The Smallest Crowd He'll Pitch Before All Year

Back on March 6th, Masahiro Tanaka made his Grapefruit League debut for the Yankees against the Phillies in Clearwater. Heavy rains... hey, I'm being modest... a monsoon a few hours before game-time , followed by lingering clouds and dampness, held down the crowd. And it was in a smaller spring training park to begin with.

You won't see that many empty seats on his day to pitch anytime soon, as Tanaka has become a real drawing card. So think for a moment about those fans who chose not to come, to stay home and go elsewhere on that soggy Thursday in March. I wonder how many of those absentees would reconsider, knowing what they know now?

It'll be a bit different tonight when the Yankees visit the Indians -- and Cleveland-area fans get their only chance this year to watch Tanaka in person.

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