Wake Up With A-Rod Slapping The Ball Out Of Bronson Arroyo's Glove
Last night, Peter Gammons reported that 39-year-old Bronson Arroyo has an 80 percent tear of his labrum, which effectively has ended his comeback attempt with the Washington Nationals. Arroyo was known for his durability, averaging 211 innings per season from 2005 through 2013. He made his major league debut as a 23-year-old in 2000 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and didn’t land on the disabled list until June of 2014.
But aside from his incredible durability, Arroyo was most known for this play right here in Game 6 of the 2004 American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees. I remember this like it were yesterday, feeling absolutely enraged when I saw the replay — and this was before umpires had access to replay — so I was under the impression that there was no way in hell this call was going to get overturned, and here comes the dagger to Red Sox fans hearts yet again.
But then something happened. The umpires got together, got the call right, A-Rod was out, Jeter was sent back to first base, and the Red Sox went on to win the game, the series and then the World Series, and everything was right in the world. But before all that happened, Yankee fans threw trash on the field, police in riot gear lined the foul lines — it was a wild scene. The Red Sox and Yankees could have all the superstars in the game divided between them, and the rivalry would still never be as great as it was during this era. If this is the end of the road for Arroyo, thank you for 2004 and Wily Mo Pena.