And I had bit of an ulterior motive in taking Squawker Jon to yesterday's playoff game. I was hoping that he would continue his good luck for the Yankees. Even though we didn't actually see Game 4 of the World Series in person (I dragged him to the simulcast at Yankee Stadium instead), I always think that Jon's presence in Yankee Stadium had some karmic connection to Damon's Dash!
Jon noted that in the last three Yankee games he attended, "the Bombers have hit ten homers - three [Wednesday], five on August 24 in Toronto and two on June 19 against the Mets." I wasn't at the Toronto one, but in recent years, Jon was also at the first night game with me in the new stadium (a win), and the first time A.J. Burnett threw a pie at a Yankee!
As for my own game attendance record, while I have some good memories (Jeter dives in the stands game, the Pine Tar Game, etc.), I've also got some terrible ones as well. For a variety of reasons (money, job obligations, etc.) I was able to get exactly two sets of playoff tickets in the 2000s (how is it that we went through that decade without ever giving it a nickname!) The two times I went to see the postseason: Games 6 and 7 of the 2004 ALCS! In the nineties, I did get to see the Yankees clinch twice against the Texas Rangers when I lived in Texas, but I also saw the Bombers get their butts kicked in Game 1 of the 1996 World Series, after I spent money flying in from Texas to see the team.
So, if there is any good luck charm for the Yanks between us, it's the Met fan! Jill, one of my Facebook friends, suggested we send Squawker Jon to Texas to help the Yankees' luck. I totally think he should do it -- he could go eat fried butter at the State Fair, then watch the Yankees win! Sounds like a plan to me!
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Not only did we get to a Yankees' victory yesterday, we saw Lance Berkman fall on the ground and not be able to get up for a few minutes. I think most fans were looking on in horror, thinking that the Yanks would be out another first baseman, after Mark Teixeira's untimely injury, but fortunately, all that was hurt was Berkman's "pride," as he joked about later.Squawker Jon thought that Robinson Cano, who batted third yesterday, was finally hitting where he was supposed to be. He also wondered if Jorge Posada were insulted that he was batting seventh, behind Marcus Thames and Berkman. If Posada did have his nose out of joint about it, he took it out on his bat!
C.C. Sabathia actually gave up more hits than C.J. Wilson, although C.C. didn't walk anybody in the battle of the initials. But he limited the damage, and kept his team in the game.
And not only did Robinson Cano continue to be the Yankees' MVP, but some other batters showed "signs of life," as a fan's sign said. Everybody got on base, with the exception of Brett Gardner. Curtis Granderson had three hits. And even A-Rod, who had looked terrible at the plate for the series, seemed much better.
I think the Yankees will win his series -- after all, I did predict the Yanks in 7. But even if they don't, they won't be going down meekly.
What do you think? Tell us about it!
Cliche Alert: Take it one game at a time. That's what teams that are down do. That's what the Sox did to us in 2004. That's what the Phils are going to try to do tonight against the Jints.
ReplyDeleteAnd if we win Game 6, I think we're going to remind Cliff Lee that he's only been 26-22 the last 2 years. Or, as Tony Burton said in Rocky IV, "He's NOT a machine! He's a MAN!"
But if Phil Hughes doesn't have good stuff tomorrow night, then our only chance is to get to the Texas bullpen and hope we can win an 8-7 type game. Then I wouldn't be so optimistic. We shall see.
My own on-site record isn't that good. I've never gotten inside for a postseason game. And my only attempt at a clincher, in Toronto in 2006, we lost (but still clinched because the Sox lost too). I've been to a few Old-Timers' Days and Monument Park dedications, and the Yanks usually lose those when I'm there. But they've won both my Opening Days, and 3 of the 4 live Yanks-Sox games I've seen (including the one at Fenway).
I'm confused about one thing... Why do you consider the Pine Tar game as a "good memory"? The Yankees ultimately lost that game.
ReplyDeleteUncle Mike, I just ask you to stay away from Martell's Tiki Bar this weekend, no matter how delicicous those clam strips are. We know the Yankees won-loss record is bad when you watch them there!
ReplyDeletePaul, good question. I say that because it was arguably the most memorable game of the (post-1981) 80s Yankees. It also was the funniest thing I've ever seen happen on the field, and the fact that it was noted Yankee nemesis George Brett made it more priceless. And because my being at the game impressed a lot of people I met in college!
When we left the ballpark that day, the Yankees had won the game. Although Lee McPhail ultimately reinstated the homer despite the rules violation, citing some "spirit of the game" anti-Yankee nonsense, it doesn't take away from the game itself being a good memory.
You'd think MacPhail would remember the Yankees used to pay his salary.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, Lisa, I ain't goin' anywhere near the Jersey Shore for the rest of this month. Never mind how cold it'll be, or how cold the Yankees get when I walk into Martell's: I'm worried about inhaling all that hairspray! If I ever find the person responsible for putting all those Situations and Snookis onto those boardwalks (when we already had plenty, thank you very much), I'm gonna give him a piece of my mind! Then we'll start out even!