Around the Yankee Universe, 05.13.09

by Ed Valentine on May 13, 2009 7:28 AM EDT in News Comment 5 comments

More photos » by Nathan Denette - AP

Hideki Matsui left Monday night's game with a hamstring injury.

Let's take a look around the Inter-Google at stories making the rounds of the Yankee Universe today. We have a headache, but we aren't too hurt to play -- like, it seems, almost everyone else around the Yankees.

Gotta start with those injuries. More trees fell around the Bronx Bombers Monday. Derek Jeter missed the game with an oblique strain and is unlikely to play until at least Wednesday. Hideki Matsui left with a tight hamstring, and his status going forward is unknown. We know Phil Coke was unavailable with a sore back, as well.
At least there was good news about Chien-Ming Wang. CMW pitched six good innings Monday at Scranton, and GM Brian Cashman indicated he will make one more minor-league start.
When it comes to Yankee fans' unhappiness with the new Stadium, chief operating officer Lonn Trost obviously doesn't get it. He was utterly clueless, and unapologetic, about the reason fans are not happy with the lack of access to the field level prior to games.

Lonn Trost, the team's chief operating officer, made it clear Tuesday that no change is imminent. "Right now, that's the policy,'' he said.

He also likely opened a new front in the public-relations battle with his blunt response to a Newsday reporter's question about the rationale for the policy.

"Well, if you purchase a suite, do you want somebody in your suite?'' he said. "You purchase a home, do you want somebody in your home?''

The concrete border around the Legends Suite has been likened to a moat that highlights the separation of haves from have-nots or, as it has turned out, filled seats from empty ones.

Somebody (Hal Steinbrenner?) needs to step in and change this. As far as I know, Yankee Stadium is the only major-league stadium where this is an issue.

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Still not getting it

Where’s the spirit of the game for these people? Why is Trost even speaking on the team’s behalf? He should be tucked away under the rafters with a 70s-era metal desk and red Swingline stapler. These are the quotes that end up on the opposing thinking fan’s signs in Boston.

by Colpo on May 13, 2009 11:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

good thing there's no...

THINKING fans in Boston, then. Sorry, too easy…

by NumberSeven on May 13, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What the heck was the ownership thinking

Okay, I get it. Your team has a large payroll, built an enormity of a stadium, and has no interest in allowing access to the general public before games. Not allowing fans to intermingle/ comingle. Okay that sounds fair to an extent. What I don’t get is that this sport is supposedly America’s past time. So if it is America’s past time wouldn’t it be sensible for the Yankees (being the dubbed America’s team of Baseball), to allow fans from around the country and world that are paying ridiculously high values for ticeckts to have some sort of connection for the little kids that love the game to the players?
Lets think about this, Jeter, usually gives time to the fans, being a Jersey boy he knows that the fans love you or hate you on public perception and proves day after day to be a crowd favorite. A-rod on the other hand is a piece of work he comes to the Yankees and gets a renewed obscene contract. He then gets nailed for taking roids, confesses and then has a book come out that alleges he did it longer than ever.
As a fan of the Yankees since the Mattingly days I have to say that this guy that spoke regarding this situation should not only offer public appology for slapping the average yankee fan that slaves away to afford single game tickes but, nonetheless we still get treated as pesants.

by DAYANKS on May 13, 2009 4:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Nightmare Of A Season

I have been a Yankee Fan since the days of Mantle,Maris Ford and Berra.At this time you could actually buy a box seat for $3.50.
So far this year is a disaster and one of the most disappointing seasons I have seen,I really felt the pitching staff was first class,the offense was solid and the team could win 100 games. I know the injuries are unbelievable,but this team shows no ability to be more than a 500 team and miss the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Why would anyone in there right mind pay 250,never mind 2500 dollars to see one baseball game,especially with a team that could be losing14-2 in the second inning?
I hope my prediction is wrong. What do you think?

by Yank7 on May 13, 2009 6:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Trost and the Depression era Yankees

Thanks, Ed, for standing up to the Yankee Politburo. Baseball, modern baseball, had been a Depression-era sport for most of the past centruy. Stadia featured large and expansive upper decks so fans could afford to see a ballgame and forget their troubles for awhile. Put the bean-counters in charge and here’s what you get.
The new mode of thinking is: make as much as you can, as soon as you can, and I’m being upfront.

Yankee fans, and this means you, have a right to complain, loudly, and often. Write the NYT. Those guys have been running lines on the expensive nature of the ticket pricing for months. Complain until those in their noses in the financial books or the spreadheets get the message .

ejs

by ericjs on May 14, 2009 1:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs