The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Gossage says Steinbrenner belongs in Hall
Rich Gossage says late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and former players’ union head Marvin Miller should join him in Hall of Fame.
Steinbrenner, the bombastic and successful owner of the Yankees from 1973 until his death in 2010, failed to gain election in a vote by the Today’s Game Era Committee in December. He also fell short on 2010 and 2013 Expansion Era ballots.
“He and Marvin Miller probably changed the game more than anybody the last 100 years,” Gossage said Friday. “George was amazing, in wanting to win, the free agency and the way he utilized it. Wow.”
New York won seven World Series championships and 11 AL pennants during Steinbrenner’s tenure.
“As an owner, nobody wanted to win more than George,” Gossage said. “He saw the tradition. Nobody in any sport has done what the Yankees have done, and George kept the Yankees the Yankees.” “I played for eight other orga-
nizations so I have a good sense of how those other organizations are operated, and it was nothing like the Yankees,” Gossage added. “They were great organizations. I’m not knocking them, but nobody demanded that excellence like George did.”
A Yankees spring training instructor, Gossage wouldn’t comment on the election of former Commissioner Bud Selig by the committee in December.
“My mother told me if you had nothing good to say, then say nothing,” Gossage said.
Austin breaks foot
Tyler Austin’s bid to unseat Greg Bird at first base during spring training is over, and the Yankees’ decision to sign Chris Carter looks prescient.
Austin fouled a ball off his left foot early this week taking batting practice during a pre-spring training workout at the minor league complex, and manager Joe Girardi said an MRI found a small bone break.
Austin will be in a boot for three weeks and won’t start baseball activities for six weeks.
“It’s unfortunate,” Girardi said.
Carter, who tied for the National League in home runs with 41 last season, finalized a $3.5 million, oneyear contract Thursday. A first baseman, the 30-yearold Carter is likely to see time at designated hitter.
Betances arbitration
Reliever Dellin Betances and the New York Yankees have argued the year’s final salary arbitration case, the first for the team in nearly a decade.
Eligible for arbitration for the first time, Betances asked for $5 million. The Yankees argued during Friday’s hearing he should be paid $3 million.
A decision by arbitrators Steven Wolf, Dan Brent and Sylvia Skratek is expected Saturday. Players and teams have split 14 decisions this year, and the 15 hearings are the most since clubs won 10 of 16 decisions in 1994.
New York renewed Betances at the major league minimum $507,500 last year. A setup man for the first four months, he took over as closer after the trades of Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs and Andrew Miller to Cleveland.
A right-hander who turns 28 in March, Betances figures to be primarily a setup man again following Chapman’s decision to return to the Yankees, who gave him an $86 million, five-year contract — a record for a relief pitcher. Betances struck out 126, leading big league relievers for the third straight year, and went 3-6 with a 3.08 ERA and 12 saves in 17 chances.