Bronx, N.Y., July 27 — It may have been 20 years ago today that Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play, but it was 36 years ago this week that the Beatles album that shares this column’s title attained its five-week-long Number One status on the charts. And I know a little about the first word of the title. Much of what passes from these fingers that purports to be baseball knowledge and theory, you see, simply derives from the fact that I have been watching the sport (and rooting for the Yankees) for more than several years. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., July 23, 2002 — A tough night in Cleveland. Andy never got off well; Baez did. And unlike the two toe stubbings we experienced last week, this one was over early. Jorge left bloodied, but to all accounts will be OK. I’ve seen enough of Andy to believe that he will too. As our prospects for victory atrophied on the Jacobs Field vine, I began musing about the familiar drumbeats dominating the background of the coverage. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., July 21, 2002 — That is just one of a myriad display of big numbers and facts one would have to assimilate to begin to grasp this weekend series vs. the Red Sox. I’m sure looking at the games through the “big numbers” prism is nothing new to most baseball fans. Baseball has got numbers all over it. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., July 18 — It came to me in the traffic jam. I thought I was being clever, avoiding Rt. 95 altogether, and taking the Merrit to the Hutch, as I escaped work with one hour to get to the Bronx. Of course, my plan proved disastrous, but I wasn’t at work, and I was on my way to a game! Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., July 17, 2002 — It didn’t take long to see what kind of performance Mark Redman, and by reverse extension the Yankee bats, would have tonight. I’ve become spoiled enough to always feel disappointed when Alfonso hasn’t smacked one hard in the first couple of pitches, but there’s no disgrace in a ground out to short. But on Redman’s seventh pitch of the game, when Derek made a complete swing and hit a ball more exactly on the very end of the bat than I have ever seen, sending a cue shot with english right to first baseman Pena, the pattern was set. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., July 12, 2002 — Yes, I know, that saying reached the level of cliche years and years ago. And even a sidelong glance at the doings of the powers that be in our business community will show you right away that most people that have accumulated lots of money in this society would (and did) do anything necessary to get it, to “receive” it, and not to “give” up one thin dime, if at all possible. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., July 7, 2002 — I know how Derek Jeter felt today. OK. No, I don’t know how it feels to be talented, classy, good-looking, poised, or rich, but I still think I know how he felt. I felt it a little bit myself. Derek has had a good, not great, season so far, and in the last several days had seemed to be finding something with his batting stroke. With the mostly ceremonial All Star break coming up, the last thing he needed was another interruption to his day-in, day-out quest to be the perfect ballplayer. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., July 2, 2002 — “Because all you of Earth are idiots!”

These words of the alien Eros from the sci-fi classic film that shares the title of this column will have to do if you’re going to ask me why. I’m quite aware it took the Yankees fully one half their season, 81 games, to achieve more than a fleeting glance from the top of our division on the one hand. And it took us just as long to decide that our “Position Nine,” right field, needed fixing, on the other. I think it’s fitting that Raul Mondesi took his place in right, and in the five spot in the order, on July 2, 44 years from the date of the release of that Ed Wood “thriller.” Having teamed with Raul (and Derek, Ramiro, Roger, Robin and Jorge) to ensure that Raul’s debut, and the beginning of the season’s second half, got off without a hitch by the way, we (the entire takehimdowntown.com family) will be having our batteries musically recharged the rest of this week, and hope to climb back into the fan, observer and reporter of all things Yankee seat five days from today, Sunday, July 7. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., June 30, 2002 — If you’ve been reading here for the last week, I apologize right off the bat for using this musical reference in conjunction with the fabulous “Tales of Brave Ulysses” by Cream and The Who’s “The Punk and the Godfather,” mentioned in recent columns. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., June 28, 2002 — The line has a double meaning for me. First, I couldn’t let the day pass without paying homage to the Who’s John Entwistle, who passed away earlier today (or perhaps last night) at the age of 57. I was even pleased when showing up at the Stadium to see that not only was the newest Yankee, outfielder Karim Garcia, wearing the number 57, but that he would be playing tonight. Continue reading →