Granderson is grand (Russell Martin is pretty hot too) ~ Sunday, July 24, 2011

~~ Yankees 7, Athletics 5 ~~

It’s a corny title but I couldn’t resist. I have to say Curtis Granderson is good at playing baseball. He can hit home runs (27), he can run down a long fly ball and make spectacular throws to home plate. Of course Martin was there to catch the ball and tag the runner.

Russell Martin is also good at baseball. He throws out base runners, and he steals bases.

Hideki Matsui had a perfect night, he went 5 for 5 but Colon only gave up 2 runs in 7 innings. Dave and Mo decided to make things interesting. Kasey never should have told him about her blood pressure. Or maybe Dave just wanted Mo to get his 25th save. We know Mo just likes to play head games with the other batters.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

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Run limits ~ Saturday, July 23, 2011

~~ Athletics 4, Yankees 3 ~~

Each team in the MLB has a set number of runs they are allowed to score in a series. The amount varies to some degree but it applies to each team. I don’t know the exact number, but I do know these limits exist.

When the Yankees scored 17 runs the other night they got a call from Bud reminding them that if they went over their run limit there would be repercussions. Because of that coming into this game the Yankees were afraid to hit the ball. Oakland on the other hand was nowhere near their run limit so they could pound away at the ball. These run limits are the reason Oakland was able to break their 11 game losing streak against the Yankees and why Josh Willingham and Hideki Matsui weren’t afraid to hit homers.

Some of you may be thinking you’ve never heard of ‘run limits’, didn’t you see how Nick Swisher was scolded after he homered? Trust me, they exist.

If they don’t then it means that the Yankees don’t like AJ and that is just not true. I think.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

4/23 NY Yankees 4 @ Los Angeles Angels 6

Blogging during the game again, right now it is 4-4, been kind of an exciting ball game. Mark Teixeira got hit by a pitch, then running into home ran over the catcher. He’s out with a concussion and injured ankle. Then Hunter ran into Mark at first base. A.J. has not been pitching his best. But my sweet Nicky hit a home run. Then his next at bat he got hit by a pitch. Not nice, but then A.J. has hit some too. Bottom of the sixth right now. 1, 2, 3 inning, Yankees up.

New pitcher up for the Angels. A.J. seems to have settled down, Jorge Posada is catching, they are working well together. Joba Chamberlain lets Matsui get on base, then the next batter hits a home run. Swish did his best, he climbed up the wall, but it was gone. Angels are up by 2 now.

Last inning and the Yankees need to score 3 runs or it is a lose for us. 2 runs will tie it up, but I really want to go to bed. So I am hoping for 3 runs. Instead I get 3 outs. See you tomorrow.

~~and that’s all~~ she wrote

4/15 New York Yankees 6 vs Los Angeles Angels 2

I was not able to watch the Yankees play the Angels on April 14 because it was day game and I have to work, I was following the tweets on Twitter and was upset that the crowd was booing Javier Vasquez. My personal opinion is you never boo your own team and your own team players. I looked at how he did that game, and he gave up 4 runs in 5-⅓ innings. Which is not bad, so it seems the crowd is booing because of what happened in 2004 when he threw the pitch that the Ortne player hit for a grand slam. So some blame him for losing the series. But he didn’t, the Yankees were up by three and then lost four, he didn’t pitch for all four games. It just makes me mad. Oh, they lost that game too, 3-5

Well on to Thursday’s game, Kasey and I had tickets. She came from home and I came from work and we met at the stadium. We were bleacher creatures for the game! It was hat night and we each got our hats when we came in. Got food and headed up to our seats. Saw someone come with with an Angels shirt with #55, Matsui on it. After he sat down he pulled out a Yankee jersey with, yes #55 on it.

Two things confused me, one was all the players were wearing #42, every single one! It was Jackie Robinson day besides being hat day. The other thing was I thought the crowd was booing Phil Hughes, you already know how I feel about that, then I realized they weren’t booing they were “Hughing”.

Something I forgot to mention when I was writing about the home opener. When Dave Robertson gave up the grand slam (which was really my fault, when the bases were loaded I turned to Kasey and said, “Even if they hit a home run it won’t kill us, we’re up by 6.”) and everyone went to the mound, normally Jeter is right up there with them, he wasn’t there, he was standing in his spot, smoothing out the base path with his cleats. It was kind of weird, when Alex came back to 3rd base he looked at Derek, like what are you doing man? Thursday he was doing the same thing, whenever he was in the field and not playing, he was smoothing out the dirt. That and sticking his hand in his pocket like he lost a penny or something. Now why would you say I am obsessed with Derek Jeter? Have you seen my desk?

Robinson Cano hit two home runs, very appropriate since he was named after Jackie Robinson and he wears #24 in his honor. Derek Jeter also hit a home run and had an RBI double. Curtis Granderson hit a triple with Marcus Thames on base so he got an RBI also and scored a run on a double by Derek.

I know I am not very good at summarizing games, I forget to write things down and then can’t remember them when I type up my posts. I tend to write up defense and forget offense. Anyway Hughes and the offense kept the Angels to 2 runs. One was a home run by Matsui in the 2nd inning.

Hughes was credited with the win, but if you want to know the truth, Kasey and I should get the credit since the Yankees win every time we are at a game. We decided that the Yankee fans should pay for us to go to all the home game since we are good luck for the Yankees. My pay pal e-mail is …

~~and that’s all~~ she wrote

My First Opening Day

Was certainly a day to remember. Kasey and I planned to catch the 9:15 train to the city. Due to me, being me, we didn’t get there as early as she wanted, but we were still early enough. As she walked up after getting her ticket and the train was stopping I turned to her and said, “See? Plenty of time.” She hit me. Not the first time, won’t be the last. The conductor told us we would have to change trains twice, first in Croton-on-Hudson, then in Tarrytown. We would have to wait 17 minutes in Croton and 5 minutes in Tarrytown. He was wrong. We waited 35 minutes in Croton and the train was an express to Yankees-E. 153rd Street station getting us there at 11:04. Gates opened at 11:00 so that was perfect.

We walked past what was left of old Yankee Stadium, I actually took this picture as we were leaving. As soon as we walked through the gate, I sent a text to my former boss, the one who said I was never going to get tickets for opening day, “Guess where I am.” When he sent a reply naming a restaurant he and I used to frequent I sent him a two word text. “Yankee Stadium”. His response to that was “Holy sh*t! How did you get tickets!”

Simply Smoov had invited us to stop by his section to say hello. We did that and I stood looking out at home plate thinking how great would it be to sit in these seats, then we went up to our seats to watch the ring ceremony. On the way we stopped for food. Kasey went on to another stand trying to find some food that was ball park food. I stayed in the non-moving line I was in. Yes it wasn’t slow moving, it wasn’t moving at all. I switched to another line. When I finally got to the counter and ordered my Italian sausage and package of peanut M&M’s (for Kasey) she thanked me for having a simple order.

There was still plenty of time to get to the seats for the ring ceremony and it was moving. There is something truly special about seeing it in person. The last player to get his ring was Hideki Matsui, and he got a standing ovation and all the players ran up to give him a hug. He also got a trick played on him, Jeter switched his ring for a plastic ring that was given out the last day of spring training. Mariano Rivera did the same thing to Swisher. I don’t know what Hideki’s response was, but Swisher peeked in the box, saw something that looked like it came from a bubblegum machine and said, “What the (heck) is that?” After he got his real ring, he didn’t let it out of his sight, wearing it until he went to bed that night. Now he is plotting a revenge prank. Alex Rodriguez says he is going to wear it everyday for a year. He would have worn it to 3rd Base if they had let him. 

Andy Pettitte pitched great, didn’t give up any runs, our boys played great too. A lot of hits, it was cold, I was cold I only had a sweat shirt, Kasey always likes the souvenir cups and things. So when a vendor came by with popcorn in a souvenir cup she had to buy it. The popcorn was pretty gross though. Almost forgot to say, I went to get a diet Pepsi, Nick Johnson was coming up to bat and I didn’t think anything would happen. As soon I got on the concourse where the vendors are, I heard the crowd I ran to the railing, it was too late, the home run was done. My man Derek also hit a home run. I got to see that, jump up and scream. There is a video of that on the MLB site.

Toward the end of the game, Kasey went to use the bathroom. My phone rings and its her, wanting to know if I want ice cream. I’m sitting there freezing the last thing I want is something frozen, so I say sure, I’ll take some ice cream. Another souvenir cup. I took mine to work and set it on top of my printer that doesn’t work. I also have this picture as my wallpaper on my phone. 

After the game we caught the subway to go to dinner. Kasey had coupons for this place on 2nd Avenue. They had $5 dollar Cosmos, since they didn’t have a dessert menu, we each had two. Then we walked back to Grand Central Terminal making a quick detour to the Yankee store, Kasey wanted a mouse pad, I didn’t know what I wanted but ended up getting some temporary tattoos and a case for my new phone.

That’s pretty much it. I need to write a blog post about classless, pathetic idiots that boo their own players, but it is late and I have work tomorrow. Till then.

~~and that’s all~~ she wrote

4/13 New York Yankees 7 vs Los Angeles Angels 5

I was at the game. It was a pretty special occasion. I saw the ring ceremony and wondered why they didn’t call Matsui up, I looked at the table and there was a box still on the table, then the announcer said there was one more ring to hand out. Matsui came out to a standing ovation and chants of ‘MVP, MVP’. Yes I was one of the ones shouting that. His first at bat there were cheers from the crowd and more chanting. Then Andy struck him out. His next at bat there was cheering but no chanting, and no booing for any of his at bats.

There is more I had to say, including a comment Kasey wanted me to make, it will have to wait. I have to go get some sleep now. In the meantime, check out the headlines from Yankees.com.

~~and that’s all~~ she wrote

World Series Game 6

On my way into work I stopped at Modells and got this. Kind of says it all.

Last night was church so I didn’t get to watch the whole game. I was following it on my phone though. That is how I knew Hideki Matsui was having a good night, Andy Pettitte was also doing good.

But once again my favorite moment (or two) might be thought of as a little odd. During the ninth inning the camera was on Girardi, (I saw this in the clips after the game) and he actually looked relaxed, he was almost smiling, then he did smile and step back into the dugout and the other coaches and him grabbed each other, you just know it was the last out.

And my other moment was when Alex was up on the stage and the announcer asked him if he wanted to ‘take a minute and enjoy the feeling’, and he says ‘Yes.’ and puts his head back, smiles and says, “Feels good!”

Now for some more of my World Series haul.

This is my hoodie, it is like the shirts they were given after the game except its a hoodie.

I got this shirt for Kasey, she prefers the Navy blue. And lastly,

The magnet went on my cabinet at work, the bear came home with me and is going to the parade.

~~ and that’s all she wrote ~~ 

World Series Game 3

I realize that my last Game post had some errors in it. So tonight I have attempted to take better notes.

After an hour and 20 minute delay, the game started at 9:15 p.m. Playing in the National League means no designated hitter so Pettitte was on the line-up or roster or whatever you call it. But he used to play in the National League so he does have some experience hitting. 

Second inning Andy seemed to lose it a little. Phillies player Werth got a home run, then with the bases loaded he walked a batter for a score of 2-0 Phillies. Then the Phillies pitcher bunted and for a sacrifice and the Phillies got another run, 3-0 Phillies. 

Inning number 4 was the turning point for the Yankees with a hit by Alex that was ruled a double, then after review by the umpires was ruled a home run. 2 runs scored. Then in the fifth was Pettitte’s second at bat and he hit a fly to center field that allowed Swisher to score. Johnny Damon also hit a line drive to center field and Pettitte and Jeter scored. 5-3 Yankees.

In the sixth inning both teams got home runs. Swisher got the homer for the Yankees. Kasey said she heard that before the game he told Girardi his slump was over. With the Phillies homer score was 6-4 Yankees. Seventh inning had a score by Damon off a single by Posada, Hideki Matsui pinch hit for Joba with a homer and then in the ninth Phillies got another homer. Mariano came in to finish the inning. Final score Yankees 8, Phillies 5.

World Series 2009

Phillies 1, Yankees 2

~~ and that’s all she wrote ~~ 

Images from Game 2

World Series Game 2

This morning I put on my Jeter shirt, my Jeter bracelet, my Yankees earrings, jacket and hat. Just to show that win or lose Yankees are my team. I am not getting much work done, between talking about baseball, this player and that and going on the MLB site. 

Before the game started I decided to take my shower, since I knew I wouldn’t feel like it after. I was taking off my earrings and I broke one of them, then I lost the dangly part so I can’t even fix it now. If I was superstitious I would have taken that as a bad omen, I’m not so I didn’t.

A.J. pitched well, Kasey and I were a little worried, but he really came through, 7 innings and only gave up one run. In the fourth inning Teixeira hit a home run. That tied the game up, then in the 6th inning Hideki Matsui hit a home run to put the Yankees one run ahead.

Brett Gardner was put in to run for Jerry Hairston Jr., I forget how it happened he ended up on third base, then Melky hit a ground ball and he scored. 

In case any of you Phillies fans missed it, Yankees 3, Phillies 1.

So as it stands right now, 

World Series 2009

Phillies 1, Yankees 1

~~ and that’s all she wrote ~~