When Billy Martin shook hands with Mets' manager Joe Torre before today's game, the volatile Yankees' skipper said, "I hear you're winning." Billy was referring to the fact that the Mets have had a much better spring than the Yankees, which in part, is what prompted Steinbrenner's remark.
Things changed a little today, or actually, returned to normal. Thurman Munson doubled and Reggie Jackson followed with a home run to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead on the way to a 6-2 victory, but injuries continued to pile up for the defending World Champions.
Before the game, second baseman Willie Randolph was hit below the eye with a baseball. The future Mets' manager went down and stayed down, left the field with a bruise and a cut, and was replaced for the game by Fred Stanley. In the fifth inning, Dick Tidrow pulled a thigh muscle while running out a bunt. He will miss a few days. The Yankees have already lost Andy Messersmith to a separated shoulder and Don Gullett with a sore shoulder.
COMMENTS:
The more things change, the more they remain the same. In 2005, George Steinbrenner is telling Joe Torre the same things he told Billy Martin twenty seven seasons ago. But things do change, and sometimes quite radically.
In 2005, Joe Torre is the Yankees' manager and Willie Randolph, who was hit below the eye with a baseball in the exhibition game against the Yankees' greatest rival, is the Mets manager. He who plays for the Mets gets to manage the Yankees, and he who plays for the Yankees gets to manage the Mets. Of course, it must be remembered that Randolph did play for the Mets in 1992.
George Steinbrenner has been roundly criticized for wanting to win, especially against the Mets, even when the games supposedly don't count because they are exhibition games, but the truth is that they do count. When the Yankees' record against the Mets is cited, it includes the World Series, interleague regular season games, and exhibition games.
In 1978 it was still believed that games in April counted as much as games in September, or at least more players believed it than believe it in 2005. Exhibition games don't count and most are soon forgotten, but attitudes are formed in March that carry into the regular season. While Steinbrenner may be a little extreme in his quest for excellence, his approach is correct. One must try all the time and give nothing away.
