Quick Bits: My Trip to the New Stadium, Hawkins, Gossage Debate

I just got back from visiting the new Yankees Stadium (e.g. some trailers around the area). As I stated yesterday, today I was fortunate enough to interview a tremendously interesting and genuinely nice person who’s working on the stadium. Due to confidentiality concerns (our research is deemed confidential) I didn’t take pictures and I cannot provide too much info about my visit (regrettably), but I can tell you a few interesting and random things we talked about before the interview took place. That’s when I was able to view the stadium from a high perch that allowed me to get a great glimpse of how it all looked, thus far.

A couple of things:

1. The concrete work should be done in April
2. The scoreboard will be attached to a white structure called a freize (spelling?)
3. The concrete is shipped in from Canada
4. The players all have LCD monitors in their lockers
5. There will be fewer seats in this stadium (and a ton of box seats)
6. The dimensions are very similar to the old stadium (you probably already knew this)
7. The work will come down to the wire (workers will be around even when the 2009 season begins, working on the last minute details and tying up loose ends)
8. There are about 600 people working on it now, but the amount should double soon
9. In a few months, the offices that I visited will be moved across the street and work will commence on the parking lot, which wasn’t really being developed from what I saw
10. One of the more difficult aspects of the construction seems to be the plumbing
11. The architects involved are based in Kansas

That’s all I can really say. I wish I could have grabbed a picture or two, but I felt kind of uncomfortable doing that since it was a formal sort of meeting. I think pictures were allowed but videos are a big no-no. Either way, it was a nice little trip and pretty exciting stuff just to see the stadium and be so close to it all.

Now, back to some more Yankee news. The LaTroy Hawkins signing is now official. Hopefully Hawkins (stats) will keep his injuries in check while with the Yankees (and, of course, be effective). Also, if you’re a Yankees fan, you’ve followed the Goose Gossage saga as he slowly creeps towards the HOF. Here’s a nice little debate, on ESPN, as to the Goose’s chances. It provides some perspective on his struggle to get into Cooperstown while simultaneously demonstrating the uphill climb that all RP’s experience in ther HOF bids.