Today in The Journal News
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- September
- 22
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The Yankees won the last game at Yankee Stadium and there were touching moments before and after.
So who is Fran Ninivaggi? He’s the guy who literally turned the lights out at Yankee Stadium. Another great column by Sam Borden.
Bernie Williams made his long-delayed return to the Stadium. This notebook by Kevin Devaney Jr. also has updates from Hal Steinbrenner, the Babe’s daughter and Willie Randolph.
Derek Jeter didn’t get a hit but had another great night. Rick Carpiniello pens a column on the captain.
It was an emotional trip for those fans who walked around the field. Kevin has that story.
Andy Pettitte earned a victory he will also remember. Rick has that story, too.
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A few lingering thoughts:
* This didn’t occur to me until I heard a caller on WFAN mention it on the drive home: No mention of Joe Torre during the pre-game ceremonies? That’s awfully petty of the Yankees.
* Hal Steinbrenner held a press conference and spoke for his family. Two things: Whether you care for the man or not, it’s too bad George Steinbrenner was unable to attend. And enough already from Hank Steinbrenner, who apparently had something better to do than attend the game. His enablers in the media need to take Hank off their speed dials.
* The pre-game ceremony was pretty good. But having people portray Ruth, DiMaggio, Gehrig and the other old timers was a little, um, creepy. Those poor dudes stood in center field doing nothing for an hour.
* There’s supposed to be a “closing ceremony” in November. Just a thought, but wasn’t tonight pretty much perfect with how the game went, what Jeter said and the players walking around the field? At some point, it’s overkill. Save your money for a first baseman.
* I’ll admit it. I visited Monument Park one final time and had a photo taken next to Mickey Mantle’s monument. I scooped a little dirt from the first-base line and had a bunch of photos taken with some of my buddies who also cover the team. I got into this because I love baseball, after all. If closing Yankee Stadium isn’t worth a few mementos, what is?
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One final shameless plug: I’ll be doing a live video chat on LoHud.com later on today at 1 p.m. to talk about the final game at the Stadium and whatever other subjects you come up with.
This will be the link to use. I hope you’ll join in.
Don’t hold your breath for any other posts before then. I’ll be sleeping.
This entry was posted
on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 at 4:23 am by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
I don’t think there was mention of any managers who only managed (most notably Casey). Do you think they avoided that just to not mention Torre?
Casey was introduced (or at least an actor playing him was)
I thought the same thing about not involving Torre, it just felt weird. I don’t know why they couldn’t have had him and Mattingly pull the incredibly stupid countdown lever for the final game instead of Michael Kay. At least they got something right by allowing Jorge to participate in the pregame ceremony. Also, a moment of levity in the pregame ceremony when Matsui was introduced but had no idea where to run to on the field. On TV you could see Jeter ask him where he was going, Matsui shrug his shoulders and point to left. Funny stuff.
I also agree on Hank…I don’t want to hear another peep from him about this team if he couldn’t even get up here for the final game at the old girl.
Also I just wanted to comment that I thought Girardi handled the game very well. He got Andy and Jeter their ovations (which ESPN somehow screwed up by showing A-Rod when Jeter was taken out…apparently it was a shot at A-Rod, why else would they give a solo shot of him and nobody else?), Mo got to pitch the 9th and he got a bunch of the call-ups a chance to get in the game and be able to say that they played in the last game at the stadium.
Really cool keepsakes that you picked up, Pete. I only wish I coulda been there today to give the Stadium one final goodbye. I’m really excited to see the new one next year, but there’s gonna be something missing.
Before we bash Hank. Is it possible that he stayed home to watch with his father?
“Casey was introduced (or at least an actor playing him was)”
Sorry, I forgot about that. That part of the pregame was too awkward for me to watch.
It just occurred to me? Whatever Pete! Who you think you’re foolin’? There is no way you of all people were not paying extra close attention to see if Saint Joe got any mention. I was in the stadium and Torre as well as Mattingly had pre recorded messages that were shown on the big screen.
Just got back home…one of those nights that you take with you to your grave. Simply unreal. Some highlights:
Willie sliding into 2nd…awesome.
Ovation for Bernie was as loud as I’ve ever witnessed. Guy next to me was crying for Steinbrenner to give him a contract lol.
Atmosphere was electric, felt like a PS game no question.
Enter Sandman tonight was as good as life gets.
Yogi’s commercial was something special, had everyone choked up.
Not sure what ESPN showed or the specifics they picked up on but there WERE a lot of tears after the final out by people in our section at least.
Captain’s speech put me over the top…one of the greatest moments ever. Glad he has the final curtain call and AB in his house, definitely played very hurt today too, could see it in his swing.
I’ve been to 6 playoff games at the stadium and countless other great contests but this was the most emotional and the most satisfying in a way. Could not have given this unbelievable place the proper sendoff with another ALDS/ALCS exit so glad in that respect that there won’t be playoff games this year. What a night…god bless Yankee Stadium and the New York Yankees. The ghosts don’t need roadmaps to find their new home in April.
It was a great night, but as a fan in attendance, two things bugged me. First, spent the whole way in listening to Michael Kay and NO mention whatsoever that they were no longer allowing people on to the field or monument park well before the published deadlines. I showed up at the stadium 5 hours before the ceremonies were starting with my 73-year old dad and nothing whatsoever to do. Second, why in the world did the media (ie Suzyn Waldman) hype up the “end of the game surprise”? Could there have been plans for Torre/Mattingly or is it possible that the “you’ll kick yourself on Monday morning if you miss it” surprise was a victory lap around the field? And yeah, the actors in the disturbingly not white uniforms was a little embarrassing. Especially when they would wave to the crowd.
You know – people always look for the negative.
In the pre-game event shown on tv – I wasn’t lucky enough to attend the game – they didn’t mention any manager EXCEPT for the ones in Monument Park.
If you are upset that the Yankees didn’t honor Joe Torre, you have to be just as upset that they didn’t honor Ralph Houk, Bucky Harris, Buck Showalter, Dick Howser, etc…
I, for one, liked the idea of the actors. It was a way to try to have the Yankees from the past preside over the ceremony. Sure, it was different, but I thought it was a unique idea – sort of a Field of Dreams moment. (By the way, in that movie, those were also actors…)
I will agree that the post-game “celebration” that we had to stay awake for was all hype and not that great.
There should be a rule that when players take a victory lap, the camera people should not go with them. There were so many cameras, microphones, etc… that it took away from the payers making their lap for the fans.
I can imagine being at the stadium – “Look son, behind that guy in the coat with all that stuff in his pockets… I think, yes, it is Derek Jeter.”
That really wan’t worth staying up extra late to see.
Did they mentioned Miller Huggens or Joe McCarthy?
If they showed a video tribute from Torre and Mattingly then how did they dissed them guys? Aren’t those guys in the middle of a pennant race.
I don’t know if it was mentioned, but some guy by the name of Roger Clemens, doesn’t seem to have played for the Yankees…not that matters.
However, stayed up until after the post game show on YES. I would have say that ESPN did the game right. They brought Whitey, Yogi and Reggie up to the booth, they had Kay do play by play for an inning and most of all they didn’t go to commercial in between innings in the ninth, watching Mo enter one last time was pretty cool.
It was great game; I just wish that this were the way they played all year, with a lot pride, passion and a sense on urgency.
IMO, the new Yankee Stadium across the street will be just fine, because the fans will make it special
Pete,
Someone really needs to write the untold story of yesterday. Everything was NOT well planned and executed.
I bought tickets for 200 dollars, drove all the way down from Boston with 3 other other Yankee fans… got to the stadium at 1130am. We stood in line till they let us in around 130pm. Then we stood in the longest, most ridiculous line I have ever been in for the next 3 hours. All because we were told we would get to go on the field. At 4:15 when word made it back to us that the field was closed, we were easily still several thousand people away… and we were about the mid point. You said you saw people crying on the field… well, I saw people crying in line. A grandfather (75), his son, and his grandson. They drove all the way from upstate thinking, like I did, that they would get on the field. When it dawned on them they wouldn’t, the tears rained. I felt horrible for them, and they were not even close to the only people who felt that way.
I don’t know who, how or why that part of the day was so bungled… but it was a travesty.
After me and my party decided to jump out of line, once things looked hopeless, we discovered that the concession stands were woefully prepared. Most of the food and beverages weren’t going to arrive until 6ish or so. And when it did, it was mostly gone by the third inning. You couldn’t get a cold soda because there was no ice!!!
I gotta say. I really enjoyed the pre-game and the game – but this day left a sour taste in my mouth for sure… and I imagine I am only 1 of a few thousands who think that way. The Yanks bungled a lot of things on this day, and left a lot of angry and hurt fans. You didn’t notice because of your press creds.
holdstrong: re: concessions, you could have gone to another stand. I was down in the bleachers, which is notorious for running out of stuff, and I managed to find some sodas and food throughout the game.
I understand your frustration, but don’t let it cloud a great day.
Re: concessions. I was in the upper tier. I walked all the way around the upper (sort of re-tracing that nonsensical line we all waited in thinking we’d get on the field) to try to find ice. None. Went down a tier. None. Missed Damon’s HR… was furious so I didn’t go down to field level.
The beer vendors within 10 gates of mine said it was all out. The guy walking around the stands selling beer came by with only 2 in his hands, said the freezers were all empty.
I’m sure there were a few concession stands somewhere in the building that were still stocked, but missing even more of the game by wandering around the inside of the stadium just wasn’t something I thought I’d have to do to get a cold soda.
Re: “the line of tears” (as I just read someone else put it). It was a hack job, and I feel absolutely horrible for the people who traveled with an important relative expecting a special moment out on the field.
So Pete which is it, was Torre ignored or was there a message from both he and Mattingly? If it’s the latter, were you not paying attention or are you trying to create news?
There was no message from them.
People need to realize these two guys are employed by another baseball team right now.
Donnie WAS in the tribute to great first basemen. There was no tribute to “coaches” in that montage.
Also, there was no tribute to “owners” either – almost no mention (if any at all?) of George during that whole tribute. So let’s not act as if Joe Torre was singled out for exclusion on purpose.
Calm down about Joe Torre – he’s not dead, so they didn’t bring him out on the field with the other “players”. Also, I happened to hear a couple of callers on WFAN say that there were video comments from Joe and Donnie that were played during the game.
“I got into this because I love baseball, after all. If closing Yankee Stadium isn’t worth a few mementos, what is?”
No toilet seats? Seriously, it was a great night for Yankees lifers.
Just a few observations from warching on TV:
–Clemens and Torre snubbed, if Torre was shown in the Stadium, it at least wasn’t on TV
–It appeared that Winfield had his wrists taped like he was about to play–say what you want about him, he never just went through the motions, always came to play.
–Willie’s slide. I hate to think what Rickey would have done if they had brought him on the field.
–Matsui running very hard to first in his last AB, even though he is probably under the knife as we speak.
–In the commercial, Yogi said “I won’t miss this place”, and the opposite in his press conference. Add it to his quotes.
–Michael Kay doing that one inning gave a nice contrast to the ESPN guys, makes me realize how much better the local coverage is. Why no YES guys on playoff broadcasts?
why is Jeter such a bore?
That post game speech was a snoozer. What a flat note.
wow baseball guy, I couldn’t disagree with you more. The team gathering at the mound, and Jeter’s speech, will be a highlight for years to come. That was very emotional and genuine. The players’ lap around the field was also emotional and overwhelming for me – the post-game, IMO, was pitch perfect.
Below is my response to someone’s post about Bozo Bob Klapisch’s article this morning:
I don’t read Klapisch anymore, so for that I’m glad. He can go join Wallace Matthews in a special place for idiot sportswriters. Matthews whaled about the fact that people are crying “crocodile tears” for a place that everyone wanted to get rid of for 20 years. Whatever. Nothing will ever take away what happened last night. Oh and Bob may want to remember that it was Torre that said he probably wouldn’t come back to the stadium anytime soon……..talk about bitter.
Wow, I can’t believe people are complaining about Jeter’s speech (?!!!!!), no Joe Torre (there was a video comment from him and I heard this from two callers on WFAN), etc………I’m sorry for them that they are unhappy, but I thought the whole thing was incredible and a just and wonderful tribute to YS and the fans.
Betsy-
Jeter maybe a nice guy, I don’t know. He’s certainly been a great yankee, sans this year. But he’s a complete bore. I can’t think of one colorful quote. LAst night speech won’t etched on any plaques.
I dread his hall of fame induction ceremony.
My first inclination was that Torre was, if not snubbed, well, then left out. But the ceremony, at least what I saw on t.v., seemed to be more focused on the players anyway. The did not list all the managers as they did position players. The managers they did mention have already had their numbers retired and so were introduced as such. Billy Martin was represented by his son as a second baseman; Joe Girardi represented himself as a catcher. I don’t think there was a snubbing of Torre, based on all the above.
However, it is clear that Roger Clemens was left out. Perhaps to avoid any controversy – not wanting to risk booing in what was otherwise a pretty glowing send-off by the fans. I guess they didn’t want to take the risk – it’s too soon after the “scandal.”
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole night. The “Field of Dreams” stuff was a little, well, different, but it was okay. Loved Willie sliding into second, and wish more players could be as spontaneous, but just glad that Willie thoroughly enjoyed his moment. Derek’s speech was perfect, as far as I was concerned.
I was a little disappointed when I realized that the “artifact” was the pennant that was unveiled in the black in the pre-game ceremonies, but, that was because I was expecting something else. I imagine they have to leave something spectacular for the “housewarming” that they are sure to have on opening day, 2009.
Tino Martinez is just the best, isn’t he? He is so genuine and I thought his revelation of having been in the the bleachers incognito for the previous day’s game was hysterical! I am frankly pretty disappointed that the Bleacher Creatures didn’t recognize him!!
The best part of the night was that the Yankees won and it looked like they would have died before they lost that game. In fact, the entire homestand was a great send-off to the stadium.
So many wonderful things added to the memory bank. To those of you who were lucky enough to have experienced it in person – what a treasure you have, in spite of whatever difficulties you had over the course of the day.
I noticed that A-Rod didn’t tip his cap to the fans during the players salute
Goodbye, Giambino
did anyone notice Giambi didn’t receive a curtain call when he came out of the game.
Heck, even Molina got a curtain call.
Does anyone know if YES has the rights to re-play the game on Yankee Classics? I would think that the last game at the Stadium (since they won!) would be considered a classic. I know usually if the game is shown on ESPN, there is no encore the next day. Do you think an exception was made here?
Betsy -
To paraphrase: “You can please some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.”
Nothing’s perfect. On occasions such as last night, I’ll choose to focus on the highlights.
Fabulous night for the Yankees all the way around. Couple thoughts:
1) The 1923 actors thing was a bit corny.
2) Whatever has Mickey Rivers done to the Yankees organization??? Jesse Barfield makes the video montage but no Mickey?
3) With Posada unable to play, I thought it might have been appropriate to send him out to the plate after Girardi while the catchers were being introduced. Jorge has had what may well be a HOF career and should have been on the field with the greats IMO.
4) I thought ESPN did a decent job. Morgan remains a putz. Whitey and Yogi in the booth for awhile was great.
5) I’ve been down on Girardi this year, but he did a great job last night. Getting guys ovations. Getting young guys in. Good night for Joe G.
6) Congrats to the organization. I’m not wild about the new stadium, but they are going to build it and that’s that. They did a truly outstanding job closing the old one.
Paulie-
Actually, I’m surprised ARod stayed for the end, and didn’t leave early, like he did during the all star game. I guess MAdonna was outta town.
Fredo -
I noticed Mickey Rivers was missing, too! (But wasn’t he at this year’s Old-Timer’s Game?) Weird.
They showed ARod signing autographs on top of one of the dugouts after the players’ walk around the field. Give the guy a break for a night.
I guess folks just like to complain for the sake of complaining.
I’ve been to playoff games, World Series Games, Old Timers Days, and just plain regular season games.
I’ve seen a no hitter in person (Dave Righetti’s), special player days (Mattingly and the Scooter), and days when the Yankees were REALLY bad (1990).
I met my wife at Yankee Stadium. Over 46 years, stemming from the first time my mother took me to Yankee Stadium (the “original” Yankee Stadium), I’ve experienced a lot of things in the ballpark, good and bad.
I’ve never experienced ANYTHING like I experienced last night. Without a doubt, a the highlight of any night I was at Yankee Stadium.
Were there some missteps? Sure. Having Michael Kay be the last guy to pull the lever was beyond dumb. If they wanted to use a broadcaster to do that, how about Suzyn Waldman? She was only the first female EVER to do play by play in a major league game. She also was the catalyst in bringing Yogi back to Yankee Stadium. Without her pushing for a reconciliation between George and Yogi (by pushing George in the right direction), Yogi would have NEVER come back to Yankee Stadium.
They could have done something else to Kay to reward him for his loyalty to the Yankees. Being the last guy to pull the lever was not it.
If not Suzyn, how about George via video from Tampa? They did it with Bob Sheppard the day before. Or Bernie? The place would have went NUTS if Bernie or George was the last guy to pull the lever.
Pete is right. Like the 2008 Edition of the Yankees, the MetLife promotion never really got off the ground. It was a great idea. However, it was executed VERY poorly this year.
Now, back to the good stuff.
It was an amazing night in every way.
Its been a tough season. Lots of disappointments across the board. However, the Yankees really outdid themselves in making last night a night that people will never forget.
Hopefully, the fans take the same energy, passion and love for the Yankees across the street.
When you boil down what Yankee Stadium really was, it was all about the fans. The fans made the building. It was not the other way around.
The fans made the place shake. The fans made the place memorable and the fans will determine what the other place becomes across the street.
Maybe Madonna brainwashed A-rod to not tip his cap to the fans
Wow I cannot believe the complaining. The ceromony was done very well.
Also apparently there was a video of Torre played, direct your ire at ESPN for not playing it. There was also a video of Bob that espn totally ignored.
And the snub of Clemens? Who cares, how many Yankee fans considered him a ‘real’ Yankee anyway?
To the person complaining about the concessions, they aren’t run by the Yankees, call the company who runs it to complain.
I also didn’t get the focusing on Alex when Jeter went off, what kind of reaction were they trying to capture from him. He knows in many Yankee fans hearts he will never ever be on the same level as Jeter, were they looking to capture disgust on his face? A low blow in my opion
There are people complaining about yesterday? What?
Sorry, I thought last night was simply amazing.
wow just when I thought A-rod couldn’t be bashed for anything else…
They should of mentioned Roger Clemens but, they probably didn’t want to deal with any controversy.
Did anybody hear jorge posada say that pudge needs to go somewhere else???? Who is he to say that. We don’t even know if jorge can even catch as good anymore. Poor pudge, I wish him luck wherever he goes.
Bleacher Creatures won’t curtail actions for ESPN
By Filip Bondy
September 22nd 2008
You knew this was a big occasion Sunday night in right field, because television wanted to control everything. And so ESPN actually asked the Bleacher Creatures to start their sacred roll call with the third pitch of the game instead of with the first. That way, the network could better time its broadcast.
This request, of course, was flat-out rejected. The Creatures may be homeless at the moment, but they are not that desperate.
“We do us,” Bald Vinny Milano said. “Same as every day.”
jme- On Center Stage. Told Kay that he told Pudge, that he will be the starting catcher next year to find work elsewhere.
I think Arod also paid Miller to hit Jeter on Saturday. The market appears to be headed lower today, also on Arod.
jennifer -
Have they announced when that Center Stage will actually air? (Not that it matters, of course, since we all know all the “important” quotes already
).
I also want to add one other thing. I think Pete did a great job yesterday, both in the blog and in the newspaper, of capturing the entire experience.
I hope Pete’s editors/bosses read what I am about to write and take it under advisement.
The newspaper industry is a dying industry. That’s not “news” to the people in the business. Just look at what Sam Zell has done to Tribune-owned newspapers since he bought the company. Its very sad.
For newspapers to survive, they have to open new avenues of communication to attract new and steady reader/customers.
Pete Abraham has attracted more people to read the Journal News with this blog and his coverage of the Yankees than just about any beat writer covering any sport in town.
Think about that for a moment. He doesn’t have the budget/power of the Times, Daily News, or Post behind him.
Despite that lack of financial might, Pete has turned this blog into a must read for Yankee fans. Millions of them all over the world.
To that end, Pete not only deserves a raise from the Journal News folks, he also deserves to have them to re-think their plans for the future of this blog.
Sitting in the Stadium reading some of the garbage the likes of “Hughes 9.00″ and others put on this blog yesterday was embarrassing.
The newspaper ought to be embarrassed to have that junk on their blog.
I understand the “free speech” argument. One has to understand what free speech is in order to defend it.
Free speech is not writing anti-semitic junk on a baseball blog. Nor is it “free” to write some of the other junk some folks put on the blog yesterday.
At some point, the Journal News needs to put in a registration policy that has some teeth.
Its not going to detract from the blog nor lessen the daily post count. It will INCREASE it.
Even good things, like this blog, reach a point where people move away from it if the garbage is allowed to fester.
We see it already. Where have some of the better posters on this blog been lately? CB, Hmmm, and others haven’t posted in ages.
The Journal News has a very good thing with this blog. Why not improve it? Why not take it to the next level? Why not make the necessary changes to enable the blogging experience to improve for everybody?
If not, someone will eventually scoop up Pete to write for them and he will most likely have the opportunity to make the changes needed to take the blog to the next level.
The newspaper that is smart enough to do that will have the benefit of the best baseball writer in town AND the best sports blog in NY.
Doreen- Next Sunday after the game.
Also there was a great picture in the Bergen Record that I’d love to set as my wall paper but havn’t foound it. It was of Jorge with his arm around Yogi. Has anyone seen it online?
well, Bleacher Creature, I don’t know what to say. You can always not watch Jeter’s induction ceremony.
By the way, I love how the sportswriters are trying to ruin even this for the fans. Aside from Klapisch, Joel Sherman (and this I did read) basically said this was a funeral because the young generation failed to take the baton from the older (and IMO, he implied that it was a complete failure). Well, just because the youngsters for the most part didn’t do the job this year does not mean they won’t do it next year.
I don’t mean to add a note of negativity to this thread. I just think the sportswriters are out of touch with the fans on this one. No one will ever take my memories of last night away. Instead of reading recaps from the mediots, I’d rather spend my time here.
All in all, last night was a treasure for Yankee fans. I hope the Yankees put out a DVD of YS highlights and include last night. My tapes just won’t cut it down the line.
I’d also like to add this. Yogi’s comment about him not missing YS because it will always be a part of him is a tearjerker and he’s so right. I’d like to paraphrase one of my favorite movie characters, E.T., from the end of that movie: Pointing to my heart, I say “Yankee Stadium will be right here”.
maybe i’m the only one, but i wasnt really that impressed with the pregame ceremonies.
it was like a bizarro old timers day without as many old timers.
to me, there was too much centered on individual players and not enough about the stadium and the memories and moments that took place on that field.
and then it turned into Bernie Williams night.
A-Rod was booed, though just by a few, so if he didn’t tip his cap……good for him. I’m sick and tired of the fans treating him like he’s the worst of the worst.
Anyway, enough with the negativity. Last night was one of the best nights in the history of the organization. Even the O’s got into it, which I like. I noticed Brian Roberts patting the first baseman (not Giambi, I don’t remember who it was) as he started to walk off the field and one of the O’s was gathering dirt from the mound.
That was a perfect opening ceremony by the Yanks yesterday. Very happy with all that. The game was great and everyone (except Torre) was honored appropriately.
Jennifer – are you going to tell me with a straight face that the Yankees have no say over whether there will be enough ice at Yankee stadium for the last game ever?
Or that the Yankees had no hand in the absolute bungling of the “go out on the field” mess?
Not buying it. They screwed up.
The concessions snafu I can ‘almost’ understand – that horrible “line of tears”, well, that was just wrong.
Turn Two,
I get what you’re saying, but they did show video all day of all the special moments in the Stadium. You really can’t recreate them on the field. In my mind, the players who played in the Stadium created those moments, so it’s fitting to honor them. (Well, maybe since Don Larsen and Yogi are still around, they could have made Yogi jump into Larsen’s arms – but I’m not sure either of them would have survived that!
)
As far as Bernie is concerned – well, that was for the fans. Bernie didn’t get the send-off that Paul O’Neill did and I think most fans felt disjointed because of it – no closure. And I think it had to happen at this Stadium, because this is where Bernie played. They only way they could have avoided this was to have retired his number sometime earlier during the season, giving him his own day. Perhaps Bernie was still resistant to that, not having officially “retired?”
“but they did show video all day of all the special moments in the Stadium. You really can’t recreate them on the field. In my mind, the players who played in the Stadium created those moments, so it’s fitting to honor them.”
and thats all well and good, but for those who werent in the stadium to watch the highlights on the jumbotron, it just seemed disappointing.
again, just seemed like old timers day, but not as good.
special night? sure.
but was it done right? idk… for the months of planning they had, seemed like the actual ceremony itself came up short for me.
and you can give Bernie and the fans their moment… but over the airwaives, that took over the pregame ceremony that was supposed to celebrate the stadium. it just wasnt the time or the place for that to happen.
Off Topic:
This will break Brandon’s heart, but it appears the Pirates and Pedro Alvarez have come to terms on a contract. He’ll now get $6.4M rather than $6M and Boras no longer has to live the humiliation of the number 2 pick getting less than the #5 pick, Buster Posey ($6.2M from the Giants).
Holdstrong -
I’m curious about how it got so mangled? Were they letting just a set number of people at at time?
Perhaps they didn’t move people along fast enough? And that’s tough – it sounds like the people who did get in were taking photographs, proposing marriage, jumping against the walls, all sorts of things which would mean they weren’t just filing through. If you rush those people (even more than they probably tried to), they’re not going to be happy, either.
Sounds like the only way around it would have been to open the Stadium earlier, and allow re-entry, so people could have come at, say, 10 a.m., walked on the field, headed out for lunch and then return.
Do you think since this was announced so late that it was a last-minute addition to the festivities? Or were they hoping that not so many people would be willing to come to the Stadium at 1 o’clock when the festivities wouldn’t be beginning until 6? (If that’s the case, that would have been incredibly short-sighted – these are Yankees fans, after all!)
Once people are inside, they are not concerned with moving along so the people behind them can get in. Could be it wasn’t entirely the fault of the Yankees?
Yeah I am telling you they had nothing to do with no ice being at the stadium. They don’t run the stands.
I read that something like 13,000 people showed up to enter the stadium early. Apparently they underestimated the number of fans that would show up.
Bottom line is, no matter what is done there will always be people complaining.
Haha, Derek wants the giant bat: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09.....ref=slogin
“I want to take the bat outside, and put it at my garden in Florida; I don’t know how I am going to take it, though,†Jeter said in reference to the gigantic bat that stands outside Gate Four of the stadium.
There was a lot of hired security at the stadium this weekend. No just regular stadium security. Some of them took great pleasure in the power that they held over Yankee fans. There was one in the upper deck that kept telling fans to stop taking pictures and leave. There was another that was blocking fans from going down to the main level (this is after the game was over). Now he was probably doing his job, but he had no problem rubbing it in our faces that he was a Met fan and was taking great pleasure in telling Yankee fans what they could and couldn’t do.
jennifer -
They needed to “vet” the security personnel – only Yankees fans or totally neutral types need apply.
Betsy,
We boo A-Rod because we expect more from him as a professional..both on the field and off the field. I know he’s put up good numbers this year, but I never sensed that energy he had last year. Who knows, maybe its the injury, or the divorce or the Material girl.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH!
I guess folks just like to complain for the sake of complaining.
SJ, I guess you don’t own any mirrors.
What is with all of this Torre complaining? Does anyone remember he is still managing in baseball. Hey maybe he should have left Los Angeles, skipped his teams game even in a race for the postseason to come to the closing ceremony. You people are so ridiculous sometimes. Hey George Steinbrenner didnt make a comment. Let’s hunt him down and string him up. How about Kevin Maas and Matt Nokes? I mean seriously people, you can find a way to ruin the best occassions with petty bitching.
* Hal Steinbrenner held a press conference and spoke for his family. Two things: Whether you care for the man or not, it’s too bad George Steinbrenner was unable to attend. And enough already from Hank Steinbrenner, who apparently had something better to do than attend the game. His enablers in the media need to take Hank off their speed dials.
Def agree with that. We need to stop getting into a tizzy when Hank says something. Call me when Hal has something to say, then I’ll actually listen.
Do wish George could have been there.
“We boo A-Rod because we expect more from him as a professional..both on the field and off the field.”
to this point… one thing Buck Showalter kept saying on ESPN yesterday was that New York and their fans are ready to embrace every player that puts on the uniform, but that the Yankees fans and people in NY are very quick to recognize and call out a phony when they see one.
now, i’m, not calling ARod a phony, because i think everyone respects the fact he comes hard to play everyday.
but i think yankees fans are still waiting for ARod the person to really open up and embrace NY like they want to embrace him… seems like he took a step forward last year and then 2 steps back this year.
is it fair? idk, really. i think he deserves a break considering what he dealt with personally this season, but let’s hope 2009 is more like the 2007 ARod than the 2008 form.
“We boo A-Rod because we expect more from him as a professional”
Expect less. Appreciate more. Unless you enjoy whining, you’ll be happier in the long run.
Hey everyone who is complaining about Joe Torre…
You should also be furious that Jim Leyritz wasnt there.
Or go back further. Matt Nokes!!!! I mean, how can you name catchers and not mention Matt Nokes.
I just hope Angel Hernandez made it out of the stadium alive after calling strike 3 on Jeter with bases loaded.
Turn Two
I saw Showalter yesterday on ESPN and phony is your word not his.
By chance was Steve Sax recognized during the ceremonies. I heard Knobby was, and wondered if they did an all “wild thing” Yankees squad with Sax, Steve Trout, Knobby….
“I saw Showalter yesterday on ESPN and phony is your word not his.”
no, he specifically said “phony” several times. that i did not miss.
as far as not showing up for the last game, i’ll just say hank looks ten years older than his actual age. it’s not too early for him to have early dementia testing.
“You should also be furious that Jim Leyritz wasnt there.”
Say what you will about Jim Leyritz (and most of it these days is not good), but always recall what that three run homer of Wohlers meant to the organization. That turned everything around and for my money was the impetus for the dynasty years.
Paulie-
great point, did the yanks recognize all the great contributions made by Steve Howe.
On a serious note, what about Jim Bouton, did he receive a mention?
Was Charlie Hayes at the game today?
I was serious about Leyritz.
He should have been there. He set that run in motion. My point was though that Torre has other things to worry about now.
I wish they would have retired Bernie’s number last night.
I sat 1 row behind boomer wells last night and asked him how leyritz was doing.
he said he doesn’t talk to him – that he heard he was in town, but that most guys haven’t heard from him.
I suspect it’s best at this time that the Yankees don’t associate themselves with him. It’s as simple as that. Let this thing run it’s course, and, based on the outcome, maybe he’s brought back into the fold…
oh c’mon. Leyritz is as bad as OJ. Certainly, way worse than rocket.
It’s amazing for the past 12 years we’d all be looking forward to post season baseball. Today, we’re regulated to playing Monday morning quarterback about the pre-game festivities for the stadium’s final farewell. Wow this season really blows! Can’t wait for 09 to get started.
The only reason Stengl was mentioned and the guy was on the field was because he was part of the people who had monuments he was the only manager metioned because of the mnument. Torre doesnt have a monument YET.
Holdstrong you are so right will write about it later but that whole part was handled horribly, the Yankees didnt realize what they were going to deal with. Also our concessions in the bleachers did run out of stuff very early, no one was walkingaround selling stuff. THey had no soda, no ice and no cups left by the 5th inning.
better get used to it Paulie.
We’re gonna be in a rut for awhile. The Rays and Sox aren’t gonna let up.
bitching and moaning – too much of it this am.
enjoy last night for what it was. if you want to group Mickey Rivers and Jim Leyrtitz among Gehrig, Nettles, Gossage, Williams, Jeter, etc., then you need to read the backs of more baseball cards.
Another thing about Roger. Even if the Yankees wanted to bring Roger back. You do realize that Andy is still with this team? You do realize what an uncomfortable sitation that would have been for him. So please I don’t get this love all of a sudden for Roger.
So who’s here rooting for a Dodgers-Red Sox World Series? How classic would that be?
Girardi was questioned and second-guessed for bringing Leyritz into the ST locker room. No way they would have there last night.
Also, an Indians sweep this week, take care of business against Toronto, and next weekend could be very interesting. With this awful season, we are still alive with less than a week left. Can the old girl project some magic to Toronto and wherever the sux are playing?
Forget about Clemens, he’s toxic right now. They should have shown Torre on the scoreboard, at the very least.
I, personally was not complaining about Clemens not being there, just noting it. I thought the whole ceremony was outstanding, and felt good. I am looking forward to the new Stadium, but for today, I am sad. We will always have the memories, but in the old Stadium, you could close your eyes and feel Reggie’s 3 HRs, the Babe’s 60th, Roger’s 61st, Gehrig’s presence, the Mick, and Joltin’ Joe rounding third.
Um if you are a Yankee fan you aren’t rooting for that.
Did the remember to honor Horace Clarke and Ron Bloomberg?
Holdstrong,
“…drove all the way from upstate thinking, like I did, that they would get on the field.”
You didn’t drive all the way there just to get on the field, you drove there to see the game and the ceremonies. You didn’t even know that getting on the field was even going to be an option a week ago. I’m sure it was disappointing, but there’s no reason to let it hang a dark cloud over the entire event.
When it comes down to it, you just should have left earlier if it was so important. You couldn’t have honestly thought that there wasn’t going to be an insanely long line.
LOL at WFAN (Roberts and Benigno) starting with the Mets and not the closing night at YS. Pathetic.
btw., why are they building a new stadium?
can anyone answer that?
Don’t be shocked if does happen.
Jennifer,
WHO hires the concession vendors? The city?
And I think being led to believe that you can go on the field… paying 200 bucks for a ticket, then traveling 8 hours to get there earlier than the time they told you, then waiting in a line for 4 hours only to be told you are out of luck is a pretty legit gripe… dont you think?
Stop making it sound like people are complaining just for the sake of complaining. This was a HUGE fiasco and a heartbreaking mess for a lot of fans.
Turn two,
Buck did say phony, and he is corect, only if Arod could get that through his head and be himself. Sad thing is maybe he is being himself.
As for the Rays and Sax not letting up, wern’t the Tigers supposed to be the real deal, same as the Indians. Also, in don’t think the Angels have been to the post season five consecutive years. As a matter of fact, with the exception of the Yankees, every team in the 2007 playoffs were different form the previous year.
So no one knows who will be where at the end of next year.
Love Joe Torre, but if had chose to come back he would’ve been the lord of the manor last night. A one year contract and the opportunity to do that is priceless. And if the team did well, he’d probably have a chance to open up the new place as well. C’est la vie. Can we move on?
One other thought, though. If A-rod hit a HR last night, it would’ve cemented him in Yankee lore. It’s ashamed that we (me included) can’t appreciate him more.
Bleacher Creature,
$$$$$$
Sorry, Paulie. I don’t buy it. The man is one of the greatest players ever and he busts his butt all the time. He also plays every game. Booing him every time he makes out is ridiculous – even Babe Ruth didn’t bat .1000. Nevermind that, though. Booing him on a night like last night is inexcusable. Yankee fans should be ashamed of themselves.
when was ARod booed?
If Babe Ruth batted .1000, there would be no House that Ruth built!!!
If Babe Ruth batted .1000, there would be no House that Ruth built!!!
“You didn’t drive all the way there just to get on the field. . . You didn’t even know that getting on the field was even going to be an option a week ago.
When it comes down to it, you just should have left earlier if it was so important.”
Don’t you dare pretend to know what my situation was. I bought tickets AFTER hearing that we would be let on the field. That was why I bought them.
I arrived at Yankee stadium at 11 am and was one of the first 50 people in line. They bungled the process and for reasons I can’t figure out they began letting people in gates which were not supposed to be opened yet and so those of us who waited all morning long to get in there at the gates they designated suddenly found ourselves 10 thousand people deep in a never ending line with no chance of getting on the field.
It was a mess. As bad as I feel for myself, and my father, I feel even worse for the people who we talked to in line who were absolutely crushed by this. It was a terrible, terrible way to handle it all – I really can’t express how poorly it was run from the entry, to the line formation, to information dissemination about what was going on… everything. A mess.
Evan, just because the Rays and the Sox are going to be good doesn’t mean the Yankees won’t be. Sheesh – one bad year and fans (and sportswriters) are ready to go into a tizzy and predict that the franchise will be in the gutter for the next decade. Unbelievable. I think NY fans/writers are bi-polar.
GMAB on the Yankee fans want Alex to open up to them theory. That isn’t who he is – and fans should accept it. Boy, I would not want to live my life knowing that people judged me on how they wanted ME to be. I would tell those people to go sit on it. The way I look at it, if I am not hurting anyone, then I have every right to live my life and be how I want to be. If the fans want to boo A-Rod, fine, but they had better not expect him to reciprocate with kind words and tips of the hat
By the way, If I saw Leyritz in person, I’d probably try to strangle him. There are a lot more things important than a baseball game and, IMO, he should be in jail for life.
You know, I think I woke up this morning more emotional than I was last night.
I guess I had no idea how emotional it would really be.
And now, the knowledge that there will never be another game played there…
holdstrong and gayle -
Earlier in this thread, I directed a question to holdstrong about what he thinks caused the mangling. It was a sincere question, not trying to belittle your complaints. I wasn’t there, I didn’t drive or sit or stand in line for hours, so I surely would not belittle your feelings.
But one of the things I wonder specifically, is if at least some of the reason for fans not being able to get in is that the fans who DID get in, once they were in, the last thing they were thinking about was moving along at a reasonable pace so that everyone behind them could enjoy the experience as well, human nature being what it is. People were, of course, taking pictures, collecting whatever bits and pieces they could sneak, proposing marriage, kissing behind homeplate, etc. That would tend to slow things down a lot. And if they were hustled along, they’d be writing in here complaining how they were pushed in and out, not allowed to enjoy the experience fully.
What do you think?
To say the Yankees snubbed Joe Torre is nitpicking. They mentioned at the beginning of ceremony that many former Yankees were unavailable to make it because of their current involvement with other teams. Were they supposed to name each one of them? Everyone understood. Also, there was no mention of Miller Huggins or Joe McCarthy. As I recall, those 2 gents were as important as Joe. There’s so much history it is impossible to name every name.However,Roger Clemens not being mentioned was definitely intentional and was the right thing to do.
It was a great night.My wife & I spent 12 1/2 hours at the Stadium yesterday and will cherish every minute.
Holdstrong -
I see our posts crossed. In your previous response, you do explain what happened. So someone screwed up with opening the wrong gates? And communications?
It’s too bad, really.
With something as big as last night was, there are bound to be screw ups.
Betsy,
The man is being paid $30 million a year – I think he can care less about the booing. Most of the fans are just frustrated with him.
I know he has tremendous talent, but after watching this guy for the past few years, I’ve become certain he will never be comfortable in NY. I have very little faith in the guy and in the future of this franchise when the likes of Jeter, Mo, Jorge and Andy are gone, and A-Rod is bestowed some type of leadership role.
One only hopes the kid pitchers become the new cornerstone of the franchise and A-Rod just happens to ride their wave of success.
And frankly, I boo several of the Yankees, not just A-Rod, when I feel they are underperforming…which is pretty much everyone these days.
They should have had one line for people that wanted to go through Monument Park then onto the field (to walk down one side of the warning track), and another line for people who didn’t need to go through Monument Park (i.e., ME!) and walk down the other side of the warning track. It moved way way too slow.
I waited in that line starting at 1:30 and I asked myself, as I left the line at 4:15, how so many fuggin’ people got ahead of me so quickly. There were a LOT of sad people in that line. It was the longest line I’ve ever been in.
That said, other than that fiasco, the evening went pretty smoothly. The concessions near us (box 660) seemed pretty well stocked for quite a while. Still got hot dogs and cold soda around the eighth inning.
I feel for those unable to get on the field. We arrived at the park at 11:30 and got through the line.We were there at 10:30 on Saturday abd got shut out and wernt happy.
The problem wasnt so much the Yankees as it was with fans that lingered too long in Monument Park.
No offense to anyone who had a truly awful experience yesterday, but PLEASE consider yourself lucky to have gone yesterday. Many of us wanted to be there, but were unable to for many reasons; geography and money at the top of the list.
“Earlier in this thread, I directed a question to holdstrong about what he thinks caused the mangling.
But one of the things I wonder specifically, is if at least some of the reason for fans not being able to get in is that the fans who DID get in, once they were in, the last thing they were thinking about was moving along at a reasonable pace so that everyone behind them could enjoy the experience as well, human nature being what it is.”
I’m not sure entirely what was at play that caused this to be such a mess. I do know it was not first come/first serve. The people who were there early and waiting in line got trumped by people who just showed up when other gates were opened. I also know there was little to no information given out during the process… many people standing in line had no idea why they were in line. One person thought they were in line to get to their seats! When the field was closed, people in line were not told till word of mouth spread.
A lady about 50 people in front of us got faint from the heat and from standing for 4 hours and had to leave the stadium. We tried to get her some water… but guess what? Nada.
But ultimately, the main issue was probably what you touched on. People who got on the field and in Monument park ground the line to a halt. This may be human nature, but that is why you have security. That is why you have ushers. People who plan and manage the event. It should have been their job to keep that line moving – not let the first random 1,000 enjoy it for 4 hours at the expense of the other 10,000 waiting in line.
I asked one of the security supervisors how many people they thought could get through and they estimayed 8,000 people got through th line.
Never comfortable to the tune of 2 MVPs in 5 years, 40 plus HRs per year, and GW HRs off of Papelbon, Schilling, and others? I’ll take that. Once the pitching is straightened out and we can get somebody hitting better than .248 in the 5 hole, he’ll be uncomfortable with WS rings also.
I was at the game yesterday with my father and let me say that I partially agree with holdstrong.
The Monument Park/Walking on the Field thing was a jumbled mess. I emailed Pete late Saturday to just get a gauge of what it might be like. I have been to playoff games before, but nothing like this, however, I expected it to be much like a playoff game. We got to the Stadium at 2pm, sat in the Lot across from the bridge to have something to eat prior to going in. When we got to the gate, I was forced to give up my messenger bag that had two long sleeve shirts in it. Not a huge deal, but when you see 1000 other people with similar bags walking around the stadium, it’s kind of annoying.
We walked directly to Monument Park but were turned back, saying that Monument Park was closed. It was 2:55pm. According to this website and Yankee press releases it was supposed to be open until 4pm. If you are the Yankees, you have to assume that between 1-4pm you’re going to have 55,000 people that want to get in Monument Park and walk on the field. It seemed like a complete lack of planning. It was a great idea in theory, but fell on its face when put into play.
Concessions were kind of a mess, but I pretty much stayed away. After going to a lot of games over the years you know how to maneuver around a bit to get your stuff as quick as possible and get back to your seats. It really seemed like they were just going off of their last order of food and other supplies, not worrying about what happens if they run out because tomorrow the Stadium is closed and season is over (I’d like to think there is still a chance for a couple more games).
However, the atmosphere of the stadium, the ceremonies, the game itself were all top notch. I can’t imagine anyone complaining about the stuff that happened pre-game because of what happened during the ceremony and the game itself. It was an unbelieveable experience and one that I will never forget. I had the fortune of being interviewed by Bloomberg news (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/.....r=amsports) about the night, which was really cool.
As for some of the comments about Torre and Joe Girardi being announced as a catcher. I thought it was more telling that Roger Clemens wasn’t mentioned at all. There were so many Yankee managers that didn’t get a mention. I don’t know if it was a deliberate slight, but Billy and Lou were played up more as players than managers. As for Girardi, even though he wasn’t the greatest hitter in the world, Stick Michaels was announced at SS, and while I didn’t see him play, he wasn’t much of a hitter. He is a great scout and did a ton for the Yankees in the early 90s constructing that dynasty.
All in all, it was a fantastic night. Damon going yard, Molina following him, Joba coming in and shutting down the O’s, Enter Sandman blaring and everyone singing along, to the end and Jeter’s speech. Great night and there is still hope for another game at the Stadium this year.
I hope so Mark in Tampa, I hope so.
Doreen-
The problem was two fold in my opinon. First the Yankees and theirsecurity very much underestimated how many people would want to go on the field. I was in the builing at 1:05PM an entered at Gate 2. It took us 30 minutes to get to the top of the line which was on the upper tier. Now mind you Gate 2 is the left field entrance the end of the line was upper tioer in RIGHT field so think about how many people that is on all the ramps and on the other side of th stadium.
There were absolutely NO security or ushers directing people once you got past the first ramp incline telling people where to go, how long the line was, how long the wait was , answering questions etc. If there had been a problem with some one there was no one to help.
So we get to the end of the line and it took 2.5 hours to get from section 28 to section 5 of the upper tier, Yes 2.5 hour so there we were still on the upper tier and the field was closing. In looking down on the field they were not moving people along and in fact were not even letting that many people onto the field at a time. It was not until 3:45 when I finally realized we were not going to get on the fuield and I looked down that finally they were 2 deep on the field.
Part of the problem was that in order to get on the field you had to go through monument park where people were taking their time which I understand. However I had no desire to go to monument park have been there many tims before so that is where the log jam was. They were holding people back to let the people lessen in monument park before they let the next group in.
The other problem is that they had all entrances leading to the one entrance to monument park so there was a huge log jam.
When you get into the stadium at 1pm there should be every expectation that you would be able to get onto the field not that you should spend the entire time in a line. I understand if you got there at 3 that you would not be able to make it. They could have had lines going onto the field in oppsite ways one set goingfrom left to right, anotehr going right to left. They would have been able to get more people in and on the field the right way.
Also they had to know as early as 2PM based on how things were going that people were not going to make it on the field yet they still had people as late at 3PM go up the ramps and wait in that line. That only gets people angry.
I wonder how many people actually made it onto the field versus how many of us waited in line the whole time. I would venture that those numbers would tell the true story.
Like I said last night I am over it but things could and should have been handled much better. Security guards andI talked to one of the superviors who helped us gt to our seats after they closed gates for us to get there that they underestimated how many people were going to show up and were woefully understaffed at least in that area. The people sitting next to me drove from California to get to the game and waited 5.5 hours only to be told when they got to the bottom that everything was closed. How right is that?
Bummer.
No game tonight to take off the edge of losing a loved one.
The new stadium will take off the edge, if only because it will be spectacular, but the waiti.
It’s gonna be the longest six months of our lives.
holdstrong -
Thank you. That helps me to understand what happened.
I think you should take what you just wrote here and send a letter to the Yankees PR department. Because it was a good idea and good gesture on the part of the Yankees, but without the proper management of the event, it got turned into a bad memory (at the least) for a lot of people that the Yankees aimed to please.
The saying no good deed goes unpunished seems to apply here.
When people bought their tickets to the final game, it didn’t guarantee a field visit but somehow people feel cheated because they didn’t get one. There is talk about Yankee Stadium tours starting up again in October. If you want the experience of walking on the track, visiting Monument Park plus seeing the clubhouse, the press box and sitting in the dugout, go take the tour.
I’m still jealous of everyone that got to go.
but what’s done and done and I’ll just have to do my best to make sure I’m there Opening Day next year.
I was a big Torre fan and wanted to see him return this season but I don’t think he was slighted by not being mentioned in the Pre-Game ceremony. Plenty of other great Yankee managers were not given their due because the ceremony focused on the great players more than anything. The one thing that did bother me was that the Boss and Hank weren’t there. They really needed to be at the closing at the greatest ballpark on Earth. You can bet they’ll be there in their Sunday best for the Opening Game next April, they should have been in attendance last night. Nothing was more important.
Pat
It was a good deed and if in fact I did not make it onto the field because I got there later in the day and had been kept informed of what was going on while there I would totally understand. Like I said it was the way it was handled not that I didnt get on the field that I have the issue with. You dont tell 54,000 people that you can get on the field and then not have it planned properly to at least get a majority of them on.
I will write about all the great experiences later lol.
Thanks, Gayle. Again, it does help to understand what actually happened.
You expect some things to get messed up, but it sounds like they had no idea what to expect or how to direct the event.
It sounds like at the least there should have been a separation between the people who wanted to go to Monument Park and those who did not. That probably would have helped a lot. And it sounds like they got in way over their heads.
Rebecca,
It would’ve been wonderful to be there, huh? To sit and watch from pre-game to the post-game “celebration”. My daughter was asking if people were crying.
ESPN was pretty good about not showing the waterworks. They showed one man staring at the field. Another grown man wipe his eyes. A guy holding his girl who was in quite a state. Not him, he was fiddling with his phone. But they did show one boy 2 or 3 times. He was crying. It was so bittersweet and that tugged at me.
i just wanted to express my emotions from last night’S game.
where was joe torre-why was he not mentioned? i love my team
but was totally disappointed at no mention of their once
great leader and who still is a great manager. joe we love
you.
One thing I am thankful for, that is that Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio didn’t have to deal with the fans like the players of today have to.
With the rediculous coverage – mainly looking to do smear jobs – the unrealistic expectations, I am not so certain that the Yankee greats of the past could have put up with it.
One thing brought up during the game yesterday was how most slugger type players vacilate between good years and bad years. A-Rod on a bad year is still doing more than most players in the game, yet “fans” boo him when he fails. Brilliant.
I can understand disappointment but not the boos. Sorry, but booing players on your own teams seems like something little children would do, not older kids and certainly not adults. Booing speaks of immaturity, like spoiled brats would do.
Sure, as a fan you can boo whomever you want. That doesn’t make it right. It also doesn’t give a player motivation. One thing it might do however, is keep some players from ever wanting to play for the Yankees.
Jeter was right to a certain extent about NY having the greatest fans, but totally wrong in that there are some of the worst fans also in NY.
I had a hard time finding the motivation to post in here and on my own blog late this season as the Yankees floundered along…
But last night was amazing, it really reminded me why I’m so proud to be a Yankees fan.
The picture I really want was taken after the game — Posada, Jeter, Pettitte and Mo arm-in-arm by the mound. Four homegrown legends with 53 years of Yankee service and 16 rings.
I did enjoy the opening ceremony. It was pretty close to that of Old Timer’s Game(the last game I went to this year) but I’m not complaining.
Bernie made it for me. It’s been a long time, but it was good to see Bernie Williams again.
Pat — My biggest complaint is that they shut the lines for the field and monument park and did not do anything to publicize it. Not a word on the radio about that. And in all honesty, as much as I love the stadium, there isn’t a whole lot to do there for four hours before the ceremony started.
Ozzie is such an ass. He calls out Javier for failing to come through in big games. Javie’s response?
”You know what? It’s not going to [change a lot of opinions] because I’m really the type of guy that when I retire, I’m going to be home in Puerto Rico with my family,” Vazquez told the Sun-Times on Saturday.
”I’m not looking to have to change minds if people feel that way,” Vazquez said. “I won’t be paying attention to that. If I do well or if I don’t, I’ll still go home at the end of my career and be the same person.”
Why so much obsession about Torre?
He is an active manager of another franchise.
The postgame was such an unbelievable celebration. Anyone know if that will be available on DVD?
Loved Pudge and Posada posing
On TV, I thought they did it right. I don’t know what it was like at the stadium.
I’m a big Torre fan and I didn’t have a problem with the lack of showing of him. It’s nice to hear that he was at least mentioned. They just didn’t show it on TV. If you think about it, What would it look like honoring the current Dodger manager who’s getting ready to take his team to the postseason?
Roger Clemens. It was interesting that they didn’t even mention him. I guess he’s blacklisted from the game? I wouldn’t have had a problem with a mention or him showing up. He was apart of some good games for us.
mel: I had two friends at the gme an they kept texting me updates or calling me throughout.
Part of me is glad I stayed home–I got to liveblog the experience–but I still would have rather been there.
The Bronx will be quieter today.
Sounds like the only way they could have done the fans on the field thing right was to not do it at all. All it apparently did was disappoint people.
My aging joints would never allow me to imagine I could handle the inevitable wait on my feet and the long trek through the Stadium, Monument Park, and around the warning track with comfort or pleasure, so like a sensible older fan I saw it from home. Three comments:
1. The warm feelings reminded me that it is also good being a fan outside the dynasty years (any dynasty you were around for) — how we can love and enjoy our team even when they are not the champions of anything at all.
2. The Jeter speech reminded me that glibness, theatricality and clever sound bites are insignificant compared with sincerity, dignity, and understanding the meaning of the moment.
3. The sheer size of the event reminded me that Yankees have had the opportunity through the up years and the down to develop a great sense of occasion and lots of experience putting on a spectacle — there is not another group of sports fans in the country that could see their team whip up a confection of history and hoopla like last night’s. Lucky us.
As for the inconveniences and disappointments, anyone who has organized even a family reunion barbecue will know that there will be people who are sure they could have planned it better, foreseen all the pitfalls, and even in the middle of carrying on all their normal obligations could have made sure that everyone went home satisfied. We who have been there and done that need not correct their illusions. If they take on big public responsibilities themselves, life and the universe will take care of that.
disgraceful that hank, the ‘owner’ of the team wasn’t there.
can george rescind his power? i mean, not like he has any real power anyway but can they let him go back to the horse farm?
I am a big torre fan and very disappointed that nothing was done to honor him!
Bernie made my night!
why didnt they mention roger clemens its not like he is the only guy who did those stuff, i understand not inviting him but come on mention his name!!!
I watched hours and hours of coverage and agree with most of the folks here…
The Bernie ovation was well deserved and long overdue it was a real highlight for me. Really nice touches with David Mantle, Michael Munson and the Murcer family
The walking ghosts at the beginning was Creapy, Flaky, Cheesey, Dopey.
Should have included Torre in a video if nothing else. It came off as petty to me.
If Vegas had odds someone made some good money betting on Jose’ Molina to hit the last HR.
I already have my photo at the Mick’s monument… Babe too. Dirt is not a momento.
did any one see the Bmore players getting dirt like they was in a sandbox?
That was one of my best highlight, Other players are some of the biggest fans like us bloggers..
Last walk of the game – Jose Veras
Does anyone know where I can find the small tribute video YES had last night at the end of their post game. That made it real to me. I finally realized we will never be in Yankee Stadium Ever Again. I hope the ghosts like their new home. I finally teared up and went to sleep…or attempted to sleep.
Mel,
Re: Vazquez
I understand his quote, it is a reasonable response to an idiot like Guillen; but can you imagine if Arod said that in response to the fans booing, or some of the tabloid stories? I mean, aside from the fact that he doesn’t live in Puerto Rico.
New post. some awesome pics of last night!!!!
One of the best parts was watching the geniune reaction from the players both the o’s and Yankees. Seeing who some people consider a stick in the mud of Mussina on top of the dugout taking it all in. Watching the o’s players grabbing dirt. Seeing Brian Roberts hug Mo (?). that was great!
Proof that A-Rod tipped his cap, look to the left:
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/.....yjj134.jpg
Cut the guy some slack already!
“Those poor dudes stood in center field doing nothing for an hour.”
I would have paid them to let me stand in center field for an hour.
Hank could have stayed in Florida to watch the game last night with his father? We don’t know the reason Pete no need to take a easy dig at Hank.