Billy Crystal's Career Line: 0-1, 1 Strikeout

When I first heard about and wrote about the Yankees decision to allow Billy Crystal to play for them in today's game with the Pirates, I thought it was a mockery. Fantasy camps exist for no reason if not for 60-year olds to get their jollies by pretending they are professional baseball players. And the Yankees certainly aren't so devoid of publicity that they need to cozy up to a jock-sniffing celebrity.

My feelings about the general idea haven't really changed but I will say the lone at-bat of Crystal's major league career embarassed neither him nor the team. He led off as the DH this afternoon in Tampa and struck out in six pitches against Paul Maholm. I give Maholm great credit for treating the at-bat like any other. He fell behind 3-1 and then threw a couple of sharp pitches on the inner half (a fastball and nasty little slider, for what it's worth) to get Crystal swinging.

Crystal fouled off Maholm's second offering and showed some good plate discipline to work himself a favorable count. Dusty Baker would have been peeved to see him laying off pitches but most of us realize that, given the situation, it's laudable to show that kind of restraint. Although it wasn't the mockery I feared, I do hope Johnny Damon pinch-hitting for Crystal brings an end to these stunts once and for all.

(Video courtesy of Awful Announcing)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-13-2008 @ 3:11PM

tobrien28 said...

Hey Josh: Do you hate fun or just greatly dislike it? You are not a professional baseball player, manager, owner, GM or scout. When a great shortstop, a great owner and a great team with the proudest history in professional sports decide to give an old man a birthday present IN SPRING TRAINING, how can you (someone who has never been involved in the game professionally) say this is a mockery of the game?

3-13-2008 @ 3:56PM

August West said...

I'd have paid good money for Maholm to throw a fastball strike-one inside, and as the ball comes back yell 'HEY, aren't you that f*cking mime from Spinal Tap?'

4-05-2008 @ 8:06PM

Steve Real said...

I got to admit.
The Yankees know how to have fun.

3-13-2008 @ 4:40PM

Good Time Boy said...

Sure, having Billy Crystal play is a mistake in a game that is less about tradition and being an American past time these days, its more about juicing up players and making millions of dollars, baseball and most pro sports are a business and a bore these days, its too bad we can't just enjoy the sport, its been reduced to statistics and money. So long baseball...

3-13-2008 @ 4:41PM

3-13-2008 @ 5:30PM

Jay Denver said...

Billy K-rystal -- Another day, another K.

3-14-2008 @ 6:34AM

Bitch Please! said...

Josh,

you just couldn't resist taking a dig at Dusty Baker. While he has had a very disappointing cpast couple of years, none of us on this blog site have had the type of career he has had both as a player and manager.

3-13-2008 @ 9:57PM

bet the super bowl said...

He probably did better than I would have.

3-13-2008 @ 10:36PM

Search Engine Placement said...

I think that it is pretty cool that while he was trying to search for his placement in life, that playing for the Yankees got his engine running. He seems like a nice guy.

3-13-2008 @ 10:30PM

tanning lotion said...

Way to go Billy Crystal.

3-13-2008 @ 11:36PM

bizzo5000 said...

Though I was freaking out because I'm a Pirates fan(I still say they should have plunked him), Crystal took some good cuts up there and had a damn good eye. I would have ducked and hit the dirt after the first pitch.