Book Excerpt

From Red Sox Century

By Glenn Stout and Richard A. Johnson

(For Part One, click here)

Stanky got the message. The Red Sox were for real. Before leaving Fenway Park he meekly admitted Yastrzemski should be the starting All-Star left fielder for the American league. Then, as soon as he was out of town he made an empty threat to sue the Red Sox for not protecting him from their fans. The pennant race was becoming contentious. Boston had the attention of the other teams. Dick Williams loved it.

Even Boston fans were starting to wake up. Last minute wins were exciting and the Sox had a knack for coming from behind. Attendance started creeping up as older fans decided to check the team out, and young fans came for the first time.
The Sox were tough, too. How tough? When they went to New York in late June, third baseman Joe Foy visited his parents in the Bronx, found their home on fire and pulled them to safety. The next day, in a scene from a B-movie, he hit a grand slam to beat the Yankees 7-1.

(more…)

Will Carroll, who writes about injuries for Baseball Prospectus, and has a blog on this site, has made the big time. He’s got a piece on the op-ed page of the New York Times this morning about performance-enhancing drugs. Mazeltov, dude.

Pedro Martinez is not officially a member of the Mets…yet. However, the Red Sox brass are reacting as if he’s played his last game for the Home Nine. According to the Boston Globe:

“We wish Pedro nothing but the best going forward both on the field and off the field,” Sox principal owner John W. Henry said. “He has earned everything he has accomplished, including his World Series ring and his reputation as one of the greatest who ever lived.”

…”I’m disappointed that Pedro is leaving for the National League and the Mets,” Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino said. “He was a larger-than-life figure and made a gigantic contribution to the Red Sox. I will miss him both personally and professionally.”

…”We’re obviously disappointed he took the Mets’ deal, but we met his requests: We guaranteed the third year,” Sox chairman Tom Werner said. “This will not deter us from finding a solution to reach our championship goals.”

While signing Pedro to such an expensive deal is a calculated risk, you would think that Shea Stadium will do wonders for Martinez’s numbers. As a Yankee fan, I’m happy to see him on any team but the Red Sox. Now, if the Yanks face him twice a year, it will seem like fun. After all, the so-called rivalry with the Mets doesn’t hold a candle to the very real one the Yankees have with the Red Sox. (I wonder how Sox fans feel about losing Martinez.) Also, I would simply like to see Pedro pitch well for the Mets. I just think it would be cool. Met blogger, Jeremy Heit, initially “floored” by the news, writes:

I’m so happy. I love Pedro… he’s probably my second favorite pitcher in the league, right behind, who would have guessed it, the “Next Pedro”, Johan Santana. I have something for changeup pitchers I guess…

Changeup pitchers who throw cheese. Martinez would be the best pitcher the Mets have had since David Cone was with the team in the early 90s. While the Yanks work on finalizing deals with Pavano and Wright, and continue to haggle with Arizona over Randy Johnson, the Mets swipe the headlines for now and apparently are set to give their fans a terrific holiday treat. Martinez still has to pass a physical and given his mercurial personality, anything could still happen, but it’s increasingly difficult to picture him pitching for the Red Sox again.

The Boston Herald is reporting that Pedro Martinez has accepted a four-year contract to pitch for the New York Mets:

According to sources, Red Sox officials were awaiting official word this afternoon that Martinez had accepted the offer to New York.
The three-time Cy Young winner reportedly agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the Mets worth $56 million, or $14 million a year. That deal is a year longer and approximately $500,000 more a year than the Red Sox were willing to spend in order to retain Martinez, according to a baseball source.

Dag. If this is in fact true, props to the Mets for stepping up and bagging their man.

Book Excerpt

So how could I run a series of excerpts by Stout and Johnson without touching on their seminal work, Red Sox Century? Well, I couldn’t leave it out. The question was, “What part did I think would work best for Bronx Banter?” After giving the matter serious consideration, Glenn and I selected the chapter on the Impossible Dream team of 1967. It just so happens to be one of the longer chapters in the book, much longer than the Dodger and Yankee excerpts which appeared here last week. But it was just too good to leave alone. After all, 67 was the Summer of Love. Bonnie and Clyde and The Graduate were released that year, as was Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Oh, and the American League had one of the most thrilling pennant races of all-time. There is no hidden meaning behind choosing such a long section for the Bostons, but I figured that Sox fans deserve to read about a winning year–even if the team did ultimatley lose the World Series to the Cards–after how things ended up for them in 2004. So here goes…enjoy. And if you are looking for a last-minute holiday gift, please consider Red Sox Century, Yankees Century, and The Dodgers: 120 Years of Dodgers Baseball. They are all welcome additions to any baseball fan’s library.

1967

(Part 1 of 4)

by Glenn Stout and Richard A. Johnson

Dick Williams didnít mess around. “This club has become a cruise ship overrun with captains and players thinking they are captain. The cruise is over and you don’t need a captain anymore,” he told the players. “You have a new boss now–Me. Eliminating the club captaincy is my way of letting you know that things will be done one way…My way.” This was how spring training before the 1967 season began.

Dick Williams stripped Sox captain Carl Yastrzemski of his title and assumed total command. And the Red Sox became a different team.

Although most would later view the rebirth of the Red Sox in 1967 as some kind of miracle, the renaissance of the franchise was more the product of a peculiar set of circumstances that landed the team in the hands of the right man at the right time. The end result was perhaps the most exciting Red Sox season in history, one that started slowly then built before finally exploding like a roman candle that bathed Sox fans in a lasting glow.

(more…)

The Yankees haven’t officially signed anyone yet, but they are close to inking Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright. In addition, according to articles in the Post and the Daily News, the Diamondbacks are prepared to re-open the Randy Johnson talks with the Bombers.

Meanwhile, the Boston Globe reports that Pedro Martinez could make a desicion about his future as early as today. The Mets have yet to wow him with an offer so I don’t see why he wouldn’t return to the Hub.

Finally, here’s Jay Jaffe’s second report from Anahiem. Great stuff as always.

Book Excerpt

From Yankees Century

By Glenn Stout and Richard A. Johnson

(For Part One, click here)

As the two teams embarked on the midnight train back to New York, their moods could not have been more different. Boston, having finally broken through on Chesbro, believed he was done for the year. They were confident they could beat whomever Griffith chose to pitch in either game on Monday. The Yankees, on the other hand, knew it would take a miracle to win both games.

Neither the Yankees nor their fans were deterred by the odds. The Giants refusal to play in a postseason series had cost them and the Yankees had picked up thousands of converts that victory could make permanent. Anticipation built during the off day. On Monday afternoon nearly thirty thousand zealots turned out at American League Park hoping to witness just such a miracle.

Jack Chesbro took the mound for the final time that season, and the fourth time in eight days. If it were true that he had nothing left, after 445 innings of pitching, it was equally true that he had nothing left to lose. He had told Griffith the previous day “I’ll trim ’em on Monday if it costs an arm.”

(more…)

Carl Pavano is this close to being a member of the New York Yankees. According to Tyler Kepner in the New York Times:

On Saturday morning, from his off-season home in the woods near Montreal, Pavano told his agent to negotiate a deal with the Yankees. The sides were closing in on a four-year contract for just under $40 million, pending a physical, and Manager Joe Torre made the difference. “His conversations with Joe Torre, who spoke with him again by phone in the last couple of days, really were impactful,” Pavano’s agent, Scott Shapiro, said. “Carl told me point-blank that he would go to war for the man. You can’t say anything bad about the decision of wanting to play for Joe Torre.”

Meanwhile, there was news that Jaret Wright had failed a portion of his physical, holding up his deal with the Yankees. But he took a second one yesterday and it seems as if he’ll be wearing pinstripes after all. The Yankees are still interested in adding Eric Milton, but Milton is currently asking for too much money. Hopefully, the Bombers will persue Matt Clement or even Odalis Perez instead of Milton.

Elsewhere, the Red Sox are close to inking free agent Edgar Renteria–a personal favorite, dag–while the A’s could move Tim Hudson–another favorite–by the end of the weekend. For more first-hand reports from the field, check out the latest from All-Baseball’s crack staff: Jon Weisman, Rich Lederer, Alex Ciepley, and Peter White.

Rich Lederer and Jay Jaffe have both filed reports from the winter meetings. Lively stuff. It’s cold and rainy in New York and man, do I ever wish I was out there. Anyhow, I ain’t. But reading Rich and Jay’s articles makes me feel as if I was smack dab in the middle of it. Go check em out.

With the Yankees reportedly set to sign Carl Pavano, the Red Sox inked David Wells to a two-year contract last night. According to the Boston Globe, the deal is:

For a guaranteed $8 million, plus an additional $10 million in performance incentives that could make the total package worth $18 million.

Under the terms of the agreement, Wells would receive a $3 million signing bonus and have a base salary of $2.5 million in 2005 and 2006. He also would have the opportunity to earn an additional $5 million in performance bonuses in each year of the contract.

As if the rivalry needed any more excitement. Wells, a fan favorite in New York, will now pitch for Boston. (Bet he plunks Rodriguez next year to ignite another brawl.) This is a good signing for the Sox. After all, who would you rather pitching for you: Boomer or Eric Milton? Yeesh. This should all but assure the Yanks of throwing their dough at Pavano and perhaps Milton too. They are talking about four-years, $42 million for Pavano. If you are going to spend that kind of loot, why not up it to $50 and nab Pedro? The question remains: Would Pavano, Milton and Wright make the Yankees a significantly better ball club?

Anyone else get the sense that it is the Yankees desperately trying to keep up with the Red Sox now?

Book Excerpt

The Yankees lost to the Red Sox in exquisite fashion in 2004. It was horribly painful for Yankee fans and amazingly wunnerful for Red Sox Nation. Although the Sox haven’t made a custom of beating the Yankees (when both teams have been good) during the past hundred years, they did send New Yorkers home unhappy in 1904, in spite of the considerable efforts of Ban Johnson and Jack Chesbro. The following excerpt–the first of two parts–from Yankees Century details that fateful season, when the Boston-New York baseball rivalry was just beginning.

CHAPTER TWO: 1904

THE PITCH

By Glenn Stout and Richard A. Johnson

“I would have given my entire salary back could I but had the ball back.”
–Jack Chesbro

If the Yankees failure to contend in 1903 had caused some joy among some factions of Tammany Hall, elsewhere there was only frustration. Ban Johnson, Frank Farrell and William Devery were not happy. The new club had proven problematic, a failure in almost every way. All interested parties were determined not to let that happen again. They’d invested too much in the immigrants to let them flounder.

Fans were less than impressed. American League baseball in New York, while cheaper than National League ball, hadn’t been very impressive. The Yankees had failed to create their own constituency, or steal substantial numbers of fans from the Giants. Yankee rooters were foundlings who couldn’t afford to attend games at the Polo Grounds, gamblers who would bet on anything, anywhere, anyhow, or political cronies of Farrell and Devery taking a day off.

They weren’t drawing fans from downtown. Getting to the ballpark was inconvenient, and would be for several more seasons until the subway opened. By and large, the Yankees were fighting the Giants for the same group of fans – and losing badly.

(more…)

The winter meetings start today in Anahiem. Looks like there will be plenty of action. Troy Glaus and Jeff Kent were snatched up yesterday. The Angels are reportedly close to signing Steve Finely while the Diamondbacks are nearing a deal with Russ Ortiz. What will the Yankees accomplish? Youse tell me. Regardless, it promises to be a busy weekend. Goody.

The Yankees sign Jaret Wright. For the same money, Jon Lieber moves to the city of brotherly love. Which pitcher would you rather have? Give me Lieber. And another thing: If the Yankees do wind up signing Eric Milton, how happy will Manny, Cookie Monster and company be to see Wright and Milton pitching against them next year? I’d say, very, very happy. (Cliff Corcoran covers a bad day in the Bronx.)

At this point, the Yankees are putting all of their off-season hopes in landing Randy Johnson, and perhaps Carlos Beltran too. If they can’t make a splashy move, Wright, and possibly Milton, could end up haunting the team for the next several years.

At least the winter meetings shouldn’t be dull this weekend. Meanwhile, Al Leiter signs with the Marlins and isn’t pleased with the way his Met career ended, while the Red Sox brass met with Pedro Martinez yesterday.

Is Brooklyn in the House?

As usual, there was a crop of good baseall books released in 2004. In case anyone is doing some last-minute holiday shopping, consider: “The Numbers Game,” by Alan Schwarz, “Brushbacks and Knockdowns,” by Allen Barra, “Negro League Baseball: The Rise and Ruin of a Black Institution, ” by Neil Lanctot, “Saving the Pitcher,” by Will Carroll, “The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty,” by Buster Olney, and one of my favorites, “Rob Neyer’s Big Book of Baseball Lineups.” I know it wasn’t released this year, but “A Legend in the the Making: the New York Yankees in 1939,” by Richard Tofel is essential reading for any self-respecting Yankee fan. You can find these books in stores or on the Internet, but in case you want to hunt for a wider selection of baseball literature, check out R. Plapinger Baseball Books (baseballbooks@opendoor.com).

Glenn Stout and Richard A. Johnson, authors of “Red Sox Century,” and “Yankee Century” released another fine team history this season, “The Dodgers: 120 Years of Dodgers Baseball.” All three books are a must for any baseball library. Thanks to Glenn Stout, I am going to run excerpts from from all three books in the coming week. First up is Chapter Ten from the Dodger book, which is about the teams’ final days in New York.

Enjoy.

Book Excerpt

LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN

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You can kiss Jon Lieber good-bye as the Yanks signed former nemesis Jaret Wright to a three-year, $21 million deal. (Lieber is reportedly close to signing a three-year contract with the Phillies.) Wright was an easy guy to dislike when he was with Cleveland but I don’t have much of a feeling for him one way or the other anymore. I know that Jay Jaffe was high on the Yankees getting him. The big question is whether Wright can continue his comeback without Leo Mazzone.

Meanwhile, many of the Yankee fans who have been bracing themselves for the Bombers to ink Eric Milton received a surprise body blow last night when the team signed Tony Womack to a two-year contract. Miguel Cairo is five years younger than Womack, but was apparently asking for too much money to return as the staring second base man. The logic behind not bringing Cairo back is not at fault here. In fact, it’s promising that the team didn’t fall in love with a utility player who simply had a solid season. But the cherce of Womack is uninspiring at best. And this was not a George move either. According to the Post:

The lefty-hitting Womack, who came highly recommended by super scout Gene Michael, can hit leadoff or ninth and provides a base-stealing threat.

What about Cliff Corcoran’s man, Placido Planco? Not enough defense? What? And now, who do you suppose will be the utility man? This might be nuts, but what about Robbie Alomar? If he is mentally prepared for it, I think he’d be a good selection. He would be cheap, can still play defense, and can come off the bench and swipe a base if needed. Or will this open the door for Yankee farm hand Robinson Cano?

Oh well. John Olerud was not offered arbitration, but Ruben Sierra was. Man, oh man. Seeing Womack on the back page of the Post this morning was not a terrific way to start the day. Maybe I’m wrong here. I know Larry Mahknen sure ain’t happy about it. What do you guys think?

Jason Giambi’s agent, Arn Tellem, released a statement to the media yesterday:

“Jason Giambi is an extremely dedicated athlete and a caring and loyal teammate,” the statement said. “Jason loves the game of baseball, the Yankees, and the extraordinary New York Yankees fans. Jason has always appreciated the steadfast support of the fans who have been there through good times and bad. He is determined, focused and working hard to return to form in 2005 and help the Yankees get back to the World Series.”

Murray Chass, who is at his best when writing about the business-side of the game, continues to detail the Yankees’ possible legal options concerning Giambi’s contract in the Times today. And for a completely different take on the steroids scandal, be sure and check out Larry Mahnken’s piece over at The Hardball Times. It’s sure to provoke a reaction.

Okay, so according to Newsday, the Yankees are close to signing Eric Milton to a three-year deal. Why? Well, I dunno. Because he’s a lefty and because he has a Yankee tatoo? Very well, but…Milton seems like an appealing enough guy, but he’s not nearly as attractive as a pitcher. Anyone with me on this one?

Elsewhere, Mike Lupica suggests that Jason Giambi wouldn’t be getting such a hard time from Yankee fans and perhaps even the local press if he’d just come off a year like Gary Sheffield had. Over at the Times, Murray Chass has a strong piece about politicians and steroids.

The baseball winter meetings are this coming weekend in Anahiem. Unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to make it out there, though several All-Baseball.com writer’s will. What, if anything, do y’all think will shake down out there for the Yanks? Or the Mets? Or the Sox for that matter.

Although the news that Jason Giambi admitted having used performance-enhancing drugs is hardly surprising, it’s too early to know what the ramifications will be. What does it all mean? Will Giambi still be wearing pinstripes in 2005? (Not if the Yankees get their way.) Will he be playing baseball at all? (Considering the amount of money that is due him over the next four years, I think that is not a hard question to answer, “>or is it?)

What does the public think of him now? What about his fellow players? So far, the Internet community of baseball writers have been generally more sympathetic towards Giambi–especially regarding his health–than the mainstream media. Perhaps this is because Internet writers are amatuers who are fans first and don’t have to deal directly with the athletes they write about. Tom Verducci expressed disdain for Giambi on SI.com:

SI.com: Giambi is getting tarred and feathered for his detailed account of his steroid usage. Is this a bit unfair considering he was more forthcoming with information than Bonds?

Verducci: I’m not condoning what Giambi did, and I’m not even giving him extra credit for being honest. That’s what you are supposed to do in front of a grand jury. In the media, we’re used to being lied to, and he was lying to us for years. Giambi is just not as slick or as savvy when it comes to handling difficult questions as Bonds. Clearly Bonds was walking a tightrope of trying not to perjure himself and trying to answer questions. Giambi doesn’t smack of any of that balancing act, but the guy clearly is a fraud and this is a long pattern of usage of usage in his case.

John Heyman wrote a particularly vicious column in Newsday last week, detailing Giambi’s off-the-field lifestyle. John Harper has a far more balanced piece on what Giambi does when he’s away from the ballpark today in the Daily News.

Meanwhile, the Kenny Lofton-Felix Heredia era in New York is officially over. Felix Rodriguez and Mike Stanton are now with the team, as is John Flaherty, who was re-signed to back-up Jorge Posada. Not wild about seeing Flaherty back? (If you are, better hope that Jorge stays healthy.) Wait until they ink Eric Milton.