I Like Cano’s Shoes…
…and other Opening Day (yes, capital O capital D) observations.
Good afternoon, WasWatching and baseball followers. It has been quite a while since I have posted, but there is nothing like Opening Day to get one in the mood to live, breathe, and talk baseball.
I should admit, that for the first time in roughly 9 years, I barely paid attention to the happenings of Spring Training. I knew about acquisitions over the course of the off season, but it was almost as if they went in one ear and out the other. Last Saturday I felt the need to to yankees.com to actually peruse the roster.
But now I am back. Baseball is here. I am pumped. So on to Opening Day:
- I do not have the type of job where I can follow along to the game at my desk. This year I decided to DVR the game, avoid anything that could alert me to the score, and watch the game from start to finish when I got home. It almost worked except for one person who knew I was a Yankee fan, and knew I couldn’t watch the game, told me the score. She covered it up pretty well, but still. Regardless, I went home and watched.
- Mike Mussina has always been one of my favorite Yankees, and the longer he has been away from the game, the more I am liking him and relish in the few chances I get to see him.
- I really do like Cano’s new cleats this season.
- I’m hoping that Mark Teixeira’s 1-3 day with a home run, 3 RBIs, and a walk will mean that Teixeira will not get off to the normal slow start that Yankee fans have grown accustomed the last 2 years. I might even be happy if it means a mediocre start. (Did anyone notice the YES graphic about Teixeira’s 2010 April vs. today? It was amusing.)
- It’s good to see Curtis Granderson continue 2011 right where he left 2010.
- I’m liking Russell Martin (hopefully this feeling will last).
- I’m also liking the Yankee bullpen. I’m not sure if Joba will be a Yankee in August, but hopefully he will pitch like today everyday.
- I still hate bunting, Brett Gardener.
- 17 years for Jeter, Rivera, and Posada. Wow.
- I like seeing Rivera close out Opening Day on a called third strike. 15 years after being made a closer, and he is still just as good as day one.
And now for the obligatory day off between day 1 and day 2, and then baseball continues once again on Saturday.
For the next 7 months I can watch a baseball game that means something every day. Yay.
Great observations. I rewatched on phone at work and 2/3 of game later. Complete game boys…keep it up!
Before yesterdays game, I never realized how slow Swisher is. He got out ran by Miguel Cabrera. Come on now!
It’s tough to run fast and pay attention to which TV camera has it’s red light on, at the same time.
It was a lot of fun being back in the Bronx watching baseball yesterday. Stan’s was packed pre and post-game, my Lobel’s sandwich with frickles was extremely delicious and it was just fun to sit back and watch our boys get off to a good start. Especially Granderson, who was all over the place making game-changing plays and going bomb squad.
One game down, and like any game from 1-162, a win before an off day is always a great feeling.
Steve Lombardi wrote:
You hate Swisher too? Is there a single Yankee you actually like?
YankCrank wrote:
What the hell is a frickle?
MJ Recanati wrote:
How could you forget ?
Although, to be fair, he has warmed up to Swisher more so in the past year.
Corey Italiano wrote:
I guess it’s hard to keep track.
Corey Italiano wrote:
Which is probably why I forgot. I really could’ve sworn Steve wrote nice things about Swisher last year which is why his remark took me by surprise.
MJ Recanati wrote:
Fried pickles my man, scroll down to the first image for Brother Jimmy’s BBQ…
http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2009/04/first-look-at-the-new-yankees-stadium-food-nyc-bronx-concession-stands.html
YankCrank wrote:
I honestly can’t even picture what that might taste like. I mean, I’m sure it’s not bad — fried anything tends to be great — it’s just such an odd thing to imagine.
I’ll be at the stadium for my first game on 4/14. I guess I’ll just have to seek them out and taste them for myself.
What’s that dipping sauce?
MJ Recanati wrote:
A tangy horseradish sauce. Give em a try, Jimmy’s BBQ is lower level third-base side next to Lobel’s.
I was very skeptical myself until I tried them. But now i rarely pass on them.
Warning: They are, of course, extremely overpriced.
@ YankCrank:
I will definitely give them a shot. I do like me some tangy horseradish. It’ll probably go nicely with the Lobel’s steak sandwich too!
YankCrank wrote:
That’s ok, there are other Brother Jimmys locations
I’ve had them before, they were pretty good as I remember. You’ll usually find them served at “southern bbq” restaurants.