A-Rod's New At Bat Music - Postseason Swagger Directed At The Haters

Anyone who follows Major League Baseball is aware of Alex Rodriguez' perceived struggles under the bright lights of the postseason. On Wednesday night, he broke out of his postseason slump with two big hits and two RBIs. While the mainstream media has spent the entire season noting Alex's new attitude, nobody noted the defiant music that accompanied his first four at bats of the 2009 postseason.

Oh they want me to fall (fall),
Fall from the top (top),
They want me to drop (drop)
They want me to stop (stop)
They want me to go (go),
I’m already gone (already)
The shit that I’m on
I’m already home
(Hey, I’m already home yeah)

The song called "Already Home" is off of Jay Z's Blueprint 3 and features Kid Cudi (at times, over one third of the Yankees lineup walks to the plate to Jay-Z songs). The message of that chorus seems to be directed at the haters - people like the guy in the below picture who can't possibly be a Yankees fan (from a game earlier this season at the stadium):



Or the guy sitting in Section 428, Row 11, seat 10 on Wednesday night, who spent A-Rod's entire first at bat hatefully "rooting" for A-Rod, saying things like "here comes the strikeout." He was wearing a Yankees jersey, but we're unsure how he could take his fandom seriously while attending a postseason game and wishing for A-Rod to fail. This wasn't someone trying the "reverse jinx" method that some fans use to help prevent disappointment. This was someone who clearly hates Alex Rodriguez and really wants to see him fail so the cycle of hatred can continue.

A lot of Yankees fans like the ones above want Rodriguez to fall from the top - they want him to go. The fact is, he is signed until he is 42, and in his eyes, he is already home.

Read the full post, after the jump

Boo-Bird Day (A-Rod Yankee Stadium Debut) Scheduled For May 15

Word via Peter Abraham's Lohud Yankees Blog is that Alex Rodriguez had an impressive day in extended spring training, homering twice. The general consensus is that A-Rod will return on Friday, especially considering Jorge Posada's untimely trip to the disabled list.

All of this sets up a fun May 15th at the new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. After Thursday's game against the Rays, the Yankees embark on a seven game road trip, likely featuring A-Rod's return to the lineup. The first game back at home is a Friday, May 15th tilt with the Minnesota Twins. It will likely be A-Rod's first game at the new Yankee Stadium - the place that many had hoped would be the home of many record-breaking moments for the feared slugger. Now, after steroid revelations and pitch-tipping allegations, he will be lucky not to be booed, even before he fails in what New York fans perceive as a "clutch moment."

Unfortunately, fellow blog author Nick will be graduating from college that weekend, so we won't be on hand to balance out the idiots who will inevitably boo him. We are sick of defending A-Rod, but for the Yankees to compete this year, they need A-Rod to perform, and that means supporting him (and the rest of the team), not tearing him down. Read the full post, after the jump

Yankee Hero Derek Jeter Drives Them In for Team USA

In the long-awaited New York Yankees vs. Derek Jeter showdown today, Jeter knocked Phil Hughes out of the game, driving a two-RBI single up the middle in the 3rd inning.

The near-capacity crowd at Steinbrenner Field gave their hero a warm round of applause. We can't help but wonder if Alex Rodriguez would have been booed for hurting the young righty's confidence.


Derek Jeter and Brett Gardner talk about how much they are enjoying Spring Training without A-Rod after BG steals a bag in the bottom of the 3rd inning.

Talk about it in the Stadium Insider Forums!

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Read the full post, after the jump

The defense rests

Update (8/27 2:00 PM) - Rick Chandler over at Deadspin says it best:

New York can still win two of three in their final Red Sox homestand, but I wouldn't bet any of Tiger's money on it. New York is down 9 1/2 games to the Rays. And you come away from this getting a clearer picture of the Alex Rodriguez legacy in New York. Yeah, he often gets a raw deal, and expectations are unreasonably high. But every time he has a chance to beat down the demons, A-Rod seems to find a way to fail in spectacular fashion.

For A-Rod apologist like myself it has always been put up or shut up.

Of course, I have no bearing out the outcome, but A-Rod continues to not "put up" when it counts. Therefore, it is time for me to shut up.

Sadly, the "put up" times are the are the ones with the most people are watching. There is no denying A-Rod is a valuable player. However, it isn't worth defending him when the masses are against him and he fails in big spot after big spot, compounding the problem.

Two Jeterian double plays tonight mean that A-Rod is going to have to go on without my defense for a long time, maybe forever.

For those who know me, this is a huge moment.

I will continue to wear my #13 jersey since I am a loyal fan, but my days of frequenting the baseball-reference A-Rod page to quickly refute A-Rod bashing are over.



Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump

Yankee fans - masters of misplaced blame

Another embarrassing moment for Yankee fans this afternoon.

In the bottom of the ninth, Derek Jeter (owner of an OPS+ of 100, VORP of 26.1, salary of 21 million in 2008) grounds into a double play with the winner run on 2nd and one out. Walks off the field with little fan attention.

In the bottom of the tenth, Alex Rodriguez (owner of an OPS+ of 161, VORP of 54, salary of 30 million in 2008) strikes out with no runners on and one out. Walks off the field being booed loudly and angrily.

Keep up the good work, idiots.

Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump

Some other notes from my final game at the "Old Yankee Stadium"

The tone and length of the last post didn't allow for any of this stuff to sneak its way in. Here are some of the moments from last night's game that you will only read about here:

- A drunken guy yelling at bow-tie wearing cotton candy vendor "you're a filthy liar, bow-tie". It was as absurd as it sounds
- Multiple Richie Sexson sightings. He was cut from the team, but he was not yet cut from the "Match Game NY" between-inning filler, or the "Yankee Superstar" between-inning montage. You know the Yankees have fallen when Richie Sexson is in their "superstar" montage.
- An argument that Nick and I had with a guy in front of us who took exception to our yelling and screaming at Joe Girardi for intentionally walking both Aviles AND Guillen in one inning. The guy didn't understand how horrible of a decision it was to walk Guillen to load the bases for Billy Butler, even after considering that the same exact move had backfired on Girardi moments before after walking Aviles. His argument was that you can't get a double-play without creating the force. Our argument was that Andy Pettite had strike out stuff working last night and most of his outs were fly balls. Setting up the double play was useless. It worked out the second time, but that doesn't mean it was the right decision.
- A strange bathroom experience. Nick and I are in the bathroom, doing our thing, and some guy walks in, obviously displeased with the line that had formed for the urinals. He says loudly "what are we racing turtles in here? Hurry Up!" Yep, thats right. He referred to it as "racing turtles." Can't say I have heard that one before, but it was pretty hilarious. I sped my turtle to the finish line and headed out of there.
- The continuous scape-goating of Alex Rodriguez. He was booed all night, there were grumblings of his ineptitude in the "clutch" when reached base on the swinging bunt in the bottom of the 9th, and he was ripped by some idiots in the Subway on the way home. According to these ignorant fools, the Yankees never should have resigned A-Rod, they were bidding against themselves, and he only hits homeruns when the Yankees are up 7-1. I had already embarrassed my girlfriend enough for the evening with my intentional walk argument with the guy in front of me, so I spared her to mortification of another confrontation.

Its probably better off that I'm not going to any more games this year.

By the way - I was able to snag 4 tickets in the tier box, down the right field line in section 641, row F for $100. Face value on those tickets is $40 each for season ticket holders, so I saved quite a bit of money. Craigs List was the method, so don't give up hope if you want to make one last affordable trip to the Stadium. The seats were OK, but the right field corner is out of view. Row F in the tier box is somehow the last row which I never knew. Being in the last row isn't the best experience on a rainy night. The upper deck walkway is directly behind your head and you are constantly worrying about people splashing dirty water on your clothes or the back of your head.

Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump

What makes you "the typical Yankee fan"

A couple of weeks ago, I touched on the "typical Yankee fan" (I'll spare everyone that creepy picture of the guy with the cigar).

Now, let me relay what I feel are the key aspects that make you "that guy".
(I am going to try to keep these timely).

1) You have already booed A-Rod this season - c'mon guys, that is so 2005
2) You booed LaTroy Hawkins for wearing "Paulie's" #21
3) You think that the reason the Yankees have been losing in the playoffs all of these years is because they didn't have "clutch" players like Scott Brosius (career OPS + of 94)
4) You honestly believe that a player who is a "homegrown" Yankee will help the team win more than a free agent or someone acquired via trade
5) You were still chanting "we want Bernie" last year
6) You have ever, in your life, uttered the words "Fire Torre" (in a serious manner). I didn't have a problem with people who wanted Torre replaced as the manager of the Yankees ( I was one of them), but certain people said "Fire Torre" in a certain way that made them the typical Yankee fan. Maybe this doesn't translate well on a blog.
7) Hank Steinbrenner is your hero
8) You wanted the Yankees to trade for Johan Santana in the offseason
9) You were at the game the other night and you booed Phil Hughes
10) Peter Abraham is your idol.

UPDATE (5/3/08 10:00 AM) - I can't believe I left out 11) You yell "take ya hat off" as soon as the PA announcer talks about rising and honoring America for God Bless America. We get it, you think we should honor our country. Everyone does it in their own way - it isn't your job to make everyone in the stadium take their hat off. Take a chill pill, dude.
(This list can go on and on. Please add more in the comments section)

I run into these people all of the time at games, on the internet, in the workplace, etc etc. I'm sure many of these people are smart, funny, friendly, etc etc. However, when they step into Yankee Stadium, the become that cigar guy.

Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump

The #21 debate, irrational Yankee fans, and how I became an elitist

In the news today comes word that LaTroy Hawkins has bowed to the fans' wishes and will stop honoring Roberto Clemente and switch to #22. Of course, this only became an issue when fans began to boo Hawkins for wearing "Paul O'Neill's" #21.

What seems to be getting buried in this story is that Hawkins has stopped wearing the number due to the urging of Yankee veteran leaders such as Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter.

"I figure if it's important enough for Jeter and Mariano and some other veterans to ask me about it, it's not worth it to keep wearing the number," Hawkins said.

My first reaction to reading this quote was anger at the supposed veteran leaders on the team. I have long been against the late 90's Yankee nostalgia of the fans (as you have read many times on this blog), and now it appears that our heroes who are left over from those teams are displaying the same irrational nostalgic feelings.

Then I thought a little more and realized that Mo and Jete very well could have told LaTroy:

"LaTroy, you are an awesome dude and don't deserve to be booed. These fans in NY are mostly idiots. Just switch your number, strike out Manny tomorrow night in a big spot, and the fans will love you forever - they are that fickle and stupid".

Then I came to the striking realization that I have somehow become an elitist Yankee fan. I really never wanted this to happen, but I am afraid it has. Attending so many games as a season ticket holder and witnessing the booing of A-Rod, the ridiculous things people say at the games and now the booing of LaTroy Hawkins have done the trick. I guess a lot of this can be attributed to maturing as an adult and reading more sophisticated baseball materials than the typical beat writer/columnist drivel.

I'm not going to apologize for the way I am. Instead, I encourage all of the Yankee fans reading this blog to drop your inky newspaper and read some objective baseball materials every now and again. For starters, if you are an internet guy, check out The Hardball Times and Baseball Prospectus and branch out from there. If you like to have a book in your hands, check out Bill James' Handbook or Baseball Prospectus (the book version). Just stop basing every baseball feeling you have on nostalgia and what you read by some idiot columnist who cans "controversial" articles designed to rile you up.

Oh yea, one last thing - "Take ya hat off". (edit: just realized this is an inside joke and I have never blogged about it. If you want to know what I am talking about, go to a Yankee game and listen to the crowd right before the recorded version of "God Bless America" starts playing. Classic.



Talk about it in the NYYSI Forums! Read the full post, after the jump

A little off topic - ProjectA13.com T-shirts now available!!!

Just wanted to pass this along to those interested... The first generation ProjectA13 T-shirts are now available... This is what they look like:

front:



back:



They are green so they will stand out in the crowd. Just click on the pictures to go to the store to buy them. Currently, the price with shipping is around $20. Joe, the owner of ProjectA13.com isn't happy about the price, and is working on getting a contract to sell cheaper, but that is what cafe press is charging.

If you want to stand out in the crowd and show support for A-Rod no matter WHAT, definitely buy one!

To read more about ProjectA13, click below:



and be sure to visit the ProjectA13.com blog:

http://projecta13.wordpress.com/



Heading off to the game now. Expecting temps in the low 50's and mostly cloudy skies. Unfortunately, this is going to be the best weather of this mini home-stand. The warm-up is coming folks, I can just feel it. Read the full post, after the jump

One more road series, then the Yankees head home!

Though I am back in Oneonta, NY at college until 5/15, the Yankees will return back to the Bronx on Tuesday, April 17 against the Clevelan Indians.

I don't even want to take a hack at an early weather report -- I'll leave that for Ross -- BUT I am willing to ask this question to fans: When A Rod returns to the stadium after his RED HOT start, will he be booed the first time he makes out with a man on base? I hope not. What's the point? He's put this team on his shoulders. If he can't buy himself time of no boos with an 8 game extra base hit streak, will he ever?

On a different note, our season ticket package gives us Tuesday and Thursday's games against the Indians. Ross, care to give any insight on who will be attending those two?

Hopefully we'll win this series in Oakland, and the crowd will give a nice congrats to our players for the first successful road trip of the season! Read the full post, after the jump

Quesiton for my "fellow" Yankees fans and New York Media

PLEASE, riddle me this:

A-Rod makes an error in the 1st game - the fans boo, the back page mentions it.

Jeter makes an error in the 1st game - no reaction anywhere

A-Rod plays a flawless game in the field in the 2nd game, has an RBI double, but pops out to end the 8th - he gets booed and "fails in the clutch" according to the back pages

Jeter makes two errors in the 2nd game (3 on the season already) - doesn't get booed, back pages have it as their SECOND bullet point

Bobby Abreu TAPS back to the pitcher BEFORE A-Rod with ONE out and fails to drive in the tying run - no reaction anywhere (not the fans or the papers).

These aren't low-paid, low expectation guys that failed the Yankees and got off the hook. Last I check DJ and Bobby are two of the higher paid players in ALL of baseball. Why are they not under the microscope? Why are they not "blamed"? Look, I'm not blaming anyone for last night's debacle of a game. If I was at the stadium or writing the tag lines of the back pages, I wouldn't have blamed anyone. Last night was a COMPLETE team loss from top to bottom.

However, Alex CERTAINLY should not be taking the brunt of the fans and media's ire. He has become the ULTIMATE whipping boy and this is getting sick and twisted.

I think even the STAUNCHEST of A-Rod haters can agree that the fan/media reaction to A-Rod's game last is asinine at best.

Again, let me say this slowly -

last night's loss was no ONE player's fault .

Fans need to realize that a whipping boy isn't always necessary. Sometimes a loss is just a loss.

And let me add this...

I actually just heard this on the way into my office building (NO LIE):

[Supposed] Yankee fan:
"I actually don't mind the loss too much because of the way A-Rod failed"

I just ran into my building before I punched this FRAUD of a fan in the face.

Anyway, last night I heard on the radio a "fan" that was at the game call in and actually say "this is the end of the line for A-Rod, he just can't cut it in NY"

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?!?!?!?

I know I shouldn't get worked up about it, but seriously, I am embarrassed to be a Yankee fan at this point!

I am going to the game with Nick2Slick tonight. Hopefully I won't get into any sort of scrum with any of the people I have mentioned above. Read the full post, after the jump