Having watched the Yankees win two World Series championships with Chuck Knoblauch at second base, it’s difficult to argue the trade that sent promising young pitcher Eric Milton to the Twins as part of the deal that landed Knoblauch in pinstripes.
But, boy could the Yankees use Milton’s left arm right now as their starting pitching – the supposed backbone of this team – has looked generally shoddy through the first 18 games of the season.
Milton, the former Yankee prospect, was on the mound opposing the Yanks yesterday and he was the winner of a 7-3 decision over Roger Clemens – a familiar foe.
“I was starting to think the Yankees didn’t like me,” said Milton, who’s 2-0 after allowing three runs in six innings yesterday. “First, they traded me away, and this is the third time in a row I’ve had to face Roger Clemens, which is no easy task.”
After yesterday’s decision, though, Milton is 2-1 against Clemens.
And no, he insisted, he no longer holds any special feelings for his former team.
“That was a while ago,” Milton said. “This is my third year with the Twins. It’s always nice pitching at Yankee Stadium because of the history, but as far as the history between the Yankees and me, there’s no special feeling there.
“The Yankees had to give a little something away to get a great player in Knoblauch, but I think the Twins made out. They got a good starting shortstop in [Cristian] Guzman and it’s been a really good thing for me. I got a great opportunity [in Minnesota] and I’m happy here.”