Game 13: Yankees vs. Athletics

The Yankees hope the third time is a charm for Javier Vazquez as they kick off their first West Coast swing in Oakland. In fact, Vazquez’ Yankee struggles extend back much farther than the start of this season. Javy’s ERA in his last three starts (not including playoffs) of 2004 was 6.50, so he is looking to get a pretty big monkey off his back. According to the LoHud Yankees Blog, Vazquez has been battling both a dead arm and poor mechanics. The days of the Moneyball A’s are long gone, so perhaps Vazquez can use his change up to effectively take advantage of a less than patient and potent lineup (.252/.321/.362).

The 9-5 Athletics, who sit atop the AL West, counter with left hander Gio Gonzalez. In his only start against the Yankees (July 25, 2009), Gonzalez pitched 6 2/3 innings of 2-hit, 1-run ball in a 6-4 victory. Interestingly, the Yankees are not making any concessions to the lefty. Both Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner remain in the lineup, while Marcus Thames sits on the bench. The large outfield at McAfee Coliseum likely played a role in that decision, but Girardi has also been known to ride the hot hand. Gardner and Gonzalez could be an interesting matchup all game…not at the plate, however, but on the bases. Gonzalez’ pick off move is among the game’s best, so some cat and mouse could ensue if Gardner reaches base.

 

vs. Gio Gonzalez	PA	BA	OBP	SLG	HR	RBI
Derek Jeter SS	3	0.000	0.333	0.000	0	0
Nick Johnson DH	0	0.000	0.000	0.000	0	0
Mark Teixeira 1B	5	0.250	0.400	0.500	0	0
Alex Rodriguez 3B	3	0.000	0.000	0.000	0	0
Robinson Cano 2B	0	0.000	0.000	0.000	0	0
Jorge Posada C	3	0.000	0.000	0.000	0	0
Nick Swisher RF	3	0.000	0.000	0.000	0	0
Curtis Granderson CF	5	0.250	0.400	0.250	0	0
Brett Gardner LF	3	0.500	0.667	1.500	0	1
Total	25	0.143	0.28	0.286	0	1
vs. Javier Vazquez	PA	BA	OBP	SLG	HR	RBI
Rajai Davis CF	1	0.000	0.000	0.000	0	0
Daric Barton 1B	6	0.400	0.500	0.400	0	1
Ryan Sweeney RF	4	0.000	0.000	0.000	0	0
Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B	6	0.167	0.167	0.333	0	0
Kurt Suzuki C	10	0.111	0.200	0.111	0	1
Eric Chavez DH	12	0.100	0.250	0.400	1	3
Mark Ellis 2B	17	0.188	0.235	0.188	0	0
Travis Buck LF	3	0.000	0.000	0.000	0	0
Cliff Pennington SS	1	1.000	1.000	2.000	0	0
Total	60	0.164	0.217	0.255	1	5

• Before the game, the Yankees presented Chad Gaudin and Edwar Ramirez with their World Series rings. The entire team congregated around both players in pre-game warm-ups before handing out the jewelry.
• Derek Jeter returns to the lineup after missing a game because of a head cold. Jeter looks to resume his season long streak of consecutive hits.
• Nick Swisher looks to rebound on the road. In line with last season’s split disparity, Swisher is batting .333/.440/.571 on the road, but only .053/.250/.158 at home. 

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Now Pitching…Ron Davis

Last night, Ike Davis made his major league debut with the New York Mets. He is the son of former major league pitcher Ron Davis, who had a 10-year major league career that included parts of 4 seasons with the Yankees. Called up to the Yankees in 1978, Davis would emerge as one of the Yankees most effective relievers from 1979 to 1981 and team with Rich Gossage to form one of the more dominant bullpen tandems in Yankee history (see below for a comparison).

In 1981, Ron Davis served up more than just fastballs for the New York Yankees (Photo: AP).

Ron Davis was best known for a powerful fastball that once allowed him to strike out 8 consecutive batters (May 4, 1981 versus the Angels), a Yankee record as well as the top mark for relief pitchers. However, he also gained notoriety during the 1981 strike for pitching daily specials as a waiter at Oren and Aretsky, a restaurant and sports bar on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Davis, along with many other sports figures and celebrities from the world of entertainment, used to frequent the restaurant when he was drawing a major league paycheck. Over that time, he befriended owner and Yankee fan Ken Aretsky. So, when the strike hit, Aretsky offered Davis the job and he accepted.

Naturally, Davis’ career change garnered a lot of media attention. Pictures of a gangly Davis were splashed across newspapers nationwide and picked up by baseball’s flagship This Week in Baseball. The sight of a baseball player having to wait tables was probably very good PR for the MLBPA, but according to most accounts, it seemed as if Davis actually enjoyed his brief second career.

New Yorkers may be used to it, but back in Texas, we don’t get to see too many movie stars up close. Another reason why I like working here is that I can see a lot of famous people. Farrah Fawcett has been in here, Miss USA, as well as television soap opera stars and athletes from other sports. I am a big soap opera fan; I watch them every chance I get. – Ron Davis, quoted by AP

Fortunately, or unfortunately for Davis, the baseball strike would come to an end on July 31. The season resumed played on August 9 with the All Star Game, to which Davis was selected as an injury replacement for the Goose. Perhaps eager to show off his new found culinary skills, Davis also hosted a “welcome back” barbeque for the entire Yankee team. Eventually, however, he settled back into his more customary profession, and tossed a shutout inning against the Texas Rangers when regular season play resumed on August 10.

The Yankees would go on to lose the 1981 World Series to the Dodgers, thanks in no small part to Davis’ 23.14 ERA in only 2 1/3 innings.  Before the following season, Davis would be traded with Greg Gagne to the Minnesota Twins for Roy Smalley. Although he did pitch well in 1983 and 1985, Davis would really never regain the same level of consistency and, after brief stints with the Cubs, Dodgers and Giants, eventually end his career pitching in Japan.

With the promotion of his son, Ike, the elder Davis probably won’t have to fall back on his second career, but should he get the itch, I am sure there are a lot of restaurants in Manhattan who can use an experienced waiter.

Dynamic Duos – Best Relief Tandems in Yankees’ History

1979	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	ER	SO	ERA+	SO/9
Rich Gossage	5	3	2.62	36	18	58.1	48	17	41	156	6.3
Ron Davis	14	2	2.85	44	9	85.1	84	27	43	143	4.5
Total	19	5	2.77	80	27	143.2	132	44	84		5.3
1980	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	ER	SO	ERA+	SO/9
Rich Gossage	6	2	2.27	64	33	99	74	25	103	173	9.4
Ron Davis	9	3	2.95	53	7	131	121	43	65	133	4.5
Total	15	5	2.66	117	40	230	195	68	168		6.6
1984	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	ER	SO	ERA+	SO/9
Dave Righetti	5	6	2.34	64	31	96.1	79	25	90	163	8.4
Jay Howell	9	4	2.69	61	7	103.2	86	31	109	142	9.5
Total	14	10	2.53	125	38	199.3	165	56	199		9.0
1985	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	ER	SO	ERA+	SO/9
Dave Righetti	12	7	2.78	74	29	107	96	33	92	146	7.7
Brian Fisher	4	4	2.38	55	14	98.1	77	26	85	170	7.8
Total	16	11	2.59	129	43	205.1	173	59	177		7.8
1996	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	ER	SO	ERA+	SO/9
John Wetteland	2	3	2.83	62	43	63.2	54	20	69	178	9.8
Mariano Rivera	8	3	2.09	61	5	107.2	73	25	130	240	10.9
Total	10	6	2.38	123	48	170.4	127	45	199		10.5
2004	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	ER	SO	ERA+	SO/9
Mariano Rivera	4	2	1.94	74	53	78.2	65	17	66	232	7.6
Tom Gordon	9	4	2.21	80	4	89.2	56	22	96	204	9.6
Total	13	6	2.10	154	57	167.4	121	39	162		8.7
2005	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	ER	SO	ERA+	SO/9
Mariano Rivera	7	4	1.38	71	43	78.1	50	12	80	308	9.2
Tom Gordon	5	4	2.57	79	2	80.2	59	23	69	166	7.7
Total	12	8	1.99	150	45	158.3	109	35	149		8.5

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