Swisher’s Slugging & Swagger Supplements Yanks’ Psyche
E:60 (Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
When the Yankees signed Nick Swisher prior to the 2009 season, it was the least-heralded of the Yankees’ mammoth free-agent signings. But Swisher, with his relentless energy and enthusiasm, injected some much needed joie de vivre into a clubhouse that was known for its seriousness, and 18 months and a World Series title later, he is arguably the second-best player on baseball’s best team. Jeremy Schaap presents this exclusive E:60 profile.
Haitian Women’s Soccer Team: Part II
E:60 (Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
E:60 revisits the Haitian U17 women’s soccer team that was the subject of a heartbreaking profile earlier this year. With its country in ruins from the earthquake, the team hoped to escape its despair by qualifying for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup. However, as shown in the original story, the team lost to the United States. In this update, Lisa Salters reports that U.S. goalkeeper Bryane Heaberlin, who walked the length of the pitch to hug the sobbing Haitian keeper after the match, compassionately started a foundation to bring the Haitian team to the U.S. in July for a tournament and to experience Walt Disney World.
Bat Debate
Outside the Lines (Sunday, 9 a.m. ET, ESPN)
In March, an instant after 16-year-old high school pitcher Gunnar Sandberg heard the “ping” of a metal bat, he was struck in the head by a line drive. The ball fractured Gunnar’s skull, and tests initially showed no brain activity. After extensive surgery and three weeks in a coma, Sandberg awoke and began a long recovery. This California incident intensified an already heated nationwide debate over the use of metal bats in high school baseball. While some say there is no proof that they are more dangerous than wood bats, critics say balls fly off metal bats faster, giving pitchers less time to react. Steve Delsohn reports on how the move to ban metal bats is gaining traction in California.
“I’ve hit with both and obviously metal bats can hit it harder and farther. Wood bats, in my mind, and what I’ve done, they feel a lot less dangerous. And if it can save one more kid from going though this, then I think we should definitely change to wood bats.” — Gunnar Sandberg, referring to his recovery after being hit by a ball off a metal bat
“You could just be the average run-of-the-mill person walking by a ballpark and you could see a difference of how the ball travels. Anybody that doesn’t see that is lying to himself.” — Mike Firenzi, Gunnar’s coach, on the difference between metal and wood bats
“I expect them to fight it tooth and nail, just as they have fought every attempt to have stronger safety standards in the last decade or more. They’re selling these bats for over $400 now. This is a big, big money industry.” — Jared Huffman, assemblyman who drafted a bill calling for a one-year moratorium on metal bats in California high schools, on how he expects the metal bat industry to react
“The fact is, getting hit in a case like this, while rare, is the perfect storm of bad things happening: the ball, the trajectory, the position of the player, the mind-set of the pitcher at the time.” — Tom Cove, president of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, the trade group representing the bat industry
Gym is California Sherriff’s Legacy
ESPN Deportes SportsCenter (Sunday, 11 p.m.)
Reportajes Especiales piece (ESPNDeportes.com)
Los Angeles County Deputy Sherriff Jerry Ortiz, a recipient of numerous awards for his work on the Lakewood Station gang enforcement team and a 15-year veteran of the department, seemed to have one mission in life: put the bad guys in jail and keep the kids safe. His wish echoes today in his hometown of El Monte, Calif., with the sounds of dozens of young fists banging punching bags and punch mitts.
A-Rod at 600: Does Anybody Care?
Outside the Lines (Sunday, 9 a.m. ET, ESPN)
Baseball Hall of Famers at Cooperstown last weekend comment on the relevance, or lack thereof, of the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez reaching the 600 home run plateau.
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