• Oct
  • 09
  • 2007
  • 6:48 AM

Already haunted by ghosts of the Yankees' season

By: Ray Pellecchia
File Under: Miscellaneous

Would have called in today but NYSE Euronext for some reason does not accept "terminally disappointed by yet another post-season failure by favorite sports team" as a legit reason to be out of the office.

So I drag myself onto the train this morning and look up at the poster-sized ad on the wall across from me, and it's a big picture of Yankee skipper (at least at the moment) Joe Torre, smiling down at me, standing on the pedestrian walkway of the Brooklyn Bridge, one hand on a steel support cable and the other casually slung into the pocket of his fine blue suit.

The Yankees' season isn't even cold in its grave, and already I'm haunted by ghosts.

It's an ad for an accounting and consulting company, and the tagline is "How are you managing?" Not the question Joe should be asking right now, not that the Yanks' implosion should be laid completely at his feet.

Even worse, above Joe's photo is a quote attributed to him (completely authentic, no doubt): "Chemistry isn't confined to the diamond."

True, Joe, chemistry isn't confined to the diamond. And sometimes it isn't on the diamond, either.

Just thought I'd share that bit of bad timing, coincidence and misery with you. Because I'll be staring at this ad the whole ride, and misery loves company.

I have no NYSE news at the moment. One bit of historical trivia:

Today in NYSE History
09 Oct. 1953 -- Volume of only 900,000 shares marked the last time the NYSE traded less than a million shares a day.

Maybe the Yanks forgot the advice of John Lennon, who was born On This Day in 1940:

Better get yourself together darlin'
Pretty soon, you're gonna be dead!

Thanks for letting me vent.

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Comments

Ray,

Sorry, no sympathy... trying being a Met fan.

Anyway, Go Isles!

-DT

by Dinosaur Trader on October 9, 2007 11:58 AM

Not to worry Ray, when I become manager, you won't be disappointed

by Don Mattingly on October 9, 2007 12:40 PM

Ray, as a Yankee fan i feel ya brother but where is the volume on the NYSE gone?

by tony dey on October 9, 2007 6:19 PM

DT -- Isles? In the off season, my allegiance runs toward Devils, Nets and Packers.

Donny -- Good to hear from you again. You've been one great Yankee. If you get the nod, hopefully you'll be a great Yankee manager.

Tony -- Where's the volume? Geez, I was going to ask everybody in the business that question! Wish I knew. Don't have any analysis on that to share at this point. Insights welcome.

by Ray Pellecchia on October 10, 2007 10:43 AM

ray, sorry about the yanks and torre.

On another note, some news breaking today: Thomson Plans to Spin Off TradeWeb. Here's the Link: http://www.wallstreetandtech.com/blog/archives/2007/10/thomson_plans_t.html target="_blank">Thomson/TradeWeb article

by Greg MacSweeney on October 10, 2007 3:56 PM

Ray,

Is the volume so low because of the "dark pools?" I mean if large block orders are being done away from the exchange, that could be one culprit.

Another may be that since the NYSE now trades like every other exchange out there that people are going to ARCA and other ECNs...

Can't we just go back to sixteenths and forget this whole "automation" thing ever happened?

Have a great weekend... Devils... sheesh!

-DT

by Dinosaur Trader on October 12, 2007 5:02 PM

Ray, I'm sure like Rudy Giuliani you are happy to see the Boston Red Sox carry the banner of the AL-East to another World Series Championship ! Welcome to the 21st Century.

by Ed O'Brien on October 26, 2007 3:46 PM

OB -- LOL, you got me. I tried, but still couldn't bring myself to do it. I hate, hate, hate the Red Sox.

I do offer my congratulations, sincerely. I do grudgingly give them respect and all due credit. They've got not only the talent but the grind-it-out, nobody's-gonna-beat-us-when-it-counts attitude that the Yanks used to have. The pre-A-Rod Yanks. Don't get me started.

Enjoy it, Ed.

PS -- New century, schmentury. Being a Yankee fan, I'd like to point out that we still have a 4-2 lead in championships in the last dozen years. Picayune point? Absolutely. I'm hanging onto whatever I can! : )

by Ray Pellecchia on October 29, 2007 6:02 AM

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