Monthly Archives: July 2014

Found over at Vintage New York. 

Jeter’s final All Star Game.

Deh-Rick Gee-Tah!

[Pictures Via: It’s a Long Season]

Mon oncle. 

All Star Break Open Thread. [Photo Credit: Alex Brandon/AP]

Food 52 talks avocados. 

Torched it.

[Painting by Alyssa Monks]

Cornell.

I got off the subway on my way to the movies yesterday and as I waited to cross the street, I saw a parade of Citroens drive by.

I saw Boyhood yesterday and it unfolds like a movie version of a family photo album. I’ve never been a particular fan of Richard Linklater’s movies but this one is beautiful in quiet, subtle–but not precious–ways.  It has a different sense of pacing from most American movies. It almost feels European in that way. It reminded me of the best parts of Malick,  Altman, and, particularly, early Jonathan Demme. There are some unnerving moments but Linklater likes people. He isn’t sunny, exactly–at least not in a phony way–but has a hopeful view of the world.

The movie is long, sometimes talky, even boring at times, but not in a way that breaks the spell. It’s just that the movie is in no hurry. Oh, and it’s also funny in a dry, deadpan way.

The performances were better than convincing. I felt immersed in the characters’ lives.  Ellar Coltrane, in the lead role, is special, man. (I’ve never cared for Ethan Hawke and he’s terrific here.)

I was so involved that after the first hour I forgot about how the movie was filmed. I understand why Manohla Dargis has seen it 3 times and wants to go again. 

Worth your time.

It was the second time around against the meat of the order that Chase Whitley got tagged. Not destroyed, but had for 3 runs.

David Huff relieved him and then Mother Nature relieved herself. The rain came and didn’t leave and in the end, the Yanks lost 3-1 in 5 innings.

Somehow, it was a fitting way to go into the All Star Break. They are 47-47.

[Photo Credit: Tara on the wander]

Man, the kid was good. Stands up tall on the mound, works quickly, has poise. Even when he got into trouble, he didn’t rattle. Shane Greene gave the Yanks exactly what they needed on Saturday afternoon as they beat the Orioles, 3-0.

Now, if only Chase Whitley can do likewise today.

Never mind the break:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Picture by Bags]

It’s Shane Greene again and all I can think of is Aaron Small. Please, let this guy be another Aaron Small.

Brett Gardner LF
Derek Jeter SS
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Brian McCann DH
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Brian Roberts 2B
Kelly Johnson 3B
Francisco Cervelli C

Never mind the gap:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Drawing of Gaston LaGaffe by Andre Franquin]

Nice to see that the Banter faithful were out enjoying their Friday night instead of suffering through another characteristic 2014 Yankee loss.

Good starting pitching, good relieving, no hitting.

It all amounted to a 3-2 loss as the Yanks sink 5 games back of the AL East-leading Orioles.

Our man Hiroki–the last man standing–pitched well so it was dispiriting that he didn’t get more run support. But this is the way things go for a .500 ball club.

[Photo Credit: Bill Peppas]

The Yanks traded for Jeff Francis today.

They are in Baltimore this weekend to wrap up the first half of the season before the All Star Break.

Well, Hell. Eerything was going so well. David Phelps held the Indians scoreless through the first 6 innings and had a modest 3-0 lead. But he was relieved of his duties after giving up a couple of hits to start the 7th and by the time the inning was over, the Indians led, 4-3.

As Chad Jennings reports:

Biggest play of the game might have been the single that came immediately after Phelps left the game. Ground ball up the middle might have been a double play, but Matt Thornton reacted and knocked the ball down. Instead of getting through to Jeter, it was an infield single to load the bases. The triple that followed tied the game. “It’s reaction,” Girardi said. “But if you could think real quick, you’d say, ‘Matt Thornton, get out of the way.’ Then you’ve got a double play ball. It changes the complexion of the game. It changes who we use. It just changes everything. But it happens. It’s a reaction, it happens, and you want your pitchers to try to field balls, but that happened to be one that is the double play ball we’re looking for.”

Thornton on that play: “I know where Derek’s at in that situation. I know that we’re pinching up the middle there, but the ball gets hit hard back at you, that’s instinct. Love to look back and be able to jump out of the way of it, but that’s not how it works. … Anyone who’s been on the mound and had the ball hit back to them, you’re going to react to it. I reacted just slow enough to slap it, and not quick enough to get it. It changes the momentum of the game there big time.”

The Indians scored 5 more times in the 8th just to rub it in and what appeared to be a series win was lost.

Just like the Yanks lost their ace, and more than likely, the 2014 season.

We’ll keep watching, of course. There’s entertainment to be had, and this is our team, and we love baseball, so we ain’t going anywhere. Still, the Tanaka news was a Holly Hunter punch right between the eyes, wasn’t it?

Final Score: Indians 9, Yanks 3. 

Specializing in injury law.

Looks as if poor Carlito Beltran will be placed on the 7-day concussive list.

Brett Gardner LF
Derek Jeter SS
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Brian McCann DH
Francisco Cervelli C
Zelous Wheeler RF
Yangervis Solarte 3B
Brendan Ryan 2B

Phelps is on the mound as the Yanks try to win the series against the Indians tonight in Cleveland.

[ss

Paintings by Hisaya Taira over at Faith is Torment (via This Isn’t Happiness).

Mint. 

Grand Groove.

[Photo Credit: Chris Heads]

Painting by Bradley Hankey.