Breaking down the series
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Aug 06, 2009 
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Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of the series.
CENTER FIELD
Yankees: The two-headed monster is down to one as Melky Cabrera mans the position alone while Gritty Gutty Brett Gardner heals. Melky has emerged as a hitter but still enjoys trying to throw the ball out of the stadium instead of to the cutoff man.
Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury has had a consistently solid season. Not great, just solid. His defensive skills are top-notch.
Edge: Even.
RIGHT FIELD
Yankees: Nutball Nick Swisher is doing his thing, getting on base (.371), hitting for power (18 homers) and butchering balls in the OF on occasion.
Red Sox: J.D. Drew hasn’t been worth the money for Boston. He is down to .248 with only 12 homers.
Edge: Yankees. A random rain drop could bruise Drew en route to the game and knock him out for a week.
LEFT FIELD
Yankees: Damon chases after fly balls like Helen Keller but he has a .877 OPS and finds right field at the Stadium on a regular basis.
Red Sox: Jason Bay has faded away and how has a sore hammy. That MVP talk has quieted down, hasn’t it?
Edge: Yankees. Johnny had a good road trip and would love to heat up against his old teammates.
CATCHER
Yankees: Jorge Posada has overcome shoulder surgery and is having a fairly typical season, which is to say he’s one of the better offensive catchers in the game.
Red Sox: Jason Varitek is much better than he was last season, which isn’t really saying much.
Edge: Slight edge to Posada. He’s a better hitter and Varitek is better behind the dish. Both are old cranks at this point.
FIRST BASE
Yankees: Mark Teixeira is the MVP of the team and maybe the MVP of the league if the Yankees win the division.
Red Sox: Looks like newcomer Victor Martinez will get most of his playing time here. He’s a valuable addition, but he’s no Texeira.
Edge: Decidedly to the Yankees.
SECOND BASE:
Yankees: Robinson Cano — and I sincerely believe this — is playing Gold Glove-level defense this season. But he’s terrified whenever runners are in scoring position.
Red Sox: Reigning MVP Dustin Pedroia won’t repeat. But he’s still one of the elite players at this position.
Edge: Slight edge to Boston.
SHORTSTOP
Yankees: Derek Jeter is one of the five greatest living Americans. He is the defender of all that is good and right.
Red Sox: Nick Green or Jed Lowrie look like they should parking Jeter’s new Ford Edge.
Edge: C’mon on now.
THIRD BASE
Yankees: Alex Rodriguez is having a weird year. He’s not hitting (.261) but he’s getting on base (.379) and hitting home runs, although not lately. He has lost a step and a half in the field.
Boston: Kevin Youkilis, like him or not, is a terrific player. Plays first base well, plays third base well, hits all the time (an insane OPS+ of 153) and plays hurt.
Edge: Boston.
DESIGNATED HITTER
Yankees: People will miss Hideki Matsui when he’s not around next season. He scored from first last weekend and is still recovering. But if you need an RBI, he’s still the man.
Red Sox: David Ortiz is a cheating goon. The Yankees would never have such players in their midst. Never. (By the way, if you chant “steroids” at Ortiz this weekend, you’re a huge hypocrite. Leave that to Fenway Park).
Edge: Yankees. It going to be a long, long weekend for Big Papi.
BENCH
Yankees: The crew of Eric Hinske, Jerry Hairston Jr. and Jose Molina has proven adequate. Ramiro Pena could be on the way.
Red Sox: Mike Lowell will get in the mix at third and DH. New guy Josh Reddick has played four games.
Edge: Boston, only because Lowell is essentially a starting player. He’s the best bat either team can bring off the pine.
BULLPEN
Yankees: Mariano Rivera is having one of the best seasons of his Hall of Fame career. Phil Hughes is a beast as a set-up man. It gets chancy after that. Phil Coke is better when he faces fewer hitters and Alfredo Aceves may or may not have a sore shoulder.
Red Sox: He still makes that really, really mean face. But Jonathan Papelbon isn’t scaring anybody with that 1.3 WHIP. Ramon Ramirez, Manny Delcarmen and Hideki Okajima have been strong all year and Daniel Bard throws wicked hard.
Edge: I’ll call it even. Yanks have a better closer, Sox have more depth.
ROTATION
Yankees: They have Joba Chamberlain, A.J. Burnett, CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte lined up. Joba is the hottest starter in the league right now and the three veterans all have second-half histories on their side.
Boston: John Smoltz has a 7.12 ERA and should have retired. Josh Beckett is a Cy Young candidate and Jon Lester has fanned 158 in 140 innings. Clay Buchholz is showing why he was in the minors.
Edge: Yankees have their best four on the mound. Plus they know how to pitch at Homer Haven in the Bronx.
MANAGER
Yankees: Joe Girardi: He has loosened up since last year, which is good because he was about to explode. Still prone to occasional lineup wackiness. But greatly improved from 2008.
Red Sox: Terry Francona is Joe Torre Lite at this point. He wins, he gets respect, players listen to him, he puts out the fires efficiently.
Edge: Boston. Can’t ignore the rings.
So there you have it. Prediction: Yankees take three games.
Nice post Pete! Come on Yanks win for me!
Great Post Pete!
Not thrilled with the 3rd base decision, but I will let the others debate that
Cano has been a lot better than Pedroia this season. Even more so if you take into account that Pedroia is playing at Yankee Stadium this weekend and not Fenway.
Other than that I mostly agree with everything you sayl.
Pete: This is probably one of your best posts. Agree on most, but not all.
Ellsbury’s no scrub this season. I give him the thinnest of edges, although I still don’t know why he’s not leading off. A walk is as good as a double for him.
Alex over Youkilis. I know Youkilis is a good player, but Alex is (was) a sure-fire HOF. And Alex will end the homerun drought.
And I support Girardi! He’s not perfect, but at least he’s on the right team.
Doh! Didn’t know that Pete picked the Leprechaun.
Cano, Cano, Cano!
The only thing I disagree with you on is 2b. Cano wins slightly.
Oh, Pete! I just cracked up reading about our hero, Derek Jeter!
Thanks for that.
Nice analysis; I think pretty much right on. Still, who knows how it will all turn out? Tune in on Sunday, right?
Awesome Post Pete! I’m ready to rock let’s get loud tonight people!
Some thoughts, think Youklis is a fantastic player, give me A-rod- think Pedroia is a fantastic player, give me Cano- think Melky has had a good year, give me Ellsbury, and I think the Yankee fans should give Ortiz hell this weekend for a few reasons a) they gave our guy hell. There is no being a bigger man when it comes to fandom and b) Ortiz’ comments regarding A-rod are more ridiculous than anything else-
Is anyone from the New York media going to put heat on Ortiz? He said he would talk when he had all of the facts, how long does that possibly take?
Pete should consider doing a Part 2 of the Game Thread tonight after the 7th inning stretch. I have a weird feeling there will be a record breaking number of comments and things could get slooooooooooooow
SUPERB post pete. surprised you gave the edge to lowell at 3rd….. but OK.
GREAT POST. you weren’t kidding when you said you’d be hammerin this series all weekendlong on the blog….. YOU ARE THE MAN.
good, great post. very wrong about ellsbury and defense. he has been horrific this year according to UZR
The Yankees are dramatically better than they were last time these two teams met, and the Red Sox have cooled a lot. Plus the Stadium is going to be going nuts. I’d love a sweep, but three would also be fun.
Derek Jeter is one of the five greatest living Americans.
–LOL LOL LOL hillarious !!.
GO JETES !!!!!!
lol, Tommy H.
I hope someone asks Ortiz this, “Did you know you had tested positive for a PED when you made your comments about Alex in February?”
“Que?”
Surprised by the bullpen edge – Boston has 3-4 guys leading to Pap that can smoke it – he have Hughes, Coke, Aceves.
Have to give the edge to Bard, Delcarmen, Ramirez, Okajima.
I don’t think that the Red Sox have a better bench than the Yankees. Yes, Lowell is a starting Caliber player (and arguably should still be a starter – benching him in favor of Ortiz says a lot about Francona as a manager…) but who is he really going to pinch hit for?
The Red Sox bench does not provide what it is supposed to – versatility. They have too many 1B/3B/DH/OF types. Lowell and Kotchman essentially fill the exact same role, Nick Green can’t hit and Reddick is unproven.
The Yankees have great role players on their bench in Hinske and Hairston who can play all over the field and come off the bench and hit at a moment’s notice. I’d argue that with the Hairston acquisition, the Yankees now have the best bench in baseball.
Sorry Pete,
We have to chant steroids this weekend. Those holier-than-thou Mass Holes have been touting how clean they are for years, pretending they are the baseball steroid police. If this had happened to someone on a different team they’d get a pass, but no pass for Ortiz. He can blame the moron fan base that roots for him.
“Damon chases after fly balls like Helen Keller…”
Damon has become a liability in the field. Lately he reminds me of a little leaguer, sticking his mitt up in the air and just sorta hoping that the ball hits it.
Yeah I give Cano the edge over Smurf.
The Sox pen isn’t as deep now that Masterson is gone. But the Yanks pen is pretty deep. It just doesn’t seem that way because Girardi mainly uses 4 guys.
But I think Melancon if given more opportunities can be good with Robertson looking pretty good and get Bruney straighten out. Yankees have a deep pen themselves.
That SS thing cracked me up.
you mean Bard Farnsworth Jr. ! Delcarment is horrible
Yeah. I like our bench. Hinske has been fabulous in his limited use. And Hairston has great baseball smarts (according to Suzyn). Raved about him when he avoided getting doubled off first.
Kevin Youkilis’s line for 2009:
.312/.422/.580/1.002/153
The last two are OPS and OPS+. We may hate him,but he’s a great hitter.
Pete is 100% wrong about one thing. Posada is WAY better than Varitek. Varitek is not better defensively. He’s horrible defensively.
Edge WAAAAY to the Yankees.
Pete, I disagree about the steroid chants. It’s not hypocritical to give Ortiz a taste of what Arod & Giambi had to endure.
Most Yankees fans will do it as retaliation…not as a statement on cheating.
Great write-up Pete. I was LOL at my desk.
I hope your prediction is prophetic. 3 out of 4 would be very nice. I am just hoping that Joba doesn’t lose his command tonight in this amped up atmosphere.
Happy Birthday Carl!
“Boston. Can’t ignore the rings”
but…. that’s our argument for everything!!
I think that’s a pretty fair assessment all the way around. Bay and Damon may be a little closer then Pete gave credit and I will NEVER say that Keebler is better then Cano.
I am going to the Sunday night game and I might just start chanting steroids continuously from now… I freely admit being a hypocrite and I can’t stand Ortiz. Sorry Pete I’ll be a better fan on Monday.
CountryClub
August 6th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Pete, I disagree about the steroid chants. It’s not hypocritical to give Ortiz a taste of what Arod & Giambi had to endure.
Most Yankees fans will do it as retaliation…not as a statement on cheating.
****
I agree. I don’t think its hypocritical. I think its a good old fashioned case of “You messed with our player, we’ll mess with yours”
I’m hoping Melancon gets going good. He had a good Chicago series.
I’m not worried about Ace. He did fine yesterday sans one HR.
I am a Yankee fan, but I really like Ellsbury. Melky can hit the long ball, and with a guy his size can make some phenomenal plays, but Ellsbury has the all around game. It is a toss up between these two depending on how you look at it.
AND MY RESPONSE TO “M”… A-Rod is a great player. Sure-fire hall of famer,? Ya you probably will see him, but then Ortiz better be going there too as the best DH to play the game. The true fact is where would both those players be without steriods? A-Rod is not a hall of famer like a Mantle, or a Nolan Ryan. Those guys generally earned it, and played for real. A-Rod did not. That’s a big difference. I can’t stand Youkilis. He is one of my most disliked players on that team, but you gotta respect his play. He’s the kind of player you would have seen on the Yankees team of the late 90′s. He has that attitude, and grit to him. He would knock over a gatorade cooler for getting out, not go kiss himself in a mirror.
Ortiz is going to hear it. I don’t care if the Yankees had a 40 man roster of steroid users. He’s going to hear it.
Also I take our bench over Boston’s only for depth.
Ortiz shouldn’t get an easy time here in NY. A-Rod went through h*ll in Boston. Sorry,Pete,but Ortiz shouldn’t get special treatment.
GREAT POST PETE!
Bring back Mussina.
The Sox bullpen blew a nine run lead to Baltimore.
Ours hasn’t.
“good, great post. very wrong about ellsbury and defense. he has been horrific this year according to UZR”
This.
Melky is a significantly better defensive CF
Can’t find one thing I disagree with. Great job, Pete! Can I leave work now and get to the bowling alley bar?
“By the way, if you chant “steroids” at Ortiz this weekend, you’re a huge hypocrite”
“We want answers” would seem a less hypocritical but appropriate chant. The right number of sylables followed by 5 claps that works so well for the “Derek Jeter” clap,clap, clap, clap, clap chant.
It’s less about the steroids and more about taking the same public lashing that Yankee players did.
LETS GO YANK-EES!!!
Woke up this morning pumped!
“Yankees: Derek Jeter is one of the five greatest living Americans. He is the defender of all that is good and right.”
Funniest line in a while Pete. Although the tweet yesterday about dial-up internet had me and several other people laughing about how far we’ve come since the mid 90s.
I had a question for SJ or anybody else who may have some insight into the Cuban baseball scene, what’s the deal with the Cuban defector/ current free agent Marti? I have been busy trying to save up this summer since I’m going into my 3L year and haven’t been reading the comments much so sorry if you all covered this but I thought that maybe we take a stab at him for some lightning in a bottle. Marti can’t be worse than Mitre can he? Maybe having one defector helps us sign Chapman in the winter? BTW I heard Chapman has spent his time recently building himself a fortress at the North Pole.
Adam D,
That’s why I said “was”. He was headed for the HOF. Relentlessly consistent, lots of tools, great numbers, MVPs.
But steroid revelations inject a lot of doubt into the equation. Both in his stats and how the writers will vote.
Too bad for him, and more than a few others, those results weren’t destroyed.
I’m not an Alex fan, but as one of the best players of his generation, I felt that he had the golden ticket. At least until February of this year.
Lets be realistic-
Even if the Yankees picked up the phone today and reached a deal with Mussina, he would not be ready until mid September earliest.
Remember 2007 when the Yanks reached a deal with Clemens on May 6th? He didn’t make his season debut until the first week of June. And he was in shape!!!
Mussina is done. I will gladly cheer for him when he starts the next 50 old timers games
My husband always says if Youkilis was on the Yankees, you’d love him. Same for Pedroia. I hate them. But you have to appreciate their level of play.
However, I will say that if they ever were Yankees, it would be like Pudge last year and Randy Johnson before that – it just wouldn’t sit right.
I would prefer a ‘milkshake’ chant to a ‘steroid’ chant.
Adam D…
” A-Rod is a great player. Sure-fire hall of famer,? Ya you probably will see him, but then Ortiz better be going there too as the best DH to play the game.”
Are you joking? Ortiz is a career .283 hitter with 300 HR. Those are NOT HOF numbers. He had 4 years of dominance. He wouldn’t be HOF material even if he was totally clean. ARod’s numbers were enhanced by steroids. Ortiz’s numbers were CREATED by steroids. Thats why ARod will be a HOFer and Ortiz won’t.
although I am a melky fan ,I would give the edge to Ellsbury, he is more consistent this year and and he is a threat on the bases. Melky is streaky these days, he is hitless before and after the cycle but he plays well against Bsox(maybe he is a true yankees),hope he can come up big in the series.
Pete, havet you ever heard of UZR defensive ratings? Ellsbury has been terrible in center this year. Cano’s defense has been just average (he has great range, but is prone to mental gaffes).
As for Ortiz? How can? He was nothing, nothing, before 2004.
Thome would be the best DH of the era, no? And who knows if he was pure?
Great post, Pete. You are the go-to for this series!
I hate Youk. Talk about a hypocrite. Did anyone hear his remarks about Ortiz & steroids?? Does it factor into consideration that he’s an ignorant a__?? It should.
I secretly hope that Joba plunks him again but really he should just strike him out 4 times and the Yankees win handily.
Go Joba! Go Yanks!!
As per http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=4380317
Bay will be out at least the first 2 games of the series.
Considering his current offensive woes, I can’t tell if this is a good/bad thing.
Rebecca -
To be fair, the Yankees’ bullpen has also had its share of not-so-bright-and-shining moments.
http://offthewall.mlblogs.com/.....l#comments
I agree with Chris Shearn about steroid chants. Let’s be classy for once.
Hey Homer Pete,
You’re way off base on several of your choices, but I understand because you’re not watching a 2-time world championship team of the last decade play day-in and day-out.
Plus you seemed to forget your wonderful team is 0-8 against this monster. They are your Daddy this year so far, so until you can knock them off at least a couple of times. I say Sox sweep….because your team is a head-case!
Varitek being a good defensive player was always more perception than reality but now that perception is laughable. His CS% is 14.4%… ‘Nuff said.
Cough we blew a six run lead to Boston cough and the bullpen got shelled cough.
Sorr I have this horrible nagging cough.
Pete-
I think Reddick got sent down yesterday for Bill Trabor.
Great post Pete!
I’m still not a fan of any writer/journalist/blogger/fellow fan telling other fans who to boo, what to chant, and who to cheer. It just bothers me that people judge others for expressing themselves at a sporting event where the fans are essentially the 10th man. At the cost of $65 a bleacher seat, I’ll yell whatever I want at these million dollar fools. Its a good way to get over the fact that I sit at a job I hate all day to earn enough cash to see these games while these guys get paid millions to do what they (most of them anyway) genuinely love.
‘YOU DID STE-ROIDS!’ will certainly reign from the bleachers on this night and the three following whether anyone here likes it or not.
I would take Cano and Melky anytime. Cano is so smooth he makes difficult plays look easy. And he has come thru a few times lately w/ RISP. Melky is great in the clutch.
Very funny stuff.
As for the best DH to play the game, I’d vote for Edgar Martinez – career .312/.418/.515.
He owned Mariano as well – great hitter – hope he did it clean.
“Patrick
August 6th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Cano has been a lot better than Pedroia this season.
Other than that I mostly agree with everything you sayl.”
—
you saved me the trouble and keystrokes.
thanks for that
I still can’t believe thinks Varitek is good defensively. Posada is not only better, he’s way better both offensively and defensively. And for Posada to be better defensively it means Varitek must be REALLY bad. Which he is. He’s just awful.
Nervous Nelly,
which of the comparisons between the 1st place NYY and the 2nd place Boston Red Sox would you want to change?
What is the over/under on Def Con 5 troll alerts by the end of this game tonight??
Big Papi is so not even close to a HOF’er it’s ridiculous.
“Ortiz better be going there too as the best DH to play the game.”
David is in the discussion but there is a discussion if he was the best ever to play the game.
His milkshake brings all the roids to the yard.
I’m in strong agreement. A-Rod has obviously had a much better career, but you can’t argue with a 1.002 OPS and 153 OPS+.
My hope is A-Rod goes on one of those long hot streaks of his, and by the end of the year, our guy will look like a better bet going forward than their guy.
The last you’ll see of me for the series will be right before the game starts. This place will be so overrun with trolls during this series I’m not going to come anywhere near it.
If A-Rod and Clemens aren’t going into the HOF because they did steroids, there is no chance Big Pop-up is either
You’re giving the edge to Youkillis over Alex? Wow – I don’t agree one bit. It doesn’t matter – these matchup things don’t work in baseball.
I love how Francesca doesn’t mind raking the Yankees over the coals for steroids, but now that the Sox have been implicated, it’s no big deal.
Lol @ Jeter analysis…
He definitely has the EDGE
Very good post Pete! Very fair analysis.
This year Youk has had a better year than Alex, there’s no way you can argue otherwise.
Varitek has thrown out 14% of all base stealers this year. 14%.
That is one of the worst rates in all of baseball.
How have his magical game calling skills impacted Brad Penny or Smoltz? How has he nursed Clay Buchholz through his rocky starts as he adjusts to the majors? What impact did he have on getting Dice-k to throw strikes?
How is he so good behind the plate?
Just because Gammons and Rick Sutcliffe keep drilling it into viewers heads?
I hope they do give Papi a hard time whether it’s hypocricy or not.
Their fans give our guys a hard enough time.
We can play the “At least ARod did this or that” card till our heart’s content but you know something, the guy did take a lot of the heat while others have skated by. Manny’s just aloof and Ortiz a big, gentle teddy bear and ARod’s an evil phony? Is there not some hypocrisy in that?
That Dirt dog site is funny. I’t like their version of “It Is High” only more critical.
Here’s a quote from Pedro that they posted:
“There’s no crying in baseball. We won in 2004. That’s it. Are you going to tell me that the other guys, who used it on other teams are now whining? They used it, too. One thing that’s really caught my attention is — why is it all Dominicans? What’s going on? Why is it all Dominicans that all of a sudden come out positive? The last one standing might be me.
“That’s a big question to ask. What’s going on here? Why is it I’m the only one who might be left standing? All of a sudden, they’re going to come up and say: ‘Pedro [did it], too.’ That’s when I’m going to start stripping my clothes off and showing everybody I’ve never had acne on my back. If I did use it, it didn’t help me. They need to give my money back. It didn’t work.”
I’d actually like to see the press conference where Pedro starts stripping.
Would it be terribly wacky to flip-flop A-Rod and Tex against Smoltz tonight?
Just asking….
“I’d vote for Edgar Martinez”
Me too.
CB,
They keep repeating the mantra because he’s reached the “but he calls a good game” level. That’s like being a “butter face”
Diet Coke: “The Yankees have enough steroid users to make 2 lineups”
Umm outside of Arod there is not enough players for two lineups.
“CountryClub
August 6th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Pete, I disagree about the steroid chants. It’s not hypocritical to give Ortiz a taste of what Arod & Giambi had to endure.
Most Yankees fans will do it as retaliation…not as a statement on cheating.”
—-
this too !
Youk has had a way better year than Aex. Obviously Alex has had hip surgery so I’m not blaming him but Youk is raking right now and is having a great season.
Will there be a vendor hawking ‘Dominican Milkshakes’ near the Sox dugout this weekend? Hey why not? High price seats … high price service!
Peter’s nipples are the size of pancakes.
Pedro’s first comments, where he says you can’t take away or asterisk championships, are spot on. The last few comments about “why is it only Dominicans” are stupid.
Has Poopi found “the truth” yet? Didn’t think so.
For the Twins (not exactly a dumb organization) to outright release the guy and he “magically transforms” into a Fenway monster? Come on.
He’ll hear it this weekend.
Hypocrisy, Shmimocrisy.
bmq there are more stats than just HR and RBI
Youk has been much more valuable than Alex this year.
Ok, fair points about Alex and Youk……I still stand by my point that the matchup things in baseball don’t work at all. It’s just something to do to pass the time until the games start…
Bronx Jeers – we are of like minds. Both regarding sticking it to Oritz and a Pedro striptease!
Agreed … no comparison this year at 3B. Alex is recovering, and Youk is playing great. Not making any excuse for Alex’s performance, that’s just the way it is this year.
Leave the Dominican out of it. Despite those who have been outed, not fair to paint with a broad brush.
I boo Ortiz because he’s on the REd Sox, not because he may have done steroids. Do you people really care about this stuff? Get over it.
“Red Sox: Nick Green or Jed Lowrie look like they should parking Jeter’s new Ford Edge.
Edge: C’mon on now.”
Nearly fell out of my chair. Great post Pete, 10/10. Can’t wait for tonight
I wouldn’t boo any player, but Ortiz deserves jeers for being a big fat hypocrite. Some friend!
“I still stand by my point that the matchup things in baseball don’t work at all. It’s just something to do to pass the time until the games start…”
Well yeah of course. It’s not like Cano and Pedroia have to face off against each other.
Although it would be pretty fun to see a cage match between Cano and the hobbit
Start the 1918 chant.
Pete,
I agree that the steroids chant would be hypocritical.
But how about if we bring back the “1918″ chant?
‘G-N-C’ seems like a good place to start.
“What is the over/under on Def Con 5 troll alerts by the end of this game tonight??”
Not to nit-pick, but I’ve seen this error on here before. Defconn 5 is the “every things O.K.” level of Defcon-iness.
“Red Sox: Nick Green or Jed Lowrie look like they should parking Jeter’s new Ford Edge.”
Terrific! Terrific!
Of the 3 AL Central contenders, who would you guys prefer to make the playoffs?
I say Minnesota. That Tigers rotation scares the bejeezus out of me. And the White Sox offense is plenty potent.
m
August 6th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
CB,
They keep repeating the mantra because he’s reached the “but he calls a good game” level. That’s like being a “butter face”
——
You can’t predict baseball.
“Not to nit-pick, but I’ve seen this error on here before. Defconn 5 is the “every things O.K.” level of Defcon-iness.”
Perhaps Def-Con 3 for maximum levels of troll. If we are winning, I suspect it will go from troll convention to ghost-town very quickly
Nervous Nellie, by all accounts Pete grew up a Red Sox fan.
I guess that blows your ‘homer’ diatribe all to hell, now doesn’t it?
I’m most scared of the Tigers in the Cetral and least scared of Minnesota. The White Sox are all right but also don’t scare me.
“Bay will be out at least the first 2 games of the series.
Considering his current offensive woes, I can’t tell if this is a good/bad thing”
**************************************
Bay has hurt the Yankees in the 8 games played (starting with the 9th inning HR off Mo in the 1st game they played). I am glad that he is out.
I like booing.. The most fun I ever had at a non playoff game was the All Star Game last year. The ENTIRE stadium chanting Mariano and booing every time Papelbum threw a pitch was priceless.
Minnesota.
Although I hate indoor postseason games. Just seems wrong.
Pete-
Daniel Bard, not Josh Bard.
I made this mistake and my friend who is a redsox fan tore me apart for it and now I will do the same to you.
just terrible, pete
Does anyone have the ESPN Insider subscription? I’d really like to read this article http://insider.espn.go.com/esp.....ney_buster
Could you copy and paste into here maybe?
Why is it I have a bad feeling about tonight’s game.
Tom — What would be “Holy crap this is kevin youkillis bald head ugly” level of defcon-ocity?
Pete,
I think Yankee fans have the right to chant “steroids” to Big Roidy considering how much “crap” we have had to take from the Nation of idiots ever since that Mitchell Report. This isn’t about being holier than thou, or suggesting that Ortiz is any worse than our own little roider at third, A-Rod, but acknowledging that the Red Sox unblemished little world of pixy dust and cherubs flying over the head of their players was all a mirage. Plus, if there is a guy who deserves the royal treatment tonight, it’s Big Roidy. As murky as A-Rod’s “confession” was when he got caught, he at least came clean to a certain extent and took some responsibility. Ortiz slammed everyone, played the “I want the game clean because I’m clean” game, and essentially wagged his finger in everyone’s face, casting the first stone. Turns out, he was able to throw that stone unusually hard because he was all juiced up. And now, caught red handed on a list of cheats, what does the forthright, upstanding Ortiz do? No mea culpa, no “sorry to the fans and the kids whom I’ve let down” press conference, only a promise that a fat designated hitter will turn himself into Columbo and “investigate” this issue. Call me Sherlock, but I have already cracked the case: he was roiding like there was no tomorrow, and chemically turned himself from an average at best player into a legendary figure capable of hitting homers and healing lepers on the streets of Boston.
Yes, Pete, Ortiz deserves to get booed tonight, and we are just the fans to do it.
Francona with Francesa
Okay, for the WC. Do you prefer an AL West team? or an AL East team.
My vote is for Texas over Tampa/Boston.
One point in comparing the two teams that didn’t come across enough from Pete’s analysis is team defense.
This year the Sox have been a bad defensive team. Not exactly sure why. But they are at the bottom of most defensive assessment systems.
The yankees aren’t great – but as a team they are average to slightly above average in terms of team defense.
I was at the game in Fenway back in June when they brought out the steroid chant when Alex was up to bat.
Needless to say, it was like Christmas when Ortiz became a confirmed cheat, and it made me even happier knowing that hed be coming into Yankee Stadium in a few days.
No one is a hypocrite for chanting about steroids when Ortiz comes to bat. We all know the history with the Yankees and PEDs.
This is about payback, and throwing it back in the faces of all the annoying, self righteous Sox fans who truly believed there guys were clean and did it the right way.
What goes around comes around, and I think the Yankee fans that attend the games this weekend have a well deserved right to blast Mr. Roidtiz.
I have it, Allie, but I’m not sure how Pete would feel about the cut-and-paste…
new math:
2004* + 2007* = 1918
Tom in N.J.
August 6th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
“What is the over/under on Def Con 5 troll alerts by the end of this game tonight??”
Not to nit-pick, but I’ve seen this error on here before. Defconn 5 is the “every things O.K.” level of Defcon-iness.
****
This is a 10 on the Nit-Picky scale. What would be a proper level of high troll alert?
Allie:
The Hype Meter runs at the highest level whenever the Red Sox and Yankees play, a 10 on a scale of 10 even when it’s just a three-game series in April, a time when the Real Impact Meter is at a two.
But now it’s August and the two rivals are separated by 2½ games with about a third of the season remaining, and Boston and the Yankees will begin a four-game series today. The Real Impact Meter is running at an eight, and here are nine reasons why:
To read why this Yankees-Red Sox series is pivotal, plus moves, deals and the rest of Buster Olney’s blog, you must be an ESPN Insider. Insider
1. The psyche of the Yankees. After taking care of business in Toronto, as Tyler Kepner writes, the Yankees have the best record in the AL, and since they were swept by the Red Sox in early June, they are 31-16 and playing like they are the best team in the league. But they can’t beat the Red Sox, at least so far: They are winless in eight games against Boston, and they have been outscored in those games 55-31. This is no small matter, because if the Yankees had managed to just split those eight games, the race between the Red Sox and New York would be over; the Yankees would be leading Boston by 10½ games. Think of the Yankees as Tiger Woods, and the Red Sox as the troublesome 14th hole that could cost them the tournament.
2. The psyche of the Red Sox. They just got swept by the Rays in a two-game series, as Adam Kilgore writes, and they are trending in the wrong direction, having lost 10 of their past 17 games. They aren’t really hitting or pitching particularly well. Even if they just split the four games against the Yankees, they could reassert themselves in the AL East race, but if they were to lose three out of four or, perhaps, get swept, their downward spiral might accelerate.
3. The Rays and Rangers. These are the teams that are chasing the Yankees and the Red Sox in the pennant race — both within the division and in the wild card — and if either Boston or New York falters, the Rays, in particular, appear poised to zoom past and leave one of the AL East powers sitting at home when the October dance begins. The Red Sox saw first-hand Wednesday night that David Price is beginning to pull it all together, and the Rays’ athleticism makes them a scary team; their sweep of Boston this week has pulled them right back into the race in the AL East, writes Joe Henderson. It’s official, writes Gary Shelton: The Rays are in the thick of the playoff chase.
4. The Red Sox rotation. Josh Beckett, who is scheduled to pitch Friday, has been throwing well, and Jon Lester has been consistent. But beyond that, major issues have developed. John Smoltz gets the ball today in the midst of one of the worst slumps of his career, but now that he’s 42, questions abound regarding whether his stuff has flattened out permanently: He has allowed 17 runs in his past 16.2 innings, including six homers. Clay Buchholz gets the ball Saturday, on national television, and what the Red Sox saw from him in his past start must have scared them to death: He looked like the Buchholz of 2008, overloaded by indecision. The Red Sox offense handed him 14 runs in Baltimore on Sunday and still he couldn’t get through five innings to qualify for the victory. For some reason, Buchholz seems to be unconvinced that he can successfully pitch to contact with his sinker. And now Smoltz and Buchholz must try to overcome their recent troubles in the bandbox of Yankee Stadium.
5. The Joba Rules. Chamberlain is fast approaching his season’s limit of innings at about 160, so he probably won’t go beyond five or six innings tonight, or perhaps in any of his remaining starts, which will be limited. That means there will be a whole lot of outs left on the table for the bullpen.
6. The bullpens. When the Yankees and Red Sox played their first series this year, New York’s bullpen was a mess and Boston’s bullpen appeared to be the best and deepest in the majors. Since then, however, the Yankees’ relief corps has gone through a dramatic evolution, with the emergence of Phil Hughes and Dave Robertson — against whom left-handers are batting just .163 — and Mark Melancon, who hasn’t allowed any runs in his past three outings. Daniel Bard has emerged as the primary late-innings weapon for the Red Sox, but the trade of Justin Masterson and the recent struggles of Manny Delcarmen (runs allowed in three of his past four outings) has meant that Boston’s bullpen isn’t playing as deeply as it did earlier this year, and isn’t the scoreless-innings factory that it was in April and May. The Red Sox pitching depth isn’t what it once was, writes Tony Massarotti.
7. Mariano Rivera. The Yankees’ primary rivals see Rivera more than just about any other team, and they tend to have more bursts of success against history’s greatest closer than just about any team. In his one appearance against Boston this year, Rivera surrendered four hits and two runs in 1.1 innings. Rivera hasn’t allowed any runs since the All-Star break, but that all seems to go out the window when the Red Sox are involved. The Yankees used to have a similar confidence against Pedro Martinez when Martinez was the ace of the Boston staff. They didn’t always get a lot of hits against him, and sometimes they lost when he pitched, but they didn’t fear him the way other teams did, and Boston doesn’t seem to fear Rivera, either.
8. A newcomer to the rivalry. The Red Sox have added Victor Martinez since the Yankees and Boston previously played, and he has settled in quickly, hammering 10 hits in his first 21 at-bats, with an OPS of 1.190. It will be interesting to see how Terry Francona makes his choices in this series, in deciding whether to play an infield of Kevin Youkilis at first and Mike Lowell at third — the better defensive options — or Martinez at first and Youkilis at third.
9. A-Rod. He always seems to find his way into a big spot, doesn’t he? A-Rod has racked up 19 homers and 60 RBIs overall, and so far this season, he is 1-for-10 with two strikeouts against Boston (in games played not long after he returned from his hip surgery). He’s homerless in his past 15 games.
In other notes on the series, the Red Sox could be without Jason Bay, because he strained a hamstring. Boston signed Paul Byrd, writes Michael Silverman, who reads the move as a sign of concern from the Red Sox about their rotation.
Okay thanks anyways.
Hate to say this, as I’m a huge homer, but Bay over Damon seven times a week and twice on sundays. He may be injured/going through a rough streak, but the numbers really aren’t that close.
Also, Ellsbury over Melky for the defense.
Right on with the Youk over AROD call though. Youk always kills us…AROD should be good for a garbage time home run tonight though.
Thanks rebecca!
I’d be very careful asking for matchups come playoff time. In 2006 we thought the Yankees matched up perfectly with the Tigers and their high octane relief core blew the doors off of our hitters.
“I have it, Allie, but I’m not sure how Pete would feel about the cut-and-paste…”
Look in earlier thread. Someone posted it.
i always boo in advance when i’m at a game when the umpires are announced…
Hey all. I like reading but never post. But for those going to the game I would propose starting a ‘HYPOCRITE’ chant rather than a ‘STEROIDS’ chant. It sends the message of our real outrage. I don’t like that he did steroids but what was worse was how he called others out when he did the same thing
“Why is it I have a bad feeling about tonight’s game.”
Because you’re a fan. I bet Red Sox fans have a bad feeling about it, too.
It’s a pet theory of mine that real fans spend more time worrying about the chance of their team losing than they do getting excited over the chance of their team winning.
Does that make sense?
Pete-The best thing you have written all season is the following:
“SHORTSTOP
Yankees: Derek Jeter is one of the five greatest living Americans. He is the defender of all that is good and right.
Red Sox: Nick Green or Jed Lowrie look like they should parking Jeter’s new Ford Edge.
Edge: C’mon on now.”
Damon over Bay forever. Not even close.
If it gets to that point Rob, it’s too late. The terrorists will have won and we would be nothing more than a heap of radioactive glass.
Erica, 2 pregame; 1 if they sox take the lead/win; 3 when the Yankees win.
John- my thoughts exactly. Never was much of an A-rod fan, but I gained a lot of respect for him after his confession. I think he is lacking in social skills and good sense, but didn’t deserve all the abuse he has gotten while others aren’t persecuted.
m- my hope is for Texas, but I think the WC will come from the east
(By the way, if you chant “steroids” at Ortiz this weekend, you’re a huge hypocrite. Leave that to Fenway Park).
=====
Well, then, by that logic, if the fan is guilty of hypocrisy, the media is grievously guilty of it.
Fans are, by defintion, fans.
The media is supposed to maintain objectivity.
It’s a shame the ‘balance’ you demand from the fan – who isn’t paid a salary and whose LACK of objectivity actually makes the salaries of the players, organizations and writers possible – isn’t observed by those paid to be objective.
In the name of equal treatment, can we anticipate lacerating, flagellatiing posts about David Ortiz’s use of steroids from you at the same rate we were treated to the like on ARod?
In fact, shouldn’t Ortiz get rougher treatment, for being the biggest hypocrite of all, by not only denying use, but by giving his own recommendation on how harsh the sentence should be for the guilty?
So far, we’ve seen an obligatory, half-hearted scold from you and your colleagues.
Because your demand for a lack of hypocrisy from the fan, of all people, applies doubly to the media.
I am careful what I wish for. And I still do not wish to face Verlander, Jackson, and now Washburn. Does Porcello not have IP issues? Although, I wouldn’t mind facing a rookie.
Anyway, Detroit is 6 games over .500 and Minny is one game under, with the WS in between.
re: hypocracy/steroid chants/arod/papa
i think it’s really only hypocritical if we were whining about how arod was treated in fenway and other parks…
he had it coming to him and we all knew it.
This:
“It’s a shame the ‘balance’ you demand from the fan – who isn’t paid a salary and whose LACK of objectivity actually makes the salaries of the players, organizations and writers possible – isn’t observed by those paid to be objective.”
..is the best quote regarding fan-hood EVER. Thank you, bodhisattva. Couldnt have said it better myself.
Ellsbury is the 2nd worst CF in the game according to UZR this season, dont say hes top notch
Who’s this “Bookholes” that Mike F. is talking about.
And Ortiz’s comments in February and the article that he conned Howard Bryant to pen in May are the height of hypocricy.
If UZR says Ellsbury is that bad, something is very wrong. I’ve seen Ellsbury pretty often and he’s good. Maybe not top notch. But good.
Ellsbury will rob us of several hits in spectacular fashion this series. There will be a lot of cursing on the blog.
Steve
“Hate to say this, as I’m a huge homer, but Bay over Damon seven times a week and twice on sundays. He may be injured/going through a rough streak, but the numbers really aren’t that close.”
Damon: 107 Hits, 75 runs scored, 19 homers, 63 RBI, .283/.369/.508
Bay: 91 Hits, 67 runs scored, 21 Homers, 75 RBI, .252/.381/.496
Yeah, the numbers aren’t even that close.
Pete, I hope you dont mind but I will be posting that Jeter bit on the facebook walls of my red sox fans ( I will credit you obviously). Seriously, I almost spit out my lunch I was laughing so hard
Can we instantly ban Adam D. For making the moron comment of the century. In what warped state of your fragile mind is David Ortiz even on the cusp of being considered for the hall of fame.
Easily the single most ridiculous comment ever.
funny comment left in the NY Times comments section re: Twitter denial-of-service attack:
Oh no! However will we learn what the terminally self-obsessed are eating for breakfast?? Call out the National Guard!
Just because Ellsbury is fast and dives doesnt make him a top-notch CF
bodhi makes a good point there. We ARE fans. We’re supposed to be biased. We pick a team and support them; that’s sort of our job.
Ellsbury is fast, covers a lot of gorund, occasionally dives, and can steal HR’s.
Why don’t the Yanks give Kronke in AAA a chance? He has an ERA under 1 and does not give up many homers. He does give up his share of walks, but is young (25yr) and is a grinder. I have a feeling he would give them more innings than Mitre and keep them in the ballgame. That is all they need for a 5th starter right now.
Aside from Tony Mazzarotti, there hasn’t been a single national or local columnist demanding Ortiz come clean. Not one.
No Pedro Gomez or Bob Holtzman from ESPN trailing Ortiz like they did Bonds and Arod.
Same offense, two different ways of covering the offender.
Coincidence or cover up? I choose the latter.
It’s the height of hypocrisy to treat Ortiz differently than Bonds or Arod.
It’s being done because Ortiz has been nicer to the media than the other two guys.
It’s why the selective prosecution by the media if the guys who used is a bigger joke than the entire issue of PED use in the game.
The soapbox playing field is very uneven here.
Say what you want about UZR, but it HATES Ellsbury this season. His range, apparently, is god-awful which leads him to be one of the worst defensive CFers in the game. -15.3 UZR/150 is terrible.
Francona made it sound like there is an injury concern with someone other than Bay tonight.
JD Drew is the money guess because, well, he’s JD Drew.
Did someone else tweak something during last nights Sox/Rays game?
Cashman on with Francesa now.
Cash on with Francesa
I’m trying to be openminded about UZR, but certain things just don’t make sense to me. It’s hard for me to figure out how Elssbury, with his speed, could have such apparently bad range.
pat,
I think it happened this morning when Drew woke up on the wrong side of the bed.
I would like nothing more to see Drew swing at breaking stuff all day. But I could live without seeing him in the lineup.
SJ what do you think about the Yankees trying to sign the defector Marti? Could he be ready soon to take the 5th spot?
Good point from saucY.
We expected Arod to get crucified at Fenway and they didn’t disappoint.
Jeez Arod got booed at home for eons. Still does sometimes.
No harm in letting Ortiz know he’s viewed as a cheater as well.
If it makes Ortiz feel uncomfortable, well that’s sort of the whole point of jeering an opposing player.
The fans have a right to give Papi a hard time this weekend. Keep it clean, keep it “job related” is all you can demand.
Because being fast doesnt mean you have great range. It’s about readng the ball off the bat, taking good routes to the ball, getting good jumps, etc.
Want to know how ridiculous Pete’s comment on Varitek’s “better” defense is? Here’s exactly how ridiculous that comment is:
http://riveraveblues.com/2009/.....ent-515025
Varitek is the worst defensive catcher in the league.
“Damon chases after fly balls like Helen Keller”,
The best possible description of the follies in left this season….Peter, congrats.
I agree about the Steroid chant re: Ortiz, though he definitely should be heckled to death. I think the more appropriate chant, given his prior comments, is a “HIP-O-CRIT” chant throughout all of his at bats.
(1) Dustin Pedroia looks really bad with his new haircut/buzzcut. Is this the new Youkoulis look?
(2) Yeah that Jason Bay just blows Damon out of the water—NOT. Hammy/quads are notoriously tricky, and Jason may not even play until next week.
(3) If ARod hits a homerun, I hope Sterling refrains from the “ABomb for ARod comment” on today, August 6th, the 64th anniversary of the A bombing of Hiroshima. If he does, do you think Matsui will charge the broadcast booth, a la Prince Fielder?
The Sox are probably looking for a way to bring Reddick back up. The only possible way to do that would be by placing someone on the DL.
I probably come off sounding like a conspiracy theorist, but the fact is sending Reddick down the other day leaves them w/out a legit LF if Bay is unable to go.
I go to get a coffee across the street and there are 5 blog posts and come back to 150… wtf
PitsYanks,
Thats a good catch there on #3
How ironic that the people calling for restraint in regards to Ortiz and steroid use are the ones that never miss a chance to remind the board about Rodriguez’ use. Talk about hypocrisy?
Ortiz has had 4 HOF seasons plus a couple fairly respectable ones. He’s in his 11th major league season now, not counting ’97 & ’99 when he played a handful of games in the majors. By my guesstimation, he’d need to finish his career with at least 5 more HOF seasons to be considered for the HOF.
Ortiz being only a DH now, I don’t see it happening w/o more Dominican Milkshakes or a w/o starting to hang out with Alex’s cousin.
6 worst CFers this year: Chris Young, Adam Jones, Victorino, Fowler, Ellsbury, Wells. Proving speed doesnt equal good defensive player
Sterling will do the A-bomb chant but he won’t mean anything by it. I doubt he realzes that today is significant at all.
Diet coke expressing his Youuuse love to Cash
Personally, I think Pete owes Hellen Keller an apology. I’ve got my ouija board if you want to get in touch, Pete.
I agree with most of those points, although I’d take Ellsbury slightly over Melky (more for the impact having him on base has on the pitcher facing the next couple hitters), Cano over Pedroia (better both offensively and defensively, especially when Pedroia’s on the road) and I’d take Posada by a large amount over Varitek. Tek is a shell of his former self both behind the plate and in the box.
I’m sure the Yankee fans are going to boo Ortiz heavily and who can blame them. The only thing I’m worry about is Joba. I have a bad feeling about what he is going to do tonight. I’m just hoping he is not going to hurt somebody seriously. If he does all hell will break lose and there is going to be a major brawl. The guy has major issues. Last time after he threw over Longoria’s head and the rays plunked Tex he had this murderous look in his face like he wanted to hurt somebody badly. I noticed that he had to fight himself not to do anything.
“Say what you want about UZR, but it HATES Ellsbury this season. His range, apparently, is god-awful which leads him to be one of the worst defensive CFers in the game. -15.3 UZR/150 is terrible.”
And last year UZR really liked Ellsbury. His UZR/150 was 6.9.
So now he’s currently 2 WAR worse defensively compared to last year?
Takes a very convoluted explanation to make sense of that or you can fall back on the old saw of “seriously small samples.”
In other fields if metrics behaved this way people would have serious questions about the methodology involved with their construction and the conceptual basis underlying the metric.
Yanks take 3 of 4, I’m with Pete.
I agree with Chris Shearn. Booing is fine and should be expected. Chanting steroids is being a bit hypocritical. Chanting hypocrite? Perfect.
That’s Sox Nation for ya, GB.
Remember all the talk before Ortiz’s wrist injury/Manny trade?
That they were the best 3-4 combo in the history of the game? Yah. Not hearing that so much anymore.
There is a big discrepancy in the realities of the media treatment of the Yankees and Red Sox in regards to PED useage, SJ.
Think about it. In the past half year or so: a player came foreword and basically said the Sox team Dr. told the players how to use steroids; 2 Red Sox security guards who are reported to be ‘close’ to both Manny and Ortiz get questioned for their ties to steroids; and Ortiz and Manny failed the ’03 test. Yet, there is no “sportscenter special”. No, Tom Verducci “they now mean nothing in the grand scheme of things anymore” hit pieces in S.I. No sit downs with Bob Costas. No accountability.
Instead of steroids, the 1918 chant has to come back. Everyone expects the steroids chants. It would be nothing new. The return of the 1918 chant wouldn’t make any sense and it would indirectly say that our titles should get asterisks too, but it would drive Red Sox fans crazy and although they would laugh it off, it would definitely annoy anyone who were on those 2004 and 2007 teams. Bill Simmons would post roughly 50 tweets during the game and write a 100,000 word column for tomorrow if Yankee Stadium chants “1918″ tonight.
Oh, boy.
On paper the Yankees win. Unfortunately they play these games on the field. Boston has the upper hand, albeit they are as damaged as the Yankees were when they amassed the 8-0 streak. Boston was fortunate to win 3 of those games specifically, but they did win them. Now it is up to the Yankees to start evening these things out a bit. I like Pete’s 3 out of 4 prediction, but I’d like to state that if the Yankees win Game 1 they will sweep all 4. If the Yanks were to lose all 4 games then that won’t be the worst thing except a meltdown in the press & fans.
CB-Yeah, I’ve noticed some weird things with UZR. It gives Tex and Cano subaverage range, gives Ellsbury awful range, improved Jeter’s range by what seems to be way too much (I’m not saying he’s done bad at short this year but the jump from last year to this one seems too high)…
Something is not right there.
Actually, there would be no surprise if Baldelli or Drew can’t play that Boston puts Youkilis in one of the corner outfield spots. He’s played them before.
Pete,
There is more truth in your humor than in most writers “alleged” factual based reporting. Great job!
As for Big Papi….he has been skating in the broadcast world in Boston. You would think there has been some news blackout in Massholeachussetts. So the big,lying sack of dung deserves some grief…. especially since he did the Rafael Palmiero dance and then criticized other players.
Plus he is currently getting ready to blame the whole thing on his famous “Dominican Milkshakes” that he thought were approved by WeightWatchers. Big fraud just like the fans up here.
SJ44,
Shaunesse or what ever his name is also wrote about Ortiz. Give me a break. The Boston media did trash Ortiz even to this day about not saying anything yet.
Why would Baldelli not be able to play?
Cash on with Mike – Darn, I missed what he had to say about AJ and CC…..anyone ? Thanks!
At least Hellen Keller had an excuse for her poor play in left.
I still think the Damon / Fred G. Sanford comparison was better.
ANSKY
August 6th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
That’s Sox Nation for ya, GB.
————————————————————
It’s not Red Sox fans or trolls that I was referring to.
Would someone listening to C-Money please summarize what he says? Thanks.
“Varitek is the worst defensive catcher in the league.”
No he’s not. Or at least, that’s not what you can conclude from the available data.
He has been amongst the worst at throwing out runners.
But that’s just one component of catcher defense.
Just because that is the only quantifiable aspect of catcher defense doesn’t mean that all of catcher defense can be reduced to throwing.
the thing i’d love to see this weekend is that we swipe bases a lot, because ive watched alot of redsox games and i constantly see people stealing off tek
Chanting ‘hypocrite’ … I like it.
You could also chant ‘milkshakes’
Someone mentioned chanting ’1918′ again, implying that the 04/07 championships can be dismissed. I like that idea, but it would take too many brain cells for the average Sox fan (especially a drunk & obnoxious one) to parse that kind of a connection.
Then again, Sox Nation were chanting ‘steroids’ all those times when their guys were also doing them? Well then … I guess it’s perfectly alright to do it!
CB-That’s the most important component of catcher defense though.
Here’s the totally ridiculous stats. From RAB:
“All Star Catcher Jason Varitek has been the main culprit, allowing 69 steals in 83 attempts, or 85.6%. In addition to leaving his mask on during a fight, he’s also hitting just .212-.356-.349 since May 30th, and the team’s 3-4-5 starters have a combined 5.72 ERA. What exactly does he do well? Forgive me as I digress.”
So whatever he doeswith his other aspects of defense, CS% is SO bad I think it warrants worst defensive cather in the league status.
Cash just said that Joba’s innings limit will be strict but they will skip him here and there.
It’s time to play “Guess the Line Up”
(Sorry for the delay- big internet outtage)
Post your line ups to me here (or new threads as they come up) with players AND positions
Please note- I am extremely busy today so it is very important you make sure I have your line ups when I post the people in so far. Also do NOT post on an old thread if there is a new one.
If you have already posted a line up today, I ignored it
Guess the Line Up ends at 3:40. No submissions allowed after that time
The problem with the 1918 chant, is that you can’t take those championships away. Just like you can’t take away the championships of the late 90′s/2000.
Although, “1978″ sounds a lot better than “1918″.
Sorry for all my typos.
Erica-
I raced home from my interview just so I could play guess the lineup for the first time this week!
Jeter – SS
Damon – LF
Teixeira – 1b
A-Rod – 3b
Matsui – DH
Posada – C
Cano – 2b
Swisher – RF
Cabrera – CF
M – someone will have to think of a good one then … hmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Erica,
My line-up. Thanks
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Tex 1B
Alex 3B
Jorge C
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Melky CF
Erica-
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Tex 1b
A-Rod 3b
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2b
Swisher LF
Melky CF
Ramey- I am flatterred and horrified all at the same time
“That’s the most important component of catcher defense though.”
Not really. That might be your opinion but I don’t think that perspective is universally shared.
I don’t agree with that.
Cash don’t listen to him, he’s going to tell you Arroyo!
Ramey, you just beat me. Thought I’d be 1st.
Ramey and I think alike.
No surprise. I think Joe is going to pull out all the stops and bring his “A” lineup today.
Who cares about the steroids already? I’m glad the media isn’t making a bigger deal out of it, because quite frankly, I’m sick of hearing about it. Unless you live in your own little world, how could you not notice the changes in Ortiz?
He goes from being a nothing to hitting 50 HRs? I’m mean you don’t need a degree to put the pieces together.
It has nothing to do with media bias. Baroid and A-Rod were/are chasing history. The precious HR Record. What is Ortiz chasing? Another quarter pounder with cheese?
As a Yankees fan, I don’t care what he did 6 years ago.. I don’t need a public apology. I don’t need to hear him talking about it. I simply could care less. Focus on now.. Not 6 years ago. It should be about Baseball and about the beating the Yankees are going to put on the Sawks this weekend. Then after this weekend, everyone in the National Media can talk about the AL Wild Card race between BOS and TB.
Ramey interviewing for a new girlfriend? Sounds like a reality show!
Erica:
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodrigues 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Canó 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
SS Jeter
LF Damon
1B Tex
3B Arod
DH Matsui
C Posada
2B Cano
RF Swisher
CF Melky
This feels like a winner
Wait. Diet Coke says Youuuse too?
How come so many media types don’t know how to talk?
He said he wasn’t going to give up Jackson and/or Montero for Washburn (he didn’t say his name but you know who he was talking about).
Going for two in a row.
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Texeira 1b
A-Rod 3b
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2b
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
I’m a little bit edgy on the 7 & 8 spots,but I’m giving it my best shot.
The Entire Stadium should give Ortiz a standing ovation everytime he comes to the plate. For like 10 minutes each time. And then demand a curtain call every time he heads to the dug out. I dont know why. Just seems like it would bug everyone else out.
Jeter-SS
Damon-LF
Tex-1B
ARod-3b
Posada-C
Matsui-DH
Cano-2B
Swisher-RF
Melky-CF
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Tex 1B
Alex 3B
Jorge C
Matsui DH
Swisher RF
Cano 2B
Melky CF
So Cash has the checkbook but no overdraft protection. Washburn $ fit the budget but Halladay would have been a stretch.
Fran-
It was definitely close! I figured if I made sure I was around a computer by 2pm after a job interview that there was no way i’d let myself be anytihng but first! haha
CB-What do you think IS the most important component of catcher defense then?
Even if Varitek does everything else perfectly, they really justrun wild on him. He’s not only bad at throwing out baserunners he is, to use Francessa’s word, ATROCIOUS.
Projected lineup:
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
A-Rod 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
Bonus: Yanks win 8-3, A-Rod hits a 2-run HR in the 1st inning.
I haven’t been this excited about going to a Yanks game in about 2 years….good timing as I’ll be celebrating my birthday tonight at the Stadium.
Today is easy
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Tex 1b
A-Rod 3b
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2b
Swisher LF
Melky CF
Erica my lineup guess:
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
Lineup… Going for back to back wins.
SS Jeter
LF Damon
1B Teixera
3B A-Rod
DH Matsui
C Posada
2B Cano
RF Swisher
CF Melky
Basic “A” Lineup.. No messing around tonight.
M-
haha actually i wish! i was interviewing with the bridgeport sound tigers in fact lol
Erica-heres my winner. Im thinking Girardi will stick with the regulars.
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
But in all seriousness, what if Sunday night they gave Ortiz a standing ovation every at bat. What would the national announcers say? It would be awesomely ironic and weird.
Ramey,
Hope that the job interview went well. I am unemployed and looking and it is really frustrating.
Cash said that Hughes will not leave the bullpen this year. He said Ace is an option…but not what he would want to do.
Ellsbury = cocaine addict frat boy date rapist
Whats nice is that everyone has the same lineup – shows that Girardi has been consistent this year (unlike last year) when he mixed and match way too much.
If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.
Jon Locke
Yes, definitely focus on the current season not 6 years ago. It’s the only way to stay focused on winning this season. People just want to poke fun at the guy for 6 years ago while they’re at it.
Evan D: Will we get to here your name for your birthday during the zales fan marqueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?
Zach
August 6th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Because being fast doesnt mean you have great range. It’s about readng the ball off the bat, taking good routes to the ball, getting good jumps, etc.
======
Zach,
You just cannot disabuse some of this belief.
“Getting a good jump” is apparently as elusive to the eye of some spectators as it is to the eye of the ballplayer who does not get a good jump.
I have given up; it is untranslatable.
I think that what happens is, people listen to “experts” and “scouts” or “byline writers” and assume an invincable knowledge. Even if reality contradicts the observations.
For some reason, they “see” what they’ve “heard” and if what they “see” changes, their eye – or belief – can’t seem to make the adjustment.
I guess it doesn’t matter, as long as the management of your team does not allow it’s decision making to be affected by emotionally-driven views of the fan that ticks this way – which is many.
As long as people find their enjoyment watching baseball.
Hope we don’t get rain tonight – I’m in unprotected seats the whole weekend and we don’t want Joba to have to sit around.
Go Yanks.
I wish it was possible to get the entire stadium on the same page easily. Booing is so cliche` and boring. How much better would it be if the entire stadium hisssssed at Ortiz. Or laughed. Or mooed. Or made high pitch screech noises. It would be so much cooler.
Fran-
I know how you feel! I’m ready to stand on the side of the street with a “will work for food” sign. All you can do is just keep applying and hoping somebody takes a shot!
In the words of the French speaking, sight challenged, stat hating weirdo who broadcasts the games on WCBS radio:
“You can’t predict baseball.”
Learn it. Know it. Live it.
Smart comment by Cash. He said something like well if you go by the logic that we can’t win in the playoffs because we can’t beat the Red Sox than the Red Sox can’t win in the playoffs because they have a worse record against teams not like the Yankees.
Forget chants, I want to see Bucky Dent throw out the first pitch.
Happy birthday,Evan D!
What if the entire league could get together and agree to intentionally walk him at every single at bat…so he would never get another stat again…and it would appear that he never really existed from now on…
Pete – who are the other 4?
Derek Jeter is one of the five greatest living Americans.
=========================================================
I’d be interested to know who the other 4 are…any guesses?
Also do you think girardi pulls a Joe Torre (aka sleeping at the wheel)…and doesn’t run on varitek at every opportunity he can get…like torre did when he refused to bunt on schilling and his ketchuped ankle..
Wow- every single person in so far has chosen one of two line ups
What if the entire league could get together and agree to intentionally walk him at every single at bat…so he would never get another stat again…and it would appear that he never really existed from now on…
They should just let him reach on error then.
because walking him for the rest of his career will give him a record breaking OBP%
But I see Elssbury making good plays all the time. He seems to have no probelm with getting jumps.
bodhi, I rememeber you used to argue that Gardner got bad jumps and took bad routes. Yet he has fantstic range according to UZR and arm nowithstanding is one of the best defensive CF’ers in the league, much better than Melky, who is pretty good himself.
UZR just seems to have holes to me.
Ellsbury takes bad routes and he also gets bad jumps. His speed allows him to make up for his shortcomings.
Haha – Thanks CM
My gift is a Joba No Hitter tonight. Fine, I’ll settle for 7 strong and a win.
Pete,
There is more truth in your humor than in most writers “alleged” factual based reporting. Great job!
As for Big Papi….he has been skating in the broadcast world in Boston. You would think there has been some news blackout in Ma. So the big,lying sack of puppypoo deserves some grief…. especially since he did the Rafael Palmiero dance and then criticized other players.
Plus he is currently getting ready to blame the whole thing on his famous “Dominican Milkshakes” that he thought were approved by WeightWatchers. Big fraud just like the fans up here.
Pete,
I enjoyed the post but I disagree with your assessment at Catcher. Posada is on another level than Varitek, as Varitek might be the most overrated player of the last several years. Sabrmetricians do not yet have a great way to evaluate catcher’s defense and C-ERA has been thrown out the window.
There is no evidence that Varitek does anything exceptionally well behind the plate. He is atrocious at holding/throwing out runners, and there is no evidence that he calls a good game (Lester/Beckett are terrific, Smoltz/Penny/Bucholtz not so much).
On the offensive side, Posada is an all-star, whereas for the past few years, Varitek has negative offensive value.
it’s not even close.
No one is giving Hinske a shot at right???
Jeter SS
Damno LF
Tex 1B
A-Rod 3B
Posada C
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Hinske RF
Melky CF
Today’s line-up will be:
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Tex 1B
A-Rod 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Melky CF
“The problem with the 1918 chant, is that you can’t take those championships away. Just like you can’t take away the championships of the late 90’s/2000.
Although, “1978? sounds a lot better than “1918?.”
Of course. It’s a completely illogical chant. But it will infuriate Red Sox fans and possibly annoy players who were on the ’04 and ’07 teams.
I also like the idea of giving Ortiz a standing ovation and cheering for the curtain call whenever he makes an out. Anything but a varation of the “Steroids” chant. Everyone is expecting that.
Jeter – SS
Damon – LF
Teixeira – 1b
A-Rod – 3b
Matsui – DH
Posada – C
Cano – 2b
Swisher – RF
Cabrera – CF
Sterling: “Boy I tell you Suzyn. That’s baseball. You just can’t figure this game out. Ha, ha. Oh I wish one day someone would explain it to me….”
Waldman: “I know, I know…”
The Yanks should/need to take 3 out of 4. But that’s why they play the games – anything can happen. Hope it’s at least a good, well played game tonight.
I predict this weekend will go a lot like the weekend in Fenway 2 summers ago.
We play today.. We win today.
Did Cash just say Pena coming back when they go back to 1 pitchers?
No one should chant steroids tonight – we had our fair share of those.
But everyone should boo Ortiz bigtime.
These matchups don’t and won’t mean much if our pitchers don’t pitch well.
Pitcher vs Hitter is what really matters…
We should be happy if V-Tek catches instead of V-Mart; V-mart should be catching at least 50% of their games IMHO.
“Also do you think girardi pulls a Joe Torre (aka sleeping at the wheel)…and doesn’t run on varitek at every opportunity he can get…like torre did when he refused to bunt on schilling and his ketchuped ankle..”
Trust me, you will see Jeter,Damon,A-Rod,etc. all running this series. But,this is where not having Gardner really hurts. I could see Pena getting called up soon.
Ramiro Pena is coming up says Cash
Cash just committed to bringing Pena up when they send the 13th pitcher down
When they go back to 12 pitchers
Yeah this should be a slam dunk.
I’ll ride the same lineup to my first correct guess.
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
X factor could be if anyone on the bench has a good history against Smoltz but I don’t see that.
Guess I’ll play
Jeter ss
Damon lf
Texy 1b
A-Rod 3b
Matsui dh
Posada c
Cano 2b
Swishy rf
Melky cf
So basically, what mostly everyone else has been saying.
I know many of you have already seen it – but…
this site is fantastic (especially for a Sox fan site)
http://bostondirtdogs.com/
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
m
The problem with the 1918 chant, is that you can’t take those championships away. Just like you can’t take away the championships of the late 90’s/2000.
__
I’m not a big fan of chants, but if I was, I would chanted: “Tainted…tainted…tainted…”
When El Nino arrives it will make for the best bench the Yankees have had in quite some time.
Another incredible stat and Tek’s pretty awful defense: Of his fourteen throw outs (out of 83 attempts) six were pickoffs by Red Sox pitchers.
“I also like the idea of giving Ortiz a standing ovation and cheering for the curtain call whenever he makes an out. Anything but a varation of the “Steroids” chant. Everyone is expecting that.”
———
sounds good to me.
Ortiz is a complete joke. Let’s have some fun at his expense
We are just trying to make your life easier Erica
Actually given how we’ve been playing recently it actually feels fair to say that there isn’t a single position player where i give them the edge. We are their equal or better everywhere
The penn I think is equal and our starters are better BUT maybe their aces are better than ours but our no 3 and 4 are so much better that it more than compensates for that
Im going with the A line-up today
The Great Living American(i’m still laughing at this)SS
Johnny “NY is better” Damon LF
Go Tweet yourself Mr. Henry 1B
Going to break the HR drought tonight 3B
Godzilla DH
Clearly I’m a better catcher than v-tek C
I no fear RISP 2B
Swishalicious RF
The Melkman CF
Francesa lost a lot of weight…for him.
# Richie August 6th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Francesa lost a lot of weight…for him.
He sounds sick to be honest
The Red Sox are calling up Josh Reddick.
in order to make room, they need to either DL Jason Bay, JD Drew, or send down Billy Traber (which makes less sense because their bullpen has been used quite a bit the past couple games)
stay tuned….
http://www.boston.com/sports/b.....n_way.html
Just a lot of 1918 chants. That should settle the nerves of Gammons for awhile.
“Francesa lost a lot of weight…for him.”
How much? Has he lost a full Edwar?
Did anyone else catch the base running stats ESPN threw on the screen last night? Who cares if Ellsbury can steal at will, the rest of the team can’t run at all. To top it off, Matsui could steal on Varitek. They are last in stealing and defending the steal. Jeter, Damon, Arod and Melky should all have green lights this series. Even Tex can get in on it if he picks his spots.
gotta go w/ the standard too
SS the Edge
LF Erica’s PBF
1B Tex
3B A-rod
DH Godzilla
C Posada
2B Cano
RF Swishalicious
CF Melkman
Great interview with Cashman. Almost an hour long.
More on Varitek’s defensive awfulness. This from Jamal G. on RAB:
“Jason Varitek threw out Carlos Pena last night. Why is that significant? It broke a string of twenty-seven successful stolen base attempts with The Heart of the Nation behind the plate.
All Star Catcher Jason Varitek has been the main culprit, allowing 69 steals in 83 attempts
Of those fourteen throw-outs by Varitek, six were pick-offs by Red Sox pitchers.”
Varitek is bad.
Wow, Cashman has been talking for a while and I’m not falling asleep. He sounds more lively today.
“Who cares if Ellsbury can steal at will, the rest of the team can’t run at all.”
———–
it makes the handling of Julio Lugo even more suspicious.
Is Nick Green better than Lugo on offense? No.
Is Nick Green better than Lugo on defense? No.
Is Nick Green better than Lugo on the basepaths? No.
Did the Red Sox play the Sesame Street game “One of these things is not like the other” between Lowell, Youkilis, Varitek, Nick Green, and Julio Lugo?
Maybe?
Do you guys really hate Manny Ramirez? I hateee Varitek, Ortiz, Lowell, Beckett…Pedroia…Papelbonx10, but I really can’t get myself to hate Manny, even when he was on Boston. Maybe its his I dont give a !#@$ im gonna do things my own way always attitude. I just can’t hate him.
“Even Tex can get in on it if he picks his spots.”
Posada and Molina can get in on it if they pick their spots. That’s how bad he is.
no need for a steroids chant for Ortiz. the better plan is to BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO him loudly each and everytime he appears on the field, at the plate, etc….
That was a great interview. I don’t care what anyone else says, Cash has done a great job and I hope he stays here for a long while win or lose this year.
Here’s who is in so far for “Guess the Line Up”
No submissions after 3:40
Ramey, WTTCTOHA, Rebecca, Dan the Man, CM, Evan D, Yankee Ray, Andrew, Jon Locke, Ben, The Fair Pole, YanksFan, Bronx Jeers, SA, Nick, NYY626 (all the same)
Fran, Roger Maris, Ray VT (same)
Joe in Utica
Yeah I hate Manny. I hate Youk. I hate Beckett. And my least favorite player of all time (and this includes players like Schilling and Pedro) is the Papelscum.
“The Red Sox are calling up Josh Reddick.”
I knew something was up when Francona said Bay is definitely out tonight and line-ups would be posted after they checked in with a few players.
Although, “1978? sounds a lot better than “1918?.”
78′?
I’m sticking with 98′ as the go to year.
Maybe even 99′. Didn’t McNamee come in 2000? Am i misremembering?
The only way Boston could recall Reddick is to DL a player . They can’t recall him for 10 days by just sending somebody down.
Yes, I dislike Manny and the attitude you described is exactly the reason why.
Here’s my breakdown:
CF – Edge Red Sox
RF – Push
LF – Push
3B – Push
SS – Edge Yankees
2B – Slight Edge Red Sox
1B – Edge Yankees
C – Edge Yankees
DH – Slight Edge Yankees
SP – Slight Edge Yankees
MR – Edge Red Sox
CL – Slight Edge Yankees
Manager – Edge Red Sox
BENCH – Push
INTANGIBLES – Edge Red Sox
Prediction – Yankees and Sox split 4 games…
GB
Francona implied they might have an injury concern they needed to check on other than Bay when he was on with Francesa.
it makes the handling of Julio Lugo even more suspicious.
Is Nick Green better than Lugo on offense? No.
Is Nick Green better than Lugo on defense? No.
Is Nick Green better than Lugo on the basepaths? No.
Did the Red Sox play the Sesame Street game “One of these things is not like the other” between Lowell, Youkilis, Varitek, Nick Green, and Julio Lugo?
Maybe?
========================
Nick Green is white. Remember, this is the Red Sox. Whitey McWhite is the real GM.
“but I really can’t get myself to hate Manny, even when he was on Boston. Maybe its his I dont give a !#@$ im gonna do things my own way always attitude. I just can’t hate him.”
————
you just don’t know him well enough.
he really is a self-centered jerk.
Ramey, WTTCTOHA, Rebecca, Dan the Man, CM, Evan D, Yankee Ray, Andrew, Jon Locke, Ben, The Fair Pole, YanksFan, Bronx Jeers, SA, Nick, NYY626 (all the same)
____________________________________________________________
haha. Hopefully we have a lot of winners tonite
That was one of the best interviews I’ve heard Cashman give. He was very open about some of the trade deadline stuff and just how they think and operate in general. Anyone that doesn’t think he does a good job can’t appreciate the amount of pressure he has to be in charge of an organization of this caliber.
Lucco,
in all fairness, Lowell is Cuban… but the Lugo move really was peculiar.
jeter 6
damon 7
tex 3
alex 5
posada 2
matsui x
swisher 9
cano 4
cabrera 8
no messing around
Prediction – Swisher steals 8 bases tonight
Almost an hour Cash interview and no mention of Alex, his injury or any controversy.
We’ve come a long way baby! Team baseball!
I dont like the “Steroids” chant for Ortiz either.
maybe “Big Phony” ?
pat
August 6th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
GB
Francona implied they might have an injury concern they needed to check on other than Bay when he was on with Francesa.
————————————————————
The only one that I can think of is Drew, unless there’s a pitcher that’s “hurt”.
NYY626-
Upstate Kate is on that list for that line up too.
I would have chosen that line up myself if I allowed myself to play the game.
I had a feeling that would be the popular line up choice
aHH! I missed the Cashman interview! How can I hear it now?!
GB7,
right – and doesn’t it need to be of the same position?
so Drew or Bay qualify.
but no Traber.
Peter Rabbit
http://www.wfan.com/
should be there soon
Cash said Halladay was impossible because it would have cost $10M (salary + luxury tax hit) for 2 months. Don’t hammer me over the #s, those were Cashman’s words, not mine.
The quote of the day from Cashman: “This job will kill you.”
Yikes.
No one seems to be making a big deal of this, but Muhammed Ali will be honored at the Stadium tonight. I can’t wait to see that unfold.
*Muhammad Ali
Jeter
Damon
Teix
Arod
Matsui
Jorge
Cano
Swish
Melky
Thanks Carlos!
2B: Pedroia over Cano!????
Pete I think you do not realize how much Fenway and the Green Monster has helped Pedroia (who is an average to slightly above average second basement). Just look at his Home/Away Splits!!!
CF: Tie?!!?!?
Melky actually has a better defensive metric than Ellsbury in CF this year, and Jacoby has a .763 OPS! Melky? A .798!!
- And can you please stop saying we are hypocrites if we make fun of Ortiz using roids? ARod goes to Fenway and gets abused for taking roids, and Ortiz comes to the Stadium and we aren’t allowed to do it? Why not?
It’s like someone calling you out and making fun of your mom, and then just letting it slide and not retaliating… makes no sense.
Whaat they both did was wrong….ARod got the treatment in Fenway, Ortiz is supposed to get a pass? I lost you…
Pete – No blog poll of what everyone’s prediction is for this series?
3-1 Yanks.
John in NC-
YOU NEED TO LIST POSITIONS
This is an official rule
Lisa from Whitestone; my head hurts listening to her.
Great comparisons Pete and I agree. Let’s hope the Yankees can hold it together and play the great ball they are capable of. No imploding! I wanna see these games on Yankees Classics! Go Yanks!
A summer free of Lisa from Whitestone has been a pleasure.
Oh No. Lisa from Whitestone on the FAN
thanks Pete. Go Yanks
Oh noooo…
‘Liser (Lisa) in Whitestone’ is back on the fan.
As a whole, the Yankees have a better bench than Boston… Same with the bullpen…… don’t forget Boston just traded away Masterson out of their bullpen….
I’m cracking up at my desk refreshing this page and seeing several “Lisa in Whitestone” comments.
Eric,
Thanks as always…
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Texeira 1b
A-Rod 3b
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2b
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
Ellsbury’s defense has been far from top notch this year. His UZR/150 is at a putrid -15.3
There are so many bad Manny stories out there, it takes no effort to find enough to turn you off from him forever.
He’s the type of guy who’ll go out to dinner w/the guys from the clubhouse, and stick them with the bill.
He’s a step back in the evolutionary chain.
Lloyd – their pen is still better than ours. We have 2 lock down reliable guys that I would take over all of their guys.
But they have great depth and Masterson was the bad apple. They have like 6 guys with ERA’s under 3. Masterson’s ERA was almost 5.
William Buckner- You’re welcome
JOSH in NC- You are missing positions and I am ignoring your guess until its reposted
Prediction: Yankees over Boston 4-3 in 12 innings. I’m going to call Tex with the walkoff HR.
my guess:
SS Jeter
LF Damon
1B Tex
3B Alex
DH Matsui
RF Swisher
2B Cano
4B Posada
CF Cabrera
Doesn’t mean Yanks can’t hit them. We hit Ramirez pretty good last time, Bard throws hard but he’s a rookie, any Red Sox fan knows to hold their breath this year with papelbon (although I think he is a great closer), and I’m ready for the inevitable Matsui HR off Okajima. I smell that one coming.
No one cares about Lisa in Whitestone updates!
or Do they?
lol… Masterson was not the bad apple… he shut down the Yankees last year I can remember that distinctly… the talent level in their bullpen just went down after he left that’s all I know… Okajmia, Saito, Ramirez these guys are not intimidating in the slightest… outside of Papelbon the Yankees don’t care about the Sox bullpen I promise
Joba’s line 3 runs over 7 innings Smoltz’s line 3 runs over six innings. Ace pitches a scoreless 8th Mo with a scoreless 9th and 10th and Coke pitches the 11th (I know he’s or lefty guy but Joe trusts him more than Bruney or Melancon).
Walkoff HR off of Bard.
Matt
August 6th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Ellsbury’s defense has been far from top notch this year. His UZR/150 is at a putrid -15.3
———————————-
I agree Ellsbury is overrated. Both Gardner and Melky are better defensively than Ellsbury.
and lets not give the Sox a reason to put in Papelbon – sorry but the kid gives me the creeps
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
A-Rod 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
Wait till they come to OUR house AGAIN
August 6th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Prediction: Yankees over Boston 4-3 in 12 innings. I’m going to call Tex with the walkoff HR.
____________________________________________________________
I want a walk off so bad this weekend ( preferably off papelbon). I am addicted to the pies
Ortiz is going to adress the media today at 3.30.
Going to the game tonight and i’m pumped up, will booo papi all night long… LETS GO YANKEES!!!
I’ll take any win. I’m just predicting a walkoff because whenever these two teams play each other neither one can seem to go quietly.
I predict that Joba plunks Youkilis or Ortiz……
I envy all you peope who have somehow, some way managed to get tickets to Yankees-Red Sox.
I envy all you *people*
you can’t predict baseball
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Tex 1B
A-Rod 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Swisher RF
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Abe…ummm…. just because BOS has one starter on the bench along with 3 scrubs, they are better than a Yankee bench that has quality 1-3?
It’s called depth…and the Yankees have the advantage.
Go on stubhub you can get them right now.
Pete, ARod’s OBP is actually .392, not .379.
TIME FOR #27
August 6th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Going to the game tonight and i’m pumped up, will booo papi all night long… LETS GO YANKEES!!!
————————————————————
“No…no…don’t shoot (boo) Mongo. You’ll only make him mad.”
Not tonight….Smoltz won’t see the 4th inning tonight. The Yanks are going to feed off the crowd and pounce on him from the start.
Pete, stop being sarcastic to David, he asked good questions yesterday.
The “guess the line-up” game is a waste of real-estate here. Am I the only one that finds it inappropriate as comment fodder for a blog site?
Here’s a vote for the “players” getting a separate site and linking to it.
My prediction:
Joba goes 7 with 3 runs and 10 K’s and 3 BB.
Smoltz goes 6 with 4 runs and 5 K’s, 4 BB.
Yankees win 6-3.
1918 chant. I don’t care, I just feel like saying it.
1918
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
A-Rod 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera LF
the yanks will win tonight by two VERY well pitched games
the yanks will tear apart beckett tomorrow
the yanks will treat bucholz like the average pitcher he is on saturday
the redsox will make andy look silly on sunday
Jeff in Canada
August 6th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
The “guess the line-up” game is a waste of real-estate here. Am I the only one that finds it inappropriate as comment fodder for a blog site?
Here’s a vote for the “players” getting a separate site and linking to it.
____________________________________________________________
Jeff, if you dont like it, just scroll past. It’s all in good fun, and its not like it takes up space on the game threads.
much as I would love to see papelbon blow a save and see someone get the pie treatment, I don’t want the games to be that close…I want to be ahead every game
^ Cabrera should be CF not LF.
Jeet SS
Damon LF
Texeira 1B
Alex 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swish RF
Cabrera CF
“The “guess the line-up” game is a waste of real-estate here. Am I the only one that finds it inappropriate as comment fodder for a blog site?”
Pretty much. It’s not like there’s a certain amount of comments allowed on the page and then it’ll explode or something. If you don’t want to play or don’t care about other people’s lineups, just ignore them.
Blowouts, walkoffs, whatever; just win, baby!
I just heard the RS are brining Reddick back up. Sounds like Bay to the DL.
I heard part of Cash’s interview with Mike (except that it was mostly Mike, who kept trying to speak for Cash). It’s interesting that Hal put the brakes on big spending, but that he gave Cash the OK to pursue lesser deals. It was clear that Cash was referring to Washburn regarding the 2 month rental – he’s right; whatever happens this year, trading Montero or Jackson for Washburn would have been a joke. Those are the types of deals the Yankees did in George’s heyday, sacrificing the future for the present, and it cost them a lot through the years.
Erica: ive posted a line up but i forgot positions, but ive decided to change it up if im allowed
Jeter SS
Damon DH
Teix 1B
Arod 3B
Jorge C
Swish RF
Cano 2B
Hariston Jr. LF
Melky CF
IMO It’s important that Joba has a good 1st inning and doesn’t give up early runs. Taking the crowd out of it early would hurt.
Wow, that’s the first angry Canadian I’ve ever seen.
Jeff in Canada
August 6th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
The “guess the line-up” game is a waste of real-estate here. Am I the only one that finds it inappropriate as comment fodder for a blog site?
Here’s a vote for the “players” getting a separate site and linking to it.
————————————————————
Why should it bother you? You’re talking about it taking up real estate, but, you ain’t paying any rent. Don’t read it…ignore it. It’s easy to skip past them.
upstate kate
August 6th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
much as I would love to see papelbon blow a save and see someone get the pie treatment, I don’t want the games to be that close…I want to be ahead every game
——————————————————-
I’m with you on that. It makes the game more enjoyable to watch. Or at least less stressfull.
“Ellsbury’s defense has been far from top notch this year. His UZR/150 is at a putrid -15.3″
Thanks for pointing that out. Even with limited playing time, Brett Gardner has been worth more wins to the Yankees than Ellsbury has been worth to Boston in 2009. They have been eerily similar offensive players this year, but Gardner’s defense is much much better.
upstate kate
because who doesn’t want to watch Pap throw a hissy fit after?
August 6th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
much as I would love to see papelbon blow a save and see someone get the pie treatment, I don’t want the games to be that close…I want to be ahead every game
____________________________________________________________
I normally have the same mentality when it comes to Boston games. However, I am willing to take 3 blowouts + 1 walk-off
Wow. After tonight, 2/3 of the season is over. That is crazy. The season flew by this year.
What a great way to kick off the last 1/3 with a sweep of the hated Roid Sox.
Chant PANNNNCAKESSSSS PANNNNNCAKESSSSS PANCAKKESSSSS every time Ortiz comes to bat.
Francesa is cranky today. I notice his secret love for the sox peeks through a lil more when he’s cranky.
hunter jones is awesome!
Jeff in Canada
August 6th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
The “guess the line-up” game is a waste of real-estate here. Am I the only one that finds it inappropriate as comment fodder for a blog site?
Here’s a vote for the “players” getting a separate site and linking to it
***
You are so right. Very inappropriate to play a game relating to the Yankees on a Yankee blog.
Tom in N.J.
August 6th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Wow, that’s the first angry Canadian I’ve ever seen.
————————————————————
Yeah, but, not the first goofy Canadian.
There is an article today in the Boston Globe that deals with the notion that this series could be compared to the 5 game sweep in 06 that eneded the BoSox season…..In fact most of the Globe’s sports page paints a picture of gloom……A win in game 1 by the Yanks could set the tone for the series….Especially if the Bombers can get to Smoltz early, and then chip away at a very spent Boston pen……Yanks at least take 2, and will have a chance at taking 3……The first win takes weight off of everyone’s shoulders…..Joba goes 7….
Series predicition:
Game 1: I’ve given my score for tonight’s game. Win
Game 2: (I think it’s A.J. vs. Beckett, right?) A.J. seven innings 1 run. Beckett seven innings 2 runs. Yanks win 2-1. A-Rod and Matsui homer.
Game 3: CC vs. Buccholz-CC goes 8 innings, gives up 2 runs. Buccholz goes five gives up five runs. Yankees win 6-3 (Mo’s not in so they score a run off Bruney or Robertson in the ninth)
Game 4: Andy vs. Lester. Andy goes 6 and gives up 3. Lester goes seven and gives up one. Red Sox win 3-1.
I would be just as happy to let Papelbon stew in the bullpen all weekend and finally be put into a game just to get some work in.
I would like a pitch to hit off Youklis head and then hit off ortiz’s head and then francona all at once
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Tex 1B
A Rod 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
Francesa kept cutting off Cash.It was so annoying. Let the man talk.
Its always gotta be all about him!
If Joba hits Youk or Ortiz it will be a brawl today I can guarantee you.
Nick in SF, good point. There are multiple options for pissing off Pap this weekend
Boston Dirt Dogs not going easy on Ortiz. In fact, the are absolutely HAMMERING him:
http://www.bostondirtdogs.com/
they even have a running clock on how long they’ve been waiting for Ortiz to get answers.
josh in NH-
You are fine. I don’t allow revisions, but I ignored your first post since it was missing the positions. So I have your line up
This is such a classic Yankees Red Sox battle for first place, four game series, in August, the Boss at the house, both teams competitive…
This should be great!
Another commenter trying to dictate what is discussed here?
You either this board or you don’t.
I don’t want Joba near anyone’s head. I hope by now he’s learned how to pitch inside without creating unnecessary drama. There’s enough subtext every time these two teams meet to last a lifetime or so.
Joba has an opportunity to really establish himself tonight. He’s been pitching exceptionally well, and I don’t doubt he’ll continue to do so. However, is anyone concerned about the extra rest?
Also, does having faced Price last night in any way affect how the Sox might approach Joba? They are both power pitchers, right?
Uncle Ellsworth (turn off your mind relax and float downstream)
August 6th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Another commenter trying to dictate what is discussed here?
You either this board or you don’t.
***
You either what?? Uncle E- the suspense is killing me
you either “Get” this board or you don’t.
Pete I just read your breakdown player by player great job!
The only thing I disagree with?
Ellsbury BLOWS Melky away. Better fielder,base stealer,and hitter. Not even close. Otherwise great job.
Here’s who is in so far for “Guess the Line Up”
15 minutes left!!! No submissions after 3:40
*Ramey, WTTCTOHA, Rebecca, Dan the Man, CM, Evan D, Yankee Ray, Andrew, Jon Locke, Ben, The Fair Pole, YanksFan, Bronx Jeers, SA, Nick, NYY626, IDCWYT, Upstate Kate, William Buckner, Eights, JD, Miggs (all the same)
*Fran, Roger Maris (same)
*Joe in Utica
*Saucy
*RayVT, Henner
*Closer
*Josh in NH
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....8;c_id=nyy
Grats Mo!
“…..In fact most of the Globe’s sports page paints a picture of gloom”
I hate that. Makes me scared they are downplaying expectations for the element of surprise only to come in and play like their hairs on fire.
Pompous gloating coming out of Boston makes me more comfortable somehow.
Melky is better than Ellsbury.
But it is close enough for it not to be too significnt of an advantage.
What was the French Canadia way to eat fries?
that sounded gooood
Uncle E -
I just don’t get it. There’s a lot of tangents on this board, because there’s lots of people. If you don’t like one of the tangents, scroll, scroll, scroll. It’s easy to do.
Last night there was more “real estate” wasted on the dispute about GB7′s updates than on the updates themselves, which is generally what happens.
Lowell is from Puerto Rico. He is not a cuban.
pat m-
how quick momentum changes.
when it got down to a half game a few days ago ,red sox fans here on cape cod were all full of themselves. now they are totally freaked out. they hate joba more than anyone because of joba buzzing youkillis’ control tower.
if joba pitches well and shuts them down, it will go a long way towards setting the tone for this series and maybe beyond.
joba has to walk the talk though. he’s taken a tough guy position with the red sox and now he’s got to back it up with a quality game.
i’m liking the way this is setting up though.
If Joba hits Ortiz we can launch an investigation to find the real thrower.
Ortiz prediction –
“I took a supplement that I thought was clean but it turns out it had all sorts of steroids in it. All sorts.”
any others?
So there’s a very good chance we might have 22 winners today?
If Joba hits Youk or Ortiz it will be a brawl today I can guarantee you.
————————————-
The Yanks will have to watch out for Mike Lowell’s walker.
Pedroia will have his posse from the Keebler elves tree going all Jeff Van Gundy on the Yanks.
Seriously, do think the Yanks will feel threatened?
Who’s going to handle CC? The guy is 6’7″ and about 320 lbs.
Give us a break.
Pete- Would love to be able to watch your Pro Talk Live page videos, but it always takes SO much time to upload for me. The video plays, then pauses every few seconds. Any way to correct this buddy?
Uncle Ellsworth (turn off your mind relax and float downstream)
August 6th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
What was the French Canadia way to eat fries?
that sounded gooood
——
was this it?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poutine
Doreen
He actually pitched better after the AS break with extra rest. Also this seems to be one way they are going to limit his innings.
“I don’t want Joba near anyone’s head.”
Agree. Let sleeping dogs lie.
so I see a theme developing:
Who will play better this weekend?
Melky or Elderberry?
“Lowell is from Puerto Rico. He is not a cuban.”
——–
to the best of my knowledge, he is (also) Cuban.
He lived in Puerto Rico but his dad was from Cuba.
not a big deal either way (except perhaps to Mike)…
Wait till they come to OUR house AGAIN
August 6th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
So there’s a very good chance we might have 22 winners today?
***
Pretty much. LOL
Updating the standings will be a headache. But I’d rather see 22 winners than Joe Girardi elude everyone again
Pete, couldn’t agree more about the “Steroids” chants. Leave that chant for those low lifes up north who were dumb enough to believe their “championship” players weren’t involved in the steroids era. Guarantee you’ll continue to hear those chants in Fenway on our next visit.
A “Papi sucks” chant would be significantly more appropriate. He sucked before he started taking steroids and he’s sucked since he stopped. So as far as I’m concerned, he sucks.
i think everyone else is right but ill change it up for the hell of it
jeter ss
damon dh
tex 1b
arod 3b
posada c
cano 2b
swisher lf
hairston rf
melky cf
pat -
I agree with you – I’d rather read how Boston is comfortable playing the Yankees.
I figure, though, that there are enough NY contingent that’s a leary enough about these 4 games to counteract that.
I love my Yankees, but I never take anything for granted. Premature egg counting is not my thing.
I’ve heard some Sox fans say they hope Smoltz hits a Yankee player early.
That way Joba might be scared to throw inside because the umps might think he did it on purpose.
It’s sort of smart, actually. Smoltz would just get a warning, if anything.
if Papi doesn’t speak out…
a “Sherlock Papi” chant would suffice too.
thank you – http://bostondirtdogs.com/
Correct Lowell identifies himself as Half Cuban.
Near their heads? Joba is IN their heads. In some cases, he’s crowding out the Rogaine.
randy
I’ve figured out how Cashman can win you over. He can trade Jackson for Livan.
If you can’t beat ‘em….
One of 5 Greatest Americans SS
Helen Keller’s Long Lost Brother (& Erica PBF) LF
MVP 1B
My excuse was better 3B
No A Bombs today please DH
Netter than the Elf 2B
Varitek? C’mon Pete C
My Haircut is better than Pukeilis RF
Ridin’ my cycle CF
Well Beckett can throw some punches and Brad Penny can pount some flesh too. Who knows? Maybe Youk’s bat is going to break Joba’s face. Dont count out Green as well.
Game thread up
NO new Line ups here!!!!! (I will ignore them!)
Doreen
August 6th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Uncle E -
I just don’t get it. There’s a lot of tangents on this board, because there’s lots of people. If you don’t like one of the tangents, scroll, scroll, scroll. It’s easy to do.
Last night there was more “real estate” wasted on the dispute about GB7’s updates than on the updates themselves, which is generally what happens.
Exactly
I see this place as Bar/Cocktail Party/ wedding reception
you talk to who you want to- about what want to- wnen you want to. Leave the rest alone.
Poutine! yes but that picture is not so good
Maine Yankee -
Oh, I’m not objecting to the extra rest – I know it’s a way to manage the innings limit. And he did pitch very well after the rest from the ASB, but that was like a vacation. this is just extra rest. I suppose you could say I’m a little anxious, is all.
Doreen
I heard they cover that problem of ours somewhere around Step 6 of the 12 step program.
“Another commenter trying to dictate what is discussed here?”
I completely agree. What is going on? We had that buffoon show up yesterday trying to dictate what people should be discussing after the game yesterday. Now someone else is going tell people what that guess the line up should not be done?
It’s a blog. Real estate is electronic. If you don’t want to read it – skip it.
I don’t participate in guess the line up but you know what – I like it.
Erica is a terrific poster and it’s great that she does this. People have fun with it – and that’s what matters. And I’m sure it’s no small amount of work for her.
i don’t condone throwing at players’ heads…but joba hits a guy and gets suspended..at least it limits his innings!
“If Joba hits Youk or Ortiz it will be a brawl today I can guarantee you.”
with all due respect, what cares what you think about the yankees?
surely you have some red sox friends you can share your ideas about macho baseball with?
Nick in SF
I have no problem with Joba being IN their heads.
I’ve heard some Sox fans say they hope Smoltz hits a Yankee player early.
Smoltz has some location problems. Maybe it would happen.
Christina
Calm down.
They are baseball players not boxers. How many games have you seen punches thrown? They hold each other back, snort and grunt and get fined and suspended.
Is there a more over rated player on either team than Jason Varitek? He calls a decent game. But he gets the credit when the staff pitches well, but not a spec of blame when they dont. Is Beckett’s success due to Varitek but Brad Penny is on his own?
The Boston Red Sox are last in the major leagues in throwing out baserunners. That is dead last, ranking #30 of 30 teams. How come you dont hear a word about that? Is none of that Varitek’s fault?
Varitek has been a sub .230 hitter for the past year and a half. He is among the best at blocking balls and preventing wild pitches. Far better than Posada at that. That skill is the only thing he has over just about any catcher. He can’t hit and he can’t throw. He’s over rated, period.
Doreen
I understand you getting anxious. Sometimes I have trouble watching a game with my wife because she worries so much.
Anyhting less than 162-0 is not acceptable.
Christina25
August 6th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Well Beckett can throw some punches and Brad Penny can pount some flesh too. Who knows? Maybe Youk’s bat is going to break Joba’s face. Dont count out Green as well.
____________________________________________________________
Whoooa relax. Last I heard this was the MLB and not the WWF.
(actually, i just like making those arrows)
I hope Joba stays away from Pukilis’ head, but if he does buzz him its one missed start right? He’s skipping some any way right? No big deal really. The last time he was suspended for it was similar with the Joba rules iirc. He had to sit one or two days more than he was going to any way. It might be worth it to watch Youk cry. I think they showed against the Rays that they aren’t afraid to make batters move their feet, which I am extremely happy to see. Slow Youklis down and the Sox lineup looks pretty sad.
Don’t hit Otiz though, he sucks. I think its time they stopped treating him like an elite hitter and bust him in. I don’t think he can catch up to Joba’s fastball inside anymore. Just don’t leave it over the plate. If you’re going to hit some one it should be Youkilis (I’ll spell it different everytime) or Martinez.
Joba throw at their hands not their heads.
Sox pitcher always throw at Jeter’s hands.
Pedro was/is a punk; but a smart punk.
pat
August 6th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Christina
Calm down.
They are baseball players not boxers. How many games have you seen punches thrown? They hold each other back, snort and grunt and get fined and suspended.
————————————————————
More players get hurt trying to get away from the fights than they do actually fighting.
The Bombers are big favorites tonight ( $ 170.00 )and it’s the game the Yanks need to win & it puts Boston on their heels…The remainder pitching matchups are far closer than this one…..Smoltz will be tough to start the game, it’s wearing him down by the 5 th inning will be the key…..This series can provide the breathing room the Yanks will desire when they travel to the Coast in mid September & tangle with the Angels and then back to Boston……Randy I, The chowdaheads that I know here are nervous and are concerned about holding off Tampa for the wild card…..
I wish somebody would brush back Christina25.
ooops… was that out loud?
“David Ortiz is a cheating goon. The Yankees would never have such players in their midst. Never.”
Except for the Yankers current 3B and the starter Sunday night.
Chrstina25,
You think Nick Green can fight???
If so, idk what your thinking
I’m just telling you that it would turn in WWE if Joba throws something. The pressure is boiling down and it would explode. Last time Joba hit Bay Farell was very upset. It would turn ugly.
youkilis is playing left field. LOL
And they took out Varitek.
Josh from NC
You never know. he may want to stick it to his old team.
Christina25,
I think the players would laugh at him
Christina25
Well I hope Joba knocks one of your players down. And I hope Burnett does the same. And I don’t think anyone cares what the stupid pitching coach John Farell has to say.
man, i’ve smoked so many cigarettes today, i’m nervous & pumped up.
these games are huge.
GO YANKS!!!!!
i can’t go tonight to the game but i’ll be screwd to the TV.
I love the comment about Jeter being one of the 5 greatest living americans. So i tried to think of 5 living americans greater than Derek Jeter.
I came up with
Bill Clinton
Lance Armstrong(possibly)
any other ideas??
I think Big Sloppi’s “search for truth” is out playing golf with Ron and Nicole’s “real killers”
“Now someone else is going tell people what that guess the line up should not be done? It’s a blog. Real estate is electronic. If you don’t want to read it – skip it.”
No one can dictate what is commented on here, I just made a suggestion. The comment area of this blog is chalk full of thoughtful commentary from interesting Yankee fans. Numerous lineups that vary by one player or position water this down, and make for cumbersome trolling on an iPhone.
Bill Clinton is a disgrace…I would never call someone who cheats on his wife with his intern a “Great American.”
Here are 5 living Americans greater than Derek Jeter: General Norman Schwarzkopf, Yogi Berra, Neil Armstrong, John Sterling, and Suzyn Waldman.
Pete, really? Youk better than A-Rod? A-Rod coming off an injury and has 19 poppers with 60+ RBI with over a month on the DL.
Dumb man. Yankees are better at every position and if you want to do it based off this season like you did with Arod, then Cano should have the edge over Ped since he’s “having a better season”
swing the bat your a clean up hitter not a lead off batter
They want Damon in 2010
http://www.bostondirtdogs.com