Kennys Can't Play in New York -- Only vs. the Yankees in the ALDS

Posted by: Miss October

Kenny Lofton – of all people – was last night’s “player of the game.” The veteran, who spent a “grouchy” season in Yankee pinstripes in 2004 (at least the New York Times called him "grouchy" this morning) had three hits and drove in four runs for Cleveland in game 1 of the ALDS. When I saw him step to the plate in his first at bat, I thought Wang would be able to escape the first inning with only giving up one run… unfortunately I was wrong. Lofton showed signs of early-90s form when he played with the Indians – prompting ESPN.com to run the headline “Just Like Old Times.”

As I started to write this, another ex-Yankee named Kenny came to mind. Kenny Rogers. Last year, when the Yankees faced the Tigers in the ALDS, Kenny pitched a gem as Yankee after Yankee looked dumbfounded at the plate. Was this the same Kenny Rogers, who, with the Yankees down 2 games to 1 in the 1996 World Series, had a disastrous outing, giving up 5 runs in 5 innings in what seemed like a “must-win” game?? (Of course Jim Leyritz bailed him out with his eighth inning heroics). These proven “veterans” who just couldn’t cut it in New York have been coming back to haunt the Yankees and their fans lately.

I’m just hoping that vintage, post-season Andy Pettitte shows up tonight (scowl and all) and the headlines tomorrow will again read “Just Like Old Times.”