True, there are fans like that everywhere, but it's amazing how quick an entire Yankee stadium of people will turn on a player. In San Francisco Armando Benitez has been booed towards the end of last season after a year and a half of blowing save after save as well as wrongfully blaming his teammates. I get the feeling that if Benitez were a Yankee, he would have been booed five games into his career in pin stripes.

I'm not saying that fans anywhere else are better than others, they are just different. I think maybe Yankee fans are more openly passionate and emotional about their team. I was just wondering how Yankee fans see themselves I guess.

I agree with that statement. The thing I've always noticed about New York is they'll love you when you're performing. However, when you're not, they'll let you know about it and boo. But the booing I don't think needs to be taken so personally. From my perspective, it's just a kick in the a$$ to the player. The fans know they can perform better than they are and the booing is really just a wake up call.

However, in A-Rod's unfortunate case, the deck is stacked against him because of his huge contract. Sure maybe he "should" have won a World Series with the Yankees already but I'm still pulling for him to do it this year. Last year I was on A-Rod's case somewhat by midseason because last year was a "subpar" year for A-Rod in my eyes (he still had a very good year though statistically). But again, watching the game on ESPN yesterday, I heard a lot of boos and a lot of cheers so I wouldn't say it was the entire Yankee Stadium one way or the other

In a way I have a hard time understanding people who "boo" their own team unless the guy is a total jerk and open about it by ripping on his teammates and fans. If he's acting that way and isn't performing the way he is paid to perform, then he should be booed.

I guess if my team had an almost 200$ million budget, I'd expect the team to win a world series every year and probably boo as well. It's sad that the money is what determines how a player is perceived by the fans.

It is but to a lot of fans it's justified. I can agree too that people "have a hard time understanding people who "boo" their own team unless the guy is a total jerk and open about it by ripping on his teammates and fans." But then again, it's New York. In New York you're expected to win every year. And most recently, just making it to the playoffs isn't enough. I know the guys want to win but for whatever reason, especially the past 2 postseasons, the Yankees have been flat COLD. I don't know if it's pride or what, but I think the fans want to win just as much if not more than the players (if that's possible).

Bleacher creatures! We boo everyone and everything!

You should take a look at the masters of booing- Philadelphians. I've personally seen children booed, Little Leaguers, who took the field prior to a Phillies game and made some errors.

Once, on the day before Easter they had an egg hunt on the field and the fans booed the kids, who couldn't find the eggs.


At halftime at an Eagles game, a man entertained on the field by having his dog catch thrown frisbees. When the dog raced thirty yards for a descending disc, and then missed it at the last second, thundering boos from 60,000 filled the stadium.

That year, Santa Claus was booed lustily.

Speaking of Eagle fans, the crowd cheered wildy when Michael Irvin suffered a neck injury, was placed in traction and crted him off the field as he lay motionless.

The most shocking display came from fans, who made fun of visiting wide receiver Joe Jurevicius before a playoff game because his young son had recently died from an illness. While this incident didn't represent a large segment of fans, it involved more than a dozen.

Also, Mike Schmidt was booed throughout most of his career, largely because he was the highest paid player in the game ($250,000) in the 70s, and their expectations were unrealistic. On the bright side, when he was inducted into the Hall, fans showed up in record numbers.

Pettitte prepared to do what it takes

NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter marveled as he considered the vision of Andy Pettitte, his cap dragged low over his eyes, making that slow walk to the mound once more in Yankees pinstripes.

Pettitte's familiar delivery, demeanor and Texas twang have been reintroduced to the clubhouse universe for some seven weeks now, and as the Grapefruit League ran its course, the seamless nature of Pettitte's readjustment was appreciated.

His presence wasn't a novelty, a gimmick concocted to sell souvenir T-shirts and fill seats. It was a return born out of necessity. Most importantly, it felt right, as though Pettitte wandered out of a time machine and knew nothing different.

"It seems like he never even left," Jeter said. "Once he got here, he fit right in. He knows how everything works. It's hard to believe it's been three years since he's been gone. It wasn't even weird when he was out there in Spring Training. It's just like he picked up from 2003."

On Wednesday, Pettitte's return to the organization's title pursuits will become official, as he throws his first pitches as a Yankee since the 2003 World Series.

Watching the Opening Day festivities unfold as a spectator on Monday, Pettitte was struck by the sameness of it all.

He had walked on the field at Yankee Stadium following a January press conference, a wintry chill whipping the flags atop the ballpark and interrupting a ceremony that was more reunion than introduction, but that wasn't the most accurate measure of the Yankee experience.

With a capacity crowd and the unspoken emphasis upon winning again enveloping the facility, as it did Monday, Pettitte could truly appreciate his return.

"It's hard to explain," Pettitte said. "I feel so comfortable and everything is exactly like it was when I left. There's just something that makes you feel good."

As a homegrown product of the Yankees' system, Pettitte may have abandoned some of his New York habits over a three-year National League stint with the Astros, but he hasn't forgotten how things work up here.

The traffic patterns and pathways from a Westchester neighborhood to Yankee Stadium remain the same. No longer can Pettitte drive home after games and play rancher on the open fields of Texas, but that's a sacrifice that the left-hander was willing to make.

Instead of tending to cattle, Pettitte has headed up the role of herding along some of the Yankees' younger or needy pitchers. When Carl Pavano's Yankee Stadium locker was adjusted to neighbor Pettitte's, it was a calculated realignment, reflecting the hours of advice and tutelage that Pettitte had delivered to the once-beleaguered hurler during Spring Training.

Pavano carried a refreshed outlook into his Opening Day start on Monday, and when Pettitte makes that same walk on Wednesday, he'll do so having joined Mike Mussina and Mariano Rivera as the elder statesmen of the Yankees' staff.

As Joe Torre said, "He's coming back here, basically, as a senior citizen." At 34, Pettitte might be slightly offended by the suggestion of his Social Security years approaching, but the point is valid.

"It's strange to see how your career goes," Pettitte said. "When you get to a certain age, you just switch over to that role of trying to help out, and trying to be a little bit of a pitching coach and mental coach to guys. You want to try to make a difference, and, hopefully, help somebody along the way."

The Yankees take a certain confidence in the fact that Pettitte has traveled these roads before, understanding the World Series projections that are annually levied upon the roster out of camp. Pressure is just a fact of life, something to deal with, tuck away and reanalyze later.

As Jeter said, "There's no situation that he's going to be overwhelmed with."

Though the Yankees haven't reached a Fall Classic since Pettitte's departure, the expectations haven't changed. If anything, the clamor for a 27th World Series title has actually grown.

Recalling the last time he passed through the Bronx, Pettitte said he hadn't had opportunities to stop and soak it all in -- a world of memories were racing past, but Pettitte's vision was tunneled. All that seemed to matter on every fifth day was staring ahead and down into the pocket of Jorge Posada's glove.

If a given start didn't end with a victory, it was a unsuccessful. If the season didn't end with a parade down the Canyon of Heroes, it wasn't enough. Pettitte doesn't exactly relish that part of the business, but he understands it.

As the Devil Rays -- and each lineup to follow -- stride to the plate against Pettitte, his attention will be trained in much the same area. But Pettitte hopes that once in a while, he'll be able to take a step back, walk off the mound and take a few mental snapshots for later appreciation.

"You go so hard for so many years, it kind of wears on you a little bit," Pettitte admits. "You always can't win. You want to win, but you always can't. Somewhere in the mix, you want to try to enjoy it."

As he noted Monday, a brief span of time went by this offseason when Pettitte was ready to hang it up and walk away from the game, his passions sapped somewhat by the elbow injuries that still remain a concern in the darkest corners of the Yankees' minds.

Pettitte's contract offers, at minimum, just one season of service to the Yankees -- a decision agreed upon by Pettitte, so as not to feel as though he'd be letting the Yankees down if he decided not to return next year.

In simplest form, it's one more turn around the league, enough of a taste for Pettitte to decide if he still loves it enough to suit up for another go-round.

"I'm taking it one year at a time," Pettitte said. "I want to try to give this team everything I've got this year, then evaluate everything at the end of the season."

The journey begins Wednesday.

Source: Yankees

If I can explain it...some of the fans who really were bandwagoners since the late 90's/early 2000's success and dynasty years are spoiled, and I run into them quite a bit...part of the reason why the Bobby Murcer appearance yesterday was so great, because people forget how he was one of the few bright spots on a really shitty Yankee era during the late 60's and early 70's.

Many fans are spoiled...just like every year there are bandwagoners on the Red Sox, ChiSox, and now Cardinals bandwagons, there have been Patriots, Steelers, and Colts bandwagoners, etc. etc.

PLEASE let us not forget about all of the Tigers bandwagoners. Crap did all of those people come out of the "wood works" and are now Tiger "fans"

Yeah, definitely. Actually, some of them are Red Sox converts in my classes. It must be the best team is whoever is beating the Yankees at the moment.

Ask them who Al Kaline or Alan Trammell are, and they look at you like you're a retard.

Go Royals!

Here's something for you, I12 - Schilling after getting OWNED by the Royals:

Speaking of which, our "frequent" visitor fathersson dodged this question on multiple ocassions. I asked him if he was going for St. Louis or if he was always pulling for Detroit since they beat the "evil" Yankees. You know what? The man could never give me a straight answer.

Thanks DJ! You're always good with the pictures. OUCH, 4 innings, 8 hits, 5 runs, 2 BB, 5 SO, 89 pitches with a 11.25 ERA! I realize it's the first game of the season but come on, it's THE ROYALS!

Just because I didn't rush back to post something then I'm DODGING the question? Or not giving a stright answer? Grow up Irish, you sound like an annoying little brother that no one likes.

I don't post much, because all you post here are news-clippings and or dumb comments with half truths like I just addressed. Just so you know.

You can tell it's baseball season when the Red Sox-Yankee rivalry has already yielding message board flamewars from last year's world series, which involved neither the New York or Boston teams.

One of the guys serving as the mascot for the Yankees' AAA team in Scranton was arrested for soliciting sex over the internet from what he thought was a 14 year old boy. He was busted in a shopping mall where he had made arrangements to meet the boy. This guy served as the "Grump" at parades and children's outings.
The team suspended him without pay,pending the charges.

The good news is that there is a job opening for Steve Swindal in Scranton.

And yet AGAIN, you beautifully avoid the question. What are you so afraid of there good ol' fathersson? The truth hurts I guess

Mascots...smell like cabbage...small hands...

Hush now little boy, the more you say, the more childish you sound. You should have learn by now that no one is going to jump to your whining or demands. Good parents know that you can't give in, or children turn into whining little brats.

Now run along and play.

It's OK fathersson. I know the answer now. You're too afraid to admit that you're a fickle fan. You were pulling for Detroit against the Yankees and once they won, you dropped them like a bad habit and rooted for the Cards. But it's OK, at least I have enough faith and love in my team to cheer for them whether they're winning or losing. So who's the new team you're gonna root for this year? The Mets? The Red Sox? Or the other team that plays the Yankees in the playoffs?

Curt Schilling says he'll go elsewhere next season. The Red Sox, of course, don't believe him. They think he's settled here in Boston and wouldn't want to disrupt his family or his business or his many charitable endeavors.
-- Boston Herald

Source: SI

Yeah RIGHT. I'll believe it when I see it and I don't see it happening (as much as I would want to)

Where in the world do you get this stuff? I have a good feeling that you spend your whole day arguing with tons of other people about the Yankees and baseball? You should change your title to "the Yankees fan even others Yankee fans hate!"

You sure give Yankee fans a bad name. But you already knew that didn't you. Oh wow...it is past your nap time, so be a good lad and give it a rest. I don't think your diaper can hold to much more!
And you whine about this thread only having two stars

HA! Please don't presume to think you know me. As a matter of fact, this is the only board I frequent so you "lovely" people are the only ones who I argue with about the Yankees. Don't you just feel so honored?

But, as we asked ronnie, you can show yourself the door there fathersson. This is a thread for Yankees fan. If you're not a Yankee fan, then what may I ask are you doing in here? Why not start up your own favorite MLB team thread much like pizzaboy did with his "Let's Go Mets!" thread. Oh that's right, it's such a BIG BAD secret who's nearest and dearest to fathersson's heart. More than likely, probably just embarrassed since he has to feel better about himself by trying to bring me down. Not gonna work, sir! Adios!

Your not hard to see though. I still bet you argue with everyone you meet and talk sports with. AND to strighten you out once more....This is not "thread for Yankees fan". Its title is "How bout them Yankees!?" So that means the Yankees are the subject...Good Bad or anything else that someone would like to post.

So get off your high horse and stop making a fool of yourself by
saying " as we asked ronnie, you can show yourself the door there"

In fact, you should go back and read some of the crap you have posted. I think like the rest of us, that you will see some real humor in it.

The only one who has posted anti Yankee thoughts on here this week is you! I haven't said one word against the Yankees now have I.

I would have thought that you may have learned your lesson after the last two years, when you had to eat crow after your taunts against any non-Yankee fan, or try and twist things around to make other teams look as sad.

You better be careful or this thread may get closed because you are starting crap against posters who stop in and want to post a few thoughts. You BULLY!

Yes I do engage in conversations with others when they try to pull that "the Yankees buy championships" ignorant mentality. In fact I rubbed it in a classmates face last night that the Yankees won on Monday and her precious Astros lost (by blowing the lead in the 9th). It's usually all in good fun but some, like yourself, have to take it too far and personal. JEEZ! Oh and by the way, I can easily change the title of this thread to Yankees Fans Only. Would you prefer that?




What did I post that was anti-Yankee?



But see, that's where you went wrong fathersson, you thought (and you thought wrong). It's a brand new year, the Yankees STILL have the best lineup in baseball. The pen's looking better. Really the only question mark is the rotation. And if the Yankees get Clemens at the All-Star break, that shouldn't be too much of a problem anymore. You're Tigers might flop though due to the enormous expectations that are on them this season. Only time will tell. Come talk to me in October. Between now and then, we have nothing further to discuss.

Aww, everyone let's hear it for fathersson It's ok, have a warm glass of milk and just cry yourself to sleep.

Its just a game.

Besides IRISH, I didn't show myself out the door. I agreed to quit pissing on your bowl of cheerios if you quit being a dick in my own birthday thread.

But yeah, with your knack for interpreting the past, Anne Coulter bows to you.

You're one to talk ronnie about "getting the facts straight"

Back it up big mouth.

;-0

Where's that Bad Boys review that I "just wrote a couple of weeks ago"? You ALWAYS make these wild accusations about me but can NEVER back it up with the hard proof.

Huh? You're still pissed over a Michael Bay movie?

Besides, you mentioned that you saw BAD BOYS....and I wondered whatever or not you had reviewed it. I believed at the time that you had. Also, you had comments of how you *liked* it.

Anyway, How is this Yankee related anyway?

I do have a question....do winning the first game of the season really matter as much, or is it just a nice morale boast for fans and the dugout?