Just a quick non-baseball note: we have all been affected by Hurricane Sandy and her vicious attack on the East Coast. I have power, thankfully, but no phone/cable/Internet. I know Brien with without power and might be for a few days. Hope you and yours are safe.

Use the comments below as your open thread, share your pictures and experiences, status. We’re a small family here. Let us know you are OK.

We will try to cover any relevant news but please note that access is limited.

I never got around to this late last week, once the inevitable occurred, so consider this my belated THANK YOU.

My work schedule has been pretty consistently crazy since I started there in March of 2011, which has nearly completely curtailed my ability to write regularly. I still read every word on this site, written by the team here, or by you, the readers via comments and emails. It’s more than difficult to have to step away from a labor of love like this, but work happens, as they say. Or I say. Whatever.

A heartfelt thanks isn’t sufficient but it’s where I will start.

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This doesn’t get old…

Chad Jennings grabbed a handful of awesome post game quotes from the team. Hard not to smile. First, the man of the hour/day/week, Raul Ibanez:

“Watching the game and being a part of this great team with all these great players, Hall of Fame players, the thing that really sticks out to me from spring training is how mentally tough these guys are and what great teammates they are,” Ibanez said. “You know, I’ll go one step beyond that and say that they’re great people, too. Being in that situation and being a part of something like this, this great team, and obviously all the legends that have come before you here is an extraordinary feeling, and it’s a great blessing. And then to be a part of something like that is definitely a special moment.”

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click to enlarge!

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Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, Ichiro Suzuki, Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira

Here’s the GIF that everyone wants to see, Ichiro, doing his thing:

Thanks to old buddy Rob Neyer for posting

A very interesting and soul-baring piece by Chip Buck, who did some mighty fine work here at IIATMS, even as a RedSox fan, before taking over the reins at FireBrand. It’s not a moratorium on sexual identity or preference but it truly is worth reading, whatever your thoughts are on the subject. Great work, Chip.

In today’s 60 Seconds of Sound, which recaps the last 24 hours in New York sports, Terry Collins reacts to Mets loss, Joe Girardi praises Hiroki Kuroda, Tom Coughlin on the Giants win and Rex Ryan on the Jets loss.