All of our teams have them. The reserve players. They are often traded, bounced around, they join a club for half a season and then retire. The journeymen ball players are often lost in the shadows cast by their superstar teammates, and on a Yankee’s roster of astronomical salaries and personalities, it is doubly hard to stand out in the infrequent and sporadic opportunities for playing time. However against the Oakland Athletics tonight, Cody Ransom, with the moniker of a Wild West gunslinger, took full advantage of his at- bats, going 2-4 against the Oakland pitching staff. The 33 years old journeyman infielder hit two doubles and scored one run in a big win by the Yankees this evening. Ransom started as third base was vacated by Alex Rodriguez in a routine day off courtesy of manager Joe Girardi. Trips to the DL have limited the veteran Ransom’s at-bats and playing time this season, but he returned tonight healed and swinging the bat with a vengeance. Ransom’s two doubles and one run are another gem in his 2009 season, as he is on pace to wrack up career numbers in all offensive categories. His 10 RBI’s this year through 28 games are only one behind his total of 11 RBI’s through 78 games in 2004 while with the San Francisco Giants.
In the bottom of the sixth tonight, Ransom doubled to begin the inning which saw the Yankees snatch the lead from the A’s and the bullpen solidify the win with stellar performances from Phil Hughes, Brian Bruney and Mariano Rivera. This win did assuage some of the sting from the 6-4 loss to Oakland yesterday, the lone stain on the 9-1 home stand. Ransom not only had to play well defensively at third base, but missing a bat like A-Rod’s really puts some of the necessity to produce runs on the rest of the team, whether reserves or starters. Ransom was fundamentally sound and efficient in the field; he did what needed to be done without any flash or showing off, his jersey covered in grass stains and soil as he ran on and off the field.
We often forget when watching Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Hanley Ramirez, and with the unfathomable talent that these men play baseball, that there are over 2000 active Major League ball players, the majority of whom play unglamorous back-up roles. Some of these players will end their major league careers with fewer than 100 at bats and hence a very limited opportunities to help their teams win. Cody Ransom, though he will probably never hit more than 5 or 6 home runs in a season or have over 300 at-bats, replaced an All-Star at third base this evening and played a pivotal role in the win with his judicious hitting. His play this evening was indicative of the type of guy who is grateful for his role on a Major League roster, however minor it may be. And when asked to step in , Ransom played hard and ultimately helped the Yankees get a good win to conclude a near flawless 10 game home-stand.
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