Joba Chamberlain was quite awful last weekend in Seattle. He’s on the mound in Fenway the Bronx tonight, while the Bombers will try and get to the remarkable Jon Lester. The Sox have won his last seven starts and he’s recorded four wins in a row. The last time he faced the Bombers, he held them to one run over seven innings.
Comment away.
263 replies on “Here We Go Again: Yanks-Sox Gamer”
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
—————
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Martinez 1B
Youkilis 3B
Ortiz DH
Bay LF
Drew RF
Varitek C
Gonzalez SS
Fenway??
My 4th grade son’s grammar homework was punctuation today and I swear to you that one of the sentences was, “The Yankees won”. I tried to convince him that a question mark belonged at the end but he refused…
Smart kid RBF!!! TIme to “mellow out” before the game…there will be SF’s in here tonight that aren’t used to me…
So if the Yankees sweep the Sox while the Rangers get swept then both the Yankees and Sox will clinch their respective playoff positions on the same field against each other on Sunday.
About as likely as a 1-2-3 inning for Joba. Or a 4-4 night for the guy wearing the hockey jersey for the sox…
Oh, and P.S., Joba sucks. We have no chance in this game.
I just want the Sox to win one game this weekend…this one is the pitching match-up we should win…even with Tek in the lineup.
Devine –
Same here, I just don’t want to have to watch the celebration.
Looks pretty windy up there…
We’re 19-10 in Joba’s starts…that’s amazing.
Yanks trotting their “A” lineup out there today. Let’s go Yankees!
First pitch ball…it’s over.
Joba with the slick fielding…1 out.
Pedrioa grounder to Captain Clutch…2 outs.
Joba’s on fire. We’re doomed.
VMart on a 23 game hitting streak…wow. I’ve been hitting my bong for 23 games straight, at least…
NICE! 1-2-3 inning on 13 pitches??? Really Joba???
Leadoff single for Jeter…
Jeter steals 2nd…
game over
I have $3 on this game by the way…
Damon = fail. 1 out.
Quite the high roller there, Krueg
Right? That’s how I do it…
We have 3 chances to knock in Jeter…this is huge. Already blew 1…
2…
AROD COMES THROUGH!!!! RBI SINGLE!!!! 1-0 good guys…great job ARod. Kate will reward you.
ARod steals 2nd…
Walks Godzilla, 1st and 2nd, 2 outs…23 pitches for Lester…
3 outs. Sweet inning for the good guys, too bad there are 8 more!
Nope…ref said the ball bounced…still going!!!
ARod steals 3rd…
BS 3rd strike call…NOW the inning is over.
Damn, what a break for Lester. That was almost bordering the batter’s box.
The word has gotten out that you can run on Varitek at will, even with a lefty on the hill. Now 103 SB (just 15 caught – 12%) against him this year in 104 games.
The best part is Martinez is no better.
Somehow I think Scioscia is watching and laughing wildly.
Lester the Molester with 30 pitches in the first.
Youk grounds out to ARod…1 out.
Awkward snag by Swish in RF, but we’ll take it…Papi ripped it. 2 outs.
The Red Sox look like a team the Angels should murder. What’s going to be the excuse for Awesomest Manager Ever when he fails this time?
Interesting play by Swisher.
Damn, Joba looks great so far.
SICK inning by Joba…1-2-3, 10 pitches and K’s Bay. Wow.
Right? Let’s not jinx it, he can meltdown at any moment…
Figures Joba would save his one good game of the month for the Sox…
Cano takes FOREVER to get into the box…then promptly singles…
Month Ethan? Try MONTHS…plural.
This is interesting, Cano, an awful basestealer, against Varitek, a guy with a granny arm. Joe should send him.
Swish K’s.
Cano steals 2nd…
Oh, man. I think this just assures that Varitek doesn’t start in the postseason. Humongous liability.
Joba has a perfect game going. Wow! A PERFECT GAME.
joba leads the league in HBP’s, and is 4th in BB’s. how has he racked up those numbers pitching in abbreviated outings?
Melky lines out to Bay…2 outs.
Ignoring RBF…
With Varitek behind the plate, Lester has to assume that every base hit is a double.
Because he inflicted a tremendous amount of damage in a short time Rod…with his suckitude.
Well, he tries really hard on the HBP thing.
Walks Jeter…1st and 2nd, 2 outs for Johnny. You know, he hasn’t hit a HR in awhile…
Johnny chokes…3 outs. Let’s see which Joba pitches this inning.
Back to Joba’s PERFECT GAME.
Drew pops out in foul grounds to Hip Hip…1 out.
Joba’s fastball has some serious movement tonight so far…
Tek K’s…2 outs.
future sox catcher joe mauer hears you all talkin bad on tek and doesn’t appreciate it. joe thinks you all don’t appreciate a good game caller as much as you should.
A third of the way towards a FULL PERFECT GAME!!!
K’s Gonzo…another 1-2-3 inning, not many pitches. This is out of control. *
*so far
I heard a stat today that gave Varitek something like a .156/.252/.238 line since the all-star break. He doesn’t even belong on a postseason roster.
I don’t know if Joba is better, or the Red Sox have given up. It looks a lot like the latter.
Um…I think you have that backwards Rod. Joe will be wearing Pinstripes my hard-rocking amigo! Kinda like Tex… ;)
rbf- did you see who’s throwing a perfect game?
We need some bombs from the bombers…
Rod –
He’s amazing tonight – really on fire. If I were at the game, I’d hold up a PERFECT GAME sign for the guy.
Leadoff single for Tex…
Make that a double in a second.
2ND DECK ABOMB FROM AROD!!! THAT BALL WAS DESTROYED!!!! 3-0 good guys…
Damn small stadium and unclutch hits.
For clarification, LF 2nd deck…
Godzilla singles.
This game is a turning point!!!
Turning point for the team in first place – God I hope so.
Godzilla isn’t stealing any bases…bet of that.
If Matsui ends up stealing second, Varitek should just retire right on the field.
Bet ON that…
Hip Hip pops out…1 out.
I think Andrew meant turning point as in getting on a roll going into the playoffs…*
*WAY too soon to say that by the way.
69 pitches so far for Lester…
Double for Cano…2nd and 3rd, 1 out…
I’m surprised Matsui even got to third.
My turning point comment was sarcastic…
Lester is not sharp tonight, but you can see why everyone loves this kid. He’s so sound mechanically and attacks the whole plate.
Is anybody warming for the Sox? Lester is one more bad pitch away from this becoming a blowout. He’s fortunate to only be down 3.
just read an interesting article over at salaciousmlbrumors.com that tito is running a rope-a-dope strategy in tonites game. give the yanks confidence in joba and not showcase any of lesters good stuff. that tito is always one up-ing somebody.
Swish walks…that looked like a strike to me. Bases loaded, 1 out…
Varitek calling one heck of a game.
Um, Lester is not younger than Joba. He’s 10 months older. Where is this coming from?
Hunter something or other is warming…
Lester took one directly on his knee and went down…this is not cool.
Paul Byrd, come on down!
Lester’s got nothing tonight. Figure his first really bad game in months would come against the Yankees.
Oh no, I really don’t want Lester to be hurt. He’s actually my favorite Red Sox, no joke.
That got him square in the knee man, this could be really bad…he is still down…
mother fuck. sorry mods. but, mother fuck.
No man, this deserves swearing. I really, really hope he’s okay.
I really hope he is OK…that would be the worst.
Truly enjoying this one. So far. Honestly did not know Varitek’s arm had deteriorated this extremely. The only thing I care about is how does Joba do and so far je couldn’t look better.
Holy smoke that hit Lester hard. That just sucks. Hope he is ok.
Jeez, I guess Varitek is resting his arm. And Lester too.
Aaaaaand there go the Sox’s playoff chances. Fuck.
Yankee fans giving him a hand…that’s cool.
He limping off…no help. That sounded horrible when it hit him…
Oh good, he can walk. I’m guessing Lester skips his next start, although I think Beckett gets Game 1 back.
Really hope he’s okay.
Ah frick!
Seriously, how has Varitek not been released already?
Terrible blow there. Poor kid that ball was scorched.
Love that clip of Lester’s no-hitter. I couldn’t help but smile. I don’t know if he’s my favorite non-Yankee, but he’s on the list.
IH, he never really had a good arm — threw out maybe 20% but at least enough to keep runners honest. It has been even worse than usual this year.
The 23: enough of the snarky one-liners attempting to goad SFs. They may have just lost their ace for the playoffs which just sucks for any team.
Anyway, back to the game…need more runs here…Joba has been known to completely fall apart at any moment for no reason.
Jeter RBI. 5-0
Phew, thought that was a tailor-made doubleplay.
Anyone going to watch the season premiere of Dollhouse tonight?
IH- did you get tix buddy?
Is it crazy that I am hating thinking about Joba sitting all this time? That this lead may not be big enough for him?
Damon obliges with his sorry-ass…keep it together Joba.
Not crazy, kreug, Leiter and Kay are thinking the same thing.
Yeah Ethan – I just never saw it this bad. Cano really doesn’t run on anyone. Anyway, bigger issues to wonder about I know. Lester’s got what, 12 days to recuperate and still get some warm-up work in before starting in a game 2? That’s actually a good while if it’s just a bad bruise and not structural.
K, I think the most important part of Joba’s outing is pitching a good 90 pitch game. Him righting himself is more a concern than winning and losing I think. Love to win but this kid needs some confidence and momentum. The wait is huge though, agreed.
“Foul to the left-hand side”…I think we found a worse announcer than Joe Morgan.
24 game hit streak extended.
See, Joba’s lost it!
Yeah John – though had to skip ALDS. Got 2 tix to Game 6 of the ALCS. Figured – maybe foolishly – that a series vs. Boston or LA would likely go at least 6. By bizarre coincidence I got seats in the exact section and even row as my season pckge.
Who is this guy in the booth? He just yelled Wooow when Youk hit that liner.
Ortiz helps him out by grounding weakly in front of the plate.
1-2-HR-3 inning for Joba. Way to bounce back from the long inning!!! Oh, and thanks a lot VMart for ruining the shutout…
What did you get John?
Nice IH. If we match up game wise the beers on me.
This game has a depressing feeling with the Lester injury. Of course I want the Yanks to bury Boston, but I was enjoying it a lot more when they were hitting Lester, making him work, etc. I don’t even know who this guy is.
ok, maybe this is part of the process of dealing with lesters lose but, i still think the sox can get a ring with beckett/dice-k/buchholz. call me crazy.
….and, i think the sox will still win this game.
I gave my presale code to a friend. My buddy has season tix and every playoff game so I’m buying one game each round from him. Which game TBD but looks like game 2 of each.
Awesome John. Hey, I’m sure I’d be on a long list in making this request, but if you know where I can get tix for G2 of the ALCS without having to sell a kidney, let me know.
Yankees hitters seemingly working full counts in every AB.
Go go Hunter Jones! Something tells me the Sox aren’t trying too hard to win this one.
Lester OK…bruised quad, X-rays negative. That’s really good news.
Good news on lester – just a bruise on thigh. I thought it had hit his kneecap.
You do not buzz Godzilla’s tower.
Dude knocks Matsui down…
Oh my god, more stolen bases. Neither Varitek or Martinez can throw.
Horrible arms in the Boston infield (C and 1B anyway). A-Rod lucks out. Come on Hideki…
ARod steals 2nd…VMart launches the throw into LF on the pickoff throw…
Nevermind…balk.
Nice. Matsui is solid.
Godzilla singles…ARod to 3rd…
And here comes Bowden. I just can’t make myself give a damn about this game when the Sox are so obviously throwing it.
Hideki to Hunter: “This aggression will not stand, man”
Horrid strike call on Jorge.
Hip Hip…RBI SINGLE!!! 6-1 good guys…1st and 2nd, 1 out…
GIDP…lame.
Well, enjoy the win since the Sox have basically conceded the game. It would take a really epic Joba-meltdown to blow this one.
2 more solids by Joba plus one more such start from him and he is back in the circle of trust.
The real Joba is back…2nd and 3rd, 1 out…
That was a tough pitch for Drew to hit. Can’t fault Joba for that double, just a really nice piece of hitting.
Honestly, I’m amazed Varitek didn’t somehow hit into a triple play there.
You guys have had a rough night Ethan so it is perhaps understandable that you keep saying the Sox aren’t trying, but they were trying pretty hard with their ace on the mound and still getting pounded. When he got hurt they were down by 3, bases were loaded and his pitch-count was already throuh the roof.
But I do hope he is healthy for you guys in Oct.
Big K for the 2nd out…1 more Joba…come on.
Joba pitches out of trouble…impressive. Great job dude.
Jobalicious
Indeed they were, but putting in Bowden has pretty much meant conceding the game.
Huge.
Man Leiter certainly is no lighter than when he played.
The Bombers have slowed their roll, or had it slowed, either way it’s not cool…
Very tiresome banter with Jets football player in the booth. Man, this ump is bizarrely inconsistent on pitches at the knees.
Oh, and to be clear — of course I didn’t mean that they aren’t going to try. They are certainly going to try, they are professionals. I just meant that from a manegerial standpoint, Bowden has only really been used when there is no one else or the Sox are being spanked and Francona wants to save the rest of the bullpen (which is the case today, I believe).
Bowden is laying us down like Dick Cheney on a hunting trip…
lame.
This game has the feel of a foregone conclusion. Except it’s not. Please don’t go completely asleep Yank bats.
See if Joba’s got 3-6 more outs in him…
Haha, they love to prove me wrong.
I hear you Ethan…unfortunately for us, Bowden cut through the Yanks like buttah
And now the gnat is on 1st. Grumbles.
Joba getting momentum-shifting Ks. Nice.
These are a couple confidence-(re)inspiring starts for Joba and AJ. Got to finish off Ortiz…
Or not.
Well…game on now.
Still a great start for Joba…good job brother! 3 run lead with 3 to play, it’s up to the bullpen if the bats can’t wake up again…
OK – perfectly fine job by Joba. Insurance runs welcome.
Well, 3 straight games with a HR for Papi. Good sign going forward.
Teix about to bring the thunder…
Leadoff walk for Johnny…let’s go!!!!
Why is damon not stealing?
Damon steals 2nd…full count on Tex…
Man it’s sad watching Varitek. Honestly just sad.
Damon in easily. Teix about to go yard. I feel it.
His throws seem almost entirely obligatory at this point…
The cameraman totally f-cked us on that one…dick. Damon to 3rd…1 out
Oh well. A-Rod can get the rbi with a groundball…
Whoops.
AROD COMES THROUGH YET AGAIN!!!! RBI DOUBLE!!! 7-3 good guys…
Ellesbury should have caught that. Still, ARod is destroying them tonight.
A-Rod has been crazy clutch this year with RISP.
Four rather….distracting…spectators in front row behind the right-handed batters…
Walks Godzilla…1st and 2nd, 1 out…
I saw those cougars IH…grrrrooooowwwwwwwwl.
Pitch gets away from Tek…runners advance…
Wow. Matsui looking nimble.
Well. Not really.
This is the Bowden I know.
Hip Hip…RBI!!! 8-3 Ancient-kneed Matsui gets caught between 3rd and home, Hip Hip to 2nd, 2 outs…
Thanks for the sound effects kr!
Horrible base “running” by Matsui. It took him 20 feet to stop and reverse course. It’s like throwing an aircraft carrier into reverse.
The 5-run lead is back and with it the tension in the game returns to wet-noodle status.
Cano fouls out to Tek…lame.
Cano back to his free-swinging ways.
Yanks and Sox are incapable of playing a fast-paced game.
Read your aircraft carrier bit to Mrs. Krueg, we are laughing our asses off IH. Nicely done.
And thanks, I’m a man of the people.
Come on Ace, don’t make Joe bring in Melacon…please???
Melancon warming. Uh oh. Beaned batters suddenly a srong possibility.
Tek GIDPs.
GIDP by Tek…nice.
7 pitch inning for Ace…beautiful.
Ronan Tynan sings at Sabres games too…his voice is amazing.
Just waking up and I see they’re playing the game on ESPN here (with the YES broadcast!) Woo hoo! Just turned on the tv and Ronan Tynan is singing “God Bless America”, so I guess I’m late but I like the score. Reading the thread it seems that the Yanks had a plan specifically to expose V-Tek’s arm. A-Rod has 3 stolen bases. Wow!
Swish almost falls over flailing at the pitch…
Swish in a huge slump…
2 more innings and magic number goes to 3 with big nights for Joba and A-Rod.
Twins winning in the 6th, though Butler just cremated a ball into ridiculously deep LF off one Carl Pavano for a 3-run HR to make it a 2-run game. Love how the Twins make it interesting every year.
Yeah Nick – everyone but Hideki has run on Tek. And they jumped on Lester early in the counts. All around a very good game for NY.
Jeter with a Jeterian single to RF…
Jeter steals 2nd…
What an embarrassing game for Varitek. Holy cow is he finished.
Does it count as “Exposing” if everybody already knows?
I see one of these famous stolen bases against Varitek.
I wonder if he is starts a game in the postseason.
Walks Johnny…1st and 2nd, 2 outs for Tex…
Though to be honest, stealing bases on him at this point with a 5 run lead in the 7th is kind of bush league.
Tex with the rbi single! And now A-Rod.
RBI SINGLE FOR TEX!!! 9-3!!! Johnny to 3rd, 2 outs for ARod…
I knew Tek was not as good, but I don’t watch much of the Sox so I had no idea he was this bad?
ARod is having a monster game…wow.
For some reason Delcarmen has become completely incapable of getting the 3rd out. Exact same thing happened to him against KC.
Walks ARod…bases loaded for Godzilla, 2 outs…
bases loaded. I wonder if they all try to steal, including Damon. Would that count as 3 steals?
I disagree kr. 5 run lead vs. this offense with 2 innings to go isn’t enough to take the foot off the pedal. Too many bizarre late-game heroics in these games to rest easy. Unless Hideki drives in a few here…
On Varitek, I am a bit shocked that he is this easy to run on. Like Ethan said ealier, he never had a gun, but it now looks Damon-esque. Thing is, they don’t have a particularly strong defensive back-up, at least not that I know of. Martinez is a great player but primarily with the bat.
Dustin takes a dive…then K’s
Pedroia’s swinging Ks are so dramatic.
With the way the bullpen has been pitching, and if we expect to win anything, a 3 run lead should be good enough to win a game…in my humble opinion. With all due respect to my elder. ;)
Game calling ability is one of those things that seems not to be quantified, but basically that has to be the only reason why Varitek would start a game in the postseason.
VMart singles of Tex’s glove…thought he had that one on the dive…
To quote Bull Durham “This is a very simple game. You throw the ball. You catch the ball. You hit the ball.”
Sadly, Varitek can not really do any of those well any more. He had a slightly promising first half of the year, showing a little bit of power, but recently he has directly cost the Sox games with failures in all 3 of those aspects.
3-run lead? You are a very confident man kr. We’ve got 2 on with Boston’s best hitters up – he’d represent the the tying run right here. And it’s not even the 9th. Keep the pressure on Yanks!!!!!
9-4 lame. Damon bobbles the ball in LF and VMart goes to 3rd. Not cool. This non-chalant bullsh-t needs to end. Now.
If Ortiz gets a hold of another one here we are right back in the thick of a game. Come on Marte!
Marte coming in…to face Papi…this game is going to be 9-7 withing minutes.
I’m saying if we used the best arms in the bullpen, playoff style…Ace, Hughes, Mo with a 3 run lead should be good enough.
Marte pitching in a HUGE spot for his playoff roster life…let’s watch.
9-5. 2 outs. Papi was trucking!
Phranchise in to get the 3rd out…
Yanks getting serious now, in comes Hughes.
Damn. A shame to have to use Hughes though hopefully for one batter…
Agreed IH…
K’s Bay!!!!
Jason Bay looks like someone famous, but who?
Phil Franchise does what he does. hat fast ball is ridiculous right now.
The Sox…surrendered??? So weird.
I don’t know Nick…Jason Bay?
Agree kr on the A-line relief corps.
Swish pops out to the infield…lame. Slumpy McSlumperson.
Not really that weird krueg. I wasn’t kidding about he managerial decisions pointing towards Francona trying to get guys some rest this game.
Coke in for the 9th…
Props to you Ethan on sticking it out here with no other sf support for the last several innings.
Yeah, I guess not Ethan…
Twins close to 2 games behind Detroit with another series against them coming up. Keep pushing Detroit to trot Verlander out there until the very last day of the season fellas!!
Wow Cool keep on keeping on..
How inexcusable is it to walk the leadoff man here?!?!?! Lob the ball across the plate if you need to, but don’t walk anyone!
Thanks IH, I have pretty thick skin :P
K’s Tek…1 out.
SWEET DOUBLE PLAY TO END THE GAME!!!! YANKEES WIN….THAAAAAAA YANKEES WIN!!!
That was an awesome game. Joba was great, offense went off on Lester, bullpen was solid. All-around beauty. Let’s hope CC pitches well tomorrow and we’re in good shape!!!
I got it! He looks like Cameron from Ferris Beullers. I think I remember reading that somewhere here or else where. Anyway, it’s perfect.
Varitek looked bad there too. Ugh.
Very nice DP to close it out. With the rather momentous exception of Lester’s injury, a very satisfying all around game for yfs.
And from the other point of view… damn that was a terrible game. Lester had absolutely nothing even before he got knocked out. Couldn’t find the strike zone and those which did tended to be hangers or down the pipe(like the single to Teixeira and A-Rod’s HR).
I love Varitek in the way a mother still loves her son after he’s been convicted of a felony.
Joba was good but got some lucky breaks — huge squander by the Sox with no out and runners on 2nd and 3rd.
Bowden almost showed something good today before reverting to his normal self.
Delcarmen still can’t pitch.
Hughes is pretty great.
The Yank’s AL East Magic Number: 3
Red Sox Wild Card Magic Number: 3
Good night all. If CC can be CC tomorrow we have a real shot at clinching on Sunday.
I like the analogy on Varitek Ethan. Incidentally, weren’t the late-game pile-on runs scored after Bowden left and not before?
Only 1 run after he left IH. I think.