Game Ball: Alfredo Aceves

I, I will be king.  And you, you will be queen.  We can beat them just for one day.  We can be heroes, just for one day.  -David Bowie

Public Service Announcement:  Ok, here we go!  As much as it pains me, I will do this.  As much as it goes against the grains me, I will do this.  As much as it drive me insanes me, I will do this.  Last night, A-Broad got all the accolades.  One of only five players in major-league history to have hit a walk-off home run in the 15th inning or later to break a scoreless tie.  We know this.  We know the other guys were Old Hoss Radbourn in 1882, Earl Averill in 1935, Willie Mays in 1963 and Adrian Garrett in 1975.  But we should know this too, we should know without Alfredo Aceves, there are no A-Broad heroics.     

Look at this, okay?  I want you to remember this face, here.  Okay?  This is the guy behind the guy behind the guy.  This is Alfredo Aceves.  Just like without Bernie Carbo there would be no Carlton Fisk, last night, without Alfredo Aceves, there would be no Alex Rodriguez.

Last seen, Alfredo Aceves enntered the Blue Jays game in the fifth inning with the Yankees down by a run and a runner on first base.  Last seen, he recorded five straight outs.  Last seen, he recorded three of those outs by the almighty K, en route to a Yankees victory.  Hooray Alfredo Aceves! 

Last night, he picked up right where he left off.  Last night, after Phithy Hughes got the Yanks out of the eighth and Mariano Rivera pitched a scoreless ninth, Aceves took over in the 10th and allowed just one meager hit and one paltry walk and struck out three big men in three big innings.  Yowza! 

While my beloved Red Sox burned through five relievers, there was Alfredo Aceves still toeing the rubber.  There was Alfredo Aceves still toeing the line.  There was Alfredo Aceves giving the Yankees what they needed in a game like this.  There was Alfredo Aceves giving the Yankees length.  Length matters.  Length made Alex Rodriguez a hero.  But we know who the true hero of this game was.  Like the man says, “Not the glittering weapon fights the fight, but rather the hero’s heart.”

Peace out homies.  Six two and Even!

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