Pinstripe Love

Mark My Words…

2013-01-30T10:03:00.000-05:00

Hello fan(s)!

You’ll have to forgive me. Since I continue to see Derek Jeter in my dreams every night, I completely forgot that baseball season has ended! But as the calendar has turned over into a new year, and now that Derek and I are fully recovered from our orthopedic injuries (file that one in the ‘Things Gina and Jeter have in common’ folder…..which hopefully one day willllll… include our last name *sigh*), it is time to recall one of the most amazing moments of last season… and of our lives: the day we met Mark Teixeira!

It was almost one year to the day prior to this that we featured Mark in our blog and even mentioned how we donated to his foundation in hopes of winning the contest where you get to spend a day at Yankee Stadium staring at his gorgeous face and eyes and butt and arms and freshly showered hair…. Oh my! (See: We Heart You, Mark Teixeira). But honestly, I never thought we would have a chance to actually win this thing… and guess what?? We did!

As I was finishing a long day at one of my mental health facility clients – a day so long that I was about to join one of their group therapy sessions across the hall – I got a call from the foundation saying that Mark selected ME to join HIM at the Stadium to get married…..I mean, for a game and dinner. Now, of course, I thought they were calling because my credit card got declined because, perhaps, Dana maxed it out on concert tickets or something, but it was actually good news! And to think… just a year before, while Dana and I were discussing ridiculous Yankees-related scenarios (which only happens on days that end in “y”), we promised each other that when this fateful day actually happened, we would take each other…obvi!

So, Dana and I arrived at the Stadium and were treated like royalty… except for when they couldn’t find a wheelchair for me in that whole giant place (If you remember, I broke my foot one week after getting the awesome news that I won…ugh!). Anyway, I was eventually wheeled onto the field where my name was called over the loud speaker and I got to meet Mark for the first time…a dream come true! Though in my dream, I was probably walking on both feet and making outttt----standing conversation with him… ahem. Swear to God though – so glad I had those crutches because my legs were like two sticks of melting butter when I saw his smiling face! And even though he doesn’t know this, Jeter was glad I couldn’t walk too because when I was down on the field, and he was just feet away from me in the dugout – on any other day, I would have run over to him and behaved in a way that would have most definitely qualified as sexual harassment… but no! The one day Jeter and I are walking on the same dirt, breathing the same air… I’m disabled!!

After that, we watched the game from Delta’s luxury box, ate like pigs, and Dana even won a free flight for winning a trivia game… we were winning like the ’98 Yanks… could this get any better, you ask?? Why yes! Long story short, we weren’t able to go on the tour since I couldn’t walk, so we waited in the restaurant for the group to come back, and who walks in but….Tex himself! Dana flagged him down like a crack-head on Chapel St. flagging down a bus, and before we knew it, we were chatting it up with the one and only, sickeningly beautiful Mark Teixeira! We chewed the fat for a few…over things like our injuries and living in Connecticut…it was magical, a religious experience, a blessing in disguise if you will… (Amen!) And the way we handled ourselves was so surprising to me…cool as ice. Usually the only thing cool about us in the presence of Yankees is the cold sweat dripping from our temples and palms!

The afternoon continued on with a romantic dinner where Dana, me, and Mark (and like 20 other people…but forget them for right now) ate steak and watched the sunset from inside Yankee Stadium. Mark was amazing – staring straight into our eyes as he listened to our stories and responses to his questions. And while I was telling him how awesome he is that he is such an inspiration to us, Dana was taking paparazzi photos/videos and yelling at him about how he has perfectly fit into her obsession with first basemen (#23 - Donnie...#24 - Tino….#25 - Tex…an OCD-ers dream!!). We all have our roles.

Our only disappointment is that we didn’t get to take a picture with him by ourselves…or maybe sneak in a little hug. Can you imagine being alone with him…pressed up against his warm body …AND all of that being consensual? I can…I do! How do we win THAT contest?

Love,
g

Dream Team 25!

2012-08-24T12:23:00.000-04:00

Here's the video of Mark Teixeira's Harlem RBI event at Yankee Stadium...and we're in it! Enjoy..full story coming soon!

Follow the link to watch at mlb.com:

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=24154035&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_24154035&v=3

--Dana

Derek’s Birthday: Yes, It’s a National Holiday

2012-07-05T08:50:00.000-04:00

First, let me take a moment to wish us a Happy 1st Anniversary at Pinstripe Love…it was one year ago that Dana and I decided to put our crazy thoughts down on paper and start this blog! We’ve had such a blast over the last year sharing our special Yankee moments from Tino’s Old Timers’ Day home run to DJ3K to our Michael Kay encounter to another successful trip to Spring Training…so many memories! And we look forward to bringing you more good times throughout the rest of the summer…especially, when we MEET MARK TEIXEIRA! Okayyy, ok, ok… that’s all I’m going to say about it right now…

Now, let’s talk about the man that inspired us to start this blog. Our first reports last year were about Old Timers’ Day/Jeter’s birthday and Jeter’s rehab games in Trenton. We were, however, unfortunately not able to see Derek on his birthday last year since he was on the disabled list. So this year, even though I myself am now on the DL, we couldn’t miss out! Oh yeah…A couple weeks back, I broke my foot in a few places. And, uhh…the thought of potentially missing out on Yankees games made me cry more than the pain…No lie!

So, I hopped over to Dana’s house the night before the game to drink beer and watch her meticulously cut out pictures of Derek and strategically paste them on poster board to make what we thought would be our best sign yet… and our best chance of making it onto the broadcast that night! We even added reinforcements and busted out one of our oldie-but-goodie Jeter signs that never ended up seeing the light of day at a past Spring Training ‘cause they don’t allow signs. (Whatever, Florida… I’ve said it before…your state is shaped like a wee-wee, and you are no fun!! I don’t care if you have Disney World…I’d rather sit on Dana’s couch and eat a pizza than go to the swamps!)

Aaaanyway, Dana’s OCD-ish behavior really kicked into gear and was extremely helpful in setting up a fun night of wheelchairs and winning! She arranged for us to sit in the handicapped seats in the bleachers (next to a bunch of non-handicapped people, most notably a dude that looked like the guy who sings “Hot, Hot, Hot”…you KNOW I had to pull up the YouTube video for the gals in the car for a post-game laugh…) where we had backs on our seats (bonus!) and weren’t obstructing anyone’s view with our awesome signs… which we attempted to hold up as high as we could for the entire game….I repeat, ENTIRE game. We never leave early…even if one of us has a 20 lb. cast hanging off our leg! Oh, by the way… no love whatsoever from My9 on the Jeter birthday signs! At least we got a good arm workout…

So, with that, let us officially wish our manz a very happy birthday…We love you, Jeets! If we coulda partied together (like I had originally planned – uhh, 16 years ago), this is what I woulda said: Cheers to you, Derek! You are an amazing, ageless, awesome person…Forget the nonbelievers. They’ve always been wrong. I am still in awe of you and your talent every single day!

And then we would get bombed and do regrettable things…well, I wouldn’t regret it.

And while I secretly/not-so-secretly do miss his high-top fade and tight pants, I know some things that will never change are that infectious smile and willingness to always play hard. And that perfect, in-shape, backside (daaayaaaaamn…)… I will make sure I have a roll of quarters for the day we eventually meet! Ya know, to call home…

Now, I leave you with some lessons learned during this latest trip to Yankee Stadium:

-Wheelchairs are hard to come by during HOPE Week.

-Jeter montages set to the song “Forever Young” are an instant tearjerker.

-I truly do believe Jeter’s birthday should be a national holiday… or at least in the tri-state area.

- You don’t need to be able to walk to root for your hot Yankees…

- …but you do to stand in line to get french fries…yikes!

Love, G

Water Coolers Watch Out!

2012-05-31T09:06:00.000-04:00

May 22, 2012--Happy Birthday to Meeeee! (Erica, guest blogger again, I volunteered this time). Actually, my real beez is on May 21st, but thanks to our season tickets, how lucky can a girl get with a game so close to her birthday? Too bad I couldn't afford to send myself a birthday message on the diamond vision...anywho...

Back to the game and its happenings, cause lemme tell you this is a good one--are you comfortably ensconced in your computer chair at work?? (Michael Kaaaaay!) Ok, so being the hothead that I am, no exaggeration, just ask Dana--26 years of fights, arguments, temper tantrums, and the many occasions I pulled a Pauly O'Neill on her and threw my helmet after an unsuccessful at bat, you can only imagine how much will-power it takes for me to suppress my anger. And let's face it, the bleachers are the perfect place to let off some steam. In all my years of attending Yankee games, I have NEVER encountered a more annoying, borderline "you-could-be-a-Red-Sox-fan-with-that-mouth" Yankees fan...this night, I did.

From the first pitch, the two kids sitting behind us (roughly high schoolers, I only figured this because later on I saw them drinking Pepsi--I missed my opportunity to Glee-slushie them, buuuut, with cops around, I wasn't about to miss the last out of the game) were busting on my man Phil-Z Dawg, that's Phil Hughes for those of you not caught up on the lingo yet...jinxing his no-hitter/perfect game and being all around jackazzes with their chants...words were exchanged on our end, me and Gina both, but the fire didn't really come until later on in the game.

The taunting didn't end...Derek Jeter stepped up to the plate and the kids were shouting "C'mon, ground into a double play!" CLAP CLAP CLAP in my ear!! At this point I turned around and said "Why don't you go sit in Fenway Park?" Then, on top of it all, when I heard the father chime in, yes, the dad was just as annoying, I was in complete disbelief...is this really happening right now? One of the kids, when I turned around with a snarl on my face that Rocky Balboa would be jealous of, looked me in the eye as he clapped and said "I'm jinxing it on purpose, it's gonna work!" Now lemme axe ya...who the eff says that?? I couldn't help it, my head heated up from chin to hairline, just like Roger Rabbit. I shouted back at him, "I CAME HERE TO WATCH THE GAME, NOT LISTEN TO YOU YELL AND SCREAM, SHUT THE HELL UP MAN!" Umm, expletive, expletive. I didn't find out til later that other words were exchanged between Dana, Gina, and the dad...that's part of the story they can tell...

So, what? I yelled a little at a coupla teenagers who were clearly egging me on...sometimes ya just gotta say something. The irritating remarks went on until the last out and in between innings when Dana and Gina went traipsing around the stadium. As we exited the park and crossed the street back to the train, my Roger Rabbit syndrome came back (or never left). I mentioned to Dana and Gina that I would have rather sat next to a polite ginger-bearded Red Sox fan than next to those *@$!&@$%&! Fill in the blank...

All in all, if you haven't noticed, what they say about sports being cathartic is absolutely true. So much of the fan in you is invested in a bunch of guys out there on the field smacking a ball around for a living. If only that were real life for us normal folks...

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my game recap. A little piece of advice if you find yourself sitting next to us girls in the bleachers--DON'T HATE! I can't guarantee I'll be as nice the next time.

-- Erica

Editor's Note: The Yankees won!

You're Italian, Do it Right...

2012-05-29T09:27:00.000-04:00

Hello Pinstripers, Victoria here. Dana and Gina kindly agreed to let me be a guest blogger for this edition of Pinstripe Love.

On Friday, May 18th I ventured to the Bronx with my Dad to see some interleague baseball -- the Yankees versus the Cincinnati Reds.

Since the Yankee game was my graduation present, my Dad wined and dined me in style! We started our trip to the Bronx with a visit to Dominick’s on Arthur Avenue. For those of you who don’t know, Arthur Ave in the Bronx is the ULTIMATE Little Italy. Yes, better than the one in Manhattan. Unlike the Little Italy in Manhattan, Arthur Ave has stayed true to its Italian roots. There are so many different kinds of Italian cuisine to choose from that someone would probably laugh if I told them I only went to Dominick’s. The restaurant is set up in a communal fashion. We were seated between an older couple and a party of four. There are no menus, you simply tell them what you want and they make it for you. We ordered Veal Marsala, Spaghetti and Calamari, salad, and an order of Fried Calamari. The food was ridiculously good! The veal was tender and sweet, and the calamari was fresh and bottomless. My mouth is watering all over again just thinking about it! After dinner, we stopped and got cannolis and made our way to the Stadium. Okay, so if you didn’t already know it, we’re all Italian and proud of it!

The weather could not have been more perfect. 70 degrees with the sun shining bright and a cool breeze that carried the smell of hot dogs and French fries through the air. Ahh yes, a Friday night at Yankee Stadium. To a Yankee fan, it does not get much better than this. Our seats were on the right field side, just past first base in section 227. Unfortunately, due to a bronchial infection, Mark Teixeira was given a complete day off. However, the real story here is Andrew Eugene Pettitte.

The veteran started for the second time on Friday night, he approached the mound with a look of determination in his eyes. There has been a lot of talk surrounding Andy’s return to the game after a retirement hiatus (especially from Dana and Gina, who pretty much called his triumphant return way back at the beginning of last season). In a pre-game interview, Manager Joe Girardi was asked what he wished for out of the game, “Can I be greedy? 8 shutout innings from Andy.” Pettitte permitted only four singles to the Reds lineup, striking out nine, and walking only one. After 115 pitches and 8 shutout innings, Joe got his wish and Andy got his first win since the 2010 playoffs! A few key players in the lineup provided Andy with enough support to secure the win, Granderson scored in the 4th inning on a groundout from A-Rod. Breathing room was added in the 8th by Robinson Cano and Raul Ibanez who both blasted homers to make the final score 4-0.

Thanks to my Dad for the best present a college grad could ask for! Now if only Nick Swisher would marry me and take care of that pesky college debt…

-- Vicky

Party Like It’s 1999…

2012-05-29T09:01:00.001-04:00

It’s a warm, sunny afternoon in the Bronx. My ma, my brother, and I drive down to the city to observe Mothers’ Day at the Stadium. We grab some hotdogs and a Pettitte t-shirt and make our way to the bleachers just in time to join in on the roll call and see Andy give Kevin Millwood a run for his money.

Though the previous passage may have also been found in the pages of my 9th grade journal, what I’m describing had actually only taken place a mere two weeks ago! Sure, the stadium is across the street, Jeter has a different haircut and A-Rod’s on our team now, but other than that, it sounds like a scene from Yankee Stadium ca. 1999, right??

So, I feel like we’re always on the verge of tears when we go to the games – for various reasons such as: slow motion shots of Tex wiping the sweat off of his face, Jeter bending down to pray after the National Anthem, or the overly sexual stares of A-Rod in his at-bat pics on the big screen (they’ll burn a hole through your head – I swear!)…but this day was slightly different. All of the usual suspects that make us cry on cue were in the house, but as previously mentioned, so was our old friend Andy Pettitte!

We have literally begged for the return of Andy…even put it in writing (see: Where Have You Gone, Andy Pettitte?). And after 19 long months of waiting, our prayers have finally been answered! I didn’t even have to buy cowboy boots and a flight to Texas to beseech him in person! Thank gawd because I mean, I don’t have that kind of money… I have to save up for Backstreet Boys concerts! You, uhhh, sure it ain’t 1999?, you ask. I’m sure.

Aaanyway, the day started out with Nick Swisher honoring a wounded vet and her adopted German shepherd in true Yankees fashion by giving her a jersey autographed by the entire team…so cute! This love-fest was followed up by A-Rod presenting her with a Tiffany & Co. bracelet, which he basically threw at her like he was throwing across the diamond to Mark Teixeira because he was deathly afraid of her dog. Who was wearing a full muzzle. If my love for Alex wasn’t unconditional, I might call him a p-- …eh, you get it. Love ya, A…ya look greeeat!

Back to the guest of honor… Andy looked awesome! The cutter, the pick off attempts (not to mention a rump that looked juicer than a Lobel’s sandwich)…it was all there for us fans to feast on…and that, we did. When he came out of the bullpen to throw in center field, you would think it was a postseason game the way everyone was cheering. It was an amazing thing to see…I was keeping my eye on the chicks in the front row, too, because they looked like they were gonna hop the fence and claw right through the #46 on his back! (I secretly wanted to join them.) Then, when the lineups were called, you could tell that everyone was anxiously waiting for Andy’s name to be announced, as evidenced by the subpar ovation for Jeter, who usually gets the people going even when the stadium is almost empty. (Don’t you worry, Derek. I was still screaming to the point where a large number of people were staring at me. Loyalty, baby.) And sure enough, as we saw the 100-foot image of our beloved Andrew Eugene enthusiastically turning around and smiling on the big screen, the place went nuts! I was even lucky enough to join Bald Vinny and the Bleacher Creatures for the roll call, where they do not traditionally include the pitcher’s name. But there we were… calling out “An-dyyy Pett-itte” in unison for at least a full minute! Even though he wasn’t able to acknowledge the crowd, I was proud to be a part of that moment…

All in all, the day was great. Andy’s already picked up a couple of wins since he’s been back, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say we’re super excited to see him back on the mound for the Yanks. I certainly look forward to seeing him in tight pants…I meannn, win games for us for the rest of the year!

Andy – we’re sending lots of pinstripe love your way and wishing you the best of luck this season! We’ll be cheering you on every single game...’til the very last out. And I promise not to jump on your float at the World Series parade like a crazy person… I’ll be on Jeter’s.

Love,

g

Ps – Dana and I will be in the Big Apple celebrating Jeter’s birthday for a couple of days at the end of next month. After we comb the city for Derek’s big apple…and do some other touristy things, we’ll be sure to report back!

Hey Guys, I'm Nick Swisher!

2012-04-22T18:20:00.000-04:00

Hello Pinstripe Lovers!

It's officially baseball season now that the Yanks are playing back at home and me and the gals have made our way to the Bronx for our first game, and boy does it feel good! We (us and the team) are feeling fresh from Spring Training and ready to go. Now that we've seen a full game in person, I can officially say that the boys are looking sooo good and I think we're going to win it all this year! They are also playing well...

So, despite the fact that the Stadium was lacking popcorn, peanuts, and PETTITTE shirts (!!!) on Thursday night, it was an overall great trip. Our seats out in section 237 (DJ3K territory) are great, and I only spilled one beer on someone...success! (Now that we're season ticket holders, I'd better not piss off too many people though, as there is a good chance we might see them again out there...) Oh, and get this: Curtis Granderson went 5-for-5 and hit 3 home runs...wait for it - that's not the shocking part. Picture it: The Stadium is on its feet waiting for Grandy to come out for a curtain call, and the usually overly observant Dana thought it was only two HRs. Even I KNEW what was going on! Wow... must have been because I was down a beer.

Also part of the highlight reel was our tweets from Flash himself... Mr. John Flaherty! He tweeted a pic of his healthy dinner to which I replied that Dana and I would be sticking with "a dog and a beer" at the game that night. See below for his response. Dana jumped in on the convo. and promptly invited him to the bleachers for a hotdog. We know he would've come on down if he could, but he needed to be fulfilling his duties in the press box...probably handing out some pre-game sedatives to Coney or something. Maybe if Erica flashes her turkey sandwich on Twitter next time, he'll come visit!

And of course, the marketing geniuses of the Yankees have, yet again, cooked up some amazing between-inning fillers to put on the giant screen in center field. Over the years, we've seen the oldies but goodies: the cap game, the bloopers, Baby Bombers, and various montages of the Yanks kicking a$$... But just as we're sitting there waiting for them to come back out - and probably contemplating our next hundred-dollar, thousand-calorie snack - this awesome display of Yankees doing impressions of Nick Swisher come onto the screen. So funny! One after another - Gardner, Chavez, Nunez, etc. give it their best shot. And then comes Jeter. For a second, it looked like he wasn't going to do it, but then he busted out (hand movements and all) with "Hey guuuuys, I'm Nick Swisher!" The place went wild like Curtis just hit another 3 bombs! Men, women, old, young...everyone! Geez, as if we needed more reasons to love Derek - we are perfectly content loving him and knowing we're barely going to get a smile out of him in an interview, but when he does things like this - we melt into little puddles in our seats... right next to the spilt beer.

Ya know, I have always said I only had three things I wanted to say to / ask Derek Jeter if I had ever met him (that will only be disclosed in the blog when that day actually arrives). But I think I've got a fourth... how does this dude have us all wrapped so tightly around his finger?? He does normal things, and we fall out of our seats thinking it's so hilarious! Gosh, I wanna be him when I grow up...Oh, and you think he has a Jeter Meter in his giant apartment? Ok, I guess that's five things. Will you marry me wasn't on the list either. Six. I'll stop!

Love, g

ps - Check us out again next week - We'll be back in the bleachers at the end of the month where we will continue our quest for #28.... AND #46!

Spring Training Recap: I'm bringin' the cannolis, they already got the cake

2012-04-05T10:48:00.001-04:00

We here at Pinstripe Love know that pictures are way better than words, so for our 4th annual spring training trip recap, we're going to post our slideshow and some videos we took along the way. But first a quick run through of the high points of the trip:

1. We attended three spring games, two in Tampa and one in Kissimmee.

2. Every year we fall in love with another Yankee when we see him in person. This year it was probably a toss up between Eric Chavez and Francisco Cervelli.

3. We are "not over" Jeter, hence our theme song this year, "Not Over You" by Gavin DeGraw, look for it in our slideshow.

4. Jeter's house was again a stop during our travels. He wasn't home. We drove by five times.

5. Somehow our "thing" this year was trying to get the players to acknowledge us..on video. We managed to get waves of recognition from Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Frankie Cervelli, and Alex Rodriguez. We were able to get Alex and Frankie on video. The others will just have to stay burned in our memories.

6. We got autographs from Eric Chavez, Justin Maxwell and Chris Dickerson. We had close calls for autographs from Kevin Long, Mike Harkey, Dante Bishette Jr. and Cervelli.

7. It poured half way through the game in Kissimmee at the Astros spring ballpark. Gina and I stood in the pouring rain (Erica took the keys and waited in the car), got thoroughly soaked and slightly delirious (as one of the Astros workers told us) while we waited for the players along the first base side fence. The game got called in the top of the ninth and the remaining Yankees came running by us. We tried our best to get them to stop and sign. Joe "Jiggy" Girardi even turned around to us after we yelled for him to sign and he said "it's raining." We yelled back..."we know Joe! We're soaked!" No autograph.

8. We saw Stevie Donahue at the day game against the Astros when it was still bright and sunny and scorching, and he told us to make sure we didn't get sun burn. Always doing his job!

9. Brian Cashman was in line for Carvel at GMS field. Gina and I saw him, Gina pointed at him with her foot-long hotdog. "Dane, did you see that guy right there that looks like Brian Cashman??" "G, that IS Brian Cashman!" We were standing right near him, he definitely was hearing our idiocy. Then again, he was in line buying his own ice cream...so next time, don't take so long to negotiate Jeter's contract AND don't send Cervelli to the minors!

10. I started an Andy Pettitte chant. We were already in GMS when we saw the pitchers on the second practice field doing infield drills, throwing to second base. After a bit, everyone left, except for Andy Pettitte and Goose Gossage. Andy was practicing fielding the grounder and throwing to first while Goose covered the base. The small crowd around us was really excited to see Andy, so I thought we should be organized about it and started the chant :) Andy showed his appreciation with a fist pump.

11. The Yankees gave away a drawstring bag the first night we were there as one of their promotions. They were stuffed with packages of Vigo rice.

12. And finally, we can't summarize this trip without mentioning Dan Franzese's Italian Mom's video, A League of Their Own, My Cousin Vinny, The Godfather, Date Night outtakes and SNL's Bronx Beat. The three of us didn't speak actual words to each other the whole time, we communicated mostly with lines from the aforementioned videos and movies to hilarious and sometimes Depends worthy outcomes.

And now for the slideshow and videos. Enjoy!

--Dana

First off, our slideshow:

Here are three videos of Francisco Cervelli, the first one is the "wave."

Next up, our three attempts to get A-Rod to wave to us. Look for success on take three & check out Erica's pipes :)

Here are the guys doing infield drills on the practice field:

Here's a clip of Erica throwing balls at one of the games outside the field, pretty hilarious.

These next two are a couple of Mariano clips, the first is him warming up, taken from our seats near the bullpen, and the second is Enter Sandman:

And finally, we end with Jeter. This was just after he waved to us. Gina was speechless, so that's me yelling "Derek" right at the beginning.

Coming soon...

2012-04-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

Hello friends, coming soon will be the in depth recap of our 4th annual spring training trip. For now, here's a little clip of Derek "The Hotness" Jeter from our first spring game this year:

Fourth Time's a Charm?

2012-03-22T09:07:00.002-04:00

Hey there everyone – As mentioned in an earlier entry, Dana, Erica and I are headed back down to the Sunshine State for our 4th Annual trip to the Yankees Spring Training Camp. Can’t believe it’s the fourth time for us crazy gals! Seems like just yesterday we saw Mark Teixeira for the first time and immediately fake-married him on the first base line… oh, the memories!

Anyway, I’ve been working mad crazy hours in an effort to get all my work done in the next week in order for us to properly enjoy our vacation, but I am more than happy to take a moment to work at what I consider my real job as a Pinstripe Lover to reflect on this way-too-long offseason and all the amazeballs times to come!

So, what else? AJ’s gone, Andy’s back (can I get an Amennnn?!), Mark’s been “juicing” all winter somewhere down on I-95, and Jeter’s still finding his way up I-95 to my house to sweep me off my feet so we can elope …he must be lost *shrug*.

Well, while I’ve been patiently waiting for my manz Derek, I’ve been watching every Yankees related thing that I could find just to get a taste of enjoying my fave boys again, but when I finally got to see a spring training game on live TV last night, let me tell you – I was totally buggin’ out! Like, just the sight of those fresh, well-rested faces and those lean bodies scattered about the infeld (no disrespect to the OF’s, but I’m an infielder junkie…) brought a tear to me eye – no lie!

Woo! Ok…As I pat my temples with a cool cloth, let’s talk about the 4th Annual – Four. Something about the number four … I feel like it’s special. It’s supposed to represent order, completeness, totality. Four seasons. Four cardinal points. A four leaf clover (says Dana and Erica). The Core Four. You feel it, right??

What does this all mean though? That, perhaps, we will finally meet Jeter at a local Tampa Starbucks? I mean, I think so. :D People have been mentioning to me lately that they think it’s “my time”… my time to meet him, to say what I need to say…to prove we’re soul mates!! With that said, I can only hope that the next time I am blogging, it will be from a king size bed covered in 900-thread-count sheets in a 30,000 square foot waterfront mansion overlooking Tampa Bay! Juuuust sayin’…

So, stay tuned for stories from our latest adventure – we will be attending three games…even making the trip with the guys to Kissimmee for an away game! We’re also staying an extra day this time and plan to go to the beach…which is a really big deal because the only time we get anything close to a tan while in Florida is when our faces and chests are beet red from seeing hot Yankees glance our way!

Oh, and we’ll be heading to the Bronx at least nine times this summer now that we are, ahem…. season ticket holders! We will be catching some rays – and hopefully a few A-bombs from A-Rod – in the bleachers and will, no doubt, have lots of fun stories to report…See you on the 4 train!

Love,

g

Yankee Stadium Tour, let me tell you something..that accent, will get you everywhere!

2012-03-19T11:10:00.001-04:00

Erica here. I was asked by my loving sister Dana if I wanted to be a guest blogger this week, recapping our second Yankee Stadium tour (the first was at the old stadium) on a b-bitter cold day in February. With two days till Valentine’s Day, what better way to replace the chocolates and flowers with some Yankee pinstripe love? How appropriate, considering that’s the name of this blog…whoa, genius!

When you last saw Dana and Gina, Gina was creating her own version of 12 Days of Christmas (still laughing over that one)! So, with that in mind, we went to the Holy Land that is Yankee Stadium, and let me tell you, it’s never a dull moment when the three of us are together.

Let me first start off by saying that we consider ourselves traveling veterans to and from Yankee Stadium, but this time, we found ourselves a little lost…cut to the three of us (picture it!) chilling out (literally chilling) in the vestibule of Marble Hill train station taking videos and pictures and singing “That Thing You Do” all while looking at the beautiful view of the East River…clearly, this was NOT our intended destination. It looked nothing like Yankee Stadium. But, fortunately, the next train came along and we were on our way :))

I don’t know about my sister or Gina, but walking across the street to the Stadium, I couldn’t feel my legs or my feet. Did I mention it was b-bitter cold outside?? Yeah, keep that in mind throughout this blog: the dedication, the fanaticism, the reward (standing next to Mariano’s special door) That’s us in a nutshell.

Pictures all around. First stop was the Yankee Stadium Museum…what’s better than checking out a whole wall full of signed b-baseballs, learning some already known history about the Iron Horse, (c’mon, look who you’re talking to here), and getting a glimpse of Thurman Munson’s locker, still in tact? Well, I’ll tell you what’s better, and I’m sure Gina will agree…it’s the once again, already known statement that Derek Jeter has two lockers in the clubhouse, one for him and one for his fan mail. The popularity is endless…nuff said.

Personally, the highlight of the day was stepping on the field. (I swore to never wipe my feet again). This was an event that didn’t happen way back when while on the old stadium tour because another team was using the field that day. So, this time around, our gaping mouths could be seen from Jupiter—if you check out the pictures (see below) everyone around us seems a little Debbie Downer if ya know what I mean. We, on the other hand, never take such things for granted. We took every possible picture at every possible angle and even had a signature “Original Peaches” photo shoot on the field. Footnote: if you don’t know what I mean by “Original Peaches” well, you really shouldn’t be reading this blog…”Batter up, hear that call, the time has come, for one and all, to plaaaaaaay ball!” Live it. Learn it. Love it.

We ended the day with some burgers and ice cream at the Hard Rock Café. Gina arranged her hot fudge sundae in the shape of Jeter’s head…haha, kidding people! But don’t think she wasn’t thinking about it. All in all, it was a nice reminder of things to come, namely, b-baseball in the sunshine, the roar of the crowd during a game winning homerun, the Swisher Salute, and let’s not forget, the return of Andy Pettitte. I think that’s a good way to end, more blogging on that subject later :)) Here’s to 28 in 2012!

--Erica

So long Jorgie!

2012-03-19T10:37:00.000-04:00

As Gina, Erica and I gear up for our 4th annual spring training excursion, we need to take a moment to say goodbye to one of our childhood mainstays, Jorge Posada. I know, it’s a little late here, but I think we all needed some time to wrap our heads and hearts around this one, watch a few Yankees Classics, and reflect on the time we got to spend with #20.

First of all, we can add Jorgie’s press conference to the list of Yankees related, live-coverage videos that I cried at while watching at my desk at work. The Yankees organization, once again, knows how to get me and I’m sure a lot of other Yankees fans with their ridiculous displays of pomp and circumstance. I mean, rolling out Thurman Munson’s widow, families affected by craniosynostosis, World Series trophies, and of course, assorted teammates including Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. The Yes Network covers these events with the solemnity and seriousness of a presidential state of the union address, and we all thank them for that, because if we were in charge of the network, that’s how we would do it.

The baseball season takes up almost the whole year for us Yankees fans. We start paying attention in late February and we’re always still in it come October, and sometimes, with a little luck in November too, so our favorite players pretty much become like family members. And Jorge was a crucial part of the latest incarnation of “our” Yankees dynasty that the three of us grew up with. We were always ready for him to step to the plate, no batting gloves, tapping the pine tar and guessing his pitches. Jorge always played the game right, with a fire in his belly and his heart on his sleeve. That’s why it was so hard to watch him be relegated to DH and then bench player last year. But he did an awesome job in the playoffs, even though everyone wrote him off and he proved something to us and to himself with that. So it was a fitting end to his career, and in my opinion, the right time for him to hang it up.

So, as we restart the hall of fame clock on our old friend Andy Pettitte, we also say goodbye to our dear Jorgie Posada. Thanks for the memories Jorge – threatening to punch out the lights of opposing players that throw at our guys, yelling at umpires from the top step, the phrase “painfully slow” coined by Michael Kay for your running skills that still remains in our vernacular to this day, throwing your catcher’s mask at the gut of too many umpires to count on the foul pop, but mostly for being a Yankee your whole career, and one of the greats at that. We’re raising a glass to Jorge Posada, yelling “Geeeorrrrgeee” like Betty Spaghetti in A League of Their Own and saying farewell to a major part of the Yankee family.

Thanks for the memories Jorge! You will be missed and we hope to see you at spring trainings, Old Timers’ Days, and if we can ever afford it someday, the Ladies Fantasy Camp where we will miraculously forget how to play so you and Tino can show us how to hold a bat!

--Dana

12 Days of Christmas - NYY Edition

2011-12-30T23:07:00.002-05:00

Hello there! I know what you're thinking: Why have you girls been gone for so long? Well, here at Pinstripe Love, we're not all about stating the obvious. We like to take our time and be thoughtul with our posts. I mean, you already know that we won the AL East but nothing else, Tex popped up 600 times, Mo saved 600, and Jeter is still saving himself for, well, ....me.

So, for now, I would like to just round out the holiday season with a little "12 days of Christmas" - NYY Edition. And then, that's it! It's all about leaving 2011 behind and looking forward (because harping on the fact that Jeter wasn't under my Christmas tree for the sixteenth year in a row would just be wrong...gosh, I even left a dish of brown rice and a venti coffee from Starbucks...I'm sooooo unlucky).

Ok, enjoy!

Twelve beers for numbing, (to calm our nerves around hot Yankees)
Eleven games pinstriping, (mighta been more at the Stadium this year...)
Ten nights of weeping, (all due to DJ3K)
Nine hotties glancing, (ahh - Mark! ;) )
Eight innings chilling, (we wake up for the 9th...)
Seven weeks of gymming, (for spring training!)
Six hours of Michael Kay-ing, (including pre- and post-games)
Five World Series rings, (oh, Derek!)
Four slurrrrred words, (after 7 innings of booze)
Three blazin' men, (guess who...)
(at least) Two gold glove snubs,
And another season with my favorite Lees!

Here's to another slammin' season of Yankees baseball! Please note that Pinstripe Love will be visiting the Yankees Spring Training camp for the fourth time this March, so stay tuned for our recap and 2012 predictions...and maybe a sprinkling of ca-razzzy Tampa moments brought to you by yours truly (and my besties, Dana and Erica!!). I will leave you with some Jeter quotes that I've come across over the years to keep us all amped up for the good times ahead!!:

"God, I hope I wear this jersey forever."
"Yankee Stadium is my favorite stadium. I'm not going to lie to you. There's a certain feel you get in Yankee Stadium."
"My heroes, my dreams, and my future lie in Yankee Stadium, and they can't take that from me."
"I think everyone is ticklish. You just gotta find the right spots." <--- whaaaat? yes, please!!

See you next year, g

The Best Rain-Out Ever!

2011-09-24T12:50:00.000-04:00

Gina and I ventured out to Yankee Stadium with the tickets we bought with our StubHub credit from the DJ3K rain out in July. Of course, we got rained out again! But not before we added to our repertoire of Yankee adventures. On the drive in, I was monitoring Twitter for the weather details and came across a tweet for Michael Kay's radio show on ESPN radio. It said he was broadcasting live from a bar across the street from the stadium. Gina and I were literally overcome...WHAT? Could this be for real? So, we parked and headed to the bar. Sure enough we walk through to the back of the bar, and there he is -- my man Michael Kay. I immediately clutched my heart (seriously) which is right when he turned and looked at the doorway seeing me acting a fool! Typical for me and G, especially when we're together.

I just have to say, I have always loved Michael Kay and his voice on the broadcast along with Bobby Murcer, Jim Kaat and Ken Singleton...it's what I grew up on. In my family, it's pretty typical to hear baseball quotes in regular conversation, such as: "that's the fallacy of the pre-determined outcome, you can't assume the double play in that situation" or "you study long you study wrong" or "he was not enamored with that call" or "keep it simple stupid" or the great standard "...the aforementioned New York Yankees." I could go on and on.

So, Gina and I waited until the first commercial break, and after reading a lengthy promo, Michael took off his head-set and greeted some fans, including us. We were able to have a quick chat with Michael Kay and take a picture. He was witty and gracious and just really nice to us. I also got to tell him the story I always said I would tell him if I got the opportunity to meet him, and that is that I used the word "aforementioned" from his copyright bit in every single paper I wrote in college as an english major at Quinnipiac. True story. I'm literally laughing as I typed that last part, because I consciously did put that word in every paper, because I told Michael Kay that story to his face and because he actually knew what I meant! We shook hands again and that was that.

We walked into the stadium on cloud nine and were ready with our ponchos to stick out any length of rain delays to see our Yanks play. We took our first trip to Monument Park in the new stadium where we bowed our heads at Roger Maris' plaque, bowed to Donnie Baseball's #23 and rubbed our sweat on Babe Ruth's forehead. Then we visited Derek's 'Jeter's Flakes' poster in the food court and made our way to the seats. Shortly after we got to section 232, the announcement was made postponing the game. We took the nearest stairs out of the ball park, which let us out onto River Ave behind the bleachers. As Gina and I joked about how we might see Jeter leaving the ballpark, there was his Ford Edge, no tints. I think at this point Gina might have partly collapsed. I jumped up and down, waving and yelling, "Derek, Derek!" Then Derek Jeter actually turned his head, looked right at us and waved!! Really? We went to four spring training games this past March and not even a nod from DJ. So now this time, Gina was really overcome and just flat-out cried. So the night came to a close with us embracing under the subway tracks on River Ave, tears and raindrops streaming down our faces. Just the best rain-out ever! See our slideshow below:

-- Dana

DJ is single and ready to mingle......with us?

2011-08-26T09:54:00.000-04:00

Sounds of Derr-ek Jee-terr chants rang through my house this morning....but it was 7am...no game on, infomercials were still playing on the YES Network, so no tear-jerker Yankeeorgraphies....nothing. Just me being crazy and displaying random love for Jeter on this Friday morning, perhaps? That wouldn't be a stretch, but there's something different about today.

We all awoke to reports that Derek Jeter and Minka Kelly, his womans of three and a half years, have split! As you recall, I recently wrote about the DJ3K documentary (see: Straight From the Heart: A Review of DJ3K special) and how 1. Minka Kelly sucks at life and 2. Jeter and I are soulmates. Wow. Did he hear me or something? Or was it just that she said really dumb things (in a fairly annoying voice) about how she didn't know anything about baseball? I mean, I'm SURE he knew about her lack of baseball knowledge from day one, but for it to be highlighted on HBO for the world to see...that had to be embarassing. I was pretty much embarassed FOR him! He joked about how she had posters of him on her wall in high school, which wasn't true...she didn't even know who he was!! What-ever - I STILL have Jeter posters on my wall...they help me sleep, ok?

My guess, among other outlandish things that I will keep to myself, is that he turned 37, re-evaluated life a little bit, and realized that maybe this isn't the ONE...it's not the chick he's going to marry and/or have kids with. And maybe she was pressuring him..who knows? (I would probably pressure him after 3 1/2 weeks, not years, but.......) But I mean, she ain't special...She's gaining popularity, doing movies in LA, probably meeting all kinds of other dudes out there...and, not to mention, is just a straight up annoying person in general. He don't want none of that! No diamond ring for you, chica. The only diamond he's thinking about is over near River Ave. in the Bronx...and we'd like to keep it that way! And Dana called this whole thing...she knew it. She said it many times this year. But if I told you that I thought we would all be sitting here in mid/late 2011 as single people, I would be lying. But, uh, since we are....call us, Derek...I am damn near going to Yankee Stadium and putting my cell phone number on a poster like that broad did for Ryan Braun in Milwaukee..I mean, he called her back, didn't he?

The point is, is that I looooove Jeter, with all my heart, more than anything in the world...and so, naturally, I only want what's best for him. And personally, I think that's me.

Love,
G

Welcome Back Chuck Knoblauch

2011-08-25T11:01:00.001-04:00

Recently, Gina and I made our triumphant return to Twitter. We signed up a few years ago, but never really got into it. So around April of this year, we came back. Gina starting following the Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block and I starting following the Glee cast and all the nerd outlets, but most importantly, we both started following all of our Yankees guys: Teixeira, Joba, Swisher, DRob, Hughes, Martin, Granderson, Robinson, Bernie, and Chuck Knoblauch.

Most of the time, none of the celeb/athlete’s answer you back.…except of course for Chuck Knoblauch. #11 is always good for a response, even if it’s just “good morning.” So, every once in awhile, we get on Twitter and tell Chuck how much we love him…and he says “thanks.”

Lately, Knobby has been having contests on Twitter. Each time he reaches his next 1,000 followers, he gives out 10 autographed photos. When he hit 10,000 I won one. Here’s a pic:

Sidebar: This Chucky Knobs resurgence prompted Gina and me to head to the archives, namely the storage boxes in my closet at home labeled, “Yankees clippings & school papers.” We found stacks of New Haven & New York papers from the 98-00 World Series runs, as well as clippings and home-made collages of Yankees that used to hang in our lockers in high school. At one point, we found an old student planner of mine that amongst the homework and due dates for assignments had the score of each playoff game. Bottom line: we were just awesome!

So, let’s talk about Chucky Knobs. First of all, as much as I L-O-V-E Knobby and all the guys from the dynasty teams, I can’t pretend that he was MY MAIN MAN back in the day, that honor goes to Tino Martinez and is for another blog post (I played 1st base all through little league and school). But he was definitely my sister’s #1 man. I told her I was writing this, so she submitted a little piece. Here it is:

“Upon hearing my sister had won Chuck Knoblauch's autograph...what can I say? I was happy for the broad. If I was Twitter obsessed I'm sure I would have gone after it too...so Dana, congratulations, I can't wait to see your Chucky Knobs autograph on display in your crib...besides, I'd much rather have Chuck, circa 1998, in his chunky white turtle neck sweater that he wore on Good Morning America after the Yanks won the World Series...talk about drool, that image is forever burned in my memory. And besides that too, I honor Chuck every time I step to the plate, curl my fingers around the handle of the bat and cock it ever so slightly towards the umpire. Yes Chuck, sincerely, Your Biggest Fan, Erica :))”

I swear everytime we have a conversation about Knoblauch or the Yanks, my sister and my mom mention that GMA interview! But I think it is really cool that Erica bats like Knobby. In fast-pitch softball, all the girls are sort of expected to have the same quiet stance -- bat rested flat on your shoulder until the pitch is on its way and you lift it ever so slightly -- but try as the coaches would, they couldn't get her to stop batting like Chuck :) Here's a pic of Erica still at it in her slow-pitch league:

Rookie of the Year, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, All Star and World Champion. When you play professional baseball, those are the things that you’re striving to achieve, and Knoblauch has gotten all of them. Knobby was a great player for the Yanks, he fit into the hotness of the infield (I swear that’s part of the Yankee contract) and was a staple in the lineup during our most recent “winning” years. A hottie among hotties in New York when it was standard fare to see our guys jumping all over each other on a big pile of pinstripes in the middle of the field, champagne flowing and ticker tape streaming through the air.

During the recent Yankees dynasty years, Gina and I were 12-16 years old. So, when we think about all that was awesome in our lives...no work, no bills, summer vacations, being a kid...we think about baseball and hotdogs, perfectly manicured green grass and a bright blue sky, we think about the Yankees...and we think about Chuck Knoblauch. We do, we think about Chuck…and Tino, Derek, Jorgey, Paully, Bernie, Andy, and the rest, because those were “our” guys -- as I’m sure everyone thinks back to the times when they just used to watch and enjoy baseball without worrying about the trade deadline or the DL or whatever topic was hot news on talk radio, and just tuned in for the players that they watched and loved every day as a kid. So, we just want to say: “Thanks Chuck” for putting yourself back out there and coming back into our lives. We truly appreciate it.

Follow Chuck on twitter: @chuckknoblauch and visit his website

-- Dana

Happy Birthday Brett Gardner!

2011-08-24T13:22:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday Brett! Here's hoping they give you a nice b-day present and DON'T show that creepy 'Brett the Hitman' pic of you on the screen tonight when you get a hit.

We Heart You, Mark Teixeira

2011-08-21T20:36:00.000-04:00

Let's just get straight to it - Mark Teixeira's been on my mind lately, and when I say lately, I mean the last 3 years. Time to give our sexpot of a first baseman some random lovin' on the blog. (because you know I'm quietly ignoring, and therefore not writing about, the recent struggles of a certain highly paid pitcher with a Flock of Seagulls-ish haircut).

Flashback to March 2009 - As I am calmly driving down the street in Tampa, FL on my way to GMS Field to see the Yanks at Spring Training, with my two BFFs in tow, Dana spots the newest Yankee superstar/ the best Christmas present ever (literally - I think he signed somewhere around Christmastime in '08)....Mark Teixeira. While I'm making World Series predictions, we see him signing for fans on the fence just outside the park. Long story short, I was only two right-hand turns from parking the car, but pretty much flipped out and almost abandoned the car in the middle of the divided highway to go run to the fence and get a piece of this fresh meat! Side note: Dana drives us everywhere now. I, of course didn't do that, and we missed him by the time we got over there...And I'm not really sure what he did to us down there, but damn, we were pretty big Tex fans by the time we touched down in CT later that weekend. There was definitely one key moment during one of the games where he looked over his shoulder, pretty much right at us, and I coulda sworn that a large diamond ring appeared on my left ring finger and that I had a small baby bump...Yikes! I guess ya just had to be there...

There have been so many noteworthy Mark moments since the first time we met back in '09, and I can't really put my finger on any one of them right now, but there's just something about him that makes me drool. Aside from my collection of Jeter shirts and jerseys, I never really had other player shirts...I guess I was just never into that. Like when everyone was buying their Giambi t-shirts, I was saving my twenty-five bucks...(all those people have some expensive dust rags on their hands now). Anyway, so my point is that I have like, four Teixeira shirts now because I can't help but show my love for him!

But, why? As Yankees fans, we've had tons of hall-of-famers, and just great players in general, to watch and admire throughout the years. To be honest, I never really thought I would love another Yankee the way I love the Core Four guys...those pure, home-grown studs that won us all those rings. And A-Rod doesn't count because I've always had mad love for that man...regardless of what uniform he wore...ahhh, that's for another blog for another day... But really - Mark is such an awesome Yankee. He never disappoints... He has a great attitude, loves his family, and does so much for his charity (to which I donated $25 this summer...NOT because there was a drawing for a chance to have lunch with him at NYY Steak or anything...I swear! *giggling*) Ooo, ooo - and I can't leave out his unforgettable Quick Fit Tips segments on the weekly program Yankees on Deck, in which he teaches young people how to stay in shape, and inadvertently, quenches our Tex-thirst by doing all kinds of suggestive movements while wearing a tight shirt and mesh shorts. I am proof that you shouldn't watch that show when you're twenty-something years old!! Though I did learn was a "glute" was...

And on the field, he always seems to be helping us win games, whether it is with a big hit or with his hot ass.........defense. Even though us gals are already mesmerized as he unconsciously wiggles his butt at first base, it's actually what he usually does after that that's even hotter...Picture him scooping out a short throw or fully laid out diving for a ball on the line and then calling off the pitcher with his glove hand and tagging the base himself and tell me that doesn't bring a freakin' grin to your face! :D It's just all about the D these days, at least for us here at Pinstripe Love. Though I definitely enjoy a "Tex Message" every now and again (he just hit #34 a few minutes ago...) I'm not sure - as far as home runs go - that someone else is going to come along and top the image in my brain of a perfect hip-swiveling Tino Martinez upper-decker...don't hold your breath. I know I'm not!

It's just that the Yankees have picked up so many established players over the years, and we come to appreciate most of them, but I feel like Mark should've been in pinstripes from day one....don't you?? And I also think he should remain in pinstripes forever...he pretty much has to..or I'll go nuts!!

So, thank you Mark, for ALL your services. Keep up the good looks...you keep feeding our insatiable hunger for winning and hot first basemen, and we will love you 'til the end of time!

And lastly, if third base is known as the "hot corner," then what the hell is first base?? I gotta stop - keepin' it PG!!

Love,
G

ps - As I'm finishing this entry, I hear AJ shaved his head....what-ever...

Where Have You Gone, Andy Pettitte?

2011-08-17T11:17:00.000-04:00

There's been so much going on this season with the Yankees: Jeter getting hurt/rehabbing, Jeter hitting 3,000, Jeter looking deliciously hot as he turned 37 this past June, another late-summer pennant race, etc. etc. But please tell me you have not forgotten about our beloved Andrew Eugene... I know I haven't.

I've been quietly harping on this idea that Andy Pettitte was going to get terribly bored on that ranch of his in Texas, or wherever, with all those kids he has, realize he still has mad skills, and bust out with a mid-season, mid-game Clemens-esque speech at Yankee Stadium announcing that he is coming back to help the Yankees chase 28!! When he left the Yankees for those few years to go pitch in Houston, I freakin' called it...I knew he would be back...just had that feeling...anybody with me on this one?? ps - I also talked, for at least 3 years in the early 2000s, about how A-Rod would come to the Yankees and move to 3rd base for Jeter...where are my witnesses?

Anyway, as Derek would say - Pitching wins championships...and he's right! (he's always right...) As much as I secretly l-o-v-e AJ Burnett, his instability makes me nervous...we need someone solid, an old friendly face. We need the poster child for clutch pitching and postseason winning, and I pretty much can't think of anyone else but #46! Still with me?

Onto the crazy: I will literally do anything to see him pick off one more guy at first base...win one more game, one more World Series.... I will read my Power for Living book 50 times before I go to bed at night. I'll go to church every Sunday - even the 12:00 mass that's realllly long. I'll fly to wherever he is in the south and knock on his door beg him to come back. I'll even get some cowboy boots and a bible for the occasion. You get it though ....He def. retired too soon!

To Andy: We love you, doll! We miss you like whoa....just come back into our lives and make us all whole again. What is this Key Three stuff? And though we probably all thought the Core Four thing was corny at first, we were living it and loving it for a short time there...it's just not the same without you!! And besides, you're one of our fave Yankee hotties, even with your gray hairs *drool*...I mean, I haven't seen someone look that good in a pair of pinstriped baseball pants since, well.....alright, if we exclude A-Rod...nevermind... I need a cold shower.

Go Longhorns??

Love,
G

Happy Birthday Jorge Posada!!

2011-08-17T09:40:00.004-04:00

Happy Birthday Jorge! We still love you!

Visit the Jorge Posada Foundation page.

Straight from the Heart: A Review of HBO's DJ3K special

2011-08-15T21:43:00.002-04:00

I know it’s been a couple of weeks now, but we needed to mentally, physically, and emotionally recover from the amazingness that HBO brought to us in the form of Derek Jeter: 3K. We are now officially ready to reflect.

After I abruptly left the CPA exam on that Thursday night to rush to Dana's for the viewing party, Dana, Erica (Dana's biological sister and my sister-from-another-mister) and I calmly and quietly watched in awe as we were granted a glimpse into the life of the man that has changed our lives as Yankees fans forever. There are a few things we learned from watching this sixty minute lovefest that centered around the incredible, incomparable Mr. Derek Jeter, and I'd like to share. Here goes:

1. My obsession for Jeter has grown exponentially as a result of watching this documentary. Let’s just put it out there - if you know me, even just a little bit, you know that my heart and soul and world revolve around the Yankees and, of course, Derek Jeter. He consumes most of my thoughts during the day and has for many, many years, so like any other relationship (real, not real, whatever...), you would think the whole idea of it would become rather stale after a while. But everytime I've had to respond to someone with my thoughts on the documentary, I realize that I freakin' love him MORE THAN EVER! Seeing him at home with his friends, hearing him say "shit" a few times, and of course watching him rehab in in FL and NJ made him seem so normal...human, perhaps? Yes! We now know that he's a person, just like us (not really, but...) and that if we ever saw him just hanging out in NYC (say, dining in a Brazilian restaurant in mid-town Manhattan), we could totally walk up to him and say hey....right?? I'll let you know if it works...stay tuned.

2. Minka Kelly is not all that. Call me a hater - whatevs...but if I hear one more dude say (in the dumb guy voice), "who cares...she's hot!", I might barf. Where I stand. Preferably all over whoever is saying it. So, let's back up for a second. Why are we hating on MK more than ever?? Because she got two small clips in an HBO documentary about Jeter and had absolutely nothing decent to say. All they could vulture from, I'm sure, hours of interviews, was that she doesn't know jack about baseball and that her mom was a stripper...Ok, maybe not that last part, but I swear I read that somewhere. And as Dana or Uncle Tommy (can't quite remember who) would say, in so many words, "The documentary was about hits! And she don't even know what a hit is! So, Derek Jeter walks in that door at night, and..." Ok, I'm def. screwing it up and probably leaving out some profanities that would make those statements much more hilarious, but you get the point. Our manz DJ needs a lady who knows her baseball!! I'm right here, babe. Right here. This broad is so damn clueless, and oh BTW, she shares a bed with Jeter on a regular basis, so by default, we dislike the biotch.

3. DJ and I are soulmates. Where should we start? The obvious: we both love baseball, frequently wear Jeter shirts, and think everything looks good in pinstripes. The not-so-obvious: He appears funny/goofy/talkative but also terribly private. Friendly and polite, yet easily annoyed...kinda like me! And we both have referred to our childhood idols as "larger than life." We love our Ma and Daddy...and Jorge Posada. We think A-Rod is, at times, ridiculous. We bob our heads to Empire State of Mind. We travel to Tampa, FL every March for the same reason, where we also frequent the same Starbucks...the list goes on! Ok, anyone can have these things in common, but it's just those intangible Jeterian qualities that he's always had and that I may have acquired over the years that just blow my mind! Bottom line: Who doesn't think that me and DJ would have the bomb life together??

So, when we heard that HBO was doing this, we immediately planned to watch it together. But then, for whatever reason, Dana thought that I may not be able to handle it and was going to have to watch it in a separate room with my own Costco size box of Kleenex. What?! Me!? Not handle it?, I thought. Let me tell you - when I made the trek to the Jerz and actually heard Jeter's voice as he spoke with someone just feet away from me, yes - my whole Yankees life flashed before my eyes because I was so nervous to be in his presence. But there, and then after watching this documentary, I had a newfound appreciation for this guy. I KNEW we would be sitting here watching him hit #3,000 and that his early success with the Yankees wasn't a fluke. No doubts there...hell, his last name is on my license plate... But now, I think we can all just need to take a step back, enjoy his successes with him, feel blessed and grateful to have watched him play ball in our lifetime, and show mad, mad respect because you know they just don't make 'em like this anymore! So, love him because you thought that 1997 Sports Illustrated cover of him and A-Rod was blazin' hot. Love him because he's literally the only baseball player or Yankee you know. Love him because you admire his amazing ~~ass~~ attitude, ability to lead, and everything he's done for baseball. Just LOVE him! Amen.

Other notable DJ3K moments (in general):

-Me and Dana making homemade DJ3K shirts in her sweat shoppe/dining room. We're motivated when we wanna be...

-Me impusively purchasing Trenton Thunder tickets and driving to NJ in hopes of having a cameo in the documentary... no such luck.

-Jeter running in that pool thing during his rehab in Tampa in those white shorts. Wow. I define that as a life-changer.

-Me and Dana drinking heavily when the Friday game (day before 3,000th hit) got rained out. We had overpriced tickets.

-Me sobbing into a bath towel the day of the 3,000th hit. Bittersweet moment. I think Dana was drinking heavily again somewhere in East Haven.

-Me eating and drinking everything in Yankee Stadium on Sunday (day after 3,000th hit) when Dana and I visited the luxury box.

-The fact that Jeter has a telescope in his apartment and his own name carved into his hardwood floor. Amazing.

-Jeter admitting that he lied to the press regarding his anxiety about hitting 3,000 at home. He's literally the only dude that lies to us, and we actually love him even more!

-Jeter's car - it's actually a Ford. God, I love Fords. And telescopes. (My Dad always says I'd drink bleach if DJ's face was on the bottle...so dramatic!)

-Jeter talking about his unborn children and the importance of documenting his most recent special baseball moment. Hottest, most genuine thing we've ever heard him say. Funny... I always talk about his unborn children too. Ahhh, so in love with him!!!

Love,
G

Half-yards & Home Runs!

2011-08-02T15:24:00.002-04:00

Gina and I traveled to Yankee Stadium once again, this time with my work buddy Denise and her sister-in-law Andrea for the first game of New York's day/night double-header against Baltimore. We were showing the ropes to a couple of Yankee Stadium newbies, which pretty much just included finding and patronizing the cocktails stand and taking pictures with walls.

We once again worked on achieving our lifelong pursuit of getting on the YES Network broadcast with our Michael Kay sign - unsuccessfully again. Although, from our seats in main section 233, flat screens with the YES Network playing were right above our section, so we were able to simultaneously enjoy the game, hold up our sign and instantly see if we were getting on TV. Side note: Gina and I did chase down the camera guy for the big screen in center field - also unsuccessfully.

The seats were great. We will definitely be sitting there again. Section 233 is right in front of the hot dog stand, the Bud Light stand, and a short elevator ride to the main food court and more importantly, the cocktail stand. Although, the elevator didn't allow alcohol, so not only did I have to chug my beer to go downstairs, but we also had to hide a half-yard pina colada in Gina's drawstring bag! C'mon Yankee Stadium, the drunks don't want to walk all the way up the ramp!

We also had a nice little chat with our new friend Mike Ashmore, double A beat writer for the Trenton Thunder, before 1st pitch. He had all the info. on Jeter's rehab assignment in Trenton. Maybe we make it down to Trenton for Derek Jeter bobble-head night in a few weeks...we'll see. Follow Mike on Twitter @mashmore98.

We didn't get to see the A-team (i.e. Jeter was not in the line-up for game one), but we did get to see a Swisher home run and a Yankees win. An all around hilarious time was had by all! See our slideshow below.

-- Dana

Happy Birthday Alex!

2011-07-27T10:06:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday A! Come back soon! In Gina's words...you're ridiculously good looking and play baseball well, and we love you for that.

Happy Birthday C.C. Sabathia!!

2011-07-21T10:10:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday C.C.!! The best birthday present would be a win tonight!

Some Derek Jeter tidbits

2011-07-21T10:03:00.001-04:00

Here is an awesome Jeter-Sportscenter commercial. We don't see Derek do much of this kind of thing anymore, so enjoy:

Also, Jeter's DJ3K special is set to air on HBO next Thursday night, July 28th at 9:00pm. Gina and I will be having a viewing party at my house and probably live-tweeting. Don't forget to tune in, here is the promo from HBO's website:

Derek Jeter 3K Tease