[23] I do agree that it’s better to start Russo over Peña at 3B. But Girardi seems to love Peña. Also, the bench is soooo weak-hitting right now (if A-Rod is not available), maybe he’s thinking that he should “save” Russo if he needs to PH later. Then again, the only person he would PH for is Peña.

Also, if your most potent bat off the bench is Russo…

[18] I don’t know why Russo isn’t starting @ 3b over Pena. Given Girardi’s machinations, he probably wanted to keep Russo on the bench for whatever reason. At any rate, they needed another position player for a little more flexibility on the bench.

[18] Russo or not, with Thames on the DL they were right to call up another position player rather than go with a 13th pitcher.

Actually, with so many players banged up and the starters going deep (except when they are pulled after 95 pitches), I would think about going with 14 position players and 11 pitchers, at least for a few days. Then again, I would prefer to do that for the whole season, but that’s just me.

The 1989 ALCS was Rickey at his best, I remember how he drove the Jays nuts running wild on the bases, and his antics drove them crazy as well. He got a bad rap in 87 after the issue with the torn hammy, which was unfortunate.

Not sure about the story, but it’s a better SLOGAN!

*now PLEASE stay healthy!

[3] Agreed. My oldest sister was enamored with Ricky and his swagger and his snatch-catch. I was aware that people either loved him to death or hated his guts. I was really sore when Ricky was traded and boycotted the rest of the season; I read later in Winfield’s biography that Ricky was practically blindsided by the trade, even though many assumed that he was disgruntled, so he Cadillacked it and used his “hammy” as an excuse. Up there with some of the worst trades they made that decade, especially since he went on to be productive and make history with the team he started off with.