The numbers game
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- February
- 12
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With all this steroids talk, it was fun to look at the roster page the Yankees hand out in the press box and think about baseball. There are three columns: by position, alphabetical and numerical.
With so many retired numbers, the Yankees have five players wearing numbers in the 90s and seven in the 80s. The last name, numerically, on the list is Kanekoa Texeira. He got No. 94.
Equipment manager Rob Cucuzza left some available numbers on the shelf. No. 6 (Joe Torre), No. 21 (Paul O’Neill), No. 35 (Mike Mussina), No. 51 (Bernie Williams) are not being used. Cucuzza also didn’t give out No. 53. Maybe he thought there was a chance Bobby Abreu would return.
Hopefully nobody tries to claim 21. We don’t need that mess again.
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on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 7:42 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
When are they going to retire Stump Merrill’s number?
I was wondering if they’d pass out 35 – REALLY glad to hear it isn’t being used. As much as not seeing it will be painful, seeing it on someone else would probably be worse!
21 and 6 should be retired so should 51.
35 should be left alone for a 5 year period
Thats nice that they didn’t hand out Mike’s number!
And Finally some baseball news!!
Pete,
I dont know if you are still reading the comments but I had a question – can you give us some thoughts on your initial impression about Girardi speaking with the media in 2009? Do you think he will be better this year based on what you have seen so far? I remember you or someone saying that he was fine in ST and then, his relationship with the media fell apart in NY for a while but I was wondering if he has said anything down there or if you observed anything that made you think Joe hard turned a new leaf…
I am really rooting for Girardi and the media to get along and I think it will happen at some point. I just dont like reading nasty remarks in the newspaper about Joe just because the reporter didnt like his post-game interview. He is a solid manager and the media can actually change some peoples minds if they say something long enough so I would hope at some point, they would defend Joe like the media ALWAYS did with Torre even when he didnt deserve it (up until this month of course).
I cant imagine damon starting in center this season ever – Occasionally, his arm appears more like a wet noodle. He did not qualify among center fielders in that new defensive arm metric – ARM but I think they said that if he had qualified, he would have finished dead last in that category and by a decent margin. Every baserunner will be testing his arm every game he plays. i DONT think its a good idea. Frankly, if Melky and Gardner are both absolutely terrible this spring, the yanks will have to shop nady or swisher for a center fielder and offer to pay off some of his contract while taking on all of the CF contract.
It is the only way to find a decent replacement and it is obvious from the start that there could easily be a scenario in which neither melky nor gardner perform capable of starting. I am rooting for gardner and i certainly hope one of them works out but the yankees have to be thinking of a plan C that doesn’t involve Damon or a blame D according to Girardi.
The way things are going maybe they’ll give players periodic table symbols instead of numbers.
Anybody found it funny that **noone** took #45? LOL.
Joe Girardi staying at 27? Nobody took 99, I would, it’s original. (added by Mobile using Mippin)
….never mind, Jason Johnson took #45.
RGR,
You think they are retiring 6 now? Did you not hear that the organization is pretty pissed with torre right now? I doubt they will ever retire his number. You cant publish a book and bash your former team in it and then, expect it to be retired.
Pete, you didnt like my comment about Bud selig’s initial being a perfect fit for him? What was wrong with it? Just kidding, I can probably guess why it is deleted.
Dave,
I think if a rookie or one of the NRI makes the team, who knows who will take #6 or whatever number that is free right now.
At some point number 13 should be abolished. Not just for its current ownership, but Leyritz isn’t really someone remembered fondly too now.
Unlucky for some it seems — though luck had little to do with anything.
You think they are retiring 6 now? Did you not hear that the organization is pretty pissed with torre right now? I doubt they will ever retire his number. You cant publish a book and bash your former team in it and then, expect it to be retired.
_____________________________________________________________________
It will all blow over. Just like everything else it will be nothing in 3 months. Its already lost ALOT of steam because of the Arod scandal.
#6 will be retired eventually
And I read the book, and it nothing near what the media made it to be
35 will definitely get taken–no chance Mussina gets it retired nor would the team be sentimental and keep his number off someone else who wanted to wear it.
All the uniform number stuff is crazy to me. It’s a number.
I understand it’s important in marketing, and MLB makes a fortune on jersey’s etc…
I got to thinking – when did the fan jersey wearing craze start?
When you see old games from the past (50’s and before) – everyone came to the park in a suit and tie! You didn’t see anyone wearing a jersey. (or even a ball cap)
GB7,,,Pepi was a very good CF….Remember Ross Moschitto ???
I’m not going to make a big deal of this, but I do agree that A-Rod should have apologized to Girardi……I also agree with SJ44 – Alex needs to lose the handlers. They are only insulating himself from reality. Also, they don’t know him personally, who he is, what he’s about. How the heck can they advise him on anything? That said, I can understand why Alex would think he needs handlers. Anything he says gets twisted the wrong way and nothing he does on/off the field is good enough. He can’t go sunbathing in Central Park without mediots making a stink about it. It’s ridiculous. No wonder the guy doesn’t know what to say and it’s no wonder the guy hesitates to be himself. When he tries to be himself, he gets roasted. Therefore, Alex tries to be who people want him to be. How frustrating must that be?
It’s too bad that no one cares about CC, AJ, Tex signings anymore. The mediots aren’t going to cover them – all they care about is Alex 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I have to depend on Yankee message boards and blogs like this to remind me that yes, there is baseball soon to be played. They are also the only places where we can read about things that actually interest fans – the construction of the team, how the rehabs on injured players are going, etc…..There’s no depending on the mediots anymore for this.
“35 should be left alone for a 5 year period”
Why? 1 year period and then move on.
PAT M.
February 12th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Remember Ross Moschitto ???
wow, there’s a name from the past.
I had high hopes for Tom Shopay too.
DT: I’m with you on the retired number thing–Paul O’Neill was a great piece of a championship team. But that’s it. He was a cog–a nice shiny one, but a cog nonetheless. And, I’m sorry, cogs don’t get their numbers retired.
And I think fans started wearing jerseys to game about the time when they started referring to the team that they support as “we.” If you’re wearing a jersey at the game it’s almost like you’re part of the team (even though you’re not).
Speaking of numbers, will they consider games sellouts if the Yanks cant fill all their luxury suites?
Opening Day is 7 weeks away and the Yanks have yet to contact partial season ticket plan holders or sell a single ticket to the general public. It will be interesting to see how much the economy impacts ticket sales even at the new ballpark.
Part of me wants the Yankees to draft this kid come June-click to find out his name:
“is a super athletic baseball player with a lean athletic body. He is very good in the outfield and uses his blazing 6.38 speed to cover a lot of ground. He has a big arm in the outfield and easily reaches 93 mph from the outfield. At the plate he has good bat speed and has pop to all fields. He has easy power when centered and projects well with the bat. His game approach at the plate needs a few adjustments but he shows potential with all five tools.”
http://www.perfectgame.org/pla.....?ID=124003
PAT M.
February 12th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
GB7,,,Pepi was a very good CF….Remember Ross Moschitto ???
————————————————————
Remember Mantle’s caddy very well. Great glove, but, couldn’t hit a lick. I was listening to the game when he hit his only homer. Shocked the world. Remember his caddy from 1962? Jack Reed. His only career homer was a 2 run bomb to dead center field in Detroit that won a 22 inning game.
Ok but I personally do NOT think that 6 will ever be retired. The yankees as an organization can be VERY petty about this kind of stuff. Big Stein was and I am pretty sure his sons are as well. I am sure Hal is not Joe Torres favorite fan and even though the story clearly lost steam in the media due to the arod stuff – that is JUST the media. They will go after whatever will sell the most newspapers. I am sure the situation is still fresh in the mind of the FO and Brian Cashman as well as fans.
What the media is talking about any given day, isnt even close to what the organization or even the fans are concerned with at the very same time. The media has very little interest in the yanks winning and in the yanks looking good as a team and as an organization at all times while the FO, the owners and the fans care a great deal. That is prettty much all we collectively care about – anything that avoids distractions and helps the team win.
I cant believe the media spent another half an hour asking Girardi questions about arod today. I mean how many questions can you possibly think of to ask Girardi about this whole thing? And I cant imagine his answers were all that thrilling or even interesting.
RI Mike
February 12th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
And I think fans started wearing jerseys to game about the time when they started referring to the team that they support as “we.” If you’re wearing a jersey at the game it’s almost like you’re part of the team (even though you’re not).
Good point. I’m thinking it had to start in the late 60’s or 70’s.
I wonder if that “first” jersey wearer got heckled? Were other fans confused? Hey, what’s that player doing up here in the stands?
I can hear that first jersey wearing guy now. “It will catch on – you’ll see, everyone will wear jerseys to games one day!”
Maybe that’s what that rainbow wig John 3:16 guy thought too.
Here is my take on the number issue: numbers 2 & 42 are locks to be retired. 6 and 51 most likely will be. 13, 20, 21, and 54 (Gossage (Because of the Hall of Fame)), stand a chance.
I dont think #6 will be retired. Roy White was good,but not that good.
drive
The Yanks went kinda crazy on the uniform retiring thing.
(between 1984-1986 they retired FOUR numbers!)
Back then they didn’t draw fans as well either. A “day at the stadium” or a retired uniform ceremony brought out the crowds.
I don’t think you’ll see any numbers retired until Jeter hangs them up.
http://slidingintohome.blogspot.com/
Go about 3/4 down the page, they are starting to rip up stone walls around the stadium.
Unless George Steinbrenner wants it, #21 won’t be retired. O’Neill was an outstanding ball player, but, he shouldn’t be honored. The choice of retiring Jackson’s number needs not be compounded by another poor decision.
Here is my take on the number issue: numbers 2 & 42 are locks to be retired. 6 and 51 most likely will be. 13, 20, 21, and 54 (Gossage (Because of the Hall of Fame)), stand a chance.
+++++++++++++++++
alex and Po’s numbers will most certainly be retired
zell has some more construction photos
http://zellspinstripeblog.com/.....-update-7/
Peter
What’s marte’s number? He used 34 last year, now AJ had the number, what will marte have?
“If you’re wearing a jersey at the game it’s almost like you’re part of the team (even though you’re not).”
Sort of like Arod.
Here is my take on the number issue: numbers 2 & 42 are locks to be retired.
________________________________
I can promise you 100% 42 won’t be worn again.
Is Mo the last to wear it?
I think retiring 21, 6, and 51 is silly.
The next number that should be retired is 2. And 42 should be re-retired for Mariano. That is it.
RE: Jerseys
We took my father-in-law to a game a few years ago and the guys in front of us had on jerseys.
My f-i-l said to us, “do they think someone is gonna pull them out of the stands and ask them to play?”
My kids said “everyone wears them ” and he said “how many players do you see wearing their jerseys off the field?”
It must be a generational thing.
I have the Joe McCarthy throw-back jersey.
21 will be retired but for Clemente not Paul O’Neil.
I could see 51 being retired. That 2 and 42 should be it from this era.
Tom
February 12th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
I have the Joe McCarthy throw-back jersey.
————————————————————
You’ll have to tell them, though. They may confuse it for a Happy Jack Chesbro uniform jersey.
What’s going to happen when there are no numbers left?
I’m curious about the uniform numbers that are (to me and others) unknown. Let’s see…
Michael Dunn
Christian Garcia
Dan Giese
Eric Hacker
Steven Jackson
Dámaso Marté
And the non-roster guys…
Kei Igawa, George Kontos, Mark Melancon, Sergio Mitre, Jesús Montero, P. J. Pilittere, Austin Romine, Shelley Duncan, Justin Leone, Eduardo Nunez, Ramiro Pena, Kevin Russo, Austin Jackson, Todd Linden and John Rodriguez.
Any ideas?
Howie, Marte is wearing #34
Ok the 40 man roster players are on the Yankees site.
I’m curious about the coaches too (Kelleher and Eiland).
# 2. # 42 ,# 6…All Hall Of Fame, will be retired by the Yanks….
Sean,
It says Marte and Burnett are both wearing #34.
Ah crap, that’s right Howie
91 Alfredo Aceves
63 Jonathan Albaladejo
64 Andrew Brackman
38 Brian Bruney
34 A.J. Burnett R/R 6-5 230 01/03/77
62 Joba Chamberlain R/R 6-2 230 09/23/85
67 Anthony Claggett S/R 6-2 185 07/15/84
48 Phil Coke L/L 6-1 210 07/19/82
68 Wilkin De La Rosa L/L 6-1 185 02/21/85
85 Michael Dunn L/L 6-1 185 05/23/85
70 Christian Garcia R/R 6-4 220 08/24/85
39 Dan Giese R/R 6-3 195 05/19/77
71 Eric Hacker S/R 6-1 210 03/26/83
65 Phil Hughes R/R 6-5 230 06/24/86
80 Steven Jackson R/R 6-5 215 03/15/82
31 Ian Kennedy R/R 6-0 195 12/19/84
34 Damaso Marte L/L 6-2 215 02/14/75
46 Andy Pettitte L/L 6-5 225 06/15/72
36 Edwar Ramirez R/R 6-3 165 03/28/81
42 Mariano Rivera R/R 6-2 185 11/29/69
30 David Robertson R/R 5-11 180 04/09/85
52 CC Sabathia L/L 6-7 290 07/21/80
77 Humberto Sanchez R/R 6-6 270 05/28/83
41 Jose Veras R/R 6-5 235 10/20/80
40 Chien-Ming Wang R/R 6-3 225 03/31/80
Catchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
75 Francisco Cervelli R/R 6-1 210 03/06/86
26 Jose Molina R/R 6-2 235 06/03/75
20 Jorge Posada S/R 6-2 215 08/17/71
Infielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
24 Robinson Cano L/R 6-0 205 10/22/82
2 Derek Jeter R/R 6-3 195 06/26/74
66 Juan Miranda L/L 6-0 220 04/25/83
29 Cody Ransom R/R 6-2 190 02/17/76
13 Alex Rodriguez R/R 6-3 225 07/27/75
25 Mark Teixeira S/R 6-3 220 04/11/80
Outfielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
28 Melky Cabrera S/L 5-11 200 08/11/84
18 Johnny Damon L/L 6-2 205 11/05/73
11 Brett Gardner L/L 5-10 180 08/24/83
22 Xavier Nady R/R 6-2 215 11/14/78
33 Nick Swisher S/L 6-0 215 11/25/80
Designated Hitters B/T Ht Wt DOB
55 Hideki Matsui L/R 6-2 210 06/12/74
Marte will wear #43
Howie
Go to Yankees.com
You can see all the players numbers,,plus the non-roster guys.
There are a few duplicates (Cox&Miranda)(Ransom still @ #29 when he was assigned #12)
Dunn #85
Pitchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
66 J.B. Cox L/R 6-3 205 05/13/84
– Kei Igawa L/L 6-1 210 07/13/79
45 Jason Johnson R/R 6-6 225 10/27/73
93 George Kontos R/R 6-3 215 06/12/85
78 Mark Melancon R/R 6-2 215 03/28/85
61 Sergio Mitre R/R 6-3 225 02/16/81
94 Kanekoa Texeira R/R 6-0 210 02/06/86
Catchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
81 Kyle Anson S/R 6-0 200 04/21/83
19 Kevin Cash R/R 6-0 200 12/06/77
83 Jesus Montero R/R 6-4 225 11/28/89
86 P.J. Pilittere R/R 6-0 215 11/23/81
84 Austin Romine R/R 6-2 210 11/22/88
Infielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
73 Doug Bernier R/R 5-11 175 06/24/80
14 Angel Berroa R/R 6-0 195 01/27/78
17 Shelley Duncan R/R 6-5 225 09/29/79
74 Justin Leone R/R 6-1 200 03/09/77
92 Eduardo Nunez R/R 6-0 155 06/15/87
90 Ramiro Pena S/R 5-11 165 07/18/85
76 Kevin Russo R/R 5-11 190 07/08/84
Outfielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
79 Colin Curtis L/L 6-1 200 02/01/85
82 Austin Jackson R/R 6-1 185 02/01/87
60 Todd Linden S/R 6-3 220 06/30/80
47 John Rodriguez L/L 6-0 205 01/20/78
Miranda is #72
Cox #66
John Rodriguez #47
Shelley D #17
Ransom #12
Berrora #14
Don’t they make coaches wear numbers in the 50s? Maybe one of them will get (or has) 53?
Igawa #29
#50 Mick Kelleher
#57 Mike Harkey
#59 Rob Thompson
A small step for man, a giant step for mankind!
“A federal judge dismissed most of Roger Clemens’ defamation lawsuit against his former personal trainer on Thursday, saying statements made in the Mitchell Report on doping in baseball are protected.”
…
“Earl Ward, one of McNamee’s attorneys, said the decision was a total victory for McNamee and proof that Clemens’ lawsuit never had merit.
“If they were doing things in a wise and reasonable manner, they would just abandon this,” Ward said. “It’s frivolous because there’s nothing that Brian said that wasn’t truthful. Roger knows that. Brian told the truth, and so you can’t bring a defamation lawsuit for comments that are truthful.”
Ah sweet justice. Not of course that the suit would have gone anywhere even if Clemens had gotten it through the doors of the courthouse since, as Ward pointed out, truth is an absolute defense to charges of defamation of character.
In terms of levels of hubris, Clemens is the poster-roi.
I will post the entire article since you have to register to read the projo. There are other iterations of this article elsewhere I’m sure. If this information was posted earlier, I apologize for the repeat.
No one is going to take 21 after last year.
#54 Long
#56 Tony Pena
#58 Eiland
#22 should be burned in effigy.
*Judge dismisses bulk of McNamee defamation suit*
HOUSTON (AP) — A federal judge dismissed most of Roger Clemens’ defamation lawsuit against his former personal trainer on Thursday, saying statements made in the Mitchell Report on doping in baseball are protected.
Brian McNamee has told federal agents, baseball investigator George Mitchell and a House of Representatives committee that he injected Clemens more than a dozen times with steroids and human growth hormone from 1998-2001.
McNamee’s attorneys said Clemens’ lawsuit should be thrown out because McNamee was compelled to cooperate by federal investigators.
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison agreed, but he left in McNamee’s statements to Andy Pettitte, Clemens’ former New York Yankees teammate. McNamee told Pettitte that Clemens had used HGH and steroids.
Ellison said Clemens must file an amended complaint within 30 days to pursue that claim further and provide specific information about how he was harmed by the statements.
Earl Ward, one of McNamee’s attorneys, said the decision was a total victory for McNamee and proof that Clemens’ lawsuit never had merit.
“If they were doing things in a wise and reasonable manner, they would just abandon this,” Ward said. “It’s frivolous because there’s nothing that Brian said that wasn’t truthful. Roger knows that. Brian told the truth, and so you can’t bring a defamation lawsuit for comments that are truthful.”
Clemens has repeatedly denied McNamee’s accusations and sued last year. Prosecutors have asked a federal grand jury in Washington to decide whether to indict the seven-time Cy Young Award winner for lying under oath to Congress last year when he denied using steroids or HGH.
Rusty Hardin, Clemens’ attorney, said in a statement that he was pleased with Ellison’s ruling on McNamee’s statements to Pettitte.
“We are reviewing other parts of the decision that we disagree with to determine how we should best proceed,” Hardin wrote.
Ward said Clemens’ side would be wise to formally withdraw the lawsuit, or simply let the deadline expire.
“If that claim goes forward, we will eventually prevail,” Ward said. “It would be more problems for Roger. He’s going to have to testify again under oath. He’s going to have to be cross-examined. The deposition would be very intense and not in his favor.”
“truth is an absolute defense to charges of defamation of character.”
Actually, that is not correct. A defamation of character lawsuit as well as a libel or slander lawsuit can still be won even if the truth was told as long as it can be proven that the intent was to harm the person the statements were made about.
I dont think McNamee intended harm with his alleged truthful statements as he was compelled to give his testimony so a defamation of character, libel or slander lawsuit would ne not be viable, assuming his statements were true to the best of his knowledge.
“Hopefully nobody tries to claim 21. We don’t need that mess again.”
Most embarassing moments in Yankees history. Totally ashamed to be a Yankee fan when LaTroy was forced to change his number by meathead fans who confused temper tantrums with greatness.
I still think the Yankees should retire #31 for Dave Winfield. Hall of Famer who spent his prime in pinstripes and a great guy to boot.
when did they acquire Cash from the Red Sox?
They picked him up Cash as a FA.
Who is going to wear 34? Marte or AJ?
Thanks Pete!