Incredible Night At Yankee Stadium!!

Good morning my loyal and faithful readers and followers. It is a beautiful morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, and that reflects Billi Pod’s current state-of-mind.

I am certain that most of you know what is coming next ... so let’s just get right to it ...

 It was an incredible night out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built. The sold-out house (50,497) was roaring before the game started. 

Unfortunately, the Yankee bats, led by an ineffective A-Rod, were basically silenced by stellar pitching from the Bird’s starter Miguel Gonzalez. Our starter, Hiroki Kuroda, also pitched an excellent game through 7 innings.

But, we were losing 2-1 going into the bottom of the 9th inning.

Then, with one out, manager Joe Girardi made a shocking move by pinch-hitting the 40-year old journeyman Raul Ibanez for the woeful A-Rod. A-Rod, the highest paid player in the major leagues, was 0-3 with 2 strikeouts and a pitiful 1-9, with 7 strikeouts, in the series

Well ... Ibanez hit a line-drive home run to tie the score, the crowd went wild and the game went into extra innings.

Then ... OMFG!! In the bottom of the 12th inning Ibanez ... yes ... Ibanez ... hit the first pitch he saw from reliever Brian Matusz over the right-field wall, winning game 3 for us, 3-2.

Totally unbelievable!! The still packed stadium went absolutely wild as Ibanez circled the bases.

I am soooooooooo glad that I was able to witness this now historic event in person

It was midnight when I opened the door to PHC. I was still flying high but was also emotionally drained and starving.

I want to share with you loyal and faithful readers and followers the headlines in the 3 daily papers ...

“RAH, RAH, RAUL - Pinch hero’s two homers spark Yank comeback.” - front page of the NY Post

“A-WHO! - Raul pinch-hits for Alex, blasts 2 HRs to put O’s on brink.” - back page of the NY Post

“PINCH ME! - Ibanez, hitting for A-Rod, belts HRs in 9th & 12th to stun Orioles, take series lead.” - front page of the Daily News

“WHO NEEDS A-ROD! - Raul’s blast in place of Alex saves day, shot in 12th wins it.” - back page of the Daily News

“Daring Move, Spectacular Results - Ibanez, Hitting for Rodriguez Homers Twice.” - headline in sports section of the NY Times

One downer about the game==>Derek Jeter was taken out in the 8th inning when he apparently re-injured his left foot. At the moment his status for tonight’s game is uncertain.

Phil Hughes (16-13) will try to clinch the ALDS for the Yankees tonight at 7:30pm and he will face Joe Saunders (9-13) for the Birds.

Of course Billi Pod will be glued to the tube.

If the Orioles win, then game-5 will be tomorrow at 5:00pm or 7:00pm (too complex to explain) and our ace CC Sabathia will be on the mound. I will be there.

OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers I know this is a lot of baseball, but please remember that your favorite blogger has invested big dollars and a lot of his time, effort and energy into this season.

Moving on ...

At 4:00pm this afternoon I will be at my appointment with Dr. Rose DuLude, my hearing Doc,  to get my hearing aid thingys. 

In all honesty==>I am both excited and apprehensive and I have to admit that I have been playing the game of ... “what if” ... “why did I” ... and ... “WTF?”

Add to this a major case of “buyer’s remorse” and you have Billi Pod’s current mental status.

Yeah ... yeah ... I know ... I know ... please don’t flame me ... I know this is something that I had to do and that I made all of the right choices. I promise that you will hear all of the details and stuff tomorrow.

Moving on some more ...

Yesterday I reached an important milestone (nice choice of words, don’t you think?) in my 1,079 mile walking challenge/adventure. Yes, yesterday Billi Pod reached the 50% mark in total mileage and get this ... this was programmed for day 148 and was reached on day 102, so I am currently 46 days ahead of schedule.

I also calculate that I now have 167.64 miles in my storage locker. Yeah ... bring on the nasty cold weather, Billi Pod is ready.

With that in mind, I will post this and then do a nice walk and wander session before my hearing Doc appointment.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.39 miles (or, 13,975 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>539.94

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>539.06

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you."

LEWIS BLACK==>A.

Good morning to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers.

Let’s get right to the important things, beginning with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ... 

LEWIS BLACK: RUNNING ON EMPTY, the ascorbic comedian’s lengthy and timely yet humorous commentary about the current state of everything==>A

He had the sold-out house roaring with laughter as soon as he took the stage for his 90-minute show.

Lewis spent most of that time eviscerating the internet, cell phones, Twitter, FaceBook, the Republican Party, Mitt Romney, and government in general, with liberal doses of the F-word and the S-word.

It was gut-busting funny from beginning to end and was just the type of comedy that Billi Pod loves.

There was a downside, however==>my TDF seat was terrible, in the next to last row in the rear mezzanine (balcony). Everyone in the area had gotten their tickets through TDF and because TDF membership starts at age 60 (if you aren’t in the theater or a teacher) a lot of the “older” folks had extreme difficulty making it up all of the stars to reach their nosebleed seats. It wasn’t a problem for Billi Pod, of course. There was a lot of bitching and complaining before the show started.

So, my loyal and faithful readers and followers in the Tri-State area, if you are planning to see the show via TDF be warned.

In response to an inquiry from one of my loyal and faithful readers ... no ... I didn’t have any problem hearing him. I don’t get my hearing aid thingys until tomorrow. I got one of the usual hearing devices but I didn’t even need that because the sound system was excellent plus ... he shouts a lot.

Tonight’s entertainment event for Billi Pod is ...

7:30=>YANKEES/ORIOLES @ Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, for the third game of the 5-game ALDS series.

On the mound for the Bronx Bombers will be Hiroki Kuroda (16-11) vs. Miguel Gonzalez (9-4) for the Birds.

Weather forecast at the first pitch==>59º, partly cloudy, 20% chance of rain. 

I am soooooooooo charged. I will probably head out to the stadium a bit early for a walk and wander session in da Bronx.

In the other ALDS I am pulling for the Oakland Athletics to make a comeback against the Detroit Tigers, who lead their series 2-1. Would much prefer to play the Athletics in the ALCS rather than the Tigers. Did you know that Billi Pod hates Tigers? Well ... he majorly does.

GO YANKEES!!!

Even though yesterday’s weather was kinda nasty I did have a decent walk and wander day, with most of the mileage coming from walking in The Port Authority Bus Terminal.

I am approaching another important stat in my 1,079 mile walking adventure/challenge. Will post the details tomorrow.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.38 miles (or, 13,951 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>533.55

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>545.45

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

The Birds Beat The Wankies==>Barf!!

It is a kinda gray and overcast day here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, in the low 50s.

Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, in the name of fair and unbiased reporting your favorite blogger has to admit that yesterday was basically a blah day that ended with a major downer ...

The Wankies lost 3-2 to The Orioles @ Camden Yards in Baltimore in a game that was again rain-delayed.

Andy Pettitte pitched a decent game. It was the Wankies bats that went dead with ... tada ... runners in scoring position. Where have you heard that lament before? Yeah ... that’s right ... for most of the f**king season, that’s where.

The final out in the top of the 9th inning was a strike out by none other than==>A-Rod, who is 1 for 9 in the series, with five strikeouts. The headlines in the local papers pretty much sums it up ...

“SAME OLD A-ROD. O’s get even as Alex whiffs to end it.” - NY Post

“STRANDED. Yanks leave 10 on base as Birds tie series.” - Daily News

“Yankees Head for Home Battling Orioles Neck and Neck.” - NY Times

The Wankies have the day off and then begin the remainder of the 5-game series at 7:30pm on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built. As I have posted earlier, I have a ticket for this game and for the game on Friday, if needed.

And, of course, The Jets lost 23-17 to the Texans as Mark Sanchez had yet another lackluster performance and Timmy Tebow remained basically a non-factor.

I am glad that the Wankies aren’t playing tonight because it gives me an opportunity to do something other than sit in front of the tube.

Tonight’s entertainment event is a Broadway show ...

8:00==>LEWIS BLACK: RUNNING ON EMPTY - “A lengthy and timely yet humorous commentary about the current state of American politics.”

(Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

This show is a very limited engagement, with only 8 performances running  through October 20th.

I need a laugh, that is for certain.

On a really positive note, I want to share with you loyal and faithful readers and followers 3 pictures of my darling great-granddaughter, Saylor Falletta, who is now 9 months old ...

Just received a call from my hearing doc's office and I will get my hearing aid thingys on Thursday afternoon @ 4:00pm. 

I have done a bit of research and have learned that the adjustment process is a lot more difficult than I imagined. Oh well ... it is just another challenge and you all know how Billi Pod responds to challenges ... 

Because yesterday’s weather was cold and nasty I did all of my walking and wandering in The Port Authority Bus Terminal and Penn Station. 

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.85 miles (or, 12,798 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>527.17

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>551.83

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

Yankees Win Game 1 of ALDS!!

Good morning all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers. It is a rather brisk morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World==>46º at 9:00am.

Well ... let’s get right to it, shall we? What is “it” I know you are all breathlessly asking? “It” will be a somewhat briefer posting (dammit ... stop the clapping and cheering ... I know who you are and where you are and I can hunt you down and bitch-slap you in a nanosecond) ... so ... 

Day two of my couch-potato modality was finally concluded last night with a 7-2 Yankee win over the Orioles, following a 2:40 rain delay.

Man, once the delay was announced it seemed to me that the clock stopped moving. The first pitch finally happened at 8:40pm.

Our ace CC Sabathia was excellent, giving up only 2 runs in 8 2/3 innings.

It was a nail biter game, going into the 9th inning tied 2-2. Then our bats finally came alive and we scored 5 runs in the top of the 9th and ultimately won 7-2.

What didn’t come alive was A-Rod who was pitiful yet again. Would someone PLEASE tell him to spit out whatever it is he is chewing and concentrate on being a batter not a chewer.

I am sooooooo happy to report that my Florida Gators are now ranked #4 in the AP Poll ...

1. Alabama

2. Oregon

3. South Carolina

4. FLORIDA

5. West Virginia

6. Kansas State

7. Notre Dame

8. Ohio State

9. LSU

10. Oregon State

We will have a epic showdown against the Gamecocks on Saturday, October 20th, in The Swamp.

Today will be the usual errands and stuff and then ... tada ... surprise surprise ... back on the couch for ... 

8:00==>YANKEES/ORIOLES @ Camden Yards in Baltimore, game two of the 5-game American League Division Series (ALDS), carried again on TBS.

It will be Andy Pettitte (5-4) on the mound for The Bronx Bombers vs. Wei-Yin Chen (12-11) for The Birds.

As of right now the starting time for Wednesday’s game at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, hasn’t been announced and that is mildly irritating. I have a ticket for that game. Oh well ... ain’t nothing Billi Pod can do about it except wait until The Suits make a decision.

Gonna post this and do some stuff and then have a nice walk and wander session in The Upper Westside.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.00 miles (or, 8,747 steps)

Mileage for last 7 days==>40.03 miles

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>521.32

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>557.68

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

Billi Pod Still HATES Tigers!!!

Good morning all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend because Billi Pod certainly is ... starting with ... of course ... you know what’s coming ... tada ... 

Yes, in the name of fair and unbiased reporting I must admit that Billi Pod spent most of yesterday in a couch-potato modality watching college football and post season baseball games.

Hey ... don’t be so judgmental. As a fair and unbiased reporter Billi Pod has an obligation to tell-it-like-it-is. OK?

So ... his day was built around ... 

The Gators 14-6 win over 4th ranked LSU in The Swamp. 

Led by Mike Gillislee, who ran for a career-high 146 yards and two touchdowns, and a dominant defense, our grind-it-out victory avenged a 41-11 loss in Baton Rouge last year and handed the Tigers their first regular-season loss in 19 games. YES!!

Coach Muskrat finally got it right. He has transformed the Gators from spread-offense speed-merchants to hard-running street-fighters.

With Half-Ass U, the Bulldogs and LSU losing the 10th ranked Gators should move up in the polls.

I have to admit that I am still riding cloud nine this morning ... but ... 

Billi Pod==>still HATES Tigers!!

My heartfelt condolences go out to all of my ‘Noles friends==>NOT!!

Anyway ... 

Today will be Day Two of Billi Pod’s couch-potato modality. He will stay in to watch pro-football and then post season baseball, the most important being, of course ...

6:00==>YANKEES/ORIOLES @ Camden Yards in Baltimore, the first game of the 5-game American League Division Series (ALDS), carried on TBS.

On the mound for The Bronx Bombers will be our ace CC Sabathia (15-6) vs. Jason Hammel (8-6) for the Birds. 

The two teams were tied at 9-9 for the regular season. Billi Pod predicts that it will be a nail-biting series with the Yankees ultimately winning in 5-games.

Moving on ...

Even though I was in my couch-potato modality for most of yesterday I was still able to work in two walk and wander sessions to keep on my 1,079 mile schedule.

With that in mind I will now post this and head down to the Chelsea area for a walk and wander session.

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.71  miles (or, 12,480 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>517.32

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>561.68

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

Billi Pod HATES Tigers!!

It is another beautiful morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

I am happy to report to you loyal and faithful readers and followers that last night’s NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC concert @ Avery Fisher Hall was excellent, despite the inclusion of an atonal piece of dreck known as Schoenberg’s Piano Concerto.

Before the performance both the conductor, Alan Gilbert, and the performer, Emanuel Ax, tried to assure the audience that the piece was “very accessible” and “easy to relate to,” whatever that means. Well, sorry guys, but Billi Pod, and those seated around him, thought the piece sucked. Thank God it was only 24-minutes long.

The evening was saved by Bach’s Keyboard Concerto in D minor and Mozart’s Symphony No. 36, Linz.

When the concert was over I walked back to the apartment while listening to the Orioles/Rangers game on my trusty but ancient Walkman.

The Orioles won 5-1 so they will be our opponent in The American League Division Series (ALDS), beginning on Sunday @ 6:00pm for the first of two games in Baltimore, followed by three games in Yankee Stadium, starting on Wednesday.

I have tickets for the Wednesday and Friday (if it goes that long) games in my same regular season seat.

Since we are talking about sports, that leads to today’s schedule, which will be ...

A total in-front-of-the-TV football/baseball sports day for Billi Pod,  starting with ...

3:30==>FLORIDA GATORS vs. LSU TIGERS @ The Swamp, carried on CBS. LSU is ranked #4 and The Gators #10 and the Tigers are currently favored by 2 1/2 points.

This should be a nail biter as we continue our quest to return to college football’s upper echelon.

I HATE TIGERS!! 

GO GATORS!!

The remainder of the day/evening will be devoted to college football and then baseball. At 6:00pm it will be Oakland/Detroit followed at 9:30pm by Cincinnati/San Francisco.

OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers it is now 11:30am and since Billi Pod will be in a couch-potato mode for today (and, for tomorrow, too) it is important from him to get in some walk and wander time, so he will post this and then head out ...

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE.

Oh, did you know==>BILLI POD HATES TIGERS!!

Yesterday was also a majorly good walk and wander day ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>7.98  miles (or, 17,442 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>511.61

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>567.39

GO YANKEES AND GO GATORS!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”