Well, with the Little League lineup because of the walking wounded I
knew this game was doomed from the start. Too bad it was Coney that
had to take one for the team. 

Did you catch that wince when Turner tossed a ball back to him a
little high and he had to reach up with his left arm? I think the guy
is hurting more than he's letting on, but he's desparately trying to
help the team and win a spot on the post-season roster. 

With Grimsley's help last night in that pathetic performance and Doza
scheduled for surgery, David might have won that spot. I see him in
long relief filling in for Mendoza. What do you guys think?

#26 in 2000!
--
susan peters ~ [email protected]

Good Monday morning to you all!!

I think David did pretty well considering he only missed one start.  I
actually thought he should miss two of the rotations to give his shoulder
more rest, but I also know how convincing he can be when he wants to
pitch!!.  I agree w/ susan totally on all counts!!!  He had no line-up to
support him that night, but I do know Joe is doing the right thing by
resting our starters (I just wish he did it on Saturday instead of Friday).
What about poor Denny yesterday.  I never did hear the final score.  I left
when it was 14-0!!!  His outing was not too good eh??

Well, I hope everyone enjoys their day- I believe the yanks are on espn
again this week.  I thought I read wednesday and friday, so check your tv
guides folks!!!


Laura

Yeah, I thought David did fine, our bullpen has been a mess though.
I went to the game on Saturday, Duque was great, he pitched a complete game 
4 hitter! Looks like our starters are in good shape for the playoffs, we 
just need to work out our bullpen. I think Coney will make his way on to the 
playoff roster via the bullpen.
later guys,
eyde

Good morning all

Sorry to inform you, but the game is NOT on ESPN tonight as I had thought.
It was on last night- and it was just awful!!  Hopefully Joe had a nice
meeting w/the guys and told them to perk up a bit.

Maybe David can be the bright star of the week and get them out of this
little slump they are having tonight when he pitches.

hope everyone has a good day
GO CONEY!!!
Laura

I didn't get to see the game, but from what I gathered online, it didn't look
like Cone had a good night.:(  4-13... I don't know what else to say.  People
say he's totally thrown his playoff chances out the window... I think the only
consolation we can draw from this is that right now NO ONE (with the exception
of Clemens) is pitching well, so you can't really single him out at the present
moment as THE bad seed.  Perhaps it's just one of those weeks... well, I think
Cone has two starts left to prove himself worth anything; otherwise his place
on the postseason roster will be purely out of sentimentality on Torre's part.

I've attached a picture I found on the Bergen Record site of "happier times"...
thought you might want to put it on your website, KC... the rest of you I'm
sure will find it amusing... he really looks like he's got something on that
ball; maybe he should consider batting if and when his pitching career is
supposedly "over". (J/K, I know we shouldn't joke about stuff like that now...)

http://www.geocities.com/coney36_nyy/

Hey everyone...Well, there really isn't much to say about tonight's game,
I'm just sorry Cone didn't have a better outing.  I think penguin is right
about the playoff chances, but she is also right about the performances of
all our pitchers as of late...so it is consoling that no one can single
Cone out as "a bad seed."  Let's just hope that Cone can really make the
most out of the 2 starts he has left...dangit, we all know he can still
pitch effectively...he has shown us that!

Penguin-- Thank you *so* much for the picture, it's awesome!!!  I
definitely will put it on the site!  I enjoy seeing him at bat, I get a
kick out of seeing pitchers bat for some reason, so I really dig the ones
who can bat well!  I think Cone is one of those pitchers....;)


Thank you to those of you who shared your thoughts on Cone's chances of
being in the post-season, I really enjoy reading everyone's input.  It is
just so hard to say either way even right now, given Cone's past
post-season experience and how most of our pitchers have been struggling
lately... Let's just wish him the best of luck in these next two starts!
Surely if he does well Torre will find him to be effective for the
post-season, even if it is out of the bullpen...

The page has been updated...

Take care~ ~ ~ ~
              --KC

Good morning all

I also didn't get to see the game last night, but did tape the post-game,
and quite frankly our David wasn't too down.  It really Kay and Susan
Waldman (sp?) that seemed more upset than David.  At this point I believe he
just realizes that his season has been the worst he had and now must move on
and concentrate on the post-season and give anything he has to offer.  He
still said he believes he can help the team, so we must continue to have
faith even when others have written him off as no good.  I have to say
sometimes when I watch the games on MSG (I get direct TV) I often feel I am
watching a feed from the opposing team, b/c they certainly aren't very
biased towards us. I guess over the past few days I have been a little
annoyed about that, On Tuesday night after the blow-out they were already
saying Cone's outing wouldn't be too good so he had the loss even before he
earned it according to them.  I tell ya it's a real confidence booster
listening to them sometimes;-)

Well, hopefully, you all will have a great weekend
take care- KC love the new "look" of the site- keep it up gal!!

Laura

Well, needless to say last night's game was a big disappointment. I
have a feeling David is pitching through pain. His fastball was
clocked at about 85 mph. In the postgame interview, he was asked if
his shoulder bothers him and all he would answer was, "I'm not 100%."
Hopefully by his next start he'll feel a little better physically.

Laura, you're right about the bias against the team by the TV
broadcasters. That's why I always turn down the sound and listen to
Kay & Sterling. They have their faults, but they're way better than
any of the TV guys.

Thanks for the great photo of David batting. Did you know his BA is a
whopping .333!

I just got a cool pennant off e-bay and I'm going to try to send it as
an attachment here. Hope this works!

#26 in 2000!


--
susan peters ~ [email protected]

Hi everyone!
I haven't seen a Yankees game it what seems like forever, and I just haven't 
had time for SportsCenter since school started! I know my priorities are a 
little reversed!! ;-)  Anyway, after reading your e-mails, I get the jist of 
our current events.
Don't get me wrong, I am feeling for our boys right now -- losing streaks are 
tough.  And with no end to baseball in sights (not a break until October!), 
it must seem longer than four games.
But we, my friends and fellow Courtiers, are the Yankees. The New York 
Yankees!!!  We have 25 Championships under the belts that clasp our 
Pinstriped uniforms!!!  We own the rights to the Babe, the Iron Horse, the 
Mick, and the Yankee Clipper!!  We (or at least I!!) do obnoxious things like 
memorize our retired numbers!!  (1 3 4 5 7 8 8 9 10 15 16 23 32 37 44)  We 
have swept -- SWEPT!! -- the last two World Series!! Hooray for us!  Who can 
beat us?  Atlanta?  Uh, no -- see 1996 AND 1999.  Cleveland?  1948 (clap clap 
clap clap clap).  Certainly not Beantown -- Pedro who?  And one thing that 
OUR Yankees have done, as tradition since about 1996, is slack off in 
September.  Remember 125 wins in '98?  How many of those were in September?  
Not many, let me tell ya!  And the same for last year.
A boy (Reds fan -- may we have pity on him...) at my school asked me who the 
Yankees had beaten last night, assuming (rightly so) that the Yankees always 
win.  We didn't win last night.  But come October -- when every inning, every 
start, every at-bat matters -- we'll see who's winning.

YankeeCindy
P.S. -- I love to watch David bat!  And as Royal Bat Girl, I'd be honored to 
hand him a Louisville Slugger any day!

http://www.geocities.com/coney36_nyy/

Hey!  YankeeCindy, I just had to write and tell you how much I enjoyed
your note!  It was so well-written, and I don't think anyone could have
said it better!  You really put things in perspective and in a positive
light.  Of course I want the Yankees to make it to the WS and win, but I
must admit I've been wondering about them lately with the blown leads and
such...However, you brought up so many good points from the past, and
really the Yankees have more experience in October play than any other
team in baseball..and that will go a long way I'm sure!  So Go Yankees!!
We will never lose our faith in you!!! :)

Susan-- That worries me if Cone is playing hurt, I hope he doesn't injure
himself any further.  He just wants so badly to help this team, you just
have to admire character like that!  Great of you to bring up the BA stat.
:)  I think that's from the hit he got earlier in the season against, I
*want* to say the Expos...If I remember correctly, he made it all the way
to third base that night!  Too bad they couldn't drive him home! :)  Cute
pic of the pennant, congrats on winning it! :)

Take care everyone~ ~ ~ ~
                     --KC :)

Cone could wind up in postseason bullpen 

By RONALD BLUM
AP Sports Writer 
September 22, 2000 

NEW YORK (AP) -- David Cone appears likely to make another start
Monday and could wind up in the New York Yankees' postseason bullpen. 

Cone, 0-2 since dislocating his left shoulder, threw in the bullpen
before Friday night's game against Detroit. 

``I want to try to keep hope alive that I can still help this team,
somehow,'' he said. 

Cone's next scheduled start is Monday against the Tigers -- the
Yankees' final scheduled home game of the regular season. Given that
Cone (4-13) is eligible for free agency and his future is uncertain,
it could be the final start in pinstripes at Yankee Stadium for the
37-year-old right-hander. 

``We're going to talk tomorrow,'' Yankees manager Joe Torre said after
watching Cone throw. ``At times he threw a little tentative and he
admitted every few times it would grab him.'' 

New York figures to use Roger Clemens (13-7), Andy Pettitte (18-8),
Orlando Hernandez (12-12) and Denny Neagle (7-5) as its starters in
the playoffs. Torre said he wouldn't hesitate to use Cone as a
right-handed long reliever out of the bullpen. 

``We certainly would like to have him if we get to the postseason,''
Torre said. 

New York, which entered Friday with seven losses in eight games, is
just 9-19 in Cone's starts this year. He wouldn't mind a relief role. 

``Sure, I'll do anything, anything they want at this point,'' he said.


Against Toronto on Wednesday, he allowed seven runs and six hits in 3
2-3 innings. In his first start after injuring his shoulder Aug. 30 at
Kansas City, he gave up six runs, eight hits and four walks in 5 2-3
innings against Cleveland -- a potential postseason opponent. 

Torre said it's hard to judge Cone's condition. The pitcher's velocity
has dropped since the injury, sustained when he caught a popped-up
bunt. No matter what decision the team makes, Cone will agree to it. 

``Coney, his mental approach is unlike anybody I've ever seen,'' the
manager said. ``He's probably been the hardest guy to read but the
easiest guy to manage.'' 

Yankees acting pitching coach Billy Connors said Cone's condition
hadn't changed much in the past few days. 

``At times, he would feel it a little bit,'' Connors said. ``Other
than that, it was all right.'' 

--------------

#26 in 2000!
--
susan peters ~ [email protected]

http://www.geocities.com/coney36_nyy/

Susan-- Thanks for the great article.  I'm glad it seems Cone will be on
the playoff roster, even if he isn't a starter...I really respect the fact
that he just is so concerned with helping out the team.  I know he will
make an effective contribution....:)

Take care~ ~ ~ ~
              --KC :)

Hi everyone!  Chanting "New York, New York", I just finished watching the 
Yankees game -- it was on in NC!!!  We came out of our "slump" today in 
Yankee-esque fashion -- not a surprise.  Clemens had a tough start, due to 
what I'm categorizing as agitating an old injury.  Derek Jeter went 4 for 5 
-- I screamed with joy as he hit 3 sinngles and a home run, driving in 4 runs. 
 I know I was all smiles, and from the shots of David I saw, so was he -- 
which only made me happier.

But -- there's always a but -- what exactly did Buck and McCarver say about 
David being replaced by Gooden in the post season?  Kay and Sterling 
supposedly told the FOX broadcasters mid-game about it just being announced.  
Buck and McCarver mentioned it later in the game, but it confused me.  
Whatever it was, it wasn't good.  AND  Coney was kicked from starting Monday? 
 That killed me.  And then they said -- they always have to drill the point 
-- "it could potentially mean thaat David Cone will never start a game at 
Yankee Stadium in pinstripes again."  Uuugghhh -- through the heart.....
YankeeCindy, 
Royal Bat Girl

http://www.geocities.com/coney36_nyy/

How can this be?  I am *so* confused...?!  I mean for a couple of weeks
now we've been seeing article after article writing about the optimistic
outlook of Cone's presence in the post-season, and about how Torre has
said Cone *will* be on the team...and now *this* just comes out of
*nowhere*?!  AND they took away his start on Monday?!  Why did they do
*that*?!  This just doesn't make any sense to me...what a shock that was
to read...I surely hope we get some answers soon...

Your very troubled webmaster,
                      KC <:/

September 23, 2000 

NEW YORK (AP) -- David Cone's future with the New York Yankees is in
the bullpen. 

Yankees manager Joe Torre announced that Cone, who's next scheduled
start was to be Monday against the Detroit Tigers, will be replaced by
Dwight Gooden in the starting rotation. 

Cone (4-13), who threw in the bullpen before Friday night's game,
struggled in two starts since dislocating his left shoulder while
fielding a popped-up bunt on Aug. 30 at Kansas City. 

``You know Coney, it's more guts than anything as far as him enduring
the pain,'' Torre said before Saturday's 13-8 victory over the Tigers.
``Maybe in the bullpen, it'll benefit him. I'm just not too sure that
David's too comfortable right now.'' 

Gooden (6-4) has made 11 relief appearances for the Yankees this
season and replaced Cone in the rotation a few times during the
summer. 

``It's sort of a reversal of roles for Coney and Doc,'' Torre said.
``We've pretty much kept the two of them on the same schedule. Doc
also will start next Saturday, but we're taking it a start at a time.
Doc's done a great job coming out of the bullpen, so we'll see.'' 

Gooden said he was pleased to get the opportunity, but not at his
friend's expense. 

``It's definitely tough,'' Gooden said. ``We're friends, but we'll
be friends long after the games are over. He said to me, `Let's switch
it. How about you go five innings that day and I'll finish it up and
go four?'' 

Gooden, 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA for the Yankees this season, will make
just his fifth start for New York. 

``Starting is something I've been doing all my life,'' Gooden said.
``It's just a situation where I'll go out and do the things I've been
doing my whole career.'' 

While Cone was disappointed, he accepted Torre's decision. 

``All loyalties aside, Joe always does what's best for the team,''
Cone said. ``I don't know what exactly led to Joe's decision, but I
respect it.'' 

Torre said Cone did not try to persuade him to keep him in the
rotation. 

``He was fine with it -- professional,'' Torre said. ``David Cone
makes very tough decisions as easy as he can on me. He understands my
situation, and he thinks of more than just himself.'' 

Cone's move to the bullpen sets up the possibility of him pitching in
the playoffs as a right-handed reliever. 

``I still have a chance to make the postseason roster, so I have to
try to show that I can still get hitters out and help this team,''
Cone said. ``I knew all along that the chances were small that I'd get
a playoff start. I just have to try to help the team any way I can.'' 

New York, which was 9-19 in Cone's starts, will likely use Roger
Clemens (13-7), Andy Pettitte (18-8), Orlando Hernandez (12-12) and
Denny Neagle (7-6) as its playoff starters. 

Torre said he and Cone have discussed his chances of pitching in the
playoffs. 

``We've been talking sort of candidly and casually about the roster,''
Torre said. ``He understands that if he is on the postseason roster,
it will be in the bullpen.'' 

Cone said adjusting to coming in as a reliever should not be a
problem. 

``It's no big deal,'' Cone said. ``It's still pitching -- you get
ready, come in and pitch.'' 

While Cone wouldn't go into specifics about the injury, he admitted
his shoulder is still bothering him. 

``It's something that will grab at me sometimes and I'll feel it, but
it's something I can pitch through right now,'' Cone said. 

Against Toronto on Wednesday, Cone allowed seven runs and six hits in
3 2-3 innings. In his first start after injuring his shoulder, he gave
up six runs, eight hits and four walks in 5 2-3 innings against
Cleveland -- a potential postseason opponent. 

``There's no question about it -- I've had a hellacious year,'' Cone
said. ``But the season's not over yet. When it is, I'll do some soul
searching and make a decision about the future.

But right now, I'm just going to try to help this team as best I
can.'' 

-----------
#26 in 2000!
--
susan peters ~ [email protected]

http://www.geocities.com/coney36_nyy/

Hello everyone again...sorry to clog your Eboxes, that first response was
just basically an outpour of emotion...However, I felt it was my duty to
search for any answers I could find and pass them on to you fine
people...I found this article at
http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2000/0922/768407.html  Here it is...

NEW YORK -- David Cone's future with the New York Yankees is in the
bullpen.

Yankees manager Joe Torre announced that Cone, who's next scheduled start
was to be Monday against the Detroit Tigers, will be replaced by Dwight
Gooden in the starting rotation.
Cone (4-13), who threw in the bullpen before Friday night's game,
struggled in two starts since dislocating his left shoulder while fielding
a popped-up bunt on Aug. 30 at Kansas City.

"You know Coney, it's more guts than anything as far as him enduring the
pain," Torre said before Saturday's 13-8 victory over the Tigers. "Maybe
in the bullpen, it'll benefit him. I'm just not too sure that David's too
comfortable right now."

Gooden (6-4) has made 11 relief appearances for the Yankees this season
and replaced Cone in the rotation a few times during the summer.

"It's sort of a reversal of roles for Coney and Doc," Torre said. "We've
pretty much kept the two of them on the same schedule. Doc also will start
next Saturday, but we're taking it a start at a time. Doc's done a great
job coming out of the bullpen, so we'll see."

Gooden said he was pleased to get the opportunity, but not at his friend's
expense.

"It's definitely tough," Gooden said. "We're friends, but we'll be friends
long after the games are over. He said to me, 'Let's switch it. How about
you go five innings that day and I'll finish it up and go four?' "

Gooden, 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA for the Yankees this season, will make just
his fifth start for New York.

"Starting is something I've been doing all my life," Gooden said. "It's
just a situation where I'll go out and do the things I've been doing my
whole career."

While Cone was disappointed, he accepted Torre's decision.

"All loyalties aside, Joe always does what's best for the team," Cone
said. "I don't know what exactly led to Joe's decision, but I respect it."

Torre said Cone did not try to persuade him to keep him in the rotation.

"He was fine with it -- professional," Torre said. "David Cone makes very
tough decisions as easy as he can on me. He understands my situation, and
he thinks of more than just himself."

Cone's move to the bullpen sets up the possibility of him pitching in the
playoffs as a right-handed reliever.

"I still have a chance to make the postseason roster, so I have to try to
show that I can still get hitters out and help this team," Cone said. "I
knew all along that the chances were small that I'd get a playoff start. I
just have to try to help the team any way I can."

New York, which was 9-19 in Cone's starts, will likely use Roger Clemens
(13-7), Andy Pettitte (18-8), Orlando Hernandez (12-12) and Denny Neagle
(7-6) as its playoff starters.

Torre said he and Cone have discussed his chances of pitching in the
playoffs.

"We've been talking sort of candidly and casually about the roster," Torre
said. "He understands that if he is on the postseason roster, it will be
in the bullpen."

Cone said adjusting to coming in as a reliever should not be a problem.

"It's no big deal," Cone said. "It's still pitching -- you get ready, come
in and pitch."

While Cone wouldn't go into specifics about the injury, he admitted his
shoulder is still bothering him.

"It's something that will grab at me sometimes and I'll feel it, but it's
something I can pitch through right now," Cone said.

Against Toronto on Wednesday, Cone allowed seven runs and six hits in 3
2/3 innings. In his first start after injuring his shoulder, he gave up
six runs, eight hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings against Cleveland --
a potential postseason opponent.

"There's no question about it -- I've had a hellacious year," Cone said.
"But the season's not over yet. When it is, I'll do some soul searching
and make a decision about the future. But right now, I'm just going to try
to help this team as best I can."

Okay, so yes, it looks like Cone won't be starting on Monday *or* Saturday
as of now...but it seems his post-season chances are still possible, so
that's good.  Let's all keep our hopes high and wish him the best.  I just
really respect how he is handling all of this, it has to be killing him
inside, but he really is unselfish and a team guy...this incident makes
that more than apparent...

"Feeling a *little* better..."
                         --KC :)

http://www.geocities.com/coney36_nyy/

Ok, it looks like Susan beat me to the punch!  Sorry for the rerun
everyone, and thanks to Susan for posting!!
                              --KC

http://www.geocities.com/coney36_nyy/

Hi everyone...Well, tonight was not a good night for Cone, however it
didn't seem like a good night for any of the Yankee pitchers.  Also I
think Cone's shoulder is probably still bothering him, and really this has
got to feel pretty weird for him.  He's been a starter for so long, and
having to adjust and adjust so quickly surely isn't easy.  I do hope he
has enough time to get used to this new position so he can make it onto
the post-season roster...

The front page has been updated....

Take care~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                 --KC

Good morning all

Yes, I am back from good ol' St. Louis, a city where they have already
clinched their division days ago.  Well, our magic number is now 2 and we
must thank toronto for losing, cuz it seems that's the only way we will be
clinching our division!!!  Just kidding.  I got back to work w/ over 50
e-mails from various people and I just want to thank you all for posting the
real story about Coney's new position in the bull pen.  I guess his first
outing out of the pen wasn't too good, but I do think this injury to his
shoulder is a lot more complicated than they letting the public know (that's
just my gut feeling anyway).  This injury really screwed him up good and I
just don't know what he is going to do next season.  They already have him
off our team and headed to Kansas City, where he started his career.  I
don't know maybe that's fitting.  However, there is a part of me that would
like him to end his career w/us.  I don't really have much else to add.  I
felt like I left for a few days and everything feel apart w/ the team.  I
hope Roger is going to be ok.  We need to pray to the pitching gods for a
miracle here!!

Hope everyone has a great day!!

Pen, KC sent me a few of your pictures.... love that one of him w/his back
turned and walking... keep sending em' !!!  It makes my day!!

Laura

Hi!  Hope you had a good trip!  I agree, we certainly 
seem jinxed these days - I was hoping maybe a move to 
the pen would help Coney, but things did not look good 
yesterday either. :(  I hope he does end his career as a 
Yankee, I guess KC would be OK, after all it is his 
hometown, but I really would like to see him go out in 
NY.

Oh well, let's all root for a win against the D'Rays - 
hopefully we can get a little hot streak going and roll 
into the playoffs on a good note!

Keep smiling and keep the faith...