Comments on: Card Corner: Stick Michael

By: Bruce Markusen

Bruce Markusen — Thu, 21 May 2009 03:43:51 +0000

Horace, great point about the hidden ball trick and the Rodriguez play from two years ago. There’s absolutely no difference in terms of the plays; both involve deception and both are within the rules. Writers decided to pick on the “HA!” play because it was A-Rod–and that was the only reason in my book. I’ve never heard anyone criticize Stick for pulling the hidden ball trick, just as I’ve never heard anyone criticize a middle infielder for deking a runner on a fly ball to the outfield.

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 21 May 2009 02:41:49 +0000

There is no better exemplar of George’s capricious nature than his decision to replace Stick as GM even though he had built the nucleus of a dominant team. In some ways, the organization has been in decline since then, although granted not a steep one.

By: Eddie Lee Whitson KO

Eddie Lee Whitson KO — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:55:52 +0000

[2] – it’s not the trick it’s the magician. I’m with you, love ‘em both.

Thanks for this post, when people want to lavish praise on the manager for the late 90′s run, I am quick to point out who built the core of that team (a core that still stands – mostly – to this day). He still does not receive enough credit, and more importantly, maintains class and dignity, neither showing the need to trumpet his achievements nor besmirch or tarnish the reputations of others to sell books or elevate his own legacy (I’m looking at you, Joe).

I actually met stick when I was a youngster attending a summer baseball camp. The director was conencted with local pros so we got the b-list guys (Ed Kranepool, stick, Tommy Holmes, you get the idea), and Stick was just the nicest, most patient man and was able to boil down baseball success to core fundamentals. With an eye for talent, he passed me over, so that I might live vicariously through my beloved bombers.

By: rbj

rbj — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:46:02 +0000

I’ve got no beef with the hidden ball trick. If you’re on base, stay on your toes. If you’re in the field, get an out any way you can (legally).

So watch someone pull it against the Yankees tonight.

By: Mattpat11

Mattpat11 — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:35:27 +0000

I’d like to see him as GM again.

By: Horace Clarke Era

Horace Clarke Era — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:40:37 +0000

“It was during his Yankee years that Michael established a reputation as the master of the hidden ball trick. With the runner at second base thinking that the pitcher already had the ball, Michael would blithely move toward him and then place a tag on the unsuspecting victim before showing the ball to the umpire. It’s a play that major leaguers occasionally pull off in today’s game, but Michael did it with a stunning degree of frequency, at least five times that have been documented. Considering that the hidden ball trick relies on heavy doses of surprise and deception, it’s remarkable that Michael was able to execute it more than once or twice. He was that good at it.”

I didn’t know this about Stick. Here’s my question, why is this hugely humiliating schoolyard trick done on a pro ballplayer in front of thousands in a stadium and more on tv so cool, smart, professional, whereas a similar schoolyard ‘Hah!’ gets the shouter savagely denounced? Even here, among fans of the team?

Me, I find them BOTH funny, wonderful. I can see the embarrassment of the victims. I could see someone telling his pitcher to go VERY high and inside next time the felon came up … but the disparity in response fascinates. I could see a case that there is ‘skill’ in the ol’ hidden ball play (I keep hearing Don Adams’s voice saying that!) but not a whole lot, really.

And I flatly deny the claims by Blue Jays – after some time – that yelling ‘Hah!’ could put a player at some real risk of getting hurt – on an infield pop-up.

By: sonyahennystutu

sonyahennystutu — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:43:41 +0000

let’s not forget too that his success as GM came during the years steinbrenner was banned from the game. amazing what happens when a good GM is let to run a team unfettered…