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BASEBALL’S BEST DECISION EVER…..
Bryce Harper, as seen here on the cover of the latest sports illustrated announced today that he will forgo his Junior and Senior years of High School in preparation for the 2010 MLB Draft. His plan is to use his GED to enroll into a Junior College in the Fall (hopefully McLennan CC) and make himself eligible for the 2010 MLB Draft. By doing this he puts himself into position to be the #1 selection and work out a deal worth approximately $20 Mil. Few times in sports history have we had the opportunity to witness a 16 year old kid of such caliber in any sport (or professional position).
It is clear that postponing this decision to wait out the remaining 2 years of high school only puts his future in jeopardy. To me there is not a single argument based on Bryce Harper’s situation that should keep him from moving confidently forward with this decision.
2009 College World Series
The 2009 College World Series starts tomorrow. Here are the match-ups and some interesting notes on the 8 teams who made it to Omaha.
- 5 of the 8 teams to make it were tournament #1 seeds.
- 6 of the 8 teams are making return appearances to the College World Series.
- 4 of the 8 teams have won the College World Series, all multiple times: Arizona State (5), Cal State Fullerton (4), Louisiana State (5), and Texas (6).
- 2 of the 8 teams are making their first College World Series appearance: Southern Mississippi and Virgina.
- it is the 19th consecutive year the SEC has a team represented in the College World Series
First Round Matchups:
CS Fullerton 47-14
Arkansas 39-22
LSU 51-16
Virginia 48-13-1
North Carolina 47-16
Arizona St. 49-12
Texas 46-14-1
Southern Miss. 40-24
BigLeagueAnalysis.com Prediction:
VIRGINA
Super Regionals Set
All #1 Seeds advance to Super Regional except Arkansas. Virginia and Southern Miss. Here is a look at who is a 3-game series win away from Omaha, Nebraska for the College World Series.
TCU vs. Texas
Ausin, TX
Game 1: Saturday 6 pm
Florida vs. Southern Miss
Gainesville, FL
Game 1: Saturday 3 pm
Clemson vs. Arizona St.
Tempe, AZ
Game 1: Saturday 9 pm
North Carolina vs. East Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC
Game 1: Saturday 12 pm
CS Fullerton vs. Louisville
Fullerton, CA
Game 1: Friday 10:30 pm
Florida St vs. Arkansas
Tallahassee, FL
Game 1: Friday 12 pm
Mississippi vs. Virginia
Oxford, MS
Game 1: Friday 2 pm
LSU vs. Rice
Baton Rouge, LA
Game 1: Friday 7 pm
The Road to Omaha Begins
The Road to Omaha begins. Here is a complete list of every game, seeding and record for the 2009 NCAA college baseball regional. All times are subject to change. Follow scores and updates here and on our Twitter page at: http://twitter.com/BigLeagueAnalys
Austin, Texas
#1 Texas (41-13-1) vs. #4 Army (34-19)
#2 Texas St. (41-15) vs. #3 Boston College (33-24)
Friday May 29th
Game 1: No. 2 Texas State vs. No. 3 Boston College, 2 p.m. EDT / 11 a.m. PDT FINAL 7 – 8
Game 2: No. 1 Texas vs. No. 4 Army, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Saturday May 30th
Game 3: Texas State vs. Game 2 loser, 1 p.m. EDT / 10 a.m. PDT
Game 4: Boston College vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Sunday May 31st
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 1 p.m. EDT / 10 a.m. PDT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Monday June 1st
Game 7 (if necessary): The two teams from Game 6 will play again if the Game 5 winner wins Game 6 (2 p.m. EDT / 11 a.m. PDT)
Fort Worth, Texas
#1 TCU (36-16) vs. #4 Wright St. (33-28)
#2 Texas A&M (36-22) vs. #3 Oregon St. (35-17)
Friday May 29th
Game 1: No. 2 Texas A&M vs. No. 3 Oregon State, 3 p.m. EDT / Noon PDT
Game 2: No. 1 TCU vs. No. 4 Wright State, 8 p.m. EDT / 5 p.m. PDT
Saturday May 30th
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3 p.m. EDT / Noon PDT
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 8 p.m. EDT / 5 p.m. PDT
Sunday May 31st
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m. EDT / Noon PDT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 8 p.m. EDT / 5 p.m. PDT
Monday June 1st
Game 7 (if necessary): The two teams from Game 6 will play again if the Game 5 winner wins Game 6 (8 p.m. EDT / 5 p.m. PDT)
Atlanta, Georgia
#1 Georgia Tech (35-17-1) vs. #4 Georgia St. (39-20)
#2 Elon (40-16) vs. #3 Southern Miss. (35-23)
Friday May 29th
Game 1: No. 2 Elon vs. No. 3 Southern Miss., 3 p.m. EDT / Noon PDT
Game 2: No. 1 Georgia Tech vs. No. 4 Georgia State, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Saturday May 30th
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3 p.m. EDT / Noon PDT
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Sunday May 31st
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m. EDT / Noon PDT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Monday June 1st
Game 7 (if necessary): The two teams from Game 6 will play again if the Game 5 winner wins Game 6 (7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT)
Gainesville, Florida
#1 Florida (39-20) vs. #4 Bethune-Cookman (32-26)
#2 Miami (FL) (36-20) vs. #3 Jacksonville (36-20)
Friday May 29th
Game 1: No. 2 Miami (FL.) vs. No. 3 Jacksonville, 1 p.m. EDT / 10 a.m. PDT FINAL 9 – 4
Game 2: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 4 Bethune-Cookman, 6:30 p.m. EDT / 3:30 p.m. PDT
Saturday May 30th
Game 3: Jacksonville vs. Game 2 loser, 1 p.m. EDT / 10 a.m. PDT
Game 4: Miami vs. Game 2 winner, 6:30 p.m. EDT / 3:30 p.m. PDT
Sunday May 31st
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 1 p.m. EDT / 10 a.m. PDT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6:30 p.m. EDT / 3:30 p.m. PDT
Monday June 1st
Game 7 (if necessary): The two teams from Game 6 will play again if the Game 5 winner wins Game 6 (6:30 p.m. EDT / 3:30 p.m. PDT)
Tempe, Arizona
#1 Arizona St. (44-12) vs. #4 Kent St. (42-15)
#2 Oral Roberts (31-13) vs. #3 Cal Poly (37-19)
Friday May 29th
Game 1: No. 2 Oral Roberts vs. No. 3 Cal Poly, 5 p.m. EDT / 2 p.m. PDT
Game 2: No. 1 Arizona State vs. No. 4 Kent State, 10 p.m. EDT / 7 p.m. PDT
Saturday May 30th
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 5 p.m. EDT / 2 p.m. PDT
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 10 p.m. EDT / 7 p.m. PDT
Sunday May 31st
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 4 p.m. EDT / 1 p.m. PDT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 9 p.m. EDT / 6 p.m. PDT
Monday June 1st
Game 7 (if necessary): The two teams from Game 6 will play again if the Game 5 winner wins Game 6 (9 p.m. EDT / 6 p.m. PDT)
Clemson, S.C.
#1 Clemson (40-19) vs. #4 Tennessee Tech (30-22-1)
#2 Alabama (37-19) vs. #3 Oklahoma St. (32-22)
Friday May 29th
Game 1: No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 3 Oklahoma State, 3 p.m. EDT / Noon PDT
Game 2: No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 4 Tennessee Tech, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Saturday May 30th
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3 p.m. EDT / Noon PDT
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Sunday May 31st
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m. EDT / Noon PDT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Monday June 1st
Game 7 (if necessary): The two teams from Game 6 will play again if the Game 5 winner wins Game 6 (7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT)
Greenville, N.C.
#1 East Carolina (42-17) vs. #4 Binghamton (29-20)
#2 South Carolina (38-21) vs. #3 George Mason (42-12)
Friday May 29th
Game 1: No. 2 South Carolina vs. No. 3 George Mason, 3 p.m. EDT / Noon PDT
Game 2: No. 1 East Carolina vs. No. 4 Binghamton, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Saturday May 30th
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 2 p.m. EDT / 11 a.m. PDT
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m. EDT / 3 p.m. PDT
Sunday May 31st
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m. EDT / 11 a.m. PDT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m. EDT / 3 p.m. PDT
Monday June 1st
Game 7 (if necessary): The two teams from Game 6 will play again if the Game 5 winner wins Game 6 (6 p.m. EDT / 3 p.m. PDT)
Chapel Hill, N.C.
#1 North Carolina (42-16) vs. #4 Dartmouth (27-16)
#2 Coastal Caro. (46-14) vs. #3 Kansas (37-22)
Friday May 29th
Game 1: No. 2 Coastal Carolina vs. No. 3 Kansas, 2 p.m. EDT / 11 a.m. PDT FINAL 11 – 3
Game 2: No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 4 Dartmouth, 6 p.m. EDT / 3 p.m. PDT
Saturday May 30th
Game 3: Kansas vs. Game 2 loser, 1 p.m. EDT / 10 a.m. PDT
Game 4: Coastal Carolina vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m. EDT / 2 p.m. PDT
Sunday May 31st
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 1 p.m. EDT / 10 a.m. PDT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 5 p.m. EDT / 2 p.m. PDT
Monday June 1st
Game 7 (if necessary): The two teams from Game 6 will play again if the Game 5 winner wins Game 6 (5 p.m. EDT / 2 p.m. PDT)
Fullerton, California
#1 Cal St. Fullerton (42-14) vs. #4 Utah (26-29)
#2 Ga. Southern (42-15) vs. #3 Gonzaga (35-16)
Friday May 29th
Game 1: No. 2 Georgia Southern vs. No. 3 Gonzaga, 6 p.m. EDT / 3 p.m. PDT
Game 2: No. 1 Cal State Fullerton vs. No. 4 Utah, 10 p.m. EDT / 7 p.m. PDT
Saturday May 30th
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 5 p.m. EDT / 2 p.m. PDT
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 9 p.m. EDT / 6 p.m. PDT
Sunday May 31st
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 5 p.m. EDT / 2 p.m. PDT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 9 p.m. EDT / 6 p.m. PDT
Monday June 1st
Game 7 (if necessary): The two teams from Game 6 will play again if the Game 5 winner wins Game 6 (9 p.m. EDT / 6 p.m. PDT)
Louisville, Kentucky
#1 Louisville (44-15) vs. #4 Indiana (32-25)
# 2 Middle Tenn. (43-16) vs. #3 Vanderbilt (34-25)
Friday May 29th
Game 1: No. 2 Middle Tennessee State vs. No. 3 Vanderbilt, 3 p.m. EDT / Noon PDT
Game 2: No. 1 Louisville vs. No. 4 Indiana, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Saturday May 30th
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3 p.m. EDT / Noon PDT
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Sunday May 31st
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m. EDT / Noon PDT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Monday June 1st
Game 7 (if necessary): The two teams from Game 6 will play again if the Game 5 winner wins Game 6 (7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT)
Norman, Oklahoma
#1 Oklahoma (41-18) vs. #4 Wichita St. (30-25)
#2 Arkansas (34-22) vs. #3 Washington St. (31-23)
Friday May 29th
Game 1: No. 2 Arkansas vs. No. 3 Washington State, 2 p.m. EDT / 11 a.m. PDT FINAL 10 – 3
Game 2: No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 4 Wichita State, 8 p.m. EDT / 5 p.m. PDT
Saturday May 30th
Game 3: Wash St vs. Game 2 loser, 2 p.m. EDT / 11 a.m. PDT
Game 4: Arkansas vs. Game 2 winner, 8 p.m. EDT / 5 p.m. PDT
Sunday May 31st
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m. EDT / 11 a.m. PDT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 8 p.m. EDT / 5 p.m. PDT
Monday June 1st
Game 7 (if necessary): The two teams from Game 6 will play again if the Game 5 winner wins Game 6 (8 p.m. EDT / 5 p.m. PDT)
Tallahassee, Florida
#1 Florida St. (42-16) vs. #4 Marist (31-26)
#2 Georgia (37-22) vs. #3 Ohio St. (40-17)
Friday May 29th
Game 1: No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 3 Ohio State, Noon EDT / 9 a.m. PDT
Game 2: No. 1 Florida State vs. No. 4 Marist, 4 p.m. EDT / 1 p.m. PDT
Saturday May 30th
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, Noon EDT / 9 a.m. PDT
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 4 p.m. EDT / 1 p.m. PDT
Sunday May 31st
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, Noon EDT / 9 a.m. PDT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 4 p.m. EDT / 1 p.m. PDT
Monday June 1st
Game 7 (if necessary): The two teams from Game 6 will play again if the Game 5 winner wins Game 6 (7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT)
Irvine, California
#1 UC Irvine (43-13) vs. #4 Fresno St. (32-28)
#2 Virginia (43-12-1) vs. #3 San Diego State (40-21)
Friday May 29th
Game 1: No. 2 Virginia vs. No. 3 San Diego State, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Game 2: No. 1 UC Irvine vs. No. 4 Fresno State, 11 p.m. EDT / 8 p.m. PDT
Saturday May 30th
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 11 p.m. EDT / 8 p.m. PDT
Sunday May 31st
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 11 p.m. EDT / 8 p.m. PDT
Monday June 1st
Game 7 (if necessary): The two teams from Game 6 will play again if the Game 5 winner wins Game 6 (11 p.m. EDT / 8 p.m. PDT)
Oxford, Mississippi
#1 Mississippi (40-17) vs. #4 Monmouth (32-23)
#2 Missouri (34-25) vs. #3 Western Ky. (39-18)
Friday May 29th
Game 1: No. 2 Missouri vs. No. 3 Western Kentucky, 4 p.m. EDT / 1 p.m. PDT
Game 2: No. 1 Ole Miss vs. No. 4 Monmouth, 8 p.m. EDT / 5 p.m. PDT
Saturday May 30th
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 1 p.m. EDT / 10 a.m. PDT
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m. EDT / 2 p.m. PDT
Sunday May 31st
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 1 p.m. EDT / 10 a.m. PDT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 5 p.m. EDT / 2 p.m. PDT
Monday June 1st
Game 7 (if necessary): The two teams from Game 6 will play again if the Game 5 winner wins Game 6 (7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT)
Houston, Texas
#1 Rice (39-15) vs. #4 Sam Houston St. (36-22)
#2 Kansas St. (41-16-1) vs. #3 Xavier (38-19)
Friday May 29th
Game 1: No. 2 Kansas State vs. No. 3 Xavier, 3 p.m. EDT / Noon PDT
Game 2: No. 1 Rice vs. No. 4 Sam Houston State, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Saturday May 30th
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3 p.m. EDT / Noon PDT
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Sunday May 31st
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m. EDT / Noon PDT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Monday June 1st
Game 7 (if necessary): The two teams from Game 6 will play again if the Game 5 winner wins Game 6 (7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
#1 LSU (46-16) vs. #4 Southern U. (30-15)
#2 Minnesota (38-17) vs. #3 Baylor (29-24)
Friday May 29th
Game 1: No. 1 LSU vs. No. 4 Southern, 2 p.m. EDT / 11 a.m. PDT FINAL 10 – 2
Game 2: No. 2 Minnesota vs. No. 3 Baylor, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Saturday May 30th
Game 3: Southern vs. Game 2 loser, 2 p.m. EDT / Noon PDT
Game 4: LSU vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Sunday May 31st
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m. EDT / Noon PDT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT
Monday June 1st
Game 7 (if necessary): The two teams from Game 6 will play again if the Game 5 winner wins Game 6 (7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT)
NCAA Super Regionals (Sites and times to be determined)
June 5-8 (Best of 3 series)
Austin Regional winner vs. Fort Worth Regional winner
Atlanta Regional winner vs. Gainesville Regional winner
Tempe Regional winner vs. Clemson Regional winner
Greenville Regional winner vs. Chapel Hill Regional winner
Fullerton Regional winner vs. Louisville Regional winner
Norman Regional winner vs. Tallahassee Regional winner
Irvine Regional winner vs. Oxford Regional winner
Houston Regional winner vs. Baton Rouge Regional winner
FOLLOW ALL SCORES HERE AND ON OUR TWITTER PAGE AT: http://twitter.com/BigLeagueAnalys
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INAUGURAL SEASON – OPENING DAY 2009
“The Digital Era of Professional Baseball Instruction”
Sunday May 24th, 2009
National League Preview
No DH, means more pitching, defense, speed and strategy…just the way BigLeagueAnalysis.com likes to play. Here’s our winners:
NL EAST
1 – Mets
2 – Marlins
3 – Phillies
4 – Braves
5 – Nationals
New York Mets
Mets lost 29 games in 2008 in which they held a lead or were tied at the end of six innings. Add JJ Putz and KRod to Johan Santana and you have a division title. Character issues of Beltran, Reyes, Delgado and new addition Sheffield will be detrimental in playoffs though.
NL CENTRAL
1 – Cubs
2 – Cardinals (Wild Card)
3 – Reds
4 – Brewers
5 – Astros
6 – Pirates
Chicago Cubs
Wish I could say the stars were going to align for the Cubs and a World Series Title….wait no I don’t. Too much fun to have the Cubbies not win it. If Carpenter would be healthy for the season Cardinals win the division. Watch out for the up and coming Reds to stay in the pennant race.
NL WEST
1 – Dodgers
2 – Diamondbacks
3 – Giants
4 – Padres
5 – Rockies
Los Angeles Dodgers
Common theme out west: Pac 10 bad…NL West bad. Worst division in baseball. Manny could win this division by himself. Look for him to win MVP and shine in LA.
2009 NL Champion St. Louis Cardinals
American League Preview
Which teams will throw the ball….hit the ball…and catch the ball the best this summer. BigLeagueAnalysis.com has the answers…keep in mind the only formula for success is Pitching, Defense, and Speed.
AL EAST
1 – Rays
2 – Red Sox (Wild Card)
3 – Yankees
4 – Blue Jays
5 – Orioles
Tampa Bay Rays
No longer afraid of the big bad Yankees & Red Sox. Did I say pitching, defense and speed…yep..and over 162 games will prevail (again) as the East winner. Just wait 3 weeks until David Price returns. I have a feeling he’s got a fire burning right about now.
AL CENTRAL
1 – Twins
2 – White Sox
3 – Tigers
4 – Indians
5 – Royals
Minnesota Twins
There is no other team who buys into a winning formula more consistently then the Twins. Maybe a year or two premature but combine their philosophy with the young talent they put on the field and this team could be destined for great things.
AL WEST
1- Angels
2 – Rangers
3 – Mariners
4 – A’s
Unless the Angels lose Lackey for the season to Tommy John surgery would there be the slightest chance anyone makes up the 21, 24.5, and 39 game lead from last season. Sorry Rangers (and James J.) your game plan does not work…same type of lineup as mid-1990’s same result:
90’s Rangers:
Juan Gonzalez (47 HR, 144 RBI, .314)
Rusty Greer (18 HR, 100 RBI, .332),
Ivan Rodriguez (19 HR, 86 RBI, .300) and
Dean Palmer (38 HR, 107 RBI, .280)
Notice we never talk about pitching, defense or speed with the Rangers…maybe Nolan Ryan can change the culture and philosophy in Texas. Glad to hear ya’ll are excited about Andrew Jones’ good start.
2009 AL Champion Minnesota Twins
The New Yankee Stadium
After attending the opening exhibition game vs. the Cubbies on Friday, here is my take on the New Yankee Stadium. Amazed? Yes. Blown away? Yes. In awe? Yes. But…there is one thing that baseball taught me, “respect everything, be in awe of nothing.” So after my excitement level returned to normal I started to pay attention to my surroundings and many of you won’t be surprised.
The most enjoyable part of the experience was how the park seemed to bring the old Yankee Stadium into a new generation. Keeping the dimensions the same (which will cost ARod approx. 5-7 homers a year for the next 10 years = 50), a new version of the bleachers (which have flat panel TVs everywhere), and the way the upper levels are structured around the foul polls (1 homer off the right field pole, 1 off the left…wonder if that has ever happened in another MLB game before?) all seemed to update yet remind you of the historic park across the street.
Blending nicely with the historic aspects, Mitsubishi is saying is the most advanced, high-definition Diamond Vision display ever constructed is in center field. They are not lying. I was mesmerized by the size (100-feet wide and nearly 60-feet tall) and clarity of the screen from all angles of the park which eliminates the excuse of having a better seat to the game at home. When I first saw graphic drawings of the stadium, I was sure that having this screen in center field above the batters eye would cause major problems for hitters. But the way the Yankees have hit the ball in the past couple of days I guess we won’t hear any complaints.
My 3 missing parts of the new Yankee Stadium:
3.) The condiments table location and selection was lackluster. No cheese for your pretzels!! What’s with the spicy mustard everywhere?!?! I emphasize the condiments section but that was only a symptom of the service problem. Disorganized lines, wait staff and selection proved to be a bad experience. I hear the new Mets’ Citi Field has people at the condiment table to squeeze the ketchup for you…..but we’ll discuss that below.
2.) The men’s bathroom does not have a shelf to set a beverage down above the urinal….so leave your drink in your cup holder at your seat.
1.) No display of the current pitcher anywhere in the park. I noticed this when Aaron Heilman entered the game for the Cubs in the 5th. Recognizing his mechanics left me frustrated and my mind blank when I couldn’t remember his name. The interesting thing is I knew who was pitching and currently at bat in the Royals/Rangers game on the game cast “around the league scoreboard” to the right of Diamond Vision….but nowhere was it posted who was pitching in front of me.
I always try to teach the kids I work with the fine line between being confident and cocky. Confident in your abilities to be the best with a respect for the game, its competitors, and your teammates. Do the Yankees cross this line of being arrogant and cocky? Do they think they are better than the game? Where does this tone come from? Jeter is confident not arrogant….Tex (although brand new) is confident not arrogant….Rivera is confident…ARod…Steinbrenner’s????
My point is although I absolutely think this was the most incredible stadium I’ve ever been in, for whatever reason the stadium has this character and personality that is so arrogant it makes you not fully enjoy the experience. An attitude that says “hey welcome to the new Yankee Stadium, you should be happy and thankful to be here…..see you next time (no hope to see you again soon)”
Although my extreme dislike for the Mets, rumor on the street is that for 1/3 the money Citi Field dominates the new Yankee Stadium by making it all about your experience…..stay tuned for that report sometime this summer…
