Division race over? Seems that way
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- August
- 26
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The simple facts are these: The Yankees have lost 7 of their last 12 games and trail the Red Sox by 7.5 games with 32 games left to play.
The division race is probably over. The Yankees will start to pile up wins again but the Red Sox have too much pitching to collapse that much.
So now the wild card race becomes paramount. At the moment, it looks like this:
Seattle 73-54
New York 72-58 – 2.5
Detroit 70-60 – 4.5
The Mariners play at the Rangers tonight. The Yankees figure to be three out with 32 to play. It’s a hole, but hardly a deep one given Seattle’s schedule.
If the Yankees don’t make the playoffs, their 8-21 record in road games decided by one or two runs will have a lot to do with it.
Phil Hughes wasn’t lousy. Four hits, one walk and six strikeouts in six innings isn’t lousy. But he made mistakes against Marcus Thames and Carlos Guillen he and the Yankees couldn’t recover from. Jim Leyland used his bullpen perfectly.
Here’s Phil Hughes:
Derek Jeter said he expects to play tomorrow night. By the way, it’s ridiculous that MLB would have the Yankees play a night game on the road before heading home to play the Red Sox while Boston last the day off and will be in New York resting.
UPDATE, 6:35 p.m.: The Hughes audio is fixed. Sorry about that.
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on Sunday, August 26th, 2007 at 4:50 pm by Peter Abraham.
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With 6 games left against the Sox and 3 against Seattle, I’m not ready to through in the towel just yet. That said, things don’t look very positive.
Even if they make the playoffs, is the pitching good enough to win??
How are the schedule makers able to get away with that. Why did the Yankees allow them to schedule a night game on a get away day.
The yankees shouldn’t allow any teams to play a day game when they need to get away.
The Yanks should be embarrassed because they have done nothing against one of the worst bullpens in baseball. They’ve scored 14 of their 17 runs in this series against Detroit’s starters. The other three they scored against a starter making an emergency relief appearance (Cano’s homer today). Other than that, the Yanks have 0 runs in 14.2 IP against a bullpen that has been terrible all year. Pathetic. This was the week for the Yanks to man up and show they belong against two nemeses on the road. Once the Moose gets ripped like a AA pitcher tomorrow, the team will be in a deep hole.
Go Rangers.
Please.
And the AL East has been over for months, it’s only now becoming official. Has there ever been a more disgraceful rollover by a team that was supposed to be a contender, and is aiming to return to the mix next year, than the ChiSox getting blown out at home by 46-7 in their four-game set with the Blosax? Even the Boston Massacre wasn’t this bad — at least the RedSawx had a chance in one game (the 7-4 loss). That level of suck, with each of the ChiSax top three starters getting whupped, should cost Guillen his job.
I’m going on record saying that the schedule makers are commies. lol
As for the playoffs…it’s all about getting in!! Doesn’t matter so much to me how we get there.
Pete, what’s insane is Detroit going out to the west coast to just play Oakland for 3 games.
Earlier in the year, they played the Chisox on Thursday and LAA on Friday, on the road.
How about a casino update.
jim leyland definetaly put on a clinic this weekend on how to use a bullben hope torre was processing some of that in that rock head of his
By the way, it’s ridiculous that MLB would have the Yankees play a night game on the road before heading home to play the Red Sox while Boston last the day off and will be in New York resting. -Peter Abraham
Is this right?
The way I’ve always read/heard it is that MLB schedules the day and the home team schedules the time.
The only thing that can change the time is if FOX/ESPN claims the game.
The Yankees may not win the division, but they’ll put up a fight until the end.
What was so great about the way Leyland used his bullpen? He put guys in and they pitched well. The Yankee bullpen wasn’t so bad either.
Leyland is a good manager, but a Torre he is not. Torre is going to go down as one of the best ever. Leyland will not.
Or, like I said before, we fattened up against the toilet teams, while Boston was treading water with LAA, Detroit, Seattle, Cleveland, and other teams. Now, we’re playing real teams again, and we look like we did before the break. Heartless, and beaten on a daily ,basis. Our pitching stinks, and while Hughes is clearly great, I don’t think he’s ready yet.
I agree that the division race is over, and has been for awhile. We had one shot to catch them, and while they made it very interesting, the shoe is definitely on the other foot now: they’re playing the bad teams now.
The next five days should say something because the matchups are just as they should be.
Also, who the hell is Bobby Kielty? I mean, I know who he is, but he’s giving them a sweet Aarron Small type performance since coming off the trash heap.
I’d rather not make the playoffs with this pitching. Why? To get embarrassed by the Angels yet again?
I agree UNCYankee. Leyland’s guys pitched well for him but he didn’t really do anything out-of-the-ordinary IMO, just like Joe didn’t do anything wrong. It just went their way, that’s all. Leyland is a good manager and I like him, but I don’t think he reinvented the wheel today or anything.
_Torre is going to go down as one of the best ever_
now that’s funny.
he’s soooo good, the front office had to install rule on how to use joba.
_it’s ridiculous that MLB would have the Yankees play a night game on the road before heading home to play the Red Sox while Boston last the day off and will be in New York resting._
stupid MLB, they’re like little kids chasing the Golden Goose around the lake.
Common sense, try to name 5 managers all time that are better than Joe….
Earlier this year, Boston played an ESPN Sunday nite game in Boston, then flew to Oakland to begin a nine gane road trip the next night. NY plays KC nine times this year, the Red Sox play them six times. The Yankees played Pittsburgh in their interleague schedule – the Red sox didn’t. The Sox went from Tampa to Chicago last week to start their 4 game series the next day. It rained, so the Sox had a doubleheader on Friday instead. The fact that the Sox went straight to the next city (Chicago) on getaway day is why they have Monday off – NY had already Thursday off. Does the whole team need Joba Rules?
Please, stop whining about the schedule. It all evens out …. or close to it. Over 162 games the better team wins. This isn’t the NFL, with a 16 game (weighted) schedule and convaluted tiebreakers. MLB gets it right.
Forget the playoffs … if the 2006 Cardinals can win, merit is not a factor.
These files are just buffering for me — anyone else?
_if the 2006 Cardinals can win, merit is not a factor._
not to mention the 1986 mets. Hmmm, now who were they playing?
Every team goes through a hard part in the schedule like this. It’s kind of childish to complain about it as if it’s ridiculous.
lol on the entire team needing joba rules
UNCYankee-
Torre did such a great job with the mets, cards, and braves before he got to the bronx.
one playoff apperance in 15 seasons. call ken burns.
http://www.baseball-reference......jo01.shtml
You still didn’t name me 5 better.
Apparently Aaron Boone is a sorer subject in Boston than Bucky Dent at this point. But none will be a sorer subject than Bill Buckner.
Hughes has great stuff and may turn out to be a solid pitcher in the future, but he’s been just awful so far. Since coming back from DL, his ERA is 6.10. And Igawa’s ERA since being called back from the minors? 6.05. Yep, Hughes has been worse than even Igawa…
Hughes has clearly pitched better than igawa was, can’t go just based on ERA. The game against the Angels he pitched better than his line would indicate and today as well imo.
Andrea -
Buckner deserves better. Very few fans remember that his error (in game six) came AFTER the Mets had already tied the game. And the game was at Shea, so the advantage, if the game had gone extra innings, had swung to the Mets. There is no doubt in my mind that the Mets would have won that game, even if Buckner picked up the ball.
Another oft-forgotten issue. John McNamara (Sox Mgr) swears to this day that Clemens asked to come out of the game, leading to the Calvin Schiraldi meltdown. Bruce Hurst was really the Sox’ “big game” pitcher when he and Clemens were on the team (a la “Second Game” Pettitte and “Lose the First Game” Mussina).
yeah, Spitball, let’s DFA Phil Hughes and call up Igawa in his place. he’s obviously worth nothing, right?
Hughes is taking his lumps while showing us glimpses every single game like the ace he’s going to be. Igawa’s a damn embarrasment. If you can’t tell the difference there, maybe there’s other hobbies besides posting on baseball blogs you should consider.
Pete, I really do appreciate your support of Phil Hughes on this forum. It’s absolutely ridiculous to see folks coming down hard on Hughes but praising Joba. I wonder how each would look if their roles were reversed this year, or what sorts of growing pains we’ll see out of Joba next year if and when he’s in the rotation.
Hughes is learning on the job, in high pressure situations, and, like you said, it’s going to pay off in the long run. If he we don’t make the playoffs, it’s not because of the performance of Phil Hughes. It’ll be about guys much older who were expected to do much more.
Brian: very few fans remember much other than “This one person screwed us out of our championship.” It’s always about that ONE person’s fault.
Andrea -
I couldn’t agree more. Those same fans forget how Buckner had to ice his legs for hours after each game to be able to play, and that he was a dependable hitter, solid veteran, good guy, etc., etc.
Life isn’t fair. As I said, he deserves better (from ALL fans, not just the Red Sox variety).
McLovin and DKA –
I never said that Igawa is better than Hughes or that Igawa should be called up — to the contrary. Igawa has been an unmitigated disaster for the Yanks. I was using Igawa’s terrible statistics to show that Hughes just isn’t ready for the big leagues yet. He’s so far had two quality starts. He’s got great stuff, but he loses his concentration and implodes for an inning. And that one big inning ends up creating a big hole for the Yanks. Hughes is still very young, and these high expectations may end up eroding his confidence. It may be better to have him mature and get more experience in the minors. (Of course, the Yanks don’t have a better option, but I’d hate to see a young Hughes’ mental makeup damaged at such a young age).
What is ridiculous is starting a game after 11pm.. What’s even more ridiculous is the RedSox get five days off (playing four scrimmages) before going to NY who had had to play first place teams for the last week.
They’ll be taned, rested and relaxed from their midwest vacation while the Yankees will probably get a midnight flight out of Dtown get home at like five or six, get a few hours rest to face the best team in baseball.
Bad schedule karma.
Blaming the schedule-maker now. Grow up.
No one blamed a schedule maker. I specifically saw “karma” in there.
Oh boy.
September is going to be good, watch. I’m sad that they couldn’t step it up this past week, but it is what it is – itys been a frustrating year, for sure. The Yankees are incredibly streaky with flashes of brilliance in between embarrassing losing streaks.
Hopefully, this is the last losing stretch they’ll have before the playoffs start. If the team has character, and they do, they’ll re-group next week and knock off a nice winning streak and take the WC over mid-month.
Remember, timed right, we can pull it off and I think we’re setting up for good timing. Remember, the hottest team in October wins…not necessarily the BEST. (e.g. Red Sox 2004)
I dont believe that Buckner story. He let a ball go through his legs…simple as that and the game was won. Had he played it like he should have, inning over. Its baseball lore, unfortunately.
Wild Card: there was still a Game 7. The Red Sox could have won it then. Game 6 may have been Bill Buckner, but Game 7 was the rest of the team’s fault.
Agreed, I didnt say he lost the series, just the most important game, especialy when they had it in their hands.
Hughes has not been good. Spinning it any other way is just laughable.
The issue isn’t whether he has pitched better than Igawa. He hasn’t pitched well at all since his return from the DL. One good start out of five ain’t gonna cut it.
The issue also isn’t whether or not he will be a good pitcher. He has great potential. But, he’s not there yet by a LONG SHOT.
The real issue is, where do they go from here with him.
Is it in his best interests, and the team’s, to keep him in the rotation when its obvious he isn’t ready to contribute yet? Or, do you take a step back with him?
I don’t think the answer on either side of the debate is clear cut. Good points on both sides of the issue.
And please, let’s stop the “he only had one or two bad pitches” nonsense. You can say that about just about any pitcher after they lose. Its a nonsensical statement.
Doesn’t make him a bust or overrated. Conversely, aruging that he has pitched well defies logic because he hasn’t.
The Yankees are in a very tough spot. They have two and half quality starting pitchers. Wang and Pettitte are solid, Clemens is good half the time, and Hughes and Mussina can’t get the job done.
That’s the harsh reality. Its going to be hard to make the playoffs with only 2 1/2 starting pitchers.
The schedule stuff is an excuse. I hate excuses. They are 11-30 in one and two run games this year. That’s awful.
If they can’t improve on that and pronto, they will be out of the playoff mix in a week.
Bottom line, play better, win the close games, and no excuses. Starting tomorrow night.
Hughes made mistakes from the get-go. That first inning where things should be preset, he showed that he just didn’t belong. He let the inside the park bother him too much. That two run shot in the first was like batting practice. Right down the middle with not enough speed. This isn’t triple A. He needs another year down because he looks like a different pitch since he got hurt. The ball keeps getting up on him.
Molina didn’t help either, never going out and talking to the kid when he needed someone to give a little advise.
“And please, let’s stop the “he only had one or two bad pitchesâ€? nonsense. You can say that about just about any pitcher after they lose. Its a nonsensical statement.”
I thinkt he same. If that were true, there would be no balls. He would be behind no hitters and would walk no one.
Not to say Hughes is a bad pitcher, I just never understand that line of logic with anyone.
Hughes is staying….Yanks have no other options….He’ll find his way and will improve in every outing….As I posted earlier in a different topic, he’s had two split seasons…..The real issue is to get this club together for the playoffs…..Yes they’ll be playing as a backdoor guest…..It’s been a season that has had so many peaks & valley’s, but they must get home with a 3-4 record….Actually it should / could have been 5-1 right now….As we all have come to understand this teams just doesn’t pull out W’s in the close games….They seemingly find a way to give these games away….However they can get hot and pull off an October streak just as the past WS Champions have done in recent years ……It just seems as though they’re always plugging holes but never achieve in stopping the leaks…..Considering that this was a 2 year transition program, the playoffs would not be that bad at all….
Yankees must win the next ten games, it can be done, or for that matter win every game remaing at home a total of 15.
That`s an order Joe
General Von Steinbrenner.
there’s only 32 gms left, so everyone will have atleast 6 more starts.
focusing solely on hughes’ personal growth as a pitcher, would it be better to keep him at this level for remaining five weeks or to begin strengthing his legs for next April?
“Division race over? Seems that way”
Over? Did you say “over”? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
And it ain’t over now. ‘Cause when the goin’ gets tough…
the tough get goin’! Who’s with me? Let’s go!
Uh, Germans bomb Pearl Harbor? Someone was napping in history class.
Um, This Year…. That’s a line from the movie “Animal House”….
my bad. read too quickly.
….the Yankees look done in the division race. Here is why:
Red Sox 80-51
Yankees 72-58
The Red Sox have 31 games left while the Yankees have 32 games.
Let’s pretend the Red Sox play 500 ball the rest of the way, which is EXTREMELY conservative. They’ve been 27-17 since the All Star Break (.614).
Let’s say they are 16-15 in the last 31 games. 96-66 for the season.
For the Yankees to win 96 games, they must win 24 of 32 games left (.750).
Since the All Star break they’ve gone 29-15 (.659). And recently, last ten games 5-5.
The Red Sox go in to NY with a 7 or 8 game lead (depending upon the Yankee game tomorrow). At the very worst, losing all three, which is highly unlikely, they will still be 4 (or 5) games up. If the Sox win just one game, they will be 6 or 7 games up leaving NY. If the Red Sox win two in NY….The Yankees will be 7 or 8 games back. If Sox win all three (unlikely I agree) the Yankees will be in a deep hole and unlikely to climb out.
Neither team plays many games against teams over .500. The Red Sox last four games are against Minnesota, slightly over .500 team….but the Yankees have three games against Seattle…a better team, within striking distance in their division and current wild card leader.
The Yankees come to Boston for 3 games… They might be meaningless games for both teams by then.
It’s all good, folks, by the numbers. Don’t let emotions get in the way of reality….
Peter
Hughes was atrocious: 3 homeruns allowed, 5 ER in 6 IP.
Matsui had a long way to run for that ball.
If that inside-the-park homerun Granderson hit was a triple, he would’ve scored anyway (man on 3B with no one out).
Enough is enough.This is a team with no character.Matsui can’t catch a first inning flyball, then ‘the francise’(lower case letters)Hughes,spits up crucial runs.The 200 mil lineup is loaded with chokers and numbers hangers,yes you too Arod, who don’t stand up in the clutch,and can only beat up on the poorer teams.For cripes sake,Farnsworth is the guy who has taken a step forward.Cano is an undiscipled hitter(DP, first pitch in ninth,game over)who can’t wait to do his bush bugaloo in the dugout after he gets one of his unimportant hits,usually against a rotten team.
Bobcat:
Awesome “Animal House” reference, I recognized it immediately. My first thought was…”Germans?…Don’t stop him, he’s on a roll.” Great scene in a great movie.
Hughes was not attrocious he’s 21 and he made 2 mistakes today, Matsui should have caught that ball, Hughes made 2 mistakes one to Guillen the second to Thames, he battled he made it through 6 innings in a tough enviorment that was not attrocious. If anything it was a good start vs a good offensive team in the Tigers which are the defending AL Champs for some reason I think.
it’s monday. no need for a day game.
Brian:
”
The Yankees played Pittsburgh in their interleague schedule – the Red sox didn’t.
”
So, did RS play Mets (the best team in NL) 6 times in interleague? I agree the schedule is evened out, but your this excuse is just, weak.
Kay: “Mussina needed a good catch there” was a bit of an understatement wasn’t it?