Yanks still desperate to sell season tickets; Presale update

The "moat" at Yankee Stadium blocks the peasants
in the cheaper seats away from the few rich guys.

Once again the Yankees are having an open house to purchase season tickets. This Saturday the Yanks will once again try and peddle their expensive seats to new customers.

It is reaching how pathetic that the Bronx bombers are begging for new customers, maybe if they lowered the prices they would have to do this. One of the biggest thing I miss about the old Yankee Stadium was the affordability (or more of it at least).


Pre-sale Update:

Today a bit more info about the presale (all the original info can be had here ) all the dates listed are correct at this time, and new for this year you can get 8 tickets for premium games and 4 tickets to Opening Day. This is an increase from 4 tickets and 2 tickets from last season.

Either way, cant wait for the day that my Yankee tickets arrive at my door, it will be a sign that baseball is back.

Yankee video mixes

Searching across Youtube and found some well done Yankee tribute videos by Chesterbball18.
Check them out:

Alex Rodriguez


Robinson Cano


Nick Swisher


Brett Gardner


Mariano Rivera

Curtis Granderson more important in 2011 then you think.

Much has been made about the Yankees issues this spring, who is going to round out the rotation? What will the bench look like? Will father time stay on the side of Derek Jeter, A-Rod and Mariano Rivera? But one of the most over looked questions has been which Curtis Granderson will show up?

Curtis Granderson began his Yankees career with a blast, literally. In his first at bat as a Yankees, Granderson hit a home run at Fenway Park. That was Grandersons bright spot for the first two months, the newly acquired Yankee struggled mightily hitting just .225 before getting hurt, missing a month of the season. Once he came back he wasn't the same player the Yankees traded for. He was hitting just .239 as late as August 11th with just 11 home runs. At that time he went to Kevin Long for help, he changed up his stance and finished the year hitting 13 home runs from August 13th on, and hit .278 in the month of September.

With the issues the Yankees have with the pitching, they are going to have to out hit teams, during many of their games. They will need the Granderson that arrived after August 11th, and many fans are expecting that Graderson, but if he does not show up the Yankees could be in for alot of trouble. As each of the star starting players get older, the Yankees need players like Granderson to step up. Brian Cashman would love to see the soon to be 30 year old outfielder turn it up a notch, after all he traded away Ian Kennedy and Austin Jackson to get him, and both young players that had break out seasons for other teams.

While much of the hype this spring will be about the rotation, Jeter and A-Rod, the unsung story should be about Granderson, and what to expect from him in 2011.

Looking back: How Yankees 2008 season ended

The season began on a cool night in April, Melky Cabrera hit a home run and made a nice catch in the Yankees 3-2 victory on opening night. It would all go down hill from their..

The injuries began to pile up, the largest being Chien Ming Wang getting hurt running the bases in June. The Yanks would constantly be looking up to the Rays and the Red Sox in the standings, and that's how the season ended, with the bombers in third place.

At the time I was disappointed that the last game at Yankee Stadium would not be a playoff game, but as I reflect it seems much more appropriate that the final game was a set date, that being September 21, 2008. The Yankees were able to give the stadium they called home for 85 years a fair send off, having tons of former players at the event. I rather they close out the old stadium that way, then possibly a loss in the playoffs. Only other way I would want to see the Yanks leave the stadium was holding title 27.



As it is the failures of 2008 lead to the 2009 World Series championship, and a season that will always lay dead in Yankee fans hearts. The Yanks went out and got CC, Teixiera and Burnett, had they won it all in 2008 the Yanks could have gotten sentimental and re-upped with Jason Giambi instead of Tex. I love Giambi, but Tex is the better player and the pitching is what won the Yanks a title in 2009.

Talkin Baseball: The Hot Corner

Talkin Baseball: The Hot Corner premiere edition Feb 22,2011

Interviews: Buster Olney, David Lennon

2011 Yankees tickets information

Snow is back on the ground but baseball season isn't far away, and that means baseball in back in the Bronx. If you would like to head the Bronx and see the bombers you can always head to Stubhub, but if you rather get your tickets ahead of time and straight from the Yankees, the day is coming soon.

According to sources the dates are as follows for bomber tickets to go on sale:
Full season ticket holders pre-sale: Monday, March 7th
Partial season ticket holders pre-sale: Tuesday March 8th
Ticket opportunity winners: Wednesday March 9th
General public: Friday March 11th

These are all tentative dates, the sales should start at either 10AM or at Noon. In 2008 Opening Day was also held on March 31st at Yankee Stadium, that year tickets went on sale on February 28th, so its a bit later this year.

Kevin "the clown" Millwood turns down minor league deal

Millwood looking hefty, with him
CC and Colon the Yankees
could hold a biggest loser contest.

Kevin Millwood was 4-16 last season, had an ERA of over 5 and yet turned down the Yankees minor league deal. The deal similar to the one Freddy Garcia signed, that would include up to $3 million in bonuses.

Why in the world Millwood would turn down this type of deal, I have no clue. Every teams pitchers and catchers have reported, yet Millwood still is holding out for a guarranteed deal. Sure Millwood is an innings eater, and earlier this spring I was hoping the Yanks would give he a shot, but not in a guarranteed way. Millwood over the last few seasons has had an ERA over 5 in four of the past five seasons,and in the past two seasons he had given up 56 homers, a number that wouldnt be going down at Yankee Stadium

Millwood should have just taken the minor league deal, with the state of the Yankees pitching he could have easily won the spot over fat boy Bartolo, Sergio Mitre and Freddy Garcia.

Pedro Paterson?

Over the winter the bombers brought in ex-Met Pedro Feliciano. At the time I was annoyed with the move, no need to spend so much ($8 million over 2 years) on a LOOGY (lefty one out guy) plus the Yanks already had Boone Logan. Too bad I wasn't a supported of Governor Paterson, since Pedro and Paterson look so similar, take a look for your self.



Govenor Paterson




Pedro Feliciano



Zales no longer sponser for fan marquee

"Zales presents the Yankees fan marqueeeeeeeeeeeeeee" if you have attended a Yankees game over the past five years you have heard the annoying scretch of the man who announces this promotion, well it looks to have finally stopped.

Today is a glorious day that Zales has stopped the promotion, if you want my opinion on the Zales marquee guy you just have to look at the site banner to realize I am not a fan. The only question I have left is will the Yankees add a new sponsor and if they do will this same annoying individual be forced to pierce my ears with his blood curdling scream. I would hope not.

In case you never got to experience the pain of listening ....

Did Joba eat the hut? Does the weight matter?

Every year spring training rolls around, and you hear about a player that came into camp slimmed down like CC Sabathia, or overweight. This year Joba Chamberlain has been the one to come into camp hefty.

But should weight even matter? It seems to be a hot topic throughout the media when a skinnier CC showed up on day one  and now with Joba gaining weight it seems to be another day of talking about weight, but does the weight of a pitcher really effect the way they pitch? I mean Sabathia said he weighed 315 last year and he still won 19 games and was a CY Young award candidate. David Wells won 239 career games and threw a perfect game, all that while weighing close to 250 pounds.

But at the same time those are just two recent players that had success due to the weight. Sabathia wanted to lose the weight after having surgery on his knee. Bartolo Colon, who is in Yankee camp trying to win a job had numerous back problems over the past seasons due to his hefty stature.

Of course with a pitcher as young as Joba (Just 25) you should expect for the player to gain some weight. But it is alarming that a player who is fighting for a job on the team to come in out of shape. It shows he's still young and irresponsible, both things the Yankees wish would change.

Joba no longer has a major role on this team, in part because he has struggled on the field, and part cause the Yankees have switched his role too many times. Brian Cashman has said numerous times Joba will not be a starter but it could be best that Chamberlain starts at AAA Scranton this season and gets stretched out to start again. Joba as a starter would be easier to trade and more helpful for the Yanks a team that is low on starters.

$55 to park at Yankee Stadium???

Empty stadiums and soon
empty parking lots.

With the Yankees down in Tampa preparing for a new season, its nice to think that soon games will be played at Yankee Stadium. But where will you park if you wanna drive to the stadium, or better yet will you be able to afford to drive? Last year news broke that NYC not the Yankees would raise parking from $23 in 2010 to $35 in 2011. But wait, it gets worse, according to a story last year in the NY Daily News, the city may raise prices to $55 if they default on the bonds.

I'll never understand the purpose of raising the prices that much. Why in the world would anyone pay $55 to park when their are 3 subway lines, a bus route, water ferry and the metro north all cheaper options. Either way raising the prices wont bring more fans to the parking garages or the stadiums, it would be smarter to lower the price or stick with last years price.

The winter doldrums are over!

Today Yankee pitchers and catchers report to spring training, symbolizing that winter is over and the warm weather aint far away.

                    So while some players are excited to start a new season

                                                         Others arent

Things to watch for in Spring Training

Hughes,CC and Burnett

Ah the green grass, the crack of the bat and the fresh breeze of a new season starting. No that is not happening in New York yet, but rather in Tampa, Florida where the Yankees pitchers and catchers report tomorrow. With a new season, it brings new questions and things to look for..

The battle for the back end of the rotation: The sky began falling once the Phillies swooped in and signed Cliff Lee, and then completely fell just last week when Andy Pettitte announced his retirement. The pitching rotation starts out strong with workhorse CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and AJ Burnett. But that is followed by a pair of question marks. The main candidates include Freddy Garcia, Bartolo Colon, Ivan Nova, and Sergio Mitre along with many rookie long shots.
My prediction before a single pitch is thrown is that the last two starters are Freddy Garcia and Ivan Nova.

Montero, Cervelli and Posada

Who's behind the plate? In Gran Torino Clint Eastwood often muttered "Get off my lawn", one of these days I'm expecting Jorge Posada to tell the young catchers to get out from behind his plate. The proud catcher has been told that he will be DHing this season although he insists that he could still catch if he wanted to. The Yanks have top prospect Jesus Montero lined up for the job but are afraid to rush him, Cashman signed Russel Martin this off season and has said on numerous occasions that he will be the starter, and you cant forget about Francisco Cervelli.

My prediction is that Yankee fans will have to wait to see Jesus Montero later in the season, Russell Martin will gain the starting job with Cervelli as his back up.

Eric Chavez in better
and healthier days.

Who's benched: Normally being benched is a bad thing, but in spring training the chance to win a job as a bench player is the goal of many young players and aging veterans. Last season the bombers had Ramiro Pena, Austin Kearns and Marcus Thames as the main stays coming off the bench. The only one of those returning is Ramiro Pena and his job is no longer secure. Former World Series villain Andruw Jones was signed to a guaranteed deal so one spot on the bench is already filled. To fill the infield spot include Pena, Eduardo Nunez, Eric Chavez and Ronnie Belliard. The first two are more defense oriented and can play multiple infield spots while Chavez and Bellaird are the more famous players, but are known for their bat and aren't as versatile. If the Yanks wanna carry two outfielders instead of two infielders then Greg Golsen and Justin Maxwell could earn a job, but both are long shots.

My prediction is that Ramiro Pena and Ronnie Belliard join Andruw Jones as the main bench guys. I would love to see Eric Chavez get a shot, but the injury risk is too large.

The invited: I have called this off season "The year of the minor league deal" since Brian Cashman was handing these out like it was Halloween. Each season teams invite minor league and major league players players to spring training on a non guaranteed contract. Once in spring training the players battle for any available jobs, the losers of those competitions are either released or sent to the minor leagues. Some noticeable names on the list are former big leaguers Mark Prior, Neal Cotts, and Luis Ayala. Will any of them make the team? Yeah, except that team is the Scranton Yankees.

Should the Yanks retire 21?

For nine seasons Paul O'Neill roamed right field at Yankee Stadium, he was a corner stone of the Yankees dynasty from 1996-2001 and a fan favorite. Having played from 1993-2001 with the Yankees and racking up four World Series rings during that time, should the Yankees retire his number? It has been 10 seasons since O'Neill last played for the Yanks,and is still involved in the organization as a broadcaster, and unlike most retired players who don't have their number retired, they still sell Paul O'Neill shirts. Many Yankee fans would agree with me that it has been too long, and that the bombers should give #21 its rightful send of into monument park.

I mentioned how Yankee fans have longed for the team to retire O'Neill's number, in 2008 Latroy Hawkins was the first player to wear 21 since O'Neill had retired. Immediately Yankee fans began to boo Hawkins for wearing O'Neill's 21. Hawkins eventually switched to 22 after fans continued to boo and chant "Paul O'Neill" while Hawkins pitched. Since then no Yankee player has worn 21.

So aside from retiring the number because the fans love him O'Neill was also a very productive player. Over his nine year career in pinstripes O'Neill hit .303/158 HR's/858 RBI's he also had a WAR (Wins above replacement) of 24.8 to go along with his four World Series rings. All of those are better then Reggie Jackson (.281/144/461), who has his number retired. O'Neill also has comparable stats to Roger Maris another player with his number retired.

Paul O'Neill Chant game 5 2001 WS

As each baseball season passes by it is tough to decide whether or not the Yanks will retire O'Neill's number. If the Yankees continue not to issue the number and no players want to wear 21, then they should retire it. But on the other hand the Yankees already have alot of retired numbers and in the upcoming seasons, Bernie Williams, Joe Torre, Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada will all likely hold a spot in monument park.

Even if the Yankees don't want to retire his number or give him a plaque in monument park the Yankees should honor Paulie in some way. My suggestion would be to have the number 21 painted onto the right field wall. Either way the Yankees should pay respect for a man that George Steinbrenner once called a "warrior".

For ticket sellers it could be a wet April

The Yankees open the season at home to take on the Detroit Tigers on March 31st; those tickets are already going for steep prices, but for the 19 April home games the same can’t be said, with tickets starting for as low as $4. 

The ticket prices don't have anything to do with weather just yet, but it is startling to see the secondary market so low this early. In past seasons you would occasionally see the low resale of tickets in early April, mostly due to poor weather, but that wouldn’t happen till closer to the date of the actual game. Here are some reasons for the April swoon.

• Not the strongest group of opponents: The Orioles have improved but nobody will ever get them confused with the 1983 Orioles that won the World Series. The Twins and White Sox are OK teams, but not teams worth freezing outside for.
• Rain, rain go away: We all know the term “April showers bring May flowers". So does anyone want to buy tickets to these games in advance with the chance that the games could be rained out of delayed?
• Gots to get an Edukation: Yes before you correct me I realize that is wrong. But in April school is still in session for everyone. College students begin to prepare for finals and high school students and younger must wake up early the next day for school during the week.
• Why pay more? Why pay more from the Yankees or season ticket holders when secondary sources are already guaranteeing cheaper prices. Aside from Stubhub, the newest ticket site is ScoreBig.com, a site guaranteeing that you can buy tickets from them for less than face value.
• Sleepy Bombers: In 2004 the Yankees were 11-10 in April, 10-14 in 2005, 13-10 in 2006, 9-14 in 2007, 14-15 in 2008 and 12-10 in 2009. So the Yankees are not a team that gets off to an impressive start. Unless you’re a Mets or Red Sox fan that’s venturing into Yankee Stadium to see the home team lose, it’s not very intriguing to the Yankee faithful to see the team lose, while suffering through a rainy, cold night.

So far on average the lowest ticket price for the 19 April games come out to $6.79, which includes weekend dates. As April gets closer and closer the ticket prices will likely continue to drop on the secondary market, but that trend should end once the weather and the team heat up.

65th annual Old Timers Day date likely June 26th

Old timers day 2010

Although the Yankees have not yet released a promotional schedule, the best bet for the annual old timers day is June 26 against the Colorado Rockies. The game is currently slated to begin at 2:05, the same time it started in 2009 when the Yanks opened the new house with old timers day on a Sunday.

Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra
are always around on OTD.

Since the new stadium has opened the Yanks have put old timers day on a Saturday and on a Sunday. The event was always held on Saturdays at the old stadium, but once they moved to the new stadium there was some discussion it would be rotated back and forth from Saturdays and Sundays to accommodate weekend plan holders who use to have the plan in there ticket package.

Old timers day is annually held each season between late June and early August, the Yankees introduce their old players and then have the old timers play a quick two inning game for the fans, before the start of the regularly scheduled contest.

If you are interested in taking the risk on buying tickets for the annual game, ticket prices are fairly reasonable at the moment on Stubhub, but once the date is officially announced those prices are sure to go up.

2011 15 game Bleacher plans sold out

Around Christmas the Yankees began to call season ticket holders who were looking to upgrade or switch plans. At the time, us here at NYY Star and Pinstripes tried to move our mid week bleacher plan to a 15 game weekend plan. The ticket rep said that nothing was available. Flash forward to the first week of February, with spring training right around the corner, the bombers put ticket plans on sale to the public. The sale was done online, no option for bleachers were available, that meant a call for the Yankees ticket office. The rep that I got on the phone broke me the news, no bleacher plans were available for 15 game plans and higher, he said that they were sold out for the entire season and the only plans available in the bleachers were the smaller 11 and 12 game plans.

View from section 235.

This should come to no surprise since bleacher tickets are very hard to come by, they are the cheapest tickets in the stadium, have a great resale value and allow you to wander any where in the stadium, even levels of the park that you may not have tickets for.

Individual game tickets for the Yankees have not gone on sale yet, but should go on sale before the end of the month. The Yanks do still have ticket plans available but the 15 game weekend plans have very slim pickings.

Big game Andy Pettitte calls it quits

A sad moment for Yankees fans today as Andy Pettitte calls it quits, saying he will no longer pitch. The press conference seen on the YES Network today, allowed Pettitte to remark on his career. Here are some of the things that Pettitte had to say.

• “When I left Arlington Stadium at the end of last year, I thought that I was done.”
• “I’m ready to pitch in Spring Training. My arm feels great. My body feels great...but my heart’s not where I need it to be.”
• Pettitte told Cashman on Jan. 9 that he would “seriously start considering” pitching again. He did nothing before that.
•  “A lot of this started last year when I hurt myself.” referring to last season when he hurt is groin in July.
• “Never say never” on the prospect of pitching in 2012.
• “has not had any effect, I mean zero, on my decision. I would never let that interfere with a life decision.” talking about the Roger Clemens trial.
• “I’ve never considered myself a Hall of Famer.”
• Pettitte on the Yanks not getting Cliff Lee. “When they didn’t get him, I felt a huge obligation...That’s why I started working out. I felt I owed it to this team.”

Thanks for all the memories Andy, the term "true Yankee" is often thrown around, but when you look at Andy Pettitte,you realize he is a true Yankee.

Spring Training where art thou

13 More days till the Yanks report
to Tampa.

Ugh another snowstorm is coming to the New York area, while down in sunny Tampa its 70 degrees and beautiful. With a winter this harsh, it makes me long for the start of spring training when hope for spring and the start of a long baseball season is not far away.
The worst weeks are coming up, with 13 days until the start of pitchers and catchers, the sports world will take a hit after Super Bowl Sunday. For those days following until, spring training action begins, I consider it the most boring time of the year, only basketball and hockey and going on neither with any large relevance. Spring training can't come soon enough...