It's Opening Day for the final time at this Yankee Stadium. As I walked from the subway to the stadium, I heard a man say, to nobody in particular: "It's Opening Day in the neighborhood. Life is good."
I was excited to see the new stadium going up. I hadn't seen it in months, and a lot's been done since then of course. It's going to be a very impressive place, from all I've heard and from what I can see. The only thing I didn't like seeing (though I'd already heard about it) is that the park next to the Stadium is no longer there. I believe they're going to build a parking garage there. I used to love walking up to the Stadium in the afternoon before a night game or on my way home in the evening after a day game, and seeing kids playing baseball and basketball.
Please share any favorite memories of past Opening Days or favorite memories of Yankee Stadium, since this is the last one here.
Lineup for the Yankees
Johnny Damon LF
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jason Giambi 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Hideki Matsui DH
Melky Cabrera CF
Chien-Ming Wang P
Back later with updates and season predictions.
Comments (14)
Hopefully we will win opening day and carry that into the first week and month.
We lost the division in the first 6 weeks last year, because of the reliance on Pavano and Igawa by Cashman. (Lilly begged to come back, we should have taken his 15 wins for 10 million, easy!) Even so, would we have won in the playoffs? Probably not. The Indians almost too the Red Sox to the house ...
In Ken Davidoff's column he quoted Cashman as saying
"someone will rock my house" if they don't win ... but they will probably make the playoffs.
Looking around the league ...
Willis will help Detroit but he is a good hitter and should have stayed in the NL, so he could bat and face weaker lineups. Detroit will rival the Red Sox as the best team, especially if their pitching can hold up. Who knows? Didn't we rock Verlander in Spring Training like he was Chase Wright?
The Red Sox will be good. Indians. Angels -- always a thorn!
At lot to me depends on Tampa Bay and Toronto ... they will be good this season, or at least they have a lot of talent and they may play us tough.
AJ, Halladay, Marcum, McGowan ... that's the best four in baseball to me, stuff wise ...
Anyway, it should be a fun season. Highest equity and highest payroll for 8 straight years should mean a World Series championship ... somewhere along the line. If not this year, maybe next year or the year after. Clearly our dynasty is long, long over ... but it's been a very good run ... and maybe a new dynasty is starting up?
The post season is all that matters. Vs. the Angels twice, Detroit and Cleveland, added to that the Red Sox collapse, we have not been hungry ...
That has to change ...
Hard to put your finger on it. In 2002 Posada said the team "was not hungry."
i figure I let you all know whats going on since I am in and out of the current staduim today.
I spoke with Bobby abreau as he pulled in in his cadillac suv , told him a strong start is desired this year , said whats up to Jeter as he walked in . Spoke with several newscasters as they parked in what we call the "gravel knowl "the Buzz is alive and well in throughout the area.
kat ....
as for the park that used to be there , true there will be a parking garage BUT the park will be rebuilt ON TOP OF THE GARAGE so you will still have your park .. .enjoy
Yankees opening day - Rangers vs. Pens tonight - day off from work - case of beer - a good day indeed!
Lucky you, Miguel!
I've got obligations I can't get out of this afternoon, so I will be avoiding this place and any other access to game news until this evening when YES will do their usual replay and I will watch it as if it were live.
BB,
I know it's really Opening Day -- the Bomber is back... ;-)
Nothing like opening day. Its good to be back.
Did anyone else wake up this morning to rain and think, "Mother F-er, this isn't right. Not on the last opening day for Yankee Stadium. She deserves better than this."? That is my emotion. I'm with you Miguel. Opening Day and Rangers/Pens, what a great day. In fact, a great week: Opening Day today (on TV, but still), then the AA vs AAA exhibition tomorrow (anyone going and want to meet up? There is a bar across the parking lot from the field called Cat Man Do), going to the games on Wednesday and Thursday (Hughes on Thursday, I'll be there as early as possible...Kat, when's the earliest they'll let me in for a night game?), and my birthday celebrations on Friday and Saturday (I turn 24 on Saturday). I've done the Yankee Stadium Tour in the past, but I feel like I have to do it again this year. It seems like the right thing to do.
For those of you that missed it, I wrote a pretty lengthy write-up about my spring training experience last week and the naming of George M. Steinbrenner Field. I think it was on the Joe Girardi back in Miami thread. Let me know if you're interested and can't find it.
HYD's write-up was a fun read, check it out if you missed it. Between him and Jim A. we got great reports from our own about ST.
But HYD, I missed the photo link if you put one up... maybe you could re-post it?
Let this be a great season with a championship!
HAPPY OPENING DAY EVERYONE
Pics haven't been posted yet Di. I plan to post after I get pics from the exhibition game tomorrow night.
For those who were recently nearing cardiac arrest over NYY ticket price increases, did you know that average ticket price for the Stadium will still be 12 bucks less than the average ticket price for Fenway?
And no, NYY isn't even second in average ticket price -- I think that honor goes to the Cubs...
PLAY BALL!!!!
Oops, not yet. The forecast doesnt look good. Weather.com is calling for rain until 9PM. I guess thats why MLB schedules an off day for most teams tomorrow, we could be looking at a rain out.
Ill be at the game on Wednesday ( DAMN IT, WISH IT WAS PHIL PITCHING INSTEAD OF MOOSE) .HYD, we gotta meet up!!! Lets talk about it on the Yahoo fantasy page.
HYD, I believe 5 p.m.