Whenever you move into a new home, things can be a little confusing.
Just ask the Yankees.
“I couldn’t figure out how to get into the Stadium this morning, they didn’t want to let me in, because I went into the wrong gate,” Brett Gardner said.
The Bronx Bombers officially moved across the street today into the new Yankee Stadium, where the team held its first workout in their new home.
“I couldn’t figure out how to get to the clubhouse, so I just said forget it and I walked down through the stands and into the dugout and found the clubhouse,” Gardner said.
Once Gardner did find his way in, it was tough not to be impressed with the Yankees’ plush new surroundings.
“It’s just awesome, breathtaking, everything here is first class and you knew it would be that way, because the Yankees do these things right and we are going to enjoy it,” Gardner said.
His teammates agreed.
“Amazing, they did a great job,” Andy Pettitte said. I’m just thankful to have an opportunity to play here. You feel really spoiled.”
Mark Teixeira said, “It’s got such a new feel, unique look. We have no excuses that we don’t have the facility to promote winning baseball. We have batting cages right here near the dugout, next to the clubhouse we have a great new training room, chefs to cook for us. It’s got it all.”
The vast clubhouse comes complete with five flat-screen televisions and Thinkpad computers attached to each individual locker. The days of posters of attractive women are behind; they’ve been replaced with screensavers of attractive women — like the one Nick Swisher had.
“Until you see this Stadium for yourself, the pictures do it no justice,” Swisher said. “You have to see it to truly understand it. Going out on the field — it’s like ‘Whaaat?’ It’s amazing, I’m just so excited.”
On the field, it has a very similar feel to the old stadium. The distance over the fence remained the same to all fields. There is 20 less feet behind home plate.
“For me to hear the pitchers say that (the mound feels closer to the plate) was exciting because we think we have a great pitching staff,” Joe Girardi said. “And Andy
(Pettitte) told me it feels like they took the mound from the old Yankee Stadium and just brought it over.”
The Yankees will play their first game here tomorrow night against the Cubs, part of a two-game exhibition series that ends Saturday.
“I think it might be a good thing we are starting out on the road, it may help us to play a couple of exhibition games, get acclimated, then go on the road and come back,” Pettitte said.
Then the Yankees take to the road, where they open the regular season with a nine-game trip.
“The House that George Built” will open its doors for the first regular-season game when the Yankees play the Indians Apr. 16.
Hal Steinbrenner confirmed that his dad, George, will be in attendance.