August 20th, 2006 → 11:16 am @ Seth Mnookin
I’ve always relied on the Stones for apocalyptic soundtracks. There’s no one album that does the trick, although a mix that relies heavily on four albums released between 1968 and 1972 — Beggar’s Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile on Main Street — usually works out pretty well. As far as actual songs go, nothing beats “Gimme Shelter.” That part where Merry Clayton‘s voice cracks on that second “murder”? Man. I certainly hope the rumor that the intensity of the song induced a miscarriage is false. (It seems likely to be a product of the fog of Satanism that clung to the Stones during that time.) But I’d believe it if it were true.
Anyway, sometime around the seventh inning of yesterday’s game, I gave up and went for a run. And was probably listening to Merry scream and shout at about the exact time when Tim McCarver said he’d read my book and thought it was marvelous. Which is sad: that would have been pretty cool to hear. (I was still watching in the fourth, when a discussion of pitch counts and a shot of Jon Bon Jovi resulted in this: “Wonder what singers think of pitch counts. What are they on when they go on stage? A word count? Or a song count, perhaps?”)
Anyway. Merry, darling, I do love your voice. And I hope I’m listening to you shriek at any point tonight.
Post Categories: Merry Clayton & Red Sox & Yankees
August 18th, 2006 → 12:13 am @ Seth Mnookin
The Yankees played in every World Series from 1955 through 1964…except for 1959. That was also the last time the Red Sox and the Yankees played a five-game series at Fenway. And the Sox swept.
August 18th, 2006 → 12:04 am @ Seth Mnookin
“With two outs in the top of the sixth, a runner on second, and the Orioles already ahead, 9-2, Jay Gibbons popped the ball up between Rodriguez and Jeter, but closer to Rodriguez. Rodriguez positioned himself under the ball, but it caromed off his glove as Jeter brushed into him in an effort to catch the ball himself.
Afterward, Rodriguez said he called for the ball but that Jeter did not hear him. Jeter said the reverse, adding that he initially thought Rodriguez caught the ball to end the inning. In fact, Jeter initially started toward the dugout while the ball lay in the dirt. Both players appeared embarrassed after the play and neither immediately picked up the ball…
It would have been Rodriguez’s 22nd error this season, one in which his shaky defense has become an ongoing issue. But the official scorer, Howie Karpin, changed the ruling, giving the error to Jeter for impeding Rodriguez’s ability to make the catch…
Jeter initially looked surprised that he had been charged with the error but then said he did not care. Torre said it should have been Jeter’s play, since he is the shortstop and in charge in the infield, but that no one could be blamed if they could not hear each other.”
— “Missed Play Adds to Long Day for Yanks,” The New York Times, January 18, 2006.
Let’s see: two players making a combined $44 million a year who haven’t liked each other for half a decade. One’s among the most beloved player in Yankees history. The other regularly gets booed at home. And the team’s manager diplomatically takes sides while pretending he’s not taking sides.
Am I forgetting anything? Oh yeah: the Yankees lost to the Orioles, 12-2.
Post Categories: A-Rod & Derek Jeter & Yankees
June 24th, 2006 → 5:13 pm @ Seth Mnookin
I have no idea why this even surprises me anymore.
Post Categories: Charlie Manuel & Tom Gordon & Yankees
June 21st, 2006 → 9:34 am @ Seth Mnookin
June 28, Fenway Park: Josh Beckett versus Pedro Martinez. I’m taking odds on how many times they show the two pitchers’ respective records versus the Yankees in the playoffs.
Martinez: 1-2, 4.72 ERA
Beckett: 1-1, 1.10 ERA, plus a complete game shutout on three days rest to clinch the ’03 Series.
Post Categories: Josh Beckett & Mets & Pedro Martinez & Red Sox & Yankees
June 16th, 2006 → 9:32 am @ Seth Mnookin
From today’s NY Times: Rodriguez, it would seem, gets worse of Yanks’ tough day
“Rodriguez’s consecutive at-bats—home run [with none on and the Yankees trailing 6-1] and strikeout [with two on and the Yankees trailing 6-4]—seemed to verify what the critics say: that he produces when pressure is right and fails in tougher moments.”
See also:
NY Post: A-Rod failure is one of many
NY Post: Rodgriguez isn’t rescuing Yanks
NY Daily News: A-trocious
NY Daily News: Slumping Alex only hitting self
You know what would probably turn this around? Whining about the official scorer’s decisions.
UPDATE: Alex knows not to disappoint his fans, and on Friday night he delivers the big swinging K in a tie game with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth. To be fair, he did have an infield single in the third.
June 9th, 2006 → 4:32 pm @ Seth Mnookin
No doubt Jason Lee wouldn’t approve of a post like this—and just wait, in the next two days I’ll probably lose a winning lottery ticket and news will break that Tim Wakefield has been a drug runner since his days with the Pirates—but there’s yet more news about current or former Yankees players taking drugs now banned by MLB. On Thursday, Jim Leyritz said he began using amphetamines in 1990, his rookie year with the Yankees. This comes on the heels of the Jason Grimsley affidavit (Grimsley played with the World Series champion Yankees in 1999 and 2000). And, of course, there’s the fact that the two biggest names ensnared in the BALCO case besides Barry Bonds—Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield—both play for New York. Sheffield says he had no idea he was using steroids. The same can’t be said about Giambi, who reportedly told the BALCO grand jury he was juicing while playing for in both Oakland and New York; back in 2001, the Yankees agreed to remove language prohibiting steroid use from Giambi’s contract. I’m of the opinion that lots more names are going to come out in the not-so-distant future. But at the moment, a lot of what’s come out so far has some connection to New York.
Post Categories: Baseball & Jason Giambi & Jason Grimsley & Steroids & Yankees
