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QE - All posts tagged QE
Jan 22, 2015
8:04 AM ETWe live blogged the European Central Bank's monetary policy decision and Mario Draghi's news conference.
- 8:06 am (EST)
- ECB: Draghi to detail further measures
- William Watts
The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged as expected and said further monetary policy details would come when Draghi takes the podium at 8:30 a.m. Eastern.
Sep 23, 2014
5:00 AM ETFed officials don't usually like to talk about the dollar, so New York Fed President William Dudley's remarks Monday were worth noting. Here's what he may be worried about. -
Sep 16, 2014
9:35 AM ETWe live-blogged all the action in stocks on Tuesday.
- 9:39 am (EDT)
- Weaker start for stocks
- William Watts
Stocks are under modest pressure in early action, following through on the tech-inspired rout that made for the Nasdaq's biggest one-day drop in more than six weeks on Monday.
S&P 500 -- down 2.15 points, or 0.1%, at 1,981.98
DJIA -- down 21 at 17,009
Nasdaq Composite -- down 11 at 4,508
Aug 7, 2014
7:58 AM ETThe European Central Bank, as expected, left interest rates unchanged at its policy meeting Thursday. Here's a recap of our live blog of ECB President Mario Draghi's monthly news conference.
- 8:05 am (EDT)
- Draghi 'under pressure like never before'
- William Watts
No surprises from the ECB Governing Council as it opts to hold its key lending rate, known as the refi rate, at 0.15% and maintains its deposit rate at minus 0.10%.
Stephen Pope, managing partner of London-based Spotlight Ideas says the decision implies that with the backdrop of dreadful European data, the standoff between the European Union and Russia over Ukraine and Portugal's bank troubles, "the press conference becomes ever more critical in terms of delivering clarity.
"The market is pricing in lower inflation and so President Draghi will be under pressure like never before," Pope said, in a note.
Jul 21, 2014
11:17 AM ETIt's no surprise nervous investors are looking for the catalyst that will bring the most-hated bull market in memory to an end, but so far the ingredients for a bear market have yet to materialize, analysts said.
Jun 26, 2014
10:50 AM ETHere's something new to chew on: The biggest risk not priced into global markets is inflation, says former White House adviser Philippa Malmgren. Not deflation — though the latter is what most economists seem to fret about these days.
Jun 5, 2014
7:55 AM ETWe live-blogged the reaction to the European Central Bank's policy decisions and Mario Draghi's news conference here.
- 8:01 am (EDT)
- William Watts
The ECB delivered rate cuts, trimming its main lending rate ever closer to zero with a cut from 0.25% to 0.15%. The ECB also became the first major central bank to implement a negative deposit rate in an effort to spur lending in the euro zone. The ECB cut the deposit rate on reserves parked at the central bank to -0.1% from zero. Most economists, however, doubt the sting will be sufficient to prompt a lending surge.
Moreover, the ECB, in a rare move, said further monetary policy measures will come. As always, that means the main event will be ECB President Mario Draghi's news conference, set to get under way at 2:30 p.m. Frankfurt time, or 8:30 a.m. Eastern.
May 9, 2014
12:14 PM ETMacro traders are a miserable lot these days, lamenting low volatility that has played havoc with their usual trading strategies. But is it really uncharted territory? This chart says, no.
Apr 30, 2014
8:17 AM ETThe European Central Bank is left in a limbo after the euro-zone inflation data for April just missed expectations. The 0.7% reading isn't weak enough to trigger immediate easing, economists say, but at the same time isn't strong enough to completely ease pressure on the ECB to loosen monetary policy.
Apr 22, 2014
11:49 AM ETThe European Central Bank is far from done with easing the economy and quantitative easing could come as soon as September this year, Citi says on Tuesday.
But in order for QE to have any effect and lift inflation closer to target, the asset purchases need to be at least 1,000 billion euros.
- « Previously in QE
- Next in QE »
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Hit-and-run injures man riding lawn mower
A Fargo man was arrested Friday night for driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident with serious injuries after striking a man on a riding lawn mower with his pickup truck.
According to a news release, Fargo Police responded to a report of a hit-and-run around 7:49 p.m. Friday. Witnesses said a pickup truck was eastbound in the 1800 block of 20th Avenue South. A man on a riding lawn mower drove onto the roadway and was struck by the pickup.
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text: ORIENTEERING TASMANIA INC. POLICIES AND GUIDELINES G PAGE 1 OF 10 GLOSSARY OF ORIENTEERING JARGON This glossary was compiled from many Australian and international sources, and edited by Jenny and Ian Atkinson to include most orienteering terminology in use in Tasmania. It is intended as a guide for young and old, but is not comprehensive. Anyone looking for more detailed and 'official' information should consult the OT, OA and IOF websites. The facts are usually there, even if sometimes a bit hard to find. We regard this as a work in progress, and welcome constructive suggestions. Use the Find facility in Acrobat to quickly find the term you want. A Aiming off: When a control point is on a long line feature, deliberately aiming to left or right of it so that when you reach the line feature you know which way to turn. Armchair O: The study of maps and courses while indoors, to analyse route choice and to set theoretical courses. Attack point: An obvious and recognisable feature, ideally within 150 m of the control feature, from which the orienteer makes a careful approach to the control. Australian Orienteer: Official magazine of Orienteering Australia, published four times a year. B Badges/Badge Event: Designated high standard events, including State and National Championships, at which accreditation for Gold, Silver and Bronze badges can be gained by being within a certain percentage of the winner's time. Base plate: The part of the compass that holds the housing - the bottom bit. Base plate Compass: One form of orienteering compass consisting of a rectangular base supporting a movable housing which contains the compass needle. Most serious competitors these days use the thumb compass (see below) but the base-plate version is often simpler for beginners. Bearing: Direction of travel, taken from the map by setting a bearing on the compass. Bingo Control: Control where luck can be as useful as skill in finding it, e.g. a point feature within a patch of thick bush (green). Also called 'Mickey Mouse" controls. These are poor control sites! C Cartography: Drawing maps. Catching Feature: See Collecting Feature. Check Point: An obvious feature on the map and ground, which can be used to check that you are keeping to your chosen route. AUTHOR Ian and Jenny Atkinson RESPONSIBILITY Ours alone LAST UPDATED March 2008 APPROVED BY OT EXECUTIVE N/A PAGE 2 OF 10 G GLOSSARY OF ORIENTEERING JARGON Coach: An experienced orienteer trained and accredited in accordance with OA requirements. (See OA website for more detail). Clubs and OT have coaches available to assist orienteers at all stages of experience and skill. Collecting Feature: Obvious linear feature which collects orienteers if the control is missed, or an obvious feature used at the end of a rough orienteering section to check location on a leg. Compass: A navigation instrument which indicates magnetic north. Orienteers use protractor compasses or thumb compasses (see below). O maps are drawn with magnetic north lines. Competition Rules For Orienteering Australia Foot Orienteering Events: The rules for foot orienteering in Australia. Although applicable in all their provisions for National and major State events, the principles apply for all orienteering. Complaints: There is provision in Competition Rules For Orienteering Australia Foot Orienteering Events for complaints and protests. (See Rules 27, 28 and 29). These are normally only made in major events where a competitor considers that they have been disadvantaged by some aspect of the event organisation or other competitor's behaviour. At local or other low key events, any concern is best discussed with the organiser or club official. Contour Interval: Distance in height between adjacent contour lines (usually five metres on 1:15,000 maps, but always check as they may be different on some maps). The closer the contour lines, the steeper the terrain. Contour Lines: Lines on map, joining points of equal height. Specific landforms show characteristic patterns – gullies, spurs, knolls, saddles etc. Contouring: Keeping at a constant height. Useful technique in steep spur/gully terrain, to avoid having to climb down and up. Control card: A card carried by a participant and used to record start and finish times. It is punched by competitors at each control to prove they have visited the correct controls. Control: A checkpoint that the competitor must visit. An orange and white flag marks the control. There is a punching or electronic device to verify the visit. Control circle: A circle drawn around a feature on the map to indicate the location of a control marker. The control site should be in the exact centre of the circle. Normally drawn 6 mm in diameter, so that, for exaple, on a 1:15,000 map the circle represents a diameter of 90 metres. Control code: Numbers or letters on a control marker to enable participants to verify they have reached the correct one. Control description: Description of the hysical location or feature on which the control is situated. Includes the types of feature, its size etc. The description of each control is based on the International Specification for Control Descriptions 2004 (Available on the OT website via the Policy page). Control Description List: Available to each participant before commencing. Shows course length, climb, number of controls, control codes and descriptions. Also drink stations, manned controls or radio stations. Described by international symbols, or in English for beginner and junior courses. Control Feature: A natural or man-made feature at which the flag is places or hung. Control Flow: The way a participant flows through a control site, approaching the control, rapid checking of code, punching of card or e-card and split time watch (if applicable) and leaving quickly along a pre-determined line. Control Marker: Orange and white flag which is hung at control site. Last Updated March 2008 PAGE 3 OF 10 G GLOSSARY OF ORIENTEERING JARGON Control Number: The number drawn beside each control circle on the map. On a standard foot orienteering course, the numbers show the order in which the controls must be visited. The top of each number should point to North. Control Picking: A training exercise with many close controls. Encourages fast decision making and a smooth flow through the controls. Control Punch: A small clipper with various designs of pins (sometimes referred to as a braille punch) for punching the participant's control card to verify that each control feature has been visited (unless an electronic device is used, e.g. SPORTident). Control Site: The place on the feature where the flag is hung. On the map it is at the centre of the circle. Control Stand: A metal T-Bar on which punch or electronic device is secured. The control marker shows where the stand is, and the control code is attached to the stand. Controller: A trained adviser and observer who ensures that the technical and organisational standards of the event are within the rules. Course: A sequence of control points that are marked on the map to be visited in turn by the orienteer doing a standard event course. Course planning: The skill of designing fair courses to suit different levels of navigational ability, fitness and age. Crossing Point: Where legs cross unavoidable areas of dense vegetation or uncrossable rivers, a crossing point should be constructed. It is marked with tapes and also shown on the map to ensure fairness (so that crossing points are not found by luck). D Dark green: See Fight. D.N.F. Abbreviation for "Did Not Finish". An orienteer is deemed to have DNF'd if the course has not been completed. May be due to injury or navigational problems. It is vital to report back to the finish even if you have not completed the course so organisers know you're safely back and can check off your name and avoid unnecessary searches at the end of the event. D.N.S. Abbreviation for "Did Not Start" D.S.Q.: Abbreviation for "Disqualified" Direct line orienteering: Straight line running between controls. May be favoured by advanced orienteers in some terrain. Distance estimation/measurement: Use of map scale and pace counting to judge distance accurately. Dog Leg: Where approach and exit legs from a control site form an acute angle. Can result in a participant who is leaving the control inadvertently showing its location to participants approaching. Poor course setting! Avoided by ensuring a wider entry/exit angle, e.g. by adding an extra control. E E-Card or e-stick: Small plastic stick containing electronic chip which records timing information for the orienteer e.g. SPORTident (used in Tasmania) and EMIT (used in some other countries) systems. F Fight: Thick vegetation shown as dark green on maps. Very slow or impenetrable. Fine compass: Precise use of the compass. Last Updated March 2008 PAGE 4 OF 10 G GLOSSARY OF ORIENTEERING JARGON Fine orienteering: Very careful use of the map, compass and pacing. Used in complex terrain and when approaching the control from an attack point. Finish symbol: Double concentric circles on the map indicating the end of the course. May coincide with start triangle if the start and finish are at the same place. Folding the map: Orienteers usually fold their maps to aid concentration on the leg being run, and to facilitate thumbing their position. Follow the leader: Training exercise where the follower, who has a map, has their location checked by the leader at periodic stops. Helps learn thumbing and map orientation. Advanced orienteers must recall route taken and be able to relocate. Following: Not allowed in competition (Competition Rules For Orienteering Australia Foot Orienteering Events Rule 26.2). It is a disqualification offence (Rule 26.11). (This does not apply for training and introductory assistance for novices and younger juniors.) Staggered starts are used to help force partcipants to do their own navigation. Foot orienteering: One of the four official IOF disciplines. Form Line: Intermediate contour drawn as a dashed brown line. Used where a distinctive land form is not shown satisfactorily by the set contour interval. G Green: Vegetation that affects rate of progress. May be designated as pale through to dark according to orienteers' pace being slowed to slow run, walk, fight. H Handrail: A linear feature such as a fence or road that can be followed easily. Should be obvious feature on junior and novice courses, but should not be available on advanced courses without involving significant extra distance or climb. Hare and tortoise sport: Orienteering nickname. The slow careful participant, the 'tortoise', may beat the 'hare' who is fast but erratic. Hidden control: A control that is obstructed from view so that luck, not skill is involved to find the control. To be avoided in course planning. I Index contour: Every fifth contour line on the map is thicker. This assists calculation of climb on a chosen route choice. IOF control descriptions: An international system of graphic control descriptions. Used at national events and major State events, except for junior and novice courses. See link in OT website Policy page for complete listing. IOF: International Orienteering Federation. Australia affiliated in 1969. J JWOC - Junior World Orienteering Championships - international championships conducted annually under the auspices of the IOF. Comprises a series of events for men and women under age 21 in the year of the event. K Kilometre Rate: Time taken for the course (minutes) divided by its straight-line length (km). Varies with the type of terrain. Kite: Another word meaning control flag. Last Updated March 2008 PAGE 5 OF 10 G GLOSSARY OF ORIENTEERING JARGON Knoll: A small obvious mound or small hill , normally shown by a brown dot, ring contour or form line. L Leg: The section of a course between two controls. Good course planning will require navigational decisions to be made over the whole length of the leg, not just as the control is approached. Legend: The key to all symbols on a map. Orienteering maps all over the world use standard symbols. Usually shown on map or available from event organisers. Line Event: Training or novelty event where maps are marked with a line indicating the exact route to be followed. Participants mark the precise location of each of the controls they find along the route (or punch only at controls on the line). Linear or line feature: A long feature such as a path, fence or stream which appears as a distinct line on the map and can be followed on the ground. Lockable control: A plate holding the control punch which is chained and secured by a padlock so that it cannot be stolen. May lie on the ground or be fastened around a tree or pole. Used in public streets and other insecure locations. Should be marked by a control flag which may be set higher than usual. M Magnetic north: The direction to which the red end of the compass needle points. The north lines on an orienteering map show magnetic north. Manned Control: Observer to check that controls are taken in correct order, particularly if a course has crossing legs (not necessary when electronic system is used). Map: A two-dimensional depiction of the terrain. Orienteering maps are highly detailed and drawn to an international standard using IOF approved colours and symbols, usually at a scale of 1:15,000, but may be 1:10,000 or less depending on the terrain and the intended use. Map Corrections: These are displayed before the start if there are errors or omissions on the map. If competitors are provided with their map before their start time, they can enter the amendments on to the map before proceeding to the master map. Map corrections should also be shown on master maps. For major events when maps are made available as co mpet itors start, the map should have all corrections on the map provided. Map reading: The art of understanding and interpreting the map detail. The basis of orienteering. Map walk: A training exercise for novices. Orienteers are led through the bush following the route on their maps while the coach stops frequently to ask "where are you?" and points out interesting map features. Marking up your map: Usual at all but major events. Participants copy their course onto their map from the master copy for their course provided at the start. This is usually done 6 minutes before the allocated start time, but for some events where pre-entry is available the organisers may stipulate that the markup is to be done after the start time for those competitors who chose to enter on the day. It is better for novices to mark their maps before being started as accuracy is essential. At major events, the courses are pre-printed on participants' maps. Mass start: All participants start at the same time. Used in score events, scatter events and relays. Master map: A separate map for each course provided at the start, from which participants must copy their own course onto their map. They are placed on boards and pens are provided. Last Updated March 2008 PAGE 6 OF 10 G GLOSSARY OF ORIENTEERING JARGON Misplaced marker: A control located in a place other than that shown on the master map or pre- printed map. At a major event, if a protest is lodged due to this error, the jury may cancel the course (see Rules 26 - 30). Mountain bike orienteering: Competitors participate on mountain bikes on tracks or like terrain and using similar maps to foot orienteering. Courses tend to be correspondingly longer. Mountain bike orienteering is one of the four official lOF disciplines. Multi-day event: An event occurring over two or more days of competition. Multi-Master Maps: Use of a second (or even third) set of master maps. These are placed out on the course for competitors to copy the remainder of their course. Sometimes needed when there is a cross-over, or to give sufficient length to courses in a restricted area. Use of electronic punching (Sportident) has reduced the need for this practice. N Navigation: The skill of finding your way through unfamiliar bush using a map and compass. The basic skill of orienteering. Needle punch: See control punch. Night O: Orienteering in the dark. Torches or head lights are used and small lights or reflectors are placed with the control stand and marker to aid the orienteer. Course setting requires particular care. Novice Course: Cannot be too easy. Needs careful setting using handrails, controls placed on obvious features within sight of the handrail, and a control at each main change of direction. Novices like lots of controls to find, even over a short distance. Novice: The beginning orienteer. O O: Abbreviated term for Orienteering, as in O map, O-shoes, etc. OCAD: A computer program widely used for drawing orienteering maps. OA: Orienteering Australia. (Orienteering Federation of Australia.) Formed in 1971. Optimum route: The best, most efficient route between controls for an individual orienteer, considering his or her level of fitness and navigation skills. Orientating: See orienting. Orienteer: One who enjoys the challenges of orienteering. Orienteering: A sport in which the competitors visit a number of points marked on the ground, controls, in the shortest possible time, aided by map and compass. The term competitor means an individual of either sex, or a team, as appropriate. Can be a competitive or recreational sport. Nicknamed the "thought sport", "cunning running", the "hare and tortoise sport". Orienteering Tasmania: Orienteering Tasmania Inc. is responsible for the organisation and promotion of orienteering throughout Tasmania, and is the Tasmanian member association of Orienteering Australia. Orienting the map: Turning the map so it is held in true relationship with the features on the ground (i.e. the magnetic north lines on the map point to magnetic north). It is the secret to successful navigation and should form the first lesson for any novice group. The map can be oriented either by comparing the map directly with the terrain or by using a compass to orient to north. Out of bounds: Prohibited areas shown by black vertical lines or a khaki green. May be private property, or dangerous areas. Must not be entered during the event. Last Updated March 2008 PAGE 7 OF 10 G GLOSSARY OF ORIENTEERING JARGON Overshooting: To go past the control. If this mistake is not quickly noticed, e.g. by recognition of a collecting feature, many minutes may be wasted looking for the control in the wrong location. P Pace counting: Measuring distance using your own (known) pace length. Pacing: Determining distance fairly accurately using personal pace-counting. Can be assessed by each person by counting double or single steps over a measured 100 metres. Pacing then also must allow for slope, thick vegetation, rough ground and deviations, and whether running, jogging or walking. Parallel Error: Mistakenly finding a feature similar to the correct one and close to it. Course setters may site controls where terrain features are repeated to 'tempt' orienteers into making these errors. Park orienteering: A spectator-friendly type of orienteering which is run in a public park or reserve. Usually has a limited number of courses, suitable for all abilities, with participants starting at short (one or two minute) intervals. Permanent Course: See Public Course. Photogrammetry: Making a base map by plotting contours from pairs of aerial photos using a stereo- plotter. The accuracy of the base map photogrammetry will largely determine the accuracy of the final contour patterns. Mainly done commercially by experts. Point feature: A feature which does not have any appreciable length and is easy to miss if the participant is slightly off bearing, e.g. a small building, a knoll, a boulder or a pit. Post mortem: Debriefing exercise after the event where route choices and errors are analysed – with the help of hindsight. Pre-entry: For some (usually major) events, participants must submit their entry to the organisers a specified time before the event. Pre-marked map: A map on which the course is already marked. Standard at larger events, especially pre-entry events; competitors usually receive a pre-marked map as they start their course. Pre-start: The area into which competitors are called a few minutes before their start time. Protest: There is provision in Competition Rules For Orienteering Australia Foot Orienteering Events for complaints and protests. (See Rules 27,28 and 29). These are normally only made in major events where a competitor considers that they have been disadvantaged by some aspect of the event organisation or other competitor's behaviour. At local or other low key events, any concern is best discussed with the organiser or club official. Protractor compass: Also known as a base plate compass. The conventional "Silva type" compass with a 360° dial swivelling on a transparent base plate with a direction arrow. Public Course: Area of public land with permanent posts or other markers available for use by individuals to practice orienteering skills. Punching: Marking the control card with the punch. Punching technique: The skill of holding the control card and marking it at a control. Various methods are used including one and two handed punching methods. R Recommended Course Lengths: Based on estimated winning times for that terrain, not on distance. Recommended Winning Times: OA gives guidelines in Competition Rules For Orienteering Australia Foot Orienteering Events Appendix 1 Section 4. Application should take into account the type of event, age and ability of participants, difficulty of terrain and time of year. Last Updated March 2008 PAGE 8 OF 10 G GLOSSARY OF ORIENTEERING JARGON Re-entrant: A gully or small valley shown by one or more contour lines. The opposite of a spur. On a map, the contour lines which describe a re-entrant point uphill. Registration: The place where competitors sign up for an event, pay their fee, and gain any pre-entry information. Also refers to the process of pre-entering. A competitor not completing/abandoning their course should always report back to the organisers at the registration venue before leaving the event to avoid an unnecessary search for them late in the day. Relay: An event where the distance is divided between members of a team. Usually uses a central point as the start and finish and change-over point, with legs arranged in a clover leaf pattern. A mass start is used and a scatter strategy must be employed to minimise following. Relocation: Ways of re-establishing position after getting lost. The skill of finding out the correct location after making an error. Ranging from going back one control – through heading for the nearest big line feature – to matching a "set" map to the landscape in detail. Many elite orienteers rely on rough orienteering coupled with rapid relocation near the control circle. RICE: Formula for treating soft-tissue injuries - Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Ride: A linear gap in the trees or forest such as a fire-break. Rogaining: Long distance score event. Map scale is generally 1:25,000. The maps are pre-marked and the events vary in duration from 6 ,12, 15 to 24 hours. Organised by a separate association in Tasmania. Rough Navigation: Fast navigation using rough compass bearings across areas where collecting features will keep you in map contact. Route choice: Choosing your best route on a particular leg as an alternative to the straight line route. May avoid thick vegetation, climbing or provide safer navigation. Good course setters offer many route choices. Run: Terrain which allows rapid progress. Usually mapped as white (forests) or dark yellow (open) on maps. Runnability: The ease or speed at which a participant is able to run through a given type of terrain. Forest terrain is marked as white or with varying shades of green, and open terrain with varying shades of yellow. A rough surface, many fallen logs and density of vegetation all affect the runnability of terrain. Vegetation is mapped accordingly, e.g. slow run, walk, fight. S Saddle: A low point between two higher points: usually a lower ridge joining two spurs or hills. Safety Bearing: A compass bearing issued prior to the event for use if lost completely. The bearing directs participants to a major linear feature such as a road. Safety whistle: A whistle which can be used if a participant is injured or lost. The International Distress Signal is six (6) short blasts repeated at one (1) minute intervals. Scale The distance on the ground represented by distance on the map. Usually orienteering maps are 1:10,000 (1cm on the map represents 100m on the ground) or 1:15,000 (1cm on the map represents 150m on the ground). Score Event: Participants visit as many controls as possible within a fixed time, e.g., 30 minutes. More distant or difficult controls are often allotted a higher point value. Points are deducted for the length of time the orienteer arrives after the allotted time is up, say 5 points for every minute. The person with the most points wins. Setting the map: See Orienting the map. Shadowing: A training exercise in which the coach follows the orienteer around a course, observing techniques used. Not allowed during competition. (See Following.) Last Updated March 2008 PAGE 9 OF 10 G GLOSSARY OF ORIENTEERING JARGON Simplification: Ignoring the small details on the map and picking out the information that is essential to get to your next control. (See Rough Navigation.) Site: The location of the control. Ski orienteering: Competitors participate on skis over similar terrain and using similar maps to other orienteering disciplines. Courses are correspondingly longer. Ski orienteering is one of the four official IOF disciplines. Spike: To 'spike' the control means to find it immediately without any loss of time. SPORTident: A system using electronic means of recording. A participant carries a device about 5cm (2in) in length, which must be inserted into a slot at each control and an audible tone indicates that the device has registered the visit. Spur: A contour projection or 'nose' rising from the surrounding ground. Staggered Start: The practice of starting competitors on the same course at set intervals, often of two minutes, to minimise following. Stake control: A metal or wooden stake, usually painted red and white and marked with letters or numbers. Used on Public Courses. Star Event: An event in which participants must return to the start between controls. This can be used for relay or memory events, or for keeping close contact with novices. Start Triangle: The centre of the triangle is the start location; on the map its sides should be 7 mm and one apex should point to the first control. The start point must be described on the control description list. String Course: A course marked with a continuous string or streamer line. These courses are often used with very young children to give them familiarity with the forest. They like lots of controls to punch. Stub: The tear off portion of the control card with participant details and start time, used by some clubs. Handed in before the start of an exercise or competition so that it can be used as a safety check. T Tags: Short brown lines drawn at right angles to the contours on some complex maps. They always point downhill and help the orienteer sort "up" from "down", e.g. to distinguish a large depression from a knoll. Thumb compass: A small compass fixed onto an angled base plate with an attachment to fit over the thumb. The map is held in the hand with the compass placed on the map, parallel to the route being taken. It enables the orienteer to maintain correct map orientation and to 'run the needle'. (Available for both left and right hands; immovable and movable compass housings; regular and fast-setting needles.) It is quick to use for setting the map but is not ideal when beginners need to take accurate bearings. Thumb compasses allow an orienteer to carry the map and compass in the same hand more easily. Thumbing: Keeping track of your position on the map by folding the map and holding it with your thumb beside your chosen route. Traffic light orienteering: A useful method of leg simplification. Think of some parts as "green" (fast, rough orienteering), "yellow" (slower speed, more care with navigation), and "red" (for fine orienteering, particularly near the control site). Trail orienteering: Orienteering for disabled people. Trail orienteering is one of the four official IOF disciplines. Vegetation boundary: A distinct boundary between different types of trees or vegetation. Last Updated March 2008 PAGE 10 OF 10 G GLOSSARY OF ORIENTEERING JARGON Vegetation: The type of growth (trees, grass, bushes) that occurs in a particular area. Visibility: The distance that you can see through wooded terrain. Visibility may be good even where runnability is poor, e.g. low bracken with burnt logs. W Walk: An area in which the participant is likely to make slow progress. Usually indicated with mid- green on the map. Window O: A training exercise whereby rough orienteering is used to reach the control area as quickly as possible. The orienteer then relocates inside the 'window' and navigates to the control. WOC: World Orienteering Championships - international championships conducted annually under the auspices of the IOF. Comprises a series of events for men and women. Last Updated March 2008


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ID 2015-1681 Job Location US-FL-Clearwater Category Administrative/Clerical Position Status Regular Full-Time Position Schedule Monday-Friday Shift 9-6 Alternative Schedule .. More information about this job: Overview: Qualifies patients? insurance coverage and ensures
2/17/2015 Clearwater, FL Save This JobAs our Sales Operations Maven, youâll be juggling a broad set of responsibilities, in a fast-moving environment. But thatâs why this job is for you - you can handle this in your sleep.
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- Dora the Explorer (7)
- Team Umizoomi (4)
- Bubble Guppies (4)
- Paw Patrol (3)
- Peter Rabbit (1)
- Lalaloopsy (1)
- Max & Ruby (2)
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These activities are just right for your little ones
Peter's Holiday Coloring PackPrint this 5-page pack and let kids make it a very colorful Christmas for Peter and his pals |
Bubble Guppies Holiday ColoringThis Bubble Guppies holiday coloring pack is swim-sational! |
Umi Holiday Spot the DifferenceYou'll need sharp eyes to spot what's different in each row! |
Geo's Pumpkin Shapes PackHelp Geo get these pumpkins in "shape" for Halloween! |
Dora's Costume CertificatePresent your costumed kids with an award from Dora at your Halloween party! |
Team Umizoomi PinwheelsRun or crazy shake to get the team spinning! |
Dora Christmas Coloring PackGet into the holiday spirit Dora and her friends |
Diego Holiday OrnamentPrint, cut, glue, and hang. The holidays are here! |
Bubble Guppies Cards for DadMake a splash on Dad's Day with these jumbo-sized cards! |


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Freddie Prinze Jr. was supposed to be at Comic-Con to promote his new series, Star Wars Rebels, but instead took the time to trash talk Kiefer Sutherland, calling him "the most unprofessional dude."
Prinze worked on 24 in 2010, and "hated every moment of it," he told ABC News. "I just wanted to quit the business after that. So, I just sort of stopped." He later clarified that he didn't completely leave the entertainment world, and worked with Vince McMahon at the WWE. "I didn't have to take my shoes off to do scenes with him, which they made me do [on 24]," he said. "Just put the guy on an apple box or don't hire me next time. You know I'm 6 feet and he's 5'4"."
According to People, Sutherland is said to be 5'9". He also has no hard feelings against his disgruntled former co-star. "Kiefer worked with Freddie Prinze Jr. more than five years ago, and this is the first he has heard of Freddie's grievances," his rep told People. "Kiefer enjoyed working with Freddie and wishes him the best."
Archaeologists have discovered what they believe is a long-lost ancient city — and the find is so legendary, they won't even reveal its location.
Archaeologists from the U.S. and Honduras set out to find the rumored "City of the Monkey God," about which little is known to history. They found an earthen pyramid, stone sculptures, and a map of plazas — but they won't reveal the site's location, to protect the finds from looters. The archaeologists left the 52 artifacts unexcavated, National Geographic reports.
Christopher Fisher, an archaeologist from Colorado State University who was part of the exhibition, told National Geographic the site's well-preserved condition was "incredibly rare." He noted that the stone sculptures were likely an offering, since they were found at the bottom of the pyramid. Fisher and the team also believe there are a number of artifacts still waiting to be discovered below ground at the site.
According to Fisher, the "most striking object" in the collection is the head of a "were-jaguar," which dates to between 1,000 and 1,400 C.E., National Geographic notes.
Ruins of a so-called "lost city" were first identified in 2012, but National Geographic notes that archaeologists "no longer believe in" the notion of one lost city, as legend had described. Rather, they believe there are many sites of "lost cities" that are part o an entire lost civilization, which National Geographic says is "far more important."
The Japanese originally brought cats to remote Aoshima Island to deal with rodent infestations on their fishing boats. Now, the human population has dwindled to 22 and the cat population has ballooned to somewhere above 120. There is little else on the island, but the feline hordes bring up to 34 tourists a day on the twice-a-day ferry from the mainland. This isn't Japan's only "cat island," The Atlantic notes in a new photo blog of the island's cats. Watch Reuters' video tour of Aoshima below. —Peter Weber
The state of Georgia had scheduled Kelly Renee Gissendaner's execution for 7 p.m. on Monday night, but postponed it "out of an abundance of caution," after questions arose about the lethal-injection drug to be administered, according to Georgia Department of Corrections spokeswoman Gwendolyn Hogan. Gissendaner, 46, was convicted of planning the 1997 murder of her husband by her boyfriend, Gregory Owen, who testified against her in a plea deal.
This was the second delay in Gissendaner's planned execution, and Georgia officials didn't disclose a new date. If executed, she will be Georgia's first female death row inmate put to death in 70 years, and only the 16th woman executed since 1976, when the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment.
Last week, Jimmy Kimmel broadcast this surprisingly hard-hitting public service announcement about childhood vaccinations. He felt the need to talk about vaccinations, he said, because, at least in some parts of Southern California, "parents care more about gluten than smallpox." Since anti-vaccination parents wouldn't take advice from a talk-show host, Kimmel invited on real (foul-mouthed) doctors, who "didn't learn about the human body from their friends' Facebook page." Jenny McCarthy probably won't go on Kimmel Live anytime soon:
On Monday night's show, Kimmel noted that, not surprisingly, anti-vaccination advocates weren't pleased with his segment. The part where Kimmel reads terrible things people tweeted at him, then refuses their demands to apologize or "give the other side," is really good television. The part where "Jack and Becky" try to convince parents to let their kids decide about vaccinations is merely amusing. —Peter Weber
A curious thing happened last Thursday. An insane number of people looked at a photo of a dress and couldn't agree on what colors it was. And they argued about it online and in person for, like, 24 hours. But you are on the internet, so you already knew that. If you're not sick of "The Dress" — or need a quick primer — Jimmy Kimmel had some thoughtful things to say about it on Monday night's Jimmy Kimmel Live:
On Monday night's Late Night, Seth Meyers took a closer look at the uproar, in a segment he calls "A Closer Look." The "married couple" skit is pretty funny. —Peter Weber
When Democrats controlled the Senate and Republicans ruled the House, Washington was mired in gridlock, Jon Stewart said on Monday night's Daily Show. But when the GOP took the reins in the Senate, Republicans were supposed to get stuff done. Stewart even made up a promising buddy cop show starring Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner to illustrate this new era of GOP congressional action.
But of course, Republicans flailed in their first big standoff with President Obama, trying to tie funding for the Department of Homeland Security to overturning Obama's executive orders on immigration. And Stewart was happy to dance on their flub, both substantively — "To stop the president from being too lenient on illegal immigration, you want to defund the department that secures the border?" he asked incredulously — and politically. McConnell came up with a workable compromise, but the House GOP said no, showing who's been clogging up Washington's plumbing for the past four years, Stewart said. "Turns out, no one can work with the Republican House. They're the Keith Olbermann of Congresses." It gets worse for Boehner. Watch below. —Peter Weber
When Iraq launched its third attempt to retake Tirkit from Islamic State on Monday, Iran was aiding it with drones, artillery, and rockets, and Revolutionary Guard troops and commanders. Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Quds Force militia, was on the ground near Tikrit, according to Iran's Fars news agency. The U.S. was watching from the sidelines.
"We are fully aware of the operation, but the Iraqis did not request our support for it," Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren told The Wall Street Journal. "Our presence in Iraq is at the request of the Iraqi government." And Iraq didn't request American help, U.S. officials said, because Iran was supporting the 15,000 Iraq army troops, roughly 15,000 Shiite militia volunteers, and up to 2,000 Sunni tribal fighters. Tikrit, the home of Saddam Hussein, is largely Sunni, while Iran and Iraq's government is Shiite.
The U.S. and Iran are both working with Baghdad to defeat ISIS, but they aren't working together. Instead, a U.S. official tells The Journal, the U.S. supports Iraq's military in central Anbar province and the Kurdish regions in the north, while Iran assists mostly in areas to the east of Baghdad, where "geography naturally favors more Iranian influence." The BBC helpfully explains why Iraq's military needs the help, in this 45-second video. —Peter Weber
Fans of The Walking Dead who have always wanted to own part of a town and happen to have $680,000 are in luck: Downtown Grantville, Georgia, featured on an episode during the show's third season, is up for sale on eBay.
The town's former mayor, Jim Sells, owns the historic property and is hoping to sell it to someone who has "a vision," he told BuzzFeed. He said he'd like to see it "active and thriving," and noted that fans of The Walking Dead flock to the town on tours. The property boasts nine buildings with apartments, restaurants, office space, a pharmacy, and retail space, and is located 40 miles away from Atlanta. Its moment in the spotlight isn't done yet, either — three movies, including a sequel to The Ring, will soon be filmed in the area. —Catherine Garcia
Police stations across the United States are now doubling as safe havens for Craigslist buyers and sellers.
In Naperville, Illinois, police Cmdr. Ken Parcel said Monday that allowing Craigslist users to buy and sell in the station lobby is "a preventative measure to ensure there's a safe place to allow [buyers and sellers] to conduct their normal lives and businesses." He stressed that officers and staff are not assisting with transactions. Chicago does not have official safety zones, but the city's police department did say in a statement it urged people who are buying and selling to meet in well-lit public places and bring along a friend or relative.
In Indiana, a number of violent crimes linked to Craigslist made the town manager of Whitestown spring to action. Dax Morton told the Chicago Tribune the violence was the "straw that broke the camel's back," and that residents in his town can now use the municipal complex for transactions and can ask for police supervision. "My wife uses Craigslist a lot," he said. "I think it's a great idea."
During her four years as secretary of state, Hillary Clinton didn't have a government email account and used only her private account, in possible violation of the Federal Records Act, The New York Times reported Monday night. Just two months ago, Clinton advisers reviewed tens out thousands of pages of Clinton's emails from that period and turned 55,000 pages over to the State Department for archiving.
This blockbuster report didn't escape the notice of former Gov. Jeb Bush (R), who made public 250,000 emails from his eight years as governor back in December, before an anticipated 2016 presidential run:
Transparency matters. Unclassified @HillaryClinton emails should be released. You can see mine, here. http://t.co/wZbtwd8O2j
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) March 3, 2015
"Hillary Clinton should release her emails," Bush spokeswoman Kristy Campbell told the Tampa Bay Times. "Gov. Bush believes transparency is a critical part of public service and of governing." And she, too, pointed to jebemails.com. But "the Bush files, though enormous, are not complete," noted the Miami Herald's Mary Ellen Klas in January:
The former governor conducted all his communication on his private email@example.com account and turned over the hand-selected batch to the state archives when he left office. Absent from the stash are emails the governor deemed not relevant to the public record: those relating to politics, fundraising, and personal matters while he was governor. [Tampa Bay Times]
In case you weren't counting, the Iowa caucuses are in 11 short months.


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Freelance designer & artist with a love for interior design, spirituality, travel, books, and good company. I love airbnb and I hosted some of the most interesting guests through them.
Lichi has completed online and offline ID verification.
We loved Lichis' studio and the neighborhood! The studio is really very beautiful, decorated with care and has a wonderful ambiance. The neighborhood, with lots of nice cafés and restaurants, yet quiet and very near to Park Slope, became our favorite place in NY! We' d love to stay there again! Martin & Lydia, Berlin
Lichi is great and her apartment was just what we were looking for! Her place has such a warm vibe and is filled with many interesting books and objects along with her very cool artwork. We enjoyed the place a great deal and would definitely stay again!
Lichi was a great host and very helpful and accomodating. The apartment was lovely and in a great location. I would recommend a stay here.
Lichi was wonderfully friendly and welcoming. Her home is cozy and cool - full of her artwork, books, and rugs. The apartment was nearby to the Park, the C train and plenty of Prospect heights happenings. There it was easy to cook and relax, which was exactly what we wanted to do. It was a great stay. Thanks Lichi!
We had an amazing stay in NY in Lichi's place. Everything was perfect, beautiful flat, spacefull, great and personnal ambiance, romantic garden in Brooklyn ... Location was perfect, with two subway stations direct to Manhattan next to, streets were very calm... Everything was amazing. You just feel like a real new-yorker here, not so far from Manhattan, but out of this crazy city... Unfortunetly, we just arrived at the same time of blizzard and snow, and the flat stay very hot day and night, we had great sleep in the big confortable bed and had no problem with hot water in the bathroom. Lichi always help us, let us many good adress in BK and many tips to made our stay easily (taxi number, subway stations, cityguides...). She understood all of our problems like a long stay at the airport at plane arrival which made us very late, a late departure in the afternoon... She was amazing and friendly and communication was easy and fast. We've just felt like home. We definitely recommand Lichi's flat and thanks her for this magical stay in the beautiful city ever ... Thank you so much Katapulco ! Hope to see you soon in France !
The apt is very sweet and comfortable, good for what i needed. Lichi is an excellent host and was great to deal with. She was there when i arrived and gave some great tips on the neighborhood.
Lichi place is GREAT. lots of positive energy, very romantic and great library. It was clean and welcoming.
Lichi's place is spacious and full of richly colored fabrics and rugs. There's a full bath and big kitchen looking out onto a back yard. Great location close to trains, the Brooklyn Flea and some fabulous restaurants like Ortine and Le Gamin. Super tasty! I had a bit of a hard time sleeping with the foot traffic in the apartment above, but I am a light sleeper. Lichi is a great host - fast responder, easy to communicate with, gracious, accommodating and left a guidebook and local restaurant menus out for us.
Lichi was very kind and friendly. She met us right away and always responded quickly to emails and texts. Her place was very nice and conveniently located.
Lichi was a great host, and her apartment was lovely. The place was spotless when I arrived, and she has beautiful artwork, artifacts, and books all over – the place looks exactly as it does in the pictures. Unfortunately for me, I was allergic to something in the apartment, and I'm not sure what. We thought maybe it had something to do with a cat that the prior tenant had, but I'm not sure if that would be it, since there is no carpet, and the place is very clean.
Lichi was a great guest. Excellent communication through booking and left our place is great condition.
A Plus Plus for being quiet! Lichi was a great guest. She was courteous, kind and respectful of the house & house rules. She has great energy and was excellent about communicating before her arrival. Would host again any time.
I've been know Lichi for about 3 years and she always amazing me. Great personality, a warrior, a fantastic artist always willing to help other fellow artists on their works,her place is fantastic, lots of good vibes, great books, art, music , etc. I recommend anyone who want to go to NYC and enjoy the city just stay at Lichi's place. You won't be disappointed!!
She is AMAZING ARTIST and very Spiritual Personalty. Her vibes is make you feel good. You Gatta have it in her amazing ART WORLD !!


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Carol Grow |
Red Team Captain |
Scott Lasky |
Blue Team Captain |
Art Mann |
Referee |
Omar Gooding |
Celebrity Contestant--Red Team |
Guest Star |
Roma Maffia |
Celebrity Contestant--Blue Team |
Guest Star |
Matt Mercado |
Red Team Contestant |
Guest Star |
Omar Gooding was currently appearing on the WB series Zoe and Roma Maffia was starring in NBC's The Profiler.
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User Score: 552
User Score: 5
User Score: 3


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IGT Supplies 1,375 VLTs To The Western Canada Lottery Corporation's Saskatchewan Video Lottery Program
LAS VEGAS, Jan 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) announced today the Company has signed an agreement to supply 1,375 video lottery terminals for the province of Saskatchewan.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130130/LA50769LOGO)
"IGT is excited to deliver industry-leading games to the Saskatchewan market," said Eric Tom, IGT executive vice president Global Sales. "This agreement will allow us to enhance and develop Saskatchewan's overall video gaming program, as we have done with video lottery programs across Canada.
The Western Canada Lottery Corporation, which operates the VLT program on behalf of the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, will be replacing terminals throughout Saskatchewan this winter. The new IGT terminals will feature international player-favorite titles including 7's Wild®, Lucky Larry's Lobstermania®, Cleopatra® and Wolf Run.
The IGT GL20 lottery terminal is designed specifically for the video lottery industry and complies with industry standard Gaming Association specifications and G2S protocols. The GL20 accommodates either a flat screen LCD display or MLD® technology to facilitate 3D games. Based on IGT's AVP® technology, the GL20 can be configured with a variety of peripheral options to offer video lottery jurisdictions maximum flexibility. For more information on IGT products, please visit www.IGT.com. IGT Resources:- Like us on Facebook
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Results tagged ' Brett Gardner '
Back to the Bronx!
Let me tell you a little about my day, and in what direction I thought it was going in.
This afternoon I was in my car, driving of course. I was stopped at a traffic light, minding my own business. Then…BOOM! I got rear-ended by some lady who was not paying attention to the road. Thankfully my bumper was only scratched: not really any major damage to my (new) car. Oh, and if you're wondering, no. I wasn't hurt; just a little rattled at the time, although I did have a mild headache when I got home from work.
People, driving requires 100% of your attention. Remember that.
I only thought my headache was going to get more severe, considering A.J. Burnett was starting for the Yankees in Game Four of the American League Division Series, down two games to one, at the mercy of the Detroit Tigers. I'll be the first to admit, I felt very uneasy with Burnett on the mound, an 11-11 record this season with a 5.15 ERA.
His numbers alone are enough to give anyone a headache, even without getting rear-ended by a car.
Some Yankee fans, most notably Yankee roll caller and lead Bleacher Creature Bald Vinny, started a Facebook campaign: "I Believe in A.J." Despite the doubt a lot of people had concerning Burnett's ability to pitch in an elimination game, it is evident the fans got behind him.
All the faith was rewarded.
Aside from one inning, he didn't disappoint. Burnett helped lead the way to a 10-1 Yankee win in Game Four, forcing a Game Five on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium.
The key play in the game came in the bottom of the first inning. The Tigers loaded the bases with two outs, and Don Kelly smacked a liner into centerfield. Curtis Granderson dove, laid out and made a game-saving grab to end the inning.
Burnett owes his centerfielder dinner after a catch like that.
Had the ball gone over Granderson's head, anything could – and would – have happened. Kelly would have definitely cleared the bases and he would have undoubtedly made it to third – or even home. In perspective, it could have been an inside-the-park grand slam, and Burnett's confidence may have disappeared, allowing Detroit to run up the score.
But it didn't happen.
Burnett had walked three batters in the first (Miguel Cabrera was walked intentionally) and looked a bit jittery, but seemed to settle down nicely after the shaky frame. He ended the night with 5 2/3 innings pitched, and he gave up just one earned run on four hits. Burnett walked four batters and struck out three.
The only blip on Burnett's radar was a home run to Victor Martinez in the bottom of the fourth, and yet it didn't really matter because the Yankees had already put two runs on the board.
When Burnett left the mound, he got a lot of love from his teammates. I'd say if you took one still frame from the game tonight, the picture of the infield players collectively patting Burnett on the back speaks volumes about the amount faith they had in him.
After Burnett left, yesterday's goat Rafael Soriano came in – and Granderson once again flashed the leather, making another beautiful catch in centerfield to end the inning. Not only did Granderson save Burnett, but he aided Soriano with a spectacular web gem.
The pitching and defense was there, but you need offense to win a game. And the Bomber bats came alive in this one.
The Yankees were retired 1-2-3 in the first and second innings – and it looked as though it was going to be another stagnant and dead night at the plate. But right before Derek Jeter stepped into the batter's box, I put on my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles slippers.
Right after I put them on the Captain crushed a two-run double to plate Jorge Posada and Russell Martin. The Yankees took the lead and never relinquished it.
"I think my slippers may have been the Yanks' good luck charm," I thought to myself. "I'll keep them on."
If they were a good luck charm, they were working in the top half of the fifth. The Yanks added two more runs on a double by Granderson which knocked in Brett Gardner. Alex Rodriguez later hit a sac fly to drive in Jeter.
Hanging onto a 4-1 lead, the Bronx Broskis exploded for six runs in the eighth – and batted around. A balk by Al Albuquerque sent Rodriguez to the plate, a single by pinch-hitter Jesus Montero drove in Mark Teixeira, and then Gardner plated Chris Dickerson (who pinch-ran for Nick Swisher).
And they still weren't done.
A Daniel Schlereth wild pitch allowed Montero to score, then Robinson Cano knocked Martin and Gardner in with an two-run single.
10 runs in the game. And now we're heading back to the Bronx, the ALDS tied 2-2.
The last time the Yankees played a Game Five in the ALDS was 2005, and it didn't go well for them. The Bombers played in Anaheim and were outdone 5-3 at the hands of the Angels.
This time around, however, the Yankees will not be on the road. They will be in the comfort of Yankee Stadium and essentially they have home field advantage and momentum again.
In more good news for the Yanks, the last time they played a Game Five in the ALDS at home, they beat Oakland all the way back in 2001. Strangely enough they won the '01 ALDS Game Five by the same score they lost the '05 ALDS by: 5-3.
The Yankees broke the trend tonight. They seemed to be following the 2006 ALDS script a little too closely, but now they have the chance to make a little comeback and beat the Tigers; an opportunity to punch the proverbial ticket back to the American League Championship Series.
Ivan Nova, who dazzled in Game One, will take the mound in the deciding game, hoping to keep the postseason dream alive. He will be opposed by Doug Fister, who the Yankees got to on Saturday.
If the Yanks win Thursday, the Texas Rangers await them in the ALCS – a potential rematch of last year's Championship Series.
Speaking of breaking playoff trends, the Yankees lost to the Rangers last year.
They will have to break that trend, too. But they have to get there, first. I'll be working a high school football game Thursday night at 6:00, so I'll probably only miss the first and maybe the second innings of the game.
When I get home, one thing is for sure: I am putting on my ninja turtles slippers.
ALDS Game 1
It may have taken about 24 hours to complete – but Game One of the American League Division Series is in the books. The Yankees had to wait, but for them, a win like tonight was probably worth waiting for. The Bronx Bombers took Game One from the Tigers in convincing fashion, 9-3.
Obviously the two standouts from this game: Ivan Nova and Robinson Cano.
Nova finished what Sabathia started yesterday night, pitching 6 1/3 innings – and he nearly finished the game, although if he had, it would not have gone is the record books as a complete game because the game was suspended. Nova stood tall and refused to be rattled, only allowing two earned runs on four hits.
The walks may be a concern, as he issued four free passes, but he did strike out five.
Moving forward, the Yankees have to be feeling a lot more confident about him. Remember: Nova is a rookie, and for a rookie to basically start an important playoff game – and pitch the way he did – is impressive and reassuring.
If the Yankees are lucky, Nova will not have to pitch again until the American League Championship Series. Undoubtedly he will continue to be tested throughout this postseason. And if he duplicates what he did tonight, he will pass the playoff test with flying colors.
And then there's the studly second baseman.
Cano came up in the bottom of the fifth with the score knotted 1-1 and went oppo, crushing a double off the left field wall that plated Curtis Granderson. The play went under review, as it looked to go over the wall and come back, but in fact bounced off the top of the wall. It stood as a two-base hit.
He may not have cleared the wall in left field in the fifth, but he sure as heck cleared the right field wall in the sixth.
Brett Gardner singled to drive in Mark Teixeira and Jorge Posada, but Cano then stepped up with the bases chucked and creamed a grand slam into the second deck in right field, completing a six-run sixth inning for New York.
That granny was the first slam in a Yankee postseason game since Ricky Ledee crushed one in Game Four of the 1999 ALCS – off Rod Beck (†) at Fenway Park.
You'd think a grand slam and a go-ahead RBI double would be enough for anyone in one game.
But Cano still wasn't done.
In the eighth he doubled again, this time driving home Derek Jeter, registering six of the Yankees' nine runs in the game. With his hitting show, he became the eighth Major League player to drive in six runs or more in an LDS game.
If Cano stays as red hot as he was tonight, the Yankee offense can breath easily.
Tomorrow afternoon Freddy Garcia will take the ball and hope to keep the Yanks winning. He will face off with Max Scherzer in Game Two.
I think the most important thing for the Yankees to keep in mind is that the series isn't over. Indeed it was a motivating and encouraging win, but anything can happen.
Remember: in the 2006 ALDS vs. Detroit the Bronx Bombers started with a Game One win – and then dropped three in a row to lose it all.
Complacency is not an option. They still have two games to win in this series.
And I'm sure they know that. Now it's just a matter of putting it together.
See you after Game Two.
Exist to Inspire
Think back to the glorious 2009 season for a second. On May 15, Brett Gardner hit an inside-the-park home run, starting what would be a 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Minnesota Twins – a win which this author attended.
What most people didn't know (until after the game) was that he had visited a hospital during the day and met with Alyssa Esposito, a young lady who was set to undergo a heart transplant. She had given Gardner a bracelet, telling him that if he held onto it he would hit a home run.
God must have been working his will that night. It was an incredible story.
I caught up with Esposito in June of last year, conducting an interview with her. Since then I have kept in touch, and so has she, as she is a fan of Yankee Yapping on Facebook.
Apparently she caught my last two video blog posts and sent me something that warmed my heart; something that convinced me that I really am as good as I said I was in the first video I posted.
Here is what she had to say to me:
I watched both of your videos and I just want to say that you inspire me to be just as confident as you are.
I can finally write my book now that both brain tumors are gone. You inspire me to write and be more confident in myself that I can accomplish anything. You do what you need to do and do what makes you happy.
I love that you put your all into your work and make it your best. And I love how honest you are.
No one expects you to be perfect. You are original and stay that way. You have such passion for what you do, if only everyone was like that. I've grown to love baseball. It's all I think about. It makes me calm and happy.
There is no other feeling like being in a stadium and soaking in every second. I want to learn everything there is to know about baseball.
This really made me feel wonderful. In reality I am only writing and doing what I love to do, but for someone who has been through so much – a heart transplant and multiple surgeries – I can't help but think about my problems (and yes, recently I have been going through some stuff, nothing as serious as a heart transplant, however).
My problems (and trying to overcome them) don't even measure up to the challenges Alyssa has faced and triumphed over. It really made me think and put some of my feelings (lately) into perspective. For her to say such nice words and go as far as calling me an inspiration really touched my heart.
I never thought when I began this journey called "Yankee Yapping" in July of 2009 that it would make such an impact on so many people; that it would evolve into what it is today.
Since I have started this blog, it has been featured on MLB.com twice. Yeah, twice guys…twice! If you're going to feature me why not hire me to work for you? Oh sorry. I forgot. You're more interested in the Fan Cave and paying guys to do nothing…
But I digress.
I made my aunt smile when my uncle passed away, ESPN's Buster Olney re-tweeted my little investigation from back in February, I was able to publish an interview with a major leaguer, and now I am an inspiration to a young lady who has gone head-to-head with unbelievable obstacles – obstacles that I could never even fathom.
At this time I would just like to thank Alyssa for her kind words.
Most people look at their parents, their heroes, and their friends for inspiration. I never would have guessed I could have inspired someone with my attitude and my work – much less a person who has been through as much as Alyssa.
And I think I learned something, too: you don't have to be rich and famous to inspire someone. You just have to have an attitude that someone admires and looks up to.
Me an inspiration? It's the first time I have ever heard it. I just hope it won't be the last.
Funny Story About Last Night…
I went to the Yankee game with my good friend Micheal Robinson last night. The Bombers nearly capped a huge comeback in the bottom of the ninth. Down 6-3 entering the last frame the Yanks pulled the Oakland Athletics to within one run, a 6-5 game.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Nick Swisher skied a long fly ball deep to center, nearly crushing what would have been a game-winning grand slam to win it.
Unfortunately the ball died on the warning track and the game ended. A loss for the Yanks.
Along with thanking Alyssa for her kind words, I want to thank Micheal for taking me to the game and getting such great seats behind the left field wall.
Thanks buddy. Now for the funny story…
I met Micheal at the stadium, as I took the train down. While I was waiting for him to get to 161st St., I sat on a bench outside the Metro North station. A group of kids, probably in their first years of college, congregated around the bench and began talking about the tremor (or earthquake) that occurred yesterday afternoon.
"Did you feel it," one of them asked his friend.
"No, I was in Rockland and I didn't feel anything," his friend replied.
I subconsciously started nodding my head, because I had felt it. I had been napping in the afternoon when all of a sudden my bed started to shake. I had no idea what was happening, because I knew I wasn't dreaming. I thought back to the scene in the movie "The Exorcist" when the girl's bed started to violently joggle up and down.
Was the movie coming to life? That was my best guess.
One of the kids asked me where I was, so I told him.
"Westchester County – Yorktown Heights," I said.
A young lady who was with them said, "Yorktown? Do you know the Scott sisters?"
Unbelievable. The Scott sisters are two young ladies from Yorktown High School that play lacrosse – I covered them several times over the course of the last few months working for the local newspaper. Both of them were seniors this past year and are playing lacrosse at UNC next year.
It turns out the young lady who asked me if I knew them played lacrosse with them.
I love how even at Yankee Stadium they find me; random people that know people I know.
Life is funny. That is my conjecture.
Send Yankee Yapping to the Media Game
The Yankees started and ended last night's game the same way they did Tuesday night's game: They let the Red Sox go ahead 3-0 in the first inning and Alex Rodriguez made the last out of the game. The Bronx Bombers once again lost to their hated rivals, the Boston Red Sox, 11-6.
I could go on all day about the mistakes the Yankees made and the bad luck they were handed. Francisco Cervelli's throwing errors, Brett Gardner not running on the wild pitch, and Derek Jeter grounding into a 5-4-3 with the bases loaded and one out which did not just kill the rally, but beat it up it and then left it for dead.
Joba Chamberlain is going to the disabled list with a strained flexor in his right elbow and Russell Martin's back locked up, forcing him out of the lineup…it was horrible. I, like any other self-respecting Yankee fan, would rather just forget yesterday's game vs. Boston ever happened.
What I am writing about today is what happened before yesterday's loss.
Apparently every year the Yankee beat reporters play the Red Sox beat reporters in a game of baseball. The writers play two games every year: one at Yankee Stadium and the other at Fenway. Before the ugly 11-6 loss, the Yankee reporters played the Boston reporters, and I believe they won.
I'm unsure of the official scoring; I'm not sure if they keep records of such games.
From what I read, last year the Yankee writers and Boston writers split the series, with each team winning on the road – meaning the Yankee reporters lost at Yankee Stadium and the Red Sox writers lost at Fenway.
I am sad I missed this.
What I would like to do is propose an All-Star voting for the Yankees-Red Sox media game, and personally add Yankee Yapping as a write-in vote. I am ready to begin a campaign.
Slogan: If your team is crapping, send Yankee Yapping!
I know, it's a little cheesy, but it might win me the vote.
Technically, I am New York media – and I cover the Yankees with this blog. In fact, my blog was in the top 10 on MLBlogs for the month of May.
Although for work I only cover high school sports, I was issued a press pass, which is sanctioned by the New York Press Association. Yet, as I said, with this blog, I cover the Yankees, which (on a technicality) makes me New York Yankees media.
As far as my baseball skills go…well, I have blogged about that in the past. I played organized ball for five years, three of which were on the high school level, giving me experience when it comes to the game.
By trade I am a right fielder, but I can sure pick it at second base.
In order to send Yankee Yapping to the media game, re-tweet this blog post to the Yankee beat writers. Facebook it to the writers' accounts and the YES Network.
Help send me to the Yankees-Red Sox media game. Vote for Yapping!
My campaign promise is this:
If the Yankees can't beat the Red Sox, as a player on the Yankee media team, we will win by the mercy rule. My baseball skills can give us a huge win over the Boston press.
We will win, and we will win big. That I can promise.
When one of us loses, we all lose
Think back to the movie "Cool Runnings" for a second. Irv Blitzer, John Candy's character, scolds his bobsled team after they failed in their first Olympic heat. His team had proven they were good enough to be in the Olympics, but buckled under pressure, showing that even though they have the talent and skill, they lost.
"You choked. It was yours for the taking, and you choked. You were ready, and you choked. You know the turns. You know everything there is to know about this sport. I'll tell you something: you had all better find a way to stay loose out there. That's something I can't help you with. I'll see you tomorrow on the hill."
Yankee Manager Joe Girardi needs to say something like this to his team. The Yanks have proven they are a lot better than how they have been playing, yet they are not showing it. The Bronx Bombers have now lost six games in a row and they are 3-10 in their last 13 games. The last time the Yankees won a game was a week ago today on May 10; a 3-1 win over the Kansas City Royals.
Since then, it has been a dark time to be a Yankee.
There are so many guilty parties to consider in terms of this losing skid. Collectively it has been the whole team that has been struggling – there is plenty of blame to go around. But a number of players stick out. I'll start with…
Joba Chamberlain
On Friday May 13 Joba Chamberlain came into the game in the top of the seventh, in relief of Bartolo Colon – who had given the Yankees six innings while only allowing two runs. Chamberlain proceeded to give up a three-run home run to Kevin Youkilis, giving Boston a 5-2 lead.
The Yankee offense, scuffling, managed to score two runs but could not come back to tie the game or win it. New York went on to lose, 5-4.
Two days later Chamberlain was just as ineffective.
With the Yanks trailing 6-5 in a tight series finale with the Red Sox, Chamberlain surrendered a solo home run to Jarrod Saltalamacchia – a player who had not homered all season up until that plate appearance. Saltalamacchia is currently batting .217, and has 24 strikeouts in 83 at-bats this year.
It's almost impossible to give up a homer to him. Chamberlain did the impossible.
That tater gave Boston a 7-5 lead and they won by the same count.
Although Chamberlain's current numbers don't necessarily reflect a poor season (2-0, 4.05 ERA, 17 strikeouts and 16 hits in 20 innings pitched, and only three walks) he has given up 10 runs, nine of which have been earned.
It's safe to say he has been a part of this losing streak, even to a small capacity.
Jorge Posada
We all know about the controversy. Jorge Posada took himself out of the lineup because he was batting ninth and he didn't want to bat last in the order. His wife mentioned he had some back stiffness, but in the end he wasn't injured; he just didn't want to play on Saturday against the Red Sox.
Whatever. It's over. I, for one, was glad he didn't play. Has anyone else seen his numbers?
Posada is batting .165 this year, the worst in baseball among everyday players. In a big situation you cannot expect Posada to come up with a big hit because nine times out of ten he is probably going to disappoint you.
Case in point: Wednesday May 11 vs. the Royals, the night the losing streak began.
Eduardo Nunez (more from him later) stole second base, tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning. Nick Swisher was intentionally walked, setting up Posada. The 39 year-old DH had the perfect opportunity to silence his critics and regain some of that pride everyone talks about him having.
So with two runners on and a chance to win the game, what did he do?
He struck out swinging on a 3-2 count. Posada whiffed at a low slider that barely had the plate.
Since Saturday Posada hasn't been in the starting lineup, although he has been used as a pinch-hitter. The media has made it seem that Posada has been left out of the lineup because he has been having a hard time with left-handed pitching – and since Saturday, the Yankees have only been facing southpaws.
Tonight however, a righty (James Shields) is taking the ball vs. New York. If Posada is in the starting lineup, we can assume everything is alright and that everyone is over his actions from Saturday. If he is once again left out, then get ready for another soap opera.
Ivan Nova
On Thursday May 12, Ivan Nova took the ball hoping to get the Yankees back in the win column. Nova failed at playing the role of stopper, getting shelled for eight runs on ten hits in just three innings pitched. He walked two batters, struck out two, and served up two homers.
What made it worse for me: I was there to witness it. I sat in the right field bleachers of Yankee Stadium to watch Nova blow the game and the Yankees lose, 11-5.
It was only one bad start for Nova, but it was a big one. If he could have managed to come out strong and win the game, the Yanks may have been able to gain some momentum heading into the Boston series. Instead they were reeling, it carried over, and as we all know Boston swept them.
Up until that point Nova had been on a little bit of a roll; he had won his previous two games against Texas and Toronto. But somehow he unraveled against the Royals.
Nova has to be able to get into a groove; he will be in for a long season if he keeps going up-and-down. Tonight he will once again try to play the role of stopper against the Tampa Bay Rays.
If he can stop the bleeding, he will be known as the guy who played a major role in ending this run of misery. Yet if he falters again, goes out and gets beat up the way he did against Kansas City, he will be considered a huge part of why the Yankees are losing.
Mark Teixeira & Alex Rodriguez
If anyone has seen these two, please call the NYPD. I don't know where they have disappeared to, but I am reporting them missing.
Throughout this losing streak, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez have practically been non-existent in the Yankee batting order; we might as well rename them Casper and Slimer, because they have been ghosts.
The number three and number four hitters are there to provide power, and most often intimidate opposing pitchers. At this point, every opposing pitcher is probably comfortable facing Teixeira and Rodriguez.
During this six-game skid Teixeira has one RBI, just four hits, no home runs, no runs scored, and he has struck out four times. His season batting average has plummeted to .250.
Teixeira looks off-balance and hasn't been swinging the bat well.
Rodriguez hasn't been much better, although he has been a bit more productive in recording four RBIs and hitting a home run (on May 12 vs. the Royals) during the losing streak.
However it doesn't change the fact that A-Rod is hitting .242 on the season and he is fouling out an awful lot. The follow-through in his swing doesn't look normal and as a result, he isn't getting around on a lot of pitches, popping them up for outs.
Rodriguez also committed a costly error on defense in Sunday's game, letting a ball go through his glove and allowing Dustin Pedroia to score.
The Yanks cannot expect to win when both of these players aren't hitting. When one or two people are struggling, the other players are supposed to rise to the occasion and produce; it's what baseball is all about, picking each other up.
Teixeira and Rodriguez always pick each other up. But when both of them are slumping, who picks them up?
Right now nobody, unless you count Curtis Granderson, who has been the only player on offense that has been hitting.
But Granderson can't hit in all nine spots in the batting order, nor can he pick up every single hitter on the team. Teixeira and Rodriguez need to help him out and start swinging their bats.
When they get hot, the team gets hot. And right now they are about as cold as Antarctic ice.
Eduardo Nunez
I can't exactly knock what Eduardo Nunez has been able to do at the plate. For a bench player he hasn't done poorly on offense, hitting .304 on the year (7-for-23) with only two strikeouts. Nunez has also proven his worth on the bases, stealing four bags and getting caught just one time.
But that's his offense. On defense…well…
For a bench player, he's done well. For a backup shortstop, he has failed.
At shortstop he has committed five errors in six games. He played one game at third base and in that game, committed an error. That gives him a total of six errors this season at two different infield positions.
On May 5 in Detroit Nunez botched two throws filling in for Derek Jeter at short, helping the Tigers overcome a strong start by A.J. Burnett. In fact, Burnett had been no-hitting the Tigers into the sixth inning. Even with that strong of a start, the Yanks lost.
If Nunez could field the ball, he would be a genuinely good bench player; a good hitter and a good fielder. But his defense kills him; it only makes him a threat on offense and a below average defender (and saying he's below average is being generous).
I could probably rant on all day about how poor the Yankees have been playing.
I could point out other struggling players like Brett Gardner, who is supposed to be a speed threat and has been caught stealing six of the 11 times he has tried to swipe a base this season.
I could touch on how Burnett had a chance to end the losing streak, and how once again he fell flat on his face, giving up five runs in the sixth inning of last night's game to blow it.
I could mention how Russell Martin hasn't been swinging the bat well and is carrying a .252 batting average, with only three RBIs and seven strikeouts over the last 10 games.
I could go on forever about how useless Rafael Soriano is, with his arm problems and inability to pitch.
But it's not necessary because everyone knows it. The world knows the Yankees are scuffling and these Yankees that we see playing in front of us are not the real Yankees at all.
The real Yankees don't choke.
The real Yankees know what's theirs for the taking and don't choke.
The real Yankees are ready, and don't choke.
The real Yankees know how to hit, field, and pitch.
The real Yankees know everything there is to know about this sport.
I'll tell them something…
These Yankees need to find a way to stay loose out there, which is something their coaches and manager can't help them with.
We'll see them tonight at Tropicana Field.
Twitter: A Baseball Writer's Friend or Foe?
A lot to feel good about tonight for the Yankees, as they routed the White Sox 12-3 to a series split.
Already leading 2-0 heading into the fifth, the Yankees' bats came alive and they scored six runs in the frame. It began with a home run by Brett Gardner and it all snowballed from there.
Curtis Granderson tripled, Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano both singled, Alex Rodriguez doubled, Eric Chavez was intentionally walked, Russell Martin singled and Jorge Posada reached base on a walk. They sent 12 batters to plate in the fifth, which lasted 32 minutes.
The brightest sign for the Yanks was Swisher, who went 3-for-4 tonight with a home run (his first of the year), four RBIs, and three runs scored. The right fielder was 0 for his last 19 coming into the game, but came out of his slump with a solid night at the plate.
CC Sabathia gave the Yanks a nice outing: seven innings pitched, seven hits, three runs (none of them were earned), one walk, and six strikeouts. For his efforts, he picked up his second win of the year and the big man lowered his ERA to 2.25.
Sabathia was countered by Edwin Jackson, who no-hit the Yankees through the first four innings.
But don't let the words "no-hit" fool you. He didn't have it.
Jackson walked four straight batters in the third inning to give up a run, followed by allowing a sacrifice fly to Cano to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead, despite not giving up a hit.
Gardner's homer to start the huge fifth inning was the Yanks' first hit.
But enough about tonight's squash of the ChiSox and onto the reason I am writing.
In the first inning of yesterday's game, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was run by home plate umpire Todd Tichenor after arguing a questionable called strike three on Paul Konerko; the ball was low and inside but the ump rung Konerko up.
The Chicago skipper argued, was thrown out, then continued to scream at the ump as he walked off the field and into the tunnel on the way to the clubhouse.
What did he do next? Well, he tweeted. Twice. First:
This one is going to cost me a lot of money. This is patetic.
Today a tough guy show up at Yankee Stadium.
Major League Baseball is now reviewing his tweets, as they maintain a policy that prevents employees (including players and coaches) from making disparaging remarks about umpires.
And here is where social media and networking can get ugly.
When I first heard about Twitter, I had absolutely no desire to create an account. I was only interested in Facebook as a means to connect with my friends, family, and classmates. A friend of mine kept telling me about all of the celebrity activity on Twitter as well as all of the famous athletes who have verified accounts.
He kept nagging me and nagging me until I finally gave in and created a Twitter. At first I had no idea how to use it; I just started following all the celebrities and athletes I like, not knowing how to communicate using Twitter.
Finally I got the hang of it and figured out how to use the @mention function.
When I did get to know how to use Twitter, I tried to garner some attention. It worked, a little bit. I tweeted a Yankee Yapping investigation to ESPN baseball insider and former Yankee beat writer Buster Olney, and he re-tweeted it, in other words posting it for his followers to see.
Another former beat writer and current YES Network analyst Jack Curry is another person who has re-tweeted me; I asked him some questions and he responded to me.
During a tweet-driven Q & A session with Yankee catcher Russell Martin, I asked him what his walkup music is when he comes to bat. He answered me, saying he hadn't yet chosen it and he would let the fans choose the song soon.
I even got a re-tweet from Comedy Central comedian and TV show host Daniel Tosh. In terms of reaching out to (and possibly hearing back from) celebrities and pro athletes, Twitter can be pretty cool.
Yet, like in Guillen's case, it can hurt you. Anything negative you post on the internet or in an open forum, such as Twitter or Facebook, can be damaging to your reputation. There are people who have gotten fired from their jobs because of content posted on the internet. Kids have gotten in trouble in school for things they have posted on such sites.
The bottom line is, you have to be careful in terms of what you post. There are ways to protect your tweets and posts, but obviously Guillen didn't and now it will cost him.
Another aspect about Twitter I find fascinating (and in a lot of ways scared of) is how often reporters tweet. Every Yankee beat writer tweets before the game, during the game, and after the game. They usually talk about what's happening in the clubhouse, what's going on with daily news, injury updates, and numbers.
All of this raises the question: is this hurting or helping the journalism industry? Is this what's in store for the long future? Instead of game recaps and numbers from the box score, are we just going to be reading old tweets?
It's pretty scary to think Twitter could impact the sports journalism industry in a huge way.
Even right now, in the high school sports reporting game (in which I'm currently playing), Twitter is a huge commodity. Sometimes I'm asked by former editors to tweet them the final scores of the games I'm covering, just to get them out there. I can only hope by the time I start covering professional sports I am not being asked to just tweet the game. I would rather show off my unique writing skills than my tweeting skills.
Also as a reader, I would rather read an educated game recap and be taken through the game than simply look up old posts on a writer's Twitter account.
Not saying it will come to that, but you never know. In this ever-changing environment and the dominance of digital and social media, who knows what the future holds for sports writing.
If you want to follow me on Twitter, my username is @AJ_Martelli.
I oftentimes tweet about the Yankees; that should come as no shock. However, I tweet whimsical sayings, movie and TV quotes, and lots of phrases that have absolutely no context if you're not with me when I tweet them. And in doing that, I garner the attention of random people.
So be forewarned.
Yankees Slip Past Twins, Head into Boston to Face 0-6 Red Sox
The Yankees had a rare game on Tuesday – a complete meltdown of the bullpen, taking a 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins. Yesterday's game was rained out, making this afternoon's game a rubber game. The Bombers came out on top, beating the Twins 4-3 in the series finale.
The Yankees and Twins will make up Wednesday's rainout in September.
A three-run fourth inning by the Yankees gave them the lead, which they never gave up. Down 2-1, Andruw Jones blasted a double to score Alex Rodriguez, tying the game up at two. Russell Martin then grounded out to first base, allowing Robinson Cano to come to the plate.
Jones came home on a bloop single by Brett Gardner, finishing off the scoring in the frame.
The Yankees built a run in the bottom of the third, with Gardner ultimately coming home on a sacrifice fly to right field by Nick Swisher.
Speaking of Swisher, he took out Twins' second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka in the seventh, sliding hard into second base to break up what would have been a Mark Teixeira double play.
Swisher broke it up, but in the process, fractured Nishioka's fibula. The Yankees' right fielder looked visibly disappointed in himself after Nishioka was removed from the game. He is headed to the disabled list.
Next time the Yankees meet the Twins…watch your back, Swish. (Although Swisher did apologize after the game. Will the Twins will get back at him? We'll have to wait and see).
In another storyline, Derek Jeter had two hits and he passed Rogers Hornsby and Jake Beckley for 33rd place on baseball's all-time hits list. The Captain now has 2,931 hits, just 69 base hits away from 3,000.
The Twins scored two in the top of the fourth receiving RBI doubles by Jim Thome and Jason Kubel. They plated their final run in the top of the seventh on a groundout by Denard Span to score Alexi Casilla.
A.J. Burnett pitched for the Yankees and turned in a good performance. The lanky right-hander tossed six innings and gave up two earned runs on five hits. He walked two batters and struck out five, mixing pitches and using his curveball with confidence.
He was backed by the combination of Joba Chamberlain, Rafael Soriano, and Mariano Rivera who put the Twins away in the seventh, eighth, and ninth, respectively. It was certainly an improvement over Tuesday's collapse. The only blemish was a run given up by Chamberlain – Span's groundout to score Casilla was on him.
Burnett improved to 2-0 on the season and he is now 7-0 in 12 April starts as a member of the Yankees. He leads the Yankee staff in wins this year.
Rivera has saved all four games the Yankees have won this season, as the Bombers are 4-2.
Now they will head into Boston for the weekend, where things have not gone according to plan. While the Yankees have a winning record, the Red Sox have started the season 0-6, losing their first three games to the Rangers and their next three to the Indians.
Boston has only started two other seasons at 0-6 (1905 and 1927) and statistically it's the worst start they have ever seen since 1945. Baseball analysts are asking themselves, "What have happened to these guys?" After all, many experts predicted the Red Sox to win it all this year, considering their huge off-season acquisitions. They added Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford to help bolster an already-potent lineup.
Although the BoSox are scuffling, they cannot blame Gonzalez. He is hitting .304 with five RBIs and he has a home run. Crawford on the other hand is not producing, hitting .174 with no extra base hits, only one RBI, and six strikeouts.
Jacoby Ellsbury, who is Boston's leadoff hitter, is only batting .167 and has struck out seven times this year. Kevin Youkilis, one of the Red Sox main RBI producers in the middle of the lineup, is hitting a meager .105 with just one RBI and five strikeouts. Dustin Pedroia is batting .227 with no extra base hits and no RBIs.
After their 1-0 loss to the Indians today, Pedroia said he was going to go home and his wife was going to tell him "he stinks."
Yet, it isn't just the dead offense. Boston's pitching hasn't been much better.
John Lackey, who will start tomorrow afternoon against Phil Hughes (0-1, 11.25 ERA) was shelled in his first start of the year against Texas. He tossed only 3 2/3 innings and surrendered nine earned runs on ten hits. He walked two batters, struck out three, and served up two homers. Lackey's ERA right now is 22.09.
On Saturday the Yankees will send Ivan Nova (1-0, 4.50 ERA) to the hill to face Clay Buchholz, who was touched up for four homers in his first start of the season against the Rangers. He pitched 6 1/3 innings on the way to a loss in Texas, as he is 0-1 right now with a 5.68 ERA.
The series will conclude on Sunday night with CC Sabathia (0-0, 1.38 ERA) squaring off against Josh Beckett – once the Boston ace, now throwing out of the number four spot in the rotation. Beckett only tossed five innings in Cleveland on Tuesday, giving up three earned runs on five hits. He walked four batters and struck out four, on the way to his first loss of 2011.
Look at it this way: tomorrow is Opening Day at Fenway Park. The Red Sox fans are going to be excited and hoping their team can put the abysmal 0-6 start behind them with a win over the Yankees. During the opening ceremonies, the fans will be cheering and going wild for their players, new life and rebirth fresh in their heads.
If the Yankees jump all over Lackey for a few runs early on, they might turn on their team and get angry. The Boston fans might be getting restless, witnessing their team – that everyone thought was going be dominant – struggle so mightily in the early-going.
And with the way the Yankees have been going ahead early, getting on base, and putting pressure on the other team, it could make for a long weekend for the Red Sox.
As the people in Boston continue to scratch their heads and wonder what is wrong with the Red Sox, New York would love nothing more than to keep the ongoing Boston Massacre alive.


text:
"Love story for the Ages"
I love Mary Calmes. I have listened to a few of her audio books and am always pleased. She is a wonderful writer and this story is no exception. I didn't want it to end. The descriptions were so vivid that I could feel the cold night air once they passed through the veil. Wonderful listen.