2008 Woodie Awards
SPECIAL FINAL ACT
Brian Fitzsimmons
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Sports
The construction site across the street from the House That Ruth Built will one day- next year's opening day, to be exact- be the new home of the New York Yankees, leaving memories from baseball's most storied cathedral behind with hopes of making new ones inside a bigger structure in the same manner.
But this week's opening day- a more poetic opening day than others- and the other 80 home games remaining on the South side of 161st street in the Bronx still have some special moments left in them. As a matter of fact, the baseball gods have given Yankees fans an extra home game- the 2008 mid-summer classic- to soak in the final act.
Sure, the questions pertaining to the team's character are more complex than usual. But a new season dilutes the talent of the Detroit Tigers' powerful lineup, the Seattle Mariners' pitching, the Boston Red Sox's overall talent and everything else that could eventually stand in the way of ending a seven-year World Series title drought.
You can delve into the burning inquiry of how much production Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy will contribute. To go even deeper, you can wonder if the baby-faced trio can silence the critics that bashed New York's brain trust for not parting with Hughes or Kennedy to acquire all-world hurler Johan Santana, who is swimming in dollar bills across town in Flushing.
Some are also wondering if Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui, for that matter, have one more trip around the sun providing a spark in the potent, yet aging, lineup.
But above all, the baseball world is waiting to see how Joe Girardi can replace Joe Torre as manager under the brothers Steinbrenner instead of their Boss father.
Fans can reminisce about all the wonderful things that have occurred inside the gates of Yankee Stadium.
And the best part is, even though this is the beginning of one end, the new beginning is waiting just 100 yards away.
It could be the place where Jeter collects hit No. 3,000 or even 4,000. It could be the site where Alex Rodriguez parks moon shot No. 800. For Brian Cashman's sake, it better be the stadium where Hughes wins a Cy Young, Kennedy becomes one of the best third starters in the game and Chamberlain stays true to the hype.
It could hold 26 more championships, the newly painted walls of the home clubhouse could be stained with champagne, and it could be a new retirement home for all the greats. It may need a bigger monument park, you know, to hold Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, Robinson Cano, Rivera, Jeter, and Rodriguez's retired numbers.
Most of all, it can serve as a symbol that change isn't necessarily a bad thing.
And on the final opening day, it's music to the ears.
But this week's opening day- a more poetic opening day than others- and the other 80 home games remaining on the South side of 161st street in the Bronx still have some special moments left in them. As a matter of fact, the baseball gods have given Yankees fans an extra home game- the 2008 mid-summer classic- to soak in the final act.
Sure, the questions pertaining to the team's character are more complex than usual. But a new season dilutes the talent of the Detroit Tigers' powerful lineup, the Seattle Mariners' pitching, the Boston Red Sox's overall talent and everything else that could eventually stand in the way of ending a seven-year World Series title drought.
You can delve into the burning inquiry of how much production Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy will contribute. To go even deeper, you can wonder if the baby-faced trio can silence the critics that bashed New York's brain trust for not parting with Hughes or Kennedy to acquire all-world hurler Johan Santana, who is swimming in dollar bills across town in Flushing.
Some are also wondering if Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui, for that matter, have one more trip around the sun providing a spark in the potent, yet aging, lineup.
But above all, the baseball world is waiting to see how Joe Girardi can replace Joe Torre as manager under the brothers Steinbrenner instead of their Boss father.
Fans can reminisce about all the wonderful things that have occurred inside the gates of Yankee Stadium.
And the best part is, even though this is the beginning of one end, the new beginning is waiting just 100 yards away.
It could be the place where Jeter collects hit No. 3,000 or even 4,000. It could be the site where Alex Rodriguez parks moon shot No. 800. For Brian Cashman's sake, it better be the stadium where Hughes wins a Cy Young, Kennedy becomes one of the best third starters in the game and Chamberlain stays true to the hype.
It could hold 26 more championships, the newly painted walls of the home clubhouse could be stained with champagne, and it could be a new retirement home for all the greats. It may need a bigger monument park, you know, to hold Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, Robinson Cano, Rivera, Jeter, and Rodriguez's retired numbers.
Most of all, it can serve as a symbol that change isn't necessarily a bad thing.
And on the final opening day, it's music to the ears.
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