The Daily Yankeeland - 6/18

We're still up against since we're off tomorrow. Where will be? Yankee Stadium for the first time this year. WOooooooooooooHOooooooooooooo.

Al Aceves is blipping on our radar like crazy. The lefty the Yankees plucked from the Mexican League was outstanding at Tampa and has brought his 'A' game to 'AA' in Trenton. Last night he threw 1-hit ball over 8 innings in a 7-0 win over the Harrisburg Senators. Between the two stops, he's 6-3, 1.88 with a 5.5:1 strikeout to walk ration. Austin Jackson is getting his bat going too. He's had a pair of 7 RBI games this year. Last night he had to settle for 4 RBI, 3 of them coming on his 7th home run of the season. He's not hitting .283 with 33 walks and 45 RBI.

Willie Randolph will always be a Yankee at heart and that's maybe why a lot of us are even angrier at how his firing was handled by the Mets. Omar Minaya's interview with Mike and the Mad Dog yesterday is a must listen.

We're in the midst of reading Bobby Murcer's "Yankee for Life: My 40-Year Journey in Pinstripes ". It's a good read to pick up. Some good stories about Thurman, Sweet Lou, and the Scooter, among others.

Chien-Ming Wang told Mike Puma of the NY Post that he's confident he'll be back by September. From the Wanger's mouth to God's ears.

Share

Some Thank You's and More

When we wrote our piece and accompanying poll on Michael Kay, we never expected to have such a positive reaction. We would like to thank Was Watching, the Baseball Think Factory (which had some lively discussion on the topic), the Big Lead, who is always good to My Pinstripes, and Why Don't We Get Drunk and Blog for picking up the story and running with it. The traffic increase to our site has been fantastic.

We also thank all of you who have read the post thus far and taken the poll. We wish more people would leave comments, but that's never been too popular around these parts.

A lot of talk has emerged from this whole thing about Ken "Hawk" Harrelson. The Hawk was actually somewhat amusing when he broadcasted Yankees games in 1987 and 1988. We laughed when he said "jelly leg", "duck snort", and we could even tolerate "put it on the board".

But Harrelson is hands down the worst announcer in baseball. Granted, we haven't heard them all, but his homer bias makes Phil Rizzuto sound as if he hated the Yankees. His latest phrase, "he gone" to describe an opponent's strike out is beyond obnoxious, as is his use of the word "we" when talking about the White Sox.

It's not uncommon for fans, we do it, to use "we" when referring to the team they are rooting for. But it is beyond unprofessional for an announcer to use it. His use of "good guys" and "bad guys" is just plain sophomoric. (Hmm, sophomoric sounds like something Kay would say; we should have gone with stupid.)

There are honorable mentions of course. We haven't heard too many Red Sox telecasts, but even Red Sox fans are not necessarily enamored with the job Jerry Remy does. In the past we've documented our dislike of Joe Buck, Tim McCarver (who we actually liked when he did the Yankees games), Josh Lewin, Tom Brenneman, Skip Carey, Joe Morgan, Steve Lyons, and Keith Hernandez to name a few.

And of course we can't fail to mention the man who ruins every sport he touches, Chris Berman.

Share

Milestone Memories

This is the first in a series of recalling memorable moments we witnessed inside the hallowed halls of Yankee Stadium.

The date was Sunday, August 4, 1985 and the Chicago White Sox were in town. Ironically it was one year to the day, that Dale Berra and Bobby Meacham were tagged out at home plate by the Chisox Carlton Fisk. That August 4th was remembered for the bizarre; this one would be remembered for a big step in a Hall of Fame career.

Tom Seaver, whether you liked him or not (we fell into the latter category), was a great pitcher. He would take the mound on that Sunday with 299 career wins in his pocket. But before he would get to face off against Joe Cowley, a Yankees great was to be honored.

Phil Rizzuto had a number of Stadium honors in his day, but this one may have been the most memorable because of the game that followed. Or perhaps it would be for the holy cow that stepped on the Scooter's foot and knocked him over.

For a while it looked like a lack of run support would keep Seaver in search of his 300th win. The Yankees put together a run in the 3rd on singles by Mike Pagliarulo, Rickey Henderson, and Ken Griffey Sr., and despite his usual control problems, Cowley was tossing a shut out as the game entered the 6th inning.

Cowley issued his 5th free pass of the day to lead off man Greg Walker (he would be erased on a ground out by Fisk) and 1-out later Oscar Gamble singled to right, to put runners on the corners. Tim Hullet's RBI double tied the game and sent Cowley to the showers.

Rookie Brian Fisher, who was having an outstanding season, was brought on, but he didn't come through on this day. Ozzie Guillen's infield single gave the White Sox a 2-1 lead before Fisher recorded the 2nd out of the inning. But with a chance to escape further trouble, Fisher walked Rudy Law to load the bases, and Bryan Little made him pay with a 2-run single. The inning finally ended when Law was thrown out at the plate by Dan Pasqua on Harold Baines' single. Then White Sox manager Tony LaRussa was tossed for arguing the call.

With a 4-1 lead, Seaver really bore down in the 6th and 7th innings, retiring the Yankees in order. The Yankees put two men on in the 8th on singles by Meacham and Don Mattingly, but Dave Winfield struck out to end the frame. Then it all came down to the 9th inning. The crowd was torn between seeing a 300th game and getting a come from behind win.

Pasqua lead off the 9th with a single, but Seaver quickly retired Ron Hassey and Willie Randolph for the first two outs of the inning. Pagliarulo then worked a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. Meacham was due up, but Billy Martin sent up slugger Don Baylor to try to tie the game with one swing. And he nearly did just that.

Baylor crushed a ball to left, bringing everyone who wasn't already standing to their feet. But Baylor had just gotten under it, and Law made the put out for the final out. A jubilant Seaver jumped into Fisk's arms and was joined by his teammates.

Seaver would join the Yankees' broadcasting crew following his retirement and the Scooter would never let him forget how he had ruined his day. When the game ended, Scooter was probably already over the GWB on his way to his home in Hillside, NJ. We miss ya, Scooter!

Share

Phil Rizzuto Passes Away at 89

Sad day in Yankeeland. The beloved Phil "The Scooter" Rizzuto died earlier today at age 89. He will be very much missed. For anyone who grew up watching and listening to the Scooter on WPIX-TV and WABC-AM radio, this is indeed a sad day.

The Scooter was a riot. Talking about birthdays, canoli's, his fear of bugs and lightning, or anything else that had nothing to do with the game. His repore with fellow former player and broadcaster Bill White was memorable. Such as the day WPIX came on the air and Rizzuto said "...this is Bill White with Phil Rizzuto...", and both laughed uncontrollably.

His trademark "HOLY COW" was as memorable as any other call in announcing history. Calling people huckleberry, his dislike for Eddie Stanky, his friendship with Eddie Lucas, his playful chiding of cameraman Dulio Costable.

We miss you Scooter and we will never forget you.



photo courtesy of Baseball Library

Share