For me, the prime reason to watch playoff baseball, when the guys not wearing the laundry bearing my state's name are not present, is the atmosphere created by the fans and the of the ball parks. Generally speaking, the older the park, and the more experienced a fan base, in terms of knowing both winning and losing, the better it will be.
For my money, there is nothing better than Yankee Stadium. Last night was a prime example. The glowering, cement edifices of the deep dark Bronx encompassing 56,000 roaring fans, as well as the ghosts of Ruth, Gherig, DiMaggio, et al. There was a moment in the late innings where Derek Jeter got up with the bases loaded and the most demanding audience in sports welcomed him to the plate like a conquering Cesar. What a spectacle. I imagine Jeter will recall this the rest of his life, despite the fact he ended up bouncing into a double play.
Tonight is another chance to experience this. And maybe the last one ever. The New Yankee Stadium is scheduled to open in 2009. Who knows if the Yankees will make the playoffs next year. If they don't and if they lose tonight, that will be all she wrote for meaningful games in the House that Ruth built. See it while you can, 6:30 PM (central) tonight on TBS.
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