Photo: Getty Images
A lot has been said about Maxwell’s new batting stance and deservedly. It looks so much like A-Rod’s it’s scary. He got another hit today during the slugfest in Kissimmee, and I was thinking maybe he wasn’t such a bad pickup after all. At the very least he chose the right hitter to emulate if he wants to add more offense to his game. A-Rod, whom Girardi called “a pretty good player” today, is off to a hot start at the plate. Since Cameron Diaz was sitting there watching, I really hope people will stop yearning for the Kate Hudson days. They’re ovah!
Photo: wireimage.com
It was hilarious how fascinated the Houston broadcasters were with Cameron. I was listening to the audio of the game on my phone, and it sounded like the guys in the booth had never seen a movie star.
“Look at that. She’s sitting in the first row behind Joe Girardi!”
“She gave Alex a standing ovation after he hit that homer!”
“She just bought herself another beer to celebrate!”
I kept waiting for them to get just as excited about the game, but it never happened.
One of the things that drove me truly mad about the announcers was how seldom they mentioned the names of the Yankees players (other than A-Rod, Jeter – the brand names, in other words). I heard about the great catches being made in the outfield (not counting Andruw Jones’s “I was blinded by the sun” miscue), but not necessarily which player made them.
“All the Yankees look alike,” one of the announcers actually said.
No, I’m not kidding.
Speaking of great outfield catches, poor Colin Curtis. He was throwing himself around the outfield as if his life depended on it and eventually threw himself around one time too many; he ended up with an injured shoulder.
Phil Hughes? Not a great outing, but so what. He and Russell Martin were getting used to working together, besides which it’s only spring training.
Btw, I’m ready for Mo to pitch. I hope it’s soon.
Tags: A-Rod, Andruw Jones, Cameron Diaz, Colin Curtis, Joe Girardi, Justin Maxwell, Kate Hudson, Mariano Rivera, Phil Hughes, spring training, Yankees
Haha. Gotta love those ‘Stros broadcasters.. I’ve never listened to an Astros game on the radio so I was in awe as well. LOL. Oh well.
I think this is a game I would have enjoyed, I wish more games were televised *sigh* even though the Yankees are one of the teams that will get shown the most.. I need more. Lol atleast we have them for the 2 days! Whoohoo!
You gotta forgive them Texas folks, I guess. For far too many of ‘em, just like most of the South, there’s really only two sports: football, and spring football. Beisbol may as well be broadcast on ESPN 8 (“the Ocho” — ever see “Dodgeball”? — naah — prob’ly too primitive for your cinematic intellect — nevermind)… but it does seem sometimes that them folks jes’ don’ get it. No wonder it took the Dallas Rangers almost 40 years to make a World Series — and the ‘stros took 44, and then got swept…
What was sorta encouraging was a 30-second interview snippet with Swish on ESPN “1″ this AM. He was saying how great it was to get new guys like Andruw, Colon, Garcia, Chavez et al, with “plenty left in the tank,” and how good it was to be “lying in the weeds” this year, unlike every other year, but knowing that “in New York, you know you always have a chance to get to the postseason.” That’s our boy; I LIKE that kinda talk!
I wouldn’t expect much from Maxwell’s mimicking. Kyle Kendrick copied Roy Halladay last year for the Phillies and no matter how much he tried he was still….Kyle Kendrick.
http://paullebowitz.com.previewyoursite.com/blog/?p=503
So you’d never heard those guys either, Antonella? I figured you were familiar with them since you’re in Houston. But then again, why would you listen to the Astros on the radio? Silly me. It would have been a fun game to watch on TV because there was so much offense. Didn’t we have about 20 hits?
Sorry I missed that quickie interview with Swisher, Dave. Sounds like he was his usual depressed self. LOL. They’re all saying how we’re the underdogs and “lying in the weeds,” but do you really think they believe it? I hope not!
I don’t expect A-Rod numbers out of Maxwell, Paul. What I expect is a decent backup outfielder who’s trying to improve his offense after a really bad season with the Nationals.
Hm, did Cameron get herself any popcorn at the game? Or is that Alex’s food?
I don’t know, Catherine, but you sound like the Houston announcers.:)
Jane,
Have you noticed that when A-Rod has a female celebrity half he seems to have a more grounded approach to the game? The Lady Kate days had him doing some nifty stuff at the plate, so maybe that is his formula for success….having a pretty blonde on his arm.
And think about it Jane….the encounter in the restaurant could have been your A-Rod “blonde” moment…..
I’m not of the opinion that A-Rod’s game is affected by his celebrity girlfriends, Renegade. A happy ballplayer is probably a better ballplayer, but other than that? LOL about the encounter in the restaurant. I remember it as if it were yesterday.
Jane: The side-by-sides with Maxwell and A-Rod’s swings was scary. I remember way back when they showed a side-by-side of Phil Hughes and Roger Clemens’s deliveries…that was INSANE.
-Virginia
http://southernbelle.mlblogs.com
Clemens and Hughes had the same delivery, Virginia? It never occurred to me, but now that you mention it I’ll have to find some video and look!