Sigh.

No one else has sad it yet, so I will - there's only answer to this. Bernie must have acquired those compromising pics of Torre that were Tanyon Sturtze's key to playing time while he was in pinstripes.

You would think Joe would stop falling for this old threat, but apparently not.

2 4 It seems stupid to me, but what do I know?

The kid already speaks with the poise and game intelligence of an established ace. Deep voice, too.

He's not cocky, but is aware of his ability and what is expected of him. Very mature.

Says he wouldn't mind spending the season in Triple-A if that's what the organization wants.

Humbly shrugs off comparisons to Clemens, but acknowledges his delivery and style is similar to him and Schilling.

Best question: Kay asks him: 7th inning, 2 outs, runners on, 2-2 count what do you throw?

Hughes shoots back: Who's the batter?

Kay: Vlad.

Hughes knows Vlad loves to hit pitches out of the zone, but says he'd have to go to his "bread and butter" and bring it fast and inside on him. "If Vlad gets his hands around and turns on it, you have to tip your cap to him, but I've got to go to my bread and butter there." (or something like that)

I got chills listening to him, and literally pumped my fist in the car when he described going after Vlady.

I know, I know, long way to go, but I can't wait to see him pitch in the bigs.

The kid already speaks with the poise and game intelligence of an established ace. Deep voice, too.

He's not cocky, but is aware of his ability and what is expected of him. Very mature.

Says he wouldn't mind spending the season in Triple-A if that's what the organization wants.

Humbly shrugs off comparisons to Clemens, but acknowledges his delivery and style is similar to him and Schilling.

Best question: Kay asks him: 7th inning, 2 outs, runners on, 2-2 count what do you throw?

Hughes shoots back: Who's the batter?

Kay: Vlad.

Hughes knows Vlad loves to hit pitches out of the zone, but says he'd have to go to his "bread and butter" and bring it fast and inside on him. "If Vlad gets his hands around and turns on it, you have to tip your cap to him, but I've got to go to my bread and butter there." (or something like that)

I got chills listening to him, and literally pumped my fist in the car when he described going after Vlady.

I know, I know, long way to go, but I can't wait to see him pitch in the bigs.

The kid already speaks with the poise and game intelligence of an established ace. Deep voice, too.

He's not cocky, but is aware of his ability and what is expected of him. Very mature.

Says he wouldn't mind spending the season in Triple-A if that's what the organization wants.

Humbly shrugs off comparisons to Clemens, but acknowledges his delivery and style is similar to him and Schilling.

Best question: Kay asks him: 7th inning, 2 outs, runners on, 2-2 count what do you throw?

Hughes shoots back: Who's the batter?

Kay: Vlad.

Hughes knows Vlad loves to hit pitches out of the zone, but says he'd have to go to his "bread and butter" and bring it fast and inside on him. "If Vlad gets his hands around and turns on it, you have to tip your cap to him, but I've got to go to my bread and butter there." (or something like that)

I got chills listening to him, and literally pumped my fist in the car when he described going after Vlady.

I know, I know, long way to go, but I can't wait to see him pitch in the bigs.

you are just really really really excited about Hughes perhaps?

That interview is amazing. I can't wait for this kid.

In any case, all he has to say is that with Ortiz up he'd do the same, push his big elbow pad off the plate a few times, and I'd be fist pumping too...

"Best.Post.Ever."
with other words I can't remember.

So it seems that since it was intriguing to one of the writets(Alex), people thought it would be funny everytime. At least in the beginning. But now it's just the thing to do.

17 SF Yanks, is still my favortie leadoff post - when he/she starting thanking 'all the little people' type of speech. i thought that was hilarious! : )

19 i always trust what posada has to say in these instances. IIRC, he had much praise about Wang this time last year. pete abe's blog is becoming even more essential every day.

good lord, i can't wait for the season to start!

thanks for the great posts lately and i always love anything number oriented, so the last thread on spring training #'s was a fun read!

Loved Jeter's ribbing of Mussina for getting his story all over the back pages for his mouth instead of his arm. Ever notice how Moose cloaks everything he says with the "guys in the clubhouse" ?

Keith Foulke GONE. The latest from the disaster ridden '04 Sawks Season. Where will it all end? Such Misery and Wretchedness, if ever a championship was damned...

5. (Don't remember whom)
Well,

6. (DRW)
I've got...

7. (DRW)
...Mantle!

That was cool.

23 I hear you. Consider the fact that the Yanks in every year they won from 96 on had some tragedy to deal with. (Was that true for 2000?) It's the Sux' turn to pay the piper, but played out over the years since they broke up the team PDQ afterwards.

To me, it's fun and no biggie either way, but your comments on how the 'first post' thing has taken on a life of it's own was timely.

And just to ensure this post adds a little something, here's a short but sweet homage to Jorge found on the 'Yankees for Justice' blog:

http://tinyurl.com/2nvwgx

Personally, I like this site alot, the guy can write. Plus, more good 'stuff you never really hear about' over at LoHud: Pete A. vs The Unit.

Hey... how do you guys put links in your posts?

But my promise to you, I'll keep it above the belt this season, despite what 26 would imply... learning to appreciate stats is grimy work for an arteur... g'night!

I would also sneak down to the General Motors plant halfway down the block and through the enormous parking lot, up the escalators, across the overpass and down more escalators to the security desk and tell them I was there to pick up my Mom.

Not during kindergarten class, mind you. During class, I would sneak out to the playground and lay on top of Snoopy's doghouse >;)

I shoulda said I had no creative writing idea to nail two shotguns at that moment ;-) I just thought it was funny Cliff commented on just that...

30 TheWord: To link to a post, just place brackets [ ] around the post number you're referring to...

Also, Phil Hughes is on target to start his Yankees career this year. He'll join in June or something.

The rotation by the end of the season will be:

Moose
Pettitte
Clemens
Wang
Hughes

Igawa will be in the mix somehow, and Pavano will be out. Just my guess right now. If Clemens isn't in the picture, replace him up there with Igawa. Nice rotation.

I think they only bring him up if they need a difference maker.

BTW, how fitting to be pulled over for a across the street from a bail bondsman. I don't judge, but the scene could be played by Hugh Grant. I liked the "out for blueberries" used for the Mets GM that was mentioned in today's NYT.

38, 40 I tease people I like. It's hard to imply a smirk when I write until you get used to my style. No worries, and don't kid yourself about not being creative >;)

Speaking of smirks, my greatest accomplishment as a family member is communicating through expressions. My oldest sister had become leery of me when she saw me smirk or heard me snort, because she thought I had or was about to say something extremely sarcastic about her. (You have to know how to defend yourself when you're the youngest.)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JMcxIZiO1qQ

I got my baseball start a few years later than that kid, but I still feel the same way as him. We can complain about something, or analyze A-rod, or dissect numbers, but that boy reminded me of the real reasons baseball is the greatest game ever created.