Daily Archives: June 7, 2006

It’s been raining all day here in NYC and as I look out the window now around 4:45 pm EST, all I see are umbrellas with feet and shiny wet streets. Indeed, the Yanks and Sox have been rained out, which is a shame given the high the Yankees are riding after the last two days. Then again, there’s no harm in basking in the glory of last night’s contest and giving Cap’n Grumpypants an extra day to let his thumb heal.

No make-up plans have been announced just yet. I’ll update this post with that information as well as the impact the rainout will have on the Yankee rotation (will they skip Chacon’s turn on Friday to give him another rehab start?) when I know more.

Update: The game will be made up during the one remaining series between the two teams in the Bronx, turning the September 15-17 three-game series into a four-game set via an as yet to be determined double header. Torre meanwhile has decided not to skip anyone in the rotation, though there are conflicting reports about whether or not Mike Mussina will start as scheduled on Saturday, pushing Shawn Chacon to Sunday, or in turn on Sunday following Chacon’s return on Saturday.

Rich Lederer watched Ian Kennedy, the Yankees’ top pick in the 2006 draft, pitch in a college game earlier this season (check out Rich’s pitch-by-pitch post of the game). Lederer’s scouting report on Kennedy goes something like this:

Following in the footsteps of fellow Trojans Tom Seaver, Randy Johnson, Barry Zito, and Mark Prior…Consensus All-American…Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year…Two-time pitcher for Team USA…Although stuff is no better than average for a major league hurler, the right-hander exhibits outstanding command of four pitches…Fastball ranged from 89-91 all night…Throws strikes and changes speed…His stretch position is similar to Mike Mussina…Top ten draft pick unless his advisor and soon-to-be agent Scott Boras scares off potential suitors.

No, I’m not talking about George Gervin or even Lee Marvin. I mean the Yankee captain, Derek Jeter. Dig this from Mike Lupica’s column today:

“Listen,” Jeter says, “I’m not just saying this to say this. But if you don’t win it’s a waste. It’s not enough to win your division, it’s not enough to say you made it to the League Championship Series and you battled. Or that you lost the World Series, but boy, did you battle. That’s not why I play. It shouldn’t be why anybody plays. Here’s the deal: You start working out in November, and you keep working, through spring training and into the season, and the whole time, there’s only one goal, and that’s to win the World Series. Not win the division. Win the Series. And if that’s not the way you look at things, then you shouldn’t even be here.”

Watching Jeter on the bench two nights ago, I was struck with just how blue the guy looked. I know I have a hard time taking good care of myself when I’m sick, but looking at Jeter I thought, “Man, dude looks so bummed. Just what is he going to do with himself when he can’t play ball anymore?” Jeter’s got the Michael Jordan red ass. You know, the whole Pat Riley thing–you either win it all or you are miserable. It may not make for great mental health on his part, but as a Yankee fan it’s comforting to know that the captain of the team has that kind of competitive attitude.

I’ve never felt as good about a big Yankee loss as I did back Cleveland, 1997. When they lost that series, I remember several members of the team stading around, red-faced in the dugout as the Indians celebrated. David Cone stands out. I recall thinking, “Wow, these guys are as upset than I am, maybe even more so…cool.” Jeter is still one of those guys.

R.I.P. Billy Preston.