Should it be retired: Number 51

Last week, I debated whether Paul O'Neill's jersey number 21 should be retired, and this week I'll go into Bernie Williams and number 51.

Image via Wikipedia

Bernie is an interesting case considering that, despite having not played since 2006, he has never officially retired. When he returned for the ceremonies prior to the closing ceremonies at the old Yankee Stadium, he said he "may never retire officially." Nevertheless, the number has not been reissued. There was a little bit of friction between Williams and the Yankees after the 2006 season; he thought he could still play, but the team only gave him a non-roster invite to Spring Training. I think that should be water under the bridge since he came back for the final game and then a few times last year.

So, let's get into it:

The case for retiring the number:

• Career Yankee
• 5-times All-Star
• 4 World Series Championships
• 6 Top-20 finishes in MVP voting (Highest was 7th in 1998)
• 4 Gold Gloves, 1 Silver Slugger
• Position on All-Time Lists: 6th in home runs, RBI's, runs, and games played, 5th in hits and extra-base hits, and 2nd in doubles.
• Everyday centerfielder for 13 seasons.
  

The case against retiring the number:

• Most likely will not be enshrined in the Hall of Fame
• Most of statistics came from a peak period, and he faded quickly at the end of his career.
• When compared to the other center fielders who have their numbers retired, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle, Williams does not compare favorably. That, however, is a pretty unfair comparison.

I think it is pretty safe to say that the number 51 will hand in Monument Park some day.The bigger question is probably whether Williams gets a plaque as well. That is probably a closer debate, but I can see that happening as well.


In some actual news, the Yankees won their first spring training game today against the Pirates. The 2010 Yankees won in 2009 style with a 3-run walk-off homerun by Colin Curtis. They take on the Philadelphia Phillies tomorrow in a rematch of the World Series.

SEE YA!

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This Week's Trivia Answer

On Tuesday I asked, When was the first and only time the Yankees had spring training on the West Coast?



A.)1949
B.)1951
C.)1956
D.)1976



And everyone who voted got the answer right. It was 1951. I guess my hint made it really easy, but it's good to know that nobody thinks Mickey Mantle's rookie season was 1976.



In 1951 the Yankees held spring training in Phoenix, AZ for the first time because co-owner Del Webb was from Phoenix and wanted the team to hold spring training in his hometown. He was able to do this by agreeing with New York Giants owner to switch locations for the 51 preseason.

The Yankees competed in the Cactus League that year, and manager Casey Stengel brought in a lot of minor leaguers into camp becasue the team had been aging. A young shortstop by the name of Mickey Mantle, who was not expected to make the team, caught the eye of Stengel. The 19-year-0ld displayed power from both sides of the plate (which was not common then) and incredible speed. Mantle made 55 errors in the minors the season before, and had trouble with balls right at him. So Stengel moved him to the outfield, and eventually, he would become Joe DiMaggio's successor.

Nonetheless, the only time the Yankees opened spring out west was pretty eventful. For more on the Spring of '51 and the start of Mantle's career, I got my information from: http://www.ultimateyankees.com/springtraining.htm

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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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Got Melky?

Yankees 8 15 0
White Sox 5 11 0

WP: Sabathia (11-7)
LP: Buehrle (11-5)
S: Rivera (30)

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Melky Cabrera. He picked up the first cycle for the New York Yankees since Tony Fernandez in 1995. So Michael Kay will mention Melky whenever someone comes close to hitting for the cycle, instead of Fernandez.

Image by Keith Allison via Flickr

PLAY OF THE GAME: There were a lot of great defensive plays in today's game, but I'll give it to Melky's diving catch.

TURNING POINT OF THE GAME: We can't give everything to the Melk Man, as the TPOTG goes to Johnny Damon's RBI single in the 4th inning that gave the Yankees the lead.

GAME NOTES:

• Cabrera is the 5th Major Leaguer this season to hit for the cycle and the first since Michael Cuddyer on May 22. And I was surprised by how quickly someone put up the fact that Melky had hit for the cycle on Wikipedia.
  
• This win helps the Yanks avoid the sweep and halt a three-game skid.
  
• Boston won a slugfest against the Orioles, so the Yankees remain 0.5 games ahead of them with only 4 days before the start of a 3-game set in the Bronx. Tampa Bay fell to the Royals, as they fall 6 games out of first.
  
• Derek Jeter tied Babe Ruth for the 4th-most games played as a Yankee with 2,084. Yogi Berra (2,116), Lou Gehrig (2,164) and Mickey Mantle (2,401) are ahead of him on the list.
  

TOMORROW:
Off-Day
Stay Tuned for a Michael Kayism

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