Daily Archives: July 1, 2003

SAY IT AIN’T RO

It was hard not to notice last weekend when former Yank Rondell White hit his second grand slam of the year against the Seattle Mariners. What I didn’t know was just how good a season Ro is having. While I’m happy for him—he always seemed like a good egg—Rob Neyer points out that the Yanks are the ones wearing the omlette now:

…The Yankees had Rondell White, but sent him to the Padres after he suffered through the worst season of his career. Granted, Yankee Stadium isn’t a great place for a right-handed hitter, but White was playing hurt for much of last season, and he’s always been a good hitter when he’s not hurt. I suppose one could draw a parallel between Rondell White and Reggie Sanders, but I won’t belabor the point here. Instead, let us simply gaze upon White’s 2003 statistics and remind ourselves that even the New York Yankees aren’t perfect. They could have had Rondell White, but instead they traded him for Bubba Trammell (and, in the process, saved money for this year … but what’s money to the Yankees?).

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

I had some problems with blogger over the weekend and wasn’t able to cover everything that went down around the league. But I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the staggering Red Sox-Marlins game last Friday. The Sox, of course, scored ten runs before making an out in the top of the first. Check out Ed Cossette’s take over at the revamped Bambino’s Curse.

Of course, I was more excited about the Marlins come-from-behind win against the Sox on Saturday. And yes, I did roll my eyes and curse a lot about Gabe Kapler’s performance over the weekend. Love it while it lasts, Sox Nation, cause it ain’t going to last through September.

Give this to the Red Sox: they have been anything but dull. I don’t know the count, but they must have played some of the most dramatic, thrilling, (not to mention heart-breaking) and exciting games in baseball this year. If the could fix the pitching, they could be real trouble for the Yankees and everybody else in the league.

As the Sox gear up for the big weekend serious in the Bronx, they have moved Mr. Kim to the bullpen, hoping to avoid any further bullpen disasters.

BACK IN BUSINESS

Christian Ruzich, who runs The Cub Reporter, is back from his European vacation. Ruzich is one of the best writers in the blog universe, so it sure is good to have him back.

ROLLIN’

It’s hard to believe that last night was the first time the Yankees and Orioles have played all year, but the Yanks started the second half of their season just like they ended the first half: with a win. Baltimore’s ace Sidney Ponson outpitched Andy Pettitte early, but Andy escaped jam after jam, and the Yankees chipped away at Ponson. Karim Garcia hit a two-run homer to keep the Yankees close, and when Ponson left the game, with runners on the corners and no out in the seventh, Ruben Ruben bitch-slapped a B.J. Ryan breaking ball for a three-run dinger, which gave the Yankees the lead for good.

The Bombers survived four errors, and the Orioles failed to take advantage of several opportunities, eventually leaving twelve men on base. Mariano Rivera, who is getting his work in plenty these days, got the save in spite of an error by Garcia in left field which cut the Yankee lead to 6-5. Eariler in the game, Garcia did make a sweet shoe-string catch, as well as a nice throw to nail Brook Fordyce at second (the O’s catcher was loafing out of the box). But Andy Pettitte made the most memorable play of the night, flipping a comebacker backhand to Posada for a force, after muffing his chance to turn a double play. Derek Jeter, eat your heart out.

The Yanks now lead the Red Sox by four games, and the Jays by six and a half. (Boston had the night off, and the Jays fell to the Tigers.)

The Yankees put disgruntled reserve outfielder Bubba Trammell on the restricted list (which means they don’t have to pay him) after Trammell left the team suddenly on Sunday.