HEY BAUTISTA... ACT LIKE YOU'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE!

What's special in baseball? To everyone, there 1 or 2 or 3 things that are very special in this great game. Is it hitting a home run? Maybe having your team win the World Series? How about watching another player perform well?  Do you tip your cap if you are a peer in the game and see greatness on the other side of the diamond? Or, do you say something to the press that will no doubt cause a stir? If you're Jose Bautista, you choose that one, just because you don't want to give another club, and in this case, the Yankees, too much credit.  That's what I think happened recently with Jose Bautista. Don't know what I mean? Keep reading...

Brendan Kuty of The Star Ledger has the story and writes: " The saga didn't ensnare at least several players with Toronto, where Tanaka's expected to make his first big-league start April 4. Count slugger Jose Bautista among them. 'I mean, it's just a different pitcher for me,' the right fielder said Sunday after the Blue Jays' 4-3 win over the Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. 'Other than him coming from Japan and having some good seasons over there, I don't think there's that much special about it. It's just another opponent.... I can't tell you much about him until I see him,' he said. 'All I heard is he's had some pretty good years in Japan and that he throws a split and that's it.'"

Translation; "Had some pretty good years in Japan" insinuates Tanaka's been around for a while. "He throws a split and that's it" indicates that Bautista isn't reading the same papers that we're reading about Tanaka. He sounds arrogant.  He sounds pompous...to me at least.

Now look, this story isn't getting much traction in the Internet world because it's not that interesting, and neither is Jose Bautista.  But it's clear to me, a Yankee fan, that this is sour grapes. This is a guy stuck in Toronto and Lord knows it hasn't been easy up there if you're a fan of the Blue Jays. Every year the Jays claim to have a "contending team", only to not.  It must be frustrating if you're a Jays fan.

I do feel for them because I remember the Joe Carter years and they were great for them.  Jose Bautista in turn, probably feels for the fans and he's taken the "I don't really care" approach when it comes to Tanaka. You know... Masahiro is not "that much special."

Meanwhile, what is special to Jose Bautista? Social networks I guess. That ridiculous #FaceofMLB contest was a joke by Major League Baseball, and partially because Jose Bautista whored himself to the fans, begging for votes and would "follow back" fans who voted for him on Twitter. Really?

The best part was he lost to Eric Sogard of the A's. Guess who voted for Sogard... all of Oakland... and most of New York!  Boom!

So, Is Bautista still bitter? Does he really just doesn't care? Hey Jose, can you see? How about maybe giving props where props is warranted? The Yankees made a move because Tanaka was talented.  How about good sportsmanship?

Look, Bautista is a dynamic power hitter. Many love him. I'm sure Masahiro Tanaka respects him and assuming Tanaka pitches in Toronto next week, which seems to be the plan,  it's gonna be interesting, don't you think?

Now look, it's true that we here at BYB seem to care about this "non-controversy" more than Bautista, Tanaka and many of you do.  But I need to be honest with you; Being a pro ball player is hard work.  We all can agree. Personally, for me, I applaud all these guys that make it to the pros.  I wonder though... why couldn't Bautista just say something pleasant like, "I hear Tanaka's got a nasty split, I can't wait to face him". Wouldn't that sound more competitive, maybe more complimentary instead of sour grapes?

Who knows. I do know this... "Special" for Bautista means what's good for him. To be the #FaceofMLB rather than actually earning it legitimately.  Let's face it, Tanaka earned his role with the Yanks through talent.  Some can say he's been over paid and "not all that", but I say the jury is still out on that. In the meantime, can't we all get along?

I leave you with this, the answer I was looking for in a leader like Jose Bautista, but didn't get. This came from Edwin Encarnacion who clearly understands good sportsmanship and competition... minus the trash talk. Edwin said:  "There's going to be a lot of Japanese people in the stadium... and in Japan, they'll be watching, too. So, I would like to face a Japanese pitcher."

That's fun... competitive and exciting for baseball. Am I right? Bautista needs to wipe the scowl off his face. Act like you've been there before!

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YANKEES WERE CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR

It always stinks when the Yankees come real close, but can't finish it off to get the big win.  But that's baseball, last night they were close... but no cigar.

The Yankees came from behind to tie the game in the ninth, but the Athletics had a comeback of their own in the bottom of the ninth to win the game. Robinson Cano provided the late inning theatrics, as he launched a home run in the ninth inning off closer Ryan Cook, who earned his fourth blown save of the year. Earlier in the game, Robbie extended his hitting streak to 23 games on a slow grounder through the left side of the infield for a single. This allows him to claim sole possession of the longest hitting streak in the Majors for 2012.

 

Tommy Milone had a strong outing as he recorded a career-high ten strikeouts through seven shutout innings of work, throwing first-pitch strikes for 24 of the 26 batters he faced. Ivan Nova kept the game close, as he struck out seven through 6 2/3 innings, stranding 14 runners while getting out of several jams.

Nova kept the homer-happy Athletics in the ballpark, but was victimized by five extra base hits. They say that half of all lead off walks come around to score. Lead-off extra-base hits, even more so. The first two runs that the Athletics scored were because of lead off extra-base hits, as Nova maintained his American League lead for extra base hits surrendered. There is definitely room for improvement here. Otherwise, he looked strong. On a side note, it was nice to see coach Tony Pena hold him accountable for a ground ball that he gave up on, allowing Eric Sogard to reach first. Every out is important.

Nick Swisher suffered a mild hip flexor strain as he ran down to first in the top of the seventh, subsequently being replaced by Raul Ibanez. We are already platooning in left field with Ibanez and Andruw Jones, neither of which was expected to play every day. We hope that Swish will not be out too long.

Honorable mention: Russell Martin showed some power as he went deep on Jerry Blevins in the top of eighth, cutting the lead in half at the time. Robertson held them there, giving the Yankees the opportunity to tie the game in the ninth. 

Final Score: Athletics 3, Yankees 2

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Writer




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