The LoHud Yankees Blog

A New York Yankees blog by Chad Jennings and the staff of The Journal News


Hamels and his changeup

Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Oct 31, 2009 Print This Post Print This Post | Email This Post Email This Post

This is what the Yankees are up against tonight. Cole Hamels doesn’t have an especially good curveball, and his fastball seems to have slipped a bit from the years I saw him in Scranton, but his changeup remains a plus-plus pitch. He has to locate his fastball and mix in some curveballs, but it’s the change that makes him a front-line starter.

“Everybody is geared up to hit the fastball in the big leagues,” Hamels said. “If you can throw a changeup in there, it screws them up. But at the same point, if a guy gets two strikes, I guess the home run swing gets put in the back of their mind and they just try to get the ball in play. It’s not necessarily an advantage for me now because they do know what I’m going to throw most of the time when I have a strikeout count.”

When Hamels faced the Yankees earlier this season, he went six innings, allowing two runs on eight hits. He struck out five and walked none, but that was all the way back in May. He hasn’t had a very good postseason – and his regular season wasn’t nearly as good as last year — but he’s tricky because he throws offspeed so often.

“If you try to pitch to them more than what it took you to get to the big leagues, you’re going to be in a not comfortable spot,” Hamels said. “I look for certain places I might be able to throw a guy in a certain situation, but really, deep down, I just kind of have to believe that my stuff is pretty good. It’s got me some success in the big leagues, so I might as well stick to it.”

 
 

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115 Responses to “Hamels and his changeup”

  1. Wait till the World Series October 31st, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    And he should have allowed three runs, except Ibanez made an absolutely sensational throw to nail Damon at the plate.

    Alas, just one of those games.

  2. JMK aka The Overshare October 31st, 2009 at 12:37 pm

    Hamels needs to get pounded

  3. jennifer October 31st, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    Yeah Phillies are so blue collar.

    Howard makes 15 million a year.
    Lidge 11.5 million
    Meyers 12
    Utley 11

    Yep keep trumpeting blue collar. It is like they are playing for free!! Those are paltry salaries! How do they get by?

  4. CR9 October 31st, 2009 at 12:39 pm

    REPOST

    Abda
    Without a doubt, the NFL replay has helped. There are at least 2 bad or questionable calls a game. Some of the referees will explain their decision in detail, and others will be lazy and say the “call is confirmed” rather than say “there is no conclusive evidence.”

    Forget about the media, baseball would be greatly helped by replay (strike zones machines too). That would take the umpire element (the Angel Hernandezes, Tim McClellands) out of cheating the Yankees.

    Putting aside the Yankees, there are bad calls every single game. There is no accountability for these umpires, they walk around like their **** dont stink, when in reality, all they are is the ****. That’s why they dont smell the stench. The quote the other night was unbelievable (maybe they did not get the same replay Fox showed all blown up) in which they said they got the Damon DP call correct. The only thing I’d be worried about is them still getting the calls wrong with replay.

  5. Wait till the World Series October 31st, 2009 at 12:39 pm

    JMK-Aren’t you an RAB regular?

    I really am starting to hate these guys (Phillies, not RAB regulars).

  6. Azaz October 31st, 2009 at 12:41 pm

    BETSY ur opinion is invalid. You are the dumbest poster on this blog. How can someone watch so many games and still not have any aspect of a sports iq. Your telling us you have lost faith in this offense because CLIFF LEE dominated them really? I mean they did just put up like 9 on the angels. Its the playoffs team struggle with the bat. You need to stop worrying for once and get a life. Trust me the game will be a better watch. U are obsessed with aj and phil and say some of the dumbest things ever and act as if you know aj’s emotions or anything about him. Get a grip.

  7. upstate kate October 31st, 2009 at 12:43 pm

    Rebecca
    that is a great Halloween outfit! Where did you find the Got Pie Tshirt? I saw some fans wearing them at the last game (on TV) It sums up this season.
    We were at the CC/Hamels game (our annual trip to YS). Melky tied the game and the Yankees had a chance to score in the 9th and 10th. We were on the 3rd base side, waiting for pie…and then Tomko came in. Oh well, still a great game.

  8. eric October 31st, 2009 at 12:44 pm

    What are the odds the game gets played?

  9. upstate kate October 31st, 2009 at 12:47 pm

    I thought “Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia”

  10. m October 31st, 2009 at 12:53 pm

    I was all in an uproar last night over this Rosenheck person. He was second guessing a win because he thought we could’ve won by more (though he never mentions that Jeter helped take away the opportunity for a big inning).

    I don’t see how started a Swisher who’s on life support would’ve helped the cause.

    Anyway, I went back after I ranted here and read the comments section. With the exception of like 4 people, they roundly jeered his “analysis”. They have some thoughtful, intelligent posters over there. And they don’t call each other names. I couldn’t believe such a world existed!

    http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/…..old-myths/

    If I were Girardi, I’d go with Swisher and bring in Hairston later. He’s a bit more flexible, and there will be the inevitable substitutions in a NL park.

  11. pat October 31st, 2009 at 1:04 pm

    I think the Yanks may need a Tex message today. Mark does like to sit on the occasional change up and send it many feet.

    Hamel’s change-up has baffled Alex in every AB he has against him so if he can find his stroke today, it will be a pleasant surprise to me.

  12. vin October 31st, 2009 at 1:05 pm

    I think Swisher starts today. Having Hairston come off the bench will be more useful in the later innings than Swish. Especially considering Matsui and Hinske would be the first two PH off the bench anyway.

    And, of course, Swiser hits much better on the road. The book is that Hamels’ breaking ball hasn’t been good – which definitely plays into Swisher’s strengths.

  13. Mike R. - Retire 21 October 31st, 2009 at 1:06 pm

    his fastball seems to have slipped a bit from the years I saw him in Scranton, but his changeup remains a plus-plus pitch.

    Cole Hamels is a LH starting version of Edwar Ramirez.

  14. bodhisattva - Destiny Wears Pinstripes October 31st, 2009 at 1:11 pm

    C’mon, Mike R, Hamels’ change isn’t THAT good :D

  15. vin October 31st, 2009 at 1:22 pm

    “Cole Hamels is a LH starting version of Edwar Ramirez.”

    LOL… yeah, I wouldn’t go THAT far.

    My guess is that he’ll be a handful tonight.

    He struck out as many guys per 9 innings as he did last year.
    Walked as many per 9 as he did last year.

    But he gave up 2 more hits per 9 than ’08. His BAbip was .060 point higher than last year. That could mean he was really lucky last year, and really unlucky this year. Or maybe something is wrong this year.

    I’m guessing his down year has more to do with being unlucky a year after being really lucky. His peripherals are about the same, including his HR/9, which is a good sign for him.

  16. DB October 31st, 2009 at 1:28 pm

    Except, Edwar can’t throw a curveball at all and his fastball is straight as an arrow. There is a reason why Edwar spent most of the season in triple A and wasn’t picked up when he was designated.

    Respect Cole Hamels and what he can do. Talk garbage after we whip him.

  17. Abdababdaserser October 31st, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    CR9, to make it fair then, all the games should just be played by computer, this way you have your perfect machines deciding who wins and who loses.

    Automated strike zones means the advantage goes big time to the batters. You have removed a large part of the tools that pitchers and catchers use.

    Replay will remove a lot of the game. The problem resides more with the umpires than anything else.

    As to football, it has only lead to things getting more technical, additional rules coming in, and there are still blown calls. Replay does more for TV than it does for the integrity of the game. While football remains popular, its popularity in TV viewership has dropped from past years. It will continue to do so as calls become more technically oriented due to rules added to clarify replay events.

  18. CR9 October 31st, 2009 at 1:33 pm

    “CR9, see, you have already bought into the hype the media has sold you.”

    Abda
    I have not bought into anything the media has sold, believe me. I have grown tired over the years watching the same garbage from the umpires. They play by their own set of rules. It is a joke. Maybe the strike zone machines is a little too far, but in terms of strike zone, a strike zone is defined by the rule book. Batters should not have to adjust each game to a different strike zone. That is absurd. Especially when in some of a lot of games, one team has a disadvantageous strike zone and the other team has an advantageous.

    For every other call beside strike zone calls, they should have it set up like the NHL, where they phone Toronto and the people in Toronto (that view all the games as they happen) render the decision, and usually quickly.

    An interesting note, there is a rule that states that a player may not block another player from reaching that base, yet umpires in their infinite wisdom, allow catchers to block home plate. Aside from the fact that it puts the Yankees at a disadvantage (because Jorge refuses to block home plate), the umpires make up their own set of rules. Travesty.

  19. CR9 October 31st, 2009 at 1:36 pm

    Correction:
    Some or a lot of games.

  20. Erica - always OPPC October 31st, 2009 at 1:37 pm

    6 hours and 23 minutes until Game 3!!!!!!!!

  21. Nick D. October 31st, 2009 at 1:38 pm

    I have a great AL line up vs. NL pitcher feeling about tonight.

    Lets go Yanks!

  22. kill phil October 31st, 2009 at 1:48 pm

    Cannot believe Yanks willing to take out their best clutch hitter Matsui. Defensively, whats the worst that can happen? he botches two fly balls? The Yankees need offense

  23. roger(live from Amsterdam) October 31st, 2009 at 1:51 pm

    Why o Why are all these games at 1am here in Europe….even these weekend games

  24. DB October 31st, 2009 at 1:54 pm

    kill phil, if he botches two balls in the game that score even one run and the yanks lose by a run, then what? If he doesn’t start and the Yanks lose by a run, no one is going to blame him for not starting Matsui. The guy can barely make it to first, I don’t want him in the outfield where I have to hold my breath every time a ball is hit near him.

    There’ll be a time to pinch hit for him. When the time comes, he will be replaced by Gardner on the basepaths or in the field. Girardi has been doing that all year.

  25. bodhisattva - Destiny Wears Pinstripes October 31st, 2009 at 1:56 pm

    DB
    October 31st, 2009 at 1:28 pm
    Except, Edwar can’t throw a curveball at all and his fastball is straight as an arrow. There is a reason why Edwar spent most of the season in triple A and wasn’t picked up when he was designated.
    Respect Cole Hamels and what he can do. Talk garbage after we whip him.
    ====

    I think that was said in jest, friend.

  26. DB October 31st, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    Whats up Roger?

    Baseball in all their infinite wisdom decided that an 8 O’Clock EST start would benefit both sides of the country. Of course, that means 5 hours later for you.

    I’m suprised you like baseball. Isn’t it just a version of rounders, your kids game? ;)

  27. bodhisattva - Destiny Wears Pinstripes October 31st, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    I have a great AL line up vs. NL pitcher feeling about tonight.
    =====

    That’s what I’m talkin’ about!

  28. Tom in N.J. October 31st, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    I’m noticing some teams are announcing managerial hires, players getting resigned and GM’s that are hired. I thought the mlb frowned upon teams and or players making these moves during the world series. Or is that only when Alex does it?

  29. Get it right please! October 31st, 2009 at 2:00 pm

    Roger
    You ask why,because MLB is joined to the hip with fox,ratings and money.Heaven forbid it dares try to move out of primetime NFL/College foot ball/hockey/basketball.
    THE BASEBALL FINALE,isn’t important to them!!

  30. DB October 31st, 2009 at 2:00 pm

    Bodhi, yeah I know. However, I always felt jokes have a measure of what the teller believes true. I’m a little superstitious and don’t want any jinxes coming in to play.

  31. bodhisattva - Destiny Wears Pinstripes October 31st, 2009 at 2:00 pm

    You have to understand, Tom, Alex is a centaur, and there are always different rules for centaurs.

  32. Nick in SF October 31st, 2009 at 2:01 pm

    roger, old chap, this would be the perfect time to leave the ‘coffee’ shops behind and take a holiday in merry olde England…games start at midnight there…much more civilized…

  33. Scared of the Wall October 31st, 2009 at 2:04 pm

    Tom in N.J. October 31st, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    I’m noticing some teams are announcing managerial hires, players getting resigned and GM’s that are hired. I thought the mlb frowned upon teams and or players making these moves during the world series. Or is that only when Alex does it?
    ____________________________________________________

    I think it was frowned on because it was announced during the game. Although I can’t imagine that the Astros announcing Brad Mills as their new manager during a game would cause the same amount of uproar as Alex opting out.

    In retrospect, the Alex opt out announced during the World Series doesn’t bother me as much as it did at the time. It was the most entertaining thing to happen in a boring World Series. And it took attention away from the Red Sox! ;)

  34. Get it right please! October 31st, 2009 at 2:04 pm

    Matsui doesn’t play in the field anymore.Not with his bad knees,how stupid do you have to be to not know this?

  35. roger(live from Amsterdam) October 31st, 2009 at 2:06 pm

    DB,rounders??What’s that?!

    But a kids game?You mean those dutch kids won against the dominican..?haha..

    But no it’s not a kids game.It’s just not populair…It’s all about soccer over here.But i like soccer as well.But that’s a game you guys see as a kids game right..?

  36. bodhisattva - Destiny Wears Pinstripes October 31st, 2009 at 2:06 pm

    I understand. I have a slew of things I must do and things I must avoid to ensure a positive outcome.

    For instance, it is remarkable how the offense is impacted depending on which side of the room I sit on, and we have determined it is not safe to sit on the first base side for home games – it must always be the third. (We have tickets in different locations for each game).

    You might argue, with a certain degree of merit, that Cliff Lee’s mastery had more to do with the outcome of Game 1 than my Stadium location, but I will never be entirely convinced that had we just sat to the left of the plate……instead of the right……

  37. Azaz October 31st, 2009 at 2:06 pm

    Can anyone tell me if the stadium is going to be open tonight i know it will be open tomorrow.

  38. Cindy G October 31st, 2009 at 2:07 pm

    Clocks change in the U.S. tonight, right? That makes the starts 2 am in Europe. Even worse!

  39. raymagnetic October 31st, 2009 at 2:08 pm

    “But he gave up 2 more hits per 9 than ‘08. His BAbip was .060 point higher than last year. That could mean he was really lucky last year, and really unlucky this year. Or maybe something is wrong this year.”

    Could also mean that his stuff last year was better than it is this year.

    Not all BABIP’s are alike and sometimes, alot of times, luck has nothing to do with it.

  40. CR9 October 31st, 2009 at 2:08 pm

    “But i like soccer as well.But that’s a game you guys see as a kids game right..?”

    roger
    Not a chance. Watching the Man U game right now. Liverpool just lost again at Fulham. Do you think that Liverpool has a real chance of not advancing out of the group stages of the CL?

  41. roger(live from Amsterdam) October 31st, 2009 at 2:09 pm

    Nick

    Leave the coffeshops to drink tea in England..no thanks haha

  42. kd October 31st, 2009 at 2:09 pm

    im going to philly tonight, is there anywhere yankee fans are hanging before the game…. gonna be a hostile environment…

  43. roger(live from Amsterdam) October 31st, 2009 at 2:12 pm

    CR9

    Don’t like Liverpool.There all albout playing defence.I like Arsenal.There’s some guy named van Persie who’s pretty good haha

  44. bodhisattva - Destiny Wears Pinstripes October 31st, 2009 at 2:13 pm

    kd,

    Watch your back. I’m not exaggerating when I say these Philadelphia sports fans are humorless, dim-witted, lacking all sense of human ironies, and some of them, even disturbed.

    I have seen people seriously hurt down there for doing nothing but wearing enemy colors. I hope you have a posse with you.

  45. Nick in SF October 31st, 2009 at 2:13 pm

    Ok, roger, forget England and its tea time and dead Princess fetish, but why not sip fin Islay whiskies in Scotland and enjoy and earlier game time. Easyjey from Amsterdam to Glasgow, could it be any easier?

  46. Get it right please! October 31st, 2009 at 2:13 pm

    kd
    expect a grsssy cheesesteak …wink wink dropped on your head!! Philly fans as bad as Toronto’s and sawx(heathens!)

  47. CR9 October 31st, 2009 at 2:14 pm

    roger
    haha. Then you must love VDS!

  48. Cindy G October 31st, 2009 at 2:14 pm

    Roger–Are you Dutch or an expat? Do you have a TV sports feed?

  49. Patrick October 31st, 2009 at 2:14 pm

    Happy Halloween lohud, hopefully swisher is dressed up as someone who can hit tonight.

  50. kd October 31st, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    that’s great… i thought the baseball crowd was a little mor ehuman then the football crowd down there. guess i will stay at the hotel right up till game time. should be a lot of yankee fans?

  51. Nick in SF October 31st, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    kd, watching Cal vs ASU at 3:30 EDT????

  52. Cindy G October 31st, 2009 at 2:16 pm

    …hopefully swisher is dressed up as someone who can hit tonight.

    LOL

  53. William Buckner October 31st, 2009 at 2:16 pm

    “Don’t like Liverpool.There all albout playing defence.I like Arsenal.There’s some guy named van Persie who’s pretty good haha”

    They’re playing without Girard and Johnson and ended up playing down two men today. Torres is all they’ve got.

    Good news out of that game for US is Clint Dempsey scored for Fulham.

  54. kd October 31st, 2009 at 2:18 pm

    im bringing law enforcement grade pepper spray.. anybody starts with me they get sprayed….

  55. raymagnetic October 31st, 2009 at 2:18 pm

    Swisher hasn’t worn that costume in years Patrick.

    He’s a .250 hitter who walks alot. Or like I like to call him, he’s the latter years Jason Giambi who can actually play a position.

  56. Cindy G October 31st, 2009 at 2:19 pm

    Nick–Are you a CAL alum? My son went there for a year and was heavily involved in the first “Kill the Tree” incident during the Stanford game.

  57. Doreen October 31st, 2009 at 2:19 pm

    Philadelphia fans are a different breed altogether. My husband and I went to the Eagles/Patriots superbowl a couple of years ago, and had no preference of team to cheer for – we were simply enjoying the great good fortune we had to be there, and I was really more interested in Paul McCartney at halftime.

    However, we simply could NOT cheer for the Eagles because their fans disturbed us so. These were possessed people, you understand? And rude. And obnoxious. They went far beyond the realm of what fandome should encompass. Crazy is one thing; deranged, another! :lol:

  58. CR9 October 31st, 2009 at 2:20 pm

    I believe the Red Sox are now associated with or will be soon in the future associated with Fulham. They are trying to get their grubby hands on another sport. They want Fulham to travel to play an EPL game, I believe, at Fenway Field.

  59. roger(live from Amsterdam) October 31st, 2009 at 2:20 pm

    Nick

    I’ve been in Scotland once…And it rained every single day

  60. kd October 31st, 2009 at 2:21 pm

    I cant see not wearing my jersey and hat… whatever, whats wrong with these people? it cant be worse then being at fenway for yanks/sox?

  61. bodhisattva - Destiny Wears Pinstripes October 31st, 2009 at 2:22 pm

    kd,

    Unfortunately, it’s the same people.

    The hotel should be safe. They have that sort of international air about them.

    That’s really the difference between NY and other cities – Philadelphia being the worst example of provincialism.

    I would say that in Toronto and Boston, you have more variety among the fanbase. Yeah, at Fenway, you have, in large numbers, the group that Foulke famously annointed “Johnny Burger King” on his way out of Boston, but you also have the completely annoying, but benign 14 year old girls who wear Ellsbury jerseys, swipe their parents’ credit cards and parade around Newbury Street, plus the sort of academic Sox fan who still relates more to Hamlet’s dilemma than the success of 2004.

    Philly has this sort of neanderthal type nearly across the board…& don’t make the mistake of trying to pull the “global” Yankee fans who is civil and appreciates the game’s history….it will not gain you any quarter with these people…don’t get ensnared with these characters…stay discreet, and pull inwardly for the good guys..

    I mean it.

  62. Get it right please! October 31st, 2009 at 2:23 pm

    kd
    if you are in to mob beatings,spray just one of the fools,and your family will see your toe tag.Tell them what color polish you have on your left big toe,they’ll know it’s you.

  63. Cindy G October 31st, 2009 at 2:23 pm

    Didn’t/ doesn’t Philly have the only NFL stadium with an actual court and judge to prosecute offenders?

  64. pat October 31st, 2009 at 2:23 pm

    “For instance, it is remarkable how the offense is impacted depending on which side of the room I sit on”

    That has nothing to do with it. My daughter has “scientifically” figured out that the Yankees win when I wear a white shirt to watch the game when they are home and a grey shirt when they are away.

    I apologize for all the Saturday afternoon games they lost this summer because I was wearing a bathing suit at the time but they got to 103 wins without me and I look better with a tan. :wink:

  65. vin October 31st, 2009 at 2:24 pm

    “Could also mean that his stuff last year was better than it is this year.

    Not all BABIP’s are alike and sometimes, alot of times, luck has nothing to do with it.”

    For most pitchers, I would agree with you. But Lee’s peripheral stats (so/9, bb/9, hr/9) are so similar to last year’s that it leads me to believe his stuff is comparable to where it was in ’08.

    Hope I’m wrong, though. We could all use a nice 8-0 drubbing.

  66. roger(live from Amsterdam) October 31st, 2009 at 2:24 pm

    Cindy

    yes I’m dutch.There Yankee fans all over the world…Just not a lot in the Netherlands haha

    I watch these games on espn America

  67. Get it right please! October 31st, 2009 at 2:24 pm

    kd
    don’t go to the bathroom by yourself,they will jack you up there too!!

  68. CR9 October 31st, 2009 at 2:25 pm

    Anybody remember when Bill Simmons decided to jump on the bandwagon of the Patriots, Red Sox, Celts…

    Sorry, wrong teams.

    He decided he was going to pick an EPL team few years ago. He went with Tottenham. Only a few months after he made that statement, he had already forgotten about Tottenham. Now, he will actually have a team to piggyback on, that is if Fulham actually lowers itself to associating itself with the Red Sox.

  69. kd October 31st, 2009 at 2:25 pm

    this doesnt sound good, so your saying no yankee hat or jsersey? just show up? i’m a big fan, i think i might be dissapointed in myself if i dont wear anything?

  70. PittsburghYankeeFan October 31st, 2009 at 2:26 pm

    Cindy G

    Yes, it does.

    Philly fans have THE worst reputation in professional sports. If you go to a Flyer or Eagle game in an opposing team jersey, your experience is not very pleasant.

    To those of us on the other side of the state, they are an embarassment.

  71. Christina: Pictures from Game 6 and game 1 of the world series on the blog! October 31st, 2009 at 2:26 pm

    I was at game 1 and the Yankee fans there were pretty bad to the Phillies fans…

  72. Erica - always OPPC October 31st, 2009 at 2:27 pm

    After 10 rounds of Postseason Guess the Line Up, there have been 35 different winners. With a minimum of 3 games left (Max 5), the competition is more intense than ever. Here are the players with 2 wins or more:

    Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist – 5 wins- 10/7, 10/9, 10/16, 10/19, 10/22
    Fran- 5 wins – 10/11, 10/16, 10/19, 10/24, 10/28
    Blackaccord – 4 wins – 10/7, 10/16, 10/19, 10/29
    Upstate Kate – 4 wins – 10/7, 10/11, 10/16, 10/19
    Rob in VT – 4 wins -10/9, 10/16, 10/19, 10/28
    Vin – 4 wins – 10/9, 10/16, 10/19, 10/24
    Andrew33 – 3 wins – 10/19, 10/22, 10/28
    Ed H – 3 wins – 10/11, 10/16, 10/19
    NYY626 – 3 wins – 10/9, 10/19, 10/24
    Shawn- 3 wins- 10/16, 10/22, 10/28
    Arliss – 2 wins – 10/9, 10/22
    Christina -2 wins – 10/11, 10/19
    Dave F – 2 wins – 10/24, 10/28
    Doreen – 2 wins – 10/7, 10/11
    Frank from Chatham – 2 wins– 10/20,10/22
    Hokiehill -2 wins – 10/20, 10/28
    Iiicollies –2 wins – 10/22, 10/28
    KF – 2 wins – 10/11, 10/19

  73. kd October 31st, 2009 at 2:27 pm

    I’m gonna be with 4 off duty state troopers, does that make it ok to wear an away jersey?

  74. William Buckner October 31st, 2009 at 2:27 pm

    “don’t get ensnared with these characters…stay discreet, and pull inwardly for the good guys..

    I mean it.”

    Very very true. Don’t believe it, read this regarding a man murdered outside Citizens Bank this summer over a ‘spilled beer.’

    http://cbs3.com/local/Killed.D.....01364.html

  75. Cindy G October 31st, 2009 at 2:28 pm

    Roger,

    My brother lived in the Netherlands twice,in Wassenaar (American School), and worked in Amsterdam. I just didn’t think there were many baseball fans there. There certainly don’t seem to be any here in France. I have to watch the games on the computer.

  76. Nick in SF October 31st, 2009 at 2:28 pm

    Cindy G: yes, I am. Go Bears! Are you referring to the same incident that the rugby player who was later on the United 9/11 flight was involved in?

    Roger, ok, forget Scotland and forget England then. And I won’t insult your intelligence by suggesting Wales.

    But what about Belfast??? I would love to watch Yankee baseball in a colorful Shankill District pub. New York has an Ulster County, so Ulster is total Yankee country. But keep out of South Armaugh, they’re Sox fans down there.

  77. bodhisattva - Destiny Wears Pinstripes October 31st, 2009 at 2:28 pm

    kd
    October 31st, 2009 at 2:21 pm
    I cant see not wearing my jersey and hat… whatever, whats wrong with these people? it cant be worse then being at fenway for yanks/sox?
    ====

    Oh but it is worse, it is.

    I hope I’m not scaring you to death…but then again, it’s necessary. I hope you are going with some Yankee padding around you….stay with your own kind.

    I know what you mean…the colors must be worn.

    I was intending on going down there, but decided I’m too old to deal with the Philadelphia jungle. I’ve gotten into fist fights there, and it was either that or watch fellow fans get pummeled.

    I decided the unwelcome, unsought drama would deprive me of focusing on the game (I have missed chunks of games down there because security got involved…beer was spilled on me…etc…none of it had ANYTHING to do with me, personally, provoking anyone…

    My hope is you encounter none of this, we win and win comfortably, and you have a great time. Just be careful…

  78. Erica - always OPPC October 31st, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    It’s now time for another thrilling round of “Guess the Line Up”

    Please think carefully about your submissions today. I will NOT allow any revisions. Post your line ups with players AND POSITIONS here (or any new threads that follow) until the sooner of the line up getting leaked or 4pm.

    Remember- NO REVISIONS AND POST POSITIONS

    Good luck to all. The Guess the Line Up action is heating up!!!!

  79. Cindy G October 31st, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    Meanwhile, Jimmy Rollins was negatively comparing Yankee Stadium and the fans to Philly.

  80. William Buckner October 31st, 2009 at 2:30 pm

    “I’m gonna be with 4 off duty state troopers, does that make it ok to wear an away jersey?”

    No. It really doesnt. I got jumped at a basketball game at Wachovia with three friends. I’m 6’4″ and about 240lbs and wasn’t the biggest of my friends.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bZk7BIdCns

  81. chase October 31st, 2009 at 2:31 pm

    kd, wear what you want. You’re not going to a gang fight, you are going to a baseball game.

    Don’t let ANYBODY tell you what you can and cannot wear, especially if it’s something that means something to you (obviously, it’s the Yankees).

    If a fan gives you problems, guess what will happen? They won’t be able to see the rest of the beating the Yankees will give their team.

    Everyone needs to stop becoming obsessed with Philly fans and thinking they’re this out of control crowd that will smash your face for no reason. It’s really not the case. Get some balls.

  82. William Buckner October 31st, 2009 at 2:32 pm

    bodhisattva,

    Are you from the Philly area?

  83. Tom in N.J. October 31st, 2009 at 2:32 pm

    “Alex is a centaur, and there are always different rules for centaurs.”

    That’s fantastic.

    What other Yankees are mythical beasts?

    I’d go with Rivera as a Minotaur.

  84. haiku-man October 31st, 2009 at 2:34 pm

    kd

    weigh feeling disappointed in yourself,with a old fashioned beatdown…it’s up to you New York!!

  85. bodhisattva - Destiny Wears Pinstripes October 31st, 2009 at 2:34 pm

    One last thing on this:

    Fenway and Yankee Stadium have learned to live with their hated rival in their midst.

    Familiarity breeds contempt, but it also breeds tolerance.

    Philly fans are angry people….they are not used to outsiders…in NY, tons of college students from Boston go to Yankee Stadium…Ditto for Fenway; you have a tradition of New York metro people attending schools up there, and those people find their way into Fenway and are even friends with the “enemy.”

    The Philly fan lives in his own little bubble.

    There were Philly fans at Games 1 & 2 who were unruly, but even though they were heckled, there’s a quality of humor and tolerance to New Yorkers. Most people just kind of looked at them as you would an animal in a cage, with curiosity and humor.

  86. William Buckner October 31st, 2009 at 2:35 pm

    “It’s really not the case. Get some balls.”

    I’ve got em. I also have some sense. I’ve gone to Philly sporting events my entire life. Most people are ok, but they have a lot more nutty fans then anywhere else I’ve ever been.

    And I wore Yankee gear to the old Vet to see Andy pitch. It wasn’t pretty.

  87. upstate kate October 31st, 2009 at 2:36 pm

    Erica
    thanks for doing GTLU on a weekend :)
    SS my Captain
    LF E’s PBF
    1B Tex
    3B Alex
    C Posada
    2B Cano
    RF Swish
    CF Melky
    P Andy, yes I did remember to put the pitcher in!

  88. Get it right please! October 31st, 2009 at 2:36 pm

    kd
    4 Troopers will they be packin their metal,YOU MIGHT BE OK?

  89. Joe from Long Island October 31st, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    My wife grew up in a working class section of Philadelphia. Outwardly, it looks pretty much the area of Brooklyn where I grew up – working class, storefronts, light industry, a few bars and churches.

    The only difference is that while I always regarded, and still do, the neighborhood I grew up in as safe, my wife tells me that she personally knows of seven of the kids she grew up with dying violent deaths. I’ve heard similar stories about life in Philly from her relatives.

    If anyone goes to a game there, be very careful.

  90. roger(live from Amsterdam) October 31st, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    Nick

    haha I don’t know if i wanne be in Belfast on a sunday…haha

    But he,you’re a lucky man travelling all over the world.England and especially Scotland is beautiful.Let me know if you’re coming to Amsterdam.We’ll drink a Heineken talk baseball and enjoy all Amsterdam has to offer.I know some places…haha

  91. Cindy G October 31st, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    Nick–I’ll have to ask my son about the Rugby player. I hadn’t heard that. This must have been back in about ’96. I believe Cal was getting creamed and Stanford fans were being smug, and someone on the Cal side suggested they go after the tree mascot. They started a “kill the tree” chant and after the game, a few people helped “dismantle” the tree costume. As far as I understand, it was harmless fun(not like Philly). It seems that kill the tree became a thing after that.

  92. Tom in N.J. October 31st, 2009 at 2:38 pm

    I went grocery shopping today and I noticed that there is a Phillies ice cream brand being sold here in the central Jersey shore area.

  93. pat October 31st, 2009 at 2:38 pm

    kd

    Don’t get so wired about the fans that you don’t enjoy the game. Expect verbal abuse and take it good naturedly even if it isn’t meant that way. Reacting to idiots is not the way to go.

    If anyone gets too obnoxious, go find security and let someone else handle it.

  94. Erica - always OPPC October 31st, 2009 at 2:39 pm

    You’re welcome Kate!!!!

    Its kind of sad that I planned my day to be sure i was home by 2:30, but I didn’t want to miss GTLU with so few left :-)

  95. upstate kate October 31st, 2009 at 2:42 pm

    we appreciate the sacrifices you make for us Erica :)

  96. Jeremy October 31st, 2009 at 2:42 pm

    Jimmy Rollins is a idiot !

    Anything that comes out of his mouth is nothing but bs.

  97. yanksfan October 31st, 2009 at 2:43 pm

    If they start heckling, beat up a philly fan for me.

  98. countryclub October 31st, 2009 at 2:43 pm

    This is silly. I’m a Yankees fan that’s lived in the philly area for over a decade. The fans down here are no worse than the other NE hot spots. I’ve seen people beaten up in Boston, Baltimore, Pitt and NY (yes, NY).

    As long as you dont act like a fool, and you are going with a group of guys, you’ll be fine.

  99. Nick in SF in Larkspur October 31st, 2009 at 2:49 pm

    roger, sounds like a plan. I have enjoyed Amsterdam each time I’ve visited.

    Cindy G, I think we’re talking about different incidents. I’m talking about a Big Game in which a drunk Cal fan tackled the Tree on the sidelines. His name was Mark Bingham, and he was later one of the passengers on United flight 93 who led the fight against the hijackers.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Bingham

  100. Zach in Port Jeff October 31st, 2009 at 2:49 pm

    I’m really worried about the hostile environment the Yankees will likely face tonight at Citizens Bank Park.

    I couldn’t sleep last night just thinking about all the cruel obscenities being hurled at Derek Jeter and his virgin ears.

    That boyhood innocence which he exudes will be gone forever.

  101. bodhisattva - Destiny Wears Pinstripes October 31st, 2009 at 2:53 pm

    William Buckner
    October 31st, 2009 at 2:32 pm
    bodhisattva,
    Are you from the Philly area?
    ===

    No, not from there. I’ve been going to games in Philly since 1979.

    Numerous playoff hockey games, football, and baseball (Never been to a Sixers’ game).

    I am a veteran of these wars, and I am giving kd my experience – not trying to alarm him/her.

    I think I’ve learned over the years how to “read” the people around me down there.

    The fact that I passed on going down there, with my team in the World Series, when the place is a mere 90 miles from me, says a great deal. I have had it with that scene.

    I saw the Penguins, my hockey team, clinch a Game 6 down there. Some bozo went berserk in the parking lot that I had hit his fender. My car never touched his. The guy just had a complete meltdown…not an anomaly from these guys, unfortunately.

  102. AJay October 31st, 2009 at 2:53 pm

    Like most other visiting ballpark you go into the away team is not welcome very much. The one positive for Yankee fans is you really have to question how many of those diehard Philly fans will actually be at the game since ticket prices are through the roof? This is not a regular season game where these low class idiots can afford the $60 a pop. These are seats that are starting at $245 to probably sit in the last row of the upper deck. Odds are these are mostly Philly fans from the burbs/South NJ that will be in most of these seats. Most of those real idiot fans will probably be at those bars watching the game in Old City, South Philly etc.

  103. roger(live from Amsterdam) October 31st, 2009 at 2:57 pm

    Just be happy that a baseball fan can even go to a away game in his jersey.
    A football(soccer)fan wouldn’t even try to do this without police escort

  104. Nick in SF in Larkspur October 31st, 2009 at 2:57 pm

    It could be even worse tomorrow… Iggles fans, drunk and bitter after that game, staggering from the Corporate Financial Services stadium over to vomit (figuratively and literally) on Yankee fans.

  105. Zach in Port Jeff October 31st, 2009 at 2:59 pm

    Nick, don’t forget the angry Pearl Jam fans.

    It’s gonna be WWIII.

  106. Joe from Long Island October 31st, 2009 at 3:01 pm

    I asked my Philadelphia born-and-bred wife about the high ticket prices for the WS down there. She says Philadelphians “will just steal what they need to.”

  107. bodhisattva - Destiny Wears Pinstripes October 31st, 2009 at 3:02 pm

    Tom in N.J.
    October 31st, 2009 at 2:32 pm
    “Alex is a centaur, and there are always different rules for centaurs.”
    That’s fantastic.
    What other Yankees are mythical beasts?
    I’d go with Rivera as a Minotaur.
    ====

    Hahaha. Missed this. Part Minotaur, part Buddha :D .

  108. Erica - always OPPC October 31st, 2009 at 3:02 pm

    New thread :arrow:

    NO MORE LINE UPS HERE

  109. Nick in SF in Larkspur October 31st, 2009 at 3:02 pm

    Zach, that reminds me of the meanest homemade sign ever: at some impromptu gathering of Nirvana fans right after Kurt Cobain died, someone held up a sign reading “it should have been Eddie”.

  110. haiku-man October 31st, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    nesn is reporting that twice the Yankees almost signed Pedro.
    The first was after the 2004 season.Big Stein told him he’d have to cut his hair.
    The second was at the trade dealine this past summer.Cashman was given a report on his health the report said he pitched in the 95 range,Cashman said it was more like 87-88,and didn’t pitch well for him,plus he was asking for 5mm.

    He gets 1.5mm plus incentives from Philly.Cashman said he wasn’t aware Pedro had lowered his price,whew, Yankees dodged a big one!!

  111. Tom in N.J. October 31st, 2009 at 3:04 pm

    “Nick, don’t forget the angry Pearl Jam fans”

    Hey, I’m leaving for that show right now. I’ll be sure to only puke on or fight Phillies fans.

  112. Zach in Port Jeff October 31st, 2009 at 3:07 pm

    Tom, I believe the team store sells Yankees Flannel shirts.

    It’d be a hit at The Spectrum tonight!

  113. Nick in SF October 31st, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    I hope they play their big hit “Jeremy (Giambi)”.

  114. Zach in Port Jeff October 31st, 2009 at 3:12 pm

    If they play that song, it’s more than likely that Jeter will run on stage and do a backhanded flip-play to nail Eddie Vedder at the plate!

    ps…were you at that game?

  115. Nick in SF October 31st, 2009 at 3:14 pm

    Zach, yes I was. One of the greatest sports moments (and games) of my life.

    Of course a Posada home run was the margin of victory.

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