Paul O’Neill - Livin' On a Prayer

Posted By: Miss October

On Saturday night, I went to the final of 10 Bon Jovi concerts held over the past few weeks to mark the opening of the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. We had great seats thanks to an ‘inside’ connection and my sisters and I joked that it would be amazing if Paul O’Neill was sitting in our section. I’m not sure if many Yankee fans know how big a Bon Jovi fan Paul O’Neill is… or perhaps it’s his wife Nevalee who drags him to all the shows. I had seen him (from afar) on two different occasions (at Giants Stadium and Madison Square Garden) and read on the Bon Jovi Web site (yes, I’ll admit to reading it) we were at two other concerts “together.”

While on Saturday night it was a running joke that we would see him – I had my friend email her “inside connection” where Paul O’Neill was sitting just to be funny – I only half believed that he would make the trip out to the East coast during the off-season to attend the show. When my sister told me she saw him on TV Friday night attending the Joe Torre Safe at Home benefit – I had no doubt he and Nevalee would be there! I even joked to Mr. November that I would let him know if there was a sighting..

While my youngest sister headed down to our seats to watch the opening act, the rest of us had a drink at the new Ice Bar. A few minutes later we get a text from my sister advising us that Paul O’Neill and Nevalee were in fact at the show… Unfortunately, they were standing on the side of the stage, so we couldn’t go over to say hello, and they were ushered backstage after the opening act finished their set. They re-emerged however, later in the show at the opposite end of the arena on the side of the stage. Now we were able to witness Nevalee singing along – even knowing the words to the some of the lesser known songs – and, as my sister said – “She’s loving every minute of it!!” Paulie wasn’t quite as enthusiastic, bopping his head around and sending a text message or two during the performance. Yes, we did use binoculars to witness Paul O’Neill rocking out – Jersey style!

You can make him and Nevelee out in the photo posted above -- although it's not quite TMZ.com quality.. next time!

Check back for an upcoming post regarding another encounter with a Yankee legend at a rock concert.. this time I actually talked to the guy for about 20 minutes... (I swear, it's true!)

Wow, It Really HAS Been Awhile…

Posted by: Miss October

ESPN SportsCenter just mentioned in their preview of Tuesday night’s ALCS game between the Red Sox and the Indians that it was four years to the day since Tim Wakefield gave up a game-winning home run to the Yankees’ Aaron Boone in game seven of the 2003 ALCS, which resulted in their last trip to the World Series.

As they replayed the clip, I was reminded of the excitement I felt that night (or the early hours of the morning, as that game went into extra innings). It was only one of many exciting playoff game comebacks and finishes that the Yankees enjoyed during their great run. I realized that night was the last time I felt that excitement about a Yankee win in the playoffs. Those were the days when even if the Yankees were losing late in the game, or were down a game or two in a series, you just knew they would find a way to come back. I haven’t had that feeling during the playoffs in a long time…certainly not this year.

Wish Lists

by: Mr. November

Here are my short lists for a new manager and new 3B, in no particular order:

Manager

Don Mattingly

Joe Girardi

Dallas Green (just to see him make Joba throw 170 pitches in his second career start, and then just so the fans can tear him a new one)

Casey Stengel (prop him up and let's roll)

Montgomery C. Burns (hey, he won a softball championship once)

Me

My dad

Miss October's dad

Miss October

Billy Martin (see: Casey Stengel)

Anyone who can last more than 2 years or until a new owner takes over, if you know what I mean


3B

Mike Pagliarulo

Scott Brosius

Craig Nettles

Hensley Muelens (I just want to hear the Bleacher Creatures shout out a "Bam-Bam" roll call)

Mike Lowell (this may actually happen)

Miguel Cabrera (this won't)

Josh Wang (3B on my softball team; believe it or not, he's not Asian)

Anyone who doesn't make in one year the equivalent of a small country's GDP for 100 years, yet who can get a big hit when it matters

9-0

by: Mr. November


That should have been the score in the 3 games the Yankees lost to the Indians in the ALDS. 9-0 is the "official" score of a forfeited game, and the Bombers played like they were forfeiting.

Lifeless, listless, powerless, and with little pitching, the Yankees swung and missed at every opportunity and double-played their way out of the postseason. Chien-Ming Wang failed to show any heart TWICE, and Roger Clemens had no business taking the mound in the first place. Throughout the entire series, Yankee bats did nothing of note.

All the while, Joe Torre sat stoic, seemingly resigned to his (and the team's fate). One look into the Yankee dugout last night, even as the team attempted rally after rally, showed the players not standing against the dugout fence, anticipating every pitch. Instead, they sat back, on the bench, looking as uninterested as a 15-year old skateboarder sitting in chemistry class.

The time has indeed come for a change, and rightfully so. Howard Bryant of ESPN.com puts it best, so no need for me to try and rehash his words. Let's leave it at this - 2008, new year, new team, completely new look.

I, for one, welcome it.

Kennys Can't Play in New York -- Only vs. the Yankees in the ALDS

Posted by: Miss October

Kenny Lofton – of all people – was last night’s “player of the game.” The veteran, who spent a “grouchy” season in Yankee pinstripes in 2004 (at least the New York Times called him "grouchy" this morning) had three hits and drove in four runs for Cleveland in game 1 of the ALDS. When I saw him step to the plate in his first at bat, I thought Wang would be able to escape the first inning with only giving up one run… unfortunately I was wrong. Lofton showed signs of early-90s form when he played with the Indians – prompting ESPN.com to run the headline “Just Like Old Times.”

As I started to write this, another ex-Yankee named Kenny came to mind. Kenny Rogers. Last year, when the Yankees faced the Tigers in the ALDS, Kenny pitched a gem as Yankee after Yankee looked dumbfounded at the plate. Was this the same Kenny Rogers, who, with the Yankees down 2 games to 1 in the 1996 World Series, had a disastrous outing, giving up 5 runs in 5 innings in what seemed like a “must-win” game?? (Of course Jim Leyritz bailed him out with his eighth inning heroics). These proven “veterans” who just couldn’t cut it in New York have been coming back to haunt the Yankees and their fans lately.

I’m just hoping that vintage, post-season Andy Pettitte shows up tonight (scowl and all) and the headlines tomorrow will again read “Just Like Old Times.”

Biggest Game of the Year

by: Mr, November


Today's game is basically the season for the Yankees. They win, then the series is tied and they are right back on track to come home and face the Indians at the Stadium. They lose, they may as well pack up and head home.

I'm not being pessimistic, just realistic. The last team to come back from a 2-0 deficit in the ALDS? The 2001 New York Yankees. And this year's team just isn't the same.

I'll give the bats a break for last night, even though big outs were made with runners on base numerous times. Seriously though, when you give up 12 runs, what can you ask of your lineup anyway? Needing to score 13 runs to win a playoff game will not get you very far.

So yesterday's goat was obviously Chien-Ming Wang, who set the stage early by giving up 3 runs in the first. Way to show up, Wang. Biggest start of the season for you and you laid a gigantic egg. Here's hoping Pettitte can accomplish today even a fraction of what you failed miserably at last night.

Why?

by: Mr. November

Sometimes I wonder why I enjoy the game of baseball as much as I do. I played for only one year in high school. I had a wicked half-knuckle, half-forkball when I was on the mound, but I couldn't get a hit if the pitcher rolled a bowling ball to the plate. Seeing as the BCSL American Division in north Jersey didn't exactly promote the role of the designated hitter, my playing days were cut short.

I had always been a Yankees fan (outside of an ill-advised half season of rooting for the Mets as well in 1986 - sorry, Dad), but I guess my interest waned a bit during my high school years. Once I stopped playing the game myself, I got involved in my school's theater program. I was more caught up in getting laughs on stage than watching grown men play a kid's game for millions of dollars. I have to admit that when then strike of 1994 hit, it didn't phase me as much as it should have.

Then I went to college in Boston, a rabid baseball town. Even during my lesser years, I still watched the Yankees as much as I could and followed the game overall. But living in Boston, literally walking distance from Fenway Park, sparked my desire for the game all over again. My love of baseball in general and of the Yankees specifically grew with every Red Sox fan I met. I started going to games again, even non-Yankee games, and I learned to appreciate all the nuances that had alluded me in my years away from the field.

Turns out I still had the love for the game. All the years I had supposedly not been a real fan were still there in my memory. I was able to carry on full conversations (OK, arguments) with other fans about Yankees seasons and players of old. I started to amaze myself - I thought I hadn't been paying full attention all those years! Guess I was all along.

When the Yankees won their first World Series in 18 years in the fall of 1996, I watched the last out from a dorm room in Warren Towers on Commonwealth Ave. I called my dad during the final inning and we watched it "together" on the phone. It felt like the right thing to do and, looking back, it was.

Eleven years later (yes, I'm getting old), I'm sitting and waiting for the 2007 Yankees to take the field in Cleveland for their first game of the current postseason. I'm alone this time, in my house, with my wife at work and my dog sleeping on the coach. My passion for the Yankees has never been greater. I will cheer every hit and curse every out. The "NY" tattoo on my right calf still looks good, if you ask me.

And yes, I will call my dad during the game, probably more than once. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Pre-Game Warmup Picture of the Day...

Posted By: Miss October


Don't hurt yourself, A-Rod... we are expecting BIG things from you this October... starting tonight. Please prove that my psychic powers are correct and hit a home run in your second at bat. -- See, I even put it in writing -- C.C. Who???

Does It Even Matter?

by: Mr. November


As I watch the Yankees take on the Devil Rays (5-0 Yanks after 3 innings), I wonder if all this fuss about catching the Red Sox for first place even matters. On one hand, it matters to me, since if the Yanks do finish first, my friend Rob (grew up in Long Island, but a huge Sawx fan - go figure) will owe me $100.

But does it really matter to the Yankees themselves? Torre has come out and said that, though they will still play to win games, once the Yanks clinch a playoff birth, he will be more concerned with getting the rotation in order and the veterans healthy than he will with winning the AL East. And I can't really blame him. As it stands right now, if the Yankees take the wild card, they'll face the Indians in the ALDS - and the Indians couldn't beat the Yankees all season.

But I'd argue that winning the division does matter. Not as much as it did in 1978, when overtaking the Red Sox for the division title meant not only making the playoffs, but also keeping he Sawx out of them. Today, with the advent of the wild card, winning the division means a bit less (even if you get to choose the amount of days off for the first round). But it does mean something when it comes to the mental aspect of the game.

If the Yankees can catch the Red Sox for 1st place after being back as many as 14 1/2 games this season, it would give them a psychological edge over their rivals going into the postseason. No one wants to "back into" the playoffs, even they have one of the top 2 or 3 records in the majors. If the Red Sox do manage to only claim the wild card this season, it will feel like a huge loss to them before the second season even starts. And any huge loss for Boston is a huge win for New York.

Jumping the Gun?

Posted By: Miss October

With only about two weeks left in the regular season, I realize that the Yankees are a long shot to win the AL East –honestly, after the trials and tribulations of this past year, I’m thrilled that they are still playing meaningful games at this point in the season. Radio personalities across the dial (even the extremely loyal John Sterling) indicated that after Saturday’s loss to the Red Sox, the Yankees should basically forget about winning the division and only focus on securing the wild card.

With a Red Sox loss last night, the Yankees are only 3 ½ games out, with 12 to play. The Boston Globe reported today that Red Sox “ace” "Daisuke Matsuzaka’s next start has been bumped back until Saturday as the Sox align their rotation for the playoffs (and give Matsuzaka an extra three days' rest)." I’m not sure it makes sense to take Dice K out of his normal cycle of pitching days/off days so close to the post-season – especially when starters are often called upon to pitch on short rest during short playoff series.

In any case, it will be interesting to see just how “hungry” Francona is to win the division, if the Yankees keep creeping closer. He might actually persuade Manny to play in a game before the end of the season, instead of just “leaving it up to him.”

48 and 124

Those are the stolen bases numbers for and against the Toronto Blue Jays this season. Yet, for some unknown reason, Bobby Abreu chose to not attempt to steal second in the top of the 9th inning of last night's game. Alex Rios did steal second in the bottom of the 9th, eventually scored, and the Blue Jays won the game.

Let's assume for a moment that Abreu's pretend steal attempt would have been successful. If the rest of the inning played out the same as it did, he would have scored on Cano's deep ground ball up the middle. Then, fans would have seen Mariano in the 9th, as opposed to Chris Britton.

Did Abreu have the green light? Was he waiting for Torre to give him the go-ahead from the dugout? Not sure...but we are sure of what kind of result comes from not taking an obvious chance.

The Future Looks Bright

Posted by: Miss October

When the Yankees’ season got off to a rough start, Yankee fans were growing impatient. My Dad went so far as to say in mid-May – “trade all the high-paid starting pitchers, forget about this season, and bring up the kids from the minors and give them a chance.”

Injuries to the starting rotation almost forced the Yankees to do just that – turning to the likes of Tyler Clippard, Matt DeSalvo and Jeff Karstens to fill in the gaps. When things got really desperate, phenom Phil Hughes was called up earlier than the Yankees would have liked – in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

Several months have passed, and while Clippard and DeSalvo have been sent back to pay their dues in the minor leagues – a couple of new Baby Bombers have been making their mark – and keeping the Yankees playoff contention. I can talk all day about Joba Chamberlain, but Ian Kennedy’s stellar pitching performance last night was just another encouraging sign of great things to come. Hopefully the days of paying millions of dollars for so-called “proven” pitchers who just don’t have what it takes to make it in NY are over. I’m looking forward to seeing these 20-somethings strut their stuff and hopefully watch them have long, successful careers in pinstripes.

100 wins

The Yankees need to go 22-0 the rest of the season in order to win 100 games. I'm here to say it won't happen. It's just like me to go out on a limb.

I will, however, use this space to guarantee a playoff spot. The Mariners showed that, even if they decided to call up the entire state of Washington on September 1st, they simply don't have the manpower (especially in the bullpen) to make a playoff run. The Tigers have slumped and the Blue Jays are essentially a non-factor (regardless of what hopeful analysts and Toronto fans want to think).

So, the Yankees are in. But, can they go the extra mile and make up the 6 game deficit in the AL East? Stranger things have happened.

by: Mr. November

Next Stop ... Hollywood!

Posted by: Miss October

Rookie phenom Joba Chamberlain has quickly won the hearts of Yankee fans in the five games in which he has appeared – and with good reason. In the seven innings he has pitched in relief, he’s only allowed two hits, two walks, has 11 strike outs – and has yet to give up a run. His pitching repertoire consists of 100-mile fastballs and a series of sliders and curveballs that have kept batters guessing.

As the Yankees take their first trip out West to play a big, three-game series against their nemesis of recent years – the Angels – it’s fitting that Los Angeles – the home of the stars – serves as the next stop in Chamberlain’s young career. After having impressive outings against the likes of Toronto, Cleveland and Baltimore, Chamberlain’s manhandling of some of the Detroit Tigers’ heaviest hitters over the weekend turned even more heads.

The inspirational story of Joba’s upbringing sounds like a tale you would find in a Hollywood screenplay. Joba’s parents divorced when he was young and he and his sister were raised by his father, who was stricken by polio as a baby, leaving the left side of his body almost immobile. The 21-year old still remains close to his father to this day, who says he is Joba's number one fan.

With less than two weeks of major league service under his belt, Joba’s future sure looks bright. Yankee fans are hoping his star continues to rise, high enough to earn the baseball equivalent of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame one day…

It's Your Ball, but...

by: Mr. November


...give me a break.

Walter Kowalczyk is a 29-year-old Rutgers student who caught A-Rod's 500th homerun ball on Saturday. According to a report on ESPN.com, Walter is "hiding out" with his family while he decides exactly what he should do with the ball.

Hey, Walter, here's what you should do - get the ball back to A-Rod. I'm not advocating that every fan who catches an important ball should automatically give the ball back to the player who hit it, but this is a bit different. Walter and his family complain that he "drained his bank account" in order to buy season tickets, so he "deserves a break." I'm not sure what this means, but Walter apparently believes that it means he should sell the ball to a faceless memorabilia collector for an obscene amount of money.

Newsflash, Walter - if you need to drain your bank account in order to buy Yankee tickets, DON'T BUY YANKEE TICKETS.

So, please, get the ball back to A-Rod. Ask for an autograph, a jersey, maybe even some tickets for next season. But please, whatever you do, don't insult the Yankees and fans everywhere by showcasing your ridiculous greed.

Who IS this guy??

Posted by: Miss October

Shelley Duncan?! Who is this guy? After watching him hit his first home run yesterday, he follows it up with two more (so far at least) today.

Yankee fans rarely have the chance to root for rookies who have come up through the Yankee farm system and wonder if they will turn into a legitimate, everyday AL home run threat. As we all know too well, usually the front office prefers to go after high priced, veteran home run hitters to put some punch in the Yankee lineup.. from Reggie Jackson to Gary Sheffield... and tons in between.

I'm actually hard pressed to think of one Yankee 'home grown' who turned into a HR hitter with huge numbers every year. ....

It's refreshing to see Duncan get off to such a quick start.. although we must keep everything in perspective. We've been fooled before by hot rookie starts. Remember Kevin Maas, Shane Spencer.. among others?? In any case, it's at least nice to see some youth and excitement in the Yankee dugout... but it will take some more convincing to see if it's enough to put this Yankee team on the huge tear it needs...

How Can This Be?

by: Mr. November

Some people may ask how the Yanks could lose to the Devil Rays by a score of 14-4. This is an especially good question when you take into account a few things:

1) The Yanks had been playing some damn good baseball, up until yesterday at least.
2) If they have any hope of making the playoffs, the Yankees need to win games. In a row. With very few loses.
3) Tonight's opponent was the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, for the love of God.

I don't have the answer. If I did, I'd be the manger (and then I could sit on my ass, holding a bat, passively admitting that the 2007 version of the game of baseball is rapidly passing me by). But I will say this: the current Yankees team doesn't have that...thing. They don't seem to have what it takes to win when they simply have to win. They don't seem to care.

Finally, this team's attitude is matching the outward demeanor of its manager.

Black and White

by: Mr. November


After hearing and reading Gary Sheffield's recent comments about Joe Torre, I decided to do a little bit of research. Something just didn't seem quite right. Sheffield claimed that Torre treated black players differently than he did white players; he tended to call them out in meetings while talking to white players behind closed doors.

In a statement more about the lack of diversity in baseball than the policies of Torre, I started to wonder exactly how many black players played with the Yankees during the Sheffield years. In my mind, it simply didn't seem like too many. Sheffield played for the Yankees in 2004, 2005, and part of 2006. Go ahead, think about it - name some other black players during those years.

There were more than I thought. Here they are, with the number of games they played during the Sheffield era in parentheses: Gary Sheffield (347), Derek Jeter (467), Tom Gordon (159), Tony Womack (108), Tony Clark (106), Kenny Lofton (83), Shawn Chacon (31), Matt Lawton (21), Kevin Thompson (15), and Terrence Long (12), and Homer Bush (9) Whew. 11 black Yankees from 2004-2006, if you're a reasonable person and disagree with Sheffield and include Derek Jeter in that list.

I don't agree with anything Gary Sheffield said. I don't even believe he and Jeter were best friends when they were teammates. I am, however, taken aback by the numbers in the previous paragraphs. 120 players, if you consider 40 man rosters (but disregard repeats) and only 11 black players. That's not a Torre problem, that's a baseball problem.

Things that Make You go Hmmm....

It's always amusing to observe the different kinds and incarnations of Yankee gear worn by devoted fans while at Yankee Stadium..

You have Yankee gear in a variety of colors.. ranging from green Yankee hats to red Yankee hats to unbelievably girly pink Yankee hats (you will never catch ME wearing pink Yankee gear!).

Then you have the people who spend their hard-earned money on expensive "authentic" jerseys. What boggles my mind is the people who will purchase an "authentic" looking Yankee pinstriped Jersey with the name of a player printed on the back -- which automatically makes it "unauthentic."

The amusing sight this past Sunday was the "jersey" I spotted while waiting for the subway. It was an "authentic" Yankee jersey with the number 36 and the last name "Gordon" on the back.

I still can't decide which is more amusing -- the fact that someone actually paid money for a Tom Gordon jersey, or that the person still wears it.

Joe #2

posted by: Mr. November


It doesn't take a baseball genius to figure out why Joe Girardi turned down the Orioles' managerial job this week. As a Yankees broadcaster, Girardi is tuned into the inner workings of the team, even if it's indirectly. He knows that there is a serious chance that Joe Torre will not make it through the season and that, even if he does, he may not return for 2008.

Joe Torre is a Yankee icon - 4 World Series titles, 11 straight postseason appearances, 2,000 career wins. And this is just on the field. When you consider beating cancer, taking care of his ailing brother, his domestic abuse charity and Subway commercials, Torre's a pretty popular guy to say the least.

But it sure seems like Girardi knows something we don't. Is he sticking around with the hopes of taking over the Yankees managerial icon? It sure looks like a real possibility. And I wouldn't complain.