Thanks Susan. What a guy. I really am optimistic that
the guys can do well. I agree, it would be great to see
David play well. Lets hope tonight will be a win.

Good morning all!!

OK, OK,  I know I was the first one to say they were out of it... and I
still have my doubts.  But, didn't everyone sleep just a little bit better
last night knowing the series is tied :) :)

It's now back to NY!!!  It would be a great thing if Orlando can pull it off
Friday night, and even better if Roger could redeem himself Saturday.   I am
soooo excited I'll be there to (hopefully) see them win it all.  No I don't
have any tickets, don't think we will get to NY until late Saturday night.

I still have an overall bad feeling about this series.  Afterall, they ( the
A's) will be sending Hudson to the mound (their 20 winner) on Friday and I
guess they call him "little Pedro"  I thought we were done facing the
Pedro's of baseball for the rest of the season!!!  (hee-hee)

Take care all and have a wonderful day!!
Laura <:)  (oh btw... they showed a few good shots of David last night
didn't they?)

In a message dated 10/5/00 9:42:26 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
[email protected] writes:

<< I still have an overall bad feeling about this series.  Afterall, they ( 
the
 A's) will be sending Hudson to the mound (their 20 winner) on Friday and I
 guess they call him "little Pedro"  I thought we were done facing the
 Pedro's of baseball for the rest of the season!!!  >>

Don't forget we beat Pedro twice this year!  If anyone can do it, the Yankees 
can!

hey guys, i'll be at Fridays game, Hopefully Duque can keep his undefeated 
in the playoffs streak....I had no idea Oakland even had a 20 game winner, 
lol! oh well, i think that us playing at home will give us a big advantage 
because everyone knows how crazy playoff games at the stadium are. I can't 
wait for tomorrow!
I'm soooo happy we won last night, i was worried....it was extremely 
important. oh yeah and i did notice the nice shots of Coney that fox was 
showing:-)
I miss Coney, he was always been a great postseason pitcher....its too bad 
his season was so awful:_(
later,
Eyde

true, so true..... ok I'll stop being negative :)

Laura

Unfortunately, it's a busy week for me (psychology exam, eight-page paper on 
Ancient Greece, newspaper articles, French composition, among other things), 
so I'm only able to catch segments of the playoffs on the radio....:(  But I 
do have a good feeling about tonite; I think El Duque can do it, and he'll 
have a home crowd behind him... decided maybe this picture of Coney will 
bring us good luck... (yeah, I know he's on KC, but the caption when I 
downloaded it said he beat Oakland that day!)

Hoping we can pull ahead,
~PEN~

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

Hey everyone!  Yes, very good game last night, I think this is just what
the Yankees need to get started.  I feel more optimistic about the
postseason already...I really do think their experience in post-season
play is a key factor...Can't wait for the game tomorrow night!!  Those of
you who will be in NY, have a great time!!!!  I look forward to hearing
your stories when you return. :)

Penguin-- Thanks for the nice picture!!  Sounds like you have a busy
week...if you need any help with the French, don't hesitate to ask, I just
finished my French major last semester!! *ouais*! :)

A bientot~ ~ ~ ~ ~
             --KC <<<<:)

I found this excerpt on an Andy Pettitte website. I hate the idea of
killing animals, so if you feel the same way this will give you one
more reason to love David (as if we needed any more reasons!)...

Standing in the Yankees' spring training locker room at Legends Field
yesterday, Clemens ran a hand through his crewcut and helped make a
list of some things he and Pettitte do have in common: They get
hassled for their Texas twangs, their down-home expressions, their
near-obsessive pregame routines, the gruelling workout regimes they
follow, and their mutual love of hunting and golf. 

"Hunting," pitcher David Cone repeats. He wags his head. "I'd rather
be in Manhattan. The only hunting I do is trying to find a new
restaurant, maybe an off-Broadway play. The last thing I want to do in
the offseason is sit in a treehouse. In the woods. Waiting for some
deer to come by. 

"But," Cone brightly adds, "I'm sure there's something to it." 

Now he rolls his eyes. 

---------
I have a good feeling about El Duque, and I think the bats are going
to be alive tonight. The place will be rocking and the A's will see
what real fans are like. We don't need annoying drums to make noise.
The Bleacher Creatures will do the rollcall and the guys will know
they're back home! 

#26 in 2000!


--
susan peters ~ [email protected]

In a message dated 10/6/00 3:26:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] 
writes:

> I found this excerpt on an Andy Pettitte website. I hate the idea of
>  killing animals, so if you feel the same way this will give you one
>  more reason to love David (as if we needed any more reasons!)...
>  
>  Standing in the Yankees' spring training locker room at Legends Field
>  yesterday, Clemens ran a hand through his crewcut and helped make a
>  list of some things he and Pettitte do have in common: They get
>  hassled for their Texas twangs, their down-home expressions, their
>  near-obsessive pregame routines, the gruelling workout regimes they
>  follow, and their mutual love of hunting and golf. 
>  
>  "Hunting," pitcher David Cone repeats. He wags his head. "I'd rather
>  be in Manhattan. The only hunting I do is trying to find a new
>  restaurant, maybe an off-Broadway play. The last thing I want to do in
>  the offseason is sit in a treehouse. In the woods. Waiting for some
>  deer to come by. 
>  
>  "But," Cone brightly adds, "I'm sure there's something to it." 
>  
>  Now he rolls his eyes. 
Awww.. that's great! Thanks! That is definitely another reason to love Cone! 
:) 

Good luck to the Yanks tonite!

-kris

-----Original Message-----
From: Laura Naughton [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2000 2:33 PM
To: '[email protected]'
Subject: RE: Another Reason to Love David


Thanks Susan!!

I knew me and coney had a lot in common.  My idea of hunting is finding a
good new restaurant too! Or, a good bottle of reasonably priced bordeaux...
;)

Laura <:)

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

Susan-- Thank you so much for that tidbit, it was fabulous and I couldn't
agree more with his view on hunting.  I pretty much dislike anything
violent, and i despise guns.  But I like how David put it, with preferring
restaurants and broadway shows to sitting in some treehouse in the
woods...*paha*.  I couldn't have said it better myself.  I am not a
camping/woodsie type person...I enjoy things like electricity, heat, and
plumbing. :)

Great game tonight...El Duque was fabulous...I hope Clemens can work his
magic tomorrow night, after only having a couple days of rest....

Go Yankees!!

Take care~ ~ ~ ~~ 
               --KC <<<<:)

During last night's game (which I won't even discuss!) while Doc was
pitching I heard a roar in the right field bleachers. I was in the
upper Box seats nearby and I turned to see what was going on. 

Coney had come out to warm up in the bullpen. The fans gave him a big
welcome! It was nice to see that, because it was a pretty hostile
crowd last night. 

I thought it would be a good idea to bring him in with the game going
the way it was. It's been a while since he pitched; maybe his shoulder
is hurting him less now. It would be a good opportunity for Joe to see
if/how he could use him if we got further into the postseason games.
David is a big game pitcher, as we all know. Joe is hurting for
starters. Wouldn't it be a perfect ending to a very imperfect year for
our perfect game pitcher to win a big one for us? I still keep the
dream alive as you can see!

OTOH, it was really cold and his arm works better in the warm weather.
The "fans" were really getting on all the players, and it would have
killed me to hear them boo David if he came in gave up some more runs.
It would have been a terrible way for him to end his Yankee career.

I couldn't take my eyes off David as I looked down on him warming up
in the bullpen. As he twisted his body with each pitch, I could see
the number 36 on his uniform. I thought of the significance of that
number; how for the rest of my life, I'll never see the number 36
without thinking of Coney. I realized this might be the last time I
ever saw him in pinstripes, and I savored each moment sadly.

Well as you know he never did come in to the game, as Doc finally got
the last out. 

Coney put his satin Yankee jacket on and tossed the ball up to the
bleacher fans as he went back inside.

I'm glad I got to watch you one last time. Thank you for everything,
Coney!

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

Hi Everyone,

Gee, it's been quiet around here. I guess there isn't too much David
news to chat about, so I thought you'd like to see this article from
the NY Times:

Cone Awaiting Chance That May Never Come 
By Buster Olney

SEATTLE, Oct. 12
David Cone warmed up in the bullpen on Tuesday night, late in Game 1
of the American League Championship Series. The rookie Randy Choate
was pitching, and as Jason Grimsley threw from one mound in the home
bullpen, Cone got up and started throwing from the other one.

Cone continued to throw after Grimsley went into the game, preparing
to pitch just in case Grimsley's elbow problems manifested themselves,
and he could not throw a strike. But Grimsley was fine and Cone did
not get in the game.

More than one round into the playoffs, and Cone has not pitched. "I'm
still looking for that chance," Cone said today, "that might not ever
come."

There was an established pitcher in a situation similar to that of
Cone in 1929. Howard Ehmke of the Philadelphia Athletics was 35 years
old and nearing the end of a career in which he won 166 games. The
Athletics were in the process of winning the American League pennant
and Ehmke asked the Philadelphia manager, Connie Mack, for a chance to
pitch in the World Series. As the story goes, he told Mack that he had
one more good game left in his arm.

Mack sent Ehmke to clandestinely scout the Chicago Cubs, who would be
the National League champions, and Mack surprised everybody by
bypassing star pitchers like George Earnshaw and Lefty Grove to tab
Ehmke as his Game 1 starter in the World Series. Ehmke pitched a
complete game and got the victory while striking out 13.

--------------
There was a photo too, which I'm attaching.

I have a good feeling about tonight's game (and the rest of the
Series). The media is always so negative about our guys, but not too
many have noticed the Mariners have scored only three runs off us!

By the end of this weekend, we could all be very happy Yankee fans!

#26 in 2000!

#1Coneyfan

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

Susan-- Thank you for that article, though it left me with a yin-yang of
happy and sad feelings.  I miss seeing David out there...everytime they go
to the bullpen I just hope they'll bring him out...it was very
heartwrenching to see Cone say "waiting for a chance that may not come."
:(  I liked the history story, though....it's something to ponder...

Thank you for attaching the picture!  It's great!

Go Yankees!!!! :)  Let's hope Pettitte gives 'em hell tonight! ;)

Take care~ ~ ~ ~ ~
             --KC <<<<:)

Great pic Susan. Yes it's been quiet. Guess were all 
missing David. The guys look good tonight. Looks like a
win. I too have a good feeling. What was David looking at
in the bullpen tonight? Anyone else see him? I hope we
will see him pitch soon. 
Hope you all have a great weekend. I know we will all
be feeling great soon.

CONE STAYS STOIC THROUGH CRUELEST OCTOBER
Saturday, October 14, 2000

By JOEL SHERMAN

SEATTLE - David Cone waits with conflicting desires. He is a Yankee
and wants the team to win. So he hopes that Joe Torre has to use
nothing but starters and Mariano Rivera all the way to The Canyon of
Heroes.

And yet Cone is a proud man of accomplishment who tells himself every
day that this is the day his club will turn to him one last time to
help get to the parade.

He knows he may just be lying to himself, selling himself a bill of
goods that will never pay off. But for his sanity he keeps selling.

He keeps saying that, as this dreadful season for him nears conclusion
- and maybe his career, as well - thatt he will be needed once more and
his right arm will have answers.

"That's all I have now," he said. "I am trying not to explore any
deeper feelings. All I am trying to do is keep going with the belief
there will be one game that I can influence. That is how I am getting
through this."

This has been a cruel October for a few Yankees. Chuck Knoblauch has
lost his second base job and, temporarily, he also had lost his
regular leadoff role. Paul O'Neill has been bounced from the No. 3
spot and pinch-hit for in one tight, late-inning situation.

And through the first seven games of this postseason, Cone had filled
the Hideki Irabu memorial spot on the Yankee playoff roster, warming
up once during ALCS Game 1, but so far not getting into the action.

Knoblauch joined this wonderful Yankee ride already in progress, so
there is not as much emotional entanglement with him. But O'Neill and
Cone are central to a Yankee transition in not only talent, but
attitude. They were at the Kingdome in 1995 when the Mariners ended
the Yankee season in the Division Series, and they have been loyal,
productive soldiers to what was erected in that aftermath under Torre.

That is why this is not easy for the Yankee manager. There are rings
on his fingers and money in his pocket because of these two men. Torre
knows it. That is why during the regular season his patience seemed
Job-ian when it came to these two and Tino Martinez and Mariano
Rivera, and other champions Torre has ridden.

"But at this time of year the long-range plans are out and the
short-range plans are in," Torre said.

Knoblauch did not understand this well, at least not initially. But
O'Neill and Cone have both agreed the problem is not in the media, but
the mirror.

"I don't really deserve to start," Cone said. "I can't blame anyone
but myself."

Cone probably was the AL's worst starter this year, a 4-14 record and
6.91 ERA not even telling the whole gruesome story. His one strong run
in August crashed with him in early September, when he dislocated his
left shoulder.

Now, Cone seems to be on the roster as payment for services rendered
and because the next options are Ted Lilly and Randy Keisler. The
Yanks are going with an 11-man staff for the first time in the
postseason under Torre, and Cone is the 11th man. Yogi Berra and Phil
Rizzuto have seen the Stadium mound more this October, during
ceremonial first pitches. It seems only desperation - a blowout or
extra innings - will get Cone into a game.

"Morally, certainly I am down," Cone said. "But I am trying to do
anything I can to be a good teammate. I talk to guys. I tell jokes. I
root. I keep people loose."

Teammates say Cone has been the good Yankee. In the bullpen, he offers

insights into opponent's strengths and weaknesses. In the clubhouse,
he will try to find the right words to ease the October tension,
lifting Andy Pettitte's spirits after a bad start against Oakland by
jokingly saying that all his starts had been like that this season.
Cone has particularly talked with Denny Neagle about the hired-gun
thing with which Cone is so familiar.

And Torre has continued to find time for Cone, understanding the
pitcher has been integral over the past few years in forging the
steely will that is buoying the Yankees even now.

"I can't ask for any more respect than my teammates, Joe and the
organization have given me," Cone said. "Obviously, it has been a
miserable year for me and yet everyone has treated me with great
respect. Certainly this is more enjoyable when you feel you are making
a contribution. But I am still very committed to this team. I still
care very much that we win these games. And I take solace in being
part of this regardless of what happens, if I get a chance to pitch or
not."

Cone, 8-3 in the postseason over his career, has had so many big
October moments. Now you wonder if this October is how he departs. He
turns 38 in January. He has no contract for next year and the Yankees
almost certainly will not have him back. He would probably find a job
if he wants, because pitching is so thin.

But does he want it for that reason? With his pay cut by maybe more
than $11 million? With no guaranteed rotation spot in 2001?

"I haven't ruled out anything," Cone said when asked about retirement.
"I really need to get away, clear my head and figure out what happens
to me. I'm still to close to it now."

And still trying to clear his mind of everything except the notion
that today is the day he will be a vital Yankee again.
------------

Nothing much to add to this. 

On the positive side, we're only one way away from the World Series!
Hope Denny and the guys can get the job done today. If not, I get to
use my ALCS Game 6 tickets Tuesday.

#26 in 2000!
#1Coneyfan

--
susan peters ~ [email protected]

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

Hi everyone!  Well on the whole today's game was not very pleasant, but it
was nice to see Cone out there!  I do wish the Yankees could have wrapped
it all up tonight, and if it weren't for that horrible 5th inning I bet
they could have done it.  However, I feel optimistic for them, they are
playing pretty well...I thought Bernie was awesome tonight!

Thanks for the article, Susan...it was wonderful as always, but also very
emotional.  Just in reading Cone's quotes you can feel his sadness...but I
really respect and admire him for his unselfish attitude and his pure,
undying loyalty to the Yankees.  Despite his own hurt, he is remaining
brave, strong, and optimistic to help out the other guys on the team.  He
really is a clubhouse leader and Torre was smart to include him on this
roster.  Even though he hasn't done much on the field yet, he is still
contributing in such an important way and I hope he realizes how
invaluable his wise words and good attitude are to this team.  Still, it
was nice to see him out there tonight...he looked great and I do hope he
will be out there again!

Have a good time at the game on Tuesday, Susan! :)

The front page has been updated with a little note about tonight's
game...:)

Take care~ ~ ~ ~ ~               
                 --KC <<<<:)

Yeah, it was nice to see Coney come in there and pitch well, he got out of 
the inning without any trouble. That is a good sign that he did so well 
because now hopefully they will not hesitate to use him in the WS.  I also 
would have liked to see them close it out tonight, but I am also glad that I 
will still be able to go to the game on Tuesday and see them close it out 
then!

Go Coney and GO YANKEES!!


Christina