A Look Into the Past From the Future

This post is from the future archives of this blog

May 2018

It seems so long ago that we were witnessing true greatness in pinstripes. Now we are the laughingstock of baseball, mired in a deja vu like trance of 1980s proportions. The Mets have won a World Series and turned this baseball town awash in blue and orange.

Our captain did not go down without a fight, but after being shifted to right field in the final year of his contract, pride took over and he announced his retirement. Alex Rodriguez is unmercifully still here thanks to Hank Steinbrenner extending his contract, his reasoning being since the Yanks can’t produce a winning product the only way to market games is for fans to have the chance to boo A Rod and throw used hot dog wrappers at him. The outfield prospects of Heathcott and Austin never panned out, and our stud catching prospect forgot that you use the bat to hit the ball. Robinson Cano got his 300 million dollar contract and then decided that he wouldn’t leave the batters box unless it was a homer.

The Yankees are in shambles off the field as well. Hal walked away from his responsibilities when the Yanks became perennial cellar dwellers, citing that he was never the “Baseball guy” and he wanted to pursue other adventures, leaving the team in Hank Steinbrenner’s hands. Hank has become the Kim Jong Un of baseball, running the organization with a veil of secrecy and constant threats of leaving MLB. After Brian Cashman tragically died skiing Mount Everest for charity, Hank fired all of the front office staff and relies on his inner circle of trusted advisors, most of whom have never been seen.

As fans clamor for new ownership, Hank sits atop his perch in the ballpark (literally—its his box he built in place of the Mohegan Sun Bar in centerfield) without a care in the world. Ticket prices have driven all of the diehard fans out and the ballpark looks like the coliseum in Rome, oversized and empty. Hank, driven by a madness that even his father would consider insane, remains convinced that his course is the right one.

This Yankee team is long removed from the glory days of the Core Four. Now we are a joke, just like the Iron Man movie franchise. (I think Iron Man 8 was enough)

Let’s hope for a better future. As the saying goes, wait till next year.

The Death of Tailgating

Even the "Bros" will be priced out soon

One of my favorite memories of going to Yankee games as a kid was tailgating. There was nothing like pulling in, grabbing the cooler, whiffle-ball bat and ball, and hanging out with my friends and family before a game.

Now, those memories have been priced out.

The old stadium was the best. After driving south for an hour, we would get off the Deegan, make an illegal U-Turn (my dad was a cop–perk of the job) and end up in the lot behind the Little League Field under the overpass.

Nothing beat it. Everyone would be grilling, eating, drinking, and throwing a ball around. Our van was always a popular one because we had the original ANSKY plate. If you have to ask yourself “what the hell is ANSKY?” then you better have been born after 1998.

Before leaving for the game my dad would tip the attendant a few bucks, telling him “I don’t care if the van is gone, just make sure they don’t take my plates.”

Also, watching the kid hawking hats for 10 bucks get chased by the cops through the parking lot was always entertaining. He always got a big cheer when he escaped though a hole in the fence.

With the new stadium, Metro North, and parking garages, tailgating is essentially done. Prices are going well over 30 bucks, and by the time you buy your ticket, gas,  food, bridges, tolls, and parking you are looking at easily a hundred bucks just to go to a game. Reports have come out that within the next few years, parking will be closer to 50 dollars.

No way am I paying that much to park. If you can’t take mass transit to a game, you better start saving now.

Audio of the Week: Yet Again, John Sterling Ceases to Amaze Me

So Jeter got his 3,000th hit on Saturday, but according to John Sterling, he actual got more. Sadly this is real audio from his sign off.

 

OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS OF ALL THE DRAMATIC THINGS JAHHN STERLING SCREWED UP A CALLHH!!!!

As Jeter Gets Closer, Ticket Prices Soar

What price are you willing to pay to see history?

The secondary market prices for Yankee tickets has skyrocketed for the next few games. As of Thursday morning, StubHub’s prices for the Tampa Series are way above face value.

The cheapest tickets for Thursday’s game are 20 dollars, which isn’t bad, but the chances of seeing Jeter get three hits in one game isn’t great. Friday and Saturday however, now that’s a different story. Friday’s cheap seats are going for 84 bucks, and there are left field obstructed-view seats available for 86 dollars a pop. So you get to pay 7 times the face value amount and see half of the game.

Saturday continues the trend, with the cheapest tickets sitting at 55 dollars. If you can’t get there by the subway, add in another 35 dollars to park, or a train fee, and you will really have to ask yourself, “What price am I wiling to pay to see 3,000?”

If Jeter gets two hits tonight, the prices will skyrocket for Friday. If he is sitting at 2,999 entering Saturday or Sunday expect those tickets to skyrocket as well.

I live about an hour and twenty-minute ride from Yankee Stadium, so usually I wait until I am just about to leave for a game to order tickets; they are much cheaper then. That philosophy isn’t going to work this weekend. If you want to see 3,000 you are going to have to guess the game right, or you will be paying a lot of money to see hits 3,003 and 3,004.

Horrible Bosses Has A Familiar Face

Couldn’t believe Fred Wilpon would star in Horrible Bosses, but hey, he’s gotta make money.

George Steinbrenner’s Best Television Moments

In honor of the late, great, George Steinbrenner’s birthday, also known as Independence Day, I bring to you his best moments.

Steinbrenner had a knack for using the media to his advantage, all in the name of getting more publicity for himself, and the Yankees.

George and Billy Martin for Miller Lite

It tastes great!

George on 60 Minutes with Ed Bradley

Steinbrenner admits to putting his foot through a television and being a sore loser. Also says that players shouldn’t be heroes unless they act like heroes. Now I see where Hank Steinbrenner gets it from.

Steinbrenner and Jeter Visa Commercial

Steinbrenner in the Conga line= priceless

Steinbrenner’s interview right after winning 1998 World Series

I love how he admits he knows nothing about computers. Also gave a lot of praise to a lot of people, not himself.

Steinbrenner helps ANSKY

The “ANSKY” guys’ commercials were popular at the end of the 90′s. “What the hell is ANSKY?” you ask? GOOGLE IT!!!

Steinbrenner on Seinfeld

“SINGLES TABLES ARE FOR LOSERS!”…”I don’t like putting undo pressure on people.”

Steinbrenner Hosts SNL

This was saved for #1 because it’s all about George.

Love him or hate him, George really did love New York, and all of the media attention being an owner brings. What else do you think should be on here?

Pic of the Week (Possibly Year): Jeter is Patriotic

This is the funniest thing you will see all day, unless your drunk uncle blows his hand off with a firework