Bernie Williams To Attend Home Opener At New Stadium, Appear On CenterStage

Found these tidbits in Newsday, in an article about Bernie's desire to play baseball, and thought this news might matter to fans:

Williams also said he will be on hand when new Yankee Stadium opens with its first regular-season game April 16.

"CenterStage" with Williams will premiere on YES after the Yankees-Orioles game April 8. It will include a musical performance by Williams and his band.

Bernie's will likely recieve a wild ovation when they show him on the massive screen in center field.

Maybe they'll be able to retire his number this year, or next year when he decides to OFFICIALLY retire. He deserves a true farewell as one of the good guys in the game, especially considering the era he played during. Not to mention, if that silly phrase "True Yankee" ever applied, it's to this guy. Read the full post, after the jump

The Sad End To Bernie Williams' Baseball Career

We have all seen this before. An aging Bernie Williams hanging on too long, the fans urging him along, wistfully chanting his name. Unlike on those many nights in September and October of 2006, this scene did not occur at the historic "House That Ruth Built," but Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico.

Tonight in the World Baseball Classic, Bernie got the start in left field (after doing a little digging we learned that Joe Torre is not of Puerto Rican heritage and thus not managing the team, so there has to be some other explanation for this development). Bernie was 0-2 with a walk before being pulled in the fifth inning, but that doesn't begin to explain the mark he left on the game, and not in a positive way. Bernie showed his inexperience in left field, misplaying a ball leading to the Netherlands' only run. On the basepaths, a painfully slow Bernie tried to score from second base on a single to right field and was thrown out easily, preventing Puerto Rico from getting on the board.

In a pleasant surprise, Jim Kaat is the color analyst for the exciting game, and shockingly called out Bernie and his manager for possibly costing Puerto Rico the game. Puerto Rico being shut out by The Netherlands is hardly all Bernie's fault. However, Kitty took Puerto Rico's manager to task for starting Bernie Williams at a position he hardly played in his major league career and then took Bernie to task for not knowing the limitations of his 40 year old legs.

It seemed like it would be fun to see Bernie back on the ball field, but all it has done is serve as an example that the hands of time are cruel beasts. The only good news to come out of this is that it will likely slam the door on any ill-fated major league comeback that Bernie may or may not have been planning.

UPDATE (9:42 PM): Puerto Rico has finally broken through against The Netherlands, taking a 3-1 lead in the 8th. Bernie is off the hook.

Talk about it in the Stadium Insider Forums!

Tax Season is here - Save By E-Filing Your Taxes and tell 'em Stadium Insider sent you - Only $19.95! Read the full post, after the jump

Bernie Williams Intentionally Walked, Bizarro World Officially Entered

The World Baseball Classic is on the TV at Stadium Insider headquarters and we just witnessed a strange event - Bernie Williams was intentionally walked.

What kind of Twilight Zone have we entered? Bernie Williams is being intentionally walked in the late innings of an International tournament, while Mariano Rivera sits on the bench serving as a commemorative coach/mentor for Panama.

Bernie appears to be in shape, and the Puerto Rican fans made like Yankee fans and gave him a two minute Ber-Nie-Will-Iams CLAP, CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP chant.

Now lets just hope that Bernie doesn't get too nostalgic by signing with some scrubby team as a role player, ruining his one-team legacy with the New York Yankees. Not many players are in one uniform for their entire career anymore and it would be a shame for Bernie to ruin it on whim.




Talk about it in the Stadium Insider Forums!


Tax Season is here - Save By E-Filing Your Taxes and tell 'em Stadium Insider sent you - Only $19.95! Read the full post, after the jump