The Final Consecration of the Cathedral

The faithful had gathered, hope and anticipation of another season; Opening Day in the Bronx. The weather, lousy with a light drizzle did not dash the hearty. Many began tailgating in the lots in the early morning. I arrived on the D train from Penn Station and met Glamourbee and off to services we went.

It was about noon as we entered hallowed ground, I tithed obtaining my 2008 Yearbook, Opening Day Pin, Program and Opening Day shirt. Up to our lofty perch in the loge we went to view the final consecration of this grand stadium; we thought. I easily found my seats, in the same space I have been since 2002. Next year I will have to be attentive when the great move is made. Time to watch and wait.

There were scattered announcements about a rain delay, and not much till 1:30. John Sterling and the YES casters presented messages of hope, Joe G and Brian C took in the field around 2:00PM and then 3 Blue jays came out to play catch. My optimism rose, only to be dashed around 2:30 when the faithful were sent home. No game today, bad weather approaching.

To this I must say the Yankee weatherman must go. The current meteorologist lacks skill, The rain remained away, and had they started at 2:00PM they could have gotten the game in. The Yankee weatherman is a wimp. Please hire Bill Evans, Lee Goldberg and/or Sam Champion. They were correct, the Yankee weather guy was wrong.

I took a PTO day to go today, no big deal I have 30, and have hardly dented them yet. Others who were there had skipped school or also played work hooky. But we will all adjourn in the same location again tomorrow night.

Opening Night isn't as much fun as Opening Day. There is still the announcement of players and staff to look forward to; but the game will be under lights in the dark; and like it or not, some of the anticipation of first pitch will have left; but Glamourbee and I will be there again, hopefully to see baseball played and not rain delayed.

New Yankee Stadium Notes

For those that are season ticket holders or who have ever registered and bought tickets online from the NY Yankees, know you get the annual ticket publication. Mine came with my season tickets last week, and I finally got around to reading it this morning. It contains some interesting facts about the new stadium.

The publication has some lively rendition pictures of the new lounges, restaurants and public area. It brings an excitement of I can't wait till it's done. It also gives a place for you to see showcase mock ups of some of the new stadium. The NY Yankees have set up a 4000 square foot showcase at Rockefeller Center to show of some of the new luxury boxes and suites and some of the private lounges. It is meant to sell the new private seating but is open to the public. For those too curious to wait, it probably is a good sneak peek if you can deal with the sales pitch. I intend to check it out myself.

Also listed in the publication are some of the public features of the new stadium. There will be 3 non subscription restaurants on top of the traditional subscription pubs and restaurants at the current stadium. A new steakhouse, a martini lounge and a sports bar. I don't know about the martini lounge, that would be better served as some food establishment for children. Also there will be a Yankee Museum showcasing Yankee memorable as well as some of the heavy hardware acquired by the team in it's long history. Really want to psych out the opposition, walk them past those 26 World Series Trophies which will now be on display for all to see.

While some of us are apprehensive about the new home, the preview in this year's ticket publication really wets your appetite for the new digs. I will be a little sad when they move across the street, but their new home appears to be fit for true baseball royalty; and the Yankees are the undeniable kings of baseball. In good times or bad, everyone wants to be a New York Yankee, most baseball players will agree; even some ex-Boston Red Soxs.

Crown Prince Hank

Just when we Yankee fans had gotten use to a little subdued activity from the owner, he, George turns the team over to his sons. After a six month honeymoon, Hank Steinbrenner has emerged as the new "Voice of the Yankees".

While promoting the team, he has also taken up where dear old George left off shooting off his mouth. Unlike his father the most controversial things so far as been to support the team and say that suspension for the Spring Trainings brawl are uncalled for and he will appeal.

Hank it appears is a chip off the old block, and while George rides off into the sunset, son Hank is going full blast into the spotlight.

For fans like me and many of my friends it is a sign of good things to come. George is the ultimate owner, a fan with money to spend to give his team the best. I have been a bit apprehensive of the future of my beloved Yankees with the hands of leadership changing this past year. However out of all the things that have come out of Spring Training, one thing is certain, the new commitment and support of the team by the owner is still there; as echoed in the statements made this spring by Hank Steinbrenner.

With 13 days till Opening Day, something else to look forward to, a committed energetic owner.

(Hank Steinbrenner photo from the NY Daily News)

The Truth Will Be Unpleasant

The IRS has joined the long list of federal agents investigating claims that Roger Clemens perjured himself before the Congressional hearings. This brings the tally to date to the US Attorney's special investigators, the Secret Service, agents from the ATF and DEA and FBI, and the US Marshall's Office.





I still hold that Roger may be innocent, as his attorneys, lead by Rusty Hardin are still representing him, and they like him have much to lose if Roger is indeed lying. I base my opinion on two facts:

• One, that Clemens by suing McNamee for slander in court and possibly perjuring himself on Capital Hill could spend his golfing years locked up in a federal white collar prison. I contend he isn't that stupid and neither are his legal representatives. Despite the many bad jokes about lawyers that many of us spread, most decent lawyers aren't that stupid.

• Two, that as of yet, no real proof has been established to prove him guilty. McNamee still has a circumstantial case.

That all said, the one thing that will now come out is just who really has done illegal steroids and performance enhancing drugs. I suspect that by this time next year, Bud Selig will have stepped down for the good of the game in disgrace. Why you ask, because his little white wash investigation headed by Mr. Mitchell has snowballed into a major federal task force investigation. By doing a half baked job, and naming some and not really digging up any new dirt, Selig's baseball investigation has backfired. Multiple federal agencies are now getting to the facts, and when that many Feds are digging, they will uncover the guilty.

What is happening now is what we didn't want as fans. Had Selig just gotten tough with the player's union, most famous names would still be speculation and the issue would be handled in the locker room and sports pages. Now many will be caught and it will play out in court rooms across the country across the front pages of major and minor newspapers.

Selig thought his investigation would be good for baseball, clear the air, but it has clouded it more deeply. Stop thinking about players not getting voted to Cooperstown, start thinking about about people going to prison. The Mitchell Report is the worst thing to come out out of baseball since the the Black Soxs Sandal. It makes the inventions of the AL's designated hitter look like a good thing.

Pandora's Box has been opened, and like Pandora' box, a new plague has spread, the plague of getting to the truth, the whole truth.

(Clemens/Hardin photo by AP's Dan Sullivan)

National League 2008

The MLB National League comes into the the 2008 with the best pitching in the NL, despite the acquisition of Johan Santana by the New York Mets. The NL west has such stars as Todd Helton of the Rockies and no one can really argue about the strength of the Diamondsbacks or Padres.

In contrast to this is the NL Central division, which could be labeled a dog. Sorry no fall classic except for the division winner this year. And the division winner may be gone in 3 if changes aren't made to lineups. The NL Central is just below the AL West in overall performance, the worst division in the AL as of the current date. The only pickup in the AL West is the Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles.

The AL East is again strong and Boston and NY will be battling all year. Expect to see some close runner up from the Baltimore Orioles. However, the NY Yankees, despite the management change have simply not missed a beat so far. The team is playing like nothing has happened, maybe better then in past Springs.