Game 122: Yankees at Red Sox (updated with Girardi pre-game audio)
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc, Podcast on Aug 21, 2009 
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YANKEES (76-45)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (9-6, 4.09).
RED SOX (69-51)
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Martinez C
Youkilis 1B
Bay LF
Ortiz DH
Lowell 3B
Drew RF
Gonzalez SS
Pitching: RHP Brad Penny (7-7, 5.22).
TIME/TV: 7:10 p.m., YES, NESN.
STATE OF THE ‘STRIPES: The Yankees have won seven of their last nine and 14 of 17. They are 5-2 on their road trip.
STATE OF THE SOX: Boston has won three straight. The Red Sox were 4-2 on a road trip to Texas and Toronto. Boston is 7-9 in its last 16 games.
THEY MEET AGAIN: The Yankees are 4-8 against Boston after sweeping a four-game series in the Bronx earlier this month.
EVEN UP: The Yankees have scored 93 runs in the 12 games against Boston — and given up 93 runs.
FENWAY FOLLIES: The Yankees have lost seven straight at Fenway Park dating back to the final game of last season. They have been outscored 46-27 in those games. Mike Mussina is the last Yankees pitcher to win here.
THE JETER METER: The Captain is 13 of his last 20, 16 of 29, 22 of 40 and 27 of 66. That’s a mess of hits. Jeter has hit safely in seven straight and has multiple hits in five straight.
SWING AWAY: Jeter has gone 99 plate appearances without a walk. According to Jim Rice, players in his day never did that. They took walks to help the team.
PETTITTE POWER: Andy Pettitte has started two games against Boston this season, allowing only three earned runs over 13 innings. He is 16-9, 3.63 in 34 career appearances against Boston. Pettitte is 6-3, 3.60 in 16 games at Fenway Park, 14 of them starts.
ROUGH PATCH FOR RODRIGUEZ: Alex Rodriguez is 5 of 25 with one RBI in the last seven games with nine strikeouts. He has two home runs in his last 103 at-bats.
NOT SO LUCKY PENNY: Brad Penny threw six scoreless inning against the Yankees on June 11. Penny is 0-3 with a 7.54 ERA in his last four starts, allowing 27 hits (six home runs) and 11 walks over 22.2 innings.
ACE NO MORE: Alfredo Aceves made a spot start against Minnesota on July 9. He has not been especially good since. In 10 relief appearances (18 innings) he has allowed 14 runs on 19 hits including three home runs.
SINCE THE BREAK: The Yankees are 25-8 and the Red Sox 15-17.
BET THAT STREAK ENDS: The Yankees have played seven straight games in three hours or less.
POWER OUTAGE: The Yankees have one home run in the last three games and two in the last four.
ON THE iPOD RIGHT NOW: Keep The Line Movin’ by The Soundtrack Of Our Lives. Cool Swedish band. Yes, Swedish.
Back with much, much more later.
UPDATE, 3:48 p.m.: Jeter on Rice’s comments: “I didn’t know I was like that. That’s a first for me.”
Jeter said he had never met Rice other than to say hello.
UPDATE, 3:55 p.m.: Damaso Marte has a locker here. Guess he’s getting activated.
UPDATE, 4:06 p.m.: Marte is in fact here. Could be bad news for Ramiro Pena.
UPDATE, 4:33 p.m.: Pena optioned.
UPDATE, 6:06 p.m.: Here is Joe Girardi’s pre-game press conference:
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UPDATE, 6:59 p.m.: Here is Girardi on Jim Rice:
“I’ve always been one that feels you shouldn’t judge others. Our job is to really take care of who you are as an individual and try and to make yourself a better individual,” he said. “My feeling is you shouldn’t judge others and I’m not really going to comment on his comments. … I don’t really want to get into it.”
It’s understandable that Girardi doesn’t want to pick a fight with a Boston icon. But he should have come to the defense of his players.
UPDATE, 7:01 p.m.: We’re nearly ready to get underway here. Enjoy the game.
UPDATE, 7:42 p.m.: Third hitter of the inning and Pettitte has thrown 20 pitches. This is not how a starter wants to handle a 2-0 lead.
UPDATE, 7:53 p.m.: Jim Rice is right. All the selfish, greedy Derek Jeter does is get hits to help his team.
Meanwhile, Jeter is an insane 18 of his last 31.
UPDATE, 7:56 p.m.: Brady Penny is not long for this tilt.
UPDATE, 7:57 p.m.: Wow, 5-1 already. Newly arrived Michael Bowden warming up. Penny is reeling like a drunken frat boy on Commonwealth Ave.
UPDATE, 8:00 p.m.: 6-1 as A-Rod singles to left and is thrown out at second. Obviously it’s because of his hip but A-Rod runs about half as well as he used to.
UPDATE, 8:01 p.m.: The Yankees didn’t draw first blood, they went all chainsaw in the shower on the Red Sox. Holy cow.
UPDATE, 8:12 p.m.: Damon, according to the Yankees, had a bruised right knee. I’m fairly sure I could have made that prognosis from up here. No tests are planned and he’s day-to-day.
UPDATE, 8:27 p.m.: Not smart baseball there by Pedroia. That selfish Jeter went out to play the ball off the wall and threw him out at third to end the inning.
UPDATE, 8:30 p.m.: Jeter is 15 of his last 22 (.682) as he comes to the plate in the third inning.
UPDATE, 8:51 p.m.: Penny booed off the field. Yankees 6-1 and threatening for more.
And now we go to a new thread …
Beat Boston.
I think it is Yankee envy. I think Rice hates the Yankees and hates even more that Jeter is seen as the face of baseball. Don’t forget he played when there was hatred between the teams that was constantly acted out on the field.
If you would to complain to Allstate Insurance about Jim Rice’s appearance and recent comments to Little Leaguers in Willamsport, you can e-mail the company using this link:
https://messaging.allstate.com/Corp/Corp_ProcessEmail.asp
Peace and Justice for all.
LOL I’m sure Neyer agrees with Jim Rice….
By the way, I completely agree with Michael Kay when he says there has to be a penalty for getting in the playoffs through the wild card. Right now, big deal – they get one less home game. How about getting only 1 home game? I also think it’s ridiculous that the division winner can not play the WC team from its own division. Exactly how fair is that? It’s not……Why should the team with the best record get penalized and have to play a better team?
Ace has not been good lately……I hope it’s just a slump and nothing more
SS Jeter
LF Damon
1B Teixeira
3B Rodriguez
C Posada
DH Matsui
2B Cano
RF Swisher
CF Cabrera
If he agreed with Jim Rice, he wouldn’t ripped him to shreds in his blog.
WOW when Kay asked on ESPN radio if there is any player on this Yankees roster that is better than you thought he was Teix said Robinson Cano, he sees him as a future MVP,HOF type player.
Neyer just wrote the opposite in his column! How can you say he agrees with Rice?
According to Sweeny Murti’s twitter, this is the Yankees lineup tonight:
YankeesWFAN: Jeter Damon Teixeira Arod Matsui Posada Cano Swisher Cabrera. Pettitte starts.
We need Reggie to fire out a retort although I like the idea of Rice firing up Jeter and the boys for the weekend.
Hey Erica, I’ll play!
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
I won!!!
jeter gets 3 hits tonight
Neyer made some good points, but I am a little disappointed that Neyer didn’t bring up the absurdity of Jeter being included in the diatribe. Maybe if Derek started playing a better SS 3 or 4 years ago Neyer would stick up for the guy.
darn it, he switched Cano back ahead of Swisher! So close!
Man, I was hoping the yanks would get to face smoltz. Lol.
Also caught the yankee stadium “ace of cakes” last night. Pretty impressive cake.
ARod only 2 HR in his last 103 ABs, but we know who he hit them against!!!
Can we lift the rule against swear words for just this one column. Even though Pete states that you should be intelligent enough to not have to use them I would argue that there is no intelligent way to discuss Jim Rice’s comments without using every word in the ban book. For now I will just state that I hope that he is burned alive.
General Giradi going with the “finish em” lineup tonight.
Waggles has been claimed off waivers by an unidentified team.
SS Jeter
LF Damon
1B Tex
3B A-rod
DH Matsui
C Posada
2B Cano
RF Swish
CF Cabrera
Wagner calimed off waivers, ESPN did not say who claimed him.
i hope the yankees claimed him… he would be perfect in our pen
GTLU would be a hell of a lot harder if gardner wasnt hurt.
“GTLU would be a hell of a lot harder if gardner wasnt hurt.”
Really? I haven’t won yet so it can’t be that easy to begin with.
“Also caught the yankee stadium “ace of cakes” last night. Pretty impressive cake.”
Was I the only one who didn’t know that they were making an unedible cake? LOL!
Just win this series. Go Yankees
home runs from melky and a-rod.
Neyer doesn’t like the Yankees. Unlike other writers, on ESPN or otherwise, Neyer has made a point of of saying he openly roots against them.
He’s a Royals fan through and through.
However, he’s always been objective when discussing the merits of a player. He showered Jeter with praise the other day in his blog, calling him the third best hitting shortstop of all time – behind Honus Wagner and Arky Vaughn (he wavered a bit on Vaughn).
He’s one of the best baseball writers out there.
“Really? I haven’t won yet so it can’t be that easy to begin with.”
it is hard but think of the madness that would ensue if GGBG was their to spice it up
“i hope the yankees claimed him… he would be perfect in our pen”
Did Marte die?
Laura-
Why didn’t you play today?? Today was an easy one!
You just like being able to say you have never won LOL
Drew hits 8th now? That somehow makes their lineup look a little deeper. I know Gonzalez can’t hit, but their 7-8-9 now looks a little less International League-ish.
“Did Marte die?”
No, just his career.
Jim Rice is quick to criticize the styles of this generation of ballplayers but is he purposely neglecting the campy uniforms of the late 70′s and the homoerotic innuendo it worked to propagate?
Who took this picture? Cosmo Kramer ?
http://theballast.files.wordpr...../rice2.jpg
And the last time I heard “We Are Family”? Gene Hackman was dressed as a woman in a South Beach drag club !
“You just like being able to say you have never won LOL”
You know me so well. It’s my burden to carry.
“Did Marte die?”
Not a bad question. Has anyone seen evidence to the contrary?
Congratulations go out to our 19 winners of today’s thrilling “Guess the Line Up” as follows:
NYYROC 2:08
Upstate Kate 2:16
Ed H 2:19
Nick 2:23
Ramey 2:24
J-Dawg 2:24
Hokiehill 2:26
Andrew33 2:31
No HYPE 2:56
Unknown 2:58
Yanks Fan 3:00
Rob in VT 3:08
Miggs 3:14
Andrew 3:16
Kenny 3:16
Blackaccord 3:19
Robbykid 3:23
RayVT 3:23
DJ 3:24
Please tune in Tuesday at 2:00 for our next thrilling round of “Guess the Line Up”.
Only 5 more rounds remain!
“No, just his career.”
Dude Waggles isn’t that great. Keep in mind he was pitching in the NL and last night was gm.1 no oneknows the day to day effects on that arm. Marte was pitching for us hurt.
Sometimes Jeter says a lot by saying very little.
“Jim Rice is quick to criticize the styles of this generation of ballplayers but is he purposely neglecting the campy uniforms of the late 70’s and the homoerotic innuendo it worked to propagate?”
Yeah, but that’s only because he doesn’t know what homoerotic, innuendo, or propagate mean.
Great comeback by Jeter! lol
Makes Rice look even dumber.
Ya’ really gotta be a moron to bomb talking to Little League kids.
Does Marte in mean Pena out?
jerry
August 21st, 2009 at 3:38 pm
I’m not defending Jim Rice pawning off his baggage to little-leaguers but I’m glad someone finally called Jeter on his selfishness.
And Pete, I’ll happily listen to you or anyone else tell me I’m wrong, as long as you first explain to me why A-rod has played 3rd base his entire Yankee career.
Don’t tell me Jeter’s a team player until you can answer that question.
————————–
I cant believe some of us have had to defend Jeter today. Anyway, the Yanks told Arod before the trade was completed that he’d be moving to 3rd. Why?? Because he had the power to be a 3rd baseman (jeter doesnt) and his body projected to grow out of SS (and it did).
If the choice was Jeter or Arod to 3rd, the Yanks made the right move. They could have moved jeter to 2nd. But then you would have never seen Cano. I think the Yanks are very happy with the infield they have right now. And it all started by choosing the right player to move to 3rd.
By Jeter standards, that’s an outright F*%# You.
UPDATE, 3:48 p.m.: Jeter on Rice’s comments: “I didn’t know I was like that. That’s a first for me.”
perfect.
Billy Wagner is owed 2.5 million dollars, along with a 1 million dollar buyout at the end of the year.
3.5 million for about 10 innings of work. The quality of the work, since he is still only 11 months out of TJ Surgery, in question.
Seems like an awful lot of money to assume for such unknowns.
Pass on Billy Wagner.
“Does Marte in mean Pena out?”
Erica,
I got stuck in the rain and just got in. I would have submitted the “A” line-up. Does that count as a win?
If I remember correctly, A-Rod said in an interview that the whole trade to NY started when he was talking to Yankee executives after he received his MVP in 03 and offhandedly said that he would move to third to play for the Yanks. I really don’t think anyone even approached Jeter about moving positions for him to say no.
“That’s a first for me.”
That’s what we’ve been saying all day, Derek! Anyone who knows you would know you wouldn’t be caught dead with dreads, baggy pants, or steroids.
Kudos on The Soundtrack of Our Lives there Pete. There’s lots of great stuff coming out of Sweden at the moment. Shout Out Louds and Jens Lekman are faves of mine.
Country club.
Don’t even bother. You NEVER have to explain Derek Jeter to Yankee fans. N-E-V-E-R.
Its Yankee-Red Sox weekend. The number of trolls and moron posts go up about 200%. Mostly from Red Sox fans looking to start trouble and young Yankee fans who are too emotional to control themselves if the games don’t go the way they wish.
Its best to ignore the dumb and just stick chatting with the regulars this weekend. Its the only way to survive the weekend on the blog.
UPDATE, 3:48 p.m.: Jeter on Rice’s comments: “I didn’t know I was like that.”
“Like that”? What is “that”?
Fran (the original) and OPPC member
August 21st, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Erica,
I got stuck in the rain and just got in. I would have submitted the “A” line-up. Does that count as a win?
***
Sadly, No. Sorry Fran, I have to be a kind but solid enforcer.
Please work on your mental telepathy
I hope the Yanks don’t send David Robertson down to make room for Marte
That’s probably the best lineup the Red Sox have put out all season. Let’s just hope the bats get going against Penny. Pettitte is kind of due for a bad start (he really hasn’t had one since the ASB) so I can’t blame him if he doesn’t fire another 7 scoreless innings, but I really want to get this win.
“Damaso Marte has a locker here”
I really hoped that was not the case. We don’t need Marte’s 1st action since April against Boston in this big series. Please save him for Texas. Unless it is a Yankee blow out of course.
Rob Neyer wrote about Pete’s earlier MVP post today:
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/swe.....to-go.html
Neyer had this line:
“At last check, Abraham’s post already had 264 comments. I just hope he has time to read all of them.”
What Rob failed to mention was that 125 of those posts were people trying to guess what today’s Yankee lineup would look like.
It makes sense to send Pena down right now.
13 pitchers mean you can give some guys some much needed rest.
Pena will be back when the rosters expand anyway and Jerry Hairston, Jr is the utility guy right now.
I’d rather have the 13th pitcher, see if Marte can get up to speed, and rest some guys who could use the rest.
“Dude Waggles isn’t that great. Keep in mind he was pitching in the NL and last night was gm.1 no oneknows the day to day effects on that arm. Marte was pitching for us hurt.”
Brandon, I didn’t say the Yankees should get Wagner.
There goes another Bostonian (Jim Rice) showing his true class. I guess he didnt bother to call out a current Red Sox like David Ortiz because he knows he would get the boot from the organization faster than you can say Dominican Shake.
It only figures he would endow a me first jerk like Ichiro and a roided up one-dimensional player like Thome with his support for the Hall of Fame. What a joke that this guy ever even got in the HOF (only with the unwavering support of Peter Gammons and the other Boston scribes that couldn’t lick him clean enough or fast enough)
Rob Neyer had this line today:
“At last check, Abraham’s post already had 264 comments. I just hope he has time to read all of them.”
What he failed to mention was that 123 of the posts were people trying to guess what today’s Yankee lineup would be.
Jim Rice is the biggest idiot ever. I am sick and tired of these old timer veterans ripping current players and the game itself. The game has changed over the last 50 years– but so has everything else in the world. The game has evolved into a better, more exciting sport (minus the PEDs) and that is evidenced by all the fans who buy tickets year in and year old. Get a life Jim Rice you bum.
Why should Jeter have moved? The Yankees had one of the best SS at the time. Yeah, Alex was better, but Jeter was no slouch himself.
It was up to Alex and the Yankees to make the spare part fit. And they did.
“Brandon, I didn’t say the Yankees should get Wagner.”
Oh… as you were.
ON THE iPOD RIGHT NOW: Keep The Line Movin’ by The Soundtrack Of Our Lives. Cool Swedish band. Yes, Swedish.
Swedish Pop:
ABBA
Europe
Ace of Base
Roxette
Cardigans – Love Fool
Rednex – Cotton eye Joe – version used at Stadium
They know Pop
Jim,
Hello! Now Rice is someone who lacks integrity. Too bad he made the unfortunate mistake.
I don’t think he meant to stain Jeter, but the fact is he did. When the backlash whips his neck around, he’ll wish he could crawl into a hole.
Jeter has a lot of clout and goodwill in the game. The reaction will be swift and hard.
A Marte appearance in this series would be indicative a blow-out, one way or the other (it will turn into one if he’s inserted in a close game).
Wow something cool! Someone just sent me some pictures from the last game at the Stadium! We were in line for 2 and 1/2 hours waiting to get to Monument Park so we got to be very friendly with the people around us. There are just a few pics but I will link to them as soon as she sends them as jpegs and not a PDF!
One of them shows just how long we stood in the sun and waited once we got outside. My face looks a bit red.
She also said she has a lot of pics from the last game and will send me them, in case anyone would like to see them.
“If I remember correctly, A-Rod said in an interview that the whole trade to NY started when he was talking to Yankee executives after he received his MVP in 03 and offhandedly said that he would move to third to play for the Yanks”
Don’t recall that, but it’s not surprising. He was willing to dump $30 million to play for Boston, so moving to 3rd seems like small change. Appears what was most important to him was getting out of Texas.
“Jeter has a lot of clout and goodwill in the game.”
so true, even the greatest Red Sox fanboy of them all, Peter Gammons, is an unabashed Jeter fan.
That’s the deepest Sox lineup I’ve seen in a while.
Rex August 21st, 2009 at 4:11 pm
“If I remember correctly, A-Rod said in an interview that the whole trade to NY started when he was talking to Yankee executives after he received his MVP in 03 and offhandedly said that he would move to third to play for the Yanks”
Don’t recall that, but it’s not surprising. He was willing to dump $30 million to play for Boston, so moving to 3rd seems like small change. Appears what was most important to him was getting out of Texas.
_________________________________
I’m pretty sure he said it on that YESterdays special with Kay.
Folks lets calm down about Rices comments on Jeter. Jeter was probably wearing dreads at a Maxim party on Holloween.
Rice should switch from representing All state and get a job with Gieco. Only a caveman would make a stupid comment like that.
UPDATE, 4:06 p.m.: Marte is in fact here. Could be bad news for Yankee fans.
ftfy.
If Billy Wagner pitched big games for the Yankees, Rivera would never have a save opportunity. He’s blown big games for the Astros, Phillies and Mets, and that was when he wasn’t coming off of surgery. Why add the Yankees to that list?
Penar isin’t going to play much anyway for now.
Hairston gives A-Rod a blow when he needs it. Pena’s only role is a pinch runner.
“Appears what was most important to him was getting out of Texas.”
He knew he was running with a bad crowd down there.
“UPDATE, 4:06 p.m.: Marte is in fact here. Could be bad news for Yankee fans.
ftfy.”
I am willing to bet the farm that Girardi will stay with tried and true in this series, regardless of “who is here”. If we are really in a pinch and have nobody else, perhaps Marte comes in. Or after we win the first two and are up by a hundred games, perhaps Marte comes in. Then only perhaps.
JMO
“That’s the deepest Sox lineup I’ve seen in a while.”
Agree. Certainly not what they trotted out at YS 2 weeks ago.
Our pitchers better be ready, Sox are red hot with the bats.
So when Posada gets on base, down 1 run against Papelbon in the 9th… who punch runs for him? Hinske?
Keep Pena. He fills a valuable roll as a punch runner….
LOL great line from Jeter….
“Hairston gives A-Rod a blow when he needs it.”
Isn’t that almost what Kevin Mitchell did for the ’86 Mets?
I hope Marte is up because he can help the team, not because the Yankees couldn’t figure out what to do with him…….
You know it’s bad when ESPN hack Rob Neyer defends Derek Jeter. Here’s what Neyer wote about Jeter 2 days ago.
“Derek Jeter’s a great player. I’ve written that he’s a great player — oh, I don’t know — many dozens of times, I’m sure. What’s wearisome about Derek Jeter isn’t Derek Jeter. Well, maybe Derek Jeter a little bit. He does sometimes seem a bit smug, and lacking in genuineness. But what’s most wearisome is the deification of Derek Jeter, as if he’s not merely a great player but rather a perfect, infallible player. ”
No one ever said Jeter was perfect on the field or off you fool.Don’t hop on Jete’s bandwagon now because next week you’ll be writing something negative about him again.
jerry
August 21st, 2009 at 3:38 pm
I’m not defending Jim Rice pawning off his baggage to little-leaguers but I’m glad someone finally called Jeter on his selfishness.
And Pete, I’ll happily listen to you or anyone else tell me I’m wrong, as long as you first explain to me why A-rod has played 3rd base his entire Yankee career.
Don’t tell me Jeter’s a team player until you can answer that question.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jerry exactly what planet have you lived on for the last decade and a half. No one needs to defend Jeter, his game does that. He plays really hurt yet carries his weight when he does it. He won’t if he can’t carry his weight. What the guy does for his team is incalculable and he does it without complaint. Name the last time he was at the heart of anything contentious on the team. The last time he denigrated another player on this team or any other. Jerry sir you are either a sux fan or an idiot or both. Oh an jerry my guess the upgrade of money and exposure Arod received by moving to Ny was something that made Arod agreeable to playing third base. Moron
Can we play “Guess the Roster Move”?
I’ll say Robertson goes.
SJ, I didn’t read Neyers column..after his comments a few days ago, I wasn’t going to bother. I guess I will once I get home, lol.
Hmm, that is a very tough Sox lineup. I think expecting the Yankees pitching to do what they did a couple of weeks ago is not being realistic…….and Bay murders Yankee pitching.
Does anyone know whos announcing the game for YES tonight?
Brad Penny sucks.. has yet to go 7 innings in any start, has a 1.50 WHIP, allowed 17 HRs, and has a straight fastball. We need to pound him.
We can’t expect Andy to throw a shutout in this ballpark against their lineup. We need to score runs. Penny is their worst pitcher. This series is going to be on the offense. You can’t ask the pitchers to repeat what they did 2 weeks ago…
UPDATE, 3:48 p.m.: Jeter on Rice’s comments: “I didn’t know I was like that. That’s a first for me.”
Jeter said he had never met Rice other than to say hello
========================
“Does anyone know whos announcing the game for YES tonight?”
At least Kay and Singleton. Maybe Cone or Leiter too.
Derek Jeter doesn’t need to defend himself, he will be remembered thru the ages. Jim Rice? People who watched him play remember him, years from now who will care?
It’s the ultimate Winner vs. Loser in this matchup.
Mike,
Michael Kay and Ken Singleton are calling the game tonight and John Flaherty is in studio with Bob Lorenz for the pre and post game shows.
I agree, Drive……I don’t need to read any left handed compliments from a man whose picture could be in the dictionary next to the word smug. Frankly, I probably won’t even check out what he has to say…….it’s just not worth my time.
“Boston is 7-9 in its last 16 games.”
Good stat manipulation, Pete. I believe they’re the same 7-3 the Yankees have been since their last meeting at NYS.
Ouch. Boston’s lineup looks brutal now.
Far cry from Kotchman, Green, Varitek, Reddick we saw last week.
Good for Jeter for responding like that rather than saying he hadnt heard the comments etc etc. Total low blow by Rice. Anyone know if he is broadcasting with NESN this weekend? It will be interesting to see if he changes his mind and backtracks on those comments.
NYY Hunter
August 21st, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Can we play “Guess the Roster Move”?
I’ll say Robertson goes.
———————————————————-
Robertson who leads the league in K/9? That would be an interesting roster move indeed.
How did Rice make the hall anyway. less than 400 homeruns,and nothing else to very much above average. Somebody missed when they put that dude in.
I am introducing a new game this afternoon only-
“What what day the Yankees clineh the playoffs”
(not division, just the playoff berth)
I will accept guesses until the start of the ballgame at 7. I will track the submissions until the Yankees clinch their playoff spot next month.
My guess is September 23rd
Here’s some more stat manipulation, they are the same Sox team that is 3-0 in their last three, who cares?? They swept a Jays team headed in one direction, but should have been swept by the Rangers except for a ninth inning meltdown by an actual team in the playoff hunt. Sox are a team that still can’t beat the Rays or the Rangers.
A month ago people were saying Yankees had to prove they could beat good teams, tides have turned. Can the Sox? The only quality team they have beaten of late was the Tigers who had to sctratch their starter right before the start of one of the games.
I wonder how long Barney Rubble will last against our patient line-up.
If I remember the reasoning behind putting Rodriguez at third base over Jeter was that Graig Nettles felt that Rodriguez was better suited for third base than Jeter because he had quicker and softer hands and moved laterally, quicker than Jeter. There was also the question about strength of arms. Except for 2006, Rodriguez has been one of the top defensive third basemen in the league.
Red Sox fans are funny. Here’s a gem from the boston.com comment section:
“Mr. Rice has, had, and always will have my respect. He has class, plain and simple. He deserves respect. He earns respect. He IS what I want my kids to model. NOT Manny, Arod nor Jeter. He is a rare person. He is a true leader of men. If I was going to follow someone into battle, it would be him and not the other later name MLB players. Jim Ed Rice is what ALL MLB players should be like. But they are far and few between. Thats why we should ALL stand up and applaud him for who is is. His parents did a GREAT job raising him, and they also should be commended.”
Erica,
I can enter this one. My guess is September 25th.
The Red Sox DFA’s Fernando Cabrera (the guy who beaned Kinsler). The odd thing is, he actually looked pretty damn nasty from what I saw. He has some notorious control issues, but his slider is filthy.
Thank you Fran.
I am sorry I had to get all GTLU Naziish on you
Robertson isn’t going anywhere. Pena will get sent down because Hairston can pinch run and be the utility guy. That’s his job.
When rosters expand, Pena will be back.
Its not complicated.
Rex
How this for stat manipulation.. the Sux are 4 -12 against teams with a winning record since July 20.
Sox fans here in MA have their chests puffed out again because the Sux just swept the lowly Jays. It gives them a chance to forget they lost 2 of 3 to the Rangers in the series before that.
Where are the cheap shots any Yankee has ever made at the Red Sox?
Outside of Pedro trying to put players in the hospital as a Red Sox, I don’t recall anyone on the Yankee end of things taking the Boston morons to task.
Rice is a moron. He was a borderline hall of famer who got a nice assist from Saint Peter of Boston (Gammons for the uninformed).
If Rice deserves a hall of fame spot you better believe Andre Dawson deserves one. Andre was a much better defender with a cannon arm and out homered Rice by a ton. Not to mention he wasn’t a jerk.
*DFA’d
Girardi better not use Aceves in any meaningful spots in this series. Unless he wants to lose the game
Erica,
September 26th.
Don’t look too much into the names of the Sox lineup, simply the stats.
Ortiz .224 BA 100 ks in 400 at bats
Bay .256 (far cry from the beginning of the year) 113 ks in 400 at bats
Drew .260 92 ks in 354 at bats
I think we are seeing a trend. These are not the Sox that work counts and make difficult outs. That’s why their offense falters. Lots of ks, poor batting averages.
Erica Sept 22
September 22nd. That is my guess Erica.
Erica,
It’s OK. Rules are rules and as the founder of the game you can have whatever rules you want
I don’t know what I’m guessing for, but I’ll say September 22nd.
UPDATE, 4:33 p.m.: Pena optioned.
Come back soon Nino and bring Cervelli with you this time.
There definitely is some duplication having both Pena and Hairston. I love what Pena brings to the table, but Hairston is even more versatile. What a difference in the Yankees’ bench options from a year ago! Cashman did a nice job addressing what was a weakness and turned it into a strenth.
see you in september pena
High amount K’s doesn’t mean they don’t work counts. See: Nick Swisher.
VTek out with neck cramps. Yeah that’s it. I actually could have quite a few off color jokes about that, but I will leave it alone.
Is Marte ready?
m-
We are playing “Guess What Day the Yankees Clinch”
Everyone has until 7pm today to submit guesses. This applies to a general playoff berth (not the division)
Uncle Ellsworth (#2 needs 25 to tie #4)
August 21st, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Is Marte ready?
****
His rehab gig was up so its sort of “ready or not”
All 3 Yankee pitchers have BIG problems pitching a Fenway. I’m smelling another Red Sox sweep and out of first by 3 on Monday morn…..much to your dismay.
Every Sox in the line-up is swinging a HOT bat and that’s going to spell major trouble for Dandy Andy. He won’t last 4 tonight!
Marte vs. BOS hitters -
Ortiz – 2-12, HR, 3 RBI
Youk – 1-1, HR, BB (walkoff HR in the 11th in the 1st game this yr)
Drew – 4-9
Ellsbury – 1-3
Green – 1-3
Martinez – 7-14, 3 doubles, 2 HRs
Varitek – 3-6, HR
um… what exactly are we activating him for? This team pounds him….
Fran (the original) and OPPC member
August 21st, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Erica,
It’s OK. Rules are rules and as the founder of the game you can have whatever rules you want
****
Finally!! Someone who gets me.
Can you explain that to Nick in SF for me on my behalf
On the ipod right now…. who cares, really?
Here’s a comment from boston.com. reader about about Jim Rice:
” remember during the 1987 season, being at Fenway, after the game, and Jim Rice getting into his gold mercedes and a little boy went up to him asking for an autograph. Well Jim got into the car, drove up to the kid , at the gate, then jumped out of the vehicle, yelled at the kid to get away from him, and checked the car for damage! The kid was like 8 and it wasn’t like there was a “mob” hanging out. So the kids father told Jim Rice the fans paid for the car. He set a very bad example and it was so bad I remember the incident 22 years later! “
It’d be nice if the Yankees clinched on Sept. 22nd.
It’d be a nice birthday present.
“Every Sox in the line-up is swinging a HOT bat and that’s going to spell major trouble for Dandy Andy. He won’t last 4 tonight!”
I agree with you about Andy, he is going to get pounded tonight as this is a bad matchup for him. AJ hasn’t pitched well in this park this year either.
However, CC has a 3.00 ERA in Fenway in his career in 4 games started. He is legit.
bye Nino, kick some AAA ass
Erica
I’m torn. Clinching in LA with a win would be good karma but at home against Boston would be fun too.
Put me down for Sept. 26th.
My guess is they clinch after they sweep yet again Sundays game the 23rd.
Well the green line to kenmore is loaded with sox fans and I’m in my melky t shirt and recently passed grandpa’s yanks cap. Baseball has a funny way of making you a kid again, and helping you remember. I’ll be there tonight cheering Andy Pettite (a guy my grandpa despised since he left) and I know he’ll be there with me. Let’s go NY!
Sox it to NY – I suspect you’re smelling something alright, perhaps its Jim Rice’s chowdah head…
I’d predict that Jeter is going to have a big series, but then he’s not a team player and is only concerned with stat padding.
>On the ipod right now…. who cares, really?
And we should care that you don’t care?
Flexing the muscles in his right arm, Rice said, “That’s all the steroids you need. … It’s called God-given talent.”
Hahahaha what a gigantic tool
I think the Red Sox have given up on the division. The only way they could really get back in it is to sweep (and even that wouldn’t be a disaster) and while anything can happen with Tazawa and Penny going they’re clearly not giving their team the best chance to win.
Swinging a hot bat against a pitcher like Cecil or Romero who has a 10 something ERA against the Sox this year is one thing. Swinging a hot bat against CC, AJ and Andy is a bit of a different story. And the back end of that is the Yankees aren’t going against Lester, they have Penny and Tazawa. AJ and Andy should have some runs to play with when they are out there.
How can anyone honestly say that Billy Wagner wouldn’t make the Yanks a better team if he was added to the roster?
Forget the money involved, since it’s the Yanks we’re talking about, and not the Pirates or the Royals.
What, he uses “Enter Sandman” so he s/b reviled for that? Well, guess what? He uses that song because he likes it. Mariano Rivera has no idea who Metallica is and could not care less about it. (Besides, set-up men don’t have intro songs, so there’s one less bone of contention.)
The fact is, going into October Wagner would make the Yanks bullpen even more lethal than it already is. For me, that is all I need to know.
Here’s what I have in the “Guess What Day the Yankees Clinch the Playoffs” so far. Submissions until 7
09/22/2009:
Uncle E
Unknown
m
Eights
09/23/2009:
Erica
S.O.S
09/25/2009:
Fran
09/26/2009:
Yanks Fan
Pat
Erica,
Please put me down for Sept. 21.
Thanks!
Marte was not showing great velocity and usual his control is an issue. You will not see him unless there is a blow out.
How can you rip Jeter? Jeter is going to take this out on Fenway.
What’s A-Rod’s take on Rice’s comments???
Reggie needs to settle this one, key his gold car or something.
“His parents did a GREAT job raising him, and they also should be commended.”
——————-
funny funny stuff!
“It makes sense to send Pena down right now.
13 pitchers mean you can give some guys some much needed rest.
Pena will be back when the rosters expand anyway and Jerry Hairston, Jr is the utility guy right now.
I’d rather have the 13th pitcher, see if Marte can get up to speed, and rest some guys who could use the rest”
SJ44 making sense
Erica! I have no problem with you wanting to go your own way.
“How can you rip Jeter? Jeter is going to take this out on Fenway.”
Oh please take it out on Fenway
, the last series vs BOS he was band.
//Ouch. Boston’s lineup looks brutal now.//
That’s right Frank! The perfect time for this lineup to jell for Boston this weekend. Looks like NY is going to be the whipping post!
bland*
This one by Nick in SF didn’t get enough love,
““Hairston gives A-Rod a blow when he needs it.”
Isn’t that almost what Kevin Mitchell did for the ‘86 Mets? ”
Awesome line (no pun intended) Nick
Back on topic for a minute.. I’m not too sure sending Pena down is the right move. I guess since Girardi is basically going to a 6 man rotation for awhile he feels he needs the extra reliever. Also the Yanks didn’t have much choice. Either they put Marte back on the DL for a phantom injury, put him on the roster or eat his contract.
My question is, what will the playoff roster look like? Do they go with 14 position players and only 11 pitchers or take the extra pitcher (Marte, Gaudin, or Mitre)? Not like it matters a ton but I’d go with the extra position player (Pena).
“Marte was not showing great velocity and usual his control is an issue. You will not see him unless there is a blow out”
Which would beg to ask why this loser is even back now, except Cashman’s hands were tied because of that foolish deal he gave this gutless chump. Marte makes me sick just seeing him.
I get flashbacks of Marte, Edwar, Veras, Albaladejo earlier in the season every time this clown’s name is mentioned. I despise Marte highly. After that WBC stunt he pulled it says a lot about him. I have 0 faith in him to get big outs. He has not been part of this team’s success and is given a spot right back like he is so good.
“Reggie needs to settle this one, key his gold car or something.”
LMAO Post Of The Day
There is a very scary cloud outside my window. I am running for my car
Catch you all in a while
Al is going to break out of his slump in Fenway
Jeter, is probably going to be somewhat affected by these Rice comments and try too hard to prove something and end up grounding out weakly every AB.
I would be scared to use him, but need to see what he has the rest of the year. Coke usually stays in for a few batters. If Marte can’t get lefties out and does nothing then Kroenke will get the shot out there for sure. You should have a lefty specialist if Drew, Ortiz, Ellsbury, etc are out there.
The Phranchise
August 21st, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Don’t look too much into the names of the Sox lineup, simply the stats.
Ortiz .224 BA 100 ks in 400 at bats
Bay .256 (far cry from the beginning of the year) 113 ks in 400 at bats
Drew .260 92 ks in 354 at bats
I think we are seeing a trend. These are not the Sox that work counts and make difficult outs. That’s why their offense falters. Lots of ks, poor batting averages.
————————————————————-
Or these stats:
Ortiz: 4 HRs in last 6 games.
Bay: Hitting .298 with 7HRs and 12 RBI in August
Drew: Hitting .326 in August (not bad for your #8)
That’s their 5, 6 and 8 hitters. Teams get cold and hot. Right now the Sox are hot. Yanks need to cool them down.
Apparently they have squeezed 42 TV cameras into Fenway tonight. Should be a good one. Can’t wait.
Girardi will have no problem using Marte in a big spot.
He still has that nasty sweeping breaking ball to lefties. If Ortiz is up with the bases loaded, Girardi would have no problem bringing in Marte. Against lefties, he is a weapon.
You bring him back now because if he can get lefties out, he gives them another lefty in the bullpen.
Ideally, you would like 2 lefties coming out of the pen in the post-season.
That’s why its best to bring him back now and see if he can help them.
If he can’t, he won’t be on the post-season roster.
Oh Oh.
Jim Rice just got into Jeter’s head
It’s tough as a baseball fan to stomach the notion that Jim Rice is in the hall of famer.
He’s not even in the realm of being worthy to be in the hall. Not even close.
Everything about his candidacy was a farce. And it was largely driving by Dan Shaughnessy and Peter Gammons continuing their love affairs with the Sox.
It was Shaugnessy who year after year kept touting the notion that Rice was “feared” or the “most feared player in baseball.”
For the people who like to dismiss baseball “stats” Jim Rice’s example is a good one.
He was elected to the hall based on pure fluff. He was elected by a few people arguing persuasively enough that Rice’s numbers didn’t matter because you had “see him with your eyes” that the numbers didn’t “tell the story” because it was the “intangibles” that were the story. Didn’t matter what the “statheads” had to say.
Rice was feared. You had to see it with your eyes.
His production was mediocre to good for a left fielder and was largely a function of playing in Fenway.
The notion that he was the most “feared” player of his time makes it sound as if George Brett and Mike Schmidt never existed.
Cal: Look at Marte’s stats over the last few years. He is pitched at a pretty high level (this year’s suckitude not-withstanding). He’s got a lot of talent and pitched well at the major league level. The Yankees should certainly find out if he can be helpful this year. I agree that he shouldn’t be used in high leverage situations until he proves he can help.
Like others, I am worried about Pettitte tonight. He might very well get shelled and there is a good chance we lose the ball game.
But ask yourself: Would you rather have Andy Pettitte going against the Sox lineup or Brad Penny going against the Yankees lineup?
I would take my chances with Pettitte versus the Sox…
BTW it is about time Jeter was called out for his hedonistic lifestyle
Yeah, I’m sure Jim Rice of all people is in Derek Jeter’s head.
More comedy.
SJ44,
Sure I see the logic of having 2 lefties. Marte could be a weapon if he’s effective.
My issue is going with 13 pitchers. I just don’t like that at all.
Really though it’s not a big deal at all. With the way the Yanks are playing, does it really matter who’s the 25th guy on the roster? Nah..
Even if Marte does well I think it’s a long shot that the team goes with 12 pitchers in the postseason. I think the last guy out of the pen would be less useful than someone like Pena who can pinch run late in games, or bunt or sub in for defense. That’s the stuff that can win championships.
Marte will not be on the postseason roster
Rivera
Hughes
Coke
Bruney
Robertson
Melancon
Aceves
We will take an extra position player to use as a pinch runner (Pena).
Here are my predictions for the weekend:
(1) R#d S#x will sweep.
(2) B#y, Dr#w, and L#w#ll (i.e., the most feared trio in the history of modern baseball) will have a huge series; I say the trio will have (at least) 19 hits total for the weekend, including (at least) 7 homeruns and (at least) 14 RBI’s.
(3) B#y will have two walk-off hits.
(4) Jeter will go hitless tonight.
I hope I’m completely wrong on all three counts — if that indeed turns out to be the case, I promise not to post anything negative for a month.
– E . R ., The Loyal Yankee Fan –
“Ortiz: 4 HRs in last 6 games.
Bay: Hitting .298 with 7HRs and 12 RBI in August
Drew: Hitting .326 in August (not bad for your #8)
That’s their 5, 6 and 8 hitters. Teams get cold and hot. Right now the Sox are hot. Yanks need to cool them down”.
+++++ The Yanks aren’t exactly chumps, they do get their turn to swing the pine as well, and last time I check the Yankees aren’t Toronto or Detroit. Which are the last two series the Skunks have won. The Yanks can hit and pitch and will be facing two mediocre starters in Penny and Tazawa, besides their due to win some games at Fenway having lost seven straight there.
The good thing about baseball is that good pitching tends to take care of business in the end and Pettitte, Burnett and Sabathia are all pitching well and in the second half of the season they get even better, this season no different.
By the way, I love this part of the Rice story,
Rice’s appearance was part of a promotion by Allstate Insurance Co. He got a standing ovation from players and coaches, though some of the 11- to 13-year-old players were yawning or had their heads in their arms on the table about 15 minutes into the talk.
Jim
“AJ hasn’t pitched well in this park this year either.”
FYI AJ Burnett’s career stats at Fenway : .200 ba against, .308 obp, 3 -1 record, 3.56 ERA ( 8 of his 12 career runs allowed in Fenway came in the one bad game)and a 1.28 WHIP.
Burnett has dominated in Fenway except for 1 game.
If Marte pitches well, big “if”, he will be on the post-season roster.
You want 2 lefties working out of the pen in the post-season.
Jerry Hairston, Jr will be the pinch runner in the post-season.
They aren’t carrying 2 utility players over a second lefty relief pitcher if Marte shows he can get the job done.
There is no chance Mark Melancon is on the post-season roster.
Also one final point about Rice. His line of BS about the game being clean back in his day is complete hypocrisy. Are you telling me you never took amphetamines Jimbo? Yeah right.
I know steroids aren’t amphetamines but if you are popping greenies every day to get yourself energized for a game, that’s hardly a “clean” game.
Jim Rice should be in a dark room somewhere counting his blessings because he never deserved to get in the hall of fame. Instead he’s spouting off with nonsense and boring a bunch of little leaguers.
Imagine what those guys would hot for August if you take out the Yankees series then.
Here’s the big August pitching the Sox have faced other than the Yankees series:
D Hernandez (BAL)
Berkin (BAL)
Price (TB) – L
Garza (TB) – L
E Jackson (DET)
Minor (DET) – last minute start for Galraga
Porcello (DET) – thrown out of the game
Verlander – L
Millwood – Francisco Blew the game (1 run from Millwood)
Holland – L
Nippert – L
Halladay – good win, but he hasn’t been the same
Cecil
Romero
Yes that tremendous offense that they have is truly crushing those quality pitchers
9-9 for the Sox in August. Forgive me if I’m underwhelmed by a 3 game winning streak for them, as much as a 2 game losing streak had people saying the Yankees were sliding and on a massive losing streak just a few short days ago.
“It’s tough as a baseball fan to stomach the notion that Jim Rice is in the hall of famer.
He’s not even in the realm of being worthy to be in the hall. Not even close.
Everything about his candidacy was a farce. And it was largely driving by Dan Shaughnessy and Peter Gammons continuing their love affairs with the Sox.
It was Shaugnessy who year after year kept touting the notion that Rice was “feared” or the “most feared player in baseball.”
For the people who like to dismiss baseball “stats” Jim Rice’s example is a good one.
He was elected to the hall based on pure fluff. He was elected by a few people arguing persuasively enough that Rice’s numbers didn’t matter because you had “see him with your eyes” that the numbers didn’t “tell the story” because it was the “intangibles” that were the story. Didn’t matter what the “statheads” had to say.
Rice was feared. You had to see it with your eyes.
His production was mediocre to good for a left fielder and was largely a function of playing in Fenway”
Willie McGee > Jim Rice ???
can’t help it. I think McGee was a hellla all-around player : )
I just don’t think we’ll see Marte in this series unless the game is not at all close. And I wouldn’t blame Girardi and also would think Marte would understand since it would be his first game back.
Beyond that, no idea.
Red Sox Claim Billy Wagner?
After this, I never wanted to see Damaso Marte in Yankee uniform ever again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
I can’t believe he’s still on the roster.
I think Marte will pitch at some point this weekend.
For no other reason other than Girardi seeing if he can get lefties out.
Perhaps an AB to Ortiz or Drew.
If not, they wouldn’t have activated him this weekend.
Its a good test to see what he can do against the type of hitters he would have to face if he made the post-season roster.
I don’t think Girardi going to rely on him by any means. I do think though he is going to test him and see if he can pass the initial test.
Way too early to talk about postseason rosters.
Did anyone ever imagine in August of 07 that Jose Veras and Ross Ohlendorf would be on the postseason roster when they were not even in the big leagues yet?
A lot can happen in September. If we went to the playoffs last year, Coke would have been on the playoff roster despite the fact he only debuted in September.
Brian M August 21st, 2009 at 5:02 pm
BTW it is about time Jeter was called out for his hedonistic lifestyle
———————————————————–
Exactly, that’s not what players did in Jim Rice’s day.
Gawd, Rice sounds exactly like McCarver..”when I was a player we wah, wah, wah”
Yeah Melancon isn’t making the roster. If he can’t make it onto the team now then why would be make it in the playoffs?
So basically this is what the roster would be.
Starters: Jeter, Damon, Teixeira, Rodriguez, Matsui, Posada, Cano, Cabrera
Bench: Molina, Hinske, Hairston, Gardner, Pena
Starting pitchers: Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte, Chamberlain
Bullpen: Rivera, Hughes, Coke, Aceves, Bruney, Roberston, Marte
I miscounted earlier, there’s room for Pena and Marte. I’d stay away from Gaudin and Mitre. To me, Pena is more valuable than a mop-up guy.
People forget that when Marte was healthy, he was an elite lefty specialist and a setup man. We were clamoring to get him for years.
I think he just got tired last year… he eclipsed his entire 07 innings total by the middle of the season last year because PIT used him as a closer to try and showcase him and he logged a lot of innings.
The guy has a track record. If nothing else, is very good against lefties.
Sea Net August 21st, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Way too early to talk about postseason rosters.
Did anyone ever imagine in August of 07 that Jose Veras and Ross Ohlendorf would be on the postseason roster when they were not even in the big leagues yet?
A lot can happen in September. If we went to the playoffs last year, Coke would have been on the playoff roster despite the fact he only debuted in September.
———————————————————-
The problem is, barring a replacement injury, you have to be on 25-man roster as of august 31 to be on the post season roster.
“Jerry Hairston, Jr will be the pinch runner in the post-season.”
What about Brett Gardner?
Gardner has to get healthy first. Until he’s back in the lineup, he’s an unknown.
Hopefully, he gets back.
The bench will be very good for the post-season. Better balance than they had in years.
I don’t think it’s too early to talk about postseason rosters. The Yankees have a higher than 99% chance of making the playoffs. We could talk about this or continue talking about how stupid Jim Rice is.
SJ – I’m thinking they activated him because
1. he is ready to come back; no reason not to activate him
and
2. he will be in the ready in the event they run out of pitchers.
I do think that Girardi would try him out if the game is totally well in hand; but if things are at all close and there are other choices, my guess is Marte is not the choice.
It’ll be fun to see how it plays out. I definitely think my scenario is the correct one.
Id rather have steroid users in the hall of fame than complete d bags and marginal hall of famers like Jim Rice. 298 career avg and 352 career obp is just admirable but not hall of fame worthy. 382 homeruns over 15 seasons is okay but hardly among the greats. Throw on the fact that he is a classless moron and he shouldnt be in.
I would think a guy like donny baseballs would trump him merely based on the fact that he is a class act and one of the best defensive first basemans ever. Mcgwire hit 583 homers had a 394 obp and provided the spark that lifted the sport of baseball into a new era. Plus, from all accounts, mcgwire seems like a real nice guy.
I think voters should start considering class acts and stop worrying so much about who took roids and who didnt because in the end, lets face facts. Most baseball players in the last two decades probably did use at one point and no one will ever know exactly who did and who didnt. So why only penalize those that were unlucky enough to get caught. Id rather have a hall of fame full of players with great numbers and genuinely nice guys than a$$es with mediocre numbers that may have just never got caught.
http://thunderbaseball.wordpre.....formation/
news on IPK, Brackman, Banuelos.. etc.
I’ve seen too many things happen in Yankees/Sox series to ever presume to guess outcomes no matter who is on the mound and how hot or cold either team is coming into the series.
These 2 teams seem to bring out the best and the worst in each other every time they meet and a play will be made or not made that will be talked about for days.
I agree that it’s too early to talk about postseason rosters, if only because people tend to wish their lives away and don’t seem to be able to stick with the present. There’s plenty of time to talk about the future – in the future.
JMO, kids, JMO.
The good news is, even if Gardner can’t hit he is still useful to a team in the playoffs. The other piece of good news is his injury is pretty straightforward. Once the bone is fully healed (probably sometime next week) he can really start strengthening the muscle. At that point he should be good to go. It’d not like we are dealing with a hamstring or oblique injury which can linger.
It will take some time for Gardner to strengthen his wrist/hand but he’ll have plenty of time in September to get used to major league pitching again.
Cal
August 21st, 2009 at 5:05 pm
+++++ The Yanks aren’t exactly chumps, they do get their turn to swing the pine as well, and last time I check the Yankees aren’t Toronto or Detroit. Which are the last two series the Skunks have won. The Yanks can hit and pitch and will be facing two mediocre starters in Penny and Tazawa, besides their due to win some games at Fenway having lost seven straight there.
The good thing about baseball is that good pitching tends to take care of business in the end and Pettitte, Burnett and Sabathia are all pitching well and in the second half of the season they get even better, this season no different.
———————————————————
I don’t believe I posted anywhere that I believe the Yankees to be “chumps”, nor did I compare them to Detroit or Toronto. In fact, I didn’t say anything that doubts the Yankees, but thanks for the reminder on how good they’ve been playing since I obviously haven’t paid attention to that.
My point is the hubris that I read on this board sometimes. We’ve won nothing yet, and the Sox are not going to roll over and die this weekend.
Yes, we “should” hammer Penny and Tazawa. Doesn’t always work out that way. Yes, Pettitte, Burnett and CC are all pitching well. But Halladay was too.
Be confident, but don’t underestimate the enemy. Otherwise, the same posters declaring the Sox D.O.A. will be back here on Monday preaching doomsday scenarios if this weekend doesn’t go well.
I’ll feel a lot more comfortable talking about post season rosters after this weekend.
Andre Dawson > Jim Rice
Ron Santo > Jim Rice
Drive, AJ has had two terrible starts in Fenway this year. I know he’s pitched very well there in the past, but for some reason, he has not done so this year…..I generally have a great deal of confidence in him, but tomorrow’s game? I’m not sure….
“Did anyone ever imagine in August of 07 that Jose Veras and Ross Ohlendorf would be on the postseason roster when they were not even in the big leagues yet?”
That just speaks to how little depth our bullpen had in ’07. Besides Mo (who had an off-year) and Joba, anyone with a pulse would have been welcomed on the postseason roster. If I’m not mistaken, Jose Veras had an ERA around 7.00 that year and Ohlendorf pitched fewer than 15 innings.
Rice sounds like Grandpa Simpson talking about taking the ferry to Shelbyville while wearing an onion on his belt, because it was the style at the time.
In other words, a completely out-of-touch old man. Pay him no mind.
Eddie Gaedel > Jim Rice
I just wonder what the options were for the Yankees with Marte. Just recently, Girardi said that Marte couldn’t hit 93 on a regular basis and was not ready…….now he does a 180? I don’t get it……….if he’s not ready, he shouldn’t be up here. Couldn’t they have asked for an extension of his rehab?
Garciaparra > Jim Rice
Much stronger line up for the Bosox. Bring it on, only the best will come through (with or without bruises). Let’s take at least one out of three, anything extra will be a bonus. Jeter Times Now! Go Bombers!
such and such August 21st, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Rice sounds like Grandpa Simpson talking about taking the ferry to Shelbyville while wearing an onion on his belt, because it was the style at the time.
In other words, a completely out-of-touch old man. Pay him no mind.
———————————————
Old man yells at clouds! LOL!
Either the Yanks put Marte on the roster, make up a new injury and put him on the DL, or eat his contract and lose him forever.
I think they made the right choice. If he can’t pitch he’ll go back on the DL with shoulder soreness or something.
Could Marte move be a prelude to a trade? (I hope)
What a difference two weeks make. Last time we were about to start a series against the Red Sox, I would have signed up for a split and been happy with a 2.5 games lead.
Now, thinking of leaving town with anything less than a 5.5 game lead makes me antsy.
Betsy,
I stand corrected. AJ has had 2 bad starts in Fenway. But it’s more fair to judge him by the larger body of work there. Have confidence my friend. I bet you were nervous abous his last start against Boston too, right?
As I recall, that turned out prett well for us:)
Time for marte to build up his value so we can trade him.
If we sweep, it could be the beginning of the end of the sox playoff hopes – matchups certainly work in our favor. Here is hoping!
What are the chances Marte actually pitches in a game this weekend?
It’s too early to talk about the rosters because we have no idea how these guys will perform in September.
Right now, the only ones who are locks for the postseason roster are Rivera, Hughes, and probably Coke.
If Aceves goes in the tank in September and Gaudin looks good coming out of the pen, maybe he replaces Ace.
If Robertson or Bruney struggle to throw strikes and regress in September while Melancon is lights out, maybe he replaces one of them.
If Marte is effective, he will be there. If he is still rusty and doesn’t look good, he won’t be.
Maybe a guy like Mike Dunn comes out of nowhere and does well (a la Ohlendorf in 2007) and gets serious consideration. Not likely, but possible.
Still a lot of season left before Girardi has to decide.
The funny thing about games is that there always seems to be some surprise. I can’t count the number of times that one would have thought that the Yankees had the edge, for instance, in a past Game 1 and the other team in a past Game 2, and the opposite results occurred.
So I just decide the Yanks will take them all. Makes life a lot easier.
Marte has 3 yrs left on his deal.. no one is taking the contract unless we pay it, especially in this economy.
Might as well see if he can help us. We’re stuck with him.
“What are the chances Marte actually pitches in a game this weekend?”
Russell, read up from your post and you will see different responses.
If the Yankees win today, it really doesn’t even matter much how Burnett pitches tomorrow. Obviously I don’t want him to get lit up again, but I’d be happy with just a quality start.
Even if we play the Red Sox in the ALCS, I don’t think Burnett will ever have to pitch at Fenway again in ’09.
Erica-
I will go w/ 9/25
thanks
Rice is bitter. He views himself as one of the best sluggers in history, but his OPS is only 6 points higher than a shortstop’s.
A shortstop with four rings.
Brad Penny throws hard and has a live fastball.
If he is locating it, he is very tough to hit.
This is no gimme game. It’s not like this guy is a junkballer, he throws hard.
Let’s hope they get all these games in. Hurricane Bill is offshore here in MA and there will be storms associated with it. It’s very hot & humid in Boston right now.
Pedroia 2008 – 326 376 493 17 homers 20 stolen bases in 653 at bats
Jeter 2009 – 331 395 471 15 homers 21 stolen bases through 486 at bats
And jeter is not even the frontrunner for the mvp on his own team. Jeter is having an amazing year but it is so apparently obvious that pedroia was basically handed that mvp due to the lack of competition and not the actual numbers.
You extrapolate those numbers out to 620 at bats and jeter likely has pedroia beat in every major category. Even their fielding percentages are almost identical – 986 for jeet and 990 for pedroia.
One of the best incentives the Yankees have to sweep this series is that they could then go and rest their starters in the 9 games they have left against TB and TEX.
Speaking of which, the Rays and Rangers embark on a 3-game series tonight. Which team are you guys rooting for? I’m torn because I want the Rangers to overtake the WC lead, but I don’t want to see the Rays fall completely off the map, because then their remaining games against the Sox won’t be as exciting.
AJ pitching well this weekend is important, even if we don’t win the game.
We know CC can pitch up here. He pitched the best game of anyone during the 0-8 stretch, but just ran out of gas. He should have never been in to start the 8th anyway over 100 pitches.
Andy, eh, he’ll be up and down. This start doesn’t mean much for him. He hasn’t fared well here in recent years but he can pitch anywhere.
Going with 13 pitchers for now isn’t the worst thing. The Yankees just had an off day yesterday and have one on Monday. Carrying 13 pitchers for now will allow the Yankees to get a head start on resting their pitchers.
When the rosters expand in about a week and a half, the everyday guys will get their rest. The chance that Ramiro Pena seriously affects the outcome of a game between now and then is minimal.
Brother and sister-in-law on their way to the game. They called me on the way and my brother said his wife surprised him by saying she wanted to go; otherwise he was going to ask me. I am thrilled she wanted to go because I definitely wouldn’t have said yes but would have meant wah!
Oh yeah, they are Sux fans. My brother said someone at work asked if he wanted the tickets because he wasn’t going to be able to go. (I think he said Monster seats but not sure.) How cool is that.
Dave,
Compare Jeter’s ’06 season to Pedroia’s last year and it’s not even close.
That should have said I definitely WOULD have said yes but would have meant wah!
“Starters: Jeter, Damon, Teixeira, Rodriguez, Matsui, Posada, Cano, Cabrera”
Where is Swisher ?
“Compare Jeter’s ‘06 season to Pedroia’s last year and it’s not even close.”
Pedroia lucked out last year.
There were no other impressive performances.
This year there are so many with very impressive performance and hence the debate on who deserves MVP.
Agree about CC pitching well at Fenway. He was nasty through the first 7 innings, but that game was pre-Hughes (he was only a long reliever at the time) so he had to go out for the 8th.
With our current bullpen, he’d never be left in as long as he was.
I wonder who Jim Rice thinks are worthy role models… Youkilis? Ortiz? Papelbon?
I’m surprised he didn’t include Mariano Rivera in his rant. You know he wants to though.
RS-
I would be happy w/ either Rays or Texas as WC. The rays will play spoiler if they are out, they always play hard against the sox.
Drive, very true. I would get nervous if Cy Young were pitching, lol. I have to have a little faith, lol
RS,
true, i remember doing that last year to show why pedroia didnt deserve to win. I still think to this day though that jeter should have beaten morneau in 2006. Even comparing those numbers, I have to say jeter’s looks slightly more impressive at short stop than morneau at first who did not win a gold glove that year or any year. This year, jeter probably won’t win the mvp voting not by getting robbed but just because teixeira has actually been more of a most valuable player so the pedroia comparison is even more relevant i think.
My prediction is September 29th.
I felt much better going into the 4 game series 2 weeks ago than I do for this series.
I don’t know… their lineup is fully intact, they are swinging the bats well, they are at home.
That piece of trash should apologize to Little League Baseball and those kids more than anyone else.
If this team is as good as we think they are, they will find a way to take ONE game. Despite what the bridgejumpers say, that is all we need to do. Take one game.
They can’t possibly lose in every way imaginable and get swept in Fenway again, can they?
Hopefully cano, arod and teixeira will all start hitting more in the cozy confines of fenway against the likes of penny and tazawa. Cano is 0 for his last 12, teixeira is 4 for his last 22 (.182) and arod is 6 for his last 32 (.188).
marte is ready or he wouldn’t be back
Melky is also not hitting well over the last week plus
Dave,
Most of the lineup is in a funk right now. Except Jeter/Damon. That’s why I’m not assuming we will pound Penny/Tawaza
LI Dan-
that is crazy talk, the Yankees WON every way possible at YS, they wont lose every game at Fenway.
Classic NESN: I just turned on the tv. The first thing I see as they cut to commercial is them showning the backside of an obviously vulgar tee shirt. The back of the shirt read ” ..and thier overpaid,choking,cheating so and so sos” LOL
This is the network that brings class acts like Jim Rice and Dennis Eckersley into New England’s living rooms. At least they arent showing the ads featuring the Varitek/ A Rod fight for now anyways.
A classless, totally classless organization.
red sox claimed billy wagner via MLBTR
kind of ironic how jim rice is bustin jeter for playing for the stats when jeter has 200 more walks in roughly the same amount of at bats
It is interesting many media folks talk about Beckett being a Cy Young candidate and CC not there yet.
Both have 14 wins and highest in AL.
Beckett ERA is a little better 3.38 vs 3.58.
CC pitched 16 more innings. He did lose 3 more games 7 Vs. 4.
If CC pitches a good game and wins on Sunday, he will have the most wins and good ERA. So, he should become one of the favorites for Cy Young.
X factor = Yankee swagger.
If I’m 6.5 games up, my attitude is I ain’t afrad of nothing!
Seriously.
I have no fear about this series. At all. No matter what happens at any of the games. At all. I am thinking the Yankees feel the same way.
Anyway the only thing you have to fear is fear itself. These are baseball games. Your team has a 6.5 game lead. Don’t let worry rent space in your mind. If you have faith in this Yankee team you can allow yourself to deal with any eventuality because you know that ultimately they will get the job done. Losses are an inevitable part of every season.
GO YANKEES!
Wagner would be a great pickup for BOS.
Papelbon
Wagner
Delcarmen
Okijima
Bard
Ramirez
Saito
“red sox claimed billy wagner via MLBTR”
Eh.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....ivers.html
Red Sox got Wagner…….
The Mets ownership hates the Yankees… they are going to send him to Boston just to tweak us.
Best case scenario for them. They also get to shed his of his salary.
despite the win-loss, greinke should really be in the running for the cy young. This is not the mvp. Its just the best pitcher in the league.
The Red Sox didn’t “get” Wagner. They claimed him on waivers, if Rosenthal’s story is true.
If the Mets can’t make a deal with the Red Sox over the next 3 days, they can either let him go or pull him back and keep him.
Anyone see this quote by Papelbon?
“We’re 8-4 against them this season. We beat them half the time”
Clever guy that Papelbon.
the cy young is not a competition between beckett and cc. What about grienke, halladay, hernandez and verlander???
How is a guy who is just back from TJ Surgery, and not yet 100%, a “great pickup”.
You don’t even know if he can pitch effectively.
Some folks just love names.
Rice is disappointed that he is failing to cash in on memorabilia related to his H-O-F induction.
So Old Jim lashes out at players that only hard-core Ped Sox fans hate…in hopes that he can sucker maybe 5 of them into buying a few of the 36,260 autographed pics he’s got for sale!
Good luck with that Jim!
I’d like to see Goose buzz him at an Old-Timers Game!
Funny, everyone on here was so adamant that Wagner would be ill-suited for the Yanks. Now watch the reaction of the Red Sox pick him up…
Wow. I can’t believe no NL team claimed Wagner.
Rice should make apology to HOF & MLB for incurring damage to the brand names.
Boston has a deep farm system and could probably offer some kid in Low A to the Mets. They also can take on his entire salary.
Win win for the Mets. They can’t offer him arb. with the risk that he might accept it (even though he said he wanted to close). So they might as well take the low level prospect.
“the cy young is not a competition between beckett and cc. What about grienke, halladay, hernandez and verlander???”
I agree they are all in the mix.
My point was specifically how come Beckett is talked about a lot and not CC. I think it will change after this series.
“red sox claimed billy wagner via MLBTR”
But I thought they have the best bullpen in the league…
Wagner was hitting 96 yesterday and had that filthy slider. He is back.
In no way is this good news for us.
Do we really want Yankees to clinch that early? Maybe a little more high level competition in regular games would make them more focused and ready for the playoff. OK…don’t throw the bricks….just another (careles/worthless) thought.
bbfan,
I wonder why beckett is talked about soo much more than all those guys? Frankly, greinke was the best pitcher in baseball this year so far and is just on a bad team. Halladay is probably the second best. Beckett is maybe in the top five. CC is certainly pretty close to beckett and if he wins the game on sunday will be a better candidate for the cy young.
Wow who cares if the Sox get Wagner. They already have a great pen. What does Wagner give them that they don’t already have? The Yankees have a better lineup and a better starting staff. A slight edge in the bullpen isn’t going to matter.
kim jones asked jeter if there was any difference between hitting leadoff and second, Jeter said, “yea, i hit about two minutes earlier.”
How could no NL team claim him?
The Dodgers pen is a mess. Cubs have no closer. Marlins have no closer. Philly could use another BP arm.
Even in the AL… a team like Detroit who has a shaky pen couldn’t claim him?
If true about Wagner, Mets would be smart to ask for players for him and not just a salary dump.
How do you know he is “back”?
He threw ONE pitch 96, and it was a ball.
His “filthy” slider wasn’t “back”. He threw a couple of good one’s and that’s it.
Hey, if you want to go into panic mode, by my guest.
Nobody 11 months out of TJ Surgery is “back”.
How is it “bad news” for the Yankees? After this series, the Yankees only play the Red Sox 3 more times this year.
You have no idea if he will even pitch against the Yankees and how he will pitch if he does.
Jack August 21st, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Al is going to break out of his slump in Fenway
================================================
I think his name is Alex.
Jeter’s best line when asked why he was running more, and he said he has just felt “runnerish”.
the one thing that makes no sense to me is this:
what team w/any sense of fiscal responsibility would pay Wagner $8M next season to be a set-up man?
In essence, if the Sox (or any other team) trades for him for the sole purpose of using him as a set-up man for the rest of this season, and then buys him out for $1M next season, they will have spent $3.7M to acquire the services of a pitcher fresh off TMJ.
There’s almost no angle from which this makes sense.
“Wow. I can’t believe no NL team claimed Wagner.”
I can. They all played against him and know he is famous for his monumental meltdowns.
I couldn’t be LESS worried about Wagner going to the Sux. I think it just shows that desperate teams do desperate things.
Even if Wagner is as good as he always was (which I highly doubt) it’s not a huge acquisition for the Sox. They already have relievers to pitch late in the game. Wagner will probably be a LOOGY or something.
As baseball fans we spend a lot of time discussing free agent signings and trades.
While there’s often tons of discussion beforehand there often a lot less after a move has or hasn’t been made. And that’s especially true to trades that aren’t made.
When a trade isn’t made it’s really only time that tells what the outcome of that decision was.
A couple of interesting notes.
Perhaps the biggest fork in the road the yankees came to as a franchise over the past 5 years was the decision to trade for Santana or not.
In last night’s game Santana’s average fastball velocity was down to 88 mph. His maximum velocity was 91.
Santana’s average fastball on the season this year has been 90.6 mph. And it’s been going down as the season has gone on. Back in 2006 his average fastball was 93.1 mph. His average fastball velocity has gone down each year for the past three years.
More recently, a minor fire storm occurred when the Yankees didn’t trade for a veteran starter – especially Jarrod Washburn. A lot of people said that the yankees needed to give up what it took to get Washburn.
Washburn’s a free agent at the end of this year. So in trading him you were only getting 12 starts from him.
Yesterday Washburn made his 4th start for Detroit. That’s 25% of all the starts he will be making for Detroit.
And once again he was awful. Washburn gave up 6 runs in 6 innings.
So far for detroit Washburn has put up the following line:
0-1 in his 4 starts he’s thrown 25 innings. ERA – 6.04.
He’s given up 8 HR (that’s right – 8 hr in 25 innings – think safeco helped him some – in the 133 innings he threw for Seattle he gave up 11 total HR) and 17 hits with 6 BB.
For comparison what’s Sergio Mitre’s ERA for the thanks?
6.04. And he’s thrown 28 innings.
So after a comparable number of innings for their respective teams, Washburn and Mitre have the same ERA.
90% chance of rain at 9pm according to weather.com
“How could no NL team claim him?”
He makes a ton of money and hasn’t pitched in a long time. A bad combo for all but a few teams.
Erica,
My entry is for September 23rd.
If Marte is healthy and effective, he can be just as effective as Wagner. Maybe not to righties, but as part of a late inning tandem with Hughes.
SJ it is just my opinion that there are posters who immediately panic no matter the situation because I think if they really took the time to think things out they would be able to factor in all the things you just mentioned and then realize this is a panic move on the part of the Sux and that there are automatic problems that go with Wagner. Wagner at his best had problems in games.
Yogis August 21st, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Rice should make apology to HOF & MLB for incurring damage to the brand names.
====================================
Most of the Little Leaguers listening to Rice probably said: “who is this jerk?”, thus the yawns and heads on the table.
Wagner was shaky even before TJ. He is not going to make a difference one way or the other.
Great points CB.
If the Mets give them Wagner, this “model organization” will have thrown almost 9 million dollars of guaranteed money to Billy Wagner and John Smoltz but wouldn’t pony up another 8 million (what it would have taken) to sign Mark Teixeira.
Makes sense to me.
“Jeter’s best line when asked why he was running more, and he said he has just felt “runnerish”.”
Kenny was using that word talking about Alex’s lead off 1B this week.
Maybe Jeter watches the encore games to hear what they say about him.
I agree, marte could be VERY good for us as a lefty and potential setup man. my question is — will he be???
Did you guys read Wagner’s quotes yesterday?
He said he is not waiving his NTC to go somewhere to be a LOOGY. He said it would have to be a place where he will pitch as a setup man and showcase himself to be a closer next year. He is 15 away from 400 saves and said he has no intention of being a SU man anytime after this year.
Trisha,
Correct. Any move the Red Sox make is an example of Theo’s “genius” to some on here.
They may have to pay a guy not yet healthy from TJ Surgery over 3.5 million dollars for perhaps 10 innings (if they are lucky) of work.
They paid Smoltz 5.5 guaranteed dollars to give them nothing.
Yet, they “drew the line” on giving Tex 8 million more because they didn’t believe Scott Boras had a better offer than the 172 million Sox offer that was on the table.
With decisionmaking like that, the LAST thing you have to worry about is losing a battle of brains with that front office.
Although anything can happen in any game – and we know that we’ve seen surprises – I can say the pitcher I fear the least is Brad Penny. He’s pretty sucky.
such and such August 21st, 2009 at 6:25 pm
the one thing that makes no sense to me is this:
what team w/any sense of fiscal responsibility would pay Wagner $8M next season to be a set-up man?
In essence, if the Sox (or any other team) trades for him for the sole purpose of using him as a set-up man for the rest of this season, and then buys him out for $1M next season, they will have spent $3.7M to acquire the services of a pitcher fresh off TMJ.
There’s almost no angle from which this makes sense.
It’s definately plausible that Cash mightve had interest in him.
CB…so true.
SJ…great point, but that will never be brought up, only the precieved great moves are talked about in beantown and the Boy Genius.
pat
August 21st, 2009 at 6:31 pm
“Jeter’s best line when asked why he was running more, and he said he has just felt “runnerish”.”
Kenny was using that word talking about Alex’s lead off 1B this week.
Maybe Jeter watches the encore games to hear what they say about him.
————————————————————
Jeter made this remark during today’s pre-game interviews with Jones, and had the same smile and chuckle that Singleton did, so, you may be on to something.
Jim Rice is a Hall of Fame IDIOT!
A quick thought re: Wagner …… it’s obviously an attempt to combat the “lefthandedness” of the Yankees. The Sox have only one lefty reliever (Oki), and can’t match up as well as they’d like (especially at YS). Also, Papelbon is getting shakier and shakier.
I haven’t a clue as to what Wagner has left, but the Sox have a lot of Teixeira money left, are leading in the wild card, and see no need to be “fiscally responsible” when one game could be the difference in making the playoffs.
Why wouldn’t Wagner waive his NTC?
He gets to go to a team that is a World Series contender and will get to be a setup man and pitch plenty of innings. If he succeeds in Boston in a pennant race, he can get himself a nice contract next year.
Much better for him than pitching meaningless games in Citi Field for the rest of the year.
The Red Sox problem is their starting pitching and the age/injuries/ underperformance of their line up, especially on the road.
They can add Wagner to the pen. But at some point there are diminishing returns to the investment your making.
There’s only so much of one teams resources it makes sense to add to the pen.
Wagner won’t help their starting rotation. If somehow getting Wagner let them move a long man into the rotation perhaps it would have. But they traded Masterson in the Martinez deal so that’s not possible.
I think the Sox made this move primarily to block the yankees from claiming Wagner. He’s not primarily a resource that they need.
Remember when the Red Sox were labeled as a bunch of geniuses when they managed to trade for Eric Gagne?
Look how that turned out for them. Billy Wagner tossing one scoreless inning doesn’t mean he’s back to whatever awesome form you assume he had before the surgery. He also has a less than spectacular track record when it comes to high-importance games.
Calm down.
Nick in SF in Santa Rosa
August 21st, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Erica! I have no problem with you wanting to go your own way.
****
Very fancy
It smells to me a lot like the Jose Canseco claim the Yanks made in 2000.
I thought teams had moved beyond that sort of thing. At least, that’s what all the talking heads have been saying.
“Much better for him than pitching meaningless games in Citi Field for the rest of the year.”
Not necessarily. Wagner wants to be a closer next year. He’s about to be a free agent.
What he’s going to want is the opportunity to pitch to show teams what he has.
The Sox have a deep bull pen and they already have a lefty there in Okajima.
Wagner is going to do what’s best for him going into next year.
The only reason the Sox claimed Wagner is because they want their own player to enter to “Enter Sandman”
14 minutes remain to get in on “Guess what date the Yankees clinch the Playoffs” (this is just a playoff berth, not the division). Here is who is in:
09/21/2009:
Ed H
09/22/2009:
Uncle E
Unknown
m
Eights
09/23/2009:
Erica
S.O.S
BBFan
09/25/2009:
Fran
Upstate Kate
09/26/2009:
Yanks Fan
Pat
09/29/2009:
Jim the VT Yankee Fan
I’ll take Sept. 27th for the clinch…
My brother just called me from fenway and asked if the Yankee broadcaster (Kim Jones) was blonde and was wearing a flowered top (yes) because he was watching her do an interview on the field. I was wrong about his seats. Not Monster Seats. Several rows behind the Yankee dugout.
Remember, he is a Sux fan, but I suppose you can sit anywhere in fenway as a Sux fan and feel comfortable. Even several rows behind the Yankee dugout.
“Remember when the Red Sox were labeled as a bunch of geniuses when they managed to trade for Eric Gagne?
Look how that turned out for them. Billy Wagner tossing one scoreless inning doesn’t mean he’s back to whatever awesome form you assume he had before the surgery. He also has a less than spectacular track record when it comes to high-importance games.
Calm down.”
A-FLIPPIN-MEN.
Seems like Boston is more worried about winning the “media spin” games than the “baseball” games!
Only reason they claimed Wagner was they were afraid he’d end up with the Yanks!
Erica, do you know the earliest date they are eligible to clinch?
9/22
“Also, Papelbon is getting shakier and shakier.”
Yes he is. Theo is going to try to trade him either this winter or next.
Big question for the Sox this winter is whether they can package Papelbon and/ or Dice-K for a younger power hitting player or not.
If they can’t then they’ll be under a lot of pressure to trade Bucchholz and the rotation next year is thin as it is.
trisha – OPPC lifetime member and true believer in karma.
August 21st, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Erica, do you know the earliest date they are eligible to clinch?
****
No. I am not that smart.
Dang, Texas and the Rays playing this weekend. No idea which team I should be rooting for. Texas because they are the closest? I’d love to see the Rays overtake the Sux though since I picked the Rays to finish 2nd in the AL East!
Wagner left Philly as a chump!
Not a popular guy in the Mets clubhouse and…
always comes up small in very high leverage situations his contract is stupid high money…he’s very old and coming off TJ surgery…other than that…a great pickup!
Jamaican Rum, Yanks v Sox, weekend.. life is good.
Erica
Put me down for 9/22.
Thanks
say what you want about Wagner. He’s not worth the $$.
but he still makes the Sox a better team than they are right now.
if the Yankees were in the Sox position, we would be applauding the move.
the Sox are trying to scratch and claw their way into the playoffs. every little move could be the difference.
good job if they get Wagner.
(just hope it doesn’t matter in the end)
With all the talk about Billy Wagner willing to be traded to a contender for the stretch drive and postseason, the question is:
Why would a contender want Billy Wagner to pitch in the playoffs?
In 11 games over six playoff series, Wagner has an 8.71 ERA and a WHIP of 1.839. (His regular-season stats: 2.40 ERA; 1.009 WHIP).
He has given up 18 hits and 11 runs in 10-1/3 postseason innings.
Not quite Mariano Rivera now, is it?
Wagner’s teams are 1-5 in those six playoff series (the only win by the Mets over the Dodgers in the 2000 NLDS). He never has been required to protect a one-run lead in a playoff game.
Included in the ugly numbers are some spectacular failures.
Game 2, 1998 NLDS Astros vs. Padres: Asked to protect a 4-2 ninth-inning lead, Wagner gives up four hits and two runs. (Houston wins with a run in the bottom of the ninth).
Game 1, 2001 NLDS Astros vs. Braves: Summoned with runners on first and second, one out in the eighth, game tied 3-3, Wagner gives up a three-run homer to Chipper Jones, the first batter he faces. (Atlanta wins, 7-4).
Game 2, 2006 NLDS Mets vs. Cardinals: Game tied 6-6 in the ninth, Wagner gives up a leadoff home run to So Taguchi, then two more runs later in an inning he doesn’t finish. (Cardinals win, 9-6).
Game 6, 2006 NLCS Mets vs. Cardinals: Asked to protect a 4-0 lead in the ninth, Wagner gives up two runs on three hits, throwing 24 pitches. (Mets win, 4-2, but lose Game 7, in which Wagner never pitches. Aaron Heilman gives up a two-run homer in the ninth).
(This doesn’t even include the three saves he blew after Aug. 23 during the Mets’ 2007 collapse, or the 7-6 game against the Nationals he turned into a 9-6 loss.)
And, finally, let’s not forget Wagner’s incredibly rapid return from Tommy John surgery to a team out of the race comes with him not having a contract locked up for next season.
Wagner was claimed off waivers by an as yet unamed team, but despite not knowing who, he is eager to go.
“It might be the closest I ever get to the World Series,” he told Bart Hubbuch.
http://blogs.nypost.com/sports.....you_w.html
Just because Wagner is claimed by the RS doesn’t mean he’s going there.
They also claimed Christian Guzman a couple of weeks ago & couldn’t get THAT done
Can the Sox afford to trade Papelbon now with the way Bard has pitched lately?
Also, this is kind of random, but Andy Pettitte’s road ERA is almost a full run lower than Santana’s (3.17 vs. 4.09).
I know our hitters benefit extremely from YS, but it would be fun to see how good our pitching staff would be if they didn’t pitch in the most hitter friendly stadium in baseball.
Well, soon I will be doomed to the pits of hell and be unceremoniously tossed to the Sux broadcast. Though we are 6.5 games up and that might bring about less inclination for ledge jumping, I think I will take this game off line because I know that the minute, no the SECOND, a Yankee player has the audacity to do something “wrong” the drama is going to start. I enjoy games so much better without wading through forum angst.
So, GO YANKEES!!!
We have the division. I will continue to sit back and enjoy these games.
Danny…I thought that Wagner had a tough time in big games.
Erica, I don’t even know how many games to clinch so I can’t begin to take a guess.
Sorry
Hi CB – One problem with trading Papelbon is that he makes a lot of money for a closer in decline. It looks like Bucholtz might well be extremely marketable, though. The Sox might use him to go after Gonzalez (SD) or Hanley (or somebody, I hope).
I look at the top six in the Yankee lineup, and five of the six are bucking the odds in terms of their productivity and health. If the Yankees win it all, do you think they’ll roll the dice with this same group again? The Sox tried this year (not that they won it all). and are are getting burned.
Uncle Ellsworth: my predection is the 3rd inning of the EARLY GAME on Sept. 7th. My tie-breaker prediction is the 1st inning of that very same game.
Watch Wagner blow with the Red Sox and still manage to ride to glory like Gagne did two years ago.
Boston will have issues sticking another big bat into their team. They really have no place because they still have a lot of money for a lot of years tied up in bats at the corners of the infield, outfield, at DH and catchers. Most of those, they are stuck with the contracts. Bay is the only one, so, they need to decide if Holliday is really any better a fit than what they have. Rotation help is really the only thing they could fix. Not likely that they’ll get “home town discounts” on the FA market.
Wow, Remy is back and he looks pretty good.
Good for him. A good guy and about as objective as you get.
Brian – I think they let Matsui walk, that may be it.
“Watch Wagner blow with the Red Sox and still manage to ride to glory like Gagne did two years ago.”
E chihuahua, or however you spell it.
Lets go Yankees!
“It’s understandable that Girardi doesn’t want to pick a fight with a Boston icon. But he should have come to the defense of his players.”
A slippery slope for anyone… because Rice was right about A-Rod but wrong to include Jeter. If you defend one, you have to defend the other. If he does, then someone will ask if he thinks A-Rod is a role model and obviously he isin’t because he cheated, and Girardi would venture into an area he doesn’t want to venture in.
It’s best for him to not comment further. If it was just Jeter, he would have. But he really can’t defend A-Rod being a role model.
“It’s understandable that Girardi doesn’t want to pick a fight with a Boston icon. But he should have come to the defense of his players.”
He should have at least made a comment about Jeter being mentioned. We can see some of the faults of Alex and Manny (even though I don’t understand why it’s a bad thing for a player to try and get as much money as he can). But Jeter? That warranted a comment from somebody high up.
Girardi on Rice-
“My feeling is you shouldn’t judge others and I’m not going to comment on his comments,” Girardi said.
“One problem with trading Papelbon is that he makes a lot of money for a closer in decline. ”
He does which is the problem for you guys. Dice-K also isn’t going to bring back much given his shoulder and salary.
I don’t think Gonzalez is going to get put on the market but he would obviously be the ideal guy.
Buccholz is throwing well, though still off his secondary stuff (his fastball does have more tailing movement now that they’ve dropped his arm slot though I think his curve isn’t as good as it was when he was more over the top).
I don’t think the yankees are under any delusions of grandeur. They’ve lived through an aging team falling apart. No way do I see them bringing this core back intact. Matsui will definitely not be back. Damon – hard to say. I think they will but I think (hope?) it’ll be more as a DH. I do think the team sees Damon’s defense in LF as being a problem.
I think there will be changes. This season has been a best case scenario and they’d be foolish on banking on this twice.
Girardi got pounded pretty good in the media for defending A-Rod against Selena Roberts. He probably doesn’t want to go through that again.
Even his allies like Francessa and Kay got on him for that.
Trisha-
I think the magic number is 36
They always say the grass is greener on the other side, but here at Fenway field that isn’t true. The grass at our Yankee Stadium is much, much greener! The woman singing the national anthem isn’t know the words… What a disgrace.
Laura… that is the problem though. Girardi can’t speak up for one and not the other. Then he is opening up Pandora’s box. If he does speak up, he needs to defend Jeter and A-Rod.
This series is about winning games.
If the Yankees focus too much on the fact that they’re playing Boston instead of just another three game series, they stand a greater chance of losing games than they otherwise might.
I said this before Boston came to New York earlier this month: just focus on winning and playing your game. The Yankees are a solid team right now and are more than capable of winning another three straight regardless of whether its in Boston, Anaheim, Chicago, or wherever else.
The best part of about it, from the angle that they are playing Boston, is that even if they got swept, they’re still up 3.5 games. SO, if they win at least 2 of 3, they’re in GREAT SHAPE.
“It’s best for him to not comment further. If it was just Jeter, he would have. But he really can’t defend A-Rod being a role model.”
I’m one of those people who believe that people need to stop letting their kids look up to entertainers and athletes as role models. A role model should be the firefighter who risks his life for others. A role model should be the teacher who is trying to teach kids while making next to nothing. A role model should be the mother or father who is working 2 or 3 jobs trying to put food on the table. Kids shouldn’t be looking up to Alex, Manny, Jeter or anyone else on the baseball field as role models. They are guys who are lucky enough to have enough talent to play a sport and get paid handsomely for it.
GB7,
I think they are going to dump Ortiz in the off season. They’ll eat his salary and move Lowell to the DH slot. They’ll also try to get rid of Varitek as a starting catcher.
But there’s not a lot on the free agent market so they’ll have to give up talent.
How does Girardi defend Jeter and not sound like he agrees with Rice on Arod? No win situation for him, but come on! Jeter is NOTHING like those other two.
Thanks for the reply, CB …. I’ll let you guys enjoy the game now (but not too much, I hope).
Yankee Stadium is taylor made for Damon…if they can use him as the DH, he may be able to end his career like Molitor did.
“Laura… that is the problem though. Girardi can’t speak up for one and not the other. Then he is opening up Pandora’s box. If he does speak up, he needs to defend Jeter and A-Rod.”
Probably. I just feel that someone from the organization needs to tell Rice to shut his trap and worry about his own pathetic legacy.
Erica my guess is 9/21.
Playoff clincher, right? Not division?
I think Girardi’s response was the right one. Derek Jeter doesn’t need Joe Girardi to defend him, and Girardi took the high road (which isn’t hard, given how low Rice’s road was).
Also, lot of empty seats here at game time.
“If the Yankees win it all, do you think they’ll roll the dice with this same group again? The Sox tried this year (not that they won it all). and are are getting burned.”
That’s a good question, Brian. I have often thought that the Yankees have been awfully lucky this year in terms of getting good production from their older players (which is one of the reasons it would be a shame for them not to win it all in ’09).
Not only have Matsui, Damon, Jeter, and Posada all had good to outstanding years, but Pettitte has been remarkably effective and Mo is still dominant. How long will that continue? Probably not very long.
My guess is that the Yankees will resign Damon next year but let Matsui go, so that the DH spot will be rotated among Damon, Jeter, Posada, and Arod. Posada probably has one more year left as a full time catcher (maybe not even that), as the Yankees have a couple of nice catching prospects that they’ll try to ease in over the next 2 years. Arod and Jeter of course will stay at SS and 3B for a while (look for Jeter to get an extension after 2010).
If Pettitte finishes the year healthy, I think they’d be welcome to bringing him back on a 1-year deal. Since Wang had shoulder surgery, and Ian Kennedy is still rehabbing from his aneurisym, they’ll need the pitching depth next year (Hughes will take Wang’s place in the rotation). Rivera has one year left on his contract and has said he doesn’t want to discuss an extension until his current deal is expired.
Erica- then I would have said September 16th. If they clinch on the 16th I will remind you and you can give me huge off-contest props. Of course if they don’t, I’m in the clear.
Later GF.
“I think they are going to dump Ortiz in the off season.”
I agree. And I don’t think that Red Sox Nation will mind either.
Sox in their silly red jerseys tonight.
Levine or Hank need to rip into Jim Rice.
They are not in the public eye so they don’t have to worry about dealing with reporters or anything. They can make one statement and be done with it.
“Also, lot of empty seats here at game time.”
I don’t believe you because, you know, they are sold out until the 25th century…
Laura
Agree. Role models should be people kids know not people they wish they knew.
“Sox in their silly red jerseys tonight.”
They look like ice cream vendors. G-ross.
CB
August 21st, 2009 at 7:09 pm
GB7,
I think they are going to dump Ortiz in the off season. They’ll eat his salary and move Lowell to the DH slot. They’ll also try to get rid of Varitek as a starting catcher.
But there’s not a lot on the free agent market so they’ll have to give up talent.
————————————————————
If they do as you say, who do you see as a replacement? Beltre at third base, or Holliday for a corner outfield and possibly Drew for 1st base will Youkilis back to third?
Jeter!!
Ho-hum, just another leadoff hit for Jeter.
Bring it on!
Let’s go Yankees
Yeah, Jete!!!
Awwww. No hitter gone.
Sorry, I did say I was adiosing.
Later.
Jeter is amazing..
Anyone know if the game is available on internet radio anywhere? (stuck at work)
If they do as you say, who do you see as a replacement? Beltre at third base, or Holliday for a corner outfield and possibly Drew for 1st base will Youkilis back to third?
I doubt Holliday will return to the AL after what he’s done since returning to the National League.
Rob NY, I saw your post before about your grandfather, glad you are able to make the game and I hope they get you and him a win!
Trisha-
I’ll include you
Jeter clearly being selfish.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Robert: http://atdhe.net/index.html
“Sox in their silly red jerseys tonight”
It’s fantastic to be a fan of a team that never comes to play a game looking like they forgot to change after batting practice.
Nooo Damon
Please be alright.
Erica – thanks!
Erica – oh no…
Please God no.
GB7,
I think they’ll make a run at a 1b and move Youkilis to 3b.
I could see them trying to trade for Gonzalez again and if that doesn’t work they might wind up signing a someone – Nick Johnson?
Look away, Erica. Hide your eyes.
Way outside.
Awesome Joe West is umping tonight. Terrible call
Pettitte better get the same zone.
That pitch was more than half a foot outside.
Wow! Thanks grafx…that’s awesome!
So, if the catcher catches it, it’s a strike tonight.
Why does Simpleton … er Singleton always defend poor calls by the umpires?
anytime!!
Pettitte better get those outside corner strikes…
does anyone know why Scott Richmond (TOR) hasn’t pitched in so long?
CB
August 21st, 2009 at 7:17 pm
GB7,
I think they’ll make a run at a 1b and move Youkilis to 3b.
I could see them trying to trade for Gonzalez again and if that doesn’t work they might wind up signing a someone – Nick Johnson?
————————————————————
I’d forgotten about Johnson. The only thing they can do is pray that he plays more than half a year.
Girardi got pounded pretty good in the media for defending A-Rod against Selena Roberts. He probably doesn’t want to go through that again.”
It probably didn’t bother him when the fools brought up that silly First Amendment argument. Kind of took the sting away. LOL
No one needs to say anything about Rice’s comments. More than enough common sense people will say it for them.
Charles Barkley tried to tell kids athletes aren’t role models. Instead of using it as a teachable moment, adults ripped him.
I don’t know how, because no one ever told me otherwise, but from the time I was a little kid I knew not to look up to athletes for anything.
Just want to say that after that pitch Remy IMMEDIATELY said “Looks like Penny got a generous pitch” and then they showed it on the Amica Zone and Remy said “Damon definitely had a beef, the Amica Zone shows that ball was on the outside”
So here we go with pitches
and
Remy is a real objective guy.
Alright Alex…aim for that big green wall to your left.
great, A-Rod’s up :/
Chea Alex!
I’ll take that hit!
GB7,
I’d like the yankees to make a run at signing Johnson to be their DH if they have to bring Damon back as a LF. I’d prefer they DH Johnny and get a better LF but that might not be possible.
Given how injured he’d been Johnson might look at DH as an opportunity.
first pitch swinging. why not!
Nick Green probably wouldn’t even have gloved that ball.
Let’s go Matsui!!
what’s the pitch count?
Well one call fenway had taken away from them is “STEH-ROIDS! STEH-ROIDS!”
What a riot. Notice a discernable lowering in the booing of Arod.
HA HA HA HA HA!
We can’t let Penny off the hook here. At least score 1 run.
Erica I was a few minutes past your deadline but got my guess in before first pitch.
Does it count?
penny is throwing heat.
Wow, I guess we’re going to have to learn to swing at that pitch.
COME ON
The Yankees had better get calls like this.
I will punch Cowboy Joe West in his mouth one day. Of this I swear.
What the hell. that’s off the freaking plate. Fat slob Joe West.
that was a strike? what the ?
andy gets the same zone please.
what is NESN saying?
that strike zone is out of hand ALREADY
Remy is awesome. “Once again giving that very generous pitch zone. Matsui frustrated and I can see why.” Then they showed the ball was once again OUTSIDE.
Horrible strike zone man
this ump isnt good…
CB
August 21st, 2009 at 7:21 pm
GB7,
I’d like the yankees to make a run at signing Johnson to be their DH if they have to bring Damon back as a LF. I’d prefer they DH Johnny and get a better LF but that might not be possible.
Given how injured he’d been Johnson might look at DH as an opportunity.
————————————————————
I’d rather see Damon as a DH and go for a corner outfield bat. If that’s not an option, they’d be just as well off keeping Matsui as a PH/part time DH.
Come on Jorge.
Can’t blame either Damon or Matsui. Absolute garbage. Another example of an umpire wanting to be the star of a game.
Posada!!
I love you Posada! Screw West and his ridiculous strike zone!
LETS GO!!!
Hey it might be safe to stick around for a while!
posada delivers! he says the hell with you joe west!
Way to go Posada! Saved us from the fat bastard Joe West
Take that Joe West.
yeahhh Po.
I think Joe West just cried… he tried to call out Posada on strikes.
Attaboy Jorgie.
Yeah!
Let’s destroy Penny and deplete their pen.
Time to step on their throats.
You know it’s bad when even Remy is saying that the strike zone is ‘liberal’
Posada comes through, take note haters.
I really want the Yanks to bomb this guy. End this game before it’s even begun.
Bronx Jeers
NESN is acknowledging this is a VERY generous strike zone.
whats penny’s pc?
23 pitches so far after Jorge’s hit
The bad thing is now the Sox offense has a headstart on knowing that outside pitch will be called a strike (unless West is incredibly biased for the Red Sox) so they’ll probably keep fouling off that pitch from Pettitte.
Huge hit by Posada. Penny has been awful his past several games. And this just continues all of his recent problems. He doesn’t throw strikes, he nibbles, he falls behind and then gets tatooed. He’s up to 25 pitches and he doesn’t have much stamina.
Can’t say Posada picked up his teammates as Joe West is blind. But what a huge boost that would have been for Penny and the Sox.
Once again they are in a hole quickly with Penny on the mound.
I’m amazed that wasn’t called a strike.
thx for the pitch count update
miggs-
I counted you since it was before first pitch
Cano took 4 pitches in a row. Wow.
As I said, Penny of all pitchers is the least of our worries.
Andy better get that huge outside corner for his backdoor cutter to lefties when he takes the mound.
“He doesn’t throw strikes, he nibbles, he falls behind and then gets tatooed.”
in other words, he throws like Joba.
great first inning..2 runs…28 pitches for penny and cano didnt swing at the first pitch!
I hope andy shuts them down.
Good ol Robbie. RISP and he breaks his bat to end the inning.
“He doesn’t throw strikes, he nibbles, he falls behind and then gets tatooed.”
Penny got the Joba syndrome?
Penny at 29 pitches. Be nice to get in the pen early, it will set up the rest of the series.
They scored runs for Andy! Hallelujah!
Does ANYONE evaluate the fat wad behind the plate? Why should he be the deciding factor in a game. I just don’t get it.
Uh oh, Damon is out.
Damon nooooo
damon out of the game
Feel better Damon
Get to work Andy
damon sent for x-rays. oh brother.
My Sox plan of picking of Brad Penny and John Smoltz this season has really paid big dividends!
Maybe I will give up baseball and take up drinking. Just kidding.
good ol’ joe west
The Yankees’ best chance at a comeback against Santana was ended on a disputed call in the fifth inning. With runners on first and second and two outs, Robinson Cano swung at a third strike in the dirt. Cano ran to first and catcher Bengie Molina’s throw got past Erstad, apparently loading the bases for Williams. But plate umpire Joe West called Cano out for running inside the baseline, prompting an unsuccessful argument by Torre
REMEMBER THAT?
That’s really unfortunate about Damon. Hinske can’t have much experience playing balls off that wall in LF while Damon knows exactly how to play it.
What bad luck. Damon gets hurt the day Pena gets sent down. Now they only have one position player left on the bench.
Pettitte pitching with a 2 run lead must feel like he’s “The luckiest man on the face of the Earth” considering his run support over the last two months.
That’s really unfortunate about Damon. Hinske can’t have much experience playing balls off that wall in LF while Damon knows exactly how to play it.
Hinske did play in Boston for a year and a half, not sure how much time he saw in LF though, if any.
How do you walk Ellsbury after getting ahead 0-2? Especially with JOE WEST behind the plate!
Come on Andy
Wll, that’s never a good thing to see in the first inning.
Really, Andy? THAT’S how we’re going to play this?
I hate ANY kind of walks, but leadoff walks are the worst.
Oh god, Cano. He should have had him.
Hinske played 29 games in LF when he played for the Sox.
Come on Cano. How do you drop the ball lol
Good job Cano.
The throw had him beat. Cano tried to tag him before he had the ball.
Pete– I know you’re wont to knock Girardi, but he toed the line here well I think. He didn’t fan the flames — and thereby risk igniting the Sux — by saying anything outrageous, and he backed his guys by basically saying Jim Rice should stick to working on himself instead of worrying about what Jeter or anyone else is doing. I say “guys” and “anyone else” keeping in mind that it’s not just Jeter he’s defending here– just because A-rod is an acknowledged cheat doesn’t mean Girardi should throw him under the bus. By keeping his comments short and to the point, he makes Rice look all the more low-class while keeping a would-be war of words from becoming back-page fodder. And, with a 6.5 game (and climbing) lead, that’s the last thing the Yanks need.
just get the munchkin out
Don’t walk Pedroia!
Come on Andy……
Wow -
Just came in from a long day to see the “Rice” stuff.
Wow.
Just Wow.
Jeter? Really?
Wow.
Pettitte hasn’t had a problem throwing strike 1 so far. He’s just gotta stop nibbling.
Andy tried making too good a pitch to Ellsbury with two strikes rather than taking advantage of the Joe West’s strike zone. He tried to put too much on those pitches.
He needs to calm down out on the mound.
+Come on Andy.
Come on Andy
So far it looks like Pettitte doesn’t have the greatest command. Hopefully he figures things out quickly.
Pettite’s performance so far in the 1st is disappointing, to say the least. 0-2 on Ellsbury, and walks him. Struggled against Pedroia, getting to 3-2 before getting the smurf to fly out. And the 2nd pitch to Martinez was brutal. Hopefully he can settle down. Otherwise, he will have a bunch of long innings and be out of the game too early.
0 runs would be great here, but I’m fine if he just gives up the 1.
4:41 my time and stil the first inning.
“Hinske played 29 games in LF when he played for the Sox.”
Thanks. Just looked it up – he played over 100 innings out there so he should have a decent sense for how to play the wall.
Very fortunate.
still**
So apparently only Penny gets that outside corner.
I can see already that this isn’t going to to be one of those 2 hr. 45 min. West Coast games.
So Joe West has two different strike zones. If this keeps up then the game should be played under protest.
And Dumbsberry scores.
this game is going to go on for HOURS
ok andy, that was your lesson of the day – do not walk the leadoff runner.
now shut them down…
bring joba in just to pitch to youk
This is going to be a long night.
Joe West stinks as both called strike outs were balls.
Andy is being too fine already as 0-2 should never turn into 3-2.
We should score plenty against Penny
Could have been worse
Andy needs to forget the walk to Ellsbury and that run and just concentrate on the hitter now.
He gave up the two quick runs last game and then dominated.
The yankees are going to score more against penny.
Andy needs to hold them to one run.
Unfortunately he has no command of his cutter right now and that’s been the pitch that’s been the key to his last few outings.
Yuckyliss struck out and didn’t argue!
I would have thought he’d try to claim he checked his swing, or something.
Any word on Damon?
I think Ellsbury has become the number one player I can’t stand on that team. It didn’t take him long to become a whiny little girl. He had lessons from Elfkin and Puke. So he ties some record and tips his hat to the crowd.
I remember when Jeter broke one of his many monumental records and the crowd went wild but Jeter just stood there and did nothing, no tip of the cap nothing. Later he was asked about that and he said (paraphrase) We were losing the game. That was the most important thing. I didn’t feel right taking a bow when we were losing.
I guess since it was only 2-0 at that point, Ellsbury felt good about waving to the crowd.
These games are so ridiculous I am please if they come in under 4 hours
Okay.
Okay.
one inning down.
This game is gonna take forever. No surprise
That inning came down to walking Ellsbury after 0-2. Bet you Pettitte’s going to be killing himself over that.
Offense has to keep tacking on. But is Eric Hinske now our #2 hitter??
Trisha, you think Jim Rice will say anything about Ellsbury “only caring about his own stats,” or something like that?
Guys:
This being a Red Sox series, a few reminders:
Please do NOT respond to trolls, Red Sox fans, etc. who come on here trying to rile you up. Just ignore them and they will go away.
Please adhere to our commenting guidelines. No name-calling, cursing, etc.
Finally, enough with the juvenile posts. We’re all adults, or most of us, posting “I hate Pukeilis” is not what we’re looking for here. Have some sort of constructive comment to make, don’t just cast out insults like you’re 10.
This blog has great readers and great commenters. Please don’t dumb it down, take the high road.
Thanks.
did singleton just say Martinez doesnt throw as well as Veritek?
If you had a guy who had an actual strikezone working behind the plate, this game wouldn’t take forever.
Horrible first inning by Joe West.
Probably a harbinger to come.
is there something in boston that makes every redsox player look like a total doosh?
Tell me everyone what you guys think!!!!
Jim Rice shouldn’t be commenting on Jeter’s classiness and how he handles the game and himself when one of his players on the Red Sox (Kevin Youkilis) Played like a barbarian a week ago when he charged the mound…so that’s okay? But Jeter handling himself more professionally then any other player in the majors isn’t okay? i want to hear his logic on that…
BRING THAT UP TO HIM PETE!!!
let’s hope pettitte settles down like he did in Seattle
Melky:
Season BA 267, OBP 331
Career BA 268, OBP 329
I rest my case.
And the wide strike zone continues
I love Melky. I was just about to say that I wish the Yankees would poke one of that outside “strikes” for a hit, and he goes and does just that.
what happened to Damon?
I missed the 1st inning.
thanks!
Now that’s justice for you. Melky has to swing at that pitch off the plate because of the crappy strike zone, but is able to reach base anyway. Sweet.
holy moly…this ump is nuts…
Wow that’s a strike Joe. Pettitte didn’t get that call.
umpire, go away.
joe west is all over the place, i hate umpire whining but man this guy is a joke.
What happened to Damon, I just missed it?
Jete baby! again!
sheffield was wrong, jeter isn’t half white, he’s half machine…
nice, lets put them away now.
MY DA MELK!!!!
WOO HOO!!!
Jeter: hit machine. Maybe he will be still playing SS at 41.
Well, Let’s go Hinske!
Jeter is god like!!!
Jetes is on fire.
Ok, me and Melky Cabrera seriously have some telepathy thing going. First I said he should punch one of those outside pitches for a hit (right before he did so) and then I was about to post that he should be trying to steal off Brad Penny right when he did.
Gee Tah is on fire. Woohooo.
Stuck listening to the game on NESN – if YES gives any updates on Damon, please let us know. If sure Erica already has a gift basket, flowers and card ready to send .
hinske shocked by that strike call…
L, Damon fouled a ball off his shin and fell and had trouble standing. He stayed in the game but then didn’t come back out for the next inning.
I believe Sheffield said something along the lines of “ain’t all the way black” so if Jeter’s half machine, Sheff is still kinda right
thanks trisha
is that senator mitchell behind home plate?
Hinske!!
Yanks: “take that strike zone and shove it!”
ok…BLOW THIS OPEN NOW…
Hinske!!
Man, how many times have our bench players stepped up this year?
Wooo Hinske comes through.
That’s how you deal with that strike zone.
Has it been the same for both sides, or is it mostly vs. Yankees that it’s so wide? (I’m back and forth tonight)
Here we go Yankees, here we go! (clap clap)
Yankees playing with swaggah!
Erica, you okay?
Joe West umpiring? All I have to say is; QuesTec QuesTec!
It would be nice if Joe West got his head out of his enormous butt and actually decided to do his job tonight.
So far, he’s missed 9 pitches in an inning and a half. Not good.
One more hit here could be huge. Think they’ll walk Teixeira to get to Alex?
Part of the inconsistency in the zone for Pettitte vs the zone for Penny is probably due in part to his wildness. If he shows more consistency in his locations, he’ll hopefully get a similar zone.
And Hinkse steps in and gets in done! Nice.
Don’t like that Boston claimed Wagner. Don’t like when they add anyone especially a hard throwing lefty reliever.
Thanks trisha – crap = hope it’s just a bruise
Joe Girardi is going to erupt
45 pitches in the 2nd. nice.
Tex cheeeeeea!!!
MVP…MVP…MVP…
Nice.
Very, very nice.
I Lub Dis Game!!
MVP MVP MVP!!!!!!
Haha our hitters have placed their hits very nicely tonight.
YES!
They must have mellowed out in Boston. No one is booing Penny yet
The curse of MT?
Thompson or Pena need to take one for the team and walk up to home plate and show West ow far outside his strike zone is.
Awww, we might be on our way to a laugher!
I can’t stand them unless it’s against the Sux. Truth.
Come on Alex, get this run in!
Tex and Hinkse playing the “I can do it better” game. Their hits were VERY similar; although Hinkse’s went a bit further.
arod was thinking homerun or bust on that pitch…
SJ44,
is there any recourse… any at all, if a home plate ump just butchers a game like this?
trisha – OPPC lifetime member and true believer in karma.
August 21st, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Here we go Yankees, here we go! (clap clap)
Yankees playing with swaggah!
Erica, you okay?
****
Hopefully they took him out to quickly treat him and nothing is broken and he’ll be back soon. positive thinking!!!
I’ll give NESN credit – they have shown the strike zone box on three questionable Joe West calls. (all Yankee hitters)
All three were balls and they said so – saying Penny is getting the benefit of the calls. (actually saying he should stay outside if West keeps calling them)
inflied in…
bullpen going….
i love this season!
Alex is my boy!!! bad base running but o well!
holy moly, arod couldn’t have hit that any harder…
Damn Alex. At least he got the run in, though. We sure are tagging Penny, haven’t we?
Alex still thinks he’s at pre-hip surgery form.
WOW
that was a phenominal play by Bay
very un-Bay like
but very well done
Oh. My. Gosh.
This game’s for Jim Rice.
How slow was he running? With how deep in the corner that was, there is now way it should have been close at second, let alone an out. His hip must still be bothering him.
Alex didnt do much wrong.
that was a double all the way
Bay just made an amazing play
Go Yankees go!
too bad, A-Rod should have bowled over the little jockey
And this, boys and girls, is the baseball gods bowling out some Ortiz karma. Believe it. No good deed goes unrewarded and no bad deed goes unpunished.
Sui just missed it!
Godzilla gave that one a ride.
Just missed….
Wow, that was close to a HR. I don’t think Penny will be in this game long…
pettitte needs to make this stand up…
good swing matsui
And with Tazawa going tomorrow, the Red Sox bullpen will be completely gassed by the time Beckett throws on Sunday. Things look pretty good right now, although it would help if Andy threw up a big fat 0 on the board in the bottom half.
Factoid – I was at the last game Andy pitched at the Stadium before he went to the Astros. It was a real exciting rollercoaster game and the Yanks ended up winning 7-6, I believe.
Our seats were to the right of home plate so I was in heavy Sux territory. I was yelling my brains out for the Yanks the entire game. When the game was over the guy who was sitting in front of me said to me “I didn’t pay $200 for tickets to hear you screaming in my ear the entire game.” And he was a Yankee fan.
I didn’t realize there was game etiquette where you only cheer at a certain level if it isn’t your stadium. And by the way I also paid a pretty penny for my tickets.
But I will say that some Yankee fans did come up to me after the game and say “good for you.”
So that made me happy. It’s like I had the guts to cheer loudly but they didn’t because we were really in a Suxy section.
Joe West…is all about being “Thee Story”.
If he doesn’t get his act together…MLB should require him to call winter league games in Venezuela.
Nice ! ….. Boston’s bullpen early and often. Let’s see if Andy gets the same close calls from the home plate umpire.
BD,
Nope. You just have to take it. Nothing you can do.
Hopefully, Andy can put together a shutdown inning here.
Put up a zero, and get back to hit.
Best way to overcome a bad HP umpire is to make it a blowout game.
Wahooooo. I get home turn on the game and its 2-0.
6-1.. I’m not complaining, lots of optimal at-bats for the Yankees and sub-optimal Penny pitching.
i know i already posted this once but this is all anyone needs to know about joe west:
The Yankees’ best chance at a comeback against Santana was ended on a disputed call in the fifth inning. With runners on first and second and two outs, Robinson Cano swung at a third strike in the dirt. Cano ran to first and catcher Bengie Molina’s throw got past Erstad, apparently loading the bases for Williams. But plate umpire Joe West called Cano out for running inside the baseline, prompting an unsuccessful argument by Torre
“His hip must still be bothering him.”
At this point, I believe that goes without saying. At times, Alex looks like he’s running in place. You have to give him credit for grinding it out when he’s not 100% healthy.
the short wall and arod’s hip as well as hit drilling that ball 105 mph all combined to get him out at second…
# Donnie – Will Meet Jim Rice Under the O’Neill Banner August 21st, 2009 at 8:00 pm
How slow was he running? With how deep in the corner that was, there is now way it should have been close at second, let alone an out. His hip must still be bothering him.
__________
Nah, he hit it so hard that it got to the fielder too quick. I don’t know that he could have turned that into a double even if he’d been healthy.
My “get out” chant for Matsui’s ball didn’t quite have enough power behind it.
Is it just the YES broadcast or is Fenway eerily quiet tonight?
Here’s hoping it stays that way.
And that’s way Alex has so few doubles this year. He hits it too hard for a hip at less than 100% to get him there.
“Reeling like a druken Frat Boy on Commonwealth Ave”…
A classic line.
Pete…you need to write a novel!
for those who dont remember that Joe West story was from Game 5 of the ALDS!
BTW, I just got home – is the ump’s strike zone wide for Andy too?
Wow, Big Popup has his average up to .224. Next stop, .198.
“Is it just the YES broadcast or is Fenway eerily quiet tonight?”
Probably the broadcast. The crowd mics aren’t that loud for YES.
The BOS announcer just said that Ortiz has his HR swing back. I guess that milkshake pipeline from the DR must be up and running again.
The quietest 19 HR, 70 RBI season I’ve ever seen.
By the way, remember when Ortiz was on the list of 104 players who tested positive for steroid use? Whatever happened to that story?
So…what? Is Andy intent on going 3-2 on EVERY batter?
i went to a sox/yankee game at the stadium a few weeks ago – the best sign i saw for ortiz was “PILL PAPI”…
Pettitte needs to hit that outside corner better.
The game is 2hrs old and it’s only the 2nd inning. Unreal.
How long before Girardi blows up???
How is that pitch to Ortiz a ball and that pitch to Damon a strike?
Sorry, 1 hr old.
Can’t keep walking guys with a 5 run lead after getting ahead.
Keep attacking Andy or I’m afraid you won’t be long for this game.
SJ44,
do they still grade umpires (specifically when they’re calling balls and strikes)? do the umps have to answer to anyone at all?
There was nothing wrong with Rodriguez going for the extra base with one out. The ball came out away from the wall a little hot and they barely got him out.
Dima August 21st, 2009 at 8:03 pm
BTW, I just got home – is the ump’s strike zone wide for Andy too?
_____
After the “walk” to Ortiz? I can absolutely say NO!
“The game is 2hrs old and it’s only the 2nd inning. Unreal.”
55 minutes is 2 hours in your world?
Boston fans are already saying
“Penny sucks. Cut him and replace him with Bowden”
I just smile and play nice
“Is it just the YES broadcast or is Fenway eerily quiet tonight?
Here’s hoping it stays that way.”
I have the NESN broadcast and it is the same. But be prepared. A hit sends that crowd into orgasmic frenzy. They have no sense of proportion.
lol @ the bat and fan…
I wonder when they heckle Joe West from the dugout if they call him “Big Mae”
Wow, that was messed up.
Can someone tell me what happened to Damon please?
thanks
GB7,
Agreed.
Bay made a nice play and his throw was on the money.
He probably gets Alex out on that play about 10% of the time.
we put up 2 runs in the first…
4 runs in the second…
if my match is correct, that means we should score 27 runs in the third…
Andy needs to find that hidden outside corner.
the one that’s 4-6 inches off the plate.
Damon was kicked out of the game for ‘roiding up at the plate
damon fouled a pitch off his leg in the 1st and left the game to get x rays
Strikes Andy…. please….
“UPDATE, 7:53 p.m.: Jim Rice is right. All the selfish, greedy Derek Jeter does is get hits to help his team.”
Yeah, I know. Here’s hoping that the kiddies don’t make the mistake of following in his footsteps. God forbid they should grow up to be good baseball players.
Are you serious Joe?
what???
that 2-0 pitch to Drew looked pretty good to me
especially for Joe West calling it
How does he not call that a strike???
GJ Andy!
Pettite may not be matching in the suck department but he is going pitch for pitch with Penny in the pitch count dept.
PLEASE JUST GIVE US 5 INNINGS
some Red Sox yahoo called into WEEI today claiming Ortiz has the most homers in MLB since June (3rd, 5th? – they mentioned a day)
Didn’t check it out to see if it’s true or not..
Is it just me, or is Ortiz thinner?
I guess laying off those shakes does that to you.
thanks bronxbomberfan4life
Nice for them to give Andy some run support today. Takes the slight pressure off to be quite so perfect, especially when one is contending with the revolving strikezone, lol.
Does anybody else believe there’s something wrong with Alex post walk-off @ NYS?
Top 3 worst umps:
cb buckner
joe west
angel hernandez
djsunyc August 21st, 2009 at 8:09 pm
we put up 2 runs in the first…
4 runs in the second…
if my match is correct, that means we should score 27 runs in the third…
================================
Actually, this is a geometric progression which means the Yanks will score 1,022 runs if this pace continues.
Andy throwing strikes is not the problem. Joe West having a consistent strike zone is. Not to mention his artistic interpretation.
DT,
Ortiz, over the past week or so, has hit around 5 HR.
I’d be shocked if he had the most in MLB over the past 6 weeks.
BD,
They get graded and they supposedly get de-merits for bad performances that affect whether or not they work the post-season.
Problem is, since Sandy Alderson left as the guy overseeing them, the entire process has become less transparent.
Nobody really knows how these guys are grading out these days.
The umpires have had an awful season so far. Blown calls, some unbelievably bad, in almost every game, every night.
Not good enough.
If these guys were graded like NFL Officials, 40% of them would be umemployed after a year like this one.
it’s nice to see Jerry Remy back in the booth.
Eckersley was a joke, and Remy is a good dude.
Pete,
lol
Hemmingway had nothing on that Penny line.
Oh God, John Henry is in the booth. He’s trying to exercise the MT Curse.
Is Joe West looking for a fight tonight?
No lead is safe but I’d rather be up 6-1 than down 6-1!
Pour it on boys! Lets blow ‘em out!
The yankees need the pace of this game to pick up before the rain comes.
“Top 3 worst umps:
cb buckner
joe west
angel hernandez”
What about Laz Diaz? He blows too.
Posada almost got thrown out lol
that was john henry? i thought that was bea arthur…
SJ44,
that’s no good.
umpiring seems to have gotten so much worse in recent years.
And the major downside of NESN – here we go to the interview booth where the nerdy Lucchino and someone else is doing the welcome back Jerry.
Whoa! Posada is s-l-o-w!
Wow, we are getting quite lucky today. Who would have thought Posada would reach on a strikeout?
OMG Posada was almost out. lol
Is it me or is V-Mart a subpar catcher?
Yanks are 5-8 with RISP !!!
And Posada legs it out with his world class sprinter’s speed.
CB,
dont say that!!
they better get this game in
“hustling” is a questionable term when referenced to Posada, isn’t it??
It’s just a bruised knee for MPB Johnny Damon… WHEW
Victor Martinez is a terrible defensive catcher.
If the Red Sox think he can catch 100+ games next year, good luck with that.
“that was john henry? i thought that was bea arthur…”
I see no reason to insult Bea Arthur.
I hate the REd Sox, but Remy alway entertained me..he if a funny announcer.
awesome damon just has a bruised knee
:/
trisha,
it’s Lucchino and John Henry
typical NESN garbage where they constantly show the booth instead of the game
It’s official – Robbie Cano is in a slump.
BD,
I know. They just really need to make this game official.
The sox probability of winning is around 15%.
tj (Melky 2009: 267BA, 331OBP, Career: 268BA 329OBP
August 21st, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Damon was kicked out of the game for ‘roiding up at the plate
***
Are you mentally deficient????
Remy is a good announcer.
His return is probably the best news Sox fans will have the rest of the season.
If we are are going to “praise Robinson Cano” can we mention once in awhile that he hates to run out ground balls.
The DP’s are really piling up lately.
Too many guys swinging at pitches out of the zone and rolling over them with guys on base.
Bad approaches=bad results everytime.
“Is it just me, or is Ortiz thinner?”
Thought the same thing since his formal milkshake proclivity was announced.
oops- I forgot we were supposed to ignore trolls. I couldn’t help it
“What about Laz Diaz? He blows too.”
Yeah him too. His name escaped me.
SJ44,
especially with Penny going. the pressure is on Penny.
wait for a mistake fastball and hammer it. He’s not going to be able to consistently throw his offspeed stuff for strikes (at least it doesnt look like he can tonight)
dont let him off the hook
Laura – I like this new Alex! He’s a keeper.
August 21st, 2009 at 8:16 pm
It’s official – Robbie Cano is in a slump.
————————————————————
Cano’s in a slump, but, shortly, he’ll come out of it and a whole lot of pitchers will be paying dearly for it.
however you can not complain when you have 6 runs in 3 innings..but just run hard on ground balls please..thats not too much to ask
well, on the bright side, as CB pointed out…
get through 5 innings quickly and then they can go back to hammering Sox pitching
“Cano’s in a slump, but, shortly, he’ll come out of it and a whole lot of pitchers will be paying dearly for it.”
I don’t doubt it. He had just been on such a tear that it’s odd to see him go without hits.
it seems that every time cano makes an out, it’s a weak grounder to 2nd base…
“The curse of MT?”
Haha indeed
wow, I just read rice’s comments..way out of line….way out of line..just changed my name from Enough Tiant to Enough Rice..sounds like a bitter old man
Amazingly, Penny’s pitch count is now a reasonable 63 after 3 innings.
Andy needs a clean, quick inning to pick up the pace in this game.
Keep putting up zeroes and get this game official ASAP.
alex gonzalez did well in the toronto series
but I still laugh every time he comes to the plate.
THIS is the Sox solution at SS in 2009.
it never gets old
Wakefield is starting tonight, so tonight and tomorrow are quasi-auditions for the Sox 5th spot. Although I doubt Penny has options, so not much choice but to run him out every 5 days.
Why didn’t the Sox just keep Orlando Cabrera?
“Amazingly, Penny’s pitch count is now a reasonable 63 after 3 innings.”
———–
reasonable for a poor 5th starter maybe
andy at 48 pitches
they should of never gotten rid of ORlando Cabera…he was a tough out in playoffs against the yankees in 04
Laura – I like this new Alex! He’s a keeper.
August 21st, 2009 at 8:20 pm
“Cano’s in a slump, but, shortly, he’ll come out of it and a whole lot of pitchers will be paying dearly for it.”
I don’t doubt it. He had just been on such a tear that it’s odd to see him go without hits.
————————————————————
I’m not rally concerned with Cano, but, it’s unusual for him to go 3 and a half games without hitting the ball hard on his outs.
“Why didn’t the Sox just keep Orlando Cabrera?”
———–
I was told by a Sox employee that it wasn’t due to his play.
Something must have happened between Orlando and the front office that they didn’t like.
“Laura – I like this new Alex! He’s a keeper.
August 21st, 2009 at 8:16 pm
“that was john henry? i thought that was bea arthur…”
I see no reason to insult Bea Arthur.”
Well Bea’s been gone for over 3 months now… John Henry looks pretty ghoulish, but I think that’s just a honeymoon glow…
“THIS is the Sox solution at SS in 2009.
it never gets old”
Don’t laugh. This could be us in 5 years
Cowboy Joe’s interference call against Cano in Game 5 of the ’05 ALDS was potentially important, but there were two outs, so who knows if we score.
The most significant thing he did to hurt the Yanks in that game was squeeze Mussina after we took a lead. If you go back and look at the strike zone he gave Moose as opposed to his strike zone tonight, it’s a joke.
I’ve never wanted to see him behind the plate in a big game since then.
I’m not ***rally*** concerned with Cano, but, it’s unusual for him to go 3 and a half games without hitting the ball hard on his outs.
————————————————————
“Rally I’m not…..Rally.”
It should have been “really”.
Certain teams have a difficult time filling a particular position, I remember before the MUTs got David Wright, then when through about 50 third basemen..it seems the sox have that problem at SS….still what was a worse contract THeo giving Lugo a 5 year contract or Cashman giving Pavano his contract…I guess Pavano was worse at least lugo took the field
Andy looks back to himself this inning. I can see him going 6 tonight.
RS,
I hope not.
Jeter could outhit Gonzalez when he’s 55.
And I figure the Yanks will plan for it a little better than the Sox have over the past 5 years.
bad play by midget
hahahahha
makes the 3rd out at 3rd base
big NO NO
Ugh-
MPB Johnny Damon makes that catch. I swear he does
that is awful baserunning..awful…MVP….awful….
horrible baserunning by the troll
Damon probably catches that ball
At least the elf has bad judgment.
He’s not a magic person.
LOL @ PETUNIA…
who has more hops – hinske or lebron?
Wow terrible play by Hinske, GREAT instincts by Jeter.
I’ll take it.
Pettitte through 3.
Ha!
Just the way Eric planned it!
Nice way to play the wall.
Lull Pedroia to third and then throw him out!
Hinske should have caught that but how stupid is Pedroia for being the 3rd out at 3rd down 5?
down 6-1, he makes the final out at 3rd
ouch
You mean Country Joe West got his big behind to 3rd base to make the call?
Nice relay…..Hinske….Jeter….Rodriguez. Perfectlt planned play. Suckered the dwarf right in.
Nice play from Jeter. He fired without looking.
“MPB Johnny Damon makes that catch. I swear he does”
did the Yankees find a worse outfielder than Damon in Hinske…
RS August 21st, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Why didn’t the Sox just keep Orlando Cabrera?
________________
He isn’t Derek Jeter.
Ever since Nomar started gettting hurt all the time, they have been looking for a “Jeter” type guy at SS. The fans aren’t happy with anything less. It’s totally unreasonable, and so they’ve paid for it.
I fear that the Yankees might do the same silly thing when Jeter hangs them up. You can’t replace a guy like Jeter. If you can find a guy who plays solid defense and hits over .280, stick with him.
but i thought pedroyar was the smartest player in the game!
Great play there by Jeter.
“Wow terrible play by Hinske, GREAT instincts by Jeter.”
———-
instincts?
that isnt allowed.
if it doesnt help his OPS, then it doesnt matter!
Did the most clutchiest, most grindiest player in the history of baseball just make one of the dumbest plays you’ll see this season?
Imagine if Cano makes a mistake like that?
Two outs. What is the possible advantage to push that to third with youkilis coming up to bat.
Hinske did play that ball terribly however.
Looking forward to another inning of Brad Penny.
Time to really put this one out of reach.
“He’s not a magic person.”
Will play station fix the stupid base running decisions along with the high strikes on Pedroia?
Any guesses on that trivia question?? Red Sox where never known for having steals guys..
It’s magically delicious!
The Wall played the part of Eric Hinske.
wow – I like Pete really laying it on to Jim Rice – I wish someone in Bahston would read this and show it to that true pillar of baseball integrity!
Not only does Joe West have a massive strikezone, he is incredibly inconsistent.
Plays that have the phrase “Hinske leaps…..!”
Usually don’t end well.
Good close-up. Alex followed his hand expecting a swim move.
Hinkse has blazing speed
Jerry Remy:
“well, at least the Sox got their first hit on that play”
We need to keep grinding so we can get into the bullpen soon. Boston will keep Penny in the game if we don’t keep scoring so we need to make him throw more pitches.
Melky is back to swinging at everything again. Swung at two balls nowhere close in that AB that cost him a walk.
Gotta get Gardner back soon.
it’s 1990 and jim rice is playing outfield for the st pete pelicans .
i’m the bullpen catcher on the visiting team and after three games at al lang field the 3rd base ball girl their team contacts me and we go out on a date. the next day while rice is shagging balls he yells at me to come over to him and give him details. he is totally crude and i shag some balls while avoiding him and his questions and basically tell him he ain’t getting nothing from me.
he was often an ass then and often he’s an ass now.
the only thing that kept his humility in check was not being in the hall of fame. his arrogance has been unleashed with his entry into it.
great ball player, but he’s a dog as a human being sometimes.
18-31….thats like .581
I was going to say that The Wall has a better arm than Damon, but, that would just upset Erica.
I was able to read ARod’s lips after he tagged Pedroia…
He said: “Who’s the dork now, elfman?”
That play by Jeter is as heads up as the flip play if you think about it.
Hopefully Pettitte keeps it up so we have a bullpen advantage going into tomorrow.
Tampa Bay beating Texas 2-0 so far – somewhere some sad Sox fan is rationalizing this 6-1 score as not so bad if Texas doesn’t gain ground
it’s a lot nicer being a Yankee fan lately.
Who are the St. Pete Pelicans?
Enough Rice
August 21st, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Who are the St. Pete Pelicans?
————————————————————
Senior Professional Baseball League
the sox should sign kelihurg up to play shortstop for them lol
When they ask him about it after the game Jeter will probably say “its nothing special just like we practiced it in spring training”
Kay loves ripping on those fans.
GreenBeret7
August 21st, 2009 at 8:33 pm
I was going to say that The Wall has a better arm than Damon, but, that would just upset Erica
***
Maybe. But it would been irrelevent since Johnny makes the catch
I don’t know if any of you have ever heard Tom Wener talk but he has the weirdest, most annoying voice I have ever heard. It is so gay sounding (and I don’t mean that in the politically incorrect way.) Well there is obviously someone who does an imitation of him and it is hysterical!
Check this out:
http://redsox.fandome.com/vide.....ed-Dice-K/
Not that the players care but….I’d feel better if we tacked on a few.
Orlando Cabrera had to get out of town he was dating a 17 year old and the cops we getting ready to go after him
Andy looks like he’s gotten it together. Thank goodness.
Let’s hope they can get into their pen, use up Bowden so they’re short for Tazawa tomorrow.
A real cool thing about Andy is that he tends to get stronger as the game goes on and he is a pitcher who if he has given up a bunch of runs still has the ability to pull it back together. That is a very very good thing.
the Yankees are making this a statement game tonight by following up the 4 game sweep with a huge offensive game and solid pitching by Andy. They have a huge pitching advantage tomorrow with AJ against Tazawa, it’s entirely possible that Beckett will be pitching Sunday to avoid a sweep and 7 consecutive losses to the Yankees in the 2nd half.
Erica – always OPPC
August 21st, 2009 at 8:37 pm
GreenBeret7
August 21st, 2009 at 8:33 pm
I was going to say that The Wall has a better arm than Damon, but, that would just upset Erica
***
Maybe. But it would been irrelevent since Johnny makes the catch
————————————————————
Perhaps so, but, the question is: “Would he be able to walk away without help?”
So randy, tell us about that ball girl
randy,
He wasn’t such a great ball player either.
It’s galling that he’s in the hall and dick allen isn’t. It just amazes me.
Allen could hit circles around Rice. And forget about getting on base. Not even close.
And the big criticism of Allen was that he was an awful defensive player.
Rice was a horrendous LF.
Andy is dealing
1-2-3 for Andy.
A few more runs would be nice
Someone should tape the conversations Andy has with himself.
randy,
that doesnt suprise me at all (about him calling you over).
I’ve heard similar stories about that perv.
“Not that the players care but….I’d feel better if we tacked on a few”
I’d feel better if the 5th inning was over and this was an official game.
One inning to go! Looks good.
This isn’t like those first series in Fenway. Andy is throwing outstanding ball and the bull pen is now a considerably strength.
And quite honestly, the sox look very lethargic. Every time Penny takes the ball they fall behind very quickly.
That wears on a team after a while.
Here are the current standings for “Guess the Line Up”. After 21 rounds, there have been 58 different winners. Here are the participants with 2 wins or more:
Ramey – 6 Wins – 7/22, 7/21, 8/6, 8/7, 8/11, 8/21
Miggs – 6 wins – 7/23, 8/6, 8/11, 8/13, 8/18, 8/21
Andrew – 4 wins – 7/27, 8/6, 8/11, 8/21
Yanksfan – 4 Wins – 7/28, 7/29, 8/6, 8/21
CM – 3 wins – 8/5, 8/6, 8/7
NYY626 – 3 wins – 8/4, 8/6, 8/7
Patrick (the Prospect Hugger) – 3 Wins – 7/27,7/17, 8/7
RayVT – 3 wins – 8/5, 8/7, 8/21
Upstate Kate – 3 wins – 8/6, 8/7, 8/21
WTWVTSC- 3 Wins – 7/24, 8/6, 8/11
YankeeRay – 3 Wins – 8/5, 8/6, 8/7
Andrew33 – 2 wins – 8/11, 8/21
Dan the Man – 2 wins – 8/6, 8/7
Ed H – 2 wins – 8/11, 8/21
Eights – 2 wins – 7/27, 8/6
Evan D – 2 wins – 8/6, 8/11
Fran – 2 wins – 8/7, 8/17
Henner – 2 wins – 7/27, 8/7
Hokiehill – 2 wins – 7/22, 8/21
IDCWYT – 2 wins – 7/28, 8/6
Jon Locke – 2 wins – 8/5, 8/6
Nick – 2 wins – 8/6, 8/21
NoHype – 2 wins – 7/28, 8/21
Rob in VT. – 2 wins – 8/13, 8/21
SA – 2 wins – 8/6, 8/7
The Fair Pole -2 wins – 8/6, 8/17
UnKnown – 2 wins – 8/17, 8/21
William Buckner – 2 wins – 8/6, 8/11
Penny at over 80 pitches. Let’s get him to over 100 this inning.
I’m most likely the biggest Andy Pettitte fan on this blog and I can’t tell you how good it is to see him pitching the way he has since the ASB. Unless he gets hurt the Yankees are going to have unstoppable starting pitching in the post season with CC, AJ, Andy and Joba behind them. Throw in the bullpen strength and I wouldn’t want to be the team having to face them.
Smells like 8-7
Correction:
There has been 22 rounds of GTLU.
And Joe Girardi has 5 wins
CB
August 21st, 2009 at 8:41 pm
randy,
He wasn’t such a great ball player either.
It’s galling that he’s in the hall and dick allen isn’t. It just amazes me.
Allen could hit circles around Rice. And forget about getting on base. Not even close.
And the big criticism of Allen was that he was an awful defensive player.
Rice was a horrendous LF.
————————————————————
I’m more galled by Dawson, Blyleven John and Kaat not being in the HOF than allen. Then too, I don’t think that Reese and Rizzuto should be in there. There is so much talk about Vizquel maybe being borderline, but, he’s the duplicate of first balloter Ozzie Smith.
Nice.. someone just yelled “Derek, you h@mo”
Pitiful.
GreenBeret7
August 21st, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Erica – always OPPC
August 21st, 2009 at 8:37 pm
GreenBeret7
August 21st, 2009 at 8:33 pm
I was going to say that The Wall has a better arm than Damon, but, that would just upset Erica
***
Maybe. But it would been irrelevent since Johnny makes the catch
————————————————————
Perhaps so, but, the question is: “Would he be able to walk away without help?”
***
I’d offer my services
This team is just such a joy to watch right now.
The starting pitching against the Sox these last 5 games…amazing.
Tonight you are seeing the absolute best lineup the Sox can put on the field. Its not even debatable. And besides losing Elsbury from 0-2, you’re looking at 4 dominant innings by Andy.
Tex continues his perfect evening.
How stupid is Tex making John Henry look right now?
I feel pretty confident that the Yankees don’t need to tack on anymore to take this game. If they do they do. Actually I would like to see 1-2-3 innings for the rest of the game. I had games that drag.
The moron who chose Jim Rice to speak to little leaguers should be shown the door. Are you telling me no one else was available? What a poor choice. Rice shouldn’t even be in the Hall IMO.
Boy, I would love to see miggs and Ramey face off on their lineup guesses for these next couple of Red Sox games. It’s crunch time! Who’s got the correct lineups this weekend????
Arod 3-3
the monster cost arod a homerun…and a double!
I hate that friggin’ wall.
thats about as close as you can get to missing a HR at the sardine can
patrick-
well she was a hooter’s waitress( working her way through college of course) and knew the game inside and out . her elderly parents had taken her to every game they could since she was a kid. so therefore the ball girl thing happened.
how i got her interest was while the pitchers in my bullpen were rolling balls on the field that she had to pick up, i went over and made friends with her parents who were watching those bad guys in my bullpen.
after three games her parents told her i was the only nice guy on the team and so she called me. true story. and that’s all you’re getting patrick
That was a rocket. Just not high enough, but definately would have been in the stands at YS.
Man, Arod just missed that.
booing penny, eh?
stupid wall!
Alex crushed that.
That’s one of the few balls hit to LF that probably is out of many other parks but held by that ugly green thing here.
Just missed it
lol Penny just said F U to the crowd
Encouraging signs from A-Rod tonight. If he gets the bat going, look out.
Thank you Penny!
You. Are. Terrible!
Did Penny just mouth F-U at the Boston fans?
“Patrick
August 21st, 2009 at 8:41 pm
So randy, tell us about that ball girl ”
It was the senior league. I think the term ball “girls” was used loosely. Most had AARP discounts.
Don’t feel bad Penny, I’m here at home cheering for you.
Funny how the Arod stalkers are absent this evening.
Nice way to endear yourself to the home fans, Brad. Hope you’re renting.
We get to see future HOF- per Gammons- Michael Bowden.
“booing penny, eh?”
Methinks the natives are getting restless, well the ones who made it to the game since Rob NY told us there were empty seats.
Penny gets booed justifiably. Let’s have no mercy on Boston’s bullpen.
2 runs this inning would be nice
Nick-
I have made the executive decision that there will be no GTLU tomorrow unless I am here to officiate it
I’m interested to see Bowden pitch. Heard a lot about him.
Let’s see what he’s got.
has rdm been kikked of the site
i miss him
Nice way for Bowden’s career to start. Against the Yankees and 5 consecutive left-handed hitters, followed by Derek Jeter.
Let’s end this kid’s night early.
I realize this game’s not over, but we’ve always played Boston well even in the losing streak this season. This feels good. And the fact that the big fatty with the big fat mouth got chased makes it even sweeter.
Don’t be sad Penny, I wuv you.
Erica – always OPPC
August 21st, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Perhaps so, but, the question is: “Would he be able to walk away without help?”
***
I’d offer my services
————————————————————
I know that I should be shocked by that statement, Erica.
Love exchange between the fans at Fenway and Barney Rubble as he exits the field and game.
Just started a new thread if you want to hop over to there.
Thanks!
What a game for the Yankees.
New thread starts now ————–
Yeah Psyluk, A-Rod has been way off the last month+. The Sox are in big trouble if they lose this series. If A-Rod gets hot towards the end of the season for once this could be the year for A-rod and the yankees.
And now…the immortal Michael Bowden, from that deep farm system of pitching…
GAME
SET
MATCH
Godzilla strikes again!!!
BOWDEN = BROKEN
so much for a future hall of famer, thanks gammons
so much for a future hall of famer, thanks gammons
WOW Matsui crushed that!!!
An A Bomb for Matsui!
Matsui!
Matsui!
Welcome to the big show Bowden!
Love it.
Welcome to the big leagues Michael. lol
Welcome to the big show, young man.
wow bowdens awesome……………NOT!!!
There’s my tack on runs. Maybe they do care what I want.
That makes up for the close one, eh?
Somewhere Peter Gammons cries silently, tears staining his wizened face.
I thought that Hideki took a hittable pitch to begin the at-bat. He received another cookie and WHAM!
I’m okay with Marte getting some work in today now
8 ERs by Penny in 4 innings? Ouch!
I love how those 3 comments in a row were some form of welcoming Bowden to the majors. haha
new post ——->
I guess Bowden isn’t quite the prospect he was made out to be by the so called ‘experts’. He seems like more of an Ian Kennedy type pitcher than anything else. And Matsui-san took him YARD.
Looks like Damon will be ok – it’s just a bruise. Man, I was worried – how many little ticky tack injuries have the Yankees had lately?
MG, I thought Andy was done…….and I’ve never been so glad to be so wrong. He’s given us not just innings, but quality innings.
I saw a discussion earlier about the Yankees and how they can’t assume that our older players are going to produce the same way that they are this year. Well, Jeter I think will continue to be his usual self and Alex should be better. Cano, Tex……..they’re in their prime. I totally agree about Damon and Posada. Since we think the Yankees understand that they can’t stay pat and count on the older guys to be as good (and we won’t have Matsui), what can we do to improve the team or even make it better? Are people ok with a Melky/Gardner platoon? I’m iffy on that – I don’t know that they can put up the same numbers. Most of us don’t want Bay or Holliday…….so, what can we do?
Every word that comes out of Bowdowns mouth is the F word, hahaha kid.
Rout,rout,rout!!
Nice of the Blue Jays to show up vs the Angels, so far. lol.
So much for the Red Sox pitching depth. Remember when they had so much pitching that “conventional wisdom” had them dealing pitching away?
Lets hope the bats stay hot tomorrow….really put the screws to ‘em!
This kids era is 18.90 already!
Bruney has thrown more balls than strikes,hence walked in a run.This isn’t his night.
PLEASE let this be Bruney’s last inning,please.
what is it with Girardi and Bruney?
Did Girardi lose some massive poker bet to Bruney?