Think back to the last time you were at a game at Yankee Stadium. Did you notice that huge building going up across the street? That's the new Yankee Stadium, and that bitch ain't cheap. So, as should be obvious, we're going to need some extra cash. We're going to be sending you a Guide detailing your relocation to your couch so that we can charge someone with more money some ungodly amount for the seat you currently reside in at the Stadium. This should free plenty of your money to be spent on Yankees licensed merchandise that we will be selling at the new Yankee Stadium you cannot afford to attend games at.

Welcome to the real world, son,

Signed

The New York Yankees

I live in Chicago, so the joke is on you!

Love

P.S. I'm still waiting for that thirty dollar refund for the Igawa t-shirt, you jerk.

Oh, and they will NOT be prepared to deal with all the new traffic. Not one bit.

More important than the number of cars will be how they manage the traffic flow. The biggest problem now is access to the highway, especially after the game. The real challenge will be to expedite this.

Bad as the access and the congestion are now, the area south of the current Stadium actually has more room and better access to the highway than to the north.

Of course, closing down most of the parking lots has made the current traffic a lot worse, so when they do reopen them, it might improve the situation. On the other hand, the mall they're building to the south is only going to increase the traffic even more.

As for parking I don't know what I'm going to do. Last I heard they're charging $25 next year. The current $17 is bad enough. Working in Central Jersey and living in North Jersey doesn't leave too many public transportation options.

How so? They are averaging 52,667 so far this year and 52,739 in 2007. Both figures are greater than the seating capacity of the new stadium. It seems to me that the number of fans can only go down the first year.

Now, that said, the traffic may be worse next year, for the reasons everyone has cited.

Unfortunately we idiotically put a sports bar somewhere in center field. This sports bar will block your view of half the field. Do not worry though, we will provide TVs so you can watch the game, just like you're really there! Oh, we're jacking up the price too.

Yours Sincerely,

The Yankees

But you're right, I'm looking way too deep and my math is inconceivable (and moot); the traffic will suck even more for the reasons we all stated. I honestly don't care about attendance figures since I can't even afford to go to games now. Did I mention that the stadium reminds me of the War Department Building?

http://tinyurl.com/65gnny

6IP, no hits, no walks, no runs for IPK. I was hoping to wake up to a AAA no-no tomorrow.

But seriously, I think the circumstances were a tad different. As far as we know, Barry hasn't smoked his career away on narcotics, nor do I suspect he's gearing up for a return by smoking independent leagues.

That said, The only concern I have for Bonds is if he's in actual playing shape by the time they go for that playoff push. I honestly don't see him being a problem on a team that is a legit contender, and if he were the team reserves the right to cut bait.

Also, Alex oughta appreciate the media diversion during the push... now if only Cash can catch Boston passing Manny thru waivers again (three-ring circus!!!)

As for Strawberry, that's totally different. He hurt himself by taking drugs, and he was always praised as a great teammate. That's not like Bonds at all, who has been universally hated by every single team he's been on.

Hopefully this start makes Cashman think twice about trading for Jarrod Washburn, though.

http://tinyurl.com/5oyfdg

He's 32 and has about 540 HRs. He needs another 330 HRs to break the record. Let's say he hits another 30 this season (which is about impossible). he would still need to sock 300 to break the record. That's an average of 50/year for the next six years--or 50 HRs at age 38.

For his career he has averaged 44 HR/162 games. At that pace, he would need seven full seasons to break the record, barely.

If he declines at all, he will break the record at age 41 or 42. Break it? I think he will. Crush the record? Not likely, unless he discovers Barry Bonds' special batting secrets.

I use-ta-kinda be good at math, really.

"A person familiar with the Seattle Mariners... said a possible trade of lefty Jarrod Washburn to the Yankees has "got legs" and predicted "something will happen there."

"... but the Mariners aren't sold on Igawa. One area of need for Seattle in in center field, and while the Yankees have put Double-A Trenton's Austin Jackson off-limits, Brett Gardner or Melky Cabrera could be discussed."

In June they called me and gave me a choice...take the Terrace Club Level at 2 1/2 times the price or decline it and get put in the "regular" upper deck and get assigned at random.

Not wanting to risk getting sent out to right field, I took it.