First it was Yankees’ catcher Francisco Cervelli getting his wrist broken when Elliot Johnson of the Rays slammed into him at home plate. As a response, Joe Girardi said the Rays were playing too hard and that running over a catcher isn’t something you should be doing in Spring Training. By nature, that’s horrible logic; how can you tell guys trying to impress someone by playing hard not to hustle? Would Girardi prefer to have wusses on his team that are afraid of playing hard and trying to win, even if it is Spring Training? I don’t think so; I think he’s just speaking out of bitterness because his player was on the injured side of things.
Next, the Yanks dosed Evan Longoria of the Rays when they played again, and then an inning later Shelley Duncan slid into second base with his cleats up. He clearly spiked Akinori Iwamura intentionally, which was completely uncalled for. I’d call it nothing more than a bush-league response to what Johnson did. The benches emptied, though it wasn’t clear exactly what ensued. Then the Yankees couldn’t possibly top off the embarrassment they’d already created for themselves by complaining about another team playing hard. Or wait, could they?
Of course they did. They went out and let Billy Crystal take an AB in a game against the Pirates Thursday. Nothing like a slap in the face to the hundred of players in their organization and thousands more in professional baseball fighting for a spot on the 40-man roster, just praying to get an at-bat. I can easily tell you this, and have it confirmed by most ballplayers, that there almost isn’t anything more sacred in baseball than at-bats. For young guys trying to make it, they might only get 10 shots with a team. The difference between being a major leaguer and minor leaguer could depend on how they do in their few ABs. And when Billy Crystal strikes out just for kicks against Paul Maholm, that’s one less AB to go around to a kid trying to make the 40-man, or play an extra year in pro ball, or get placed in a higher class in the minor leagues. The Yankees are embarrassing themselves, and they’re embarrassing baseball. It’s truly despicable what they’re doing, and I’ll reserve no sympathy for them in the upcoming season.
