Joe Torre: Mitchell Report May Be Incomplete

From ESPN:

A total of 20 current and former Yankees were identified in Mitchell’s report. Torre said the high total likely was due to two of Mitchell’s primary sources being from the New York area: McNamee and former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski.

“It made it look like a lopsided report,” Torre said. “Plus, don’t forget, the Yankees have so many people coming through there on a year-to-year basis. We changed over quite often, whether it would be a player for the month of May, a player for the month of September. But I think the big part of it was the access, where these two people were both based in New York.”

Torre suspects use may have been more widespread.

“When you’re talking about 80 players that supposedly were using one thing or another, to me it may be an incomplete report,” he said. “The only thing I do know is that the most important thing for us in baseball is to make sure that when we take the field, that the fans trust us. So whatever we have to do to make that happen, I think that’s important.”

Joe’s very right about the primary sources for the report. Mitchell predominantly utilized two employees that worked for New York teams (Kirk Radomski-Mets, Brian McNamee-Yanks) and therefore, it seems logical to assume that they would know mainly about the users for those teams and not other teams.

He’s also right about the quick turnover by the Yankees organization (especially pitchers). One can argue that it is precisely this quick turnover which convinces players to use steroids, but that claim is still very hard to support. These are some good points by Torre that many of us have openly discussed, I’m sure.

When asked about Clemens, Pettitte, and their involvement in the Mitchell Report, Joe Torre handled himself well (of course) and stayed far away from the question, only stating that they’re two very “proud individuals” that like to do “the right thing.”

Hmm.. sometimes I wonder if Joe will be bored in LA.

MLBTR: 2009 Free Agents Under 30

MLB Trade Rumors provides us with this intriguing list of fairly young, free agent talent come 2009. Some key names included in this list are Mark Teixeira, Adam Dunn, Francisco Rodriguez and C.C. Sabathia. Santana could also be included if the Twins keep him for 2008.

I’m a dreamer, so let’s go through some quick scenarios for the Yankees.

In 2009, the Yankees will have rid themselves of Jason Giambi (buy out), Mike Mussina, Carl Pavano (buy out), and Andy Pettitte (sorry if the word “rid” offends people). That’s almost $60 million right there, free and clear for use on this great class of 2009 talent.

If all goes well, prepare yourselves for a rotation that features Wang, Sabathia, Hughes, Joba, and Kennedy (or maybe Santana if he stays in Minnesota), with Mark Teixeira at 1B. He’d probably be one of the better bats out there to protect Alex Rodriguez.

I also wouldn’t be surprised if the Yankees made a run at Rafael Soriano to supplement the bullpen. He’d be a nice addition (K-Rod would not happen as a set-up guy).

Does This Look Strange to Anyone?

I’ve been over to the Sports Illustrated website a bunch of times over the past week or so. Each time I visit the site, I’m greeted with this fine picture of Dave Parker (right) and Jim Rice (left), as they both attempt to gain entry into baseball’s Hall of Fame.

I for one think that both players could be in the Hall, although it is debatable as to if this feat could possibly occur (Jim Rice probably sooner than Parker, if he even gets in at all). However, HOF debate is not necessarily the main point of this blog entry.

My thoughts relate primarily to this picture.

When I saw it at first, I didn’t think much of it. Then, as I repeatedly returned to the SI website, it struck me as odd and out of place. “Why?” I asked myself as I gazed upon two legends of the game. Why exactly did I feel this way? At that point, I simply realized that seeing two black baseball players (wearing two distinct jerseys) standing side by side was something I haven’t really seen all that much of in baseball (lately).

With the MLB, we’ve all heard of the downward trend in the racial demographics, particularly for African American (or black) players. In fact, when the 2007 season started, a grand total of 72 players listed on opening day rosters (all teams) were black players. That’s a little over 8% of baseball and it truly is a startling figure that was showcased this year, in April, as we commemorated Jackie Robinson’s breaking of the color line in baseball (April 15, 1947).

I guess this is why this picture was strange to me. Or maybe it was strange seeing an African American male wearing a Red Sox uniform (if Coco Crisp is traded, there will be no black players in their starting lineup). Either way, although the racial disparities in baseball’s current population are disturbing, I cannot help but to wonder about the hardships Jim Rice and Dave Parker experienced as black players during much more racially tumultuous times.

When looking back, we often hear of Jim Rice and Dave Parker as cold and vague with the sports media (or even fans) during their respective careers (Jim Rice especially). However, one has to wonder whether or not the racial climates of the cities that they played for had any effect on these interactions.

Jim Rice established his Hall of Fame legacy as a Boston Red Sox, while Boston was a tremendously racist town. Rice made his debut against Chicago on August 19, 1974. At the time, Boston was experiencing a period of “desegregation busing” or “forced busing,” a ruling that came that year (1974) and was an attempt to stabilize racial demongraphics in public schools. Minorities (typically black students) were being brought to certain schools in order to create some form of racial equilibrium and end the system of implicit segregation (which was actually declared unconstitutional in 1968, yet was still being practiced).

This legal ruling by Judge W. Arthur Garrity Jr. (who was personally attacked after his decision) was tremendously criticized by Boston residents. Many of the groups who were in opposition to any form of forced busing (primarily due to racial intolerance) actually took their hatred and ignorance to the streets, publically beating black Boston residents like Ted Landsmark, who was almost impaled by an American flag, as a group of young white men attacked him at Boston’s City Hall (while protesting Garrity’s ruling).

All of this was going on as Jim Rice was just hitting the field for Boston. Nonetheless, none of this is truly a surprise, as the history of the Red Sox (a reflection of the Boston area) as a racially unjust organization is well documented.

When thought of in retrospect, this is an amazing task for a man to face when he is essentially viewed as an enemy by a large contingent of Boston fans who were supposed to be “his” fans, simultaneously. Maybe this can shed some light on Jim Rice’s media demeanor, or maybe the two were never directly connected. Either way, it seems hard to realistically seperate them.

For Rice, I didn’t even get into the racism he may have directly experienced (by fans, ownership, players?) while playing for the team. Instead, simply introducing the context which he lived in and played baseball in, definitely serves as an indication to what he was facing as a prominent black man in Boston (he still managed to put up historic figures).

Dave Parker, on the other hand, can provide us with some perspective on such a topic.

Parker, while playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates for most of the 70’s and early 80’s became a racially implosive figure due to his sheer dominance as a ballplayer and the rewards which would soon follow his performance. As the 1970’s ended and the 1980’s began, Parker was coming off of two tremendous seasons (in 78 he was awarded NL MVP, 79 he was the All Star Game MVP and helped the Pirates win a WS title against the Orioles) and for his achievements, was rewarded with a very lucrative contract.

However, things didn’t get much better for Dave Parker in Pittsburgh.

Here’s a descriptive portion of Richard Scheinin’s book ”Field of Screams” that details what Parker went through (pg. 370).

Unfortunately as the the decade closed, two things happened: Parker’s salary soared astronomically, and Pittsburgh’s blue-collar steel-based economy collapsed. “Here comes Dave Parker,” says Pirate baseball historian Paul Adomites, painting the scene, “a six-foot-five-inch black man with a large attitude and a diamond in his ear, making a million dollars, and the people were being laid off at the mills, and it was a little too much for them to handle.” On Opening Day 1980, someone threw a bag of nuts and bolts just past Parker’s head in right field. On a Sunday in July, 43, 194 fans poured into Three Rivers Stadium for Willie Stargell Day and a doubleheader against the Dodgers. There were more missles thrown at Parker, and when, in the eighth inning, a nine-volt transistor radio battery hummed past his cap, Parker left the game.

Scheinin goes on to address Parker’s reaction to his so-called fans, which seems somewhat similar to Jime Rice’s situation:

The greatest Pirate outfielder since Clemente was under physical attack by his hometown fans, and he didn’t forgive them. He attacked them in the press, and as his batting average plummeted over the next couple of years, and as word spread that Parker had a drug problem (cocaine), the fans of working-class Pittsburgh grew more belligerent.

Now, as you can see, black figures in baseball have always had one hell of path to follow, especially when racism and ignorance are involved. Jim Rice and Dave Parker are no different, as they were tremendous ballplayers, visions of excellence during some extremely reprehensible times. But, as HOF’ers do, they played through the hardships, no matter how terrible they were or how prominent they may have been during their particular careers.

When viewing that picture at SI’s website, I must say, it is a rather breathtaking moment when you realize the racial history captured by these two players alone. In terms of the HOF debate, I recently read a post from the True Yankees Blog which criticized an article (on the Yankees’ website) that asked if Chuck Knoublauch had a chance of being in the HOF someday.

Chuck Knoblauch has nothing to do with this post, but, the the author of that entry brought up three specific guidelines that must (according to the author) be utilized when judging a guy’s HOF eligibility. The three factors were:

1. Flashes of Brilliance
2. Unreal Career Numbers
3. Greatness

Now, when viewed alongside the racial history of American society and the racially volatile context in which Jim Rice and Dave Parker played, is it wrong to say that they reached a level of greatness that extends beyond baseball’s traditional notions of the word? They’ve already displayed flashes of brilliance (multiple awards) and phenomenal career numbers.

It appears as though social context is left out nowadays when evaluating a player. Of course, that’s not the case when steroids are in play, but racism and equality have no effect on the numbers, so I guess they don’t count.

If writers would take this stuff a bit more seriously, then maybe we wouldn’t get quotes like this one, from ESPN’s Jayson Stark, as he describes Jim Rice.

“My reservation about Rice is that he was a one dimensional player…You essentially have to vote him in as a hitter only, because he DH-ed extensively. He gave you no speed, no Gold Gloves, no off-field ‘character-and-integrity’ points.” Jayson Stark, ESPN.com, 1/15/2001

Really? None whatsoever?

Put Him Away Already

It seems as though Jim Leyritz was apparently driving (drunk) and with a suspended license at the time of his recent accident (which cost a young woman her life). Bad to worse, indeed. This guy is still creating memories alright.

Controversy Regarding the New Stadium

Here’s an eye-opening report by Juan Gonzalez (not the guy we ”signed“) of the Daily News, which details a few of the many issues that are slowly becoming public in regards to the new Yankee Stadium (e.g. raised parking prices, the true cost of parking garages for taxpayers, private garages for luxury box VIPs, players, security and other personnel, etc.).

Gonzalez informs us that in 2010, we can expect to pay $29 dollars for stadium parking at the home games. He also provides us with another scary figure, $35, as the cost of parking (basic gameday parking) in 2014 could end up skyrocketing to that amount.

By the time you pay for gas to drive down to the stadium, pay for stadium parking, get a program, buy food at the stadium, and then leave, you’ll be spending about a hundred, easy. But hell, remember, you can always take public transportation to cut down on the costs and get drunk before the game even starts. I guess that works.

Yankee Stadium has become a strange place lately. You go to the games and on your right, all you have are a bunch of ”fans” talking on their cell phones, discussing business matters, conducting conferences during a 3-2 count, and then you’ll have twenty Red Sox fans to your left, screaming something homophobic about Derek Jeter. I hope that the relentless prices at the new stadium won’t scare off some of the “better” fans from attending the home games.