Don't blame the players for being sissies

by Doc Rhyne, RNSports

[This post was inspired by a conversion on the Facebook wall of RNSports friend Ed Achorn, author of Fifty-nine in '84: Old Hoss Radbourne, Barehanded Baseball & the Greatest Season a Pitcher Ever Had, currently available wherever books are sold. In that discussion, Ed wondered aloud which players today certainly could not have cut it in the 19th Century's rough-and-tumble version of the game. The usual suspects were named: Manny, A-Rod, J.D. Drew, etc. Then so-called "tough" players were named, also the usual suspects: Jeter, Pedroia, Youkilis, etc.

[My response:]

I think we have to make a distinction between pitchers and position players. Teams talk about liking pitchers who "want to be handed the ball" regardless of the situation, and yet impose pitch counts on games and even seasons, limit appearances, etc. No hurler today would be allowed to repeat Radbourn's effort. On the other hand, position players are expected to go out and play every day, regardless of the situation, and yet are rested, platooned, and shuffled through rosters, teams and the DL like so many cards in a deck.

The common thread here is that ownership has so much capital invested in its assets (i.e., players), that it won't risk their depreciation. As fans, it's easy to pick on prima donna superstars; but for the vast majority of players (especially if you consider those in the minor leagues), ownership won't give players the opportunity to do what they did in 1884. Gone are the days when a manager would put his "nine best players on the field" every day.

Having said that, and I know he's retired, how 'bout Schilling?

3 & out: Sox-Yanks, June 9-11

Brett M. Rhyne

"A series doesn't mean anything unless you sweep." —Earl Weaver

So sayeth the legendary curmudgeon of the Orioles dugout; in this case, the meaning is a three-game swing at the top of the AL East: the Yanks came into town one game up, and left two games out. Ahhhh.

The good:

• Sox starting pitching. Josh Beckett continued his streak of dominance, Brad Penny pitched his best game of the year (outduelling C.C. Sabathia yet), and Tim Wakefield was predictably workmanlike. The knuckleballer continues to be the most engaging Sox story of the last 15 years.
• Sox relievers, for the most part. Shut-down performances by Daniel Bard, Hideki Okajima and Takashi Saito highlighted this MLB-best bullpen. Jonathan Papelbon saved two games in dramatic fashion, thanks in no small part to some terrific defense behind him.
• Timely offense. While it was the Sox's pitching that won this series, they hit when they had to. Stalwarts Kevin Youkilis, Jason Bay, Mike Lowell delivered; J.D. Drew continued his assault on the OBP title from the two-hole; and David Ortiz flirted with the Medoza Line, showing power to center and the opposite field.
• Timely defense. 1B Youk, 2B Dustin Pedroia, SS Nick Green and part-time CF Rocco Baldelli all made big plays when they had to, saving runs, killing rallies and winning games and the gratitude of their pitchers.
• Mark Teixiera. Truly a great player with the bat and the glove. All he does is anchor the Yankee lineup and defense; the calm eye of the chaotic Yankee hurricane. To a lesser degree, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada; special kudos to the latter for hitting without gloves, old-school style. (The same shout goes out to Wake's former C, Doug Mirabelli.)
• Sabathia. He was dominant for seven innings, even with long half-innings on the bench; it's not his fault Yankees manager Joe Girardi pulled a Grady Little.
  

The bad:

• Sox relivers Ramon Ramirez and Manny Delcarmen, both of whom imploded and needed to be bailed out. They've been stellar to this point, so we'll give them a mulligan. Hell, everyone's entitled to a bad day. Tellingly, despite their foibles, both their ERAs remain under 2.
• Yankees managing. Who else gets the sense that Girardi and pitching coach Dave Eiland are in over their heads? They make the wrong moves, both on the field and off. How much better would this team be with Phil Hughes in the rotation and Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen? Do it already.
  

The ugly:

• Yankees pitching. With the exception of Sabathia and Hughes' early relief of Chien-Ming Wang, the Bombers' arms were horrendous. Good thing John Smoltz is almost back. Oh wait, that's the Red Sox…