Pitching matchups for the Royals series
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- September
- 28
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Tonight: RHP Luke Hochevar (7-11, 5.98) vs. RHP Chad Gaudin (1-0, 3.71), 7:05, YES.
Tuesday: RHP Anthony Lerew (0-1, 3.86) vs. RHP A.J. Burnett (12-9, 4.19), 7:05, YES.
Wednesday: RHP Robinson Tejeda (4-2, 3.41) vs. RHP Joba Chamberlain (9-6, 4.72), 7:05, YES.
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It’ll be interesting to see whether Joe Girardi gives everybody the day off today. He could throw out this lineup:
Gardner CF
Hairston SS
Hinske 3B
One of the regulars DH
Duncan RF
Miranda 1B
Cervelli C
Pena 2B
Guzman LF
Now you know why they called all those guys up. It’s for the Hangover Special lineup.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
I think the entire team will be hungover
hey – why not
might be intersting to see what this line-up can do!
They should let ARod manage the last game of the season. It’ll help keep him loose going into the playoffs.
there’s no way you will see Hairston playing. They will be giving him some time off to make sure the wrist is 100% before the playoffs begin.
Judging from the celebration photos and videos, I doubt that Swisher or Cano will be of any use to anybody today.
Pete,
You really think Curb was classic yesterday? I was bored to death…didn’t even crack a smile once. Ah, to each his own I guess.
Good luck in Boston!
I am watching the Yankee celebration from last night. I had (successfully!) taped ESPN while watching YES, so this is really sweet. I got to watch the faces of the Sux as they filed out of the dugout, especially the disappointment/disgust on Ortiz’s face. That made me the happiest because I feel like he dodged a bullet he shouldn’t have been able to dodge.
Anyway, it feels good to hear ESPN gush about the Yankees, especially the hypocrite Kruk. I will say about Gammons that no matter how much he does Sux novenas, he is always there to give credit to individual Yanks.
Actually Kruk is sickening. What a phony. Didn’t he predict the Sux to take the division? To listen to him he knew it would be the Yankees all along.
The sun is shining brightly today.
They’ll still probably take 2 out of 3 from KC.
Stat of the day:
Do you realize in the last 12 seasons the Boston Red Sox have been Wild Card champions 7 times?! I don’t think I’m overstating this, but without the advent of the Wild Card, Red Sox Nation would be virtually irrelevant.
That would be some lineup. It would be interesting to see what they can do.
Pete, your 2nd-to-last day, have fun.
Murderer’s Row and Cano. This will be the time it means what it says!
“Murderer’s Row and Cano”
Don’t remind me of that awful slogan! What terrible memories that brings back…
Think they’ll try Pena in the outfield? Just to see how he does? or no?
Hopefully Robbie Cucuzza has a lot of pots of coffee brewing and a bowl full of Advil/Tylenol laid out for the guys as they arrive at the ballpark today.
I do look forward to the younger/AAA guys getting some burn the last week of the season. Hopefully guys like IPK and Melancon get some time on the mound this week, too. Will be nice to play some meaningless baseball for a few games before the real carnival begins next week.
Pete Abraham,
I hope not, knowing about lineup’s & seeing spring training games in Ft Myers many Yankee Fans bought tickets to see the regulars play so it’s only fair to play most of the regulars with a few subs. Besides putting this team on cruise control now is the wrong thing. Winning games going into the playoffs still does mean something.
Darrin September 28th, 2009 at 10:29 am
They’ll still probably take 2 out of 3 from KC.
Stat of the day:
Do you realize in the last 12 seasons the Boston Red Sox have been Wild Card champions 7 times?! I don’t think I’m overstating this, but without the advent of the Wild Card, Red Sox Nation would be virtually irrelevant.
================================================
It’s even worse than that. In the last 20 years the Sox have won the division only 3 times: 1990, 1995, 2007.
If I were Girardi I’d pen Swisher into the lineup at leadoff, just to see his reaction when he crawled into the clubhouse.
Story of my life: a day late and a dollar short.
The last time I was at the Stadium? The second game of the double header against Tampa, Sept. 7th, a date on which I was sure Jeter would get his big Gehrig breaker. Not to be. My next ticket for the Stadium? You guessed it. Tonight, for The Replacements. (No, not with Paul Westerberg).
Sigh.
I’ll bet most of the regular starters headed home after the clubhouse celebration. Maybe out to dinner with family or friends but no chandelier swiniging last night.
Hangovers are for WS victories.
I actually think that may be Wednesday’s lineup. With Thursday’s off day, everyone gets two days off going into the last series and playoffs. Sounds like a better idea to me.
POV, its more important to not get someone hurt. You buy tickets this late, you take that chance.
I listened to the Boston talking heads last night on TV – their take was not surprising.
Bob Ryan said all the pressure is on the Yankees. They have the biggest payroll. (seriously? Going the payroll route?)
The panel said (echoing Dan S) that the Red Sox were concerned with resting their players all weekend. All three games at least 2-3 stars were rested. (Sunday too?)
The Yankees went all out. The Sox didn’t.
Their message to the Nation – don’t panic. Lester is fine. (?? – how do they know) The Sox will make the playoffs and then anything can happen.
Pete – you’ll need to drink the Red kool-aid up there, if you want to fit in….
Excuses excuses ! They must have a book of them.
Laura – Matsui will be a Yankee in 2010!!
September 28th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Judging from the celebration photos and videos, I doubt that Swisher or Cano will be of any use to anybody today.
____________________________________________________________Laura, you are forgetting Melky. I think he wins the award for “hardest partier”. Their are pictures of him guzzling champagne everywhere.
“Don’t remind me of that awful slogan! What terrible memories that brings back…”
Darrin I will always say that that postseason remains as the greatest disappoinment to me as a Yankee fan. It was much worse for me than 2004* (love that asterisk!) because in 2004 we went into that postseason limping. At least we had legitimate reason to have failed, though it didn’t look like we were going to of course. But in 2006 every broadcaster, every magazine, every Vegas odssmaker had the Yankees to take it all. They couldn’t stop talking about the 2006 Yankee team. And the greatest irony is that we were beaten by the team who gave the Yankees that title.
Sorry to even bring it up. I agree with you. Terrible terrible memories.
Wow, I love The Replacements (Yes, with Paul Westerberg). Here Comes a Regular lineup?
In the previous thread, Bronx Jeers writes:
“It’s a common mistake but only sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region in northeast France can be called “Champagne”.
Sort of like calling Jameson’s Irish whiskey “Scotch””
What about Champagne, Illinois?
I was going to get on you for spelling ‘whiskey’ with the E until I found that that’s how the Irish spell it, unlike the Scottish ‘whisky’ spelling.
There are lots of excellent Scotch malt whiskies, so I don’t know why someone would think that Jameson is so good while they’re all so bad.
I am not so sure the Red Sox make it past the Angels this year, unless they are able to keep the Angels off base.
That was my lineup from last night.
The panel said (echoing Dan S) that the Red Sox were concerned with resting their players all weekend. All three games at least 2-3 stars were rested. (Sunday too?)
The Yankees went all out. The Sox didn’t.
___
Really?
I am surprised to hear this because as i look through the lineups from the weekend, they appear to have put the A Team on the field each day. When exactly did they rest 3 players each game? after they were losing in the 9th?
Funny. That was exactly the lineup I had planned out last night.
This lineup might still beat the Royals!
Trisha who was it in July that said the Yankees would finish third?
The Ghost September 28th, 2009 at 10:40 am
If I were Girardi I’d pen Swisher into the lineup at leadoff, just to see his reaction when he crawled into the clubhouse.
********
Haha that might be the first time as a Yankee that Swish goes into the managers office and asks out of the lineup. Skip man, I’ve got a killer headache. Please sit me!
How much the Sux wanted last night’s game was highlighted by Francona taking Byrd out of the game in the 6th when Byrd still had a respectable pitch count. Anyone who thinks the Sux were okay about losing last night’s game is whacked in the head. They would have given their firstborn rather than have had to watch the Yankees clinch the division at the Stadium, at the end of a sweep of the Sux.
HEAVEN! I WAS IN HEAVEN!!!
murphydog, I’m going to tonight’s game too. The only game I will get to all year. Grrrr.
I actually think there’s more of a chance that it will be the young guys (other than Swish!) who will have celebrated the hardest last night. This is new to them. I agree with pat that most of the regulars will play today. At least I hope!
I agree – I think the Angels will run all over VMart and Vtek – Angels in 4.
Trisha –
2006, sigh. First, I lived in Detroit at the time – that didn’t help. It’s also my earliest memory of Pete’s blog. It was just ramping up then.
The Tigers absolutely blew the division title the final weekend and backed in as Wild Card – this blog was positively GIDDY that we wouldn’t have to face the Twins (my, how that tune has changed).
Then Leyland proceeded to sandbag the Yankees with his “Murderer’s Row and Cano” comment. The team was so over-confident that season I had a terrible feeling from the get-go. That’s why I don’t mind the Tigers this season.
The most important aspect is that this team has much better pitching than the 2006 team. Our starting rotation in ‘06 was Wang, Mussina, RJohnson, and Jaret Wright. Our middle relief was Scott Proctor, Kyle Farnsworth, Ron Villone and Mike Myers. I think we’ve improved.
Nick von Clausewitz in SF:
And speaking of intoxicants and the Irish….
It’s the 250 birthday of the signing of a 9000 year lease on the site of the lovely Arthur Guinness Brewery, St. James’s Gate, Dublin, Ireland. Had I been in the lockerroom last night, I’d have been tipping back a tall can of the black stuff, not that Sparkling Wine, methode champenoise, the Yankees were spilling.
Um, Trisha …
The Red Sox rested Victor Martinez, their hottest hitter. Francona took Byrd out because he was tired. What else was he supposed to do?
Fans and media get all riled up about the rivalry. The players do not. In many cases, several of the Yankees have close friends on the Red Sox. Anybody who was at BP on Saturday saw David Ortiz come out early and talk to and hug at least seven Yankees around the cage. CC and Victor Martinez are very tight. Jeter became friendly with Pedroia during the WBC, AJ is friendly with Beckett, etc, etc.
I know people want to believe the teams hate each other. They just don’t.
I think today you’ll see most of the guys with the game off. Especially the ones that Joe knows partied hard. Most of the regulars will play Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday. But the other days are for rest.
As much as people want to say the soxs are automatically in. They still have a magic number of 2. How much of a hoot would it be if the soxs didn’t make the playoffs?! Unlikely yes, but no one expected the Mets to blow huge division leads two years in a row either.
YES is replaying the postgame, its pretty amazing.
Count me in, I’ll also be there tonight. Section 212. Hope it doesn’t rain, my wife will kill me!
Nick – Over the years, I’ve learned that the best foreign investment is a bottle of single malt Scotch whisky.
Interesting take on the celebration from Sweeny Murti’s blog
“Sunday’s celebration, after the Yankees beat the Red Sox, was a bigger one than you might imagine for a team that wants to spray champagne three more times this fall. But it showed you how much the older Yankees missed the chance to do it even once a year ago and how much the newer Yankees are enjoying being in this environment.”
http://www.wfan.com/Win-It-All.....ntRating=1
i’m excited that i’ll be at the game and seeing shelley play the field… can’t say i’ve seen that a whole lot this season…
DT – OPPC member September 28th, 2009 at 10:49 am
I listened to the Boston talking heads last night on TV – their take was not surprising.
Bob Ryan said all the pressure is on the Yankees. They have the biggest payroll. (seriously? Going the payroll route?)
The panel said (echoing Dan S) that the Red Sox were concerned with resting their players all weekend. All three games at least 2-3 stars were rested. (Sunday too?)
The Yankees went all out. The Sox didn’t.
Their message to the Nation – don’t panic. Lester is fine. (?? – how do they know) The Sox will make the playoffs and then anything can happen.
Pete – you’ll need to drink the Red kool-aid up there, if you want to fit in….
==================================================
NESN/ESPN/Boston Globe = Ministry of Propaganda
Darrin, I couldn’t agree more. And about the difference in our starters, I think that you have fearless pitchers in CC, Andy, and Joba. (AJ is a little more delicate IMO.) You didn’t really have that in our 2006 rotation. No comparison in the bullpen either. We also have a manager who won’t be pushed around by his players or public opinion, the way Torre allowed himself to be by playing that loser Sheffield over the younger guys and the way Torre was by moving Arod to the 8 hole because some guys in the clubhouse supposedly thought that was best.
I admit it. I absolutely love the way Girardi has managed this team. Pretty good for a youngster in terms of years managing.
rb: bring the rain gear.
The Replacements and intoxicants, they just go together.
“Let It be”, “Tim”, and “Pleased to Meet Me” might be the greatest triumvirate since… three pints of Guinness.
I enjoyed the Guinness factory tour, though the best part was the pint at the end. But I’m surprised you don’t prefer this stuff, murphydog:
http://dailybrewski.com/wp-con.....outcan.jpg
It’s funny because I think everyone on this line ups were the ones who drank the most lol. Also I would like to see Girardi give the bullpen days off even if we’re up by one run.
Sam Smith’s Oatmeal Stout, although English, is a fine brew…
Count me in, I’ll also be there tonight. Section 212. Hope it doesn’t rain, my wife will kill me!
Joe from Long Island:
Tha makes two of us, my friend. Section 135, first time there. No cover. Will it rain? They don’t call it Murphy’s Law for nothin’
Much props for The Replacements reference earlier on this thread–also, single-malt Scotch whisky is absolutely delicious stuff. I don’t think any players were rushing to drink anything along those lines last night, however–seemed more like a Bud/Miller Light chugging night, but God bless them either way.
Also, I don’t get where the “resting the regulars all weekend” talk is coming from. Martinez got a day off yesterday after catching the previous afternoon, Drew didn’t play against the nasty lefty on Saturday and Bay was off on Friday. Lowell can’t play 3 straight games, so him missing Friday seems like a necessity.
Girardi has been doing that kind of rotating all year long, and did the writers miss the part where he ran out the C lineup on the last day of the road trip (and still won, by the way, something that the apparent rest-loving Francona could not do this weekend)?
Agreed Nick,
Single malt scotch reigns.
Never understood the love affair with Johnny Walker scotch. Has a real medicinal taste to it. Nasty. Why drink blended at all?
Actually I don’t drink any of it anymore. Maybe once a year.
jennifer, I hope you’re wrong! I don’t think Joe G. can do that to the home fans. Save resting for the games against the Rays. I would think that guys like Jeter, Johnny, Alex and Tex did not “overindulge” last night.
Joe G. mentioned Thursday’s day off and giving guys two days off, so we know a bunch of guys will have off on Wednesday and Friday.
My only game all season and it would SUCK if I get to see the Yankees field the team that Pete suggests.
Now that the Yankees have officially clinched the division, it’s time to take out your thinking caps and play “Guess the Postseason Roster”.
Here’s how this works. List out the 25 players you think are going to the ALDS. Make sure you have 25. The contestants with the most correct when the postseason roster is announced will be the winner(s).
You may start listing out your postseason roster submissions now until 7pm tonight when the game starts. I will post periodic lists of whose rosters I have throughout the day. Please make sure you are on it if you have submitted
Good luck to all
Side note- I am home today but have 13 shows saved on my DVR. I am trying really hard to get caught up so I may not be sitting here all day.
Yankees last week won the series with the Angels(a postseason team)on the road.
Clinched a berth in postseason.Came home to sweep the red slops(another postseason contender.
Won the division,beating Lester,Dice-k,and the Byrd man.
Red slops play another subpar team not contending for postseason,in hopes of winning the wildcard,so they can celebrate,(and forget the regular season.)
To recap,Yankees played 2 teams that play them hard,have a winning record against them,and Yankees WON!!
Even the red slops fan base says,beating up on the Orioles,Toronto and KC,doesn’t compare to the week/wins the Yankees had!
For those playing please make sure you LIST them like this
1. Derek Jeter
2. Mark Teixeira
3. Alex Rodriguez
“The Red Sox rested Victor Martinez, their hottest hitter. Francona took Byrd out because he was tired. What else was he supposed to do?”
Pete,
The Yankees rested Posada and Damon yesterday so they didn’t go all out either then. It’s excuses by the Boston media that you’re now a part of.
Pete, there is no way they wanted to watch the Yanks clinch the division at the Stadium. That’s all I’m saying, and I absolutely believe it. Byrd was at 91 pitches and winning the game. How tired was he. IF they didn’t care about last night they would have let Byrd take one for the team and they wouldn’t have sent up a pinch hitter in the 9th.
They wanted that game. Bad.
“jennifer, I hope you’re wrong! I don’t think Joe G. can do that to the home fans. Save resting for the games against the Rays. I would think that guys like Jeter, Johnny, Alex and Tex did not “overindulge” last night.
Joe G. mentioned Thursday’s day off and giving guys two days off, so we know a bunch of guys will have off on Wednesday and Friday.
My only game all season and it would SUCK if I get to see the Yankees field the team that Pete suggests.”
I think Girardi is going to keep his guys sharp and rest them to by doing what he said yesterday which is using Thursday off day to give his starters two days off in a row by resting some of them Wednesday and the others on Friday.
The Replacements (and Westerberg solo) always sound so much more… RELEVANT…. after hoisting a few! IMO, Murphy’s Ale is a pox upon the family name for just as there is only one Yankee baseball club, there is only one Guinness. Murphy’s Ale is like… well… the Mets of Stout
the replacements will be in worse shape than the regulars
“How much the Sux wanted last night’s game was highlighted by Francona taking Byrd out of the game in the 6th when Byrd still had a respectable pitch count.”
They’d have gone with their regular rotation, with Beckett pitching Sunday, rather than a 6 man rotation to start the week had they viewed these games as truly consequential. Doesn’t in anyway diminish what the Yankees have done this year. In many ways, the Red Sox white flagging the weekend was saying to the Yankees “Hey, you guys are the champs, we can’t catch you, hope to see you in October”. Also worth noting that the guys Boston did send out didn’t lay down. They played hard. They just weren’t good enough this weekend.
When the Sox where up 8-0 against the Yankees it was indicative of them “being better then the Yankees”, or, “inside the Yankees heads.”
When the Yankees win 9 out of the last 10 against the Red Sox it’s because Tito rested his players and the Yankees pulled out all the stops….
Pete,
Just don’t become a Sox homer when you get up there. The media up there is spewing a lot of non sense about how the Yanks went balls to the wall to win the division. You may want to mention that the Yanks sat 2 starters yesterday too (both would have played if it was a meaningful game). You also might want to mention that they ran out a C level lineup against the Angels last week. And that they’ve been resting 2 starters almost every game for the past 2 weeks.
Just dont get polluted when you go up there.
I like Francona, and think he’s a classy guy, but you can’t complain (as he did) about Tex’s HR being an out in Fenway when you have the Giant Green Ping Pong Table that has been a HF advantage for you for nearly 100 years. Just stop.
The dimensions here are exactly the same as the “new” old stadium, you want to talk jet streams, wind tunnels, whatever, we’ll see when the OYS is finally torn down whether that makes a difference.
Otherwise, enough with the bandbox, “cheap” HR references.
With the Yankees, who actually became the first team to clinch a playoff slot back on Tuesday night, Jose agreed.
“That’s what I told him, too,” Jose, 34, said of Bengie’s impending October absence. “It’s hard. They’ve got a great team.”
But not nearly as great as the Yankees, for whom Jose serves as the backup to starter Jorge Posada. And not nearly as great as the Cardinals, for whom baby brother Yadier, 27, is hitting .291 with six homers, 52 RBI and, as usual, is doing a beautiful job of handling a star-laden pitching staff that includes aces Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright.
The catching Molina brothers, who each have earned a World Series ring (Bengie and Jose with the Angels in 2002, Yadier with the Cardinals in 2006), are one of the game’s most remarkable stories.
“That’s a special family, you know?” says Giants shortstop Edgar Renteria, who has been a teammate of both Bengie (this year) and Yadier (2004, in St. Louis). “And they’ve had such a rough year.”
Yes, sadly, this fall is a particularly emotional one for the Molinas. Their father, Benjamin, passed away suddenly in their native Puerto Rico last October. He died doing what he loved, tending to the baseball field he had built for the children in his hometown. He was stricken with a heart attack while on that field.
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/12274412
L to the 2nd September 28th, 2009 at 11:30 am
I like Francona, and think he’s a classy guy, but you can’t complain (as he did) about Tex’s HR being an out in Fenway when you have the Giant Green Ping Pong Table that has been a HF advantage for you for nearly 100 years. Just stop.
The dimensions here are exactly the same as the “new” old stadium, you want to talk jet streams, wind tunnels, whatever, we’ll see when the OYS is finally torn down whether that makes a difference.
Otherwise, enough with the bandbox, “cheap” HR references.
==============================================
Pot meet Kettle.
it’s a real hoot listening to ‘Roid Sox nation whine about cheap homers.
“Fans and media get all riled up about the rivalry. The players do not.”
Ooo I don’t think I quite believe that. It reminds me of when O’Neill was asked about his favorite world series win and he said it was absolutely the one against the Mets because of the NY rivalry. The team also feels the rivalry. They may not “hate” the Sux – though Posada will openly admit his negative feelings about them – but they feel every bit of the rivalry. How could they not? It would be naive to think that the only people on earth not affected by the widely acclaimed “greatest rivalry in sports” would be the players!
Ordered a Guinness at the game Friday night. Left field corner. It was terrible.
They had them pre-poured about 75% and then just topped it off. It must have been sitting there forever.
Hey Pete – ask Joba and Youkilis if they’re having dinner together anytime soon
Or Varitek and ARod?
Just sayin’…
The smurf fights back tears after the Yankees clinch.
http://cache.boston.com/resize.....2/539w.jpg
“When the Yankees win 9 out of the last 10 against the Red Sox it’s because Tito rested his players and the Yankees pulled out all the stops….”
And by the way, it is equally ludicrous to believe Tito was resting his players and didn’t care about the win – a la Shaughnessey – because they haven’t won anything yet.
“They had them pre-poured about 75% and then just topped it off. It must have been sitting there forever.”
You expect something different?
Guiness = not a ballpark beer
I’m sorry for continuing on this, but I was just reading Bill Madden’s column today (an excruciating process, for sure) and he is saying Francona rested JD Drew on Saturday along with Jason Bay and Alex Gonazlez.
First of all, how is JD Drew “resting” when it’s more a matter of “he is a lefty who has an OPS 100 points lower against lefthanded pitching this year and is 2-for-10 in his career against CC”? Baldelli has been used against lefties for most of the year, so it doesn’t make sense to list him as one of the rested regulars.
And Alex Gonazlez vs. Jed Lowrie, that’s making a huge difference in winning or losing that game?
Bay was the one regular that stands out as getting rested on Saturday. Otherwise Francona played to win the game–he emptied his bench in the 9th inning, and he stuck with Dice-K for quite a while in that game when he could have pulled him to insure he is “fresh” for the postseason.
I’m not following this logic. Because they took a tired pitcher out of the game when they had expanded rosters that proves they wanted the game badly?
I didn’t suggest they wanted to lose. I merely suggested that neither team treated it like it was the end of the world. I was in the Red Sox clubhouse briefly after the game. They all said that the Yankees clearly had the best team in the division and that they were looking forward to the playoffs.
While I realize you would like to think they were all punching walls and crying, that just wasn’t the case.
Meanwhile, just about every Yankee was asked whether it was sweeter to clinch against the Red Sox and not one of them said that it was.
These are professional athletes. They are far, far more loyal to their paychecks than anything else. That you hate the Red Sox doesn’t mean they do. They don’t. I guarantee you that 99 percent of the Yankees and Red Sox couldn’t pick Bill Lee or Billy Martin out of a lineup. That stuff just doesn’t register with them. They want to beat Boston and vice versa because they’re a division opponent.
I think at least a few regulars will be rested, but probably not that many. I’d say for sure that A-Rod, Swisher, and probably Tex won’t be in the lineup. Jeter probably will unless Hairston is 100%. One of Posada or Matsui will be in the lineup at DH.
I’m going to guess:
SS- Jeter
LF- Damon
RF- Hinske
DH- Matsui
2B- Cano
1B- Miranda
CF- Gardner
C- Cervelli
3B- Pena
Damon didn’t play yesterday, Hairston could probably use more time off which means Pena plays 3rd and Jeter plays today.
For the millionth time…why is anyone complaining about cheap homers? Both teams play with the same stinking fence right? Pedroia hit a popup homer there back in August – did Tito rail against the cheap homer back then?
I hope the Yankees hit 50 popup homers down the right field line in the playoffs. In fact, I want them to win the 7th game of the World Series in the bottom of the ninth with a popup homer.
Have you guys seen this? Gonna be big news
http://bit.ly/WbVV1
I don’t get riled up about it, but the Yanks trusted a 1 run lead to Brian Bruney for 1 and 2/3’s of the 8th and 9th in a clinching game.
Now you can argue Hughes wasn’t going to be used no matter what and Robertson of course wasn’t available… but they still threw Bruney out there.
Not sure “all out” would prove an accurate assessment.
And on a complete tangent, whose looking forward to a Bard/Tex match-up in 2 and 1/2 weeks or so?
I like Francona, and think he’s a classy guy, but you can’t complain (as he did) about Tex’s HR being an out in Fenway when you have the Giant Green Ping Pong Table that has been a HF advantage for you for nearly 100 years. Just stop.
The dimensions here are exactly the same as the “new” old stadium, you want to talk jet streams, wind tunnels, whatever, we’ll see when the OYS is finally torn down whether that makes a difference.
Otherwise, enough with the bandbox, “cheap” HR references
___
Im so sick of this sort of complaining from opponents. Hey Tito, you have lefties too!!! How bout milkshake ortiz or drew or martinez. Does the wall only come down and in for the yankees? It’s the same wall for BOTH TEAMS so get over it.
Pete, we will agree to disagree. And I did hear at least one player, I believe Tex, say it did feel good to beat the Suxers. Of course I didn’t hear every player asked the question so I can’t know who said what. I did hear one player, again I believe it was Tex, asked the question.
Of COURSE it was sweeter for them to clinch against the Sux. Their chief rival who started the season against the Yanks 8-0? You forget these guys are human.
rb- did you see the pictures of Tex, he sure looked like he drank some of what he poured. LOL
Coming into this series,according to the red slops fans blogs,Ortiz bragged about celebrating in the new Yankees stadium.
Don’t believe for one moment these games going into postseason didn’t mean anything.
The red slops fan base is peeved,with the team,ownership,and Francona’s game management.They wanted the mental edge,and didn’t get it.
Did you see the ones in the visitor’s dugout watching the
Yankees?
I hope Joe rest a few players but don’t go overboard.
This team can no longer be a spoiler,so they may not be so motivated.
not getting in the middle of the rivalry debate – but if you are the Red Sox do you really want *anyone* clinching because you lost a game (or three in a row).
I agree with resting players etc, but it’s not like they said – “sure, let the Yankees clinch by beating us” – or at least, I hope not.
I don’t care if they hate each other or love each other – I just want the Yankees to win however many they will in the next week and the important 11 after that. That’s all anyone wants.
I’m just not buying that the Red Sox didn’t care that the Yankees clinched the way they did. They have got to have more pride than that.
Jeter is one of the older regulars that hasnt had a day off in a while. He’ll probably sit today and then maybe again Wednesday so he gets 3 out of 4 days off.
Sorry, but I do agree with Pete on this particular issue.
The Sox/Yankee hatred is all in the minds of the fans, and that’s pretty much it. To anyone observing these two teams play it is very apparent that the players themselves aren’t caught up in all this. Not only is Jeter good friends with Pedroia, but I read somewhere that he’s tight with Youkilis as well. It’s also pretty obvious that Francona is respectful to the Yankee organization.
“Jeter is one of the older regulars that hasnt had a day off in a while. He’ll probably sit today and then maybe again Wednesday so he gets 3 out of 4 days off.”
If there is one Yankee regular that plays today, it will be Jeter.
“While I realize you would like to think they were all punching walls and crying, that just wasn’t the case.”
Actually I never thought that. Just thought that it hurt them a lot to have the Yanks, of all teams, clinch against them, and to do it at the Stadium. They’re competitors. The Yanks are their main competition.
Anyway, it’s all good because the Yankees won the division
“The Sox/Yankee hatred is all in the minds of the fans, and that’s pretty much it. To anyone observing these two teams play it is very apparent that the players themselves aren’t caught up in all this. Not only is Jeter good friends with Pedroia, but I read somewhere that he’s tight with Youkilis as well. It’s also pretty obvious that Francona is respectful to the Yankee organization.”
The rivalry needs another Pedro/Zimmer or Arod/Varitek incident. It needs some passion beyond what the fans bring to it.
If Jeter feels up to it? he will most likely be in the line up… Wonder if Joe Morgan was still debating his Swisher call, to some unlucky listener, at breakfast this morning…. Verlander can’t pitch all 5 games so I’d rather see Det.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09......html?_r=1
The NYTimes’ take on how the Red Sox responded yesterday evening
When I look it CC’s record, it makes me think about all the idiot fans that said CC could not pitch in the AL….lol
You can almost certainly bet that girdadi will go with the C lineup today.
I would want guys to be well rested so that there are no excuses come next week.
One person that should be part of this special season is Wang. Thats my boy, And I feel sad that he is not apart of it. I ‘m not sure if he will ever return to form but i hope he does.
I just read replies to a post I made last night, and I’m embarrassed at the reaction of some readers.
In my post, I suggested that the Yanks can win as long as they avoid beating themselves. The Yankees have had very talented teams in recent years past. Often favored in playoff series, our team made critical mistakes that sabotaged their chances. Each and every time.
What kind of response did I get from the Lohud community? “STFU” “You don’t know anything about baseball” “This year we got ____ and we got ______ and we’re awesome!”
What kind of lunatic fanboys do we have here now? Disgusting.
I love how resting Victor Martinez in a day game after a night game in favor of CAPTAIN Varitek is suddenly considered as throwing in the towel.
I’ve put up with these WEEI talking heads and local Boston reporters for the last five years.
I don’t know if they just pander to the crowd or what – but I’ve heard things I’d never hear in NY. The use of “we” and “us and them”. They have more “Homers” in Boston than a Simpsons marathon.
Maybe because it’s a smaller town. Maybe because it’s a melting pot of media. (pre game and post game shows are filled with radio talking heads and print journalists together) The reporting is certainly different.
If Boston had swept, the Boston media would be crowing gleefully that the AL East is still up for grabs.
The media slant now after a Yankee sweep is “the Sox did not really care one way or the other”.
Rishi:
Thing about this rivalry is that it’s a 100 times bigger deal in the minds of the fans than it is the players. Yankees would be turning the same cartwheels if they had to wait tonight to clinch against the Royals that they did when clinching yesterday.
As for Boston’s pride? I don’t believe for a second they came to NYS to lose three games, but they also came with nothing near a pennant race intensity because no pennant race existed. Whether they won 0,1, 2 or 3 games, their fortunes were not going to change substantially (read: they weren’t going to win the division or lose the wild card). Doesn’t mean the guys playing weren’t trying though. Just wasn’t always the best guys. Now, if they play the Yankees in the ALCS and are on the ass end of a 4-0, 4-1 type series….then there will undoubtedly be some issues of pride.
Well, I can hope, jennifer.
the players don’t understand how deep the hatred is between fans. a player on either team would understand it if they grew up in new england, like bagwell did. Also, YES needs less of Michael Kay in the future and more of the smooth & knowledgeable Kenny Singleton. Its a shame he had mostly away games this year.
Ortiz, though, regretted that he could not celebrate a postseason berth in the new stadium of the Red Sox’ biggest rival. “I love the smell of Champagne,” he said. “I wish we could have done it here.”
********
Yep those players don’t care about doing it against each other.
I guess they also threw in the towel in the other 9 games we faced them since winning the first 8 against us. Yep. They didn’t try and win.
Rex –
All I am saying is that it’s not this “nothing” event. I don’t think Boston really thought they were going to sweep and get back in this – but I don’t think they thought they were going to be swept and eliminated. And it doesn’t mean a whole lot for the post season, but if both teams are resting players and your guys can’t get it done even once it’s not a good sign.
I don’t think it’s as big a deal to the players as the fans, but to try to say it’s meaningless seems a little flip.
Rex – the point is only about last night’s game and not wanting the Yanks to clinch against them at the Stadium. Didn’t you read Ortiz’s comments about them wanting to clinch the wild card at the Stadium? People are a little naive, in my opinion, if they don’t think Boston players feel the rivalry. Dustin Pedroia might act friendly toward Jeter (who doesn’t?) but his statements about him and Youklis not getting the play they should because their names aren’t Jeter and Rodriguez was very telling. That was after he got back to the friendly confines of his team after fawning over Jeter at the WBC this year. Ortiz telling the press that he deserved the MVP over Jeter several seasons ago and saying the only reason he wouldn’t get it was because he was a DH was very telling. I don’t care how they chitter chatter when the teams see each other. The intense feelings are there.
how many of you yankee fans out there are actually friends with each other? Or do you and your so called “friends” actually have a fanship?
I think its a terrible idea to rest everyone the rest of the way…. did that in 2006 and the bats went ice cold
Oh man Pete, This is probably not a great idea
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nyti.....-the-ball/
I have seen Pete slowly adding Red Sox info and perspectives recently. I wonder why. Frankly, I don’t blame him when my new job depends on being acceptable to folks in Boston.
As I read what Francona said about Teixiera HR is it may not have been a home run in Boston, but he also added we could have done it too. He is right on both counts. The fence is the same for both teams. I hope the Yankees have a line-up that takes advantage of the ballpark. They should try to do so.
Lastly, of course the Sox wanted to win. Do yo think they enjoyed the Yankees celebrating. Any athlete, professional or otherwise, doesn’t want to watch that. Was Francona resting some of his players. Yes, of course, but so were the Yankees.
“I guess they also threw in the towel in the other 9 games we faced them since winning the first 8 against us. Yep. They didn’t try and win.”
Now people are just being a bunch of crybabies. The Yankees won the division for crying out loud and all anyone can focus on is what writers in Boston wrote. If folks feel it necessary to read and comment on that rather than rejoice in the winning, at least read it correctly. Where, anywhere in any paper, did it say the Red Sox didn’t try to win? NOWHERE!!!! They didn’t always play their best players and used their #6 starter, but those guys played hard throughout the weekend, even Friday when they were being blown out. SJ isn’t kidding when he talks about a pre-2004 Boston fan mentality around here. People always have find something to whine about even as things are going great.
CC likes to hit, let him DH … I kid I kid
People only believe athletes’ canned generic answers when it supports their view whether it is “beating the Red Sox meant nothing” or “I’ve always wanted to play in here.”
For anyone who didn’t get to see it, it appears that they will repeat the Postgame celebration again. Maybe it’s in a loop for the day!
“People only believe athletes’ canned generic answers when it supports their view whether it is “beating the Red Sox meant nothing” or “I’ve always wanted to play in here.””
Very good observation. I did think the same thing when Pete said all of the players said it didn’t matter that it was Boston.
“CC likes to hit, let him DH … I kid I kid”
Don’t kid! I’m already looking forward to Game 5 of the WS in the National League ballpark when we’ll actually have 9 true hitters in the lineup.
Peter :
You’ll miss the spacious amenities of Yankee Stadium and covering spring training at the state-of-the-art Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
The Green Sardine Can in Boston is cramped and City of Palms Park in Fort Myers is like being in a Port-O-Potty in a run down section of the city. John Henry will never be accused of being the Steinbrenners for providing the best for their players and fans.
My prayers go out to AJ’s dad.
“I was going to fly home — I’m going to actually fly home in a couple of hours — but he told me to stay and celebrate because he figured a good thing was going to happen today,” Burnett said. “It was fun. I’m glad I did.”
http://www.newsday.com/columni.....-1.1481075
So I pick 2 games this year, ahead of time which I never do but this year I did..
The first game.. rained out and the rescheduled game was delayed nearly 3 hours by rain.
Tonights game means absolutely nothing and probably will be the entire B team. When I grabbed these tickets, I had half hoped that it would be the B team in a good way BUT not after the day they’re out getting drunk. What luck this season.. I think this will put my personal streak to the test though.. I haven’t seen a loss since 2005.. if my streak does continue though, anyone who’s superstitious can hook me up with cheapy PS tickets.
The green sardine can is a stinkin rotting dump
http://www.kellydarby.com/ball.....y_seat.JPG
Rex
Go read Dan S article in the Globe and get back to me.
“As I read what Francona said about Teixiera HR is it may not have been a home run in Boston, but he also added we could have done it too. He is right on both counts.”
Again I don’t care, but it’s still an irrelevant thing to say. If Tex had hit the same shot to left field in Fenway, would have been out too.
“Go read Dan S article in the Globe and get back to me.”
How about you go find me the quote that says they went into the weekend trying to lose?
It’s pretty clear that the “rivalry” is fan and not player based. It certainly was sweet for us, the fans, to have the Yankees clinch against the Red Sawx. It’s been pretty clear for a while that it’s really not the same thing to the players that it used to be; I can’t see Graig Nettles hugginbg anyone in that uniform. It seems to me though that after 150 or so games it’s got to be pretty hard to be any madder at one team that you are at any other team; I’d be pissed at everybody
I think what’s got some folks a little wrapped around the axle is Shaughnessy’s apparent effort to paint the Yankees win in the East as a situation where the Sawx grasped the cold reality that the Yankees had the East in hand some time ago and gave up on the division and therefore the Yankees didn’t really “earn it” this weekend but rather had it handed to them by the Sawx. In a sense he’s right; we earned it over the last two months by playing our a$$es off and not by sweeping the Sawx this weekend. Quite frankly I really don’t care about Shaughnessy’s opinion, I don’t really see why anyone over here does. If we can celebrate over there at their place in the AL Championship series then anyone who cares can look forward to Shaughnessy’s next explaination.
In the meantime the issue isn’t worth harsh words or bad feelings on Pete’s 2nd to last day.
~Peter Rabbit
I think it was the lack of wording in your post,that induced those responses.You didn’t explain yourself too well,it read like you were slamming the Yankees.After such a glorious week of wins,Angels/Sawx,you got whacked,because of wording.
You’re still apart of this community,emotions just ran high.
Jen, living in the Sux’s back yard and reading a lot more about what their players say than likely hits the NY press, I am very confident in saying that losing last night at the Stadium, to the Yankees, killed their souls. I wouldn’t have thought, however, that would be rocket science for any observer of the rivalry to figure out.
For a rivalry that is just in the minds of the fans there have been quite a few beanings and fights between the two.
Erica – “Guess the Postseason Roster”.
Can I suggest – “Guess the ALDS Roster”?
They have the option of changing the roster for each series ALDS, ALCS and WS. So, we will also have to guess the ALCS and WS rosters before the Yankees finally get the WS trophy!
LOL at that lineup! Ah, what a luxury to have clinched a week or so before the PS, to be able to rest your regulars!
I was at yesterday’s game – how nice! They “owed” me one after I was also at that stinker of an Opening Day.
Last but not least, I just want to wish you the best at your new job, Pete, & I will surely miss you here. I routinely come to this site for NYY info, before I even venture to Yankees.com & their messageboard, where I’m a loyal poster. Sure, they’ll come up with a “replacement” for you here, but no one has your style & entertaining sarcasm! Best of luck…
M.K.J. – Thanks for making me feel better, you’re a good guy. I suppose you’re right — I was a bit to cryptic in my message last night. But still, folks better learn some manners with Pete leaving. Who knows how the new guy will be in keeping everyone in line.
He’ll have some subs in, but they aren’t gonna throw a AAA lineup out there for a home game.
My guess at the ALCS Roster
1. Matsui
2. Posada
3. Teix
4. Cano
5. ARod
6. Jetes
7. Damon
8. Cabrera
9. Swisher
10. Molina
11. Hinske
12. Hairston
13. Gardner
14. CC
15. AJ
16. Andy
17. Mo
18. Hughes
19. Robertson
20. Coke
21. Aceves
22. Joba
23. Guzman
24. Cervelli
25. Bruney
If Bruney has a bad game or two, replace him with Gaudin. If Joba’s next game is a mess, replace him with Kennedy.
I meant to say ALDS Roster.. Change it please.
Sheesh!!