AB: I know I should be above it, I know not to expect too much from this team, but when they lose to the Red Sox, I’m 8 years old again, more upset than I really should be. (censored, LOL)
CW: It just seemed inevitable. Between the combination of mediocre and under-performing talent with Girardi’s bemusing insistence on managing by the numbers, I feel almost drained following them this season.
Which is really worse when you put it into the context of professional sports? A bad team in a weak division that commits seppuku at the trade deadline with an eye towards resurrecting itself in the near future or a mediocre team in the same division that makes small moves to keep itself going and hope it can overtake the other weak teams? I can’t help but get philosophical as Alex and I bantered about the effects this rivalry has on fans who have been following two teams that have been slow since last winter (even though one had just won the Whirled Serious a couple of months before).
It was journeyman thirty-something Chris Capuano for the visiting Yanks facing twenty-something rookie Anthony Renaudo for the home team. That’s right; no Lester, no Lackey, not even a Dubront or anyone we would have heard of this season for Boston (except for Clay Buchholz; who like our own Hiroki Kuroda is the last man standing in the rotation, although for entirely different reasons), and considering how the Yanks have lost four-fifths of it’s starting rotation to injury and replaced it with spit, gristle and a little bit of luck, we’re really in no position to talk. Capuano himself had been purchased from the Colorado Rockies’ farm system; having signed with the organization three days after being dumped from the team he was about to face. His younger counterpart, born and raised in Freehold, NJ (home of The Boss, Bruce Springsteen) was making his major league debut. You know what that means…
AB: I only get drained when I expect more than is reasonable…like any time they play the Red Sox. But I suppose I really want them to make the second wild card so that Jeter’s final game isn’t at Fenway Park. Then again, would that be worse than flying to Anaheim and getting trounced in a one game playoff game? At least the Sox fans will appreciate DJ properly.
CW:Exactly; it’s more discouraging to me when they make the playoffs and get wiped out because it prevents them from getting a better pick (crucial when you consider how close they were to getting Mike Trout) and gives them the false impression that they are better than they are constructed.
Though a valiant second wind from the likes of Brett Gardner, having a career year with heretofore unrealized and hopefully unplugged power, not to mention a surprise appearance of contribution from Carlos Beltran and a big pop from The Captain, the Yanks were simply not capable of overcoming their Achilles Heel: The Unheralded Rookie Pitcher. Couple that with some mishaps from Ichiro in right that turned a single into a double and let runners get into scoring position, cashed in by the actual hitters in the Sox lineup, and you had the makings of a frustrating night. It did get somewhat interesting when Junichi Tazawa gave up a booming shot to Jeter over the Monster to bring the game close, but Ellsbury’s shot to deep center was grabbed by the fleet-footed Mookie Betts, a converted second baseman playing center who made an awkward leaping catch that will inevitably be played over and over again in yearly highlights. It was an important grab because Tazawa was hit hard that inning, and had Ellsbury been on base he would have scored and tied the game. Such is the luck of the Yanks this season. Sox closer Koji Uehara relieved the otherwise ineffective Tazawa and shut down the Yanks.
AB: Right. Whom do you prefer, the A’s or Tigers? No who do you think will win but who’d you root for? Or would you pull for the O’s to upset them?
CW: I think the Tigers would win, but I’d be rooting for the A’s. I can’t root for the Peter AngelO’s. Plus Buck has gotten to be more of an ass as he ages. If you don’t mind, I’m going to incorporate this conversation into the recap 🙂
AB: Sure thing. Just don’t mention that (redacted, blah blah blah, none of your business)
CW: Copy that.
Yanks lose 4-3…
This will also be today's game thread post, so feel free to post lineup if you get to it before I do.
Still miss you no. 15.
Brett Gardner LF
Derek Jeter SS
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Carlos Beltran DH
Chase Headley 3B
Stephen Drew 2B
Martin Prado RF
Francisco Cervelli C
RHP Shane Greene
[2] Absolutely. I was talking to my wife about it last night, after midnight. Today, I will wear my #15/Munson/Captain road gray t-shirt!
And to top it off, I'm driving into a state of emergency tomorrow. It seems that there's 2.5 ppm of microcystin in the Toledo water, a toxin that needs to be less than 1ppm. Heckuvan end to vacation. Got some water, 18 gallons, hope it's enough.
Derek? Kid won't last past this year.
Bradley has a good arm.
[5] You can't drink it, or you can't do anything with it? (The contaminated water, I mean.)
[5] it's ok for bathing/showering, though not for pets or kids, who might swallow some. Boiling isn't the answer either.
Er, 5 should be 9.
Sit down Big Whiny.
Oof. Right, boiling is no help because they aren't alive, they're toxins. From algae. Bad news.
How long?
I guess it's not easy being Greene.
[11] Dunno. Dogs are being boarded in Perrysburg, which is also affected.
Aw crap.
Wow. We really fucking suck at baseball.
Win this for Thurman!!!
This must be No Strikes Day.
El Capitan!
Cap'n!
And now tied!
Hah.
Well, we have four runs without hitting the ball hard even once. Maybe Ellsbury's out was the hardest hit ball.
Captain for the Captain!!!
I was hoping my man Martin was gonna blow it open there...
3-0 Sox. I go to the kitchen, grab a beer and chat with the Mrs., get back and it's 4-3. WTF. I'll take it!
Go back to the kitchen and grab another beer! ; )
Wachya drinkin', btw?
(23) Yo E. Guinness. Pretty standard fare but it's, you know, what hits the spot. So far, so good. My wife's grandmother (a Sox fan) called today and was not shy about being happy about last night's game.
Good call in the brew. Not sure which craft ale I'll be getting into later. Gotta finish practicing first...
That's too bad about grandma. Hopefully, you can return serve later!
The Mrs. is from Connecticut and was lucky enough to grow up a Yankees fan. Her Pops used to take her to the Stadium. The family is a house divided. Other side of the family were Dodgers fans and claimed the Sox in '58.
Kabbbooooom!
(That was the sound of Teixeira's homer igniting the gas tank of someone parked on Landsdowne St.)
Big Tex!!!
No doubt about that one. Signing off--time to grill it up.
Is Eric Time about ten minutes behind regular time?
My father-in-law is from Conn and was raised a big Yankees fan.
Nope. I'm at my studio re-learning songs for an upcoming gig. I recorded the CD 10 years ago and did it to a metronome. So as I play along, I'm right in time! : )
Oh, I see the other Eric is also behind, haha! Yeah, I'm about to head out in a few to meet the girls. And practice marimba, at some point. After that, the time becomes Beer:30
Speaking of Eric Time...
One of my brand new compositions has many time signatures in it: 9/8, 7/8, 5/4, 15/16, 17/16, 19/16. And probably others I haven't charted out yet. It's called "Stick Figures" : )
[34] Awesome! Seriously, I must hear it.
I think you should do a composition in Π.
It'll be a long while before that one's ready. It's for the 4th CD and I still have 75% of the 3rd CD to record.
The opening track to my latest disc is mostly in 17/16, but the bridge has a goodly amount of rhythmic adventures. I don't think you have that album. I'll email you an mp3 of that piece.
No, Yankees can't play this game. Base running is hard.
Hm, that's on Frankie.
[36] I want a copy!
Waking up with an 'adult headache' to see Betances vs. Papi..scary!
[35] Now I wish I had used π. It looks better.
Mr. OK -
You have both CDs!!! Thanks again, btw : )
As far as new material goes, I have 26 compositions in varying stages. 4 are actually recorded and "in the can."
RI - What are the chances you're in NY 2 weeks from today?
[41] I mean the new one when you're finished! Great morning radio show here featuring the West African 'Balafon' this morning, kind of a xylophone type instrument, you know it? Lovely sounds!
[42] Well, slim, but not zero. I am going to be there some time this month, but I'm not sure when and I don't get to choose. (It's not a great situation.)
Why?
Oof
Wow.
The Fenway Faithful seem impressed by Dellin.
Let's keep Headley.
[44] having a second wedding party at my parents' house.
Aw rats. Robbed of insurance
i wish nava ran like a van.
[48] Oh, wow! Well, I should know in a few days when I'm going down. Your folks' place is in Brooklyn, right?
Nailed, junior!
One down.
One more...
Two down
[51]nope, long island, near JFK. my mom is originally from Brooklyn and my brother and dad both worked there for over a decade...
cool, let me know!
uno clavo
[51] i have a comment awaiting moderation. apparently, using the initials of a well-known president who was assassinated and has a NY airport named after him is a "rue-let" word.
let me try this again...
nope, long island, near aforementioned airport that should never be mentioned on word press. my mom is originally from Brooklyn and my brother and dad both worked there for over a decade...
cool, let me know!
Three down!
crap.
get this little pony fucker out fast.
[59] roku/mlb.tv must be s-l-o-w!
nice play by headley. tex, too.
WIN!!!
Night all. 5 am wake up, 600 mile drive, hope to be back for the ESPN game. And maybe be able to drink the water too.
Right, I once got a comment hung for those same initials. Weird.
[61] Good luck!
drive safe, rbj! (<--- safe initials)
interesting pitching duel in queens...