Stadium pictures

The Yankees were testing the big screen in center field yesterday. WCBS 880 has some great shots of the Stadium, including the view from John and Suzyn's booth.

The opening of the new place, as well as the additions of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira, are making me really excited. April can't get here soon enough.

Suzyn Waldman sings tribute to Tom Seaver

I've heard that Yankees radio broadcaster Suzyn Waldman is an accomplished singer, but I've never had the pleasure of listening to her myself. Andrew Vazzano (via me, via The Final Score) has video of her singing a tribute to former Met Tom Seaver.



Enjoy.

Busy day

I'm not going to be around all day, so I'd just like to remind you all that there is a 1:05 p.m. start for today's game.

Mike Mussina will be on the mound in hopes of winning his 10th game of the year.

If you're in an office that has radio reception, enjoy listening to Ma and Pa. If you're lucky enough to be watching at home, enjoy the sweet sounds of Michael Kay.

One year ago today

It was one year ago today that Roger Clemens announced his return to the New York Yankees during their 5-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners. For your listening pleasure, here's Suzyn Waldman.

Clemens ended up going 6-6 with a 4.18 ERA in 17 starts (18 games) last year. He also had a bad start against Cleveland in the ALDS in which he was (partly) booed off the mound.

Since then, his life has been in a downward spiral, as he was named in the Mitchell Report and reportedly had a fling with a 15-year-old country singer.

In retrospect, he was better off not returning last season.

Clemens considering pitching for Team USA

Roger Clemens is considering pitching for Team USA in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

From MSNBC.com:

“I think, if things fell into place and he felt good, he would be interested,” agent Randy Hendricks told MLB.com. “He loves the idea of representing his country.”

I wonder how much they're going to pay him. I also wonder if Suzyn Waldman will say, "Roger Clemens is on George Bush's mound" (or something to that effect).

Waldman defends herself

Suzyn Waldman is not backing down from her actions during Monday night's postgame show on WCBS-AM 880.

Suzyn Waldman was unapologetic yesterday for choking up and sobbing briefly in her report Monday night on WCBS-AM after the Indians knocked the Yankees out of the playoffs. “That’s who I am,” she said by telephone. “It’s unusual, but not for me. I am emotional. I’m a conduit between the players and the fans, and everyone was crying.”

She added: “That’s what I felt. I am who I am. I’m emotional. A lot of people like it, a lot of people don’t. I didn’t do it in a game, and I recovered.”

It would be easy to condemn Waldman for losing her composure, demonstrating her feelings for Manager Joe Torre and shedding her professional stance. But Waldman is not a standard analyst. She can get away with reacting in a way that a male counterpart might be ridiculed for. (“I cry at ‘Cinderella,’ ” she said in the moments before she sobbed.) She is an empathetic personality — her clubhouse demeanor is as much reporter as mother-confessor — so her catch-in-her-voice weeping about Torre’s probable departure was not surprising.

“There are a lot worse things than crying on the air,” she said. (The New York Times)

Her crying on air may not be surprising, but I still find it rather unprofessional.

Ma Yankee gets emotional

This is a must, MUST listen (via Awful Announcing). Please be patient - it takes a while to load but it's highly worth it.

Our very own Suzyn Waldman cried on-air during last night's postgame show on WCBS-AM 880.

John Sterling, once again, came out looking great (see Roger Clemens' announcement aftermath).

This is extremely unprofessional of Waldman.

Roger Clemens' greatest hits

In honor of Roger Clemens returning to pitch for the Yankees at Yankee Stadium tomorrow, let us take a look at some of his more memorable moments as a New York Yankee.

February 18, 1999 - The Blue Jays trade Clemens to the Yankees for David Wells, Homer Bush, and Graeme Lloyd.

October 27, 1999 - Clemens wins the clinching game of the 1999 World Series, pitching 7 2-3 innings, only giving up one run.

July 8, 2000 - In the second game of a day-night two-stadium doubleheader, Clemens drills Mike Piazza in the head. As a result, Piazza misses the all-star game and the famous Clemens/Piazza feud is born.

October 14, 2000 - Game 4 of the ALCS in Seattle. Clemens pitches one of the best games of his career. He throws a complete game shutout, allowing one hit, striking out 15 Mariners while only walking two. This helped the Yankees advance to the 2000 World Series, where they went on to beat the Mets.

October 22, 2000 - Game 2 of the 2000 World Series. In the top of the first, Piazza breaks his bat, and the barrel ends up in Clemens' hand. Without hesitation, he fires it back in Piazza's direction. The Yankees would end up winning the game and the series in five games.

September 19, 2001 - Clemens wins his 20th game of the year, improving his record to 20-1. He would finish 20-3 en route to winning his sixth Cy Young Award.

October 30, 2001 - With President George W. Bush throwing out the first pitch and the Yankees down 2-0 in the World Series, Clemens pitches seven strong innings, allowing only one run while striking out nine. The Yankees would go on to win this game.

June 13, 2003 - Clemens wins his 300th game and records his 4,000th strikeout against the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitches 6 2-3 innings and strikes out ten.

October 23, 2003 - World Series Game 4. Clemens strikes out Luis Castillo to end the seventh. Announcing he was going to retire at the end of the season, the fans give him a standing ovation as he walked off the mound. Little did they know that Clemens would still be pitching in 2007.

May 6, 2007 - OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS. Clemens hijacks the Yankee Stadium P.A. system during the seventh inning stretch to announce he has signed a deal to come back and pitch for the Yankees. "Thank y'all. Well, they came and got me out of Texas, and, uh, I can tell ya it's a privilege to be back," Clemens said. "I'll be talking to y'all soon." Suzyn Waldman then proceeds to have a seizure on the radio.

June 9, 2007 - Clemens will take the mound wearing a Yankee uniform for the first time since October 23, 2003. He will start against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Welcome back, Roger.

Of all the dramatic things I've ever seen

In honor of Roger Clemens' return tomorrow afternoon, here is another chance to listen to audio of Roger Clemens' announcement of his return to the Yankees and the subsequent orgasmic response by WCBS-AM 880 broadcaster Suzyn Waldman (pictured). This never gets old.

I just hope Waldman doesn't track me down, start screaming at me and threaten to slap me at Shea Stadium like she did to Chris Russo because he was making fun of the call on his radio program.