Open Thread: The calm before the storm
ByThe craziest week in the baseball offseason kicks off tomorrow in Indianapolis, and surely there will be rumors that make you say “I hope this isn’t true” and trades that finalized that will make you say “why did the Yankees get in on that?” Joe is en route to Peytonville right now, as we plan to bring you the best possible coverage we can.
If you need a refresher in the best ways to access RAB during the hectic week, read this. More importantly, review our Commenting Guidelines so that all of this week’s thread can be nice and entertaining and informative and not full of nonsense. I don’t know what the Yankees have planned for this offseason, but I can almost guarantee they’ll leave the winter meetings with at least one player on their roster that isn’t there right now. Any guesses?
* * *
Anyway, here’s your open thread for the night. Your late game tonight is the Cardinals and Vikings, while the Rangers face the Red Wings at home. Talk about whatever your heart desires, and go ahead and be cruel and vicious to each other tonight. Need a little change of pace.
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Countdown to Spring Training
Just 2 months and 5 days 'til pitchers and catchers report!
Wait. Andy.
So Jesús has a brother….also named Jesús? For real?
Yes. He’s a catcher too! He plays in the St. Louis org. He is much smaller than his brother though.
Whoa. I just friended him on Facebook. What’re the odds he accepts?
You’re friends with me now, so probably 100%. haha
Whoo. Does he say hi and stuff? Or is it more like “I’m so cool I’ll be friends with whomever”?
(Yah, I know, I need help)
Probably more the latter. But you speak Spanish, right? I’m sure he can converse with you better than me.
Hablo un poco de español.
PERO!
el otro noche, hay un hispanico (latino?) que habló conmigo en Barnes & Noble cuando esperaba por mi amigo.
More than I can do. I can figure out a conversation, but that’s about it.
I would think “Latino” is more appropriate, but I’m not sure. Where’s Jamal? He’d know.
Actually, Jamal doesn’t speak Spanish.
(yes, we’ve met)
In bed!
Wow, I always thought he spoke Spanish. Oh well, sorry for the assumption, Jamal.
Just like that, and you’re friends with Da Jesus Dos.
I personally prefer “hispano” to “latino.”
(btw–”noche” is feminine, “hay” should be imperfect [habia], and the “for” you’re looking for is included in in “esperar”)
does the yankees jesus montero have a facebook?
wait, only Joe is going? Are you and Ben busy or is YES cheaping out on sending all of you?
Ben has finals.
I think he pull the short straw to see who goes to Indianapolis
“not full of nonsense.”
Impossible
I just realized I can actually afford a plane ticket to get to Spring Training. Just not a hotel or game tickets, but it’s still better than nothing!
Go to the minor league complex. Games are free. Also, nobody goes to them. It’s awesome.
Love, love, LOVE that idea.
I just need a place to stay.
I think Tampa has a youth hostel. I stay with friends when I go over there, but even then its 45 minutes from the complex.
Fuckin Browns didn’t help the Broncos out (though I didn’t really expect it).
And why the fuck is there so much heavy snow right now?!!!!! It’s been a whole day now and is supposed to snow for maybe another 2 days. This is what makes me hate living in Colorado. Ugh.
Snowboarding time…..or Snow Angel time. The latter is easier.
Muahaha Flozell and the rest of his cowgirla can go straight to hell.
Maybe I’ll learn to type correctly someday.
My prediction for the likeliest person the Yankees add to their roster: Johnny Damon.
Fairly obvious, but very logical.
If Joe talks to Cash, is he going to ask about the tidal wave that is the “Bring Melvin to America” movement? At some point he won’t be able to ignore it, it’s like a cockroach, it won’t die, and continues to grow. Put the screws to Cash: When is Melvin coming?
Awesome idea. I do believe that if Melvin never comes, it will be his decision. No man can tell Melvin what he can or cannot do.
Alright guys, quick question:
Job interview tomorrow. It’s a corporate-type job, so I’m wearing a suit, obviously. Should I shave (I’m kind of partial to the 10 o’clock shadow) or is that considered to be a non-issue in today’s work climate?
I’ve only worked in very casual atmospheres, so I am unsure.
Yes, you should shave.
Absolutely do not shave, it will show them how GRITTY you are!
…I would shave, better to be safe than sorry.
Shave. Never assume.
Ok, I’ll just respond here. But thank you to Johan and EE, too. At my current job (which actually pays better, but is soul-crushing, has poor benefits and requires substantial travel), I regularly compete in facial hair competitions. It got really awkward when it escalated to pubic hair, but we won’t get into that.
I guess I’m shaving…
Yeah dude you gotta shave. Where are u interviewing?
Well, I’m in “creative” now (writing copy, advertising and junk) and have another job at a start-up (in the urban planning field, where I’m a researcher/writer).
I’m thinking about giving up my copywriting job (it’s becoming more SEO-based, benefits suck, and I really dislike selling product) for a position as writer/editor at a site that reports legal news and provides analysis. It’s not exactly like being a professional baseball player, but it sounds engaging, and may help if I do go to law school in the near future.
Taking a pay cut of $48k to $39k, but I absolutely cannot continue to work in advertising.
Please tell me it is not Above the Law…
It is not.
Thank goodness. Best of luck!
Tell them the “Tire Girl” story. They’ll love it.
+200 (lbs.)
Yeah dont test stuff like that until after you get hired
yes, you should completely shave your cheeks. your face too.
AHHHSDJFSKLDJFJKSLDFJS
Jesus’s brother, also named Jesus accepted my friend request! AAHHHH!
/fangirl’d.
I saw that. You are THHHIISSSS close to Burul.
Heh, that sounds like a religion unto itself.
Should I post on his facebook wall? Or would he think that weird? I’m just gonna say “Hola, mucho gusto”, which basically means “Hey, it’s a pleasure”
This
Sounds fine. Check out his pictures. See how much taller his brother is than him.
These pictures are amazing.
I’m still trying to work up the courage to message a total stranger.
Say “Hola que onda buey?”
No. No escribo que no entiendo.
It means “whats happening dude”
I want to trust you, I do….
Hahah, nah I wouldn’t hang you out to dry like that . It honestly is a very colloquial way of saying whats up.
“Que onda”, however, and “buey” are chiefly Mexican slang. He might not get it.
Eh, you’re right but, it was taught to me by a bunch of guys from Guatemala and El Salvador. He’ll probably figure it out.
So first I read this:
http://www.beyondtheboxscore.c.....d-position
And then I looked at this:
http://www.baseballprojection.com/war/top500.htm
And then I said to myself a few things:
1. Barry Bonds was really really good at baseball. I don’t see Mcgwire or Sosa (or Ken Griffey Jr., for that matter) almost touching Ruth’s WAR.
2. Barry Larkin is even more deserving of the HOF than I had already thought, he’s #58 overall, one ahead of Tony Gwynn.
3. Edgar Martinez deserves to be inducted. 65th best ever WAR for a hitter is worthy. To be docked -17.5 runs / 162 games as a DH is a major handicap and he still fuckin’ rocked that shit.
Barry Bonds for 2010 NYY DH.
I wonder if he’s still in playing shape?
Oh, and I just realized Babe Ruth probably has a whole ‘nother WAR value for his pitching. Fuck.
I’m sure Bonds could get in “hitting” shape pretty easily. I would seriously love to see it, though I know it will never happen.
Indeed, the distinction is noted. I think that is just so crazy it might just work. You’d have to think the time off at least let him be ding-and-dent free.
I agree, I wish it could happen. There’s no fundamental reason why it couldn’t, besides, y’know … stuff.
Imagine him in YSIII……unreal.
Oh I didn’t even consider that. Pfft.
And I’m all about the Yankees being like “FUCK YOU WE DON’T GIVE A SHIT ‘BOUT WHAT YOU SAY. CHAMPIONSHIPS ALL WE WANT.”
Barry Bonds batting 5th would being say in a big way. If only things were different.
Come on, if A-Rod had this huge turnaround in perception this year, why not Barry……
Damn, the more I think about it the more it frustrates me. I bet Barry would come nice and cheap, and I almost guarantee would help the team, and yet, it ain’t happening.
if A-Rod had this huge turnaround in perception this year, why not Barry……
Because Arod didn’t break the most hallowed record in sports history while clearly being on steroids.
Bonds hasn’t played baseball competitively in three years and is 45!!!!!!!! years old.
You know, I don’t buy Bonds approaching Ruth. I don’t know the problem with the calculation – maybe the issue is defining the replacement level, or the fact that Bonds had about 2000 more PA’s – but the gap between Ruth and the world (aside from Gehrig) was gigantic.
The 1927 Pirates, NL champs, hit 54 home runs. Fifty-four.
IMO Babe Ruth was a freak of nature – a five or six sigma event. Was Bonds close? I don’t think anyone was.
Boise vs TCU….. dope
Meh.
I like those underdog gimmicky type teams. I’d rather them play each other then get run over by some Big 10 or SEC team. It’ll probably be a shootout.
Yeah, remember when Oklahoma steamrolled Boise a few years ago? And then that kid’s gimmicky underdog marriage proposal got shot down on national TV?
It blows that TCU and Boise aren’t playing “real teams” and showing that they’re legit. But the BCS has to protect the shield, you know?
True, Boise did pull off that upset, but look at the Hawaii/UGA game from 2008. The Hawaii offense was supposed to be unstoppable and un-blitzable, they got absolutely steamrolled.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/.....=290020333
Lackey looking for exceeding Burnett money? Good luck getting that from the Yanks.
The Yankees should give him a Sabathia type contract then trade IPK for Felix Hernandez straight up.
-Bo’d
GAH. WHY DO I HAVE NOT THE COURAGE TO WRITE ON COMPLETE STRANGERS’ facebooks?!?!
Hmm. “Hola, mucho gusto. Espero que tiene feliz navidad”?
What do you think?
Just do it. Tell him that your boyfriend knows his brother.
ooh, this is good. Little question on the semantics, but it’s totally a good in.
Okay, message:
“Hola, mucho gusto! Mi amigo sabe tú hermano en Trenton =)
Espero que tiene feliz navidad”
Sent it. =D
All I can tell is that “jajajajaja” means “hahahahaha”.
Wrong. That’s a sport with a hollowed out cornucopia attached to a lacrosse stick, a ball and some walls.
“Hola, mucho gusto! Mi amigo conoce a tú hermano en Trenton =)
Espero que tengas una feliz navidad”
Tiny correction there
Fuuuccck. I could have used that *before* I sent the message.
silly gringa.
I figured I was too late. Was worth a shot. If it was a wall post you can always delete it and change it. Message…not so much.
Subjuntive FTW!
I was a straight A Spanish student, and as soon as they introduced the subjunctive my grades went doooowwwnnn
Go to the yo
drop the O
Add the opposite ending!!
We used to have to chant that Gregorian style in class. It did make it easy to remember how to conjugate it. As for when to use it, that was, and will remain a pain in the ass to remember.
It’s easy to remember the endings, hard to remember when to use them. So I avoid whenever possible.
Funny story for you hosers out there.
http://www.nj.com/devils/index....._some.html
When Brendan Shanahan was 14 he asked pro player Rick Vaive for his autograph. Apparently the guy was a dick and Shanny did not forget about it. Fast forward 4 years later, Shanahan is a rookie for Buffalo and Vaive is on the Sabres. They line up naxt to each other in some meaningless faceoff. As soon as the puck is dropped Shanahan starts beating the shit out of the guy. HAHAH
Shelley Duncan better be on the lookout in 10 years then. (In a men’s softball league, because he won’t be in the majors)
For those of you that don’t remember, or don’t know what the hell I’m talking about.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,297119,00.html
Hahaha, that was awesome. I’d be happy if I were that kid. That’s a one of a kind autograph.
Shanny = WIN
http://nomaas.org/?p=550
The picture they chose for Girardi is perfect
NoMaas has been ON FIRE the last few weeks
Yeah, but too bad their site redesign sucks.
Its putrid.
+1
I like the fact that you can link to posts and comment on their photos.
I doubt he’ll get much support, but someone tell my why Jim Edmonds doesn’t belong in Cooperstown.
Cause he’s only been out of baseball for 1 year.
That’s the ONLY reason why.
Tell me why he won’t get much support in 4 years then. I really don’t think he will, part of it will be that his #’s don’t stack up for the “era”, but people will be foolish to overlook how great of an offensive player he was, along with stellar defense. I doubt the overall greatness of his D will help him much with the voters (because they suck) but his highlight reel plays likely will help. I still don’t think he gets close.
I can’t come up with anything off the top of my head.
All I know is that it was fun to watch that man play baseball.
My prediction for next week ….yanks get a LF via trade…what predictions do you guys have?
John Lackey will not go to the Yanks. Probably stays with Angels.
Matt Holliday again won’t go to the Yanks. He might go to Boston but I think he stays in St. Louis.
Jason Bay will stay with the Sox.
Roy Halladay stays in Toronto.
I’m gonna go bold and say Lackey goes to the M’s.
Damn, Felix and Lackey being 1 2′s? That would be great for the M’s.
Think they’ll back off on Bay at that point?
I wish Lackey would go to the Brewers. Baseball is just for more fun when the Brewers are competitive, I don’t know why. Probably has something to do with the sausage races.
Randall Simon agrees.
Hehe.
And the huge slide in left field.
http://www.puristbleedspinstripes.com
That’s as shameless as it gets.
Johnny Damon comes back on a 1 year deal.
Talk about whatever your heart desires, and go ahead and be cruel and vicious to each other tonight.
Considering what Mike said, you all are being awfully civil toward each other.
Shut up.
Jerk.
Jerk.
I know.
/New Boyz
I know! I clicked the comments to see some blood flowing and was very, very disappointed.
YOU SHUT THE HELL UP AND DIE!
Fuck that shit, asshole
Too many regulars. We need some random people saying dumb shit up in here.
Ya…where are Bo/Lanny and mryankee when you need them?
Quick we need to make a discussion about Halladay!
That’ll being em in.
Just need to say mryankee three times.
In the mirror.
Y’know, like Candyman.
Wow, that Peter Gammons! He’s the voice of reason. Am I right or what?
Ugh Gammons. People accuse us of over rating our prospects. He’s the freaking king.
Are you trying to say they aren’t already carving out Casey Kelly’s bust for the Coop?
In a related story, Lars Anderson’s induction ceremony has been put on hold temporarily.
Huge win for the G-MEN today.
Also, Flozelle Adams is the dirtiest piece of shit in professional sports.
+1. He is a piece of shit.
Not as dirty as yo’ mutha!
-Iron Horse’d
Hahaha nice, but it should have been-
“Not as dirty as your boyfriend, you homoqueer”
HAHAAH! Believe it or not, I thought that was too much =)
Also, I LOVE Hakeem Nicks. He had a really nice down field block on Bradshaw’s long run in the 4th quarter, as well as the TD catch of course.
Absolutely, Nicks is gonna be a stud. Eli really looked like his foot was bothering him on some throws – just couldn’t step into them. But he’s toughing it out, so that’s all that matters.
Biggest story of the day was the D FINALLY making some plays and stops when they had to.
Yeah, he really underthrew a bunch of passes that INT by Jenkins was one of them. The D looked good too. Little shaky on the 3rd and longs but when you’re playin against a duo like Romo and Witten they’re pretty hard to defend.
OMG
So when the Yanks had that 15 inning game against Boston, I was going crazy on Twitter and told Kerry Rhodes (@kerryrhodes) that I was going crazy because I really had to pee.
It came up in Twitter conversation today–and he says he remembers.
ayayay.
Like an elephant, Rhodes remembers.
I have that horrible Gap commercial stuck in my head. The one with the prenagers dancing around in ugly sweaters. Every time I close my eyes I hear, “How cute are these boots?! How cute are these boots?!”
MAKE IT STOP! PLEASE!
Those are some cute boots.
That’s not so bad — for the past few days I’ve been bummed that the men who wrote “Jingle Bell Rock” are long dead, because I had been planning on ritualistically murdering them.
Perhaps I’ll have to settle for their heirs?
OMG HE RESPONDED OMG.
Well?
His English is as bad as my Spanish. It’s awesome.
You’re killing us with the suspension.
Does it sound like a Pitbull song?
IETCVM
What did he say?
“hola mucho gusto tambien!!! and me too feliz navidad”
He gets credit for trying…
Ask him if he thinks he’ll stick at catcher!!!!
It’s his brother. Not him.
Ask him if he thinks his brother will stick at catcher.
Ohhh.
Ask him if he thinks his brother will stick at catcher!!!!
Now I’m concerned though. We have the right one, right?
Yes, it’s the right one!
/resumes breathing
Ask him if his brother likes older women!
…what?
I do
/JMK’ed
No way. I mean. Do you ask the Metatron if it’s the end times?
Does his brother have a facebook page?
Not that I can tell.
It would be awesome if he did.
Hah, he’d probably have too many friends.
I’d consider joining Facebook just to be friends with Him.
fucking rangers. sometimes they amaze me with the hockey they play. other times…not so much.
fucking rangers.
Who?
sometimes they amaze me with the hockey they play. other times…not so much.
The what they play?
Some game they play in Canada, I guess.
Is it that fuckin’ broom shit?
On a related note, they just built an indoor ice rink in my town. It’s signature feature is the olympic sized curling (court? rink? place?) area.
I live pretty close to Canada…but I’m still pretty confused as to who curls in my hometown.
The Rangers are teh suckage lately.
All right, asking you lot before I message, is this correct?
“Gracias! (Lo siento que mi español es tan malo, pero algún día será mejor =) )”
I thought there were two “R’s” in “sera.” I could be wrong, as I haven’t taken Spanish since high school. 4 on the AP test.
/uncool brag.
nope
Don’t take Spanish advice from me.
Smiley face followed by end parenthesis always looks weird. I’d try to avoid that.
Okay–switch to brackets or leave off entirely?
Take out the parenthesis entirely.
danke.
Prego.
Wow, sick catch Anquan.
Kurt Warner=HOF?
I say yes.
I have no idea what qualifies anyone for HOF aside from baseball.
Basically, if you’ve played football in the National Football League for 10 years or more, you’re in.
So, generally speaking, it’s easier to get in the football HOF than it is to get in to Cooperstown?
Granted, it’s hard to last ten years in the NFL.
That’s what it seems like from my point of view. Seems like 4 or 5 players alone get elected into it every year.
That’s pretty tough. Guys like Bledsoe and Testaverde won’t get sniffs and they are in the top 10 all time in passing. You also have to consider there are 22 positions on a football field (plus kicker and punter), there’s a bound to be more guys elected.
Yes.
Shit, the Royals are going to sign Noel Arguelles, the other Cuban lefty FA.
Good for them.
For $7 million. Poor small market Red Sox, getting beaten out for top talent by those thugs in KC.
This is turning into a full on religious experience.
Man, it really sucks that I’ll never feel the same way about music as I did like…4-5 years ago. Dammit.
Why? Does it have something to do with the loss of childhood innocence?
I don’t know. I’ve pretty much stopped looking for new music. Oh well.
I stopped around 1994 or so.
90′s music is pretty great.
Yeah I stopped looking for new music when I started to work full time.
I just listen to internet radio nowadays.
This Romeo Crennel Coors Light commercial (the 2nd one with him overall) is possibly the best cinematic undertaking in the history of mankind.
Gross, that guys leg snapped.
Have you seen this? She sure knows lots about the yankees!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXINDABPkqg
yankees #1.