A Very Interesting Day

Today was a big day for your third favorite blogger on Yankees 2000.

A lot was going on, most important for me, was that it was my first home game working the ball park. More on that in a second, seeing that you guys are not here for me (sans Sippy Sr./ my hundreds of blogging groupies) as much as you are here for information.

So, first, what appears to be the New "New Yankees."

Jonah Keri of ESPN.com had the stones to say - would you believe this - the Yankees could turn it around. Thanks Jonah. It's no wonder I've never heard of you before and don't plan on hearing of you any time soon. That's like me saying Borat "may be" a hit smash. Really laying it on the line there.

But, the fact is, shockingly, Jonah Keri may be on to something.

Two impressive wins in a row by the Yankees and in each case, the game was won with dominant pitching. It had been pitching that had eluded the Yankees for much of the young season and it will be this pitching that will be their only means for clawing their way back into the playoff race.

Here's the thing to remember: The Yankees could be the best team in the American League for the rest of the season. They could win 70-75 ballgames out of their last 119 and it really wouldn't shock too many people.

But here's the beauty. That may not be enough.

The Yankees are currently 7 games behind the Detroit Tigers for the Wild Card spot and 7.5 games behind my beloved Tribe. These teams are no slouches and are capable of playing .650 ball for the season.

All this means is that when you are AL scoreboard watching, you need to check out three teams now (Red Sox, Tigers, Tribe), and maybe 4, if you count the resurgent White Sox in the mix.

Hell, throw the A's and Twins in there and you have 5 and 6.

The American League is so tough that it will take a real run by the boys in the Bronx to make it back to October. You guys know where I stand. I think they'll be there just like every other year. But it sure will be a fun summer rooting for half of the American league every night.

And then there was my big day.

Yesterday was the first day the Diamondbacks had a home game since I jumped on board the Arizona train. I gotta tell you, it was one of the cooler days I can remember.

I watched the game evolve.

From the arrival of the ushers and concession staff to the early rounds of batting practice, to the seats being cleaned 150 minutes before the first pitch, I saw it all. I walked on the field during batting practice and soaked in the Arizona sun while I grilled the f**k out of Kaz Matsui (grilled = dirty looked the s**t out of).

It's amazing that Colorado has found homes for both Matsui and Jorge Julio. They have to be 1st Team All-Bum of the new millennium. Can you say Ben Grieve?

The best part of my day came when the game started.

See, I have a badge that I have to wear around work all day. It helps me get into doors, let's people know who I am (SCRUB), etc. The beauty of this badge is that when the game starts, everyone just lets me do whatever I want.

The stadium becomes my oyster.

Think back to all those days when you were a kid or a 40 year old and you wanted to move down to better seats only to go shunned by an usher. My badge is essentially a Get Out of Jail Free card for just this.

I can go anywhere and everywhere whenever I want. And not only do people let me do it, they let me pass with a smile as though I might be someone important.

There aren't many perks to being paid minimum wage (I don't think Arizona has a very high one at that), but this certainly is one of them. My summer at the ballpark will be like a kid in a candy store or AFOMG in a baggy pants shop circa 1998.

ONE FINAL NOTE

I told you all a few months back that my buddy Bannon dated a girl who went on the Bachelor. They went out a few times and then she told him that she had to go on a research project with her professor and would be gone for 2-6 weeks, with little or no e-mail/phone access. That was her lie.

And last night, Tessa won.

My friend was a little bummed when he first found out about Tessa going on the show, so I tried to be sympathetic. But now I find myself in quite the pickle.

Can I just go and make fun of my buddy? I mean, if there was ever a time to rip a guy over a girl, this has to be it, right?

He lost his girl to the dude on The Bachelor. This is straight out of a Freddie Prinze Jr. movie, no?

Let me know.

Vaya con dios,
Sip

(Pics courtesy of smh.com, cnn.com, mlb.com, abc.com)