The Red Sox won Game One of their double-header today 3-1. It was a swift, low-scoring affair that took just 2 hours and 23 minutes to play and was dominated by pitching, particularly the pitching of Tim Wakefield (7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K), who didn’t allow a hit through the first four innings. All three Red Sox runs were driven in by Boston’s Big Boys, two by David Ortiz (1 for 4, 2B, 2Ks) and one by Manny Ramirez (1 for 2, IBB, HBP, throwing error). Meanwhile, the Blue Jays wasted the solid pitching of Dave Bush and Dustin McGowan by stranding runners in scoring position in the eighth and ninth against Jon Papelbon and Mike Timlin.
And with that, the Red Sox and Yankees are again tied atop the AL East. Of course. You didn’t actually think the Yankees would get any breathing room, did you? Still, for those in a state of panic over what awaits the Yankees in the coming week, consider this: The Yankees only need to win five games to make the postseason. That’s it. Just five.
Of course, there are only six games left in the season, but if the Yankees win five of them, there is no way the Red Sox can beat them. Of course, part of the reason for that is that a minimum of two of those wins will have to come against the Sox this weekend (if the Yanks sweep the O’s they’ll enter that series no worse than tied and can win the division by taking two of three in Boston, if they drop just one game to the O’s, they can still win the division by sweeping the Sox as they’ll be no worse than a game out come Friday morning). Yes, that sounds daunting when you spell out how those five wins would have to be acquired, but when you think about it as just five wins, five of six for a team that has won 13 of their last 15, it doesn’t sound so bad.
Tonight the Yankees look to drop that quasi-magic number (their actual magic number is seven, but any Yankee win against the Sox would take two off of that as it represents any combination of Yankee wins and Red Sox loses that totals seven) to four by sending Mike Mussina back to the hill against Bruce Chen. Last Thursday, Mussina came off the unofficial disabled list to pitch six efficient innings allowing just one unearned run on four hits and no walks while striking out six men. It was the ideal outing for Moose coming off the elbow inflammation that shut him down for more than three weeks. He threw just 76 pitches, 76 percent of which were strikes, mixing in his full repertoire, getting his fastball up to 91 and a nice break on his knucklecurve.
Chen, meanwhile, cruised through the first four innings, retiring twelve straight men after a Derek Jeter lead-off single and a Bernie Castro error started the first. Jorge Posada then led off the fifth with a solo homer and capped a four-run Yankee rally in the sixth with a three-run dinger that drove Chen from the game. Still, it’s worth remembering that, prior to that start, Chen had turned in eight quality start in his nine outings since returning to the Oriole rotation after a brief tune-up in the bullpen in late July, and had posted a 1.84 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP in those nine starts combined.
Mussina reported no discomfort following his bullpen session on Saturday. Obviously, the Yankees hope he will be able to build on last week’s start, stretching out his pitch count in anticipation of Sunday’s season finale against Curt Schilling and the Red Sox. Having Mussina back at full strength would be a tremendous boon to the Yankees playoff hopes. On his career, Mussina has a 2.90 ERA in September, his best mark in any single month save his 0.95 ERA in five regular season October starts (Sunday is October 2). Separating out the past three seasons (2002-2004) that September ERA improves to 2.50. Moose also has a career 3.16 ERA in the postseason, nearly a half-run better than his career ERA during the regular season. This is his time of year, and it’s great to see him back in action. Here’s hoping I still feel that way after the last out of tonight’s game.
1. Maybe Jorge should have new t-shirts made up, "The Drive For Five" on the front, "Grind It" on the back? =) If I had some artistic ability (and a decent photo editing program), I'd try to show how it could look - but alas, I don't.
Great recap of this afternoon's game, Cliff. Here's hoping that Moose will continue his late-season greatness!
2. Nice recap.
Check out this link :
http://cgi.ebay.com/NY-Yankees-GRIND-IT-Tee-shirt-XL-NEW-wTAGS_W0QQitemZ5254839073QQcategoryZ25025QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I will be tuned in tonight - both games - let's hope Schilling gets rocked.
By the way Curt, Wah wah wah, no one cares about your whining in Yankee land.
3. Is anyone else annoyed that Jorge got the Yoda saying wrong? That's been one of my personal mantra's for a long time "Do or do not, there is no try." Seven words, seven syllables, short, sweet, striking, effective, concludes with the underling message "there is no try." Perfect. Now the Yankees put it up on the scoreboard and it reads, "There is no trying. There is only doing or not doing." Eleven words, fifteen syllables, convoluted and inneffective, ends with the negative "not doing." Terrible.
I dug Mariano Duncan's "We play today, we win today," and I can deal with "grind it," but the bastardized Yoda-ism has to go.
4. What is with my typing today? Please forgive the unwarranted apostrophe in "mantras."
5. One of my first entries into this great site was in August...I made mention that this Yankee team was not going to roll over anyone. They were just going to have to be mentally tough and KEEP FIGHTING. "grind it" sounds much better, but I felt they same way 6 weeks ago. (Hey, it's better than "Cowboy up" right ?!
6. yankees, just do it! : )
(cue "Revolution" by the Beatles)
7. and the only thing worse than "cowboying up"?...
"letting the dogs out" at shea stadium.
didn't the mets realize that a white flag (or towel as the case may be) is the international symbol for surrender. stupid mets...
8. Cliff, I agree, I just didn't want to publicly announce my dorkiness, but honestly, what do you expect? They are baseball players, not known for their brilliance or cultural memory
9. "'Do or do not, there is no try.' Seven words, seven syllables..."
Funny, looks like eight to me, unless you're counting the two "do"s as one...
10. ...which would overturn millennia of metrics, and baseball fans ought to care about poetry.
11. Arrrgghh! Getting the Baltimore feed on the Extra Innings package...
12. On the pre-game, Kim Jones reported Leiter is now the lefty out of the pen, replacing Embree. Torre still likes Embree's "stuff" but says he needs to work on location.
13. The only location I'd like to see Embree in is on the 4 Train heading downtown...
14. Rilke, we Toasters care about poetry (see Humbug), sorry, my eighth finger must have been sticky from lunch. Eight words, eight syllables, still just right, even better actually as it's got a nice 4/4 rhythm, two bars of sweet philosophical music.
15. I seem to have that sinking feeling much more than I did in previous years - kinda looking forward to the off-season at this point.
16. I know how obvious this is, but "Grind It" smacks of a strip club where all the girls are either meth heads or missing a tooth.
17. OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!
18. Woo-hoo! Good start, Cap!
19. 424 feet for Cap'n. Alex just missed one on 3-1.
20. #6 Murphy, PLEASE for the love of all things holy DO NOT associate The Beatles with a sneaker company. It's obscene.
Thank you.
21. Weeping, you needn't worry about Murphy, he's a huge Beatles fan and was making a joke.
22. 20 pitches for Chen, Rodriguez, Giambi and Posada went deep in the count, Jeter and Matsui picked up hits, only poor at-bat there was Sheff's. Good stuff, 1-0 Yanks.
23. 21--Well, it's not very damned funny! Sorry, I'm a bit sensitive where the Beatles are concerned. ;)
24. 0-0 in Sox game. 21 pitches for that girl, schilling in the 1st inning.
25. Moose is the anti-Wright on the mound...
26. BklnBomber, does that make him "Wrong"
27. So I caught some of the Boston game today. Wakefield was brilliant, as usual. Only, it's not usual, because the man has an ERA close to 5. So I ask you, who the hell hits this guy, and when? Is it just that when his knuckler doesn't work he gets absolutely shelled?
And if that's the case, wtf? Why do we NEVER seem to play him when he's off?
Something fishy's going on.
28. Dunno, but he's struggling this inning.
29. Moose ain't fooling anybody.
30. Joe — LOL, I just hope he's not "Wright" tonight...
31. 27, Wakefield's ERA is 3.96 this season.
The Yanks got him for 4 runs in 5 IP on May 27 and 5 runs in a a complete game on July 17.
So what's fishy?
32. Bad feeling that we didn't put some numbers up on Chen in the first, when we had the chance.
Think I've seen this movie before.
Let's go Jays, let's go Rays.
33. // So I ask you, who the hell hits this guy, and when? //
Ummm...Aaron Boone, in game 7 of the ALCS? ;-)
Wakefield's having a very good year. He's probably the Bosox ace, at least right now.
34. I've got two GameDay's going on (Bos-Tor) (Bal-NYY), MLB.TV, Bronx Banter, and a stock purchase agreement that needs to be ready in a couple of hours.
I'm really going crazy.
35. 31, all right, good, I hope I'm imagining things then. I remember the game in May, but figured that was a fluke.
We shall see what we shall see.
36. I dont like losing for any period of time at this point in the year. I want five runs now.
37. Yay, Bernie!
38. WTG, Bernie.
39. Kay doesn't know bunts.
40. Christ Bubba, what the fuck was that?
41. C'mon, A-Rod! Bring 'em home!
42. ... and the Captain shall lead us.
43. ALL major league baseball players should know how to bunt. Period.
44. That's a terrible play by Bubba. Drag bunt with a so-so runner on first? Not to mention giving away an ay bat on the 1st pitch after Cano (!) and Bernie had combined to see 15 pitches.
45. Another 2 out rally, Yanks! Let's do it!
46. $@#!
47. 43 pitches for Chen through two. Good job, Yanks.
48. BTW, anyone catch the speed of that high heat to K Alex? Chen doesn't throw that hard. How fast could it have been?
49. Jeter's putting the team on his back. I knew it was only a matter of time.
A-Rod needs to step up.
50. The booth claimed it was 88
51. Moose is getting freaking squeezed
52. I didn't catch the speed, but it did look 90+
D-Rays put up a run against Tribe, now bottom 1...
53. God dammit Moose, settle down.
54. 2-0 Bos - Moose better figure this out quick
55. Here's the rust. Hoping it's a growing pain, so to speak, and Moose is back on point in the finale.
56. And EDGAR drives in a pair?!?!
57. Damn.
58. Looks really, really bad tonight. If we don't get to Chen, we're down one game. So much for the premature celebration.
59. Who is Edgar? Mora drove those in. 5-1 now after a single by Tejada. Leiter's warming.
60. All with 2 flippin' outs!!!
61. Edgar = Edgar Renteria. Boston's up 2-0.
62. Leiter's warming.
63. Who was celebrating?
Good news is it's the second and Chen has not been sharp and the Yanks have made him work.
64. He doesn't have his arm strength back.
65. Edgar rentarei, in the sox game up 3-0, us down 5-0, kiss first place (and most likely the playoffs) goodbye. Having to win 2-3 in Fenway just to tie is asking a bit much
66. He doesn't have his arm strength back.
67. OK, so the f--- BoSux will win tonight and the Yanks will certainly lose. Its only 1 game back guys, we knew they were going to lose at least one v the O's.
What has me hanging from the lamp is the terrible pitching by Mussina, it looks like that stupid Sunday game is going to be crucial/vital and he looks very bad, and just to make matters worst, my anti-crist fat-ass schilling is looking good now....
Alex said it, the mood changes second by second.
DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!
68. 3-0 now for the BloSox. Moose is done.
69. (In play, run scoring play)
Waaaaaahhhhh!
70. we're fucked
71. Oh, sorry, I was watching the Yankee game.
Another single. This is bad news. Chacon on short rest on Sunday?
Moose is hooked. Crap, this is bad news.
72. Oh boy. And we're gonna put him on the mound at Fenway this weekend?
73. Al Leiter, what's the betting that this inning takes 15 more minutes?
74. tocho, No. The Orioles are a GOD AWFUL team, and this is a pennant race. anything other than a sweep is a disgrace, especially with Toronto rolling over.
75. It's far too early to put this one to bed. We'll get to Chen, but we really need Leiter to eat some innings here.
76. This game is far from over
77. I have the Yankees on mlb.tv, Boston on Gameday. I'm getting double the pain.
78. Oh good Leiter in, he should keep us in the game.
the silver lining is another off-day for gordon and mariano. I really hope we need them...
79. Cliff, posters around here this morning and on a couple of other blogs/boards were discussing almost every scenario involving how much the Yankees would be ahead after today. Didn't seem to occur to anyone that we might actually fall behind one game.
No panic or I told you so...just thought the confidence seemed misplaced given the pitching matchup this evening, and Moose's clearly not being in playoff form yet.
80. The Rays and White Sox have gotta help us out here against Cleveland.
81. They have hit the crap out of Chen so far. Hopefully they'll string together some good ABs.
Please.
82. We can still win this. The more worrisome thing is whether Moose can pitch against the Sox.
Maybe this is just a bad night, as so many of our pitchers have had of late.
But maybe Torre better keep Leiter or Wright fresh, just in case...
83. Those people are idiots. Who said the Sox would lose?
84. LET"S GO
85. We'll still win.
86. OK. Enough. Let's start rakin', Yanks!
87. They damn well better fucking tie the game this inning
88. If the Yanks need a win to stay alive on Sunday it's all in, not Leiter Wright, but Chacon, Small, Wang, Randy, Moose, Mo, Gordon, Sturtze, you name it.
89. Thank you, Al.
Now come on, offense! Another 6-run inning wouldn't be amiss here.
90. OK, I'll be positive. they NEED to comeback, but the outlook is bleek.
91. 3-2 bos
92. Boo-ya!!!! Iron Sheff!!!
93. Amazing how Schilling has found himself just in time to annoint himself savior of the season. God I hate him (yeah, i know, its mostly just the result of the work)
Yes Gary!!
94. FUCK YEAH!!
95. Keep it going, 'Zilla...
96. YEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH SHEFFFFFFF
97. nice start. Lets continue it
98. Walk and a homer, that'll do. Few more of that combo will work just fine.
Actually, I have very little faith in Leiter, I think they'll need to hit double digits here.
Zaun homer in Fenway, 3-2 Sox. 5-3 O's.
99. SHEFF!!!!
If it's all in on Sunday, I sure hope there's no tiebreaker Monday. :-/
100. I love getting double positive news...Sheff's HR on MLB.tv, and Zaun's on gameday...
Anyone else notice the extended hr call by Kay? Held that s for a very long time there
101. E-4. We'll take it!
102. Zaun homered off Fat Curt
103. 4-0 DRays, Matsui on via an error. The tide is turning?
104. that dp hurts a lot
105. 4-0 DRays, Matsui on via an error. The tide is turning?
DP - I'm an idiot.
106. MOTHERFUCKER
107. Great play. FUCK.
108. Start it up again, Robbie!
109. Damn, great defensive play by Tejada.
110. Another HR by Shef~~~
5~3 now, make it 5-10!
111. We need a 1-2-3. Now
112. Ahhh, raspberries... it's OK, though. We hold 'em and keep sluggin'...
113. Chen at 59 pitches after three.
114. I don't know if I hate the Blue Jays or Orioles more, but it's really close
115. Toronto doing its damndest to five those runs back.
116. Told ya. No doubters.
117. A 1-2-3 might be a bit much to expect from Alois Leiter.
118. The Blue Jays arent even trying. This is disgusting
119. I'm going to depend on Bronx Banter tonight for the Sox-Jays updates. I'm afraid to click over to NESN — seems every time I watch those rat bastards they either hold on or pull it out.
120. Need. Baserunners. For. Yankees.
Just get on base, and try to hit for extra-base. Giambi-Sheff combo works great, we need Jeter-A-Rod to execute a bit more of the same.
121. Blue Jays are fucking useless
122. Sox up a lot
123. Yankees control their own fate, they just have to make sure it remains that way. Any help is appreciated, but should not be expected.
124. Jays are folding.
125. Okay. Now tie it.
126. Damn Red Sux. They just put up more runs. Chacin was doing great.
The fat-ass' act really gets old.
127. Chacin is out.
128. All right, Bernie!
129. Bernie passes Joe D?
130. Congratulations, Bern.
131. Bubba, don't bunt
132. I'm feelin' an A-Bomb from A-Rod is in order this inning...
133. C'mon cap, get them home and tie this one.
134. Well if they don't tie it now, I'm cracking open that bottle of scotch in the kitchen and swimming to the bottom.
135. Just don't make an out. Clog the bases, some of them will come home for sure.
Come on now!
136. deep sigh
137. Ouch, captain.
138. MOTHERFUCKER
From this point on, every called strikeout should result in a fine. Theres no excuse.
139. We need to run on Lopez's arm, we have Bubba and Bernie, two good baserunners.
140. Since when the hell is Bernie a good baserunner?
141. Let's go Lou and TB Cleveland still losing 4-0. I don't know if Moose will be of any use going forward. I hope I'm wrong but I suspect that elbow inflammation that he told the paper was killing him subsided enough with rest and maybe anti-inflammatories to let him throw a big game last time but it may be a problem that'll hang around to the end of the season. Again, I hope that's not true but assuming it is then we might have to juggle the staff and perhaps give Wright another shot if they think he's truly OK. Anyway we desperately want to have the WC as a viable option. Hmm Toronto scores. I'm following too many things.My head's going to explode
142. if chen throws another fastball by Arod....there goes the remote
143. The was the worst AB from A-Rod in a long time!
144. damnit!!
145. Naah, A-Rod is playing like crap tonight.
:sigh:
146. The Orioles radio announcer just said that A-Rod was sitting fucking breaking ball on that pitch? Who the hell sits breaking ball?
147. He was never a good baserunner, but he used to be fast. Now he's just not slow.
148. and Koskie strikes out with runner on third and less than two outs, 5-4 though
149. Back to back, both looking. Yikes.
150. Make it happen, Shef.
151. AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
152. MVP! MVP! MVP!
153. YYYYEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!
154. GRAND SLAM for SHEFFFFFF!!!!!
155. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
156. SHEFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
157. Sheff!!!!
Yo da man!
158. Oh hell yes.
159. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
160. WHAT
WHAT
...
161. Can we bring in Mo right now?
162. Oh my God. Sheff - you da man !
Please, Sox - blow this game !
163. C'mon Senator, step it up man.
164. BTW, when the O's went up 5-1, they posted the score in Fenway in about 2.6 seconds. Let's see how long it takes this time.
165. Grand salami for sheff, 6 rbi now...for those who didn't see it, a high, straight fastball that was drilled to left
166. See, that is why those walks by Giambi are more important, and more importantly, why OBP is important.
2 walks in front of Sheff, 2 runs!
167. atc, that's the line of the night.
168. DH the Sheff the rest of the way.
Let's go Leiter!
169. Who has faith in the pen to hold it?
170. Don't hand this right back, Al!
171. If I'm Joe and Leiter gets out of this inning, I seriously consider going straight to Sturtze at the first sign of trouble. Sturtze in six, Gordon 7/8, Mo 9 is fine by me (or some combo there of, Sturtze 6/7, Gordon 7, Gordon/Mo 8, Mo 9, etc.).
172. A little late, but the server was busy and it took a while for me to log in....
Sheff is a stud. I guess he was right that teams should come in fearing him most. All arrogance is forgiven. MVP-1A
173. Can Mo go 5 tonight?
174. Re. 161. atc
Can we bring in Mo right now?
hahahahahah.. Nice one dude~
175. Cleveland down 5-0 in the 6th. Toronto down 5-4 in the top of the 6th.
Just hit the fat bastard around jays, I know you can do it.
176. Pope Schilling doesn't look too hot tonight.
177. Lieter ain't going to make this easy on us, as per usual.
178. This game is still in the 4th. inning. It seems like the Yanks are the ones playing the doubleheader...
179. #161, you and the stupid server ruined my joke. Now it looks like I took you literally and asked if Mo could go 5!
180. Jays are swinging at tons of high pitches. All balls. BE Patient ! Wear his Holiness (Schilling)out !
181. okay, 2 outs. Mora was clearly safe, so cant argue.
182. well that sucked.
183. Don't let Tejada beat you.
I would IBB him.
184. Jeremy, I'm not sure I was joking
185. I really dont give a damn how many pitchers Leiter throws as long as he gets it done
186. FUCK.
187. Boys (and girls?)
Mo is TIRED. He has not been Mo of late.
More then anything, we need him in Boston. When we win a game in Boston, Boston also loses a game!
We gotta hope the O keeps pouring it on, and we can let our mop up men get some exercise. An 11-10 win is OK with me. Lets hope Mo can be a spectator tonight. Gordon could also use another day also.
188. damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn, we need to score a lot lot lot lot lot lot lot lot more runs
189. Come on Leiter PLEASE.
190. Why don't they listen to me?
191. A couple of thoughts: One, some of you guys are absolutely ridiculous. We get down by four runs in the 2nd inning to a god-awful team and not only is the game over, but so is the season and your puppy just died. Two, even more maddening is how Leiter not only goes 3-2 to every batter but has another 4 pitches fouled off before he gets the ball in play.
We're playing as well as we have all season, the Jays will get to Schilling and their pen blows. If not so what, I have no reason to believe the Yanks won't take care of business. Other than our pen is almost as bad...
192. I remember Chris Russo screaming in April that Tejada would be the MVP this year. I looked at his numbers today, and while great, they're certainly not what they could be
193. shit, Cleveland gets a run. Schilling striking everyone out lately.
194. 7-6, the senator needs to gut it out for at least 2 more innings.
The fat bastard has not looked great but he has been decent. 99 pitches in 6 innings, will they take him out and ride this one out with the bullpen? No papelwhatever nor timlin...
195. Singledd, do you really think the Yanks can win a high scoring one run game whithout using Mo. I'm not even talking about Torre's usage patterns, I mean are they physically capable of it? I don't think so. If they can create a late lead (these seven runs, now a one run lead, will not hold up on their own), the have to use Mo to nail it down.
196. this game sucks.
197. Why? WHY?!
198. Go home Al, even though the bats will win this game.
199. Good job pmarcig, way to prove us right...this sucks, our bullpen sucks...
200. Yank Al now. We're gonna need 15 tonight...
201. Someone just killed my puppy. Dammit Leiter!
202. Nice job Al, you worthless piece of crap.
203. alright, guys.. we lost the lead again - -||
204. I will say one thing. If ANY one on this team takes a called strike three again in this game, they need to be immediately yanked and fined.
205. The shit hits the fan. How many sheff at-bats do the Yanks have left?
Who else can come in? Proctor, F-Rod, sigh
206. I think I'm going to cry.
207. Just one of those games. Our fate is in the hands of Proctor and the offense for the next couple of excruciating innings.
208. What the hell do we do if Lieter can't go another inning or two. Tanyon for 2, Gordon for 2, mo for 1? We have no one that can come in and take up some innings besides Al
209. Cleveland and White Sox both rallying.
When it rains, it pours!
210. I hate when people insist they everyone be positive whent he team is losing a critical game in a pennant race
211. Chicago doesn't score!
TB rallying!
212. You know what ? I don't think I'm gonna make it.
213. Matt,
Be negative if you want, but the Yankees will win this game.
214. Is this a white flag?
215. ok hitters, GET ANGRY!!!
216. Depaula can probably chew some innings. But other than that, the cupboard is bare.
217. That makes two of us Joe.
218. Oh god, it's only the 5th?!
219. I hope the people at Bryant Park brought their tents. It's going to be a LONG night for them.
220. Now I guess it's up to Scott "The Proctologist" Proctor. C'mon, dude!
221. Proctor is a good move here.
222. 219. Wow, the game's on at Bryant Park? What a beautiful thing. Since when and for how long?
223. Is Proctor ever truly a good move, Cliff?
224. I'm rooting for a guy named Fernando Rodney... I need to get my life back...
225. see what i mean?
226. Or not.
227. Fuck it all, its over, fucking bullpen...
228. I want to punch Proctor in the mouth
229. Dammit. Our bullpen really sucks.
230. Damn Proctor
231. I think I'm going to be sick. Torre what are you doing bro? Get this bp hack out of there.
232. I feel numb.
233. sigh... another HR.. by O's..
234. No really, what the hell is Scott Proctor's purpose? Whats his meaning? Why must he exist here?
235. If now isn't the time to give Smith, Julianel, and Schmidt a look, when is?
236. If I performed my job like Proctor does, I'd be fired on the spot.
237. C'mon Rodney, one more out!
238. You'd think with $200 million, they'd have figured out a way to clone Mo.
239. For those scoring at home, Proctor has now allowed 14 homers in 66 major league innings. But just keep running him out there. I'm sure he'll get the hang of it.
240. My kingdom for Colter Bean.
222 My bad for failing to mentoin the Bryant Park thing in my post. Alex would have for sure. I did mention it in today's Red Sox comments:
"They're simulcasting the Yankee game in Bryant Park tonight. Tony Danza is hosting, Goose and Nettles are rumored to be in attendance. Sounds cool. I think the festivities kick off at 5:30. Don't know how much of a mob scene it will be. "
241. Rich, I don't buy Goldman's hype of the AA-ballers, but Bean has been a no-brainer for two years now. Proof the men in charge have no brains.
242. You can tell when proctor's going to throw a ball. Immediately on release, he jumps into like a hockey goalie position
243. Umm, walk David Newhan? Ungood.
244. and now F-rod, the long forgotten is warming up
245. Proctor's purpose is to keep Torre from giving innings to Wayne Franklin. Not that I'm sure it's an improvement.
246. I should say, in 241 that I don't buy that they could make the jump the majors without some time in Columbus.
247. What can we do?
Ah, Felix Rodriguez is warming up. Good to hear things are under control.
248. Jays tie it!!
249. Cliff,
I hear ya, but we're talking about Embree, Leiter, and Proctor who may be minus AA now.
250. Vernon Wells, babeeeeee.
251. Hey Scott, heres an idea: throw strikes. Oh wait, when you do that they hit HRs, maybe just don't throw at all
252. Bullpen.
Now!
253. My motto is "we're all good at something" Proctor really has me questioning that
254. ha ha ha ha ha!!!!
A walk, a hit, Rodriguez warming up...
Get it??
255. tie game in boston at least for now
256. Jays have tied it up.
257. Shea, I'll take back every bad thing I ever said about you if you come through now.
258. Joe, wtf, get him out...always a move or two too slow
259. All right, Rodney did his part. the White Sox lost.
Cleveland still down 5-1 and Bosux tied up 5-5.
Of course if our guys put it together we gain a game on those 2 teams from the central.
260. Proctor's falling apart. Get him out of there.
261. I WANT HIM OFF THIS TEAM
262. Make it stop...please...
263. wow... bases are loaded now..
264. oops, I meant koskie
265. Why does Torre always wait for the bases to be loaded before he'll change pitchers?
266. Felix, earn your pinstripes right here and right now...
267. Proctor is a nightmare. Time to pay more attention to Cleveland and Boston
268. Now we have to count on F. Rodriguez to throw strikes? Good lord.
269. White rally in the 9th but lose!
TB up on Cleveland 5-1 after 7.
Toronto 1st and 3rd, 1 out.
270. A damn batter too late. Bringing in Felix with 2 on would've given him a chance.
How many friggin runs is the Shef gonna have to drive in tonight to make it a ballgame.
271. Can I just say I was very very wrong about Proctor there. Heh.
272. F-Rod, just dont give up a homer
273. Ok, no Yankee pitcher have been able to retire Tejada or Gibbons, and only 1 pitcher has been able to retire the great Bernie Castro.
:sigh:
274. No BB, no BB, no BB.
Go DP, go DP go DP.
275. middle relief is like Nightmare on Elm Street Part's 1, 2 3,4,......
276. Why the fuck does Joe wait until the bases are loaded to pull Proctor?
277. Here's comes the walk-a-thon. If the Yanks get out of this inning with just one run walked in, I'll be relatively thrilled.
278. I can't watch
279. Oh Christ.
280. Of course.
281. What the hell man.
282. What a f'ing joke. Talk about choke city. Yanks have to beat the worst team in the second half of the season, and their pitchers choke in spectacular fashion
283. Nothing like good, crisp championship level baseball at this time of year. Yeeesh!
284. A team with a bullpen this bad doesn't deserve to make the playoffs.
Cleveland deserve it more than us. Let's just go home for the winter and retool.
285. Nice catch, Jorge. Good control Felix. Whatta ya say, bases clearing double by Miggy?
286. Maybe Felix Rodriguez is the worlds best whittler. He certainly isnt good at pitching
287. Well, he didn't walk in a run
And oh boy, don't worry, Joe's favorite lefty Wayne Franklyn is warming up
288. i guess we have to accept the fact that we are going to be one game back after tonight.
289. OK, guys remember that we are supposed to be having fun watching baseball games...
Reload, just for the fun of it, bring Miggy to the plate
290. "Joe Torre and Mel Stottlemeyer having a little conference in the dugout."
What is there to left to talk about, really?
291. No. God, no. They just showed Wayne Franklin warming up. NOOOOOO.
292. "Joe Torre and Mel Stottlemeyer having a little conference in the dugout."
What is there left to talk about, really?
293. Yeah, this is nothing like good, crisp championship level baseball.
294. Jeez...
295. Shea Hillenbrand is useless
296. Yankee Fan in Chicago- no offense, but stfu.
It's only the fifth, it's only the fifth...
297. And Torre looks down to his bullpen and suddenly realizes that Ramiro mendoza is on the team, and immediatly gets him up
298. And Shea friggin Hillenbrand strikes out with the bases loaded.
299. Pretend it's 2001 F-Rod.
300. Becky asked me to say: "Friggin' A."
301. Hillenbrand strikes out, yuck
302. Well, time to turn the game off
303. Words fail me right now.
304. I haven't cried in forever. Another BB should do it...
305. Good. A walk was the best possible outcome of that matchup.
No good could have come from the ball being put into play.
306. If the Jays win this is all okay. C'moooooon Jays!
307. And the Jays leave the bases loaded, guaranteeing that David Ortiz will hit a HR in the 9th
308. I have never thought highly of our middle relief, but I did not think it was possible for them to suck this badly. F Rod in particular has been a massive dissapointment.
309. another walk.. another run for O's..
310. Eric Hinake fucking sucks.
311. Wayne Franklin coming in. My bet is a slam on pitch 3. Any takers?
312. great piece of pitching.
Its a AAA bullpen (O's) vs. a A bullpen (Yanks). Its anybody's ballgame.
313. F-Rod might have good stuff, but he can't pitch. Man... I want to make the PS, but having this bullpen on natioanlly televised TV will be embarrassing.
314. OH
MY
GOD
315. There's my walked in run.
Wayne Franklin? Surely you jest. Just go to Embree and make this game 21-7 already.
316. 297--LOL!
I didn't realize he was on the team either.
317. Yankz, sorry if I'm killing your buzz dude, but I don't want to watch this crap in the playoffs. At this point I'd rather watch the young Tribe.
318. Wright's problems fucked everthing up. We had a good emergency plan with Small for middle relief.
319. Mike Stanton has a 3.58 ERA for Washington this year.
320. I was wrong, we should have kept Quantrill and Stanton.
321. I present this as exibit A for anyone who said our bullpen was too good to give up five runs in that ninth
322. Didn't Stengel once say: "Can't anybody play this game?"
323. Fuck it, put Derek on the mound, like in little league.
324. If I was in the Yankee dugout I'd be screaming Colter Bean's name in Joe Torre's ear.
325. Let the tears begin...
;(
326. 3 runs walked in and counting.
At this point, what are the odds they walk the whole side?
327. Shit an Indians rally is brewing. 5-3 bottom of the 8th. 2 outs man on 2nd.
OK, inning over for the D-Rays... I wish I could say the same for the Yanks.
Poor guys in Bryant Park, I hope they're getting hammered.
328. Hell, I'd take Buddy Groom and his 4.90 or so ERA right now.
329. Cleveland is rallying. The White Sox loss means nothing.
330. Gas Face to the entire Idiot Squad out of the pen tonight. You know as well as they've played overall of late, watching this horrid pitching makes me think this team has no business playing in October. This is disgraceful.
331. well this is pleasant.
332. Shit!
5-3 in Cleveland after 8.
333. This may be one the single most pathetic displays of pitching I have ever seen. I mean, just throw a strike, who cares if its hit out of the park at this point
334. I'd take Colter Bean, Jason Anderson and Alex Graman.
335. --321, You said it.
336. WTF was Sweet Lou doing brining in Borowski.
337. You think the Sox are feelin' pretty good about pulling their game out right now?
This is officially The Inning From Hell...
338. yay.
339. So can Sheffield hit a 7-run homer?
The blame for this falls on Mussina. I've defended this guy in the past, but no more. With his salary, the way he pitched tonight in a huge game is absoultely undefensible.
340. Hell, I'd take Dave LaPoint
341. Good God. This is an abomination.
342. Gawd, that felt like the longest half-inning in my life.
343. It ended? It actually ended!!! Too bad it's probably too late (I hope I eat crow in a few minutes)
344. Sox still tied after 7 complete and Cleveland has worked their way clos with 5-3 TB in top of the 9th.
345. The collapse by the middle relief is as stunning and monumental as the Yankees climb out of their early-season hole. Incredible.
Wayne Franklin is the pitcher of the game for getting those two outs.
346. NY police report 15 suicides during the inning
347. Oh man, I forgot about Anderson. He was OK for us and looked to be a good guy to have, certainly better than Proctor. Bean deserved a lengthy look. Graman didn't impress me, but he never really had a chance too. What the hell is wrong with this club and calling up all the wrong pitchers? How did Wang ever make it up here?
348. Well, at least I'll have the jets to get me through this long winter...oh wait...
349. Baaad start, Captain.
350. Jeremy, are you referring to Jason "could walk me" Anderson?
And Alex "blew every opportunity he had" Graman?
351. I need to create a series of keystokes that will knock out lines like:
"Baserunners. We need baserunners."
...rather than typing it out night after night.
352. Speaking of football, which was worse: the Yanks bullpen these last two innings, or the Giants defense against the Chargers on Sunday night?
353. So.... who will pitch the 6th? Flaherty?
Here comes the inning from hell for the O's
354. Can you believe the five Yankee pitchers have only issued six walks?
Meanwhile, Zaun leads off the eighth with a walk, Reed Johnson singles, first and second no outs against Chad Bradford.
355. at this point we just have to root for Toronto and try to forget that this game happened
356. Toronto: 2nd and 3rd, 1 out
357. YFIC, could be a very long winter in NY and for their dispersed fans like you and me. No Yanks, a crappy Giants D, Vinny at QB for the Jets (oh God I think I just threw up) and lets not even start on the Knicks...
358. Worst half inning length ratio ever?
359. Cleveland goes to bottom of the 9th trailing TB by 2. Toronto threating Boston in the 9th
360. OK, here comes the bottom of the 9th. for the Indians 5-3 with Baez coming in. Give them a taste of D-Rays power!!!
361. Is Russ Adams competent enough to knock these two in?
362. #352 — Chicago, I'd have to say the Yankee pen, who let up the equivalent of 56 points tonight.
363. And, Toronto, if my love thou hold'st at aught--
As my great power thereof may give thee sense,
Since yet thy cicatrice looks raw and red
After the New York sword, and thy free awe
Pays homage to us--thou mayst not coldly set
Our sovereign process; which imports at full,
By letters congruing to that effect,
The present death of Boston. Do it, Toronto;
For like the hectic in my blood he rages,
And thou must cure me: till I know 'tis done,
Howe'er my haps, my joys were ne'er begun.
364. Crisp, leadoff double. F*%$^&
365. Sac fly. 6-5 Toronto
366. They need to knock that other run in.
367. 1 inside so far as Jays take the lead. We need a few more
368. Fuck, Cleveland has ttying runs on, nobody out
369. Ok, rather than let Newhan hit, it was Franklin who hit Newhan.
Not sure if it accomplished anything other than putting Newhan on base.
370. Mel's up to pitch the next inning
371. Cleveland tying run on 3rd. Winning run on 1st. One out only. This could be a washout night for Yanks
372. Toronto just loaded the bases against Hansen
373. bases loaded, 2 out for Koskie
374. Bases loaded, two outs for the Jays against the Hansen kid. Koskie up.
375. Bases juiced for Koski in Boston.
Elsewhere, Baez sucks ass.
376. Bases loaded, 2 out for Toronto
377. Oh, Newhan is gettin' plunked tomorrow night, that's for sure.
378. big double play in bottom of the 9th and TB beats Cleveland
379. D-Rays win!
380. Hey, they just stole second. Where's the etiquette? Didn't A-Rod teach them anything?
381. Retract. Baez you magnificent bastard. I take it all back.
382. WILD PITCH BY HANSEN - how the f could he not score ?!
383. This is why Koskie is on the Blue Jays.
384. How did Tampa Bay hold on to that? Well, there's some good news at least.
385. Koskie flies out. 6-5 Jays, they need six outs to win.
386. So that means we are what, half game up for wc?
387. I think we have a better chance of coming back than the Jays do of holding this lead
388. damn, a little more and Toronto could have had a Grand Slam
389. Jays leave them juiced. 6-5 going to the bottom of the 8th. Our hopes are pinned to the jays bullpen... Batista... I NEED my life back.
390. Yeah, but with Batista as closer, the Jays are f'ed
391. I'm the biggest Toronto fan in the world.
392. Looking at Gameday's red dot, looks like Koskie flew out to the wall in dead center. Ouch.
393. Mueller, Traht and Grahfahnino. Even if they go 1-2-3, fatty'a up in the ninth
394. Didn't Batista K the heart of the Yankee order on 12 pitches to nail down a save in one of their recent match-ups?
395. Speier pitching.
396. This Hansen guy the BlowSux are raving about is not that good. He was really close to giving up a GS and his fastball is out of control.
397. Even with a 1-2-3 8th, Fat Papi comes up in the 9th. Any bets on what he does? Sheeeet.
398. Mueller K's, five outs needed.
399. Why are they pitching to Barroids?
400. This whole Boston game seems like a lot of phony drama just so Ortiz can win the game.
401. Send Mo up to Boston, stat.
402. cliff, yes, but it was in the shadows
403. What inning is Sox-Jays? (I'm not touching the remote!)
404. Holy shit, this is still the inning where Gomez fouled out?
405. How come every time I flip back to our game, the O's are still up?
406. Jays are going to regret those LOB the last two innings.
Could be a lot worse...at least Tribe and White Sox lose, and another night of rest for our key relievers. And if the Jays can play it close the next two days, the Red Sox pen have some major mileage coming into the series with us.
I can see the glass as half full as long as we don't have to dip into middle relief any more after today's nightmare...that we can rely on some actual quality starts the next two days.
407. C'mon Grafawhatever DP
408. Scoreless inning by Franklin! Just the second of the game! Mendoza and Embree were warming.
409. Hey, a Franklin strikeout, its like Haley's comet guys!! what a privilege to have witnessed it.