Random Thoughts from the early part of the season
During the season, different thoughts race through Carl’s head and he stores them away, never really knowing when he may use them. Two weeks, has been just enough time to make a few value judgments about some players and ponder a few things here at the start of the season.
Away we go!
Nick Swisher is making an early case for my "New Favorite Player Award" moniker.
What is not to like about this guy? He's crazy, and in actuality should score him some bonus points on the scale. He brings energy to the clubhouse and here is some breaking news...he can hit!
Four homeruns and 12 RBI's this early will ingratiate you faster than anything. It appears that he read the manual that the other big players seem to ignore upon coming here.
AJ Burnett is quickly becoming "My Guy". This man is nails. I am now excited each time his turn comes up in the rotation.
Of course, a 2-0 record and great ERA will also gain favor with me, but his performances in Baltimore and Tampa to stop two game losing streaks was money.
On a Tuesday night in Tampa has un-hittable for nearly eight innings. When he was on the ropes in the seventh after the no-hit the Rays for the first six, he could have wilted under the emotion. Instead, he kept his cool, got out of the inning and after the Yankees took the lead in to top of the eighth, set their lineup down 1-2-3 in the bottom half.
Impressive.
Derek Jeter never amazes me. He is unbelievable. Even at his age, he still has his power swing to right and right-center field.
That flair for dramatic is still there with him. On Tuesday, he sealed the win over the Rays with a three-run homer. On Friday afternoon, he hits the go-ahead blast with two out in the bottom of the eighth to give the Yanks an eventual comeback win.
Jeterrific!
Patience us a virtue and Robinson Cano is showing a lot and it has impact on his play has produced immense dividends.
Consider that last season; it took Cano 84 plate appearances to draw his first walk. In 2007, it took 123. This season, he drew four walks in 17 at bats.
So much for me saying that he was "allergic to walking". If he keeps this up, I'll have to come up with another phrase.
It was interesting to see the difference in the crowds between the official home opener and the second game.
All of those seats in the premium areas that were filled up the first day were only about 70 percent full the next. Hey, you figure that if you were spending $2,625 for a ticket that you would find a way to get out of work to make it for the 1:05 start.
A shrimp cocktail cost $16.75 at the Stadium.
They even sell T-Bone steaks! How am I going to enjoy a game and take down one of those? Looking at the menu, it’s going to run me $54.75 for that bad boy. Do I get fries and soda with that?
I’m already planning for my first trip there in terms of food:
Nathan’s Hot Dog ($6.75), Garlic Fries (price not known), Kansas City Ribs ($10.75), Shrimp cocktail ($16.75).
That’s damn near $40 on food before I purchase the $10 beer. Looks like I’ll be making that trip to the bodega before the game.
But look on the Brightside, beer is now officially sold in the bleachers.
Whew!
Think about this for a second: Let’s say you wanted to purchase season tickets (and there are plenty of good seats available if you go to Yankees.com) and had a few dollars to spend (in this economy, pat yourself on the back), here is what you would be on the hook for.
Those Legends seats that you see empty in blocks when you’re watching the game on YES can be had for this total when you break it down:
2 tickets multiplied by $2,625 = $5,250
$5,250 multiplied by 81 games = $425,250
During the season, different thoughts race through Carl’s head and he stores them away, never really knowing when he may use them. Two weeks, has been just enough time to make a few value judgments about some players and ponder a few things here at the start of the season.
Away we go!
Nick Swisher is making an early case for my "New Favorite Player Award" moniker.
What is not to like about this guy? He's crazy, and in actuality should score him some bonus points on the scale. He brings energy to the clubhouse and here is some breaking news...he can hit!
Four homeruns and 12 RBI's this early will ingratiate you faster than anything. It appears that he read the manual that the other big players seem to ignore upon coming here.
AJ Burnett is quickly becoming "My Guy". This man is nails. I am now excited each time his turn comes up in the rotation.
Of course, a 2-0 record and great ERA will also gain favor with me, but his performances in Baltimore and Tampa to stop two game losing streaks was money.
On a Tuesday night in Tampa has un-hittable for nearly eight innings. When he was on the ropes in the seventh after the no-hit the Rays for the first six, he could have wilted under the emotion. Instead, he kept his cool, got out of the inning and after the Yankees took the lead in to top of the eighth, set their lineup down 1-2-3 in the bottom half.
Impressive.
Derek Jeter never amazes me. He is unbelievable. Even at his age, he still has his power swing to right and right-center field.
That flair for dramatic is still there with him. On Tuesday, he sealed the win over the Rays with a three-run homer. On Friday afternoon, he hits the go-ahead blast with two out in the bottom of the eighth to give the Yanks an eventual comeback win.
Jeterrific!
Patience us a virtue and Robinson Cano is showing a lot and it has impact on his play has produced immense dividends.
Consider that last season; it took Cano 84 plate appearances to draw his first walk. In 2007, it took 123. This season, he drew four walks in 17 at bats.
So much for me saying that he was "allergic to walking". If he keeps this up, I'll have to come up with another phrase.
It was interesting to see the difference in the crowds between the official home opener and the second game.
All of those seats in the premium areas that were filled up the first day were only about 70 percent full the next. Hey, you figure that if you were spending $2,625 for a ticket that you would find a way to get out of work to make it for the 1:05 start.
A shrimp cocktail cost $16.75 at the Stadium.
They even sell T-Bone steaks! How am I going to enjoy a game and take down one of those? Looking at the menu, it’s going to run me $54.75 for that bad boy. Do I get fries and soda with that?
I’m already planning for my first trip there in terms of food:
Nathan’s Hot Dog ($6.75), Garlic Fries (price not known), Kansas City Ribs ($10.75), Shrimp cocktail ($16.75).
That’s damn near $40 on food before I purchase the $10 beer. Looks like I’ll be making that trip to the bodega before the game.
But look on the Brightside, beer is now officially sold in the bleachers.
Whew!
Think about this for a second: Let’s say you wanted to purchase season tickets (and there are plenty of good seats available if you go to Yankees.com) and had a few dollars to spend (in this economy, pat yourself on the back), here is what you would be on the hook for.
Those Legends seats that you see empty in blocks when you’re watching the game on YES can be had for this total when you break it down:
2 tickets multiplied by $2,625 = $5,250
$5,250 multiplied by 81 games = $425,250
Anyone have an extra 400 grand lying under the mattress?
I don’t.
So for the time being, I am going to be relegated to the bleachers, grandstand and when it is available and I can schedule it, a field box ticket. I’ll take a pass on the $350, $596, $900 and above tickets.
Besides, what am I getting for all that money? When you get your ass kicked 22-4 like they did against the Indians, it sure doesn’t seem like money well spent. Also, when it rains, you get no protection in those good seats.
I had better be getting free food and alcohol along a plasma TV, protection from the rain and a portable toilet. Only then would I feel somewhat comfortable.
Even then, I would still have to think about it.
As I wrote earlier (insert link here), I keep thinking about David Cone in 2000 when I watch Chien-Ming Wang mysterious struggle this season. It was as if he showed up one day and it was all gone. If Wang claims he is not hurt, than something is definitely up. Losing nearly five miles of one’s pitches do not happen just overnight in the middle of a person’s prime.
If he was on the downside of 30, then this would be a problem. Thank goodness, they are not pitching him at Fenway Park when they play the Red Sox.
That is NOT the place for “on the job” training and building back one’s confidence.
Welcome back Jorge Posada! Though you are not catching everyday against certain team (see: Tampa), having you back has been enjoyable. Also, you brought your hitting stroke as well.
Speaking of that stroke…thank goodness for the next short right field wall that puts the fans on top of the field instead of next to a fence and security guard. The ball hit by Posada against the Indians was going to go out even when the right fielder leaped to try to take away his potential homerun.
Now, I didn’t need to have what amounted to “AA” intervention with the umpires when it came to reviewing it. Eight minutes? Did we really need that long? If it is going to take that elongated amount of time, then cancel it now. The NFL takes two minutes and if they cannot make a decision, the call stands.
Simple, isn’t it?
Glad that Cody Ransom finally got a few hits under his belt. I didn’t know how he was going to manage hitting .150 for any prolonged period.
There is a such thing as being able to save runs with defense. You don’t believe me? Watch Mark Teixeira play first base and you cannot help but be amazed at his glove work. He made a play on Sunday against Cleveland when he snared a hard hit ball ticketed for right field and turned it into an easy out.
Jason Giambi can only dream of making that play.
I’m happy that Xavier Nady will be missing the season with the ligament tear in his elbow. I had already planned my trip when I see the Yankees play where I was going to hold up a sign in right field titled ‘X-MEN”.
If he really started hitting, this could be the team’s new marketing ploy that they could use to top the mustache thing they did last year for Giambi.
Sorry Hideki Matsui, your time is up as a Yankee. At the end of this season, turn in your uniform and hit the road.
Damaso Marte is making his case for my annual ‘I’m going to pick on THIS player” club. Previous members of this exclusive fraternity include Rondell White, Jeff Weaver, Felix Heredia, Tony Womack, Josh Phelps, and Carl Pavano.
I will still hold true that the Yankees will be 10 games over .500 by the time Alex Rodriguez returns to the team.
Hey, at least we will have a new book to discuss about him by then.
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