Actor Crystal to Play for Yanks on One Day Deal
I know this has more to do with the Yankees than the Red Sox, but we just had to mention this somehow as the moment of truth will be arriving in just under 12 hours. The announcement came down Monday evening: the Yankees would be signing long time comedic actor and life long New York Yankees fan Billy Crystal to a one day contract, allowing him to appear in a spring training game tomorrow against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The ploy seems to be a sort of birthday gift to Crystal, who will turn 60 shortly, as well as a sign of the Yankees' appreciation for all the support he's shown the team over the years.
I honestly don't think I've ever been so disappointed / upset / offended (etc., etc., etc.) by a decision made by a major league organization in my entire life. While we certainly cannot question Billy's devotion to his beloved pinstriped team (let's just say he puts Affleck and Damon to shame), we most certainly can question the validity of the decision to have a SIXTY YEAR OLD ACTOR appear in a Major League Baseball game... you know, a professional contest meant to be executed by highly trained athletes. I know spring training games typically have about as much intensity as a senior citizen rec. league pickup b-ball game, but that doesn't excuse the fact that this is a flat-out mockery of the game, its players and most importantly, its fans (that'd be you and me).
I'm sure all of us baseball fans have dreamt of stepping into the batters box, toeing the dirt while tapping the bat on the pentagonal dish, staring down the opposing team's pitcher, striding toward the mound after the pitch is thrown and cracking a fastball out of the park; however, most of us don't have the skill necessary to accomplish such a feat. Well, neither does Billy Crystal. Therefore, we watch from afar and if lucky enough, close up as writers, analysts, commentators, season ticketholders, corporate suite owners, etc. What Billy Crystal is doing is nothing short of buying his way onto a baseball team and the Yankees are all too happy to acquiesce as they're always looking for that next front page headline. Bad publicity is still publicity, that sort of thing?
Most upsetting of all is the fact that this could seriously compromise some major league careers. Crystal and the Steinbrenner Boys (Hank and Hal) probably haven't thought twice about this, but I guarantee some of the players involved will... like the minor leaguer that doesn't make the team because Crystal stole an AB or two from him... or the aging veteran dying for one more chance at making an MLB roster as a backup outfielder who ends up getting cut because he was stuck on the bench while Crystal was shagging flies... or the established, respectable and respected everyday players like Jeter, Posada and Mo that are being forced to go along with this unfortunate charade. Not only is this an absolute farce in terms of the actual playing of the game, but also in terms of the fact that it belittles the entire notion of free agency. A one day contract? Give me a break. Hey, I'm a former NESCAC ball player with decent power, quick hands and average fielding skills, how about a TWO day contract?
For someone who clearly respects the game so much (if you saw 61*, you know Crystal knows his stuff and obviously holds America's pastime in the highest regard), this is quite a foolhardy decision. I'm sure by now you know how little I think of Hank and Hal for orchestrating this whole thing, but in case you don't, let's just say I don't think even Papa George could have come up with something so ludicrous, not in a million years. I truly hope in the coming hours that everyone involved realizes what a poor mistake this would be and thinks better of it by having Mr. Crystal throw out the first pitch, not appear at the plate attempting to hit one.
I honestly don't think I've ever been so disappointed / upset / offended (etc., etc., etc.) by a decision made by a major league organization in my entire life. While we certainly cannot question Billy's devotion to his beloved pinstriped team (let's just say he puts Affleck and Damon to shame), we most certainly can question the validity of the decision to have a SIXTY YEAR OLD ACTOR appear in a Major League Baseball game... you know, a professional contest meant to be executed by highly trained athletes. I know spring training games typically have about as much intensity as a senior citizen rec. league pickup b-ball game, but that doesn't excuse the fact that this is a flat-out mockery of the game, its players and most importantly, its fans (that'd be you and me).
I'm sure all of us baseball fans have dreamt of stepping into the batters box, toeing the dirt while tapping the bat on the pentagonal dish, staring down the opposing team's pitcher, striding toward the mound after the pitch is thrown and cracking a fastball out of the park; however, most of us don't have the skill necessary to accomplish such a feat. Well, neither does Billy Crystal. Therefore, we watch from afar and if lucky enough, close up as writers, analysts, commentators, season ticketholders, corporate suite owners, etc. What Billy Crystal is doing is nothing short of buying his way onto a baseball team and the Yankees are all too happy to acquiesce as they're always looking for that next front page headline. Bad publicity is still publicity, that sort of thing?
Most upsetting of all is the fact that this could seriously compromise some major league careers. Crystal and the Steinbrenner Boys (Hank and Hal) probably haven't thought twice about this, but I guarantee some of the players involved will... like the minor leaguer that doesn't make the team because Crystal stole an AB or two from him... or the aging veteran dying for one more chance at making an MLB roster as a backup outfielder who ends up getting cut because he was stuck on the bench while Crystal was shagging flies... or the established, respectable and respected everyday players like Jeter, Posada and Mo that are being forced to go along with this unfortunate charade. Not only is this an absolute farce in terms of the actual playing of the game, but also in terms of the fact that it belittles the entire notion of free agency. A one day contract? Give me a break. Hey, I'm a former NESCAC ball player with decent power, quick hands and average fielding skills, how about a TWO day contract?
For someone who clearly respects the game so much (if you saw 61*, you know Crystal knows his stuff and obviously holds America's pastime in the highest regard), this is quite a foolhardy decision. I'm sure by now you know how little I think of Hank and Hal for orchestrating this whole thing, but in case you don't, let's just say I don't think even Papa George could have come up with something so ludicrous, not in a million years. I truly hope in the coming hours that everyone involved realizes what a poor mistake this would be and thinks better of it by having Mr. Crystal throw out the first pitch, not appear at the plate attempting to hit one.
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