Clams, Sausage, Risotto, and Randall
I figured I would hang a right at the first door. This, I knew, would take me to the outdoor section of the Andrew J. Barberi, a goliath of a ferry. It is one of the many bright yellowy-orange Staten Island ferries, some of the largest passenger ferries in the world. I was headed out to Staten Island from Manhattan to meet with Mikey Rumble and Tony Sherry for dinner. Mikey Rumble was going to meet me at the ferry later on, but he ended up going out around lunchtime, so by the time I got the first call from them at about 3 o’clock, they were already two sandwiches deep. Each. It was a cool-ish day in New York today, at least for July, so it was a pleasant ride across New York Harbor. There were some tourists taking pictures of each other as we sailed past the Statue of Liberty, and I offered to take a picture of the group of them. There are often tourists on the ferry; it’s free, after all, and a pretty good way to get a tour of the Harbor. And you can turn right around and go back to Manhattan at the other side. I recommend it for anybody that’s coming to New York to get a little local flavor. The ferry terminal in Staten Island is also about fifty steps from the Staten Island Yankees stadium at St. George, which is as good a place to see a ballgame as you’re going to get. Phenomenal views of the skyline and the harbor as you watch the games. But today I picked up the cell phone as we approached the dock to call Tony for my ride. As we docked and I walked out the door between the terminal and the stadium, I could hear Mike Rumble’s cackling laugh from Tony’s car, pulled up to the sidewalk. When I got in the car they were still talking about Tony’s comeback to beat Mike Rumble at Playstation baseball before they left Tony’s apartment. We flipped to the game on the radio and headed to Steven Dominick on Bay Street, one of the best restaurants you’re ever going experience. It wasn’t until the second inning that they put the Yankee game on the TV right behind us, and when they did it wasn’t long before the Giambino hit one and Randall was cruising. If Randall is going to get smandercrantzed, you usually know it in the first inning. He just looks out-of-sorts. You also know when he’s going to be money. Tonight, no question. He was the man. As luck would have it, whoever it was hanging out at the bar asked for the Mets game, so we were on our own after the bottom of the fourth. After dinner we went a few blocks down to get ice cream. I really had to dig deep to keep up with those guys. When we finally got back in the car, we heard John Sterling talking about Jeter having some RBIs, Giambi having some RBIs, etc. We counted at least four runs they must have had. When the Yankees finally made the last out of the inning, John Sterling announced, “And at the end of five-and-a-half, its Yankees seven, and the Indians nothing.” We all let out a simultaneous roar…
Torre went with Randall for what may have been a bit too long tonight, probably in a desperate attempt to get the bullpen some much needed rest. While we’re on the subject, it occurs to me that there are two ways of looking at Randall’s season. One is to be unimpressed with his 10-7 record, as he has been very inconsistent while getting tremendous run support. Along those lines, you can be frustrated that he makes too much money, or that he isn’t living up to his reputation and he’s not doing what we got him to do. The other way to look at it is that he’s a 42 year-old guy who has 10 wins at the All-Star break. A guy who has can still be dominating at times, and has flirted with no-no’s on a couple of occasions this year. Take your pick. It’s certainly true that he has gotten a ton of run support, but I’ll say this. If he does somehow go on to win 20; it’s going to be tough to complain about his season. Even a guy like Pedro, who has put up killer ERA numbers so far this year, hasn’t won enough games, and that’s what you’re out there to do. So I guess you take your ten wins, walk out with them in your pocket, and wait for the second half.
Quietly, or not quietly at times, Jason Giambi is putting together a magnificent season. On pace for 50+ dongs and 130+ RBIs. And a killer OBP, as always. As a matter of fact, if you look at both the HGH brothers (Giambi and Ortiz) their numbers are starting to look pretty gaudy. That’s all well and good, but I want wins.
I’ll tell you what. Going to Cleveland for a four-game set while the Red Sox were in Tampa for a four-game set doesn’t look like a recipe to pick up ground. But we shaved a game off the lead. That’s encouraging. Now Boston has to go to Chicago. It will be interesting. Chicago didn’t exactly light the Yankees and Red Sox on fire last year, ending up with a sub-.500 record against the two teams combined. But they’re tough. The Yanks need to take care of business in Tampa Bay. At least shave a game and go into the break a very manageable two games out. That’s a good position, because the Red Sox are pretty much playing with the team they’ll have. This is it, unless they make a deal. And they’ve got a bunch of guys’ playing way over their heads. The Yanks, it would seem, are mostly likely to get lots of help at certain points in the second half. The first half has been a trial. So far, they’ve survived. And the most likely direction for them, we’d probably all like to think, is up. All the way to the top.
Hey the red sox can beat the white sox!Wait a minute if the red sox almost got swept by the D-rays I dont know about the white sox.
GOOOOO YANKEES!
GOO RED SOX!
-kaylee
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Kris Wilson pitched relief Wednesday. I'm like, "Who?" Then he shut down Cleveland for 2 innings with only 18 pitches.
Not just a shut-down, but a CONVINCING shut-down.
I was thinking, "The Yankees have a solid relief dude alongside Villone and Myers".
Now, Wilson's gonna start Sunday. Ladies and gentlemen, this year's Chacon is Kris Wilson.
P.S. it's like the passing of the torch.. Chacon goes to the bullpen, and Wilson comes in as a new starter.
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I like this idea of Chacon to the 'pen. At worst.. it gives us a long reliever who is ineffective and is available to pitch in blow out games like the 19-1 loss. It was amazing how the Yankees ended up using 6 pitchers that game, including Kyle Farnsworth, their normal 8th inning guy. At best, Chacon finally gets his act together and earns his spot back. This is a win - win situation.
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Finnally they trook chacon out
now THE YANKEES can win the division.
-kaylee
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Oh isn't it hilarious how the Sox lose 3 out 4 to the D-Rays? I tell you, this team is one heck of a team. They take pride in beating you, once they discover they have what it takes to beat you. So far the Yankees have taken the trash out, and own a good record vs. the Rays. The Red Sox on the other hand are quickly becoming the 2005 Yankees in regard to their play vs. the D-Rays. Once you beat them in game 1, they roll over and die. If they beat you in game 1, watch out. They will end up winning the next 18 games against you.
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I AGREE WITH UMAIR!
-kaylee
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well, Boston's gotta face Chicago
and i'm thinking the Yankees can gain 1-2 games (maybe 3!!!)
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and i agree with Torre.. the Yankees need more offense rather than pitching
i think Moose, Johnson, Wang, and yes, Wright can hold it together; a little more power, and the Yankees can rock it
we'll see how Guiel will do in right field and in hitting
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I wouldn't get too excited about playing Tampa.
They just beat Boston 3 out of 4.
The statistics would then indicate they will beat New York 4 out of 3.
(definition = 4 out of 3 is a sweep, mop and wax)
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I can see the Yankees losing 2 or 3 this weekend. I think tonight they will lose with wright on the mound. Saturday is a questionmark wang vs kazmir and Sunday is a question mark with Kris Wilson.
I also see the Red Sox losing 2 or 3 so i'm not that worried. If we can go into the all star break being 3 or 4 games down with all the injuries we had, thats great.
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I agree if we are 2-4 games out by the Allstar game then I will be very pleased:) I dont know about all of you but I am very proud of this team. They never give up.
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I am in agreement with just about everyone except Sox fan. We are not going to be 4 games out by the break. I would be satisfied being 2-3 games behind. We are making due with the injuries that we have had, and now with the break looming ahead we are in great shape to do some damage in the second half. Let's go Yanks!!
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LOL you guys are so pessimistic
the Yankees have taken 4 of 5 with Tampa Bay
also, TB may be a little spent from the Boston series
i was correct about TB being able to handle Boston playing at home; maybe i'll be correct about this weekend too..
the Yankees could gain 1-2 games
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GOO REDSOX!
can I use that as a bumper sticker?
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HAppyMediums:
"GOO RED SOX!
Probably should have not posted that here..YANKEES Red sox dont mix too well.HUH?
BUt,I got to cheer on the red sox too.I root for the yankees
more though
-kaylee
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Your sentence structure and the art of capitalizing one letter and not the next reminds me of a ransom note.
I love it
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I know I have no idea why I DO that.I guess its Just the way I Type.
-KAYlee
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Big win tonight for New York.
Rivera really shut them down in the Ninth, it was very Papalbon-like.
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YOU MAKING FUN OF PAPELBON? BETTER not be.
-kaylee
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raoul=randy velarde
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So where the **** is Mr.BPS, when we need him? Behave, people. BTW, my kid's 17 and he can't spell, either :)
BTW, heard that the Yanks are talking a deal with the Pirates and/or Philly's ....any truth ? Anybody know anything? Up here, they don't even tell the out-of-town scores, as The Sawk are the only team in baseball, ya know???
Ras #45 up here in Yankee **** (Sawksland)
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"raoul=randy velarde"
LOL, if you say it fast enough it sounds like a compliment. :)
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NIce win but the red sox a;so won!
go red sox !
go yankees!
-kaylee
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Just for the record the YANKEES and RED SOX both go for the sweep tommorrow!BUT the red sox means more YOu know the are playing the world champs and have to face the undefeated Jose Contreras but all streaks end sometime tommorrow will BE it because schilling pitches
GO YANKEES!
GO RED SOX!
-kaylee
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GO SUNNIS!
GO SHIITES!
Hey, it works!
What a concept, you can't lose! LOL
Wait! I'm still vulnerable...GO BLUEJAYS!
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Yeah! I know the YANKEES are better but I root for the red sox cuz I lived there for 7 years.
-kaylee
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Big loss for Boston tonight
Papelbon really shut them down in the ninth. It was very Timlin like or Seanez like...take your pick
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HAppymediums:More like seanez!
did the yankees win?
-kaylee
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"...did the yankees win?
-kaylee"
They must have.
The last time I checked they had a five run lead over Tampa Bay.
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Okay thanks.
-kaylee
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But i am hearing they lost?????
-kaylee
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I am an evil Red Sox fan posting on a Yankee blog.
Did you really think you could trust me?
Muuhahahahahahha !
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I dont know!I did not like that outcome 19 innings! white sox won that was long.
-kaylee
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Hey kid, I read here or someplace that you was 14.
Look, no offense but, it gets kinda rough in here, I mean with the verbal jabbing and whatnot.
When the bell rings the slugging commences until somebody goes down, you know what I mean.
Anyways, I don't want to sees ya get hurt kid.
I been knocked around a bit in here myself, nothing serious cause none of dees bums is in my weight class.
But fair warning, if you steps in wid me I gotta take you out because a Win is a Win, Right? Right.
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Yeah!That is true!I have gotten knocked around on alot of these blogs!to name oe the white sox blog czz i said that AJ pierzyski didnt deserved to be ion the all star game!
-kaylee
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excuse the spelling there
-kaylee
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