Jackie Robinson & George Shuba, Opening Day April 18, 1946
© Mike Shuba, from the webpage The Undefeated from an article by William Weinbaum
What does it all mean? Tracing great events and legacies back to simple moments floating ephemerally in time, waiting for the moment to enrich our understanding of humanity. Through good and bad times. For richer or poorer. Greatness and scorn. We live in our moments and pass along to the next, hoping to hold onto the greater fo these and pass along the erst, yet some return to bring either destruction or construction. In this case, let us say we as fans of baseball should always grab hold of moments like this no matter when they reveal themselves again; such as the light traversing the cosmos they bring revelations through time that may stir even greater events in our own time.
This article, written by William Weinbaum for ESPN’s The Undefeated, touches on such light, describing the powerful significance it has in store. Thank you, Mr. Shuba and Mr. Robinson, for this touching and informative moment, and thank you to Mr. Mike Shuba and Mr. Weinbaum for your diligence in rediscovering and bringing this moment along with the memories and lessons it conveys back to tour time.
Ah, an opener.
Not good
Great stuff, Chyll. The top half of tonight's 1st....not so much. JFC!
Phew
I am sick and Fucking tired of the rays already. Ugh!
Some offense would be nice.
At this rate, the pitchers could throw a shutout and the team would lose 0 to -1.
It's time to change managers.
The rays are just too good.
Instead of Cessa, just put a white flag on the mound.
That error won't matter.
This is one of the worst games have watched in years
I think this team just wants to be humiliated.
[9] Maybe we are just terrible? I mean, Cashman has a wealth of resources at his disposal and yet has to fill significant parts of the roster with "hope he pans out" types, knowing full well none of those guys ever works out.
Meanwhile the Dodgers still showing the world, if you are going to spend don't be cheap and the Rays, if you are going to be cheap hire guys who can actually coach/manage players for the better instead of just hiring inexperienced puppets for the analytics department to control. [rant over]
MLB just switched to the Padres game and the pitcher is David Weathers’s son?!?
How old am I?
Is anyone in MLB not a former MVP or WS champ’s son?
Will someone find the carbon monoxide leak in the Yankees’ clubhouse already?
Head reeling on a Friday night.
How about a win today?
Grumble
Yo, RBJ. Holding the first down. Rejoice! A hit with risp!
Thank you Le Machine.
Yuck.
And Gary’s out of the game
Monty certainly reminds me of Andy.
No way is that a dp. Yikes.
Fuck this. Mighty Joe Young is on TCM.
Yay, Odor. Need guys on base though.
Pathetic
Your 2021 NY Yankees! Fucking Bollocks!
[14][9] I agree that the roster construction suddenly appears poor. But this is the team we've got and the Yankees need a manager to motivate them. I haven't looked to see who's available to manage them -- and I need to do that -- but I'm ready to see Boone fired.
[28] Bam Bam’s available, the Mets let him go because Rojas wanted to hire his own people. He should have been hired in the first place, but I guess his winning the World Baseball Classic championship as a manager and winning three MLB championships as a hitting coach put him at a serious disadvantage vs a guy who once hit a pennant-winning home run against ancient overblown rivals, likes to hoop off-season and is “good with kids.”
PS: that pick-up basketball game is the reason why the Yanks went and got one Alex Rodriguez, so take that any way you like...
[29] I feel very torn as a fan. I know Boone needs to go. I want to root for the Yanks today, but if they get swept by the Rays -- at home and with their ace on the hill-- and fall to 5-10 I'd have to think that should be enough to get Boone fired.
I'm an Alabama fan and we're all glad in retrospect that Coach Mike Shula wasn't able to get Tim Tebow. As John Sterling would say, sometimes you really do have to lose the battle to win the war.
I'd be okay with Bam Bam, Willie Randolph, or Buck Shower.
Au revoir, Jay Bruce.
Nice start, Cole.
Good God, the Townies new special uniforms are hideous.
Good catch, Aaron. But 31 pitches already?!?!
Nice catch, Judge.
Stanton goes boom.
Nice homer, Stanton.
More solid defense. Oi!
Well, aside from crappy hitting a a lot of crappy pitching, at least we have crappy defense.
W.T.F?!?! CLINT!
Fucking Horseshit baseball everywhere.
Hey, a RISP hit!
If the Rays didn't own the Yankees, they would be really bad. Like where the Yankees are now.
On the other hand, the Knicks are playing well.
Ugh.
Forget about calls to the bullpen. I think it’s time that George placed a cemetery-to-cemetery call for Billy Martin.
That’s a waste of a weekend.
[44] The Yanks started 6-10 under Yogi in '85 and George called on Billy and they finished 91-54 from there and nearly won the east. Of course, the 2005 Yankees started 11-19 and went 84-48 from there and won the east without firing the manager. Of course, that Manager had the halo of 4 World Series titles in his hip pocket. Aaron Boone doesn't.
Feels like tonite is a must-win game even though it only closes out the first tenth of the season.
Need a win.
How about competitive ABs.
Are Kay, Cone and O'Neil getting all nostalgic because the team has been so boring? I'm writing a report on pharmaceutical products and it's more interesting than this game..
Two walks, DP and K. Yup, that’s the Yankee way.
Lucas Luetge..? Who?
Nice, Gio.
Not good.
Phew!
The pitching is coming through, but the batter as not changes a bit.
I support the "pick the line-up" out of hat approach.
[oops] "batting has not changed a bit."
I just don’t like the “three true outcome” approach to hitting. String together a bunch of hits that don’t leave the yard.
[50] This Yankee team will keep you focused on work for sure.
[58] We have 2 guys that do that....maybe Gleyber sometimes, too. Too many that can't or won't.
Jim Steinman has died. Wrote Bat out of Hell and Total Eclipse of the Heart, among many others.
[61] Amazing talent. Didn't he write every song on that first Meatloaf album?
[62] I believe so. The BBC’s homepage story hints at that.
I checked in just n time for the bases loaded no out scenario. And Clint at the bat! oh, boy.
May I suggest that this has been best game of the year, win or lose?
Nice. Now more.
It's not what you want.
Paul's right, they are being way too cautious on the base paths.
Thanks, braves pitching.
Finally, a smart AB.
Nail biting time. (Used to be lights out time)
Rejoice!
Noice.
Nice win.
Good start for Klubot
It would be nice to see him get through the 6th inning.
Frazier! Nice play.
I am a big fan of the 6:30 starts. The offense can show up at any time.
Almost through the glove.
Yeah, l like the 6:30 time too.
So the offense is still AWOL.
[80] Hey Boat! Are you at your new office?
[81] Actually, I am home right now. I generally don't head in until around midday. Had a bike accident the other day and bruised my ribs, so I have to bus it.
[82] Oh yikes, bruised ribs hurt like hell!Be careful on that mama-chari!
Dreadful inning..
I didn't know Sandoval was still in the majors
This is a rather important out to get here the bases juiced.
Looks like they're gonna lose this game.
Garbage. Complete garbage hitting.
[83] I have a mountain bike, thank you very much. ;>)
Jazz Grandad on the phone here saying 'release Stanton and get some good players, more like Urshela. He's a good player' :)
This team is pathetic.
A bunt. Can any Yankee bunt?
Death by a thousand cuts.
Grrrr.
Kluber and his 2.00 WHIP basically makes him an opener or whatever you call a 3/4 inning and a cloud of dust pitcher. On second thought that's basically everyone minus Cole and Montgomery. The bullpen is going to be burnt come July
JFC, Gleyber! Just go to the dugout. That deserves a benching.
yankintexas. You spelled Memorial Day wrong, ugh.
Maybe we should file a missing offense report.
Tired of Clint Frazier and his 'potential', get a damn hit this season maybe??
Now that they are finally taking Ian Anderson out, I just got the earlier Jethro Tull references. Doh!
[98] "A walk's as good as a hit."
But is it really?
Coney just did it again. At least the announcers on on.
FFS!
I was expecting a weak grounder to short, but yeah, pretty much the same thing.
Really terrible start to the season..I'm going to focus more on the Padres until the Yankees start playing better.
Wow, Kay just ripped into Gleyber for not hustling. O'Neil mentioning Buck Showalter..coincidence??
I don't know what took Kay so long! JFC. This team sucks right now.
Dreadful, but we shouldn't expect more when key ABs are going to Roughned Odor and Brooks Kriske (who??) are throwing bullpen innings..
Oooohhhh. 6:00 o'clock start on the morrow. Hope that doesnt fuck up the offensive rhythm.
Well of course Gio has a back injury. It’s 2021
Down 4 late against a new pitcher? Yes please do hack first pitch.
Well there's that. Good job, Clint.
Barf.
6-11. Please fire Boone.
It’s really not a whole lotta fun to approach a Yankee game with resignation.
I like the 6 O’clock start.
Painful, Ford.
Don’t swing at ball four. Twice.
That didn’t take long. I feel like a masochist watching this.
This is shaping up to be an all-time Yankee Classic.
Ok, game over.
I've been saying Boone needs to be fired for at least a week. In my view, certain managers win wherever they go because they motivate players and I don't see that with Boone. So, I have a couple of questions:
(a) I get that players play - not the manager - but that doesn't mean anyone can manager. But if you think Boone is right for this job, why?
(b) What does Boone have to do to get fired? 6-11 hasn't done it. Would 8-20 do it? How about 12-35? If not that, do we have to suffer through 64-98?
This looks like a terrible baseball team, but I know they're not and that's why I blame the manager.
[121] (a) that doesn't mean anyone can manage, rather.
A RISP hit? Are the Yankees allowed to do that?
Has Judge always done that mini-Sheffield rocking/timing thing at the plate? Just caught my eye.
[Moment later]
Not helping, in any case.
Tied up! Indians can provide bad defense too.
And they can be just as bad hitters.
Ok, German settled down. I’d go to the pen though.
Odor with another RISP hit.
Atta boy, Clint! Right down the fucking chute. Strike 3 looking. sigh.
Clint, Clint, Clint.
Higgy!
Yay, a come from behind win
As I said, a Classic.
MLB.tv not working for me tonight. “Video failed to load.” My internet connection is fine.
Ah, now it’s working, for a Monty shit show.
No doubter.
Ah, the going for bourbon ploy worked.
Stanton!
Yowzers!
More Stanton go boom!
Yup, take Monty out there. Sorry you’re not in line for the win, but that was a bad first inning.
One.
Yankees win!
Shaping up to be a pitchers duel.
Hicks with the stick,
Hodor!
Cole for the 7th
Hidy Ho! Looks like that this was a good one.
I've just seen a few innings, but does Kay have a bro crush on Cole or what? It's kind of embarrassing.
Hmm, not good.
Shit, maybe I shouldn't have turned this on. Get him outta there.
Phew.
Insurance, please.
I guess not.
Woo hoo!
That was real nice.
MLBN on. Annoying. Four guys talking through the game.
Gio!
Belly to belly!
Boo!
I love a good shutdown inning! Oi!
At least they got rid of the small screen on MLB network.
I had to switch to the Yes feed. Plays havoc on the batter though.
It is a house money game.
Heluva catch!
Not a good start, Devi.
Nor that
I'm writing a boring report this morning and have the Knicks - Suns on in the background, Yanks - O's doesn't seem very enticing..
Phew,
Matt Harvey...??
Cy Harvey. Longest outing in two years. RISP hit!
Huh, white Chik-fil-A ad in the batter’s eye spot in the outfield. I thought that was verboten.
Sigh, balk.
JFC! A Fucking Balk!?!? Are you Fucking kidding me!?
Scoobie Foo, Don Knotts, Barbie Fife. Come for the Yankees, stay because of Cone. Lol....
I’m stuck with the O’s broadcast. Bland guys.
Blegh, getting beat by these O’s.
Oh, Judge.
Oh, Ump.
Stupid loss.
Judge fail. Replay fail. Why Fucking have it. Grrrrrrrrr and
Booooooo.
Hey, a sac fly
Goodbye Tauchman.
All rise
Higgy joins the party
Klubot for the sixth.
Get him out, now.
Phew, but that wasn’t easy.
Stanton! But can we have men on base for these homers?
Nice catch Judge. Motion for extra bases denied.
Wait, Klubot out for the seventh? He’s pitched one inning the past two years.
Ah, so that’s why Ford is in.
Nice glove, Higgy
Gio,!
Maybe bats are back?
Bench fucking Frazier. Jesus fucking Christ!
I think the warmer weather helps.
The O is finally waking up, but what’s with all the terrible baserunning? That stat is crazy, 13 outs on the bases already..??
A second sac fly
Clint, Clint, Clint. First pitch?
Germán is ON.
of course, after I write that he loses the no-hitter
Jazz, did Acme give you a day away from the salt mines?
Finally, Clint!
I hope that gets Frazier out of his funk
Well played game. If we can get at least one more starter to dominate and pitch more than 5 innnings...well, thing could turn around.
Very nice. Strong starting pitching, good offense, no stupid nonsense.
Well had my first shot now laundry and day baseball.
More bad baserunning. That had to be on the 3rd base coach!
Runs please
Thank you Odor
Whelp, tending to laundry and walking the terrorists had the wrong effect.
crap
Gleyber!
Extra innings.
Boo.
Suck eggs! Bummer Torres double bounced out. DJ was already a step from third.
Would it be too much to ask Tyler Wade to learn how to bunt?
[216] Baltimore's players know how to bunt.
[30][46][216][217] I realize I am writing in a vacuum about this and doubt I'll ever see a response, but perhaps when the aliens arrive someday and are sifting through the records of our existence, they might come across this and learn that at least one Banterer believed that Aaron Boone needed to be replaced in 2021 because he was a terrible manager.
Bunting has been out of fashion for a long time, but it's important in certain moments, not the least of which is MLB's contrived extra innings rule. Executing the bunt was the difference between winning and losing today.