Monthly Archives: November 2003

Art Carney, one of America’s greatest—and most under-appreciated—actors, passed away on Sunday. Carney is most famous for playing second banana to Jackie Gleason on “The Honeymooners,” but he was an accomplished actor on the stage and radio as well as the silver screen.

Young actors should all watch Carney’s work on “The Honeymooners” (which has just been boxed in a nifty DVD set). Carney brought a sense of naturalism, or everyday authenticity to his role as Ed Norton. He never chewed the scenery like his famous co-star, but his understated professionalism was always fascinating to watch. He was also a graceful and talented physical comedian. Has any actor ever done more with the simple act of eating food than Carney did? If so, let me know, because I’ve never seen it.

One of my all-time fantasies is that I wish Art Carney had been allowed to recreate his stage performance as Felix Unger in the filmed version of “The Odd Couple.” Whenever I watch Jack Lemmon in the movie, I close my eyes and imagine what Carney would have done with the role. Especially playing against Walter Matheau. Ahhh…

Carney did win an Oscar for his role in Paul Mazursky’s tender comedy “Harry and Tonto.” If you have not seen that movie, I would highly suggest that you do. If not, make sure to check out “The Honeymooners” next time they are on late-night TV, and watch for the subtle genius in the background.

The Curt Schilling-to-New York rumors are all over the papers this morning. Yankee GM Brian Cashman arrived at the GM meetings in Arizona yesterday and was engaged in talks with several teams. Any deal for Schilling, or any other stud pitcher would most likely involve Nick Johnson or Alfonso Soriano. Aw, nertz. Excuse me while I moan, but I don’t want to see Nick Johnson go.

Congrats go out to Roy “Doc” Halladay who ran away with the Cy Young award in the American League yesterday. He was deserving of the award and was a fun pitcher to watch—even when he was killing the Yankees.

George Steinbrenner issued a statement yesterday expressing his displeasure over two writers’ decision to leave Hideki Matsui off their Rookie of the Year ballots (two writers also inexplicably left winner Angel Berroa off their list as well). According to the Times:

The writers, Steinbrenner said, “clearly made up their own rules to determine who was and was not eligible for the award and disqualified an eligible candidate who could have won.” Steinbrenner continued: “One of the writers in question, Mr. Ballou, actually said, `while he is technically a rookie by the rules of Major League Baseball, he is not a rookie in the spirit of the award.’ Spirit of the award? The award was renamed by the Baseball Writers’ Association to honor Jackie Robinson, its first recipient.

“Jackie Robinson came to the major leagues after playing in the Negro Leagues, a league whose high level of play is unquestioned. This year’s voting farce, where the appropriate qualifications for the award were blatantly ignored…

John Harper puts it well in the Daily News this morning:

Before I swallow hard and at least sort of agree with George Steinbrenner, a notion that has all the appeal of a colonoscopy, let’s get to the bottom line: The right guy won the AL Rookie of the Year award.

The two writers in question—Bill Ballou from the Worcester (Massachusetts) Telegram & Gazette and Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune–defended themselves, but ESPN’s Mike Greenberg thinks that their arrogance is inexcusable.

Roy White came to the Yankees during their CBS days, when the great dynasty in the Bronx had finally crumbled. In the mid 1960s, the Yankees farm system was all but depleted, but White was one of the few bright spots, along with Thurman Munson, Bobby Murcer and Stan Bahnsen to come up through the system. White lasted into the Bronx Zoo days of George, Billy and Reggie before he finished his career in Japan.

Here is White talking about how Billy Martin’s aggresive managerial style shook up the Yankees in the mid-’70s (from Dick Lally’s book, “Bombers”:)

When Billy came on board, everything was put on the table. There was nothing laid-back about him. He was on the attack all the time. You could just feel it. He was always probing, trying to find the other team’s weakness, and he wanted us to do the same. And he was so unorthodox, you never knew what to expect. He wanted everyone to run, not just steal bases but challenge the other team’s outfielders by taking the extra base. He put the opposing team on edge and kept them there.

One game, I was on second and Pinella was hitting. Billy gave Lou the bunt sign, and Lou fouled the ball off as I broke for third. I went back to second and somehow missed the next sign. Now, in that siutation, you would expect Lou to bunt again. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred that is the logical play, and I assumed Lou would put down another bunt. But this is Billy in the dugout, so forget what the book says. Billy calls for the hit-and-run. Nobody does that! Lou singled, but because I had missed the sign, I didn’t score.

After the inning, Billy asked if I had missed the sign and I admitted that I had. He told me to stay awake out there or it would cost me money the next time. I knew from that day on that we had to keep on our toes because we had a manager who was capable of the unexpected. Having a manager like that drives a team. You don’t want to miss a sign and embarass yourself by messing up an inning. You also don’t want to get fined. Billy was fiery and samrt. He made us fiery and smart.

White coached for Billy Martin in 1983, and served as hitting coach for Yogi Berra in 1984 and Lou Pinella in ’86. White, has been the hitting coach for the A’s triple A team for the past five seasons. Originally an infielder who made the transition to the outfield, White may help young Soriano learn the ropes in the outfield too:

“The kind of athlete he is, I don’t think he’d have too much of a problem, with his speed, his natural instincts,” White said. “It’s just a matter of going out there, getting the experience, seeing balls off the bat.

“It wouldn’t be any tough feat to turn him into an outfielder.”

That is if Soriano is still around come spring…

Well, it looks as if Roy White will be joining the Yankees coachign staff after all. Except he’ll coach first, and Uncle Luis Sojo will move to third. (Thanks to Cliff C for the update). That’s very cool. Like I mentioned earlier, White was a sound player, and an under-appreciated Yankee. He was a good outfielder and fast too (he isn’t as strong as Matsui, but they share some similarities). White is certainly a good addition to Joe Torre’s staff. I will be shocked if Mel Stottlemyre doesn’t return.

A friend of mine just called me at work and told me that he heard on the radio that the Yankees will hire fomer outfielder Roy White as their new third base coach. Could that be possible? If so, then that is more good news for Yankee fans. White was a quiet and solid player on the Yankees for years and it would be great to have him back.

If anyone knows anything about this story, let me know. The AL Cy Young will be announced at 2:00 pm, and I would be surprised if Roy Halladay doesn’t get it.

Angel Berroa narrowly defeated Hideki Matsui to win Rookie of the Year honors in the American League, while Dontrelle Willis ran away with the award in the National League. According to the New York Times, Matsui’s age played a part in Berroa getting the nod:

“It had everything to do with that,” said Bill Ballou of The Worcester (Mass.) Telegram and Gazette, who listed Tampa Bay outfielder Rocco Baldelli first, Cleveland outfielder Jody Gerut second and Berroa third. “Matsui’s numbers are comparable to any of the other strong candidates. But I really think that while he is technically a rookie by the rules of Major League Baseball, he is not a rookie in the spirit of the award.”

Age didn’t bother the voters enough to deny Matsui’s countrymen, Ichiro and Kaz from winning the Rookie of the Year title. Why the change of heart? Do you think this might just have something to do with the fact that Matsui plays for the New York Yankees? I don’t doubt it, but sportswriters have traditionally been stingy with giving awards to the Bronx Bombers. Boo-hoo.

Having said that, I don’t think that Matsui deserved to win in the first place. It’s not as if he has been “robbed.” But if the writers voted correctly in the American League, then how can they explain what happened in the National League? Dontrelle Willis is a great story and a charasmatic kid, but he wasn’t even the best rookie pitcher in the league.

Fortunately, I don’t get too worked up over awards one way or another (although I like a good controversy as much as the next guy, and if Barry Bonds is somehow denied another MVP, that would get me going). I’m reminded of Woody Allen complaining in “Annie Hall” when his character visted L.A. to present an award. “All they do is give out awards. Greatest Fascist Dictator: Adolph Hitler.”

How about “Most Spiteful Sportswriter Snub: George King.”

Rich Lederer has kicked off his off-season interview series with Lee Sinins, the man who brings us the sabermetric baseball encyclopedia, as well as the indispensable daily Around the Majors e-mails. Lee gives a terse, opinionated and informative interview. This is worth taking a look at it. Funny, but Lee and I share favorites: (team) the Yankees, (childhood player) Reggie Jackson, (current player) and Bernie Williams.

The free agent season officially begins today. Boston GM, Theo Epstein anticipates his second go around in the Hot Stove League:

“I think it will be a pretty active offseason in general,” he said in a conference call last week. “There was a record number of one-year contracts signed last year, so a lot of players are available. Obviously, with a changing market, it creates an interesting dynamic for the clubs, and I think action is a good way to solve those issues. I think it will be an active offseason.

J.P. Ricciardi adds that teams will continue to non-tender players in order to avoid arbitration cases:

“It seems like there are going to be a record number of nontenders,” Ricciardi said. “More and more clubs are going that route. When teams look at the value of players based on the system as opposed to what their actual talent is, sometimes 2 and 2 isn’t 4. Some teams look at players and say, `I don’t want to pay this guy $4 million because of the system.’ “

Peter Gammons has the skinny, as usual, over at ESPN.

Meanwhile, the Awards season begins in earnest today, when the American League Rookie of the Year will be announced. The competition is between Rocco Baldelli, Hideki Matsui, Angel Berroa, and Jody Gerut. I liked what little I saw of Gerut, but think the award will go to either Berroa or Godzilla.

It doesn’t appear as if Curt Schilling will be a New York Yankee. Boo-hoo. Schilling apparently doesn’t think much of playing in New York, or the Yankees chances to compete for another World Serious for that matter. According to Lee Sinins:

“People talk about the Yankees and the spending and the money and all this other stuff. I feel like if I wanted to go to the Yankees and they were interested in me, I’d call and be done and I’d get a deal that was very lucrative.

“But the dollars, I can honestly, with my hand to God tell you, are absolutely meaningless for this last contract. … So I’m going to spend my final years pitching in a place I enjoy being and that every year I’m going to have a chance to put a World Series ring on my hand.”

I’d love to know where that place will be. Hey, Schilling: good luck and good riddance, you unbelievbable putz you.

The Baltimore Orioles will hire Lee Mazzilli as their next manager according to the Associated Press. A press conference is scheduled for later this afternoon. This is not a surprising move. I’m happy for Maz, and hope he does well…but not too well, of course. Meanwhile, the Yankees will now need to find a new third base coach. Who do you think they’ll consider for the job?

One year ago today, I wrote my first post here at Bronx Banter. It was about Bill James going to work for the Red Sox. I had been thinking about writing about baseball for some time when my friend Steve hipped me to the world of blogs. In a short time, I set up my own page, with considerable help from John Perricone, and I was off and running.

One year later, writing about baseball every day–or almost every day–has become an intrinsic part of my life. I have made many new friends, and don’t know if I can express how meaningful that has been for me. After all, part of what attracts me to baseball is that it is a way to connect with people.

I never anticipated that I would have a core of regular readers or that I would have the opportunity to interview so many interesting public figures. It just goes to show what a little ambition and a lot of persistence can get you. I’ve always enjoyed reading long, meaty interviews, and it is gratifying to know that I’m not alone. (By the way, if anybody ever has a suggestion about someone they would like me to talk with, don’t hesitate to send me an e-mail.)

I don’t pretend to be a baseball expert. I just can’t bring myself to be that presumptuous. What I do know is what it’s like to be a Yankee fan. So I stick to what I know. I’ve rooted for the Yankees ever since I can remember, and have consciously followed each season since I was eight years old (1979). I try to write an honest, amusing and informative blog, and I think I’ve been able to do just that.

Thanks for coming through. I look forward to another great year with you.

Joe Torre’s father was an abusive lout. Torre will appear on NBC’s “Dateline” this Sunday to talk about his experiences.

Yesterday David Pinto linked a new baseball blog written by an openly gay man. That is a first of sorts. The site is called Ball Talk and it is written by a guy named Alex Ciepley, who is a Cubs fan. I would expect Alex to write more about the baseball from the perspective of a Cubs fan, and not specifically a Gay Cubs fan. Still, it’s great to have Ciepley’s voice out there. Welcome aboard.

Bryan Smith continues his Hot Stove Reports over at Wait ‘Til Next Year. He taps Ben Jacobs and Jeff Kuhn for the state of the Red Sox. This is a particularly detailed article (Ben Jacobs is especially thorough). Bryan contributes his own take this morning. This will be a fascinating year for Boston considering how many of their core players are up for free agency at the end of the 2004 season. I was struck with how measured and rational all three analysis’ were. There is no call for mega trades and huge free agent signings. One thing seems sure: In Theo We Trust.

If you have any interest in Red Sox Nation, you will do yourself a favor and brush up on your Bosox. Great job fellas.

The big news this morning involves Andy Pettitte’s decision to test the free agency waters. There is some speculation that the Yankees are not a lock to re-sign Pettitte, but I still think they are the front-runners. I expect that the Yankees will let teams like the Astros set the market before they overwhelm the southpaw with an offer of their own. Could he sign elsewhere? Of course. But again, Andy Pettitte will rue the day he signs with a team like Houston over the Yankees; he needs the Bombers as much as they need him.

Today’s gossip revolves around Arizona’s right-handed ace, Curt Schilling. Apparently, George would love to replace Rocket Clemens with the 37-year old Schilling. What the Yankees would have to part with (Nick Johnson?) is uncertain. I think Schilling is a loud mouthed shnook, but he is still a stud on the mound, and he probably has a few stellar years left in the tank. The question is: How many, and at what price?

Tyler Kepner has a good history of hitting and pitching coaches in the Steinbrenner era this morning in The Times (who remembers that Champ Summers once served as the hitting coach in the Bronx?). Boss George loves to tweek his managers by abusing their coaches. Rick Down offers some good insights.

Bob Raissman spoke with Yankee announcer Jim Kaat yesterday and as usual Kitty Kaat didn’t pull any punches:

“I thought the Yankees overachieved,” Kaat said over the telephone from his Florida home. “Go man-for-man with Boston, even the Marlins. Who would you rather have at this stage of their career? Well, a few years ago the Yankees would have had an overwhelming number of players you would pick. That’s not the case anymore.”

…”Because they are the Yankees, and they spend a lot of money, and because of the demands of George (Steinbrenner), everybody automatically thinks they should win the World Series,” Kaat said. “A lot of the money being paid to guys is being paid for what they did in the past.”

…’It’s not that Yankee players don’t have the right attitude, but there is such an atmosphere there that if they win it is a relief,” Kaat said. “Lately there has been no joy. No enjoyment. Now it’s like if you don’t win the World Series you’ve had a miserable year.”

Bah Humbug.

UNDER THE RADAR

By Tim Marchman

Tim Marchman writes about baseball for The New York Sun and is one of the brightest voices currently working in the alternative press. He had a piece today that is worth bringing to your attention, but because it is difficult to link to The Sun on-line, Tim has generously agreed to let me reprint the article for “Bronx Banter.”

Frank Coonelly may be the most powerful person in baseball youíve never heard of.

Coonellyís job title is chief labor counsel for Major League Baseball. One AL executive told me that so far as he knew,Coonelly “coordinates our side on the arbitration stuff” and that he is on managementís committee on salaries and relations with the union. Doug Pappas, who is the chairman of the Society for American Baseball Researchís Business of Baseball Committee, puts it this way: “Coonelly is in charge of monitoring compliance with suggested draft bonuses and free-agent negotiations.”

Aside from Pappas, no one I talked to wanted to say anything about Coonelly on the record, and he didnít answer a phone message I left at his office yesterday. But an article by the Seattle Post-Intelligencerís John Hickey on Mariners pitcher Freddy Garciaís salary arbitration case earlier this year is telling. Coonelly, in an unusual

David Pinto has an forthright and instructional post today about “How to Become a Stat Head.” Keep this one handy in case you ever run across someone who would like to learn about sabermetrics but doesn’t necessarily know where to start.

Here is more from Red Smith, on the agony of writing:

I don’t enjoy the actual labor of writing. I love my job, but I find one of the disadvantages is the several hours at the typewriter each day. That’s how I pay for this nice job. And I pay pretty dearly. I sweat. I bleed. I’m a slow writer.

…When I began doing a column…I found it wasn’t something that I could rip off the top of my head. I had to do it painstakingly. I’m always unhappy, very unhappy, at anything that takes less than two hours. I can do it in two hours, if I must. But my usual answer to the question, “How long does it take to write a column?” is “How much time do I have?” If I have six hours, I take it. I wish I could say that the ones that take six hours turn out better. Not necessarily. But I will say this: I do think that, over three hundred days, effort pays off. If you do the best you can every day, taking as much time as necessary, or as much time as you have, then it’s going to be better than if you brushed it off.

“No Cheering in the Press Box” was released in 1973, and along with Lawrence Ritter’s seminal work, “The Glory of Our Times,” remains one of the great oral histories in baseball literature.