Open Thread: Baby, it’s cold outside
By
It just looks wrong. (Photo by flickr user Keith Barlow)
As I write this, it’s 6:15 p.m., and I just got home from a walk to the bank. The bank, it should be noted, is at the corner of my block, and yet, by the time I got back home, I was chilled from head to toe.
With the current temperature hovering at 15 and a windchill of -1, it’s that kind of day. The low for the evening in Brooklyn is 10 with winds up to 20 miles per hour, and baseball is a far away thought right now. Earlier today, Home Run Derby noted how oddly peaceful baseball stadiums look in the cold. The hulking ballparks are just there, blanketed by snow and silent.
A quick run through Flickr gave us the photo above. We can also see the field covered in snow. But in less than a month, pitchers and catchers report. The metaphorical snow on baseball fields around the country will begin to melt, and all will be right in the world again.
You know the Open Thread drill. Anything goes. Just play nice. In local action, the Knicks are playing the Wizards, the Rangers are in Chicago (where it’s actually colder than it is in New York) and the Devils are in Columbus.
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Hard to believe Manny is still unemployed! I guess he’s hoping Obama brings better times….lol
-Scott
Manny will be a dodger soon.
It’s cold all over the country.
Not quite.
The wind chill was -50 the other day in Minnesota where I am for school…sweet.
My folks it was -41. That is just so cold.
Ya, it was actually hot the other day where I live.
It was a high of 61 today in SF.
You ever been to ACES Bob? It’s a New Yorkers bar in SF
Ugh, NY bar in SF!? Why bother moving out there.
Because it’s not 10 degrees!
Ben – what neighborhood do you live in in Brooklyn? I’m over in Windsor Terrace by Farrell’s Bar.
I’m in North Slope near the Key Food on 7th, if you know the area over here.
Hell yeah. I just moved from Union St btwn 7th-8th in June to this neck of the woods. My rent got raised $1,000 so I had to move, ha.
I feel really bad for the both of you, living next to the river.
The river? Where in Brooklyn are you, Ed?
Bensonhurst. Right now my geography sucks, its either the ocean or the river is like 2 blocks away from my house. I could see the top of the Verranzo (sp) Bridge from where I live.
I would call that “the bay”
if either of you is ever inclined, you should seriously stop by Farrell’s on a weeknight sometime during the season. It’s the one bar around here that I can actually say is a Baseball Bar. The place is dead on sundays for football, even when the Giants are playing, but is always lively during baseballs season. There are a lot of life-long Brooklynites living around here that frequent this place and you hear some great stories about these guys going to Ebbets field and seeing Koufax pitch and stuff like that.
Great place to have a GIANT foam cup of cold fresh Budwesier, watch the Mets and Yanks simultaneously and just talk baseball.
lol, techincally my street number is BAY 22nd st. so yeah you are right..
as for Farrell, yeah sure I would try that place out.
I’d do it. Count me in.
Had to laugh At myself when I saw the pix because I’m in Florida crying about 50 degree weather(I’ve morphed into a major wuss!!). Love this website, makes me miss “THE” BRONX. Keep up the good work. Can’t wait for spring training.
hmm, Tim Redding used to be a Yankee and only pitched 1 inning? what happened?
In 2005, Redding would go 0-5 with a 9.31 ERA with the Padres until being traded to the New York Yankees with Darrell May for Paul Quantrill. The Yankees starting rotation was hurt by injuries and the Yankeed decided to take “a chance” with Redding.[1] However, his stint with the Yankees would be short lived — he started and lasted one inning against the Boston Red Sox, allowing six runs on four hits and four walks. The next day, he was designated for assignment to allow a spot for pitcher Al Leiter
via wikipedia
a 54 era
Thanks for allowing me to relive that day!
speaking of redding do the mets have a conference for everyone? this dude had a 5 era, isnt it custom to only hold a press conference for the good ones:?
lol hahas yeah i know. as for Redding with the Yanks, thanks for the info.
It was one really, REALLY bad inning.
Half the stadium was in tears by the second out, vendors felt so bad they were handing out free food, and the Home Plate Umpire started vomiting from some of the pitches he saw.
THAT bad.
Screw you Ben, Mike doesn’t tell us to play nice
But you could make the argument that it’s far easier play nice than it is to avoid being an ass.
Ah, but isn’t it more entertaining to read that Mike Francesa said, “If Joba is not in the pen, the Yankees are really, really missing the boat on this kid” on the air today and call him all sorts of vulgarities?
He also had the Islanders moving to Kansas City and then had them staying put by the end of the show.
Ah, but isn’t it more entertaining to read that Mike Francesa
Do you think he believes the nonsense he spouts, or that he knowingly says things just to generate angry call-ins?
I think it’s a bit of both. If his show is moving slowly he can always bring up the Joba debate to get things going. He pretty much has to take that stance so he always has that in his back pocket.
Honestly, at least a third of the joy that I would feel — should Joba throw 150 quality, healthy innings — would be due to not having to hear that crap anymore.
I’d be happy with 130 and some playoff starts. We don’t need him to turn into Steve Avery.
I’m a Ranger fan, but just saw something that DiPietro is most likely done for the year….with that in mind
Is that the worst signing in sports history? It’s like a 10 year deal, and it’s only year 3 I believe.
Is there anything more annoying than not being able to watch the Rangers because of the Knicks? Has hockey sunk so low that the Rangers ratings are still worse than the Knicks? They don’t even offer the Rangers on an alternate channel.
If you have Cablevision…IO…it’s MSG2.
It is extremely difficult being an Islander fan like I am (They are in worse shape than the Pirates, or Phoenix Coyotes). My gut feeling is they are on their way out of Long Island, and I guess my allegiance will be switching to Crosby, Malkin & the Pittsburgh Penguins. It is a amazing that I will be rooting for THREE Pennslyvania teams (Penguins, Penn State, and my STEELERS), and only one New York team (The Yankees). Prediction: Steelers 17 Ravens 10. Lets go Black & Gold!.
Help should be on the way. That #1 draft pick next year is said to be a Sidney Crosby type-once in a generation player.
I have heard John Tavaras is a special player. The problem is they are not going to even allow Charles Wang to renovate the Coliseum (Let alone gut it), so it will not matter. This team will end up in Kansas City, Canada, Portland, or some other place than Long Island. It could be after this season or next.
That kid Hedman from Sweden they say is better.
The Hockey News rates Tavaras as the best prospect available, and then Hedman. Both are excellent prospects, but NEITHER is a Mario Lemieux type franchise player. As a comparison. the Detroit Lions have a chance to draft a franchise QB in Matthew Stafford, but as good as he can be, he is NOT Peyton Manning or John Elway. Those are the kind of players needed in places in places like Detroit and Long Island to generate fan interest and change the culture of losing.
Depends what the team is looking for, forward or defensemen. Tavares has great playmaking and scoring skills, amazing vision and hockey sense, pretty damn good feet as well as demonstrated in the WJC for anyone who watched. Hedman is a tall shutdown defensemen with great speed for a D-man, people compare him to Pronger because he can rush the puck and has a great shot, and he has the potential to be physically imposing. The one knock against him is he isn’t as physical as he could/should be, but that he can develop over time.
Tavares would probably be a better fit for the Islanders, he probably will remind some older fans of a Mike Bossy type player. Personally, I’d choose Hedman, I’m a sucker for shutdown d-men, and as we all know, defense wins championships
Mike Bossy was a pure goal scorer (Averaging 50 goals per season for his career). Very few snipers were like him (Maybe Brett Hull?). I agree defense wins titles, but it I had a Bossy, Messier, Lemieux, Yzerman or Hull type scorer, I would grab him in a minute.
When Casey took over, The Yanks owned October
Whitey was ‘The Chairman of the Board’
Then the Boss came up to bat
With Reggie and the Cat
When Billy the Kid ended the skid in the Bronx they roared
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFdAJRglHs4
Like the Bambino, the Clipper and the Mick. . . .
“Rivera comes in handy…”
Understatement much? Haha….corny, yet cool song, I like it. “Donnie! Donnie!”
Just trying to warm up on a cold, cold night.
Actually, I’ve had it stuck in my head for the past few days, since I realized that Pettitte was one of the last few active Yanks in the song. Now Jeter’s the only one left.
And Mo…and kind of Girardi.
Looks like he’s just gonna have to record it again.
Anyone else watching the whitesox world series movie?
I’m going laptop shopping, any suggestions? I figured since Circuit City is going to have liquidation sales I might as well get one there but I’m open to other options.
Must…resist…urge…to make Buchholtz joke…
What kind are you getting?
I dunno somewhere in the 1000$ range, Core 2 duo processor, lots of ram. I found a couple with Bluray drives haha. There were a few I really liked but circuit cities website already shutdown. Potentially this laptop is supposed to lead me through collage (I’m 17 right now)
If you have the cash, I recommend a Mac book. I’ve had mine for 5+ years and it’s still going strong *knock on wood*
We use them in school, not really a big fan of them. I’m a PC
I’m all about the Macs, so despite your preference, you must adhere to mine.
damnit, I can’t go on the Circuit City site to see what’s on sale.
as for laptops, I wouldn’t recommend Compaq since it easily breaks.
Yeah I know that from experience, HP’s are typically pretty sturdy. Surprisingly I’m pretty pleased with my Emachine downstairs in my basement but I take care of my computers lol.
Anyways I saw this HP, it caught my eye.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol.....8010176167
that’s decent, as for E-Machines they are very decent. when I got my laptop during Black Friday, you can’t go wrong with a $300 laptop.
LOL, anyways, I found the other one I was talking about with the bluray, but it was onsale at Circuit City for 999.99
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-VGN.....B001MS6NNW
Its a multimedia computer, but with 4GB of ram(upgradable to
and 2.4 GHz of dual core processing it should be good. Its better than any computer I’ve ever owned.
Thats supposed to be a 8 then a parenthesis but it turned it into a smiley face.
bro, that’s one seXy computer. lol, the specs and everything is awesome and could be useful. the only thing that bugs me is its a Sony brand, and could be very expensive. I think Sony laptops is just like a Compaq, breaks easily.
I can play bluray movies through an HDMI cord onto my tv from the laptop lol Right now I use my PS3 which I need to carry up and down stairs constantly to watch bluray movies. I got a 37 inch downstairs in the basement and 55 inch upstairs.
i have this computer. it’s absolutely wonderful.
What kind of Laptop would you like?
Got to go mac. it will last you longer and you can get a refurb for less the a $1G. Much less susceptible to viruses, which is a plus if you download a bunch.
I’m a mac vet for almost 10 yrs and I’ll never go back.
From Rosenthal’s column today
“The Yankees, who continue to consider a number of free-agent starters, have little interest in Sheets and also don’t appear very serious about Freddy Garcia”
Sheets doesn’t make a ton of sense. They already have 2 injury prone pitchers in Burnett/Hughes. Another one would really be pushing it. I would like to see them bring back Andy, but if not then you live with it. It is the #5 spot after all.
who would want to give up a first round pick for Sheets? Maybe the team that only can give up its 4th pick. It would be smart for the yankees to pick him up on the cheap. Dude is still a good pitcher and I’m sure he gets along with CC.
I don’t understand the anti-Sheets sentiment. If he’ll sign for 1 year $6M guaranteed with a possibility of $12M with innings pitched requirements, I’m all for it. The only way it doesn’t make sense is if it forces them to trade an outfielder or shaves money off their player development budget or something. If Sheets is healthy in October he’s a weapon. Most reasonable Yankee fans are willing to rely on Hughes, Kennedy and Aceves if Pettitte doesn’t sign. Why not rely on those guys to allow the Yankees the opportunity to baby Ben Sheets in an effort to have him ready in October?
The argument was pretty clearly made a few comments up, “Sheets doesn’t make a ton of sense. They already have 2 injury prone pitchers in Burnett/Hughes. Another one would really be pushing it. I would like to see them bring back Andy, but if not then you live with it. It is the #5 spot after all.” It will be a repeat of last year, where you have a random group of guys throwing important innings
Why is it really pushing it if everyone seems to be willing to go with the kids if they don’t sign Pettitte? If you sign Sheets and he gives you 0 IP you’re in that same boat that everyone’s so comfortable with. Except money. Which is why I said it’s only bad if the money would have to come from somewhere else in the budget.
I agree 100%, If sheets does get hurt like most people thought he was going to last year, don’t you think Hughes would be Major League ready by then (I think he’s ready now but that’s another argument)? Mike and Joe talked about the possibility of an incentive filled deal, you should listen to it if you haven’t already.
I don’t think the issue is necessarily if Sheets gets injured, it’s more of, if Sheets and Burnett get injured, and if you end up with a freak injury like Wangs. It’s a luxury the Yankees can do without. I would like to see Sheets as well, if he was going to be healthy, but at this point there has to be a reason teams are backing off.
The problem with that is you cant control WHEN all these guys will get hurt. Its not like you can schedule their DL stints evenly so you don’t get caught short on pitching. It’s very possible they will all be hurt at the same time and you can’t risk that again, especially after 2008.
So you would rather have nobody added for depth then someone who has a history of injuries? Its a 6 million doller contract we are talking about, with incentives based on how many starts he makes, to me it’s a no brainer.
Exactly. A possibility of Sheets is NOT a bigger risk than not signing anybody. It is only a financial risk as he wouldn’t even require a 40-man spot unless he was healthy. In which case he would deserve the spot.
No, you pay Pettite, it’s very simple, the Yankees don’t seem to get that
Bingo. Pettitte is preferable, that’s all.
If Andy isn’t going to happen, then Sheets could be a target. But given how scared off everyone is by his medicals, even with him willing to accept a 1 year deal, then it sounds like teams think even a 1 year deal would be a waste of 6 mil. Its not like there aren’t 6-8 teams out there that can’t use a healthy Ben Sheets at a reduced rate. Only trouble is, a healthy Sheets apparently isn’t available.
One thing does argue against this in Sheets favor, though. The Brewers DID offer him arbitration. The know him best, you would think if his medicals were so bad, they wouldn’t have even offered it.
But pettite is old and was pretty lame last year.
He was pitching with a sore shoulder and STILL gave us 204 innings last year.
He sucked as our #2, as our #5 he’d be great.
I think were all in agreement that we would like Sheets, I think the disagreement is the risk were wiling to take. I’m gambling that Petittie will give more valuable innings than Sheets
I think its safe to say Andy will give us more innings. While Sheets could give you less, but better quality innings pitched.
The back of the rotation is where you put the durable innings eater, so Andy is preferable. He fits the job description.
Pettitte is definitely preferable. I take exception to the idea that Sheets is out of the question. That idea seems to have developed around here with the justification that the rotation is already too injury prone. And then the same people say they’re comfortable not adding anyone if Andy won’t sign. Go back and read this thread from where the Sheets talk started. That was the conversation happening, not Sheets vs. Pettitte. That position can only be defended financially or by placing a lot of value on the 4th rounder.
Anyone besides me going to go to the memorial service for Todd Drew on Sunday?
I hope John Henry gets Varitek signed.
Seeing Captain .220 back in the order gives Sabathia and Burnett a few extra K’s.
Interesting little tidbit from phil mushnick on ricky.
I was a little young when ricky was in his heyday, any credence to this?
Triples are so flukey that it’s silly to hold that against anyone. Graig Nettles led the AL in triples one year when I was a kid and he used to joke about it all the time, since he ran like an old lady.
Rickey was one of these guys that didn’t run hard to 1B if it was obvious that he was going to be out. I’ve never thought that was as big a deal as some other people do. Look at what happened to Jose Reyes in 2007, he batted .205 in September and was out of gas by most accounts from stealing a ton of bases early in the season and getting no days off down the stretch. Maybe Rickey knew his body better than these dopey sport writers and was simply pacing himself to get through a season.
A few people have been asking about wOBA lately, THT has a nice piece up explaining it so clearly that even drooling neanderthal like me can understand it. It’s a more comprehensive way of looking at a hitters production, and is therefore less likely to be misleading. Even takes SB and run environment into account. Good stuff.
http://www.hardballtimes.com/m.....fangraphs/
We need Sheets!
We need Sheets!
We need Sheets!
We need Sheets!
We need Sheets!
We need Sheets!
We need Sheets!
Cause i wet the bed -_-
I thought you were going to go with a KKK joke, but I’m glad you didn’t.
I was gonna go for it but then i came to my senses ha ha and added something corny
GOD I need the baseball season to start because I cant keep watching the Knicks and like an idiot caring about the games and getting frustrated in the end.
The Knicks are like dating in High School.
Okay, Doc Emerick is hands down the most awesome hockey announcer ever.
Sorry, had to say it.
He’s such a lovable Hockey nerd. He makes me wish I wasn’t one of the cool kids.
Ahha, see, I know I’m not one of the cool kids.
Which means Doc and I are tight.
Oh stop. You’re totally cool, as a matter of fact I saw a whole show about History students on “Pimp My Ride” the other day.
I am so not cool. You’re just saying that cos I have swords =P
Well yeah, I’m not gonna say anything mean to a woman packing a Sgian Dubh, now am I?
No. No you’re not.
I wrote a song to express my feelings about Yankee Stadium…
You know I can’t smile without you
I can’t smile without you
I can’t laugh and I can’t sing
I’m finding it hard to do anything
You see I feel sad when you’re sad
I feel glad when you’re glad
If you only knew what I’m going through
I just can’t smile without you
R.I.P Yankee Stadium, I will miss you dearly
I’m sorry, but Barry Manilow gives me douche chills.
that was beautiful barry
Is anyone watching Epic MOments on mlb network? its pretty good