Yankees-Twins from New York, I mean from Tampa

Posted on 28. Feb, 2009 by Corey in General Baseball.

From the looks of the first few times at bat for both the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins, the 10,636 fans at George Steinbrenner Field settled in for what they thought would be a high scoring and back and forth game.  Both teams traded runs as the Twins held a 6-3 lead heading into the bottom of the 3rd inning.  The bullpens would settle in for both teams as no more runners crossed the plate until the top of the 9th, when Minnesota scored a run to make it 7-3.

Joba Chamberlain started for the Yankees and gave up three hits and two earned runs during is one inning of work.  Reliever Dan Giese would cough up four more runs in two innings including a solo home run to Twins center fielder Carlos Gomez.

Francisco Liriano took the hill for Minnesota allowing 3 runs, 2 earned in two innings.  The Twins bullpen held the Yankees to three hits the rest of the way.

Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriquez received a very large ovation during pregame introductions and during each of his two at bats.

GAME EXTRAS
-    I was told by fans seating around me that the Yankees have a very large season ticket base for spring training.
-    The New York Yankees wore their navy blue batting practice jerseys with no names on the back and their normal game hats.  The Yankees also wear their home white pinstripe game pants.
-    The Minnesota Twins wore their navy blue batting practice jerseys and hats.  Kind of odd that both teams are in the same colors, but this is spring.
-    There appeared to be a usually large number of players in the Yankees dugout all dressed in uniform.  Almost to the point of having to use a triple digit number.
-    I was very pleased to see most every New York Yankee in the starting lineup like A-Rod, Jeter, Cano, Texieria, Damon, Melky, Swisher, etc.  The starters also played five full innings.
-    The grounds crew performed YMCA for the crowd in the top of the 6th inning.
-    Some of the largest cheers were when catcher Jose Molina threw out two would be base stealers.

STADIUM QUIRKS
-    First off, this place is very, very nice.  It ranks up there with the Braves Complex at the Wide World of Sports in Disney and the Phillies complex in Clearwater.  I did not feel as if it had a personal feeling like the Phillies, but is first class and a great place to watch a game.
-    Parking is plentiful at George Steinbrenner Field since Raymond James Stadium, where the Tampa Bay Bucs play, is right across the street.  The problem is that they charge $10 for a spot.  I asked the parking attendant if “everything here was New York style prices,” to his response of “They got to pay for all these players somehow.”
-    I was lucky enough to scalp a ticket for $15, but face value for almost every seat is near $30.
-    BATTLE OF THE SODAS: Pepsi; seems to be winning so far on my stadium voyage.
-    The Stadium is only one deck of seats with a walk around concourse in the middle.
-    There are a good number of luxury boxes and glassed in offices behind home plate over looking the field.
-    The Yankees home dugout is down the first base line.
-    The Yankees have seven bullpen mounds down the first base line to use.
-    The Tampa Tribune Deck in right field is in its second year in the stadium, and is a nice place to hang out and watch the game.  There are picnic tables and they also have smoked turkey legs for sale.
-    There is also a Pinstripe Pub behind the right field stands which is very nice.
-    Cuban Sandwiches seemed to be a big hit at the concession stands.  I had some California Pizza Kitchen before the game, so did not purchase any food.
-    Outback Steakhouse is sold within the park.
-    There is definitely a Yankee Stadium feel with the decor and prices.
-    There is no radar gun or no lawn at the stadium.
-    I also could not get a WIFI signal inside the park.

And for my buddy AA, the Assistant to the Traveling Secretary for the New York Yankees was in attendance.

2 Responses to “Yankees-Twins from New York, I mean from Tampa”

1. AA says:

   March 1, 2009 at 10:34 am

   I’m surprised he wore that.

   Was disappointed not to see a flesh-tone body suit.

2. Corey says:

   March 1, 2009 at 5:49 pm

   He was actually on the phone most of the time working on trades and free agent signings…At one point, I heard him yell “I think I found a way to get Griffey and Bonds, in the same outfield!!” Also found it odd that he was eating Chinese and sweating a bunch. I guess George likes spicy chicken…