The calendar may say March, but the Yankees are definitely in October mode.
The Bombers dropped a meaningless spring game
to the Rays 7-6 in St. Petersburg Wednesday, but that storyline pales in comparison to what took place during the
first two innings. Yankees starter Heath Phillips was ejected in the first inning after hitting Tampa third baseman Evan Longoria with a fastball. The New York lefty, who has a chance to make the roster considering the dearth of left-handed pitching in the bullpen denied it was intentional.
"It wasn't intentional at all," Phillips said. "I was [surprised] because I
didn't really think the ball hit him at first. I told [the umpire] I was trying
to throw a fastball inside and it got away from me." Phillips added, "You can't make a club hitting a guy or getting ejected."
The replay I saw didn't have a great angle, but it didn't seem like a purpose pitch. But with the collision at home plate between Tampa Bay's Elliot Johnson and the Yankees Francisco Cervelli still fresh in the everyone's mind Phillips was given the heave-ho.
But the fireworks started when Shelley "Frankenstein" Duncan took out Rays second baseman Aki Iwamura in the second inning. Duncan singled to left and tried to stretch it into a double, but was tagged out. But Frankenstein went in spikes first at second. Shelley was out by a mile, but he claims he was trying to jar the ball loose. In Shelley's defense (if one can be offered), he's had a tendency to go hard into second. In any event, Duncan definitely went in high and the mayhem ensued. Tampa right fielder Jonny Gomes charged from the outfield and shoved Duncan as he protested his ejection at second base. The benches emptied and when the dust settled, five guys were tossed, including Yankees third base coach Bobby Meacham and hitting coach Kevin Long.
I like the spunk the Yanks showed on Wednesday, but I think their actions were misplaced. The collision that broke Cervelli's wrist wasn't intentional or dirty, but Shelley's take-out at second was silly. Rays manager Joe Madden is lobbying for Frankenstein to be suspended, but I don't think that's going to happen.
"It's contemptible, it's wrong, it's borderline criminal. And I cannot believe
they did that," Madden said.
And so it goes. At the very least, this latest drama should add some extra juice when the Yanks and Rays meet during the regular season.
But that's still a month away. Spring Training baseball will return tomorrow as the Yanks take on the Pirates in Tampa.
The game will also mark the debut of comedian Billy Crystal in pinstripes.
Yep, it's still March all right.
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