When I was a boy my dream was to attend a double header. A Yankee double header would’ve been the best, but to be honest, it was just the idea of sitting through two nine-inning ballgames that appealed to me. It seemed like Nirvana; it turned out it was just as unattainable.
I was the only hardcore baseball fan in my family. My parents would oblige my obsession by taking us to games often enough, but seven hours at the ballpark? That was a bridge too far. And by the time I was old enough to set my own agenda, the doubleheader had gone the way of the dodo. First it was the owners realizing they were giving away too much baseball, so they invented the split doubleheader — clear the park after the first game, take new tickets for the second. Then it was the players, who just didn’t want to do it anymore, and suddenly they were gone. The last scheduled traditional doubleheaders were in 2001.
But then…
Perhaps because baseball traffics so well in nostalgia, a few teams started bringing back the double dip. The Red Sox scheduled a single-admission double header last year, and as part of the 25th anniversary season of Oracle Park, the San Francisco Giants have their own traditional doubleheader planned for this July. The little boy inside me is hopeful, but I know I’ll never get two Yankee games for the price of one. The bottomline-conscious New York Yankees would never give this gift to their fans, and no opposing team would ever sacrifice the revenue they’d lose for giving away a Yankee game for free.
So I’ll have to live with days like today, a day-night doubleheader with the Cleveland Guardians. It’ll have to do.
[Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.]
By the way -- has anyone here ever attended a doubleheader? Give us the deets!
Just minor league ones, 7 inning affairs.
Back in 1992 when Los Angeles shut down during the uprising, the Dodgers cancelled a three-game series with Expos. When the Expos came back into town that summer, they had a six-game series -- three doubleheaders in three games. Can you imagine that today? It was a golden opportunity, but I missed it.
I wonder if the union would allow that now.
I bet they'd have them play seven-inning games and give them a couple extra roster spots for pitchers. But it would still be pretty crazy.
Bases loaded, no outs, I bet they don't score.
There appears to be about a thousand fans at this game.
Ah, the old bases-loaded-double-play. Always fun.
Well, only one.
The worst part about that inning is that it was bases loaded and nobody out, and three pitches later the inning was over. Sure, they got a run, but it took just a minute and 42 seconds (I timed it) from Treviño's single to load the bases to Volpe's first-pitch ground out to end the inning. Considering Carrasco's well-documented early game struggles, his rising pitch count, and the Yankees' newfound tendency to work the count, everything was set up. And then it wasn't.
[10] Thanks for the gory details. Just got home from daughther's Y bball game. Though I have never been to a doubleheader, my Legion team back in the day would play double headers every Sunday. That was heaven for me. Even when it was 90+ degrees on a sweltering July afternoon.
WT ever loving F?
Out? base blocking, yeesh.
booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Grisham is not having his best day.
Yankees can't catch a freaking break. Volpe robbed!
I do agree with the idea that you want as much traffic as possible and that we shouldn’t obsess about missed opportunities, because the main thing is to create the opportunities. But. This is frustrating to watch.
At least Schmidt is dealing today.
And ... directly after I typed that ... he walks the next 2 batters.
4-6-3. Phew.
Nothing like a failed bunt followed by a 2 run dinger.
Wheeeee ... Cabrera ... MUCH better than a bunt!
There's Oswaldo!
The thing about Schmidt is that even just ONE more inning per start would make such a huge difference. Three more outs. That’s it.
Ruh roh.
Time for c-land to show the Yankees how to score with the bases juiced.
unuckingbelievable
Yikes.
That error should have made it about 7-2, anyway. sigh
Nail biting time. Let's go Clay!
So much for a cushion.
So much for an easy 9th inning ...
Who could've predicted that consistently failing to plate runs with the bases loaded might haunt this game?
There ya go, ballgame!
Yay!
Turned out easier than I thought.
See ya for the nightcap
1. That game really was unbelievably frustrating in progress.It was just good defensive plays by the Guardians and a bad one by us that kept it from being a blow-out.
2. Still, it's a very good win. A win against a really good team, finally.
3. I did go to more than one double-header in the Bronx as a kid! I remember nothing of the games whatsoever. My dad took me, even though he grew up a Giants fan (a Giants fan, who grew up on Arthur Avenue, near the Bronx Zoo, in "Bronx Little Italy", but go figure). I guess he never took to the Mets, and anyway it was a real schlepp to Shea Stadium.
My dad was kind of cheap, so he loved twin bills even more!
Sorry I can't provide details about the actual games.
One other thing. Progressive Field seemed almost vacant.
By contrast, Fenway is absolutely packed, even though the actual baseball fans are utterly furious at management/ownership. I guess the Sox' faithful will still go, and there are plenty of pink hats to fill the remaining empties.
I was listening to the Cleveland radio feed of the game in the ninth. 3-2 Yanks, runner on second, one out. Called strike three on a pitch that was apparently inside. The Cleveland announcer actually said this: "That's why you just can't beat the Yankees late. That pitch was inside."
I’m not sure I remember an announcer in any sport openly suggesting that one team consistently got the benefit of calls.
[39] You didn't watch White Sox games with Hawk and Wimpy then. They were the worst at being objective.
I imagine the 90's Braves opponents' announcers had plenty to say about them always getting the calls.
Wait, what, Berti is hurt now?
[41] Yeah, groin strain.
Volpe with clutch hitting.
Soto is definitely acceptable
Ooops ... I'm an hour late and 6 Yankees runs behind ... yay!
I LIKE showing up in the 4th with a 6 run lead!
Yeah I'm not usually a fan of the 3-0 green light, but I'm definitely putting Soto in that elite category.
Let’s assume the Yankees bring this 6-0 lead home. They’d be 12-3 while winning the first five series of the season, all with Judge hitting under .200.
What the Hell's a "poteet"?
It sounds like something I'd order in the French Quarter ... gimme a Cafe du Monde and a couple of crawfish poteets!
Uh ... here's an idea ... let's just play Cabrera a bunch until this stops happening ... OK?
[48] What if the Yankees make it 8-0?
Dammit ... 8-1
Everybody has a run or rbi except for Judge.
Second and Third ... NO outs = NO RUNS.
Sheesh.
Look ... Poteet ... if that IS your real name ... let's get this guy out and go pound some Budweiser ... OK?
Good yob.
Great start by someone I’d never heard of before.
SOTO SUCKS ... TRADE THA BUM!!!
[48] And beating (i) the hated Astros, (ii) the NL 2023 champs, (iii) the second-best team in the AL (by record anyway).
One more out to go
Ballgame, DH sweep.
RIP Fritz Peterson :(
[62] peak 1970s.
Looks like Nasty is back
KABOOM!
[64] Too soon!
Dinner (steak, potatoes, broccoli,) feed the terrorists (they love broccoli,) then walk them. Looks like some baseball happened.
Long live Soto! What a great bunt down to third.
Soto bunting for a hit
Jeez, is Nestor going to get through five?
No.
Nope
[70] I blame you and your [64]
I’ll never do that again.
Blergh
REVENGE ... REVENGE FOR FLORIAL!
TONY!
Tied up! Volpe!!
Atta boy, kid!
Meh ... to the bottom of the 9th
TIME FOR THE MANFRED MEN!
I feel cheated having to start with Soto on 2nd
It's everybody's favorite scenario!
Hmm, nteresting
Rizzo!
Whoo-hoo!
I love Tactics!
When the other team does them, I mean.
Boone-y sure has been into the sac bunt (or attempt) so far this season ...
Amazing.
Great job, Boone-y
He stopped running to first. WTF!?!
Well that sucked.
Yeah I'm not so fond of tactics when we do them.
The old 1-2-3 double play.
Ruh roh.
Maybe Cleveland should BUNT here ...
This is not how I drew it up in my mind.
Aaron Boone really IS Ralph Wiggum, isn't he.
And there we go ... great job, Boone-y
Shit
I'd rather they lost 5-4. Fucking bollocks.
Well ... 2 out of three ... should have been 3, but Boone-y happens
I just read that John Sterling retired effectively immediately. I know that a lot of fans didn't care for his act, but he had a great voice for radio. My wife and I listen to games most nights in the summer while sitting on our front porch and he'll be missed.
Great trade ... who'd we get?
[103] trade?
Wow. Honestly I had expected him to retire at some point, but figured it would be at the end of a season.
Godspeed, John Sterling. You were certainly entertaining. Every time I drove a car in the last 25 years while a game was happening, I always hoped it wouldn't take me too long to tune into your voice. Cheers.
So who’s doing the radio show?
Well ... that was an ungood top of the 1st inning.
I thought the Blue Jays were going to a natural field, with dirt and grass so Judge could play the field.
Nice Cabs
C'mon Wells, I need you to be good this year.
RISP hit & a run
Well, I'll take 1 and a reset of the lineup
Gil does not seem as sharp tonight.
Um
Sorry ... I should have said ... I'm not Gil has a clue where his pitches are going tonight.
Terrible. Fucking terrible!
Ooof.
Brutal.
Good thing we gave away last night's game.
Walks a run in ... somehow gets a strikeout ... followed by a wild pitch.
49 pitches to get ... **5** outs.
Side note. My buddy's son is going to the Air Force Academy in June. They were visiting last weekend and took in a baseball game. Air Force was playing Dallas Baptist University. My friend ran into Andy Pettitte whose son pitches for the Dallas team. He sent me a picture of himself and Pettitte. I was a bit jealous. Lol....
The Blue Jays should feel deep, DEEP shame they only scored 2 runs in that inning ... strewth.
I believe that should be it for Gil ... but who knows what ol' Boone-y is thinking!
Thunderstorms and Bandit is not happy
I am NOT optimistic about the outcome of this game.
Ah ... our old friend ... The Scream
And a shitty 2 game losing streak.
Well ... poop, that was no fun at all.
1 run isn’t going to cut it