Bronx, N.Y., May 14, 2002 — “The boys are back in town,” Thin Lizzy blared over the Stadium loudspeakers at 7:00 pm as I struggled to make it to my seat for first pitch, and I found myself thinking that here was another Stadium tradition, I’m sure, that until now I have let wash over me without realizing it as I stare around the big ballpark in awe trying to drink it all in. I was certainly aware that “Welcome to the Jungle” is often played as the visiting (and home) players start their on-field warmups, and that the Evil Empire music from Star Wars accompanies the announcer calling out the opponents’ starting lineup. And the only way I know that our beloved Paul must have been present is that “Baba O’Reilly” followed “The Boys…,” but I’ll be listening for Thin Lizzy at the beginning of homestands from this day forward. Continue reading
Waiting Will Fulfill
Bronx, N.Y., May 2, 2002 — Those words from the classic Heinlein novel, “Stranger in a Strange Land,” come to mind as I try to sum up tonight’s in-Stadium game experience. A game I fully expected would not be played Thursday morning, I will admit that I felt some dread and trepidation on boarding the 5:36 Bronx-bound train as the weather forecast gave an ominous report, including a “tornado watch” for the whole area. Continue reading
I Won’t Be Fooled Again
Bronx, N.Y., April 21, 2002 — Today, Roger Clemens’s performance was stellar and the crowd’s reaction to him was warm and accepting as he defeated a team representing an American League city about as far from San Jacinto as possible. From where you ask? Well, you see, 166 years ago today, an army of Texans led by Sam Houston vanquished the Mexican Army at San Jacinto, thereby assuring Texan independence. Three years ago, newly acquired Yankee (and son of Texas) Roger Clemens tied an AL record with his 17th consecutive victorious decision by beating the Texas (hmmm!) Rangers in the Bronx, 4-2. Continue reading
The Ministry of Silly Walks
Tampa, Fla., March 10 — It’s our last day here, and my reverie unavoidably latched onto the week that has been, and to the tasks that await me up north. Perhaps my mind drifted that way due to the display of emotion I was witnessing in center field before the Yankees/Red Sox tilt, as warming-up Red Sox players like ex-Yankees Michael Coleman and Rey Sanchez, along with Manny Ramirez, shook hands and even embraced with Yanks Ruben Rivera, Erick Almonte, Juan Rivera and (eventually) Derek Jeter. (Nomar, to his credit, had cut his stretches short and was signing autographs.) Then the mood was broken by a unique sight as the ageless Rickey Henderson showed off his new warmup routine, pogo-sticking his way across the outfield as he would lift his right knee very high and sort of hop, dragging along his left. Both el duque and John Cleese would have been jealous.
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Hip, Hip, Jorge!
TAMPA, Fla., March 9 — I’m sure George will have trouble taking this, the second loss to Tampa Bay in three days, and this one before a packed Legends Field crowd on what I’ve decided was one of Tampa’s 10 most beautiful days of the year. We’ve scored two runs on seven hits in two days and in the process made the likes of Sean Lowe, Josh Fogg, Tanyon Sturtze and former Mets prospect Paul Wilson look like Cy Young candidates.
This Day: a ‘Clear’ Winner
Clearwater, Fla., March 8 — First, it is vacation after all, and Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater is 10 minutes from our Gulf-front headquarters, rather than the 25-30 minutes to Legends Field, not to mention the one hour to McKechnie Field in Bradenton where the boys were playing today. Second, we had just picked up our nephew from Philly at the airport, and although he has rooted on the Yanks with us many a time, how could we keep him from watching his hometown heroes in Clearwater at least one of his three days? (If you can’t relate to a boy — or girl — and their hometown heroes, you may be a great fan, but not one like me.) And last, the opportunity to see ex-Yank Ricky Ledee in his new environment was too much to resist.
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Brandon Yin and Yang
St. Petersburg, Fla., March 7 — The anticipated showers unfortunately did develop, but we enjoyed our day at Al Lang Stadium (for us, the non-Yankee Jewel in the Florida Baseball Crown) anyway, largely based on the exploits of Brandon number one, the lefty Brandon Claussen. The Rocket started and he was good, but the pesky Rays were taking his hard stuff the other way enough to scratch out single runs in all three of his innngs. (FYI, the Rays dealt Roger two of his three 2001 losses, and they would have won a third if not for a late Luis Sojo miracle double that preserved Clemens’s drive to 20-1.)
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Monuments at Legends Field
TAMPA, Fla., March 6 — Fun in the sun was today’s plan, and I don’t want to mislead you into thinking we didn’t execute that plan. But the Tiki Bar and the pool came after accomplishing the legwork required for presenting you with what I consider a Treat (with a capital “T”) on the one hand, and a mystery on the other. Pictured on the right is the Yanks’ Tampa version of Monument Park in 15 photos.
Luis XIII
Lakeland, Fla., March 5 — As Shane Spencer grounded out to third on a crisp, clear evening, the losing streak had grown to four, neither of today’s starters had been particularly effective (and Sterling Hitchcock’s first inning was truly dreadful), I was fearful of catching a nasty cold, my star first baseman had re-tweaked his hammy and our shortstop was out for five days with a stiff neck. So what else to write about other than a string of glaring positives?
Welcome to the GAP
Tampa, Fla., March 4 — “Tampa — 52 degrees, New York — 27 degrees” the Legends Field scoreboard proudly proclaimed during today’s second inning, but with the wind I bet you it was a lot closer than doing the math might lead you to believe. But I am here, I’m watching Yankee Baseball, so shame on me. (“Ah-choo!!”) But, as the home page photo showed, we are certainly in good (left) hands with Boomer (23 pitches in two innings — only seven [all strikes] in the first), Jason (a booming second-inning double) and Robin (the two-out single to deliver him).