Looking back at an article from May, 2011

In May, 2011, I wrote an article for the Bronx Baseball Daily blog. Click on the link to read the article. It’s good to see a slight finally righted in the election of Jacob Ruppert to baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Ruppert makes HOF, A-Rod to miss 1/2 of 2013

Jacob Ruppert was elected to the Hall of Fame today by the Veterans Committee. The Yanks’ owner in the Ruthian era built the original Yankee Stadium.

Meanwhile, GM Brian Cashman will need to do yeoman work to build a team. We already knew that a catcher and RF may need to be found, what with Martin’s departure and Swisher’s probable departure. Throw in DH if they don’t bring back Ibanez.

Now count 3B into the mix.

Alex Rodriguez will need surgery on his other hip (possibly explaining his poor postseason) and will miss half of the 2013 season.

You wonder if his body is breaking down. It sure appears so. Alex will be 38 in July. You also wonder if that steroid abuse while in Texas has anything to do with it.

You also wonder if he’ll even get the 53 HR he needs for 700. (He needs 99 hits for 3000 and 50 RBI for 2000).

Meanwhile, do the Yanks now bring back 35 year old Eric Chavez for 3B? He’s brittle and would need to platoon. But with whom? Where does Eduardo Nunez slot in, especially if Jeter isn’t ready for Opening Day?

The left side of the Yankees’ infield is now a mess. Two aging, injured players.

Do David Adams (26 in May, AA .306-8-48 in 86 games) or Ronnier Mustelier (28, .314-15-69, AA/AAA, 114 games) get a shot? Platoon one or the other with Chavez?

So now Cashman has to deal with a catcher (unless they are going with Cervelli or Romine), 3B (do you bring back Chavez, and who platoons with him?), possibly a SS if Jeter isn’t ready, a DH (do you bring back Ibanez?) and a RF (do you bring back Ichiro?) Do you sign someone like Cody Ross, Shane Victorino or Ichiro for RF? Trade for a Justin Upton or Mike Cuddyer? Give Melky Mesa a shot at a platoon role? Trade for a catcher? What about DH? Utility infielder?

Position-wise, there are some four positions there where things are a mess.

Cashman has some work to do.

Forget Mike Napoli at C (the Yanks never had interest). The power hitting, but weak defense C signed a 3-yr. deal w/Boston—-to play 1B.

I was kind of hoping that the Yanks would take a flyer on Joakim Soria, thinking that Soria, coming off TJ surgery, might be worth a shot to replace the expected-to-depart Rafael Soriano. Instead, Soria signed with Texas.

Ruppert for the Hall

The Veterans’ Committee is looking at a list of people, with a winner to be announced December 3rd for induction into the Hall of Fame.

The list includes Bill Dahlen, Wes Farrell, Marty Marion (1944 NL MVP, but a war year; his .263 b.a. that year is the lowest by any MVP that was a position player), Tony Mullane, Bucky Walters, Deacon White, Sam Breadon, Hank O’Day, Al Reach and Jacob Ruppert.

Frankly, I find it quite shocking that the man who built the original Yankee Stadium, who brought Babe Ruth to NY, and who built the Yankee dynasty, isn’t in the Hall of Fame yet.

Ruppert for the Hall. It is WAY overdue.

Vets committee chooses only Gillick for HOF; no Boss

Pat Gillick  was chosen for the HOF by the Veterans Committee today. The long-time front office exec was the only one selected.

The Veterans’ Committee will next discuss this group of candidates in 2013, meaning that the “Boss” needs to wait at least three years.

From LoHud (bold emphasis mine):

The Expansion Era Committee has elected one new member to the Baseball Hall of Fame, and it’s not George Steinbrenner.

Pat Gillick, the longtime general manager, was the only person on the ballot to receive the necessary 12 votes. He got 13. Next closest was Marvin Miller who fell one vote shy. The only other name receiving as many as eight votes was Dave Concepcion. (My note: ex-teammates Johnny Bench and Tony Perez were among the 16 people voting, as well as contemporary SS Ozzie Smith. Hey, when Rizzuto got in, Yogi and Bill White were on the committee).

Ted Simmons, Vida Blue, Steve Garvey, Ron Guidry, Tommy John, Billy Martin, Al Oliver, Rusty Staub and Steinbrenner each received votes from less than half of the committee.

 Miller gets snubbed again. It may be too soon after the Boss’s death, but less than half the votes means he’s got a ways to go.

Update: No matter what you think of the Boss being in/out of the HOF, I’m still wondering how Jacob Ruppert is still not in.

Update II:

Thoughts on the Boss over at LoHud:

Johnny Bench said there was a sense that it was too soon to elect him.

“Some people thought it was too early,” Bench said. “… He will be (elected). I believe he certainly will be.”

Ruppert, the Boss, and thoughts on Berkman.

Our friends at Bronx Baseball Daily bring up an unknown fact. In writing about Selig’s comments that the Boss should be in the HOF, BBD notates that it was mentioned to Selig that Jacob Ruppert is not in the HOF.

In the past, I have advocated (and been validated by their eventual admissions) that Tony Lazzeri and Joe Gordon make the HOF.

Now, to rectify a gross oversight. Jacob Ruppert belongs in the Hall.

How can he be left out for so long? The man who brought the Babe to the Bronx. Who originally built the Yankee empire (along with Ed Barrow, who IS in the Hall). Really, how many people know Highlander history? To many, the story of the Yankees begins with Ruppert. It begins with him bringing Ruth to NY. People know of Ruth, Gehrig, Lazzeri, etc. How many equate Yankees history with Keeler, Chesbro, Pipp or Fritz Maisel? Ford means Whitey, not Russ (I’ll let you look up Russ Ford—your homework assignment!) 

Ruppert built the original cathedral. The original Yankee Stadium, where so many WS games were played. Where history outside of baseball was created, be it the 1958 NFL Championship, fabulous boxing matches, or papal masses.

Barney Dreyfuss is in. So are Walter O’Malley, Charlie Comiskey, Branch Rickey, George Weiss and Tom Yawkey. So is Bill Veeck.  For God’s sake, Bowie Kuhn is in.

But no Jake Ruppert? When Ruppert died in January 1939, his teams had won 7 World Series. They had won 10 AL pennants. They were the first team to win three consecutive World Series (and would make it four straight later in 1939).   

If the “Boss” gets in, then Ruppert should go in with him. It is long past time that the man who built the original Yankee Stadium and who first made the Yankees the YANKEES gets his fair due.

It’s way past time for this man to be honored in Cooperstown.         

Now on to something disturbing. In his career, Lance Berkman has hit 326 HR. None as a Yankee, yet. You wonder when the first one will come, and whether it will be in a big spot. This is a guy who hit 42 HR in 2002. Who had 45 in 2006. Who had 25 last year. Who, apparently, is getting “old” at the age of 34.

For Berkman’s last HR came on July 27th. Before the trade deadline deal that sent him to the Yankees. The switch-hitter is better from the left side, but hasn’t been able to take advantage of the RF porch as of yet. 86 AB as a Yankee. NO HR. No HR in his last 92 AB. 92, from a guy with 326 career HR. Who has averaged one HR per 17.3 AB in his career. None in his last 92 AB. He is hitting .279 as a Yankee, but you expected pop. His SA as a Yankee is .349. Out of 24 hits, six doubles. The rest are singles. Let’s put the .349 SA into perspective. Eduardo Nunez has a .391. Juan Miranda a .435. BRETT GARDNER a .381. Even the slumping Jeter a .370.

Where has Berkman’s power gone? A resurgence now, with 12 games left in the regular season, and a postseason looming, would be welcome…and perhaps necessary.      

Game 150. Granderson’s 2 HR, 5 RBI lead Yanks to 8-6 win, 1 1/2 game lead.

Let’s start at the beginning (because it’s a very nice place to start…).

Pregame ceremony. A while back, I wrote about how the monument for George should be like Ruppert’s plaque, not a monument like Ruth’s, Gehrig’s, Huggins’, etc. Who says I don’t have pull? LOL. For a plaque like Ruppert’s it is, only much bigger.

It was great to see Torre and Mattingly there, along with other Yankee greats like Yogi, Reggie, Tino and David Wells. It looked like Torre had tears in his eyes.

To the game. I love Ivan Nova’s toughness. Once again he pitched great….but therein also lies a problem. Last week in Tampa he gave four great shutout innings, then lost it in the fifth. Tonight, he pitched five great shutout innings.

As Yogi would say, Deja Vu all over again.

Last week Nova had a 6-0 lead against the Rays before having to get pulled with two out in the fifth. Brilliant for four, fell apart in the fifth, and Logan couldn’t hold the lead.

Tonight, Nova (4.37) brilliant for five, and had a 4-0 lead in the sixth. That lead came from a 2-run Granderson HR in the 3rd, and a SF by Alex and bases-loaded walk to Swisher in the 5th. 4-0 going into the sixth, when Nova lost it.

I like what I see from Nova. I like it more than AJ or Vazquez. After CC, Andy or Hughes, I trust Nova in the postseason as the #4 more than I do AJ or Vazquez. BUT (and it’s a big BUT) Nova MUST be put on a short leash. A VERY short leash. Meaning once he gets in trouble in the fifth or sixth, yank him.

For in the sixth, Nova gave up a single, walk and single. Bases loaded, no out. Catcher’s interference on Cervelli brought in a run, then a DP ball brought in another.

5 2/3 for Nova. 3 R, 3 H, 2 walks, 4 K…and that damned catcher’s interference.

As last week, Logan came in and as last week, couldn’t hold the lead. Single for the 3rd run (charged to Nova). Walk. Single. Logan can’t get the damned third out. ERA 2.89 as he gave up two hits and a walk and retired no one.  

Gaudin in. I have no clue why Girardi has faith in him. None. It’s like he has compromising pix of Joe G. or something. Gaudin (when he comes in, I say God Damn!) walks in the tying run. Then a flyout on a 3-2 pitch. 1/3 of an inning. Somehow he gets the win. 1-4, 5.25.

In the bottom of the sixth, Gardner and Cervelli single. Jeter singles in a run to put the Yanks up 5-4, and Granderson hits #21, his second HR of the game, off the RF foul pole for a three-run HR and an 8-4 lead. The Yanks would need it. A five-RBI night for Granderson.

Robertson for the 7th. Single, Single, Force and SF make it 8-5. 2/3 IP for D-Rob, ERA 3.83. Wood comes in. SB for Crawford, then a walk before Wood gets out of it.

In the 8th, I want to pull my hair out. Swish singles, Berkman walks. Then, finally, a bunt to move the runners over. I’ve been hollering like hell for more bunting all week. But Gardner pops the bunt up for a DP. There is absolutely NO excuse for players like Gardner, Golson, Curtis, Pena, Cervelli to not be able to bunt. NONE. They aren’t power hitters. Some are marginal major leaguers at best. Others are blessed with great speed. There is no excuse for them to not be able to bunt.  

No problems for Wood in the 8th. 1 1/3. 0 R, 0 H, 1 walk and a K. The best pickup of the trade deadline for Cashman, by far, over Kearns and Berkman. ERA 3.14. His ERA as a Yankee is something like 0.40.

Concerns? For in the 9th, Mo gives up a run. This after blowing yesterday’s game. He does get save #32 (558 career) but it wasn’t pretty. Granted some bad luck as a ground-rule double hit chalk and the RBI single that followed was a blooper (broken bat?). A HBP. Tying run on, go-ahead run up but Mo closes the game. 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, a HBP, 0 W, 0 K. The ERA to (gasp!) 1.58. But the last two days haven’t shown us the Mo we are used to and spoiled over. 

Granderson with the 2 HR (21) and 5 RBI (59). 3 hits for Cervelli.

Boston also lost.

Magic #s? 5 to make the playoffs. 12 for the division title. Best record in the AL by just 1 game over the Twins.

In the NL, the west is up for grabs, while the Phils look like they could 3-peat as NL champs. The Phils won their 8th straight tonight.

Veterans Committee to deliberate soon on HOF vote

From MLB.com (emphasis mine):

By Lisa Winston / MLB.com

11/10/09 4:21 PM EST

An elite group of 20 former Major League managers, umpires and executives are under consideration for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010 by a pair of Veterans Committees.

The results of the vote, scheduled for Dec. 6, will be announced the next day at baseball’s Winter Meetings, which will be held in Indianapolis.

There will be two ballots, each with 10 candidates, under consideration. One will include eight former managers and two umpires and will be reviewed by the 16-member Veterans Committee for Managers and Umpires.

The second includes 10 executives and “baseball pioneers,” and will be considered by a 12-member committee.

Both voting committees consist of Hall of Famers, current and former executives, and veteran media members, with all asked to vote for up to four candidates on their ballots.

Any candidate receiving votes on 75 percent of all ballots cast will earn election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and will be inducted as part of the 2010 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, slated for July 25 in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Among the finalists on the manager/umpire ballot are Whitey Herzog, who won six division titles with the Rangers, Angels, Royals and Cardinals between 1973 and 1990 and was named 1980s Manager of the Decade by Sports Illustrated; Davey Johnson, who guided his teams to first-place finishes five times in 12 full seasons with the Mets, Reds, Orioles and Dodgers between 1984 and 2000, and was the 1987 American League Manager of the Year with Baltimore; and the late Billy Martin, who led the 1977 New York Yankees to a World Series title during a 16-year managerial career that saw him at the helm of the Twins, Tigers, Rangers and A’s, and included five stints with the Yankees.

The other nominees are former managers Charlie Grimm, Tom Kelly, Gene Mauch, Danny Murtaugh and Steve O’Neill; and former umpires Doug Harvey and Hank O’Day.

The 10 eligible executives are Gene Autry, Sam Breadon, John Fetzer, Bob Howsam, Ewing Kauffman, John McHale, Marvin Miller, Gabe Paul, Jacob Ruppert and Bill White.

The final managers/umpires ballot was developed by the Historical Overview Committee, appointed by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) and composed of 11 veteran members: Dave Van Dyck (Chicago Tribune), Bob Elliott (Toronto Sun), Rick Hummel (St. Louis Post-Dispatch), Steve Hirdt (Elias Sports Bureau), Moss Klein (formerly Newark Star-Ledger), Bill Madden (New York Daily News), Ken Nigro (formerly Baltimore Sun), Jack O’Connell (BBWAA secretary/treasurer), Nick Peters (Sacramento Bee), Tracy Ringolsby (FSN Rocky Mountain) and Mark Whicker (Orange County Register).

The 16-member electorate charged with reviewing the Managers/Umpires ballot includes Hall of Famers Jim Bunning, Bob Gibson, Fergie Jenkins, Al Kaline, Tom Lasorda, Phil Niekro, Tony Perez, Billy Williams and Dick Williams; former executive Jim Frey; current executives Roland Hemond (Diamondbacks) and Bob Watson (Major League Baseball); and veteran media members Tim Kurkjian (ESPN), O’Connell and Tom Verducci (Sports Illustrated), with one elector yet to be announced.

The 12-member electorate that will review the Executives/Pioneers ballot features Hall of Famers Robin Roberts and Tom Seaver; former executive John Harrington (Red Sox); current executives Jerry Bell (Twins), Bill DeWitt (Cardinals), Bill Giles (Phillies), David Glass (Royals), Andy MacPhail (Orioles) and John Schuerholz (Braves); and veteran media members Rick Hummel (St. Louis Post-Dispatch), Hal McCoy (Dayton Daily News) and Phil Pepe (New York Daily News).

 

Lisa Winston is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

It would be nice for Billy to get in, but I feel that despite his managerial accomplishments that he made too many enemies to get elected. Herzog could be a possibility.

One person who really deserves consideration is Marvin Miller. Talk about changing the game…

Harvey (nicknamed “God” when he umpired) would be an interesting choice, as would Gene Autry.

Where I live, the Lehigh Valley now has the Phillies AAA team, the Iron Pigs. It’s the first minor league team in the Lehigh Valley since 1960. Where the Lehigh Valley Mall stands today used to be a ballfield…Breadon Field, named after Sam Breadon. A new field was built for the Iron Pigs (yes, that’s their nickname).

Yankee fans may wonder how in the world Jacob Ruppert isn’t in the hall yet.

I wonder what the Scooter would have said  about that huckleberry Bill White getting in as an executive, and of course, Yankee fans remember Gabe Paul as Yankee GM in the mid-1970s.

One person not on the list is Pat Moran. He died too young (48) but his managerial record wasn’t bad at all.  Check it out.

Who do you feel is most deserving?

 

Pinstripes for Big Men; CC a Yankee

The story goes that Jacob Ruppert put pinstripes on the Yankee uniform to make Babe Ruth look slimmer. David Wells tested that theory. Now it’s C.C. Sabathia’s turn.

Breaking news from ESPN is that C. C. Sabathia has accepted the Yankees deal. Late last night, GM Brian Cashman left Las Vegas for S.F. A third meeting with C. C. Three meetings in three days meant something was close, and supposedly the deal is now done. Six years, $140M. We will find out the particulars later.

The Yanks have their ace. Not that Wang wasn’t one, as Wang after all, is 54-20, 3.79, ERA+ 117 for his career. But Wang is better slated as a #2 or #3 starter. Sabathia, 17-10, 2.70 (ERA+ 162) for the Indians and Brewers last year, is 117-73, 3.66, ERA+ 121 for his career. Both he and Wang turn 29 next year. Both in their primes. C. C.’s 162 g. average for his career is 15-9, 3.66. The 2007 CYA winner teams now with Wang to give the Yanks a 1-2 punch, and the Yanks now turn to two other pitchers. Re-signing Pettitte to be the #4, in front of Joba’s #5 (I know Joba could move up quickly, but we won’t rush him) is one step to hopefully be done soon.

Now for the #3 in the rotation. As written by Pete Abraham, the Yanks can now “play Burnett, Lowe and Sheets off each other and make the best deal.”

Which then leaves Kennedy and Hughes in AAA to get more experience (which is why I would only give Pettitte a one-year deal), and that’s not a bad thing. They, along with Aceves, could be “on the ready” just in case.

One thing I read a few days ago and Pete Abraham confirms on his blog: the Yanks have interest in free agent Nick Punto as a utility infielder. Punto can’t hit (.252, OPS+ 74 for his career) but he does have some speed (61 SB in the last four years) and can play 2B, SS and 3B. Besides, with Cano, Jeter and A-Rod, barring injury, how much does a backup infielder play? Punto, or Ransom? Your call?

One great thing about being a Yankees fan—we care right down to the 25th man.

Now to get that other pitcher.

Talk about your hangovers.

I don’t want to add too much. I probably will. We all probably still want to take it all in, and that will be for quite a while as we await six of the most anti-climactic games in Yankees history.

It kind of feels like a hangover right now. For me, I mean that literally. Between the significance of last night and a bad cold, I went through lots of Kleenex, and with the cold medicine and lack of sleep, sure feel “hung over.”

I kind of feel sorry for Mike Mussina. He needs to win tomorrow night in Toronto to keep any hopes of a twenty-win season alive. Would anyone blame him or the rest of the Yanks if they come out flat tomorrow night? I mean, really…

It’s interesting what Moose wants from the ballpark. The flagpole. He’d have it sent home in pieces, weld it back together, and fly a flag from this weekend on it. As big as that flagpole is, we’ll all now know where Montoursville, PA is (it’s near Williamsport).

One thing though. Moose can get the flagpole. The bronzed Lou Gehrig bat on top of it? I hope not. That should go on the NEW flagpole.

I suspect that Jeter would want that sign of the Joe DiMaggio quote that hung in the runway between the clubhouse and the dugout. His final Yankee Stadium II hit count? 1275.

Andy’s first K last night was #2000 of his career. Pete Abe had some bones to pick with some of the ceremony. He didn’t like the actors portraying late legends. Especially the fact they stood in the outfield for an hour. I look at it this way. They were playing the ghosts. For one more hour, I didn’t think those ghosts minded. As for the dissing of Torre, I don’t know how they could have honored him. Should they have? Probably. But the honoring of Huggins came via an actor when they announced the 1923 starting lineup. Other actors, symbolizing Monument Park coming to life, stood in for McCarthy and Stengel. Girardi as the current manager was announced almost as an afterthought. He was shown in the video tribute and announced as a catcher. There was no video tribute for managers. Billy Martin Jr. was representing his dad at second base. There was no mention of Ralph Houk. Come to think of it, there was no video tribute for the front office either. I’d have to review the tape, but I don’t recall any mention of the man who built the place, and I don’t mean Babe. I mean Jacob Ruppert. I don’t recall Barrow or Huston mentioned. Nor George Weiss. So where they’d have fit in Torre, I don’t know.

It’s too bad George wasn’t there. It might have and probably would have been too much for his health. Hal (the real power) was there. Hank, the Mouth that Roared, wasn’t. So can the media stop treating every word from him like it’s newsworthy? I don’t know if he was taking care of his dad or what, but the guy wasn’t at the All-Star Game or the Finale. He’s Sonny Corleone (or, shall I say, Fredo?) to Hal’s Michael.

Jeter’s speech was beautiful, heartfelt, and non-rehearsed. I saw him come out of the game, but missed Melky replacing Damon. Nice touch by Girardi getting the Captain an ovation. As I mentioned last night, what a spot for Phil Coke. From AA to that, and the kid did ok. For someone like him or Brett Gardner (who scored the last run) it’s like Bogie and Bergman in Casablanca when they mention that they’ll always have Paris. We don’t know what kind of careers Gardner or Coke will have. If nothing else, they’ll have last night.

A bit disappointed in my Steelers. Maybe next week they’ll remember to block.

Congratulations to those MLB teams that have clinched a playoff spot and those who will in the next week.

If they can get over the hangovers, A-Rod can still become the AL HR champ for this year (1 behind Quentin and Miggy Cabrera), Giambi needs 6 RBI and Abreu 5 for 100.

Matsui will be operated on today. At least he got a hit last night. He ends .294-9-45 in 93 games. Basically, he will have ended up missing 65 or so. A couple players are between .299 (Abreu) and .307 (Damon), so the .300 batting average is something to watch, as is 20 for Moose and a winning season for Pettitte (if he isn’t shut down). Jeter is at .301, and I wonder how that hand is. Heck, let him keep the .301 and shut him down…now. Let his last game of 2008 be last evening’s.

Nady’s been fading lately. Pudge has more SB for the Yanks than RBI.

Some guys may get their first hit….Cervelli? Miranda?

But as I wrote, anti-climactic. There are a few numbers for individual players to shoot for, but for most of us—and I presume for them too in most cases— the season ended last night with the Stadium.