Sabathia, so far, has been worth every cent
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CC Sabathia was asked his definition of being an ace after today’s game.
“The definition of an ace is just giving the team a chance to win every time out,” he said. “The guys feel like you have a chance to win every time you go out there. That’s what I try and do. I go out and give everything I have, leave it all out on the field.”
By that definition, Sabathia is truly an ace. The Yankees have won the last 11 games he has started. The left-hander is 9-0 with a 2.04 ERA in those games.
“He has been everything you can ask for and more,” Joe Girardi said. “From the way he’s pitched on the field, the way he right away in spring training came and brought the pitching staff together and the players together. … He is an ace.”
Think of the expectations heaped on Sabathia when he agreed to that mega-contract in December. Now consider what he has done. He is 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA and the Yankees are 7.5 games ahead of Boston and have the best record in baseball.
Not even the most demanding of fans — and let’s admit, you’re a demanding bunch — could have expected more.
And Sabathia has done all that on the field while being a true professional. He has been a good teammate, forged strong relationships within the organization and cheerfully participated in a series of community events. The Yankees couldn’t ask for a better representative of their interests. Heck, he’s even polite to the media.
Terry Francona marveled at Sabathia’s command after the game, calling it “amazing.” The Red Sox were literally shaking their heads when recounting how good he was.
Good luck to the Tigers and Twins as they fight it out in the Central. I know this much: The winner is going to have their hands full in Game 1 of the Division Series. CC Sabathia is doing man’s work this season and he’s not done yet.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
Carsten Charles is the man.
CC has been great. I am so glad that the Yankees passed on Santana (even though he is still a good pitcher, despite the trouble this year) and got CC. He has been awesome.
I question the logic behind the Cardinals pitching Wainwright to some like 130 pitches tonight. Yes he was doing great, but still its crazy to use up his arm when it isn’t realistic that you are losing the division.
On the other hand, today CC was done with less than 100 pitches, getting some extra rest, and will not have a dead arm for the whole purpose of the season… the post season.
You know what is amazing? Is that he could’ve had more than 20 wins with a few breaks here or there. I
It’s been a nice symbiotic relationship for him and the Yankees. It must be nice for CC to not have that mental burden of being ridden like a mule just to get into the playoffs. It should pay off in the playoffs.
Great job by CC in his first season in pinstripes.
The yanks really haven’t had a true ace for a long time. CC has done a great job. Hopefully Chamberlain and Hughes can devolop into frontline starters in the next few years.
Girardi is also doing a great job finding CC extra rest. He has been getting extra rest since after his tampa start on september 7th. He should be really strong in the playoffs and not worn out like he was last year.
Imagine what his second season is going to be like after getting accustomed to NY and the AL East this year.
Make that “could” be like.
wolf, imagine AJ next year! Hopefully that guy can get it together and dominate
WOW!! LAA 9 OAK 9 all tied up!!
kd, if AJ can be consistently good on top of that (CC), as well as Hughes and Joba taking the next steps in their roles, it might be the best rotation we’ve seen in years.
Mel, the same thing could be said about Pettite and the lack of run support. 7 games of 3 runs or less…not just earned runs, with at least 6 innings and either got a no decision or a loss.
As good/outstanding as Sabathia has been, Pettitte has been the better surprise at a considerably cheaper price. Everyone knew what Sabathia could do. If they were shocked, then, they’re idiots.
I think Sabathia has even surpassed Santana now. Since 2007, Sabathia has won a Cy Young and led three different teams to the postseason. Santana’s stats are still good but he’s clearly declining and has had two surgeries in less than a year.
Now factor in Hughes, Melky, and Kennedy/Jackson, and it’s a no-brainer to have passed on Santana for Sabathia.
I think CC has had the best first year of any FA or big name trade pitcher with the Yankees that I can think of. Most have been disappointments. CC has had a better first year than Clemens, RJ, Vazquez, Wells, etc. Mussina had a very nice first year at 17-11 3.15, but CC has been better, I think. Catfish did go 23-14, 2.58 in 1975. That or CCs year might be the best.
C.C. is a disappointment. He didn’t go undefeated and has an ERA over 1! How dare he consider this season a success…just kidding. He has been great. Hopefully he will be just as dominant in the post season, when it really counts. I know the past few season he has been worn out at the end, but he hasn’t had to carry this team on his shoulders just to get into the playoffs so he will hopefully be rested and ready to roll and carry us to #27.
Is it enough for the Cy Young?
wolf, very true.
does anyone know if montrero will be ready for dh duty next year?
RS, the biggest thanks I give to the Yankees for not trading for Santana is that Hughes wouldn’t be with them, nor would CC. Santana would have a better record if he played for a good team, but there is something special about CC.
Pettitte has been very good this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him back next season.
For those that constantly knock what Burnett has done, he’s had 9 games of 6 innings or more and 3 runs or less that ended with no decisions or losses. His season this year isn’t much different than last year’s when he pitched well enough to get an 18 mil a year contract. The only difference is the lack of wins.
Sabathia’s year has been somewhat similar to Moose’s last season. On May 2, he was 1-3 with a 4.85 ERA. Since then he’s 19-4 with a 2.87 ERA. He started off rocky but has gotten better and better.
Ler La Russa be stupid and over work his pitchers.It took 7 days for them to clinch needing 1 game.He was desperate.STL has been waiting since last Friday.
Carpenter just recovered from TJ Surgery,and Mark Mulder didn’t do so well, and was released.Wainwright will be next watch!
10-9,LAA
“I question the logic behind the Cardinals pitching Wainwright to some like 130 pitches tonight. Yes he was doing great, but still its crazy to use up his arm when it isn’t realistic that you are losing the division.”
I did too, but I’m not complaining, since I want to see Atlanta make it a race in the WC.
I think CC has had a ton of pressure on him the last few years. Carrying teams into the post season, short rest, lots of innings, all takes it toll.
“Is it enough for the Cy Young?”
Should it be? Probably not. Greinke’s having a season for the ages. But if CC gets 20 next week, all bets are off with the voters.
GreenBeret7,
But according to John Kruk on BBTN, AJ has been awful this year if you exclude his good starts!
And the Red Sox have no weaknesses. Pay no attention to the glass arms behind that curtain!
Nice post Pete, I agree, we really can’t ask for more from Sabathia. Even the most optimistic fans couldn’t have expected this kind of year from CC. 19-7, 3.10 ERA in the AL EAST? Stunning.
Er 3.21 that is…
Mark in Tampa
September 26th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
GreenBeret7,
But according to John Kruk on BBTN, AJ has been awful this year if you exclude his good starts!
————————————————————
True. Much like if you eliminate Kruk’s bad years, he might make the HOF. Right now, at this point in his career, Burnett has been better than Schilling was. In 20 years, Scilling had 9 losing seasons, but, he’s being touted for the HOF? Pettitte has never had a losing season and has 20 wins 3 times, and people laugh at his chances.
GreenBeret7
September 26th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
For those that constantly knock what Burnett has done, he’s had 9 games of 6 innings or more and 3 runs or less that ended with no decisions or losses. His season this year isn’t much different than last year’s when he pitched well enough to get an 18 mil a year contract. The only difference is the lack of wins.
—————————————–
I agree I think Burnett has done a good job. He is a solid number 2. The only thing disappointing about Burnett this year were the three starts at fenway.
I had posted that about Schilling a little while back when his name came up re: HOF. Also, I don’t remember the exact number, but he had about 8 or 9 seasons of single digit wins. He has been a great postseason pitcher, that is his only hope at the HOF. His regular seasons were largely pedestrian, I think he only had 3 or 4 that you could call Hall worthy.
Also, if you exclude Kruk’s extra 90 lbs, he is really quite svelte.
We should look back at a couple of threads after the last game before the All Star Break and see what people (and Pete) were saying about this team.
A few of us had faith in this team but most did not.
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/200.....at-angels/
Hard to believe some of the nonsense that was spewed after that game, including all the mudslinging at Sabathia for being a “bust”.
This one came from Pete himself and some of us called him on it.
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/200.....od-enough/
GB –
Outside of a few really bad starts, I think AJ has done a fine job this year. I’d just like to see more consistency. When he’s on, he’s tremendous. When he’s off, it’s brutal. But then again that has been the story on him all along it seems. But I agree with you in that he could have had more in the W column than he has because of the ND’s. I don’t think you were referring to me at all, but I still would go on the record as saying I’m no AJ hater by any means.
Oakland is playing the Angels hard.We know their worn out from the Yankees. All tied up 10-10
Pettitte, overall has had some pretty impressive post season numbers. Strikeouts is really the only place that Schilling has Pettitte. Schilling also spent the majority of his career in the NL. Their AL ERAs are nearly identical, as is their NL ERAs. The difference in the career ERAs would be the amount of time spent in the leagues. As I said, strikeouts are the biggest difference.
11-10 OAK
12-10 OAK
Schilling: 216 wins 3.46 ERA, largely NL
Pettitte: 228 wins 3.90 ERA, largely AL East
They have both had postseason success, if one is getting serious support for HOF, the other should as well.
15-10 Oakland! Wow, what is with some of the games today having big scoring innings? Maybe they were stealing runs from today’s Yankee/Sox game.
Giuseppe Franco
September 27th, 2009 at 12:13 am
This one came from Pete himself and some of us called him on it.
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/200…..od-enough/
————————————————————
Nothing he says or writes surprises me. This spring he insisted the Yankees would be better off with Ransom over Rodriguez at third base.
They need to win tomorrow because AJ needs to be there for any clinching celebration.
Someone big like Shelly needs to hold him down and everyone he’s pied this year should empty cans of Ready Whip on him at the same time.
15-10 OAK
The Angels must feel snakebit lately.
GreenBeret7 September 27th, 2009 at 12:25 am
Nothing he says or writes surprises me. This spring he insisted the Yankees would be better off with Ransom over Rodriguez at third base.
————–
Ah, yes. You mean this comment?
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/200.....ent-704410
He tried so hard to pick on me that he ended up making perhaps one of the most foolish comments any beat writer has said all season.
Lots of people called him out on that. Sadly, a lot of other people actually agreed with him.
Not to mention Pete’s moral thread wondering if we Yankee fans should be rooting for a “cheater” after hitting a walkoff home run.
Never mind he’s a big fan of Giambi and doesn’t seem to have any issues with him having some success.
Totally agreed, pat. That would be the perfect celebration.
Tomorrow’s game is the one I’ve been least worried about heading into this weekend. Nobody could have anticipated us getting to Lester as well and as early as we did on Friday, nor did we know what to expect from Joba. That was a pleasant way to open the series. We pretty much knew CC would be solid today, but Dice-K put together a couple of good starts prior to tonight and sure enough it took us a while to move runners across the plate. As for tomorrow, Pettitte has been really solid for weeks now, while Byrd is a shell of the pitcher he used to be. Strange things can happen in baseball of course, but I’m fully expecting a clinch at home against the Sox tomorrow barring any freakish happenings.
Since CC has gotten his fastball command back where it should be he’s been lights out. They were saying today that Eiland changed his grip around the all-star break. If so, bravo, Eiland.
Can CC win Cy Young if he reaches 20 win?
It’s a vote, and many of the voters don’t know much, so sure.
Rodriguez’ mistake over the years has been not trying to buy the writers’ approval with drinks at strip bars. Rodriguez has been frustrating at times, said silly/stupid things, but, he hurts only himself. He could have struck back at Torre over the SI story about a supposedly private meeting that Torre ran to tell Giambi and the others, or, that asanine book, but, he said nothing. As far as I know, nothing’s been printed about anything he’s said to beat writers or columnists, and, he’s had plenty of reason to. For years, they wrote that he just needed to play more and talk less. This year, he’s done that, and they complain that he basically freezes them out. I wonder why?
Unless Sabathia pitches back to back no-hitters and picks up 40 strikeouts, the Cy Young race should be a fight between Hernandez and Greinke. Greinke is my choice.
heh, controversy brings beat writers home bread. They need someone to trounce upon.
There does seem to be a lot of less drama in the club house this year. Beat writers must be frustrated.
I believe that if the Angels lose tonight, the Yanks clinch best AL record & home field advantage in the playoffs. The Angels will have 90 wins with eight to play. The Yanks now have 99 wins. Wit a loss tonight, the Angels can’t match that. After the Angels lose tonight, when the Yanks clinch the division, they’ve got all their goals going into the playoffs!
I wonder if some of the success that Dicey-K has had in the starts are because he has been out so long and the players aren’t as familiar with him. Scouting for him hasn’t been abundant this year.
CC has had a good year, I just wish his ERA was a little lower.
I’m kidding of course
CC has been dominant in the most important part of the season and he will continue to do so right into the playoffs. As John Heyman pointed out, CC is truly a “1$61 million bargain”
Angels lose, 15-10. Yanks win home field advantage!!!!
If CC wins his 20th game, his stats is way better than Colon in 2005.
Another game up in home field Angels lost 15-10!
Ed I was thinking the same thing. The Angels lose tonight and the Yankees lock up HFA, then tomorrow when they defeather the Byrd they wrap it all up in a sweet package. (Also evening up the head to head matchups with the Sox).
Just think, if the Yanks had won half those first 8 games which was doable, it would all be over already. This scenario might be a little better as clinching too soon can have a negative effect on them for not playing meaningful games for weeks.
Even CC says Greinke should get the CY,at http://www.nesn.com
CC saird if he had a vote,he’d vote for Greinke.
Haiku, the only thing standing in the way of clinching HFA now is the Red Sox. Knocking off the Saux tomorrow means celebrating best record and the division. The only team that can possibly pass the Yankees for best record in all of baseball is the Dodgers, and that door is almost closed as well.
Abdabab, I have no regrets about the Yanks early losses to the Sox. This way the team closes on a high. A win tomorrow and they can celebrate achieving all of their regular season goals.
I really don’t care much about the Cy Young. There are arguments that could be made for CC getting it that are valid, but Greinke getting it isn’t a rip off in any sense of the word.
CC is humble. He probably would say the same thing even if he had a lower ERA for the season.
The Cy Young and MVP are effected because of the division heavy matchups. Its yet another reason there should be a balanced schedule. The interleague play shouldn’t count for ERA stats when considering the Cy Young or MVP.
It would close off the additional speculations about how easy or difficult the various divisions are.
TurboWei
September 27th, 2009 at 12:58 am
If CC wins his 20th game, his stats is way better than Colon in 2005.
————————————————————
2005 hasn’t got a thing to do with 2009.
Yeah, the Red Sox could still theoreotically end up with home field advantage if the Yankees lose every game and the Red Sox win every game, but one more Yankees win or Red Sox loss and it’s all sealed up. Beating Byrdie tomorrow would be a pretty nice way to make it happen.
We will have our parade before the Cy Young/MVP/etc. are announced. That will be enough for me.
Awesome, as long as the yankees clinch the division, they have homefield. LA can’t have more than 98 wins.
Ed, I agree. In some ways I think it might have helped motivate the Yankees to quiet the questions.
Guaranteed, the next thing that will be harped on from the media (press and TV) will be about Alex hitting in the post season. That and AJ being up to pitch.
The Yanks have shut up the naysayers with “can they beat the Red Sox, can they beat the Angels”.
Love this notion that the Yanks can’t beat the Red Sox in the playoffs. Not that past seasons really have any influence on the current one (like the so-called Angels hex), but Boston’s beaten the Yanks in the playoffs a grand total of once. Whoop-de-doo.
“Prime September 27th, 2009 at 1:15 am
Awesome, as long as the yankees clinch the division, they have homefield. LA can’t have more than 98 wins.”
Now I’m getting worried. The magic number is 1, can the Yankees hold off the Sox?
Paul Byrd was the pitcher in the ALDS in 2007 that beat the Yankees 6-4
Game 3,(Indians) they won 3-1 in the series.
Yankees defeated by CC,Fausto Carmona,and Paul Byrd.
So pay back time Yankees!!
I have to say that if the Yankees with the WS this year I’m taking all the credit for it. I got a Yankee tattoo on my back during the first game of the season
Kevin, that talk will be quashed soon too.
I think the Yankees can beat any team that they face. Though I hate the best of 5 series with a passion.
My ideal way for the post season to go is Angels beat the Red Sox, Yankees beat the Tigers or Twins (which ever bloodied and battered team prevails), then Yankees go on and beat the Angels and win the 27th with whatever NL team gets there.
During the first game? Why weren’t you watching it, dude?!
The whole season has been a delightful narrative. I can’t think of any season I’ve enjoyed more. The only year I’ve enjoyed as much may have been 1961, my first as a Yankees fan. This team and this season have been really special.
I am confident that Alex is gonna have a big post season.
His demeanor has changed a lot. He looks/sounds hungry for post season success!
I watched the end of the first game but I had to get it during the beginning because that was the only time my fiance and I were both available to go.
If the yankees win sunday it will be nice for 3 reasons clinch AL east & home field advantage 2nd in front of there arch rivals red sox 3rd is they will split with the red sox for the season series 9-9 after starting 0-8 (go yanks)
GB7,
Can you imagine if our rotation had stayed as healthy in the past few years as it did this year? That’s why I compare our run (with a lot more offense) to that of the Rays last season. They were able to win so many games because their starters stayed healthy.
As for Pettitte, he should have had more wins in Houston, and during his second stint with the Yankees.
Remember how he and Roger got so little run support by Houston? Hey, that karma thing really works.
As for Andy, to still be pitching well in this division at his age is quite the feat. Remember all the debates over the winter? One thing that couldn’t be questioned was his heart and ability to battle.
I wish I could forget all the anti-Andyism here.
jR
# 4 Yankees are in Sawx’s head,they beat Smoltz,Penny,Beckett,Lester,Bard,Delcarmen,Wagner,Matsuzaka, et al. They know the Yankees are ready for them!
You know who else was worth every cent? Chien Ming Wang. Our de facto ace for the better part of 3 years.
I hope his shoulder heals up without any lingering problems. (fingers crossed)
If Andy didn’t re-sign this past offseason,the Cards wanted him bad and were prepared to make an offer.
Raise your hand if you lost $$ on college football today. Some goofy upsets.
Mariano is more than worth his contract.When he comes into a game it’s a lot of pressure,but he does it the best.
$15M sounds pretty good for a reliever.
They’re going to have to extend him. He’s still got some bullets in that arm.
Wang wasn’t worth every cent this year in clinical terms (cost/win), but sentimental thanks for past services rendered and hopes for the future.
CC was more of a bargain.
Nick,
Was really referring to his two 19 win seasons and his injury-shortened season in which he had racked up 10 wins by the time interleague had rolled around.
Check out this fun metaphor I found via Gammons whinefest, er, blog:
“Maybe rest in the final week will help Varitek, but right now 2.2 seconds to second base isn’t going to be more than a flashing yellow light to the Angels.”
And this is for randy l:
According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, Livan Hernandez “believes he has six years left in his baseball career and wants those years to be with the Nationals.” Livan’s been a below league average pitcher for four years now, but if he can stick around for another six years, more power to him.
from mlbtr
Yes, Wang was a good value in the past.
Hey, if a guy get some team to keep paying him, then all the more power to him playing. Unless he’s Brett Favre. Then he can go do unspeakable things to himself.
Livan will be eating innings somewhere. Why didn’t the Mets hang on to him?
Livan eats many things – he doesn’t discriminate towards innings.
I guess it’d be more accurate to say Livan will be eating indiscriminately somewhere next season.
o/t did Melky slim down? He looks thinner.
m,
Funny, I thought the exact opposite. I was watching on mute and I thought Melky was Molina for a couple of seconds. He wears his uniform so baggy it’s hard to tell.
He just cleaned up his diet. More peanuts.
lol @ Ozzie. They pulled the plug on his expletive laced rant. I’d be upset, too, if my team suffered an embarrassing loss like that.
http://sports.espn.go.com/chic.....id=4507499
Tampa Bay and the Angels also with embarrassing defeats.
Just saw a recap of Lind hitting the walk-off HR in Toronto.
Right as he got to the crowd near home plate he threw his helmet off à la your 2009 Yankees.
I guess it was either that or a Prince Fielder home plate earthquake.
No idea. And how dare you change the subject from making fun of Livan’s waistline!
I’m guessing the Mets released him because of that 77 ERA+ (or some other factor contributing to him having a 77 ERA+, since I doubt Omar knows what ERA+ is). Eating innings has it’s value, but at some point, giving that many innings to that poor of a pitcher isn’t helping if you want to not suck. I guess he still has value to a non-contending team that doesn’t want to burn out it’s bullpen and doesn’t have the prospects ready to step in, so the Nats make sense.
An interesting rumor wafting out of Arizona. They may be interested in moving Stephen Drew for Young pitching. He would make the perfect defensive/offensive replacement for Jeter. The asking price is young starting pitching.
Okay.
I was at opening day 1998.
I was at El Duque’s first major league start.
I was two rows back behind the visitor’s dugout for Boomer’s perfect game. Later that night, I and some friends hung out with him and David Cone. I said to David Cone, “don’t worry. you’ll get yours.” One year later, he did.
That night, I got Boomer’s signature on my game-day ticket. I still have it.
I was at ALDS game 5 in 2001, and the stadium was a-vibratin’.
I was at the first game against the Diamondbacks in 2002, and hung out a banner that said, “Aura and Mystique, back by popular demand”.
I was at Spring training this year, when Jeter played against the Yankees.
…and many, many more games in-between.
I have not been to the new stadium yet, but I and my girl have tix for Monday night.
So I’m rooting for a loss tomorrow. I hate to say that. If it doesn’t happen, that’s just fine.
But I’d love to be there when it happens, if it happens Monday night.
xo,
J
Pete,
The next time you talk to your near future collegue in Boston, please inform him that Girardi has been resting his players and this weekend not withstanding, the Yankees are well rested and will ready to go just like his beloved Boston Red Sox. This is Sunday and the playoffs won’t begin until next Wednesday at the earliest so more off days for the Yankees is on the way while their main starting pitchers are getting 5-6 days off between starts while our main bullpen guys have barely worked up a sweat the last couple of weeks.
http://www.boston.com/sports/b.....ds/?page=1
Girardi has been resting his players all year lol
Charles in charge!!
I wish we could watch the game today on YES instead of ESPN. When something good happens, you want family around to share it with, y’know?
4 other pitchers have signed over 100 million dollar contracts and CC is the only one to win 19 games. I said wow.
Shaughnessy’s article was funny. So now I guess the Red Sox didn’t try to win this series.
Maybe it doesn’t matter much who the Yanks play Minn or Detroit. It would seem that the Tigers have the better team and the best pitching. But, even with Morneau now out the team hasn’t skipped a beat as Mauer has picked up the slack and is a very tough out.
The Yanks are a combined 23-8 against the Central Division, while the Twins are 10-22 against the East and Detroit is 15-21
The Boston magic number for the Wild Card is still 3, meaning there is guaranteed to be no celebration in the visiting locker room tonight!
When the playoffs start, if the Yankees stay within themselves and play the type of game that presents itself (slugfest, small-ball, whoop the other teams bullpen) they will be a very imposing team.
From some reason after 2004, Torre lost his postseason magic…it might not be a coincidence that it left when Zim left, but is seemed they were always tight in the playoffs.
With Tex, Swish, and Damon having more influence in the locker room, for some strange reason I think that Alex is going to have a tremendous October.
Pete,
A very enjoyable read on CC.
Nice to know that he is a quality cat as well as a stud pitcher.
Ed H…there is a postgame show on YES today.
“for some strange reason I think that Alex is going to have a tremendous October”
I hope he does so the media and fans can stop harping on it but it’s been a team effort all season and I’d like to see that continue in the postseason.
Alex doesn’t have to have a tremendous October – just a good one! And if he does what he’s been doing, and not try to do too much or prove anything – he will have a good one.
I agree with pat, though. This entire year has been a real team effort – lots of “heroes” – and no reason to think the playoffs will be any different.
As great as the Yankees have been since the All Star Break, let’s not forget that it’s all about October for them, and that many of the members of this team have a lot to prove in October. Sabathia has been very mediocre in the playoffs. Burnett has never pitched in anything remotely resembling a big game in his major league career. We all know about A-Rod. Joba and Hughes have very limited playoff experience. And Girardi’s tactical acumen has never been tested under the duress of October pressure either.
Here’s some nuggets from Shaunnessy along with a dose of reality.
“This is why you are asked not to be bothered that the Sox are 1-8 against the Yankees since Aug. 6.”
Reality – On August 2 the Red Sox were tied in the loss column with the Yankees with 42 losses.By August 24, after losing 5 of 6 to the Yankees,the Red Sox were 7 game out. It’s an outright lie to say those August games werent crucial.
“We know that finishing second is A-OK at this point. The Sox proved that in 2004.”
Reality – Only 3 teams have won the World Series as the Wild Card. Because it happened to your team 5 years ago means absolutely nothing in 2009. In 2004, the difference between the Yankees and Red Sox road records was 1 game. In 2009 the difference is 8 games and counting.The 2009 Red Sox are a sub .500 road team. On the road they have an advantage over no one. In reality, the ‘09 Sox are a poor road team without home field advantage in the playoffs. It’s not “A-OK” to lose the division.
Good luck Pete swimming in that cesspool known as the Boston media.
Giuseppe Franco
September 27th, 2009 at 12:13 am
We should look back at a couple of threads after the last game before the All Star Break and see what people (and Pete) were saying about this team.
A few of us had faith in this team but most did not.
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/200…..at-angels/
Hard to believe some of the nonsense that was spewed after that game, including all the mudslinging at Sabathia for being a “bust”.
——————————————
for the record, I am one of the loyal ones who understands the ups and downs of a long season:
1. MG July 12th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
baseball is a funny game, the Angels just lost a series to the Rangers and now could sweep the Yankees, who just swept the Twins on the road. The Yankees took 2 series from the Rangers, one at home, one on the road. The Yankees took the series against the Angels at the Stadium in April.
The meaning of all this? it’s a long season, filled with ups and downs, and just because CC hasn’t pitched well today doesn’t mean he can’t beat the Angels in the playoffs. Teams are never as good as they look when they are winning, and never as bad as they look when they are losing. I don’t remember what year it was but sometime during the 50’s one of the Yankees dynasty teams won 18 in a row and then lost 9 in a row. No one jumped off a building, they got it back together and won the World Series that year. Just some perspective from a Yankees fan since 1953…
Doreen:
Agreed on Alex. As a courageous 12 Stepper friend of mine is fond of saying, “Let go and let God.” It seems to me that Alex has done that, maybe in his personal life, but certainly in his professional life, now putting a good swing on the ball and letting the rest take care of itself. Whatever the reason, the results have been great, especially considering the number of games he missed.
Alex was hitting bottom, laid low by the PEDs scandal and publicly shredding his personal life. He could have let it overwhelm him. But I think good things are waiting for him from hereon out, more than just numbers. A future A-Rod autobiography (”Call Me Al”?) might just be a good read after all.
crawdaddy says:
September 27, 2009 at 4:39 am
Pete,
The next time you talk to your near future collegue in Boston, please inform him that Girardi has been resting his players and this weekend not withstanding, the Yankees are well rested and will ready to go just like his beloved Boston Red Sox. This is Sunday and the playoffs won’t begin until next Wednesday at the earliest so more off days for the Yankees is on the way while their main starting pitchers are getting 5-6 days off between starts while our main bullpen guys have barely worked up a sweat the last couple of weeks.
http://www.boston.com/sports/b…..ds/?page=1
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Wow, what a bunch of idiots.