The LoHud Yankees Blog

Based on the tenor of the questions asked after the game, a lot will be made in the papers tomorrow and on ESPN tonight about the relationship between Jorge Posada and A.J. Burnett.

Burnett looked awful today and Posada admitted after the game that they had trouble getting on the same page. But here are some facts:

Burnett was 9-3 with a 2.59 ERA and a .220 opponents batting average in his 12 starts prior to today. Posada caught 10 of those games including 7.1 scoreless innings against the Red Sox at Yankees Stadium on Aug. 7. Do those games not count?

Burnett is 0-2 with a 14.21 ERA in three starts at Fenway Park and Posada caught all three of those games. But I think that says more about the Boston lineup and the tendencies of Fenway Park than it does about the relationship between a pitcher and catcher.

But a rift between teammates — even imagined — makes for good copy. When the teammates are Yankees, even better.

By no means do I think Posada and Burnett work particularly well together because they don’t. But when asked about pitch selection, Posada put it well.

“I just make suggestions,” he said. “It’s up to the pitcher to throw the pitch he wants. He’s the guy in charge.”

Look at Burnett’s history. This is a stubborn guy who tends to blow up at times and let games get away from him. That is who he is. He kept saying after the game how good he thought his curveball was. From what I saw, the Red Sox were hammering that pitch, just like they have all season.

Burnett’s a two-pitch guy with an occasional change-up. It’s not like any catcher has a lot to pick from.

UPDATE, 8:50 p.m.: Here is what Burnett had to say:

“There were a couple of heaters (when) I felt that I should have thrown a hook. I step off and re-gather and that’s when the non-executed pitch came. (Posada) calls fine back there. It’s just a matter of me throwing what I want to throw.

“There’s no pattern there. I’ve had a great run now with Jorge. So there’s no fingers to point but at me.”

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.

The Yankees took another step to the division title as they outslugged the Red Sox 20-11 last night.

Red Sox Hall of Famer Jim Rice took a shot at Derek Jeter. This notebook also has updates on Johnny Damon and Damaso Marte.

Back later with the game post from Fenway.

It has been a long day and it was a longer game. But here are a few late-night notes for you:

• Johnny Damon said the foul ball in the first inning hit the side of his knee. Had it hit the kneecap, he might have been in trouble. “I’ve got it wrapped up right now. I guess we’re day-by-day and see how it responds,” he said.

• Hideki Matsui had the most RBI against the Red Sox for a Yankees player since Joe Pepitone in 1964. The last Yankee to drive in seven at Fenway Park was some guy named Lou Gehrig. Matsui said the last time he did it was in high school.

• Eric Hinske was amazed at the play Derek Jeter made in the third inning when he went out to left field to play the wall off the wall and threw Dustin Pedroia out at third base.

“Unbelievable play,” Hinske said. “I jumped too early and when I turned around, he was on a dead sprint for it. I couldn’t believe he threw him out.”

• Jeter has 16 hits in his last 26 at-bats and is 19 for 35 on the road trip with eight RBI. He’s up to .333.

• If the Red Sox make the playoffs, their No. 3 starter is probably Clay Buchholz. Yikes.

• The 31 runs were the most in a game between the two teams.

• The Yankees had their season high in hits and runs.

• The Yankees have five players with 20 or more home runs (Damon, Matsui, A-Rod, Swisher and Tex). The team record of six was set in 1961 (Berra, Blanchard, Howard, Maris, Mantle, Skowron) and tied in 2004 (Jeter, Matsui, Posada, A-Rod, Sheffield, Williams).

Cano (18), Jeter (15) and Posada (15) are next in line this year.

• The Yankees have won eight of 10, 15 of 18, nine of 11 on the road and are a ridiculous 26-8 since the break. “We never want to let up,” Teixeira said. “We’re having fun right now, we’re getting contributions from everybody. Everyone is stepping up at some point in time.”

Thanks to everybody for reading tonight. Back at it tomorrow.

Remember when the Yankees were 0-8 against the Red Sox this season?

They are 5-0 since, having outscored their old rivals 45-19. The Yankees are 26-8 since the All-Star break and the Red Sox 15-18.

Mike Mussina is no longer the last Yankee to win a game at Fenway Park.

Back with more from the clubhouse.

This starts in the fifth inning with the Yankees up 6-1.

UPDATE, 8:52 p.m.: Michael Bowden, called up today, is called in to pitch for Boston. Maybe the Yankees can get Marte’s feet wet later on.

UPDATE, 8:55 p.m.: Wow, 9-1 in the fifth inning as Matsui drills one into the bullpen. The line for Penny:

4 10 8 8 1 4.

That vaunted Red Sox pitching depth didn’t play out, did it?

UPDATE, 9:00 p.m.: Cano doubled with RISP. That’s it, I’m declaring this game over.

UPDATE, 9:06 p.m.: Now it’s 11-1. Yankees have outscored the Red Sox 36-9 in the last five games.

On Twitter? Follow Bob Klapisch of The Record. He needs followers. He’s at BobKlap.

UPDATE, 9:20 p.m.: Francona just pinch hit for Drew. They’re waving the white flag.

UPDATE, 9:36 p.m.: This was one of the guys Boston wouldn’t trade?

UPDATE, 9:41 p.m.: That rotten Jeter. He’s 3 for 4 with three scored and two RBI. I’m tired of these selfish antics.

Bowden is getting a Code Red here. Welcome back to the big leagues, son.

UPDATE, 9:51 p.m.: Next time you wonder why Hinske doesn’t play third, remember that he can’t play left field.

UPDATE, 9:59 p.m.: Brian Bruney = untrustworthy.

Pettitte needed to give them a lot more than five innings. Man, this is ugly baseball.

UPDATE, 10:01 p.m.: Here’s the problem, they could need Hughes, Coke and maybe even Mo to finish this off. That could change how the rest of the weekend plays out.

UPDATE, 10:08 p.m.: OK, I need to finish up my newspaper story. Play nice. I’ll be back postgame with reaction.

YANKEES (76-45)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF

Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (9-6, 4.09).

RED SOX (69-51)
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Martinez C
Youkilis 1B
Bay LF
Ortiz DH
Lowell 3B
Drew RF
Gonzalez SS

Pitching: RHP Brad Penny (7-7, 5.22).

TIME/TV: 7:10 p.m., YES, NESN.

STATE OF THE ‘STRIPES: The Yankees have won seven of their last nine and 14 of 17. They are 5-2 on their road trip.

STATE OF THE SOX: Boston has won three straight. The Red Sox were 4-2 on a road trip to Texas and Toronto. Boston is 7-9 in its last 16 games.

THEY MEET AGAIN: The Yankees are 4-8 against Boston after sweeping a four-game series in the Bronx earlier this month.

EVEN UP: The Yankees have scored 93 runs in the 12 games against Boston — and given up 93 runs.

FENWAY FOLLIES: The Yankees have lost seven straight at Fenway Park dating back to the final game of last season. They have been outscored 46-27 in those games. Mike Mussina is the last Yankees pitcher to win here.

THE JETER METER: The Captain is 13 of his last 20, 16 of 29, 22 of 40 and 27 of 66. That’s a mess of hits. Jeter has hit safely in seven straight and has multiple hits in five straight.

SWING AWAY: Jeter has gone 99 plate appearances without a walk. According to Jim Rice, players in his day never did that. They took walks to help the team.

PETTITTE POWER: Andy Pettitte has started two games against Boston this season, allowing only three earned runs over 13 innings. He is 16-9, 3.63 in 34 career appearances against Boston. Pettitte is 6-3, 3.60 in 16 games at Fenway Park, 14 of them starts.

ROUGH PATCH FOR RODRIGUEZ: Alex Rodriguez is 5 of 25 with one RBI in the last seven games with nine strikeouts. He has two home runs in his last 103 at-bats.

NOT SO LUCKY PENNY: Brad Penny threw six scoreless inning against the Yankees on June 11. Penny is 0-3 with a 7.54 ERA in his last four starts, allowing 27 hits (six home runs) and 11 walks over 22.2 innings.

ACE NO MORE: Alfredo Aceves made a spot start against Minnesota on July 9. He has not been especially good since. In 10 relief appearances (18 innings) he has allowed 14 runs on 19 hits including three home runs.

SINCE THE BREAK: The Yankees are 25-8 and the Red Sox 15-17.

BET THAT STREAK ENDS: The Yankees have played seven straight games in three hours or less.

POWER OUTAGE: The Yankees have one home run in the last three games and two in the last four.

ON THE iPOD RIGHT NOW: Keep The Line Movin’ by The Soundtrack Of Our Lives. Cool Swedish band. Yes, Swedish.

Back with much, much more later.

UPDATE, 3:48 p.m.: Jeter on Rice’s comments: “I didn’t know I was like that. That’s a first for me.”

Jeter said he had never met Rice other than to say hello.

UPDATE, 3:55 p.m.: Damaso Marte has a locker here. Guess he’s getting activated.

UPDATE, 4:06 p.m.: Marte is in fact here. Could be bad news for Ramiro Pena.

UPDATE, 4:33 p.m.: Pena optioned.

UPDATE, 6:06 p.m.: Here is Joe Girardi’s pre-game press conference:

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UPDATE, 6:59 p.m.: Here is Girardi on Jim Rice:

“I’ve always been one that feels you shouldn’t judge others. Our job is to really take care of who you are as an individual and try and to make yourself a better individual,” he said. “My feeling is you shouldn’t judge others and I’m not really going to comment on his comments. … I don’t really want to get into it.”

It’s understandable that Girardi doesn’t want to pick a fight with a Boston icon. But he should have come to the defense of his players.

UPDATE, 7:01 p.m.: We’re nearly ready to get underway here. Enjoy the game.

UPDATE, 7:42 p.m.: Third hitter of the inning and Pettitte has thrown 20 pitches. This is not how a starter wants to handle a 2-0 lead.

UPDATE, 7:53 p.m.: Jim Rice is right. All the selfish, greedy Derek Jeter does is get hits to help his team.

Meanwhile, Jeter is an insane 18 of his last 31.

UPDATE, 7:56 p.m.: Brady Penny is not long for this tilt.

UPDATE, 7:57 p.m.: Wow, 5-1 already. Newly arrived Michael Bowden warming up. Penny is reeling like a drunken frat boy on Commonwealth Ave.

UPDATE, 8:00 p.m.: 6-1 as A-Rod singles to left and is thrown out at second. Obviously it’s because of his hip but A-Rod runs about half as well as he used to.

UPDATE, 8:01 p.m.: The Yankees didn’t draw first blood, they went all chainsaw in the shower on the Red Sox. Holy cow.

UPDATE, 8:12 p.m.: Damon, according to the Yankees, had a bruised right knee. I’m fairly sure I could have made that prognosis from up here. No tests are planned and he’s day-to-day.

UPDATE, 8:27 p.m.: Not smart baseball there by Pedroia. That selfish Jeter went out to play the ball off the wall and threw him out at third to end the inning.

UPDATE, 8:30 p.m.: Jeter is 15 of his last 22 (.682) as he comes to the plate in the third inning.

UPDATE, 8:51 p.m.: Penny booed off the field. Yankees 6-1 and threatening for more.

And now we go to a new thread …

According to the Associated Press, Red Sox Hall of Famer Jim Rice spoke to players at the Little League World Series today and said that today’s major leaguers are too focused on individual goals and getting big contracts.

“You see a Manny Ramirez, you see an A-Rod, you see Jeter … Guys that I played against and with, these guys you’re talking about cannot compare,” Rice said.

Derek Jeter? Really?

Reality to Jim Rice: Jeter was at the center of four World Series champions (four more than you were) and has never once been accused of being anything but a team player. You owe him an apology.

Meanwhile, what is Little League Baseball thinking inviting an insolent jerk like Jim Rice to speak to kids? Albert Belle must have been busy.

Jeter will be asked about this today and it’s certain he’ll take the high road. Hopefully somebody on the Yankees will call out Rice on this. He deserves to be taken to task. What a classless remark.

UPDATE, 2:53 p.m.: Here’s the full story.

What a travesty. This confirms everything bad you’ve ever heard about Rice.

According to my car dashboard, it was 99 degrees as I drove past Fenway Park a few minutes ago before dropping $40 to park.

Nonetheless, a bunch of the Yankees are on the field for optional batting practice including Derek Jeter, Nick Swisher, Eric Hinske, Jorge Posada, Melky Cabrera and Robbie Cano.

The hardest-working man in baseball right now is Dave Eiland, who is throwing BP. Joba Chamberlain and Phil Coke are shagging, too. Those guys always show up for early BP, they love just being on the field.

Dante Girardi is shagging flies in left field. His pops is keeping is a close eye on him.

Being a member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America is something I take seriously. The BBWAA, like any large organization, has issues. But the vast majority of the members take their stewardship of the game seriously.

Baseball writers are a conduit to the fan — more than ever these days with instantly updated blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc. — and we work with MLB to guarantee access to the players and information. The BBWAA also votes on membership in the Hall of Fame and for the major awards.

Contrary to what some believe, there is no East Coast bias when voting for the awards. Two writers in each city are selected for a panel. Because there are so many BBWAA members in New York, we each get one award to vote for and it rotates from year to year.

I just learned I will be voting for Most Valuable Player this year. My last MVP vote was in 2005 when I covered the Mets.

Here is what the ballot said:

It is up to the individual voter to decide who was the Most Valuable Player in each league to his team. The MVP need not come from a division winner or other playoff qualifier.

Keep in mind that all players are eligible for MVP, including pitchers and designated hitters.

So there you have it. I’m going to wait another two weeks before making a list of 25 names and then I plan to whittle it down from there.

We’re asked not to reveal our ballots until the voting is announced in November. So no harassing me.

———–

Driving up to Boston this morning. Check back later for the game post.