Open Thread: Steve Sax

January 10, 2012 by Mike Axisa 25 Comments

I’m not old enough to remember Willie Randolph’s playing days, but I do remember the guy that replaced him at second base. That’d be Steve Sax. The long-time Dodger joined the Yankees as a free agent before the 1989 season, and went on to hit .294/.342/.376 with 117 stolen bases and more walks (142) than strikeouts (128) during his three years in the Bronx. He made a pair of All-Star Game appearances and even garnered some MVP votes one year.

The Yankees traded Sax to the White Sox for three young pitchers — Melido Perez, Bob Wickman, and Domingo Jean — on this date 20 years ago, and about a month after that he promptly got into trouble with the Springfield PD. I dunno man, there are a ton of unsolved murders in this city and Steve Sax is still on the loose…

* * *

Here is your open thread for the night. The three hockey locals are playing, but you’re out of luck if you’re a Time Warner customer. Still no MSG for us. Talk about anything you like here, just don’t be a dick.

Jamey

But there are HUNDREDS of unsolved murders in New York City…
- CJ
  
  perfect 1st comment
Jumpin’ Jack Swisher

When you consider the spit and boogers that were holding together the Yankee ship in the early 90’s, that was not a bad trade in retrospect. You had Pat Kelly holding down the fort at second until better days came long, and Melido and Wickman threw some of the better innings in the era of Clay Parker, Jeff Johnson, and Chuck Cary.

Those who can’t handle not winning a championship every year now would have been curled up in the fetal position, sucking on their thumbs, during those years. I have a strange love for that era because I have a hard time believing it actually happened, even though I was there for every second of it.
- gageagainstthemachine
  
  Here, here! I was born in ’77 and spent my youth a diehard Yankee fan watching a lot of bad Yankee teams. Thank god for Donnie Baseball and Dave Winfield (my all-time fav). Maybe that’s why it’s so hard to watch the Core Four (plus Bernie) slowly fade away. I watched all of them come up and every year since. They made suffering the 80’s/early 90’s all worth it. Maybe that’s why I’m a prospect hugger. I want more home grown, life long Yankees to root for and bring us championships. Not sure if they can do what that late ’90’s team did, but hey, it happened once, right?!
  - Dale Mohorcic
    
    I feel the same way.
JohnnyC

So Selig gets extended for 2 more years. And he’s making $22 million a year. Scott Boras must be his agent. Seriously, I keep wondering how different life in this country would be if Bush hadn’t listened to Selig when he expressed interest in becoming commissioner some 20 years ago. As you’ll recall, Bush ran for governor of Texas instead when Bud warned him that the other owners wouldn’t approve due to a glaring conflict of interest. Ninja move by Selig.
- Pat D
  
  Even with Selig going back on his word and getting this extension, I still shudder at the thought of the phrase, “MLB Commissioner George W. Bush.”
  - Billion$Bullpen
    
    I would be a big fan of George Bush commissioner. I really think if he would take the job he would have no reason to do something outside of the realm of what is in the best interest of the game. Bud does what lines his pockets, Bud is a liar and a used car salesman.
    
    Whatever you think of GW Bush, after doing the job of president for 8 years and owning a team before that he could obviously handle the job. It would bring a lot more attention to the game of baseball.
    
    More on topic I feel old in regards to it being 20 years since Sax got traded. I was happy when they got him and I was a fan of Willie before that.
    - http://twitter.com/nebkreb Nebkreb
      
      If Bush was Commish, two teams would end up in Iraq playing a needless tournament to avenge the time Saddam’s national team beat George Bush Sr. back in the ’91.
    - Thomas Cassidy
      
      Everything Bush does lines his pockets, too. Kind of like how he is buying the world’s largest aquifers so he can control the water and sell it back to the people for his price.
      
      Just like every other politican except Ron Paul, Rand Paul, Jesse Ventura, and Dennis Kucinich.
Robert

22 million a year to do nothing , now that’s a job i want.
http://twitter.com/#!/czm93 Craig

Ahhh the early 90s. Vintage Simpsons, the Yankees on the mend (and rise), and classics like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAPpVplHiDE&feature=g-vrec&context=G29ca01bRVAAAAAAAABA

Who could forget? Surely, I’m not the only one who grew up on this game.
- Jesse
  
  You’re not. I love that game.
bpdelia

Steve sax is a platlyer not beloved by sabrists who have yet to invent a truly effective grit component to war. Seriously though i loved Steve sax when he was a Dodger and wore number six all through college even though i had little in common with him ss a player. Those were rough years for Yankee fans and Steve sax made them slightly more watchable. Then getting melodie Perez who immediately became their best sp and Auckland made it even better. Still my third favorite Yankee of my youth after mattingly and nettles.

I loved Matt jokes too.
- Jumpin’ Jack Swisher
  
  When Autocorrect fails…..and hard.
  
  Point and sentiment taken, though. :)
- Yankonymous
  
  Mike Stanley was the best Yankee catcher in the post-Munson, pre-Posada era…sorry, Girardi.
I Voted 4 Kodos

Well, Mr. Burns had done it
The power plant had won it
With Roger Clemens clucking all the while
Mike Scioscia’s tragic illness made us smile
While Wade Boggs lay unconscious on the barroom tile

We’re talkin’ Softball.
From Maine to San Diego.
Talking’ Softball.
Mattingly and Canseco.

Ken Griffey’s grotesquely swollen jaw
Steve Sax and his run-in with the law
We’re talkin’ Homer…Ozzie and the Straw
http://yes jim

Speaking of murders….It killed me the way Buck laid to rest the younr career of Pat Kelly. Moving him to third and strangling young Kelly’s career at second, well, taps should forever be played.
Plank

I hate steroids threads, but I just discovered this. I’m sure many of you already knew about this, but it was news to me.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2005/05/03/SPGSTCJ0SK1.DTL

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_House

http://blog.bigshowbaseball.com/2007/08/steroids-in-1970s.html

I always assumed steroids were in the game much earlier than people are willing to admit, I didn’t know there was someone willing to talk about it though.
JohnnyC

Fun fact: Steve Sax never learned to play the saxophone. Although he reportedly plays a mean air guitar.
cmart

so mad at time warner. Rangers are playing the best they have in a long while and I can’t watch it.
s

Huge Steve Sax fan. When he was w/ the Dodgers & Yankees, he was one of the best leadoff / number 2 hitters in the game. He overcame his fielding problems (only had 27 errors at 2B in 3 yrs w/ the Yanks – the other 3 at 3B). He even led all AL 2B in Fielding% one yr.
- Mark
  
  Sax was great. He always hustled and gave 100%. As a fan, you can’t ask for anything else.
- http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Steve S.
  
  Yeah, as Mike detailed Sax was terrific with the bat, but unfortunately he’s most remembered by Yankee fans as the guy who got the yips at 2B. He did get past it, but (as with Knobloch) there was a year or so when you cringed every time the ball was hit to him.
Yankonymous

Dare I say, Espinoza/Sax was a better double-play combo than Jeter/Cano.