More reaction from the Yanks (with audio)
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Podcast on Mar 14, 2008 
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Brian Cashman: “I’ll take 25 Shelley Duncans. How about that?â€
Derek Jeter: “If I were Shelley I wouldn’t change the way I play the game. There’s no reason to change the way he plays the game.”
Here’s the audio from Shelley Duncan’s interview. I jacked up the levels as much as I could so you could hear him. I had the voice recorder right next to him to try and pick up as much as I could:
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C’mon Shelley …
You are right about all that har playing rhetoric, and you also alluded to the possibility something might happen (w/o being specific) after the Cervelli incident. That’s OK. That’s why people are on your side.
hard playing – sorry typo
“Derek Jeter: “If I were Shelley I wouldn’t change the way I play the game. There’s no reason to change the way he plays the game.—
Brandon, does this make you happy?
Shelley “Blood and Guts” Duncan is my favorite Yankee.
I’m with big guy Shelley Duncan here.
Work hard, play hard, sticking up for his boys. He’s a true Yankee.
Those lowly Rays got nothing.
Oh ya did anyone see the stuff they were saying on ESPN? I was at a bar so I didn’t see what they said but I bet it wasn’t anything good.
Retire Shelley’s number !!!
This is what Gomes said: Waah! Boo hoo!
Heh, you were right on the ball with this one Pete. Eh?
he really is a true yankee, i love the way he talks about team unity and the intensity they bring as a group to the field. remember in that article in the times yesterday his dad urged him to get traded so he could maybe get a major league gig somewhere but he refused because he wanted to remain a yankee…even a minor league yankee.
Somebody needs to tell Ms. Mussina to keep her trap shut!
When Pedro sent Jeter & Soriano to the hospital that bum on the mound didnt do a damn thing.
Give me 25 Shelly Duncans!
I love Brian Cashman! Way to back your players.
Maybe the Yankees will finally play with heart and not look scared in the playoffs. This team has played soooooooo tight and so worried about underperforming in the playoffs.
I think the young guys for all their pluses and minuses will not play scared, tight, worried about underperfoming
in the playoffs.
THIS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WILL BE REFRESHING!
Enjoy the ride !
I’m sure someone has said it but i just got here” it’s BS that Duncan and Melky got 3 games but Gomes only got 2. For god’s sake, the man charged in from right field to attack Shelley, and that’s what made the benches clear. It’s such crap. It seems that every incident the Yankees are involved in, they are punished more severely than the other team. has anyone else noticed that?
I also think it’s crap that their suspensions are during the regular season for something they did in spring training. whatever, go Shelley. i wouldn’t want to piss him off. dude’s a badass.
Way to go captain and Cash! Thank you!
Forget about Duncan being at the verge of tears as Pete said, I AM at the verge of tears hearing that audio! Duncan’s got heart, there’s no question.
i love that cash and jeter support him in this. it would be too easy for jeter to chastise a youngin like shelley.
it’s nice to hear/see
But I thought that no one from the team was supporting Shelley?
Good job, Jeter & Cashman. Add those to Girardi’s comments too.
Shelley pwns my soul. And yours, and Johnny Gomes’, and everybody else’s!
Yeah Pete, what happened?
I thought everyone in the organization was wringing their hands and furrowing their brow over Shelley’s blatant vicious act.
It would be awful convenient of you to come out and say, “well they had to stick up for him even though they disapprove” when comments actually on the record now seem to indicate otherwise.
You know, everyone’s upset that Melky got as more days than Gomes. I’m more upset that Shelley got more days. I think Gomes and Melky should have gotten 3 days, and Shelley should have gotten 2, if there were anyone getting less days.
Dee: right on!
Shelley Duncan was not as wrong as people think and Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News even said that last year Duncan used to slide that way and it always made Torre nervous that someone would take it the wrong way.
Here is the link:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pDU5grSAz_Q
JT-
What did Moose say?
god i adore him
I guess no one cares that the Yankees don’t have a bullpen?
Pete, Has Girardi said anything to Jeter this year about being a more outspoken captain? Or, is this Jeter reading what type of manager Girardi is vs. Torre and feeling more comfortable that he can voice his opinions more loudly?
I’m liking the new Jeter.
If Melky did throw a punch, then his suspension is warranted.
Shelley’s act was in the game. Did he go a little overboard with it? Maybe.
Did the Tampa play go a little overboard when he pummeled Cervelli? Maybe.
But both of those plays happened within the game.
Melky and Gomes had nothing to do with it and then injecting themselves into this with their actions both warrant more time than Shelley.
I’d love to hear Watson’s reasoning for how he decided who got what.
WTF with all the comments in the other thread about Jeter?
Absolutely love Cashman’s endorsement of Shelley.
Now Shelley needs to pipe down before we have to field a team from Scranton.
Doreen,
We have a bullpen. It’s Rivera, Hawkins, Farnsworth, Traber, RH to be determined, and some farm kid named Joba. I feel like I missed somebody…
I’m sorry, that should be Shelley needs to settle down. Although I’m sure his comments between the two games were looked at in determining intent on his hard slide.
Just wait ’til the D-bags step into the house on April 4th. The joint will be jumping.
Oh, yeah, a long man. That’s most likely Karstens (get some movement on that ball!) and hopefully not Rasner, but Alba’s worth taking a look at.
Doreen – The Yankee bullpen has blown the last few games but those pitchers are probably not going to make the roster anyway. Mo, Farnsworth, Hawkins, Traber have been good. Probably Karstens as a long reliever and maybe Ohlendorf or Bruney and of course Joba.
I really got the impression that the whole team was against the kid with the “several people have pulled him aside to talk to him” line. I like the blog here, but Pete you often have a “holier than thou” attitude about sports and athletes and forget that they’re just normal people held to the same standards as everyone else.
As with all media, the people reporting give their own spin on things and as is often the case with writers, reporters, and new anchors, what gets you the most publicity/readers/viewers is how big a deal you can make out of what really isn’t that big a deal.
Hopefully the Jeter and Cashman comments will put back to reality the media’s attempt to spin this against the kid.
That interview was strangely moving. It’s not often you hear such genuine distress in someone’s voice these days, when everything is prepackaged and vetted by lawyers.
On one level, Shelley’s a big boy and can take care of himself, but on another level, this thing has taken on a life of its own– remember all the blog comments right after the Cervelli incident, encouraging Duncan or Farnsworth to retaliate, and the media and the Rays were all too happy to play along– and I just hope he can move past it and have fun playing a part on this team.
He’s going to have to figure out how to keep it old-school without coming off as a goon, and given the national media and talk radio slant on things, that may be a difficult thing.
Who would’ve thunk that Cash & Jetes are gangsta thugs?
That would be one awful team, Mr. Cashman.
Oh poor Shelley. Listening to that just broke my heart; what an emotional kid.
I hope Shelley and Melky are announced on opening day so we can all cheer them.
I dunno, Motown, looks like they’re going to accept the suspensions. Good move by the Yankees. There’s nothing weaker than appealing a suspension that’s warranted just to drop it.
The crowd will roar with approval when they make their home debuts. I’m not condoning the actions of either player, but they’ve cemented their places in the hearts of a lot of fans.
“sports and athletes and forget that they’re just normal people held to the same standards as everyone else.”
So…if someone hits your co-worker in the workplace, it’s cool for you to go after his friend?
That analogy doesn’t work, really.
Jeter and Cash tell it like it is whether any of you like it or not!
Of course they will appeal, especially Melky. No reason not to. It’s not like if you lose the appeal you get an extra day (or lose a timeout).
Jeff,
I guess. Maybe they’ll use it as a chance to show MLB the side of Shelley we saw today. lol.
25 Shelly Duncan’s = last place plus the stupidest team in the history of baseball. Even stupider than last years Yankees group.
Thanks Fran and Mel -
As I’ve said, I’ve been in and out and about, playing catch-up and missing details. So, I was beginning to freak out that the bullpen was really not shaping up. Traber and Karstens not doing so well yesterday, I think, got me worried. And I don’t even know who pitched after Hughes today!
I just listened to Shelley. Only once did I sense that his voice might crack, but other than that he sounded thoughtful and precise in what he was saying. I thought he was well-spoken in what he wanted to get across and I thought he is handling this situation well. He did not sound immature to me at all. Not at all.
I think the comment he made the other day about knowing what would happen between third and home was taken by those reading it as an ominous statement. It is possible he did not mean it that way, and I’m sure he’ll be a bit more measured in what he says to the media.
I think both he and Joba are learning that it’s a minefield out there when you’re trying to be accessible to the media, to the fans. And it’s a hard lesson to learn that sometimes between how a thought forms in the brain, how it comes out of your mouth, how it is couched in written language, within the context of a story that someone else is writing, it may be the words you wanted to say, and the words you actually said, but the intent of those words, the actual meaning, that part of it is out of your hands.
I do feel badly for him. I hope after tomorrow’s game that this entire situation is done.
25 shelley duncan’s= a hard nosed yankee team much like last years team in the second half!!!
And its Shelley with an E
You can see the video of Melky’s “punch†here. Total bs. He did not throw a punch at anyone. If what Melky did gets 3 games, everyone on both teams should get 3 games.
http://thebronxzoo.wordpress.c.....ed-…
UPDATE- Here’s a video of the incident from ESPN. If you skip through and watch the clip at 3:11, you can definitely see Melky (#28) running in and throwing an arm in there. The Melk Man Cometh.
25 shelley duncan’s= a winning baseball team
I saw Cabrera run in on the video clip, but I don’t know how anyone can tell from that that he threw a punch. There were an awful lot of arms flailing about
who gave shelley a valium?
McNamee?
AAC: “That interview was strangely moving. It’s not often you hear such genuine distress in someone’s voice these days, when everything is prepackaged and vetted by lawyers.” Agreed!
I also agree with Doreen that Shelley didn’t come across as immature at all. He sounded emotional, but was very thoughtful. I actually thought he was very well-spoken.
shelly is always emotional. i remember seeing him crying last year when the yankees were eliminated.
Whozat, if someone hit my co-worker, I’d give them 5 bucks :p
Team sport situations are different though, and sticking up for your team is exactly what needs to be done. Unity plays an important role in sports. Sure unity isn’t necessary, but it sure does help. I’m not interested in “sending messages”, I doubt anyone needs a message to be sent. It’s just common sense in sports you don’t do this sort of stuff and if you do you can expect carelessness to be reciprocated in spring training..
ATTN: YANKEE UNIVERSE!!!
Make your voice heard:
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/.....listId=101
I dunno, the next time someone intentionally plunks our guys, I want to see finger pointing and yelling at the offender. I’m not a violent person, but that’s how it used to be.
Well all that makes me very happy – I’m getting really happy with this us against them stuff. We don’t need to be everyone’s fried (i.e. punching bag) all the time.
I totally understand where Duncan is coming from. The media was making it seem like the Yanks players weren’t on his side and that he did something wrong when he was only trying to stand up for a team mate. I would almost bet that the team had absolutely no problem with what he did. Except maybe 50 year old Mussina who’s fastball is as fast as his age. He is such a baby he couldn’t even stand up for the captain of the team but Duncan stood up for a AA player!!! Duncan is great.
DUNCAN FOR PRESIDENT!!!
Over/under on total number of suspensions for the team? We’re already at 2 and the season hasn’t even started.
The AL must be cursing the Rays right now. They’ve gone and waken the sleeping giant.
It won’t be long and Jonny Gomes will be doing the same thing that Clark Kent does …. wear Shelley Duncan pajamas.
My bigger concern than the suspension is the impact this could have on Shelley’s game.
He has been very disciplined and locked in at the plate this entire spring. Hitting the ball hard and having a clear plan when he’s up there.
This has been exactly the type of spring he needed to make sure he cemented, not just a spot on the roster, but a role on the team.
He’s a very emotional player and I hope this doesn’t linger with him and distract his concentration.
And I hope this is over between these teams now. The whole thing – starting with Johnson bowling over Cervelli was completely unnecessary.
Juggy,
I forget the exact words, but I read into it that Alex wouldn’t have known the difference between Shelley and the guy who washes the cars. (They have detailing service at the Stadium?) I forget what point Pete was trying to make. Maybe something about Shelley not being the emotional leader of this team because there are already other (highly paid) leaders on the club.
I agree, Shelley’s not the emotional leader, just a shot of adrenaline.
Even with games he’s not in the lineup during the season, Shelley’s fire and presence on the top step of the dugout will be inspiring.
Last year was a small sample size of what his energy can bring. Fortunately he’s a Yankee.
Cen – What’s your point? What, you think that someone who writes about baseball who didn’t play in the MLB or MiLB can’t have an honest opinion? I mean the man DOES follow the team around all year, I think he knows a bit more about the Yankees than you good sir.
Hey Pete, didn’t you say that the veterans would have no part of this and won’t condone it ?
I love brian cashman.
Brian posted this earlier:
Shelley Duncan was not as wrong as people think and Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News even said that last year Duncan used to slide that way and it always made Torre nervous that someone would take it the wrong way.
Here is the link:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pDU5grSAz_Q
What did Mike say?
Mel
Awesome comment (I was thinking that earlier)
I don’t think its going to have any effect on Duncan’s game.
When your GM comes out that strong in your corner, your captain says, “don’t change the way you play”, and your manager likes you, things will work out just fine.
Shelley Duncan can play on my team anytime.
Frankly, I am sick of all the handwringing over this incident.
Its like a segment of our fan base has become an Oprah Show audience.
Its not the Yankees job to be loved by their opponents, the media or opposing fans. We just left an era where that became too much of a priority.
Its major league baseball. Show me a team that doesn’t play with an edge and I’ll show you a team that goes 4-13 in their last 17 post-season games.
You build a mentality of us against the world after incidents like this.
This game is meant to play a whole lot tougher than Yankee teams of the past few years have played.
Go back in Yankee History and look at their Championship Teams. Every single one of them played with an edge. Some of those guys were dirtier than Shelley Duncan will ever be on the baseball field.
Check out Graig Nettles when he punched George Brett in the face during the playoffs. Or, when he beat the crap out of Bill Lee, dislocated his shoulder, and pretty much ruined his career.
Those guys on the 70′s Yankees were downright scary.
Shelley Duncan? Please, he’s a kid who got a little excited. Big deal.
If the Rays want to talk “tough” or, “get him”, they are going to have to a helluva better than what Gomes did yesterday.
Running full speed from the OF to hit the guy from behind, then lose your nerve at the end is gutless.
They want to do something to Duncan. Well, he’s in the lineup tomorrow. Take your best shot.
The media doesn’t like the Yankees? Opposing fans don’t like them? ESPN runs its stupid poles to “prove” the Yankees are “bad”? Who cares.
Tampa made the mistake of making their games with the Yankees important. Not good to do when you don’t have the firepower to win the majority of those games.
Its a whiny, crybaby team that wants to play blood and guts baseball in March.
Should be a fun season when they get their butts kicked by the Yankees all season.
Doreen,
The bullpen isn’t an issue. The guys who spit it up the last couple of days aren’t going to have feature roles in the ‘pen.
When Hawkins, Farnsworth, Rivera and Chamberlain spit it up, then its a concern.
Thanks, SJ44.
SJ:
Best line of the day, “It’s a whiny, crybaby team that wants to play blood and guts in March.”
I can’t believe the whining they’re doing, especially after the suspensions came out. It definitely undercuts their “blood and guts” BS.
-Derek Jeter: “If I were Shelley I wouldn’t change the way I play the game. There’s no reason to change the way he plays the game.â€-
OMG HE STOOD FOR HIM (happy tears) —>
Absolutely spot on, SJ. As I said in one of yesterday’s blogs, The 1977/1978 Yankees had tough, emotional guys like Nettles, Munson, Pinella, Gossage and Billy Martin Manager during those Pennant drives. They had many physical battles with the Royals and Red Sox during those successful seasons. Yeah, they weren’t “loved” by many baseball fans outside of NY, but they certainly were respected!
During the 1996-2001 Dynasty, the Yankees could afford to be “pacifists”, because the sheer overall talent on their Roster was far superior to their opponents. That has not been the case since 2002 – other franchises have copied their blueprint and have become much more competitive. As much as I dislike the Red Sox, I must give them respect for their clubhouse unity, attitude and approach to the Game – elements that have been sorely missed under Torre’s guidance during the last 6 years. Joe Girardi is an “old style” manager – preparation and hustle along with young enthusiatic talent will bring these Yankees back to the Championship!
“I’m all for playing hard, but you have to know what happens in such situations,” Mussina said. “The whole season now there is going to be a cloud over it with everyone waiting for the next whatever to happen. He kept the ball rolling. You like the energy and how he plays, and you believe experience will help him make good decisions.”
I guess this is what he was thinking when Jeter & Soriano were sent for MRIs in the same game he was on the mound and did nothing.
I don’t have a problem with what he said. Everything he said is true.
Words I want to hear. Like I wrote on another post, check out p. 226 of Summer of ’49 about how DiMaggio protected Rizzuto.
I’d like to make another point. It’s something not many have heard or read about. Al Kaline said it in talking about Maris and Mantle. I remember reading it somewhere. No, Kaline wasn’t talking about their HR ability. What the Tiger Hall of Famer mentioned was the WAY THEY PLAYED THE GAME. When mentioning the M & M Boys, Kaline noted that no two players in the league went into second base harder in order to break up the double play than those two. As Casey said, you can look it up.
Playing hard is exactly what you want your entire team to do. Something that is lost in the MLB. But, sliding with your cleats up knee high, now that’s ridiculous. If he’s been in the system for as long as he says, he’s been taught how to break up a double play and coming in cleats high wasn’t taught. He’s caught in the void of being pimped by the veterans to do something about the previous game and he didn’t handle it tooo well. But whatever you do, don’t confuse playing the game hard and dirty play. On that play Duncan committed the later. No, Duncan shouldn’t change the way he plays the game, only how he executes it.
I love Shelly, good hard player and he needs to keep his head up.
And a nod to Joe for standing behind him. All young players need that and it shows solidarity for the whole team.
Gomes needs the suspension an the fine.