mattmehaffey

Why NY

After Monday's game was postponed due to rain, baseball season officially began tonight as the Yankees beat the Jays 3-2 in the final opening day game at "the house Ruth built." I am a devoted fan of the pinstripes. As I was driving to a meeting today I found myself trying to remember the exact moment I chose the Yankees as "my team." There are no lukewarm feelings when it comes to the Yankees. You either love them or hate them. Moving to Miami, the unofficial 6th borough of New York, has suited me just fine as I am surrounded by Yankee fans.

Many fans choose their team based on location but I grew up in Indianapolis where there wasn't a home team. Of course, most people in Naptown will either swing the way of the Reds, Cubs, White Sox, or Cards. Location wasn't my reason.

Neither was my choice based on popularity. The Red Sox and Yankees alone pull in a huge chunk of MLB's revenue because their fans are everywhere. There really isn't a "road game" for either of these teams.

The reason I chose the Yankees as my team is based on several reasons.

1. My dad is a Yankees fan who met Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra when he was a kid. There's something very special about the bond baseball builds between fathers and sons.

2. The Yankee tradition is second to none. No team has even close to the number of championships (26) and inductees into Cooperstown.

3. The Yankees enter each season with the expectation of winning the World Series. Anything less is a failure. That's a mindset I can get behind. Even their new manager, Joe Girardi chose to wear the number 27 as a clear message of what his expectations are.

Baseball and Breakfast

It's 6 am, I've got my cup of coffee, and watching Major League Baseball's opening day game. This doesn't seem right but it feels good! I was having a serious baseball withdrawl! Janie saw that I set the alarm unusually early for me she laughed because only three things will I get up early for Janie, baseball and Jesus coming back.

What's Your Song?

One of the coolest things I have ever seen is Mariano Rivera, the closer for the New York Yankees, come out of the bullpen to wrap up the game with the Metallica song, "Enter Sandman" blaring through Yankee Stadium.

New Yankee pitcher, Phil Hughes, on his blog is considering walking out to another Metallica song.

This got me thinking what my song would be. I'm thinking LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out" but I am not sold on that one.

If you got a suggestion, post your comment. Maybe I'll get our sound guy to play it as I walk up to preach on Sunday (OK that's a ridiculous thought, it probably happens somewhere, but still ridiculous).

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

I can't believe Spring Training is almost here. Catchers and pitchers start in a few weeks. I cannot wait.

My amazing wife (doing her best Rachel Ray in the picture) got us two tickets to watch the Yankees play at Legends Field in March for my birthday. She gets me, what can I say. Can't think of anything I'd rather do than catch a Yankees game with my best friend. Well, watching the Yankees play in the World Series with my best friend would be much better.

Boston - Day One 2.0

My flight was a great experience. I have been re-reading 1776 by David McCullough, a Pulitzer Prize winning book about America's breakaway from England. As we flew over the Atlantic coming into Boston, I had an incredible view of the setting many of the events in the book took place. Tomorrow I finally get to experience The Freedom Trail.

As much as I despise the sports teams (except the Celtics since I grew up liking Larry Bird), the city of Boston is amazing. I love the public transit system. It was very easy to get to Hotel Commonwealth. While I was on the Subway, at one of the stops a bunch of college-aged men and women came in with Bibles. Then I realized they were coming from a church service.

Speaking of Boston teams I despise, check out the view from my hotel room. Fenway is even closer than my iPhone camera could show. I love to hate the Red Sox but Fenway is hands down the best stadium I have ever seen.

So far this has been a really good trip and to top it all off I walked into my room just in time for the Colts kickoff. Now they have to win and wrap up the AFC South Division.

Bring on the Hot Stove

The off-season for the Yankees is almost always as exciting as the season itself. There has already been a whirlwind of speculation, coaching changes, free agent talk and trade rumors. With A-Rod heading off into the sunset in search for higher paychecks and less wins he leaves behind a hole I am excited to see how management will fill.

I am already pleased with the news Girardi will be replacing Torre. I love Joe. I almost named our dog after him but instead we went with Jeter. That being said, it was time for a change.

I will be shocked if Posada, Rivera and Pettitte aren't back in pinstripes next year.

I can't wait to see a full year of Wang, Hughes, Chamberlain, Kennedy and hopefully Pettitte.

One free agents I would love to see become Yankees:
1. Mike Lowell (if you can't beat him sign him) at 3B

Things are about to get interesting!

Shaking the Dust Off My Cleats

I hate the Red Sox. Hate is not a strong enough word. However, I tip my cap to the 2007 World Series Champs. They were the best team in baseball (by far) this season.

What I hate even more than the Red Sox is the way A-Rod and his agent Scott Boras used the World Series as a stage to announce #13's free agency during the 8th inning of the game. They represent everything that is wrong in professional sports. I guess he figured this was the only way he could participate in a World Series since he'll never play in one. The focus should have been on the Red Sox sweep.

I hope A-Rod gets all the money he asks for ... in Tampa Bay.

Baseball Fever

Last night, my friend Andres and I , went to the Marlins and Cubs game. It was a pretty decent game with 19,000+ in attendance; however, I'd say 60% were Cubs fans. That didn't stop the Marlins from beating the Cubs for the 9th time straight.

Andres and I enjoyed the game and the weather. It was the first time since I moved down here I actually put on a sweatshirt.