August 2008
Angel in the outfield: Juan Rivera
ANAHEIM — In Juan Rivera’s mind, the meeting
was long overdue and the time had come to settle the score and set the
skipper straight.
Enough was enough.
So an angry Rivera marched into his manager’s office, threw a tantrum,
and forced his way into the lineup. He went on to strike out three
times, drop two fly balls and cost his Tampa teammates a Florida State
League victory.
The year was 1999, he was in the Yankees organization, and it was the
last time the Angels’ outfielder lost his cool or complained about
playing time to a manager.
“I told the manager I needed to play that day and he was hurting my
career by not putting me in there,” Rivera said. “That was one of the
worst days of my baseball career, but I learned a lot. That helped me a
lot. You don’t complain, you just take advantage of the chances you
get. You never yell, you just play and have patience.”
Patience is not only the Venezuelan’s favorite word this season, it’s
the secret to his success. It’s landed him a regular role in the
Angels’ lineup since July and could pave the way for a lucrative deal
and everyday job in 2009. Rivera can become a free agent at the end of
the season.
“The season is six months long, and you never know what’s going to
happen or when your chance will come,” he said. “I know some players
like to go in the manager’s office and yell. They complain about the
playing time and make a big deal. I did that. I’ll never do that again.”
Rivera knows his best choice was to comply, not complain.
He had not played every day since 2006 and missed most of the ’07
season while recovering from a broken leg. His injury forced the club
to re-evaluate the depth in the outfield and it eventually signed Torii
Hunter to play center field. What happened next is common knowledge
around the league: Hunter’s addition created a logjam in the outfield
and at designated hitter with Hunter, Garret Anderson, Vladimir
Guerrero and Gary Matthews Jr. at the top of the depth chart and Rivera
at the bottom.
As a result, Rivera made only 13 starts in the first 83 games of the season. He hit .233 before the All-Star break.
“I know the situation and I know what was going on,” Rivera said.
“There is Gary Matthews, Vladimir, Garret Anderson and Torii Hunter.
There was no space for me. I under
stood that. It’s a business and you
have to be a professional. You pay a guy millions of dollars, and you
are going to give that person the opportunity first to play. I get
that. But this game is funny and things happen.”
What happened is Matthews struggled. Add a knee injury to Matthew’s
troubles and it opened to door for Rivera’s return. Rivera is currently
hitting .241 with nine home runs and 28 RBIs entering Tuesday’s action.
He has hit safely in 13 of his last 18 games. So far this season, he’s
made 13 starts at DH, 25 starts in left field and 11 starts in right
field. He has started 32 of the Angels’ last 36 games.
The Angels are 35-15 when Rivera starts.
“Since Juan has been in the lineup since early July, he’s showing the
production that we saw a couple of years ago before his injury and we
hope that keeps coming,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “Juan knew,
first of all, that coming into Spring Training, that coming off of a
serious injury, we really didn’t know how he was going to fit in. He
had a situation, but he never stopped working and he’s ready for any
opportunity however it presents itself.”
If Rivera seems optimistic about the remainder of the season, it’s
because he is. He has a career batting average over .300 after the
All-Star break and is a career .323 hitter in September. Yes, he takes
pride in shining in the second half, but is looking forward to showing
the Angels — or any team — he can play everyday for a full season. He
believes he is the same player that hit a career-high .310 with 23 home
runs and 85 RBIs in 2006.
“I’m a free agent at the end of the year, so at first I worried about
that a lot, because I wasn’t getting my at-bats I needed to get a new
contract,” Rivera said. “I know how hard it is to play every five or
six days. You play once a week, twice a week — that’s very tough.
That’s why I have to take advantage of the opportunity to help the team
now.”
Hollywood star: Manny Ramirez
LOS ANGELES – Nobody loves Manny more than Manny.
He loves the dreadlocks, the charisma and the way the crowd chants “Man-nee, Man-nee, Man-nee,” every time he strolls to the plate at Dodger Stadium. Ask him about the most popular player from the Dominican Republic to wear a Dodgers uniform and he’ll unapologetically pick one player ahead of guys like Pedro Astacio, Pedro Guerrero, Raul Mondesi and Jose Offerman.
Manny.
Dodgers coach Manny Mota never lies, especially when the Dominican legend is talking about left fielder Manny Ramirez.
“He’s Manny no. 1 and I’m Manny no. 2. He’s the big one and I’m the little one,” said Mota, in his 39th season with the Dodgers. “He’s had a tremendous impact on our team and this city. I can’ think of another hitter after Mike Piazza that has had this type of impact. He has the kind of impact that Fernando Valenzuela had as a pitcher.”
Fernandomania swept the city in the 1980s. Twenty-seven years later, talks of “Mannywood” and “Mannymania” are all the rage and he hasn’t even been in blue for a month. The proof is every where. Dodgers tickets sales are on the rise, Ramirez memorabilia are the hottest items at the park and those funky black wigs that are supposed to resemble Ramirez’s dreadlocks are selling, too.
“I’ve been an admirer of him for a long time and not just as a player,” Mota said. “Manny is a good person and anybody who knows him knows that. As a hitter, he’s really intelligent. He rarely swings as a bad pitch. He is special.”
It doesn’t hurt that Ramirez is on a roll. He’s hitting .387 with six home runs and 21 RBIs in his first 21 games with Los Angeles since being traded from the Red Sox on July 31. The change of scenery is exactly what the slugger needed.
“He is really happy here and he looks comfortable,” Mota said. “He was well received here by his teammates and the fans have embraced him. He is relaxed and he has peace. He has tranquility again.”
That’s an understatement. It took nine innings for Ramirez to profess his love for Los Angeles and the Dodgers.
“I love it,” he said after his first game with the Dodgers “I feel at home already. Put the word on me — I want to stay here. The weather is nice, the stadium is beautiful.”
“I want peace,” he later said. “After the game, I went out to dinner and nobody bothers you. In Boston, you go from the stadium straight home. That’s what I’m talking about. Some people recognized me, said congratulations, that’s it. I could go to the movies with my family. I’ve got nothing against Boston, but this is what I’m looking for. The game is supposed to be fun.”
Ramirez’s initial thoughts about staying in Los Angeles have been tempered (agent’s advice?) but it’s hard to ignore how well the outfielder fits in on the West Coast.
Ramirez isn’t the most popular star in Los Angeles, he’s not even the most popular athlete. Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is. The most popular athlete to play in Los Angeles and wear No. 99 was hockey great Wayne Gretzy.
Remember the L.A. Galaxy? David Beckham? Is Manny more popular than Beckham or even Posh Spice? What about USC football coach Pete Carroll? UCLA basketball?
The answer is no. He’s not even close. Well, not yet. And that’s a good thing if you ask Ramirez. He lived in fishbowl in Boston and what’s so good about being a big fish when you can’t enjoy a good swim every now and then?
“I couldn’t breathe there; it’s a small city and all on top of you,” he told the Los Angeles Times. “Here it’s spread out. I love it. I went out for sushi, sat back on a couch and no one cared. It’s like there’s 20 pounds less on my back here.”
Could he return to the East Coast? Sure, to any team but the Red Sox. Either team in New York is a possibility because Ramirez loves the spotlight on the field but his privacy off it. There are many places to hide and still have a life in New York — if that’s what a player wants. Tampa? Baltimore? Yes and yes. If the teams can afford him, that is.
You pay, he plays. A return to the American League could suit Ramirez because he could end up as a designated hitter in a few years.
But for now, Ramirez belongs to Los Angeles. And Los Angeles belongs to Ramirez.
“The weather here is great, it’s a friendly place and easy to adjust to,” Mota said. “You can concentrate on your hitting and just worry about playing your game. Look at Manny and you can tell he is happy here in Los Angeles.”
Manuel being Manuel (Corpas)
Panama’s Manuel Corpas wanted to be the next Mariano Rivera. He’s finding out that being himself could be a bigger challenge.
“This year has not gone like last year at all,” Corpas said. “I thought I was going to come in here and have a good year, but this is part of the game. It is better this happened early in my career, early in the season. I’m better now and I’m getting better every time.”
Last season, Corpas went 4-2 with a 2.08 ERA with 19 saves in 22 opportunities. This season, he lost the closer’s job in April, but has bounced back, pitching in other spots in the bullpen. For the season, he is 2-3 with a 4.20 ERA in 60 games. He has four saves in 11 save opportunities. Not bad. Not great, either. But in Corpas’ case, good is good enough.
“The command wasn’t there, the sink wasn’t there, the location wasn’t there — that’s a bad combination for a closer,” Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. “He went through a very painful experience, a lot of adversity. That being said, he’s worked himself into a very good spot, being very productive, setting up in front of [setup man] Taylor [Buchholz]. I would not be hesitant if [closer Brian] Fuentes was down for him to close again. It’s his second year, let’s not lose sight of that.”
When asked, the Rockies reliever blames himself. Corpas blames his lack of command for his lack of success early this season. He blames his mechanics. He blames expectations. But it’s not all his fault. The blame extends to those who saw Corpas during the last month of the season in 2007 and proclaimed him the next Francisco Rodriguez, Rivera and Francisco Cordero.
Yes, part of the blame goes to sports writers across the United States and Latin America, me included. Corpas is 25, not 35. He’s only pitched three seasons in the big leagues and has never been a closer for an entire season.
It’s funny how a marvelous sinker and good fastball can make a player look older than he is. The potential to be the next great closer from Panama is still there. Now, it’s time to let him develop in the seventh, the eighth and maybe one day, the ninth inning.
“It’s always possible for young players to think there is going to be more to the equation than what there was,” Hurdle said. “What I have told guys for years is that I learned the hard way myself. The enemy of good is great. If you want to go from good to great, it does not happen in a year. More often than not, it takes you away from being good in the immediate future. You get to be great by being good for a long time.”
Corpas’ path to greatness starts with a return to the basics. It starts with strike one, command of the strike zone, getting the first hitter out to start the inning and no walks. It starts with focusing on things he can control and not being overwhelmed with expectations — things he can’t control.
Corpas has grown. He says he’s learned more about himself this year than any other year in the game.
“Through it all, I understood what was happening and I’m staying positive,” Corpas said. “Now, I just have to keep going forward and doing the work.
“I’ve learned that if I feel bad on the mound, I am going to do badly. I know that how I work off the field carries over to how I do in the games. My concentration is a lot better. I am staying confident all of the time. My focus is on doing my work and not on what happened or what is going to happen.”
The approach has worked. Corpas’ ERA in April was 6.46 and his ERA for the month of May was 6.75. He posted a 3.55 ERA in June and has steadily improved during the last two months. Since the All-Star break, he is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 17 innings.
“He’s got a good arm. He’s very resilient,” Hurdle said. “Where he is now to where he was in April says a lot about this kid’s desire and his makeup.”
Corpas says he has improved by studying video and comparing his mechanics to last season. He’s also learned that hitters have adjusted to him and he must to do the same to hitters.
“This is part of the game,” Corpas said. “If you don’t have ups and downs in this game, you are not a baseball player. I just have to pitch and not worry about things. I just need to do my job.”
Our job is to let him. And maybe one day, we can use him in the same sentence as Rivera.
Pa'lante: Juan Salas
Pa’lante is Spanish slang for para adelante. It means to move forward, to go onward, but for Rays reliever Juan Salas it’s more than just a catchy saying in the Dominican Republic.
It’s his personal mantra. He has no choice but to move forward because it hurts too much to look back.
“I’m here now and this is where I want to be,” Salas said. “I’ve lost so much but you can’t dwell on that. You have to keep living and have faith.”
Last year, Salas was suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Last February, visa problems kept him from joining his Tampa Bay teammates for Spring Training and he was eventually placed on the club’s restricted list for 30 days upon his arrival in April. In May, he was sent to Triple-A Durham.
In retrospect, not being allowed to leave the island this spring and being forced to stay behind while the rest of organization prepared for the season was a blessing in disguise.
Salas’s older sister, Dulce Maria, passed away from a terminal illness at the family home in the Dominican Republic on the same day he was denied a visa. She was 35. Salas is 29.
“I’ve had a lot of problems this year, so much sadness in my family,” he said. “I lose my sister. I miss Spring Training. I didn’t know when I was going to pitch again or what was going to happen but I believe in God. God knows everything and we believe we will get through it. We are.”
He is. One day at a time.
Dulce’s death has changed the Salas family. The pitcher’s two other sisters, Magaly, 38, and Altagracia, 23, are still struggling to cope with her passing. His father Esmeraldo and mother Altagracia are trying to be brave. The parents still call their only son everyday, many times just to hear his voice or let him hear theirs. It has not been easy on Juan, either.
When he phones home to the Dominican Republic, the first thing he does when his mother answers the phone is ask how she is doing. Then he asks how Dulce Maria is feeling. Then he winces because he remembers she is gone.
It’s a hard habit for Salas to break. Call it a brother’s duty, especially in Latin America, but it is customary to ask about family members and send a greeting to the others present in the room when speaking to loved ones by phone. Salas is not sure when he’ll stop asking about Dulce Maria. He’s not sure if he wants to.
Maria Dulce is his inspiration. She reminds him that he must go pa’lante because his family needs him. Salas is the breadwinner of the family. Both of his parents are retired and they rely on him for financial and emotional support. The pitcher also has three young sons of his own.
It’s a lot to think about, especially when you are trying to get out big league hitters, but Salas says he tries not to put to much pressure on himself when he pitches. He escapes from his worries one inning at a time by necessity more than by choice.
“If I don’t put this stuff out of my mind when I’m on the mound, my family is not going to eat,” Salas said. “My mother is always reminding me to focus on the game and my job. She says when I’m out there pitching I need to forget about everything and just pitch. She says focus, focus, focus.”
His mother’s advice has worked.
At Triple-A Durham, Salas went 4-5 with a 2.62 ERA in 44 2/3 innings before his promotion to the big league club on Aug. 15. He’s made one appearance since then, allowing one hit, two runs, striking out two and issuing a walk in one inning against the Rangers on Aug. 17. Last season, Salas went 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA in 36 1/3 innings for the Rays.
On the field, the club is confident he can help them in the bullpen, especially with closer Troy Percival on the disabled list. Off the field, the Rays are aware of the pitcher’s situation and know they might have to help him as well.
“When it comes to a profession like this, sometimes people overlook some of the things that happen off the field, but I don’t,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “We are not robots. We are human beings.”
Salas was originally signed as a Minor League free agent by the Rays in 1998 and spent his first six professional seasons as a third baseman in the Rays’ system. He was converted into a reliever in 2005 and posted a 5.40 ERA for the Rays in eight games during his rookie season in 2006.
Things looked good. Things changed.
He was suspended May 7, 2007 by Major League Baseball and reinstated July 3. He pitched in 19 games for the Rays upon his return to the big leagues, posting a 3.57 ERA in 22 1/3 innings.
He chooses not to reflect on the events of last year.
“That was 2007, this is 2008,” Salas said. “I’m not looking back on that anymore. It’s been a long time since that time. A lot has happened. I can’t worry about that anymore. I have to go forward.”
That should come as no surprise. Salas knows no other way. Pa’lante is his way of life now.
Mannymania
Who knows how long Manny Ramirez will be in a Dodgers uniform after the season ends but he’s definitely enjoying the ride. The worn out phrase of Manny being Manny fits. He’s silly, he’s goofy and he’s hitting home runs. He’s having a ball … again. His teammates love him. But is that something new? Remember, he did the same thing in Boston. Believe it or not, there was a time when everybody (including media) loved Ramirez in Beantown. But … Ramirez soured. The media soured and management soured. Could that happen here in Los Angeles (or any team Ramirez plays with in the future)? Yep. Why not. It’s all about Manny being Manny. He has not changed and I don’t think he will. He’s a unique person and a great baseb
all player. Quirky for sure. The question is how much a team or a fan base will deal with in exchange for home runs and RBIs. Make no mistake, Ramirez is not a bad guy. Unique, yes. Gifted, yes. Predictable, sometimes. But there will come a time when he angers a manager or management. That’s just what he does. He’s not malicious about it. It just happens. He is who he is. He’s Manny being Manny. And people being people, accept it because he can crush a baseball and then resent him for it or question his behavior when it gets old.
Once upon a time, Mannywood loved Cleveland. He also loved Boston, too. Maybe LA is just what he needed. Maybe …
Josh Hamilton …
Rangers center fielder Josh Hamilton is arguably the most talented player in the game. I’m starting to believe he may be the nicest. He might be too nice.
On and off the field, Hamilton does what Hamilton does. He hits home runs, he drives in runs and keeps the team loose with a little silliness every now and then. He shares his story often and he hopes to help others by doing so. But taking batting practice (home run derby-style) in full uniform on the field at Rangers Ballpark less than 45 minutes before Friday’s game as part of a special Rangers weekend?
That takes the cake. He even brought his good buddy Clay Council from North Carolina to throw BP.
Did I mention Hamilton was the only one who hit on the field? And oh yeah, he’s going
on only a few hours sleep because he spent the last two days with his wife celebrating the birth of their third child.
That Hamilton only hit three home runs in 15 pitches or so doesn’t really matter. The fact that he even agreed to do it speaks volumes about what kind of a guy he is. I can’t think of any emerging superstar that would do it or even consider it. Players spend most of their time before a game … preparing for the game.
Don’t blame him if he never puts on a mini-home run derby before a game again. Nobody does that. Nobody. I hope those in attendance appreciated the gesture. Remember, it’s been a long season and he is still basically a rookie.
The guy is one of a kind.
"Give me your horse"
Rangers reliever Frank Francisco is sitting comfortably inside the fortress of couches in the middle of the Rangers home clubhouse like he always does but something seems off this afternoon. His elbows are resting on top of his knees, his fingers are tapping the side of his face and his nose is crinkled.
He’s quiet, which is rare, and he’s staring at the team chess board like it’s his worst enemy, which is even more rare.
On the couch to Francisco’s right, Ian Kinsler is shaking his head. Closer C.J. Wilson is
standing behind the couch to the left with his arms crossed and scratching his chin in deep thought.
Gerald Laird, sitting on the couch directly in front of Francisco, has stopped trash-talking but only because silence is sometimes the best way to get under the Francisco’s skin when you beat him in chess. There will be no Spanish taunting by Francisco, no bragging about how “a true player” eats pawns as a snack and no “taking Laird’s horses” today.
“Boo-ya!,” Laird yells.
Game over. Francisco walks away with a smile. Now, that’s normal. Life in the big leagues has taught Francisco to think before he acts, prepare before he performs and always be in control, especially in defeat. Today is not any different. So whether it’s a nerve-racking seventh or eighth inning appearance or a harmless board game against his buddy, “Frankie” has learned when to get excited and when to stay cool.
It’s part of who he is now.
That approach combined with effective pitching might land Francisco in the closer’s role one day. Veteran reliever Eddie Guardado, 37, will see regular action in the ninth inning now that Wilson’s elbow has him out for the season but Francisco will get a few opportunities to pitch in the final inning as well.
He can’t wait.
“Honestly, I want to be somebody special in the future,” Francisco said. “Maybe it won’t happen on this team, but I’d like to pitch in the eighth or ninth inning one day. But where they put me, I’m going to do the job because that’s the only way you have a job and have a chance to get better everyday.”
This season, Francisco is 2-3 with a 3.21 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 42 games. For his career, he is 8-6 with a 3.80 ERA and without a save in seven opportunities. His fastball ranges in the mid-to-high 90 mph range but he has been inconsistent at times with his secondary pitches.
But Wilson’s injury combined with Guardado’s age? What about the Rangers’ need for a closer now and in the future? The pieces appear to have lined up in Francisco’s favor. But ever the gamesman, he’s not going to force anybody’s hand. Life and chess have shown Francisco the value of patience.
“I have the ability to close,” he said. “I’m a strong pitcher and mentally
I am strong. I don’t let the things that are happening on the field or off the field affect me. That’s what you need. You need to have a good heart, a strong heart. I think I have that ability. If the opportunity ever comes up that I can be a closer, I’ll be ready for it.”
“Again, I don’t want to stick my neck out saying ‘I want this’ or ‘I want that’,” he continued. “I’m not going to say I have to pitch in ‘this inning’ or ‘that inning.’ I just want to do the job they want me to do. I have to focus on the things I can control. That’s something that has affected me in the past.”
A bad shoulder didn’t help matters. Francisco missed most of the 2005 and 2006 seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery. In retrospect, the time away from the game likely allowed his image and career to recover. As a rookie in 2004, Francisco went 5-1 with a 3.33 ERA but also became notorious for throwing a chair into the stands in Oakland after a fracas in the bullpen. Emotionally, he appears to have grown up. Physically, he could be even better than 2004.
“I see better command,” Laird said. “He has always had the stuff but sometimes it has been the command problems. He’s getting ahead of hitters and throwing strikes. He’s come a long way.”
Last season, Francisco went 1-1 with a 4.55 ERA in 59 1/3 innings. He says it was basically a tune-up for 2008. This season, he credits his good health and Guardado’s mentorship as the keys to his success.
“Last year, if I thought I had to be in ‘this situation’ or ‘that situation’ and I wasn’t, it would get to my head,” Francisco said. “I would wonder what was going on and what they were doing to me. I would think they didn’t like me. But now, thanks to Eddie I understand what I have to do.”
What Francisco needed was confidence and a pitching routine in between outings. He needed a set of workouts and daily tasks to keep him on track whether he was coming off a successful appearance or a lousy one. Guardado helped him find one.
“Francisco has a big heart and that’s what I look at. I don’t just look at the ball player,” Guardado said. “Francisco was a guy that just needed a little guidance. You just try to make this game as simple as possible and the most important thing is when you play this game, you want to succeed but you want to be the best at whatever it is your role is. What is going to get you there is your family and what’s in your heart. I told Francisco that and he took off.”
Family matters to Francisco in more ways than one. It was his father-in-law that reintroduced him to chess in 2005. Now, the reliever plays almost everyday.
It has become part of his daily routine.
“Chess makes time fly by and it opens your mind,” Francisco said. “I don’t think it helps you with your problems or situations on the field, but it helps you become stronger mentally. It’s like going to school and taking a class that you know is not going to help you in any way other than helping develop your mind.”
And as far as the daily catcher-pitcher chess rivalry goes, Francisco says Laird simply gets lucky every now and then. In other words, don’t listen to the catcher’s boasts.
“I can win two, three games in a row but he wins, and it’s like he won the world championship,” Francisco said. “He talks and talks. I play with passion when I play with him to get him off his game. We have so much fun.”
Experience has helped Francisco come up with a plan that works for him. Now the jovial Ranger is simply waiting on the right opportunity and possibly a rematch.
Gold Standard — Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh
I know fans at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington remember this day. I know I’ll never forget it. It was the first time in a long time that I saw veteran sports writers, public relations people, baseball players, and fans awestruck/starstruck by athletes. It was kind of a big deal. You just don’t show up for work and expect to see Olympic stars like Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh walking around, joking and shaking hands. It was a real honor for everyone at t
he park that day to meet athletes that represent the country. And they do it with such dignity. I imagine the feeling is similar to what people in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico and Puerto Rico feel when they meet the baseball stars that represent their homeland on the sport’s biggest stage — MLB.
Misty is married to Marlins catcher Matt Treanor.
R-e-l-i-e-f in Spanish is …
If all goes according to plan, Joba Chamberlain will back in the starting rotation. He will anchor the Yankees pitching staff in the future and he will be an All-Star one day.
When right-hander comes back from the disabled list, he will thank relievers Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras for making it all possible. Or at least he should. Without the emergence of the two Dominican pitchers, Chamberlain would probably still be in the bullpen and the “Joba the starter” phenomenon would still be a pipe dream.
While, Chamberlain is at it, maybe Ivan Rodriguez should join in. Rodriguez was acquired from the Tigers, traded for reliever Kyle Farnsworth in part because of the effectiveness Ramirez and Veras .
“I do what they tell me to do and I don’t control anything but what I do on the mound,”
Veras said. “I want us to win and do my little part that they need from me to win. Adding my little bit of sand to the pile is all I’m trying to do.”
Veras moved into the eighth-inning setup spot in place of Farnsworth. Ramirez has been used in a variety of roles. The acquisition of countryman Damaso Marte also bolsters a bullpen that has watched its importance increase with Chamberlain’s recent shoulder injury. In addition to Chamberlain, Chien-Ming Wang and Phil Hughes are also on the disabled list.
Who knows where the club would be without Ramirez and Veras?
“They’ve done a great job,” closer Mariano Rivera said. “Especially since we lost Joba (to the rotation) those young guys have done a tremendous job on the mound. They’ve been excellent.”
Veras is 2-1 with a 2.54 ERA and 41 strikeouts during 39 innings in 39 appearances. He pitched in 12 games during his rookie season for the Yankees in 2006, going 0-0 with a 4.09 ERA in 11 innings. Last season, he was slowed by a surgery to remove three bone chips in his pitching elbow but still managed to pitch in 9 1/3 innings during the regular season and make two appearances for the Yankees in the American League Division Series against Cleveland.
This season, he is healthy. He is also happy. He credits a strenuous off-season program he followed back home in the Dominican Republic for his recent success.
“I am just grateful to God that my arm is strong and I am doing what I know I can do,” Veras said. “I’ve been working hard and things are going good but this season is not over with. There is still a lot to do, a lot to accomplish with this team. We have to keep winning.”
The Yankees trail the American League East-leading Tampa Rays by 5 ½ games. The club is three games behind Boston and Minnesota in the race for the AL Wild Card. Those facts are not lost on Veras or Ramirez. They are just not going to obsess over them.
Ask Ramirez and he’ll say personal statistics are secondary to team goals. But he could brag if he wanted to. For the season, he is 3-0 with a 3.02 ERA in 41 2/3 innings over 38 games.
“I want what everybody wants and that is to get to World Series,” Ramirez said. “We all want the same thing in this clubhouse. I don’t let anything negative in my head. I don’t doubt myself. I believe in myself. I’m in the big leagues, too. I’m at the same level they are. I will get you out if you get in there or I will try. I want positive results. That is all anybody is thinking about.”
And no, he is not thinking Orioles first baseman Kevin Millar telling New York reporters Ramirez is a “cute little fella” that doesn’t throw hard. Ramirez has a mirror. He knows he is six-foot-three and weighs 165 pounds – maybe. So he’s not the biggest kid on the block. So what? He says if he had listened to all those that doubted him or judged him on his appearance he would have never made it to the Major Leagues.
“I don’t pay attention to what people say about me,” he said. “They call me skinny, this or that. I don’t care. I don’t need a body like Jose Canseco to play this game or generate my power. I’m a pitcher. I don’t have to be Barry Bonds. I don’t need to be Mark
McGwire. People will say what they want but I know I can pitch with what I have.”
Good stuff, confidence – borderline cockiness – and a lot of help from Rivera has proven to be a winning formula for the Dominican duo. They may never have a career like Rivera but that doesn’t mean they are not trying to be Rivera-like.
“You give up a home run, a walk or a hit, (Rivera) reminds you to focus on the next hitter,” Veras said. “If you get in certain counts, he says which pitch is going to be there. When you have a hitter in certain situations, he tells you what they look for. You have a guy like that and he can help you every single day.”
Help the Yankees is all Ramirez and Veras want to do. A thank you note from Chamberlain or I-Rod wouldn’t hurt, though.
Silent Bob
It’s summertime in Texas and it’s scorching outside. The clubhouse clock reads 5:10 p.m. and stretch starts in twenty minutes. The second of two Yankees team buses arrived at the ballpark from the team hotel in Dallas thirty minutes earlier at 4:40 p.m. and yes, the club is taking batting practice on the field in the heat.
Game time is 7:05 p.m. If both clubs are lucky the temperature will drop to the high 80s by fifth or sixth inning at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. If they are really lucky, neither clubhouse runs out of ice cream.
The Yankees trail the Red Sox and are only a few games ahead of the Rangers in the American League Wild Card standings (the Rangers?) so the team is working hard. Clichés are not only commonplace in the New York clubhouse, they seem appropriate.
Every game matters. Every series is a big series. We’re taking it one game at a time.
It’s fifteen minutes before stretch. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter arrives in a dark suit. Nobody blinks. He’s the captain so he does what he wants when he wants because he does what he does on the field when it matters and he will be in the Hall of Fame one day. Newly acquired catcher Ivan Rodriguez has been at the park for almost two hours. Third baseman Alex Rodriguez has been hanging out for at least an hour.
Bobby Abreu is nowhere to be found. Nobody is worried. The Venezuelan will be clocking in soon. Going to work is what he does so calm down.
Be cool.
“Bobby has been a good player for a long, long time,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “He’s the kind of guy that hits his 25 (home runs), drives in 100 and steals 25 or 30 bases and he does it every year. He’s a very consistent player and you know what you are going to get from him.”
This season is not any different. Abreu, 34, is hitting .291 with 15 home runs and 76 RBIs. Since 2001, Abreu has averaged 22 home runs and 103 RBIs a season. His career batting average is .300. He was acquired by the Yankees via a trade from the Phillies in 2006 and becomes a free agent at the end of the season. He wants to stay in pinstripes a few more years and is keeping his fingers crossed.
“I’m a free agent at the end of the year so you understand how that is,” Abreu said. “Here is where I want to be, but we still have this season to play. There’s still a long time before we talk about that.”
When the time comes, it should be a quick and easy conversation.
If the Yankees act like the Yankees of the past then Abreu should get his wish. Remember, this is the club that signed Carl Pavano (to pitch) and Johnny Damon (to play center field) to long-term deals and neither has lived up to the expectations. Re-signing Abreu, a player that has shown few signs of slowing down, should be a no-brainer.
“Things have been great here. I really like it,” Abreu said. “This is a team that’s always in competition for the playoffs and it seems like you always have the opportunity to make it to the World Series. You can’t find that everywhere.”
Winning is important to Abreu. He spent 9 ½ seasons in Philadelphia without appearing in the postseason. Before 2006, his only other playoff appearance came in 1997 while with the Houston Astros.
He makes no secret about not wanting to lose anymore. Don’t even ask him how he feels because he is always fine. He’s ready. He’s chevere, Spanish for cool, or tranquilo, which basically means the same thing.
“Bobby wants to play everyday and he prepares himself to play everyday,” Girardi said. “He gets mad if you give him a day off. He’s great to have. He has a great attitude. Everyone loves him.”
It’s 5:20 p.m. Stretch starts in 10 minutes. Abreu walks into the clubhouse garbed in designer jeans and a designer t-shirt. Just like in Philly, he still carries a cloth bag with him. It used to be a simple backpack but now it appears to be a fancier sort, at least on this day. It’s nice and fitting of a big city star athlete.
No surprise there.
Abreu likes the finer things in life. But then again, who doesn’t? Expensive cars, fashion, traveling the world, and great food are a part of his world. New York is his kind of town. But so is his hometown of Maracay, Venezuela. Caracas, the busiest city in the country, is also a favorite.
He likes how he can blend in at times in Manhattan. He likes being quiet Bob in The City. He’s rock star Bobby in Latin America.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Abreu is quick. By 5:25 p.m., he is ready to hit the field. His pre-stretch gear: basketball shorts and the faded navy t-shirt that reads “Attaboy” on the front and “Bobay!” on the back is in his locker. He takes out his headphones, grabs his glove and heads for the door with a couple of minutes to spare.
Wait! Did he put his phone on vibrate?
Yes.
Abreu is really ready now. It’s time to go to work. Nobody is worried.
Everything is chevere.
As usual.
Tranquilo. He’s Bobby Abreu. Maybe he shows up an hour or two earlier tomorrow. He always shows up when it’s time to play.
Jesse Sanchez
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