And another sweep, this time of the Cardinals. The starting pitching was great throughout the series. And the Baby Bombers, in particular, have been fun to watch. In tonight’s ESPN game, Judge kicked things off with what should have been a homer, but the umps refused to overturn the call. Then Bird connected with an undisputed homer. Hicks had one too. And all this without Gary Sanchez. Even Chase Headley is hitting like a monster. I don’t know how long this win streak will last, but I sure don’t mind counting higher and higher. Like 10 wins in a row would be a nice round number.
Bruised, Battered But Still Kicking
Maybe the fans in St. Louis are the nicest people in America. Not only did they give Jeter an ovation practically every time he took a breath, but, according to Sterling and Waldman, they came over to Yankee fans dining at a local restaurant after a Yankees win and congratulated them with a “Nice game.” If only we saw that sort of behavior everywhere.
But I digress. What’s most amazing is that the Yankees are still standing and the road trip ended on a winning note. All this despite the absence of Beltran and Teixeira, despite the slump and benching last night of Solarte, despite the use of McCann at first base and despite the makeshift pitching staff. Yes, Tanaka notched his first loss in forever and the Yankees defense was sloppy at best, and the offense was forced to play “small ball” (I do miss the homers), but if it weren’t for Toronto’s miraculous run of wins the Yanks would be on or near the top of the heap.
Do I think the team can go patchwork into the rest of the season this way? Probably not. Guys need to come back healthy and holes need to be filled. But I was pretty impressed by this road trip. The boys did us proud in the Midwest. They deserve this day off.
A Scary, Scary Halloween
Now that the Red Sox have spanked the Cardinals, won the World Series and demonstrated that the right mix of superstars, pickups and farm system kids can bring home a championship after a dismal season, it’s time to look at the Yankees and wonder how our team will turn things around.
Was anyone else surprised that no one in charge of scouting or the farm system was canned during the organizational meetings? Only the strength and conditioning coach? Like he was responsible for Jeter’s ankles and Teixeira’s wrist and Youkilis’ back and Granderson getting hit by a pitch? Seriously? Can you spell scapegoat?
If the Red Sox proved anything, it’s that it doesn’t have to take forever to “rebuild” around a nucleus of solid players. Do the Yankees have that nucleus? Does Cashman have the latitude from the Steinbrenners to go after free agents that make sense (i.e. aren’t old)? As the Cardinals showed us, a young pitching staff is a beautiful thing. If only Hughes/Kennedy/Chamberlain had been our Wacha. As the Red Sox showed us, a clutch power hitter like Ortiz does damage. If only we had a DH who put fear into the hearts of opposing pitchers (i.e. as opposed to A-Rod, who’s made a mockery of the sport and will continue to do so as we head deeper into all these trials and hearings).
The Yankees did pretty well this year under the circumstances, but realistically they didn’t have a chance. Not when CC wasn’t having a CC type of year and Kuroda petered out at the end, and our best hitters were Cano and…..Nunez?
Maybe we’ll go after the Japanese pitcher everybody’s talking about and maybe we’ll resign Cano and maybe we’ll get a catcher that can hit. But there are so many question marks heading into 2014. The one thing that isn’t unclear is that I miss baseball already. How long until spring training?????????
And The Cardinals' New Manager Is….
And The Cardinals’ New Manager Is….
WS Game 7: Congrats, Cardinals
This one didn’t have much drama compared to last night’s game – how could it? – but big hat tip to the Cardinals for coming back from the dead yet again.
(Hey, it’s almost Halloween. Might as well post a creepy pic.)
When the Rangers jumped out to the early lead, I figured they were determined not to let another championship slip through their fingers. But the Cardinals came right back and never let up. And that was basically that. They were improbable contenders and now they’re improbable winners, not unlike the Giants were last year. They played with a lot of heart and, while not always perfect in their execution, they scored runs when they needed to.
I’m sad that baseball is officially done, although I won’t miss Buck/McCarver saying over and over: “This could be the last time we see Albert Pujols wear a Cardinals uniform.” We had a joke in my house. I kept saying to Michael: “This could be the last time we see Albert Pujols eat sunflower seeds in a Cardinals uniform” and “This could be the last time we see Albert Pujols sit in the dugout in a Cardinals uniform.” (You get the picture.)
Now we can move on to Yankees business. First up: CC.
Happy Almost Halloween.
OMG! That Game 6 Was A Classic!

I did my usual half-assed job of watching tonight’s game – in the beginning. Both teams were playing sloppy baseball and I figured whoever made the fewest errors would win.
But then things got really interesting and I couldn’t look away even if I’d wanted to. Talk about an insane, amazing, unbelievable battle. It was the stuff that classic World Series games are made of.
And after watching those bullpens, how much did everybody appreciate Mo? I pray he never retires. Seriously.
The Rangers got to within seconds of their first championship – more than once – and they couldn’t make it happen. The Cardinals wouldn’t let them. Freese was the walkoff hero, but how about the former Fat Elvis?
I’m glad I wasn’t in the Texas clubhouse after that one. FOX kept showing Nolan Ryan (including the shot where he appeared to be sucking his thumb). I thought the Rangers would win it after Josh Hamilton played the Kirk Gibson role, but no. They gagged.
And now we fans get a Game 7. Oh boy!
Game 6 Rained Out Without A Whole Lot Of Rain
Okay, I’m sure I’ll get an argument about this, but why would MLB and the Cardinals/Rangers cancel a World Series game because rain was in the forecast? I just went on Weather.com and here’s what their forecast is for St. Louis as of right now (it’s 6:30 pm here in California):
Through 2am: Light rain. The rain will come to an end by 8pm. Cloudy with temperatures steady or falling to near 49F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
“The rain will come to an end by 8pm.” That’s what it says.
So my question is, would it have been the worst thing in the world to play under those conditions? Or play and have a delay? Isn’t weather an aspect of the quest for a championship? Don’t teams have to battle the elements as well as each other?
I get that rain is no fun for the fans who paid good money to attend the game. I get that it can cause injuries to the players if the field is slick. I get that it’s a drag on the starting pitchers if they can’t come back out after a delay and the pen is taxed. But isn’t all that part of earning a ring – that whichever team can overcome adversity deserves to win?
WS Game 5: Talk About A Momentum Change
I thought the Cardinals had this game won, despite the setting. But once the score was tied, it was a matter of time before the Rangers did what they had to do.
As I watched Napoli, both offensively and defensively, I kept wondering if the Angels had trader’s remorse.

Why would you get rid of this guy? And for Vernon Wells? Maybe he’s not the best catcher in the majors, although he’s been more than decent in the postseason. He’s a professional hitter and always has been. I’d take him.
Moving on to the Yankees, does anyone have any interest in Roy Oswalt? I do. Sort of. I’d rather have C.J. Wilson but even he doesn’t thrill me. Mostly, I just want the CC business settled. Could we please have news about the opt-out already?
WS Game 4, Etc.
I didn’t watch any of tonight’s game (I was at a friend’s birthday dinner), but the Cardinals’ offense certainly was shut down, wasn’t it? What a difference a pitcher makes.
Joe Torre announced that he, on behalf of MLB, will be “looking into” the drinking in the Red Sox clubhouse. Will he investigate the chicken eating too?
In other Red Sox news, Theo Epstein bid farewell to the fans in a full-page Boston Globe ad.
If Cashman doesn’t get re-signed by Hal and Co., will he take an ad in the NYT thanking us? I would certainly hope so.
WS Game 3 Thoughts
Actually, I don’t have many thoughts – just these, in no particular order of importance:
What a stupid fan who threw that ball on the field and interrupted play. Jeez.
With all due respect to the serviceman who sang “God Bless America” tonight, I really prefer it without the “American Idol” trills. I don’t need the “and the homeemememememememe of the braaaaaaaave.”
The Rangers must be wondering how it’s possible that they’re not the ones scoring all those runs.
It would be refreshing if FOX/MLB would advertise to women instead of just giving us commercials for cars and Viagra.
Albert Pujols reminds me of Bluto in the Popeye cartoons.
Is it spring training yet?
If I'm The Cardinals, Ouch!
I had all but turned off the TV in the ninth when the Rangers staged their surprising comeback. Well, it’s not surprising that they can hit. It’s surprising that the Cardinals’ pen allowed the runs and that Albert Pujols couldn’t make that play on the relay. I said out loud, “Tex would have had that.” Which only made me miss the Yankees more. Sigh.
If I’m The Cardinals, Ouch!
I had all but turned off the TV in the ninth when the Rangers staged their surprising comeback. Well, it’s not surprising that they can hit. It’s surprising that the Cardinals’ pen allowed the runs and that Albert Pujols couldn’t make that play on the relay. I said out loud, “Tex would have had that.” Which only made me miss the Yankees more. Sigh.
It's Time For A Female GM
I watched bits of tonight’s World Series opener while I was making dinner. It looked like a tight, well-played game for the most part and I congratulate the Cardinals on the win.
The piece of news that really grabbed my attention though was the story on MLB.com and elsewhere that the Angels are interviewing Kim Ng for their GM position.

Ng was Cashman’s assistant GM before she went west to fill the same spot for the Dodgers and now works in Torre’s department in the Commissioner’s Office. She’s interviewed for GM jobs with plenty of teams and keeps getting passed over for a guy. Will she break the glass ceiling this time around?
I really hope the Angels aren’t just talking to her because she’s a woman and, therefore, they’d be fulfilling their obligation to interview minorities. Somebody someplace will step up and make her the first female GM so it might as well be the Angels.
Did anybody see ESPN’s E:60 special on Dwight Gooden tonight? I was all set to watch it but finding it on my stupid Cox cable lineup was harder than I imagined. Gooden tweeted that the show was on at 8 pm, as did ESPN’s web site, so I figured that meant eastern time; I turned on the show at 5pm my time. Nope. Not on. Okay, I thought. Maybe it’s 8 pm nationwide. Nope. Not on then either. I checked Cox’s web site and discovered it was on at 6pm here. Does that make any sense? Why advertise your original programming, ESPN, and then make it impossible for viewers to find it?
I did find a clip of the special. Oh, Doc. It’s one thing for those silly Red Sox pitchers to drink beer in the clubhouse, but did you really have to do cocaine during the Mets’ ticker tape parade?
At least he’s sober now and seems to have turned his life around.
It’s Time For A Female GM
I watched bits of tonight’s World Series opener while I was making dinner. It looked like a tight, well-played game for the most part and I congratulate the Cardinals on the win.
The piece of news that really grabbed my attention though was the story on MLB.com and elsewhere that the Angels are interviewing Kim Ng for their GM position.

Ng was Cashman’s assistant GM before she went west to fill the same spot for the Dodgers and now works in Torre’s department in the Commissioner’s Office. She’s interviewed for GM jobs with plenty of teams and keeps getting passed over for a guy. Will she break the glass ceiling this time around?
I really hope the Angels aren’t just talking to her because she’s a woman and, therefore, they’d be fulfilling their obligation to interview minorities. Somebody someplace will step up and make her the first female GM so it might as well be the Angels.
Did anybody see ESPN’s E:60 special on Dwight Gooden tonight? I was all set to watch it but finding it on my stupid Cox cable lineup was harder than I imagined. Gooden tweeted that the show was on at 8 pm, as did ESPN’s web site, so I figured that meant eastern time; I turned on the show at 5pm my time. Nope. Not on. Okay, I thought. Maybe it’s 8 pm nationwide. Nope. Not on then either. I checked Cox’s web site and discovered it was on at 6pm here. Does that make any sense? Why advertise your original programming, ESPN, and then make it impossible for viewers to find it?
I did find a clip of the special. Oh, Doc. It’s one thing for those silly Red Sox pitchers to drink beer in the clubhouse, but did you really have to do cocaine during the Mets’ ticker tape parade?
http://youtu.be/p-Ywkh78XlM
At least he’s sober now and seems to have turned his life around.
Rangers Vs. Cardinals in WS
Personally, I don’t care which team wins.
But if I were to pick a favorite, here’s how I would weigh things:
I still have some anti-Rangers sentiment because they beat the Yankees so recently and there was all that silly business about our fans being mean to Mrs. Lee, not to mention the even sillier Antlers and Claws worn by the fans in Arlington.
On the other hand, I’m usually a rooter for the American League team, which would put me squarely in the Rangers’ camp, plus I’m not big on the Wild Card team winning it all; I think the teams that win divisions should play each other.
All that aside, Friend of the Blog Jeff is a Cardinals diehard. He commented here the other day that he plans to go to his first ever World Series game. How can I root against his guys?
On the other hand (apparently, I have more than two), Jeff trashes A-Rod way too much on his blog, so why should I root for Pujols?
As I said at the top, I’m pretty neutral. May the best team win.
P.S. There’s been technical trouble with the blog again, so if you can’t comment the first time, try again!
It Always Comes Down To A-Rod. Sigh.
I’m sitting here this morning, eating breakfast and reading “The Nocturnalist,” which is essentially the New York Times’ version of the Post’s “Page Six.”
At the very end of the piece there’s an item in which Justice Anthony Kennedy is asked about the “Occupy Wall Street” movement and he – wait, what? – mentions A-Rod? Supreme Court Justice Kennedy?
Take a look.
NOCTURNALIST
Be Careful Just Whom You Decide to Interrupt
By SARAH MASLIN
Published: October 15, 2011“I’m sorry to interrupt, but could you guys please finish up?” a woman asked Nocturnalist’s correspondent at Town Hall theater on 43rd Street on Thursday night as he conducted an interview. He was sitting in her seat, she said.
Our interviewee turned and stared at the woman expressionless. “Oh my goodness!” she screamed. “I’m so sorry!” Bill Cosby does not do interruptions.
Mr. Cosby, who was to perform at a benefit for Art Start, which provides creative arts to at-risk children, many with parents in homeless shelters, also will brook no red-carpet churlishness. As he bypassed a gaggle of paparazzi to speak to us, a crestfallen photographer called after him. “Hey Bill! Come on, man!”
Mr. Cosby turned, and lunged. “Don’t you ever …” he said, grabbing the photographer by the shirt. The next day’s sensational headlines flashed before our eyes. We readied our pen.
But Mr. Cosby smiled. It was just a joke. (The shaken photographer seemed to have a different sense of humor.)
“The reason why I’m here tonight, with great emotion, is because I was asked to perform,” Mr. Cosby said, once we sequestered ourselves in the theater’s seats. He added some thoughts about the importance of the foundation’s work, and also noted, “They are paying me.”
Johanna De Los Santos, the executive director of Art Start, later clarified that a supporter of the organization was paying him.
At the after party at Sardi’s, Mark Nadler, who had also performed at Town Hall along with the Broadway legend Chita Rivera, leapt onto a chair. “Excuse me, gentleman and sluts!” he shouted, before proclaiming that the event had raised $100,000. He hoisted his martini. “Nobody’s working tomorrow!”
An aerialist who had been arrested earlier this year for scaling the Williamsburg Bridge, Seanna Sharpe, was with a man in a Hamburgleresque cape. “According to my publicist, I can’t answer any questions until after I appear on Good Morning America,” she said before divulging some of the details of her case.
Stars of yesteryear abounded, like the cabaret singer Julie Wilson, whose friend showed us a photo on an iPhone of Ms. Wilson as a starlet. Ms. Wilson glanced at it. “Oh, that old bag. Is she still around?”
Celeste Holm, the 94-year-old Oscar-winning actress, and her husband, Frank Basile, 48, entered. “When she turned 90, Bill Cosby sent her 90 long stem roses,” Mr. Basile said of his wife. She leaned forward and whispered: “That’s true.”
Parties for worthy causes should not be held at spectacular apartments — guests (like us) become paralytic with envy and awe.
So it was on Tuesday at a soiree honoring “Our Time: Breaking the Silence of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ ” a book by 1st Lt. Josh Seefried, a member of the Air Force, who created OutServe, an online refuge for gay service members before the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” We were preoccupied with repeatedly reeling our jaw up from the floor: The Lower Fifth Avenue duplex penthouse had balconies so large that one guest remarked, “You could fit Occupy Wall Street up here and not notice.”
Powerful people wheeled, dealed and ate medjool dates. Cyrus Vance Jr., the Manhattan district attorney, rubbed shoulders with Calvin Klein, the director Joel Schumacher and Julianne Moore. A newsroom’s worth of off-duty editors, columnists and reporters chatted. (Often about the apartment.)
“I don’t think people realize just how demoralizing ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ was,” Ms. Moore said. Her military family had once suggested that she join R.O.T.C. “I said, ‘You know, Dad, it doesn’t really work with theater students.’ ”
Mr. Klein passionately commended advancements in gay rights. Would he marry his boyfriend, Nick Gruber, 21? we asked. (Mr. Gruber was elsewhere power-napping before driving to Florida that night, Mr. Klein said. “It’s in a Porsche, so it’s not that bad,” he added.) “Who knows?” said Mr. Klein, “It’s living in the moment and enjoying every minute.”
David Kuhn, a literary agent and the apartment’s owner, introduced the City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn. She commended Lt. Seefried for his work on behalf of gay servicemen. “You gave them an opportunity to allow their voice to be heard,” she said as some dabbed at eyes, “and that was a voice that in the end showed it could not be denied.”
The bidding didn’t stop — even after all the art had been auctioned off at Sotheby’s on Wednesday night to raise money for aid to Africa.
Audrey Irmas, who has an eponymous charitable foundation, announced that she would donate $100,000 to build centers for vulnerable African children. Then Eliza Osborne, a Sotheby’s auctioneer, stepped in. Who would pledge $10,000? Two men raised their hands. Can I get $5,000? Seven people raised their hands. What about $2,500? Four people. $1,000? Eighteen people. “Can I get two more, for the children?” Ms. Irmas asked. Two people immediately raised their hands.
“That always works,” she said. And that’s how you raise $85K in five minutes flat.
“All these beautiful women are with me,” said Justice Anthony Kennedy, gesturing to his wife, daughter and daughter-in-law.
Africa needs strong legal structure, he said. What does Occupy Wall Street need? We asked. “I don’t comment on that,” he said, “other than to say that they should protest A-Rod’s salary.”
What does Kennedy know about A-Rod or his salary anyway? The Justice grew up in Sacramento, CA, according to his biography, and works in Washington – far from the Bronx. And yet he’s criticizing Alex Rodriguez? Maybe he should have a convo with Sonia Sotomayer, the Justice who’s a proud Yankee fan. I bet she’d have a few choice words for his little crack.
Nothing much going on in Yankeeville. I can’t muster any enthusiasm for the playoffs, so I didn’t watch yesterday and probably won’t watch today. Michael, on the other hand, did watch Brewers-Cardinals last night and said the following: “I still don’t believe the Yankees aren’t playing.”
I seconded that.