It began with a wonderful commute via the NY Transit Subway system. Which, from what I heard about driving there, actually didn't seem so bad despite the constant smell of urine/feces and bombardment of drunk frat guys from New Jersey. Took the F train up to West 4th, then transfered to the D(we'll discuss this more later). When I walked out of the subway, I took a peak over to Macombs Dam Park, where we now see the new stadium going up. It's kinda weird I have to say. 
Anyhows, after the almost 1/2 hour it took us to get to our seats, we finally sat down just as the players finished warming up and the first pitch was about to be tossed by Carl Pavano, aka Carla, aka Mr. Glass Ass, aka the Rajah of Rehab. He tossed it, without getting hurt too, and didn't pitch so bad, considering his teammates behind him seemed to be fielding with frying pans instead of gloves. But, alas, it's opening day and we begin the most wonderful six months of sports. Here are my seven things i think i think about opening day:
1. We arrived just in time for the first pitch, so we didn't see line-ups and players announced.
So, maybe that's why I didn't notice it until later in the game when Jeter was announced to bat, but Bob Sheppard apparently left halfway through the game. It's pretty strange not hearing Sheppard announce the players coming up to bat, or coming into pitch. "Now batting for the Yankees, Number Two, Derek Jeter". Doesn't sound quite right unless good ole Bob is doing it. Be a sad, sad day when he's not able to do it anymore. Really glad to see Bobby Murcer in the booth and get a huge ovation from the crowd, plus Johnny Damon and Jorge coming out onto the steps in the dugout and pointing up towards him, egging on the crowd. Good to see him doing well, after his brain-cancer battle this winter. Very, very nice tribute to Cory Lidle before the game, and his widow and son throwing out the first pitch. Very strange for a guy that was a career journeyman and only played for the Yanks for two months. But he died as a Yankee, and was honored like one. Pretty classy if you ask me. 2. A beer cost, $8.50. Yes, you read that correctly. A 16 ounce Miller Lite, MGD, Budweiser, or Bud Light costs more than a decent bottle of wine. A beer also costs more than, a six pack of any of those beers. In fact, in some places of the country, it probably costs more than two six packs of each of those beers. A hot dog, costs a whopping, $5.00.
More than the subway ride, to and from the stadium. Yes, for the price of one hot dog, you can purchase about a dozen at the grocery store. Or, think of this. If you got to 15 games, and eat 3 hot dogs per game, as does your spouse, buddy, whomever you take the to the game, and you throw in one beer each per game. You'd have enough to buy your own hot dog cart. Crazy huh! Hopefully, we won't have to sign a new 1st baseman this year. I don't want to have to take out a new mortgage to pay for concessions at the game. At least it's not Fenway. The most expensive park in all of MLB. You need two mortgages to pay for stuff there. 3. Who is the person that decides what music gets played while the players are coming up to bat. REALLY? Giambi comes up to Linkin Park. Jeter comes up to Jay-Z, as always. Jorge Posada, to some salsa or latin pop-hit. Damon comes on to some undeciperable rock band.
Mariano Rivera comes on to Enter Sandman by Metallica when he closes games. I'm thinking, there's gotta be someone who decides this stuff. Is it the player themselves? The player's agent? Who? Can I get some help here? The Mets' goldenboy has the Wright idea. Let the fans decide. If the bombers are looking for someone to occupy this role, I know someone who has a great background in music and loves them some Yanks. Of course, I'd keep the "It takes two" by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock when they turn the double-play. That's always a hot one! I guess it's better than the . Allman Brothers4. What the hell was up with Minky and A-Rod both having the high socks look? Crazy Kyle Farnsworth too! And maybe even big Brian Bruney too. Not that I hate it, I actually love the old school high socks look. I had read a lot about A-Rod and Minky being best buds in high school and training together in the off-season, but come on. What's really going on here?
While we're at it, what's up with Johnny Damon looking a little stockier? I know he said in spring training, chicks like it when you look good with your shirt off, but Johnny, I think they meant muscles. Damon looks like he swallowed Pedro's lucky midget. And don't ever get me started on the baggy pants look. Seriously! This is baseball, not night at the thug-life mansion. Manny Ramirez, I am blaming that look on you. I guess no one remembers the eighties and guys like this. 5. What is up with the Dunkin Donuts Subway Line Challenge?
Everyone that actually takes the subway, knows the three trains competing, can't seriously be expected to compete, when one of them doesn't even go all the way up to 161 Street/River Ave. The B train actually stops at 125th, and you have to get off and wait for an already packed D train to get up to the stadium! The 4 train, an unmitigated disaster in itself, since it's the nicest of the actual trains, with all new cars on the line. Never mind the fact that it runs local for a small part of it's route, but it occasionally, doesn't even run on the weekends. So, in conclusion, how does a train that mostly runs express all the way from West 4th to the Bronx, not win this silly challenge every time. Ugh, there's probably nothing in that whole stadium, except the inexcusable bathroom and atm lines that drives me more crazy. Nothing!!! Ugh! Now, here is a real subway challenge, and here is a nice article on the subway's history throughout the various incarnations of Yankee Stadium 6. I'm not sure if I really like this 2 first basemen, one outfielder, and one futility infielder bench. As Damon left the game with tight calves on Monday, Melky Cabrera went in to replace him. Leaving only the Miguel Cairo disaster as our only possible outfield option should something happen. I've read a few different places, that the plan for Melky is to spell the three outfielders whenever possible, and have Giambi try to play first one a week or so. Which means one of the 3 outfielders getting his cuts as a DH.
Now, with all the egos and limited number of at bats. What are we to do if Melky continues his hitting woes and say one of the outfielders lands on the DL. If I remember correctly, Melky wasn't hitting that well in Spring Training either. Considering when Damon gets back, Melky could get only 10 at bats a week. Who picks up the Yanks? Not like we have an extra outfielder, or even a decent 2nd option. My thinking is, carrying Minky, Josh Phelps and Jason Giambi, is really, really going to hurt this team at some point. 7. While the New York Yankees came from behind to beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, I wondered, how many more times am I really going to be coming to this stadium and experiencing, what to this point, has always been one of my favorite things to do in this world. Now bear with me for a moment.
I attended my first game back in the mid 80's. A double-header with the Seattle Mariners. I barely remember it, aside from seeing lots and lots of green grass, the gross Mariner uniforms, some of my favorite players, Mattingly, Winfield, Randolph, Pags. I even got a coffee mug with a team picture on it, that I had up until the early 90's. I've shared numerous memories, not only with those 50,000 plus fans, countless teams and players, but with my family and friends. I've attended probably about 200 games in the last 20+ years. From the first with my father and brother, to many with both and my mom. To a bunch with friends, including the very first Yankees/Mets game, which we cut school for and I drove too. My first drive into the Bronx. To now with my girlfriend and good friends who are married. It's sorta strange thinking, that despite all the wonderful new accommodations and endless bathrooms, atms, and vendor locations, something will be missing. I thought about it some more. And if you think about it, there are a lot of changes going on around the Yankee way of life. And somehow, i wonder, is this going to change my life. 
I mean, just to think about it, I won't be able to take my son or daughter and tell them about the countless games I went to with my father. I won't be able to show the spot where Jeter dove into the stands to make that catch in that Oakland playoff series. I won't be able to show where I was sitting when I was seven years old and Rickey Henderson gave me the finger. It'll be really weird someday sitting in a new stadium. Really weird. Listening Pile:
Ash's fifth full-length album, Twilight Of The Innocents, is due in stores next week, April 10th. Tim Wheeler and the now trio, sans guitarist Charlotte Hatherly, recorded their new album here in NYC in their very studio and produced the sessions all on their own. That's the way to do it boys. It was kinda strange seeing those dudes around here all the time. Tim takes a moment and talks about the upcoming tour dates, the album release, b-sides, being big in Japan(who isn't these days) and taking on Razorlight, head to head.
You can peep a few of the songs on their Myspace page. Scroll down and you can check out the video for lead single, "You Can Have It All", as well. Man, didn't Mariah Carey do a video there too? The one where she's roller skating all around. You know, before she went all crazy Mimi on everyone. Not sure how many Star Wars references there will be on this album, but "Princess Six" is looking pretty suspicious.
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