WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND
Tino not Jason winning Yankee fans hearts




By: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
May 11, 2005

For Tino Martinez the road back to New York has been a long and tedious one. It has been a road fraught with sadness, expectations, failures, rebirth and redemption. The same can be said of Jason Giambi’s road, but not necessarily in the same order.

Who can forget the agony and ecstasy of the 2001 World Series? The Yankees losing the first two games in the desert of Arizona to the upstart Arizona Diamondbacks, only to go home and sweep the Snakes to take a 3-2 series lead. Who was behind the biggest moment in that sweep? It was none other than Tino Martinez. With the Arizona leading the series 2-1, and leading Game 4 3-1 in the 9th inning Martinez strode to the plate to face D-back closer, Byung-Hyun Kim. With Paul O’Neill standing on first base and two outs Tino wasted no time with Kim. He sent Kim’s first pitch over the right field wall to tie the game 3-3. Yankee Stadium went absolutely nuts. Derek Jeter ended the game in the 10th inning with a walk-off home run to right field as the Yankees won 4-3. Jeter earned the title of “Mr. November” for that home run, but it was Tino who earned the fans’ love. Without Tino’s knock Jeter doesn’t come to the plate.

The 2001 World Series didn’t end with another Yankees’ title, but it was one for the ages. It put more pages in the Yankee-lore book for the heroics displayed throughout the series. With all the great moments to point to coming out of that World Series Tino Martinez’s two-run blast clearly stood out as the most memorable.

Unfortunately, for Tino and his fans Game 7 was the last game (or so it was thought) he played as a Yankee. Martinez, who accomplished the improbable by winning the hearts of fans six years prior by replacing legend Don Mattingly, was not resigned by the club. Instead George Steinbrenner went in a different direction. He eyed an offensive monster playing on the west coast by the name of Jason Giambi. Giambi was the center piece and leader of the Oakland Athletics. He, too, had played out his contract and was available. Giambi the 2000 MVP and first runner up in 2001 (he lost to Ichiro Suzuki by a mere 7 votes) indicated he wanted to come to New York and Steinbrenner indicated he wanted him there. So with little fanfare Tino was ushered out the door and Giambi was invited in where he signed an astronomical 7-year deal worth $120 million.

In the meantime, Tino signed a 3-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals to play first base. Before the cameras Tino looked happy to play in another worthy baseball town, but it was known that Tino was hurt by what had transpired. He never wanted to play anywhere else other than New York.

In 2002 the deal the Yankees made appeared to pay dividends. Giambi batted .314, knocked in 122 RBI, hit 41 home runs and had an OPS of 1.033. In the 2002 ALDS Jason hit .357 with a home run and 3 RBI. Simultaneously, Tino had a mediocre season with St. Louis. He batted .262 with 21 home runs and 75 RBI. Most of his power numbers came later in the season. His OPS was .775.

The following year Tino struggled again, but Giambi wasn’t the same player either. He fought an early season staph infection in both eyes, which affected his seeing the ball clearly. He later battled a sore wrist and back. Although most of Jason’s numbers were respectful something didn’t seem quite right. Giambi never seemed to get back to 100 percent. His average dropped to an eight year low of .250. He still hit 41 home runs, but his RBI total dropped to 107. His OPS was still a very good .939. What was very telling was how Jason performed in the 2003 playoffs. Jason’s average for the combined ALDS, ALCS and World Series was .237. In 59 at bats Giambi hit four home runs (one every 14.75 at bats) and six RBI. His OPS averaged out to .832. A lot of Giambi’s poor October showing was due to his not being able to properly heal during the regular season. He developed a bad left knee and was unable to push off on it. This obviously affected his swing and ultimately his power. The 2003 season ended on a very sour note for Jason.

Meanwhile, Tino had his own problems. Wanting to improve on a middle-of-the-road effort in 2002 Tino desired to come out blazing for the 2003 campaign. The results were mixed. Although Tino raised his average (.273 from .262) and his OPS (.781 from .775) his production numbers in home runs and RBI dropped from the previous year. During the off-season the Cardinals went in another direction and traded Tino to his hometown club the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

The move appeared to be a good one for both Tino and the Devil Rays. The Rays manager Lou Pinella had managed Martinez from 1993-1995 when both were in the Seattle Mariner organization. Once again, Tino produced average numbers. His batting average dropped from the year before back to .262. He did improve his power numbers and OPS to their 3-year best average. Tino potted 23 home runs, 76 RBI, and had an OPS of .823. Tino finished out his season with the Rays as well as his contract. During the off-season Tino contemplated retirement.

Back in the Bronx, Jason Giambi’s 2004 season was a disaster. He came to spring training considerably thinner, but told reporters he had only lost four pounds from his playing weight the year before. Even the most gullible of people had a hard time swallowing the story. The rumor of steroid use began to circulate as the BALCO investigation heated up and Giambi’s name had been linked with the use of steroids. It was learned Giambi had testified before a closed session of the federal grand jury during December, 2003. However, the substance of his testimony wasn’t revealed until after the 2004 season.

Additionally, Giambi’s gimpy knee flared up before the regular season and both he and Kevin Brown contracted intestinal parasites while playing the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in Japan to start the 2004 season. In May Giambi sprained his ankle, leading to a two-week rest on the bench. All through his physical woes Giambi continually felt weak and tired. At first, it was believed to be an extension of the intestinal problems. However, after having a battery of tests performed a more sinister ailment was discovered.

After having a series of tests performed for various cancers doctors located a small tumor near Giambi’s pituitary gland. Although not considered life-threatening it was determined to be the source of Jason’s weakness. Giambi received treatment to shrink the tumor and in September Yankee manager Joe Torre gave Jason an opportunity to get back into the line up. However, Giambi was unable to find his stroke and he was victimized by opposing pitching. The Yankees made the decision to leave Giambi off their active playoff roster. What they had was a $120 million cheerleader.

After the Yankees improbable loss to the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS Jason Giambi wanted to go home and forget about his horrendous season. His offensive numbers were mind-numbing. He hit a career low .208 while only contributing 12 home runs and 40 RBI. He also had a career worst OPS of .721. In December of 2004 Jason Giambi’s world came crashing down.

Excerpts of Jason Giambi’s 2003 grand jury testimony became public. Before the grand jury Giambi admitted using steroid substances commonly referred to as the “clear” and the “cream.” After years of denying any steroid use Jason Giambi’s dirty little secret was out. He was a liar and a cheater. The New York press howled for his head. Yankees’ fans wanted Giambi off the team. Steinbrenner was incensed and the Yankees sought ways to void the remainder of Giambi’s contract. Ultimately, Giambi reported to spring training and is still a member of the Yankees.

In a move considered to be insurance against a crumbling Jason Giambi, the Yankees went out and signed the guy they had showed the door to three years before. Tino Martinez was brought back to play a back up role to Jason Giambi at first base. Tino was thrilled with the notion. He later told everyone the Yankees were the only team he would have played for. His dream of ending his career in pinstripes was being answered. Tino signed a one-year deal in the neighborhood of $3 million.

Both Jason and Tino reported to spring training in Tampa to start the 2005 season. Tino’s goal was to help his beloved team in any capacity he could. Giambi’s was to begin the process of rebuilding his career and reputation. After a period of silence Giambi held a news conference and “apologized” to his owner, teammates and fans. However, Giambi never actually said what he was apologizing for, but it was apparent he was attempting to say he was sorry for being a deceiver.

The Yankees closed ranks and got behind their beleaguered first baseman. Giambi appeared to be making improvement during the spring training. He was being praised by his manager for his effort. However, once the season started Giambi went back into his all-to-familiar tailspin. In 27 games Giambi is batting .195 with only 3 home runs and 6 RBI. Along with Jason’s plummet the Yankees started out the 2005 season with their worst start since 1975.

Over the past four games a familiar player has emerged and taken this team and put it on his back. Tino Martinez has hit four home runs in four consecutive games and has eight so far on the year. He trails only Alex Rodriguez in that category. He has provided the offense Jason Giambi has been unable to produce. Tino has helped turn the Yankees fortunes around. In 30 games this season Tino has raised his average to .270 and has an OPS of .932. In the past four games he is hitting .333 with 4 home runs and 8 RBI. For the month of May Tino’s OPS is 1.477.

Meanwhile, the Yankees have approached their beleaguered slugger and asked him to accept a minor league assignment to Columbus in order to help Jason get his offense going again. Giambi is mulling it over, but it doesn’t look like he’s warming up to the idea. If I were in Giambi’s shoes I’d take the assignment and do all I could to appease management. Right now, Jason’s got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel.

In the interim, Tino is giving the Yankees and their fans what they want and need. He is giving them much needed offense, and a glimpse in the rearview mirror to better times in the Yankees storied past. How long will Tino’s hot bat go? Who knows, but enjoy the ride for as long as it lasts. Welcome back Tino.

PLAY BALL!


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