What’s The 401?!?!

Bronx, New York (Travellin’ Man)

Yankees week continued on Tuesday as my father, brother, sister and I ventured down to the Bronx to catch the opening game of the final Yankees-Red Sox series at Yankee Stadium.  Despite my love for Chicago and high praise for Baltimore, nothing compares to the energy of New York City…especially the energy generated by a Yankees Red Sox match-up in late August with playoff implications. 

Unfortunately, the Yankees were on the losing end of a game that epitomized their season: shaky starting pitching and an inability to get the big hit in the clutch.  A-Rod was especially awful in having what might have been his worst game in pinstripes.  Rodriguez, outside of last year’s miraculous season, has been maligned for much of his time in New York for his inability to come up with the big hit.  He was no better last night, failing on four occasions with men on base and drawing boos from the crowd for the first time this year.  Needless to say, it was a long drive back to Rhode Island…

As for Yankee Stadium, last night was likely my last trip to the old ballpark.  I’ve had many fond..and some not so fond…memories from the House That Ruth Built over the years, and am geniunely sad to see it go.  While the new Yankee Stadium will have all the amenities that the current model lacks (the wider concourses would have come into play nicely after last night’s game), it will not hold the memories, the history and the spirit that this version of Yankee Stadium will cede to the wrecking ball.  I’ll reserve holding judgement on the new park until I actually get to attend a game there, but something tells me that no matter what type of team the Yankees put on the field in 2009 and beyond…baseball in the Bronx will never be the same.  Might the demolition of Yankee Stadium take with it the Yankee mystique?  In one year from now…the verdict will be out.

Whayback
Travellin Man