On May 4th, The Boston Red Sox laid claim to the best record in the American League. The Sox briefly relinqueshed that title to the Halos on July 1st and 2nd, and traded it off with the Halos and the Tigers on July 17th-23rd, but have held that distinguishing mark since that time, meaning that the Sox have been, by record, the best team in the AL for 143 out of the 150 days since the beginning of the season way back in April.
Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s back-to-back losses to the Yankees are only the second time in the month of August the Sox have lost consecutive games. Since August 1st, the Sox have gone 16-11 which is their best month of ball by winning percentage since May, and Boston has allowed 13 fewer runs in one less game played compared to that month. The Bombers have gone 17-10, but have been less consistent in their play and have had several truly horrific outings (including two shutout/blowouts); the 158 runs allowed (their worst month by 33 runs) is a significant stigma to their record.
Today’s getaway game sees Chien-Ming Wang on the bump for the Yankees as Curt Schilling gets the ball for the Sox. Wang experienced a slight hiccough with a horrific outing in Toronto and a mediocre start in Baltimore, but has been victorious in his last two outings, both against the Tigers. Schilling returned to action August 6th against the Halos and has gone six innings in each of his four starts, allowing 11 runs on 25 hits and only 1 walk on his way to two victories in his last two starts including an excellent three-hit performance against the ChiSox.
The Sox head home to Fenway to host the Orioles while the Yankees lay out the welcome mat for the Fish tomorrow, but in the mean time we have afternoon baseball with the rivalry rolling on in the fifteenth of eighteen meetings in the reggalar. Game time is in one hour, lineups are in the extended. Comment away.
| Red Sox | |
| D. Pedroia 2b | .316 |
| C. Crisp cf | .268 |
| D. Ortiz dh | .322 |
| K. Youkilis 1b | .290 |
| M. Lowell 3b | .324 |
| J.D. Drew rf | .260 |
| J. Varitek c | .264 |
| E. Hinske lf | .201 |
| A. Cora ss | .254 |
| C. Schilling rhp | 4.11 |
| Yankees | |
| J. Damon lf | .265 |
| D. Jeter ss | .319 |
| B. Abreu rf | .287 |
| A. Rodriguez 3b | .306 |
| H. Matsui dh | .305 |
| J. Posada c | .333 |
| J. Giambi 1b | .264 |
| R. Cano 2b | .300 |
| M. Cabrera cf | .295 |
| C. Wang rhp | 3.95 |
Looking at our lineup I have only one thing to say.
Shit.
Giambi at first again. Interesting.
I continue to drool over our lineup these days.
Go Yankees!
At least you guys have a 6 game lead. Even if it’s down to 5 you have so many games against the Devil Rays..
Day games and MLB.tv blackouts are THE DEVIL.
Wow, Posada and Varitek both playing after a night game…Guess Joe and Terry both really want this game, eh?
Moose…
“For someone who has been in a rotation for 17 years, it took me a little bit off guard. I needed a couple of days to simmer down. I was mad. I’m still not excited about it. It bothered me quite a bit. I’m just mad at the whole thing,” Mussina said.
Mussina said he wasn’t upset with Joe Torre, as the two hashed it out yesterday. “It was good to get that stuff off my chest,” he said.
Every time you start feeling bad for Mike Mussina, he just won’t let you.
No Manny, Hinske-Cora at the bottom of the lineup, and Youkilis batting cleanup? Schilling better have a hell of a game.
I see today’s line up was brought to us by the letter K and the numbers 1 and 2. as in runs, if we’re lucky.
My thinking, exactly YM, about Jorge and Tek. I guess they rest on the ‘morrow. Paul: I don’t get the carping about the Sox lineup. Hinske’s gotta go somewhere, and if you’re going to rest Lugo, cora belongs in the 9. Without Manny, whether you put Youk in the 4 or the 2 or the 1 seems to me of little consequence.
JESUS.
Why is Ellsbury not on this team right now!
At least you can’t say Moose is fake.. =P
Fight, you f***ers! Salvage this sh*t.
God damn it.
hey, fensheaparkway, our 1B may very well be sponsored in part by the letter E.
man, i could go for a drink right about now…
In case this isn’t already odd enough:
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/08/30/squirrel-at-yankee-s.html
YFiB – I don’t know, that was a pretty spiffy play Giambi made last night. Has he been taking yoga? Limbering up?
And just to follow up on my above post: I forgot Wang was pitching. K might reliquish his sponsorship, but G, I, D and P are ready to purchase ad space.
that depends, FSP… is yoga the cream or the clear?
…i kid…
Pedroia pops out.
“is yoga the cream or the clear?”
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA thanks for giving me a good laugh YFIB ;-)
Yankee announcer: “The last time the Yankees played the Red Sox in a non-holiday, non-weekend day game this late in the year was the Bucky Dent game”
Sigh.
looked like a nice swing by Crisp, but it turns out to be a lazy fly ball out.
Lar – That is a weird story. I’m less intrigued by what a cryptozoologist has to say about anything than I am to learn that there was a mythological squirrel whose name translates to “gnawing tooth”, which is the same phrase ‘rodent’ is derived from. So thanks for that link!
Wang just owns Ortiz in that at bat. 1-2-3 first. Let’s see what 38.com has.
*sigh* And Gameday is not updating…
gameday doesn’t even have wang’s 1st pitch to ortiz yet… i have a feeling that this game will be frustrating…
Jeter is jammed and it bloops in for a single. He gets so much out of his ability! Intangibles in action!
Somehow, Damon is going to be a factor in this game. I can feel it. Maybe it’s the Tuna I had for lunch:)
ugh.
Jeter kills me with those little nubber hits and swinging bunts.
Schilling is throwing strikes, but he always does that. 1-2 count on Abreu
Eff you, Gameday. Keep the play by play coming, Brad, Nick.
Abreu k’s on a nice splitter. Schill set him up well there.
Now A-Rod’s turns.
Neither Gameday nor Gamecast is working. Damn it, will have to rely on game threads to get me through the working day.
Devine –
Are you able to listen to it?
Schill just misses inside to A-Rod. 2-1 count.
Unfortunately not at the moment, Brad. My job requires my ears elsewhere.
2-1
on A-Rod.
Devine is actually an ER surgeon. Scary that he’s posting here…
ha, ok.
I was going to share my password to the gameday audio on WRKO, which is working fine.
2-2 on ARod.
i work in a library, devine. i’m in the same boat. thanks for the updates, people.
Heh. I like that one, Nick. Luckily, my job also requires me in front of a computer…
foul tip
still alive
A-Rod lamely checks his swing. Nice inning by Schill. Damn.
K. Looking.
Ah, Gameday back. Just in time for the final K too. What’s Schilling’s fastball speed these days if someone has noticed? 89 or thereabouts?
Thanks, Brad and Nick.
Also in a library today. Alex!
now, did we all remember to send emails and voicemails to Turk reminding him that yes, it’s okay to use a reliever in the 7th inning, especially if your starter has given up 3 runs and/or 12 hits?
i’m looking around, yf… wave so i can see you…
My Gameday placed every pitch of Youkilis’ walk inside the strike zone. Um, what?
Jason Giambi channelling Keith Hernandez. Wow!
in a ny library, yfib.
Lowell hits into a DP. Nice.
Youk with the walk.
Then a DP.
Classic Cano.
Ball being hit right at someone.
Francona arguing the call at first.
oh… so giambi is snorting the foul line?
or is he dying his hair?
(i’ll stop now.)
*sighs at DP* In many ways, I’m glad I’m going to lunch soon so that I can’t watch some of this gut-twisting nonsense.
“It could be two, gets it to Cano, who goes onto first…it’s wide! He’s safe he’s out!”
Sterling needs to just stop talking and wait five full seconds before actually talking.
Another play like that and Giambi will have officially shed the “Tree Trunk” label in my book. Great D at 1B.
dp. that’s the wang we know and love.
YF, did you see that one of the better baseball books of last year was reviewed on the Toaster’s Griddle?
“Sterling needs to just stop talking”
Agreed.
Again, another GB directly at someone. Someone smiling on the kid today…again.
i know, yf.
why do I sense a long, long day coming?
FenShea:
The only reason he needs to talk (other than his nice radio timbre) is so Suzyn Wahldman tawks less.
“…another GB directly at someone…”
he continues to defy the odds to your chagrin brad…
by the way, do you sf’s have a theory about steroids helping a player defensively?…
Damn, Mats took that for a little ride before Crisp nabbed it.
Matsui with a LONG fly ball. Like 400 feet long.
another warning track shot right at somebody… “Someone smiling on the [red sox pitcher] today…again.”
“foul bunt”?!?
Andrew –
They both make quite a duo. Listening to them makes me wish I could listen to the game on the radio and turn the sound down at the same time. Like, just hear the sounds of the crowd to tell me what was going on in the game.
Oh ya, Wang with 22 pitches through 2.
Let’s work that Schill!
dc, almost every batter has put the ball in play. This isn’t an arguable fact, buddy. But, as we know, baseball is a game of inches – especially when the ball is in play.
Schill is locating well today. That 2-2 pitch was just a hair inside, then he comes with a good breaking pitch away for the punch out.
I just tend to tune out what Sterling actually tries to say, because I really do like the timbre of his voice, it’s great for radio. Whenever I try and think about his ‘substance’ other than the play-by-play, I get confused and sometimes annoyed that I’m confused.
Hinske worries me on every single play.
what’s 38’s pitch count?
28 pitches for Schilling.
GREEN LIGHT!
Schill out of 2nd on 28 pitches.
RED LIGHT.
Wow, Wang already walked 2.
Walks Varitek.
Hinske up.
Soon to be GIDP.
Jesus I hate Hinske. Even if he puts it in the upper deck, I hate him.
Wang not with his usual control – 15 strikes, 14 balls out of his first 29 pitches. Yuck.
Wang walks another lead-off man, but follows up with a 3 pitch k of Hinske.
Does get Hinske to strike out on 3 pitches though.
Well, that’s better than the alternative for you. Freaking asshole. I really do hope he falls down the duggout steps.
is it wrong that i was rooting for Hinske to K so he wouldn’t hit into the 6-4-3?
Way to be paying attention there, Tek.
No, ponch. In fact, it’s not wrong to root for anything bad to happen to him. It’s perfectly acceptable to wish whatever you want upon him.
Cora flies out pretty deep. Pedroia gets a gift ball to start off the AB.
Hinske apparently did something bad to Brad. The vitriol is impressive!
it might be hinske’s .200 AVG, nick. but that is just a guess.
Yes, Nick.
He found his way to the park today!
I don’t know why I hate him so much…I just do. Just one of those guys I guess.
Holy shit, Giambi.
What the hell is going on here?
40 pitches for Wang through 3. Still not that impressive, with only 23 strikes.
After 2 and a half, no score.
Giambi! Seriously, we are entering a weird place here where Giambi is actually looking like Brooks Robinson. Baseball is magical, filled with surprises. We learn and experience something new each day. Wow! WoW!
Wow, Giambi is making his case to play every day. Huge.
wang at 40 pitches through 3.
Thanks for the tip Nick. That’s a nice gift from the Toaster! Pennies from heaven.
Holy shit! I said in a comment above; “one more play like that from Giambi..”.
Jason: not a tree trunk, great play.
Think about how you felt about Tony Womack and Terrence Long. I would hate Hinske, too. He is useless.
are you guys just screwing with those of us without video? giambi and brooks robinson have never been mentioned in the same breath before…
Between yesterday and today, a lot of innings without a you-know-what for the Sox. Though walks aplenty.
Robinson Cano!!!
hot mess!
Cano, dinger.
Directly over the 399′ sign.
Let the carnage begin.
Robbie is some kind of strong. Jesus.
The BFF duo doing a number on Schilling. Melky rips one up the middle.
Damn! Cano. I seriously thought Sterling was going to forget his nickname BS, because it sounded like he was orgasming in the booth, but in the long, old man refractory period he remembered.
Melky is a big-time player. He was born for the center stage that is NYC.
Bottom of the lineup with the damage.
Awesome.
I wish I could punch Terry Francona right in the freaking teeth today with this stupid lineup.
Coco Crisp makes a nice sliding catch and for one second, Seth Mnookin’s MVP argument makes sense.
Jesus, Crisp.
What the hell was that kind of jump?
Classic Jeter. He’s marching toward 4,000.
C’mon, Yankees. Time to actually step on their throats.
“…almost every batter has put the ball in play…” …but brad, so what if they’re outs…isn’t that the point?…i’d hardly call it luck…you don’t really believe in luck, do you?…
Come on Alex!
Schilling really should consider backing Jeter off that plate. This is crazy that he’s getting jammed on balls that are strikes and forcing them over Ped’s head.
They are being very aggressive on that first pitch strike that 38 throws, you know, every single time.
dc. I’m not touching this fight again. It defies logic.
Feh. Schill off the hook.
schilling @ 38pitches
Thank you.
Jesus Christ.
Asshole.
yfib – you’ve been waiting for that all day! ha.
Sigh. Good job, failing to hit hard Schilling’s 88mph crap.
DC, you can’t seriously say that Wang intends for every ball to be put in to play and just pray to god that it’s hit at a defender?
The point is, it’s a dangerous style of pitching.
i was indeed waiting… and then i had to do the verification thing and i got all flustered… totally threw me off…
“Thank you.
Jesus Christ.
Asshole.”
And we find out what K-Rod is actually screaming out there after he closes out a game.
Giambi putting on a defensive clinic at 1st today.
Cats and dogs living together.
Lockland, it’s a dead end, man. They won’t hear of it, so don’t even try.
Can we like, skip the usual Wang arguments for a day? It’s getting tiresome hearing the _same_ thing over and over again. There should be a Wang FAQ somewhere.
Okay, is that really Jason Giambi, or maybe a much skinnier cousin?
also reality doesn’t seem to support it as Wang flirts with another 19 win season. Yeah, his style of pitching is problematic.
Wow, Ortiz only has 89 RBI’s? Is it just me or that’s low?
And yet, the Sox are killing in the standings. Go figure.
with Manny not in this lineup, Ortiz gets nothing decent to drive. All blacks.
I want him tested for a lack of steroids, he’s far to agile.
that’s what great pitching does for a team.
is giambi catching the ball in his teeth or something?
all of this excitement over his defense without witnessing it is driving me crazy.
brad, just one question for you: was schilling lucky last inning?…lots of balls in play, hit hard…see my point…nothing to argue about, just give wang his due for results, not unlike what you expect of us about your team…calling him lucky is lame and silly…
yeah, lockland, and so far the gods have answered his prayers…he must be leading a good life…
God of Walks.. walks. Wang doesn’t have his usual stellar control today. Yes, I’m a broken record.
28 strikes, 23 balls. Hopefully the Yanks can pad the lead a little bit.
dc – yes, he was.
It’s part of the game. I never said it wasn’t. All I said is that Wang should play Lotto.
“And yet, the Sox are killing in the standings. Go figure”
They’re killing in the standings because their pitching is sick.
56 pitches for Wang after 4. 32 strikes and 24 balls though.
he’s doing something right, especially with that porous, range-limited middle of the infield playing behind him…
but the 1B makes up for that, dc.
(supposedly… i still refuse to believe that he’s doing anything of note over there.)
Yup, he throws 96mph too, which helps a lot.
Webb is successful with the groundball stuff because he possesses the ability to strike out a lot of batters. Wang is successful with the groundball stuff because he throws his sinker harder and you can’t just sit on a high-80s fastball because he’ll blow 96mph right by you.
I worded that wrong. Wang also has very good control.
Also, he can afford a little higher BABIP because he walks so few – about 2 per 9 last year, and a little bit more this year.
Can somebody explain to my why the MLB audio has static like an AM station? Absurd.
Hey look, WANG HAS A NO HITTER THROUGH 4!!!!!
;-)
that was awfully fast.
Schill gets another 1-2-3 inning with 49 pitches through 4. The usually patient Giambi drives the first pitch, but not quite enough. Seemed like a good pitch to hit though.
I do think it’s safe to say that Wang is doing something right, regardless of how odd his MLB Comps look. It’s just hard to quantify what Andrew describes there, and that’s what seems to give some people (SABR members, SFs, Sir Isaac Newton) fits about Wang.
But I can’t help but think there’s also some sort of hair splitting on the nature of “luck” going on too, which adds to the tensions. Just my two cents, of course. I reserve the right and privilege to be completely wrong.
Anon was me.
YFiB, did you see the play he made in the first AB of yesterday’s game? He made a couple of like it today already, and also saved an off-line throw from Jeter. Go to yankees.com, click on the media link, and go to the Top Plays Archive to watch Giambi’s diving stop made yesterday if you haven’t already seen it.
Drew continuing his part with a first pitch ground out.
thank you, JD, for not working the count. I imagine it would have only added to the frustration anyway when you couldn’t hold up your check swing on a 55-foot slider, so thanks for being thoughtful.
Varitek walks. Wow, that’s 4 walks. Grumbles.
Wang clearly having cotnrol issues and Drew jumps on the first pitch. I’ve defended him all year, but he’s come up small in a reasonably important series.
As for the lineups, I wasn’t carping. There isn’t any other place to put those guys. It’s just a crappy lineup without Manny.
i saw that play yesterday. i still choose not to believe it.
Wang needs to pay for his unusual control issues today.
What’s that, bb 4? Gonna bite you in the ass eventually.
“i saw that play yesterday. i still choose not to believe it.”
LOL.
Is Wang being too careful or does he have control issues?
right on cue.
Hinske strikes out again though.
hinske is growing on me.
i don’t know what you guys are complaining about.
This sure is a nice thread today:)
My god, apparently the NY radio people don’t have the same problem everyone else in baseball has about talking about a no hitter.
KIELTY!!
I think Wang is being too careful. He’s nibbling around the strike zone. Oddly enough he’s attacked Ortiz.
Not when Hinske and Cora follow you in the lineup. Wang can issue walks to Varitek allll day.
Each Tek walk followed by a Hinske K. I like Hinske, probably inordinately so, but he’s fallen a bit since his three-double debut against the Yanks last year.
Lockland – ya, they’re actually pretty liberal about it.
Apparently, since they play the radio in the stadium, they joke that sometimes the pitchers hear that they’re pitching a no-hitter from them. No surprise though.
Mets, BTW, down 5-2 vs. the Phils right now, look like they’re doing everything possible to blow their division lead.
LUGO!!
CHRIST!
YF – Thanks for reminding me. [sigh]
Cora lines out. 71 pitches through 5, 40 strikes, 30 balls. Still meh on the count.
Brad – it’s nice that I’m not just talking to myself on game threads! =)
I really don’t know if there has ever been a non-yankee that I hate more than Hinske. I would rather have Milton Bradley (and not the good one, but the one who has temper problems). I’d rather have AJ Perzzinakealgfyski.
Cora continues to plummet to earth. For some reason, I can’t stand him. I think it’s residual from the lovefest bestowed upon him during the “Bench Pedroia” ridiculousness.
This is most likely why he’s having control issues; he’s quoted he on Pete Abe’s blog.
“They were used to my sinker,” he said. “I had to change.”
Wang won his next two starts by mixing in more changeups and sliders. Wang won’t miss Ramirez, who is 13 of 22 against him with two homers.”
Control is harder to come by when you’re throwing breaking stuff for the majority of your pitches.
Still. Ahem. You know. Thru 5. 2nd day in a row.
“…Hey look, WANG HAS A NO HITTER THROUGH 4!!!!!…”
yeah, he has a no-hitter through 1,2,3, and 5 too, lockland…but he’s lucky, so i don’t see that continuing…
Robi does it again!!
Yeah, the second place teams have all been beating on the first place teams this week. The Phills, as most of them, will come back to earth in the next two though. Crosses fingers.
Well, don’t ya know, Robinson Cano!
jesus.
cano is lucky too?
seriously?!?
at least we agree, dc.
Christ.
Its “ROBBI CANO – DON’T YA KNOW”
if the yankee starters can just keep the opposition to 1 – 3 hits during each of their starts (all being 7 innings), we just might have a shot at this thing.
Robinson! Hot dog. 2!
Hey look, a curtain call, I mean, that never happens in Yankee stadium, it’s so special.
And Leche walks. Time to lay it on, here.
at least they aren’t singing “sweet caroline”, lockland.
I don’t know where the Red Sox put the good bats, but someone should find them and replace them in the rack.
How does a team go into such funks at the same time?
Nice Schilling. Walk Cabrerra. Way to be. Now time for Giambi to have the “all round” great week.
wow.
lucky there.
Yeah, YFiB, because YMCA is so much better than Sweet Caroline.
squirming with a 6 game lead…sweet
hey, schilling just got lucky, or was damon unlucky?…
DP. First thing to go right for Boston all day.
Rally killer right there.
Ugh.
“Hey look, a curtain call, I mean, that never happens in Yankee stadium, it’s so special.”
Awwwww How Cute……..
touche, lockland… touche.
Jeter continues his sprint to 4,000. 3-3 today.
Cano got to stop padding his stats.
Jeter single. Really hope Abreu can do something here, let Alex hit with men on instead of leading off. Good place for an sb attempt.
“the captain!!!”
[someone had to say it]
sooth: Abreu homer
Schilling is so lucky. This inning could’ve been wide open.
both, dc.
And, I’m not squirming at all because I know water finds it’s level nearly all the time. On both sides.
The Red Sox bats are nowhere near this bad, and the Yankee arms are nowhere near this good.
New plan. Whatever you do, don’t throw a strike!
Wow, I don’t know how you guys put up with this radio team, they are AWFUL.
someone asked earlier not to have the “wang is lucky” debate again, but now i see the “curtain call criticism”…ok, who’s going to bring up the “fist-pump”…oops, looks like i just did…no double standard here…sheesh
oh well. close but no cigar.
yeah, he was lucky there too.
He’s just as lucky today as Wang is, for sure.
Brad – have you looked at your lineup for today? =P
Too bad Abreu couldn’t do much more than making Schill work a little bit. He gave it a ride though.
End of 5, Yanks up 2-0. Schilling at 68 pitches.
Shilling isn’t lucky. He’s pitching pretty damned well. Problem is, Wang is pitching pretty damned amazing.
“hey, schilling just got lucky, or was damon unlucky?…”
dude, i think everyone gets your point. youve made like 5 comments in this same vein and its getting old.
MAG – are you watching the same game I’m watching?
curtain call criticism
at least the Wang debate has valid points on both sides. This is just retarded.
Yanks just not doing a great job of cashing in on their opportunities over the last couple of days.
Ric – to be fair, Wang’s pitching, which means the 5 billion “Wang is lucky” posts.
Ah well.
I can’t be angry with 2 runs in 5 innings from Schilling. Can I?
Wang gets Pedroia on one pitch. Aggressive hitting or?
is he kidding there? Really? He’s had bad control all day, and they’re swinging on the first pitch of the inning? Terry Francona should go batshit at everyone for this rediculous performance.
i think it is about time that someone call out wally the green monster. i mean… what makes him so great? if you ask me? (which i acknowledge that none of you did…) absolutely nothing.
go yankees.
Actually, I’m at my computer @ work, LAR, and can only see MLB Game Day. Is it worse than the little green, red and blue dots suggest?
that kind of comment just inspires me ric…thanks…
mag, to followup on what lar just said, schilling is actually getting hit pretty hard…
come on brad, “retarded”?…really?
Brad – I was thinking the same – at worst you’ll get to the bullpen faster even if you strike out or something. And it wasn’t an especially good pitch, though maybe he thought otherwise.
Still though, Crisp is having a good AB right now.
yeah, I regretted it as soon as I hit submit.
Less than smart is probably better.
Amen, Brad. I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve had an imaginary Francona scream fest about working the count!
MAG – just seems like he’s getting away (or the Yanks are wasting away) a few excellent opportunities. Then again, Wang has 2 DPs and 4 walks, so you can argue it both ways.
2 more outs and here’s papi. big test. i wouldn’t give him too much.
Of course, Hinske’s really listening. He’s watched every strike right into the catcher’s mitt.
Crisp made Wang worked for that out, which is what you want to do.
Now the always dangerous Ortiz is up.
how was that not a swing?
That was _so_ strike three.
^^ me
I can only hope this ends up one of those ESPN higlights where the pitcher loses the no-hitter, the lead, and the game all in one pitch.
Nice pitch, Wang.
maybe Angel is making up for the foolishness that was last night at the plate.:)
The Wangster looking brilliant against Papi all day!
nice there by Wang.
4 strike strike-out
now we can have the “bad call debate”
RIng ‘Em Up! THRU 6!!
wang could have a no hitter (if only he could throw 140 pitches)
Unreal. This is bizarro world.
Nice. ‘Tiz isn’t right, and Manny is out of the lineup = Wang dominance, even against the Red Sox.
Ortiz strikes out, but not before Ortiz also works him quite a bit.
87 pitches after 6 – with some easy outs he could go all the way, but we’ll see.
I still hope the Yanks pad the lead a little bit, and that Wang doesn’t need to go all the way. I hear Joba is available today, and I hear he’s quite okay.
I’m with you there, MAG.
i really wish i could be watching this.
and i could still really use a drink.
“…ends up one of those ESPN higlights…”
i hear you mag…i’m enjoying the moment, but we’ve seen these things turn quickly too often…i’m even expecting that if [big if] the yanks win this one, that they will lose 3 against the mariners next week…been that kind of year…
ESPN just reported that Joba pulled a hammy carrying his expectations out to the bullpen.
dc – yaaaaa. Tell me about it.
I heard the same thing, Lar.
“if [big if] the yanks win this one, that they will lose 3 against the mariners next week…been that kind of year…”
if i may quote mr. rodriguez, “ha!”
spot on.
that’s what I mean by water finding it’s level, dc:)
ARod and Matsui both flew out.
Who’s the Yankee pitcher that threw a no-hitter and still lost the game?
uh huh brad…
Posada out on one pitch. Schill with an easy inning, 76 pitches through 6. They’re getting good hacks in, just not finding anything.. or right at people.
they just didn’t want wang to lose his rhythm.
yeah. that’s it.
Schilling no damage in the 6th.
All the makings of a YFSF Instaclassic right here.
If I’m Francona, no, Epstein, cuz Tino would never think of this on his own, I’m calling Francona and whispering in his ear at high volume, sub Kielty, sub Lugo, walk, lay down a bunt, hit and run, get a run across the f*cking plate.
good one lockland
I’ve got this crazy idea for the Sox this inning: Get some freakin’ hits!
How many SB’s does Youk have this year?
Well, there goes that. With two strikes too.
too bad that’s an error.
Even the gold glove of Giambi couldn’t save that one.
Whoops. Turned away for a sec and saw Youk at first. Apparently Jeter threw the ball away. So it’s still intact.
Now let’s hope Lowell hits into a DP..
Jete’s error could prove costly…
i blame giambi. if only to preserve some semblance of normalcy.
Yanks just not doing a great job of cashing in on their opportunities over the last couple of days.
Seems strange for the YFs to be complaining, what with the wins and all. The Sox have just been awful with runners on base this series.
Steal a f*cking base.
Now they have a leadoff one they can squander.
i would hate mike lowell if i didn’t like him so much.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!
darn.
Lowell finally breaks it up. Now dangerously there are no outs with two men on.
Hit! Two on, no out. Next stop: Removing the shutout.
And so it goes. And now there’s trouble.
about time. Jiminy Christmas.
he of the single glorious nut!
uh-oh.
JDizzle up. GIDP.
I’m calling it.
And afterwards, he’ll be on my shit list forever because I’m tired of standing up for the guy.
ESPN Highlight reel, boys and girls!
how many triple plays has drew hit into this season?
that swing by drew should count as 2 strikes
Don’t worry, JD will hit in to the triple play.
HAHAHAHA! Lockland nailed it.
bad umpiring here. Youk clearly running on the grass.
youk should be out, but the umpires were napping, or watching arod flash the leather
but wait! They’re conferencing! Francona soon to be thrown out!
wha’ happened? gameday isn’t helping out.
Don’t worry, they will turn it over.
they’re gathering.
He’s out for sure.
Lock – 4-Unassisted?
Yeah, he’s gone.
Yes!!!!
Can’t see what’s happening from my computer!! What’s going on!!!???
Ok, what’s going on?
Francona will be thrown out in 10,9,8…
F-you YOOOUK. I hate that clown.
cheaters never prosper
wow.
Good call by the umps. Sterling was inscenced. Youk now whining, as per usual.
Youk needs to shut yup and not get thrown out of this game.
Err, hmm. I’ll have that debate on whether Wang is lucky, err, overall. For today though, I’ll say, yes, he’s a little bit lucky.
DP!
“cheaters never prosper”
arods bank account begs to differ
Can somebody please explain what happened on that DP?
Youk tried to avoid A-Rod’s tag going to third by running out of the baseline. Originally he was called safe, but the call was just overturned
it would take a lot to make me dislike kevin youkilis.
Someone better grab Tito’s nitroglycerin pills. He’s pissed.
And, Drew is on the list. With Hinske.
JD Drew is the worst excuse for a $15m f*ck @ss I’ve ever seen.
Timed perfectly
Thanks, Nick.
Who is this radio guy for NY? He’s acting like Youk beat his daughter up?
He didn’t just run out of the baseline, as Sterling continues to say, he ran on the GRASS!
Youk’s on the team with me. I can’t hate him. We’re chosen together!
well.. somebody was right… that will definitely end up on the ESPN highlight reel.
So Wang gets out of an eventful 7th with 101 pitches. We might see the Joba/Rivera ending soon enough.
Let’s get some runs guys.
Wouldn’t be an InstaClassic without a bit of controversy.
STRUCK TEK OUT!
Yeah, he ran on the grass, he didn’t sell grass to infants.
It might be Viz to Joba.
gameday is completely befuddled by that play.
And Tek makes it a nice easy inning.
I’m going to stop defending J.D. Drew. I just can’t anymore…
InstaStinker would be more like it….
I’m going Joba to Joba. 2 innings. Worry about Tampa in Tampa.
Nick – ya, they did say Mo was available. But we’ll see. I’m not sure how I feel either way.
Only an InstaClassic if the Sox actually play the game, YF.
YF – actually, I probably like that idea best.
What a homer call against Youk. He was by A-Rod, as Remy explained, by the time he got to the grass. I can’t believe the umps can actually eject Tito for their own mistake.
“Yeah, he ran on the grass, he didn’t sell grass to infants.”
Yea, Only the Red Sox Management does that………
“For only 200 Dollars a Piece of Fenway Park Can Be Yours”
Well, that call was pretty clear since Youk was onto the infield grass avoiding the tag. It’s lucky that ARod got the throw over to first in time; really nice play by ARod there.
I don’t follow Francona’s thought about getting tossed for arguing, unless his position that if the 3B ump didn’t see the play, how could any of the others…
Sterling makes Rizzuto look like a Sox fan. Worst announcer working.
Tito rung, huh. Okay.
How deplorably predictable to come back to this. God, I hate baseball. Fuck everything.
i ran into sterling coming out of a hotel on newbury street once. the man must swim in aftershave. unbearable.
he was signing stuff for kids and telling them, “go ask your parents who i am…”
i detest that man.
I must admit though, hard hits (or non-hits) or not, Schilling’s pitching not a bad game. Certainly good enough to win on most nights..
“…as Remy explained…”
homer call josh?…did you mean the umpires who are employed by mlb, or remy, who’s been employed by the sox his entire adult life?…
Giambi out.
Let’s not fail to give Schill credit here. Into the 7th here, still low pc, and only 2 solo dingers to robi. Damn impressive outing.
Remy being brutally honest, admitting that his view is a homer view. Admirable.
remy played briefly for the angels.
Sorry, dc, that I don’t have the calm and objective vocal stylings of Sterling explaining what I should think instead. My apologies.
good point yf, despite being down 2 and some of the outs being hit hard, he’s kept his team in the game…who’s going to be the first to call him “gritty” so we can have the “what the hell is ‘gritty’ debate?”…
schilling has only walked one guy? wow.
thru 7 for Schill. I assume he comes back out for the 8th (with oki warming, perhaps, just in case)?
[ahem]
this has been a gritty performance by schilling today.
joba time!
Not me, I think he’s been damn lucky:)
Joba???
After another quick Yankee inning, Joba is now out in the 8th. Joooooba!
i don’t like sterling either josh, but it’s inherent with all home team announcers, employed by the home team, that they have some level of bias and lack of objectivity, including the much-revered remy…true, some are more obnoxious than others, with sterling probably in first place…i was poking at remy, not you…
YES! Not crazy about the departure of JG, though, although we do have a bat on the bench in Betamit.
dude is more pampered than Leona Helmsley’s dog.
Superman has to come back to mortal levels at sometime; I just hope it’s not now.
Leona’s dog can’t hit 100 on a radar gun.
Absolutely no offense taken – all I’m saying is that Remy was actually reading from the rule book. Sure, homers are homers – Tommy Heinsohn’s far worse than even Sterling – but he actually seemed to make a decent argument and I thought I’d reference my source. I mean, Youk _was_ past A-Rod before he reached the grass. Also: I hate A-Rod. That helps.
I guess we’re not pinch hitting anymore.
Dustin Pedroia is “gritty”.
big at bat. If Crisp gets on…
Pedroia doubles to the wall. Crisp is up.
good one brad…
meantime, the yes announcers were just talking about usa today getting ready to publish a feature about joba…no kidding…sheesh, talk about the kiss of death…they didn’t say what the focus would be though, although it probably has to do with him being “america’s favorite reliever”…
joba being joba.
The Gnat doubles to right. Nice hit.. tough ball to get.
Spark of hope to be immediately followed by crushing strikeout.
Oops?
I’ve seen that dog hit 96, but he has a great sinker too.
joba was being nice. he’s a nice guy.
Well, no k’s but that’ll do.
i think that we can all agree that it is one “lucky” dog.
Well, if he doesn’t come out to pitch the 9th, Joba ended his strikeout streak.
Christ.
End of that. But no Ks. The good news: Papi leads off the 9th.
sorry josh, didn’t realize remy consulted the rule book…it’s a matter of perception whether or not youk was actually by arod…didn’t really look like it, but camera angles can be deceiving…
Ah there we are. That was familiar. I love the taste of despair in the afternoon.
I heart Joba
does he come out for the 9th?
is rivera warming?
PS Despair tastes sort of metallic, copper-ish.
Top of the order for the home team here. Chance for some tack on insurance.
not my favorite hideki.
left field sun must be brutal…
4 for 4
Jeter now leap-frogging to 4,000. 4-4. The Watch is on.
yes, rivera is warming
the captain…if he keeps this up, he’ll get his “c” :)
thanks, westboro. oh boy.
josh – I can see how if he was past ARod that would make a difference..point taken. I couldn’t tell that he was. Funny thing was Youk started so deep off on the path at second to cut the corner at third on a hit out of the infield that it looked like he was a wide-out running a curl.
Niiiiiice. Good insurance run. Off the Great Okijima to boot.
Making up for that e, for sure. 4-4. Way to go Cap!
Right. That’s good. The hoping was unhealthy anyway.
is it true that rivera just sat down, and farnsworth just got up to warm?…
whoa. bobby bag o’ donuts…
now if they can only push across 5 or 8 more runs this inning, i can start to relax a bit…
When did the 4,000 meme get started?
I was chatting with a friend about yesterday’s play involving Marlon, and now Abreu doubles in a run. Nice. Insurance is insurance!
time for you know who to pad his stats a bit.
They want no part of ARod. Makes sense. Here’s Matsui.
oops. guess not.
Looks like Melky and Wilson having a minor tiff on the bench.
“It’s not the despair, Laura. I can take the despair. It’s the hope I can’t stand. ”
– John Cleese, Clockwise
Alex ibb’ed? Reasonable. But Matsui’s no slouch.
Anon was me.
>Melky and Wilson having a minor tiff on the bench.
???????
This sucks, I was hoping to at least go 1-2 in this series and go home with a 7 game lead. Not looking good.
Hopefully the Orioles will still be in holding-ankles mode by the time we get there.
a playful one. I think Melky was invading his private space and Wilson was annoyed. Nothing major. Melky was laughing as Betemit walked away angrily.
I hate not being able to watch on TV. I can’t tell if some of these strike/ball calls are BS or if its just Gameday chicanery.
4000
i actually first heard espn talking about it along with a bunch of other records and career milestones…that was months ago…they did a very wishful extrapolation of jeter’s career stats and figured if he gets something like 329 hits per year for the next 62 years or so he will catch pete rose…
great hustle by A-Rod! 5-0
Fellow Sox fans: Just like last season, the end of the Sox’ season starts with a sweep by the Yankees. Anemic offense, no Manny for the foreseeable future, no one stepping up. Even Tampa and Baltimore have SOME pitching. This could really be it for the Sox.
Haha! That’s a good one, dc. I’m glad I haven’t completely lost the ability to find things funny.
Ouch. If I’m a betting man that throwing E by Tek was the Coup de Grace for this series.
Oh phooey, MrBlackthorne. I’m in despair about this series, not about the season (yet).
and the wheels come off…
why does girardi keep calling lowell “mikey”?
GameDay always slow when something interesting happens! Confound it!
Jesus, Edwar is skinny.
dc: maybe from their brief time together when Lowell was a rookie with the Yanks in 98?
MrBlackthorne… Run along now.
posada runs like a catcher
Wow. 2 run error for Tek. At 5-0, Joba saved of a second inning, and Mo can be held back in case of disaster. Those runs a big help.
Matsui comes through as Yanks now have a 5-0 lead.
Did Girardi and Lowell play together during Lowell’s brief time with the Yanks?
I can’t hit in the clutch, run the bases well, or, apparently, throw to third base. But I have a “C” on my chest. That’s all that matters.
(sorry, couldn’t resist)
wow.
f*@# the heck just happened?
double steal and they BOTH scored?
Paul: yes
And Boston will score 4 in the top of the 9th.
I think you were saying the same thing last month, Mr. Blackthorne. Right before the Yankees doubled their deficit in the AL East.
I can take the sweep. How many games left against Tampa and Baltimore? 15?
wow, IH-YF. that one hurt *me*.
I’m a big Sox fan and I have the radio on in my office, but my boss is an even bigger fan and has the TV on in his office across the hall. I heard a lot of obscenities from there when those two runs came in.
As frustrated as I am about this game and series, I’m kinda distracted by the fact that I haven’t wanted to leave work ASAP more than this moment.
YFIB: Two-run error by Tek.. ball rolled way out. Of course, if Manny were playing, he would have backed that junk up so I’m blaming Hinske. snick.
Double steal? Looks like someone showed up to caoch today.
Yeah, IH. That game-tying home run on Tuesday. Totally unclutch. If you’re gonna pick on a guy, at least try to make it be for something he hasn’t done in the last 72 hours.
I’m out. Getting grumpy.
manny’s got a gun, ag. i don’t know about hinske. (i do know that he is my new favorite red sox.)
Aww, come on… You guys were thinking it, too. ;)
Seriously, I think the Sox could be in some trouble without Manny or a real #5 in the lineup. The AL East could be a race after all. Three days ago I thought it would be a laugher. But without Manny, things get real interesting.
IH, even if we don’t come back here, you’re still 5 games out buddy.
Paul – but they lost that game. So that couldn’t possibly count. He was just padding his stats.
;) No flame here, just being stupid.
Scott: no worries. It’s Baltimore tomorrow for the Boston; the Sox OWN them this year and they have lost eight in a row.
if we’re still doing the Joba rules, this is a puzzling decision by Torre to make Joba go two.
Joba still in there? Wha?
Papi a fly out.
Not crazy about this 1 bit.
the rules are gone.
see the ny post.
oops
Wow.. Joba goes over Youk’s head on a ball that obviously (?) got away from him.
Joba comes out to get that K.
I guess Torre’s thinking he won’t need Joba against the D-Rays the first two games.
throw him out of the game! WTF!!!
Now he hits him on a 3-1 and gets tossed. That is totally wierd.
HAHA, thrown out of the game.
can they change this absurd ruling?
That’s some crazy shit right there. I guess Joba likes Youk about as much as I do.
Two in a row, huh? That’s what Gameday is telling me.
Don’t fret too hard. I’m not sure which YF it was that promised NY would lose three in a row to TB.
Torre Sent him in there to Hit Youk! LOL
He needs better aim.
Joba is thrown out. WTF. A bit over-sensitive?
Wait.. didn’t hit him… just over his head again.. Still totally wierd.
Maybe Joba’s a sociopath?
Tossed? Kidding, right?
Posada was set up low middle on the first pitch, low away on the second. Threw a foot over Youk’s head on each. Bizarre.
I don’t think he even hit him, this is odd.
Two pitches in a row being thrown at the head of a guy that just got angry and argued a call being turned over.
Maybe Clemens is rubbing off on Joba too much.
Ahhh, my anti-Tekness has brought out the nasties in rsn. Serves me right for piling on in the waning moments of a sweep. I just don’t like “C”-boy and, as blogged baout earlirer in the week (with some SFs agreeing with me) prefer seeing him to most Sox at the plate in key situations – not withstanding one recent great hr for you guys.
And Lockland, thanks “buddy”. Kisses to you too.
YF: Nope, no kidding. Tossed.
it was the mariners mag, and it was me…
looks like the ump wants to make sure that he’s featured in the espn highlight reel…wow, not even a warning, although i understand it’s not necessary…if he was really trying to hit him, wouldn’t he have aimed a little lower?…
The heck was that? Ump got money on the Sox?
um… was he ejected for being super-humanly awesome?
it was only a matter of time.
Weird. Maybe the ump didn’t want Torre violating the Joba Rules.
There is _NO_ _WAY_ Chamberlain was called upon to throw at Youk. He just lost control. Now we get to see skinny.
In a way, this is what I wanted to happen in the first place.
JC Romero’s ERA is 2.45 (now with the Phillies).
Edwar and Joba; the Yankees Laurel and Hardy.
BY, good one!
I mean, ya, if there was a warning, I would understand.. but..
Joba is the first pitcher since 1887 to have a 0.00 ERA over 9 appearances and then get thrown out for no good reason.
“Scott: no worries. It’s Baltimore tomorrow for the Boston; the Sox OWN them this year and they have lost eight in a row.”
Definitely AG, I know that, but my boss might be viewing it quite differently. I’m just grateful that I don’t have to deliver any other bad news to him. It’s not a good time to be in his way at the moment. ;)
ih, you answered your own question, the “c” stands for “can’t____”
He really shouldn’t try to hit the Jew. Like we haven’t taken enough shit. As a Native American, he should understand that. WE ARE ALL THE BROTHERS!!!!!!! Also, no need to give the Sox free runners.
“the Yankees Laurel and Hardy”
between that and the “bff duo”, there have been some great tandem nicknames tossed around here today.
BY: hahaha.. :)
I was about to say earlier that joba throws to batters like they swiped his lunch.
Scott: your boss should give you a TV as well; then he’ll have one to watch when he smashes his.
thanks, yf… now i feel almost comfortable enough to make a “scalping” joke.
(i am part native american myself, so i forgive me.)
Urkel gets the K
Lowell completely fooled on that K.
Okay. 1 more. let’s wrap this thing up.
It would be quite appropriate for Drew to make the final out.
urkel!
genius.
pure genius.
Quick, Drew, hit a 6-run homer!
JD Drew seems like the perfect candidate to end this series.
AP makes the catch over the 1b tarp to end the game.
SWEEP!!
Sweep!
Game over. 5 back.
Enjoy, YFs.
JD Drew is going to strike out, the bat is going to slip out of his hand and kill two players in the Red Sox dugout.
well i’ll be dipped.
BROOMTIME!
By the way, is Manny actually on the DL or just off for a few days?
Congrats YFs, well played series. Enjoy it.
i think manny’s being looked at first, am i wrong?
It is really too bad that the Yankees can’t play the worst teams in the majors as well as they played the best team the last few days.
Well, the only thing that surprised me about this series is that JD Drew made the last out. He’s usually so clutch! ;)
Ah, well, here’s hoping we can beat on some bad teams for a bit. :-P
Sorry for the doomngloom. I inherited the Sox; it’s in my blood.
the strange thing is that i can’t remember the yankees haven’t won 3 consecutive close games all season.
this was truly a major accomplishment.
schilling pitched his tail off.
big wins.
The Red Sox really mailed this weekend in.
This really lucky pitcher is really lucky to win 35 games the last two years.
We’re you in a coma in 2004?
That was a well-pitched series all around, no (Kyle Farnsworth notwithstanding). Even Timlin, who I usually am eager to see come in, seemed stronger yesterday than I remember him.
Love pitching/defensive duels much more than slugfests.
The last one was me, though not the previous one before that.
I mean, the last three game. I’m not used to it being a day game between these two..
“Scott: your boss should give you a TV as well; then he’ll have one to watch when he smashes his.”
I’m not sure if it’s a wise idea to have the boss walk in at the height of his anger. I guess I could always preemptively turn off the TV, unplug it, and stick it outside the door when I see the Sox make a big blunder like that.
Funny thing is, our president is a YF, so there has been some unbelievable tension in this building in the last few days. Luckily, he’s in one of our other locations today and Friday, which is just enough time to let things cool off and prevent a nuclear war.
Well crap.
Here’s to the rest of the season, hopefully the Sox find their bats and hit some gappers.
i was the other masked commentor.
anon: you’re right, the Yankees had a horrible record in one-run games for much of the year (not that this was a 1-run); they are still 12-17 in that stat.
Hehe, no, but I was at the last game that the Sox clinched the AL East. Since I was a strapping young lad then, and I’m not so strapping or a lad anymore, it’s been a while. Would really like to see that while I’m still alive. :)
“JD Drew is going to strike out, the bat is going to slip out of his hand and kill two players in the Red Sox dugout.”
Hilarious!
I feel ya, MrBlackthorne. In my worst moments, I too think this is the beginning of a spiral, but I’m trying to maintain calm and allow for the possibility that maybe, just maybe, the Sox can play at least 4 games worse (and hopefully a couple better) than the Yankees over the next 28 games.
No matter how well the Yankees pitched, and they did pitch very well, the no-hitters through 5/6 the last two nights and Manny’s bench-time seem at least a bit causally linked to me. It’s amazing how much less intimidating that line-up is without him, notwithstanding Lowell’s career year. He can’t do anything else at all on a baseball field, but he is a ridiculous hitting machine.
lowell is a solid 3B, IH-YF. from what i’ve seen anyway.
New thread for the postmortem, above, fwiw.
devine, i wrote the yankees off completely a week or so ago when they wrapped up in anaheim.
don’t give up.
I just hope the Sox can take at least one against the Yankees at Fenway… That was my hope for this series, apparently asking a bit too much. Ah, well. Maybe the Yanks will cool off. Maybe Manny can have an oblique transplant or something. Maybe JD Drew’s amnesia goes away and he remembers he’s a baseball player. Anything can happen.
[off topic]
Holy crap, the Mets just rallied for four in the 8th. Maybe this week won’t be a complete washout at FenSheaParkway.
[/off topic]
Actually FenShea, that is totally on topic with me. At least something good comes out of today. :) Thanks for the update.
I live to serve!
Well, that’s very nice of you, YFiB. Thank you.
I take this sh*t pretty hard sometimes.
Philly rallies in the 8th and 9th against Wagner, sweeps Mets. Jeez.
Jesus. Sweeps all around.
“i can’t remember the yankees haven’t won 3 consecutive close games all season.”
We haven’t had a lights out set up man all season. Joba helps out immensely in this area…
Didn’t the Yankees win seven straight at one point?