Those season ticket holders sitting in non-premium seats will pay the same per-game price as they are paying for the regular season for their ALDS seats, with the exception of one section of seats.

I have a partial season ticket plan, and while I don’t get playoff privileges in my own seats like Full Season holders do, I do have a chance to get tickets in the presale (and I also get a chance through my Staten Island Yankees plan). In the past, I just haven’t been able to fork out the money for playoff tickets because of the steep increases but because of this it’s likely that I’ll be able to actually use my presale privileges for good and pick up a pair for my boyfriend and I. Even if they’re advance price, I figure they must be around the same range as current advance price which will mean they’ll wind up $40 a seat or so after the hideous Ticketmaster fees in the Grandstand Dugout (if such tickets can be snagged).

These won’t be my only playoffs, as I faxed over my order form for the Staten Island Yankees postseason today but it’s nice to finally have the opportunity to head to some October baseball games in the Bronx.

And I’ll be able to bring in a bag. What more could I ask for?

(Yes, I do realize that there is no gouging going on because they are afraid people just wouldn’t buy them but I am not complaining.)

At tonight’s game, however, I noticed these lovely new signs and bag size evaluators (much like what you’d find in an airport):

And from they have updated the Yankee Stadium A-Z page with this information:

Diaper bags, small backpacks, small purses and bags are permitted. However, in accordance with Major League Baseball security regulations, bags larger than 16 x 16 x 8 inches will not be allowed into the Stadium. Briefcases, large backpacks, large purses and bags, coolers and hard-sided bags and containers are also not permitted. All bags must be thoroughly inspected before they are permitted into the Stadium. Box templates shall be used at inspection points, and bags and their contents must fit without assistance, modification or adjustment. The Yankees reserve the right to inspect any bags, clothing or other articles prior to entry into Yankee Stadium and prohibit entry or require removal of any items the Yankees deem inappropriate or potentially injurious to Yankee Stadium, other patrons or field personnel.

Hooray!

Still no laptops allowed for whatever crazy reason, but hey at least it’s a step in the right direction finally.

So, they hit more homeruns at home and more doubles on the road. This probably has to do with the not as advertised fence distances. Overall, the offense has a slight advantage at home because of that, but it still comes out mostly even. Which I love because it’s a great counter to the “New Yankee Stadium is a joke” crowd. There’s a difference, yes, but there’s always a difference. The Yankees are still scoring an average of about 5.5 runs on the road and that’s a nice number.

Even without the WIND TUNNEL to rely on to boost those slugging numbers, the Yankees hit more than a homer a game on the road so when they score lots of runs you expect to find some of them came via the long ball. Carlos Gomez, being a jerk, was having none of that though which gave the Yankees an opportunity to out-Twins the Twins.

Luckily, it didn’t involve any bunting or hit and runs or productive outs (well, except that one Sac Fly thanks to Carlos Gomez’s leap) and grit heart scrappy gamer grinding. Just a whole lot of singles. 13 of them, to be exact. The other hits of the night were two doubles and a triple.

How do you score 10 runs off 16 hits spread over the night with no homeruns? Well, this part isn’t very Twins but is very Yankees: You take free bases when they’re offered. Minnesota pitchers issued 7 walks last night–including one with the bases loaded to Nick Swisher.

It’s nice to have a game like this where hit after hit falls in once in a while, but I still like the Bronx Bombers more.

Girardi said is leaning toward not starting Hideki Matsui in the outfield in National League ballparks this weekend, but would consider using him in double-switch situations.

It appears that we are saved from a Hideki Matsui (LF) – Johnny Damon (CF) – Nick Swisher (RF) outfield in interleague play. While a step up from the Matsui-Damon-Abreu outfield that made a few appearances last year it would still be tragic for people who enjoy watching not completely horrible defense.

I will miss his bat in the lineup, but what can you do when you must play by the little kids’ rules?