Daily Archives: April 3, 2003

SPORTIN’ WOOD

There was an interesting feature in the Times the other day, titled “Going Against the Grain,” by Bill Pennington, which chronicled the efforts of the Massachusetts high school system to banish metal bats in favor of wood bats. Opinion is split, and the debates are heated, but I like the concept behind the move. I grew up playing with metal bats, and I appreciated how they were easier on the hands, and how they gave me an inflated sense of myself as a hitter.

Some high school coaches are complaining that using wood bats will ruin the chances of their kids to compete for scholarships. While this may be true, anyone who is worth their salt is eventually going to have to use a wood bat if they make the minor leagues, let alone the majors, anyway. Why not get ’em started early?

Besides, who prefers the ping of a metal bat over the crack of an old fashioned wooden one?

“I’m worried about the future,” said Frank Carey, the baseball coach at North Redding High School, who made an impassioned plea at the hearings. “Kids have trouble with failure and metal makes it easier to hit. Nobody likes to hit .200.”

Alex Campea, the baseball coach at Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury, suggested that wood bats would improve the quality of games. “Those kids will also become better fielders and better bunters,” Campea said. “We will have 2-1 games with speed and strategy. It’s not supposed to be about who hits it farthest. We had too many 15-12 games. Those are football scores.”

LIFE LESSONS

Last month Barry Bonds was talking about how much he picked up watching David Eckstein play when they toured Japan together last fall. Today, Peter Gammons has a column on the story:

“He’s one of my favorite players ever,” Bonds said. “I told him that he’s a gift from God. Everything is difficult for him, yet he gets it done and done well.”

…”He sat around with me and a lot of the guys for hours almost every day, talking baseball and teaching,” Eckstein said. “He never stops learning.”

Like Buck O’Neil recently told Bronx Banter: “When you stop learning, you’re through.”

And they say Barry Bonds isn’t a role model.

Bullshit.

BOW DOWN TO A PLAYER THAT’S GREATER THAN YOU…

Alex Rodriguez became the youngest man to hit 300 home runs yesterday, crushing the mark set by Jimmie Foxx. Lordy.

Don’t throw rocks at the throne, man.

Meanwhile, old man winter threw a gust of wind at Sammy Sosa in the 6th inning of the Mets 4-1 win over the Cubs last night at Shea, and knocked down what looked like was going to be Slammin’ Sammy’s 500th career home run. Sammy thought it was gone, and so did Al Leiter. In August, that ball easily reaches the bullpen. The blast would have tied the game. Instead it was a long out. But you should have heard the buzz at Shea after the ball landed safely in Cliff Floyd’s glove. Anybody would can generate that kind of excitement when he makes an out is a player to remember.

A real superstar.

CHARMED

It has often been said—and rightfully so, that Derek Jeter has led a charmed baseball career. Even though Jeter’s famous luck ran out on opening day in a collision with Toronto catcher Ken Huckaby, the Yankees future captain must have sprinkled his last batch of gold dust on rookie Erick Almonte, who had a spalshy debut last night, with 2 hits, including a home run in the Yankees 9-7 victory over the Blue Jays.

The game itself was a bloated, tedious affair. The Yankees jumped out to a 9-1 lead, and then watched the Jays slowly chip their way back into the game. No lead is safe these days. Mike Mussina was not sharp, and Jose Contreras was awful in relief. But Chris Hammond came in and recorded a big strike out, before Juan Acevedo closed the door in the 9th and helped the Yankees gain their first sweep of a series on the road to start a season since the World War II.

Todd Ziele started at third base, batted in the 2-hole, and collected 3 hits including a homer in his first at bat. Hideki Matsui narrowly missed his first home run on American soil, and wound up with 2 hits, and an RBI.

Derek Jeter was on the Yankee bench during the game, arm in a sling, smile on his face. Jeter goofed around in his usual sunny manner, which must have come as a welcome sight for Yankee fans. At a time when he should be at his lowest, Jeter put on a good face, and brought his optimism and good cheer to his teammates.

Jeter is scheduled to have an MRI later this afternoon in Tampa. Phil Nevin, the Padres slugger who will miss the entire 2003 season because of a dislocated shoulder offered his empathy to Jeter.

Jeter’s disposition may have alleviated any undue pressure Almonte may have put on himself. Almonte is a big kid, and gasp, may even be prettier than Jeter. Lil’ Sexy was welcomed by his Yankee teammates, especially by fellow countryman Enrique Wilson, who will share duties at short for the time being with Almonte. Wilson, who looks more like a Dominican Hobbit, took Almonte out to lunch and bought him a pair of shoes earlier in the day, taking care of the rookie just like Manny Ramirez had once looked out for the young Wilson when he came up with the Indians:

“I don’t make much money ($700,000 this season), but he makes less,” Wilson said, about his Dominican soulmate from Santo Domingo. “We come from a poor city. We stay together. It’s the same thing when American players come to our country. It’s kind of hard.”

…”He did everything as good as you can do it,” JoeTorre said. “He doesn’t say anything. He’s really tough to read, but he certainly had a smile on his face when he hit the home run.”

Joel Sherman reported in the Post:

“It doesn’t surprise me [about Wilson],” said manager Joe Torre. “It’s a real sign of class for Enrique to do what he did today. I’m real happy he did it.”

Wilson felt he was just honoring his own heritage. Breaking in with the Indians in 1997-98, Wilson was prevented from reaching into his pocket by Manny Ramirez, who took care of food, clothes and housing, “Because he told me, ‘Rookies don’t pay.’ “

As for Jeter, we should know something by the end of the day, or early tomorrow about his immediate future. Reports around New York have been overly optimistic I think, but then again, I always dwell on the worst-case scenerio.

Travis Nelson, over at Boy of Summer, makes a convincing case for Mike Bordick as a possible replacement at short.

And Jay Jaffe, The Futility Infielder, has an excellent write-up on the entire Jeter story too.

Check ’em out.