MLB irony: Yanks vs. Pirates

Thursday was Day 2 of spring training games. The wind blew in from center. The temperature was 53 degrees. The rain was on and off. Wait a minute. This is Florida.

But wait. The Yankees have the circus in full form. The Pirates have a laundry list of career minor league players and no money to pay even them. It really is spring training.

Ironic that these teams would play one another in the first exhibition game for each team. They are the haves and have-nots of major league baseball.

The Yankees have Gary Sheffield pouting about a $13 million contract he signed that has $4 million deferred each year. He now wants interest on the deferred payments. George Steinbrenner isn’t ready to say yes.

Hideki Matsui’s contract is up this year. The Yankees were going to re-sign him, which they ultimately will do. For now, however, Steinbrenner is mad at Matsui’s agent, who also happens to be Jason Giambi’s agent.

Giambi is running the steroid gauntlet. He held a press conference to apologize for such use, but never mentioned either the use or for what he was apologizing.

The Pirates begin this season knowing they cannot compete with the best of the National League. They do not have the money. The Pirates spend $40 million and the Yankees triple that – at least.

Starting Pittsburgh pitcher Kip Wells pitches a couple innings. “The numbers weren’t what I wanted them to be [he gave up two runs],” he says. “We [Pirate pitchers] know that there’ll be a lot of games where we can’t give up four runs,” Wells adds. “We have to hold them to three or we probably lose.”

That is no easy task and places great pressure on Pirate pitchers to be all too close to perfect. The difference in the margin of error for the Yankee and Pirate players is a chasm.

That is how these two teams start and is a fact baseball must deal with when its contract with the players association ends in 2006.

Then there is Yogi Berra. He is walking by the hitting cages, talking and laughing before the game. Pirates veteran catcher Benito Santiago comes toward Berra . They have never met.

Santiago holds his hand out and says, “You were my hero, you know. I am honored to shake your hand.” Santiago is genuinely excited.

Yogi puts his head down, his arm around Santiago’s waist in an “aw, shucks” response. This is good. This is spring training.

On another note, this spring marks the third anniversary of the passing of former University of Maine athletic trainer Wes Jordan. Over those years many have worked on the fulfillment of his dream, the athletic training education center at the university.

We are so close. Time is running short and $150,000 is still needed. This money needs to be in place by April 1. If you loved Wes and have not made your pledge, it is now or never.

A great dream for a wonderful man. Send or call in a pledge.

Old Town native Gary Thorne is an ESPN and ABC sportscaster.