New Yankees stadium=homerun park?

I am not going to come to the conclusion New Yankees stadium is definitely a homerun park because it is too early to make this judgement. This post is not about figuring out the reasons for that. I have three thoughts regard of this issue.

First of all, it looks like it starts affecting the way Yankees pitchers pitch because they are afraid of any fly ball flying out the ball park. The obvious evidence is how many walks Yankees pitchers have given up during Indians series because they want to throw perfect pitch to avoid that problem.

Secondly, it may have impact on getting good pitchers to sign with Yankees in the future. For example, it may increase the odd CC leaves Yankees after three years. Does it mean Yankees should sign more groundball pitchers than flyball/strikeout pitchers in the future? If this is true, Yankees definitely need to do everything to get Wang right.

Thirdly, it looks like it increases the odd that A-Rod will live up to his contract and end up with new Home-Run King.

Joba vs CLE

1:21pm Despite giving up solo homerun, Joba pitches a good first inning.

1:22pm Man, Swisher just misses three run homerun. Hopefully, Yankees is able to score at least one run in this inning. I guess not.

1:51pm Another Yankees starter pitches a great game without offense support. The way Yankees offense goes, one run seems to a big mountain to climb.

1:54pm Hopefully, Gardner gets on base and then steal second in order to ignite Yankees offense.

Post-game analysis

Well, what happened? The new mlb.tv didn't allow me to log in because I logged in too many times for a short period of time, so I decided to go to bed and took some rest. Hello, MLB. Why deny my access because of frequency I log in? I did that because my IE browser gives up on me.

When I waked up, it was top of 9th with one man out for Indians. Of course, Mo does his job to strike out two batters to end the game despite giving us a little bit scare.

Obviously, Joba doesn't pitch well. It seems to me Joba always has troubles against Indians. Many Yankees power pitchers will have troubles against Indians because they are so good at hitting fastball.

That is why tomorrow will be a big test for Wang. Sizemore is the guy Wang really has to pay attention on and keep him off base. If I were Girardi, I would let Molina catch Wang tomorrow. Even though Yankees won't admit it, the way Rays run on Wang/Posada certainly plays a role on Wang's last terrible start against Rays. It will be better to reduce things Wang needs to worry about at this point.

Today is actually a momentum change game. The way opening day goes for Indians certainly provides boost for struggling Inidans for this young season. When you combine that with the way Indians scores 3 runs off Joba at 5th inning, it is a huge bad sign for this opening home series against Indians, especially when you consider Yankees have struggling Wang on the mound tomorrow.

It's good to see Yankees fight back to win this game. One thing I really like about 2009 Yankees is the ability to come from behind. If Yankees ever gets three things going, 2009 Yankees will be unstoppable. First:Wang; Second:bullpen; Third:A-Rod/Teixeira/Matsui.

By the way, Yankees has scored at least 4 runs every game except opening day. Where those runs come from when you consider the state of Yankees position players(A-Rod/Teixeira/Nady/Matsui/Ransom)?

Tomorrow is a big game for this series. Why? If Wang turns in a good game and gets a win, I can see Yankees pounding Pavano behind Burnett to take this four games series against Inidans.

Second game of New Yankees Stadium(AJ & Pettitte)

Pre-game:

Regard of Wang's performance based on interviews with Taiwanese media,

Wang said he threw slider and change up better than his sinkers. He said the angle(not diving as much), location(a little too high) and speed of his sinkers were not good. Most of sinkers are from the bad sinkers he threw.

Regard of locker room,

All 5 starting pitchers' lockers are all together. Actually, it's Andy's idea. Andy wants all starters to support each other and fight for team's record together. On top of that, Andy hopes CC and AJ can get along with teammates well as soon as possible.

1:27pm If ground balls run this quickly through infield continuously through out the whole season, this certainly is not a good news for Pettitte and Wang, especially when you consider Jeter loses some range as well.

1:34pm If other Yankees in the lineup hit up to their potential, the defense Cody Ransom and Gardner can provide certainly a big help for pitching staff. By the way, If Cano can focus on his defense all season, it will be unbelievable for us, especially for Jeter.

1:39pm Man, If Cano keeps hitting like this, we will be fine without A-Rod.

1:52pm Jeter caught a pop up to throw to first base for double play. A lot of people are confused at how many outs at that moment, including Michael Kay, Person is responsible for scoreboard and Derek Lee. But, not for Jeter. He know exactly how many outs, what happen on the field and what he should do on the field. That's what I always want Jeter on my team, especially when game is on the line.

2:00pm Jeter and Teixeira just hits homerun each. It seems balls are flying out the ball park. I am not sure those come from the bad location of Harden's pitches or the effect of new Yankees stadium. If it's the latter, it is certainly not a good news for Yankees pitchers.

2:26pm Teixeira hits second homerun of the game. I am sure Harden's bad locations of pitches certainly play a big role of that.

2:31pm Say all you want about Pettitte. But, he only gives up one run. If we can get that from our no.4 starting pitcher, we are going to have a fantastic season.

2:56pm A.J has pitched three impressive scoreless innings. If New Yankees stadium becomes a more HR park, it's good to know Yankees get three strikeout pitchers and two groundball pitchers in their rotation. Not to mention, it certainly can help ground ball pitchers, if Yankees let grass grow. However, it is certainly not a good news for some relief pitchers in the Yankees bullpen because some of them give up too many homeruns.

First game of New Yankees stadium

7:14pm The look is amazing. Hopefully, I am able to be there one day. Wang always has troubles at first inning. It seems this trend continues. He hasn't gotten his command yet.

7:19pm It's fitting Jeter gets first hit of Yankees. Of course, the flip of Damon and Jeter looks pretty good so far, huh?

7:23pm Well, Teixeira didn't get that runner in with less than 2 out. Hopefully, this is not the trend of this season.

7:32pm The command and control of Wang at second inning improves a little bit.

7:35pm I actually think Wang pitches better at second inning than first inning.

7:53pm 9 pitches with three ground ball outs inning from Wang. It seems Wang gets better when inning gets by. I think Wang's sinker moves too much and move out of strike zone. However, his breaking ball is better than fastball.

7:48pm Posada has another ground ball through infield and Cano hits one out. We need Cano to be good.

8:05pm Matsui just hits another out. Now, Yankees leads 4-3. Matsui is another player we need to be good, especially when you consider A-Rod will be out until May.

8:26pm Is New Yankees stadium a hitting friendly ballpark? Of course, weather probably plays a role on it.

8:47pm Ha! Who need A-Rod when we have Cody Ransom who just hits a three runs homerun?

8:51pm Wang's day is done. 5IP 6H 4ER 2BB 3SO 71 Pitches 43 Strikes. I actually think Wang pitches decent, not bad, not great. Many of those 6 hits are ground balls through infield. However, the balls Wang throw look too obviously for me. I am not sure what kind of pitches he throws. He may try to practice some secondary pitches.

9:03pm Mo is Mo who looks unbelievable.

10:05pm The rest of bullpen is great as well. 12 up and 12 down.

Please, don't rain

I know I haven't posted for a few days. I look forward to watching this first game of New Yankees Stadium. Please don't rain.

Two small Wang's tidbits

I have read two interesting tidbits related to Wang from Taiwanese website.

Yankees is going to meet Tiger this afternoon. Wang may have a chance to greet a Tiger relief pitcher named Fu-De Ni who is a Taiwanese. Fu-De Ni is a lefty and the first player comes from CPBL(Chinese professional baseball league-Taiwanese professional baseball league). However, Fu-De Ni is two year younger than Wang and they never haven't met each other. Fu-De Ni is expected to be in the minor league first.

The other one is Wang's memory of old Yankees stadium. Wang says he has so many great memories in the old Yankees stadium and definitely will miss old Yankees stadium. What does he remember the most in old Yankees stadium? Wang says it's his major league debut. Wang says his major league debut is the only game he feel nervous. He still can remember how nervous he is in that game. After that, he never feel nervous no matter how big the game is.

a little titbit regard of the reaction from Wang about Yankees Stadium

I like most of you guys who read a lot of news about our Yankees and pay attention on what happen to them. Of course, I believe you guys probably read a lot of news related to Yankees stadium this past week. I am not going to repeat it.

The one I have for you guys is the reaction from Wang. You guys probably won't be able to read this on other places. As you guys know, I am a Taiwanese and tons of Taiwanese media pay so much attention on Wang.

*Wang was sad he was not able to play this final game

*There are a lot of memory for Wang at Yankees stadium. He misses every game played at Yankees stadium because he is so happy that he is able to play here with so many great players. On top of that, Wang said there are tons of fans coming and rooting for them every night. the thing he remembers the most is the cheers he got from fans at his major league debut at Yankees stadium.

*The place he will miss the most is the right field because he always plays catch over there

*Wang actually showed a little more emotion when was asked about the thing he will miss the most at this Yankees stadium. Wang said he really misses the time he plays for Joe Torre, Ron Guidry and Larry Bowa.

*Of course, Wang got some dirts from mound at Yankees stadium. But, the thing he really wants to take home as a gift is the scale in the training room. When was asked the reason, he laughed and said because he weighted on that scale all the time and that scale was produced at 1950s. The second choice is his locker.

*Comparing to most teammates who was chatted with all kind of visitors before the final game, Wang actually was doing his rehab until the game started and sit at the dugout the rest of game.

This year certainly is a tough year not only for Wang but also for our Yankees as well. When the season ends, Wang not only has to face his rehab but also the decision of playing for Taiwan at WBC or not.

I know there are tons of discussions, questions, reactions raised in Taiwan already. As a Yankee fan, I hope he says no to Taiwanese team. As a Taiwanese, I hope he says yes. But, when I consider his serious foot injury this season and the weird schedule of WBC, I probably hope he will say no. Only hope he won't get "killed" by Taiwanese or Taiwanese media for this. How do you guys think? I will talk about this more during off-season.

Final Game of "old" Yankees stadium

I was so busy at a brand project I work on this past week. I probably disappoint a lot of readers of my blog. Sorry about that. However, Our bombers are still alive and I won't give up until we get eliminated.

During this past week, I was able to watch few games. For example, the game Jeter tied the hit record at Yankees stadium and then I remember I turned on my computer for the game that Jeter break that hit record for 10 minutes before I need to leave home. You know what. It's worthy because I turned on my computer one minute before Jeter break that record. I was screamed at my computer and yelled at "Yes. Yes. Yes". By the way, Jeter was hit by a pitch in the 9th inning yesterday. I really believe Jeter's subpar season(on his high standard anyway) result from he was hit earlier in May.

The good news is I move everything in order to watch the final game of old Yankees stadium because that's Monday morning in Sydney. I really hope I am able to attend this game in person. It will be an amazing experience for People go to this final game of old Yankees stadium. I believe I will regret not be able to attend at least one game in this old Yankees stadium. The only thing I can do is at least moving everything out of my way and watch this game on my computer.

I remember one of brand assignment I had done. The teacher ask what we you do and feel if your favor brand suddenly was not available. What about you guys? What you would feel and do if New York Yankees suddenly disappear?