I Wish The Yankees Could Play The A’s Every Night
Wait. Let me amend that. I wish they could play the game they played tonight over and over for an entire season.
Not that their 5-3 win against Oakland was especially dramatic. It wasn’t a pitcher’s duel. There were no bean balls. Nobody hit a walk-off anything. Well, Brett Gardner did make a sensational catch on Giambi’s deep drive to center in the first inning.
But mostly, it was just a solid effort – from Pettitte’s seven innings to Mo’s efficient ninth (tying the career combo of Welch and Eckersley); from Damon’s homer in his 2000th game to Gardner’s two RBIs and stolen base; from Matsui’s offensive awakening to Cano’s continued consistency. Lots to like about this one – except that my Extra Innings Package forced me to watch the A’s Comcast feed and I was subjected to the two most boring broadcasters on earth.
Somehow, I knew the Yankees would win this game, the way you can sense when it’s about to rain. There was a certain smell in the air even before the first pitch.
O.K., maybe it was the smell of the lavender bushes outside my house, not the Yankees’ victory. It’s extremely hot here in Santa Barbara right now – record breaking – and all the windows are open. What I’m saying is that I felt confident that my team would get the “W,” and it was a different experience than screaming at the TV and doing this.
I was sort of amazed that I could stay calm for an entire game, even when the A’s scored a run off Bruney in the eighth to pull within two. No yelling. No hysteria. No jumping up and down and acting like a psycho.
“Do you think I’m finally maturing when it comes to the Yankees?” I asked my husband Michael, who has the unique ability to watch games and not raise his voice.
“No,” he said without looking up. “I think it’s because of the heat.”
Oh.
I checked the weather forecast for tomorrow in anticipation of CC’s start. It’s supposed to be ten degrees cooler here. I guess that means I’ll be back to my old psycho self.
Confessions of a She-Fan 
Bad broadcasters can really ruin a game. A lot of teams with great announcers often take them for granted and don’t realize that there are a bunch of hacks out there.Russhttp://wight4256.mlblogs.com
I hate when I don’t get to listen to Rem-Dawg and Donny-O call my Red Sox games! Which I don’t get to for Saturday or Sunday of this weekend series against the Yankees! Ugh! Hope it is cooler today – by the weekend we are going to be in the 80s! Very warm for April in Boston.
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
I felt good about this game also. We had some great defensive plays (how about that double play with the bases loaded and no outs!) and we hit pretty well. I feel good about today’s game also. I think the anxiety will return on Friday when we go to Fenway though.
Michael Kay annoys me sometimes, but for the most part I like him and I like the other announcers on YES. I am a little suspicious of Ken Singleton as he was an Oriole for his career, but I like his insights and I think he has a good voice for television.
Well, we’ll see which C.C. shows up this afternoon, right? My two cents on the worst broadcasters: White Sox Ken Hawk Harrelson and Daron Sutton of the Arizona D’backs. Awful, awful, awful. They’re lucky they have Steve Stone and Mark Grace respectively to back them up in the booth, otherwise… I might go psycho (like you 😉
–Jeff
http://redstatebluestate.mlblogs.com/
Solid efforts are good…no stress. And let’s face it, a win is a when, whether it’s dramatic or not!
Shelley
http://diamonddiva.mlblogs.com/
Russ, the A’s announcers (Ray Fosse and Glen Somebody) were decent in terms of calling a game. But they repeated the stuff about the Yankees mystique over and over….the new Stadium….the roll call…the 26 championships…..blah blah. You’d think I’d want to hear all that, but it’s old news. Talk about the game! Tell me something about your team!
Julia, it’s definitely cooler today, thank God. I haven’t checked the schedule for the weekend series against the Sox. I hope Saturday isn’t on Fox because that means I’ll be blacked out – and hell hath no fury like a Yankee fan blacked out of Yankees-Sox.
Cheshirecat, I’m feeling anxiety about the weekend series too (see above), but I’m relieved Wang won’t be out there on Friday. Of course, now it’s Joba I’m worried about.
Jeff, Hawk Harrelson would be a reason to move out of Chicago. Seriously. I don’t think I could take him on a regular basis.
True, Shelley. Who needs dramatic? A win is always good.
Ah yes, a nice workmanlike victory is always appreciated, esp. after all those Home Run Derbys…Jersey Bob said that Teixera made another game-saving type of play…can’t remember a lot of really bad announcers, altho’ the Orioles have had a few since they fired Jon Miller for not being rah-rah enough (!?!)…being long of tooth, I still remember the first announcers I really loved, on NBC’s Game Of The Week: Dizzy Dean and Pee Wee Reese. Old-time country hardball, with a big grin…I was never wild about Bill White, but we got spoiled with Scooter, Mel Allen, Garagiola et al…!
You know, Jane, they make medications to control psycho behavior. 🙂 We are supposed to get unseasonably hot weather this weekend, too. I don’t think I’m ready for temperatures in the 80s yet! Mostly because I’ll have to wear shorts, and the glare from my winter-white legs is very blinding this early in the year! My husband lovingly refers to me as his “pasty white chick”.
Sue
Rants, Raves, and Random Thoughts
I know what you mean about the heat, it’s been the same way down here in San Diego. But it looks a lot cooler today, so I am very thankful for that. Perhaps the heat is affecting my Padres in SanFran as well…
http://kaybee.mlblogs.com
If you have Directv you could have watched the game on MY9. Michael Kay and Ken Singleton were doing the game. Far superior broadcasting going on over there.
Dave, Tex has quietly (well, not so quietly) been amazing at first – a revelation, given the Giambi years. He spears balls like I’ve never seen, makes quick, accurate throws, the whole deal. I think Jon Miller’s great, so I can’t understand why anybody would fire him. He’s a HOF broadcaster. Joe Morgan on the other hand…
Tell your husband that pasty white is “in,” Sue. No more tanning like I used to do back in the day. (Who knew it was bad for you then?)
Weird about the heat, Kaybee. Really oppressive. But it’s gone today and now the marine layer is coming in. I’ll probably complain about that too. 🙂
I can’t get a dish where I live, pooh. I’m way up in the canyons of Santa Barbara and we have very high winds at night. A dish wouldn’t have a prayer up here.
Honestly, some of the Yankee broadcasters are quite bad. I heard Suzyn Waldman once and she was awful and Michael Kay makes me want to throw something at the TV.
I actually know Ken Singleton from his days as the weekend sports guy at WJZ-TV in Baltimore. My brother produced his sports casts. Very nice man with a HUGE World Series ring!
By the way, is that Ozzie Osbourne in a dress?
Ken
Just saw the Jon Miller postings. Idiot Angelos fired him because he wasn’t a “homer.” One of the worst moves ever!! He actually talked with me during the first O’s game I attended at Camden Yards. My friend, who was the sales manager at an all-suite hotel in Downtown Baltimore was friends with some of the O’s front office. They gave us seats directly behind home plate (the left handed batter’s box side) and we were in the 4th row!!! We were sitting with all the scouts and one of them was Jim Frey who used to coach the O’s and manage the Royals. Jon came down to talk to him. I told Jon that it was my first visit (we were living in New Mexico then) and he chatted with me for a while. Such a shame that he’s not still doing O’s games!
Ken
It seems kind of funny now that the most consistent pitcher in the Yankees arsenal was pretty much cast off after 2008 until they knew he could still do the job.
I still think he is the best leftie on that staff, sorry CC, and will pace the pinstripes this year.
Wow, playing the A’s is that great, then thank goodness the Washington Nationals or is that Natinals are in the NL.
I saw today they went to their first replay review in the new stadium over an Oakland HR ( I bet it was to right field).
Rays Renegade
http://raysrenegade.mlblogs.com
Nice story about Miller, Ken. I met him briefly when I was traveling for the book and he couldn’t have been friendlier. I like listening to his broadcasts.
Andy’s been steady, Renegade. No doubt about it. But I think CC will be great for us too. I’m watching the game now and he’s laboring, but he’s keeping us in it. Yes, yesterday was the first replay review and they just had another today when a ball went over Damon’s head into the stands and a fan grabbed it. The umps reviewed the video and determined (rightfully) that it was a home run for Suzuki. Interesting times!
Jane, I bet you are not as calm watching this game as last nights. I know I am neglecting work to watch the gameday box on my computer.
I would like to add Bert Blyleven to your list of awful announcers. If I have to hear about his birthday, that starters don’t go deep enough into ball games, or that the pitcher isn’t ‘keeping the ball down’ (seriously, this is his solution to any and all pitching problems) I will scream. -Erinhttp://plunking-gomez.mlblogs.com
Cheshirecat, I’m going absolutely berserk. Tie game. Bottom of the 9th. And I’m supposed to be on the radio live in a few minutes. Oh, man.
I hear you on Blyleven. He would drive me nuts too, Erin.
That whole maturing thing with baseball. Yeah I had to be mature watching my eyes almost being burned out when the Dodgers took a grand slam out of Dodger Stadium Saturday. Maybe mature isn’t the right word…morelike subdued!
Tom
http://rockymountainway.mlblogs.com
Well since I do not like the Angels, I’d like someone else in their division to win.
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Jane, Do you go to the L.A. Times book festival? I have not seen yet the list of authors that will be there. I try to make it every year so I will be there Sunday
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com/
I sure wasn’t subdued during the Yankees’ extra-inning win today, Tom. Sometimes, it’s just not possible!
Emma, I’ve spoken at the Festival in past years but won’t be there this time. I wish I’d known you two years ago when I moderated a panel. It was a good one. Have fun!
Wish I would have known then too. I have a friend that volunteers every year. I always say I am going to volunteer but I just attend. -Emma
It’s a great event. So many authors and such an enthusiastic turnout. And they give out these big coffee mugs as thank-you gifts!
Jane, I’ve crashed down to earth..the Dodgers have a two game losing streak. EEEEEEK.
http://catlovestheodgers.mlblogs.com
oops. Can’t even spell, I’m so distraught!!
http://catlovesthedodgers.mlblogs.com
Don’t worry, Cat. I’ll talk you down. Ready? It’s only two games. The Astros got lucky. Your guys are still good. Take a DEEP breath. Feel better?