Water Coolers Watch Out!

May 22, 2012--Happy Birthday to Meeeee! (Erica, guest blogger again, I volunteered this time). Actually, my real beez is on May 21st, but thanks to our season tickets, how lucky can a girl get with a game so close to her birthday? Too bad I couldn't afford to send myself a birthday message on the diamond vision...anywho...

Back to the game and its happenings, cause lemme tell you this is a good one--are you comfortably ensconced in your computer chair at work?? (Michael Kaaaaay!) Ok, so being the hothead that I am, no exaggeration, just ask Dana--26 years of fights, arguments, temper tantrums, and the many occasions I pulled a Pauly O'Neill on her and threw my helmet after an unsuccessful at bat, you can only imagine how much will-power it takes for me to suppress my anger. And let's face it, the bleachers are the perfect place to let off some steam. In all my years of attending Yankee games, I have NEVER encountered a more annoying, borderline "you-could-be-a-Red-Sox-fan-with-that-mouth" Yankees fan...this night, I did.

From the first pitch, the two kids sitting behind us (roughly high schoolers, I only figured this because later on I saw them drinking Pepsi--I missed my opportunity to Glee-slushie them, buuuut, with cops around, I wasn't about to miss the last out of the game) were busting on my man Phil-Z Dawg, that's Phil Hughes for those of you not caught up on the lingo yet...jinxing his no-hitter/perfect game and being all around jackazzes with their chants...words were exchanged on our end, me and Gina both, but the fire didn't really come until later on in the game.

The taunting didn't end...Derek Jeter stepped up to the plate and the kids were shouting "C'mon, ground into a double play!" CLAP CLAP CLAP in my ear!! At this point I turned around and said "Why don't you go sit in Fenway Park?" Then, on top of it all, when I heard the father chime in, yes, the dad was just as annoying, I was in complete disbelief...is this really happening right now? One of the kids, when I turned around with a snarl on my face that Rocky Balboa would be jealous of, looked me in the eye as he clapped and said "I'm jinxing it on purpose, it's gonna work!" Now lemme axe ya...who the eff says that?? I couldn't help it, my head heated up from chin to hairline, just like Roger Rabbit. I shouted back at him, "I CAME HERE TO WATCH THE GAME, NOT LISTEN TO YOU YELL AND SCREAM, SHUT THE HELL UP MAN!" Umm, expletive, expletive. I didn't find out til later that other words were exchanged between Dana, Gina, and the dad...that's part of the story they can tell...

So, what? I yelled a little at a coupla teenagers who were clearly egging me on...sometimes ya just gotta say something. The irritating remarks went on until the last out and in between innings when Dana and Gina went traipsing around the stadium. As we exited the park and crossed the street back to the train, my Roger Rabbit syndrome came back (or never left). I mentioned to Dana and Gina that I would have rather sat next to a polite ginger-bearded Red Sox fan than next to those *@$!&@$%&! Fill in the blank...

All in all, if you haven't noticed, what they say about sports being cathartic is absolutely true. So much of the fan in you is invested in a bunch of guys out there on the field smacking a ball around for a living. If only that were real life for us normal folks...

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my game recap. A little piece of advice if you find yourself sitting next to us girls in the bleachers--DON'T HATE! I can't guarantee I'll be as nice the next time.

-- Erica

Editor's Note: The Yankees won!

You're Italian, Do it Right...

Hello Pinstripers, Victoria here. Dana and Gina kindly agreed to let me be a guest blogger for this edition of Pinstripe Love.

On Friday, May 18th I ventured to the Bronx with my Dad to see some interleague baseball -- the Yankees versus the Cincinnati Reds.

Since the Yankee game was my graduation present, my Dad wined and dined me in style! We started our trip to the Bronx with a visit to Dominick’s on Arthur Avenue. For those of you who don’t know, Arthur Ave in the Bronx is the ULTIMATE Little Italy. Yes, better than the one in Manhattan. Unlike the Little Italy in Manhattan, Arthur Ave has stayed true to its Italian roots. There are so many different kinds of Italian cuisine to choose from that someone would probably laugh if I told them I only went to Dominick’s. The restaurant is set up in a communal fashion. We were seated between an older couple and a party of four. There are no menus, you simply tell them what you want and they make it for you. We ordered Veal Marsala, Spaghetti and Calamari, salad, and an order of Fried Calamari. The food was ridiculously good! The veal was tender and sweet, and the calamari was fresh and bottomless. My mouth is watering all over again just thinking about it! After dinner, we stopped and got cannolis and made our way to the Stadium. Okay, so if you didn’t already know it, we’re all Italian and proud of it!

The weather could not have been more perfect. 70 degrees with the sun shining bright and a cool breeze that carried the smell of hot dogs and French fries through the air. Ahh yes, a Friday night at Yankee Stadium. To a Yankee fan, it does not get much better than this. Our seats were on the right field side, just past first base in section 227. Unfortunately, due to a bronchial infection, Mark Teixeira was given a complete day off. However, the real story here is Andrew Eugene Pettitte.

The veteran started for the second time on Friday night, he approached the mound with a look of determination in his eyes. There has been a lot of talk surrounding Andy’s return to the game after a retirement hiatus (especially from Dana and Gina, who pretty much called his triumphant return way back at the beginning of last season). In a pre-game interview, Manager Joe Girardi was asked what he wished for out of the game, “Can I be greedy? 8 shutout innings from Andy.” Pettitte permitted only four singles to the Reds lineup, striking out nine, and walking only one. After 115 pitches and 8 shutout innings, Joe got his wish and Andy got his first win since the 2010 playoffs! A few key players in the lineup provided Andy with enough support to secure the win, Granderson scored in the 4th inning on a groundout from A-Rod. Breathing room was added in the 8th by Robinson Cano and Raul Ibanez who both blasted homers to make the final score 4-0.

Thanks to my Dad for the best present a college grad could ask for! Now if only Nick Swisher would marry me and take care of that pesky college debt…

-- Vicky

Party Like It’s 1999…

It’s a warm, sunny afternoon in the Bronx. My ma, my brother, and I drive down to the city to observe Mothers’ Day at the Stadium. We grab some hotdogs and a Pettitte t-shirt and make our way to the bleachers just in time to join in on the roll call and see Andy give Kevin Millwood a run for his money.

Though the previous passage may have also been found in the pages of my 9th grade journal, what I’m describing had actually only taken place a mere two weeks ago! Sure, the stadium is across the street, Jeter has a different haircut and A-Rod’s on our team now, but other than that, it sounds like a scene from Yankee Stadium ca. 1999, right??

So, I feel like we’re always on the verge of tears when we go to the games – for various reasons such as: slow motion shots of Tex wiping the sweat off of his face, Jeter bending down to pray after the National Anthem, or the overly sexual stares of A-Rod in his at-bat pics on the big screen (they’ll burn a hole through your head – I swear!)…but this day was slightly different. All of the usual suspects that make us cry on cue were in the house, but as previously mentioned, so was our old friend Andy Pettitte!

We have literally begged for the return of Andy…even put it in writing (see: Where Have You Gone, Andy Pettitte?). And after 19 long months of waiting, our prayers have finally been answered! I didn’t even have to buy cowboy boots and a flight to Texas to beseech him in person! Thank gawd because I mean, I don’t have that kind of money… I have to save up for Backstreet Boys concerts! You, uhhh, sure it ain’t 1999?, you ask. I’m sure.

Aaanyway, the day started out with Nick Swisher honoring a wounded vet and her adopted German shepherd in true Yankees fashion by giving her a jersey autographed by the entire team…so cute! This love-fest was followed up by A-Rod presenting her with a Tiffany & Co. bracelet, which he basically threw at her like he was throwing across the diamond to Mark Teixeira because he was deathly afraid of her dog. Who was wearing a full muzzle. If my love for Alex wasn’t unconditional, I might call him a p-- …eh, you get it. Love ya, A…ya look greeeat!

Back to the guest of honor… Andy looked awesome! The cutter, the pick off attempts (not to mention a rump that looked juicer than a Lobel’s sandwich)…it was all there for us fans to feast on…and that, we did. When he came out of the bullpen to throw in center field, you would think it was a postseason game the way everyone was cheering. It was an amazing thing to see…I was keeping my eye on the chicks in the front row, too, because they looked like they were gonna hop the fence and claw right through the #46 on his back! (I secretly wanted to join them.) Then, when the lineups were called, you could tell that everyone was anxiously waiting for Andy’s name to be announced, as evidenced by the subpar ovation for Jeter, who usually gets the people going even when the stadium is almost empty. (Don’t you worry, Derek. I was still screaming to the point where a large number of people were staring at me. Loyalty, baby.) And sure enough, as we saw the 100-foot image of our beloved Andrew Eugene enthusiastically turning around and smiling on the big screen, the place went nuts! I was even lucky enough to join Bald Vinny and the Bleacher Creatures for the roll call, where they do not traditionally include the pitcher’s name. But there we were… calling out “An-dyyy Pett-itte” in unison for at least a full minute! Even though he wasn’t able to acknowledge the crowd, I was proud to be a part of that moment…

All in all, the day was great. Andy’s already picked up a couple of wins since he’s been back, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say we’re super excited to see him back on the mound for the Yanks. I certainly look forward to seeing him in tight pants…I meannn, win games for us for the rest of the year!

Andy – we’re sending lots of pinstripe love your way and wishing you the best of luck this season! We’ll be cheering you on every single game...’til the very last out. And I promise not to jump on your float at the World Series parade like a crazy person… I’ll be on Jeter’s.

Love,

g

Ps – Dana and I will be in the Big Apple celebrating Jeter’s birthday for a couple of days at the end of next month. After we comb the city for Derek’s big apple…and do some other touristy things, we’ll be sure to report back!