When the subway arrived in midtown this evening the Yanks were down 2-0 in the 8th. I didn’t check the score until I got to the Bronx and was surprised and happy to see that they’d tied the score. The game went to extra innings. I was home, cooking, listening, as Preston Clairborne got a big double play ball against Anthony Rizzo in the bottom of the 12th.
Brendan Ryan led off the 13th against the former Yankee Jose Veras. I was sat on the couch and watched. That’s when it hit me–Brendan Ryan is one of my favorite Yankees in a long time. I don’t care that that is overall game is lacking. I love the fact that he’s expert at playing short stop and I dig watching him play. Makes him human that he doesn’t hit well. Let’s face it, he’s a scrub. But scrubs can be lovable and scrubs can be gamers.
I felt Ryan was about to do something good. And he did, ripped a one-hopper to third, too tough to field cleanly. The ballpark was quiet, a lot of the fans already gone, which made the clear sound of the ball hitting the bat sound magnified. It was a sharp, definite sound.
Port Jervis walked and then Preston Clairborne laid down a fine bunt to advance the runners.
It was evening in Chicago now. Most of the infield was in the shade. A strip of light ran down the third baseline and across home plate. Looking at Wrigley Field at this time of day reminded me of being a teenager in the Eighties watching Cub games after school on WGN (which we got in New York). There was something so scrubby about those Cubs in a shaggy, appealing, budget, Chris Makepeace My Bodyguard kind of way. Jody fuggin’ Davis.
Now, my favorite scrub Brendan Ryan was on third and Jose Veras–a scrub’s scrub at this stage of his career–was on the mound. And since this is the Cubs and this is Wrigley Field, who do they think they are trying to sweep the Yankees? What does Veras do but uncork one behind JR Muphy’s head. Ryan scores the go-ahead run.
To add scrubbiness to scrubbery Murphy got jammed by Veras and hit a horseshit blooper to short right field. And since these are still the scrubby old Cubs it dropped in for a run-scoring base hit.
David Robertson pitched the 13th, got the save, and the Yanks leave Chicago with a split.
Final Score: Yanks 4, Cubs 2.
jesus may have left chicago, but the yankees are staying there throughout the weekend. pale hose up next, for four games.
GO YANKS!!!
Watching a bit of the game now.
Did Al Leiter actually say he was going to Starbucks in Wrigleyville after the game??
And did Michael Kay actually reference WIRED Magazine or WIRE Magazine??!?! Kay knowing either one would kind of shock me..
I was listening to the game on the radio through my phone. When the Cubs put Jose Veras into the game I turned to my wife and said, "this guy is the Run Fairy; we'll score a rin or two.". Sure enough.
[2] haha i remember Leiter saying that. I was all, "Of all the choices..."
Was listening to the game on my phone when the metro went underground and I lost reception in the 8th. Didn't get a chance to check it out until the 13th, amazed and pleased. Thanks to each and every Yank who played, which was just about everybody.
"You may ask yourself" how the Yanks are at the top of the AL East with half the starters on the DL.
"You may also ask yourself" whether the Yanks have a chance to get Samardzija.
I'm a bit worried about the Sox - they hit really well.
[5] Day by day goes by, all the starters going down...
I thought Al was joking about Starbucks. Because Michael asked if he was going out on the town in Wrigleyville after the game. So Al was kind of making fun of himself, "Oh, yeah, I'm a party animal, I'll probably go to Starbucks," or else he was being coy or something.
[7] ah yes, that's possible. The problem with half listening is joking goes right by me.
btw, i owned that game thread lol.
The folks down here in Bama are starting to buzz about the new Yankees pitcher Chase Whitley who is from Ranburne, Alabama. It takes a lot to get Bama fans to stop talking about college football (even in the offseason) or watching the Braves but having a home-state boy start a game for the Yankees and another home-state boy close the game is starting to get some attention. Maybe they need to re-sign Andy Phillips... Lol ;-)
Sweet. Let's hope Whitley can go eight and hand the ball to D-Rob next start!
"Makes him human that he doesn’t hit well."
Yankees at one point had another shortstop who didn't hit well, except for a game in 1978.
I actually thought the game was over in the ninth.