Pinstripes in the Park

Actual date: Wednesday May 31st

On Wednesday night I went to Bryant Park for the second annual Pinstripes in the Park. The event is sponsored by Continental Airlines (and of coarse the Yankees an YES Network) who set up a huge screen in tha park so that Yankee fans can watch an away game in a mini stadium type atmosphere, or at least they try to duplicate it. Fans pincic on the grass, socialize, watch the game on a grassy field, buy ballpark concessions, and hear from Yankee greats of the past. During commercial breaks Continental had a raffle every inning (every fan was given aboarding pass with a different 5 digit flight number) to give a way 2 round trip tickets to a destination f your choice anywhere in the U.S..

I entered the park as the pregame was wrapping up and sat down middle and center. I went alone as no one I knew in the city at the time could care less about the Yankees. So I put on my headphones and waited for the game to begin. I waited, and waited, and waited some more. The game was scheduled to begin at 7:05, but right before game time storm cluods passed right above the Detroit Tiger's stadium. Everything was set up to be a great game with Moos on the mound for the Yankees and one of the Tigers' best, Robertson. The Tigers held onto first place in the AL Central division while the Yankees were fighting with Boston for first in the AL East and came into the game in a tie. As the rain delay continued people began to trickle out. They weren't interested in watching the Yankeeographies. I felt bad for all the little kids who were not able to stay for the first pitch.

Finally, after a delay of a little over an hour and a half the game began. The Yankees quickly made 2 outs in the first, but scratched a run on a Posada hit. 1-0. Moos seemed a little shaky at first as he walked the first batter of the game for the Tigers, but Cairo quickly turned a double play on a ground ball hit by the following batter. In fact, after the walk, the next 6 batters hit the ball straight to Cairo who initiated the first 6 putouts of the game. Moos looked really good. The Yankees did not score another run until the 5th and it looked to be a great pitchers duel. I had to leave in the 7th to catch my ride home.

To make a long story short, the Yanks tacked on 4 runs in the last 2 innings. Moos pitched a complete game gem, which was a G-dsend because the bullpen had been exhausted in the last 2 games. The final score was 6-1 (Detroit scored an unearned run in the 9th) and the Yanks were playing without Jeter, Damon, Sheffield (and Matsui), which made the win even sweeter.

Pinstripes in the Park is a great idea, rain delay or not. It would be great if they hosted another event during the playoffs. Now that would be fun!