Catching Up & Some Book Reviews

There hasn't been much to blog about in the last few days. I could have come on and wrote yet another post about Mark Teixeira, but I've been there, done that. There really isn't much more to say. The Angels have apparently pulled out of the deal and I still think he's going to Boston. It sounds like the Yankees are/were deciding on who to pursue, Teixeira or Manny Ramirez? It sounds like they're going after one of them, and unfortunately I think they chose Ramirez. I fully expect Teixeira to sign this week, maybe as soon as tomorrow. Manny won't be far behind. Hopefully, this will all be wrapped up by Christmas. Moving on....

I recently finished 2 Yankee book. The first was "The Greatest Game: The Yankees, The Red Sox, and the Playoff of '78" by Richard Bradley. I started reading it back at the beginning of the 2008 season and something always seemed to pull me away from it. Finally, some 8 months later, I finally finished it. I didn't love the book. Didn't hate it either. It was good, but not great. It was basically the same book as Buster Olney's "The Last Night Of The Yankee Dynasty" only about 20 years earlier. The book was pretty much exactly the same. Each chapter chronicled one half-inning of the game while including a detailed story about one of the major players involved, which was the formula that Buster used for his book. Buster's focused on game 7 of the 2001 World Series. This book had to do with the 1-game playoff between the Yanks and Sox back in 1978. You know, the Bucky F'n Dent game. I thought the strongest and most memorable chapters were the ones centered around Bucky Dent, Carlton Fisk, and Thurman Munson. The rest of the book, though interesting, was a little forgettable. Basically, what it boils down to is if you liked Buster's book, which I did, there's no reason you won't like this one. Same goes if you're a Yankee fan and enjoy reading about the past.

I also recently (today) finished "Yankee For Life: My 40-Year Journey In Pinstripes" by Bobby Murcer and Glen Waggoner. My wife and son got this for me for my birthday and I couldn't wait to start reading it. I've always been a fan of Bobby's and was extremely saddened by his death and this book was a great way to reflect back on his great life. The book was at times hard to read, but only because reading is difficult when you have tears in your eyes. The book drew me in and made me feel like I was part of Bobby's inner-circle. When he wrote about getting the news of his brain tumor, or what it was like going through the tests, surgery, and post-op procedures, I felt like I was right there with him. The charm of the book is that it's written as if Bobby is talking directly to you. It felt like I was sitting in a room, one-on-one with Bobby, and he's telling me all these stories about his life. I enjoyed how he had his wife Kay interject with her thoughts when the topic called for it. I thought that was an interesting dynamic. Two of my favorite parts were when Bobby's children, Todd and Tori, had a little write-up about what it was like being a clubhouse kid. Both mentioned how they were awed by little Kenny Griffey and his athletic prowess. I thought that was kind of funny. Anyone that ever saw Bobby play or listened to him on Yankee broadcasts will enjoy the book. I highly suggest that if you haven't read the book yet, you check it out. You're sure to love it.

It's been snowing here pretty much non-stop since Friday. I was outside shovelling/snow-blowing the driveway 3 times today and I'm sure I'll be out there again come morning. It's intensified a little bit over the last hour or so and I don't think it's supposed to stop. I'm not a fan. With any luck, I'll wake up tomorrow and my driveway will be miraculously spotless. I think the odds of that happening are better than waking up and finding out the Yankees signed Mark Teixeira. One can dream, can't he?

Peace, love and Pinstripes,

J-Boogie