The series the Cubs marketing department has been pointing toward since last fall commences Friday when the Yankees head to Wrigley Field for the first time since 2003.
But is heightened interest in the series just a media-created illusion, or are the Cubs actually looking forward to playing the Yankees?
“Definitely a media thing for you guys to write about,” said Cubs starter Doug Davis, who will face Freddy Garcia on Friday. “Really, ESPN thinks there are two teams, and that’s the Red Sox and the Yankees. It’s just hyped up by the media. It’s just another game for us.”
The contrast between the Cubs and the Yankees couldn’t be greater because one team is synonymous with winning, and the other, well …
“They’re a baseball team, just like us,” starter Matt Garza said. “Just because they wear a different jersey doesn’t mean anything. Yeah, they bring a lot of history, a lot of championships. But they’re just another ballclub.”
While most players downplayed it, Cubs management made this series the focus of their 2011 season-ticket plan. The three games against the Yankees helped them add another tier to their ticket prices with the creation of “platinum” games. The Cubs also marketed Starlin Castro in billboards as an up-and-coming Derek Jeter and will be host to a block party on the west side of the ballpark all weekend to add to the festive atmosphere.
“It’s going to be great,” Alfonso Soriano said. “We beat the first-place team in our division three out of four, and now the Yankees come to town. Everybody thinks the Yankees are the best team in the world. That’s motivation for us because we can beat those guys and have a good end of the month.”
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