It’s hard to imagine ever saying this, but a couple more games in Boston would be pretty great right about now. Those guys will get it together at some point this season and they’ll revamp the rotation with young guns or Cole Hamels or whatever and they will not be such easy-pickens.
Even with this vulnerable squad, the Sox turned an 8-0 hole into a nail biter as David Ortiz was one swing away from winning the game with bases loaded and two outs in the ninth. Andrew Miller will not, apparently, save every game in 1-2-3 fashion, so he might be human after all. He issued an ominous lead-off walk that opened the door to the top of the lineup where Mookie Betts and Dustin Pedroia survived his entire arsenal to reach base (a walk and panic-sweat inducing error by Headley).
Miller went to the slider to bury Ortiz and it looked like he wouldn’t test his shovel as the first two pitches baffled Papi. But Ortiz buckled down in that annoying way great hitters do and that last strike a lot tougher than the first two. He spit on two chasers and then lashed a liner to center. With all the shifts in baseball, especially with hitters like Ortiz, it’s always a mystery as to where the fielders are standing when they cut to the field camera. Fortunately, this time Ellsbury was standing right where he needed to be and wrapped up the win (and a wonderful night for himself), 8-5.
And now to Canada! Through customs and everything, to face the Blue Jays who so rudely ruined the season opening series by kicking Yankee-butt. Fortunes have flipped though and let’s hope the Yankees can return the favor.
***
After a very thorough second-grade Social Studies unit on Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, we went to visit the museum and ride the ferry. The kindergartner was very taken with the immigration process as we moved from Great Hall to examiniation room around the island. When we had visitors from Boston a few weeks later, he checked with me, “Will they have to go through Ellis Island to get here?” They should Henry, they should.
The team is playing great, they are fun to watch - despite Stephen Drew still being on the roster. The longer Drew is on the Yankees roster, then the probability of him playing more of a role on this team increases, and that scares the shit out of me.
[0] Great write up, Jon!
Oooh, a Romeo and Juliet pun to complement last night's Hamlet. (I filled the gap with Macbeth pun comments last night.)
Yeah, tell Henry there's a delousing booth set up on Rt 95 now. Just to keep New York clean.
[2] Thank you!
[3] I will be happy to continue in this vein as long as the Yankees keep sweeping teams. No puns if they get swept, tho, that's not fun.
Is there a better 1 & 2 in baseball than Ellsbury and Gardner?
How sweep it is!
Great series by the Yanks. I was watching the game late last night on the DVR, and it was looking like the icing on the cake. Thankfully, I could fast forward to get through the agita quicker.
When Warren hit Ramirez, I was thinking it was on purpose and about time. Hell, prior to that in this game, the Sox hit Headley, and they also hit McAnn and Tex on Friday. Back in the 90's people would have been drilled by the Yanks.
This likely fired up the Sox as that was when the rally started. I was really angry that the Ellsbury was hit, but more angry that we couldn't cash in on that in the 8th with the bases juiced after that asinine plunking.
It should have been an easier win, and I wonder if this will reheat the rivalry as things have been a little lackluster and we have been missing some vilains lately. How can you hate Big Papi and Pedroia the pixie? Maybe the sox will get Pimplebum back from the Phils?
Let's get those hoser donut eating Blue Jays ey?
-Greg
[6] James Taylor should've sung "How sweep it is...to be loved by you" last night. I mean, I'm sure he lived in NYC for a year at some point in his career...
7) I love it!
That shows how tired I was watching the game last night. I am a JT fan, but I fast forwarded his singing in the 7th. He is someone who has looked old for a long time.
Great voice! His music is a little too heavy metal for me. I like mellower stuff.