Snider makes big league debut
BY ADAM RONIS
Blue Jays outfielder Travis Snider has always dreamed of playing in Yankee Stadium. It looked like that chance would never come with the close of the Stadium this season and the Blue Jays playing their final series at the Stadium this weekend before rosters expand.
The Blue Jays traded Matt Stairs to the Phillies Thursday, which opened a spot for Snider to join the Blue Jays after it appeared he wouldn't play in the majors this season. Snider, selected 14th overall two years ago, made his major league debut tonight and went 1-for-3 with a double to deep center in the sixth and scored the lone run in a 2-1 loss.
"It's unbelievable," said the 20-year old. "The timing of everything worked out. I couldn't ask for a better situation. It's been a dream of mine to play here."
Snider, who is 5-11, 245 pounds, lined out to Derek Jeter in the third inning before lacing a double over the head of Johnny Damon with one out in the sixth. He scored on a single by Marco Scutaro.
"It felt good to go out there and put the ball in play," Snider said. "It went over his head and to start your career with a double in Yankee Stadium is pretty special."
Snider came up with runners at first and second and no outs in the eighth against Edwar Ramirez and struck out looking.
"I got good pitches to hit and didn't pull the trigger," he said. "It's a good learning situation for me in my debut in front of all these fans. I take it as a lesson learned."
Snider started the season at Single-A, advanced to Double-A and was promoted to Triple-A earlier this month. He hit .344 with two home runs and 17 RBIs in 18 games for Triple-A Syracuse, which is why the Blue Jays decided to recall him. He has struck out 154 times in 487 minor league at-bats this season.
Snider played mostly rightfield in the minors, but has played leftfield the past month and has a good arm. It is expected that he and Adam Lind will rotate between leftfield and designated hitter. Lind was the designated hitter tonight.
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Comments (6)
We need the Blow Jays to lay low, and lose a few more games to us, maybe a Luxury Tax incentive in American dollars will help.
Good article Adam.
It was fun watching "the kid" get congratulations from Jeter on his double and then score the only run for the Jays tonight.
And then observing what can best be described as his youthful intense gaze on the bench as he tried to fathom what just happened.
Then it was back to earth as he got called out on what can be described as a "rookie call" on the 0-2 pitch in the 8th (It coulda been outside).
Beauty of baseball right there.
The kid got a chance at "The Show" in "The Shrine", delivered and then failed.
A lifetime memory in what may be a meaningless game.
NEVER SAY DIE!!!
NO MAILING IT IN!!!
Joe explained the move very carefully. "Alex, this is not a demotion. You are still the most dangerous hitter in all of baseball. It's just that you will now have the responsibilities that go with the 6th spot in the order instead of those that go with the 4th. It can't be a demotion because you're still being paid the same amount of money. Think of it as an opportunity and a new beginning. And besides, you'll still have Jason hitting behind you. Why.....you guys will probably set the all-time payroll record for 6th and 7th batters at close to $50 million between the two of you. See Alex, another record, another milestone."
New batting order:
Damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Nady LF
Matsui DH
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Cano 2B
Molina C
I refuse, I outright, straight up REFUSE to allow myself to pin any hopes for saving the Yankees season on Carl Pavano. The conspiracy theorist in me says this is a setup. This joker will pitch a few good games and just when the team needs him most, and when the fans forget the past and get behind him, he will come down with an infected nose hair, hang-nail, buttock fissure, bent ear, eye lash in the eye, bad angle of his dangle or dirt under his finger nail and he will quit and have the last laugh at the expense of all of us.
I for one, will not allow myself to get excited about it.....who's with me?
Anyone else waiting for the players themselves to storm Girardi's office with buckets of tar and bags of feathers demanding that the 4 and 5 slots be filled by Players Not Named Rodriguez or Giambi?
I have to agree with both Jim and Diane....
Pavano is setting us up for something ;-)
ARod and Giambi make an obscene amount of money to be hitting so poorly in spots that require "money" production.