Welcome to New York, where the spotlight is bigger and you don't get that nice "introductory period" that you may in other cities. Adam Ottavino was officially a Yankee for one day and he was already sitting in the hot seat. That didn't take long.
Back in December Ottavino said he would "strike out Babe Ruth every time," read that HERE if you missed it. Apparently, that comment came from a conversation Ottavino had with a Triple-A pitching coach 10 years ago and that comment was taken out of context.
Some fans thought his comment was too cocky, others thought he was just very confident. I guess it didn't matter because the Yankees weren't put off by it since now he is a Yankee, but now he is taking it back:
"Certainly, I probably used a bad example of the point I was trying to make about the evolution of pitching over baseball history. Babe Ruth is probably a name I shouldn’t have used in this example, but I caught a lot of flak for it."
So was it just a poor choice of words? He's not wrong that the game has changed since the days of Ruth. Then again, talent is talent and Ruth is a name that lives on in infamy. He was elite in the era that he played in and his 714 career home runs, .342 batting average and all-time career records of slugging percentage in his 8,339 career at-bats are undeniable. The game that Ruth played and what Ottavino plays have evolved just like everything does. The game changes, but greatness never fades and his legacy is proof of that.
"I saw when they put the quote out of context out there why people would get so upset. I meant no disrespect. I’m a huge baseball historian. I love the game. It’s not something that can be proven anyway, so I thought it was a little funny."
He's right, it can't be proven so even if he had meant it or not, it doesn't matter. Babe Ruth is Babe Ruth and there is no changing that. Ottavino's fastball can't change that and today's modern bats can't either. Ruth made history, and maybe Ottavino will too.
So was this a "non-story?" Maybe, but here we are talking about it again. As long as Ottavino pitches well and helps this team all will be forgiven. It always ends up that way, right? Do something that makes fans happy and all is forgiven.
He's right, it can't be proven so even if he had meant it or not, it doesn't matter. Babe Ruth is Babe Ruth and there is no changing that. Ottavino's fastball can't change that and today's modern bats can't either. Ruth made history, and maybe Ottavino will too.
So was this a "non-story?" Maybe, but here we are talking about it again. As long as Ottavino pitches well and helps this team all will be forgiven. It always ends up that way, right? Do something that makes fans happy and all is forgiven.
Anyway....as of Friday he is officially a Yankee so, welcome to pinstripes Ottavino! Now let's focus on striking out all of those other opponents you will face.
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