February 15, 2004
Happy Valentine's Day, Aaron Boone
It's been an up and down tenure for Aaron Boone in the Bronx, hasn't it? First, he come to New York hailed as the answer at third base -- one the Yankees have been more or less perplexed with since the retirement of Scott Brosius. But it wasn't long before Yankees fans learned to love to hate Boone, as his skills at the plate seemed to desert him just about as soon as he arrived.
Then again, things changed in a New York minute for Boone after he crushed a Tim Wakefield pitch into the left field bleachers to win Game Seven of the 2003 ALCS. And no matter how Boone did from there, his place in Yankees lore was secure -- or so it seemed. For it wasn't too long after the team's loss in the World Series that Boone suffered a knee injury in a pick up basketball game -- leaving the Yankees scrambling for a replacement at third base for next season.
Of course, by now, you know the rest. Kind of amazing, isn't it, even misfortune somehow turns out to favor the Yankees -- and in a way that mocks both of their biggest rivals. And it was all because the Yankees acquired a slightly better than average corner infielder for the stretch run. The result: another ALCS win, and the acquisition of the best player in the game.
If you're a Yankee fan, think hard about sending Boone that belated Valentine's greeting. It's the least you could do.
POSTSCRIPT: The reaction at Boston Dirt Dogs is predictably apoplectic. David Pinto thinks Derek Jeter is the one who ought to move to third base. Bambino's Curse is defiant, which is the way Sox fans ought to be. As I recall, that Yankees pitching staff isn't looking all that fearsome this year. Bronx Banter is salivating at the prospect of A-Rod coming home to the Bronx. Larry Mahnken is already pulling out comparisons to acquiring the Babe, as early as it may be.
Ben Domenech is atypically giddy. Jason Scavone is wondering if the Red Sox might blunder into a mistake in an effort to counter.
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Tracked on February 16, 2004 10:08 AM
I don't know, but I'll take Mussina, Brown, Vasquez, Contreras and whomever else falls in the pack (Lieber?)...
This deal is pretty ridiculous, frankly. It's been a while since the Yanks had the "best" player in the league, right? Pretty crazy stuff, frankly.
Posted by:
at February 15, 2004 12:11 PM
This deal makes little sense except as a publicity stunt to piss off the Red Sox. On that count, the move succeded brilliantly. But this trade will not have a positive long-term impact on the Yankees or Major League Baseball.
Posted by:
at February 15, 2004 01:54 PM
Despite the trade for A-Rod (which is horrible for the competitive landscape of baseball), The MFYs are a Kevin Brown torn rotator cuff away from falling back behind the Red Sox.
Posted by:
at February 16, 2004 02:35 AM
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11:59 AM