Monday's Bunts and Boots--Jeter, Keppinger, and Goose
Just how vulnerable are the Yankees to left-handed pitching? Well, let's consider the lineup that Joe Girardi made out on Sunday, a lineup that featured Derek Jeter as the cleanup hitter. With only one home run this season, that coming after a long drought, Jeter has to be one of the unlikeliest cleanup men used by any team in 2008. Jeter's presence in the four-hole is also an indictment of Shelley Duncan, who has hit poorly in spot duty after giving the Yankees a second-half booster shot in 2007. Thankfully for the Yankees, Sunday's game in Detroit was rained out, thereby avoiding the necessity of Jeter batting cleanup for only the second time in his career...
Cincinnati's Jeff Keppinger will never become a darling of scouts (because of his lack of power and speed) or Sabermetricians (because of his inability to draw walks), but he has emerged as one of the few bright spots for the disappointing Reds. Keppinger garnered headlines on Saturday night, when he went 5-for-5, with all of his hits being singles, in a win over the Mets. With his average well over .300 and Alex Gonzalez still on the disabled list, the surehanded Keppinger has staked claim to the Reds' starting shortstop job. Keppinger's success really shouldn't surprise too many folks, given that he has hit at almost every level of minor league ball. The Pirates, Mets, and Royals, three organizations that previously unloaded Keppinger at low prices, are probably regretting their miscalculations on the versatile and valuable middle infielder...
Goose Gossage is currently in the midst of a visit to Cooperstown, as part of his orientation for this summer's Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Gossage, who played golf at the Otesaga Resort Hotel on Sunday, will tour the Hall of Fame later today as he learns about the Hall's preparations for his induction in late July. The outspoken Gossage will be a refreshing addition to the Hall of Fame's membership rolls. In contrast to recent inductees, most of whom are conservative and politically correct in what they have to say, Gossage prefers a "shoot-from-the-hip" style with the media. And if need be, the Goose won't be afraid to ruffle the feathers of his fellow Hall of Famers, a trait that could make Hall of Fame Weekend a livelier and more colorful occasion.
A follow-up on Gossage's visit to Cooperstown today. He said that the last time he visited C-town was in 1974, when his White Sox played the Braves in the Hall of Fame Game. That was nearly 35 years ago. To give you an idea of just how long ago that was, Hank Aaron played for the Braves and led off the game with a single. Ron Santo, playing for the White Sox at the tail end of his career, drove in two runs in the HOF Game. The Braves came back to win, fueled in part by home runs from two light-hitting catchers, Paul Casanova and Vic Correll.
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