So why couldn’t Phil Coke stay in the game?
Game 10 Spillover Thread
Don’t worry, the baseball gods wil take care of the Yanks. They always do.
Game 10: Home Sweet Home
The Yankees are the only team in Major League Baseball that has yet to play a game at home, but that all changes today when they open their brand spankin’ new stadium. The day will be filled with ceremonies featuring the who’s who of Yankee alumni, highlighted by Yogi Berra throwing out the first pitch. Kelly Clarkson will sing the National Anthem (could be worse, trust me), and both the pitching rubber and home plate will be moved to the Yankees Museum in the ballpark after the game. The pre-game ceremonies start just past noon, when the West Point Band will perform in center field. You can find a full schedule of events here.
The Yankees are coming home after two big wins against the defending AL Champs down in Tampa. David Robertson was called up to replce Xavier Nady on the active roster, so the bullpen is in good shape. Brian Bruney may not be available after completely pwning the Rays the last two days, so Damaso Marte looks like the Bridge to Mo today. The last two AL Cy Young Award winners will face off on the mound, with CC Sabathia making his third start with the Bombers against former teammate Cliff Lee. Here’s your lineup:
Derek Jeter, SS
Johnny Damon, LF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Nick Swisher, RF
Jorge Posada, C
Robinson Cano, 2B
Hideki Matsui, DH
Cody Ransom, 3B
Brett Gardner, CF
And on the mound, number fifty-two, CC Sabathia.
Note: The Yankees named Paul Olden their oxymoronic permanent temporary replacement for Bob Sheppard … Sabathia will be making his first ever start against the Indians today, his long-time former team … MLB.tv’s free coverage will cover all the pre-game ceremonies and the first inning, but that’s it … first pitch is scheduled for 1:08, but given all the pre-game stuff I’m going to say there’s zero chance that will happen. Look for the game to start around 1:20-1:30.
Photo Credit: RAB’s own Ben Kabak
A first look at the Stadium food
In March, when the Yankees unveiled the food options at the new park, we were a bit underwhelmed by the choices and felt that Mets — with their Shake Shack and Blue Smoke — one-upped the Yanks. Today, as fans gear up for a brand new ballpark, Serious Eats, one of the top food blogs around, published its first look at the Yankee Stadium food. With high quality photos and a thorough write-up of the concession options, Erin Zimmer prepares fans for what they will expect.
I have but one word of warning for Bronx-bound patrons though: Beware of sticker shock. The garlic fries, soggy when I tried them, cost $5 for a small and $8 for a large. Hot dogs range from $5.50 (Hebrew National) to $6.75 (Nathan’s). Carvel in a helmet up is up to $6.50, and the Lobel’s sandwiches are pushing $15. To temper those dollars, hunt out the reasonably-price $6 beers.
Oh, and one more thing: Splurge on some frickles — deep-fried pickles — from Brother Jimmy’s. Those things are ridiculous decadent and delicious.
Fan files suit over ‘God Bless America’ incident
Ever few months, the Yankees’ continued playing of “God Bless America” and their enforcement of the song uncomfortably creeps back into the news. We discussed this topic nearly two years when The Times got wind of complaints about the Yanks’ ushers’ behavior during the song, and last year, Bradford Campeau-Laurion made headlines when police ejected him from the stadium for going to the bathroom as the song began.
Yesterday, on the eve of the opening of new Yankee Stadium, Campeau-Laurion and the New York Civil Liberties Union filed suit against the Yankees, the City of New York and the New York Police Department for their actions during that August 26 game.
The complaint — available here as a PDF and now sitting on the docket of a judge from my alma mater — alleges a variety of Constitutional, federal and state law violations. Campeau-Laurion contends that police aggressively evicted him from the stadium when he got up to the go to the bathroom. The police contended in August — and reiterated to The Times’ Sewell Chan — that Campeau-Laurion was anything but civil.
While the facts focus around that incident, the causes of action focused around the general policies of the Yankees and their use of Paid Detail cops in enforcing it. The complaint alleges First and Fourteenth Amendment violations. Specifically, the NYCLU contends that the Yankees are violating fans’ First Amendment rights by abridging fans’ rights to freedom of religion and freedom of political speech.
The case also claims rough treatment on the part of the cops in violation of Campeau-Laurion’s Fourth Amendment rights. Allegedly, one of the officers, after forcibly ejecting the fan from Yankee Stadium, told him to “get out of the country if he didn’t like ‘it.'”
In addition to compensatory damages, Campeau-Laurion is asking for the the federal court to issue an injunction stopping the Yanks from enforcing their No Movement policy during “God Bless America.” As a law student and Yankee fan, I’ll be following this case. I wonder how the various parties will respond.
And a postscript: If the Cubs’ series is any indication, Kate Smith and “God Bless America” made the trip across 161st St.
A note on comments: I realize this is a politically sensitive topic. I didn’t express my views on here, and I know that Yankee fans will come down on both sides of this issue. Debate the story, but do it respectfully. Don’t attack anyone’s political beliefs. Everyone is entitled to their own views and opinions.
Olden named permanent temporary replacement for Sheppard
The Yankees can never replace Bob Sheppard. While the six-decade veteran of the Yankee Stadium public address booth says he’s coming back this year, the 98-year-old is recovering from a very serious bout of pneumonia, and with rumors of his retirement swirling, the Yankees have named one-time TV broadcaster Paul Olden a permanent temporary replacement for Sheppard.
Olden is a veteran of the sports world. He has filled the PA job for the last 12 Super Bowls; he served as the play-by-play man for the Devil Rays in the early 2000s; and he worked for the Yankees with Phil Rizzuto and Bobby Murcer from 1995-1996.
For the Yankees, the choice of Olden represents something of a break from past practices. Olden has a deep, sonorous that feels like a good fit for any pro sports arena, but he’s not Bob Sheppard. Last year, with Sheppard on the DL for the entire season, the Yanks went with Jim Hall, Sheppard’s understudy and imitator. Now, they’re trying to find a distinct voice to usher in a new stadium.
It really is too bad that Bob Sheppard could not be healthy enough to see in the new park. He started out broadcasting in 1951 and lived through 13 World Series championships, 18 managers, a few owners and too many pitching changes to count. While slight of build, Sheppard’s voice will stand as a baseball icon forever.
Publicly, the Yanks have said that Olden is a temporary fill in. He’ll be around only as long as Sheppard remains out. I have a feeling though this this temporary replacement may be more permanent than the Yanks anticipate.
Cap’n Clutch comes through, Yanks win 4-3
What is this nerdy graph?
This is what a deep rotation looks like. Despite the failings of Chien-Ming Wang, the Yanks’ staff still looks strong. A day after A.J. Burnett flirted with a no-hitter, Andy Pettitte gave the Yankees another strong and deep start, going 7.1 innings in a 4-3 victory. That gives the Yanks another series victory, and their first against an AL East rival.
Like Burnett last night, Pettitte to be in control the whole game except for one inning. Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter bailed him with a 5-3-6 double play (so nice to have a first baseman who can throw a ball), but a single to Akinori Iwamura followed by back to back doubles from B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford put the Rays up 2-0. The inning only ended when Robinson Cano made what John Sterling termed a “circus catch” behind first base.
He cruised the rest of the way — save for a fourth-inning Carlos Pena home run — retiring 22 Rays on 96 pitches. This was another case of the win stat skewing the actual results. The Yankees won the game; Andy Pettitte was the starting pitcher and pitched well. Yet his efforts go unappreciated in the win column. That honor goes to Brian Bruney, who struck out B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford for the second night in a row. He has now struck out the last five batters he’s faced, and none of them has stood a chance. It’s early, but it’s hard not to like Bruney right now.
Like last night, this game was a throwback for the Yankees. Robinson Cano supplied some power with a two-run shot to tie it in the top of the fourth, but the Yanks fell behind heading into the later innings. Then in the eighth and ninth innings, Derek Jeter came through. He doubled to lead off the eighth and scored when Johnny Damon followed suit. Then in the ninth he drove in Cody Ransom with an RBI single, putting the Yanks on top for good. It goes to show how early-season performance is nothing to sweat, especially with proven vets. Jeter was 1 for his last 20 heading into last night, but is now 5 of his last 10 with a double, a homer, and four RBI.
Capping off the throwback was Mariano Rivera, who made quick work of the Rays, retiring their final three hitters on eight pitches. I’ve seen Mo pitch so well so consistently over the past fourteen years that even without seeing the game (I caught the end on the radio) I could picture what it looked like. Mike added the only color commentary I needed: “I love watching Mo pitch. Catcher doesn’t even have to move his glove.” Perfect.
The Yanks recovered from an embarrassing situation and took an early series from one of their two tough rivals. They’ll head to their new home with a winning record. Here’s to hoping they don’t see the other side of .500 the rest of the season. The game is supposed to start at 1:08, but from the looks of it that doesn’t appear likely. For starters, they expect to introduce 46 former Yankees in nine minutes. They do this for Old Timers’ game every year, they did it for the All Star game, and then again at the final Old Stadium game. It’s never come close to nine minutes in length. In any case, it’s CC Sabathia against Cliff Lee, and it’s the start of the New Stadium.