C.C. Sabathia, another fine performance. He left the game with one out in the eighth and the best player in the American League did this to Rafael Soriano. (Never mind that he’s 0-18 against Sabathia.)
But then the Yanks scored a mess-o-runs in the bottom of the inning and sailed to a 9-3 win. Mariano Rivera was warming up in the Yankee bullpen when Nick Swisher hit a two-run home run to make it 7-3. Before the ball landed, Rivera stopped throwing, and headed back into the bullpen clubhouse. Not a wasted movement with that man.
Derek Jeter hit a three-run homer and had 5 RBI in all. Alex Rodriguez added a solo shot–he got jammed and was frustrated with the swing but the ball carried over the right field fence all the same–and Jesus Montero had a couple of hits.
The Red Sox lost. Sabathia has win #19. We are happy.
Meanwhile, after the game, Joe Girardi announced that the Yanks are sticking with a six-man rotation for now.
[Photo Credit: Icekingg]
The Bad news is CC pitches a little less with a 6 man rotation, and we might Win less. The Good news is CC pitches a little less with a 6 man rotation, and might be better rested for the PS.
Have the Red Sox Won their 120 games yet?
[1] Sheesh, where have you been all season? They obviously won 120 back in April; they're just waiting for everyone else to catch up, duh. After all, it doesn't really count until October... and then again in December.
>;)
I don't know IF ANYONE IS OUT THERE, but I'd like to know how ya'all feel about keeping a 6 man rotation for the rest of the regular season (assuming that Hughes doesn't suck and get thrown to the BP).
Does that 'extra day' really give much rest to CC, Colon and the rest of the guys? If so, might they be in better shape (especially CC and Bart) for the PS?
Freddie has been steady, but both CC and Colon have faltered a bit in the last month. Is this a point of concern (ESPECIALLY for CC) going into the PS? After all, if CC isn't dominant in the PS, our real chances of success go WAY down.
If Colon is slated for the PS (and considering AJ and Phil, I think he has to be), should we skip him for a start or 2 to give him some recovery time?
Someone on RAB suggested a '5 1/2 man rotation'.... meaning you start AJ, but you have a super fast hook if he's in trouble, and bring in Phil for the rest of the game. There seems to be some logic there as AJ is often decent until that ONE BAD INNING... but Joe doesn't want to blow out the BP by pulling AJ in the 4th of 5th, as that BAD INNING is happening.
I think CC can handle the workload of a regular rotation, but I also think the extra day of rest is good for him.
I advocated going to a 6 man rotation BEFORE Nova was sent down, thinking time in Scranton would be wasted time for Nova. I also advocated sending AJ to the DL when he was skidding, so what do I know?