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Wednesday, March 30, 2005
ON BASEBALL: Kevin Thomas
It's a rivalry full of confidence and so much intensity
Copyright © 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. | ||||||
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TAMPA, Fla. - It didn't take John Halama long to jump into this Red Sox-Yankees rivalry. Facing his second batter Tuesday, Halama's pitch came way inside, whizzing behind the batter's legs. The batter? Of course it was Alex Rodriguez. And of course, Halama claimed it wasn't intentional. "I was coming in and I cut it," said Halama, a left-hander. Rodriguez didn't start barking at Halama, as he did when Bronson Arroyo plunked him last July. Catcher Doug Mirabelli didn't have to intervene. All Rodriguez did was flash a smile. He and Halama were teammates in Seattle, and Rodriguez called the pitch a "nonissue." It's only spring training, after all. No use expending too much energy when the Yankees and Boston will play 19 games in the regular season. "It's a great rivalry and 19 times wears you out, no doubt," Yankees Manager Joe Torre said. Sometimes new players don't understand the magnitude of anything connected with Boston and New York. "I met (with new players) last year about Boston, explaining what this madness was about," Torre said. If he's going to give the same speech, he only has four days because New York and Boston open the season Sunday night at Yankee Stadium. Torre always speaks of New York and Boston as the ultimate. He complained that since the opener is going to sell out anyway, the Red Sox series should have been later. Against the Red Sox, "we're going to sell the joint out (even if we played) at 2 in the morning somewhere." Like everyone else, Torre is curious about the rivalry, now that the Red Sox are world champions. "I don't know," he said. "The pressure every year was building so much. I think the big part of it was the Red Sox weren't supposed to win. They were always supposed to be frustrated. And the Yankees were always supposed to be the ones that would conquer them. "But the (Yankees) players know these guys are good. We were as surprised as anybody that we had a 3-0 lead and, of course, we were surprised as anybody that we lost 4-3." When the Yankees lost the American League Championship Series to Boston, New York could no longer taunt its hard-luck neighbor. "I'm not sure about about the fans. They have to find different ammunition," Torre said. "That 1918 stuff doesn't work." A few clever lines were tossed out at Legends Field. One fan made a reference to New York's 26 world championships in the past 86 years, compared to Boston's one. There was a sign saying "2090," meaning it will be another 86 years before Boston wins again. One man chanted, "Who's your daddy?" Um, sir, save that for the Mets series. Tuesday's exhibition was so important that both Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling pitched - in minor-league games 100 miles apart. Johnson pitched in a Triple-A game at the nearby minor-league complex to avoid facing Boston until Sunday. Schilling, who is still coming back from his ankle surgery, pitched a minor-league game in Fort Myers, Fla. The Red Sox starting outfield Tuesday featured three minor-leaguers, Portland Sea Dogs of the past (Mike Lockwood), present (Chris Durbin) and future (Mickey Hall). Backup outfielder Jay Payton might have played, but his hand is still sore from a beaning and Boston Manager Terry Francona quipped on Monday that Payton "would not be ready for the big game" Tuesday. Francona smiled. And he was smiling again Tuesday. He knows the attention that the Red Sox and Yankees draw. He loves the games but hates the circus. "The games have a life of their own. They're pretty fun because they're intense," Francona said. As for the attention? "I found it's . . . it's, um, whatever the word is . . . it's, it's a lot of (expletive) . . . Geez, resting Nomar, you feel like you committed a crime." Well, last June when Nomar Garciaparra was sitting on the Boston bench - while Derek Jeter was diving into the stands after hustling to catch a foul ball - yes, some residents of Red Sox Nation may voice their, um, displeasure. Red Sox fans always want to win, especially against a certain team. Even Tuesday's 7-2 win may have warmed a few New England hearts. On Friday, the care-free days of spring training end. On Sunday, intensity invades Yankee Stadium. Every pitch will be scrutinized, especially those inside fastballs to Alex Rodriguez. Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:
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