Will they throw out the baby bunting with the bathwater?

can you explain?

thanks. I actually just read the linked piece.

"flue like symptoms" huh... ;o)

that introduction ceremony was nice, if only to see so many great players ... and to see so many of them get such great acclaim from the crowd.

let's hope the game is good ...

True .... but will the "common fan" be able to get into the new Stadium .... (vis a vis the ticket prices)?

But yeah .... they sure are a well-run machine.

I mean, is it wrong if I say he reminded me of Peter Boyle in Young Frankenstein, balling his eyes out as they made their way to the plate.

It was very well orchestrated through. They wisked George the f* out of there with the quickness too.

I thought the whole ceremony was nicely done. Imagine, Yankee Stadium is probably the only place in the world where you can follow Hank Aaron with Reggie Jackson and get away with it. The fact that they saved Yogi for last was great, and he had a terrific reaction when the roar when up for him, he jumped back, startled. Unfortunately, the camera cut away from him and lost most of the reaction.

Still, amazing that it comes to this for the Boss. Well, he got his moment of grace I suppose. He built a winner and was able to see it off in a fashion that is suiting to his legacy. It was actually classy. Blubbering and demntia and imperfect and human and all.

I really wanted a moment of silence for Murcer .... :-(

didja happen to notice that the baseballs were in a plain manila envelope? I found the "commonness" of it interesting ...

which one?

Well, maybe they'll do something in mid-game.

Those two deserve each other.

For a short time I'd put the regular season out of my mind, swept up in the lovefest.

Bah.

Only in NY would the fans want Paps to blow the game to spite the AL home field advantage...LOL

C'mon ALers, gotta get a lead here to go to Mo!

Or perhaps Francona goes to Mo anyway?

Oh good - its Billy Wagner! This lead should change hands any moment now. ;)

Here comes our boy!

(I'd presume.)

Its tough because I want to see Mo pitch, but I'd prefer he gets the last out too. Can't have it all.

I wonder if Mo ever gets tired of making his way out to the mound. Nah.

I don't know why. Maybe it's because his career is closer to the end than the beginning.

Whatever the reason, I just can't quite come to terms with how special he is.

Gay...

85 I think you've got the wrong blog, friend.

Mariano Rivera.

Now we just need a run . . .

I so much prefer when he paints the outside corner. Anything short is all well and good, but not quite what I'm looking forward to.

I'm crazy, I know.

Who knows? If Navarro had never been traded, maybe he doesn't develop as he has, because he's left rotting on the bench in the bigs, never getting regular playing time . . .

Not a knock on Torre, BTW, just recognizing that Posada has been a lineup mainstay.

BTW, that shot of Mo's cutter that started at his release point and followed it in slo mo in was sick. That thing took a freakin' right turn at the last second. Should have put on its directionals.

Lastly, I know it will never happen, but man, I'd love to have Josh Hamilton on this team. That kid is going to be a monster.

you know those that are so focused on those types of things are usually the ones with thier own hangups ...

And Scott "100 pitches in 5 innings" Kazmir is the only AL starter left. Yikes.

That's what I'm talking about!!!!

Christ, it never gets old.

Cats and dogs, lying together!
Worlds collide, Jerry! Worlds collide!

I'm impressed.

He's a good hitter, man.

Now shut up.

Mariano Rivera.

129 please leave. there is nothing constructive or positive about you. take your comments elsewhere.

"gaze upon my works, ye mighty ... and despair"

Get Mo the W!!!!!!

how are ya, btw?!

And let's all hail the Great Mariano!

11:56 p.m.: Joe Girardi caught Mo in the bullpen when he warmed up, by the way.

;)

Damn it.

;)

you've been sparse around here this year ... pity.

it wasn't al leiter with that stupid comment .... it was Rick Reilly.

For five minutes there I was remembering what it was like to watch a winning baseball team. That they're in the Stadium allowed me to feel it really was my team playing the way they used to.

But no, it was all just a tease and now I remember what we have to go back to, after we all turn into pumpkins, whatever the outcome of this particular game.

Sigh.

http://tinyurl.com/5sty5e

The numbers with RISP tonight are just horrible - just like the Yanks!

;)

186 Thanks - I missed it.

(I'm actually not technically a Dem, but point taken. :)

And a nice tribute to Bobby Murcer too, even though (it being FOX) they cut away from the highlight.

insufficient .... and way too late in the evening .... :-(

Last night, while Hamilton was cracking bombs, he said, "Boy its not a good night to be an athiest!" Hamilton is a born again Christian who credits his faith as being the key to turning his life around. So Reilly was basically saying the reason Hamilton was hitting those home runs was because of God.

You know, because He would decide to give proof of His existence through a guy hitting a ball with a stick.

Kinsler was safe!!

;)

man, you must be busy this year!

A hit, fer cryin' out loud, a bloody hit so I can go to bed!

but, yeah, i've been busy as hell, also! tons of work the first half of this year...

damn, navarro is slow. he needed to call a cab...

"Interestingly, A-Rod is long gone and Jeter has stayed in the dugout since he came out of the game."

223 I don't drink it, but yeah, that would be nice. My wife is going to kill me - I told her I'd come to bed after Mo came out. Whoops.

Take it back, take it back!!!

231 That'd be my guess. =)

235 man, that sounds good! i was gonna email you too, but again, i wasn't feeling all that communicative. but that would be better as i'd rather not purge here. i'm too private and no one needs to be saddled with that. i do love the Banter family, though!!! : )

this is not looking so good... : ~

My guess is that every GM Cashman calls asks for one or the other. Or both. (At least at first.)

I see a K in Uggla's future.

God.

Touche!

sorry, got carried away by FOX ...

let's see who gets that one ...

Fair's fair.

sheeesh.

The only Bach I know is Johan Sebastain. Or Bachman Turner Overdrive. =)

Pete Abe says that Kazmir (and the TB org) told Francona he didn't want to pitch in this game. Uh-oh.

Nice job, Sherrill. Hope the AL scores . . .

i had never heard of that reilly chump either. checked out a few things and don't like him...

nice work by sherrill...

257 Done right, instant reply should make the games shorter. Now we have a blown call, then the 1st mgr comes out to argue for 5 minutes, then the umps huddle for 5 minutes, then they change the call, then the second mgr comes out to argue for 5 minutes . . .

Finally - a fly ball! Please, please, PLEASE someone drive Guillen in!

the end it near...

But Reilly's comment ("it's a lousy night to be an atheist!") sounded like something that comes from a sociopathic acquaintance that you reluctantly bring along to a party, hoping he won't embarrass you. The way he delivered it -- in the midst of a wonderful moment at YS featuring a truly great story -- was like the worst kind of nails screeching on a blackboard. Inappropriate timing, self-satisfied and smug delivery.

Come on, let's end this one!

/sarcasm

Giambi would have ended this game in like the 10th. Booooooo!

Here's Justin "Lyle Overbay has nothing on me in Mattpat eyes'" Morneau.

Or....Kyle Farnsworth vs. Jose Reyes cage match?

Sebastian Bach, is actually a badass! his real last name is Bierk, though...

This is the game that never ends . . . it goes on and on my friends . . .

Cripes, Elvis just turned over in his grave. "Viva Viagra!"?!?! WTF?! I hate drug marketing.

I love that Tito got Mo in when he did, but sending K-Rod to the showers after just 1 batter might come back to haunt him. I hope not.

good luck with your deadline!

i made sure to read every single post alex, cliff and the gang put up regardless of anything i had going on!

;)

" NEW YORK—Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui will cut short his rehabilitation and could be headed for season-ending surgery after experiencing more inflammation in his troublesome left knee.

Matsui, 34, is currently on the disabled list and had been working out at the club's Minor League complex in Tampa, Fla. He did not hit on Tuesday and is scheduled to see team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon in New York by Friday.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman called Matsui's continued issues "discouraging" and said it is now more likely that Matsui may not return this season."

you see Maiden in LA?! i heard it was unreal...

Tickets to the 2008 All-Star game: $500.

Anything that makes Bud squirm: priceless.

"Fringe" failing miserably: beyond priceless.

tell me what sorta music you like, i can send you a mp3 dvd (of what i've got)

. . .can a walk off home run possibly be in the offing here?

gotta bunch of jazz too ... a bunch of miles stuff ... "on the corner" sessions, "jack johnson" sessions", "cellar door" sessions ... tell me watcha like ...

Here's to the Stadium.

336 F-U-C-K.

Isn't there a curfew still for AL games - they end at 1 AM? Or does that not count because this game counts?

;)

Uggla's havin' a rough time...

336 yeah, Mats is probably gone and Damon's not feelin' so good. yuch! : (

http://tinyurl.com/66ujh4

But this has been a weirdly entertaining and surprisingly watchable game, though I wanted it to end a few innings ago.

Or I'm really really tired.

Or, to make Bud squirm, HA!

Meanwhile, FOX is psyched - just look at how many ads for their shows they get to run.

heh, heh!
heh, HEH!!!

you can browse their catalog w/o signing up.

I'll bet that Bob Melvin and the Diamondbacks are just thrilled that Webb is in this game. Yikes!

378 　Wayne Tolleson, too funny..how about best of Stump Merril vol.2?

i'll email at some point, might not be too soon, though... i still owe hoppystone from here an email about music, from the offseason...

366 i know man, i'm all over the map! i don't 'dislike' santana, just not a huge fan. well, let's see - Joe Jackson is one of my very favorite musicians, Paul Gilbert is my guy this year, last year my big inspiration was Tower of Power. of course, i gave a clinic this past winter on Classical Indian rhythmic and counting systems! : )

thrash metal and jazz-fusion rule! : )

371 ya know what's fucked up? i actually think it's a misprint and it's supposedly Bill Connors on guitar on that. i'm still not quite sure the exact truth. i've got an "authority" guy i should ask...

Alarmis... you like the Purple. Ian Paice?

Switch-hitter, right? With those goofy glasses? Shortstop. Hit .252 one year? Low, squat-like stance?

Was he before or after Roy Smalley?

Billy Cobham was insane, though Tony Williams my all-time fave drummer..

Monkeypants' answer: Is it really a problem?

Oh, Lord, help us all.

Mattpat, I hope your boy Morneau ends it.

cobham is a major hero and influence of mine! in fact, next spring, my old fusion trio is slated to get back together. we'll be adding violin and bass and reinacting Inner Mounting Flame in its entirety. it should be released on cd & dvd. if it comes to fruition, i'll let ya know.

Purple are cool, but i'm not a big fan, or anything. saw 'em front row at Giants Stadium about 21 years ago, with Aerosmith and Gn'R.

402 yeah, but you got to see Steve Morse, which is always a treat! : )

413 hah-hah..just picked up Gil Evans plays Jimi Hendrix on cd for about $5..excellent...and to think Jimi and Miles would have collaborated at some point!!

Les Dudek anyone?

don't kill me, but i'm not a huge Hendrix fan. i know, i know. don't care much for Steely Dan, either. sorry. Frank Zappa is the best, though! : )

"12:38 a.m.: Deciding to live blog the All-Star Game is now on par with deciding to drink all that tequila that one night sophomore year.

12:40 a.m.: You have to sort of admire Clint Hurdle burning out his own pitcher.

12:43 a.m.: Gary Carter has asked to manage the NL team the rest of the way.

12:45 a.m.: The press room has taken on the atmosphere of a hostage situation. Peter Gammons is banging on the wall with a tin cup.

12:53 a.m.: They just got Billy Wagner to come out and talk to us. He said he would be willing to go back in and pitch if the rules allowed it.

Meanwhile (true story) he's going to the White House tomorrow to meet with the president, who has invited a handful of baseball people over for dinner.

12:59 a.m.: The press room inmates have now divided up into gangs. I'm with the Crips. We'll be fighting the Bloods any minute now.

1:01 a.m.: Dan Uggla could be the first player DFA'd during an All-Star Game."

Hmmm...was he really safe?

How many times will one league (in this case he NL) have to lose home field advantage before everyone starts to question things?

Praise Jesus.

;)

What a wacky, wacky baseball match.

sometimes when i have to learn a lot of an artist for work, i get burnt out. i used to like the Doors and SRV a lot, but i had to play in those kinds of tribute bands so much, i can't listen to those artists anymore...

;)

And if anyone wonders why "classless" fans at YS boo RS players, Jeannie Zelasko provides the ammo by baiting the remaining fans during the award ceremony and reminding everyone that MVP Drew plays for the Red Sox, and bringing up the hopelessly stale buried Ortiz jersey story.

One final nice touch that hardly anyone saw: Bobby Murcer's picture flashing across the screen as the telecast ended with Frank singing New York, New York...