NYY News

[RockRaines]

Bernie, Yanks playing catch-up to Rowand's show

 

BY JULIAN GARCIA

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

 

White Sox center fielder Aaron Rowand had his 10-game hitting streak snapped yesterday when he went 0-for-4 in Chicago's 2-1, 10-inning win over the Yankees at the Stadium.

 

But even though he went hitless, Rowand made his contribution from center field. Like in the previous two games, Rowand's glove-work did major damage to the Yankees' hopes of proving themselves against the team with the best record in baseball.

 

Rowand made six putouts yesterday. Though he never left his feet, he made the spacious Yankee Stadium outfield look like a Bronx backyard. "He stole a lot of hits," said Derek Jeter, one of several Yankees impressed by Rowand's fielding. "If he didn't make some of those catches, we probably score a few more runs."

 

What made Rowand stand out even more was the inevitable comparison to the play of Bernie Williams, who started in center for the Yankees yesterday for the first time in the series. Williams, who has had trouble tracking down balls and throwing all season, did not make any errors yesterday, but did not appear as nimble as his 27-year-old counterpart. In the 10th, Juan Uribe hit a ball to right-center that Williams may have gotten to in his younger days. After tracking it down near the wall, Williams lofted a throw to cutoff man Robinson Cano, who was unable to throw to third before Uribe slid in with a triple. Uribe later scored the winning run.

 

There's no way of knowing if Rowand would have gotten to the ball Uribe hit. But judging by the way Rowand played all series, no one would have been surprised if he did, not even Williams. "He was all over the place," said Williams, one of baseball's best center fielders throughout his 15-year career. "He was a great part of their success during the whole series. It seemed like he was able to stop the offense at times."

 

This is Rowand's fifth season in the big leagues. He's also proven he can hit, batting .310 with 24 home runs in 2004 and .286 with nine homers so far this season.

 

Rowand said he is a fan of the tradition of the Yankees, so he knows how much prestige comes with roaming center field at the Stadium. "I remember my first game out there in 2001," Rowand said. "I stood out there and had chills all game thinking about Joe (DiMaggio) and (Mickey) Mantle."

 

While some outfielders are intimidated by the size of the Stadium's outfield, Rowand said he likes playing there because it's a place where great catches can be made. "I can't remember having a series like this," he said, "but there were a lot of opportunities. You can actually get to balls and catch them. There's a lot of room out there in this park in the gaps where you can run."

[RockRaines]

and another...

 

Rowand covers ground

 

 

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BY JOE GERGEN

STAFF WRITER

 

August 11, 2005

 

The series ended the way it started, with a long drive by the Yankees dying in the glove of Aaron Rowand on the warning track.

 

Less than 48 hours after the White Sox centerfielder ran down Derek Jeter's bid for a triple leading off the first inning Monday, he hauled in Robinson Cano's attempt for a tying extra base hit with two out in the 10th inning yesterday.

 

 

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The Yankees lost two of three one-run games when they could least afford it and the most significant difference between the teams may have been the play of Rowand.

 

Even Bernie Williams, who couldn't catch up with Juan Uribe's triple off Mariano Rivera in the top of the 10th that led to the winning run in Chicago's 2-1 victory, acknowledged that his counterpart short-circuited the Yankees' offense with his glove.

 

"He was all over the place," said Williams, who won four Gold Gloves as a centerfielder. "He was a big part of his team's success for the whole series."

 

It's no secret that the position has been almost as much a problem for the Yankees this season as starting pitching. Yet, even when the Yankees got superb efforts from castoffs Shawn Chacon and Aaron Small against the team with the best record in baseball, they couldn't capitalize. Once again the problem was centerfield, but this time it was the ability of the opponent. Rowand covered too much ground.

 

"That centerfielder over there put on an absolute clinic," said Alex Rodriguez, who sent the outfielder to the wall with a long drive in the first inning. Yet, he wasn't sure how to pronounce the man's name.

 

"Roland?" he guessed. Rowand remains largely anonymous even after enjoying his first big offensive season - 24 home runs, a .310 average - last season. In manager Ozzie Guillen's opinion, he should already have won a Gold Glove.

 

"That probably would be the best honor anyone could bestow on me," Rowand said, "because I take pride in my defense."

 

At 27, he has plenty of time to turn heads. And he knows enough about history to appreciate the stage on which he excelled. "My first time here, in 2001, I got chills thinking of Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and the great players who had played there," Rowand said.

 

Four years later, he played the position as if he owned it.

 

"The type of opportunities I got here don't come along a lot," he said. "I'll go two weeks without getting balls like this to catch."

 

His favorite? "Probably the one against Jeter," Rowand said. "I'll put that one in the memory bank."

 

So will the Yankees.

[RockRaines]

another..

 

 

As Boss burns, cost-efficient Sox make cents

 

August 11, 2005

 

BY JAY MARIOTTI SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

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NEW YORK -- The $252 million deodorant pitchman was talking by his locker about the $2 million flyhawk of the White Sox. Alex Rodriguez didn't mention Aaron Rowand by name, quite possibly because he doesn't know his name. And the surprised tone in his voice suggested he'd never watched Rowand play much before this week.

 

But the words? They exploded with respect like a ball off A-Rod's bat. "That center fielder put on an absolute clinic,'' he said Wednesday after another Sox victory. "I was impressed by their team over there. They pitch well, but they play defense very well.''

 

I invoke salary figures because the Sox, the Best Team Money Can't Buy, have just finished beating down a Yankees cyclops that carries the burden of a $205.3 million payroll and the accompanying wrath of an increasingly bitter George Steinbrenner. Please don't confuse this as another sappy Chicago-media attempt to curry favor with Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, who has lowballed his payroll for years and, by no coincidence, hasn't appeared in a World Series in a quarter-century of ownership. But in winning two of three at Yankee Stadium with their clever, industrious, wear-them-out style of ball -- while exposing the Yankees as an uptight, bloated and broken-down blob -- the Sox finally seemed to be making Reinsdorf's point for him after all these seasons of also-random.

 

You can beat the behemoths without blowing the bank account.

 

"We find a way to win without scoring any more than you have to,'' said Rowand, the working symbol of South Side cost-efficiency.

 

Money doesn't matter -- for now

 

Of course, if the Sox fall short in the postseason, it might have something to do with not making the Ken Griffey Jr. deal. Or the A.J. Burnett deal that had to include the fat contract of Mike Lowell. But for now, sit back and enjoy how Neal Cotts, the $330,000 reliever, was the winning pitcher while future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera, at $10.5 million, took the rare loss. And how Juan Uribe, the $2.15 million shortstop, started the winning rally with a 10th-inning triple while Derek Jeter, he of the $19.6 million salary and $189 million contract, struck out with a runner on first in the bottom of the 10th and went 1-for-12 in the series. And how Dustin Hermanson, at $2 million, notched his 30th save in 31 opportunities amid lingering back soreness and doubts his health will hold up in October. And how aging Bernie Williams, the $12.3 million center fielder, couldn't reach Uribe's liner in right-center and lobbed the ball into the infield while Rowand attacked the vast landscape like a kamikaze pilot.

 

Say, wouldn't the Human Crash Dummy somehow have caught the ball that Williams waved at? At first, manager Ozzie Guillen said no, acknowledging that he is a friend of Williams. But as usual, further contemplation melted the Blizzard of Oz.

 

"I'll say yes because I want my guy to win the Gold Glove,'' said Guillen, whose recent contract extension, by the way, still places him far behind the $6 million annual salary of Yankees counterpart Joe Torre.

 

Don't laugh yet, Jerry. The Sox haven't won anything except an impending division title. But like the Florida Marlins of 2003 and the Whatever They're Called Angels of the previous year, they're trying to win it all with a slightly-above-average payroll -- $75 million -- that ranks 13th in the major leagues and well behind every other big-market franchise, including the $100 million Cubs, who've never stunk at a higher price tag. A World Series wouldn't excuse Reinsdorf for his blunderous history as a baseball owner, but it would, for once, validate his economic approach. If the Sox do win the American League pennant at the expense of Steinbrenner, while spending $130 million less this year, Reinsdorf will be grinning all the way to his grave.

 

They have a contentious history, remember. In the 1980s, Boss George drew a fine from commissioner Bowie Kuhn after referring to Reinsdorf and fellow owner Eddie Einhorn as "the Abbott and Costello of baseball.'' Reinsdorf fired his own memorable shot when he said people know Steinbrenner is lying "when he moves his lips.'' When he led the charge against excessive spending during the 1994 labor impasse, Reinsdorf essentially was leading the charge against Steinbrenner. But when it comes to results, Jerry has been embarrassed by George. In 32 years of ownership, Steinbrenner has won six World Series and 10 American League pennants. Reinsdorf is 0-for-24 in both categories. And for those who say Reinsdorf is the better businessman, consider the Yankees have increased more than 100 times in value from Steinbrenner's original purchase price of $8.7 million. Even if the Sox win a world championship, don't even begin telling me Reinsdorf is his equal as an owner.

 

That said, the developing story line is juicy. The Sox keep winning the smart way, the proud way, the feisty way -- symbolized by Uribe sneaking his foot under the shin guard of catcher Jorge Posada and scoring the go-ahead run in the 2-1 victory. At one point, the Blizzard of Oz had Scott Podsednik try a squeeze bunt to bring home Uribe from third, but he fouled off the attempt before hitting the ground ball that led to Uribe's slide. This was the same Uribe who struck out three times against starter Aaron Small, yet another scrap-heap arm serving as a Band-Aid for a battered Yankees rotation.

 

Steinbrenner still steaming

 

Wisely, Steinbrenner avoided all reporters afterward. The night before, he couldn't avoid ripping into Torre -- he of the four championships and cool head -- after he stuck with left-handed reliever Alan Embree to face Paul Konerko in the ninth inning of a 1-0 game. Never mind that Konerko had been hitting .209 against lefties. With the Yankees scrapping for their wild-card lives, the Boss apparently wanted Tom Gordon or even Rivera. When Konerko crushed the game-winning homer beyond Monument Park, Mt. Steinbrenner erupted again.

 

"I'm not pleased with the manager,'' harrumphed The Boss, 75 now. "I don't know why they left the left-hander in. He had a good inning, and they kept him in there. He should have never pitched to Konerko -- he's their best hitter.''

 

Torre, who is getting too old for this and probably won't make it to the end of his contract in 2007, responded Wednesday with typical poise. "At this time of the year, the last thing you want to do is take away from what we're trying to accomplish,'' he said, ever the stoic. "This is my job. The best way to deal with [steinbrenner's rant] is to concentrate all efforts onto the field.''

 

The contrast is unmistakable. While the overpriced Yankees sweat, strain, snipe and try to survive, the underpriced team from the Midwest keeps winning and having fun. While Torre fends off Steinbrenner, Guillen is hosting "This Week in Baseball,'' a show that better have a dump button. "When I was a player, I always dreamed to be on it,'' he said. "To have that tribute to myself, I think that's nice. I'm going to enjoy it.''

 

Why not? The Sox are spending about $1 million per victory so far. The Yankees are spending more than $3.5 million per victory. In Reinsdorf's world, that's revenge.

 

Jay Mariotti is a regular on ''Around the Horn'' at 4 p.m. on ESPN. Send e-mail to inbox@ suntimes.com with name, hometown and daytime phone number (letters run Sunday).

[Steve9347]

White Sox

 

Yankees

[LosMediasBlancas]

Sports Center or BBTN did a nice piece on Arrow last night too.

[RockRaines]

amazing the effect of playing one series in NYC

[ceffa2000]

On a side note, its funny the similarities and differences between the two papers writing really the same article. Good stuff, thanks.

[bjm676]

"That centerfielder over there put on an absolute clinic," said Alex Rodriguez, who sent the outfielder to the wall with a long drive in the first inning. Yet, he wasn't sure how to pronounce the man's name.

 

"Roland?" he guessed.

 

 

:headshake

[SoxFan1]

:headshake

Rowand > Arod in that series....defensively. Pretty ignorant comment by ARod. I hate that guy.

[WHarris1]

Damn how arrogant is that?

[Sox It To Em]

A-Rod is a cocky jackass. This is nothing new.

Edited August 11, 2005 by whitesoxfan13

[3E8]

I've hated that guy since he pulled a 180 on us last year.

[Whitewashed in '05]

Pretty ignorant comment by ARod. I hate that guy.

Maybe if Rowand robs him a few times out there when they come here he will remember his name. :finger

[3 BeWareTheNewSox 5]

:headshake

 

Now we know who made this post: http://boards.yesnetwork.com/forums/index....showtopic=56532

 

I actually like ARod though, it's not his fault people want to pay so much for him, he's damn good! He had all good things to say about us and the stadium during the HR Derby, and I'm sure it was a reporter who asked how it was pronounced on purpose to show that Rowand is not well known

[GoodAsGould]

Wasnt it A-Rod who said that Cotts has the trickiest fastball or something.... I think Rowand is more known that Cotts

[SoxFan1]

Wasnt it A-Rod who said that Cotts has the trickiest fastball or something.... I think Rowand is more known that Cotts 

It's Roland....get it right!

 

Look at the winp on the Yankee's board:

 

What you are suggesting is technically a crime. A major league fastball can be considered a deadly weapon and you are suggesting one of our pitchers commit delberate assault with a deadly weapon? For what, to win a baseball game? Have you ever been hit by a Big League fastball? If you hit someone between the eyes with a fastball, it will probably kill them. That's how deadly it can be. You can cripple someone for life with a 95 mph fastball thrown at the kneecap. This is why I despise Pedro Martinez. He used his pitches as weapons with intent to injure not just intimidate.

 

I got hit by balls in high school and it hurt like ######! And they probably weren't thrown faster than 50 or 60 mph! I fouled a pitch off my instep and hobbled around for 2 days and had to pack it in ice and soak it in freezing cold water twice a day because it swelled up so much.

 

Your suggestion, frankly, is psychotic. If you need to have this team win that badly to feed your ego, I think you are in serious need of some professional counseling.

 

I agree, that suggesting to hit someone to take him out of the game is classless but a 50 mph fastball doesnt hurt in HS. And how many HS'ers throw 50 anymore...none.

[Jake]

It's Roland....get it right!

 

Look at the winp on the Yankee's board:

I agree, that suggesting to hit someone to take him out of the game is classless but a 50 mph fastball doesnt hurt in HS. And how many HS'ers throw 50 anymore...none.

 

Haha I threw 60 in little league.

[Kalapse]

Haha I threw 60 in little league.

I was up to 89 using three-quarters before I blew out my elbow freshman year in HS.

[Whitewashed in '05]

It's Roland....get it right!

 

Look at the winp on the Yankee's board:

I agree, that suggesting to hit someone to take him out of the game is classless but a 50 mph fastball doesnt hurt in HS. And how many HS'ers throw 50 anymore...none.

They throw harder than that, I threw 50 my freshman year.

[SoxFan1]

I was up to 89 using three-quarters before I blew out my elbow freshman year in HS.

:rolly 50 isn't that hard to pass up now-a-days. My highest my sophomore year (last year) was 83.

[RockRaines]

Even after shoulder surgery I can still tackle mid eighties. Best pitch is a knuckler however