September 2008
Last Day Of Pathetic Season Pt. II: And That’s That
At last… the season from hell is over. Back to sleep for the winter.
89-73
What a year…
Side Notes:
-
First off, can these two teams ever play a game within 3 hours? The
game doesn’t even matter to either of them and they still push it to
extras… I guess that’s a rivalry for you.
-
I never thought I’d live to see the day when coverage of a Boskees game
is nowhere to be seen on mlb.com… especially when it’s literally the only
game being played at the time. Damn the devil Rays… took the
postseason and the spotlight from us. Give them their old name back.
-
I think when Johnny gave the boys of his former team the “idiots” tag,
he may have meant it for his former fans. How many times will Red Sox
fans chant “Yan-kees Suckk” when their own team is batting? I just
don’t get it.
-
I like how the Red Sox celebrated as if they won the World Series
because they won a 10 inning game that didn’t matter. Congratulations.
Good luck against the Angels. [And of course by "good luck" I mean "you
might want to try to win one just so you're not completely embarrassed when you're eliminated."]
- My summary of the season: 3rd place… speaks for itself.
[I'll probably make a season in review post within a couple of days, even though this season has been one to forget.]
Last Day Of Pathetic Season Pt. I: Moose Notches Win #20
Finally, the Baseball Gods show mercy and cease the torture upon poor, old Bullwinkle.
Here’s a direct quote from the mind of Mike Mussina [yes, I know what he thinks]: “‘Bout f***ing time.”
Side Notes:
-
Another quote from the game [this one from the mouth of Michael Kay]: “Joe Girardi is
managing this like a World Series game to get Mussina his 20th win.” Well… duh. He won’t be managing any actual World Series games this
season so this is the closest he’ll get to it.
-
I virtually bow down to Xavier Nady right now for driving in the first
3 Yankee runs today, putting them in the lead and Moose in position for
the win.
-
Though I expected something of the sort from them, those damn Red Sox
fans dared to hold up the number 2000 to remind us of the last year the
Yanks won a championship. My response to that: Chu wanna play rough?
OoOokay… Even if the Red Sox miraculously win the World Series again
this year, I’ll still be holding up a sign with the number of
championships they still need to catch up. That number is still in the
double digits suckers. *
-
Last Day Of Pathetic Season Pt. 2 to begin at 7:35… though that
could change with the flood-like rains that have hit Boston this weekend. I just
laugh at the fact that Ponson will be pitching the last game of the season for the Yanks [Jeff is likely laughing too].
- I knew this already, but for all those who didn’t: Papelbon is a baby. On
the rare occasion that Mariano suckks do you see him throw a hissy fit?
Never. Thus, Papelbon’s name should never be uttered in the same breath
as Mo’s.
*Apologies
to the cool Red Sox fans who might get all offended. However, to all
the not so cool Red Sox fans: you’re lucky I don’t say worse.
P.S. I have only one word for the Mets: HA.
P.P.S. I lied, I have 8 more words for the Mets: You’ll always be New York baseball’s ugly duckling.
Forgot
to mention: Rookie hazing was the other day and guys… the village
people? Couldn’t have been more creative than that? I would’ve made
them dress up as the Teletubbies.
Live Blogging One If The Game Ever Starts
Though the Yanks are officially eliminated and the games don’t technically matter anymore, I’m going to attempt to liveblog this one [if the game even gets in] for two reasons:
&
2.) It’s still a Boskees game.
Updates:
8:11: Seems Matsuzaka has been scratched already.
8:13: A-Rod is back in the lineup, crossing out the possibility that he was being kept out to protect his .300 avg… a concept which I think is stupid. I know .300 looks way better than .299, but seriously, will one point really matter anytime other than right now? No. Jeet is also back in the lineup. He couldn’t miss the last series with Boston, even if the games mean nothing to the Yanks.
8:30: There’s talk of Mo possibly needing surgery on his shoulder, which has apparently been somewhat bothering him all season. What did Joe G. do when asked about Mariano? He tried to pull off the ever so effective strategy of: Deny Deny Deny.
8:33: The game is about to get underway finally. I’m still in awe that the Yanks’ only option right now is to spoil the Red Sox’s hopes at the division. When I looked at this series at the start of the season I thought it was going to be a pre-postseason look and would have some serious fire. Now it’s just feels like waiting for death.
8:42: Haha, another Buckner.
8:47: I don’t how it’s possible to hit a foul ball to right field at Fenway, but the guy that only hits to right managed to do it.
8:51: Maybe the Yanks should put a 15 year old on their team… seems to be working for the Red Sox [damn Ellsbury]… hell, it worked for the Chinese gymnasts in Beijing too.
9:00: I hate Youkilis… but not for the reasons you’d think. Not because he just hit one over the monster… and not because he has worse facial hair than the pre-Yankees Johnny Damon… anddd not because his batting stance makes you want to look away from the TV. I hate him just because I can.
9:12: I don’t know if anyone else if baffled by this but I can’t get over how fast Brett the Jet is even on ground ball outs. Speedy Gonzalez takes the running game to a whole new level.
9:15: I wonder if it still stings when the Red Sox’s former idiot takes one over the wall against them. I hope it does.
9:20: Right now I’m switching back and forth between the game and the presidential debate going on right now… did anyone catch McCain saying, “Well, I don’t want to go back and forth on this…blah blah blah.” Can someone please lend this guy a dictionary and point to the word debate?
9:36: I hope Nady is still on the team next season. I feel like the guy always makes things happen.
9:43: Speaking of making things happen, how about Lil G? Gardner is really making sure Joe G. gets it ingrained in his head that he wants to be the center fielder.
10:05: Yanks leading 10 – 3 so far [and it's only the 4th]. Damn, now I really wish this game mattered.
10:16: And the rains come again… Who doesn’t love playing in the rain?
10:22: Heh… the Red Sox are trying to catch up.
10:26: Ransom hits another one on the first pitch while its pouring enough to make Steve Carell start building a whole new boat. Bring on Evan Almighty II.
10:27: And the tarp is on again… what a night.
11:05: Back to baseball. Finish the 5 already and call it a night.
11:12: And Fenway is as quiet as it will ever be. I give propz to the real fans who stayed, but wow, if any heckler wants to cause some havoc he’s got a clear shot here.
11:27: The Yanks are blowing the Red Sox away in a game, and I’m yawning… imagine that.
11:30: They finally finish 5, are heading into the bottom of the 6th and the rains won’t come down now… figures.
11:47: Fenway kind of looks scary now. Seriously empty. I don’t even blame them now. This is like watching the longest movie ever made [whatever that is]… in slow motion.
Yankees & October Part Ways. . . For Now
Yes, Peanut Butter Postseason & Jelly Yankees will not be together in ’08.
The
BFF’s for 13 seasons have decided to take some space for a year after
Jelly insulted Peanut Butter for 3 months and then completely severed
their relationship when they refused to apologize for the next 3
months… tsk tsk. However… I assure everyone, it will be peanut
butter jelly time again!
Now, moving on to things we didn’t already know a month ago…
Side Notes:
-
Moose train still going strong. It only has one more stop to make, but
only one chance to get there. The last game will now somewhat have
importance.
-
I gotta say… I like how on the YES Postgame Show they made no big deal that the Yanks
aren’t making the playoffs after not having missed the postseason since
’93. Since the Yanks have been a disappointment all year, they pretty
much made it no surprise that this would happen so I see how it would
be hard to say much other than: “The Yanks won’t make it to October
baseball… so yeah… how ’bout them Mets?” [If that other New York
team doesn't make it again, the Yanks will at least have competition
for biggest embarrassment, great huh?]
-
The only other positive I can take from this… at least the Yanks
didn’t take themselves out at the end. It took a Boston win to knock
them out with the Yanks managing to put together a 6 game winning
streak. If you know you’re going to lose, you should nonetheless finish
strong, so they’re doing something.
-
I haven’t made up my mind yet on whether I’ll be watching the
postseason with the Yanks out, but if I do, who should I root for?
Hmm… Can’t root for the Red Sox. The Angels have a real shot… but
my hatred for them could possibly be larger than for the Red Sox.
Basically I’m down to the other Sox and the Rays [or Minnesota, but
that's not happening]… I tip my cap to the cockroach that wouldn’t
die [Rays] for taking care of business this year, but they literally
have no experience. I’ll probably flip a coin but it looks like Crazy
Ozzie and his guys are getting my vote. As for the NL… let’s face it,
I really don’t care about them.
- I never thought I would be so calm the day when the Yanks fail to reach October for the first time in essentially my lifetime but…
it is what it is. It felt better than postseason fever on Sunday, when
the House closed, so I’m content BUT if the crappy performance thing
happens again in ’09… let’s just say, I won’t be happy.
P.S. Much thanks to Mark for asking my opinion the Yanks’ failure to reach the postseason this year and featuring it in an article on mlb.com and yankees.com. Here’s the link:
And That’s A Wrap
Couldn’t have dreamed it to be any better…
In one of the most magical nights ever to occur, the Yanks end it the way it began… with a victory.
There has never been a greater night to be a Yankee fan.
Side Notes:
-
The Yanks will likely not be making the post season for the first time
since ’93 but you’d never be able to tell that by looking at them
tonight. They don’t need the postseason. This one night will live
longer than the memory of any postseason game of past or future.
-
Last Win: Andy Pettitte. Last AB: Derek Jeter. Last Pitch:
Mariano Rivera. Just as it all should be. The only thing no one would
of predicted was the last HR, which goes to Jose Molina, for only his
3rd home run of the season… baseball is pretty random. [Other Lasts - Last Strikeout: Joba. Last Hit: Giambino. Last SB: Abreu.]
-
Watching the legends take the field prior to the game took the breathe
out of my lungs, while the farewell speech made by the Yankee Capt’n
Derek Jeter left me with only one word that I could muster… “wow”. It
was short and sweet but it felt almost as great as Gehrig’s.
- There
is so much to talk about and yet I have no other words to spill as of
yet… will probably add on later or tomorrow, but one thing I must
say: Yankee Stadium got all that it deserves tonight. Thnks Fr Th Mmrs.
P.S. For my tribute to Yankee Stadium check out my last post.
Tribute To The Holy Ground
With it’s last game to be played 8 hours from now, I believe it’s that time.
Time to bow down to all that is Yankee Stadium.
Here’s The Tribute To:
1. The Legends
Obviously,
you can’t mention Yankee Stadium without mentioning the greats that
have played there. Considering how long that list is, I won’t reiterate
the names here, but you know who they are. Their ghosts still roam the
grounds while their predecessors wear the pinstripes.
2. The Fans
It’s
nothing but the truth that the fans of this franchise are the loudest,
most obnoxious, flagrant, offensive, in-your-face,
apologize-for-nothing, perform-or-else fans there are… and they
aren’t ashamed of it. They’ll boo poor performance, get criticized
because of it and do it again the next day. However, in the end, all
a player has to do is be decent off the field, play their heart out on
the field and come to win to be idolized forever. Plus, there is no
stronger bond between strangers than there is between Yankee fans in
the House.
3. The One They Call Freddy
When
a man just two years younger than the stadium itself comes to the
ballpark night after night to cover every inch of the grandstand,
hoping to get some fans off their feet and cheering or clanking a pan
that can be heard blocks away for luck, he becomes as a part of the
ballpark experience as the Cracker Jack and the national anthem. Freddy
is man #26.
4. The Bleacher Creatures
Only
in Yankee Stadium would a bunch of fans sitting farthest from the game
be crazy in non-alcoholic seats, appear to begin and end all chants and
manage to create a new Yankee tradition, known to all as… the roll
call.
5. Sinatra
The
man’s voice singing “New York, New York”, whether after a win or a
loss, is one that you look forward to after the game. When the final
out is recorded it’s just clockwork… [you know how it goes].
6. The “Frieze”
Whether
adorning the upper deck or above the bleachers, the trademark frieze
that will be carried on over to the new stadium has become the signal
that the ballpark you’re in is indeed the Cathedral of Baseball.
7. The Blue
It ain’t just any blue. Navy blue. Strong and proud… fitting in defining the Yankees themselves.
8. The Spots
In
the back of the minds of the players and fans, an unbelievable play or a
historic home run can be vividly seen just by looking at the spot where
it occurred. Just a few to mention: the spot where Jeter flew into the
stands in ’04… or the spot where Hayes caught the final out of Game 6
in ’96… or the spot where Boone’s homer landed, knocking the Red Sox out in
’03… or the spots where the numerous Hall Of Famers of the game took at the
start of the final All-Star Game in Yankee Stadium this past July.
9. The Mystique
It’s
hard to fully describe this one into words but anyone who has merely
been to the stadium or remembers the first time they visited Yankee
Stadium knows what I’m talking about. It’s kind of that cheesy
Disneyland commercial feeling that hits you when you see the field lit
up as you enter. Grass feels like it’s never looked greener, the night
sky feels like it’s never looked clearer and even if only for a couple
hours, everything feels just as it should be.
And last but not least…
10. The City
It is fact that no
other city in the country or the world would be able to do a better job
of housing this team. The New York City lights provide the spotlight,
the 8 million people provide the hype, the borough of the Bronx
provides the stage and Yankee Stadium provides the memories to last a lifetime.
Side Note: For anyone watching or following the game tonight [which should be everyone] Jason over at Heartland Pinstripes is hosting a HDLR [Heartland Digital Living Room] event so stop by for some chinwag during the game.
One To Set The Stage
And the countdown sits at 1.
It’s only fitting that the game before the last would be of the walkoff variety.
Side Notes:
- I only have only one word for Aceves: impressive.
- It
would be pure torture if Jeter is unable to play tomorrow because he
gets hit by a pitch in the last inning of this game. However, I’m sure
the Capt’n will play with one arm, even for just one inning, if he has to.
- Cano is currently the last to hit a home run in the ballpark as of yet. I’m thinking tomorrow’s game will be similar
to this one in that the early innings will be scoreless. No doubt the
guys will be swinging for the fences. I predict A-Rod will be the one. I hope
Jeter does it though.
- The
Yanks can get eliminated any day now, including tomorrow. It will kill
everyone if the Yanks lose the final game in the House but if that
should happen and the Red Sox win their game tomorrow, the Yanks would
get x’ed out on the day their stadium does. Does it amaze anyone else
how these things unfold?
- The suspense is killing me.
P.S.
I will be posting probably my longest post tomorrow. It will be a
tribute to the stadium so check it out before the game tomorrow.
79 Down, 2 To Go
And the countdown sits at 2.
No
matter how many times you say it out loud it’s still hard to accept the
fact that the Cathedral will be forced to witness it’s last two games
of it’s 85 year long life in the next two days. With a ballpark that
encompasses the essence of baseball itself, there is one thing that
must be mentioned as it’s doors begin to close… and that, my friends, is
that the stadium, even long after it is brought down, will not die. The
one right next to it will not diminish the lifetime of memories the
current Yankee Stadium has created within it’s walls, nor will it allow
people to forget the passion that has been generated by it. After the last game, the House
that Ruth built will continue to live as the legends do, in the
whispers of the wise on the days when the game was all you needed.
Side Notes:
-
Not a bad day for the “move over Melk” man, Brett Gardner. The catch by
him in the 4th was one of the few that you have to see the replay
immediately to make sure what you just saw was real. He even got a
smile from Pavano, who continues to amaze all by remaining on the mound.
- I could see it 365 days a year and Mo’s entrance would still get me every time.
- Not much else to say about this game… or any game other than the one that will be played on Sunday. Like every other person
that can’t afford a ticket, I will be watching the game through my TV
screen. It’s doesn’t have to be said, but I’m going to say it anyway…
fact of life: you have to be rich or connected to do anything these
days. However, no worries, the new stadium will benefit the average fan
by decreasing the number of seats and increasing the number of suites
[word that means money]… must be excited about that.
Edit: I don’t know how I managed to space out when titling this one, but I got it right now. [Thanks for the heads up Level.]
Moving On To Last Series In Yankee Stadium
And the countdown sits at 3.
The
last series in Yankee Stadium will start tomorrow against the team the
Yanks “coincidentally” started out as. As for this game, wasn’t paying
attention through most of it today so the notes will be brief…
Side Notes:
-
The hope for 20 remains alive. The Moose train refuses to stop. The
wealthy applause from the fans as Mussina exited was nice. Mike Mussina
must be back in pinstripes in 2009 period.
- Abreu wants to be back in ’09 as well huh?
- A-Rod, stay away from the hair dye.
-
There have been a lot of sad things about the Yanks this season, but
how sad was it that it was even mentioned that this win ensured a
winning season for the Yanks this year? I don’t even have a comment for
that.
P.S. I’m featured on the MLBlogs front page. Feeling cool 
I’m actually from Brooklyn though, but w/e.
P.P.S.
Congrats to Zach Hample for the two great catches, awesome dance and
uber amount of famousness [I hope that's a word] he’s gotten from it.
Edit:
To add on to the Joe G. statements of denial/naiveness [again, hoping
that's a word]: “Well, the season is not over for us”… Girardi is a funny guy.
Record Never To Be Broken Again
Derek Jeter officially now stands alone.
Few
records these days are considered untouchable. Though it may seem
highly unlikely another individual will surpass some of these marks,
there is always that slight chance that someone will come along and
achieve that which was once thought impossible. However, because no one will ever take another at bat in this
Yankee Stadium again, Derek Jeter can now say he owns a record that
will forever be unbreakable. Ruth may have built the House, but Jeter has his name branded on it.
Side Notes:
- I don’t know if Pettitte is nursing some
injury that he refuses to admit or what, but the guy that defined
reliable has been anything but for a while this season. In his last 10
starts he is sporting an ERA of 6.75. If Andy is back for another year
next season, it’d be great if vintage Pettitte decided to show up again.
- Just a little
bit advice going out to fans at the stadium: Get off of A-Rod’s a**. I
like the act of booing just as much as the next fan when a guy’s
performance warrants it, but when the entire lineup really hasn’t done
squat all year and team has no chance of making the postseason,
why bother? I could understand if the Yanks were pushing for a playoff
spot and Alex was failing every time in the clutch [as he has the
tendency to do that] it’d be a different story, but c’mon… now you’re
just making Yankee fans seem horrible [even more than they already
seem, of course].
- Didn’t see the
entire game today so I don’t have much else to say about it, but am I
the only one who still feels insanely odd when seeing that a series
between the Red Sox and the Rays has become back page story worthy?
I saw this up on mlb.com yesterday:
My first thought after seeing it: How the hell did the Rays become the Yankees?
Original post here.
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