Tagged: Billy Martin
Babe Ruth Would Be Proud As New Stadium Opens
As the “House That Ruth Built” sits so gracefully across the street from the “House That George Built”, the 2009 New York Yankees christened the new Yankee Stadium in very high fashion winning the first ball game played in this new “cathedral” 7-4 against Lou Piniella’s Chicago Cubs.
Even though it was only an exhibition game, it had the feel of a regular season matchup watching the grand opening on the YES Network.
The new Stadium has a very similar look to the old renovated Yankee Stadium, at least on the field, as the field dimensions are exactly the same distances from home plate. There is more foul territory on both the first and third base sides of the field, and home plate is 20 feet closer to the back stop, though. But, other than those changes the players said when they are on the field it reminds them a lot like the old Stadium.
The main differences are beyond the fences, in the stands, and within all surrounding areas.
And, the most dominate feature of the new ballpark is the huge 59′ high – 103′ wide centerfield scoreboard. From all reports this wide screen “true high-def” scoreboard projects the clearest pictures imagineable and is the main focal point of everyone’s sight as it ceates a brand new skyline towering over the centerfield area in the middle of the bleachers in between both foul poles.
The “frieze” or “facade” is the other dominate feature as it brings the new Stadium back to its original 1923 look, with the classic white hanging facade wrapping around the roof levels just above the upper deck seating.
This beautiful feature always brings to mind the famous homerun that Mickey Mantle almost hit out of Yankee Stadium, on May 22, 1963, against the Kanas City Athletics … a soaring, majestic, powerful shot that slammed high off the upper rightfield “facade”, just inches short of traveling into the Bronx streets surrounding the Stadium.
No player has ever hit a fair ball out of the old Yankee Stadium. Will a player ever hit one out of the new Stadium?
Another great new feature, which is really a retro look going back to 1923, are the two manual scoreboards, one in leftfield and one in right, that are part of the outfield walls. These additions will be part of many new memories this year and in future years, and we will see classic pictures like the famous Don Larsen Perfect Game photo from the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Those are some of my first impressions of the new Yankee Stadium. There is a full season ahead of us, and hopefully at some point I will get a chance to vist the new ballpark. But, based on everything I have seen so far, on television and in the many pictues that have been published, the new Yankee Stadium is very simply “beautiful” and an instant “classic”.
Oh, yes, there also was a ball game during the Friday April 3, 2009 grand opening at the new state-of-the-art Yankee Stadium.
It did not look like a game would be played because of all the rain we had in the New York area Friday morning into the late afternoon. The rain did stop around 4:00 p.m. ET, though, and the newly improved and advanced drainage system worked as advertised, delivering almost perfect field conditions for the start of the game.
The National Anthem was played; Reggie Jackson threw out the first pitch; and, it was time to play ball.
The first pitch by Yankees starter, Chien-Ming Wang was a strike. But, the lead-off batter for the Cubs, Aaron Miles, did end up getting a single in this at-bat, the first hit at the new Stadium. Kosuke Fukudome followed with another single moving Miles to third. Then, Derrek Lee hit a RBI, sac-fly to center, giving the Cubs the early 1-0 lead as Miles crossed the plate.
Derek Jeter, the new lead-off hitter for the Yanks, who got the final hit at the old Yankee Stadium, started things off for the Bronx Bombers by stroking a double, the first Yankee hit at the new Stadium. But, Cubs starter, Ted Lilly, easily retired the next three batters, Damon, Teixeira, and Matsui, moving the game into the top of the second inning.
The Cubs added two more runs off Wang, on a walk to Soto, single to Gathright, and a two-out double to Miles, increasing their lead to 3-0.
After Jorge Posada led off the bottom of the second with a single, Robinson Cano cut the Cubs lead to 3-2, blasting a line-drive two-run homerun into the rightfield bleachers.
Jose Molina hit the final homer at the old Yankee Stadium; Cano now has the honor of hitting the first homerun at the new Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees took a 4-3 lead in this game in the bottom of the third, when Derek Jeter led off the inning with a single, and scored on Hideki Matsui’s two-out, two-run homerun which christened the rightfield foul pole.
Wang allowed the Cubs to tie the score 4-4 in the top of the 4th inning on a triple by Reed Johnson, and an RBI grounder to Jeter at short by Ryan Theriot. The Yankees had the infield back at regular depth which helped Johnson to score without a throw to the plate.
The Bombers battled right back in this game in the bottom of the 4th, on back to back singles by Cano and Nady; then, Alex Rodriguez’s replacement, Cody Ransom, lofted a high shot down the third base line, that christened the leftfield foul pole for a three-run homer, and 7-4 Yankees lead.
Chien-Ming Wang pitched a scoreless 5th inning, but was not very effective in this start, allowing four runs, on six hits, two walks, and three strikeouts, while throwing 71 pitches.
Mariano Rivera delivered another soild performance, easily retiring the side in order in the top of the 6th.
And, relievers, Veras (7th), Ramirez (8th), and Albaladejo (9th), closed out the rest of the game for the Yankees, each throwing a scoreless inning to help preserve the Yanks 7-4 victory. To view boxscore, click on: Game One
But, Ransom’s three-run homer completed the scoring in this game … and, I’m sure Babe Ruth had a big smile on his face, as the Yankees hit “three” homeruns in honor of “The Babe’s” #3, and rang the bell on both foul poles — a sound that surely carried throughout the universe, the “Yankees Universe”, as new memories were made and the great Yankees tradition continued at the “new” Yankee Stadium.
Rare Moment Of The Game …
Two of the Yankees three homeruns were shots that hit one of the “foul poles”, which is rare enough. But, when was the last time you seen homeruns hit off each foul pole by players on the same team, in the same game?
Well, I can’t remember the last time I seen this extraordinary event happen.
In the first game at the new Yankee Stadium this rare event did occur, when Hideki Matsui hit a two-run homerun off the the rightfield foul pole in the 3rd inning; and, Cody Ransom hit a three-run homer off the leftfield foul pole in the bottom of the 4th.
The New York Yankees christened the new Yankee Stadium in style, with a 7-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs; and, with two special homeruns that christened both foul poles.
Photo Credits …
* Mickey Mantle homerun — 4.bp.blogspot.com/…/s400/Mick%27s+moonshot.jpg
* Don Larsen / Billy Martin — BestSportsPhotos.com
* Babe Ruth — http://www.gallerym.com/work.cfm?ID=278
— Jimmy Curran, “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life”
Update: Sunday, April 5, 2009 …
In the second game of the two-game exhibition series against the Chicago Cubs, on Saturday, April 4th, at the new Yankee Stadium, the Yankees ended their 2009 Spring Training with a 10-1 victory over the Cubs.
The ball seems to be flying out of the new ballpark, as the Yankees hit seven homeruns in these two games …
Three homers in game one — Robinson Cano (two-run homer); Hideki Matsui (two-run homer); and Cody Ransom (three-run homer) — accounting for all of the Yankees seven runs in their 7-4 win …
Four homeruns in the second game — Derek Jeter (three-run homer in the 3rd inning); two homeruns by Mark Teixeira (solo shot in the 3rd; and, three-run homer in the 4th inning); and Shelley Duncan (solo homer in the 8th) — adding up to eight of the Yankees ten runs in their 10-1 victory.
In Game Two … Andy Pettitte started for the Yanks and pitched four solid innings, allowing the only Cub run, on six hits, one walk, and two strikeouts … A.J. Burnett replaced Pettitte in the 5th inning and also delivered a solid effort on the mound, pitching four innings, allowing zero runs, on two hits, one base-on-ball, and six strkeouts … Brian Bruney (two strikeouts), and Phil Coke (one strikeout), closed out the game and Yankees victory, pitching a scoreless 9th inning.
To view “box score”, click on: Game Two: Yanks 10, Cubs 1
The new 2009 Basball Season is finally here …
Enjoy “Opening Day”, everybody !!!
— Jimmy [27NYY], “BY&L”
And, Don’t Forget Joe Gordon And Tony Kubek
The Hall of Fame selections were announced the other day, and as expected, Rickey Henderson easily slid into the Hall on a first ballot vote of 95% of the baseball writers who have the great honor of voting for which players are enshrined into baseball’s “Hall of Fame”.
Rickey received 511 of the 539 votes cast, and one has to wonder what the other 28 baseball writers were thinking when they didn’t include Henderson on their ballots. It’s not like each writer could vote for only “one” player on their ballot. Each voter can choose up to “ten” players out of the ones on the list. Even if all of the 28 voters thought nine players were more deserving then Henderson being enshrined this year, surely Rickey earned, at least, a 10th place vote by these select-few, honored, baseball writers. Puzzling ???
Of course, Rickey Henderson was very excited when he heard the news that he had been voted into the Hall of Fame, but he had only one person on his mind when thinking about who he would thank in his acceptance speech. Billy Martin.
In Kevin Kernan’s, January 13, 2009, New York Post article, Rickey said, “I wish he [Billy Martin] was here because I think most of all he believed in me more than anybody believed in me. He was like a father figure to me. I know, in his burial that he’s turning over and he’s jumping for joy. I can feel that he’ll say that he knew that this day would come, and I wish he was here.”
Billyball was fun to watch, in all those years Rickey played for the Oakland A’s, breaking just about every stolen base record in baseball history for manager Billy Martin. As Martin’s son, Billy Martin, Jr., said, “I think my father understood Rickey better than some other guys. They trusted one another.”
Henderson played for many teams, and, I remember him most as one of the greatest leadoff hitters in baseball history, during the time that he played for the New York Yankees.
Congratulations, to Rickey Henderson. His “Hall of Fame” acceptance speech should be a “classic”.
Also, selected for enshrinement into the Hall of Fame, was the great Boston Red Sox player, Jim Rice.
This was Rice’s last year of eligibility to be selected by the Baseball Writers; and, after a long 15 year wait he finally earned a well deserved trip to Cooperstown. He played his whole career with the Red Sox, and was one of the most dominant players of his era during the years, 1974-1989, in which, he won the MVP in 1978 and played in 8 All-Star games.
Congratulations, to Jim Rice, whose next honor should be his #14 being retired by the Boston Red Sox.
Along with Rickey Henderson, who will enter the Hall of Fame in an Oakland A’s cap, two other former Yankee players will also be enshrined in Baseball’s “Hall of Fame” this year on July 26th. Joe Gordon and Tony Kubek.
Kubek received the 2009 Ford C. Frick Award, which honors outstanding broadcasters with enshrinement into the Hall of Fame.
Tony Kubek played for the Yankees in the late 1950’s and early ’60’s; but, I never had the pleasure of watching him play during his Yankees days, which was limited because of an injury in the 1960 World Series, when a groundball took a bad hop that bounced into his throat.
But, it was a pleasue to listen to Kubek as an “expert” baseball analyst, on the NBC “Game of the Week”, with Curt Gowdy and Joe Garagiola, during the ’70’s and 80’s; as well as, when he was an analyst on Yankees games with announcer, DeWayne Staats in the early 1990’s.
Very simply, in my view, Tony Kubek was one of the best baseball analyst’s in broadcasting history; and, I truly missed him when he no longer was a broadcaster on Yankee games.
So, Congratulations, to Mr. Kubek, on receiving this awesome award and honor.
And, finally, but not forgotten, on December 7, 2008, the baseball Veteran’s Committee, by a vote of 83.3% [10 of 12 voters], selected the great second baseman, Joe Gordon, for induction into the “Hall of Fame”.
Joe Gordon played for the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians, from 1938-1950. He was a great fielding, power hitting second baseman, who played on five World Championship teams, and was a nine-time All-Star.
In 1938, his rookie year with the Yankees, Gordon replaced Hall of Famer, Tony Lazzeri, and hit 25 homeruns that year, which was the first time an American League second baseman hit 20 homers in a season; and, also, was an AL record for second basemen until 2006.
In 1939, Joe Gordon hit 28 homeruns, including, three homers in a game on June 28th, and finished the season, second in homers on the Yankees, behind the great Joe DiMaggio.
And, the best example of his value to the New York Yankees, was in 1942, when Gordon hit .322 with 18 homeruns and 103 RBI’s; and, also, led the league in turning double plays with Hall of Fame shortstop, Phil Rizzuto. Gordon won the American League MVP Award in 1942, beating out Ted Williams of the Red Sox, who hit for the “Triple Crown” that year.
At the time it was announced that Gordon had been voted into the Hall of Fame, another Yankee great, Jerry Coleman, had this to say about Joe Gordon, “He was one of the greats of the game; a truly brilliant defensive player; and, the perfect second baseman with his ability to turn the double play and hit for power in such a difficult hitter’s park as Yankee Stadium. He made Phil Rizzuto and Lou Boudreau better, as Gordon wasn’t just good, he was great”.
Joe Gordon played on four World Series winning teams with the New York Yankees, and served our Country for two years [1944-’45] in the military; but, was traded to the Cleveland Indians, at the end of the 1946 season, for Allie Reynolds. He helped the Indians win the 1948 World Championship by leading the team with 32 homeruns and 124 RBI’s.
Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner, who is originally from Cleveland, remembers Joe Gordon as a player, and released the following statement after it was announced that Gordon had been voted into Baseball’s “Hall of Fame”.
Mr. Steinbrenner said, “Joe Gordon was a great second baseman, a great Yankee, and an inspiration to millions of American’s for many years. The Yankees are proud of his election.”
Congratulations to Joe Gordon on being enshrined into the Hall of Fame.
To view the lifetime stats of these “Hall of Famers”, on Baseball-Reference.com, click on …
* Joe Gordon
http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/gordojo01.shtml
* Rickey Henderson
http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/henderi01.shtml
* Jim Rice
http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/riceji01.shtml
* Tony Kubek
Watching Don Larsen’s Perfect Game, Was Perfect
Well, I wanted to write a post over the weekend about the great debut of the MLB Network, but “time” just somehow got in the way.
The highlight of the launch of the MLB Network, of course, was the re-broadcast of Don Larsen’s Perfect Game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Yankees won that classic game, 2-0, with Larsen leading the way to victory.
Yogi Berra was the Yankees catcher, and called a perfect game himself, as Don Larsen didn’t shake off any of the pitches that Yogi called. Another highlight watching the Perfect Game, was the live Bob Costas interviews with Don Larsen and Yogi Berra during the re-broadcast of the game.
Some other other major highlights were seeing Mickey Mantle hit a homerun in the bottom of the 4th inning that gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead; then, a great catch by Duke Snider in centerfield that robbed Yogi Berra of a hit to end that inning. Also, Mantle made a great running catch in left-centerfield off the bat of Gil Hodgers later in the game that helped preserve the perfect game.
Also, seeing Billy Martin play, and the other great Yankee and Dodgers players on the field and at bat, as well as, hearing Hall of Fame broadcasters Mel Allen and Vince Scully call the game, made it a perfect way to start off the New Year.
It was interesting that Mel Allen called the first part of the game; and then, in the later innings a very young Vince Scully called the rest of the game, never referring directly to Larsen’s perfect game, but just using phrases like, “Larsen is pitching a brilliant game”, or just mentioning the amount of batters that had been retired by Don Larsen.
The Perfect Game ended with that iconic leap by Yogi Berra into Don Larsen’s arms, which is one of the all-time classic images in baseball history.
So, an awesome “Opening Night” for the MLB Network.
I look forward to many more special days and nights on the MLB Network, especially, the Ken Burns Baseball series on Tuesday nights.
To view the box scores of the 1956 World Series on “Baseball-Reference.com”, click on:
1950 World Series, Game Two … Yankees 2, Phillies 1
Thursday, October 5, 1950 — Shibe Park, Philadelphia — In Game 2 of the 1950 World Series, the New York Yankees won another classic game against the Philadelphia Phillies, as the game went into extra innings tied 1-1, when Joe DiMaggio hit a dramatic lead-off homerun in the top of the 10th inning that gave the Yankees the 2-1 lead.
The Bronx Bombers held onto that lead, closing out the game in the bottom of the 10th, to take a 2-0 lead in this Series.
Just like in Game One, when Vic Raschi of the Yankees, out-dueled, Jim Konstanty of the Phillies, in the Yanks 1-0 win; Game Two delivered two more great pitching performances, by Allie Reynolds, the Yankees starter; and, Robin Roberts, who started for the Phillies. Both pitchers completed the full 10 innings each team played, with Reynolds ending up the victor.
The Yankees scored the first run of the game in the top of the second, when after two outs, Jerry Coleman walked; advanced on a single by Allie Raynolds; and, then scored on a RBI infield single to short by Gene Woodling. Yankees 1, Phillies 0.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Phillies tied the score. Mike Goliat led off the inning with a single, and after Roberts failed to move him over on a sac-bunt, Eddie Waitkus singled to set-up a first and third situation. Then, Goliat was driven home on a RBI sac-fly to leftfield by Richie Ashburn that evened the score, 1-1.
The Yankees had a chance to take the lead in the top of the 8th, when Bobby Brown and Hank Bauer singled with one out. But, Coleman grounded out; and, then, Reynolds [hitting in this key late-game situation] struck out, ending the rally.
In the bottom of the 9th inning, with one out, Philadelphia had a chance to win this game by getting two runners on base, a double by Granny Hammer, and an intentional walk to Dick Whitman. But, Mike Goliat hit into an inning ending 6-4-3 double play, sending this game into extra innings.
Joe DiMaggio was the lead-off batter for the Yankees in the top of the 10th inning. He was (0-for-4) up to this point in the game, but Joe D. was about to be the hero once again, as he hit a homerun that moved the Bombers into the 2-1 lead.
Robin Roberts shut down the Yankees the rest of the inning without any other runs scoring, which finished his great performance of 10 innings pitched, allowing two runs, on ten hits, three walks, and five strikeouts.
The Phillies started the bottom of the 10th inning with a lead-off walk. But, Reynolds retired the next three batters to complete the Yankees 2-1 victory.
Allie Reynolds pitched a brilliant 10 inning complete game win, giving up one run, on seven hits, four walks, and six strikeouts.
With this 2-1 victory, the Yankees took a 2-0 lead in this series. To read more about this Game Two, and the 1950 World Series, click on:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI195010050.shtml
In “Game Two” of the 2008 World Series, the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-2, to even this series, one game apiece.
The Rays got on the scoreboard first, when Akinori Iwamura led off the bottom of the first inning with a walk; and, advanced to third on B.J. Upton’s single to right. On the play, Jayson Werth misplayed the ball, allowing Upton to go to second. Then, Iwamura scored on a ground out by Carlos Pena; and, Upton scored on a ground out by Evan Longoria, that gave the Rays the early 2-0 lead.
“Small-Ball”, “Small-Ball”, “Small-Ball” … I wonder if Joe Girardi and the Yankee players were watching?
After the game, Rays Manager, Joe Maddon, made a point to discuss how important small-ball is; and, he said, it is very important to “score runs with outs”.
That was always the philosophy of the great Yankees Manager, Billy Martin, who said, “it’s important to score the first run of a game anyway you can, so the other team would have to score at least two runs to win the game.” Well, in the case of this World Series Game, the Phillies would need at least three runs to win.
The Rays scored another run in the bottom of the second, when they loaded the bases, and B.J. Upton drove home Dioner Navarro on a RBI single. But, on the play, Rocco Baldelli was out at the plate when he tried to score on a nice throw from the outfield to catcher Carlos Ruiz, who held onto the ball for the out, even though Baldelli made a hard slide into Ruiz.
The score was now 3-0, as the game moved into the bottom of the 4th, when Tampa Bay increased their lead to 4-0 on a beautiful safety squeeze by Jason Bartlett that scored Cliff Floyd. [More small-ball by the Rays]
The Phillies had chances to score some runs in the early innings, but Rays starter, James Shields pitched good enough to not allow any runs over his 5.2 innings of work, in which he gave up seven hits, and two walks, while striking out four.
Joe Maddon finally had to go to the bullpen in the 6th inning, when the Phillies had runners on first and third with two outs.
Dan Wheeler was called into the game, and got Pedro Feliz to hit into a fielders choice that ended the rally, holding the Rays 4-0 advantage in the game.
Wheeler walked the lead-off batter, Ruiz, (2-for-2; 1 run; 2 walks), in the top of the 7th inning, before striking out the next two batters, Rollins and Werth, which completed his very effective performance.
Maddon decided to bring in David Price at this point; Price walked Chase Utley, then struck out Ryan Howard to end the Phillies rally, keeping the 4-0 score in favor of the Rays.
Phillies starter, Brett Myers, completed his work in this game after retiring the side in the 7th inning. Myers allowed four runs [three earned], on seven hits, three walks, and two strikeouts.
Price remained in the game in the top of the 8th, and quickly got two outs. But, then, pinch-hitter, Eric Bruntlett, blasted a solo homer off Price, that broke up the shutout, decresing the Rays lead to 4-1. Price then retired the final batter without any further damage.
The Rays didn’t score in the bottom of the 8th, when Phillies reliever, J.C. Romero, pitched a scoreless inning. The game now moved into the top of the 9th inning.
In the 9th, the Phillies scored their second and final run on an error by Evan Longoria; but, David Price then closed out the inning, preserving the Rays 4-1 victory, tying this Series at one game apiece.
Game Three moves to Philadelphia on Saturday, October 25, 2008.
Kennedy, “Not Upset” … You Can’t Be Serious !!!
“It’s always disappointing, but it’s my first bad outing in a long time, since the All-Star break”, said, Ian Kennedy, whose previous seven starts were in the minor leagues”.
“I felt like I made some good pitches and got out of the second inning. ‘I am not too upset about it’. You move on, and I have already done that. I am not going to look too much into it”. … Ian Kennedy, after Yankees 10-5 loss to Angels
Well, I’m sure that most Yankee fans have already seen, or heard, the quotes from Ian Kennedy, either after the game on the Yes Network, in his interview with Kim Jones; or, in the many newspaper reports, including the above quote, from George King’s article in the New York Post; or, online, on the many Yankee and Baseball web sites; or, on the TV sports programs; or, Sports Talk Radio, etc., etc., etc.
The first thing that came to mind when I heard these quotes, was, “you got to be kidding”. Then, I thought, Ian Kennedy should be thankful that the “great” Thurman Munson and the “great” Billy Martin are not here, because they surely would have given this “kid” something to be upset about.
The numbers tell the story; and, if Kennedy takes a closer look, he will realize that he has a lot to be upset about.
Ian Kennedy lasted only two innings, in which he allowed 9 hits; 5 earned runs; one walk; with only one strikeout. All that damage was caused by 61 “very upsetting” pitches.
In 10 games [9 starts] this season, Kennedy’s record is now (0-4) with a 8.17 ERA . I would say, “that’s a lot to be upset about” !!!
The quotes are very disturbing, Mr. Kennedy, because this is New York, and you play for the New York Yankees. A true Yankee does not react to a “loss” like you did at the end of yesterday’s 10-5 loss to the Angels. This is just not the “Yankees Way”.
Every player on the Yankees was upset about yesterday’s loss. The whole coaching staff was upset. Everyone in the Yankees Organization was upset. All Yankee fans were upset about yesterday’s loss. Everyone, in the Yankees Universe is upset. Everyone, except, you, Mr. Kennedy.
Ian Kennedy may be wearing a Yankees uniform, and on the Major League roster, at the moment. But, that doesn’t make him a true Yankee, just yet.
When you play for the New York Yankees, you have to show that you “care”, and “respect” the great Yankees tradition. By telling the whole world that you are “not upset” after you lose a very important game to the team with the best record in baseball — you are telling everbody, especially, Yankee fans, that you do not respect “the Yankees”; or, “your teammates”; or, the “Great Yankees Tradition”.
The Yankees Organization is learning a very costly lesson, that Ian Kennedy may only be a (AAAA) pitcher, at best. He may be one of those players that is only at a level somewhere between (AAA) and the Major Leagues.
But, also, we are all learning about the character of a very young rookie pitcher, who earlier this year said, maybe it was a good thing that he was being sent down to the minors, because there is “less pressure” down there. And, now we find out, “losing is not upsetting” to this young man.
Well, if that’s the case, then, I guess, it wouldn’t be upsetting to Mr. Kennedy if he was demoted to (AAA), (AA), or, the Gulf Coast League (A) ball; or, even, the Rookie Leagues. I also wonder, if a trade, or being released from the Yankees, would upset Kennedy.
I know all the above would upset most of us, but it doesn’t look like it would upset Ian Kennedy. If a “loss” doesn’t upset you, then I can’t see what else in baseball could be more upsetting.
Hopefully, this event in Ian Kennedy’s baseball life is a “major lesson”, that Kennedy will “learn from”.
But, this late in the season, in the middle of a pennant race, the Yankees can not afford any “on-the-job-training” session with any player, especially, Ian Kennedy. There is just too much at stake. The 10-5 loss to the Angels, should be Ian Kennedy’s last start this year, for the New York Yankees.
It’s time for the Yankees to put the training wheels back on Ian Kennedy, and send him back down to (AAA)-SWB, which has a lot less pressue; and, where, hopefully, Mr. Kennedy will learn to respect the “Game of Baseball”, and, also, the “importance of winning”.
This is all part of the great “Yankees Tradition”, where “Losing Is Very Upsetting”, no matter what Ian Kennedy may think.
Special Edit: Sunday, August 10, 2008 — Before the Yankees final game in their three-game series against the L.A. Angels, in Anaheim, CA, the Yankees made a couple of roster moves, including, sending Ian Kennedy back down to (AAA) – Scranton / Wilkes-Barre; and recalling, left-handed reliever, Billy Traber, from SWB.
Sending Ian Kennedy back down to the minors was a great move by the New York Yankees, and a very quick, and necessary, response, to Kennedy’s terrible outing in Friday’s 10-5 loss to the Angels; and, also, his outrageous comments after the game, saying, he was “not upset about the loss”.
It is very clear, Mr. Kennedy has a lot to learn about being a member of the New York Yankees, most notably, how to take responsibility when he does not pitch well. Also, the most important lesson he has to learn, is: The great Yankees Tradition is all about “winning”. The goal every year, is to win the World Series. Anything less, is a losing season. Ian Kennedy has to learn to realize that “all losses are very upsetting”, to all Yankee fans, and everybody in the Yankees Organization !!!
Final Note: This road trip is not going well, at all. After splitting the four-game series against the Rangers in Texas, the Yankees were swept in their three-game series against the L.A. Angels this weekend. The Bronx Bombers are now, 2-5, on this 10-game road trip, as they head into Minnesota, to play three-games vs. the Twins. Time is running out for the Yankees, as they remain in third place in the AL EAST, 9 games behind the Division Leading, Tampa Bay Rays; and, 4 games behind the second place, Boston Red Sox.
Yanks Win, 2-1, On Cano’s Clutch Hit In 9th
The game was tied 1-1 going into the bottom of the 9th when Robinson Cano delivered his biggest hit of the year, driving home Hideki Matsui from second base, for a walk-off, game winning hit, to give the Yankees a 2-1 win against the Baltimore Orioles.
This was the Yankees first come-from-behind win of the season, as they beat the Orioles for the second night in a row to take the rubber game of this three-game series. The Yanks are still in last place in the AL East, though, as they improved their record to 22-25.
The other exiciting news of the night was the pitching performance by the Yankees starter, Ian Kennedy. The Yankees needed Kennedy to pitch a “big” game, and he did just that, throwing 97 pitches over 6 solid innings, giving up the only run the Orioles scored, on 4 hits, and 4 walks, while striking out 4. Kennedy did not get a decision in this game, but he made the Yankees decision a little bit easier to keep him in the starting rotation. Maybe with Joba moving into the rotation in the near future, Kennedy was more motivated and focused to pitch a great game. The added focus resulted in Ian Kennedy’s best outing of the season
The key inning for Kennedy, was the third, when he gave up the Orioles run on an RBI triple by Freddie Bynum. Kennedy then walked Brian Roberts and Jay Payton, to load the bases, with only one out. In previous starts, this is the same type of inning that Kennedy usually self-implodes, and basically lets the flood gate open to allow a wave of runs to score by the other team.
Tonight, though, the Orioles would not make it to the shore line, as Kennedy struck out Nick Markakis, for the second out, and got Aubrey Huff to fly out for the final out of the inning, leaving the bases loaded. This could be the turning point in Ian Kennedy’s season, and will certaintly help his confidence as he pitches in future starts.
After Kennedy left the game, the Yankees bullpen was “lights-out” again. A scoreless 7th by Jose Veras; a 1-2-3, 8th inning, by “new” set-up man, Kyle Farnsworth; and, a 1-2-3, 9th inning by Mariano Rivera, shut down the Orioles the rest of the game, setting the stage for the 9th inning heroics by Cano.
The ninth inning was filled with drama. Matsui lead off the inning with a single, and was followed by Alex Rodriguez, who struck-out. Jason Giambi was up next, and on a two strike pitch, was called-out on a ball that home plate umpire, Chris Guccione, claimed hit the “nub” part of Giambi’s bat, for a foul-tip strikeout. [watching the replay, a number of times on the YES Network, in my view, it looked like the ball “did not hit the bat”]…
Joe Girardi came storming out of the dugout, to argue the call, bringing back images of the great Billy Martin. Girardi put on an outstanding show that would have made Martin proud, as he tossed his hat, kicked dirt on the umpire, and was screaming at the top of his lungs. Finally, the ump ejected Joe Girardi, and he walked back to the dugout, and into the Yankees clubhouse, as the Stadium crowd cheered with their approval. Girardi got the crowd fired-up, and, also, the Yankee players.
The delay in the game, caused by the bad call by the ump, and Joe Girardi’s arguing of the call, resulted in the Orioles pitcher, Jim Johnson, walking the next batter, Bobby Abreu, on five pitches. The walk moved Matsui to second base, and Robinson Cano drove him home on a beautiful opposite field hit to left field. Matsui rounded third, and scored the winning run by gracefully sliding home.
This is probably the Yankees best win of the year, and a game that should get them going again. It’s definitely a game that Billy Martin would have enjoyed winning.
Baseball, The Yankees, and Life... 