Monday, March 31, 2008

Rainy Days and Mondays.. Always Get Me Down

By: Miss October

I've just returned from my first trip to the Bronx this year, but unfortunately can't report about opening day -- the final one in the current Yankee Stadium. After sitting in the damp, misty, cold weather for about three hours today, the Yankees decided to postpone the game. They kept referencing their 'weather authorities', who at first said things would clear up by 2:30 p.m., but later retratcted that announcement while the Yankee execs "evaluated their options." Gotta love those reliable weather people!!

Tomorrow is also supposed to be miserable during the day, so the game will start at 7 p.m. We decided to sell the tickets since my friend can't make it on Tuesday nights, and going into NYC for a night game during the week is a pain in the neck....

But it's mostly because I have no desire to sit there in the wet, miserable weather two days in a row... I can watch it in the comfort of my own home instead. The least they could have done was announce all the Yankee players... I would have been happy with that!

The few highlights were...

  • Seeing new manager Joe Girardi walk the field with Brian Cashman to evaluate the conditions. Girardi even stopped to sign an autograph on his way back to the dugout.
  • Watching some of the Blue Jays warm up right near our section. They received great applause for taking the field.. and one player even playfully tipped his cap. Another player started throwing balls in the stands... even one up into the upper deck
  • Seeing Michael Kay do a live interview with Paul O'Neill on the scoreboard
  • Watching a 'best of Yankee Stadium' video montage - I'm guessing they will be playing that clip a lot this year
  • The new Yankee Stadium construction -- it's amazing how much progress they have made since last fall -- when all that was there was wooden beams. Now it actually resembles a stadium on the outside. I'm sure the production schedule is pretty agressive from now until the All Star Game... so they can show it off to the world.

I'm going to get all nostalgic like my Dad, who believes the Yankees will win the World Series this year, because all of the Yankee legends -- Ruth, DiMaggio, Mantle, Maris -- will all be "playing" in games this year... having their last hurrah....

Maybe they're the ones causing all the rain -- as they shed tears for the final baseball season that will be played in the place they once called home... Yankee Stadium... the House that Ruth built.

Three Stooges

by: Mr. November

In the 3rd and 4th innings of last night's Nationals/Braves game, ESPN added an extra a-hole to their usual broadcasting team of Joe Morgan and John Miller. They all got to make some mistakes:

Joe Morgan called Dmitiri Young "Delmon" in an interview with Manny Acta

John Miller...well, he's just John Miller.

And the third "guest broadcaster" marched a country into a 5-year war under false pretenses. Oh, and he also traded Sammy Sosa.

Monday, March 24, 2008

2008 Predictions

by Mr. November

I love DJ as much as the next guy, but it's time to move that pic a bit lower down on the site.

Here are my predictions for the 2008 baseball season.

AL East
1 Yankees
2 Red Sox
3 Rays
4 Blue Jays
5 Orioles

AL Central
1 Tigers
2 Indians
3 White Sox
4 Royals
5 Twins

AL West
1 Mariners
2 Angels
3 A's
4 Rangers

Very tempted to pick the Yankees to miss the playoffs this year, but I can't really do that, can I? I say they catch lightning in a bottle with the young arms and take the division. Wild card goes to the Red Sox.

NL East
1 Mets
2 Phillies
3 Braves
4 Marlins
5 Nationals

NL Central
1 Cubs
2 Brewers
3 Cardinals
4 Reds
5 Astros
6 Pirates

NL West
1 Padres
2 Rockies
3 Diamondbacks
4 Dodgers
5 Giants

Johan Santana wins 23 games for the Mets in the East, but Mr. Torre isn't enough to get the pitching-less Dodgers over the hump out West. Brewers take the wild card.

AL Champ - Yanks
NL Champ - Cubs
World Champs - Cubs (100 years of heartbreak down the drain for Cubbies fans)

AL MVP - A-Rod
NL MVP - Prince Fielder
AL Cy Young - Erik Bedard
NL Cy Young - Johan Santana

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Introducing Women's Health Magazine's 'Hottie of the Month'

Posted by: Miss October

Derek Jeter is profiled in the April issue of Women's Health Magazine as their "Hottie of the Month". (Read the article).

Although Mr. November is probably correct in saying that about 10 publicists helped him craft the responses, you still gotta find them entertaining.... One of the most amusing:

Q: What's the one thing about men that you think women need to know?
A: How difficult it is for a man to approach a woman! Everyone fears rejection.

To use one of Michael Kay's over-used expressions... Are you kidding me? Do believe for one second that Derek Jeter fears rejection? Just read the beginning of the story that lists Jeter's former flames... which some people have called "sickening."

Whenever my Dad sees Jeter laughing on TV.. he always makes a comment -- of course he's laughing ! Look at all the money he makes and the life he leads!" I guess I can't really argue.

What I will say is that the " independent, intelligent, driven, and happy" woman he is looking for is of course writing this blog... she also loves American Idol and watching DVDs... look for her in section 22, seat 2 (note all the number 2's... !) on Opening Day.... and several Sundays throughout the season ... :)


Wednesday, March 05, 2008

What $16,000 Can Buy....

Posted by: Miss October

Just like my two sisters and I ... my mom is also in-tune with all the Yankee happenings. She left me a message Tuesday morning to alert me of the following...

"I heard on the news that people are selling their tickets for the final home game at Yankee Stadium on StubHub for $16,000.... if you and Jason sell your tickets, you might be able to pay for a package for the next 10 years!"

The final REGULAR SEASON home game in the current Yankee Stadium is scheduled for Sunday, September 21. I've had a Sunday season ticket package with a friend from college since 2002 -- so, that means this game is included. I may be away for business that weekend -- but there IS a 7 a.m. flight home Sunday morning if I decide to go to the game --I've already checked ! However, part of me is being a bit greedy and wondering how much we could sell our tickets for (Note, they are on the first level, down the left field line, in between third base and left field -- pretty nice seats, if you ask me. I still can't believe it's the last year I will sit in them... sniff... sniff.)

Honestly, if the Yankees make the playoffs -- which I'm assuming they will -- this game will not be the last one played in the Stadium anyway, so what is the big deal?

Regardless, it made me think about what might have to be included in order for me to pay $16,000 for a ticket for one game.... off the top of my head...

1) Watching the game from the dugout -- on Derek Jeter's lap
2) Being the team masseuse for a day
3) Singing a duet with Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen, kareoke style (preferably his Motley Crue 'Shout at the Devil' theme song.)
4) Playing Sony PlayStation with some of the other young Yankee pitchers (Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy)
5)Going clothes shopping with Arod
5)Helping Mike Mussina with a crossword puzzle
6)Getting a forearm smash from Shelley Duncan
7)Getting dance lessons from Johnny Damon (he once showed off his best 'robot' dance on ESPN!)
8)Learning Japanese from Hideki Matsui
9)Studying the Bible with Andy Pettitte... Well... maybe I would skip that one....
10) Riding on the back of Jason Giambi's motorcycle