Yankee Stadium Experience : Yanks vs Rangers ALCS Game 3

I had gotten these tickets in the partial plan holders pre-sale, at the time it would have been game one of the series, but once the Yankees lost the AL East it became game three. Andy Pettitte would be facing Cliff Lee in a classic pitching, the starters lived up to expectations but the bullpen let it all slip away. More on that in a bit.

But lets start out by saying that earlier in the week I had been looking on google for shortcuts to get to the 161st street garage. I finally though I found a short cut, and it may have been but we passed the exit and took a quick tour of the Bronx. After that we finally made it to the parking garage, practically three hours early and it was already crowded, even with the parking cost $40.

It was my first playoff game since the 2003 ALCS game two, but unlike back then when they were very strict with security they hardly looked in my bag prior to game three. It was strange to see the teams taking batting practice in the dark, but the stadium look beautiful and there was a buzz around the park.

I wandered out to the bleachers and realized that the TBS crew were doing the pre-game show from the bleachers (section 239 to be exact). At one point Dennis Eckersley was standing five feet away and nobody approached him. That cant be said of David Wells who was getting cheers from the fans that began to surround the small make shift studio.

The temperature was really starting to drop, and the October feel became stronger as game time was becoming closer. Once the Rangers finished up there portion of batting practice, I headed towards the upper deck to my seats, but I could see that on field level the Lobel's line stretched for at least three or four sections, totally insane.

The crowd wasn't even in its seats, when player introductions began. Of course Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte got the largest ovations, but Robinson Cano also got a large ovation from the crowd. The introductions never get old, but my favorite intros would have to be for Opening Day and the World Series. Tino Martinez threw out the first pitch to another loud ovation and just like that baseball was set to be under way.

The Yankees did hold a nice moment of silence for Freddy Sez, and showed him on the video screen. The crowd began to chant "Freddy ! Freddy !"

Prior to the game I predicted that the Yankees would win the game 3-2, I was correct about the Rangers having two for most of the night, but the final score was no where near my prediction. Andy Pettitte looked locked in the first inning, until he gave up a hit to Michael Young. The next batter was Josh Hamiltion, and he took a pitch and hit a Yankee Stadium home run, right over the right field fence. Just like that the air was sucked out of the crowd and the Yankees were down 2-0.

Cliff Lee came out and shut down the Yankees the entire night, I like that the Yankees were making him throw some pitches and fouled off a lot of tough pitches but the result was always the same, Lee was just too unhittable. The Yankees didn't have a hit for the longest time, and had only one chance all night to score. That was when Brett Gardner got a hit with no outs, stole second and was left stranded at third.

Much has been made about the crowd at the new Yankee Stadium, not being as loud. But on this night the fans had nothing to get excited about. The few times that the fans were into the game Cliff Lee sat them down, along with the Yankees. The worst part was that when the Yankees went down in the bottom of the eighth, and with the score at 2-0 some fans began to leave. Maybe those fans had the right idea since the Yankees would give up six more runs to turn the game into a laughter.

Auxilary Press Box in sections 406 and 407.

The move not to bring Mariano Rivera in the ninth, befuddled me. It was just a 2-0 game and  Cliff Lee was up to 118 pitches, so the Rangers would be going to closer Neftali Feliz. The Yankees had impressive at bats against Feliz in game two and had come back against him earlier in the season. But instead of using Mo, Girardi went to Boone Logan and David Robertson who got hit hard. The night ended with Sergio Mitre on the mound, never a good sign. Once the inning was over it was 8-0 Texas and many fans had departed.

The Yanks will have to hope from a good start from AJ Burnett tonight, or else they put themselves in a tough spot. I still have alot of faith in Burnett, but the Rangers have out played the Yankees in every one of these games, except for one inning and that was in game one when the Yankees came from behind.

Since last week I was unable to buy tickets to any of the World Series games, this looks to be my final trip to Yankee Stadium in 2010. Thank you for reading about my Yankee Stadium experiences, this season but make sure to keep reading about other Yankee related posts. Until 2011, as Michael Kay would say "see ya!"

Jay-Z & Eminem awkward interview from back in May

In honor of the Jay-Z/Eminem concert that is being held tonight at Yankee Stadium,while the Yankees are battling the Rays for first, here is an interview that was held on YES during a Yankees vs Tigers game. I had always wondered that Jay's response would be to when asked about " Making the Yankee hat more famous then a Yankee can".

  

Who would have ever guessed that Michael Kay would be more hood then Ken Singleton ? Or is it that Singleton is just whiter then Kay ? Either way Eminem made that interview very strange and awkward.

The Derek Jeter Drinking Game

Derek Jeter is loved by Yankees fans, disliked by many other fans in the rest of the league, and yet is respected by all. As many Yankee fans feel, it seems like forever Jeter has been involved with the Yanks and it will be one of the strangest things when he chooses to hang up his spikes. When you watch as many games as I do, you tend to realize that Jeter has certain traits that come with him. Please remember to drink responsible while playing, even if Jeter gets just four at bats in a game I'm sure you will have had enough to be legally over the limit so don't get behind the wheel. Please note I am not responsible for you, your action, behavior or any other embarrassing moment that may come from this game.

So lets begin :

• Jeter leads off the game and swings first pitch - 1 drink
• Jeter leads off the game, swings first pitch and hits a weak ground ball - 2 drinks
• Jeter hits into a double play - 1 drink
• Jeter swings first pitch with runners on and hits into a double play - 3 drinks
• Jeter fixes his batting gloves after a pitch - 1 drink , take addition drink if he steps out of the box also
• If Michael Kay says "Past a diving Jeter" or anything similar to that - 1 drink
• If Jeter attempts his famous "jump throw" and the runner is safe - 2 drinks
• If the "Flip play" is mentioned on air or by a fellow game participant  - 1 drink
• If the dive into the stands against the Red Sox is mentioned - 1 drink
• If either play mentioned in the last 2 rules, is replayed drink for the entire replay of the moment
• If an announcer calls a hit my Jeter to right field, "Jeterian"- 1 drink, if its on national TV (FOX,ESPN) take 2 drinks
• If an announcer mentions that he is the captain - 1 drink
• Jeter is seen on the top steps of the dugout - 1 drink
• Jeter's parents are shown on TV - 1 drink
• If the grudge between A-Rod and Jeter is mentioned - 1 drink, don't drink if the camera shoots to them standing/sitting next to each other talking.
• If Michael Kay mentions how hard it is for the manager to get Jeter to take a day off - 1 drink
• If any announcer mentions Jeters postseason heroics - 1 drink , take additional drink for each specific moment they mention
• Jeter is called clutch - 1 drink ,and take additional drink if he is called Mr. November
• If they show a shot of a female holding up a home made sign with Jeters name on it - 1 drink, if the sign mentions "love" or "marry" take 2 drinks. Take 3 drinks if it has both.
• Jeter is called Jeet by a teammate or announcer - 1 drink
• Is called by his full name of Derek Sanderson Jeter - 2 drinks
• Jeter disagrees with the umpire and says something to him, but doesn't get tossed - 1 drink
• Following a mound visit Jeter is the last one to leave the mound and is seen talking to the pitcher - 1 drink
• If Jeter is seen doing a fist pump - 1 drink
• Jeter hits a home run to the short porch in right field - 1 drink
• Jeter hits a home run to LF or CF - 2 drinks
• Jeter is seen clapping his hands following a hit - 1 drink
• Jeter hits a ball that lands in monument park and the announcer mentions how one day Jeter will end up there - 2 drinks
• Jeter is mentioned as the all time Yankee hit leader - 1 drink , take additional drink if they say how he will become the first ever Yankee to hit 3,000
• Jeter fouls a ball of his foot and it misses his guard - 1 drink
• Jeter jack knifes out of the way, and just misses getting hit by a pitch - 1 drink
• Jeter gets hit by a pitch - 1 drink
• Jeter gets hit by a pitch on his hand or wrist - 2 drinks , take an additional 2 drinks if any announcer mentions how Jeter dives into the plate when he swings and it often happens.
• Jeter gets hit by a pitch, taken out of the game, and is suppose to miss an extended amount of time - drink till you forget, since you know you cant replace Derek Jeter.

Remember drink responsible

This day in Yankees History : July 1st 2004

Many Yankee fans would like to forget the 2004 season all together. The end result was not what any team would ever want, losing to your rival in embarrassing fashion. The Yankees did win there division that season, finishing before the Sox. But on this date six years ago, there was another great Yankee moment in the Yanks-Sox rivalry.

On warm summer night in the Bronx, the Yanks were looking for a sweep of the Red Sox. In the first two games of the series the Yankees won behind great pitching and timely hitting, but the final game would have everything you could ever ask for in a baseball game.

The night started with Pedro Martinez on the mound for Boston and rookie Brad Halsey pitching for the Yanks. When ever Pedro was on the mound facing the Yanks you knew there would be heat coming from his arm and from the fans in the stand who hated him. This game would be no different. In the first inning Martinez would hit Gary Sheffield with a pitch after Sheff stepped out of the box calling for time while Pedro was in his whined up. Sheffield would yell at Pedro on his way to first base after getting plunked as Pedro stood there looking at him.

The Yanks would get on the board first behind a long two run home run by Tony Clark in the bottom of the second. Jorge Posada would also add to the lead in the fifth inning when he hit a solo shot off Martinez to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead. The Red Sox would get back into the game with a two run home run by Yankee killer Manny Ramirez cutting the lead to one. The Sox would tie the game in the seventh when a run scored on a double play ball. The score would remain the same until the 13th inning.

The Bombers had there chance in the bottom of the 9th inning when they had the bases loaded with one out and could not get anyone across. This would be a trend for the next few innings, in the 10th the Yankees had two runners on that they were never able to score the go ahead run. In the 12th inning once again the Yankees had the bases loaded again with one out, and could not score a single run.

The game was already a memorable game game would soon become a classic. With runners on second and third  for the Red Sox with 2 outs in the 12 inning Derek Jeter would show why he is a winner. Trot Nixon came to bat and hit a pop up behind third/ short left field. Jeter running full speed made the catch , took a step and with his momentum went flying into the stands. As his teammates and trainers rushed toward him, Jeter appeared from the stands bloody and bruised, but was able to walk off the field on his own. With Jeter batting second in the bottom of the inning, manager Joe Torre pinch hit for him with Jason Giambi. 

With Jeter out of the game in the top of the 13th, Alex Rodriguez would have to play shortstop and Gary Sheffield would be forced to play third base, a position he hadn't played since 1993. Manny Ramirez would once again smash another home run, this time against Tanyon Sturtze to give the Bosox there first lead of the game.

The Yanks had there last chance in  the bottom of the 13th inning, Posada and Clark made two quick outs before Ruben Sierra singled. Miguel Cario who came into the game in the top of the 10th and had already hit a triple would tie the game for the Yankees with a two out double that scored Sierra. Earlier in the game, Bernie Williams had been the DH but following Jeter leaving the game was forced to play the field, causing the Yanks to lose the DH. Tanyon Sturtze was due up but Torre went to his bench and called upon current Yes Network broadcaster John Flaherty. Flaherty hit a deep fly ball to left field that would score Cairo from second base and give the Yankees unbelievable win.

The Yankees would have an 8 1/2 game lead over Boston and never looked back. During this game every single bench player was used on both teams except Nomar Garciaparra. Garciaparra claimed to have had an ankle injury and could not play, instead he sat on the bench while all of his teammates stood on the top step of the dugout. Nomar not playing looked even worse when Derek Jeter, dove into the stands to make an incredible play. Jeter showed how no matter the situation he would do anything to win, including risking his body, while Garciaparra was afraid of injury.

This game can still be watched on Yankee Classics on the YES Network. Even if you are someone who doesn't like to watch old games this is a must watch, and cant even be described to its fullest in a post. I think that Michael Kay said it the best following the game winning hit by Flaherty "This is one of the greatest games you will ever see."

How is Yankees - Dodgers a rivalry?

While watching the Yanks-Dodgers Friday night , Michael Kay said something that left me scratching my head (seems like i say that alot with him). Kay mentioned how the Yanks and Dodgers are rivals. I understand with Joe Torre and Don Mattigly both being Yankee royalty once and now wear the Dodgers blue that some may feel this is a rivalry. There are two sides to every story and there are two sides to every rivalry, so lets break it down on why it should and should not be considered a rivalry.







Reasons why it is a rivalry

• 
  The pair of teams have faced off in 66 games in the World Series. The Yankees hold the lead 37-29.






• The rivalry began in Brooklyn before the Mets were around, this was the real subway series.






• In 1955 the Dodgers finally beat the Yankees in seven games. One of the more famous plays from that series is Jackie Robinson stealing home. Yogi Berra to this day claims that Robinson was out.






• The Yanks and Dodgers were two of the best teams during the late 70's. They faced off against each other in the World Series in 1977 and 1978. The Yankees would win both meeting.






• The Dodgers got there revenge on the Yanks in the 1981 World Series winning the series 4-2.






• The final reason and the most recent is Joe Torre agreed to become the Dodgers manager ,signing a three year deal. Once Torre left the Yankees he brought coaches Don Mattingly and Larry Bowa with him.

Reasons why it is not a rivalry

• The Dodgers are no longer in Brooklyn, what was once the original subway series now does not matter since the Mets are the Yankees city rivals.






• They only play each other once every few seasons during interleague play. At one point the teams did not face each other from the 1981 World Series till 2004.






• The last time they played each other in the post season was 1981.






• The younger Yankees and Dodgers fans have not seen them play against each other and have never experienced the rivalry.

With all that being said I feel that this was at one time a great rivalry. But that's if you lived to see them play each other when the Dodgers were in Brooklyn. During that time it was a match up between borough and even during the late 70's many of the fans could still remember the Dodgers,Brooklyn roots. But when the teams don't face each other in the post season in 29 years and have only faced each other in two regular season series since then it can't be called a rivalry anymore.