Alex Rodriguez press conference
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc, Podcast on Feb 25, 2010 
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Alex Rodriguez has started his press conference by answering a question about the past year, going from the steroid press conference to this one.
“I’ve done a lot of growing up and realized a lot of things,” he said.
UPDATE, 2:15 p.m.: “I kind of divorced myself from the idea of numbers.”
UPDATE, 2:18 p.m.: On Johnny Damon: “I was just crossing my fingers, hoping he would come back.”
UPDATE, 2:22 p.m.: All things considered, Rodriguez said he would have been content with 14 homers and 65 RBI last season.
UPDATE, 2:25 p.m.: “Derek Jeter was born to be a Yankee.”
UPDATE, 2:55 p.m.: Here’s the full audio of the Rodriguez press conference.
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For whatever it’s worth, I noticed in the comments a question about why the Yankees seem to be having so many press conferences. The short answer is: Because they are the Yankees.
There were probably two dozen reporters in the room for the Rodriguez presser, plus about a dozen photographers and a half dozen cameramen. Same for Derek Jeter’s press conference yesterday, and for Joe Girardi’s press conference when camp opened. All of us needed to write a Jeter story and a Rodriguez story early in spring training, so the Yankees made it easy for everyone involved. That many people crowded around a locker would have been a mess, a bad situation for the players and the media.
Less Roids. More MVP talk.
Another press conference ? Do other teams have players giving press conferences? Who’s next, Cano about losing his buddy Melky? Swisher about his Lego collection ? (which is hilarious by the way)
That should be on national tv instead of the HCR summit.
@Zach, it makes sense for the bigger players to have press conferences. That way they don’t have to answer the same questions to each reporter. They can get it done with in just one day. Although after Arod is done, I think that should settle it.
UPDATE, 2:22 p.m.: All things considered, Rodriguez said he would have been content with 14 homers and 65 RBI last season.
I wouldn’t have. I don’t think the team would’ve been content with it either.
BloggingBombers ARod on winning his first World Series: “It wasn’t a monkey, it was a humongous gorilla on my back.” about 1 minute ago
RAB has a post up on the Yankees team defense in 2005. If anyone goes to the site today I suggest shielding your eyes.
Eric, Rodriguez was expecting to miss half the season or more last year.
“I wouldn’t have. I don’t think the team would’ve been content with it either.”
Why? I hear and read all his HRs and RBIs are “meaningless” anyway.
“I kind of divorced myself from the idea of numbers.”
============================================
Which means he will probably hit 40 120 this year.
2010 New York Yankees:
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Johnson DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson LF
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Brett Gardner CF
Ramiro Pena IF
Francisco Cervelli C
Marcus Thames OF
Randy Winn OF
CC Sabathia
AJ Burnett
Javier Vazquez
Andy Pettitte
Joba Chamberlain
Chad Gaudin
Alfredo Aceves
Mark Melancon
Chan Ho Park
Damaso Marte
David Robertson
Mariano Rivera
With Hughes, ZMack, Nova and Montero in the minors…
The money quote:
“Derek Jeter was born to be a Yankee.”
UPDATE, 2:18 p.m.: On Johnny Damon: “I was just crossing my fingers, hoping he would come back.”
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So was I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
UPDATE, 2:25 p.m.: “Derek Jeter was born to be a Yankee.”
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Love it
Erin
February 25th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
BloggingBombers ARod on winning his first World Series: “It wasn’t a monkey, it was a humongous gorilla on my back.” about 1 minute ago
************
Mental image of King Kong attacking A-Rod
@KhanArtist and the Lineup
That´s exactly my TEAM!
Great !
The money quote:
“Derek Jeter was born to be a Yankee.”
I actually think Alex was too, but the damn amateur draft got in the way.
just back from ST….
Love the Jeter quote.
It is so great that Alex is a champion. No more talk about how he cannot win the big game.
Doreen
February 25th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Erica -
Ugly frames from 3rd grade through age 19. You have no idea what was out there to choose from in the late 60s and 70s. Not to mention the round styled frames somewhere around the time I was 13 or so. My first paycheck went straight toward contact lenses and I’ve worn them non-stop until the last year or so. Dry eye. So I have to limit the wearing. Omega 3 helps, but since most days I have no one to impress, I wear frames most of the time. I still hate them, no matter how stylish they are. Feels like I’m wearing a mask.
************
I don’t like the weight of them. And I get paranoid that if I wear them people will think I am just another dorky accountant.
I wear my contacts all of the time. I just keep the gla-ses for emergencies. I shouldn’t wear the contacts as much as I do, but I really do not like the alternative
Hughes isn’t going to the minors. Especially for Melancon.
I think once folks understand that, especially since Girardi has already stated his plan re: the “loser” of the Chamberlain/Hughes battle, the better off they will be.
“just back from ST….”
Share.
“I think once folks understand that, especially since Girardi has already stated his plan re: the “loser” of the Chamberlain/Hughes battle, the better off they will be.”
That’s true in 2010, but will it also be true in 2011?
Not getting on Arod, but for 30mil he better not be happy with 14 homers. Maybe he shouldn’t have press confrences.
“Not getting on Arod, but for 30mil he better not be happy with 14 homers. Maybe he shouldn’t have press confrences.”
This just in: He had major surgery and was fortunate to even be able to play last season.
Technically Hughes could go to the minors to start the season if he wins the job as the 5th starter.
I think Alex meant, considering the surgery and the steroid admission, and the World Series victory, he would have been happy with 14 homers.
Alex should have ponied up the salary for Damon then,…
Doreen
February 25th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Erica -
Ugly frames from 3rd grade through age 19. You have no idea what was out there to choose from in the late 60s and 70s. Not to mention the round styled frames somewhere around the time I was 13 or so. My first paycheck went straight toward contact lenses and I’ve worn them non-stop until the last year or so. Dry eye. So I have to limit the wearing. Omega 3 helps, but since most days I have no one to impress, I wear frames most of the time. I still hate them, no matter how stylish they are. Feels like I’m wearing a mask.
************
I don’t like the weight of them. And I get paranoid that if I wear them people will think I am just another dorky accountant.
I wear my contacts all of the time. I just keep the gla-ses for emergencies. I shouldn’t wear the contacts as much as I do, but I really do not like the alternative
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Erica, nothing wrong with a lady wearing glas-ses. Remember the wise old saying: “Guys always make pas-ses at girls who wear glas-ses…..especially if they have a great smile and great legs.”
“Alex should have ponied up the salary for Damon then,… ”
That’s actually not a crazy idea (and not just him). One potential problem is that the MLBPA limits give backs. That’s one reason why the Alex to the RS trade didn’t go down.
http://tweetphoto.com/12480612
A-Rod
SJ
I hear the Yanks may keep Joba & Hughes in the minors this year so they don’t have to decide on Mitre, Gaudin & Hoffmann!! What do you think? LOL! JK!!!
Erica – always OPPC
February 25th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Erin
February 25th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
BloggingBombers ARod on winning his first World Series: “It wasn’t a monkey, it was a humongous gorilla on my back.” about 1 minute ago
************
Mental image of King Kong attacking A-Rod
************************
LOL That’s pretty much what I thought of too
Would the Yanks keep their fifth starter in Florida for “extended spring training” once the season starts to keep him stretched out?
Those Virginia tech guys are always trying to start fights. Ignore Ray, SJ.
I feel you guys pain about the eyesight thing. I had 20/20 in my right and 20/10 in my left when I was in college but unfortunately my job requires me to stare at tiny things for hours at a time. I haven’t had them checked lately but I can tell my eyes aren’t what they used to be.
“I kind of divorced myself from the idea of numbers.”
Well said, nice to see that from Arod, the numbers are nice don’t get me wrong, but whatever it takes to get that Win on that day is what matters.
His legacy now relies on his success as part of a TEAM, he has began that journey well following the steroid admission of a year ago.
Arod did what few though possible, produce when it mattered most.
GreenBeret7
February 25th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Erica, nothing wrong with a lady wearing glas-ses. Remember the wise old saying: “Guys always make pas-ses at girls who wear glas-ses…..especially if they have a great smile and great legs.”
*************************
When I was 12 I was told I needed both glas-ses and braces. I pretty much begged my parents to let me get contacts because I refused to have glas-ses and braces at the same time. Luckily, they gave the OK. lol
Boy, Andrew Marchand is an idiot. He just admitted with Michael Kay that he asked Alex what the terms of Derek’s contract should be. I don’t get why he thought Alex would answer that and why it would even be his business.
Anyway, it sounds like Alex is completely relaxed, happy and healthy, which is great news. I’m eager to see just what else Alex can do on the ballfield. We hear a lot about Pujols, and rightly so, but we’ve got an all-time great doing remarkable things as well and we should appreciate that.
Eric, are you kidding? The team was just glad to get Alex back …..Boy oh boy.
So, even when you put a hyphen, if it is not placed in the right place, you get filtered.
GB7 -
The line is they DON’T make pas-ses at girls who wear glas-ses. I remember it well, since I heard it often enough!
Erica -
I know exactly what you mean!
Erin, I love gorillas, lol – but not that one.
Carl
February 25th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
http://tweetphoto.com/12480612
A-Rod
*******************
Thanks for the picture Carl!
I like the divorcing from the numbers too but lets be real, the Yankees could be winning and if his numbers were less than what we expect “Arod numbers” to be, it’ll be brought up and not simply because of his contract.
I’ll take the championships AND the numbers.
An injury to the starting rotation will happen. Inevitable.
Would you want your 5th starter for a good chunk of the season to be Hughes or Gaudin/Mitre/Nova?
Kay is such a jerk. It doesn’t take guts to ask a Kate Hudson question, it takes a lack of brains. This is ST and it’s all about baseball, not his personal life. Now I know why Torre called Kay a Rona Barrett type.
“Betsy -
Boy, Andrew Marchand is an idiot. He just admitted with Michael Kay that he asked Alex what the terms of Derek’s contract should be. I don’t get why he thought Alex would answer that and why it would even be his business.”
++++++++++++++++++
The Media is sick in the head and cannot help themsevles, I was Arod I would have said “NEXT QUESTION” or just looked at him hard and turn away to the next reporter.
GreenBeret7
February 25th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Come GB!! I can’t believe people still think Hughes or Joba will go to AAA. It is incredible! Don’t mess with VT, we are still smarting from losing to Boston (College) last night in basketball by 20 pts.
Erin
February 25th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
GreenBeret7
February 25th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Erica, nothing wrong with a lady wearing glas-ses. Remember the wise old saying: “Guys always make pas-ses at girls who wear glas-ses…..especially if they have a great smile and great legs.”
*************************
When I was 12 I was told I needed both glas-ses and braces. I pretty much begged my parents to let me get contacts because I refused to have glas-ses and braces at the same time. Luckily, they gave the OK. lol
————————————————————
that’s a tough life, eric. A young girl enters her formative years either with crooked teeth or crossed eyes. luckily you didn’t have frizzy red hair, too. God never gives a girl that young the “Triple Whammy”.
Betsy – Romine wasn’t built in a day
February 25th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Erin, I love gorillas, lol – but not that one.
******************
LOL Same here
pat February 25th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
“just back from ST….”
Share.
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Thanks for asking, no one else seems to care, but then nothing has changed, it was great to be outside and hear the crack of the bat and snap of ball hitting glove.
Montero is one to watch, hitting one over CF scoreboard.
Recommend it for all Yankee fans.
Phil will not be spot starting for any injured pitcher if he’s the set up man, so let’s get that right out of the way. The only way he could ever be a starter if he doesn’t get the spot out of ST is if a pitcher goes down long term (meaning a couple of months)
that’s a tough life, eric. A young girl enters her formative years either with crooked teeth or crossed eyes. luckily you didn’t have frizzy red hair, too. God never gives a girl that young the “Triple Whammy”.
————————————————————
Ooops. Though god does make some people better typists than others.
That should have been to Erin.
Erin February 25th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Carl
February 25th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
http://tweetphoto.com/12480612
A-Rod
*******************
Thanks for the picture Carl!
np
BTW GB,
Ken Clay hurt his arm pitching for Billy Martin and tried to continue pitching thru the pain. He used pain killers & ??? to do this and became somewhat dependent on them. He was traded to Seattle and played there a couple of years before retiring way too young & early. He was a good kid in over his head from his small town background. He was a terrific pitcher with even more potential.
Kay is such a jerk.
———————–
Glad to see you are your old self Betsy.
And I happen to agree with you.
I hope there will be an audio post of AROD’S press conference. He will always be an interesting profile. Everybody always thinks of his enormous physical talents but they never give him the benefit of a doubt that he is very fragile mentally! If you search out his upbringing you would be more sympathetic to his immature way he handled past issues.
Thanks Mick.
If you go again, I’d like to hear your updates.
Hard to tell this early in camp but did anyone else impress?
Anyone know where we can find the uploads from picture day?
I know, Doreen, but, I was trying to sprinkle a little sunshine into her dreary working life. as I myself happen to be a man of leisure.
either a man of leisure or I’m just too lazy to work.
Just updated with the audio. I thought Alex did a nice job. He said all the things he needed to say.
For Family Guy fans, perhaps there was an “evil monkey” on Alex’ back.
GB
Actually Ken Clay was traded to Texas & then they sent him to Seatle. He was a good guy.
Mick, nice to have you back. Thanks, it’s nice to be my old self again, lol. For what it’s worth, I like Kay a lot personally – he’s a very nice guy.
How was ST? I’m waiting to hear all about it!
Pat,
Javy was popping the ball in the pen. Cervelli looked ready to go as backup to jorge. Mike Rivera from Atlanta showed a little pop in the bat, might push Cervelli. Joba looked in shape and ready to go as well as Hughes.
But Montero put on a display at the plate with some mammoth shots, just wonder if he will try to hard to hit the long ball and sacrifice average.
RayVT
February 25th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
GreenBeret7
February 25th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Come GB!! I can’t believe people still think Hughes or Joba will go to AAA. It is incredible! Don’t mess with VT, we are still smarting from losing to Boston (College) last night in basketball by 20 pts.
————————————————————
If they send either one back to AAA, the South shall rise again and attack the Bronx and burn it to the ground. They’ll call it GB7′s March to The Sea.
Has a nice ring to it.
Seriously, though, that’s the last thing I’d be worried about…either of those two going back to Scranton.
Great interview
Betsy – Romine wasn’t built in a day
February 25th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
For Family Guy fans, perhaps there was an “evil monkey” on Alex’ back.
***************
Love it
RayVT
February 25th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
BTW GB,
Ken Clay hurt his arm pitching for Billy Martin and tried to continue pitching thru the pain. He used pain killers & ??? to do this and became somewhat dependent on them. He was traded to Seattle and played there a couple of years before retiring way too young & early. He was a good kid in over his head from his small town background. He was a terrific pitcher with even more potential.
————————————————————
now that’s a shocker….Martin and Fowler hurting pitchers. They had the makings of a fine young staff back then with Clay, Guidry, Beattie and others, but, everyone, including Guidry came down with arm issues. Imagin what would have happened to Guidry had to deal with Martin and fowler much longer. He’d have never made it past 1981.
Sabathia Sabathia
Burnett Lee
Vazquez to Burnett
Pettitte Chamberlain
Chamberlain Hughes
Jeter Jeter
Johnson Crawford
Teixeira Teixeira
Rodriguez to Rodriguez
Posada Posada
Granderson Montero
Cano Granderson
Swisher Cano
Gardner Swisher
I’ll take it…
GreenBeret7
February 25th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
I truly don’t believe either one will go back there. I am so tired of hearing everyday that one of them will that I made the tongue in cheek comment. LOL!
BTW, I am a Virginian 1st!!! LOL! Living in the Carolinas. But I bleed red, white & blue, especially with pinstripes & and interlocking NY!!!
Betsy – Romine wasn’t built in a day February 25th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
For Family Guy fans, perhaps there was an “evil monkey” on Alex’ back.
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I saw an episode down in Fla. where Stewie and Brian were time traveling and there was a scene I couldn’t believe involving Walt Disney and shiny buttons, wish I had my DVR remote handy, would have played that one back.
GreenBeret7
February 25th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Kenny was afraid to say anything about his arm hurting because he knew he’d be back in the minors & Billy’s doghouse. Don’t forget Ron Davis too!
having trouble with the audio chad
Mick, that was the season premier. I missed it, but it repeated this past Sunday and I made a point to watch it as the TV Guide said it was a classic. The Disney scene was fantastic; I don’t remember about buttons, but I remember how funny that was. I taped it – it’s called Road to the Multiverse. Stewie and Brian’s road trips are hilarious, lol.
Erin, thanks! My sister’s boyfriends kids do voice work for Family Guy, by the way.
Known facts:
Phil Hughes is a major league pitcher. Next time he sees Scranton will be in a rehab assignment (or MAYBE at the beginning of the season when a 5th starter isn’t needed).
SAME Rules appeal to Joba Chamberlain, unless the dude has a total physical meltdown and his attitude unravel to go with it.
RayVT
February 25th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
GreenBeret7
February 25th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Kenny was afraid to say anything about his arm hurting because he knew he’d be back in the minors & Billy’s doghouse. Don’t forget Ron Davis too!
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martin left a trail of dead arms throughout the American League from Clay and Beattie to Al Leiter and Gil Patterson. Probably the best pitching talent to ever to be drafted by the Yankees. That doesn’t include the Twins, Rangers, Tigers and two Oakland pitching staffs. Guidry and Leiter said that Patterson had mor potential than they did and as much as anybody they ever saw.
It is not going to happen, but if Hughes wins the 5 spot they should just keep Joba in AAA for the first 8 weeks of the season and delay his free agency by a year.
Having him in the bullpen for the first 2 months of the season is going to make almost zero difference in the standings and he is not going to learn or develop much out there anyway.
Hey Michelle, this is from yesterday, I went to Merrick Woods and Lafayette grade school (which I think has been renamed), then to NJ for a few years and then on to Boston from there. I too dropped hockey once I moved because the Bruins have one of the worst owners in sports. I actually live about 4 blocks from Fenway so I know the feeling. You should look into MLB.com for the NYY games. For the day games during the week it’s worth it alone, but as long as you have high speed access at home, or anywhere with a laptop you can watch and/or listen to the all the games and can even choose the broadcast team. It’s a no-brainer for any out of market fan.
Chad, thanks for the audio.
Gotta say, great job by Alex. I used to cringe when he spoke, when he answered questions, waiting for the moment when the foot would be inserted in mouth. He was relaxed and he answered very well. I think maybe the efforts he made last season have stuck.
Glad to see Alex is getting a little better at this “public image” thing.
Maybe now that he did well in the postseason, he’ll calm down and just relax a little more.
I think Chamberlain will have to implode to lose the 5th spot LGY.
Everything about what the Yanks did last year in terms of his innings screams “plans for a starter”.
And considering Hughes was even better than you could’ve asked him to be outta the pen, I can’t think of anything that happened late that would have made the the team rethink their plan.
Stuckey, Phil is a starter – he’s not a reliever – and the Yankees have plans for him as a starter as well. I really don’t care how well he did out of the pen – that’s not going to be his career path unless he flunks completely as a starter.
Doreen, it’s almost like he’s been taking public speaking clas-ses to smooth out the rough spots. Sounds like he finlly located the right staff to put him in touch with the right people, instead of the idiots that just let him stumble through things on his own.
Its hands down better having a gorilla on your back than a whale.
I actually think Hughes is the favorite for the 5th spot.
I guess Alex has had enough with eating feet. Since the steroids came out last year, it seems like he thinks before he speaks now. In a way, getting caught was a blessing in disquise.
I actually think Hughes is the favorite for the 5th spot.
========
Co-signed
Damn I thought A-Rod was already “relaxed” after carrying the Yankees in the posting: you know hitting 3 game tying post-season homeruns, hitting a couple of more shots in playoff games, having a bunch of multi-hit playoff games, getting on base 5 times in Game 6 of the ALCS, and getting a game winning World Series hit in Game 4, and hitting a two run home run in Game 3 which was probably the most important hit in the World Series.
Betsy – Romine wasn’t built in a day
February 25th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Erin, thanks! My sister’s boyfriends kids do voice work for Family Guy, by the way.
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You’re kidding-that’s so cool!! Do they do specific characters, or just general stuff?
Alex was basically where Tiger Woods is now last year. Married, accused of PEDs, too many women, a star, in the limelight and being attcked from all sides.
Now he has the “gorilla” off his back, he is single so he can do as he pleases, he admitted to PEDs, and he now has the WS ring along with a “CLUTCH” post season performance. Lastly, he has a great contract that will pay him for years to come a terrific salary! Things are good!!!
So i wanted to share something really neat i learned from my kid yesterday. Did you know that if you put you hands together like your praying, you will always have the same thumb over the other? I was told its some genetic thing your born with. The other way doesnt seem to fit like a puzzle.
TRY IT!!
positive posts about AROD…ahhhhh so refreshing…change is a good thing
Jon, I’m not sure what the problem could be. It works fine on my computer. Is anyone else having a problem with it?
Damn I thought A-Rod was already “relaxed” after carrying the Yankees in the posting: you know hitting 3 game tying post-season homeruns, hitting a couple of more shots in playoff games, having a bunch of multi-hit playoff games, getting on base 5 times in Game 6 of the ALCS, and getting a game winning World Series hit in Game 4, and hitting a two run home run in Game 3 which was probably the most important hit in the World Series.
======
And that folks is why they call him choke rod.
“RayVT February 25th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Alex was basically where Tiger Woods is now last year. Married, accused of PEDs, too many women, a star, in the limelight and being attcked from all sides.
Now he has the “gorilla” off his back, he is single so he can do as he pleases, he admitted to PEDs, and he now has the WS ring along with a “CLUTCH” post season performance. Lastly, he has a great contract that will pay him for years to come a terrific salary! Things are good!!!”
so the moral of the story is Tiger should get divorced?
# Chad Jennings February 25th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Jon, I’m not sure what the problem could be. It works fine on my computer. Is anyone else having a problem with it?
all good here on firefox
“Phil is a starter – he’s not a reliever – and the Yankees have plans for him as a starter as well. I really don’t care how well he did out of the pen – that’s not going to be his career path unless he flunks completely as a starter.”
I don’t disagree his long-term career path will be as a starter. But there is just room for 1 starter RIGHT NOW.
The Yankees have invested two whole years in the “Joba” rules, which were very specifically to prepare him to start. I just can’t see anything that happened between late last year and now to suggest the Yanks will abandon that plan.
Hughes again, as we all know, once threw 146 innings professionally. I believe the Yanks might feel he’ll be the more flexible arm when asking him to take a full-time spot in the ML rotation.
I’ll remind people again, there is NO math the lets Phil Hughes pitch more innings for the Yankees in 2010-11 IF he spends significant time in AAA in 2010, and additionally no math that places a cap in his 2012 innings.
“I actually think Hughes is the favorite for the 5th spot.”
How come? What have the Yankees done or said to suggest this?
Carl February 25th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
# Chad Jennings February 25th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Jon, I’m not sure what the problem could be. It works fine on my computer. Is anyone else having a problem with it?
all good here on firefox
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Working fine for me too…
YankeesWFAN Happy 47th birthday, Paul O’Neill. 24 seconds ago
Happy Birthday Paul
tampayank
February 25th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
There are two roads. One is very hard, to repair the marriage. Takes a lot of work & character to do this.
The second is to start over and it is the easiest. The road most take! This is often the only choice available based on the other spouse.
I think ARod made the right choice. I can’t speak for either one, but it looks like Tiger is making his choice too. I wish them both the best!
stuckey,
I think Joba will win the 5 spot as well. But, I do not think it is guaranteed. My only point was if Hughes did win.
Putting Joba in the bullpen for the full year is a waste of money and a valuable resource. IMO, if the Yankees plan to have Hughes as the 5 starter they should just push Joba’s free agency clock back a year.
Either way the difference in the standings will be negligible with Joba in the pen for the first 8 weeks so they may as well ensure an extra year of what will hopefully be cheap SP.
The 5th spot is Joba’s to lose.
He already has a year under his belt and his innings are already built up.
I think it’ll be really tough for the Yankees to have Hughes who is fresh off a year relieving and on an innings limit and with less experience, taking that 5th starters spot.
Ok, Stuckey, I see what you’re saying, but I don’t know if I agree or if I want to agree. By that, I mean that if I agreed, I would be admitting that the Yankeees were clearly choosing Joba over Phil. Why should Phil be penalized because the Yankees decided to keep him in the pen last year?
I’m very proud of Alex.
Alex was already divorced a year ago at this time.
I’d like to preemptively remind everyone that Joba Chamberlain threw 6 innings as a starter as late as September 25th, despite the play-offs starting in one week.
This indicates they still had him on the starter’s plan.
My question is, what has happened between 9/25 and now that leads you to believe the Yankees have altered their plan?
Seems he’s figured out that a loud bat and a quiet ego are the keys to success.
If the Yankees were totally confident with what went on with Joba last year then why would they even be having a competition. Wouldn’t he have been named the 5th starter and it been his to lose if they had been happy about his results? I just get the vibe that Joba may be a starter but they are sure Hughes is. If they perform equally in the spring then I think Hughes gets the gig. I could be wrong..have been before.
Daylife has pictures from Photo Day up
http://www.daylife.com/search/.....?q=Yankees
tampayank
February 25th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Next year Hughes will be over 25 yrs old and the innings limit doesn’t apply except those who are under 25. Hughes will be 25 this year in June & 26 next year. So all this crap about limits and minor leagues is just fan talk.
Hughes pitched 86 innings last year. I’m sure the Yanks could have him go 150 this year and 175 next year even if he is limited to 90 innings or so in 2010.
With CC, AJ & AP all having pitched extra last year, I could see both Phil & Joba getting long innings in April and perhaps even early May before one goes to the BP. One could be paired with Andy while the other goes as the 5th starter allowing Andy to take it slower.
Betsy – Romine wasn’t built in a day February 25th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Mick, that was the season premier. I missed it, but it repeated this past Sunday and I made a point to watch it as the TV Guide said it was a classic. The Disney scene was fantastic; I don’t remember about buttons, but I remember how funny that was. I taped it – it’s called Road to the Multiverse. Stewie and Brian’s road trips are hilarious, lol.
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The scene has Mort Goldman, the Griffins Jewish neighbor coming on their front door where he is attacked and a reference to Disney as an antisemite is made. Thought I was seeing things.
My question is, what has happened between 9/25 and now that leads you to believe the Yankees have altered their plan?
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Yankee fans dig the fastball. If Joba still has the 97/98 heater and was just pacing himself as a starter. Then i will take his unhittable repotoire as a relief pitcher than the avg. 93/94 he threw last year starting. Even with the bomb he gave up in the playoffs. I thought he looked electric in the pen.
Heres a question for all. Both men obviously want to start. If the one that loses the battle asks behind close doors to be traded somewhere he can start. Do you honer that or ignore it?
“By that, I mean that if I agreed, I would be admitting that the Yankeees were clearly choosing Joba over Phil. Why should Phil be penalized because the Yankees decided to keep him in the pen last year?”
Betsy, I believe what’s happening is you’re viewing the bullpen role as a penalty, which I don’t agree with, nor would I believe the Yankees, or more importantly Phil Hughes.
Hughes has solidified himself as a major leaguer (which is any prospects FIRST wish). He his still relatively young (will only be 24 at the start of 2011), and had plenty of years to establish himself as a starter when his salary escalation begins in earnest.
I honestly believe a guy like Phil Hughes would see it more as a “penalty” to go back to minor league life.
But that doesn’t answer your question – why Chamberlain over Hughes, and the question is a legitimate one.
I think Hughes might be seen as having more versatility as this point in their careers, having already pitched nearly 150 innings in a year professionally.
Right or wrong, 2010 IS the pay-off year of the 2 and 1/2 (ish) Joba Rules plan, which was still in effect of as 9/25 last year.
Again, I just don’t see them abandoning it now.
Joelsherman1 Chan Ho Park is taking his #Yankees physical today, so could be in uniform as early as tomorrow about 1 minute ago
I just remember the official player pics from last year being REALLY weird – they all looked like zombies, lol
“Next year Hughes will be over 25 yrs old and the innings limit doesn’t apply except those who are under 25. Hughes will be 25 this year in June & 26 next year. So all this crap about limits and minor leagues is just fan talk.”
Phil Hughes will be 24 years old on June 24, 2010.
Wow, right?
“If Joba still has the 97/98 heater and was just pacing himself as a starter. Then i will take his unhittable repotoire as a relief pitcher than the avg. 93/94 he threw last year starting. Even with the bomb he gave up in the playoffs. I thought he looked electric in the pen. ”
But that’s why YOU think he should be in the pen. And IU’m not saying you’re wrong.
I’m asking considering he was a starter until 9/25, what makes you think the YANKEES see it the way you do.
Stuckey, you make good points. I guess we’ll have to see how ST goes….. I will say, though, that I don’t think of Phil as young anymore. I mean, he’s young in terms of being a major leaguer, but if he’s going to be an impact starter for a long time, he has to get going soon.
Mick, nope – Family Guy is like that; it’s sort of like South Park. People who offend easily should not watch the show(I’m NOT referring to you, by the way), lol
Daylife has pictures from Photo Day up
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Thanks for the pictures. Whats up with Joba “the beerface” look on the first page?
New post. Fairly small one.
“If the Yankees were totally confident with what went on with Joba last year then why would they even be having a competition. ”
I’m not assuming they are “totally confident” or that there is competition where they’re all starting evenly.
If there is ANY fire to the smoke about Chamberlains conditioning, his perhaps overly-confident beliefs in his role, how he dealt with his immediate rise as a celebrity, it stands to reason they wanted Chamberlain to spend the off-season and to come into ST with some doubt as to how locked in he was for the rotation. And I don’t necessarily disagree with that rational.
I think Chamberlain could certainly lose the competition, but I think he’d had to not look very good and someone would have to look VERY good in comparison.
Not out of the realm of possibility.
stuckey
February 25th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Sorry you are right.
Stuckey,
You make valid points and you may well be right but if I had to lay down money on who I thought would be the 5th starter it would be on Hughes…just have a feeling, don’t ask me to explain why.
re Joba/Phil- the 5th starter will start 24 games (based on maximizing use of starters 1-4; from my earlier calculations using the Yankees schedule). BUT, probably they will start a few more than that, say 26-27. That equals 144-162 innings (at 6 innings/gm).
One other approach- start the season with 6 starters, and go around the rotation 2 times. Benefits of this:
1. Joba vs Phil competition includes games that mean something.
2. The winner of Joba vs Phil has slightly fewer starts for the season (since they aren’t ready for 200 innings anyway).
3. gives starters 1-4 opportunity to build up to season form a little slower (it really only adds 4 days to the time window til 3rd start).
Handling 2 such valuable assets requires unique approaches.
…whats another press conference with the yankees?..it could be worse…alex rodreguez with kate hudson sitting next to him stoking his forehead…remember the good luck chick who the press and yankee fans were calling their saviour!…doubt if the yankees can do again this yr.