Big night for Bobby Abreu
-
- July
- 15
It seemed a bit strange to some when Bobby Abreu sat against Scott Kazmir on Friday night. But Joe Torre’s decision seemed to pay off tonight when Abreu went 2 for 5 with a homer and five RBI.
“They don’t want me to lose my rhythm,â€? Abreu said. “It worked. We faced a righty today and I helped the team win.â€?
You never know what will motivate a player. Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio was at the game tonight, throwing out the first pitch as part of Latin Festival Night. Aparacio is a national hero in Venezuela and has known Abreu for 15 years.
Abreu said having “Mr. Aparicio” at the game gave him some extra incentive.
Meanwhile …
Mariano Rivera on his 425th save: “I can’t believe it. If you told me that 10 years ago, I would tell you you were drunk.”
Ron Villone: The lefty has thrown 10.1 scoreless innings in his last eight appearances. There’s a reason he was used in the seventh inning today. Torre said to expect more of that as it seems Mike Myers is on the outs.
Johnny Damon: On base three times, his going first to third on a single in the ninth was a huge play as it gave the Yankees an insurance run. He seems to have his legs back.
Chien-Ming Wang: He said he pitched the entire game the same way, balls just found holes in the first inning. That’s what happens with guys who pitch to contact on turf fields sometimes. But Wang struck guys out when he needed to. Get this: Wang has 29 wins since the start of last season. Only Johan Santana (30) has more.
Hideki Matsui: He has hit in nine straight (12 for 35) with five homers, four doubles and nine RBI. A lot of people on the team think Godzilla is about to start knocking over buildings. That ball he hit tonight was smoked.
Finally …
Kenny Lofton was asked in Texas what he thought of Gary Sheffield’s comments about the Yankees and racism.
“All I can say is, Sheffield knows what he’s talking about. That’s all I’m going to say,â€? he said.
Lofton played poorly for the Yankees in 2004, his only season on the team. I didn’t cover the team that season, so I can’t speak to what happened or didn’t happen. But I would like to see Torre say more than “no comment” tomorrow.
Torre’s best friend is Bob Gibson. He runs a charity that works to combat domestic violence in the inner city and he has treated players like Rivera, Jeter and Bernie Williams like sons.
It only continues the story to comment, but Torre may need to say something. Racism is a serious word to throw around.
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Peter Abraham
and Sheff and Lofton are two players who never can keep there mouth shut, they are making millions of dollars year can they at least not start crap?
Let’s look at who this is coming from:
Sheffield: Here’s what probably went down. He loafed in the outfield, so Torre called him out on it. All of a sudden, Joe’s a racist. Doesn’t sound too far-fetched. Sheff has always found a reason to hate the teams he leaves, this is no exception.
Lofton: Here’s a guy that sucked with the Yankees, he was absolutely terrible. So, the Yankees didn’t play him as a starter. A guy by the name of Bernie Williams was there. Lofton was upset all year. Lofton thought he was good enough to start, but in reality, he was not. So all of a sudden, Joe is a racist.
Two guys who have no credibility, who don’t like something Joe did with good reason.
Sorry, when you look at the credibility factor, I really don’t think this is a big deal.
Myers is on the outs as close to being released/traded or just getting demoted in the bullpen hierarchy?
How can Torre justify bringing in Farnsworthless in the 8th inning every time the Yanks have a lead? I don’t care how great his arm is, he simply cannot handle any sort of pressure. He needs to be demoted to middle relief. I’d feel more confident with Vizcaino now in the 8th.
I mentioned this in an other post but Torre needs to go “Kenny Williams” on Sheffield and just begin a war of words.
Something like this would be fine
“He’s an idiot. He’s selfish. That’s why we don’t miss him,” Williams said, responding to a Thomas interview.
Peter,
Might as well add in Raul Mondesi as three guys critical of Torre… who have absolutely no credibility.
8 games against Detroit in late August.
What was Sheff thinking? He better be wearing body armor or sitting those games out. His wrist may be in trouble of injury from a lot of very inside fastballs at 95.
Sheffield has a tremendous chip on his shoulder, and his comments don’t surprise me. I have heard stories of him treating his fellow African American teammates (i.e. Kenny Lofton) much differently than his, let’s just call them non-African American teammates
I’d love to hear Reggie Jackson’s take on this.
No one can say for certain how any other human being feels deep inside.
That being said, I’ll take Torre’s track record over Sheff’s when it comes to showing they care about other people.
Whatever you think of Torre as a manager, I think we all can agree that he appears to be a great person. How many peope say that about Sheff?
This while “story” makes me sad.
Peter,
Can you confirm that the Yankees are STILL planning on keeping Igawa as the 5th starter and he will actually pitch on Monday ? ,,,,,AND is slotted even for his next “turn” after that ? That would be complete insanity !
Igawa almost has to start the next turn after Monday, because it’s a doubleheader. They already have to call someone up as is.
As far as Sheffield and Lofton, they MIGHT have legitimate gripes about playing time or whatever. But sadly, Sheffield has to scream racism (or no, I’m sorry, Sheff says he isn’t saying Joe is racist, just that he “treats blacks worse”. That’s different somehow I’m sure), and Lofton agrees with him. Ever think there may have been other reasons besides race? Come on.
Rutgers team honored at Yankee Stadium
June 16, 2007
By ADITI KINKHABWALA
Bergen Record
NEW YORK—After a Cinderella run to the national title game, the Rutgers women’s team was honored by the Yankees before Friday’s Subway Series opener.
“I like Coach [C. Vivian] Stringer. I like how she handles herself from what I’ve seen from afar and I’ve always had respect for her,” said Derek Jeter, whose parents live in New Jersey and who’d written Stringer’s team a letter after the whole circus of Don Imus’ disparaging comments.
He didn’t actually meet Rutgers’ Hall of Fame coach until just before the start of the game, when he ran onto the field with a jersey [autographed by the team].
“Thank goodness he put his hand out because I would’ve fallen over,” a still beaming Stringer said afterward.
The jumbo scoreboard in center field played the season’s highlights and the players were introduced by Bob Sheppard.
And yet Stringer was genuinely aflutter over Joe Torre’s hug and Don Mattingly’s compliments.
“It’s surreal,” Stringer said. “Just surreal.
:Torre Talks About Massacre
April 17, 2007
By Joe Lapointe
New York Times
At the end of Joe Torre’s pre-game news briefing before last night’s game against the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium, one of the reporters asked the Yankees’ manager about the massacre at Virginia Tech on Monday, in which a student with two handguns killed 32 people and himself.
More than once in the ensuing discussion, Torre expressed strong opinions against handgun ownership. “I don’t know how anybody can defend the right to buy a gun,’’ Torre said.
He quickly added that he understands why hunters own rifles, but he said “sidearms and handguns’’ are dangerous, particularly in the hands of emotional young people.
“All the peer problems — girlfriends, boyfriends,’’ Torre said. “We put weapons in people’s hands.’’
Torre grew up in Brooklyn with a father who was a police officer and was abusive to his family, and four years ago he created the Safe at Home Foundation to combat domestic violence. Torre said television, movies and even sportscasts glorify violence in the American culture.
He scowled when someone mentioned that gun advocates argued that more guns on the Virginia Tech campus would have made the students safer from the killer.
“That’s the N.R.A.,’’ Torre said, referring to the National Rifle Association. “Arm the citizens,’’ he added, with sarcasm in his voice. “That would make it safe.’’
Rutgers team honored at Yankee Stadium
June 16, 2007
By ADITI KINKHABWALA
Bergen Record
NEW YORK—After a Cinderella run to the national title game, the Rutgers women’s team was honored by the Yankees before Friday’s Subway Series opener.
“I like Coach [C. Vivian] Stringer. I like how she handles herself from what I’ve seen from afar and I’ve always had respect for her,” said Derek Jeter, whose parents live in New Jersey and who’d written Stringer’s team a letter after the whole circus of Don Imus’ disparaging comments.
He didn’t actually meet Rutgers’ Hall of Fame coach until just before the start of the game, when he ran onto the field with a jersey [autographed by the team].
“Thank goodness he put his hand out because I would’ve fallen over,” a still beaming Stringer said afterward.
The jumbo scoreboard in center field played the season’s highlights and the players were introduced by Bob Sheppard.
And yet Stringer was genuinely aflutter over Joe Torre’s hug and Don Mattingly’s compliments.
“It’s surreal,” Stringer said. “Just surreal.”
Torre Talks About Massacre
April 17, 2007
By Joe Lapointe
New York Times
At the end of Joe Torre’s pre-game news briefing before last night’s game against the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium, one of the reporters asked the Yankees’ manager about the massacre at Virginia Tech on Monday, in which a student with two handguns killed 32 people and himself.
More than once in the ensuing discussion, Torre expressed strong opinions against handgun ownership. “I don’t know how anybody can defend the right to buy a gun,’’ Torre said.
He quickly added that he understands why hunters own rifles, but he said “sidearms and handguns’’ are dangerous, particularly in the hands of emotional young people.
“All the peer problems — girlfriends, boyfriends,’’ Torre said. “We put weapons in people’s hands.’’
Torre grew up in Brooklyn with a father who was a police officer and was abusive to his family, and four years ago he created the Safe at Home Foundation to combat domestic violence. Torre said television, movies and even sportscasts glorify violence in the American culture.
He scowled when someone mentioned that gun advocates argued that more guns on the Virginia Tech campus would have made the students safer from the killer.
“That’s the N.R.A.,’’ Torre said, referring to the National Rifle Association. “Arm the citizens,’’ he added, with sarcasm in his voice. “That would make it safe.’’
I don’t know. Sheffield later on in the interview was asked if Torre was racist and he said NO!.
Seems rather contradictory to his previous statement. Sheff may be talking about the higher ups.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/07142007/sports/yankees/desalvo_to_get_another_shot_yankees_george_king.htm
Matt DeSalvo to pitch in the double header. Positive thoughts…positive thoughts…
I really don’t think there is an undying need for Yankee fans to go out of their way to defend Torre by posting articles from the past as “proof” that Torre isn’t racist.
Nobody believes anything Sheff says (except for perhaps Lofton) because he has along history of this kind of crap and burning bridges everywhere he has played.
Torre would only be fueling the fire by saying anything public about it. I’d be surprised if Torre spoke up because it’s not his nature to have a pissing match through the media.
Oh yeah, I have a $1000 that says Roger Clemens will knock Sheff on his @ss the next time these guys go face to face.
Maybe Torre didn’t like Sheffield’s attitude that much (can you imagine that?) and is that the reason he was treated ‘differently’. I know Bernie never complained, but he is probably “half black, half white” too.
Abreu is the MVP for this game and will continue to be the key of success in the rest of the games this season. Posada, Jeter , A-Rod, and Matsui will need to do well every game but Melky and Cano will need to prove that they belong to the New York city.
Wang was not at his best today and got lucky. He needs to work on his slider and the command of his sinker. He will need his change up soon! He will be a good pitcher only if he can control his slider and change up along with his sinker.
Pete,
I still don’t think Torre should have to say anything. If he denies it, then what? Former teammates might come out of the woodwork to say something like what Sheffield said. Then there will be suspicion and we all know what that means in the world of the MLB. He might be in a bind actually, unless there is actual truth to what Sheffield said, along with his disciple, Lofton and Torre admits it. Otherwise, I don’t think it’s true. The people that have said anything were Sheffield and Lofton. The former didn’t like the way he was treated during the Detroit series and the latter did a tank job for the entire season in which he was in pinstripes
I remember when Ruben Sierra left the Yanks the first time he blasted the organization because “all they wanted to do was win.” Sour grapes, that’s what Sheff’s comments are.
Give me a break. Were gonna ask Lofton and Womack if the Yankees are racist. Lofton is a HUGE dog, and Womack faked an injury and refused to play his last year because he wasnt playing everyday.
I’m not sure why the treatment of Williams and Rivera would be relevant. Do they consider themselves black? Perhaps Sheff’s comments make more sense when combined with his earlier comments about black and latino players. Its very easy to see the difference between the personalities of Williams/Rivera and Sheffield/Lofton. Joe apparently does like strong/obnoxious/a**hole-like personalities. I don’t think that it would be the first time that there was a personality clash between a white guy and black guy that didn’t grow up in the kind of environment that Captain Half-Black grew up in. I feel very safe in assuming that Joe would not get along so great with his players if he were coaching an NBA team. Guys like Sheff and Lofton have a chip on their shoulder that makes it difficult for anyone not to treat them “differently.” Their personaities stick out like a sore thumb in the Yankees clubhouse, and they were probably treated accordingly.
Punky-What does NBA players have any thing to do with Sheffield or Lofton?
Torre and Jeter are following the old adage: Never argue with an idiot. People won’t be able to tell the difference.
Kyle Litke
July 15th, 2007 at 2:01 am
Igawa almost has to start the next turn after Monday, because it’s a doubleheader. They already have to call someone up as is.
Are you talking about the game that we have to play a whole 2 innings of ? You are callin THAT a double header ? Let’s try something simple. You pitch a Ramirez or a Villone or SOMEBODY OTHER THAN A GUY THAT WE WASTED $50 Million on ! If Igawa had an ERA of 12.00, would we HAVE to pitch him ? NO ! Is HIS ERA close enough to that for us to send him down…ABSOLUTELY !....Bring up somebody else to pitch… ANYBODY ! Igawa stinks and if the Yankees don’t wake up and recognize that FACT, they need a good slap across the face !
I wonder what Willie Randolph thinks
Sadao Nakajima (the coach of Yomiuri Giants when Matsui played for that team) was generally believed to be an idiot in daily conversation (perhaps as bad as Yogi Berra), but I think that he was always right about his beloved student, Matsui. He always believes that as the temperature rises in June and July, Matsui will explode. Maybe that’s the nature of Godzilla (the movies were always presented during summer vacations).
BTW, when interviewed by Taiwanese journalists, Wang said that he misread Posada’s signs in the first inning, and that resulted in the ‘big’ inning. Yet he did not say which pitch(es) it was (they are). Maybe he was talking about the inside change-up towards Pena. I could not find related reports in English. Maybe he did not say that to other journalists?
Just look at the sources, I think that says it all. If I’m not mistake, Tony Clark was on the same team as Sheff and Lofton. Ask him what he thinks of Torre.