Joe Torre Admits Umpires Blew Home-Run Call Last Night

Joe Torre, MLB's VP of baseball operations, admitted today that the umpires did make the wrong call last night after they called Billy Butler's fly ball a home-run in the Kansas City Royals' 5-4 victory over the New York Yankees.

According to the New York Daily News, Torre-- the Yankees former manager-- looked at the controversial fly ball ruling and backed the Yankees claim that the ball never cleared the foot-high chain-link partition on top of the padded wall.  Torre said the hit should not have been called a home-run.

"It was a missed call, but there was also a misunderstanding on the rule," Torre explained.  "He just missed it but his interpretation was that the the back fence was behind the wall and out of the ballpark.  It certainly wasn't for a lack of doing his job, just a misunderstanding of the rule."

Let's get this straight.  Aren't the umpires supposed to know the rules?  It just seems logical that the men enforcing the rules-- including boundaries and what constitutes a home-run-- should be aware of each stadium's dimensions.

After second-base umpire Dana DeMuth  ruled that the fly ball cleared the fence, and the umpire crew spent five minutes reviewing the initial call, they still upheld the home-run call.

It was pretty obvious the ball didn't clear the fence because the ball bounced back onto the field where Brett Gardner scooped it up and put it back in play.

An irate Mariano Rivera knew it wasn't a home-run.  The KC broadcasters knew it.  In the Royals dugout, even Billy Butler had the look of a five year-old with the stolen cookie while the umpire crew reviewed the call.

Yankees first-base coach Mick Kelleher said the umpires knew it.  Before the game, Kelleher said the officiating crew explained that the ball had to clear the entire fence-- including the set back chain-link portion-- to be considered a home-run.

"It has to go over the padded bar," Kelleher was told.  "If that wasn't the case, there would be a yellow line."

Torre said DeMuth "feels very badly."

"He was wrong," said Torre.  "And there was a price to learn that lesson."

Torre stressed that the instant replay system didn't fail despite the muffed call.

"The game is over and that's what it is," Torre told the News.  "It's unfortunate.  Everyone had to cooperate to make it a one run game."

Girardi didn't file a protest after the ruling because he said he "believed the umpire" and figured "Dana knew the rules."  Now, that boat has long sailed and any correction is out of the question.

It's too late for the Yankees to take any sort of action to correct the costly error.  Girardi would have had to file a protest before the next pitch was thrown after the umpires made their final call last night to see any justice.

Yankees fans can blame the mistake on DeMuth's interpretation of the rules at Kauffman Stadium-- which had gone renovations in 2009-- but they should remember the image of Jorge Posada staring at a strike three with the bases loaded for the game's final out.

Former Yankees Pitcher Hideki Irabu Found Dead Of Apparent Sucide

The long and troubling road of former New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu came to a sad ending today.  The one-time Japanese Pacific League star, and Major League bust, was found dead at age 42 of an apparent suicide in his Rancho Palo Verdes, California home.

Irabu was one of the of the key members of the great 1998 Yankees team which beat the San Diego Padres in the World Series and the Yankees team which beat the Atlanta Braves in1999 for the championship; although Irabu never threw a pitch in either series.

The much-maligned Irabu was once called the "Nolan Ryan of Japan" when he tore through the Japanese leagues.  After Hideo Nomo successfully blazed a trail for Japanese pitchers, the exotic Irabu was brought to the U.S. in 1997 with high hopes.  Japanese fans--many who had never even seen a Yankees game-- came by the thousands to the Bronx.

Irabu's most famous moment in the majors is probably when he ended up being called a "fat... toad" by Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner, after the hefty righthander failed to cover first base during a game.  Steinbrenner became increasingly more disgusted with his investment and the fact that he wasn't living up to the $12.8, four-year contract during his years with the team.

The Yankees first traded for Irabu-- after he refused to go to the San Diego Padres-- and the 28 year-old Irabu made his debut on July 10, 1997 against the Detroit Tigers in grand style.

Irabu thrilled the crowd of 51,000 as he struck out nine with a 96 mph fastball and got his first major league victory.  Current Yankees manager, Joe Girardi, was the catcher that day. After that auspicious opening act, it seemed like it was all downhill from there.

Irabu's abrasive personality, lazy habits and language barrier caused bickering with teammates and the media.  During spring training in 1998, Yankees pitcher David Cone finally had enough and verbally laid into the slacking Irabu in the locker room.

The increasingly unpopular Irabu finished the 1998 season 13-9 with a 4.06 ERA but manager Joe Torre had so little faith in Irabu, he kept the high-priced starter on the bench during the entire Yankees playoff run and World Series victory over the Padres.

Irabu went 11-7 during the 1999 season, which didn't satisfy Steinbrenner and he was traded to the Montreal Expos for Jake Westbrook and Ted Lilly.

Irabu fared no better up north.  He gained weight and reportedly drank to excess.  Knee and elbow surgeries plagued the ever-fattening Irabu and he was finally suspended by the Expos while on a rehab assignment in Triple-A.  He played 14 games for the Expos and finished with a 2-7 record and 6.69 ERA.

The last chapter of Irabu's major league career ended before the 2002 season, when the Texas Rangers tried to convert the burned out Irabu into a closer.  It was a major failure.

Irabu made millions from the Yankees but never made a mark in the league-- excluding the brilliant first game he pitched.

He was arrested for a bar fight in 2008 and a DUI in 2010.  The reclusive Irabu attempted a comeback in Japan in 2009 but shied away from the media until his arrests and ending with the sad news of his death today.

"He was found dead by an apparent suicide," said Los Angeles County Sherriff's Sgt. Michael Arriaga to AP.

During six seasons in the majors (1997-2002), Irabu finished with a 34-35 record and a 5.15 ERA.  His poetic legacy may be that he was an integral part of two World Series Championship teams but never played in one.

Irabu should be remembered for widening the door for Japanese position players like Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui.

The tragic reality is maybe, if Hideki Irabu never came to America, he would still be alive right now.

Jeter's Return Halted By Rain Delay

New York Yankees Derek Jeter spent his 37th birthday taking 39 swings off a tee and then 35 more attempts at some soft-toss pitching before a rain storm cut short the shortstop's plan to take some ground balls on grass Sunday.

Jeter, who was notably missing at yesterday's Yankees Old Timer's Day, is planning to start a running and light-jogging program either today or tomorrow.

While Jeter rehabs his strained calf at the Yankees minor league complex in Tampa, the Captain's absence at yesterday's festivities was duly noticed--especially because two of the Old Timer's game first-time participants included Jeter's mentor, former-manager Joe Torre, and his teammate for twelve years, Bernie Williams.

Williams was asked what he thought about Jeter's quest for 3,000 hits and his place in Yankees history.

"He has to be right up there," said the normally quiet Williams.  "He's in the unique position of being the only Yankee that going to have 3,000 hits.  That really puts him in a category by himself as far as hits are concerned.  He's earned it.  He's been the face of the franchise.  He is one of the most popular Yankees that ever put on the uniform."

According to the Associated Press, Jeter said he "hopefully" will start the running program, but won't comment on a target date for his return.  He is currently six hits shy of the 3,000 hit milestone.

"You've got to run.  Once you start running, then we'll have a better sense," said Jeter, who has been lingering on the 15-day DL since June 14.  "If it was up to me, I'd be playing now, but you have to be smart."

Right now, Jeter's scheduled return is in doubt.

It must have been quite a dilemma for Jeter to pass on yesterday's ceremony in the Bronx.  It's hard to imagine that he would ever consider missing Torre's long-awaited, and overdue, return to pinstripes after his former-manager's contentious release from the Yankees.
 
Torre was like a father-figure to Jeter.  He helped mold the young shortstop's career and personality both on and off the field.

Torre understands Jeter's decision to take one for the team.  He fostered that trait in him.

Yankees Old-Timer's Day Ceremony for the Unceremoniously Dumped

Expect to hear some of the most heartfelt cheers bellowing through the Bronx this Sunday afternoon in a long time.  No, the applause won't be for Derek Jeter's long-awaited milestone hit or even for any of the New York Yankees on the field.  The roar will be for three of the most beloved Yankees ever to don pinstripes--Joe Torre, Bernie Williams and Lou Piniella--who will be making their Yankees Old-Timer's day debuts.  All three will stand in the middle of Yankee Stadium for the first time after being unceremoniously dumped by the team.

All three former-Yankees have witnessed the pomp from the dugout.  Now it is their turn to bow and the gratitude extended to these former-Yankees will be both long overdue and bittersweet.

In a tradition that seems to have been around almost as long as the 65-year old ceremony, the Yankees are welcoming back fan favorites who were sent backing by the team.  In return, they triumphantly return to the Bronx as conquering heroes.  Remember Yogi Berra?

Why do the Yankees continue to perform this sado-masochistic act?



The appearance of Torre, Williams and Piniella should stir up memories of some not-so-good teams, dynasties and the turbulent reign of George Steinbrenner.

All and all, good memories, even though the trio all left the team under strained circumstances.

Individually, the former-Yankees' personalities are as different as the reasons for their walking papers.

Torre, the Brooklyn-born manager who guided the early careers of the Core Four--Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Jeter-- during the team's late-90's dynasty.

In 2007, the classy Torre rejected a one-year, $5 million take-it-or-leave-it contract by the Yankees.  He called the offer "insulting."  He was replaced by current manger Joe Girardi.

The parting wasn't amicable.  Don't even mention Torre's remarks about his time with the team or excerpts from his bitter 2009 book, "The Yankee Years," during this forgive-and forget weekend.

In the book, the 70 year-old Torre referred to A-Rod as "A-Fraud" and publicly aired out his dirty socks by ruminating about his contentious relationship with GM Brain Cashman and president Randy Levine.  Not exactly a Hallmark thank you card.

After a stint as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Torre is now MLB's executive vice-president of baseball operations.

Torre may have buried the hatchet, but if you look closely, part of it is still in Cashman's back.

Sunday's reconciliation tour continues with another of Cashman's castoffs showing love.

Bernie Williams, the quiet, guitar-playing ex-centerfielder is also coming to his first Old-Timer's game.  It still sounds weird saying old-timer and Bernie Williams in the same sentence.

Williams was shamefully excluded from the Core Four equation --it should have been known as the Fab-Five or Jive-Five or a more pertinent name that included the five-time All-Star in that Yankees core group--but not as disgraceful as his banishment from the Yankees.

The clutch Williams played the game just like he exited--with class.  Even after Williams contract wasn't renewed by Cashman in 2007, the fan-favorite and life-long Yankee retired with the gracefulness he covered the middle ground for 16 years in Yankee Stadium. Bernie's #51 is still one of the most worn jerseys.

Finally, Piniella joins the ranks of another incendiary former-Yankee player then manager who was fired--Billy Martin.

Like Martin, Piniella had success with the team on the field and in the dugout.  Unlike Martin, Sweet Lou was not canned five times.

It's been 23 years since Piniella has squeezed into a Yankee uniform after managing stints with the Reds, Mariners, Rays, and Cubs.

Torre has to remember the glaring omission of his name and image from the video tribute on the closing of the original Yankee Stadium in 2008.  That slight had to hurt more than the feeble contract offer but makes his trot into the stadium a cleansing of the soul.

""I know the way it ended the last couple of years in New York was something that both the Yankees and myself didn't know how to say goodbye and it turned out to be something uncomfortable," Torre said.  "Looking back, I never would have traded anything for those 12 years."

Get ready for 50,000 fans and 50 other Yankees old timers to salute the three first timers with a rousing welcome back. The trinity of new kings won't come empty-handed.  They'll come bearing 10 World Series rings.

All three Yankee greats will wear Yankee pinstripes for the first in a long time but, what must seem like eons in Yankees years to each of them.  

Sunday's appearance of Torre, Williams and Piniella beckons back to the time when Steinbrenner ruled the team with passion and an iron hand, not the cookie-cutter corporation it seems to have become. 

Torre, Williams and Piniella will discover, like the exiled Martin, Reggie Jackson and Berra before them, you can go back home.

Call it Yankee love.

Russell Martin's .600 Slugging Percentage Is Pretty Good So Far, Eh?

The New York Yankees have to be pleasantly surprised with their collection of garage-sale pick-ups this off-season and rising to the top of the scrap-heap is catcher Russell Martin.  The Dodgers cast-off, who was coming off two disappointing and frustrating seasons in Los Angeles, has a .600 slugging percentage this season; which ranks seventh in the AL.

Martin, who has caught every game this season except one, is taking over nicely for the veteran Jorge Posada.  The Yankee backstop's new-found positive attitude is showing too.  He blamed his poor performances in 2009-10 on being unfocused.  According to his new Yankees teammates, that is all in the past.

The young righthander's chemistry with his new battery-mates is blossoming as well.  He even painted his fingernails orange to make it easier for the pitchers to pick up his signals.

Starter A.J. Burnett--the recipient of three wins with Martin--joked that his new catcher might have just wanted his nails orange, but got serious when asked how the catcher is calling for more change-ups over fastballs in a game.

"He believes in it, and I'm starting to, more and more," said the 3-0 starter.

 Yankees GM Brian Cashman took a chance on Martin.  The Canadian native came up with the Dodgers in 2006 and had three solid years in a row before slumping in 2009 and breaking a hip in 2010.  He is a two-time all-star and has a Gold Glove award  on his mantle.  Last season looks like a faded ghost of the real Martin.  He hit only five home-runs in 97 games last year.

Now the new Yankee is hitting .289 with four home runs and 11 RBI's in 13 games.  If anyone believes a catcher, built like a fullback, can't steal bases, especially after watching Posada chug around the base paths, should know Martin already has a couple of stolen bases too.  

Martin chose the Yankees over the Boston Red Sox because he said the Yankees wanted him more.  He signed a one-year deal for $4 Million.  Now the insecurity of his last two seasons has been put far behind.

 "I want to prove to myself I can do it," said Martin.  "I'm 28 years-old.  I don't really feel old.  I don't really feel beat up.  I've healed from my injuries.  I feel back in shape and I' enjoying playing baseball."

Martin's transition from Dodger blue to Yankee pinstripes had to be made easier by associating with Dodgers and former Yankee idols--hitting coach Don Mattingly and manager Joe Torre.  Martin was under the tutelage of the two Yankee legends for the past few seasons and it's a sure bet Yankee tradition was not unspoken in the  L.A. dugout.

Cashman's flea-market pick-up of Dodger's reject Martin, so far, looks like an "Antiques Roadhouse" type bonanza.  One man's trash...

Besides his offensive resurgence and contributions, Martin has ingratiated himself to the veteran World Series-winning Yankee players with his sense of humor and humility.

The six-year veteran Martin actually went up to Posada, whom he is replacing, and asked the veteran catcher--with 16 years under his belt-- for advice at the beginning of the season.  Not a bad company move by Martin--even for a pro with a couple of All-Star appearances himself.

"On this team, they think about winning, whatever it takes," he said.  "It's just a good environment to be in."

Martin may be considered to be one of the first-place Yankees' consolation prizes after the losses of Cliff Lee and Carl Crawford; but has already proven to be healthy and back to All-Star form.  He said his injuries were blown out of proportion and claims he's had only one surgery to "cleanup" a knee and his broken hip has healed on it's own.

"You guys can't always believe what you read in the paper," he joked.

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