Jane Heller

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

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Napoli Needs to Learn Some Baseball Manners

June 28, 2014

Photo: Anthony Gruppuso/USA Today Sports
Photo: Anthony Gruppuso/USA Today Sports

Tonight’s Yankees-Sox game was a tense, entertaining one that kept me on the edge of my seat to see which team would break the 1-1 tie and go on to win it. When Tanaka served one up to Mike Napoli in the 9th it was deflating. Tanaka’s expression showed just how deflating. But what pissed me off was Napoli’s comment to his teammates as he rounded the bases after the homer.

An idiot? Really? I don’t disagree that Tanaka shouldn’t have shaken off McCann and insisted on throwing that fastball. It was totally the wrong move. But hey, Mike. Keep it to yourself or save it for the clubhouse after the game. Not cool. Not cool at all.

That said, the Yankees and Red Sox have split the first two games in this series, setting up an exciting finale tomorrow night. Unfortunately, I’ll either be packing or asleep. I’m leaving for NY at the crack of dawn on Monday morning for my month in Connecticut. Early to bed. Long flight.

Will be back on the blog after I get there. Go Yanks!

 

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Masahiro Tanaka, Mike Napoli, Red Sox, Yankees

Can’t Anybody Get An Out?

September 6, 2013

Napoli_g_mp_576

Yes, tonight was deja vu all over again, as Yogi would say. And yes, the Red Sox are on fire right now. And yes, our bullpen was short, given that Mo and Robertson were unavailable and Kelley is hurt.

But………..

Mike Napoli has been hitting the hell out of Yankees pitchers since he was with the Angels and he’s still at it. There are certain players we simply shouldn’t pitch to because we literally can’t get them out. (Miguel Cabrera comes to mind. So does Manny Ramirez back in the day.) He wasn’t the only one who battered our pitchers but he does it consistently. When he came up with bases loaded and Boone Logan on the mound (after Hughes allowed the bases to be loaded – not entirely his fault since there were some tough plays behind him), who in the world didn’t see the grand slam coming? If Logan had walked him, it would have meant one more run, not four more.

But then there were so many of Joe’s moves I didn’t get tonight. Didn’t he pull Pettitte on Sunday against the Orioles and the same thing happened? Why not let Andy go batter to batter? His arm wasn’t about to fall off. Jeez.

I actually felt sorry for Joba tonight. He’s so gone, poor guy.

And the game started out so well with Soriano’s homer. Sigh.

Just another nightmare in an already nightmarish season.

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Andy Pettitte, Joba Chamberlain, Mike Napoli, Phil Hughes, Red Sox, Yankees

Can't Anybody Get An Out?

September 6, 2013

Napoli_g_mp_576

Yes, tonight was deja vu all over again, as Yogi would say. And yes, the Red Sox are on fire right now. And yes, our bullpen was short, given that Mo and Robertson were unavailable and Kelley is hurt.

But………..

Mike Napoli has been hitting the hell out of Yankees pitchers since he was with the Angels and he’s still at it. There are certain players we simply shouldn’t pitch to because we literally can’t get them out. (Miguel Cabrera comes to mind. So does Manny Ramirez back in the day.) He wasn’t the only one who battered our pitchers but he does it consistently. When he came up with bases loaded and Boone Logan on the mound (after Hughes allowed the bases to be loaded – not entirely his fault since there were some tough plays behind him), who in the world didn’t see the grand slam coming? If Logan had walked him, it would have meant one more run, not four more.

But then there were so many of Joe’s moves I didn’t get tonight. Didn’t he pull Pettitte on Sunday against the Orioles and the same thing happened? Why not let Andy go batter to batter? His arm wasn’t about to fall off. Jeez.

I actually felt sorry for Joba tonight. He’s so gone, poor guy.

And the game started out so well with Soriano’s homer. Sigh.

Just another nightmare in an already nightmarish season.

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Andy Pettitte, Joba Chamberlain, Mike Napoli, Phil Hughes, Red Sox, Yankees

I Really Didn’t Want To Write About That Game

July 22, 2013

writers-block1

Why would I? It was a heartbreaker. As I wrote in the previous post, it’s easier to go into the rest of the season with low expectations because you don’t get your hopes up, but last night the Yankees got my hopes up – and then dashed them. So I woke up this morning with writer’s block. Still, certain things must be said.

I’ll start with CC. He should sue his surgeon. He says he’s healthy. He says he feels fine. He says it’s just a problem with his “arm slot.” But here’s the truth: he hasn’t pitched well since he had the surgery during the off-season. So it’s either that something went wrong in what is usually a “minor procedure” or he’s just not good anymore. Either way, it’s not pleasant to contemplate.

And then there’s the offense. No, it wasn’t that we didn’t score any runs this time. We scored plenty to win – maybe not at Fenway but at most ballparks. What we can’t seem to do this season, aside from those heady, early days when Travis Hafner and Vernon Wells had their moments in the sun, is hit homers. Which is the height of irony. In the past everybody was bemoaning all the homers – “homer happy,” the Yankees were accused of being. Right. I’d take some of those long balls right now. They’re how you win a lot of ballgames.

And then we come to Adam Warren. There’s a reason he’s not used a lot. He’s not one of Joe’s go-to guys. He and Joba have sort of been persona non grata, and last night was a good reason why. I don’t have any stats on this, but Napoli has hit homers against us – including walk-offs – with every team he’s been on. No surprise that he went deep to win the game last night.

I’d like to end on a cheerful note, but then there’s the matter of A-Rod and his quad. Jeter strained his running the bases. A-Rod strained his running the bases. Tex re-injured himself after coming back. Granderson re-injured himself after coming back. Youkilis re-injured himself after coming back. If there’s such a thing as a team being “snake bit,” the 2013 Yankees are that team.

It’s a shame. The players are trying as hard as they can to fight the odds and – despite how many times Girardi has said “Nobody’s gonna feel sorry for us” – I feel sorry for them.

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Adam Warren, CC Sabathia, Mike Napoli, Red Sox, Yankees

I Really Didn't Want To Write About That Game

July 22, 2013

writers-block1

Why would I? It was a heartbreaker. As I wrote in the previous post, it’s easier to go into the rest of the season with low expectations because you don’t get your hopes up, but last night the Yankees got my hopes up – and then dashed them. So I woke up this morning with writer’s block. Still, certain things must be said.

I’ll start with CC. He should sue his surgeon. He says he’s healthy. He says he feels fine. He says it’s just a problem with his “arm slot.” But here’s the truth: he hasn’t pitched well since he had the surgery during the off-season. So it’s either that something went wrong in what is usually a “minor procedure” or he’s just not good anymore. Either way, it’s not pleasant to contemplate.

And then there’s the offense. No, it wasn’t that we didn’t score any runs this time. We scored plenty to win – maybe not at Fenway but at most ballparks. What we can’t seem to do this season, aside from those heady, early days when Travis Hafner and Vernon Wells had their moments in the sun, is hit homers. Which is the height of irony. In the past everybody was bemoaning all the homers – “homer happy,” the Yankees were accused of being. Right. I’d take some of those long balls right now. They’re how you win a lot of ballgames.

And then we come to Adam Warren. There’s a reason he’s not used a lot. He’s not one of Joe’s go-to guys. He and Joba have sort of been persona non grata, and last night was a good reason why. I don’t have any stats on this, but Napoli has hit homers against us – including walk-offs – with every team he’s been on. No surprise that he went deep to win the game last night.

I’d like to end on a cheerful note, but then there’s the matter of A-Rod and his quad. Jeter strained his running the bases. A-Rod strained his running the bases. Tex re-injured himself after coming back. Granderson re-injured himself after coming back. Youkilis re-injured himself after coming back. If there’s such a thing as a team being “snake bit,” the 2013 Yankees are that team.

It’s a shame. The players are trying as hard as they can to fight the odds and – despite how many times Girardi has said “Nobody’s gonna feel sorry for us” – I feel sorry for them.

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: Adam Warren, CC Sabathia, Mike Napoli, Red Sox, Yankees

WS Game 5: Talk About A Momentum Change

October 24, 2011

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.

Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

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?

Filed Under: Confessions of a She-Fan Tagged With: 2011 World Series, Cardinals, Mike Napoli, Rangers, Yankees

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About Jane Heller

Jane Heller is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her fourteen breezy, witty novels of romantic comedy and suspense are now entertaining millions of readers around the world, along with her two books of nonfiction.

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