Barring injury, last night’s series opener couldn’t have gone much worse for the Yankees. Now their remaining hopes of winning this series rest on tonight’s starter, Chien-Ming Wang, who hasn’t thrown more than 4 2/3 innings in a major league game this year and hasn’t been good for more than three frames in a single outing.
Wang returned to the rotation on Thursday and looked great for two innings, showing the velocity and drop on his sinker the Yankees had been waiting to see, but things flattened out after that, and he left with two outs in the fifth having surrendered five runs to the Rangers. Still, he got all but one of his 14 outs via groundball or strikeout, which was encouraging. Wang will be on a 90-pitch limit tonight, which could mean another short outing even if he pitches well (though Wang at his best could make those 90 pitches last into the eighth).
Also encouraging is that, after a strong April, Tim Wakefield, who starts tonight for Boston, has posted a 6.37 ERA over his last seven starts with opponents hitting .307/.393/.452 against him. Wakefield is 5-2 over that stretch as the Sox have scored an average of 7.14 runs per game for him. As much as I’m thinking good thoughts for Wang, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a slugfest like that break out again tonight. At the very least, the Yankees should do better than the two measly singles they managed last night.
The lineup returns to normal tonight (Damon in left, Swisher in right, Matsui to DH, though Matsui has hit just .170/.264/.319 lifetime against Wakefield), while rookie George Kottaras catches Wakefield for Boston.
I'm really, probably ill-advisedly, hopeful. I'm dreaming that Wang has "it" tonight, somehow, and does breeze through six innings while the knuckleball fails Wakefield.
Yesterday was one of those games. Buzz saw opposing pitcher, and the Yank pitcher melting down. I'm not gonna hold it against them if tonight goes well.
A local friend here predicted a perfect game from Wang..I second that emotion!
But will settle for a solid 6, and for Tex & A-Rod to hit 500ft homers off Wakefield
.
Joe says Hughes is good for 85 pitches if Wang's outing is unexpectedly short.
At least last night's game was not the 4-hour torture that it normally is. It was clear from the 2nd inning (after the bib-pop's HR) that the late May/early June yanks were not going to show up.
Today's game has the making of the classic 5-hour, gazillion pitches, high-scoring games that usually come from these series. Got a feeling that it will come down to the bullpens. Here's hoping Hughes, Ace and company are up to the challenge, and that Ramon Ramirez comes back to earth together with his pals Masterson and Okajima.
Vamos Yankeeeeeeess!!!!!
Hopefully, their switch is turned to "on" tonight! The Yankees, not the Red Sox... had to clarify that for the Baseball Gods that read Banter...
: )
ok, i'm hopeful. We need Wang to restore himself as the #2 starter for the rest of the season. Tonight could be key for that.
nice capture of the guys in Tex and A-Rod jerseys outside Fenway there.
Well, Team, here we are.
Here's hoping Chien-Ming can surprise us and (perhaps more importantly) that we can feast on Wakefield.
Supposedly, Spanky McSkittles and Tex may face Wake from the right side tonight!
: O
[9] i;m guessing you are referring to Swisher but I can't figure out how that name applies.
[10] He looks dead up like Spanky from Our Gang, and he throws only rainbows in from the outfield... hence Spanky McSkittles...
: )
[11] ah, thanks.
It's interesting that bothg/either ARod and/or Tex could be Red Sox, and ergo, not Yankees. Frankly, I think ARod would have done much better in Boston. Aside from playing SS (a position the Sox have had problems with over the last 4 years) and the friendly GM in RF, as much as Boston media can be a pain, it's still much more laid back playing in Boston then NY.
In any event, had either event taken place, I think we would be looking up at the Sox for quite a while.
oops.......... friendly GM in LEFT field.
nice ab for tex
"How about that?" - Mel Allen
[14] Theo Epstein plays left field?
[13] well, I guess we have been looking up at the sox for a while...
both a-rod and tex were patient forcing wakefield to throw strikes. two nice ABs!
wakefield has grown quite a gut there
damn.
Bleh!
Not so good AB by Cano...those knucklers had nothing on them whatsoever.
[20] very Wellsian.
It's sad when two base runners feels like some sort of victory.
well, i guess we'll see what wang's got ...
Wake looks hittable, but he usually needs to tire out a bit for his knuckler to really move. I'm used to rooting for a high pitch count, but with Wake, it doesn't matter much.
I think the guy could pitch another 5 years.
[25] sad but after the last 5 games v the bosox, its true.
[27] He looked very hittable, and yet Cano, Damon and Jeter made very feeble outs.
Wang is throwing legit 94-95mph. I am not sure that he has the stamina to maintain that for 6 innings, but once he does, I'll have no worries.
damn. i'd rather Wang not have to pitch from the stretch yet
All of those pitches were close...PitchFX had pitch #4 being a strike.
[32] right now he is just missing around the zone.
This is bad pitch selection to Youkilis....he isn't going to go after a sinker ahead in the count. That was a de facto intentional walk, which obviously makes no sense.
oh oh
I really want my prediction for this game to wrong, but...
The Yankees have a nibbling problem...staff wide, they seem unwilling to challenge hitters. It really makes no sense.
bad break there.
ah fuck.
Where was Jeter playing?
It looks to me like Wang is throwing a pretty straight ball, but I haven't checked on gameday. And even as I write the Sox go up by two.
My already limited patience with Wang 2009 is rapidly evaporating.
Damon's arm in LF is a killer.
That was a perfect pitch, but that's what happens when you walk batters. Right now, the Yankees are playing the Red Sox tentatively. They aren't going to win a single game until thier pitchers get more agressive.
Uh-oh.
[38] It's only a "bad break" if one ignores all the walks that created this situation to begin with.
[40] I thought the same thing...off the bat, I was hoping they had enough time to get two.
[42] yep, Wang got exactly what he wanted. it just found the hole. but what killed was the walks since that would otherwise just be a lazy single.
[41] Oops...up by ONE. I must be conditioned or something.
[41] He has great velocity and sink...the problem was the AB to Youkilis. PitchFX had him striking out Drew and the Bay GB was a worm burner.
[44] good pitch = ground ball (not that hard) that finds a hole is a bad break for Wang. Obviously the walks aren't but I wasn't talking about them.
Why the hell is Jeter playing up the middle with a righty at bat? That run is on Jeter having exactly no range.
ridiculous strike zone.
Wang hasn't been getting calls either.
Right now, the Yankees are playing the Red Sox tentatively.
What the hell does that mean? How does one even judge that?
The reason they're losing is because their starting pitchers have sucked monkey balls.
Wang being too careful......
I cannot stand the walks
Goes without saying, but this is a huge AB.
What are we going to do?
C'mon, Tiger. Settle down.
This is quickly becoming a disaster.
good pitch. he needs to trust his stuff
YES!
is it safe to look again?
phew.
Maybe Arod should be the pitching coach?
Wang was one pitch from gettinh yanked. I'm not happy so far.
Ok, that's three outs.
Where are the other 24 going to come from?
I don't like Wang having to deal with a small strike zone in a key start. But nothing we can do about it.
Ironically, the problem was his sinker was moving too much. It sounds easy, but Wang needs to go back to trusting his stuff, which I think means throwing the ball more to the middle than the corners.
[66] There were two very bad calls according to PitchFX, one of which would have been strike 3 to Drew.
[42] I agree, they seem afraid to come in and juts make the pitch.
woo hoo!!!!
hopefully, getting out of that gives wang confidence to just trust his stuff.
meanwhile ... HIP HIP!!!
Amazing!
Thank you, Jorgie!
After two wretched swings, no less.
Hip-hip. Game tied.
The break on a knuckleball is ridiculous, although that last one didn't drop nearly as much.
[68] yeah, Drew's AB was the worst. A completely on Wang would struggle with that with his sinker.
YES!!
Hideki!
sweet Hideki!
the speedy Swisher!
YES!
Well done, Swisher!
hahahahahaha!
STICK!!!
He was out.
Wow! What a GREAT Bunt. Swish is NOT fast at all.
I don't think Wang was that bad. He was a little nervous, and still trying to figure out the strike zone.
Get the Wanger a lead, boys. That'll help his confidence.
Youkilis missed the bag...he would definitely be whining otherwise.
Swish bustin' out a can of Ichiro!
[68] I saw that on gameday, but they were clearly balls.
Yes, he was out... unless Youk's foot was off the bag?
[83] i'm with you. I'm just happy to see him pitching and hopeful that he settles in.
Looked like his toe was on the bag, but good, whatever.
Foot definitely off the bag
damn. damn. damn.
Oh, motherfucker.
NOT acceptable.
moot now
He wasn't out. Youk's foot was off the bag.
I think Youk was afraid of being Brian Roberts-ed. He kind of shied away.
[81] Off the bag, I think. But now it doesn't matter.
[83] Wow, if that was not that bad, our expectations are r-e-a-l-l-y low.
Any opinion on how accurate Gameday is on balls and strikes?
TERRIBLE play be Swisher. Shit!!!!!!
I really do try to avoid hyperbole, but this is about the worst baserunning team I have ever seen.
Wow...that is absolutely ridiculous. Talk about short circuiting a big inning. Melky swings at ball four and Swish continues to show that he might not be the brightest guy in the world.
[95] It was one inning. Wang has been known to have rough first innings before.
[97] ok, bud, don't take offense but you do NOT try to avoid hyperbole. ever. it's cool, i've come to expect it.
wow, way to get them out of the inning...
@ 97
Rob Thompson is good. When's the last time they had a runner out at third or home?
Between Swisher, Melkdud and CanDo, we have a bit of the 3 stooges aboard. I like the guys, but I hate stupid baseball. The thinking part is one of the few things a player had control over. Stupid outs are very infuriating.
I am just gald the Yankees don't play Boston again until August.
I'm checking Gameday--could someone explain to me how PFX works? I get "break"--that makes sense. But what is PFX, andwhat constitutes a "good" number.
[102] he is good. But the players do make a lot of base running mistakes.
Slider on 0-2? To Nick Green?
All his strikes seem to be dangerously up.
damn, i hate when Wang makes great pitches and they turn into hits.
Boston getting lucky tonight. We don't need that.
[108] He threw three staright sliders to Green, including two up 0-2. That pitch selection makes no sense.
[111] it worked. green got lucky on an infield chopper. but he got ahead and then got him to hit a grounder.
please don't walk kottaras
[105] it's very unclear and there are various opinions, but the one seemingly certain thing is that it does not mean what gameday says it means. what it does mean is anyone's guess.
He can't get strikes down in the zone.
See what I mean?
[105] Pitch fx is kind of theoretical....it's the difference between the real pitch and a similar one with no spin.
Wang is clearly not all the way back, but the pitch selection is awful.
Wang fucking sucks
there I said it
[99] Exactly. It was rough. I would not characterize the as "not that bad."
In fact, now--with another run in on a long double, I am wondering how many actual good innings he has pitched this season as a starter. Two or three?
In a very strange way I preferred the double to the walk. just yank him already and give that spot back to Hughes!
Wang's arm looks OK, but his head is in the Wang place!
[112] The chopper was on a sinker...the previous sliders were dangerous hangers that served no purpose.
jeter looked pissed in that shot
ridiculous.
Oh, how did you miss that!!!!!
Abreu all over again!
I can't believe Swisher missed that.
Well this is getting ugly in a hurry.
Oh Lord!
I'm fucking pissed.
And sick to my stomach.
And pissed.
I thought Abreu went to the Angels.
That's an out...period. We can blame Wang all we want, but we've seen awful baseball from Swisher and some pretty sucky ABs from Jeter and Cano. Sadly, this entire team seems to go into a shell when they see Red Sox across the opponent's chest.
how does Swish slow down and miss the ball? That was awful.
[123] They did serve a purpose, though; they were the only pitches he could get over.
[122] That pun was very wrong (Wang?), but very right. : )
[124] Hopefully it's because of his two ABs.
Poor Wang. A lucky chop and Swisher botches a play. All the runs are Earned, but what I call 'Barely Earned'.
[134] He threw the sliders ahead 0-2...the point of getting ahead is 0-2 is it makes hitters chase the sinker.
That's not a nice play by Posada...he back handed that ball instead of shifting his body.
[132] I agree with you on that play, but...that was a long fly ball to (near) the wall. Out or not, that's not a good sign when Wang is pitching.
[138] he only threw 4 pitches right? so how did he throw multiple sliders 0-2 and a sinker at 1-2?
@ 117
That might be the most insightful thing I've ever read from you. You should try honest brevity more often!
[135] Wang (pronounced WONG)
It's easy to pronouce wong.
(get it? get it?)
Bad luck inning and all, but he should not have a 3-0 count to kottaras
[141] It was a five pitch AB featuring two 0-2 sliders.
[142] Somebody take Bum's temperature....
[143] Ummmm, I got it. That's why I repeated the pun. By the way, I think that you are being too generous [137].
[146] I think that might be a textbook "backhanded comment."
[132] yanks went 9-9 against boston in 08, 10-8 in 07. i hate them losing the first 6 games this year too, but the idea that they somehow just can't beat this team anymore is absurd. they've had 6 bad games, some of which they should have won.
Wang not getting the love on the corners. OK, that WAS a very nice recovery.
NIce, Wang. Way to regroup.
Just catching up and wow, Wang cannot catch a break. That ground ball in the first, the double in the second. He's having control problems but he's been this close to getting out of trouble a couple times.
Look... Wang is still in recovery here. If his velo is good and his movement is good, it's a good sign... even if the boxscore is kinda ugly.
Wang settling down, but we'll probably see Hughes just because of pitch count.
His control hasn't been great, but Wang isn't the reason the Yankees are in an early hole. Swisher might single handedly be responsible for a net three runs.
Nice recovery by CMW, though he's up to 58 pitches. At this rate he won't last the 4th.
[145] you are right. 5 pitch AB. I still think he threw strikes with the slider and got ahead of Green. It wasn't a bad ab.
NICE finish for Wang!
[153] Perhaps, but I'd like to win *tonight!*
it hasn't been pretty for wang, but there are real flashes ... this could still turn into a very cromulent outing for him
or an utter fiery trainwreck
gotta love the excitement of uncertainty ...
[153] very true. He looked really good in those last two ABs. If all goes well, he settles in, gets his 90 pitches and hands the ball over.
interesting. Their right fielder caught that fly ball.
That's a frustrating AB, but the Yankees need to have similar ABs like that one because Wakefield's knuckler has been very flat.
MAHNSTAH SPECIAL!
the ESPN idiots need to stop exaggerating the homers at the new Yankee stadium. They sound stupid.
With the stuff Wang has tonight, he'd probably do very well against a less patient team.
Tex's righty hitting is working.
really A-Rod??
That Arod AB is puzzling...was he really looking for an inside pitch to take the other way?
[165] very true. He generally does do better against less patient teams and struggles more against the Red Sox.
Their right fielder is used to this bandbox of a ballpark.
Awwwwww...is it over for CMW?? too lazy to go back and read all the comments now, but 3 runs already????
cano must lead the league in 1 pitch at bats
That was pathetic... if that represents the kind of ABs they are going to take, then it doesn't matter what Wang does.
well, at least the hitters were kind enough not to leave wang wasting on the bench during a long inning ... let's see if he can carry the strong finish to last inning over to this one ...
Control wasn't Wang's problem earlier in the season, so I guess the silver lining is the problem is different, hahaha.
The main problem with this game, though, was the bottom of the first for the Yankees, that was just putrid.
oy vey
[171] Not over. He struggled a little, had some bad luck with strike zone calls and fielding, and is still in the game.
He won't last the six innings they were hoping, because his pitch count is climbing too fast, but it's not over for him yet.
i really do love cano, but maybe they should think about trading him this offseason
Well, that one was Wang's fault.
And now we already have the third straight not really very good inning from Wang.
Sigh. Time to crack a beer. CMW's driving me to drink.
[173] worked out pretty well for lowell. Can't believe wang is still in.
bad pitch there.
::facepalms::
well, so much for that thought ...
I think it may be time to send Wang to the pen or just DL him indefinately..he obviously cannot get major league hitters out at this point for whatever reason..
No Singy, Posada set up away, the pitch drifted over the middle of the plate
Shit... that clear the HR line by about 12".
I feel sick.
Time to send CC back to the hotel so he can get ready for tomorrow.
[181] heh. waaaaaaaaay ahead of you.
sigh.
cheer up everybody, at least we'll get to see some phil hughes tonite!
Ugh. Not the right pitch to throw to Lowell.
[182] Yes, how is he still in the game? Are they just giving up this one already by letting him pitch???
Wow!
How did that not go out?
[192] He hasn't been that bad. Looks like he is tiring though.
Ouch! Scary.
[175] Well, he did give up 6 walks in his first three starts (6 innings).
Everything's fucking up!
have to say, as much as i loathe red sox fans in general, they've been incredibly classy with ortiz this year.
OK OK OK. It's still 3 runs (seems like more). We are still in this game. Wakefield is not on his game.
[192] He's not pitching as bad as the line indicates
Wang versus Ortiz is a quite a matchup...there probably aren't two players in the entire game who have fallen further so quickly.
I can't really get annoyed with Wang like I was with Burnett last night. The way he's been brought back has been less than optimal.
I am starting to wonder, though. Maybe he's done - not physically, but he's lost it mentally. If so I'll always think of him as a casualty of interleague play and Yankees mismanagement.
[192] No, they almost pulled him in the first, but he settled down and they let him stay in.
He's been kind of up and down. Just when you're ready to give up, he looks like the Wang of old.
GET HIM OUT OF THERE!!!!
[194] yep.
c'mon CMW, get out of this goddamn inning so we can go to Phil and still have a shot.
[200] I don't know, they're hitting the ball around pretty good.
[198] if arod had had a postseason for the yankees like ortiz did in 04, i doubt he'd ever be booed in yankee stadium.
[187] Wow, you are being very, very generous tonight. That ball was crushed--it's only close in this park with the big wall. And anyway, Ortiz' bomb would have been out of most parks as well. I really don't see that Wang has been particularly unlucky tonight.
well i see poor cmw still doesn't have any good stuff and red sox fans are still collosal asshats
[204] they really should have hughes and an actual reliever up here ... they can't let this game get away just to give Hughes a clean start next inning
i'm not really clear on why so many people are so ready to declare Wang "done" so quickly. This is only his second start upon returning from some obvious injury related issues. He clearly still has good stuff. He is struggling with consistency and with length. Neither of which surprises me. But how do we leap to "done"? or get even close?
there were moments the first two innings that you could chalk up to bad luck, now he's just getting smacked around
Swisher trying to make amends.
Better effort, Swisher
[198] I agree. incredibly classy.
Swisher over-compensating for that missed catch earlier.
[207] well, all i know is that i've heard both jeter AND rivera booed for far less than what ortiz has done this year.
[211] i was about to post almost exactly the same thing. it's really a bit crazy.
When he comes inside like that he does all right. He should build off that inside pitch. It's up, but at least it ties them up.
[196] Finding the plate was not his problem during those games.
[212] he is. Pitches have gotten flat. I'm assuming higher pitch count he is tiring.
[207] Arod's 2004 post season wasn't too shabby either.
I would've let Wang finish the inning, but that's just me
Someone explain why they're taking him out now.
wow ... going to hughes mid-inning ... well, let's hope he's PHILTHY tonite, we need something to turn this game around.
[222] not anything like ortiz's. but i meant to include "and won a world series."
[224] I wish they'd let him finish the inning.
[224] end on a high note of striking out nick green? i don't think it's that bad an idea.
[203] But that's the problem, no? The same thing last start--a few god things, a few bad things, and 5 ER in 4+ innings. I look at it the other way round from you: just when you think the old Wang is back, he stinks it up again.
And now he's gone.
That was a disaster. I know a lot of people here have posted pretty forgivingly about his outing, but I really have not seen too much in the way of progress in these last two starts.
[222] well up until game 4 it wasn't, which granted you could also say for Sheffield and Matsui and a lot of other people.
[224] I guess because Hughes is ready and they don't want him to sit and cool down
Ortiz looks like Giambi did a couple years ago.
[211] I'm with you...I am not ready to give up on Wang. I also can't get angry about his peformance. Swisher's poor play and getting doubled off makes me angry. Arod, Jeter and Cano hacking away make me angry. Melky swinging at ball 4 makes me angry. Wang sturggling to regain his form is a little sad and very frustrating, but it doesn't anger me.
I'm not writing him off, I think Wang could be a real asset, but if he doesn't improve in his next start, I'm getting out my pen (uh, in preparation of writing him off).
[211] Agreed. Wang has struggled before. He's had serious injuries before, and come back from them. He went though that stage where he could not pitch from the stretch. He bounced back from everything. He'll do it again. He doesn't seem to be the emotionally fragile type at all.
[233] Swisher's bad plays really irk me.
[229] Agreed..several on the Banter have mentioned that management has mishandled the whole Wang situation..so there's blame to go around. But a 14+ ERA is just unacceptable..he's got to go to the pen and try to rebound from this but they can't waste anymore starts on him. Especially if AJ is also going to stink up the joint..
Meanwhile, Phil has looked pretty good of late.
i have hardly seen any of this game - just this inning - and didn't see any of cmw's last start so can't comment on how he looks - the outcomes don't look too hot though- i think they need to find a way to put him back on the dl and give him a proper rehab to let him truly work out his mechanics and build up stamina
[233] Yeah, what you said. He didn't really have a spring training, just a fairly short stint in extended ST.
I still stand by my initial post that this game will come down to the bullpens. My guess is that phil will stop the bleeding for 3 innings and the yanks will tie it up. then its up to the Aceves, Roberts, Cokes and the Ramirez, Mastersons and Okajimas.
[211] I don't think he's "done" in an absolute sense. But I really can't see wasting more starts on him in the near future. Maybe later in the season, after they look at him more in the pen.
[217] I don't think Jeter and Mo have ever really been booed. I recall some groaning at times, but never outright booing. I highly doubt either one would ever get booed, just like Mattingly before them.
[243] Mo was booed in April, and that's hardly the first time he's been booed. I'm not defending it (I think it's ridiculous that anyone would even think of booing him), but he's been booed.
Jeter was booed in '04 during that 0-for-30 streak or whatever the hell it was
[242] but i don't really trust him in the bullpen at this point. i think i'd rather give him a few more starts and see if he improves. it's still the middle of june and we're tied for the division lead, so i think it's worth it to try and get someone like wang back in form.
[237] EXACTLY. I'm not angry with Wang. But whoever is to blame, they can't keep trotting him out there to flame games, especially when there is really very little objective evidence that he's turning the corner. No matter what anyone says about consistency or length or bad luck, you look at the line and it's another mess. When do we stop calling it bad luck?
[243] I've never understood booing your own team, for any reason other than lack of "hustle"..it's just stupid.
Cmon guys, show some cojones and shut those damn Fenway wine-drinkers uup, lets burn some pink Boston hats and get the party started!!
[241] The Yankees better hope it doesn't come down to the pens because that is a one-sided game. The best chance is to hammer Wakefield. He has had a pretty awful knuckle ball for three innings, but most of the lineup has been hacking away.
[244] Yep, Jeter was definitely booed during that horrible start.
Why is Hip Hip showing bunt? DIdn't he just hit a homerun?
[244] I know the times people claim they were booed, but from my standpoint there is a difference between reacting to the outcome versus reacting the player. I don't think either player has been booed directly, but that's just my opinion.
[248] If they hammer it, Francona will not hesitate to use the hook
these announcers are idiots.
[243] jeter was definitely booed in 2004.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/02/sports/l-on-the-inalienable-right-of-fans-to-boo-jeter-448133.html
re booing- i think it's good that good players get booed when they aren't performing well in ny. there's no reason for absolute loyalty. it may seem ridiculous at times, but i don't see any real problem with it. players can deal with some booing. i'm sure if jeter had been asked during the 0/32 streak whether booing disturbed him, he'd have said he deserved it. was he asked?
These Yankee ABs are much worse than Wang's pitching...I've beaten that point to a pulp, so I'll lay off it now.
[239] I was thinking that, too. I gotta blame Cashman for that panic move, calling him up as he was driving to Pawtucket. Then putting him in the pen.
He should have had a longer rehab assignment in AAA. He wanted to start in the minors rather than pitch out of the pen in the big leages. The SWB Yanks need starters - the bullpen is part of the rotation now.
Very short-sighted to call him up so hastily.
Are they gonna go over the "schools of thought about hitting a knuckleball" every frigging inning?
At this point, Wang should be in the BP, where we can control the situations he pitches in. I thought his pitches had good snap. His velo was fine. He had great movement on some pitches. But he's got to be emotionally bummed out. Meanwhile, Phil looks ready to start.
The Yanks should verbally let Wang know they are behind him, and he is valuable to the organization. That they have a bit of a surplus of SP, and a little light on quality BP, so Wang shouldn't view this as a demotion... just the business of trying to win a pennant.
This Matsui AB is going to make me take [256] back!
[255] I'd groan rather than boo. I wouldn't like the outcome, but to me booing is personal.
good AB by Matsui
nice AB there by Matsui
[253] Are you listening to the ESPN crew?
I've always found the idea of grown men and women booing an athlete pretty childish. To me it's akin to holding your breath and stomping because A-Rod or somebody refused to indulge you with a home run.
[264] yep.
[261] i think it can get to be personal, but for the most part it's just a reaction like william said [251]
[255] He was:
He would not be drawn into any serious discussion of the moral justification for booing him.
''I'd boo myself,'' Jeter said.
Yes, Jeter and Mo have both been booed. Not in reaction to what's happening at the moment on the field, but because of what happened in the past, so you can't say it's just a heat of the moment thing.
that 3-1 didnt even look close to the strike zone
That was ball 4.
How can we not win one lousy game off these people?
I'm angry. Not at Chien-Ming, but I'm angry.
gotta make him throw strikes
wang in the bp doesn't really help him or the team.
as randym stated [257] - and i have too - the panic move to bring him up was shortsighted. the best way to fix that is to get him back on the dl.. he needs to both wrk on mechanics and build up stamina - that cannot be accomplished that well in the bp with him. it can't be that hard to get him on the dl- there is *something* wrong with him. the red sox are masters at putting pitchers on the dl for hangnails and crap like that.
Nice hit, Melky.
Once again the Melkman delivers!
nice hitting melky - and matsui scored - wow!
At least Swisher learned his lesson...now the Cap' need to be more selective. Otherwise, I will boo him ;)
Well.... If Dustpan was only 5'6, he would have had that.
Good AB by Melky. Keep making Wakefield throw strikes.
[266] I had to switch to the YES crew.
Wow, Matsui scored from 2nd??
[272] Last night is easily explained by Beckett's dominance. Tonight, it seems like they are trying to shoot themselves in the foot.
Thank god Melky came through there.
Way to keep it going, Derek.
boo derek
I don't buy the whole idea of "well they're booing the situation" or the old "they're booing because they really want to cheer!"
if Jeter strikes out with the bases loaded, and the crowd boo's as he's walking back to the dugout...then Jeter is being booed. Plain and simple.
And whatever, he got booed, he's been cheered enough in his life that he can handle boo's every once in a while...but make no mistake, he's being booed.
[278] I wont boo, but ...
i normally really like flash, but he's annoying me tonight. particularly when he went on and on about how perfectly bay played the way when he tried to catch teixeira's last hit.
[281] I don't have that option unless i want to watch on my computer. i'd rather watch on the tv. I could do audio separately but I hate how they usually don't sync.
Cripes, Jeter.
[283] To be honest, the culprits in this game have really been Jeter, Damon and Cano. Had they been more patient, this could be a comfortable lead.
That was not a strike!
That looked like Ball 4 to JD.
[284] Jeter has had pretty good numbers against Wakefield, so I give him the benefit of the doubt when he goes after what I assume he thinks is a fat pitch. That said, the last couple of ABs have been a bit frustrating.
it is bullshit how this guy squeezed Wang and is handing this guy strikes
[291] Add ARod to that group.
boo damon.
Damon, Jeter and Cano...their ABs have been killers.
Fuckfuckfuck.
At least Damon worked.
Derek's ab was inexcusable.
the 3-1 pitch looked about a foot outside
[296] He was patient in the first inning and walked a walk. The others are now 0-8 and have all swung at bad pitches.
[286] Mo was booed when he took the mound after blowing that save the previous season. Jeter got booed when he came to the plate when he was in that slump. That's getting booed, no way around it.
[291] William, bro', that's absurd.
Yes, the "could" have a comfortable lead if those three culprits had taken a different approach...but maybe not. Right now, however, the main culprit is the starting pitcher for NY.
choice is between the YES crew and ESPN for all youse?? Think I may go for yankeesbeisbol.com announcers tonight on the replay then..
got one back, let's hope they tie it before we see that 100mph kid again
[304] I'm getting the NESN feed again tonight--it's annoying but, believe it or not, I prefer the Sox announcers to the Yankees' (overall).
Phil's bringing the gas tonite.
[305] NESN announcers are pretty good actually.
I'm listening to Sterling. He's awesome. Going by him the Yankees are winning.
[303] Watching Wakefield pitch, I honestly think the Yankees would have the run counter if those key players had better ABs. Wang didn't kill the Yankees. He gave up 4 runs (probably would have been 2 if Swisher catches that fly ball), but we all know the deal. Not taking advantage of a knuckleball pitcher throwing a bad knuckler is inexusable.
[305] seriously, unless it's sterling and waldman (who might have the worst voice in the business), it all sounds like charlie brown's teacher to me ... "wah-wah-wa-wah-wah-waaaah"
i just tune it out ...
[307] Yeah, they're homers but not awful like Kay, Sterling and Waldman. Eck is pretty rough, but he's getting there.
[305] Remy is particularly good. Sure he's for the RS, but he's also objective when needed.
is hughes wearing CC's pants. they seem extra baggy
damnit - how'd he turn that into a triple?
No way that should be a triple...Melky was caught sleeping there.
i don't think melky has thrown a strike this season
Better throw would've had him.
[309] I get what you're saying, but when you have to combine the accumulated badness of multiple players to eual that of one player, the culprit seems pretty clearly to the one. And let's stop making excuses for Wang--if Swish catches the ball it's two runs, assuming the predetermined outcome. But then, maybe if the ball that Ortiz crushed is pulled a little bit more, then the score is worse. We could go on like this forever. In the end, he was bad. Real bad. Now it's on Hughes to keep it a game.
you know, if melky spent less time trying to throw the ball 1000 mph and more time worrying about putting the ball on target, he'd really have a weapon out there ...
[318] well, so much for that.
[318] OK, now I may have retract everything I wrote, as this is looking like another doomed game all the way around.
jesus fucking christ - damn that youk
Melky also hesitated before throwing it in. I don't think he thought Drew would try to go to third.
And Hughes apparently doesn't want the starting job, either...
That's an awful, awful pitch to Youkilis. Does this mean Hughes gets the Wang treatment now?
This is a fucking crucifixion.
How long must we endure this?
We can't win one fucking game against this team?
I'm fucking pissed.
going back to red sox fans, I might get kicked out of this forum but I sometimes envy their passion to every pitch of every game. at the new ballpark it seems people get into the game until the 7th or 8th inning.,
and there's your ballgame people.
good night. hope CC bails us out tomorrow. 0-7 is not nice at all
Cripes, Hughes.
[319] Well look at it this way, Hughes just let Melky off the hook--double, triple...it's all moot.
bad location, good result
The point I was trying to make yesterday fits again today...this is another team effort. The Yankees have not played poorly against Boston this season...they have played downright awful. Everyone has contributed to pitiful effort. It was one thing to dimiss the Yankees record against Boston earlier in the season, but now, I think it is a legitimate concern.
In the past, the Yankees could always bank on the fact that they'd beat Boston in a big game (both before and after 2004). This season, however, it really seems like the opposite is true.
[324] What treatment is that? In any case, I assume the Wang treatment is reserved for a player who has precisely zero good starts for the whole season, including a longest outing of fewer than five innings.
[328] mute!
[328] except that in this situation i think he should have actually thrown drew out.
looks like hughes actually can throw a 94 mph cutter.
[328] It wasn't double vs. triple. It was out vs. triple.
And to think, they can do all this without Manny.
[326] That's a joke right?
cc - a universe turns its lonely eyes to you
[331] Calling for his banishment. It was a tongue in cheek remark, but ...
[337] How confident are we feeling? (Me, not very.)
well at least tex is a bright spot
well, Teix seems to have figured out Wakefield ... that bodes well for the future.
A moot point actually means a debatable point, but people often misuse the term to wrap up a debate.
I am of the mindset now of taking the sweep on the chin and then running off a 9-0 run against the NL East. Hopefully, someone else can take care of Boston.
[339] 0-8 is not possible
All right A Rod, move that runner over.
He sure stinks lately.
Thanks, Alex.
Thanks for that.
"Gets the job done?"
We're trailing by four, Flash!
Now we can add Arod to that list...that's another awful AB. He keeps trying to go the other way on inside knucklers.
no flaherty, goddammit, alex DIDN'T GET THE FUCKING JOB DONE.
WE"RE DOWN BY 4.
[339] i think cc will come out strong. (at least i hope so)
[332] I know, I know...
All right, credit where it's due: one run is better than zero runs.
2 outs to bring in a man from second is not very efficient.
What is going on????
One run. Tex excepted this whole team is driving me to drink tonight.
This dynamic is almost laughable, but let's not forget that there have been two awful, awful starts in a row for the Yanks. The offense is complicit in these losses but it's hard constantly trying to claw back in the opponent's park.
[348] Flaherty is not a good announcer.."gets the job done"?? A-hole, the "job" is to hit the feckin knuckelball 600 ft into Harvard square..
[353] tough to have a good plan against a knuckleballer. esp when the umpire is giving him 6" off the plate on either side.
[346] But...but...but...he hit it the other way and advanced the runner! No trying to pull the ball. No selfish HRs. I thought if anyone you would be ecstatic!
; )
[356] I like Flash, but that was crazy. Maybe he's on something tonight. Maybe we should all be on something tonight, for that matter, including the Yankees.
[358] :)
[356] hear that flash?!?!?
you've driven the mild mannered OK TOKYO to near profanity!
=)
[359] i'm on a couple things. doesn't help.
[361] [362] Heh heh heh.
hughes sure does get "around" his curve alot
[357] The plan can't be to swing at anything though. Cano had a 2-0 pitch and took one off the ground. Arod inside outed a pitch of his fist.
One thing I noticed: Youkilis running to first on that HR was huffing and puffing like a crack fiend. He may be a jerk-off but he sure does hustle - ya gotta respect that.
Hughes seems to be flying open...just like Burnett.
The blind optimist in me has not entirely given up on this game yet. But jesus, someone for the Yanks needs to get the other team out without scoring.
[365] well i agree, but maybe the knuckler isn't as bad as you think tonight. no real use driving up his pitch count since he's a knuckleballer and since the bullpen is better than him. they should be getting on base more, but the umpire has been pretty dreadful.
[361] The "Serenity Now" ipod playlist is ready to start, back to peace, love & all that jazz :)
[342] A moot point refers to a point that has become moot due to the passage of time. For example, an argument about whether or not Curt Schilling should pitch in 2009 becomes moot when he announces his retirement.
[367] Maybe like you suggested last night for Burnett, Hughes does not benefit from extra rest...like one inning in about wek and a half.
[366] youkilis is great. if i were a sox fan he'd be my clear favorite.
[364] not *that* one, though
[369] It looks flat to the eye and the break has frequently been 13-15" (his good ones range from 18-20"). Again, it's pop psychology, but if Wakefield didn't have Red Sox across his chest, I think he'd be sitting in a towel right now.
[371] but curt doesn't become mute :}
[376] so true. so sad and true.
Mythbusters time! Tonight, the myth that the 2009 Yankees can beat the 2009 Red Sox.
[372] Without a doubt...part of repeating mechanics is being in a rhythm. I wouldn't dream of knocking Hughes for anything he does tonight.
doesn't matter what is happening on the field, the Red Sox can do no wrong in the eyes of ESPN.
[380] You can thank the Yankees for that.
cano looked like he was half asleep there
jesus michael kay has some f'd up logic
If I was Francona, I wouldn't bank on the Yankees continuing to give away ABs and immediately go to that bullpen.
Wow, is that the first scoreless inning we've put up?
Maybe next time we might try a 1-2-3 inning?
I know, I know, but a guy can dream, can't he?
[383] I tend to tune him out--what'd he say now?
[380] Well, when their senior baseball reporter works for the Sox, their main columnist is a Sox-homer (at least he admits it) and their main analist a Yankee-hater..
Ok, Wake's due to start falling apart.
[387] for real. it shows.
c'mon Stick ... ATONE!
[386] i'm trying to but still hearing him. basically he's talking in circles about phil hughes and having his arm stretched out and being in the bullpen.
[390] everytime someone calls Swish stick i think Gene Michael is batting.
are swish and tex the only switch hitters batting rh?
melky used to last year against wakefiled.
Jeebus, that was ball 4 not strike 2
Now that's a great knuckleball. Damn.
apparently wakefield gets anything close
Way to first pitch swing, Melky.
[392] haha me too.
And then Melky hacks away...oh well...time to turn the page...seems like the Yankees already have.
[395] it looked to be at his shoulders when it crossed the plate
Jeter's ABs have been infuriating.
[375] ...if Wakefield didn’t have Red Sox across his chest, I think he’d be sitting in a towel right now.
I don't know why, but this image made me smile. Maybe if he didn't have Red Sox across his chest, he'd be wearing the towel instead. Har-har-har.
Wow, Matsui is s-l-o-w.
leprachaun got lucky - guess this isn't the yanks night - not too much good happening other than tex
[403] Maybe more like it's not the Yanks' team.
[401] I didn't think that was so bad--he swung 2-0 and hit it fairly sharply. The first three were brutal.
[405] What makes it bad to me is he is up 2-0 and the team is down three runs. Would it kill him to take a strike. I could see if he was trying to take an inside knuckler over the short wall, but his approach was to go the other way. In that case, a walk is definitely as good as a hit.
[405] Perhaps we are all too quick to shoult "bad ABs"..facing a knuckler is not like other pitches, maybe they have to try on jump on one if they think they can handle it?
Hughes is throwing pretty hard according to the NESN gun.
I think I am starting to understand why Red Sox fans used the curse as a crutch for all those years.
Nice job, Phil. Comes right back at Youk.
Nice play, Alex.
Very athletic.
If I was Girardi, I'd start Tomko tomorrow and hold CC back from the Twilight Zone that has become games against Boston.
yeesh ... just saw this over at RAB:
Melky Cabrera, Opening Day 2008 through May 5th: .291/.359/.505. Melky Cabrera, Opening Day 2009 through May 5th: .344/.408/.563. Melky Cabrera, May 6th, 2008, through June 9th: .250/.286/.277. Melky Cabrera, May 6th, 2009, through June 9th: .258/.298/.371. We can speculate forever on why this happens, but it’s not at all encouraging.
In 5 previous seasons, I had never seen Arod use that back hadn flip. He has now down it three times in one month.
[406] Fundamental philosophical difference. I accept what all big leaguers say about being lucky to get even one good pitch to hit. If one of your better hitters is sitting on a hitters count and gets a ball to strike, I can't fault him for taking a swing. That he hit it hard reinforces my opinion.
Now, imagine if he took a fat pitch--the other half would bitch.
[413] Stop that...we have enough to worry about tonight.
[413] well, a lot of players run through cycles like that. His numbers this year are better than last year in both cases, if only a little bit better in the May sample.
[412] Better still, make AJ go back out there and earn his keep!
[371] Not exactly, but that's kind of like the secondary definition, an argument with no practical value. The primary definition is "arguable" ... Don't worry, I've been living with this for a long time - I'm fine with it.
Well done, Phil.
Well done.
[415] Definitely a philosophical difference. I think Jeter probably knows a little bit more about hitting than I do anyway. It's just so damn frustrating to watch good/great hitters have such poor ABs.
All right, fucking Yankees. Phil's giving you people a chance to start hitting the baseball. Step UP!
Right now me likey Hughes more than Wang. Until he gives up another bomb, that is. I'd let him go four innings+, but he's probably done now.
[419] ah, forget about it, it's a mute point around here anyways ...
=)
[423] None of it matters if we don't start hitting the baseball that is seamed.
Damn...a real pitcher now.
Two defintions of 'Moot' point:
1. open to discussion or debate; debatable; doubtful: a moot point.
2. of little or no practical value or meaning; purely academic.
While words often have different meaning, these two seem to contradict each other a bit? It's open to debate but not worth talking about?
Also: 3. Chiefly Law. not actual; theoretical; hypothetical
Now the Yankees go to work on the Miracle of June 10!!!
christ, it must look like this guy's throwing protons up there after hitting wakefield for 6 innings ...
Thank you, Johnny Damon.
That's something.
I guess the Yankees like "real" pitchers.
nice johnny - least the yanks haven't just rolled over
JD IS ON 'ROIDS!
[427] This has been eating at me for years, trust me. Just forget about it as quickly as you can.
[429] I know, I was thinking the same thing.
[421] Things Jeter knows more about than Williamnyy23:
Hitting
Models
Men's Perfume
A-Rod's sleep-over antics
Time to put the Damon voodoo doll away.
holy shit - a comeback?!?
Holy fuck!!!
How 'bout that Teix!!!
[429] or not!
=)
this guy looks stunned
[427] So, is it a moot point to discuss the meaning of moot, because the definition is debatable. Or is it moot because debating the point is now academic?
[436] Models? I think not. I'd like to see Jeter work his way through an income statement or cash flow!
Nice
[419] not totally correct. The key to the definition is that it is debatable and indeterminable. So yes it must be arguable, but it also must be indeterminable. I was wrong in that time is only one example of how a point becomes moot. Anyhow, it is very nuanced for sure.
Holy crap. They're making a game out of it.
Imagine if Boston signed Tex...
Oh Tex!!! Yeah!!!!!!
[442] It's the latter. Some words you just have to let go of what the dictionary says.
[427] my source defines it differently. interesting.
[443] Jeter knows a lot about cash flow I would think!
A comeback..oh man, I would need to take the afternoon off to go drinking if it happens!
Oh, Alex.
I think Arod was still looking for the knuckle ball.
ugh ... alex has teh suck going tonite ... and recently.
ARod is now pull-happy
so the Royals can hit Pavano? WTF?
Meanwhile, Robbie below .300.
Cano is going to tie it right here.
[451] Good point...if the Yanks win, you can have a saki on me.
[458] Or not.
I'm waiting for Tex to get into a fight with catcher's mask.
That's not a strike.
Why couldn't A Rod go with that pitch? Pulling outside pitches is quickly becoming his mission in life.
He was so awesome for the first few weeks, now I can't remember the last great moment he had. It was a while ago.
[459] I'd rather have a saki on a geisha.
total shit call
robi getting testy with the ump
and another
[463] He tried to go the other way with inside knucklers, but then pulled an outside slider. I'd say his approach was a bit off tonight.
robot umpire overlords ...
man phil coke really is becoming edpc
[469] sounds like an episode of Dr Who
Cano and / or A Rod needs to get it in gear.
gotta imagine we see oakjima here
[470] Heh heh heh heh.
ooooh, an OK TOKYO matchup special!
[464] Expensive beyond any number you could imagine...
[475] 松井頑張れ！！！
Sometimes I really appreciate Posada. After A Rod and Cano, that was refreshing.
[472] It seems like Cano goes into an immediate slump when he moves up in the lineup. His .883 career OPS in the 7th slot is by far his best, and much better than his .754 hitting 5th.
I like the way Matsui took that pitch.
I think I get it: every other pitch off the plate is a strike.
[479] Likewise, he can't hit with the bases loaded, or at home. It makes you start to wonder.
[479] Who knows what's going through that mist-filled noggin of his?
Awesome change-up there
That was a funky pitch on 2-2.
god damnit
OH, fuck. Again with the change up.
Fuck.
[483] http://www.nysportspace.com/profiles/blogs/exclusive-photos-of-cano-amp
?
Okajima made some good pitches there. Can't fault Matsui.
Let's go Yankees
[488] nice. i'd think robbie at least could do better.
[488] Damn...who says Robbie and Melky can't score.
Melky also had a very strange video on YouTube. It seems like he may need to settle down a bit.
God I hope this ends with the Yanks winning vs Papelbon
Damn, nice catch!
swish!
Holy cow. That's something you'd never see Abreu do.
Wow...he's a rock head, but you can't fault him for effort. If you are going to play with your head in the clouds, you'd better reach for the stars!
wow swish - nice catch
[492] Bu dump bump!
Time to overmanage. Hughes is pitching far too well to get Ortiz out, so let's bring Cokey into the game. What is Girardi going to do if the Yankees tie the game in the 8th? Use Mo in the 9th and then have Veras handle the extras (like last time in Fenway)?
[493] What kind of video? Just partying?
@ 500
Except that he's obviously on a pitch count.
[501] It was weird...he was with a stripper or something and it seemed like she was almost teasing him because of his english and he didn't know.
I guess this is Cokey's spot. I was hoping for Hughes to get an almost start (4+ INN).
[503] That's sad. He's just a kid. I can't imagine the pressure he must be under.
[504] i've just come up with a new axiom ... if you don't have a nickname better than your last name + 'y' ... you shouldn't have "a spot".
simple, plain ol' Phil Coke *has* been pitching well lately though, which is a nice thing to see ...
P Hughes - 3.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 63-37
Not bad. Great actually, except for the HR.
5 Ks in just under 4 IP.
Beating Papelbon tonight and a C.C. gem would make all the pain go away. So says Capt. Obvious.
[506] Good stuff, Culty.
[507] Yes. And about as many innings as the the last two starters combined.
[509] You beat me to it, Monkeypantsy. : ) Yikes. I'm Just Fairy.
[509] I agree, pantsy.. :)
PR?
nice ab swish
that listerine thing was weird as hell
alright brett run god damnit
You guys are cracking me up.
I hope, hope this doesn't mean a bunt.
[512] you get to be JAZZy, so pipe down!
=)
that is some move to 1st
[514] I know! What the fuck was that?
Dada.
[513] Yep.
He simply must try to steal.
[512] Just make sure you don't forget the "t".
Amend: He simply must try to steal BEFORE Melky bunts.
[516] does the pope shit in the woods and wipe himself with a hat wearing bear???
[514] how annoying is that listerine ad??? get it the fuck out off the screen!
Why is he bunting?
Melky's 24 and has a son. Not what I would call a kid.
steal, then bunt... sheesh
I don't know--if you sac bunt, is it worth using Gardner as the PR for Swisher?
well, i'd buy Jeter a beer for *that* swing!
That change makes people look silly.
[528] no, makes no sense
Shit, I'd send Gardner here.
Steal third, I say. Okajima's got a big ol' leg kick.
[529] oh, wait ... forgot it isn't varitek behind the plate tonite ... meh.
It's the Yankees fault for not playing well enough to render Girardi a spectator.
[526] "babies makin babies"..like Sly sang..
doesn't look like he's even thinking of stealing 3rd. what the fuck is his use?
[528] No, not really
fuck a goat in the ass
OHHH, DEREK!!!!!
FOR FUCK'S SAKE!
well, it's debatable now
sigh.
NOT a good game for jeter tonite.
Rough night for Jeter, who seems to be a mini-slump. It was more fun when he was getting two hits every night.
[539] Kinky.
[528] That's what I was wondering.
Jeter has looked all out of sorts tonight.
alright johnny it's on you
Jeter has been off all night...it happens to the best of them. Giving away an out in this inning was absurd. If the Yankees do come back, it will be in spite of the best (or worst) efforts of Girardi.
c'mon a little shot of JD as a pick-us-up!
[547] for all we know he told gardner to steal 2nd and 3rd
Don't pinch run Gardner in that situation unless he's gonna steal a base.
Nice cut, Damon.
Do it again.
Damn it!! I thought that was off the wall. That could have been the Yankees best and last chance.
[544] haha my crazy old neighbor says that - seemed appropriate at the time
AAAGGGGGGHHHHHHH!
Ewwwwww.
Booo!
that was terrible
shit - they really got us back in this game only to squander this inning
[553] Heh heh heh heh. I think I like your neighbor.
[476]
Heh. I believe it.
It's gonna be an A Bomb ... from A Rod - out of the slump he comes, with the game winning HR!
Of course, Tex walks first.
Tex, A-Rod, Cano to face Lucky Charms..I just hope he doesn't K the side..
[549] Then why was Melky bunting on the first pitch?
The bottom line is the Yankees had a man on first and three outs until Papelbon. Girardi used a PR and then gave away one of those outs, which would have been absurd if the batters coming up weren't a slumoing Jeter and lefty Damon.
We can talk about luck and bad pitching, and all have come into play, but that inning is a perfect example of how a bad game manager can sink a game. The Yankees have the talent to overcome bad decisions on most night, but when you are playing close games against good teams it would help to have a manager who knows how to handle the game.
now, now ... this only makes the coming come from behind victory over Private Pyle all the more sweeter!
[558] Well, let's not forget "this inning" was really no more than a walk to Swisher. A mirage, at best!
[552] It's all on Teix now. He just might take Pappelbon deep. He's our last, best hope.
In fact, if one is going to PR for Swisher just to bunt, why not use Pena and save Gardner?
Bad day for Jeter and ARod to go 0 for ever
[563] it was a joke. today i agree with you.
[565] true - i mostly just mean they didn't do anything with the inning - but what is the use of gardner's spped if you are just going to sac bunt him over - why not give him a chance to run before just automatically calling for the bunt
Sigh.
nice move by Damon there to read Gardner and be in position for the backup
No-one will ever know exactly what the f*** Girardi was thinking, having Melky bunt before Gardner stole second. I would have rather Gardner got caught stealing that waste that out.
damon does still have his monster expertise going
[567] pena doesn't play of
[572] Yep...Gardner misplayed that one, too.
How many balls of this wall tonight would have been outs? Where is the outrage?
My money's on Melky. If this game is salvaged, it will be Kid Clutch with the tying/winning run.
I think we have achieved consensus re: the bunt play in the top of the eighth. I feel all warm inside.
aceves is like el duque lite ... without the leg kick, though
[575] Hmmm...I had an answer for that, but I can't remember what I was thinking. Probably something about moving Matsui to OF--which is crazy in its own right, and in any case could be done in extra innings if needed.
[572] It's Damon's home turf.
Outfielders must hate playing in Boston.
If Aceves gets out of this, we're golden.
[577] The same number would have been outs last year and the for pretty much the last 60 years t Fenway, unlike at another stadium. That may have something to do with the outrage.
No.
No.
No.
christ aceves please get ugly out
[583] That was not the best way to do it.
[579] You're a dick.
ughhhh
Just walk the troll and move on.
Aceves is playing with fire here.
[584] Of course, but that making it a moot point!
[592] I meant so say, that doesn't make it a moot point, but I guess it is moot now.
boy oh boy this is going to be bad
lucky
*EXHALING*
yes - get out ugly
now get to papleass
[590] It took m several minutes to figure out that you were talking about Youkilis and not me. You were, weren't you?
[588] I thought about mentioning that element, but I prefer your allusion.
Youk gives me that Pukey Manny feeling where I feel it's a miracle that he made an out.
Phew. But the way the O's been going lately, I'm not sure of a comeback against Paps.
Based on how they are swinging, I have alot of confidence in Tex and next to none in Arod and Posada. If it gets to Posada or Matsui, I'd be satisfied.
I have just seen an add for the "new GM" in each of the last four commercial breaks. That is tax money well spent!
I want A Rod to hit a home run. No doubt YES will show footage of that awesome shot a couple years ago, still probably A Rod's greatest moment in pinstripes thus far.
well, i guess i made it home just in time for the drama.
GO YANKS!!!
[603] aren't you quebecois?
Hell the Yanks scored five runs tonight. Can't complain about that. I want them to win of course, but I think the batters can come through. We're about to see!
If he gets that call, let's all go home.
i so don't like papelbon.
[598] ??? What? :)
Why would I be talking about you?
Are you a troll, too?
Fuck.
Well that was deflating.
Pulled the outside pitch...damn...Tex may have been the only hope.
[606] I live in Quebec, but make no mistake, I am not Quebecois. And for the record, it was an add for GM Canada (more cars are built in Ontario than Michigan!). So it really was my tax money!!
i have no faith in a-rod here. He has been in an awful slump.
[606] Canadian taxpayers chipped in, too.
what exactly do Boston fans think that Ortiz did?
[610] I was mostly joking...but after I jokingly called someone a dick, I thought for a second that you thought I was trolling the thread. Then I got I got so hung up about to what poster you were referring, I didnt ven consider that you were talking about the game!
And afterall, it is all about me, no?
[613] [615] good to know
Good eye, Alex.
good that he laid off that - let's go alex
c'mon alex, shut them up.
[614] I have perverse faith that the Yankees will get a walk, double and single and somehow not score this inning.
I think Alex missed one there.
c'mon purple lips. tie the game!
paps is afraid of A-Rod.
dp is like 100% here
[617] :)
Nice ab, Alex.
Can he swipe a bag?
That's a great AB.
way to take the walk - granted the pitch damn near hit him but still
well that is good since he really isn't hitting right now. c'mon robbie!
wow, Sutcliffe has been unbearable for less than an inning. i'm kinda glad i missed most all the game.
good job, Alex. let's go Robbie!
What?
Alex can't steal a base?
Is he lame?
[631] he has been absolutely awful.
Hey, good cut by Robbie there.
Come on Robbie...snap out of it!!!!
Good thing about Cano is you know the tension won't be too drawn out.
Cano is back in hack attack mode.
oh man that was right there
No digging in the dirt, Robbie.
No DP
[632] I don't think they'd pull A-Rod for a pinch-runner if his hip was 100%.
[633] i could only imagine.
nice steal, kid!
good steal - bloody leprachaun
Ballsy.
Girardi is perverse.
Nice back-up by the SS.
I Dustin. I LOVE YOU FOR YOUR GREAT BACKUP.. settle down, Kay.
Ok.
Come on, Robbie. Nice in easy up the middle.
That was nice back up by Pedroia.
dammmmmmm!
c'mon Robbie ... get this one in!
Yes!!!! Cmon Robbie, drivwe in the tying run off this blowhard, wannabe Mad-Hungarian!!
AGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!
crap.
I knew Cano was striking out on that pitch.
obviously
shit robi you have looked awful tonight
alright on you po
Wow...Cano and Jeter were just awful tonight.
Come on, Jorgie!
This umpire sucks.
BULL FUCKING SHIT!!!!
NOT a strike!
not close again
Good eye, Jorgie.
he definitely thought about calling that a strike
surprised that wasn't called a strike
Come on Jorge, that was ball 4!
that was ball 4, jorgie.
Wow... the ump is ruining the game. Even the NESN guys are amazed that was called a strike. The pitch Robbie swung at wasn't even close. Stupidity like that loses ballgames.
Shorten up, Jorgie, shorten up.
God damn it.
Well that sucked.
Crud. Good night.
well, that fucking sucks. : /
Son of a bitch...that's salt in the wound.
crap - least they battled back but it is still a loss
pathetic
Well, that was at least a different sort of loss.
Fuckin' Cano really hurt us tonight. Close runner up is Jeter. ARod not far behind.
damn. we scrapped through that one. felt like a late win.
Jeter, Cano, ARod.... 0-5,0-4 and 0-3 with a BB.
[674] But the big winner is W...
PeteAbe and I on the same track tonight: "UPDATE, 10:22 p.m.: Crowd chanting something about steroids to Alex. Apprently it’s Oblivious Hyprocrites Night here at Fenway."
0-6, 0-5, 0-3 2BB
[674] I was really hoping this would be the year he could stay at .315 consistently, commensurate with his gifts.
At this rate he'll be at .280 before long.
It sure would be nice if we could count on him to step up and carry the team from time to time.
I still go back to that 8th inning...it was a chance to avoid Papelbon. If you don't play well and don't manage the game well, I guess you can't expect to win. Time to tuck that tail between the legs and slink back to NY. Hopefully, the Phillies do a number on the Mets so they feel as bad about themselves as the Yankees will about themselves.
sorry, 0-5, 0-5, 0-3 2BB
Yeah I was feeling great about our chances at the end there. I was feeling loose, like even if they lost, it was a good game, a good fight. Then Posada's fly ball was caught and Kay intoned "the Red Sox beat the Yankees" ... wahhhh.
Actually, it was a good game. I enjoyed it once the Yanks got close. Damn when's the last time they dropped two in a row? Feels like a long time ago.
I'm going to cry.
This is not ok.
Not ok.
The Yankees talked a big game heading into this series, so I'd have to imagine they are might embarassed right now. The Red Sox sent the Yankees into a tailspin last time, so I really hope this team can rebound. It would really suck to lose 2 of 3 to the Mets because they are hungover from another Fenway sweep.
Hey let's not forget, there is a game tomorrow. Yanks can leave on a high note. After losing 7, winning a game will be no small feat. I felt some hope tonight - if they win tomorrow, I think everything's gonna be okay.
see y'all tomorrow night for some CC ... damn, but tomorrow's game is a must win ...
[686] At this point, I doubt their ability to play a good game against Boston, so I am preparing for the sweep and just hoping they can resume their good play against everyone else.
Gawd, the YES recap reminds me of all the missed opportunities in this game. It was a sloppy game, and not just by Wang.
CC will save us
http://tinyurl.com/n9utmh
[690] He'd bloody well better.
we're definitely winning tomorrow. 100%. goodnight
[677] Of course, Swisher's nonplay in RF hurt, as well as the HR Hughes gave up
[677] Oh sure, of course. In a one run game every mistake looms large. But I still can't look past 2.2 INN, 6 H, 3 BB, 4 ER, 1 HR as the main culprit.
Now, a serious question for anyone still reading: keep Wang in the rotation? And if so, for how many more starts? Or, switch Hughes back into the rotation?
Sounds like Girardi is planning to stick with Wang.
His velocity's back, I'd give him a couple more starts. If his problems continue, then I'd put him in the pen and have him work his issues out there.
Definitely stick with Wang.