Bronx, N.Y., June 3, 2002 — And I wouldn’t characterize the Cathedral in the South Bronx as a place without joy either, but 114 years to the day since “Casey at the Bat” was first published, the mighty were vanquished tonight in the Bronx, and I tip my hat to Sidney Ponson (no matter how trying it is to be hat-tipping two consecutive days to the opposing team’s starting pitcher).
Sidney didn’t match the equally impressive 13 K’s notched by Roger in his seven-plus innings and 123 pitches (he only struck out five), but his 22-8 ratio in first-pitch strikes and the fact that he limited the reigning AL champs to five hits and three runs (only three and one, repectively, before starting the eighth after having already thrown 113 pitches) is plenty impressive.
We had a shot early and late before tying it even later. We followed Bernie’s two-out single in the first with four consecutive line drives (the misdirected shot by Robin to “dead” center being the most impressive), but suffered from hitting the “at-em” ball. And although we’ll outhit the O’s outfield, they can run down some shots, and the Pentagon and Administration only hopes they can design a missile-defense weapon half as effective as the way Gary Matthews Jr. tracked down Rondell’s no-out, one-on liner to the right field wall in the seventh.
But the tying rally was stirring, featuring, as it did, the bats of youngsters Nick (The Stick!) and Alfonso. And I could talk about the “wild” pitch by Roger in the second (I was thinking that he knew he had lost touch on the ball, but knew if he did anything but let it go it would be a balk anyway); the fact that their second run was scored by a guy who hit a grounder a foot to Jason’s right on which he froze (or stumbled); that I thought all NL guys could bunt but I guess Van is the exception; that Bordick should not have been able to pull Mo. But my raison d’etre here is to tell you some of what you may not have been able to see on YES or hear on CBS, so I’ll leave the game commentary off with one last observation: I was surprised (as were the Yankees) by the O’s attempt to catch Alfonso off second in the eighth on a “fake wheel” play! Starting Batista in and Bordick to third as if they actually expected Bernie to bunt, and then firing back to the suddenly retreating Bordick to catch the runner at second, was a brilliant attempt. I salute Hargrove and his staff who played all night the way they should, as if they had nothing to lose.
It was undeniably a beautiful evening, so still and peaceful that much about the flags that ring the outfield that I’m about to share was observed yesterday when they could easily be observed during that afternoon’s bluster. We were excited in the tier down the third base side tonight, knowing full well that two hard-throwing righties would be inducing lefty batters to deposit balls among us all night. And we weren’t disappointed. At times we felt under siege, as ball after ball caught so many not really paying attention unawares (I swear no one caught one until the eighth; are we developing into unprepared, clueless-in-the-art-of-playing-baseball fans?) The most entertaining was the carom shot on strike two to Singleton in the fourth that bounced off the hand of a fan in Box 618 (his other hand had a tray filled with drinks and food), bounced off his forehead and then landed among some happy fans several rows in front of him.
But on to the flags. Those somewhat in the know can tell you that the flags, or banners, that fly from poles above the outfield facade from left field to right field are daily checked and adjusted so as to reflect the relative positions of the three divisions in the American League. Thus the one appearing first (left-field-most) is the leader in the AL East (more often than not the Yanks of late, but almost exclusively the Red Sox this year), followed by second place and on to last place (Tampa Bay). The other two divisions are lined up the same way (first place is left-field most, and they continue toward last as they are mounted toward right field). However, not counting the big American Flag that is mounted on a pole in Monument Park between the two bullpens (with an MIA banner and the 100-year Yankee flag below it this year), there are 20 flags around the outfield, and the three divisions only have 14 teams.
So I finish with the details, and with a surprise. There is a huge (and very tall) speaker bank in center, and 11 flags fly to the left-field side of it, with nine on the right-field side. The left-field side, then, is pretty uncomplicated. The five banners of the AL East are separated from the five of the AL Central (Minnesota down to Detroit, but hey, they beat the Red Sox) by one American Flag. That leaves nine flags in right and only one four-team division (which happens to end it, from Seattle through Texas, the right-field most flag of the whole display).
The other five flags? Well, starting from center field, first there is the flag of the City of New York, then that of New York State, with the Flag of the Parks Department third. Adidas follows, through a deal they made with the Yanks several years back (the three-white-stripe coloring on both dugouts, and on the Stadium walls above the bleachers in left and right, display this as well). The fifth flag tonight was another American Flag, as it was yesterday afternoon, and at most dates. But here’s the surprise: When the Toronto Blue Jays were last here on May 22, that pole was occupied by a Canadian flag. I don’t know about you, but all the detail, and the attention to it, astounds, and pleases, me.
So there you have it. I’m a fan in love with that Stadium, but as disappointed in a loss as the next fan, particularly on this, the 70th anniversary of a day that Lou Gehrig hit four homers in a row against the A’s; we should be ashamed. But we’re in it, and tomorrow’s another night.
And a bonus (for myself and Sue really) for all those reading this on takehimdowntown.com, and a plug for all those Anglo-Saxon urges most often described in proverbs and sayings associated with Mr. Ben Franklin and his ilk. I could quote a myriad, but “Don’t put off until tomorrow what should be accomplished today” probably says it best. (And as an aside, kudos to Matt Villano, who egged us on.) On the way out of Gate 2 of the Stadium tonight, we noticed a new, huge billboard featuring Alex Rodriguez and selling somebody’s sneakers (running shoes, trainers, you name it) hanging over Babe Ruth Plaza at the corner of 161st and River in the Bronx. It invited those interested to check it out at their Web site: [email protected]. Sue pointed it out. What are the chances that the letters to the right of the @ sign would have spelled “takehimdowntown” if that URL was available? Thank God (really Sue and my nephew Brian) we got this thing off the ground!
YANKEE BASEBALL!!!