Today in The Journal News
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 13, 2008 
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Bruce Lee Shelley Duncan delivered some payback against the Rays yesterday. Oh wait, he says he didn’t.
Andy Pettitte has an elbow issue. This notebook also has updates on Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon and an unfortunate incident in batting practice.
Billy Crystal lives the dream today
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Pirates-Yankees today at 1:15 p.m. The game will be on YES.
Hey, it looked okay to me (except for that spike in the ‘nads thing).
Cute videos from Tino and Derek about Billy. I think it’s a good thing to lighten the mood. I think it’ll be fun for the players. At least stop the ‘hard play’ talk for a little while.
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....;fext=.jsp
Pete, knowing how you feel personally about the Billy Crystal thing, thanks much for the article !
Jeter told Tino to throw it behind Billy’s back in batting practice. That should make him feel real welcome
Completely off topic, but has anyone else seen this article? That’s really low. I know you’ve got to put the best team out there if you can, but some times you should just have a heart.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....index.html
Welcome to the Yankee Rivalry for the New Century. Obviously the Rays are the new team to beat (or is that beat up). Obvious also is the fact that alleged Yankee whimpery is a topic second only to A-Rod when it comes to the ability to generate blog hits.
IMO, legitimate retaliation is a thin line over which the team with the highest payroll in MLB must be especially careful not to step. In no case are dirty plays and thuggery a part of the game for players who wear pinstripes. (BTW, Shelley’s slide was dumb, not dirty).
What’s even more disturbing as I read over the comments, however, is the vast reservoir of feelings of inadequacy displayed by many of these new visitors, turning this period of silliness into a cause celebre. Baseball is not for these people. My advice is if you want a sport with ample amounts of trash talk, brute force, damaging collisions and violence, try boxing or football or hockey or the good ol’ NBA.
But please, don’t try to turn my favorite game into one more high priced, low-brow street fight. In that case I might just have to retaliate.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla – “What you saw today is a definition of a dirty play. There’s no room for that in our game. It’s contemptible. It’s wrong. It’s borderline criminal,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “I can’t believe they did that.” Apparently this MLB manager thinks that NY Yankee first baseman Shelley Duncan is actually a criminal as First Degree assault charges have been filed today at the Pinellas County Courthouse. Said Maddon: “That was a blatant attempt to hurt Aki. And it was set up, it was planned, it was premeditated.” The Tampa Bay manager attempted to file the charge as attempted first degree murder, but the DA advised him that was “a bit over the top” as even the assault charge was going to be hard to get an indictment due to it being complete horse hockey.
OK this one is real…from NY Daily News : ” Stump Merrill, who managed the Yankees in the early 1990s and currently serves as a special assistant to the general manager, was hit by a thrown ball just above the lip during batting practice before yesterday’s game.
Merrill, 64, was collecting balls near a screen behind second base when he was struck. He was taken off the field on a stretcher and brought to Bayfront Medical Center, where tests revealed no fractures. The Yankees said Merrill was conscious and alert when he was taken off the field. “
Let the Billy Crystal gig come and go. The Texas Rangers did the same thing for several years with country & western singer, Charlie Pride.
Wow, quite an evening in here last night! lol
Only thing I have to say is, some people really have to lay off Pete. He has opinions like all of us and is certainly allowed to express them.
Especially since this is his blog! lol
While we can disagree as to the right, wrong, intent, result of yesterday, ripping on Pete because he’s not in lockstep with some opinions is really the wrong way to go.
I happen to be in the camp that feels this was Tampa testing Girardi a bit to see how he would react.
Not the hit by Johnson itself, per se. The aftermath of it.
It happened, its over and you move on.
I’d just like to see Pete treated with a little more respect by some folks here. He is allowing us to have this venue to discuss Yankee Baseball. Sometimes, its best to remember that when ripping the guy because he isn’t saying what you want him to say.
You can disagree on a subject without resorting to namecalling.
Just so we are clear, calling somebody a Red Sox Fan IS namecalling where I come from.
Seriously, relax and enjoy the show. Looks like we are going to have an interesting team to watch this year.
Still wearing your diapers today?
Geeeez…Stump is only 64. Seems like he should be much older that that. How long has he been in the organization?
Joe Girardi has put fire into these Yankees and whether Joe Maddon cares to realize it or not, he added more fuel.
If Maddon had to do it all over again he or his 3rd base coach would have called for a hook slide by Elliot Johnson if for no other reason but to see if he can do it.
The Rays opened up a can of worms. The Yankees were not sleeping dogs from day one of spring training and now they are wide awake hounds.
Bad blood doesn’t go away after one game or one season. All 18 games in the regular season will carry the not knowing tag with each and every game.
Good article about Billy Crystal, Pete. Few unique things in there that you don’t normally get from a baseball piece.
In any case, I am happy Billy Crystal is getting a shot in Spring Training. Anybody who believes that Billy Crystal is stealing some kids opportunity to play please know this – the one sure thing about the Yankees is their offense. Crystal isn’t out there pitching the 8th inning with a plethora of guys vying for a spot. Our offense has practically already been decided… if you want a spot on the all-star lineup then you prove it day in and day out in the minors. Consistency is the key, you can’t blame it on one game.
If none of you are thinking this then great. But I heard Matt Yallof on SNY make a stink about it yesterday and got the ol blood pressure up
I hope someone will live blog for us poor souls at work.
Hopefully yesterday was the end of it. You pushed us, we pushed harder. Hopefully there will not be suspensions handed down. It will be very sad if Joe isn’t there for opening day.
Still curious how Joe could get suspended for a game when he wasn’t ejected, which also puzzles me. Doesn’t the manager usually get ejected when a pitcher is ejected after warnings have been issued? I thought that was automatic.
My fear is, since these kids aren’t playing for a world series that they will do something very stupid and try to hurt one of our star players.
I wasn’t with you all yesterday.
I was just wondering what the reaction from everyone was to the WEAK tackle attempt by Johnny Gomes. He had a running start from right field, blindsided Shelly, and still didn’t even come close to taking him down. Then, he’s acting and talking all tough about it. Jeeeeeesh. I remember hearing something about Gomes coming from a pretty rough background, but that was pathetic.
Mike Golic was really slamming him this morning.
YanksAngel
I am curious why he throws out a pitcher when the pitch grazed the uniform. Longoria (sp) even said that the pitch just grazed his uniform that he didn’t think it was intentional.
I also love how this is reported on the radio by the old goat who does updates on 1050 (he may have been relevant 50 years ago, but he isn’t anymore). Longoria was drilled!! by a Yankee pitcher. Shelley SPIKED a Ray player. When if it was accurate it would have been Longoria was grazed by a pitch and Shelley and his gangly self attempted to spike second baseman when he only grazed him. But Johnny Gomes runs in full force from the outfield and bounces off Shelley.
Well to be a little fair, on Mike and Mike they were laughing that Gomes runs in full force than slows down to push Shelley. Than when all his teamates get there he pretends to want to go after SHelley.
Jennifer –
I agree it was a bit overboard to eject him. He did not bean him. I usually love PTI, but Tony was crushing Giradi saying it was all his fault and that the pitcher hit the first guy up to bat, which is far from the truth. Not only did he barely touch him, but they had already scored 2 runs hadn’t they?
Murphydog ….
Well said.
(I hope I don’t get you in trouble with the lunatic fringe.)
Can we now please move on? While agree Maddon is stupid, I don’t believe Duncan is the Yankees “thug”, Girardi was sending a message back to Maddon, or that this is team is now sending a “don’t mess with us” message. To Jeterize my thought – The Yankees are about one thing and one thing only – winning a world championship. They’re not in this for retribution or sending messages. They’re in it to win games and get to and win the Series. Anything else is just a distraction. I think I’m correct in thinking that if the team was in the middle of a game where Jeter got decked, he’d be the first to smack a teammate for getting retribution at the expense of winning that game.
What bothers me about this is, Shelley shouldn’t have been the one to do it. For all we know he could be gone by the middle of the season, and if something is still festering, would it be really fair?
“What bothers me about this is, Shelley shouldn’t have been the one to do it. For all we know he could be gone by the middle of the season, and if something is still festering, would it be really fair?”
I really don’t think any of this came down from Girardi, you know? Phillips grazed the guy. That wasn’t a purposeful hit. It may have been a purpose pitch, to push him off the plate and open up the outside corner, but that’s a totally normal part of pitching. As for Shelley, well his ominous words the other day make me feel like this was a call he made on his own. And it was kinda stupid. A ball in the butt would have served the point better. Now the Rays can feel like the Yankees escalated and feel like they need to go after someone next time.
Yeah if Shelley kept his mouth shut it wouldn’t have been so obvious. And I didn’t mean to imply that direction came from Joe.
According to Pete’s article, Tampa Bay right fielder Jonny Gomes is in awe of the pinstripes:
Would anyone say that “that’s not the Red Sox way” or “that’s not the Blue Jays way”? Nope. There is only one franchise that has earned that kind of respect.
Joe Maddon went from old school tough guy to drama queen pretty quick didn’t he?
The only thing I’d worry about if the bad blood continues on and on between these two teams is if Farnsworth is free after his contract is up and the Rays sign him. I say trade him to an NL team before the deadline if he’s struggling up to then.
Shelley made a hard nosed play and he made a little statement. Maybe a little more hard-nosed and a little more statement than most people would’ve wanted, but it’s not like he bowled over Iwamura like Gomes tried to do to him. Of course he wanted to make contact but he clearly wasn’t going after Iwamuras ‘nads or his face … that picture at he top of yesterdays thread was after he made contact much lower.
When talking to the press, Shelley should learn not to allude to that kind of stuff several days before it happens. If he hadn’t, he might have gotten away with not being ejected and Gomes might not have been so compelled to be a tough guy. Waiting until he’s barreling down on their catcher a few games later might’ve been better, but that was the play that happened and you move on. Regardless, that should have been the end of it.
Then there’s Gomes coming out of left field (right field actually) and it starts all over again.
This is weak! He really doesn’t even lead with his spikes, it was more of a high knee. I played second base through college and have had way worse slides happen in the course of a normal game with no messages needed. I have the scars on my shins to prove it!
There are harder slides in high schools across America that no one even thinks twice about, stop whinning about all of this and play baseball. As for the slide on the catcher that was just a kid trying to make the team by showing can play hard with the “big boys” it was unfortunate the guy got hurt but that happens.
Jack Palance on Billy Crystal: — I’ve taken bigger sh•ts than you! –
Letter 10 –
Watch the video clip – he went feet first into the guys shin/knee area. It wasn’t a ‘gentlemanly’ play, but there have been much harder and much more dangerous slides going into second. Ask Ron Oester who used to play for the Reds.
Once the first pitch is thrown, the game takes on a life of its’ own. The players rely on both preparation and instinct. With a new, younger manager, the Yankees have also taken on a new persona. Whatever happens during these bang-bang plays is not premediated, it is the instinct of each individual player. Get used to it.
IMO – this afternoon we will see the results of the first poor PR move made by Derek Jeter. In an effort to be a good friend to Billy Crystal he has compromised his team.
Hey, I love this blog and appreciate everything Pete does here, great job. BUT It’s not name calling when he actually is a Red Sox fan. I’m sure if you ask him he’d say he’s not a fan of any team because as a reporter he has to be objective. You can be damn sure he was enjoying himself the night they won the series.
Actually, Pete works in baseball but is a fan of football. I’m sure he enjoys his job, but I don’t recall Pete ever declaring any favoritism toward any team – Boston or otherwise.
Go easy on Pete. He is still in shock from the Pats amazing Super Bowl loss. (sorry Pete, I will use any excuse to mention this)
Maddon ran his mouth after the Cervelli play and Girardi made it clear he was not happy about the play. Something had to happen here. Does Maddon still want to talk about his favorite wine with Girardi? I don’t think so.
It was no accident Pettitte was scrathed and half the team was in Tampa. Justice, Girardi style has been served. As others have said, this should be the end of it.
Annie, I know you’re a met fan first so
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=3286984
“Country singer Garth Brooks has played in spring training games, helping raise money for his Touch ‘em All Foundation. He was 1-for-22 (.045) in 1999 with the San Diego Padres, 0-for-17 the following year with the New York Mets and 1-for-8 (.125) in 2004 with the Kansas City Royals.”
so if 2 or 3 at bats for Crystal today is “comprimising his team”, what does 17 at bats do?
wish i could tell jokes, would give my left one to do what crystal is doing. might even include someone elses left one if necessary.