COMMENTARY : ‘New’ Strawberry Living Up to Title

There was supposed to be a familiar roar, from his bat and from the crowds, that New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner was sure Darryl Strawberry still could bring out to the ballpark. There was supposed to be excitement, and headlines, good and bad, because there were so many headlines about Strawberry before he ever got near Yankee Stadium. Steinbrenner vaguely remembered old fireworks displays over baseball New York, and paid nearly three-quarters of a million dollars, on spec, that Strawberry still could produce them. As if that first great splash across the skyline ever can be recaptured.

But it was all part of the hype surrounding Strawberry’s return to New York, his attempted comeback from drug problems and tax problems, all part of a silly tabloid buzz.

And now there are times when it seems as if Darryl Strawberry never came back. Now he is a part-time designated hitter, someone often kept on the bench in favor of Dion James. It is not only the Yankee season that is less than we thought it would be.

There was a time when putting Strawberry on the bench was an invitation to trouble. It has not happened that way with the Yankees. Last Friday, Manager Buck Showalter wrote out a lineup card for a game against the Oakland Athletics that had James as his designated hitter against right-handed pitcher Todd Van Poppel. It was a decision of note. Now Strawberry wasn’t even playing against right-handers.

Before batting practice, Showalter called Strawberry into his office to explain. Strawberry listened and said, “Whatever you think is best.” Later, there was a knock on Showalter’s door. Strawberry was standing there, and Showalter was unsure what to expect.

“I didn’t want you to think I was mad before,” Strawberry said. “I understand the position you’re in. I understand what’s going on here. I just want you to know you don’t have to worry about me. You do whatever’s best for the team. I want to be a reason we do well. And I don’t ever want you to see me as a reason why we don’t.”

Then Strawberry told Showalter that he planned on playing winter ball in Puerto Rico, not only to work on his swing, but to learn to play left field. He told Showalter that he hoped he would return to the Yankees next season, but if he didn’t, “I’m going to hit 30 home runs for somebody.”

It would have been impossible once for Strawberry to be just another player on a team, though that is his situation now. He does not seem to be the player he was. He also does not seem to be the same person. Maybe there is more good news there than bad.