Raul Ibanez: Of course.
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Raul Ibanez: Of course.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
It was a Saturday in March and Raul Ibanez was optimistic because Raul Ibanez is always optimistic. Even when he lugged a hitless streak that lasted 35 excruciating at-bats. Even when he played through pain. Even when his swing failed him for months at a time because it always returned.
But now Ibanez was a Yankee, attempting to recall his happiest moment during three years in Philadelphia, and he was forlorn. He thought of an October 2009 night in the Bronx.
"That was my best memory and my worst memory," Ibanez said March 3. "My toughest memory was watching the Yankees celebrate out there. It felt so close that you could touch it."
Now he is a part of it; a real living part of the "mystique and aura" Yankees fans often invoke. He pinch-hit for a $275 million superstar and belted a home run to force extra innings. In the 12th inning, against a lefthanded pitcher nonetheless, Ibanez smashed the first pitch he saw.
He could finally touch the celebration.
It is, of course, not the party Ibanez ultimately craves. He has played in 1,947 games over 17 years for four teams and a World Series ring eludes his grasp. He is father to five children, the youngest born last week. He is grateful; eternally during his time in Philadelphia.
Ibanez will always have Wednesday night.
He was the oldest player in baseball history to hit a walk-off home run in postseason play. He was the first player to ever hit two home runs in a postseason game he did not start. He won over a fan base that questioned his presence as a 40-year-old platoon designated hitter.
There are eight men who hit 19 or more home runs with at least a .750 OPS while 40 years or older: Barry Bonds, Stan Musial, Harold Baines, Edgar Martinez, Darrell Evans, Dave Winfield, Hank Sauer and Raul Ibanez.
The short porch at Yankee Stadium was good to Ibanez in 2012. He hit .275 with an .895 OPS and 14 home runs in the Bronx. While on the road, those numbers dipped to .208, .634 and 5.
He batted only 65 times against lefty pitchers in 2012, his fewest since 2001 when he was an unproven 29-year-old outfielder in Kansas City. Joe Girardi used him strictly with the platoon advantage.
Before he hit a Brian Matusz cutter deep into the second deck of Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, Ibanez had not homered off a lefty in 442 days. That was at Citizens Bank Park on a Tuesday last July. It was a first-inning blast that scored Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino.
The Phillies won, 7-2, and traded for Hunter Pence three days later.
And Ibanez? He is 40 years old and not without faults. But the man can still hit a fastball.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
- They definitely have not replaced Werth. But you also weren't going to sign him for that ridiculous contract.
But to your HR point, his post-season numbers are huge: With tonight, 14 HRs in 48 post-season games. That translates to over 47 HRs in a regular 162 game season ... yet with the added pressure and better pitching of post-season games.— s - Werth has second-most post-season hrs in NL history, trailng only Pujols...but Cluelss Rube got Wigginton and Pierre and Nix, et al.— warbiscuit
- Wow, the ex Phillies are shinning, except Rolen who struck out to end the series for Cincy. Tonight is Thome's turn and tmorrow is Gio's, I guess.— EL Zorro
- Actually warbiscuit, Beltran is second with 13 NL playoffs HR to Albert's 14. Werth has 11, 13 overall.— EL Zorro
- It was about Nats overpaying to get a good player. 18 million for 7 years. Still Werth is a complete player offense, plus defense good speed good arm. Scary part Nats have 2 players who dont figure to crack starting lineup who would bring a great deal in trade. Reserve OF. Taylor Moore and minors infielder Rendon. Doubt Nats would trade with Phills who might have big interest in Rendon. Wahington also does not have many needs.— Don w
- Werth and Ibanez out..........in w/a bunch of has been's and never will be's.......— Northcountry
- one contract substantially worse than Werth's $18 million/yr is the $25 Million/yr for Howard...while Werth is still a legitimate 5-tool player who can contribute is a lot of ways, and makes his team better even when his individual stats are pedestrian --by working a pithcer, drawing walks, running the bases, playing good defense, etc, Howard is hardly more than a should-be platooning d.h...it's no coincidence that Nats started winning with Werth and that Phils have been awful since he left (but for the half year that Pence was hitting well in his stead)— warbiscuit
- another great example of who made this team what is once was...Gillick. Now having The Rube and Cholly running the show...well you know the rest.— sgamble077
- Raul I was a class act and he is exactly what he was in this game--a guy who is a poor fielder who bats .240-.260 and occasionally hits with power. Good for him!— Barneyboy
- @Zorro, meant that Werth has second-most post season hr's for any NL player per MLB network— warbiscuit
- Thrilled for Raul! What a game for him.— sfrankln25
- @s - Thome. Only because he's not on the Yankees.— cloudkitt
- Raul had an 8 year run where he averaged over 290 25 HRs and over 90 RBIs. You need to call him 240 hitter fine. Now has one of MLBs greatest post season games on resume.— Don w
- i totally agree re: pinch hitting for Howard. like Charlie, but he sticks by his players (and payroll) too much at times.— righty
- i totally agree re: pinch hitting for Howard. like Charlie, but he sticks by his players (and payroll) too much at times.— righty
