02/13: Interviewing the Yankees Blogosphere: Aziz Nekoukar, Pride of the Yankees
Posted by: Patrick
Our next interview is with long time friend of the blog, Aziz Nekoukar of Pride of the Yankees.
When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?
Unfortunately, I'm probably studying, though I'm finally finishing up law school this spring. (Assuming I pass all my classes.)
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
My brother and I took over Pride of the Yankees at NJ.com at a very inopportune time in Yankee history: October, 2004. We wrote an infamously overconfident entry after the Yanks took a 3-0 series lead. (That entry has thankfully disappeared since NJ.com changed its blog format).
What's the best and worst part of blogging?
The daily grind is really tough; sometimes I just don't want to read the daily non-baseball stories that constantly surround the Yankees. Because, do I really care where Brian Cashman ate his dinner last night? But the best part is interacting with people that really care about the team. For whatever lucky reason, we've developed this devoted readership which is full of rational-thinking Yankee fans - and you don't hear the phrase "rational-thinking Yankee fans" in many places.
Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?
River Ave. Blues is always on top of their game, right? I cruise to YanksBlog.com because it's a great place for quick-hitting Yankee news if I've fallen behind. And for better or worse, Pete Abraham's access and frequent updates make his LoHud blog a place worth visiting every day.
What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?
I was in grammar school in the '80s, so my earliest memories are them stinking things up and Mets fans constantly berating Yankees fans. But the good earliest memories involve my best friend forever – my grandfather. I passed countless nights with him when I was 5, 6, 7 years old, spending summer alongside him while watching a few innings of Donnie Baseball, with Phil Rizzuto's voice booming over WPIX on an old black and white TV where the channel could only be changed by turning a dial. Opening Day every year brings me back to those moments, at his side, in front of that old TV...
Did you grow up rooting for the Yanks? Was someone in your family influential in making sure you pulled for the Yankees?
I have to say it was a Yankee-centric home. My grandfather lived with us, and since the first personal baseball story I ever really remember centered on him driving Babe Ruth around in his taxicab multiple times in the 1930s, the Yankees have held a pretty special place in my heart.
Who is your all-time - past or present - favorite Yankee and why?
Gehrig. A forgotten superstar, who has sort of been swallowed up over time. He deserves far more recognition across the Yankee and baseball universe than he gets.
Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?
Mariano Rivera. He wasn't supposed to be nearly as good as he's become, and now he's probably become the greatest ever at his position; I like to think that everyone can surprise people like that with their hidden talents.
How often do you make it to the stadium to see a game?
Probably about twice a year. I'd love to go more often, but even though you lose the purity (and scents, sights, and sounds) of being at the ballgame, sometimes TV is just more convenient.
What are you most looking forward to, and least looking forward to, about the new stadium?
Most: The aesthetics. I hated that old paneling outside the old YS. I think it's going to be a beautiful place to take in a game, and while the inside of the old YS was a beautiful place to watch a game, the halls, concessions, bathrooms, and everything about the guts of the old Stadium was a little gross.
Least: The corporate feel. I don't know that's how it's going to be just yet, but all too often when things look too new and too sleek, they lose their charm. I hope that's not the case with the new YS, but my gut says it will be.
What are your thoughts on the big signings this offseason?
How can you not be excited? Every game there's a starting pitcher to look forward to watching. When was the last time you could say that about the Yankees? So I know people will say "They're buying their team again" and that's true to a certain extent; the Yanks filled their holes with free agents. But take that out of the equation, because if you're a Yankee fan it doesn't matter – you should just be excited about watching the new guys, because they are the game's best first baseman, one of the game's top three starting pitchers, and one of the best strikeout starting pitchers in the entire league.
What would you like them to do to finish it off?
I just want to know who the DH will be, because it affects so many things. If Jorge can't throw, then he can't catch, which means he has to DH a lot more. That would mean that Hideki and Damon would have to play the OF a lot more, meaning Nady and Swisher are going to platoon, which could be wasteful of the pop each could provide this season. But if Hideki can DH, that opens things up a little bit. I think the DH spot could be a big help this season, or it could be the team's downfall by forcing the Yanks into bad defensive alignments and momentum-killing days off for the glut of outfielders on the team right now.
Out of all current Yankee hitters, if you need someone to make something happen, who do you want?
I want Mark Teixeira, which is why all Yankees fans should be extremely excited about his arrival. With him it doesn't matter who's pitching, or if he's hitting righty or lefty. Last season Tex hit .303 against lefties and .311 against righties, with an OPS above .900 against both. For his career, he's hit 19.7 homers per at bat off of lefties, and 15.8 homers per at bat off righties. That's pretty consistent. Notwithstanding the month of October, I don't believe A-Rod is as bad a "clutch" hitter as people say, but for Tex's consistency against whatever pitcher, that's why I want Tex up to make something happen.
When you aren't doing something related to or depending on the Yankees, what are you up to?
Unfortunately, I'm probably studying, though I'm finally finishing up law school this spring. (Assuming I pass all my classes.)
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
My brother and I took over Pride of the Yankees at NJ.com at a very inopportune time in Yankee history: October, 2004. We wrote an infamously overconfident entry after the Yanks took a 3-0 series lead. (That entry has thankfully disappeared since NJ.com changed its blog format).
What's the best and worst part of blogging?
The daily grind is really tough; sometimes I just don't want to read the daily non-baseball stories that constantly surround the Yankees. Because, do I really care where Brian Cashman ate his dinner last night? But the best part is interacting with people that really care about the team. For whatever lucky reason, we've developed this devoted readership which is full of rational-thinking Yankee fans - and you don't hear the phrase "rational-thinking Yankee fans" in many places.
Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?
River Ave. Blues is always on top of their game, right? I cruise to YanksBlog.com because it's a great place for quick-hitting Yankee news if I've fallen behind. And for better or worse, Pete Abraham's access and frequent updates make his LoHud blog a place worth visiting every day.
What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?
I was in grammar school in the '80s, so my earliest memories are them stinking things up and Mets fans constantly berating Yankees fans. But the good earliest memories involve my best friend forever – my grandfather. I passed countless nights with him when I was 5, 6, 7 years old, spending summer alongside him while watching a few innings of Donnie Baseball, with Phil Rizzuto's voice booming over WPIX on an old black and white TV where the channel could only be changed by turning a dial. Opening Day every year brings me back to those moments, at his side, in front of that old TV...
Did you grow up rooting for the Yanks? Was someone in your family influential in making sure you pulled for the Yankees?
I have to say it was a Yankee-centric home. My grandfather lived with us, and since the first personal baseball story I ever really remember centered on him driving Babe Ruth around in his taxicab multiple times in the 1930s, the Yankees have held a pretty special place in my heart.
Who is your all-time - past or present - favorite Yankee and why?
Gehrig. A forgotten superstar, who has sort of been swallowed up over time. He deserves far more recognition across the Yankee and baseball universe than he gets.
Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?
Mariano Rivera. He wasn't supposed to be nearly as good as he's become, and now he's probably become the greatest ever at his position; I like to think that everyone can surprise people like that with their hidden talents.
How often do you make it to the stadium to see a game?
Probably about twice a year. I'd love to go more often, but even though you lose the purity (and scents, sights, and sounds) of being at the ballgame, sometimes TV is just more convenient.
What are you most looking forward to, and least looking forward to, about the new stadium?
Most: The aesthetics. I hated that old paneling outside the old YS. I think it's going to be a beautiful place to take in a game, and while the inside of the old YS was a beautiful place to watch a game, the halls, concessions, bathrooms, and everything about the guts of the old Stadium was a little gross.
Least: The corporate feel. I don't know that's how it's going to be just yet, but all too often when things look too new and too sleek, they lose their charm. I hope that's not the case with the new YS, but my gut says it will be.
What are your thoughts on the big signings this offseason?
How can you not be excited? Every game there's a starting pitcher to look forward to watching. When was the last time you could say that about the Yankees? So I know people will say "They're buying their team again" and that's true to a certain extent; the Yanks filled their holes with free agents. But take that out of the equation, because if you're a Yankee fan it doesn't matter – you should just be excited about watching the new guys, because they are the game's best first baseman, one of the game's top three starting pitchers, and one of the best strikeout starting pitchers in the entire league.
What would you like them to do to finish it off?
I just want to know who the DH will be, because it affects so many things. If Jorge can't throw, then he can't catch, which means he has to DH a lot more. That would mean that Hideki and Damon would have to play the OF a lot more, meaning Nady and Swisher are going to platoon, which could be wasteful of the pop each could provide this season. But if Hideki can DH, that opens things up a little bit. I think the DH spot could be a big help this season, or it could be the team's downfall by forcing the Yanks into bad defensive alignments and momentum-killing days off for the glut of outfielders on the team right now.
Out of all current Yankee hitters, if you need someone to make something happen, who do you want?
I want Mark Teixeira, which is why all Yankees fans should be extremely excited about his arrival. With him it doesn't matter who's pitching, or if he's hitting righty or lefty. Last season Tex hit .303 against lefties and .311 against righties, with an OPS above .900 against both. For his career, he's hit 19.7 homers per at bat off of lefties, and 15.8 homers per at bat off righties. That's pretty consistent. Notwithstanding the month of October, I don't believe A-Rod is as bad a "clutch" hitter as people say, but for Tex's consistency against whatever pitcher, that's why I want Tex up to make something happen.
Patrick wrote:
Patrick