Not just another proposal
Michael Munson wanted his late father to be a part of this moment. So he knelt down with the ring right there at Yankee Stadium and proposed to his girlfriend, trembling just in front of his dad’s plaque in Monument Park.
Michelle Bruey said yes, one more way to honor former New York Yankees captain Thurman Munson on an already special day.
“I was really nervous,” Michael Munson said. “I wanted her to get a sense of all this, too, just so she could understand.”
The catcher’s widow, Diana, was at Yankee Stadium on Saturday to throw out the first pitch at Old-timers’ Day, joined by her three children and five grandkids.
Nearly 25 years ago, on Aug. 2, 1979, Thurman Munson died in a plane crash in his hometown of Canton, Ohio, at age 32, cutting short his All-Star career. His No. 15 was immediately retired by the Yankees.
One of the most beloved and respected players ever to wear pinstripes, the fiery Munson won the 1976 A.L. MVP and helped lead the Yankees to consecutive World Series titles in ‘77 and ‘78.
His memory lives on at Yankee Stadium, where his locker remains in the clubhouse, unused, right next to current captain Derek Jeter’s stall.
Now endowed with the same chubby cheeks and stocky build as his father, Michael Munson, 28, was too young to remember much of his dad playing for the Yankees. But he’s heard plenty of stories and seen all the old films.
His mother, Diana, called Michael “the most private Munson by far,” which made his public marriage proposal all the more surprising.
“I had no idea,” Bruey said, clutching her new engagement ring. “It’s unbelievable.”
Griffey leaves game with strained right hamstring
Ken Griffey Jr. left the Cincinnati Reds’ game at Milwaukee on Saturday night after he strained his right hamstring while running down a fly ball in the fourth inning.
The Reds said the All-Star outfielder will return to Cincinnati to have an MRI today to determine the severity of the injury.
Griffey, 20th on the career home runs list with 501, chased down a fly ball hit into the right-center field gap by Brady Clark. As Griffey neared the warning track in a full sprint, the ball bounced off his glove and ended up as a triple.
Griffey appeared to hurt his leg as he landed on it, but continued to track down the ball and walked off the field immediately after the play with no apparent limp.
Hernandez likely to start today for Yankees
Orlando Hernandez probably will return to the New York Yankees sooner than expected.
There is a strong possibility El Duque will start for the Yankees today against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in place of Mike Mussina, a team official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Mussina still felt some soreness Saturday after pitching on three days’ rest Tuesday night against the Detroit Tigers. It was Mussina’s idea to go on short rest so he could make two starts before the All-Star game and avoid a long layoff before his first start after the break.
But the move may have backfired. Now Mussina (9-6) might not be able to make that second start, ensuring a lengthy layoff and creating an opportunity for El Duque.
Hernandez was scratched from his scheduled rehabilitation start Saturday for Triple-A Columbus, and the Yankees made travel plans for him to come to New York. If he arrives in time and feels ready to pitch, he probably would start today, the official said.
Indians’ Westbrook added to A.L. All-Star squad
Indians right-hander Jake Westbrook was added to the American League All-Star team, replacing Boston’s Curt Schilling.
Westbrook was invited because he was next on the list of voting by players, coaches and managers. Pedro Martinez was first invited to replace Schilling, who wants to rest a deep bone bruise in his right ankle, but declined.
“That really means a lot to me,” said Westbrook (6-4), who ranks fourth in the A.L. with a 3.21 ERA and is tied for third with two complete games.
“It’s definitely an honor and I am really, really excited.”
Westbrook began this season in the bullpen, but got a chance in the starting rotation shortly after pitching seven perfect innings in relief April 19 against Detroit — retiring all 21 Tigers he faced and striking out seven.
“That game gave me the confidence I needed,” Westbrook said.
The 26-year-old acknowledged that he’ll likely be nervous before the game Tuesday night in Houston.
“I feel a little nervous right now, jittery,” he said. “I mean, it’s the All-Star game.”
The selection caused a change in the pitcher’s plans.
“I was supposed to go to my grandparents’ house for dinner Monday night,” Westbrook said. “I told my grandma I had to cancel the plans and she was a little disappointed. Then I told her I was going to the All-Star game and she was excited.”
Westbrook had surgery on his right elbow in March 2001 and was sidelined until mid-July. He also spent time on the disabled list in 2002 with inflammation in his elbow.