A-Rod heard a few boos after grounding out to end the 7th, “just the fans having a little fun” said noted humorist Buck Martinez. I guess all poor sweet Alex needs to be embraced by the fans is to hit a pair of HR’s and drive in 7 runs every night.
Carlos Beltran hit a pair of solo HR’s for the Mets, who must be dying to return to NL competition after this week’s 1-5 stretch. Nice power display from Beltran, but here’s one thing me and the Yankee fans have in common. We’re sick to death of watching the incredibly overpaid go deep when it doesn’t count. The backlash to the frontlast (to the last backlash) starts here!
(Note to Buck Martinez : I’m just kidding)
Newsday’s Ken Davidoff, perhaps taking a tip from Paul Lo Duca, found A-Rod’s celebratory antics a little over the top.
Look, we’re all human, and Rodriguez obviously feels pressure to produce. But that doesn’t excuse his antics as he a) admired the blast for a second; b) did the exaggerated clap as he began his trot; c) spent an extra second celebrating with third-base coach Larry Bowa; and d) sang, “Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)” as he stepped on home plate.
(Just kidding about letter d, although it would’ve been a natural progression from the first three.)
Surprisingly, the Mets didn’t retaliate by hitting anyone. Not Jorge Posada, the next hitter, and not A-Rod when he came up to bat in the fourth. They must have regretted that decision when Rodriguez singled and scored in the fourth, then drilled a three-run homer in the fifth, off the facade of the unoccupied black seats in centerfield. The Yankees scored 16 runs in the first five innings, and consider that they totaled 16 runs in the seven prior games of this homestand. Remember when we were applauding the Yankees’ charming, scrappy lineup about a month ago?
Perhaps encouraged / deluded by Sunday’s successful slugfest with the White Sox, Cubs GM Jim Hendry claims he’s not looking to break up the team. Which is just as well, as the trade value of most the names mentioned below couldn’t be much lower. From the Chicago Tribune’s Paul Sullivan.
General manager Jim Hendry said Sunday there will be no “fire sale” of his players by the July 31 trading deadline, which suggests disappointing Cubs stars Aramis Ramirez, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood are safe for now.
“To be successful by next year, a blowup’s not in order,” Hendry said. “You need to go back and look at how we might have done things that haven’t been successful, and keep the parts that we think are going to be successful.”
“If you look at it constructively, you still have a lot of people who are quality major-league players and are not old. That can help you next year.”
Hendry could be stuck with underachieving Glendon Rusch and Neifi Perez because of their multiyear contracts and his refusal to eat those contracts.
But he should be able to find suitors for veterans Phil Nevin and Scott Williamson, who may be on a fast track out of town after complaining to WSCR-AM 670 that if “you’re not one of [Dusty Baker’s] boys and he doesn’t have much confidence in you, then you wear it.”
The Cubs also may hold onto Juan Pierre unless they’re overwhelmed by offers, preferring to receive a draft pick if he leaves via free agency.
The Mets’ NY-Penn League affiliate Brooklyn Cyclones won just their 3rd game of the season Sunday, beating Hudson Valley, 3-0. Three Cyclones pitchers combined on the 7-hit shutout, with Nelson Portillo striking out 4 and walking one in 6 innings of work.
The Astros’ Round Rock Express will send 3 players to next week’s Triple-A All-Star Game. Pitchers Jason Hirsch and Chris Baker, along with god-fearing OF Luke Scott will represent the Pacific Coast League in Toledo.
The rehabbing Brandon Backe will start for the Express this Tuesday night against Albuquerque.
Former Dodgers G.M. Paul DePodesta was hired by San Diego this weekend as special assistant to Baseball Operations. Whether or not that is a fancy way of saying he’ll become general manager when Kevin Towers is excused, I have no idea. I do know the hiring was announced a couple of days ago and I’ve yet to see the words “Bill Plaschke” and “laptop” appear alongside together, so I’m not sure I believe it has really happened.
Labia, labrum, it’s all good!