I'm at the Globe, watching the Red Sox play the Blue Jays. Wait, that's not what's happening; the Red Sox are getting killed by the Blue Jays.
A day after Boston let itself earn a playoff berth by watching the Texas Rangers lose out, the Red Sox are looking positively minor league-ish. Roy Halladay is tossing a no-hitter through five, and the camera just cut to a guy in the parking lot who had left the Sox game and was lucky enough to snatch a sixth-inning Blue Jays homer.
Toronto now leads 9-0.
Rest is one thing, but the Red Sox have looked so bad these past few games (albeit with a lot of benchwarmers in) that you wonder whether they'll be able to turn it back on once the postseason starts. The Angels are pretty sharp this year, and no one should be counting them out, especially with the kind of effort Boston's had lately.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are facing off against the Royals, looking for the sweep. Derek Jeter hit a home run in the first at-bat of the game for the Yankees, notching the game at 1 early.
9.30.2009
9.29.2009
Walkoff win #15
Will someone please tell the Yankees that they've clinched the division and can sit back and enjoy themselves until the playoffs start?
New York notched its seventh win in a row tonight, and its 15th walkoff victory, as fill-in Juan Miranda singled home the winning run to beat the Royals 4-3.
Yankees players streamed out of the dugout to celebrate the win, and A.J. Burnett (who also pitched well for the Yanks) delivered his customary pie-to-the-face.
After last night's 8-2 stomping of Kansas City, during which New York used only three of its regular starters, you've got to be happy that these Yankees are keeping the excitement high for every game heading into the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox lost another one to the Blue Jays as they continue to "rest" their players, guessing the Texas Rangers' ineptness will be enough to let them crawl into the last playoff berth. Is it just me, or have the Red Sox been employing this "resting"strategy for the whole second half of the season?
Other Yankees Posts
New York notched its seventh win in a row tonight, and its 15th walkoff victory, as fill-in Juan Miranda singled home the winning run to beat the Royals 4-3.
Yankees players streamed out of the dugout to celebrate the win, and A.J. Burnett (who also pitched well for the Yanks) delivered his customary pie-to-the-face.
After last night's 8-2 stomping of Kansas City, during which New York used only three of its regular starters, you've got to be happy that these Yankees are keeping the excitement high for every game heading into the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox lost another one to the Blue Jays as they continue to "rest" their players, guessing the Texas Rangers' ineptness will be enough to let them crawl into the last playoff berth. Is it just me, or have the Red Sox been employing this "resting"strategy for the whole second half of the season?
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The latest high school football notebook
My latest high school football notebook, written for the MetroWest Daily News of Framingham, Mass.
9.28.2009
Oh well for taking it easy, Yankees
A day after clinching the American League East, winning their 100th game, and having their manager say they'll sit back for the next 10 days until the playoffs start, the Yankees came out and beat up on the Kansas City Royals, winning 8-2 on a rain-delayed night. Oh well for taking it easy.
Facing a team that had beat the Red Sox two games out of four last week (really, Boston?), New York got some nice input from Robinson Cano, who smashed a seventh-inning grand slam from the number-three spot to put the game away for the Yankees.
Cano is hitting .322 this season, his second-best batting average in the bigs, and has surpassed 200 hits this year for the first time in his career.
New York's blowout win came on a night when most of the starters were resting, and fifth pitcher/bullpen man Chad Gaudin was throwing. (Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera and Jorge Posada were the only starters in the game.)
Meanwhile, the Red Sox (considered by most to already be in the American League Championship Series, which they will only do if they beat the powerhouse Angels, after actually making it to the playoffs...which still requires two wins in the next six games) lost a nasty 8-5 tilt to the Blue Jays tonight.
Other Yankees Posts
Facing a team that had beat the Red Sox two games out of four last week (really, Boston?), New York got some nice input from Robinson Cano, who smashed a seventh-inning grand slam from the number-three spot to put the game away for the Yankees.
Cano is hitting .322 this season, his second-best batting average in the bigs, and has surpassed 200 hits this year for the first time in his career.
New York's blowout win came on a night when most of the starters were resting, and fifth pitcher/bullpen man Chad Gaudin was throwing. (Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera and Jorge Posada were the only starters in the game.)
Meanwhile, the Red Sox (considered by most to already be in the American League Championship Series, which they will only do if they beat the powerhouse Angels, after actually making it to the playoffs...which still requires two wins in the next six games) lost a nasty 8-5 tilt to the Blue Jays tonight.
Other Yankees Posts
9.27.2009
There you go, Pats
The pocket crumbled. Tom Brady was hurried. Receivers dropped passes. Brady overthrew passes. The secondary missed big plays. The defense lost key players.
Yes, this has been the storyline for the Patriots this year, and it was the storyline for them again today. Except they won this time.
Gell-headed analysts and Beantown naysayers, mark my words: The great Patriots teams that won in 2001, 2003, and 2004 were not the 2007, light-up-the-sky Patriots. They were a New England team with suspect defense, simple-screen-pass Brady, and wins that weren't gaudy, just wins.
The Patriots still had some issues to work out today, but they got enough working to notch a 26-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
During the game, it was obvious that Brady is still Brady, and all the offense needs is a little more time to get on the same page. Brady was able to stand up in the pocket and make sharp passes. There were still overthrows, and there were still drops, but an improvement over last week's debacle could be seen.
It was a tight contest in the first half, marked by the Falcons' high-powered offense having its way on a couple of drives, and New England's offense looking like no one was on the same page once again. In fact, Brady left the final drive in the first half (a downfield four-minute drive with plenty of time for a touchdown) screaming at several receivers: ones who didn't catch the ball, ones who weren't in the right spot, ones who neglected to run inbounds when looking for the ball, etc., etc.
Well, whether Captain Happy's methods worked or not, the Patriots were able to outscore Atlanta 13-0 in the second half. They had to settle for two more field goals, but Brady finally got a touchdown in there, too, and the team looked one step closer to finally clicking.
Lost in the muddle of all the Patriots who weren't making plays (including Randy Moss at times) was the fact that the defense was outstanding for a third-straight week. (This is a defense that has shed more veterans than an AARP program under audit.)
The Falcons were held to a mere 257 yards, including just 58 on the ground (Atlanta had 219 in two games so far this season). There were no big interceptions, no sacks, and just one fumble (that only accounted for three points). But the defense did its job enough to let the Patriots have the ball for almost 40 minutes, a nice time-of-possession edge.
The Patriots also got a fine performance from running back Fred Taylor, who's been waiting to bust out and give Brady some relief. Taylor lopped off several long yardage runs, including a 17-hash-mark scamper that swung the momentum toward the Patriots getting their first touchdown, which he also scored, in the second quarter.
Taylor ended the day with 21 rushes for 105 yards and a touchdown, which is a pretty good day for any NFL back, let alone a washed-up one from Jacksonville playing for a pass-happy New England team that has five other backs in its queue.
Brady ended up going 25-for-42 with 277 yards and a score. His completion rate was only 59.5%, but that's decent for a guy that started out 10-for-18 (55%).
Moss had 10 catches for 116 yards.
The rest of the receiving and rushing was spread out amongst eight guys.
Leigh Bodden and Brandon McGowan both had a team-high five tackles on defense, and McGowan forced the lone fumble.
The Patriots host Baltimore (3-0) next week at 1 p.m. The Ravens just shut down the Browns 34-3 this week and have also beat the Chargers (31-26) and the Chiefs (38-24) in a year that has been as surprising for Baltimore's huge amount of offense as it has been for the up-and-down nature of its defense.
More Patriots Posts
Yes, this has been the storyline for the Patriots this year, and it was the storyline for them again today. Except they won this time.
Gell-headed analysts and Beantown naysayers, mark my words: The great Patriots teams that won in 2001, 2003, and 2004 were not the 2007, light-up-the-sky Patriots. They were a New England team with suspect defense, simple-screen-pass Brady, and wins that weren't gaudy, just wins.
The Patriots still had some issues to work out today, but they got enough working to notch a 26-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
During the game, it was obvious that Brady is still Brady, and all the offense needs is a little more time to get on the same page. Brady was able to stand up in the pocket and make sharp passes. There were still overthrows, and there were still drops, but an improvement over last week's debacle could be seen.
It was a tight contest in the first half, marked by the Falcons' high-powered offense having its way on a couple of drives, and New England's offense looking like no one was on the same page once again. In fact, Brady left the final drive in the first half (a downfield four-minute drive with plenty of time for a touchdown) screaming at several receivers: ones who didn't catch the ball, ones who weren't in the right spot, ones who neglected to run inbounds when looking for the ball, etc., etc.
Well, whether Captain Happy's methods worked or not, the Patriots were able to outscore Atlanta 13-0 in the second half. They had to settle for two more field goals, but Brady finally got a touchdown in there, too, and the team looked one step closer to finally clicking.
Lost in the muddle of all the Patriots who weren't making plays (including Randy Moss at times) was the fact that the defense was outstanding for a third-straight week. (This is a defense that has shed more veterans than an AARP program under audit.)
The Falcons were held to a mere 257 yards, including just 58 on the ground (Atlanta had 219 in two games so far this season). There were no big interceptions, no sacks, and just one fumble (that only accounted for three points). But the defense did its job enough to let the Patriots have the ball for almost 40 minutes, a nice time-of-possession edge.
The Patriots also got a fine performance from running back Fred Taylor, who's been waiting to bust out and give Brady some relief. Taylor lopped off several long yardage runs, including a 17-hash-mark scamper that swung the momentum toward the Patriots getting their first touchdown, which he also scored, in the second quarter.
Taylor ended the day with 21 rushes for 105 yards and a touchdown, which is a pretty good day for any NFL back, let alone a washed-up one from Jacksonville playing for a pass-happy New England team that has five other backs in its queue.
Brady ended up going 25-for-42 with 277 yards and a score. His completion rate was only 59.5%, but that's decent for a guy that started out 10-for-18 (55%).
Moss had 10 catches for 116 yards.
The rest of the receiving and rushing was spread out amongst eight guys.
Leigh Bodden and Brandon McGowan both had a team-high five tackles on defense, and McGowan forced the lone fumble.
The Patriots host Baltimore (3-0) next week at 1 p.m. The Ravens just shut down the Browns 34-3 this week and have also beat the Chargers (31-26) and the Chiefs (38-24) in a year that has been as surprising for Baltimore's huge amount of offense as it has been for the up-and-down nature of its defense.
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100, baby!
100 wins, the division, and a downing of the Red Sox, all in one day!
The classic Andy Pettitte-Mariano Rivera combo did it again today, with Pettitte showing he hasn't lost his edge (6 innings, 2 earned runs, 4 Ks) and Mo cleaning up in the ninth (44th).
The Yankees have six games left this season, during which they'll be able to tweak their lineup and rotation for the playoffs, which will start either October 7 or 8 for them.
Notables:
Derek Jeter went 2-for-4 today, going after several first pitches and raising his batting average to .333 for the season.
Mark Teixeira went 2-for-4 with a home run. His batting average has slowly risen to .294, and he has a chance to break .300 this season after spending the early months under the Mendoza Line. Teixeira also notched his 38th homer and 120th RBI today, on pace for his best MLB totals, save his 2005 season with Texas.
Nick Swisher, who was 1-for-3 with a double today, has hit 27 home runs this season in 481 at-bats. His career-high, 35, was during a season when he had 556 at-bats. Not bad for a bench-warmer.
Other Yankees Posts
The classic Andy Pettitte-Mariano Rivera combo did it again today, with Pettitte showing he hasn't lost his edge (6 innings, 2 earned runs, 4 Ks) and Mo cleaning up in the ninth (44th).
The Yankees have six games left this season, during which they'll be able to tweak their lineup and rotation for the playoffs, which will start either October 7 or 8 for them.
Notables:
Derek Jeter went 2-for-4 today, going after several first pitches and raising his batting average to .333 for the season.
Mark Teixeira went 2-for-4 with a home run. His batting average has slowly risen to .294, and he has a chance to break .300 this season after spending the early months under the Mendoza Line. Teixeira also notched his 38th homer and 120th RBI today, on pace for his best MLB totals, save his 2005 season with Texas.
Nick Swisher, who was 1-for-3 with a double today, has hit 27 home runs this season in 481 at-bats. His career-high, 35, was during a season when he had 556 at-bats. Not bad for a bench-warmer.
Other Yankees Posts
9.26.2009
Twice now: Yankees over Boston
The Yankees beat the Red Sox 3-0 this afternoon, which, combined with last night's 9-5 shellacking (it wasn't as close as it looks) puts the New York-Boston series for the year at 9-8, Boston's favor, with tomorrow's game still to come.
Of course, no one cares about the season series anymore, especially Red Sox fans, who make a big show of acting like they don't care about going into Yankee Stadium and getting embarrassed. (The Yankees left 32 men on base today and still shut the BoSox out.)
But Boston should care, because with New York about to notch its 100th win tomorrow, the Yankees are back at their rightful spot: American League East leaders, playoff contenders, and perhaps best in the league and World Series champs...we'll see.
The Red Sox have been helpless against the Yankees' onslaught of late. Just check the stats. Boston has been bludgeoned ever since its early 8-0 edge on the Yanks. Ever since the Yankees' slow start, it's been all bats and pitching from the Bronx, torching the Red Sox 13-6, 2-0 (walkoff A-Rod homer in a pitcher's duel), 5-0, 5-2, 20-11, hiccup, 8-4. And there's no question that player-for-player, the Bronx is better than Beantown.
Best yet, the Yankees were about to chase Red Sox ace Jon Lester Friday night when instead they did one better and knocked him out of the game with ball off his knee. These Yankees don't just win; they destroy.
And the Red Sox are going to have to start caring soon, because if they're as good as everyone thinks they are, they'll be meeting the Yankees again soon.
The Yankees are firing on all cylinders right now. Joba Chamberlain (no-hitter through four) and A.J. Burnett are looking good again after some disastrous pitching performances. CC Sabathia recorded his Major League-leading 19th win today. The batting lineup, from top to bottom, has been contributing at an even pace, with no big slumps. And the bullpen is as sharp as ever.
Postseason talk will begin soon, but I'm happy to sit and enjoy the Yankees where they are now: a tick away from 100 wins, sitting pretty on top of the American League East, dominating in all facets of the game.
Boston-New York, tomorrow at 1.
Other Yankees Posts
Of course, no one cares about the season series anymore, especially Red Sox fans, who make a big show of acting like they don't care about going into Yankee Stadium and getting embarrassed. (The Yankees left 32 men on base today and still shut the BoSox out.)
But Boston should care, because with New York about to notch its 100th win tomorrow, the Yankees are back at their rightful spot: American League East leaders, playoff contenders, and perhaps best in the league and World Series champs...we'll see.
The Red Sox have been helpless against the Yankees' onslaught of late. Just check the stats. Boston has been bludgeoned ever since its early 8-0 edge on the Yanks. Ever since the Yankees' slow start, it's been all bats and pitching from the Bronx, torching the Red Sox 13-6, 2-0 (walkoff A-Rod homer in a pitcher's duel), 5-0, 5-2, 20-11, hiccup, 8-4. And there's no question that player-for-player, the Bronx is better than Beantown.
Best yet, the Yankees were about to chase Red Sox ace Jon Lester Friday night when instead they did one better and knocked him out of the game with ball off his knee. These Yankees don't just win; they destroy.
And the Red Sox are going to have to start caring soon, because if they're as good as everyone thinks they are, they'll be meeting the Yankees again soon.
The Yankees are firing on all cylinders right now. Joba Chamberlain (no-hitter through four) and A.J. Burnett are looking good again after some disastrous pitching performances. CC Sabathia recorded his Major League-leading 19th win today. The batting lineup, from top to bottom, has been contributing at an even pace, with no big slumps. And the bullpen is as sharp as ever.
Postseason talk will begin soon, but I'm happy to sit and enjoy the Yankees where they are now: a tick away from 100 wins, sitting pretty on top of the American League East, dominating in all facets of the game.
Boston-New York, tomorrow at 1.
Other Yankees Posts
The Food Blog
My friend Tom is doing a food blog for WBUR, Boston's NPR station.
That inspired me to do a food blog of my own. Today's entry: Fish sticks and cheddar, with cocktail sauce for dipping and a side of Coca-Cola. The fish sticks are prepared with a slight charring of the breading, and the cheddar has been cut in .75x1.82 inch slices. Real cuisine, eh?9.25.2009
More good stuff from NY Mag
New York magazine is fantastic, and the September 28 issue proved no different, with a few great articles. My personal favorite was this feature called "Vu," which highlights different apartments and such available around the city. The best part is their little slideshow on how all that empty office space left over by the recession can be turned into places to live, much like the loft-style apartments rose out of old factory buildings. It's mostly funny, sort of interesting. Oh, and buy the magazine to support journalism; as nice as it is online, it's better in print.
9.23.2009
Yankees in playoffs, take series from Angels
The Yankees edged into the playoffs yesterday when Texas lost, then topped the Los Angeles Angels 6-5 on the fast feet of Brett Gardner, who ran home on an Alex Rodriguez sacrifice fly.
Today, the Yankees beat the Angels again, this time holding off a small comeback to win 3-2. That gives New York the series victory, a reassuring sign after the slides of late (and the recent lackluster performance by the Yankees in the playoffs against the Angels).
That means that all that's left for the Yankees is the division. New York looks to hold off Boston, while in the Central Detroit competes against Minnesota. Los Angeles is holding off Texas's last gasps in the West.
The Yankees are 6.5 games up on the Red Sox headed into Boston's game at Kansas City tonight (where the BoSox have already lost two). After another Royals-Sox bout tomorrow, the Red Sox come to the Bronx for a three-game set this weekend, with Boston's last chance to make a run at the division.
In today's game A.J. Burnett helped everyone calm down by pitching into the sixth with 11 strikeouts and only two earned runs. It was only his second win since July as the Yankees try to line up reliable starters behind CC Sabathia.
Other Yankees Posts
Today, the Yankees beat the Angels again, this time holding off a small comeback to win 3-2. That gives New York the series victory, a reassuring sign after the slides of late (and the recent lackluster performance by the Yankees in the playoffs against the Angels).
That means that all that's left for the Yankees is the division. New York looks to hold off Boston, while in the Central Detroit competes against Minnesota. Los Angeles is holding off Texas's last gasps in the West.
The Yankees are 6.5 games up on the Red Sox headed into Boston's game at Kansas City tonight (where the BoSox have already lost two). After another Royals-Sox bout tomorrow, the Red Sox come to the Bronx for a three-game set this weekend, with Boston's last chance to make a run at the division.
In today's game A.J. Burnett helped everyone calm down by pitching into the sixth with 11 strikeouts and only two earned runs. It was only his second win since July as the Yankees try to line up reliable starters behind CC Sabathia.
Other Yankees Posts
9.22.2009
Patriots Updates
Patriots updates and statistics are now available along the right rail of 17over24.com!
And for anyone who wants to know more about Eastern Massachusetts high school football...
It doesn't get any better than this.
Come back, Welker
I've withheld my comments thus far on the Patriots' treacherous loss to the Jets on Sunday, unable to stomach the lackluster performance by New England.
What was worse? The defense putting up a great opening effort, then getting hung out to dry by the offense? How about Rex Ryan not getting one where he should have (straight in the gullet)? Losing the undefeated season? Not looking like the Patriots?
Sigh. As I sit, Wes Welker is on my wall, clutching the football and making a move in the September spread of my Patriots calendar. I have decided he is the reason the Pats lost.
Welker is supposed to be indestructable. Look at all the ways he got smeared last year then stood up, shaking it off like a penguin. But he was out this Sunday, and the guys who came in were adequate, but they were no Wes Welkers.
The rookie, Julian Edelman, looked great, especially considering he used to be a quarterback. But he had some drops; that's understandable for a newcomer, but not what the Patriots needed on Sunday.
Randy Moss was there, but he was in typical thick coverage the whole game, and was doing his classic "I'm Randy Moss, and I'm asleep" impression. Oh, and that cool trick he does when the ball is right in his hands but he still doesn't catch it, despite being one of the best wide receivers.
And then there was Joey Galloway, an adequate enough receiver whose true fault is not being a real Patriot. Early in the game, a defender tugged on his jersey a little, and he totally missed a pass. His response was to make faces and big gestures with his arm, crowing all the way back to the huddle. Patriots don't act that way, Joey.
So, with the game on the line, Tom Brady had to scamper around in the pocket and take his chances with guys he knew wouldn't come up with the ball every time. (Where was Kevin Faulk, too? That's just poor play-calling there.) No wonder there was no chemistry in the offense.
Please come back, Welker. I think you're the missing piece.
Other Patriots Posts
What was worse? The defense putting up a great opening effort, then getting hung out to dry by the offense? How about Rex Ryan not getting one where he should have (straight in the gullet)? Losing the undefeated season? Not looking like the Patriots?
Sigh. As I sit, Wes Welker is on my wall, clutching the football and making a move in the September spread of my Patriots calendar. I have decided he is the reason the Pats lost.
Welker is supposed to be indestructable. Look at all the ways he got smeared last year then stood up, shaking it off like a penguin. But he was out this Sunday, and the guys who came in were adequate, but they were no Wes Welkers.
The rookie, Julian Edelman, looked great, especially considering he used to be a quarterback. But he had some drops; that's understandable for a newcomer, but not what the Patriots needed on Sunday.
Randy Moss was there, but he was in typical thick coverage the whole game, and was doing his classic "I'm Randy Moss, and I'm asleep" impression. Oh, and that cool trick he does when the ball is right in his hands but he still doesn't catch it, despite being one of the best wide receivers.
And then there was Joey Galloway, an adequate enough receiver whose true fault is not being a real Patriot. Early in the game, a defender tugged on his jersey a little, and he totally missed a pass. His response was to make faces and big gestures with his arm, crowing all the way back to the huddle. Patriots don't act that way, Joey.
So, with the game on the line, Tom Brady had to scamper around in the pocket and take his chances with guys he knew wouldn't come up with the ball every time. (Where was Kevin Faulk, too? That's just poor play-calling there.) No wonder there was no chemistry in the offense.
Please come back, Welker. I think you're the missing piece.
Other Patriots Posts
9.21.2009
Joe Biden is an idiot
Joe Biden is an idiot, at least as much of one as George W. Bush was (on both of those, I'm still trying to figure out how much of it is a facade, and how little they really know). Slate does it best.
9.20.2009
'Kend Update Thursday!
I usually don't put up much on this blog except words and links, but if a video warrants it, I will give it face space.
Weekend Update Thursday almost always warrants it.
Enjoy.
Weekend Update Thursday almost always warrants it.
Enjoy.
Yankees 10, Mariners 1
An update from the previous post:
After a sneaky 3-2 comeback win last night to the Mariners, the Yankees left no room for error and trounced Seattle 10-1 behind seven innings of scoreless ball from CC Sabathia (eight strikeouts) and a 4-for-5 performance from Mark Teixeira (5 RBI).
Robinson Cano was also 4-for-5, and Johnny Damon went 3-for-4 (RBI) in a strong night for the Bombers.
The Yankees are a comfortable six games up on the Boston Red Sox in the American League East with 13 games left to play. Boston has already pretty much nabbed the wild card, though, with Texas nine games behind them.
New York still has the best record in baseball by six games.
Other Yankees Posts
After a sneaky 3-2 comeback win last night to the Mariners, the Yankees left no room for error and trounced Seattle 10-1 behind seven innings of scoreless ball from CC Sabathia (eight strikeouts) and a 4-for-5 performance from Mark Teixeira (5 RBI).
Robinson Cano was also 4-for-5, and Johnny Damon went 3-for-4 (RBI) in a strong night for the Bombers.
The Yankees are a comfortable six games up on the Boston Red Sox in the American League East with 13 games left to play. Boston has already pretty much nabbed the wild card, though, with Texas nine games behind them.
New York still has the best record in baseball by six games.
Other Yankees Posts
How to answer a loss
The Mariners went all sneaky and stunned the Yankees with a bottom-of-the-ninth game-winning homer last night.
So today the Yankees have left no room for error. CC Sabathia has churned through seven innings, throwing eight strikeouts, and New York has steadily piled up runs behind him. The Yankees now lead 8-1 in the top of the eighth.
Nice try, Mariners.
Oh, and kudos to Mark Teixeira for being awesome. He's currently 3-for-4 with 4 RBI, and his outrageous numbers this season make me wonder why I asked myself this past offseason, "Do we need another big free agent signing? Can't Giambi play first?" Bite your tongue, me in the past!
Other Yankees Posts
So today the Yankees have left no room for error. CC Sabathia has churned through seven innings, throwing eight strikeouts, and New York has steadily piled up runs behind him. The Yankees now lead 8-1 in the top of the eighth.
Nice try, Mariners.
Oh, and kudos to Mark Teixeira for being awesome. He's currently 3-for-4 with 4 RBI, and his outrageous numbers this season make me wonder why I asked myself this past offseason, "Do we need another big free agent signing? Can't Giambi play first?" Bite your tongue, me in the past!
Other Yankees Posts
9.18.2009
Funny guy, good interview
New York magazine had a great interview with Alec Baldwin in this week's issue. (I enjoy watching him on 30 Rock, with Tina Fey, with a performance that makes the show not just watchable but great. As for the other characters besides Baldwin's and Fey's? We'll have to wait until October to see if they've gotten any better this year, but I'm not betting on it.)
Newsweek doctoring
Let me start by saying that my intention is not to bash Newsweek as much as possible. But the revamped newsmag just keeps giving me opportunities to chirp. I find so many problems, or just under-par production that Newsweek almost begs me to complain about itself, whereas its competitor, Time magazine, never hits me the wrong way (but wait until Joel Stein gets me riled up again).
This week it's one of those massive photos that Newsweek runs with no refer or other note of importance — basically a standalone photo that carries tons of questions and no answers. This photo (seen here, with the original photo), of Dick Cheney slicing up some meat at home with his family, was doctored to emphasize a quote that was superimposed over it — a quote about torture.
I've already talked about hating these huge, standalone photos, and this photo embodies everything that is wrong with this Newsweek practice. It's misleading, sensational, and has virtually no news value — especially if it doesn't refer to a later story where the facts can be explained.
Newsweek has said that its new version will be better journalism, and less celebrity- and general-life-focused, but these photo debacles show they've really taken a step back.
This week it's one of those massive photos that Newsweek runs with no refer or other note of importance — basically a standalone photo that carries tons of questions and no answers. This photo (seen here, with the original photo), of Dick Cheney slicing up some meat at home with his family, was doctored to emphasize a quote that was superimposed over it — a quote about torture.
I've already talked about hating these huge, standalone photos, and this photo embodies everything that is wrong with this Newsweek practice. It's misleading, sensational, and has virtually no news value — especially if it doesn't refer to a later story where the facts can be explained.
Newsweek has said that its new version will be better journalism, and less celebrity- and general-life-focused, but these photo debacles show they've really taken a step back.
9.16.2009
Gardner!
I'm a Melky Cabrera fan, but I can warm up to Brett Gardner, especially when his speedy legs win the game.
After tying the game in the eighth, the Yankees win on a walkoff single (their 13th walkoff win of the year) as Francisco Cervelli sends Gardner home in the bottom of the ninth.
Gardner had started the ninth with a single, stolen second, then advanced to third on a Derek Jeter groundout.
The Yankees' 5-4 win over the Blue Jays avenges a poor loss last night and puts them at 94-53 for the season and one step closer to clinching a playoff berth.
Meanwhile, Jorge Posada has been suspended for a game after last night's scuffle.
Other Yankees Posts
After tying the game in the eighth, the Yankees win on a walkoff single (their 13th walkoff win of the year) as Francisco Cervelli sends Gardner home in the bottom of the ninth.
Gardner had started the ninth with a single, stolen second, then advanced to third on a Derek Jeter groundout.
The Yankees' 5-4 win over the Blue Jays avenges a poor loss last night and puts them at 94-53 for the season and one step closer to clinching a playoff berth.
Meanwhile, Jorge Posada has been suspended for a game after last night's scuffle.
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Lucky 8s
It's another eighth-inning comeback for the Yankees, who ride a Hideki Matsui home run to tie the game 4-4. (Apparently Matsui read my comments from a few days ago about how his illustrious numbers contribute nil to New York's cause.)
After trailing the Blue Jays for a few innings, Matsui's home run (with Alex Rodriguez on base) cinched the game up at 4. Matsui had already batted in another run earlier in the game. The Yankees stranded 12 men on base before getting a couple home in the eighth.
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After trailing the Blue Jays for a few innings, Matsui's home run (with Alex Rodriguez on base) cinched the game up at 4. Matsui had already batted in another run earlier in the game. The Yankees stranded 12 men on base before getting a couple home in the eighth.
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9.15.2009
A little tussle in the Bronx
Apparently, the Yankees read my post, because they came out fighting in the bottom of the eighth — but not the kind of fighting I was looking for.
Jorge Posada apparently tackled the Jays' catcher, and manager Joe Girardi emerged from the scuffle with a cut and a bruised head.
Way to show some fire, Yanks.
It's a shame I missed the fight. There's nothing like a sewer rat of a catcher taking down a blue bird. (The guy at the desk next to me here at the sports department of the Daily News Tribune says he hopes Posada didn't ruin his mug. Ha.)
Johnny Damon squandered a bases-loaded situation in the same inning, and the Yankees lost 10-4. Sergio Mitre was the unfortunate pitcher in the five-hole for New York, getting shellacked for seven earned runs through five innings while Roy Halladay held off the Bombers.
Brett Gardner, newly returned to the team, was great in his starting role tonight. He went 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI. Hideki Matsui and Derek Jeter were also 2-for-4 with an RBI apiece.
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Jorge Posada apparently tackled the Jays' catcher, and manager Joe Girardi emerged from the scuffle with a cut and a bruised head.
Way to show some fire, Yanks.
It's a shame I missed the fight. There's nothing like a sewer rat of a catcher taking down a blue bird. (The guy at the desk next to me here at the sports department of the Daily News Tribune says he hopes Posada didn't ruin his mug. Ha.)
Johnny Damon squandered a bases-loaded situation in the same inning, and the Yankees lost 10-4. Sergio Mitre was the unfortunate pitcher in the five-hole for New York, getting shellacked for seven earned runs through five innings while Roy Halladay held off the Bombers.
Brett Gardner, newly returned to the team, was great in his starting role tonight. He went 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI. Hideki Matsui and Derek Jeter were also 2-for-4 with an RBI apiece.
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Stinkin' Yankees
Well, it's a good thing the Yankees won't be facing the Baltimore Orioles or the Toronto Blue Jays in the playoffs, because New York has been horrible against them lately. (New York is currently losing to Toronto 9-2.)
As the last two weeks until the end of the season trickle by (with most of the playoff berths tied up in both leagues), many teams are trying to conserve talent and rest players. That could really hurt the Yankees, though. They need to keep plugging, keep hitting, keep pitching...especially with all the lackluster playoff performances they've had lately.
In the tiny series that are the first round of the playoffs, even a great team can get sent home with a couple bad games. And considering the crap that A.J. Burnett and Joba Chamberlain have been tossing off the mound lately (actually, Chamberlain would be throwing crap, but he hardly stays in long enough to throw anything), it's looking scary. CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte can't handle it all, and they've been shaky plenty of times this season, too (although Sabathia is a real September-October workhorse).
The good news is, the Yankees bullpen is great, and those pitchers have able to keep their arms fresh as the bum half of the pen has taken care of these last few games.
The return of Brett Gardner to the lineup has also given New York a little spark, and the spate of young players that showed up with the September expansion of the rosters has also been a good test of the Yankees' wide range of weapons.
But really, Yankees? Losing to the Blue Jays? And by half a dozen? That's got to stop.
Roy Halladay, a usual Yankees foil, was pitching for Toronto today. That means that as good as the Yankees are this year, they're still not drop-dead amazing enough to dethrone players who usually give them fits, such as the entire rosters of Red Sox and the Angels and even Detroit's Justin Verlander (a probably first-round foe). Not a good sign.
These next few games will be a good test to see whether New York is going to keep its foot on the gas, or whether the Yankees are letting off just in time for the most important games of the season.
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As the last two weeks until the end of the season trickle by (with most of the playoff berths tied up in both leagues), many teams are trying to conserve talent and rest players. That could really hurt the Yankees, though. They need to keep plugging, keep hitting, keep pitching...especially with all the lackluster playoff performances they've had lately.
In the tiny series that are the first round of the playoffs, even a great team can get sent home with a couple bad games. And considering the crap that A.J. Burnett and Joba Chamberlain have been tossing off the mound lately (actually, Chamberlain would be throwing crap, but he hardly stays in long enough to throw anything), it's looking scary. CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte can't handle it all, and they've been shaky plenty of times this season, too (although Sabathia is a real September-October workhorse).
The good news is, the Yankees bullpen is great, and those pitchers have able to keep their arms fresh as the bum half of the pen has taken care of these last few games.
The return of Brett Gardner to the lineup has also given New York a little spark, and the spate of young players that showed up with the September expansion of the rosters has also been a good test of the Yankees' wide range of weapons.
But really, Yankees? Losing to the Blue Jays? And by half a dozen? That's got to stop.
Roy Halladay, a usual Yankees foil, was pitching for Toronto today. That means that as good as the Yankees are this year, they're still not drop-dead amazing enough to dethrone players who usually give them fits, such as the entire rosters of Red Sox and the Angels and even Detroit's Justin Verlander (a probably first-round foe). Not a good sign.
These next few games will be a good test to see whether New York is going to keep its foot on the gas, or whether the Yankees are letting off just in time for the most important games of the season.
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An injury unreported by Mangini? Big surprise.
Lost in the news that the Jets failed to disclose that Brett Favre's arm was about to fall off for the second half of last season is the fact that the New York coach at the time is one of the top graduates of the school of injury non-disclosure.
Former Jets coach Eric Mangini learned from the best in keeping injuries close to the vest (Bill Belichick), and it wouldn't be a surprise if he had a big part in this flap. He's being routinely investigated, as is everyone involved in the situation, but with the classic Belichickian-Mangianian-McDanielsian way of approaching hurt players, don't be surprised if this was just part of his plan to keep the end of the season from going down the toilet (which it ended up doing anyway).
Former Jets coach Eric Mangini learned from the best in keeping injuries close to the vest (Bill Belichick), and it wouldn't be a surprise if he had a big part in this flap. He's being routinely investigated, as is everyone involved in the situation, but with the classic Belichickian-Mangianian-McDanielsian way of approaching hurt players, don't be surprised if this was just part of his plan to keep the end of the season from going down the toilet (which it ended up doing anyway).
Front page scoop
My high school football notebook for the MetroWest Daily News is now online. It's not Pulitzer-caliber, but I love seeing my name in print. Read it here.
9.14.2009
Roundup for the night: Yankees, Pats, Fed
It was a big night in sports, with the Yankees and Patriots recording comeback wins and Roger Federer losing a stunner to Juan Martin Del Potro.
In the Bronx, Mark Teixeira (3-for-4, two-run triple) and Nick Swisher (2-for-4, home run) led the Yankees to a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Mariano Rivera got his 40th save (the seventh season he's done so) and Joba Chamberlain went four innings in his start, allowing just one run (breaking his recent trend). The Yankees are now 93-52.
In Foxborough, the Patriots came out looking very 2003, which is to say that they were terrifying, falling behind early, and almost dead before they magically came back from 11 down on some flukish plays to win the game. They have a lot of new players this year, and a Tom Brady who's still coming back from injury, so I suppose all that can be excused. A win's a win, right? And at 25-24, despite all the miscues and missed plays, the Patriots have won.
Finally, Federer was rolling until Del Potro dug into some place crazy to find the magic to bust him in two tie-breakers then nab the fourth set. It's too hard to talk about, but the recap is here.
In the Bronx, Mark Teixeira (3-for-4, two-run triple) and Nick Swisher (2-for-4, home run) led the Yankees to a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Mariano Rivera got his 40th save (the seventh season he's done so) and Joba Chamberlain went four innings in his start, allowing just one run (breaking his recent trend). The Yankees are now 93-52.
In Foxborough, the Patriots came out looking very 2003, which is to say that they were terrifying, falling behind early, and almost dead before they magically came back from 11 down on some flukish plays to win the game. They have a lot of new players this year, and a Tom Brady who's still coming back from injury, so I suppose all that can be excused. A win's a win, right? And at 25-24, despite all the miscues and missed plays, the Patriots have won.
Finally, Federer was rolling until Del Potro dug into some place crazy to find the magic to bust him in two tie-breakers then nab the fourth set. It's too hard to talk about, but the recap is here.
9.13.2009
By the numbers
After the Yankees' 13-3 drubbing of the Baltimore Orioles today (first sweep in 23 years? not in the House that Jeter built, Bird-Boys), I thought it was a good time to look over the numbers for two of the Yankees' biggest batting contributors, Alex Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui.
Rodriguez, who got off to a very slow start this year after also missing some time for his injured hip, is hitting .287, which is low for him (especially after he was doing so well in odd-numbered years, winning the MVP in 2005 and 2007 with sparkling stats). But considering how poorly A-Rod was doing earlier this season, his recent resurgence is a great sign...and perhaps (knock on wood) an omen that he may actually be able to contribute to the Yankees' postseason this year.
A-Rod's tenure in New York has been known for two things: not hitting in the clutch, and not hitting in the playoffs. This year, he's taken care of that clutch problem. Gone are the perfect numbers, him as a porous teammate; here now is less-than-gaudy statistics, but a definitive swing toward a winning record since he's come back. (The Yankees are 78-37 since his return, and 14-15 before it. And Mark Teixeira started hitting the ball once he had A-Rod's shadow on deck.) Rodriguez's reaction (a smashed bat on the ground) to leaving men on base at the end of a game, when he flew out on a popup (or thought he did, if not for the Yankees playing the hapless Mets), shows he's really starting to care about quality instead of just the image.
Rodriguez's .287 batting average is actually third-highest on this slugging Yankees team (where all good players suffer from somebody in the lineup getting one of the three outs per inning); his 84 RBI is second; and his 25 home runs are third, despite missing 30 games.
Remember, this is a guy who didn't break .200 until 14 games into the season, and was batting .207 as late as the end of June. His recent resurgence has been great, and with 18 games left in the regular season, he can still do some damage. (And he hasn't had to sit out due to lingering injuries in a while.)
Hideki Matsui, on the other hand, presents a different sort of numbers game. Matsui has long been hobbled by knee problems and more, and this season he has yet to play an actual position; he's either the designated hitter or no hitter at all. At $13 million a year, you expect production from Godzilla, and he has provided: .271, 85 RBI, 24 bombs.
But Matsui's best nights (5 RBI last night, and 7 RBI in the 20-11 blast-fest against the BoSox) were both on nights when the score didn't really matter, and extra runs really weren't needed.
(I counted three games out of the whole season where Matsui's batting would have made the difference between winning and losing.)
Considering all the talent on the New York bench, you could argue that any of the Yankees could fill Matsui's shoes and do as he's done. He's a good player and a good part of the team, but he's not getting any healthier.
Matsui has the second-most RBI of all Yankees players (behind Teixeira) and the fourth-most home runs. But I think, when it comes to seeing who is putting more into the winning mix for the team, it's not even debatable.
Well, I think...let me get back to you in November.
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Rodriguez, who got off to a very slow start this year after also missing some time for his injured hip, is hitting .287, which is low for him (especially after he was doing so well in odd-numbered years, winning the MVP in 2005 and 2007 with sparkling stats). But considering how poorly A-Rod was doing earlier this season, his recent resurgence is a great sign...and perhaps (knock on wood) an omen that he may actually be able to contribute to the Yankees' postseason this year.
A-Rod's tenure in New York has been known for two things: not hitting in the clutch, and not hitting in the playoffs. This year, he's taken care of that clutch problem. Gone are the perfect numbers, him as a porous teammate; here now is less-than-gaudy statistics, but a definitive swing toward a winning record since he's come back. (The Yankees are 78-37 since his return, and 14-15 before it. And Mark Teixeira started hitting the ball once he had A-Rod's shadow on deck.) Rodriguez's reaction (a smashed bat on the ground) to leaving men on base at the end of a game, when he flew out on a popup (or thought he did, if not for the Yankees playing the hapless Mets), shows he's really starting to care about quality instead of just the image.
Rodriguez's .287 batting average is actually third-highest on this slugging Yankees team (where all good players suffer from somebody in the lineup getting one of the three outs per inning); his 84 RBI is second; and his 25 home runs are third, despite missing 30 games.
Remember, this is a guy who didn't break .200 until 14 games into the season, and was batting .207 as late as the end of June. His recent resurgence has been great, and with 18 games left in the regular season, he can still do some damage. (And he hasn't had to sit out due to lingering injuries in a while.)
Hideki Matsui, on the other hand, presents a different sort of numbers game. Matsui has long been hobbled by knee problems and more, and this season he has yet to play an actual position; he's either the designated hitter or no hitter at all. At $13 million a year, you expect production from Godzilla, and he has provided: .271, 85 RBI, 24 bombs.
But Matsui's best nights (5 RBI last night, and 7 RBI in the 20-11 blast-fest against the BoSox) were both on nights when the score didn't really matter, and extra runs really weren't needed.
(I counted three games out of the whole season where Matsui's batting would have made the difference between winning and losing.)
Considering all the talent on the New York bench, you could argue that any of the Yankees could fill Matsui's shoes and do as he's done. He's a good player and a good part of the team, but he's not getting any healthier.
Matsui has the second-most RBI of all Yankees players (behind Teixeira) and the fourth-most home runs. But I think, when it comes to seeing who is putting more into the winning mix for the team, it's not even debatable.
Well, I think...let me get back to you in November.
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9.12.2009
More reasons why girls have a raw deal
This super-interesting article by Newsweek's science editor, Sharon Begley, explores how babies of both genders can be influenced by their parents' subconscious gender bias. I think it gives good reasons why girls have a raw deal.
Great Letterman piece
New York magazine (one of those magazines I love and will subscribe to when I'm making enough to splurge on glossies about the Big Apple) ran a great article on David Letterman, and what he means to late night and comedy.
I've always been a Letterman fan, and although I can't completely understand what he's done to the landscape over the past few decades (I only started sneaking downstairs to watch him within the past five years or so), I can appreciate the anointment of his humor over Jay Leno's.
The article is long, which means you're better off just buying the magazine so you can really enjoy it and all the cool graphics. Go ahead, support journalism.
I've always been a Letterman fan, and although I can't completely understand what he's done to the landscape over the past few decades (I only started sneaking downstairs to watch him within the past five years or so), I can appreciate the anointment of his humor over Jay Leno's.
The article is long, which means you're better off just buying the magazine so you can really enjoy it and all the cool graphics. Go ahead, support journalism.
Be like Rog, not like Mike
Michael Jordan's speech for his induction to the Hall of Fame was terrible. The last thing we need is an athlete, no matter how good he is, turning around and pointing back (and whining all the while) about all those who have "wronged" him. So, you don't like that your high school coach cut you, MJ? Well, you were skinny Mike back then, and probably didn't deserve to play. You used it as motivation to get to the next level, right? So thank the guy for that and let it go.
Jordan ripped into all sorts of people who came through his glorified air, taunting people he had already downed with his skills, getting the last word in when no one was really questioning him. What a joke. He may be a great player, but his speech showed he's far from a complete person...one who can let the past go, the misplaced wrongs roll of his back, the mistakes be the mere human mistakes of others. (He's never done anything wrong? Never underestimated someone? Never done something that he thought was in the best interest of something, only to have it be called a slight by someone else? Forgive as you wish to be forgiven.)
On the other hand, I can think of one champion today that handles his status as the best in his sport with complete deftness and humility. Roger Federer slips into moments of stating the obvious (some would call it pride), but usually he defers all glory to an opponent or the arena in which he plays. Even his uber-luxury line of tennis clothes has been release with less than vaunted fanfare; he's a king that wears gold but doesn't keep telling you that he does.
Federer's game speaks for him, and he's never felt the need to load it on afterwards. Idiot players who challenge him or say he's not that great are never met with a, "You said I couldn't handle your backhand, but I showed you, Djokovic! Who's the king now, huh? Huh?" No, Federer is too classy of a champion for that. He decimates then demurs, letting himself be a nice human being while still obliterating on the court.
Funny, but in Jordan's speech, he said he was a nice guy (classic sign of a guy who's full of himself: calling himself nice in a speech about himself). With Jordan, we don't know if that's true, but with Federer, we know every person in the world would agree. Well, except for maybe Roger himself.
Jordan ripped into all sorts of people who came through his glorified air, taunting people he had already downed with his skills, getting the last word in when no one was really questioning him. What a joke. He may be a great player, but his speech showed he's far from a complete person...one who can let the past go, the misplaced wrongs roll of his back, the mistakes be the mere human mistakes of others. (He's never done anything wrong? Never underestimated someone? Never done something that he thought was in the best interest of something, only to have it be called a slight by someone else? Forgive as you wish to be forgiven.)
On the other hand, I can think of one champion today that handles his status as the best in his sport with complete deftness and humility. Roger Federer slips into moments of stating the obvious (some would call it pride), but usually he defers all glory to an opponent or the arena in which he plays. Even his uber-luxury line of tennis clothes has been release with less than vaunted fanfare; he's a king that wears gold but doesn't keep telling you that he does.
Federer's game speaks for him, and he's never felt the need to load it on afterwards. Idiot players who challenge him or say he's not that great are never met with a, "You said I couldn't handle your backhand, but I showed you, Djokovic! Who's the king now, huh? Huh?" No, Federer is too classy of a champion for that. He decimates then demurs, letting himself be a nice human being while still obliterating on the court.
Funny, but in Jordan's speech, he said he was a nice guy (classic sign of a guy who's full of himself: calling himself nice in a speech about himself). With Jordan, we don't know if that's true, but with Federer, we know every person in the world would agree. Well, except for maybe Roger himself.
9.10.2009
It smells like Heaven, and old sandwiches
Tonight was my first full shift at the Boston Globe sports desk, a night filled with taking high school scores, fetching page printouts, and losing a battle against the encroachment of crumbs on the "Hawk" desk.
But it was the greatest night ever.
After my shift finished around 2 a.m., I walked past the amazing pictures of Boston life hanging on the newsroom walls, down the escalator surrounded by snapshots of the old typesetting process, out the doors emblazoned with the gothic "Boston Globe" flag in white and into a night that is too cold for summer. As I walked around the front of the building, I looked up and saw the printing presses humming away inside, behind the two-story glass windows. I stopped.
For five minutes, I watched the newspapers fly through the press, going from giant white rolls to line-smeared beauties, in and out and under and over and ahhhh. It was so beautiful.
I don't know what is going to happen to print, or to all those forest-green-and-gold Boston Globe delivery trucks that pack the left side of the parking lot, but I do know that I've reached the point of no return. I'm no longer the fan of newspapers, I'm part of one — a big one, a proud one. Sure, half of the Globe's main floor is full of empty cubicles where many workers once sat. Yes, the newsroom is dingy, and there's a terrible creak on the part of the floor I have to traverse every time I take the page printouts to the slot editor.
But it's a paper! It has a guy called the "slot" editor! It has photos of Babe Ruth in its sports area! It has the U.S. Open on TV at night! It has crazy old men calling in at 1 a.m. to find out who won the Sox game! It has proofers and reporters and editors and girls who come up from the pressroom around midnight to deliver the first edition, all smudged up and pretty, with its full buffet of the day's news.
A buffet — that's what newspapers were always supposed to be — a one-stop place to find out a little bit of everything going on in life. But today, with specialized sites and up-to-the-minute news, the buffet seems old and outdated.
Think about it: who wants to read a huge, easily crinkled sheet smudged with ink? And who wants to work in a newsroom with a college kid's bylined story from six years ago taped to the side of a computer monitor? Why does it matter what some sports writer says about how Fed won tonight? And does anyone except those drunks from Southie care what the Red Sox score is, enough to not watch the game but then call the sports desk to hear whether Boston won?
I don't know, and I can no longer try to answer those questions, for I am partial to newspapers now. But I do know that I love this buffet of a newspaper. It smells like old sandwiches at the Globe, but to me, it smells like Heaven, too.
I'm not sure whether everyone else would love that hole like I do now, with its old file cabinets full of media guides for every single college and professional team, with its wide-open newsroom that has cubicles and reporters' heads for as far as you can see, with people like Cheryl sitting on the sports copy desk, telling the new "night hawk" (their name for my position) how it is (that people aren't going to stop reading the paper or cancel their subscriptions because the new girl's recording on the Globe's score phone line (617-265-6600, call on Thursdays) sounded dumb to herself), with a proofing printer that the editors hope would have a completion percentage near Tom Brady's, but is actually more like Rex Grossman's (40% — my observation) in spewing out full-page prints of the next day's paper on time.
I'm a fan. I'll take the Globe as it is, from its fight to stay what it used to be to its place on my doorstep every morning. I'll take the cold weather, the actual frost on my windshield on an early September night.
I'll take Boston's mess of roads that still aren't finished, and the cops using my tax dollars by sitting on those roads at two in the morning while some blue-collar guy tacks on a street sign. I'll take the drive home, the way 93 whips you around and shoots you into the city, under the buildings with blinding lights.
They don't even need to pay me. I can't wait to go back.
But it was the greatest night ever.
After my shift finished around 2 a.m., I walked past the amazing pictures of Boston life hanging on the newsroom walls, down the escalator surrounded by snapshots of the old typesetting process, out the doors emblazoned with the gothic "Boston Globe" flag in white and into a night that is too cold for summer. As I walked around the front of the building, I looked up and saw the printing presses humming away inside, behind the two-story glass windows. I stopped.
For five minutes, I watched the newspapers fly through the press, going from giant white rolls to line-smeared beauties, in and out and under and over and ahhhh. It was so beautiful.
I don't know what is going to happen to print, or to all those forest-green-and-gold Boston Globe delivery trucks that pack the left side of the parking lot, but I do know that I've reached the point of no return. I'm no longer the fan of newspapers, I'm part of one — a big one, a proud one. Sure, half of the Globe's main floor is full of empty cubicles where many workers once sat. Yes, the newsroom is dingy, and there's a terrible creak on the part of the floor I have to traverse every time I take the page printouts to the slot editor.
But it's a paper! It has a guy called the "slot" editor! It has photos of Babe Ruth in its sports area! It has the U.S. Open on TV at night! It has crazy old men calling in at 1 a.m. to find out who won the Sox game! It has proofers and reporters and editors and girls who come up from the pressroom around midnight to deliver the first edition, all smudged up and pretty, with its full buffet of the day's news.
A buffet — that's what newspapers were always supposed to be — a one-stop place to find out a little bit of everything going on in life. But today, with specialized sites and up-to-the-minute news, the buffet seems old and outdated.
Think about it: who wants to read a huge, easily crinkled sheet smudged with ink? And who wants to work in a newsroom with a college kid's bylined story from six years ago taped to the side of a computer monitor? Why does it matter what some sports writer says about how Fed won tonight? And does anyone except those drunks from Southie care what the Red Sox score is, enough to not watch the game but then call the sports desk to hear whether Boston won?
I don't know, and I can no longer try to answer those questions, for I am partial to newspapers now. But I do know that I love this buffet of a newspaper. It smells like old sandwiches at the Globe, but to me, it smells like Heaven, too.
I'm not sure whether everyone else would love that hole like I do now, with its old file cabinets full of media guides for every single college and professional team, with its wide-open newsroom that has cubicles and reporters' heads for as far as you can see, with people like Cheryl sitting on the sports copy desk, telling the new "night hawk" (their name for my position) how it is (that people aren't going to stop reading the paper or cancel their subscriptions because the new girl's recording on the Globe's score phone line (617-265-6600, call on Thursdays) sounded dumb to herself), with a proofing printer that the editors hope would have a completion percentage near Tom Brady's, but is actually more like Rex Grossman's (40% — my observation) in spewing out full-page prints of the next day's paper on time.
I'm a fan. I'll take the Globe as it is, from its fight to stay what it used to be to its place on my doorstep every morning. I'll take the cold weather, the actual frost on my windshield on an early September night.
I'll take Boston's mess of roads that still aren't finished, and the cops using my tax dollars by sitting on those roads at two in the morning while some blue-collar guy tacks on a street sign. I'll take the drive home, the way 93 whips you around and shoots you into the city, under the buildings with blinding lights.
They don't even need to pay me. I can't wait to go back.
9.09.2009
Derek ties Lou, Yankees notch another comeback win
Derek Jeter snapped his 0-for-12 hitting streak and had three hits tonight to tie Lou Gehrig for the most hits in Yankees history. Gehrig's record of 2,721 had stood since his last hit on April 29, 1939.
Meanwhile, Jeter and company came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-0.
Jorge Posada pinch-hit in the bottom of the eighth and blasted a three-run homer that gave the Yankees their winning margin. Nick Swisher batted home the Yankees' other run after his big game last night, and Hideki Matsui and Alex Rodriguez both went 2-for-4 in the win.
Johnny Damon had the only other New York hit.
Joba Chamberlain, in his third straight three-inning start, allowed two earned runs again. (His last three games have been exactly three innings, and exactly two earned runs: see it here.) Four Yankees relievers, including the always-sharp Alfredo Aceves, held the Rays scoreless for the rest of the game.
The Yankees get a day off tomorrow before hosting the Baltimore Orioles for a three-game set this weekend.
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Meanwhile, Jeter and company came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-0.
Jorge Posada pinch-hit in the bottom of the eighth and blasted a three-run homer that gave the Yankees their winning margin. Nick Swisher batted home the Yankees' other run after his big game last night, and Hideki Matsui and Alex Rodriguez both went 2-for-4 in the win.
Johnny Damon had the only other New York hit.
Joba Chamberlain, in his third straight three-inning start, allowed two earned runs again. (His last three games have been exactly three innings, and exactly two earned runs: see it here.) Four Yankees relievers, including the always-sharp Alfredo Aceves, held the Rays scoreless for the rest of the game.
The Yankees get a day off tomorrow before hosting the Baltimore Orioles for a three-game set this weekend.
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9.08.2009
90.
Yes, that's walkoff win #12 for the Yankees, who take down the Rays 3-2 with a Nick Swisher home run in the bottom of the ninth.
The win is the 90th of the season for the Yankees.
Swisher's left-handed bomb redeems him for leaving men on base earlier in the game and gets New York reliever Phil Hughes off the hook after the first run he allowed in 13 games turned out to be a game-tying homer. Swisher also hit a right-handed home run in the second, going 2-for-3 with 2 RBI for the game.
Derek Jeter, with the pressure on to catch up to Lou Gehrig's Yankees hits record, went 0-for-4, marking the third game in a row without a hit for the New York captain.
Other than Swisher, only Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez (RBI) and Robinson Cano had hits in a quiet night for the Yankees.
After a chance to sweep the Rays tomorrow, the Yankees host the Orioles for three games this weekend before heading west to face the Angels.
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The win is the 90th of the season for the Yankees.
Swisher's left-handed bomb redeems him for leaving men on base earlier in the game and gets New York reliever Phil Hughes off the hook after the first run he allowed in 13 games turned out to be a game-tying homer. Swisher also hit a right-handed home run in the second, going 2-for-3 with 2 RBI for the game.
Derek Jeter, with the pressure on to catch up to Lou Gehrig's Yankees hits record, went 0-for-4, marking the third game in a row without a hit for the New York captain.
Other than Swisher, only Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez (RBI) and Robinson Cano had hits in a quiet night for the Yankees.
After a chance to sweep the Rays tomorrow, the Yankees host the Orioles for three games this weekend before heading west to face the Angels.
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Poor Richard (Seymour)
How much must it stink to be Richard Seymour? Think about it: he came into the league in 2001 and has played with the Patriots ever since, racking up Super Bowl wins and Pro Bowl appearances, all the while anchoring an underrated defense that seems to get it done right when it needs to happen. He gets paid a lot because he's good, and because he puts up good numbers, but because of that and his age (I would guess), he's been traded for a draft pick.
It gets worse: he has to play for the Raiders now. And not just the normal, terrible Raiders (whom teammate Randy Moss surely had a lot to say about after escaping that prison three years ago), but a Raiders team that is in heavy disarray. Their head coach was accused of punching out an assistant coach a couple weeks ago, for goodness' sake, and owner Al Davis is the symbol of an out-of-touch owner caught in a decomposing body while a decades-beyond-him league flies by.
Seymour hasn't showed up to camp yet, and I don't blame him. There should be no bad blood if he, say, offers to get paid $5 for the season and gets to stay in New England. Let's hope that's what's happening.
The one good thing going for Seymour is that Oakland's defense is actually decent, with some good players. At least there's a silver lining on that black-and-silver storm system.
It gets worse: he has to play for the Raiders now. And not just the normal, terrible Raiders (whom teammate Randy Moss surely had a lot to say about after escaping that prison three years ago), but a Raiders team that is in heavy disarray. Their head coach was accused of punching out an assistant coach a couple weeks ago, for goodness' sake, and owner Al Davis is the symbol of an out-of-touch owner caught in a decomposing body while a decades-beyond-him league flies by.
Seymour hasn't showed up to camp yet, and I don't blame him. There should be no bad blood if he, say, offers to get paid $5 for the season and gets to stay in New England. Let's hope that's what's happening.
The one good thing going for Seymour is that Oakland's defense is actually decent, with some good players. At least there's a silver lining on that black-and-silver storm system.
9.06.2009
OK, Patriots, not cool.
Tedy Bruschi appeared to retire by choice, but the Patriots just sold Richard Seymour down-river, trading him for a draft pick to the Raiders, of all teams. This comes months after sending Mike Vrabel to Kansas City.
Not cool, Patriots, not cool. I'm all for the team and the system and winning, but I'm sick of seeing our favorite Patriots (and the ones who were the foundation for the decade's success) sent away. Who's next, Brady?
Not cool, Patriots, not cool. I'm all for the team and the system and winning, but I'm sick of seeing our favorite Patriots (and the ones who were the foundation for the decade's success) sent away. Who's next, Brady?
9.04.2009
No joke...a newspaper that is still put together by hand
No joke...there's at least one newspaper left in the world that is put together by hand: The San Diego Union-Tribune. I stumbled upon this article, about the obsolete pagination techniques, when looking into Platinum Equity, the company that owns the Union-Tribune and is looking into buying the Boston Globe.
Everyone at the Globe is worried that Platinum will bring deep cuts similar to the ones at the San Diego paper (hundreds were laid off the day after it was bought), but seeing as the paper was still in 1970s-era layout and pagination, I'd say the Union-Tribune had plenty of reason to take those cuts.
Everyone at the Globe is worried that Platinum will bring deep cuts similar to the ones at the San Diego paper (hundreds were laid off the day after it was bought), but seeing as the paper was still in 1970s-era layout and pagination, I'd say the Union-Tribune had plenty of reason to take those cuts.
7 in a row
It's 7 in a row for the Yankees and another great night for Jorge Posada, who goes 4-for-5 with a homer and 4 RBI in the Yankees' 10-5 win.
Alfred Aceves, who's been regularly pitching three-plus innings on the days Sergio Mitre, Joba Chamberlain or Chad Gaudin are starting, contributed another couple quality innings today for the win.
Alex Rodriguez (2-for-4, 2 RBI) hit his 24th home run of the season.
The next-best record in Major League Baseball behind the Yankees (85-48) belongs to the L.A. Angels (78-54). That's a little bit of a gap.
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Alfred Aceves, who's been regularly pitching three-plus innings on the days Sergio Mitre, Joba Chamberlain or Chad Gaudin are starting, contributed another couple quality innings today for the win.
Alex Rodriguez (2-for-4, 2 RBI) hit his 24th home run of the season.
The next-best record in Major League Baseball behind the Yankees (85-48) belongs to the L.A. Angels (78-54). That's a little bit of a gap.
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9.02.2009
Sweep's up
Not content to merely sweep their series with the Baltimore Orioles by way of a 3-2 pitcher's duel win tonight, the Yankees explode for seven runs in the top of the ninth, dropping the O's 10-2.
Every New York player had some fun tonight, with constant singles in the last frame sending every Yankee to the plate at least once. And CC Sabathia won his 16th game of the year, which leads the bigs.
Alex Rodriguez had the best night. He singled twice with men on second and third, leaving him 3-for-5 with 4 RBI on the night.
Johnny Damon went 4-for-5 (RBI), Melky Cabrera (RBI) and Robinson Cano 2-for-5, Nick Swisher 2-for-3, Jose Molina 1-for-4 and Derek Jeter (RBI) and Hideki Matsui (RBI) 1-for-5. Eric Hinske (1-for-2, RBI) tied the game for New York in the top of the third with a solo home run, with Baltimore leading 1-0 since the first.
The Yankees had just eight of their 17 hits going into the last inning in a game that was tied 1-1 for three innings before the Yankees took the lead in the top of the seventh on a Rodriguez two-RBI single. Sabathia pitched seven full innings, logging nine strikeouts in the process.
New York carries its league-best 85-48 record into Toronto next.
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Every New York player had some fun tonight, with constant singles in the last frame sending every Yankee to the plate at least once. And CC Sabathia won his 16th game of the year, which leads the bigs.
Alex Rodriguez had the best night. He singled twice with men on second and third, leaving him 3-for-5 with 4 RBI on the night.
Johnny Damon went 4-for-5 (RBI), Melky Cabrera (RBI) and Robinson Cano 2-for-5, Nick Swisher 2-for-3, Jose Molina 1-for-4 and Derek Jeter (RBI) and Hideki Matsui (RBI) 1-for-5. Eric Hinske (1-for-2, RBI) tied the game for New York in the top of the third with a solo home run, with Baltimore leading 1-0 since the first.
The Yankees had just eight of their 17 hits going into the last inning in a game that was tied 1-1 for three innings before the Yankees took the lead in the top of the seventh on a Rodriguez two-RBI single. Sabathia pitched seven full innings, logging nine strikeouts in the process.
New York carries its league-best 85-48 record into Toronto next.
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9.01.2009
Hip, Hip Jorrrrgeee!
Jorge Posada hurt his finger the other day, which is no small deal for a catcher. Posada's been battling injuries for years, especially to his throwing arm, which has many critics telling him to hang up his catcher's gear, and even his spikes. This recent injury kept him out of a couple days just when controversy was also stewing about whether the Yankees' longtime catcher should be the one to catch for A.J. Burnett, who is in his first year for New York. Some said Posada messed things up for Burnett in his last few starts, that they didn't agree on the pitch selection, blah blah blah.
Burnett allowed six runs tonight with Posada behind the plate, so one of those arguments may have merit. But when the Yankees win 9-6 because of a player's batting, it doesn't really matter much what happens that night for that player behind the plate.
Posada tore the game open, going 2-for-4 with two home runs, accounting for 3 RBI. Behind him, Robinson Cano went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and a home run, and Nick Swisher added a 2-RBI dinger to complete the 5-6-7 stackup slugfest for the Yankees.
The Orioles put up a fight tonight, not finished until a Mariano Rivera silencing in the ninth. Baltimore will have its last chance for a win tomorrow before the Yankees move on to a four-game set in Toronto.
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Burnett allowed six runs tonight with Posada behind the plate, so one of those arguments may have merit. But when the Yankees win 9-6 because of a player's batting, it doesn't really matter much what happens that night for that player behind the plate.
Posada tore the game open, going 2-for-4 with two home runs, accounting for 3 RBI. Behind him, Robinson Cano went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and a home run, and Nick Swisher added a 2-RBI dinger to complete the 5-6-7 stackup slugfest for the Yankees.
The Orioles put up a fight tonight, not finished until a Mariano Rivera silencing in the ninth. Baltimore will have its last chance for a win tomorrow before the Yankees move on to a four-game set in Toronto.
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