Candy Land

'I've seen you on TV!'

2009-12-14T19:11:32Z

My holiday job is in the heart of the tourist haven in Manhattan, so I expect to see more of the beautiful people than usual. I get a little too smiley though at the thought of someone I really like passing by. I'm concerned that all sense will leave me and I'll spend the rest of the day slapping myself for not saying something. The most I can do now is jot down these sightings.

Sunday Dec 6
SPOTTED: Farah Fath (Days of our Lives, One Life to Live) at 34th Street/Penn Station with corgi and entourage on 2/3 platform.

Wednesday Dec 9
SPOTTED: Jim Gaffigan (That 70's Show, My Boys), standing no more than three feet away from me on the Wakefield-bound 2 train. Boarded at 72nd Street and departed on 96th. I really wanted to say something like, "My Boys rules!" but with the day I was having I didn't want to look silly to the other commuters.

Keeping my eyes peeled for more...

Hindsight, Blindsight: Regrets and Hyperbole - Mets edition (III)

2009-11-17T07:08:06Z

The baseball season (and postseason) ended over a week ago with a confetti-filled parade for the "North American" champion New York Yankees and their fans, who waited 'nine long years' for their 27th title. You need more than two hands to count how long the Cubs have been waiting. The only other team to win two within the first decade of the 21st century is the Boston Red Sox ('04 & '07). The Phillies have a great shot at another World Series title, with midseason acquisition Cliff Lee due to be in pitching rotation for 2010. The season's awards are all but handed out, so the hot stove is burning with trade rumors and fantasy free agency signings to keep us warm all winter.

Spring training resumes in about 100 days and I hope to be employed within the next 25 days. Time really waits for no man. Blink and it'll be Opening Day. I was so happy when Mets Hot Stove premiered last Thursday. The SNY theme for Mets programming always puts me in a good mood, especially during the offseason. Many of the talks surrounding next year's Mets involve the players who will be flanking Carlos Beltran in the outfield. I have to take a peek back at the outfield patrolers in 2009.

Out of left field, the player filling that spot could not be written in ink once the Daniel Murphy experiment was deemed unsuccessful. He still owes Santana that one loss in April versus the Marlins due to his error. Lucky for him, he's cute and has a decent glove at first base. If Carlos Delgado looks good in Winter Ball in Puerto Rico, and there are no other options, there will probably be a platoon. However, for the money that Delgado would demand as a free agent, I don't think it would be worth it to dish out the big bucks for a part-timer. I really don't want to what-if going into the season regarding any position, but I'll worry about the infield after all the chips fall and negotiations end at the beginning of the regular season. The big talks regarding left field are directed at getting Matt Holliday, but I think getting pitching should be on the top of the shopping list. If Fernando Martinez can prove himself ready then I'm up for giving him a shot there. Angel Pagan needs to develop better instincts out there, in order to get my vote to play every day. Not that my vote matters. His bat would be great to have in the lineup, but if he can't make the right decisions on the basepaths then it's all for nought. I missed many of the outfield blunders because they occurred during away games when I would be working the Yankee home games, so I got to keep all of my hair. I haven't heard anything about Jeremy Reed, who played off the bench and was the defensive replacement for Gary Sheffield in left field. Oh, Sheff, I'm not going to miss those down-by-your-waist catches that worried me every time the ball went in your direction. Thanks for a wonderful stadium moment with your 500th career home run. If the Mets hadn't soured on Ryan Church and gotten Jeff Francoeur for someone else, I could have enjoyed a Church-Beltran-Frenchy outfield (since Ryan played left for the Nats while he was with them). OK, that's not as intimidating (nor as offensively dangerous) as the Ibanez-Victorino-Werth outfield the Phillies are boasting, but in my head it's nice.

Last week's Hot Stove asked, "Which position should be the Mets' priority to upgrade this offseason?" Of the five options available, I ranked them as starting pitching, catcher, relief pitching, with a tie between first base and left field. I would sacrifice left, as far as the free agent race, to get a good #1a/#2 pitcher to work with Johan.

Beltran spent a good chunk of the season nursing a bone bruise behind his knee. I was able to see him in a rehab game with the Brooklyn Cyclones in September and was happy that he was back in the Mets lineup for the last game I attended in October. It was a huge loss to have his bat and glove out of the lineup, but from interviews I've heard he feels he will be ready for year #6 starting in February.

Jeff Francoeur arriving to the team in July via trade was one of the brightest spots of the season. Frenchy hit a home run during my first visit to Citi Field, and I think he used his golf swing to launch that ball over the left field wall. It barely went over, I thought it would be a double. It helps that I was sitting in right field, behind him for the whole game. This guy seemed to be in the middle of big plays for the rest of the season, even the ones I dare not speak of ever again. It'll be good to have the crazy eyes and big grin back next year, if he continues to flourish here in the big city and plays as hard as he did down the stretch for the Metsies.

Thank you, Kate Hudson!

2009-11-15T04:51:20Z

More than a week has passed since the final out of the World Series and my last day at Yankee Stadium. My memory of the seven-month affair is falling away from me like dreams dissolve when I open my eyes and try to piece the details back together. It was saddening to visit on Thursday only to realize that I was probably never going to walk along the field level concourse again. I made sure to knock on Yogi Berra's #8 as I made my way through the tunnel under the bleachers. Why would I mess with success? The one day I didn't remember to touch it, I remember odd things happening. The events themselves are begging to be remembered now, but that's part of the forgetting process that I've been going through this week. However, I really don't want to forget.

Yesterday, I was able to recall a moment from very early in the season. It was a day game in April/May, and miraculously not raining. The memory was of an encounter with an older gentleman who was visiting the new place for the first time. My partner and I made small talk about the products we were selling and the man decided to purchase a new lanyard for his keys. The one he chose was the popular, all-sold-out-now, navy blue with the NY and Inaugural Season logos. I transferred his keys from his old lanyard to the new, while he told us why it meant so much to him to be there. He had made a lifelong friend in a fellow fan at the old stadium, one with whom he attended games with regularity for years. That day was his first game without her, as she passed away earlier this year. The gentleman got really quiet and looked as though he was going to cry. I really wanted to hug him then but wasn't sure that would be cool. He believed that she was there with him and wanted to enjoy the day in her memory. When we wished him well and he walked away to locate his seats, I hoped that the Yankees would win, if only for the man to have a pleasant memory of the day. Did the team win? No clue, they probably did though since the weather was nice.

That gentleman was not the only person who breezed through the Great Hall with a story to share. The older fans are wonderful to talk with because they've seen it all and want to make sure no one forgets the days when Mickey Mantle was the man to wait for at the players' entrance. I was happy to have a few of this season's regulars come by to shake my hand after their last games. As much as I think I am forgetting, maybe the stuff that really mattered will stick.

During my visit this week, I noticed that the manual scoreboards had not been changed as yet. The batteries were dead in my camera so I couldn't capture the World Series clinching score of 7-3 over the Philadelphia Phillies in game 6. That probably won't get changed until right before Opening Day. It would be brilliant if they left it up for the Workout Day in April 2010!

My subject was really only a sign I noticed throughout the playoffs and at the parade. It's like A-Rod is not allowed to let Kate get away. It's a good match, if only because Kate's father Kurt Russell once said in a GQ interview that his dream job would be the position of baseball commissioner. I can already see the "Who's the boss?" tabloid covers with a picture of Alex, Kate, and Kurt. The whole dating the boss' daughter thing would be hilarious. When Selig is ready to retire, the MLBPA needs to get on hiring Mr. Russell.

The winter is coming and I'm trying not to wallow in game reruns on tv and youtube (those are more for the Mets though).

Ball game over. World Series over. (You know the rest...)

2009-11-06T23:03:53Z

(click picture for larger image)

I'm still recovering from the madness that came down on the Stadium following the final out of the World Series. The details are a jumbled mess in my head right now, but I'm going to try to get them all out. I felt coming into the day that the Yankees would be able to shut the door on the Phillies, knowing that giving the Phillies any shot at a game 7 meant a situation in which the Phillies would have taken the series. During the early innings of the game, I could already hear what John Sterling's call was going to be after the last out. It felt like game 6 was going to be it, and there was no tomorrow to think about. It made me a little sad because it meant I wouldn't really need to be at the stadium anymore. Of course then I remembered that the real work would begin just after Cano tossed the Victorino grounder to Teixeira. I've had to rely on recaps of the game to see the postgame ceremonies and watching the parade today on TV still couldn't make any of it really real. I went in to work yesterday after getting home from the game at close to two in the morning. While I was getting ready to leave again a few hours later, I got overwhelmed when the news showed Hideki Matsui receiving the MVP award. Why did that make me cry?!

The craziness began around the 8th inning when Phillies fans started to leave in droves, apparently because they had been warned that their presence (in red) might incite harassment after the game. One Yankee fan hilariously declared to the departing Phanatics, "You won against the D-Rays. It doesn't count!" The security and police had their hands full, and I saw one fan on his knees begging not to be thrown out. I think he was actually too drunk to stand, plus he felt the need to take his shirt off during his plea. The building has not been as loud as it got with airhorns and folks banging on their seats. The crowd growing outside was no less excited and the stores had to be closed until the final out to prevent stampeding for the merchandise. I feel like I can now write a survival guide for shopping during the postseason. I'll give it a shot over the winter break.

After the mob of guests trying to get locker room caps and shirts cleared out of the Great Hall, I slipped out to the field level to see what was left in the wake of the celebration. Pieces of foil from the champagne bottles were strewn all over the infield near the pitching mound, and the media were still out there wrapping up their news items. The scoreboard image at the top of this page was the most surprising because it was still up long after the fans had left the building. The mantra for the postseason has been to "Win it for the Boss", with t-shirts and signs in the stands encouraging the team's success. Almost as if it was a dying man's wish. For Mr. Steinbrenner, coming second was not an option as he compared such a result to kissing one's sister. If the Phillies thought they hated the Mets before, they definitely reined the Yankees into that lovefest. It was more like they were getting a taste of their own medicine.

I thought I wouldn't feel bad for the Phillies, but they fielded a championship-worthy team this year. A team that played even better than last year's World Series winning squad. The organization is clearly still reeling from the disappointing close to the year as I saw a somber Ruben Amaro (Phillies GM) address the media on MLB Network this morning. The rest of the NL East has much to live up to if the Mets, et al. plan to overthrow the reigning kings of the division and keep them from appearing in the World Series for a third consecutive year. The way both the Yankees and Phillies are stacked right now, I can already see a sequel for next year. I really hope though that's not the case.

What else? I sort of met Phil Coke's brother.

I congratulated the fans and fellow employees as part of my fond farewell. It was probably our most successful game, money-wise, since Opening Day so it was a nice way to end the year. The players were still in the building when I left to catch the train because the crowd outside of the players' entrance was still anticipating the emerging champions. I heard that the players were honking their horns to acknowledge the fans. The sidewalk was littered with pamphlets about the sale for championship gear at Modell's, along with pieces of celebratory cigars.

The real last day will be at next week's staff luncheon and sale. I'm hoping that the organization has the foresight to have a player come to address the group. Derek Jeter would be preferable, of course. It was great seeing the Grounds Crew on their own float in the parade today because they made the field playable every day this season, rain or shine. What a nice way to honor their excellent work.

I had my camera with me yesterday and got some shots of Monument Park. I still haven't been to the museum so I will have to come back for an official tour later in the year.

Updated album: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v629/cmwarbee3/Yankee%20Stadium%20Inaugural%20Season%202009/

(click picture for larger image)

November baseball, oh what a thrill!

2009-11-02T17:43:47Z

My body might still be adjusting to the time change, or maybe I'm starting to feel the season change. Whatever the cause for my tiredness, the sure thing is that the end is near. Of the postseason, that is. If the Yankees can pull off a win tonight, the series will be over and the only other time I would need to work at the stadium again this year would be for the post-parade festivities. The analysts over at MLB Network all think that the matchup of A.J. Burnett and Cliff Lee means that the series will get back to the Bronx because Burnett might not be effective on three days' rest, even though his record in such situations has him undefeated. Admittedly, no one thought he was going to be able to get it together in Game 2, but he shut us all up. A.J. knows how important this is, not only for himself but for the whole team, who couldn't hit Cliff Lee at all on Wednesday. As long as it stays close and the Yankees can get Lee's pitch count up early, maybe they'll have another shot at the bullpen. I hope that the team will make adjustments to Lee and not remain fooled by his changeup.

Last night's viewing party was successful and it was amazing to be a part of the crowd pouring out of the stadium. It was as though the game happened right on site. Fans were honking their car horns, dancing and chanting, "Let's go Yankees," while applauding the fact that one more win would bring a title back to the Bronx. I overheard two fans on the train talking about their plans to watch Game 5, hoping that the stadium would host another screening. "That was the greatest experience of my life. This is the first game I've ever been here for." The Steinbrenners struck gold with this idea and even though it's not original, the people of this community truly appreciate the Yankees for "being good neighbors", as borough president Ruben Diaz Jr. stated. It was heartwarming to see the fathers with their young sons, and mothers with their daughters come in to enjoy the building and the company of fellow Yankee fans. All this work is for them and it was fun to be part of all of it.

Updated album: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v629/cmwarbee3/Yankee%20Stadium%20Inaugural%20Season%202009/

Saturday to Friday, just another week at the Stadium

2009-11-01T00:00:53Z

Since starting this job working for the Yankees, there have been times when it's been hard to remember what day it is or how long it has been since a certain event happened. I had a case of those forget-me's this week when I couldn't remember how long ago the end of the ALCS was. As in the Sunday that just happened felt like two weeks ago. The first two World Series games now feel like they went by in a flash, when in reality I spent close to 27 hours at the stadium for those two days.

The first game could not be opened with the fanfare usually reserved for such games with the inclement weather so only the roster lineups were announced, with the players on the baselines. Maybe the lack of flair is the reason CC Sabathia served up two home runs to Chase Utley, and Derek Jeter decided to bunt with two strikes. The 6-1 beating the Yankees took to their egos was disappointing because it was their first loss at home this postseason, and the home games should be the best opportunity to strike first. Phillies' Cliff Lee gave an inspired performance on the mound and pitched the entire game. No one else was needed to silence the Yankee bats as Lee ended the night with 10 strikeouts.

With A.J. Burnett going in Game Two, I was hoping that the team would be embarassed enough to make adjustments and give him some run support. I went to work early to help set up the main store as much of the merchandise was sold the night before. The waiting lines wrapped around the outside of the stores and at the portables, it was hard to keep items on our shelves. It didn't help at all that we couldn't take credit card purchases on the computer, and had to use the old-school knucklebusters to take those orders. Cash was my very best friend that night. Thankfully, my partner and I had experience with computerless sales so it ended up being less stressful than the first occurence. On second thought, maybe it was the big point-of-sale move that shifted the balance in the first game. You just can't mess with the mojo. The Yankees got it back though right before the game when Jay Z and Alicia Keys performed the unofficial team anthem, "Empire State of Mind" behind second base. After hearing it on the MTV VMA's I knew it would end up in the music rotation, just like Taylor Swift's "You Belong with Me" did. Now it's Derek Jeter's first (and third?) at-bat song, replacing 50 Cent's "Get Up". I got to go in to work at noon, so the soundcheck and rehearsal happened right outside the doors of the store. They must have gone over it four times before Jay Z got to play center fielder for a little bit. That was sweet, seeing him run around like a little boy. John Legend rehearsed the anthem right after they were done.

Burnett got all three guys in the first inning and we all thought he was well on his way to making up for his meltdown in Game Five of the ALCS. He only allowed one run and outmatched the ageless Pedro Martinez, who put on quite a show himself, getting batters out on sneaky curveballs. With two solo home runs by Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui, plus an insurance run, the Yankees handily put the Phillies away with Rivera entering the game for an 6-out save. I'm thankful for the extra hours and getting inside looks at the place is a perk of clocking in early. On my way in the next day, I saw Andy Pettitte and Johnny Damon driving in. I nodded to Andy and he waved back, and while I think he was waving to the guys behind me, maybe he remembered me from the encounter at the dugout seats a few days before.

I'm finally getting to see the performance from the pregame show and, wow! We could hear the song in the Great Hall, but couldn't hear the crowd reactions. If they had lost the game after a show like that, the series would have been as good as over. I'm sure the Phillies have something big planned for Game Three, but that's a tough act to follow. Derek Jeter's head bopping was the best part of the video! :) With the series tied now, there are more important things to think about. The stadium is hosting another viewing party for Game Four so I'll be working that. It's going to be even more fun than the last one since this one is the pressure cooker for sure. Game Three is starting now!

Updated album: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v629/cmwarbee3/Yankee%20Stadium%20Inaugural%20Season%202009/

Gearing up for the Fall Classic

2009-10-27T01:06:04Z

It has been a restless couple of days, watching the Yankees last Thursday night rally, only to drop Game Five. Then nervously waiting for Game Six, only to have it rained out two hours before the scheduled start time. Then waiting all day Sunday to finally get the fans in the building and the players on the field. Maybe I can finally get some sleep now. Last night's festivities were a sight to behold, and music to my ears as fan noise decibels finally got to a fever pitch. One fan yelled as he entered through Gate 6, "If you're not getting loud tonight, you have issues!" I did not want to have this battle rage on to a Game Seven, so when the Angels led 1-0, I started to get annoyed. The game is a blur of poor baserunning, overthrown balls, and timely hitting to me now. The first two examples of bad fundamentals by the Angels, and the last is just what the Yankees did to capitalize on those mistakes. The final score was 5-2, and the real games began not too long after with fans sniffing out shirts and hats that the players were receiving in their champagne-doused locker room. No doubt, the shirts that would declare the Angels as the winners were sent packing to the other side of the world. I still have a bit of a headache from the late night and early rising to get the Stadium ready for the apocalypse, I mean, World Series.

Today's tasks consisted of getting ALDS/ALCS merchandise out of all the booths and stores, and making room for the World Series gear being delivered these next two days. There has been much debate on the Internet between Mets fans about who to root for since both teams involved are considered bitter enemies - one more than the other, but it's relative from person to person how deep the hatred runs. I've rationalized that the Yankees winning only means good things for me. If I wasn't working there it honestly wouldn't even get my attention. Last year, the playoffs were over for me after the Phillies won the NL pennant. I couldn't watch without thinking, "that could so easily be the Mets right now." I still can't watch footage of them celebrating the WS win. If that's jealousy, then fine, I'm jealous. I still consider the Yankees the Evil Empire, but win or lose I could still have a job at the end of next week, and some wonderful memories to take home with me. MLB Network's Barry Larkin said last week that the Yankees have it harder than the Phillies because if they don't win, the whole year is deemed a failure. It's the same sentiment I shared with coworkers a few weeks ago during the ALDS. No one is going to care about the 103 wins and quarter-of-a-billion dollars if there's no trophy or ring to show for it.

Spent lunch on the field level and walked down to the Yankees dugout to take pictures. CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett were already in the outfield stretching and long tossing. Andy Pettitte came out of the dugout around the same time we were down there, so it was cool to finally see him in person. I don't know what I'm going to do if I see a Phillie tomorrow. I feel like I'd want to boo, but I'm more likely to giggle and stare than anything else.

Updated album: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v629/cmwarbee3/Yankee%20Stadium%20Inaugural%20Season%202009/

Hindsight, Blindsight: Regrets and Hyberbole - Mets edition (II)

2009-10-23T20:07:22Z

I think somewhere in the back of every Mets fan's mind, this bitter end was inevitable. I remember chatting with Mets fans at Yankee Stadium early in the year, when the team was doing OK and in first place. That must have been May, the only good month the team had. In those conversations, we were always wary of getting overly excited about the team being on top of the division, like we were just waiting for the other shoe to drop. At the time, Yankee fans were ready to deny their team because the play on the field wasn't justifying the price of admission. I heard much less complaining after A-Rod returned and new life was breathed into the Bombers, and not a peep now that the team is one win away from winning the American League championship. I still see Mets fans at the Stadium, but I don't dare bring up our shared disappointment within the confines of enemy quarters, if only to hold on to what's left of our dignity and blend in with the rest of the city. A city waiting in anticipation for a winner, a city deserving of a champion, with few teams lined up to deliver. The Mets didn't expect this end either and looking at the differences between their Opening and Closing Day infielders, disaster could not have been averted. Could it?

How could I forget to mention the pitching efforts of Jon Niese and Fernando Nieve?! Niese showed growth from his time in late 2008, but had his year cut short with a hamstring injury on the mound at Citi Field. That place needs to be exorcised this winter, no joke. Nieve delivered the only winning outing during this year's subway series by shutting down Yankee batters the day after... well, I really need to find a way to stop bringing up Castillo's dropped pop-up, but everything reminds me of it!

On Opening Day, the infielders from left to right were Wright-Reyes-Castillo-Delgado, and considering the offensive year Castillo ended up having, that combination was a winning one. Even with the slow start, I have to think if Reyes and Delgado didn't get injured the Mets would have won more games. I was so ready to have the Pepsi Porch be nicknamed Carlos' Corner (of course, instead we have Utley Corner). That Luis played the most games of those guys (excluding Wright) is a testament to how messed up this whole year was. Reyes was the biggest loss with less stable replacements in Alex Cora, Wilson Valdez and Anderson Hernandez filling in at shortstop and/or second base. Cora was great for the clubhouse and on-field leadership, and played hurt for much of the year with injured thumbs. Luis Castillo is a prime candidate for Comeback Player of the Year, considering his miserable 2008, as Gary Cohen mentioned in an SNY broadcast, if all goes well in rehab, next year the Mets should have quite a few CPotY next year.

The Closing Day infield, that WON the last game on the schedule for the first time in years, consisted of Wright-Hernandez-Castillo-Murphy. Murphy is not going to ever be allowed to patrol the outfield again and since the Mets might not bring back Delgado, it looks like Murph's going to have to work even harder at first base in Fall/Winter ball to justify the team not getting a free-agent/anybody else to work there. Daniel proved himself capable, but that could just be like what he did at the end of last season to convince everyone that he was ready to play left field, after not doing it before in his professional career. This is the kid that everyone was lobbying to replace Castillo at second base. I still have never seen him play there, but if at 1st he doesn't succeed, he'll either be traded or finally tried out at 2nd. He's a third baseman, but D.Wright has ownership of that spot until he no longer wants it. I can't believe we are just now halfway through Luis Castillo's contract. I hope more improvement is on the horizon and that the Mets can justify the salaries of L.C. and O.P. by winning a pennant within the next two years. Just in time to send both packing.

I remembered being sent into a panic the day that David Wright got hit in the head with a fastball by Giants' Matt Cain. It was one of the worst moments of the year because the one person we hoped would come out of his hitting funk, just got shaken up even worse for the rest of the year. He seemed to bounce back a bit with his two homer game in Philly a few weeks later, but the new year will be the real test.

It's been a little nice to have the Mets out of the news for a while and hopefully this time out of the spotlight will serve as time spent improving themselves from top to bottom.

Just top off the misery with another World Series

2009-10-22T17:04:54Z

When Shane Victorino hit a two-run bomb in the 6th inning to give the Phillies a score of 7-3 over the Dodgers, I knew the game was over. I was having trouble really watching the game in the first place, but I was done after that. I had to concentrate on hoping the Yankees could lock up their series so that it wasn't a nailbiter that came down to a face-off on Sunday. If the Yankees can best the Angels tonight, Mets fans in attendance for the misery feast of 2009 will be served some rivalry cake for dessert, with vinegar to wash it down. I admit selfish motives in wanting the Yankees to advance, only to stay employed for another week and to say that I was in the building for a World Series game. When my picks were Dodgers/Yankees, I wouldn't have cared which team won, even though my bracket had Joe Torre beating his former team. Now that the Phillies are in it, I will for the second year in a row be supporting the AL team instead of the NL. Not something I ever like to do.

I really want to be at work for the workout day, so that there's the possibility of Phillies sightings. How tall is Jayson Werth really? The wheels have started to turn in my head about the matchups and I've broken down the following:

Starting pitching & Bullpen
The Yankees have a 2-time Cy Young winner at the top of their rotation, who has only allowed one run in each of his three postseason starts so far. [I thought it was two, but it's only one. Maybe I'm clairvoyant and see #2 coming] Andy Pettitte is a veteran who knows how to show up for games like these, and with the only real wild card being A.J. Burnett, the Yankees don't have much to worry about. Except they can't let the Phillies get under anything, because those balls will end up in the bleachers. OK, so that's a big thing to worry about. The Phillies starters are good (especially with Met refugee and veteran Pedro Martinez on hand) but the thing they have going for them in terms of facing the Yankees is the fact that only Jeter, Rodriguez and Posada are hitting right now. The rest of the bats need to wake up before the series starts. That means you, Nick Swisher! (OK, and Mark Teixeira too.)

The Yankees bullpen has the upper hand, as long as Girardi utilizes it wisely, ie. doesn't pull people early.

Infield
The advantage is split because I would take the middle infield of Rollins-Utley over Jeter-Cano. Tex is a million times better at first base than Howard, even though Ryan has been wonderful this year at that position. A-Rod over Feliz is also a no-brainer. Catcher Carlos Ruiz led the team in batting average for the LCS, and when Posada got to play he contributed key hits in his team's wins.

Outfield
I have to give the advantage to the Phillies because Ibanez-Victorino-Werth is much better defensively (and offensively, frankly) than Damon-Cabrera-Swisher. Maybe this assessment leans more on the hitting since Victorino and Werth hit home runs last night, while the only big hit from the Yankees outfield came from the defensively-inadequate Johnny Damon. I certainly couldn't do a better job, but when he gets to a ball it's like "the ball catches him". In May, I got to watch the Phillies' batting practice and saw Werth launch several home runs into the right field seats. Of course, those swings carried over into game time and scary lion-man ran all over the field to prey on fly balls. If Brett Gardner is brought in late in the game to play center, that's cool. The other night, Swish got taken out to make room for a Damon-Gardner-Cabrera outfield. Considering he is hitting in the .100s right now, I couldn't be upset with that move. Come on Dirty Thirty(-Three), you can do it!

Barring disaster this evening, a Yankees/Phillies WS will be one to watch and will probably go down to the wire in a game 7. Then I, and other Mets fans, will be left to stomach the gloating until Opening Day on April 5, 2010. It's already going to be a long winter. Let the games begin!

End of the world as we know it...

2009-10-20T22:56:00Z

It was most likely a coincidence that the R.E.M. song started blaring in Yankee Stadium's Hard Rock Cafe and Store, upon the conclusion of the third game of the ALCS with the host Angels besting their visitors with a walk-off win in the 11th inning. It seemed like Yankees Universe might be ready to jump off the Macombs Dam Bridge when Angels' catcher Jeff Mathis lined a double off the wall and over Jerry Hairston Jr.'s head to plate the winning run. If the Yankees thought they were building up good karma for themselves by opening the stadium for their fans to watch the away game for free, there were definitely signs of it early in the day. I was set up in the store for the day, but a little bummed that I would not be able to see the game when the broadcast started and we were still seeing the Mike Francesa Show. As a result, we missed Derek Jeter's leadoff home run against Jeff Weaver. All of the Yankees runs in the game were due to the long ball, solo shots by Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon and Jorge Posada. It was funny to have the reactions in the store followed by the delayed reactions of the folks watching in the Great Hall and field level seats, five seconds later.

As time drew closer for the beginning of the game, the crowd gathering outside were chanting their devotion to the Yankees, anticipating the opening of the gates. I felt overdressed with two sweatshirts on, since the weather ended up being much warmer than I anticipated. I was grateful to be inside though, despite the blaring heat in the store, when guests came in to buy sweatshirts. During my break, I got to check out the proceedings and witnessed a Mets fan being jeered out of the building. He didn't appear to be causing trouble but once you're wearing orange and blue in Yankee territory, you can't be too surprised with what you get. Before the game, I saw on MLB Network that the Angels have never lost an ALCS after being down 2-0, and was a bit concerned after their win that the tide of momentum would be flowing in the Angels' favor. This game was a big bounceback win for them, especially considering what happened over the weekend in the Bronx.

Game 1 was much like the first game of the ALCS with CC Sabathia powering through the lineup, again only allowing one run. Solid win for sure, but another snoozer, and with A.J. Burnett on the schedule for game 2, things were promising to be more interesting. I'm not exaggerating when I say I was freezing my butt off on Saturday night. I was in for a noon call-time so when the game went into extra innings well past midnight, I wanted out. When the Angels broke the 2-2 tie at the top of the 11th, I was annoyed because I felt it was essential for the Yankees to win the two home games. No one wants to have to say that they were at the one that they lost. The Angels sent their closer Brian Fuentes in for the bottom of the inning and closer-killer, as of late, A-Rod launched a home run over the right field wall. He'd done it again! Saved a game 2 again! No one was really all that upset with staying late after that happened. Sure, I was still reeling from the exhaustion on Monday, but it was well worth it to be present for another classic. The game ended two innings later on an error that would make Luis Castillo blush.

My time card declared my actual time out as: 1:59 am 10/18/09. Crazy.

The Angels have descended...

2009-10-15T23:17:22Z

Today, I got to go in to work as part of the set-up team for the ALCS. I had no idea that it was going to rain or be as cold as it was today, but at least now I know how to dress for tomorrow. If not for the dull weather, the Angels and Yankees would have spent their workout day above ground, so that the staff could watch. I didn't even know the players were going to be in until I saw A.J. Burnett pull his car into the player entrance as I walked to Gate 8 to check-in. After spending the morning helping in the Hard Rock store, I spied two Angels playing catch outside of the visitor's dugout, in the rain, covered in red from head-to-toe. It was cold! Conan O'Brien has been joking all week about the residents of L.A. freaking out over getting rain, since they haven't had very much since June. Maybe this gives the Yankees an edge, since they've been playing in this kind of weather for most of the year. There were only a handful of really warm days this summer, and winter is definitely on its way quickly.

After working in the store, I was reassigned to the warehouse, located on the field level by the visitors' clubhouse, to prepare the ALCS merchandise that was just delivered. Soon, we started to notice players walking through the hallway to get to the team bus. I said hi to former-Met Scott Kazmir, and blushed when Torii Hunter and Chone Figgins walked by. Hunter reminds me of the guy I had a crush on in college. He managed to make my heart burn the same way the crush did. I only recognized a few other people, like John Lackey and Mike Scioscia. Jose Mota, on-field reporter for the Angels, walked by and said hi too. FOX's Ken Rosenthal hurried back and forth through the hall while talking on his phone. He really is very short. Oh, I saw Bobby Abreu too! Many of the guys with the team were really personable and greeted us without much trouble. It's going to be a fun series! My big question was why couldn't we do this work outside of the Yankees' clubhouse?!

Even though it was really rainy and I wouldn't be allowed to take pictures, I'm really bummed that I didn't have my camera with me. I will have to make sure to fit it into my jacket since staff will not be allowed to have bags this weekend.

P.S. I am very happy with my perfect score on today's MLB.com postseason trivia quiz. Two minutes to answer ten questions and I got them all, with fifty seconds to spare. :)

Hindsight, Blindsight: Regrets and Hyperbole - Mets edition (I)

2009-10-15T01:03:39Z

The film, 2012, co-written and directed by Roland Emmerich ("Independence Day"), chronicles the events leading to the end of the world as dated on the Mayan calendar. Emmerich has mastered the global disaster flick genre (if there is one) and this recent offering, starring John Cusack and Amanda Peet, will scare the pants off paranoid moveigoers this November. I'm not sure though, in current economic and social times, if seeing a movie about the apocalypse is going to be the same thrill it used to be. In true Mets obsession, watching the trailer made me think of the team and how they need to get it together within the next two years if they're going to win that third championship. However, the Mets just finished making their own six-month long disaster movie plagued with freak injuries and abysmal plays on the field. The naval tanker that toppled the White House in the trailer reminded me of the unassisted triple play turned by the Phillies against the Mets in August. Or maybe it's more like how I felt when Castillo dropped the A-Rod pop-up in June. Maybe their version of 2012 will be all roses, green grass and sunshine. Here's to hoping things can't get any worse in 2010.

I'm going to take a look at all the positions (without taking too much time to fact-check), who played 'em and who got played there. Just so this doesn't run long, I'll start with the boys that form the battery (then follow with the infielders and outfielders in separate posts):

1. Starting pitching / Bullpen
I was a supporter of bringing free agent Oliver Perez back to the starting five, if only because he seemed to fare well against the threats in the division (Phils, Braves, Marlins). Of course, he was due to stink it up against the "lower echelon teams" because, well, he's Ollie and rarely shows up for teams that have a worse record than the Mets. Perez started the year in the WBC, changing his pitching delivery and slacking on his work outs, so he was damaged by the time the Mets needed him in April. To add injury to insult, Oliver hit the DL for the first time in his career and after a few screwy starts upon his return, got sent back to Florida before the end of the season. This is why I am not in charge of signing the players. I could not see this mess coming.

The injury bug, as the phenomenon of maladies striking the team was called this season, bit everyone in the starting rotation and a few people with promise in the bullpen so the survivors in that group will be out to shake off those bad vibes in Spring Training. We barely got to see J.J. Putz in action before elbow issues sidelined him for the year. Reliever-starter-reliever Robert Parnell was rocking the 'homeless' Jim Halpert hair cut by the end of the season, but managed not to be as freaking awesome as Jim Halpert. He's so worn out by this season's troubles that he's not going to Venezuela to play winter ball. Feel better soon, honey!

Besties, Maine and Pelfrey had to spend most of the season separated as John rehabbed his shoulder in Florida. It was hilarious when Maine returned and attributed his successful start to the big kiss Big Pelf gave him when John walked into the clubhouse. "I thought you weren't going to let the public know about that," was Mike's adorable response when confronted about it. Not too many things this year made me laugh, so thanks guys.

The Mets should be looking to find a viable #1b/#2 starter to complement Johan Santana, who spent the end of the year recovering from surgery to remove floating bone chips in his elbow. If they can get a few guys to compete for the 5th starter spot in Spring Training, excellent. Tim Redding was good during the close of the season, but I'd like to see if he could be strong enough for the whole year. I shook my head in disbelief when I saw Freddy "Met for a Spring Training Month" Garcia pitching well for the White Sox at the end of the season. Also, seeing Angels' Brian Fuentes end the year with the most saves in the league made me laugh because the Mets passed on him to get Frankie Rodriguez, last year's league-leader in saves. Congrats Mr. Fuentes, you're in the postseason.

Livan Hernandez was solid for most of the first half of the season but, to make room for Billy Wagner in late August, the team released him and he returned to the Nationals. Hernandez pitched one of the three complete games the Mets served up this year -- the others by Pat Misch and Nelson Figueroa.

The craziness with walking/hitting batters/balking to get the opposing team's winning run in to score has to stop! If the pitchers can limit those events to zero next year, I think we'll get more games won, don't you think, Sean Green?

2. Catcher
Three tigers crouched behind the batter's box this year for the Mets: Ramon Castro, Omir Santos and Josh Thole. Oops, four - I forgot Brian Schneider. Santos was brought in early in the year to sub for the back-up Castro, who got to start because Schneider was hurt. When Santos got to be known as Mr. Clutch and Schneider was basically stamped as Pelfrey's catcher, there was no room for Ramon and he was traded to the White Sox for some dude named Lance Broadway. Castro went on to catch Mark Buehrle's perfect game on July 23rd, so suck on that Mets! There went Santana's catcher, but Jo is a pro and worked well with Schneider/Santos for the remainder of the year.

In September, the expanded roster allowed for the Mets to try out Josh Thole, who was hard to get out in his first few big-league at bats. I think he only has two strikeouts in his young career and has a really good approach to hitting. Of course, his defense is an area that he has room to improve in, and seeing Schneider counsel him through the last weeks -- prepping the kid to take his job -- was heartwarming. Schneider's on his way out, for sure. Perhaps not by the Ryan Church route, but out nonetheless.

There don't seem to be any young, in-their-prime catchers available this offseason, but the Mets should still be shopping. COO Jeff Wilpon said money would be no object, so they should add starting catcher to the list of needs. If Jason Varitek isn't going back to the Red Sox, maybe he could....? Ooh, Jarrod Saltalamacchia! Just to have his name spelled out on the back of a Mets jersey would be reason to get him. Again, the reason why I'm not in charge of hiring the talent.

Parts II (infield) and III (outfield) to come soon...

P.S. My playoff bracket is not doing great as I have incorrectly guessed the outcomes for all four LDS. Three of my picks advanced but not in the number of games I chose. As long as it's an all blue World Series, I'm cool. What I guessed ( ) and the outcome [ ]:

NLDS
Rockies-Phillies (Rockies in 5) [Phillies in 4]
Cardinals-Dodgers (Dodgers in 5) [Dodgers in 3]

ALDS
Red Sox-Angels (Angels in 5) [Angels in 3]
Yankees-Twins (Yankees in 4) [Yankees in 3]

NLCS
Phillies*-Dodgers (Dodgers in 6) [Phillies in 4]

ALCS
Yankees-Angels (Yankees in 6) [Yankees in 6]***

WS
Yankees-Dodgers (Dodgers in 6)** [Yankees in 6]

* I should have known better than to expect them not to advance. Thanks for nothing, Rockies!
** I should know better than to bet against the Yankees. Thanks for showing me the light, Joe Nathan!
*** Finally got one right! Longest week ever.

The Extra, Extra Games

2009-10-12T18:33:21Z

Many events have transpired since I last posted, as the Yankees clinched the AL East division title on 9/27 to less fanfare than the Jeter record-breaking hit night brought. I can only judge that based on how fast the t-shirts were sold at my booth...and in writing that I can flash back to the madness that actually came down on the place that Sunday afternoon. The fans were still in their seats watching the team celebrate on the field when the shirts and caps went up for sale, so the five minutes of peace we had before the rush was all I could remember. My partner and I ended the day barricaded in the booth with merchandise strewn every which way after the tornado of fans cleared out close to 5 PM. The Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox on the eve of Yom Kippur, securing their 100+ win season and setting up a possible meeting with Boston in the postseason. Boston's out now (thanks Angels!) so the Yankees will have to slow down the running game of those heavenly bodies from Anaheim starting this Friday night.

I'm getting ahead of myself though, because round 1 for the Yankees was a nice appetizer series that deserves some attention too. Going into last Wednesday, I was nervous about the game because I had dreamt that I got to work on time but couldn't make it to my desired location until 55 minutes later. I ended up getting there five minutes late, by my standards - considering I still have to walk from centerfield to home plate to check in after clocking in. It's not a short walk. Even with the big home runs by Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui, ALDS Game 1 versus the Minnesota Twins felt like any other regular season game. Fans were milling around in droves during the later innings, and with the 5-run lead it started to get really boring. The biggest upside was that the game commenced at 6:07 PM so we were not going to be stuck there beyond midnight, barring any freak changes in the weather. The merchandise for the series got in much later than anticipated because the matchup wasn't decided until less than 20 hours prior. The Twins and the Detroit Tigers had still needed to have a play-in game to determine the winner of the AL Central, but couldn't do it on Monday night because the Minnesota Vikings were hosting Monday Night Football at their shared home, the Metrodome. I giggled when I heard the new long name the Metrodome is going to get now that the Twins are moving over to Target Field - Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. I stayed up to watch the game because it promised to be a classic and I was rooting for the Twins to finally get a chance to advance since missing said chance last October when Jim Thome homered the Chicago White Sox to the division pennant in last year's play-in. Game 163 was fun from start to finish with tie-making and tie-breaking home runs, laser-sharp pitching from the starters and bullpen, and heroics in the outfield to keep things close. Twins closer Joe Nathan was so good in that game that I figured he was over his blown save at Yankee Stadium earlier this year. That place tends to make closers look silly sometimes including their resident closer, Mariano Rivera - he's gotten over his own blown saves too!

Game 2 was so much better in terms of drama that it played out like a fun Friday night movie. In A.J. Burnett's first career postseason start versus Nick Blackburn and the Twins, the effectively wild Burnett managed to only allow one run even though he walked four and hit two batsmen back-to-back. It was like watching the right-handed version of Oliver Perez, only there was less damage to clean up afterward. A.J. was less than pleased in giving up the run, but was not to be outdone by the bullpen who gave up two more. Blackburn kept the Yankees in check and only allowed them a run, and his mates in the Twins bullpen set aside batters without much difficulty. I was starting to get annoyed because if the Yankees lost, the Twins would have the chance to win the series back in Minneapolis and then my season would be over. I know, I know, it's not all about me. Joe Nathan came in to close it out in the 9th and considering what I had seen on Tuesday night, the game was pretty much over with the Twins leading 3-1. Fans were gathered in the Great Hall sadly anticipating the final out in a game that looked to take the power of the series away from the Yankees. Things began to look hopeful when Mark Teixeira managed a single to right against Nathan, but the righty-righty matchup against A-Rod screamed pop-up (like the K-Rod/A-Rod matchup was supposed to... and almost did). Rodriguez shut that notion up in a hurry as he belted a home run into the Yankees bullpen to tie the game. I don't think I've ever seen the guys out there jumping up and down the way they were when the ball finally landed. It was funny watching the fans standing on the very edge of the building turn back and head back upstairs in the elevators. We were back to square one and, with three more outs, headed to extra innings.

In the 10th inning, Jorge Posada hit a single and Brett Gardner was sent in as the pinchrunner with Jeter up to bat. Of course, Gardner managed to steal second, and in a pickoff attempt got over to third base after diving into the second baseman and sending the baseball flying into centerfield. He surely was using his head, and those legs got him where he needed to go. What became of Jeter's at-bat, I don't remember, but Johnny Damon ended up lining into a double play as Gardner got tagged off third base.

On to the 11th! The Twins managed to get the bases loaded with no one out, and Joe Girardi came out to have a conference on the mound with his infielders. He must have threatened bodily harm if any ball left the infield because those boys executed three of the best outs of the whole game. The first batter, post-meeting, lined out to Teixeira. One out. Second batter grounded into a force out (not a fielder's choice, oops) as Tex threw the ball home to get Mauer at the plate. (How could I forget the ground-rule double that was called a foul ball?! Sorry, Mauer) Two out. Third batter, well, how did that one go again? OK, just checked and the third out was made with a fly out to Gardner in center. The bottom of the inning was Tex-dominated as Marky Mark lined a home run over the left field wall almost kissing the foul pole to win the game. I still can't believe the Twins let that one slip away. The stadium had only been as loud as it got on 9/11 and this game is going to be stamped as a classic and rerun all winter no matter how this all turns out.

I watched Game 3 last night at home and the Twins delivered strong pitching again with former Yankee, Carl Pavano in the driver's seat. He held the Yankees scoreless through 6 innings as the Twins led by a lone run, but served up a mighty long home run to Alex Rodriguez, who hit the bomb to the opposite field in right, in the 7th. The offense seemed to wake up then as Posada hit his own tater out to left that bounced off the first row of seats to put the Yankees ahead for the rest of the night. The Twins ran themselves out of retaking the lead as the Yankees played heads-up baseball. If Joe Mauer doesn't get the MVP award for this season, it has to go to Derek Jeter. After three Twins relievers gave up a walk apiece to load the bases in the 9th, Nathan was brought in again to stop the bleeding but the damage was done as two more runs crossed. Rivera closed the door on the 4-1 victory and now Yankee employees will have Friday to look forward to as the Angels come in for Games 1 & 2. The weather forecast has rain, rain and more rain but we have to get the games played. The Yankees have been playing better in dreary weather lately so maybe it'll be an advantage for them. Well, I hope it does.

As insufferable as the Yankees seemed to be as an organization, with lording their 26 championships over everyone in baseball, this year's team is one that's hard not to want them do well. If only for Swisher to get a WS ring, I'm a supporter. The Angels have been said to be a team of destiny with their motivations to honor their fallen brother, Nick Adenhart, in a moving tribute of hard-fought wins and smart baseball all around. The Yankees will be cast as the villains in this series' movie, but they'll find a reason to make you want them to win. Angels in the Outfield is one of my favorite movies, and thankfully the team the fictional California Angels beat in the movie was the White Sox, phew! This story will be full of intrigue as new leading men will have the chance to shine. Alex Rodriguez, Torii Hunter, Mark Teixeira, and Vladimir Guerrero have set the stage for quite a showdown. Let's get this party started!

Updated photo album!: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v629/cmwarbee3/Yankee%20Stadium%20Inaugural%20Season%202009/

Oh, I almost forgot. Every time the Twins bullpen came in during the last few days, the following commercial would pop into my head and I'd start singing:

The Twins' advertising team wins with the absolute best use of their players "talents". The New York teams probably don't think they need fun commercials like these, but I would love to see this much fun injected into ad breaks on SNY and YES.

Hello, October baseball!

2009-09-23T20:51:20Z

I don't watch Gossip Girl but I feel like the notes I've written about the last few weeks at Yankee Stadium would be more interesting if relayed in the voice of the title character. I'm no Kristen Bell, so nevermind.

On September 7th, the Yankees knocked around the Tampa Bay Rays, winning both parts of the draining doubleheader. What a way to spend the national holiday to celebrate the 8-hour work day! The 14-hour workout definitely opened my eyes to why baseball players get the amount of money they get paid. Derek Jeter managed to go hitless for both games (plus the next day) which was disappointing since everyone was there to watch him tie and pass the hit record. How do you not get a hit as the DH?

Nick Swisher is finally hitting 'em out of the stadium! On the 8th, he hit two home runs in a game where all the runs were achieved via the long ball. One from each side of the plate! Swish hit his second to right field as the winning, walk-off run of the game, and it barely went over the wall. These Yankees are masters at winning in the 9th inning. In more Gossip Girl-ier news, I read in the paper that Nick is dating actress Joanna Garcia, which answers the question of why she was spotted at the stadium this month. And leaves me one heartbroken girl.

09/09/09 was quite a day! Jeter got his three hits to tie Lou Gehrig for career hits as a Yankee - 2721. He also got his 300th stolen base! He led off the game with a bunt single to break up the three-game hitless streak (did he not hit in Toronto too?). I think everybody in the place got goosebumps when he got the third hit. I look forward to the day when the Mets get to make their fans feel that good again. The Yankees trailed for most of this one but Jorge Posada hit a pinch-hit 3-run home run to put the team ahead in the 8th. "Gossip Girl" saw Entourage's Jerry Ferrera and Jamie-Lynn Sigler being cute and cozy, enjoying the game while Soprano Steve Schirripa (I had to double-check the spelling, ha) wasn't sitting too far away.

Ever since September 11th, 2001, I don't think we've had another 9/11 pass without a heavy downpour of rain. This year was no different with the planned memorial ceremonies being delayed as fans nervously anticipated Derek Jeter's feat while somberly remembering the significance of the date. The meet-and-greet planned, based on the barricades set up, was washed out too. "Tonight, this becomes Yankee Stadium," were the words a fan uttered as we all waited for the rain to stop falling enough to prepare the field. Everyone was in their seats for Jeter's first at-bat so it was ridiculously quiet when the game started. I didn't want him to get the hit then because my partner in crime was out on an errand and it would have been sad for him to miss it. In the third inning, I got to stand on the field level for his second AB and I have never heard the place that loud, and the noise only seemed to grow in intensity once he got the hit on the second pitch. It reached body-shaking levels of intense after the whole team hugged him and he acknowledged the ovation. I definiteld won't forget all the flashbulbs popping or the pulsing electricity in every person in attendance for a christening of the team's 21st century legend. As a Mets fan, I was jealous because I couldn't even wholly enjoy it. Believe me, the day that David Wright is in position to break such a record, I'll be a puddle of tears and will want to be attendance for it. Fortunately, I got back to my work station in time for the mad rush of customers looking to purchase hit-record merchandise that flew out of the booth so fast that there was no time to fold them. There was another rain delay and if the game got suspended I guess the hits wouldn't have counted so we waited. I don't know what time the game ended but I wasn't out of the building until 1:30 in the morning.

My notes frog-leap the Baltimore series and land on the forgettable Angels make-up game, one the Yankees won. I don't remember how. It was like everyone in the place knew this game was supposed to be an off-day. The last game of the home stand against Toronto more than made up for the lack of excitement in the days after the Jeter hit with a real-live baseball brawl, incited by Jorge Posada, who had a ball miss hitting him in attempted retaliation for a Toronto batter being hit earlier in the game. There was a lot of contact and few people came out of it with scratches (and suspensions). My first baseball fight and I still had to watch it on TV.

The last six home games of the regular season start on Friday and I'm thankful for the opportunity to work during the postseason. God really takes care of His children and knew that working for the Yankees would be a better fit for me. I have a little more time before I need to have another job and I hope I can find a place as fun as this one turned out to be. Hopefully, I won't have to say goodbye until late, late October. Like after Halloween. In a related note, Halloween candy hit the shelves right after Labor Day. A little too soon, no?

XOXO,
Gossip Girl

Seen and Heard

2009-09-02T19:04:30Z

On August 18, during a segment of the Mets pregame show SNY analyst Ron Darling described matchup between Braves' Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez as "the automatic versus the enigmatic." Such sharp wit, that Ronnie. In a pleasant and unexpected twist, the Mets went on to oust the Automatic from the game after an 8-run rally to tie then take the lead in the fourth inning with a record-setting 10 hits. Perez got credited with the win even though he gave up two home runs in the first three frames. Of course, the universe became balanced again when the following night, the Braves had a little 8-run rally of their own. Oh, the luck the Mets have, huh?

~*~

When were the Yankees playing the Red Sox again? Well, whenever it was, it was a weekend to savor. Wow, those Boston fans are probably my favorite to interact with at the Stadium. I had one guest from Mississippi school me on the art of negotiation by attempting to have me sell him the schedules that are available for free. After that madness, he told me that he hated the Yankees so I assumed he was a Red Sox fan:

Tyler from MS: Well, not really. You're not going to believe me, but we went to school [Miss State] with Jonathan Papelbon. We played baseball with him. {Cinco Ocho did not get to pitch that night because the Yankees were destroying his team - rough weekend for Red Sox Nation}

I thought that was cool.

Tyler from MS: No, he was terrible. Shoulda called him "Loser-bon".

He then went on to get confirmation of the story from his friends, and his girlfriend came over to ask if he could move in with us at our booth.

~*~

08/26 - player meet-and-greet in the Great Hall: CC Sabathia (looks so much taller in person! taller than A.J.!), Jerry Hairston Jr. and Melky Cabrera. Yankees beat Rangers in game 2.

08/27 - Burnett did not allow a hit for the first 3.1 innings, then walked two batters and let up a home run to Ian Kinsler. Meltdown = 7-2 loss, Texas wins series.

At my booth, I have a display of a crystalized image of Derek Jeter with a fan captioned, "Jeter and Rachel: Yankee Stadium Opening Day". It's not a real picture, it's just made to look like the two people were really together in the shot. We get a lot of people stopping by to ask, "Who's Rachel?" but on this day, one guy put me off guard:

"Is Rachel the one Jeter is going to marry?"

After explaining to him the process, he seriously thought that I was putting one over on him, "Are you sure?".

"No, she is not The One."

08/28 - Jorge Posada's father stopped by the booth to admire his son's crystal card at the beginning of the game, while I was still setting up. :)

CC was dominating the ChiSox for seven innings before a 2-0 lead became a 2-2 tie. Mr. Perfect Mark Buehrle (hardest name to spell correctly) was anything but as he allowed a lead-off solo HR to Jeter and another to Johnny Damon later in the game. Then the dreaded extra innings came upon us, and Robinson Cano mercifully let us all go home with a walk-off 3-run home run at the bottom of the 10th. I was most pleased with Nick Swisher getting walked during that inning, considering his bat has been quiet at Yankee Stadium this whole season. He's a road warrior. Yankees finished sweep on Sunday afternoon.

Getting ready for the stretch run...

2009-08-21T23:11:09Z

As the contender pool for the playoff push gets smaller with each win and loss, I expect that things will get more exciting at work in the coming weeks. The Mets start a series with the division-leading Phillies tonight and will fight to not get pushed further than 14.5 games out of the division race (currently 12 games out of wild-card contention). Yikes. Even though the string of losses this month has been frustrating, I still find myself glued to the TV to watch these Mets go about their business every night. I'm stuck with them for better or worse and will ride out this storm with them until they're mathematically eliminated. Hopefully, that won't be too soon. There's still a little more than a month of baseball left to be played. So with the disappointment of an injury-riddled year for the Mets comes, for me, an opportunity to watch and be a part of history being written for the Yankees at the new stadium. The Yankees have provided some much needed distraction from the Mets in the newspapers and in general, as they've made my work environment very entertaining. I'm already dreading the end of the season, knowing I have no plans beyond plus not getting to have fun every day at the ballpark anymore. My playoff bracket already has the Yankees in the World Series, but maybe putting that out there in the universe is going to change that. My projected matchup will have the Dodgers as the NL opponent, so that Joe Torre's return to the Bronx will come sooner than next year's projected interleague series.

I'm going to do my best to document the next couple of weeks because I think some really special stuff is going to happen. I need to start jotting notes during and after games, because so much of this stuff falls out of my head over the long break. During the last homestand, the players did another "meet and greet" and once the barricades got set up, the guessing game began as to who would be the trio to come out of the magical door. I told my coworker that if Nick Swisher came through the door, I would probably be on the floor. Of course, Swish was one of the three along with Ramiro Pena and A.J. Burnett. I didn't even see the other two guys, I was that distracted by my Nicholas that I couldn't even speak. Luckily as the photo sesh ended and the players made their way back to their workout on the field, Swish walked by my booth again and waved when my partner called to him. With a "What's going on baby?!" and a salute (complete with heart-melting grin), Nicholas Thomas Swisher totally made my day. Of course, it was the day that I left my camera at home because I didn't want my bag to be too heavy. His current Twitter post reads: "Let's do the damn thing", as the Yankees try to push the Red Sox further back in the division race this weekend. Thing is, they haven't won a game at Fenway Park yet this year.

Thanks to the vendor of my booth, I now have a light-up Mets logo key-chain.:) I'm sure there's more to talk about... Oh, Billy Wagner made a triumphant return to the Mets last night, post-Tommy John surgery rehab, and pitched a scoreless 8th inning, striking out two and reaching pitch-speeds of 95 mph. It was so good to see him running onto the field to Enter Sandman again. Sadly, the Mets still lost again to the Braves. Plus, the Mets put Wagner on waivers and he was claimed by the Red Sox, pending a deal to be made by Tuesday.

OK, now I can't think of anything else... I'm just glad to be getting back to work next week.

Orange Foul Pole #17: First Visit to the Citi (Field)

2009-08-06T17:06:28Z

Yes, I know that sounds weird.

When was the last time you saw a rainbow? A couple of Sundays ago on the way home from Yankee Stadium there was a freak downpour of hail followed by rain. The clouds quickly swept through the region and I could see the storm being left behind the 2 train as I neared home. On the walk toward my apartment, I saw it: the first rainbow I can recall in a long time It was my sign of hope and relief that after 13 consecutive days of work, I was finally getting a break. Even though there was still a bit of a drizzle, I didn't have much need for my umbrella once I got to the front steps of my building, as the sun came out and the remaining showers drifted to the east. This made me look forward to attending my first Mets game at Citi Field the next evening even more.

That's not really where the story begins though. It all started a few weeks ago during the All-Star break when I was juggling the decision to attend another "Mets at the Movies" event. It has become a bit of a tradition for me to go each summer, dating back to its inception in 2007, but I really didn't want to spend the money. That week, I was helping out in the 365 Team Store at the Stadium so I had to restrain the desire to wear Mets gear to work for three days. I decided the night before the event that I just had to go because my schedule would not allow me to go to any others this year. I managed to get away with orange earrings at work on the day of "Mets at the Movies", and seven o'clock could not come soon enough.

I spent most of the afternoon after my shift walking around Yankee Stadium and taking pictures. I think I've covered every inch of the exterior at this point, but I will have to be stealthy and get some good interior shots as well. Ooh, maybe even an actual ballplayer, for once. Anyway, the event was one of three to be held that night simultaneously in Manhattan, Long Island and New Jersey, so the theater reserved for our group in Chelsea was not as large as the beautiful Zeigfeld. The crowd atmosphere definitely suffered as a result as it never got as loud as the last two years seemed to get. The man of the hour was the beloved Mr. Met and I finally got to take a picture with him. I can't believe I forgot to show him that I was wearing a necklace with his face on it. Even though the Mets were taking a beating from the Braves, the Pepsi Party partolers were keeping the fans in it by throwing t-shirts, cups, and caps. I got a cap and two programs, but the real prize came when I aggressively bid to be a trivia contestant and won seats for a matchup versus the Rockies. I was on a cloud for the rest of the night and couldn't be phased by people telling me I was rooting for the wrong team. I really wanted to win something at one of these events, and considering I didn't do well at the last contest for tickets the month before, I thought the Mets repaid my labor.

Since the tickets were for the field level, I decided that my mom had to be the one to go with me. I may not get lower seats ever again, and my mom was never a fan of Shea's upper deck, not even the upper box seats. I donned my new blue Beltran t-shirt with dark denim jeans, complete with orange piping, while my mom went Mets chic and wore an orange dress with a striped blue sweater. The wardrobe change later in the game was blue jeans and a grey and black, long-sleeved Wright shirt. Getting out to the stadium was fun on the express line and an exciting return to Queens since my last visit -- last September. It was jarring to not see Shea Stadium at the bottom of the station steps, but I have seen so many pictures of the new place that it wasn't really that big of a deal. I will have to go back and really take it in because the storm clouds were rolling in and we needed to get inside, pronto. I was surprised that the entrance to the Rotunda wasn't packed so were entered through there and after a quick visit to the store, headed up the escalator to our seats in right field.

Citi Field looked small to me, in person. It looks so expansive on TV, but maybe it was my excitement that blurred my vision. The food options are wow, there's a lot to eat there, even though the serving sizes don't match the prices. El Verano Taqueria was where we landed, just past the bridge and enjoyed the fare there. Our seats were right behind the foul pole and as the rainstorm cleared out and the players started to come out to stretch, I couldn't wait for the game to start. My mom has only been present for Mets losses (one in extras), and I was hoping for her luck to change that night even with Oliver Perez on the mound. I was dutifully keeping score for the beginning of the game until I had a jonesing for Carvel, but really didn't miss much as the Mets were behind early. The apple didn't pop up right away after Jeff Francouer hit what I think was his first home run at the park, which I think is because the team was on the road for such a long time after the last rising on the Sunday before the break. It came up on time later though when I got to see my first Mets grand slam in person. Thank you, Fernando Tatis. I was just hoping he wouldn't ground into a double play with the bases loaded. Best game ever! It was funny for the grand slam to happen then, considering my last game at Shea had a Cubs grand slam by the starting pitcher, Jason Marquis, who is currently playing for the Colorado Rockies. Isn't that something?

The pictures that I took don't do the place any justice. I will have to do some more exploring the next time that I am out there. Now, I just have to win myself another chance...

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v629/cmwarbee3/Lets%20Go%20Mets/

Also, more Yankee Stadium (back to work today, holla!)

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v629/cmwarbee3/Yankee%20Stadium%20Inaugural%20Season%202009/

All-Star Non-Break

2009-07-13T04:06:09Z

The days that pass between the Yankee road games and games at home continue to zoom by quickly, and in the blink of an eye I'll be back at the stadium for a stretch of ten games in a row -- Detroit and Baltimore for three apiece and Oakland for four, including a makeup game from April. I officially have one day off left tomorrow to do laundry, before I get to go in for three days of set-up duty at work. I am so grateful for the extra days of work because as this is my only job, having the All-Star break off was not looking like too much fun last week. I got to go in for one day so I know now that comfy shoes are essential to getting through the day. I couldn't sit down anywhere! There was a large group tour happening that day so the usual playlist got switched on and was blaring throughout the building. The music really doesn't sound as loud with everyone crammed into the place. As it was the day after Michael Jackson's funeral, everyone was talking about the service after "Beat It" blared over the loudspeaker. It's been nice to have some MJ thrown into the list of songs that everyone can now sing along to just because we hear them every single day. For example, if we're in a rain delay, you know they're going to play "Umbrella". I've gotten the biggest kick out of the organ-version of "Blame It", that only seems to be played before day games and one Sunday it was the first or second song when the gates opened and I guess it was a nod to the hungover folks due to be in for the game.

The biggest lowlight of the last homestand was my purse getting swiped. I'm glad that it wasn't taken from me while on my person, but it was still scary to have my belongings missing. Not a great way to start the 4th of July weekend. Thankfully, work was distracting enough in the days after so I was able to stay on an even keel for the rest of the Toronto series. I loved getting to sing the Canadian national anthem while the Blue Jays were in town. Unfortunately, the visitors from the True North (strong and free) were only able to get one win - the last game of the series. I'm looking forward to their return in September. :) One highlight came right before the first game back when Bernie Williams was spotted outside the Home Plate Store and staff were swarmed around him taking pictures and getting autographs. I have no idea what he was doing there because I don't think his appearance was mentioned in the broadcast later in the evening. OK, let's see what else? The team traded for outfielder Eric Hinske, now #14, and he had a big first game, getting the last out of the first inning and contributing a home run later in the loss to T.O. I think he was also the final out of the game in a rally cut short by a run. In order to stay in the loop once the team returns I've been keeping my ears open to how they're doing on the road: swept the Twins, got swept by the Angels. The Detroit series this weekend will be very interesting. Thirteen days in a row, here I come!

The break could not come sooner for the Mets who were finally able to win a series and end the first half on a high-ish note. It's not easy being a Mets fan these days, but you wouldn't know it by the fans I get to interact with at Yankee Stadium. I think the fact that people are still wearing their blue and orange proudly and are happy to high-five me when I let them know I'm in the same boat speaks to how tried and true many of us are regarding our teams. Despite the fact that we sometimes want to throw things at our TV when something goes wrong. Yankee fans are the same way and fortunately the team is doing better so everyone's in a better mood at the ballpark. Then they go to buy food, see the prices and remember why they were upset about moving across the street. The Mets made a trade this week for Jeff Francoeur of the Braves in exchange for my guy Ryan Church. I was amazed when I heard the news but I've always liked Franceour (as I liked Glavine before he came on board) so it wasn't a big deal, unlike when Sheffield got signed. Things really do change once the player is in your team's uniform. Maybe it was because Sheff was a Yankee too. Speaking of ex-Yankees, the team also signed infielder Angel Berroa, who was just with the Yankees a few weeks ago, to a minor league deal.

The funniest thing from today's game was the "apple malfunction" after Fernando Tatis hit a home run right after Brian Schneider hit one off the Subway sandwich board on the Pepsi Porch. The apple needed time to recharge so it couldn't rise again until the end of the inning. Of course, the fans were chanting for it to appear and were thrilled when the inning ended and the great red wonder popped up. I just got home in time to hear the chants of "Apple! Apple! Apple!" and "We want apple!" So hilarious that I had to join in. It probably shook up Reds pitcher (and former Met) David Weathers to have everyone making such a commotion over not getting to celebrate the second home run he gave up. The All-Star festivities will start tomorrow with the HR Derby then the game on Tuesday and then the real day off before the Mets lock horns with the Braves basically post-trade, so I expect some sparks.

I predictably didn't have a Band of Brothers marathon this week. I've had this series taped to watch for over a year now! Maybe after this loooong work stint, I'll be able to enjoy it. The Entourage premiere was funny and I'm glad it's back. Eric and Sloan are the cutest and Drama gave me the biggest laugh when he said after Vince "passed" his driving test, "Can we drive with the airbags deployed?" Eric's puzzled face as the Escalade pulled out of the lot with the traffic cone still lodged under the wheel was perfect.

The following is also my new favorite YouTube video:

Orange Foul Pole #16: The Shoulda-Coulda-Woulda Mets of June 2009

2009-07-08T22:39:01Z

As summer finally starts to heat up (stormy weather and twisters withstanding), the New York Mets have to look ahead to the pennant race picking up pace while hoping for help in the form of healthy bodies on the field. It's often said in this game that short-term memory is necessary to keep the last game's failures from clouding the next day's potential success. Surely that's not the exact saying but basically you need to drop the baggage from yesterday to get through today. It can be hard to forget though when there were so many missed opportunities missed to make a run for the top. From the disappointing showing in Pittsburgh to getting swept out of their home turf by their neighbors in the Bronx, the Mets have not played at their best, nor have they played their best. Three-fourths of the Mets core offense (and defense, really) is currently sidelined to injury, surgery and threat of surgery, leaving David Wright to bear the weight of the team during his second (or third?) cold spell of the season. The pitching rotation used this past month was not the one projected in March as both Oliver Perez and John Maine have been recovering knee and shoulder injuries, respectively.

On any given night, you can expect a different shortstop or first baseman. I'm still getting used to seeing Ryan Church in centerfield. Around this time last year, it was baffling how poorly the Mets were playing only to turn it around during a showdown with the Phillies at CBP during the 4th of July weekend. The Mets took two of the three games and went on to have a ten-game win streak that ended just after the All-Star break. This year's holiday series was not as hopeful as the Mets were swept out of Philadelphia, and now have to send a squad of emotionally-drained players up against the league-best win record of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Even though at four games under .500 and help looking farther away with each passing day, the Mets are not going to throw in the towel. They can't throw it in. Not with the investments of a fanbase ready to draw blood if the stock on the team drops any further. It seems as though teams are ready to pounce on the Mets and it was weird to see this generation's team being referred to as 'lowly' in the paper yesterday. Slipping to fourth place is less than encouraging and with the largest payroll in the National League their poor play has been more than and a case for ridicule. July began happily with hard-fought wins in Milwaukee and Pittsburgh, but the Mets have not won a game since then. It's still early though, right? OK, not really. Come August 1, it won't be early anymore, so something has to give before the end of the month rolls around and the Mets are left to play spoilers with the Nationals. It's a little twisted that I find it funny to think about the Mets ruining other teams chances for the playoffs in the event that they are out of the race in September. Twisted in a way that makes me a little sad, but I have to remember that the Mets always seem to find a way to get themselves back on track and make me believe. I think with the amount of adversity that the team has endured so far, it will be a good story and true test of mettle to see these boys band together and turn things aroung for themselves. (Ooh, I have to remember to finally have a Band of Brothers marathon this week) I'm going to hang in there for the stretch run because I can't desert my team, plus there is just so much Yankee jubilation one non-fan can handle before getting brainwashed over to the dark side. I know way more about that team than I should right now, but I like to be educated about both sides of this city's rivalry.

Not related, but it happened: A.J. Burnett was jogging through the building again and whooshed past my stand, saying "Mornin'" after I waved to him. I'm still amazed by how much of his body is covered in ink. I was disappointed to hear that I missed Andy Pettitte jogging through the Great Hall earlier in the week though. Joba, Phil Hughes and Alfredo Aceves were on hand to greet fans on the way in at the beginning of the last homestand. If the next group of three to come out of the "secret" door to the clubhouse includes Nick Swisher or Derek Jeter, I might faint. Maybe I should be hoping they are jerks so that I have an excuse not to like them.

Orange Foul Pole #15: Bout With Bronx Bombers Blows Brains Out

2009-06-16T15:42:12Z

I was ready for the ribbing I would get as a Met fan in Yankee territory. More so, ready for the possibility of my team winning only one game this weekend. After the series with the Phillies, I was just happy to have my boys in the building. Of course, I could only admire from afar as things got so busy that I ended watch the whole series on the big screen in the Great Hall anyway. I would like to know whose brilliant idea it was to have both teams on the field stretching and taking BP at the same time on Sunday. The almost-fight between Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Bruney -- who is that? ;) -- before the last game was just icing on the odd-tasting cake that was the first Subway Series meeting in the new stadium. Where do I start with the weirdness? Well, it might be easiest to start at the beginning.

I was on edge all of Friday night as the muggiest weather we've had at the stadium descended as the game progressed. My computer monitor was fogged up and it got a little hard to breathe with the air just hanging. I was nervous the whole game because it was a see-saw affair with the Mets taking the lead early only to give it up on the strength of those Yankee home runs we're all used to seeing. Even with the power surge (post-Red Sox beating), the Mets were able to get Chamberlain out of the game early and worked their way back with some power of their own. Thank you, Mr. Sheffield. The Yankees ended the night with four home runs, but were not set to win the game until the ninth when Derek Jeter led off with a single, two outs were made to welcome Teixeira to a walk, in order to get A-Rod to pop up and end the game. At least that was the plan. In what was to be Frankie Rodriguez's first blown save and loss of the season, it couldn't have happened in a worse way. Well, maybe but being there made it worse, for sure. The scene in the Great Hall was fantastic as both teams fans stood waiting on the wings of the building as to skip the crowd on the way out after the end. When the ball went up and A-Rod slammed his bat down, I and every Met fan in the room jumped in the air and once we landed so did the ball...out of Luis Castillo's glove and on the ground. I was completely confused when I saw the Yankees jumping around because I thought the game was just tied. I forgot that Mark Teixeira had also been on base and had kept on running before the ball got to the plate. Man, I was so upset! In a matter of seconds the wave of joy turned into a wave of shock as the Yankee fans in the room went up and it just didn't get quiet until it was time to break down everything at around 11:30. I thought that I might have sprained something on the way back down to earth but I was fine the next morning after not sleeping much. Luis Castillo didn't get much sleep either. Two hands! Final score, 9-8.

The best thing about Friday night was that I got to meet SNY personality and Mets on-field reporter Kevin Burkhardt and chat with him for a little bit before he continued his tour of the stadium. What a nice guy! KB, you're the man!

Saturday was muggy as well and I wasn't expecting much out of John Maine's replacement, Fernando Nieve, so it was good to have lots of customers to keep my mind occupied. The Mets have been excellent against left-handed pitching so far this year so I knew Pettitte would have some trouble but didn't expect him to give up home runs to Gary Sheffield AND Omir Santos (what a stud that guy is!). Nieve held the Yankees to two runs (one scored after he was pulled) and the Mets bounced back after one of the worst losses a team could endure to take Game 2, 6-2. Oh yeah, K-Rod got to close this one out after the comments by Bruney about Frankie's post-game celebrations. Frankie says shut your mouth. (As mean as the Double-A comments were, wow, that's funny stuff)

Sunday's game was the absolute worst ever, as the Mets got shut out for the second time this season, 15-0! The first such game was against the Giants last month when they lost 2-0, but this one stung. The game was so far gone by the sixth inning that it was frustrating to watch and the players got really upset too. I even saw David Wright drop an F-bomb in an argument with the umpire after getting a called third strike. In that same breath, manager Jerry Manuel got ejected for arguing the call, making that his second ejection of the season so far. I think he'll get at least four more before the end of the season. It was such an embarrassing loss that even Cow Bell Man rushed out of the building once it was all over. I hope Johan Santana is just in a funk right now and will get through this alright. The team needs him to continue to lead confidently and I'm sure they will start the journey to pick each other up tonight against Baltimore. Still 100+ games to go!

Where's the beef?

Are the Mets becoming the most hated team in the division, if not the entire league? Maybe even the sport? I've come across articles in the paper listing Mets fans as insufferable, and last weekend the question, "Why are Mets fans so damned smug?", was posed and I was left to wonder, "Are we?" With the depleted roster, constant criticism of perceived showboating and folks walking around with 'New York Mess: Back to Back Collapses 2007, 2008' shirts, how could we be? I think maybe it's because I expect them to win all the time, not that I'm owed that, but because I think they are that talented... that might make me a bit smug. There is definitely some hatred from the division toward the team, most intensely with the Phillies and the Braves, and surely to some degree with the Marlins (hello, season-enders) and Nationals ("Washington Softball Girls" t-shirts, anyone?"). If there isn't someone ragging on their sportsmanship (in baseball there isn't any handshaking with the opposing team so that sportsmanship stuff is relative) or the way they play the field and handle the media, then it must be a busier news day than most. The Beltran comments about the Mets being better than the Pirates and how embarrassing it was to get swept by them will come up again when they play the make-up game in the coming weeks. When the Braves return to Citi Field, it'll probably be to a shower of boos after Chipper Jones' comment about the home run numbers going down for the core group and how frustrated he said David Wright was about it. The talking won't stop and it would be great if the Mets would silence everyone by just winning. Just win, baby!

It's back to work today with the Washington Nationals in town so it'll be cool to have a team I'm familiar with on hand to discuss throughout the series. Yikes, it's almost noon!

Updated Stadium album: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v629/cmwarbee3/Yankee%20Stadium%20Inaugural%20Season%202009/

Also: After Sunday's game, as I was leaving, I saw Joe Girardi playing with his son in the outfield, and Joba Chamberlain on the first base side of the field running with his little boy. So cute. Oh, and with eash passing day Nick Swisher just looks hotter to me. Swish!

Orange Foul Pole #14: You can't blame it on the ballpark

2009-06-11T20:19:59Z

This week is a big one for New York rivalries. While the Mets contend with the division leaders and defending World Champions from Philadelphia, the Yankees look to hold a slim lead over their perennial rivals from Boston. Both New York teams hope to have some momentum built up for the weekend series at the new Stadium, but are understandably more concerned about the teams that they will face for one more game this week. Before Tuesday's game, Citi Field had only yielded 38 home runs (crazy, compared to the 100+ at Yankee Stadium) but a slug fest between the Mets and Phillies resulted with seven dingers (a Citi Field record) in the Mets' 6-5 win over the Phils. Further north, the Yankees were shut out by Josh Beckett and the Red Sox, as A.J. Burnett helped David Ortiz out of his home run drought. The Yankees have lost every game against the Red Sox this season so far (0-7, as of last night's 6-5 loss), which is something MLB Network and SNY were quick to point out has not happened since the beginning of the last century. It is a bit exciting to have games of importance this early in the season because a win here and a loss there could be the difference between both league rivals once October arrives. This isn't really about tonight though. I'm more interested in the craziness that will descend on Yankee Stadium when the city will become divided for the first of two Subway Series. At least this series is less likely to give me a headache.

I don't think I can really imagine how exciting it's going to be this weekend, but I think it will be even more intense than the Phillies' visit to the Yankees over the Memorial Day weekend. The probable match-ups this weekend are as follows (after the switch between Hernandez and Maine):

Friday, night: Livan Hernandez (RHP) v. Joba Chamberlain (RHP)
Livan's veteran presence has been wonderful in the Mets' rotation and he seems unfazed in uncomfortable situations on the mound. Chamberlain has been getting better and better with each start and continues to silence critics who think he should be in the bullpen. This will be an interesting matchup for both lefty-heavy teams, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if it comes down to who can knock the ball out better.

Saturday, late afternoon: John Maine (RHP) v. Andy Pettitte (LHP)
The Mets have not had to face left-handed pitching much this season (not counting this week), but have done well against the southpaws, so I'm confident that they'll do some damage against Pettitte. John Maine recently recovered from a stomach virus that took him out of a start early last week, so he'll be looking to prove that he's all better.

Sunday, afternoon: Johan Santana (LHP) v. A.J. Burnett (RHP)
Has A.J. Burnett served his suspension yet? If not, he will be facing Santana in an important start since being pulled out of a disastrous appearance in Boston. Burnett has had little success at the new Stadium and will be on fire for this showdown, or else the fans are really going to let him have it. Santana pitched seven-plus innings against the Phillies on Tuesday and was pulled in the 8th after giving up his fourth home run of the night to Chase Utley -- a move that clearly didn't sit well with him, so he will be out to show that he is a man and ready to scare up a win on Sunday.

The weather will factor in a bit on Friday when scattered thunderstorms are due throughout the day. Hopefully, by game time most of the storm will be out of the area. Saturday will bring clouds and warm weather in the 80's, while there will be a few showers on Sunday. I really hope none of the games gets rained out because the interleague games are probably the hardest (ie. most annoying) to reschedule.

The Phillies are hosting the Red Sox this weekend (making me a Boston supporter for those three days, I guess) and have the following matchups:

Fri: Jon Lester (RHP) v. Joe Blanton (RHP)
Sat: Daisuke Matsuzaka (RHP) v. Antonio Bastardo (LHP)
Sun: Josh Beckett (RHP) v. J.A. Happ (LHP)

I should be concerned about the lefty-dense Phillies lineup facing only right-handed starters but the Red Sox are countering with a mostly righty lineup against the Phils' southpaws. I'm most interested in seeing how Sunday's game pans out. Josh Beckett is scary.

Both series will take place in parks that have been considered bandboxes, but I really hope to not have to blame it on the ballpark if the Mets don't get at least one win this weekend. The Yankees are getting much better at home but I think with the intensity due to rise a bit, there might not be much home field advantage. All four teams will be looking to stay at the front of their respective divisions so it'll be a fun ride.

Orange Foul Pole #13: Get Well Soon, Mets!

2009-06-05T01:34:35Z

The baseball season is now two months and a few days old and with the weather getting warmer, the games are starting to get more interesting. Life at the Stadium continues to be enjoyable, and with the Mets slated to appear for next weekend's crosstown battle I'm going to do my best to completely delight in this homestand. It has been sad to watch the Mets so far on their road trip but I have to think things would be better if they didn't have such a significant group of people kept out due to illness and/or injury. Last June totally sucked and they only seemed to get some energy back during the series with the Yankees. Randolph had already been fired, and Delgado (who is now going to be out for quite a while) turned on some stored-up power from earlier this century and helped propel the Mets from fourth to first in a matter of weeks. At work, I get ribbed about being a Mets fan and constantly reminded about the standings. OK, OK, yes, they're in second place and behind by 3.5 games. Big deal. I know they're better than the way they're playing. And according to Carlos Beltran, the team knows it too. It has to be so frustrating to want to contribute but not be able to because your body won't let you. I'm looking forward to all of the guys coming back and will send them good vibes now and when I get in to work around their batting practice time next Friday. I hope I'm fully recovered from the flu by then too. :)

I've wanted to jot down some random sightings for a couple of weeks now, but with the discovery of the old FOX drama Party of Five, season three on YouTube, I've been distracted. A few Sundays ago, I thought I saw Cow Bell Man, of Shea Stadium and Citi Field fame, waiting for the same train as I was, while across the tracks I may have seen the actor who played Matt Camden's roommate on 7th Heaven, John. I just saw him again on The Game as Trey Wiggs. His name is Chaz but I'm not looking up the whole name because it really doesn't matter. The other day, Joe Girardi, Brian Cashman, and relief pitcher Brian Bruney were in the Great Hall handing out passport holders, signing autographs and taking pictures with fans. Girardi : tall ; Cashman : short. Cashman stated that these surprise appearances are the team's way of reaching out to the fans and letting them know that their support is appreciated. Just yesterday, I was convinced that I helped Ernest Borgnine with a question about the products on display at my booth. I didn't want to alarm him by bringing it up, and it had to be him, right? Why else would that name pop into my head when I saw him? Kate Hudson was spotted in the stands on the night Alex Rodriguez first appeared at Yankee Stadium, and we get to see "spotted" celebs on the big screen up in the Great Hall from time to time.

Yesterday, I finally ventured from the field level, up one floor to the main level where I could see the Out-Of-Town scoreboard better. Unfortunately, the Mets/Pirates was rained out when I looked to check the score during the 5th inning, but I was impressed by the number of people in attendance as there were bodies in almost every seat up to the very top. And the seats that were empty probably belonged to the throngs of people walking around in the Great Hall and in the Museum. The debate continues as to which stadium is better and supposedly Yankee Stadium is winning in an online poll. It doesn't dazzle me now, being there every day, but it is cool to see the look on people's faces when they first come in. Some fans like certain things at Citi Field better than at Yankee Stadium, but I think the Yankees win the battle of "who displays the history better?". You cannot take a step without learning something new about the Yankees of old and it is so interesting to speak with fans about their memories of the old stadium as well as the Polo Grounds and Ebbetts Field. I think both new stadiums will undergo some "growing pains" as the fans adjust to them and vice versa. There was more signage for the restaurants (Hard Rock Cafe and NYY Steak) after the first two homestands, since I think directions to both were the most asked questions of that months.

I still have four games before the team's road trip to Boston (yay, mini break!), so it's off to bed for me now.

Twenty-five down, fifty-six to go

2009-05-29T21:17:08Z

Ten games in a row was no easy feat and thankfully I will not have to do anything that strenuous again until late July. Instead of living it up on my week off, I was in bed overcoming the flu, or exhaustion. Whatever it was, I was sick and I'm on the way back to healthy just in time for work to resume next Tuesday. I think the only thing that really made me unwell was the disappointing end to the home stand, with the Yankees dropping 2 of 3 to the Philadelphia Phillies. That's what I get for relying on another team for help. It never works! The Mets miraculously pulled two wins out in Boston, so that was the upside (I might have triggered something bouncing around the room on Saturday night ala Joe Carter). The Yankees had managed to return on a win streak and keep it going through the Twins and Orioles, despite countless bids for breaking it by the likes of Justin Morneau, only to let the Phillies smack them up from the first pitch. Oh, and to have the Phillies fans basically outnumber the Yankees fan all weekend was distressing. Way more red than when the Red Sox fans were in town. I could not see the same happening at Citi Field.

I honestly should start writing things down every day, because now that whole week has morphed itself into one long game. I remember the three home runs in a row by the Yankees, but only who it was against (Jeremy Guthrie), and only one of the three, maybe two, who hit them - Nick Swisher (finally) and Melky Cabrera. The computer decided to make me miserable and crash, much like the computer at work decided to give me a warm time all week. So it hasn't really been easy to update.

Anyway, things got really interesting near the end when on Friday (I think), Cody Ransom and Xavier Nady were posted right in front of my station to hand caps to guests entering through the adjacent gate. I could have reached out to touch Ransom if not for the heavy security. Nady is really handsome and it was cool to finally see a player in the light of day, and not behind the windows of their cars as they pull out of the garage underneath the stadium. Of course, that was the day I decided to leave my camera in the locker room. I used a work camera but all the shots had half of other people's heads blocking the shot. Must have been my nerves. So the next day I was sure to have my piece on me.

Every day I walk past a wall of player numbers right in front of the guest entrance to Monument Park. The numbers are big so that people can take pictures with them. The timeless sage named Yogi Berra is one of my favorite baseball personalities so I knock on his number 8 at the beginning of every shift. Saturday, Yogi brought me a bit of luck because after I took a picture of his number and continued through the tunnel toward right field, A.J. Burnett jogged down the flight of stairs behind the bleachers and ran ahead of me. I didn't want to throw the camera up and take a picture because I was sure the flash would go off and give me up. He veered to the left through the Great Hall and I headed toward the store to check in. After telling one of the assistants who I just spotted I left to find my supervisor in the Great Hall, when I saw Burnett had stopped to take pictures or stretch or wait for me to come back from telling my friend to come quick! These guys really look different without their uniforms on. Burnett in his jogging gear looked really good. He's got tattoos every where. So yeah, we walked past him and tried to be nonchalant about it. I think his music was turned way up because it was like we weren't there. So since my supervisor wasn't exactly ready for me I went back to the store to wait with everyone else outside in the nice, cushy, field level seats. I was chatting with a colleague when all of a sudden, Burnett showed up right there in front of the store. How many laps of the stadium did this guy do? I was leaning on the railing in the middle of the stairs, so I was facing him while everyone else was looking toward the field. I waved to him even though he wasn't looking in my direction, because I thought it was hilarious for me to spot him three times in the same half hour. AND THEN, instead of taking a different flight of stairs, he walked down the one I was blocking, so I leaned forward and he said, "Hey, how are you?". I think I might have said it back. I must have because as he continued down the stairs people started asking me who I just said hi to. "A.J. Burnett. The pitcher from last night," was all I could whisper and awkwardly motion with my arm. He got rocked for that first at-bat home run by Jimmy Rollins and probably wasn't feeling too good about himself since he hadn't won a game since April 17. Along with all the criticisms of him nailing teammates with shaving cream pies, it might have been more than the usual run after a start. All this makes me excited for is more jogging players before the late Saturday afternoon games. The next one is versus the Mets so my eyes will be wide open!

In the unofficial poll of which stadium is better, Citi Field is leading as the "cozy, ballpark" that is "about watching the game". I've had fans tell me that Yankee Stadium feels like a mall. If you're there to just watch the game, then the mall elements of stores and food every couple of feet won't make you want to tear your hair out. The team is playing some exciting games now and with the weather warming up it'll be more fun. I hope. Citi Field seems to be more kid-friendly with the Mo Zone and Whiffle Ball Field, while I had a guest ask me if there was a Build-A-Bear in the stadium ala AT&T Park. The abundance of bars suggests an older crowd, but isn't this game for the kids.

More stadium pictures linked below:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v629/cmwarbee3/Yankee%20Stadium%20Inaugural%20Season%202009/

Oh, I just had to add this one observation. During the Phillies series there were a lot of Phillies fans with both Yankee and Phillie gear on which only made me think that most of the people were originally Yankee fans and decided to jump on the bandwagon after their city finally won something. It's like Baltimore residents being Yankee fans. It's mostly because the Orioles have been terrible for a long time. I might be considered a bandwagon Mets fan since I became a fan the year that they were the reigning National League champions, and did not follow as closely as I do now until they made the postseason in 2006. I was more of a casual fan that checked in at the website once a week to see how they were doing, what Piazza was up to, etc. but it's definitely different now. Plus, if I were a bandwagoner, wouldn't I just jump ship to the Yankees?

Road Games Go By Faster Than Home Games

2009-05-11T19:18:42Z

The time off has flown by so quickly that in a blink I'll be back at the stadium. While there though, the games do not go by as fast as this weekend did and with the team only managing two wins during the homestand (both versus the Angels) the innings passed by at a snail's pace.

The short series with the Red Sox was eventful with one memorable fan ejection after a young woman kicked a female police officer in the face, and proceeded to scream at the top of her lungs when the other officers attempted to subdue her. Craziness. I could have done without all the rain, that made the nights feel like February and not May. It just figures that the weather would be so nice now. Thankfully, the rain kept the pollen count down so working outside was just chilly and not sneezy (despite catching a cold). Jacoby Ellsbury was my guy-to-root-for during the two-game set and, yet again, the visitors had no problem launching home runs into right field. The Rays muscled out a sweep all thanks to big, late-inning home runs -- a few by All-Star Evan Longoria. The Red Sox fans were nice and almost too accommodating to the Yankee fans who went out of their way to be mean. I thought there was a good chance of an on-field fight with Josh Beckett and Joba Chamberlain on the mound in game two, but after Joba gave up four runs in the first inning things got really quiet and Becky dominated. Papelbon closed the first game, but I missed it because I got to leave early. By early, I mean 10:30, since the game was delayed by rain for two hours and twenty minutes. The Red Sox did not want to have to play a doubleheader (and neither would I) so they waited out the heavy downpour. Once I got home, the game had only gotten to the fifth inning and the Yankees managed to tie the game, only to let the game get away in the wee hours of the morning. There were a few Rays fans in attendance but it was nice to talk to visiting Mets fans who seem to make an appearance every day just so I have someone to high-five. I get more excited about the subway series (I think it only gets capitalized if it's the World Series, no?) next month and getting to see the Mets rock their road greys with the blue hats and socks. That was my favorite look for them last year. I'm going to be bouncing off the walls!

With all the rain, the musical selections have bounced between Bruce Springsteen's "Waiting on a Sunny Day", Rihanna's "Umbrella" and, of course, "Singin' in the Rain". On Saturday night, I anticipated my neighbors' weekly karaoke session upstairs and went to bed early. They usually don't start until around 11 PM, so that's probably when I was jolted out my sleep to Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit". It might not have been as loud as my pulsing eardrums made it sound since I fell right back to sleep after the song ended, but I certainly did not expect to encounter the song again at work when it blared over the PA system the next morning. The test video at the beginning of a few work days has also been interesting as I've gotten to see more of the first fifteen minutes of Slumdog Millionaire. Jai Ho! I've also noticed that any time there is an error made by a player, the cameras are quick to pick up the swearing. I didn't think Derek Jeter would curse so much and with the week this team had he was up on Cuss-Cam replay a lot.

With all the hating on A-Rod, I'm glad that his return last Friday was impactful in ending the losing streak. Sabathia was the bigger factor in the win but until he can do the same at home he's not getting folk hero status. Nick Swisher is so popular now that the people have gotten their wish and there are Swisher shirts available in our stores and portables. Swish! Nick has yet to hit a home run at his new home field, even though for the past month he was the team leader in home runs -- an honor now held by hot-hitting Johnny Damon. I'm most looking forward to Rodriguez's return since I'm planning to sing Madonna songs every time he comes up to bat. I have to make these games fun for myself since there aren't many in-game updates about the Mets, who are doing well right now. I like when they step on opponents' necks and don't let up.

Ooh, this homestand's celebrity sighting was David Krumholtz from Numb3rs, who attended the Rays game on the 7th. The next set of visitors includes the Twins, Orioles and Phillies, who will unfortunately make me root for the Yankees that weekend. We've had a few Phillies fans come through the stadium and I got to speak with a nice one. Thankfully, we haven't had any overly rude folks to deal with so this job continues to be a fun experience. I will relish all the sleep time this week though.

Orange Foul Pole #12: The Fightin' Fish?

2009-04-21T02:13:12Z

A week ago during MLB Tonight, analyst Dan Plesac called the Florida Marlins "Fightin' Fish", with their hotter-than-hot start to the season, and I fell into a topsy-turvy world. As of today, the Marlins have only one loss, at the hand of the Mets on the 11th, and hold first place by five games. Currently, they are in danger of getting shut-out by the Pirates (6-6, 4th in NL Central) but their playing is hard to ignore. It's hard not to think that the NL East is going to get even more competitive once all the teams are running on all cylinders. I don't think I'll do too much worrying about the Mets' prospects of amazin'-ness until June 1st, because it's less stressful and I can't afford to lose any sleep over this team. The Washington Nationals got their only win this year in a duel with the Phillies, who are in third place.

The big performances on the Marlins with Emilio Bonifacio leading off and Hanley Ramirez playing his power to perfection in the three-hole is intimidating, if only for the fact that the team swept the Braves at Turner Field. The Mets only managed to win one game at the Braves' stomping grounds last year! As far as things I did not expect, like New York and Atlanta being tied for second place, the teams that I picked to win 50 games first in each league, Rays (AL) and Cubs (NL), are 5-8, last in AL East and 7-4, tied for first in NL Central, respectively. The Mets bullpen also has the lowest ERA (1.89 at last glance) in all of baseball, and barring overuse could remain dominant throughout the year. That's just encouraging stuff to see, even if it's a bit of a shock.

I think the Marlins could be in first place until at least the end of May, and then all bets are off and whoever's ready to duke it out through the All-Star break on to the home stretch is going to take the division. I've been of the mind that the NL West shouldn't even get to be in the postseason -- four teams from the Central and East should be enough, no? The Padres are currently putting that thought out to dry as they are currently in 2nd place with a record of 9-4, behind the LA Dodgers (10-3), and have a solid closer in former Met, Heath Bell, who leads the league in saves with seven. Crazy. Those come-from-behind wins against the Phillies (the kings of comeback) weren't too shabby either.

Also, even though the Indians spent the weekend hitting off Yankee pitching like it was batting practice, they only have a record of 4-9. Even Seattle and Toronto are in first place, in the west and east, respectively. In the AL Central, Chicago, Detroit and Kansas City are tied for #1, all 7-5.

But where were we all at this time last year?

On this date the season was already 20 games deep with the following standings:

American League
East Boston -- Baltimore -- Toronto -- New York -- Tampa Bay
Central Chicago -- Kansas City -- Minnesota -- Cleveland -- Detroit
West Los Angeles -- Oakland -- Seattle -- Texas

National League
East Florida -- New York -- Atlanta -- Philadelphia -- Washington
Central Chicago -- St. Louis -- Milwaukee -- Cincinnati -- Pittsburgh -- Houston
West Arizona -- Colorado -- San Diego -- San Francisco -- Los Angeles

Both Chicago teams and the Angels were the only teams to stay on top at the end, while the Dodgers and the Rays worked their way back up to the top and could have faced each other in the World Series, if the chips fell differently. April matters, but I have to hope that my team will have the stamina to get to the top and stay there this time. I'm looking forward to checking in again on the first official day of summer. Let's go Mets!