Game 123: Yankees at Red Sox
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Aug 22, 2009 
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YANKEES (77-45)
Jeter SS
Swisher RF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Hinske LF
Cabrera CF
Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (10-6, 3.69).
RED SOX (69-52)
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Martinez 1B
Youkilis 3B
Ortiz DH
Bay LF
Drew RF
Varitek C
Gonzalez SS
Pitching: RHP Junichi Tazawa (1-2, 5.40).
TIME/TV: 4:10 p.m., FOX.
STATE OF THE ‘STRIPES: The Yankees have won three straight, 8 of 10 and 15 of 18. They lead the division by 7.5 games and they have a three-game lead on the Angels for home-field advantage in the playoffs.
STATE OF THE RIVALRY: After losing the first eight games against the Red Sox, the Yankees have won the last five by a combined score of 45-19. The Yankees have hit .339 (69 of 203) in those games.
ROAD BEASTS: The Yankees are 36-27 on the road, having won nine of their last 11 away from Yankee Stadium.
THE JETER METER: Where to start? The Captain is 16 of his last 26 (.615) and 19 of 35 (.543) on the road trip with eight runs scored, eight RBI and four extra-base hits. … Jeter has an eight-game hit streak and has six straight multiple-hit games.
IN THE SWING: Jeter has gone a career-high 105 consecutive plate appearances without a walk.
SWISHALICIOUS: Nick Swisher has reached safely via hit or walk in 29 straight games.
GET IT STARTED: The Yankees are 49-14 when they score first
MELKY’S BACK: Melky Cabrera is 6 of his last 12 with two doubles.
RUN DIFFERENTIAL STANDINGS:
Dodgers 125
Yankees 116
Phillies 98
Red Sox 84
Angels 79
Rays 78
Rockies 78
ON THE iPOD RIGHT NOW: Devil With the Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. That was followed by I Melt With You by Modern English.
Back with much more later.
UPDATE, 1:04 p.m.: Yankees watching the Little League World Series in the clubhouse.
UPDATE, 1:30 p.m.: Damon is likely out today, but they’re hoping for tomorrow.
UPDATE, 2:29 p.m.: Damon said he’ll get treatment today and hopes he could be able to play tomorrow. But with the Yankees having Monday off, they could just give him the whole time and play him on Tuesday.
UPDATE, 2:41 p.m.: Via Chad Jennings, we learn the Yankees will send OF Colin Curtis, RHP Ian Kennedy, 3B Brandon Laird and C Austin Romine to the Arizona Fall League. LHP Mike Dunn is also likely headed there unless he gets a September call-up.
UPDATE, 2:44 p.m.: Via the Globe’s Extra Bases blog: Tim Wakefield is rejoining the Red Sox rotation and Brady Penny is out. … RHP Michael Bowden was optioned down and RHP Enrique Gonzalez was called up.
UPDATE 4:10 p.m.: We are underway in Boston in what could be a long day for Junichi Tazawa. … Hey, Jeter just made an out. Wow.
UPDATE, 4:24 p.m.: Yankees let Tazawa off the hook in the first inning. … Meanwhile, Burnett has to throw a better pitch than that on 0-2 to a hitter like Pedroia. Can’t give him something to hit there. The Burnett/Posada chemistry will be something to keep an eye on as the game goes on.
UPDATE, 4:29 p.m.: Hinske has no idea what he is doing in left field here, that is obvious. He misplayed that ball into a second run. Yankees in some trouble here as A.J. is melting down early.
UPDATE, 4:40 p.m.: Jason Bay shows how to play The Wall as he throws out the ever inattentive Robbie Cano, who was out 20 feet from the bag.
UPDATE, 4:46 p.m.: A.J. Burnett at Fenway Park so far this season:
8.2 innings
17 hits
16 runs
14 earned runs
8 walks
5 strikeouts
UPDATE, 4:52 p.m: Huge failure by A.J. today so far. Embarrassing performance by him. Gonzalez drilled a 1-2 pitch over the wall. This from a .208 hitter.
He has a 13.97 ERA at Fenway this season.
UPDATE, 4:54 p.m.: We’re probably close to the part in the show where Burnett throws at somebody or back to the screen because he’s mad.
UPDATE, 4:55 p.m.: That was good. Burnett ignored Pedroia at first and he was halfway to second by the time he threw the ball.
UPDATE, 5:00 p.m.: How to come ready to pitch, A.J. Red Sox 7-0 in a reversal of last night’s game. Incredibly poor performance by Burnett, who can’t throw a strike and when he does, it gets drilled.
UPDATE, 5:13 p.m.: This game was decided in the top of the first when the Yankees put two on with one out against Tazawa and did not score. If Burnett is up 2-0 or even 1-0, the Red Sox probably start thinking “Here we go again. Instead, Tazawa gets out of the jam, Burnett is the Bad A.J. again and now the Yankees will need CC to win them the series tomorrow.
The game is not over. But the Yankees seem to have little interest in good baseball today.
UPDATE, 5:30 p.m.: Yankees 0-6 with RISP.
UPDATE, 5:52 p.m.: After having one of the best days in his career yesterday, Matsui has been embarrassed by Tazawa today. The Japanese rookie, who was in something called the Industrial League a year ago, has got Matsui three times.
UPDATE, 6:01 p.m.: Burnett had retired nine straight before Ortiz snuck one over the wall. Red Sox 8-0 and we’re just killing time now. Can’t believe I’m missing Springsteen in Mansfield tonight for this mess.
UPDATE, 6:05 p.m.: Just a mortifying performance for Burnett at this point. 9-0 Boston.
UPDATE, 6:18 p.m.: Yankees have been outscored 85-39 on Fox this season in eight games. They’ll be 2-6 after this loss.
UPDATE, 6:27 p.m.: Remember when Aceves used to be good? Something is wrong with either his back or his shoulder. He has been too lousy for too long for there not be something wrong.
UPDATE, 6:41 p.m.: Can’t blame Swisher. He’s 3 for 4 with a double and a homer as the Yankees dodge the shutout.
UPDATE, 6:47 p.m.: The day isn’t a total loss. You’re getting to see the major league debut of Jose Molina at third base!
UPDATE, 7:02 p.m.: The Yankees have left at least one runner on base in every inning.
UPDATE, 7:10 p.m.: No point in further updates. Back later with clubhouse reaction.
NYY not far away from catching LAD in run Diff.
dayum.
Pete you love that good ol’ fashioned Jersey Shore sound, huh. Got any Southside Johnny or The Sunday Blues on there??
Let’s do this, Yanks!
Last night, I was away and didn’t watch the game. My phone gets text updates from ESPN every time a run is score, and I must have seemed pretty rude checking my phone ever 10 seconds.
Worth it.
Should be a fund afternoon with Tazawa going
I got a feeling the AJ is going to throw a gem today. GO YANKS!!!
“Like I said, classless and bitter. I love how Teddy Ballgame ended up. His disembodied upside-down head frozen in a tank in Arizona by his demented family. You reap what you sow”
speaking of bitter.
and Ted Williams was the man.
I don’t know if this has been mentioned yet, but Jeter is probably is the only player in baseball that doesn’t have incentives in his contract for reaching certain goals. For example making the all star team, being named mvp. Pete you should tell Jim the Moron Rice this.
Great start for the series, living in Boston and going to local bar was awesome yesterday. By the 4th it was a laugher and wow did the place empty fast, wonder how bad it could be today. Heading to series finale tomorrow nice match-up. CC time to put up another gem to establish lead in CY young.
“In the New England area, lobster pie has sadly fallen to 2nd place.
The current number one eaten pie is: Humble”
DT:
don’t know if you do anythin in comedy, for a living. However, you should consider it : )
“I don’t know if this has been mentioned yet, but Jeter is probably is the only player in baseball that doesn’t have incentives in his contract for reaching certain goals”
when you get paid $20mil per year, you shouldn’t get incentives
The best stat about the Yanks I think is that they are playing .750 ball since Joe got thrown out in Atl 52 games ago. They were 38-32 when that happened. 39-13 since.
when you get paid $20mil per year, you shouldn’t get incentives..
Somebody should tell that to Arod.
Let’s beat ‘em again today…….
“when you get paid $20mil per year, you shouldn’t get incentives..
Somebody should tell that to Arod”
touche’
Repost:
“Didn’t you think that was a bad move to leave a young pitcher like Bowden in to take a pounding last night?”
Maine,
The Sox made a good trade when they dealt for Victor Martinez given their offensive woes.
But one of the less reported aspects of that trade was that the Sox had to give up value off their major league roster to execute the deal.
They generally haven’t had to do that in the recent past.
For much of the season the Red Sox carried only 11 pitcher. And the reason why they could do that – even though Penny and Matsuzaka and Smoltz, etc. weren’t giving them length was due to Justin Masterson. He wasn’t a great pitcher but he had a very flexible arm.
Now he’s gone. And the sox not only can’t carry 11 pitchers I think they’ve had to go to 13 pitchers for brief periods of time (though they’re making so many personnel moves it’s hard to keep track…).
Tito’s problem now is that they don’t have anyone how can really pitch multiple innings out of their pen with Masterson gone.
So they keep trying to call guys up from the minors – whether it’s a journeyman like Traber or a kid like Bowden to fill that role and it’s been a terrible fit.
I didn’t particularly like how Tito handled Bowden – but what else was he going to do?
The striking part of the game last night was how quickly Tito just threw in the towel. Bowden. Pulling Drew then Youkilis then Bay.
He just gave up. And that’s because he doesn’t think they can win the division and will need to conserve effort just to fend off the Rays and Rangers to win the WC.
It was a very unfortunate thing for Bowden that he had to step into the void that exists in the Sox in terms of talent. I’m sure Tito hated doing it but at this point he’s trying to keep the ship floating rather than developing a young guys confidence.
There’s one other thing that struck me from the way Bowden was used and it follows up on the general way he’s been used this year.
For a long time we heard about how great the Sox young pitching was – and it was for a time the trio of Bucchholz, Masterson, and Bowden.
Bucchholz has been a big dissappointment to date (though he might be turning it around). Masterson was exposed as nothing more than a bull pen guy because he can’t get LH hitters out.
And this year the attention turned to Bowden.
Given that they’ve been struggling so much – why wasn’t Bowden called up before? Why did they make the move for Tazawa? I know Bowden wasn’t throwing real well in AAA recently, but it’s very curious that a guy who has been touted over and over as a top prospect doesn’t get the call for so long in a time of such need.
Maybe their own internal talent evaluation doesn’t think that highly of Bowden.
I bring this up because it struck me that that was kind of the situation Bowden was put into. The situation lesser prospects are put in because their long term development doesn’t matter as much to the parent club.
Even last time Bowden threw against the Yanks he didn’t impress me as all. He has such a straight, flat fastball. I was very surprised the yankees didn’t pound him back in april or may when they first saw him.
Don’t know if there’s anything there. But just the way the Sox have handled Bowden – it just strikes me that they may not really see this guy as being a huge part of their future.
My Lineup:
Jeter
Swisher
Tex
Arod
Matsui
Posada
Cano
Hairston
Cabrera
“I love how Teddy Ballgame ended up. His disembodied upside-down head frozen in a tank in Arizona by his demented family. You reap what you sow”
Nobody hates the Red Sox more than me, but Teddy Ballgame was John Wayne in cleats. A legend and a war hero.
CB, awesome commentary today and last night.
“Maybe their own internal talent evaluation doesn’t think that highly of Bowden.”
Nor should they. Bowden is a back of the rotation starter. That’s what most unbiased scouts believe. The Peter Gammons of the world are the ones hyping this guy.
“The best stat about the Yanks I think is that they are playing .750 ball since Joe got thrown out in Atl 52 games ago. They were 38-32 when that happened. 39-13 since.”
I was at that game in Atlanta, so I take credit for the run.
Mike A (RiverAveBlues) estimated the Boston farm system at #2.
i respect Mike A. But i believe he off, on this
Would be nice if AJ could get back to dominating in Fenway…….his two starts here so far were just brutal.
Dodgers may be +125, but when factoring in the league and division, the Yankees +116 is more impressive.
However, for most of the season LA has been +100 and that’s also impressive in its own right.
A shot like that at Ted Williams? Not good. Two stints in the military to fight real wars, great player.
In reading the posts from last night about Brueny it’s really funny how one game seems to be so important to many fans. Bruney has pitched very well the past couple of weeks, including 2 key innings in the 15 inning game against the Sox, a solid 7th in a close win over the Jays, and a solid 7th in a close win over the Mariners.
He sucked last night but didn’t give up any runs of his own. Take a look at the recent outings of some of the Sox relievers (who were supposed to be the best in the AL earlier in the year) and tell me he’s any worse than Ramirez. Meanwhile, in Mo and Hughes, the Yankees have the most solid end of the game pitchers in baseball. Coke, Aceves, and Robertson have been mostly good as well. It was interesting that Marte came in last night (the game was mostly out of reach) and did a good job against BigPopup and Lowell.
Relief pitching is mostly a matter of going with the hot hand. The Yankees have been blessed with Mo for so long we don’t necessarily understand that. Hughes has been lights out as well, of course, and the rest of them can be great and can suck. Girardi seems to understand that and mostly picks the right guy. Last night’s game was just one of those where nobody pitched well on both teams, fortunately Andy was solid for the 4 innings necessary to build a big lead and Francona made Bowden look like the reincarnation of Anthony Claggett agains the Indians.
In the post season the bullpen always gets shorter, it doesn’t really matter if Bruney is pitching well or not but with his stuff he is certainly worth giving some latitude. If he gets hot he could be a solid member of the ‘pen at that time, if not, it will be someone else.
Did my comment get removed?
Bowden is a back of a BAD rotation guy. Buchholz has a chance to be really good.
“A shot like that at Ted Williams? Not good. Two stints in the military to fight real wars, great player”
yup
Since we were discussing this before:
http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....4for4.html
I thought Bruney was put in a difficult situation last night. Instead of letting him start an inning clean, Joe decided to try and milk a few more outs from an obviously fading Pettite. You could tell from Bruney’s body language he was not thrilled to be left in the pen to start the inning.
Yes, he let two inherited runners score and couldn’t throw is slider for a strike, but he didn’t implode, either.
Giving up on him would be just plain dumb.
August 22nd, 2009 at 12:39 pm
DT – OPPC member (blood type – Positive)
August 22nd, 2009 at 12:30 pm
“next time i am in your area, would like to try lobster pie. And a lobstah roll”
In the New England area, lobster pie has sadly fallen to 2nd place.
The current number one eaten pie is: Humble.
————————————————–
Not to much humility from RS fans.
But am on the lookout for a good flock of crow.
Getting ready to put on a banquet for RS fans.
okay I’ll take my first try
Jeter
Swisher
Tex
Arod
Matsui
Posada
cano
Eric
Melky
Bucholz has a chance to be good but he’s never going to be an ace. I see him as a #2 guy which is still very good.
CB,
Part of the problem the Red Sox have, a big problem according to some people in the game is, they are high on their own vapors in the front office.
They overvalue EVERY prospect now and that ticks off teams because scouts KNOW a lot of these guys aren’t as good as hyped by the media.
The Indians spent a month scouting every level of the Red Sox farm system. They found about 4-5 guys that intrigued them and all but one were at the lower levels. Buchholz and Bowden weren’t two of them.
Yet, the Sox keep putting out media manifestos as if those guys are elite, untouchable prospects. They aren’t.
They spend more time playing PR game to appease their fan base (“look at the trades we almost made for you”!), they aren’t doing a good job doing their real job. Which is, putting together a better team for the 150 million they have into it.
As long as Clay Buchholz keeps pitching backward (fronting his changeup and curveball over his fastball), his success will always be limited.
Bowden and Tazawa are just organizational arms for every team in baseball without a built in Baseball America PR firm.
Neither guy is special.
Nick Hagadone is a good prospect. They traded him for Martinez. If Nick gets healthy, that trade will look bad a year from now since there aren’t many LH pitchers in the minors with Nick’s stuff.
As you correctly state, Justin Masterson was a good arm for them to have because of his versatility. They don’t have anybody to replace that versatility.
Bottom line, its a poorly constructed roster. They spent a ton of money (over 12 million dollars) on bargain basement (which weren’t all that much of a “bargain”, given their salaries and incentives) items such as Smoltz, Penny, Saito and Baldelli and all of them bombed.
Put that money toward Teixeira, and 75% of their current problems are eliminated.
What’s worse is, their game has been found out. People now see their farm system isn’t as hyped. Their parent roster has a lot of holes and aren’t going to be easy to fill in the off-season. Catcher being a big one of those holes.
In other words, they are the 2004-2008 Yankees. Old, unathletic, expensive with parts that don’t fit.
Going to be an interesting off-season for them.
CB
From what I heard some Boston guys saying this morning, they seem to think Bowden has taken a step back in his development. Hence a step back in how they value him.
How they used him last night is usually what you do with a veteran not a prospect.
In defense of Francona, I think he just hasn’t been given a good enough roster from Theo so he’s stuck using what he has on hand which at times isn’t good enough.
Jeter ss,Swisher rf,Tex 1b,Arod 3b,Matsui dh,Cano 2b,Melky cf,Hinske lf,Molina c
I’m assuming Erica is not doing the contest today but I’ll throw my guess out there anyways.
Jeter SS
Swisher LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Hinske RF
Hairston 3B
Finally! Something I can relate to. “I Melt with You” is one of the best songs ever.
Let’s go, A.J.! You are the cat, and these guys are a big ball of yarn. Toy with them!
That’s Bruney’s problem if he’s upset about being left in the pen to start an inning. LOL a reliever’s job sometimes (actually, a lot of the time) is to get out of another pitcher’s mess. I would not give up on him, but his attitude is less than ideal……This isn’t about Brian Bruney, this is about the Yankees – maybe he should just do what he’s being asked to do instead of sulking.
Great post SJ44
It’s funny how hyped Bucholz is. People put him in the same breath as Chamberlain and Hughes. Heck, even Bowden was included in that conversation.
After seeing Bucholz and Bowden with my own eyes, neither are as good as Hughes/Chamberlain. Bucholz will be a solid starter (maybe a #2?) in the future but he’s not an ace.
Bruney’s problem is what its always been….throwing strikes.
You can’t spin last nights outing. It was awful.
11 run lead, can’t throw strikes, and he is shaking off Posada to throw a 3-2 breaking ball with the bases loaded to walk in a run. That’s just dumb pitching.
At this point, the last 39 games are about staying healthy, playing well, and figuring out your post-season roster.
Pitchers who can’t throw strikes won’t be on the post-season roster.
He has a month to get it together. If he can’t, he’s not going to be a happy camper come post-season time.
I can’t remember the last time I saw Girardi and Eiland so animated at one guy in the dugout. He got aired out in front of his teammates as bad as any player has in the Girardi Era. That tells me, it was more than just last night with him. It had to be a culmination of events that led to that kind of confrontation.
Hopefully, it helps him. If he goes back to trying to throw every pitch through a wall, he’s not going to be on the post-season roster.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/ne…..;type=lgns
LOL at Rice……when in doubt, the “I was misquoted” excuse. Lame, lame, lame and no one believes it.
He’s a sorry, bitter old man……..
Up until this year, experts and scouts had given up on Phil…..I’m not sure what that says about them, given that they didn’t seem to understand that much of Phil’s struggles could be traced back to injury and that all he needed to do was get healthy again.
“I can’t remember the last time I saw Girardi and Eiland so animated at one guy in the dugout. He got aired out in front of his teammates as bad as any player has in the Girardi Era”
I had already left for work, at this point. What happened?
I have hard time believing Matsui will sit today.Not after 2hr 7 rbi and not against a countryman.
“He sucked last night but didn’t give up any runs of his own.”
This is your best defense?
Look, I like Brian Bruney. But he’s not a lifer. We put up with his ups and downs for years. Years. Because when he was on, he was great.
But Bruney’s never been this wildly inconsistent. I don’t ever envision him back in the EIG role. Find another big arm from the farm or sign someone in the winter.
He’s not trustworthy in the setup role.
SJ44
I think this offseason could be a good gauge of how good a GM Theo is.
He has alot of work to do to rebuild this team and it’s going to cost them alot in money because of what they don’t seem to have in prospects.
Boston writers seem to think the RS are going to try in the offseason to get Hernandez from Seattle.
That seems like a stretch to me but we’ll see.
The problem with Buchholz is, he wants to pitch like Mike Mussina did last year. Moose pitched backwards all year and had success.
Problem is, and Moose was smart enough to figure it out, Buchholz isn’t, that’s fools gold. You may fool guys for a season or a month or two. For a career? That’s not going to work.
Moose did it because he was 40 years old. Buchholz is 25.
You can’t pitch like that and have long term success in the big leagues. Especially not in the AL.
Bowden? There is nothing special about him. Ivan Nova has a better arm and there is nothing special about Nova.
Tazawa? Honestly, anybody who watched McAllister and Tazawa pitch in AA and would take Tazawa over him needs to turn in their scouting credentials. No comparison between the two. Zach is the better prospect.
Its hard for me to fathom how an organization can be rated as a Top 3 minor league organization when they have ONE position player prospect above A Ball. That’s Lars Anderson and he’s not in the class of Jesus Montero or Austin Jackson from a prospect perspective.
The Red Sox farm system is all hype and no substance. People are now seeing it first hand.
Wow, good for Joe and Eiland. I didn’t see that, but being called out in front of your teammates is embarrassing…………which maybe was the point, to throw cold water on Bruney. His ego seems overly large for someone with his (lack of) accomplishments. Maybe he can take this like a man like Phil did and get his act together. If he does, I think he can help this team tremendously.
Bruney’s brain and intestinal fortitude don’t match his stuff. He’s always had self-esteem issues. He just needs to work hard and earn the trust of the team. But no, he’s got to make comments about being the setup man. And then he gets defensive when he gets lit up.
On a team that’s clicking, he seems to be the only unhappy camper.
Someone needs to call Francessa on Mon. and ask him where the great Hunter Jones was this weekend.
LOL Unbelieveable:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08.....185974.htm
So Robbie makes things look easy and he gets penalized for having natural ability that Pedroia may not have?
I remember Kevin McReynolds getting lambasted in the media for supposedly not hustling, when he was just a guy who was very smooth and made things look easy.
Nice article for Sherman to right as the Yankees killed Boston last night. I guess he couldn’t find anything positive to say.
Let’s go AJ!!!
On the iPod right now; Caught Somewhere in Time by Iron Maiden.
I think another problem the Sox have now is, they don’t know who their eighth inning guy is.
They want it to be Bard, but I think they slowly realize that he can’t be trusted. Throws very hard, but very straight. Hitters are starting to pick up on his fastball because he can’t throw his breaking pitches for strikes.
Ramon Ramirez? He was marked as the eighth inning guy, but he’s slowly being moved down the food chain. He was in for mop-up duty last night and got killed.
It’s not Delcarmen, certainly. Saito? Don’t make me laugh.
There’s not one guy in that bullpen now I would trust. Not one.
I don’t know anything about Anderson, but he’s looked at as a much better prospect than Jackson. Many scouts/experts/fans who follow minor leagues are not sold on AJax……
SJ44 -
The only problem I see is that with the possible exception of Hughes & Mariano (and maybe Coke?) most of the guys in the bullpen have their nights where they can’t locate. They’ve been doing a good job, so I don’t really want to characterize this, but it seems like they either have lights out, strike out stuff, or they are nibbling and walk people and you can’t know in advance what kind of night they’re going to have.
I don’t want to sound like I think the bullpen is bad, because I don’t think it is. And I think they are successful – no the ARE successful – far more often than not. But Robertson, Bruney, et al., have all been know to have their days when strikes just aren’t plentiful, and Coke has given up the not-so-odd HR.
None of them seems all that adept with coming in with men on base – or, rather, all of them seem a whole lot more effective coming into a clean inning – no one on base, or at least no one in scoring position.
So, while Bruney was “rusty” last night, he’s not the only one that’s happened to. I’m not so sure he won’t be on the playoff roster. There’s more baseball to be played, so I guess we’ll see. I certainly don’t see Melancon there ahead of Bruney; Melancon did not earn any of Girardi’s “trust” in his brief and underused time in the majors. And Marte is a huge question mark.
Also, as excited as I am about the state of the Yankees currently, I don’t like to think too far ahead. The historical landscape of the final month of baseball is strewn with “can’t miss” teams who somehow do just that. So, until the “x” marks the spot, I think I’ll maintain a “one game at a time” outlook. It sounds pessimistic, I guess, but it’s really too early to be putting in for that off day in the fall.
Maine,
The problem Theo is going to have is, there are no Sabathia’s, Burnett’s and Teixeira’s in the free agent market this off-season.
Those kind of players can accelerate any re-tooling program.
Absent that, they are going to have to make trades to get players. Frankly, their farm system isn’t deep enough with major league ready players for teams to give up their best players to the Red Sox.
Teams like Toronto, SD, Seattle, etc, all have to sell tickets. They aren’t going to give up their best players, for A Ball wonders.
Its going to be a very challenging off-season for Theo.
He has almost 30 million dollars tied up in Ortiz and Lowell and until they can move either guy, getting other players is going to be tough.
I bet Cashman is glad he’s over that stage of his re-tooling program with the Yankees.
“DT:
don’t know if you do anythin in comedy, for a living. However, you should consider it : )”
Thanks Vinny-B.
I sometimes open for Nick in SF when he does the Borscht Belt.
I got my big break when Shecky Greene got lost on his way to Grossinger’s.
Thankfully, Nick in SF gave me a shot, and the rest is history. It’s amazing what a shot of Penicillin can cure.
The big thing the Yankees needed to do this weekend is not get swept.They accomplished that.
That being said I would be shocked if they didn’t at least split the next 2 games.
I was very suprised at how quick Tito packed it in yesterday.Actions speak louder than words and I’m sure his team got the hint.Wild card time.
I’d say 8 pitcher spots on the postseason roster are locked up.That leaves Bruney,Robertson,Marte,Mitre,Gaudin maybe Melancon fighting for 3-4 spots.Mitre and Gaudin will fight for one of those.
Bench:Molina,Hairston,Hinske,Pena,Gardner….looks good
These next two games are gonna be pretty tough on the TV audience in NY. Today on Fox and tomorrow on ESPN. Hopefully tomorrows game will be Sunday Night Baseball and not Sunday Night Plug our documentary. I think the next two games I’m gonna be watching with the TV on mute and John Sterling on the radio.
Doreen,
Most bullpens are like you describe. You have your core guys and then your “hit and miss” guys.
The problem is, at this point in his career, Brian Bruney should be a core guy. Unfortunately, he’s a hit or miss guy and that will make his inclusion on the post-season roster tenuous unless he gets it together.
Damaso Marte may play a key role down the stretch and into the post-season. I know folks are down on him but, this is a guy who has been a successful ML relief pitcher for a long time.
He’s had all season to rehab and probably is the freshest arm on the staff.
If Marte can get back to form, Mo, Marte, Coke, and Hughes, with Aceves as the swing guy, is a pretty formidable bullpen in the post-season.
m
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:06 pm
“He sucked last night but didn’t give up any runs of his own.”
This is your best defense?
Look, I like Brian Bruney. But he’s not a lifer. We put up with his ups and downs for years. Years. Because when he was on, he was great.
But Bruney’s never been this wildly inconsistent. I don’t ever envision him back in the EIG role. Find another big arm from the farm or sign someone in the winter.
He’s not trustworthy in the setup role.
———————————————
When is the last time he pitched in the setup role?
This is his 4th year with the Yankees, he’s a journeyman reliever who can be both good and bad, just like every other relief pitcher not named Mariano Rivera. He has had injury problems the past two years but was really good last year and consistent as well when healthy (and really good down the stretch in 2006).
Last night’s game was an aberration for the whole Yankees pitching staff and lots of that is due to them scoring 20 runs. Take a look at the average opponent run total when the winning team scores more than 25 runs and you’ll most likely see the runs allowed are at least 3-4 higher than the team season long ERA. It’s just the way baseball is.
There is this endless fascination with back of the bullpen pitchers and players on this blog. Bruney is no better than the 4th option out of the bullpen right now, I would guess he’s better than most of the others filling the same role.
the last post should have said 15 runs, not 25…
“Part of the problem the Red Sox have, a big problem according to some people in the game is, they are high on their own vapors in the front office.”
That’s the way it’s struck me as well just looking as an outsider.
There was this whole narrative that built up around the Sox and was encouraged by them that the reason for their recent success was shrewd management more than it was the talent on the field.
The reason why they would have continued success for years and years to come was because the Sox were the masters of the “right process” whether that was signing players off the scrap heap because they had such great connoisseur’s eye for talent, the draft, or player development.
They found Ortiz so sure Smoltz will work out.
They have Youkilis so of course lars anderson will be a stud.
Etc., etc.
But management doesn’t win. Players do. And it seems like the Boston front office may have started buying into their own myth rather than being objective.
You can only treat talent like widgets for so long.
They didn’t appreciate how short lived, and precarious success can be in baseball.
And perhaps most importantly they didn’t evaluate how brittle and how non-reproducible their vaunted model for success was.
It’s now very clear that the Sox success was inordinately due to the happenstance of having two players in Manny and Ortiz who just put up one historically great season after another hitting back to back.
But what are the chances you can ever recreate that model? What are the chances you can ever wind up with Manny and Ortiz back to back?
I guess they did see this somewhat when the pursued Tex. On the flip side if they did fully understand how precarious their success was how could they possibly have blown the Teixeira deal?
How could they continue acting as if Tex needed them and their managerial greatness more than they needed him?
And they completely, and fundamentally misevaluated their pitching talent. I was very confused this off season as to why the Sox didn’t sign Dereck Lowe? I guess they felt that they had their “process” and Smoltz and Penny would be good enough.
They thought they had a starting rotation that was 10 deep.
And only 2 of those 10 have worked out.
I think it was Branch Rickey who once said that the most important thing any organization could do was to scout it’s own roster and system better than anyone else did. His point was that you had to understand your own talent much better than anyone else did.
Seems to me the Sox have lost sight of that.
The Red Sox farm system is all hype and no substance. People are now seeing it first hand.
“““““““““
Yes SJ and with an able assist from Peter Gammons who in his own right has overvalued Boston’s farm system for several years.
Baseball people in the know will now view Gammons with some doubts.
I’ve said for awhile that I think a healthy Marte can help us. I have no idea how healthy or effective he’ll be because he said that, although his shoulder feels good, his velocity is still up and down.
Did anyone else see the article of Fox Sports about the Yanks/ Sox series yesterday by Bob Kaplisch? I thought this part was great. Some nice idiotic slander thrown in for good measure.
“Because the Red Sox are sick of the Yankees’ money.
Because the Yankees are sick of the Red Sox’s intelligence.”
86w183
August 22nd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
A shot like that at Ted Williams? Not good. Two stints in the military to fight real wars, great player.
————————————————————
I think that Williams was the greatest hitter that I ever saw, but, just to set the record straight, Williams never left the States during WWII. He was a flight instructor. In Korea, he was no more a war hero than 99% of the other lesser known troops there.
He was an exceptional pilot, but, for ball player soldiers, Jerry Coleman was well above Williams as a “hero”.
You want a war hero in WWII, try reading about Warren Spahn. Purple Heart, Bronze Star w/”V” Device For Valor, Battle Field Commission at the Battle Of The Bulge.
As for the idiot that made crude remarks about what was done to Williams after his death, and then called Williams classless, had better learn the meaning of the word “classless”. Look in the mirror, junior. You’ll see “classless”.
If Marte is back to form, it certainly will be nice to have a fresh arm; and doubly nice that Joe will have two lefties to depend on, which protects Coke from overuse, if not overexposure. Last night was certainly encouraging.
Mel – I think you hit it on the head with Bruney; is has a self-esteem issue, for sure.
SJ44
For all the people that thought Cashman blew it by not getting Santana it seems clear now he had a plan that was for the long term.
Granted things had to go right for it to work but it appears as though it has and set the Yankees up well for the future.
From what we see in the minors the Yankees have some valuable pieces to help either for trades or for the big club.
MG,
Bruney’s act is getting old. Ask pat. I’ve ebbed & flowed with Bruney through his cycles.
But the bullpen has been improved enough that we don’t HAVE to keep Edwar. We could afford to lose a live (albeit wild) arm like Veras.
Yes, it’s at the expense of Hughes & Aceves being used in their proper roles. But the bullpen needs to be revamped all together over the winter anyway.
I’m all for working with difficult pitchers. But this isn’t Zach Greinke we’re talking here.
I just don’t want this to become a case of Gordon, Villone, et al. Dead-weight-ville.
My point on Bruney wasn’t that he pitched well or that it was Girardi’s fault, but to provide some context. If you are warming up in the fifth, your starter is up near 100 pitches after a terrible fifth inning and then there’s a fairly long top of the sixth you expect to go in.
Looking at his body language he looked madder than hell to me. That’s HIS fault and his responsibility. I was just pointing it out.
The biggest concern in the entire bullpen is walks and falling behind hitters by everyone except Mariano and Phil.
SJ — I agree the 3-2 slider was mind-numbingly stupid
Doreen,
I can’t take credit for that one. I think Bruney’s alluded to the issue when talking about his “rise” from the ashes and how he lost weight.
I’ve got the memory of an elephant.
The only thing is, I’ve had very short term memory lapses lately. Like the kids will be helping me prep food. So, I’ll open the fridge and ask, “what was I looking for?” Thank god for children.
“I guess they did see this somewhat when the pursued Tex. On the flip side if they did fully understand how precarious their success was how could they possibly have blown the Teixeira deal?”
CB: enjoyed the points you made. Perhaps the RedSox overvalued Lars Anderson (as the backup plan for Texeria) and subsequently passed.
Also, the Sox ownership got arrogant …….they assumed that there was no other team out there for Tex. That was mistake #1. Actually, maybe it was #2. Mistake #1 was Lucchino acting like a jerk and accusing Scott Boras of negotiating in bad faith. I think Lucchino forgot that Tex is a human being and he is close to Boras. He forgot that, YES, real people are involved here, real people with real feelings. Tex didn’t like the way Lucchino treated Boras and that was that.
One thing the Yankees never have to worry about with Cashman is him embarrassing the franchise. I think players, Yankees and free agents, enjoy dealing with Cash – he’s just very good at dealing with personalities. I don’t know about the AJ negotiations, but with CC (who he probably needed to wheedle more than AJ, whose first preference was to come here), Cash knew just how much or little pressure to apply to the big man. He didn’t rush CC – he knew that this was a career defining and career altering decision for CC and that he had a family to think about. No one ever credits Cash for this kind of thing, all they do is say he throws $$$ at players………..and it’s too bad.
have to admit, new Texas stadium looks impressive.
for 1.2 billion, it looks like they got more bang for the buck then NYY
Speaking about Bruney, his stats since coming off the DL are, uh, not very good.
http://www.puristbleedspinstri.....right.html
Betsy,
LOL. Lucchino just assumed anyone can be bought. The problem is that he forgot that there were other teams out there with more money.
I just had Swisha and Eric flipped.
Jerry Krause once told Michael Jordan, “Players don’t win Championships, organizations do”, when he decided to dismantle the Bulls Dynasty.
How did that work out?
CB is absolutely correct. The Red Sox front office acts as if they solved the Rubix Cube of baseball. They didn’t and this year is a shining example of it.
The problem they have going forward is, there is no “get out of jail” free card this off-season.
Without a bounty of real talented free agents, they will overpay to keep Jason Bay and then leak they are going to acquire Roy Halladay, Felix Hernandez and just about every other pitcher folks on their blogs want to get those season tickets renewed.
I bet their off-season haul won’t come close to matching the rumors of who they will acquire.
I like that Joe kept Hinske in the two spot.
m
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:25 pm
MG,
Bruney’s act is getting old. Ask pat. I’ve ebbed & flowed with Bruney through his cycles.
—————————————————-
if you get emotional about a relief pitcher that’s more your problem than Bruney’s. He is what he is, if the Yankees have someone better he will be gone. Until then, he pitches when the manager puts him out there. Other than Mo and a few other top closers every relief pitcher (and every pitcher) has good and bad days. You see it more with a reliever because when they get hit or are wild it sticks out like a sore thumb. Last night, though, should have been a night for even the most worrisome fan to relax and appreciate the slaughter, whether is was 20-11 or 20-4 didn’t make a bit of difference. And Mitre was the one who stunk it up in the 9th inning. If the game was closer Bruney would have been gone in the 7th as soon as a couple of runners got on and all of this would have been ignored.
CB
This is just a guess but I think the RS didn’t sign Lowe because they would have to admit they made a mistake when they didn’t resign him after 04.
They had more or less kicked him to the curb before the post season and then he just pitched some big games for them.
To bring him back would have to admit they made a mistake and that doesn’t seem to be their mo.
I’ve never watched little league baseball, or haven’t since I was a kid and everything looked big. But how far apart are the bases?
Sox ownership made a mistake with Tex…no doubt. They overestimated the worth of the injured players they picked up as well.
Still can’t take away their 2 WS in 4 years though. They got old pretty quickly but they did achieve the ultimate goal.
Even this year, for as bad as their roster is constructed, they are still throwing our Beckett/Lester 4 times in a 7 game series in October and have just as good a chance to win the WS as any team.
It is nice to see them sqirm a little bit, but to act like they are going to become the Pirates overnight is just silly. They are in position to go to the playoffs again and anything can happen.
“for 1.2 billion, it looks like they got more bang for the buck then NYY”
I should hope so. Construction costs and overhead are a bit higher in NY than they are in Texas.
Why exactly is Hinske playing LF instead of Hairston? Last nt I thought it was because he had experience out there. But if he does it didnt show in his play. Him batting 2nd seems odd too.
To be clear, i’m not complaining about him playing, just looking for a rational explanation.
Rebecca,
That’s why he’s pitching for his spot on the post-season roster, IMO.
He’s been very bad much more than he’s been even average.
Last night is the kind of performance that makes managers and teammates hate guys.
11 run lead, just throw your damn fastball over the plate, get outs, and get in the dugout. If they knock you around, then make adjustements.
Watching a guy refusing to throw strikes in that situation makes guys like Lou Piniella hate pitchers as much as they do! lol
Seriously, I can’t remember the last time I saw Derek Jeter and Arod go to the mound and visably get in someone’s grill.
Its interesting to me how many guys missed that in their game stories last night. That, and the Girardi/Eiland animated “chat” with Bruney in the dugout.
Some of this is heat of the battle stuff and it passes.
However, if Bruney continues to pitch like he has, its going to be very difficult to envision him on the post-season roster.
Especially if Marte is Marte again and a guy like Chad Gaudin emerges as a flexible, dependable arm.
jennifer
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:34 pm
I’ve never watched little league baseball, or haven’t since I was a kid and everything looked big. But how far apart are the bases?
————————————————————
60 feet. Pitching rubber to home plate is 43 feet.
http://www.google.com/imgres?i.....8;ct=image
Maybe the Sox had the same concerns with Lowe that other teams had……..like the Yankees. They weren’t going to give him 4 years at the $$$ he was lookiong for…and that was the right move. Had the Yankees done that, I would have been pretty annoyed. Lowe hasn’t pitched in the AL East in years, also……..Pitching in the NL is a lot different than pitching in the AL, nevermind the AL East.
just for the record, Brian Bruney’s career ERA is 4.39 and it’s 4.67 this year. He has averaged 6 walks per 9 innings for his career and has walked 15 in 27 innings this year, just about the same. Why would anyone think that he is a lights out setup candidate other than the fact that he has a plus fastball and, when he can locate (which is far from a certainty) can get hitters out? Like I said, he is what he is, you can’t put unrealistic expectations on someone and then jump off the bandwagon and over to the over side because ‘he’s let you down’.
Wow great play! funny when the kid slid back into second the base flew off.
Hinske 2nd? How does that make any sense?
CountryClub
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Why exactly is Hinske playing LF instead of Hairston? Last nt I thought it was because he had experience out there. But if he does it didnt show in his play. Him batting 2nd seems odd too.
To be clear, i’m not complaining about him playing, just looking for a rational explanation.
————————————————————
He replaced Damon in the first inning on defense. The only play he didn’t make was on the Pedroia hit off of the wall. The one that dropped between him, Cabrera and Jeter was all on Cabrera. It was his ball.
I believe little league bases are 45 feet apart
If I live to be 100 I will not watch little league baseball on television. These are 11-12 year old kids being put under ridiculous pressure and young arms that are being overused and abused.
Isn’t it interesting how few kids who make the little league world series even become good college players?
“Why exactly is Hinske playing LF instead of Hairston?”
Because Hinske bats LH and there is a RHP on the mound.
“Him batting 2nd seems odd too.”
I agree. I’m guessing it’s because he went 2-4 in that spot last night.
mg,
You’re kidding me right? You don’t think that Bruney’s act has gotten old with the Yankees as well?
I don’t give a hoot about Mitre, he’s not going to be around long enough for me to care about him.
My only issue was you saying that, “well he didn’t give up any runs of his own”. That doesn’t diminish the fact that he didn’t do well last night.
And I don’t think I have a problem, I support all the players that play for the Yankees. To a fault. But Bruney’s act has gotten old because he’s not a team player. A team player would shut up and play. Not talk publicly about what their role should be. Not pick fights with one of the top closers in the game. Not get pissy with the writers when he stinks up the joint.
They won titles with Manny and Ortiz in the middle of the lineup and Curt Schilling, next to John Smoltz, the best big game pitcher of this generation, in the rotation.
This team is a FAR cry from that team.
Even if they win the WC, its going to be tough for this team to win because its not constructed well, even with Beckett and Lester in the rotation.
They had those guys in NY and lost both their starts, despite both pitching well.
This isn’t a very good Red Sox team. Unlike 2004, when they started playing well in Late July and kept it up through October, this team hasn’t played well for 3 months.
Its not like they are just going to turn it on now and play great.
Rather save Jerry Hairston incase they need him as a backup for Alex or any other infielders.
Just keep on winning. Go Yanks
Ignore my response about distances… GB is correct….
However I think I’m right about how assinine the concept of televising 12 year olds playing baseball is.
I didn’t see Alex and Jeter get in Bruney’s face, but admittedly, I was flipping the channels at the time. I’m glad to see it, but boy if I was Bruney, I’d be feeling awfully uncomfortable on that hot seat.
M, I tend to agree with you……and I said last night that DFAing him would be a total overreation. Bruney’s attitude leaves a lot to be desired….
What is crazy is that a mother sued the coach, town and Little League organization when her son slid into second and broke his leg. And she won $125,000 five years after the incident via the legal process. That is sad.
Riley’s article on ESPN.com tells the tale.
oh look I was right with my lineup. First shot out of the box.
What do I win.
Hinske 2nd ?
Miggs had him 2nd last night then changed it as it seemed an ” obvious ” error.
At this point, Girardi could pull it from a hat and it might not matter.
One more point about the Red Sox…..
All this serial leaking they do has to be ticking off front offices around baseball.
For example, put yourself in Omar Minaya’s shoes…..
You don’t want it leaked that Billy Wagner was claimed on waivers. Why? Because you now have the player knowing his status and, as we saw with Sheffield the other day, that leads to problems.
Also, what if you actually want something more than just a salary dump for Wagner? Leaking makes it tougher to accomplish.
Its almost as if the Sox did it to force Omar’s hand.
They did the same thing with the Nationals and Christian Guzman and that really ticked off their GM Mike Rizzo.
So much so, he pulled him back and stuck it to the Sox.
It wouldn’t shock me if Omar did the same.
They do business in such a wormy way up there, its really starting to tick people off. That’s just another reason why reloading will be tougher than they, their pals in the media, and themselves, think it will be this off-season.
Betsy,
I am guessing that Hinske is second so that the rest of the lineup can stay the same. They obviously had a lot of success last night, so changing or sacrificing one spot is better than disrupting 3 or 4 spots. That’s the only thing I can think of, otherwise, Swisher would be second, since he has been there most of the time when Damon is out.
CB,
Excellent post of yours at 12:42PM re: the Red Sox pitching situation and the loss of Justin Masterson. The Red Sox are about to find out they have another problem with Tim Wakefield. Tim Wakefield pitched a rehab start in Pawtucket last night and should rejoin the Red Sox in a few days. His addition requires two roster moves though…not one. When Wakefield pitched his rehab game George Kottaras was his catcher. When Wakefield rejoins the Red Sox they will have to make room for BOTH him and George Kottaras. That means they will have to carry three catchers (Kottaras, Martinez & Varitech). During September, it won’t be a problem carrying 3 catchers because the rosters are expanded, but if they make the playoffs they will need to find a way to carry 3 catchers.
Betsy,
That’s the thing, I’m not calling for Bruney to be designated. But if that were Alby or Claggett or Sergio or Gaudin people would be all over them. But for me, it’s kind of the last straw in a very inconsistent season.
Yes, I realize that Bruney was injured. But by all accounts his stuff is there. But his mind hasn’t caught up to his stuff yet. And we don’t have time for him to figure it out. And we thought he did! So there are other issues at work here, and we don’t have the luxury of time in the third week of August.
The Red Sox sign Billy Wagner?
I wonder if that washed up clown will have the gall to STILL come out of the ‘pen to “Enter Sandman”?
If so, I think he should only be allowed to use this version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC65ufGUvKM
SJ, how does leaking the fact that the Sox claimed Wagner hurt the Mets in trying to get something for him?
That said, if the Mets asked the Sox not to say anything and they did, that is sleazy…….
60 ft i think
Mark, I can see that…….good point.
Rings….Jeter 4 and counting….Rice 0
Alba’s…Jeter 1……………..Rice 0
There are likely going to be more 15th ballot HOFers like him as the roid generation gets rejected initially and create a window for guys like him….
A poor mans Sheff without the winning….
M, I wasn’t referring to you………just I’ve seen folks calling for Bruney to be DFA’d and I think it’s wrong. He’s got talent, so the Yankees should try to work with him as long as they find it feasible.
The goal is to win – if Brian can’t help us do that, then we need to find someone else who can. Marte has a different role (LOOGY?), so he wouldn’t replace him (and we don’t know what we have yet in him anyway). Melancon? Hardly reliable……..we don’t even know if he can pitch well at this level.
If Bruney’s teammates are really annoyed with him (and his coaches, but esp. his teammates,), maybe that will inspire him to get his head out of his rear end.
Waivers claims are supposed to be private Betsy. Just like the Alex Rios claim, People speculated that it was the White Sox but Kenny Williams couldn’t admit to it until a deal was done because that’s how the process is supposed to work.
It hurts because when waiver business is made public, it makes negotiating that much more difficult.
Players never know if they are claimed on waivers. Its always been a secret process.
Omar, just as he had to do with Sheffield the other day, now has the player involved in the process. He loses his leverage.
The player says, “I’ll waive my NTC to go to Boston”, and Omar can’t negotiate for a better player since Wagner has gone public with his desire to go to Boston.
That doesn’t happen if the Red Sox don’t leak they claimed him. In other words, they are trying to strong arm Omar to get the player for nothing.
As far as the Mets “saving money”, the money for Wagner’s remaining salary has already been budgeted. Its not really a “savings” per se, because the budget already accounts for the money.
If I was Omar, I’d pull him back unless I got a real prospect in return. At some point, front office executives have to teach the Red Sox a lesson about all of these leaks.
Best way to do it is like Teixeira did in the off-season. Move in a different direction.
I don’t pay much attention to other teams, but is Jeter the best leadoff player in the game this season?
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....8;c_id=mlb
There’s a big leak somewhere. Look at the Guzman claim by the Red Sox leak. And it wasn’t even true!
The Nats were terribly upset, and Guzman was equally confused.
I can see SJ’s point about the Red Sox angering other front offices with their leaks. Contrast that with Stealth Cashmoney.
This is the same lineup that scored 20 runs last night
Leave it as is.
Kelvin, I agree…….I’m not saying that leaking the waiver claim is a good thing.
SJ, thanks…….I’d love to see Omar pull Wagner back, but I’m not sure he will.
I would be pretty annoyed if I were a player and found out I was on waivers. I wonder what Cano, AJ, etc……felt about being placed on waivers? That their team doesn’t want them? That can’t be the case……..weird.
Hunske playing against a righty makes sense; I hadnt thought of that. And it looks like Pete changed the lineup and swisher is batting 2nd. That makes more sense.
FYI… Pete corrected the lineup. Swisher and Hinske switch places.
Betsy,
Nobody gets upset that they’re put on waiver claims because they know everyone will get put on waivers.
And with the lone exception of Rios, very few core players with lots of contract left are let go. This may change in the future as teams might use the waiver wire as a means to shed salary.
The leaks aren’t good when they’re associated with a certain team. Case in point: Guzman/Nationals/Red Sox.
SJ and CB
I noticed you guys have been discussing the Red Sox organizational philosophy and why they overvalue their prospects. In truth, their prospects are usually way overhyped by the Boston obsessed media of ESPN, BA, Yahoo and Foxsports.
The problem becomes that their are teams that are stupid enough to accept lesser prospects from the Red Sox because the media overvalues those prospect and front offices figure their fans dont mind handing players to the Red Sox solely because they are helping to defeat the Yankees. You guys underestimate how much other teams want to see us go down. I hope I am wrong but I fully expect the Red Sox to get handed some big name in the offseason without giving up a single meaningful player from their big league roster.
As for the guy who insulted Ted Williams, more power to you. I have heard too often about what a great player he was while everyone refuses to recognize that he was the Barry Bonds of his time. Worst teammate, completely selfish and refused to change his philosophy to help the team, he gets licked by the media in spite of his .200 BA in the one World Series he played in. I dont care what he did or didnt do for the country, he couldnt hold Dimaggio’s jockstrap.
Betsy,
Core players don’t care about waivers because its just a procedural process and they know they aren’t going anywhere.
Its a process GM’s use to gauge interest in some of their players and for paperwork purposes. Its just part of the business of the game.
Problems arise when info is leaked by one team in an attempt to gain leverage over another.
M, I guess I don’t get why certain players are even put on waiver claims……..
The Yankees will sweep the Red Sox. They are on a roll and I don’t see the Red Sox bouncing back from the beating they took last night.
I am a new Yankee blogger. Do you mind checking out my site and adding my blog to your blogroll and I will gladly add yours to mine?
Thanks,
Go Yanks!
I hope the game doesn’t get rained out or get delayed
Jeter’s next hit will be #2,700.
March to 3,000 continues.
Grrr. Stupid WC bias. I thought I’d get to catch AJ v. Boston, but I get Cubs @ Dodgers.
mlb.tv will probably have a Fox blackout.
Will be depending on Pete and the gang to be my eyes. Thanks!
I’ll have my first crack at the lineup.
Jeter
Swisher
Teix
A-Rod
Matsui
Posada
Cano
Cabrera
Hinske
Damn, thats what i get from from walking away from the thread 2 hours ago and coming back and not refreshing LOL.
SJ, ok, I can see that…….but even though teams have no interest in trading a player, they still put him on waivers? I guess that’s a part of the game that eludes me.
The leaking is not kosher – I agree with that. I wonder why the Sox would want to ruin their relationships with other teams when it might hurt them in the future? I mean, let’s say the Sox want to make a deal with the Nats….why would the Nats even consider it given how the Sox used them? Burning bridges is just not a good idea……especially in an insular industry. The Sox are going to have to deal with teams they are angering – and it may come back to bite them. Again, that’s something Cash doesn’t do……..and it’s probably part of the reason he’s got a ton of friends in the game.
Jim Pir-one ,
I’m not so sure that the other GM’s are going to be willing to give up their talent to the Red Sox for crumbs. The reality of the situation is that GM’s have bosses that they must to answer to…their owners. The baseball economy is supposed to be just as bad next year as it is this year so many owners are going to be looking to grow revenues in any way possible. That means players with value must be kept to ensure attendance or dealt for as much value as they can get. If the economy was booming and every team could count on growing attendance then the situation might be as you claim…the economy makes it dog-eat-dog environment.
SJ makes a very good point about the leaks and waivers. If I were the other GM I’d be very annoyed by this. It creates problems for him which of course is what the Sox want.
They really do spend an inordinate amount of time trying to win the media war. They leak things left and right and at some point things are going to come to a head on that.
Derek “The Dominator” Jeter…annually compiling prodigeous and copius quantities of hits, runs and clutch plays…since he entered the League! A Dominating player of his generation!
Nobody but nobody of his generation/position does it better…year in and year out…The Dominator gets it done!
A sure fire…no doubt about it…
1st ballot Hall of Famer.
hmmmm…. I was watching the game last night but missed the Bruney “discussion” incidents in the dugout and on the field. Does anybody have any video links to them (if they exist)?
For that matter, I’ve been trying to find a clip for Melky’s awkward HBP from the other day. I saw everyone in the dugout laughing but missed a replay. Video clip available for that anywhere?
Boston has not only been allianating MLB GMs and organizations with some sleazy tactics, but twice in 5 years, they pulled the same sort of stunts with the Japanese baseball leagues with Millar and Tawaza. This could come back to bite them if the Japanese leagues refuse to deal with Boston. The Tawaza incident may end up freezing Boston out.
***allienating*** MLB GMs
GMAN,
But, according to Jim Rice, Jeter “does not compare” to the players of “his era”. After reading the following, I agree:
Tim Raines of the Montreal Expos testified that he stashed a gram of cocaine in the back pocket of his uniform pants during games. The speedster, who at the time of the hearing was the four time defending National League stolen base champion, testified that he always slid into bases headfirst to ensure that the glass vial wouldn’t break.
Keith Hernandez, the 1979 NL Most Valuable Player, admitted that he used cocaine and told the jury that he believed that approximately 40% of players in the big leagues were using coke as well.
John Milner testified that he once purchased two grams of the drug from one of the defendants in a bathroom stall at Three Rivers Stadium in 1980. He also testified that that Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Willie Stargell had provided him with illegal amphetamines early in his career.
Even the guy who played the Pirate Parrot, who was Pittsburgh’s team mascot, admitted to buying nose candy in the depths of Three Rivers Stadium.
In all, eleven players testified at the trials, which resulted in convictions of Curtis Strong in one case and Dale Schiffman in the other. Strong was sentenced to twelve years in prison for his misdeeds, but spent just four years behind bars. Schiffman was also sentenced to twelve years but was released after just twenty-four months.
Baseball Punishes the Players
Although the players had been given immunity from criminal prosecution, they were still subject to punishment by Major League Baseball. Commissioner Peter Ueberroth handed down one year suspensions against Hernandez, Dale Berra, Joaquin Andujar, Enos Cabell, Jeffrey Leonard, Dave Parker and Lonnie Smith. The players, however, were also given the option of avoiding the suspensions by donating 10% of the salaries to drug counseling programs. They also had to perform 100 hours of community service and submit to random drug testing.
All of the players took the deal.
Four other players — Lee Lacy, Al Holland, Lary Sorenson and Claudell Washington — agreed to donate 5% of their pay and perform 50 hours of community service rather than face 60-day suspensions.
The Fallout
Several players were able to rejuvenate their careers after the scandal. Dave Parker signed with the Cincinnati Reds and was selected to the All-Star team in 1985, 1986 and 1990. Keith Hernandez continued his consecutive Gold Glove streak through 1988, and won a World Series title with the Mets in 1986. Lonnie Smith signed with the Atlanta Braves and was selected as the MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1989.
Other players continued to struggle with substance abuse, some to devastating effect. Rod Scurry died from a cocaine-related heart attack in 1992. He was only 36 years old. Willie Aikens was convicted of selling crack cocaine and sentenced to 20 years in prison in 1994. Lary Sorensen, after a sixth drunk driving conviction, was sentenced to more than two years in prison in 2005.
Read more: http://major-league-baseball.s.....z0OwDfFlOz
I wouldn’t play Damon the rest of this series. No need to risk bruising the leg any further.
Bring him back when he’s healthy. If its Tuesday or Wednesday, fine by me.
Sorry if this was posted before but the Sox have pulled Penny from the rotation.
Wakefield will make his next start instead.
Just unbelievable. Smoltz and Penny were the big moves and now neither one is in the rotation for the Sox and with their bull pen depth I’d guess Penny becomes nothing more than their long reliever.
So the Sox paid Smoltz around $6M for 8 starts. And they paid Penny $5M for 24 starts in which he gave them no length and pitched to an ERA of 5.61.
And the opportunity cost of signing both those players is even higher than their monetary costs.
And Wakefield is still sufferring from sciatica – his arm is ok but evidently he’s still walking and running with a limp.
http://soxblog.projo.com/2009/.....ill-2.html
I wouldn’t want to face Beckett-Lester-Wakefield-DiceK in a 4 game series
“I wouldn’t want to face Beckett-Lester-Wakefield-DiceK in a 4 game series”
I am not sure they would be thrilled to face CC, Burnett, Joba, and Pettitte, either.
GreenBeret7
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Boston has not only been allianating MLB GMs and organizations with some sleazy tactics, but twice in 5 years, they pulled the same sort of stunts with the Japanese baseball leagues with Millar and Tawaza. This could come back to bite them if the Japanese leagues refuse to deal with Boston. The Tawaza incident may end up freezing Boston out.
————————————————————
The Tazawa deal puzzles me because I thought MLB had a verbal agreement not to take players from the minors in Japan.
It really wasn’t fair to ask Bruney to come in to a a bases loaded situation and try and get outs. It hard to ask any reliever to do that, they have mo margin for error. I can’t blame Bruney for the walks.. he wanted to be careful and not give up a grand slam.
I can see why Bruney was ticked off that Girardi put him in that spot
Oh please. Wakefield can hardly walk and Dice-K hasn’t pitched for months.
That’s not only not a formidable rotation, its the weakest 4 man rotation the Yankees could face in the post-season.
Are you kidding? That’s his job.
He had an 11 run lead and you think he should be ticked at Girardi for having the “nerve” to ask him to throw strikes and get outs?
If he can’t get outs in that situation, then he has no value to the team.
Oh god… a Joba vs. Dice-K game 4 is going to be the worst baseball game ever.
“I wouldn’t want to face Beckett-Lester-Wakefield-DiceK in a 4 game series”
Beckett and Lester is scary. But the Yankees often clobber Wakefield, and I highly doubt Dice-K will get a start in the postseason at the rate he’s going.
That means Wakefield won’t be able to field the ball well, and it could mean shorter outings as the back problem will tighten up the longer he is out there. That still might be better than Penny, but it hard to say how effective it will be.
From Spring Training -
“Of course CC Sabathia will be a major contributor to the Yankees this season, but one NL scout said, “for the $158 million difference, [22-year-old] Junichi Tazawa might have been the most important long-term signing of this offseason. Seven years from now, Tazawa will be 29, have four prime years of his career performed for less than one year for Sabathia. CC will be 36 [in 2016].”
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=4030641
I can’t wait to listen to the FOX/ESPN guys who were so complimentary to the Sox earlier in the season. How did those low risk/high reward signings work out in the long run? And to Jon Miller who was doubting Tex’s worth earlier- he’s an MVP candidate now, so I guess he was worth the price.
If Bruney had been brought in at the start of the xixth, he still would have had a sulking attitude. Because it was a blow out and being brought in for that situation shows he’s at the bottom of the ladder. Which makes him sulk. Seen it before.
MaineYankee
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:43 pm
GreenBeret7
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Boston has not only been allianating MLB GMs and organizations with some sleazy tactics, but twice in 5 years, they pulled the same sort of stunts with the Japanese baseball leagues with Millar and Tawaza. This could come back to bite them if the Japanese leagues refuse to deal with Boston. The Tawaza incident may end up freezing Boston out.
————————————————————
The Tazawa deal puzzles me because I thought MLB had a verbal agreement not to take players from the minors in Japan.
————————————————————
Yep, and that’s the problem, Maine. It doesn’t set well with either of the league offices. Imagine the stink if the Yankees had done this. Selig would be suspending everyone in the organization right down to the last hotdog vendor. It’s going to hurt Boston in their dealings before too long.
“The Tazawa deal puzzles me because I thought MLB had a verbal agreement not to take players from the minors in Japan.”
It was a gentlemen’s agreement, and the Saux didn’t honor it. It isn’t something that could be enforced, but the grumbling from Dicey-K and them not honoring the agreement should make it tougher on Boston in Japan. It could make future negotiations with Japanese players tougher.
seen dunn pitch. lots of k’s, lots of bb’s
“However I think I’m right about how assinine the concept of televising 12 year olds playing baseball is.”
Why is it asinine? Young children are put on TV all the time. Many of them are superstars.
Don’t see why the concept of putting children on TV playing baseball would be asinine at all.
Tank… MIGHT is the operative word on that Tazawa/CC thing. Tazawa is a prospect, and he could end up just like Igawa, great in the minors but that’s all.
There isn’t much value in a low cost arm that can’t help the team out. So far he hasn’t shown he is ready for the majors.
Funny, yesterday on the radio, the local guy is a big Red Sox fan, he kept saying Tigawa. Of course he thought the last series was going to be where the Sox took 3 out of 4, yesterday he felt they would take 2, including last night.
“However I think I’m right about how assinine the concept of televising 12 year olds playing baseball is.”
This is a pretty big deal for these kids. How cool would it be to be able to pull out the tape of these games when they are older.
I don’t see any problem with it. It gives big props to these kids, and I don’t see the harm in it at all. They are playing a sport, this can be their moment to shine.
Theo Epstein and Terry Francona don’t decide who is in or out of the Red Sox rotation. The Yankees do.
Ya gotta love it.
Tazawa and Gonzalez, it’s your turn now.
“seen dunn pitch. lots of k’s, lots of bb’s”
Most of his problems come vs RHBs he’s still learning how to throw the change up, but fastball/slider/ch to LHBs he more likely gets you from what I heard.
Curtis and Laird? Man – that is pretty sad if that is the best the Yanks can do.
The RS had another deal that angered a couple of teams. I don’t remember just what the deal was, but it was a three team deal and the RS backed out after one player had been dealt. Milwaukee may have been one of the teams.
romine will be fun to follow in the AFL…laird should really slug there
Looking for a little help with the game today. With the stranglehold Fox has on Saturday games, those of us on the West Coast are unable to watch Yanks/Sox. Would appreciate it if anyone knows where to watch the game online. Thanks in advance.
I’ve lost track of how many Red Sox pitchers the Yankees offense have sent down to AAA this year. It has to be some kind of record though.
Next up – Tazawa!!
why is YES showing us sergio mitre’s 9th inning as apart of their yankees encore?
Hope A-Jack gets called up, dominates, and makes the postseason rooster
Brian M
August 22nd, 2009 at 3:12 pm
I’ve lost track of how many Red Sox pitchers the Yankees offense have sent down to AAA this year. It has to be some kind of record though.
Next up – Tazawa!!
—————————————————
How about the old pitchers they have sent to the NL.
Next up Paul Byrd.
“I can tell you one thing: That’s not a team that we played two months ago,” Big Papi said of this Boston Massacre. “You have to keep that in mind. They’ve got good players. They always find a way to pull themselves together. I’ve been watching that for years. They did it all tonight.
“RHP Michael Bowden was optioned down and RHP Enrique Gonzalez was called up.”
I guess Boston has decided that they can’t beat the Yanks, so might as well start a bean-ball war to get some guys suspended. It was Enrique Gonzalez’ pitches to Miguel Cabrera that precipitated the whole Pukelis/Porcello brawl, unless I am mistaken.
“why is YES showing us sergio mitre’s 9th inning as apart of their yankees encore?”
They aren’t going to end the encore at the top of the 9th inning. They always show the last out and you have to get through Mitre’s runs allowed to get there
“Hope A-Jack gets called up, dominates, and makes the postseason rooster”
I am assuming the postseason rooster is some sort of hazing ritual for rookies?
Ozzie will have everyone and the batboy bunting on Wakefield if he isn’t moving well.
Boy, the pennant race can chew up and spit out players. But we’ve seen it from our side as well, so nothing to gloat at.
Like I said last night, I think this is a testament of how good our team is rather than how bad Boston is.
Look at their lineup, bullpen, rotation, record, run differential.
Now look at the difference in the standings and head-to-head record. A few lucky breaks, so Boston’s “only” 7.5 GB. Unrealz.
UPDATE, 2:44 p.m.: Via the Globe’s Extra Bases blog: Tim Wakefield is rejoining the Red Sox rotation and Brady Penny is out
————————————————–
2nd Sox pitcher the Yanks have knocked out of the rotation.
Hat Trick today?
I’m here at Fenway and all is cool. Good Yankee fan presence.
Bronx Jeers
August 22nd, 2009 at 3:25 pm
UPDATE, 2:44 p.m.: Via the Globe’s Extra Bases blog: Tim Wakefield is rejoining the Red Sox rotation and Brady Penny is out
————————————————–
2nd Sox pitcher the Yanks have knocked out of the rotation.
Hat Trick today?
I’m here at Fenway and all is cool. Good Yankee fan presence.
———————————————
I hope you get to see a good game and enjoy the experience.
m
If the lead wasn’t so comfortable, Bruney would have broken my heart last night.
Isn’t Hurricane Bill rolling through Boston during game time?
pat,
mg is correct, no expectations and your heart won’t get broken.
Where is the Winter League and when do the Yanks have to announce who’s going? I have to assume Phil will make the trek……
Hopefully Hurrican Allen-James will be rolling through in about 45 minutes or so.
Betsy,
No Hawaii Winter League. So it looks like Arizona Fall League or the Caribbean League. Check out milb.com. They should have some info. Gotta go taxi one of the kids, will see if I can find it when I get back.
Depends how much Hughes works this fall… if we play deep into October and he works a lot, they may just decide to give him the winter off rather than push him.
Remember, it’s not just the time he gets into games… it is also all the times he warms up. Relieving is much more stressful on the body than starting is. They want him to get innings, but they may not want to strain him either.
YES pre-game Clubhouse Report with Bob Lorenz and Kim Jones:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/64503598f250103a/
Glad to see you made it there ok, Bronx Jeers.
You are truly looking into the abyss now.
Thanks, M!…..Phil will have to suffer in the Caribbean League, lol….
C’mon Staten Island!! Looking outmatched today.
Mark, Phil won’t get a lot of innings in the post-season no matter how far they go……..and I think the Yankees want him to work on his change. I guess we’ll see, but I’d be shocked if he didn’t go to winter league
That’s hilarious that Smoltz and Penny were supposed to be the steals of the season and the Yankees knocked both pitchers out of the Red Sox rotation.
Rip their heart outs, AJ.
Don’t give them any free runs by walking guys, wild pitches, balks etc. Make them hit you.
He doesn’t have to go to Winter League ball to work on his change up. He can do that in Tampa in the off-season.
If they are lucky enough to play deep into October, and November for that matter since the WS will be in November, I doubt Phil is going to Winter League.
Rest is just as valuable as innings for a pitcher after a long season.
Mark,
That is true, which is why you rarely see guys who spend the entire season (healthy) on an ML roster go to winter ball. Only guys who spend most of the season in the minors (where the season is shorter and less stressful) or guys who were injured. Going through a 162 game season and playoffs is tough. They don’t want to run these guys in the ground.
The only thing that worries me about AJ is the walks. You can bet the Red Sox will be up there taking pitches each AB and trying to work the count.
If Burnett can drop his curveball in for strikes, he has a good shot at shutting them down.
I doubt they send Hughes to winterball after all the high-stress innings he pitched this year and the “dry humps”.
Teams don’t look at innings and say the guy needs to fill his quota. They look at how much work their arms went through. Hughes probably worked harder in this role than he would have if he spent the season in the rotation. They don’t need to risk getting him hurt or fatigued just for some extra innings.
I’ll just continue to rip NYY…don’t worry. I’ll make something up if I have to!!
“Next up Paul Byrd.”
Much of the ardent support for the Sox has not only come from the “main stream media” but also from sabermatricians who have lauded red sox management.
I thought this article from Fangraphs by RJ Anderson was great. It was written right after they signed Byrd earlier this month:
“Not to be outdone by their bitter rivals the Red Sox re-added Paul Byrd.
I’m not entirely sure why, since the Red Sox have a surplus of young starters close to the majors, including that guy Clay Buchholz.
Byrd has familiarity with the team and all that goodness, but it still seems odd given the Red Sox’s refusal to find consistent starts for Buchholz or Michael Bowden.”
The congnative dissonance is sort of remarkable. The Red Sox staff was in the middle of falling apart – it was so bad that they had to turn to Paul Byrd.
But the author is confused as to why they would sign Byrd because they have a “surplus” of young starters.
He just can’t given up on the idea that the Sox have this endless depth in young starting pitching despite the evidence to the contrary.
The fact that the sox have “refused” to find starts for Bowden and Bucchhholz says nothing about what the Sox might actually think about their respective talents. Instead it just leads to puzzlement because the idea that there is no “surplus” is just impossible.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs.....verywhere/
Posada better play good defense behind the plate today. Last 2 outings, he cost AJ a win in each start.
I want AJ to get a win today and Posada needs to do his part by blocking all his pitches, calling the right pitches, framing etc.
Ah, Jerry – welcome. The first dolt of the day.
Enjoy the game, Yankee fans!
It’s funny because the further away a Red Sox prospect is from the majors the more hype they get. It’s backwards.
Aj is due for a win.
if he’s dropping the curve for strikes, get your popcorn ready.
Tazawa is a tough pitcher to hit… very sneaky fastball, nice slider. Doesn’t throw very hard but has a sneakiness like David Robertson.
He might shut us down today.
What, is Joe Buck throwing a tantrum after last night’s game and refusing to work?
Not that I’m complaining or anything…
I’ve been running errands and doing all kinds of odd chores around the house today just waiting for this game to start.
The pool is vacuumed, the clothes have been dropped off at the dry cleaners, my office is organized, and my first beer has been opened.
Let’s go yankees.
Well, I won’t be watching the game today as FOX feels that WV is a Cubs fan-base and will be showing Cubs-Dodgers. Good job, you mendicants. The Dodgers have run away with their division and the Cubs are pretty much out of it.
“Tazawa is a tough pitcher to hit… very sneaky fastball, nice slider. Doesn’t throw very hard but has a sneakiness like David Robertson.
He might shut us down today.”
lol…thats why he got tattoed by the yankees and his starts havent exactly been lights out…
Francona hopes to get 6 innings from Tazawa today. Well I hope to get a date with Megan Fox. Personally, I think I have a better shot.
Lets go Yankees!!
Let the pounding begin!!!
I wouldn’t mind going on a date with Megan Fox.
Jeter made an out?!? What was that about?
18 hits in 11.2 innings is tough to hit!?
Swish baby!
swisher-a-lish
30 straight for Swish. Way to go, Nick.
Arod looking to go deep.
>I wouldn’t mind “going on a date with” Megan Fox.
Fixed that for you.
I know it was probably an accident, but is it really a good idea to hit Tex with 1st base open when the opposing pitcher is AJ Burnett?
Tazawa should throw that weak stuff to Alex again. Heads up on Lansdowne St.
Just missed it
Congratulations, you correctly guessed today’s lineup (despire some early misinformation).
Congrats to miggs, that is.
if matsui goes yard, i’ll eat mcdonalds for a month.
Don’t they have fire laws in Boston ? People are squeezed so tight in that little place that they’d never get out in time if there was a fire.
Man, Fenway is dead today. Ripped their hearts out I guess.
Just got in, where was Tex hit by a pitch?
It barely nicked him on the tricep
just make him throw pitches.
This is going to be one of those times where they get close to hitting him the first time through the order and then destroy him the second time up.
Tex hit by a pitch?
Sleeve not body
If it were Youkilis instead of Tex, he would have started barking at the mound.
Nick I’ve been on a roll lately.
I look forward to leaving Ramey in the dust over the next few days.
First pitch by Burnett….zero control.
OK…That’s better. Perfect game intact.
That curve was right on.
3 deep fly balls against Tazawa…hmm, this seems familiar. I think we’ll tatooe him soon enough.
Amazingly, the only player I feel remotely worried about in this game is Ellsbury.
“Posada better play good defense behind the plate today. Last 2 outings, he cost AJ a win in each start.”
Does the road team get credited for 0-0 ties after a certain amount of innnings? Because if memory serves the Yankees were shut-out his last start.
there goes the no hitter.
I always forget I have a dvr. Just rewound. It didn’t even look like the pitch hit him. LOl
Well, here we go again. Burnett has lost it….blowout has started.
HELP ME! I’m in Europe right now…does anyone know a website streaming the game for free? Preferably one that isn’t going to give me a million viruses, pop ups, and add things to my toolbar lol…Thanks!
OK. I’ve got the silliness out of my system and hopefully off of the board.
Damn..Not good control so far.
so what, a dp will erase first inning hype.
AJ’s not hitting his spots. He’s leaving things up around the belt. You do that, it’s gonna get hit. Gotta hope for the DP ball now.
That’s the problem pitching to Pedroia. What is normally a pitch in the dirt is right in his strike zone.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
” We are underway in Boston in what could be a long day for Junichi Tazawa… ”
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Much of what happens in baseball is beyond explanation, Pete.
Everyone expects Tazawawawa to bomb, right?
So I’m sure the opposite will happen today then. Tazawawawa will go 6 strong innings — 3 hits, 0 runs.
Watch it develop.
Both hits came off pitches way out of the strike zone…
Double play ball…let’s go AJ
I thought Youkilis was the most clutch person in the world and would NEVER pop out with a runner on third??
Alright, come on AJ… get this steroid juicer out
Come on AJ get out of this..
Does Boston ever not cry about a strike call?
After hearing so much about Tazawa, he stinks. Is there anything impressive about the kid? Any pitch that is a plus pitch. A line out for Jeter and the other two outs to the track. They will score some runs today again
Ortiz amazing…cant hit against anyone else
Hinske lol
Hinske cannot play the field. That was horrid.
Ortiz owns Burnett, and Hinske can’t play LF
Bummer.
Great. The artist formerly known as Ortiz gets a hit.
I miss the ice skater. Not as much as Erica, but close.
i miss damon :/
hinkse is not a left fielder in fenway it appears…
Hinske plays the wall so bad in Fenway. Did he play there in when he was with Boston?
Yikes.
Yeesh. He’s gotta get the ball down. This isn’t the Oakland A’s. If you leave balls up around the belt, a competent lineup is going to hit it, and hit it hard. It’s simple as that.
Get Bay, or this gets ugly, and fast.
#1- the pitch to pedroia was fine, you gotta tip your cap
#2- hinske cannot play the monster
#3- the 0-1 to ortiz was the same pitch as the first strike, yet called a ball
Defense cost us a run there. Martinez should never have scored.
Well so much so AJ being a Sox killer. Terrible job by AJ..
Cant get Ortiz are you kidding…Burnett hates pitching games on fox..simple as that
Looks like the Yankees will need to put a 20 spot on the scoreboard again this afternoon.
Come on Aj. Make your pitches. Does anyone think Fenway might be in his head?
Hinske having a tough time with the wall. AJ in full meltdown mode again unfortunately.
Continues to get beat with his second best pitch.
Get Aceves up and get AJ out soon before he gives up 6 or 7.
Can’t blame this one on Posada.
This is all AJ.
So not worried. It’s almost sporting to give the Red Sox a lead to blow.
Hairston needs to play LF. Hinske is a clown out there. Hinske needs to be taken out of the game.
Settle down AJ
Unfortunately with a guy like Burnett, you can usually tell immediately if it’s going to be a great day or a terrible day. Looks like this is shaping up to be the latter. At least Tazawa is on the mound instead of Beckett.
Throwing a curve to Ortiz in the zone is unacceptable. There’s still no evidence he can catch up to AJ’s heater. Even during his recent hot streak, most of Ortiz’s big flies have been on off-speed stuff (e.g, the one he hit off Halladay). Either poor scouting or poor pitch calling there.
No need to panic. Get Drew out and stay patient against Tazawa next inning. Yanks will score lots of runs today.
PL unfortunately FOX has the playoffs
Get AJ out soon?
Come on SJ that’s a little extreme. You want to blow out the pen and have them throw 8+ innings today?
All of AJ’s pitches are up. Whether it is the fastball or curve.
Jimmy1138 is right…. a lot of baseball to be played
AJ imploding? Are you serious?
He gave up a ball that Hinske misplayed into a double and a 2nd run, then a jam shot hit to Bay. He’s been very sharp today so far and has had some ridiculously terrible luck.
We will win dis game!
EXIT Hinske..Insert Hairston immedietly…Is that not why hairston was aquired so Damon can get a day off or injury replacement?…Hinske should not be in there with that wall the way it is
How many outfielders who don’t play in Fenway half the season can play the Green Monster well?
DJ August 22nd, 2009 at 4:33 pm
PL unfortunately FOX has the playoffs
Then it has to McCarver
If Pena was still around hairston would be out in left but with Pena gone we have no other infield backup. Tough spot to be in with Damon hurting
Posada still calls for pitches like Ortiz is still a monster. You simply cannot throw to the same spot over and over on the outside part of the plate. Ortiz tries to hit the big monster now. He doesn’t have the bat speed. You go in and out and throw one up and in and then away. Whatever. Yankees should score a bunch of runs in this game again. AJ just needs to settle down
I can’t believe that all happened with 2 outs. AJ needs to get the ball down. Maybe he is getting too up for these games in Fenway. He has been awful this season in their ballpark.
1. The 0-2 curveball wasn’t a good pitch. Why speed up Pedroia’s bat at 0-2 and not change his eye level. Horrible pitch and he paid the price.
2. David Ortiz can’t hit good fastballs anymore. Again, he sped up the guys bat unnecessarily.
No doubt Hinske has trouble with the wall. However, AJ getting beat with his second best pitch twice in the inning cost them 2 of the 3 runs.
Bottom line, AJ is prone to meltdowns. Its been that way his entire career.
When he’s on, he’s great. When he’s not, he’s awful.
Today looks like one of the awful days.
Fortunately, this isn’t an important game.
That said, he has to get it together in the next month because you can’t meltdown like this in the post-season.
Ha! Love reading the game thread on Sons of Sam Horn. Those mental midgets think they got a result. Another 8 innings to go and we got CC tomorrow. In reality we only needed one game in this series. I thought that site was supposed to be full of fans who knew the game, but reading their game threads they come off like a bunch of morons.
Game
http://www.blogtv.com/people/mikeplace
The yankees really bailed Ortiz out in that at bat.
Ortiz’s bat speed is awful. He’s not going to be able to handle AJ’s fastball if it’s located.
Instead they throw him a curve ball doing him a favor by speeding up his bat. And then AJ hangs the breaking ball.
A.J. Burnett, “Mr. Consistent.”
Do you trust this man more than, let’s say, Mitre or Gaudin, in Game 2 of any playoff series?
I should have to say this, but of course I do because a small percentage of readers are complete morons.
1. Do not make jokes about children being molested. It’s not funny. You will be banned. If you persist, your ISP will be turned over to the authorities and you can tell them why you think this is a proper topic
Also:
2. Do not call players or other juvenile names. Act like an adult.
3. Do not respond to trolls.
Tazawa only needed 13 pitches to retire the Yankees,AJ needed 24 and still gave up 3.Hope the bats come alive soon.
Bad scouting. Ortiz can’t hit a fastball period.
I agree, the curveball to Ortiz was dumb. He should have kept pounding him in with the fastball.
I think Burnett and Posada only called so many offspeed pitches that inning because they wanted to change their previous game plan against the Sox, which was throwing exclusively fastballs the first time through the order. Obviously it didn’t work.
Phony SJ again, the real SJ would never write something that stupid
Hinske in LF is like watching Barney Fife try to execute an arrest… yet the Yankees have Hairston on the bench and eight pitchers in the bullpen… nine counting Gaudin since neither he nor Mitre will start for a week.
Oh well, it’s early and Tazawa is basically Kei Igawa without the shades
that wasnt a typical AJ bad inning…his bad innings usually happen when he walks/hits guys and in general throws too many balls…he didnt walk anybody and threw 17 of 24 pitches for strikes..
That isn’t SJ. I am so tired of the trolling that goes on here.
Last night the Yankees scored right away and put the S*x in an early hole. Today, they left runners on the bases and let the idiots come to the plate with a tie. Think that might have made a little bit of a difference?
Now the Yankees are playing catch up, and a little of the pressure is off Tazawa. The Yankees need to get some runs back now.
The voice of reason is back.
Let me say this again so you lemmings can understand.
This is reason 7 billion why Burnett can’t be counted upon in the playoffs
89-91 mph fastball
mediocre curve.
Igawa + from the right side.
I am still confident we’ll win this game.
That said, I hate the Posada-Burnett tandem. At this point I don’t particularly care why it doesn’t seem to work so well. But Molina needs to catch CC so since they pitch back to back Burnett can’t get Molina.
JMO
They need to be more selective with Tazawa. Make him throw strikes. Too much swinging at high stuff like they’re over eager to hit him hard. Just let it come naturally.
Dice K extra-light
Someone should tell Hinske, he is no longer a Pirate.
He can take the eye patch off while playing LF.
“A.J. Burnett, “Mr. Consistent.”
Do you trust this man more than, let’s say, Mitre or Gaudin, in Game 2 of any playoff series?”
yes…definitly..totally…anybody who disagrees is lying
Miggs,
Gotta have Aceves ready because when AJ goes into meltdown mode, he goes all in.
Perhaps he gets it together and settle down.
Right now, I’d have Ace getting ready in case the second inning looks like the first.
The bullpen is fine. They are off Monday and the key guys haven’t pitched much this week.
If AJ doesn’t have it, the pen won’t be affected negatively the rest of the week.
Rally Yanks!
SJ, you are the quintessential apologist for Posada consistently lacking balance. I agree the issue of his chemistry with pitchers and Burnett is overstated (the pitcher should always be accountable ultimately) but Jorge is so damn stubborn, his defensive skills are diminished and there’s at least some truth to the issues. Trust me, if he wasn’t such a favorite of the sportswriters, this would be a bigger issue.
I am a huge Posada fan and think he is a viable HoF candidate (ironically in part due to his stubborn and determined attitude) but to not acknowledge the obvious issues he was with different pitchers is just plain ridiculous. (and I am in no way stating that Molina should catch or that there are even 2-3 better C’s overall in the league), but until Posada acknowledges that there may be issues HE can improve on with his rapport with pitchers, it will not happen and this will fester. However, he has so much clout and is so irascible I’ll bet Girardi won’t touch this issue with a 10 foot pole.
I have a feeling this game won’t end 3-0. Maybe it’ll me a multiple of 3
Cano come on man..your kidding DOWN 3
come on cano are you serious? we are down 3 runs.
Posada got to 3rd.
Good lord.
Cano just cost us a big inning…
Why Robbie, why?
waisting baserunners
Bad base running by Cano. Arod was thrown out on a similar play. Really bad there
McCarver without Buck is halfway to acceptable, Fox. Get rid of Tim too so that I don’t have to mute the entire broadcast.
Is Cano an idiot or what? He really has no brain. I can’t wait for the day that Girardi pulls him out of a game.
Is it just me or do the Yankees get thrown out at 2nd way more than they should this year?
Robbie… That was very stupid…. Dont give a bum like Tazawa free outs… Argggh
Ouch
so many yankees get thrown out at 2nd off balls that hit off the wall..
How many guys are going to get thrown out at 2nd trying to extend line drives off the wall into doubles? Just take a single and keep the line moving. Stupid baserunning, they haven’t even been close.
Another boneheaded baserunning move by Cano. Real weakness in his game.
Three runs down, no reason to try to go to second unless you know you are going to make it.
Cano turns what could have been a huge rally into a minor rally with his dumb baserunning play.
Everyone in the world except Cano knew he had no chance at making it to second, but Cano again bails out an opposing pitcher. It’s either hacking at pitches way out of the zone, or running into an out. It’s always something with him.
All the talent in the world, and no brain. That’s why he will not take the next step to an elite level.
Cano is such a lazy baserunner…I never see him hustle out of the box.
Cano goes into 2nd base hard. Tries to prove to Sportswriters everywhere he’s better than the midget
Cano horrrrrible play!!
Yankees cannot play the monster while the sox can, which could be a two-run difference every game.
Dusty has a fat lip.
One thing’s for sure, Tazawa’s not keeping this lineup down for long.
Cano’s baseball IQ is not very high. I wonder if he is one of those players that is in his own world and really doesn’t care about winning.
ground ball to the right side would have scored a run and moved cano to third with one out. Rally killer
Waldman and Sterling are essentially ripping Robbie a new one. That was ungodly stupid. Sterling has said, “A line drive off the wall is a single” probably 23 times in the last 2 minutes. He’s 100% right.
Lets blame the first base coach maybe he told him to go
Hinske makes up for his fielding right here i am calling it
Tazawa stinks but plays like that give him outs.
That’s the “lazy” Cano for you.
“Cano’s baseball IQ is not very high. I wonder if he is one of those players that is in his own world and really doesn’t care about winning.”
How these two things have anything to do with each other I must confess I have no idea…
How is the first inning on Posada?
Go back and look at AJ’s career and get back to me.
Meltdowns are part of his game. Been that way in every stop.
Great talent, prone to meltdowns. That’s his rep.
That has nothing to do with Posada.
Great so now this run won’t even score…
Tazawa is lucky this inning….
That’s bad luck there. Hinske smoked that one.
Come on Clutchy!
This Tazawa needs to be taken down a hundred steps. He was smirking after hitting Teixeira. Come on Yanks destroy the twerp.
Get Jorge home somehow Melky
Sux are leading, must be Matt time!
Wow, they are ripping rockets into the wrong places.
I’m following the game on Gameday and I predicted Cano getting thrown out at 2nd and Hinske lining it to first. Tazawa stinks.
Cano looked like he forgot he was hitting at Fenway Park. Only in Fenway off the wall is a hit like that not a double.
Dang, I would of been right if there wasn’t a firstbaseman
Come on Melkman don’t drop yer bottles.
What a shock that Cano’s baserunning play kills the rally.
If Cano is on first, Hinske’s ball is a base hit and it’s 1st and 3rd AGAIN with no outs.
Do you see any team get thrown out stretching more than the Yankees?
Was Matt around yesterday? I don’t remember.
“Come on Yanks destroy the twerp.”
They will.
That play on Cano validates the article on todays Post about Pedroia and Cano… Hate to say it, but reverse that situation and Pedroia is safe at 2nd…
If Cano stays at first, then Hinske has an RBI single and they have first and second with nobody out. Bad play there by Cano
Red Sox radio announcers made a great point. Had Cano stayed at 1st, the Hinske liner is not caught and Tazawa is in deep doodoo. Bad domino effect unless you believe he would have pitched to Hinske differently.
FOX is giving Tawaza way too much credit
The batters aren’t watching the moron’s foot.
“Sux are leading, must be Matt time!”
Now that’s not positive thinking. Hey!
It’s only a matter of time with Tazawa. Let’s see him dodge the debris the 2nd time through the lineup.
Would have bee a sac fly. GJ CANO!
Well that was great…
The roar that comes out of Fenway after every out is comical.
“YES! ELLSBURY CAUGHT A ROUTINE FLY BALL! WORLD SERIES, BABY!”
Now AJ has to step up. Can’t give em any more runs.
You can thank Cano for no runs scoring in that inning.
Physical errors are one thing, but mental errors are completely unacceptable.
His poor hitting with RISP is no accident or fluke either. He just doesn’t have the baseball sense to elevate his game when there is a big spot.
if aj doesnt let this lead get bigger you gotta believe the yanks are gonna score off this guy…
AJ must lock downn from here on. If we cant score of this Tazawa bum… Then we should have stayed in bed and conceeded. Thats better than a humiliation
Man, Cano getting killed. He does play for the good guys.
Let’s not forget, the Red Sox threw Okajima, Ramirez and Delcarmen yesterday so if it gets into the pen they might not be as fresh.
Angel, I bailed when my computer got soaked from the tears coming through the keyboard from posters crying because Andy got stiff from sitting for 36 minutes and had the audacity to give up some runs because of it, but to that point I didn’t see the chief raincloud. However, you have to remember that there weren’t any points at which the Yanks didn’t have the lead, so why would he come around?
Yankees should have had at least a few runs so far. Missed opportunities. AJ get a quick innings and then get Tazawa back out there.
<>
SJ, it’s not about the first inning, it’s a recurring pattern that dates back to Mussina last year, Pettite at times, Burnett, etc. Again, ultimately it’s on the pitcher who has the final say, but not being on the same page as your catcher consistently is a bad trend and both parties have to find the solution…do you honestly disagree that Posada is as stubborn as a mule?
Stranding runners on the bases two innings in a row…not a good way to start the game.
I’d say that it’s a good thing there are two pretty much automatic outs coming up, but if 1st inning AJ reappears, that may not be the case.
….another Great Job by Melky.
The yankees have now gone through the order once.
They are squaring up the ball on Tazawa already. Second time around they’ll be even better.
This game is far from over.
That inning sums up the Joel Sherman story in the post perfectly.
Robbie Cano is a more talented player than Dustin Pedroia. In fact, its not even close.
Its the effect, baseball IQ, and attention department that he fails miserably and that’s why GM’s would prefer Pedroia over Cano.
It takes more than talent to play the game.
When you have the talent Robbie posseses, there is no reason to hit .200 with RISP and be such a horrible baserunner.
Its lack of concentration and focus.
If he wants to take his game to the next level, that has to change.
is anybody else’s fox feed awful? i feel like i’m watching a web-stream
“Hate to say it, but reverse that situation and Pedroia is safe at 2nd…”
Did you see last nights game and who got thrown out at 3rd?
Posada has won 4 world series. How are you gonna blame him? AJ Burnett has never pitched in the postseason. Its not the catcher’s fault if the pitcher leaves the ball up.
My guess is that Girardi is going to say he wasn’t upset with Cano and would rather have them be aggressive with their baserunning. Just a guess. Maybe the same thing down three runs in the 8th might emit a different response.
We’ll see.
grrr… I was hoping Matt and his brother were playing in Williamsport,PA this weekend.
And SJ, I agree burnett is a head case. Thought he had matured in the 2nd half last year under Halladay’s tutelage, but he’s still inconsistent and somewhat unreliable, which he can *sometimes* overcome on pure octane stuff.
You guys are more obsessed with trying to insult me than actually watching the ballgame.
That’s sad.
Cano made one of the dumbest plays in a long while, but I’m sure that just makes me a whiner because I dared to point out that fact? I’m sure thinking he made a brilliant play and was “unlucky” makes you far more knowledgeable.
boy I love inside Fox jokes
I suggest that people go easy on AJ, sometimes it’s not easy pitching with a big lead. (I know we don’t technically have a lead, but wait.)
nature boy August 22nd, 2009 at 4:50 pm
is anybody else’s fox feed awful? i feel like i’m watching a web-stream
yup mine is weird too
ALEX GONZALEZ ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!!!!!!
Gonzales hitting a homer…….. embarassing
not a very good start here….
Homerun to the #9 hitter – does not seem like it’s the Yankees’ day.
Boy Alex Gonzalez loves hitting home runs against the Yankees
Redsox are sitting on the curveball.
Alex Gonzales? Really? REALLY?
Burnett looks terrible today. Flashes of brilliance in an overall cloud of crap.
that is just a joke right there…alex gonzalez is a scrub X 100000
Yet another hung off speed pitch. This is exactly why Posada is a terrible catcher. Throwing an off speed pitch 0-2 to a .200 hitter.
You have to be kidding. Gonzo got a HR? Really?
Come on AJ you can do better than this. Get your act together.
“If he wants to take his game to the next level, that has to change.”
That’s not going to change. Every one knows what Cano is about.
“is anybody else’s fox feed awful? i feel like i’m watching a web-stream”
Mine is good. Maybe the storms ruined your computer. I love fox.
ok… this is awfull… I’m out of here… hope for a better game t’row
Where is AJ’S head today?Fasten your seat belts,we’re in for a bumpy ride!
Can’t blame Posada for that. AJ insists on getting beat by his second best pitch today and so far, he’s succeeding.
At this point in the season, its all about getting ready for the post-season.
AJ Burnett has to be better than this in the post-season.
Another awful performance in a low stress situation.
Get Ace ready because he’s going to have to log innings today.
Wow, Burnett just can’t pitch at Fenway. Alex Gonzalez has a .540 OPS. What a disaster.
A homerun to Gonzalez?
I’m starting to wonder if I ever got out of bed this morning. Yankees drilling balls right to fielders, just missing fat pitches…but Gonzalez can dig a ball out of the dirt for a homerun? It wasn’t even close to being a strike!
Alex Gonzalez has a slider speed bat. So what do we call with 2 strikes?
A breaking ball.
Brilliant.
AJ is really sharp today, but he’s getting no support whatsoever, whether defense or game calling behind the plate.
‘Posada has won 4 world series. How are you gonna blame him? AJ Burnett has never pitched in the postseason. Its not the catcher’s fault if the pitcher leaves the ball up.’
The fallacy in that argument can be seen in the way one of the best postseason pitchers, John Smoltz, pitched for the Sux. Because someone has done something dashing in the past hardly means that it translates to the present.
That said, I am only pointing out the fallacy in that particular argument, not saying that Burnett is leaving the ball up – or he isn’t. As I said, at this point it doesn’t matter a whit to me where it is coming from, I just personally dislike the Posada – Burnett tandem.
Gonzalez getting revenge for Jeter stealing his GG in ’06
Yikes not so good for Burnett so far. The game isn’t over though, aj can turn this around and tazawa is very hittable. Also you all saw how many runs the yanks can score on boston’s bullpen
Are you being sarcastic? You say he hung a curveball and then blamed Posada. A pitcher has to execute.
Rachel how is it the catcher’s fault when the pitcher hangs an 0-2 curve that’s suppose to be in the dirt?
A.J not looking so hot!
Molina NEEDS to catch AJ. When Molina catches he doesn’t let the pitcher get beat by there 2nd best pitch to a .200 hitter.
Listening to the Fox announcers is worse than any kind of torture I can think of. My God, they are horrid.
Stolen on AJ
Get Aceves up…this will hurt pretty bad when the Yankees come back.
That was stolen on the pitcher. Never looked
AJ should just drill Martinez already.
“Rachel August 22nd, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Yet another hung off speed pitch. This is exactly why Posada is a terrible catcher. Throwing an off speed pitch 0-2 to a .200 hitter.”
Brilliant. AJ is the one who doesn’t execute and its Posada’s fault? Really?
Wow, games like this bring out the stupid comments.
I remember something Jim Kaat once said, while broadcasting a Yankee game – “The guy who throws the ball is responsible for what happens to the ball.” Seems to fit a lot of pitchers we’ve seen.
SJ, this is a sincere question. Have you ever “blamed” Posada for anything? Something makes me think you may have, or you may have come close, but typically it is never Posada’s fault with you, no matter what is happening. If I mispeak, my apologies.
Its not good baseball being “aggressive” with a 3 run lead.
You never make the first out at second down 3 runs. It was a bad baserunning play and it cost them a chance at a big inning.
Its probably academic because AJ is pitching them out of this one.
However, this is all about getting ready in the post-season. Gotta cleanup some of this stuff if the Yankees want to be successful in the post-season.
“You guys are more obsessed with trying to insult me than actually watching the ballgame.
That’s sad.
Cano made one of the dumbest plays in a long while, but I’m sure that just makes me a whiner because I dared to point out that fact? I’m sure thinking he made a brilliant play and was “unlucky” makes you far more knowledgeable.”
I think the general issue people have is that you only seem to show up when they’re losing, instead of reveling in their success as well.
That said, I also think people should mind their own business, and if they don’t like your posts, scroll past them, and keep their mouths shut. Continually attacking you as a way to vent frustration, however, is apparently easier than riding Cano for making a stupid move.
Insulting another poster is just as toxic as insulting the Yankees, and I really wish people would stop doing it. But that’s just me.
Posada and Burnett should not ever work together again.
Why are you throwing a curveball to a .200 hitter??! Especially when he just fouled off a fastball and he won’t hit your good fastball. Makes no sense..
DJ, every one knows that Posada is not a good defensive catcher and that he’s downright awful. It’s not a secret.
Time to get up Mitre. AJ chokes another one in Fenway…
One thing I’ll say about AJ – when he loses his composure, he sure loses it.
McCarver sans Buck only addresses half the problem, Fox. Get rid of McCarver so I don’t have to mute the entire broadcast.
You people say Burnett hung a breaking ball, but guess what?
Burnett is hitting POSADA’S TARGET consistently today.
So if the pitcher makes the pitch the catcher called for and it gets hit, maybe, just maybe, he called the wrong pitch?
Posada’s 4 rings get him the most ridiculous pass in the world around here. If the pitcher makes the pitch he called for and it still gets hit, how about you realize the game being called is the wrong one?
Yesterday’s B. Penny > Today’s AJ Burnett
Obsessing about individual pitch calls is dumb…as Pete has noted, the larger issue of chemistry and rhythm is the one to keep an eye on. Anyway, Burnett doesn’t look long for this game, so we may soon be focused on the Aceves-Posada battery..
Holy crap AJ. Throw a couple of strikes. Or throw one hard at Youkilis and get him to charge the mound again.
2 out curse …what is the deal
it is very funny when AJ Burnett dominant, he threw more balls, but when he threw a lot of strikes. It turns out that he got hit very hard
AJ and Posada just is not a good combo. This is difficult to watch. AJ is losing his composure and Posada ain’t helping.
“Posada and Burnett should not ever work together again.”
God, if only.
AJ is really in his own world…He gave up the 3 runs and cant concentrate now..AJ this isn’t Toronto.
.yanks totally asleep. AJ terrible, and Cano what can you say???…..
Those bad throws back to the mound are AJ’s fault.
He needs to jump higher. Can’t blame those on Posada – he has 4 rings.
Okay. I give up. Game over…
Jesus, just drill someone AJ.
Good talk fellas…i need to go brush my teeth after this
Time to go AJ. You just can’t deal with Boston this year.
Wow. This was unexpected.
AJ has focus issues
time to get the dog groomed
not aj’s best effort….
This game isn’t over by a long shot.
“Posada and Burnett should not ever work together again.”
Problem with that is that AJ and CC are back to back. CC pitches to Molina. They aren’t catching Josey 2 days in a row.
And with that, I’m done with this game. Get ‘em tomorrow.
WOOHOO AJ keep throwing the fastball right down the middle. What a way to completely give up on your team.
Wow what an embarrassment
See, I told ya he should have drilled Youk, not let him get drilled by Youk.
Final score will probably be 27 – 0, or something like it.
i come home to a 7-0 rout! This combination of Posada and Burnett must not go on any further. After a mound meeting a 3 run bomb by Pukeulus.. just plain stupid pitching!!
Heat the bullpen up and be quick about it. Burnett should have stayed back in the hotel.
Burnett is such a frustrating pitcher. The guy doesn’t have to win every game and every pitcher has his off days, but with Burnett its either heaven or hell. Right now this is HELL!
AJ should creampie himself.
Dutch Hugo, maybe you should turn your computer off. lol.
And still no coach to the mound!
Maybe Melky can pitch….would he still have to come to bat ??? Cant hit for crap – but would probably pitch better than AJ today…
Abdababdaserser August 22nd, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Time to go AJ. You just can’t deal with Boston this year.
At Fenway
Well at least Burnett can now stay in and absorb more innings and damage…save the pen for another day.
terrible performance by Aj so fare
The Roid Sox must have been drinking Papi’s magic shakes last night.
Honestly how many starts in a row does AJ and Posada have to have issues before Girardi makes a change? This is a joke. They can’t get on the same page, period.
I predict at least 4 runs for the Yankees this inning.
I liked yesterday’s game better, I can’t put my finger on why.
You got him out there once, don’t you think he will be looking in there again with 2 strikes the next at bat?
Burnett stepped off right before that pitch and didn’t look like he wanted to throw the pitch Posada called, and guess what? He threw it, and gave up a home run.
It’s not always the pitcher’s fault for making the mistake. When the pitcher throws a pitch he has no conviction behind, he naturally will not throw the same quality of pitch.
It’s up to the catcher to not only call the correct pitch, which Posada has failed to do today, but also to call piches the pitcher wants to throw, which Posada just failed miserably at doing as well.
I don’t understand why Molina isn’t catching today. It’s a day game after night AND Burnett all but threw Posada under the bus after his last start. I think Girardi is afraid of Jorge.
Get me to the Giant game at 8:00. and soon. Enough of this. ugh
Trisha,
Sure I have. I’ve talked often about Jorge’s weaknesses behind the plate. However, how is today Posada’s fault? Really, how is it? This is 100% on AJ Burnett today.
This is what AJ has been his entire career. Why is it now Posada’s fault “Bad AJ” has appeared?
In fact, AJ’s best pitched games have come with Posada behind the plate.
It would be one thing if AJ’s issues are something that haven’t cropped up in his previous stops. But, they have.
AJ has been tough on catchers his entire career. Look it up.
Why is AJ worried about the runner at second? It makes no sense and it just cost him again.
You could see that HR coming. AJ pitched them out of this game in 2 innings. Horrible, horrible performance.
Put Ace in the game in the third inning and hope he can give them length the rest of the way.
In the meantime, they better hope AJ Burnett gets his head out his butt.
If not, you can’t pitch him in Game 2 of a post-season game.
Let’s get 3-4 back against Tazawa early and climb back in..he has barely survived thus far. We cannot let him settle in..
In a way, I think part of us all saw this coming.
Aj versus Tazawa.
PL, true that. The place is just in his head.
that just balloned AJ’s era..4.07
So, NY Giants preseason game tonight!
The Yankees give up so many runs on FOX Saturday baseball. There’s still time to catch up.
AJ looks like hes roasting out there in the sun…swamp ass weather
AJ only can pitch in Yankee Stadium.
He’s outpitched by an amateur Japanese rookie.
ouch.
Rachel you have no clue what you’re talking about.
Your posts are dreadful, uninformed, and repetitive.
games like this are much easier to deal with when you have a 7.5 game lead…which will probaly be 6.5 after today though..
AJ is terrible at Fenway, why?
More annoying though is how Cano refuses to run right out the box. He would have been at 2nd easily.
Oh well, this is a write-off.
I will say this now though, 7 runs will not be enough for them today. Just saying.
But poor performance from AJ again and I am sorry, I don’t want to hear about the pitcher having to throw the pitch or whatever, if a catcher is not on the same page and calm situtations like that it gets worse. Posada has been unable to calm Burnett down in any of his starts or get the focus back. 4 runs or 7 are two different situations.
Having a bad start is ok..But AJ just completely gave up. Just terrible…What happened to the 1 era against Boston? He just can’t pitch in this ballpark this season.
That is an interesting point. Why isn’t Molina catching today with a day game after a very long night game?
AJ making Brad Penny look good.
I am on my fourth Yankees hat in an hour.
AJ spent too much time watching the Little League World Series pitchers.
The only reliable Yankee SP is CC.
He’s the only one.
Yuck. Glad I don’t have video on this one.
Agreed, AJ needs to stay in. That’s his job.
Maybe the Yankee hitters can pitch in?
I’d recommend AJ seek counseling with a sports psychologist. He needs to get his head straightened out. He’s too old not to have learned to control his emotions. Simple as that.
Game is not over folks…
Come on Yanks, its not like this Red Sox pitcher is Tomko!
The reappearance of Trutherism is sad but predictable.
The only way they come back is if the pitcher keeps the damage minimal. I do think the offense will break through but you can’t keep giving up runs.
LOOK at it this way, at least we can turn it off and still have time to plan our evenings. The yankees and AJ probably are as well. It’s gonna be a late night of clubbin and bar hopping for the yankees!
“Maybe Melky can pitch….would he still have to come to bat ??? Cant hit for crap – but would probably pitch better than AJ today…”
Another dumbass that was nowhere to be found yesterday or during any of the other times Melky’s come up big for us.
The stupidity on this blog is rather amusing.
Yeah, I tend to tune him out by skipping over his posts when I see them these days. I just hadnt noticed his posts to skip over yesterday.
“Its not good baseball being “aggressive” with a 3 run lead.”
Seriously?
My guess it that Girardi will say he didn’t mind the aggressiveness. And here’s another one for you. Lots of times when this forum has whined about something that “isn’t good baseball” and decided someone should be gone for good, Girardi the manager didn’t quite agree.
My GUESS is that Girardi will say he didn’t mind Robby’s aggressiveness. I will live either way. And if he does say that, the fact that you posit something won’t take the day, at least for me.
SJ, when three people say you are sick, lie down. There are about 10 people on here saying that Posada shouldn’t be working with A.J. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
There is no doubt the Yanks were going to smack around Tazawa. He isn’t good at all. Too bad AJ didn’t even give them a chance to try or start.
btw, Cano is an ahole.
Yanks put up 3 this inning. I’m calling it
The only reliable Yankees SP is CC
One of the most absurd comments of the afternoon with a team that has dominated the post all star game season and has one of the lowest eras in the league
Bold prediction: This game will be tied soon.
islesfan August 22nd, 2009 at 5:04 pm
That is an interesting point. Why isn’t Molina catching today with a day game after a very long night game?
On the pregame show Kim Jones said Girardi told her that its not a day game its an afternon game, whatever that means, and Jorge gets the start…I guess because day games start at 1 and this is at 4.
This is the old AJ rearing his ugly head, the one who gives up on games because he’s pissed off.
islesfan,
Go back to last night’s discussion. The consensus was that Jorge gives the team the best chance to win.
Let me just say, the notion that Girardi should bend over backwards to have Molina catch Burnett is ridiculous. With a big division lead, the Yankees need to solve the issue of the poor chemistry between AJ and JP now..in the ALDS or ALCS, we cannot afford to have Molina’s bat vs. Matsui’s (assuming Posada would DH). Or for that matter have Molina and the pitcher hitting in the WS (when we get there!). They have to tackle the problem head on and solve it.
P.S. Not sure today if Yogi Berra could have coaxed a good game out of Burnett today..
“that just balloned AJ’s era..4.07″
That’s where he finished last year. Been pretty much what he’s been in the AL.
So we lose to the horrible japanese guy. lol
AJ is just really inexplicable. He’s just so brittle out on the mound.
If any small ripple occurs he just loses focus and concentration and everything goes down hill.
It’s just amazing.
All of these runs were scored on mistake pitches.
Terrible performance.
Hey Derek, walks are your friend. It’s ok to take one.
that’s AJ. He’s either very good or very bad. That doesn’t bode well for the postseason. Sometimes you just want a pitcher to battle when he doesn’t have his best stuff. I don’t believe AJ understands how to do that.
Terrible? No. Embarassing
How are they out of this game?
Does this kid actually throw any of those curves for strikes???? Or close?? They look like softball lobs. I wouldn’t throw them over the plate either
Can someone tell me why Molina has to be Sabathia’s catcher?
Sabathia is a happy dude. He gets along with everybody. And he knows how to throw strikes and pitch. Why does he need a personal catcher?
Having Molina catch Burnett makes all the sense in the world. He’s much better defensively, and he’s not stubborn like Posada.
Swisher likes the wall
“I’d recommend AJ seek counseling with a sports psychologist. He needs to get his head straightened out. He’s too old not to have learned to control his emotions. Simple as that.”
I absolutely believe in sports psychologists and think they should be used often and freely – whenever it seems there is a situation where they can help.
“Game is not over folks…”
Agree there also.
Swish learns from Cano. Thank god.
Hey, a Yankee didn’t get thrown out by a mile at 2nd base after a hit off the wall. Will wonders never cease.
He changed uniforms and has been a different pitcher at Fenway. With the Jays he pitched very well at Fenway. Different story with the Yankees though.
burnett can only win against the likes of josh beckett, not tomko or tazawa or any other t-named horrible pitcher.
Put some runs on the board please
Way to go Tex, first pitch swinging down 7, real team attitude there.
This Tazawa performance reminds me of Dice-K circa 2008.
Constantly in trouble, but luckily for him doesn’t give up a ton of runs.
They have to lay off that high fastball..
“Does this kid actually throw any of those curves for strikes???? Or close?? They look like softball lobs. I wouldn’t throw them over the plate either”
Probably scared after seeing what a low rent guy like Alex Gonzalez did with AJ’s
It’s partly on the pitcher, and partly on the catcher when the pitcher has a game like today. But to completely discount the role the catcher plays in it is foolish, and that’s what keeps happening around here.
The catcher has to be on the same page as his pitcher. Posada is stubborn and often quarrels with his pitchers over pitch selection. If the pitcher is not comfortable with the catcher, he will not pitch the same quality of game.
So Burnett made the mistakes, but Posada also did not work with his pitcher either. It’s the catcher’s job to settle his pitcher down and get on the same page, and Posada refuses to do so sometimes because he’s incredibly stubborn.
Burnett leads the league in wild pitches. But let’s be serious, we all know that a good chunk of those are more like passed balls on Posada when he can’t block a breaking ball or a ball goes right out of his glove.
Burnett was pissed for a reason with Posada, because POSADA keeps letting balls go through his legs to score runs with Burnett on the mound. Don’t you think that’s a pretty good reason for a competitor to be mad?
Sox radio going on and on about Varitek’s deep knowledge of the Yankee hitters and how valuable his ‘game planning’ is for Beckett..puhleaze..what about the night he gave up 6 SB’s to the Rangers, pretty much losing the game. The Varitek-love is sickening.
Why do we have to listen about these excellent Red Sox stories?
Falling behind 3-1 on every hitter, let’s try to not swing at the first pitch down 7 runs? Jeez.
Hilarious story Rosenthal
Trisha,
That’s Baseball 101. You never take an extra base down 3 runs in that situation. It has nothing to do with being “aggressive”. Its dumb baseball.
If you are going to praise “aggressive” baserunning, then wouldn’t it make sense to bust it out of the box if you want to see him try for a double?
Instead, he got thrown out by 3 feet at second base down 3 runs. That’s dumb baseball and nobody is going to support making that play.
AJ has had a very good year. But a total melt down in that inning was very dissapointing. He showed a lot of immaturity.
this blog is unreadable, BFG if AJ is having a terrible game, he one hit them the last time in Yankee Stadium. All of you whiners should grow up, that’s why baseball is so unpredictable. AJ has a bad game and he’s overrated, overpaid, and a loser, pathetic.
I am going to kill Ken Rosenthal.
People who think that these starts by AJ are some issue with the catcher really haven’t watched AJ pitch over the course of his career.
This is nothing new.
Fortunately, AJ does this less often than he used to.
But he still does.
He just stopped competing in this game because his emotions got the better of him.
That’s what happens with him. You can see it on his face.
“in the ALDS or ALCS, we cannot afford to have Molina’s bat vs. Matsui’s (assuming Posada would DH).”
Actually, I wouldn’t mind Molina if we were facing the Angels or Rays.
I’m at the game. This offense needs to get going. Aj is awful.
I’m assuming that Moose was a Mike Mussina fan. If so, the argument that a pitcher has to work with Posada is rather ironic.
AJ certainly stunk today. But I don’t think it comes from a lack of desire, or guts, or anything like that.
For whatever reason, an athlete may not “have it” on any given day, no? The thing is, how do they adjust to their troubles? For whatever reason, AJ seems to have a tendency to blow up. Not always, but too often. Since he’s had this trait his whole career, I don’t think it has anything to do with Posada.
Just my thought.
Yankees have given up as A-Rod spins away from a 76mph breaking ball.
“AJ is really sharp today, but he’s getting no support whatsoever, whether defense or game calling behind the plate.”
Hahaha Matt is by far the dumbest person I have ever met
I mean cuz the pitcher is a robot and doesn’t have any say in what he throws…
These are grown men you idiot
Managers often like to pair the back-up catcher with the staff ace since less run support is usually needed.
Moose, the guy probably calls the best game in the majors. There’s a reason why he still catches when he can no longer hit or throw.
Counseling IS legit — especially in sports. Not many are born with Derek Jeter’s, Mo’s, MJ’s or Tiger’s abilities to focus.
What was that? Alex got fooled on pretty much every pitch in that AB…
ok I am done
“People who think that these starts by AJ are some issue with the catcher really haven’t watched AJ pitch over the course of his career.
This is nothing new.
Fortunately, AJ does this less often than he used to.
But he still does.
He just stopped competing in this game because his emotions got the better of him.
That’s what happens with him. You can see it on his face.”
That is why he can’t be trusted in the playoffs
Not much of an AB there, Arod.
Guys, look deeper. A.J. was not worried about the runner at 2nd, he was stepping off because he didn’t want to throw Posada’s pitch call. He threw it on the next pitch without conviction, and gave up a homerun.
You guys need to look deeper and see the signs in some of this stuff. Sometimes a pickoff move is not just to pick off a runner, but because the pitcher doesn’t want to throw a pitch. They said Buchholz used to do that with Boston all the time and it was driving people insane.
What is deceptive?? It’s similar to Dice K without the hesitation. shut up.
Arod, come on dude, right down the pipe, should have need deposited over the monster. If you are looking fastball you should be able to at least foul that off.
At least Tazawa seems to know how to pitch with a big lead. Throw strikes. Hope Brian Bruney is watching.
AJ lead the league in walks and WP’s last year, just like this year, and Posada wasn’t catching him last year.
The fact is, he’s not only tough to catch, he’s prone to meltdowns. Go back and look at his career. Its his MO.
Blaming Posada for AJ makes little sense since this is AJ’s career pattern.
That’s why he is so puzzling as a pitcher.
He should be better than he is. Unfortunately, he’s not and you have to factor that in when assembling your post-season rotation.
Probably best to have him pitch at home since he seems more comfortable there.
The only way Tazawa could pitch good in a game is with a 7 run lead. His stuff is so poor. Too bad that all means nothing for todays game.
jimmy1138
August 22nd, 2009 at 5:13 pm
What was that? Alex got fooled on pretty much every pitch in that AB…
~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s well-known that Arod is guesses on pitches. He just guessed wrong.
Does anyone else wish there was a mercy rule in baseball? Maybe not an automatic one, but one where the manager has a choice.
The Yankees are going to lose this game, and it really doesn’t have much of an effect on the standings. So why should they have to burn out their bullpen and play all their regulars for 7 meaningless innings?
“That is why he can’t be trusted in the playoffs”
On experience, guile and fortitude, I’d feel a lot better about Pettitte in a Game 2 (c’mon, he’s Mr. Game 2) than I would AJ or even Joba.
No runs in 3 innings. Yankee pitching hasn’t shown any ability to shut down or slow the S*x today…Yeah, I’m calling it. Blow out loss.
Get them tomorrow.
I can’t wait to hear the Boston (aka Gammons) spin tonight –
the Red Sox will be dangerous in the playoffs with the BIG three of Beckett, Lester and Tazawa.
I’d definitely pitch AJ at home during playoffs.
lol. I think most of us all knew even before this series started that this game was lost. Anytime the Yankees face a pitcher making their major league debut/first start/first start vs Yankees, the offense is non-existent.
The way AJ is pitching is just flat out embarrassing. We’re lucky the offense didn’t quit last night (the game is even worse considering Pettitte through a 1 hitter through 4), otherwise we’d be looking at a sweep.
“So why should they have to burn out their bullpen and play all their regulars for 7 meaningless innings?”
Same reason Boston had to last night.
Arod was mesmerized by his curveball..
Is that the fake SJ44?
SJ44 wrote:
That’s Baseball 101. You never take an extra base down 3 runs in that situation. It has nothing to do with being “aggressive”. Its dumb baseball.
========
Tell that to Mike Scioscia
Oh, and the people blaming Posada for AJ’s horrendous performance really need to learn the game of baseball. Completely wrong. It’s all AJ.
This game is more about what AJ didn’t bring to the table today than what Tazawa did.
Fortunately, its not a big game.
Unfortunately, “Bad AJ” has returned and that has to get rectified by the start of the post-season.
Tazawa isn’t THAT good. Are the rest of the guys letting AJ’s meltdown affect them? Probably trying to get the runs back in one, big burst instead of working it.
Matt
If you’re at the game, why are you posting here? Talk to someone next to you or go get a hot dog.
RS wrote Actually, I wouldn’t mind Molina if we were facing the Angels or Rays.
The Angels, I agree, the Rays less so – Crawford is deadly but Upton is in such a deep slump his speed doesn’t figure much. And Bartlett and Zobrist are pretty selective. Most of the other guys are in the Pena, Burrell, mold. The Angels seem to really get in the Yankees’ heads with their baserunning antics and now they have the OBP to go wit the speed. It seems to be Scioscia’s basic strategy vs. the Yanks.
AJ should never pitch on FOX Saturday games.
Actually, I think Steinbrenner should ask FOX to NEVER broadcast Yankee games ever again!
Does the FOX broadcast look extremely jumpy to anyone else?
yea AJ pad those K stats..but that W column will be the same
I’d definitely pitch AJ at home during playoffs.
==========
The Yankees haven’t had one pitcher pitch well in Fenway this year. Joba with his 12 strikeouts was impressive, but it was still a loss.
joba hasnt pitched at fenway this year
Here’s the good news people.
Last time AJ stunk at Fenway Park, he went off on a hot streak and won a bunch of games.
Also, Burnett won’t have to pitch in Boston in the playoffs.
If there’s a Yankees/Red Sox ALCS matchup, he’ll pitch Games 2 and 6, both of which are at home. This is the last time we have to see his garbage pitching at Fenway Park until next season.
I’ve seen a lot of games in Fenway Park. No lead is safe there in the 3rd inning. Way too much baseball to be played. If AJ can hold em, the Yanks can chip away. I wouldn’t bet money on it, but crazy things happen in Fenway.
Hopefully Mitre and Gaudin can split most of this game so they don’t have to use the good part of the bullpen.
Girardi must have given Posada a stearn talking to before that last inning, he really caught much better there. Way to pick up your game after you already gave up 7 runs, Jorge!
Anybody who is blaming Posada for this is just ignoring Burnett’s history.
Oh, and Posada caught Burnett on Aug. 7 when he dominated Boston.
If you’re blaming Posada, you’re looking the wrong way. The pitcher throws the pitch he wants to throw. They discuss every hitter before and during games.
You want to compare the Angels and Yankees on the bases?
Robbie Cano is not a fast runner. Pick a comparable runner on the Angels. Say, Juan Rivera.
You think the Angels want Rivera trying to take second base on a single down 3 runs? Not happening.
The scary foursome of Youk, Ortiz, Bay, and Drew have struck out over 400 times combined. That’s a lot of whiffs.
“This game was decided in the top of the first when the Yankees put two on with one out against Tazawa and did not score. If Burnett is up 2-0 or even 1-0, the Red Sox probably start thinking “Here we go again.”
so we are supposed to blame offense because they didnt score a run in the first?…Im sorry but AJ did this to himself today. By the same notion, AJ’s poor pitching has caused the yankees to not score runs..
AJ is terrible today.
How many of the 7 runs given up thus far are AJ’s fault? All of them.
He hangs breaking pitches, his location is terrible.
Shake off the pitch if you don’t want to throw it. It’s the pitcher’s decision what he throws, not the catchers.
And he doesn’t hold on runners well.
joba hasnt pitched at fenway this year
======
my bad, so then who do we trust pitching in Fenway in the playoffs?
Come on Yanks. Chip, chip, chip……..
nature boy
August 22nd, 2009 at 5:20 pm
joba hasnt pitched at fenway this year
actually let me correct myself he did in april, but the 12 strikeout loss was in the bronx
Look at that. Someone doesn’t like the fact that AJ struck out the side. Maybe they wanted another bad inning so they could complain some more.
Pete,
Thank You. Some folks just can’t handle the truth.
Today is all on AJ. Its something he has to get a handle on to take the next step as a pitcher.
This could have been the knockout punch today and we get a Gutless performance by Burnett. And of course, Mr. Lazy himself Cano with another bonehead move. I would take Pedroia in a second to replace Cano.
SJ wrote: Probably best to have him pitch at home since he seems more comfortable there.
Makes no sense..if you take the Fenway starts out, his road ERA is actually better than the home one. So unless they are playing the RSox, this is over-thinking. Either you believe he can win a post-season game or you don’t – but bear in mind power pitching tends to do better in the post-season as the weather gets cooler. Pettite’s post-season experience is overrated as that was pretty far in the past – he has struggled greatly at times. I couldn’t argue much for any of these three right now as the #2, so pick one and hope.
nature boy
———————————–
Wooooooooooooh!!!
what is it with all the stupid popups?
Boston is lucky if they make the play offs. I don’t think we will have to worry about who should pitch in their ballpark. They are the worst of the 3 teams.
“joba hasnt pitched at fenway this year”
yes he did…April 24th
1-0 count, chases 2 balls, pops out.
Tazawa has been terrible today, but the Yankees don’t seem to want to make him work and let him get himself in trouble.
Nearly every hitter he is behind, and the Yankees keep bailing him out.
Its obvious that AJ doesn’t like throwing to Posada. Why would you keep sending him out there with Posada? I don’t care who’s fault it is. Its common sense.
“If you’re blaming Posada, you’re looking the wrong way. The pitcher throws the pitch he wants to throw.”
Don’t tell them that Pete!!!
They can’t handle reality in here… Posada calls all the pitches then turns on his magnet so the ball goes where he wants it
The only thing that bothers me is that the Yankees simply have not pitched well at Fenway Park AT ALL this year.
This is our 8th game here this season. Someone can look up the stats, but I don’t remember giving up fewer than 5 runs in any of the games. They certainly haven’t given up fewer than 4 runs.
I don’t care if they LOSE 2-1, but could they at least show they can pitch decently in this dump?
Tazawa owns Matsui so far. I believe he’s faced him now 3 times, and Tazawa has gotten him all 3.
It seems like the offense stopped for the Yanks when Cano got thrown out at 2nd base. A very bad play killed anything they had going.
lineup – watch posada – make tazawa work
Girardi must have given Posada a stern talking-to before the bottom of the 3rd. He really called a much better inning.
Way to pick up your game AFTER you gave up 7 runs with your fiery stubborness and declining mental facilities, Jorge!
Sunny 615
If you are having trouble with pop ups you should download Firefox
slow cannot describe Posada
I can’t fault Cano for getting thrown out at second earlier. That’s one of the reasons the Sox always play well at home. They are used to that friggin wall. Not only do their LF’s know how to play the bounce, their hitters have a better feel when they can can go for the extra base. When Yankee hitters hit balls to LF they immediately think…lazy fly ball, because in any other ballpark that’s what it is. Then they realize it may go off the wall and they try to turn it on. Arod did the same thing last night.
The Yankees should have scored at least 3-4 runs by now. This pitcher is horrible.
according to statistics, Boston’s has the 2nd best home record, one game behind the Yankees (as measured by the loss column).
Can they at least score these runs?!!
Rob B
August 22nd, 2009 at 5:15 pm
No runs in 3 innings. Yankee pitching hasn’t shown any ability to shut down or slow the S*x today…Yeah, I’m calling it. Blow out loss.
Get them tomorrow.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
What’s up with the * notation? Seen a lot of that on this site.
“I liked yesterday’s game better, I can’t put my finger on why.”
“Counseling IS legit — especially in sports. Not many are born with Derek Jeter’s, Mo’s, MJ’s or Tiger’s abilities to focus.”
Did anyone say it isn’t? If so, I missed the post.
Seriously taking the first game of a series is a good thing.
I know we make a joke of this sometimes, but when I say it I mean it because it seems that when the Yankees get a football score in a game, the next day they have run out of hits! Oh well.
They need to get both of these runs in…
Let’s get some runs here.
Come on Kevin.
Maybe this is a reverse of the Apr game for AJ.
He had a 6-0 lead and was coasting. Then he blew up. The Sox came all the way back.
The Yankees can come back today. Have faith.
Cano has played more than enough games in Fenway Park to know better than to do what he did in the 2nd inning. Stop with the excuses, it was an incredibly dumb play, especially with no outs.
“slow cannot describe Posada”
It can’t, but there aren’t 5 guys in the league who score on that hit and the only one on the Yankees who might is DL’d
They continue to try to hit high fastballs that they could never get under. They need to swing at strikes and the fastball down in the zone.
“Maybe Melky can pitch….would he still have to come to bat ??? Cant hit for crap – but would probably pitch better than AJ today…”
Another dumbass that was nowhere to be found yesterday or during any of the other times Melky’s come up big for us.
The stupidity on this blog is rather amusing.
————————–
…Mr. Big Time when the score’s 20-8 (or whatever)….and when; pray-tell; was the last time one of his “big-time’ throws from the OF has even come close to HomePlate ???
Granted – April was good; the rest marginal to suck (dozens of little tappy-taps to the SS)
Here come a big chance to be worthwhile this inning…let’s see….truthfully hoping for the best (just not betting lunch on it)
Damn it, Paul Blart Mall Cop, you gotta get that run in!
I don’t understand how so many people watching from their couch can say with certanity that Poasda and AJ can’t get along and it’s because Posada is stubborn or whatever.
It seams to me that Joe has alot better handle on the dynamics of these players than we do.
But don’t let that stop you from making judgements based on what you think but don’t know.
Runner at 3rd, less than 2 outs, and yet again, he isn’t driven in.
Today is as much on the offense as Burnett.
yawn
Again leaving runners in risp
Another great at bat by Hinkse. Just terrible..I guess they used up all of there runs yesterday.
First pitch, out of the zone, 2 runners on, guess what Melky’s approach is?
0 runs. Hard to win when you score 0. Who cares how many Burnett gives up if they can’t score any off this joke of a pitcher in Tazawa?
The offense today has been sickening. The Sox score a boatload of runs with 2 outs and we can’t even get a runner in from 3rd with 1 out.
Reality Check August 22nd, 2009 at 5:29 pm
“slow cannot describe Posada”
It can’t, but there aren’t 5 guys in the league who score on that hit and the only one on the Yankees who might is DL’d
Jeter I think would, because he takes an aggressive secondary lead and Posada’s secondary is horrible
Umm, did you ever see Posada and El Duque? Posada has a history of being stubborn and confrontational, it’s not a judgement based on no evidence, it’s based on his history.
But again, let your loyalties continue to blind you from the truth.
Hinske sucks. Why couldn’t Hairston have played today? Brutal defense, and TWICE fails to score the runner on 3rd with less than 2 outs.
….YUP …..Mulky’s the man ….2nd & 3rd, Danny….
Almost tappy-tapped it all the way back to the mound..
(guess it wasn’t 20-8)
When’s Gardner coming back….hell; how about Shelly or John Rodriguz ???
“The way AJ is pitching is just flat out embarrassing. We’re lucky the offense didn’t quit last night (the game is even worse considering Pettitte through a 1 hitter through 4), otherwise we’d be looking at a sweep.”
Thanks, I needed a laugh. I was so sure before the series started that the Yankees were going to be swept that boy was I relieved that the Yankees accidentally had a good game last night!
Not the Posada thing again.
Hopefully AJ and company just hold em to 7 runs and we can chip away.
The offense has been great all season so it is hard to kill them…But they checked out of this game after AJ gave up the tack on runs. If they tried at all they could have 3 or 4 runs on the board easy.
Hinske’s first at bat he hit a shot right at the first baseman that would have been a hit and a huge rally if not for Cano being so stupid.
However, his 2nd at bat was outright terrible.
Why did Hinske get out of bed today? Two horrible defensive plays, two at bats runner on third one and out no RBI.
Oh well, there’s still time. It may be a shutout, but its the worst pitched shutout for four innings I’ve seen in a long time.
Good thing there are 13 pitchers on the roster
Matt – if Posada is not catching today – what do you think the score is? 0-0? 1-0?
“He just stopped competing in this game because his emotions got the better of him.
That’s what happens with him. You can see it on his face.”
———————————-
Accusing a player of ceasing to compete, essentially, quitting in a game?
Absolutely ridiculous!! Or not, when watching some players fail to compete at all versus the Red Sox!
I guess you must be one of those people that reads other people’s emotions. You can see it in his face! Impressive! That’s pretty difficult to read other people’s faces and figure out their thoughts
Hey did anyone notice who has the best record in baseball?
Or did I stumble onto a Mets blog???
McCarver: “Teixeira possibly in line for a Gold Glove…”
He has a .999 fielding percentage. I’d say it’s certain.
“Hinske’s first at bat he hit a shot right at the first baseman that would have been a hit and a huge rally if not for Cano being so stupid.”
Nah! Cano would have been stupid a few seconds later and get doubled off of 2nd.
I don’t like it when the offense practically shuts down after a long deficit. We could’ve been right back into this game if we took advantage of this mediocre pitcher, but instead we make him look good, just like Tomko.
Great game so far. :rolleyes:
Better, can we score a run or 10 now?
Hinkse can’t play left field. Granted the green monster makes it hard to play for an experienced left fielder but that’s 3 plays in two games he misplayed.
Matt -
You’re at this game in Boston, of all the games you could be at. You only rip the Yankees for their idiotic mistakes. You never once revel in the Yankees success.
You’re obviously a Red Sox fan
What was it like to root for a 2004 team in which every player used steroids or PEDs except Tim Wakefield and possibly Curt Schilling.
To me, this game comes down to the Ortiz AB in the first inning. Youkilis had just made a big out, and Burnett was ahead of Ortiz (if I’m not mistaken). The 2 out hit gave the Sox confidence and rattled Burnett.
3rd time through the lineup now its happening now if its happening
DT,
That’s a completely ridiculous exaggeration of what I said, and no, it does not make your attempted insult look better when you make things up that no logical person would say.
Runs would have scored, but most likely not as many as did. Burnett made a lot of pitches which did not seem to have much conviction behind them. He stepped off the mound a ton of times with runners on base, showing you that him and Posada were completely on the wrong page with each other.
Burnett typically only tends to become unraveled when he’s frustrated, and he clearly looked frustrated trying to pitch to Posada out there. So no, we don’t expect something ridiculous like a 0-0 game, but we certainly think he would have had a better chance of not giving up 7 earned runs.
The Yanks right now have the offense that Boston used to have. When Boston would go down by 7 or 8 runs they would always make a come back. Show some life. Just like yesterday even with their back ups. Too bad the Yanks couldn’t get runners in from 3rd and do the same in this game.
JZ, your “Jap” comment is offensive and pathetic. Hope Pete bans you for this, it would be well-deserved.
Matt keep talking you freaking idiot… I am rolling on the floor laughing at your stupidity
Jim,
I am certainly not at the game in Boston, and certainly not a Red Sox fan. Sorry that I dare insult guys like Cano and Posada for poor performance, that doesn’t mean I’m a Red Sox fan.
Apparently around here everyone who isn’t a Yankees cheerleader is a Red Sox or Mets fan.
Ich bin ein berliner.
Can we get a run off this guy? Just one?
it’s a small sample, but as a road team the Yanks are 1-4 in day games following a night game, since ARod returned, and overall 3-6 for the season.
I hope the Red Sox dont make the postseason this year, or they will probably once again face the Angels.
And the only goal above winning the Angels have is to completely quit against the Red Sox in the postseason.
Their team motto: “Let’s make the playoffs, lose to Boston if they are in, beat the Yankees if they are in, win the World Series if we dont face the Red Sox, but please dear lord, let the Red Sox face us so we can roll over for them.”
Hey, Ken Rosenthal, could you be any more of a Red Sox licker, and especially with that sick freak voice you’ve got? Why aren’t you mentioning the comments of that valueless inhuman thing that got Bostoned into the HOF, Jim Rice?
Shucks!! Why can’t we be in NY. That would have been gone.
scott August 22nd, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Ich bin ein berliner.
One of JFK’s best
McCarver has no clue about anything.
“The Yankees can come back today. Have faith.”
Yep.
And hallelujah that the Yankees have a 7.5 game lead.
If the Yankees don’t win today, NBD at all. Teams lose games. They’re trying to win. That’s what counts. Unless of course you are looking for total perfection – and that can only be found by looking straight up…
Matt:
Oh, pretty please don’t be a mean-y to little Melky….
he’s So-o-o-o-o-o good and useful….
3-1 count, down 7 runs, leading off an inning.
Another guy hacking away.
Thanks for showing up today Yankees offense.
Come on, guys. We can come back int his game.
Is it true that boston has accumulated the largest number of japanese pitchers, compare to rest of teams?
Certainly seens like it.
Doesn’t matter if every out is to the warning track. Tazawa is behind every hitter and in a ton of 3-1 counts, and down 7 runs you need baserunners. Take some pitches.
“if Posada is not catching today – what do you think the score is? 0-0? 1-0?”
7-0
I am a jelly doughnut
It is funny how their loses come against the worst pitchers. Tomko and this guy. If you looked at the matchups you would say the Yanks definitely have the advantage today. Good thing Penny didn’t throw a shut out yesterday.
How come the networks dont ever mention how the Red Sox broke the unwritten rules of baseball by signing Tazawa?
Did it escape their RS consumed mind?
The Yankees have played something like 35 games in 36 days. That’s just ridiculous.
They came back from a West Coast swing in which they went 5-2.
Good job by GI Joe, resting people here and there over that inhumane stretch.
The starter today did a great impression of Brad Penniless, and although we traditionally hit the cover off the ball at Fenway and a 7-0 deficit isn’t insurmountable, it’s entirely possible that staring down such a deficit, combined with being gassed from the suspiciously crazy schedule, is taking it’s toll on the hitters’ legs.
Still, never out of a game at Pinball Park.
“DT,
That’s a completely ridiculous exaggeration of what I said, and no, it does not make your attempted insult look better when you make things up that no logical person would say.”
Matt – I asked you what you thought the score would be without Posada today. That’s all. Get a grip, seriously.
It’s not all on the catcher. Burnett looks pathetic.
They get guys on base in every inning but can’t get them in. They have left soo many guys on base it is not even funny.
Someone PLEASE hit a homerun and get us back in this game.
We need more 2 out hits, come on Hideki.
Come on Matsui-san!
6 hits, 2 walks, would be nice to try scoring some runs.
One interesting development of the past few weeks as far as our hated rivals is that the pure ‘stuff’ of both Bowden and Tazawa is underwhelming to say the least. It may be early but neither suggests a profile other than a #5 starter despite this lucky performance today from Tazawa.
Matsui calm down..Damn he has looked bad. Either swinging at the high fastball or the dirt.
m -
You said the backlash of that inhuman thing Jim Rice would be swift and hard.
Are you serious?
They aren’t even mentioning it during this game.
Do you think any Red Sox network is going to call out that HOF handed dirtbag.
The fact that it used a forum of children including international kids and US kids is so reprehensible, it shouldnt be allowed back on NESN
DT,
No, you threw it in there with a backhanded insult by suggesting I thought the score would be 0-0 or 1-0 in that case. So no, how about you try posting something without an insult, and then I’ll take you more seriously.
Just got here, not going to go back and read all the posts.
I am sure the usual suspects are all over the doom and gloom.
For the regulars, I am visiting and watching the game with my 96 year old grandmother. I should say my 96yr old RABID Yankee fan Grandmother.
My grandparents are the reason, I am a Yankee fan. When they are playing bad, they are “bums”. She says the Red Sox are “lucky today”. “They are hitting everything right to them”. “They still have a chance today”.
Back to my Grandmother!
I don’t understand why Matsui looks so bad against Tazawa. Tazawa clearly does not have good stuff, and the only thing that might make him difficult to hit is his delivery. But Matsui should be used to it more than the other hitters that have tatooed him because alot of Japanese pitchers have a similar delivery.
“it’s entirely possible that staring down such a deficit, combined with being gassed from the suspiciously crazy schedule, is taking it’s toll on the hitters’ legs.”
Bod, if you are going to insist on saying things that could make sense and at the same time explain why the Yankees might be playing poorly today, you are welcome to take yourself elsewhere!
Yankees Luv -
McCarver only has a clue what the Red Sox taste like.
His only interest in life is eating the Red Sox and their propoganda.
Fantastic. A bunch of knuckleheads back blaming Burnett’s horrible performance on Posada. Brilliant.
This is who A.J. Burnett is, folks. He’s done it his whole career.
Million dollar arm, five cent head.
At least Girardi knows that how to set the pitching matchups now. You know now that Burnett has no shot at Fenway. He simply can’t pitch there.
Rachel wrote: It is funny how their loses come against the worst pitchers. Tomko and this guy. If you looked at the matchups you would say the Yanks definitely have the advantage today. Good thing Penny didn’t throw a shut out yesterday.
Rachel, in both cases, the Yankees hit some balls hard but were a bit unlucky. I wouldn’t generalize much beyond this failure to hit lousy pitchers, they did beat up on Mazzaro who was struggling, Penny last night, etc. They regularly punish mediocre pitchers. They could easily have 4-5 runs tonight the way they have hit. It happens sometimes..
Man what a joke this offense is today.
stranded 9. awesome. what are they for RISP? 0.000?
Funny you should say that, Trisha.
That was all I had to say and I am doing just that
Great Matsui fooled by below average stuff..The offense is soo frustrating to watch today. All they need is 2 hits with RISP and this is a game.
….. One of the worst games of the year. ….frustrating to watch them swing away at this guy. They seem asleep
David D.
August 22nd, 2009 at 4:26 pm
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
” We are underway in Boston in what could be a long day for Junichi Tazawa… ”
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Much of what happens in baseball is beyond explanation, Pete.
Everyone expects Tazawawawa to bomb, right?
So I’m sure the opposite will happen today then. Tazawawawa will go 6 strong innings — 3 hits, 0 runs.
Watch it develop.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
I’m surprised that I was the only one saw this coming from a mile away.
(yeh, another inning to go, I know. But I think the game is already over.
)
It’s as much on the offense as Burnett today. 2 runners at 3rd with less than 2 outs, none score. 0-7 with RISP.
Burnett has put up 2 straight zeroes, and the Yankees have answered with guess what? Two straight zeroes.
So Burnett has settled down and is keeping them within Fenway Park striking distance, and the Yankees are giving away at bats and going quietly into the night.
Tarheel, that is amazing and wonderful. Please send your grandmother our love! What you are doing today is one of those things that makes life so wondrous.
Perspective, perspective, perspective.
So, how do you think the Giants will do tonight vs. the Bears?
P.S. If you can believe it, Schilling has paid ads for 38pitches.com running on the Red Sox radio network…vanity publishing at its finest!
Are we gonna get shutout by Tazawa???
come on Pete, give these guys a break, what do you expect them to win every game? enough with the embarrassment crap
Pete fanning the flames…
“DT,
No, you threw it in there with a backhanded insult by suggesting I thought the score would be 0-0 or 1-0 in that case. So no, how about you try posting something without an insult, and then I’ll take you more seriously.”
Thanks for the advice, Matt.
I’ll read your comments closely, because everyone takes you seriously. I yearn to be taken seriously.
It’s a good thing I come to this blog when the Yanks are losing too or I’d miss all your brilliant posts.
AJ is only at 75 pitches. Hopefully he can give them 2 more innings and then on to the bad part of the bullpen.
“So Burnett has settled down and is keeping them within Fenway Park striking distance, and the Yankees are giving away at bats and going quietly into the night.”
Oh, good. Glad he’s settled down after imploding for seven runs.
Mighty nice of him.
Matt, giving up 7 runs in the first 2 innings is NOT keeping them in striking distance in any ballpark. You are killing any credibility you may have with statements like this.
Your point about the offense’s struggles today are reasonable..but lost in the inanity of your other comment..
Moose, I know it happens. It is just frustrating to watch.
Tazawa livin’ on the edge…Not Dazzling!
Yanks just leaving too many men on base.
Baseball games are so unpredictable… it’s what makes it a great sport.
Tomorrow will be a better day…in a great season for the New York Yankees!
We have 4 innings to come back. Our offense can do it.
This would be a most devastating loss for the Red Sox.
They came back on AJ down 6-0 in this park.
It only seems fitting that we come back in defense of AJ.
@Tarheelyank -
My wife has maintained that true Yankee fans never boo their opponents; they only boo the Yankees
Oh, you know that FOX has lost interest when they’re talking football
AJ seems to be settling down a bit.
In any case – this game isn’t over yet; what I want more than anything in the world is to have the Sox think they have the game wrapped up only to blow the lead when the Yanks kick themselves and wake up.
“That was all I had to say and I am doing just that”
And that makes you the very smart man that I know you are.
Gang – losses happen, and they happen for all different reasons. (Not that this one is lost, but just sayin’) Every team has lost games that are heartbreakers, laughers, and everything in between. If you can learn to deal with that, then you won’t spin yourselves to Australia when they do happen.
It’s really okay for a team to lose a ball game! And it is really okay for players to have off days and bad games.
THEY’RE HUMAN!
*The game is not over. But the Yankees seem to have little interest in good baseball today.*
The Yankees seem to have little interest in ANY baseball today…
Will be interesting to see what happens with the Billy Wagner waiver claim by the Sox. I can’t see the Mets pulling back from the claim so you gotta figure he’ll be in Boston by Tuesday. Unless they know of an injury to Okajima or Papelbon, it has a great potential to backfire…Wagner is a locker room loudmouth, hasn’t pitched much in a year, and will only take innings from better pitchers. And all that for $3MM? Reminds me of the Eric Gagne move. Hope Wagner blows a crucial game during the stretch run!
where is the offense??
Farve…Wisconsin…Green bay….blah blah blah
It seems if the Yanks don’t hit a homerun today they won’t score. They have another inning to try and get to him otherwise Boston can bring in their decent bullpen.
Ortiz is back to killing the Yanks that only took 4 games
What’s even WORSE about this game, is that AJ has given the Yankees 2 scoreless innings to start coming back. Down 7-0 in the 2nd isn’t easy to come back from, but they could at least score SOMETHING. They haven’t.
Yuck.
Kepp pitching Popi away in Fenway.
Boy we didn’t come to play today.
Big Sloppy on the happy juice again.
Another meatball over the plate to the artist formerly known as Big Papi. At this point what is the difference.
Rachel wrote: Moose, I know it happens. It is just frustrating to watch.
Don’t I know it? I agonize over these losses despite the big picture too! That’s why ‘fan’ is short for ‘fanatic’, right?
Ortiz just KILLS Burnett. There’s no way around it.
LMFAO.
AJ was like: “WHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHY”
HES TICKED.
It is safe to say that the 2004–2008 Ortiz is officially back.
He is saying Why to Posada
Guys,
Matt is a Red Sox fan. That’s why being down 7 runs is still in the game.
When you’ve got the umpires on your side, like Country Cow Turd, anything is possible.
Did anyone hear this sick loser Kenny Albert get excited for the Ortiz home run, a run that put their team up 8 runs instead of 7 runs.
And then Tim McRedSox saying there is nothing cheesy about that shot, that was a Fenway shot.
back on the roids?
because they have plans for the evening. if they had comeback it would waste more time. and they would miss their dinner reservations
frank August 22nd, 2009 at 6:02 pm
It is safe to say that the 2004–2008 Ortiz is officially back.
um no
“After having one of the best days in his career yesterday, Matsui has been embarrassed by Tazawa today. The Japanese rookie, who was in something called the Industrial League a year ago, has got Matsui three times. ”
And people are dying from cancer. Something makes me think that Matsui will survive this and will probably think of it as part of the game. My guess is that he isn’t embarrassed at all. Just a guess.
Thank the good Lord in heaven that the players have better perspective than some of the people who watch from the sidelines!
Yanks have now been out-scored 84-39 on Fox Saturday Baseball this year.
84-39
AJ just blamed Jo-Po for Ortiz’s jack.
“Why, why, why would you throw that?!” were the words out of his mouth.
You stay classy, AJ.
what the hell is Eiland going to say to burnett? Pitch better? sheesh.
I love how people call YS a joke when this ballpark is 100 times worse. This is why Boston can’t hit on the road. On the road flicking the ball .250 feet to LF is not a homerun or double.
he was blaming himself dude
He was blaming Jorge?
new pitcher please
time to hit the showers Mr Burnett.
all finger pointing aside, its more apparent than ever that burnett and posada have some sort of problems that need to be resolved
No, 2004-2008 Ortiz is certainly not back.
That Ortiz was 100% arrogant that his steroid usage would never come out (as was I), solely because he would stay with the RS for the rest of his career.
I honestly hope the Yankees get shut out today.
Let the team get angry and take it all out on Beckett tomorrow.
Wasting Robertson in this game?? Girardi is nuts. Gaudin and Mitre can finish this game easy.
Orlando Crhis August 22nd, 2009 at 6:03 pm
AJ just blamed Jo-Po for Ortiz’s jack.
“Why, why, why would you throw that?!” were the words out of his mouth.
You stay classy, AJ.
Because Posada is pitching right?
Anything can happen. The game’s not over yet.
A couple of homeruns scattered here and there – a big inning and they’re back in it.
Please AJ, just sit down now. Let Bruney take over.
Rachel August 22nd, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Wasting Robertson in this game?? Girardi is nuts. Gaudin and Mitre can finish this game easy.
Yeah because Joe G is wants to use him tomorrow with CC on the mound.
When AJ implodes, he does it with full gusto.
Gonna be hard to trust him in the post-season.
A horrific performance.
Six weeks to get it together or he has to be on a short leash in October.
Gab August 22nd, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Anything can happen. The game’s not over yet.
=====================================================
Yogi just called, he says “it’s over”.
“all finger pointing aside, its more apparent than ever that burnett and posada have some sort of problems that need to be resolved”
I agree and that’s why I said that at this point I really couldn’t care less what the genesis of the problem is. JUST FIX THE DAMN THING! And that is the job of the manager.
Why not leave Burnett in the game? He’s “settling down” right Matt?
If only Posada hadn’t told him to throw meatballs. Darn Posada.
Seriously, get one more inning out of Burnett. Why not? Game is over. Don’t need to burn the bullpen too much.
Another despicable human being. Alex Gonzalez
The guy had the Red Sox on his no trade list, because of the way he was booted out the door like so many before and after him.
And then he bends over backwards because Sir Theo came a calling. Instead of saying Theo, you and the Red Sox are dirtbags, I aint comin back.
BTW, Billy Wagner always seemed like a Red Sox type scumbag to me. Hopefully, he does not go to them.
I guess Eiland told Burnett to take one for the team.
They are gonna need a rested Bullpen tmr.
This calls for a blog poll.
Which is more embarrassing, losing 20-11 or 9-0? I think the latter is more so.
With the way this game is going, I’d make Burnett pitch another inning, spare the BP a bit. He’s at 97, let him get another three outs.
Let’s get it started Jorge!
….Or not.
It’s Jorge’s fault…sometimes pitchers just dont get along…and honestly, i would rather have Burnett giving up 0-4 runs with Molina and Jorge not in the lineup than Burnett giving up 4-10 runs with Jorge in the lineup, b/c jorge isn’t going to make THAT much of a difference in hitting to overcome that big of a lead.
You can tell that he just looked horrible from the start though, ALL of burnett’s fastballs have been high and over the plate.
Try and come back tonight, and just go back out there tomorrow night on ESPN
Tazawa really isn’t good. The Yankees are just asleep today.
Cano does what he does best.
Hit singles all over the field.
WITH NO ONE ON BASE!!!
OMG Positive words about Cano from Tim McRedSox.
I didnt know he knew how to speak any language but RedSoxican.
If losing today means beating Beck tomorrow, I’m all for it.
Still waiting for that first run….
Jim Pir-one, for crying out loud find your rock and crawl back under it.
What a surprise.
AJ gives up a home run on a fastball where he misses his spot then he starts yelling out on the mound and loses focus once more.
And then proceeds with getting racked around by the next two batters where he again misses his spots.
Just bizarre. He completely loses his composure in those moments and literally melts down on the mound.
I think 8 of the 9 runs the Sox have scored have been with two outs.
He was sailing along – 9 straight outs – multiple by strike outs that made the Sox look silly.
And just like that he just loses his composure after he makes a mistake.
That’s the patter when he’s bad. He makes a mistake and then instead of minimizing the mistake he loses his composure and then the mistakes start to snowball and the game slips away.
He’s pitched great for a long time and hasn’t had a game like this for a long time.
But it is very disappointing. He’s his own worse enemy but at this point in his career it’s more a matter of minimizing the damage he does to himself than fixing it. This is just part of his game.
This guy really doesn’t have control, I think his lack of control and command is helping him throw the Yankees off. He doesn’t seem to know where the ball is going half the time, how are the hitters going to know?
Effectively wild.
Cano’s problem wasn’t hitting today. It was the base running. He actually had 2 hits with RISP today.
I just don’t get why Posada always has problems with new pitcher, back then it’s big unit.
His calling pitch ability is declining fast? People noticed this back in Apr.
Some of you are blaming Posada because AJ can’t locate his fastball?
Are you serious?
It’s amazing how people get so stupid when AJ has a meltdown… it’s him, guys. I’m not sure if you’re saying anything about Posada just to get a rise out of the rest of us, but you show your ignorance and it’s baffling to me.
Learn baseball or shut up.
Let me guess they are just setting up 2 more runners to be left on base.
The Yankees are not very good at baseball.
Big picture. Yanks are in the middle of a 10 game road trip.
If they lose today they’ll be 6-3 on the trip with a chance to win all three series tomorrow night.
Melky dont swing at the high fastball…
E-gawa
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Some of you are blaming Posada because AJ can’t locate his fastball?
Are you serious?
—————
Yes E-gawa. They are blaming Jo-Po. Sure, catchers play a role. But AJ is just having an off day.
It’s not like AJ has the umpires on his side to fall back on like this weaseling bum Tazawa got handed his first ML Victory over the Tigers with cheap call after cheap call.
Why do players go running after balls that end up 15-20 rows back?
I don’t want a homerun. It would clear the bases, then the Yanks have to get on base from scratch. (Dunno if that makes sense).
I want them to keep getting XBH and singles.
‘nother real-life chance Melky – just a fly out would be great !
Have to love it. Today is how many guys can we leave on base against a single A pitcher. Just pathetic…
Great job there Melky.
The Yankees have hit this moron, but they can’t put it together today. Sad.
Well, now this game is over. Just one game!
This has to be a joke right? 0-8 with risp?
JZ
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:13 pm
I just don’t get why Posada always has problems with new pitcher, back then it’s big unit.
His calling pitch ability is declining fast? People noticed this back in Apr.
—————————————————–
Funny Giradi wasn’t one of the ones that noticed.
Melky is useless.
Any major leaguer more pathetic ?
‘nother ‘tippy-tap’ rally killing DP
Having a defensive-struggling Jerry Hairston in CF while giving decent “major league” at bats would certainly be better that in-accurate.
Sad. Pathetic. Useless.
It seems like they have left 2 guys on base every inning. You would think at point you would get lucky.
Runner at 3rd, less than 2 outs, THREE TIMES in the game. Guess how many runs the Yankees have scored?
ZERO.
Guess how many games you will win scoring zero runs?
But right, it’s all AJ Burnett’s fault!
Carl, there are guys you want up with RISP and Melky, Cano and even Posada aren’t the best guys. Flat Flat Flat they are just going through the motions now and want to get the game over.
Pretty much all of AJ’s “implosions” have come on the road. He has pitched extremely well at home, and will have all his playoff starts at home (Game 2 and maybe 5 of the ALDS; Games 2 and 6 of the ALCS and WS) so I don’t think he’s completely unreliable in the postseason.
I still wish he pitched better in Fenway Park.
OK Aceves, lets see how many you can give up today.
Here comes Ace the mop up man..
Hey I finally saw Aceves right “M 91″ on the mound. Hopefully he can keep them to 9 runs.
Look at this sick replay that FOX is showing
followed by Tim McRedSox saying Por que 4 times.
I guess professionalism goes out the window when you are a Red Sox fan, or none exists to begin with.
———
Why is Ace being used in this game??
My Fox HD feed sucks too…it is most prominent from the center field camera. I posted this issue on a tech forum where others are having the same issue. It looks like I’m streaming the game from my computer, it rather pixelated and jittery during the CF view.
Totally unacceptable, as is the score.
They can’t keep sucking on FOX.
They broadcast playoff games.
AJ didn’t have his usual movement on his fastball today. I think some of it is Fenway is in his head.
Reminder:
The Yankees have won only 5 out of 14 games against boston this year.
The worse thing Girardi ever did this season was start Ace against Minn. killed his arm.
@Carl from 6:06p-
AJ threw the pitch. But I wasn’t convinced that he’s owning it.
I want to see AJ “Battle mode all the time” Burnett (best baseball quote of the season so far), and I didn’t see him at all today.
Why do they keep pitching the Hobbit away like that? Pitch him up and in.
I’ve been very harsh on Joba, so I should be equally as harsh on AJ.
From what I’ve read and heard, AJ’s just fallen apart. I realize that’s part of his history, but he’s shown enough in the last 2 seasons that I’m not convinced he was totally faking the “having grown up” bit. Such a disappointment from the pitching POV.
AJ’s suffering from frustration. It’s been a frustrating, unfruitful month for him, through little fault of his own.
Doesn’t excuse what happened today, but I think the team will forgive, forget, and move on.
I’m sure the players will be disappointed in their own performances as well, as Team LOB just went up to 9.
AJ and Jorge need to get it together. AJ’s a difficult pitcher, but it’s part of Jorge’s job as the team catcher to work with the entire staff. That’s why it’s such a tough job and why Varitek is (gag) given a lot of credit.
Please, Girardi…don’t be so resistant to pairing up AJ with Jose. Let’s give it a try and see if it works.
(now, before people jump on me, I know it’s on AJ. But AJ/Jorge wouldn’t be the first battery in the history of baseball that didn’t work)
Dodger August 22nd, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Reminder:
The Yankees have won only 5 out of 14 games against boston this year.
Reminder:
The Yankees are in 1st place. Boston is in 2nd place.
Dodger
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Reminder:
The Yankees have won only 5 out of 14 games against boston this year.
—
Go home.
rconn23,
What a ridiculous remark to make. I said he was settling down when he had retired 6 straight and struck out a few of them, and he had retired 9 straight until Ortiz’s HR. So yes, he had settled down, and he had kept them in the game.
You score 3 runs or so say after Burnett throws up a bunch of zeroes, and you are right back in the game and swing a huge chunk of momentum back. If the Red Sox have to worry a bit, it gets more difficult for them to stand at the plate and just sit on pitches like they are doing now, further helping Burnett settle down.
If you score even 1 run after Burnett puts up some zeroes, it changes the entire tenor of the game. When you continue to give it away at the plate, the game is over, and it didn’t matter what Burnett did after anyway since they have scored NOTHING.
Gaudin just threw 95 pitches 2 days ago… he can’t go again today
Thank god this team has a short memory, because they have had some of the ugliest losses imaginable.
22-4 to Cleveland
Initially 0-8 to the Red Sox
All three games in Anaheim
Getting shut out by the Nationals
Even some of the worst teams in baseball haven’t given up 20+ runs this year or been shut out by Nationals pitching (at HOME). But no matter how ugly this team loses, they still manage to have the best record in baseball.
PL
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:02 pm
He is saying Why to Posada
——-
No he wasn’t. Posada was set up for a high tight fastball and AJ threw it out over the plate.
Maybe one of these days Jim Pir-one will understand that the Red Sox are just a rival baseball team.
They aren’t the freaking Nazi’s circa 1941.
Good grief. I couldn’t make you up if I tried.
OMG They are licking the Red Sox again.
How about that scumbag of a teammate Ted Williams. He has as many World Series rings as me!!!
Oh no, according to Gammons, he told a doorman to bring up a black player’s bags to his room 17, yes 17, years after baseball had already integrated.
Like Teddy Losegame really helped with integration.
Slurp Slurp Slurp Fox, you might never be hungry or thirsty again.
I’ve never seen someone implode like AJ when things don’t go right.
Mussina was the king of that… until I saw AJ. What an embarrassing performance.
This is
EMBARASSING.
Yippee.
AJ beat a slumping Sox offense at the stadium and got to face Reddick, Kotchman, Green etc.
Now he is facing a team that is hot and swinging the bats well and is getting destroyed.
This is a different Sox team that we saw 2 weeks ago. Their offense was ice cold then, it is red hot now.
It think Ace needs a DL stint or something. He is just awful. He CAN’T be in the trusted group anymore.
At least Boston shown some fight yesterday.
Aceves is no longer an ace.
Doesn’t feel like we have been outscored in this series but we have been. Funny game this baseball.
OK, now I know why Ace is in this game.
So, has he completely lost his value, and/or trust with Joe G?
I take back what I said. Yogi called and this is a disaster.
Ace is not even an ok pitcher anymore.
Burnett didn’t even give the offense a chance. They were down 7-0 before the 3rd inning even started.
His performance just demoralized the team.
Can they bring up Melancon and put Ace on the DL please. He has absolutely nothing on his pitches anymore.
I hate to see they are shut out by a Japanese rookie.
The fact is, sox offense is back, completely. In postseason (if they can make it, I think they will) when you need only 3 SP, sox is a very dangerous team.
CC even with Beckett
AJ worse than Lester (AJ is a HUGE question mark, ’cause you barely see Lester melt down like this)
Andy is better than Buchholz, but don’t underestimate Buchholz at all.
This roiding cheater just hit Jorge in the head with his bat.
Wow, 11 runs with 2 outs. Get Posada out of the game.
Add Aceves to the list of guys on the post-season roster bubble.
Chad Gaudin now becomes important.
With Bruney and Aceves pitching poorly, it’s time to see if Gaudin can give them something.
He has NOTHING.
Hope Jorge’s alright.
Why is Jorge still in this game? Isn’t that the back up catchers job?
Ha ha, jinxers. You smug, over confident, fools.
The report of the Red Sox’s demise has been greatly exaggerated.
Wait till the season ends next time before you begin celebrating.
Hey, look at the glass half full.
Today was clearly one of those “lethargic” games the Yankees are prone to having after a big offensive output (no hits with RISP, mental mistakes, bad defense etc.). So even if we got a well pitched game, we might not have won.
These blowout games are much easier to handle than losing 4-1 and looking back at missed opportunities. There were no opportunities today. We couldn’t score off Tazawa and Burnett got shelled.
He hasn’t been himself since the spot start in Minnesota. His sore shoulder probably was the cause of that.
Been down hill since.
Aceves is a great player. Put anybody in a game where you’re losing this badly and of course you’ll feel less confident since the hitters are fired up and you’re not. Mitre clearly isn’t that horrible. Bruney isn’t dreadful. It’s a lot of pressure. I guess these guys clearly aren’t used to losing like this.
I am a Yankee fan, but if I was a Red Sox fan heres what I take out of this so far.
Yankees will be pitching their 3 best pitchers this weekend, while the Red Sox will be pitching only one of their top starters (tomorrow Beckett) and it appears that the Red Sox even though they appear to be completely over matched in the most important position (starting pitching)it looks like they have a really decent shot at winning the series
Come on FOX. You’re just like ESPN
The Red Sox must be FOXs breakfast lunch and dinner.
“Ortiz had the wherewithall to pick up the helmet of Jorge”
Tim McLickSox at his finest.
You can’t just call the Sox back just because they had a big game. Even the Pirates have exploded once in a while.
But they do look good now.
So this game did not go as planned.
What an f-n embarrassment.
Man, has Aceves fallen off a cliff or what
Gaudin has a real chance to make the roster if he shows something.
When a pitcher pitches well with Jorge behind the plate, I hear no talk of how Jorge must have called a good game. Only when a starting pitcher throws a stinker is Jorge’s ability to call a good game questioned. The reverse takes place with Varitek behind the plate.
So, basically, Jorge calling a bad game (or Varitek calling a good game) has become a self fulfilling prophecy that can not be challenged, only supported when the results go according to the preconceived notions.
– Beckett, Lester, Wakefield vs. CC, AJ, Pettitte
— their bullpen (with like 10 guys with sub 3 ERA’s) vs. our bullpen (that is, essentially Hughes + Mo)
— their offense vs. our offense
————————————–
Seriously, none of these is even close. Sox will win the World Series.
So many runs scoring with 2 outs is the ultimate sign of a lack of focus on the mound and letting your guard down.
Sometimes, as the catcher, you have to go out there and get guys focused and settled down. Molina goes out there and helps his pitchers through games and calms them down. Posada sits there behind the plate and gets mad when the pitcher shakes him off.
The pitcher makes the mistakes still, but there is little doubt in anyone’s mind who judges these guys objectively that Posada is one of the weaker defensive catchers in the American League. He is terrible at blocking balls, does not get along well with pitchers, and calls a poor game behind the plate. It is no coincidence that top starting pitchers do not want to pitch to him.
Mark Twain’s Ghost -
Have you caught up with Ted Williams head?
Or Papi’s roids and arrogance?
Or those racist inhabitants of a city called Boston? Or are you one of those racist inhabitants?
A terrible AJ throwing fastballs and hanging curveballs means that the Sox offense is back?? LOL that is funny. It is one game. If 1 game can give Boston this much excitement than let them enjoy it for the day. It is only 1 game nothing more. Their terrible pitching still have to pitch them threw 1 more month.
Time to bring up Melancon
Between Bruney and Aceves, we are starting to find some real holes in our pen.
Marte can be a big help if he is right. Now it is time to see if Melancon can help too.
Nobody aside from Hughes, MO, and probably Coke have a spot locked up on the playoff roster. The next 6 weeks will be constant evaluation.
The difference between last night and tonight? Penny will not be in the playoff rotation, and Burnett will be.
Be very afraid.
disgraceful.
Last night boston at least showed their desire to fight till the end.
Thank God Barry Bonds recognized Boston’s racism and said he would never go to Boston for that reason!!!
They could have had 4 straight WS.
Rachel – They scored 11 runs yesterday, garbage time or not.
They beat up Halladay and Romero – 2 pitchers who always seem to give us trouble.
Their offense IS hot at the moment. Of course, AJ didn’t help anything with that gutless performance, but the Sox are not the weak offensive team they were when we played them last.
You people make ridiculous statements like how people only criticize Posada when he has a bad game to try to discredit everyone who disagrees with your opinion that he is the greatest catcher int he league.
Well guess what? He’s been poor defensively for years now. He’s been poor defensively in many games they have won. There have been a huge amount of times where I have said “whatever you do, DO NOT throw that pitch,” and what do I see but Posada throwing the sign for that pitch down right away. Sometimes he gets lucky, but that doesn’t change the fact that it was still wrong.
Remember those games in Chicago where he allowed a steal of home and dropped an easy throw home? These crucial defensive mistakes are not a once in a blue moon thing with Posada. Whether he has a good game or a bad game, anyone sitting there watching him can see within a few innings of watching a game that he is a very poor defensive catcher.
The official scorers are very kind to him, because most of the time when they call wild pitches, I’m sitting there in disbelief that they actually thought it was the pitcher’s fault when a ball went right off of Posada’s glove or right through his legs because he didn’t get down and block it.
“– Beckett, Lester, Wakefield vs. CC, AJ, Pettitte
— their bullpen (with like 10 guys with sub 3 ERA’s) vs. our bullpen (that is, essentially Hughes + Mo)
— their offense vs. our offense
————————————–
Seriously, none of these is even close. Sox will win the World Series”
yet the yankees somehow have the best record in baseball…and that record is much better than the red sox..odd isnt it
Tomorrow’s game is HUGE.
If the Red Sox win tomorrow and take the series they will have picked up ONE game this weekend. A whole game.
If the Yankees win tomorrow and take the series they will have picked up ONE game this weekend. A whole game.
All hands on deck, tomorrow’s game is crucial.
JZ -
The Yankees have fought back all year long.
One game does not mean anything.
Again, we dont have the umpires to hand us beneficial calls.
Bonds???
he couldnt do a thing in the AL. The AL East is NOT the NL
I trust Joba more in Fenway park than I do AJ.
Let’s see a Double A pitcher has thrown 6 shutout innings against a great lineup and the Yanks 18 million dollar wiz left his A game somewhere.
The Sox are making a statement .
That makes 2 out of 3 games Burnett gets hammered by Boston.
One has to wonder if he can pitch in a playoff atmosphere?
Aceves needs a break and yes Sergio Mitre is that bad.
Yeah, Pete, something IS wrong with Aceves. Girardi burned out his arm. Do you remember that quote from the manager about how Aceves was just supposed to go out and give them innings when they needed them? Hated that quote. Girardi gets a lot of credit for doing a good job with the bullpen, but I don’t think that’s the case with Aceves. He was their overworked workhorse for too long.
AJ has made excuses for himself his entire career and always looked for scapegoats… catchers, pitching coaches etc.
Why blame Posada when this is a continual pattern with him in his career? I don’t want to hear how he “changed”. Even if he did, he didn’t change enough where these problems are completely in the past. They have already reared their ugly head enough times this season to know the old AJ isin’t gone.
jojo,
I’ve never heard any “analyst” say that Varitek calls a good game.
But they all say he’s the best at handling a staff. Whatever that means.
With Jorge, it’s not so much what he does behind the plate. But he has an intimidating personality. So maybe that plays into it some.
finally…
Nice throw Melky….kinda near homeplate….usually it’s closer to 1st base rather than home…(getting better)
Useless and pathetic.
Get well soon Gardner (hell — Shefield would be better !)
why is it that swisher’s best games are the teams overall worst?
Swish maine! Shut out! Nope!!
Bonds would not hit in the AL?
In his 70+ home run season?
Please, if went to Boston, he would have been better than Roido Ortiz and Roido Ramirez.
Thank you, Swisher.
Remember when people were comparing Aceves’ numbers to the 96 MO? And of course, everyone said he was Mendoza and had a rubber arm…
How things have changed…
doesnt have the arm Melky has or the range Melky has
Jim Pir-one August 22nd, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Mark Twain’s Ghost -
Have you caught up with Ted Williams head?
Or Papi’s roids and arrogance?
Or those racist inhabitants of a city called Boston? Or are you one of those racist inhabitants?
———————–
Hey Genius, way to go off topic. Did I mention anything about love for the city or anything about the racist tendencies of the city? All I remarked on was the hubris of many of the commenters here.
And, very nice how you paint an entire city with your wide provincial. Get out more. You’ll see not every Bostonian is racist. Same could be said for New Yorkers. We all know what happened to Abner Louima and Amadou Diallo in NYC so of course the whole city must behave that way.
2004 ALCS game 3,Yankees beat RS 19=8 WON 3 STRAIGHT,sux came back to win the pennant.Last night Yankees beat the sux 20-11,today sux beat the living daylights out of the Yankees,sad!
Swisher is the only one on this team who has any heart
“Ha ha, jinxers. You smug, over confident, fools.
The report of the Red Sox’s demise has been greatly exaggerated.
Wait till the season ends next time before you begin celebrating.”
GO YANKEES!!!
Yankees have the division sewn up. A loss to Boston doesn’t convince me otherwise. YIPPEE!!! YIPPEE!!!
P.S. If you think it was over-confidence on the part of some fans that jinxed today’s game, I have some nice underwater land for you in beantown.
But thanks for the concern. Boston is cooked. Even a blind squirrel will find an acorn once in a while.
JMO, of course.
“Penny will not be in the playoff rotation”
The play off rotation of what? They are 6 games back and have a terrible pitching staff. They are lucky if they make it with this rotation.
LOL@ the Sox making a statement.
Since the idiots and trolls have taken over here now, the only “statement” that matters after today is the Yankees have a 6 1/2 game lead.
Nice job yankees! Reason #67 why you can’t beat the Angels.
Schedule becomes tough… now we go play Texas and the White Sox and Beckett tomorrow.
Sox are not out of this division race by any stretch
Molina will play 3rd? LOL
trolls are funny…if your a red sox fan, why would you go to a yankee blog and make silly comments when your team will be out 6.5 games after today?…is that really something to be proud of?
Bonds would have hit homers no doubt, but the NL is and has been awful for years. Every AL scrub who goes to the NL plays well or turns their career around in the NL. Very rare that it goes the other way. The NL has so many bad teams with awful pitchers. The Mets for example, have only one player in their everyday lineup right now that could be a starting player on a good AL team, yet the Mets knock off the Cardinals, Giants, two of the so-called bext NL teams.
Bonds would not have hit 50 in the Al
Molina replaces A-rod? whaaaaaaat lol
“One has to wonder if he can pitch in a playoff atmosphere?”
That game against the Red Sox at the stadium two weeks ago was much more of a playoff atmosphere than this one.
Like I said before, Burnett has been our best pitcher at home this season. He’ll get all his playoff starts at YS. The fact that he has blown up 3 times in Boston and once in Chicago will have no factor come October.
Mark Twain’s Ghost -
Show me a Boston inhabitant who isnt racist, and I’ll show you a Yankees fan.
Maybe you should go join your brethren at SOSH, where they wish death on Yankees and Red Sox players and laugh at 9/11/01.
LOL st some of these posts.
The division is over. The sooner you Red Six trolls realize it the better off you are.
Red Sox proved nothing… AJ didn’t even compete today. I could have hit him.
Congrats on scoring 11 runs off Sergio Mitre and Bruney yesterday!
All it takes is for one team to get hot while the other goes cold.
You shall see.
“All it takes is for one team to get hot while the other goes cold.”
Like the Sox 2 weeks ago and us now.
Then, they were inept. Now they are hot and we are ice cold.
Okay, I gotta watch this on the archive. Does Jose even own a Yankee cap?
lol wow at some of you people..its ONE game, still 6.5 up geez, calm down.
Division is not over. 5.5 games (after tomorrow night) is not insurmountable at all.
They may not win it, but they will slice into it and keep us honest until the last weekend of the season.
“ice cold”. Are you serious?
They are 6-3 on this road trip.
.667 ball is not “ice cold”.
Get a grip.
“Like the Sox 2 weeks ago and us now.
Then, they were inept. Now they are hot and we are ice cold.”
ice cold? they scored 20 runs yesterday! and have won 8 of 10 games…you my friend…are a fool.
Molina at 3rd? HUH!? Why can’t they just put Molina on first, Tex in leftfield and Hinkse on 3rd?
39 games to go with a 6 1/2 lead in the division, There was no need for a sweep, it would’ve been nice yes but not necessary.
You trolls are ridiculous, where were you yesterday and umm well since the All star break?
Molina has more range than Alex lol
Burnett just can’t pitch on the road against a good team
He got lit up 3 times in Fenway, lit up in Chicago, and would probably get lit up in Anaheim or Detroit.
Just doesn’t have the mental toughness to do it. Start him at home where he is comfortable.
Mark Twain’s Ghost
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:47 pm
All it takes is for one team to get hot while the other goes cold.
You shall see.
—————
We shall see that like we shall see a non-racist Red Sox fan, or a Patriots fan that existed before 2000
Thank you Bernard Pollard, you gave my heart one NFL season of no worries with your hustle and determination.
Gardner?
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:42 pm
doesnt have the arm Melky has or the range Melky has
============
Arm: Melky’s is stronger; however it’s pathetically inaccurate (watch games please)
Range: Gardner’s range is light years better than Melky’s !!! (please watch games)
They should have Molina catch and Posada play 3rd.
That way Posada could watch Molina closely in action and take good notes.
“2004 ALCS game 3,Yankees beat RS 19=8 WON 3 STRAIGHT,sux came back to win the pennant.Last night Yankees beat the sux 20-11,today sux beat the living daylights out of the Yankees,sad!”
WES, lots of differences. In 2004 the Sux were the only team in the majors to have a rotation of starters that weren’t down once. You realize how important pitching is in a season. Our pitching, if you remember, was hurt all season and then Kevin Brown decided to break his wrist in September. So many considered it quite a victory that the Yankees ended up in first place. They came into the postseason on fumes. Maybe that was a real credit to the heart on that team. Then remember that Boston had the slugger team (Ortiz and Manny) juicing that season.
This season the Sux rotation is the one in real trouble. 7.5 games out of first should tell you something. So I think we need to look at this as one loss in the course of a long season, and move on.
JMO
Wow, hopefully we have better pitching tomorrow, huh, guys?
I thought one of Burnett’s strengths was pitching Boston tough. So far, the Red Sox just love having him on the mound, at least in Fenway.
I also agree with Pete, something is wrong with Aceves, he can’t get this bad this quick … can he?
I’m not a “Posada Hater,” I’m a realist. He’s a solid player, but nobody in their right mind can deny that he is one of the worst defensive catchers in the league, which is a shame too considering that he does have a good throwing arm.
Posada has rings, big whoop dee do. How about he gets down and blocks a ball instead of trying to stab at it with his glove?
Red Sox arrogance? That’s rich coming from a team that was laughing at them yesterday. If you want to talk about arrogance dont look any further than Arod, Cano and Melky.
The lineup Burnett faced at the stadium was considerably weaker than the one he faced today. None of them were swinging the bats well at the time either.
Let’s be real, we caught them at the right time. Just like they caught us at the right time in April.
Now they are hot, let’s see if we can win the series from them.
I would love to see Cashman quietly make a deal to get someone like a Brad Ziegler from the A’s while the Sox focus on over-hyped Wagner. I doubt Ziegler would come cheap (since Beane loves his sidearming ‘finds’ and he works cheap) but he is not likely a part of the next good A’s team either – he is durable, limits HR’s and has a fantastic attitude. If not Ziegler, someone like him (Sherrill and Betancourt would have been great) is badly needed.
Forget today, this Yankee team is too good not to optimize its chances. And Gaudin or Mitre are not the answers to any important questions (unless you don’t want to know the answers!). And Bruney looks awfully shaky and Robertson still is a bit too wild (though a bright spot). Cashman and Girardi should get Melancon up here ASAP and throw him in there in high leverage spots wherever possible – or ideally, put Ace on the DL, call up Melancon so you can decide who stays in the post-season later…
Cash, we are looking to you to deliver! We need you to pull a David Weathers or a Graeme Lloyd out of your hat!
Pete may set a record for moron posts today.
So many worthy candidates, it will be hard to choose just one.
m
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:40 pm
jojo,
I’ve never heard any “analyst” say that Varitek calls a good game.
But they all say he’s the best at handling a staff. Whatever that means.
With Jorge, it’s not so much what he does behind the plate. But he has an intimidating personality. So maybe that plays into it some.
—————————————————
Don’t base your opinion of a player based on what the press has to say. They to often have an agenda or aren’t willing to have an original thought.
As far as Posada having an intimidating personality, they have to be in charge. The catcher has to guide a pitcher through a game not coddle him.
DT,
Like the ‘who will the baby crawl to?’ test.
Will the pitchers look to 3B or home plate when they’re undecided.
“Like I said before, Burnett has been our best pitcher at home this season. He’ll get all his playoff starts at YS. The fact that he has blown up 3 times in Boston and once in Chicago will have no factor come October.”
Great thinking RS. You are absolutely correct.
Christina25-
This coming from a woman who made up a fake son or daughter with autism!!
You need help, as do the Red Sox!
But lucky for you, other teams wont have a problem handing the Red Sox what they need in the offseason.
Christina25
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Red Sox arrogance? That’s rich coming from a team that was laughing at them yesterday. If you want to talk about arrogance dont look any further than Arod, Cano and Melky.
****************************************************
Run along, Christina.
“The play off rotation of what?”
They have this thing called the “wild card” now. BOS is currently in that slot. Come Oct. 5, everyone’s record is 0-0.
crazy, nobody has mentioned swisher is a triple away from the cycle haha
Let’s score 12 runs now.
Posada is a HOF catcher and has 4 rings, caught a no hitter, and has worked with legends like Mussina, Kevin Brown, Clemems, Pettitte, Cone, Key, Wells, Doc, RJ etc.
Burnett is a nobody. A 32 yr old inconsistent starter with control problems.
You are not going to win this battle. Posada is not to blame.
Why is Dave Robertson warming up? He is actually semi-decent.
Christina25 August 22nd, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Red Sox arrogance? That’s rich coming from a team that was laughing at them yesterday. If you want to talk about arrogance dont look any further than Arod, Cano and Melky.
===================
That’s the spirit, SA!
If the Angels beat us out for home field advantage, that means game 2 will be on the road.
And if the schedule works in our favor where we don’t need to use the #4 starter, then Burnett would also be scheduled to pitch game 5
Can we all leave this Posada topic for today? Everyone has had their say and it is getting repetitive. DO you all agree that Cashman has to work overtime to get another relief arm (at the cost of prospect(s)) between now and Aug. 31 or do you believe the answers are here already?
Awwww. Sux have losing record against both the Rays and the Rangers, both of whom they are fighting for the wild card.
Too bad
m
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:54 pm
DT,
Like the ‘who will the baby crawl to?’ test.
Will the pitchers look to 3B or home plate when they’re undecided.
LOL….
Molina should go over and chat with the pitcher before each batter comes up. “ok, here is what I would throw, but if you’d rather listen to four-rings”
We have a fresh Cookie, Hughes, and MO for tomorrow.
Don’t know what to make of this, but all but 1 of the Boston runs were scored with 2 outs. AJ and Aceves not bearing down and making their pitches with 2 outs? Boston hitters deciding to try to put on extra tough ABs with 2 outs? Bad luck? All of the above, I suppose.
maineyankee,
I mean to say that Posada’s intense. Not the most relaxing presence in the clubhouse. Nobody needs to be coddled, especially the vets. It’s just a matter of making the pitchers feel comfortable.
Schedule becomes tough… now we go play Texas and the White Sox and Beckett tomorrow.
Sox are not out of this division race by any stretch
=====================
Anybody who is a true baseball fan knew the division was not over. You don’t win divisions in August, period. Still a lot of baseball left to play, and, yes, anything can happen. But, I would rather be 61/2 up than 61/2 down this late in the season.
We had a bad game today, so what? Come back tomorrow and be ready to whip their butt!
I like our chances with CC on the mound – a true ACE!
Maybe they could throw the Red Sox off their game by alternating getting signs from 3rd base and home plate…
“We have a fresh Cookie, Hughes, and MO for tomorrow.”
chocolate chip or peanut butter?
Just one of those game where nothing goes right.
Isn’t arrogance showing up during a Sox blowout?
There is Kenny sick boy getting excited about an inning ended catch. But not a Nick Swisher home run. Both were just as meaningful.
Kenny, have you thought about having plastic surgery, so you do not look like such a sick individual?
I had dreams of throwing the series to the Rangers (allowing them to sweep us to hurt Boston’s playoff chances), but only if we had a 7 game lead. If we lose tomorrow, then we have to play the Rangers series hard otherwise we may lose the division lead all together.
Winning tomorrow will allow us to throw the series to the Rangers to help them get the WC.
I would have thought it was, m – but I’m harsh like that.
Swish (3), Cano (3), and Tex (2) have 8 of the 10 hits.
The Mets are having a ceremony on the field. You know any time they are doing that their season is over.
I so missed Christina25′s posts yesterday. That’s because she was nowhere to be found. At home, with the covers pulled way over her head, feeling very sick to her tummy. Brave to venture out today. But I guess you have to take the few good moments you will have where you can find them.
Someone asked earlier whether we would “prefer” to win 20-12 or lose (then I believe the score was) 12-0. I didn’t have an immediate answer, but I then tried to reverse the situation and pretend we were at the Stadium. If the Yankees were 7.5 games out, what would mean more to me, getting beaten 20-12 or winning the next game 12-0? I would have to say that winning the second game wouldn’t go very far in making me feel better about what happened the day before or feeling good that the team in front of me came in 7.5 games up. I would think of the 12-0 win as a phyrric victory.
But that’s just me.
Papelbum warming up they must really want this game. Don’t want to give up 11 in the 9th.
“Anybody who is a true baseball fan knew the division was not over.”
Tyler Kepner and I consider ourselves true baseball fans, and we both know the division is over Pep.
So there you have it.
The Red Sox know they had better win tomorrow.
If the Yankees win, and go back to 71/2 games up, then this game meant NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING.
The pressure is on them, not the Yankees.
CC better show up tomorrow and the offense better hit Beckett
I’m sick of Beckett always beating us lately. We’ve scored no runs off him in his last 2 starts. That needs to change.
We need to win tomorrow. Send the Sux packing.
“Papelbum warming up they must really want this game. Don’t want to give up 11 in the 9th.”
Seriously not looking forward to AJ’s press conference. Too bad Kim is around – if she is. She always finds a way to ask him inane and repetitive questions (after he tells her she does not want to answer her first question.)
Beckett lives for big pressure packed games. He will pitch well tomorrow.
Hope CC can match 0s with him and we can get to the pen. I doubt we get anything off Beckett. When he is locked in, there is no one better.
Cano would be a .350 hitter if he played his home games at Fenway Park.
Think about all the times he flies out to LF w/RISP. In Fenway, a lot of those outs would turn into run scoring hits.
It would be very impressive for Boston to have their backs against the wall and beat Burnett AND Sabathia on consecutive days to win the series.
That would say a lot about them.
m
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:00 pm
maineyankee,
I mean to say that Posada’s intense. Not the most relaxing presence in the clubhouse. Nobody needs to be coddled, especially the vets. It’s just a matter of making the pitchers feel comfortable.
——————————————————-
I think people are trying to make a judgement on this subject based on what they see. Not on actual knowledge of what goes on in the clubhouse.
I just think this subject is born from the media and fans not on fact. I don’t say that out of allegience to Posada but based on the fact that the Yankees will put the team on the field that gives them the best chance to win.
well, I picked the wrong game to watch with Red Sox fans.
I hate when the Sox win. Christina shows up.
Another 2 out run!
the yankees needed one game and they got it.
These sick FOX things continue to inhale the Red Sox.
And when they speak of them, it’s always the “Boston Red Sox.”
Gotta get that full name in there.
When it’s Yankees, you have trouble even uttering the word yankees.
Don’t we have Mitre/Gaudin, Andy, and Joba starting the Texas series?
Ouch. We may not need to “throw” those games on purpose, they may beat us legitimately.
Trisha,
I’d rather be the team up 61/2 with 39 to play.
Then again, I’m not a Red Sox troll with math problems.
Is it typical for NYY to just lie down like this? Haven’t been paying much attention this season.
Don’t sleep on Texas.
They are an excellent team and are going to keep Boston out of the playoffs. We better be prepared to play them next week, they play hard, have good pitching, and know how to win.
Tyler Kepner and I consider ourselves true baseball fans, and we both know the division is over Pep.
==========
Yeah, I thought the Cubs had the 69 pennant all wrapped up, I thought the Angels had the 86 pennant wrapped up, I even thought the Yankees had the 04 pennant wrapped up! I mean how many teams come back from an 0-3 deficit? Up till that point, NONE.
You can call it over if you want, Trisha, but I’ve given up prognosticating baseball a long time ago. I can make an educated guess, yes, I think the Yanks have a great chance to win the division, but I will never say, “It’s over” in August.
“I hate when the Sox win. Christina shows up.”
how’d you like to be christina 25 ?
you look in a mirror and there you are.
that’s gotta suck.
I hope a game like this doesn’t hurt Robertson’s confidence. We have seen it happen to him before.
Tomorrow can’t come soon enough
What a mistake, you put in a young kid who has great stuff against Boston in a blowout game, so his confidence can take a blow.
Hopefully, he is just throwing get me overs so as not to ruin his confidence.
Looks like it was a dead heat among Matt, UpState and Christina25 of which imbecile humiliated him/herself the most this afternoon.
That’s okay, let them get all their runs in a bunch..obviously that is what our problem was today in relation to last night
ahhaha i mean, score 1 run off of Tazawa..had to be, right? lol
These kinds of games happen once in awhile. The pitching is awful, the offense is awful, dumb baserunning mistakes, etc.
Just a bad job all around but after the game is over, it’s over. Just one loss. Tomorrow we have our ace on the mound going for the series win AT FENWAY! That’s nothing to scoff at.
The Yankees goal was to win 1 out of 3 this weekend. They have already done that. Today was tough to watch but just remember it’s one bad game.
I’m sure the players will be pissed about this game but they aren’t going to think about it after the last pitch is thrown tonight. It’s no worth getting worked up over.
They are laying down so much, they have the best record in baseball.
Are all Red Sox fans as dumb as you or are you an anomoly?
“how’d you like to be christina 25 ?
you look in a mirror and there you are.
that’s gotta suck.”
WOW! Just wow.
Good one randy
Youk needs to be brushed off the plate. He’s getting too comfortable. Take notes CC.
Even if CC is great tomorrow he will still give up 2-3 runs. Yanks are going to have to get at least 4-5 runs off Beckett and the bullpen tomorrow. Beckett doesn’t scare me they usually hit him well and they all have great numbers against him.
There literally is something wrong with this team’s mental approach today.
The pitchers are getting 2 outs, GETTING AHEAD of hitters, and then giving up runs.
I actually can’t remember a single inning where a Yankee pitcher put himself in a real jam. The first inning was probably the closest, but Burnett almost got out of it.
All the Red Sox runs came because the Yankees couldn’t focus and bear down.
MaineYankee,
Sorry, I’ve seen enough with my own eyes to know that Posada’s an intense fella. That’s a good thing, for sure. But you can’t tell me he’s a teddy bear.
And no question that Jorge gives them the best chance to win. But this AJ/Posada thing ain’t working. It’s on AJ for sure, but still Girardi’s got to make this thing work.
Time to turn the page. Sure glad we got AJ because he was so good vs. bosox. Anyone know how to view Giants on web so I can get this game expunged from my brain? Thanks.
Typical Yankee scumbaggery…
“Youk needs to be brushed off the plate. He’s getting too comfortable. Take notes CC.”
Whaa–we cant get him out…lets throw at him.
I wonder what every Red Sox fan feels should they know that every 2004 Red Sox was a user except for Tim Wakefield and possibly Curt Schilling.
This Boston pitcher looks like Colon…
Mike -
Hey Red Sox Mike, brushing off the plate does not mean hitting.
“They are laying down so much, they have the best record in baseball.”
So this is really the best they can do against pitching they’ll see in the playoffs? Not a good sign.
“Are all Red Sox fans as dumb as you or are you an anomoly?”
Rule #1 of the internet: if you’re going to call someone stupid, make sure you spell your entire post correctly.
Hi guys……….I was out all day. When I heard it was 12-1, my jaw dropped.
I’m going to catch up on the thread now, but what appeared to be AJ’s problem? I think the Yankees have a bigger problem now than losing one game. He’s pitched badly in August (two ugly blowouts, a so/so game against the Jays, a good one against the A’s and now this performance. If he doesn’t get straightened out, the Yankees are not going to go far in the playoffs. It also appears he’s spooked by Fenway now – I just don’t get it. I’m disappointed and concerned. SJ/CB – what are your thoughts?
Papelbon stories about his persona..what a loser
Papelbon has too much false ego to need an alter ego
MaineYankee, if you don’t know that Posada has had problems with different pitchers in the past and pitchers have asked to have other catchers then you haven’t been paying attention. Please, let’s at least be honest about things. Posada is obviously getting the job done well he catches the majority of the games and the Yankees have a great record since the ASB. But to pretend that he has never had issues with being stubborn, intense, inflexible, or whatever else you want to call it, is just dishonest. He has a tough and fiery personality and it’s what makes him such a great Yankee and teammmate – but at the same time, it can be his downfall when it comes to catching games.
My opinion is that pitchers who want to call their own games do better with someone like Molina. Pitchers who don’t want to think but put their faith in their catcher (someone like Pettitte) do better with someone like Jorge. And every once in a while you are going to get wires crossed with the combination. It happens. Molina’s temperament is such that he can work with all pitchers. Jorge has had problems with certain pitchers. Just the way it is. And those same pitchers don’t seem to have any problem with Molina.
Typical Yankee scumbaggery…
“Youk needs to be brushed off the plate. He’s getting too comfortable. Take notes CC.”
Whaa–we cant get him out…lets throw at him.
I never said hit him troll.
Since Youk hangs over the plate, maybe the Yanks should just try to throw inside strikes? That make you feel better?
“So this is really the best they can do against pitching they’ll see in the playoffs?”
Tazawa is going to starting a game for the Sox in the playoffs? Not a good sign
These SICK FOx guys.
Cinco Ocho. I mean, really? You are a loser Pap, and you’ll be booted out the door like every other Red Sox who did not fit their plans.
And again, these sick sick sick commentators laughing about the most sick thing I think I have ever heard. Cinco Ocho !!!!!!!!
I love how after 1 game where the Sox actually hit the ball the Sox trolls come on the board like their team is the best ever. Get a clue it is 1 game.
I will say that I don’t think it’s as black and white as AJ being great or terrible. This year, we’ve seen numerous starts by AJ where he hasn’t had his good stuff/control/whatever and he was able to put together a good performance.
HGHiambini -
Because spelling matters a whole lot on a blog. Get a life, or if you have one, go out and continue being a Bostonian racist.
I honestly don’t care about the fact that they lost today. The Yankees just needed to get 1 win this series and they still have a chance for two.
What bothers me is how horrible our pitching staff has looked at Fenway Park this season. It’s like earlier in Anaheim…we’re not losing games 3-1 or 4-2. We’re giving up double digit runs. The starters haven’t done a good job (although Andy wasn’t as bad as his line looked) but the bullpen also hasn’t been able to stop the bleeding.
“These kinds of games happen once in awhile. The pitching is awful, the offense is awful, dumb baserunning mistakes, etc.
Just a bad job all around but after the game is over, it’s over. Just one loss. Tomorrow we have our ace on the mound going for the series win AT FENWAY! That’s nothing to scoff at.
The Yankees goal was to win 1 out of 3 this weekend. They have already done that. Today was tough to watch but just remember it’s one bad game.
I’m sure the players will be pissed about this game but they aren’t going to think about it after the last pitch is thrown tonight. It’s no worth getting worked up over.”
Patrick, my hat is off to you.
He didn’t need to dive.
Typical Yankee scumbaggery…
“Youk needs to be brushed off the plate. He’s getting too comfortable. Take notes CC.”
Whaa–we cant get him out…lets throw at him.
====================
Yeah, that’s right, Bob Gibson, Don Drysdale, Roger Clemens, et. al. are all scum for brushing hitters off the plate … HA HA HA HA !!!!!
Gibson once said, “the mound is my office, and the plate is my territory. You come into my territory and you will get hit, period!”
No one, not one, of the great pitchers of baseball, feared throwing at hitters that got too comfortable at the plate. So, when you call that “scumbaggery” it tips us off that you don’t know baseball.
WOW Ellsbury actually dives for a ball and catches it. That is a 1st in this series…
A fresh approach tomorrow. If Damon is still rested, put Hairston in LF. C.C and a well rested bullpen will prevail. Nothing wrong with 2 out of 3.
pat -
of course he did not need to dive. but he’s gotta put on a show so ESPN can prop up his value, so if the Red Sox decide they dont want him any longer, they can boot him out the door for something of value.
ray (sox fan)
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Yankees are not arrogant. They are a class team.
From what I have seen, the Red Sox are the epitome of arrogance.
————————————————
Hi ray.
Haven’t seen you here much lately. You picked a bad time to come around. Areal sewer today.
Did you get any damage up your way from the wind yesterday? There was quite alot of damage around here. At least I didn’t lose power and miss last nights game.
Would have been alright today though. 
LOL please, Posada and AJ shouldn’t work together. Give me a break…..AJ has pitched very well this year and Jorge has been his catcher. Nuff said.
The drunken chants of “Yankees suck” are phonies that came out of the woodwork. Lousy exterminators in Beansville.
So Ortiz’s double in the first inning was the game-winning hit?
Boooo!!
Thank God this one’s over.
“Because spelling matters a whole lot on a blog.”
Nothing matters on a blog, but misspelling a simple word like “anomaly” while calling someone else stupid is going to get called out every time. Welcome to the internet.
Tim
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Looks like it was a dead heat among Matt, UpState and Christina25 of which imbecile humiliated him/herself the most this afternoon.
=============
Please explain, little Timmy, please explain !!!
PS – Melky left more runners on base that the entire RoidSox team today. (I know you love little Melky – but get real)
Postgame on YES should be interesting
CB, if that’s the case that AJ is so brittle at every tenuous moment, how is it possible that he had a 3.67 ERA coming into this game? It’s not like he’s thrown a boatload of dominant games – he hasn’t. Most of his starts he’s had to work around a bunch of walks……
Bad pitching from the starter. Bad relief pitching. 13 LOB.
Lucky thing the sun comes out tomorrow.
As to the scumbaggery—
The guys you mentioned – Drysdale, Gibson, etc. threw inside, outside, etc. It didnt matter who was up, what the situation was.
There’s a difference between “brushed off the plate” and “throwing inside…”.
And of course, at Youkilis…the guy who is hitting, what, .900 against the Yankees? Joba the scumbag has thrown at him, now others? Get him out…thats the way to deal with it.
Oh…and Im not a Sox fan.
The sun will come out tomorrow.
Joe, absolutely. I’m concerned about AJ as well, but I will not question his guts or desire. I didn’t see the game – I’m sure he was very angry at himself. That doesn’t mean he didn’t try…..
“The sun will come out tomorrow”
It’s suppose to be cloudy/rain.
Etch-A-Sketch loss. Everybody shake.
The Yankees had a decent number of hits today. They just couldn’t put them together. Some days it goes like that. The worst thing about today was the pitching was flat.
The Yankees aren’t cold… getting 12 hits in a game is good. Getting 1 run isn’t. The Roid Sox are playing to stay alive. They also play well at home but not very well on the road.
It is just disappointing that they couldn’t beat the scrub they were up against. Tazawa isn’t going to be a world beater. He isn’t that good. He just was lucky today. Wait till he is seem for a bit.
HGHiambini -
Called out?
Not many care if a person spells a word wrong.
Only a Red Sox racist troll would care.
# Betsy August 22nd, 2009 at 7:27 pm
LOL please, Posada and AJ shouldn’t work together. Give me a break…..AJ has pitched very well this year and Jorge has been his catcher. Nuff said.
Come on Betsy. We all should know something is wrong with the 50 mound visits, the passed balls/wild pitches. Its always something with these 2. Let Molina catch him.
Thanks Trisha
AJ has pitched plenty of good road games and one game at Fenway (well 3) doesn’t change that.
So Ortiz’s double in the first inning was the game-winning hit?
Boooo!!
=======
Let me rephrase RS’s post. “So Ortiz’s injection before the first inning was the game-winning factor.”
Trevor August 22nd, 2009 at 7:33 pm
“The sun will come out tomorrow”
It’s suppose to be cloudy/rain.
==============================
Somebody somewhere on planet earth will be seeing sun tomorrow
Tomorrow!
Tomorrow!
I love ya
Tomorrow!
You’re always
A day
A way!
Okay, I’m done now.
Carl, I diasgree. So they have a few crossups – it’s not that big of a deal in the long run. I saw AJ as having a terrific year………and mostly that was with Jorge behind the plate. He had a bad game – I love the guy, but that’s on him and I know AJ will say the same.
“The drunken chants of “Yankees suck” are phonies that came out of the woodwork.”
…or maybe they remember 2004. Pop quiz, how many games did NYY win the AL East by that year?
AJ tried, but you know when he is on his game. His fastball had very little movement. When he is at his best his ball moves a lot. I think that is the reason he doesn’t do better over the season. He has great stuff but when he just doesn’t have it going he throws a fastball like Buchholz does all the time, straight as an arrow.
“And of course, at Youkilis…the guy who is hitting, what, .900 against the Yankees?”
I don’t remember Youkilis doing anything at Yankee Stadium when he didn’t have that lovely green wall to aim at.
“Come on Betsy. We all should know something is wrong with the 50 mound visits, the passed balls/wild pitches. Its always something with these 2. Let Molina catch him.”
Bingo. Can’t live in the past forever. AJ’s last few starts with Jorge have been dreadful. Time to chnage that.
Throwing inside is Brushing off the plate.
Red Sox Mike, I’d expect better out of the most knowledgeable fan base.
“Only a Red Sox racist troll would care.”
Ah I see, appreciation of irony = racism. Please, keep making these types of idiotic comments in the pursuit of painting someone else an idiot.
Can’t look at Burnett’s starts with the Jays and think it will automatically transfer here. Haven’t we learned that from the past?
Just because he was dominant in Fenway as a Jay, doesn’t mean he will be as a Yankee. Maybe it’s in his head. Maybe the Sox scouted him differently. Who knows? So far, we have 3 games to draw from and the results are dreadful.
RS—you’re not really talking about the legitimacy of a stadium, are you?
Take Damon…take away 60% of his first row, 322 foot home runs. Same for Cano, etc…
Irony = the misspelling of a word!!!!!!!!
Spelling may not be some people’s strong suit,
but Boston’s strong suit is their racism
Burnett imploded in Chicago and 3 times in Fenway.
Thank God he is starting all the home playoff games (unless LA gets HFA from us)
patrick-
there’s a core group on the blog that has a good read on the yankees.
the crazies like christina 25 aren’t worth debating.
as you said, this was one game and the yankees got the game they needed.
you don’t like to see aj be embarrassed, but he’s got some issues with consistency he needs to work out.
if this doesn’t tell him he has some work to do ,nothing will.
Yes Mike-
Because that putrid dump Fenway has been around a lot longer than the NYS
How does Burnett pitching well on the road in Baltimore or Minnesota help us?
If we want to get where we need to, we have to play Boston, Chicago/Detroit, Anaheim etc.
Chances are we won’t get to face Texas or Tampa in the playoffs (I still think Boston wins the WC).
Betsy I would be much more interested in having you actually watch games and then make assessments rather than come in after the game is over or after a pitcher has left the game, ask how the pitcher did, and then criticize people who are making comments having watched the game. It seems that you have not watched games on several occasions and then come and ask peoples’ opinions on what has happened.
While that is certainly fine, I think it is more problemmatic to make assumptions and assessments without having seen things with your own eyes. I don’t know that you can go on someone’s “history” to make decisions about any particular game.
Jorge and Posada had a ton of trouble today. When the FOX commentators are making mention of it, then there is something to it. We who watched today’s game, well at least quite a few of us, all said we thought they were a bad combination in general. I am not pointing fingers in either direction at this point as it is ludicrous to say things like “I know it’s on AJ.” Equally bizarre to say it is all Posada’s fault. But they need to absoutely find a way to get their act together for once and for all, or Girardi needs to earn his money and step in.
Now people are calling for Jorge not to catch AJ? I guess they missed that 15 inning shut out that jorge caught.
M, AJ wasn’t faking the “growing up” bit. He’s a much better pitcher than he used to be (come on folks – regardless of what he did today, he’s had a very good year……) and he’s a great guy – we all know that. He has grown up on off the mound……..he wasn’t faking that at all. He’s genuine……..and I think we need to be careful that we don’t go overboard about over this terrible performance. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. I think you have to take the good with the bad with AJ – and this is the bad.
* I see people are already going overboard by saying AJ was yelling at Jorge. I didn’t see it, but come on………I’m sure he was pissed off at himself.
M, AJ wasn’t faking the “growing up” bit. He’s a much better pitcher than he used to be (come on folks – regardless of what he did today, he’s had a very good year……) and he’s a great guy – we all know that. He has grown up on off the mound……..he wasn’t faking that at all. He’s genuine……..and I think we need to be careful that we don’t go overboard about over this terrible performance. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. I think you have to take the good with the bad with AJ – and this is the bad.
* I see people are already going overboard by saying AJ was yelling at Jorge. I didn’t see it, but come on………I’m sure he was pissed off at himself.
Hope CC shows up tomorrow and actually gives us a chance
That should say Jorge and Burnett had a ton of trouble today.
“Boston’s strong suit is their racism”
So you’re a supporter of racism? Interesting
How can you criticize the offense today?
AJ took them out of the game before it even started. 3 in the first, 4 in the second. He didn’t even give the team a chance.
Tazawa settled down and then they kept tacking on runs.
Trisha -
Your posts are always great and intelligent….
But, when FOX makes mention of something, they must be wrong, because they all speak RedSoxican and generally do not know anything about baseball.
Remo, come on……seriously. This is why game threads are a joke. AJ has been a seriously good soldier since he’s been here – he has never made excuses for himself. Why can’t people criticize his performance without resorting to lies and exaggerations?
“I see people are already going overboard by saying AJ was yelling at Jorge. I didn’t see it, but come on………I’m sure he was pissed off at himself.”
I honestly couldn’t tell who he was mad at so I am not going to go out on a limb and decide for him.
HGHiambini
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:43 pm
“Boston’s strong suit is their racism”
So you’re a supporter of racism? Interesting
——-
LOL Nice try!! Racism is the best thing about Boston, which tells a lot about the kind of sick people that inhabit it.
AJ will be judged by what he does in October.
Randy went 8-1 against the Sox 2 years here but was scorned for not pitching well in the playoffs. That’s what it is about here.
Hornet August 22nd, 2009 at 7:44 pm
How can you criticize the offense today?
AJ took them out of the game before it even started. 3 in the first, 4 in the second. He didn’t even give the team a chance.
Tazawa settled down and then they kept tacking on runs.
Because they put up and 0fer with risp.
If FOX said the sky was blue, I’d have to believe it was some other color, like Pink.
“I honestly couldn’t tell who he was mad at so I am not going to go out on a limb and decide for him.”
More people should follow that advice rather than projecting what they want to (saying an absolute fact that he was not mad at Posada etc.)
“But, when FOX makes mention of something, they must be wrong, because they all speak RedSoxican and generally do not know anything about baseball.”
Viva Girardi, who instead of throwing AJ under the bus in response to questions by reporters instead said he’s human, he’s been pitching very well for us, and he had a bad game. PERIOD.
Onward and upward.
AJ took them out of the game? I’ve seen this offense bounce back to tie up a first inning 8-0 deficit.
AJ’s poor performance today doesn’t excuse th 13 LOB, and you’ll not find a single Yankee happy with what happened at the plate today.
They all know, as well as you should, that no lead in Fenway is safe.
randy l.
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:14 pm
“I hate when the Sox win. Christina shows up.”
how’d you like to be christina 25 ?
you look in a mirror and there you are.
that’s gotta suck.
————————————————–
randy you solve the mirror by not looking, right?
Betsy – You’re going on the opposite end of the spectrum defending this guy to no end, just like the others go to the end to bash him. It is somewhere in the middle.
SJ and CB got it right.
Girardi’s YES post-game reaction:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/64511866d2d24965/
Trisha, I really have nothing to say to your post…..I love AJ – he’s my 2nd favorite player on the team. I’m also disappointed in him…….you’ll excuse me if I don’t blame Posada for this. You’ll excuse me also for not catching every single game this season and having plans………I don’t need to see the game to know that AJ pitched badly.
vinny-b (thankful to have Girardi in charge)
August 22nd, 2009 at 12:31 pm
NYY not far away from catching LAD in run Diff.
dayum.
——-
Ironic this was the first comment of the game post?
“Racism is the best thing about Boston”
Wow, you just can’t stop digging the hole deeper, can you?
LMAO, this thread is ridiculous.
How dare we LOSE! And to the Red Sox! Shame on us!
Clearly the season’s over!
I’m out now. Just wanted to get in my two cents.
Who cares how AJ pitched today. It’s one game. You live you learn. This team has shown the ability to answer the bell time and again.
Let it go.
Jorge obviously knows something about catching.
Ok it’s only a game.When post season comes and the Yankees offense disappears(like today),and theit pitcher(s) throws home runs,instead of strikes.
Just keep saying as a loyal fan,unlike the (ahem) idiots (watching a short series being the demise of the season,)remember games like this,and say IT’S ONLY ONE GAME,and man wasn’t it a good season,while watching from the sidelines!
The whole team made Tazawa look like a CY young contender.
RS BEAT the Yankees #2,Yankees beat their #4.
Today’s game shows why the RS won’t quit.They know they can beat the Yankees in post season,bank on it.
Markus, LOL I really dn’t tohink you are reading my posts AT all. I said I was concerned about AJ and that he pitched badly. He has pitched some very good games on the road, so I disagree that he’s a home cooker only. Also, I’m not saying that AJ doesn’t suffer some meltdowns, but he has had a number of games where he’s worked around bad control or stuff. I don’t see how that’s in dispute.
I’m not coming out and saying he pitched great, I’m just trying to be fair
“Yankees beat their #4″
He won’t be their number anything in the postseason. It means as much as beating Smoltz.
AJ has pitched 3 games in Fenway and has gotten lit up like a Christmas tree each time.
Are we supposed throw bouquets at him and say job well done?
The criticism of him is warranted. No one is saying to throw him off the team, but you can’t just brush this performance to the side or make excuses for him. Prior to this year, he had owned Fenway, what happened this year?
“There’s a difference between “brushed off the plate” and “throwing inside…”.”
Mike – get a clue. No one is saying to throw at Youk’s huge melon – but he does get pretty comfortable and leans out over the plate. The pitcher needs to regain the inner half of the plate – if that means making Youk move his feet – so be it.
This isn’t tee ball.
A.J.’s YES post-game reaction:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/64512033e5d40af7/
Bernard Pollard, or whomever has the hustle and determination of you, please take out Tom Brady for another season.
That’s all I want for Christmas.
AJ is one zen dude in a postgame interview.
Time for Giants vs Da Bears.
trisha- You catch how she was trying to start controversy between Jorge and AJ. AJ wouldn’t have it.
jennifer -
That’s because Yankees have class.
Unlike Terry Francona (and I like Terry), selling out JD Drew to ESPN
Jim- and she went to Jorge and tried to sell him the same line.
He basically said well you think it is the wrong pitch when it leaves the park.
Jorge’s YES post-game reaction:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/6451217599cd7e72/
WES, it is obvious to me based on exactly when you showed up today that you are a Sux troll. Based on that, your stupidity isn’t worth responding to.
Postgame over but the majority of the questions asked (that we saw) were about AJ and Posada not being on the same page.
It is being noticed.
Oh well.
If Kim asked cupcake questions everyday, people would say she is just a pretty face and not a good journalist and shower her with insults about her feminism.
Kim is a reporter, her job is to provoke and ask the tough questions. If she asked these tough questions to Boston players, you guys would praise her to no end for not “bowing down to the Sux”…. double standard.
Just because the media is asking about it, doesn’t mean that that is the problem. There is no problem between Jorge and AJ – did people not think AJ was having a very good year before this game? Who was catching him?
Why are people even talking about Jorge?
He played NO part in this game. All the runs AJ gave up were legit and results of bad pitches getting smacked around the ballpark. No cheap runs as a result of bad catching today like the last 2 games. Everything on AJ
Ya know what’s a double standard!
Jim Rice being an inhuman valueless thing and posing as a human being!
Giants vs. Bears… should be fun even though it just is preseason.
…or maybe they remember 2004. Pop quiz, how many games did NYY win the AL East by that year?
……………………
Nobody cares as in 2004 * and 2007 * and 86 years of shameful Red Socks baseball.
Pel,
Thanks for that AJ audio.
He was not be totally honest. Hard to keep the story straight when you’re lying.
Here’s the deal. I think AJ needs to throw what he wants so he can throw it with conviction. If it’s the wrong call, it’s on him. But he needs to take command, and if it means shaking off Jorge, so be it. A pitcher is ultimately responsible, AJ should throw the pitch he wants.
It was one of the most feared hitters in baseball during that era
It was feared because it was an animal that would have attacked if it did not get a hit.
“trisha- You catch how she was trying to start controversy between Jorge and AJ. AJ wouldn’t have it.”
Jen, do you think she knows she’s an idiot but doesn’t care because her uncle owns YES or something? Sorry but I swear I don’t hear anyone else asking the ridiculously pathetic questions she asks. I loved it when CC and AJ first got here and she asked some of her typical ridiculous questions (CC, you just lost a game by the score of 100-0. Is that frustrating for you?) They just stared at her in disbelief. Sometimes they even give her curt and dismissive responses. But she just keeps coming back like a stereotypical dumb blonde.
AJ isn’t stupid.
Today was on him. He knows that.
He’s one tough guy to catch. Just the way it is.
Gregg Zaun, Rod Barajas and Charles Johnson are 3 catchers who have/had great reputations for their work with pitchers. All of them had trouble catching AJ. Its a tough job because he can zone out mentally at the drop of a hat. Like today.
He has to get a better handle on the meltdowns because its holding him back from taking the next step in the game.
Ironically, Girardi called the baserunning blunder by Cano the “turning point in the game”. In some ways, it was. A big inning there, and the game takes on a different complexion. He says (correctly) you have to get a better read on that play and can’t make the first out at second down 3 runs.
Either way, bad day all around and they wake up tomorrow ahead 6 1/2 and with a 6-3 record on this roadtrip.
Still in great position to do what they want to do this season.
Kim has the right to ask these questions.
I’m sure a lot of people want to know why he hasn’t pitched well in Boston this year. AJ is probably going to give us some generic answer, but it is a good question that she asked.
All of RS runs came,with 2 out.Aj lost focus,and gave them momentum.
Tomorrow the RS will erase Friday’s 1 bad game.They use 2004 as motivation,and the Yankees fans will remember how another Joe did it to the Yankees again.
“He was not be totally honest. Hard to keep the story straight when you’re lying. ”
That was my take as well, mel.
Betsy
August 22nd, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Just because the media is asking about it, doesn’t mean that that is the problem. There is no problem between Jorge and AJ – did people not think AJ was having a very good year before this game? Who was catching him?
—————————————————
Thank you Betsy for some common sense.
Some are trying to make this subject to complicated.
SJ – Agree 100%. His meltdowns are very concerning. That is something he has to step up in his game.
Anyone know how to view Giants on line?
It’s amazing that the Yankees have the most wins in baseball when none of the starters have impressive W/L records.
CC is on pace for an 18-9 record, which is pretty good, but not outstanding (Last year Moose was 20-9 on a much worse team). AJ and Pettitte are only on pace for 13 wins each. Joba will be lucky to hit 10 and the #5 spot has been a mess for the most part.
If someone had told us, before the season, that our #2 starter would have no more than 13-14 wins, I think some of us may have been disappointed. But even with the rotation not picking up a ton of victories, the team has still managed to win.
There is no “controversy” between AJ and Jorge.
The best games he’s pitched this year have been with Jorge behind the plate.
We went through this same nonsense with Cervelli and with all the Joba nonsense.
Really, look at AJ’s history before you decide the catcher is at fault for his meltdowns.
The guy is throwing 2 strike pitches in the middle of the plate.
Do you really think the catcher wants that?
The guy has been like this for 10 years.
Try harder to find a fall guy. Its not Posada.
“Just because the media is asking about it, doesn’t mean that that is the problem. There is no problem between Jorge and AJ – did people not think AJ was having a very good year before this game? Who was catching him?”
Betsy, how about this. We here who saw it today are wrong. The reporters who wouldn’t stop asking about it because they know the game of baseball and the nuances and the obvious and they saw the same thing, are wrong. You are right.
So drop it okay. You are the one who got it right.
One thing I’m seeing on all boards is people saying AJ is blaming Jorge……….really, how unfair is that? The guy has been accountable from the very beginning and people insist on seeing ghosts that aren’t there.
M, I’m sorry, why do you think AJ is lying?
I think AJ was annoyed at himself…………when he doesn’t pitch well, he’s always annoyed, you can see it on his face. He has had a terrific year with the exception of a few starts and Jorge has been behind the plate for almost all of them. I think he feels bad that he let the team down…..
No catcher can force a pitcher to throw without conviction.
If AJ is incapable of executing the pitch he and his catcher agree upon, there is your problem.
How about he just wasn’t very good today?
YES showed AJ staring in and Jorge changing a sign to what he wanted in an AB today. The pitch was hit off the wall.
My husband said to me, “if he had thrown what Jorge wanted would he have gien up a HR instead?”
AJ seemed to think his curve was his pitch today. Papi hit one pretty hard.
Even if they are on the same page, AJ needs to execute the pitch.
Thanks pel!
Some of you act as if AJ has never had this problem until he got to NY.
This has been a problem HIS ENTIRE CAREER.
Its like a viral outbreak. If you can manage the outbreaks, things are ok.
Actually, his outbreaks have been fewer this year.
Its just when he has them, they are really, really bad.
Its something he just has to keep working on because it really hurts his overall development as a pitcher.
Trish, if you want to be paranoid about Jorge and AJ, that’s up to you…….I’m dropping this with you as we’re not getting anywhere.
“They use 2004 as motivation”
That makes no sense, considering the only players on this squad left over from ’04 are Ortiz, Varitek, and Wakefield. And one of them is on the DL.
Why does CC get a personal catcher but not AJ?
Pat and Nick….bingo.
Its no more complicated than that.
“I don’t need to see the game to know that AJ pitched badly.”
Just wow. Well maybe you need to see the game to know why. Don’t let fact get in the way of your good time Betsy.
Whatever gets you through the night.
I think I’m done with this, with you anyway.
Meant Fox not YES.
Where does CC have a personal catcher? Hasn’t Posada caught him in 4 of his last 5 starts.
Try again.
REZ,
Haha. I’m craving waffles all of a sudden.
____________________________________
Betsy,
You’re not going to want to hear this, but AJ said the right things….and some wrong things. He left little clues abou how he really feels. Right or wrong, that’s his true feelings.
__________________________________________
BTW, the Sox were smoking hot coming into this series, and the Yankees bats were cool coming into this series. It’s not a surprise that the Sox came out swinging after being totally humiliated yesterday. I don’t care what people say, that was an embarrassing shelacking of the Sox.
Let’s see what happens tomorrow before we make any declarations.
Some people are forgetting AJ’s history in this league.
He has a 12 yr body of work to let us know that he is prone to these blowups and he is the toughest guy in baseball to catch.
His rep. was created long before he got here. He is just following up on it here (forget the nonsense about the pies and his clubhouse presence, I mean strictly his pitching).
Jorge is not the problem. If he is, then every catcher he ever played with is the problem.
Trisha,
He pitched badly today because he located terribly and melted down on the mound. That’s pitcher related, not catcher related.
That’s AJ. When you sign him, you take the good with the bad. Today was the bad. Just the way it goes.
Can Posada please be the DH next year. THe guy is a joke behind the plate. It was such a pleasure watching Cervelli behind the plate this year.
SJ, exactly. That was the point I was trying to raise earlier. AJ has done an excellent job of managing around his bad moments……..but he’s not perfect and he hasn’t been able to completely control it. He’s still had a terrific year and has been huge for us….We can’t forget that in the shadows of this terrible start.
You think AJ isn’t upset that he didn’t keep his team in the game? He’s a responsible man – he’s accountable. Why are folks so willing to believe the worst in peopl?
“That was my take as well, mel.”
And mine as well.
All Star – if Pete asked some of the questions Kim did he would be laughed out of the room. If a team has just lost badly, to ask whether it is frustrating is just a joke. Kim does those things. When she asks good questions, she does. Unfortunately she seems to let the dumb ones take the day.
JMO
Oh, jeez. The Truthers are out in full force.
What clues did he leave? I think you want to hear what you want to hear.
Why do some of you so cavalierly ignore his career body of work and act as if Jorge Posada is the reason for his meltdowns?
He didn’t throw a single today that he was forced to throw. Not one. He just pitched horribly.
It would be one thing if he never had this history until he came to NY. That’s not the case.
Fact is, this is who he is and you have to take the good with the bad.
M, sorry – I didn’t hear anything wrong with what AJ said. What particularly struck you?
“They use 2004 as motivation”
Maybe they should use 2003 as motivation instead.
There are as many current Sox who were with the Marlins in 2003 as the Sox in 2004.
Either way, they still have to be in it to win it and the Sox have been playing sub .500 ball for a month.
Yeah, that .640 winning % Posada has this season really has hurt the team.
Its time for a AA catcher to come here and save the day.
Try again when you have a clue.
Yanks needed to take 1 out of 3 this weekend – they have.
Still have a decent shot for 2/3
RS trolls & assorted morons who were bold enough to come out of their SOSH hole were curiously absnt yesterday.
Memo to trolls: worry about TEX & TAM – don’t be concerned with your playoff rotation just yet. Worry about getting there first.
Some of the posts blaming Posada are comical. AJ got lit up like a Christmas tree and it had nothing to do with Posada. That’s baseball and they play another game tomorrow.
SJ, I don’t think this has to do with AJ’s performance. I’m not directing this to M or anyone in particular, but people are frustrated at AJ’s performance and now they want to make it personal, like he’s becoming a bad teammate all of a sudden. Why do we get these questions and comments only after AJ’s bad starts? I don’t get it. He pitched badly today, he took responsibility. I think people want blood from a stone sometime – what was AJ supposed to say? It’s obvious he’s upset when he doesn’t pitch well……….Again, where is this analysis after anyone else’s bad starts?
Look at AJ’s game logs of previous years. These blowups are not uncommon.
It’s just his nature. A tiger can’t change its stripes.
“It was such a pleasure watching Cervelli behind the plate this year.”
was i missing something?
he’s ok.
SJ they definitely were not on the same page today. I’m not so frenzied about one side or the other that I need to blame one or the other. I won’t fall apart if the problem at any point in time is with Burnett. It appears that people who worship at the altar of Jorge can’t find their way to the middle. Oh well.
That said, and I’ll say it again, wherever the problem lies, there are two people involved and it needs some resolution. If you listened to the postgame it screamed out at you that Burnett doesn’t feel like he is pitching what he wants to. It seems to be easier to shake off Molina than it is to shake off Posada. I know people who love Jorge here felt very threatened when the press took note of the problem several months ago and therefore called it the press’s problem. (It reminds me of the saying “Everyone in the parade is out of step but my little jonny.”) Whenever anyone suggests it might be Jorge’s problem, posters need to run for their valium.
Easy for someone to say that the new kid on the block needs to be the one to speak up. Yuh.
This is Girardi’s problem to resolve, not mine.
I find it odd that if Posada has had a problem catching certain pitchers as some would have you think why has he had such a long career? And potentially a HOF career. Makes no sense.
But I guess if the press thinks there’s something there it must be true.
Wes –
Were you posting last night? I don’t remember seeing your name.
Give it a rest with 2004 already. You still hanging your hat on that one?
It’s baseball – anything can happen. Just like getting swept 5 straight in your own park.
Anything can happen.
It’s 2009 and you’re 6.5 games back. Focus.
“Yeah, that .640 winning % Posada has this season really has hurt the team.
Its time for a AA catcher to come here and save the day.
Try again when you have a clue.”
The emotional attachment people have for certain players is one thing, but they should at least try to look at the game objectively as they discern what actually happened in a particular game. Johnny Bench couldn’t help AJ today the way he left some of his pitches up in the happy zone.
Ah, jeez. Didn’t know there’d be a pop quiz.
I’d like to use my lifeline. REZ & trisha?
Same thing that happened the last time.
Okay, one example. “Was it execution or selection?” “mmm…I’d say it was selection”
And I believe he twice said that he felt like he had a good hook today. Right or wrong, that’s how he felt and that’s what he said.
Don’t argue with me, argue with AJ. The words came out of his mouth. If anything, he wasn’t being accountable. And he was a brat on the mound. But I’m not going to stop liking AJ for it. Nobody’s perfect.
Maybe if AJ had a 3rd pitch that he had confidence in, the hitters wouldn’t have a 50-50 chance at guessing what’s coming next.
Frankly I’m more concerned with the bullpen.
Coke-high ERA and no postseason experience
Robertson- leads our pen in allowing inherited runners to score and also no postseason experience.
Aceves- ERA climbing with every outing
Marte-Has proven nothing in a Yankee uniform
Mitre- Will not be on postseason roster
Gaudin- Jury out on him
Hughes- has been one of the 3 best set-up relief arms.
Bruney- Guess fastball and wait till he throws it down the middle of the plate to avoid walking you.
Mo-Still going strong.
Hope they get it settled before the end of this month.
By the way, I am not frustrated at AJ’s performance nor am I frustrated by the Yankee loss. I save that for the people here who cry and worry about everything.
Betsy – You obviously don’t remember the things said about CC when he was struggling, or Joba after basically every start.
And Andy got beaten up pretty good too before the ASB. AJ is a personal favorite of yours, so you notice his criticism more intently than others.
Joba has gotten beaten up 10x worse on this blog than AJ has. Trade him for Doc, send him to the minors, he’s stubborn, uncoachable, out of shape etc.
Not for anything, but saying that the Yankee bats were cool are as off base as the umpires usually are.
They killed Boston yesterday with their bats. Today they had 3 less hits than Boston. The problem was getting enough hits in a row. A lot of the outs were also hard hit balls. Sometimes it goes that way, but it is silly to say the Yankee bats were cold. They weren’t.
Cano did make a bit of a blunder, but it was a close play that worked because of knowing how to play the bandbox wall. Tazawa really isn’t all that good, he was just lucky today.
The Yankees are in fine shape. This loss isn’t going to kill their season. If the Sox lost it might have killed theirs.
Randy,
You were missing the eyes. Its all about the eyes.
Charles Johnson is a good friend of mine. Helped my nephew out a lot when he was younger. He caught AJ’s no hitter and is still friendly with him.
He said AJ is far and away the most frustrating guy he has ever caught.
Not because he’s a bad guy because he isn’t. Its because he just has difficulties keeping his emotions in check when things get rough.
He’s better than he’s been but, it can still crop up.
We are talking about a 3 time Gold Glove catcher who has a WS Ring.
He’s just one of those guys that is a handful to handle.
Dan Brown’s next Book: ‘The Posada Conspiracy’ wherein his handsome protagonist deciphers the ‘clues’ A.J Burnett leaves to the media after his bad games.
This is one reason why I hate it when the Yanks and Red Sox hook up. People tend to lose all sense of reality when the Yanks have a rough game against this team.
Today was on Burnett. Plain and simple. He’s been great for two months and today he just blew up. That’s his history. It is what it is.
But the last time Burnett blew up like this he went out and dominated the next two months. Let’s hope he can do it again.
Today’s result is not that big of a deal. The AL East race was decided last night. The Red Sox have been a .500 team for two months and they can’t score runs consistently away from their home ballpark.
Have some perspective, already.
Looks like somebody in Rhode Island is having a difficult day when they start calling out other Yankee fans to take some valium.
How was the AL East decided last night? If the Sox win tomorrow, then yesterday’s game was meaningless and they gain 2 games?
SJ, by the way, I think Posada has done a tremendous job and his record since the ASB shows it. I don’t think he does a tremendous job with all pitchers however and when that happens I don’t think I can immediately make the leap that the problem is the pitcher, especially because he has a reputation that precedes him. My dad’s saying was that there are three sides to every story – mine, yours, and the truth. I believe the answer lies somewhere in the middle.
Red Sox fans -
Any of you who continue to chirp about the 8-0, or now 9-5 should remind yourselves of this one thing: you’re damn lucky.
Because if the Yankees had split those first 8 games, 4-4, you’d be looking at a now 14.5 game deficit.
Deal with the PRESENT, Sox fans. Or learn to try.
stupid loss
Joe, I’m not talking about us fans criticizing CC ,etc…..I’m talking about fans analyzing AJ’s post-game comments like they were studying for a test. Everything that AJ says is parsed – and many folks assume the worst in his comments. That’s what I don’t get.
“How about that scumbag of a teammate Ted Williams.”
Man was a zillion times a man DiMaggio was.
JZ August 22nd, 2009 at 8:32 pm
How was the AL East decided last night? If the Sox win tomorrow, then yesterday’s game was meaningless and they gain 2 games?
———–
Because the Red Sox are playing for the Wildcard. Francona pulled his troops and waived the white flag in the 5th inning.
The AL East race is over. The Red Sox cannot win consistently away from Fenway.
” I’m not so frenzied about one side or the other that I need to blame one or the other.”
So you’re recanting what you said earlier in the season about how the Yankees have a huge problem with Jorge Posada? That’s good progress.
“Looks like somebody in Rhode Island is having a difficult day when they start calling out other Yankee fans to take some valium.”
Ya think?
Well tell ya what, my computer gets shorted out from the tears that come through the internet any time someone criticizes Posada.
Hi Guys.
I saw very little of today’s game and I guess that was a good thing. My husband and I went out to dinner to celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary and I spent from 4-0 on getting ready for our date.
What the heck was with this game? 20 runs one night, 1 run the next day? If I’m the Yankees, I strongly request not having to be on the FOX game of the weekend ever again!!!!!
I figured they’d lose either today or tomorrow, so, I’m not all that upset; in fact, I had said I wouldn’t be surprised if they only won one game here in Fenway. So, overall, I’m not upset by the loss per se. HOWEVER, 14-1?????????????
YUCK!
And by the way, for the little I was here, I’m so tired of the anti-Posada stuff.
Posada is NOT the best catcher out there, granted. But he is good. I will give you the man is slow and a poor baserunner and has his issues blocking pitches. BUT, he is NOT freakin’ magnet. He cannot draw a pitch into the mitt; a PITCHER has to execute the pitches. AND AJ can be incredibly inconsistent.
ANYWAY, I missed the post-game. What was AJ’s take?
Tomorrow’s a new game. The Yankees beat down the Sox, and today there was pay back. Tomorrow will be a better game.
JZ –
Winning 2 of 3 is a 1 game swing.
Betsy – Joba’s postgame comments are sliced and dissected here as well.
Trish, I really don’t want to be in a fight with you – truce?
“Because if the Yankees had split those first 8 games, 4-4, you’d be looking at a now 14.5 game deficit.
Deal with the PRESENT, Sox fans. Or learn to try.”
Anyone else appreciate the irony of this post?
SJ44-
Thanks for the post. It also seems that AJ doesn’t like to have his routine broken up when the catcher comes out to the mound. Still think he needs to throw his 3rd pitch more often to keep the hitters off balance. Sit on his curveball that breaks into the dirt for a ball and wait for his fastball when he’s behind in the count.
Thoughts?
GF,
Exactly.
M,
Here’s the thing…..AJ says he felt he had a “great hook” today. Guess what? He didn’t.
The “hook” is the pitch that cost him 6 of the 7 runs today.
Guess who is in charge of seeing that? Posada.
So, when you constantly go to the “hook”, shaking off several times to go to it, that’s on AJ and not Posada.
He threw everything he wanted today and got shelled.
To, “get on the same page”, he needs to think less out there.
His “hook” killed him today and his stubborness in wanting to throw it all the time cost him dearly.
Those blaming Posada for Burnett’s disastrous performance have no case. There is no argument.
Burnett is the same guy who walked nine, but threw a no hitter.
He is the real life version of Nuke LaLoosh.
Don’t think Meat, just throw.
Story of A.J.’s career, in Florida, Toronto and now in New York.
“Well tell ya what, my computer gets shorted out from the tears that come through the internet any time someone criticizes Posada.”
Look in the mirror as you’ve had your favorites over the years from the NYT board to this blog.
“Trish, I really don’t want to be in a fight with you – truce?”
Sure.
Maybe some of the math majors on the board will realize if the RS win 2 out of 3, they only gain 1 game in the standings – at home – while 3 more games are burned from the schedule.
As I said, focus on TEX & TAM, you’ll sleep better.
Jorge said(paraphrased),when the ball goes out of the park,look at the pitch called and then the pitch sent.Between those lines,shows he’s frustrated with AJ.
I really like Jorge,AJ is feeding this nonsense, with bad outings like this.
What concerns me more,is what happens when he loses his focus in a short series, will Joe act much faster than he did today?
I appreciate the YAWN!!!! — that means there’s no comeback.
I’m sure AJ frustrates himself at times. He’s really done a great job this year, but he has his moments. I’ve said it before and I agree with SJ – you just take the bad with the good, like with every player. He’s probably done as good a job as possible controlling himself out there- it’s not easy. AJ is an emotional guy – he uses that emotion to the good most often, but sometimes it gets the best of him. He’s still a very good guy and a very good pitcher……….