Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. I
predicted before the series started that the New York Yankees would beat the
Boston Red Sox in five games. I predicted this because I wanted the Yankees to
clinch the series inside Fenway Park after the Red Sox clinched the AL East
Division crown inside Yankee Stadium, but also because I knew how closely
matched these two teams truly were. Game Four will be played tonight in the
Bronx in front of the Yankee Stadium faithful and I truly cannot wait. I expect
a zoo inside the Bronx tonight, and will settle for nothing less. Go Yankees!!
And baby, another playoff game we get to watch together. You
are my good luck charm, in life and in baseball. I love you so much. I love who
you are, I love what you are, and I love that you mean so much to me, my world
and to my existence. I am nothing without you. Thank you for being you.
Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. How
much Fortnite do you think David Price played since Wednesday, just on the off chance
that his carpal tunnel might miraculously return and keep him from making the
start tonight in Game Two of the ALDS? Asking for a friend.
And baby, I love you. I love you with all my heart. I always
have, and I always will.
Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. Unless
you have been living under a rock you know that the New York Yankees defeated
the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night in the Bronx to advance to the
American League Division Series. Throughout the game I counted down the
remaining outs in the game by saying “ X OUTS TILL BOSTON!” Well, 27 outs later
and WE GOT BOSTON! The American League Division Series begins tonight inside
Fenway Park in not only the fiercest rivalry in all of Major League Baseball
history, but also in a matchup that puts a pair of 100-game winners head-to-head
in a five-game series. I’m confident, I’m excited, and I’m ready. Let’s do
this.
And baby, thank you for everything you are and for being
you. Not many would stick by my side while I jump up and down at an Aaron Judge
home run and not many would let me smack their butt every time Luis Severino
struck out a batter, but you did… because you’re you, and I love you for it.
Thank you, my good luck charm!
Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. Yankees
family, the playoffs begin tonight and they kick off in the Bronx and inside of
Yankee Stadium. Stand up, all rise, and get ready to scream your little asses
off. Oakland has never been here before, this collective team hasn’t anyway,
and we, the fans, can take them out of it early with our cheers, screams, and
enthusiasm. Shake the place tonight, and let’s win this damn game.
And baby, get ready… your return to watching baseball begins
tonight. The things you do for me, and with me. I love you for and an appreciative
of each and every one of them, and for you. I love you!
Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. Yes,
the title of the post is accurate. The New York Yankees just played in 162
games for nothing. Well, not for nothing. The fact that the team is hosting the
AL Wild Card Game and not traveling to Oakland for tomorrow night’s game means
something, and the fact that they could have avoided this one-game playoff game
scenario altogether is also something worth mentioning, but those things cannot
be changed now. The outcome of the last 162 games cannot be altered. Aaron
Boone’s questionable pitching change decisions and his favorable use of AJ Cole
is now all water under the bridge. All the griping, complaining, and
frustrations now mean nothing. The last 162 games mean nothing as the
postseason is now a new season.
Every slate is clean. Everyone goes back to 0-0. Everyone still
standing has a shot at glory. Win tonight and this game means nothing. Win
three more and the ALDS means nothing. Just keep winning until there are no
more games left to win. Then the only thing that will matter is the Canyon of
Heroes parade.
Oh, and baby. I love you! We get to watch playoff baseball
together again tomorrow!! That was so exciting last year and will be equally as
exciting this year. I just know it. I loves you!!
Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. Give
credit where credit is due, Jacob deGrom was an absolute animal here in 2018
despite not having much of a team behind him to speak of. I saw this tweet on
Twitter the other day, but I cannot find it since so I am having to paraphrase
(after doing the research myself on Baseball Reference).
If the Mets had scored just four runs or more in each of
deGrom’s starts entering last night the Mets righty would be 30-0.
If the Mets had scored just three runs deGrom would have
been 25-1.
If the Mets gad scored just two runs deGrom would have been
20-6.
Tell me again why New York held onto him at the trading
deadline?
Baby, I love you and I hope you have the very best day.
Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. This
morning and all weekend long I wanted to take a look back at some of the
predictions that I made before the season to see just how well I did. Spoiler alert,
without looking I am sure I did terrible. I usually do, but I am okay with
that, so enjoy the predictions and the fun at my expense, and definitely enjoy
your weekend. Much love to you all.
And much more love to you, my Kari Ann. You are my world and
everything that is good in it, and I love you more today than I did yesterday…
and I will love you more tomorrow than I do today until there are no more days
left on this planet. I love you!
Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. Are
the New York Yankees peaking at just the right time? This weekend will be a
good indicator of that, but after a good series with the Boston Red Sox I have to
admit that I am once again getting cautiously optimistic over here. With the
returns of Aaron Judge and Aroldis Chapman, among others, along with the additions
of Justus Sheffield, Luke Voit, and others the feel of this team feels a whole
lot different. I mean, take the game Wednesday night for instance. Luke Voit
hit two Yankee Stadium home runs, Aaron Judge was all over the base paths and
in the dugout hyping everyone up, Luis Severino looked to be back to being the
Yankees ace, David Price still sucks, Sheffield got his MLB debut out of the
way despite obvious nerves, and the Yankees obliterated the Red Sox. You don’t
think the Red Sox were motivated to clinch on Yankee Stadium’s field? They had
to be. The true test will be this weekend against a team they should sweep and/or
easily handle. Will they? Stay tuned…
Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. Trust
me, Yankees family, it pains me to even type out this sentence… but Jared
Carrabis was right. If you don’t know who Jared Carrabis is, he is the writer
for Barstool Sports that covers the Boston Red Sox. He is a douche bag that
loves to rile up Yankees fans for exposure, for clicks, and for fun. The worst
part is, it works in most cases. Not with me, but that is for another blog post
and another day. One post he made recently actually made a little sense to me,
and it was a post calling out the Yankees fans who blamed injuries for their
struggles this season and used it as an excuse as to why the Red Sox were
winning the division and not the Yankees.
Here is his tweet that I am transcribing, because why give
him THAT much notoriety by embedding it?
The Red Sox (27) have had more DL stints than the Yankees
(23) this season, resulting in 1,185 games missed by 19 players on the Red Sox
to just 20 players and 1,088 days missed for the Yankees. The Red Sox lead the
Yankees by 11.5 games (at the time of this tweet).
Now I did not stat check this by any means, but I checked
the comments section and no one else exposed it for being untrue. And you know
Yankees fans, if he were off by a half a game SOMEONE would have called him out
for it. So, in closing, no more blaming injuries for a lackluster second half
and bad coaching decisions. It is what it is, just keep rooting until the
schedule tells us not to or go root for the Mets. Either way is fine with me.
And a special good morning to you, my Kari. I love you with
all of my heart. I always have, and I always will. 100 kisses for you this
morning.
Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. The
New York Yankees are going to the postseason as one of the Wild Card winners in
the American League. Whether it is as the home team or the away team we don’t
now yet, but really who cares? I mean, obviously a lot of people do judging by
posts on Facebook and Twitter, but they shouldn’t. Yankee Stadium, Oakland
Coliseum, who cares? What’s the difference? This team has been here before,
they haven’t. Not that this even matters anyway. October is the second season,
and a new season. I could give plenty of examples of teams that limped into the
postseason, cough 1998 Yankees cough, and did well, just as you could give me
plenty of examples of the opposite, 2015 Yankees.
I said all that to say this, who cares? He Yankees are going
to the postseason. Be happy about that, and root for the best… don’t just sit
here poisoning every time line I have on every social media platform I take
part in because you expect the worst. Nothing before October 3rd
matters. Nothing.
Hey baby. I love you, and I hope you have the very best day.
Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. As
many of you know earlier this year I wrote a book, well I wrote another. Here is
Chapter 1. Enjoy. And baby, I hope you especially enjoy because these books are
for you. They are our love story!! I love you.
From Defiance to Undefeated, available for purchase on Amazon.
Prologue
Standing in a room called the Hygge House are the last known
remaining members of the Valkyries regime, the faction of men and women that
once ran and owned the Land of Bartow. Dan, the former Valkyries council member
and Territories expert that was in charge of not only keeping the Valkyries
safe, but was also in charge of keeping tabs on the numerous splinter cells of
resistance that popped up across the region, namely the group called Defiance.
Andy, the former leader of the Valkyries after one of their own, a Defiance spy
and operative working undercover, assassinated the former leader, Poke. Andy’s
first decision as leader of the Valkyries ended up being his last after his
orders to send the entire Valkyries military out to attack in response to the assassination
kicked off the plan for Defiance to take over not only their compound, but all
of Bartow. Jax, another leader of the Valkyries council and the man in charge
of recruitment for the entire Valkyries regime. Jax had brought in many heavy
hitters during his time with the Valkyries and his charm and skills as a
recruiter were unmatched until Defiance came along. Jax could see things in
people that many others couldn’t or wouldn’t. Jax saw potential in people that
no one else did, and for that he was special.
Zero, the leader of the Valkyries military and war machine.
Zero could have been the leader of the Valkyries, or in their council in the
very least, but he always decided to simply stay where he was atop the
Valkyries war list. If the towers needed taken, the opposing generals needed to
be blown up, or if the final blow of the war needed to be handed down Zero was
the man to do it. Zero led the Valkyries military with pride, precision and a
heavy hand that you didn’t want to get in the way of when he was on a mission.
Adam, a member of the Valkyries military that worked under Zero. Adam preferred
to stay quiet and out of the limelight with his head down doing his job. Adam
didn’t speak much but when he did his commanding presence and authoritative voice
to match demanded the attention of the room. Phil, a member of the Valkyries
military that also worked under Zero and with Adam. Phil was small in stature
and his voice did not command the attention of a room, but there must have been
a reason he was in the Valkyries military. Whether it be his brains, his brawn,
or the fact that he had a wild streak that didn’t mix well with adrenaline
remained to be seen, but there was certainly a reason he was picked by Zero to
work under him.
These were the six remaining Valkyries, at least to the best
of their knowledge, and they were all huddled up in a place north of their
former compound in a house known as the Hygge House. After their battle with
Defiance had come to an end with devastating losses and casualties for the
Valkyries their remaining members and soldiers were left to pick up the pieces.
Now the crew was left with the decision of what to do next. Do they run and
hide? Do they try to rebuild and bring the fight back to Defiance? Or do they
sell their souls in exchange for security, peace, food and a home to join
Defiance?
No one knew right now, but they were all about to figure it
out rather quickly.
Chapter 1 Six
Remain
“So, what are we going to do now?”
In the Hygge House stood the six remaining Valkyries left
after their brutal war with Defiance. The Valkyries took heavy losses and had
lost control not only of their compound, but of Bartow as well. Like the
Valkyries had done to Scopely all those years ago Defiance showed off their
might and seized control over the region. The Valkyries as everyone knew them
were gone, they had fallen, but if anything, the war with the Defiance gave the
remaining Valkyries members something they never would have had before, a clean
slate. As far as anyone knew all the remaining members of the Valkyries were
dead, and with the amount of revolutionary leaders that Dan had seen die before
his eyes there were fewer and fewer people that could even identify these six
men even if they wanted to. They could run, but where would they run to? They
could hide, but no one really knew who they would be hiding from. The group
could try to blend in, but Nacho, the leader of Defiance, had seen Dan’s face
as well as many others including the Phoenix Rises members that joined Defiance
along with Dan’s girlfriend, Kari Ann. Tee, Gee and Darth could all identify
Dan. So, what would they do? The group of six sat in the empty room surrounded
by nothing but glass panes and brainstormed.
“I think we have to run, bro!” Jax exclaimed to the group.
“Where the hell are we running to, Jax?” Andy questioned.
“Hell, I don’t know, but we can’t stay here” Jax replied,
sounding almost annoyed.
“Why can’t we stay here?” Zero was speaking up now. “Nobody
knows where this place is but Daizie, who is dead, and the Valkyries, which are
all in this room as far as we know.”
“As far as we know!” Adam was speaking up now. “We don’t
know who the hell is alive out there. None of us thought that Dan was alive.
None of us saw Phil lying there besides the Ultra-Rare Gear shop. There could
be Valkyries still out there!”
“Yeah, and we don’t who was working with Defiance from
within. This wasn’t just a coincidence that they knew just when to hit, and
where. Someone was spying for them from within the Valkyries, I just know it.”
Andy didn’t know about Jessica apparently, not yet anyway.
“Jessica…” was all that Dan was able to mutter amidst all
the talking that was going on. Dan knew he was going to have to tell the story
that Jessica told him, and he knew that he was about to break at least five
more people’s hearts by doing so.
“Yeah, did anyone see Jessica when all this shit started?”
Jax asked the question that Dan was waiting for someone to ask. The question
that would jump start his story.
“I saw Jessica, yeah. I saw Jessica in her house right
before I jumped the wall, and she was meeting with the leader of Defiance. His
name is Nacho.” Dan began to tell his story as the jaws of the Valkyries
members collected in the room seemingly dropped all at once. Dan revealed every
detail to the men that stood in that room beside him. Dan told them how she was
abducted by a man named Fox and he told them how they held medical treatments
over her head in exchange for her cooperation. Dan explained to the Valkyries
how Jessica infiltrated the Valkyries council, and Poke specifically, with the
intent of bringing down the Valkyries after spending time with the rebel group
named Kill All and Dan explained how she was the one that ordered Dan to be
abducted, much like she was however many years before. Dan explained to them
that it was Jessica, or “Light” which was apparently her code name with
Defiance, that came over the wall and set off the alarms, seemingly on purpose,
the night that Dan was abducted, and it was Jessica that sent Fox to his home
with orders to burn it down and to kill Dan if he resisted.
The room was silent, and all eyes were on Dan. He had their
full attentions as he continued to recant his story of what happened just a few
hours prior within the home that Jessica and Dan shared. Dan explained how it
was Jessica who pulled the trigger, killing Poke the fallen leader of the
Valkyries and he explained how it was her who tipped off Defiance that the
military was on its way in full force outside the walls of the compound and
headed towards Phoenix Rises. Dan told them everything, even down to the
smallest of details. Dan especially told them about when her story was just
about over how Nacho busted into the room and put a bullet through her head as
if she was no longer useful to Defiance or to their leader any longer, discarding
her like yesterday’s trash.
“… and before I knew it Nacho was gone from the room, and
from the house, and I was left there watching who I thought was my friend bleed
out. I knew I couldn’t stay there and I knew I had to get out, so I took off running
from the house and I jumped the wall closest to the armory. I didn’t know where
else to go, so I came here hoping that a few of us made it and would follow.”
Dan was done telling his story, but he knew he left out many key pieces of
information. Dan never mentioned Kari, not even once, or the fact that he had
been outside the walls and inside the Phoenix base strapped to a table as a
prisoner as the assault began from the Valkyries military. Dan also left out
that he had a choice whether to join Revolution or not after he was abducted.
Sure, declining meant death but how could Dan justify his decision in that way
when Ellie, his partner within the Valkyries territories room, was given the
same choice and declined. Ellie sacrificed her life to die as a Valkyrie rather
than live as a traitor to the regime, a decision that Dan would have to live
with for the remainder of his days here in Bartow.
“There was one thing I remember from Jessica’s story that
may be able to help us though, if we do it right. Maybe it can give us a
starting point anyway.” Dan had the attention of the room as a glimmer of hope
came across many of the eyes of the remaining Valkyries members. “When Jessica
was talking to Nacho in the kitchen I overheard her talking about a man named
ABB, and a place called ‘The Peach.’ Does anyone know a place like that? Or a
man named ABB?” Silence overtook the room as the remaining members of the
Valkyries all racked their brains trying to think if they ever heard of ABB or
The Peach until finally Phil spoke up.
“I know what The Peach is… it is a bar maybe 30 miles or so
from here. I know exactly where it is. You think if we went there we would be
able to find other Valks?” Phil now had the attention of the room, but he
really had the attention of Dan. Members of the Valkyries never referred to
themselves as “Valks.” In fact, most members of the Valkyries hated being
called Valks, it was almost like a condescending term to them. Poke would never
allow a member of his Valkyries to call one another Valks, so it was weird when
Dan heard that word come out of Phil’s mouth. Dan never mentioned this in front
of the group, he knew he could just paranoid at this point after everything
that has gone down and he knew that he may be looking to deeply into it. For
all Dan knew, Phil could be a new Valkyrie and he just didn’t have that rule
cemented into his head yet like the rest of the Valkyries did. Jax was in
charge of recruiting, not Dan, and he didn’t bat an eye when Phil said it. Dan
quickly put the idea out of his head and chalked it up to just being paranoid,
although that didn’t mean he was going to forget it completely.
“Well, going to The Peach is a better lead than anything
else we have to go on. Let’s go!” Andy was still leading the Valkyries, even
from the dirt and no longer from the throne, and his Valkyries followed. No one
questioned Andy, everyone simply gathered their things and they began shuffling
out the door of the Hygge House and back into the unknown. No one knew what
they would find when they got to The Peach, but each one of them knew that the
five men they stood with was all that they had at that moment, with the
exception of Dan who had Kari still in his life. As Dan packed his bags and
began walking towards the door thoughts of his beautiful blue-eyed vixen came
to his mind. He wished he had time to call her back on his laptop. Even more so
he wished that she didn’t have to be such a secret, a feeling that I am sure
she reciprocated for Dan. She was patient though and never said a word, but Dan
knew that she would grow tired of this secretive world eventually. “Cross that
bridge when you get there Dan, if we even get there” he thought to himself as
he walked out the door and began his march towards The Peach.
Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. September
11th, 17 years later. While many have forgotten or don’t think about
the tragedies that happened on September 11, 2001 these incidents still go
through my mind from time-to-time. When those terrorists attacked New York
City, the Pentagon, and other attempted areas I took that personally. New York
City is MY city. New York state is MY state. So, today we remember… but we will
never and can never forget. When you get comfortable and complacent is when you
become vulnerable, and we need to never become vulnerable ever again. Thank you
to everyone who served on this day 17 years ago, in whatever capacity, and my
thoughts and prayers are with anyone who was affected and/or lost someone on
this tragic day. Much love.
And my baby, my heart always belongs to you and will always
be with you. No matter what. I hope you are feeling better this morning, I love
you!
Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog.
Also, welcome back to the weekend. Boy, did I need a weekend, let me tell you
about it. I say that sarcastically, it isn’t worth rehashing, not on a
beautiful Saturday morning anyway. No work talk, or thoughts until Monday.
Happy thoughts and no stress until then.
I wrote a second book, and this one only took me four months
to write. I was and am pretty excited about it. I don’t expect anyone to buy
it, but if you’re interested it can be found here on Amazon:
Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog.
Isn’t it the weirdest thing that on shorter weeks it feels like the work days
just drag on longer than usual? Today is just work day number four this week,
yet it feels like day eight or nine. Adding a new position, job
responsibilities, and overall stresses doesn’t help either, but oh well. I’ll
make it, or I won’t.
Also, my second book is being added to Amazon and Kindle as
we speak, so at least there was some good to come out of this week in that
regard. I still have my family and that’s all I’ll ever need.
And a special good morning to you beautiful. We may fight, and
we may fuss, but I will never give up on you or give up on us as long as it is
in my control. Keep it in my control. I love you.
Good morning Yankees family and, finally, welcome back to
the blog. It figures the day that life and my job would allow me to come back
to the blog that the Yankees would be off. Funny how that works, but oh well. I
missed you guys and girls and I missed talking with you. I started a new job
this week and let me tell you, it sucks. I am going to be patient and see it
through to the end, because truth be told I knew I “hated” it before I even
tried it, and it has been all of just a couple days now. Things will get
better, I just have to make them get better rather than look for an excuse to
be unhappy. I refuse to be unhappy anymore, and I refuse to let this damn place
ruin a Yankees off day for me and keep me from the blog.
And my baby, my sweet, sweet Kari Ann Burch. I love you with
all my heart and all my soul. I always have, and I always, ALWAYS will.
Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog.
Also, a big welcome to the weekend and the Labor Day holiday on Monday. We need
it, and we deserve it. I will definitely appreciate the day off next week
because I am starting a new position with my current company on Tuesday. I
won’t lie, I am not excited about it, but I am thinking (hoping) that this the
more of the fear of the unknown and less of a sign of what is to come. I will remain
cautiously optimistic and do my best, as always, but I’d be lying if I didn’t
say that I was nervous.
September call ups begin today, will we see Justus
Sheffield?
And September 1st marks one more day with the
love of my life. How lucky am I? More than I could ever put into words, but my
gratefulness surely matches my luck, I promise you that. I love you Kari!
Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog.
Trade Deadline Day part two, let’s go. The August 31st trading
deadline is a little different than the July 31st trade deadline since
players now have to be passed through revocable waivers before being able to be
traded to any other team across the league. Also, it is worth mentioning that players
acquired after today, because the trade deadline does not stop trades from
happening, will NOT be postseason eligible. Will Brian Cashman add a bat? Ask
me again in 9 hours.
And my baby, I love you so very much. Always have, always
will.
Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog.
Listen, I am just as frustrated as the next guy, and I totally understand your
issues… but some fans need to chill the hell out. No, I didn’t like the Yankees
getting beat by the White Sox on Monday night, and no I didn’t like having to
walk off against them on Tuesday night. This team should dominate Chicago much
like they did Baltimore over the weekend, but at the same time who is really
surprised? And why are you concerned?
The Yankees have a great record against current and
potential playoff teams in the American League this season, and those are the
teams they will be facing in the postseason. Not the bad teams that they are
frustratingly struggling against night in and night out… so chill, and enjoy the
rest of the season, because before long it will all be gone, and nothing but
empty news days and hot stove rumors will be in its place.
Yankees record against current and potential AL playoff
teams in 2018: 20-13
Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, Cleveland
Indians, and Oakland Athletics.
And to my Kari Ann, I love you with all my heart. I always
have, and I always will. There is no Dan without Kari. I love you.
Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog.
Quintin Berry, welcome to the organization, welcome to the Yankees family, and
welcome to coming off the bench and stealing bases as a September call up for
the New York Yankees. That’s why he is here, and that’s what he will do. He
will likely make the playoff roster as well if he does his job, which there isn’t
really a reason why he wouldn’t. Get used to the name, because he is here to
stay for a while.
Speaking of staying for a while, will you stay with me for a
while? Maybe forever? I hope so, because I love you and I cannot do this thing
called life without you, Kari. I love you.
Good morning Yankees family and welcome to the blog. Never,
and I mean never, join a Facebook group for the New York Yankees. It is pure
poison, it will make your blood pressure rise and it will make you lose faith
in not only all of humanity, but all Yankees fans alike. The hypocrisy and
plain out ignorance is alarming, and it gets worse every day.
“Sonny Gray sucks! He can only pitch well against Triple-A
teams like the Orioles!”
“Luke Voit is amazing, and Greg Bird should never see the
lineup ever again. Look at what he has done against the Orioles!!”
So, let me get this straight… it is okay to beat up on the
Orioles and their “Triple-A” pitching, but it is not okay to beat up on their “Triple-A”
offense that includes Adam Jones, Chris Davis and others. Got it, thanks for
clearing that up.
Hey you, I loves you. Every day with you is truly special,
and I am incredibly lucky to still call you mine. I cannot wait until you are
legally my Kari Ann Burch.
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