Chalk this one up to the Go Figure Department. Serge Mitre pitches well, David Robertson does the job even if he still can’t throw strikes consistently. The Twins hit the ball hard but have little to show for it. Meanwhile, Randy Winn drives in two with a triple and the Yanks hold a 3-1 lead in the eighth. But Joba can’t get out of the inning, and loads the bases. With two out, Mariano comes in and falls behind 3-0 to Jim Thome (the second pitch was close, a pitch Mo usually gets, but was off the plate). Throws a strike, Thome fouls off two pitches and then takes ball four to force home a run.
Jason Kubel is next and he slaps Mo’s second pitch into the seats in right for a grand slam.
Silence. Kick a hole in the speaker, pull the plug, then…jet.
Improbable, maybe. Bound to happen? Yeah. Just a reminder that winning games is hard even for the best of ’em. First two runs Mo have given up all year.
So in the bottom of the ninth, Winn singles up the middle and then Ramiro Pena pokes a base hit to right against Minnesota’s closer, Jon Rauch. Derek Jeter’s next and takes two huge cuts and the crowd is into it again. Tying man at the plate. Couple more foul balls and Rauch screws him into the ground on a curve ball in the dirt. Jeter can’t hold up, one out. Next, Gardner whiffs on three pitches. Finally, Mark Teixeira takes two strikes, looks at a couple of balls, swings late and barely manages to foul a pitch down the first base line, and then looks at strike three–a tailing fastball that hits the inside corner–as the Twins salvage the last game of the series, 6-3.
Only real drag is that the Rays won again so the Yanks drop another game out of first.
Can’t win ’em all.
[Photo Credit: Bags and Al Bello/Getty Images]
Looking at the ball/strike plot of the Thome AB is making me sick. Every pitch but the first was in the strike zone. Mo did not walk Thome; Tim Tschida did.
Also, I think it is ok to start getting very concerned about the Rays. A healthy Yankee team is as good or better, but three or more weeks with a depleted lineup could wind up being the difference in this race.
Mudhens were down 5-2, scored 2 in the 8th & 2 in the 9th to win. SWB also had a late come from behind victory. I think today was simply a come from behind day.
[1] yeah those calls were total horseshit.
[2] definitely - they are a very talented team, they have depth, and they wisely have stopped waiting on pat burell to do anything hence the dfa.
however, they have had a somewhat favorable schedule and have not had any injuries (though being younger helps with that and btw i am not wishing any injuries on them).
but although there is a ton of season to go - they look to be on top of the al east for most of it.
there is such an odd feeling after a game like today in which the loss is pinned on mo - i can't be mad at him (especially since he got jobbed by the ump) because he is mo and the greatest ever, but it just feels so odd and wrong and i feel let down, like something is wrong with the world.
Shit happens.
Take three of four from the Sox and Rays
Never mind *that* noise ... yo! Nostralarmis ... RIP RJ Dio ...
Ronnie James Dio, dead at 67.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/17/arts/music/17dio.html?hp
(off to listen to "Heaven and Hell")
[7] Mob Rules, Mob Rules.
Man, this has been a tough goddamn year on the musicians that I grew up listening to.
Liam Clancy
Peter Steele
Ronnie James Dio
If you told me Keith Richards and Jimmy Page would outlive Dio ....
[10] And Lemmy ... can't forget Lemmy.
Though I'd pay with the good money of my soul to be a fly on the wall when Death comes to take Mr. Kilmeister, I'm taking Lemmy and the points ...
After watching the 8th inning, I have to say that was a strange choice to bring Mariano in. It wasn't a "must win" game and it's not as if Chamberlain was getting knocked around. Give him a chance to get out of it!
Then I see they're skipping Vasquez again? What kind of mind games are they playing with the guy?
anyone know when the last time Mo let up a grand slam was?
Has anyone noticed how bad Hoffman has been this year? I wonder if he can't right the ship of he'll retire. That could create an opening for Mo to catch him as all time saves leader (which I'd like to see).
[13] I believe they said it was in '96
[15] wow, thanks. Amazing!
[16]
Actually, it was 2002 ...
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.cgi?n1=riverma01&t=p#play_by_play::12
[17] ah ok thanks.
I wonder how many grand slams Mariano didn't give up, in other words how many bases loaded jams he got out of.
[19]
Here you go....
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?year=0&n1=riverma01&t=p#111
[20] One of these days I'll actually learn how to read those charts!! :-)
[21]
This is the correct link
http://tinyurl.com/2dl4lqh
[20] Thanks!