• Since the Last Time the Yankees Made it to the World Series…(2024)

    A lot of my friends would describe me as a die hard Yankee fan. I try to watch every single pitch of the 162 game season, and I live for the playoffs.

    Growing up in the 1990s, I got spoiled. They won the World Series 4 times during my most formative years.

    It’s been 15 years since the Yankees made it the World Series — and a lot has happened. I:

    • Started a left the 2 jobs I had where I wasn’t self-employed
    • Met, started dating, and married Erin (Erin was floored that the Yankees have never made it to the WS since we met each other)
    • Moved 5 times
    • Bought our first house
    • Had 3 kids
    • Started all of my podcasts
    • Stopped doing web development and coach people now
    • Watched the Giants win their most recent Super Bowl
    • Ran* 2 half marathons and a 10K
    • Wrote 5 books
    • Started smoking cigars

    …and my parents sold our childhood home. Before the World Series start, my brothers and I are helping them move out, and into their new house in upstate NY.

    I try to be honest with myself in these posts — and if I’m being honest, it’s been a tough couple of months.

    One of the reasons I love baseball is that it’s an escape. And while I don’t think anyone who’s seen my watch baseball would say it relaxes me, it’s something I can really get into for 3-4 hours.

    I’m so excited to see this team in the World Series. Whether it’s against the Mets, in Subway Series 2.0**, or the Dodgers, whom they’ve seen 11 times in the World Series but not since 1981*** — I can’t wait for some incredible, late October baseball.

    *Ran is generous. I participated in and completed 2 half marathons and a 10K
    **The Yankees won the last time, in 2000.
    ***They lost that one, and it started the last 15 year WS drought

  • Links Round Up for 10/31/10

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    Big Day for Baseball

    I’m not a Hot Stove blogger by any stretch, but today’s baseball news is too much to pass up!

    • Possibly the biggest news of the day is the Blue Jays deal Doc Halladay to the Phillies while the Phillies send Cliff Lee to Seattle in a 3-team trade. This is expected to be finalized in the next couple of days.
    • Meanwhile, John Lackey has been signed by the Boston Red Sox.
    • The Angels may have lost an Ace pitcher, but they did sign Hideki Matsui to a 1 year deal
    • Finally, the Yankees lighten their load even more by releasing Ching Ming Wang. Now they are in need of a number 4 guy (they may have been anyway, knowing Wang’s shakiness for the last 2 years). Rumor has it the are looking at Justin Duchscherer and Ben Sheets, as well as Jason Marquis and Joel Pineiro.
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    The Yankees and the World Series

    Celebration

    Since the last time the Yankees went to the World Series in 2003 I’ve: Graduated college (MS and BS), started a company, grew my business, and much more. Since the last time they won in 2000 I’ve: graduated high school, started web design, started programming, started driving, and much much more.

    This is the Yankees 4th trip to the Fall Classic this decade, and the 7th in my lifetime, winning 4 of them. Some people would said I’m spoiled; that I’m lucky my team has made and won it even once in my lifetime, something a lot of people I know probably can’t say, and definitely couldn’t say by the time they were 11. But I’m a Yankees fan and I thank God for that. I say that because I was born in NY, and my allegiance had to lie within the state. And it just so happens that my grandmother grew up a few blocks away from the stadium. Both my parents are Yankee fan and so am I.

    Because of this, I expect more- not because I’m an asshole, but because of our history. With Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra, Thurmon Munson, Reggie Jackson, Don Mattingly, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and so many more, how can we not be the best? And this team is the best we’ve had since our record breaking 1998 team. I see a lot of parallels- the camaraderie, the veterans, the great young talent, the raw power, and the drive. It’s not a given that we will win every game, but we don’t count ourselves out and we know that we can win every game- especially now.

    So to the Phillies (and their fans) I say bring it on. And to the Yankees and their fans: let’s finish this decade that same way we started it- with a championship.

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    Since the Last Time I Went to a Yankees Postseason Game

    Yanks 10

    Since 1998, the last time I went to a Yankees Postseason game (Game 1 vs. the Texas Rangers in the ALDS, to be exact), I’ve:

    • Watched the Yankees enter 5 and win 3 World Series
    • Graduated grammar school
    • Entered and graduated high school
    • Started, stopped, and started again playing the drums
    • Had 2 surgeries: 1 on my hip and 1 on my shoulder
    • Started driving
    • Held at least 11 different jobs (some concurrently, I didn’t get get hired and fired a lot)
    • Got my Bachelor’s in Media/Info Tech with a minor in CS
    • Got my Master’s in Software Engineering
    • Started my own freelance web design/development operation
    • Started a web applications company
    • Saw my first concert
    • Saw 50+ more
    • Gone to Ireland
    • Totaled a car
    • Got my thesis published

    Wow. It’s been 11 years, and a lot has happened! I’m very excited to go to Game 6 (whether it’s tonight or tomorrow). Let’s go Yankees!

  • Yankees Discuss Bonds

    756*

    Dear Yankees,

    If you acquire Barry Bonds, I will be very, very disappointed. And beyond pissed. I will lose a lot of respect for you as a franchise. In short, we’d be fighting. I’m still kind of pissed at you for slapping Torre in the face. So to Brian Cashman and the brothers Steinbrenner, do the right thing.

    Your Fan,
    Joe

  • Wait a minute…

    I’m not usually one to complain about the officials, but the Umps in game 5 of Yanks/Angels really screwed the Yankees over. The call of Cano came out of no where, and made us give up loaded bases. The second call of “safe” at first should have been out, and cost us a run. When Torre goes out to argue, you know there is a problem.

    I will concede that Santana pitched a good game.