I watched the ceremonies marking the end of baseball at Yankee Stadium, and as pleasant as it was to wallow in nostalgia, it all felt a little manufactured to me. I’ve always enjoyed going to Yankee Stadium; coming out of the concourse into the grandstand and beholding the field is really a special thing that never fails to deliver a thrill. But let’s face it–the concourse is narrow and gloomy and the bathrooms are smelly, and the seats, as at so many ballparks and theaters, were installed at a time when people were smaller and thinner. Hopefully the new park will be an improvement, without ruining the central attraction. What has made going to see the Yankees play has always beenthe Yankees–their talent, their confidence, their starpower, their swagger. It was very special after the game when Derek Jeter led the team on a lap of the field, doffing their caps and saluting the fans as they went. So many heroes–Jeter, Rivera, A-Rod, Mussina, Giambi. But the reality is that this is a third place club that hasn’t been in the Series since 2003 and hasn’t won a championship since 2000. Not bad for any other team, not good enough for the Yankees. If they want to continue the great tradition across the street in the new place, they’re going to have to get younger and better.