The event includes a Kids Fun Run, incredible views of the Stadium from all angles, and a special victory lap on the warning track, where participants will get to see the Stadium from a player’s point of view.

100% of all donations raised will go to cutting-edge cancer research by today’s most brilliant and promising scientists, funded by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. You can see more on the charity itself at www.damonrunyon.org.

This regular season has been remarkable for the Yankees – as, to date, they have 102 wins on the year. Further, they’ve comeback to win 50 of those games – a mark that leads the big leagues this year and is one more than they managed in 2008. Lastly, New York has crafted 15 thrilling walk-off victories in 2009 – which is the most by the Yanks since they set a club record with 17 in 1943.

But, most importantly, the Yankees have locked up the A.L. East this season – as well as home-field advantage throughout the post-season.

And, this is why Yankeeland is feeling it a bit right now…

The Yankees missed the play-offs last season – for the first time in a full-season since 1993. Before that, since their collapse in the 2004 ALCS, the Yankees were bounced in three straight ALDS match-ups: 2005, 2006 & 2007. But, this is even worse: Going back to Game Four of the 2004 ALCS, the Yankees have now lost 13 of their last 17 post-season games. And, from 2004 through 2007, the last time they saw post-season baseball, the Yankees have lost four of their last six October “elimination games.”

Whether they want to admit it or not, the good citizens of Yankeeland do not want to see something happen in this post-season that comes close to what we’ve seen from the Yankees in October since 2005, as it will ruin the magic of their regular season in 2009. And, I dig that – I really do.

To be candid, I fear it happening. Why? Because, just like most Yankees fans, I don’t want to see this season end like the those previous ones since 2005. (I like to call this time the “Brian Cashman Full Autonomy” era.) I’m sick of seeing the Yankees get their heads handed to them in the post-season. It’s painful. Sure, some like to say it’s all just luck in the post-season. But, if that were true – meaning New York was just experiencing some bad luck in recent Octobers – I think they would have won more than just 4 of their last 17 post-season games. Even with bad luck, you’re going to win more than four of these games, right?

In any event, regardless of how I want to see this post-season end, I will continue to be honest and share anything and everything that comes to my mind (at this blog). And, that includes concerns about the Yankees chances this post-season. As I have written here, many times, WasWatching.com prides itself in being “Yankees-blinders and Pinstripe-Pollyanna” free.

Sure, I realize that I would have more “fans” and readers – and the site would have more visits and page views – if I were to pander to the mob and feed the fanboys all the pablum that they crave…but, that’s not my game. There are more than enough other Yankees-bloggers out there to fill that niche in Yankeeland.

Of course, this leads to some venomous comments left by readers here – in reaction to things I may share that are not in-line with their own personal beliefs and hopes, etc. However, there’s nothing new there. That’s what they invented the internet for…so that “Not My Real Name” could get their rocks off by playing the role of cyber-tough-guy and “go medieval” (with comments) on someone who had the nerve to express an opinion that doesn’t sit well them…right? (Yeah, I’m just kidding here…sorta/kinda.)

It’s the “comments” thing that actually led to this post. For those who do enjoy this blog, but who are also turned off by those “attack” comments, allow me to offer this: Don’t let it get to you – as I don’t allow it to get to me. Like I said, this is a sensitive and stressfull time in Yankeeland these days – and some of that may be spilling over in comments left by readers here. At the least, that’s the way I’m looking at it…but, then again, having that opinion may lead to more “less than kind” reactions…after all, again, this is the internet, etc.

We had a great time…and I got to listen to Robbie Cano’s walk-off, on the car radio, on the way home from the airport. Nice re-entry in to Yankeeland…thanks Robbie.

Hey, my thanks, also, to MJ and Corey for all their posts over the last 5 days – great job guys! So, did ya miss me? Maybe not…I’ve already heard from one WasWatching.com reader who shared that they thought MJ and Corey made some wonderful posts this week.

A quick story about the vacation…

Baseball is doing pretty good. I noticed a lot of people visiting Disney wearing some sort of baseball T-Shirt, cap, or uniform jersey. I saw a few fellow Yankees fans. And, one or two Mets fans. But, I also saw fans of the Red Sox, Rays, Orioles, Tigers, Royals, Phillies, and Brewers. (I did also see one kid running around wearing an A’s T-Shirt with “Zito, 75″ on the back, for what it’s worth.) Of all these teams mentioned, I would say the fans of Red Sox, Orioles, Tigers and Phillies were most represented.

Me? I wore my Yankees cap on Monday through Thursday and got no reaction from anyone. But, today, I wore a “Staten Island Yankees” T-Shirt and a few people stopped me about it.

One of the cast members greeting park visitors on a ride saw me and joked “Yankees? We don’t let Yankees on this ride!” And, in a souvenir shop, another cast member, a woman in her late 50’s, saw my shirt and said “They lost last night.” When I told her that I knew, but, it didn’t matter because they had a nice lead, she noticed it was a “Staten Island Yankees” shirt and she then said “Staten Island Yankees? Did you know they used to play in my hometown first?” I then asked her if she was from Oneonta. And, when she said yes, we talked about the Yankees leaving there and the Tigers coming in to take their place.

Later, when we were on the monorail, an older couple spotted my shirt and they joked at us with “Staten Island? We don’t generally listen to people from Staten Island.” And, when we looked at them funny, they told us that they were born and raised on Staten Island and lived there for many years before moving to Long Island.

Lastly, as we were going through the metal detectors at Orlando International, one of the security officers saw my shirt and asked “Staten Island Yankees, are they still playing?” And, when I answered him, we talked about the ballpark by the Ferry and then chatted about the Brooklyn Cyclones and KeySpan Park.

So, next time you’re looking to make some conversation…put on a Staten Island Yankees shirt and head on down to Florida…and see what happens…

Actually, it’s been four years, two months, and nineteen days…or something like that…but, who’s counting?

In any event, the biggest thing that’s happened in all this time, for me, has been the interest that WasWatching.com has received from its readers, other bloggers, and the media. Thanks to all of you for that.

And, I would like to especially thank the following WasWatching.com “commentors” for everything that they’ve added to this blog so far:

Raf, MJ, baileywalk, Corey, Rich, butchie22, rbj, Don, YankCrank, JohnnyC, antone, JeremyM, Jen, OnceIWasAYankeeFan, jonm, brockdc, Joel, hopbitters, Garcia, Evan3457, Pete, thenewguy, TurnTwo, Jason O., clintfsu813, yagottagotomo1, Travis G., bfriley76, #15, JJay, Pat F, Lee Sinins, mehmattski, snowball003, Ken, Justin, Nick-YF, Tresh Fan, christopher, j, redbug, hallofamer2000, OldYanksFan, srivinodh, brent.nycz, festus, throwstrikes, Sicilian Lou, Jake1, Old Fezziwig, Scout, Janks-n-Jints, nwyank, sanair and G.I. Joey.

You all are way overdue for a shout-out…so…there it is!

[If WasWatching.com had its own bleacher creatures, we'd give you guys a roll call everyday. You deserve it.]

I still enjoy having this blog and sharing things with my fellow Yankees and baseball fans. It’s been a pleasure do to this for the last four-plus years – and I’m looking forward to many more years to come.

There’s one reason not to cheer for Independence Day: It’s one of the deadliest holiday for alcohol-related car crashes. Statistics gathered over the past 25 years show that, on average, nearly 51 percent of all deadly traffic crashes on July 4 are related to alcohol — although that percentage varies from year to year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been tracking car crash statistics for a quarter of a century. Holidays that sometimes rival the Fourth of July for fatalities include New Year’s Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Eric Bolton, spokesperson for NHTSA, says that when people think of a deadly holiday “the intuitive thought would be New Year’s Day.” However, that association may be precisely why people stay off the roads on New Year’s than they do on July 4, he says. (While the New Year’s statistics are totaled over three days, the Fourth of July stats are for one day.)

Two years ago, 200 people reportedly died in car accidents on July 4. Out of that total, 44 percent died as a result of alcohol-impaired driving. By comparison, 391 people died that same year during a three-day period surrounding New Year’s Day (NHTSA judges the length of a holiday based on which day of the week it falls). In that case, 40 percent were alcohol-related.

No matter what day it is, most crash fatalities occur on two-lane roads. Weekends are more dangerous than weekdays and more people die while driving in rain compared to snow or sleet.

Since I know that many will be starting their three-day “Independence Day” weekend early this afternoon, I wanted to remind all to be alert on the roads. And, of course, if you’re drinking alcohol at some point, please don’t drive at the same time or directly thereafter.

.

I’m sick to my stomach over this news. It’s the same feeling I had when I heard about Doug Pappas and Todd Drew.

Really. I’m at a loss for words.

I never met John. And, I never spoke to him. But, in my internet-related exchanges with him, Brattain always seemed like a really good guy. In fact, John just left a comment here three days ago.

The Baseball-Internet-Circle lost a good one today. I’m just stunned by this terrible news.