Happy Opening Day, Yankees fans! Yankees baseball that actually counts will be played live in less than 12 hours. Most of the teams have already gotten to experience their Opening Day, but at long last the time is here. If you're finding Pinstripe Alley for the first time today, welcome! Glad you decided to join us. We have game threads and recaps for every single Yankees game where you can interact with fellow Yankees fans in real time. For those who may be displaced and unable to share your love of the Yankees with the people around you, feel free to join us. We understand.
A new season brings new members to the site, old members who have taken the offseason off back into the fold, and those of us who are here every day back to discussing what is instead of what might be. Whether you've racked up 20,000 comments or have lurked for a year or just found the site today, we'd love your input this season. We'd love to know more about you and what you think of the team we all share in common. That being said, here's a chance to get to know everyone who you will be spending the season with, should you choose to stick around. Our friends at Bluebird Banter have devised a questionnaire that I think is just perfect for getting to know the new and old members on Opening Day. The staff and I have given our answers below and now it's your turn. Answer as many or as few of the questions as you'd like. If there's anything you'd like to share about yourself that we didn't cover in the questions or something you'd like to know about everyone else, put that in your comment too.
If you haven't joined the site already, which you'll need to do to comment, you can do so by acknowledging you agree to the Terms of Service at the bottom of this post (just scroll all the way down). We'll be back tonight for the season's first game thread at 6:30 pm EDT and I hope to see you in the comments there. In the meantime, onto the questions:
First name:
Location:
How/when did you become a Yankee fan:
Favorite Current Yankee:
Favorite All-Time Yankee:
Favorite Non-Yankee:
Position you'd play in MLB:
Favorite Baseball Movie:
Hypothetical Walk Up Music:
On Twitter I am:
Fun fact on the back of your baseball card:
* * *
Tanya Bondurant: Managing Editor
First name: Tanya
Location: North Carolina (Go Heels!)
How/when did you become a Yankee fan: I was destined to be a Yankees fan because my dad raised me correctly from birth. It all started with going to minor league games as a toddler in 1993 before I fell fully head over heels in love with them in 1999. Watching David Cone's perfect game on TV with my dad is one of my earliest memories of the team.
Favorite Current Yankee: David Robertson, but Masahiro Tanaka is already well on his way to stealing my heart.
Favorite All-Time Yankee: Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Don't make me choose.
Favorite Non-Yankee: Giancarlo Stanton
Position you'd play in MLB: Shortstop
Favorite Baseball Movie: Moneyball
Hypothetical Walk Up Music: Led Zeppelin - Fool in the Rain
On Twitter I am: @TanyaBondurant
Fun fact on the back of your baseball card: I'm left-handed, but I can throw with either hand. I can only bat lefty, though.
Andrew Mearns: Editor/Podcast editor & host
First Name: Andrew
Location: Baltimore, MD
How/when did you become a Yankee fan: Been a Yankees fan my whole life, but I starting watching games all the time around Memorial Day 2001 (Little League struggles made me apathetic toward the game until then). It happened to be on, I got hooked for whatever reason, and here we are.
Favorite Current Yankee: Ugh, I had the same answer to this question for nine years, but I guess I need a new answer now. I think Masahiro Tanaka will become my favorite, but for now, we'll go with David Robertson.
Favorite All-Time Yankee: Among players I didn't watch, Babe Ruth because he was a ridiculous man-child. Among players I did watch, I think I still have to go with Robinson Cano. Not over it.
Favorite Non-Yankee: Mike Trout. Too easy.
Position you'd play in MLB: Second base.
Favorite Baseball Movie: Major League, though Field of Dreams is a very near miss.
Hypothetical Walk Up Music: "Wolf Like Me" - TV on the Radio
On Twitter I am: @MearnsPSA
Fun fact on the back of your baseball card: I own every World Series DVD issued from 1991-2012.
Jason Cohen: Editor
First Name: Jason
Location: Brooklyn
How/when did you become a Yankee fan: 1996, baby. Since then its become a mile marker in my life. Pre- and post- 1996. I was only a casual Yankee fan until 2006/2007 and then became more and more obsessed. PSA made me the fan I am today /company line
Favorite Current Yankee: Brett Gardner?
Favorite All-time Yankee: Robinson Cano :(
Favorite Non-Yankee: Can I say Cano again? Also, Paul Goldschmidt because he's an inspiration to half-Jews everywhere!
Position you'd play in MLB: LOOGY
Favorite Baseball Movie: The Sandlot
Hypothetical Walk Up Music: Something with a banjo.
On Twitter I am: @Jason00Cohen
Fun fact on the back of your baseball card: As a baby I may or may not have been a Mets fan.
Caitlin Rogers: Editor
First Name: Caitlin
Location: Southern California
How/when did you become a Yankee fan: No one in my family is a fan of any team in particular. My earliest memory is watching the ALCS in 2004 and for some reason I picked the Yankees and I've stuck with them ever since. I remember being outraged over the bloody sock thing.
Favorite Current Yankee: I guess Gardner? Tex missing last season kinda pushed him out. I'm in the market for a new favorite Yankee.
Favorite All-Time Yankee: Mo.
Favorite Non-Yankee: Mauer.
Position you'd play in MLB: Second base.
Favorite Baseball Movie: I haven't seen very many. At all. Angels in the Outfield.
Hypothetical Walk Up Music: Californication by the Red Hot Chili Pepper (EDIT: I'mGivingYouAWalkUpSong)
On Twitter I am: not.
Fun fact on the back of your baseball card: I get the hiccups while brushing my teeth at least 4 times a month.
Matthew Floratos: Editor
First name: Matthew
Location: New Zealand
How/when did you become a Yankee fan: Accidentally saw a game on TV during Easter lunch
Favorite Current Yankee: David Robertson
Favorite All-Time Yankee: Lou Gehrig
Favorite Non-Yankee: CM Punk
Position you'd play in MLB: First base
Favorite Baseball Movie: Never seen any
Hypothetical Walk Up Music: Cult of Personality - Living Colour
On Twitter I am: @matthewfloratos
Fun fact on the back of your baseball card: Once crushed a child's face with a foul ball.
Jesse Schindler: Staff Writer
First name: Jesse
Location: Montana
How/when did you become a Yankee fan: My great grandfather was from New York and he always told me stories about the 1940-'50's Yankees (DiMaggio, Berra, etc.), so that's how I became attached to the Yankees. Had it not been for my great grandfather, I most likely would be a Mariner fan right now.
Favorite Current Yankee: Hiroki Kuroda
Favorite All Time Yankee: Mariano Rivera
Favorite Non-Yankee: Robinson Cano :(
Position you'd play in MLB: Left field
Favorite Baseball Movie: Major League
Hypothetical Walk Up Music: "Beautiful Day" by U2
On Twitter I am: @hir0kikur0da
Fun fact on the back of your baseball card: I am left-handed
Matt Ferenchick: Staff Writer/Podcast co-host
First Name: Matt
Location: Northeast PA
How/when did you become a Yankee fan: Been a Yankee fan my entire life as both of my parents are
Favorite Current Yankee: David Robertson
Favorite All-Time Yankee: Mariano Rivera
Favorite Non-Yankee: Andrew McCutchen
Position you'd play in MLB: Third Base
Favorite Baseball Movie: The Naked Gun
Hypothetical Walk Up Music: "Meet Me Half Way" by Kenny Loggins
On Twitter I am: @MattF15
Fun fact on the back of your baseball card: "Matt's top five favorite things are, in order: the Olympics, food, Mariano Rivera, baseball and Marcus Paige."
Matthew Provenzano: Staff Writer/Podcast co-host
First Name: Matt
Location: Ithaca, NY
How/when did you become a Yankee fan: Became a Yankee in 2001 because my whole family was
Favorite Current Yankee: Brett Gardner
Favorite All-Time Yankee: Lou Gehrig
Favorite Non-Yankee: Mike Trout
Position you'd play in MLB: Pitcher
Favorite Baseball Movie: Pride of the Yankees
On Twitter I am: @mpro6294
Fun fact on the back of your baseball card: I've been playing the trumpet for 10 years.
Greg Kirkland: Staff Writer
First Name: Greg
Location: NYC, NY
How/when did you become a Yankee fan: The 'rents raised me the right way. Born and raised since the 80's
Favorite Current Yankee: Brett Gardner
Favorite All-Time Yankee: Bernie Williams
Favorite Non-Yankee: Andrew McCutchen
Position you'd play in MLB: Second Base
Favorite Baseball Movie: The Sandlot
Hypothetical Walk Up Music: The Hero by Queen, Jakob from MegaMan X8, Lapdance by N.E.R.D. (this always fluctuates!)
On Twitter I am: @ImNotAHRHitter
Fun fact on the back of your baseball card: A lover of soundtracks and parody lyrics, of cartoons and movies! As for baseball fun facts, thanks to my retiring and becoming asst. manager of our team in High School, we went undefeated that year. MORE IMPORTANTLY, in 2009 I interned at SNY. I was on the field for Opening Day at the new Yankee Stadium (Citi Field as well), and had many opportunities to be in the locker room with the Yankees post game. One of the greatest experiences of my life.
John Beck: Staff Writer
First Name: John
Location: Maryland
How/when did you become a Yankee fan: Born this way.
Favorite Current Yankee: Gritty Gutty Brett Gardner
Favorite All-Time Yankee: Joe D.
Favorite Non-Yankee: Among current players, Mark Buerhle, most underrated pitcher of the last decade and Hall of Famer. All time, I sometimes open Pedro's Baseball-Reference page and just smile at it.
Position you'd play in MLB: Benchwarmer/ long-relief
Favorite Baseball Movie: Bingo Long's Traveling All-Stars and Motor Cross Kings; Sandlot
Hypothetical Walk Up Music: Either The Grouch, Greenday, or The Unrepentant, Steve Earle
On Twitter I am: (rarely) @jscape2000
Fun fact on the back of your baseball card: I love board games. I play a lot of chess, though I'm just good enough to realize how not great I am. I also love a bunch of other strategy games like Settlers of Catan and Samurai Swords and Dominion and Pandemic. When I play games against my friends, I am often the guy they gang up on. And I still win enough that I enjoy it.
Michael Brown: Staff Writer
First Name: Michael
Location: Jersey Shore
How/when did you become a Yankee fan: Dad was a fan, passed it on. Early '90s.
Favorite Current Yankee: David Robertson
Favorite All-Time Yankee: Don Mattingly
Favorite Non-Yankee: Robinson Cano
Position you'd play in MLB: 3B
Favorite Baseball Movie: Major League
Hypothetical Walk Up Music: "Seek and Destroy" - Metallica
On Twitter I am: @ChuckBurly
Fun fact on the back of your baseball card: Staring up at tall buildings causes me to fall down.
Jim Griffin: Contributor
First Name: Jim
Location: Philadelphia, PA
How/when did you become a Yankee fan: Mid to late 80's, grew up in a pro-Yankees household on Long Island.
Favorite Current Yankee: CC Sabathia
Favorite All-Time Yankee: Don Mattingly
Favorite Non-Yankee: Gary Carter
Position you'd play in MLB: I don't know, Third Base
Favorite Baseball Movie: The Sandlot
Hypothetical Walk Up Music: AC/DC - T.N.T.
On Twitter I am: @gorillapresslam
Fun fact on the back of your baseball card: Named his childhood dog Mickey in honor of Mickey Mantle.
Chris Mitchell: Contributor
First Name: Chris
Location: Midtown West, Manhattan
How/when did you become a Yankee fan: Watching the Yankees clinch the 1996 World Series as a 6-year-old
Favorite Current Yankee: Brett Gardner
Favorite All-Time Yankee: Mariano Rivera
Favorite Non-Yankee: Bryce Harper
Position you'd play in MLB: Center Field
Favorite Baseball Movie: The Sandlot
Hypothetical Walk Up Music: 6 Foot 7 Foot by Lil' Wayne
On Twitter I am: @_chris_mitchell
Fun fact on the back of your baseball card: I have a photographic memory when it comes to remembering birthdays.
Scott Davis: Contributor
First name: Scott
Location: Raleigh, NC
How/When Became a fan: Became a fan sometime in first grade (I'd been playing teeball/baseball for about a year at this point) and told my dad that I was a Braves fan (since North Carolina has no pro baseball team, most of my classmates and teammates were Braves fans and, what can I say, peer pressure got the best of me). When I said, "The Braves are the best at baseball," my father cooly replied, "Actually, the Yankees are the best baseball team in the world." Since he was my father, and I was six, obviously he knew everything. It turns out my grandfather had taken him to see the Yankees play in 1960, and my father had been a fan ever since. I bought my first Yankee hat that weekend, and a couple years later, my father and I made our own pilgrimage to Yankee Stadium.
Favorite Current Yankee: Derek Jeter
Favorite All-Time Yankee: It might be redundant, but DEREK JETER!
Favorite Non-Yankee: Wil Myers (Got to see him play some in Durham, and wish him the best, as long as he's not playing the Yankees, and not making the playoffs at their expense).
Position you'd play in MLB: Shortstop - played it all through little league.
Favorite Baseball Movie: Rookie of the Year
Hypothetical Walk Up Music: Readymade, Red Hot Chili Peppers
On Twitter I am: @Scott_C_Davis
Fun fact on the back of your baseball card: I am a certified scuba diver
We'll all be here all season to celebrate and lament the ups and downs of the Yankees during the long 162-game season. We hope you'll hang around the game threads, recaps, and daily posts to join us and allow us to get to know you better. Go Yanks!