New York Yankees fans sound off before the team’s crucial game today with the Los Angeles Angels.

New York Yankees fans sound off before the team’s crucial game today with the Los Angeles Angels.

BURT SAPRANO, 42, HARLEM, MANHATTAN

Have you been following the baseball games?

Yes I have. I watched the most recent game at a bar. The Yankees lost, but.

It was very up and down.

Yeah, but you know what? A-Rod is doing good, even though they’re throwing accusations of steroid-use in his face. Players shouldn’t use some type of substance to increase their ability. It’s cheating. They shouldn’t even be in the Hall of Fame.

What if it was found that Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth used steroids?

Even though they were great players, I would say take them out of the Hall of Fame. Pete Rose ain’t in the Hall of Fame. He’s been ineligible ever since he got caught betting. He’s been fighting it for years.

When he got busted I tore my mint-condition Pete Rose baseball card into pieces.

Wow.

As a Mets fan what’s your take on—

—I’m a Yankees fan, the Yankees. The Yankees have played so well this year and broke so many records that if they don’t win the World Series, I will stop being a Yankee fan.

You will not.

I would—for a couple months.

RONALD STREET, 52, NEWARK, NEW JERSEY

You’re Street, too? How did you get that name?

That’s my birth name.

Why?

My mother, my father, you know what I mean? I’m a boxer. What do you know about boxing?

Nothing.

Who do you think is the best now?

This guy Street is nice.

Let me show you something, man. I will go against the best. I will fight De La Hoya. You know who’s a good boxer? Derek Jeter. He knocked out Roy Jones. Who do you think I want to spar with? If the money is right, I will get down with you.

A radio program called This American Life did a show on this class of boxer that is hired as an essential punching bag for people to bet against.

Mike Frazier? We all become punching bags.

JUSTIN STRUBING, 33, LOWER EAST SIDE, MANHATTAN

How ’bout them Yanks?

I like how everyone in New York gets so psyched. I grew up on the West Coast so my parents are big San Francisco Giants fans.

Do you wear a Giants hat out here?

No.

You’re not showing hella love to the Yay Area.

It’s not that I would be scared to. Growing up I was definitely psyched to watch the Giants games. An old friend of mine is a professional baseball player. Pat Burrell. He played for the Phillies when they won the World Series. He went to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays when he contract ended. I’ll wear a Giants hat but really I’ll only wear a hat if it fits right; when it does I’ll wear it to the ground.

Like a New Era Fitted?

I don’t like New Era that much. They feel too bulky on my head.

How about those Starter hats with the Flexfit?

People will give me shit but I’ll wear those sometimes.

-PETER MADSEN

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