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I'll admit being a fan of Nestor Cortes since his days with Double A Trenton. It's great to see how the "crafty lefty" has moved up the ladder from a borderline prospect lost for part of 2018 when the Orioles took him in the rule 5 draft, to being traded to -- and then let go by -- Seattle before becoming a vital member of the Yankees 2021 pitching staff. He sparkled on Sunday, holding those big White Sox bats to just one run over six innings in a series-deciding victory.
Ranger Suarez looks very comfortable as a starting pitcher. I was on hand Thursday when he shut down the Dodgers lineup at Citizens Bank Park. In three games since moving over from the bullpen, he's worked 10 innings, giving up just a run and three hits (yes, I know he's also walked six). Still, as Joe Girardi searches for arms to fill out his rotation, he looks like a strong candidate. And how cool are those Phils' Throwback Thursday blues?
Speaking of blue, you wonder how Albert Pujols, after 20 seasons of wearing red and white (with the Cards and Angels), feels about donning Dodger blue? This future Hall of Famer is probably a lot more positive about the color when realizing that moving up the freeway, gives him got his best chance to get back to the World Series one last time before heading to Cooperstown.
Question for Dodger fans: how do you feel about Trea Turner wearing number-six? Wasn't that digit synonymous with longtime fan favorite Steve Garvey? Or Carl Furillo, one of Brooklyn's Boys of Summer?
How good a pickup has Rougned Odor been for the Yankees? DFA'd by Texas at the beginning of the season, he's been a valuable fill-in, with 14 homers -- including a two-run job that kickstarted the offense in Sunday's win in Chicago -- as well as a positive influence on the club. Watch him talk to pitchers, or cheer his teammates during a big moment in the game. Listen on the post-game TV interviews and you'll find a firm follower of Roy Campanella's "Little Boy" school of enthusiasm.

Finally, a minor league Flashback from five summers ago:
It's Darin Ruf, farmed out to Lehigh Valley after struggling with the 2016 Phillies. Hit "fast forward" and he's become one of the unheralded, productive and under-the-radar crew that have helped the Giants build the best record in baseball.
 

Comments

Lois Simmons said…
Perfectly fine with Trea Turner inheriting #6. He's worthy of following in the footsteps of Carl Furillo and Steve Garvey, despite some early fielding bobbles playing an unfamiliar position. After all, Furillo started as a center fielder before being moved to right and Garvey had an atrocious arm at third base before he found a home at first base.
Other notable Dodgers who wore #6 include Hall of Fame member Joe Medwick (who switched from #77 when #6 became available; he had worn #7 for years with the Cardinals and wore it with the Dodgers for a time); pitcher-turned-slugger, Lefty O'Doul; Ron Fairly (the only player to sport the number between Furillo and Garvey). After Garvey left for San Diego, no Dodger player wore #6 (at least not in a regular season game) from 1983 to 2002. Since then, Kenny Lofton was the only truly noteworthy player to wear #6, and he only had it for one year, his next to last year in the majors as a one year rent a player free agent, a way station between the Phillies and the Rangers.
But I did like and have high hopes for Charlie Culberson, grandson of Leon Culberson who played a role in baseball history in Game 7 of the 1946 World Series. Charlie also had one big moment in Dodger history (and you can see #6 on his jersey).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HayOXW09kl8
August 16, 2021 at 1:12 PM
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