Disappointment at Yankee Stadium

Wednesday night’s Yankees game had an eerie feel to it. Like the fans in attendance knew death was imminent, but they were hoping to hold off their meeting with their maker for at least one more game. As the final out was recorded, it was a common thought, the Yankee’s playoff hopes and their long consecutive streak of post-season appearances was over.

The game did not start off well for New York. Sidney Ponson had difficulty finding the strike zone and the Red Sox batters were teeing off on him left and right. But somehow, Ponson managed to escape allowing just two runs. The Yankees fought back notching a run of their own from a Alex Rodriguez double in the bottom of that inning before tying the game at two apiece in the fourth. Then the flood gates opened including Boston’s seven run eighth inning that put the nail in the coffin and left fans shaking their heads, completely stunned. Final score: Red Sox 11, Yankees 3.

As I exited the Stadium I saw a range of emotions. From the angry fans that were lamenting about the past eight years to the fans who were looking out into space wondering what events had brought them to this point and why were they allowed to bare witness to it. The street leading to the subway was more packed than I had ever seen with people walking shoulder to shoulder down the road and the entrance to the four train reminded me of those clowns that continuously pour out of a Volkswagen Bug. Despite the massive crowd barely a word was uttered. There were no words that could explain their disappointment in a team they believed to be invincible. They are not Cubs fans who wait for the other shoe to drop. They don’t live in Philadelphia or Cleveland where their fans almost expect to lose. They are New York Yankees fans who lived through four World Series Championships from 1996-2000. They expect to be cheering for their team in the Canyon of Heroes every November and now they won’t even be cheering for them from their seats in October.

I think the man two rows above me summed up the situation, “Giants season starts next week!” Indeed it does.

Click here for my photos from the game here.

It’s been fun blogging with you,
Kate