August 17, 2009
Sorry I missed yesterday's blog. The weather in New Hampshire has been so bad this summer that anytime the sun is out, and it's hot, we just forget everything and go to the beach. Which I did. Yes, this Connecticut Yankee living in New Hampshire sat comfortably for hours on a beach lapping up cool breezes, an occasional dunk in the ocean, and barely breathing among a swamp of Red Sox hats and tee-shirts. It isn't easy. I fantasized about walking up to one or two and asking, "How do you guys feel NOW---that order is being restored to the universe?" This, on the heels of another Yankee win in Seattle combined with a Sox loss. 7 1/2 game lead! How long has it been since we've had that kind of a lead?
And even though A-Rod did not play in that win I sat there gazing out at sea reviewing the whole season up until now and came to a very stark conclusion - it all changed for the Yankees the day he returned to the lineup in late May and hit a stunning, first AB of the season HR in Baltimore. From that point on Tex got in gear, the pitching slowly jelled and here we are.
Whether or not you think A-Rod is having the kind of year (ok, partial year) he should, there's no doubt that his presence in the lineup, on the bench and in the clubhouse makes a very big difference to this ballclub.
History was made yesterday: Derek Jeter passed Luis Aparicio for most hits by a shortstop over a career. The Yankees lost and Joba just didn't have it. It's okay. Baseball is a lot like the stock market and a pullback here and there is healthy.
But now is not the time to become complacent and assume we've got a post season in the bag. One small word should tell you that : METS. On to Oakland!
See ya tomorrow!
A Connecticut Yankee In New Hampshire
Keywords: A-Rod, Derek Jeter, Luis Aparicio, New York Yankees, Red Sox Nation
