How was your Christmas? Below, you can find out how mine went...
December 28, 2004
Comair, Inc. and Delta Inc.
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky
International Airport
P.O. Box 75318
Cincinnati, OH 45275
Dear Comair Inc. and Delta Inc.
I am writing to offer your company a timeline of my travel itinerary for four nightmarish days – Dec. 23, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Dec. 26 – and also to formally request that you reimburse me for all my flight and hotel expenses for these days. After all, it was incompetence from your airline at almost every turn that all but ruined my Christmas.
5 p.m., Thurs. Dec. 23: Leave, via automobile, from my place of business in Jersey City, NJ for a hotel stay in Philadelphia, Pa. The next morning, I am scheduled for two Comair flights – one from Philadelphia, Pa. to Cincinnati, Ohio and one from Cincinnati, Ohio to Cleveland, Ohio.
9:30 p.m., Thurs. Dec. 23: Arrive at Holiday Inn, Philadelphia International Airport.
10:40 a.m., Fri. Dec. 24: Arrive at Philadelphia International Airport, only to find out that my scheduled flight, Comair Flight 1841 to Cincinnati, has been canceled. I immediately use the Delta Direct phones to try and get another flight out to Cincinnati. The representative notifies me that she cannot find another Delta flight until the next morning. She also informs me that she cannot help me get a flight on another airline, but does tell me the phone numbers of other airlines that fly directly from Philadelphia to Cincinnati. All those phone numbers are busy. I wait at the airport, trying to get information.
1:25 p.m., Fri. Dec. 24: A man in the Delta terminal announces that a new flight to Cincinnati has been created, Comair flight 9380. I get on the flight, which leaves at around 2:40 p.m.
4:20 p.m., Fri. Dec. 24: Arrive at airport in Cincinnati. Wait for flight 5277 to Cleveland, which is supposed to be departing at 5:20 p.m. The big board says that it will be departing at 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. passes, and a half hour later, the time is changed to 6:30 p.m. Gates for the flight change (even after Comair representatives say that “the plane is already here,”), and “boarding” is flashed a few times as well. The time keeps getting pushed back, to 7:30, then 8:45, then 9:30.
10 p.m., Fri. Dec. 24: The flight boards. The captain, over the intercom, says at 10:15 p.m. that all the plane needs to take off is the “air start” system, which is needed to start the plane. The system is apparently at another gate.
11 p.m., Fri. Dec. 24: The flight attendants and captain are still saying that the air start system is at another gate, and that nobody has delivered it yet. A pattern is developing.
Midnight, Christmas Day: The captain is said to have personally walked over to make people from another terminal deliver the air start system, but it still is not there. We are still waiting to take off.
1 a.m., Christmas Day: The flight attendant announces that the flight has been canceled due to mechanical failures.
1:30 a.m., Christmas Day: Back at the airport, a Comair representative tells me that I cannot get to Cleveland until 7 p.m. He also says he cannot book me on another airline. He does not offer food vouchers. Nobody ONCE offered me food vouchers. Not ONCE! Furthermore, he says he cannot find a hotel for me in the area! Luckily, my girlfriend, who is in Cleveland waiting for me, has a phone number that allows distressed passengers to get hotel rooms. I get booked for a room at the Radisson/Cincinnati Airport (receipt attached). How does Comair not have the ability to book me a hotel room in the area, but my girlfriend can find out how to do this? This is unacceptable. It is abhorrent to everything an airline, or any business concerning customer service, should be.
2:30 a.m., Christmas Day: I arrive at the Radisson, after walking from the airport (Delta was supposed to have offered a shuttle since the Radisson shuttle stopped operating at 2 a.m., but there was no Delta shuttle). I pay for my room at the Radisson, and go to that room.
2:45 a.m., Christmas Day: My girlfriend informs me that after spending an hour on the phone with Delta, she has booked me on a 9:10 a.m., Christmas day Comair flight, to Cleveland. I go to sleep.
7:30 a.m., Christmas Day: I wake up, and find out that my flight to Cleveland has been canceled. Comair has shut down its operations, because of computer failure. At this time, I would like to remind your company that NONE of these problems had ANYTHING to do with weather.
10 a.m., Christmas Day: I get booked on a flight back to Philadelphia, just in case nothing comes through regarding Cleveland. Delta has still not offered me ANYTHING on another airline, although I have asked. One representative does give me a $7 food voucher for an airport meal, but only after I asked for one. I should have received about six of them for all the time I spent at the airport paying out of my pocket for food.
Noon, Christmas Day: I get booked for standby on a flight from Cincinnati to Cleveland, Delta flight 518. It is supposed to depart at 2:50 p.m.
1:30 p.m., Christmas Day: I get moved from standby into seat #21F on Flight 518.
5 p.m., Christmas Day: After (surprise), delays, I finally depart for Cleveland.
6 p.m., Christmas Day: I arrive in Cleveland.
3 p.m., Dec. 26: after less than 24 hours with my loved ones, I arrive back at the Cleveland airport to fly back to Cincinnati.
10 p.m., Dec. 26: after more delays, I arrive at the Holiday Inn Philadelphia Airport. I go to sleep, and the next morning I leave the hotel to go to work in Jersey City.
Delta and Comair, for all intents and purposes, ruined my Christmas. Other airlines from Cincinnati had few problems on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, while Delta and Comair were basically incompetent. I could have stayed with other family in New Jersey had I known all these problems were going to take place. I could have had a stress-free Christmas, without having to spend a bulk of my time in airports. Therefore, I think that it is only fair that Delta and Comair refund me for:
My round trip airfare ($258.40).
My hotel stays in Philadelphia for Dec. 23 and Dec. 26 ($135.90) (again, I would have never flown had I known the problems were going to arise).
My parking at the Holiday Inn ($25).
My hotel stay in Cincinnati that Delta/Comair DID NOT FIND FOR ME ($54.02).
At least five $7 food vouchers ($35).
Total: $508.32.
Please note, proper documentation for most of these is attached.
Sincerely,
Joseph J. Checkler
Cell (732-674-4871)
Office (201-938-4297)
e-mail: joseph.checkler@dowjones.com
Your Trip Details Flight(s): Fri, December 24, 2004 Flight: Delta Air Lines flight 1841 (Non-Stop) Flight Details Depart: Philadelphia, PA (PHL) - TERMINAL E Fri, Dec 24 at 1:30pm Arrive: Cincinnati, OH (CVG) - TERMINAL 3 Fri, Dec 24 at 3:27pm Seat: REQUESTED (Boeing 737-200 Jet) Meal: No Meal Served Status: Confirmation Code P45QW8 Flight: Delta Air Lines flight 5322 operated by COMAIR INC (Non-Stop) Flight Details Depart: Cincinnati, OH (CVG) - TERMINAL 3 Fri, Dec 24 at 4:20pm Arrive: Cleveland, OH (CLE) - Terminal Information Unavailable Fri, Dec 24 at 5:32pm Seat: REQUESTED (CRJ-700 Canadair Regional Jet) Meal: No Meal Served Status: Confirmation Code P45QW8 Flight(s): Sun, December 26, 2004 Flight: Delta Air Lines flight 1727 (Non-Stop) Flight Details Depart: Cleveland, OH (CLE) - Terminal Information Unavailable Sun, Dec 26 at 5:05pm Arrive: Cincinnati, OH (CVG) - TERMINAL 3 Sun, Dec 26 at 6:13pm Seat: REQUESTED (Boeing 737-200 Jet) Meal: No Meal Served Status: Confirmation Code P45QW8 Flight: Delta Air Lines flight 1843 (Non-Stop) Flight Details Depart: Cincinnati, OH (CVG) - TERMINAL 3 Sun, Dec 26 at 7:15pm Arrive: Philadelphia, PA (PHL) - TERMINAL E Sun, Dec 26 at 9:03pm Seat: REQUESTED (Boeing 737-200 Jet) Meal: No Meal Served Status: Confirmation Code P45QW8 Airfare Summary - Prices shown in U.S. dollars Total: USD 258.40 Travelers Price per person Taxes & Fees Total Price 1 adult 198.13 55.27 253.40 Service Fee 5.00 5.00
Holiday Inn Philadelphia-Int'l Airport, PA
45 Industrial Hwy. Essington, Pennsylvania 19029(610) 521-2400
Guest Name(s): Joseph ChecklerJoseph Checkler must be present at check-in.
Check-in: Thu, Dec 23, 2004
Check-out: Fri, Dec 24, 2004
Hotel Confirmation No.: 61686178
Traveler and Billing Details
Hotel
1 room(s) @ $58.00 per night x 1 night(s)
$58.00
Hotel Taxes and fees:
$10.95
Hotel Subtotal
$68.95
Total Price
$68.95
Some hotels may apply additional charges for incidentalfees such as parking. Prices are in $USD
Billed To: Joseph ChecklerDate Purchased: Dec 23, 2004/9:39AM PSTCharged to: Visa (************1517)
Contact phone: (732) 674-4871Contact email: joeyscoops@aol.com
Holiday Inn Philadelphia-Int'l Airport, PA
45 Industrial Hwy. Essington, Pennsylvania 19029(610) 521-2400
Guest Name(s): Joseph ChecklerJoseph Checkler must be present at check-in.
Check-in: Sun, Dec 26, 2004
Check-out: Mon, Dec 27, 2004
Hotel Confirmation No.: 61687424
Traveler and Billing Details
Hotel
1 room(s) @ $53.00 per night x 1 night(s)
$53.00
Hotel Taxes and fees:
$13.95
Hotel Subtotal
$66.95
Total Price
$66.95
Some hotels may apply additional charges for incidentalfees such as parking. Prices are in $USD
Billed To: Joseph ChecklerDate Purchased: Dec 23, 2004/9:42AM PSTCharged to: Visa (************1517)
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Wednesday, October 6, 2004
Posted by Joe: As we get closer to my birthday, which just happens to be Election Day, the race between President Bush and Senator Kerry is getting tighter. It is about time.
Over the few weeks leading into last Thursday's presidential debate, I was becoming increasingly flabbergasted with the laborious and unenergetic way Mr. Kerry was running his campaign. Then the clock struck 9 p.m. on the last day of September, touching off the beeping stopwatch in the Senator's brain that was long overdue.
Mr. Kerry was poignant, articulate and poised, three words that even the most staunch Bush supporters can admit will never be used to describe our president. While I do not believe Mr. Kerry won the debate by as wide a margin as many experts have said, I would say he won decisively enough to ensure one thing: this race will be close.
Before Tuesday's vice-presidential debate between Vice President Cheney and Senator Edwards, I watched a C-Span special on each candidate's debating style. I became increasingly fearful that Mr. Cheney would "bitchslap" Edwards like a father who had just caught his son smoking a marijuana cigarette. In the past, Cheney's boring, dull, tone somehow came out as crisp, and Edwards seemed confined when he had to debate from a table, as he would have to against the vice president.
But Mr. Edwards held his own against the vice president, responding to Mr. Cheney's vicious attacks against his senate attendance record by ripping off a list of legislation that Cheney had voted against, such as the Department of Education, a national holiday to honor Martin Luther King, and a Meals on Wheels program for senior citizens. This was not exactly a highlight of the policy discussion, but it was a highlight of another sort: the spunk of Mr. Edwards.
The polls conducted after these two debates have taught us one crucial thing: the citizens of the United States are slowly getting their act together. The race is close enough that it could go either way. But that is not good enough. This election is about many things; the economy, healthcare, and social security are three of them. But in a post 9/11 United States, Senators Kerry and Edwards have to ensure the public that they will protect the country from terrorism. They have less than a month to pound one critical point home: the war in Iraq has not made this country safer.
Obviously, Saddam Hussein not being in power is a good thing. But with new evidence emerging every day about the lack of evidence about weapons of mass destruction and new news every day about the lack of a definitive plan to get us out of Iraq, Saddam's ouster has not positively altered potential threats to our homeland. In fact, it may have negatively altered the potential of more terrorism. More people might despise us, if that is even possible.
Less than four weeks remain in this campaign, which is probably the most important in this country in more than 70 years. What we face is the possibility of four more years of an administration that has misled us, misled our potential allies, and isolated ourselves in situations that called for coalitions. And that is just the administration's foreign policy.
You want to know how bad Mr. Bush has handled the economy? Monday, a group of 150 tenured professors from some of this country's top business schools (have you ever heard of a place in Massachusetts called Harvard?) sent a letter to the president, bashing his tax cuts and saying that our country's "economic policy has taken a very dangerous turn." It continues, "Nearly every major economic indicator has deteriorated since you took office." So it is not just Iraq.
As he accepted his party's nomination in Boston on July 29, Mr. Kerry said, "We are here tonight because we love our country. We are proud of what America is and what it can become."
Anybody who says they could become proud about what America can become under the Bush administration knows nothing about what has happened the last four years. Please, we cannot take four more.
Over the few weeks leading into last Thursday's presidential debate, I was becoming increasingly flabbergasted with the laborious and unenergetic way Mr. Kerry was running his campaign. Then the clock struck 9 p.m. on the last day of September, touching off the beeping stopwatch in the Senator's brain that was long overdue.
Mr. Kerry was poignant, articulate and poised, three words that even the most staunch Bush supporters can admit will never be used to describe our president. While I do not believe Mr. Kerry won the debate by as wide a margin as many experts have said, I would say he won decisively enough to ensure one thing: this race will be close.
Before Tuesday's vice-presidential debate between Vice President Cheney and Senator Edwards, I watched a C-Span special on each candidate's debating style. I became increasingly fearful that Mr. Cheney would "bitchslap" Edwards like a father who had just caught his son smoking a marijuana cigarette. In the past, Cheney's boring, dull, tone somehow came out as crisp, and Edwards seemed confined when he had to debate from a table, as he would have to against the vice president.
But Mr. Edwards held his own against the vice president, responding to Mr. Cheney's vicious attacks against his senate attendance record by ripping off a list of legislation that Cheney had voted against, such as the Department of Education, a national holiday to honor Martin Luther King, and a Meals on Wheels program for senior citizens. This was not exactly a highlight of the policy discussion, but it was a highlight of another sort: the spunk of Mr. Edwards.
The polls conducted after these two debates have taught us one crucial thing: the citizens of the United States are slowly getting their act together. The race is close enough that it could go either way. But that is not good enough. This election is about many things; the economy, healthcare, and social security are three of them. But in a post 9/11 United States, Senators Kerry and Edwards have to ensure the public that they will protect the country from terrorism. They have less than a month to pound one critical point home: the war in Iraq has not made this country safer.
Obviously, Saddam Hussein not being in power is a good thing. But with new evidence emerging every day about the lack of evidence about weapons of mass destruction and new news every day about the lack of a definitive plan to get us out of Iraq, Saddam's ouster has not positively altered potential threats to our homeland. In fact, it may have negatively altered the potential of more terrorism. More people might despise us, if that is even possible.
Less than four weeks remain in this campaign, which is probably the most important in this country in more than 70 years. What we face is the possibility of four more years of an administration that has misled us, misled our potential allies, and isolated ourselves in situations that called for coalitions. And that is just the administration's foreign policy.
You want to know how bad Mr. Bush has handled the economy? Monday, a group of 150 tenured professors from some of this country's top business schools (have you ever heard of a place in Massachusetts called Harvard?) sent a letter to the president, bashing his tax cuts and saying that our country's "economic policy has taken a very dangerous turn." It continues, "Nearly every major economic indicator has deteriorated since you took office." So it is not just Iraq.
As he accepted his party's nomination in Boston on July 29, Mr. Kerry said, "We are here tonight because we love our country. We are proud of what America is and what it can become."
Anybody who says they could become proud about what America can become under the Bush administration knows nothing about what has happened the last four years. Please, we cannot take four more.
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Hello once again everyone. I recently got into a friendly, Yankee/Met debate with a reporter from my internship, Thomson Media, named Chris Frankie. The debate essentially became a Don Mattingly versus Keith Hernandez debate. Check out the thread. Also, I’ve added hyperlinks to career stats for each on the first mentions of their names. Remember, though, stats don’t make every argument cogent.
Chris Says:
thanks scoops-- you always come thru in the clutch -- much like Rey Ordonez
Joe Says:
Speaking of clutch performers, what has happened to the former clutch performer, that Italian guy from Philly that is supposed to own New York and has a last name eerily close to one of my favorite Italian foods?
Chris Says:
he stinks man -- i have never been a big fan of his and now he is hitting a whopping .143 since the All Star break -- unfortunately, as he goes so goes the Mets. I think they should trade him to the American league so he can DH and we can get some prospects and then maybe we could go about getting a real catcher and a real first baseman
Joe Says:
Never liked him? What about during 2000, when he took the team on his back though? He's one of the best right-handed hitters of our time, top 10 in the last 25 years at least. I guess his career just kinda fizzled a bit early.
Chris Says:
look, most people think he is great and he has had some memorable moments, but he has been a defensive liability throughout, which has downgraded the pitching staff over the years. He can block the plate well but has not arm and he is a wimp on top of that. He has no fire. He has good number and when he launches one it is a rocket, but numbers dont make the player. In my opinion, he has always come up short. A truly great player makes those around him better -- does Mike Piazza do that? And does he show up for the big games. Sometimes, but for the most point i consider him to be a disappointment. Who cares if he launches one into the bleachers when the team is already winning 5-0 or losing 10-2. It makes no difference and when it comes down to it, there are winners and there are losers and he is not a winner. He choked in the playoffs every year for L.A. and as far as I can see, he is done now. Those who say he is one of the best hitting catchers of all time i think are vastly mistaken, be he really isnt a catcher -- he has no business being behind the plate. Statistically, yes, but i would take Gary Carter any day and putting Piazza in the same league as Carlton Fisk, Johnny Bench, and Yogi berra is a sin in this time of bloated stats and inflated achievements.
Joe Says:
Definitely point taken about him as a catcher. Yes, he supposedly can handle a staff, and has most of the good qualities besides the arm, but he never could be mentioned in a defensive argument with any of those guys, or ivan rodriguez, for that matter. But as a right-handed, all-around, average/power hitter, he is among the best 10 right-handed hitters in the last 25 years, in my opinion. My list, in no order, goes like this:1)Piazza2)Molitor3)Manny Ramirez4)Yount5)Pujols (this guy is the real deal)6)Edgar Martinez7)Frank Thomas (too bad he doesn't hit for average anymore)8)Alex Rodriguez (obviously)9)Vladimir Guerrero (he's there already, too)10)Kirby Puckett (he is definitely No. 10 though, if he makes the list, I really had to think about it. maybe McGwire, despite the average, would be there instead of Puckett, but I think I'd go Kirby. I think)Do you agree with this list?
Joe Says:
Sheffield could also make that list, as could David Mark Winfield.
Chris Says:
yeah- i was trying to think -- i would say gwynn but he is lefty -- i dunno -- it would require some thought. I am not a numbers guy and dont think that stats should make up Greatness. I dont care if a guy gets a hit once every 3 at bats if he chokes when it counts and if he is simply not a winner. See i am of the school that Keith Hernandez belongs in the Hall no doubt, but Phil Neikro doesnt
Joe Says:
Numbers can be deceiving, and Hernandez was a good player, and had all the intangibles, but if you want to put him in, I need to ask you for Mattingly. Pretty please with sugar on top, give me Donnie Baseball on a Sunday in August in Cooperstown.
Chris Says:
donnie did not have the longevity for me -- plus i didnt see him everyday. But Hernandez was a leader and an amazing first baseman. He revolutonized the position -- was a 2 time MVP -- 2 time world series champ. He's just an all around winner.
Joe Says:
A winner in baseball is different though. The Yankees had NO pitching during Donnie's years. If he played where Hernandez played, the Cards in 82 and the Mets in 86 would've still won the title. Mattingly won 9 Gold Gloves in a 12-year career, Hernandez had 12 gold gloves in a 15-year career, so that's a wash. Mattingly had more power and some dominating years; Keith had some great years, but never dominated. I would say they both revolutionized defensive first base; you ask a Yank fan, they'll say Donnie did, you ask a Met fan, they'll say Keith did. I'd say both did, they were the two best ever, in no particular order. You have to look at stats a little bit: Mattingly wins that .307 to .296. It's a good argument either way.
Chris Says:
yes -- like i said -- the main thing that did it for me with mattingly is that he didnt play long enough - he had 12 years, but he was injured a lot at the tail end of his career. No, he could not help the teams he was on -- it is true there is only so much control on can have over the outcome. But, i still say that as a baseball fan, i think Hernandez was better -- given the choice of who i would want on my team i would take Mex every day of the week and twice on sunday over donnie baseball
Joe Says:
My reason for going with Donnie, I would say, is that they batted usually in the same spot in the order as each other, and the one key stat (that I think anyone could agree on) is RBI, and Mattingly had five seasons of 100 or more RBI, while Keith had only one. The other key stat, which speaks more to creating stuff on your own, would be homers, and Keith never topped 20, while Mattingly topped 20 five times. Did you know that Mattingly never struck out more than 43 times in a season? That's ridiculous. Keith was good at not striking out too, he only struck out over 100 times once in his career. But honestly, I don't think either should be in the hall, as much as it pains me to say.
Chris Says:
really-- thats a matter of opinion -- if the Scooter can be in the hall with those numbers, Keith should be with out a doubt-- there are intangibles, like leadership, like pulling though in the clutch, like winning. You also have to remember that batting in the American League, especially in the three-hole, that batter has the benefit of having a DH in the lineup and not the rally-killing pitcher in the nine-slot. Stats are stats -- they dont tell the whole story. Donnie baseball was never a leader -- he was a quiet guy who hit for average on a decent Yankees team that never won as much as a division title.
Joe Says:
Wow, if consecutive seasons with .343, 23 homers and 110 RBI with 44 doubles, .324, 35 homers and 145 RBI with 48 doubles, .352, 31 homers and 113 RBI with 53 doubles, and .327, 30 homers, 115 RBI with 38 doubles is a guy who "hits for average" for you, I want to know your version of a guy who "hits for power." Take those orange glasses off, though your point about DH is taken. Don't think Mattingly was as quiet a leader as he's gotten "credit" for either, I think he had some fire.
Chris Says:
joe-- put the textbook away -- i can give him props -- he just wasnt know as a power guy and while 20 homes is a noble and consistent mark -- it doesnt make him necessarily a power guy. Plus please keep in mind that short rightfielf porch -- although you play the hand you're dealt
Joe Says:
Well, stats are not everything, but once the guys are retired, they're the only way to really evaluate these guys anymore. I cannot put away my statbook. And 20 (should I say 30) homers in the 80s was A LOT different than 30 homers now. When you measure up the stats, Keith comes up a good bit shorter than Mattingly. Unfortunately, beside guys like Bill Mazeroski and the Scooter, stats define a player's chances to make the hall. See, if gold gloves would count for more, than maybe both Mattingly and Keith would be able to make it in easier. Keith did play at Shea, which probably takes away a lot of cheap homers. But, you're wrong when you say Mattingly wasn't considered a power guy, at least in his heyday. He was considered the best lefthanded power hitter in baseball from 1985 to 1987, albeit a short period of time that is the impetus (and a valid one) for your argument. Hernandez was never considered a power hitter, he was just a great gap hitter. A really great gap hitter. It's funny how strongly we both feel about our respective first basemen. I've had this argument so many times in my life. I will say this though. If you look at Mattingly and Puckett, again, using stats, which again, you have to do, they come up even except for one key category - two World Series for Kirby, zilch for Donnie. So if you were to put up Keith's two World Series against Mattingly's zilch, I think it might bring them even in a Hall of Fame argument. But, of course, I have to be partial to my boy. By the way, this conversation is going on my blog. I haven't posted anything on it in a while, and this seems like something worthwhile for it.
Chris Says:
thanks scoops-- you always come thru in the clutch -- much like Rey Ordonez
Joe Says:
Speaking of clutch performers, what has happened to the former clutch performer, that Italian guy from Philly that is supposed to own New York and has a last name eerily close to one of my favorite Italian foods?
Chris Says:
he stinks man -- i have never been a big fan of his and now he is hitting a whopping .143 since the All Star break -- unfortunately, as he goes so goes the Mets. I think they should trade him to the American league so he can DH and we can get some prospects and then maybe we could go about getting a real catcher and a real first baseman
Joe Says:
Never liked him? What about during 2000, when he took the team on his back though? He's one of the best right-handed hitters of our time, top 10 in the last 25 years at least. I guess his career just kinda fizzled a bit early.
Chris Says:
look, most people think he is great and he has had some memorable moments, but he has been a defensive liability throughout, which has downgraded the pitching staff over the years. He can block the plate well but has not arm and he is a wimp on top of that. He has no fire. He has good number and when he launches one it is a rocket, but numbers dont make the player. In my opinion, he has always come up short. A truly great player makes those around him better -- does Mike Piazza do that? And does he show up for the big games. Sometimes, but for the most point i consider him to be a disappointment. Who cares if he launches one into the bleachers when the team is already winning 5-0 or losing 10-2. It makes no difference and when it comes down to it, there are winners and there are losers and he is not a winner. He choked in the playoffs every year for L.A. and as far as I can see, he is done now. Those who say he is one of the best hitting catchers of all time i think are vastly mistaken, be he really isnt a catcher -- he has no business being behind the plate. Statistically, yes, but i would take Gary Carter any day and putting Piazza in the same league as Carlton Fisk, Johnny Bench, and Yogi berra is a sin in this time of bloated stats and inflated achievements.
Joe Says:
Definitely point taken about him as a catcher. Yes, he supposedly can handle a staff, and has most of the good qualities besides the arm, but he never could be mentioned in a defensive argument with any of those guys, or ivan rodriguez, for that matter. But as a right-handed, all-around, average/power hitter, he is among the best 10 right-handed hitters in the last 25 years, in my opinion. My list, in no order, goes like this:1)Piazza2)Molitor3)Manny Ramirez4)Yount5)Pujols (this guy is the real deal)6)Edgar Martinez7)Frank Thomas (too bad he doesn't hit for average anymore)8)Alex Rodriguez (obviously)9)Vladimir Guerrero (he's there already, too)10)Kirby Puckett (he is definitely No. 10 though, if he makes the list, I really had to think about it. maybe McGwire, despite the average, would be there instead of Puckett, but I think I'd go Kirby. I think)Do you agree with this list?
Joe Says:
Sheffield could also make that list, as could David Mark Winfield.
Chris Says:
yeah- i was trying to think -- i would say gwynn but he is lefty -- i dunno -- it would require some thought. I am not a numbers guy and dont think that stats should make up Greatness. I dont care if a guy gets a hit once every 3 at bats if he chokes when it counts and if he is simply not a winner. See i am of the school that Keith Hernandez belongs in the Hall no doubt, but Phil Neikro doesnt
Joe Says:
Numbers can be deceiving, and Hernandez was a good player, and had all the intangibles, but if you want to put him in, I need to ask you for Mattingly. Pretty please with sugar on top, give me Donnie Baseball on a Sunday in August in Cooperstown.
Chris Says:
donnie did not have the longevity for me -- plus i didnt see him everyday. But Hernandez was a leader and an amazing first baseman. He revolutonized the position -- was a 2 time MVP -- 2 time world series champ. He's just an all around winner.
Joe Says:
A winner in baseball is different though. The Yankees had NO pitching during Donnie's years. If he played where Hernandez played, the Cards in 82 and the Mets in 86 would've still won the title. Mattingly won 9 Gold Gloves in a 12-year career, Hernandez had 12 gold gloves in a 15-year career, so that's a wash. Mattingly had more power and some dominating years; Keith had some great years, but never dominated. I would say they both revolutionized defensive first base; you ask a Yank fan, they'll say Donnie did, you ask a Met fan, they'll say Keith did. I'd say both did, they were the two best ever, in no particular order. You have to look at stats a little bit: Mattingly wins that .307 to .296. It's a good argument either way.
Chris Says:
yes -- like i said -- the main thing that did it for me with mattingly is that he didnt play long enough - he had 12 years, but he was injured a lot at the tail end of his career. No, he could not help the teams he was on -- it is true there is only so much control on can have over the outcome. But, i still say that as a baseball fan, i think Hernandez was better -- given the choice of who i would want on my team i would take Mex every day of the week and twice on sunday over donnie baseball
Joe Says:
My reason for going with Donnie, I would say, is that they batted usually in the same spot in the order as each other, and the one key stat (that I think anyone could agree on) is RBI, and Mattingly had five seasons of 100 or more RBI, while Keith had only one. The other key stat, which speaks more to creating stuff on your own, would be homers, and Keith never topped 20, while Mattingly topped 20 five times. Did you know that Mattingly never struck out more than 43 times in a season? That's ridiculous. Keith was good at not striking out too, he only struck out over 100 times once in his career. But honestly, I don't think either should be in the hall, as much as it pains me to say.
Chris Says:
really-- thats a matter of opinion -- if the Scooter can be in the hall with those numbers, Keith should be with out a doubt-- there are intangibles, like leadership, like pulling though in the clutch, like winning. You also have to remember that batting in the American League, especially in the three-hole, that batter has the benefit of having a DH in the lineup and not the rally-killing pitcher in the nine-slot. Stats are stats -- they dont tell the whole story. Donnie baseball was never a leader -- he was a quiet guy who hit for average on a decent Yankees team that never won as much as a division title.
Joe Says:
Wow, if consecutive seasons with .343, 23 homers and 110 RBI with 44 doubles, .324, 35 homers and 145 RBI with 48 doubles, .352, 31 homers and 113 RBI with 53 doubles, and .327, 30 homers, 115 RBI with 38 doubles is a guy who "hits for average" for you, I want to know your version of a guy who "hits for power." Take those orange glasses off, though your point about DH is taken. Don't think Mattingly was as quiet a leader as he's gotten "credit" for either, I think he had some fire.
Chris Says:
joe-- put the textbook away -- i can give him props -- he just wasnt know as a power guy and while 20 homes is a noble and consistent mark -- it doesnt make him necessarily a power guy. Plus please keep in mind that short rightfielf porch -- although you play the hand you're dealt
Joe Says:
Well, stats are not everything, but once the guys are retired, they're the only way to really evaluate these guys anymore. I cannot put away my statbook. And 20 (should I say 30) homers in the 80s was A LOT different than 30 homers now. When you measure up the stats, Keith comes up a good bit shorter than Mattingly. Unfortunately, beside guys like Bill Mazeroski and the Scooter, stats define a player's chances to make the hall. See, if gold gloves would count for more, than maybe both Mattingly and Keith would be able to make it in easier. Keith did play at Shea, which probably takes away a lot of cheap homers. But, you're wrong when you say Mattingly wasn't considered a power guy, at least in his heyday. He was considered the best lefthanded power hitter in baseball from 1985 to 1987, albeit a short period of time that is the impetus (and a valid one) for your argument. Hernandez was never considered a power hitter, he was just a great gap hitter. A really great gap hitter. It's funny how strongly we both feel about our respective first basemen. I've had this argument so many times in my life. I will say this though. If you look at Mattingly and Puckett, again, using stats, which again, you have to do, they come up even except for one key category - two World Series for Kirby, zilch for Donnie. So if you were to put up Keith's two World Series against Mattingly's zilch, I think it might bring them even in a Hall of Fame argument. But, of course, I have to be partial to my boy. By the way, this conversation is going on my blog. I haven't posted anything on it in a while, and this seems like something worthwhile for it.
Friday, June 25, 2004
Posted by Joe:
I haven't written anything in a while, since May 28 to be exact. So I'm back, the fog is lifted.
Some pop culture? I saw Dodgeball the other night. We laughed until we went pee pee, and then we went pee pee some more. The lowlight of the evening took place when I went to buy popcorn. I told the "clerk" that I'd like "a medium popcorn with extra butter." He gave me the popcorn, but there was no butter on it. When I got back to my seat and realized that there was not any butter on my corn that was poppied, Elizabeth Ann Carney told me that it would still taste good. I didn't really think so, but it wasn't bad.
As we left the movie theater, we passed by a condiment stand that contained a "butter topping" machine. The aforementioned "clerk" had, instead of just telling me, "Sir, the butter is over there," ignored me. So as we walked toward the escalator, I pointed and shouted toward the counter, telling him that he was not a good popcorn salesman. I don't think he heard me, and if he had, he probably would have jumped over the counter and pumelled me to the point where Beth would have had to protect me.
In music news, my roommate Geoff Rand and girlfriend-type individual Beth Carney both purchased the new Velvet Revolver compact disc. All of us like the compact disc, and I even copied Geoff Rand's version of it. The Blog of JoeyScoops' ombudsman, Ryan McDermott, visited me last week, and the jazz expert dubbed the disc "a solid rock record." Combining the voice of Scott Weiland with the music of Guns 'N Roses was a great idea, fo shizzle.
Tonight in Toms River, N.J., the town in which I grew up, there will be a reunion of sorts. Not only have I not seen my friends who still live there in a while, but Jeff Gabbai, who I have not seen in what feels like decades, is up from Miami to hang out. The Beggars Canyon Band will be playing at the historic Aztec bar in Seaside Heights, N.J., and, staying on the topic of history, that is probably what all our livers will be after this night. With the engagement of Remsen Meyer and Hillary Morgan still just two weeks in our rearview mirror, a celebration is in order. And if there is anything that we all know, it is celebrations. Big-time celebrations.
In sports, we have a three-game series coming up between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets this weekend at the Home Office for Beisbol. As many of you have begun to realize in recent weeks, my allegiance has slowly shifted slightly. I kinda like the Mets a little. I would never be able to root for them against the Yankees or anything, but I like that little gashouse gang they got playin' over there. I hope to see Saturday's game with Erin Eileen Bruehl, who I neglected to call back and tell that I did not want to go to the NBA Draft because the Knicks did not have a first-round pick. I think she hates me now, but hopefully she knows that it was just a mistake by an imperfect man. I'm sorry again Erin. Don't hate Scoops. Remember, you are a co-editor!!!
I haven't written anything in a while, since May 28 to be exact. So I'm back, the fog is lifted.
Some pop culture? I saw Dodgeball the other night. We laughed until we went pee pee, and then we went pee pee some more. The lowlight of the evening took place when I went to buy popcorn. I told the "clerk" that I'd like "a medium popcorn with extra butter." He gave me the popcorn, but there was no butter on it. When I got back to my seat and realized that there was not any butter on my corn that was poppied, Elizabeth Ann Carney told me that it would still taste good. I didn't really think so, but it wasn't bad.
As we left the movie theater, we passed by a condiment stand that contained a "butter topping" machine. The aforementioned "clerk" had, instead of just telling me, "Sir, the butter is over there," ignored me. So as we walked toward the escalator, I pointed and shouted toward the counter, telling him that he was not a good popcorn salesman. I don't think he heard me, and if he had, he probably would have jumped over the counter and pumelled me to the point where Beth would have had to protect me.
In music news, my roommate Geoff Rand and girlfriend-type individual Beth Carney both purchased the new Velvet Revolver compact disc. All of us like the compact disc, and I even copied Geoff Rand's version of it. The Blog of JoeyScoops' ombudsman, Ryan McDermott, visited me last week, and the jazz expert dubbed the disc "a solid rock record." Combining the voice of Scott Weiland with the music of Guns 'N Roses was a great idea, fo shizzle.
Tonight in Toms River, N.J., the town in which I grew up, there will be a reunion of sorts. Not only have I not seen my friends who still live there in a while, but Jeff Gabbai, who I have not seen in what feels like decades, is up from Miami to hang out. The Beggars Canyon Band will be playing at the historic Aztec bar in Seaside Heights, N.J., and, staying on the topic of history, that is probably what all our livers will be after this night. With the engagement of Remsen Meyer and Hillary Morgan still just two weeks in our rearview mirror, a celebration is in order. And if there is anything that we all know, it is celebrations. Big-time celebrations.
In sports, we have a three-game series coming up between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets this weekend at the Home Office for Beisbol. As many of you have begun to realize in recent weeks, my allegiance has slowly shifted slightly. I kinda like the Mets a little. I would never be able to root for them against the Yankees or anything, but I like that little gashouse gang they got playin' over there. I hope to see Saturday's game with Erin Eileen Bruehl, who I neglected to call back and tell that I did not want to go to the NBA Draft because the Knicks did not have a first-round pick. I think she hates me now, but hopefully she knows that it was just a mistake by an imperfect man. I'm sorry again Erin. Don't hate Scoops. Remember, you are a co-editor!!!
Friday, May 28, 2004
Posted by Scoops: Tonight in Tampa, Fla., New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera saved his 300th career game. It is hard to compare players from era to era in baseball, or any sport for that matter. But you heard it here: Mariano Rivera is the best relief pitcher in the history of baseball. There is always debate over which pitcher you would want to start the hypothetical game No. 7 of the World Series, and I do not want to broach that topic. But if I were a manager, and you gave me the option of handing the baseball to one pitcher to record one out to win that game No. 7, I would not hesitate to say that my man would be wearing jersey No. 42, and be wearing pinstripes. I guess this is open to debate. Some may say Dennis Eckersley, some may say Tug McGraw. But I want Mo.
Saturday, May 15, 2004
Posted by Scoops: Religion - The Roman Catholic church has some nerve. In a land where a separation of church and state is not only encouraged, but required, men on earth who see themselves as gods are forging new requirements for their congregations.
Yesterday, Michael J. Sheridan, the Bishop of Colorado Springs, Colo., wrote a pastoral letter saying that Catholics in the United States should not receive communion if they vote for pro-choice political candidates. When The New York Times reached Mr. Sheridan for comment, he said, "I'm not making a political statement. I'm making a statement about church teaching."
What the bishop is really making a statement about is the derailment of the Roman Catholic church’s ideology and the attempted marriage between it and a religiously free country, the United States. Religion is, by nature, divisive. This is not to say that there are not beautiful aspects of all religions, from Catholicism to Islam to Judaism. But drawing parallels between the secret ballots of U.S. voters and their public worship is exactly what this country’s forefathers saw as unnecessary.
The saga is not over, either, and it does not just spill into the issues of this country. The Vatican yesterday released an official document discouraging Catholics from marrying Muslims, especially Catholic women who wish to marry Muslim men. “We hope there will be, on the part of our Muslim brothers and sisters, a growing awareness that fundamental liberties, the inviolable rights of the person, the equal dignity of man and woman, the democratic principle of government and the healthy lay character of the state are principles that cannot be surrendered,” the document says.
People are free to do as they want, marry who they want, and eat the body of Christ if they have been so blessed. They should keep doing it.
Yesterday, Michael J. Sheridan, the Bishop of Colorado Springs, Colo., wrote a pastoral letter saying that Catholics in the United States should not receive communion if they vote for pro-choice political candidates. When The New York Times reached Mr. Sheridan for comment, he said, "I'm not making a political statement. I'm making a statement about church teaching."
What the bishop is really making a statement about is the derailment of the Roman Catholic church’s ideology and the attempted marriage between it and a religiously free country, the United States. Religion is, by nature, divisive. This is not to say that there are not beautiful aspects of all religions, from Catholicism to Islam to Judaism. But drawing parallels between the secret ballots of U.S. voters and their public worship is exactly what this country’s forefathers saw as unnecessary.
The saga is not over, either, and it does not just spill into the issues of this country. The Vatican yesterday released an official document discouraging Catholics from marrying Muslims, especially Catholic women who wish to marry Muslim men. “We hope there will be, on the part of our Muslim brothers and sisters, a growing awareness that fundamental liberties, the inviolable rights of the person, the equal dignity of man and woman, the democratic principle of government and the healthy lay character of the state are principles that cannot be surrendered,” the document says.
People are free to do as they want, marry who they want, and eat the body of Christ if they have been so blessed. They should keep doing it.
Posted by Scoops: Sports - Last night in Auburn Hills, Mich., the New Jersey Nets won by 127-120 over the Detroit Pistons in an instantly historic, triple overtime National Basketball Association playoff game.
Little known forward Brian Scalabrine was the unexpected star of the game for the Nets, the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions, who overcame a stunning 45-foot, buzzer-beating, three-point jumper by Piston guard Chauncey Billups that sent the game into its initial overtime.
Not surprisingly in sports, the home of unsung heroes making names for themselves, it was Scalabrine, not Jason Kidd or Richard Jefferson, who made the biggest play.
With the Nets holding a 119-118 lead and the shot clock down to three seconds and the game clock down to 43 seconds, Jefferson found an open Scalabrine in the corner. The red-haired graduate of the University of Southern California launched his fourth three-point attempt of the game just before the shot clock expired. As was the case with his previous three attempts, the ball ripped through the net, giving New Jersey a 122-118 lead, a 3-2 lead in the series, and the chance to close out Detroit on Sunday at the Meadowlands.
In the end, the Nets committed too many turnovers, missed too many key free throws, but most importantly, had too much heart, too much experience, and one too many men who could step up and take the decisive shot.
Little known forward Brian Scalabrine was the unexpected star of the game for the Nets, the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions, who overcame a stunning 45-foot, buzzer-beating, three-point jumper by Piston guard Chauncey Billups that sent the game into its initial overtime.
Not surprisingly in sports, the home of unsung heroes making names for themselves, it was Scalabrine, not Jason Kidd or Richard Jefferson, who made the biggest play.
With the Nets holding a 119-118 lead and the shot clock down to three seconds and the game clock down to 43 seconds, Jefferson found an open Scalabrine in the corner. The red-haired graduate of the University of Southern California launched his fourth three-point attempt of the game just before the shot clock expired. As was the case with his previous three attempts, the ball ripped through the net, giving New Jersey a 122-118 lead, a 3-2 lead in the series, and the chance to close out Detroit on Sunday at the Meadowlands.
In the end, the Nets committed too many turnovers, missed too many key free throws, but most importantly, had too much heart, too much experience, and one too many men who could step up and take the decisive shot.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Posted by Scoops: It is important, in these often journalistically murky times, for a newspaper or t.v. station or Web content provider to have a public editor, a man or woman designated to represent the people who read and trust a publication. In making the decision of accepting Ryan McDermott as "The Blog of JoeyScoops's" official ombudsman, the editorial staff has made an invaluable judgment as to which direction it wants its future to travel. Of course, technically, the editorial staff is just one man, the handsome and friendly dictator of democracy, Joseph J. Checkler. Sure, he has named Erin Bruehl as an unofficial co-editor (and her contributions are invaluable), and he has extended blogging invitations to such talented NYU graduate journalism students as Beth Carney and Rick Andrew Harrison, but this is, by and large, a Checkler operation, much in the way Watergate was an H.H. Haldeman operation.
With one of the more important presidential elections in recent memory coming up, and with perhaps one of the more memorable Major League Baseball pennant races not far behind, interesting and compelling words in this space are paramount. Now, the site has some more credibility, with the Okrent-esque McDermott on its side, or should we say, the other side.
With one of the more important presidential elections in recent memory coming up, and with perhaps one of the more memorable Major League Baseball pennant races not far behind, interesting and compelling words in this space are paramount. Now, the site has some more credibility, with the Okrent-esque McDermott on its side, or should we say, the other side.
Posted by Ryan, the future NYU Journalism drunkard/genius: I am posting in Joe's blog because frankly its boring and needs a wordsmith such as myself to bring it to life. I will be Joe's official ombudsman, the Daniel Okrent of his blog. My handle (posted by...) will be Ryan, Joe's Ombudsman. Fuck you. Stop laughing. I think that it is catchy. First I would like to address the immense sports content in this blog. It is wholly unnecessary that a Yankee fan comment on anything about the true nature of sports, being that all of the Yankee World Series Rings were bought. As a Red Sox fan, however, I do feel obliged to write about whatever the hell I want, because we work for what we get dammit, even if we lose. Second, I would like to applaud Mr. Scoops's powerful use of poetry, especially the first limerick, to convey what a dig Rummy is. And for that matter what a bunch of dick's the Bush administration are. Especially Dick Cheyney. He's a double dick. Anyway, thank you, Joe, for letting my be your ombudsman (you can't spell ombudsman without "bud"). I will serve your public with the respect and integrity that they deserve.
Friday, May 7, 2004
Posted By King Scoops
A series of short poems about Donald Rumsfeld, our Secretary of War (yes, I still call it that when we’re referring to good ‘ol rummington)
There once was a prick named Rummy
He worked for a Prez. who was a dumby
They fucked up Iraq
Now there’s no turning back
And public opinion is crumby
We had a Rumsfeld
He went to Washington
We had a Washington Rumsfeld yeah
He went to the Mideast
He was a barbarian
We had a Mideast barbarian yeah
He left his home in sweet Washington
Left Washington for Baghdad yeah
Okay this one is stupid I’ll stop writing this one now. If someone can finish this one, I’ll give you a-dollar-three-eighty, and if you can figure out what a-dollar-three-eighty is, I’ll trade you two dimes for your nickel.
Back to Rummybashing...
There once was a show on t.v.
Donald Trump was the emcee
If Someone got tired
Don would say “you’re fired”
Rummy is next believe me
There once was this real bad dichotomy
Iraq was free from Hussein but not sodomy
And Rummington stayed away
As our soldiers played like they were gay
It’s time for a Rummington lobotomy
A series of short poems about Donald Rumsfeld, our Secretary of War (yes, I still call it that when we’re referring to good ‘ol rummington)
There once was a prick named Rummy
He worked for a Prez. who was a dumby
They fucked up Iraq
Now there’s no turning back
And public opinion is crumby
We had a Rumsfeld
He went to Washington
We had a Washington Rumsfeld yeah
He went to the Mideast
He was a barbarian
We had a Mideast barbarian yeah
He left his home in sweet Washington
Left Washington for Baghdad yeah
Okay this one is stupid I’ll stop writing this one now. If someone can finish this one, I’ll give you a-dollar-three-eighty, and if you can figure out what a-dollar-three-eighty is, I’ll trade you two dimes for your nickel.
Back to Rummybashing...
There once was a show on t.v.
Donald Trump was the emcee
If Someone got tired
Don would say “you’re fired”
Rummy is next believe me
There once was this real bad dichotomy
Iraq was free from Hussein but not sodomy
And Rummington stayed away
As our soldiers played like they were gay
It’s time for a Rummington lobotomy
Thursday, May 6, 2004
Posted by Joe: Please allow me to add something to Erin's posting for a moment here. Oh wait, I do not need any permission. After all, this is THE BLOG OF JOEYSCOOPS. In a New York Times article today, Lee Jenkins wrote that Piazza's mighty swat reminded people of one huge thing: whose house Shea Stadium really is. It does not belong to Barry Bonds, the man who visits once a year and does not play because of a runny nose. It belongs to No. 31, the pulse of the New York Mets, the man who led them when people were flocking to Queens, and watching their team play in a Subway World Series. As Mr. Jenkins' lede says, "The fans flocked to see one superstar at Shea Stadium last night and wound up celebrating another." As he says one graf later, "Piazza reminded Mets fans why they used to go to Shea regularly, no other inducements necessary." Maybe this team will get to .500, and those inducements will once again be unnecessary.
Posted by Erin: I just wanted to add a note to let everyone know about the historic moment in baseball that I witnessed at Shea Stadium last night. While in line to buy beer, my friend Greg suggested we walk out to watch my Mike's first at-bat. I was skeptical that he was going to hit an HR right then and said we could just watch on TV. But at Greg's insistence, we walked back through the tunnel into the seats. A few minutes later, on a 3-1 pitch, Mike Piazza hit a low-outside pitch over the opposite field fence, an estimated 405 ft for the 363rd HR of his career and most importantly, his 352nd as a catcher - the most by a catcher in Major League history. As he rounded the bases, the theme from "Chariots of Fire" played and the public address announcer said what the 20,000 in the stand already knew: that it was his record-breaking HR. He was saluted with a standing ovation from the crowd, no one there more excited or going more crazy than yours truly. All fans remained on their feet, calling and applauding the new record-holder and calling him out for a proper curtian call. He re-emerged from the dugout and waved to the crowd. The applause only got louder for a curtain call that all baseball heroes should give, especially ones destined for Cooperstown.
Wednesday, May 5, 2004
The question remains, are blogs journalism? I think a blog is journalism if the blogger is a journalist, and I, my friends, am a journalist. Therefore, what you are reading now is journalism. On that note, I have decided to place links to some Checkleristic pieces of journalism here. That way, you can click and have fun. When my creative starches return, I will post some original stuff. But until then...
The best piece of college sportswriting in New Jersey, 2001
A piece about the Beggars Canyon Band from the Asbury Park Press
A piece about fans' favorite courts at the United States Tennis Center
The best piece of college sportswriting in New Jersey, 2001
A piece about the Beggars Canyon Band from the Asbury Park Press
A piece about fans' favorite courts at the United States Tennis Center
Sunday, April 18, 2004
Posted by Joe: Erin, thank you for hopping aboard with a posting. In the future, it would be beneficial for all posters to put a simple "Posted by (Your Name Here)" before each post. But here are my thoughts on yesterday in sports, or more aptly, my personal affiliations with yesterday's sports action.
In short, it was a bad day to be liked by Scoops.
NHL
Although I am a Rangers fan, I hate the Philadelphia Flyers almost as much as I hate non-alcoholic beer. Watching them eliminate the Devils (sorry Livingston boy), a team that is a rival of the Rangers but that I respect, was not my idea of a nice Saturday.
MLB
Not only did the Yankees get bitch-slapped in their hineys by the Red Sox and Curt Schilling, but later on, one of the more reliable pitchers on my fantasy baseball team, Josh Beckett, was left in the game too long against Atlanta and suffered his first loss. Then, I found out that my starting shortstop, Angel Berroa, has been placed on the DL because of headaches. Headaches? They had better be really bad headaches Angel. Really bad. That means that my catcher, Joe Mauer, my ace, Mark Prior, and my shortstop, Berroa, are all on the DL. Ray Durham, my backup 2B, is also banged up. Since I like to see both New York teams do well, it was not much better when I looked up and saw that the Mets lost to the Pirates, by 2-1.
NBA
New Jersey 107, New York 83. Nuff said. This might be a short series for my beloved New York Knicks.
Maybe one of these days, I will post some non-sports content. Yeah, i will.
In short, it was a bad day to be liked by Scoops.
NHL
Although I am a Rangers fan, I hate the Philadelphia Flyers almost as much as I hate non-alcoholic beer. Watching them eliminate the Devils (sorry Livingston boy), a team that is a rival of the Rangers but that I respect, was not my idea of a nice Saturday.
MLB
Not only did the Yankees get bitch-slapped in their hineys by the Red Sox and Curt Schilling, but later on, one of the more reliable pitchers on my fantasy baseball team, Josh Beckett, was left in the game too long against Atlanta and suffered his first loss. Then, I found out that my starting shortstop, Angel Berroa, has been placed on the DL because of headaches. Headaches? They had better be really bad headaches Angel. Really bad. That means that my catcher, Joe Mauer, my ace, Mark Prior, and my shortstop, Berroa, are all on the DL. Ray Durham, my backup 2B, is also banged up. Since I like to see both New York teams do well, it was not much better when I looked up and saw that the Mets lost to the Pirates, by 2-1.
NBA
New Jersey 107, New York 83. Nuff said. This might be a short series for my beloved New York Knicks.
Maybe one of these days, I will post some non-sports content. Yeah, i will.
Saturday, April 17, 2004
Posted by Erin Bruehl: The Red Sox may have won again but as much as I dislike the Yankees, it is hard to think too much of their losses. Ten games into the season and two losses to the BoSox is not going to break the Yanks' season. As my best friend put it one day, that's the beauty of the 162-game schedule - a few games early on are not going to make or break you, in comparison to lose two football games (a la my beloved NY Giants did again and again this past season) and it could mean being shut out of the playoffs. The long schedule is conducive to the best team really winning - the long season balances out. Weaknesses will be exposed by midseason and we'll see how Boston's bullpen holds up... as well as the Yanks' starting rotation...
And we'll see if the Mets can reach .500.... but not if they keep losing to the freakin' Pirates...
And we'll see if the Mets can reach .500.... but not if they keep losing to the freakin' Pirates...
Okay, so the Yankees did not win the game started by Javier Vazquez, as I promised he would. He crumbled in the Fens during the first inning, and New York could never get untracked. So my modified prediction is this:
The Yankees will beat Curt Schilling today behind Mike Mussina, who has saved some of his best career games for Fenway "Pock." I attended two of those games during the 2002 season, and his stuff was filthy (baseball term for "unhittable"). But it does not even approach the game he pitched there in September 2001, when he came within one strike of hurling a perfect game before Carl Everett laced a clean single to left. While a perfect game today would seem highly unlikely, I look for a 4-2 Yankee win behind a two-hit game by Alex Rodriguez (possibly with a home run).
In the other two games, my official pick is this: Jose Contreras will defeat Derek Lowe and Kevin Brown will defeat Bronson Arroyo. Sorry for the modifications, but in the words of Yankees' radio announcer John Sterling, "If you think you've got baseball figured out..."
The Yankees will beat Curt Schilling today behind Mike Mussina, who has saved some of his best career games for Fenway "Pock." I attended two of those games during the 2002 season, and his stuff was filthy (baseball term for "unhittable"). But it does not even approach the game he pitched there in September 2001, when he came within one strike of hurling a perfect game before Carl Everett laced a clean single to left. While a perfect game today would seem highly unlikely, I look for a 4-2 Yankee win behind a two-hit game by Alex Rodriguez (possibly with a home run).
In the other two games, my official pick is this: Jose Contreras will defeat Derek Lowe and Kevin Brown will defeat Bronson Arroyo. Sorry for the modifications, but in the words of Yankees' radio announcer John Sterling, "If you think you've got baseball figured out..."
Friday, April 16, 2004
Tonight is the first night of a 19-game, 2004 dance between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. Rarely is a game held on the third Friday in April visited by as many members of the press as tonight's game will be, but rarely are the two best teams in baseball nestled inside one five-squad division. Rarely are the tensions of even the most bitter rivalries pulled back and forth from the moment the last out of the season is recorded until the moment the first pitchers and catchers arrive for the ensuing Spring Training. This is Yanks/Sox, folks, the reason baseball fans wake up in the morning, the reason baseball fans breathe. My prediction: The series will be split, with the Yankees winning the games started by Javier Vazquez and Mike Mussina, and the Sox winning the games started by Bronson Arroyo and Derek Lowe.
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Beth Carney, 22, who lives in New York, told me that my blog is bland and boring and needs some sparkle. She suggested I post, in this space, my deepest and most disturbing secrets or links to naked pictures of myself. The truth is, while my computer sits in a dingy, Dallas, TX, factory, I am a computer whore who must hop from machine to machine in order to complete assignments for my classes at NYU Journalism School and my job at Thomson Media. When Hewlett Packard mails me back my restructured Pavilion ZT1135 Notebook, I will be able to wow you folks with some perfect prose poised to prove I can plow into your pentium-powered processors with monster truck force. Until then, click on the link below and read the news, fool.
The New York Times
The New York Times
Friday, April 2, 2004
My computer is not working properly. I will not be signed on to AOL Instant Messenger as often as I usually am until the problem is resolved. If you wish to get a hold of me, you should probably call me. Thank you for your cooperation during these tumultuous technological times. When my equipment is back in working order, I will let everyone know about it. Please say a prayer, whether it be to Jesus Christ or some other messiah you worship, that my computer makes it through the day.
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