Daily Archives: August 13, 2003

Jeff Weaver goes against the recently aquired Kevin Appier tonight in KC. Thank goodness the Yankee bullpen got a rest last night, because they’ll most likley be called on this evening. Weaver and Mike Sweeney got into it a couple of years ago. It’ll be interesting to see if anyone gets testy in the heartland. (The Yankees haven’t been in a brawl all season, and I don’t recall if they were involved in one in 2002 either.) Hopefully, Weaver won’t pitched scared and the Yankees can manage to come back east with a series win. After all, the Sox won’t continue to lose forever.

The Baseball Prospectus-Pete Rose story caused quite a stir yesterday. Both Jay Jaffe and Jon Weisman have thoughtful, and measured columns today (Jay has full complement of links as well). Lee Sinins’ take may be less objective, but it’s convincing and funny. Here is what he wrote in his latest ATM report:

MLB has strongly denied Baseball Prospectus’s report on the return of Pete Rose.

With MLB’s credibility, this statement is just as good as a confirmation of Will’s story. With their track record, MLB is on my list of at least 3 entities, of which I believe nothing from them until as the events prove the statement to be correct. Occasionally it does happen, but until it does, I don’t believe it.

Actually, my first reaction to MLB’s denial was, if Pete Rose was mentioned in their statement, then there is the possibility that Rose doesn’t even exist. But, as recently as a day or two ago, I was watching an old episode of Baseball Magazine on ESPN Classic (which, as an aside, is a show I’d like to see returned to the air) and Sparky Anderson was discussing Pete Rose’s reaction to Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. So, since independent evidence of Rose’s existence exists, at least that part of MLB’s statement is believable.

I won’t even insult Will Carroll by including any discussion of his credibility in the same sentence.

I sure would like to know what the two other entities that Lee doesn’t trust are, though the Oval Office and the MTA rank high on my list.

The Mets, Giants game was interesting last night because it marked the return of Edgardo Alfonso to Queens. But Fonzie, and even the visiting former President, Bill Clinton, took a back seat to the great Barry Bonds. (You were expecting J.T. Snow maybe?) Bonds, who has historically not hit well at Shea Stadium, was masterful. He walked on four pitches in the first. The Mets had the lead when he came up again, and promptly lined Aaron Heilman’s first pitch into the bullpen. There were smiles all around—it was hard to resist, even for Johnny Franco—and plenty of cheers for Mr. Bonds. (Hey, the fans aren’t stupid; the realize they are catching history here.) He doubled in a run in his following at bat, and was finally retired by Grant Roberts his fourth time up (he whiffed on a fastball up and out of the strike zone).

The Mets led 5-3 in the ninth. David Weathers got the first out, so he was able to pitch to Bonds. He got two quick strikes, and then threw three-straight balls. The 2-2 pitch was close, and Weathers thought he had a strike out, but it was a ball. Bonds creamed the 3-2 pitch to right for another homer, and I nearly fell off the couch I was laughing so hard. Bonds now has 650 career homers, just ten shy of Willie Mays on the all-time list. Amazing.

Weathers got the next two outs, the Mets won, and (almost) everybody went home happy.

The Yankees got just what the doctor ordered last night: a fine performance from both Mike Mussina and the offense. It was a well-balanced effort as the Yanks defeated the Royals, 6-0. Mussina pitched eight innings, allowed four hits and walked four; Mariano pitched a scoreless ninth. The Yankees’ dubious bullpen was essentially given the night off.

Jorge Posada went 4-5, and Soriano and Bernie Williams both looked impressive too. Jason Giambi, who has a bum knee which may require surgery, walked twice, added two hits, and is looking mighty locked-in right now. Hey even Aaron Boone picked up a hit, after a 0-17 streak (he is 5-41 as a Yankee).

I was talking with Christian Ruzich, The Cub Reporter, yesterday, and he had the opportunity to land a press pass in Oakland a few weeks ago when the Yankees were in town. There was a fan appreciation ceremony that day, so the players took bp in an under-ground facility. Ruz said that Giambi wasn’t as huge as he was several years back, but he did note several sizable tatoos on the sluggers’ arms. In fact, he pointed out that Giambi wears a 3/4 sleeve on his right arm to cover one of his pieces. I noticed it last night. Thanks for the fashion tip, Ruz.

David Wells, who is back in New York and will have an MRI on his ailing back today, will miss at least one start, and there is some concern that he could miss more than that. Sterling Hitchcok will likely start in his place on Saturday against the Orioles.

The Yankees gained a game on the Red Sox, who lost in Oakland last night, 5-3. The A’s scored five runs early and held off a late surge by Boston. Oakland is now one game up in the wild card race; the Yankees lead the Sox by four, five in the loss column. The Red Sox are 13-13 since the All-Star break.

Speaking of the Sox, the morbid saga of Ted Williams continues:

Hall of Famer Ted Williams’ head and body are being stored in separate containers at an Arizona cryonics lab that is still trying to collect a $111,000 bill from Williams’ son, according to a story by Tom Verducci in the latest issue of Sports Illustrated.

You can’t make this kind of creepy stuff up. Sheesh.