Daily Archives: September 22, 2003

Congrats to Greg Maddux, who won his 15th of the year yesterday (on the third try). With the victory Maddux breaks Cy Young’s record for consecutive seasons with 15 or more wins.

What does it mean? It means that Greg Maddux has been very fortunate, and very good for a very long time.

Or as Rob Neyer noted a few weeks back:

Is Maddux’s streak of 16 15-win seasons really more impressive than Cy Young’s streak of 19 13-win seasons or Warren Spahn’s streak of 17 14-win seasons?

No, not really. If we draw the line at 15, we’re doing it simply to glorify Greg Maddux, (whose streak includes two 16-win seasons and three 15-win seasons), and he doesn’t need us to glorify him. It’s enough, I think, to say this:

In baseball’s first half-century, Cy Young was the game’s most durable and consistent pitcher.

In baseball’s second half-century, Warren Spahn was the game’s most durable and consistent pitcher.

And in baseball’s third half-century, Greg Maddux has been the game’s most durable and consistent pitcher.

Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada are two Yankees that I’ve had short fuses with over the years. I don’t mean to suggest I haven’t appreciated their contributions, or that I don’t like them, or think that they are losing players, but you know how it is: some guys burn you up faster than others. It’s as much about me as it is about them.

But both longtime Yanks have had terrific seasons. Pettitte won his 20th game of the year on Saturday, the second time he’s won 20 in his career. Whatever uncertainty existed about Pettitte’s health will most likely be overlooked now, and I would be surprised if he didn’t return to New York next year. (Of course as good as Pettitte’s been, Mike Mussina has been the best pitcher on the staff—just ask my man, Cliff.)

Posada is being considered as an MVP candidate. I heard Joe Morgan mention it on ESPN last night. Wow. He’s been great offensively, but I’m really impressed with his his poise behind the plate. There have been times in the past when Posada let his emotions get the better of him. This year, he has delivered a mature, all-star performance. I guess he can get away with calling his teammates out after losing in the first round last year, after all.

The Yankees swept the Devil Rays in Tampa this weekend and are on the brink on clinching the American League East. But things got nasty before it was all said and done. On Saturday night, the Yanks and Rays exchanged hitting opposing batters, and yesterday, emotions boiled over.

D-Rays starting pitcher Jeremi Gonzalez—a high-strung, square-jawed kid with a yellow mop of hair who looked like he just stepped out of a David Lynch casting session—threw high and tight repeatedly to the Yanks during the early going yesterday. He moved Bernie, Godzilla, Boone, and Enrique Wilson off the plate, before finally plunking Nick Johnson in the 5th. He brushed Jorge Posada back later in the inning too.

Posada took exception, stepped out of the box and glared into the D Rays dugout. Well, that was all it took to get Lou Pinella going. Sweet Lou yelled something at Posada who promptly grounded out. But on his way down the first base line, Jorge had some cherce words for Gonzalez. The pitcher charged Posada at first, but both players were restrained. The benches cleared and who do you think was in the middle of things, yelling the loudest?

That’s right, Sweet Lou himself. According to the morning papers, he called the Yankees “a bunch of crybabies.” Then, there was a Yankee yelling back. Wanna guess who? None other than Sweet Pea himself, Bernie Williams. Now that was worth the price of admission.

No punches were thrown, and nobody was ejected. Roger Clemens had a 3-0 lead at the time, and he got through the 5th and 6th inning before he retaliated. With two out in the 7th, the Rocket airmailed one over catcher Javier Valentin’s noggin (he nipped him with the next pitch). The Yankees won 6-0.

“I said that the Yankees are a bunch of crybabies,” Piniella said. “Not all of them. I said they’ve got a bunch of them.”

…”The amazing part about it is, when the Yankees buzz people in, or when they hit people, it’s O.K.,” Piniella said. “When it’s done against them, they don’t like it. They’ve got a bunch of talent on that team; they’ve got a great team. I respect them as individuals. But at the same time, let’s play baseball. The rules aren’t supposed to be circumvented in their favor.”

Who is the cry baby here? Joe Torre remained calm.

“I’m not saying we don’t all yell at the opposition once in a while, but I think Lou is frustrated,” Torre said. “He’s had a long year. He’s not used to losing a lot of games. But I think this ball club has won more games than maybe they would have with someone else there.”

Meanwhile, after losing a crusher on Saturday, the Red Sox came back with their ace and a win yesterday, and Boston continues to lead Seattle by 2 1/2 games for the wildcard. (It would take a monumental collapse on Boston’s part to miss the postseason now.) The Twins and A’s–thank you Mr. Lily—all but have their divisions locked up.