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Deep Six
2008-09-16 14:20
by Cliff Corcoran

There are six games left at Yankee Stadium including tonight's. Last night Alfredo Aceves was the story. Tomorrow night it will be Phil Hughes, but tonight, with Andy Pettitte pitching what amounts to a warm-up for the Stadium's finale on Sunday, there is nothing else. Yes the White Sox are in a tight race for the AL Central. Yes, Robinson Cano is back in the lineup after his disciplinary benching. Yes, Brett Gardner is finally getting another look in center field and making his fourth-straight start there tonight, but with the Yankees on the brink of elimination (nine games out with 12 left to play), I think we're finally at the point tonight at which the Stadium will become the primary focus.

The Yankees have a record of 4,128-2,429 at Yankee stadium. That's a .630 winning percentage. They have to win four of these last six games to avoid dropping below .630. That's utterly meaningless, but maybe it's something for them to play for. For a variety of reasons, I'm going to find these last six games very hard to watch, and the six season-concluding road games that follow them will be even harder.

Comments
2008-09-16 14:42:49
1.   Schteeve
I really have a hard time knowing that the last game in Yankee Stadium is gonna be some meaningless play-out-the-string-fest.

It kills me. Because I think about next season maybe, or whenever they next have some glorious post-season moment, and I know that it will be at the new place, which won't have the ghosts of the old place. And I guess, really, who cares? They are just buildings. But, then again these are just games, right? Not quite.

2008-09-16 16:00:20
2.   tommyl
cricket, cricket
2008-09-16 16:06:07
3.   The Hawk
I'm over the Stadium thing because it's manufactured BS. It's not like they had no choice; they RETIRED the damn place. Personally I think it's a shame. They could have rebuilt on the same spot but nooooo. So no tears from me on that front.

As far as the remainder of the season goes, I pretty much don't watch anymore anyway. It annoys me when they stink and now it annoys me when they do well, since it's pointless.

2008-09-16 16:18:33
4.   Flip Play
Congrats, Captain.
2008-09-16 16:28:59
5.   dianagramr
4

and we can finally stop hearing about that quasi-important record .... sheesh

2008-09-16 16:57:23
6.   randym77
So, they're trying to get Gardner to hit with more power by teaching him to use the lower half of his body.

Er...shouldn't he have learned that already? Sometime in his four years as a minor league player and three years as a college player?

2008-09-16 17:03:06
7.   Mattpat11
6 He just recently learned that he's expected to swing the bat on occasion. There's a learning curve.

I think we might be seeing the end of Andy Pettitte.

2008-09-16 17:14:43
8.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
3 my Pop was all over this too saying since the 1976 renovation ruined the charm of the old stadium, all this nostalgia is a bit much..for me though, my memories are of Reggie and Donnie so I guess it means more..
2008-09-16 18:04:51
9.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
2 tumbling tumbleweeds...
2008-09-16 18:11:16
10.   Just fair
Hells Bells. Gardner just hit one 400 feet. Look out new Yankee Stadium : )
2008-09-16 18:12:01
11.   tommyl
Woah, did Brett Gardner just hit a ball 400 feet?
2008-09-16 18:18:16
12.   Shaun P
Go Gardner!

[8 My Dad refuses to call the place now being built the "New" Stadium. He says that's where the team plays now, and so he is not that torn up.

I am though. As much as I agree with the Hawk - they should have rebuilt on the old lot AFAIC - they didn't, and so the place I watched hundreds of games on TV is going to be gone. Its going to take a long time to see that many games in the new place.

2008-09-16 18:18:46
13.   monkeypants
3 I'm not sure how they could have rebuilt on the same spot. And in any case, rebuilding here, there, or somewhere else is still rebuilding--the old Stadium would be going for all intents and purposes no matter what plan was followed.

I'm not so upset the Stadium will close with a play out the string game--heck, that's what the pre-renovation Stadium had for its swan song. Rather, I don't want to see all the manufactured nostalgia and theatricality. If they just played the game--with no speeches or ceremonies, no prime time, no ESPN special broadcast, no swirling music or retrospectives--I would tune in. Otherwise, no way.

I go to a game or three every year. I went to two this summer. Good games, exciting, but overall just typical ball games. That's the way I want to remember the Stadium.

2008-09-16 18:23:08
14.   tommyl
Ah, the 2008 Yankees. Stranding a leadoff double. Good times, good times.
2008-09-16 18:27:09
15.   tommyl
So does four posts tonight make me a true fan?
2008-09-16 18:28:37
16.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
13 agreed! avoid YES at all costs..
15 not exactly WilliamNYY23 but keep at it sir!

Bos-Tampa 1-1 in the 8th...

2008-09-16 18:30:52
17.   randym77
Ron Villone still sucks.
2008-09-16 18:39:10
18.   Shaun P
13 Its funny you say that - I was thinking about calling up DirecTV and asking if I could get the SportsPack (and YES) for just one day (Sunday), so I could see all the hoopla. Yeah its manufactured, and they'll probably over do it, but it doesn't bother me. Maybe it helps me remember some of the things I'll miss about the place.

Oh - since they already demolished the original, rebuilding on the same spot would at least guarantee the same tract of land, which is essentially all that's left from the original. (The ground is gone due to all the times the dirt has been changed over the years.)

2008-09-16 18:56:10
19.   williamnyy23
16 I try my best, but sometimes I even run out of things to say!
2008-09-16 19:00:58
20.   Chyll Will
Can I interrupt to say that I'm very likely the twentieth comment on this thread tonight? >;)
2008-09-16 19:02:22
21.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
20 you timed that well sir, but as 21 I can be LaTroy Hawkins...
2008-09-16 19:04:32
22.   williamnyy23
13 Luckily, I'll be at the game, but I am going to tape the hoopla on both YES and ESPN. To be honest, I have no idea how I feel about closing down the Stadium II, and I don't think I'll know until I am walking out of there Sunday night/Monday morning.
2008-09-16 19:05:46
23.   williamnyy23
21 Booooooooo!
2008-09-16 19:27:55
24.   monkeypants
22 At the game? Take some good pictures!

I toyed with trying to get tix for the last game, but I'm not a season ticket holder and my efforts were half-hearted.

2008-09-17 09:58:19
25.   The Hawk
13 They rebuilt before; they could have done the same thing, except they didn't WANT to. I think rebuilding the facility on the same ground, with home plate in the same place, etc etc is a lot different than making the whole thing anew, elsewhere. A lot better, I mean.

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