Since I arrived in New York in 1996, the Yankees have won the world series four times? I have never been to the Yankee Stadium. This has changed today, as we were invited to see a game in the Bronx.
“So are you a Yankees fan, or an anti Mets man?”, I asked a guy in the group. “Well, if you are one, then you are automatically the other.”, ha said. Hmm, so we were in the White and blue land. “Are you a Yankees fan?”, he asked me back. “I have a hat”, I answered. “I am from Europe, you know, I just managed to somehow figure out the rules of this game, I am not sure if it is time for me to take sides.” “My family is from Brooklyn, we have been Yankees fans for generations.” “So what about the Dodgers?” (I wanted to somehow hint that I have some clue about this city’s Baseball History.) “Yeah, they used to be the Brooklyn Dodgers, but now they are in California. It was very tragic for my family when they moved. We were big fans.” OK, I knew who would be the one to tell me the answers to all the Trivia questions.
My first Yankees game. Blue foldable chairs in a steep arena. We were somewhere up there, luckily in the shade. Things looked good. We were given binoculars which was quite helpful, and coupons for free stuff. Beer, Ice cream, Hot Dogs, Soda. The prices are usually around $6.50 for the beer and $3.75 for these thinly Hot Dogs in those viciously sticky little buns. I ate several of everything and so I am not quite well tonight. I am also not looking forward to the dreams I will be having.
The game was against Oakland. “The Yankees do not have to win the game.”, a knowledgeable fan remarked. But did they have to lose this horribly? 0:8 it was bad. It was not pretty. Good thing no ball landed in the memorial park with all the retired numbers. (Looked a bit like graves.)
too bad they lost. a friend took me to a yankee game this year for my b'day. it's funny i still remember you telling me you didn't know the rules and have thought of explaining them to you.
For some reason I was able to explain them to some extent.
Let me try to explain the rules here.
There are two teams.
The teams switch if when the team with the hitters makes three mistakes.
The pitcher has to throw the ball into a zone where the hitter could theoretically hit the ball.
If the Pitcher misses the zone three times, the hitter walks to first base (there are three bases)
If the pitcher throws the ball and hitter just swings the bat three times, then the hitter is out and there is a new hitter.
If the hitter manages to hit the ball, he begins to run.
He can run as long as the ball is in the game.
The point is to run around all three bases.
If the ball is caught by the other team before it hits the ground, he can run right to the bench, because he is then out.
If the ball is not caught and it hits the ground and is then caught, then he has to reach a base safely, before the ball hits the base.
So these guys sometimes just run to the first or the second base.
If the hitter hits the ball out of the ballpark, between the two yellow poles on both sides of the stadium, this is called a home run. He can then just run around all bases. This counts as a point.
There can be only one guy per base.
The ideal situation is when there is a guy from the hitter’s team on each base and then he hits a home run, this is called the grand slam. Four points.
There are innings in the game.
There are nine innings usually, but there can be more. (12?)
There is a top and a bottom to each inning.
There is much more stuff going on and it is really exciting.
How am I doing with the understanding?
: )
Posted by: Witold on August 12, 2002 08:04 PMthat was the most perfect and to the point physical desciption...but, you know...baseball is a lot like chess.
Posted by: em!ly on August 13, 2002 01:25 AMReally? You think i am slowly getting it?
Next will be American Football.
I am starting to like Baseball more and more.
I am really turning American, am I not?
Baseball is so much simpler than football.
I'm not much of a baseball fan, but I like the Yankees. Did you know they've been in more than 1/3 of all World Series' and won 25% of all the Series'? That's NY kickin' some @$$.
Posted by: Todd on August 13, 2002 10:18 AMThat’s what it is. Baseball is very much about mathematics. Every player seems to have a whole huge chart attached to them. A huge heavy chart above their head that follows them around their entire life. And when they retire and they were good, their number is retired (and basically laid to rest) with them. Same thing with teams. There is this huge amount of background knowledge that comes to the stadium to see every game. And there are many, many games. This is incredibly fascinating.
Posted by: Witold on August 13, 2002 11:13 AM