Yankees Quick Hits: Concerts, fragrance, and Soccer

Could be seeing a few more players posing like this.

A few quick off the field notes...

Had they released it in 2011 it could have been called Bartolo Cologne (Please hold your jeers) but according to ESPN New York, the Yankees plan to release a fragrance. Simply called "New York Yankees" and "New York Yankees for her" the team will introduce the the fragrances on February 21, right around when position players should be reporting to Tampa. In 2006 Derek Jeter released his own scent with Avon, but it would be pretty cool (and interesting) if they had a cologne for each player. Just imagine the fragrance names for guys like Joba and Hiroki Kuroda, it would be fantastic.

Could be seeing this set up a few more times at the stadium.

Last month the Yanks announced that Roger Waters the song writer for Pink Floyd would perform 'the wall' at Yankee Stadium on Friday July 6th, that concert is already sold out. They have since added a second show for the following night (July 7th), tickets go on sale this Saturday and another sold out show is expected. But for fans who are looking to sell tickets for a profit may want to avoid buying the event as tickets on Stubhub are barely above face value months before the concert.

Continuing with the throwback artists, Madonna will also play at Yankee Stadium Thursday September 6th. Fresh off her Super Bowl half time show, tickets for her show will go on sale to the public at 10am Monday. I wonder if the Yanks had to ask Alex Rodriguez, permission before allowing the pop icon to come to his stadium. Rumors earlier swirled of Bruce Springsteen playing at the stadium, but with Madonna that may have killed any chances of that.

With all the concerts taking place this summer at the stadium, soccer could also be on the agenda. In an article by Big Apple Soccer we could be seeing an international soccer game. The game would likely be a big sell as it was last year at Citi Field, but the biggest thing I would worry about is the condition of the field. With all the events held, especially with the soccer match the field will need a ton of maintenance.

Who would you root for? Red Sox or Mets

"It gets by Buckner!"

The New York Giants and the New England Patriots are set to add another chapter in the New York-Boston rivalry, but for Jets fans this is a nightmare. Mets fans had to deal with similar fate in 2009 when the Yankees and Phillies battled it out for the 2009 World Series. Luckily for Yankee fans, we haven't had to deal with a similar situation since the 1986 World Series, when the Mets and Red Sox faced off in a classic.

Of course that last time was quite a while ago, at the time "the curse of the bambino" was still alive and well, just ask Bill Buckner about that curse following that series. But if the Red Sox and Mets were to face off in a World Series in the near future, who would Yankee fans root for ? Lets take a look at the case for each team.

Why to root for the Red Sox:

•  In the same league- Sure it may seem silly but that means that they were the best team in the same league the Yankees are in. They deserved to win, and their is no shame is congratulating them if they were the best team.
• Would only hear gloating 9 times a year- Unless you have a friend who is a Red Sox fan or you live in New England, you won't likely have to hear the non stop chatter from Red Sox fans other than the 9 times they play in the Bronx. Now compare that to Mets fans who live amongst us in New York, every family has a black sheep someone who is a fan of the team from Queens or at least a friend who roots for the blue and orange. The trash talk would go on until the Yankees won another title.
• Respectable franchise- Assuming that this World Series was to happen in the near future, the Sox have done an admirable job in the front office, something almost every baseball fan could respect. Outside of the 2011 collapse, the Red Sox have stayed competitive with the Yanks, while making smart trades and building the team through the draft and international free agents.

Why to root for the Mets:

• Territory rights- At least they are from New York, plus it would add another chapter to the NY-Boston rivalry that the "little brother" of the Yanks beat the BoSox.
• You have some sympathy-  Lets face it since 2006 Met fans have been miserable. They collapsed in back to back seasons (2007 & 2008), and since have barely been competitive. Add in the financial issues of the Wilpons, and its hard not to feel a bit bad that all this has happened while the Yankees have won a World Series and been to the playoffs four times.
• Underdog story-  Strange to think that the Mets would be considered an underdog, but to add on from the earlier point the Mets haven't won since 1986, and haven't sniffed the World Series since 2006. The Red Sox have won a pair of titles since 1986.

Who would I root for? I would go the Mets- I don't see much of a rivalry between them and the Yanks other than the 6 games they play each other and if they were to meet again in the World Series. Sure the bragging might get annoying after a while, but I rather NY win... Plus they would need to win a whole lot more to catch the Yankees. But who would you root for?

Yankee Stadium Parking Update: Owners Plan to Default on Bonds

Cost of parking for the 2011 ALDS

Today in a report from the New York Daily News the owners of the parking garages and lots around Yankee Stadium plan to default on $237 million in bonds. It shouldn't come as a big surprise, since the new stadium opened they have raised from $14 to $35 ($48 if you want valet), and have opened up a brand new metro north station just a block away.

Just 38% of people are parking in the lots when the bombers are home, and just 70 people use the lots during the off season. That's 21 acres of wasted space for the community on parking garages, and even more when you consider that the new Yankee Stadium took away park land too. If the city wanted to do right they would tear down one of the garages/lots and make a park for the public. Some of the other options in the article are low income housing or a hotel.

With tolls and gas going up, the owners of the garages would be smart to lower the prices to get more people to drive again and use the parking lots. I expect in 2012 for them to either raise the price again, or keep it at $35.