How 'Bout Them Yankees?

Here is the traditional Saturday morning thread, with a Yankee twist.

My earlier prediction that the Yankees would be finished with Texas in six has stood up nicely.  I think fans enjoyed the auditions of Yankees-in-waiting Cliff Lee and (a few years down the road) Elvis Andrus. And now, like Obama, Nancy and Harry we are saying 'Bring on Next Year!'.

Comments

[peter]

Somnolence and sclerosis in our bats. As one Yankee fan has pointed out, at least Phil Hughes also lost the all-star game, so the Rangers will not have a home field advantage in the World Series. Another pointed out that Joe Girardi might be the Rangers' MVP. But I am over it. swear. seriously. I mean it. over. it. not. bitter. no longer making fun of Blimpie Molina's obesity. I really mean it this time.

[sbw]

Even Mike Francesca said the chances of Cliff Lee coming to the Yankees was slim because of the huge Democrat-imposed tax penalty of moving to New York.

If sports regulars have the Dems painted correctly, the tide of change moves closer.

[Captain Hate]

Since this is a thread with a sports motif, David Stern is holding court for his usual round of interviews as the NBA is about to start (too early, of course, but not nearly as bad as baseball in November for example). He's dropped the bombshell of possibly contracting teams, which should be a massive red flag to all the owners about how they need to dump him before all their investments turn to junk. He witlessly believes that the Miami Heat situation should be fan-neutral, which a perusal of the reactions over the interwebbz should dispel; "OMG there are all these empty arenas BUT THE NBA IS FANNNNNTAAAAASTIC!!1!11" Also the league lost hundreds of millions last year yet he seems to think that owners should subsidize the WNBA lesbian date nights at the arenas. The contract with the player's association expires after this season and it's clear that he's trying to blame the financial problems of the league on them (which is obviously true to a large extent) as if he's had nothing to do with fans being turned off by things like the Tim Donaghy situation.

[peter]

I haven't been able to afford to go to an NBA game in over two decades. Wouldn't shock me if there is contraction.

[Guglielmo Martino]

Did anyone get George Steinbrenner's reaction after the game?

[Jack is Back!]

Yeah, that'll work - go out spend billions on getting Cliff Lee, Elvis Andrus and other big time names and players put them in the New York media hot seat and watch them slip down the chain of baseball greatness just like the current team. Of course, the Yankees could follow the Rays, Rangers, Twins and Giants model of using their farm system and not their wallets but that is not the New York way.

I just watched the ESPN capsule video of the game and it looks like instant replay is on the table at the Owner's winter meeting. Either that or Swisher gets an Oscar for best performance by a hit/unhit batter in a LCS.

[Captain Hate]

One thing I've noticed is the quality of umpiring has just been horrible over the last 2 seasons. Instant replay will only partially remedy that (and will increase the already too lengthy game times) and I'm not sure that goof Selig has any plausible way of dealing with it.

[hit and run]

Greetings from just over the Virginia border up in the Smoky Mountains. It is a cool,crisp 34 degrees outside,the creek is running high for this time of year,the leaves still have a little color left. The sun is about to peek over the hill,and we are about to go on a 17 mile bike ride.

What a great game. Listened to the first five innings on AM radio,with a signal that was going in and out. Got to the cabin just in time for Vlad's double. I was very pleased that the series ended with A Rod standing befuddled. To the Series!

[Captain Hate]

Do the Smoky Mountains go up into Virginia (not trying to be a stickler, hit; just an honest question)? Are you close to the Homestead?

[peter]

Of course, the Yankees could follow the Rays, Rangers, Twins and Giants model of using their farm system and not their wallets but that is not the New York way.

Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettite, Robbie Cano, Brett Gardner are all products of the Yankee farm system.

[Janet]

The poor MFM with the Juan Williams story...all confused & spouting gibberish.
Here is Treacher on Greg Sargent,Thought Cop.
From Sargent's article - "The problem, though, is that in his initial comments he didn’t clarify that the instinctual feeling itself is irrational and ungrounded,..."

Ungrounded??? Really???? To fear & be suspicious of Muslims while on an airplane is ungrounded?...I don't think so.

[narciso]

Oh, he is a genius, isn't he Captn, and this extends to all his decisions, in the LUN

[Jane]

I tell you I'm loving this Juan Williams story if only for the reason that Juan has woken up and realized the left are the most intolerant people on the planet.

I want to see that smug Vivian Schiller lose her job and also Nina Totenberg. Hmmmm I'm feeling a bit sadistic today I guess.

[hit and run]

Do the Smoky Mountains go up into Virginia

Ooh,good question. I've no idea.

Let's call them the Appalachians.

We're having a Road to Damascus (Virginia) weekend.

[Captain Hate]

I hope Ssrgent keeps writing that garbage up until 11/2.

[centralcal]

I agree Jane. I sure wouldn't want to be in Mara Liasson's shoes. Oh, I think her job at NPR is safe (for now) because they surely don't need anymore bad PR. But, I bet she is being hounded for her comments (FNC contacted her and was told "no comment") and wouldn't she want to offer some sort of condolence to Juan? After all he is a colleague, both at Fox and NPR.

Talk about really awkward situations. Plus, if I heard right, isn't Juan also hosting Fox News Sunday this weekend? If correct (not sure) I suppose we wouldn't be seeing Mara on the panel.

[Clarice]

There's a big article on this in today's WaPo --abut the internals at NPR where they are worrying this may effect their funding..Go to the very end and read the clueless carp from the head of our local NPR station WAMU.

[narciso]

That would be Diane Rehm's station, right

[Jane]

If we don't cut off their funding, I give up. And Vivian can have that as her smug legacy.

[Sue]

Wow. Another reason Cliff Lee might stay in Texas. No state income tax.

It really pissed me off last night to hear the after the game show people talking so casually about how Cliff Lee would fit in with the Yankee system. As if it was a done deal. I hate the Yankees.

::grin::

Great day. I woke up with a smile on my face just thinking about A-Rod going down on a called strike.

[Porchlight]

Congratulations to Sue and Gmax and all the Rangers fans here!

NPR and its supporters seem to think that government funding guarantees NPR's "independent" voice and that withdrawing those funds would be akin to censorship.

Have you ever heard anything so backward?

[Captain Hate]

Plus, if I heard right, isn't Juan also hosting Fox News Sunday this weekend?

Fox is taking full advantage of National Soros Radio's complete tone-deafness in this by tooling them at every opportunity; plus any time Chris Wallace doesn't host FNS is a good day. It will be interesting how this plays on "Meet the Depressed" and "This Week with Christiaaaaaaaaaaaawn Amapooooooooour".

Contrary to what a lot of people seem to think, I think Mara Liasson has NSR completely bent over at this point.

[Captain Hate]

Porch, I've continually tried to inform libs on the disconnect of relying on a state-controlled source of news but their commie school indoctrination precludes them from getting it.

[Clarice]

Right, narciso. Diane Rehm, quintessential droner of misinformation.

[Porchlight]

Yeah Cap'n, I know if I logged onto Facebook and unhid all my friends who post annoying lefty political stuff, it'd be all NPR vs. Fox today.

That's really what this is, anyway - NPR vs. Fox. Or rather, Soros vs. Fox, with NPR as a proxy.

[Extraneus]

That's a good take for a nice cheerful comment by Boehner.

"The news media is an essential part of our democracy, and should be vigorously protected from any hint of government influence. That's why we're helping CPB, PBS and NPR to become independent entities in this year's budget, and we wish them every success in the marketplace of ideas."

[centralcal]

Extraneus: What an excellent quote from Boehner! Yeah, let's help them become independent. Perfect!

[Rick Ballard]

"and we wish them every as much success as Air America in the marketplace of ideas."

The tanned guy from Ohio is going to do just fine as Speaker. National Proglodyte Radio can be sure that he will help them get beyond the precipice in any way he can.

[centralcal]

Obama got called out by Mark Knoller on his frequent use of "sippin' on a slurpee."

Next Tuesday night, while I am glued to the TV watching election returns, and sitting here in front of the computer following the comments, I intend to drink my cocktail from a slurpee cup from the local 7-11.

All in honor of Barack Hussein Obama and his fellow travelers.

[Porchlight]

I intend to drink my cocktail from a slurpee cup from the local 7-11.

I think I'm just going to put the vodka straight into the Slurpee.

Saving my best Burgundy for the evening of November 3rd.

[Porchlight]

That is awesome from Boehner.

The congressional Repubs should just smile, be casual, and indicate that they're putting this on their priority to-do list for 2011. That's it. A couple of statements like this and then more talking. No details. Let the lefties just stew and worry and fret.

[Porchlight]

oops, that should be "no more talking" of course...

[Extraneus]

Er... Just in case there's any confusion, that was my advice to Boehner, not yet a comment he's actually made. :-)

[Extraneus]

Yeah, Porch, that's the lesson from Gingrich. No talking. Just a few nice warm fuzzy statements about principle, and no more talk.

First they have to win, though, and it's not in the bag until it's over.

[Captain Hate]

Obama got called out by Mark Knoller on his frequent use of "sippin' on a slurpee."

Is Jugears McFly so insecure that he's surrounded himself with toadies unwilling to say "Stop using that stupid line; it makes you sound like an idiot"? Don't bother responding; I think I know the answer.

[Sue]

Capt'n

Think Michelle. Of course they surround themselves with toadies. Otherwise she wouldn't leave the house with some of those outfits on.

[centralcal]

No kidding, Sue. A normal person wouldn't wear them around the house, either!

My daughter was getting dressed for work last week when the electricity went out. She fumed on Facebook that she struggled to get dressed for work and later discovered, when her neck felt irritated, that she had put her turtleneck on backwards. I had fun telling her she was just being "fashion forward/backwards" like Michelle Obama.

[Porchlight]

Sorry, Extraneus! I totally missed that it was your suggestion to Boehner. I'm a bit fuzzy this morning. ;)

[centralcal]

Bummer, Extraneus. I was hoping Boehner actually said something that smart! Should have known it was you, not him! (sigh)

[Pagar]

"If we don't cut off their funding,"

IMO, cutting off the funding of the NPR is a good first step. But if the funding for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is allowed to continue than it will have all been in vain.

How long can the nation stay above water when 500 Calif HP earn over $150,000 per yr.?

Something has to be done about government employees and their endless quest for more employees and higher wages/pensions.

[daddy]

Last night caught live broadcast of the Yankee's starting about the 6th inning and from about 700 miles northeast of Newark. Very scratchy AM radio channel 850, but then during inning changes would switch to a New York Sports Talk station, (Am 660) for a much better transmitter so less staticky updates. Very enjoyable. Certainly helped me stay awake.

One bone to pick with your Boston Center guys though Jane tho' you may enjoy it. At 172 miles abeam Boston I annonymously transmitted a request to him if he had a decent AM frequency to get the Yankee game. He said he'd check and took a minute getting back to us, then told me the freq and I plugged it in...and it was the Michael Savage show:)

Couldn't tell if he was screwing with me, thinking I was some kind of Yankee fan, but I didn't press it since I wanted to remain anonymous for errr job related reasons, but anyhow, got a chuckle out of that, and went back to scratchy 850.

[caro]

I intend to drink my cocktail from a slurpee cup from the local 7-11.

There is a 7-11 about 100 yards from my polling place and I think I will be sippin as I wander in.

[JM Hanes]

Captain & hit:

Its all part of the Appalachian chain starting with The Smoky Mountains down in Georgia, SC & southeastern TN. It becomes The Blue Ridge in NC and VA and then The Alleghenies from PA through New York. It's got various New England names as it heads up into Canada.

There are other official geological designations, but the above is the basic non-scientific usage.

[matt]

daddy;

never ask a Boston fan anything about the Yankees. It is very much a Shiite - Sunni kind of thing. Boston fans believe the Yankees are apostates who worship the 12th Imam of Baseball, George Steinbrenner, who is now hidden behind a magic veil in right field at the new Yankee Stadium.

The curse of the 12th Imam was broken when the Sox won the Series, but Boston fans are still terrified of ethnic cleansing knowing the Yankees covet their mad mullahs of mayhem, Beltre and Pedroia.

Now does it make sense?

[Sue]

Now does it make sense?

It does to a Rangers fan.

[Sue]

Earlier, Drudge had a picture of Michelle eating a vegetable from the WH garden, like a carrot or something similar. Underneath the picture was the link to a story headlined "First Lady likely to meet sex workers in India". Drudge had removed the picture, which could have had a sexual aura about it if you used your imagination. Would someone make Drudge remove it?

[Danube of Thought]

I marvel at how Brian Cashman can spend $200+ million and end up with a pitching staff that twirls a nifty 6+ ERA in a playoff series.

[JM Hanes]

Extraneus:

Ah shoot. It sure sounds like something Boehner could have said. Maybe he would, if you suggest it at the Boehner Blog!

Folks can also vote to "Terminate Taxpayer Funding of National Public Radio" over at Cantor's You Cut page. I sure wish they'd update their video!

NPR's web form was DOA yesterday, so I sent my comment by email to: [email protected]

I thought I'd add a "Fire Vivian Schiller for Ethical Turpitude" postscript today.

[narciso]

"These goggles do nothin' Sue, how about
Biden's perfect doofus look on that same page

[JM Hanes]

matt:

"It is very much a Shiite - Sunni kind of thing."

LOL.

Did anybody here ever go up to Vermont for the New York vs. Boston Tomato Wars back in the '70s? It was a giant pre-paintball game of capture the flag with leftover tomatoes from local growers as ammunition. The last time I played, the Boston team brought in a helicopter to scout out the enemy. Good times! I think it eventually degenerated into a disorganized weekend of sophomoric drunkenness after the original "Generals" moved on, but it was a great way to spend Columbus Day weekend while it lasted.

[Gmax]

Woke to a smile on my face and a hop in my step. The local news was showing folks in line for 6 hours this morning at an Academy Sports to get Ranger gear. Funny isn't how nothing breeds a following like success. Where were you guys when we were in BK Court and it was unclear if we could afford a drink of water let alone a Cliff Lee contract!

I am going to ignor the slam on Bengie Molina's waistline above, he only hit what almost .400 against the greatest pitching that money can buy! Enjoy the offseason, we got work to do.

[caro]

Go here for today's update on our missing hero,Mark Steyn.

Beginning Monday at SteynOnline, I'll be looking at what I regard as the key issues in this year's election. There's a lot riding on it - and the Republican Party would be foolish to misinterpret the reasons for its looming victories.

[Jane]

One bone to pick with your Boston Center guys though Jane tho' you may enjoy it. At 172 miles abeam Boston I annonymously transmitted a request to him if he had a decent AM frequency to get the Yankee game. He said he'd check and took a minute getting back to us, then told me the freq and I plugged it in...and it was the Michael Savage show:)

Just be grateful they didn't direct you to NPR. Matt's got it just right.

BTW Daddy, you were this close and you didn't stop by? How rude!

[Frau Stein-auf-Stein]

Bless you, caro. (Does Jane know you are sneaking around SteynOnline?)

Steyn: "~Our friends at Investors' Business Daily have more on Juan Williams and his firing by NPR (National Peace-be-upon-him Radio). Funniest headline: "Muslims Fear Juan Williams' Ouster Will Fan Hostility."

[Frau Stein-auf-Stein]

Not too obvious AP headline this morning: "Billionaire NYC mayor campaigns for Whitman."
We all know Brown is *not* as poor as a church mouse.

[PD]

I haven't been able to afford to go to an NBA game in over two decades.

And who'd want to, anyway?

Could we please shrink the season to game 7 of the finals?

[Captain Hate]

I marvel at how Brian Cashman can spend $200+ million and end up with a pitching staff that twirls a nifty 6+ ERA in a playoff series.

In fairness to Cashman (perhaps the only time you'll see me using that phrase) that stadium is a bandbox/launching pad.

[Ken Hahn]

Eight years ago, my team got to its first World Series, beating the Yankees along the way. I wish its expansion twin all the best. And if the Yanks never win another game, great. And if the Red Sox never win another game except against the Yankees even better.

[Danube of Thought]

"In fairness to Cashman (perhaps the only time you'll see me using that phrase) that stadium is a bandbox/launching pad."

Yeah, but half the games were in Texas. And the bandbox didn't seem to bothe the Rangers' staff. Let's face, the Jaba bust was followed by the Hughes and Burnett busts. That staff needs a major overhaul.

[bgates]

Not too obvious AP headline this morning: "Billionaire NYC mayor campaigns for Whitman."

Never seen AP headline:
"Centimillionaire ex-President campaigns for Brown".

[glasater]

Not too obvious AP headline this morning: "Billionaire NYC mayor campaigns for Whitman."

This is perhaps a timely headline in that Charlie Gasparino is saying that Mayor Bloomberg is very seriously considering a run for prez in 2012.

[Ignatz Ratzkywatzky]

--This is perhaps a timely headline in that Charlie Gasparino is saying that Mayor Bloomberg is very seriously considering a run for prez in 2012.--

Good. I can't think of an arrogant, out of touch, nanny state, gasbag more in need of a good public humiliation than Bloomberg, with the possible exception of the chap he'd like to replace.

[matt]

well said, Ignatz!

Of course, he could put Ahnold on the ticket and they could run as the Gasbag/Green Party ticket.

[Ignatz Ratzkywatzky]

--Of course, he could put Ahnold on the ticket--

Not a good match, matt. They could only appear together in outdoor venues because they couldn't fit both their heads in the Vertical Assembly Building, let alone some convention center, simultaneously.

[Brent]

For me, I don’t like Kinser just because of some things he’s said in the past…and a certain fan/former owner of yours that seems to always be there. Also, just think how you’d feel if like…Michael Young left last year and went to the World Series with the Angels or something like that. That’s sort of how I feel about Vlad. Anyway, it’s still better than the Yankees or Red Sox making it I guess. More to Rev’s point: Someone from LSB posted his address and googlemaps directions to his house or a few months ago, so for his part, I can see why he feels the way he does. Besides that, most of us are dudes, and dudes rip on each other…so yeah. Anyway, enjoy your victory!

[matt]

I am a huge Vlad fan. Fact is, the Angels didn't want to pay what he thought he was worth, and Texas did. Now he has got a E ticket to the Series. I think his joy in the game is a big part of why the Angels have had so much success and why Texas is where they are now.

Now bring up the name of that rat bastard Boras and that's something else entirely....