Cue Bob Marley. This was “Redemption Song” Saturday in The Bronx.
Phil Hughes showed why he must stay in the rotation with six solid innings against the Rays, and Jorge Posada came back from Joe Girardi’s lineup exile to show there is still thunder in his Core Four bat, blasting a grand slam and driving in six runs in the Yankees’ 9-2 victory at Yankee Stadium.
Because of Freddy Garcia’s cut finger, Hughes and A.J. Burnett both will remain in the rotation for the time being. Posada will get the start at DH again today, though he remains primarily a bench player.
Baseball is at its best when players overcome hardships to succeed, and you had to feel good yesterday for Hughes and Posada. It is days like this that give baseball its soul.
Just listen to Hughes talk about Posada’s grand slam, the 10th grand slam of his career, passing pinstriped legends Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra.
“I got goose bumps sitting in the dugout — it was really cool,” said Hughes, who is 3-3 with a 4.28 ERA since returning from the disabled list. “It was almost like when you saw the count 2-0, you knew he was going to do something special. I feel great for him with all he’s gone through this year to get back and get a start.”
It also has been a long climb back for Hughes, but he thinks he has straightened out the problems he had earlier this year with mechanical adjustments he made in his last start in Chicago.
“My direction is in line better and my momentum is better, I’m not wasting energy side to side,” said Hughes, who struck out six, walked one and allowed two earned runs. “I want to stick around in the rotation as long as I can.
“I feel a lot more like I was last year,” Hughes added. “It is a good feeling. It’s just the start. I like doing this job and I want to stay here as long as they want me.”
Posada felt like a new man, too.
“I got the chance to play and I was happy,” Posada said. “It was special I got the opportunity to help out today.”
He made the most of it. Posada wanted to make it clear that he is here for the fans.
“The fans were so supportive, I have to give them a lot of credit,” he said. “They’ve been so supportive my whole career. I play for them. I really do.”
Players cannot worry about what’s around the corner or they will be beaten up along the way. Hughes knows that.
“It’s hard enough to pitch in a big league game when you have a clear conscience, so I knew I couldn’t let anything distract me,” he said. “I just tried to go out there and give us a solid start.”
Solid is the word that general manager Brian Cashman used to describe Burnett’s performance this year. You did not have to read between the lines of Cashman’s Friday speech to realize management wants Burnett (8-9, 4.60 ERA) in the rotation. If this were a game of poker, consider the Yankees all-in on Burnett.
They are betting that Burnett’s talent overcomes his other shortcomings and that is their right.
In Chicago on Aug. 2, Hughes pitched six shutout innings. Burnett, who will be moved up a day to start in place of Garcia today, has not won since June 29. Cashman and Girardi can set up the rotation any way they want. They are hoping Burnett will come through for them down the stretch simply because he has so much talent.
When Burnett started against those same White Sox the day after Hughes, he could not make it through five innings even though the Yankees gave him a nearly two-touchdown lead. Burnett gave up seven runs in 4 1/3 innings.
Burnett has the chance to top Hughes today. There is a competition within the competition.
Never forget baseball is a game with a soul. After her husband’s grand slam, Laura Posada tweeted: “Thank you fans for your prayers, support and love.”
This was a day of baseball redemption.