"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice

News of the Day – 6/8/09

Today’s news is powered by quite possibly my FAVORITE scene in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” . . . (It helps if you imagine Lonn Trost as the fellow on top of the castle, and any generic dad wanting to take his kids to the game as King Arthur) 🙂

Yankees reliever Brian Bruney took what he called a “huge positive step” on Sunday after completing a 30-pitch bullpen session. Bruney pronounced himself pain-free (yes, we’ve heard that one before, and no, I didn’t check to see if his nose was growing).

To simulate a game, Bruney threw 15 pitches, rested four minutes, then threw 15 more. In his second round, bullpen coach Mike Harkey stood in the batters’ box for several pitches. Bruney expects to throw a similar session again during the team’s trip to Boston.

“I think we’re definitely going in the right direction,” said Bruney, who this season has fibbed about his achy elbow. “I feel good.”

Q: I thought you were washed up.

A: (Smiles) Sometimes when you hear it enough, you start questioning yourself, and then you find something, you reach down, and you go out and start proving people wrong again.

Q: So that lit a fire under you?

A: When they started saying I was washed up, well, I had a pulled calf muscle. So what helped me start my playing days in baseball was now wrecking it — my legs have always been my most important asset. . . . So as soon as my legs got healthy, I was able to turn it back around

  • Rivera battled more than the Rays on Saturday:

For several hours before Rivera took the ball Saturday afternoon in that tie game, he’d suffered with a stomach ailment that brought aches and repeated vomiting, according to one Yankee. Rivera had rolled off the trainer’s table, where he’d hoped to sleep it off, and into the bullpen in the eighth inning, when he began to warm up.

So, no, he didn’t have his best command. And, no, he didn’t have his best fastball.

But, he didn’t sprinkle the Yankee Stadium mound with breakfast, which, in itself, was a small victory, even in defeat.

“He was so upset afterward,” the teammate said.

And yet, Rivera did not mention it after the game, and he did not reveal it late Sunday afternoon, when it would have played less like an excuse than, in victory, the simple retelling of a trying 30 hours. He did not hang those hittable fastballs or that loss on his illness. He did not blame manager Joe Girardi for asking him to pitch in a tie game when a healthier body might have – and probably should have – done.

[My take: A tummy-troubled Rivera was the best option the Yanks had in a tie game in the ninth inning?]

The New York Yankees will become the first MLB team to have its games streamed live online within its home market, thanks to a landmark carriage deal YES Network signed with Cablevision earlier this spring.

The streamed games will begin later this season and will be available via subscription to Cablevision’s TV and broadband customers who subscribe to a tier that carries the YES Network, according to several baseball and cable industry sources.

  • Britt Burns turns the big 5-0 today.  Burns was acquired from the ChiSox prior to the ’86 season, but was diagnosed with a chronic hip condition, and never actually suited up for the Yanks (or anyone else) again.  Fun fact: Burns is one of only three pitchers to win at least 18 games in their final season.  Name the other two (answer later in this post).
  • Lenn Sakata turns 55 today.  Sakata spent most of his career with the Orioles and  finished his career as a utility man for the ’87 Bombers.  He is probably best known for his part in the Orioles’ 7-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on August 24, 1983. He entered the game at second base as a late-inning substitute but after a number of pinch hitters and other substitutes depleted the Orioles bench, Sakata was pressed into duty as an emergency catcher in the top of the 10th inning. With Sakata behind the dish for the first time in his career, the Blue Jays put three runners on base. But in succession pitcher Tippy Martinez picked each one off first base. In the bottom of the 10th Sakata, who hit 25 home runs in his 11-year career, hit a 3-run home run off Randy Moffitt to win the game.
  • On this date in 1969, uniform No. 7 was retired on Mickey Mantle Day. A crowd of 60,096 came to Yankee Stadium to honor Mantle and watched New York sweep the Chicago White Sox 3 – 1 and 11 – 2.
  • On this date in 1981, the Yankees use their first round amateur draft pick to take star two-sport player John Elway.

[My take: Drew Henson mocks Elway!]

  • On this date in 1986, in the longest nine-inning game by time in AL history, Baltimore beat the Yankees 18 – 9. The game features nine pitchers, 36 hits, and 16 walks, and takes 4:16 to complete.
  • On this date in 2005, Alex Rodriguez became the youngest member of the 400-HR club when he hit a solo homer in the eighth inning of New York’s 12 – 3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

[My take: See? Yet another homer in a meaningless game situation 🙂 ]

[Britt Burns trivia answer: Sandy Koufax and Mike Mussina.]

And since tomorrow is my birthday, and I’m going to the Stadium tonight, there won’t be a NOTD tomorrow.  (Yes . . . many Banter writers are Geminis with June birthdays . . . though I believe it to be just a quirky coincidence).  So, I’ll post the Yankee birthdays for that day here now:

  • Bill Virdon is 78 on Tuesday.  Originally signed by the Yankees in 1950, Virdon was traded to the Cardinals as part of the deal that brought Enos Slaughter to New York prior to the 1954 season. Virdon was the Yankee skipper for all of ’74 and part of ’75 (replacing Ralph Houk), before being replaced by  . . . the first iteration of Billy Martin.

Non-Yankee baseballers and other “notables” sharing my birthday

  • 1891 – Cole Porter, American composer and lyricist (d. 1964)
  • 1893 – Irish Meusel, American baseball player (d. 1963)
  • 1915 – Les Paul, American guitarist
  • 1931 – Jackie Mason, American comedian
  • 1934 – Jackie Wilson, American singer (d. 1984)
  • 1939 – Dick Vitale, American sportscaster
  • 1951 – James Newton Howard, American film composer
  • 1951 – Dave Parker, American baseball player
  • 1961 – Michael J. Fox, Canadian-born actor
  • 1961 – Aaron Sorkin, American writer
  • 1963 – Johnny Depp, American actor
  • 1964 – Wayman Tisdale, American basketball player and guitar musician (d. 2009)
  • 1973 – Tedy Bruschi, American football player
  • 1974 – Randy Winn, American baseball player
  • 1975 – Jeff Saturday, American football player
  • 1977 – Peja Stojakovic, Serbian basketball player
  • 1980 – Mike Fontenot, American baseball player
  • 1980 – Udonis Haslem, American basketball player
  • 1981 – Natalie Portman, Israeli-born actress

See you Wednesday!

Categories:  Diane Firstman  News of the Day

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44 comments

1 Rich   ~  Jun 8, 2009 9:17 am

Wait. CC had thrown 101 pitches through 8 IP and Girardi knew that Rivera was sick and he used him anyway?

Once again, my apologies to Joe Torre. I thought his bullpen management was the worst. I may have been wrong.

Seriously, last year, Girardi's bullpen management really impressed me. This season, it's as if he's often on drugs.

2 williamnyy23   ~  Jun 8, 2009 9:43 am

Knowing Mo was sick raises even more questions about Girardi's decisions on Saturday. Of course, if Mo was good to go in Girardi's eyes I can live with that a lot more than lifting him midway through the inning so Coke could allow 2 more runs. Then again, intentionally walking Longoria made no sense either.

This team is playing so well that whenever they lose, it seems as if Girardi's poor game management plays a pretty key role. They may have enough talent to get by in the regular season, but that might not be the case in the post season.

3 mehmattski   ~  Jun 8, 2009 9:56 am

I'm wearing my Spamalot shirt today...

...and I'm beginning to agree with Matpat11's assessment that Girardi just likes to "do stuff."

4 jonnystrongleg   ~  Jun 8, 2009 9:59 am

[2] It's also up to Mo to tell Girardi if he can go. I think he should have used him normally (including pitching to Longoria and finishing the inning) or not used him at all.

Recently, it seems like all the games they've lost they've had a chance to win, and a lot of the games they've won they've had a chance to lose. Does Girardi get only the blame for the close losses and none of the credit for the close wins? If nothing else, the team is loose and confident even when trailing in the late innings. Many thought Girardi was too uptight to sustain such an environment.

5 jonnystrongleg   ~  Jun 8, 2009 10:03 am

[0] The ferocity of the taunting was so severe, he's been demoted from "King Arthur" to "Sir Arthur"

6 PJ   ~  Jun 8, 2009 10:10 am

Thanks very much for that, Diane! "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" is one of my favorite films. Oddly enough, that scene (as well as many others) was shot at Doune Castle in Stirling, Scotland! So much for "What are you doing in England?" This year will mark the 5TH Anniversary of “Monty Python Day,” which is held there in tribute to the comedy troupe.

Happy Birthday tomorrow!

"Fetch the cow!"

: )

7 williamnyy23   ~  Jun 8, 2009 10:14 am

[4] Actually, in the close wins, it seems like there are more than a few head scratchers as well. Yesterday, for example, there was the ill conceived bunt by Jeter in the 5th.

I do, however, give him credit for the evironment on the team because I'd blame him if it was sour.

8 jonnystrongleg   ~  Jun 8, 2009 10:23 am

[7] I agree with you about plenty of head scratchers, but I don't think that is one of them. I think Jeter calls his own number on those bunts.

9 TheGreenMan   ~  Jun 8, 2009 10:28 am

I love that Lenn Sakata story. Always has been one of my favorites.

By the way, John Lowenstein (Brother Lo) was playing 2B in that inning and Gary Roenicke was playing 3B. With Sakata at C it was probably the worst defensive infield you could put together in the early 80's.

Oh, and Cal, Jr. lead off the bottom of the 10th with a home run to tie it before Sakata won it with his blast. Great story, great game!

10 williamnyy23   ~  Jun 8, 2009 10:28 am

[8] There were quotes today from Girardi saying he called for the bunt...something about Garza being tough on righties.

11 Bum Rush   ~  Jun 8, 2009 10:30 am

Does Girardi get only the blame for the close losses and none of the credit for the close wins?

Around here, yup.

Why be intellectually honest when you can push an argument that has no merit?

Did you know, apart from YES, the Yankees aren't making any money?

12 Diane Firstman   ~  Jun 8, 2009 10:32 am

[5]

Gack ..... you are right! I've corrected that.

13 Bum Rush   ~  Jun 8, 2009 10:33 am

They may have enough talent to get by in the regular season, but that might not be the case in the post season.

Angel Berroa says hello.

Yup, a $200 million team *may* have enough talent. Great work Cashman!

14 The Hawk   ~  Jun 8, 2009 10:35 am

Wait, so Rivera didn't reveal his illness, or Girardi put him in in spite of it? Either way, sounds like he shouldn't have been out there.

I'll say this till something else comes along but I hate, hate, hate Mariano intentionally walking Longoria in that spot.

[7] Maybe I'm being stubborn, but I feel like the looseness in the clubhouse has got to be in spite of Girardi, or maybe even in reaction to him. I know I've had jobs where there was a real esprit de corps cause our boss was a jackass, and apparently Girardi isn't terribly popular, so ...

15 Raf   ~  Jun 8, 2009 10:40 am

Angel Berroa says hello.

Is this any different from when they had Luis Sojo on the roster?

16 Bum Rush   ~  Jun 8, 2009 10:50 am

@14

Do you ever get sick of swallowing tabloid reports like a dieter at McDonald's?

@ 15

Besides the part where Sojo was occasionally useful?

That's what kills me about the Girardi hate. Torre would have been starting Berroa and Cash ahead of Pena and Cervelli. Actually, Cash yes, but Berroa's skin color would have made him a tough call over Pena. The real question is whether Pena would have gotten any starts at 1B or LF.

17 Raf   ~  Jun 8, 2009 10:52 am

[14] I would think the "looseness" has more to do with players playing better. Cano & Cabrera, for example were horrid. Swisher and Teixiera are upgrades over Abreu and Giambi.

18 Raf   ~  Jun 8, 2009 10:59 am

[16]

For the record, I don't hate Girardi. While I wonder about some of his moves, I can pretty much say that about any ML manager. I don't think Torre had any magical ability to make the Yanks better any more than Girardi or Showalter did.

19 The Hawk   ~  Jun 8, 2009 11:01 am

[16] Honestly, I find you more exhausting than anything I might find in a tabloid. On the flip side of that, it's strangely impressive that you have the energy to keep it up day in and day out.

[17] It definitely does, but I was speaking about how Girardi's presence fits into that, what the dynamic is, cause he seems like the odd man out in a smiley, back-slapping dugout.

20 williamnyy23   ~  Jun 8, 2009 11:09 am

[19] You pretty much just have to ignore his posts...otherwise they grind every thread to a screeching halt. Attempting a debate is futile because facts fall on deaf ears (as the complete lack of comprehension regarding the Yankees finances comically proves).

21 RIYank   ~  Jun 8, 2009 11:14 am

Nice little interview with CC over at Pete Abe's place.
Nothing profound, but fun.

22 Bum Rush   ~  Jun 8, 2009 11:14 am

@ 19

Funny, but I don't stop by every day. It only seems like that! And every time I do stop by there's something new to slap Girardi over.

Now, the place is "loose" in spite of the manager. That's really illuminating. I bet Francona puts wasabi into his players jocks'.

For the record, I'm against all forms of bunting but unless there's an organizational prohibition (see again those Sox), every manager will do it. But if you 're going to knock Girardi over that, you might as well knock him for playing bullpen handedness matchups, batting his speediest player first, and for having a full-time DH. Problem is, he does none of those other things with any regularity.

23 Bum Rush   ~  Jun 8, 2009 11:18 am

@ 20

Right, like your "facts" on the Yankees losing money. I'd rather my facts fall on deaf ears rather than peddle bald-faced lies as "facts".

Still waiting for your "clarification" on the fiances though. Your "inspired" parsing was truly comical.

24 Bum Rush   ~  Jun 8, 2009 11:23 am

@ 20

P.s. Love the passive-aggressive! But at least you've given up discussing any thing that's measurable. That's a good start!

25 The Hawk   ~  Jun 8, 2009 11:25 am

[20] The thing is, flexibility and the willingness to say "you might have a point" are pretty rare on the internet - and anywhere else really - but at least most people, as a sop to decorum, or whatever, attempt to appear open-minded.

There's no point in discussion when someone makes it clear from the get-go that they have all the answers and won't budge from their positions, frequently suggesting that you're an idiot if you disagree with them.

26 williamnyy23   ~  Jun 8, 2009 11:29 am

[25] That's the lesson Bum Rush needs to learn. Until then, it isn't worth replying to any of his posts...even when doing so would expose his complete lack of understanding of an issue (as in the case of his inability to understand some simple financial concepts).

27 Bum Rush   ~  Jun 8, 2009 11:30 am

@ 25

You might have a point. But you're not an idiot. Just religious.

28 Bum Rush   ~  Jun 8, 2009 11:34 am

@ 26

Yes, financial "concepts" that ignore all sense of reality. Where did you learn - Enron? Or Madoff?

And here I thought you were prepared to completely disown your own specious argument. You still want another go, huh?

Yup, apart from YES, the Yankees make no yearly profit - you know, apart from their $200 million in ticket sales, all stadium concessions, other TV and radio rights, all ballpark advertising, etc.

Yeah, it's a wonder they can make payroll in these economic times.

29 Horace Clarke Era   ~  Jun 8, 2009 12:03 pm

It is actually fascinating, in a train-wreck sort of way, to watch two other vets here get the bum's rush. I wasactually going to try again, with some points on style/tone and what this place is all about, but then slapped myself upside the head and declaimed, 'What the F are you thinking?' and subsided.

The Cleese taunting clip is alarmingly apropos.

As for the emerging discussion points. Players need to tell someone if they are sick. If players are vomiting, someone has to KNOW that, no? I actually had no big issue with walking the league's leading rbi guy, EXCEPT that he was coming off the bench, and that's a special skill, especially when sitting because slightly hurting.

Girardi and Torre and Jeter did and do the bunt thing all the time. Garza had handled him effortlessly twice and grounders to ss if I recall. Damon hits a lot of loop-swing fly balls. It didn't bother me there.

If Mo had gone 2,3, 4 more batters would we have had him Sunday? Not sure. Coke is much-praised around here, Rivera was 'off' it appeared. Why is it so terrible to spell him to fight another (the next) day?

I continue to not be a Girardi fan, but the team's playing well. Too glib to say 'in spite of him' isn't it? As I have said before so much happens we don't (and can't) see or know.

30 The Hawk   ~  Jun 8, 2009 12:33 pm

[29] "As I have said before so much happens we don’t (and can’t) see or know."

Too true, though it won't stop me from theorizing based on speculation and innuendo!

31 Shaun P.   ~  Jun 8, 2009 12:35 pm

[0] Diane, as our friend Pooh would say, "Many happy returns on the day" - albeit a day early! Here's to a win for you at the Stadium tonight.

32 Diane Firstman   ~  Jun 8, 2009 12:38 pm

[31]

Thanks Shaun ....

As its Sonnanstine vs. Pettitte, the only thing I'm assured of is a lot of 3 ball counts, and a 3 hour+ game :-)

33 monkeypants   ~  Jun 8, 2009 12:38 pm

Carrying over from the older thread, beating a dead horse, and citing more statistics...I give you a relatively pro-Ichiro post:

Ichiro was #18 in Runs Created for all of MLB over the three-year period 2006-2008. (http://tinyurl.com/mn9w42).

And, before you ask Old Yanks Fan, here is the formula (which accounts for SB and CS, that is to say, "speed"):

RUNS CREATED FORMULA

RC = ((Hits + BB - CS) x (Total Bases+.55xSB))/ (AB + BB)

Here is a more complex version that gets you closer to the player's "true" RC number, though it is a lot more work to figure out.

The basic RC Formula is: ((((C*2.4)+A)*((C*3)+B))/(C*9))-(C*.9)
A: H+BB+HBP-CS-GIDP
B: ((BB-IBB+HBP)*.24)+(SB*.62)+((SH+SF)*.5)+TB-(SO*.03)
C: AB+BB+HBP+SF+SH
* A full list of all 14 variations on the formula can be found on pp.2671-2672 in Total Baseball, 8th Edition.

34 The Hawk   ~  Jun 8, 2009 12:46 pm

[33] There's something touching about that formula.

35 PJ   ~  Jun 8, 2009 1:10 pm

I would argue the Yankees Clubhouse more closely resembles the "We're Knights of the Round Table!" song in "Camelot" from that movie, than a team setting out to crush their opposition from day to day. I mean, it's their opponents who should be falling behind, not them more often than not where their wins are concerned! This lineup should be destroying any hurler, especially power arms. And their pitching, particularly the majority of their starters as well as Mo, might be better served with less "Food Room" and more "Film Room" at home, in addition to actually bothering to get their pitching arms in better shape, which might even yield more consistent command!

Gasp!

: )

36 RIYank   ~  Jun 8, 2009 1:18 pm

Mo needs to watch more film. That's probably right.
I don't know why Eiland is the pitching coach instead of you, PJ! This team should be in first place with the best record in the AL, instead of...

37 Chyll Will   ~  Jun 8, 2009 2:12 pm

Man, I didn't know Natalie Portman was Israeli. Now I like her even more.

38 OldYanksFan   ~  Jun 8, 2009 2:34 pm

[33] I KNEW THAT!
This would be interesting.
Take the top 30 in RC, based on Formula #1.
Then run the 14 variations on the same players.
How does it stack up?

ESPN has a very simply formula for Park Factor, which is used in may adjusted (+) offensive stats. I don't like it because for OPS+, it adjusts OBP and SLG numbers based on RS... NOT actual OBP and SLG. I created separate PFs for OBP and SLG (for a single year, and found that mine differed from ESPN's by 7% in the High direction and 10% in the low direction, meaning a 17% spread.

So
Player A: OPS+ 130
Player B: OPS+ 130
Might actually be:
Player A: OPS+ 139
Player B: OPS+ 117

That's a huge difference.
I'm sure that the MATH in both ESPN's and my equations was correct.
But which logic is better?
And since players, on average, play better at HOME, did that come into the formula?

Now I kmow the guys who do these formula's are pretty bright, and work hard to make them real. But we usually think a 130 OPS+ guy is quite a bit better then a 117 OPS+ guy. But that's a swing of only 10%. Who says these formula's are capable of creating mathimatical models that are within 10% of the REAL issues taking place on the field?

It's guesswork to some degree.

39 51cq24   ~  Jun 8, 2009 2:34 pm

i figure mo is fine, his stuff looks fine. and i still assume that once he starts to actually decline he'll start to mix in some of the offspeed stuff he sometimes throws in spring training and be good for another 3 years.

40 Horace Clarke Era   ~  Jun 8, 2009 2:41 pm

[33] Monkey, what's this about beating a dead Hoss? Rumors of my demise (except during game threads, OYF!) are greatly exacerbated! Or something.

Following you over here from earlier thread, though I don't think we're all that far apart. I do not think Ichiro's raw value as as high as the hits + speed optic have suggested over the years. We actually agree here. I think the Dunn stuff was a sidetrack, mostly. I have said I think aesthetics are a big part of his appeal, and I cited Federer in support of that.

I think I disagree, respectfully, on certain raw numbers and the HoF, though there's a slope here, that has to do with some numbers diminishing in significance (500 hrs, the biggest). Still, as we look at the very likely end of all 300 winners, and the paucity of 3000 hit guys, and the implications for sustained high-level play these still carry, I am far more at-ease with giving them great weight, or even 'here's your ticket'. Peak-year candidates have a more complex set of factors to evaluate.

I had already tried to think through your spin on the Negro League HoFers regarding Japan: essentially, why require them to play in MLB at all? Essentially I agree that the door is technically open on this now, but I don't see why it is MANDATED and I can see the merits of MLB adopting a hybrid approach ... players from Japan who had distinguished MLB careers may legitimately have notice taken of what they achieved in their earlier years in assessing their candidacies. I honestly don't see who is seriously hurt by this, and I can see some very fine players (probably just a small handful, actually) more properly assessed. I do not think Kei Igawa now vaults very high, myself, but I'm tough that way. I'll go further ... my suspicion is that as the sport changes, worldwide, more and more of the stallar Japenese players will be in MLB by their early 20s, not 28 or 29 as was the case with Hideki and Ichiro or Dice K. In other words, there may only be a small window of time where this applies much, and only for 3-5 players.

I think it is perfectly fair, and I'll argue it is proper, to consider Japanese numbers for Ichiro and Hideki in the context of HoF voting when their careers end.

But I am very able to see how anyone might think otherwise. This is just another of those weird little HoF debates that keep winters (mostly) alive for baseball!

41 Horace Clarke Era   ~  Jun 8, 2009 2:41 pm

And now back to Natalie Portman's extreme excellence.

42 51cq24   ~  Jun 8, 2009 2:48 pm

[4] i think it's more decision-to-decision than games won/lost. and i think that since he's made a couple obvious bad moves, he gets second guessed more when he makes close calls that could go either way. but i think [18] is right- any manager we would have right now would make calls we disagree with. maybe they shouldn't all be ex-players.

43 Chyll Will   ~  Jun 8, 2009 3:05 pm

[41] I wish I had more friends like her.

44 Bud Wisenheimer   ~  Jun 8, 2009 6:25 pm

I don't like the bunting, but last year, people were whining that the Yankees looked slow and old and lethargic. So maybe Girardi is trying to force the action and make things happen. Doesn't always work, no such thing as a perfect manager. In fact, I think half the reason managers exist is to give people a lightening rod to direct their criticism.

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"This ain't football. We do this every day."
--Earl Weaver