"Do you REALLY think the Yankees are going to make the playoffs?"
-- Local Shill prior to a spring softball tilt when the Yankees were 14 games out
"Yes."
-- My response
"Cat, you're crazy."
-- Local shill
How much did it suck to be a Mets/Rutgers/Jets fan this past weekend?
I hope Local Shill is doing OK.....I didn't have a chance to check in with him or many other Mess fans to see if they jumped off a cliff after the debacle that was the month of September. While I have received numerous emails/texts from Mess fans after the Yanks have lost in the playoffs (Keywords: "In the playoffs"), I opted to use some restraint. I had the picture of ARod with a pocketbook sent to me by many...including one Sandman, who was seen purchasing Prozac and various other "medications" after a certain Hall of Famer let his squad down.
Maybe he's still on the Braves payroll.
As I was watching the Phillies eliminate our friends from Flushing, this popped on the TV. I couldn't believe they aired Dane Cook playing up the Mess playoff appearance.
I understand how much it hurts and what it feels like to have other people (especially Yankees fans) dwelling on this....but if you're going to dish it out, then you have to be willing to take it. Those days after Boston rallied back from an 0-3 hole were dreadful. I know the "What number is Babe Ruth" comment is coming from Joe Pendleton.
Cheer up though....only 5 months till pitchers and catchers report!
Moving on from that train wreck (why don't they just rename CitiField, Brittany Spears Park?)
It came as a surprise to many that Rutgers wasn't able to knock off Maryland. Well, anyone who takes a look at this defense realizes that this isn't the same unit as a year ago. Plus, Brian Leonard's absence seems to have left some question marks with leadership. The Scarlet Knights didn't show as much energy as I saw in the win against Louisville last season.
Everyone is crazy about Greg Schiano, and I don't want to start second-guessing the guy...especially when no Rutgers coach has been able to do what he's been able to do on the job. But he has more bad losses in his tenure (even over the past 3-4 years) than he has victories. This was just more of the same. 
Here's a quick overview....I didn't go back to 2004 because that loss to New Hampshire cancels out any argument someone could have with the with against Michigan State.
Great/good wins...Louisville (2006).....the greatest win in Rutgers history...28-25. Fans storm the field and people actually aren't embarassed asking for the red Rutgers Football shirt anymore.
Ruggers sokkah? That's a different story. Why is the man to the right smiling? Could it be the 3-6-1 record and 7th place record in the 8-team Big East Red Division? I love how the history section of the boys soccer page ends at 1997. Have they played any games since I graduated?
Two trips past the first round of the NCAAs in 10 years isn't acceptable.
As for football, that's pretty much it. There hasn't been another game all season that Rutgers won that they shouldn't have won. Yes, there have been close calls (WVU and Arizona State), but a loss is stil a loss.
Bad losses
2005--33-30 OT loss to Illinois. The opener on national TV turns into a stenchfest when Elizabeth product E.B. Halsey sends the game into overtime with a late TD reception and rally from a 20 point deficit.
2006--Following a win against Louisville, the Scarlet Knight end an undefeated season and national championship talk with a 30-11 loss in a huge letdown game. I'm just thankful TE Brett Celek won't be playing in this weekend's affair.
2007--A 16.5 pt favorite to Maryland turns into a 34-24 loss. What could have been worse? It's an ACC school and we all know what we think of that conference.
You can't lose to Cincinnati for the 2nd straight year this weekend. If Rutgers can hold onto the ball, it should be able to pull out the victory.
Now, it's on to the first round for the Yanks. There have been plenty of debates on the radio and TV regarding what would be the reaction like if ARod goes 0-for-4 in the first game against the Indians tonight. Despite an MVP season, ARod is still under plenty of pressure to get the job done....and that starts with game 1. That's definitely going to be a harbinger for the rest of the series.
World Series Pick: Yankees vs. Rockies (can anyone stop Colorado at this point?)
9 comments:
Todd: As a former auto racing writer from the CN used to say,
"fair enough."
Good post. Can't disagree with anything you say, except of course the Yankee-Rockies World Series predictions.
hey, what number does Paul Byrd wear?
Thanks, Mr. P.
As for the Sandman, Mr. Byrd wore number 36.
Which is exactly 6 runs less than the Marlins, Nationals and Cardinals scored against your sad franchise in their 5 game losing streak near the end of the season.
(Tear)
Hey Todd: I think you can stop the Met jokes now, since your franchise is just as awful.
What exactly did your team win this year? A division title? Nope.
It's funny, you Yankee fans act as if you're the greatest franchise in the world while the Mets are some pee-on, yet the minute things go wrong for your squad (which is usually the first week of October), you have to resort to making yourselves feel better by comparing your team to the Mets. Typical Yankee fan response.
Good luck with Tony La Russa next year. You'll need it.
We won the wild card....that's a major leap from where your franchise landed.
We are the greatest franchise in the world. It's no "act"...especially when we've taken the most World Series titles in baseball history. What other criteria can you use to call a team the greatest ever?
I don't want to beat a dead horse, but you had one of the most embarassing collapse in baseball history. This was supposed to be THE year and it didn't happen.
I don't have to resort to comparing my team with the Mets. I can compare your squad with four others in the National League who moved onto the postseason.
AND I could probably compare your team to the Nationals and Marlins. Two other teams that seemed to have more heart and more motivation in the final weeks than your buddies from Flushing.
Yes, the season was disappointing for the Yankees, but nowhere near as disasterous as what you experienced with the Mets.
Good luck with Willie Randolph next year. You'll need it.
We?
Did I miss the press release announcing you were signed by the Bronx Bombers?
That's tremendous - congrats!!
Jersey Girl:
You didn't hear? The Joker was given a three-year contract to be the team's official apologist.
Joker:
I don't want to hear this "greatest team in baseball history" "more world series titles than anyone" bullshit.
Back in the day when they were winning most of their titles, it was pre free agency, pre amatur draft when the reserve clause had baseball by the balls.
The Yankees had the most money and resources, played in the biggest market in the land and were simply able to buy any players they wanted without allowing any other franchise a fair shot, as opposed to these days where at least the illusion of a fair shot exists and at least there are a handful of teams that can compete with the Yankees' pocketbooks.
But why am I wasting my time discussing baseball history with a man who doesn't even know what number Babe Fucking Ruth wore?
JerseyGirl: With the amount they're (or should I say we're) paying Carl Pavano to sit on his arse all day, I would think my check got lost in the mail.
Sandman: Hmmm...biggest market....lots of resource....then why can't the Mess even compete to be in the top 4 in the inferior National League?
If the Yankees aren't the most successful or greatest franchise of all time, please tell me how to judge such a team? Can we base it on late season losses to the Washington Nationals? Or times our shortstop refuses to run out ground balls?
Maybe you can judge it by the number of wins Rajah has in elimination games.
One in his last seven chances.
(That last one was in '86).
No one else is more useless in the playoffs -- except A-Rod.
Nice to see the Yankees wasting top dollar on October chokers.
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