Category: Dailies
Cathedral to Coliseum
The House that Ruth Built. The Cathedral. The Home Office for Baseball. 161st St. and River Ave. The gracious, grand old ballpark the Yankees used to call home still stands, for now, in the gigantic shadow of the Yankees future, the new Yankee Stadium.
We will miss the old ballpark. We’ll miss the mystique, aura and ghosts that came along with the place across the street.
One thing we won’t miss are the memories. Those we carry with us for the test of time. Those will stay in our thoughts to carry on to our future generations. Our sons, daughters, nieces, nephews and grandkids will all be the beneficiaries of our picture painting of those great times at what was simply called, “The Stadium.”
It is time to turn the page, though. It is time to move across the street and make new memories. It’s time for Opening Day 2009 at the new Yankee Stadium. Whether you are here in the ballpark today, taking all of the festivities in at home on TV, or listening to John and Suzyn on WCBS 880AM, we are all a part of this historic day. Raise your glasses and toast the old place one last time, and then look across the street and embrace the future.
The Outlaw – Allan James Burnett
SOLID START
A.J. Burnett was absolutely lights out picking up Chien-Ming Wang once again. Burnett had a 2-0 lead and a no-hitter into the seventh. Then gave up his first hit, the shutout and the lead, all in the Rays’ half of the seventh.
He didn’t crumble after he gave up two runs. Joe Girardi didn’t even get anyone up in the bullpen. Burnett got out of the jam and the Yankees rewarded their starter with a run in their half of the eighth to go back out in front, 3-2. Burnett then worked a perfect eighth inning and his night was over. Eight innings, three hits, two runs, one walk, and nine strike outs. He is now 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA.
Ladies and gentleman, children of all ages, so far in Yankeeland 2009, I give you your cure for Janet Jackson Disease: Mr. A.J. Burnett.
OFFENSE
Brett Gardner exploded Tuesday in St. Petersburg, Fla., (3-for-5, 2 2B, RBI). I’d like to reiterate my comfort level from my Homegrown Gardner blog from March 30:
“Gardner will be the Opening Day center fielder for Joe Girardi and the Yankees, and even though some “experts” aren’t comfortable with him being there, I am in a lazy boy with the fridge and a case of beer, and comfortable.”
Do they still make the recliners with the refrigerators?
The top two guys in the lineup, Derek Jeter and Gardner, went 6-for-10 with four RBIs. How about Swish at the dish? Nick Swisher was in the four hole and went 2-4 with a solo home run, his fourth of the year. Oh by the way, Swish is hitting .458. He thought it was heady to be hitting in the three hole with Mark Teixeira out of the lineup. I wonder how he felt hitting clean up? I’ll ask him Thursday when I am at the new Yankee Stadium for Opening Day.
Sleep well Yankee fans. See you for the Sprint at 1p.m. ET, then for Yankees Batting Practice today at 3 p.m.
THE I(RS)des of April are upon you
Observations on Tax Day Eve 2009
I Saw the Sein
Page 2 New York Post – Mike Vaccaro’s column on Citi Field – Jerry Seinfeld named his son after a pie? Really? Shepherd? Why do they call Ovaltine? The jar is round, why don’t they call it Roundtine! Gold Jerry! Gold! By the way HUGE Seinfeld fan…had an idea for an episode actually…everyone gets on the computer dating scene…George and Jerry wind up with clunkers…yet Kramer and Elaine are taking things slow with there cyber significant others…and at the end of the show they show up to meet their matches and its each other…Hey Elaine what are you doing here? I’m here to meet my date, what are you doing here? Hoochie MAMA!
DND
Two former members of the Knicks Do Nothing Dynasty (or simply the DND) are back in the news. Stephon Marbury is off to the playoffs with the Celtics and his former coach, Isiah Thomas, accepting an offer to coach Florida International University.
Marbury, talking about his new teammates said, “I want the same feeling (of winning a championship). When you win a championship, it’s like a drug. You’re on a high. I want some of that high.” See the Bruce Beck interview on You Tube…you would think he won a championship…tongue firmly planted in cheek.
Good luck Zeke, maybe you can welcome FIU to the NIT.
Swisher the Pitcher?
Nick Swisher has played the outfield, he’s played first base, and now he could add reliever to his Yankees resume. Considering how its been so far for the bullpen, Swisher and his 0.00 ERA may be called upon again soon.
Biblical Stadium
A fan came up with the best nickname for the new Citi Field, “The House of David.” I like it and David Wright was the first Met to go deep at their new digs. Mike Pelfrey allowed the first ever home run to Jody Gerut to lead off the game.
By the way does Carlos Beltran have to become Kelly Leak from The Bad News Bears and chase down all the fly balls in the Mets outfield?
First Pitch Blues
On another Mets note…do you think the organization will let the battery tandem of Seaver and Piazza throw out another first or last pitch? They closed Shea last season with a loss that knocked the Mets out of the playoffs…and this season Citi Field opened with a loss.
Wang Way
The average age of the Yankees 25-man roster is 29.88. Chien Ming Wang’s ERA currently comes in right under that at 28.93.
Yo Ho Doh
Mad Props to President Obama for authorizing the hit on the Somali pirates by our Navy SEALS…The three pirates were taken out by three snipers, on three simultaneous shots, freeing their captive Captain Richard Phillips. A job well done.
A Fond Farewell
And a so long goes out to two members of the baseball community who passed away yesterday. Harry Kalas and Mark Fidrych. Check out Jim Kaat’s remembrances in Kaat’s Korner.
Adenhart was all heart
How can you not be? When you are 22 years old, already had Tommy John surgery, and spent four years in the Minor Leagues out of high school?
Nick Adenhart made his Major League Debut last year against the A’s, lasting just two innings, walking five and giving up five runs, it was definitely a start he wouldn’t want to remember. His last start against the A’s, the one right before he died, was one Angels fans and his teammates won’t soon forget. He scattered seven hits over six innings, didn’t allow a run, walked three and struck out five.
Adenhart was taken too soon by a suspected drunk driver. When will people learn not to get behind the wheel of a car after they have consumed alcohol? The driver, 22-year-old Andrew Thomas Gallo, was driving with a suspended license because of a previous drunken driving conviction. He’s being charged with three counts of murder, three counts of vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run and felony driving under the influence of alcohol. He is being held without bail.
While he sits in a jail cell, still breathing for some reason, three families are devastated. Adenhart died in surgery; 25-year-old Henry Nigel Pearson, and 20-year-old Courtney Frances Stewart were pronounced dead at the scene.
If you are out with your friends and you’ve had one too many, call a cab, call a friend, call your parents, an uncle or aunt, just don’t get behind the wheel. We aren’t invincible. If this tragedy doesn’t open your eyes, I don’t know what will.
Janet Jackson Disease
No, the title has nothing to do with bras opening up without warning. It’s what I have been calling sports in the New York area since I was in high school. Janet Jackson disease is quite simply, “What Have You Done For Me Lately?” We all suffer from it, we can’t help it, and the only cure for this dreaded disease is winning.
So, Yankee fans waking up today with the sniffles and a mild case of JJD, let me give you this advice…IT’S ONLY ONE GAME!
Peter Parker’s uncle Ben said it a long time ago, “With great power comes great responsibility.” It translates to the Yankees year in year out: with big contracts come big expectations. I get that, but what you have to get is these guys are human and baseball is a cyclical game.
Let me throw some numbers at you to prove my point. Last season, CC Sabathia started the year 1-5 with the Indians. Then in a stretch from June 10 until September 10 with Cleveland and Milwaukee, he went 12-0 in 18 starts. Even in the no-decisions he pitched well enough to win.
Mark Teixeira went 0-for-4 and left five runners on base. It wasn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last. Big Tex is going to be the most popular Yankee since Paul O’Neill or Bernie Williams.
To help with the healing process Yankee fans, I give you this refrain from Daniel Powter’s song, “Bad Day”
Because you had a bad day
You’re taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don’t know
You tell me don’t lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don’t lie
You’re coming back down and you really don’t mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day
Read that 10 times, take a couple of Ibuprofen and tune in to Yankees Batting Practice Today, tomorrow night at 6 right here on YES. We’ll get through this ONE loss together.
Greetings from the NEW Yankee Stadium!
It’s unbelievable! It’s incredible! Opening Day at the new Yankee Stadium and they’re filling pot holes right by Exit 6 on the Major Deegan. I mean you just can’t make this stuff up. Why in the? What the? Who scheduled a pot hole crew for April 3rd right by the exit to the old and new Stadium?
Oh yeah, throw into the equation that it’s raining and everyone forgets how to merge when there is a little weather happening…and it made the commute here lovely. Needless to say, I can’t wait for the Metro North stop to be completed sometime towards the end of May.
Okay …had to vent … now the Stadium.
Holy Shnikies! The Place is Gi-Normous! I think I just combined lines from Tommy Boy and Elf right there, but this place is in a word amazing.
As I just typed that line, I looked down the right field line and caught the familiar 314 sign on the fence and for a split second it almost felt like I was back in the old stadium. The signage is almost the same as it was in the House that Ruth Built. When you get here for the first time, try it. Zone in on that section of the field and see if it hits you as well.
Update: Just got back from the new clubhouse. If I was a player, I would never leave, and I would absolutely HATE being on the road. Each locker has their own laptop. Five HD TVs and leather couches are in the middle of the room. It’s kind of cool to know that at 1 o’clock every day my bald dome will be on all five of those televisions doing the YES Network Sports Sprint before the Mike Francesa show. Shameless plug.
A gigantic interlocking NY is in the middle under the ceiling where the TVs hang. As I am describing this to you, the band performing tonight’s anthem from West Point, is practicing. The acoustics are incredible.
Anyway, back to the clubhouse. Out of the clubhouse and to your right down the stairs are two batting cages with the projection screen pitching machines…when the pitcher throws in the video the ball comes out…and a lone exercise bike. To the right of the exercise bike…two big doors lead to the Yankees dugout. It was a tight squeeze in the old stadium walking from the clubhouse down the ramp and out to the field, but there is PLENTY of elbow room as you go into the new dugout.
The rain has stopped for the time being. Maybe, hopefully, we will get to see some baseball here tonight. Don’t forget YES’ coverage starts at six with an hour-long pregame show. Bob Lorenz, John Flaherty, Michael Kay, David Cone, Paul O’Neill and Kim Jones are all in the house.
If you can’t be here tonight, the next best place to be is on your living room couch looking through the eyes of our great directors and producers as they bring you the New Yankee Stadium.
Homegrown Gardner
Working for YES, and being the guy who gets to go to the minor league teams on a yearly basis is pretty darn cool. Back in 2005, when we were covering the Staten Island Yankees, a young centerfielder led off the game with a bunt down the third base line and in the blink of an eye he was standing on first and the third baseman hadn’t even fielded the ball yet. In case you’re wondering it was Brett Gardner. I was in the SI Yankees dugout and turned to my shooter and said, “Wow!”
I thought to myself, if this kid could do just a little with his bat he would definitely make the big club at some point…at the very least as a pinch runner and defensive replacement. Gardner helped lead the SI Yankees to the 2005 New York Penn League Championship.
As he kept making his way through the system, I followed his progress. I make it a point to keep an eye on all of these kids that I go down on the farm to interview.
I interviewed him at Double “A” Trenton, and followed him at Triple “A” Scranton. Its great to see someone like Brett, who has put the work in, and has made his way through the system, get his due. Gardner will be the opening day centerfielder for Joe Girardi and the Yankees, and even though some “experts” aren’t comfortable with him being there…I am in a lazy boy with the fridge and a case of beer comfortable.
Note to Yankee fans who need a bazooka to kill an ant at every position…you don’t…see 2008 Tampa Bay Rays. If the pitching holds up and CC, AJ, Chien-Ming, Andy, and Joba stay healthy…and the bridge to Mo isn’t termites holding hands…October baseball will be in the Yankees future and you’ll see Brett Gardner will play a vital role. Congratulations Brett.
Musings from the WCBS 880AM Radio Booth
No score through an inning and a half…A-J Burnett 22 pitches through his first two innings 14 strikes and eight balls. Tim Wakefield w
as knuckling the Yankees to sleep until Robbie Cano just lined the first Yankees hit back up the middle almost hitting Wakefield directly in the bum.
Burnett 37 pitches through three innings of work…12 in the first, 10 in the second, 15 in the third. Still no score. Jorge Posada with another throw out at second. After throwing out three of four in a minor league game on Sunday…Posada gunned out Jacoby Ellsbury…the speedy Sox CF. Wakefield and Burnett are both throwing one hitters. Chris Carter and Robinson Cano have the hits for the Sox and Yanks respectively.
Suzyn told the radio audience that A.J. Burnett should throw between 75 and 80 pitches tonight and he is out for work in the fourth. Another quick inning for Burnett. Derek Jeter leading off the inning. The Captain making his return to the Yankees after the WBC. He didn’t have to report until Thursday, but told the media, he has to play. He has to get some games in at shortstop.
A.J. Burnett is as cool as a cucumber in the clubhouse and you know what kind of mood he is in for the day just by looking into his locker. He has a four sided, four faced, Buddah doll. The right handed fireballer turns it according to what mood he is in on every day.
Paid attendance tonight including standing room…11,113…a GMS Field Record.
55 pitches for Burnett through five innings. Still pitching a one hitter. Chris Carter’s double in the second is still the only Red Sox hit.
Xavier Nady strides to the plate to Eminem’s Without Me. Wakefield goes three up three down once again as he gets Nady and Cano on strike outs to end the frame…End of five…the YMCA grounds crew doing there thing.
Burnett gave up his second hit…a slow rolling swinging bunt down the third base line…Cody Ransom had no play. We talked to Ransom about taking over for A-Rod at third while he recovers from his hip surgery. You can see that in our video section.
A.J Burnett just gave up his first run of the game on a ribbie single into right…we also talked to Burnett along with Johnny Damon which you can also find in our video section…Look kids Big Ben…Parliament.
Burnett’s night is done…5 2/3 82 pitches. Bases loaded for Rocco Baldelli…and he grounds out to SS…Jonathan Albaladejo came in relief and induced the grounder.
You are probably either listening to this on the radio or watching it on TV…but you have to be here to really appreciate the speed of Brett Gardner…I can’t say it enough..Does he have power no…Does an opposing pitcher shudder when he comes to the plate…no…but the corner infield does. Speed kills…and he just scored on an infield single from third.
By the way no crazy fans so far screaming charge into the field mic placed just outside the booth by Carlos Silva…John and Suzyn’s producer for the radio call. The last game they did here…every time the PA would play the cavalry charge…there was a guy right by the mic screaming charge in his best Tarzan voice as Suzyn pointed out. Plus the beer and cotton candy vendors would pass under the window screaming, “BEER HERE” and “COTTON CANDY!” which prompted John to ask Suzyn if she needed anything…great moment…and we all heard it was last call for alcohol in the seventh and John again asked Suzyn if she wanted a beer before they shut things down. Tonight though there have been no incidents. I will let you know if there are.
Well if I type it they will come apparently…this time it was two fans with beer glasses raised saying hi to John and Suzyn and they were on the air…classic.
Here is Mariano Rivera…getting his work in…Mo has been a beast…coming into this appearance…28 pitches in three innings of work…he retired eight straight until Gerald Laird singled off of him in his outing against the Tigers last week. And Mo works another perfect inning 13 batters up…12 sat down…in four innings of work so far this spring after coming back from shoulder surgery…its like he never left…he struck out his last batter swinging and P.J. Pillitere who has been the Yankees system since 2005 got to catch a living legend…that had to be a thrill for him…Pillitere also caught Roger Clemens in his tune up tour in Trenton with the Thunder.
Damaso Marte as Suzyn said on the air has great stuff, but doesn’t go after hitters. He was facing minor leaguers and walked two of them. If it wasn’t for a fortuitous bounce on a wild pitch, Marte would have uncorked the go ahead run while facing a minor leaguer as well. Pillitere made a sparking play getting Ellsbury, who was hung up between 3rd and home. As John just said on the air you can’t fault Ellsbury, he had to think it was an easy run.
Big error by Chris Carter allows the Yankees to be set up first and third with no one out…Suzyn with great analysis…the ball was pitcher Manny Delcarmen’s to field and Stewart’s momentum even if he fielded it was bringing him toward home and it was going to be a very tough play for him if he fielded it. Good stuff in the booth…and Angel Berroa continues his great spring doubling in the go ahead run with a high chopper over third…and John followed with the first commandment in baseball…Delcarmen walked the leadoff batter which is when all the trouble started…
AJAX cleans up the base paths…Austin Jackson hit a grand slam right as Suzyn was describing how Reggie Jackson thinks the power will come for the Yankees coveted prospect. After the home run, on the YES network, who was right there with a smiling A-Jax? Reggie Jackson. Another great job by Suzyn.
John Sterling’s call of the homer was a little off, but in his defense that ball hooked over the fair pole just fair…it was tough to call…being as that the ball was hit like a laser down the line. Edwar Ramirez finished things up in the ninth. Yankees win 7-1 after getting six runs, five earned, including the four courtesy of Jackson’s blast…Again thanks to the WCBS team for letting me hang out and experience the game once again. This trip was better than last year and I can’t wait for next year. I have one more day here, but its a complete off day for the Yankees, so this will be my last blog. I hope you enjoyed my time down here as much as I did bringing it to you. Thanks for reading, and I will catch you back in the studio for the YES Network Sports Sprint next Monday. This is CMS signing off from GMS field.
The Birds II
Alfred Hitchcock scared audiences with his alarming avian thriller back in 1963. Well today was the sequel here at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The star of the sequal was unaware he was the main attraction until he was on his way into the ballpark today. Dan Barbarisi of the Providence Journal, and from Rye Brook, NY, was on his way in to cover the Boston Red Sox when he was attacked by what he thought was a bug. He said when it first hit him, he looked over his shoulder and all he could see was something black. Like a big black bug. Well this was only the beginning of his ordeal. It turns out it was a disgruntled bird, we couldn’t track him down for his side, but the bird, most likely was a Yankees fan.
Barbarisi tried shoeing it away off his back, then it went into his hair, and proceeded to, um, use him like a Port-a-john.
So when he finally gets to the stadium, he has fine feathered fecal matter all over him. He was about to go into the visitor dugout area for an interview with Terry Francona, when security turned him away because he smelled. That was a direct quote from Dan himself. So he came up to the press box, got into the bathroom, took his soiled shirt off, and washed his hair in the bathroom sink. He had a different shirt in his car, which he said is not as nice as the one he had on before. Let’s face it, I didn’t want to see that one, or smell it for that matter.
For all of his family and friends who are concerned, Dan is fine. He did miss his interview session with Terry Francona, but he is in the press box, computer on, with no scratches or remnants of the attack present anywhere. Where is a video camera when you need it? That’s 10,000 dollars on AFV! Thanks to Suzyn Waldman for bringing it to my attention…you just can’t make this up!
Batting Practice Observations
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…every time I step on the field I instantly transform into a ten year old kid. Think, Field of Dreams but the opposite of when Doc has to leave the field to help Kevin Costner’s choking daughter.
I was on the field when Derek Jeter got in the cage and if this team seemed loose while he was gone, it is even looser now. The joking and carrying on, I would say doubled. At one point, Jeter hit a hard line drive and Nick Swisher out in left said, “TEAM USA!” They also took some infield practice and outfield practice and as the outfielders were making there throws, the hootin and hollerin continued. One of the most vocal guys was Mark Teixeira. He is constantly throwing compliments to his teammates who make good throws. There was a group of Yankees around homeplate as Johnny Damon was throwing home from right field, after he took some turns in left and a lot of atta boys were thrown his way by Joe Girardi, Kevin Long, Jose Molina, Jorge Posada, and first base coach Mick Kelleher.
Melky Cabrera had a highlight as well, he took a grounder in medium depth in center and fired a pea to Cody Ransom at third, knee high. Unbelieveable throw.
Jeter in his second round of swings hit one half way up the video screen out in left center field here at the Boss and that got some oohs and ahhs from his teammates all over the field. You can really sense from watching him come back onto the field that Jeter is the glue that keeps this team together. You can sense players are happy to have him back.
We talked to Kevin Long and Michael Kay as well and those interviews will be up shortly…keep checking back for more later. I will be blogging from the WCBS 880 radio booth during the game tonight. You can get the play by play there or on YES with Michael Kay and Paul O’Neil, and I will be bringing you some nuggets from inside the booth.
Off The Wall with Chris Shearn 