Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
As I've previously mentioned, I'm anxious about peeing in public restrooms. Have been ever since I was a kid. About ten years ago, though, I was hanging out with my friend Steve Stein, aka Steinski, at his studio/office in Manhattan. At one point, I told him I had to take a leak and as I stood up, he walked by me and said that he had to relieve himself too. Awww, man, I thought. The men's room down the corridor from his office was made up of two cramped stalls and a small sink. There was no place to hide, not enough room to pretend that my non-peeing was actually just a subtle stream that was tapping on the side of the bowl away from the water. I was stuck. Stein, of course, was oblivious to my dilemma and he continued our conversation in his soothing, New York accent. I was thrilled and delighted to discover that as we chatted, I had no problems peeing. The next time the situation came up, same result. Why Stein I don't know, but I took it as a sign that a deep comfort existed between us. Eventually, I told him as much.
But that was it. Stein was the exception to the rule. It wasn't until a few months ago that it occurred to me to think about Stein standing in the stall next me, carrying on a conversation, when I was in a public restroom without him. Well, wouldn't you know it, my Jedi mind trick works! While I have not tested myself in a jam-packed bathroom during the late innings of a ballgame, I'm now been able to pee in public restrooms. All thanks to Stein. It's a minor thing in life, but for me, it feels major. So much so that I called Stein to thank him. He sent me an e-mail the next day, "I'm wildly flattered that I'm in your thoughts when your schlong is in your hand."
Point is, if I can learn to pee straight, the Yankees can figure out a way to beat the Tigers, who have a formidable line-up of course, but who have underachieved even more than the Yanks have this year. I mean, how frustrating have these four loses to the Tigers been? C'mon already. Cliff hipped me to a bit Kevin Goldstein wrote about today's starter, Darrell Rasner over at Baseball Prospectus:
With Ian Kennedy's minor case of the yips and Philip Hughes' continued struggles, Rasner might suddenly be a surprisingly important part of the Yankees' 2008 season. That said, he also just might be up to the task, because he was totally dealing at Triple-A, allowing just 18 hits and six walks in 31 innings. He's a classic sinker/slider type with plus command, and while at 27 he's already at his ceiling as a back-end starter, he delivered six quality innings in his first big league start of the year, and should be able to provide that more often than not throughout the season.
Let's hope Rasner can make it two-in-a-row this afternoon. The offense needs to score him some runs.
Let's Go Yan-Kees.
Let's hope Rasner doesn't piss away his chance to be in the ML rotation.
Honestly, is Shelly preparing for an early broadcast career? He obviously likes the camera (even if it doesn't necessarily like him >;)
After 129 at bats, Jeter finally homers. Welcome aboard, Jetes (no allowance for you either!)
WTF? Paging firejoemorgan.com, firejoemorgan.com to the white courtesy phone please.
maybe not
That was a weirder call than Sterling could ever give.
Joyce with the HR. It's going to be a looong game.
Ug. I'm tired of hearing 'first career home run'.
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=541867&w=mms%3A//a1503.l1086926507.c10869.g.lm.akamaistream.net/D/1503/10869/v0001/reflector%3A26507&pid=mlb_lg&gid=2008/05/10/detmlb-nyamlb-1&cid=mlb&fid=mlb_lg700&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_sub&_mp=1
I've got tickets to two games against the Reds next month. I hope we smoke 'em
That or our offense really sucks.
detmlb-nyamlb to nyamlb-detmlb
And now Betemit to the DL with a hammy, so here comes the Former AG back tomorrow.
COMMON JD! Big AB here.
I'll take his bat to get great D.
I really am starting to think he can be a good #5 starter....Better than anyone last year, better than Corey Lidle (God rest his soul), better than Jaret Wright, better than Aaron Small....etc. etc.
6 IPs. 1 run, 3 hits.
He's thrown 80 pitches today and could probably go another. Personally, I think he should go hitter to hitter in the 7th. Ultimately he needs to be able to go 7.
Recall IPK and send Igawa to Chilicothe.
Then, when the time is right, Joba becomes a starter and we get really good.
It's just a matter of time.
Seriously, Jeter has 2,397 hits as of right now (including today), which puts him 1,859 behind Rose's 4,256. Jeter is 34 years old but in pretty good shape. He's averaged 208 hits for every 162 games, but that's going to go down.
If his future is playing a corner outfield position, 1b or 3b, I really can't see him having enough power to hang around long enough. Maybe he can play centerfield if Melky continues to gain weight and ends up in Right.
I would LOVE to see Derek catch Rose, but I don't want it to be at the expense of the team doing well.
ANd Farns, always showing a lil bit for us to believe then blowing up when it really matters. Hate him.
What's the status with Joba?
Pudge is a good contact hitter.
This isn't good.
Amazing.
How 'bout that?
Talk about dodging a bullet.
i guess mlb wanted to punish us by having kyle only suspended 1 game
Mo, Joba, Albie?
Mo, Joba, Dorf?
Mo, Joba, Britton?
Everything we've seen of Rasner indicates he might be a pretty decent pitcher that just doesn't happen to fit into the plans. He's better than Aaron Small, so I don't think the Small comparison really fits.
...Jonathan Albaladejo will not need surgery to mend a sore right elbow. The reliever left Friday's 6-5 loss to the Tigers after throwing 2 1-3 innings.
Tests showed a sprained ulnar collateral ligament and strained posterior capsule ligament in his right elbow. The club placed him on the 15-day disabled list before Saturday's game and recalled right-hander Chris Britton...
1. Derket Jeter is still killing me. I love it. Typo humor is low, I know, but sometimes you gotta go with it. I am going to have a lot of trouble NOT saying, 'Go, Derket!' this afternoon.
2. Agreed that Rasner/Small is a bad career analogy. It is a decent one for possible role, situation this year, though. As someone (OYF?) pointed out, he has an era of 4 in the bigs, has never been bad, just overlooked and out-hyped, and unlucky with injury. It was a joy to see him throw strikes yesterday.
3. The Giambi numbers flat-out fascinate. If he keeps walking (the obp stays up) and the power is there, he is NOT hurting us, till HE gets hurt.
4. Wilson Betemit is a strong man. Just sayin'
5. I have to disagree with the JobaJobaJoba cries when Farns gives up a run in a 5-1 game. He is pitching well this year, it is not unusual for set-up guys to have ebbs and flows, and the team is much stronger if Girardi is calm enough to let PLAYERS feel he isn't jumpy. I am not on the Girardi bandwagon (is there one?) so far, but I think he's done something right with the 7/8/9th inning plays.
We will stretch Joba properly when the time comes, not by slipping in nervous 2 inning stints. As discussed earlier, it is NOT just adding innings, it is working back to 4 pitches and a starter mentality. I have a sense his trouble in Cleveland came from TRYING to play with pitches.
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