Seth's 50 Centers

While there are many more games to be played before the final season at Yankee Stadium is completed, but for one night Cincinnati Reds ace Edinson Volquez was king, quieting the Yankee faithful in style en route to a 4-2 Reds win Friday.

Volquez and the baby arms of the Reds staff were solid all weekend — with only Johnny Cueto not starting a Reds win and 22-year old Darryl Thompson making his Major League debut in the 6-0 win on Saturday.

I was there for the first two games, Friday with the CPA, Randy and his wife, the lawyer. It was a good time, with soaking in all the history a must, but it was quickly evident why the House that Ruth Built will soon be a parking lot.

An early departure from our Upper West side hotel to ensure a trip to Monument Park was thwarted by an usher outside the park a full half an hour before it was to close — the park closes 45 minutes prior to each contest — making a cramped jaunt around the narrow corridors for not.

Because of the early departure, dinner was to be consumed at the park, until the concession stand failed to have the one thing every baseball stadium is known for — hot dogs. Told it would be a while before the famous Nathan’s hot dogs were ready, we waited.

Bare bones scoreboard technology and other obvious signs of the pre-21st century stadium also were evident.

The crowd was impressive, until it became evident Volquez wasn’t messing around, and when Francisco Cordero came in to close it out and hit 99 on the gun, empty seats became popping up around the stadium.

Saturday’s game brought the same frustrations, including no hot dogs at two stands — I settled for a foot long that turned out to be so wrinkled up I think the lady found it behind the oven left over from Joe DiMaggio’s last season, in 1951!

Randy and I went to the game sans wives — they went to the Broadway show Wicked — and found ourselves in much better seats, lower level down the first base line, and saw a tight one through about six innings.

Darryl Thompson’s only letdown was that he threw too many pitches early, getting out a bases loaded jam in the second and a tight spot in the third, meaning he only went five and didn’t get the win.

The defense was spectacular both days, with the Reds playing like they were inspired by being on the hallowed grounds in the Bronx. Edwin Encarnacion and Brandon Phillips made some serious snags of line drives both days and Encarnacion came through with the breakthrough hit in Saturday’s game.

Overall, I was extremely excited to be at the ballpark before it closed, but the overall impression continued to be that the fans of New York will have a much better experience beginning next season.

Now it’s off to Fenway Park, where the Reds won’t be, but we will, Monday night. We’ll see which stadium we like better.

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