Ouch

Got in the batting cage at Upton Hill Regional Park in Falls Church tonight after getting my swim on. The pool was crowded like nobody's business, which I guess is good for the open water part of my triathlon training. I can still drill my underwaters (swimming from one end of the pool to the other on one breath) like nobody's business.

After my swim, I headed over to the batting cages. The one I chose had a token in the return slot, so I used it. Like 60 swings later, the machine was still pitching off of that same token.

At first, I felt like Mike Piazza or Joe Mauer with my dedication in the cage, but then my hands started bleeding through my batting gloves and I decided that this wasn't fun anymore.


Dedication or Stupidity?

Hey, there is one school of thought (endorsed by at least one Yankee) that might help heal my hands:

In a recent interview with ESPN's Gary Miller, Chicago Cubs outfielder Moises Alou revealed that during baseball season he urinates on his hands to toughen them up. Alou, one of the few major leaguers who doesn't wear gloves while batting, is backed up by Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, who says, "You don't want to shake my hand during spring training." (ht: slate)

If you see me, be sure to play it safe and give me a fist bump.

Yanks Commemorate Lou Gehrig

While the Yanks still haven't quite figured out ticket pricing, they're still a first-class organization in a variety of ways. Here's footage of a unique interpretation of my favorite speech of all time, shown prior to Saturday's game on this commemoration of Lou Gehrig Day--not far from the location of the actual Lou Gehrig Day-- at the (new) Big Ballpark in the Bronx.

Note: A big thanks but no thanks to mlb.com and their embargo on embedding their proprietary video. Nice job Bud et. al.

Housekeeping

I know this video is a few days old, but make sure you watch the whole thing. I can't think of a better example of fatherhood and Yankee fandom than this fine piece of amateur film:



Morganobrien.com UPDATE: It's been a few days since I last posted (so sue me, I moved, calm down). To all the pervs looking up "Kate Gosselin's Bust Measurements" on Google, just stop. You're freaking sick.


Via Deadspin

As if Bernie Williams Needs Further Vindication...

At my first duty station, I had the opportunity to work with an incredibly difficult colleague. I was shocked that in a professional workplace, adults didn't necessarily act their age. To help me deal with this person, I'll never forget the lesson my folks taught me: "Morgan, if you think they're an asshole, odds are everyone else does too."

I was reminded of this in the sad/unconscionable case of former Yankee Mel Hall.

(Mel)Hall taped "Mr. Zero" to the top of Williams's locker to signify that he meant nothing to the team. One day Hall nearly brought Williams to tears by saying, "Zero, shut up," every time Williams tried to speak. The more Williams tried, the louder Hall interrupted with repetitive chants of "Zero."

- Birth of a Dynasty, Joel Sherman

Let's look at the stats.
Bernie Williams: five all star games, four gold gloves, one batting title, and four championships
Mel Hall: zero.

And now,
Mel Hall: 45 year sentence for an incredibly egregious sexual assault conviction against a minor.
Bernie: Still a fan favorite.


Disgrace to the Pinstripes

It's funny how in life, the bad guys are so often exposed as truly bad and the good guys are almost always vindicated in being good guys. The Yanks cleaned house in the early 90's and developed into a franchise that epitomized character, class and a championship pedigree. Mel Hall became an example of the old guard that needed to go in order for the franchise to return to glory.

While I feel terrible for the victim in the case (12 at the time, TWELVE!), here's hoping the prison system lives up to its remarkable tendency to ensure that scumbags like Mel Hall get their comeuppance.

The House that George Built

I hate when people give human qualities to inanimate objects. I think it's a literary crutch. However, after attending my first game at Coors Field East the new Yankee Stadium, I can't help but feel that by building this magnificent structure, my favorite ballclub also sold its soul.

The Stadium is great. Terrific site lines (I mean incredible), wide aisles, cushioned seats, lack of garbage stench, short lines for a wide variety of concessions (Nathans, Brother Jimmy's, and we had some noodle thing...I still miss the chicken fingers from the old ballpark). But I couldn't help but think that the quirks that made the old ballpark almost unbearable for the fans, also provided a distinct advantage for the players on the field.


Not the Same
I recognize that familiarity brings a level of comfort and for my entire baseball viewing life, I've only known the old ballpark. Perhaps for that exact reason, last night's game felt artificial--like some sort of exhibition that one would catch in the Grapefruit League or during a meaningless September game in Seattle.

For most of the game, the ballpark was eerily quiet. I recognize that Tampa's Jason Bartlett lead off with one of those all-too-familiar wind tunnel shots out to right field, but there wasn't much life for the first few innings. Finally, when the Yanks put together a mini rally in the 4th, there was some life amongst the Bronx faithful. However, where the old Stadium used to rock, the buzz just wasn't the same.


We'll hang your banner, O'Neill, but stay away from the clubhouse
Noted acoustics expert Dr. Michael Francesa spoke on his radio program yesterday that the cushioned seats might absorb some of the sound. And considering the fact that there weren't many butts in those cushioned seats on the park's lowest level, I guess this is feasible. But hey, they have waiter service for those seats. The fact of the matter is that either the fans weren't hyped up (entirely possible) or that the Stadium doesn't channel the same juice as the old place.

The field itself definitely evokes the old ballpark, and there's nothing like hearing Bob Sheppard's voice over the public address when leadoff hitter and Yankee captain Derek Jeter steps in the box. The friese/facade is a nice touch. However, as has been well documented elsewhere, the fans don't sit on top of the field as we used to in the old Stadium, and lose a little of that Roman Colosseum

I didn't have a chance to see Monument Park 2.0, I'll have to get there eventually. The retired numbers in left field were kind of tacky, as were the wall listing the 26 world championships garnered throughout the pinstripers storied history. And there is no lacking for advertising plastered all over the fence and scoreboard.

I did sneak a peak at section 103, where we were supposed to be assigned. I have to admit that they were awesome seats, right next to the Yankee bullpen. It would have been a real treat to watch Mo warm up night in and night out. Unfortunately, the seats were a thousand miles from where my old man sat for nearly three decades. And I don't think I mentioned that the Yanks quoted us one price for the seats before coming back with a 25% increase citing an "administrative error". I can sleep easy knowing that we were smart to avoid the $20,000 investment.


Field of Nightmares
Mrs. Morganobrien.com and I headed out in the 5th (it's a long way back to the Island), so I didn't have to suffer the indignity of watching Mariano give up back-to-back dingers in the 9th (something he had never done in 800+ appearances). And that's probably good, as I would have turned into Sam Neill in Event Horizon and cut my eyeballs out.


Liberate tute mae ex inferis
It's going to take a long time, decades even, to regain the home field advantage earned over eighty years at what was once described as "Baseball's Home Office." And that's a shame. I like the new ballpark, but I loved the old place.

Why I'm Rooting for the Rays Tomorrow Night

Tomorrow, I will venture north to the Bronx and visit the imposter Yankee Stadium for the first time. I'm excited and will of course review my experience on this very blog.

While I anxiously anticipate my return to Bronx baseball, I go with some trepidation. I've often lamented the many ways the Yanks have put me into this love-hate tailspin since earlier this year.

And then there's this (from Bob Raismann's column in the Daily News):

The latest episode came during the weekend series with the Angels. Paul O'Neill, a revered former Yankee, now an analyst for the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network, was asked by security to leave the indoor batting cages, where he was watching Yankees hit, prior to one of the games.


The Warriors Collide
A security guard told O'Neill, the man George Steinbrenner called "warrior," he could not loiter in the area. O'Neill had another reason to be perturbed. Security would not allow his wife, Nevalee, into the Stadium "wives room." She was told by security it was for "current" wives only.

Think about it. Here's O'Neill, a guy who bled for the franchise, trying to prepare for a broadcast. Not only is he told to take a hike, so is his wife. O'Neill was not the only broadcaster ejected from a part of the Stadium over the weekend. (link)

You raise my ticket prices and move us to the outfield...fine. You play like an bunch of dogs and get punked by the BoSox...I'll learn to deal. But you screw with my hero and his wife--I've had enough.

When I returned from the war, I gave Pauly my unit coin at a golf outing in Dayton. He said he'd use it as his ballmark. A few years later, my brother-in-law asked Pauly if he still had it and sure enough he remembered me. O'Neill said that people busted his chops about using such a large ballmark though. That's a hero for you.

So there you have it. Let's go Rays! (I'm still going to have to get over how pretentious Joe Maddon is, though)

Visiting Citi Field

Soon after President Obama took office, it was announced that his first overseas visit would not actually go overseas, but to Canada. This was newsworthy because everyone tries to read into the president's every action. Maybe he chose Canada because he wanted to underscore the importance America places on our neighbor to the north. Maybe he chose it because it was closest and easiest to pull off a dry run. There's no right answer--it is what you make of it.

With two new ballparks opening in New York this year and with my insatiable interest in visiting as many ballparks as possible, it was only a matter of time before I saw the Yanks and Mets play in their new digs. Like the president, the only question that remained was which ballpark would I visit first?

As a lifelong Yankee fan, the answer seemed clear--or did it. After deciding to drop our tickets, and seeing the new Yankee Stadium cram decidedly less than capacity crowds over the first homestand of the season, there are still some raw nerves between the O'Briens and the Yanks.


In Front of Guido Central Station

So on Saturday, I ventured with Mrs. Morganobrien.com to Citi Field, home of your 2-time world champion New York Mets.

A number of my friends and family were shocked that I'd go to Citi before the new stadium, but to me it was a no-brainer. Once I stopped dropping a month's salary on my Yankee tickets, I became less invested in the franchise. And after watching the Yanks' piss-poor performance at Fenway this weekend, I can't say that cutting the cord was a bad choice.

Don't get me wrong, I still love the Yanks. When I'm overseas, I'll follow them as my favorite team. But now I consider myself more a baseball fan who favors a specific team than a die-hard Yankee fan that also enjoys baseball.

A quick review of Citi--Upon arrival, the manpower at the ballpark left a lot to be desired. The ticket agents were less than helpful, the security guards held up our line, the program salesman couldn't understand the questions we asked him and the cashier at Nathan's ran out of register tape and held up the line. Not quite as efficient as I'd like. There are still some kinks in the system.

That said, THEY HAD A NATHANS! Citi Field also boasts Blue Smoke and Shake Shack, which are definite plusses. Also, there's nothing like a fresh, new ballpark with a clean, retro look to really put you in the game.

Our seats were in the Pepsi Porch, which provided a nice view of the field (although deep fly balls to right field were not viewable from our perch). And I know he was a Dodger, but the Jackie Robinson Rotunda was a pretty sharp tribute to and American hero.

One other thing I noticed was that the Met fanbase was very Long Island/Queens. I don't know if this was a plus or minus, I just thought it warranted mentioning. For reasons I don't truly comprehend myself, although I'm a Long Islander by birth, I never really considered myself a Long Islander. I also could never see myself rooting for the Mets. Ever. (In related news, I also could never root for the Red Sox).

Ed. Note: I realize that last sentence just ended my ambitions to become an elected official from the region.


Behind Enemy Lines

In all, Citi Field is a nice ballpark. I think it stacks up alongside many of the newer ballparks (still stopping short of the Camden Yards and PNCs of the world), but I also think it's a little too antiseptic and fails to stands out. There were no signature views of any skyline, and as important as the Rotunda is, it's no Monument Park.

I'm interested in seeing Yankee Stadium, and comparing the two. Unfortunately for my heart, I have a feeling it won't even be close...

Empty seats force Yanks, Mets to discuss prices

This made my day and broke my heart at the same time.

Empty seats force Yanks, Mets to discuss prices

Posted using ShareThis

This is upsetting

The Yanks really have me on an emotional roller coaster this year. They're up and down on the field and I've documented how I'm torn over our whole ticket situation. Thankfully, it looks like the Pinstripe brass is learning the harsh realities of picking the worst time ever to build a $1 billion-plus baseball palace (see photo below, we're voting with our feet/butts):


Plenty of seats to go around

And then I read this, and this is almost the last straw. Stuff like this also helps me fully understand why there were only like 350 people at the A's game Wednesday:

As anyone who’s tried to sit in the bleachers for batting practice at the new Yankee Stadium could tell you, the Yankees are serious about making sure you have the proper ticket for the proper area of their new digs. (On YES, Paul O’Neill had even commented that he was turned away from the Yankees clubhouse because he didn’t have his credentials on him.) But this is going too far: Over the weekend, unofficial fan mascot Freddy Schuman (better known as Freddy “Sez,” of colorful sign-and-frying-pan fame) was denied entry to Yankee Stadium.

In the past, Schuman, 83, had either received tickets from a sponsor (like Modell’s) or was simply allowed to enter through the press gate. Which makes sense: He’s a stadium mainstay, and doesn’t occupy a seat anyway. (When we were at Fordham, where he occasionally would bring his pan to basketball games, he’d get the red-carpet treatment: press pass, lunch in the press room, the works.) He was even allowed entrance on Opening Day, through the press gate as usual. But all this weekend, he was turned away by stadium security.

So Freddy was forced to beg for a ticket, holding a sign that read “I can’t go in. Must buy ticket!” which is the saddest Yankee Stadium image we can possibly imagine. Luckily, fans came through by giving him tickets — costing upwards of $100. The Yankees chalked it up to “miscommunication,” which it better be. Because otherwise, we’re ready to trademark “The Curse of Freddy ‘Sez,’ ” which would clearly bring the Yankees decades, if not centuries, of bad karma in their new stadium.

Me and Freddy in Happier Times

The Yanks swung and missed here (what a stupid pun). First, he doesn't sit down during the game, he's walking around the whole time (not that the Yanks aren't hurting for empty seats--against the A's yesterday, it looked like Tropicana Field circa 2002).

Second, the guy's a freaking part of the experience, and it was always fun to see Freddy come around our seats in the 7th inning. Of course, if we ended up in the seats that the Yanks offered, who knows when he'd get out to right field.

Finally, give us some credit for being savvy here in New York. If we feel that you don't respect us or that you think we're suckers, we're going to tell you where you can stick your new stadium. In this economy, the suits better be careful--their failure to recognize realities already generated a season's worth of bad press six games in. Time to start treading lightly and let Freddy in.


From NY Magazine via NY Post

I wish I Knew How to Quit You: 2009 Yankees

First, I want to apologize for not writing in about 10 days. I'll be better. Promise. And now, back to our regularly scheduled program:

I came into the 2009 baseball season apathetic. Towards the end of last year, it was tough to watch a $200 million payroll spit the bit like a bunch of choking dogs and frankly my interest was only held by the fact that they were closing Yankee Stadium. Enter this year and for a variety of reasons, I'm not a huge fan of the transition to the new Yankee Stadium. We'll get to that later.


Dykstra 2.0
But over the first week-plus of the season, I began keeping tabs on the Yanks with a passing interest. Soon, I found myself falling back in love with the Pinstripers all over again. The moment that solidified it for me was when a smiling Nick Swisher pitched a scoreless inning (registering a k) of mop-up duty on the wrong end of a 15-5 drubbing at the hands of the Devil Rays. All of a sudden, the all-business Yanks became fun again. (It should also be noted that the Yanks won the two subsequent games and took the series from last year's best home team).


Cy Young Buzz?
Since the retirement of Paul O'Neill, I've been searching for a guy that I love to follow. As a young man, I admired O'Neill's intensity and Irishness, but I guess I've mellowed in my old age. Watching Swisher enjoy playing baseball and bring levity to the Yankee clubhouse is fun. I won't even hold it against Swish that he's a Buckeye.

I first learned of Swisher reading Moneyball, where A's GM Billy Beane loved Swisher's laid back attitude and approach to the game, comparing him to Lenny Dykstra (which might not be the best comparison). I wish I enjoyed my job as much as Nick Swisher does--I'll live vicariously for now.

But the rest of the roster also has me excited. Watching CC Sabbathia and AJ Burnett and Andy Pettite pitch relatively well so far has been great too (although Wang's got me worried). Watching Robinson Cano get off to a hot start has been a relief, too.

I recognize that we're going to enter a lull eventually, Swisher's hot start will cool off and Cano will get into the inevitable slump. If Wang gets batted around and CC has some more clunkers, that'll stink. Let's not forget that right now, they're only one game over .500. But I think the attitude the team takes to the ballpark each day has won me back. Maybe there is something to this concept of clubhouse chemistry. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the pending return of A-Rod.

One last point, I was listening to the latest BS report podcast and have to agree with Bill Simmons and Jack-O when they discussed how great baseball is to have on in the background, and great to have every day. You know what, baseball really is great for that. I guess that's why everyone was so upset when Harry Kalas past away. Because, as smug as John Sterling is, when he retires or steps up to the press box in the sky, I'm going to miss the conceited guy. He's been a part of virtually every spring, summer and fall day in my life for more 20 years.

2009 Season Preview (late edition)

I know we're nine games into the season, so I have an unfair advantage in making my picks. So sue me, I live in my mom's house and blog:

AL
Yanks
Texas
Oakland
Tampa (wc)

NL
Mets
Cubs
Dodgers
Marlins(wc)

Yanks over Oakland
Tampa over Texas
Yanks over Tampa

Dodgers over Mets
Cubs over Fla
Cubs over Dodgers

Yanks over Cubs

AL ROY
David Price
Runner up: Matt Weiters

NL ROY
Emilio Bonifacio

AL Cy Young
Mariano Rivera
Runner up: Nick Swisher

NL Cy Young
Josh Johnson

AL Manager of the Year
Joe Girardi

NL Manager of the Year
Joe Torre

AL MVP
Evan Longoria

NL MVP
David Wright

All's Not O-Kay with ESPN Radio

SVP Plays Hardball

I'm a huge Scott Van Pelt fan--he's on my all-time semi-famous dudes I'd love to hang out with list. Unfortunately, Deadspin reports that last week he was suspended for going off on baseball commissioner Bud Selig's $18.5 million salary.

Van Pelt declined to comment on the incident, passing it along to ESPN media relations, who "do not comment about personnel decisions." The story, passed along through several people, was that Van Pelt's rant about Selig was "too personal" for some of the ESPN bosses — comments about his slovenly appearance, something about a "pimp cup" — which led to the suspension. Van Pelt, reportedly on his own volition, called Selig to apologize and was in agreement that his statements were a little harsh.

Even before pitchers and catchers report this year--and mostly thanks to A-Rod, with more than an assist from Joe Torre--baseball's earned some dubious headlines, especially in the New York press (see NY Post's creative headline):


I want to be a headline writer

Speaking of the New York media and ESPN Radio, I'm curious as to why SVP gets a timeout for having an opinion while Michael Kay of New York's ESPN 1050 and his litany of conflicts of interests and axes to grind apparently don't matter to the Worldwide Leader.

- Kay is an employee of the New York Yankees (He works for the YES Network as the lead play-by-play man in the booth), a team he covers on his program.

- He openly dislikes Joe Torre on a personal level--a fact he's recently discussed on his program with Bob Costas in light of Torre's recent book release. (Adding insult to injury, Torre also snubbed Kay on the book's media blitz)

- And we're four years past it, but Kay was on A-Rod's payroll at a December, 2004 event at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square for a signing event (oh by the way, Barry Bonds was also there). Shortly thereafter, Phil Mushnick of the New York Post had some choice words about the event, which I was thankfully able to uncover:

In December (04), you might recall, Kay, on his ESPN Radio show, advertised and endorsed an autograph session that would star Alex Rodriguez and that paramount of baseball virtue, Barry Bonds. Kay also seemed mighty proud of the fact that he had been selected — hired — to host that session. And the cost of admission was only $7,500 per person.

And when Kay took heat in this column for lending (leasing) his name, presence and reputation to such a pig roast, he didn’t take it well. He hollered that he was comfortable with his decision and loudly rationalized that the Rodriguez/Bonds gig would pay him more for one night’s work than sportswriters “make in a week!

We made the point then; we’ll make it again. You can’t hop on the greed train, then make believe it was an accident, that you tripped and fell up a flight of stairs.

When Kay accepted that ugly gig — and he had enthusiastically voiced commercials for high-priced autographed stuff prior to that — he painted himself in. For whatever his financial take, it wasn’t worth it; there would be too many times when he’d either have to ignore the tidal wave of greed — and no credible sports commentator would do that — or grow inured to his hypocrisy.

It would be hard enough to believe that Kay was unbiased when discussing Torre and A-Rod considering his role as Yankees announcer. Knowing that in 2004, Kay made more in a night that most sportswriters make in a week thanks to A-Rod, how can listeners be totally assured that Kay's opinions regarding the tainted slugger are not prejudiced(Hint--they are)?

I would imagine that the two arguments ESPN would present in support of Kay would be:

- Kay's paid for his opinion, or
- Kay's local (as opposed to SVP's national show), so it's different

I know that life's not fair, but these cases strike me as particularly egregious. For starters, Van Peezy's also paid for his opinion, and I know I'm out of uniform, but I still despise the different spanks for different ranks argument.

I should point out that I really like Kay, and think he calls a terrific game. I also enjoy his radio program and subscribe to his Podcast. Truth be told, I don't mind that he has an opinion.

The fact of the matter is ESPN is locked in an 8-year, $2.4 billion deal with Major League Baseball, so attacking MLB's chief executive on ESPN airwaves presents a conflict of interest. Ergo, the suspension.

So all things considered, I guess I'm late to the party. Consider me the billionth observer to come to the realization that when it comes to journalistic integrity, ESPN can not be viewed as a reputable outlet.

Free SVP!

Our New Seats at Yankee Stadium

We received word yesterday from the Yanks about our seat reassignment. Mind you, Morganobrien.com Jr. has had seats at the big ballpark in the Bronx since 1976, when I was not yet around. And after I arrived on the planet, sent to Earth from Krypton by my father Jor-El, I've only known the ballpark on the corner of River Ave and 161st St. as baseball's home office.


Our Seats in the Old Stadium: Section 220
Third base line, behind the plate

So here's the deal:

- In the old ballpark, we were on the 3rd base side of home, about 20 rows off the field
- In our reassigned seats, we're in right field, Section 103, Row 13, Seats 21-24:


We'd be four rows back, right next to the bullpen

- Our tickets in the old ballpark included access to the exclusive Pinstripe Pub and cost $85/per seat.
- The new ballpark does not have a Pinstripe Pub equivalent and the seats cost $100/pop.

(Ed. note- I'm not even going to go into the economy argument here, but the price increase--while mitigated by 5 less games--still stings).

- The old plan provided 46 dates, none on the weekend.
- The new plan provides 41 dates, alternating games. So we get Opening Day* and a bunch of weekends. Our best sellers on StubHub last season were Boston and the NY Mets. Under the new plan, we only get 4 Red Sox games, but 2 of the Mets games.

As a life-long Yankee diehard, it goes without saying that I'm conflicted about what we should do.

Last year was terrific. I was back home after 10 years and was able to give the old ballpark a last go 'round. I went to an All-Star game and saw Josh Hamilton DESTROY the Home Run Derby. While they failed to reach the postseason, by all accounts, 2008 was a fitting sendoff for the old place. And for obvious reasons, I don't feel the same affinity towards the new place.

And as for the new seats, call me a Paul O'Neill fan but I like looking my right fielder in the eye. Staring at the back of the player manning that hallowed ground just wouldn't feel right.

One final factor is that I figure to move to DC this summer, putting a cramp in the flexibility of my StubHub prowess and the Acela won't get me to the Bronx by gametime on weeknights.


Our location in the New Yankee Stadium, Right Field


I can only imagine the joy my old man would derive from conversating with Manny Delcarmen as he manned the seat right next to the visitor's bullpen

So tell me, friends and family what should we do? Should we renew? Your comments are appreciated (serious comments only, please).

*It should be noted that the Chicago Cubs will play the Yanks in an exhibition before Opening Day

Shots of the New Yankee Stadium

Via diamondhoggers come a bunch of new photos of the New Yankee Stadium (including a few that I cherry picked below). I'm going to miss the old place, but these pictures indicate that the new park will be first class.

Now they just need to send us our seat locations!











Hat tip: Diamondhoggers

My old lady could so do this...

Congrats to newest Yankee wife, Leigh Teixeira, who found $180 million reasons to coax her husband into playing first base for the Yanks. I'm also proud to say that Mrs. Morganobrien.com so could have done this interview, although I have to admit, I'm still a sucker for a Southern accent.

New Rules for Veterans and Saluting

Over the next week, I'll pepper these pages with important information about veterans. Don't forget that next Tuesday is the 11th day of the 11th month.

(Ed's Note:This Veterans Day, I'm registered at Amazon.com and Neiman Marcus, for those of you keeping score at home.)

Here's some interesting news on new rules for saluting, which you might find handy at Yankee games...

10/31/2008 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Veterans and servicemembers not in uniform can now render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem, thanks to changes in federal law that took effect in October.

"The military salute is a unique gesture of respect that marks those who have served in our nation's armed forces," said Dr. James B. Peake, secretary of Veterans Affairs. "This provision allows the application of that honor in all events involving our nation's flag." (link here)

Warning: Do not confuse these new regulations with how you're supposed to act during God Bless America at Yankee games:

Come on, Joba!

Considering how hard Morganobrien.com is on drunk drivers, I was troubled by reading of this news about one of my favorite Yanks today:

Yankees' pitcher Joba Chamberlain arrested in Nebraska on DUI charge
BY DORIAN BLOCK
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Gutierrez/AP

Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain was arrested early Saturday morning in Nebraska for driving under the influence of alcohol, the state patrol said.

The 23-year-old starter - with a wholesome reputation - was driving southbound on Highway 77 in Lincoln, Neb., his hometown, at 1 a.m. when a trooper pulled over his dark-colored 2006 BMW for speeding, said Deb Collins, a spokeswoman for the Nebraska State Patrol.

Before I go on: he's innocent until proven guilty, but it is noteworthy that he's already apologized for his error in judgment.

Moreso than his beloved status as an on-field standout for the pinstripes, I admire Joba as a role model for the Native American community.

Native Americans are an incredibly underrepresented--damn near forgotten--ethnic group. For every success story coming out of the reservations, there seems to be dozens of tales of woe and misery.

The hardscrabble lifestyle that comes with tribal life is only underscored by the challenges of alcohol that American Indians face. Just this summer, USA Today reported that nearly 12 percent of Indian deaths are alcohol related. Compare that to about 3.3 percent of all Americans. While there is no evidence of a universal genetic predisposition of American Indians to alcoholism, there at least exists some significant research into the the issue.

In recent years, prominent Native Americans like Chamberlain, Boston Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury and golfer Notah Begay have earned a national profile thanks to their respective athletic prowess. Begay and now Joba have both run afould of the law thanks to alcohol-related incidents, with Begay serving significant jail time as a consequence.

And if you don't think that American Indians can use role models, take a look at this profile about Ellsbury's heroic return home after winning a world championship with the Sawx in 2007:

Ellsbury, widely believed to be the first Navajo player in major league history, was born and raised in this small farming town in the Oregon high desert. His mother, Marjorie Ellsbury, moved here from her home in Arizona to become a special education teacher for the nearby Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs.

Here she met Jim Ellsbury, a forester for the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, and they raised four sons, of which Jacoby is the oldest. He is an enrolled member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes in Arizona.



"I'm really proud of Jacoby, coming out of the Navajo Nation," said Ken Man, a member of the Warm Springs tribes who called the radio play-by-play of Ellsbury's high school basketball games. "He could have been in the NBA, too, he's that good." (more)

Charles Barkley talked about never asking to be a role model, and in the vein, Joba may not have asked for that status, but he's inextricably tied to his heritage (any Yankee fan worth their salt can tell you about Joba's dad, Harlan and the tough road he's hoed). And while he's in his early 20's (23) and bound to commit typical youthful transgressions, here's hoping that he can find the silver lining from this experience and use his example so that others--specifically those that look up to him--don't fall down this path.


Joba and dad, Harlan
The New York Times did a nice piece on this very issue, highlighting what Joba means to his fellow Winnebagos:

In his flat-billed Yankees cap that always seems a half size too big, with an arm already rated somewhere between fable and holy, Joba Chamberlain has all but passed through a dream catcher. In essence, he is a dream come true for American Indians who have been forever marginalized by cultural fatalism and outside bias, forever freighted by historic atrocities and benign neglect.

To watch Chamberlain is to spy on hope, to witness a revolution in belief among his Winnebago tribe.

“I think he shows that everyone can do it — even if you’re from around here,” said Aaron Lapointe, 16, a high school sophomore on the reservation. “It’s good just to see that he is a Native American, that he is the same as me(emphasis mine).”

In light of his arrest, Joba's boss Hank Steinbrenner has offered to provide any support that Joba needs. Lord knows that there are too many other Native Americans without the benefit of the same benefactor. By shining light on this, Joba's terrible error in judgment might have a silver lining and benefit a community terribly in need of a high-profile champion of this issue.

RIP, 2008 New York Yankees

Yankee Killer, two years running

I reckon I'm a few weeks late in writing this, but after watching that 11-3 debacle tonight, I'm afraid that the 2008 Yankees will not make the playoffs, marking their first absence from the postseason since 1993.

It's interesting because last year, Paul Byrd lead the Cleveland Indians to a Game 4 victory over the Yankees in the ALDS to close out the season. Tonight, less than a year later, Paul Byrd lead the Boston Red Sox to a regular season victory in what portends to be the last Yanks-Sawx series at the Stadium.

I could go on and on about a lack of clutch hitting, hitting with two outs, and a litany of injuries, but all that's been done. I'm thankful for the power of StubHub, and hope that the last 13 games at the Stadium bring in some bucks to the O'Brien coffers.

Before concluding, I do find it hypocritical that the same Chowderheads that love to attack pinstriped juicers can find it so easy to follow into the playoffs a guy that got HGH from his dentist.:

Indians' Byrd says he took HGH under 'doctor's care and supervision'
ESPN.com news services
Paul Byrd, whose victory in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series put the Cleveland Indians on the doorstep of the World Series, has acknowledged taking human growth hormone under a doctor's care.

I don't even care if that's being petty. This freaking game is heart-wrenching.

Things said by the DB Boston fan sitting behind me at the game tonight

I had the rare honor of sitting in front of an esteemed fan of Red Sox Nation while taking in the Yankees-Red Sox game at the Stadium tonight. Below are some of the highlights with which he was regailing his travelling party:

- "Did I ever tell you about the time I got so wasted in New Orleans at the Saints game?"
- Explained the black batter's eye in centerfield to the fans sitting to my left, providing a complete history of the concept and detailing other aspects.
- (to the beer man) "Hey, buddy, I'll take two of those off your hands."
- "Oh, look, Kevin Cash is up. That guy's money (ugh). I'm going to be saying that all night."
- "Tim Wakefield he can pitch all night long, the knuckleball doesn't require much force, so it doesn't stress the arm."

****Break****
Wakefield only threw 80 pitches tonight, coming out after the fifth inning.

Wakefield is also not one of the top 20 American League starters in pitches per appearance (his opponent tonight, Andy Pettite, is).

****Return to Annoying Comments******

-"Did I ever tell you about the time I was on the Kiss Cam at the San Jose- Bruins game?"
- "Jed LOW-ree, Jed LOW-ree" (like Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys)(Go to 1:33)

Needless to say, as if A-Rod coming up short in the clutch like 40 times tonight wasn't irksome enough, I had to listen to this chowderhead (who sat in Section 220 Row C Seat 3, for the record) for the 6 innings I stuck around. I'm really going to miss the place.

In Praise of...the 39THIRTY

During the past decade, my distinct lack of hair (especially during three of the past four years, which were also marked by a distinct lack of humidity), I never really had much need for a cap.

Going to work in the morning, I'd wear my standard uniform cover. Working out, specifically in Albuquerque, sweat would evaporate before it became a nuisance. But that all changed when I came home to Long Island.

Upon commencing my return engagement with the Empire State, I've grown my hair out and returned to the annoying stickieness tied to living on a land mass surrounded by water. The equation is quite simple:

Hair + Humidity = Sweat + Annoyed Morgan

Hair gettin' in my face, sticking to my forehead, sweat getting in my eyes; this is a recipe for disaster. And seeing as I will not cut my hair out of a sense of pride (and the fact that it's yet another thing I can do the Col. Voldemort cannot, add that to actually running the run portion of the PT test...freaking cheater), I'm left to find out how to fix this.

Do I go sweatband? Man-dana? I mean, there's a time and place for both of those things. However, I'm an American first and foremost. I love apple pie and Midwestern girls. And above all else, I love the game of baseball.

As the official hat of  Major League Baseball, New Era's 59FIFTY is an institution. It's like a Chevy or a Nathan's hot dog.   In fact, New Era recently sent shockwaves through the hearts of purists when they reengineered the lids to better perform in game situations. Upgrades included a conversion from wool to an all polyester design, a black sweatband to hide stains and a black undervisor to reduce glare.  

Head Cover Performance in Action

Alas, I sweat like a Yeti, and even with the new specs, the 59FIFTY doesn't cut it when I'm working out.  Thankfully, a few years ago, New Era, in a shining example of capitalism, introduced a cap designed for batting practice, the 39THIRTY. According to New Era, like me, the 39THIRTY is built for performance. This is a match made in heaven.

From the New Era Web site:

The 39THIRTY is the true fan cap.  With its stretch-comfort fit, the 39THIRTY comes in either a performance mesh fabric or wool-stretch material for anyone or any lifestyle.

The 39THIRTY, while fitted, has an elastic band that allows for some flexibility. So while Air Force Morgan rocked a 7 3/8; Freebird Morgan has to go 7 1/2. The 39THIRTY gives me both, as I fit in the Medium-Large, and it's snug and comfortable.  

In my capacity as the consummate performer, I enjoy the performance mesh fabric, which is perfect for sopping up my sweat during intense training sessions like my interval workouts. Did I mention that in the morning if my face is a little puffy, I'll put on an ice pack while doing stomach crunches.  I can do 1,000 now.

I have to admit, I bought the Yankees 39THIRTY, but I had to hold my nose when picking it up at the Lids store in Times Square the other day because its very existence rips my sentimental heart out.  The interlocking NY should only appear on the famed navy blue caps of the NY Yankees.  Save the alternate uniform gimmicks for expansion teams like the Mets.  

I've also betrayed my Yankee pride and allowed myself to enjoy the caps of non-Yankee clubs.  My personal favorites include the Yankee-themed AL All-Star cap (modeled by yours truly above and shown below), as well as the TB Rays 2008 version (shown above)  There still remain some teams (Boston, Los Angeles Angels of Orange County-Anaheim-Sherman Oaks, Los Mets) that I'll never rock.

And so it goes, mo' hair, mo' problems.  But thanks to the folks at New Era, I have a reasonable solution to keep tabs on my loathsome locks.

To buy the 39THIRTY, visit:

New Era's online shop

MLB's online shop

We Got Him!

The one on the left is a Yank.  The other guy's in jail in Caracas for trying to light someone on fire.

Giambi to the Shift: You're No. 1

Watch closely, lest you miss it:

From Withleather: [Video: Mr. Irrelevant; Still image: Sportscrack]  

Giga-What?

Gigapan, a photographic technology created as a collaboration between Carnegie Mellon and NASA, was deployed at Yankee Stadium for th July 4 tilt between the Yanks and Red Sox (image here).

According to Sports Illustrated, users can magnify any detail from the facade of the new Yankee Stadium beyond leftfield to a fan with a Cracker Jack box. The photo was taken with a robotic camera over the course of 10 minutes and consists of 124 frames stitched together.

Here is my favorite part of the shot:

Fortunately, I didn't have to sit through a rain delay and watch my beloved Yanks get waxed by the Sox that day (the Yanks went on to beat them on the 5th and 6th, for the record) and actually made a tidy profit on the game. Thank you, StubHub!

Yanks making me flip my lid!

Despite the fact that the Yanks made a bunch of bums like Kevin Millwood and Oliver Perez look like Drysdale and Koufax over the past few days, even the bumbling New York Americans will look sharp over July Fourth Weekend because of these:

According to ESPN's UniWatch, all MLB squads will sport these hats over the weekend and again on September 11.  This is part of an MLB initiative honoring troops returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan.  

And since I love our troops and now look like this:

(I now find myself having my first bad hair days in 11 years, and actually enjoy wearing a cap from time to time); I have ordered mine (size 7 1/2, backordered until Friday).

For additional details and some fair and pointed questions, visit the UniWatch blog here.

Go Yanks, beat the Sawx!  And happy birthday, proud Long Islander Ronnie Kovic!  

In Praise of...Yankee Stadium Chicken Fingers

There is a joke that asks, "What's the difference between a Yankee dog and a Fenway Frank?" to which the answer is "You can get a Yankee dog in October." Now that's not funny anymore for a variety of reasons (Boy, Ortiz has grown a little from his Minnesota days, hasn't he? I hope that sheath is healing, Papi. Too bad George Mitchell wasn't a partner with the Yankees, huh?).

I don't know about Fenway Franks, but as of recently, Yankee dogs suck and are more overrated than our shortstop. I've always been partial to the Lobo dogs sold at The Pit on the campus of the University of New Mexico, anyway.

The hidden gem of the Big Ballpark in the Bronx are the Chicken Fingers (and the guy that keeps our seats clear, more on him later). The past few times I've been to the Stadium, there's nothing that settles me after riding like livestock on the 4 Train from Grand Central than those delicious Chicken Fingers.

To be honest I'm guessing that I'm not really breaking new ground here because the fingers come out piping hot. I figure enough people are buying them to keep them coming. I mean, I was able to find a picture of them on the Internet, (and the Times did a story on them) so some folks are obviously taking notice.

The serving size is huge, consisting of five fingers (just like Rick James) and a mess of thick-cut French fries. My fellow taste tester said she'd like the fries to be a little saltier.

The only downfall is that they're (surprise!) a bit pricey, coming in at $10 for a plate. But for that $10, you end up getting pretty full. Save room for the cotton candy. Don't get me started, I could write another post on how great the cotton candy at that place is.

The Chicken Fingers are available at most stands around the ballpark and of course, the Johnnie Walker Pinstripe Pub*.

*Located on the Field Level at Sec. 10, the Johnnie Walker Pinstripe Pub is an informal restaurant open to members and their guests. It opens with the gates and closes at the end of the seventh inning.

Hope springs eternal for A-Rod, Hamilton

Seeing Josh Hamilton on the cover of SI and posting some monster numbers is a great story and reminded me of last year (April 19, to be exact); I wrote the piece below and sent it in to the NY Times and Newsday. Neither ran it. They can go F themselves.

You decide if it's worth reading.

----

In the opening weeks of the 2007 Major League Baseball season, two number one draft picks from the 1990s are both living up to their superhuman potential while taming the challenges of their personal demons.

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, the first overall choice of the 1993 draft, and Cincinnati Reds outfielder Josh Hamilton, 1999’s top choice, are experiencing large measures of success right off the bat.

While high draft picks are expected to produce, their futures are never guaranteed. Both Hamilton and Rodriguez have fought vastly different—though crippling to their performance—challenges on their journeys to early-season success.

Widely regarded as the best position player in baseball and only a season removed from a most valuable player award, Rodriguez has suffered three seasons of Bronx cheers for failing to deliver in the clutch while collecting the majors’ highest paycheck of more than $25 million each season.

The bright lights and constant scrutiny of New York City has flustered even the most accomplished stars. While Rodriguez’ regular-season numbers in pinstripes are a statistical success, he has come up short in the only category that matters to the New York fans and press: October excellence. Rodriguez’ postseason performance has yet to fulfill his peerless potential, batting below .200 in both 2005 and 2006 while failing to pace the Bombers into the second round either year. These losses come on the heels of a monumental collapse at the hands of the Boston Red Sox in 2004, where the Yankees lost a three-games-to-none lead to their archrivals.

Living up to a spring training vow to renew his focus in the 2007 season, Rodriguez broke an American League record by clubbing 10 homers in his first 14 games—including two game-winning blasts that stand as the define the term “clutch”. A-Rod is riding a 19-game hitting streak dating back to last season and leads the majors in home runs and RBI heading into a series with the Red Sox.

“There’s a lot of good players in the major leagues, and there’s a handful of great players. Alex Rodriguez is the top of the game right now,” said former Yankee and Red Paul O’Neill after Rodriguez’ most recent walk-off home run Thursday.

When the Tampa Bay Devil Rays selected Josh Hamilton, the team figured to build their young franchise around the can’t-miss prospect. "Other than Alex Rodriguez, he is the best amateur player I've ever scouted," Marlins vice president of player personnel Dan Jennings—who was Tampa Bay’s scouting director when Hamilton was selected—told the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kevin Kelly earlier this month. “That's not too bad. And I give Alex the edge only because he was a shortstop,” said Jennings.

Jumping straight from high school to the minor leagues, Hamilton was rewarded with a $3.96 million contract, which soon paved the way to the phenom’s downfall. In a time where baseball’s drug problem has focused on performance enhancing drugs, Hamilton fell victim to the performance crippling variety. On July 10, 2002, he was suspended for violating MLB’s substance abuse policy due to his cocaine and alcohol addictions. After a long journey back, he now says that he has been sober for more than 18 months.

Selected by the Cubs in the Rule V draft and traded to the Reds, Hamilton finished a stellar spring batting .403 for the Reds, and made the Opening Day roster as a fourth outfielder. Hamilton cracked the lineup for the Reds’ first game and homered in only his second at bat—his first home run in professional baseball since 2002.
Thanks to Hamilton’s fast start, the Reds are shifting their lineup to find a permanent place for the 25-year-old in their lineup. Half of Hamilton’s 10 hits in 2007 have been home runs and he carries a hefty .900 slugging percentage and superb .429 on-base percentage in the early going.

While hope springs eternal in virtually ever major league city each April, the dog days of summer are often ruthless in extinguishing those dreams. Rodriguez recognizes that he will receive his ultimate judgment as the pennant race heats up and the chase for the Yankees’ 27th world title enters October. Hamilton must face his addictions in a struggle measured day to day.

The most refreshing aspect of their early success comes in recognizing that these two supremely gifted athletes are enjoying themselves and finally finding themselves through the simplicity of playing a game.