Hurricane Irene Open Thread

August 27, 2011 by Mike Axisa 103 Comments

How are all the East Coasters doing out there? It’s been pouring on and off in NYC all day, but the heavy stuff will apparently start overnight. I’m in one of the safe zones according to NYC Hurricane Evacuation Zones Map, but I know a lot of you aren’t so lucky and are spending the weekend somewhere inland. If you haven’t evacuated and still need to do so, get out of your mother’s basement and be safe!

Here’s the nightly open thread, and depending on what happens with the power situation in the city, you might need to use this to occupy yourselves on Sunday as well. The Rangers and Angels are playing a rather important game that you can watch on MLB Network (those of you in Texas and SoCal are likely to get stuck with another game). You can talk about that, or anything else your heart desires right here.

The Humungus

Here’s hoping everyone out there on the East Coast has a safe rest of the weekend.
dkidd

damn, mike beat me to the “mother’s basements flooding and wiping out the sabermetric community” joke!

i’m sitting this out on the west coast. everyone be safe!
http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.

If you don’t feel like being safe, go out surfing.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/os-surfer-killed-hurricane-irene-20110827,0,1279694.story

This guy did.
- MannyGeee
  
  this guy is an asshole. who does that?
  
  Oh yeah, it was a Floridian… nevermind
- Pat D
  
  All you can say is that the guy died doing (presumably) what he loved.
  
  I’ve never understood the appeal of surfing personally. I’ve had a bit of a fear of the ocean since 1994, when I was 13 and my family was on the beach in North Carolina for the third straight summer. There were some very strong riptides that year, and my sister and a friend of hers got caught by one and were being pulled out. I tried to get them and then I lost contact with the ocean floor and started getting pulled out, too. My uncle and a stranger pulled us back in. I didn’t go in the ocean the rest of our week there and when we returned the next year when the riptides were much less severe, I only went in the ocean two days. The pool was good enough for me.
  - Rainbow Connection
    
    He loved drowning to death?
    - Pat D
      
      Yep, that’s exactly what I said.
      
      Especially since he’s the first surfer to die like this. I haven’t heard this story repeated at least every other major hurricane or anything.
      - JobaWockeeZ
        
        If you didn’t realize Rainbow is a troll. Probably one of the worst trolls though. I have no idea how one could be pathetic enough to be a bad troll but here you go.
        
        Pat D
        
        I’ve lost track of who is and who isn’t at this point.
        
        MikeD
        
        It’s not easy to tell sometimes, as even the best posters will have moments of frustration and appear troll-like. I’ve got hit a few times myself, although it’s always been sarcasm that may not have been obvious to some.
        
        As for Rainbow, he must be a novice troll. He’s too obvious.
        
        Mister Delaware
        
        I don’t know guys, I laughed at that comment. He might suck otherwise but that was funny.
        
        MikeD
        
        You mean I’m supposed to read the comments first before I respond?!
        
        MannyGeee
        
        does laughing at a suspected troll response make you a troll too? Or at the least ‘troll adjacent”? Someone is goin to have to explain the rules to me again.
        
        /confused
        
        Esteban
        
        Question: Is RainbowConnection the same person as Poopy Pants? They have similar styles and I haven’t seen Poopy Pants since Rainbow Connection started showing up.
        
        Esteban
        
        This is a crazy photo of the hurricane approaching Nags Head, NC
        http://t.co/VXvL6XI
        
        Esteban
        
        Damn it, not supposed to be here!
- MikeD
  
  Both were 55-years-old. Statistically interesting considering they were unrelated events. Expected teenagers or twenty-somethings. I’d expect by the time most reach their 50s a healthy respect for bad shit happening will be wired into all decisions; otherwise, they wouldn’t have made it to 55.
MannyGeee

Stay safe everyone, shits about to get real.

Sidebar, anyone have a Fantasy Football League with an open spot that hasnt drafted yet? Looking for a league or 2. thanks kids!
- teddy
  
  got one
  
  http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1/register/tos?league_id=418322&password=yankees
  - MannyGeee
    
    sweet man, just registered. thanks man
Tyrone Sharpton

I consider you all brothas. It’s been a pleasure virtually knowing you. (*cue Titanic music*)
Pat D

My call center closed at 4 today even though it’s rained very little here in the Lehigh Valley. They intend to re-open at 4:30 tomorrow. I think that maybe they’re being optimistic on that. I hope some important road close to the building floods and they can’t open, I’ll take a paid day off.
Jorge

Safe zone as well (and, from the looks of his Second Ave. Sagas pic, a neighbor of Ben’s, apparantly.) Hunkered down and ready to go. Lived through tougher hurricanes in Florida, and slightly remember Gloria as a kid up here, but still a bit of a lump in my throat. Just want to keep my power as long as possible.

Best of luck to everyone.
http://twitter.com/SteveH_MandAura Steve H

Do they still make Hurricane beer?
- dontchaknow
  
  yes, I drink em whenever I’m feeling cheap lol (I live in Rochester NY)
  - http://twitter.com/SteveH_MandAura Steve H
    
    Nice. I haven’t had one since they were relatively new on the market.
    - Mister Delaware
      
      “Hmmm … OE is better but Hurricane comes in the wide mouth” – College me, before OE got into the wide mouth game.
  - Meat Loaf
    
    Yeah Rochester!
http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse

C’mon Oakland
Mr. Wallace

I will sleep as well as I can knowing I don’t have to watch the horror movie of AJ Burnett again for at least 4/5 days.
Mr. Wallace

I will sleep as well as I can knowing I don’t have to watch the horror movie of AJ Burnett again for at least a few days.
Mr. Wallace

I will sleep as well as I can knowing I don’t have to watch the horror movie of AJ Burnett again for at least a few days
- MikeD
  
  Twitchy finger? Or does AJ have you freaked out that much. : -)
  
  I’m surprised it allowed the double post.
  - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
    
    Triple post actually, but there’s the good old ‘Bashing AJ exception’ section which was recently added to the commenting guidelines and spam filter. If you’re knocking AJ, anything goes.
    - Nuke LaDoosh
      
      +1
  - Mr. Wallace
    
    Hey it said please try again twice so I did. Nice take on it though, i am gonna use that line now!
  - Mr. Wallace
    
    Hey it said please try again twice so I did. Nice take on it though, i am gonna use that line now
  - Mr. Wallace
    
    Hey it said please try again twice so I did. Nice take on it though, i am gonna use that line now OH COME ON IT KEEPS TELLING ME TO REENTER OMG!
  - Mr. Wallace
    
    Hey it said please try again twice so I did. Nice take on it though, i am gonna use that line now OH COME ON IT KEEPS TELLING ME TO REENTER OMG! Plz make this website accept my comments within the first fourteen times I would appreciate it much.
Jimmy McNulty

So I’m really digging Wilfred, I know the first season’s almost over but it’s a pretty good show.
- Phife Dawg
  
  Speaking of FX, Louie is fantastic. Louie CK is one of the funniest/ brilliant stand up comedians out there. (even though he’s not everyone’s cup of tea).
  - MannyGeee
    
    This season has kinda gotten me down, its gotten hella dark. that being said, I am laughing alot more in this season than I did last.
- Esteban
  
  Yeah, weird show, but hilarious.
  - Jimmy McNulty
    
    In general you need a full season to judge a show, and it’s held up pretty well so far. Great interaction between Ryan and Wilfred.
- MannyGeee
  
  it seriously gets better as the season goes on. I was not sold on the 1st episode, but lucvky I had it TiVo’d and was able to blast through a few episodes… god damn funny.
http://twitter.com/nebkreb Nebkreb

I live in Lower Manhattan (just inside the safe zones) and its just raining like crazy right now. Not supposed to be dangerous until like, 3 AM according to weather channel. Going for a walk, maybe snap some pics of the East River.
- MikeD
  
  No reason to go for a walk. Give it a couple hours. The East River will come to you.
  
  I’m clearly tempting fate. I live right off the Hudson River in Westchester!
SCT

Ben, Mike, Joe and everyone else in the northeast. Stay safe up there. I live in FL and have been through many hurricanes from tropical storms to cat 4’s. The cat 1 won’t be too bad wind wise, but the fact that it will hover over the area for practically a day will cause flooding and whatnot. I’m flying up next week for a game vs Toronto. Here’s to hoping that the storm doesn’t leave any damage and that everything is back to normal for all you guys asap.
http://twitter.com/rebeccapbp Squishy Jello Person

Man I feel for people that have to work tomorrow
- http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
  
  I don’t, but I’m still dreading tomorrow. I hate being stuck at my house. I could stay home all day when the weather’s fine, but just knowing I can’t go out and do something bugs me. I have a few projects at my house lined up, hopefully that keeps me busy until the game starts.
  - http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
    
    “I don’t have to work tomorrow, but I’m…” would have read better.
Tony

Bored tonight – what the song that the yankees play before they take the field….want to say something like “today, today….”
- mbonzo
  
  Uhh sometimes they play Boys of Summer by The Ataris.
Phife Dawg

Since it’s pretty likely that the power is going to go out sometime tonight or tomorrow in some parts of the tri-state area, it’s important to note that the games tomorrow will be broadcast on WFAN not WCBS due to the hurricane coverage.

Can’t wait to get my battery powered radio ready to go.
- http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
  
  ..and 1280 WADO for los hombes and mujers.
  
  I had no idea John and Suzyn know how to speak Spanish.
  - MannyGeee
    
    shit, them two can barely handle english
  - Owen Two
    
    “Usted sabe Suzyn, no se puede predecir el béisbol.”
    
    /GoogleTranslate’d
    - Jimmy
      
      I laughed.
MikeD

This would have been a really great time for the Yankees to be playing on the west coast, or just anywhere pretty much not on the east coast.

I’d welcome a nice 10:00 ET game tonight.
Esteban

Dude is getting POUNDED by seafoam.
- Mister Delaware
  
  The t-shirt I was wearing today was seafoam color. Nice shirt.
- MannyGeee
  
  Seafoam does not sound like a very tough guy, but if he’s pounding Dude that hard, then I may be mistaken…
Craig

I work in a restaurant and have to get to work by 7 AM….I hope the power goes out
- Esteban
  
  Maybe the restaurant owner should just close the restaurant for the safety of employees.
  - Craig
    
    Too bad Olive Garden won’t close and won’t grant my request of working 18-20 hours a week due to school. 35 hours on top of college, baby!
    - Jimmy McNulty
      
      You guys have zero spine. I’d the boss to kiss my ass and leave. When I was in college I taught classes, and was a TA for a few courses. One time a professor told me not to be so lenient on incoming freshmen for a bullshit class that didn’t matter, I ignored her…I ended up not getting retained but later I got a job teaching Calculus, I was way happier there then I was TAing…great decision that I made.
      - MannyGeee
        
        kinda of agree with Jimmy here. its the Olive Garden. find another chain establishment to give you the hrs you need.
        
        College life is too short and important to spend it working…
        
        Craig
        
        Who will hire someone looking for only 18-20 hours in a weak economy, though?
        
        Esteban
        
        How about delivering pizzas? I did that for a little and it’s not great, but the tips could be good.
Cuso

Amazingly enough, I’m on the East Coast of Florida (Jax Beach) and we’re safe.

Matter of fact, all of Florida got off pretty easy. 100 degrees and no clouds all day.

Go figure. Hang in there, everyone. You’ll be good. Just don’t get brave (read: stupid) and try to goof around outside.

Hunker down, watch a movie, and we’ll see ya Monday.
- Nuke LaDoosh
  
  my brother and sister both live in Jax. they tell me it is actually in a “hurricane safe zone” because of the gulf stream blah blah blah. I’m thinking of getting a place down there since they are both down there. I hear Jax beach is awesome, haven’t seen it yet. Is it WAY better than St. Augustine as my sister tells me? way too many tourists in St. Augustine for me.
  - MannyGeee
    
    I have an uncle that lived in JAX and I thought it was kinda shitty… maybe I never made it over to the ‘nice parts’ try as I might…)
    
    That said, I am a HUGE St Augustine fan… much more visually pleasing.
    - Nuke LaDoosh
      
      “kinda shitty”…yeah, I think my nephew would agree with you (but he’s a Mets fan so who cares ;) I could never live in Jax, but the beaches nearby (both Jax beach and/or St. Augustine) might work.
mike c

here’s a tip in case you power goes out… charge up your laptops and use them to recharge your phone when it dies
- Esteban
  
  FACT: Don’t stock up on water. Hurricanes need water to gain power. Instead “dehydrate your apartment.
  FACT:Eat all non-perishable foods ASAP. The calories will store better in your body than some dumb “pantry.”
Jimmy McNulty

For those of you who have to work tomorrow: don’t. It’s a fucking death trap outside, and if your employer wants you to come out there grow a fucking spine and tell him to kiss your ass.
- scott
  
  Some of us are essential personnel (public safety, hospital staff) and have no choice about working during the storm. I’m on until midnight tonight, and back at 4pm tomorrow. Hoping the roads aren’t too bad.
  - Jimmy McNulty
    
    Well those of you that qualify as this deserve admiration for weathering the storm, pardon the pun.
http://bleedingyankeeblue.com Jesse

Will the 2nd game of the DH’er be on MLB Extra Innings although there’s the ESPN Sunday Night game?
- Jimmy McNulty
  
  If there is a DH tomorrow, I’m pretty sure the answer is yes.
  - Carl Spackler, assistant greenskeeper
    
    Any word if they’re actually going to play tomorrow?
Regis

My town is in a mandatory evac zone (south shore of Long Island) but I missed the cut-off by a few streets so I’m home.

Have they DFA’ed AJ yet?
- Troll Killer
  
  Yeah DFA his ass and the Yankees still have to pay him. This aint Carlos Zambrano were talking here.
Esteban

http://t.co/VXvL6XI, Crazy photo of Irene approaching Nags Head, NC
- Esteban
  
  Might be fake though.
MikeD

I don’t call that good news. Mr. Baseball Announcer on MLBN.
MikeD

Verlander to 20 wins, still in August. Anyone know off the top of their heads what’s the most wins a starter has had in recent years? I can’t remember the last one to reach 25 without going back to the Guidry era, although I’m sure it’s happened since.

Yeah, yeah, I know, pitcher wins don’t mean anything, but still interesting to me as a baseball fan.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Bob Welch had 27 wins in 1990, no one has had more than 24 since then (Smoltz and RJ did that). Zito, Schilling, and Pedro each had 23 once, a few guys had 22, and a bunch had 21. Here’s all the 20+ game winners since 1990…
  
  http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/share.cgi?id=CrIsm
  - MikeD
    
    Thanks, was just about to head over to B-R.
    
    I kept coming up with pitchers at 22, 23 and 24 (although forgot the Big Unit did it as recently as 2002), but couldn’t think of anyone above 24.
    
    Welch is the perfect example of prior Cy Young voting depending on wins and why pitcher wins don’t tell the story on who is best. He had a fine year, no doubt, by Clemens was easily the class of the field. Clemens’ 1990 season is one of the best of the past 30 years, yet he finished second to Welch.
    
    In 2011, so far, Verlander is leading in wins, and he’d also get my vote for the Cy Young. It was close a few weeks back, but he’s doing a Secretariat-at-Belmont down the stretch.
    - http://www.twitter.com/steveh_mandaura Steve H.
      
      Not only was Welch not the best pitcher in the AL that season, he wasn’t even the best pitcher on his own team. Dave Stewart was much better that season.
- http://twitter.com/#!/Paddock9652 Stratman9652
  
  Pitcher wins may not mean anything when evaluating a pitcher, but when you are talking about a 20+ win season or 300 win career, I have a hard time saying that they are completely meaningless. Mediocre pitchers don’t just stumble onto those numbers because of great run support, you have to be legitimately good.
  - The Big 3
    
    Wakefield has 200 wins, almost.
    
    Not quite 300 but he is evidence that mediocre starters could win 300 if given the opportunity, and health.
    
    300 wins could be 13 wins/per for 23 years, so more a statement of longevity than talent.
    
    Moyer has 267 wins
    - MikeD
      
      Someone who can average 13 wins for 23 years is almost assuredly a good pitcher and probably deserves Hall election for maintaining that level for such a long period.
      
      The 13 wins average is also dangerous on another front. It’s assuming the pitcher is mearly a compiler. As King Felix’s 13 wins last year shows, relying only on the number of wins is deceiving.
    - toad
      
      Sure, but mediocre hitters can get 3000 hits the same way. Hit .250 for 23 years and you need 522 AB/yr to get 3000 hits.
      
      Citing outliers doesn’t mean the measure is meaningless.
  - MikeD
    
    I do think career wins is more an indicator of quality than any single season since it needs to be accomplished over a much longer period of time, removing noise from the data that can happen in a single season, be it in wins, or even WAR. I’m a bigger supporter of WAR for a career, or a number of years, than I am for any one season, although WAR gives a much better read on a pitcher’s season than wins. Data points compiled over fifteen to twenty years will certainly say more than one season.
    
    That said, while career wins is a better indicator than a single season, all wins are still not created equally.
Roland Deschain

So Nova and Colon tomorrow. I guess Freddy on Monday then. Can you imagine if the start Freddy, Hughes, and Burnett against Boston? Girardi keeps saying we need six men we need six men, but not when the sixth man is the worst pitcher in the league. One of the AAA guys can go in Burnett’s spot on Thursday, it just can’t get any worse than AJ right now.
- Mattchu12
  
  Agree with pretty much everything here (not worried about Hughes all that much, I have high hopes for him), but I’m commenting to say: Awesome name. Just awesome.
  - http://twitter.com/johnSC2000 JohnnyC
    
    Unfortunately, most of us don’t read books so the utter cleverness of using a Stephen King character’s name as an internet handle tends to go way over our heads.
Nicole

I hope everyone in NYC is ready. I live in eastern nc and Irene is bad. It started yesterday at 3 pm and we are still feeling the effects. I haven’t had power in 15 hours. There is major flooding and debris everywhere, very powerful for a category 1. Hoping all are safe and you guys are prepared.
- pat
  
  You got it when it was fresh out the water. By the time it drags up to NYC it probably won’t even be a hurricane anymore. Thanks for the well wishes though!
bonestock94

I think my area is out of the woods, the eye passed about an hour and a half ago.

Not worth the hype, kinda lame.
- Esteban
  
  Nicole would disagree with you, I imagine.
  - bonestock94
    
    Yea, they got nailed head on, I’m a few hours north of her. I would imagine my sentiments are probably what people in the tri state area will echo.