Away games are the answer

Well, having gone last night to my first away game since 1999, I now see the solution to all my ambivalence about going to Yankee games: go to away games.

You see, for the first time in the A-Rod era, I went to a game last night and did not come back grumbling about the absurdity of the "security theatre" performed at the gates, the complete lack of freedom of movement inside the stadium, the zealous ushers and security staff who clearly would rather you didn't show up, the "fans" who clearly know nothing about baseball but will pick a fight if you fail to stand up on every single meaningless two-strike count, the incredibly disrespectful people who will stand quietly for "The Star-Spangled Banner" (with their hands over their hearts, no less, apparently confusing it with the pledge of allegiance?) then go back to whatever it was they were doing if "O Canada" comes along, or any of the countless irritations I have come to expect.

My theory on this is simple: The Yankees have created an environment in which many of us really are duped into thinking they're doing us a favor by letting us bask in their presence. They reinforce that notion constantly, with the faux-Copland theme music in their advertising, their feeble but tireless attempts to put Melky Cabrera in a class with Joe DiMaggio, and their newest monument to their rich history (in favor of which they've chosen to eradicate the largest artifact of said history). 

In short, they make it very hard for a thinking person to continue to support the team...and that's the idea. After all, if you think, you might stop spending. But there is a solution: follow the team on the road, where you can actually get close to the players during fielding practice. Where instead of feeding the beast and encouraging the front office to continue solving its problems by throwing money at them, you'll be bringing some other front office one step closer to being able to pursue that strategy...which doesn't actually work so well, thus saving us from having to worry about cohesive, hungry teams getting in the way of our motley crew of aging prima donnas. Where you'll still find plenty of fellow Yankee fans, but since they cared enough to follow the team to an away game, they'll actually know what they're talking about.

Anyway, breakfast awaits, but I'm definitely planning on going back for the second game tonight.

Live blog, you say? Sure, why not...

Well, here we are in the fourth inning. Sabathia coughed up three last inning, but it could have been worse. Certainly, the Yankees should be able to come up with two more.

The B&O warehouse, which Kay and Singleton are talking about right now, is, if you ask me, the best thing about Camden Yards. It was a nice idea, a Disneyfied nod to Old-Tyme Base-Ball, but I honestly don't care for the place. I haven't been there since 1996. Maybe I'd like it better if I went back. But I doubt it, now that it's not even distinctive, having been copied so many times since. Supreme irony, that: it was supposed to be a reaction to the cookie-cutter copies of Shea, and it has spawned a brood of imitators Shea could only have dreamed about. Including Shea's own  replacement.

Bottom 4: Derek Jeter has plenty of range, thank you very much, but it's mostly vertical. And Michael Jordan wouldn't have had that liner, so Derek gets a break. CC Sabathia is a large man. I knew this, but wow. He is a large man. And based on his command thus far in this game, he ranks second to David Weathers as best Yankee pitcher to wear #52, at least among those I can think of offhand. Jose Contreras, another 52, is starting to come to mind, and that's not a good thing. I'm sure he'll be fine later, but he looks ill at ease out there. Nice reach by Teixiera to dig out a low throw from Jeter for the DP. CC's clearly not at his best, but he doesn't have that deer-in-the-headlights look so many Yankee pitchers have had over the last few years, so I'm encouraged.

Top 5: CC and that heating pad are making me nervous. Brett Gardner is scary fast, but not quite fast enough. Speaking of speed, nice work by Johnny Damon legging out a triple here. I've been a boobird myself, but these guys are truly impressive...Teixiera has been up long enough to run the count full, and they're still at it. Aaaaand Matsui pops out to end the inning. I'm tired of writing this, and you're tired of reading it. I'll check in after the game.

Update: Sabathia went 4 1/3 and allowed 6 ER. I take back everything I said...this was a terrible start for Sabathia. However, that was a beautiful play by Gardner to end the inning.