Fans look on during the playing of the national anthem before the Detroit Tigers play the New York Yankees in an opening day baseball game. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Bloggers: Shlomo Sprung, Alex Eriksen and Camilo Smith
4:16 p.m. EDT And the Yankees win
3:46 p.m. EDT Groups of people are going to the heated bathrooms between innings to stay warm.
3:36 p.m. EDT The rain has turned frozen as the Yankees take the lead. Only the brave — and the crazy — remain
3:20 p.m EDT End of the 6th inning. That can only mean the grounds crew rendition of the YMCA
2:41 p.m EDT It is worth repeating that beer is $11 a cup, if only to quote a man speaking to his wife: “Sorry honey, but we’re not going out to dinner this weekend.”
2:19 p.m. EDT A catcher got the first hit and stolen base for the Yankees. When was the last time that happened?
2:12 p.m. EDT Homerun… The crowd goes wild!
2:10 p.m. EDT Every time Jeter is up, they play that song from STar Wars, the one that plays every time Darth Vader’s around. Pyschological warfare?
2:00 p.m. EDT A light mist is coming down on the field and the crowd..
1:53 p.m. EDT Curtis Granderson‘s batting song is “Friday” by Rebecca Black
1:50 p.m. EDT A souvenir popcorn bucket is 10 bucks.
1:40 p.m. EDT J
Brothers Ruben Rivera (left) and Jimmy Rivera and friend Victor Ojeda drove from Connecticut. (Camilo Smith)
“Its just common sense,” said Ruben who spent about $5 on a couple hotdogs and a softdrink from a hotdog cart just across the street from the stadium.
“Its expensive,” says Ojeda, the lifelong Yankees fan of the bunch who comes to 20 games a year, communting from Stamford.
This was the first Opening Day outing for the Rivera brothers. Despite the concession prices being out of their price range, they came to enjoy the ball game as the temperature started to dip in the afternoon. “It’s worth it,” said Jimmy.
There was one concession item Ruben jokingly said couldn’t have a price too high for him to pay: alcohol.
“I’ll pay $10 for a beer,” he said with a grin.
1:09 pm. EDT Yankees taking the field. Parking is $35, Beer is $11.
CC Sabathia pitches and the bleachers are already in full throat.
1:05 p.m. EDT Mike Mussina throwing out the first pitch, and we’re just about ready to go.
Crowds enter the stadium (Camilo Smith)
12:47 p.m. EDT – Mostly cloudy and cool as fans file in en masse reports Shlomo Sprung
11:35 a. m. EDT- Lineups for each team. For the Yankees: Brett Gardner leads off in left field followed by Derek Jeter at shortstop, Mark Teixeira at first base, Alex Rodriguez at third base, Robinson Cano at second base, Nick Swisher in right field, the designated hitter Jorge Posada, Curtis Granderson in center field and Russell Martin catching. For the Tigers: Austin Jackson leads off in center field followed by Will Rhymes at second base, Magglio Ordonez in right field, Miguel Cabrera at first base, the designated hitter Victor Martinez, Ryan Raburn in left field, Jhonny Peralta at shortstop, Brandon Inge at third base and Al Avila catching. The starting pitchers will be C.C. Sabathia for the Yankees and Justin Verlander for Detroit.
11:10 a. m. EDT- The rain has all but stopped at Yankee Stadium for now, but precipitation is expected throughout the day, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney.
10:32 a. m. EDT- Forecasters predict that there will be steady light rain throughout the game with the game time temperature hovering around 40 degrees so bring an umbrella and wear lots of layers if you’re going to the game. If you’re driving to the game, we certainly won’t be doing that at The Bronx Ink, and want to park in one of the city-owned lots near the stadium, you’ll be in for a rude surprise. Parking prices are up from $23 to $35 which will certainly cause an uproar among the spectators coming in from New Jersey, Connecticut and Long Island.
One pleasant surprise will be the inclusion of outfielder Curtis Granderson in the starting lineup after quickly recovering from a mild oblique strain. He felt good Wednesday in Tampa and will be in the order today. Center
Fielder Brett Gardner is expected to lead off for the team with Derek Jeter batting second. With uncertainty in the starting rotation, 21-game winner C.C. Sabathia is even more important to the team’s success and will take the hill today against Detroit ace Justin Verlander.
