Oh how they were out in force.
The “I told you so” fans were relishing the fact that our Yankees starters were dropping like flies in the final game of the series with our bitter rivals, the Boston Red Sox. Even though they claim to be fans of the Bombers, one could sense the excitement in their tweets increase with each announcement of physical set back as the game progressed.
First, before the contest even got underway, word came that our captain
Derek Jeter would sit out the second straight game with “tightness in his quad”. Then we found out that second baseman
Brian Roberts was experiencing back spasms and would be sent for an MRI. Rising star
Yangervis Solarte would start in his place, moving over from third. Our other baby Bomber on the rise,
Dean Anna, would take Jeter’s spot at short.
The “told you so” crowd was in their glory.
“See”, they said,
“we knew this team was too old to hold up”. Immediately there were calls for the Yankees to seek out Scott Boras and woo his over-priced client
Stephen Drew, ignoring the fact that the shortstop is oft-injured himself (he’s managed to play in 150 or more games just three times in his career – the last time being 2010).
Just what we need; throwing more money at a player who will play in perhaps 80% of available games and hit .113 in the post-season (as he did last October).
So, we are down two starters before the first pitch could even be tossed, and we have a pitcher in Ivan Nova whose prior outings were erratic at best.
With backup catcher
Francisco Cervelli at first, Solarte at second, Anna at shortstop and
Kelly Johnson at third (moving over from first base to fill the hole made by moving Solarte over) the naysayers were basking in their hindsight. Yes, “their favorite team” was surely doomed. This game would be a lost cause.
A few of us kept hope that the Yankees would take the field and play the game in spite of the fact that clearly the outcome was predetermined. After all, the “told you so” fans are always right; just ask them.
After two innings we were down a run, 1 – 0. The game was going according to the prognosticators’ plans. Only that’s where their train-to-hell got derailed.
Rather than just call the game after two innings, as clearly the lamenters thought we should, our Bombers rallied. After a single from speedster
Brett Gardner, “newbie”
Carlos Beltran did exactly what he was brought to the team to do; drove a ball into the seats for a 2 – 1 lead.
Nova seemed to get better as the game wore on and going into the bottom of the fourth the Yankees maintained their run advantage.
With runners at the corners and just one out in the bottom of the fourth, Cervelli hit a grounder to third base that appeared to spawn an inning-ending double play. The play at first base was close, and manager Joe Girardi challenged the initial “out” call. After reviewing, the umpires decided that there was a tie at the bag and ruled Cervelli safe- allowing another run to score. At this point Boston manager John Farrell went ballistic and was tossed from the game, mouthing expletives about the replay process as he walked from the field. Lost in the insanity was the fact that our backup catcher (and current first baseman) pulled up lame as he crossed the bag. He had to be helped from the field. Add kindling to the “told you so” fire and another name to the walking (or limping) wounded list.
Using a creative means to solving a problem, Girardi called upon lessons learned in 2013 and inserted
Ichiro Suzuki into right field and put our “Mr. Everything” Carlos Beltran at first base. Beltran has never played first.
In the top of the sixth the Red Sox cut the lead to 3 – 2 on a
Mike Napoli home run. It would have been a game-tying home run if not for a spectacular catch that Suzuki made on a shot off the bat of
David Ortiz in the fifth.
Certainly the flood gates were about to open and our team would suffer the “red death” that so many in the social media world appeared to know would happen.
Only they were wrong, but not before they’d get one last log for their fire. In the bottom of the sixth, Solarte hit a grounder to short and hustled towards first (you reading this
Robinson Cano?). After crossing the bag, he too limped noticeably.
Well, that was the crowning glory for our “Chicken Littles”. Immediately a tweet flew out saying:
“We've seen it twice now. To those who ask why some runners slide into first, watch this Yankee game.”
Really? As I recall, it has been scientifically proven that sliding/diving into first base actually slows you down. If it were faster, wouldn’t sprinters dive or slide across the finish line? I’m thinking that Josh Hamilton might have an opinion.
The truth of the matter for Solarte was that his hustle to first base didn’t result in his limp. Instead, it was a poorly placed (depending on your rooting interests) tag by Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli. I just saw every guy in the audience wince. Solarte finished the game after regaining his composure.
And so did our Yankees.
Nova’s “in your face” start was complete after getting
Xander Bogaerts to fly out opening the eighth inning.
Matt Thornton then retired David Ortiz on a fly, and
David Phelps did his best “DRob” impression by loading the bases before striking out Mike Carp to end the threat.
Shawn Kelley, our closer du jour while Robertson is on the DL, put the Red Sox down in order (striking out two of three batters) in the ninth for the save.
The “I told you so” crowd has to be beside themselves. How could they have been so wrong? They were wrong because, while thin in depth, this Yankees team has talent with heart. They have players willing to do whatever it takes to win, and they have a manager willing to trust that talent.
Going forward there will have to be moves made to account for the injuries suffered – of that there is no doubt. But, before you start screaming that the likes of Stephen Drew or
Ike Davis can heal all wounds, take a good look at what we already have in our organization.
Zelous Wheeler is hitting .421 at Scranton/Wilkes Barre.
Scott Sizemore – one of the odd men out in the battle for a backup infield spot- is hitting .344.
Shouldn’t we give them an opportunity to succeed or fail before we toss millions to other teams’ washouts? Right now, when our injuries mount, is the time when our team needs our support the most. Rather than say “I told you so”, let’s rally behind them and believe in what we have.
--Steve Skinner, BYB Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1
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