The Final Open Thread of 2011
ByI have to say, 2011 was a pretty good year. The Yankees won the AL East again, Derek Jeter picked up his 3,000th career hit, Mariano Rivera became baseball’s all-time saves king, Curtis Granderson and Robbie Cano had MVP caliber seasons, CC Sabathia made another run at the Cy Young, Jesus Montero did his thing in September … not a whole lot to complain about. Plus baseball around the league was incredible, mid-September through the end of the World Series was basically the best six-week stretch of baseball I’ve ever seen.
In terms of traffic, 2011 was also RAB’s best year ever. We had more visitors than ever before this year, by a not small margin either, and we set a new record high for page views in a month in three consecutive months (June, July, and August). We didn’t break our all-time single day record though, that’s still July 9th, 2010, when all the Cliff Lee madness went down. Thank you folks for reading and another great year at RAB. We couldn’t do it without you.
We’re going to leave you with this open thread for the day. Have a happy and safe New Years. We’ll see you in 2012.
134 Comments»
RAB Info
The Founders
Mike Axisa, Ben Kabak, Joe Pawlikowski
Editor-In-Chief
Mike Axisa Archives | Email
Managing Editors
Ben Kabak Archives | E-mail
Joe Pawlikowski Archives | E-mail
Contributing Editors
Larry Koestler (Archives)
Moshe Mandel (Archives)
Stephen Rhoads (Archives)
Weekend Writers
Hannah Ehrlich (Archives)
Matthew Warden (Archives)
Special Contributor
J.R. O'Grady (Archives)
Technical Consultant
Jay Gordon
Subscribe to RAB by RSS and Twitter
Follow @RiverAveBlues Search RAB
Banner Design By
The Mason Williams Watch
The Jeter and Mariano feats are of course historic. Here’s hoping that in 2012 we see more history in the beginning of the careers of Montero, Noesi, Banuelos and Betances. If these latter two improve their control, I’m sure they will be of help in winning during said year. Happy New Year to all the RABis and Yankee fans everywhere.
Heh…With all that traffic, you should have red light cameras or sumpthin’ heh…
Wow! Chip bombs on RAB. Two of my favorite things. It’s gonna be a very happy new year.
Tsst… Yea! A.J. Serves up home runs like they was pasta… Or sumpthin
Nick Swisher should play basketball or sumthin’.
Tss. Tss.
You forgot to mention how many times the Yankees disrespected Flanny this year.
Happy New Year guys, keep up the great work.
The Padres acquire Carlos Quentin… WHY DID THEY EXTEND DANKS? It just is so inconsistent with their offseason strategy thus far.
that Quentin deal seems like a steal for the Padres. Hard to believe that there aren’t at least 10 teams that wouldn’t have topped that offer in a heartbeat.
A team is only going to get so much for a player (Quentin) who is a poor defender, injury prone, and has only one year of control left before hitting free agency. The arms the White Sox received will help them eventually.
I’m not a big Quentin fan, but holy crap they gave him away for peanuts compared to what I would have figured. Nothing about their offseason makes sense to me.
It’s a weird trade for both teams. Quentin’s a decent bat, but he’s horrendous defensively and now has to play outfield at cavernous PetCo. Moreover, the park will minimize some of his offensive capabilities. Not a good match.
I think u guys are over thinking this…
I honestly think KW saw an opportunity to dump a guy he dislikes. Kinda like Swish And he jumped in it.
For SD however, I don’t get it. Sell Latos and trade two prospects for Quinten? For one year of Quinten?? Mind boggling.
Carlos Quentin for 2 prospects not in padres top 10?
This is a confusing deal. Why did Chicago trade him for nothing? Why did San Diego add him? I would think the giants for one, would offer more.
This deal shows that there are more players available than for the conventional ideas. Cashman’s new years resolution…be more creative!
San Diego added him because when healthy, he is still a good bat. Too bad they play in a ball park that will destroy his power, but meh, I had him on my list of platoon partners that the Red Sox might get without Andruw on the board, so I’m happy.
Quentin is good power bat. I agree petco will hurt his production. Boston and giants couldn’t offer more? Very strange n
Boston really was a fit. But I am not sure they have anything left to trade.
I just don’t think Quentin is the Red Sox kind of player. Bad defensive player, misses lots of games due to injury, and has only one year of team control left. His best spot — DH — is blocked by Ortiz. They’re not going to give up too much for that, and it appears the Padres were at least willing to part with some arms that project out to potentially decent bullpen men down the line. Not a bad catch for the White Sox sacrificing one year of Quentin.
Bad defensive player, misses lots of games due to injury,
that sounds exactly like a Red Sox player.
That sounds like the player that was there last year — JD Drew. The JD stands for Just Disabled.
Exactly – Right on the money.
JD Drew says hi.
Maybe they realized KW was about to give them Quentin for nothing and just pulled the trigger.
Why did San Diego add him?
They are going to package Quentin, Rizzo, and Casey Kelly for Adrian Gonzalez.
Then Youlillis could play 1B his bettter position.
Think cashman is still hoping Seattle moves Felix? If Seattle fails to sign prince, they really should trade Felix. Mariners stink, rangers angels are too good and Felix is expensive and could bring in montero banuelos and betances.
Seattle is not moving Felix and there is no reason to move him at this time. He still has three years remaining on his contract. He is becoming more expensive, but Seattle has access to plenty of money as they are not a small market team. Perhaps they’ll change their opinion a year from now, but Felix is not being moved in 2012 despite the wishes of Yankees fans.
Interesting, I had never considered the notion of the Yankees trading for Felix.
All things point to Kenny Williams waving a white flag before the 2012 season starts.
Robin Ventura will have to perform miracles in the AL Central Division.
Happy new year! 2012
Angels are better
Rangers are better
Red sox are better (only the mets melt down in September two years in a row)
Rays are better (Matt Moore)
Yanks do nothing!
You’re silly.
Royals are better
Mariners are better
Orioles are better
A’s are better
how are the Red Sox better? Or the Rangers for that matter?
They aren’t. He’s just a huge drama queen.
Or a troll.
I’ve only seen him bitch about the lack of Yankees moves all offseason long, and I’ve yet to see him provide anything positive about the team. This guy has got to be a troll.
Yanks don’t spent they will lose attendance
“I’m not going to go to the Yankees game because their payroll is only $189M and not $210M.” — nobody
Wait, didn’t you just say that?
“the Yankees will not spend more than $189 million on payroll.” -Joel Sherman
“My comment is irrelevant to Mike’s comment.” – CJ
“Testicles” -Brian
“Boobs.” — Michael Scott’s computer
I don’t plan on going because of the dummies that attend and bad (and expensive) food and drink.
It’s so much better to watch at home with A/C on HD TV with replay. And I can sit in my underwear and sniff my fingers all I want.
you dont get it the goal….. is to win it all.. not just compete
and you are terrible at grasping reality.
Or grammar… Jus sayin
When do Yankees regular season tickets go on sale? I want to try to get tickets to the first game that CC pitches at home, and I know those tickets will probably sell very quickly
First home series is going to sell out quick since it’s against the Angels and newcomers CJ Wilson and Albert Pujols.
Thats why I want to know when tickets officially start selling. It would be awesome to see CC vs Pujols. Although I have a bad feeling Pujols would win the matchup
There will be many CC/Pujols matchups. CC will win the majority of them because, well, he’s a pitcher and they always have the advantage.
Well, technically almost every pitcher will win the majority, but the true test will be if he can win more than average. Which he probably can.
Barry Bonds disagrees with your premise.
They’re starting at $58 on stubhub. From my experience, don’t even waste your time trying to get tickets from Ticket Master. They sell out as soon as they’re up. Something very fishy goes on there.
agreed that process is horrible.
Your best bet honestly is to use the ticket buying on this website, I used it a couple times this past season, and both times got good seats below Face.
Ahem: http://www.tiqiq.com/Tiqiq/Mul.....former=759
Thanks, I completely forgot about that
If I ever DO attend a game, the RAB ticket page RULES.
Congrats on all the success RAB. Well deserved!!!!
Happy New Years to the RAB team and the rest of my fellow RAB followers.
Happy new year. Thank you for the content and everyone for thee dialog. If we add anyone to the team this year, I hope it is a “notoriously fast starter”.
Congrats and thank you. Happy new year. Here’s hoping to a great 2012 for the Yanks, RAB and us all!
Happy New Year to RAB and everyone that posts on this site.
Keep up the good work RAB, lets hope this next year is the best yet.
And that the Mayans were wrong.
They were neither right nor wrong.
The world kind of ends?
No, I meant that they weren’t trying to predict the end of the world. So they can’t have been right or wrong on the subject.
Even if they’re right, we still have a full season of Yankee baseball in 2012 before the end!
Happy New Year from Bangkok!
Years*
Hi, Ethan, how’s tricks in Bangkok?
Yankee fans: the universal club.
tricks?
HEY everyone happy new year i know everyone wants a SP so how bout this. No one wants to give up Betances Montero or Banuelos right ?
ok so lets trade Romanski a lefty Hall a lefty, and Romine for Garza
What is it with you and Romanski? You’ve mentioned him in literally every single comment you’ve ever left at RAB.
#nohomo?
justlomo
Does anyone know when Old Timers Day is? I want to bring my uncle as a 50th birthday present.
It’s everyday…at 3B and SS.
I lol’d.
Don’t encourage him.
People, it’s New Year’s Eve.
Don’t call tech support about your cell phone. Literally every network will be running extremely slow today.
If AJ gets traded, will the era of pie end in the bronx?
I would not be opposed to finding out…
I think that is a tradeoff that no Yankee fan would oppose
Letting Noesi, Warren, Phelps and even a post ASB Banuelos pitch through injuries and possible back end ineffectiveness will be fun to watch. I understand the 1 yr Kuroda/Oswalts argument but patience might be the most effective, if not sexiest approach.
I been here a long time and I remember when this site was looked at as a novelty more than anything. It’s a real accomplishment that it’s now a leading source for Yankees information.
I like to thank Mike Axisa, Ben Kabak, Joe Pawlikowski and all who comment for teaching me more and making the game I love even better.
I wish you all a Happy New Year.
well said
Thanks for having such a great website, RAB!
Here to to the start of (hopefully) number twenty-eight. I’m cool with the way we stand for 2012, but would be more at ease knowing that Cash&CO are willing to go big mid-season if needed.
Happy New Year!
Pretty sure I saw Hal Steinbrenner walking around Central Park today.
Happy New Year everyone.
Is anyone watching the DJ 3K Game on YES right now?
Great off season, we resigned CC Andruw Jones and Freddy Garcia, and signed some retreads to minor league contracts. We lost Posada and Colon , big deal. This would have never happened if George was around. Will someone tell me how we’re better.
And who (whom?) should they have signed?
Pujols, Fielder, Wilson, Darvish, Reyes, Bell, Papelbon, and Madson.
Of course! How foolish of me.
Yankees were the best team in the AL last year. Will someone tell me how being essentially the same is such a horrible thing?
Well, if you overlook the fact that their #’s 4 & 5 starters have never pitched more than 115 innings in a season, their # 3 starter has pitched > 100 innings in only one of his four MLB seasons, that fact that they have no right fielder, the fact that their DH is as old as Alex, and the injury potential of their 3B and CF, the Sux look like formidable foes.
lmao
Also, everyone is deadly certain that a team which just achieved the greatest collapse in sports history, fired their HOF-caliber manager, and allowed their genius of a GM to leave definitely should rebound to win it all the very next season…because their objectivity is unassailable.
we are not ,third place is a lock.
Love Chip Chipperdon, the grandy man should resign for like only a grand or sumthin
Love Chip Chipperdon, the grandy man should resign for like only a grand or sumthin.
Happy New Year to all. 2012 could be the year of #12 (if Montero gets it) ha ha
Hope to meet some RAB folks at the Yankee/Nats series in DC in June.
Here here! Cheers RAB. I love this site. Thanks for everything you guys put into it.
Thanks to the entire RAB team for another great year…my most visited site of any website in 2011, I might add.
http://aol.sportingnews.com/ml.....shing-trip
Why don’t we have any badass players like that?
Where the hell was that hunting trip? An anaconda?
If I’m there GM’s I’m like ” Guys seriously do have to put a fucking no snake clause in your contracts”
No guys I’m positive AJ Burnett is rescuing naked dudes from snakes in the sears parking lot too…
Forget the players, I’d like to sign the snake. They could set it loose in the visitors clubhouse when the Red Sox come to town.
Never trust a snake.
That’s what Jake the Snake said.
He was high as a kite. He was telling you that so you wouldn’t be surprised when your tv or vcr went missing.
I guess that’s why he kept saying “Trust me…”
I’m looking at the snake’s workout video right now. Impressive range.
Forget it. D-backs rumored to be heavy favorites to sign the snake.
Just reported on ESPN ” Cashman said that there is just no room in the Yankees budget to sign the snake.” Apparently the yearly salary was not the issue, but the posting fee to the fish man was the deal breaker
Damned untrustworthy fishmongers.
His stuff works enter out of the pen, er cage…. Or something
I saw that, he slithered up 40 stacked boxes in all spandex. Very impressive…
yankee fans dont worry..cashman going to sign mitre…
Happy New Year to all. Enjoy the site immensely and all the comments as well.
Here’s to another year of RAB. I look forward to more great wit, analysis, and shared hatred of Eduardo Nunez.
Wit…really?
Really looking forward to Jesus Montero Baseball Hall of Fame induction speech this year.
Thank you RAB for being the opposite of NoMaas. While I really appreciate a good dick Joke now and then, RAB is the best for not being homophobic or anti Semitic while talking Yankees.
Cheers!
What a douche.
Happy New Year, you guys. I love RAB. That is all. FTW, LOL whatevs.
Happy New Year everyone. Thanks RAB for another great job. You guys are the best!!!
Happy New Year. Mommyeffers!
Happy Yankees New Year.
#28 in 2012!
Add my Happy New Year wishes for everyone, whether Yankee fan or troll.
RAB did something truly incredible in 2011. They were already the best Yankee blog out there, by a good margin, and they IMPROVED. So I’m feeling thankful that some of us old-line guys still visit (but where are you, Eric??), chat with Mike or Joe or whoever does the chat, and just … drink it up. This site’s the best.
happy new year pinstripe faithful
Happy New Year to all, and thanks for the blog.
Here’s a question: Any chance Cashman is playing a deep game on Darvish?
The Globe today notes that Darvish will be a FA in a year – no posting fee – and Texas can get the $50 million back if they don’t sign him by Jan. 18. That sure sounds like a recipe for them not getting together. Darvish has to be looking at that $50 million and thinking it’s his if he waits a year.
So maybe that accounts for NY’s low bid – a gamble that the higher the posting fee the less likely a contract is to be signed, and that Darvish will be available for less next year. That’s not unlike the Santana/CC strategy he followed.
They’re not going to bid $50 million to then not sign him.
And anyway, he’s not an international free agent for two more years, not one.