XXVII

I was 30, 30 years old the last time the New York Yankees, the most prolific team in sports history, won their last World Championship.  I’d only been hitched for 3 years, kidless, still living in Atlanta, heck, I used to wear suits and ties in those days (yuck). 

Nine years.  Nine years is a long time!  And what a year.  This team was a blast to watch.  They were a true team.  Sure money helps but you still have to play and win as a team.  The chemistry on this team this year was amazing.

Congratulations New York Yankees for winning number 27!!!

Yankees Win!!!

NY, NY, Game Two of the 2009 World Series

I wasn’t supposed to go but when a friend of mine from Atlanta said he was coming up, well I certainly wasn’t going to back out.  I had realized I’d not been to a World Series game since Games 4 and 5 of the 1996 World Series.  Game 4 was the one the Yanks down two games to one and down 6-0 in the game, stormed back thanks to a 3-run home run off the bat of Jim Leyritz that sailed over my head and out in left field to tie that game at 6 with the Yanks winning 7-6 while Andy Pettitte closed down Fulton County Stadium with a 1-0 gem.

So when Arum said he was coming up, well c’mon, I gotta go right?  There was only the matter of tickets.  In comes Stub-Hub but not without the large price-tag to go along with it.  Oh well.  So be it.  Only live once and as long as the result wasn’t as bad as the previous game’s 6-1 drubbing to the Phils Ace Cliff Lee, well, this had a shot at being a great game.  It was Pedro “Who’s your Daddy” Martinez versus Mr. (ahem) Clutch AJ Burnett. 

We ate at the Hard Rock before the game thanks to Arum’s connection there was no wait.  We proceeded to watch batting practice and even went down to monument park, where I said hello to Thurman.

#15, Thurman Munson

It was the first time in my life visiting monument park.  We proceeded to our seats and the first three innings were quiet as the Phils held a 1-0 lead.  Mark Texiera pounded a home run and it was followed up a couple innings later by Hideki Matsuii’s solo shot giving the Yanks a 2-1 lead.  An insurance run later, Mariano sealed the victory.

As I write this, the Yanks are up 3 games to 2 and are back in NY tonight for Game 6.  Thought about going, but $600 seems a little steep.

 

Coldspring, NY

When we lived in Atlanta, and especially in Los Angeles, we always ensured we did the touristy things.  We’d ensure if there was something to do within 30 miles of where we lived, we did it.  I’ve had people telling me they’ve lived in LA for 30 years and haven’t done the La Brea Tar pits, or an Angels/Dodgers game, or the Getty, or Griffith Observatory, LA Zoo etc.  So in coming back to New York, especially upstate, we’ve set our sites on ‘doing stuff’ especially on nice crisp fall days.  The destination last weekend, Cold Spring, NY.

I’d read from another blog (of all places) about Cold Spring.  I’d never been, in spite of growing up only 30 minutes from there and frankly probably couldn’t have found it on a map if need-be.  But I’d read it was an antiquing town, somewhat historic and all in all, we found it to be a nice drive.

The temperatures were in the upper 50’s, so it made for a nice fall day.  We’d parked near the train station and ate at a restaurant right by there.

The Depot in Coldspring, NY

The food was above average, although the service was a tad slow.  Didn’t seem the waiter wanted to be there.  I reflected as such on the gratuity and we moved on.  We walked down to the train station (because Shane wanted to) and he enjoyed the trains flashing by. 

Train tracks in Cold Spring, NY

So we moved on to the shops in Cold Spring and it really is an antiquing town.  The main stretch must have about 20 shops if not more.  Although some of the items could assuredly be labeled as junk, I suppose one man’s garbage is another man’s fortune. 

Mainstreet in Coldspring, NY

We didn’t find any junk to put in our home, figuring we likely have enough junk as is.  We’re finally 95% unpacked so it’s nice to have a somewhat junk free home.

The afternoon wrapped up with a nice ride home where Thing 1 passed out and Thing 2 wasn’t too far afterwards.  Worth a drive to this town on the Hudson River.

Safe, out, fair, foul, strike, ball…

The umpiring this post season has been absolutely horrible.  The only positive for a Yankees fan is that more than half of these calls have gone their way.  But as a fan of the game, it’s unacceptable to see these major league umpires, the best of the best, making such poor calls.

What is even worse is when they do a makeup call.  Nick Swisher gets nailed on a pick off play clearly by the Angels, yet is called safe.  He makes it to third later in the inning with only one out and seemingly scores when he tags from third on a deep fly ball to center.  The Angels appeal and they call Swisher out, when clearly replays show the 3rd base umpire McCleland looking to centerfield to view the catch (and not on the tagging runner’s foot to see if he left the bag early).

Fortunately, it doesn’t appear any of these poor calls have cost either side a game….yet.

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Addendum to my post….

Tim McClelland did it again! This is not borderline ridiculous…it is ridiculous!!!!!!

Situation: One out in the top of the fifth inning, ground ball back to the pitcher, who throws home; Posada’s caught in a rundown and the Angels catcher runs him back to third. Cano moved from second to third on the play. But when the catcher finally neared Posada at third, he noticed that Cano was — for some unknown reason — standing flatfooted a few feet off the base. Catcher alertly tags Cano and then turned back to tag out Posada, who was experiencing yet another similar lapse of judgment on the other side of the bag and foul line.

Memories of Dale Berra and Bobby Meachum both getting thrown out in tandum at home rebouns, but Umpire McClelland, despite standing just a few feet away and having the entire debacle right in front of him, only ruled Posada was out. Cano was welcome to third??????????

This is absurd!!! Here’s what McClelland had to say about the play after the game:

“On the play with Cano and Posada, I thought Cano was on the base. I was waiting for two players to be on the base, and when there was never the situation where both of them were on the base at the same time. When he tagged Cano, I thought Cano was on the base, and when Jorge touched the base and continued and tagged Posada out, I thought Posada was out …

“(The replay) showed that Cano was off the bag when he was tagged. I did not see that for whatever reason …  I’m just out there trying to do my job and do it the best I can.” 

That McClelland’s mistake was minimized by the subsequent out by Melky Cabrera(notes) — the Yankees scored no runs off the snafu — is irrelevant.   

Where does it end???  Instant replay?  Ugh.

Yankees win,….the……..Yankees win!

Just plain exciting.  The post season ARod needed thus far….let’s hope it lasts!

Yankees Win!!!!!!!!!

Playing like doo – poker

Wow, nothing like a cold run of cards to bring in the fall and wintery weather.  Played a NL200 tourney last night in Ossining and I was the bounty since I’d won the previous tournament two months ago.  This can be both good and bad as people target you to win $100 if they bust you; however, getting called down by hands like Q3 diamonds when you go all in with JJ can be tough (we chopped the pot both with 8 high straights, nice).

But playing short for four hours isn’t my idea of fun, but it’s an exercise in patience, the patience one needs to win a larger sized tournament.  My last hand I shoved with A,10 off, and called by two guys (pocket 6’s and J,9 clubs from a huge stack).  Hit my ace, but a six spiked the flop and I was done. 

Compounded it a little by playing awful poker in the cash game, so hit a little rut.  Will try to pound my way out with a poker league event today www.hvpl.net

One year back in New York

Yesterday was our one year anniversary back in New York.  This year as packed as it was, was still less disruptive than the previous 12 months.  The previous twelve months consisted of having a baby, moving from LA back to Atlanta, packing again and preparing to move to New York, buying a house, trying to sell our Atlanta home as well.  The financial markets tanked, and we were fortunate enough to sell off some of our stocks at somewhat of a mitigating loss in order to buy our current house.

October 2008 was crazy with the move into town, getting Shane set up with ‘pre-school’ and hiring a nanny for both kids.  Evan was only 3 months old and Mindy also started work literally the next day after we arrived with me being here for the movers.  The holiday season saw us unpacking and getting used to the cold weather and being near family.  December had me visit Atlanta for the last time to testify in a frivolous lawsuit my old company was involved in, suing a consultant that pilfered a client.  If nothing else, it made me wonder about the legal system.

And it took until nearly spring for us to dump the Atlanta house to ungrateful buyers who (and I can’t blame them) took advantage of the great buyers market, but only after I dumped $15K into the old house. 

Spring and summer saw us starting to breathe again and successfully finishing our basement and being able to entertain.  It’s been nice to do the latter and relax a little rather than stressing.  The business stayed in business and ran surprisingly well.  Times are still tight but to be still in business is a good thing.

So we sit here, 12 months after our return to the northeast.  The next 365 days no doubt will be interesting I’m sure with Shane in Kindergarten and Evan continuing to grow like a weed.  We’ll have a new nanny soon so that’ll be a new adventure as well.  Winter is upon us and another holiday season.  This one is shaping up to be one we can simply enjoy as a family, hopefully stress free and void of chaos.  But then again, you never know where life’s going to take you and what chaos will come upon you….thus, why I blog.

Nor’easter? It’s October!

It’s bad enough I was in Costco a few weeks ago and noticed Christmas stuff already out.  Yes, really.  It seems that earlier and earlier each year the Xmas decor comes out just a tad earlier.  Over the last few falls, it’s become common-place for Saint Nick and the gang to poke their heads out around Satan Day while the kids are tricking and treating.  Perhaps Labor Day should be the new Thanksgiving.

But much to my surprise, seeing the forecast yesterday for possible snow this evening and meteorologists calling for what could be the first nor’easter since I’ve been back.  It’s already been a wacky 12 months since we’ve been back (officially one year ago today we moved in).  The summer was cool and damp, and last winter from the locals account was one of the coldest in years past.

Trick or treat….this seems to be a trick.  Fire up the heat, winter’s-a-coming quite expeditiously this year!

Postseason, well my baseball season; going out on a roll

Wrapped up the 2009 baseball season this morning with a 8-4 defeat.   Doesn’t sound all the impressive; heck we lost.  But at least I went out on top playing my best game of the year.  I came in relief of our manager/pitcher who clearly did not have it today.  He gave up 8 runs in 2 2/3 innings.  Ugh.  How he stayed in to give up 8 runs in a playoff game is beyond me.  It wasn’t my call but  I’m thinking 4-0 should’ve been it.  You cannot get behind 8-0 and realistically give yourself a chance to win. 

I was summoned from 2nd base which I wasn’t pleased with quite simply because I wasn’t warm.  I literally just threw the ball over and got out of a bases loaded jam.  I came in warmed up and proceeded to throw five additional scoreless innings of 2-hit ball (0 walks, 3 K’s).  I was pleased to go out in this manner.  To top it off, I happened to go 4-4 at the plate, comprising 4 of my teams 10 hits on the day.  They hit me second….ha, second!  Needlesstosay, we need to get some new blood on this time.  As much as I love hitting, c’mon, I shouldn’t even be in the lineup and if so, hitting where a pitcher should hit.

Oh well, ball’s over with the exception of the Fall Classic in Tampa/Clearwater come November.

When is AQ no good on a AAQ board…

….yes, that was me from what I thought to be a very solid hand for me.  Until the guy betting into me on the flop, turn, bets a nice chunk of change as the river brought the King….which happened to make his full-house Aces full of Kings beat my Aces full of Queens.  Seriously!