We're minutes away from the first pitch, so these stats will be outdated soon, but take a look at Bernie Williams' recent stretch at the plate. He is seven-for-his-last 11, with four doubles. Obviously Bernie is on the back nine of his career, nearing the 18th hole, but it's safe to say he's proven he can be successful in small doses.
Bernie is playing leftfield tonight, which seems odd at first blush considering the oddities of playing the Green Monster. (Terrence Long didn't look too comfortable last night.) But Joe Torre would rather have Williams in left as opposed to right because right here is much bigger. "That's what I have been trying to do," he said.
Speaking of Bernie, anyone take note of his impressive hustle out of the box in the fourth inning Sunday night against the Mets? After hitting a popup midway between the plate and first, one that should've been caught, he threw his bat down and sprinted out of the box. "It helps to get the frustration out that way," Williams said.
Thinking back to that play yesterday, Williams said he thought something was up when he saw first-base coach Tony Pena frantically waving him around first. And he knew the ball dropped when he was midway through first and second and he heard the fans cheering. Longtime Yankees fans definitely know Bernie has never been known for his hustle, or being heads up, so you've got to give it to him there.
Comments (2)
Real Yankees ALWAYS run out every ball! Bernie is a Yankee.
I think you stick with the guys that you've already got in the bigs (Melky, Bernie, and Bubba).