World Series Buzz: Melky has some fun with fans, who are not amused
PHILADELPHIA - Melky Cabrera did something interesting after catching a fly ball off the bat of Raul Ibañez in centerfield to end the third inning of Game 3 of the World Series at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday night:
He turned to the Phillies crowd, pretended to throw the ball into the stands as a souvenir, and then didn't.
Uh-oh.
Five innings later, Cabrera was playing rightfield and hearing it from Phillies fans distressed by their team's 8-4 deficit. Cabrera, who later said fans were throwing gum at him, pointed his fingers at the "New York" on his uniform shirt, smiled and danced a little "we're up by four runs" dance.
Cabrera appeared to be enjoying the opportunity to taunt the fans who had spent eight innings calling the Yankees every name in the book, and a few more the book isn't aware of yet.
Phillies fans responded by chanting a profanity at Cabrera - one that is often heard at Yankee Stadium when Red Sox fans are in town.
"It's OK," Cabrera said. "They're fans."
Yankees fans often are no angels when it comes to ballpark incivility. But what went on Saturday night was noteworthy, especially in comparison to the quiet that filled Yankee Stadium for large portions of Games 1 and 2.
Phillies fans unleashed their dislike for the Yankees from the start Saturday, a start that was delayed an hour and 20 minutes by rain.
In the bottom of the first, fans produced a mocking version of the Yankee Stadium Bleacher Creature roll call. They chanted the names of the Yankees' defensive lineup one-by-one and then added a word that rhymes with "ducks" and means "stinks."
Then there were the "You Did Steroids" chants directed at Andy Pettitte during the Phillies' three-run second inning. Pettitte actually admitted to using HGH, but that's much tougher to work into a chant, apparently.
There was one moment of extreme civility when fans throughout the ballpark rose in unison before the third inning (as directed by the public-address announcer) and waved white towels for a "Stand Up to Cancer" promotion sponsored by Major League Baseball. Then it was back to the rooting and the hooting. The Phillies' 3-0 lead returned the crowd to an anti-Yankees frenzy. But the Yankees came back and won, 8-5.
Many fans left early because the city's subway system was shutting down for the night and the game didn't end until 12:42 a.m. By then, pockets of Yankees fans began a "Let's Go Yankees" chant that was difficult for Phillies fans to drown out.
Like Cabrera, Yankees fans at Citizens Bank Park had weathered the early storm of hostility and were enjoying the last laugh.Hinske a Series veteran
Ernie Banks never played in a World Series. Neither did Don Mattingly. Alex Rodriguez is making his first Fall Classic appearance.
Eric Hinske laughs at all of them.
Yankees reserve infielder-outfielder Hinske, who was added to the roster for this round after being inactive for the first two, is in his third straight Fall Classic, all with AL East teams. He was on the champion Red Sox in 2007 and the runner-up Rays in 2008; last year he had the distinction of making the final out of the series by striking out against the Phillies' Brad Lidge.
"Yes, I'm the guy who made the last out of the World Series" is how Hinske greets unfamiliar reporters.
Hinske did not appear in the first three games this year. He is 1-for-3 in his previous two stints: one pinch-hit home run and two strikeouts.
"It's pretty cool," he said.
Pujols a no-show
Albert Pujols and Derek Jeter were honored before Game 4 Sunday as winners of the Hank Aaron Award, presented to the best offensive player in each league.
(Before you get upset about Jeter winning when he wasn't even the best offensive player on his team, remember this award is a fan vote, so Jeter will be a strong candidate to receive votes two years after he's retired.)
Aaron was there. Pujols could not attend because he had elbow surgery last week, according to commissioner Bud Selig.
Is it also possible that Pujols didn't want to answer questions from the national media about the Cardinals' new batting coach, Mark McGwire? Especially with Aaron, whom many consider the "clean" home run champion, in the room?
