I have to say, I can’t remember being so unexcited about an Opening Day. It’s weird. I look forward to the rhythm that Yankee baseball will bring to my life, of listening to the game in the car on the way home from school, turning on YES when I get home to watch while putting together dinner, popping over to this site to mingle with the Banterites.
None of that has changed. I imagine I’ll still consume 125 games this season, my son and I will go to at least one of the games in Anaheim, and we might even motivate to travel a bit farther away to see the Bombers play in person in some other stadium.
But all of that is because that’s the way it’s always been. My attachment to the Yankees right now is more like an attachment to a limb. If they’ve always been a part of my life, if they’ve been the one constant of the past 45 years — and I don’t mean that in a romantic James Earl Jones kind of way, but as a simple fact — how can I not want to do all those things?
Part of this is because I’ve gotten older. I knew when Derek Jeter retired that I would never have another favorite player, just because it made no sense. I’ve got stacks of Jeter baseball cards and a jersey hanging in my closet. Remember the GQ cover with Jeter, A-Rod, and Nomar? It’s in a box in the garage.
I’ve written here before about my affinity to the former Captain, and it would make sense if I were to transfer some of those same feelings to Aaron Judge, presumably the next captain of my favorite team, but there’s something missing. Not with Judge, but with me.
It’s likely that there are fewer baseball seasons in my future than in my past, but that realization hasn’t made me look at this year or the next or the one after that as any more precious. Instead, it’s just another campaign in a series of seasons that have begun to spin past with a disturbing quickness. When I was a boy there was no longer stretch of time than the months that separated the last Yankee game in October from the first one in April, but as I write this on the eve of Opening Day it seems like only a few weeks ago that the Yankees were eliminated in a dismal Wild Card loss to the Red Sox, of all teams.
And I’ve fallen victim to the worst symptom of growing up — I firmly believe that I’ll never again know the thrill of waiting for that pop-up to settle into Charlie Hayes’s glove back in 1996. I won’t ever feel so brashly confident as when I was walking out through the Anaheim Stadium concourse in the summer of 1998, chanting “Let’s!-Go!-Yan!-kees!” along with thousands of other West Coast Yankee fans — after a loss. I’ve been watching this team long enough that my heroes have become myths and their exploits have become legend. Nothing that happens in 2022 will match anything that’s come before, that’s what my heart tells me.
Intellectually I know that I’m no different than the cranky guys at the bar who once complained that Reggie and Munson were no match for Mantle and Maris, or the crankier guys who once preferred Gehrig and Ruth over the M&M Boys. Intellectually I know that Judge and Stanton might put a hundred balls over the fence this year, but will that thrill me like Guidry did in ’78? Like Jeter did when he put #3,000 into the seats? Like Mo did for nineteen years?
But they aren’t wrong when they talk about the possibilities that loom large on Opening Day. If fans in Detroit or Pittsburgh or Kansas City can feel optimistic about their teams, certainly I can muster some positive thoughts for my Yankees. I can look past deficiencies behind the plate and age almost everywhere you look. I can be thankful that I don’t have to root for Carlos Correa. I can dream about the glorious possibility of Jasson Dominguez, the same as I once did about Ruben Rivera. (In the dream, it turns out different this time.)
So while I might not be as excited about this Opening Day as I was five or ten years ago, I’ll still be watching. The line drives will be crisp, the curveballs will snap. A new Yankee will show up wearing an old number that Graeme Lloyd or Mel Hall or Luís Sojo used to wear, and I’ll make a mental note, but I’ll stay in the moment. Because that’s what I’ve always done. That’s what I’ll always do.
[0] Great post, Hank. Thanks for sharing.
Let's go YAN-kees!
Yay, baseball. Not as excited this year, the terrorists are wearing me down.
Sheesh. This is not good.
It's past 2 AM here. I wanted to see the Yankees bat. Not sure how much of this I can take.
Way to work the count, Josh.
Boom! Well, that didn't take long. Rizzolated.
Well, things are looking up a bit!
[0] I hear you, Hank. I too am feeling similarly, it's such a different experience and the difference is me. Very nicely written!
Yup, had to walk the terrorists before the rain. Couple of other people had the same idea. So I got my workout in.
And MLB.tv says the YES broadcast is blacked out. I guess because it’s a national broadcast.
[7] isn't here in PA. Watching YES via mlb.tv
Just saw the highlight of the LeMahieu home run. Did he look odd to anyone else as he circled the bases? Like his left arm was dangling at his side a bit?
Stanton looks like he is miles away from that outside pitch...
In for extras. It did look like DJ was favoring that wing a bit.
Gleyber!
So everybody plays today.
Falafel scores!
Whoo-hoo! Go Yankees!
Tomorrow is FS1, Sunday is ESPN. Ugh.
Yay!!!!!!
Good to see you back, RBJ.
Never a bad thing to start the season with a win!
I don't mind NESN at all. Waaaaaaaaaaay better than national network crews, imo.
Hey-O!
[19] Hey, RI! I don't mind NESN either - though #RIPRemDog - but I cut the cord so I couldn't watch that way today. Still wondering what will happen for the Amazon Prime games for us out of market folks...
Happy to see baseball back, and happy to win on opening day. It's funny to see a full house. I went to every opening day from 1959-1967, and never bought a ticket in advance.
Hank, great write up. I'm a Yankee fan since my mom was pregnant with me (she used to sit in the bleachers with me absorbing the noise). I learned to read pre-K so I could follow the Yanks, and my Dad taught me how to use a slide rule so I could figure out ERA's and batting avg. I'll catch the Yanks a couple of times in Baltimore, and maybe here in DC too. Contrary to some of you, I've always had heroes on the Yanks, from Mickey and Yogi, to Thurmond and Reggie, on to Jeter and the core-4. I'm looking up to Judge right now, and I hope Cashman doesn't let him walk!
Oh good the bad base running is back
Thanks, Hank. I've been struggling with much the same feelings myself.
Greetings, Team!
Rizzo ties it up! Fans are having a grand time.
Stantonesque!
Phew, a little more interesting 9th than I’d have liked.
Nice game.
And glad the kid recovered to make that final assist.
Missed the game (I had weekend business, ugh).
But damn, Stanton is absolutely killing the ball. And is there any chance (any chance at all???) that Rizzo can have a season hinted at by his first two games?
Caught parts of the first couple games. We need at least two guys hot at any time to compete this year to balance whoever is ice cold. Read: Hicks, Stanton, and Gallo all with three or more Ks yesterday.
And Hank, you and I are on the same page and probably within a year age wise. I just don’t have the energy to agonize too much anymore but appreciate the season long background/narrative that comes from the team, especially one in reasonable contention for a playoff spot. I have pretty much checked out of any other major sports in the last ten years (English soccer being the sole exception) which I attribute to being an overworked dad of three small kids, but I cannot or will not give up the Yankees.
This years team is likeable enough and I hope Gleyber goes off in a big way
Hey, Knuckles. I agree with you about the agonizing. I find that I can’t really follow the off-season stuff as much as I used to, and I’ve acknowledged that my hoping for one free agent or another has no bearing on what Cashman will do, so it doesn’t make sense to waste energy on it.
And while my interest in most other sports has waned, I can’t imagine I’ll ever stop being interested in the Yankees. So for me, it’s baseball, college football, and soccer. (Like you, I’m addicted to English soccer. Completely addicted.)
And all of this is fine with me.
Gary had himself a game, including a salami. Good for him. Seems like a change of scenery was needed.
Oh shit.
Tougher than a soccer player. Hockey player. Not so much. Uamg
Whoops. Meant to add Hang in there.
Phew, back on the mound.
This umpire clearly Fucking sucks.
Kay with A-Rod and Clemens on the deuce
Sigh. Nothing like a bases loaded dp.
Off to walk the terrorists, would hate to miss a Yankee rally.
I like it! Tied up.
Shoot, missed it. Also had to take out the garbage including some moldy goulash.
Japan Calling! Catching up on the first few games, and this Sunday night ESPN one. Better announcing team now with Cone on it. What is the KAY-ARod thing people are mentioning?
Btw, you guys need to look up what happened in the NPB league here over the weekend. 19-stirke out perfect game by a 20-year old..!
Stanton continues to just crush the ball!
Hicks needs a good result.
Not sure why my comment requires moderation.
Did you mention a product inadvertently?
Just gambling and how it is now embraced
What is the point of Joey Gallo and why is he wearing A-Rod's #?
Right? Went from taboo to now talking about it 24/7. I'd bet now Hicks is going to end the inning.
RBJ, the word itself probably triggers something.
And hey. I woulda won my bet!
Lots of base runners, just can't get anyone to the plate.
Weird to see Cone in a Red Sox uniform.
Ugh, I hate doing taxes.
Blue Jays are scary good on offense
Is it possible to HATE the jays more than the Sox this year? I believe so.
"Yankees’ Aaron Judge wants nine-year contract, over $30.5 million AAV"
Damn.... this is really Robbie Cano, 2 point 0.
9 years takes Judge through age 39. Anybody think his body will hold up anywhere near that long? I would have loved to keep Cano, and I would have loved to keep Judge. But you know what......?
Aaron....SEE YA!
I know it's only been a handful of games, but the Yankees seem exactly the same as last year.
Decent Pitching
Great BP
Sloppy D (including the catcher)
Too Many Strikeouts
RISP fails
Homer Happy
Nothing has changed.
BTW, Joey Gallo < Clint Frazier
and not as nearly as pleasant to look at.
It's like trading in a Pinto for a Vega.
Ugh, looks like they've settled comfortably back into "the home run will save us! 'Ceptin' when it doesn't."
Am I really that much of an old fart to expect a little situational contact hitting?
Don't answer that.
I hope everyone in the city is safe. Crazy morning
Damn, caught
Officially a Yankee.
Yay, Hicks
I'm embarrassed to say that until about ten minutes ago I'd thought yesterday was a travel day. Yeesh.
Hey, Donaldson with some nice glove work!
Defensive plays are awesome, when it's the other team calling them.
Is Cortes really this good?
[66] Yes. He was good last year. Got screwed on run support.
Whew.
Impressive song reference of the night. Coney on "Rapper's Delight" and Paulie got it! It was a pretty deep lyric, too.
Stantionian!
Noice win.
Yeah, Roberts was right to take Kershaw out
Ouch!
Ugh. These games are boring. No hits. No runs. Down early. No life. Bollocks.
Of course.
Belly to belly
Apparently all I need to do is not watch for 5 minutes.
Tied up!
Ara. Me too, just in time!
Ah, 85 pitches.
That Vladdy Jr tater (second one), was off a good pitch by Cole. What a hitter!
JFC, Gleyber! East Coast HS 2nd basemen turn that in the snow.
Springer is going to bunt a double to right field.
Springer one of those guys that just seems to hit .750 with men on base..
Catcher's interference on Higashioka?? I always ride with Japan connections but he can't hit at all so can't be making mistakes on D!
A routine dp turned. How quaint.
Vlad the Impaler II, frightening hitter..
Once again, we have a HR or nothing team. Me no likey!
They should not have traded Sanchez.... as frustrating as he was.
This team seems to rarely get into double-digit Hits. Is that so much to ask, from our 'elite offense'?
The Rizzo bunt was a great idea... except it was Ball 4...
[0] Great stuff, Hank. We are the same age in our fandom and I feel the same way. I'm sorry I'm a week late to the thread.
Yay, game about to start. We were supposed to get thunderstorms here, but nope
Great to see Severino back.
Is it true O’Neil isn’t at the stadium because he’s unvaxxed?
[92] You're joking, right?
I can't believe we are gonna have to watch Joey Gallo whiff and make googly eyes all year.
[93] I saw they asked him why he was at his home studio and he said it was because the schedule changed due to the lockout, so in April his only home games had changed, etc. But he wouldn't answer about the vax and YES/MLB's rules on that. Same for Smoltz on FOX apparently.
[95] No words.
[96] And O'Neil's son is a doctor..
Kiner-Falefa with the hit! We're going to win tonight now.
According to Meredith, Boone thinks IKF and Higgy will hit. Really? There's no evidence of that ever happening.
[97] Shouldn't been an out, but I'll take it.
Woo! A little bingo.
[98] Boone's only evident strength as a manager is backing his guys up, important to do sure but at some point you got to acknowledge the obvious. You know I love 東丘 but he's not a major league hitter..
Trevino & Falafel? Not sure I recognize much of this team
[102] Black hole at the bottom of the lineup, don't look at their stats..
Trevino is like a framing master out there.
[101]I would bet he can't read any kanji either.
I like Sevvy.
[106] Me too, glad he got paid before the injuries hit.
Gallo at .176 and zero RBI in game 7. How long is his leash? He's a great outfielder but guy doesn't hit anything but homers..
So, Trevino driving in Falafel is going to be a thing?
Yeah, Gallo is a huge black hole right now in the lineup.
I am liking IKF so far (do we have a better nickname/shorthand for him?). Nice compact swing and a little bit of enthusiasm. And whaddaya know, he and Trevino are the entire offense tonight. Get Sevy the W.
And, our catcher swipes a bag. Nice.
Via wikipedia
New York Yankees
On April 2, 2022, the Rangers traded Trevino to the New York Yankees in exchange for Albert Abreu and Robert Ahlstrom.[19]
[108] [110] He's been playing sloppy D this year as well. No value.
Castro seems like a good pick up so far. I have seen how the Mets end of that deal, Rodriguez, is working out.
*have not seen*
Falefa on the basepaths, Falafel sandwiches here for lunch. Boom!
Yankees bunting for hits1 WTF!?
[116] Really? I could go for a good falafel. Last one I had was crap. They used frozen ones. Won't be going back to that place.
Small ball!
Nice little bit of situational hitting by Stanton there.
No game is Chapman proof any more.
Yes, we got these catchers because Gary is so bad at blocking.
Thanks, Chap!
[118] These are from our old Israeli friend Pita The Great, he sells pitas and frozen falafels to Azabu market in Hiroo. Am sure you visited his old shop in Akasaka before he closed?
See. All ya gotta do is throw strikes.
That was entertaining.
[118] That name rings a bell.
I tired of Chapman more than a year ago.
Evening, Team.
Hello Weeping!!
Why they changed Camden Tards so much moving back the fences? I missed most of Kay’s explanation.
Maybin sounds a bit jumpy, is this is first game?
I didn't hear much of an explanation. They went through the difference and about what it will mean for hitters, blah blah blah, but they didn't say anything about the motives.
Also, I just saw the thread about your dad looking for how to stream. Is he all fixed up?
(I finally got YES back myself, after years of not having it.)
He did have one ST game.
Blessed Passover/Easter for those who observe.
LeMachine with the throw
Hey weeping, yes he’s all set now thanks! He was like ‘I’m too old to navigate all these different channels and I was ‘Yeah, me too!’
rbj, Happy Holidays to you too! Didn’t even realize it was Easter & Passover this weekend, not much sign of that over this way
"Hey weeping, yes he’s all set now thanks! He was like ‘I’m too old to navigate all these different channels and I was ‘Yeah, me too!’"
Exactly!--me three!
Thanks Jazz.
Gumby for the sixth?
Of course. Hit against the shift!
That was not well played between Hicks and Stanton.
You guys might appreciate this (dude cracks me up):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI3NMNoudDs
Love showy umps! Who was the guy in the 80s with the really loud strike call?
Gallo with the D, at least contributing with the glove if not the bat.
God, I don't remember at all! I found that clip looking for that scene in that eighties film with the parody ump. It wasn't Airplane but it was like Airplane. And Uecker was in it.
Yes, that was a nice throw.
Who is in the booth with Kay?
I’m on the Orioles feed, but from earlier comments, Cameron Maybin. Carlos Beltran s in the stable this year as well.
[129] Maybin in the booth? Is he retired already? I remember when he was the next great thing.
Maybin wasn’t offered even an NRI this year. And with Sngleton retired . . .
Maybin sounding better now later in the game, maybe nervous to stay with. Will miss Kenny Singleton though on these O’s games
Are these guests in the booth because Paulie and Coney don't want to travel?
What's up, all. The booth said pre-game that the new outfield dimensions would have prevented about 190 homers over the last 4 years.
JEEZ! Does this 'great offense' even get double digits in Hits?
190 homers..???
They cited statcast or some such. Boils down to about 50 over each of the last 4 seasons. Less than 1 per game. Doesn't seem like a lot with all the extra grass and high walls added.
I wish Boone would stop fucking around with the batting order.
Wow. Maybin played 15 years. Had a career .697 OPS (92 OPS+). 13.5 WAR in 15 years! That sucks... especially for an OFer.
Cherrinos..does he call everyone ‘Slick’? (Movie reference, who gets it??)
How did Judge miss that one?
Sweet at bat. Fucking Bollocks!
X2.
Not including this game, our offense:
.235 - 316 - .403 OPS: .719
Kinda pathetic.
Good God!
Little League play for Rizzo, FFS.
Seriously.
Donaldson needs to start earning his salary.
Let's face it, Gallo sucks.
What a shit show.
[165] Remember when 'fans' were begging for him?
Career: .206 .333 .485 .818
I liked when Chirinos got hit in the balls and Maybin said "got him in the family jewels."
Kay will never (has never) directly indicated when a player gets hit in the balls for some reason. Not sure why. Are testicles considered offensive? It's just a part of the body. Its weird.
[167] And he's been trending down!
I hope Maybin and Cone do some games together.
Not Chapman. This game is over.
Maybe we're seeing the real Slim Shady tonight.
They reserve to lose. The ump sucked all game.
Arguing close calls in a game against a team you should have crushed is never a good look.
Pathetic.
Boo rain delay
Evening, Team!
Nice play, Torres.
Rats
Unbelievable.
Dayum
More rain. Rain out!
Dang hail.
Crazy, right?
Now it's making me want to watch Magnolia (because of the frogs).
Saturday night veterinarian shows for me.
Is that an actual genre? I've never heard of that!
BAD SEND!!!! with only 1 out.
Nice hitting! Two in a row!
Maybin is a real chatty Kathy. Sounds like a lifelong Yankees fan. A bit of a homer though. Loves IKF and Hicks???
That curve looks like a fast whiffle ball.
[187] laughing
He is a bit of a chatty Kathy, indeed. He's just happy to be here. Give him some time, maybe.
[187] Ha! Haven't head that expression in a while. I was just thinking the same thing.
These O's games seem like the Yanks are playing a contender. They've been entertaining, no doubt, but shouldn't they be crushing these guys?
Nestor being nasty today
[182] Yeah, he's fun to watch!
Wow.
Un-fucking-believable.
That was some kind of a disgrace, all right.
Nice Easter dinner, leg of lamb, fingerling potatoes, carrots, and broccoli.
Missed Nestor’s immaculate inning but also missed a mismanaged bullpen and a pathetic offense.
They scored zero runs against one of the worst baseball teams in the last 20 years..WHY is Boone resting guys already??? Can't believe he is still the manager..
I’ll take it
[199] Yeah just thought I'd pop in to report that I will accept the gift runs.
been a while since i've been here- hi all. think ive mentioned this in past seasons but have such a hard time with ryan rucco doing the fill-in play by play. incredibly grating voice and sort of overreactive in my opinion. whats everyone think of cam maybin so far?
[201] I was just going to mention -- Maybin is pretty good. (I don't buy the 'manufacture runs' line, but that's okay.)
Holy cow.
The Tigers are bad at some of the parts of baseball you take for granted...
Gotta be an injury.
[204] Broke off a callous or maybe a nail?
Hicks leading the Yanks in OPS, and it's snowing in Hell.
Maybe, or hopefully just a sprain.
Evening, Team!
Nice to have a couple runs up on the board.
[207] Couple three.
Ummmm.
Cole is "very fickle with his routine"???
Couple three.
[209] laughing
Anyone else think we overpaid for Cole?
Give me a fucking break.
This is a very weird game.
God.
We're not going to win this game, are we?
So now Cole is shitting the bed.
[215] "I fear both the Tigers of Detroit and the Indians of Cleveland."
My God.
Un-fucking-believable.
[217] But we have the great DiMaggio. He makes the difference.
Miggy is at 2996 hits, so we have that to look forward to this series.
[220] Fabulous.
[219] True. I will have faith.
I just can't imagine how much that must hurt in the cold.
I think that Cole will come around-- its a long season. With that being said, he seems so sensitive to time/elements/waiting around in a way that isn't Ace-like. He's not dominating games, sort of reacting to these things and yeah it just seems like everything slows down. Don't really know how to explain this but it almost seems like he's pitching for himself and the pitching coach or thats what exists in his head rather than pitching for the team at large.
[224] I think it's his fickle routine.
Either that or this fill-in's vocabulary, one of the two.
Is Judge gonna feel the heat this year of turning down the Yankees offer? $31.5 per through age 38 seemed pretty fair to me. Based on other boards I've been on, more than 4 out of 5 thought it was a good offer, and gave a big F.U./see ya To Judge.
So earlier tonite, I happened to put on the SNY Mets broadcast for a minute and it seemed to me that SNY really toned down the volume of the crowd noise. This just happened to be the minute Lindor got the gw hit and the crowd sounded oddly distant.
Anyone else ever notice that?
[227] I was watching that game too but I didn't notice. (It was a good game!)
Good AB, Rizzo! Way to work it!
Time to walk the terrorists. Would hate to miss a big inning
[230] We'll keep the light on for you.
gallo with no RBIs this season yikes
Not a one.
I would take either Ernest or Julio over Joey.
(Tough to drive in runs when you miss the baseball.)
I can't believe that 2003 is almost twenty years ago already.
Just like that.
I remember Jorgie making the last out like it was yesterday.
Sure would be nice to score some more runs.
But I guess maybe we're done for the day on that front.
strange team this year, lots will change through the season ofc, but even with a lead there is something depressing about watching them??
other than the bullpen ^ where there seems to be some vitality
It's insane that these guys don't learn how to push a bunt down 3rd. I still remember when Cano did it and got a double.
I just can't take this team.
[240] Hahahah! He did! That wasn't in Toronto, was it?
That was a great play. Didn't think he had a chance.
our bullpen and defense are good
^which is OK but also boring lol