Well, the Yankees are still hanging in there… August 3, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in NY Yankees, United States, baseball.Tags: 'a good thing', AL East, Brian Cashman, catcher, Coors Field East, Derek Jeter, first base, foodcourt, Francisco Cervelli, free-agent pitcher, Gold Glove, Gold Glove winner, Jason Giambi, Jorge Posada, Leon Trost, Mark Teixeira, Martha Stewart, Monument Cave, museum, New York, New York Yankees, NY Yankees, Phil the Franchise, post trade deadline, Red Sox, right field, Sabrematricians, Sergio Mitre, Shaun Chacon, Stadium, the Captain, White Sox, Yankee Stadium
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Here we are , 
past the half-way mark of the season and accelerating down the stretch. At this point in time, it would be best to take stock of what has happened so far this season. As of Monday, August 3rd, the Yankees are hanging onto a half game lead in the AL East, following an uninspiring 1-3 series against the White Sox. The loss of Wang has caused the need for an extra starter, but Sergio Mitre is NOT the answer. Should Phil the Franchise be ’stretched out’ again, and removed from his set-up role, or should Brian Cashman try for a low-cost miracle, like Shaun Chacon? Let’s see what is out there, post-trade deadline, I say.
The new Stadium has huge public spaces, a fabulous ‘foodcourt crossed with museum’ feel – and a terrible reputation as a home run launching pad. ‘Coors Field East’ will have to be tweaked in the off season; someone has to persuade Leon Trost that the fences can be a little higher in right field, and that the Yankees can stand the loss of income from the removal of three or four rows of seats in this area, too. Either that, or no elite free-agent pitcher will ever sign with the Yankees again. It would be nice to think that something would be done about ‘Monument Cave’ as well.
Three bright spots from this season, so far. Francisco Cervelli has shown himself to be the Yankees ‘catcher-in-waiting’, when Jorge Posada finally hangs up ‘the tools of ignorance’. A young man who is a solid receiver of the ball, and who has great fire and enthusiasm – a real find. Another ‘good thing’, as Martha Stewart would say, is the return to form of the Captain. Derek Jeter may be on the wrong side of the performance graphs of the Sabrematricians, but he has obviously worked exceptionally hard in the off-season to improve his range and his play in general….a re-vitalised Jeter is a VERY dangerous player. Finally, someone is going to have to start mentioning Mark Teixeira as the 2009 AL Gold Glove Award Winner. His play at first base hasn’t just been spectacular (the vertical leaping catch off the ex-Yankee, Dioner Navarro, this weekend, was incredible) it has been a revelation. Now we know just how truly awful Jason Giambi was in the field.
Well, that’s enough of a re-cap for now. Soon, it will be time for a series against the Red Sox at the Stadium – and that should sort a few things out!
Central Park, Clinton – not so much passive, as passive-aggressive? March 28, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in New England, United States, baseball, textiles.Tags: New England, dogs, baseball, New York, churches, Central Park, textiles, Victorian, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, Worcester County, Clinton, MA, architectural design, textile industry, public buildings, housing stock, baseball diamond, Fuller Field, oldest baseball field in the world, statuary, fountain, Town Hall, ointment, ball playing, frisbee, football, soccer, golf, skateboard, rollerblading, bicycles, swimming, wading, metal detecting, littering, prohibitions, park, carpet
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Sign, Central Park, Clinton, MA
Clinton is a small city, in Worcester County in the western portion of Massachusetts, which was incorporated in 1850. It is about 42 miles from Boston, and therefore 30 miles from where I live. A visit to Clinton is usually most enjoyable, if you appreciate architectural design, as the prosperity of the 19th century caused by its booming textile industry (especially carpets), allowed the town to erect many impressive public buildings. Also, the housing stock contains fine examples of homes in the New England Victorian style. As an aside, it also is home to the oldest baseball diamond in continuous use in the world (dating from 1878), Fuller Field.
At the core of the town is Central Park, a fine public space with paths, seats, statuary and a fountain, which has many mature trees. The park is surrounded on three sides by a variety of notable homes, churches, the Town Hall and other buildings. Like its much bigger and more famous counterpart in New York, Central Park should be a haven of rest, relaxation and recreation.
There is, however, one fly in the ointment. As you can see from the above notice, Central Park has been designated a ‘passive park for the enjoyment of all’, with the authorities banning virtually ALL forms of activity. No dogs allowed, no ball playing, no frisbee, no football, no soccer, no golf, no skateboards, no rollerblading, no bicycles, no swimming, no wading, no metal detectors, no littering. A couple of these are fairly standard (and useful) prohibitions, but the main aim of the city seems to be to forbid almost anything that makes a park a park! Not so much ‘passive’ as ‘passive-aggressive’, in my opinion.
Perhaps, on my next visit, I should enquire at the Town Hall to see if I can go into the park and breathe a little?
The new Yankee Stadium January 8, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in NY Yankees, baseball.Tags: baseball, Chicago Cubs, New York, New York Yankees, sports, Yankee Stadium
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On April 3rd and 4th, the Chicago Cubs will be hosted by the NY Yankees in the first games ever played at the new Yankee Stadium, just across the road from their iconic former home. Undoubtedly, the offer of 1923 prices for many of the seats at these first exhibition games will ensure a full house, but people will also be lured by the many high-tech aspects of the new stadium. Video screens everywhere, a ‘batter’s eye’ restaurant behind one-way dark glass, wide concourses, and lots of other amenities. As well as the new signings made by the Yankees, there will be much to enjoy.
However, despite the enhanced revenue streams (no less than 51 ’sky boxes’ for example), there is something missing at the new stadium, in my humble opinion. A retractable roof! There was a simple decision made at the planning stage, I feel; less ‘bells and whistles’ and a roof (a la Seattle Mariners) or a high-tech stadium and all that the weather can bring to the mix. Many times, critical games have been ruined by the New York weather, not to mention a notoriously sun-affected outfield and home plate. Very well, I’ll concede that there would not have been that amazing grand slam by Jason Giambi against the Twins, in what was a virtual downpour, but I shall still yearn for the certainty that a roofed stadium would have brought.
NY Yankees January 7, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in NY Yankees, baseball.Tags: baseball, New York, NY Yankees, sports
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- New York Yankees
‘There can be only one….’
