The Yankees Lose A Close One
A Pinch Hitter? American Leaguers Don't Need One?
Joe Torre had three position players on his bench. None was a better option than Melky Cabrera, who did not accomplish the task.
The Angels and Yankees were locked in a tense, tight game at the Stadium (will we be able to simply say "Stadium" without further elaboration after next season and be understood?). The date of the game, 07/07/07, reminds many fans of a great centerfielder of long ago, but on this day a different Yankees' centerfielder would have a game he would love to forget. Melky Cabrera struck out five times, the last one with the potential tying run at third base and one out in the Yankees' half of the thirteenth inning.
The Angels Take the Lead
With the score tied at 1-1, Angels' second baseman Howie Kendrick led off the top of the thirteenth inning with a double. Lead footed Jose Molina, one of the only three brothers to have a World Series ring, hit a hard ground ball to Miguel Cairo, who was playing first base. Cairo made a fine play but his errant throw to pitcher Luis Vizcaino, who had come over to cover first, allowed Molina to reach first as Kendrick moved to third. Vizcaino couldn't reach Cairo's throw, which rebounded off the stands behind first. Kendrick scored the go ahead run, Molina continued to second, and Cairo was charged with two errors on the play.
The Yankees Have a Chance
Down by a run, Robinson Cano led off the bottom of the thirteenth against Angels' ace relief pitcher Francisco Rodriguez by grounding out to second, bringing up Cairo. Miguel, the consummate professional who is an excellent defensive infielder with little experience at first base, lined a hard single to left field, putting the potential tying run on first. Cairo immediately stole second to put himself into scoring position and moved to third on a passed ball. Johnny Damon walked to give the Yankees the potential tying run at third, the potential winning run at first, and Melky Cabrera at the plate with one out. Melky struck out and then Derek Jeter hit the first pitch hard up the middle, on the ground, past the mound toward second base, where shortstop Orlando Cabrera made a fine play, stabbing the ball and barely beating Damon to second for the force out that ended the game.
One Reason the Yankees Lost
There are many reasons why the Yankees lost, but few would blame the designated hitter rule, yet it was a contributing factor. The Yankees have 13 pitchers and 12 position players. When Melky was batting with the tying run at third, Yankees' manager Joe Torre could have put on the suicide squeeze, the safety squeeze, let Melky hit away, or pinch hit. It is easy to second guess, but it was obvious that Melky was not having a good day. Torre had used the squeeze play successfully the night before, but Angels' manager Mike Scioscia guarded against it by calling a pitchout. Torre's move was to send up a pinch hitter for Melky, only he didn't have any that would give him a better chance than Melky. The only players on the bench were Andy Phillips, Wil Nieves, and Kevin Thompson.
No Room for a Pinch Hitter
American League teams carry 12 or 13 pitchers. They are concerned with the designated hitter and build their teams with that in mind, but what is ignored is that most teams have one or two weak hitters in the lineup. Since there usually is no room for a pinch hitter, most American League managers rarely pinch hit. Joe Torre might be second guessed for not pinch hitting for Melky, but considering the alternatives, Torre shouldn't be criticized. The onus falls on the make up of the roster that has only 12 position players.
