I was going to write this theme anyway, in honor of the movie being released today. Here’s hoping this is the first good “Superman” film since “Superman II,” although I didn’t see the last one.
But the Yankees game yesterday, a test of bodies and wills, made this topic all the more appropriate. Here’s my column in today’s Post.
Who are the players who stand out to me as Men of Steel? In my mind, this is about players who are durable and tough and overcome adversity. For the sake of this list, I’m eliminating Cal Ripken, Jr. and Lou Gehrig because I think the consecutive-games streak, while cool and symbolic, is overrated. You could make a sound argument that Ripken would have been better off playing in, say, 150 games a year and resting his body sporadically rather than insisting upon starting every single contest.
So here’s my list:
1. Derek Jeter. Yup, he’s down and out now, and while he received some good news yesterday – it’s the second item in George King’s linked story – we still don’t know what, if anything, can be expected from the Yankees’ captain this season or ever again.
Yet no one will fully write him off because of who Jeter is and what he has accomplished. He is the active leader in games played, with 2,585 (Alex Rodriguez is second, at 2,524), and in his 17 prior full major-league seasons, he played in 148 or more in 15. It’s a running joke that, when he has to leave a game with an injury or is clearly dealing with a condition, the pack of reporters will approach him out of due diligence, and he responds with a smile and an, “I’m fine.”
During his long prime, Jeter was like Kevin Kline in “I Love You to Death.” Someone could shoot him in the heart, and he’d still be walking around, making small talk, asking his guests if they’d like some cheese and crackers.
2. CC Sabathia. He’s up here because he pretty much defines the word “ace,” even if he is currently not pitching like one. He’s so durable that last year, even after spending two stints on the disabled list, he still reached the 200-innings mark for the sixth straight season. His career low for innings pitched is 180 1/3, in his rookie season of 2001. He is always accountable and never points a finger elsewhere.
We saw what he was about in the 2009 postseason, when he took the ball twice on three days’ rest (Game 4 of both the ALCS and World Series) and was prepared to do the same for Game 7 of both series. But really, his Man of Steel highlight came during his brief stay with Milwaukee, in 2008: With the Brewers fighting like crazy to make the playoffs, Sabathia shrugged off his pending free agency and made his final three regular-season starts on three days’ rest. The last one came on the final day of the season, and when Sabathia went the distance for the win, it lifted the Brewers over the Mets for the final National League playoff spot.
3. Jack Morris. I used to vote for him on my Hall of Fame ballot and don’t anymore, but he nevertheless ranks among my all-time favorite pitchers. He was a workhorse, and he’ll always have 1991 World Series Game 7.
When Chuck Knoblauch was on the Yankees, he told us a hilarious story about the ’91 season, Knoblauch’s rookie year and Morris’ only season with the Twins. Looking at Morris’ game log, he had to have been referring to May 14, 1991 against Milwaukee. The Twins were up 3-0 in the seventh and the Brewers had men on first and third with one out. Greg Brock hit a grounder to Knoblauch at second base, and Knoblauch threw to shortstop Greg Gagne for the force but they couldn’t complete the double play, allowing Jim Gantner to score.
Morris, Knoblauch recalled, exploded after the inning, livid that the fielders had allowed the run to score — I can’t remember if Morris thought they should have gone for the runner at home or if he simply thought they should have turned the double play — and depriving him of a shutout. It spoke to the type of competitor Morris was; the Twins went onto win the game, 5-1, with Morris going the distance.
4. Jorge Posada. I don’t know if I ever saw a player take as much pride in the position he played as Posada did in catching. Which is why he really struggled to adjust to life as a designated hitter.
Starting in 2008, the year he turned 37, Posada became fragile and a regular visitor to the disabled list. Until then, though, he never went on the DL, regularly ranking among the game’s leaders in games started behind the plate.
You always knew where you stood with Posada; he was utterly incapable of faking niceties. Which of course rubbed some people the wrong way, both in the Yankees’ clubhouse and on the other side of the field. Even his detractors held great admiration for him, though. How could you not?
5. David Wright. He’s the youngest player on this list. He has earned it not only with his durability — 144 or more games played each of the eight prior seasons besides 2011 — but with his commitment to the Mets, who are constantly challenging his good nature. Sure, he’s getting paid $138 million to be a cheerleader, yet still. I’m not sure how many of us could keep up the public good spirits at all times.
How about this CougarLife.com story? Look, I understand the Mets really, really want Wright to start in the All-Star Game they’re hosting, and I usually can’t stand moralizing (like that against illegal performance-enhancing drug usage). But this is more about intelligence than morality. It was simply a terrible idea to even suggest involving Wright, who is engaged, with this group. How could someone think this would play well?
Yes, the Mets ultimately backed out of it, but they tried to spin it positively yesterday, which was just silly. Admit that some underling screwed up and move on with it.
And then Wright, bless his patience, tried to put this ridiculous story to rest by saying that he appreciated the Mets’ efforts on his behalf. Man oh man. What would it take for Wright to NOT support the Mets? He is indeed a man of steel, except while Superman is impervious to bullets, Wright is impervious to incompetence.
–Have a great day.