Paul O'Neill: The Yankees Need His Fire

Ian Kennedy returned from Triple A to start another game for the Yankees Friday night in Anaheim.  He got shelled again and after the game he commented, "I'm just not real upset." 

That drew a lot of critical comments from other Yankee players, and apparently Andy Pettite took the youngster aside to teach him how to deal with the media in a better manner. 

But that begs a bigger question: Who on the Yankees seems "real upset" at their continuing slide farther and farther behind in both the American League East and the wild card race? 

And who needs an attitude adjustment to make certain they appreciate how much every single game, every single inning, every single at-bat, and every single pitch is to any hope the Yanks have to get to their 14th straight playoffs?

In Anaheim on Sunday, the Yankees scored two runs in the top of the first and had Bobby Abreu on third and Alex Rodriguez on first with nobody out. There was a chance for a huge inning, and Xavier Nady hit a routine ground ball to Angels' third baseman, Chone Figgins. 

For some reason, Bobby Abreu broke for home as the ball reached Figgins, who threw him out at home.  Figgins' throw was high, wide, and up the third base line, but Abreu went in standing up, actually went in standing still, with no slide and no real effort to evade the tag. 

Abreu didn't seem "real upset" about this bonehead play or the fact that he probably had taken the Yankees out of a big inning that might have put Anaheim in a real hole to begin this game.

In the ninth, Wilson Betemit came in to play first for defensive reasons, and inexplicably broke for the base on a weak ground ball that dribbled through the infield to score the winning run.  Mariano Riviera expressed dismay at seeing Betemit break for the bag instead of the ball, but nobody seemed "real upset" that this Yankee team had blown another game on less than stellar performances. 

The only real hustle seen on Sunday by the team in road grays was Alex Rodriguez sliding head first trying to steal third.  But his effort was misguided in that he was already in scoring position, the count on the batter was 3-0 and his team was in a tie. 

But at least he hustled and he did seem a little bit "real upset" at being called out on a mistaken call by the ump.

Watching the pre-game interview on Sunday, it was amazing to see Joe Girardi laughing and having a great time talking about how his team could best overcome the recent losing streak.  When asked what his team could do, other than score more runs, to beat the Angels, Girardi, with a big grin on his face, laughed, "Maybe let them score less." 

Again, Girardi didn't seem "real upset" at the fate of this team over the last seven games, in which they are 2-5 and have slipped to 8.5 games behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays.

There is not enough outrage on this team.  There is not enough rage on this team.  For nine years in the Bronx, the Yankees had a player called "The Ultimate Warrior" who hated these types of let downs and let everybody know when he was "real upset." 

Paul O'Neill played with passion and played with fury, even if a lot of his fury was self-directed.  He would slam his bat to the ground, turn his batting helmet into a missile and redeem himself on the poor water cooler.  But he lifted everybody up with his determination and his absolute will to be better. 

He didn't concentrate on the next 45 games, and he didn't concentrate on the next series.  He concentrated on the next pitch and every at-bat and that made him and his whole team better.  

The Yankees need Paul O'Neill now because there is nobody that shows his passion.  We have many talented players, but they are all too comfortable, too willing to wait 'til next time.  Soon there will be no more next times and unfortunately it seems that still no one will be "real upset."