Some Old Friends (and Enemies)

Tonight the Yankees return to action against the LA Dodgers who are led by former Yankee manager Joe Torre and coaches Don Mattingly and Larry Bowa. Much has been made about whether or not the Yankee players will embrace Torre tonight, especially after the way he left and the book that he wrote. Alex Rodriguez did not want to comment on it, but any Yankee that was part of a championship team with Torre will probably be all hugs and reminiscing before the game tonight.

This also leads me to the way the fans may think of Torre now. We won't know the kind of reception he'd get in New York because these games are in LA. But I get the feeling many fans would boo Torre. Sure, the last four or five years weren't very great, but you can't blame all that on him. You have to remember the good times Torre brought to the Yankees, and remember how he was the man who helped the Yankees get back on top of the sports world. They were in an 18-year World Series drought before Torre arrived, and he won four in five years and led them to six AL pennants in his 12 year stint with the Yankees.

Torre is a Yankee legend and I hope the Yankee fans treat him like one whenever the next time he arrives at the Stadium may be. We don't boo our World Series heroes. We are not Red Sox fans.

Speaking of Red Sox fans booing World Series heroes, the Yankees are reunited with their all-time villain Manny Ramirez tonight. Ramirez has haunted Yankees fans as a member of the Indians and Red Sox, but now he is at the end of his career and his numbers have been on the decline. But say what you want about Manny, he always turned it up a notch whenever he was facing the pinstripes, and expect the same during this weekend.

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Let's Get it Started: Yanks take Game 1

Twins 2 10 1
Yankees 7 9 0

WP: Sabathia
LP: Duensing

Yankees lead series 1-0

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Derek Jeter. The captain proved why he is one of the best postseason players in MLB history. He pulled a home run down the left field to tie the game at 2 after CC had given the Twins a 2-run lead, but Jeter got the Yanks right back in the game.

PLAY OF THE GAME: The 5-4-3 around the horn double play that Robinson Cano turned so smoothly. Cano has gotten so good at that turn, it's almost like it doesn't even hit his glove.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME: Jeter's home run. After the Twins went up 2-0 there was some panic (at least John and I were panicking) but Jeter got all the momentum back with one swing.

GAME NOTES:

• CC got the playoff monkey off his back a little bit with 6.2 IP, 8 hits, and 2 runs (one earned) and 8 strikeouts. He wasn't economical with the pitches (113) but maybe the adrenaline was just pumping a little too much.
• There was a lot of good work out of the bullpen tonight, as Mo, Joba, Hughes, and Coke all got into the game. Mo struggled a little bit, but he had a 5-run lead and maybe wasn't in full Sandman mode.
  
• A-Rod also faced some of his playoff demons by going 2-4 with 2 RBI's. It was good that he took care of that in his first game, because it will give him a little bit of a break for a couple days.
• Jeter's home run was his 18th in the postseason, tying him for 3rd with Reggie Jackson and Mickey Mantle. Manny Ramirez and Bernie Williams are ahead of him in the list with 28 and 22, respectively.
• The Phillies beat the Rockies this afternoon, while the Dodgers just went up 2-1 against the Cardinals in the bottom of the 1st on a homer by Matt Kemp. The Red Sox and Angels open tomorrow.
  
• The wind was fierce tonight, John suggests that it was the ghosts from the old Stadium letting everyone aware of their presence.
  

NEXT GAME:
Friday, 6:07 PM
Yankee Stadium
TBS
A.J. Burnett vs. Nick Blackburn

With all the off-days in the playoffs, we'll have to find something to write about, so check back tomorrow, but until then...

SEE YA!

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Ortiz, Ramirez Tested Positve for PEDs in 2003

The NY Times reports David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez's names are the latest to be leaked from the list of 103 players who tested positive in 2003 for performance-enhancing drugs, which implemented the steroid-testing policy we have today. Ramirez had already been suspended for taking a banned substance this season, but Ortiz is a new name in all this.

Am I surprised about Ortiz? No. I knew it wasn't Fenway Park and hitting behind Manny that made him better and I had my suspicions. The news of this has me with mixed feelings though. I was pissed when so many Yankee players names came out in the Mitchell Report and basically no Red Sox players. I was mad that even the players who weren't on the team when they reportedly used PEDs were still connected to the Yankees (Andy Pettitte). I was upset that the Red Sox unusually got by this report unscathed. I thought it was a conspiracy. So when I heard this news, naturally, I was happy. I am now glad I don't have to hear Red Sox fans say our championships were tainted or chant "You take steroids" to Alex Rodriguez when they can just look into the dugout at the guy who they so revere for bringing them championships.

On the other hand, it continues to make baseball look bad, and the era I grew up watching baseball as a complete joke. This is a dark day for baseball, even if you are a Yankees fan (or Red Sox hater). The list is gradually going to be leaked and it is inevitable to avoid. It's almost impossible to single out records, accomplishments, and titles associated with steroid users when the entire era is tainted. We can only hope guys like Ken Griffey Jr. and Albert Pujols are clean and we can look at them as the true heroes of the sport.

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Manny Mania

Manny Ramirez made a rehab start in the minor leagues in the midst of a 50-game suspension. From the way this story is being covered, it is like he is coming back from an injury. Well he isn't. In case you forgot, he is suspended because he took a banned substance (women's fertility drug), which many believe to be used after a cycle of steroids. Everyone is all happy he is comingback and ESPN was cutting into his at-bats, similar to when Roger Clemens kept coming back from retirement. I think this whole thing is more of a disgrace than the Yankees offense.

The man cheated and is suspended and he is still allowed to play in a minor league game. Yesterday on Around the Horn, LA Times columnist, Bill Plashcke made an excellent point. He said, "This is a joke, that is why I am not there covering it. He is suspended from major league baseball yet he is allowed to use Dodgers facilities, play for Dodgers-related teams, and use Dodgers funded bats and balls, that is absurd. Letting him play in the minors is like letting someone suspended from school have someone hand in their homework, take night classes, and have the teacher tutor them while they are out."

I agree wholeheartedly with Plaschke; it is absurd. I know the coverage of A-Rod was just as big as Manny's, but it seems liek Manny coming back is being taken in a lighter matter. Everyone is happy he is coming back and I just get the vibe that people are missing the big picture. He cheated and is still serving a 50-game suspension. Maybe if he did these "rehab" starts after the 50-game suspension I would not have a problem with it. But this a problem Major League Baseball needs to address. If Bud Selig truly wants to make an example out of the cheaters in baseball, he would have never let Manny Ramirez near a Dodgers-related facility during the time of his suspension. The minor leagues won't do anything about it too, because they are making tons of money off this.

Once again major league baseball fails to look at the real problem here and instead of a suspension, Manny ends up with a vacation.

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Donald Fehr to Step Down

After 25 years as MLBPA executive director, Donald Fehr is stepping down from his position. Fehr will most be remembered as Bud Selig's right hand man during the whole steroid scandal. Both him and Selig are responsible for baseball's drug problem as they knew it was happening but they decided to both turn the other way. MLBPA general counsel Mike Weiner wll replace him. (I'll be a little immature for a sec, but with his last name, steroids and urine test jokes are sure to ensue)



NOTES ON THE YANKEES AND AROUND THE MAJORS:

• Pete Abe from the LoHud blog has a few suggestions on how the Yankees can improve without making a trade.


• Joe Girardi is protesting yesterdays game on the lineup snafu the Marlins made. Girardi showed that the Marlins had two players put into the leadoff spot because of the double-switch. Girardi wanted Nunez, the pitcher, to be taken out, but it was Coughlan, the leftfielder who was removed. If the protest is upheld, they will play the game from that point, which was the top of the 8th, 6-3 Marlins, and Derek Jeter up at the plate.


• The book "Moneyball" was going to be made into a movie but production has been benched and it does not look liek the movie will be made. It was going to star Brad Pitt and directed by Steven Soderbergh.
• St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa earned his 2,500th career win as a manager. He is only the third manager in baseball history to accomplish this feat.
• The Boston Red Sox have placed Daisuke Matsuzaka on the disabled list. It is his second stint on the DL this season.
• Manny Ramirez is two weeks away from returning to the Dodgers after his 50-game suspension for using a banned substance. It is reported that he is finding his rhythm in is latest batting practice workouts.

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News and Notes

• After the report of Sammy Sosa testing positive for steroids in 2003, Congress is investigating about possible perjury charges.
• Speaking of steroids, Manny Ramirez will play in some minor league games next week, before he is eligible to return to the Majors on July 3rd. Personally, I think that if you are suspended for 50 games for using steroids, there is no reason you should get the luxury of getting to come back and play in the minors a week before so that you could get ready. He should have to wait until July 3rd to go to the minors and get ready.
  
• Roy Halladay was placed on the 15-day DL with a groin strain. That is a huge blow to the Blue Jays rotation, as Halladay is the American League leader in wins with 10 while racking up 88 strikeouts and posting a 2.53 ERA.
  
• Pedro Martinez thinks that he will pitching in the Majors soon. According to Martinez, the Cubs and Rays are interested.
• Raul Ibanez is being placed on the 15-day DL with a strained groin. Ibanez is tied for second in home runs and fourth in RBIs, so he'll be missed in the Phillies lineup.
  
• Since it has been pouring here for the past couple of hours, I would be surprised if there is a game today. If there is, we'll be back with the lineups and in-game updates tonight.
  

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