Raul Ibanez: Of course.
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Raul Ibanez: Of course.
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.
I always loved this guy. I felt so bad for him when his detractors said he was using steroids a few years ago. You could tell that really hurt his pride.— The Monk
So happy for Raul! When I saw the game winner last night, I shouted "are you kidding me!" out loud even though the wife and kids were in bed. I couldn't believe it. Not once but twice? I hope I remember that moment for a long time, even though I hate the Yankees. Raul is first class and deserves a moment like that.— vafan- Feel good for this class guy. Had one of the greatest post season games in MLB history. Announcer said to Raul last year they were booing you now they are going crazy.— Don w
- Damn yankees! Good for Raul though. Too bad Phils couldn't keep him for only a million.— P Even
- RAUUUUUL.— gho_matt
- Very happy for Raul. Always gave you 100%. Always hustled and was a better baserunner than his speed would indicate. A class act. He would be the only bright spot for me if the Yankees win it all.— John Klink
- see how a smart manager can get so much out of Ibanez knowing how/when to use him as opposed to Chollie who started Raul against lefties for 3 years in bad situations, then in 2010 NLCS had Francisco stike out againt righty on a couple of occasions with gamne on line instead of using Ibanez or other pinch-hitter... and note how Rube proves once again his amazing cluelessness thinking that Thome or Wigginton or Nix would do a better job than Ibanez as key pinch-hitter/back-up corner outfielder— warbiscuit
- note how Girardi pinch hit for the highest paid player and one of the greatest players in history..anyone imagine Chollie ever pinch hitting for the "great" Ryan Howard even when his chances against a tough lefty is miniscule compared to ARod's chances against a righty..in summary the Yanks have an intelligent front office and manager while the Phils have imbeciles— warbiscuit
- As much as I hate to agree with you. There is no scenario where Charlie Manuel EVER, EVER would pinch hit for Ryan Howard. That managerial move took huge baseballs. — foreclosure11
- Clueless Rube made the first of his 3 dozen bad mistakes to sign Ibanez to be a starting outfielder for 3 yrs/ $36 million, but he was just right to be a lefty off bench/platoon left-fielder for $1 to 2 million... Rube wasted more money on awful Wigginton, Nix, Thome, Schielholz, etc than he could have paid Ibanez, and Raul is actually still much superior fielder to butchers Pierre and Wigginton who cost several games with their atrotious non-fielding— warbiscuit
- Can't believe you have anything bad to say about Juan Pierre. He hit .310, stole over 30 bases, had a ton of sacrifice bunts, hustled every play, got to most balls hit his way. So he doesn't have a strong arm. What more do you want for $1M?? — foreclosure11
- Clueless Rube has zero abiity to evaluate potential and talent (gave away Vogelsong, Brandon Moss, Grilli for nothing while acquiring/re-signing Qualls, Schneider, Willis, Wigginton, Nix, Herndon, MArtinez,etc) ..Gillick brought low cost finds like Werth, Victorino, Romero, Eyre, etc while Cluless Rube thought that Wigginton and Nix were "improvements" as bench players over Ibanez... smart teams like A's and Orioles go to playoffs with low cost finds, while Rube overspent on washed-up former 'names', brought ZERO young talented players to Phils in 4 years and now the team is made up of 3 top players (Hamels, Ruiz and aging Lee), with the rest of organization mediocre or useless trash— warbiscuit
- You seriously consider Halladay "useless trash?" Utley is "useless trash"? Rollins is "useless trash"?(I know it's the popular thing to trash him but between his offense and defense he's still a top 5 SS. Papelbon? That right there show's the quality of your opinion. — birdsfaninnc
- Spot on warbiscuit about Chollie pinch hitting for Howard!! Instead of a HR it would have been strike 3 at a pitch 4 feet off the dish.— MrLincoln
- That was a great interview after the game! Raul deflecting individual praise and talking team first. It was time to move on from Raul and we all knew it but I appreciate his time here.— vafan
