The House that Ruth Built

I didn't know until yesterday that Bobby Murcer had brain surgery. A colleague told me that it was for an aneurysm, but I learned this morning that it was for a brain tumor. There's no report yet on whether it was benign or malignant or on his prognosis. I wish the same for Bobby Murcer that I would wish for anyone who's just had a brain tumor removed. That he recover completely, that the tumor is benign, and that the tumor doesn't grow back. Yet this one hits a little closer to home since it's someone who while I don't know personally do know in a way. I watched him as a player growing up, remember his heroics in the Yankees first game after the death of Thurman Munson, and have known him all these years as an announcer. I don't think much of him as an announcer; still, he comes across as a gentleman and a genuinely nice man. Of course, I would still root for his recovery if he weren't a good person. But the fact that he is makes me root and care a little bit more. Best wishes for a full and complete recovery Bobby.

Cross posted on Plum Crazy.

Posted by Jon at 06:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Yankees fans are nothing if not loyal. Once a player worms his way into our heart, it's hard to dislodge him. Scott Brosius was a mediocre ballplayer, yet he will always be loved by today's fans for his big homeruns in the 1998 and 2001 World Series. Three words: Scotty Brosius, MVP! Paul O'Neill was serenaded like few players are serenaded in Game 5 of the 2001 World Series, and on the downside of his career, Bernie Williams is more beloved than ever, as fans realize his playing days are coming to an end.

Thus, I am sure that most Yankees fans are like me pumped that Andy Pettitte is coming back. Not only was he a key cog during the 1996-2003 run of excellence - he pitched the game of a lifetime in Game 5 of the 1996 World Series - but he was an easy guy to like. A good citizen, hardworking, and humble. There was a period early in his career when the sentiment was that he lost it, but he rebounded and showed a heart of stone as he came through time and time again during the regular season and big playoff moments. Sure, he had his clunkers in the post-season, but he came up big in several clutch situations.

Bringing Pettitte back brings back someone who is beloved and someone who should round out the rotation nicely. He still seems to have plenty left, even if there is a question mark about his elbow. He should slot in nicely behind Chien-Ming Wang in the rotation and give them another arm they can count on in the playoffs. With a front three of Wang, Pettitte, and Mussina, they have the type of staff good enough to carry them through post-season series. Pettitte also gives the Yankees depth. They now can keep Jeff Karstens, Daryl Rasner, and the not-quite-ready-yet Philip Hughes at Triple A, along with newly acquired Humberto Sanchez, giving the Yankees numerous options if someone - hello Randy Johnson and Carl Pavano - is hurt.

The Yankees made a good off season potentially great with the signing of Pettitte. Welcome back Andy!

Posted by Jon at 07:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Joel Sherman opines today that Mark McGwire doesn't deserve to in the Hall of Fame because steroids made him into the "great" ballplayer he turned out to be:

For the first 990 games of his career, a period from 1986-94, McGwire was an injury-prone first baseman who produced an offensive performance roughly equivalent to that of [Jay] Buhner. . . Then, suddenly, McGwire's career swerved toward greatness. His body broadened and his success soared.

Sherman has a compelling point. From 1996-1999, McGwire's batting average spiked to .289 and his median number of homeruns was 62. Contrast that to the pre-1995 McGwire. Tossing out 1993-1995, in which he missed considerable time, leaves us with dramatically different numbers for McGwire earlier in his career. His batting average was .248 and median number of homeruns was 36 between 1987 and 1992.

Granted, neither Sherman nor I have proof that McGwire started injecting steroids after 1994, but the circumstantial evidence is hard to ignore. Based on these numbers, I'd have to agree with Sherman that McGwire does not belong in the Hall of Fame.

Cross posted on Plum Crazy.

Posted by Jon at 07:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)