Whatever is “murrain” anyway? Oh, nevermind. Passover has come and gone. Though plagues do remain a problem for the poor Yankees. We all know of Matsui and Sheff and Bubba and Johnny’s sore toe. And this week Alex and Jason have been brought low by some ailment of the stomach. Plus Mo’s back is hurtin’. And last night, Derek, Our Hero, had a digit wounded by an errant toss from Rodrigo Lopez. Will he emerge from the tunnel tonight, Reed-like, to lead his charges against the Big Bad BoSox? Will GM Brian Cashman be forced to call some lucky fan in from the stands to play a few innings at short? Whatever the case, the pitching matchup is a promising one. ERA leader Mike Mussina, king of the quality start, takes on Josh Beckett at the site of his greatest glory (and one of our ugliest days). Comment early. Comment often. And do it here….
Frogs, Hail, Locusts, Murrain….: Sox-Yanks Gamer I
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542 comments… add one
Jetes is out, per Peter Abraham at LoHud. Time for the other boys to step up. For no good reason, just a weird feeling, I see Jorgie havin’ a good night.
It’s amazing how the O’s manage to help out the Sox even when they aren’t dropping games to them.
Giambi’s back as DH. And Phillips is in the line-up as well. Bummer about Jetes, but I’m getting used to our stars not playing. They should be well-rested for the postseason.
bloodyyank: I hope so. Jorge has always hit Schilling well.
I hope Jorge is solid — was checking out vaious blogs and found you guys. Great site.
Another site — http://www.recordonline.com/sports/mlb is going to have live reports from batting practice — hopefully we can get an inside track on our team tonight.
Why does none of the usual sites and blogs not have a starting lineup yet? The Globe ran the Sox-Tigers lineup at 11 am yesterday!
This is the Yanks lineup (per Peter Abraham):
Johnny Damon CF
Melky Cabrera LF
Jason Giambi DH
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Andy Phillips 1B
Bernie Williams RF
Miguel Cairo SS
Dunno about Sox.
About Cairo starting at SS – that might not be such a bad thing. He’s been very solid there defensively (see Detroit game). Also, there’s no TLong! That’s a cause for celebration in itself.
Paul SF: yahoo has line-ups
Boston
C. Crisp cf .278
M. Loretta 2b .303
D. Ortiz dh .261
M. Ramirez lf .297
T. Nixon rf .296
K. Youkilis 1b .313
M. Lowell 3b .320
J. Varitek c .245
A. Gonzalez ss .225
New York
J. Damon cf .295
M. Cabrera lf .301
J. Giambi dh .280
A. Rodriguez 3b .292
J. Posada c .293
R. Cano 2b .307
A. Phillips 1b .291
B. Williams rf .265
M. Cairo ss .250
Thanks, AG, the Globe finaly posted them as well…
Nice lineup from Tito. Tek down to eighth (cuz of his poor numbers vs. Mussina), giving us a nice Trot-Youk-Lowell 5/6/7.
Hard to complain about either of these.
Well, dang it, YF, what are we gonna do til the game starts then?
Re: the NYY lineup:
Williams has hit very poorly against righties this year. If he doesn’t do anything after his first couple at bats, I hope we get a look and Thompson tonight.
Me, I’m makin’ sure the pasta sauce is ready, and the table is set….
AG, I don’t see that happening unless the game is a blowout one way or another.
OK. I sit on my couch taking care of the kid instead of sitting in the front row on the first baseline. But I’m ok with that.
Let’s go Sox!!!
Rick Sutcliffe: not drunk yet.
Check that. Not that drunk yet.
Nothing more horrible than having a Sox-Yanks game on TV in my area and being in a house with no cable!! I’m taking my in-laws out to dinner later expressly for the purpose of watching the last few innings at a restaurant with ESPN on…
Very nice Paul. I’m happy to have the house to myself tonight, meaning I won’t get yelled at for dominating the TV and computer.
Is it really Rick Sutcliffe and Joe Morgan tonight? Gah, almost makes me glad I can’t watch the game…
Nice to see Tek finally dropped in the order. Think it’ll stay that way?
Is anyone else a little sick of all the over-the-top Sox/Yanks production on ESPN, like these games are the playoffs or something? I mean, we all love this matchup, but I do understand that it can get a bit tiring to many people. Right now Gary Thorne is talking up the “electricity”.
I’m at Claudia’s Sports Bar. Rick Sutcliffe isn’t talking right now. Unfortunately, it’s because ESPN is at commercial. The bartender, Mike is a 50-something life-long Yankees fan who grew up three blocks away, here in PDX. He’s one of three in the state I think, as everyone else here (11 or so folks so far) save me is a Sox fan. No anti-Damon signs on the backs of the chairs this time at least.
Nope… The way the Globe put it, it was just because he’s horrible against Mussina…
FWIW, it looks like Tek’s finally getting hot anyway, so it might be a moot point now…
Sutcliffe and Morgan? Ouch. Glad I’m in new England right now, and the prospect that I’ll even accidentally experience that is exactly zero. :)
Time to regress Mussina to the mean, fellas.
I get tired of the ESPN-ization of this rivalry. It’s good enough and elecric enough without their help.
Double for Coco!
Coco with the leadoff double. Nice.
SF: So true. I read a few quotes from Torre and Mussina to pretty much that effect.
Crisp with a lead-off double outside of A-Rod.
Come on, no giving up the out.
Crisp scoots one past Alex. That’s a soft double. And now Moose into his kooky stretch–his weakness.
Question of the evening so far: what do I order for dinner?
C’mon GameCast, get with the pogram…
Loretta is in a mini-slump. We just need a productive out here, though.
Loretta behind 0-2. Mussina misses outside. 1-2: strike three looking at the knees.
Good pitch from Moose – looked like a bit of a late call. No arguments with the call, though.
That’s why Youk should be hitting second. Not that I don’t love Mark Loretta, but…
Well, Youk Ks a bit too, Laura. That’s just a good pitch and good series of pitches from Mussina.
Loretta never strikes out though. He’s a good contact hitter, which is what you want at No. 2… Youk this year is K-ing a LOT…
I sniff a hard shot here.
Ortiz steps up. Fastball low for ball one. No shift on with Coco at 2nd. Cano is playing very deep at second.
I know, I know, I just love Youk a bit too much I guess. Not that that’s a bad thing.
K. Awesome.
Tight ballgame thread count over/under: 565
Come on, Papi…
Nice 2-1 curve to bring it to 2-2.
That changeup was WELL OUTSIDE AND LOW, Sutcliffe.
Ortiz gets a piece of a breaking ball and hits it foul. 1-1: breaking pitch low. 2-1: change up on the outside corner. 2-2: fastball high and on the outside corner fouled back to left.
600 people! Let’s hit 600!
GameCast even thought so…
MOOOOSE!!!
Strike three swinging on a fastball high and outside. Ramirez steps up.
It’s funny how the guys on ESPN will go right to that pitchtrack when it’s a good pitch in a good spot over the plate, but as soon as the tracker defies the call (like that 2-1 call, which was several inches off the plate according to the graphic), they clam up like it doesn’t exist.
So not cool. Let’s go Manny…
Freakin can’t get ESPN GameCast to work on this computer… Hate missing innings…
First pitch is a strike on the outside corner. Looks like the plate might be wide tonight.
I don’t care about that call, as long as the ump is consistent. Let’s see how he calls it for Beckett.
Using MLB now…
Another pitch outside called a strike. 0-2
You gotta watch on YES, baby. Murcer. It’s all about the Murc.
Fans booing that call – that one wasn’t even close.
Someone is getting tossed tonight arguing balls and strikes.
Motherf…
Urgh!!!!! This isn’t going so well.
0-2 is about a half-foot outside. 1-2: strike three swinging on a fastball down the middle that Manny was underneath and behind on.
We might well rue that inning… Leadoff double, followed by three straight Ks…
MOOOSE. Well that was completely brilliant. And what a showdown with Manny. Moose looked like he was doing a math problem out there, trying to figure out what to do, and Manny was swinging like one of those big bad toughs in a Bugs Bunny cartoon. And then the whiff. WOW!
Ok, so seriously, what do I order for dinner?
Choices:
1. Burrito
2. Pasta
3. Burger
SF: I agree regarding consistency. Let’s see how Beckett gets treated if he can work the corners well tonight. It will be a fast game if both these guys are on and the plate stays that wide.
I always go for the pasta… I miss good Notheastern pasta… And really, why would you order a burrito north of the Mason-Dixon line?
Moose is dealing…let’s hope it holds up. Cheer up, SFs, Beckett will likely have the same strike zone. You get some, you give some…
And what a showdown with Manny
What game are YOU watching? Seriously, that wasn’t much of an at-bat, dramatically and otherwise.
We’re having pasta here. Which means you’ll probably have a burrito, just to be contrarian.
Go for choice 1 or 2, SF. Don’t eat cows.
Good start from the Beckster. 0-1.
We have good burritos in our nabe, Paul. Kind of hoity-toity, not traditional tex-mex or cal-style, but very good nonetheless.
Rick Sutcliffe just said that Beckett appears to be on his “A game”, after two pitches. Idiot.
Fastball looking to Damon. Damon fouls off the second pitch, a high outside fastball. 0-2 fastball is high. 1-2 looked like a strike on the inside corner but is called a ball.
WTF was wrong with THAT pitch??!?!?!
I wonder what he thinks after those two pitches?
What game are YOU watching. Man on second. Manny at the plate. Waving his bat like a truncheon of death. If you can’t appreciate a great pitcher going head to head with a great hitter, why do you bother watching?
Damon walks. I hate umps. Actually I hate sports officials in general.
Oh, shut up, YF. Seriously. You should work for ESPN with that kind of overdramatization.
Correction.. that may have been the 2-2. Full count is high and outside. Damon on with the lead-off walk.
1st inning = death for Josh Beckett.
Cheer up, SFs, Beckett will likely have the same strike zone. You get some, you give some…
Apparently not, YM.
What a play from AG!!! We’re talking Mays with the basket, Puckett in Game 6!!!!!!!
Melky Cabrera shows why YFs like him so much ;-)
Sorry, channeling YF there…
Nice play by Gonzalez. Missed it the first time, saw the replay.
Oh man. Beckett owes Gonzo dinner for that play.
FC as Cabrera hits a comebacker that Beckett almost throws to left field. Gonzalez makes a great play to catch the bad throw and kick the bag to retire JD at 2nd.
If anyone saw that foul out by Giambi, those are six seats away from where I would have been sitting tonight had I been able to go.
foul ball, sorry. Went into the stands.
Giambi pops the 1-0 to foul territory 5 rows in. 1-1 with Melky on first. Giambi is underneath another fastball that drifts back for strike two.
what the hell just happend???
Aw, geez. What the hell was that?
LECHE LECHE LECHE!!!!! STEALS THE WHEEL!
Strangest play I have ever seen.
Can you make 7 errors on a play?!
PB on Tek: throws it into RF for an error. No one was covering home, Cabrera beats Tek home to score the run.
NIck, YM, let’s start collecting funds for the statue.
This is going to be one ugly game.
Whatever it was, it’s taking a helluva long tme for the GameCast monkeys to type out…
Thank the shift for that one.
Melky for president :D
I hate the shift. Giambi k’s.
Actually gets ruled a wild pitch, not a passed ball. Youk didn’t shift home to cover when Tek ran up to back up third on the possible throw in to third.
Fire Terry!!!!!
PS: I did work for ESPN, SF. Once was enough. But be warned. You’re the one who’s started the stone-throwing tonight. No whining later when you get a little back. We know that house you live in is ALL GLASS.
Shouldn’t Beckett have been covering home on that play?
Youk’s been showing his inexperience at first of late, no?
Dude, I know where you worked. And come on, a first inning K on an at-bat with no drama and you’re calling it like it’s a playoff game 9 pitch at-bat? Please.
2-1 is fouled into the dirt by ARod. 2-2 is a slider outside. Full count, two away: Beckett brings heat. ARod hits it on the ground straight at Gonzalez to end the inning.
Ground out. Inning over. Now, if we lose 1-0 tonight…Not that these teams will ever play a 1-0 game, I think.
Love the one run on no hits… Beckett’s no-hitter still intact…
Actually, the house I live in is brick and concrete, and apparently they screwed up the waterproofing details.
Youk should have rotated home, and Beckett should have backed him up. Neither did either.
Well, we’re well over the century mark postwise, and after but 1 inning. So we’re on a good pace here.
Wasn’t the Randy Johnson game last year a 1-0 affair?
Yes…yes it was.
So if we continue to post useless blather, we might reach 800, 900, even 1000?? (Hey, we can dream.)
1,000! Go for 1,000!! Hehe
Really? Why do I not remember this?
useless
blather
“Melky Cabrera shows why YFs like him so much ;-)”
See what you get for messing with the Melky karma there Paul. Don’t mess with Leche.
Trot with a hit. Too bad no one could get a hit with a man on second…
Trot starts it off. Single up the middle.
Mussina comes out throwing strikes and Nixon is behind 0-2. Then a high fastball for ball one. Nixon reaches out and strokes a single to center. Good piece of hitting, that was a decent pitch, low and on the outside corner.
From what I understand, Melky did nothing but keep running… It’s the Sox who deserve your excamation points of praise for that one…
Now, if Youk k’s here, I think I’ll scream.
Let’s try scoring this one now guys…
It’s so cute that Yankees fans have a pet player now. That feeling must be so foreign, after all these years of egotastic superstars and overpaid hacks.
Strike one looking to Youk. Curve is low for ball one. 1-1: beautiful curve. Swung on and missed.
Rick Sutcliffe said that play showed why “Larry Bowa is the best 3rd base coach in baseball”, or something close to that.
That was a tough pitch – outside, yes, but the ump is establishing…inconsistency.
Full count… Goodbye, fingernails…
Youk with a hit! First and third!
Youk…always dependable
Yeah, Youk! Runner on 3rd, no outs!
Trot runs on the pitch, Youk nails it to center. Damon’s floppy arm has no chance at Nixon so he throws it right into second like a lollipop.
Another curve misses low and away. Fastball is outside for a full count. Payoff pitch: fastball for a single. He was trying for the outside corner, it drifted back in over the middle of the plate. Runners on first and third, no outs to Lowell.
Youk sure is a nice looking hitter.
Former Yankee prospect Mike Lowell ties it up with the single to right. 1/3, none out still.
Tie game. Sweet.
Time for a Mike Lowell special — keep up that record-breaking pace!
Lowell singles home the run on a hanging curve. Youk advances to third.
Blooper fr the win…nice hitting
Too slow on that post. Rally in full swing!
Wow, Tek STINKS against Moose. I had no idea it was that bad.
Wow, Tek STINKS against Moose. I had no idea it was that bad.
Tek swings and misses at an outside fastball for strike one. 0-1 is high for ball one.
Squeeze!!!!
where was that?!
So I’m glad it wasn’t called, but how was the 2-1 not a strike with some of the calls this ump has made tonight? Full count.
Curve ball misses for 2-1. 2;-1 is a curve just outside. Fastball fouled off for a full count.
YF with no sooth: I order pasta.
A-Rod takes the DP, though he had Youk dead to rights at home.
The payoff: Tek hits into the 6-4-3 and scores the run. 2-1 Boston.
Double play. 2-1 Sox, though.
Blech. Run scores, but Tek still sucks against Moose. Thought A-Rod had a shot at the plate, truthfully.
GIDP, but Sox have the lead…
That was almost a great play by Posada.
Correction 5-4-3. YF, you are right, he could have come home on that play. Had him by quite a bit.
AGon fouls one that bounces off Posada’s glove, who tried to snag it leaning over the dugout rail.
Tek managed to both drive in a runner in scoring position AND kill the rally in the same swing. How rare is that?
Breaking ball rings up AGon looking. Posada, Cano, Phillips due up.
Knucklecurve drops BB. What was he looking for, pray tell?
AG k’s.
A lead’s a lead. We’ll take it. The Sox had 3 hits, 2 men scored. Nothing wrong with that ratio.
AGone gone on strikes, but the Sox get a lead for Beckett, who should do fine now that it’s not the first inning anymore…
What is Alex Cora doing playing for the Yankees?
Four hits off Mussina in two innings, including three in a row. Maybe this is the night he regresses to the mean…
What is it better to do – go to home and stop the run scoring, or go for the DP? Which is more valuable statistically? losing one run but having two outs, or one out with men on first and second?
Mussina’s now at 37 pitches after that inning.
A run is more valuable.
Dunno, Sam, but it’s a legit question. The double play also takes Moose out of working from the stretch.
Beckett: not looking so good.
Back-to-back hits to Posada and Cano. Urgh.
Nice use of logic, Paul – Beckett will be alright now, but Moose is going to “regress” to his mean? Wtf?
Cano with a single to right. Runners on 1st and 2nd, no outs.
Considering AGon K-d, that would have brought up Crisp with two on, down 2-1. Seems like it’s a good risk to take…
Sam, where did Paul say anything about Beckett?
Quick start for the Yanks here. Let’s get that run back, and then a few extra!
I guess that should have read preventing the run (as long as you get the out!) is more valuable.
I thought I used English, Sam. What part didn’t you understand? As it turns out, Beckett is having some issues anyhow…
Shit. I already hate Andy Phillips.
AP AP AP AP AP AP AP!!!!!
AP!!!
F’ugly. Bad Beckett in the house tonight.
Dammit dammit dammit
DEEP to left on a fastball at the belt on the inside.
So much for that pitcher’s duel…
Beckett just looks bad right now.
And there’s the second inning curtain call. Nice job, Phillips. I imagine Josh won’t like that.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! Andy Phillps!!!!
Four straight hits now. Geez…
And a hit by Bernie. AND A CURTAIN CALL FOR AP JUST TO PISS OFF SF! AWESOME.
The bad thing about Hi-Def? Having to see Al Nippers skin complexion.
Yeah, nothing like putting your team up by 2 with 7 innings left to play… Way to go, Yanks fans…
It doesn’t matter if he pisses me off, but if he pisses Beckett off he’s risking a teammate.
Which was always my point.
Why would Cairo be bunting right now?
Paul said: “the Sox get a lead for Beckett, who should do fine now that it’s not the first inning anymore…”
…and in the next post said Moose may now regress. Strikes me that there was a leap of faith being taken there assuming, apropos of nothing, that Beckett would now have a good game and Moose wouldn’t. In any case, seems like neither of them is having the best of nights.
This is what I meant earlier about the boys steppin’ it up and taking up slack.
LET’S-GO-YANKEES!!!
Hey, it’s the Sox. They’d give a curtain call before the game even started if that were possible.
Another hit, by Cairo.
Grr…
Cairo with a single to left. Bernie was running and advances to third on the play.
Sam, he was kidding about that. Beckett’s had notorious first inning problems, so Paul was making a comment about his history this year.
I am so not a happy camper right now.
Nobody warming? What more does Francona need to see?
JD takes a curve for ball one. Fouls one off for strike two. Ball two on a slider low and inside. The 2-1 is in the hole and scores Bernie. First and third, no outs, NYY up 5-2.
Johnny D!!!!!
But gettting back to the previousn argument—I would agree that the better play is to go home for A-Rod. But that’s a tough, tough play for a fielder. God help you if you get no one. And it is the second. Not gonna 2nd guess him here.
As for Moose regressing? Regressing to what? He’s a hall of fame caliber player to begin with, and he’s been effectively using a new weapon. He may not win the era title and go 21-3, but what can youn do..
Meanwhile, ANOTHER hit. 6 straight. And it’s 5-2.
A single for JD. Bernie scores. 5-2.
Obviously I was expressing hopes, not analysis, Sam. Beckett has trouble in the first inning, but he’s done well against NY. Now that he got out of the first, it was reasonable at the time to figure he would settle down.
Mussina had given up hits in both his innings, and looked bad in the second, very unlike his year thus far, so it seemed reasonable to hope he was not going to pitch as well.
So there’s my completely unnecessary explanation for why I said those two things…
Missed the joke, Paul; sorry. (still think that this new Moose is here to stay, though)
One down. Finally.
Tek jumps all over a full-swing bunt and gets Damon at second. Cairo held at third. Cabrera at first on the FC. Great play by tek.
Wow.
What else is on tonight?
GIAMBINO!!!!!!
Holy shit. Get beckett out of there. Now.
Giambi hits off the upper deck facade and emptiesthe bases.
Giambino. 8-2. I’d say “Ovah,” but knowing the Yankee relievers, and the Red Sox hitter, it ain’t.
Is THAT enough for Tito? I mean, really. WTF?
Meanwhile, Beckett is gonna give me heart attacks if he keeps pitching good games and horrible games in groups of three…
So much for that pitcher’s duel…
Think Terry is gonna get that pen going? =)
Wow. Nothing doing for the Sox’ bullpen. What is going on here?
no action til NOW???
christ I would had somebody out there a lot earlier…..well looks like we get to see our bullpen for another almost full game :(
I’m rethinking my stance: I think I might treat the inlaws to a place with no TVs…
The last homer I saw that left Yankee Stadium to right in that kind of hurry was hit by Barry Bonds about 4 years ago. Hmmm. Commonalities…
CURTAIN CALL!!!!
Suck on that SF! And if Beckett don’t like it tough shit. He could try knocking someone down, but at this point i’m not sure even that pitch wouldn’t get turned around.
That was a monstrous shot from Giambi. Arod comes up. Giambi gets a CC. Beckett is still pitching, and misses outside to ARod. 1-0 is in the dirt on a badly thrown curve. Looks good on the next two pitches to even the count 2-2. Low on a fastball to bring the count full.
That curtain call thing is freaking ridiculous, you have to admit. I mean, what’s the point of the curtain call if you get it for every home run?
YF with the pissy comment of the night. Easy to be a dick when you’re up 8-2, I guess.
Enter Tito. Exit Beckett.
Slider misses badly outside to walk Arod. VanBuren is up in the pen. Looks like he’s in for Beckett as Francona comes to the mound.
Do the SFs out there have any explanation as to why Beckett, for how good he is, has some starts that are like this?
Walk to A-Rod… Time for a curtain call…
No, Sam. No idea. But it’s really unexpected and quite disheartening. He has such tremendous stuff when he’s on. But he’s had a few games (and a couple of specific innings) where he’s throwing gas, but it’s totally readable. Very confusing.
I wonder if all the CCs are payback for Game 6 of ’03 WS?
Ah hah! Now SF is all Mr. Hurt Feelings! Boo-Hoo. But about 10 minutes ago he started throwing stones. And was WARNED. And now he can’t take a little ribbing. Because Giambi and AP just busted a couple of big fat holes in his glass house.
SF: It’s only a crime if you get caught, or if your production slips and they threaten to send you to Columbus.
CCs are so overused. I dislike them. Not as much as I hate any baseball fan who does “the wave,” though.
I have no idea, Sam. If you’re a pitcher who brings no-hit stuff to the mound — and I think everyone agrees he does that — what possible explanation is there for these last two starts, easily the worst of the season? That’s what makes it all the more frustrating. If this were Pauley or Clement, I’d be like, “Oh well”…
On the bright side, we’re going to see more of Jermaine Van Buren, whom I really really like — but not in that kind of way.
This sucks. Why the hell did I ever start watching sports?
Dude, you’re being an asshole.
This is the kind of performance where you wonder if Beckett’s tipping pitches.
VanBuren comes out with a pitch that must look like an Eephus after Beckett’s juice.
I too like Van Buren, Paul. I’m glad Tito has had some faith in JVB and MDC recently. I’ve really enjoyed it.
Bright side of the night: I am not sitting in my friend’s insanely amazing seats at the dugout surrounded by about 53,000 screaming morons.
Easy people, there’s a lot of game still to go. You’ll have lots more chances, I’m sure.
I’m worried about what the long inning is doing to Moose. Although with a 6 run cushion, you can afford a few extra BP pitches…
That’s just what I was thinking, YF. They need to study that video. With stuff as good as his, you don’t just lose it from game to game…
There was a recent article about Beckett tipping pitches – I will try to find it.
is Van Buren a rookie? And Paul, there’s nothing wrong with a little man-crush, like me and Melky…
And A-Rod steals.
Me? An asshole? After I was shouted down, unprovoked, with this:
“Oh, shut up, YF. Seriously. You should work for ESPN with that kind of overdramatization.”
I offer peace!
Full count to Posada after a miss on a change and two strikes where on one of them ARod stole second.
Posada hits it tothe deepest part of the park for a fly-out that advances ARod to third on the tag.
Posada nearly drove that out of there, it looks like…
Jerry Remy just also said something about tipping pitches. I’m sure Rick Sutcliffe didn’t. Which makes you both more intelligent than Sutcliffe, I suppose. not that that’s hard to do.
And now everyone at the stadium is a “moron.” Thanks SF!
Sweet catch by Manny to escape more damage. But we’ll take 7.
SF: I CAN TYPE IN ALL CAPS FOR THE REST OF THE THREAD, IF YOU WANT TO FEEL MORE LIKE YOU ARE AT THE STADIUM. ;)
Great backwards catch by Manny running to the track to end the inning.
Van Buren is a rookie, Sam. He was minor league pitcher of the year in the Cubs’ system last year. And I’m the king of man crushes (Crisp and Youk are dueling over my heart)…
On the bright side, this is post 262 and we’re only just out of the 2nd. Although i don’t know how much longer I can take this.
YF: I knew you worked for ESPN. YOU KNEW I KNEW THIS. It was an in-joke that ONLY YOU WOULD GET, DIRECTED AT YOU. Give me a break.
Not everyone, YF. Doesn’t the Stadium hold like 56,000?
Actually, that was farther than 262. I’m more into mindless blather than baseball right now, if you hadn’t noticed. And hey, I’m an eternal optimist, even if I forget that sometimes.
Coco looks like he’s swinging for the fences.
Mussina gets up 0-2 on Crisp after that extended break. A foul to stay alive, then a miss for 1-2. Tipped and caught strike three for the first out.
Well, six runs in seven innings isn’t all that hard to do when you have this lineup and a short right field porch — but that’s contingent on the other lineup not doing similar things with the right-field porch…
Coco k’s. Not cool. We need to do something, and we need to do it now!
The way to beat Mussina is string together singles. His opponent’s BA goes up almost 80 some odd points when runners are on.
This was from a story on May 9th in the Globe:
“His velocity — routinely 94 to 97 — has not been the problem, suggesting that he is healthy and raising a legitimate question: Has he been tipping pitches?
”We monitor that very carefully,” said manager Terry Francona, disputing in tone and with his facial expression such a suggestion. ”I just think he was mislocating to really good fastball-hitting teams. Some younger teams, Cleveland, Texas, they take good swings on fastballs.”
2 Ks in one game for Loretta. Holy crap!
Mussina looks very sharp, hitting his marks. Loretta is behind 0-2. High fastball fans Loretta. That’s Moose’s 6th k through 8 batters.
Sorry… meant 8 outs.
Loretta is doing too! Seriously, you would think Ron Jackson would say something.
Beckett’s home and road splits are pretty dramatically different. It might be an issue of concentration and getting flustered easily. He had the same problem last year with home/away.
But these haven’t been a couple good swings… This was six effing straight hits, an out, then a walk. Tito needs to get his head out of his ass for once and figure out what’s wrong…
Ortiz is behind 1-2: curve ball is low for 2-2. Fastball high and outside: Ortiz lays off for a full count. Walks Ortiz on a low curve. Manny up.
Yeah, it doesn’t sound like the most insightful piece of management.
Nice catch Johnny! What sore toe?
It might not be one specific thing, though. He might be tipping some of his pitches. And he might be missing his spots. And Tek might be calling bad pitches in certain situations. So add those all together and you may have a perfect storm. Even if one or two of those things happen simultaneously it’s big trouble to good hitters like the Yanks.
Manny swings at the first pitch. Damon catches it on the run off the track in right center to end the inning. Nice job, Mike.
My heart skipped a beat when Manny hit that fly ball. One good swing from him, and it’s a new game. Thanks Johnny :D
holy crap, there’s some salty language upthread! Who’s got the soap?
Jermaine Van Buen was the 2005 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, recording 25 saves and a 1.98 ERA with AAA Iowa in the Cubs system. He went 0-2 with a 3.00 ERA (2 runs in six innings in six appearances) for the Cubs late last year.
Andy Phillips comes up and takes strike one, then a ball low. 1-1: curve ball hit on the roll to second for the first out.
Why did the Cubs let him go?
Nice scouting report, Paul.
Because they are the Cubs, Sam.
Bernie is walked.
We have seen Mark Loretta strike out twice in the same game for the first time all year — and the first time since Aug. 2.
What just happened exactly? Totally missed that.
Man, it must suck to be a Cubs fan.
Bizarre play as Tek is very heads-up. Cairo hits a ball that basically drops straight down. He gets tagged out by Tek and throws to second to nab Bernie. Great play by Tek.
Ump seemed to call foul ball, then changed his mind. 2-4-3 DP instead, Laura. Oh, now they’ve reversed it. Still one out!
What just happened?
The Cubs traded Van Buren for a player to be named later early this offseason — ultimately ended up being Matt Ciaramella, who hit .302 in 60 games for Class A Greenville.
So the answer still is: Because they’re the Cubs.
Yeah, didn’t we get JVB for a PTBNL? I seem to remember that. Could be wrong though. I usually am.
JVB was a casualty of the Cubs’ 40 man roster. The Cubs I guess were out of options with him, so in lieu of just cutting him cleanly they got a PTBNL from the Sox in December.
Well that messed up my GameCast again…
This is bizarre. They didn’t tag Bernie, so it’s not a force at second. Now Bernie is back at first, and they are saying two outs? And, the replay showed that the ball was foul. I don’t understand this at all.
Thanks, Paul. Read my mind.
Bernie should be out. He left the bag and was tagged. So what’s the problem?
…and John Hendry just got an extension, right?
Hmmm…now Cairo is out, for some reason. Two men out, Bernie on first.
I remember that trade and seeing his stats and wondering how on earth we pulled off that coup… So I’m quite pleased to see him up and performing well…
Bernie got sent back to first and they recorded the out at home, but the play wasn’t called dead. Very bizarre.
This is a very strange game….
GameCast says Cairo is out on batter interference…
What does this do to a pitcher’s head – the guy’s in the dugout, then has to come out and pitch to Damon. Not ideal.
It was a fair ball. It bounced in front of the plate. Tek tagged Cairo and then threw to second, where it would have to be a tag play. bernie reached second safely, but then left the bag and was tagged out. Yet the ump called him safe? That makes no sense at all.
Laura: They never tagged Bernie. He came in and AGon’s foot was on the bag, but he didn’t tag him. The play was never called dead. Anyway, they walk JD on four pitches and it’s 1st and 2nd to Cabrera.
Apparently, both should have been out but they gave Bernie a free pass because of the ump’s wrong call.
Maybe the ump called interference/dead ball as soon as it happened?
Shit. This inning should be over.
Cabrera hits a double to left center and scores Bernie and Damon.
MELKY!!!!
SF wins the sooth…
LECHE LECHE LECHE!!!
The ruling is apparently that Cairo was out by getting hit by his batted ball outside the box. The umpire erroneously called “time”, so they allowed Williams to go back to first since it was his mistake.
Maybe we can charge 2 unearned runs to the ump…
AG: Bernie left the bag, walked toward first and AGon tagged him. he was off the bag. He should be out.
I think the ump incorrectly called foul ball, which conceivably led to the confusion. Odd, though, and I agree the inning should have been over.
Laura: I didn’t see the tag after he left the bag, but at that point, I think the play had been ruled dead. Anyway, total clusterfeck by the umps on that one.
Thanks, SF…
Is this the game that Melky finally hits one out of the park? Seems like the perfect setup.
I guess it’s hard to get exercised about a call like that down 8-2, but where was that kind of thinking during last year’s ALCS?
Full count to Giambi. way inside and low. First and second, two outs.
Alex is the only Yankee without a hit.
This is bullshit. It just keeps getting worse for the Sox, and that play just killed us.
Gary Thorne: “This is turning into a disaster for the Red Sox”.
You mean, it’s NOT ONE ALREADY!??!?!
It’s clear all that business ratled the rookie :-\ After all these nice things we’ve been saying about him too..
Totally YM. But nothing’s gonna beat that play where he went from 1st to home. That’s one for the ages. The Legend of Melky grows daily.
Here’s hoping the Legend of Melky pulls his hammy.
Reminds me of the fan-interference out at Yankee Stadium back in 93/94, when the out was nullified and the Yanks rallied with the second chance to win the game.
SF, that’s uncalled for. That’s like me saying I hope Big Papi blows his ACL. Come to think of it….Hmmm…
Just kidding.
Bases loaded. Pitching change.
I’m not serious. I just think it sounds kind of funny.
Two words: Kevin Mass.
Crap, used that one already.
Two words: Sample size.
VanBuren misses low on a fastball for a ball. Slider is inside for 2-0. Fastball on the outside corner for strike one. Nice pitch. 2-1 is away for ball three. 3-1: Slider for a full count. low and away for a walk to load the bases. Francona is coming to take VanBuren out. Looks like VanBuren stepped funny on his follow through on that last pitch.
Bad, SF! Dissing Melky is not cool.
YF: that’s play of the night, absolutely.
SF, poor sportsmanship! None of us are hoping for a Beckett blister.
Anyone have any other random questions about Red Sox players they want me to look up while I avoid clicking on the GameCast?
That’s the second game in a row Van Buren’s landed awkwardly, necessitating a pull from Francona…
What’s Coco Crisp’s favorite cereal, Paul?
Oof. This game is just plain ugly. Is there a 10-run rule?
Van Buren has thrown 70 pitches over the last two games.
Nick, you’re right, especially if he keeps pitching like he did tonight.
Riske hits Posada. Probably not on purpose.
Jackass Yankee jersey says “do the math.” I mean, that’s just uncalled for. Why would you ask a Sox fan to stretch themself like that? ;)
Jorge gets hit on his right upper arm to walk in a run.
YM, you are kidding right? Melky Cabrera scoring on a passed ball and two errors (1 mental), giving the Yankees a lead that lasted exactly zero outs in the second is the play of the game?
GAH, THIS IS UGLY!
Why are Thorne and Sutcliffe wondering if that pitch was intentional?
I’m enjoying this game immensly. I hope the Yanks drop 25 on these knuckleheads.
Paul, I have one: what’s Papi’s BA versus the Yanks? Strikes me that for a guy that has larger than life stats in other categories, his BA is relatively low. But I figure its 300+ against the Yankees…
Jeez–what a bunch of sore losers. Melky should pull his hammy. He’s the next Maas. How about just enjoying the kid, who’s playing friggin great.
Do you hear any whinning over here about Youk? I hope the guy has a killer career. Dang.
Cano gives you what you deserve!
Cano rips it to right center for a double to score two runs. Posada, with his game leg, has to hold at third.
COUNT TEH RINGZ BITCHES!!!!!
This is great for the Pythagorean record.
Phillips hits it to Cabrera to end the bleeding.
So freaking ugly. And there isn’t even anything good on TV tonight to change it to. I’m really not in a Deal or No Deal kind of mood right now.
Oh christ don’t start with that. The next one to put that line up get’s a permanent ip ban.
Jeez, YF, you are completely full of you-know-what tonight. Two comments after the Melky comment I made it clear I was joking. It’s amazing how you morphed into a stereotypical asshole YF once the Yanks started beating up on the Sox.
Serious question (i’m not trying to rub it in), but when does Tito begin pulling his starters?
So what’s with a random Yanks fan coming in when his team is way up and telling us to count the rings?? What was the point of that, exactly?
COUNT THE DYNAMICALLY ASSIGNED IP ADDRESS *AND* TEH RINGZ BITCHES!!!!
The point being, YF, before you twist that last comment to your liking (just as you have several others tonight), that you are not a stereotypical asshole YF, but tonight for some reason you are. And it kind of sucks.
That was pretty silly.
i heard its how yanks fans attract mates.
EAR MUFFS. Dang. I wrote that before i saw your “joke” comment. Time for a beer over there SF. You deserve it. This is a 4 game series. One game don’t mean much.
Was about to ask the same question, Sam. I figure that if Tito can pull his starters then I at least can go into my bedroom and read an enjoyable book without feeling too guilty.
Mussina looks kind of silly pretending that he’s trying really hard. Strangely he’s not taking 45 seconds between pitches anymore.
Joe. Don’t put the ass in dynamically assigned. Please. Spare us.
I’ve seen someone use that name post that exact comment before. It’s pointless, and not reflective of this Yankee fan’s opinion about Boston in any way. Joe, (if that is who you are) please don’t do that ever again.
How come it’s all in caps, Joe?? And when we’re handing the Yankees their asses later this week (hey, it’s bound to happen sometime, right?), I highly doubt you will come around to say count the rings again.
I can’t believe Torre takes the time out managing to post to this blog during a game.
Oh, come on. No one here should be so taken aback by the gloating. It’s a rivalry. We walked off against you in ’03, and you didn’t hear the end of it. You beat us 4 times in a row in ’04, and we haven’t heard the end of it.
When the Sox blow us out one day, we won’t hear the end of it.
Everyone calm down and enjoy the game for what it is – or alternatively, stop watching if you’re a Sox fan.
You uptight people need to calm down.
What a bunch of pussies you all are.
OK, Sox. One goal. Stretch the Yanks ‘pen. Make Moose pitch, get him out by the 6th, see two or three guys. Small task, but in a four game series it might have some minor benefit.
It’s one thing to have a rivalry, and even do some friendly trash talking. It’s another thing to act like an asshole and be completely rude.
SF: heheh.
Youk works the count full against Mussina with Nixon on first after the walk.
David Ortiz BA by opponent, 2003-05 (AL teams only, thus eliminating his .500 against Milwaukee and similar):
1. vs. Minnesota: .362
2. vs. Tampa Bay: .322
3. vs. New York: .317
4. vs. Toronto: .316
5. vs. Texas: .308
Against all others he is below .300.
Heckuva job, Roddie.
Here’s a reasonable goal to root for: The Sox might at least rough up Mussina.
E-6 as ARod muffs the throw to second on a ground ball. First and third, no outs. 11 errors on ARod on the season.
Getting back to matters, that was a pretty sweet ab by Youk down by 43 runs. Crap throw from Alex pulls off Cano.
E-Rod makes another error. It’s a small piece of enjoyment, but hey, at this point, I’ll take anything.
Mikey!
this game could be a LONG game
only down 10 runs….chop away boys, chop away.
Lowell takes a fastball for strike one, then hits a flare to center to score Trot. First and second, no outs.
Hey look, a run! And you know, it is only the fourth…
Lots of singles. Lots of pitches. This is useful. Keep it up – no need to score 28 runs, but make something of this game.
Affleck Trivia Question: Who are the only two Yankee pitchers to win an AL Gold Glove?
(Hey, entertainment is entertainment)
Cano sure does have a nice arm over there at second. He looks stiff, but is getting the job done pretty darn well. That was a real nice play.
Tek grounds into another DP. Not cool.
why is it ben affleck trivia HAHA
AGon pops out to ende the inning
“When the Sox blow us out one day, we won’t hear the end of it.”
Umm, the Sox have blown out the Yanks a couple of times already this year. It seems certain Yankee fans are venting repressed anger tonite.
Jimmy Key and Moose?
Oops. That would be Aflac. Hey, i was kind of close.
I just love the fact that the Sox’ best OBP guy, best pitch-see-er, best possible leadoff guy, is hitting 6th. Brilliant. This is a point I am going to beat to death by the All-Star break.
Nice stats, Paul. You think Papi has something against the Twin for letting him go?
I think Guidry and Mussina have one them. Didn’t Bobby Shantz win several back in the fifties?
Kenny Rogers and Al Leiter?
Half right, YF. Mussina and Guidry.
Manny’s been pulled. Almost time for you to go read your book, SF.
Meanwhile, who gets fired, Lee or Sean, on the Apprentice finale?
Bernie hits it in front of the plate and is out on a bang-bang play as Mirabelli guns him down at first. Tek’s out to rest, I guess.
Oh, it’s time. It’s time.
Dude, I got flack for watching Idol during a Sox/Yanks game in the interest of family harmony, and you’re watching the Apprentice? I call you-know-what. Big time.
Tom-
And we’ve won 20 more World Series than you.
See, that’s how it works. You say something to rile me up, then I respond with something else. In the end, if you’re really upset about these things, you should turn off ESPN and start watching the Home & Garden channel.
SF: Would you hit Youk leadoff and Crisp ninth? Or would you put Youk second? I would think he should bat second?
manny out, tek out, and beckett out of course…
looks like terry is calling it in…expect more secondary guys coming in for the sox…as to the yankees they already have the backups in…who are they gonna pull out and put in? the DL??
Gator. Obvs.
Riske is behind 3-0 on Damon. Close pitch on the outside for strike one. The 3-1: another good pitch on the outside to take the count full. Payoff: fouled back.
Joe, we know that’s you. My problem is that you only came around after the Yanks were up by 10. If it was a close game or if the Sox were winning, you wouldn’t have dared pull that shit.
The Home and Garden Channel is showing the last four games of the 2004 ALCS this week, anonymous. So there.
Gerbil;
I know I am not SF, but I liek youk in the 2 hole, toss the L’s back to back on the other side of the RBI twins and insert the rest as you feel needed ;)
Joe (I assume that’s you): Yet none in the 21st century. Too bad really. All that gloating, and it’s all six years old. Kind of like the age you’re acting right now…
Damon walks. Melky hits it to Harris in left to end the inning.
Mrs. YF holds me down, rips the clicker from my hand, and forces me to watch. It’s like A Clockwork Orange. I’m helpless SF. Have sympathy.
AG:
I posted my ideal lineup earlier, with reasoning. Link here:
http://yanksfansoxfan.typepad.com/ysfs/2006/05/new_order.html
I think the real point is the Yankees are killing the Sox, and SOME Yank fans are acting like dickheads, which did not happem LAST WEEK when the Sox beat the crap out of the Yankees, for like, the 3rd time this year. Justifying your comments with your past wonderfulness is pathetic. You haven’t won jack this century. See, those kind of idiotic comments are easy.
I like Youk hitting second too, but as F and Paul pointed out to me, he k’s far more than Loretta. I think Youk makes a great leadoff man, and we could use Coco at the bottom of the order. It should look like this.
Youk
Loretta
Papi
Manny
Lowell
Trot
Coco
Tek
AGon
I love Trot, but I really think Lowell should be the one hitting fifth. But hey, that’s just me.
Youk Ks a bit too much for the #2 spot, no?
I call shenanigans on AFLAC.
I meant SF in my post, not just F, although most of you are intelligent enough to figure that out, I hope.
I say moratorium on historical baiting. Right now, the White Sox are champs. Leave it there.
Well, I’m heading to a TV-less restaurant with the wife’s folks. Have a good night everybody. As sucky as this game has been, I’ve enjoyed hanging out with everyone — wel, almost everyone…
Nice pull, AG. Bad research by someone.
Interesting, SF. I like the idea of Crisp hitting fifth.
Is anyone else watching ESPN? Am I the only one surprised by the fact that Bonds has only ever led the NL in RBIs one, in 1993? And only led the league twice in HRs. Weird.
And I am going to bed to read, do something enriching. G’night everyone, even you, YF! Enjoy the Apprentice, ye of little taste.
Hopefully tomorrow night’s game is slightly more competitive, or the exact opposite.
Shift works as a diving Phillips misses a hard shot by Ortiz, but Cano fields the ball in shallow right to throw out Ortiz at first, Mussina covering the bag.
Wow. Great play from Cano on the shift. These guys are pretty good athletes.
What was the AFLAC question?
SF was watching ESPN earlier, Sam. I’m lucky enough to get NESN. And people wonder why I never want to leave New England.
Good night to those departing. Here’s hoping for a better game tomorrow.
The Aflac Question was which two Yankees pitchers have won an AL Gold Glove award, the answer being Guidry and Mussina, but apparently they were wrong.
I think I’ll leave you Yanks fans to have some fun amongst yourself. I think I, like SF, need to read a book. The world of George RR Martin seems very appealing to me right about now. Good night.
Sox are rotating all their position players out now. Unfortunately, the Yankees are too thin for wholesale changes right now. This blowout could hurt NY as far as fatigue. ARod and Giambi are probably still suffering from that stomach virus and could use the rest. I propose moving Phillips to third, DH Bernie, and put Thompson in right.
Oops. I guess I left first base open.
Put Bernie at first maybe.
ARod singles to right and Giambi is advanced to second.
Who plays first in that scenario? My first order of business is Stinett for Posada.
After this at bat, obvs. Meaning now.
Posada flies out to left. One away.
That works for me, YF.
You’re way ahead of me AG:)
Question (that I should have asked before all the SFs started their exodus): is my play-by-play worthwhile or is it noise as there are other places to get it? I don’t want my ego stroked or anything like that. I just want to know if it is helpful for those watching GameChannel and the like.
my 2 cents: I think it’s great. totally useful.
It’s first and second to Phillips, with a 2-2 count, and two away. Riske throws a straight fastball fouled back off first.
sooooooo
Big gulps huh?
welp…
Check ya later…
Thanks, YF. My concern is that I don’t want to make the threads unreadable by pushing insight out of the way of play-by-play.
Pop out up first to end the inning.
out of the way with play-by-play rather.
Gerbil:
sometimes I gotta do somehitng and like to get caught up quick…your play by play usually helps me out ;)
beside syou add insight also :D
I’m always watching tv as well, but your play by plays are a nice way of knowing that I’m not the only one watching.
Doug fricking Mirabelli hits a homer to lead off the sixth.
Meanwhile, in other action, Baltimore is shutting out Toronto 4 nothing in the top of eight at Camden Yards.
everytime I see doug hit a HR I think…
DO IT DOUG!!!!!!
lol
only down by 9….somebody get LL cool J on speed dial.
Is Moose losing focus? Please don’t make us use the bullpen in a game like this.
Yikes! He’s thrown 88 pitches already. pah.
Nixon follows with a double to right center. The extended layoffs are getting to Mussina I think. It is time to take him out.
uh oh, if there is ever a chance for the sox to catch up the yankee bullpen is opening up :D
Proctor is up in the pen. Mussina gets ahead of Youk 1-2. Maybe I am premature on that call to relieve him.
“I’m Doug, and I’m out of hee-heee-here”
Great pitch from Mussina. Looked like a fastball, but it moved like a slider. Not sure what it was. Youk couldn’t hit it either way. 7 ks for Moose.
When you’re up by 10, you come out throwing strikes. Not the end of the world to give up a solo shot to a leadoff hitter.
Why is Proctor warming up? If Joe doesn’t trust Matt Smith or Villone in this situation then why oh why oh why are they even on the roster?
down 8 runs…..
Snow comes in with his first AB and hits a single to right center on the ground on a fastball. Run scores. Gator is coming out to see how Moose feels.
I’m happy to see Mussina getting smacked around a bit. He won’t be happy.
Couldn’t agree more Sam.
Harris Ks. Nice.
Snow is on first to Harris. Breaking pitch misses low and inside. Misses again low and away for 2-0. Fastball low and away cut on and missed for 2-1. Another fastball looked at for strike 2, inside belt high. 2-2: big curve fouled off-just got a piece of it. 2-2, amazing slow breaking pitch that Harris was no where near. 2 away.
Moose must feel fine as AGon hits it to mid center. Damon makes the catch to record the out.
Mussina’s ERA is up to 2.68 :-/ I wonder if he’d be getting hit like that if he didn’t have all those long innings to wait through. Ah well, we’ll take the runs.
Torre had better put Smith or Villone out there if/when Moose comes out. Also for those who’re watching YES, isn’t Kay bitching about Mike too much? I mean, it’s not like he’s facing a KC Royals team out there, he can’t have 5 pitch innings all the time.
It’s the bottom of the sixth. ESPN is showing a _very_ cool replay of some of Mussina’s better breaking pitches that he used to fan batters. That’s great stuff to watch. I would love to stand in and see what that looks like some day; I know I wouldn’t ever be able to hit it. I just wonder what it looks like, from the batter’s perspective.
uh oh crazy julian is in…I would not dig into that batters box too much lol
AG – that would be tres cool. I think Moose is done – 101 pitches thru 6 IP. Now goes to 8-1 and maintains his Cy Young push! (though Doc Halliday is looking pretty good right now)
Tavarez is in. Bernie grounds out 3-1 to record the first out. Cairo is down 0-2; strike two was questionable. Strike three swinging for 2 away. They are talking about Papelbon for some reason; why would we see him tonight? Damon flies out to straightaway center to end the inning.
If it gets to where Papelbon has any reason to be in the game, I’m disowning this team :D
You know Moose is out now.
The Orioles game is almost over.. two outs, still up 4-0 whereas we are only in the top of seven.
And Proctor is in. It official, his arm won’t last till August.
Proctor in for the yanks.
Gerbil, who pitched for Toronto?
Glad to have The Proctologist used here if it means Smith tomorrow…..
Top of the order. Crisp fouls off two pitches and is behind.
I wish Torre had let Moose come out for the 7th, at least so that he could get nice hand from the fans.
Daniel Cabrera had the start for the O’s. Hawkins is in to close it out (which just happened on a groundout to second). Millar was 2-4 with a dinger for the O’s.
Scary stat I just saw: only one Yank (Cano) has more 2 hits. Everyone else is just 1-for-something. Pretty good deal to get 13 runs on 10 hits.
Two outs on a fly to left from Loretta. Ortiz up. He grounds out to Proctor, 1-3 to end the inning.
Easy inning for the Proctologist.
Yes, it was a wonky game from the get-go, with Cabrera coming around to score on that bizarre play.
YF’s title on this thread was sooth. Frogs, hail, locusts, murrain, and two of the stranger plays I have seen in the thousands of games I have watched or listened to with Cabrera coming around from first to score, and the FUBAR play with Cairo/Williams.
You know, if not for that play on Cairo/Williams, it would’ve only been 8-5. Unsettling.
Changing of the guard: Don Mattingly commiserating with Andy Phillips on the bench. Makes my heart glow.
Tavarez is ahead 0-2 on Melky. Takes outside 1-2, then grounds out to second. Cabrera is 1-5 with 3 runs, 2 rbis, and 4 LOB. Noticeable stat: another game with no strikeouts. The kid’s eye is amazing.
Giambi walks. Thompson is in to run.
KT makes his appearance!
Arod with a swinging bunt; 2-3 for the out. Thompson to second on the play.
What’s nice is that offense was really spread throughout the lineup, no one or two people carrying the team. Good to see.
Why–WHY–is Jorge still in there?
Two outs to Posada. I question why he is in at this point. Is something wrong with Stinnett? Takes the first pitch away. Another ball away. Villone is up in the pen.
Posada takes another ball as Tavarez can’t find the zone. Tavarez misses away for ball four. First and second to Cano, with two outs.
Tavarez is looking awful with two pitches outside to Cano.
Strike on the corner on a breaking pitch for 2-1. Close pitch.
Now it’s 3-1 as Tavarez is trying to place it. Breaking pitch for a strike. Tavarez shook off 2 pitches from Mirabelli. You must be kidding me.
Cano swings at a very low, very inside breaking pitch for the strike three swinging to end the inning.
jorge is in there the same reaosn all the other starters for the game are….they don’t wanna blow this ;)
Or becauses most of their bench is ALREADY playing?
shhhhh don’t talk about the game in houston….
Villone is in to face Mirabelli in the top of the eighth. Devastating curve makes it 0-2. Then another pitch that Mirabelli has no idea what to do with; strike three looking, maybe swinging. Either way, Mirabelli was totally outmatched in that battle.
Wow. Zambrano. My Cubs friend Matt will be happy. He needs a reason to be happy with how bad the Cubs have been this year.
WTF? They just showed Mariano stretching in the ‘pen.
Play by play suspended as ESPN has stopped the Yankees.
Single to right ends the no-hit bid for Zambrano.
and it’s over…
that is 2 no nos zabrano has had foiled in the evry end of the games.
and listen to those houston fans cheering that they did not get the no no on them.
Crap! Come back to second and third with one out and Villone facing Snow.
Sweet. Horrible check swing from Snow results in a comebacker and Nixon(?) gets caught in the pickle.
2 strike check swing from snow with 2nd and third? Sheesh, JT. Villone faces Harris, who gets behind 0-2 and then grounds a ball straight at Phillips, who plays it himself to end the inning. NYY 13, Boston 5.
DelCarmen is in for Boston, facing Phillips in the Bottom of the eighth. First ball strike. Then a curve for a strike, 0-2. Another curve, but this one is low. Philips fouls a fastball high and away back and up first. Another fastball gets away from Delcarmen and is high for ball two. Yet another high fastball. Full count.
Another solid base hit for AP.
Phillips strokes the payoff pitch (fastball) to left for a single.
Most important number for the Yanks: Ortiz/Manny combined 0-5.
Delcarmen is ahead on Bernie 0-2. Bernie hits the 0-2 breaking pitch right at Loretta for the 4-6-3 DP.
Cairo hit that one on the head.
Inning over. Let’s finish this out quickly and get the boys back home for a good night’s sleep.
I read an article that quoted Mussina about pitching to Ortiz/Ramirez.. basically, he said “you don’t lose games on solo shots. You try to keep other guys off base when Ortiz and MRam come up.” That’s exactly what Moose did tonight.
Rivera is in to get some work.
Which of course is the famous quote about Henry Aaron, when they were talking about pitching to him, and someone said, “Make sure no one is on base when he hits it out.”
AGon grounds out 5-3 for the first out.
Rivera on the 1-1 comes with a nasty cutter 1 foot inside that Crisp can’t help but swing at. I _LOVE_ watch Rivera pitch. Another cutter in on the hands, that Crisp fouls off his ankle. 1-2.
Mo?!?
That’s a good quote. He’s right. And his most important inning was probably the 1st where he struck out Ortiz/Manny when people WERE on base. They get a few hits there, who knows how that game turns out.
Schilling almost got nailed by a foul ball just now. Priceless.
YF, Kaat was saying it’s probably so he can get some work in – hasn’t pitched in almost a week.
Crisp lines to Phillips for out number two. Loretta represents the final out. He’s even at 1-1. Foul on an inside downward-moving pitch. Was that a slider? Loretta lines the 1-2 cutter to shallow right center for a single. Cora is in the game. He rips a line drive foul up first for 0-1.
Cora hits a line drive up the line straight at Phillips, who fields it cleanly and runs to the bag to end the game. NYY 13, Boston 5.
Mussina’s ERA rises to 2.67 with the win, but I would call it a quality outing.
Definitely, against a good team. Good job by everyone.
Blowouts are so much easier on the nerves :)
Opinion: Andy Phillips has made his case to be the starting first baseman, with Jason moving to mostly part-time DH.
Seconded. And Giambi is showing that he can hit just fine at DH, so all that BS about him playing better at 1B is just that, BS.
Yeah…I left in the 2nd. There was this drunken f***ing @$$hole behind me, who kept pounding my shoulders with his open palms when some Yankee or other hit a home run. I’m not much for dealing with people like him (and believe me, I know they exist on both sides of this spectrum), though I know I should have stood up for myself (I just dislike confrontation). Between him and 7 runs in 1/3 of an inning, I decided it was time to go.
Devine, that sucks. Sorry to hear about that. I can’t stand that bullshit.
edit: mostly part-time dh should have read mostly full-time
Well, I got to be there at a Yankee blowout earlier. Seems only karmically appropriate that I had to sit (partway) through an equally apocalyptic outing for the Sox.
Tough go, Devine. I had a similar experience sitting in really expensive seats behind home plate during the playoffs several years ago, some creep kept grabbing my hat off my head. Happens everywhere, probably most often in seats given away to drunk Wall Streeters, which is one of the reasons not to sit in such nice seats at Yankee Stadium.