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By now we all know the Yankees have won the division and the next game played will be in the Playoffs, the ALDS. However I didn’t blog about the game I went to Tuesday which once again was extra innings.

~~ Yankees 4, Red Sox 3 ~~

Since starting going to games in 2009, I don’t think I was ever at an extra innings game. There were some games that I hoped went to extra innings, but it didn’t happen. Then the Saturday game against the A’s was extra innings, and then the next game I went to, yesterday also went to extra innings. I got the tickets because I saw the commercial for donating sock and thought, there is no way there are tickets available, when I saw there were tickets I impulsively bought one.

First of all, I planned to go straight from work but with how yucky the weather was I decided to go home and get a heavier jacket, it turned out to be a good decision. Then when I got to the stadium I got a complimentary bottle of chocolate milk, not wanting to drink it right away I stuck it in my pocket. Since I had switched jackets, it wasn’t noticeable and I walked into the stadium with it.

One of the reasons I like going by myself is that if I want to walk around I can do it without feeling like I am abandoning whoever I came with. It had been raining and the seats I had were just at the edge of the roof so my seat was a little wet, which meant the seat that is attached to me also got wet, so I walked around hoping it would dry. Also, it wasn’t really raining, it was misty and the wind was blowing the water around, being under the roof wasn’t helping. Another reason I was walking around was I wasn’t very happy with how the game was going. The Red Sox were ahead by 1 run when Soriano gave up a home run in the 9th to first batter he saw, James Loney. I was standing behind the seats on the third level when that happened and I thought about going down to the great hall just so I could run out quick, but I just stayed there, the mist was turning into rain when Ibanez hit a home run, he was the second batter Andrew Bailey faced which is why we were now tied and going into extra innings. I went into the ladies room and grabbed a bunch of paper towels. Then I found a section in the 300 seats without security walked in, wiped off the seat and sat down. There I sat through the 10th, 11th, Francisco Cervelli came into the game in the 11th and Twitter started buzzing with the possibility that “Frankie’s going to win this.” It was sarcasm I’m sure, at least for some people. Derek Lowe had replaced Soriano who after giving up the home run pitch the rest of the inning and the next scoreless. Derek Lowe was also pitching scoreless innings. Bottom of the twelfth with two outs, Frankie came up to bat, the couple in front of me stood up and clapped, I sat there and thought of the Frankie of old, the one who would scorch a hit through the infield and the ball seemed to have feet as it ran all the way to the wall. He walked. I couldn’t believe it, but there it was, a walk issued to Francisco Cervelli, who has not played in the bigs all year. Then Curtis walks. Then Raul Ibanez comes up to bat, and gets the hit and I was jumping up and down screaming, “RUN FRANKIE!”

Which I didn’t need to do, because he definitely knows how to run. But it felt good, and he listened.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

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Sometimes I hate baseball

Tonight was one of those nights. Dave Robinson’s wife had a baby today. He came in and pitched a scoreless inning, then Rafael came in and blew it. Derek hit a tying home run and Clay Rapada pitched scoreless then Derek Lowe got the loss. I personally think Soriano should have the L beside his name, at least he got a blown save by his name. However since I don’t want to talk about this I’m going to post some pictures I took after the game I went to with the kids. The game with the huge rain delay that ended around midnight. I took these pictures of the Stadium at night from the platform of the #4 train, I missed the colored lights but now I know to wait for them next time.

Rain, Rain, GO AWAY

Another rain delay, this time I was not in the Audi club, I was walking around the stadium with Sarah and not finding any place to sit. I don’t know how Andy and P. dwelt with it. Our seats were also in the bleachers which meant they were wet. We had these beach mats (promotional) and the kids put one down to sit on. However, they did not dry the seats first so we got wet butts. I would have preferred to go to Tuesday’s game, the almost no-hitter, but didn’t have tickets.

~~ Yankees 3, Rangers 2 ~~

The Yankees scored all three runs in the 3rd inning, no home runs, not that I’m counting or anything. When Josh Hamilton hit his home run in the 4th inning the guys behind me complained about Freddy. Oh excuse me, a solo shot by Josh Hamilton, who has hit 30 home runs this season and you are blaming Freddy? Then when Hamilton hit his second home run in the 6th inning, they cursed out Freddy. I almost punched them. He hits home runs, those two runs were the only runs Texas got that night, and you’re calling Freddy names? How about the fact that he didn’t let anyone get on base before the home run? How about the fact that the Yankees WERE NOT HITTING THE BALL? Idiots like that make me rage.

As it turned out, the Yankees didn’t need anymore than 3 runs thanks to Boone, David and Rafael not giving up any runs. And now Josh can say, “Hey, I finally hit a home run in Yankee Stadium! Two in fact.” The kids left early, they had to catch a train home before midnight. I stayed until the last out, with my wet butt and got to take a wet beach thingy home.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

They got the split

It wasn’t pretty, not like an Olympic gymnast’s split, and speaking of gymnastics, (it took me all day to figure out how to get gymnastics into a baseball blog, give me points for effort) I got slammed for posting a gif of McKayla Maroney flubbing up her vault. She was the favorite for Gold, she just had to make her vault, she didn’t, she landed on her butt. And I put it on Google+, so what? What impressed me was she jumped up, took her bow before the crowd and left the mat. No drama, no crying her little eyes out and getting tear stains on her pretty pink leotard. She got up and moved on. She is a champion. Much like the Yankees.

The Yankees were up 9 games in the AL East, then they hit a slump, ‘fell on their butts’ so to speak, they had a 4 game losing streak and saw their lead began to shrink down to 4.5 games. What were they going to do? They got up, dusted themselves off and moved on. The Tigers had an 8 game win streak at home when the Yankees came to town, it stretched to 10 and then the Yankees broke it, Yankees 12, Tigers 8. The Yankees called on their ace, and CC delivered. I watched this game, on and off, went in the bathroom when Dave got in trouble and then, boom he was out of it. When the Tigers got within one run I ran down to get a Perrier, because, “THE YANKEES DON’T WIN ONE RUN GAMES!” In the end, it was a win.

~~ Yankees 4, Tigers 3 ~~

Today I was at work, to be honest I didn’t even know the game was on until I saw a tweet about Stewart throwing the ball quick, (oh he threw out Omar Infante at 2nd, and turned a double play so of course that makes him a better catcher than Russell Martin [I’m practicing my sarcasm]). Kuroda was the starting pitcher and gave up 3 runs in the 5th but since he had such terrific run support, (how am I doing?) he didn’t get the win, Clay Rapada gets the win and the Yankees actually won a game by one run.

It’s wasn’t without its nail-biting moments. When I turned on MLB at bat Game Day on my phone and saw Yankees 4, Tigers 3, OK good then, it’s the ninth and Soriano is pitching and men on the corners and no outs. I got that little strangled feeling in my throat and yes, I closed the app. Waited for the text message the one that says:

V.MLB FINAL
Yankees 4, Tigers 3,
WP: C.Rapada (3,0)
LP: J.Benoit (1,3)
HR: M.Teixeira 21,
A.Avila 7. (AP)

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

My plans changed about a dozen times

Well maybe not that many, certainly not as often as the content of this post changed. I always ‘write’ my post ahead of time in my head and the title and content kept changing. Maybe because this is the third game I was planning to write about in my effort to ‘get blogging again’. This is a good one since I actually went to this game. But that’s not the whole story.

First it was going to be me and some friends, who just happen to be Red Sox fans going to the game. Unfortunately we were unable to get tickets, so then we thought, maybe we will all get together at a bar to watch, (Professor Thom’s? I think not) but then Kasey was planning to come to the city that day. So I was thinking, depending on when she went home would determine what I did, since she is pretty hard core and gives a look whenever I mention Red Sox fans. Then her husband was going to come, so I told my friends I was available that day if they wanted. They were nice enough to consider an ‘agnostic’ bar. As I was waiting to hear where they were thinking of going, I got an e-mail from a friend (who I had told I was going to the game) asking me if he would see me there. “No couldn’t get tickets.” He sent me an e-mail saying he might have an extra ticket, so then I was going to the game. And that is how I ended up waiting out a 2 hour rain delay in the Audi Club drinking beer and eating Jalapeño poppers and chicken fingers.

~~ Red Sox 8, Yankees 6 ~~

After taking a beating the night before, the Sox came out strong with a 3 run first inning, in the 5th inning they added 3 more runs and were now ahead by 2 runs. They held that lead until the 8th inning when Mark Teixeira tied the score with a 2 run home run. Rafael Soriano came in to close and proceeded to give up 2 runs. Alfredo Aceves (would it be sour grapes for me to call him a traitor? Ah who cares!) [TRAITOR!] and closed the game out, ballgame over, Red Sox win, which makes my record for win vs losses when attending Yankees vs Red Sox 1-4.

Before anyone gets too hyper, Yankees are still in first place, Red Sox are still in last place, and it’s now time to PLAY BALL!

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

Another Solo Game

This was another game that I got tickets to at the start of the season on a special deal. I got just one ticket because normally Kasey can’t make it to night games during the week. I don’t feel guilty about going with out since on occasion she goes to games without me. However the last game I went to alone I was bothered by the guy next to me. I had originally said harassed, but thinking back on it, bothered is a better word. This game was a different experience.

First my seats, I was sitting in the last row in the Grandstand. This is kind of my favorite row, I like looking out over the stadium and having no one higher than me (can you say “Princess”?). Then the man to the right of me was there with his daughter, not that he didn’t say a work to me, but he was in total Dad mode and his attention was focused on her. The guy on the other side of me was with his significant other (wife, girlfriend, date) and was an Indians fan (BOO), but he wasn’t obnoxious, I actually couldn’t tell for sure until about halfway through the game, and then they left about the 7th inning or so.

Weather. It was nice, no rain by the time the game started. It was very windy and I was worried about the temperature, but while a little on the cool side, I never got cold enough that I felt like leaving.

Promotion: I got a cool Yankee t-shirt free! Well, it’s a night shirt now. And it’s HOPE week. I kind of like HOPE week. I think it’s cool.

Game: Phil was pitching and he was back on his game. 8 shut-out innings and he got run support! This brings his record to 8-6. He was assisted by a catch that wasn’t. Another umpire error. A-Rod hit a home run. Ever since someone mentioned to me the Yankees wins and home runs, whenever a player hits a home run I think, “There’s the ballgame. Yankees are going to win.” In this game. like in other games, the team seemed to come alive in the 9th, I’m talking about the Indians. All four runs were scored in the 4th inning. Cory Wade was kind of off his game. No reason to boo him, well anyway, Sori came in and saved the game.

Since this game: Yankees swept the Indians. Wednesday CC was put on the DL with an adductor strain and will probably miss his next two starts, then in the fifth inning of the game Andy Pettitte got hit in the ankle. Diagnosis: fractured ankle, he’ll be out about 8 weeks. Now for our starting pitching we have to rely on Freddy Garcia and Adam Warren (Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre). I’m not expecting miracles, but unlike some other commenters, I also don’t think the Yankees will crash and burn. Garcia has been pitching well lately. I don’t know Warren, but the reports are he has been pitching well. Russell got run over by the Indians first baseman and now is out with back stiffness, he says the collision didn’t aggravate it but hmmmmm I wonder.

On a personal note, Wednesday I tried for a second time to go to a Brooklyn Cyclones game. This time I made it through the ceremonial first pitches. Then Sarah had to leave her mood had plummeted and the panic attack was heading toward major meltdown. Which happened in the Coney Island subway station. Horrible day. Then today was a horrible game and a tough loss. Some times it seems like the media is trying to start trouble between the players and managers with their questions. Then everyone gets on twitter and starts tweeting what they thought about this and that and what he said. It drives me crazy.

Last thing. Some people keep track of their ‘records’ attending games, so I went through and counted wins and loses for me. I have have stats through 2010. !0 wins, 4 losses. In 2011, 10 wins, 5 losses. So far this year, 8 wins, 3 losses.

And that’s all, going to bed now.

The next opening day

The season opener was in Tampa on Good Friday, April 6. The home opener was the next Friday, April 13 against the Angels, NY Yankees 5, Angels 0. As I have mentioned, to anyone that will listen, I was not at the game and I desperately wanted to go, I wanted to go so bad that up to the last possible minute I kept checking StubHub™ hoping a ticket would magically appear for under $100. Every time I looked up tickets, I noticed that tickets for Sunday, which was also Jackie Robinson Day were really cheap, probably because the game was at 8:00pm on Sunday. I bought two tickets, it was cheaper to get two then one, go figure. Jackie Robinson Day was going to be my opening day.

Now I had two tickets and had to think of who did I want to go with me? I put a post on this blog, I casually mentioned it on Twitter, then I saw a tweep that I’ve met a few time, that has a few times tweeted me to “Come on Down to _____ for some drinks”, so I just asked her want to go to the game Sunday? I have an extra ticket. She was thrilled, it was her birthday weekend and she loves the Yankees. In particular Phil Hughes, she wore his shirt, she squealed when his picture came up on the Jumb-o-tron.

It was also calendar night so we got this nice calendar. It has coupons from subway and the Yankees in it are: April: Derek Jeter; May: Mariano Rivera (taken the day he got his 602nd save); June: Alex Rodriguez (he looks like he just hit a home run, he’s got that happy look on his face and relaxed); July: CC Sabathia; August: Robinson Cano; September: Mark Teixeira (I probably should tear September off and send it to Kasey); October: Nick Swisher (not Mr. October but hey, my sweet Nicky! Who two years in a row hit a walk off home run on my birthday. The next year and this year, no home game on my birthday, so no walk-off); November: Curtis Granderson; December: Russell Martin (without his face mask. Very important); January: Ivan Nova; February: David Robertson (who so coolly in this game got the last out with the bases loaded {thank you Rafe you bum}); March: Brett Gardner.

~~ Yankees 11, Angels 5 ~~

Everyone was wearing 42 today, before the game when C and I were eating pizza and drinking beer at the pizza place around the corner from the stadium, I wondered why they were showing an old Yankee game, I mean #42 was pitching, but the uniforms were the wrong color …… Then during the game she showed me a tweet, “I just turned on the Yankee game and couldn’t figure out why Mariano was pitching in the 5th inning.” So I wasn’t the only one confused.

The #42 that was pitching was Ivan Nova, despite having a cold he maintained his winning streak. 6 IP, 4 ER, 8 Ks and his ERA is now down to 4.15 (He ended spring training with an ERA over 8. I guess he needs the adrenalin of regular season). Derek Jeter and Raul Ibanez hit home runs. Then in the 7th inning Rafael comes in, gets two out and then walks two, the bases are loaded, I was screaming at him “You are not David Robertson! You cannot load the bases! If you lose this game for Ivan Nova I will kick your ass!” Since Joe didn’t want to see me get in trouble he called in D-Rob. When Boone came in for the 9th inning C pouted, she wanted to see Mo, but since it wasn’t a save situation no Mo, Boone pitched a scoreless 9th. Good game.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

Now down two, not a happy fan

~~ Tigers 5, Yankees 4 ~~

It wasn’t the low-scoring duel many expected, but Justin Verlander prevailed in his rematch with CC Sabathia, going eight gutsy innings and benefiting from a tiebreaking homer by Delmon Young in the seventh that put Detroit one win from the ALCS.

This was also not what was to happened, I want to mention that the tie breaking home run was off Soriano, who I hate, and I know I have also said a fan should not hate the players on the team, but I don’t consider Soriano a true Yankee and so I can hate him and be glad he took the loss, I didn’t want CC to have a post season loss on his record. Dave Robertson came in and pitched perfectly. If you think I am being unreasonable, look up the definition of fan.

What made watching this game even worse was the commentators stating the stats for teams down 2-1 in the post season. These are the Yankees, who have been down two games and came back to win it all (1996 WS, thank you Gersh), who never say die and when an opposing player starts bragging about beating them, have a tendency to make that player ‘eat his words’ (Jimmy Rollins anybody?)

Its not over till its over.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ Monday, October 3, 2011 ~ ALDS Game 3 😛

Post #400

~~ Rays 5, Yankees 3 ~~

Yes this is my 400th post on this blog, and it’s a shame it’s for a losing game. Even though these games don’t matter one way or the other for the Yankees, they do matter for the Rays and the Red Sox. The only reason I am not extremely upset is that every time the Rays win, it makes things tougher for the Red Sox. I really don’t want the Red Sox in the playoffs.

Another thing that is a shame is that Colon didn’t get the win. He held the Rays to 2 runs, then Soriano gave up 3 runs in the 7th. I may have tolerated Soriano when he was pitching good, but I never really warmed to him. But Bartolo I liked.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ Tuesday, September 27, 2011 😛

Another double-header because of the stupid freaking rain!

~~ Yankees 6, Red Sox 2 ~~

The pitchers for the first game of this double-header are Wakefield for the Red Sox and A.J. Burnett for NYY. Someone shoot me now.

Gardner and Jeter bunted, both came around to score. Then in the third inning Jorge hits a two run home run, 4-0 Yankees. And the Rays are leading in their game. Since this won’t be posted until after the game and no one is here to read it, “Please don’t melt down, implode, fall apart, or anything else. OK AJ? Please hold it together for your devoted fan (I might be the only one left).”

Oh Captain! My captain. And no, I don’t think he did touch home plate. Until he reached back and tagged AFTER he was called safe. I almost feel sorry for Tim Wakefield, almost.

Hate Ellsbury, all three hits have come off Ellsbury. If it wasn’t for him AJ would have a no-hitter. I will hate him more if he’s gets MVP instead of a Yankee.

And with that hit Derek is now hitting 300 and the Yankees lead 6-2.

Guess Big Sloppy was tired of walking. AJ doesn’t usually melt down this late in the game does he? OH NICE PLAY! Good fielding by Laird and AJ, 3-6-1 double-play.

AJ pitched into the 8th, D-Rob came in to pitch to Ellsbury, who hit two home runs off AJ, and struck him out. Then D-Rob pitched a scoreless ninth saving Mo and Soriano for tonight’s game if needed.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ Sunday September 25, 2011 😛