(aftermath of a real A-bomb. not shown : A-Rod)
Sally Field Alex Rodriguez connected for another two HR’s in the Yanks’ 10-8 loss to Tampa last night, and Newsday’s Neil Best, while acknowledging the “comic pomposity” of YES Radio’s John Sterling, submits that “in 30 years, when fans who now are young bore their children and grandchildren with fond Yankees memories, Sterling’s over-the-top calls surely will be among them.”
Sterling’s goofy genius was evident as the SportsWatch research staff spent a sunny Saturday hunched over a laptop studying his calls of all 12 A-Rod homers entering last night’s game against the Devil Rays.
Some findings: Sure enough, he was 12-for-12 calling the shots “an A-bomb, from A-Rod.”
On 10 of 12 occasions he said, “It is high, it is far, it is gone,” the exceptions being the walk-off grand slam against the Orioles on April 7 and a homer against the Red Sox on Friday on which Coco Crisp fell into the Red Sox bullpen at Fenway attempting a catch. Sterling was in fine form again last night for homers No. 13 and 14, adding two more “It is high, it is far, it is gone” and “an A-Bomb from A-Rod.”
Three times either Sterling or partner Suzyn Waldman noted that Rodriguez is using a shorter, more compact swing. Four times they described his unusual power even on routine flies.
Sterling or Waldman thrice told of balls so well struck that the outfielder barely moved. Three other times – after homers 8, 9 and 11 – Sterling said incredulously, “He’s done it again!” or words to that effect.
The most subdued call was for the homer against the Twins on April 9 that extended the Yankees’ lead to 8-1. The most animated followed the walk-off three-run homer against the Indians on Thursday.
“Alex Rodriguez, having the greatest month of his or any other life!” Sterling shouted, the best line in A-Rod’s tear.
After his “Yankees win, thuuuuuh Yankees win!” trademark, Sterling let 18 seconds of silence go by rather than do something as mundane as describe the scene in front of him.
“Talk about clutch!” Sterling added later. “I’d say he’s clutch!”
(That was one of three references by Sterling or Waldman to clutch hitting after various homers.)
His call of a Damon catch last year I happened to hear last year:
“Damon going back to the wall – did you see that!”
…then 3 seconds of silence before Waldman actually described what happened.
Three whole seconds?!?!?!?!?
*snore*
My favorite is when he makes an obvious exaggeration for effect (“Matsuzaka has two dozen different pitches!”) then very carefully explains that he was making an exaggeration for effect (“Well, he doesn’t literally have two dozen different pitches–that would be impossible or at the least highly unlikely–but he has a lot and that is what I meant because I am not an unreasonable man.”)
Parapooshing here…but unreal exhibition of stunaddy by Sterling/Waldman last night.
Wald…”What’s with the annoying cowbells tonight?…I have no idea what it means!”
Ling…”I bet who ever came up with that idea is looking for another job.”
Wald…”Why cowbells though?”
Ling…”And every time they want noise…the scoreboard lights up MORE COWBELL! for some reason.”
Wald…”John, I wish they would just take your idea for special nights…like that one called “Montovani Night”
Sorry to bore you Rog, the point was that Sterling clearly had no intention of even letting us in on what had happened, let alone describing the play.
Apparently he and Waldman are both 59, I would have guessed 75 and 35, respectively.