Bernabe!, pt. 2
Those dearest of Dear Readers, who regularly read this creeping blogavillea, wading patiently through posts that alternate between spitting denunciations of God's Own Party and rhapsodies (or hand wringing) on the Yankees, know that one of my favorite Yankees of the current (perhaps waning) dynasty is their former (definitely and sadly waning) everyday center fielder, Bernie Williams.
Why, you ask? Sure, he's got good numbers, fourth on the all-time Yankee grand slam list behind such nobodies as Lou Gherig, Joe DiMaggio, and one Babe Ruth (he just surpassed a previous switch hitter on the list, Mickey Mantle). The best player patrolling the vast wasteland of Yankee Stadium's center field since the aforementioned Mantle, and a sure bet for the Hall of Fame until age hit him early in the form of excruciating pain in both shoulders, derailing his quietly brilliant career. But, when you got a team with players like Jeter, Rodriguez, Martinez, Posada (the best Yankee catcher since Munson, maybe better), Rivera, etc., why revere him above all others?
Well, besides the fact that I think he's still gonna do the job should the Yankees make it through The Summer of Excitement™ and into October, he says and does things like this.
And he means it.
How many players at his level are that humble, team focused, and, strangest of all, able to have that kind of perspective on the end of a career?
Oh, and as for Torre's decision? Giambi had his first good night since the 7th game of the 2003 ALCS, and the Yankees won their tenth straight, the first time they've gone ten in a row since 1998, which was a pretty decent year for the bombers.
Why, you ask? Sure, he's got good numbers, fourth on the all-time Yankee grand slam list behind such nobodies as Lou Gherig, Joe DiMaggio, and one Babe Ruth (he just surpassed a previous switch hitter on the list, Mickey Mantle). The best player patrolling the vast wasteland of Yankee Stadium's center field since the aforementioned Mantle, and a sure bet for the Hall of Fame until age hit him early in the form of excruciating pain in both shoulders, derailing his quietly brilliant career. But, when you got a team with players like Jeter, Rodriguez, Martinez, Posada (the best Yankee catcher since Munson, maybe better), Rivera, etc., why revere him above all others?
Well, besides the fact that I think he's still gonna do the job should the Yankees make it through The Summer of Excitement™ and into October, he says and does things like this.
That's what happened last night. Although Joe Torre said after Williams' dramatic homer Monday night that he would consider changing his plan and play the switch-hitter, he ultimately opted to sit Williams and tab him for today's lineup as originally scheduled.
Williams, however, is not upset about his place in Yankeeland. He is realistic, refusing to admit that his ego has suffered a blow.
"At this point in my career, who cares what I do?" he said. "All we care about is winning games and getting to the postseason."
And he means it.
How many players at his level are that humble, team focused, and, strangest of all, able to have that kind of perspective on the end of a career?
Oh, and as for Torre's decision? Giambi had his first good night since the 7th game of the 2003 ALCS, and the Yankees won their tenth straight, the first time they've gone ten in a row since 1998, which was a pretty decent year for the bombers.
posted by John at 3:13 PM
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