I’ll admit this, it’s a gorgeous place.

Saturday, my older son and I were guests of friends at the Yankee game. Naturally, it was the first game they lost after an 8-game win streak. The outcome was secondary to the experience.

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Making my first trip to “the new” Yankee Stadium tomorrow. Lotsa pics to follow. If you’re going, email me and let me know where you’re sitting or come by and say hi (I don’t have my tickets handy, sorry)

{Oh yeah, sorry for the lack of stuff this afternoon. Work kicked my tail all day. No Holliday around should make facing the A’s easier, though!}

Thanks to Ron Rollins, our favorite UK correspondent and proprieter of Baseball Over Here“(international baseball coverage), for sending me this link to 25 Great Rickey Henderson moments. Fitting as Rickey’s going into the HOF on Sunday! I can’t confirm that they are all true, but they’re fun nonetheless!

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This isn’t intended as Yanks fan bashing the crosstown rivals. This isn’t taking delight during a’seven game win streak while the other team flounders. This is a commentary on what appears to be a classic study in mismanagement, managerial styles and leadership (a lack thereof?).

The Mets have already become a joke ON the field and, thanks in part to Tony Bernazard’s actions over the last few weeks in particular, OFF the field as well. Omar Minaya’s press conference discussing Bernazard really was a giant “no comment”. It smacked of him being called out for trying to hush the allegations before others had gotten wind of it, but since others did, in fact, get wind of the Bernazard mess(es), Minaya was forced to acknowledge everything and “investigate”.

With a tip of the cap to FOTB “Bapak”, I’ll take a moment to look back at the hiring of Omar.

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Up next in the IIATMS interview schedule is Adam Burns. Adam is looking to fill the Stats/Analysis guru role. As with the others, please use the comments to critique, laud, extol, glorify, mock, shame. Or something.

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Just awesome. (UPDATE: Higher resolution courtesy of Jay from FackYouk! Also, the tri-pix courtesy of another FOTB, Brad. (Lower res pic after the jump. Sorry for the quality…blackberry phone off of regular def TV.)

Wise climbs the wall, gets the ball, bobbles it, catches it barehanded, then rolls to a stop. Ninth inning of a perfect game. PERFECT!

Whether you are PED-ambivalent, a zealot or otherwise, Jim Parque’s open, honest telling of his story is revealing.

It was the sixth inning. There were two outs, and John Olerud was up. I had retired the last nine batters I had faced and was on my way to securing a Chicago victory. I threw a slider, striking him out looking, but I felt a pop in my left shoulder. I returned to the dugout filled with adrenaline, but the fear of the unknown clouded my thoughts. I had sacrificed so much for my dreams — no girls or partying in high school, a limited social life, sacrificing a normal life for the rigors of baseball — and just like that, with one pitch, it was all gone.

[...]

I made good money, but it was not enough to retire on or feel financially secure for the rest of my life. I was in my prime working years, and all I kept thinking was, ”What the hell am I going to do for the rest of my life?” Crazy thoughts go through your mind when a lifelong journey is ending.

[...]

I want everyone to know that I fully understood what I was doing, the ramifications of the unethical decisions I made and how it potentially could cast a dark shadow over my career. For that, I truly feel sorry. Although I did not truly know if the drug I took was, in fact, HGH (although I am confident it was because of the way my body felt after the injections and my Internet research), I still chose to inject it, and I am fully responsible for my actions.

Yes, you should read it and ask yourself, “What would I have done in the same position?“

I feel for the Mets fans around me. I really do. And I’m not even talking about their on-field stink. They are like Seattle last year: Expected to achieve but through injuries and whatnot, simply fell apart. Except we’re now seeing something in NY that we didn’t hear/see in Seattle last year: a rotting of the front office.

By now, you’ve heard about the incredibly embarrassing events surrounding Mets’ VP of player development, Tony Bernazard.

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OK, Yanks fans… The IIATMS tryouts for a Daily Recap writer are officially under way! Up second: Adam Winters. As noted earlier, I haven’t edited a thing. Have at it in the comments please.

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OK, Yanks fans… The IIATMS tryouts for a Daily Recap writer are officially under way! Up second: Timothy Wallin. As noted earlier, I haven’t edited a thing. Have at it in the comments please.

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OK, Yanks fans… The IIATMS tryouts for a Daily Recap writer are officially under way! Up first, ladies first: Tamar Chalker. As noted earlier, I haven’t edited a thing. Have at it in the comments please.

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Last week, I had a posting letting everyone know that I am considering adding a writer or two to the team to help fill the holes in coverage. I received some good entries. Very good, actually. There are two camps of candidates: Daily recap writers and stats/farm system writers. I have two candidates for the stats/farm system role; three for the daily recaps.

Today, the three daily recap writers will be reviewing the 1pm Yanks game. I will post their recaps once I get all three. I hope you can use the comments to weigh in and critique each of them. Let me know who you like and why. Obviously I have the final say, but I want to make sure that you have a say in the content that appears here. Please speak up!

Also, I intended on posting the first entry from the stats/farm system candidates this morning. However, due to a family emergency, one of the two was not able to provide me with his entry. I hope to have that soon. The first candidate’s posting is now up for your review. Same request as the daily recaps: use the comments to weigh in and critique.

Again, please use the comments to share your thoughts. I will also try to get a poll up for voting. We’ll see how it goes. Thanks!

Last week, I had a posting letting everyone know that I am considering adding a writer or two to the team to help fill the holes in coverage. I received some good entries. Very good, actually. There are two camps of candidates: Daily recap writers and stats/farm system writers. I have two candidates for the stats/farm system role; three for the daily recaps.

Today, the three daily recap writers will be reviewing the 1pm Yanks game. I will post their recaps once I get all three. I hope you can use the comments to weigh in and critique each of them. Let me know who you like and why. Obviously I have the final say, but I want to make sure that you have a say in the content that appears here. Please speak up!

Also, I intended on posting the first entry from the stats/farm system candidates this morning. However, due to a family emergency, one of the two was not able to provide me with his entry. I hope to have that soon. I will be posting the other candidates entry below this posting. Same request as the daily recaps: use the comments to weigh in and critique.

Again, please use the comments to share your thoughts. I will also try to get a poll up for voting. We’ll see how it goes. Thanks!