A great way to spend a Friday
What’s shakin’?
Today feels normal, like a regular game on a beautiful day. What better way to spend Friday?
Lorenz (AKA Ron Burgundy) was feisty this morning during our little pregame conference call. Let’s just say he’s been reading. “You write pretty well — for a chick,” he said.
That’s bloggable!
So is O’Neill, eating ice cream, directly from the pint. Chocolate and vanilla. I’ve never seen that before. He said he doesn’t do it often. Big surprise.
Will he finish the pint?
“No!”
Oh, just asking. (Sadly, I’ve finished many pints, mostly Ben & Jerry’s “lowfat” yogurt. It probably has twice the calories.)
So far, our guys appear to eat in the press dining room. There’s a buffet of dogs, burgers, chicken, cold cuts, salad stuff, desserts. Someone commented that we eat a lot of the same food. True. It’s mostly ballpark-type stuff. The last day in Tampa, I just couldn’t do it.
I was talking to Dave Robertson, who is a really nice guy, around 10 a.m. when he was told that Dave Eiland wanted to see him. Robertson kind of figured he’d be sent down when Juan Miranda was called up, but he was hoping not. We’ll see him again.
No matter what, I’ll never, ever forget Robertson. (Keep reading…) He and I were walking out of the Rangers’ Ballpark in Arlington to the bus last August 7 when I hit a divot in the cement, and my left ankle caught and twisted like a Coke cap, resulting in the worst sprained ankle in history. Oh, the pain! (Sorry, Benigno.) Robertson asked if I was okay; I lied. We flew to Anaheim that night; I could barely walk. The entire nightmare in short form (kind of): couldn’t work out but tried to, self-pity led to considerable M&M consumption, gained six pounds in the final two months of the season, eventually went to physical therapy, finally ran again in five months. Five months!
Robertson and I never discuss August 7. But I always think of it when I see him.
Mariano Rivera vowed to talk to Jose Veras and Damaso Marte. He’s a great leader in the bullpen and players listen when he talks. As he often does, Rivera will make some constructive points and then it’ll be up to Veras and Marte to implement his suggestions.
Funny pregame moment in the Cleveland dugout: Carl Pavano spoke to the media in advance of his start Sunday. Yes, he noticed the harsh reception from the crowd yesterday. Brian Cashman went over and shook Pavano’s hand and said hello. “Were you one of the ones who was booing?” Pavano asked.
Not a bad line. Cashman laughed.
The clubhouse was quiet this morning. A lot of players seem to like the routine of weekday evening games better, and these first two weeks have included a lot of different starting times. But a Friday night off isn’t a bad deal. And tomorrow, our friends at FOX take over so the YES crew has the day off. That’s a great deal.
The Kimberly Jones Blog 
DO THEY LIKE DAY GAMES OR NIGHT GAMES
Hey Kim, great exciting win today! Lots of HR’s.
Love your comments on everybody, keep up blogging! 🙂
So, a Friday night off, and a Sarturday game done by Fox…what is a YES reporter to do?? I would love to see the blogs from this “mini” time off. Good Job Kim! Keep it up and I loved you on WFAN over the off season.
Hey Kim,
Between the Press Buffet and Food Network food it sounds like you guys ate a ton of food today. After you guys get used to the stadium and get to try some of the food you should do a special blog or video segment on the broadcast team’s food picks of the park.
How do you usually spend your off days during the season when FOX, ESPN, or MY9 air the games? Does it ever feel weird not to be at the park on those days? Do you ever get to watch a game like a regular fan, kind of like how David Wells was in the bleachers for the home opener?
Hi Kim,
You are doing a good job and I have a few suggestions for you to get even better if I may be so bold…
Could you please stop asking the players how they FEEL about their performance ? That is a girl question. These guys are studs that stand in the batter’s box and risk being seriously injured, even killed, by major league fastballs. Or pitchers that risk beng hit by a batted ball. It is clear that they do not want to talk about their feelings when you interview them. You see that right? They are guys and just want to deal with the facts…”my sinker wasn’t sinking.” ” I left too many balls over the middle of the plate.” “I guessed right , put on a good swing and the ball left the park. Good we won the game.” Let them just be men giving the facts.
How about asking Jeter how to better frame your questions? It would sure help those interviews with him and you would annoy him alot less.
The other day Phil Coke took FULL responsibility for his poor pitching performance. What else could he have done but to take full responsibility? Watch that interview again please. From my point of view there was nothing else left to say except…”better luck next time Phil, we’re with you.”
You seem to be a very nice person and clearly want to do a great job. I do think that you would have a much better rapport with the players if you just let them state the facts.
Wishing you well.
LoyalDog7
I don’t see the big deal on asking how players feel about their performance, nor do I see it as a “girl question” (that’s some borderline sexism there, buddy) at all. Look if you ask a player how do they feel about their performance, their going to state the facts anyway. These guys, especially the Yankees, have cameras in their face so much of the time they give you the same old lines. The key is trying to get the players to open up a bit so you can actually see what type of person they are or a small glimpse into their personal lives. That’s one of the BEST things about Pete Abraham’s LoHud blog he’ll give you these tiny morsels of information you’d never hear anywhere else (Mussina’s locker room “window” last year for example)
Also who cares if you annoy Jeter? Kim’s got a job to do you can’t sit there and worry if you annoy him, you gotta go do it.
Hi Kim, my first time writing you, from myrtle beach,sc {diehard Yankee fan for 50 yrs , long time bronx , nyyorker until 5 yrs ago, retired to MB,SC }
Kim, this guy burnett upsets me so much, almost everytime he goes out we lose . today is a perfect example , these are the Orioles !!!, everytime we tied the game he gave up a run. every inning the orioles got the leadoff hitter on, sorry to say this guy stinks,
what bothers me with Joe is the last start with nova and vasquez he took them out before more damage, why did he let burnett start the 7th that cost us the game . how can we let this guy pitch in the playoffs he’s terrible !!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Kim, my first time writing you, from myrtle beach,sc {diehard Yankee fan for 50 yrs , long time bronx , nyyorker until 5 yrs ago, retired to MB,SC }
Kim, this guy burnett upsets me so much, almost everytime he goes out we lose . today is a perfect example , these are the Orioles !!!, everytime we tied the game he gave up a run. every inning the orioles got the leadoff hitter on, sorry to say this guy stinks,
what bothers me with Joe is the last start with nova and vasquez he took them out before more damage, why did he let burnett start the 7th that cost us the game . how can we let this guy pitch in the playoffs he’s terrible !!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Kim, my first time writing you, from myrtle beach,sc {diehard Yankee fan for 50 yrs , long time bronx , nyyorker until 5 yrs ago, retired to MB,SC }
Kim, this guy burnett upsets me so much, almost everytime he goes out we lose . today is a perfect example , these are the Orioles !!!, everytime we tied the game he gave up a run. every inning the orioles got the leadoff hitter on, sorry to say this guy stinks,
what bothers me with Joe is the last start with nova and vasquez he took them out before more damage, why did he let burnett start the 7th that cost us the game . how can we let this guy pitch in the playoffs he’s terrible !!!!!!!!!!!!
just a curious question or two, on the average how much do 1st base and 3 bases coaches get paid , what about the bench coach?
Is derek jeter getting marrried this year ?