Category Archives: Sports

Tonight was the last game at Yankee Stadium. Next year the Yankees are moving into their new stadium across the street. The HTRB will be torn down and with it, many memories and historical events. Aside from the 3 perfect games, 26 World Series championships, All-Star games, and everything else baseball related, Yankee Stadium also hosted the Pope, Billy Joel, Ali vs. Norton, “Win one for the Gipper” and the Greatest Game Ever Played (1958 NY Giants vs the Baltimore Colts).

Unfortunately, with the Yankee Stadium closing, it makes me think that Wrigley and Fenway might be nearing their respective closings. Hopefully it won’t happen for many more years, but who knows?

So, until then, good bye Yankee Stadium – thanks for the memories.

Even though I am a huge Cubs fan, I do appreciate other teams, and I respect the Yankees for the history that they have. George Steinbrenner was a great owner. He was not hesitant to spend money to win. He created a network so that his team could make more money and not have to share it with anyone. He was brash, and you either loved him or hated him, but either way you respected him. His son Hank is a different flavor altogether. I think he’s trying too hard to be his dad…the thing is George was good at what he did. Yankees ace Chien-Ming Wang got hurt running the bases in an interleague game against the Astros. While I totally understand that losing an ace means to a team, I think Hank’s quote is a bit out of touch.
“My only message is simple. The National League needs to join the 21st century,” Steinbrenner said in Tampa, Fla. “They need to grow up and join the 21st century.

“Am I (mad) about it? Yes,” Steinbrenner added. “I’ve got my pitchers running the bases, and one of them gets hurt. He’s going to be out. I don’t like that, and it’s about time they address it. That was a rule from the 1800s.”

Um, maybe I’m a purist, but I like to see pitchers hit and run the bases – to me that is as much a part of baseball as wooden bats. Injuries can happen. It’s part of the game. The DH takes away from the game because you have a “player” whose sole job is to hit. That’s it. Every once in a while they’ll take the field, but usually end up exposing themselves as a defensive liability. Heck, if Barry Bonds would probably be in the AL as a DH right now adding to his home run record* if it wasn’t for his legal problems. So maybe Hank should be the one who grows up.

I hope Wang heals quickly and is back on the mound this year, but I really wish that Hank would tone it down a bit.

Okay, while I am extremely happy that my Cubbies are doing well and currently reside in 1st place, this is a weird season in baseball.  How are the Devil Rays (no, I don’t acknowledge the stupid name change) in first place ahead of both the Red Sox and the Yankees? How did the NL West become such a bad divsion compared to last year (we can’t blame it all on the Giants)?  Why are the Mets getting worse?  All these wonderful questions in a topsy turvy season.  And the best part, the season is just barely over a quarter over.  We’ll see how things play out.