his plate. Hopefully he finds a way to work it out for the good of his own psyche. When he is at peace he will better be able to focus and get the job done.

    Joba doesn’t owe it to the press, his fans, or anyone else to tell the world if the problems with his mother are having a profound affect on him. However he does owe it to the Yankees, who pay his salary, to find a way to deal with this stuff if it indeed is throwing him off. Hopefully that is where Harlan can be helpful. He knows his son much better than anyone else.

  269. Tom

    Hinske, the King of the Bronx, heeeee hits that ball to Queens.

    Pete, I already have a mediaguide, maybe you could get me a nice inaugural season baseball in a plastic cube :-)

    Greets, Tom. (added by Mobile using Mippin)

  270. Southern Yankee ™

    Whoopee Hinske Doo!!!

  271. GreenBeret7

    For those that just flat out love baseball history, Wednesday night on HBO there will be a program on the career of Ted Williams. There are some great clips with “The Kid”. Well worth your time. Depending on where you live, it will start at 9:30 PM. Check the guides, though for time.

  272. Mac Daddy

    not trying to be a “party pooper” but how anyone thinks sterling or his calls are enjoyable is beyond me…not that there are many like him but vin scully is how an announcer should act and call a game…sterling makes a mockery out of him and others who try and call a game professionally

  273. S.A.--Relax, Relate, Release

    There was some talk before on Chris Russo freaking out on sirius last week. Well what a “surprise” it was all a stunt:

    “If you’re a subscriber to Sirius XM and listened to Howard Stern about 8:45 this morning, you heard Mad Dog Channel program director Steve Torre, the person allegedly fired on the air on Thursday.

    Steve tried to maintain that the firing was real and that he was “reinstated”, but apparently this whole thing about Mad Dog cleaning house, looking for new hosts, canceling his vacation and bringing in staff was all shenanigans.

    Torre was at Sirius today in his office and when he did a spot with Stern, he mentioned that he was out of the office on Thursday to fulfill some personal commitments and was off Friday anyway. So his “firing” was actually a planned absence to begin with.

    And Chris is indeed on vacation as Torre said today. Granted, it’s a slow period for sports and the Mad Dog Channel needed some buzz, but was this the way to do it? To create a false firing and tirade, it leaves listeners with a bad taste and when Russo actually wants to do something real, the fans may not want to go on this ride again. You have to be careful when pulling stunts like these.

    The staff that was “untalented” and a bunch of “little bow wows” appears to be intact and there are no firings imminent.

    I was suspicious to begin with, but wanted to give Russo the benefit of the doubt, but with Torre back today, this whole thing rings quite hollow.”

    http://tiny.cc/1HgfN

    Lame. :roll:

  274. Doreen

    Fran -

    Damon’s car collection sure does look nice, but I liked what you could see of the outside of his house/garage. Nice.

    The mud thing was interesting too.

    I like that show too much. :lol:

  275. Jonathan

    Oh my Eric Hinske that got out of here in a Blinkskie!

  276. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    You know, some of these are fantastic. Seriously I don’t know how Sterling will be able to choose. I love the simple ones (Hammerin Hinske) but I also love the Masher from Manasher. In fact, there are so many I think are great that again, I don’t know how Sterling could choose from amongst them.

    Good job lohuders!

  277. Cash is King

    “Trisha,

    Possibly. More likely, Joba has been inflicted with the virus called, “Too much, too soon”.”

    SJ44,

    I would also add without “accomplishing enough” on the baseball field to deserve the fame he’s received by Yankee fans and media alike.

  278. Mike

    Mac Daddy.. Times have changed .. Vin Scully is 190 years old . He’s the best . no doubt about it !. but theres a new generation of listeners that grew up with Sterling ! I’m one of them i’m 26. and enjoy his calls !.

    times change

  279. bru

    i’d like to see pena back up over ransom.

    with the way girardi changes the lineup every inning he would get plenty of playing time.

    having ace spot start also hurt the pen for the angels series.
    we might have been able to win one of those games & be only 2 out but what is 1 game ?

    joba needs a good talking to & butkicking.
    i think cash gets a starter & hope it is halladay or lee but think it will be a washburn type because the yankees fell in love with our prospects.

    can we get lee without joba,hughes,montero,ajax???

    that would be nice.

    sabathia
    burnett
    lee/halladay
    pettitte
    joba

  280. Patrick the Prospect Hugger

    The worst thing about the sweep is that we have to hear it from the trolls and bridgejumpers for 4 days.

    I hate dwelling on the negatives, if only the Yanks could have taken even 1 game…

  281. Jake

    One more for number one four (14 – hinske’s number)

  282. Patrick the Prospect Hugger

    “can we get lee without joba,hughes,montero,ajax???”

    Nope

  283. Jarret

    Hinski hits-it-ski out of the park.

  284. Southern Yankee ™

    “he gave it a Hinske Lift”

  285. Blog Poster

    SJ –

    If you could trade either Hughes or Joba at this stage of their career (plus other prospects of course) for a player with the potential impact of Halladay, which one do you let go of and why?

  286. Jake

    How about ‘That ball hopped on the Hin-ski lift, straight to the seats!’

  287. JR

    I believe Sterling should have one homogenized call for all HR’s : It is high, it is far, it is gahn! It’s an El Cheapo!”

    Anyway the first thing I thought of was Dr Pinsky. “How about Hinske just kicked ‘em in the shinski”

    And we’re expending a lot of effort for something that might happen only four more times. We’d be better off coming up with Michael Kay pickup lines

  288. Mike

    “can we get lee without joba,hughes,montero,ajax???”

    Nope

    If we can’t . .we better be going after Halladay !

  289. Jake

    or Hin-ski chalet.

  290. m

    Hey, guys. Nice to laugh at some good calls.

    How about, “This is no Sterling jinsky, this one really IS going over the wall for Eric Hinske!”

  291. Pat M....Section 211

    Rebecca, I just read your your morning column….I’ve been saying that very same thing since Wang went down…..The bullpen is actually very good when Aceves is in there…There’s a few dead wood out there, but it’s become a strenght for the club…..Fill the hole created by Wang, and hope Bruney & Joba round out to form…..As for the Joba situation, it was clear to me Friday night that he’s not in shape to be a starting pitcher…He actually labors out there if he gets over 20 pitches in an inning….And this was an evening game, can’t imagine him pitching in the heat of the weekend day games…..A wealth of talent and at this point he’s wasting it….Joba became bigger than what Joba really is…As SJ pointed out, too much too soon…..Those headlines are faded yellow press clippings today, as his is performances….

  292. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    I’m voting for outside problems as the cause of his erratic pitching.

    One of the thing I love most about Girardi is his empathy. He knows what it’s like to have down times in baseball and because of it he allows his players latitude and understands the frustration of those periods of time.

    He definitely believes in Joba and he definitely believes that Joba has to find a way to work through his problems – and most importantly, he believes Joba will find his way out of the morass.

    Good enough for me.

    Enjoy this beautiful day all. (Well it is definitely beautiful here.)

  293. Mac Daddy

    mike…im only 30…i “grew up” with sterling as well but that doesnt mean i like him or that hes good…scully could be 200 and still be 100X’s better than sterling ever could…im not asking for a scully either…just someone who describes whats going on- TRUTHFULLY- and isnt about themselves or their calls.

  294. GreenBeret7

    bru
    July 13th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
    i’d like to see pena back up over ransom.

    with the way girardi changes the lineup every inning he would get plenty of playing time.

    ————————————————————

    Why don’t you quit complaining about about Pena and let him learn the things he was sent back to Scranton to do. Let him learn to play the outfield spots so he will have more value to the Yanks. When he learns, he’ll be back.

  295. john

    ” The Great Hinske makes another one disappear ”

    Hey anything is better than Robbie Cano don’t you know.

  296. Darrin

    “It’s another Hinske Dinger! Isn’t that just AMAZING, Suzyn? You just can’t predict baseball!”

  297. john

    Or the “Or the Great WhodHinske makes another ball disappear”

  298. Erica - always OPPC

    Doreen
    July 13th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
    Fran -

    Damon’s car collection sure does look nice, but I liked what you could see of the outside of his house/garage. Nice.

    ***
    Doreen/Fran-

    I LOVED the Damon segmant (gee, I wonder why)

    Jorge & Rivera made me laugh as always. I had a feeling Mo sings in the shower

  299. Tarheelyank

    Two random thoughts.

    SJ call Harlan.

    The Woman on this blog are awesome(shut up brandon). I don’t always agree, but there is no denying the passion.

    Ladies of Lohud. Maybe a calendar deal. (tastefully done of course)

  300. bru

    Patrick the Prospect Hugger

    and the mets could not get santanna with the garbage package that took the whole world by suprise either.

  301. Glen

    Cashman is not going to give up 1\2 his farm… Hughes/Joba, A-Jax, Romine, Melancon, McAllister etc. for a pitcher.

    He will search for a Washburn-type to eat some innings. If he can’t get him, then he will stand pat and hope that Andy/Joba start to pitch better, Wang comes back, and Mitre gives us something.

  302. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    Pat: “he bullpen is actually very good when Aceves is in there…There’s a few dead wood out there, but it’s become a strenght for the club…”

    There’s an argument to be made that Aceves is this team’s MVP.

  303. rconn23

    I’ll save John the time so he can just integrate the common-mistakes he makes into Hinske’s home run call…

    “It’s a Tex-Message for Teixeira… Well, it would would have been if Teixeira hit it… But I’m Denske, so, it’s a home run for Hinske!!!”

    There’s literally hundreds of variations incorporating Sterling mistakes.

  304. pat

    Doreen

    I love the Jorge and Mo segment. It makes me laugh everytime because Mo is funny without trying to be or realizing he is.

  305. Jake

    Hin-ski’s gone cross-country…

  306. bruceb

    Eric Hinske. As agile as Nijinsky!

  307. grant

    “And Hinskie, drops a Bombski”

  308. NYY626

    Damon’s car was insane! But did anyone see the commericials for next weeks Yankees on Deck? Alex and Joba playing rock band together. Thats an interesting duo…..

  309. m

    Perusing MLBTR, Matt Herges was designated by the Indians, Heyman seems fixated on Halladay to Phillies, and I found this interesting quote. Rememeber, it’s all a process:

    “Clay Buchholz told WEEI.com’s Alex Katz that he’ll focus on process, not results when he pitches for the Red Sox in Toronto after the break.”

    I caught a little bit of Bull Durham and laughed at the scene where Costner was giving Tim Robbins all the cliche quotes. Apparently a couple of the young Yankee pitchers fell asleep during that portion.

  310. Steve Book

    “It’s a homerski for Hinski”

  311. aldo

    a little off topic but is anyone watching the 3 hr Reggie game on YES right now? Seaver talking about Torrez’ pitch to Reggie Smith on the home run: “right down the old poop shoot”. Hilarious

  312. raymagnetic

    “They threw a pitch that was Risky and it was hammered by Hinske”

  313. Jake

    Hin-ski resorts to the long ball…

    (ok, almost done clogging the board)

  314. Light House

    Joba is 23!!

    Where was Greg Maddux at 23!!

    Where was Glavine at 23!!

    Where was Smoltz at 23!!

    Where was Kurt Gipson at 23!!

    Where was Randy Johnson at 23!!

    Where was Schilling at 23!!

    Where was Beckett at 23!!

    Where was Kofaux at 23!!

    Where was Drysdale at 23!!

    Where was Sabathia at 23!!

    Weere was King Felix at 23!!

    Where was Halladay at 23!!

    Where was Nolan Ryan at 23!!

    etc.

  315. raymagnetic

    “Nearly hit the Good Year Blimpskie oh what a shot by Hinske”

  316. bru

    GreenBeret7
    July 13th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
    bru
    July 13th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
    i’d like to see pena back up over ransom.

    with the way girardi changes the lineup every inning he would get plenty of playing time.

    ————————————————————

    Why don’t you quit complaining about about Pena and let him learn the things he was sent back to Scranton to do. Let him learn to play the outfield spots so he will have more value to the Yanks. When he learns, he’ll be back.
    ———————————————————-

    many people complained about the same thing.

    he helped the team more than ransom.
    if he was struggling or needed to work on his defense i might agree with you but he was making a difference & was the best defensive person on the team except tex.

    hughes helps us more on the ml club than in the minors,joba has a lot to learn but are all in the majors.

    stop making a big deal about a persons opinions.

    typical gb.
    everybody else is wrtong but he is right.

  317. Dori

    How about “I recognize that I’m a self-promoting jerk and I take away from the fans’ enjoyment of the game and tranish the Yankees franchise!”

  318. Jeff Peterson

    “Hammer Home a Hinske”

  319. David Williams

    “Yer better than Stravinsky, Eric Hinske”
    “Eric Hinske, goes the disTANCEkey”
    “A shift-key from Hinske”
    “A blitzke from Hinkse”

  320. Don Capone

    I vote for Manger’s “HINSKE WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!” Though if it’s walk-off homer, Sterling will have to change it to “Hinske gives the Yanks a Winski!”

  321. damed124

    i think the best one i read was hinske unlocks and unloads

  322. Bronx Jeers

    “Where was Kurt Gipson at 23!!”

    ???

  323. Brandon... I'M AWESOME !

    “The Woman on this blog are awesome(shut up brandon).”

    look to your left, now look to your right …. Now look at theses words being typed, know that you are blessed to see these Awesome words from Brandon b/c *points to self w/ both thumbs* “I’m Awesome !!!” :lol:

  324. m

    What has Sterling called for the first 3 dingers that Hinske hit?

  325. KO

    THE MALL COP SAYS NO TO SHOPLIFTING, YES TO HOME RUN

  326. jwb519

    “Hammerin’ Hinske hits it out” It’s just lame enough to work

  327. Steve B

    “Where was Beckett at 23!!”

    Under a pile of teammates on the infield grass at Yankee Stadium.

  328. CompassRosy

    Weere was King Felix at 23!!
    =============================

    He just turned 23 this past April…
    ~ 09 season = 9-3 2.53 ERA 121 K
    ~ career = 48-39 3.60 ERA 714 K

  329. raymagnetic

    ““Where was Beckett at 23!!”

    Under a pile of teammates on the infield grass at Yankee Stadium.”

    :-x

  330. Blog Poster

    Good call, Steve B.

    I also recall King Felix dealing in a 2-0 loss to us in Seattle at age 20 or so.

    Sheffield took him deep.

  331. Erica - always OPPC

    m-

    Sterling didn’t call anything.

  332. YankeeRay

    My 3 are:

    1- “An over the Wall Bop from the Mall Cop”

    2- “Hinske hit it half way to Comiskey”

    3- “A badabinske from Hinske”

  333. Erica - always OPPC

    NYY626-

    I would definitely not mind goign for a ride in Damon’s giant Mercedes van. That was the most awesome thing on wheels i have ever seen

  334. Ed - almost to my quarter century life

    “Hinske hit it half way to Comiskey”

    I actually like that.

  335. ohgodno

    I really can’t help but to keep adding to this… seriously.

    “And heres Eric Hinske now with 2 outs in the inning. Ya know Suzyn, I’ve been a broadcaster for so long, and I just can’t figure out this game. And the pitch is High 1-0.

    I just can’t make sense of it, why does the pitcher even throw the ball as Hinske takes a strike at the knees.”

    “You’re right John, it’s tough to figure out. Actually I was talking with Joe about this before the game…”

    “The 1-1 pitch is high and tight, 2-1 is the count… go on Suzyn”

    “…and he said, ‘Yeah, I just don’t understand it. As a catcher I was holding my glove up to tell the pitcher to stop, but he kept throwing the ball at it.’”

    “And the 2-1 is… Swung onnnn and… THERE IT GOES TO RIGHT… NN-IT IS FAAR… NN-IT IS HIGGH… NN-IT IS… GAAHHHHHHN!!! ERIC HINSKE with a HUGE blast to give the Yanks the lead… HINSKE WITH YOUR BEST SHOT… FIRE AWAY ERIC! Wow did he ever hit that Suzyn?”

    “Yeah John, it looks like he got a 2-1 curveball that just hung right there. He just stayed back just enough to hit it over the wall”

    “Yeah, that’s right Suzyn. Can’t figure this game out. Again, why’d the pitcher even throw the ball? It’d make more sense to me if the pitchers didn’t throw the ball, and if the hitters never tried to swing at it. Well, he did and HE did, and the Yankees take a 2-1 lead.”

  336. Brandon W

    There are too many variables to just say “Where was * at 23.” You have to look at when they were brought to the majors, did they sign out of high school or college, etc. Not to mention there is the aspect of Joba being better known than most 23 year old baseball players because of the media and all of the promotions he has done.

    You can’t just compare Joba to without looking at the rest of the situation.

    I like Joba; he is one of my favorite Yankees. But he needs to get in shape to use his legs more. He doesn’t necessarily need to go about it as drastically as Bruney did, but he needs to work it out. Talent gives you your ceiling, but hard work helps you reach it.

  337. m

    Erica,

    I read he didn’t call anything the first time, but the other two times as well?

  338. Steve B

    “I would definitely not mind goign for a ride in Damon’s giant Mercedes van”

    Who you kiddin’? You’d go for a ride in Damon’s ‘73 Pacer if given the opportunity. :)

  339. raymagnetic

    “hate to be a buttinsky but there’s a dinger from Hinske”

  340. dennis-Costanza

    CompassRosy.

    Glad you posted as I had not had a chance to congratulate on taking 2-3 at Fenway. I always go to opening day and a few years ago I stuck around an extra day to see Dice K’s first start. Everyone came into the park talking about DiceK but left the park talking about King Felix. His stuff that eve was electric.

    -dennis

  341. Jay Hirsch

    Hinske-Doo!

  342. SJ44

    King Felix at 23 is one of the top 4 pitchers in the league.

    Age is no excuse. Find another.

    Nobody is expecting Joba Chamberlain to compete for the Cy Young Award, like King Felix is, or be the winning starter in the WS, like Josh Beckett was, at 23.

    You know what “we” want? We want to see him be able to throw 100-110 pitchers per outing right now. He can’t.

    Every single guy on that “list” could at 23 years old.

    We want to see him be coachable. Every single guy on that “list” was coachable.

    We want to see him pitch into the 6th inning effectively more than once every 6-8 starts. Every single guy on that “list” was able to do that at 23.

    That’s a very low standard to set for him. He has accomplished none of that in the first half of the year.

    He has the second half of the year to alter his course. If he can’t, this one year experiment of Joba is a starter will end.

    If you don’t have the endurance to throw 110-120 pitches, you can’t be a starting pitcher. Its that simple.

  343. YankeeFan4Eva

    How about Forgetaboutinske

  344. NYY626

    “ohgodno”: that was hilarious.

  345. Mikos

    As a replacement for the Giambino…

    The Bambinske.

  346. Hooli

    Hinskemania hits Broadway! Play it again Eric!

  347. GreenBeret7

    bru
    July 13th, 2009 at 1:55 pm

    many people complained about the same thing.

    he helped the team more than ransom.
    if he was struggling or needed to work on his defense i might agree with you but he was making a difference & was the best defensive person on the team except tex.

    hughes helps us more on the ml club than in the minors,joba has a lot to learn but are all in the majors.

    stop making a big deal about a persons opinions.

    typical gb.
    everybody else is wrtong but he is right.

    ————————————————————

    In this case, yes I am. They sent him back to learn to play the outfield. Not because they disliked him or wasn’t doing the job. His real job is utility player, which means PLAYING THE OUTFIELD sometimes. Ramson isn’t losing any games for the Yanks.

  348. RalphieD (OPPC) DO NOT LOOK AT YES RADAR GUN..IT IS WRONG

    Mike Ashmore says the yanks should trade montero for halladay:

    http://thunderbaseball.wordpre.....mment-5117

  349. m

    Just read the top of the thread, Betsy was on the radio waves?

    Would love to hear audio of that!

  350. miggs

    I can’t believe I missed Betsy on WFAN today.
    I would have loved to hear that.

    I wonder how many poster Kim Jones recognizes. Does she know “miggs”?

  351. Brandon W

    SJ,

    If Joba does not show considerable improvement in the second half and does not get traded (for Halladay or whomever), what do you see the organization doing with him next year? Does he get another shot at starting next year if he can improve his off-season conditioning? Send him to Scranton to work on things there?

    They can’t move him back to the pen the way he’s pitching now, and I can’t see them dealing him in the off-season if he doesn’t improve because, IMO, they would have to sell low with the numbers (especially his WHIP and average IP per start) he is putting up now.

  352. CompassRosy

    dennis-Costanza July 13th, 2009 at 2:09 pm

    CompassRosy.

    Glad you posted as I had not had a chance to congratulate on taking 2-3 at Fenway. I always go to opening day and a few years ago I stuck around an extra day to see Dice K’s first start. Everyone came into the park talking about DiceK but left the park talking about King Felix. His stuff that eve was electric.

    -dennis

    ========================================================

    Thanks Dennis.
    Felix has been a joy, as has most of the team this year (certainly compared to last year anyway).

    I was so looking forward to coming here today to congratulate the Yanks and their fans on their sweep (or at least series win!) over the hated halos…

    ;-(

  353. m

    Well, I know Kim knows “m”.

    She uses it every time she types her name! :P

  354. Doreen

    SJ44 -

    Well, he CAN throw 100 pitches, it’s just that it only takes him 4 innings to do it. Sigh.

  355. Uncle Ellsworth

    “hate to be a buttinsky but there’s a dinger from Hinske

    perfect

  356. Doreen

    I have the Reggie HR game on. Noticing how raggedy the infield looks – not the players, the actual infield.

  357. Bill G

    Thats an H-Bomb for Hinske!

  358. Uncle Ellsworth

    I heard the Very end of Betsy. What did she say?

    Kim was very complimentary about the commenters on the blog.
    She said Pete accusees her of reading comments more than Pete himself does.

    BTW Joe G Show was better with Kim than with Kay IMO

  359. Joe Monte

    Hinske hits a home run, throw away the lock and key!

    Terrible, I know.

  360. Andrew OH

    Hinske gets a little frisky!

  361. raymagnetic

    “Mike Ashmore says the yanks should trade montero for halladay:”

    Mike Ashmore thinks Steve Phillips traded Scott Kazmir so read the article with a grain of salt.

  362. baseballfab

    The Night They Raided Hinskies

  363. Tha g00se

    I love ” hinske with your best shot” and the susan should yell out “fiiire away”

  364. E-gawa

    Joba is 23!!

    Where was Greg Maddux at 23!!
    Greg Maddux was 19-12 an ERA of 2.95 and 238 Innings on his arm

    Where was Glavine at 23!!
    14-8 3.68 ERA 186 Innings on his arm

    Where was Smoltz at 23!!
    14-11 3.85 ERA 231 Innings on his arm

    Where was Kurt Gipson at 23!!
    He wasn’t pitching

    Where was Randy Johnson at 23!!
    He was in the minors. His Major League career didn’t start until he was 24

    Where was Schilling at 23!!
    He was splitting time between the Minors and Majors. He only pitched in 46 innings at the big level that year.

    Where was Beckett at 23!!
    He was owning us in the World Series

    Where was Kofaux at 23!!
    He was 8-6 with a 4.05 ERA with 153 innings on his arm BUT before you say ah-ha!.. He had 6 complete games including one that went 10 innings.

    Where was Drysdale at 23!!
    15-14 2.84ERA 269 Innings

    Where was Sabathia at 23!!
    11-12 4.12 ERA 188 Innings and had a complete game shutout

    Weere was King Felix at 23!!
    He’s 23 this year.

    Where was Halladay at 23!!
    Having the worst year of his career that was so bad that he went to the minors to have his mechanix reworked

    Where was Nolan Ryan at 23!!
    7-11 3.42 ERA 131 Innings but he had 5 complete games includ 2 Shutouts in 19 Games started.. He was also on the Mets BTW.

    Aside from Schilling and Johnson, all of these pitchers have shown some type of dominance or ability at the major league level to go the distance in games at 23 or before 23. Joba has not.

  365. Uncle Ellsworth

    Andy was pretty good at 23.

  366. vinny-b (RIP Air McNair)

    personally, i thought it was kind of small, for Kim Jones to call-out Michael Kay on her blog.

    she basically dissed him, after he announced on his show they were not an item. Immature of her.

  367. paul

    Joba is only 23?

  368. SJ44

    JMO and nobody else’s but, if Joba is still here at the end of the year (ie: No Halladay trade), I would have the “come to Jesus” talk with him.

    Here is what I tell him If I’m the Yankees…..

    You aren’t conditioned enough to be a successful starting pitcher in the major leagues right now.

    We can’t use a rotation spot on the NY Yankees to “develop” you. This is not Kansas City or Florida. We have tried it for two years now (Hughes and Kennedy last year, Joba this year) with bad results. We aren’t doing it again in 2010.

    You have two options:

    Spend most, if not all of the 2010 season in Scranton learning how to be a starting pitcher. 160 innings, 110-120 pitches, 30+ starts.

    If you want to be a starter, you go down to AAA and work on your craft.

    Roy Halladay has had 140 minor league starts in his career. Joba has had less than 30. He needs a LOT of work and AAA is where you develop. Not at the major league level for a big market team. See Clay Buchholz for example.

    If Joba doesn’t want to do that, then the other option is, go back to the bullpen, set up for the next few years, and prepare to replace Mariano as the closer when Mariano retires.

    Either option you take, you have to come into camp in MUCH better shape, listen to the coaches and catchers, and bust your hump.

    Those would be my options.

    Unless this kid completely turns around his season, another year of this “development” in the rotation at the major league level is off the table because its not working.

    If you want to really get the most out of his talent, whereever that may be, I don’t see any other way to do it other than the options I’ve outlined above.

  369. Steve B

    “Andy was pretty good at 23.”

    Sabathia made 30 starts……..for the 4th consecutive season at 23.

  370. Neil

    If only Joba could listen and absorb advice like Ramiro Pena and Frankie Cervelli do.
    He’s too caught up in his own Joba-mania and off field interests right now to do it.

  371. RalphieD (OPPC) DO NOT LOOK AT YES RADAR GUN..IT IS WRONG

    “Mike Ashmore thinks Steve Phillips traded Scott Kazmir so read the article with a grain of salt.”

    isnt that what hes known for?

  372. Uncle Ellsworth

    I’d take Jones’ maturity level over Kay’s anyday.

    Which article on her blog?

  373. SJ44

    Vinny,

    They are friends. It was just schtick. She wasn’t doing anything to hurt the guy’s feelings or anything like that.

  374. m

    vinny-b,

    Is there actually a controversy over this thing?

    She said on the blog that she didn’t understand why he needed to say such a thing.

    And Kay was out of line to say such a thing. Unprofessional, and very likely to inflate his large head even more.

  375. Doreen

    Ralphie D -

    Thanks for the heads-up on Ashmore’s blog.

  376. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    A Cardinals fan left this comment on my blog:

    “As a STL Cards homer, and what the Yanks are doing/did with Hughes/Joba, IMO the best thing for a young future starting pitcher is let them have a full season in the pen, learn out to get the hard 7th/8th inning outs, learn quick easy outs, learn to trust their defense, then move back into the rotation. Wainwright who was a starter all though the minors made the Cards in 06 as a reliever, ended up closing at the end of the year/postseason (after many months of 6th/7th/8th inning guy). In 07 he went back to the rotation and has done a great job since, and now his 3rd year starting he is an innings eater and getting quick (efficient)outs (sunday he faced 5 batters in an inning and threw 8 pitches = efficient).”

    Interesting POV from an objective outsider.

  377. S.A.--Relax, Relate, Release

    I wish I was 23 again. Good times

  378. vinny-b (RIP Air McNair)

    I listened to a yankee game on the radio for the first time ever this weekend.

    before this weekend i disliked John Sterling based on his signature ‘yankeeees win’ call.

    however, after listening to the 3 games this weekend, have to admit i found both him and Suzyn enjoyable. Don’t really understand all the criticism they receive. In particular, Suzyn.

  379. betsy

    Fran, Brandon, Cash – sorry I didn’t respond to you before now. Yep, that was me – if I’ve brought a little attention to the blog, then I’ve done my job, lol.

    Interesting comments from Doc – I wonder if he’ll be like AJ and prefer to stay in the AL where he’s comfortable or whether he would like to go to the NL ,where the living is easy (or, maybe he doesn’t care). Hey, if he doesn’t want to face Jeter and co., he can always come here. Believe me, they don’t want to have to face Doc anymore than he wants to face them. SJ wondered before if Doc and AJ would talk during the ASB – if they do, I really hope AJ is as good a recruiter as Damon and Alex were for him, lol..

    I was reading this thread at lunch and I nearly burst out laughing ….several times. These “fake calls” are absolutely hilarious – my coworkers were wondering what the heck I was laughing at, lol

  380. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    Yeah well maybe all of those 23 year olds didn’t grown up without a mother, with a father who was confined to a wheel chair who had to be both mother and father to two children, a 3-year-old son he shares with his girlfriend, and a very public airing about the craziness that defined his mother’s life and their relationship, and now the legal woes of his mother.

    Get off the kid. He’s achieved more in his short life than all of you can probably hope to achieve in 20 lifetimes. Be greatful that you don’t have his pressures. I know I am.

  381. SJ44

    Steve Phillips didn’t trade Scott Kazmir for Zambrano. That was Jim Duquette.

  382. dennis-Costanza

    SJ.

    Good post as always. I know I will get crushed for saying this; but can people stop calling Joba a kid. He has a kid.

    -dennis

  383. YankeeFan4Eva

    Holy Crapinski its a homer from the E-hinske

  384. Fran (the original) and OPPC member

    Just noticed that the Old Timers Day festivities are on Sunday. Anyone know what the theme is or see a list of who is supposed to be there?

  385. anthony

    @vinnyb

    the only criticism i have is when sterling does this:

    IT IS HIGH IT IS FAR ITS ON THE TRACK SHES……….

    CAUGHT!!!!!!!

    OH SUZYN I THOUGHT THAT WAS GONE IT SURE LOOKED LIKE IT

    other than that i dont mind them.

  386. YankeeFan4Eva

    I hat to say it but that fat francesa is right. Joba to the pen!!!

  387. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    And oh yeah, did I mention another distinguishing factor on Joba’s list – playing for the most pressured franchise in sports with vultures who pose as fans?

  388. SJ44

    Trisha,

    He had the same background in 2007 and 2008. Nothing has changed about his background and it has nothing to do with him coming into camp out of shape, baggin’ a DUI, etc.

    Not everything is always sunshine and balloons.

    He’s been the most disappointing player on the team in the first half of the year. That can’t be swept under the rug.

    Nobody is “on his back”. Its simply a discussion of what can be done to get him to perform better.

  389. ChrisN

    I vote for Hinske with your best shot!

    Anything is better than Chris Berman’s “back back back back” ugh! is anyone else going to watch the Derby with the sound off??

  390. Steve B

    “Thanks for the heads-up on Ashmore’s blog”

    His opinion, whether you agree with it or not, did include some logic. Yankees seemingly enjoy catching depth in their organization. Why not use some of it to get the AL’s best pitcher pitching for you for 3-4 years? Yankees fans will say “OK, but why Montero?”. Answer is it takes the best to get the best. Think I’d prefer keeping Montero, but Ashmore’s opinion shouldn’t be dismissed as dumb. Chances Montero is as good at any facet game than Halladay is at pitching aren’t anymore than 50/50.

  391. bru

    In this case, yes I am. They sent him back to learn to play the outfield. Not because they disliked him or wasn’t doing the job. His real job is utility player, which means PLAYING THE OUTFIELD sometimes. Ramson isn’t losing any games for the Yanks.

    ———————————————————–
    i disagree.

    you wan’t the better option on the ml club & many including myself think it is pena.

    he is 24 yrs old not 20 or 19.

    if he was struggling or his numbers were bad that is different but at 24 yrs old he should have enough time in the minors.

    ransom also has made some costly errors.

    he will be up in a month & i believe girardi said it was a tough decision so that tells me that my thinking is not as wrong as you make it out to be.

  392. J-Boogie

    I’m trying to channel my inner John Sterling and come up with corny calls:

    A home run by Eric Hinske. Eric Hinske Can-doo-ski.

    or

    It is high, it is far, it is gone. Pop open your brewski cuz Eric Hinske can-doo-ski. A 3-run homer by Eric Hisnke.

    I hate this game.

  393. vinny-b (RIP Air McNair)

    M:

    how exactly does confessing you DON’T date a hot chick, inflate a one’s ego ?

    strange view

  394. raymagnetic

    Ralphie D, he’s known for it but it wasn’t him who made that trade.

    I get the basic point of his article however. He’s saying Jesus might not stick as a catcher so might as well trade him since you have catchers in the pipeline.

    Makes sense from that standpoint, but I don’t see the Yankees trading him.

  395. Mark

    Halladay isin’t going to demand that he get traded to the Yankees and the Yankees only.

    After all Toronto has done for him, why would he do that to them? He didn’t demand a trade in the 1st place… the Jays are the ones who are shopping him. He’s stayed quiet.

    He’s probably given the Jays a few teams he would be willing to go to and we’re on that list. I doubt he would only request he get traded to us.

  396. Patrick the Prospect Hugger

    “and the mets could not get santanna with the garbage package that took the whole world by suprise either.”

    That is no argument. It’s a completely different market.

    You can’t get Halladay or Cliff Lee if you hold back Hughes, Joba, Montero, Jackson. It doesn’t matter how many pennies you throw in the well, it just won’t happen.

  397. Erica - always OPPC

    Steve B
    July 13th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
    “I would definitely not mind goign for a ride in Damon’s giant Mercedes van”

    Who you kiddin’? You’d go for a ride in Damon’s ‘73 Pacer if given the opportunity.
    ***
    You are right. I am full of it. I would go for a ride in Damon’s garbage truck if he had one. LOL

  398. Y 27

    Steve Phillips actually hasn’t been that bad on the ESPN telecasts. Much better in that role than Baseball Tonight.

    Then again, with the way Miller/Morgan mail in broadcasts, I suppose someone who atleast has a clue of what he is talking about will stand out like Steve does.

  399. dave l

    The pitcher takes one on the chin-sky, courtesy of Hinske.

  400. E-gawa

    “Yeah well maybe all of those 23 year olds didn’t grown up without a mother, with a father who was confined to a wheel chair who had to be both mother and father to two children, a 3-year-old son he shares with his girlfriend, and a very public airing about the craziness that defined his mother’s life and their relationship, and now the legal woes of his mother.

    Get off the kid. He’s achieved more in his short life than all of you can probably hope to achieve in 20 lifetimes. Be greatful that you don’t have his pressures. I know I am.”

    Ok everyone, she’s right. Only Joba has had to deal with family issues in life. It really is such a rarity.

    Lets all stop talking about any of the holes on this team or be critical of any of the decisions on this team. Let’s just hold hands and sing Cumbyah all day discussing how awesome our team is and how jealous anybody who disagrees must be.

    Flower Power guys!

    Peace out!
    E-Hippie

  401. SJ44

    So, its now the fans fault Joba hasn’t pitched well?

    There is more pressure to play in Boston than NY.

    In NY, the region is divided by two teams. In Boston, its an entire region devoted to one team.

    You think Joba Chamberlain is the only player to have a rough background? Please, that’s just another excuse.

  402. Patrick the Prospect Hugger

    Are we seriously going to have to listen to nonstop whining about Joba for the next 4 days?

    Ok we get it, he stinks what do you want the Yankees to do? Put Igawa in the rotation? Don’t make me laugh.

  403. Steve B

    Betsy:

    Halladay has indicated to a guy from Boston and Ken Davidoff that he would not mind pitching in the NL. In fact he said “I’d rather hit than face Jeter, Arod and Matsui”

  404. S.A.--Relax, Relate, Release

    Hinske with a homer-inske?

    I’ll stop now

  405. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    “I know I will get crushed for saying this; but can people stop calling Joba a kid. He has a kid.”

    Dennis, let me be the first. We all know that having a kid certainly isn’t what defines someone as being other than a kid her or himself.

  406. SJ44

    There is also another way he wouldn’t have to face Jeter, ARod and Matsui……

  407. H-Town

    Halladay is probably just excited to have a chance to play for a contender. Whether its Philly, the Dodgers, Red Sox, Angels, Yankees.

    I doubt he is too picky on where he goes. He might have a preference and might explain that to JP, but I doubt he will tie JP’s hands that and force JP to trade him to one particular team.

  408. Doreen

    Reggie Jackson:

    “Hi Mom. Two.”

    Howard Cosell – one in a million.

  409. Doreen

    Has anyone else noticed the Joba Chamberlain commercial for Yankees Universe Sloan Kettering always gets cut off? He can’t even finish a PSA. :lol:

  410. vb03

    Now that Jobamania has worn off, it’s sink or swim for the kid. No more excuses, go out there and do your job.

  411. Larry

    Hinski Homers!!!!!!!!

  412. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    “There is more pressure to play in Boston than NY.”

    :lol:

    Now I KNOW you’re talking just to hear yourself talk.

    Here’s another thing. I love people who spit in the air because they get hit with it in the face. Glad you’re so rough and tough SJ. You need to be brought down a lot more than Joba does.

  413. Steve B

    “He’s achieved more in his short life than all of you can probably hope to achieve in 20 lifetimes. Be greatful that you don’t have his pressures”

    Lot of us were parents at Age 23 and had to live paycheck to paycheck. That’s pressure and accomplishment Joba hasn’t come close to approaching.

  414. RC 16

    It’s ultimately up to Cashman if he wants to trade for Doc.

    AJ, Halladay, JP can’t force Cashman to trade Hughes or Joba if he doesn’t want to.

  415. Andrew

    “Unless this kid completely turns around his season, another year of this “development” in the rotation at the major league level is off the table because its not working.”

    Pretty off-hand with the fact that Joba might turn it around, as if it’s a completely unrealistic possibility–great to see that people should accept that it’s now more likely that he will either be traded or banished to the bullpen or Scranton for the full season instead of just improving his performance in the major leagues.

    But, of course, this is the Yankees, they can’t be botehred with waiting to see if a young player can improve mid-season. Instead, he has to be traded to another team who is willing to give young talent rope when he struggles because they don’t care about winning, or better yet given ultimatums and marching orders meant to “scare him straight”.

    I wonder if all this “he must be fixed and here’s how to do it” posturing is because it’s Joba Chamberlain, and his rope is shorter because of all the hype and absurdly inflated expectations of a ridiculously demanding and reactionary fanbase.

    What will the discussion about Joba be if he puts together a string of good starts after the ASB? I guess it will be what, his dad that gets credit for “fixing” him? Oh right, but that’s exceedingly unlikely to happen, and you know, fans can’t expect talented players to improve since it’s not a guarantee, after all, and the Yankees aren’t in the business of waiting for improvement, since that doesn’t translate to winning at all costs.

  416. vb03

    Patrick the Prospect Hugger July 13th, 2009 at 2:39 pm

    Are we seriously going to have to listen to nonstop whining about Joba for the next 4 days?

    ————-

    That and the Yank’s terrible record against good teams.

  417. m

    Rebecca,

    Whoa, I have to interject here.

    By all accounts that we’ve been spoon fed, Harlan did a wonderful job raising a wonderful son against all odds.

    And Joba did beat the odds to get to this place.

    But as an adult (yes, technically 23 is an adult), he needs to be accountable. Number one responsibility is to be prepared for the job at hand. He was given a wonderful opportunity to be a starter this season, one that others (including Phil and Ace) would die for.

    I do think, however, his mother’s troubles weigh on him (no matter how much he denies that) more than we think How can a son not feel anything about his own mother?

    As for the other stuff, the DUI, legal issues, all that? It’s on him. And as a representative of the Native American community, I think he could’ve done a better job of fighting certain stereotypes.

    So, yes, Joba should be given some slack. But only because the Yankees placed him in a position where the odds were against him as far as professional starts under his belt.

    The Yankees need to rectify a lot of things here, and it won’t be easy for Joba because it’ll feel like he’s being punished. But tough love is necessary imo, and really, why should Joba be so special that he’s not pitching to keep his job? Pitchers all over the league lose their spots when they’re not delivering.

    Responsibility and accountability. Joba’s 23, not 33, so I like the odds that the light will go on.

  418. Hokiehill

    “however, after listening to the 3 games this weekend, have to admit i found both him and Suzyn enjoyable. Don’t really understand all the criticism they receive. In particular, Suzyn.”

    She’s had a few out of controll moments, like crying on the air for Torre’s last game and the whole “Roger’s in the booth!” and he’s a little goofy but from some one who listens to Yankees games on XM (forcing me to listen to the home broadcast), they stack up pretty well against most other broadcasters and when I have to listen to another broadcast, I typically miss hearing them. And if it’s down between an ESPN crew or those 2, I’d take John and Susyn every time!

  419. Giuseppe Franco

    I couldn’t disagree more with SJ about Joba.

    This is not a one-year “experiment” with Joba. He’s going to remain a starting pitcher next year unless he physically cannot do it.

    Now they may not depend on him as much next season and cover their tracks a bit in the same way they did with Hughes starting in Scranton.

    But I don’t see any scenario outside of him physically breaking down that he’s moved back to the pen permanently based on what we’ve seen this season.

    Phil Hughes was far worse last year than Joba and moving him to the pen wasn’t even a consideration. They are not going to go that route now with a kid who by all accounts has even bigger upside than Hughes.

    I think SJ is just really overreacting on the Joba issue.

  420. David

    AN ABOMB FOR… well it would be an abomb is alex hit it, but it’s hit by Hinske!

  421. dennis-Costanza

    Trisha.

    On another note I respect your tradition with your niece and nephew. Very cool to reward their school work. I hope you had a good time.

    -dennis

  422. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    Judgmental vultures posing as Yankee fans sitting behind key boards. You’re all so cool and hip. Excuse me while I YAWN!

    And may society be as understanding if something happens to someone in your lives.

    No Joba doesn’t stink. He hasn’t been pitching very well. It pays to know the difference.

    Judgmental people never know the difference between “excuse” and “reason”.

    And Joba owes all of you so much.

    What a riot.

  423. m

    vinny-b,

    Like he’s the topic of gossip with a lady of Kim’s caliber (classy and nice-looking). (As if)

    You know why he did it? Because people were texting the show asking. Not that it was reported on Page Six or on the radio or anything.

  424. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “He’s achieved more in his short life than all of you can probably hope to achieve in 20 lifetimes. Be greatful that you don’t have his pressures”

    Some people I know have achieved pretty incredible things. And some people I know have overcome way more than Joba’s ever had to deal with.

    Don’t assume anything about us.

    You just don’t know.

  425. baseballfab

    A Luzinski like blast for Hinske

  426. Mike D

    Boo Hoo… poor Joba

    Got a $1.1 million dollar signing bonus out of college
    Makes $400,000 a year for playing baseball
    Already makes over a million a year in endorsements

    Already has dozens of commercials and is a prime marketing tool by the Yankees PR department. One of the most noticeable and controversial players in baseball (which is saying a lot considering he has accomplished nothing), plays for the most recognizable team in sports in the largest city in America.

    Why can’t everyone “suffer” like that?

  427. SJ44

    Trisha,

    You are too blinded by hate with the Red Sox to think clearly.

    Johnny Damon will tell you there is much more pressure playing in Boston than NY.

    The entire region in NE is Red Sox crazy. In NY, you have millions of Mets fans. Its two entirely different fan bases.

    Derek Jeter can go out to dinner in NYC and not get bothered by people.

    Red Sox players can’t go anywhere without getting bothered.

    That’s why so few of them live in the city.

    There is pressure to play with the Yankees. No question about that. It however, pales in comparison to Boston.

    Players feel suffocated playing in Boston. Players don’t feel that way playing for the Yankees.

    You can choose not to believe me if you want but, its true.

    E-Mail Pete and ask him to ask Damon where he felt the most pressure to play. I guarantee he isn’t going to say New York.

  428. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    m: Was that addressed to me or Trisha?

    Because I agree with you…

  429. Yg Bluig

    It is Hinske!
    It is Finske!
    Home run-insky!!

    but seriously, it’s Eric Hinske. You need to have a homerun call ready for him like you need to have a bottle of nice wine in the house in case the Pope stops by.

  430. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    Giuseppe Franco -

    AMEN to your post on Joba.

  431. Steve B

    “Judgmental people never know the difference between “excuse” and “reason”.”

    Neither do those who see the world thru pinstriped glasses.

    These things cut both ways.

  432. vb03

    # Rebecca–Optimist Prime–Montero Fanaticus Primus July 13th, 2009 at 2:48 pm

    “He’s achieved more in his short life than all of you can probably hope to achieve in 20 lifetimes. Be greatful that you don’t have his pressures”

    Some people I know have achieved pretty incredible things. And some people I know have overcome way more than Joba’s ever had to deal with.

    Don’t assume anything about us.

    You just don’t know.
    —————————–

    Agreed. I know a 22 year old who has to send a sibling to college and lives paycheck to paycheck as a result. Barely out of college himself.

    Just because Joba is a famous professional athlete, doesn’t mean he’s so much better than the rest of us.

  433. lollerskates

    A HINSKE DOODLE DANDY!

  434. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    vb03: I have a friend that turned 24 about two weeks ago.

    You know where she and I hung out earlier this year?

    In the hospital. Where she was getting a bone marrow transplant.

    She’s 24, she’s been battling leukemia since she was 15. She lives with her mother–no father, no siblings–in a cramped 1 bedroom jersey city apartment. She can’t work or finish school because of her health.

    Really, Joba doesn’t have it so bad.

  435. m

    OH, Rebecca. I’m so sorry. A thousand apologies.

    Redirect my 2:44 post to trisha.

  436. SJ44

    Trisha,

    Nobody here is a judgmental vulture.

    You want pom poms for “poor” Joba? You are looking in the wrong place.

    There are people on this blog who have had tougher surroundings.

    Since the day this kid has struggled, you have bent over backwards assigning blame to others about him.

    First it was Posada. You were positive it had to be him and Cervelli needed to catch him. Until of course, Cervelli had the same problem Posada had with him. Then it was Molina had to catch him.

    Now, Molina has the same problems with him.

    Now, its his background. Or the “vulture” fans.

    You are correct, Joba Chamberlain owes us nothing.

    He does, however, owe his team more than he his giving them.

    You can handle these “disputes” very easily…..

    E-Mail Pete and ask him how his teammates feel about him right now. Do that and absorb the answer he will give you.

    If you choose not to believe that, and go postal over anybody who would dare criticize him, nothin’ I can do to help you.

  437. E-gawa

    Ask Derek Lowe what he thinks about the Red Sox fans and media.

    When he was having those bad years, he used to wait a few ours after the game to leave the clubhouse because he was getting death threats.

    Last I’ve heard, NY Fans don’t threaten to kill players.

  438. pat

    SJ

    Big difference between the scrutiny in NY and Boston is where it comes from.

    In Boston from the fans and in NY from the media.

  439. Hokiehill

    “but seriously, it’s Eric Hinske. You need to have a homerun call ready for him like you need to have a bottle of nice wine in the house in case the Pope stops by.”

    Yeah, don’t give the guy with 3 homers in 4 games a HR call…

  440. E-gawa

    hours*

  441. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    SJ – today I believe you are totally off your rocker. I sit somewhere between NY and Boston, not in Florida. It has nothing to do with hatred of Boston. It has to do with total understanding of both cities and what the rest of the world can readily admit in terms of the pressure to play for the Yankees as opposed to the pressure to play for the Red Sox, where one team is allowed to be the “idiots” and the other considers anything less than a world series win a failure.

    Anyway, I have my opinion about what is going on with Joba. It has as much merit – or lack thereof – as yours. Nobody here has a corner on the truth. Outtalking someone doesn’t mean that you’re right.

  442. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “Judgmental vultures posing as Yankee fans sitting behind key boards. You’re all so cool and hip. Excuse me while I YAWN!

    And may society be as understanding if something happens to someone in your lives.

    No Joba doesn’t stink. He hasn’t been pitching very well. It pays to know the difference.

    Judgmental people never know the difference between “excuse” and “reason”.

    And Joba owes all of you so much.

    What a riot.”

    Where do you get off talking to us as though we’re five year olds?

    Seriously.

  443. Andrew

    Yeah I’m sure Boston is a real Dillon, Texas for the players because none of them can afford to close themselves off to the “suffocating” nature of the region’s fans. I guess the players aren’t making enough to live in gated homes, eliminate the need for excessive interaction with the Sully Sixpacks by getting a private table at some swanky restaurants etc. etc. Arguing the stress levels that fans can put on players in Boston and New York would make sense if all the players weren’t equally loaded.

  444. dennis-Costanza

    Rebecca.

    Just choked up.

    I am glad to know she has a loyal friend in her life.

    -dennis

  445. pat

    Tweets from John_W_Henry

    “Fenway, sweet Fenway. Great to be back. Lester looks strong. Halladay rumors all over Boston. We don’t even have room for the B’s.”

    B’s = Buccholz and Bowden I presume?

  446. SJ44

    GF,

    That’s my point though. Physically, he has yet to show he can be a starter. Perhaps he will in the second half.

    However, I can’t see the Yankees keeping him in the rotation next year unless he can be a lot better physically.

    That poses the second problem. Lack of experience and where to get it.

    Its going to be interesting to see what they do with him.

    Clearly, they aren’t happy with him now and its going to be interesting to see what they do about it.

  447. bru

    the problem is not having joba as the # 5 pitcher.the problem is using him as a 3 or 4 & using pettitte as a # 3.

    if we had

    cc
    burnett
    #3
    pettitte
    joba

    the rotation would be slotted the right way.

    we are missing a # 3 starter to take pressure off pettitte,joba,cc,burnett & the pen.

    i think cashman need to do what it takes to get a good # 3 starter.
    it doesn’t have to be halladay or lee but we need at least 3 solid starters & right now we have 2

  448. Providence

    “…it is high, it is far, it iiiis GONE. Home run for Hinske, and Hin-sanity reigns in the Bronx!”

  449. vb03

    # Rebecca–Optimist Prime–Montero Fanaticus Primus July 13th, 2009 at 2:52 pm

    vb03: I have a friend that turned 24 about two weeks ago.

    You know where she and I hung out earlier this year?

    In the hospital. Where she was getting a bone marrow transplant.

    She’s 24, she’s been battling leukemia since she was 15. She lives with her mother–no father, no siblings–in a cramped 1 bedroom jersey city apartment. She can’t work or finish school because of her health.

    Really, Joba doesn’t have it so bad.

    —————————————

    This guy I know sent himself to college with help from his mom (got no real financial help from his dad) after migrating to the U.S. from abroad with pretty much nothing but the clothes on his back. He used to live with his mom in one room in a small house w/ a shared bathroom in Jersey City because that used to be all they could afford at the time. He’s a Yankee fan and listened to Aaron Boone’s HR in 2003 on the radio cause they had no TV.

    Then a couple years later his mom was diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo chemotherapy. Neither of them stopped working, and his mom gutted through the treatment still working seven days a week. After two surgeries, thankfully his mom is now in remission and now he’s sending his kid sister to college on his own paycheck.

    I don’t want to hear any tearjerkers about Joba. He’s a millionaire getting paid to play a kid’s game. Sometimes we forget that.

    I’m sorry about your friend, I hope things work out for her.

  450. Steve B

    “Ask Derek Lowe what he thinks about the Red Sox fans and media”

    Bet he wouldn’t have a bad word to say about the fans. Media is a different story though. So perhaps is the organziation, though he indicated in the past offseason his desire to reurn there.

  451. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “SJ

    Big difference between the scrutiny in NY and Boston is where it comes from.

    In Boston from the fans and in NY from the media.”

    Well said.

    When it’s the media hounding you, there are rules in place, boundaries that can and cannot be crossed. Selena Roberts crossed them and she’s anathema.

    When it’s the fans, there are no boundaries. People have died in Boston because of fans…like in 2004 when one of the celebrators after the Sox one the ALCS was hit with something (tear gas? Pepper spray?) and died.

    Fans don’t have to play by any rules.

    The media does.

  452. SJ44

    Trisha,

    I’m not off my rocker at all. Read Pat’s post. She nailed it when it comes to the pressure differences between NY and Boston.

    Since I grew up in New England, have had an office in NY for years, and represented plenty of athletes in Boston in my lifetime, I feel pretty comfortable discussing the relative pressures to playing in each city.

    Like I said, you can choose to disregard all of it if you want. Its ok with me.

    Doesn’t mean what I’m saying isn’t true because, it is.

  453. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    “Some people I know have achieved pretty incredible things. And some people I know have overcome way more than Joba’s ever had to deal with.

    Don’t assume anything about us.

    You just don’t know.”

    By the same token, nobody should assume anything about Joba. You don’t know how strong he is or how fragile he is.

  454. m

    pat,

    What is Henry talking about? Boston’s been at Fenway this whole time. Or is he back from his honeymoon, and he’s just enjoying his revery as he stares at the grass at Fenway?

    Or is he talking about the metaphorical back in first place?

    I feel a “B’s” jinx. They had too much pitching when they traded away Arroyo, too. How’d that work out?

  455. Brandon... I'M AWESOME !

    Halladay, who deftly maneuvered around a barrage of questions for more than 15 minutes, said he would not mind going to the National League or a bigger market.

    “I’d rather hit than face Jeter, A-Rod, Matsui and Teixeira,” Halladay said.

    He added: “I think there is so much that goes into it. I’m still not 100 percent sure which direction we’re going in in Toronto. If Toronto does decide to do something, it’s really going to be something that helps the organization. There’s going to be a lot of pieces; it’s going to be complicated. I think it’s going to be kind of 50-50.”

    Halladay, who is under contract for next season at $15.75 million, has a no-trade clause and would have to approve any deal. He did not say whether an extension would have to be part of any deal.

    The Blue Jays have sent scouts throughout the majors and minors as they try to gauge the talent pool they might get back for one of the game’s best pitchers.

    “It’s a tough situation, but you always want to win,” Halladay said. “You want that chance to win, that’s every player’s dream. For me, I’m looking [at] it as they’re exploring options. Something may come of it, something may not. I’m trying to keep the emotions out of it as much as I can.”

    http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=4324204

    BTW Jason Werth has asked Phillies mgmt. to get Doc to Philly.

  456. S.A.--Relax, Relate, Release

    Get off the kid. He’s achieved more in his short life than all of you can probably hope to achieve in 20 lifetimes. Be greatful that you don’t have his pressures. I know I am.Be greatful that you don’t have his pressures.

    ======================================

    Gotta be honest here.
    There are probably people in the world and on this blog(various ages, younger and older) that probably are dealing and have dealt with “greater pressure situations” than the one Joba is dealing with right now and would love to trade places and have the “great pressure’ that Joba is facing right now

  457. Mapes

    What the hell is Hinksy? (tribute to the amazing “What the hell is Ansky” Adidas commercials)

  458. sab

    Ok – so i know some of you prospect huggers won’t trade montero and joba + 2 more players for halladay ..

    but would you trade montero, joba and 2 more for cliff lee and sizemore? (i know its not going to happen but I just want to know if you’d trade montero at all or will be happy to have a 23 year old DH playing on the yankees while a 38 year old arod and 39 year old jeter will be forced to play the field)

  459. rconn23

    Somehow, I feel a post coming on how Joba’s rough background is Jorge Posada’s fault too.

    And Boston is much more crazed media market when it comes to baseball coverage. How can that be up for debate?

    Baseball is not even Number 1 in New York. It’s a Knicks town. They’ve stunk for the last several years, so it’s been diminished. However, no championship would be more celebrated than the Knicks.

    In baseball. rooting interests and media coverage are divided up between two teams.

    Boston is a Red Sox town. Always has been, always will be. Baseball is number one no matter what the Celtics and Patrots do.

  460. ziggy

    How about something using his nickname mr beautiful

  461. zach steel

    A Hinske Home Runski!

  462. Brandon... I'M AWESOME !

    Halladay, who deftly maneuvered around a barrage of questions for more than 15 minutes, said he would not mind going to the National League or a bigger market.

    “I’d rather hit than face Jeter, A-Rod, Matsui and Teixeira,” Halladay said.

    He added: “I think there is so much that goes into it. I’m still not 100 percent sure which direction we’re going in in Toronto. If Toronto does decide to do something, it’s really going to be something that helps the organization. There’s going to be a lot of pieces; it’s going to be complicated. I think it’s going to be kind of 50-50.”

    Halladay, who is under contract for next season at $15.75 million, has a no-trade clause and would have to approve any deal. He did not say whether an extension would have to be part of any deal.

    The Blue Jays have sent scouts throughout the majors and minors as they try to gauge the talent pool they might get back for one of the game’s best pitchers.

    “It’s a tough situation, but you always want to win,” Halladay said. “You want that chance to win, that’s every player’s dream. For me, I’m looking [at] it as they’re exploring options. Something may come of it, something may not. I’m trying to keep the emotions out of it as much as I can.”

    http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=4324204

    BTW Jason Werth has asked Phillies mgmt. to get Doc to Philly.

    (incase you missed it)

  463. Steve B

    Mel:

    I think Henry may have returned from a honeymoon.

  464. m

    Why would Doc want to avoid facing the Yankees? He owns them!! :mad:

  465. Giuseppe Franco

    SJ44 July 13th, 2009 at 2:56 pm

    GF,

    That’s my point though. Physically, he has yet to show he can be a starter. Perhaps he will in the second half.

    However, I can’t see the Yankees keeping him in the rotation next year unless he can be a lot better physically.

    That poses the second problem. Lack of experience and where to get it.

    Its going to be interesting to see what they do with him.

    Clearly, they aren’t happy with him now and its going to be interesting to see what they do about it.

    ————

    I have little doubt that the Yanks have issues with Joba and all that stuff.

    But everyone had issues with Hughes last season, too. Damon even called him out in Baltimore and you were the first to go all fire and brimstone on Hughes.

    But Hughes has since turned things around. And good for him.

    I just don’t see how Cashman makes the decision to turn a $100M+ arm into a $10M arm by permanently placing him in the pen because he’s had to endure most of the same issues every other kid his age has had to overcome trying to learn how to pitch in the bigs.

    Perhaps his struggles are going to motivate him over the offseason and work his ass off the way Hughes did a year ago.

    No doubt Joba needs a kick in the ass. But it’s a little early to be writing this kid off and put a cap on his career the way you seem to have done many times over th last several days.

  466. SJ44

    So did Shane Victorino. It was funny how Shane did it.

    He was asked a question and then went on a 2 minute solo about how much the team needed Doc. Then, he realized he was throwing some of his own pitchers under the bus, spend another two minutes backtracking! lol

    It was a funny interview on XM last week.

  467. Chris in Maine

    “Team Hinske with another checkered flag!”

  468. NYY626

    trisha – OPPC lifetime member
    July 13th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
    And oh yeah, did I mention another distinguishing factor on Joba’s list – playing for the most pressured franchise in sports with vultures who pose as fans?
    ____________________________________________________________
    Hey Trisha! Who are you calling vultures? Thats not fair! Unless you know, you mean the fans that critize Joba when he doesnt throw 99 mph as a starter? Those that call Jeter Captain GIDP eventhough he has the highest BA on the team right now? Those that were ready to throw Mo under a bus cause he had a few bad games early in the season? Those that blame alex for every little thing that goes wrong?

  469. Uncle Ellsworth

    Baseball is not even Number 1 in New York. It’s a Knicks town. They’ve stunk for the last several years, so it’s been diminished. However, no championship would be more celebrated than the Knicks.

    What is a “Knick”?

  470. bodhisattva - Destiny Wears Pinstripes

    trisha – OPPC lifetime member
    July 13th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
    Yeah well maybe all of those 23 year olds didn’t grown up without a mother, with a father who was confined to a wheel chair who had to be both mother and father to two children, a 3-year-old son he shares with his girlfriend, and a very public airing about the craziness that defined his mother’s life and their relationship, and now the legal woes of his mother.
    Get off the kid. He’s achieved more in his short life than all of you can probably hope to achieve in 20 lifetimes. Be greatful that you don’t have his pressures. I know I am.
    =====

    Compassion is never out of place – can’t just divorce the player from the person.

    It’s also futile to speculate; chalk it up to the young player going through a valley. Did everyone think it was going to be a progression in one direction? Smooth sailing from go? That’s naive.

    And it’s not unreasonable to to expect dedication from a professional ballplayer – I think what is off-putting is the high sentence and moral indignation. People need to loosen up; the Yankees have a responsibility to the player and vice versa.

    Let’s see what he’s got after the Break and his first-ever half season of being a starting pitcher.

    It’s also one thing to want Halladay. It’s quite another to feel compelled to demonize a young pitcher in the process. Nobody who’s smart buys that.

    Young players struggle, they have temptations, etc. If Joba blew it in the offseason and shirked his training program, he’s getting that lesson every time he goes out that short cuts will not allow him to gain more than superficial, fleeting success against such high level competition. This crap about a “kick in the you-knwo-what” would hardly be as effective, if at all.

    And after all, the Yankees do need to look in the mirror; the kid had too light a schedule in ST. People claim Joba’s results are misleading, because Girardi removes him at the slightest hint of trouble. That works both ways – when he was cruising in certain games earlier – the Boston home game comes to mind – he was yanked because of pitch count. That may have been according to the book, but it was intuitively the wrong decision.

    I don’t have a fundamental issue with Girardi, he’s done some things well (especially judicious use of players to keep them fresh, and sticking up for his players instead of shoveling that Torre-esque league amabassador crap) – but I agree with CB, who has posted here most articulately about Girardi’s enslavement to “the book” and his apparent lack of innovation; something he was credited with.

    The pitching handling with Joba also betrays that “letter” of the law vs. the spirit of the law mentality. And that letter may also have contributed to the lack of stamina we’re currently seeing with Joba.

    I was very upset w/the yank of Melancon the other night, when he had things under control, in favor of Bruney. You knew that was a mistake – it was intuitively wrong to make that move. Brandon and Trevor knew it also.

    This is somewhat puzzling, because Girardi does seem like a guy who’d go with his gut more – but he told us he “wanted the matchup.” Very disappointing and an unfortunately, predictable, response.

    Let’s see what Joba can bring to the table after the break. His age isn’t “an excuse”, it’s a fact.

  471. lswaha

    Just call him Ted Kazhinske, he just unleashed a BOMB!

  472. John Locke

    Here’s an idea.. WHY DON’T WE GET RID OF POSADA??

    The ACE of our staff does not want to throw to him..
    5 Inning Joba shakes him off at any chance he gets.
    He can’t catch ANY of AJs breaking pitches.
    He can’t block the plate.. Can’t call a game.
    He has one of the worst arms in baseball. I’d bet money he would have trouble throwing Ortiz out if he ever ran.
    He is ALWAYS Moody. He is a walking double play every time he is at bat.

    In fact in the last 8 years, I have 1 good memory of good ol Jorge and that’s his BLOOP single in the 03 ALCS GM3 off Pedro. Other than that, what has this man done? We really needed to resign him for 4 years? Especially considering the catching prospects we have in the minors (Cervelli, Jesus)

    The Yanks are crazy if they allow this man to catch another full season. With Damon and Matsui both gone after next year, how is this man NOT a full time DH starting next opening day?

    How many no hitters has Posada caught in his Yankee career? ZERO.

    And I dont want to hear garbage about how we missed the playoffs last year because of Posada.. We had no pitching depth (Our ACE was done in June).

    I’m not saying Posada wouldn’t be a useful DH but enough of his horrific catching. If someone has the stats (YES Showed them for CC yesterday), I bet EVERY starter has better overall #s with Cervelli catching them.

    Mussina hated throwing to him.. Randy Johnson (ok BAD example). The only guy on this staff who likes throwing to Posada is ANDY. And I bet you give him some truth medicine and he too would prefer Cervelli.

    Cervelli hustles and deserved to be kept on the roster.

  473. SJ44

    I’m not doing that with Joba. What I’m doing is looking at all sides of the issue.

    If Joba was the guy that had to go in a Doc deal to get it done, I would make that deal. That’s not a knock to Joba because he’s being traded for the best pitcher in the league.

    Conversely, if he can’t start, then going to the bulpen is the next option.

    If he responds to the teams demands of him, being coachable, catchable, accountable, great.

    All I’m saying is, I don’t think they are just going to say, “its growing pains” and do nothing about it next year.

    They may say that publicly. However, I find it hard to believe they will keep him in the rotation next year unless they begin to see more improvement than they are seeing right now.

  474. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    vb03, did you feel sad for Bernie Williams when he had to leave the game because he couldn’t deal with his father’s illness? Did you think to yourself “I don’t feel sad for him because he’s a millionaire playing a kid’s game?” I didn’t.

    “Doesn’t mean what I’m saying isn’t true because, it is.”

    That seems to be the one constant about you SJ. You assume that because you say it, it’s true. However one of your better posts, in my opinion, is when you told me that we all have days where we say whacked out things – and you included yourself in that post.

    A good example of player pressure in Boston would be what SJ? The fans applauding Ortiz when he went to bat despite hitting 147? You would compare that to what? Fans booing Arod? Booing Jeter? Booing Mariano? Booing Joba?

    Your argument here is so ridiculous, IMO, I won’t even go any further to discredit it. But I will say that I think you are entitled to your opinion and don’t need to add crazy things to try to bolster it.

  475. m

    SJ may be able to expound on this a little more, but I think that Joba’s a little high maintenance.

    It’s rumored (not saying it’s true), that he likes to party. He’s already had legal issues that I would consider embarrassing.

    Talent only takes you so far, at some point you have to grab the brass ring.

  476. Andrew

    I’m sorry, New York is not a Knicks town. They have basketball all to themselves and that’s fine, but no way is this a city dominated by the Knicks when they are good. The Yankees have been playing in the city since the turn of the 20th century and they have been winning the whole time. They will steal back page coverage during the winter in the heart of NBA season, even if the Knicks are having a great year, because this is a baseball city through and through.

    They outpace every franchise in the city; I’m sure a Knicks championship would be hugely celebrated just because of how long it’s been and how bad they’ve gotten lately. But to say that New York is really just biding its time with the Yankees because the Knicks stink…no way.

  477. Yankee Trader

    Congrats to Betsy for being our representative on radio today. BTW, I’m your boss and your fired!!! LOL

    Part of the excitement of being a longtime Yankee fan is seeing the young players making it on the Yankees and contributing. IMHO if you’re talking about sending Joba and Montero plus others to Toronto for Halladay, you better get me the best pitcher in baseball pound for pound and that’s Tim Lincecum. I don’t think it’s in the Yankees longterm interest to payout another huge contract, at a premium of talent with a 40% luxury surcharge tacked onto it!!

    Can we stop with this Hinske rhyming garbage!! This will probably get me in trouble with Pete [sorry], but just say it’s high’ it’s far, Hinske hits the #%/*# ball outta here!!

    Off to see Bruno.

    Till later.

  478. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “How many no hitters has Posada caught in his Yankee career? ZERO. ”

    May 1998. Look it up. David Wells vs. the Montreal Expos.

  479. vb03

    trisha – OPPC lifetime member July 13th, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    vb03, did you feel sad for Bernie Williams when he had to leave the game because he couldn’t deal with his father’s illness? Did you think to yourself “I don’t feel sad for him because he’s a millionaire playing a kid’s game?” I didn’t.

    —————————

    I felt for him, but didn’t feel the need to put him on a pedestal as if he was some sort of martyr. Everyone has a lot to deal with, and Joba isn’t alone in that regard.

  480. John Locke

    I ment Game 7 of the 03 ALCS… Sorry was rushing.

    GM 3 was something else.. I was lucky enough to be at Fenway for that slugfest.

  481. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “A good example of player pressure in Boston would be what SJ? The fans applauding Ortiz when he went to bat despite hitting 147? You would compare that to what? Fans booing Arod? Booing Jeter? Booing Mariano? Booing Joba?”

    Boston players are known to have received death threats.

  482. sab

    Why would Doc want to avoid facing the Yankees? He owns them!!
    =========================================================

    he said that because in his mind if he’s still playing in the A.L. it’ll only be for the yankees….if he goes to boston or the angels he’ll still have to face the yankees..so if its not the yankees it’ll be somewhere in the N.L.

    thats a classic psychological slip there….in his mind he’s already a yankee if all goes well….if he had a dream for playing for the redsox he would’ve said something like “i’d rather hit than face arod, youkilis tex or jason bay” instead he picked only yankees because thats where he wants to be ..

    thats like someone dating a decent looking girl and his response is – well she’s no angelina jolie but she’ll do…

    he would kill to be with angelina jolie but since he doesn’t have a chance he’s be happy with what he is able to get…

  483. Tarheelyank

    To say playing for Boston has more pressure then NY, is like saying Mt Everest is higher then K2.

    There is a lot of pressure to play for the Yankees. There is a long list of players who couldn’t handle it.

    I am with CB and GF, I think everybody is overreacting.

  484. rconn23

    Tell Julio Lugo and J.D. Drew there’s no pressure from the fans or media in Boston.

  485. Hokiehill

    whether we get him or not, you have to appreciate the professionalism that Halladay has shown through out this whole process. The guy is probably somewhat motivated by a desire to be with a competitive team, but he’s not screaming from the roof-tops, “get me out of here.” he’s also bright enough to understand the business side of things and not sulk around because he thinks the Jays don’t want him around. from my perspective it seems simple enough to say, “I’d react the same way” because I’m a fairly normal, level headed person. but in the world of athletes, Halladay’s composure and professionalism is something to be appreciated.

  486. Brandon... I'M AWESOME !

    The Phillies are basically on thier knees for him.

    “I understand all that,” Jayson Werth said. “We won last year and we pretty much have the same team this year. If you were ever going to sell the farm I think now would be the time. But that’s just me speaking who has a short window of a career. Ruben (Amaro Jr.) and those guys are going to be there for a long time. It’s a lot to leverage, I know. But I think we’re definitely in a situation where if we did go for it, it could pay off.”

    “I’m good with trying to win now,” Ryan Howard said. “That’s just me. Not to try to upstage anybody or anything in the front office. Obviously, they’re going to make that decision. Whatever decision it is, when the dust settles, we live with it, we go on and we play. Hopefully, that’s an addition we take. If not, we’ve still got to go out there and play. But I think if you ask everybody on this team right now, you would want to try to win now because you never know when you’re going to get another chance. For a guy like Raul (Ibanez) … last year a guy like (Matt) Stairs, Geoff Jenkins and Jamie Moyer. Jamie has been in this league for 20-some-odd years now. And that was his first trip to the World Series. Not his first World Series win. His first trip. So you never know. In this game as a player everybody’s mindset is trying to go out there and try to win now because you never know what’s going to happen.”

  487. bodhisattva - Destiny Wears Pinstripes

    Hey Trisha! Who are you calling vultures? Thats not fair! Unless you know, you mean the fans that critize Joba when he doesnt throw 99 mph as a starter? Those that call Jeter Captain GIDP eventhough he has the highest BA on the team right now? Those that were ready to throw Mo under a bus cause he had a few bad games early in the season? Those that blame alex for every little thing that goes wrong?

    :D

  488. John Locke

    I stand corrected.. Posada has caught 1, May 17, 1998.

    He is still Finished though as catcher, with a capital F

  489. Steve B

    “vb03, did you feel sad for Bernie Williams when he had to leave the game because he couldn’t deal with his father’s illness?”

    If you’re suggesting Joba suffers from such than by all means give the Joey Votto treatment and send him home to Nebraska to resolves those issues then come back strong.

    Not really getting that vibe from Joba though.

  490. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    NYY626, I’m talking only about those “fans” who sound like members of the forum Sanhedrin, making all these negative declarations about Joba like they really know what’s going on with him, not cutting him any slack whatsoever.

    We all know that he has had some bad things happening around him, and unlike the anonymity granted to the rest of us in life, all of his life is extremely public. We don’t know if he is a Paul O’Neill or if he is a Bernie Williams. And he is only 23. I just believe in trying to be a humanist and giving latitude in a situation where it is possible that outside forces are playing on him.

  491. viggy

    like a jet ski, by Hinske.

    please, please, please ask jonn to change the Teixeira call. thats baaaaaaaad

    BTW the best call john had was:
    burn baby burn / bernie goes boom!

  492. Clay Buchholz Loves Laptops

    “Baseball is not even Number 1 in New York. It’s a Knicks town. They’ve stunk for the last several years, so it’s been diminished. However, no championship would be more celebrated than the Knicks.”

    rconn, are you smoking those funny cigarettes again?

  493. John Locke

    By the way Rebecca- that was vs Minnesota.

  494. m

    There’s no pressure hitting in Boston. They have a rock climbing wall in left field…A double!…And Bay bangs another double off the Green Monster…And Pedroia adds another RBI as he…bangs one off the wall!

  495. Giuseppe Franco

    So we’re now determining the greatness of a catcher by whether he’s caught a no-hitter in his career?

    Good grief.

    I know he wasn’t a good defender but isn’t Mike Piazza a future Hall of Famer who never caught a no hitter?

    Thurman Munson never caught a no hitter. How about Johnny Bench?

  496. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    “If you’re suggesting Joba suffers from such than by all means give the Joey Votto treatment and send him home to Nebraska to resolves those issues then come back strong.”

    I don’t know if he does or he doesn’t; but I always believe in giving the benefit of the doubt.

  497. SJ44

    Trisha,

    Are you serious? LOL

    Manny Ramirez HATED Boston. HATED it because he couldn’t go anywhere without getting bothered.

    JD Drew, Derek Lowe, Julio Lugo all have gotten screamed at in restaurants, with their families present, from disgruntled fans.

    Mike Torrez and Bob Stanley had death threats and had bodyguards for weeks at a time when the threats escalated in the 70’s and 80’s.

    Players can’t breathe in Boston. Its a suffocating atmosphere. Much more than playing for the Yankees. The two aren’t even comparable.

    M,

    I can’t speak to Joba’s love or hate of the nightlife. I don’t know what’s true or false.

  498. Chris

    Ask Boomer Wells how he despised the 2 years he was in Boston. Fans up there are star struck and clamor over athletes and celebrity types in general to the point that they can’t eat in peace at a restauranr without getting hounded for pictures and autographs.
    Not the case in the metro NYC area where celebs can be seen at any time and be given respect and space.

  499. Pat M....Section 211

    Tricia, Maybe just maybe Your’re taking this all the wrong way…..Basically what this dialog regarding Joba Chamberlain is he’s not maxing his talents..He’s regressing on a rather significant level….The Honeymoon is over, the club is fighting for the postseason……And when given leads repeatedly only to blow them in an inning or two that is disturbing……What I watched from the 5 row behind the plate Friday night was terrible for a 24 ( soon to be ) MLB pitcher for the NY Yankees, trying to catch a blow after throwing 20 pitches or so…..He looked bloated, his legs looked heavy, and he looked gas when Giradi yanked him in the 4 th inning…..”Bronx Tale”, nothing worse in life than wasting talent….Jobe is a professional baseball player, you are responsible onthe filed, and off as well , considering all the pomp and ceromony distrctions…..He’s changed Tricia, and he needs to get back to be a pitcher foremost…

  500. bodhisattva - Destiny Wears Pinstripes

    Boston players are known to have received death threats.
    ====

    The worst is being a Montreal Canadien.

    Claude Lemieux hopped into a cab and when the driver recognized him, he launched into a lecture on how his current slump was connected to the hook he had on his stick. He prescribed his own solution, and Lemieux demanded the cabbie drop him off then and there.

    He said, after that, he knew he could no longer stand to play in Montreal.

  501. Doreen

    Trisha -

    Joba’s post-game comments don’t bother you?

  502. ANSKY

    Something picking up on the way Popeye speaks, though Popeye is irrelevant, might be funny if he tried to make it rhyme or even said it like Popeye would be saying it. You know, like how Popeye might pronounce his name more like ‘Popskeye’ … something like that could rhyme with Hinske. Beyond that, I have no idea.

  503. m

    lol, SJ, I was speaking more of your knowledge of whether or not Joba’s high-maintenance for the Yankees.

    I don’t think that your paths would cross too often in the late hours.

  504. tony

    congrats John Locke on creating the DUMBEST post ever, well done

  505. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “By the way Rebecca- that was vs Minnesota.”

    You’re right about that, sorry I get the two confused–two Davids, two years, two “M” opponents…

    But you’re wrong about Posada.

    Want to know what the Yankees are like without Posada?

    Look no further than 2008.

  506. Stateman52

    That drive was not chintzy, a bullet by Hinske.

  507. betsy

    Geez, Joe and Evan make it sound like CC is a terrible pitcher – he struggles against good teams (he doesn’t have a good record against the Angels and Sox and he was 1-8 against the Yankees) and he struggles in the post-season. Hmm, I think CC has faced other good teams in his career besides those above…….and they neglected to mention what he did down the stretch last year. Nice.

  508. SJ44

    Very true bod. Being a hockey player in Montreal is no picnic at all. That’s also a rough city for a guy when he is struggling.

  509. rconn23

    John,

    Ahh, Cervelli “hustles” so therefore he should have been kept on the roster instead of being sent to Scranton where he can get more playing time to further his major league prospects. Fantastic logic there, John.

    And as Rebecca has corrected you, Posada caught David Wells’ perfect game. Guess he remembered how to call a game that day.

    John, Google search the words Posada and no-hitter.
    It’s not difficult in this age of technology to find facts so that you, like other people on this blog, don’t simply have to make up crap about Posada to try to prove a point.

  510. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    vb03, it has nothing to do with martyrdom. It has to do with realizing that despite what these players are paid, it doesn’t take away the human aspect! They are flesh and blood and deal with emotions the same way the rest of us do. And while we can deal with things in a more private way, they don’t have that luxury. That’s the only thing I’m trying to point out here.

    I am suggesting that it is possible that the things happening in his life may be distracting Joba and may be affecting his playing. That’s all.

  511. John Locke

    G Franco– I never said in that post that the mark of a great catcher was whether or not he caught a no hitter.. That’s absurd! I’m just saying Posada is DONE as an everyday catcher here. He’s been done for 2 years but nobody had the heart to tell him.

    Basically we have 3 DHs (Damon, Matsui, Posada)
    and no legit LFer or Catcher.

    If Montero was ready to play today and was a year older, is there any question who are catcher should be?

  512. GreenBeret7

    pat
    July 13th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
    SJ

    Big difference between the scrutiny in NY and Boston is where it comes from.

    In Boston from the fans and in NY from the media.

    ————————————————————

    actually, from reading old articles from Boston writers like Dave Egan back in the 30s and ’40s and recent articles by Boston writers, not much has changed. They are as crude and rude and as obnoxious as the NY writers. Old NY writers like Dick Young, Jimmy Cannon and Henry Hecht
    were every bit as crude as the Boston writers. It was Henry Hecht that kept complaining in the papers and calls to the draft boards about why Mantle wasn’t drafted.

    It was Young and Cannon that led the drive to get Maris out of town because “he is unworthy of hitting more home runs that ‘The Babe’.

    Dave Egan once nominated and supported a cab driver as “Boston’s Man Of The Year” for running over, crippling and almost killing Casey stengel, when he managed the Boston Braves.

  513. m

    Trisha,

    Doreen’s question is a valid one, considering your views about Ian Kennedy’s post game remarks (IIRC).

  514. Steve B

    “Manny Ramirez HATED Boston. HATED it because he couldn’t go anywhere without getting bothered.”

    He could have lived somewhere other than the Ritz Carlton…in downtown Boston. Damon went out to Brookline. Lowe down to Quincy. Plenty of nice places to live outside the city and most players availed themselves of that.

    But it is suffocating up there. Downtown area is very condensed and is flooded with people from the subs and college students every Thursday-Sunday. People who actually live in the downtown area leave ‘em alone, but the suburban yahoos and college kids will give ‘em the business.

  515. pat

    m

    Returned from his honeymoon in S. Africa and then onto Capri.

    Think Sox and Yanks fans react alike? This was a post from Henry last week when the Sox hit a rough patch.

    “3 of 4 lost at home and getting a lot of tweets about adding bats. 4 games! It just shows how important every game is to our terrific fans.”

  516. betsy

    It doesn’t matter how badly the Phillies players want Doc……so they can get on bended knee and propose to him with their WS ring for all I care.

  517. m

    Speaking of ….

    I heard a discussion on the radio about the worst franchise in the four major sports. It was pretty interesting, the one I thought was the worst wasn’t even mentioned.

    What do you guys think?

  518. RichThomas

    [The Historic]

    Eric the Great conquers again.

    [or the cheesy]

    I ski, u ski, another 1 for Hinske.

  519. Michael

    Hinske! Yahtzee! (In John Sterling’s lovable drawn out voice of course)

  520. Andrew

    For the worst franchise in sports I would go with the Los Angeles Clippers.

  521. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    “Joba’s post-game comments don’t bother you?”

    Doreen, I suggested earlier that since he has always been pretty forthcoming in taking responsibility, I am thinking it is possible that his defensiveness is coming from maybe outside things working on him. He may be aware of it and certainly wouldn’t admit to it or use it as an excuse. It’s because he hasn’t been an excuse-o-meter that I find his comments to be unusual for him. (I didn’t get to watch the last game or postgame because I was down with something or another so don’t know his latest comments. I did hear the ones at the Stadium though.)

  522. dennis-Costanza

    GB7.

    Photo get delivered?

    Did you throw rocks at Fed-Ex? Amy read that to me and we had a great LOL.

    -dennis

  523. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    I’m happy we have the Hinske homer going on today!

    :)

  524. Steve B

    Mel:

    LA Clippers have to be right there.

    Orioles under Angelo have been brutal

    Bengals

    J-E-T-S

  525. Mike D

    Philly is in the driver’s seat for Doc unless Cashman wants to offer Joba or Hughes (or if the Red Sox decide to chase him).

  526. John Locke

    Rebecca- So you blame us missing the postseason last year on just Posada being hurt? I seem to remember Molina doing a pretty nice job filling in last year. We didnt have any pitching. If Moose doesn’t win 20 games, we are in 2nd to last place behind Toronto. Not to mention that Andy had a horrific 2nd half and we lost Wang in June. I’m sorry, losing Posada didnt cost us the playoffs last year. Having no pitching did, which is why Ca$h went out a spent 200 million for pitching.

    And as far as
    rconn23 July 13th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
    goes

    John,

    Ahh, Cervelli “hustles” so therefore he should have been kept on the roster instead of being sent to Scranton where he can get more playing time to further his major league prospects. Fantastic logic there, John.

    __ He looked pretty good here the 2 or 3 times a week he was playing.. We arent the Baltimore Orioles, I dont care about furthering his prospects in AAA. He was getting all the experienced he needed this year and we were doing pretty good with him here. NOT 1 Pitched complained about throwing to him.

    I’m sorry but I’ll take the young catcher full of energy who everyone likes over a moody 37 year old whose best days are behind him.

    You guys are tough..

  527. Yank 99

    Worst franchises in sports? Islanders, Knicks, Jets, Mets,

  528. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    Posada’s defense, FWIW is the best it’s been since his MVP-level 2007:

    http://www.baseball-reference......html?redir

  529. sab

    the phillies are in first place with the crappy mets and marlins the only real threats (if you want to call them threats)- and they are smart enough to realize that they need a difference maker in halladay..

    the yankees are 3 games out against arguably the best team in baseball haven’t proven that they can beat either the redsox or the angels in their stadiums (which if they yankees do make the playoffs as the wildcard would have to face both probably at their stadium) who have a much easier schedule the second half and 50% the people here think halladay isn’t needed??? you all can’t be that naive?

  530. Hokiehill

    the issue I have with Joba is the lack of change or adjustments in his approach. I would be more willing to accept the poor results/performance as youth related if he wasn’t having the SAME issues over and over again…that and his post-game comments seem to reinforce the thought that he’s not into the idea of working on making necessary changes. there are some adjustments that need to be made that seem obvious to everyone, some of which have been commented on publicly by Girarid/Eiland (like trusting the catcher to call the game) but there doesn’t seem to be much effort from Joba in those areas.

  531. SJ44

    Rebecca,

    On fire again! lol

  532. dennis-Costanza

    Mel.

    The Astros are a horrible run organization with a 100mm payroll. IMO.

    -dennis

  533. Doreen

    m -

    That was what I was getting at. Why the benefit of the doubt for one and not the other? They’re both young. They both are inexperienced at handling the media and trying to put a good face on their efforts. Ian’s statement absolutely incensed you, Trisha.

    And as I recall, Kennedy also apologized, from SWB, for that statement.

    At first I was taken aback by Joba’s statements after games, but really, those are not the issue. Not everyone is Derek Jeter, and it takes a while to perfect the art of the non-answer answer. He’ll learn.

  534. Jeff

    Worst franchises -

    Clippers
    Bengals
    Arizona Cardinals (despite last yr)
    and of course, Mets

  535. m

    I don’t know, I come from the lie through your teeth if you have to.

    example, You may indeed have had your best stuff of the season, but that’s not the story. Just say you didn’t get it done. Repeat the mantra to the press, “I need to work on getting deeper into games.”

    Just say you didn’t pick up the guys on the field like you’re supposed to. Even if little leaguers could’ve made those plays.

    You may indeed have a job the next day, but that one was better left unsaid.

    Get out the old cliche dictionary and study it. No one will be offended if you use it.

  536. SJ44

    Posada is so “bad”, they have played their best baseball with him behind the plate this year.

    Yup, he is the “problem”. Good call.

  537. rconn23

    Clay,

    New York is a Knicks town. They’ve been so bad, that people forget that. It’s easy to forget because the franchise has been run into the ground.

    The town was crazy when the Knicks were battling Jordan’s Bulls. Crazy.

    Every big sports town in America has a predominant sport. St. Louis is a baseball town. In Kansas City, the Chiefs rule the roost.

    Dallas? The Cowboys. As Peter Gammons said, the Rangers could win the World Series and they’d be bumped off the front page by the Cowboys signing a third string offensive lineman. (A joke, of course, but not too far off.)

    In Boston, it’s Red Sox, Red Sox, Red Sox. It’s a manic following. They didn’t make a movie about fanatical Yankees fans. They did about Sox fans. (Fever Pitch)

    I’m a Yankees fan living in Boston and these people are nuts. Passionate, sure.

    Crazy? Always.

  538. NYY626

    The media is way harsher in NY IMO, but the fans in Boston are something from another planet. In 2003, I saw multiple cars get flipped over after they lost the ALCS. After the Pats won in 2004, half of my school (Northeastern) crowded the streets. It was fun for about 20 minutes until I got smacked in the head with some sort of ball ( and i couldnt take the yankees suck chants anymore, it was beyond annoying), so I went back to the dorm. The next day I find out a few people died that night during the riot outside. It was scary. Then after the 2004 WS, as I think Rebecca mentioned, someone died because she got shot with a taser gun.

    I realize I was only 15 the last time the yankees won the WS, so I did not take part in any random on the street celebrating, but I’m pretty sure that no one died. Boston fans say they’re much more passionate than NY fans, I just think some of them are flat out insane.

  539. dennis-Costanza

    Rebecca has been pounding the strike zone for two days in a row.

    -dennis

  540. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    SJ, you are right that the two aren’t comparable. To quote Tarheel:

    “To say playing for Boston has more pressure then NY, is like saying Mt Everest is higher then K2.

    There is a lot of pressure to play for the Yankees. There is a long list of players who couldn’t handle it.”

    Pat M – the only thing I questioned about what is going on with Joba is whether things happening in his life may be affecting his play. Since I’ve seen other players have difficulty playing when things are going on in their lives, it is at least a valid question to be asked. I certainly cannot say whether the answer is yes or no, nor can anbody else but Joba.

  541. TD213

    Halladay is no longer a luxury… he is a necessity.

    Unless you think Joba will suddenly learn how to pitch in the 2nd half, Pettitte will turn back the clock, Mitre will become Aaron Small, and Wang will come back healthy and effective….

    Bronson Arroyo doesn’t help us.

  542. Andrew

    Really Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals is probably a part of the worst franchise discussion. They have produced talented players but never a true winning team (except for strike-shortened 1994). The last few years drafting at the top of the draft probably means they’re due for a turnaround soon, but they would be on the list.

    Football I would say the Oakland Raiders are the worst right now.

  543. bodhisattva - Destiny Wears Pinstripes

    Judgmental people never know the difference between “excuse” and “reason”.
    ====

    Right on, Rebecca.

    Their “excuse” is an excuse to pile on someone.

    It’s also just not very intelligent to rush to judgment; that is a purely visceral response. Information gathering, with a neutral ear and eye, will disclose a great deal more than a meltdown – even a well-worded one ;)

  544. S.A.--Relax, Relate, Release

    sing with me everyone:

    The sun’ll come out
    Tomorrow
    Bet your bottom dollar
    That tomorrow
    There’ll be sun!

    Just thinkin’ about
    Tomorrow
    Clears away the cobwebs,
    And the sorrow
    ‘Til there’s none!

    When I’m stuck a day
    That’s gray,
    And lonely,
    I just stick out my chin
    And Grin, And Say,

    Oh The sun’ll come out
    Tomorrow
    So ya gotta hang on
    ‘Til tomorrow
    Come what may

    Tomorrow!
    Tomorrow!
    I love ya
    Tomorrow!
    You’re always A day A way!

  545. haiku-man

    mlbtraderumors says Halladay wouldn’t mind coming to the Yankees,so they are not on the list of not going to.

  546. Giuseppe Franco

    John Locke,

    Posada will be the starting catcher next season, too. It will not be Cervelli.

    And if you think Posada is a bad major league catcher, stick Montero out there all next season and you’ll be begging for Posada to catch some games.

    That’s not to say Montero can’t be an everyday catcher in the bigs, but he’s not even remotely close to being ready for prime time behind the plate yet.

    Since they already have three DHs on the team as you suggest, they have no room for all three of them in the starting lineup.

    They are going to have to take some lumps and growing pains when Montero is ready for the bigs so enjoy Posada’s defense while you can.

  547. Stultus Magnus

    Chris
    July 13th, 2009 at 3:17 pm

    Ask Boomer Wells how he despised the 2 years he was in Boston. Fans up there are star struck and clamor over athletes and celebrity types in general to the point that they can’t eat in peace at a restauranr without getting hounded for pictures and autographs.
    Not the case in the metro NYC area where celebs can be seen at any time and be given respect and space.

    ================

    I have to say, I love that about New Yorkers. Most of them don’t get starstruck by anybody. I never understood why people get all bent out of shape when they see somebody famous anyway, it’s odd how people feel like they can approach a complete stranger as if they are somehow related.

    Personally, I love Tina Fey and think she’s hilarious. I was walking next to her on the Upper West Side one day but didn’t even think about talking to her. Last fall, my friend and I went into a studio to record a song and the band coming in after us was Flight of the Conchords, they were waiting for us to get done. It was an interesting, but I wasn’t about to pee myself and I didn’t go out of my way to introduce myself.

  548. Wow.

    Joba needs to rent Bull Durham. It will be a life-changing experience.

  549. m

    I thought it was the Clippers. Especially after reading the Bill Simmons column about them. They’ve been snakebit more than anything. Almost every major acquisition over the last 30 years has been severely injured.

    Detroit Lions have got to be up there.

    The host thought it was the Pirates, but I don’t think they’re that bad (maybe because they’re the gift that keeps on giving to the Yankees).

  550. SJ44

    I come from the accountability camp.

    You stand at your locker after games, whomever the player or sport, and say, “I stunk today. I have to be better than that”.

    Denial or lying is never good. Guys in the locker room see and hear that and you don’t make friends in there.

    I thought it was really telling that only Derek Jeter had anything to say to Joba in the dugout after he got taken out Friday night.

    Even the other pitchers, a close knit group this year, said nothing to him.

    I have to think the vets are either taking him aside and talking to him or tiring of the act. Perhaps both.

    Pat M can also speak to this. You would rather have your teammates mad at you than indifferent toward you.

    Mad at you means they care about you. Indifferent? Never a good place for a player to be in a clubhouse.

  551. Doreen

    Trisha -

    Our responses crossed in the web, I guess.

    I don’t know what he said this last time either and decided not to even try to find out. The similarity in his and Kennedy’s statement was insistence that they had good stuff that they threw good pitches and the other team was just hitting them, when it’s pretty clear to anyone who saw the game(s) that that couldn’t be so. Personally, i think they both are trying to put as good a face on their performance as they could. I didn’t think Kennedy’s statements were inexcusable, nor do I think Joba’s are. Both are merely the product of false bravado in the face of oh, dozens of microphones shoved in their faces.

    But you didn’t give Kennedy a break at all. And you still carry a grudge against Kennedy. And all he did was have one unfortunate soundbite. That’s my point with you. But you are giving Joba the benefit of the doubt. I just find it interesting.

  552. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    Doreen -

    Can I try this one more time? I am suggesting that there are a lot of things swirling in the background with Joba. If Kennedy had taken responsibility for bad playing, had stuff happen with his mother, and then sounded defensive, guess what? I would be suggesting the same thing as a possibility.

    When Joba pitched through the midges, he blamed himself and said he should have gotten the job done. That was patently absurd but he stood up and took responsiblity. The day at the Stadium where he got defensive was the first time I heard him that way.

    I will always look to the human side of every player and if there is something going on we know about I will question whether it could possibly affect the player’s game. That’s all I’m doing here.

  553. Hokiehill

    the only reason I would ever want the Yankees to sign Bronson Arroyo is to make him get a hair cut. He could be released the very next day for all I care.

  554. Steve B

    “mlbtraderumors says Halladay wouldn’t mind coming to the Yankees,so they are not on the list of not going to.”

    Halladay said no such list exists at this point.

  555. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    Doreen, they crossed again. Read my last post.

  556. Nat

    Why aren’t any of the players calling out Joba for his pathetic performances?

    Damon had no problem calling out Hughes…

  557. Peter

    Since he is from Menasha, WI, how about John names him the “Basher From Menasha” So you could have “Hinske swings, that ball is high, it is far, it is gone! The Basher From Menasha strikes again!”

  558. Uncle Ellsworth

    Are AJ and Halladay really as close as reported. Might AJ recruit?

  559. Erik

    I predicted his home run call would be “It’s a homerunski for Hinske!” and I’m a little disappointed Sterling didn’t come up with it himself.

  560. bodhisattva - Destiny Wears Pinstripes

    NYY626
    July 13th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
    The media is way harsher in NY IMO, but the fans in Boston are something from another planet.
    ====

    The media in Boston is a PR outlet for the team, and guys like Shaughnessy are glorified house plants.

    The NY media is entirely different. They are out to prove they are the sharpest, most cynical “show me” group – but in their way, they are extremely parochial.

    Here’s an example of how the Post operates:

    The Sports Editor was looking to make a hire for a local beat reporter.

    He interviewed unnamed person, and the colleague who suggested him said
    “Whaddya think?”

    His response: “He writes well enough, but you know, I just can’t see, when that guy walks by the group of beat writers, people saying about him: “There goes that “*******.”

    He didn’t get the job.

  561. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    Dennis and SJ: You do me too kind!

    Bodhisvatta: Are you talking to me or Trisha? I was only quoting Trisha, and certainly not agreeing with it.

    As for Posada, it’s a similar thought to what people say about Montero:

    As long as he can hit, he’s in the line up. If he can hit like he does–which is borderline for the HOF–and catch even just so-so, he’ll still catch.

    Posada, more than Jeter, more than Rivera, more than Pettitte, has been the “secret weapon” of the Yankees for so many years.

    He’s overshadowed by the bigger names, bigger personalities, a la CC or Jeter, but do not underestimate his value.

    The Yanks did last year, and they paid big time.

  562. Andrew

    What, because they made a movie about Whoopi Goldberg coaching the Knicks, New York is an obsessed basketball town? Baseball is the sport that New Yorkers care about year-round. The Knicks in the early 90s had a leg up on excitement and coverage because the Yankees weren’t good yet and had just spent the previous decade stinking up the joint and trading Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps, etc.

    The Yankees have been the baseball team in New York for a century. The fact that you can still find people who hate the Dodgers because they bailed from NYC should tell you enough about how passionate New Yorkers are about baseball. Brooklyn Cyclones and SI Yankees have expensive minor league stadiums that still get a decent amount of people showing up, because New York loves baseball and New Yorkers love going to baseball games.

  563. Stultus Magnus

    Hokiehill
    July 13th, 2009 at 3:40 pm

    the only reason I would ever want the Yankees to sign Bronson Arroyo is to make him get a hair c

    ====================

    Awesome, just awesome. I want to the Yanks to sign Papelbon and send him to the minors for the rest of his career.

  564. boobie

    Pressure

    Pre-2004

    Boston > NY

    Post-2004

    NY > Boston

  565. William Buckner

    “I come from the accountability camp.”

    I would say Joba comes from the Kevin Brown camp.

    You know the ‘I made good pitches, they just hit them,’ camp.

  566. Mr. Clean

    Sending Joba to Scranton won’t help… there, the minor leaguers will swing at the 3-2 slider that the major leaguers lay off.

    He needs to stay up here and take his lumps, even if he costs the team games and taxes the pen. It’s the only way he’ll learn.

  567. m

    SJ,

    Absolutely!

    But, just as an example, but a pitcher can have wonderful stuff, lose 2-1 (one earned run) and take the loss.

    The right thing to say is that he didn’t get the job done. Even though it was more fault of the defense and the offense not getting it done.

    But just like quarterbacks, you’re held accountable for what happens during your start. Good or bad.

  568. dennis-Costanza

    Just to clarify. My point on not calling Joba a “kid” because he has a child was that standards change with professional athletes IMO. I would not call a 23 year old a “kid” with a 3 year old a child in every day life. I am 39 so perhaps I am wrong here based on age.

    -dennis

  569. Steve B

    “Are AJ and Halladay really as close as reported. Might AJ recruit?”

    Yeah, when he’s a free agent. Guys can recruit til the cows come now. Halladay can only control where he goes, but not if he goes. He also made a point about how the relative calm of Toronto really works for him personally. Doesn’t mean he’d hate NYC, but he seems to be suggesting he prefers a more serene atmosphere

  570. SJ44

    Joba’s family issues have been there his entire life.

    They aren’t any different than they were last year.

    His, “the sun will come out tomorrow and I will still have a job” comment was just as bad as Kennedy’s and his family life had nothing to do with the comments.

    Kennedy got killed for similar comments, in and out of the locker room, because they lacked accountablity. That’s why he apologized.

    Joba doesn’t need to apologize to anybody. He does need to be more accountable to his teammates for his performances.

    Lots of players have tough family lives. They still find a way to hold themselves accountable to the team.

    Whether you are 23, 33, or 43, you have to do that to be considered a good teammate.

  571. John Locke

    I don’t care what the “stats” say.. If you watch every game and you can sit there with a straight face and tell me Posada’s defense is good this season… Well I have a bridge I’d like to sell you.

    And when we look back at the turning point of the season…
    Well, let me just ask, what would YOU say it’s been this season? Because I’ll vote for Cervelli’s HR in Atlanta.

  572. Erica - always OPPC

    Nat
    July 13th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
    Why aren’t any of the players calling out Joba for his pathetic performances?

    Damon had no problem calling out Hughes
    ***
    Let’s do a group cheer for Johnny Damon!!!!!!!!!!!

  573. Erica - always OPPC

    SA-

    Should we also do a verse of “I Feel pretty”???

  574. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    NY has two baseball teams, three hockey teams, two football teams and for all intents and purposes two basketball teams.

    Never mind the minor league and college teams.

    Can we just leave it at “New York is one mother of a sports town”?

  575. JJ

    “Are AJ and Halladay really as close as reported. Might AJ recruit?”

    Don’t really know what AJ can do… by all accounts, Halladay would be willing to come here. So AJ doesn’t have to convince him to waive his NTC or anything. If he were a free agent. then it would be different.

    It’s in Cashman’s hands as to whether or not he wants to trade for him.

  576. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    “Judgmental people never know the difference between “excuse” and “reason”.”

    Hey Bod, I said that!!! Unless Rebecca agreed with it. I am definitely not a quick as a lot of others here with reading all the posts and answering them! (So if anyone asked I question I didn’t answer or something it’s because I haven’t seen it yet!)

  577. Patrick from CT

    Joba has shown flashes of being vary good this year but he has not done well at all lately, that is for sure.
    The Yankees need him to pitch better soon or he will be replaced in the rotation. No way the Yankees are goi9ng to let this season get away without making changes if need be. My guess is that Joba has until Wang is ready to come back to get his chit together. I think the longer it take Wang the longer Joba’s rope will be.
    As it looks right now, the Yankees need to go out and get another proven pitcher. If they get a releiver then they will likely need to some how get Hughes back in the rotation not Ace. If they get a starter, then Hughes stays in the Pen. Ace was doing great out of the Pen and I think he should remain the long man / swing man out of the Pen. Of Hughes and Ace Hughes is better, he was the #6 coming out of ST, right?
    That other guy at AAA, his name escapes me, is also not as good as Hughes.
    Hughes into the rotation and Joba back to the Pen, boy the Media will go crazy……….EEK

  578. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “I don’t care what the “stats” say.. If you watch every game and you can sit there with a straight face and tell me Posada’s defense is good this season… Well I have a bridge I’d like to sell you.”

    The stats don’t count?

    Seriously?

    I have my issues with sabermetrics, but to say they don’t count?

    FWIW, the turning point of this season was the three walk-off wins vs. Minnesota. It’d started before that–CC’s 4-hit CGSO of Baltimore–but after those Minnesota games the team took off.

  579. Matt

    “A ROUND TRIP-SKI FOR HINSKE!”

  580. m

    Pete made what I thought was a pretty silly insinuation about Posada not catching yesterday.

    Girardi said it was to control the running game. Did he not see what happened on Saturday? I’d say Girardi was being truthful here and there’s no story there.

  581. Paul from Cali

    It’s a homerske by Hinske!

  582. GreenBeret7

    dennis-Costanza
    July 13th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
    GB7.

    Photo get delivered?

    Did you throw rocks at Fed-Ex? Amy read that to me and we had a great LOL.

    -dennis

    ————————————————————

    Hey, Dennis. Yes, but, it took 5 rocks. The idiots drove by 4 times, and the street only has 4 houses on it. I missed three times. I guess I’ve spent too much time watching Chamberlain’s masterful control.

    They delivered the photo 15 minutes ago. It’s already hung next to Mickey Mantle. My undying gratitude to Ms Amy and you for this beautiful photo. It looks great on the wall.

  583. Doreen

    Trisha -

    I understand that part of it. Honestly, I’ve had the thought myself that perhaps personal issues were part of the problem here with Joba.

    But you don’t know anything about Kennedy. You don’t know if there were things in his personal life – he was newly married for one. Joba’s lifestory just happens to have been made public – because I guess it was supposed to make for a great human interest story.

    Anyway, I think really all any of us really wants is for Joba to find a way. The fact is he did charm a lot of fans early on and we are rooting for him. That doesn’t mean we can’t also get a little frustrated because it sure didn’t look like he was going to have THIS MUCH trouble. Growing pains, sure. Looking totally lost out there, no.

    Bill Martin looks so young, doesn’t he? Wow, they win the WS, and Bill White asks about changes for next season? That’s tough.

    In my opinion, no one here has been attacking Joba at all. People want him to do well. I do not think you are off-base for suggesting he’s having some personal issues. But I simply find it interesting the difference in your attitude toward Joba and Ian, and how we should remember they’re all human and make mistakes – except for Ian, in your case. I guess you simply don’t like him?

  584. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    “Joba’s family issues have been there his entire life.

    They aren’t any different than they were last year.”

    I believe you are mistaken SJ. His mother getting arrested (and convicted?) for selling drugs happened quite recently. The entire expose about his mother and their relationship happened, I believe, in the spring. While there are certain things that may have been part of his life, the press needing to expose all of them is a more recent phenomenon.

    (His DUI is on him, naturally.)

  585. Chris

    “Hi-jinks from Hinske!”
    “Hinske with the lumberJACK!”(He reminds me of a lumberjack..)
    “A Hinske-thrill-ski!”
    “Hinske continues his hit-spree (with a homer)!”

    I got nothing.

  586. rconn23

    Ah, the “stats don’t count argument.” An oldie but goodie.

    Of course, stats are completely meaningless.

    I now declare Jeff Fraceour the greatest player in baseball, because after all, who cares what the stats say?

    They are meaningless.

  587. hal

    “Hinske, and it’s doneski.”

  588. SJ44

    The turning point of the season was the return of Arod to the lineup. They are 38-22 since he’s been back.

    Its not Cervelli’s HR in Atlanta. Nice hit, timely but, that wasn’t even the biggest development in that game.

    It was Girardi getting tossed.

    Anybody who truly believes that Francisco Cervelli is a better catcher than Jorge Posada right now really needs to get a grip.

    If Cervelli has HALF the success in any season as Posada is having this year at 37, he will have a very successful ML career.

    He’s not there yet.

  589. Hokiehill

    “Awesome, just awesome. I want to the Yanks to sign Papelbon and send him to the minors for the rest of his career.”

    Or just give him mop-up duty and make him watch Mariano continue to be the closer he never will be.

  590. Erica - always OPPC

    Roy Halladay named AL ASG starter. Congratulations!!

    http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/ne.....;type=lgns

  591. Jay

    “Baseball debris from Eric Hinske!”

    “High as a tree, home run Eric Hinske!”

    “as far as the eyes can see, home run Hinske!”

    “that ball was set free by Eric Hinske!”

    “Glory be! A long ball from Hinske!”

  592. John Locke

    Sorry Rebecca- I believe stats are very overrated. I’ll trust what I see with my own eyes.

    I respectfully disagree 100% with your pick for turning point. How could 2 games in the 3rd week of May be the turning point when we got lit up in Boston a 2 weeks later AND lost a series to the Nationals at home? On top of that, Cervelli doesn’t hit that HR in Atlanta, we possible lose 2/3 after already losing the series to the Marlins. That would have been 3 straight series lost to the middle teams of the NL East.

  593. S.A.--Relax, Relate, Release

    Should we also do a verse of “I Feel pretty”???

    =========================

    let’s save that for later

  594. bru

    “the sun will come out tomorrow and I will still have a job” comment is a defiant attitude.

    you simply can not say that.

    wake up joba.

    joba has to have the desire & passion to take it to the next level instead of being content.

    it is almost like he is saying i made it hear i’ll just coast through.

    worse case scenario.

  595. SJ44

    Just because his personal issues went public doesn’t mean they haven’t been there in his life.

    His mom has been arrested before and, sadly, has been abusing drugs for just about Joba’s entire life.

    They have no relationship. He was under more stress when Harlan was sick the last two years than anything that’s happening with mom.

  596. Giuseppe Franco

    John Locke July 13th, 2009 at 3:46 pm

    I don’t care what the “stats” say.. If you watch every game and you can sit there with a straight face and tell me Posada’s defense is good this season… Well I have a bridge I’d like to sell you.

    And when we look back at the turning point of the season…
    Well, let me just ask, what would YOU say it’s been this season? Because I’ll vote for Cervelli’s HR in Atlanta.

    ——————

    I never said Posada’s defense was “good.” I said that he’s still going to be the starting catcher next season.

    And I’d argue that the turning point of the season was A-Rod’s 3-run dinger in his first at-bat of the season.

    Also, don’t discount A-Rod’s bases loaded 2-out single in that same game. Cervelli got the Yanks on the board but A-Rod got the hit that gave them the lead that they never relinquished.

  597. Mike

    New York is a world-class cosmopolitan destination, an international business hub, a celebrity play-ground, a bustling tourist destination and the largest and most recognizable city in North America. Probably the most famous city in the world (or right there with London).

    Boston is a nice little moderately sized city with working class residents and a business city. No different than Atlanta. Or Denver. or Dallas. Or any other moderately sized working class city.

    People in Boston care much more about baseball and sports in general than NY. Check out the ratings from sporting events in each market… New York and Los Angeles are always near the bottom of the rankings. Boston lives and dies by their sports. NYC does not. I’ve lived in both places, I know.

  598. miggs

    John Locke = clueless.

  599. bodhisattva - Destiny Wears Pinstripes

    Very true bod. Being a hockey player in Montreal is no picnic at all. That’s also a rough city for a guy when he is struggling.
    ====

    Those wolves booed Price as a rookie and again in the postseason, even though they had no chance against a superior Boston team. Goalies have way less impact on a game than a pitcher does.

    The kid gestured to the crowd in protest, and his coach, Bob Gainey, backed him up.

    He said he had a right to stand up for himself, because he was being “bullied.”

    I say kudos to Gainey. He’s certainly won enough to say whatever the hell he wants to.

  600. John Locke

    Since all of you love your stats.. Please go pull up
    our starters #s with Posada catching vs another catcher.

  601. ECG 234

    The rabid Boston fanbase has calmed down in recent years haven’t they? They are no longer as disgruntled as they once were. I imagine the playing conditions post 04 (and especially post 07) are much more favorable to the players than they were before that time.

  602. adam

    If it’s a pinch hit home run – A Pinchske for Hinske

  603. William Buckner

    “I don’t care what the “stats” say.. If you watch every game and you can sit there with a straight face and tell me Posada’s defense is good this season… Well I have a bridge I’d like to sell you.”

    I’m interest in the bridge you are selling.

    If you don’t understand the virtues of Posada my I suggest Mike and Mike this morning with Keith Law. He talks about the value of a catcher that can hit.

    Posada has the second highest OPS of any AL catcher this year. His bat plays far above the competition at his position.

    Is he IRod with a glove? no. He’s no Mike Piazza either.

  604. Laura

    “Not the case in the metro NYC area where celebs can be seen at any time and be given respect and space.”

    That may be true, but if I’m ever out and about and I see A-Rod or Jeter, I’m asking for an autograph.

  605. John Locke

    Miggs- Nothing else to add? Great Post. You showed me.
    At least everyone else can argue with points and logic.

    Miggs=BUM

  606. Pat M....Section 211

    After blowing back to back 4-5 run leads in his last 2 outings, and then sits at his locker telling all that he had his best stuff of the season and Blah, blah blah, will only result in him being an island in his own clubhouse…Joba was very good early on with the media, commercials, sideline interviews, so I’m buying him being a naive kid…..Kennedy was stupid in what he said, even though he wanted to say something different…..At this level, on this club, you must be accountable and you must pull your own weight…..As SJ said, the NY Yankees are in the winning business….If he’s not traded, and if he doesn’t turn in around in the 2nd half, he’ll be back in the pen….All his bravado played well coming out of the bullpen and just dial it up for the 8th inning….Maybe that’s all he has……Hard to take, because he has looked great om a few occasions, but maybe the high level of commitment to be a starter has worn away…..

  607. Erica - always OPPC

    S.A.–Relax, Relate, Release
    July 13th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
    Should we also do a verse of “I Feel pretty”???

    =========================

    let’s save that for later

    ***
    Okay,. I trust your judgement. Let me know when you feel it is needed

  608. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    Doreen, just so you understand how this all started.

    I posted something that another person from another forum had to say about Joba’s difficulties with pitching. I really had no opinion on it but just put it out there for people to see.

    SJ decided that the person doesn’t knowing what he is talking about and put forth his “opinion” on what is wrong with Joba. From there I posted about the possible distractions (1:05 p.m.) and mentioned a few of the criticisms I have seen lodged at Joba.

    From there it grew legs, it you know what I mean. As I said, I’m not as quick as a lot of posters here so have done my best to respond to responses, but when there are a lot of them I am sure I miss some.

  609. bodhisattva - Destiny Wears Pinstripes

    trisha – OPPC lifetime member
    July 13th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
    “Judgmental people never know the difference between “excuse” and “reason”.”
    Hey Bod, I said that!!! Unless Rebecca agreed with it. I am definitely not a quick as a lot of others here with reading all the posts and answering them! (So if anyone asked I question I didn’t answer or something it’s because I haven’t seen it yet!)
    ====

    Sorry Trish! Good call.

    I find this setup difficult to keep track of, also. It’s a great site, but it fosters ultimately unsatisfying discussion/debate because each new entry obliterates the previous one.

    I prefer the simultaneous threads that are kept going, so one can enter and discuss as one wishes. I sometimes see a great post in retro – and it’s just too much of an ordeal to paste and re-post, especially since the topic is no longer being avidly discussed.

  610. Dazz

    New York baseball is passionate within the city and surrounding suburbs. They also split coverage and fans between the two teams. World-wide, the Yanks fanbase is 10x larger than the Mets. Within the metro area, it is pretty close.

    Whereas Boston baseball extends throughout the entire New England region… Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, and 1\2 of Connecticut. They have all those areas to themselves

    Yanks and Mets have to split NYC and most of NY state, North Jersey (South Jersey is Philly country), and 1\2 of CT.

  611. m

    Okay, so far I think the only ones that would pass mustard on the air are the “Hi-jinx for Hinske” and the “pinchske for Hinske”.

    Seriously, Sterling’s got nothing? I can’t believe it. You get the feeling he really enjoys this stuff.

  612. m

    *muster

  613. just another handle

    Love the HE said (SJ44), SHE said (Trisha) back and forth…lol

  614. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    Pat M, as someone who has been able to see both sides of the Joba to the pen vs. Joba as starter issue, I’m fine with either.

    I just won’t pretend to know the real deal with Joba and will wait and see with everyone else. (My suggestion about personal distraction was just that – a suggestion of a possibility.)

  615. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “Since all of you love your stats.. Please go pull up
    our starters #s with Posada catching vs another catcher.”

    You asked for it.

    CC Sabathia:

    http://www.baseball-reference......;t=p#catch

  616. dennis-Costanza

    Mike.

    You failed to mention the best higher education in America. Your post is absurd. Is the Bronx not working class?

    -dennis

  617. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    AJ Burnett splits w/ catcher

    http://www.baseball-reference......;t=p#catch

    (I have to do these in separate posts or the links won’t post, sorry about this…)

  618. Giuseppe Franco

    Pat,

    That’s not even a smart business decision to drop Joba out of the rotation after one season of struggles. Never mind that the first half of this season just ended and there’s another 70+ games to play.

    Joba has the most upside of any Yankee youngster they’ve had in the system for the last 30 years.

    So they are going to put him back in the pen to be a reliever when they have the opportunity to develop a $100M arm?

    That doesn’t make an ounce of sense. They didn’t move Hughes out of the rotation and he was far worse last season than Joba.

    Cashman would have to be the worst GM in the business to make that move so early unless he knows for certain that Joba will never hack it as a starting pitcher.

    One season isn’t enough for that kind of upside.

    People are overreacting WAY WAY WAY too much on this Joba issue.

  619. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    Joba Chamberlain, splits with catcher

    http://www.baseball-reference......;t=p#catch

  620. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    Andy Pettitte, splits with catcher

    http://www.baseball-reference......;t=p#catch

    I’m going to skip Wang but if you want to find out, go to baseballreference.com, type in the player’s name, then click splits, the year, and scroll to the bottom of the page.

  621. ohgodno

    “And here’s Eric Hinske now with 2 outs in the inning. Ya know Suzyn, I’ve been a broadcaster for so long… and I just can’t figure out this game. And the pitch is High 1-0.

    I just can’t make sense of it, why does the pitcher even throw the ball?… As Hinske takes a strike at the knees.”

    “You’re right John, it’s tough to figure out. Actually I was talking with Joe about this before the game…”

    “The 1-1 pitch is high and tight, 2-1 is the count… go on Suzyn”

    “…and he said, ‘Yeah, I just don’t understand it. As a catcher I was holding my glove up to tell the pitcher to stop, but he kept throwing the ball at it.’”

    “Annnnnd the 2-1 is… Swung onnnn… and… THERE IT GOES TO RIGHT… NN-IT IS HIGH… NN-IT IS FAAR… IT IS… GAAHHHHHHN!!! ERIC HINSKE with a HUGE blast to give the Yanks the lead… HINSKE WITH YOUR BEST SHOT… FIRE AWAY ERIC! Wow did he ever hit that Suzyn?”

    “Yeah John, it looks like he got a 2-1 curveball that just hung right there. He just stayed back JUST enough to hit it over the wall”

    “Yeah, that’s right Suzyn. Ya can’t figure this game out… Again, why’d the pitcher even throw the ball? It’d make more sense to me if the pitchers didn’t throw the ball, and if the hitters never tried to swing at it. Well, he did and HE did, and the Yankees take a 2 to 1 lead. How duh-ya like that?”

  622. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    “Just because his personal issues went public doesn’t mean they haven’t been there in his life.”

    Yeah, just like Arod.

    :)

    Except Arod has a lot of years on Joba.

    Funny how different your life is when things are exposed from the way it is when things are more under wraps. Let’s see, what are some of the things I would love to have to live through.

    How about having a very negative part of your life exposed in the press and then having the NY press question you about it. Yeah that sounds like a blast. Sure wouldn’t affect my life at all! Especially if I were 23.

    All I am saying is cut the kid a little slack and at least entertain the possibility that this isn’t all about Joba feeling too big for his britches.

    Just consider it as a possible exacerbating factor. That’s all.

  623. tony

    John Locke=Owned by Rebecca

  624. Demo

    dennis,

    Would you put Boston in the same class as New York, Los Angels, London, Paris, Tokyo etc.?

  625. Erica - always OPPC

    Trisha-

    I give you the LoHud Commenter of the Day award just for your amazing ability to find stats. LOL

  626. Doreen

    m -

    I agree with your “lie through your teeth” statement. Learn the appropriate cliches and use them to death. :) Best way to stay out of trouble.

    Can’t wait to see Joba and Alex play Rock Band. Looks like ARod’s having a blast.

  627. Pat M....Section 211

    Tricia, I do believe he’s been distracted from what is expected from him…..Some are family related and some are of his own choice…I blew it on my last post, I’m not buying his niavity when it comes to the media…He’s seemed to have a good handle with a mike in his face…..He needs to get back to what got him here in the first place….I know you’ve taken some hits on this subject, and you can only defend his actions so far…..His performance has dropped alot, and whether your a supermarket clerk going thru a divorce, you have to seperate the two lives the best you can…..He happens to be a pitcher for the NY Yankees, tough gig…

  628. m

    trisha,

    I was one of the first to mention personal issues as a reason for his troubles. So I can’t discount that at all.

    But Joba’s got to be more accountable. He’s been given a great opportunity that comes with great responsibility.

    Joba’s troubles are many-fold.

    At the top of the list? His stuff is diminished. He appears to be uncoachable. He appears to be in denial.

    That’s why even some of the most die-hard Joba supporters are expressing their frustrations.

    So, yes, I think personal issues are a part of it, but there’s a lot more going on than that.

  629. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    Don’t all cheer at once but I have to go and pick up my car that needed to be fixed since it failed inspection. My way of telling you that if I don’t respond to something you have said, it isn’t that I’m dodging it!

    Later.

    :)

  630. Erica - always OPPC

    Oh no!!!!

    I am so sorry, the award should have gone to Rebecca.

    Please make a speech.

    (This is what happens when you are way too busy at work but you still try to make comments on a Yankee blog)

  631. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “John Locke=Owned by Rebecca”

    If only I could own Gratian and Thomas Aquinas! =P

  632. Doreen

    Wow -

    People are really getting Rebecca and Trisha mixed up today, and I really, REALLY don’t understand how! :lol:

  633. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    Doreen: It’s a little disconcerting….

    Are Trisha’s and my posts really that similar? o_O;;

    I think we have totally different writing styles…but I’m biased.

  634. tony

    If only I could own Gratian and Thomas Aquinas! =P

    sorry just John Locke for now….

  635. dennis-Costanza

    Demo.

    No I would not.

    -dennis

  636. 7*7

    dennis – I don’t think he was being offensive, he was just highlighting how NYC is more than just a sports town and is overall less passionate about sports than a smaller, less famous city like Boston would be.

  637. gayle

    Doreen

    I am right there with you no way to get them mixes up in my mind. LOL

  638. Doreen

    Rebecca -

    I would say diametrically opposed. :) (In most cases)

  639. Pat M....Section 211

    Mr. Franco, What gives you the belief that he’ll become that ??? Yes he has had a few games wher ehe was brillant, but for the most part he’s beem average at best….More importantly he’s going backwards, and it’s costing games now…….Great talent, does he have what it takes to bring it every 5th day ???? Right now it doesn’t looks so…..Franco, he looked real good in the 1st inning Friday nite…..Nice tempo, good balance, no shake offs….Then things started to unravel, and quickly…..I think he has the back nine of this season to prove many wrong, and there are whispers right now that maybe he’s not cut out to be a starter…..3 Scouts walked out Friday once he was yanked…It is what it is…..

  640. Uncle Ellsworth

    John Locke the Philosopher or the guy from LOST?

  641. SJ44

    I’m not buying his personal issues because he had greater personal issues last year when Harlan was sick and played much better.

    If the spotlight is too bright, its easy to pull back. Don’t do endorsements. Tell the Yankees you don’t want to be one of the “faces” on the team they market.

    There are plenty of ways to pull back and get back to basics.

    Hopefully, he will do that.

    I hate to see talent go to waste. Joba is a super talented kid. MUCH more talented than his performances are showing this year.

    What’s worse, too many excuses and blame of others, some with a lot more on their baseball resumes than Joba, are being made for his poor work so far this year.

    That’s not only unfair to the people taking the hits for him, its not going to help Joba. In fact, one can argue its hurting him since his post-game comments drift off the accountability tracks.

    Its really going to be interesting to see how he handles all of this. He was booed off the mound at home against Toronto and followed it up with another awful performance in Anaheim.

    At some point, you have to be better or the leash is going to get short on him, regardless of the current state of the rotation.

  642. Brandon... I'M AWESOME !

    Kei Igawa, splits with catcher :D

    http://www.baseball-reference......;t=p#catch

  643. Tarheelyank

    His upbringing is not an excuse for his bad pitching, but what about how he is reacting to his bad pitching. Or how about how he handled his offseason training?

    SJ how would you compare Jeters upbring to Joba’s? Or what about Strawberry. There is a difference, and it makes a difference.

    Not an excuse for his bad pitching but maybe, just maybe how he’s dealing with it.

  644. Patrick the Prospect Hugger

    Same old nonsense arguments on the blog today.

    Who cares what city is harder to play in? Boston and New York are both pressure cookers.

    Joba is a big boy now and no matter how hard he had it growing up he gets held to the same standard as everyone else. Do your job, be accountable, be a good teammate.

    Jorge Posada is the best catcher on the Yankees roster and when he plays the Yankees have a higher chance of winning. Case closed, end of argument, shut the hell up.

    Any other dumb played out arguments left?

  645. Erica - always OPPC

    Trisha and Rebecca-

    You are not similar at all. I am just really swamped at work and I am scrolling thru the comments way too fast. I should take a picture of the massive amount of paper on my desk and you will all pity me

  646. Patrick the Prospect Hugger

    Rebecca, your posts and trisha’s posts are not similar at all. Different style, different content, etc

    I enjoy both of your viewpoints but they are in no way similar.

  647. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    Okay guys, I got a proposition for you.

    Alex Rodriguez returned to the Yankees in early May. The team posted similar offensive stats before and after his return, though, the team started winning more.

    That same week A-Rod came back, so did Alfredo Aceves.

    The bullpen went from a quagmire to a strength, and the two are probably related.

    Who’s been more valuable to the team/what’s the real turning point?

    I think you could make a convincing argument that it’s been Aceves.

  648. Patrick from CT

    Well if Joba keeps going 3-4 innings he’s going to loose his job; that much is for sure. If not the Pen then AAA it shall be…
    I don’t much care to be honest; this is about the Yankees winning, not Joba…

  649. 7*7

    That’s the problem to begin with…. there is always an excuse for Joba.

    Why wasn’t anyone bringing up his “rough upbringing” when he was throwing 100 MPH to JD Drew in the 7th inning in Fenway?

  650. gayle

    SJ–

    Do you really think that it is the Yankees that are making him the face of the franchise. As far as I can tell and I may be wrong here the only “Yankee” stuff I see him doing commercials for are Yankee Universe/Sloan Kettering stuff.

    Things like the video game commercial, the ESPN day at Disney and all the other commercials I see him on are more his own agent’s doing yes? Or am I wrong on how those endorsement deals work with regard to MLB and likeness licensing. I remember either last year or this year he had arranged to have his own “Spot” with Michael Kay on ESPN and the Yankees told him he could not do it as they do not allow there players to have there own weekly shows.

  651. Erica - always OPPC

    Rebecca (yes, I verified its you)

    The impact of A-Rof vs Aceves debate could get ugly.

    That being said, I vote for a draw.

    Arguments for A-Rod:
    1) His production numbers
    2) His return seemed to light a fuse for Tex in May
    3) The line up is plainly just more fearsome when he is in it. There is a huge difference in the intimidation factor when its A-Rod than when its Cody Ransom

    Argument for Aceves:
    Look what happened when he wasn’t in the bullpen this weekend :-(

  652. m

    Okay, I was the first to mix up the two, so I’ll try to explain what happened.

    I saw “He’s only 23, give him a break!” and went into rant mode, and then I saw another poster doing the long list of “He’s only 23!”

    So subliminally I connected trisha’s post with Rebecca. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

    “I just didn’t get it done today.” (that’s for you Doreen)

  653. sab

    Who’s been more valuable to the team/what’s the real turning point?

    I think you could make a convincing argument that it’s been Aceves.

    …..

    Rebecca – this may not have anything to do with it – but once AROD came back tex also went on his unbelievably ..

    torrid hitting streak – which may have also added to the yankees win streak….

    also didn’t they also send down ramirez and albaladejo a few weeks after that? which would also explain how the bullpen got amazingly better…

  654. sab

    Who’s been more valuable to the team/what’s the real turning point?

    I think you could make a convincing argument that it’s been Aceves.

    …..

    Rebecca – this may not have anything to do with it – but once AROD came back tex also went on his unbelievably ..

    torrid hitting streak – which may have also added to the yankees win streak….

    also didn’t they also send down ramirez and albaladejo a few weeks after that? which would also explain how the bullpen got amazingly better…

  655. Doreen

    Rebecca -

    Is Aceves going to be your ‘Phil Hughes’ a la Betsy? :) (J/k)

    I think you’re right – they were both important developments at the time. Did the starters also start stabilizing a bit at the same time?

    Was ARod the psychological lift? Like – whew, now the season can really start?

  656. Clark

    Franco,

    While I agree with you that staying in the rotation is best for him to take his lumps now…. do you really think Cashman will keep him in there if he continues giving us these non-competitive 3-4 inning performances and taxing the pen?

  657. Patrick the Prospect Hugger

    A-rod WAR = 2.2
    Aceves WAR = 0.5

    A-rod is more valuable, not really that close.

  658. ADam

    “A little shot of Vitamin E… From Hinkse!!!!!”
    E is for Eric… Sterling would use it…

  659. SJ44

    One thing we did accomplish today.

    We have found where Joba’s missing velocity went.

    It went to Rebecca who has been bringin’ the heat the past few days!

  660. m

    So subliminally I connected trisha’s post with Rebecca.

    *Because she’s 23. ;)

  661. Brandon... I'M AWESOME !

    “A-rod WAR = 2.2
    Aceves WAR = 0.5

    A-rod is more valuable, not really that close.”

    K-Igawa WAR = 0.0 :D

  662. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “Arguments for A-Rod:
    1) His production numbers
    2) His return seemed to light a fuse for Tex in May
    3) The line up is plainly just more fearsome when he is in it. There is a huge difference in the intimidation factor when its A-Rod than when its Cody Ransom

    Argument for Aceves:
    Look what happened when he wasn’t in the bullpen this weekend :-(

    Hahaha, okay, y’all win. A-Rod is more valuable. Patrick the Prospect Hugger, thanks for those numbers.

    I just found it an interesting coincidence, that’s all!

    sab: Yeah, but Teixeira’s slumpin’ again.

    Doreen: Nah, the one guy I’m really after is Montero. I mean I love Aceves, but Montero is kind of trade-him-and-I’ll-move-to-Boston type of love.

  663. Boogie Down Bob

    I think everyone here should take advantage of the ASB and get away from baseball for a for a little bit.

    Joba is going to be fine. I admit that I myself was livid the other night at how he pitched, but Ive since calmed down.

    I believe in the kid. He has the talent, he has the ability, and I think it’d be foolish to trade him before he matures mentally and physically. Because once that happens, its gonna be an amazing sight to see.

  664. Giuseppe Franco

    Pat M….Section 211 July 13th, 2009 at 4:23 pm

    Mr. Franco, What gives you the belief that he’ll become that ??? Yes he has had a few games wher ehe was brillant, but for the most part he’s beem average at best….More importantly he’s going backwards, and it’s costing games now…….Great talent, does he have what it takes to bring it every 5th day ???? Right now it doesn’t looks so…..Franco, he looked real good in the 1st inning Friday nite…..Nice tempo, good balance, no shake offs….Then things started to unravel, and quickly…..I think he has the back nine of this season to prove many wrong, and there are whispers right now that maybe he’s not cut out to be a starter…..3 Scouts walked out Friday once he was yanked…It is what it is…..

    ————-

    But what gives you the belief that he can’t?

    The organization believes Joba can be an elite starting pitcher. They have a golden opportunity to develop a $100M arm and by all accounts the best young arm this organization has produced in decades.

    There is no way they are going to pull the plug on that after one season of struggles unless they really believe his body cannot handle the workload.

    Not a chance.

    Frankly, I don’t really care what some scouts think. You can get 100 different scouts saying 100 different things and none of them are always right.

    We heard much of the same fire and brimstone stuff regarding Hughes last season and after the Baltimore outing and now those people look like idiots because it didn’t take long for Hughes to turn things around.

    Say what you will but Joba is still 23 yrs old. It’s not an excuse – it’s a fact. There aren’t too many mature 23 yr old kids doing anything much less pitching in the major leagues.

    I could see them cover their tracks with Joba next season and make sure he earns it like they did with Hughes this season.

    But all the talk about Joba’s career as a starter basically being finished before it ever really started is just plain foolish.

    And don’t forget, there’s still the second half of 2009 to play. It’s a little early to throw dirt on Joba’s career in the rotation.

  665. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “One thing we did accomplish today.

    We have found where Joba’s missing velocity went.

    It went to Rebecca who has been bringin’ the heat the past few days!”

    Oops. Maybe I should give it back.

  666. Tom in N.J.

    Aceves has appeared in 22 games this season.

  667. Stultus Magnus

    Thought this was funny from Craig Calcaterra regarding Obama throwing out the first pitch to Pujols at the ASG:

    “[...]he had better be careful. Missouri is a swing state, and if he buries his pitch in the dirt and Pujols strains his back reaching for it, he’ll have no hope of carrying it in 2012.”

  668. JV

    No offense, but I hope Sterling comes up empty on this one. These days, listening to games on the radio is mostly unbearable experience. I wish he would dial it back to circa ‘96 when only the big or exciting games got the “thuuuh (etc.) Yankees win” call, etc. I wish him nothing but the best as a person, but I wish he would go away as a broadcaster.

  669. Giuseppe Franco

    Clark July 13th, 2009 at 4:30 pm

    Franco,

    While I agree with you that staying in the rotation is best for him to take his lumps now…. do you really think Cashman will keep him in there if he continues giving us these non-competitive 3-4 inning performances and taxing the pen?

    —————

    No organization gives up the opportunity to develop a $100M arm because he struggles in the first half of his first season as a starter.

    If anything, Joba will end up going down to Scranton to work things out in the rotation down there before he gets moved back to the pen.

    Cashman has said repeatedly that Joba is not even the same pitcher he was when he was in the pen before and his stuff right now wouldn’t translate well in that role.

  670. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “July 13th, 2009 at 4:36 pm

    Aceves has appeared in 22 games this season.”

    He was in AAA for the first month, so while still a small sample, a)He’s got about 45 innings pitched, I think, and b) the sample is that much more impressive when you realize you’re only working with two months and change.

  671. m

    I can live with being patient with Joba. But this is more than growing pains.

  672. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “Thought this was funny from Craig Calcaterra regarding Obama throwing out the first pitch to Pujols at the ASG:

    “[...]he had better be careful. Missouri is a swing state, and if he buries his pitch in the dirt and Pujols strains his back reaching for it, he’ll have no hope of carrying it in 2012.””

    Stranger things have happened, lmao

  673. SJ44

    I would love nothing better than to see Joba dial it up in the second half.

    Fact is, if he keeps pitching like this, they are going to have a difficult time making the playoffs.

    They need him to be better and I hope he is because if he is, the Yankees become an even more dangerous team.

  674. Stultus Magnus

    Stranger things have happened, lmao

    =================

    Especially in Missouri…

  675. sab

    sab: Yeah, but Teixeira’s slumpin’ again.

    Rebecca: true but aceves stunk the joint up on thursday and the yankees still won – with tex hitting a HR…bottom line i don’t really think it was one player that helped turn the season around – although I think halladay may be the player that finally puts them on top for good…

    have you ever read: The Count of Monte Cristo – i know its not in the time period that you are writing your paper on
    but I thought it was an excellent depiction of how life in the monarchy was like…among other things…

  676. tony

    sweet a new troll….

  677. Patrick the Prospect Hugger

    Real classy guy…

  678. Nick in SF

    It is high… it is far… it is… GONE!!!

    Gee, Officer Hinske, You’ve Done it Again!!!!!

  679. Wow.

    I hope you’re at work and Pete displays your company name, troll. Go away.

  680. Wow.

    I hope you’re at work and Pete displays your company name, troll. Go away.

  681. Uncle Ellsworth

    Mo’s Cutter!

  682. BillyJoBob

    “And that’s another ‘Tattoo You’ from Hinske”

  683. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “have you ever read: The Count of Monte Cristo – i know its not in the time period that you are writing your paper on
    but I thought it was an excellent depiction of how life in the monarchy was like…among other things…”

    I have, it’s one of my favorites. It’s not really applicable to the time period of my particuluar paper…

    The Englightenment class I took isn’t actually my normal period of study, but the class was very very interesting.

    But anything written by Dúmas is well worth the read!

  684. sab

    If SJ can get us halladay for joba, romine and ajax he’ll have my vote for yankee GM….he also got a sweet deal for his nephew so maybe he can work things in the yankees benefit…

  685. tony

    “Maybe you guys can add another 100 million in payroll this offseason……”

    I hope they do too!! but looking at the free agent market for next year I don’t think they will.

  686. Aaron

    A Pinch Hinske Home Run!!! (in a pinch hit appearance)

    Fore!!!!Teen goes deep again. Look out People!!!

    Idk. LOL.

  687. Uncle Ellsworth

    Rebecca – not sure its completely on point but it is a good one.
    C. V. Wedgwood. “Richelieu and the French Monarchy”

  688. Pat M....Section 211

    Mr. Franco, All I’m saying is does he have the mindset and commitment to being a starter…..Lately it’s come into question…Of course rolling him out every 5 days and pitching to his potential is what many want to see…..However, I’ve said this from the beginning, Phillip Hughes will have the more sucessful career…..No freak injuries that washed away more than half of his 1st two seasons were a major setback……His delivery is so smooth and so effortless……The Baltimore / Camden Yards game was the best thing that ever happened to him…..He learned from that, and that’s all you want from young players…..5 times in that game he had 0-2 / 1-2 counts, and eveyone of those hitters reached base….Since then he just attacks the strike zone and gets up on the count….No nibbling….Every pitch sets up the next…Joba doesn’t do this….

  689. pat

    “right now in the big leagues, there’s pujols and then there’s everyone else.” — mark teixeira.

  690. GreenBeret7

    Dennis, here is my response to you on receiving the photo in case you missed it. Again, thank you, Dennis and Amy.

    Wednesday night at 9:30 PM is a Ted Williams special on HBO. Great clips and video clips.

    July 13th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
    dennis-Costanza
    July 13th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
    GB7.

    Photo get delivered?

    Did you throw rocks at Fed-Ex? Amy read that to me and we had a great LOL.

    -dennis

    ————————————————————

    Hey, Dennis. Yes, but, it took 5 rocks. The idiots drove by 4 times, and the street only has 4 houses on it. I missed three times. I guess I’ve spent too much time watching Chamberlain’s masterful control.

    They delivered the photo 15 minutes ago. It’s already hung next to Mickey Mantle. My undying gratitude to Ms Amy and you for this beautiful photo. It looks great on the wall.

  691. Tom in N.J.

    Oooh, 18th c. Enlightement literature/print culture in the early modern era. Coffe shops, philosophes, broadsides, ect. France didn’t have a middle class, though. Which is one of the reasons the revolution collapsed on itself.

  692. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “July 13th, 2009 at 4:56 pm

    Rebecca – not sure its completely on point but it is a good one.
    C. V. Wedgwood. “Richelieu and the French Monarchy””

    Sounds familiar.

    Voltaire is great…am probably going to use Candide…but I think I’m also going to look at some other science/medicinal texts, maybe.

    pat: Well, it’s true.

  693. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “Oooh, 18th c. Enlightement literature/print culture in the early modern era. Coffe shops, philosophes, broadsides, ect. France didn’t have a middle class, though. Which is one of the reasons the revolution collapsed on itself.”

    You sure you weren’t in my class?

  694. sab

    France didn’t have a middle class, though..
    similar to Miami circa 2009…

  695. J

    I think Homer is right about A-rod. He is a joke and not a true yankee. He has no desire to win a championship for this organization, his only priority is to get paid and mess around with call girls. This team was better without him so why don’t the yankees get rid of him and replace him with a player who wants to win. And while I’m talking about cleaning house we should get rid of Brian Crashman, and trade Robinson Cano because he is nothing but a lazy, dumb player. He has been with this team since 2005 and is still inconsistent, compare him to dustin pedroia who doesn’t have the same amount of talent as cano but has heart and determination unlike cano, and pedroia is a winner like jeter is a winner. Cano is a loser.

  696. Uncle Ellsworth

    Voltaire is great…am probably going to use Candide…but I think I’m also going to look at some other science/medicinal texts, maybe.

    pat: Well, it’s true.

    How bout for kicks you compare the characters in Candide to Posters here?
    Who would Dr Pangloss be?

  697. Yank1

    “Maybe you guys can add another 100 million in payroll this offseason……”

    We will. We will extend Roy Halladay when we acquire him, sign Matt Holliday, and sign Chapman.

  698. Tank

    Why do people keep saying that we are 15 games over .500?

    We are 14 games over .500…

  699. Tarheelyank

    Well said Pat M.

  700. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Montero Fanaticus Primus

    “How bout for kicks you compare the characters in Candide to Posters here?
    Who would Dr Pangloss be?”

    My vote would probably be CB. Maybe SJ. Maybe even Nick in SF.

    I dunno who I’d be, though.

  701. miniB

    how about: hit high and far there it goes to deep right e.c.t. Eric Hinske hinks one out!

  702. betsy

    Uncle Ellsworth, AJ and and Doc are close – though I have no idea how often they speak. The thing is, I don’t think AJ or anyone is going to convince him that he wants to come to NY so bad that he’s willing to tell JP that he will only waive it for the Yankees. I’m not sure how much help AJ can be here – as long as Doc is willing to go to other teams (because he wants to win), there’s nothing he can do.

  703. dennis-Costanza

    GB7.

    I did miss that. Amy is talented but IMO more importantly she is a kind person. Like you, she is well read.

    Glad the blog made a good connection.

    Thanks for your help with my insomnia. It is a battle.

    -dennis

  704. Pat M....Section 211

    Rebecca, right now you’re hot….You’ve elevated your game to a career high, and actually I’m not surprised…Your decision to translate your bolg to the LoHud has been a delight and enlighting as well…….Tarheelyank, I’ve always felt that and when ever I suggeseted that opinion, a hrad rain fell…In the long run, Hughes will be the better pitcher…..Consistency on the mound yields sucess

  705. Russell NY

    “Me thinkski another dinger for Hinkse”

    Hahahahahahahaha

  706. J

    If Cashman was smart he would get rid of joba in a package for Halladay. Joba is overrated and arrogant and I always believed that Phil Hughes would be a better starter then joba even though
    Hughes faced some injuries. Hughes makeup reminds me of mike mussina.

  707. GreenBeret7

    dennis-Costanza
    July 13th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
    GB7.

    I did miss that. Amy is talented but IMO more importantly she is a kind person. Like you, she is well read.

    Glad the blog made a good connection.

    Thanks for your help with my insomnia. It is a battle.

    -dennis

    ————————————————————

    Amy must have a great and kind heart, some people only talk about taking in strays and making pets of them. She does it. It’s a comfort knowing that I can walk down the streets of Sabvannah and know that there’s one less set of feet hanging out on the sidewalk from a doorway. I’ll miss you not running up to the car with a spray bottle of water and dirty rag to wash my windshield.

    You’re correct, though…it’s really good knowing there’s a close connection from a silly sports board. I’m looking forward to getting together in the fall for lunch or dinner at your place of choice.

  708. Giuseppe Franco

    Pat M,

    One thing that differs from Hughes and Joba is that Hughes has already hit rock bottom with everything he went through last season and the game in Baltimore.

    Joba probably has to go through the same thing. He needs to hit rock bottom and we all should hope something clicks with him.

    Someone made the point earlier about Joba learning his lesson about not being in shape every time he takes the mound and isn’t able to do what he did last season.

    I think there are way too many amateur psychiatrists in here and nobody knows what’s going on in Joba’s head or what really goes on in that clubhouse when the media clears out.

    But I’ll say this; I don’t think there’s a chance in hell that the organization decides to scrap this idea that Joba can be a starting pitcher when he’s got the best arm this organization has produced in decades.

    It wouldn’t make any sense. They didn’t do it with Hughes and they won’t do it with Joba.

  709. Bob Shirley's Rubber Arm

    Holy Hinskes! (instead of Schnikes – Tommy Boy)

  710. Chambliss

    Joba is young. He is going to have many ups and downs. He spoiled us out of the gate with electric stuff out of the pen.

    He is still learning how to pitch. It takes a long time for most people to learn how to pitch in the majors. Look at Verlander. He had a few years of ups and downs. He lost 17 games last year and this year he is a Cy Young candidate. Verlander is 26.

    Joba may need more time to properly develop. He might need to go back down to the minors to work on the finer points associated with being a top starting pitcher. He was rushed to the big stage and looked like a kid who could handle the pressure and excel. Perhaps this was in fact not true.

  711. trisha - OPPC lifetime member

    “I enjoy both of your viewpoints but they are in no way similar.”

    Patrick, thank you for saying that.

    I don’t think it is a stretch to say that Rebecca is a much more beloved poster here and has certainly earned the right to have people feel that way. She is well thought out and articulate, she is fast on her feet, she is cetainly self assured, and she makes rational arguments and asks good questions.

    I thank the few people who have said they’ve appreciated my posts since I’ve come here. It didn’t take a lot for me to read the unwritten text beyond some of the “Oh no Rebecca, believe me, you and Trisha are NOTHING alike!” ;) (paraphrase) posts.

    I am sincere in my opinions, believe them to be sound despite anyone trying to tell me that he or she corners the market on the “real story”, and really need to maintain my integrity and say what I believe rather than go for the easy way out and have lots of friends here in the process. No question that I am not everyone’s cup of tea.

    That’s life.

  712. Jay

    The Hinskino

  713. Zac

    What a smasha, he hit that back to menasha!

  714. PreteFunkEra

    ******”In like Hin……Ske”******* <—-my favorite

    "Hinske-licious"

    "HELL – INSKE!"

  715. Mark

    I refuse to participate, as I am still bitter that Sterling never used the obvious Andy Phillips home run call of “Screwdriver!” or some variation on that. Instead it was something like “Fill her up Phillips,” which is slightly creepy. I gave up on him after that.

    I digress.

  716. too funny

    Trisha’s commenting cycle:

    make uninformed comment
    argue with people who disagree with uninformed comment
    screw cap back on the wine bottle and take a nap
    awaken and explain feelings about arguments with people who disagree with uninformed comments, including recurring acknowledgment that arguments about uninformed comments annoy other posters, couched in terms of intellectual independence

    the only winner here is Pete, who initially tried to run Trisha off but stopped when he realized that her arguments with people who disagree with her uninformed comments were padding his stats

  717. Dave N

    Hins-KE-LOBBERS one!!

    Hins-KE-RUSHES one!!

    Hins-KE-RACKS one over the wall!

  718. mike

    1. Yaba daba inski a three run shot for Eric Hinski and the Yankees take a 4-1 lead.

    2. The mall cop just hit one that just wont stop a grand slam for Eric Hinske and the Yankees lead 6-1

    3. the mall cop has a lot of pop as that one clears the wall

    4. Erik Hinski gives the ball a little spinski and that one is gone.

    ok pretty lame. As far as Halladay goes sense we are dreaming I would give them Joba,Melky and any three off the Scranton Roster or Any 6 off the Scranton roster.

  719. Mel

    “THE HINSKE HAMMER HAS STRUCK!”

  720. scott

    Hinkske sinks it.

  721. JeterJobafan

    Trisha: Mucho thanks for the article that included “IMHO Joba is the victim of bad Yankee coaching. AMEN.

    . . .He “should” come out firing his heat in the first two innings to get batters set up for it. I’m not talking the 93 mph fastball he is using lately. I’m talking the 97 mph stuff we all know he can throw.” . . . .
    ============================================

    Totally agree with the author’s first sentence. Reliever to Rotation & back again has been difficult on Joba, hope Hughes doesn’t have the same problem.

    OMG: I have said the same thing: throw the heat, hit 100, scare ‘em for two innings and maybe 1st batter in the 3rd and then throw his other 3 pitches. And I thought I was just being a Joba Homer. I am definitely saving this one for my Joba file.

    FINAL COMMENT: Joba fully deserves the same opportunities to develop his game as Phil was given over 07, 08 and part of 09. No offense, Betsy. Joba came up the end of his first year 2007 and blew everyone away. He was never, ever sent to the minors. On hindsight, I see where he should have been sent to AAA to re-hab after his return from DL last year. It seems as though Joba was pitching because there was a shortage of able pitchers. He should have rehabbed. Who knows how good he would be now.

    Another poster said that Joba was a good pitcher for two years. You just don’t forget how to pitch. And again there is a pitcher crunch. When does he get to go down to re-establish himself. It will be fantastic to have Joba and Phil (in no special order) pitching at the top of the rotation in the future. Can you say: Home Grown.

    Thanks for that blurb, Trisha. You have brightened my day and I can sign off a happy camper.

  722. Greg D

    Hinskie Hinskie Doo

  723. JeterJobafan

    J and too funny. Both of you take a double dose of chill pills. Or go pick the wings off insects, which ever works for the both of you.

    Franco and Chambliss: Thanks for your literate comments on Joba. This Homer appreciates it.

  724. Greg D

    Hinske just played the Stratavinsky

  725. JeterJobafan

    TarheelYank: Can you absolutely point to a written fact that Joba’s off season conditioning was not well handled by Joba and/or pitching staff. Prove it! I get so sick n tired of posters taking for fact something they might of read on the boards.

    Read my post above. JOBA DESERVES the SAME TIME THAT WAS GIVEN TO HUGHES TO RE-ESTABLISH HIMSELF. Go back and look at the time each has spent in the the Yankee system. It is not even.

    I have heard his interviews before. He is one of the articulate Yankee players. Nebraska U. My baseball system is not the same as before so I have not heard any of his interviews lately. When you are constantly hasseled for every step and miss step, wouldn’t you get angry once in a while. All competive players do at some time except Jeter. AJ’s comments earlier were not always the best. Early on Joba would say he stunk. Now he is defensive. AND he doesn’t even get a tiniest of fraction of salary that the other pitchers get. I bet Hughes makes a little more and I know some of the relievers(not including Mo who deserves every mill he gets)do. Who would not get frustrated in these situations, wouldn’t you?

    Dang it – remember his good games and attitude and just not the bad ones. 12 strike outs against Boston. No one else on the team has reached that number this year. Detroit, Cleveland, Boston/Beckett last year 1-0. He stopped the big slump this year by winning the first game to get out of that slump and pitched a decent enough game in that 9 game streak for the team to win. Etc.

    Be objective instead of objectionable. I hope your heels are blackened with tar for your “attitude”. Yes, I have been to the beaches of NC many a time so I know of what I speak.

    Go back and read SJ44 latest analysis. Franco’s good points. We are not all negative Yankee fans.

  726. Todd

    Preparation H!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  727. RockinDaBronx

    it’s a Beaut or a Blast by Mr. Beautiful.

  728. Alex

    - “Hammerin’ Hinske does it again!”

    - “And there it goes, Hinske sinks that one into the 2nd deck”

  729. Alex

    “And Big E Rocked that ball. It’s Rope off the Hinske Slope!”

  730. Alex

    “And Big E Rocked that ball. It’s a Rope off the Hinske Slope!”

  731. John

    A Homeski for Hinske

    A Homer for Hinske

    Hinske its a Homeski

    Hinske Holds the Key

    Eric Rocks One

    A Blastski for Hinske

    Hinske whips out the Hammer

    Hinske hits a Slamski

    A Slamski for Hinske

    Hinske Knows how to Swingski

    Eric gives the fans a Shot of Hinskey

    Eric with a Shot of Hinskey

  732. AW

    Hinske pounds it like Soda Popinski

  733. Danielle Simon

    For John Sterling: He’s done it again, the Hinse keyed in on another homer!!!

  734. Erica

    “Hammering Hinske *nailed* one over the wall…”…this may have been used? I didn’t read prior to posting it, but it was the first thing that popped in my head.

  735. brian d

    nothing hinky about THAT one: ANOTHER home run for eric hinske!!!

  736. Michael (in NYC)

    Hinske puts one in the Hin-sky!

  737. John Locke

    How exactly was I “owned” by Rebecca? I thank you, Rebecca, for doing the research but all this proves is I was correct.. With the exception of Andy, our other top 3 pitchers have better stats with someone other than Posada catching.

    But I didnt need stats to tell me this since I’ve seen every game. Sorry, someone had to tell it like it is. Posada should NOT be an everyday catcher. Period. Bottom line. End of subject. It doesn’t matter to me what he has done in the past or that he is a true Yankee. I think we can all agree, we just want to WIN! We need Posada’s bat in the lineup this year, but next year we need a change. You see what having a good, mobile 1st baseball has done for our infield this year.. Just imagine what a good catcher, who could actually catch and throw runners out, would do for our pitching staff.

  738. Maxypaxy

    How about no home run call? I think Sterling should concentrate on calling an accurate game. He is the absolute worst — I can’t even listen to him. You never know the score, the inning, who’s up at bat. How could we spend so much money on a team and have a broadcaster that belongs in AA Nebraska?

  739. Tim

    “Hinske Hammers one! A homer for Hinske!”

  740. ex-pitcher

    A long bombske for Hinske !

  741. ex-pitcher

    My biggest gripe against Sterling is when he calls foul balls. You don’t know when he says “that ball is popped up……… and it’s in the stands!” for about 20 seconds if it’s fair or in the stands!!!

  742. Dan

    Hinskiambino

  743. Arthur

    I see that this post is dated July 13th. Well…I just heard “HINSKE WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!” call from John Sterling. And I gotta say-this is the dumbest call I have ever heard.

Leave a Reply

Advertisement
Parade Photos
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)
More photos
About this blog
Thoughts and discussion on the 27-time World Champion Yankees.

LoHud's Yankees News Page

Subscribe
LoHud Yankees Podcast | Get iTunes

Get blog updates via email:

Twitter Updates
 
 
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
READ MORE ABOUT CHAD

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
READ MORE ABOUT SAM

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
READ MORE ABOUT JOSH

Advertise
Democracy


Ad
MLB Salaries
MLB SALARY DATABASE
Links
Other recent entries
Monthly Archives