Vazquez Looking for his A's Game

Written for Baseball Digest

When Alex Rodriguez was acquired by the Yankees in February, 2004, Yankees fans and the team’s front office were ecstatic. The next five years would be an up and down, love/hate relationship between New York and Rodriguez. The giant gorilla was lifted off Rodriguez’s shoulders when the Yankees captured their 27th world championship last summer and Rodriguez was a big part of it. The title also removed the stain that the 2004 ALCS had left on the Yankees third baseman. It’s the same stain that is still haunting Javier Vazquez.

Though the deal wasn’t met with the same oohs and ahs that the Rodriguez deal brought, Vazquez’s acquisition from Montreal for three players (Juan Rivera, Nick Johnson, and Randy Choate) in December, 2003 was well received by Yankees fans.The then-27 year old right-hander was building his resume as a top-notch NL starter.

Vazquez had topped 215 innings pitched the prior four seasons and was one of the few bright spots left on an Expos team that was on its way to oblivion. His first half with the Yankees was everything the Yankees wanted and more. A first half 10-5, 3.56 mark led to an All-Star appearance and the Yankees were well on their way to another playoff appearance.

But a sore shoulder, which Vazquez hid from the Yankees, led to a miserable second half (4-5, 6.92) for the native of Puerto Rico. But no performance would be remembered more by the Yankees than game 7 of the ALCS. The Yankees had blown a 3-0 lead and were clinging to the last of their hopes for a return trip to the World Series.

Vazquez had won a game 3 blowout (19-8) despite giving up four runs in four-plus innings of relief. Just as he had in that game, Vazquez had to come in early for starter Kevin Brown when the series reached it’s finale. When Johnny Damon blasted 3-run and grand slam home runs, the fates of Vazquez and the Yankees were sealed.

Vazquez was shipped out during the off-season and spent the next five years in Arizona, Chicago (AL), and Atlanta. Then Brian Cashman jumped at the chance to bring Vazquez back this past winter after posting a 15-10, 2.87 record in Hotlanta.

But all is not forgiven by the Yankees faithful. After a decent spring training, Vazquez was roughed up in Tampa Bay and was hit even harder in his return to the Bronx a week later. Vazquez heard the derisive cheer the Bronx is famous for, chants of “hang ‘em Javy”, and some other things that would not be nice to put into print.

There’s still plenty of time to turn around his 9.82 ERA, but if he doesn’t and the team doesn’t succeed, Vazquez will still wear the stain of 2004.