Open Thread: 2/27 Camp Notes

February 27, 2013 by Mike Axisa 181 Comments

The Yankees dropped their fourth consecutive Grapefruit League game this afternoon, this one a truly ugly display of baseball. The club committed five (!) errors, including a botched pickoff attempt, a ball throw into the stands, and a flubbed double play transfer at second. Brett Gardner continued his hot hitting with a bases-loaded triple that was pretty much the only highlight of the day. Here’s the box score and here’s the rest from Tampa…

MLBPA stopped by camp today for their annual dog and pony show. Union head Michael Weiner confirmed they have spoken to both Alex Rodriguez and Frankie Cervelli about the latest round of performance-enhancing drug allegations stemming from South Florida. [George King]
Hiroki Kuroda will start on Friday, making him the first of the front-four big league starters to get into a game this spring. Ivan Nova will follow on Saturday. [Chad Jennings]
Not much actual baseball stuff going on behind the scenes. Ivan Nova was the only projected big leaguer to throw, and that was just a bullpen. A few of his fellow staff mates are expected to face hitters in non-game action tomorrow. [Jennings]
Phil Hughes (bulging disk) said he is pain free, but as we heard earlier, there’s a chance he might not be ready in time for the regular season. Kevin Youkilis (oblique) is fine but will sit tomorrow as a precaution anyway. [Meredith Marakovits & Jennings]
The Yankees are playing a pair of split squad games on Thursday afternoon. David Phelps will start at home against the Blue Jays while Brett Marshall gets the ball against the Astros in Kissimmee. Frankie Cervelli, Austin Romine, Jayson Nix, and Eduardo Nunez will all make the trip as well. Both games will be on MLB.tv but only the home game will be on YES.

Here is your open thread for the evening. The Knicks are the only local squad in action tonight, but MLB Network will air a Spring Training game as well. You folks know how these things work by now, so have at it.

Cool Lester Smooth (formerly YanksFanInBeantown)

Minorleagueball.com has a “Dossier on Ronnier Mustelier” up if anyone’s interested in a quick scouting report on our favorite Future Hall of Famer.
- RetroRob
  
  Why not just embed the link? You know. We’re lazy.
  - Cool Lester Smooth (formerly YanksFanInBeantown)
    
    http://www.minorleagueball.com.....eplacement
    
    Happy now, RetroRob?
    
    ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?
    - RetroRob
      
      Could you somehow click on the link for me? :-)
trr

Only S/T, but pretty goddam sloppy out there today, wut?
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Yeah. It’s nothing to be concerned about in the least. I really could care less if a hodgepodge of good prospects, decent-to-fringe guys, MiLB contract fodder, and org guys look like crap out there. There was actually some real good stuff in between all that that probably matters more.
  - Betty Lizard
    
    I’m taking the groundhog approach to Spring Training: no shadow (stinking the place up!) = early spring (good season!)
    - vicki
      
      a bad dress rehearsal foretells a good opening night.
joe

Does anyone know what time the yanks do bp, and pitchers throw sides? Writers keep saying watching this is worth time, are they on side fields at steinbrenner complex?
Robinson Tilapia

Some brief stuff I got out of watching the game:

He may never be able to truly close the gap, but the little bit we’ve seen out of Frankie Cervelli thus far makes me feel like he’s taking this competition very seriously. Some continued defense like what we’re seeing thus far and thinks may not be AS bad as we think.

Saw some nice poise at the plate from Slade, Austin, and Flores.

I feel like YES guys are now contractually obligated to be impressed by Zoilo Almonte every game.

Really liked what I saw out of Rondon and Montgomery.

Like I said above, shitty game, but it really isn’t about the box score right now. Widen your lens a bit and you may find yourself enjoying 2013 more than you think.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  I agree with everything you said, except I was also impressed by Zoilo.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Oh, I’m not saying I wasn’t. I just thinking they’ve hit the “love meter” up to 11 with him. This is getting to RAB-Mustellier levels.
  - Herby
    
    He doesn’t seem that far from ML ready, I was most impressed by his patience, more than anything else, I actually thought he’d walked that one AB, but the ump was calling low strikes all game.
- jjyank
  
  I think if Cervelli can keep his defense at acceptable levels, we won’t be as disappointed as we all though. Probably still a downgrade from Martin, but if he can un-Nunez himself, I think we’ll survive in that department.
  - Herby
    
    I think he let his demotion get to him a lot last year, but it was a bit of a punch in the gut. He just didn’t get over it quick enough. Perhaps he got something out of it and came in ready to win the postion now that it’s available. Certainly didn’t see anything out of Stewart today…that throw looked vintage Frankie.
  - Darren
    
    Cervelli has always been better than his UZR reflects. But eyes are no longer a useful tool when assessing talent, apparently.
Manny’s BanWagon

Scary article on ESPN today about the Yankees lineup if god forbid Jeter isn’t ready to start the season in addition to Grandy being out. The Yanks would be starting a lineup with a ZiPs projection of 83 wins assuming the pitching is as good as it was last year.

Get well soon Grandy and Co.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb.....p-1991-mlb
- RetroRob
  
  Ha! I was just about to link that.
  
  The line up without Grandy would average 4.29 runs a game. In Yankee Stadium that’s not exceptional. A league-average pitching staff is expected to allow 4.60 runs, so he writes, “saddled with that Opening Day lineup, the Yankees would be expected to go 75-87 over a 162-game season.” If the pitching holds up to roughly last year’s standars, it projects to an 83-79 team.
  
  Obviously, Grandy returning, eventually A-Rod (well, hopefully) and a little bit of luck, they still could project to win the division, but there really is no safety net as there has been in prior years.
  - Steve (different one)
    
    I can’t get to the article, but isn’t that 83 wins assuming the opening day lineup (minus Jeter and Granderson) for an entire season?
    
    I don’t think it’s controversial to say the Yanks would be royally screwed if they lost Jeter and Granderson for the whole season.
    
    Not that I don’t agree about the lack of safety net. Things could go south quickly.
    
    But Jeter is still supposed to play on Opening Day and Granderson should be back in early May, so it’s a pretty pessimistic scenario.
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      Fuck it. Let’s just assume Robbie and Tex get eaten by whales. What’s the projection then?
      - Pat D
        
        1965!
    - jjyank
      
      Yeah, this was my thought as well. If that projection is assuming that Jeet and Grandy are out all season, then I don’t really think it’s worth discussing, to be honest.
    - RetroRob
      
      I don’t think he was being pessimistic. He was pointing out what we’ve all pointed out here. There is less room for error on this Yankees team. His 75-win scenario was not a projection, but noting the opening-day lineup without Granderson, A-Rod and possibly Jeter, coupled with a regression in the pitching staff to league average, could result in a 75-win team, or an 83-win team with Granderson back and better than league average pitching. This not really a surprising assessment. He’s simply pointing out what the Yankees are facing today.
      
      He ends saying the Yankees could still win the AL East, but it’s going to take players like Ichiro and Youkilis to step up to help extend their dominance for another year. Once again, it’s what we know, but he’s writing for the greater ESPN audience (well, the greater audience that are Insiders!)
- TomH
  
  I don’t have access to that ESPN piece, but similar articles are around, including one in a Toronto paper that can barely contain its glee over what it calls a “team in decline.”
  
  In that CBS podcast, where Mike Axisa is interviewed, the interviewer spoke about how other teams in the AL East improved, while the Yanks “stood pat.” That’s not true: the Yankees didn’t stand pat at all. Their owner permitted them to slip. (Of course, to hear him tell it, they came out of the winter ready for bear.)
  
  If the injuries stop, if Alex comes back swinging in July, if Grandy is OK, if Teixera returns to the old ways, if, if, if and IF, well they’re right in the hunt.
  
  Unfortunately, they can also be 10 games out by the ASG–no sweat.
  
  I haven’t felt so uneasy about a Yankee team since the early 1990s.
  - Get Phelps Up
    
    Last year, the Mariners were the only team that was 10 games out at the all star break, and they were 36-51. In 2011, if there was a 2nd wild card, only three teams would have been 10 games back at the break; they were the A’s at 39-53, the Orioles at 36-52 and the Royals at 37-54.
    
    So it would take lots and lots of sweat for the Yankees to be 10 games out at the ASB, contrary to what you say.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    I was uneasy when we went into a season with Pavano and Wright in our rotation. I was uneasy when we went into a season with two of the big three in the rotation. That’s more my comparison point.
    
    I wasn’t uneasy in the early 90’s. I knew there was only one logical outcome there, and it was sucking.
    - Pat D
      
      The only time since 1997 that I honestly didn’t have an expectation of them winning the World Series at the beginning of the year was 2008.
      
      Until this year…
      - RetroRob
        
        The Yankees pretty much signaled that 2008 was going to be a bridge year and would have challenges. They were correct. They’re signaling the same this year, the difference though is it seemed clear the Yankees had a plan that would improve the team within one year, by 2009. I don’t get that vibe that this is all a staging for a great 2014. Just the opposite. The signals seem to be pointing more to 2015 and 2016. This is a two- to four-year bridge. That’s what it feels like.
  - jjyank
    
    We can play the “if game” all night with every team in the division. I hope you realize that this isn’t a Yankee-specific problem.
    - Manny’s BanWagon
      
      True but the point is the Yankees very well could start the season with their worst lineup since the 1991 Stump Merrill 71-91 team which is kind of sobering even if it does figure to improve (hopefully) as the season goes on.
      - Robinson Tilapia
        
        ’92 and ’93 weren’t pretty.
        
        It’s easy to say “this is the worst lineup since ’93 blah blah blah.” Honestly, though, is that truly a reflection on this season, or is it a reflection on every season between now and, say, ’94 or ’95?
        
        This is not an awful lineup. It’s a diminished lineup, but it’s not awful. The Stump and early Buck lineups were actually awful.
        
        What we start the season with because of brief (and “brief” really is an important word there) DL stints is sort of irrelevant, to me at least. Show me the team as actually envisioned.
        
        Darren
        
        ’93 was a lot better than ’91. Hell, we were in contention so late in the season we got Frank Tanana in a rare September pick up.
Dalek Jeter

Dennis Tito is planning a mission to Mars. Awesomeness, discuss.
- Early fall is coming…
  
  I volunteered my wife to go…
- RetroRob
  
  It’ll never happen.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    Damnit Rob, can’t we dream!!
- Herby
  
  I think we start taking donations to send Ted
https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

Pat – here’s exhibit A in your concerns over the inevitable Brady slobberfest.

http://www.boston.com/sports/t.....mni_4.html

I mean, seriously, Chad Finn, fuck you.
- Pat D
  
  I’d expect nothing less from a Boston.com article.
  
  I’m not saying Brady doesn’t deserve credit for putting team first, as I’m sure he makes a ton of money from endorsements, but I get sick of him being treated like the second coming.
  
  I always say that the sports media is all for someone on their way up, and once they’re at the top, they’re completely eager to knock them down. That hasn’t happened to Brady for some reason. I guess because he hasn’t been the reason for their playoff losses the last several years.
  - https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries
    
    What rubs me the wrong way is how Joe Flacco is somehow painted as a kind of villain, whose salary demands could mean Kruger and Reed having to be let go by the Ravens.
    
    I mean, I fully agree that it’s a commendable thing for Brady to do (no one will disagree on that basic premise), but it’s not like Flacco doesn’t deserve to be paid for how he’s performed in his career. Brady signing for well below market rate is not something to be expected and used as a standard for all other QB’s to aspire to. Sickening to me.
Monterowasnotdinero

Study spring training stats and results through Raul Ibanez glasses….

/learned my lesson last year
Gordon m

Anybody else get annoyed by people who when they are getting interviewed on tv refuse to take off their sunglasses? It always make me suspicious of them.
- Betty Lizard
  
  After Martin, Swisher, Jeter, Alex, Granderson injuries, walks, et al, I am no longer capable of being bothered by anything in baseball.
mustang

After a long fight I’m proud to say that my JSDS (Joba Starter Debate Syndrome) is in remission. I manage not only to not comment on the JSDS thread I didn’t even open it to see other comments because of fear of a relapse. I know I could always relapse because as we all know this unfortunately is a lifetime disease but with your help I’m sure I will stay on the road to recovery.

Thank you.
- Manny’s BanWagon
  
  It kind of degenerated to a debate over whether someone wanted Joba to leave the Yankees and become a good starter because they like Joba vs wanting the Yankees front office to look stupid.
  - Pat D
    
    Wasn’t that the same position? Wanting Joba to succeed elsewhere due to liking him and wanting the front office to look stupid?
    - Manny’s BanWagon
      
      That would be my stance on the subject.
      
      I think they fucked up royally with him and the fact that Girardi and Cashman mocked him today with their comments about Girardi wanting play catcher one more time and Cashman trying him in CF as a replacement for Granderson makes me want to see Joba make them look like assholes next year.
      - Pat D
        
        I just can’t subscribe to that theory. I’d have no problems with Joba finding success elsewhere, so long as it’s not with one of the several MLB teams I hate, but I’m not gonna celebrate the front office looking like idiots.
        
        I thought Cashman’s comments were over the line, but I also see their point. Joba said something he wasn’t asked and that the front office wouldn’t want mentioned. As an employee, he publicly spoke out of turn. His employer can reprimand him for that if they want. This is how they did it.
        
        jjyank
        
        That was my stance in the debate. I don’t have it in me as a far to wish for my team’s front office to look stupid. Seemed immature to me.
        
        Manny’s BanWagon
        
        and the comments by Cashman and Girardi mocking Joba were mature?
        
        jjyank
        
        I never said they were. Here, or back in that thread. I wouldn’t have said it myself, but that doesn’t change my opinion of the Big City Dreams guy.
        
        Manny’s BanWagon
        
        I agree it’s stupid if your whole reason wanting Joba to do well is so the Yankees FO looks dumb but is that what that guy was really saying?
        
        I’d like to see Joba do well because I think he wasn’t given a fair shake in NY. I’m just annoyed at the smugness of Girardi and Cashman so I wouldn’t mind seeing them eat some crow down the road.
        
        jjyank
        
        I dunno, go read it for yourself. He descended into pettiness of (what I thought) was a fairly innocuous comment during an open thread several days ago as a reason to sort of discredit what I was saying on the subject at hand, and that irked me even more so I turned my attention there.
        
        I like you Manny, but I really don’t feel like laying everything out again. I’m debated out on this particular subject.
        
        Manny’s BanWagon
        
        I saw that other business about the other day which I thought was total BS.
        
        Made me think of this.
        
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6am8V5KNJ4A
        
        jjyank
        
        Ha, nice. And wow, I must be too young. I never realized that this was the song Cartman was parodying in this episode of South Park.
        
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpufzJNrZ2Y
        
        Pat D
        
        The King is not pleased with you, jj.
        
        Manny’s BanWagon
        
        I’ll say.
        
        You better shoot over to Graceland before you go off the grid.
        
        The Big City of Dreams
        
        Yea pretty much that’s what I was saying
        
        Herby
        
        I want Joba to do well, if it’s as a starter on another team so be it, but as a player on another team considering the Yankees, I’d look at the statements by Cashman and wonder if I’d want to deal with that guy.
        
        The Big City of Dreams
        
        It’s not immature at all. They get praised when they pass on guys that struggle else so what’s wrong with them looking foolish if they are wrong.
        
        jjyank
        
        That’s great. I disagree. Move on.
        
        Manny’s BanWagon
        
        The front office should have taken the high road and gave the standard PC answer. Absolutely nothing to accomplish by trying to make Joba look like a fool with those comments other than to create animosity.
        
        I wouldn’t have said I wanted the FO to look like idiots until I saw those smug remarks by Cash and Girardi.
        
        Dalek Jeter
        
        After their comments today part of my wanting Joba to succeed is to see Cash and Joe get a little egg on their face.
        
        The Big City of Dreams
        
        Exactly and there is nothing wrong with that.
        
        The Big City of Dreams
        
        He was asked a question and he answered it. “Joba what is your ultimate aspiration” and he told them what he his aspiration was.
        
        The Big City of Dreams
        
        Sorry for the typo
  - mustang
    
    So I’m hoping Zoilo Almonte makes the team.
free speech

The yankees are ready..ready to suck at 1500 dollar legend seats………189,189,189,189,189,189,189,189,189,189,189,189,189,189,189,189,189,189,189,189,……..
- Get Phelps Up
  
  189 octodecillion dollars?
- jjyank
  
  I hope you’re not an old dog. Maybe you could at least learn a few more tricks. I taught my parents’ dog how to roll over about 2 years after she learned all her other commands, so there may yet be hope for you.
  - Pat D
    
    “Play dead” should be the one I’d like to see learned.
    - Bob Buttons
      
      What about fetch that red ball in freeway traffic?
      - Pat D
        
        I think “Play dead” is applicable.
- Barry’s Gift Basket
  
  How the hell did that 8 ended up outside the comment box?
  Are you like the devil of 189 or something?
  
  Or,
  
  Am I the only one watching that?
  - jjyank
    
    I think it’s the latter dude. I see no missing 8. Unless…he is the devil and he’s picked you to possess!
    - Barry’s Gift Basket
      
      But, but, but…I swear it was outside the box!
      - Pat D
        
        You gotta lay off the cough syrup, man. Seriously. I’m worried about you.
  - Havok9120
    
    It happens sometimes when you don’t break up a line that’s too long. It’s part of the nesting format.
    - Barry’s Gift Basket
      
      0k, thanks.
      I was worrying.
- Manny’s BanWagon
  
  I thought this guy was banned.
  - Get Phelps Up
    
    IIRC, he just got one comment deleted and some people assumed he was banned.
    
    He’s been blatantly violating commenting guidelines #10 and sometimes #7 all offseason, though.
    - Manny’s BanWagon
      
      Isn’t this guy the former Dan Gen?
      - Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
        
        or maybe they just share half a brain….
        
        Get Phelps Up
        
        Thirds of a brain when you factor in Mr. 189,189,189.
  - Govin
    
    That was under his old name 189.. Or something like that . Now hes back better then ever. Well maybe better is a poor choice of words.
    - jjyank
      
      He was Dan Gen first, and I believe the longest.
      
      To take a page from Eddard’s book, “back and better than never”.
- Need Pitching & Hitting (but mostly hitting)
  
  nope….and likely nope
- Dalek Jeter
  
  That is an incredibly large number.
Vern Sneaker

I’m happy because I got to see Slade play and liked what I saw. The power of positive thinking and several large glasses of wine.
Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)

So, this is a bit of a long story, but the short version is that my friend, and co-chairman, had a meeting with the director than came back to me with a long list of questions that were vaguely insulting. He asked me things that I took care of months ago-what about tax information, did you contact x theater, are you sure this is the best show.

Seriously, NOW he’s finally getting into the details. I’ve been in the details the whole time.

I’m communicating mostly online, and I’m being as nice as I can about it, but it definitely irks me.
- Pat D
  
  Did his questions include these:
  
  1) Did you pack your bags yourself?
  2) Have your bags been in your possession the whole time?
  3) Has any unknown person asked you to bring something on board?
  4) Are my jokes funny?
  5) Do people like me?
  6) Why did people not get Seth MacFarlane’s jokes at the Oscars?
  7) Am I boring you yet?
  8) Isn’t it amazing that I’m still asking you questions?
  9) Should I shut up now?
  10) Am I still pretending to ask you these questions as your friend or as myself?
  - Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
    
    What is the difference between a raven and a writing desk?
    - Pat D
      
      Wait, was that one of the questions or did you turn the tables on me?
      - Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
        
        Ever play that game where you answer a question with another question?
        
        Govin
        
        Could I play ?
        
        Pat D
        
        Is that what’s happening now?
        
        jjyank
        
        Why wouldn’t it be?
        
        Pat D
        
        Who invited you?
        
        Govin
        
        Was that a nice thing to say ?
        
        Pat D
        
        And just how did you get in here?
        
        Dalek Jeter
        
        Is there a way in/out of here?
        
        Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
        
        How did you get involved in this?
        
        Pat D
        
        You don’t see that exit sign?
        
        jjyank
        
        Who said I wanted to leave?
        
        Dalek Jeter
        
        Where would I go, man, WHERE WOULD I GO?
        
        Pat D
        
        To jj: Is not parting such sweet sorrow?
        
        To Dalek: Do you not have a home?
        
        Govin
        
        What did I do ?
        
        Govin
        
        Can I be the winner of this game ?
        
        Pat D
        
        What didn’t you do?
        
        Dalek Jeter
        
        Pat: How could I go back there?
        
        Govin
        
        Pat D, were you trying to pull a Pablos?
        
        Pat D
        
        Dalek: How should I know?
        
        Govin: How would I “pull a Pablos?”
        
        Dalek Jeter
        
        Would you tell me if you did know?
        
        Pat D
        
        Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?
        
        Govin
        
        Pat D, you don’t know how to Pull a Pablos ham samwich Aka salami samich’ taco etc.?
        
        jjyank
        
        Why would I part from this lovely conversation when I’m having so much fun?
        
        Robinson Tilapia
        
        How does this end?
        
        Govin
        
        Is this game like “the song that never ends’?
        
        Pat D
        
        Aren’t there just too many comments nesting here?
        
        Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
        
        Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
        
        Pat D
        
        Didn’t the Watchmen movie kinda suck though?
        
        Havok9120
        
        Is this why they hate us?
        
        Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
        
        So I don’t lose the game, this is out of the nest-Yes. Yes it did.
      - jjyank
        
        You lose Pat. The questions have to be on topic.
        
        Pat D
        
        What are you referring to? That’s not a question in the “game.”
- Manny’s BanWagon
  
  Seems that this project is taking a shit ton of energy on your part.
  
  I hope ultimately for your sake you’re raising enough money for it to be worth all this work on your part.
  - Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
    
    Oh, if we can get the show done, even if we only earn like 500 dollars it will totally be worth it. Nothing like seeing something you’ve worked so hard on come to fruition.
    
    What’s incredibly frustrating is that we FINALLY have things going in our favor, and we’re getting really close, and now we’re going to fall short because the other members of the group are finally trying to work through details I had down a month ago.
    
    To show you what I mean-for those paying attention (haha), yesterday I talked about how we were offered a theater and they considered turning it down.
    
    Well, today they said they’ll take it-but if we find somewhere better, AFTER we say we’re going to take it they’ll back out.
    
    Normally, this is fine-you get a better deal, you take it. The problem here is that a woman, my old HS director, is literally planning her entire summer vacation around our show. She is making sure, in advance, that she will be free the week we want to perform.
    
    I explained why it was impossible for us to back out, and my friend told me “it’s a business” and “it’s not about her”. Well, you know what? If we say we’ll take the theater, and then we back out, I’m leaving the group-and this time it IS in protest. If we do that it’s an incredibly terrible, dick move and I’m not supporting it. So hopefully they get that through their head.
    
    It’s just, they don’t get the reality of what’s going on. They’re one step behind and trying to make decisions like they know what’s going on.
    - Govin
      
      I agree, even in business you should think about how your actions are going to affect others. Lets hope they don’t find a better place.
      - Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
        
        I’m almost sure they won’t. That was the whole reason I was pushing them to take this deal. We’ll see though. My guess is in the end this’ll just be another one of those little things that irks me.
Alkaline

Hmm. I can’t wait till I could finally sit down and watch a game. I was spoiled last spring.
- Get Phelps Up
  
  I haven’t been able to watch one so far either, outside of a few innings here and there. I blame the 10am local start times.
  - Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
    
    Yep. This, prett
    - Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
      
      …y much.
      - Get Phelps Up
        
        You’re a fellow west coaster?
        
        Improbable Island’s Dirty Midget Whores (formerly RRR)
        
        Heh, nope. Just busy.
  - Herby
    
    that’s what DVRs are for…nothing like morning coffee and a Yankee game.
    - Pat D
      
      Bah! Coffee is ruining the world. And yet it is so popular.
      
      Therefore, I shall destroy all the coffee in the world and then invest heavily in tea! Hail Cobra!!!
      - Dalek Jeter
        
        You evil, evil man. If you touch even one Coffea plant or one coffee bean I swear I will go G.I. Joe on your ass.
        
        Pat D
        
        Muhahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!
        
        Cobra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Dalek Jeter
  
  It felt really good to watch games the past two days, I’m upset I wont get to tomorrow.
jjyank

So, I just discovered that the lady that lives upstairs from me must smoke weed. It’s funny, I never pegged her for the type. Granted, my evidence is thin, as I’ve never smelled it. But I went outside to take the trash/recycling out, and she has one of those college-style dual fans with the accordion thing that connects the fan to a surface on either side in her window. And the fan was pointed outward. Anyone know of a different application for such a set up? I sure don’t.
- Pat D
  
  I think it is your patriotic duty to investigate this matter fully and relentlessly pursue this lead until you have been able to prove she committed a capital offense.
  
  It’ll play like a Monty Python sketch.
- Dalek Jeter
  
  Maybe she just smokes cigarettes and doesn’t want the smell?
  
  Could be she just burned some food and was trying to get the smell out? (my mom used the same kind of fan to do that when we lived in an apartment)
  - jjyank
    
    On the first point: Yes, she does smoke cigarrettes, but it’s not raining out, and actually quite warm. I’ve seen her on the back deck smoking plenty of times, and occasionally find her butts in the yard. Not sure she’d smoke inside considering it’s against the lease.
    
    And as far as cooking goes, no. Her apartment is two stories, and the fan is in what I know is her bedroom. The kitchen is downstairs.
    - Manny’s BanWagon
      
      Wait till she gets high and then go tap that ass.
      - jjyank
        
        Ew. No, she’s fat and like 30 years older than me.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    My thought was that maybe she cooked something with a strong smell and just wanted to get it out and/or didn’t want to set up the smoke alarm.
    
    The smoke alarm thing happens to us way too often.
    - jjyank
      
      Nope, fan is on the second floor. Kitchen is on the first.
      - Robinson Tilapia
        
        Well then she’s clearly cooking meth.
- RetroRob
  
  While I think there’s a type who smokes weed, the flip side is not necessarily true, meaning a type who doesn’t smoke. A few years back, after my wife and I split, I started dating a women a decade or so younger in her 20s (don’t tell Barry, he won’t approve!). Anyway, I met her through work, she was a total Type A, alredy a vice president by 26, seemed really tightly wound, yet she was beautiful and fascinating. I discovered her work personality and leisure personality were very much different. I remember the first time I was at her place, she started rolling and smoking. I was totally shocked, not because I cared, but she was the last person in the room you’d think smoked weed. It was her way of relaxing.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    …when you say “rolling” do you mean rolling a joint? or rolling face? because smoking weed IMO isn’t the biggest bombshell to drop on a new significant other, but E…I would think she would approach that differently than just going for it.
    - RetroRob
      
      Just a joint, at least at that point in time.
  - jjyank
    
    Oh I’m not judging. I used to smoke in college, and my parents and brother still do. Just thought it was funny because she’s kind of a bitch. Most pot heads I know are actually cool.
    - Dalek Jeter
      
      jj you judgey bastard! I know plenty of bitchy people that smoke!
    - Herby
      
      I always thought it would be kind of weird to have parents who smoked, but these days most parents come from an age where many did or do.
    - RetroRob
      
      Maybe she’s not a bitch. Some would think my type A friend was a bitch, but she was far from that. Only one way to find out. March upstairs and…
Bo Knows

Good news….Steph Curry is making look like a Genius for wanting the Knicks to draft him

Bad news: He was drafted by GS, and is currently being possessed by the spirit of Wilt Chamberlain on the Knicks
- Pat D
  
  Just checked the box score. Sonuvabitch.
  - Manny’s BanWagon
    
    That fucker Don Nelson picked Curry 1 pick ahead of the Knicks in 2009 when the Knicks were gonna draft him for sure and we got stuck with Jordan Hill.
    
    Another sign that this franchise is cursed.
    - Pat D
      
      Yea, but who knows if the Knicks wouldn’t have fucked him up, too.
      - Manny’s BanWagon
        
        They probably would have traded him for cap space or in the Melo deal knowing those idiots.
Dalek Jeter

The Jodi Arias trial, which I just learned about a couple hours ago, is fucking insane. This girl seems the definition of a sociopath, not a bright one though.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  I had to read up on this. Had no idea who she was. The world would be such a better place if I didn’t have to read about this and that tabloid trial.
  
  I don’t think I’ve ever used the term “sociopath” in a professional manner, now that I think about it.
  - Dalek Jeter
    
    It got wall to wall coverage on Anderson Cooper tonight, from everything they said about her/she has said…I’m pretty sure my non-professional label of sociopath fits lol.
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      Yeah….I probably throw that term out much more in conversation. In the end, though, my mind always gravitates to “hmmm…..I wonder what happened to THAT person as a child….”
      
      These trials, how they’re covered, and how people begin to react to them while they watch, are fascinating little sociological experiments of their own. They could write books on what my FB feed looked like for months after the Casey Anthony trial.
Robinson Tilapia

At first, I looked at the number of comments here and thought “woah….a lot going on.” Then I realized half of this was making fun of Dan Gen. Free speech? Please. It’s a fucking blog comment section.

I also realize, after reading this, that no one else here watches “Top Chef.”
- FIPster Doofus
  
  I do, and I’m not happy. #TeamBrooke
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Brooke had hot fucking tattoos and this whole Pam Beasley/mom thing going for her. I liked her cooking, but she brought not much new to the table in that sense. She was, however, a much more well-rounded chef in that she knew the business end while it’s obvious that Kristen is just a REALLY good cook.
    
    I loved Kristen’s food geekdom and thought she needed the win more to propel her. Brooke owns two restaurants….in LA. She’s doing just fine for herself.
    
    I was 51/49 on team Kristen, but was very happy to see two women fighting it out here. Nine seasons and only one female winner? Come on.
    - FIPster Doofus
      
      I expected Kristen to win all along, even after she got the boot, and especially given how much the show was pushing the Last Chance Kitchen angle on the audience the whole season.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Also, could they telegraph the victory more? It was obvious they were leaving no time for the fifth course and that this would be decided in four. Sloppy.
    - FIPster Doofus
      
      Seriously. The format for the finale was really bad. It was so obvious what the outcome was going to be toward the end. Terrible job by the producers.
      - Tom
        
        Yikes… how did I not notice that?
        
        I assumed Kristen would win, but I guess I was thinking maybe it was one of the 75 minute episodes… yeah… that’s it…
Robinson Tilapia

My quick $0.02 on this whole Cashman comments on Joba thing:

Haven’t read or seen the actual quote and am going by others’ comments on it. From that, no, I certainly wouldn’t have said it and it does seem insensitive. Whether this has any staying power or ramifications to anything else remains to be seen. There is a lot of season in between now and next off-season. Things could smooth over. This could not smooth over and there could be grudges, etc. There may not even be anything to smooth over. We have no clue. This is going to make for good blog fodder, but that’s about it. For now.
- Darren
  
  Cashman is a scared egotistical cocksucker.
- Manny’s Banwagon
  
  His comments were completely unnecessary and served to accomplish nothing positive other than to very likely create animosity.
  
  I have no idea how Joba is perceived in the clubhouse but I can’t imagine the rest of the team looked upon both Girardi and Cashman’s statements favorably.
  
  Judging by their reactions, obviously Girardi and Cashman are very sensitive to the topic of Joba as a starter.
  - crawdaddy
    
    How do you know they look upon those comments unfavorably? For all we know, the rest of the clubhouse is tired of Joba and the baggage that comes with him.
    - The Big City of Dreams
      
      Well after this yr they won’t have to deal with him and his baggage. He’ll finally be able to leave and get away from the guys that played a role in botching his career as a starter.
  - The Big City of Dreams
    
    Judging by their reactions, obviously Girardi and Cashman are very sensitive to the topic of Joba as a starter.
    
    ————————
    
    Very sensitive. You criticize them and they get defensive about it.
dkidd

a question for the commenters who follow professional wrestling:

i’m researching a script which is basically “major league” or “slap shot” set in (low budget, non-wwf) pro wrestling

any independent federations/promotions/leagues/not sure what you call them that i should look into?

thanks for the intel
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Ring of Honor and Chikara USA are definitely the most popular indies. In the end, though, there’s a million of them out there. See who runs shows somewhere in your area.
  - Pat D
    
    Pretty much this.