hiway29

So the Dodger-Sox game at the Coliseum sold out 90000 plus seats in less than an hour. I wasn't one of the 90000. I still have a chance through a season ticket holder, but am waiting to see what he decides to do. I'm not optimistic. Part of me thinks it's ok not to be sitting a half mile away in a cheap seat, and watching it at home while Vin Scully broadcasts the game. he was already a veteran Dodger announcer when they moved to LA and of course has been there ever since. I'm looking forward to his memories.

I don't know if Santana is 'the greatest'-but he's at the top echelon of current pitchers. The Red Sox and Yankees were both going for him, but wisely didn't think he was so great that he was worth giving away much of their young talent. I think it's a great deal for the Mets, who didn't give away anyone who would have been starting for them. I expect Santana to blow through the weaker hitting National League, and have an outstanding year. Having said that, the baseball fates could intervene and cause all kinds of unexpected problems and adjustments. Just realized that question seemed directed to mstar. Oh well, that's my 2 cents anyway.

Those are all ballparks I've never been to, but would love to. I've been to Cooperstown at least 5 times, but there's never been a game on the day I was there. It's a lovely little field. My only 'complaint' is that the 'good' seats under the wooden canopy are all screened off so there are no foul balls to chase after-an essential in my book, though I've never come close to getting one. I had a close call of my own with Dodger tickets. I've bought a dozen games from a co worker who has perfect seats in the loge. I then found out the Dodgers were offering an 'upgrade' to the field level. Unless you're ideally situated, I'll take a loge over a field seat anyday. You just get a better view of the game and the whole field ,in my eyes at least. Fortunately, the offer was turned down. Maybe my impassioned plea helped.

Looks like Santana is going to the Mets, which is fine by me. I didn't relish the idea of the Yankees giving away so much, but realized they had to keep the Sox from getting him. There are certainly question marks for the Yankee staff, but it will be exciting to see who succeeds and who doesn't. So let's Play Ball already.

Thanks for the pictures, Mstar. I'd love to get to Yankee Stadium one more time, and will probably feel the pull greater as the season wears on. It is hard to fathom that it will be gone, though as I've said, I 've never been a fan of the 70's renovation. My hope is that the new stadium will look much like the original-with modern facilities of course. Still, it's weird to think that field will be gone. At least they're not moving to the Meadowlands like George used to threaten !!

I'm wondering if this one isn't too 'obscure'. I figured someone who was ingesting quantities of herbs in the 70's , as I know many old wayfers were, would know it.

Get Back- real good one by the Beatles "The rusted chains of prison moons are shattered by the sun"

17 games ! Good going ! Well earned, also ! That sounds like alot more than you usually make . I go to that many every year, and find that the more I go, the more I want to go, start having withdrawal symptoms on road trips, and get irritable when I miss a series or God forbid an entire homestand. I love the game on tv, but there's nothing like being there, and I am forever thankful for the good fortune to live so close to Dodger Stadium. In other words, baseball is addicting, but better than heroin. and not quite as expensive-yet.

That's an awesome picture, from an angle I've never seen ! Taken from the seat I'll probably wind up getting... Right field is hilarious. The guy in the picture looks like he's playing back about 400 feet. So if Ortiz hits a 500 foot fly to right, will Kemp be able to run after it and relay it back to home before he scores?

I'm working on going to the Coliseum game. I had to submit a form to the Dodgers who will notify me when tickets become available. It would be fun to experience the moment in history-especially if they have the short left field fence. I do think I'll be homesick for Dodger Stadium by the 3rd inning.

the Dodgers are playing some mid March games against the Padres in China-NOT opening day-I can't think of a worse way to begin a season, if that were the case. At least that's how I understand it. I would think a spring jaunt to China would screw up a team as is, and wish they weren't going. Some players are refusing to make the trip-at least at this point, for one reason or another. We'll see if that holds up.

Virtual waiting room sounds like a level of Hell I don't ever want to see. I hope you get some games. I've got about a dozen Dodger games bought through a co worker who happens to have season tickets in my favorite section in Dodger Stadium. I felt like I struck gold when they were offered up. I also plan on making it to more Angels games this year. I'm looking forward to seeing Torii Hunter in Anaheim, though I wish he had remained a Twin for his career. I'm also thinking I have to get to Yankee Stadium somehow. I also am becoming fascinated with the early 20th century game. This is really an excellent book. It just came out recently , so should be easy to find.

Part of my winter baseball fix is a book I just started called 'Crazy '08-How a cast of cranks, rogues,boneheads,and magnates created the greatest year in baseball history', by Cait Murphy. I'd never heard '08 referred to that way, so I picked it up and am finding it to be one terrific read, from a writer who really understands the game and the time period, when the Cubs were a dynasty !

I just read an article telling of people leaving in the middle of the film with queasy stomaches, from the non stop movement of the hand held camera. I don't think I'd have that problem, but I can imagine a constantly jittery film on theater screen size could get to be a bit much. I'm planning on seeing it as I've heard good things about it. It's certainly interesting as a concept. Part of me thinks it may be better served waiting for the dvd and watching it on a small screen like most homemade films.

That is some opportunity to talk with that man. I've never heard much about Ruth's throwing arm, or his defensive skills. It's always been hitting and pitching. It doesn't surprise me that he had a great arm though. I think I always imagined Ruth being somewhat bored and distracted standing around in the outfield-which is unfair. OK, I'm ready for the season now.

welcome 2fortheroad Hymn 43-Jethro Tull good album that Aqualung I'll keep it moving- "standing at the dock at SouthHampton"

righteo

Boston-More than a Feeling here's an easy follow up "I can't stop this feeling, deep inside of me"

I was looking forward to enjoying Dodger Stadium this year with Joe Torre and Don Mattingly in the dugout. Now I'll have to do without Mattingly, as he stepped down as hitting instructor and bench coach to deal with personal family matters in Indiana. I wish 'Donnie Baseball' well, one of my all time favorite players from a time when the Yankees were going nowhere. I'm realizing as I'm typing this that Mattingly has always had stumblinblocks (is that a word?). He was heading straight for the Hall of Fame when back problems cut his career short, and hurt his skills in his last years. The gawdawful strike in '94 cut short his hopes of ever making it the Series, and when the Yankees finally made the playoffs in '95, his last season, they were trounced by the Mariners. As soon as he retired the Yankees went on their late 90's tear. Now with the opportunity in LA to be hitting coach and 'groomed' for manager after Torre, he has to step down. I don't know what it all means, but I am going to miss him this year. Maybe he shouldn't have shaved the moustache.

Those fans are standing awfully close to the field in the Highlander shot. I wonder what the event was that allowed the fans to crowd the field like that. The article I read specifically referred to the Sox being called the Yankees at some point. That doesn't mean the writer was correct. Teams did go through colorful names back then. I've always liked the Cleveland Spiders before they became the Indians. It was probably a good thing that the Beaneaters didn't stick for the Braves.

and I just remembered that the New York Yankees/Highlanders were originally the Baltimore Orioles !

Tom, you can always check the Washington Senators from the 60's, since they became the stRangers when they moved. Of course those Senators aren't the classic Washington Senators , who became the Minnesota Twins. I still think the current Washington Nationals should have called themselves the Senators to keep the grand old name alive. In a really bizarre item, that I never heard before, and need to investigate to verify, I read that at one point early in the last century, the Red Sox were known as the Yankees ! Maybe Mstar can verify this. It was probably just some newspaper referring to them in a descriptive way, but fascinating. The Yankees at that time were known as the Highlanders, and were possibly the worst team in the AL.

Hey, I'm not even the Yankee fan I once was, since I spend my summers at Dodger Stadium now. Still the 12 year old fan never really dies, and that's when team loyalties really mattered. I was kind of joking about posting stats, but I must say I find the interest in ALL aspects of baseball most encouraging.

Nice pictures from the Library of Congress. Thanks. Would anyone be interested in my posting Yankee World Series box scores ? Didn't think so.

ah skip it