OT: Yankees with three consecutive walk-off wins

[calvindog]

First time they've done this since 1972; first time the Twins have coughed up three in a row like this since 1973. Making it more incredible is that they initially tied two of the games in the seventh and eighth innings and overcame a two run deficit to win in the ninth inning of another game.

[Al C.risafulli]

I was at Saturday's game; it was my first trip to the new park.

The park itself is absolutely incredible. I wondered how they were going to drag the history of the old park across the street and make it work - they managed to do it. Everywhere you look, there are reminders of Yankee history. I didn't get to the museum or Monument Park; Monument Park looks a little sterile but I've seen pictures of the museum that look awesome. You can see the game from anywhere, and you're welcome to wander around the stadium during the game and watch from behind the railings all around the park.

Saturday's game was perfect; it seemed like rain, then the sun came out. It was a pitcher's duel with a great offensive performance from Teixera, a few nice plays in the field, a controversial call, some power, a couple innings of free baseball, and then a bomb in the 11th to put it away.

Excellent game, beautiful place to see a ballgame.

Here's a cellphone shot of the "black and white" side of the Great Hall; each of these 40-foot banners has another image of a Yankee great. The opposite sides of the banners are newer shots of guys like Munson and Nettles.

Sorry for the hijack, but it was marginally on topic, I guess.



-Al

[calvindog]

Al, that looks nice; kind of a stunning change from old Yankees Stadium. Can you imagine that sort of concourse in the old place?

[Al C.risafulli]

I really can't. I had a partial season ticket package in 2001; if you got up out of your seat and tried to move around, security shuttled you right back to your seat.

Here, they actually encourage you to walk around; what used to be tunnels at the old park is now wide open. You can go grab a beer or a hot dog (or sushi or steak sandwiches or nachos or Italian sausage or just about anything else), and while you're waiting on line you can see the game. Then you can just stand there and watch.

Here are some images from me just wandering around the park. My buddies and I didn't even go to our seats until the bottom of the fifth; I think it would be really easy to spend $12 on a bleacher seat and watch the game from all around the park.

From the food court in left:



From the bleachers in right center. Obstructed view seats are $5 on a first come, first-served basis. You could buy those seats and there's absolutely no reason you would ever have to sit in them.



Along the third base line. These photos were shot with my iPhone, which has no zoom lens. In person, you're much closer than these photos would indicate.

[Al C.risafulli]

Another point to make: A lot of people are making a big deal about the empty seats.

If all the people wandering around the Stadium, looking at things, watching the game from a million different vantage points, shopping, eating, etc., actually sat down in their seats, I think the stadium would look a lot more full.

The only place that looked conspicuously empty was the expensive, cushy seats behind the netting around the plate. By the end of the game, everything had filled up nicely.

-Al

[doug.goodman]

I was at the game today, also. As much as I hate the Yankees, I must admit that if for no other reason than all the customer service people, they did a decent good job with the new stadium. It's my 47th regular season ballpark.

But.

I really question what they were thinking when they designed the Cafe and Sports Bar in center in such a way that part of section 239 can't see first base. It's bad enough that there are obstructed view seats in a new stadium, but seats that can't see first base?

Doug

[DangerJim]

I had always wanted to visit the old Yankee stadium to soak in the history and almost did it last year on a whim as I had tickets offered to me. Unfortunately, I just couldn't quite justify the expense of flying to New York for a day to see a baseball game.

It is nice to know that when I do make it to New York some day I can still soak in some Yankee history.

In the mean time, I quite enjoy our wonderful Miller Park. It takes a little getting used to having a roof over a baseball game and it never feels quite right watching a baseball game indoors. However, during the early sping cold of Wisconsin or torrential downpours during the All Star game's home run derby you come to appreciate having a roof.

By the way... our Brew Crew is the hottest team in baseball right now and I am praying they can deliver the first World Series victory to Milwaukee in 50 years.

sorry for getting off topic, had to brag about my team

[Potomac Yank]

Al, thank you for sharing those great shots of the new stadium.
This geezer, just a stone throw from the Potomac River, lived 60 years in Yankee land.

My very first game was at the Polo Grounds in 1944, I couldn't help that, cause my dad was a Giant's fan, and a friend of Dolf Luque, then a coach.
However, I was a Yank fan, and me and my school friends would be bleacherites at the old Yankees Stadium in 1944.
The war time years of my hero, Snuffy Sternweiss and Nick Etten, Crossetti, Tucker Stainbach, Bud Metheney, Hank Borowy etc.

They were the best of times, they were the worse of times, but anyway you cut it ..... I miss the island of Manhattan, and I miss some of those times.

Al, again I thank you for sharing your pictures.
Come to think of it, I use to play some semi pro football where that new stadium is currently built.

Stay well,
Joe