lohud.com

Sponsored by:

The LoHud Yankees Blog

A New York Yankees blog by Sam Borden, Chad Jennings and the staff of The Journal News

Game 155: Red Sox at Yankees (updated with Girardi pre-game audio)

Peter Abraham
September
26

imagesYANKEES (98-56)
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Swisher RF
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Molina C

Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (18-7, 3.31).

images-1RED SOX (91-62)
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Martinez C
Youkilis 1B
Lowell 3B
Ortiz DH
Baldelli RF
Lowrie SS
Anderson LF

Pitching: RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-5, 6.80).

TIME/TV: 4:10, FOX.

STATE OF THE ‘STRIPES: The Yankees lead the Red Sox by 6.5 games with eight games left. The magic number is three. The Yankees have won three straight.

STATE OF THE SOX: Boston’s magic number to clinch the AL wild card is three. They lead Texas by seven games.

RIVALRY RENEWAL: After losing the first eight games of the season against Boston, the Yankees are 7-1 against their old rivals, outscoring them 63-42. The season series stands at 9-7 Boston with the Red Sox having scored 97 runs and the Yankees 94.

HISTORIC SUCCESS: The Yankees are 42 games over .500 for the first time since they finished the 2002 season 103-58.

HOME IS WHERE THE WINS ARE: The Yankees are 27-7 at home since the All-Star break and 53-23 overall.

CC’S STREAK: Sabathia is undefeated in his last 10 starts, going 8-0 with a 2.24 ERA. He has allowed only 55 hits over 72.1 innings and struck out 77 with 17 walks. The Yankees have won each of his last 10 starts. He is 2-1, 2.95 in three starts against Boston this season and 4-5, 3.62 in his career. He beat Boston at Fenway on Aug. 23, allowing four runs (three earned) in eight innings and striking out eight.

HERE COMES THE JUDGE: New Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a Yankees fan from the Bronx, will throw out the first pitch. Judge Sotomayor was instrumental in ending the 1994 baseball strike.

WELL-DESERVED: Dave Miley, the wildly successful manager of Triple-A Scranton, has been added to the coaching staff through the end of the regular season.

SECOND TO NONE: Robinson Cano needs two hits to become the fifth Yankees second baseman in history to collect 200 hits in a season. He now has 47 doubles, the most by a Yankee since Alfonso Soriano had 51 in 2002.

Cano also has scored 99 runs. The only two second basemen in team history with 200 hits/100 runs scored are Soriano in 2002 and Snuffy Stirnweiss in 1944.

“That Snuffy was a heck of a player. Man, the times we had,” Angel Berroa said.

IF AT FIRST: Derek Jeter has led off the first inning with a hit in seven of the last 12 games and a Major League-most 49 times this season according to Baseball Reference.com. He has reached 30 stolen bases for the fourth time in his career.

FROM THE OTHER SIDE

GOOD DEAL: Victor Martinez has a 24-game hit streak for Boston, the longest of his career. It’s the longest streak for a Boston player since Manny Ramirez injected himself into the record books by hitting in 27 straight in 2006.

In the last 50 years, only John Flaherty — the pride of Rockland County — has had a longer hit streak after changing teams at mid-season. Flash hit in 27 straight games for the Padres in 1996 after coming over from the Tigers.

POWER PAPI: David Ortiz has hit home runs in three straight games. Of his 27 home runs, 26 have come since June 6, the most in the majors in that span. Ortiz has hit 25 homers six times for the Red Sox. Only Smilin’ Jim Rice (seven) and Ted Williams (14) have done that more times.

SECOND SPEED:Dustin Pedroia’s has matched his career high with 20 stolen bases.

ON THE iPOD RIGHT NOW: High Fidelity by Elvis Costello.

It’s a beautiful day for baseball in the Bronx. Back later with much more.

UPDATE, 1:06 p.m.: Girardi flipped the rotation. Gaudin pitches on Monday and Burnett on Tuesday.

Sure looks like they’re lining up Andy for Game 2.

UPDATE, 1:26 p.m.: Dave Robertson just threw to Shelley Duncan and Juan Miranda. He looked good and his elbow felt fine.

UPDATE, 1:30 p.m.: Dave Eiland said Robertson will be available on Monday.

UPDATE, 1:58 p.m.: The reason the Yankees flipped the rotation is that Burnett’s father is having heart surgery on Monday. He’ll leave the team tomorrow.

UPDATE, 2:30 p.m.: Sam here with the audio from Girardi’s pre-game press conference. Don’t worry – audio is something we’ll absolutely continue to do here on the blog.

UPDATE, 2:35 p.m.: Posada scratched with a stiff neck.

UPDATE, 3:54 p.m.: Looking for something to read before the game starts? Mike Ashmore has a good interview with Phil Hughes.

UPDATE, 4:09 p.m.: Escorted by Jorge Posada, new Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor just threw out the first pitch to Jorge Posada. Judge Sotomayor was wearing a Yankees jersey. She is a Bronx native and a big Yankees fan. Great moment for her, I’m sure.

UPDATE, 4:11 p.m.: We are underway in the Bronx. 63 degrees at first pitch.

UPDATE, 4:22 p.m.: Strong first inning for CC. … Jeter came out to Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. New one for him. … Look for the Yankees to try and wear down Matsuzaka.

UPDATE, 4:39 p.m.: Carsten Charles is a bad man. Six up, six down, four strikeouts.

UPDATE, 4:57 p.m.: Nine up and nine down by CC thanks to a nice catch by Melky in center. Then Melky watched his catch on the scoreboard.

UPDATE, 5:07 p.m.: Alex strikes out looking then interferes with the catcher, causing a double play because Teixeira was running. Inning over.

UPDATE, 5:14 p.m.: Sabathia walks his old pal Victor Martinez to give Boston its first base runner here in the fourth inning.

UPDATE, 5:17 p.m.: Captain Intangibles with a nice little leaping catch there to end the inning. … Yankees 0-5 with RISP against Dice-K. Matsui to lead off the bottom of the inning.

UPDATE, 5:33 p.m.: There goes the no-hitter as Mike Lowell singles up the middle. CC is pitching a gem so far and it’s 0-0 as his teammates are 0-8 with RISP and have left six runners on base in four innings, four of them in scoring position.

UPDATE, 5:42 p.m.: Giving up that hit seemed to make the big fella upset, didn’t it? Holy smoke.

This is the CC they want on the hill in Game 1.

UPDATE, 5:49 p.m.: Well, here are are again as Matsuzaka puts two more runners on. Yankees again with RISP, this time with nobody out and the AL’s leading RBI man up. If not now, when?

UPDATE, 5:52 p.m.: Alex, so good last night, has been so bad today. Nice play by Martinez to get Jeter.

A-Rod 0 for 3 and has left six men on base. He is 1 for 15 against Matsuzaka.

UPDATE, 5:55 p.m.: Heck of a catch by Mike Lowell to end the inning. The Yankees are a staggering 0 for 11 with RISP in five innings. That is hard to do.

Matsuzaka has put 10 runners on base in five innings and has a shutout going. Meanwhile only the Red Sox and Yankees can take an hour and 44 minutes to play five scoreless innings.

UPDATE, 6:11 p.m.: Cano, with nobody on base, is one of the greatest hitters going. His strange-yet-great season continues as he gives the Yankees a 1-0 lead with a home run.

Cano now has 199 hits and 100 runs scored along with 24 homers and 80 RBI.

UPDATE, 6:14 p.m.: People booed when Matsuzka’s 3-2 pitch to Jeter was up and in. What makes you think he has any idea where it’s going?

UPDATE, 6:33 p.m.: CC is done after seven innings and 97 pitches. Sure, he could have gone more. But the idea is to win on Oct. 7, not an essentially meaningless game on Sept. 26. You want CC rested and ready.

This is the recipe anyway. CC + Hughes + Mo.

UPDATE, 6:41 p.m.: Huuuuuuuuuughes. Great pitching from both teams today.

UPDATE, 6:52 p.m.: He’s letting Molina hit? It’s only 1-0. This has GIDP written all over it.

UPDATE, 6:54 p.m.: Gritty Gutty Brett Gardner is so fast the Red Sox couldn’t get him in a rundown. Meanwhile Molina tried to bunt the first pitch and Wagner cant throw a strike.

UPDATE, 7:03 p.m.: Johnny Damon haunts his old teammates with a two-run single as the Yankees take a 3-0 lead and that’s it for Wagner. Johnny is seven RBI shy of 1,000 in his career.

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 26th, 2009 at 12:30 pm by Peter Abraham.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print This Post Print This Post | Email This Post Email This Post

1,046 Responses to “Game 155: Red Sox at Yankees (updated with Girardi pre-game audio)”

  1. RalphieD (OPPC)

    lets win the series!

  2. tbone1570

    “Stuffy” Stirnweiss or “Snuffy Stirnweiss” ask Berroa

  3. Peter Rabbit

    “From The Other Side”

    Testing the waters already Pete? I can’t handle this! Nooooo :(

  4. Laura - Matsui will be a Yankee in 2010!!

    “POWER PAPI: David Ortiz has hit home runs in three straight games. Of his 27 home runs, 26 have come since June 6, the most in the majors in that span.”

    Sounds like someone needs to be drug tested ASAP.

  5. Astorian

    Pete,

    It’s “Snuffy” Stirnweiss, not “Stuffy” Stirnweiss.

  6. m

    I’ve heard that TBA is one heck of a player.

    Congrats to Dave (S)Miley.

    Re: Boston catchers. I don’t care if it’s showing up the opponent, I want the runners to be aggressive today. Run until they prove they can’t stop you. 8%?

  7. Laura - Matsui will be a Yankee in 2010!!

    “Re: Boston catchers. I don’t care if it’s showing up the opponent, I want the runners to be aggressive today. Run until they prove they can’t stop you. 8%?”

    We should get some opportunities to steal. Unless he’s changed his ways, Dice K is a walking machine.

  8. Stevie

    POWER PAPI: David Ortiz has hit home runs in three straight games. Of his 27 home runs, 26 have come since June 6, the most in the majors in that span.
    ================================================

    I guess he found the right “protein shake”.

  9. m

    Laura,

    Hopefully Bad Dice shows up today.

    And that should be, “Run until they prove they CAN stop you.”

    They’ve already shown they have a very difficult time holding runners. Texas, Yankees, Rays. Oh, boy.

  10. Pat M.

    My question is this, if the Bronx Bombers swiped 7 bases last night, can one just imagine what the Anaheim Angel Greyhounds will do ????? I said it yesterday, expect a new record for steals in the ALDS….The Angels have their own relay team……V-Mart is just a few ticks better than Tek ( 8 % to 12 % ) Then of course there’s a drop off in game calling as the rotation makes this adjustment…..

  11. jennifer

    Joe going for the jugular. Wants to get it done now!

  12. Golden

    John Flaherty, “Pride of Rockland County!” Shout out to Rockland right there! Flaherty actually lives right around the corner from me today in our little town of Pearl River, NY.

  13. jennifer

    Stevie September 26th, 2009 at 12:42 pm

    POWER PAPI: David Ortiz has hit home runs in three straight games. Of his 27 home runs, 26 have come since June 6, the most in the majors in that span.
    ================================================

    I guess he found the right “protein shake”.
    **********

    Supposedly David’s father came to visit and magically he started to hit again. makes you go HMMMMM

  14. G. Love

    Ortiz is definitely on something. He legged it down to first last night like a young Carl Lewis to break up the double play. He was positively Edwin Moses’ like sans hurdles.

    I think Bud Selig’s new drug test for Ortiz is asking him “you’re not doing them are you, Papi?”

    Ortiz – “Me? No…what’s them?”

  15. jennifer

    How well does Dice K hold runners? How man stolen bases he has allowed. The Yankees take pitches and should drive up his pitch count early. Don’t forget this is only his second start back. This pitching match up is clearly in the Yankees favor.

  16. mick

    With the “reemergence” of Joba, Yanks could go with shorter ALDS series B.

    CC would still get games 1 & 5. AJ could go game 2 and Andy 3 with Joba 4.

  17. jennifer

    G. Love

    That was very strange how he beat it out (and by a lot). I know it was slowly hit, I was still amazed, it wasn’t close.

  18. CB

    “My question is this, if the Bronx Bombers swiped 7 bases last night, can one just imagine what the Anaheim Angel Greyhounds will do ?????”

    In the past the Angels have not been able to use their speed advantage over the terrible boston catching because the Angels haven’t gotten on base that often.

    That’s the angels problem with boston. The angels have over the past several years been a team that hits for a good average but just doesn’t get on base that much because they aren’t patient and haven’t drawn many walks.

    This angels team is different – they get on base much more. This angels team should have the opportunity to damage boston. At the same time, to date this season the angels haven’t really done that when they’ve played boston.

    But it’s a huge definiciency.

    One of the biggest differences in the Sox this year and last is that this last years edition was one of the 5 best defensive teams in the game.

    This year the Sox team defense has been terrible – factor in catching and they might be one of the 2-3 worst defensive teams in baseball.

  19. A-ROD! A-ROD!

    Thank god he’s back for a few more games! I’ve been so depressed all morning.

  20. Wolf In Pinstripes

    Scooby snacks are on sale at GNC.

  21. A-ROD! A-ROD!

    btw, thanks 186 for clarifying that SB/Balk issue last night. I had no idea Kay was speaking out of his xxx.

  22. Wolf In Pinstripes

    jennifer – don’t forget that Dice tends to melt down and get flustered once he has runners on base.

  23. 100 pitches of fun...

    An interesting I don’t care about the division lineup: No Bay or Drew.

    Ellsbury, Pedroia, Martinez, Youkilis, Lowell, Ortiz, Baldelli, Lowrie, Anderson. Matsuzaka

  24. Stevie

    jennifer September 26th, 2009 at 12:54 pm

    G. Love

    That was very strange how he beat it out (and by a lot). I know it was slowly hit, I was still amazed, it wasn’t close.

    =======================================

    True. Usually they time Papi’s speed with a sun dial, now (at age 34) he’s turned into Jesse Owens. It’s a miracle.

  25. E-gawa

    “How well does Dice K hold runners? How man stolen bases he has allowed. The Yankees take pitches and should drive up his pitch count early. Don’t forget this is only his second start back. This pitching match up is clearly in the Yankees favor.”

    My guess would be not well at all since he’s such a random pitcher and throws alot of junk. I don’t know though.

  26. Dan

    jennifer – don’t forget that Dice tends to melt down and get flustered once he has runners on base.
    _____________________________________________

    This is about the stupidest thing I’ve ever read.

    Yeah, he gets real flustered with runners on base – that’s why he had a sub-3.00 ERA last year while allowing nearly six walks per 9 IP.

    Typical stupid Yankee talking out of their lower orifice.

  27. Tom B

    i’m looking for the best bar on the lower east side to watch this game. ready, go!

  28. 100 pitches of fun...

    Hopefully DiceK and VMart have issues getting on the same page. Since VMart has never caught him before and maybe isn’t familiar with all of his 100 mediocre pitches.

  29. Johnny D.

    Amazing to think A-Rod has 28 HRs in a partial season.

  30. randy l.

    i can’t believe that theo played his catching hand the way he has. once they decided to trade for martinez and go with him in the future, they needed to add a back up catcher who vouldthrow .

    did theo think he’d get to crunch time and girardi and scoscia wouldn’t pick on his catchers martinez and varitek ?

    he might have gotten away with that a few years ago , but teams like the yankee and angels have multiple guys who run now.

    one of the strength of the yankees is that they can change strategies to beat different teams. they can slug with anyone, but they can go to small ball when they need to.

    yesterday afternoon before the game there was much blog discussion that the red sox were vulnerable to running and the yankees just went out and took it to them with four different guys stealing on varitek.

    against another team , they might use patience and take a lot of pitches. another game they might go after first pitches and swing away. just a very versatile team.

    gardner didn’t even play last night. how the red sox will deal with him when cano can steal on them is anyone’s guess.

    i would say the red sox are in serious trouble for the playoffs if they can’t figure something out in a hurry with stopping the running game of the yankees and angels.

    can kottaras throw ?

    nope. just checked baseball reference- 16% throwing out runners.

    thank you theo for constructing a playoff roster where all the catchers can’t throw.

  31. CB

    Dice K is exceedingly slow to the plate with runners on base.

    The yankees should stay patient, let him throw a ton of pitches, and run when they get on base.

  32. E-gawa

    “UPDATE, 1:06 p.m.: Girardi flipped the rotation. Gaudin pitches on Monday and Burnett on Tuesday. ”

    That sucks. Thanks for getting my hopes up and then crushing it.

  33. Pat M.

    CB, Bobby Abreu’s approach to hitting has changed the free swinging Angel teams of the past that you speak off….Off course you always shed greater light to the subject….Should have been a speech writer…..

  34. CB

    “i can’t believe that theo played his catching hand the way he has”

    How about his SS hand?

    They were extremely weak – and have been so for years – at what are by far the two single most important defensive positions on the field.

  35. MaineYankee

    CB & Pat M.

    Francona said they don’t worry about the running game. I think that’s just his way of taking away the media pressure off Veritek.

    Reading some of the RS blogs the fans aren’t buying it.

  36. robert

    Ok , pete time to go. Thanks for everything but you are already thinking as a boston writer. Sam take over please.

  37. Tom B

    dan, get your loser sox fandom out of here.

    matsuzaka’s mlb career numbers with runners on…

    207ip, 155hits, 21 hr’s, 86 bb, 190k’s, 6.04 ERA.

    yeah, typical yankee fan blowing smoke our their lower orifice so that the SOX fan can understand it.

  38. crawdaddy

    Having Burnett go on Tuesday means nothing right now. He can still pitch his tuneup game on Sunday, pitch his 3-4 innings and still be ready to take the ball on that following Friday which is the second playoff game.

  39. Tom in N.J.

    “…since Manny Ramirez injected himself into the record books by hitting in 27 straight in 2006.”

    I see what you did there…Well done!

  40. Stevie

    UPDATE, 1:06 p.m.: Girardi flipped the rotation. Gaudin pitches on Monday and Burnett on Tuesday.

    Sure looks like they’re lining up Andy for Game 2.
    ==============================================
    GI Joe will never-ever go against the book and pitch leftys on consecutive games.

    Plus Andy’s ERA is higher at home, then on the road and AJ’s ERA is higher on the road, then at home.

    No way GI Joe goes against the book in terms of ERA stats, as well.

  41. BBFan

    I am glad Joe is going with A-lineup.

    I can not stand Sox celebrating thier WC win in Yankee stadium.

    If we win today, Joe should go with A-lineup tomorrow as well, so that we win the division againt Sox at home.

    Players can be rested starting from Monday.

  42. Brandon Awesome "BECAUSE I'M AWESOME!"

    OT but amazing how Tony Romo was outsmarted by the Giants D, it all started w/ Michael Johnson, then AP and ended w/ Bruce Johnson.

    http://www.nfl.com/news/story?.....nfirm=true

  43. Betsy

    Why does AJ pitching on Tuesday suck?

    Question: do we think Joe is going to pitch Phil 2 innings in a post-season game if necessary? If that’s so, shouldn’t Phil be pitching to more than one batter at a time (why not stay in for the 9th yesterday)? If he’s not used to throwing 2 innings, how is he going to do that effectively in the post-season?

  44. Betsy

    The SS the Sox acquired (I’m blanking out on his name) has done a very solid job for them……….

  45. randy l.

    “This is about the stupidest thing I’ve ever read.
    Yeah, he gets real flustered with runners on base – that’s why he had a sub-3.00 ERA last year while allowing nearly six walks per 9 IP.
    Typical stupid Yankee talking out of their lower orifice.”

    so dan-

    what’s your plan for holding runners on in the playoffs when none of your catchers can throw ?

    i shouldn’t pick on you.

    i can understand why you’re in a bad mood :)

  46. Stevie

    Dan-

    Dice’s record for 2008 breaks down as follows:

    Bases Empty: 0.95 ERA

    Runners on Base: 4.94 ERA

    Runners in scoring position: 7.77 ERA

    Runners in scoring position with 2 outs: 16.11 ERA

    Doesn’t Boston have access to google?

  47. crawdaddy

    “GI Joe will never-ever go against the book and pitch leftys on consecutive games.

    Plus Andy’s ERA is higher at home, then on the road and AJ’s ERA is higher on the road, then at home.

    No way GI Joe goes against the book in terms of ERA stats, as well.”

    Right, for some strange reason these Yankee beatwriters are forgetting that Girardi is trying to give his main starters the maximum amount of rest without having them be out of sync come playoff time. None of the big three will go more than five innings that last weekend series down in Tampa.

    The first round will either begin on Wednesday with a Thursday offday before the 2nd game on Friday or the first playoff game will be Thursday followed by the 2nd playoff game on Friday. Either way, Burnett will be well rested and ready to go on Friday after pitching about four innings that previous Sunday against the Rays.

  48. CB

    Pat,

    You know much more about the angels than I do but it seems that the teams eyes were opened a bit last year when tex joined and they got to see the value of his patient approach. I remember a number of angels commenting on how valuable that was to see.

    In the off season once they lost tex they desperately needed a guy who could get on base. I was surprised they didn’t jump on Abreu earlier.

    And Bobby has picked up where Tex left off in terms of patience. Essentially replacing Garrett Anderson with Abreu was a huge boost to their offense.

  49. crawdaddy

    Betsy,

    He just pitched almost two innings the other day. He’ll probably go two innings again if not this series then against KC then perhaps one more time next weekend.

    Your boy is fine and ready to go.

  50. BBFan

    “Amazing to think A-Rod has 28 HRs in a partial season.”

    Before the end of the regular season, I would like to see A-rod get another 2 HRs and 7 RBIs, so that he will have 12 consecutive years of 30 HRs and 100 RBIs. What an acheivement.

    Of course until he does well in the post season with Yanks, many people discount these great achievements.

  51. Erik Agard

    Pete, here’s hoping the Sawx pick up Angel Berroa to put an end to their shortstop woes. It just hasn’t been the same since he left.

  52. CB

    randy,

    By the way – which GM has systematically assembled what is by far, heads and shoulders the most outstanding stable of young catchers in all of baseball?

    And which GM has assembled one of the worst, one in which the lack of any minor league quality forces George Kottaras to play in the bigs?

  53. 100 pitches of fun...

    Girardi is probably just giving Burnett extra rest, like he said he would. Then he will flip flop them in the rotation.

  54. Carl

    Dicek’s first road start vs the Yankees.

  55. Mark

    Hughes threw 1.2 innings and 38 pitches just 4 days ago.

  56. CB

    MaineYankee,

    That’s just Tito being his usual professional and classy self.

    He’s essentially making it out that the reason why everyone is running wild on the Sox is a strategic trade off being made by himself rather than the absense of skill on the players part.

    He’s just trying to get the media to blame him rather than pulverie varitek and the staff.

  57. intel

    who gives a darn about big head’s ipod. Won’t be missed.

  58. E-gawa

    “Why does AJ pitching on Tuesday suck?”

    Because I have tickets for Mondays game.

  59. Betsy

    Craw and Mark true………

    As to Matsuzaka, I think he’s overrated…….but he does do a good job of preventing the baserunners against him to score and frankly that is all that counts. Maybe he doesn’t do it easily, but in the end he’s effective…….it’s not a beauty contest.

  60. randy l.

    “Francona said they don’t worry about the running game.”

    maine yankee-

    well, i guess if you don’t worry about something it won’t cause you problems right ?

    what i think is cool is girardi not using this strategy of stealing at almost every chance to this extent until now when it’s too late for the red sox to adjust their team.

    they are in the position now where they have to keep 4-5 guys on the yankees and angels off the bases and then throw up a big number offensively themselves.

    can they win a game here and there doing this ? yes, but they are going to have to have a lot of things go right for them to win back to back games.

    girardi needs to keep it up though.
    he’s got the red sox with their tail between their legs and now needs to just bury them if he has the chance.

    matinez may throw out a runner, but if he does the yankees need to come right back at him. the goal is to take the catcher and pitcher right out of their games.

  61. Betsy

    E-gawa…….oh, that really does suck, lol. Sorry about that – it’s like whenever my father and I go to a Yankee game. If it’s Andy pitching, he gets annoyed because he’s seen Andy pitch in person a number of times and he’s bored of it….

  62. MaineYankee

    CB
    September 26th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
    MaineYankee,

    That’s just Tito being his usual professional and classy self.

    ——————————————————

    I have alot of respect for Francona as a
    person. He really seems to protect his players. I think the ordeal with Manny at the end nearly sucked the life out of him.

  63. crawdaddy

    That’s great news about Robertson being available on Monday which might be one of the smaller reasons why Girardi switched Gaudin so that he can pitch the 6th inning.

  64. Mark in Tampa

    Stevie,

    I think most pitchers would have similar numbers to Matsuzaka when you break it down like that. Obviously, your ERA is higher with RISP, than with bases empty, etc. The original statement was that he melts down with runners on base. Actually, last year his problem was that he let a ton of runners on base, and was not able to go deep in games because he was always pitching in trouble. He actually did a decent job of limiting the damage when he had men on. I was thinking that if he let as many men on this year, his luck would turn and his ERA would skyrocket. That has happened, but it is hard to tell what is from ineffectivness, and what is from the injury.

  65. elauerm1

    Sox lineup:
    Ellsbury 8
    Pedroia 4
    Martinez 2
    Youkilis 3
    Lowell 5
    Ortiz 0
    Baldelli 9
    Lowrie 6
    Anderson 7

  66. E-gawa

    “E-gawa…….oh, that really does suck, lol. Sorry about that – it’s like whenever my father and I go to a Yankee game. If it’s Andy pitching, he gets annoyed because he’s seen Andy pitch in person a number of times and he’s bored of it….”

    lol, I know that feeling. I’ve seen Moose and Andy pitch quite a few times.

  67. CB

    Girardi has to face some opposing pressures with CC’s last two starts.

    It’s probably not a big deal to CC but I’m sure he’d like to win 20 games.

    At the same time it would be very nice for him to only throw 10 innings or so over his last two starts.

    Putting in the starters for this game and resting them tomorrow makes sense.

    Hopefully they’ll be able to generate a lot of offense, get CC the win and get him out of the game early.

  68. Wolf In Pinstripes

    Dan, Egypt called and they’d like their river back when you’re done with it.

    Typical Boston troll visiting the opposing team’s sites and hurling not-so-witty insults from behind a computer.

    Have a nice day.

  69. Brandon

    last night on the Yankee broadcast they said that once Cano gets to 200 hits itll be the first time in MLB history a starting SS and 2B got 200 hits in the same season. is that true?

  70. randy l.

    “By the way – which GM has systematically assembled what is by far, heads and shoulders the most outstanding stable of young catchers in all of baseball?
    And which GM has assembled one of the worst, one in which the lack of any minor league quality forces George Kottaras to play in the bigs?”

    cb-

    checkmate!

    ok lets start a new game :)

    cashman of course is the one with the catchers and theo is the one with the ones who can’t throw.

    i can’t believe that with the red sox belief that stolen bases are overrated, except with elite guys like ellsbury and gardner, that the red sox would actually carry that so far that they’d have no catcher who could throw on the roster.

    but it’s one possible explanation for theo’s blunder. and it is a blunder.

    it does take an aggressive manager to expose the red sox lack of catching. kudos to girardi for being able to make it happen.

  71. crawdaddy

    CB,

    Girardi gave CC six days off before today’s game. He’ll have five days off before next Friday’s start. If he’s lucky that Friday game might be only five innings if the Yankees have the lead.

    IMO, that’s extra rest.

  72. crawdaddy

    Also, CC has pitched mostly with at least five games for almost all of his September starts.

  73. crawdaddy

    I meant five days between starts.

  74. Tom in N.J.

    What do the Sox do with Varitek nex season? He has a player option, right? I guess they could dump him, like all of the rest.

  75. MaineYankee

    http://www.nesn.com/2009/09/th.....er.html?ra

    I read this and couldn’t believe someone actually thinks this way. Way to much red koolaid. :lol:

  76. crawdaddy

    The Sox will dump him just like they did with Nomar, Pedro and Manny.

  77. rb

    I’m going to Monday’s game so I’m bummed about the flipflop with AJ. That being said, it will be my first game at NYS. Does anyone have any parking suggestions? How early can we get in? I’m hoping to see batting practice if they hold it.

  78. MaineYankee

    randy

    I think if the former Joe did some of what this Joe is doing against the RS, 04 would have had a different result.

  79. randy l.

    maine yankee-

    i noticed on the at bat that ortiz hit the homer that they were working him with off speed pitches and then away with fastballs.

    i think that’s playing into what he can still do.

    his bat has slowed down and i think they should go after him up and in.

    i’d like to see sabathia do that with him today. once he’s knocked back a bit his late swing isn’t going to be very effective hen they do go outside.

  80. MaineYankee

    randy l.
    September 26th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
    maine yankee-

    i noticed on the at bat that ortiz hit the homer that they were working him with off speed pitches and then away with fastballs.

    i think that’s playing into what he can still do.

    his bat has slowed down and i think they should go after him up and in.

    i’d like to see sabathia do that with him today. once he’s knocked back a bit his late swing isn’t going to be very effective hen they do go outside.

    —————————————————-

    I agree. It seems like teams still approach him as if he’s still the feared hitter he was.

    I’ve watched him miss alot of pitches that he used to crush.

  81. ADam

    A Nice little beat down on Dice Walk would be great today… it actually might curb Gammons’ love affair with him.. then again no matter what the yanks do to the sox… he’d rather make man love to the entire sox 40 man roster than say one positive thing about the yankees….

  82. randy l.

    “I think if the former Joe did some of what this Joe is doing against the RS, 04 would have had a different result.”

    maine yankee-

    i actually said something to that effect in my last post but deleted it to try to keep it as a positive for girardi and not a negative against torre, but i agree. torre didn’t do things like bunt against shilling or some other things where he’d be attacking a red sox weakness.

    i believe that it’s usually good to go with your strength and play your own game and that’s what torre was very good at, but there are times where you need to pick apart another team’s weakness.

    i think girardi has the baseball mind and energy do this. it’s much easier to just play to your strengths, but to attack another team’s weakness takes more thinking and adjusting.

    i think girardi is more like scoscia in doing this, and
    i enjoy watching him when the wheels are turning.

  83. Tom in N.J.

    UPDATE, 1:58 p.m.: The reason the Yankees flipped the rotation is that Burnett’s father is having heart surgery on Monday. He’ll leave the team tomorrow.

    Good luck, Mr. Burnett!

  84. Mark in Tampa

    “i noticed on the at bat that ortiz hit the homer that they were working him with off speed pitches and then away with fastballs.”

    The old adage is hard stuff in, soft stuff away, and there is a good reason for it. It works. It pains me every time I see a hitter who is overmatched, and the catcher calls for a fastball away. If a hitter is going to be able to do something in an at-bat where he is overmatched, it will be with a fastball away, even if he doesn’t get a particularly good swing.

    Also, Ortiz has good power numbers looking from afar, but he is certainly not the same hitter of 2+ years ago. He used to be able to hit a pitcher’s best pitches, now he is making his hay on mistakes. He can be pitched to, and if you make your pitches, he will not hit the ball hard these days.

  85. Brian (Red Sox Fan)

    Randy (and CB) – As I acknowledged last nite, neither Sox catcher can throw. Having said that, Francona is not totally blowing smoke re: defensing the stolen base. They eschew the slide step, and tell their pitchers to concentrate on the batter. They probably figure that the runner is going to steal anyway.

    Re: Ortiz …. he’s turned into Adam Dunn. Just keep whaling away, and sometimes the ball hits the bat. There’s a reason that he’s hitting .230.

    CB – I know that NY is reputed to have a plethore of swell Minor League catchers. So did Texas …. unfortunately, to this point, none have panned out.
    Or, Weiters with Baltimore.
    Bragging on prospects can lead to some humbling moments in the future (not that the sox have any catching prospects to brag about).

    Finally, I’m just hoping for a rainout tomorrow so we can get back to our beloved Fenway and end this carnage.

  86. Andy In Sunny Daytona

    “UPDATE, 1:58 p.m.: The reason the Yankees flipped the rotation is that Burnett’s father is having heart surgery on Monday. He’ll leave the team tomorrow.”

    “Sure looks like they’re lining up Andy for Game 2.”

    I’ll take wrong assumptions for $1000, Alex. ;)

  87. Uncle Ellsworth (much ado about nothing)

    It would be nice to take the next 2 and wind up 9-9 after losing the first 8.

  88. Rex

    “torre didn’t do things like bunt against shilling or some other things where he’d be attacking a red sox weakness.”

    The not bunting against Schilling thing is a myth. Go back and look at how the 1st 7 innings of that game played out and tell me where, and with whom, they’re going to bunt? That was a very slow Yankees team, with Jeter and Arod the only ones with any speed by that time. The botton 7 in the order were Sheffield, Matsui, Williams, Posada, Sierra, Clark and Cairo. Anyone think any of those guys is bunting for a basehit? That was a 100 win team that won with thump not speed.

  89. Brett GODner

    “The reason the Yankees flipped the rotation is that Burnett’s father is having heart surgery on Monday. He’ll leave the team tomorrow.”

    Well… I guess watching AJ pitch more than one season does have a toll.

  90. tex's friend

    it’s great that boston has no idea what they will do long term about catchers and we have something like 10 real catching prospects in the minors.

    think they would trade us jon lester for some catchers?

  91. tex's friend

    it’s great that boston has no idea what they will do long term about catchers and we have something like 10 real catching prospects in the minors.

    think they would trade us jon lester for some catchers?

  92. Pat M.

    The downfall of the 04 NY Yankees, was the thin and depleted bullpen, plain and simple…..The rotation was the worst we’ve had seen in NY since 1993…They slugged their way to the Post Season & they too would have beated St. Louis….I’m not certain if a sweep was in store…Boston, after coming back vs. NY was not going to be denied…..However had the Yanks whitewashed them, the bullpen and rotation would have had ample rest……..As for Cashman’s imprint on the organization, he has built the foundation on pitching and catching……

  93. Medical Hair Restoration

    “(not that the sox have any catching prospects to brag about).”

    I thought the Sox had numerous prospects at every position. That is the impression I get from ESPN. Peter Gammons was speaking to the high talent level of catcher Tim Federowicz just the other day.

  94. CB

    “Bragging on prospects can lead to some humbling moments in the future (not that the sox have any catching prospects to brag about).”

    Brian,

    Not bragging at all. In fact, my comment was more aimed at tweaking Randy and his love of Brian Cashman than it was aimed at tweaking the sox.

    Right now the yankees are generally considered to have the best catching depth of any organization in baseball. That’s not my perception – that’s a general sentiment.

    And of course there’s not guarantee what prospects will do in the future.

    But how they are assessed in a cross section of time is the best working knowledge anyone has.

    And I do have to say, it’s a bit rich for you to be jumping in on the perception of prospects and their value after the sox have been lauded for years and years for being this uber prospect development organization and were in turn geniuses for doing so.

    Or don’t you remember how Craig Hanson was clearly going to change the divisional race back in 2005 right after he was drafted, or that even a couple of weeks ago we learned that Jose Iglesias is the single greatest defensive SS prospect that “one scout” had ever seen and as such was worth far more than the $8M he signed for.

    Genius is in the air!

    But of course mentioning the fact that the yankees are considered to have the best catching depth in baseball is just a complete act of hubris.

  95. randy l.

    “I know that NY is reputed to have a plethore of swell Minor League catchers. So did Texas …. unfortunately, to this point, none have panned out.”

    brian (red sox fan)-

    cervelli could throw rings around any catcher on the red sox .
    doesn’t hit much, but the red sox could use him right now.

    this isn’t the american league three years ago. the red sox need one catcher on the roster who can throw unless they can convince mlb to make a quick rule change that all teams must believe in red sox dogma that stolen bases don’t matter.

    i think it didn’t matter until girardi decided it did last night. there’s a new sheriff in town and i think the red sox are in trouble until they get a catcher who can throw.

    now maybe the red sox pitchers can keep base stealing threats off the bases, but i don’t see how they can do it consistently .

    i was most surprised when arod stole a base after the yankees had pounded lester and when they had a lead with him out of the game. but that shows the yankees are likely going to keep up the pressure.

    glad to hear lester isn’t hurt seriously. we want to beat him on the field :)

  96. Hugh Stacks

    Tex’s friend, no…no I don’t

  97. Jerkface

    The not bunting against Schilling thing is a myth. Go back and look at how the 1st 7 innings of that game played out and tell me where, and with whom, they’re going to bunt? That was a very slow Yankees team, with Jeter and Arod the only ones with any speed by that time. The botton 7 in the order were Sheffield, Matsui, Williams, Posada, Sierra, Clark and Cairo. Anyone think any of those guys is bunting for a basehit? That was a 100 win team that won with thump not speed.

    Cairo, Williams, and Jeter should have dropped down atleast 1 bunt.

  98. Medical Hair Restoration

    “And I do have to say, it’s a bit rich for you to be jumping in on the perception of prospects and their value after the sox have been lauded for years and years for being this uber prospect development organization and were in turn geniuses for doing so.

    Or don’t you remember how Craig Hanson was clearly going to change the divisional race back in 2005 right after he was drafted, or that even a couple of weeks ago we learned that Jose Iglesias is the single greatest defensive SS prospect that “one scout” had ever seen and as such was worth far more than the $8M he signed for.”

    I echo these sentiments.

  99. randy l.

    “In fact, my comment was more aimed at tweaking Randy and his love of Brian Cashman than it was aimed at tweaking the sox.”

    cb-

    just remember that he who tweaks last , tweaks best :)

    all kidding aside, from a strategy standpoint, with this soft underbelly the red sox have with their catcher’s throwing problems, what do they do from this point on?

    a part of me says they’re finished for this year, but a another part says it can’t be that easy like it was last night.

    .. and how did they win as many games as they did without teams running wild on them?

  100. CB

    randy,

    The stolen base issue is only an issue if runners get on base and the other team has speed.

    The sox staff has been keeping guys off base and that minimizes the catching issue.

    But if you combine a team that generates a high OBP and can run some the sox will have some problems as evidence by what Tampa did to them several times this year.

    I’m sure the sox have their fingers tied that the Twins can’t sign Maeur because they don’t have any quality catchers in their system close to the majors.

    As you said – Cervelli alone is a major advantage.

    And this of course completely neglects the fact that right now the biggest difference between the two teams is Jorge Posada.

    Combined offense and defense he gives the yankees a huge marginal advantage over what the sox have behind the plate.

    Remember Varitek aside from his throwing issues is hitting around .200.

    Since the trade deadline I think he’s been hitting .120 with a .196 slugging %.

    That is startling. Perhaps worse than throwing out 8% of runners.

  101. Betsy

    Wow, my thoughts go out to AJ’s dad, AJ and his whole family.

  102. Sam Borden

    Just stepped back into the press box for a quick second and wanted to answer a question from the previous thread: Yes, absolutely will I continue to Tweet. The LoHud tech folks are working on setting up a new Twitter account that is connected to the blog, and I’ll let you guys know the name and info once I get it.

  103. Betsy

    Wow, Brett GODner……..glad you could find something to joke about in a situation like this. Sheesh……

  104. Mark in Tampa

    And in Sept, Varitek is .108, with a .135 SLG. His OPS is a whopping 310.

  105. Mark in Tampa

    UPDATE, 2:35 p.m.: Posada scratched with a stiff neck.

    The same stiff neck he came away with from the Blue Jays brawl? Good thing nobody got hurt in that fight!

  106. Rex

    “Cairo, Williams, and Jeter should have dropped down atleast 1 bunt.”

    I think some small argument could be made for Jeter bunting to lead off the game for the Yankees. Have to look at the situations beyond that. His 2nd AB came with 2 outs and a man on 2nd in a scoreless game. His final AB vs. Schilling came with him leading off with his team down 4 runs.

    Cairo? He blasted a ground rule double in his 1st AB and came up with two outs, the bases empty, and his team down 4 in his 2nd.

    Williams? I think you’re thinking of the mid-late 90’s Williams who could and did run like the wind, rather than the guy who sucessfully stole 1 base…in six attempts on the year. He came up with with one out and bases empty when scoreless, one out and two on down 4-0, and 1 out nobody on in his 3rd, again down 4-0 (he homered).

    Situations and lack of team speed didn’t really work for them. Torre is unfairly scolded for the no bunt thing when in fact he simply didn’t have the weapons.

  107. Rex

    CB:

    Said it yesterday and will say it again, Varitek is quite possibly the most ineffective player on any 25 man roster in the AL. Boston seems to have come to grips with this. Chacnes are, barring injury, you and I will have as many AB’s in the playoffs as Varitek will.

  108. Richie

    Good luck to AJ’s dad.

  109. Jerkface

    Situations and lack of team speed didn’t really work for them. Torre is unfairly scolded for the no bunt thing when in fact he simply didn’t have the weapons.

    The point is not to bunt for a hit, the point is to make schilling work. You attack him with bunts because the likely-hood of bunting for a hit AND removing schilling from the game increases with each attempt he has to field. If Schilling chooses not to field it, then the likely-hood of it going for a hit goes up as well depending on how well its bunted.

    Speed is secondary to the equation!

  110. randy l.

    cb-

    i actually haven’t paid as much attention this year to the red sox as i usually do and didn’t realize that their catching situation was so vulnerable to stealing.

    if the red sox don’t slide step,as brian( red sox fan says), what chance do varitek and martinez have with their already bad throwing .

    on another topic, lost in all the other drama, when was the last time lester was pounded the way he was last night ?

    he’s been lights out for a while and the yankees really hammered him.

  111. Betsy

    Fantastic, Jorge…..that fight was really good for him.

  112. Betsy

    This stiff neck should have gone away by now – the Yankees should have Jorge examined. We can’t have him missing any playoff games…..

  113. pete

    I’m a little confused as to why people wanted to bunt against schilling in game 6 of ‘04…first off who is thinking about that right now? second…how would a bunt have helped them? why waste an out when schilling could have made a mistake and given up a HR? Despite what ESPN and FOX will try to convince you, HRs>>>>>>bunts. And 90% of the time bunting = bad baseball. Once in a while it’s a smart move…like 5 times per season. This is really the one issue I have with girardi is his love affair with bunting. 7 guys w/ 20 hrs, 11 w/ 10…

  114. Giuseppe Franco

    Posada has had stiff neck issues for years.

  115. randy l.

    ” Posada scratched with a stiff neck.”

    uh oh, ellsbury will run wild.

    but then the yankees have molina.

    but what if he gets hurt?

    ellsury will run wild?

    nope , cervelli throws well .

    what if he gets hurt?

    good point.

    yankees are screwed at the catcher position.

  116. Carl

    Ichiro ejected for the first time in his career. Drawing a line in the dirt lol

  117. Astorian

    “Williams? I think you’re thinking of the mid-late 90’s Williams who could and did run like the wind, rather than the guy who sucessfully stole 1 base…in six attempts on the year.”

    Bernie was never a base stealer. Even when he was 24 years old, he only stole 9 bases and was caught 9 times. His poor SB rate is not indicative of his overall speed. He did manage to play 97 games in CF in 2004, so I don’t think having him drop down a bunt would have been too much to ask.

  118. Benny Blanco

    honestly, I dont care who the yankees face in the first round. In order to be the best you have to beat the best.

  119. Mark in Tampa

    Not to mention that the Yanks had pasted Schilling in Game 1, and should have been able to hit him at least as well in Game 6. That said, none of this will help the Yankees win the WS this year, or the game today. Hopefully they can break their Sat afternoon/FOX malaise.

  120. CB

    randy,

    Lester has arguably been the best pitcher in the AL for the past 3-4 months. He’s been right there with Greinke.

    I was very surprised to see him get hit around last night. After the game he said that his stuff was good and tipped his hat to the hitters.

    I thought he was missing up in the zone much more often than he usually does and his cutter wasn’t as sharp. Probably just one of those nights.

    But in a game that kept getting drummed up as a playoff preview and after all the talk about the Sox being the favorites again to win the series because of their rotation it wasn’t a very good “big game” performance.

  121. S.A.--Serenity Now

    Good luck and best wishes to AJ’s dad

  122. Betsy

    GF, he has? I wasn’t aware of that…….

  123. Mark in Tampa

    CB,

    Eckersley was saying last night that he had never seen a pitcher come inside off the plate as often as Lester was doing last night. At one point, he said that Lester was very stubborn as he wasn’t throwing any strikes. He gave credit to the Yankee hitters, saying “they aren’t the Royals, who will swing at whatever you throw up there. They will not help you out.” He basically credited a lot of Lester’s, and Bucholz’ success lately to going up against free swinging teams. He said their success wasn’t indicative of how they were pitching because of the teams they were going against.

  124. randy l.

    cb-

    i’m trying to temper my giddiness over the yankees hammering lester who as you said as been as good as anyone in baseball and with the yankees staeling so much last night.

    but last night, when you also add joba pitching aggressively and well , was a very good night for the yankees.

  125. PittsburghYankeeFan

    Sox have issues going into the postseason. Drink the NESN cool aid if you wish, but look close enough, and the 09 Sox look somewhat like the 02 and 05 Yankees–lots of “apparent” pitching, but scratch under the surface, and things are a bit tenuous.

    Sure, when you’re beating up on Baltimore you look great, and you could have lost 2/3 to the Angels a week ago if Fuentes and the umps hadn’t given you a game.

    An interesting stat: Lester is 4-6 with an ERA over 6 against teams that are .500 or better. Beckett is not much better.

    Yankees just need to keep up the intensity. This is a different team than the past 7-8 years.

  126. Joe B

    “That Stuffy was a heck of a player. Man, the times we had,” Angel Berroa said.

    AMAZING!

  127. Mark in Tampa

    BTW, I am expecting Eck to get canned or fined by NESN for not drinking so much of the Red kool-aid! :) He has actually gotten a lot better in the last few games I have seen on NESN. Unfortunately, Extra Innings only gives me about 6 out of every 10 games on YES.

  128. Betsy

    If AJ’s dad has been ill for awhile, perhaps that explains (at least partially) his struggles……playing with a heavy heart must be near impossible.

  129. Medical Hair Restoration

    “BTW, I am expecting Eck to get canned or fined by NESN for not drinking so much of the Red kool-aid! He has actually gotten a lot better in the last few games I have seen on NESN.”

    Is one of those games one in which Eckersley said that Buchholz has one of the “best offspeed pitches” he has ever seen?

    :)

  130. MG

    Betsy
    September 26th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
    Why does AJ pitching on Tuesday suck?

    Question: do we think Joe is going to pitch Phil 2 innings in a post-season game if necessary? If that’s so, shouldn’t Phil be pitching to more than one batter at a time (why not stay in for the 9th yesterday)? If he’s not used to throwing 2 innings, how is he going to do that effectively in the post-season?
    ——————————
    Betsy, you can relax, Phil threw almost 40 pitches in one game recently, he isn’t going to wilt throwing a couple of innings in a game.

  131. randy l.

    mark in tampa-

    i was surprised how much fun eckersley was having in the booth last night while the red sox were having a devastating loss .

    i’ll be surprised if he’s not asked to tone it down.

    i kind of always liked him though.

    there’s no denying he knows the game.

  132. CB

    “but last night, when you also add joba pitching aggressively and well , was a very good night for the yankees.”

    You know what the funny part of this yankee team is – they have so many weapons that tremendous performances go unnoticed.

    Case in point last night – how much attention did Alex’s night get?

    As usual, when Alex is brilliant it’s overlooked because well he’s just supposed to do that.

    Alex was bar none the best player on the diamond last night and it wasn’t close. He was playing at a level that only a handful of players over the past decade could approach.

    The combination of the power, speed, patience, and ability to square up the ball at will off a LH hitter who is brutal on RH hitters he demonstrated was phenomenal.

    That was probably one of the single best games any player in baseball has put together all season.

  133. Doreen

    Hope AJ’s dad has a successful surgery.

    Good luck to CC and the Yankees today.

    Build on last night – which was a great game.

    Lovin’ the numbers on Cano. The RISP thing is really an anomaly.

  134. MG

    Mark in Tampa
    September 26th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
    UPDATE, 2:35 p.m.: Posada scratched with a stiff neck.

    The same stiff neck he came away with from the Blue Jays brawl? Good thing nobody got hurt in that fight!
    ————————
    since the brawl, Jorge is 6-15 with 1 HR and 5 RBIs plus made that great throw in Anaheim.

    If this was an important game he’d be in the lineup. Those ‘broken toes’ didn’t exactly set him back either, did they?

    This is also a day game after a night game, don’t you think that might have something to do with it as well?

  135. Medical Hair Restoration

    Betsy:

    I did not even think about it before, before you brought it up. I think Joe will use Phil for 2 innings in the postseason, with days off in between games. Phil for 2 innings is a huge advantage in shortening the game.

  136. Mark in Tampa

    Medical Hair Restoration,

    I must have missed that one. The only time I watch anything on NESN is when I have to because YES is not being broadcast, and the end of the Boston games when they are losing!

    Randy,

    I was enjoying Eck enjoying the Boston beat-down!

  137. Doreen

    CB -

    Alex has been nothing short of phenomenal most of the season, and surely in the last month. His whole approach is better. I love that the hits have NOT all been HRs.

    I also love one of the things you and randy were talking about above – the different approaches the Yankees as a team take depending on the team they are facing, he pitcher they are facing. It’s been apparent for quite a while that there is no one set game plan.

  138. ADam

    Prediction*** Dice walk intentionally beams TEX and or Arod in the first inning….

  139. Band 7

    I really hope AJ doesn’t miss the celebration.

    Is he planning to leave Sunday after the game (and celebration if there is one) and come back on Monday sometime before the end of the game so he can be apart of the celebration (if there is one on Monday)?

    He was saying all this time how much he was looking forward to it and he had “big plans”. If we clinch when he isn’t with the team, I would hope they wait till he comes back to celebrate. It would be kind of anti-climatic though…

  140. Betsy

    Medical, I’m not sure he will do that all the time. Earlier this season, when Phil was pitching 2 at a time, he’d get tired in the 2nd….If he’s going to pitch 2 innings, he’s going to need to use his curve a bit more. I do think it’s going to come down to Phil and Mo……..can we really trust Robertson? He was getting there in the last month or so, but I still have some doubts (plus, he’ll at best have a couple of outings before the post-season, not the most ideal way to prepare).

  141. Mark in Tampa

    “This is also a day game after a night game, don’t you think that might have something to do with it as well?”

    I would say probably not, since he was in the original lineup. I wasn’t saying that he wouldn’t have played if the game meant anything, just commenting that escalating that situation against Toronto may not have been the smartest thing ever.

  142. 100 pitches of fun...

    Dice walk intentionally beams TEX and or Arod in the first inning
    ——————–

    If the Yanks have a lot of guys on base during the game he will definitely hit one of them. That is his way of “pitching around” a guy when he doesn’t want to pitch to them.

  143. Victor the Predictor

    Theo Epstein will sign Angel Berroa as Boston’s utility IF for 2010. He’s enamored with the scrap pile types of players to save a buck here and there for John Henry.

  144. Reason

    Wow, good luck to AJ’s dad. Sure is not the bestthing to happends to a human being. Hopefully, he’ll come out fine from this surgery. Good luck, and best wishes to him.

  145. Betsy

    Band, I’m thinking AJ doesn’t care much about the possible celebrating right now…..I hope he’s able to pitch on Tuesday because that means his dad came out of surgery ok.

  146. 100 pitches of fun...

    Too bad Tek isn’t in the lineup today, he will be missed. Hopefully we see him tomorrow.

  147. JZ

    Molina?
    He can’t do a thing

  148. BBB

    Wow, Pete’s got jokes today! I LOL’d for real 3 or 4 different times.

    2 quick notes that I’m sure have already been discussed exhaustively, but i lack the free time to verify -

    1) no Gardner today? Why not?? Isn’t this the perfect game for him to start, against a righty pitcher who douses his drawers every time there’s speed on the basepaths, and walks a lot of ppl and throws a lot of pitches?

    2) according to Kay last night, Reggie Jackson said Alex is in a different mindset going into the playoffs this year than he’s been in years past, that he’s thrown his baggage to the wind, etc…..not to be a cynic, but my question is how many years has Reggie said that now? I know he said the EXACT same thing in 07. Clearly he wants Alex to provide a diet version of what he provided in 77…I hope it happens, and I do think he’ll hit well in the playoffs this year, but Alex is no Reggie or even a Diet Reggie. He (Alex) is the more talented player, but I just cant ever see him producing the same dramatic results.

  149. JZ

    I am with you , Adam. dxxxk will do just that

  150. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    Pinstriped procession…

    Down the Canyon of Heroes…

    Fable of the fall…

  151. MG

    Mark in Tampa
    September 26th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
    “This is also a day game after a night game, don’t you think that might have something to do with it as well?”

    I would say probably not, since he was in the original lineup. I wasn’t saying that he wouldn’t have played if the game meant anything, just commenting that escalating that situation against Toronto may not have been the smartest thing ever.
    ————————
    Mark, thanks, I just got home and didn’t see the original lineup, that will teach me not to read the stuff at the top :)

  152. Giuseppe Franco

    Betsy September 26th, 2009 at 3:18 pm

    GF, he has? I wasn’t aware of that…….

    ————-

    Yeah, he’s had that issue for a long time. It’s certainly possible that the fight aggravated it, though.

  153. Rick

    Girardi will probably stay away from Hughes for 2 innings. Because if he ends up throwing 27 pitches or something in the 7th… what if he gets tired in the 8th? Detroit only has one good lefty (Granderson), so Coke/Marte won’t be used much.

    I’d imagine he only uses Hughes for 2 if its an elimination game and he is planning on splitting 9 outs with him and MO. Or if we’re in extra innings.

    Just like managers don’t like to use closers for 5-6 out saves… if they throw a lot of pitches in the 8th, you are gambling in the 9th.

  154. Betsy

    The things you learn……thanks, GF. I suppose he’d be playing if this was a playoff game. I just like everything to be smooth and perfect, but I guess after 150 something games (esp. as a catcher), that’s just not going to happen.

  155. Betsy

    Rick, that’s true……but on the other hand, Joe will have to have a very short leash with Robertson, Coke or whomever. If it means Phil has to go 1 and 2/3 or 1 1/3 innings, so be it – they can’t let a game get away with their lesser relievers on the mound. You take a win where you can get it…..

  156. Matt

    Posada has a stiff neck, and sore toes, and it’s a day game after a night game. With a 6.5 game lead and a magic number of 3, it makes perfect sense to be overly cautious and give him the day off.

    He played last night and went 2 for 4. The injuries are clearly not affecting him, but aggravating it unnecessarily could be detrimental in the long run.

  157. Stevie

    UPDATE, 2:35 p.m.: Posada scratched with a stiff neck.
    =======================================

    No worries. I don’t want Jorge catching a day game after a night game, anyways. Not this close to the playoffs.

  158. Giuseppe Franco

    Pat M,

    I guess you probably shouldn’t take my word for it any longer in regards to college football or at least my Wolverines.

    Indiana actually outgained Michigan today and that’s a disgrace. Tons of mistakes on the offensive side of the ball and poor execution all day.

    Their starting center broke his foot last week and his replacement must’ve had about six bad snaps, four of them resulting in huge losses that killed drives.

    Now I’m worried about Forcier. He was hit on a short run play and hurt his shoulder.

    Don’t know if he simply bruised it or what but his teammate slapped his shoulder to congratulate him after a TD pass and he yelled out like Tom the cat after getting his tail caught in a mousetrap.

    That’s not good at all. He’s the difference in this team winning 9 games or winning 6-7 with their backup QBs.

  159. Carl

    Lets go Yankees!!!

  160. Pat M.

    Mr. Franco, no sweat, I backed it up with the overs as per Dennis……I have an emergency so I’m catching a flight …Go Yanks

  161. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Just popping in. About Molina – yes it’s probably a day after night that but the Yanks may also be pretty confident that CC will keep the scoring down. Anyway, I’m a big fan of Molina so I’m always happy to see him in the lineup.

    I am so enamored of the yankees and the way they’ve been playing that I can’t imagine them losing any more games.

    This team rocks!

  162. Brian (Red Sox Fan)

    CB and Randy – I can certainly understand your euphoria. In your shoes, I’d feel exactly the same way.

    Right now, I’m at the “that’s why they play the games” stage. The Yankees have more weapons and answers, and the Red Sox more holes and questions. I was shocked to see Lester pull a Smoltz last nite.

    One consolation for Sox fans is that this core group has played up to their potential in October. They might lose, but they don’t gag (have an ungodly winning percentage in elimination games). Until this group of Yankees proves that they can handle platyoff pressure, Boston will have a puncher’s chance.

    P.S. I know that Jeter, Posada, Mo and Pettitte have succeeded in the playoffs – but that was BEFORE Teddy Bruschi was a playoff force (i.e. a way’s back).

  163. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    And by the way, my fantasy team, which actually is finishing much stronger than I thought it would, struggled pretty much all season. One of the few players who is really paying off for me, though, is Michael Cuddyer. The guy is on fire. At one point I had a lot of Minny players, including Justin Mourneau.

    “The biggest comeback in baseball history!!!*

    You’ll have to exccuse my asterisk…

  164. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Pat M – hope everything is okay.

  165. Ed in Oregon

    What is going on with McCarver’s hair?

  166. Rick

    The saddest day in Terry Francona’s life will be when Theo Epstein tells him active player status will have to be cut with Varitek and Wakefield leaving Ortiz as the lone remaining player from his 2004 team. The contract of Ortiz runs out after the 2010 season.

  167. christina25

    Rob B (Officially on the Jeter for MVP bandwagon)
    September 25th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
    I was just wondering:

    Where’s that girl (Christina?) who’s always complaining about pitchers who throw at opposing batters? Why isn’t she here lambasting Hunter?
    How sweet of you to look out for me. I didnt even wanted to watch the game after Lester got hurt. As a matter of fact I started crying when he got hit. I hope he is okay. As far as Hunter goes I dont like to see any pitcher throwing up and high. I dont care what team they are play for. That is why I get upset when somebody gets hit near the head area. I know that I’m in the minority but if a pitcher throws near the head I want them to get banned for at least 20 to 25 games to teach them a lesson.

  168. pat

    If the game gets boring, McCarver could sing for everyone. He has a new album out. :shock:

  169. CB

    Brian,

    I do think the yankees are the systematically better team than the Sox.

    But in no way do I think this is anyway a lock for the yanks. The playoffs just don’t work that way.

    If one could play the playoffs 100 times the yanks would win 60-65% of the time, IMO.

    But the playoffs only get played once, so it’s hard to know what the outcome will be.

    The Sox have much more than a punchers chance.

  170. raymagnetic

    “Re: Ortiz …. he’s turned into Adam Dunn. Just keep whaling away, and sometimes the ball hits the bat. There’s a reason that he’s hitting .230.”

    Adam Dunn has a .953 OPS. So no, Brian Red Sox fan, Ortiz has NOT turned into Adam Dunn.

    Brian Red Sox Fan – Delusional as usual.

  171. jennifer

    christina why don’t you go post on the nesn blog? Or do you just like to annoy people?

  172. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Not counting this AB, the elf has a .083 average against CC.

    :D

  173. 100 pitches of fun...

    Who is taller Ken Rosenthal or Smurfy Pedroia?

  174. Benny Blanco

    This is gonna be a long day for sox batters…

  175. Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist

    Pedroia complains about every called strike against him, it seems.

  176. RalphieD (OPPC)

    does pedroia ever not complain?

  177. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    What a POS that little turd Pedroia is. He whines more than Pukey, if that’s even possible!

  178. Trevor (Super Mario)

    lol smurf on a temper tantrum.

  179. Benny Blanco

    CC is on his game today. He’s locating the fast ball.

  180. Ed in Oregon

    Carsten Charles is dealing !

  181. Vrsce

    Pedroia is an irritating litle twerp, but he would be loved if he was a Yankee.

  182. jennifer

    That is pitch #2 that Kellogg has missed.

  183. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    That one WAS strike three!

  184. Carl

    GJ CC!

  185. 100 pitches of fun...

    Nice start for the big guy.

  186. kav

    UPDATE, 4:09 p.m.: Escorted by Jorge Posada, new Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor just threw out the first pitch to Jorge Posada. Judge Sotomayor was wearing a Yankees jersey. She is a Bronx native and a big Yankees fan. Great moment for her, I’m sure.

    um it was not thrown to jorge i dont think

  187. 100 pitches of fun...

    Bring on DiceK and his crappy pitches. They have to be patient with him.

  188. Carl

    She threw to Molina. Fox just showed it. Posada just escorted.

  189. Fondo Motz

    Nice start for CC
    Looks like a blustery day at the Stadium.

  190. Valerie G.

    8 minute top of the first…not too bad.

  191. Lee23 *Bridge Jumper*

    Who the hell is Josh Lewin???

    He’s awful! I think I’d rather listen to Joe Morgan than this guy.

  192. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    “Pedroia is an irritating litle twerp, but he would be loved if he was a Yankee.”

    I’m personally not big on seeing players in pinstripes look like they’re going to stroke out and then watching them mouth “F U” (the words, not the letters) to the ump because they’ve been called out on strikes, called out legitimately I might add.

    Just a style preference.

  193. 100 pitches of fun...

    Ump can this strike zone please be consistent…

  194. CB

    CC Sabathia my arguably be the best starting pitcher to put on the pinstripes since Whitey Ford.

    Catfish and Guidry were great but their peak performance didn’t last long.

    CC has now put up his 3rd straight great year and is only 29.

  195. neo

    a link for the game please????

  196. 100 pitches of fun...

    Yanks attacking the Sox pitchers lol

  197. Carl

    Jete!

  198. Stevie

    Maybe all that yelling and whinning by Pedoria worked. The ump gave VMart a break on what shoulda been a called 3rd strike.

  199. Fondo Motz

    Damon is due

  200. Vrsce

    trisha – OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    “then watching them mouth “F U” (the words, not the letters) to the ump because they’ve been called out on strikes”

    Perhaps he said Foolish Umpire.

  201. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    If I had some wishes having to do with the game of baseball, one would absolutely be to hear every conversation at first base between opposing players. I ALWAYS wonder what they talk about.

    :)

  202. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    VRSCE -

    I used the letters just because you can’t use those words here. But he definitely said the magic words!

    :)

  203. Brian (Red Sox Fan)

    Raymagnetic – I compared Ortiz to Dunn because of the propensity towards strikeouts and/or HRs. Ultimately, all analogies fail if you carry them far enough.

    I don’t consider myself delusionsl, but maybe I’m deluding myself.

  204. Fondo Motz

    Wind is blowing SSE so I expect some shots out to right today

  205. Vrsce

    Getting Dice K’s pitch count up.

  206. Carl

    Jeter should have ran earlier. Nice at bat by Johnny though.

  207. Lee23 *Bridge Jumper*

    Vrsce
    September 26th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
    Pedroia is an irritating litle twerp, but he would be loved if he was a Yankee
    ================================================

    Seriously?

    That little Keebler Elf would never ever be a Yankee.
    He looks like a petulant child after each at-bat.
    Either that or a member of the Lollipop Kids….
    Weee wish to welcome you to Munchkin Laaaand!

  208. Benny Blanco

    Make sure the rs bullpen is ready today. Wea are gonna wear out dice-klay.

  209. Carl

    Who is calling the game with Timmy.?. He’s terrible

  210. Fondo Motz

    Run Run Run them back to Bean Town

  211. 100 pitches of fun...

    Go Johnny, Go. lol

  212. Benny Blanco

    run johnny , run. LOL

  213. RalphieD (OPPC)

    so a key point for dice-k is to use more of the middle of the plate?…ive never heard that as a good thing for a pitcher…i know the guy walks a ton of people but the middle of the plate isnt where you want to live..

  214. Ed in Oregon

    Boy Martinez takes a long time to get rid of the ball…

  215. JoshWhite

    “catch me with x and og at a yankee game. s***, i make a yankee hat more famous than a yankee can. you should know i bleed blue…”
    -jay-z, “empire state of mind”

  216. Fondo Motz

    I am really going to be interested in the stats at the end of this series showing how many of these stolen bases led to runs against the Red Sox

  217. Lee23 *Bridge Jumper*

    Carl
    September 26th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
    Who is calling the game with Timmy.?. He’s terrible
    =======================================================
    Lee23 *Bridge Jumper*
    September 26th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
    Who the hell is Josh Lewin???

    He’s awful! I think I’d rather listen to Joe Morgan than this guy.

    =====================================================

    I’m saying!

  218. randy l.

    brian (red sox fan)

    a few days ago i thought the red sox were the favorites in the playoffs because of beckett,lester , and buchholz.

    i really had no idea how vulnerable the red sox were to base stealing.

    as you say they still have a sluggers chance , but if the yankees run on martinez the way they did on varitek, it’ll likely affect his hitting because that just rips apart a catcher when that happens.

    they play the games for a reason, as you say ,so we’ll see.

  219. tk

    raymagnetic September 26th, 2009 at 4:14 pm

    “Re: Ortiz …. he’s turned into Adam Dunn. Just keep whaling away, and sometimes the ball hits the bat. There’s a reason that he’s hitting .230.”

    Adam Dunn has a .953 OPS. So no, Brian Red Sox fan, Ortiz has NOT turned into Adam Dunn.

    Brian Red Sox Fan – Delusional as usual.

    Adam Dunn, Denard Span, and David Ortiz. Which of these three doesn’t belong? If you guessed Denard Span you would be wrong. He and Ortiz are only separated by 5 points in OPS (.799 vs .794) while, like you said, Dunn is at .953. This surprised me, because the analysts talk like Ortiz is the most feared hitter alive…well that’s probably still Jim Rice, but you get my point.

  220. Carl

    didn’t know rod was that horrible against dicek

  221. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    I hope Pete knows what he’s getting into with Francona. Who woulda thunk it, but anyone who watched the game on NESN last night heard this conversation between Eck and Orsillo. They were talking about how Girardi might be given a little media respite now that Joba had a good start and they said they gave Girardi a lot of credit because he was asked whether or not he thought they had ruined Joba (might have used a word other than ruined but the idea was the same) with their Joba routine and they said Girardi patiently answered the question. They commented that the media had really given Girardi the business concerning Joba and that he handled it well.

    Then one said to the other “Can you imagine if that were Terry?” And there was a lot of tittering and then comments back and forth alluding to the fact that Francona does not tolerate being pressed by the press.

    I didn’t know that of Francona but I figure if Pete doesn’t know that aspect of his reputation his new colleagues will fill him in soon enough!

  222. Fondo Motz

    Sox need to be fit with leggings

  223. 100 pitches of fun...

    Poor Youk. They are really getting beat up…

  224. Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist

    Executives & all the broadcasters at Fox are praying, wishing, hoping the Red Sox play the Yankees in the ALCS–really working hard at the jinx at this point because it seems like every inning they mention that these two teams might meet up in October. Dreaming of dollar signs and ratings.

  225. Lee23 *Bridge Jumper*

    McCarver:

    Youk the Puke “fouled one off his left shin. Make that his right foot.”

    Good spotting Timmy.

  226. 100 pitches of fun...

    CC is pitching inside really well in this game so far.

  227. Vrsce

    The Boston Globe, Red Sox beat reporter has mucho clout. Terry F will have to be communicative.

  228. Fondo Motz

    CC is nasty

  229. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    No offense intended to the Royals but the Sux to me look like they might as well be the Royals or some other team that has no shot.

    I’m not complaining of course but I can’t remember them looking more useless as a team than watching them of late. Just awful.

    Unless Ortiz shares some of his powerful vitamins, I can’t see them having a shot at anything other than a few round of golf.

    JMO.

    The Ortiz karma has permeated the team at the right time of year.

  230. Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist

    Jose has taken a couple of shots already behind the plate today. A victim of the fact that the Sawks hitters are late on everything CC is throwing.

  231. Carl

    CC my homie

  232. Ed in Oregon

    I’ll say it again, Carsten Charles is dealing

  233. Stevie

    look at Lowell — every single ‘roid sox whines after being wrung-up, even when they swing and miss.

  234. Jerkface

    No offense intended to the Royals but the Sux to me look like they might as well be the Royals or some other team that has no shot.

    The yankees have this affect on teams at times. They can consistently make it appear as tho they are on another level completely depending on the day.

    I have watched a lot of games this year and the Yankees, as should befit their payroll, do this more consistently than any other team.

  235. Trevor (Super Mario)

    “Executives & all the broadcasters at Fox are praying, wishing, hoping the Red Sox play the Yankees in the ALCS-really working hard at the jinx at this point because it seems like every inning they mention that these two teams might meet up in October”

    YES doing the same thing. I mean yesterday on the pre game you had Cone basically breaking down the Yankee vs Sox ALCS.
    Can the Yankees get through the ALDS first (which they’ve had trouble with in recent years) first?

  236. Jason from The Heartland

    Amen to that, Ed in Oregon. Can’t be much more dominant than The Big Guy has thus far.

  237. 100 pitches of fun...

    What is DiceK doing??

  238. Carl

    Japan stand up!

  239. lets go twins

    When you look at what Girardi is doing against the Red Sox with these SB’s it is actually hilarious. In what in all honesty amounts to basically meaningless games he is absolutely embarrassing the Sox and completely exposing them to the Angels. Girardi has full control over these games and Francona can only sit there and watch. Everyone knew Varitek and VMart had no arm but I do not think anyone thought it was thiiiis easy. This has to be in the Sox head come playoff time. I am like Joe more and more as the season goes on.

  240. CB

    It’s hard to believe that so many yankee fans to start the season were dismissing CC as “not an ace.” As a guy who is just an “innings eater” who was successful only because of the NL last year.

    He’s a no doubt top 5 pitcher. He has nasty stuff.

    He’s an absolute horse.

  241. Laura - Matsui will be a Yankee in 2010!!

    Anybody got a link for us out of towners to watch the game?

  242. pat

    Swishy breaks his 0-fer :smile:

  243. 100 pitches of fun...

    Nice to see Swish get a hit

  244. Jason from The Heartland

    CB, I don’t get that either. The guy had a couple rough spots early, and has been a horse ever since. I think people were a little impatient early, and the team’s struggles in April didn’t help. But C.C. has been every bit the ace the team has needed for some time. Great acquisition, nothing short.

  245. Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist

    Trevor, interesting bit about the YES pregame. I agree that it is way premature, and as a fan it drives me crazy considering how short-lived the Yankees’ last 3 postseason appearances have been. Sox/Yankees would be great to go through again but no way am I at all prepared to think about it or project the match-up until that 3rd division series victory is secured.

  246. Stevie

    Run, Swisher, Run!

  247. Jason from The Heartland

    Nice at-bat, Cano. Good patience.

  248. Jason from The Heartland

    Is Melky aiming at the Sox pitchers? Wow, everything through the box, but a force at third.

  249. Jason from The Heartland

    Cycle it back to the top, Molina.

  250. 100 pitches of fun...

    Swisher should of busted it to 3rd, he was jogging.

  251. Fondo Motz

    That was no swing

  252. Trevor (Super Mario)

    Amazing how Molina always come up in these spots.

  253. Jason from The Heartland

    Well, so much for that. Hold that hard line, C.C.

  254. Vrsce

    100 pitches of fun…

    You are right. Swisher dogged it.

  255. Stevie

    I think Dr. Stephen HAwkings could steal off these gomers.

  256. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Laura, I just checked on MLB and it appears it is blacked out because it is a FOX game of the week, otherwise I would give you my account to use. If you want to hear the audio I’m happy to share.

    I will also check out the other link I have saved as a favorite and if the game is on, I will give you that link.

  257. Jeremy

    Dice-k gets lucky again !

  258. Carl

    Trevor (Super Mario) September 26th, 2009 at 4:52 pm

    Amazing how Molina always come up in these spots.

    Whats even more amazing to me, If its 1 out with a man on, he will find a way to hit into a double play.

  259. jennifer

    Trevor (Super Mario) September 26th, 2009 at 4:52 pm

    Amazing how Molina always come up in these spots.

    **********

    Try as you might, you can’t hide your bad hitters. The big spots always find them.

  260. 100 pitches of fun...

    I really wish Girardi would let Cervelli start some games. Molina has no chance up there.

  261. Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist

    Swisher is not fast enough to beat out a comebacker that didn’t get far from the mound. He wasn’t slacking on his way to 3rd, he is just not that fast. It was a close play, it’s not like he was out by a mile.

  262. BBB

    ok, so I live in Philly and I absolutely cannot get over the complaining the Roid Sux are allowed to do after absolutely every called strike, while Shane Victorino has umpires charging into center field from home plate to throw him out of the game because they saw him mouth something to another outfielder about the strike zone!

    seriously, how do they get away with this crap, and other players get kicked out of games for so much less? it’s mind boggling.

  263. smile for the camera

    Daisuke looks extremely unimpressive to me. I think tops he has hit 91 on the radar gun and he has left MULTIPLE breaking pitches up in the zone. He hung one big time to Matsui and the speed fooled Hideki. If Daisuke keeps throwing like this, the Yankees will score runs off him. No doubt in my mind. If this is the new and improved Daisuke, I’m sure not worried about this guy.

  264. Arno

    Damnit. Dice-gay f*ck-u-sucka strikes again with the fail.

  265. tk

    I don’t understand the broadcaster’s comment about Cano’s improved patience. His walk rate last year was 4.2% and is exactly the same this year. I think the fact Cano is hitting 50 points higher is giving him a false impression about Cano’s overall game changing.

  266. Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist

    What is Josh Lewin talking about? Baldelli played in the Sunday night game at Fenway the last time they met, and CC was on the mound.

  267. Jason from The Heartland

    Well done, Melky!

  268. CB

    Dice k really doesn’t have a lot on his fastball. He was never the guy who could throw mid 90’s like he was purported to be coming from Japan.

    But his fastball looks worse than it has in the past. In turn he looks to be even more reliant on getting by with junk.

    The yankees are going to make adjustments next time through the order.

  269. Carl

    Melky!

  270. BBB

    “seriously, how do they get away with this crap”

    actually, stupid question. the same way they get away with having someone on their board of directors spearhead a league-wide steroid investigation focused on a supplier who worked in new york, i guess.

  271. Fondo Motz

    Nice catch Melky

  272. pat

    Melky plays the wall as well as anyone

  273. 100 pitches of fun...

    Nice play by Melky. I thought that might go out. Cue the McCarver homerun talk.

  274. Carl

    wow fast inning

  275. Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist

    What was that, a 6 pitch inning? CC could be out there for a while this afternoon given how efficient and overpowering he has been so far.

  276. Jason from The Heartland

    6 pitches for The Big Guy that frame, just 35 through three.

  277. jennifer

    Back to the top of the lineup. Lets get some runs!

  278. thebrettgarderexplosion

    35 pitched thru 3.

    nice.

  279. Jason from The Heartland

    CB, I expect the same good adjustments, and I agree about Matsuzaka’s fastball. He’s lost a bit of velocity on it.

  280. thebrettgarderexplosion

    Melky will hit a HR in the 6th.

  281. the.brett.garder.explosion.

    final 4-2 yanks.
    run in the ninth for the Boston red sox.

  282. Carl

    Top of the booty cheeks

  283. 100 pitches of fun...

    Get better location DiceK. Now time to steal a base Jete.

  284. BJK

    CB
    September 26th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
    Dice k really doesn’t have a lot on his fastball. He was never the guy who could throw mid 90’s like he was purported to be coming from Japan.

    But his fastball looks worse than it has in the past. In turn he looks to be even more reliant on getting by with junk.

    The yankees are going to make adjustments next time through the order.

    ———————————————————

    It’s a good thing he’s not throwing his gyroball or we’d really be in trouble.

  285. Trevor (Super Mario)

    BOOOOOOO!

    Shut up McCarver.

  286. Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist

    Should be off the races again.

  287. Jason from The Heartland

    Nice pitch, Matsuzaka. Hit the bull next time.

  288. jennifer

    This hysterical quote was posted by Sweeny

    YankeesWFAN Went to the bathroom and missed CC’s entire inning. I could go to Bolivia and back and not miss Daisuke’s inning.

  289. Jason from The Heartland

    BJK, good point about the much feared gyroball. I’ve lost hours of sleep in craven fear of it.

  290. Jason from The Heartland

    [sarcasm]

  291. Stevie

    What the hell was that?

  292. 100 pitches of fun...

    Damn, wind tunnel…

  293. Stevie

    Run Derek, Run!

  294. JZ

    dicek well done

  295. Carl

    Tex!

  296. Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist

    Johnny picked the wrong part of right field to hit that one to. Ball would have been gone if he had pulled it a little more. Jacoby the greatest CFer since Willie Mays didn’t look too good on that one.

  297. Jason from The Heartland

    I’ll take that bloop. Time for A-Rod to deliver, and he’s done that well lately.

  298. Fondo Motz

    I noted earlier the wind is blowing SSE. So expect shots to carry to right.

  299. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Thanks FOX!

    NOT!!!

  300. RS

    Need to get runs here. This game feels like we should already be leading.

  301. the.brett.garder.explosion.

    a-rod will walk or…

  302. 100 pitches of fun...

    DiceK really has Arod thinking too much…

  303. 100 pitches of fun...

    Everything is in on his hands for the DP.

  304. islesfan

    I don’t get what Dice-K was doing for 3 months. He looks like the same type of pitcher. Low 90’s fastball, doesn’t like to throw strikes, throws a ton of pitches, gives up a lot of baserunners and can be worked by a patient team.

    Is this really supposed to be new and improved?

  305. Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist

    I’m sure Hideki would like a chance to do some damage with the bases loaded against his countryman. Although he is even more of a DP candidate than Al.

  306. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Just a sac fly. Please!

  307. Jerkface

    I don’t get what Dice-K was doing for 3 months. He looks like the same type of pitcher. Low 90’s fastball, doesn’t like to throw strikes, throws a ton of pitches, gives up a lot of baserunners and can be worked by a patient team.

    Is this really supposed to be new and improved?

    He didn’t go away to improve, his arm literally fell off and he spent the last 3 months waiting for a new one to grow in a secret japanese lab.

  308. Fondo Motz

    Arod sure crafted that DP

  309. Carl

    are you kidding me

  310. JZ

    gosh, pooooor arod AB

  311. Jason from The Heartland

    Horrible end to a threat there. Hold that hard line, C.C.

  312. RS

    Arod guessing again, and that’s the only way the Sox catchers will ever throw out a basestealer.

  313. Trevor (Super Mario)

    FAIL Way to end an inning. lol

  314. Jeremy

    Come on ! Why is Alex guessing so much with Dice-k. He keeps on using that stupid breaking ball. Maybe he will get a hit later.

  315. Northy

    That was clumsy and ugly at the same time…

  316. islesfan

    What did ARod do wrong there? It was a low ball and he thought he drew a walk. Just because Martinez ate the ball doesn’t mean he was interfered with. That was bogus.

  317. October

    Just perusing Fangraphs and was surprised to see that Boston has 4 of the top 28 strikeout rates:

    7. Jason Bay 31%
    23. Kevin Youkilis 25%
    24. J.D. Drew 25%
    28. David Oritz 24%

    I found this interesting. It makes me wonder how it will impact their offense in October.

  318. 100 pitches of fun...

    Arod you take a fastball right down the middle? A pitcher like DiceK is not a good match up for him. He is thinking too much on what he will be throwing. Terrible at bat.

  319. Stevie

    Alex in a fog today.

  320. the.brett.garder.explosion.

    wow you guys whining already?
    unreal.

  321. Fondo Motz

    Check out their OBP

  322. randy l.

    brain cramp on arod on that one.

    you can tell he’s not used to situational hitting.

    he has to know that the runner could be going.

    he’ll get better.

  323. 100 pitches of fun...

    Leaving a runner on 3rd is horrible. How many guys are they going to leave on base???

  324. 100 pitches of fun...

    That call on Arod was a joke. If he thought that he walked isn’t he supposed to go to 1st base? Where else is he supposed to go?

  325. Benny Blanco

    seriously, cc is on the morning.

  326. Jason from The Heartland

    C.C. overpowered Ellsbury there.

  327. Benny Blanco

    *money

  328. YankeesLuv

    omg the whining is unbelievable, calm down everyone.

  329. Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist

    I think it’s an understatement to say that Pedroia is not real comfortable facing CC.

  330. YankeesLuv

    It looked like he should have gotten a walk but oh well, still early. Go Yankees.

  331. Jason from The Heartland

    So far from C.C.’s end, this has saturday August 8 written all over it. C.C. looks the same now as he did then against Boston.

  332. Brett GODner

    “4 of the top 28 strikeout rates”

    Not the top 31??

  333. MG

    as usual when the Yankees don’t score for 3 innings, the whining has begun…

  334. CM

    I wonder if Pete will continue to call pedroia ‘Keebler’ once he gets to the globe….

  335. Trevor (Super Mario)

    Sabathia has pitched very well against the Sox this year. Nice to see your starters pitch well against your biggest rivals.

  336. Stevie

    # randy l. September 26th, 2009 at 5:10 pm

    brain cramp on arod on that one.

    you can tell he’s not used to situational hitting.

    he has to know that the runner could be going.

    he’ll get better.
    =====================================

    True. Wait until Alex gets another 5 years seasoning, he’ll be a RISP machine.

  337. MG

    McCarver made a big point about Eiland changing CC’s fastball grip after the ASB and how it has helped him (pretty obvious from the results). Had Pete or any other NY writer reported this before today?

  338. Dr. Cox

    There are times, especially with where we are in the season, that I believe I am the only relaxed Yankee fan.

  339. Jason from The Heartland

    Shoot, C.C. lost the perfecto.

  340. Brett GODner

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    No more perfect game.

  341. pat

    “Arod you take a fastball right down the middle?”

    Gameday shows it paint inside at the knees.

  342. Carl

    Jete baby!!

  343. 100 pitches of fun...

    VMart is having the best at bats out of anyone on their team. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that he used to catch him.

  344. Jason from The Heartland

    C.C. at 51 pitches through 4, excellent work. Get The Big Guy some runs.

  345. the.brett.garder.explosion.

    ZOMG!!! YANKS HAVENT SCORED IN THREE INNINGS!! FIRE GIRARDI! REHIRE PETE!! BRING BACK THE OLD YANKEE STADIUM!!!

    chillllllll.
    namaste
    this is entertainment guys [and gals].

  346. Arno

    Jumpman!

  347. Carl

    MG September 26th, 2009 at 5:16 pm

    McCarver made a big point about Eiland changing CC’s fastball grip after the ASB and how it has helped him (pretty obvious from the results). Had Pete or any other NY writer reported this before today?

    I don’t think so

  348. Jason from The Heartland

    Terrific catch, Jeter.

  349. Ed in Oregon

    Carsten Charles is dealing

  350. Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist

    Daisuke-san not exactly pounding the strike zone.

  351. Jeremy

    Whats Dice-k pitch count ?

  352. Carl

    lol!

  353. Pel (a/k/a Bart Simpson, a/k/a O.J. Simpson)

    whoa

  354. 100 pitches of fun...

    Thank you for the gift

  355. MG

    Dice K is the most unimpressive high salaried pitcher I’ve ever seen, I don’t understand the fascination with this guy.

    Boy, do the Sox suck on defense this year, this is pathetic.

  356. Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist

    Jed Lowrie, great shortstop. Jacoby Ellsbury, 2 blunders today.

  357. RS

    “So far from C.C.’s end, this has saturday August 8 written all over it.”

    I believe in that game Buchholz pitched out of jams the way Dice-K is doing now, but the Yankees eventually broke out for 5 runs. Hopefully this game will end the same way.

  358. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    WHAT A RIOT!!!!!

    Boy are they awful.

    :)

  359. Jason from The Heartland

    Nice communication, Bah-ston.

  360. Benny Blanco

    Brain freeze = ellsbury and lowrie

  361. Jason from The Heartland

    Jack one, Swish.

  362. RS

    Lowrie ain’t Jeter when it comes to popups, apparently.

  363. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Jeremy, I think it is around 60 at this point, give or take a few.

  364. MG

    is there anyone reading this blog who thinks the Sox have a chance to win this game? Speak now or forever hold your peace :)

  365. Benny Blanco

    Yankees about to score. You heard it from me first.

  366. 100 pitches of fun...

    Very nice. Cano forget that there are runners on base.

  367. Jason from The Heartland

    Two on, no one out. Stand and deliver, Cano.

  368. Jason from The Heartland

    Poorly done, Cano.

  369. Carl

    Poor Cano

  370. 100 pitches of fun...

    Is Cano kidding me…

  371. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    “is there anyone reading this blog who thinks the Sox have a chance to win this game? ”

    *crickets*

  372. Benny Blanco

    ok, i know its not that serious, but why did cano swing at the first pitch?

  373. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    DA MELK is about to split the gap.

  374. Trevor (Super Mario)

    So let me get this straight- if Melky doesn’t get a hit here once again Molina is up with RISP. :|

  375. Benny Blanco

    i’m tired of ken rosensmall

  376. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Benny, a good reason would be if Dicey is throwing a lot of first-pitch strikes. Don’t know whether he is or not.

  377. Jerkface

    So let me get this straight- if Melky doesn’t get a hit here once again Molina is up with RISP.

    Thus explaining why Molina will never start in the postseason

  378. 100 pitches of fun...

    Of course the pitcher comes up again with RISP.

  379. RS

    We really need a big hit here.

  380. Christina- Pictures of the Girardi and A-Rod ejection + Leiter's Sock

    Did I hear correctly that one of these horrible announcers has a CD?

  381. Trevor (Super Mario)

    Come on Molina.

  382. Pel (a/k/a Bart Simpson, a/k/a O.J. Simpson)

    Molina sucks. Who knew?

  383. Carl

    Jesus christ

  384. Arno

    Com’on Molina again?

  385. Betsy

    Hmmm, the most important thing is that CC is dealing, but it’s not a good thing that the Yankees can’t score of Matsuzaka……..

  386. Jason from The Heartland

    Why swing at the first pitch with Matsuzaka? The guy has been struggling to throw strikes. Work the count.

    Hold that hard line, C.C.

  387. Jeremy

    Well I guess the 5th inning will be the inning they score.

  388. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

    They’re going to break through against Matsuzaka next inning.

  389. Carl

    I wish we could let CC hit instead of Molina

  390. Northy

    Hate those automatic outs… Robbie with risp and Molina every time

  391. 100 pitches of fun...

    A pitcher who doesn’t throw strikes and he gets 2 first pitch outs in the inning. Unreal. Can Molina even try to get a hit please.

  392. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Molina is not in there for his offense. Jorge has a stiff neck. Molina has helped the Yankees a lot with his defense behind the plate.

    Suck it up.

  393. RalphieD (OPPC)

    “ok, i know its not that serious, but why did cano swing at the first pitch?”

    because he is a beast when he swings at the first pitch

  394. Medical Hair Restoration

    When was the last time Jose took a walk?

  395. Trevor (Super Mario)

    Any good reason why Cervelli couldn’t start today? I like his ABs better then Molina. At least we know he can hit a FB.

  396. jennifer

    So who still wants Jose to start all the time?

  397. jennifer

    Sept 7 was his last walk.

  398. CB

    It’s remarkable how radically the dynamics of the yankees entire line up and attack change when Posada is not in the game.

    The drop off is so enormous between Posada and Molina and on top of that the entire line up shifts up a spot.

  399. Jason from The Heartland

    Carl, I think you’re on to something.

    There goes the no-no. Hang tough, Big Guy.

  400. 100 pitches of fun...

    Enough with Molina’s defense already. Cervelli can do just as good a job behind the plate and actually hit also.

  401. randy l.

    jerkface-

    molina up with a runner with less than two outs isn’t so bad. with two outs not so good.

  402. Jason from The Heartland

    No question, CB. Swish moves up to supplement it. Posada’s bat is indispensable.

    Stop crying, Ortiz. It was fouled off.

  403. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Heck we didn’t have Posada for a whole span of time at the beginning of the season. I forgot that the Yankees lost all of their games when he was out. How did they even remain in the majors without Posada???

  404. Benny Blanco

    that ump has a flask in his back pocket.

  405. Stevie

    CB September 26th, 2009 at 5:32 pm

    It’s remarkable how radically the dynamics of the yankees entire line up and attack change when Posada is not in the game.

    The drop off is so enormous between Posada and Molina and on top of that the entire line up shifts up a spot.
    =============================

    thats why the Yanks should pursue Joe MAuer after the 2010 season.

  406. Jason from The Heartland

    Atta boy, C.C.!

  407. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    :)

    Need more of those vitamins, big guy!!!

  408. Jason from The Heartland

    Probably filled with Wild Turkey, Benny Blanco. Gobble Gobble.

  409. 100 pitches of fun...

    LOL at Ortiz crying to the ump

  410. randy l.

    now all is right with the world :)

  411. Carl

    lol at that Convo

  412. 100 pitches of fun...

    It never hit my bat LOL

  413. Boatz n Hose

    great. just great. is any yankee going to pitch another no-hitter or perfect game again EVER???? it’s been 10 years since. they just waste opportunity after opportunity.

  414. Jason from The Heartland

    C.C. is not missing by much.

  415. Benny Blanco

    where was that pitch????

  416. jennifer

    Does someone have a clicker behind the plate?

  417. Jason from The Heartland

    Lowell stole that base–Lowell. [Hanging head in shame]

  418. Carl

    wow look at that speed

  419. jsbrendog

    Ortiz is a juicer

  420. Rick

    Typical thin-skinned bellyaching Boston between the manager and his players.
    Their fans are no better.

  421. Yankee Trader

    I like that “clicker” that Molina is hiding inside his face mask that makes the sound the umpire heard that made him think it hit Ortiz’s bat!!!!!!!

  422. Stevie

    Notice how SILENT McCarver is when the Sox strike out.

  423. 100 pitches of fun...

    Hopefully CC can get Lowrie. How dare Lowell steal a base.

  424. Carl

    Squeezed em!

  425. Jason from The Heartland

    Where was that 0-2?

  426. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    “great. just great. is any yankee going to pitch another no-hitter or perfect game again EVER???? it’s been 10 years since. they just waste opportunity after opportunity.”

    Not an easy fear or it would be done more often. I’ll take the division pennant every single time! It’s about t-e-a-m and winning, not about the pitcher winning individual accolades. JMO

  427. 100 pitches of fun...

    Ummm, where are these pitches?

  428. Benny Blanco

    thats on the black.

  429. Jason from The Heartland

    C.C. is The Man!

  430. Pel (a/k/a Bart Simpson, a/k/a O.J. Simpson)

    YEAH BOY!!!!

  431. Carl

    Devastating slider

  432. MG

    CC is so good…

  433. Jason from The Heartland

    Runs! I implore my Yankee brethren.

  434. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    :lol:

    How long is it going to be before someone from the Sux organization is thrown out of the game?

  435. 100 pitches of fun...

    These umps are all over the place, every inning the zone changes.

  436. Jason from The Heartland

    No question, Carl and MG. No doubt about it. Well set up, too.

  437. MG

    but can you imagine how good he would be if he was really an ‘ACE’?

  438. DYNASTY IS DESTINY!

    No-no is no more…

    Sabathia still stellar…

    Must decode Dice-k…

  439. Benny Blanco

    5 innings 6 k’s for CC.

  440. randy l.

    time to make a move with the top of the order up.

  441. Trevor (Super Mario)

    Dice-K has nothing and the offense has yet to score. CC is pitching great and I would like him to see 20. This would be a waste of a good performance.

  442. Medical Hair Restoration

    Jose has to have his head in the game on Mike Lowell stealing 2nd base. All Jose has to do is get up and make like he is going to throw to 2nd base and bump into Baldelli and it is “obstruction.” He needs not even throw the ball, as long as he makes contact with the batter.

  443. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    “but can you imagine how good he would be if he was really an ‘ACE’?”

    :D

  444. Valerie G.

    Go Derek!!!

  445. Betsy

    At times the offense is very inconsistent with RISP, but they usually end up coming through……..In the playoffs, though, going 0-8 with RISP usually spells death; the Yankees have to do a better job than that because, with the quality pitching they will face, they won’t get that many chances to score.

  446. BBFan

    This is the inning we have to strike with our top of the order.

  447. bru

    in a game like this we need to get gardner on base & let him fly

    when posada is out maybe play gardner over melky if possible

  448. CB

    There have been several games this year where I thought right from the get go CC had no hit stuff.

    Today was one of those games.

    Just dominant stuff.

    The at bat where CC walked Martinez was particularly telling.

    Martinez caught CC for several seasons. Martinez knows CC, his stuff and his patterns very well.

    CC fals behind 3-0 and then throws Martinez 3 straight fastballs and Martinez is overpowered and late on all of them.

    Think about how heavy and dominant a fastball has to be to do that. CC went on to walk him but it was really something that Martinez couldn’t catch up to three straight fastballs in three consecutive fastball counts.

  449. RS

    Jeter needs to start running ASAP.

  450. MG

    I think Damon is going yard right here even though his #1 fan is away for the weekend…

  451. 100 pitches of fun...

    Nice job Jeter. Now let’s score some runs!!!

  452. Valerie G.

    Good running, Derek!

  453. Benny Blanco

    I hope cc wins.. He only has one more start to get 20.

  454. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    AWWWW. Mike Lowell didn’t work his magic that time. They look like they’re playing in slow motion.

  455. JZ

    RUN JETER!

  456. Jason from The Heartland

    Jeter with the swinging bunt. I’ll take it. JD hasn’t homered since August 30. He’s due to rope one around the pole.

  457. Benny Blanco

    dice-k at 75 pitches

  458. randy l.

    ok, jeter is warmed up and on first.

    run forrest run.

  459. hey kelvin says

    Where is Pete? Quit already? :/

    I like Sam Borden, hopefully he is the replacement.

  460. Valerie G.

    Come on Damon!

  461. MG

    I doubt the Yankees will be running that much today, Girardi made his point last night, there is no need to keep driving it home in a mostly meaningless game.

  462. Valerie G.

    Big opportunity here…

  463. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    This HAS to be the inning!

    let’s go yanks!!

  464. Jason from The Heartland

    Again first and second, no outs. Yanks are 0-8 with RISP, stranding 6. Enough of that with the heart of the order up.

  465. 100 pitches of fun...

    Let’s go Tex!!! It would be nice to get a run here.

  466. Jason from The Heartland

    Amen, Trisha.

  467. JZ

    they have to score this inning

  468. RS

    Jeter and Damon have to double steal here. Make something happen.

  469. robbykid

    Victor martinez looks awfully small…

  470. Valerie G.

    This is not a meaningless game!

  471. Uncle Ellsworth (much ado about nothing)

    Alex grand slam

  472. Uncle Ellsworth (much ado about nothing)

    Alex grand slam

  473. Jason from The Heartland

    Turn Teixeira loose 3-0?

  474. Stevie

    HAs Jeter ever been ejected?

  475. Benny Blanco

    Alex does not need to swing at anything.

  476. the.brett.garder.explosion.

    they actually don’t HAVE to score this inning.
    it would be nice, but they don’t have to do anything.

  477. Pel (a/k/a Bart Simpson, a/k/a O.J. Simpson)

    Once again, the spotlight finds itself placed upon Alex Rodriguez.

  478. Jason from The Heartland

    A-Rod up with the bases loaded, no outs. Runs please, plural intentional.

  479. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this kind of stuff. Doesn’t happen often!!!

    Okay Alex, anything but a triple play.

    :)

  480. TurboWei

    Is fox more annoying or ESPN announcer more incompetent?????

    Why were they talking about Ichiro and HOF????????

  481. Benny Blanco

    go to the bat phone commissioner gordan.

  482. JZ

    it’s hard NOT to score runs now!

  483. Carl

    wow what a play! fail by Alex!

  484. Pel (a/k/a Bart Simpson, a/k/a O.J. Simpson)

    OH THAT’S BSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111111

  485. Jeremy

    The Yankees don’t score much on Sat. games. It’s weird that they do bad on Sat.

  486. Jason from The Heartland

    Jeez, ugly. Don’t waste this chance, guys.

  487. Benny Blanco

    NO…

  488. Valerie G.

    That’s his hit?

  489. Uncle Ellsworth (much ado about nothing)

    Matsui Grand Slam

  490. 100 pitches of fun...

    Damn. Arod look at some pitches!!!

  491. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    ugh

  492. Jason from The Heartland

    Drive the ball, Matsui.

  493. bru

    we should score by accident

  494. Carl

    Godzilla will do it big

  495. JZ

    again, arod failed

  496. TurboWei

    Isn’t that the worst outcome ever for ARod….

  497. PL

    a rod is just brutal today

  498. Betsy

    I see that Alex phenomenal game last night bought him less than 1 game of leeway with some people, lol

  499. Jeremy

    Alex really sucks against Dice-k !

  500. Valerie G.

    NO!!!

  501. Pel (a/k/a Bart Simpson, a/k/a O.J. Simpson)

    WHY ARE YOU ALL FAILING MISERABLY!?!??

  502. Trevor (Super Mario)

    Umm Yankee hitters: GET THE RUNNERS HOME. WTH…….

  503. Jason from The Heartland

    Absolutely horrible situational hitting from the Yankees.

  504. Carl

    are you kidding me!!! Alex and Sui getting booed!

  505. TurboWei

    And worst out ever for Godzilla…

  506. C

    Seriously?

  507. Ed in Oregon

    Yuck !

  508. JZ

    failed again

  509. Arno

    Unbelievable…

  510. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    unbelievable…

  511. Uncle Ellsworth (much ado about nothing)

    Swish Grand Slam

  512. Laura - Matsui will be a Yankee in 2010!!

    Why are they swinging at the first pitch when the guy is walking people left and right?

  513. jojo

    matsui never seems to hit japanese pitchers well.

  514. Carl

    Swish will make em pay!!!!

  515. Pel (a/k/a Bart Simpson, a/k/a O.J. Simpson)

    get a damn hit

  516. 100 pitches of fun...

    Are these guys drunk?!! He just walked Tex on 4 pitches. 4 pitches. Next 2 batters swing at the 1st pitch? Just terrible.. Use your brain.

  517. PL

    they were booing so Victor wud miss the ball

  518. Valerie G.

    Come on Swish! Please!!!

  519. Benny Blanco

    Are u serious? He walks damon, tex; arod and hitdeki, swing at the first pitch????

  520. Yankee Trader

    How many 1st pitch outs with RISP today?

  521. Betsy

    LOL booing Matsui and Alex>? Pathetic…….

  522. RalphieD (OPPC)

    just one of those games so far…yankees have beat themselves..hopefully that will change soon..

  523. JZ

    if they don’t score rigth now, they will lose today

  524. Valerie G.

    Walk in a run!

  525. 100 pitches of fun...

    Those were the worst two at bats back to back I have seen all year.

  526. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

    WHY ARE YOU ALL FAILING MISERABLY!?!??

    *********************************

    Because baseball is a game where you’re considered great if you fail 70% of the time.

    That being said…

    Why are they swinging at the first pitch when he can’t throw a strike?

  527. Benny Blanco

    Swisher will walk

  528. jojo

    this is vintage Dice-K. A ton of baserunners but very little damage.

  529. Arno

    God damnit!

  530. Carl

    Massive Fail

  531. Betsy

    That was good……..

  532. Brandon Awesome "BECAUSE I'M AWESOME!"

    Damn does Dice K have some houdini in him or what w/ RISP.

    Al is having a bad game after a magnificent one last night vs a better SP, and today, it’s just brutal.

  533. Jason from The Heartland

    Disgraceful inning from the Yanks. Absolutely disgraceful.

  534. Ed in Oregon

    That inning sucked

  535. pat

    This Houdini stuff is getting old.

  536. Benny Blanco

    Base-loaded no outs!

  537. DVAB

    stupid baseball swinging at 1st pitch…AROD and Godzilla both !

  538. MG

    let’s see, Arod and Matsui have driven in about 120 runs between them since July 1st and now they don’t know what they are doing?

    It’s baseball, stuff happens sometimes…

  539. chris

    Are you KIDDING me? Pathetic.

  540. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

    He’s not a magician, you moron.

    Ugh.

    I can’t stand these Fox idiots.

  541. JZ

    the offense is pathetic today.
    They are deserved to lose. Too bad for CC

  542. Terry from NH

    they don’t deserve to win this game today!

  543. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    it’s just wrong.

  544. Valerie G.

    What just happened? Are these the Yankees? If we lose, it’s because of that inning.

  545. Alias

    The Yankees couldn’t have made those three outs any easier.

  546. Ed in Oregon

    Shut up mc carver

  547. RS

    You couldn’t hit 3 weaker outs. Yankees should have 5 runs by now.

  548. Jeremy

    The Red Sox are going to win this game if this offense doesn’t come around. They need to stop being lazy on Sat. games. Get CC the 19th win !

  549. Laura - Matsui will be a Yankee in 2010!!

    Dice K is some kind of magician. He walks a ton of runners, but never has to pay for it.

  550. Jason from The Heartland

    0-11 with RISP stranding 9.

    Hold that hard line, C.C.

  551. the.brett.garder.explosion.

    dearest sam borden, a majority of the yankee fans here are not representative of all yankee fans.
    some are logical, calm, cool, collected, and realize this is a game.

    please don’t let em scare ya.

    :) namaste.

  552. yankeenate

    Houdini Dice K

  553. Northy

    Horrible. Matzuzaka deserved to be dressed and on a plane to Boston… He’s pitching sooo bad, but the Yanks give him extra life.

    BOOOOO

  554. Betsy

    Wow, lol – is this the first game of the playoffs? People are just a tad upset…….over yes, a meaningless game.

    The only thing I would say is that this team has a ton to prove in the playoffs and this did not help. It’s not good when you can win mostly only playing long ball.

  555. Trevor (Super Mario)

    To borrow Diet Coke’s favorite word: ‘Atrocious’ job with RISP today. And to be honest over the last 2 weeks they’ve been terrible.

  556. terpbomber

    Bases loaded, no outs. Then going down 1-2-3 after that. I don’t get it. Not helped by A-Rod and Godzilla smashing the first pitch and showing nothing for it.

  557. TurboWei

    who are the two Fox announcers who can not stop kissing up to redsox????????????

  558. 100 pitches of fun...

    Unreal. Now Swish. Swings at a ball off the plate. Ummm maybe make this guy throw strikes something he hasn’t done all game. The Sox NEVER would of swung at the 1st pitch.

  559. Pel (a/k/a Bart Simpson, a/k/a O.J. Simpson)

    that was unbelievably pathetic

  560. Jason from The Heartland

    This team most certainly does NOT suck. That was a bad inning. That doesn’t mean the team is bad. Let’s be realistic.

  561. Medical Hair Restoration

    “Because baseball is a game where you’re considered great if you fail 70% of the time.”

    A .300 OBP is not considered great.

    That said, this game has loss written all over it. If the Yankees do win, it goes to further show the heart of this team.

  562. Brandon Awesome "BECAUSE I'M AWESOME!"

    “stupid baseball swinging at 1st pitch…AROD and Godzilla both !”

    So your calling Jetes stupid too right? b/c from my count he’s swung at the 2nd most first pitches for this team all season.

  563. DVAB

    MG….DAMN RIGHT !…I don’t care WHAT their stats are,,,,pure baseball smarts says TAKE AT LEAST ONE Pitch in that situation….STUPID BASEBALL for either Joe to greenlight them on 1st pitch OR for them to simply do what they think is best and swing away on their own….STUPID !

  564. Carl

    Carl September 26th, 2009 at 5:56 pm

    this team sucks

    Someone is posting as me

  565. MG

    Carl
    September 26th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
    this team sucks
    —————————–
    Carl, are you 5 years old?

    they are the best team in baseball, go back to your video games, they do the same thing all the time.

  566. bru

    some of you are just pathetic

    deserve to lose?

    will lose?

  567. the.brett.garder.explosion.

    Betsy gets it!

    give that girl a kewpie doll!

  568. Valerie G.

    I’m calm and collected. Just frustrated.

  569. Betsy

    The overreaction here is hilarious….or it would be if I didn’t think people weren’t serious.

  570. baseballfab

    Holy Crap, this is the best of have EVER seen Matsusaka look

  571. RS

    Um, why is CC walking Brian Anderson?

  572. Jason from The Heartland

    Hold it here, C.C.

  573. Ed in Oregon

    It would be a shame if Carsten Charles does not get a W … He has pitched well

  574. Betsy

    What are you doing to do if they lose, Valerie? This game is meaningless…………has the team done nothing all year?

  575. ken

    This is Dice-K’s career with BOS: high pitch count, lots of RISP, bullpen getting ready to replace him, but then he gets out of the jam. Not just against Yanks but every time he pitches. After seeing alot of this there must bed something to him.

  576. Brandon Awesome "BECAUSE I'M AWESOME!"

    BTW, this is really how the playoff games would feel. We screwed up w/ RISP and now they have to find a way to scratch out runs in this type of a game.

  577. 100 pitches of fun...

    McCarver talks too much. Can he be quiet for two seconds.

  578. DVAB

    ALL SEASON is NOT that situation…..THAT SITUATION 1st pitch swinging is STUPID…..you have a pitcher with terrible control that has JUST walked 2 batters….make him EARN the damn out…..IN THAT SITUATION…..OK ?

  579. pat

    Dice K has these guys so off balance and his stuff is more confusing than good.

    Need to get Dice K out of this game.

  580. JZ

    walk Anderson?!

  581. jaybird

    We are going to lose this game, mark it down.

  582. Benny Blanco

    Maybe yankees want some pie today.

  583. Valerie G.

    Keep us in the game, CC!

  584. Betsy

    CC is human – so what if he gives up a couple of runs? The fact is, he’s pitched very well yet again………the only thing that counts.

    Trevor’s right, though – the team has stunk lately with RISP.

  585. Valerie G.

    we’re not going to lose the game. we’re not even behind!

  586. Jason from The Heartland

    Nice K of Ellsbury, C.C.

  587. Benny Blanco

    8k’s for CC

  588. Brandon Awesome "BECAUSE I'M AWESOME!"

    “ALL SEASON is NOT that situation…..THAT SITUATION 1st pitch swinging is STUPID”

    If a SP walks the first two, then it is almost a given the first pitch for the next batter will be a strike.

    Again, you do know! that DEREK JETER swings at the 2nd most first pitches on this team RIGHT?

  589. Valerie G.

    Strike him out!

  590. Stevie

    TurboWei September 26th, 2009 at 5:57 pm

    who are the two Fox announcers who can not stop kissing up to redsox????????????
    =====================================
    I think McCarver is gonna give them a reach around

  591. Trevor (Super Mario)

    Strange approach with Arod and Matsui. Dice-K has been behind every hitter all day but they swing at the first pitch. :?
    I really would like to see CC get 20 but since the offense is failing miserably that may not happen.

  592. baseballfab

    Dice-K hasn’t given up a hit with the bases loaded since Sept. 8, 2007.

  593. Betsy

    It wouldn’t be as bad if the at bats weren’t so bad…….I don’t care about this game at all, but I’m thinking ahead to the playoffs. The offense has just disappeared in the last several playoffs……..due to good pitching, but also terrible at-bats. We won’t know what this team is made of until the post-season………yes, we know they are a very good team overall, but they need to get it done when it counts.

  594. Carl

    He plays in fenway! I would have 200 doubles!

  595. Valerie G.

    Is it me, or is CC’s velocity slowing down?

  596. DVAB

    Team LOB: Yankees 25, BoStinx 5….score tied 0-0…this game should be 5-0 Yankees…NOT even decent support of a CC gem…but better that this happens now, then in the playoffs….still hard to fathom ( or watch )…. :-(

  597. Jeremy

    The Yankees are making Dice-k look good just like Bucholz during the last Sat. game against the Sox.

  598. Benny Blanco

    83 pitches for cc

  599. Carl

    big double play :)

  600. Jason from The Heartland

    Got that DP, tremendous, C.C.

  601. Benny Blanco

    DP

  602. BBFan

    Offense, score some runs to get a win for CC.

  603. Jason from The Heartland

    Amen, smile-face Carl.

    C.C. at 85 pitches through 6, barely more that 14/inning.

  604. Benny Blanco

    CC actually has a chance to finish with an era under 3.

  605. Laura - Matsui will be a Yankee in 2010!!

    The Yankee hitters should be embarrassed by how they’ve left CC out there to dry. The guy is busting his very large can to keep them in the game and they are doing nothing to get him the win.

  606. the.brett.garder.explosion.

    me…l.kk…yyyyyyyyyyy.

    boom!

  607. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

    Hehe, you know its a bit out of control here when Betsy is the one calming people down and reminding them them to have perspective. :D

  608. bennyBK

    is this sam or pete?

  609. Jeremy

    For some reason the Yankee hitters don’t hit well on Sat. games. I don’t know why.

  610. PL

    Define an Ace–When your team leaves the bases loaded and you go out and kill any momentum the other team THOUGHT they had.

    CC is an ACE

  611. MG

    Valerie G.
    September 26th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
    Is it me, or is CC’s velocity slowing down?
    —————————————–
    Valerie, here is a short lesson on starting pitching. Each time a starting pitcher goes through the lineup they make adjustments to keep the batters off balance. It doesn’t matter how hard they throw, if there is no change of speed batters will catch up to it by the 3rd time through the order. CC has a great change today, he’s using that along with his other pitches to get out after out after out. The Sox haven’t sniffed even a threat so far, all is well.

  612. DVAB

    what the HALE does Derek Jeter swinging at 1st pitches have to do with anything….ANYONE who swings at the first pitch in that situation is NOT playing smart ball….SO WHAT if the 1st pitch is going to be a strike….DID THOSE STRIKES PROVE TO BE MEAT Pitches that were easy to drive out of the park ??.,…NOT AT ALL….Dice-K outstmarted both batters with the pitch selection and since they limited their chances with him at that AB to seeing only ONE DANG PITCH, they left themselves NO ROOM FOR ERROR…..

  613. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Bets, I am so proud of you. You are getting better and better every day girl!

    We WILL win this game. It’s unfortunate that we haven’t come through yet but Dicey’s luck will run out.

  614. PL

    yea Robbie

  615. Carl

    Robbie!!!

  616. Uncle Ellsworth (much ado about nothing)

    John thought it was off the wall

  617. pat

    Now everyone can exhale a little

  618. Tom in N.J.

    :mrgreen:

  619. terpbomber

    Morale booster.

  620. Trevor (Super Mario)

    Figures they get a run off a HR.

  621. 100 pitches of fun...

    Nice going Cano. I didn’t think he drove it enough to go over the wall.

  622. Laura - Matsui will be a Yankee in 2010!!

    Finally, a run!

  623. MG

    you knew that was going to happen eventually, Dice K just can’t pitch shutouts like this.

  624. Jason from The Heartland

    Cano!! Great opposite-field HR. How odd–obvious chances went squandered, and an odd opposite field shot breaks the tie.

  625. GreenBeret7

    Hit #199and Run scored #100.

  626. Carl

    lol @ “You and Bob Gibson never had that?”

  627. Valerie G.

    MG, thanks I had no idea lol

  628. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Ahem, please read my 6:08 post…

    :)

    Thank you, thank you!

  629. the.brett.garder.explosion.

    thaT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MELKYS SIXTH INNING LONG BALL CANO!

  630. the.brett.garder.explosion.

    also , ccc go 8.
    i’d like to watch that.

  631. RalphieD (OPPC)

    this game isnt going in the molina highlight reel…

  632. PL

    again Molina is an automatic out…Why not use Cervelli once in a while

  633. Valerie G.

    yeah robby!

  634. Valerie G.

    yeah robby!

  635. YankeeKid

    Molina doesn’t even look like he wants to hit…he is a big SLOTH

  636. Trevor (Super Mario)

    Molina ABs have been terrible. First swinging a lot. smh

  637. Rick

    I dread seeing this team hit with RISP in the playoffs.

  638. MG

    the reason the Yankees swing early against Dice K is that opponent lifetime averages against him on either the first pitch, 1-0 or 0-1 are well over .300. When he gets 2 strikes on batters his career opponent BA is under .180

    these guys aren’t stupid, they know exactly what to do against specific pitchers. Most of you think that the same approach works against all pitchers, that’s the farthest thing from the truth.

  639. Dr. J

    Molina is just dreadful. No way we should re-sign him. His ABs are worse than Shelly Duncan

  640. Jeremy

    The Yankees usually do bad on Sat. games. I hope none of the playoff games for the Yankees will be on a Saturday.

  641. bru

    JZ
    September 26th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
    the offense is pathetic today.
    They are deserved to lose. Too bad for CC

    Terry from NH
    September 26th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
    they don’t deserve to win this game today!

    ———————————————————–

    if they do win u 2 clowns should be banned from celebrating

  642. Jason from The Heartland

    I’ll reiterate–JD hasn’t homered since August 30. He’s way due.

  643. GreenBeret7

    Interesting and somewhat amazing note from waldman and Sterling. Jeter has led off a game 50 times with a base hit.

  644. K-Zone

    It’s like 30 degrees outside, you can excuse them for being a little lethargic. In this weather, you want to be at home by the fireplace eating a muffin, not playing baseball.

    It’s supposed to be warmer tomorrow, the bats will be back then.

  645. Stevie

    Jeremy September 26th, 2009 at 6:13 pm

    The Yankees usually do bad on Sat. games. I hope none of the playoff games for the Yankees will be on a Saturday.
    ==========================================

    It’ not the day of the week that bothers them, rather they’re flat when they play a day game after a night game.

  646. Medical Hair Restoration

    “Molina is just dreadful. No way we should re-sign him. His ABs are worse than Shelly Duncan”

    Jose is here for his defense, not offense.

  647. Jeremy

    The great thing for the Yankees is that there are other teams like the Tigers that are the worse with runners in scoring position. I rather the Yankees struggle now then October. And I’m sure we all recall the Yankees being on fire the last weeks of the season only to fail in October. Maybe this time it’s different.

  648. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    “I dread seeing this team hit with RISP in the playoffs.”

    Yanks lead the majors in runs, hits, HR, TB, and RBI. I wouldn’t worry.

  649. Mike

    This is what Dice-K is… he allows a million baserunners but doesn’t let any of them score. He did win 18 games with a 2.80 ERA last year. He just knows how to keep guys from scoring.

    He’s performed this Houdini act for a while.. maybe he just knows how to perfect t.

  650. Jeremy

    sorry I mean’t the worse.

  651. pete

    “UPDATE, 6:14 p.m.: People booed when Matsuzka’s 3-2 pitch to Jeter was up and in. What makes you think he has any idea where it’s going?”
    Well you shouldn’t have to worry about those nonsensical fans who don’t think through why they’re booing somebody for much longer, now that you’re moving up to boston…oh wait
    OH SNAP

  652. BBFan

    “I’ll reiterate–JD hasn’t homered since August 30. He’s way due.”

    I was hoping that he will join 20 HR clud and set team record. But with few games left I doubt it will happen.

  653. TurboWei

    But Molina is a good defensive catcher. With all the big bats on this team, we can afford to carry a weak bat.

  654. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    “Most of you think that the same approach works against all pitchers, that’s the farthest thing from the truth.”

    Yep

  655. Jason from The Heartland

    And lately, GreenBeret, it seems like every game Jeter leads off with a hit.

    Hold that hard line, C.C.

  656. Jason from The Heartland

    Nice range as usual, Cano, one down.

  657. Benny Blanco

    cano has been like pac man at 2b this year.

  658. Ham Fighters

    driving home in my car i had to listen to sterling. the guy who spends entire games saying nobody can predict baseball (and anybody who says they can is a liar) spent 15 minutes predicting that not scoring in the 5th inning will come back to haunt the yankees.

  659. Jason from The Heartland

    I can’t say Youkilis getting hit surprised me much. Jeter got hit and brushed back, as did Matsui last night. Still, close game, better things to do, like getting runners out.

  660. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    You know that it KILLED Puke not to make an academy-award winning violence scene when he got hit.

  661. Jason from The Heartland

    “…hitters” that is.

  662. Carl

    GJ CC. You need to let that go up the middle for the double play though maine!

  663. pat

    Boston beat writer who has seen the Dice K Houdini act before-

    “@AmalieBenjamin Two walks to load the bases for A-Rod. Daisuke’s got ‘em just where he wants ‘em.”

  664. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

    Mike Lowell is so done.

  665. Valerie G.

    I anticipate a brawl later.

  666. Trevor (Super Mario)

    Yikes he slipped a bit.

  667. Ham Fighters

    i love johnny, but without power, there is nothing left, he cant run the bases and is horrible in the field. i really dont see him being brought back next year.

  668. RS

    An underrated aspect of this season is how well our pitchers have fielded the ball.

  669. GreenBeret7

    Right off the heal of Sabathia’s glove. Just missed the DP chance.

  670. Yankee Trader

    Time to get the old clicker out again!

  671. Carl

    Lol at Ortiz having the leg kick at the end of his golf swing

  672. Giuseppe Franco

    Ya gotta wonder why Youkilis didn’t charge the mound if he thought Sabathia was throwing at him.

    Probably because Sabathia would squash him and he knows it.

  673. Jason from The Heartland

    C.C. is The Man, through 7 at 96 pitches. Let him go the eighth, hopefully with more than a one-run lead.

  674. RS

    Wow, someone actually wrote a whole article about Ortiz’s sunshine personality?

  675. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

    Sunlight of his personality? That sounds like Verducci, LOL.

  676. m

    mccarver & whoever is on with him were bending over backwards to say that none of the pitches dice-k threw were intentional.

    and i was typing that cc hits youkilis, and not so much conviction by the booth.

    i know pete was making a joke, but will you say the same as a boston beat writer when a yankee hits a sock?

  677. Valerie G.

    Nice recovery by CC.

  678. Jeremy

    Dice-k sucks ! If this was a night game the score would be 6-0 Yankees. The hitters are just out of it.

  679. Tom in N.J.

    Sun light of his personality

    or

    gravitational pull?

  680. E-gawa

    lol the Ortiz lovefest continues.. I wonder why they don’t show shots of him and arod training together with the trainer who’s banned from baseball for dealing steroids?

    hmmm..

  681. Pepitone

    Yankees lookin good!

    Sabathia is dominant!

    Joba is coming around!

    Looks like the Yanks are gonna be ready for the playoffs!

  682. Medical Hair Restoration

    Great emotion from CC after the missed DP.

  683. Benny Blanco

    CC’s era is going down. 3.21

  684. Jason from The Heartland

    There is that undeniable factor, Giuseppe. C.C. would have crushed him, and Youkilis knows it. It’s why he didn’t charge Joba, for that matter. Porcello flipped him like a UFC fighter.

  685. Trevor (Super Mario)

    I would pay money just to see Pedroia try to charge the mound with CC pitching. lmao

  686. Valerie G.

    I see a magic number of 2 coming!

  687. MG

    Here are the following hitting categories where the Yankees lead the league:

    Batting Average
    On Base Percentage
    Runs Scored
    RBI’s
    Home Runs
    OPS
    Slugging Percentage
    Total Bases
    Hits

    The Yankees are batting .272 as a team with RISP, the Sox are at .280 and the Angels are .295. The Yankees have scored 50 more runs than either team, making this one statistic worthless.

    Will some of you just shut up about them leaving runners on base? Isn’t leading the league in virtually every statistic and having the best record good enough?

  688. Vrsce

    If the Yankees win magic # will be 1.

  689. Carl

    Valerie G. September 26th, 2009 at 6:27 pm

    I see a magic number of 2 coming!

    It would be 1 I think

  690. E-gawa

    “I see a magic number of 2 coming!”

    It would actually be Billy Martin

  691. Mike

    I feel sorry for Paul Byrd tomorrow

    This offense is going to be ready to go after taking today off.

  692. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    “I would pay money just to see Pedroia try to charge the mound with CC pitching. lmao

    LMAO 2!!!!!

  693. Pepitone

    Giuseppe Franco
    September 26th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
    Ya gotta wonder why Youkilis didn’t charge the mound if he thought Sabathia was throwing at him.
    Probably because Sabathia would squash him and he knows it.
    =================

    You got that right. Youkilis may be a hot head, but he’s not stupid. He can control it when he knows there’s an excellent chance of getting pummeled.

  694. RalphieD (OPPC)

    “i love johnny, but without power, there is nothing left, he cant run the bases and is horrible in the field. i really dont see him being brought back next year.”

    hes had a rough month but hes still had a great year…

  695. Rick

    I’m betting that Gardner gets to pinch run [if] game conditions call for another run to feel safe.

  696. m

    CC would just finger flick Pedroia and he’d go flying.

  697. Valerie G.

    I’m pretty sure it would be 2.

  698. R+

    Gardy really needs to start playing more.

    Girardi says he likes what he brings to the table, yet always sits him to play the inferior Melky.

  699. Jason from The Heartland

    Hughes is warming up. On the one hand, I love Hughes, but on the other hand, C.C. is at 96 pitches and has allowed 1 hit through seven. I’d go with Sabathia to start the eighth.

  700. bru

    Trevor (Super Mario)
    September 26th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
    I would pay money just to see Pedroia try to charge the mound with CC pitching. lmao

    ————————————————————

    cc would spray him with off

  701. jennifer

    E-gawa September 26th, 2009 at 6:26 pm

    lol the Ortiz lovefest continues.. I wonder why they don’t show shots of him and arod training together with the trainer who’s banned from baseball for dealing steroids?

    hmmm..

    *********

    they’d only show those shots if they had alex by himself.

  702. Aardvark

    Red Sox should feel good about Matsuzaka rounding into form. Looking great, has all 4 pitches working. He is getting hot at the right time.

  703. E-gawa

    “I’m pretty sure it would be 2.”

    Wanna bet some money on that?

  704. Vrsce

    “I’m pretty sure it would be 2.”

    Nope. 1 for Yankees win plus 1 for Red Sox loss. Current magic # is 3, therefore 1.

  705. Medical Hair Restoration

    Josh Beckett, just seen in the dugout, looks as if he has not gotten much sleep lately.

    :)

  706. m

    Valerie,

    magic # goes down for each Yankee win AND Sox loss.

  707. Jeremy

    Well here come Phil Hughes ! I wish the Yankees could score some more runs to take some presure off of the pitchers.

  708. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    “I’m pretty sure it would be 2.”

    It couldn’t be 2 no matter what happened. Each Yankee win and Sux loss, or vice versa, counts for one game. Since they are playing each other, 2 games at a time are added/subtracted.

  709. Alan

    Phil Hughes threw only 5 pitches last night and Mo is available for the 9th inning.

  710. Valerie G.

    I say keep Sabathia in. He’s having a great day. Mo’s available, right?

  711. Nat

    I’ll understand if CC’s day is done— conserve as many of those bullets as you can for October.

  712. E-gawa

    “they’d only show those shots if they had alex by himself.”

    Sad but true.

  713. m

    Dice K does look good, but a better team would’ve made him pay. :lol:

  714. Pepitone

    By the way, if Youkilis charged the mound, and Sabathia had to defend himself, which means Youk is a bloody pulp, would Sabathia be suspended?

    If so, I don’t think that’s fair. If someone charges the mound and starts swinging, what are you supposed to do?

  715. Giuseppe Franco

    Valerie G. September 26th, 2009 at 6:31 pm

    I’m pretty sure it would be 2.

    ————

    Nope, it would be 1.

    Yankee win + Boston loss = magic number reduced by 2

  716. the.brett.garder.explosion.

    carl, you ‘think’ its one?

    …….

    :)
    ok

    it IS one if the yankees won.

  717. GreenBeret7

    Not a fan of this move by taking Sabathia out. I’d give Sabathia the 8th inning.

  718. Valerie G.

    Ok. Firstly, thanks I just saw that Mo is available. Also, sorry for that mix-up with the magic number. Yes, it would be one.

  719. the.brett.garder.explosion.

    yes, VAL, i’d keep Ceecer in as well
    mo in the 9th.

  720. Carl

    omg tex

  721. RalphieD (OPPC)

    marky mark!

  722. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

    That was awesome.

  723. RS

    I think that might have been one of Tex’s best plays all year.

  724. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    It is amazing how much McCarver and his pal dig to find anything at all positive they can to say about the Sux. It’s like they need to be elevating their status all the time.

    Amazing.

  725. Trevor (Super Mario)

    Tomorrow suppose to be heavy rain all day. Wonder will they even get the game in.

  726. Jeremy

    Dice-k did not look great. He had average stuff, and the Yankees let him off the hook several times. Any other day he would have given up 6 runs.

  727. Joe from Long Island

    Tex keeps making great plays.

    I wonder if John Henry is feeling the curse?

  728. Jason from The Heartland

    Teixeira is nothing short of tremendous in the field. In the good line of great first basemen, Teixeira has already fit in with Mattingly and Tino. Outstanding play.

  729. Todd

    I kinda think Giambi just might have missed that one………

  730. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

    Why on earth can’t that good play just stand on its own? Why the need for the Fox idiots to compare him to Youkilis?

  731. m

    Why shouldn’t CC get rest?

    That 1-0 to Kotchman looked pretty good.

  732. Todd

    francona pulling out all the stops, sending up Krotchman

  733. RS

    I would have tried to squeeze an out or two out of Sabathia before going to Hughes, but I understand the move. Sabathia could use the rest, and Hughes could use some practice pitching a full inning against the Sox with a 1-run lead.

  734. 100 pitches of fun...

    Hughes looks awesome. A slider?

  735. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

    Nice pitch by Phil there.

  736. Carl

    Wow that was paint on the inside corner. Nice Slider/Cutter.

  737. Yankee Trader

    Did I just see Mitre and Ramirez warming up?

  738. Jason from The Heartland

    Hughes has developed good hard off-speed stuff–the cutter especially.

  739. Todd

    What happened to Reddick’s goggles???

  740. GreenBeret7

    Rivera will have his hands full in the top of the 9th inning. The 1-2-3 batters will be a tough proposition for anybody.

  741. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    With Hughes and Mo, it would be ridiculous to leave CC in the game. What start a new formula, especially right now?

    :)

  742. the.brett.garder.explosion.

    girardi is not handling this game as if he were a fan on a message board.

    nothing wrong with doing the ceecer for 7–yuuuuusie for 1—moesha for 1

  743. 100 pitches of fun...

    Ump call strikes please

  744. Pete E

    Why is Edwar warming up?

  745. Todd

    Mitre & Ramirez are warming up the team bus……..

  746. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Nobody frames a ball better than Jose!

  747. Benny Blanco

    Where are these pitches.?. He’s painting the corner.

  748. Valerie G.

    Great job, Hughes! And thanks for the agreement on CC!

  749. the.brett.garder.explosion.

    yes trisha!

    remmeber the old six inning yanks?
    then mo for 2 and then Wet?

  750. Vince

    Joe from Long Island
    September 26th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
    Tex keeps making great plays.

    I wonder if John Henry is feeling the curse?

    ““““““““`

    I wonder if John Henry tweets anymore.

  751. Carl

    Throw the Curve

  752. pat

    Phil-thy

  753. Jason from The Heartland

    Hughes is outstanding.

  754. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Edwar likely warming up to get his throwing in.

  755. Carl

    That works!

  756. 100 pitches of fun...

    Great pitching by the youngster…

  757. m

    trisha & benny,

    apparently this ump has no appreciation for fine art. only will call a swinging strike!

  758. Todd

    Hughes is pretty dam impressive………..

  759. Benny Blanco

    phil is just a beast

  760. Rob in Vt.

    Philthy Hughes

  761. iiicollies

    Hughes ERA just went sub 3.00

  762. 100 pitches of fun...

    I hope Mo has his unhuman like control back for the 9th inning. In the three games he pitched in on the road trip he didn’t have his best.

  763. pat

    “I wonder if John Henry tweets anymore.”

    Yes, but not about the team anymore. Theo probably hired him a censor.

  764. Valerie G.

    the.brett.gardner.explosion.

    odd nicknames but i agree with you about the order of pitchers.

  765. GreenBeret7

    Reddick’s a nice kid, and his dad who has a severe handicap taught him baseball and a nice guy. They’re from here in Savannah. His father worked for Georgia Power Company, but lost half an arm and 2 fingers on the other hand in a powerline accident. Like Chamberlain’s father, he played catch with him everyday, even after the accident.

  766. RalphieD (OPPC)

    hughes now has an overall era of 2.99! Pretty

  767. m

    Vince,

    No, they told him to stop. So he picked up blogging. Check it out on nesn.com. Warning, put away all vases, dishes, cell phones, laptops. You’ll want to throw something after reading his Homer article on “Just leave poor Ortiz alone!” entry.

  768. Arno

    Insurance runs!

  769. Jeremy

    Billy Wagner- the Big game choke artist.

  770. the.brett.garder.explosion.

    i know Val, I was just messin with the kid.

    u dont wanna hear my nick for Swisher.
    this is a family show

    :)

  771. Carl

    wow Swish just missed that

  772. 100 pitches of fun...

    Hopefully Wagner pitches like he still has a Mets jersey on.

  773. Stevie

    Magic Number is now:

    http://img34.imageshack.us/img.....ymartn.jpg

  774. RS

    1-0 wins are cool, but I would really like to score off Wagner here.

  775. Arno

    Nice at-bat for Swisher

  776. 100 pitches of fun...

    Time for Gardner…

  777. m

    Gardy, please.

  778. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    “remmeber the old six inning yanks?
    then mo for 2 and then Wet?”

    What was more thrilling than those formula late-inning Yanks, when you knew that you could breathe easy once they came in? I remember once Mo started to close then Mendoza to either Nellie or Stanton and then to Mo games. Hell those would about bring tears to my eyes because those guys were like poetry in motion. The minute you saw El Brujo come into the game, you knew the Yankees had it won.

  779. Tom in N.J.

    Bobby Murcer:

    http://assets.nydailynews.com/.....urcer2.jpg

  780. CB

    The hall mark of this yankee team has been diversity.

    They have so many ways to beat the other team. It’s not just one approach through which they win or depend on.

    Yesterday was a tremendous demonstration of power and speed.

    Today the offense just had one of those days.

    That would have crippled them in the past.

    But on this day the yankees had another way of getting it done.

    CC put the team on it’s back and just dominated the Sox.

    He has been ever bit the ace that he was brought here to be.

    Then Hughes dominates the 8th.

    Mo to finish and it’ll hopefully be another nice win.

  781. Alex

    Wagner is a stud… he is going to help them a lot this winter. Don’t know why the Mutts couldn’t just hang onto him and get picks. Now Boston reaps the rewards short and long term.

  782. m

    Now why would they bring up dave roberts?

  783. 100 pitches of fun...

    Wagner seems pretty quick to the plate.

  784. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    I am readying the updated Season Predictions! Posting to follow the final out.

    :)

  785. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

    Ahhh must be time to rehash the 2004 ALCS.

    So predictable. :roll:

  786. Benny Blanco

    Giradi and his “clint eastwood” squint.

  787. Jason from The Heartland

    Thanks, Wagner. Gardner to second without risk.

  788. Valerie G.

    the.brett.gardner.explosion

    TMI. TMI.

  789. 100 pitches of fun...

    I love watching Gardner on base. Always wondering if he will go, when he will go.

  790. Psyluk

    Why don’t they just label that graphic “History of the Boston Red Sox as the Red Sox would like everyone to believe it?”

  791. Trevor (Super Mario)

    Yes McCarver we get it. The Sawx have won 2 since 2004. sigh

  792. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    They’re right. The Sux won in 2004* and 2007*

    Potent vitamins in their clubhouses those days…

  793. Jason from The Heartland

    Gardner stole third. That guy is amazing.

  794. Carl

    The boy is fast

  795. Pel (a/k/a Bart Simpson, a/k/a O.J. Simpson)

    Gardner.

  796. RS

    I was just about to ask whether Gardner would take third, and he did.

  797. Valerie G.

    Brett Gardner is the best!

  798. Benny Blanco

    speed kill

  799. the.brett.garder.explosion.

    EXPLOSION!

  800. 100 pitches of fun...

    Melky please get him in. That would be a huge extra run.

  801. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Boy we have a ton of weapons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    :) :) :) !!!!!

  802. Tom in N.J.

    Gardner is such a weapon…

  803. Steve Rockoff

    Is Joe Girardi ok healthwise? I am watching the Yankee-Bosox game and he appears gaunt and gray in dugout closeups.

  804. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

    That was close… good call from the umpire considering he didn’t really look in good position to see the best.

  805. CB

    This is now purely experiment time for girardi.

    Wagner is very slow to the plate but Gardner didn’t get a great jump.

    Martinez has a very slow release.

  806. Arno

    F*ck you Wagner!

  807. 100 pitches of fun...

    Girardi better pinch hit for Molina.

  808. pat

    Hip pointer. Ouch!

  809. GreenBeret7

    Watch for the squeeze.

  810. Jason from The Heartland

    Pinch hit for Molina, please, then insert Cervelli.

  811. RS

    Can Girardi pinch hit Hinske and then bring Cervelli in?

  812. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

    Wonder if Mr Potato Head could steal home?

  813. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Billy Wagner. A nuclear weapon waiting to happen!

  814. Carl

    Have Guzman steal 2nd

  815. Trevor (Super Mario)

    Please tell me there’s a pinch hitter for Molina.

  816. Tom in N.J.

    Squeeze?

  817. 100 pitches of fun...

    Oh great…

  818. Rob in Vt.

    Squeeze here?

  819. Benny Blanco

    well at least we know ggbg is playing center tommorrow.

  820. Vince

    If McCarver lives to be 1,000 he’ll still be talking about 2004. What a hoot !
    He never mentions that he played for the ‘67 losing Boston team.

  821. Ham Fighters

    im not tremendously superstitious, but declaring a one run game over before the 9th inning is really couting disaster

  822. Valerie G.

    We could use a few more runs.

  823. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Come on Jose. Shut up these lohud forumites!

    :)

  824. Pepitone

    Melky chomping on a pinch of snuff in his lower lip.

    Bad habit, Melkman.

  825. Ham Fighters

    courting disaster

  826. Carl

    I said the guy is fast!

  827. Rob in Vt.

    Wow

  828. RS

    Wow, that was pretty cool.

  829. Arno

    Haha oh…my…goodness… WHAT JUST HAPPENED??

  830. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

    oh my god.. that was a lucky break there.

  831. Benny Blanco

    How lucky are we?

  832. 100 pitches of fun...

    WOW…He got really lucky there.

  833. Jason from The Heartland

    Amazing! How lucky was Gardner?!? Now second and third. Drive the ball, Molina.

  834. Trevor (Super Mario)

    Got a break there. But Molina should not be up….

  835. Lance

    I remember I had dreams of Joba being our Setup man from the right side, and Wagner being our setup man from the left side.

  836. Tom in N.J.

    Chico’s bail bonds sponsored that play!

  837. YankeeKid

    No double play now…

  838. Valerie G.

    Gardner is better than the best! I’ve never seen a player get back like that…amazing! I love this team!

  839. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    WHAT A RIOT!!!!

  840. the.brett.garder.explosion.

    gotta go to MO
    LINA!

  841. RalphieD (OPPC)

    well atleast they took away the dp chance lol

  842. m

    Close to going out of the basepaths, but great job by gardy, there. And no double play situation.

  843. Jason from The Heartland

    That’s not necessary, Trisha.

  844. 100 pitches of fun...

    I still can’t believe they are letting Molina attempt to hit here. Molina can’t do a thing with the bat. An extra run would of been really big.

  845. Andrew GTLU Bronze Medalist

    Boston is just a bad defensive team.

  846. YankeeKid

    go ahead and walk Jose….The Captain will come thru

  847. Ham Fighters

    can still run the squeeze and if it fails you’re still 1st and 3rd

  848. RS

    Molina should have walked by now.

  849. Valerie G.

    Melky looks like he’s hurting from that HBP.

  850. TurboWei

    Get on base!

  851. Jason from The Heartland

    No one is hating on Molina.

  852. 100 pitches of fun...

    Drive the ball, Molina
    —————————-

    Did you really just type drive the ball and Molina in the same sentence?

  853. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Elmer Fudd’s earning his money. Remembers all the great SUX plays made today.

    I hate those guys.

  854. Stevie

    BWAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH!

  855. Carl

    Come on grand slam Jeter!

  856. Jason from The Heartland

    Walked him. Bases loaded for Jeter. Deliver for some insurance, Captain.

  857. RS

    Thank god for that walk. If Molina had struck out there, Girardi would have been killed for not pinch-hitting.

  858. 100 pitches of fun...

    Jeter please get a sac fly. No DP!!

  859. Boatz n Hose

    Blow it open, boys!

  860. Jeremy

    Wagner is falling apart. I love it.

  861. Jason from The Heartland

    Be The Borowski, Wagner.

  862. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    So there! Now leave Jose alone.

    I have a soft spot in my heart for Jose. I was at the Stadium when he hit the last homer out of there. It was a dandy.

  863. Jack

    Anyone else have the feeling the old yankee stadium spirits are coming across the street a bit early? Cano’s hr….Gardner just getting back…

  864. GreenBeret7

    Great at bat for Molina when trying to make an out. Poor execution by Boston.

  865. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Heck I’ll take a sac fly. I’m not greedy and I trust Mo.

    :)

  866. Todd

    Announcers have a major mancrush on Victor Martinez

  867. 100 pitches of fun...

    Let’s go Jeter!!

  868. Valerie G.

    Come on Derek!

    I agree with you, Jack. there does seem to be some magic with this team.

  869. lets go twins

    GS Damon

  870. 100 pitches of fun...

    Damn, that was ball 3.

  871. Carl

    Did I hear Jeter boos lol?

  872. Jeremy

    I hate Billy Wagner.

  873. Jason from The Heartland

    No one is hating on Molina, Trisha. He’s not a big bat, that’s all, and not a mystery.

  874. Trevor (Super Mario)

    Oh great now they need a hit with RISP.

  875. Carl

    Damon Knows about hitting grand slams on fox

  876. Bronx Jeers

    It’s been a while since I’ve felt this contempt for Wagner.

    Feel’s good.

  877. Valerie G.

    NO! That was not helpful.

  878. Ham Fighters

    damon should shoot that slider into LF

  879. Arno

    Com’on Johnny, give us something!

  880. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Most animated McCarver’s been all day. Wanger striking out Jeter.

  881. Jason from The Heartland

    Launch one, JD.

  882. Boatz n Hose

    sweep the leg, johnny!

  883. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

    100 pitches of fun…
    September 26th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
    I still can’t believe they are letting Molina attempt to hit here. Molina can’t do a thing with the bat. An extra run would of been really big.

    ***********************************************

    Yep, that’d be no one on here hating on Molina.

  884. the.brett.garder.explosion.

    lot o’ walks

  885. GreenBeret7

    There’s very little wrong with Martinez’ defensive play. Like Piazza, he just can’t throw.

  886. 27

    cmon johnny

  887. Jeremy

    Come on Damon !

  888. 100 pitches of fun...

    Wagner has to be really tough for a lefty to hit.

  889. Pel (a/k/a Bart Simpson, a/k/a O.J. Simpson)

    Clutch?

    Yes, please. Thank you. About time.

  890. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    “No one is hating on Molina, Trisha. He’s not a big bat, that’s all, and not a mystery.”

    Jason, I’m just playing. We all know his offense isn’t the reason he’s here.

  891. Carl

    Damon!!!!

  892. Fondo Motz

    Damon was due

  893. PL

    yea johnny

  894. Jason from The Heartland

    Atta boy, JD!! 3-0! Huge clutch hitting, JD!

  895. Arno

    JOHNNY DAMON!!!!

  896. RS

    Oh, I missed watching Wagner pitch!

  897. RalphieD (OPPC)

    thank you johnny

  898. 27

    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  899. Rob in Vt.

    That was beautiful!

  900. Benny Blanco

    YESSS!!!

  901. Bronx Jeers

    So cool that Damon character.

  902. Jeremy

    Yes !

  903. m

    That’s it. Great job by Damon.

  904. Trevor (Super Mario)

    FINALLY! I can relax now.

  905. Arno

    Vintage Billy Wagner.

    I’m so glad the Redsox got him. Yea he’s a left who throws hard but he also chokes in the big spot.

  906. pat

    Somewhere Erica just got a warm and fuzzy feeling. :smile:

  907. Valerie G.

    Johnny Damon is so much better here on the Yanks! Yeah Johnny!

  908. 100 pitches of fun...

    Woohoo!!! Great at bat for Damon off of a lefty. Wagner different uniform same pitcher.

  909. BBFan

    McCarver is literally crying….

  910. Pepitone

    Way to go JD, now no one can complain about RISP anymore!

    What a killjoy!

  911. Fondo Motz

    Thank you Mets

  912. GreenBeret7

    That’s a typical Damon banjo hit from years gone by. Big time insurance for Rivera.

  913. Todd

    And the air goes right out of the FOX broadcast booth……………………Love It!!

  914. Bronx Jeers

    Wagner = 35 pitches of ineffectiveness.

  915. Rob

    where are all the sux trolls?

  916. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!

    The longest broadcasting silence today? The amount of time between Damon’s hit and any sound coming from the broadcasting booth.

    Commercial break so makeup can wipe the tears off McCarver’s face and reapply his pancake.

  917. Benny Blanco

    Now billy has a chance to hear “enter sandman” on the yankees new million dollar sound system.

  918. Carl

    Erica must be happy

  919. Jason from The Heartland

    Wagner had to throw 35 pitches. The Yanks won’t see him tomorrow.

  920. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    BBFan – noted the same thing at 7:04.

    :lol:

  921. 100 pitches of fun...

    If Wagner threw a high fastball Damon probably would of swung threw it. Good thing he didn’t.

  922. GreenBeret7

    pat
    September 26th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
    Somewhere Erica just got a warm and fuzzy feeling.

    ————————————————————

    Yeah, she just got a big hug from Snoopy.

  923. Rob in Vt.

    McCarver on suicide watch.

  924. Carl

    Tex going deep

  925. Valerie G.

    And the rally has only just begun…

  926. Todd

    daniel Bard lovefest commences……….

  927. Hank Hal

    Wagner ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

  928. Carl

    nvm

  929. Jason from The Heartland

    Sorry, Trisha. My bad.

  930. 100 pitches of fun...

    Let’s go Mo!!!

  931. Valerie G.

    That’s ok. We got 2 more.

  932. Mark

    Trev,

    You think Super Mario has another big day tomorrow?

    We may need him to with all the injuries on D. Tampa sucks especially on D, so we should be able to put up some points.

  933. Vrsce

    Fox is certainly anti Yankee. but ESPN is sickeningly pro Red Sox. Except for Colin Cowherd.

  934. Todd

    McCarver may be a bigger Sox homer than Gammons…………………………

  935. Jason from The Heartland

    Huge insurance for Mariano.

  936. DSFenkel

    enter the one and only sandman

  937. Cellar

    fail

  938. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

    I hope Erica was able to catch that moment somewhere.

  939. Carl

    Cant wait for WFAN tonight

  940. Jason from The Heartland

    I’d love to hear McCarver weeping in the commercial breaks.

  941. Valerie G.

    Time to bring in MO!

  942. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Jason, no problem. :)

    Molina got a walk so it took the complaining down a notch anyway.

  943. Jason from The Heartland

    McCarver–Mr. Papi was a little sloppy.

  944. MG

    I could understand McCarver being at least a little biased towards either the Cards or the Phillies, he spent virtually all his career with those teams.

    he’s also been a broadcaster for the Mets, the Giants, and the Yankees because he was a local broadcaster for each team.

    but for you to say he’s biased towards the Red Sox makes absolutely no sense whatsover. I think many of you have such a dislike for the Sox it just distorts everything you hear.

  945. Todd

    I wonder if McCarver has Red Sox jammies…..with the feet in them??????????????

  946. Jason from The Heartland

    And it was a good at-bat from Molina, Trisha. I guess it was as much my own concern about insurance runs.

  947. MG

    the 2nd paragraph should say ‘he’s also been a broadcaster for the Mets, Giants and Yankees so it’s possible he could be biased towards any of those teams’

  948. Valerie G.

    End this game, Mariano.

  949. Joe from Long Island

    I don’t know if McCarver is so much pro-Red Sox as he is anti-Yankee. I wonder what went down after he was let go by them?

  950. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    “Cant wait for WFAN tonight”

    Can’t wait for WEEI tomorrow!

  951. lets go twins

    I do not get the obsession with Bard. Yeah he throws hard and yeah he’s good but he is nowhere close to what Papelbon was in his first year. Usually with relievers you know from the beginning if they are going to be dominant.

    I think the Red Sox are really going to regret it if they let Paps walk in favor of Bard

  952. Jason from The Heartland

    1-3, one down.

  953. 100 pitches of fun...

    Mo is like a cat out there

  954. Valerie G.

    2 more outs.

  955. Johnny D.

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Magic number is 1!!!!!!!

  956. Todd

    If Ellsbury were slow, he’d be a .250 hitter

  957. Fondo Motz

    Todd – I just thought of those jammies and Tim’s tushy hanging out the side with with button open. Yuch !

    Bet he has a Sox tat though

  958. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

    What is it with Fox.. reliving EVERY horrid Yankee moment?

  959. Vrsce

    MG

    You are right McCarver is not overtlypro Sox, he is a National League guy. However ESPn (The New England Sports Network) is decidedly pro Red Sox and they admit it. So your patronizing note is not quite correct.

  960. Carl

    trisha

    lol

  961. Jason from The Heartland

    Can’t wait to read Son of Sam Horn tonight. Keep the watch on the Tobin Bridge.

  962. CB

    “The Red Sox have the best bullpen in the American League. By the end of the season, it could be regarded as the best in baseball history.”

    - Eric Ortiz NESN Sept 7 – comments made in response to the Billy Wagner trade.

    http://www.nesn.com/2009/09/bo.....ccess.html

  963. Valerie G.

    Could you imagine if we 1-hit the Red Sox?

  964. Jason from The Heartland

    Mariano gave Pedroia the big nasty, two down.

  965. 100 pitches of fun...

    Come on Mo, one more out!!!

  966. Todd

    The troll goes down

  967. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Jason I sure wasn’t aiming that at you! Posters have been commenting about Molina being in the game since the start.

    Insurance runs are always a good thing. But I bet you any money that the majority of posters here would feel confident going in to the 9th 1-0. I know I would. In fact, I would find it more exciting.

    :)

  968. Jason from The Heartland

    Yes I can, Valerie. Yes I can.

  969. Fondo Motz

    Let’s go MO

  970. Todd

    Is there a YES postgame?????

  971. CM

    I don’t know if anybody heard but fox commentators really want you to know pedroia rarely strikes out. 2 today tho!

  972. Carl

    Damn Mo :(

  973. RS

    It’s funny how McCarver keeps marveling at how Pedroia never strikes out and then the Yankees pitchers make him look silly.

  974. 100 pitches of fun...

    Damn, VMart is on fire right now.

  975. Giuseppe Franco

    MG September 26th, 2009 at 7:09 pm

    but for you to say he’s biased towards the Red Sox makes absolutely no sense whatsover. I think many of you have such a dislike for the Sox it just distorts everything you hear.

    —————-

    Agreed, 100%.

    People say the same thing about Jon Miller on ESPN and the guy does a good job.

    Can’t say the same thing about his broadcast partners, though. Morgan is terrible and Phillips is worse.

  976. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

    Oh great.. now they insult the Australians by doing a terrible imitation of our accents? Sheesh. Going for broke, lol.

  977. Benny Blanco

    CB
    September 26th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
    “The Red Sox have the best bullpen in the American League. By the end of the season, it could be regarded as the best in baseball history.”

    - Eric Ortiz NESN Sept 7 – comments made in response to the Billy Wagner trade.

    http://www.nesn.com/2009/09/bo…..ccess.html

    =========================================

    ROFLMO!!

  978. Valerie G.

    …or not. lol

  979. GreenBeret7

    At the end of May, nobody would have bet on NYY having a shot at tying the Red Sox for the season series. Finish off this game and win tomorrow, and that what you get.

  980. MG

    Vrsce
    September 26th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
    MG

    You are right McCarver is not overtlypro Sox, he is a National League guy. However ESPn (The New England Sports Network) is decidedly pro Red Sox and they admit it. So your patronizing note is not quite correct.
    ————————————–
    Where were the initials ESPN anywhere in my ‘patronizing note’? McCarver works for FOX but I suppose reading comprehension isn’t one of your strengths.

  981. Benny Blanco

    START SPREADING THE NEWS!

  982. Jason from The Heartland

    I gotcha, Trisha. I may have made myself the point person for Molina comments with my comment. Just trying not to offend. Thanks for keeping the bridge between us open.

    We’re on the verge here today. Finish him off, Mariano.

  983. Valerie G.

    Just one more strike!

  984. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    “What is it with Fox.. reliving EVERY horrid Yankee moment?”

    Angel, Yankee success kills them to the core of their being. It is the only way they can try to take the Yankees down since they can’t do it in fact!

  985. Trevor (Super Mario)

    Pete mentioned it a couple of weeks ago. Robertson has been better then Bard. But no one talks about him.

  986. Fondo Motz

    Lets just hope Texas wins and we win tomorrow so Boston can’t celebrate the WC as YS

  987. 100 pitches of fun...

    Come on one more strike

  988. Tom in N.J.

    Who is this Eric Ortiz clown?

    Does he work for the media, or the Red Sox P.R. team?

  989. Bronx Jeers

    Oh that article is a real beauty!

    I love the part about the Sox not needing FEMA.

    Here’s all we need to know.

    “About the Author

    Eric Ortiz is the new media editor for NESN. He previously worked as an MLB editor at ESPN.com. “

  990. Carl

    Jesus Mo come on!

  991. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    “At the end of May, nobody would have bet on NYY having a shot at tying the Red Sox for the season series. Finish off this game and win tomorrow, and that what you get.”

    Nobody?

    :)

  992. GreenBeret7

    Suddenly, it gets very sticky.

  993. GreenBeret7

    Suddenly, it gets very sticky.

  994. Angel - A tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

    I think they’re more anti-yankee than anything. It just comes across as pro-red sox because thats’ who the Yankees happen to be playing today.

    Man, Youkilis really hangs over the plate. Hardly surprising that he gets hit so often.

  995. RS

    Wow, suddenly the tying run is up. Mo was wild in that last AB.

  996. Valerie G.

    Not again! And yes, there should be a postgame on YES.

  997. Boatz n Hose

    Whoa…Mo hit Youk?

  998. 100 pitches of fun...

    Damn, now Lowell the tieing run.

  999. DVAB

    did puke cry when he got hit ?

  1000. Todd

    McCarver perking up

  1001. Pel (a/k/a Bart Simpson, a/k/a O.J. Simpson)

    I don’t like this human version of MO.

  1002. PL

    lets go already

  1003. 100 pitches of fun...

    tying, Come on mo!!!!

  1004. terpbomber

    Mo uncharacteristically not doing his thing.

  1005. Pel (a/k/a Bart Simpson, a/k/a O.J. Simpson)

    Now that’s more like it.

  1006. Alan

    And the magic number is …….. BILLY MARTIN.

  1007. Carl

    ball game!!

  1008. Rob in Vt.

    Magic #:1

  1009. Vrsce

    MG

    Enough out of you.
    Enjoy the game.

  1010. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Jason, we are permanent buds, bonded forever by our love of the best team in the history of baseball!!!

  1011. Jason from The Heartland

    [Pumping fist] YES! Mariano! YES!!

  1012. Boatz n Hose

    YEAH!

  1013. Valerie G.

    Is that Frank singing? Music to my ears.

  1014. Uke

    GOT EM! MAGIC # 1!!

  1015. Todd

    McCarver reaching for the box of tissues………..LOL

  1016. TurboWei

    CC needs just one more win to reach 20 win, clinch Cy Young. :)

  1017. jsbrendog

    Take that Boston

  1018. Jason from The Heartland

    Trisha, you’re gold.

    Big win. Huge.

  1019. Boatz n Hose

    BILLY MARTIN!

  1020. Johnny D.

    BWAHAHAHAHA! SOX SUX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

  1021. 100 pitches of fun...

    Woohoo. Great job Mo..Of course Fox can’t let them shake hands before going to a break. MAGIC NUMBER IS 1

  1022. RhapsodyInBlue

    Down to 1;
    http://i378.photobucket.com/al.....martin.jpg

  1023. DVAB

    Mo drills Puke then Ks Lowell….now THAT rocks ! … :-)

  1024. GreenBeret7

    trisha – OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene
    September 26th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
    “At the end of May, nobody would have bet on NYY having a shot at tying the Red Sox for the season series. Finish off this game and win tomorrow, and that what you get.”

    Nobody?

    ————————————————————

    I think only a fool would have bet that NYY would go 8-1 against Boston with a crack at 9-1. I’m not counting the ones like me were hoping, of course.

  1025. MG

    Mo was fine, Youkilis fouled off a bunch of 2 strike pitches and dove into an inside pitch, the hit by Martinez was a bloop and he blew away Pedroia and Lowell, neither had a chance.

    Congrats to the best team in baseball, they clinched a tie today.

  1026. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    I wasn’t worried for a second.

    Vote for me for president!

    :lol:

  1027. Jason from The Heartland

    Two-hit Boston. Outstanding. C.C. and the bullpen, tremendous.

  1028. kimmiebruce

    THAT is why I have “Enter Sandman” as my ringtone! (and if my husband and father-in-law left that game early, I may just have to ban them from Yankees/Red Sox games forever!)

  1029. jimintokyo

    Yeeeesssssss!

  1030. Todd

    And with that final pitch,Big Papi makes a beeline from the ondeck circle to the postgame buffet…………..

  1031. GreenBeret7

    I’m not counting the ones like me ***that*** were hoping, of course

  1032. jennifer

    Now the soxs can’t celebrate at Yankee Stadium. PHEW!

    And the Yankees can put the champagne on ice. Get it ready!

  1033. RS

    How awesome would it be to clinch the division at home against the Red Sox, tie up the season series after 0-8, and get win #100 all in one game?

  1034. 100 pitches of fun...

    I guess McCarver couldn’t stand to watch the Yanks shake hands. They had to go to a break immediately and off the air.

  1035. Valerie G.

    Great job, Yanks! Bye everybody!

  1036. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    2009 YANKEE WINS PREDICTION CHART
    Created on April 6, 2009
    poster # of games

    TOMPASS 124 :(
    S.O.S. 118 :(
    ROB THOMPSON 110 :(
    *RAYVT 107 :(
    #2 FOR PREZ 106
    *ANGEL 105
    PEL 105
    BACKBENCH 105
    *TOM B 104
    DR. COX 104
    TRISHA 103
    VSPOT 103
    KEVIN IN CT 102
    NICK IN SF 102
    YANKEESJTJ 102
    GLOBAL WARMING 102
    MG 102
    THE PREDIKTER 101
    *L-tothe2ND 101
    LORI 100
    MEL 100
    TEX’S NEW BF 100
    PATRICK 100
    *ERICA 100
    BARDOS 99
    VIN 99
    JENNIFER 99
    ED 99
    *NYY626 99
    DT 99
    *STEVE-B 99
    LAURA 98
    PETE ABE 98 :(
    RISHI 98 :(
    RUSSW210 98 :(
    CLAYB 98 :(
    DOREEN 98 :(
    RB15 98 :(
    TOM IN NJ 97 :(
    FRAN 97 :(
    S.A. 97 :(
    HOKIEHILL 97 :(
    UNCLE ELLSWORTH 97 :(
    #2 FOR PREZ 96 :(
    GAYLE 96 :(
    PAT 96 :(
    WESTERNER99 96 :(
    PSYLUCK 96 :(
    STEVEB 96 :(
    MICHAEL KAY 96 :(
    JOHN IN OHIO 95 :(
    MARK 95 :(
    B-DAVE 94 :(
    *WAIT TIL THEY COME 94 :(
    *haiku-man 62 :(

    * added 7/29 or later

  1037. Johnny D.

    Drilling Yuk was icing on the cake.

  1038. Jason from The Heartland

    One now. From Babe Ruth to Billy Martin to clinch.

  1039. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    Oops! I forgot to give Laura a frowny face.

    2009 YANKEE WINS PREDICTION CHART
    Created on April 6, 2009
    poster # of games

    TOMPASS 124 :(
    S.O.S. 118 :(
    ROB THOMPSON 110 :(
    *RAYVT 107 :(
    #2 FOR PREZ 106
    *ANGEL 105
    PEL 105
    BACKBENCH 105
    *TOM B 104
    DR. COX 104
    TRISHA 103
    VSPOT 103
    KEVIN IN CT 102
    NICK IN SF 102
    YANKEESJTJ 102
    GLOBAL WARMING 102
    MG 102
    THE PREDIKTER 101
    *L-tothe2ND 101
    LORI 100
    MEL 100
    TEX’S NEW BF 100
    PATRICK 100
    *ERICA 100
    BARDOS 99
    VIN 99
    JENNIFER 99
    ED 99
    *NYY626 99
    DT 99
    *STEVE-B 99
    LAURA 98 :(
    PETE ABE 98 :(
    RISHI 98 :(
    RUSSW210 98 :(
    CLAYB 98 :(
    DOREEN 98 :(
    RB15 98 :(
    TOM IN NJ 97 :(
    FRAN 97 :(
    S.A. 97 :(
    HOKIEHILL 97 :(
    UNCLE ELLSWORTH 97 :(
    #2 FOR PREZ 96 :(
    GAYLE 96 :(
    PAT 96 :(
    WESTERNER99 96 :(
    PSYLUCK 96 :(
    STEVEB 96 :(
    MICHAEL KAY 96 :(
    JOHN IN OHIO 95 :(
    MARK 95 :(
    B-DAVE 94 :(
    *WAIT TIL THEY COME 94 :(
    *haiku-man 62 :(

    * added 7/29 or later

  1040. Rob in Vt.

    Tip of the cap to C.C. What a game he pitched today. It’s been a long time since we’ve had an Ace like him.

  1041. CB

    The yankees have beaten the Red Sox silly this second half of the year and they’ve done it in every which way possible.

    The range and methods through which the’ve crushed the sox has been just remarkable.

    The contrast between last nights game and today’s was eye opening.

    Yesterday it was power and speed.

    Today it was CC yet again dominating the Sox. This is now the 3 straight game where he’s beaten the Sox. And today he was utterly masterful.

    The big man gives up 1 hit – and does so on a day where the offense was giving them nothing and he literally had to be perfect.

    When is the last time the yankees had a pitcher who could answer that call?

    And as they’ve done all year – they’ve dominated innings 7-9.

    The Sox pen can get all the acclaim they want.

    Who cares – the yankees pen is better.

    Hughes would be arguably the most underrated relief pitcher in baseball if Dave Robertson didn’t happen to be in the majors as well.

    And what they’ve added these past two games to the diversity of ways they’ve stepped on the Sox throat has been dominant base running.

    The yankees are a systematically better team than the sox.

    It is a long time since all of the cries of the yankees not being able to beat the sox.

    0-8 is a distant memory now.

    Hard to believe that once again the season series will be split.

    But the yankees are now clearly the better team. That doesn’t guarantee post season success but they are clearly the favorites even though the media just won’t acknowledge that reality.

  1042. Trevor (Super Mario)

    Champagne will be on ice tomorrow afternoon. Maybe even pie too.

  1043. GreenBeret7

    trisha – OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene
    September 26th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
    I wasn’t worried for a second.

    Vote for me for president!

    ————————————————————

    Well, dammit, Trisha…I was. LMAO.

  1044. trisha - OPPC lifetime member who is missing the worry gene

    GB, I’m just missing some genes or something but when it comes to this stuff I’m happy I am. Sometimes I think I’m too stupid to worry.

  1045. RS

    You know what’s funny? In 2007, Sabathia was 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA and won the Cy Young.

    This year, he is again 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA (with 1 start left) but he’ll probably only finish 3rd behind Grienke and Felix Hernandez.

  1046. Chico Harris

    Snffy Stirnweiss, a New York City native, was killed at age 39 when the passenger train he was on plunged off the CRRNJ Newark Bay Bridge between Elizabethport and Bayonne, New Jersey.

Leave a Reply

Advertisement
Parade Photos
New York Yankees baseball fans cheer during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) New York Yankees baseball player  Mariano Rivera, bottom, waves during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) Floats carrying the New York Yankees baseball team make their way along Broadway during a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) New York Yankees baseball players Alex Rodriguez, second from left,  Francisco Cervelli, third from right, and entertainer Jay-Z, left, celebrate on a float  during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez, right, and entertainer Jay-Z celebrate on a float during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) Floats carrying the New York Yankees baseball team make their way along Broadway during a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) New York Yankees' Hideki Matsui, the World Series MVP, celebrates from a float during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) Baseball fans cheers as the New York Yankees were honored along Broadway in New York on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, with a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
More photos
About this blog
Thoughts and discussion on the 27-time World Champion Yankees.

LoHud's Yankees News Page

Subscribe
LoHud Yankees Podcast | Get iTunes

Get blog updates via email:

Twitter Updates
 
 
About the authors
Chad JenningsChad Jennings joined the The Journal News in October 2009, having spent the better part of seven years covering baseball in Scranton, PA. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and an award-winning beat reporter and features writer. E-mail me at cjennings@lohud.com
READ MORE ABOUT CHAD

Sam BordenSam Borden is an award-winning journalist who joined The Journal News and LoHud.com in January 2008. He covered the Yankees for the New York Daily News from 2004-06, and has also worked as a columnist for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville. E-mail me at sborden@lohud.com
READ MORE ABOUT SAM

Advertise
Democracy


Ad
MLB Salaries
MLB SALARY DATABASE
Links
Other recent entries
Monthly Archives