It started ugly for Serge Mitre today, deep counts, base hits, boiling-hot afternoon, and by the time he left the game, seven runs were on the board for the Royals, which proved to be enough to hold-off the Yanks, 7-4. Jose Guillen crushed a home run into the second deck in left field. Can’t recall seeing one hit up there in the new park yet, man, it was a shot.
Mark Teixeira continued his hot hitting–even the balls he hits foul are ripped these days–with two dingers but made the final out of the game. It was a tough play, two men on base, Teixeira the tying run, Alex Rodriguez, sitting on career homer #599 on deck. Replays showed that Teixeira just beat out an infield hit, but it was a close play and he was called out. Tough way to end the game, but Teixeira didn’t argue.
The Yanks can still win the series tomorrow.
Hose off, people. Grab something cool, get a nice beverage, and we’ll see youse in the morning.
[Photo By Nick Laham/Getty Images]
god fucking damnit. now lester is no-hitting the worthless M's after 4. to add insult to injury, fat liar hit a solo homer, his 19th. rays won...
still no fucking hits. 5.1 innings.
motherfucker!
yay, it worked!!!
after the run preventing error, a 2-run homer. M's in the lead!
i don't expect it to last, but this is quite nice...
I wanted the sweep. We need to win tomorrow.
Day game loss to Kansas City..ho-hum..wake me tomorrow with #600, A-Rod!
Scorching here too..time for the sofa, last day of the summer Sumo tournament, and bottle of Hefe-Weizen bier...
Won't be able to watch the game today, heading up to Cooperstown for the Induction Ceremonies. Should be fun, it's always a good time
Legend has it that you only get one letter to the sports editor in the NYT. I had one on April 10, 2010 concerning my lack of love for the Boss. You could look it up. At least, I remain consistent. I won't have another, because I don't write to the sport's section anymore now that I have this blog.
But what brings me here is a letter in today's sport's section from a person who says his name is Steven A. King and who says he is from NY. Far be it from me to criticize anyone who isn't a part of the revisionist bio of the team's recently late owner, but you Banterers should seek this guy out and educate him. The Vermont thing aside where everything is touchy-feely and everyone has the right to their opinion. Good enough, so long as you are not an idiot, especially one who hasn't been to the Hall of Fame of followed the game. I never said the boss didn't try hard to win; I just despised his methods and his despicable treatment of people, except the ones who did what he wanted and succeeded. Those of us who are unexceptionable and human deserve better treatment.
Mr. King's position is that none of the people who managed the Yankees during the Steinbrenner years will be in the Hall of Fame, except maybe Torre. Frankly, Torre's induction should be a no brainer on a number of levels, but let us not forget what a wonderful baseball player he was before he became an announcer and then, later in life, a manager whose early years were nothing to write home about, until he came to the Yankees. Some have and will argue as they did about Casey that he was a push button manager, which if he was, a point I would suggest may not make it in knowledgeable circles, he still had to push the right ones.
Mr. King brushes aside Yogi, saying he made it as a player, despite the fact that the plaque carries credit for 1964. Casey's, by the way, begins "Casey" and covers his years as a manager and as a player. Let's start with Houk, a person whose death this week was dwarfed by the bosses, Sheperd's and Dan Shor's. Not too shabby, but he comes close to the Hall. Led those ailing, aging teams. Three pennants and two Championships in first three years. 45 ejections. Players loved him.
Following managerial switches in the early "70's," George brought in Bob Lemon to tame the zoo, a feat that led to the 1978 Championship. I'd suggest that Mr. King check his credentials, though he would say that the gentleman from Cleveland made it as a player, too. If his kid didn't die in an auto accident, he may have had some staying power. And while Lou may not have the most amazing numbers, he contributed to pennants and World Championships as a player and manager. He won one World Series, divisional titles with three teams in two leagues, and was honored as a manager of the year.
I would also suggest that the jury will not be sent out on the present manager for quite a while. He has been named Manager of the Year and has a title in his short career on the bench. Joe 2 had a significant career as a player, though not as high quality as Joe 1, but not bad. And he should be credited with the development of Jorge Posada, who could be in the Hall also.
Just a note with respectful retrospection: Berra, Houk, Torre, and Girardi were all catchers.
Sorry, to follow up my last point, and to get the last bit out of my morning Joe, Lemon was a pitcher, a rare breed for a manager, eh. I think Bud Black is the only one presently managing, but I could be wrong. And who can forget Dallas Green, the 1989 manager, or Clyde King, the 1982 mangager. They must be of whom Mr. King writes. Both of these gents be pitchers who left an inelegant mark on the franchise.