'Nuff said is right. I think that something has happened to A Rod - maybe it's coming out of the closet on PEDS, maybe a taste of mortality because of his hip injury, maybe Kate Hudson (who knows?) - and that we may be seeing three, four, or five seasons at the highest level.

He's got the ring, got the mojo, got the girl, and he's produced in the post season.

Are we allowed to like him?

Champy-OWN Rodriguez!

I'll see your Centaur, and raise you a Godzilla!

reg: .292/.370/.482/.852
post: .312/.391/.541/.933

[2] career #s

We've got both a centaur and Godzilla! Philly has a cheesesteak.

[1] Like him? I probably won't - he's a weird dude - but I will continue to appreciate his talent and root like Hell that he hits like a monster for the Yankees.

Believe me - when he's trotting around the bases - I won't be thinking of centaurs or Kate Hudson. I'll be hollerin like a fool 'cause he won another ballgame for the team.

A-Rod has now played more seasons as a Yankee than Reggie. Chew on that.

[1] Even at his worst, I always liked A-Rod's butt. Very Centaur-like. Now, I like the whole package. Stats and all.

[1] I'm generally not a believer in guys having peak years in their mid-to-late 30s - Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds aside - but look how well Peyton Manning has played since he got the "doesn't have a championship" monkey off his back.

[7] hey man, i left you a link for a bucket full 'o fotos at another thread. not sure if you saw it. not the greatest pics in the world, but there sure are a TON of them! there are sooo many different posts here today, i'm not sure where i left it. i'm going to them all and am near the bottom of whichever ones 'on which' i commented.

ah, fuck it - i just realized i still have the copy/paste portion "copied". here ya go!

http://www.daylife.com/search/photos/1/grid?q=yankees

[7] yeah, but the lifespan of a centaur is 90 to 120 years (lookit up!), so ours should stay strong through his 30's.

[5] Speaking of Reggie, here are his playoff numbers:
.278/.358/.527/.885

[8] I didn't see that AJ pied Joe!

http://www.daylife.com/photo/06294SY3Vu7EW?q=yankees

A nice touch.

[10] hey man, i'm not sure if you saw it on the other thread, since i was late to post... but i wanted to extend my condolences to you and your family. i'm so sorry for your loss. hope the Yankees' World Championship can help you crack a smile! hang in there, buddy : )

[8] THANKS!

Those are some awesome photos!

Mike Francesa really won't let Sweeny Murti talk. What's the point of having a guest if you're just going to use them as an audience to go over the same points you've made ad nauseum? I actually would like to hear Murti's thoughts, not Francesa's for the millionth time. I don't think Francesa really likes and/or respects the guy much.

[14] I'd like to have Sweeny's job for 2 seconds so I could tell Franceser ; ), to shut the f$%# up!

Really, really nice to win it all.
As Jr. said, this is where we belong.
However, when it comes to the World Series of Baseball Blogs, Alex B. has been winning that since he starting playing the game.

[1] Higher than 2005 or 07? The numbers that Rodriguez has posted during his time as a Yankee are nothing to sneeze at.

[5] I never stop thinking about Kate Hudson... Mmmmmm

Baseball has some great, great moments.
Here's one that sums it all up: http://tinyurl.com/yfovdn9

[12] Thanks thelarmis. The Yanks winning has helped me a lot more than I thought. I don't know if I should feel guily about it or if if makes me a shallow person. But I have felt pretty low for the past week. Like most people around here, I invest a lot of time (probably too much time) in following the Yankees. My father-in-law knew that and always loved to talk about baseball with me (since he was a former coach we would always talk about strategy and such). I'm sure he would be glad that the outcome of the Serious has helped me not be so serious and has brought some much needed joy into my life.

[19] great stuff. Met Harlan once at the old Stadium, and told him how proud we are of Joba. Pops looked at me like I might have been the millionth person to tell him that, but he shook my hand, politely smiled, and said "Me too."

[19] OYF, my man, thanks for that one. Hard to even pretend to be cynic looking and reading that. And why should we, today!

Good to share this win with you.

[19] Have to admit I welled up at that picture.

[19] Very nice.

boBBy signed a 2-yr $18 mil deal w/ the Halos. he gets $9 mil per, w/ a $9 mil option in 2012. there's an AB clause that can guarantee the 3rd year - 550 in '11 or 1,200 combined for '10-'11.

Jayson Stark on our 'Gang of Four' in a piece that is an antidote to sour minds elsewhere. AND, as a special bonus, there is a Karim Garcia sighting!

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs/2009/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=4624979

this one is for you William...

1923 - Coolidge (R)
1927 - Coolidge (R)
1928 - Coolidge (R)
1932 - Hoover (R)
1936 - FDR (D)
1937 - FDR (D)
1938 - FDR (D)
1939 - FDR (D)
1941 - FDR (D)
1943 - FDR (D)
1947 - Truman (D)
1949 - Truman (D)
1950 - Truman (D)
1951 - Truman (D)
1952 - Truman (D)
1953 - Eisenhower (R)
1956 - Eisenhower (R)
1958 - Eisenhower (R)
1961 - Kennedy (D)
1962 - Kennedy (D)
1977 - Carter (D)
1978 - Carter (D)
1996 - Clinton (D)
1998 - Clinton (D)
1999 - Clinton (D)
2000 - Clinton (D)
2009 - Obama (D)

Democrats - 20, Republicans - 7. Just Sayin'.

[27] So, there is only one explanation for the latest championship drought... It's George W. Bush's fault. ;-)

[28] Either him or A-Rod. They had a lot in common for a while, but the chain is finally broken >;)

Lots of posts & comments to catch up on, heavy head this morning from too much carousing last night..

Here's one quick view of the local coverage from a sports tabloid's website. I'm going to try and upload some front-page images later.

http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/mlb/playoff/2009/news/photonews_nsInc_f-bb-tp2-20091105-563076.html

Every morning show here on tv led with the Matsui news!

I was thinking that the Yankees might be inclined to sign up Matsui for at least 1 more year.

Damon or Matsui might be re-signed, but certainly not both.

Damon is a Boras client and is unlikely to go for any one year deal. I thought I heard that Damon lost a bunch of money in a ponzi scheme? (Not sure of that?)

Matsui won the MVP for the WS and The clincher is that the marketing deal the Yanks have with Japanese companies brings in quite a bit of doll-uh-ree-neez. I bet the Komatsu company was jumping out of their socks when Matsui went deep in the 2nd right over their sign in right field.

Although Matsui is pretty one dimensional and would be strictly a DH, he was solid this year because he was healthy. Damon's value is his speed and despite a horrible arm can play left field. But Damon might not hold up all year if he is in the field. He is like the anti-Abreu and throws himself into walls at least once a week. You love his grit, but he was worn down in September.

The Yanks have a ton of guys who could use a day off DH'ing, and I think they would only bring back Damon or Matsui if it were a one year deal. I wouldn't be at all surprised if neither came back.

It would be great if they used the money on Jay Bay. If they can swoop in after Holliday signs somewhere other than Boston, and steal Bay from the Bosox that would be delightful. They get Ajax in center or the Melkman for 1/2 the year than Ajax. Bay in left and Swish in right.

[27] Tokyo and I were discussing that sometime last month...and it was one of the first things I thought of when President Obama won the election.

Heads up, Banterites. Just read on Feinsand's site that Jeter, Posada, Pettitte, & Matsui will be on Letterman tonight.

[31] The question is not whether the Yanks want Matsui back, the question is what combination of $$/role will Matsui accept. He would be an amazing bat off the bench to carry all season as an occasional DH, but I'm not sure he wants that role after his MVP in the Serious. Health is such a variable thing that I hope he accepts whatever role they offer and then uses his bat to get more time. Sure everyone else needs to get rested, but they can rest themselves on the bench plenty well.

[30] Thanks...I like some of those other pictures too.

Red Sox traded for Jeremy Hermida...Mission 28 has begun!!

[33] what time and channel?

[34] i think Mats would be a terrific LIDR and PR. could prolly be our BUC, as well.

I KEED, I KEED!!! ; )

[35] who'd they give up?

[35] Oh no, we're screwed! Oh well, at least we'll always have 2009.

[38] hey man, i'm hungry - what's for dinner tonight?! better yet, what's for dessert?! ; )

[38] keep in mind, i just ruined both dinner AND dessert by downing a pack of m&m's! : )

[31] He would be an amazing bat off the bench to carry all season as an occasional DH

I'm not sure why they would not offer him the chance to be the full-time DH and occasional bat off the bench.

[39] Dessert! Some Hostess cupcakes, vanilla ice cream, and a banana: three new taste sensations! Branch out, be adventurous!

Hey, I just watched the ESPN interview with Mo courtesy of River Avenue Blues.
There's something really striking about this interview. It's partly that he's standing and they're sitting. But it's more than that. He owns that interview in a way that you don't expect a guest to do; he's in charge there. It's as if they're interviewing royalty, a crown prince with a natural charisma of leadership. They all recognize it, even those blowhards. (Maybe Gammons didn't quite get it.)

[42] but...but...but - gammons just said that hermida gives the shit sox "flexibility".

yeah, i watched that mo interview a few times last night. where he's resting his arm on winny's shoulder. mo did own it. he owns everything. he's a god!!!

WORLD CHAMPS!!!

[35] The sports papers here are about 50% sports, 50% cheesecake photos and sex columns.

Watched some tv footage from Ishikawa-prefecture (Matsui's home state) this morning, mass celebrations there. Will try to find that on the web and get a link up.

[43] Yo thelarmis,

#27!!! Everyone do the Funky Snakefoot!!

[44] cheesecake? my favorite! uh...never had it.

those 3 BN cd's i got from japan are awesome! rare titles by jimmy smith (w/ lou donaldson), tommy flanagan (playing leonard bernstein pieces w/ elvin jones) and ike quebec.

some of those later solo and duo mccoy tyner cd's on BN, are excellent!

i've been in blue note heaven!!! and YANKEE heaven!!! : )

[45] hells yeah! then, i'm a-gonna wash it down with more suds later!!! after i practice, of course. here i go...

took the day off tomorrow and have to be up early to head downtown, so the big question for tonight is: what should I watch, 61* or The Bronx is Burning?

Tim Lincecum picked up for marijuana posession..naturally!

Oh, man, that was comment #42. And Raging T's #27 is appropriate, too. This proves there is a God. (Hm, two proofs in one, come to think of it.)

Yeah, I love how he was leaning on Winfield, and how Winfield was actually into it.

Damon's interview with Kim Jones is also awesome. I mean, even leaving aside how damn cute she is.

[26] Who?

I decided to look back at the comment thread from the night, in my opinion, the season really turned around...June 24th in Atlanta. The Cerevelli Game.

Some highlights:

williamnyy23
June 24th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
So, Cashman is in the house. Considering that the Yankees are two days from returning to NY, that little piece of news has given me a little bit of optimism in what has become an increasingly depressing season. Add in the controversey surrounding the lineup and maybe, just maybe the Yankees are finally ready to admit their mistake and move on.

64. tocho
June 24th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
toronto is pounding cincy again. if the yanks don’t take care of their sushi tonight, they’ll lose the WC to toronto

147. NickL
June 24th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
that was pure theatre by Girardi–nicely timed cut to Cashman looking enigmatic in the crowd….wow, outrageously bad call!

162. Diane Firstman
June 24th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Cervix goes deep! :-)

206. OldYanksFan
June 24th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Kate Hudson puttin on the leather and lace tonight!

483. Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO
June 24th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
It’s payday and we finally won a game! Guinness will flow tonight, huzzah!

494. The Hawk
June 24th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
“Everybody’s happy. Everybody wants to play baseball. So, things happen.”
- Francisco Cervelli
June 24 2009

==================================================

So there ya have it. After that night the 2009 Yankees went 75-31...we know because we were there.

Damn, Hot Stove has started already. Sox trade little for Hermida. I wanted him! He gets killed by his home park but I thought he could do really well in YS 2.0.

[52] SO COOL! And that Cervelli quote..candidate to replace the Earl Weaver quote on the Banter banner!

[36] whatever channel CBS is. 11:35pm.

[52] i was at that game, thank you very much!!! : )

[55] i've gotta go put in an hour of prak. i'll try to make it back in time!

Wow, espn still shows Karim Garcia in a Philly cap. It's a good thing nobody picked up on that before the World Series or the Banter may have imploded.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=3336