THAT TIME WADE BOGGS PITCHED

Yes, you heard that right.

Wade Boggs is a baseball legend—one of the best hitters to ever step up to the plate. The man was an absolute machine with a bat in his hands, racking up hit after hit for years in the major leagues. And, of course, his dominance landed him in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005 on his very first ballot. But while everyone knows Boggs could hit, did you know he also had a secret weapon? A knuckleball.

For years, Boggs dreamed of taking the mound in a real MLB game, reports are he was always bugging his managers to let him pitch and even showing off his surprisingly wicked knuckleball in warmups. But, of course, when you're one of the greatest players in the game, teams tend to prefer keeping you in your usual spot. That all changed on August 19, 1997.

The Yankees were getting walloped by the Angels, trailing 12-4 in the eighth inning. With a doubleheader coming up the next day and the bullpen running on fumes, manager Joe Torre knew he needed a position player to finish things off. His first thought was Charlie Hayes, but the Yankees players had a different idea—they wanted to see Boggs' infamous knuckleball in action. Torre hesitated. This was Wade Boggs, a future Hall of Famer, a hitting savant—was it really right to send him to the mound in an eight-run blowout?

The answer? Yes please.

Boggs finally got his shot, stepping onto the mound with the confidence of a seasoned pitcher. And guess what? He absolutely delivered. He pitched a scoreless eighth inning, allowing no hits, walking just one batter, and even striking out Todd Greene swinging to end the frame. That knuckleball? It danced. The ballpark may not have been packed with tension, but for Boggs, it was a moment of pure baseball magic.

And that wasn’t the last time Boggs took the hill. Two years later, in 1999, now playing for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, he got another chance to pitch when his team was on the wrong side of a 17-1 rout against the Orioles. Tampa Bay manager Larry Rothschild didn't think twice. "There wasn't much of a choice. It was going to be a position player, and Wade had done it before. He throws a knuckleball, so I don't worry as much about him hurting his arm."

After his pitching debut in 1997, Boggs had said: "It's something I've always wanted to do in my career, and I never really had the opportunity. Then I started feeling like Phil Niekro. I was Phil Niekro and Charlie Hough all rolled into one. It was great. I was glad it worked out."

Wade Boggs wasn’t just a Hall of Fame hitter; he was a guy who loved baseball with every fiber of his being. 

Whether he was lining doubles into the gap or floating knuckleballs past unsuspecting hitters, he made the game fun. And let’s be honest—how many Hall of Fame hitters can also say they’ve struck out a batter in a major league game? 

Just another reason Wade Boggs is one of the all-time greats.

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor

BOONE AIN'T NO GENERAL, HE AIN'T NO MANAGER OR LEADER... HE'S A HACK

This entire series was predicted... by me.  

It takes a true leader to lead a team.  I have said this for years. Aaron Boone is not that leader.  He doesn't truly understand how to manage a short series, and he doesn't truly understand what needs to get done during tough times. This, my friends is the toughest time of his career and he is a no show, he's nowhere. He ain't no manager, he surely ain't no General.  

Generals are tough. Managers are smart.

Yup General Patton is there, for good reason.  Now you can get angry at me and say that war is not baseball and how dare you.  My imagery is for heavy reaction because it's not about Patton leading soldiers to war... it's about a leader leading his players to deliver.   Boone doesn't understand what it takes. He has been exposed. How else to you explain changing up the lineup last night and pulling Austin Wells, putting in Jose Trevino to replace him, and then pinch-hitting Wells for Trevino later on?  

That's a manager second guessing himself.  For me, it was the most glaring indication of a manager that is unclear on how these games work and the importance of a short series.

I don't know why any Yankee fan is surprised by the way this World Series is going.  The New York Yankees are the most inconsistent team in 2024 and Bleeding Yankee Blue has been harping on this and writing about it since the season began.  They are just moving along, a win here, a lose here and a hot streak in the beginning of the season and a hot one near the end.  It was like a fake season. And by the way, absent Boone had really nothing to do with anything except make bad decisions and trust me, Bleeding Yankee Blue has documented all of them.

I don't understand what is wrong with the integrity of these Yankee players.  They defend Aaron Boone for "Backing them".  If backing them means he argues ball and strikes as theater to get kicked out of try and fire up the fan base, I have news for you, that's not what true leaders do.  If that's what they hang their hat on they are also part of the problem and they should all be fired.

Last night the Yankees had a big opportunity, probably the only one they were going to get all game.  Gleyber Torres at bat, men on base and on a ball out of the strike zone and high. The umpire calls a strike three.  Now for you, for me, for Gleyber, for my mom, for the typical Dodger fan that at this point takes pitty on us... we ALL knew it was a ball and an opportunity to walk and maybe Soto could have started something big... you know, momentum.

Got him!

Torres is caught looking at strike 3 up in the zone.

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/YDLHNBlVVt

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 29, 2024

  

But Gleyber struck out on a bad call.  And what do we get? We get a cutaway of Aaron Boone spitting out seeds.  No fight in a game that actually means something.  All season long this guy looked like a fucking clown arguing balls and strikes in meaningless games.  But this is when we need him most. This is a leadership moment.  And he doesn't budge.  He spits his bacon ranch seeds and sits there lifeless.  WHERE IS OUR MANAGER?

Let me also state the worst part of last night's game and something a lot of Yankee fans do not know.  Joe Davis is on the Dodgers broadcast team. John Smoltz is just anti-Yankee ever since the Yankees beat him and the Braves in the '90s.  So, it's no wonder why they took every opportunity to slam the Yankees with backhand compliments and critical comments for the past 3 games.  My favorite "rooting of the Dodgers" moment came when the Yanks pegged out the Dodgers runner at home.  Listen to Smoltz:

My favorite highlight of Game 3. Because he was wrong. pic.twitter.com/0VL59opESL

— Robert Casey (@BleednYankeeBlu) October 29, 2024

Now I'm sorry but why are you rooting?  

Look, the broadcast BS doesn't help, but back to our weak leader in Aaron Boone.  This note's to Hal Steinbrenner....

Dear Hal,

We have tried it your way for a few years now.  It's clear that Daddy Boone made a phone call to someone in the Yankees front office to get Aaron Boone a job.  And we tried it, but it's not working.  Aaron Boone is a guy that hit a home run against the Red Sox in 2003 and everyone seems to forget that we actually LOST that World Series and then he broke his leg in the offseason and violated his contract. So, he is hardly a noble, hardworking and smart individual capable of managing the biggest franchise in baseball.  But what's worse is the fan base has been telling you this for years.  Fire him.

Thank you.

Fondly,

Casey 

The Yankees can win the World Series, but obviously the percentage is very low.  But if they do not we can blame this entire World Series on one play.    

Aaron Boone not bringing in Tim Hill into the game in Game 1 and instead going to a guy that hadn't pitched since September 18th.  If Freddie Freeman doesn't hit that Grand Slam, we are in a much different situation today.  Why?

Momentum.  

Momentum is a very powerful thing and much of the momentum that surround teams comes with a subtle move made by their leader.  It could be a fired-up speech in the clubhouse before the game. It could be a last-ditch effort of putting Wade Boggs in to work a really good at bat.  It could be a moment in time where a pinch hitter bunts in a suicide squeeze.  And it could also be a guy named Tim Hill coming in in that inning with that sick windup and hopefully shutting Freddy Freeman down.  

But Boone didn't make the right decision.  He chose the friend zone, not the must win. He chose Nestor at the worst possible time and that moment killed the Yankees, brought momentum to the Dodgers and will ultimately (hopefully not) cost the Yankees the World Series.

And after this season, win the Series or not, Aaron Boone MUST BE FIRED. Because he is not a manager, he is not a General... he's a hack.  That's the bottom line.

RIGHETTI'S NO-NO WAS THE GREATEST ONE IN YANKEES HISTORY IN MY HUMBLE OPINION

On July 4, 1983, in a sweltering Yankee Stadium, Dave Righetti delivered one of the most memorable performances in the storied history of the New York Yankees. On that day, Righetti etched his name into the annals of baseball lore by pitching a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox. The significance of the date was amplified by the fact that it was George Steinbrenner's birthday, making the feat not only a personal triumph for Righetti but a monumental gift to the Yankees' fiery owner.

The game began with tension thick in the air, as the Yankees and Red Sox renewed their fierce rivalry in front of a packed house. The Yankees were desperate for a win, clinging to hopes of climbing the standings in the American League East. Righetti, a young left-hander with a blazing fastball, took the mound with a quiet determination, unaware that history would soon be within his grasp.

From the first pitch, Righetti was locked in. His fastball had an extra zip, and his slider was as sharp as ever. The Red Sox batters, a formidable lineup featuring stars like Wade Boggs and Jim Rice, were left flailing helplessly as Righetti mowed them down one by one. The tension mounted with each passing inning, and by the time the seventh inning rolled around, the fans were on their feet, fully aware that they were witnessing something special.

Righetti's teammates, too, began to feel the weight of the moment. Yankees catcher Butch Wynegar, who was calling the game, later recalled, "You could see it in Rags' eyes. He was in the zone. I knew I just had to keep putting down the right fingers, and he would do the rest." The defense behind Righetti was flawless with his team backing him up in a wonderful display of defense.

As the game entered the ninth inning, Yankee Stadium was electric with anticipation. Righetti stood on the mound, just three outs away from baseball immortality. The first two batters went down quickly, and suddenly, Righetti was staring down Wade Boggs, one of the most feared hitters in the game, for the final out. With the count at 2-2, Righetti unleashed a wicked slider that Boggs swung through, sealing the no-hitter. Yankee Stadium erupted in celebration as Righetti was mobbed by his teammates. The final score was 4-0, a fitting conclusion to a day that would be remembered for decades.

Righetti, drenched in sweat and surrounded by a jubilant crowd, could hardly contain his emotions. "It was the greatest feeling I've ever had on a baseball field," he said in a postgame interview. "To do it on the Fourth of July, with my family in the stands and for George's birthday, it was like a dream."

George Steinbrenner, known for his demanding nature, was uncharacteristically emotional. "This is the best birthday present I could have ever asked for," he declared. "Dave Righetti has always been a special player, but today he became a legend."

But Righetti's story with the Yankees was far from over. Despite his success as a starter, the Yankees recognized that Righetti's electric stuff and mental toughness made him an ideal candidate to take over as the team's closer, a role that had been in flux. In 1984, Righetti transitioned to the bullpen, a move that proved to be a masterstroke. Yankees manager Yogi Berra explained the decision: "We needed someone who could slam the door shut in the ninth inning, and Rags had the mentality and the arm to do it."

Righetti thrived in his new role, eventually becoming one of the most dominant closers in baseball. He saved 46 games in 1986, a then-major league record for left-handers, and became a cornerstone of the Yankees' bullpen for years. His ability to adapt from a starting role to a closer not only extended his career but also solidified his place as one of the most versatile and valuable pitchers in Yankees history.

Despite his success as a closer, Righetti's no-hitter on July 4, 1983, remains one of the greatest moments in his career and one of the most iconic performances in Yankees history. It was a day when everything came together—the emotion, the stakes, and the history—making it a game that will forever be remembered in the Bronx. 

As Righetti himself once said, "No matter what else I did in my career, that day will always be special. It was the Fourth of July, it was against the Red Sox, and it was for George. You can't script it any better than that."

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor

THE YANKEES ARE FOR REAL

I have been holding my breath for weeks.  I have been waiting for the other shoe to drop.  I am still of the belief that Juan Soto won't be with us when the season ends. I am positive he will take the money and go to the Mets and so I am having a really hard time rooting hard for a loaner. 

Yup, that's my world.  But let me just say that what this team has done and is doing is unreal and now with the surge of Aaron Judge, the dominance of Carlos Rodon and of course the talent of Soto and every player in between... I have to say it because it's incredible... the Yankees are for real.  It's glorious, exciting and as a Yankee fan... I just want it to keep going.  

This being said, I will never use a useless Aaron Boone quote in my writings on the New York Yankees ever here on Bleeding Yankee Blue pages. Boone is a worm, a slug, and has nothing to do with this surge of greatness. He is a mouthpiece; a puppet and I'm ignoring him. For this run... this is the players. It's all the players (and James Rowson) of course.

Let's also talk about the young guys that want to make a name for themselves.  Luis Gil? What a breath of fresh air.

ESPN writes:

"Gil continued his unforeseen breakout campaign Saturday, delivering the best start of his young career with 14 strikeouts -- a Yankees rookie record -- on 98 pitches over six innings as New York improved to an AL-best 32-15..."

"I have a teacher, Gerrit Cole, who's teaching me how to pitch, how to handle situations and how to execute," Gil said in Spanish. "And that's what we're doing, what he teaches me, and we're applying it in the game."

This alone brings me such joy.  This is teamwork. These are good teammates.  Hat tip to Cole.  

Then there's Clay Holmes. Jorge Castillo of ESPN wrote a great article about him.  

"STUD -- all capital letters there," Yankees reliever Luke Weaver said.

Holmes, in his second full season as New York's closer, has registered 21 strikeouts with three walks in 17⅓ innings and leads the American League with 12 saves. And ask anybody in the Yankees' clubhouse: Holmes' performance in Baltimore earlier this month is still a talker.

Holmes now has 13.

"A lot of it for me is nailing my direction," Holmes said. "I'm able to just move down the mound faster and I just think it helps my body move a little better. Just kind of knowing my lanes, the direction I need to get going. It's a product of me just moving down the mound better. It frees up my arm. The stuff moves from that."

And how about Anthony Volpe. Now I'm going to tell you that I'm not a huge Volpe guy.  But I do like what he's doing with his batting average.  Last year he ended at .209. This year his average is at .270 and that's great.

MLB.com writes:

"Anthony Volpe hit his sixth home run of the season and swiped his ninth base of the season on Thursday. The 23-year-old wasted no time as he launched a lead-off home run, which ended up being the game-winning run. Then, in the second inning, he hit a single and stole second base. After struggling in his rookie season last year, the former top prospect is clearly beginning to find his footing at the major league level. Across 44 games this season, he has posted a .273/.348/.432 slash line, which is significantly higher than his .209/.283/.383 line last year. Volpe was a 20/20 player last season and is on pace to repeat that feat this season."

As Judge said in the Athletic last year: “If he’s going to be the future and be the shortstop here for the next 15 years... you’ve got to have him up here now and just kind of getting used to it.”

And this is why this team is truly unique. Gil, Holmes and Volpe are not top Yankee names, but they are in the mix. They are in the mix of veterans and stars that are offering unique talent and making a contribution to the team.  For me? This team strangely reminds me of 1996. 

The Jeter's mixed in with the Mariano Duncans and Cecil Fielders and Wade Boggs of the team.  Meaning... everyone contributes in some fashion.  It just feels right.  While we have a long season to go, I believe that with the return of Cole, the team will just get better.  There is hope that the Yankees can sustain this run.  

Look, I am a Yankee fan. I have been one since the day I latched on the Ron Guidry all those years ago.  I have seen some great games, great teams and some really bad ones.  I become happy, I become frustrated and annoyed. But in the end, I love this team.  I just want them to do well.

If you're a Yankee fan... a believer... I applaud you for sticking around.  I was almost out of here. The Yankees horrendous season last year coupled with my busy life made it easy for me to try and walk away.  But this team is exciting, and I'll stick around for a bit more. 

To all you Yankee fans and to all you BYB freaks, thank you for being there.  We love you.  We're in it together.  

Go Yanks!

WHEN THE BYB YANKEE FAMILY SPEAKS

Plenty of reaction to my post BEING A FAN WHEN YOU HAVE NO FAITH over the past 24 hours. I did not expect that. 

I'm fine. I'm not suicidal... I'm frustrated and I've lost the heart for my team right now.  Will BYB end? I've seriously considered it. There's only so many different ways you can write that the Yankees leadership has failed us fans.  You gotta appreciate Suzie Pinstripe's post today titled: YANKEES WIN NEW AWARDS... read it. It's about being a true Yankee fan and her mom's perfect words.  That mindset is beautiful.  

But fandom is really an individual thing and the idea of me writing about frustration for my team every day just seems manic and painful.  What's the point?  I did get some advice from many readers saying "See how the season plays out" and "this space won't be the same if you're gone" and that's fair and nice of everyone. I mean, I'll always be a "fan", I just wouldn't be presenting my heart's true feelings for my team every day.  

I did have one reader on Facebook write "It's OK to go away."  Trust me, you don't hurt my feelings with your 200 friends, pal.  You don't stick around in cyberspace since September 2010 if you weren't relevant.  Bleeding Yankee Blue is still here cause we have alot to say and we don't hold back... you still have those 200 friends. Have fun with that.  

But look, ultimately it comes down to the Yankees, right? We're all annoyed, frustrated, happy, concerned, hopeful... insert the word here.  I've always had the approach that it it's how I feel that moment and write about it. That is where I am and have been for months. the Yankees front office and leadership is awful.  They lie to the fans; they don't make true significant changes and a lot needs to change but won't.  We've all been fooled once again.  

And so yea, my problem is I feel this way every day when it comes to my team... that's just me.  But look, I am thankful for the notes and comments and rally cry to keep Bleeding Yankee Blue going.  I haven't truly decided yet.  We will see.  

In the meantime, I wanted to share this heartfelt fan's email.  His name is Rob, and he is a Yankee fan true and true and wrote this to me. I asked him to share it with our audience and he said sure... so here it is.  Thanks Rob

Hey Folks:

I'm not saying you're wrong about Marcus Stroman, but I am saying you might be.

Free agency has upset old notions of team loyalty, and the age of social media magnifies a lot of stuff. Like the NBA or a fight, there's a lot of hype on social media that should be taken with a grain of salt. One could even say that Stroman's brashness will help him in Da' Bronx. (It did wonders for Reggie Jackson, who never loved the Yankees but loved being the straw...)

I might remind you that some very significant Yankees in their day used to lambaste the team. Roger Clemens hated the Yankees–until he came to love them. Ditto Wade Boggs, Johnny Damon, Graig Nettles, and David Cone to name a few others.

There are, of course, players who came to town that hated it and did better elsewhere: Kevin Brown, Ed Whitson, Kyle Farnsworth, Sonny Gray, A. J. Burnett, Carl Pavano, Rick Cerone, Don Baylor. Jacoby Ellsbury never really fit in either and I sincerely wonder about Carlos Rodon.

But agents, GMs, and money talk these days. Jordan Montgomery prefers to stay in Texas, but do you think he'd love the Yankees again if they made him an offer that he & Scott Boras couldn't refuse?

For the record, I've never been a huge fan of Stroman, but if you ask me if I think he'll be better than Rodon or Schmidt, yeah, I do. I also think Cashman has worn out his welcome.

But if Hal's money was mine, I'd make that can't-refuse-offer to Montgomery. That's WAY better than dumping out the minors for Dylan Cease.


Cheers,
Rob


P.S. My MA residency notwithstanding, I've been a Yankees fan since the days of Mickey Mantle.

Sometimes you need an outside perspective to make you understand where we've been and where we need to go. Everything Rob said came back to me like a rush. He's right. He's right in many examples. Let's hope stuff like this can reset my mind and refresh me as we are walking into spring training. Great letter, Rob.... we appreciate you here at BYB.


Happy Sunday everyone. Make today great. Keep truckin'.

--Robert Casey
Bleeding Yankee Blue Chief
Twitter: @bleednyankeeblu

ROD CAREW & OTHER HALL OF FAMERS GO AFTER MANFRED ON "RUINING THE GAME"

Baseball can change back. Ted Simmons made that statement in his Hall of Fame speech in 2021 and it was incredible. He said:

“Our game can change back,” Simmons said. “Eventually, another George Brett will surface. He’ll hit .360. He’ll homer 40 times. He’ll drive in 160 runs. He’ll strike out 75 times. He’ll walk a hundred times. His on-base percentage will be .420. Our game is fluid. Hitters will begin to beat the defensive shifts, and the pendulum will swing back. The game evolves. It’s just a matter of time.”

And the reason he said it is simple. For one, he's a catcher, one of the most important jobs on the field... and for 2, baseball has been ruined and the real game of baseball that we know and love has changed for the worse. And the old timers and true baseball enthusiats are tired of it. We're tired of this commissioner and his cronies and all they are doing to ruin games, line pockets and find TV time to make money. I mean sure, it's a business... but it's also the most incredible game in the world full of talent, wit, strategy and hustle.  

Ted Simmons is and has been one of the smartest guys on the field. He like many are tired with the game right now, with the strikeouts, walks and home runs being mostly the only thing that happens. Watch that speech if you haven't already. It's amazing.

But it's more than Ted Simmons... it's about many who have played this game the right way and are just fed up. Mark Powell from Fansided writes:

"It's custom for the commissioner of baseball to have a private dinner with all the Hall of Famers in Cooperstown the weekend of the ceremony. Typically, the conversation is predictably about baseball, and the state of the game today.

In recent years, that conversation has become more contentious, and reached a boiling point in late July. Carew and a group of other Hall of Famers raised their voices about what they perceived to be issues with the game today. Manfred was clearly taken aback, and has since openly complained about Carew making that conversation public. Typically, that dinner has a 'what happens in Cooperstown, stays in Cooperstown' feel. Not this year."

Ken Rosenthal writes:

"...the Hall of Famers include the rise of defensive shifts and the offensive emphasis on launch angle, as well as rules changes such as the three-batter minimum and automatic runner on second base in extra innings. "

But here's the problem. MLB has no time limit and that's also something that Carew was annoyed about like many fans are. But MLB wants to change that, but only because of the TV dollars attached to it. If games linger, TV stations mess up schedules and so Manfred and his nerds found a way to do it so if these games fit in a certain amount of time, they get paid, TV doesn't lose and everybody wins.  But sadly... that's not baseball.

And then Powell said this: "Sadly, for Carew and many of the old heads in baseball, the game is merely moving forward in hopes of intriguing a new generation of viewers. Those who don't change with it are left behind, for better or worse."

Bad comment about being left behind. These baseball legends are not the "get off my lawn" folks Powell thinks they are. They are true baseball people, like you, like me. We don't want the change because it ruins the game. So being left behind doesn't make sense. We're baseball enthusiasts... traditionalists... loyalists to the way the game should be played.  It's a bad statement from someone that was never in Rod Carew or Ted Simmons shoes.

The fact that this spat with Carew and Manfred went public is huge. The fact that Manfred thinks he was probably disrespected is laughable. Bottom line... baseball DOES need to change back like Ted Simmons says. It not only effects MLB, it trickles down to College where even in D3 college scouts are looking for Big Boppers, not guys that hit for average. When compare guys, 6'4", 220 and hitting dingers compared to a guy that's 5'10", 160 and batting .360... they are now inclined to choose the big boy, because that's what MLB commands right now. But the .360 hitter is ACTUALLY baseball. Have we forgotten?    

What happened to the authentic hitter? Where's the George Brett? Will they ever come back... because hitting is a true craft, and guys like that are unique. I grew up idolizing Tony Gwynn, Don Mattingly and Wade Boggs because every year I knew they'd bat .350 and I was always amazed by that. Those days are over. If you don't believe me... just watch teams continually give chances to Aaron Hicks and Joey Gallo.

Baseball needs to change back. Rod Carew is right. Ted Simmons is right.  And once again, Rob Manfred sucks.

Buy a shirt. Support Bleeding Yankee Blue.  Manfred Clown shirts are here at the link. Go nuts!

ANDUJAR & BOGGS HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON

Source: NJ.com

By now we have all heard multiple accounts of how Miguel Andujar needs to step up his defense at third base if he is going to keep his job.  What if I told you that Wade Boggs was in a similar situation early on his career? It's true- Andujar & Boggs have more in common than you think.

According to an article on ESPN, "A longtime American League evaluator discussed the defense of New York Yankees third baseman Miguel Andujar last week, and noted the journey of Hall of Famer Wade Boggs. In his climb through the minor leagues, Boggs was regarded as a subpar defender, with a habit of drifting forward at the release of the pitch, too often leaving him in a disadvantageous position to make a play."  Encouraging to say the least, particularly with the organization's talk of trading the almost AL Rookie of the Year and their interest in All Star Manny Machado.

Source: Sporting News

"Andujar's consistently strong effort instills confidence within the Yankees organization that he will benefit from his offseason program and improve his defense. He has worked extensively with instructors this winter, and in the past few days, Yankees manager Aaron Boone was in the Dominican Republic, partly to see Andujar's progress and spend time with him."  

Source: USA Today

One of the reasons for Boggs's success at third base was his relentless work ethic, something Andujar appears to subscribe to as well.  This unyielding hard work proved to serve Boggs well, earning multiple Gold Gloves to parallel his over 3,000 career hits.

Source: NJ.com

Young Miggie was highly criticized for his lackluster performance at third base despite his magic at the plate.  With the Yankees building their starting rotation with a number of ground ball pitchers, it is essential that Andujar develop his skill set as a premier third baseman if he is going to have longevity at left corner in the Bronx.  And if he is anything like Boggs, he will and his reward will be a long and successful career.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

KARMA'S A BITCH, PAPI!

(Photo Credit: John Wilcox)
I don't like to see any player hurt... but sometimes karma takes over, and David Ortiz needs a slice of reality... his behavior may have finally caught up with him.

Ortiz got hurt last night in the Yankees win over the Red Sox.  I didn't feel bad.  When it happened, I was thrilled, and maybe it's just me being annoyed with the way this guy has presented himself all these years.

Papi is a liar.  Papi is a selfish player.  I always found that that New York Times article from July 2009 about him being on a PEDs list from 2003 was very telling.  Granted, PEDs weren't restricted until after that, but you don't show up on a banned substance list is you don't take banned substances... you know what I mean?  I don't like the way he skates. I don't like the way he gets defensive when people ask him about it.  I don't like that he doesn't understand why press is ALLOWED to ask him about it. 

I found it odd that Bug Selig praised this man in Major League Baseball for years. At the same time Selig was looking to turn ARod to the gas chamber for PED use, he was hugging Papi on public television.

Most of all though, I couldn't believe the balls of this guy to think that he actually deserved a farewell tour. He's not Derek Jeter.  We wrote about that. Read THERE'S NO WAY PAPI'S MORE BELOVED THAN JETER... shout out to Suzie Pinstripe on an instant #BYBClassic.

But karma is a powerful thing and sometimes it's refreshing to sit back and watch people that are powerful in their own mind crumble. I found it hysterical that his Ortiz Bobblehead night was cancelled. Now granted, it was shattered because of an utterly, racially offensive bobblehead, but my point is, another Ortiz celebration didn't happen.  That works for me.

And when the injury happened last night, I smiled.  No, I'm not the devil. I wish harm on no one... but some folks need a dose of reality... and now it's Papi's turn.  That's all I'm saying.

This article is pointed... I do not like David Ortiz.  Red Sox fans will hammer me and I get that, but much like they hate all of our Yankee players... I have opinions about a few Sox ones.  But let me be clear... I was a Wade Boggs fanatic when I was a kid... I love Dustin Pedroia. I believe Mookie Betts is totally awesome and I'm a big Yankee fan.  I just don't feel the same about Ortiz. There's something "off" and I'm hoping it comes to a head soon.

I believe that for far too long, David "Big Papi" Arias believes his shit don't stink... but it does... it stinks real bad.

Sometimes Karma reigns down. Maybe it's raining.... 

Sorry... just an opinion.

WADE BOGGS & THE BIG F.U.

Wade Boggs was never treated fairly by the Red Sox.  I know, when he left the Sox for the Yankees, and then the Yankees won a championship in 1996, the Red Sox and Red Sox nation were pissed, and I get that totally.  But this is baseball and when it comes to respecting players... it's just gotta be done.  The Yankees don't have any ill will toward guys like Robinson Cano for instance. He went for big money in Seattle, and he hopes to win a championship with them. I mean, he won't, but he hopes to, and the Yankees understood that Cano was looking for more and they weren't willing to give it.  Again, it's business, and that's why Boggs went to New York.  Eventually Boggs won in New York, something he could never do in Boston.  Fans HATE that, and that's just part of being a fan, and how this game works.  Ultimately, it's business.

I've always said that Wade Boggs should have had his number retired by the Red Sox years ago.  And Wade thought so too, but they have this Boston attitude about them, and they hold grudges.  I get it, but they shouldn't.  When Boggs played in Boston, he was a monster there.  I have openly admitted that I loved watching Wade Boggs play as a Yankee fan, but I hated the damage he did against us when the Sox played the Yanks.

Now comes the story that pretty much let's Boggs have the last laugh... and I love this story.  Yahoo Sports writes:

"...there was Boggs on Wednesday, reassembled with members of the 1986 Boston Red Sox team at Fenway Park. The Red Sox were celebrating the 30-year anniversary of the '86 squad that won the AL pennant but famously lost to the New York Mets in the World Series. Boggs was there, as were Roger Clemens, Jim Rice, Dwight Evans and many others. Even Bill Buckner.

It was all fun and nostalgia, but then the Internet noticed something peculiar. Boggs was wearing the World Series ring he won with the rival New York Yankees."

Now ultimately, this isn't a big deal, but it is a real dig.  The best part about the Red Sox ceremony was they did the right thing here.  They honored a guy that should have been honored a long time ago with him having #26 retired.

"My number may live up there forever...but you, the great fans of Boston will forever live in my heart." #Boggs26 pic.twitter.com/YYhsLYppz2

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) May 26, 2016

It had to be done.  And yes, while Yankee fans think this is a huge deal with the ring and all, but I gotta believe Boggs really didn't think much of it.  

Boggs winning a championship with the Yankees was part of his achievements in his career.  He put that ring on the day of the ceremony like he put his socks. It's part of his routine. For ballplayers, it's just business and him winning with the Yankees was just that too.

But we'll all look at that tweeted image of the ring on Boggs finger in Boston and laugh.  Because the rivalry was fierce for a long, long time, and so every time something like this happens... it reminds us of the good old days of baseball between the Yankees and Sox.

This, in my opinion is much ado about nothing... but maybe it was something. Maybe it was Boggs offering his big. F.U. to Red Sox Nation.  Maybe it was him saying, "What the hell took you so long?"

What do you think?

LOVING WADE BOGGS

Every Yankees fan alive in 1996 will forever remember the Yankees first World Series win in almost two decades. Many will remember Jim Leyritz’s huge game tying home run in Game 4 in Atlanta. Many remember John Wetteland jumping into Joe Girardi’s arms following the final out.
 

But everyone surely remembers Wade Boggs riding on the back of the police horse as they did a victory lap around the perimeter of Yankee Stadium after he earned his much deserved, and only, World Series ring.

The YES Network and one of BYB’s favorites, Nancy Newman, recently did a story on Wade Boggs for Yankees Magazine and what he is currently up to with his life as part of their year-long 20th anniversary of the 1996 Championship.



Boggs is the baseball coach at Wharton High School in Tampa, Florida. As he said in the YES Network piece, he joined the coaching staff in 2002, leaving his job as the Tampa Bay Rays hitting coach, when his son entered high school and loved it so much he never left.

But what stands out to us Yankees fans is the undeniable contribution he had on the 1996 World Series team, and the years prior to that, as the Yankees went from bottom dwellers to champions.

We all know that Wade Boggs signed with the Yankees prior to the 1993 season after playing for the arch rival Boston Red Sox from 1982-1992. The Red Sox are honoring Boggs this summer by retiring his number, just the tenth number to be retired in Red Sox history. But don’t worry Wade, we don’t hold being on the Red Sox against you. You deserve the honor of having your number forever retired.

While with the Yankees, Boggs was one of the cornerstones of the lineup. While he never hit for a lot of power, Boggs was a hits and on base machine. He batted .311 with a .383 OBP during the Championship season and finished his career with .328 average and a .415 OBP while joining the exclusive 3,000 hit club. During his tenure with the Yankees, Boggs also won two gold gloves and made a diving stab I’ll always remember seeing in person during Jim Abbott’s no-hitter, keeping the no-no intact.

Beyond what he did on the field, one of his greatest attributes was what he did in the clubhouse. Boggs was revered for his leadership qualities and his approach at the plate was an everyday lesson for the younger Yankees as they began their climb to greatness. Boggs was named to his 12th-straight All-Star Game in 1996 as well.

I remember Boggs for his great, patience at-bats and terrific defense over the years. I was just a youngster when Boggs was with the Yankees, but as a fellow lefty, I always admired his ability to go deep into counts and hit the ball the other way. He and Tony Gwynn are two of the hitters that I remember being very controlled and simple with their approach. Boggs is a player you should want to emulate your game after.

Who knows if the Yankees would have achieved their late 1990’s success if it weren’t for Boggs being a clubhouse leader from 1993-1997. Luckily we never have to ask that question. Boggs was a great Yankee, a great Red Sox player and I’m sure a great baseball coach.

If it weren’t for him, Paul O’Neill, David Cone and the other vets, the Yankees may never have developed the team, from the clubhouse to the field, that won them four World Series Championships over just six seasons.

Wade Boggs was truly one of the great players and baseball people of his generation and watching him win the World Series while in pinstripes in something none of us will ever forget.



 --Dan Lucia
BYB Senior Writer
Twitter: @DManLucia


   




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