Beatles Yankees tribute, #1: Reflections on a 12-game winning streak
… Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup They slither wildly as they slip away across the universe Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my opened mind Possessing and caressing me
… Jai guru deva, om Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world
… Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes They call me on and on across the universe Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letterbox they They tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe … Jai guru deva, om
Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world
… Sounds of laughter shades of life are ringing Through my open ears inciting and inviting me Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns It calls me on and on across the universe … Jai guru deva, om
Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world … Jai guru deva
If we beat Oakland three out of four, I'll be very happy. If we sweep, I'll be impressed and very happy.
Once we get past them, 3 with the Angels--really, should win all of those-- 3 with Baltimore--should win all of those-- 4 with Toronto--hmm, 3 out of 4 would be good-- 3 with the Mets--lolololol-- 1 with Minny--oh, this is getting too funny-- 3 more with Baltimore--jeez Louise-- 3 with Cleveland--might be toughish-- 3 with Texas--yawn-- 3 with Boston--in Fenway, 2 out of 3 ain't bad-- 3 with Toronto--tough bastards, still-- 3 with Tampa--these may or may not be important by then, first days of October
We should win 20-25 out of 32. Might even do a little better.
Let's say 20 and a split this weekend. That would get us to 97 wins. That's a lot. The Rays' schedule isn't exactly brutal, either, perhaps very marginally tougher but only perhaps.
Still, we can catch those guys. Not that we will. But we can.
—Split this weekend. —2 from the Angels —2 from a revived Baltimore —Split with Toronto, which always seems to play us tough. —2 from the Metsies. Yeah, they're folding but they always play us like the World Series. —Take the Minny Make-up. —3 from Baltimore the second time, okay, maybe. —2 from Cleveland. —3, maybe, from Texas. —1, only, in Fenway. —1 from Toronto, second time.
That would leave us with 96 going into the final Tampa series, and how that goes...depends on where we are. If we're stuck in the first wild-card spot, say, we'll let it slide. If there's a chance to take the division, we should go for it.
All of this wildly optimistic, I know. Still...Nothin's gonna change my world!
JM, 20 of 32 down the stretch would be a .625 winning percentage. C'mon Man, you're really losing it now. We only play 6 of those game against Baltimore. Maybe if we had 15 or 20 left with Baltimore, but no, we do not. Only 6. You know the bullpen is gonna blow another 4 or five games at least. We'll be lucky to hold onto the last wild card and then the inevitable early exit to watch the WS in our off season.
This team is dreadful and is only setting you up for heartache. And probably a nasty case of the clap too.
Do not get sucked in. 12 game win streaks happen every century.
Leave him alone, Win. When the inevitable crushing defeat happens (as it surely will), we need to be here for him. He's going to need a support group and maybe a 24-hour suicide watch.
We don't catch Tampa and are forced to play a one game playoff against an inferior Boston Red Sox team who barely made the wild card and are 5-7 games behind us in the standings.
Despite 6 strong innings by Cole and a perfect 7th and 8th by Greene and Johnny L. we are tied 2-2 as we enter the top of the ninth.
Even though Johnny L. retired the Sox on eight pitches...
The 9th the inning goes to Chappy. Because he's the closer.
Chappy walks two guys and gives up a three run bomb to Devers. We go down Stanton K. Gallo K. Sanchez K.
and the season is over.
Tell me I'm wrong. (Please, someone tell me I'm wrong because the plausibility of the above just made me depressed.)
Hey, what were all the predictions made awhile back about how many of the remaining games we'd win from that point on? I can't recall how many games were left at the time. I said we'd win 32, but can't remember the other guesses.
Dick, I will always be here for you and JM and bitty and Hoss and of course El Duque and all of the Commentariat. Even Doc Olu. But I have an obligation to point out when one of us has a more severe break with reality than usual. That's usually a pretty freaking high bar. But optimism? About this team? Time to intercede. Get the tranq gun and the big butterfly net.
(Buck's Puckered Hemorrhoids can have crippling herpetic whitlows for all I care. )
This current hallucination has me all bunched up. I can’t tell what is real and what is false.
I have been informed the Yankees have a spectacular, MLB-leading record in one run games and yet have blown 23 save opportunities. If these numbers are correct, then this current winning streak is bound to fall on its face at some point and bring us all down to reality.
I was much happier when late inning leads were melting like the Rangers in Arlington. I just don’t want to imagine that the genius of The Brain and the steady hand of Booooone are responsible for this unprecedented turnaround. Can’t possibly be.
I’m tuning in tonight and keeping my pepto close at hand.
As a resident of northern Calfornyah - and a devoted Yankee fan - I was able to attend last night's game in Oaktown - seated a mere row or two behind the Yankees dugout where Mr Kaboone should have been found for nine innings leaning against the sewage stained concrete pillars that make up the visitor's dugout at the oakland-alameda, network associates, mcafee, overstock.com, o.o, ring central coliseum. Seats which would have cost a few thousand bills in the Bronx, were only ten dollars here if we agreed to purchase 3 $18 souvenir beers and touched a poster of Billy Beane's face as we passed through the turnstiles. Just after Kaboone was thrown out of the game in the second and forced to wade chin deep into the clubhouse -(https://finance.yahoo.com/news/oakland-coliseum-reaches-new-low-dead-mice-soda-machine-231456403.html) - I decided to google the name of the home plate umpire (TODD) and call him out by name for the rest of the game. Bad calls were met with variations of COME ON TODD! WHERE WAS THAT TODD? TODD ARE YOU LISTENING? GREAT JOB TODD!!!!! TODD????? TODD!!!!!!!!!!!! After an inning or two - other fans of both teams in the same section began calling TODD out on his funky strike zone as well his creepy/weird habit of gently placing his fingertips on top of the small of the catcher's back for almost every pitch, presumably for balance and, uh, comfort, but it really was just kind of gross. We know that TODD heard us. We are happy we won in Oakland - which honestly hasn't happened that much over the last decade. Thanks for listening.
Lemon, you move me. I just got into bed and checked the score. I will caution you all: this is how heartbreak and finding out you have genital herpes in more than one orifice starts. They indescribable joy followed by the painful humiliating crusted visible sores. With the achey fever. Because only something you love totally can hurt you so deeply and infect you so thoroughly.
They didn't hurt me WinWarb - they sorta celebrated my joyous and playful rant against that human wonder bread as I was silently hoping that one of the two catchers would snap up after a pitch and say KEEP YOUR TODD FINGERTIPS OFF OF MY BACK you sick, talentless hack! But that never happened. Just the continued fingertip caress of awkward sadness and fear
And to think of all of you who wanted to "give Stanton away for nothing". GEE, I wonder if letting a young, healthy athlete stay loose by running around would have a carryover effect on his swing. As opposed to working to stay loose.
Kevin, you speak the truth. I had given up on Stanton as a fragile, incredibly overpaid disappointment. Letting him play the OF has made all the difference.
Fuck yes. In a heartbeat. I’d even pay half his salary - all you need to do is give me two AA scrubs with little potential and you got yourself a deal.
All these pundits talk about is how hard he hits the ball. I personally don’t give a fig for any of that rubbish. Stanton? On the next bus out of town!
And the Yankees are fortunate: in between tomato cans we’ve caught two decent teams (the Sux and now the A’s) in the doldrums. Both teams were and are experiencing slumps when we got to them.
Good timing and good fortune. Long may it continue.
Dick, you make my pessimism seem like a Disney movie. But I don't understand the idea of giving Stanton away. I have a feeling that Stanton and Judge will start playing without the so-called "chronic injuries". Neither has been handled correctly. These aren't guys full of scars and arthritis.
I'd trade DJ before Stanton. Stanton is having a bit of a renaissance so I don't hate him as much currently. DJ has looked stagnant and old this season, less and less effective each month.
Timing is always everything. And while I thought it was a good idea to get Stanton originally, I certainly turned against him and hated him with the white-hot fury of a thousand suns.
Really, after he pulled himself out of the 2019 ALCS, I actively loathed him.
I don't mind that he's a streaky hitter. Most hitters are, and power hitters especially. I minded that he couldn't stay in the damned lineup.
Now, it SEEMS he can. Yoga? Playing the field? Who knows—but if he can keep staying out and keep hitting anything like this, all right, I will tip my cap and call Cashman my daddy. But let's see.
Green hasn't been "Green" for a couple of weeks, at least. Going to the well..... I remember when Mo blew a WS finale. Held his head up, and calmly explained that players aren't "machines". Public should remember that.
The Yankees now have so many good hitters in the lineup, and with their pitching they should never go into a prolonged skid. IF healthy. And give me The Squid over Torres through the playoffs. His overall game is better, the team can afford whatever offense MIGHT be lost from Torres.
I’m happy that Stanton has had a few good games. Let me see him do that for a few years and I’ll be willing to sing his praises. He’s played all of 147 games in the last three years. Talk to me in 2024.
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Beatles Yankees tribute, #1: Reflections on a 12-game winning streak
ReplyDelete… Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup
They slither wildly as they slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my opened mind
Possessing and caressing me
… Jai guru deva, om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
… Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes
They call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letterbox they
They tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe
… Jai guru deva, om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
… Sounds of laughter shades of life are ringing
Through my open ears inciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on across the universe
… Jai guru deva, om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
… Jai guru deva
If we beat Oakland three out of four, I'll be very happy. If we sweep, I'll be impressed and very happy.
ReplyDeleteOnce we get past them,
3 with the Angels--really, should win all of those--
3 with Baltimore--should win all of those--
4 with Toronto--hmm, 3 out of 4 would be good--
3 with the Mets--lolololol--
1 with Minny--oh, this is getting too funny--
3 more with Baltimore--jeez Louise--
3 with Cleveland--might be toughish--
3 with Texas--yawn--
3 with Boston--in Fenway, 2 out of 3 ain't bad--
3 with Toronto--tough bastards, still--
3 with Tampa--these may or may not be important by then, first days of October
We should win 20-25 out of 32. Might even do a little better.
Let's say 20 and a split this weekend. That would get us to 97 wins. That's a lot. The Rays' schedule isn't exactly brutal, either, perhaps very marginally tougher but only perhaps.
Still, we can catch those guys. Not that we will. But we can.
I'd love to see it, JM.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking more:
—Split this weekend.
—2 from the Angels
—2 from a revived Baltimore
—Split with Toronto, which always seems to play us tough.
—2 from the Metsies. Yeah, they're folding but they always play us like the World Series.
—Take the Minny Make-up.
—3 from Baltimore the second time, okay, maybe.
—2 from Cleveland.
—3, maybe, from Texas.
—1, only, in Fenway.
—1 from Toronto, second time.
That would leave us with 96 going into the final Tampa series, and how that goes...depends on where we are. If we're stuck in the first wild-card spot, say, we'll let it slide. If there's a chance to take the division, we should go for it.
All of this wildly optimistic, I know. Still...Nothin's gonna change my world!
Last time the Yanks had this long of a winning streak...in 1961 they won 13 straight games...
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThere is an awful lot of faith expressed above in 2 of the previous 4 posts.
You might also consider making a Novena to St. Jude.
He is, you know, the Patron Saint of Hopeless Causes.
. . . Or so they taught me a long, long time ago.
[by the way, I am actually a devout atheist]
JM, 20 of 32 down the stretch would be a .625 winning percentage. C'mon Man, you're really losing it now. We only play 6 of those game against Baltimore. Maybe if we had 15 or 20 left with Baltimore, but no, we do not. Only 6. You know the bullpen is gonna blow another 4 or five games at least. We'll be lucky to hold onto the last wild card and then the inevitable early exit to watch the WS in our off season.
ReplyDeleteThis team is dreadful and is only setting you up for heartache. And probably a nasty case of the clap too.
Do not get sucked in. 12 game win streaks happen every century.
ReplyDeleteLeave him alone, Win. When the inevitable crushing defeat happens (as it surely will), we need to be here for him. He's going to need a support group and maybe a 24-hour suicide watch.
Remember: it is the hope that kills you.
Here's our future...
ReplyDeleteWe don't catch Tampa and are forced to play a one game playoff against an inferior Boston Red Sox team who barely made the wild card and are 5-7 games behind us in the standings.
Despite 6 strong innings by Cole and a perfect 7th and 8th by Greene and Johnny L. we are tied 2-2 as we enter the top of the ninth.
Even though Johnny L. retired the Sox on eight pitches...
The 9th the inning goes to Chappy. Because he's the closer.
Chappy walks two guys and gives up a three run bomb to Devers. We go down Stanton K. Gallo K. Sanchez K.
and the season is over.
Tell me I'm wrong. (Please, someone tell me I'm wrong because the plausibility of the above just made me depressed.)
Doug K.
Doug, you're wrong.
ReplyDeleteBut damn if it isn't entirely plausible.
Hey, what were all the predictions made awhile back about how many of the remaining games we'd win from that point on? I can't recall how many games were left at the time. I said we'd win 32, but can't remember the other guesses.
Joe FoB,
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I'm a devout heterosexual.
Shamelessly stolen from an old friend.
Dick, I will always be here for you and JM and bitty and Hoss and of course El Duque and all of the Commentariat. Even Doc Olu. But I have an obligation to point out when one of us has a more severe break with reality than usual. That's usually a pretty freaking high bar. But optimism? About this team? Time to intercede. Get the tranq gun and the big butterfly net.
ReplyDelete(Buck's Puckered Hemorrhoids can have crippling herpetic whitlows for all I care. )
For the record, I'm not devout about anything other than good food and drink, fast cars, good preferably sexy company and the Yankees.
ReplyDeleteI just keep drinking. If this crazy dream comes to an end, I shall drink more. And if it comes true, I'll drink even more than that.
ReplyDeleteJM,
ReplyDeleteAn infallible plan of action.
This current hallucination has me all bunched up. I can’t tell what is real and what is false.
ReplyDeleteI have been informed the Yankees have a spectacular, MLB-leading record in one run games and yet have blown 23 save opportunities. If these numbers are correct, then this current winning streak is bound to fall on its face at some point and bring us all down to reality.
I was much happier when late inning leads were melting like the Rangers in Arlington. I just don’t want to imagine that the genius of The Brain and the steady hand of Booooone are responsible for this unprecedented turnaround. Can’t possibly be.
I’m tuning in tonight and keeping my pepto close at hand.
I played the YES app pick-em tonight for the first time. In the unlikely event I guessed right down the line, that's 25 grand.
ReplyDeleteAs my wife said, I can't lose anything, which is more than she can say about other things I do with our money.
As a resident of northern Calfornyah - and a devoted Yankee fan - I was able to attend last night's game in Oaktown - seated a mere row or two behind the Yankees dugout where Mr Kaboone should have been found for nine innings leaning against the sewage stained concrete pillars that make up the visitor's dugout at the oakland-alameda, network associates, mcafee, overstock.com, o.o, ring central coliseum. Seats which would have cost a few thousand bills in the Bronx, were only ten dollars here if we agreed to purchase 3 $18 souvenir beers and touched a poster of Billy Beane's face as we passed through the turnstiles. Just after Kaboone was thrown out of the game in the second and forced to wade chin deep into the clubhouse -(https://finance.yahoo.com/news/oakland-coliseum-reaches-new-low-dead-mice-soda-machine-231456403.html) - I decided to google the name of the home plate umpire (TODD) and call him out by name for the rest of the game. Bad calls were met with variations of COME ON TODD! WHERE WAS THAT TODD? TODD ARE YOU LISTENING? GREAT JOB TODD!!!!! TODD????? TODD!!!!!!!!!!!! After an inning or two - other fans of both teams in the same section began calling TODD out on his funky strike zone as well his creepy/weird habit of gently placing his fingertips on top of the small of the catcher's back for almost every pitch, presumably for balance and, uh, comfort, but it really was just kind of gross. We know that TODD heard us. We are happy we won in Oakland - which honestly hasn't happened that much over the last decade. Thanks for listening.
ReplyDeleteThe app is sponsored by FanDuel and the pregame by Draft Kings. Conflict? I'll take that bet.
ReplyDeleteLemon, your story has touched my heartstrings.
ReplyDeleteYa hear that, TODD?
It's nice to see so many optimistic folks on the thread...oh sorry, I'm posting on the wrong thread...
ReplyDeleteBTW I started the evening with this...
ReplyDeletehttps://beerconnoisseur.com/beer/grey-sail-brewing-rhode-island/captains-daughter
Urp.
ReplyDeleteFat Boy Mikey said the Yankees are 33-11 since July 6th. Am I mistaken or is that a .750 winning percentage?
Is that true? Because it's nuts.
Stanton hits home runs with smooth grace. Voit has the big kick and cartoon muscles and adolescent celebratory stuff afterward.
ReplyDeleteIt's like Fred Astaire and a sumo wrestler.
Just you wait ranger, when that 9th inning rolls around and Chapo comes in, all the optimism will die.
ReplyDeleteA Judgean blast!!!
ReplyDeleteLemon, you move me. I just got into bed and checked the score. I will caution you all: this is how heartbreak and finding out you have genital herpes in more than one orifice starts. They indescribable joy followed by the painful humiliating crusted visible sores. With the achey fever. Because only something you love totally can hurt you so deeply and infect you so thoroughly.
ReplyDeleteDo not let your guard down.
I'm serious Lemon. That was wonderful.
ReplyDeleteDon't let them hurt you.
They didn't hurt me WinWarb - they sorta celebrated my joyous and playful rant against that human wonder bread as I was silently hoping that one of the two catchers would snap up after a pitch and say KEEP YOUR TODD FINGERTIPS OFF OF MY BACK you sick, talentless hack! But that never happened. Just the continued fingertip caress of awkward sadness and fear
ReplyDeleteOooohh the phrases of disgusted anger. So sweet. So tart. So Lemon?
ReplyDeleteAnd to think of all of you who wanted to "give Stanton away for nothing". GEE, I wonder if letting a young, healthy athlete stay loose by running around would have a carryover effect on his swing. As opposed to working to stay loose.
ReplyDeleteMost of the Doom and Boone came from our manager, as I recall. And Ca$h.
ReplyDeleteKevin, you speak the truth. I had given up on Stanton as a fragile, incredibly overpaid disappointment. Letting him play the OF has made all the difference.
ReplyDeleteI am very happy to have been massively wrong.
Trade 30MM over the next SEVEN FUCKING YEARS?!?!?
ReplyDeleteFuck yes. In a heartbeat. I’d even pay half his salary - all you need to do is give me two AA scrubs with little potential and you got yourself a deal.
All these pundits talk about is how hard he hits the ball. I personally don’t give a fig for any of that rubbish. Stanton? On the next bus out of town!
And the Yankees are fortunate: in between tomato cans we’ve caught two decent teams (the Sux and now the A’s) in the doldrums. Both teams were and are experiencing slumps when we got to them.
ReplyDeleteGood timing and good fortune. Long may it continue.
That mound visit did absolutely no good.
ReplyDeleteI think we know who's getting sent down when Kluber comes up
ReplyDeleteDick, you make my pessimism seem like a Disney movie. But I don't understand the idea of giving Stanton away. I have a feeling that Stanton and Judge will start playing without the so-called "chronic injuries". Neither has been handled correctly. These aren't guys full of scars and arthritis.
ReplyDeleteI'd trade DJ before Stanton. Stanton is having a bit of a renaissance so I don't hate him as much currently. DJ has looked stagnant and old this season, less and less effective each month.
ReplyDeleteGhost of Hoss here.
ReplyDeleteTiming is always everything. And while I thought it was a good idea to get Stanton originally, I certainly turned against him and hated him with the white-hot fury of a thousand suns.
Really, after he pulled himself out of the 2019 ALCS, I actively loathed him.
I don't mind that he's a streaky hitter. Most hitters are, and power hitters especially. I minded that he couldn't stay in the damned lineup.
Now, it SEEMS he can. Yoga? Playing the field? Who knows—but if he can keep staying out and keep hitting anything like this, all right, I will tip my cap and call Cashman my daddy. But let's see.
Damn, I've been pining for Cashman to pickup Harrison for a couple of years now. He scares the shit out of me. Good all-around player.
ReplyDeleteGhost of Hoss, I totally get you.
DJ is having a bad year, which means he's better than average defensively and mediocre at the plate. Not bad, but not the RBI machine we're used to.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kevin about the Twin Towers. Very badly handled until now.
Joely Richardson sucked today and Green's overuse has taken its toll. That's not good.
Green hasn't been "Green" for a couple of weeks, at least. Going to the well..... I remember when Mo blew a WS finale. Held his head up, and calmly explained that players aren't "machines". Public should remember that.
ReplyDeleteOk, there's a Green I can live with.
ReplyDeleteHey, where's Mr. Pleasant? Hell, he's coming off his Pizza Palace shift.
ReplyDeleteThe Yankees now have so many good hitters in the lineup, and with their pitching they should never go into a prolonged skid. IF healthy. And give me The Squid over Torres through the playoffs. His overall game is better, the team can afford whatever offense MIGHT be lost from Torres.
ReplyDeleteI’m happy that Stanton has had a few good games. Let me see him do that for a few years and I’ll be willing to sing his praises. He’s played all of 147 games in the last three years. Talk to me in 2024.
ReplyDeleteLOL, wait for it!
ReplyDeleteWe’ve caught the A’s at their worst. Another routine win.
ReplyDeleteLive long and prosper!
Good night all! Let’s do this again tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteGood night all, may the good wins be yours!
ReplyDeleteWoke up a few mins ago...we didn't blow the lead!
ReplyDelete