Is it 8 o’clock yet? Long and coherent doesn’t seem to be happening today, so instead, here’s some scattered thoughts from a scattered mind.
*You guys been watching the NLCS? Some excellent games, and I’ve gone from rooting for the Giants because they aren’t the Phillies to genuinely liking them. Lincecum, Kung Fu Panda, Buster Posey, even Brian Wilson who is douchey but at least in an entertaining way. The entire series makes me wish the Yankees would ditch their uptight facial hair regulations already, though. Everything is more fun with beards!
*There’s plenty of time to think about this later and it’s not a surprise anyway, but according to Jon Heyman, the Yanks plan to bring back Joe Girardi. I’m okay with this. Girardi has definitely made his share of mistakes this postseason, but so has every manager. I don’t think there’s been anything fireable. He won the World Series last year and made the ALCS this year (…as of this writing), and although the ghost of George Streinbrenner would disagree, to me, you don’t fire a guy coming off that kind of success unless he does something really crazy/egregious/criminal. Despite what I might end up yelling at the TV during the 8th inning tonight, I think Joe’s been solid.
I wish he’d eat something though. Dude looks gaunt.
*Via LoHud, Robbie Cano hopes Melky Cabrera can rejoin the Yanks next year. I… don’t hope that, but I still have warm feelings for the Melkman and I hope he lands on his feet. He was fun to watch for a while, had some big plays and big hits for the Yanks over the years (remember that catch on a would-be Manny Ramirez homer just over the left field wall? I do, and I bet Manny does), and I think he could still help some team, at least from the bench.
*It’s easy to overlook in the heat of a white-knuckle eighth-inning playoff relief appearance, but Kerry Wood’s got a pretty great story. Tragic, redemptive, all that stuff.
*It is genuinely kinda depressing how many fans left Yankee Stadium early in Games 3 and 4. I mean, in the ninth of a blowout, I get it. But while it’s still close? In the ALCS? I don’t generally go the fan-police route: I stay til the better end because I’m an obsessive and hate the idea of missing anything — but it’s supposed to be fun, and if you need to leave for work or school or sleep or whatever, you do what you have to do. But the streams of people fleeing before the end warlier this week were pretty embarassing. It’s easy enough for most of the country to hate Yankee fans, no need to load the gun for them.
*Nick Swisher, according to ESPN NY: “If one more guy asks me about Cliff Lee, I’m gonna punch him right in the (bleeping) mouth.” Heh.
Here’s hoping the baseball goes well enough tonight to get us baseball tomorrow night, and cause for Swisher to spaz out some more.
Wow, you had me so completely with you on this:
I’ve gone from rooting for the Giants because they aren’t the Phillies to genuinely liking them. Lincecum, Kung Fu Panda, Buster Posey, even Brian Wilson who is douchey but at least in an entertaining way.
But then you said this:
The entire series makes me wish the Yankees would ditch their uptight facial hair regulations already, though. Everything is more fun with beards!
No, no, no! One of the main reasons the Yankees have the most handsome team in baseball is the no beards policy! Every time Cantú steps up to bat I give thanks that the Yankees aren't allowed to perpetrate that type of disaster upon their faces.
The other reason is, of course, that they wear the pinstripes.
I don't think I'd describe Brian Wilson as "douchey". I mean, I wouldn't. I don't think he is. I know you qualify it by saying it's in an entertaining way. Maybe it's just the liquid meaning of the word "douche" and by extension "douchey"
[1] It ain't handsome, but the facial hair on display in the NLCS has been *highly* entertaining.
[2] I guess the best way to put it is that I enjoy Brian Wilson as a character, but I think he'd be fairly irritating if, say, he was living down the hall in college. Of course I don't know him, so that could be entirely off-base.
And how about that Cody Ross? I got to watch him play for the Mud Hens in 2003. Not a good team, but it's fun to watch someone you rooted for in the minors do well in the bigs.
[5] Absolutely. Which is why I continue to root for Burt Reynolds, Robinson Cano's cousin, who I saw play against the Cyclones this summer. (And also because: BURT REYNOLDS).
I’ve lurked for years, and every now and then- like the last year of OYS, or the death of George- think about posting a thank you to Alex and all the contributors and posters, but of course I never do. Until today.
Emma, I was at Bernie’s last game, too, when he was managing and put himself in for his last hit. That’s my historic OYS memory. Did you get the pin they gave out that day? Over Four Million, Thanks to the Greatest Fans in the World. I love that little pin. I like to think of it as a present given personally by George. Like he told Costanza to get them made.
If the Yanks win tonight I’ll make some Victory Chile tomorrow afternoon. At some point in some long ago playoff I made it, and the Yanks won, and even though reality intrudes and they don’t always win when I make it, I still make it come the playoffs, once a series if I can.
I love the Banter for intelligent, fun Yankees comments and insights and stories, and for all the other stuff about the city and music and movies and writers that Alex posts. Years ago, back when the internets were young, I was a member of a community like this (it involved a TV show featuring a certain girl we knew who was a… vampire slayer?). So I know that being a member of an online community like this requires commitment and I just can’t provide that anymore- just sayin’ that because this is a only a drive-by, so don’t think any less of the post because I disappear.
Freddie Sez, Bob Shepherd, George… but oddly enough this summer it was Houk’s death that actually made me think about doing the “thank you, Banter” post.
I’m from Michigan, and my first major league game was I think in ‘72 at Tiger Stadium, Tigers vs. Yanks. I’m up at the top of the centerfield bleachers, where you could turn abound and look down at Canada. Billy Martin was managing- the Tigers. And the Major was managing the Yanks. Munson and Freehan were behind the plate, and I’m looking down at Bobby Murcer’s back all night long.
Tigers won that game, they hit three home runs in the first, not in a row, though- but one of the homers was Al Kaline’s. It was a hell of a game to be your first.
Moved to the city in ’89. It became my home, and the Yanks became my team. So thanks again to Alex and the Banter, and as far as tonight goes: was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Let’s go Yankees.
7) You are MOST welcome, Steve. Thanks for the kind words and Let's GO YANKS!
[7] Welcome! Glad to have you aboard.
I was at game three and didn't notice anyone leave until the Rangers blew the game open in the ninth inning. Yankee crowds have always done this. I don't get the all of the recent criticism. Considering the lateness of the games and amount of people with decent rides back home (many on public transportation), not leaving early is kind of silly.
You're just CRUEL to post a photo of jambalaya and not post a recipe with it!!