Back Where They Belong

Let's take a walk down memory lane, shall we? The date was May 30th. The New York Yankees were mired in a season long slump. Their record stood at 21-29. They had lost 5 straight and 6 of their last 7. They were 14.5 games behind their hated rivals, the Boston Red Sox. Great baseball minds across the land were writing the Yankees off. People were laughing at the Yankees and their fans. Things were looking grim.
The Yankees were in Toronto. It was the final game of a 3 game series. Johnny Damon stepped into the box and hit a leadoff home run into the right field seats. The Yankees would go on to win the game by a score of 10-5. From that point forward, the Yankees began to play like a new ball club. Over the next several months, the Yankees would amass the best record in all of baseball. With tonight's victory of the D-Rays, the Yankees improved their record since May 30th to 70-38. And with tonight's victory, the Yankees are back where they belong. Back in October. Back where they've been for the last 13 years. And it all started in Toronto. It all started with Damon going yard. Ladies and gentlemen, I give to you, "the ball that started it all:"

This was the HR ball that Damon hit in Toronto. It was his 1999th career hit and 157th career HR. The ball is signed and noted with those stats by Johnny himself.
When it was gut check time, these guys answered the call. Congrats to the Joe Torre and the 2007 Yankees for doing something that nobody thought they could do back in the end of May when they were playing like complete ***. They may not win the AL East, but they can't win #27 if they're not in the "tournament."
But hey, there are still 4 games to play and considering what these guys have pulled off, anything is possible. Until Boston clinches the East, I say we go for it.
Peace, love and Pinstripes.
J

What Not To Do If You Want To Make It In MLB

If there are any promising youngsters out there with aspirations of becoming a big league pitcher, don't look to the Yankee bullpen for any tips, unless of course you want to know how to pitch your way out of a playoff roster spot.
Edwar has given up earned runs in his last 5 outings, Bruney has given earned runs in 5 of his last 6 outings. And Karstens. Not counting the game he got knocked out of, he's given up earned runs in 5 of his last 6 outings. You guys sicken me. Congrats fellas. Your season ends in 5 days.
J-Boogie

And The Noose Gets Tighter

I went to a casino tonight (won a C-note) and was driving back (about an hour drive) when both the Yankees and Red Sox games were in the 6th innings. It was a great ride home. I was flipping the channels on the XM back-and-forth with literally every pitch as both games were running neck-and-neck. The drive couldn't have ended any sweeter. Mo nails down the save and Papelboner gives up a Grand Salami. Yankees win and are now 1 loss back of the Sox. The best record in baseball? Gone. Home-field advantage in the playoffs? Gone. The supposedly insurmountable 14.5 game lead? Gone. Granted, there is still a week plus left of baseball, but if you think there's any chance that the Sox can get their act together, you're kidding yourself. They're pretty lucky Detroit is doing so poorly.

Peace, love and Pinstripes.
J-Boog

Here Come The Yankees!!!!

Can you hear the footsteps? I say, can you hear the footsteps? CAN YOU HEAR THE ******* FOOTSTEPS??? If you can't, I highly suggest you get yourself a Miracle Ear because the sound is deafening. 2 games back in the loss column. I say, 2 games back in the loss column. Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.
We're coming to get'cha Sox Nation. I can feel your collective booties shaking way over here. Here come the Yankees! Crank up the speakers and sing it with me!
J-Boogie

I'm Baaaaaack!

First off, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the comments they left regarding the birth of my son. I appreciate them all. He likes to cry, but other than that he's doing great. I'm running the vacumn cleaner right now to quiet him down. It calms him. But again, many thanks for all the comments. It means a lot. I also want to apologize for my prolonged absence, but I'm sure you can all understand why I've spent the last several weeks away. Babies are fun, but lots of work. Who knew?
I can sum up my feelings about tonight's come from behind win in 2 words: eff yeah! Many thanks to Terry Frankandbeans for totally mismanaging the Sox bullpen. Love ya T. The so-called "greatest relief" tandem in baseball wasn't so great tonight. Okajima and Papelboner got lit up. How great was it to see Papalebon get ripped for the loss. Awesome. Totally awesome. Or better yet, it was wicked awesome. I like dem apples.
It was good to see the offense spring to life in the 8th. Hopefully it kick starts them back into high gear for the final stretch of the season. I was in Toronto for the Yanks/Jays series and the Yankee bats were definitely cold those final 2 games. It was painful to watch them lose the last game. But I knew as soon as Chris Britton took the mound that they were going to lose. I told my buddy Dan's girlfriend that they were done. 5 pitches later, they were. I was more ticked at Melky for tanking the fly ball of the bat of the Big Hurt in the first. That ball was totally catchable. I could have seen my first no-hitter. Kennedy looked great. He's a keeper. God bless Cashman for having the sense not to trade him or Joba for the likes of Gagne.
It wasn't a bad few days on the autograph front. My haul was Joe Torre, Don Mattingly, Robinson Cano, AJ Burnett, Mariano Rivera, Chien-Ming Wang, Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon. I had Johnny sign the HR ball from his 2000th hit game back on 5/30. He was nice enough to add "Hit #1999, HR # 157" to the ball. I just missed out on getting autos from Jeter and Roger Clemens. I missed both by mere seconds. Maybe next time. I'm sure Roger has another go 'round in him.
4 back in the loss column with 2 more to play against the Sox. Not a bad place to be. Especially with Wang and Clemens throwing. Tomorrow's matchup of Wang v. Beckett may just decide the Cy Young race in the AL. My money is on Wang.
It's good to be back. Peace, love and Pinstripes.
J-Boogie