Daily Archives: July 31, 2003

The Yankees and Reds went through with the Boone-White for Claussen-cash-and-a-player-to-be-named-later deal after all. Jay Jaffe, The Futility Infielder thinks this is a terrible mistake and is presently somewhere in Alphabet City destroying furniture. (I’m sure we’ll hear more from him by tomorrow.)

“This will not stand. This aggression will not stand.”

Here are the trades that I know about, thanks to Lee Sinins:

1. The Yankees traded Robin Ventura to the Dodgers for a minor league pitcher and a minor league outfielder.

2. The Pirates traded P Jeff Suppan to the Redsox for prospect Freddy
Sanchez. The Redsox also get Brandon Lyon (damaged goods) back, “as well as the minor leaguers who were in the first trade go back to their old teams.”

3. The O’s moved Sidney Ponson to the Giants for Kurt Ainsworth and Damian Moss.

4. The D-Rays sold pitcher Al Levine to KC.

So I’ve been waiting to see the official report confirming the Boone/White deal to the Yanks and it hasn’t appeared yet. I spoke with my source again, and now it is not so certain that the trade will happen at all. I apologize for jumping the gun and publishing a rumor.

But if the Yanks can’t get Vlad or Giles, and they can’t get Boone, who does that leave? Juan Gone?

Duck and cover. Only a couple of hours left. You have to figure Epstein is looking to put a cherry on top of his great rookie campaign.

I just received word from a reliable source that the Yankees have agreed to send Brandon Claussen and cash to the Reds for third baseman Aaron Boone and injured relief pitcher Gabe White.

The newest member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Raul Mondesi, had some predictably weak jabs for his former team yesterday. The Yankees had some choice words for Mondi as well.

Joe Torre told The Times:

“I know Mondy was very sensitive about not playing or whenever I pinch-hit for him,” Torre said. “When that happened Sunday, maybe he got to the point where he was so frustrated that he didn’t think about what he was doing or he didn’t care about the repercussions. He was never a volatile guy or anything like that. I keep coming back to the word frustrated.”

But Torre made it clear he was in no way condoning Mondesi’s actions.

“It was not acceptable what he did,” he said. “George Steinbrenner was obviously aware of what was going on, but this was our decision. I think George was rather fond of Mondy. Brian and I were the ones who pulled the trigger on this.”

ET TU, LOUIE?

There was an amusing bit in the early edition of The Post which is not available on-line. George King reports that Mondesi isn’t the first Yankee to shower and leave early on Torre’s watch:

“I did the same thing in 1998,” Luis Sojo told The Post. “I had two hits and [Torre] pinch-hit for me. I was mad. I took a shower and left before the last out. I was hot. The next day I come to the park and I know I was wrong. I was also trying to sneak around so mabye nobody would say anything to me,” Sojo continued. “But soon I was told that Joe Torre wanted to see me in his office. I went in there and he was furious. He told me that it was [bleep] to do that and that he never expected that out of me, of all people. Maybe some others, but not me. He also told me he was finning me $2,000.”

Sojo got the fine reduced to $1500.

“But I didn’t pay it, not then and not in 1999…When I got traded back in 2000, I walked into the clubhouse and everybody was glad to see me,” recalled Sojo. “It was, ‘Hey, Louie, great to have you back.’ Everybody was slapping me on the back. Then I went into Joe Torre’s office and he was real serious. He said, ‘Do you want to play?’ I said, ‘Sure.’ He said, ‘Then give me the $2,000.’ It was a lot of money but I paid it.”

Mess with the bull and you get the horns.

Roger Clemens pitched a complete game for the first time in three years, and the Yankees shut out the World Champs, 8-0 last night in Anahiem; he allowed five hits.. Clemens is 29-8 against the Angels during his career. I didn’t stay up to watch any of it, but I sure was a happy camper riding to work this morning. Jason Giambi had two doubles, two walks, a homer (30), and three RBI (83). Hideki Matsui hit his 33rd double of the year and added 3 RBI (77) of his own. Joe Torre gave Lil’ Sori the night off. Derek Jeter lead off, and Bernie batted behind him in the two-hole.

The Yankees gained a game on Boston, who fell to the Rangers, 9-2. Former Yankee, Ramiro Mendoza was pounded. The Sox dropped relief pitcher Chad Fox. Alex Rodriguez also made some news intimating that he would entertain any trade offers that come up now, or next year. Or did he?

Add John Harper to the list of baseball observers paying their respects to the efforts of Theo Epstein. With the Yankees hoping to swing a big deal this afternoon, you would have to imagine the Sox are planning a deal of their own (although given Epstein’s ability to make sound, unspectacular moves, perhaps he will lay in the weeds until the waiver period kicks in).

Harper notes, “Passionate and historic as this rivalry has been since Babe Ruth changed uniforms, it’s quite possible the two franchises have never been this obsessed about it.”

The Sox believe they are in good shape:

“I think they really sense that the Yankees are vulnerable,” was the way one GM who recently has dealt with the Sox described their mindset. “They believe they can win it all.”

…”That’s where the difference lies,” one Sox insider said yesterday. “They’re not following up on moves the Yankees make. They know what they need and they’re going after certain guys. It’s a different philosophy.”

With the trading deadline looming (4:00 p.m. est this afternoon), the Yankees are in the mix for some kind of deal. Surprised? Rumors are flying, but the one that seems most likely involves Reds’ third baseman, Aaron Boone, and injured reliever Gabe White. There are also big dreams of a blockbuster—Vlad, Giles—but those are most likely just dreams. One thing is for sure, Brandon Claussen will be part of any package the Bombers make. So much for the pitcher of the future.