So soon?
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Derek Jeter SS
Carlos Beltran DH
Alfonso Soriano LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Brian McCann C
Yangervis Solarte 3B
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Brian Roberts 2B
Masahiro Tanaka gets the start; Ellsbury returns to Fenway.
Never mind that nasty starting pitcher for Boston:
Let’s Go Yank-ees!
[Painting by Franz Kline]
Looks like Tommy John for Nova.
Dumb ass fan.
OK, a triple.
Cap'n!
Thanks, A.J. Piershithead.
Carlos coming through. 2 runs on 8 pitches already.
Shouldn't Ellsburys hit been a double based on it being a dead ball once fan touched it?
This may be academic as we're up 2-0 already...
I'm enjoying this game, even though I have to watch on NESN.
[7] thank you for clarifying, Michael.
No kenahorah but, if Tanaka turns out to be the pitcher we hope he will be, isn't it wonderful to think that the Yankees can have such a high likelihood of winning a game after just 2 batters (after, to cite another great pitcher, Sandy Koufax)?
[8] Is MLBN blacked out for you. Kaat is one of the announcers.
Ah, how the Fenway Faithful love to watch Jacoby make diving catches out near the Monstah!
No?
[11] Yeah, blacked out, because in-market.
That was right down the pipe.
[9] What did Michael say?
The rule is that the umpire is supposed to 'nullify' the effect of spectator interference, by putting the runner where he would have been 'but for'. (Could also be ruled an out.) It's rule 3.16.
Now that is what it takes to endear Tanaka to fans like me.
[13] Sucks. I'm surprised I'm getting this game, the undercard is the other Sox in Detroit. I usually get those.
[15] that's what he said! he read the rule. I thought it would be a ground rule double.
Pujols sitting on 499 homers, MLBN has gone to a split screen.
Boy, that was good. Papi and Napoli flailing.
Nice, Tanaka.
[17] Oh, wait, I thought you meant mlb.tv. MLBN is indeed showing the Other Sox here.
[18] I'd be impressed, but you know his staff looked it up for him.
What I miss? Train ride with Gamesday now, just heard Tanaka whiff one of the fat bearded players on Boston, maybe Trot Nixon?
[23] Greetings!
You missed Jacoby Ellsbury's homecoming triple, a Jeter RBI, and for extra fun a boneheaded PB by your very favorite catcher. You'll want to watch the first inning later!
This is still fun.
This is when my neighbor starts saying, "Aw, gawd, nawt Lestah too." (I do love Dave anyway.)
[24] thanks for quickie update! And Ellsbee made a great catch?
Very pleasant way to start watching after dinner.
[26] He did, on the lead-off drive by Grady Sizemore.
Oh, man. Hit hard, too.
[15] it's kinda "funny" how that rule numerical designation is biblical.
Defeated/Saved by the hard hit double play
(24) thanks! Yep, smoked beer chilling in the fridge at home waiting for me tonight, perfect companion for the game.
Listening to Ma & Pa now..Sterling is so unique. Such a lovely voice but a terrible baseball broadcaster..
[30] Hey yeah. Like that guy with the sign at NFL games, "John 3.16". I remember looking it up when I was a kid, just to see.
[30] I watched WS game 6 in '96 the other night. Guy behind the plate kept putting up a BIG sign saying 'John3:16,' to which Tim McCarver responded by saying 'That guy is showing us Tommy John's lifetime ERA.' No kidding
[31] my wife who is a non-obsessed fan likes them. I find them embarrassing.
Well that was even better than whiffing Papi or Beardy.
Siddonwn, pierzynski!
[33] That sounds familiar, actually. I probably remember someone remembering it rather than actually watching while Tim said it.
This Tanaka kid…he's alright.
[33] in '96 even Tim McCarver was not afraid of evangelicals. It seemed that in the '80s and 90s every nationally televised sporting event had someone holding that sign on camera.
D'oh! Sori JUST missed it.
Lead off double
Beautiful. The new phenom centerfielder makes it look easy out there.
[15] [18] [22] Ground rules apply to the park construction or equipment affecting the game, not to fans inserting themselves into the game. I have a real dim memory of the umps awarding a triple on fan interference in a Yanks game 10-12 years ago. Real dim.
If Soriano busted it it would have been a triple.
Way to bust your ass on that one, Sorry.
That's why you need Kangaroo Courts, for shit like that.
Ha. We'll take it.
[44] I think so.
But, it doesn't matter!
Now Lester is gonna start getting really frustrated.
Oh gawd now Costas is going after Sori for not hustling out of the box.
Not that it matters, thanks to Mark.
Tanaka > Lester
Triple doubles.
Well, this seems an opportune time to have joined this game!
Yeah baby! And another Sox outfielder with excellent range and sure hands.
Don't worry Jon, it isn't your fault.
Keep pouting, lester. That'll help you not getting bombed all over the park.
A triple Doubles!
[50] The NBA has nothing on us.
[51] Yeah, though the first inning was just as good, honestly.
That ball girl in left is an athlete!
Something's wrong. Lester doesn't walk guys. I think he had a total of four walks before tonight.
Excellent. Now all three outfielders have missed catchable balls this inning.
Sizemore used to be good, remember?
C'mon, snozzeberry! Break this baby open!
Great Grady!
Every Sox outfielder less than stellar tonight.
According to Costas 1/3 of Boston's bullpen not available tonight.
Oh come on, are you kidding me? Two bases loaded GIDPs in two innings!
Damn
[58] Sizemore has definitely lost a step or three.
Hrumph, nice play by little Petie
[62] Yeah, Buchholz got shelled and the relievers got a lot of work. If we get in there early it should be good, and also set up nicely for tomorrow when we get to Lackey.
Too bad Scott Sizemore is no longer on the Yanks active roster. Two Sizemores in one game?
Nicely done, Tanaka-san!
Bang, got 'em.
Nice to see Teix back!
Very nice dp!
Also glad to see grounders this inning. No grounders off Tanaka in the first two frames. Fly balls in Fenway are not safe.
Glass half full says 4-0 is a nice lead, especially with a couple of bloop hits. Glass half empty says, drag with the Beltran and Ellsbury double plays. Both balls were hit pretty well.
I guess, the verdict comes later after we know the final score.
LOL
That room that Kay is talking about at Fenway sounds like a stabin cabin.
Is that rain?
Yeah. He's still good, huh?
WTF is he throwing a get me over fastball for? Fucking Bollocks!
Uh oh.
Pujols joins the 500 homer club
Rut-row
Crap.
Ugh. I go downstairs to start dinner and I come back to 4-2?!?!?
Meh.
Wasting those 2 bases-loaded opportunities doesn't seem so wise right about now ...
Tanaka looks a little Charlie brown like in the rain.
He might be having trouble with his grip. Get Pineda out here!
Well, at least I skipped having to watch douchebeard hit a homerun.
Oh no, did Tanaka lose it a bit?
Solo taters are not the end of the world I guess.
C'mon Loaf Pincher!
Lester has doubled his walk total tonight.
I know that Tex is no speedster, but he seems barely able to run.
What's the weather there now, any chance they call it after 5?
[90] Gomes deked him. Didn't YES show that?
[91] No. Light rain, occasional cloudburst.
Port Jervis looks terrible tonight, huh?
[92] I posted that before McCann's hit. Kay mentioned that Gomes decoyed it.
These wasted chances are going to bite the Yankees in the ass. Dammit!
I'm really over the Brian Roberts era..
Yay, way to go Wheels!
And Brian, you too.
Hah!
I'll take it!
[97] Me, too. Even if he is 3 for 3! lol.... E3 for douchebeard!
Yay!
Ken Boyer, eat those words. Teix was motoring!
Wow. They actually do call that an E3. My gob, it is smacked.
[100] Tee-hee..the big,fat beard giveth but also taketh away.
Lester 114P..is Farrell awake?
Red Sox definitely not playing The Right Way tonight.
Rob has cooled off, by the way. Speaking of the Brian Roberts Era. OPS .651. Of course, half at Safeco, but still, not the Rob we expect.
[104] Yeah, Ells is going to be Lester's last batter...
Oh yeah!
Ellsbury worth every freaking penny.
Now we're cooking with grease! : )
[97] OTOH, I'm really warming to the Taco Bellsbury era ...
Woo hoo! Gotta go to the pen
And indeed Lester is done.
Very poor start for him.
I have to admit that a couple weeks ago I was starting to think about Cashman signing Jon this coming winter. But maybe his best years are behind him. The thing is, I like him.
[110] Me too! Put in on the Booooooooooard, YES!
(oops, wrong Sox call..)
Captain!
Cap'n making sure the pen gets chewed up tonight.
Awesome. Another rbi for the Cap, and Jacoby just coasts home.
I wonder if he's feeling a little sorry for his old friends. Heh.
[115] Boston Weak!
[102] yeah, like a Town Car on Starrow Drive
Nice comeback inning from Tanaks.
I mean Storrow Dr.
Now it can rain all night.
So Tanaka looks pretty good
[122] Except for a wet inning, yeah.
[123] Scouts say his FB is a bit "flat", is that why he's homer-prone?
Congratulations to Prince Albert! 500!
[124] I dunno. My guess was he wasn't gripping well in the rain, but maybe he's just a fly-ball pitcher. I honestly can't tell when a fastball is flat. I'd have to consult Pitch f/X or something.
So what do we think of the early returns from Jeter so far this year? I'm pleasantly surprised with just about every aspect of his game. Feels like he's drawing a ton of walks especially.
Hmm, Kaat has some good insight on Tanaka & his splitter & how the splitter affects the UCL. Good thing he doesn't throw it too much.
Damn Douchebeard ...
Pitch f/X shows decent (about five inch) break on Tanaka's four-seam, so I don't think he's flat. People are affected by all kinds of things -- sometimes a pitcher's release point makes the pitch visually more or less jumpy.
[127] He does look very good. But I thought he always got a lot of walks. This year seems about average.
It still amazes me that Mike Scioscia had no use for Mike Napoli
Sweet.
[131]I thought there was some real fall off a cliff potential this year, so I'm real happy to see him looking about average
[132] Mike Scoiscia is the worst kind of dinosaur manager.
[134] This.
I really expected a faded shadow of his old self, so what he's done so far (and how he's looked physically) has been a very pleasant surprise.
[134] Oh, well, that's true. I don't know why I expect him to draw walks like he did in 2002!
Good to see Ichiro hitting well, too. He'll hit a long dry spell, but so far so good.
Tenaka>>>>>>>> Irabu (RIP)>>>>Igawa.
I wonder if baseball is learning how to evaluate Japanese pitchers much better
[138] I don't think there were any evaluation errors regarding Irabu. He had NASTY stuff, just couldn't adjust to the US at all. Igawa I don't know what happened but I seem to remember some of the Japanese scouts wondering why the Yanks signed him to that deal..they knew he wasn't that good.
Old friend Bobby Abreau batting now for the Mets! (Are they even trying anymore? I thought Alderson/Podesta/Riccardi were supposed to be good??)
Yay Teix!!!
[139] Thanks. I had been under the impression that Igawa was the second best pitcher in Japan. Maybe the Yankees, losing out on Dice-K, panicked.
PORT JERVIS!!!!
[139] The thing that annoyed me most about Igawa was ending the posting fee with 194 because that's how many strikeouts Igawa had the year before.
Someone in the Yankees front office was so convinced that they had something in Igawa that they decided to be clever and cute there. It was obnoxious at the time and hilariously off base in hindsight.
[142] Pretty much. IIRC, Mike freaking Pagliarulo was the only one who scouted him ...
[143] Great play on both ends
Hey ho, Carlos!!!
That, was pretty.
Take The Bel-Train!
Sweet.
[145] For that much money invest in a couple of scouts. I'd having roving scouts in the far east. Learn Japanese & Korean. Chinese too. (Taiwan -- BTW, saw Worm Killer the other week pitching against the Mud Hens. Looks ok.)
Excellent job Tenaka-san!
Yay! Great game for Masahiro!
Spread the word, Mr OK:
NY♥Tanaka.
Nice applause from Fenway Fans when Tanaka walks off. His only moment of fallibility was when he was pitching in the hard rain.
[154] The Sox tv crew is very impressed too.
I heard one knowledgeable local guy on the radio worry that yesterday that Tanaka could be a 'game changer'. Then he corrected that to 'division changer.'
I shouldn't laugh, but Big Papi dosidoing is a funny image.
[153] Co-workers happy to hear he's beating Boston!
I'm surprised to see empty seats in top of 9th, usually Sox fans stay to the bitter end regardless of the score. Looks like Yankee Stadium!
Rain. Call the game!
[158] The rain, though. It's pouring.
[159] Let's see Tazawa finish the inning though! Make sure he's not available tomorrow.
so, 9-2 sounds like a promising evening.
[161] done. Night, all.
All good, Seamus.
[163] 'It's not over till it's over.'
Wow!
Okay, Port Jervis gets a pass for his 0-fer tonight. Very tough play esp on a wet infield.
1 more, Betances!
[166] real nice!
def nice play. I like solarte and want him to succeed.
No problem. Bear down, Dellin.
God, it's pouring. Let's get this over with.
bostonians melt in the rain.
Hm. He's kind of serving up pitches, huh? I guess he doesn't want to walk anyone with a big lead?
Or, just young and still needs to work on control.
Handshakes.
If you're standing around at 10:30 down 9-3 in the pouring rain chanting "Yankees Suck" you are a flaming asshole.
Good job, Dellin. Good game y'all.
And that's that.
So Dellin lost his ERA virginity, but all good.
Well done, gentlemen. Let's do it again tomorrow against Lackey!
Happy win. Good night all.
nice win! glad i caught the tail end at least. night folks.
Short sample size, but it appears that these Yankees are capable of winning well pitched games (not gems, mind you, just well pitched games).
That was not the case last year, if I remember well. It had to be a shut out or a blow out. Or Cano had to go 4 for 5 with 2 HRs.