01/02: Interviewing the Yankees Blogosphere: Jason O'Connell, YanksBlog.com
Posted by: Patrick
Next up in our interview series is our very own Jason O'Connell.
When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?
I work for an engineering consulting firm in the Boston suburbs. It's a great company and I enjoy it a lot. I like music, history, working out to release stress and I have resolved in 2007 to become a better chess player. My guiltiest pleasures are cigars (about 5 per week) and South Park - I never miss an episode.
For about a year.
Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?
Bronx Banter and RLYW for pure analysis. noMaas.org's knife edge sense of humor is fantastic. WasWatching.com, as well.
What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?
The tumultuous clubhouse of the late 70's and Thurman Munson's accident, RIP.
Did you grow up rooting for the Yanks? Was your Dad or someone in your family influential in making sure you pulled for the Yankees?
Exactly: my father was from New Haven and a NYY fan growing up. My family moved to NY from the Midwest when I was 5 in 1976. He took me to the stadium for 3-4 games per year from 1976-80, until we moved
back to the Midwest. When it gets in your blood at that age, forget it.
Who is your all-time - past or present - favorite Yankee and why?
After I saw the PBS special on DiMaggio ("A Hero's Life"), there's no question that it's the Yankee Clipper. A review of his stats is self-evident: he raked from day 1 onward. Combine that with his personal life, including the tragic roller coaster with Marilyn and Joe D. is massively compelling.
Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?
Brian Cashman, hands down. It seems growing up in the Yankees organization that he learned not only how to be a successful GM, but also how to navigate the most complex organization in baseball. His bold moves to consolidate power given the multiple factions of the organization are really admirable and I believe we will see the fruits in the next few seasons.
How often do you make it to the stadium to see a game?
Unfortunately, the last time I was at the stadium was in 1980 at age 9.
Of any retired former Yankee that is not in the Hall of Fame already, who is the one that most deserves to be?
Goose Gossage.
What are your thoughts on a Randy Johnson trade?
I'm a little torn. I see Unit as a Hemingway character, i.e., a bullfighter who still has the skills to delight the crowd, but is on the downside of his career. The idealistic part of me sees him having one last great year after surgery, despite the odds stacked against him. Of course, that's totally irrational. Loading the organization with young talented pitching opens several options to Cashman for the future.
Take a guess: where is Clemens next summer?
He said last year that if he ever pitched outside of Houston, it would be where he won his 300th. I'm holding him to that.
Out of all current Yankee hitters, if you need someone to make something happen, who do you want?
Alex Rodriguez. (Ducks) bear with me... I subscribe to the general sabermetric principle that "clutch hitting" is a function of the player's overall hitting sample. In that case, Alex is due like no other MLB player is due and there's a higher probability that he will deliver. My less rational idealistic side is also rooting for him in a big way.
When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?
I work for an engineering consulting firm in the Boston suburbs. It's a great company and I enjoy it a lot. I like music, history, working out to release stress and I have resolved in 2007 to become a better chess player. My guiltiest pleasures are cigars (about 5 per week) and South Park - I never miss an episode.
For about a year.
Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?
Bronx Banter and RLYW for pure analysis. noMaas.org's knife edge sense of humor is fantastic. WasWatching.com, as well.
What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?
The tumultuous clubhouse of the late 70's and Thurman Munson's accident, RIP.
Did you grow up rooting for the Yanks? Was your Dad or someone in your family influential in making sure you pulled for the Yankees?
Exactly: my father was from New Haven and a NYY fan growing up. My family moved to NY from the Midwest when I was 5 in 1976. He took me to the stadium for 3-4 games per year from 1976-80, until we moved
back to the Midwest. When it gets in your blood at that age, forget it.
Who is your all-time - past or present - favorite Yankee and why?
After I saw the PBS special on DiMaggio ("A Hero's Life"), there's no question that it's the Yankee Clipper. A review of his stats is self-evident: he raked from day 1 onward. Combine that with his personal life, including the tragic roller coaster with Marilyn and Joe D. is massively compelling.
Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?
Brian Cashman, hands down. It seems growing up in the Yankees organization that he learned not only how to be a successful GM, but also how to navigate the most complex organization in baseball. His bold moves to consolidate power given the multiple factions of the organization are really admirable and I believe we will see the fruits in the next few seasons.
How often do you make it to the stadium to see a game?
Unfortunately, the last time I was at the stadium was in 1980 at age 9.
Of any retired former Yankee that is not in the Hall of Fame already, who is the one that most deserves to be?
Goose Gossage.
What are your thoughts on a Randy Johnson trade?
I'm a little torn. I see Unit as a Hemingway character, i.e., a bullfighter who still has the skills to delight the crowd, but is on the downside of his career. The idealistic part of me sees him having one last great year after surgery, despite the odds stacked against him. Of course, that's totally irrational. Loading the organization with young talented pitching opens several options to Cashman for the future.
Take a guess: where is Clemens next summer?
He said last year that if he ever pitched outside of Houston, it would be where he won his 300th. I'm holding him to that.
Out of all current Yankee hitters, if you need someone to make something happen, who do you want?
Alex Rodriguez. (Ducks) bear with me... I subscribe to the general sabermetric principle that "clutch hitting" is a function of the player's overall hitting sample. In that case, Alex is due like no other MLB player is due and there's a higher probability that he will deliver. My less rational idealistic side is also rooting for him in a big way.
