11/24: Interviewing the Yankees Blogosphere: Brian MacMillan, Off the Facade
Posted by: Patrick
Finally, we are able to get the Interviewing the Yankees Blogosphere series underway. Our first interviewee is Brian MacMillan of Off the Facade. Without further ado...
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
It’s been 22 months and over 2,000 posts.
Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?
I check out a bunch of them now and then. Most of them have better writers than I am, which is why I favor the format that I post in (culling stories from other news sources and then plunking in a sentence or two of my own opinion or thought or question).
What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?
Watching Bucky Dent's homerun on TV. Going to my first game and seeing Oscar Gamble playing catch in the outfield before the game and throwing the ball through his legs and behind his back. Going to a game in 1981 that saw Bobby Ojeda of the Red Sox take a no hitter into the 9th against the Yankees. Rick Cerone pinch hit for Dennis Werth and doubled to break that up. Dave Winfield then hit a pinch hit double (batting for Andre Robertson) to make the score 2-1. The rally fizzled after that with Reggie Jackson flying out to end the game.
Did you grow up rooting for the Yanks? Was your Dad or someone in your family influential in making sure you pulled for the Yankees?
Yes, I have been a Yankees fan for as long as I can remember. However, there was not one specific person that was influential but most in my family were Yankees fans.
Who is your all-time - past or present - favorite Yankee and why?
When I first started throwing and hitting a baseball around I wanted to be Bucky Dent and play shortstop for the Yankees. He hit the home run in Fenway and played the glamour position for my favorite team. After I put on catcher's gear for the first time in little league, I followed Thurman Munson's every movement for the brief time I could before he unfortunately left us. Some years later, Don Mattingly became my favorite Yankee and his play sustained me through the lean years without playoff appearances. Although Mickey Mantle played before my time, he is on the list based on stories from family members and other forms of information that I have read or watched over the years. Ever since I was young, I have read a bunch of books about old Yankees teams.
Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?
I admire different people with the team due to different things. For all the negatives you read about George Steinbrenner, I still admire the success the team has had under his ownership. There may be various reasons and people for that over time, but the buck stops with him. Jim Kaat's ability to give his opinions and insights without worrying about who might not like them is refreshing when so many announcers kowtow to their home team for fear of retribution. Also, he does not pursue negative threads for negativity's sake but rather seems to mention negative things only when it’s truly how he feels. I admired how Don Mattingly worked everyday to get better when he played and how he handled his health problems at the end of his career.
In your wildest dreams, what position would you like to play for the Yankees and why?
I mentioned above how I first wanted to be a shortstop for the Yankees until I started catching in little league. Playing either would be great.
How often do you make it to the stadium to see a game?
Since I do not attend every home game, not as often as I like. I've probably averaged around a dozen a year the past few years.
Should Bob Sheppard have a place in the Hall of Fame?
I think he should have a place. Perhaps it can be argued that he could fall into the executive/pioneer category. Also, the exhibit for the Frick and Spink awards is called "Scribes & Mikemen", so it could be argued that he is a mikeman even though he is not an announcer and therefore could be considered for the Frick Award.
Of any retired former Yankee that is not in the Hall of Fame already, who is the one that most deserves to be?
I think Mattingly especially after Kirby Puckett made it. They had similar numbers. .318/.360/.477/.837 for Puckett and .307/.358/.471/.829 for Mattingly. Mattingly was in 6 All Star games to Puckett's 10, had 9 Gold Gloves to Puckett's 6, both finished in the top 5 of the MVP voting 3 times with Mattingly winning 1 (he came in 2nd and 5th in his other top 5 finishes while Puckett came in 2nd once and 3rd twice).
Who are the free agents that you are a drooling over?
Probably BJ Ryan. A lefty to set up Rivera and pick up saves when Mo needs a rest would be a good addition.
Who starts in center on opening day for the Yankees?
Probably not Tony Womack. It could be Hideki Matsui if Torii Hunter cannot be traded for.
If the sky is dark and the mountain high and you need someone currently on the Yankee roster to make something happen, who do you want at the plate?
I think it would come down to Jeter or Sheffield. It also depends on what type of hit or what "something" you need to happen. Sheffield intimidates with that powerful swing of his and the way he cracks liners to left, just plain scary. If you need a homer I'd take him. If you need a hit or something to get going, I'd take Jeter because he works the count and can put the ball where it needs to be hit.
Thanks Brian for sitting down with us.
How long have you been blogging about the Yankees?
It’s been 22 months and over 2,000 posts.
Besides your own, what are your favorite Yankees blogs?
I check out a bunch of them now and then. Most of them have better writers than I am, which is why I favor the format that I post in (culling stories from other news sources and then plunking in a sentence or two of my own opinion or thought or question).
What are some of your earliest memories of the Yankees?
Watching Bucky Dent's homerun on TV. Going to my first game and seeing Oscar Gamble playing catch in the outfield before the game and throwing the ball through his legs and behind his back. Going to a game in 1981 that saw Bobby Ojeda of the Red Sox take a no hitter into the 9th against the Yankees. Rick Cerone pinch hit for Dennis Werth and doubled to break that up. Dave Winfield then hit a pinch hit double (batting for Andre Robertson) to make the score 2-1. The rally fizzled after that with Reggie Jackson flying out to end the game.
Did you grow up rooting for the Yanks? Was your Dad or someone in your family influential in making sure you pulled for the Yankees?
Yes, I have been a Yankees fan for as long as I can remember. However, there was not one specific person that was influential but most in my family were Yankees fans.
Who is your all-time - past or present - favorite Yankee and why?
When I first started throwing and hitting a baseball around I wanted to be Bucky Dent and play shortstop for the Yankees. He hit the home run in Fenway and played the glamour position for my favorite team. After I put on catcher's gear for the first time in little league, I followed Thurman Munson's every movement for the brief time I could before he unfortunately left us. Some years later, Don Mattingly became my favorite Yankee and his play sustained me through the lean years without playoff appearances. Although Mickey Mantle played before my time, he is on the list based on stories from family members and other forms of information that I have read or watched over the years. Ever since I was young, I have read a bunch of books about old Yankees teams.
Do you admire anyone (doesn't need to be a player) in the Yankee organization?
I admire different people with the team due to different things. For all the negatives you read about George Steinbrenner, I still admire the success the team has had under his ownership. There may be various reasons and people for that over time, but the buck stops with him. Jim Kaat's ability to give his opinions and insights without worrying about who might not like them is refreshing when so many announcers kowtow to their home team for fear of retribution. Also, he does not pursue negative threads for negativity's sake but rather seems to mention negative things only when it’s truly how he feels. I admired how Don Mattingly worked everyday to get better when he played and how he handled his health problems at the end of his career.
In your wildest dreams, what position would you like to play for the Yankees and why?
I mentioned above how I first wanted to be a shortstop for the Yankees until I started catching in little league. Playing either would be great.
How often do you make it to the stadium to see a game?
Since I do not attend every home game, not as often as I like. I've probably averaged around a dozen a year the past few years.
Should Bob Sheppard have a place in the Hall of Fame?
I think he should have a place. Perhaps it can be argued that he could fall into the executive/pioneer category. Also, the exhibit for the Frick and Spink awards is called "Scribes & Mikemen", so it could be argued that he is a mikeman even though he is not an announcer and therefore could be considered for the Frick Award.
Of any retired former Yankee that is not in the Hall of Fame already, who is the one that most deserves to be?
I think Mattingly especially after Kirby Puckett made it. They had similar numbers. .318/.360/.477/.837 for Puckett and .307/.358/.471/.829 for Mattingly. Mattingly was in 6 All Star games to Puckett's 10, had 9 Gold Gloves to Puckett's 6, both finished in the top 5 of the MVP voting 3 times with Mattingly winning 1 (he came in 2nd and 5th in his other top 5 finishes while Puckett came in 2nd once and 3rd twice).
Who are the free agents that you are a drooling over?
Probably BJ Ryan. A lefty to set up Rivera and pick up saves when Mo needs a rest would be a good addition.
Who starts in center on opening day for the Yankees?
Probably not Tony Womack. It could be Hideki Matsui if Torii Hunter cannot be traded for.
If the sky is dark and the mountain high and you need someone currently on the Yankee roster to make something happen, who do you want at the plate?
I think it would come down to Jeter or Sheffield. It also depends on what type of hit or what "something" you need to happen. Sheffield intimidates with that powerful swing of his and the way he cracks liners to left, just plain scary. If you need a homer I'd take him. If you need a hit or something to get going, I'd take Jeter because he works the count and can put the ball where it needs to be hit.
Thanks Brian for sitting down with us.
