The ultimate closer
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on Oct 30, 2009 
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Well-placed sources tell me that Metallica played the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame concert at Madison Square Garden tonight. How’d they finish? I’m told that the legendary band closed the show with “Enter Sandman” … while video clips of Mariano Rivera played in the background. Not bad.
On that note, I’m headed to bed. Back at it tomorrow with plenty of blogging as the World Series resumes. Check back all day for updates and then join us at night for the Game 3 thread(s).
Perfect.
Oh what crazy talk in the previous thread.
Inserting Matsui for defense! As if!
Pretty cool. Hope they didn’t throw in any Billy Wagner clips…
And with that… I’m off to Never-Never Land, with a big smile on my face =)
Oh how COOL!
re-post:
Before the season started, I predicted a scenario in which you would occasionally get Matsui in left, Damon in center, and Nady/Swisher in right, with the other at DH — when Wang pitched.
So wrong on so many levels.
I just finished watching a show on the 1984 Padres (MLB network) – really interesting. I love shows like this – they are like little history lessons. I ended up crying because two players from that team, Alan Wiggins and Eric Show, died a few years after that. It’s depressing to realize that time marches on and that the players we root for now will not be eternally young (darn reality intervening). On a positive note, it was nice to see that Dave Dravecky is doing well. They showed a clip of him breaking his arm – very painful to watch. Andy Hawkins was on that team, lol – he must work for the Rangers now because in his current interview, he was wearing their cap
rb October 30th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
The Yankees don’t have a great defensive outfield as it’s currently set up. You can’t weaken it by putting Damon in right and Matsui in left. Damon has no arm, and Matsui is unable to play the field. I mean, seriously, have you seen Matsui running the bases? What makes anyone think he should play LF.
Aside from that, the last thing that I would want to see in a World Series game is experimentation (2006 postseason, anyone?). You play the guys in the positions they are accustomed to playing. I remember an interview with Paul O’Neill when he talked about how different playing RF and LF are from each other. The ball tails differently off the bat. Now put a guy in a position they are unaccustomed to in a ballpark they have never played in. No thank you.
Put Swisher in right, put Hairston in right, put Melky in right, but please don’t put Damon in right.
rb October 30th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Damon in center is barely tolerable and should only be done if absolutely necessary. It sounds cold hearted, but I’m not worried about the health of Matsui’s knees. He is no longer a viable fielder.
Sam, Chad, Josh,
Make sure NOT TO FORGET FLASH POINTS
PLEASE
Hey do you guys remember a couple years ago when our 1B defense was so bad that there was talk of moving Matsui there… At least we don’t have that to worry about anymore right
For the record, I think the over/under on the number of innings in which Matsui will play in the outfield should be 0.5 and I would lean towards the under.
I hope the crowd left the arena singing along to “New York, New York”.
The MLB channel is predicting a Nick Swisher sighting in RF tommorow
Wiki
Eric Show, Pitcher, Padres (May 19, 1956 – March 16, 1994)
“After he was out of baseball, Show fell victim to drug abuse. He died of a heart attack after taking a speedball (i.e. injecting a mixture of cocaine and heroin) in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in the San Diego suburb of Dulzura.”
I can’t believe the Matsui to the OF has gotten this much consideration.
But then again I initially wrote off the Hughes to the BP talk.
And the CMW to the BP talk.
And the Joba back to the BP talk.
And the Molina will catch AJ in the playoffs talk.
Maybe I should stop assuming anything with this team.
CR9,
It was just a scheduling conflict last time – we’ll have it tomorrow. But do you want it because you love Flash’s insights or because you think it’s a good luck charm???????
All this “Matsui-in-the-field” talk is making me crave a good knee-draining at the ortho doc tomorrow morning.
Get me some ben-gay too!
Actually, as it’s currently set up, the Yankees’ defensive outfield is very decent.
Ian Kennedy pitched tonight in the AFL. His final line was: 4 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs (earned), 0 walks, 4 strike outs. ERA is 4.11. 69 pitches, 43 strikes, 26 balls, 4 ground outs, 4 fly outs.
No other Yankees played tonight so far.
Austin Romine hasn’t played in 2 weeks and was pulled out of the AFL by the Yanks. This is the only info that I can find.
“The New York Yankees recently pulled catcher Austin Romine from the Arizona Fall League due to a minor injury. Needing to add another catcher to the Surprise roster, the Yankees had the right of first refusal to send another one.When they declined, the Texas Rangers stepped up and sent Taylor Teagarden to the AFL as a replacement.” from – Jason Grey, reporting on ESPN (h/t RAB):
all these talk about pitching AJ and CC on short rest makes me realize.
Boy do we miss a healthy Chien Ming Wang or what.
he might not be the shutdown ace, but boy can he give us innings and flexibility in the rotation.
Some books in Vegas refuse to post lines until the Flash Points go up here.
I don’t want to get shut out again.
We need our Flash Points!!!
Pretty cool that metallica did that. If tonight is even half as good as last night’s show was, they are in for quite a treat. This time last night Springsteen was just taking the stage
20 hours and 21 minutes until Game 3!!!!!
Betsy
October 30th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
I just finished watching a show on the 1984 Padres (MLB network) – really interesting. I love shows like this – they are like little history lessons. I ended up crying because two players from that team, Alan Wiggins and Eric Show, died a few years after that. It’s depressing to realize that time marches on and that the players we root for now will not be eternally young (darn reality intervening). On a positive note, it was nice to see that Dave Dravecky is doing well. They showed a clip of him breaking his arm – very painful to watch. Andy Hawkins was on that team, lol – he must work for the Rangers now because in his current interview, he was wearing their cap
————————————————————
dave Dravecky was a pretty good pitcher. He just didn’t have the good fortune to complete it. his arm broke after having his deltoid muscle in his left arm removed because of cancer. He came back and somehow pitched two great games until the arm broke because of weakness. The cancer returned and he had the left arm removed at the shoulder. He’s written two books, called “Comeback” and “when You Can’t Come Back”. He also wrote a third Christian motivational book called “Called up”. The first two books are very interesting books. In some ways, it a combination of Gayle Sayers and Brian Piccalo.
Former Tier Season Ticket Holder
October 30th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
I hope the crowd left the arena singing along to “New York, New York”.
*******
Without a doubt, my favorite part of attending a Yankee game
I have been playing it at home on my computer after Yankee wins all postseason
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10.....ref=sports
Interesting article…….I really think AJ’s health issues are in the past and he can be a workhorse for us. I also expect him to have a better year next year.
Betsy
wasn’t Dravecky the pitcher who lost his arm and shoulder to cancer?
This Yahoo blog entry just had to be shared for the photo alone
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/bl.....ng-content
Photo evidence of a claim I made a few nights ago was requested:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9.....059439706/
Check out Pete Abe’s new twitter post if you want to see how low he has sunk in taking out his personal vendetta against AROD.
http://twitter.com/PeteAbe
GB, thanks for the info. Ian’s ERA is rather high, but I believe that’s a hitter’s league, correct?
I hope Romine is ok……I really like him.
GB, yep – the show covered that part of Dravecky’s career. He’d made an amazing comeback, only to have it cut short. However, he looks like he’s in good health, so it all ended up pretty well. Brian’s Song is one of my favorite movies (ok, I know it’s a tv movie) of all time, but I’ve never actually read I am Third, which is Gale Sayers’ book and what Brian’s Song is based on. Dravecky seems like a really good guy. I also found it funny how many of those Padres ended up with the Giants……
Paul, that’s him.
I’ve no interest in Pete anymore. I never cared for his Alex comments when he was here and I don’t care for them as he tries to instigate Sox fans. Seems rather sad to be, but whatever floats his boat.
Sam Borden, While I like Flash as a guy (partly because of his avid dislike for that umpire this year that got hurt and he did not care one bit that the ump got hurt) and do not mind his analysis…. I am not going to answer that question
Just MAKE SURE they are up there, even if you have a scheduling conflict of meeting Barack Obama or Adriana Lima. To steal a line from that bum Francesa, “Just get it done.”
I do not understand one thing with some posters on this blog. How can you miss a Yankees World Series or playoff game for a concert, a wedding, a whatever. I might understand a funeral, but there is always time to mourn later. This is the Yankees. This is the World Series. I’d skip my own wedding if it came to it. But I make sure to keep May, June, October and January/early Feb. completely free so there are no sporting conflicts. Maybe it’s just me.
Why didn’t they show Billy Wagner clips in the background?
I kid, I kid.
The way Pete obsesses over A-Rod, I’m pretty sure he has a crush on him. He’s probably working on getting some copies of that “A-Rod as Centaur” pictures for his personal collection.
And what’s with Pete’s latest obsession, Mr. Steinbrenner? Was he more upset that he couldn’t catch a glimpse of the man, or that he was trapped in a crowded stairwell? I’m sure it must have been a real tight fit for him in there…
Nick in SF in Larkspur
October 30th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Photo evidence of a claim I made a few nights ago was requested:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9…..059439706/
******
WDNHFD???
Hey, if I could commission a portrait of myself as a centaur, I’d certainly do it.
“I’m sure it must have been a real tight fit for him in there…”
And with no Mickey D cheeseburgers to quell the appetite. Must have been rough, those 5 minutes.
That night I had a Double-Double, of course.
Billy who?
Centaur self-portrait?
Hmmmm, I think I would rather commission a portrait of me eating a bowl of Yuke Jang with Grace Park.
Nick in SF in Larkspur
October 30th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
That night I had a Double-Double, of course.
*****
with or without onions?
No onions.
Double-Double portrait would be sweet too.
Hey! Aretha Franklin sang New York, New York at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame show tonight
http://www.usatoday.com/life/m.....htm?csp=34
Anybody on here watch the TV show Monk? If so, anybody have a thought as to who killed Trudy?
19 hours and 57 minutes until Game 3!!!!!!
With the cast of Glee performing pre-game.. YAY!!!!
Betsy
October 30th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
GB, thanks for the info. Ian’s ERA is rather high, but I believe that’s a hitter’s league, correct?
I hope Romine is ok……I really like him.
GB, yep – the show covered that part of Dravecky’s career. He’d made an amazing comeback, only to have it cut short. However, he looks like he’s in good health, so it all ended up pretty well. Brian’s Song is one of my favorite movies (ok, I know it’s a tv movie) of all time, but I’ve never actually read I am Third, which is Gale Sayers’ book and what Brian’s Song is based on. Dravecky seems like a really good guy. I also found it funny how many of those Padres ended up with the Giants……
————————————————————
That was actually the 2nd time that Dravecky broke his arm while throwing a pitch. In fact, the first time is how they discovered the cancer the first time. Yeah, he;s a very religous guy. He makes Pettitte look like the anti-Christ.
Never was sure what the deal was with all of the trades between San Diego and San Francisco.
“Brian’s Song was an outstanding movie, especially for a sports movie. Sayers was the super star and Piccalo was the undersized over achiever. They were the first two black and white room mates in sports. There was a very good book written about Piccalo by Jeanne Morris, wife of the Chicago Bears wide receiver/halfback, Johnny Morris who was a team mate of sayers and Piccalo. The book is called “The short Season”. It’s recommended reading.
Anyway, I am still recovering from the late night last night. Its been a while since I was up past 4am….
Good night Yankee people!!!!!!!!
Erica, I know the reasons for the countdown, and I truly applaud and appreciate your commitment and effort.
I just see a headline on another site that made me laugh.
“Pedro pitched well,but the Yankees are still his daddy!”
Thanks CR9
I am really off to bed now… good night!
GB, I have heard of that book. I will go to the library and check it out – the more I can read about Sayers and Piccolo, the better. It’s an amazingly inspiring story.
And like that, she was gone.
No need to even say good night… it’s too late.
Nick, I can see it now. An oil canvas of Grace Park and yourself enjoying fine Korean delicacies…and watching Lost.
I know you’d be the high bidder at that Sotheby’s auction.
I have to bid on it after I commissioned it???
What a cruel, cruel world.
We could get Trisha to do it pro-bono???
What is all the fixation on Pete.Remember this from a wise person,when dealing with people.
When people show you who they are,believe them the first time,you save yourself a lot of problems!!
How many times does Pete need to show you who he is,before you believe?
Zach, are you talking about the portrait or the lawsuit??
Anyway, I said Grace Park, not Jose Molina.
AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!
Too good!
The Piccolo family was originally from Yonkers, NY
I caught some of baseball tonight, tonight … and they said that Matsui played in the field for 23 games THIS season.. How do these people get jobs?
Betsy
October 31st, 2009 at 12:08 am
GB, I have heard of that book. I will go to the library and check it out – the more I can read about Sayers and Piccolo, the better. It’s an amazingly inspiring story.
————————————————————
Betsy, you’ll enjoy Jeanne Morris’ book. You’d like both of Dave Dravecky’s books, too.
Did you see the original “Brian’s Song” with James Caan, Billy Dee Williams and Shelley Fabares as Joy Piccalo, or the Walt Disney remake?
Pete A. is almost crazy obsessed with A-rod, the guy needs help.
Nick,
Nice! And the date was the 27th, too. Double-double.
http://photos.tmz.com/gallerie.....umes#55068
this is too funny.
this guy in the pic looks like the skinnier Pete Abe, about 100-200 pounds lighter.
I wonder if Alex knows how much control over people he has? If you truly don’t care about someone one way or the other you are indifferent. You don’t spend time worried about making them the butt of jokes.
When you spend your time hating on or constantly judging someone, whoever they are, you look pathetic (in my eyes). Maybe others see it differently.
“We could get Trisha to do it pro-bono???”
until she found out that Posada was a Sonny fan, and then she’d be pro-Cher.
Who the heck is Dan Rosenheck? I found this on the Bats blog and was blown away.
He’s second-guessing a WIN. Says Girardi failed because he started Jose & Jerry.
Okay, Jose I’ll give him. Because he at least has a leg to stand on there. (Even though he had to give Jose some weak back-handed compliments implying that any catcher can make that snap throw to first)
But seriously? Saying it was a mistake to sit Swisher for a warm body whose OBP is X number of points lower? Even though Swisher is pressing and not doing anyone any good? Even though the “scrub” actually got on base and was pinch-run for the insurance run? You know, actually contributed to the win?
And then he calls Swisher an all-star caliber player. Huh?
The crux of his argument? The game shouldn’t have been so close. (!) How ridiculous is that? By and large Girardi got thumbs up for pushing the right buttons, but it wasn’t good enough for this guy.
They won the game, with contributions from Jose, Jerry, AND Jorge. And it was good enough to tie up the series.
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/.....old-myths/
lil more than 6+ hours till the North London Derby!!!!! Come on you Gunners!!!! Then we got game 3 of the WS, Come on you Bombers!!! who cares about Halloween!!
m,
I actually like most of that guys stuff. But that article is not one of his best. Its easy to say go with the projected averages over a long period of time. But that is not necessarily the best of strategy when your opportunities are limited such as in a best of seven series.
However he has had some good articles about Saunders, CC, and Papelbon during the course of the playoffs in the Bats NYT blog. Check it out.
Alex,
Thanks for the recommendation. Did a quick search, and a lot of his stuff looks like it’s second-guessing with a critical eye. (I guess by definition, that’s what analysis is!)
But I will keep an open mind, and keep an eye out for his stuff in the future.
Great show last night. Metallica rocked. Ozzie came out and did a couple of songs with them.
U2 closed out the show with Bruce and then Mick Jagger on guest vocals.
It will all be on HBO in a month.
Video from the concert with the Mo montage
http://s1001.photobucket.com/a.....010077.flv
Metallica rocked
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