ON THE MONEY

Like many of us, Larry Mehnken tends to personalize wins and losses. When the Yanks lose, it can keep him up at night, and when they win, everything is fine with the world. What separates Mehnken from most of us, is that he can live and die with his team, yet still be able to write about them in an even-handed fashion. It doesn’t hurt that Mehnken is funny and insightful too. His coverage of the Sox-Yankee Serious has been excellent. Here are two recent pearls of wisdom which caught my eye:

These games are always magnified, and Yankees and Red Sox fans want to place more importance and significance on the result of one or two games than is really warranted. Anyone who thinks that the Red Sox, as great as their offense is, will score 20 runs versus David Wells and Roger Clemens on a regular basis is as foolish as someone who thinks that Andy Pettitte can regularly hold this offense down to a single run. None of these games has been fully representative of the true abilities of these teams, who are, in fact, very close to each other. Anyone who tries to use the result of one game or series to prove otherwise has an obvious agenda.

And this:

I think the defining trait of a Yankees fan, that separates them from fans of all other teams, is confidence. If you’re a Yankees fan, you know your team is going to win. Not necessarily today, not necessarily this year, but eventually. The Yankees lost the Series in 2001, they lost to the Angels last year, but d any of us really think that it’s the last time we’ll see our team have a shot to win? If you’re a Yankees fan, there is no sense of urgency to win now. The only frustration comes from the desire to win always.

Red Sox fans are different. Some are defeatist; they know that they’re going to lose in the end, so they never get their hopes up. Some are ignorant or indifferent, and don’t care about the last 85 years, and then there’s the elitists, who take a special pride in being fans of a team that hasn’t won since WWI. Most young fans are ignorant, most Primate Red Sox fans are indifferent, and most of the writers in New England are either defeatist or elitist. They all share an especial hatred of the Yankees.

And with good reason. It seems that whenever the Red Sox have a good team, the Yankees have a better team. I don’t think they’re really cursed, but it’s gotta be annoying.

BOMBS AWAY

The Red Sox came into Yankee Stadium on the fourth of July and provided all of the fireworks, walloping the Yanks 10-3. Boston hit seven dingers, five off of Boomer Wells. No team had ever hit more than six homers against New York. Not content with one beating, Boston torched Rocket Clemens on Saturday, and a new Boston Massacre was in the making. Former Yankee Ramiro Mendoza pitched well and the Yankees were humbled on national television.

Would you believe that David Ortiz hit two homers on Friday and Saturday (the first time a visting player has ever accomplished this feat in the Bronx)? Well, it happened.

I watched the first game with my friend Johnny Red Sox, over at his place on the Upper East Side. John was pretty hot when Soriano lead off the game with a pop fly homer, but his mood picked up in no time as the great Boston launching pad took off. The most memorable homer by far was a titanic shot off the bat of Washington Heights’ own Manny Ramirez. The ball landed in the left field upper deck. Awww, bacon.

John has HDTV, so at least I was able to see Boston murdalize the Yanks in high-tech clarity.

I missed Saturday’s game and it was just as well. The Yankees didn’t pitch well, they made errors, and left a ton of men on base. Emily and I visited my brother and his wife at our cousin’s summer house. When I went to check the score, I saw that Sterling Hitchcok was pitching, and quite frankly, that’s never an encouraging sign. I turned the damn thing off, and attempted to enjoy my weekend.

The Yanks bounced back on Sunday behind a strong performance by Andy Pettitte. Shows how much I know. I figured this would be the one game the Sox would have in the bag. But Pettitte has traditionally faired well against Boston, and after giving up an early homer to Bill Mueller, he settled down, eventually striking out ten. I also failed to consider that the Sox had John Burkett going for them.

The feel-good story of the day was when Curtis Pride, a deaf utility outfielder that the Yankees picked up early this year, started for the banged-up Raul Mondesi, and hit a home run. The Yankees left too many on base again, but Alfonso Soriano (who had three hits) had a big 2 RBI triple late in the game, which helped seal the win for the home team. What was especially encouraging about the at- bat was that Soriano characteristically fell behind 0-2, then worked the count full, before hitting a high-outside fastball into the right centerfield gap.

The series finale should be a good one this afternoon, with Pedro Martinez going against Mike Mussina. I won’t be able to watch it, since I’m working, but I will probably follow it on mlb gameday. That should make for a tense, distracting afternoon at the office, huh? The Yankees will feel great about themselves if they can even the series at two, beat Martinez, and maintain the four-game lead they had going into the weekend. The Sox will feel even better about themselves if they can leave New York trailing by only two games, taking three of four. (If the Sox win today they will even the season series with the Yankees at five games apiece.)

Most Red Sox fans will be happy to take three of four, pump their fists quietly, and move on. Kevin Millar, who would be playing in Japan if it wasn’t for the efforts of Theo Epstein, wasn’t so humble. He had a good time jawing with the Yankee fans before yesterday’s game:

“I wasn’t alive in (1918),” Millar said. “All I know is the last two days we’ve taken this house over. It’s our house.”

Those are the kind of comments that make Red Sox fans cringe. Do us a favor brother, wait until you stomp the Yankees in October before you get too carried away with yourself.

Still, even the most smug, and arrogant Yankee fans should realize this Red Sox team should not be taken lightly. If they can clean up their pitching a bit, they have a team full of ‘gamers’ who can make a legitimate run down the stretch.

EL BRUHO

Ed Cossette had a great post yesterday about El Bruho, Ramiro Mendoza. The Sox will try Mendoza as a starter. Ed wants Dozie to do well in the worst way, and I can’t blame him. Mendoza was one of my favorites when he was with the Yankees. I hope he does well too. Just not that well, and not against the Yanks. Dozie will face Rocket Clemens on Saturday.

Here is an exchange Ed and I shared today:

Edward,
I agree with the Globe that one of the most impressive features of the 2003 Sox is their ability to shrug off seemingly devastating loses, and comeback and win the following game.
But against Tampa? Dammit, you are supposed to beat those scrubs.
Still, this Sox team has the makings of one of those cinderalla stories like the Angels last year.
A couple of things have to go down for that to happen:
1) They need to fix the pitching. The pen could right itself, and so could the starting rotation with one key addition, which looks like it’ll happen one way or another.
2) They need to stay healthy. The fact that the offense has been so healthy thus far brings back memories of ’78, and how injuries killed during the second half.
3) They need to the Yanks to fall off.
Actually, I really think the Sox could win the division even if the Yanks don’t implode. I understood the analogy you made in your piece today about the Yankees endless surplus of money and talent, but I’m not sure the Sox-Cuban angle fits. The Sox aren’t exactly the A’s or the Twins in terms of money now are they?
Anyhow, the anticipation is killing me already. I hope the Yanks win 2, and if they could win 3 I’d be elated. I have no feeling for what will happen, but I agree that no matter how many tough games the Sox lose, it doesn’t seem to deter them. That is a mark of something good, and that is a scary thought for Yankee fans.
Alex

Here is Ed’s reply:

The Yankees will most likely sweep the Sox. No point in dreaming otherwise.

At this point, they are just another Red Sox team like the 30 or so other Red Sox teams I’ve followed over the years. We’ll see where they are on Labor Day and then I’ll start to get excited if they are still in it.

You missed the most important point about shrugging off the losses. It’s more difficult to shrug off a loss to Tampa Bay, a team you’re supposed to beat, then it is to shrug off a loss to a team that is good.

Last year, Tampa Bay came back in the second game of a double-header in the 9th in late July and that was fucking that. Sox dropped 8 straight afterward and it was Season Over.

So last night’s win was HUGE.

Hmmm.

Good point. I stand corrected.
If you were anyone but a Sox fan, I’d curse you for jinxing the Yanks, saying that they’ll sweep…
Still, you are crazy if you don’t think you guys are going to creamolish wack ass Andy Pettitte on Sunday. The guy is a crazy Jesus freak and never pitches well on the Sabbath.
Word.

How do you like my nerve, going head-to-head with a Red Sox fan in the gloom-and-doom department? Can’t say I lack chutzpah, right?

Oh yeah, Ben Jacobs’ Universal Baseball Blog (linked on the left) can be counted as a Red Sox site of sorts. Ben will be in New York for one of the games. He also happens to write an exceedingly well-balanced and informative blog that is well worth checking out.

I don’t know if I’ll be posting during the weekend, but I’ll have the wrap up on Monday morning. I hope that everyone has a happy and safe holiday weekend.

NERVES

I don’t know about you, but the tension of a Yanks-Red Sox series leaves me emotionally drained. And that’s before the damn thing starts. It’s the only time the Yanks play a team where I look for ways to avoid watching the game. I don’t take much comfort in the history of the rivalry which says the Yanks will always come out on top. Instead, I always figure since the Yanks have usually won, it’s about time the Sox turned the tables. But hey, I’m a pessimist by nature when it comes to these things. Especially when the Sox field as dangerous a team as they have now.

Fortunately, I’m not alone. Here is a portion of an e-mail Brian Cook, who runs the excellent Red Sox Nation blog:

I too am nervous about the series this weekend, because a Yanks sweep means 7 or 8 back going into the break, and that’s going to be tough to overcome. I’m more nervous about the Sox players getting too hyped for this and squeezing sawdust out of the bat handles. The Sox always get overhyped for this rivalry – what is really like the rivalry between the hammer and the nail – and don’t seem to ever play loose against the Yanks (except in 98 and 99).

Isn’t this supposed to be fun? What are you kidding? Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit smoking.

Don’t forget to check out the Yankee and Red Sox blogs I have linked on the left hand side of the page, for all the varying perspectives on this classic rivalry. I can promise you, it won’t be dull.

WILLIE, MICKEY AND THE DUKE

Jane Levy, who wrote the insightful and poignant biography of Sandy Koufax last year, is working on a new book. Actually, before I get to that, Ms. Levy has a novel about a female sportswriter who loves the Yankees called Squeeze Play that is due out next month. (A Bronx Banter chat with Jane is in the works.)

Ms. Levy is currently doing research for her next project, a book about Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Duke Snider, and is looking for all the help she can get, so she asked me to pass along a request. Ms. Levy is looking to speak with anybody who was at the famous Bobby Thompson “Shot heard round the world” game; the second game of the ’51 World Serious (when Mantle tore up his knee on an exposed drain pipe); Mantle’s first pre-season exhibition game vs. the Brooklyn Doders; the game where Duke Snider twisted his knee, as well as anyone who might have ever seen the Say Hey kid playing stickball in the streets of New York.

If anyone out there was at any of these events, or perhaps knows somebody who was, you can contact Ms. Levy at NYCF8@aol.com.

Good looking out.

ALOMAR TRADE HAS A NICE RING TO IT

The Mets finally moved disgruntled future Hall of Famer Robbie Alomar two days ago. He was sent to the Chicago White Sox for three minor leaguers, including a left-handed closer named Royce Ring. I spent most of my idle time dreaming up backpage headlines for Ring yesterday. The move mericifully ends the sad stay of Alomar in Shea. I always enjoyed and revered Alomar when he played for Toronto, Baltimore and Cleveland and was excited when he came to the Mets. But he was a bad fit for them and vice versa, and after awhile I just wanted to him to go away, for the his sake and the Mets sake. His play was depressing, and I want to enjoy his game again.

The White Sox added Jurassic Carl Everett too as they make a push in the central.

WARSHED OUT

The Yanks got an unexpected break before the big serious in the Bronx against the Sox this weekend, as yesterday’s game in Baltimore was rained out (it will be made up on August 14th). They have an off day today. Brandon Claussen will not start on Saturday after all. Instead, Boomer will pitch Friday, followed by Rocket, Pettitte and then Mussina. Couldn’t Claussen pitch instead of Andy? Nah, I guess that’s not going to happen. Too bad, cause I figure the Sox will torch Pettitte.

Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus had some interesting comments regarding Claussen in his Under The Knife column a few days ago:

What Claussen is doing–returning to competition at just over a year post-surgery–is not only amazing, it’s unprecedented. Not only has the new rehab protocol gotten him back more quickly than anyone, the return of his control is even more astounding. I have some theories on what was different and hope to have more facts for you soon. Claussen is clearly a medical marvel and perhaps as important a Tommy John patient as we’ve had since, well, Tommy John.

BEAT DOWN

Mike Mussina didn’t make it through the third inning last night and the Yankees fell to the O’s, 7-3. Mussina threw 88 pitches, but couldn’t locate them very well. On the other hand Rodrigo Lopez pitched admirably, striking out Jason Giambi three times. Lopez had good movement on his fastball, which ran in on the lefties, only to break over the plate at the last moment. Giambi’s streak of reaching base ended at 37. Karim Garcia added a late homer, and is now 7-14 as a Yankee.

It wasn’t as if the Bombers didn’t have their chances. They got on base, but couldn’t put together any rallies. Alfonso Soriano has been hitting the ball well. I’ve noticed that he’s taking the ball to right field a lot in the past week or so.

Before the game, Joe Torre announced that Brandon Claussen will get another start, and it’s going to be a big one. The rookie will pitch this Saturday against the Red Sox. Clemens will start on the 4th of July (which will mark the 20th anniversay of Rags’ no-no vs. Boston at the Stadium), and then Pettitte will pitch Sunday, with Mussina going against Pedro on Monday. Hopefully, Moose got the bad start out of his system. He has a good track record vs. Pedro on Mondays.

Last night’s loss didn’t seem so bad as the Red Sox threw one away against the D-Rays. According to Bob Holer in the Boston Globe:

For the second time in three games, Brandon Lyon suffered a crushing loss, this one when Nomar Garciaparra was unable to handle Lyon’s errant throw when they had Rocco Baldelli trapped off second base with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning. Lyon’s throw caromed off Garciaparra’s glove into center field, allowing Baldelli to dash home with the decisive run in a 4-3 victory for the Rays before 12,122 at Tropicana Field.

The Tigers beat the Blue Jays for the second straight day (?!?!). The Jays have dropped four straight. The Yanks lead the Sox by four, and the Jays by six and a half.

SAY IT AIN’T RO

It was hard not to notice last weekend when former Yank Rondell White hit his second grand slam of the year against the Seattle Mariners. What I didn’t know was just how good a season Ro is having. While I’m happy for him—he always seemed like a good egg—Rob Neyer points out that the Yanks are the ones wearing the omlette now:

…The Yankees had Rondell White, but sent him to the Padres after he suffered through the worst season of his career. Granted, Yankee Stadium isn’t a great place for a right-handed hitter, but White was playing hurt for much of last season, and he’s always been a good hitter when he’s not hurt. I suppose one could draw a parallel between Rondell White and Reggie Sanders, but I won’t belabor the point here. Instead, let us simply gaze upon White’s 2003 statistics and remind ourselves that even the New York Yankees aren’t perfect. They could have had Rondell White, but instead they traded him for Bubba Trammell (and, in the process, saved money for this year … but what’s money to the Yankees?).

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

I had some problems with blogger over the weekend and wasn’t able to cover everything that went down around the league. But I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the staggering Red Sox-Marlins game last Friday. The Sox, of course, scored ten runs before making an out in the top of the first. Check out Ed Cossette’s take over at the revamped Bambino’s Curse.

Of course, I was more excited about the Marlins come-from-behind win against the Sox on Saturday. And yes, I did roll my eyes and curse a lot about Gabe Kapler’s performance over the weekend. Love it while it lasts, Sox Nation, cause it ain’t going to last through September.

Give this to the Red Sox: they have been anything but dull. I don’t know the count, but they must have played some of the most dramatic, thrilling, (not to mention heart-breaking) and exciting games in baseball this year. If the could fix the pitching, they could be real trouble for the Yankees and everybody else in the league.

As the Sox gear up for the big weekend serious in the Bronx, they have moved Mr. Kim to the bullpen, hoping to avoid any further bullpen disasters.

BACK IN BUSINESS

Christian Ruzich, who runs The Cub Reporter, is back from his European vacation. Ruzich is one of the best writers in the blog universe, so it sure is good to have him back.

ROLLIN’

It’s hard to believe that last night was the first time the Yankees and Orioles have played all year, but the Yanks started the second half of their season just like they ended the first half: with a win. Baltimore’s ace Sidney Ponson outpitched Andy Pettitte early, but Andy escaped jam after jam, and the Yankees chipped away at Ponson. Karim Garcia hit a two-run homer to keep the Yankees close, and when Ponson left the game, with runners on the corners and no out in the seventh, Ruben Ruben bitch-slapped a B.J. Ryan breaking ball for a three-run dinger, which gave the Yankees the lead for good.

The Bombers survived four errors, and the Orioles failed to take advantage of several opportunities, eventually leaving twelve men on base. Mariano Rivera, who is getting his work in plenty these days, got the save in spite of an error by Garcia in left field which cut the Yankee lead to 6-5. Eariler in the game, Garcia did make a sweet shoe-string catch, as well as a nice throw to nail Brook Fordyce at second (the O’s catcher was loafing out of the box). But Andy Pettitte made the most memorable play of the night, flipping a comebacker backhand to Posada for a force, after muffing his chance to turn a double play. Derek Jeter, eat your heart out.

The Yanks now lead the Red Sox by four games, and the Jays by six and a half. (Boston had the night off, and the Jays fell to the Tigers.)

The Yankees put disgruntled reserve outfielder Bubba Trammell on the restricted list (which means they don’t have to pay him) after Trammell left the team suddenly on Sunday.

ROCKIN ON THE RADIO

I made my radio debut over the weekend, interviewing Jim Bouton about his new book “Foul Ball” for Baseball Prospectus Radio (hosted by Will Carroll). The interview should be archieved on BP’s website by the middle of the week. I’ll keep you posted so you can download it and check out the latest words of wisdom from Bouton, one of baseball’s most irreverent and compelling characters.

I was anxious about appearing on the radio, but we taped the conversation on Friday, and thanks to the miracle of modern editing, I’m sure I came across okay (I haven’t heard the final version yet). Will gave me some great tips which calmed my nerves, and quite frankly, Bouton makes a living as a motivational speaker, so he wasn’t exactly difficult to talk to. We spoke for close to 45 minutes and I believe Will cut it down to 18 minutes for the radio. The rest of the interview will appear here at Bronx Banter in a few weeks, just around the time Bouton returns to the Stadium for Old Timer’s Day (July 19th).

SWEPT AWAY

After the Yankees polished off the D-Rays with a 4-3 win Thursday afternoon (Giambi, and Mondi homered, Mussina picked up the win, and Mariano had an rough ninth inning, but notched the save), they returned home and took care of the Mets in convincing fashion, taking all four games over the weekend and sweeping the season series. But before they left Tampa, Lou Pinella threw a good tirade at one of the laziest players in the league, Ben Grieve, who struck out looking to end the game:

Grieve took a third strike from Yankees closer Mariano Rivera; Piniella was upset that Grieve didn’t question the call by umpire Wally Bell. ”I asked [Grieve] if the ball was high, and he says, `I thought it was high,’ ” Piniella said. ”I said, `Then why didn’t you say something?’ and he says, `It doesn’t matter.’ I said, `Well, what the hell do you mean it doesn’t matter? It matters to me, and it matters to everybody else.’ Rivera’s a tough pitcher; I’m not expecting anything. [But] I’m expecting if you think the ball is high to tell the umpire it’s high instead of walking off to the damn dugout. And then getting a response like that after we busted our [expletive] out there for nine innings trying to win a baseball game — it does matter! It matters to me and it matters to a lot of damn people in this clubhouse. And when it matters to everybody, we’ll start winning more [expletive] baseball games around here.” Grieve insisted he never used those words. ”He keeps yelling at me and yelling at me, and I’m like, wait a minute, Lou,” Grieve said. ”I’m saying [Bell] doesn’t care. I’m not saying that I don’t care. It’s one thing if he’s mad at me because I don’t show emotion and I don’t argue. But those words, `It doesn’t matter,’ make me look bad. And that’s not what I said.” Long before Piniella came to town, Grieve was criticized for being too laidback. ”I know exactly why he’s mad,” Grieve said. ”He was so frustrated about losing. And if he does think that I don’t care, then he does have a right to yell. But I’m up in the cage during the game taking 200 swings. If I didn’t care, I’d be in the dugout laughing or joking around or whatever. I’m able to care without showing emotion, which is something that obviously most people don’t do.”

David Wells was less than sharp on Friday night, but he was able to hang on for the “w.” He had several cursing fits which were worth the price of admission. The most memorable play of the night was when Jose Reyes slapped a ground ball to center field for a single and then turned on the jets and made it to second before Hideki Matsui could get the throw in (more bad words from Boomer). To be fair, Matusi didn’t exactly pull a Reggie on the play, although Reyes did his best Mickey Rivers immitation.

I missed the first game of the Bronx-Queens double-header on Saturday, but was pleased to hear that Godziller hit a grand slam and drove in five runs. Clemens pounded the Mets and got the win. I was able to watch the major league debut of Brandon Claussen on Saturday night however, and was duly impressed. The kid needs to see a barber even worse than Matsui, but he was cool, and composed and pitched very well.

Giambi and Matsui put together several excellent at bats against Tom Glavine, taking the outside pitch the other way. It was a sight for sore eyes, especially with the likes of Raul Mondesi and Juan Rivera in the line-up (Soriano and Jeter lead off the game with homers to right). Later that night, I was thinking how much better the Yankees will be when Bernie and (knock on wood) Nick Johnson return. Even if Johnson isn’t 100%, he is patient and isn’t going to give away at-bats.

The Mets made a dramatic comeback against the Yankees bullpen, but fell just short, and lost 9-8. Giambi’s solo homer proved to be the winning run. Joe Torre brought in Mariano Rivera in the eighth inning. With one out and the bases juiced, Raul Gonzalez hit a bases-clearing double but was caught off second base in no-man’s land when the throw came back to the infield. Soriano chucked the ball to third, but the throw was low and Enrique Wilson made a beautiful pick to save an error—and perhaps a run—and then threw to second to get Gonzalez. End of threat. End of game.

Last night, Jeff Weaver made an early mistake to Jeromy Burnitz who hit a three-run bomb off of him in the first inning. But he didn’t fall apart. Instead Al Leiter–who is having his worst year as a Met–was tagged in the third inning for three homers (Giambi, Matsui, Posada), and that was all the Bombers needed for a 5-3 victory and a season sweep of the Metropolitans.

Thank God it’s over. The Yanks have won 15-17, and are now at the half-way point of their season (51-30). They play three games against the O’s starting tonight, and then face the Bosox for the big holiday showdown this weekend.

CAN YOU HANDLE THE TRUTH?

Tom Verducci makes an accurate point about the Yankees in his latest column:

I think the more the Yankees squirm, the more they sink into quicksand — Jeff Weaver, Raul Mondesi, Ruben Sierra, Juan Acevedo . . . hardly the pillars to restore the grinder’s mentality the Yankees have lost. I might fear the Yanks’ money — will they blow away Vladimir Guerrero with a huge offer when he becomes a free agent in the offseason? — but I don’t fear their future.

SWEATIN’

Red Sox or not, I want to take a moment to bow down to Nomar Garciaparra, who is having a tremendous month. I hope he never leaves the Sox; they deserve a great player like him.

Also, I want to sweat one of other my personal favorites, Carlito Delgado.

Oh, and a reader just informed me that Luis Sojo won’t be allowed on the bench during the season. Bummer for us. At least we know he’ll be chillin’ in the clubhouse.

ISSUES

For some reason, blogger has cut off the first half of my post today. If you click on the link at the bottom of the article however, you can find the whole thing. I would take a minute to kvetch about blogger, but why bother?

It’s well over 90 degrees in New York and I’m going out to Shea tonight to catch the kids—A. Heilman vs. Dontrelle Willis. Hope it’s a good one.

A LITTLE OF THIS AND A LITTLE OF THAT

The Yankees made a minor trade yesterday afternoon with the Indians. The Bombers get outfielder Karim Garcia—who was with the team last spring—and right-handed reliever Dan Miceli. Mike Thurman, and your boy Charles Gipson-who’d a thunk it?—were designated for assignment.

(Picked off three fuggin times. Pack your bags jelly legs.)

Garcia has been hurt, but he’s a better outfielder than Juan Rivera, Bubba or Ruben Ruben. He is a lefty who can hit with a little bit of pop too. The line on Miceli this year is 3.79 ERA in 35.2 innings. He’s got 37 strikeouts.

Can’t be worse than wack-ass Al Reyes—or Juan Acevedo, right?

And would you believe there is more. In the feel-good maneuver of the year, the Yankees have brought back one of the most popular Yankees of recent times—both in the clubhouse and with the public—none other than uncle Luis Sojo. I kid you not. Santa Clause is coming to town. And he’ll be traveling with the team for the duration.

At least we know some common sense still exists in the Yankee command. I’m not suggesting that Sojo will make the Yankees a better team, but he makes them a significantly more enjoyable and likable team. Just being able to watch his fat ass on the bench every night for the rest of the summer is going to be one of those small pleasures that make life worth living.

Luis was interviewed on the Yankee pre-game show last night and was asked where he was when the Yankees contacted him?

“In Mexico.”

Sojo has been hired as a “special assignment instructor” but he’s really being brought back to be Jose Cardinal, the coach/liason to the Latin players. He is berry chappy to be back with the Jankees, babies. And let me speak for Yankee fans everywhere when I say we’re happy to have him back. Even if the ol’ mule won’t be able to pick out a bat and pinch hit anymore—and don’t discount that happening at some point either—Luis is the luck rabbit’s foot the Yankees have been missing this year. Jeter isn’t really the Bomber’s lucky charm, it’s his fairy godfather, Luis Sojo.

When you think about it, Sojo should have been treated like Lou Pinella, and should have moved directly from player to coach. Why wait? The Yankees haven’t had a coach that could relate to the Latin players in a minute, and Joe Torre was frank in his pre-game interview when he said that they hope he’ll have a big influence on Soriano. We already know that Jeter adores him, Posada loves him. I’m sure Mel, Zim, Torre, Willie and Maz love him too.

Sojo described how many of his old teammates jumped all over him with excitement when he showed up in Tampa yesterday. Forget Uncle Buck, this is uncle Luis. It was great watching Luis being interviewed too (I love his big head, which looks like it came right out of the pages of Mad Magazine). In interviews, Luis follows the standard jock-speak formula, but some of his line readings are priceless. He’s not a pushover and not a clown, just a naturally funny man. Sojo, like Tim Raines, is a cut-up, the guys who help relieve the tension in a clubhouse. Or spark a little fire.

Meanwhile the Bombers walked all over the Rays 8-5 last night as Tampa issued twelve walks. Andy Pettitte was less than spectacular but he got the win. It’s funny, but Pettitte is one of the rare players who has been with the Yankees for a long time that I’ve grown to like less and less as time goes on. I’m sure it will feel weird if and when he goes to another team, and maybe then I’ll look back on his time with the Yanks with fondness, but I can’t remember an instance like this where I feel less loyal to a longtime Yankee.

Jason Giambi was in the line up despite a bruised wrist and Derek Jeter is starting to swing the bat much better.

Bernie Williams took batting practice with the team before the game, but the news on Nick Johnson isn’t as encouraging. Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus had this to say in his UTK column yesterday:

The fracture news isn’t as good for Nick Johnson. Johnson is expected back around the All-Star break, but there are whispers that the bone scan done on Johnson had very troubling results. Some Yankees officials think that Johnson should be dealt as soon as he looks healthy, making brittle Nick someone else’s health problem. (For the record, if I’m a GM, I’ll take that risk and buy low.)

I can’t say I’m surprised about the Johnson news, but I feel badly for the guy. I hope he can stay healthy enough to enjoy a somewhat productive career.

AS GOOD AS IT GETS

One of the greatest joys of being a baseball fan is that every season brings something new and exciting. How many times do you say, “Wow, I’ve never seen that before,” or “That was the best _____ I’ve ever seen?” Well, it usually happens several times each year. A few weeks ago my cousin told me that D. Erstad made a catch against the Mets—I missed it—that was clearly “the greatest catch I’ve ever seen.” And just this week, Rob Neyer made the following observation:

I’ve watched it a dozen times, frame by frame, just to make sure. And after those dozen times, I remain confident that I’ve never seen a pitch quite like the curveball with which Mike MacDougal struck out Albert Pujols on Sunday in the bottom of the ninth.

And you can’t beat that with a stickball bat.

HAPPY BOITDAY REDUX

I guess George will have to stifle it for at least one more day. The birthday surprises didn’t end with Marlon Anderson last night, as Juan Rivera did him one better by tying the game with a three-run job of his own in the ninth. And Mr. Maligned, Todd Zeile came through with the game-winning hit to boot. Ah, me of little faith. A reader wrote in a suggested that I might want to root against the Yankees more often.

Larry Mehnken (Replacement Level Yankees Blog) hit the nail on the head:

An individual game can be both great and awful; full of excitement and joy, but at the same time frustration and forboding. For the poor teams, the former is what matters, but for a team like the Yankees, that is trying to win a pennant, it is the latter. Tonight, the Yankees won, and they won in exciting fashion, but the win was due more to the quality of their opponent, not their play. They did all they could to lose, and had it not been for the ineptness of Tampa Bay’s pitching staff, they likely would have.