(I won't mention "first!")

In '96, IIRC, the Yanks had a losing record in the spring, and then won it all. That convinced me the team's record in spring training didn't mean a damn thing.

To this day, my mother, who became a Yankees fan during the 70s, follows the Boss's line of thinking. I cannot convince her otherwise, which maybe ties back to Lipsyte's quote in the post before this one.

Regardless - I cannot wait for the first Andy game at home. I just wanna hear the ovation he gets as he walks to the mound. It will be a "chills" moment for sure.

I just went to retrosheet to look up who started the opener and the home opener in '97, figuring Pettitte had to have gotten one of those. He didn't; Cone started both.

Random fact - the winning pitcher in the Yanks home opener that year (they lost to Oakland) - Aaron Small in relief.

http://tinyurl.com/2pyysf

alright. as you were.

#7 on Weaver's list reminds me of my annual "aches and pains" warning not to get overexcited about spring training injuries unless someone actually breaks something.

13 14 yesnetwork.com has a counter up on their main page (upper right corner) that is counting down to Opening Day by the second. Staring at that counter does not make the time go by faster. Not that I'm speaking from personal experience, of course.

"Jeter is a Capricious Dick"

and

"A-Rod is a Nancy Boy Head Case" headlines? Sweet.

http://tinyurl.com/yp4txd

Isn't there someone in the Hall who's plaque has a blank ballcap? If not, I foresee Sheff as the first.

Okay, outside of the obvious (Gollum) I nominate Bob Raissman as a top-ten offender for his disingenuous slap at Cashman yesterday and his usual holier-than-thou flip-flopping on issues at hand.

Next?

Not that I am one to talk (then again I am not a major league pitcher) but does Schilling look fucking fat or what? And Dice-K looks a bit doughy, too. Also, I wonder if Nancy Drew brought his crystals and oxygen tent to Ft Meyes. Last, where's Manny? I hear he is hiding out at his momma's house.

Oh, man, I can't wait for the season.

25 Murray Chass, maybe? Many people here seem to have complaints about him. All I know is that, when it comes to labor and Seligula, I think Chass does some outstanding writing. Other stuff, not so much, as I understand it.

Not to be confused with the Carbecue, normally found in southern parts of Bronx and Brooklyn.

All due respect to Alex, Cliff, and all the rest of you hardworking Yanks bloggers and commenters, but everything else (particularly the soap opera stuff) is just noise to me now.

Not sure if you've been to PhilipHughes.net but Mr. Ace of The Future has a short mix of tunes on his site which is pretty interesting, if you're curious about that sort of thing.

It's mostly Cali punk revival, and rap rock stuff: AFI (A Fire Inside),Rise Against, Thrice. Also of note, the "born-again" headbangers P.O.D.

Hughes seems to like his music loud, fast, and confrontational, which seems to fit his pitching style.

I keep thinking about how he told Kay he'd challenge Vlad inside on a 2-2 count, tie game, runners on etc.

I can't wait for this kid.

We now return to "All My Yankees" already in progress...

Oh, BTW I love the Bronx Comix. Would you be willing to post an email address on your site so people could send you ideas or pictures for future comix?

he then said,"that's my bread and butter."

yeah. i think i'll like rooting for him.

"Nemo .... is that you? Oh my goodness look what they've done to you ...."

If some here could take a few minutes to project games, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, walks, strikeouts and hit by pitches for him, I would be very appreciative.

jeteupthemiddle.blogspot.com

A bit of history:

2005: Big Head Bonds and the Monsters (for those of you who don't get the reference .... http://www.bigheadtodd.com/)
2006: Plantar Fascists (a takeoff on the injury of the moment .... Plantar Fasciitis)
2007: ???

I want to do something around my idea of "Pavanomas" (tm) :-)

So .... please vote
1) Carl Pavanomas
2) Pavanomas Pavanomas
3) Pavanomas nomas
4) Other (please specify)

Thanks!

How about the Glass Pavanomasses
or Pavanomas and the Heavy Legs
or Weapons of Pavanomas Destruction
or Pavanomas Confusion

43 I like Bama's suggested "Glass Pavanomasses".

But there are other cases where players did wear insignia but don't show them in the Hall. Here's a list: http://tinyurl.com/yong53

Aside from the Berra technicality, I think Johnny Mize is the last one before Hunter, and none since.

Pavanomas' Dog? Merry Pavanomas (or The War on Pavanomas)? Ivanhoe Pavanomas?

Meanwhile, the Italian Foreign Minister is named Massimo D'Alema, which, if you ask me, is a great name for a number of different things, including a fantasy team, but a terrible one for a Foreign Minister.

That Foreign Minister's fantasy team has got to be the "Weapons of Massimo D'Alema"

Cute ....

but unlike Carl, Nomar seems to want to play ... and he tells his team when he gets hurt

(Yankees rankings)

2. Philip Hughes, RHP, Yankees, 21
22. Jose Tabata, OF, Yankees, 18
56. Joba Chamberlain, RHP, Yankees, 21
65. Humberto Sanchez, RHP, Yankees, 24
92. Dellin Betances, RHP, Yankees, 19

OF THOSE WHO JUST BARELY MISSED THE CUT

Tyler Clippard, RHP, Yankees, 22

For the bored out there:
What do Massimo D'Alema, Adolf Hitler, Steve Spurrier, Luther Vandross, Carmen Electra and Don Mattingly all have in common?

I hope its a birthday ....

55 Bama Yankee
"52 Why does the Italian Parliament care about dianagramr's fantasy team Worker's Comp fees?"

Because they want something special to Lira at?

54 And Tyler getting screwed again!

How does Sanchez get rated higher exactly, especially since they consistently pitched in the same leagues? (I'm not going to even touch guys like Tabata, Chamberlain, and Betances who combined have probably one year in professional baseball).

Tyler is 22, Humberto 24.

mL career Comparison:
Humberto: 5 seasons 84 GS 454 IP 8.29 H/9 0.56 HR/9 4.56 BB/9 8.84 K/9

Tyler: 4 seasons 84 GS 513 IP 7.56 H/9 0.74 HR/9 2.21 BB/9 9.77 K/9

So let me get this straight. Tyler is two years younger and has stayed healthier. He gives up few hits, walks fewer guys, and K's more of them. Humberto gives up fewer homers and has started 9 games in AAA.

But Humberto is the significantly better prospect?

I think those guys are smoking too much "potential" and "talent" and "stuff". I'm glad I don't waste my money reading it.