In his short time here at the Banter, Todd Drew made an indelible impact on all of us. Amid Alex’s range, Cliff’s statistical acumen, Bruce’s historical perspective, Emma’s sense of humor and the combination of media coverage from Diane and me, Todd, through his storytelling, demonstrated his love for baseball and this community by portraying the human side of Yankee fans.
From the tee shirts and hats and other assorted team paraphernalia worn by the transients, I noticed a number of Yankee fans on the 1, 2 and 3 trains when I was in New York City Monday. I haven’t been in the city much since changing jobs, so I was actually looking forward to the long subway ride to Columbia and then up to Manhattan College for a couple of workshops I was doing with clients at both institutions. As the train bounded out from underground between the Columbia campus at 116th Street and 125th Street and back down again quickly, and then into the light once more as the route exited Washington Heights and entered Inwood, I found myself thinking about Todd and his daily posts, many of which featured an interview with a Yankee fan on a subway and thought, “Todd was pretty brave to write from this perspective every day.”
The people he met every day on his way to work, or en route to the Stadium shaped his writing. Todd subscribed to a basic tenet of feature writing: everyone has a story to tell. He understood that we were all connected, sometimes in a similar way to how the subway lines connect people in the Big City. These strangers’ stories were his stories, and he was kind enough to share them.
Me? I’m not inclined to strike up a conversation with a stranger on a train and glean stories from there. I’m more of a situational observer. I view the panoramic and drill down based on the information I process.
On my way back downtown, I sat silently reading the Tom Verducci / Joe Torre tome, “The Yankee Years,” occasionally looking up to people-watch, mostly keeping to myself. As is usually the case when I travel by train, I get very tense and hope that either of the following situations does not occur: 1) a person sitting 5-10 feet from me is playing their iPod so that I can hear it through their headphones (after all, it’s not called an “everybodyPod), or 2) someone or a group of people in my car behaves obnoxiously, compelling me to get up and move to another car.
Today was different, though. Maybe it was because I’m not in the city every day anymore. I hadn’t taken the time to really notice the people, the surroundings, or wonder what was going on in their little insular planets before. Maybe it was because I was venturing to places that I hadn’t been on the 1 line and I wanted to learn something that I could eventually use in a conversation.
Before switching trains at 96th Street, a little girl was telling her father that she had fun and that she didn’t want to sit down because she was sweaty but “her bum wasn’t wet.” That killed me. One stop later, a family wasn’t prepared to get off the train, got to the doors about a second too late and the subway doors nearly scissored a mother’s baby carriage. A cursing match between the mother and the conductor ensued. While that was going on, another family entered the car and sat across from me: a mother, her son–who was probably about 7–and her daughter, probably age 4 or 5. Looking at the girl, it was like I was viewing my own daughter in five years. Similar shaped face, long, light brown hair, pink dress and sandals. And this girl was named Maddie, like mine. I immediately imagined riding a subway with my daughter, maybe on our way to the Museum of Natural History or some place like that, with her looking at the signs and asking questions as this other Maddie was doing with her mom.
The mother and her two children got off at 34th Street like I did, and from there we went our separate ways: them to the street, where a bus would take them one stop to the steps of their apartment building and me to the Long Island Rail Road concourse of Penn Station. A couple of glances were exchanged, but no words. I didn’t get to tell the mother about the similarities between her Maddie and mine. I don’t regret not saying anything, but it would have been nice to make conversation and see where it went. If he was in a similar position, Todd would have probably taken that leap and turned it into a 400-word piece.
The best feature writers immerse themselves in the environment and absorb the energy. Todd was able to do that and put you right there on the train with him. This one time, I wanted him on the train with me. I think he’d appreciate the ride.
Thanks for this, Will. I think about Todd all the time, kind of have a running dialogue with him in my head, especially during the moments you describe. I saw a big black dude, looked like Isaac Hayes, on the subway this morning. He was blind and had a dog with him. The dog lay at his feet and rested his chin on the man's foot. It was a great image.
[1] That is a great image. One of those markers that let you know that you're in New York and that pets are awesome.
Yeah, I never thought of myself as an "animal person" even though we had dogs, and always cats when I was growing up. But now, since Emily and I don't have kids, our cats mean the world to us and I really "get" animals in a different way. Those seeing eye dogs are incredible.
Sadly, Todd's dog died just a few months after he did.
this was really great will.
todd's humanity was remarkable. you knew he genuinely valued everybody.
this vignette captured the essense of that well will.
there's 8 million stories in the city it's a pity
i was on a crosstown bus on 125th this morning - practically the whole bus including the driver on his mic was talking about michael jackson, swine flu, viruses, vaccines, numerology - quite a ride
[3] I feel the same way about our cats, Alex. And I had no idea about Todd's dog. What a rough go for our friend Mrs. Drew.
[4] Thanks a lot. Thinking about this yesterday made me wonder -- and let's face it, we're all guilty of it at times -- how people are OK being so self-absorbed.
[0] "I’m more of a situational observer."
"You can observe a lot by watching." - Yogi
Thanks for starting the Yankees off to their winning ways again, Will! Todd would have loved that, especially including a sweep against the Mets in their building, "depleted roster" or not, like me.
: )
via the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
The Pirates late this morning traded outfielder Eric Hinske to the New York Yankees for catcher/outfielder Eric Freyer and pitcher Casey Erickson.
Read more: http://post-gazette.com/pg/09181/980813-100.stm#ixzz0JvfvoLSw&C
Thanks Will for evoking Todd's memory. I'm a lifelong New Yorker and reading Todd's posts awakened in me the ability to see a city I love through different eyes.
The subway and bus can be an endless source of entertainment and wonder, like a sociological exposé. Or, it can be the everybody-pod where other people's existence tramples yours.
All in all, it's neat to feel connected to the world around you with all the different flavors and nuances. Todd was great at making it come to life, as you did now.
Eric Hinske was a Pirate? Who knew?
As one who has taken the subway tens of thousands of time, I really wish I could find some redeeming qualities in the MTA beyond the relative efficiency and convenience compared to driving. If it has any charm, it has long ago been completely lost on me.
[7] Not a bad pickup for the Yankees, especially as they gave up little and are receiving cash too. Hinske is a versatile, league average hitter who can hit righties decently (career OPS of .803). The question now becomes who gets shipped out. If it was up to me, I'd contract the bullpen and DFA Tomko. I like having Ransom and Pena around, especially the latter who has proven to be a very effective pinch runner.
[7] Pickens sure are slim these days, or in the case of Hinske, not so slim...
: )
@ 7
Ugh. Somehow I think Shelly Duncan could hit better than Hinske. And with four lefty bats already (Damon, Matsui, Gardner, and, yes, Melky) why would you pick up another lefty bat?
Ugh. They gave up next to nothing, but then why?
[12] "Somehow I think Shelly Duncan could hit better than Hinske."
Clearly he can field and throw better than the former Pirate. Nothing was gained in that deal. If he was really worth anything, the Red Sox wouldn't have unloaded him long ago...
*shrug*
[8] Thanks so much ... It's always easier when the piece sort of writes itself. I think Todd would have had some fun with it.
[13] Maybe Duncan can be an average major league hitter, but he hasn't done it in his brief opportunity. Because Hinske will actually cost less than Duncan and is more versatile and has established himself as a league average hitter, I don't see why you'd rather have Duncan.
As for Hinske not being worth anything because the Sox cut him...check out Carlos Pena.
The only thing Hinske adds is the "ability" to play 3B. As another lefty bat, he adds nothing above Gardner or Cabrera. That's a horrid level of suck - especially for a guy discussed as a corner OF. At least Duncan is a legitimate power threat.
Shows even more how clueless Cashman is to let DeRosa pass twice, but to make this trade. First Cody Ransom, now Eric Hinske. What next - Terrence Long?
Duncan was also hurt in 07. Regardless, I think he's worth taking @ look at. Anyway, Hinske's a good move, seeing as he can play 1b, 3b, LF & RF, offering a little bit more versatility than Duncan.
Seeing as Tomko's still on the roster, there is room to have Duncan, especially since Peña is going to be the one sent down.
And what the hell is it with Cashman and the Pirates? Does he purposefully ask them who's their most uninspiring players and then acquire them?
The Sox got Jason Bay.
The Yankees got Marte, Nady, and now Hinske.
Which one is the "budget" team again?
@ 17
I don't buy the versatility nonsense. Duncan play 1B just as well. So we're talking, barely, 3B. And with the immortal Cody Ransom, that's covered too on days A-Rod is resting. If they needed an emergency replacement for another infielder, there's no reason they couldn't use A-Rod as an emergency.
At least DeRosa is a good defender and hits from the right side. If they were going to make this move, he was the guy. And don't talk to me about the price. A $200 million clubs shouldn't be putting absolute scrubs - which Hinske is - on the roster if they can avoid it.
[15] Just what the Yankees need, William...
Another "zero tool" league average schlub...
"As for Hinske not being worth anything because the Sox cut him…check out Carlos Pena."
Let's see... Pena at 1B for the Red Sox, or Kevin Youkilis?
Decisions, decisions...
: )
[7][10] Perhaps it is part of the Yankees longer term plans, to collect all of the former ROY IFs since 1990? Of the top of my head--
Derek Jeter
Pat Listach
Chuck Knoblauch
Angel Berroa
Pat Hinske
That doesn't leave too many!
[19] The deal makes the most sense of he is envisioned as a replacement for, not an addition to, the immortal Cody Ransom, since (as far as I can tell) Hinske is basically Ransom + OF ability - some defense.
[20] I happen to think being able to be a league average hitter is a tool, but that's just me. Considering his role and cost, Hinske represents a small improvement.
As for the Sox, I am sure they'd love to have Pena and Youkilis.
[10] If it was up to me, I’d contract the bullpen and DFA Tomko.
If it was up to me, I would contract the bull pen regardless: DFA Tomko and add Hinske or Duncan or Rodriguez or Molina. There is simply no need need for 12 pitchers, especially with the way the current pen is constructed.
I happen to think being able to be a league average hitter is a tool, but that’s just me.
Yup, that's just you.
[23] League average anything isn't a tool. It's merely league average, which isn't today what it used to be.
"As for the Sox, I am sure they’d love to have Pena and Youkilis."
Pena however, would refuse to ride the pine, but you knew that already.
[25] League average is a good thing when it replaces less than league average, aka Cody Ransom.
[26] Youkilis, however, can play 3B, but you knew that too...right?
You might not be impressed, but scouts and sabermetricians alike both concede there is value in being able to hit at league average levels.
@ 27
Shudder. Yup, that's Brian Cashman's modus operandi.
@ 28
Nothing like an unsourced BS opinion! Scouts and sabermetricians alike both concede that there's a reason Eric Hinske only got a one-year deal from the Pirates.
[29] I would think that it's everyone's modus operandi, given that no team has an above average player at every starting position and every position on the bench and the bullpen.
Really, I don't see this trade as a moment for complaint, when it amounts (potentially) improving the team very slightly (+ Hinske - Ransom) for essentially nothing.
Meanwhile, Pete Abe speculates that Pena will get the ax. I hope not not. I'm not particularly thrilled with Pena, but he does play a slick SS and he can run. Plus, I am pretty certain that he has about zero upside. In other words, he's a paradigmatic bench player: he'll never cut it as a starter but offers one or two sills that can be exploited in a limited role.
By the way, the 34 year-old Mark DeRosa's career OPS+ is 98, while the 31 year-old Eric Hinske's OPS+ is 100. Amusing.
[32] Damn you and damned statistics!
[31] I would prefer to keep Pena as a pinch runner, but it's not that big of a deal. If the Yankees were planning on using his glove more, it probably would make sense to keep him around.
Scouts and sabermetricians alike both concede that there’s a reason Eric Hinske only got a one-year deal from the Pirates.
Because the Twins signed Jason Kubel? :)
FWIW, Bobby Abreu got a one year deal as well... Anyway, for a spare part off the bench, Hinske will do.
[35] Oh great...now there is way too much logic and reasoning in this thread. Why did you have to ruin a good, baseless rant??
Wow, I walked away from my desk for such a short time and missed all this about what it essentially a non-move.
Cashman generally makes one of these from time to time. It seems interesting that the Pirates are a conduit for our minor league players. What's that all about?
[23] League average anything isn’t a tool. It’s merely league average, which isn’t today what it used to be.
I remember the halcyon days of yore as if they were yesterday, when strapping stoic men of wide renown, hewn raw from blocks of granite and basalt, bestrode the diamond like the Colossus of Rhodes. Why, back then the heart quickened even at the briefest sight of the 25th man upon any team, for even the merely average seemed giants to us lowly men ...
Ah, yes, statistics:
Career versus LHP (you know, the Yankees actual need):
DeRosa - .304 .374 .486
Hinkse - .221 .298 .363
2009 versus LHP
DeRosa - .323 .391 .629
Hinkse - .273 .429 .318
@ 35
Thanks! Abreu only getting a one-year deal proves my point.
There's no place in the league for one (or none) dimensional players.
Still, there's also the difference in destination. Abreu went the Angels. Hinske went to the Pirates.
Why does Cashman love his Pirates? Nady, Marte, and now Hinske - all sooooo inspiring!
I really hate to keep bringing common sense into the equation, but the Yankees have an .876 OPS against lefties and an .803 OPS against righties.
Wow, must be a slow afternoon in PJ Land and Bum World. No tourists coming through? Popcorn to sell? Bobbleheads?
Why in the world other than generalized Cash hate would anyone waste time getting EXERCISED about this deal. No one who means anything at all was dealt. A possibly slight improvement in bench depth and maybe 3base back-up was achieved. It is about as close to a yawn, ok, fine, carry on deal as one can imagine.
But it has been ratcheted up to Pena and Youkilis, and Jason Bay (someone, not to be named, very slightly BoSox Hyperfocused?).
DeRosa's a nice player, at 5 million plus. Hinske's 1 and change million, so peanuts for half a season. The linked piece on Kubel above (thanks) makes a good point, and I like fangraphs analysis. I don't think it matters lot here (I don't think any of this matters a lot!) since he's depth and a pinch hitter. If Hinske's okay at 3rd, I think Ransom should go.
Let this one die a merciful death, guys ... it is a trivial move, may help a bit, may do nothing, has ZERO impact on any future more important ones.
[41] william, if you keep doing that facts thing you are going to get a time out.
I was wondering about it myself but too lazy to check, since I didn't sense the old-time lefties-kill-us this year. Thanks for the data.
[0] Will - you're 3-for-3 since your return!
i think of Todd very regularly.
Will, not sure if you read my human interest post from last week. i wish i got to share it with Todd. that sick little boy gets his results today. i don't know if i'll get word, but if i do, i hope to hear good news.
i'm rather shy and wouldn't have struck up conversations, either. as far as my story, the mom broke the ice with me and i'm glad she did. otherwise, i would've kept shut.
i've never been an animule or pet guy... hope you're still playing your drums, Will!
@ 41
Ah, yes, let's look a little deeper shall we (since you only use numbers to obscure):
vs RHP as RH: .712 OPS
vs RHP as LH: .838 OPS
vs LHP as RH: .907 OPS
vs LHP as LH: .825 OPS
Hinske ain't helping at all with that. If anything, he'll bring down that second line.
DeRosa would have helped that last line because he allows them to sit Matsui or Damon sometimes. Hinske doesn't.
The Yankees have three lefty OF/DHs. But sure, it makes perfect sense to go get another one.
we replaced the Low-A pitcher with another one, from an independent league in a separate deal. we also similarly added a 3rd baseman to Scranton. i wonder if it's in reaction to protecting A-rod with what's going on with Lowell...
it does appear that Hinske's minimal work at 3rd makes him more attractive than Shelley, but not essential. it can't hurt that Hinske knows the AL East very well, having played for the Jays, Rays and Shit Sox and has postseason experience.
not an essential move, but prolly nothing to scream over, in a bad way. tomko really needs to get gone. i like having El Nino around, but maybe playing everyday in the minors will be alright. if he does go down, i'm sure we'll see him again sometime soon...
Thanks! Abreu only getting a one-year deal proves my point.
No, not really. If anything, it proves that Abreu needs to get a better agent, seeing as Dunn, Ibanez, and Ramirez got better deals.
There’s no place in the league for one (or none) dimensional players.
Not really, considering that the above players were able to find teams to play on. And one/done dimensional players have been in the majors for quite some time. Frank Thomas lasted for many years as one. As did Rey Ordoñez.
Why does Cashman love his Pirates? Nady, Marte, and now Hinske – all sooooo inspiring!
You forgot Enrique Wilson & Luis Sojo
@ 45
To be clear, Hinke's career .800 OPS against RHP actually hurts the Yankees relative to what they actually have. Neither Damon nor Matsui should be sitting for Hinske. That leaves 3B.
Hinske at 3B?:
-13.4 UZR
There was no reason to make this move, even if it cost nothing. Then again, nothing surprises me from a management that carries Angel Berroa for two months.
[38] Give me Bob Cerv over Eric Hinske any day...
@ 46
If they're worried about A-Rod they should have addressed it last season - you know when he first reported pain. But I suppose that's Girardi's fault.
@ 47
Dunn, Ibanez, and Manny are all much better than Abreu. They can all also slug .500 - something that no one - legitmately - in the Yankee OF can do.
There was no reason to make this move, even if it cost nothing
I think this is the reason the deal was made, though I could be wrong.
They can all also slug .500 – something that no one – legitmately – in the Yankee OF can do.
And yet, the Yanks are among the league leaders in runs scored...
@ 51
Perhaps. But then they've replaced a horrid OF bat with an even worse one. At least Shelley would have let them rest Damon and Matsui. Why not give him a few ABs over the last two months?
@ 52
Think what they could do with one decent corner OF bat! Nah, not that I would expect that on a $200 million team.
@ 53
I don't know why they haven't gone with Duncan, and I alluded to as much in post #17. I still think there's room for both, all they need to do is jettison Tomko, who is redundant with Aceves, Robinson and Hughes on the team.
There is no reason Hinkse couldn't spell Damon and Matsui, despite both batting LH'ed. Swisher is your primary starter/backup in the corners anyway, with Melky getting his starts here and there. Swisher is also the primary backup @ 1b, with the odd man out in the OF, 1b, or C getting whatever DH at bats are available, if Matsui isn't playing.
@ 54
Why would you replace Damon or Matsui with Hinske? He's a worse hitter than both of them - against LHP and RHP. So he adds nothing.
Just a dumb move. It wastes more ABs (see also Berroa and Ransom) without helping the team. And he's a butcher at 3B.
What happened to williamnyy23 and his "common sense"? Hahahahaha.
[55] Perhaps he simply got tired of trying to reason with someone who think Cashman is the devil?
Out of curiousity - what's your take on Nick Swisher? Should he be playing every day or should the Yanks be looking for someone to take over when he runs cold?
[54] I like your thinking, but the limiting factor is the twelve man pitching staff, which currently part of baseball orthodoxy. In the American league alone, 11 teams have a 12 man staff, 1 has a 13 man staff, and only 2 (Twins and Mariners) have an 11 man staff. In fact, as I write this, one of the rotating headlines on the Twins' MLB.com page calls particular attention to the success of the team's 6-man bullpen, indicating how unorthodox such a roster is considered these days.
Song as the Yankees carry twelve pitchers, DFAing Tomko would have no bearing on the bench, because he would simply be replaced with another arm. However, if the Yankees decided to buck the trend and go with 11 pitchers, they could, as you suggest, "go with both" (Hinske and Duncan) on the bench.
@ 56
Whoa hyperbole. I've been much fairer to Cashman than Girardi has gotten. I criticize the GM for actual moves he's made (or hasn't), rather than some BS about preparation and motivation.
As for Swisher, he's fine if he's not overexposed. Personally, I would have called up Duncan two months ago. He's not much but he helps them esp. with Matsui and Damon. I would have also signed Dunn instead of Teixeira...
Why would you replace Damon or Matsui with Hinske?
To give them a day off. That he's a worse hitter isn't relevant. If he were a better hitter and starting over Damon & Matsui then, yes, there'd be a problem. But as the 5th OF option, I doubt that he'll be a starter anytime soon.
@ 57
I would rather see the Yanks go with an 11 man staff and rotate pitchers in and out of the pen if need be than having a 12 man staff. There is no use for Tomko if Aceves and Hughes are there as "long" men, and Bruney and Robertson are there as "short" men. Especially when you have Aceves and Hughes that can go long or short, and Phil Coke who can get both RH & LH batters out.
@ 59
The time to rest Matsui and Damon is against LHP - as it has been for the whole season. That's a role for a RH hitter - Duncan, DeRosa, etc.
[42] "Wow, must be a slow afternoon in PJ Land and Bum World. No tourists coming through? Popcorn to sell? Bobbleheads?"
Wow, indeed!
So much for
"Thank You For Not . . .
personally attacking other commenters
baiting other commenters..."
Perhaps you would have know that, if you weren't "too lazy to check"...
Give me Bob Cerv over Eric Hinske any day…
and give me Eric Hinske over Enos Slaughter, Irv Noren, Norm Sieborn and other assorted hacktastic riff-raff the Yankees often wasted at bats on during those years
Also, i'm not sure what Cerv is doing in a discussion about "league average", since, well, as a hitter, he wasn't.
[62] he wasn't by which I mean he was much better than that. Anyone who can beat out Ted Williams for an All-Star spot and set the KC A's HR record can *start* on my team anyday.
[63] Oh, I'm sorry... I thought we were talking about 25th men... or bench players...
You win, Cult.
Happy?
*rolls eyes*
[64] you sure seem to roll your eyes a bunch when you've run out of actual things to say ... but whatever, we're done here.
Will, thank you for this. While going through his things, I found at least a dozen of Todd's notebooks with his scribbles from talking to people. I miss his writing too. Take care, Marsha Drew