Upon Baseballs Return

This vanished last time I tried to post it.

Tom Gordon gasses a fastball past David Ortiz. Fist pump and a yell. Cue Ol' Blue Eyes "start spreading the news..."

The 2005 baseball season is officially on, and the Yankees are off and running. A 9-2 thumping of the defending champs was exactly what NY needed to wipe the slate clean. Randy Johnson showed glimpses of dominance with 6 Ks in 6 IP, and showed that his average stuff can be dominating enough. A David Ortiz double and a Jay Payton blooper led to his only run allowed, and I can certainly live with that. Tanyon Sturtze looked good, as did Tom Gordon, in shutting down a game that should be shut down. Defensively the Yankees looked good in spots, and like a team in its first game of the year in others. Jason Giambi got tagged for a tough error on a hard smash to first, but also covered for two poor Jeter throws with the stretch-and-scoop. Tino Martinez got two huge ovations from a welcoming NY crowd, and rewarded fans with a diving stab going to his left to rob Damon of a hit. The seventh-inning stretch was all that kept him from getting a defensive curtain call from the Stadium faithful. The 5-4-3 double play, A-rod to Womack to Giambi, looked solid. And then there was the play of the game. Down one run with a man on second, Kevin Millar looked like he had drilled a ball deep and gone to left. Matsui kept tracking the ball to the wall, leapt, and came down with a HR robbing snag. Yankee brilliance robbing the Red Sox of a big moment? Sounds familiar.

On the offensive side of the ball, things looked as they should for a team of this caliber. Jeter led off and slapped hits around the park, and got the running started by swiping second-base. A-rod had as many hits this game as he did the whole first series with the Sox last year. He also looked capable in tagging up from second to third on a fly out, getting in position to score. Sheffield continued to attack the baseball, lashing his characteristic left field screamer that is just foul from being a home run. Reuben Sierra was in for his numbers against Wells, but did his damage against the bullpen. I really like having the switch hitting Sierra on the team, as I feel he is as good a pinch-hitter as there is in baseball. Jason Giambi reached base on a hard-smash past first base, and the announcers correctly pointed out that he most likely would have broken his bat on such a swing last year. Two more AB led to HBP by Wells, showing that the big-man still crowds and commands the plate. You really could not have asked for more from Matsui after his work in keeping the deficit at 1 run with his glove, but he also remained torrid at the plate. His 2-run HR in the 8th was a great way to slam the door on the Sox, and to begin the barrage of HR likely to come again this year. Bernie was the only starter not to collect a hit, but he did reach base, as well as driving in the first run of the year with a sac fly, which tied the game. Posada went 2 for 4, and more importantly received well for Johnson. Finally, new addition Tony Womack showed off his speed in turning one base into two, placing himself into position to score.

I knew all off-season that the Yankees had to beat the Red Sox the first time they saw them at all, which they did resoundingly in Spring training. I also knew that the first game of the season had to be won convincingly, and it was as well. I am not going to forecast the whole season based on one game, as last year proved that nothing is certain until the las outs in October. However, what needed to happen has happened, and now Carl Pavano takes the hill to keep it going. The impact of winning all three games agains the Sox should not be overlooked, as the Yankees can jump ahead and possibly stay ahead in the AL East.


Elsewhere, the Mets wasted a 3-run, 12K performance from Pedro when Looper gave up a GW HR to Joe Randa. Dimitri Young hit Three jacks for victorious Detroit, Richie Sexon hit two for Seattle. The Nationals lost their first of what should be many this year. Alex Sanchez became the first steroid suspension of the year, with a 10 day hit. Now the spotlight goes off the 50-60 HR guys, and onto players who use roids to merely compete.

Baseball is back, lets play ball.