From Saturday’s New York Post. Tip of the hat to Surviving Grady for finding it first! |
As I listen to the “Let’s Go Red Sox” chant ringing through CBP and I realize I’ll probably still be watching this game at midnight (it’s about twenty past ten as I start this) I figured why not write something tonight? But what to write about since the game is still ongoing?
How about the tremendously large yaps of the New York Yankees lately?
Where to begin? How about with Brian Bruney? (How many of you just said “Who’s Brian Bruney?” Exactly.) Bruney, while rehabbing, decided to opine about Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez after Friday’s Yankee win:
“Unbelievable, I’ve never seen anything like that,” Bruney told Ashmore. “I have, but in high school. Couldn’t have happened to a better guy on the mound, either. He’s got a tired act. I think that’s bad, but two years ago, when he lost the game…I don’t know if anybody saw it, I did. He was in Oakland and he was pitching for Anaheim, didn’t get a call, and so he was like complaining. The catcher threw it back and he just kind of did one of these (Bruney half-heartedly holds his arm out) and hit off his glove and bounced behind and the guy from third scored and they won the game. He gets what he deserves, man. I just don’t like watching the guy pitch. I think it’s embarrassing.â€
Did I mention that Bruney is rehabbing in Trenton? Hasn’t played much this season, let alone has he faced K-Rod. Oh yeah, and there’s a player on his team who does the same kind of histrionics as K-Rod in the middle of games. Glass houses and all, jackass.
K-Rod had his own words for Bruney when told of what he said after today’s Mets win:
“He better keep his mouth shut and do his job and not worry about somebody else,” Rodriguez said. “If it came out from somebody big, I might pay attention to it. But somebody like that, it doesn’t bother me.”
That, my friends, is called being put in your place. But there’s more from K-Rod!
“Instead of sending a message through the paper, next time when he sees me at Citi Field come up to me and say it to my face. Don’t be sending a message through the media. I don’t even know who that guy is. Somewhere in Double-A? I believe he hasn’t even pitched one full season. He’s always been on the DL. That’s all I know right now.â€
Wondering what got to Bruney? How about his manager being a jackass as well? Apparently, a day after Brad Penny hit A*Rod with a pitch, Joe decided he wanted to tell the world that Penny plunked him on purpose and should be punished.
“Penny’s control was pretty good. We hit [Jason] Bay [Tuesday]. I always feel if it’s intentional, [the pitcher] should be suspended. I didn’t care for him hitting him in that situation. That’s my opinion, I am not 100 percent sure.”
He might not have been 100% sure but that didn’t stop the Yankees from calling MLB and asking that Penny be suspended. I’m beginning to think that Girardi is at the end of his rope when it comes to the Red Sox and he’s just throwing shit against the wall to see what sticks.
In all fairness, I should post what Penny’s response was to Girardi’s accusation. Thanks to Adam Kilgore, I can do that right here:
“I don’t give two f—- what Joe Girardi says,†Penny said. “I’m coming inside. I don’t care. Anybody can say that. We can say that about the time they hit our guys. I’m just trying to pitch inside. Maybe he should worry about managing and not trying to be the commissioner.
“Why wouldn’t he say that the night before? Don’t wait a day, then say it. He should worry about managing and let the umpire crew do their job.â€
Here is where I propose my undying admiration to Mr. Penny. Nothing like cutting to the chase, Brad. Well done.
But my favorite of all these outburst to the media comes from Mark Teixeira. You all remember Mark. Jerked around the Red Sox to get the Yankees to up their price, knowing all along that he wouldn’t be signing with Boston. The guy who practically begged Red Sox fans to boo him when he first showed up at Fenway in pinstripes. That guy. When the Red Sox swept the Yankees this week, John Henry tweeted (how did I have no idea Henry used Twitter? As I told Rob Bradford, finding his tweets was like Christmas in June!) a simple line: “the MT curse?”. When I read it, I laughed out loud. It was a joke and, I thought, a funny one. I understand why Mark Teixeira wouldn’t think it was funny but his response to it not only told us that but it told us a little more about Mark. I guess I’m disappointed to find out that he’s a big a doofus as he looks.
“How old is Mr. Henry?” Teixeira asked of Henry, who is 59. “There is no reason for me to get into any war of words with some 70-something-year-old man. It doesn’t make sense.” The Teixeira-Red Sox discord dates back to 1998 when Teixeira declined to sign with Boston out of high school. It continued this off-season when the Red Sox appeared to be the favorites to sign him before the Yankees swooped in.
“Everybody knows the Yankees paid the most,” Teixeira said. “This is a business. It was a family decision and a business decision. They can have their opinions — that’s fine. I made the best decision for me, and it’s worked out great.”
“You guys make that decision,” Teixeira said when describing his actions compared to Henry’s. “Whose reputation looks better?
Mark, really, you can say all that and then ask whose reputation looks better? Without giving it more than a second of thought I’m fairly certain that most anyone who reads all of the above will say “Not yours, sunshine”.
I’m thoroughly enjoying this new Yankee era. Gone are mystique and aura. Say hello to bellyacher and bore.