Tuesday, August 22, 2006

World Series Victory by a NY Team a Longshot

The Tank’s post on the 1986 Mets Anniversary night brought back some memories. When Mookie Wilson took the mike I got goose bumps remembering 1986. What I remember most about that post season (besides Mookie’s hit in-between Bill Buckner’s legs breaking the tie game) was  Mike Scott silencing the Mets bats in the NLCS and the relief I felt when Game 6 was over in like 100 innings at the old Astrodome because the Mets did not have to face Scott in Game 7.  

 

It reminds me that both the Mets and Yankees are screwed in 2006. Both teams have the same problem: they are all offence and have so-so pitching. And good offences get shut down by superior pitching. Anything can happen in a 7 game series, but the Yankees were early exiters last year for this very reason. My fingers are crossed but I am not that hopeful.

 

As a lifelong Mets fan, I will just be excited to see the Mets do well in the playoffs. The Mets are an exciting team to watch, I’d rather they win 100+ games a season and lose the World Series (but not to the Yankees!) then have a bad year, sneak into the playoffs and win it all.

 

Mookie and me in 2002: 

Posted by Steve, in New York.



MLB

Tuesday, August 22, 2006 12:50:50 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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  Monday, August 21, 2006

Boston Massacre ii: Break out the Brooms, Yankees at Fenway, August 18-21

I was very nervous going into this series because of losing two out of three to the Orioles and having to go to Fenway Park.  I reserved comment earlier because Friday's game went late, I wanted to tip my hat to the Mets and "focus" on the 1986 WS Celebration, and I didn't want to jinx the Yankees.  The last five game sweeps of the RS at Fenway were 1927 and 1943, respectively, years that the Yankees won championships.  Let's hope history repeats itself, touch wood.
      
Game 1, Friday afternoon: Chien-Ming Wang won this must win game against Jason Johnson.  Yankees win 12-4.
                                                              
Game 2, Friday evening: Sidney Ponson has been battling his demons over the years and was not good but neither was the RS starter.  The crooked number (7) that the Yankees put up in the seventh inning was magical to say the least.  Yankees win 14-11.
                                
Game 3, Saturday afternoon: Randy Johnson against Josh Beckett.  Yes, Randy gave up the three run home run to Manny but he kept us close as Boston Bob likes to say and pitched seven good innings.  Yankees win 13-5.

During the game, it was great to see ESPN's Peter Gammons in Mr. John Henry's owner's booth.  Best wishes on a full recovery.
              
Game 4, Sunday evening: Moose against Schilling.  Giambino's three run home run was awesome and it thankfully put the Yankees ahead in the third 3-2.  The RS unfortunately tied it back up.  Moose's groin injury going into the bottom of the fifth was very disturbing. 
        
There are comebacks and there are comebacks.  This is one of the best I will ever see.  Yankees win 8-5 in ten innings.  We never quit.

Game 5, Monday afternoon: Lidle against Wells.  Lidle pitched great, especially after the recent passing of his 98 year old grandmother.  Yankees complete the sweep 2-1.

Conclusion: Damon was unbelievable in the first three games.  A-Rod was not perfect but a good 7-21. Bernie, Posada, and Jeter were thankfully clutch as always. 

    The RS are killing themselves.  Why did Francona bring a rookie to start the eighth inning?  He should have gone straight to Papelbon who I agree with RS radio announcer Joe Castiligone that he is the RS best pitching prospect since Roger Clemens. 
    Fox commentator Ted Rosenthal made a great point during Saturday afternoon's game that the RS are trying to simultaneously contend and rebuild.  This is very tricky.  They don't want to go above $120 million which is ridiculous because RS owner Mr. Henry is a hedge fund billionaire (and a personal hero as a Missouri farm boy and statistics genius made good) who can easily pay the chump change luxury tax that MLB would levy on him. 
    Granted when Lester, Papelbon, Hansen, etc. mature, they are scary.  How long will it take them?  Will Wakefield, Schilling,
Varitek, and other key veterans be around when they do?  If so, how much do the have left in the tank?  (No pun intend.)
    Though GM Theo Epstein returned to the RS with more power, why didn't they make a trading deadline deal?  Were others teams asking for too much (probably) or was it a power struggle (less likely)?  Where does Team President Larry Lucchino fit in all of this?  It's so confusing that you, me, and Hazzard County Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane could be running the RS; it makes Kremlinology seem like kids play.                      
    With Big Papi and Manny, I respect the RS too much and never count them out but it will be interesting to see how they navigate salary cap concerns and key injuries to Varitek, Wakefield, Nixon, etc.                       

Go Yankees! / Go Mets!
Posted by The Tank in NY.

P.S. Best wishes to and prayers for Tom Glavine's full and fast recovery.  (As you could probably guess, I did not write the previous quote that Steve commented on in his last post.)



MLB

Monday, August 21, 2006 10:58:35 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Why I Hate the Yankees

Less than 24 hours after the news that Tom Glavine maybe out for the season (or his career), this is in my inbox from a friend who is a Yankee fan:

Boston sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, looks like the AAAA team out at Shea is coming back to earth as well, especially now that Glavine's season, and possibly career is done. (I really hope it's not his career, tough way to go out and it would be nice to see him reach 300 wins)


Memo to Mets' fans. Don't become this way if we have a few good years.

Posted by Steve, in New York.



MLB

Monday, August 21, 2006 1:05:41 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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  Sunday, August 20, 2006

(1) 1986 Mets World Series Celebration; (2) How I reconcile being a life-long Yankees fans with rooting for the Mets; (3) Rockies at Mets

(1) 1986 Mets World Series Celebration:

The year 1986 conjures up many great sports, music, movies, and personal memories.  One of the most special was the Mets victory over the Red
Sox.  As I entered Shea Stadium extra early around 6:30 pm, the ticket taker said that all 1986 ceremonial baseball cards were gone at 4:30
pm.  You have got to kidding me because I was amongst the first 25,000 to be eligible for the ceremonial cards and you know my feelings about
baseball cards.  Not cool!

Anyway, the infectious "Let's Go Mets" played over the speakers and I went to my seat. 

As a special 1986 tarp covered the field from the light rain, Mets radio announcer Howie Rose was the MC for the 1986 World Series Celebration. 
When the WS trophy was brought out, the crowd went crazy!  And now, for the returning heroes who walked down the first and third base aisles
giving high fives and walked to their respective name and number signs along the diamond from first to third base:
          
GM Mr. Frank Cashen
23 Bud Harrelson
48 Randy Niemann 
2 Kevin Elster
49 Ed Hearn
25 Danny Heep
39 Doug Sisk 
38 Rick Aguilera
7 Kevin Mitchell 11 Tim Tueffel 
20 Howard Johnson
3 Santana
6 Wally Backman
12 Ron Darling - The Birthday Boy
19 Bobby Ojeda
50 Sid Fernandez
4 Lenny Dykstra
47 Jessie Orosco
1 Mookie Wilson
17 Keith Hernandez
8 Gary Carter
18 Darryl Strawberry - The loudest cheers were for "Straw".  He was really touched by the cheers.  Fingers crossed for a successful recovery.
     
Howie turned over to Keith Hernandez who turned it over to Mookie Wilson.  The National Anthem performed by 1986 Opening Day and World Series
Game 1 singer and lifelong Mets fan and #94 Glenn Close -- great job!
         
A USSOCOM parachuter landed in right center field and furled out a "Go Mets" banner.  There was a team Photo in CF while "You belong to the
City" played.


----------     

(2) How I reconcile being a life-long Yankees fans with rooting for the Mets:

The "abbreviated" version appears below.  After an upcoming post-season "summit" with Tony Robbins, A-Rod, Steve, and myself, I may provide a
thesis length version if we figure out all of A-Rod's and my issues out first which is premised on the fact that we try to make everyone happy
(AKA "A-Rodosis" or "Tomism") and need to tell people to take a hike from time to time.  :-)

(A) Early Years:                                
I have been often asked how I can root for the Mets while being a lifelong Yankees fan.  Yes, rooting the Mets against the Boston Red Sox was easy
but my roots go earlier and deeper than that.  Most of you know that I grew up in beautiful Upstate New York but not many know that I actually
watched more Mets games than Yankees games because of how the games were broadcast on local stations, only the Utica NBC and the Binghamton CBS
affiliates.  The Syracuse ABC affiliate was out of range and what was Fox?  Believe me, my brother and I called the local cable company to ask
for our MTV but there were not enough people along our road which happened to be a New York State highway.
          
Anyway, I listened to Yankees games on the radio called by Phil Rizzuto and still catch most games on the radio through MLB.com.  I
watched Mets games on TV and enjoyed watching Rusty Staub, Dave "King Kong" Kingman hit moon shot home runs, amongst others.  (Unfortunately,
Dave has yet to run my e-mail from a couple months back.).        
                
(B) Speaking of Upstate, I never was confronted with making the choice that my Downstate brethren had to make between the Yankees and Mets. 
Ah, the innocence of youth.  Remember, it's two different leagues and in essence, two different games within our great pastime so I enjoy
aspects of both.  My multiple personalities can appreciate this.  :-)
 
(C) While reading an issue of "Sports Illustrated" in the mid 1980s, I remember the lyrics of Suzanna Vega's "Luka" along in an article about
the Mets.  I always had a crush on Suzanne Vega and other female singer songwriters like her, Carly Simon, Sheryl Crow, etc.  Maybe Suzanne was
a Mets fan and I could meet her.  Hey, I was an impressionable teenager.  OK, I am impressionable adult too.  :-)
          
These reasons may seem incomprehensible to you but that's my story and I am sticking to it.

-----------

(3) Colorado Rockies at Mets, Saturday, August 19:                     

After the ceremony and the grounds crew removed the tarp and groomed the field, the game started and hour late at 8:06 pm.
              
Nice catch by a fan right up against the railing in foul territory in the lower Mezzanine on the third base line while Yorvit Torrealba was at
base with two out in the top of the second.

Nice pickoff attempt to end the top of the third (1-3-4).
       
John Mellencamp's "R.O.C.K. In the USA" preceeds Lastings Milledge who gets on first after HBP.  Endy Chavez sacrifices Milledge to second. 
Profesor Reyes grounds out to end the third.  It's still scoreless. 

A wave attempt ends the top of the fourth and the infectious "Let's Go Mets" plays again with 1986 footage.

Beltran hits a nice fly out to the warning track in center.  Darn it!  The shift is on for Delgado who unfortunately strikes out to end the
fifth.

Torrealba hits a home run to open the sixth.  Rockies 1 - Mets 0.  Darn it!

The caped crusader with a Mets Blanket as a cape who was a couple of sections to my right takes a bow after Milledge singles to right.  Chavez
grounds out to end the sixth.           
                      
"Rock Me Amadeus" plays during the t-shirt toss.  As soon as I learn more German, I am considering entering the German version "American Idol"
as I am unfortunately too old for the American version as it tops out at 29 to enter.  Taylor Hicks who looks much older than me recently
turned 30.  As recently witnessed during my recent trip to Australia where I encountered "karaoke discrimination" for not being Japanese, I'll
continue to fight against "musical contest age discrimination".  I greatly appreciate your help in this important freedom of speech issue.          
                          
Delgado makes a great catch on a bunt attempt for the first out in the top of the sixth.  Runners at first and third with two out while the
trainer comes out to check Williams.  Willaims is out with an injury.

While I went to the rest room, the Rockies hit a three run shot.  OK, sorry Steve and Linda but I had to go and even the radio commentators
noted the shortness of Hernandez's warmup for the injured Williams.  The Rockies unfortunately lead 4-0.
                                         
When the Mets come up in the sixth, Beltran hits a fly ball that the LF drops and scores a run.

A wild pitch makes it 4 to 3.  Delgado on second.  It's fast and furious in the bottom of the sixth.  After the WP, DW is intentionally
walked.  Woodward flies out for the second out.  Lastings Milledge singles to right field to tie the game.  DW is almost caught in a run down at
second but a throwing error gets DW to third and Milledge advances to second.  Julio Franco is intentionally walked to load the bases.  Tucker is
back up and works a walk to break the 4-4 tie.  Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" plays during the pitching change.  Profesor Reyes works a walk
after an 0-2 count and the Mets lead 6-4.  This kid has has ice water in his veins.  The crowd rallies behind Paul LoDuca in light of his
recent personal issues.  LoDuca unfortunately flies out to the right center warning track to end the sixth but the Mets lead 6-4 after scoring
sixth runs on two errors and only two earned runs.

Huey Lewis's "Stuck with You" plays going into the top of the 7th.
        
The home plate umpire Wally Bell got nailed with a ball in the left shoulder on a 1-2 count with one out.  Bell is thankfully okay.
     
DW starts the double play and the Mets lead 6-4 at the 7th inning stretch. 

After flashing on outfield screen, I am tempted to go over to get my picture with the 1986 WS trophy in the right field food court but know
there are thousands en route and don't want to jinx the winning karma.  (After the game, I did go to the Right Field Food Court but they already
cut the photo line off.  However, the security guard informs me that both championship trophies are in the Diamond Club for future reference.)
                                    
55,085 are announced for the eighth sellout of the season.
                     
Delgado hits a ground rule double to left but Holliday thankfully dropped another ball near the wall.  This is almost the exact spot where I
practiced catching the ball after the "Run to Home Plate" on Saturday, July 29.  (Holliday probably didn't run in the RTHP and was afraid of
hitting the wall unlike The Tank who almost ran over a college professor who considered blocking home plate for a moment and then moved while
The Tank rounded third base during a student-teacher softball game in college.  No brown nosing because I need to score and win; I even got an
A- in the class.)  DW lines out to the SS and Delgado is unfortunately caught off of second.                                             
                                               
A guy to my left with two chocolate ice creams in both hands gets a "Chocolate Ice Cream" chant.  Heilemann thankfully works an effective top
of the eighth.
                               
Steve Windwood's "Higher Love" plays before the Mets bat in the bottom of the eighth.  I am loving this musical trip down memory lane.

Milledge hits a bomb to left field bleachers and Billy Idol's "Mony Mony" blares over the speakers.

While the first part of Rule 10.1.9 gives the advantage to Hernandez for the win after relieving Williams in the sixth but the official scorer
rightfully awards the win to Heilemann because he gave up one hit over two innings while Hernandez gave up the three run home run.
            
"Enter Sandman" blares over the speakers and Billy Wagner enters the game.  Clint Barmes flies out to Milledge to end the game.                  

The Mets win 7-4!

Posted by The Tank from Shea in NY.



MLB

Sunday, August 20, 2006 2:15:59 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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  Friday, August 18, 2006

Welcome to the Yankee Club Restaurant, Orioles at the Yankees, Thursday, August 17

My roommate (MTA Ray) and I used the firm's primo tickets for the second time this season to visit the Yankee Club Restaurant at Yankee Stadium.

While enjoying lunch in the air conditioned Yankee Club and watching the first couple of innings on closed caption TV, it was time to sit in the primo Stadium seats. They are close to the field but not lots of leg room like the bleachers where I normally sit. I unfortunately could not stay the entire game because I had to go to work. I left after three innings when the Yankees were down 4-2.  Jared Wright didn't have the right stuff when we really needed him.

By the time I got to work, the Orioles widened their lead and unfortunately won 12-2. Going into Boston on Friday with only a 1.5 game lead and one game in hand, I am stressed for the five game series over four days. Fingers crossed and saying the prayers and eating the vitamins for a successful trip to Boston.

Go Yankees!

Posted by The Tank in New York.

P.S. The Mets helped their cause by beating the Phillies. I am less concerned for them as they still have a double digit lead but I am still praying for Pedro's recovery.



MLB

Thursday, August 17, 2006 11:52:37 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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  Thursday, August 17, 2006

Hot Dogs Here!!!

An Interview with a career Stadium Vendor

 

You see them all the time, all over the world. They walk in front of you at the most critical moment of the game and yell at the top of their lungs: “Beer here!” They are stadium vendors, folks who come to the games every day and get paid to sell you stuff to eat and drink.

 

I started vending hot dogs, pretzels, beer and soda at Shea Stadium in April 1988 and eventually worked at other sporting arenas like Madison Square Garden. Even to this day people are fascinated with my past experiences as a stadium vendor- it dominated every job interview I have ever been on as well as my interviews for Business School- so I figured that I would take the time out and interview a long time friend and stadium vendor. (Some names have been changed to protect the guilty.)

Steve and the Tank: We met at Shea Stadium Opening Day 1988 but I was smart enough to quit in 1994 after possibly 1000 games at multiple stadiums, what about you, how long have you been vending and how many sporting/entertainment events have you been to?

Vendor: Oh way too many, over 2000. How long have I been vending? Let’s do the math 1988-1993 about 70 games a year. 1994 about 100 games both Yankee and Shea. No vending in 1995 while on Wall Street. Then 1996-97 75 a year. Then 1998-99 I took some time off and was hoping around the world. Then 2000 75 games at Yankee. Then 2001-2006 about 140 a year both Shea and Yankee

Steve and the Tank: That sure is a lot of games! At what stadiums, just Shea and Yankee?

Vendor:  Only Yankee and Shea with a brief stint at Madison Square Garden.

Steve and the Tank:  Which is the best place to sell at? Shea? Yankee? MSG? Other?

Vendor:   Yankee has the most generous fans. Shea fans spend money but tipping is less then Yankee. MSG sucked when I worked there with you

Steve and the Tank: Yes it did suck. But we saw some amazing Knick games and our locker room was where they kept the rink for ranger games. Remember Martin Luther King day 1990 when Trent Tucker got a 3 point shot with 0.01 seconds on the clock to win an amazing victory over the Bulls? This leads me to the next question, did you start vending so you can see free games?

Vendor:   Yes I did in the beginning.

Steve and the Tank: What happened, is it all about the money?

Vendor:   Free games gets old after the first year. I come to work to work, just like you.

Steve and the Tank: How much does a vendor make on average selling each item?

Vendor:   No comment, but they pay us on commission, so the more you work the more you make.

Steve and the Tank: Why do the pay you on commission and pay the people behind the counter by the hour?

Vendor: It has always been like that. Vendors always got commission going back to the beginning o baseball and counter workers got hourly pay. I assume they pay us on commission since we are in the seats selling to the fans and can so easily just sit and watch the game if we were paid by the hour.

Steve and the Tank: What is the easiest product to sell? Beer? Hot dogs? Other?

Vendor:  Depends on the person some people find beer easy to sell others hot dogs. I prefer hot dogs.

Steve and the Tank: What is the most profitable product to sell?

Vendor: Depends how good the vendor is and the section of the stadium you are in.

Steve and the Tank: Can you give your friends free beer?

Vendor: Sometimes  they give me credit in the station. I don't want to pay for your free bee, we are accountable for everything we sell.

Steve and the Tank:  I once sold a beer to a 7 year old boy who was bringing it to his dad. The scene was funny, the dad actually sent his kid down to me to fetch him a beer. Do you card kids?

Vendor: I hate selling beer. Actually will not sell it anymore because I have to card everybody including 80 yr olds.

Steve and the Tank:  Do you sell beer to cute women who are underage?

Vendor: If I want to lose my job.

Steve and the Tank:   How have Aramark and other large scale vendors changed the vending business over the past 15 or so years?

Vendor: The prices are a lot higher. A lot has changed to much to list. No more draft beer, drip sodas. Vending is always changing. We now have ketchup with the hot dogs!

Steve and the Tank:  I remember Game 3 of the NLCS in 1988 when it was cold and raining and I just wanted to go home. I also remember some 100 degree day games selling hot dogs in the field level with the sun beating down on me and having to go into the ice cream freezer to cool off in-between innings. What was the hardest conditions (heat, cold, rain, snow, etc.) that you worked in?

Vendor: I remember one Mets opening day few years ago it was 31 degrees. It was to cold to do anything, I had to keep warm in the vendor room as much as I could between innings.

Steve and the Tank:  Did anyone ever try to rob you at the game?

Vendor: Never has happened at anytime. I don’t think anyone has ever been robbed.

Steve and the Tank:  I still remember the most beautiful woman I ever sold a hot dog to, her name was Tracy and it was August 1990 in the Upper Deck at a night game against the Pittsburg Pirates. Who was the least pleasant client you dealt with? Most pleasant?

Vendor: I deal with people in seconds don't have time to get to know them. Other vendors sit there and have conversations with fans. I am too busy try trying to make my money.

Steve and the Tank:  I remember I was hit in the head with a foul ball on the first pitch of the first game of a twilight double header. I also remember catching about 3 or 4 foul balls over the years. Did you ever catch a foul or home run ball? If so, which one and how many?

Vendor: Once caught a foul ball at Yankee during the game. The ball went down the hallway and I was standing there to pick it up. These days when I see a foul ball headed in my direction I tend to try to get as far away from the crazy people who are sacrificing their bodies for a worthless ball. More then a few vendors were knocked out from crazy people diving for balls. But I have caught plenty of balls during batting practice

Steve and the Tank:  What is the longest term vendor you are acquainted with? Shortest term?

Vendor: After Manny Gluck died last year he was at Yankee since 1955. Know the #1 guy is Mike McNamara he started at Yankee in 1960. Short term the vendor who started today.

Steve and the Tank:   What is the craziest story of a vendor getting fired?

Vendor:  The funniest story I know is concerning our mutual friend Bo (name changed). You know this guy is insane. The scene: Yankee vs Boston in I don't know let’s say 1996. Bo decides to take the day off and watch the game from the bleachers. Back then the bleachers still sold beer. He proceeds to get wasted and starts harassing Boston fans. It gets bad the fans complain he gets thrown out. Security doesn't know he is a vendor. He uses his ID to get back in and starts harassing the fans again. Security sees him thinking what the hell throw him out again. You would think OK he goes home but no he gets in again back to the same fans starts fighting them Security comes takes him out search find the ID take him to Joyce Pappa the boss he is fired right away.  

Steve and the Tank : What was the most memorable moment you witnessed?

Vendor:  Has to be when the Yanks won the World Series in 1996. I watched Charlie Hayes catch the ball from the left field seats and watched the whole celebration on the field.

Steve and the Tank: Do you get to meet the players?

Vendor:  No, but back in 1988 I met a few of the Mets..

Posted by Steve, in New York.



MLB | Interviews

Thursday, August 17, 2006 7:22:48 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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  Wednesday, August 16, 2006

"Vote for Pedro" and Pray for his recovery; Ground breaking at the new Yankee Stadium

The Mets had some bad news earlier this week as Pedro Martinez injured his calf at the Phillies. If he was hurt coming out of the bullpen during warm-ups, why did he start? I rarely second guess athletes since I have run and competed with my fair share of injuries.

However, with the Mets huge lead in the NL East, why take the chance?  It wasn't like Randy Johnson who was hurt but had recently pitched as the Yankees are in a tight pennant race.  As a fellow Dominican (this honorary citizenship was granted to me by friend and co-worker "Dominican Lou" (Luis) a couple of years ago, I know Pedro can be determined (stubborn) like me. Many people blame former Red Sox manager Grady Little for keeping Pedro in too long in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS but I knew he wanted to finish off the Yankees and stayed in the game. Pedro was thankfully unsuccessful in these efforts but I respect him for trying.

Since the Mets placed Pedro on the 15-day DL, I am praying that Pedro gets better soon and tunes up before the playoffs.

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

Wednesday was also a bad day for the Yankees. Not only did we lose to the Orioles but the RS unfortunately beat the Tigers. I can't thank the Tigers enough for taking two out of three against the RS. Drinks for Detroit Dale the next time I see him.

Furthermore, Wednesday was also a sad day because it is the 58th observance of Babe Ruth's passing and it was ground-breaking day for the new Yankee Stadium. Don't get me wrong, I understand the revenue arguments with all the new luxury boxes, restaurants, parking, etc. However, from a fan perspective, the Boston Celtics were never the same after moving from Boston Garden and going into the Fleet Center, now Bank of America Center. (Granted, Bird, Parrish, DJ, McHale were retired or at the end of their careers but the Celtic Magic left with the old Boston Garden.) By the time that the Yankees are scheduled to move into the new digs in 2009, the heart and soul of the Yankees (Jorge, Bernie, Mariano, and Posada) will either be retired or on the decline. I hope the magic transfers across the street and I hope my superstition is wrong. Lastly, from a selfish standpoint, where are the bleachers going to be in the new stadium because I don't see it in the current design? I became a ticket plan holder since 2001 since I could not get 2000 Subway Series tickets. Where will I sit in 2009 and beyond?  Please keep checking this site as I search for answers and elusive closure.

Go Yankees! / Mets! / "Steve and The Tank"!

Posted by The Tank in New York



MLB

Tuesday, August 15, 2006 11:07:45 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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  Sunday, August 13, 2006

"Sir, Please drink from your water bottle." Angels at Yankees, Saturday, August 12

As I entered the Stadium, I was asked to drink from my water my water bottles.  I had (non-alcoholic) apple cider in one and regular water in the other.  I drank from both, didn't collapse, and the security guard let me in.  (This precaution was in light of the recent terror alerts from liquids in London.)

A-Rod gets on with a walk.  Giambino singles to right field and A-Rod goes to third.  Posada strikes out on a nasty slider.

"It is high, it is far, it is gone!": Robinson Cano's three run home run landed about seven rows in front of me to my left in Bleachers Section 41.  Yankees 3 - Angels 1.

Bernie singles to center.

"Johnny Be Gone!": Johnny Damon homers to right.  Yankees 5 - Angels 1.

Jeter strikes out and the Yankees thankfully lead 5-1 at the end of 2.

-----
A-Rod doubles to right center in the bottom of the third with one out.  Everyone including me!  You see Steve, I am a big believer in positive thinking.  A-Rod is getting results after I mentioned doing the Tony Robbins "Fire Walk" to relieve the stress of playing in NY.

Giambino walks after Molina gets hit with a foul ball under his chin in between the mask and the chest protector.  Ouch!

Posada grounds out into an inning ending double play.  Darn it!  Yankees 5 - Angels 1 at the end of 3.

----
Wright struggled but thankfully got through five.  He is good for about 100 pitches and has "only" about 75 pitches.  Scott Proctor started to warm up in the bullpen.

A-Rod hits into a double play to end the fifth.  Though I credit A-Rod for his earlier double, Boston Bob continues to dig on A-Rod.

Wright comes out for the sixth.  A ball goes by A-Rod and scored as the 20th error of season.  I know, I know, Boston Bob.  I am stuck in the middle between positive thinking Steve and negative thinking Boston Bob.

Proctor comes in to relieve Wright.

Jorge makes a great throw to Jeter to get Vladimir Guerrero at second base to thankfully end the Angels threat in the sixth.

Melky Cabrera doubles with one out in the bottom of the seventh.  Johnny "Be Good" Damon advances Cabrera to third on a groundout to short.  Angels go to the pen to some guy I have never heard of.  Jeter strikes out to the seventh and some Red Sox fan in a pink Boston hat boos Jeter.  I am against breast cancer too but remember the situation -- you're in the Bleachers at Yankee Stadium with a pink Boston hat is asking for trouble.

Farnsworth comes in for the eighth.  A-Rod makes a great play and throw.  I stand up and cheer like crazy.  My fellow Bleachers Creatures think that I have lost it.  A-Rod doubles with one out in the bottom of the eighth.  Phillips walks but the Yankees don't score.  Yankees 5 - Angels 2.

Time for a Metallica's "Enter Sandman" as Mariano comes in to save the ninth and then we treated to the Chairman of the Board's  (Frank Sinatra, not Whitey Ford) "New York, New York" as the Yankees thankfully win!

Yankees 5 -"LA Angels of Anahiem of Orange County of Southern California of the United States of the Western Hempshire of the Planet Earth of the Solar System of the Known Universe" 2.

Posted by The Tank in New York



MLB

Sunday, August 13, 2006 7:46:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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  Saturday, August 12, 2006

Mets and Yankees lose close Friday (8/11/06) games

The Mets lose 2-1 at the Nationals.  The Yankees lose to the dreaded "LA of Anahiem of Orange County of Southern California of the Western Hemisphere Angels".  Since the RS unfortunately beat Baltimore, they closed to within two games of the Yankees.  I don't comment on the Mets opponents because they buried the Braves and Phillies over the past couple of weekends.   

In the meantime, please check out our other postings.

Posted by The Tank in NY.



MLB

Friday, August 11, 2006 11:53:13 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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