Adam Ottavino better visit Babe Ruth in monument park.

Adam Ottavino has signed with the Yankees according to reports. Who? Oh, the one inning wonder relief pitcher who said he he would strike out Babe Ruth EVERY time.

It was like Ottavino had insulted the late grandfather of every Yankee fan. Fighting words. What the heck?

Hey, Adam Ottavino, how about facing Babe Ruth FOUR times in a game, not one? Thursday, December 13, 2018

Has Ottavino heard of the Ghost of the Bambino? The term was coined by a Boston writer to explain the Red Sox not winning the World Series since Babe Ruth was instrumental in their 1918 championship, both as a batter and pitcher. The Red Sox finally defeated the ghost in 2004 and have won multiple times since. But it was a long drought with much anguish for Red Sox fans.

When he first arrives at Yankee Stadium as a Yankee Adam Ottavino should immediately visit the Babe in monument park, which was created when the original Yankee Stadium was refurbished and re-opened in 1976 with shorter distances in center field than when Ruth played. Hey, maybe Ottavino didn't know that. The monuments were moved behind the center field fence.

Originally three cemetery like stones were on the playing field. They commemorated the deaths (in parentheses) of manager Miller Huggins (1929), Lou Gehrig (1941) and Babe Ruth (1948). Decades later monuments were added for Mickey Mantle (1995) and Joe DiMaggio (1997). Many plaques have been added for others, mostly former Yankees.

Bobby Murcer once took a short cut chasing down a long drive to center by cutting between two monuments and accidentally slapping the Babe in the face. Roger Clemens would rub the Babe's face for good luck before pitching for the Yankees. David Wells once wore a real Babe Ruth cap he had bought when he started a game for the Yankees ... until manager Joe Torre noticed and made Wells switch to a regulation Yankee cap.

This morning before learning about the Yankees signing Ottavino I received this message from a friend:

https://www.mlb.com/cut4/babe-ruth-and-lou-gehrig-batting-practice-video/c-302776288

What idiotic commentary.  it suggests that great hitters (Ruth and Gehrig) are incapable of making any adjustments in their swings.

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I don't give undue deference to old time players but some of this current stuff is irrational. "Babe Ruth Hitting Mechanics":

Other than Mel Ott, they managed to hit without a leg kick.

Ottavino should look at that.