Okay, so the first returns on the combined $341 million the Yankees gave CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira were something less than sterling. Actually, they were awful. With Sabathia's 4-1/3 innings of eight-hit, six-run, no-strikeouts misery and Teixeira's 0-for-4 and failure to move any of the five runners on base during his at-bats, there's already angst in Yankeeville.
But I'm here to quell any early panic among the pinstriped legions while at the same time offering a historically certified declaration to Sabathia and Teixeira: Opening Days are overrated. In fact, you could even say opening months are overrated.
How can I make this assertion? Because it seems like the Yankees have a history with much-celebrated, high-priced free agents who flop in their debuts, but eventually get it together and wind up earning their money and even going on to the Hall of Fame.
Two prime examples: Catfish Hunter and Goose Gossage.
In [Hunter's] first start as a Yankee in the 1975 home opener at Shea, Hunter was battered by the Detroit Tigers for five runs in seven innings, including a monster three-run homer by Nate Colbert in a 5-3 loss. His second start wasn't much better as the Red Sox roughed him up for nine hits in 7-2/3 innings for another 5-3 loss. His third outing was even worse as the Tigers rocked him for sixruns in three innings. After his first four starts as a Yankee, Hunter was 0-3 with a 7.36 ERA, while giving up 28 hits, 21 earned runs and four homers in 25-2/3 innings.
On Opening Day '78 against the Rangers in Texas, Gossage surrendered a home run to Richie Zisk to blow his first save opportunity as a Yankee, as well as the game. His next appearance, four days later in Milwaukee, he blew the save by giving up a homer to Larry Hisle, then lost the game on an RBI hit by Don Money. With two losses and two blown saves in his first two games, Gossage was both infuriated and humiliated when a capacity crowd at Yankee Stadium booed him lustily during introductions before the home opener.Teammate Ken Holtzman, standing next to him, needled: "That ain't 'Goose' they're yelling, buddy boy."
But that still wasn't the worst of it for Gossage. In the first game of the Yankees' second road trip, manager Billy Martin brought Gossage into the ninth inning of a tie game against the Blue Jays in Toronto with runners at first and second. With the sacrifice on, Gossage rushed in and fielded the bunt and threw the ball 10 rows up into the first-base seats as the winning run crossed the plate. Afterward, Gossage retreated to his locker in the visiting clubhouse and dissolved into tears.
It took Yankee captain Thurman Munson to restore his confidence - and the Yankee season - by approaching Gossage at his locker and declaring for everyone in the room to hear: "Well, Goose, you've ------ up games just about every way possible now, how are you gonna ---- up the next one?"
THOUGHTS FROM A DIE-HARD YANKEES FAN:
Mood swings anyone?
Original Story:
http://adiehardyankeesfan.blogspot.co...
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April 08, 2009
