YANKEES / RED SOX COUPLES: A SURVIVAL GUIDE

We've all heard of, or perhaps seen, couples that don't quite match up. But in this crazy, mixed up world, we don't always choose who we love- love chooses us. The diversity of the United States has brought a colorful flavor to American romance- there are May-December romances, and interfaith, cross-cultural relationships are more the norm now than ever before. But there is one relationship that continues to baffle us all, the philosophical differences of each partner are so extremely different, it's a wonder that they ever get past the first date. This love connection is so confusing and so mis-matched, it stands to stump Dr. Ruth, Dr. Phil, and any other so-called "relationship expert" that we rely upon for advice.

Yes, baseball fans. I'm referring to Yankee fan/Red Sox fan relationship. (gasp!) It happens. Yes. Like a modern-day "Romeo and Juliet", this is the couple that, despite all of the differences and the anger the relationship causes their baseball families, are so attracted and drawn to each other that they're willing to put the "curse" aside in the pursuit of true love.

So let's put our judgmental opinions aside for a moment and offer support to these couples, shall we? After all, it does serve the greater good and it feels good to do that sometimes. Here are some survival tips for these mismatched couples to help ease the bumps in the road when the Yankees face the Sox:

1. Bet- Bets can always be fun, and a way to produce a win/win situation should either party lose. For example, the stakes could be money, buying the winner dinner, or any other activity that can spark your interest. Try it. It might not be so bad.

2. Play "Strikeout Poker"- For every opposing batter that strikes out at the plate, the loser must give or give up something. Use your imaginations here; this is a family website.

3. Play "Spin the Batter"- For every batter that gets spun at the plate, the loser offers to do the winner's chores for the next day, a kiss, etc. Be creative.

4. "Home Run Derby"- 'Nuff said.

5. "Error Truth or Dare"- For every error made by the opposing team, the loser must submit to a truth or dare.

6. "Hit the Cycle"- Should a batter hit for the cycle, the fan of the opposing team gets a "punch buggy" hit to the arm. Be gentle. Although hitting for the cycle doesn't happen that often, the object here is to have fun, not beat the crap out of one another.

7. "Double Play"- For every double play successfully executed, the fan of the losing team must wear the jersey of the team that executed the play for the next inning.

There are so many creative ways for Yankees/Red Sox couples to get through a game against each other. Make it fun, creative, and for the sake of all of your friends, please keep it to yourself. No sense in stirring up trouble with either fan base. So if you are reading this and involved with a Red Sox fan, try some of these ideas for the next series. Let love rule...but GO YANKEES!

--Christy Lee, BYB Staff Writer



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WHY JETER HAS AN EDGE

We've all seen the commercial and no, I'm not plugging a product here. The clever play on words used by the un-named car company to describe Derek Jeter was not only a great marketing strategy, but the absolute truth. Derek Sanderson Jeter, the Captain of the New York Yankees, has an edge that perhaps no player has before. Some may argue with that, and not without good reason. But Derek's "edge" is the life force behind the New York Yankees.

I don't want to discuss batting average. I don't want to discuss assists. There's absolutely no need to discuss base running, errors, fielding percentages, or any of that stuff. It's no secret that Derek's age is increasing and that he's maybe not at 100%, one hundred percent of the time.

What has never changed, but maybe only has gotten more intense, is his dedication to the New York Yankees and the game of baseball. He is a legend in his own right, and some argue that the only other player in the history of baseball that's in Derek's league is the Great Bambino himself. Derek knows what people say about him and his playing, and he's heard it all; the good, the bad, and the ugly. What maintains intact though is his confidence, his ego, and his "team before personal accomplishments" mentality. This is the stuff that legends are made of.

If Jeter is the heart of the team, it's safe to say that the rest of the team relies on him to keep going. When the world gave up on him with his .270 average last year, we here at Bleeding Yankee Blue did not. We believed, we supported him and it goes further because you also saw, and see, nothing but support from his teammates toward Derek as well. He, in return, supports his teammates and when things gets tough, he seems to pick up the pace and keep the other players going. He must be a general manager's dream come true, knowing that much of the team's moral support, drive and determination comes from following Derek's lead. Surely being raised by such supportive parents led to the development of Jeter's character, and no doubt being schooled by Joe Torre's managing style helped developed his skills on the field and off the field.

Jeter's razor-sharp edge has raised the bar for many Yankee players and will for years to come. Young kids now playing in Little League and one day playing shortstop (or any other position that matter) that follow Derek's lead will be in a good position for achieving the goals and making their dreams come true. It's Derek Jeter's razor-sharp edge that will cut the fabric for baseball for generations to come.

--Christy Lee, BYB Staff Writer



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REMEMBERING 9-11: NEVER FORGET

On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, I was having coffee and watching the morning news before I went to work. My daughter has just begun the first grade in a brand new school, and I was watching the weather. It was a beautiful, clear, bright, warm day. My husband commented that we should play “hookie” and go into New York City for the day, maybe catch the Yankee game that night. We joked about it- that sort of thing only worked for Ferris Bueller. I packed my daughter up, grabbed my travel mug of coffee, and headed off to drop her off to school before I went to work.

There was no music on the radio; the announcers were talking about some awful tragedy but I couldn’t really make out what they were referring to. My cell phone rang. It was my husband, saying that an airplane had crashed into one of the Twin Towers in Manhattan. Initially he thought it was a small, private aircraft- by now the radio was reporting that it was a commercial jet, and using words such as “terrorism” and “attack”. My initial reaction was that there was some morbid joke happening, such as Orwell’s “War of the Worlds”, until my husband yelled out on the other end of the phone. He was watching the news and saw the second plane hit the second tower. I parked my car and ran into work. By now, word had spread about the downed plane in Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon.

I worked at a State Office at the time, and walked in to stunned faces, confusion, and chaos. The rest of the day was surreal; like being wide awake in a nightmare, unable to remember the dream itself. Dead quiet. Fear. Confusion. Waiting…

Being a Yankee fan, it was my assumption that there would be no baseball that evening, but there was a part of me that wished it were possible. The distraction of watching America’s favorite pastime would have been a relief. Instead, I sat on my front porch, looked up into the otherwise empty sky, and watched military helicopters as they deployed to New York. Not knowing if it was over, it was a long, petrifying night.

The days that followed were tense, full of fear, and horror as I stayed glued to the television set to watch the recovery efforts, cry for the dead and missing and their families, and pray that someday, America would once again return to normal. I knew it my heart, though, that things would never be the same again.

As time went on, little by little, the media finally began to talk about these things. Resuming activities on Wall Street, sports, and many other things that makes America tick. There was footage of Derek Jeter, Chuck Knoblauch, Scott Brosius and Roger Clemens among others helping the effort by doing some charity work and personal appearances. Finally, some hope was slowly coming back, and a return to some sense of normalcy seemed to be on the horizon.

As baseball resumed, a sense of relief was felt by everyone. Only it wasn’t because people cared more about the standings or who was going to the World Series that year. People wanted-and perhaps needed- to show the rest of the world that America will not, and can be broken by this.

The sentiment across the entire country was “We’re all New Yorkers” now, and baseball fans took this to heart. Even in the heart of “enemy territory” at away games, opposing teams paid tribute to New York, the Yankees and the Mets, fans applauded instead of jeered, and, for a brief moment in time, baseball fans all across America were no longer divided by loyalty to teams, but were united by the sense that we were all in this together, and baseball was the glue that helped rebuild our hearts and minds and bring some sense of comfort, relief, and healthy distraction to our lives again.

There’s a beautiful quote that, to me, summarizes the whole experience for America during those days:

“I can be changed by what happens to me; but I refused to be reduced by it”- Maya Angelou

On this 10th Anniversary of the attacks on America, please take a moment to reflect, remember, and offer support to those who survived but still suffer from that awful day. “Never Forget”.

--Christy Lee, BYB Staff Writer



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AN OPEN LETTER TO JETER FROM YOUR FEMALE SUPERFANS

Dear Derek,

Let me begin by offering my sincerest of apologies that you and Minka are no longer a couple. It must be very difficult for you to move on after such a long and happy relationship. As the self-appointed Queen of the Superfans, and Resident Relationship Expert, please allow me to offer you some advice on this subject.

1. ANALYSIS: Look very closely at her first name... Minka. Really? Okay, yes, it sounds exotic and unusual. But anyone with the word "Mink" as part of their first name is a "red-flag"...minks cost money, and they're not even in style anymore. The high maintenance, 5th Avenue girls that you've been hanging out with are obviously not a right match. For example, a woman such as myself, who's financially independent, smart dresser but still a bargain shopper, is probably a better fit, just sayin'.

2. BASEBALL: Minka admits that she knew nothing about baseball when she met you. Wait, what? You are a baseball legend, an icon. They may even one day re-name Cooperstown to Jetertown! How did this happen? What could you possibly have to talk about with a girl like that? The last thing you need is someone you have to "coach around the bases". This was an inning-ending line drive from the get-go, my friend.

3. AGE: I know it's very difficult for baseball players to discuss this issue. Trust me, I understand completely. It's not easy for me either. But look, you get to retire about 40 years before I do. Do you really think that being with someone in their mid twenties is a suitable match for poolside conversation? Look, anyone who doesn't have a handle on who "The Sugarhill Gang" was and thinks "Back to the Future" was a video game is not for you. I'm no cougar, Derek. Someone your age, or even a little older, has intelligence, experience and a lot to offer you; a girl with brains and worldly wisdom is more your style.

4. LOOKS: this is perhaps the most important of all. You are known as the "pretty boy" of baseball. Why on earth would you stick with the picture perfect model-types? You need to stand out as the jewel in the crown. You don't need to have someone stealing your thunder in that area.Yes, they're pretty and make nice arm candy. But do they have "substance"? Can they discuss world issues with you? Politics? Fantasy Baseball stats? My guess is no. No, the perfect match for you is not someone who spends more money on makeup than they do on a car payment. The girl for you is the one who spends money and time on pinstriped gear and can open your beer for you with her bare hands.

Let's think long term here, Derek. All of this stuff is really nice, but when all is said and done, you need someone who can hang in with you for the long haul. Sure, Minka was pretty and rumor has it that she was really sweet. But us Superfans saw this coming a long time ago. Please consider this as an unselfish gesture of good will and, of course, having only your best interests in mind.

Hit me on the Twitter @ChristyLee127 ... I'm available!

Love, Christy

--Christy Lee, BYB Staff Writer







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THE YANKEES: FAIRY TALE IN THE MAKING?

Sunday, during the Yankees vs. Orioles game broadcast, the YES Network’s Michael Kay started his pre-game montage by describing Saturday night’s loss as a “heartbreaker”. As we all know too well now, Sunday’s loss was not only heartbreaking, but it was also gut wrenching.

Women are no strangers to heartbreak. We were raised on stories like Cinderella and Snow White, where determination and heart always bring results. We’ve all had those “so close, but yet so far moments” in our lives, where we have been forced to pick up where we left off, dust off, and move on. Making the best of what we have is a way of life for us. That doesn’t mean, however, that we don’t dream about what things would be like if we reached out beyond our comfort zone and all of our dreams came true.

Most recently, the Yankees are Cinderella, the World Series Championship is Prince Charming’s Ball, and the Red Sox are the evil stepmother.Knowing what we want, and how to get it, is very different when you are at the mercy of decisions made by other people that aren’t actually playing the game. Decisions like leaving Bartolo Colon in for too long on Sunday, for example. Colon’s horse drawn coach turned into a pumpkin during the 8^th inning, yet Fairy Godmother Joe Girardi decided to keep him in, and making pumpkin pie out of the inning. When ARod stepped up to bat in the 9^th, the shoe just didn’t fit, and an inning-ending double play ended all chances of getting to the ball. So if you’re asking, “whatever happened to “Someday My Prince Will Come”? In this case, the fairy godmother, the evil stepmother and other influences seem to have more influence over our team than in necessary.

All of the Cinderella and Snow White references aren’t just for poetic license. It’s a lesson to be learned. When everyone is against you, and the situation seems hopeless, you need that same determination, hope, and yes, maybe even a little faith and trust, to get to the dance. Back to the grind, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start over again. If there’s one thing that those fairy tales taught us, it’s that nothing is easy, and many times, it will seem like nothing or no one is on your side. But don’t give up. If you do that, all hope is lost.

I’m not saying that the Yankees need to break into song or dance around the field with little bluebirds; no, that’s not it. But if they whistle while they work, shake it off, and push forward, and put their hearts into the grind, maybe we can put the days of heartbreak far behind us after all, we're about to play the evil stepmother in Beantown... and it's Show time.

--Christy Lee, BYB Staff Writer







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JASON GIAMBI: A TRUE YANKEE SLUGGER

On December 13, 2001, a freshly shaved, short-haired Jason Giambi (#25) signed a 7-year contract with the New York Yankees. The slugger from the Oakland A’s became a staple in the New York Yankees’ lineup, much to Oakland’s dismay. Giambi was a top hitter, and considered to be the team leader, losing Giambi was a devastating blow for Oakland.Oakland’s loss was New York’s gain. By 2002, he led the MLB for the second consecutive year in reaching base. His stats boasted a .314 batting average, 122 RBI’s, 109 walks, and included 15 hit-by pitches. He also hit an unbelievable walk-off grand slam against the Twins in extra innings, a game that Yankee fans won’t soon forget.

Jason Giambi’s Major League debut was on May 8, 1995, with the Oakland A’s, where he played until 2001 when he signed with the Yankees.. His career is mostly known for his hitting, but Giambi has also played the outfield, and first and second bases when needed. He was also a frequent designated hitter until signing with the National League. His all around, award winning performances have earned him praise in the MLB community, but there’s also been some controversy after being named in the PED (Performance-Enhancing Drugs) scandal involving many MLB players. In 2004, he was diagnosed with a benign tumor that put him on the Yankees’ disabled list from July to September. None of this seemed to put a stop to Giambi’s determination on the field. In July 2005, he hit his 300th home run, tying Mickey Mantle’s home run record. By the end of the season, he led the league in walks, on-base percentage, and hit 32 home runs. He was also named the American League Comeback Player of the Year.

By 2007, Giambi’s numbers started to dip due to injuries, and in 2008, the Yankees declined the option and his contract, making Giambi a free agent. He played for the Oakland A’s until 2009, where he also recorded his 400th home run. However, his low batting average and time on the disabled list was enough for Oakland to release Giambi, who then signed with the Colorado Rockies, where he remains today. He is enjoying resurgence in his career, and on May 19, 2011, he became the second oldest player to hit three home runs in three at bats in one game.



Throughout his career, “The Great Giambino” has earned 4 Player of the Year Awards, the American League MVP, the Silver Slugger Award, Comeback Player of the Year, and was selected for the All-Star Game five times. Giambi was also named one of the “Top Ten Most Superstitious Athletes” by Men’s Fitness Magazine.



Despite the amazing accomplishments he’s experienced, he has never won a World Series Title. But he is still respected by the New York Yankees and their fans, which have fond memories of his outstanding performances at Yankee Stadium. You can still see fans proudly wearing their #25 jerseys, and he always receives a warm welcome and thunderous applause when he steps up to the plate at the Stadium.



Jason Giambi was, and will remain, a highly respected player in Yankees’ history and we are all grateful to have had him on our team for so long.









--Christy Lee, BYB Staff Writer







--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Associate Editor







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WHAT IS A YANKEE GROUPIE?

THE FEMALE FAN



Groupie: enthusiastic fan: an enthusiastic fan or supporter of something.



This is the “official” definition of “groupie", but here’s the deal; I’m not so sure I agree with it, especially when it comes to female Yankee Fans. The word “enthusiastic” doesn’t quite cut it. In my observation, it understates the lengths that some people will go to in showing their devotion to their team.



To make it easier for us all, I’ve broken New York Yankees “groupies” into three categories. Do any of these descriptions fit you?



“The Diva”: This is the girl who gets her hair and nails done before going to the Stadium. She might buy a low-cut tank top sporting the Yankees logo, wear short-shorts, or even heels. We’ve all seen them, trying not to trip over their own feet trying to walk through the crowd of fans. She’ll sit in her seat, sporting Coco Chanel sunglasses, and play with her hair, hoping to get the camera guy to spot her and get her on the jumbo screen, or better yet, the YES Network’s broadcast of the game. Always in full make-up and coiffed, the diva has one mission: “Look better than Minka.”""The Cougar": This is the older version of “The Diva”, but with a twist. This groupie is a bit older than your average diva, and perhaps in a bit of denial about it. She’ll spend way too much time in the tanning bed and the salon getting her gray hair bleached out to look blonde, and her wardrobe usually consists of multiple animal prints. Trading in stilettos for a chunkier, more easy-to-walk-shoe, you’ll hear her and her big plastic beaded jewelry a mile away. She’ll sit in her seat trying to attract attention as well, the whole time hoping that the camera will catch “her good side”. The Cougar has two missions: “Look Better than Minka” (or her Mom), and “Don’t look too much like the character in ‘There’s Something About Mary’."The SuperFan": This is a groupie that cares little about gender-specific clothing or behavior. Donned in a man’s Yankees’ jersey, baseball cap, and perhaps face paint, and, after a couple of beers, this chick is out-yelling with the Bleacher Creatures. She may be holding a big foam finger, waving a flag, or holding a sign to attract someone on the team. She may use foul language and scream at the umpire, extending her blue-and-white polished middle finger at Blue. She’s feeling pretty confident that the team will win, because she’s head to toe pinstripes and she did the “good luck dance” all the way to her seat. Mission: Look Better than Minka- “REAL” women wear pinstripes.As you can see, “enthusiastic” is just not enough of a word to describe the love that us Yankee Ladies have for a team. Whether you’re a Diva, a Cougar, or a SuperFan, or a combination of all three, it doesn’t matter. Yankee fans are family, and Yankee Ladies are all sisters.



Let’s Go Yankees!



NOTE: The photos used in this post were not the actual Groupies described... just die hard Yankee fans.







--Christy Lee, BYB Staff Writer







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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: CHUCK KNOBLAUCH

Any true Yankee fan knows that Chuck Knoblauch was a key figure in helping to make baseball history throughout the 1990s. Chuck was nice enough to talk to me about that time in his life, his father, and what’s happening with him now.

As a player for the Minnesota Twins, 1991 Rookie of the Year, and multiple World Series Champion with both the Twins and the New York Yankees, how exciting was that time in his life?



Chuck Knoblauch: “Very exciting. Growing up as a kid, dreaming of the major leagues, it was very exciting. I believe that everything happens for a reason; the major leagues is where I became a man from a boy. I went through the good, the bad, and the ugly; but looking back, I wouldn’t change a bit."BYB: What was your initial reaction to being brought to the New York Yankees in 1998?



Chuck Knoblauch: “It was awesome. Everyone was so welcoming during Spring Training, I felt like I belonged right away. I spent a lot of time on hitting with Derek, and O’Neill and Pettitte too.”

Chuck went on to discuss some of the initial difficulties that he had adjusting to life in New York City, being born and raised in Texas. However, he quickly grew to love the city’s people, the culture and atmosphere and found himself becoming a part of the community. He recalls his favorite times in Manhattan were in the summer, when the city was hot, less crowded, and alive with activity.



On playing for Joe Torre, Chuck had a lot to say about the special relationship he shared with the Yankees’ skipper. Calling him a “father figure” as well as a manager, Chuck says that all of the players had the utmost respect for Joe, for many reasons.

Chuck Knoblauch: “It was so easy to respect Joe. There wasn’t much he didn’t experience on the field as a player himself. He could relate to the players on so many levels. So whether you were batting .319, or .220, he could relate to you. He was great at handling all of the different personalities on the team. There weren’t very many team meetings, but when there were, he wasn’t screaming and yelling. Joe was always at an even-keel, and managed with love, desire, and a passion to win. We (the team) played like we did out of respect for him.”



When discussing the clubhouse atmosphere, Knoblauch remembered many of the players and their antics fondly. He talked about how there was a band room set-up for the team, and it wasn’t uncommon to see players or crew members to be back there, having impromptu jam "sessions” during rain delays. He specifically recalls Bernie Williams playing his guitar, and laughed as he explained how Paul O’Neill once tried to teach him how to play the drums.(In Photo: Paul O'Neill)

Chuck Knoblauch: “O’Neill is a great drummer. I’d always wanted to play, since I was a kid. Paul tried really hard to teach me, and then eventually just gave up on me. It didn’t work out that well,” he laughed.



Chuck was playing for the New York Yankees on Sept. 11, 2001, and he recalls that morning vividly. He said that phone call from his mother had woke him up, asking if he was okay, and if he was safe. Chuck said he was still half-asleep, when he went to the window, pulled the blinds, and saw the devastation of the attack on the Twin Towers. From where he lived,



Chuck Knoblauch: “I had a clear view. I just sat there in amazement for hours. I saw everything. I saw the people jumping from the Towers. I was scared; and even more scared when the Pentagon got hit. I thought to myself, ‘what in the world is going on here?’ I even called Brian Cashman to ask if we were still playing that night, and found out that everything was cancelled for a while. When we finally got back, we played in Chicago. It’s usually a tough place to play, and the fans were all wearing New York shirts and were very supportive. The rest of the season that year was just a blur.”



We’re all familiar with the close relationship that Chuck shared with his Dad, who was a career high school baseball coach. Chuck lost his Dad to Alzheimer’s disease, and this was a very painful loss for him. He’s still able to laugh at some of the good times, such as when his Dad would leave Astros games in the 8th inning so it wouldn’t get stuck in traffic. As a kid, Chuck recalls that no matter how tired his father was after coaching all day, all of his time after work was spent coaching him.



Chuck Knoblauch: “One important thing I learned from my Dad was, is not to talk about anything that you know nothing about. My Dad was a pitcher. He’d day, ‘Don’t ask me about hitting, I don’t know anything about it”.



Chuck’s father was very supportive of his son’s dreams of being a major league baseball player, and would take him to batting cages and other places where he could fine-tune his skills.



Chuck Knoblauch: “He was tough on me. He instilled my work ethic. I didn’t get away with anything.”

As far as Chuck Knoblauch’s life is concerned today, everything seems to be falling nicely into place. He and his wife are expecting a baby girl any day now. At the age of 43, Chuck says that although he would love for his kids to have seen him as a major league player, he’s glad that he doesn’t have the rigorous schedule that would keep him away from his wife and children. The couple also has plans to continue having children; Knoblauch hopes that someday, he’ll have a son that he can name after his father.



As far as appearances, he doesn’t do many autograph signings, but one thing Chuck is doing is getting involved in the early stages of writing a book. Updates will be posted on his website: www.ChuckKnoblauch11.com.



Chuck is also quite active on Tweeter and responds to many of his fans on a daily basis through his verified Twitter Account, @ChuckKnob4real. Through Twitter he says he keeps updated with Yankee news and opinion through Bleeding Yankee Blue tweets. Pretty Cool.



It was a pleasure speaking with Chuck Knoblauch, who was gracious, fun, witty, personable and very easy to talk with. By the end of our conversation, I felt like I was talking to an old friend.



Many thanks to him for taking the time out of his busy schedule to speak with Bleeding Yankee Blue. Oh, and be sure to follow Chuck on Twitter!









--Christy Lee, BYB Staff Writer







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PETTITTE: THE YANKEE WOMAN'S FANTASY

Last night, I had a dream. It wasn’t just a good dream; it was a fantastic dream. The kind of dream that happens to you when you least expect it. The kind of dream that makes you almost sad to wake up and you want to go back to bed and see if it will play in your head again. It was amazing…like being in baseball Heaven.



The dream takes place at Yankee Stadium, and I’m sitting in my seat, waiting for the game to start. The announcer calls the starting lineups for the day, and the player’s pictures flash on the huge screen in between the bleacher seats. We go through the usual players, Tex at first, Robbie at second base, Jeter at shortstop, etc. And then, the announcer says, clear as day….”And pitching for the New York Yankees, #46, Andy Pettitte”, and his picture came up on the screen.



Wait, what? Andy retired, didn’t he? I think to myself...it must be a mistake. But this was no mistake, as Andy walked out to the mound and began throwing his practice pitches to Russell Martin.



Sitting, dumbfounded, I watched as Andy began his signature wind-up to start the game. Pitch after pitch, strike after strike, he was on fire. He was throwing heat like never before. He even successfully pitched out two runners during the game, flashing his famous left-handed leather missile before the runner knew what was happening to him. Of course, he pitched a complete game, logged in a “W”, and tipped his hat to the fans as he walked back to the dugout.

Alas, the alarm blaring in my ear reminded me of several things. Yes, Andy Pettitte is indeed retired, we didn’t even see him for Old Timer’s Day. No, my boss was not going to buy the “I was- dreaming -about -Andy –Pettitte-so-I’m-late-for-work –excuse,” again. And yes, in the early morning light, I was again painfully reminded that the Yankees rotation is well, let’s just say, less than stellar these days.



They say that we can learn a lot about our dreams. They’re supposedly some unconscious manifestations of our deepest desires. I’m not sure that this pertains to just women, as I would be hard pressed to find any male Yankees fan who wouldn’t truly love to have this particular dream become a reality. I think we can all agree, that in a perfect world, Yankees fans would feel like they were “Wide Awake in Dreamland” if Andy were on the mound again. He was solid, dependable, and reassuring. Like a port in the storm, when things seemed terrible, somehow just knowing that Pettitte was scheduled to pitch the next game was soothing to us. We felt safe. We felt good.



Unfortunately, it was only a dream. We all know that Andy is retired and that it’s highly unlikely that he’ll return to baseball wearing pinstripes and a glove. But, hey; one of the advantages of being a girl, is that we are not afraid to admit when we make wishes for our dreams to come to true. It’s how we were raised. “When you wish upon a star…”.









--Christy Lee, BYB Staff Writer







--Jeana Bellezza, BYB Associate Editor







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I'll TAKE THE TWO-FOR

Ahh, the All-Star Break. The time when hopes are renewed, and we’re once again like little kids at Christmas, waiting to see what Santa Baseball has in store for us under the tree. The players flex their muscles at the Home Run Derby, and then, of course, is the exhibition game of all time... The All-Star Game. Some players rest, as did our Derek Jeter, fresh off of achieving a 3,000 hit milestone. Others play the game, and we watch in hopeful anticipation that after the break, our teams will come out swinging.



Yankees fans have had quite a let-down. Even Red Sox fans are empathizing with us. They know the frustration we felt after getting spanked hard with double-digit scores. How angry we feel at the amount of money spent on lackluster pitching, batting, and bench players. We turn our angst to the front office, which seems to be paying for “star power” rather than performance. We yell at our TV, swearing at Girardi, Long, and every other poor bench coach that sits at the helm. This is a 27-time championship team, for God’s sake...What’s going on?

This weekend showed a little more promise, as we were able to take two in a row from Toronto. Not huge wins, by any stretch of the imagination, but I’ll take it. The Yankees scratched and clawed to stay in the game and come out with two wins. A big sigh of relief came across Yankees Universe, as we once again hummed “New York, New York” to ourselves as we finally saw victory again. Ok, I’ll take the “two-for”.



As fans, though, we can’t be lulled into a false sense of security. The rest of this season will have biting our nails, and squirming in our seats. We must be strong. We must continue to show support, and most of all, don’t give up hope. That’s what baseball is all about, isn’t it? Having every game handed to you is not very fun for me. I like a challenge, and in that respect, my team isn’t letting me down. They say “never go to bed mad”, and although that’s been the case more often than not lately, a little perspective can change things a bit.



It’s a little bittersweet, though, isn’t it? The Sox are in first place and we are fighting to stay alive. Upon further reflection, though, I like it. I’m tired of the rumors or talk that the Yankees don’t have to “fight to win”, that they “bought their victories”, etc. It’s also kind of nice to have the best rivalry in baseball competing for the same spot again. If you recall, it wasn’t that long ago that the New York Yankees had no post-season at all.



So let’s not lose hope, and let’s have some fun with this, shall we? It’s not the end of the world. It’s just making things a little interesting!









--Christy Lee, BYB Staff Writer







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