The Yankees haven’t won an April series against the Red Sox since 2005 and haven’t won an April series in Fenway park since 2001. In the last three years (the two teams didn’t meet in April in 2006), the Yankees are 3-13 against the Red Sox in April. Over that same span, the Yankees are leading the overall series 28-26. The Yankees haven’t lost a season series to Boston since 2004, though the last two years the two teams split the series, going a combined 18-18.
My point is that I half expect the Yankees to split the remaining two games at Fenway (I won’t bother telling you what the other half of me expects with Jon Lester and John Lackey starting those two games for Boston), and while these three games count as much as three in September, I’m just not terribly upset about it.
A.J. Burnett goes for the Yankees tonight. One of of the selling points that got Burnett his big contract with the Yankees was the fact that he had survived for three years in the AL East and posted a 2.60 ERA in four starts against Boston in 2008. So, of course, in his first year as a Yankee, Burnett posted an 8.85 ERA in another four starts against the Red Sox. Burnett did have that one brilliant outing when he dueled with Josh Beckett and held the Sox to one hit over 7 2/3 shutout innings, but that came in the Bronx. His three starts at Fenway last year were all disasters as he allowed 22 runs in just 12 2/3 innings while walking as many as he struck out (ten). So Burnett comes into tonight’s start with something to prove, and I have to say, as is typically my reaction to A.J. Burnett, I’m not optimistic.
Opposing Burnett will be lefty Jon Lester, who frankly should have drawn the Opening Day start as he’s Boston’s best starter. Lester actually got beat up by the Yankees at Fenway the last time he faced them on September 25 of last year, but the other six starts he made against the Yankees in 2008 and 2009 were all quality starts, some of them downright dominating performances.
In more encouraging news, Phil Hughes was sharp in his simulated game in extended spring training yesterday and will join the team today in Boston. He’ll pitch another extended spring training game while the team is in Tampa playing the Rays this weekend. I’m looking forward to his return to the rotation a week from Thursday.
Tonight’s lineup against the lefty Lester finds Marcus Thames in left field and Curtis Granderson batting ninth behind Nick Swisher and Thames. As I’m sure Ken Singleton will say on tonight’s broadcast, there’s only one spot after ninth, and that’s “bench.” Just ask Brett Gardner, who also had a good showing on Sunday night and has a much better track record against left-handed pitching than Granderson.
I find it odd that Granderson's batting 9th, but that's just me.
[1] From Chad Jennings over at LoHUD:
[2] Interesting. That's supposedly why La Russa sometimes bats the pitcher 8th.
[3] Based on the splits and Lester's quality it makes sense to me.
Hopefully the good AJ shows up tonight because Lester looks very good.
I think it doesn't matter much, but Girardi's idea is sound. Lineup analysis that's based solely on OBP and SLG suggests that you get more run production in the long haul by putting your weakest hitter eighth and a better on-base guy ninth.
[5] He hasn't been a very good April pitcher, but then again he hasn't pitched a whole lot of April's. And the guy is really good. I confidently predict that he'll be the Sox' best pitcher over the next four years.
Uh, "Aprils", not "April's".
well that was...umm...yeah
[7] I think he has been their best pitcher over the last two seasons.
Awful play by Thames...his bat isn't good enough to carry plays like that one.
Now, does AJ implode?
[11] what happened? MLB.tv wasn't allowing me to bring the game up.
Jorge is getting scary.
Ouch...Posada's defensive season couldn't have gotten off on a worse note. There are two defensive black holes on the field, and both have already come into play.
Oh, lovely, just fucking lovely.
[12] A catchable fly ball dropped in
[12] Easy pop up...Thames looked like he wasn't aware he had to catch flyballs tonight.
I prefer Gritner to Thames, even against LHP.
[18] He this is how he is going to play the OF, I agree 100%.
Maybe we see Good AJ after the 1st?
[20] I think we are seeing him now. He got the first two outs and then Vmart walked on what looked like strike 3. His tipping point is probably approaching.
hi team - ugly up with runners on the corners is not a welcoming way to turn on this game
[19] I'll settle for less O (considering our lineup) in exchange for much better speed and defense. Thames is not (or should not be) a starter.
[19] Given that Thames isn't known for his glove, I'd say we'll see more of that.
That was a pretty good through from Granderson.
AJ has now thrown 19 pitches and should have 4 outs.
Alrighty AJ, get the big ugly and let's call this an inning, ok?
granderson's arm has not impressed to date - now of course it is miles better than damon or bernie, but it is not that good
Holy cow. AJ looks about 90 years old in the photo on the front page of MLB.com.
[24] There is a difference between "not known for his glove" and what we just saw, but I agree with your point.
I missed the 1st batter. Did Thames make an error already???
[27] You didn't think that was a good throw?
[21] I'd say so, as fussy as he's being with baseballs
[30] Pop up dropped in front of him.
[31] it wasn't bad - but i didn't think it was especially good - too far away from the plate and not a rocket
[27] It's a perfectly cromulent CF arm, though ...
[30] No, but he has the range of a basset hound
[35] oh yes - let me make clear - granderson's arm is perfectly serviceable - it's just nothing special
[34] Ellsbury was running and Granderson was pretty deep. Remember that part of Fenway is big. He doesn't have a gun, but I think he is above average for a CF'er.
It's not like Gardner has a great arm, either. That throw home from left field on Sunday was pretty sucktastic.
So far, the Red Sox are winning on defense...the Yankees that is.
Nice Robby!
robbie is making a good 1st impression in 2010
STICK!!!
swishy with the nice oppo field hit
First Swishilicious of the season!
Swisherian.
his name is pronounced "tims" not "thames"
Does Michael Kay really not understand the concept of sitting a lefty against one of the best lefties in the game?
Allrighty, Tims, time for redemption.
Shut UP Kay!
It's funny...whenever you try to "hide" someone, the action finds them. Granderson in a big spot against a lefty...let's see how it goes.
Evening, Team.
I'm not super confident about Granderson's chances here.
Yikes...Granderson looks overmatched.
[53] Yes, he does.
he didn't go - but he was pretty clueless up there
[54] yes, yes he does ...
OK fine, I'm concerned about Granderson.
I'm hoping for a 2-1 Yankee win ... I have Lester in my fantasy league :-)
[58] I've banned all Red Sox from my fantasy teams...besides, never root for fantasy of the home team!
This Leicester Square guy's got a pretty compact delivery for his size.
really Angel Hernandez?
Damn.
damn bit of a wasted opportunity
Bollocks.
[57] I'm officially declaring that I'm not concerned about anybody or anything until at least the end of April.
Bad at bats, bad plays, bad games happen.
I'm just gonna watch and let the season unfold for a while ...
I really hope Granderson starts having better ABs against lefties because I hate having to wonder what Damon would have done.
[65] I agree that it's too early to make any judgments, but Granderson has now looked completely overmatched in two ABs against lefties. The results don't concern me as much as the approach.
holy christ - i still get these lame updates from where i went to grad school and the dean, the DEAN of of our school ended the update with "yankees suck"
[65] Well how very zen of you, superior human. :)
Evening, all. Now the game can begin in earnest...
[68] You're kidding me. You must be.
Tex please stop shaking your ass at me in HD...thanks
Wow, what a horrendous swing.
[71] nope, not kidding - that is exactly hoe the e-newsletter ended
JESUS GODDAMN CHRIST, SHUT UP KAY.
THEY DON'T WANT TO BURN HUGHES' LAST OPTION.
DIE! DIE!! DIE!!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHH!!!!!!
Granderson maul finesse pitchers ... has trouble with power guys ... (but who doesn't?)
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?n1=grandcu01&year=Career&t=b#power
[69] I got yer ZEN right here [75]
=)
[68] My principal sent me an email Monday stating the Red Sox had the best record in the league and the Yankees had the worst. It made me chuckle but give me a break.
[75] Just after I got finished saying how zen you are.
[76] Don't get me wrong...Granderson is a very good player. My only concern stems from the fear that he may actually be "that bad" against lefties. I can't remember the last Yankee regular who was so limited by the handedness of the pitcher.
Heh eh he hheh.
not a bad throw by jorgie
Yikes Jorge.
safe.
[82] It bounced! You give Granderson flak for not reaching from mid-CF, but applaud Jorge for bouncing a throw to 2B. Are you grading on a curve :)
Of course MLB.tv is down. Delightful.
Well done, AJ.
MLB Gameday continues to look better every year but I miss being able to position the camera.
[85] haha - yes, i still don't fully trust jorgie to throw anyone out - so when he does i give him extra points :}
[89] i meant when when he comes close - even my curve for hi has a curve :}
Our catcher is turning 39 this year. Might be time to let him split time with...Cervelli? Is Montero going to be ready soon?
[88] Nice to see that AJ has thrown a knuckle-curve 28% of the time. I would have thought we would have heard about him picking up a new pitch.
[91] well, at least at this rate, it's not like Montero's likely to be any worse ... which is good for breaking him in
Bull fucking shit.
Tie goes to the first-baseman.
[79] Sometimes I think that the stupid questions that Kay asks are intentional softballs, that he doesn't believe the stupidity that he's asking, he's just doing it to provoke conversation with the rest of the booth.
Then he doubles down and defends the indefensible and I realize that he's just completely full of crap.
[91]
Dunkin' Donuts advertises on YES ... cause America Runs On Jorge ...
[96] This tends to make me stabby.
[98] So do leadoff doubles ... GAH!
Why pitch him up there?
for the love of god pitch pony in the dirt!
nice catch granderson
That wasn't pretty.
I gotta give MLP credit for hitting those pitches as he does, those are tough damn pitches to turn and yank.
damn it
sigh
The traditional AJ bad inning?
The Yankees need to figure out how to play better in April.
wasn't pretty, but those are probably the hardest balls to judge of the bat, you have to wait until you read the backspin and even then, a slight misjudgement means extra bases.
meanwhile, nice pitch AJ ...
Not really looking forward to another sweep to start the year. For fuck's sake.
[104] They are. I was surprised he squared up on that slider as well as he did after the heat.
God, he Fugly just gets fuglier and fuglier.
[109] i should say spin rather than backspin ...
[109] yeah the fact that he had such a tough time reading that ball and still making the catch was nice to see
[108] [110] i have just about resigned myself not to worry about the yankees til may
ugly striking out is always nice
DAMMIT, CHALLENGE HIM!!!
i used to really dislike rob neyer, then i started to really enjoy his work, now i am really starting to dislike him again.
was just reading through his chat today and he answered a question about pujols being the #1 player of his generation by stating yes, he was and alex was #2 (which i don't really argue with) but part of the reason he said alex wasn't was the "injuries" - um he had hip surgery last year, came back much faster than expected and has otherwise been extremely health - that is not exactly the recipe for "injuries"
That's a nice story, Michael.
[114] But it gets so late so early in the Banter time zone. : )
[114] I have accepted that the Yankees will get smoked by the Sox to start every season. It's irritating, but all that matters is where they end up.
Cano's on a mission this season.
Al is cute.
[116] That is weird. It's not like Pujols has never been on the DL.
Oh, fuck it.
[116] that's probably a bit overstated (and under thought) on his part, but really? that's enough to "dislike" him?
[117] i think i have already reached my mk is annoying point - was hoping to at least make it through the first series
[120] sure looks like it. if he had a feminine side he wouldn't be afraid to show it.
ouch.
[124] no - just adding to what has been a string of weird columns he wrote in the off-season.
How have the Yankees been forced to play a guy like Marcus Thames? Sure, I'm hugely spoiled, but still.
The Marcus Thames-Randy Johnson ticker next to the pitch count just went to 1.
[128] Who would you prefer, exactly?
Not exactly a great start for the new guys.
Do the Yankees have the scouting report on Beltre?
After that catch I don't want to see Thames out there again. Holy crap.
[133] I have a feeling Thames wont last very long...what a shame the Yankees couldn't work out a deal for Garko.
Good news if you have the Extra Innings package.
http://tinyurl.com/yhtgeuc
Late..2 ER for "good" AJ? MLB.com has an "E" next to Posada..do I want to know what happend?? How is Lester looking?
[134] why? if it's because of the fielding, Garko's a horrible butcher as well ...
Lean into one, Curtis.
[136] Lester has been solid, but not spectacular. Granderson looked awful in a key AB with the bases loaded. Thames let aball drop in front of him. Posada has two ugly throws to 2B.
[137] But a much better hitter.
That's a nice AB for Granderson.
You know, I forgot how little I enjoy watching AJ Burnett pitch.
like i said ... end of April at the least ...
Wow, look, we're on the move.
[141] By my count, he has made one bad pitch and Vmart hit 390 feet.
You ok there, Nick?
is nj a magnet?
Oh Christ. Johnson is gonna be out for the year
The Nick Johnson specialty...let's hope he doesn't go on the DL!
There's several cracked bones somewhere.
(Get ready, Robbie.)
[144] I've gotten the impression all night that he's just throwing as hard as he can, location be damned.
ooh, i'm late. hopefully just in time for some fireworks. c'mon Tex!
Whew!
Thank God.
I'll take it.
Good hustle Tex!
good hustle from the fastest slow guy on earth
Teix was out.
Alex was safe but Teix was out.
In the air Alex.
[151] I actually think he has been doing a pretty good job, although he has been a little wild with the fastball.
Damn Arod...he never hits in the clutch...oh wait... :)
The man who deemed basepaths to be 90 feet was a genius.
Enough with your instant replay, Kay.
Shut UP!
[159] Too wild for my taste
Ok, Alex, look breaking pitch.
nicely done arod!!
Clutch-Rod!
Even better Alex.
Ha!
Or don't!
That was *so* fucking stupid!
What a stupid pitch to throw with Robbie on deck.
A-rod!
i should be late more often! ; )
[169] Yep...since he came back last year, Arod has been a monster against fastballs.
Yeah, THAT'S a BOINK!!!
Nicely, done Alex!
Eat that Fenway. Beauty of an at bat. C'mon, Robbie!
Good AB, Robbie.
i never want to hear mk say "they had it going on" again.
robbie looks like a professional hitter thiis year!!
Rats. Hit it on the button.
Come on AJ. Now hold them.
[175] I would LOVE to hear MK say that...slightly less hysterical than Connery's "you the man now, dog"!
A-Rod = Cluthchyclutchclutch
Well hit Jorge ... just an atomball ...
I must have a fever. I am actually hoping Gardner gets in this game. And soon.
The Jumpman!
Get up. Grandpa.
[181] hmmm, there's some sorta delay on my MLB.tv feed ...
[183] MLB.tv has at least a 30 second delay, but often longer, based on my experience.
I wanna hear MK sidle up to Kim Jones and say "you're with me, leather" (NOT!)
Squat my little pony motherfucker can hit.
Pedroia watched four pitches in the strike zone.
Oh, hi all.
i am glad kenny noticed that mlp can hit anything belt high - next step, inform the yankees scouting department and pitchers
[186] Just found out that his brother is out of jail already
[188] Remember when our strategy against Manny was to bring in Proctor to throw a belt high fastball?
sighh
God damn it AJ.
Wheeeeeew.
Guy's a professional, what can you say?
I really don't get the pitch selection.
Lovely, thanks AJ ...
goddamn motherfucker.
[190] oh man, shaking my head
i guess it is too much to ask the yanks to hold onto a lead in this bandbox
[194] I think AJ's location is off, maybe way off.
Anyone think we get out of it without the Red Sox scoring?
[185] Not getting that one..maybe don't want to...?
V-Mart...guy can hit, and Sox stole him for nothing...sigh...
[198] He's trying to throw the ball through a wall tonight. Its infuriating.
Hey, Thelarmis: with Youk and Schoenweiss, I believe the Sox are leading the league...
Vulture is up
[198] It definitely is, but a high fastball ahead in the count to Pedroia...and then another fastball 3-1? You can't abandon the breaking ball.
Those two check swings are ridiculous...but they prove why he needs to stick with the breaking pitch.
[204] I agree, esp. to V-Mart. But maybe they were worried about walking him.
nice pitch there aj
Beautiful. Sit your fugly ass down, Fugly.
Good, AJ. Good. Sit down, Ugly. 2 caught lookings for Shrek.
See? Why can't we do that more?
AJ's best pitch is the breaking ball, and I just don't think Posada trusts it enough. I'll look at the numbers, but my guess would be Posada calls for more fastballs from AJ than the other Yankee catchers.
this is an exceptional amount of ugliness back-to-back in this lineup.
[210] That's the Eternal AJ Question, mattpat.
Posada just cost the Yankees a strike.
[212] Ortiz is the looker of the bunch.
Jorge best pay attention next time that happens. I am definitely down with not allowing time every other pitch for Mo's sake.
[202] yeah, whoda thunk it?! (wow, word press let "thunk" go as a real word!) i bet you're glad to have chumitz back in your pantries! : )
I might try to blow one by Fatty now
Bad sign that Jorge needs a conference here.
[219] i think it is better they have a chat and be on the same page
BULL FUCKING SHIT!!!!
That was a swing
Did they change the check swing rule?
Missing a good game blue. Wake the fuck up down there at third base.
There we go
Good work, AJ.
[220] It would be better if it wasn't necessary, and I think that's part of the problem.
yes, well done with fatty - my how times have changed, i love big papi to be up in a big spot
nice. now, more runs, por favor!
[217] Oh, uh, right, because yeah, I'm really strict about that sort of thing during Pesach.
[218] Wrong call!
Justice.
I lost a point with the Fatty K, but gained 1.5 with the Burnett K.
Net positive.
[230] yeah, i haven't kept it in like 17 years, or something. and never in my own pad...
[228] I know, it's such a relief when he comes up with men on. And think of three years ago, yikes, it was scary.
[227] i think that is more about aj though - molina used to go out to the mound a ton with him too
So.... is Big Sloppy's cliff dive the results of coming off Roids?
All of RSN is wondering how long Papi can suck before the replace him with Lowell. Very interesting. I would say the over/under line is a month. I mean, Francona is making all the right noises, "We're gonna need the big guy in September...", but I don't think they're serious.
Is Michael Kay going to stop bitching now?
[236] or just being large and old ...
*Nice* ab, Swish!
Ah damn it...it seems like that wall plays favorites.
Damn, NIck. Atta, babe.
Swish is fun!
Speaking of Big Sloppy....
Did anyone realize this is his contract year? Althought there is a $12.5M club option (no buyout). Will the Sox bite And what can he get on the FA market if he is an .800-.850 OPS DH?
Damn! That missed a HR by aboiut 3 inches.
If he keeps hitting like that ..... .280 isn't impossible for him.
STICK!
STICK!!
Come on MVP
If you pop it up, Brett, my goodwill for you goes away for awhile.
...
Can't take that fastball down the middle.
Mattpat and Gritner sittin' in a tree....
Okay. Good enough.
Small, weak man. Fast.
Of course I meant, "Productive out, good boy."
[251] You'll notice I restrained myself when he took that pitch down the middle.
I felt he earned it.
My fantasy team needs a Nick Swisher run.
Damnit to hell.
Wow ... the UConn women's team is trailing at half .... and they've only scored 12 points!
Oh, Youk. You're my hero. Shit.
Pickemupcap!
dammit
I've got Jeter and Johnson coming up. One of you knock a run in
Damn it.
Damn it.
Damn it.
Lots of wasted opportunities tonight.
We're gonna lose this game.
[265] oh MattPat, I've missed you so ...
ot but Sabres clinched their division vs. the Rangers tonight. Makes me happy. : )
Well done, Derek.
Mr. UZR!!
But that trainer a steak, Captain.
CAP'N!!!
At what point do the Yankees realize that Beltre loves swinging at fastballs down the middle?
What the fuck was that horse shit?
oh christ
More crappy defense.
One, two, three. That's the good stuff. And as I type, an error. OY!
The Cap'n taketh and the Cap'n giveth away ...
[277] Amen.
Some bad baseball by the Yankees in the early going.
[265] nope. Vulture will get the win! : )
Get down to it, Ace, this is Marco Scutaro.
Okay. No harm no foul
[280] Who?
I think Lackey has had some work done
Great use of Bard...let him face the big boys and save Okajima for the lefties.
[283] aceves
I'm a Bard graduate but won't be cheering for young Daniel Bard..i predict a 6-pitch walk then a tater from Tex!
Stay well, Nick. Stay well.
i'm down with OBP!
[286] Ah. I've always understood vulture to mean someone that pitches poorly but happens to be the pitcher or record when they take the lead, though
NJ with 4 BBs so far this year?
[287] They rejected me.
damnit
Damn it.
[287] I love Shakespeare, but I won't root for Daniel either.
Routine. BFD.
I really dislike Ellsbury and his one sleeve.
God, dude ran across half the outfield.
[290] that is what it means but somehow it has shifted a bit in meaning and it caught on with a fair number of people for aceves since he picked up so many wins out of the pen last year
[290] we covered this last year ...
I hate baseball.
Sigh.
With Bard, the pen is mighty.
damn it - that's where guessing alex gets bit sometimes
6 inches outside. Nice call.
[287] You went to Bard College? The one in Annandale-on-Hudson?
on second look that was a bullshit call
[304] I don't know...with 99mph and a big hook, you have to guess. Besides, it was a ball.
[307] Even Remy called it outside.
What was that pitch that Rob swung at? Does Bard have a slider?
Is there a reason Cano just jogs on hits like that?
Cano dogged it up the line less than usual there.
why has this kid been put in the pen? he has more than one plus pitch.
[310] Fastball, curve and slider.
[311] Drives me crazy too.
[306] Yep, that's the one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz5iDa7tL34
Same game as Sunday...Yankees didn't maximize their chances and now it's in the hands of the pen. Not the way the Yankees want to be playing.
[314] I don't know. I've seen him when I don't even know why he even bothered moving towards first. He was running a little harder than usual that time. Not hard, mind you, but not the leisurely stroll we're used to.
Trot trot trot!
[315] Leon Botstein, president, conductor, historian.
Has Marte thrown a ball out of the bullpen yet?
Good job, Ace.
Aces up, baby.
Nice pitching, Vulture!
[320] Yes. And Jorge's still trying to catch it.
Yay ground rule double.
[319] yep, lover of bowties, worshiper of 19th-century Vienna and classical music fiend..not sure he digs the jazz though...
Well done, Jorgie!
Now *please* can we get him in.
[326] If he doesn't he's a philistine.
Bunting with Swisher so Gardner and Granderson can face the lefty? Really?
Wasn't the Nick Swisher bunt experiment a debacle last year?
[326] I sat in on a class of his as a prospective.
Good job, Swish, hang in...
wow ... the wave at Fenway .... another sign of the coming apocalypse
Damn it.
Good ab, Swish.
Well that didn't work
Anyone know a site where I can get a video feed of the game? I know OK Jazz knew a site, but I lost it when I reformatted my hard drive..
[315] Neat. I went to school a little further north, but I live sorta near Bard College now.
damn po is still on 2nd
Well, it didn't go far, but ok.
Posada is an awful baserunner.
True grit.
Only Brett can single and not advance a runner. lol...
OK, that bizarre gritner-posada-flair-base-hit-runner-does-not-advance must perfectly encapsulate something....
Well, the runner was Posada...
Who the hell is Scott Atchison?
[342] :}
[340] he really is, but i actually think that was progress on his part - him running into an out at 3rd would be his usual mo
And Posada's baserunning costs the Yankees a run. The Yankees have played two brutal games.
[345] I think he used to pitch for Topeka and Santa Fe.
Wow.
Is that a hit?
well, it didn't go far, but ok!
thank you marco and ugly
To bad Cano wasn't running there.
De-Fense. Clap-Clap. De-Fense. Clap-Clap.
This is now one of those torturous innings where the Yankees get all sorts of base runners and hits in the wrong order, so they won't score.
I'd like to see what Posada did at 3B.
[336] I just used mlb.com's Gameday package, only $100 for the whole season + playoffs
[337] beautiful area, and easy train into the city.
Come on, Nick, be a hero...
Okay, c'mon, Nick the Stick.
Come on, BB-HBP!
[340] There was a chance Scutaro makes that play, I can understand why he didn't go
[348] Well played
Ball one.
2-0.
Swing on 3-1 or take one more?
WHOO!
nj is a walking god!
Just NJ bein' NJ.
Nick!!
Yaaayyyy!!
(Did anyone not see that coming?--dude is amazing.)
Word. Pitching and defense, baby.
The Nick Johnson special...that was my first rapid heartbeat of the season. I am way off my 2009 pace.
The safe way to get Posada home.
How the hell does NJ do that?
I loves me some Nick Johnson.
30 pitches for Oki-dokey
[372] Jedi mind trick.
[357] Yeah, gameday is decent. My family gets MLB Extra Innings, but I won't have that until I move back home in a month or so, so I was hoping I could find a stream online somewhere as a makeshift solution.
Ah well. Thanks anyway.
Nick Johnson makes Nick Swisher look like Robinson Cano.
[371] Yet you know, someday, someway, he'll make an out walking in from third base.
[374] Ohhhh.
On the umpire, or the pitcher?
Scott Atchison looks like he's 700 years old
Atchison looks like he's about 50 y.o.
Fuck.
who is pitching the 8th?
That's not going to cut it.
[379] Ha, you beat me to it, with superior hyperbole.
Damn April Teixeira
Joba, then?
What happens now?
Do we have an EIG?
[379] [380] Hm. Discrepancy.
I hope Teixeira hits this April. I thought Atchinson was the white flag.
In Japan, you don't wear shoes in the house. Apparently, you don't wear shoes in the clubhouse, either.
drob in the 8th
Robertson, then.
Is he the EIG, then?
[382] Wow, I thought it was a rhetorical question.
I'd prefer to keep Ace in there. He was rolling.
Come on with this shit.
Joba warming? Just in case, or is he closing?
Girardi is going to lose a bunch of teams if he keeps experimenting with formulas. Ace was pitching well and should have remained in the game.
just let robertson face fatty
[392] We have no EIG!
It's Wonderland around here.
[395] ??? Closing???
You have no idea how happy I am that we don't have two lefties in the pen
From every standpoint, this is an awful decision by Girardi. Ace should have pitched to Youk, with Marte in for Ortiz (if he was married to the lefty). Now, he not only lifted a pitcher who was rolling, but burned Robertson for one matter (and likely Marte too).
It didn't take long for me to remember why I wasn't fond of Girardi last season. Two games...and two very questionable bullpen moves.
I guess Girardi was planning to play mix and match this inning.
Ah. Marte is in to walk Ortiz, I get it.
Shoot me now.
Good work, Marte Very nicely done.
Fucking little league.
ugly was not going to steal shit - wtf marte
WTF? That was one fugly throw.
That's a bd play by Tex, but it shows how screwed up Marte is. He wasn't right in spring and it makes no sense for Girardi to throw him right into the fire.
i think i only like playoff marte
Why exactly would you throw to 1B in that situation? Not that it matters when Marte walks Ortiz.
"At least get it to Mariano Rivera."
Kay says that as if that's not the optimal outcome.
[409] But, but, but...he's the LOOGY...
C'mon Kay. Ugly's NOT going to tag. Watch the game please.
[411] i think everyone including tex is wondering that
I wonder if ol' Tex has lost his touch. Two bad throws that I'd like to have seen him pick up.
I don't like this one bit.
No could can come of this match up.
Wow, a huge mistake to Ortiz and that's what he does with it.
Big Papi didn't even get Youk over.
Is it really that imperative that we hold on Big Ugly?
[417] You're thinking of 2007 Ortiz.
when do the yanks start playing games that have a chance to end close to 10pm?
[421] I'm more worried about Joba and Beltre.
Come on, Joba
Let's say Joba gives up a hit and the game winds up tied. Who pitches the 9th? Mitre? Again, the bullpen usage in this inning is very troubling.
al enjoyed that pitch selection
Lots of breaking balls...some in the dirt...please.
[422]
those would be games that start at 4 pm ...:-)
[422] Saturday afternoon.
very nice job mr. chamberlain
Joba looks nuts, just the way I like it
Very very nice.
But now comes the hard part...
You dont have to give in here.
[428] [429] haha, so true
[422] Day games.
If Drew gets on w/o the runner scoring, will Girardi go to Mo for 4 outs?
Stepped away..D-Rob, D-Mart and now Neville is in? Joe G playing musical bullpen??
wow, good work - that was nice
Nice job, Joba.
Nice. Very nice.
Wow. Best I've seen Joba in the bullpen in 2 years.
That's vintage Joba...great to see...now let's see more.
Nice work, Joba.
[436] I would, except for one thing: not sure Mo is at full speed yet.
wow .... that was sweet
I could get used to this.
[436] thankfully mute :}
Why do I feel when Chamberlain pitches that not only his career but his very sanity hangs in the balance? I picture the bad result being him in a mental institution for the rest of his life.
Good. Try just walking off the mound next time. But that's just me. Let's get some more.
joba joba joba !!!
did he do a big air uppercut with his fist and let out a primal scream?
[451] More or less
[447] Indeed.
[444] I was more wondering how Girardi would play it. Had it been me, I would have stuck with Robertson (assuming I even brought him in to start the inning).
[449] I've had it with trying to control Joba. If he is going to pitch like that, he can moon walk off the mound for all I care.
[449] No WAY!! Joba needs to be unleashed..we've got Mo and the Captain to bring the class..I want Joba, Swisher and A-Rod to run laps round Fenway mooning the fnas during Sweet Caroline!
[454] I hear ya'. But I also think he could throw 96 in the first if he'd just stop thinking so much.
Gotta add some insurance here.
Damn, Arod just missed that.
Damn. I thought that might carry out.
[454] Hah ah ah haa !!!!
Robbie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RIPPER!!!
boy am I glad I didn't trade cano ...
Man on a mission. That's my Cano. Hell Yeah!
Two rockets, the second one counted.
robbie - robbie - what a great 1st 2 games he is having
Cano has his sweet swing working early this season.
yeah Robbie!
GODDAMIT. I left the room for two minutes and missed Rob's jack.
[465] I know..but if only he "cared more"..(#$%& YOU Bob Klapisch!)
[467] That'll learn ya.
Early returns for Robby in the 5-spot look terrific.
Whoa. That was a strike, eh?
mo time
If Mo gets that called 3rd strike the 9th will be a snap.
I worry about Mo... in April... in Fenway. Bad Mojo.
[470] No kidding. It makes him think the month is July, apparently.
Also, who are you? :-)
MO!!!! please have a nice, tidy, quick 'n easy 1-2-3 inning. i don't wanna see the pony little midget get to the plate.
So, I guess the ump is getting tired after four hours behind the plate. Good...let's hope for a wide zone for Mo.
[467] yeah, i was gonna type "Rob" for you, 'coz i didn't see you around. i had to take a business call before and missed more than 35 minutes. then again, i can't actually see the game tonight, so whatever...
[470] yeah, who be you? and...welcome! : )
[474] Any other month...any other team...and I'd be my usual confident with Mo on the mound.
[47] go light a candle and rid us your bad mojo
Here's to the old man getting off to a good start
Two pitches, one out.
1 down
FUCK YOU, BLUE!!!
c'mon angel
Hey everyone...long-time lurker, first-game poster. You guys made the playoffs last year a blast. I look forward to a season of banter with y'all.
Boooooooooooo. Counts 0 and 4.
YOU FUCKING RANG UP SWISH ON THAT SAME PITCH!!!
[486] welcome
c'mon mo
FUCK YOUR MOTHER, BLUE.
what the fuck is it with marco and mo?
[486] Okay, cool! Welcome!
Ech - Marco Scutaro??
Off the bat, I thought that was catchable.
Marco fricking Scutaro. I love him so much.
Where the hell was Gardner playing?. Too close to the line methinks.
Not worried, though.
Whose idea was it to put Angel Hernandez and Joe West in the same umpiring crew? Their strike zones are awfully creative.
motherfucker. it's angel hernandez behind the plate? how does that douchelord have a freaking job??? : /
[491] A bad narrative arc
I don't think Gardner could have gotten it anyway.
[497] that's just the single malt scotch talking.
good god, i'd rather not see ugly ever mk, especially with no hat
There ya go
No Snozzberries for you.
sit yo ass down jacoby
It always comes down to My Little Pony!
Beautiful.
[498] They are two of the worst umpires in baseball, IMO.
And Joe West hates the Yankees.
[500] haha, nice hawk
[502] Hey, when it talks, I listen.
[503] I know. I literally avert my eyes.
Mariano Rivera, ladies and gentlemen.
mariano rivera friends
Whinny, motherfucker!
It's a Randy Winn for the Yankees!
Channeling my inner Sterling.
Pfewwwww........Much better. All Rise.
Thanks be to Mo.
okay, let pony boy be the last out. get him. now!
All praise be to Mo.
[510] Thank god you caught that. That was the last of my brain power at work this evening.
yay! :)
Thelarmis, you were behind, huh?
[522] yeah, what else is new?! my life story... : ~
night all - i'll leave you to make sense of it all with mk
Nice to get a win.
Especially nice to see Joba be Joba.
'Night, Team.
[524] Heh heh hehh heh. 'Night, Ms. O.
Ciao, amigos. Hasta mañana.
[525] Indeed, very promising inning ...