I put this up in the last post, but I didn't get any responses, so I'll repeat myself:

Did anyone see the ESPN story on Cuban defector, Aroldis Chapman, this morning? WOW that kid is awesome; he supposed can hit 102 on the gun, and his curve appeared to absolutely drop off the table. AND, he’s a lefty…Oh, and he’s thin and very young (I don’t see how he could be much older than his reported age of 21..if he is older he’s under 25).

BTW, since I posted that, Pete Abraham gave the following link to a story about Chapman over at ESPN...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4381376

I'm very intrigued by this guy and I like what he has to say. If he pitches as well as they claim he does, I hope the Yanks back up the truck and give him big bucks. If we lose out to the Sox, like we did in the Daisuke sweepstakes, that would be bad. Pete's got reservations because of Contreras, but this kid is a LOT younger.

[1] I didn't see it but did read the espn.com story.

It's not just because of Contreras. Lots of international free agent pitchers have been hugely hyped. How many have been MLB stars? (And I include Daisuke, by the way -- I assume you are right now glad the Yankees didn't win that sweepstakes!)

Not that I wouldn't like to have Chapman in pinstripes. I would. I'm just wary of ponying up enormous dough.

The Red Sox are only 5 back in the loss column, so even if the Yankees win tonight, and both teams play to the same win percentage for the rest of the season otherwise, the Red Sox winning the remaining six games would result in a tie.

Right?

No Matsui tonight. Bay is back for the Shit Sox and Fat Liar is sitting.

Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez DH
Posada C
Swisher RF
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Hairston 3B

Let's Go AN-DY!!!

[3] No -- actually, since they've played a game fewer than the Yankees, the Red Sox actually cannot exactly match the Yanks' winning percentage the rest of the way. It's mathematically impossible. They'd have to do a little better, in which case (as you say) they'll finish in a tie (but then win the division by the head-to-head record tie-breaker), or a little worse, in which case the Yankees would win the division.

[3] Yeah, and the Yanks would lose the tie-break. Good catch.

I forgot to mention, Josh Towers, who replaced Mark Melancon yesterday, is DFAed in favor of the finally-arrived Chad Gaudin.

[6]
"What do we do, now that we are happy?"
"Wait for Gaudin."

[7] "nothing to be done"
i am glad chad's long journey from san diego is over.

[4] can't really say this is a sunday lineup. no letdown from andy.

[2] RI Yank, you're absolutely correct. I am DELIGHTED we lost the Dai-suck sweepstakes. He had 1 so-so year, 1 great year (which was largely lucky due to the high number of walks, 99 which led the league) and has had an absolutely dreadful 2009. Remember, though, Dai-suck was 26.

But Chapman seems different. He's younger; he throws harder and he's a lefty, which figures to be good in Yankee Stadium. I am just thinking that in 2010 we'll have the following rotation:

CC
Joba
AJ
?
?

Right now, Andy Pettitte may fill-in one of those question marks, though I'm sure we'll go through the annual retirement BS. Maybe Phil is the other; though I'd love it to be Phil and Chapman as the #5 guy. I just don't want him going to Bawston; based on what I've read, he appears to be the real deal. I'm sure the Yanks will do their due diligence on this one. It's a shame they can't sign him right now though ala Il Duque.

I am glad that the bidding for Chapman's services will be based on actual bids with room for negotiating on the price, instead of some stupid sealed envelope process with no room for error. I hope we win and the Sox cry about the tentacles of the Evil Empire stretching into Spain (where Chapman's currently residing).

One more thing; if we sign Chapman we don't surrender any draft picks....just food for thought.

[9] 94 walks by dai-suck....

So, how much do you figure Chapman will get?
He isn't MLB-ready, like Dice-K was (he's too young), but maybe one year of AAA will be enough prep?

[11] are you back Stateside?

i actually get to watch most of the game tonight! i really hope to grab a broom later!!!

the todger trio are gearing up for a night of yankee bashing!

26 more times, please!

[9] Just remember, the yanks signed Igawa as a knee-jerk reaction to the red sux getting ahold of dice-k. So, we didn't really come out of that situation unscathed.

But still, your point is valid.

how was your gig in bessemer thelarmis?

[12] I am! Feels good standing right-side up again. All the blood rushing to my head was getting kind of old.

[16] it was actually really good! the Civic Center was a cool place. BIG stage and my drums sounded HUGE! we played well and had a blast. good pay, also! it was a fund raiser and i think part of it was on local TV News, or something like that. the drive was easy and i made it back for last call, so i was happy! : )

yes steve, victor martinez = mark texeira

[17] welcome home!

[15] how ya doin', man? you mostly play upright? we can be the "Banter Rhythm Section"!

Victor Martinez = Professional Hitter.

[17] welcome home!

[18] great - glad it was an all round successful night!!

great start, andrew!

Espn is completely black on my tv along with tons of other channels. Yet tons of other channels are perfectly fine. Crap and wtf.

Also, Seamus, wherever you are, congrats on the promotion!

[24] haha. thanks RIYank! Welcome back stateside!

[23] that sucks, hope it comes back on soon - it is probably steve phillips' fault

Ms. Oct., on Friday night we were waiting for Gaudin, the pitcher was Beckett, and the umpire was James Joyce. Now that's just a recipe for an incomprehensible game.

[18] glad the gig went well man. That must be such a great feeling!

[23] oh, boo!

[24] he's out and about painting the town black & gold! ; )

[27] very nice observation! we're writing one hell of a story. :)

Wow, [24] [25] I summoned Seamus. I'd better be careful, didn't know I had this kind of power.

[27]

well-played ...

WOW!!! that pitch looked waaaay outside. but the replay shows it caught the black.

i'll take the single!!!

Hello Suzyn and John, watching a black screen and listening to you is quite apropos.

Damon after 0-2 count hitting .247, that's actually very good.

Jeter should steal 3rd.

If anyone wants to discuss pitching on this broadcast, why can't it be Kaat or Steve Stone?

[27] nice - really was a recipe for an incomprehnsible game.

and while i was at the game yesterday one of the yankke asshole fans ripped a boston hat off this guy's head and threw it - lucky was NOT happy

[35] plus, 7 walks!

[38] that's uncool and stoopid.

i know it was a day game, but i hope you wore your helmet and bulletproof vest!!!

Isn't the plural of STADIUM .... STADIA .... or is STADIUMS ok too?

[34] there is a p2p feed you can tune in. p2p4u dot net. click on 'other sports'.

Lurking..sick Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO Jr has a Barney video on the laptop while the game is on tv here..not sure who is more annoying to listen to, Barney or Morgan and Phillips...Lester is dog meat tonight, i can smell it!

[41] STADIUMS is fine. We threw of the Roman yolk years ago.

[43] ooh, i hope Jr. gets better and quick!!!

[43] barney?

[31] you really should be more careful.

not ONE person sitting behind home plate was watching the game. not ONE. assholes...

Is that Steve Phillips or Rick Sutcliffe? Either way, I didn't think E@#$ could find anyone more insufferable and conceited (and just plain loony) than Joe Morgan, but man, they strike fool's gold every time >:'

oh well - the yanks will get to lester soon

there was not 1 second of silence that entire half-inning - the todger trio just keeps talking, and talking

[48] steve phillips

[45] thanks thelarmis! Doctor visit was ok on the weekend, the Death Panel didn't send him to the gallows!

[48] it's phillips and he's a fucking moron. kruk was a total tool on BBTN earlier...

siddown you UGLY fuk!!!

so awesome watching ugly strike out.

[42] Cool. You learn something new each day. Luckily, my tv feed just came back. Just in time so see Puke K. : D

nice pitching andy - always great to k ugly

Yoooooooouk!

[47]

they showed a lot of folks on their phones and waving to folks within camerashot ...

Swish!!!

The ball isn't traveling because of the humidor :-)

I am right now wishing that Joe Morgan would talk more, Chyll. It really is incredible.

Okay, now that Joe is talking, I'm no longer wishing he would talk more.

Wait, now Phillips is talking.

Yeesh. This is distressing.

[47] One of the games the other day; the batter fouled the pitch straight back and it hit the net at top-speed. Not one of the idiots back there flinched, because they all had their heads turned or glued to their cells, texting. It's a bit unsettling seeing that on TV, because even in my mind I say, "Look out!" Not that I would mind if, yunnow... POW! >;)

[59] i think the ball isn't traveling because the todger trio is sucking up all the air in the stadium

[62] Hm, that should make it travel further.
I think they're spewing so much CO2 into the air that it's deadening the ball.

[60] i thought there was talk during the offseason that Morgan was gonna be phased out and not doing Sunday Night Baseball regularly. perhaps it was just a dream of mine. i miss FJM. and i wish ESPN would...FJM!!!

I think the booth boys were severely overstating Drew's offensive prowess. Oh well.

yes, let's add mike lupica in to this trio

i've gotta go pick up some dinner. be back in a bit...

GO YANKS!!!

I was at a minor league game in Dayton last week (a great park .... one of the nicest I've been to by the way). They have suites on the top level of the stadium, with sliding doors between the suite and seats in front of the suite (for use by the suite patrons).

A guy hit a screaming foul ball towards the first base side, and JUST missed a guy who was standing just to the right of the OPEN sliding door, NOT WATCHING THE GAME. The ball flew through that open sliding door, and ended up in the HALLWAY of the suite level.

I was stunned .... the guy laughed it off ...

[66] i was just gonna say that! morgan and gollum are friends. i'm not surprised...

Jon Miller - if you didn't suspect Ortiz and Manny, you're more of an idiot than i already thought...

I do wish they'd show Miller & Co. more often. We're seeing the game much too much.

Ok, time to settle down, Andy...

[60] I wish there was a way to just shut off the commentary and hear the stadium sounds. You could play music underneath that... Man, just listening to Morgan now, I might as well just turn thevolume down completely... quothe Guru, "there outta be laws against you yappin' your jaws"...

Yes, Jon, a base hit now could knock in a run. That's why they call it "scoring position".

I saw a highlight the other night that showed the inside of the Mohegan bar when Alex hit his homer. This one dude was texting and his buddy had to hit him in the chest and then point to the field and the former texter began jumping up and down b/c... well......that's what everyone who was watching was doing.

ANDY!!!

yes, put captain facemask away andy

[71] i know - why on earth would we want to see the game

[72] yeah, i don't like to mute the commentary because you lose the stadium sounds. which are what make it so fun to watch in a sense.

STRIKE 3!

Sweet.

Facemask with RISP is like a weak AA catcher, isn't he?

[74] to be fair, if I was there, I might have been texting by the 15th. or posting on here using my iphone. :)

[78] I think facemask is a weak AA catcher these days period.

[77] yeah i find it a bit freaky to mute the tv - and i also like to get the stadium sound - hopefully very soon on some hd channel you will be able to just get stadium sound

I never tire of that Hip Hip Jorge commercial.

[74] Careful, I believe our own williamnyy watched the home run from Moh. Sun!

[77] It's not just the fun, for me. I'm not going to stare at the tube all night, so I'm often looking away, and I count on the sound to jerk me back at important moments.

the lost son of havana might be interesting

[66] heh-heh... in the film biz, they call this a "shit show"... this almost qualifies, sans the technical breakdowns and impossible demands by the EP...

speaking of which, how do you you have TWO (2) movies called Halloween II???

[46] it's official..Barney & BabyBop > than Morgan/Phillips on the Unacceptable Scale..

C'mon SwishY!

Why doesn't someone just audio stream the stadium sounds alone over the net? You could even put in commercials between innings to make money. It would have to be licensed, but why not?

[79] But looking down when some rookie who was getting hit hard by every one was about to throw to Alex. Hoo-boy. The text can wait a minute. : D

[83] yeah that is a key point. Half the time i'm too busy working (i'm working tonight as usual).

[86] wow - poor you (and jr for being sick)

[85] i think we can at least nominate this for a shit show :}

[85] I know! Shouldn't one of them be called "Halloween II 2"???

[87] Sign me up. Except when Cone's on the case.

[91]

Halloween II 2 ... isn't that "Halloween Tutu .... Ballet of Death"? :-)

Wow, OK Jazz! You must go to the nearest shrine and light an incense stick or twelve for your transgressions being punished by both Barney and Miller/Morgan/Phillips at the same time! What on Earth did you do?

Heh heh!

: )

That is one distinctive facial hair growth Mr. Tiant is sporting ...

[86] ear plugs?

What is with that sign behind home plate .... 23 (outlet) 8*11?

This fucking ballgame is distracting from Jon and Luis

[98] Calm down, they only show it once every five minutes or so.

The ballgame, I mean.

ooh good - i thought that might get through for a hit

That worked out well. Nice dp.

the best is phillips looking intently at luis and jon

Andy seems pretty hittable, frankly. On the other hand, the Sox are in a non-hitting rut, so maybe we'll be okay. Before the game I was thinking, "We could win this 3-1." Quite possible.

i've officially replaced joe and the gang and the stadium sounds with experimental dental school. it was too much.

Welcome home RIY! I'm glad you made it home safely.

espn is foregoing their commericals for this circle jerk

[103] yeah andy looks hittable - but he is doing his usual "bed don't break routine"
lester is is looking pretty tough though - hopefully they get to him soon

About that 23 (plug) 8*11 sign ...
http://adage.com/adages/post?article_id=138346

I don't mind listening to Tiante's stories, actually.

Thanks, PJ! Happy to be upright again.

good god MUTE. I usually make it to the fourth or the fifth.

[106] must be for a new SUV/waste of time.

PROFESSIONAL HITTER HAIRSTON!!!

nice ab jh hr

[107] Hm, interesting.

I have a guess (somewhat educated, in fact). I bet the 230 is voltage, and I bet the 8-11 has to do with getting the electricity at cheaper times on the grid. I bet you can plug the car in to juice it at night. Something like that.

Oh man, show the ballgame. They keep cutting away after every pitch to the booth and its infuriating.

This really is setting new lows in baseball broadcasting.

[113] i bet that is a good guess.

[107] We're actually going to 230v as a consumer spending motivator. None of your appliances will work after August 11th, so you'll have to get new ones.

[113] i think the 8-11 has to do with this tuesday, august 11th when they are supposed to reveal what the 230 is all about

Hello, vockins!
Oh, but will there be a special box you can buy, preferably with an FCC coupon?

[118] Oh, that's a much better guess on the 8-11, good.

i have a fairly slow week this week - i think i am going to write a scathing email/letter to espn about this broadcast

[119] Chances are, if there are any installations involved I'll be knocking on your door! >;)

[120] ooh, if you do, please share it with us here!

[121] Hey, that's right, you had a kind of supplemental career with those tv boxes, huh? Yeah, I'm not exactly an electrical engineer but I didn't have a lot of trouble with mine... but if I do have any problems I'll definitely call you in, Will!

i thought ball 3 to Bay, was a pretty good hook. borderline pitch. shoulda punched him out...

[119] No box. I think the plan is to actually do the switch on Monday, then let everyone know the deal on Tuesday, so hopefully everyone will have blown up their plasma TVs, their coffee makers, their razors, etc.

Uh oh.

Aright, counting on Mike Lowell to snuff the rally here...

27 shut out innings and counting?

Throw strikes, Andy!

c'mon andy - throw some strikes

That Luis Tiante interview was brutal.

I got it .... 8/11 and 230 .... is Tuesday ... and what the Sox team batting average will be on that date! :-)

Argh, 3-1 to Mike Lowell. Damn.
Go get him, Andy!

you can't throw nothing but breaking balls andrew!

CRAP.

Well, now Facemask with RISP, so should be no problem.

[123] Call it what it really was: a hustle. The cash tips made it worth driving all over the region, not the commission. I almost had to drive from NYC to Buffalo, Rochester, Ithaca, Watertown, Albany... I would have done it just to see Niagara Falls, but dag. The outfit sending me to these places was based in San Antonio; they look at a map of New York and think I could go from New York to Buffalo in a half-hour >;)

YIKES. Captain Facemask flails again.

[94] too much music downloading coming back to haunt me! Barney done, onto "Blast" now..not to my taste really but at least it's music :)

Damon and Swisher inthe field..always make me think of th emusic from Benny Hill...

good gosh - the adventures of jd in left field!!

Wow! Andy sure got gassed easily after not getting the call on that backdoor pitch to Bay...

: /

Jesus.

Well, not complaining about four scoreless from Andy! But we'll need some good bullpen help.

i hope andy can recover his cutter next inning - this inning got off to such a promising start with 2 quick outs, i thought he would have an easy 123 inning

28.... and The Boston Smackdown I still has life.

[130] I thought it was fascinating; three windbags being held hostage by an old man reminiscing on his life, Ha!

Actually, I am interested in the doc, but that was certainly no place to promote it, as I'm sure they realize now...

nice bunt

[137] LOL @ Yakety Sax! That was a great one by the late, great Boots Randolph!

*smacks little old bald man on his bald head*

: )

Lame.

jesus. nick green = mr. obp : /

Good thing we can't get Nick Green out

woo - careful andy

right joe - he's not trying to catch it. um, that's why he put his glove by the ball and closed it...

GRIT!!!

Christ Steve Phillips sucks

Not only is Pedroia real small but he appears to have no feet. Hooves, maybe

Espn had a Gammons and internet poll of an all time combined Red Sox-Yankee team. The internet poll had Dustbin as the all time combined team second baseman. Oy.

joe - was that your long way of saying pedroia is not a hr hitter?

[154] Well, its not like Joe Gordon or Bobby Doerr ever played for either team.

Link to the poll?

Mix in grit with a lot of professional hitters and you get lots of zeros in a row.

[153] do you think he is a mountain goat?

[156] Sorry. I caught it on Baseball Tonight late last night. I don't know how to link anyway. : /

wow, this trio is just fucking BRUTAL!!!

did laptop steal the score truck after yesterday's game?

[158] no, too cute!

wow, dusty is really ugly. plus, chew is simply DISGUSTING!!!

damn, Lester is bringin' it...

[154] In terms of post season baseball, give me Billy Martin @ 2B All Time, thanks!

[156] I should add that the Gammons lineup was not the same as the intertube people. I don't remember who Gammons had at 2b, but it was most definitely not Dusty.

Pedroia isn't even the best 2B in this game!

: )

[158] A mutant baby mountain goat, that could be it.

I've returned from my long sabbatical (not that anyone noticed I was gone)! Let's win this one!

good - another strike out for ugly

[169] Finally!

yeah, Andrew!!!

[163] I think he's closing the ugly gap with Youk.

Joe Morgan pronounces Mariano like Marijuana ...

[169] welcome back

boston wants smoltz to go to the minors and restructure his contract

Andy Pettitte !!!

He kept backing up and it started getting scary

there's that 123 inning andy

[174] yeah, his enunciation is crazy weird. i don't understand it. or like it...

[177] i know. i was waiting for him to turn around and look up...

[173] Youkilis really isn't that bad-looking without the facial hair. I saw some older game recently and he looked more or less human.

"Hey Andy!" - Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife

: )

did Andy go to Nebraska for the All-Star break with Joba?!

do we send him out to start the 7th, with the bottom of the order (or arder to joe morgan), coming up? take him out at first sign of trouble...

[181] glasses, Alice! get glasses!!! ; )

i'm surprised it's not busier here on a Sunday night, nationally televised Yanks-Boston game....

[181] the picture they have of him up at the stadium and on yes/espn is even worse than he looks now. my friend asked me if he just got out of rikers

damn. that was a nice pitch. lester is on fire. : /

Nothing like standing there with your bat on your shoulders.

Over and over and over again

104 pitches for Andy. 88 for Lester.

take him yard, Mark

crap.

blah on lester striking out so monay yanks

Did El Tiante "borrow" the Yankees' Score Truck to bring all his cousins to the game tonight?

Beckett & Lester really are a good 1-2 punch..too bad the BoSox can no longer hit the ball! :)
Wonder when they finally stop playing Varitek and Papi..I know Francona is loyal but those are two black holes in the lineup..anyways, no doubt in my mind we win this game, 1-2-3 8th from Philthy and then Mo to close out the sweep!

Swish-a-roonie!!!

lol. that roll seemed very unnecessary

"It's a line drive that looks like it might sink." Hmmmmm............

shut up, steve phillips. just stop talking.

swsiher learned - stop, drop, and roll

31 consecutive scorelss innings. That's really sick. I never could have imagined it.

GREAT inning Andy!!!

wow, we kept Nick Green off the basepaths! incredible.

Hey Andy!²

nice quick inning! is that 131 innings? i mean 31. haha

Anyone else think Swisher took gymnastics in H.S.?

what was our team ERA before the scoreless innings started?

jeez. I ran out to the kitchen at work to wash my plates when Teix struck out. Come back and Pettitte is walkin off the mound.

goddamn.

I'm listening to this game on WCBS and watching the box score, so here's a question for those watching on ESPN: would you say Andy is really "on" tonight?

[204] obviously he had an olympic quality floor routine.

[208]

LOL ....

[208] I had him pegged more for Rhythmic Gymnastics...

Hey ..... my boss just approved my next vacation request ... I'm going to San Francisco for a week and a half in late October .... 1st time there .... woohoo!

Pettitte is getting better

[207] the last two innings yes. before that he has been good - but slightly veering into his battle mode. though one inning was a bit scaey when he was bouncing a lot of pitches - he looked like he lost the cutter.

AROD!!!!!!!

A-ROD!!!!

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Woohoo Alex!

alex!!! got that score truck back

Hawks [153] for the late arrivals is a great line. I bust out laughing. How many scoreless innings the Roid sox got now? They must feel like total asses at this point. I can't really fathom...

hell yes! A-bomb

HIP-Hip. A-Rod.

Papi wants what A-Rod is taking ...

Did anyone else kind of have a feeling in that AB?

SHUT THE FUCK UP AND LISTEN ASS CLOWNS.

[211] awesome! i'd like to go some day.

What is Morgan rambling about?

[223] Sorry for the all caps. just talk louder booth guys. : (

I was trying to type that I felt that coming... stupid slow computer, stupid roommate hogging the computer >;)

[213] Thanks!

[211] i really like the San Fran Bay Area. October, will be a beautiful time to be there!

Alex freaking hammered that ball. just crushed! i was hoping he'd do that, but didn't predict it.

Jorgie also scalded his hit.

where's Pettitte at with the ol pitch count? Back out for the 8th?

[222] yes. absolutely had that feeling! : )

[230] Over 110. No camera shot of the bullpen. yet.

[230] 112. prolly go straight to Hughes.

[230] He's at 112, which seems like a few too many, even if he's rolling. Tough to say.

[230] top of the order coming up. might be wise to have a fresh arm.

[230] 112 pitches for Pettite, 68 strikes. Hughes?

Andy at 111 pitches.
And The Boston Smackdown I creeps closer!

[234] Did I hear Miller say Bruney was warming up?

Send Pettitte out.

[219] Thanks! I amused myself with that thought and hoped someone else would benefit!

I wanna see that 2-foot curveball from Hughes. :)

I want to see Hughes here

best 2nd baseman in NY-Bos history! : /

[239] joe miller is talking about dusty using his feet - it is for damn certain he doesn't have feet

damn if he doesn't stumble he probaly beats that out.

Dusty uses his feet (hooves) to move to his right. Thanks, Joe.

damn. if Melk hadn't slipped coming outta the box, he'd prolly have been safe and had an RBI...

has to be hughes then mo (assuming same score)

Victor Martinez comes off the base way too quickly. I want to see that bite him in the ass.

I had to go drive somewhere, heard Sterling call the A-Bomb. Awesome.

If I don't see Hughes out there I'm going on a rampage.

waldman said coke was coming out of the pen

[251] Is Girardi outsmarting himself again?

cokey

COKEY!

Wow, Girardi's use of Hughes this series has been a complete waste. Three tight games, and he faces two batters. Not good.

Anyone know Dustin's UZR rating vs. Cano's? I hate the guy but I like his defense.

I guess the fact that hughes warmed yesterday took him off the automatic list. Scary. And apparently no one warming, so it looks like joe is going to stick with coke here. wow.

NICE!

cokey!!!

Lester's had that pitch all night Snozzberry. Grab some pine.

i'm confused. i understand Cokey against the lefty. But where is Hughes now?

Girardi is officially a douche vis a vis Hughes.

Joe has his Phils crossed. Could happen to anyone.

Coke looks good, but I just hope Joe doesn't try and say Hughes needed the rest, cause if I remember correctly, he pitched 1 batter in Fri and Sat nights' games.

[256] dusty's uzr= 8.4 and cano =-1.9

sterling, waldman and I are very confused. We need some hughes here.

[263] hilarious. sure. that's it.

yeah, the "other" Phil really needs to be in here. this is quite curious. hughes threw, what, 9 pitches the last two games?!?!

I hate that pitch. With an angry, fiery passion.

gotta use Hughes here. it is a one run game. I like Cokey but not against a bunch of right handers.

[268] not sure how many pitches, but he was only in for 1 batter in each game.

Hughes was in 5 of the last 6 games. I'm okay with him resting.

fuck off girardi

i hate you, joe girardi.

yup.

ugh.

Shitfuck!

Yep. Girardi outsmarted himself again.

Spoke too soon.

Pheh... saw that coming too >:'

Predictable. Terrible move. This loss is on Girardi.

[272] i hadn't realized that.

Yug.

And Hughes is where? Up your ass, Joe?

Shit!

I got in late and didn't want my first post to be a my usual critism of Girardi, but this is a manager's loss. 100%. No doubt about it. The Yankees could have left Boston for dead if they had a competent manager. Joe Girardi is incompetent. He is the one thing that has the potential to keep the Yankees from winning a World Series.

More proof of how managers don't win games but they sure do lose them..Joe G's bullpen management this year has been a D-...indefensible not using Hughes there.

hopefully papelbitch will be rusty and we can win...

I'm sick of Phil Coke too.

hairston, jeter, damon next inning. You think Joe thinks he can spot the roid's a couple runs just to make it more exciting?

[272] interesting point. 5 of 6 is not a little. but it's a big game.

[287] It's going to take that now, I'm afraid...

add me to the folks who first-guessed this one

lucky me, my DVR caught up to the live game just in time for me to have to sit through Coke pitching to power-hitting righties

cripes

when girradi didn't need to get mo up he did in previous games - now he needed to go hughes/mo and instead went to cokey

we've got 6 outs to get this back.

will they throw lester back out there?

i really wish Melky wouldn't have slipped before...

If this were just one mistake, it would be one thing. But Girardi has mismanaged every game this series and been lucky that they've played just well enough to win. Terrible, terrible job.

Matsui has to lead-off hitting for Hairston at least, right? Right?

[285] It goes back to that same bullshit mentality he had last year where everything has to be TRICKING SOMEONE. "Nobody would expect me to do this!"

Well of course not. Its fucking stupid.

Well Hawk, you might see your comeback inning after all... unless Joe has another brain fart. Hard to say I won't hold my breath...

I hope nothing's wrong with Hughes that we don't know about. I found it odd that Girardi only used him for 1/3 IP in Friday night's marathon (and by "odd" I mean stupid, but ultimately irrelevant).

Well I guess there's just one more cherry to put on this series. A late comeback. : O

[296] Yes! got to show everybody how counter intuitive he is.

[299] Or Bruney. That would be a cherry

yup, it's Mats. versus flamethrowing Bard...

that was Hideki's pitch (if he had the bat speed)

Hughes threw like two pitches over last three games. I call bullshit.

dude, Hughes looks miserable, I wonder what's up

As Jon just noted, there may be Hughes Rules in play here.

Of course, that just pushes the Girardi mistake back to the earlier games.

groundzilla.

fuck.

this is really gonna tarnish the shine for me on the whole weekend. 6.5 is a lot better than 4.5 and a sweep is super sweet...

[298] well, hindsight is 20/20, Cliff. I mean, at the time Girardi put in Mo for the 9th cause it was a tie game in the 9th and he needed work. Looking back at 6 extra innings, it looks crazy that PHughes only pitched 1 batter.

[305] he's either really pissed or he has the trots or something

[305] that was an odd shot. But I think maybe it was just the "wasn't I pitching there" look?

what's the verdict on the the count splits above the score? informative or distracting?

Hughes looks pissed. Joe looks like a boy who has to get his own switch from the tree...

total bollocks.

I still can't believe how moronic that decision is...it is beneath even my low estimation of Girardi. It is a decision of such incompetence that dismal is not too severe a response. The Yankees will not win a championship with Girardi at the helm. It doesn't matter how much talent they have because in the post season there will be too many close games to avoid his utter incompetence from tipping the balance.

[308] No, it was pretty stupid then as well.

[310] Exactly what it was..no excuse for him not pitching there. None.

tie the game, johnny.

[308] I first guessed that one, too, but it proved not to matter

hot . . . damn

thank you tex!!!

johnny!!!!!

JOH-NNY DA-MON!!!!

JOHNNY DAMON!

fuck yeah! Now we go 16 more innings...

OOOOOOOH SUZYN!!!

JD just loves sticking it to the Sox.

WHOOOOOHHOOHEOHEOHEOHEHOOEHEOH

[320] i mean damn shit - girardi has me so annoyed

Woohoo Johnny!

JOHNNYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sit Down Daniel!!!!!!

Does Hughes pitch in a tie game?

[317] i still got it!!! ; )

[317] Nice!

[297] I thought about that. But ... Oh shit! Damon!

oh hell yeah - back to back -

OMFG!

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

TEX!!!!

Woohoo Tex!

oh, boy. hell yes.

AWESOME!!!!!!!!

WAHOOO!!!!

[320] nice work!!!

Holy Mother of Yankees...

[320] does ms october live in the future?

Tex and Johnny back-to-back for the 5th time, I believe.

anything you can do, i can do better!!!

make a trifecta Alex!!!

OMG.

Well, Daniel Bard has a weakness, huh?

Maybe the Yankees do have enough talent to overcome their manager?

Keep 'em coming!

Nice! Very, very nice!

Let's hope A-Rod gets another now!

I love this team. From the biggest Tex bomb to the littlest Pena chip n' bloop.

[344] she does.

[344] yes, one where the yanks have a manager who makes sound decisions

Cherry Squared.
Unrelatedly, Morgan's analysis is a dagger to my head.

Can't ever give up on these guys! My gosh.

and thus the legend of Young Daniel Bard was forever changed..the lighting in his arm dimmed by the power of Yankee Universe..

wow...Johnny and Tex just made me smile!

baseball is such a funny game, what could be one of the best and most needed wins of the Sox season is now 3 outs away from being maybe it's most crushing loss.

God I love this.

I'm sure glad they didn't trade Bard before the deadline!

: )

the mood swings 'round these parts are hilarious in an unfunny kind of way

[345] really? wow! there it is - 6th time!

and mo is warming up

So I guess we might not see the great papelbon.

I was gonna say my dream of a back breaking comeback win did not include Girardi bullshit, so I didn't anticipate being all bent out of shape. However I feel pretty good now. Knock on wood!

So I take it Bard = Farnsworth...

: )

[360] this is like a pregnant blog...

I can't decide if shutting the Sox out for three games would have hurt more than giving them that moment of hope then taking it back for the sweep

still just a one-run game, of course . . .

[360] mood swings? Back to back home runs when down a run in the 8th? Yeah, I'd say there's a mood swing (and a game swing!).

winning this game would be HUGE....it's not a 1 game difference....It's two. If we win, we go up 6.5; and if we lose we're up 4.5. So it's like winning twice if that makes any sense.

This is the 3rd time I am going to try and type this. Exciting things keep happening. : D Hughes will be good to go tomorrow when he faces the Jays. And I when I say that I mean his proverbial 1 batter. My guess is on Vernon Wells.

[366] tee-hee

Becky wasn't nearly this bad . . .

Looks like D Bard has to learn that in the ML you can't just throw hard, you have to mix it up and locate. Sox fans should pray he doen't take as long to learn that as it took Nolan Ryan.

[360] my bass player was asking me about the games this weekend a few days ago and was surprised to find out how difficult they are for me to watch and follow. he said, "oh, that'll be fun." FUN?!?! i said that's the last thing these games are. pressure filled, stress inducing, stomach bleeding, mood swinging torture sessions!!! i'll be soooo happy if this holds up!!!

[367] oh having a moment of hope and then yanking it away is even more painful to me

[370] which proverb was that?

[360] Sometime when you're in a laughing mood, go read the first two or three hundred comments of Thursday night's thread. You would have thought the season was over - now look at where our boys are!

And the hits keeps coming!!!

BURY THEM.

[367] stealing it back would definitely hurt more....Not that I'm counting my chickens yet....never count them against this team (just like they shouldn't against our team).

[373] the postseason is like that for me, but unless a playoff spot is on the line in late Sept, not the regular season.

Alex was running so well earlier in this series, but here he definitely looked hampered. Maybe he needs a full day off tomorrow?

[372] i suggest we send him to kyle farnsworth's academy

Alex did not look great running. i wish he scored.

Though Hughes is the obvious move, we still don't know if he has a sore arm, went past some mystical "1hr recovery per pitch +6 per appearance" pseudo arm science formula, or Joe just a had a bit of brown stained "inspiration." appearing in 5 of 6 is a lot.

Come on Swish. Bury them.

[372] Bard was throwing an 82 mph breaking ball for a strike. I don't think his repertoire is a problem. He's facing good hitters and he's a rookie in a pressure situation he's never faced before.

Swishilicious!!!

YES!!!!!!

swisheroo!!

SWISH-A-LICIOUS!!!!

Hells Yeah. This is fun. : )

BEST

WEEKEND

EVER

[375] #302 in the book of Just Fair, Aug 7 2009 chapter. =)

5-2, baby!!

[373] I LOVE these games - they actually don't make me tense at all. I'm done worrying about the Red Sox, and I'm tired of letting them have that kind of impact on me.

[381] Yeah Farnsworth too. He would look so good in low leverage situations, and then well, we all know. As a Yankee fan I wouldn't mind If Bard is the new Farnsworth.

[380] I'd expect and hope he gets a rest tomorrow, yes. He's earned it this weekend.

Can't believe Pettitte doesn't get the win.

Anyone know a way to listen to WEEI streaming for free? I really want that to rock me to sleep tonight

[379] i am a complete mess in October. my ex-girlfriend used to leave our apartment for every game. i'm impossible. every pitch is literally life and death. i know you can relate!!!

now...this is FUN!!!!

[391] Dare we say it?

[391] Can't second that hard enough.

[371] ...let's just hope the blog is preggo with a WS trophy.

Beautiful by Swish. Fingers crossed Rivera hangs on to the lead (don't jinx us!!!).

You guys got it wrong. Joe's a genius!!! Make stupid moves just to give the team more of a challenge and it seemed to work!!!!

Back breaker! I hope.

Like Elmore James sang, I believe I'll dust my broom!

[395] yeah i thought about that too as victor's ball was sailing into lf - hopefully he'll like the outcome of the game though

[381] Beware of Dog!!!

Miller is making the point and it's so true. All of this AFTER the V-Mart bomb and two quick outs to start the inning...incredible.

this has been a great great weekend. It was exciting on the Wednesday before and it's exciting as midnight approaches on the sunday after. Great baseball, great team, great blog. [366] I think I feel contractions!

[383] That's a fair point, but you do have Bruney, who pitched well on Friday. Also, the problem is not so much avoiding Hughes, but using him for 2/3 of an inning. In other words, the Yankees very well could have lost a game because Hughes warmed up too much.

This is really an immensely talented team, but it is run by a manager who is an abysmal game manager. This may turn out to be a great, dramatic comeback win, but they didn't have to be in that situation. Come playoff time, the Yankees may still be able to overcome Girardi's inexplicable decisions, but why should they have to?

man, you just have to give it up for this Yankee team

they didn't just get the one run back, they didn't just take the lead, they're making it safe before Mo even gets in

They've won every type of game you can win this weekend (blowout, marathon pitchers duel, well-pitched low-scoring win, now back-breaking comeback)

I just hope they're not peaking, that they can keep this sort of stuff up through October.

[11] hey RIYank, sorry I didn't get back to you earlier, but I was hanging with the family. I think that Chapman could get upwards of $100 million. I realize that it's more likely that he'll get $50 million. But, unlike posting of Japanese players, his agent will be able to pick up the phone and say, "Hey Cash, I just got off the phone with Theo and the Red Sox are talking $60 million for 5 years..." That should make the money go up. If Dai-suck is worth $50 million + a $50 million posting fee, what's a lefty with a 102 MPH fastball worth?

I think we have the advantage and it's not just money. I remember when Dai-suck kept saying he wanted to be a Yankee, and there was an impression created that he was disappointed not going to NY. After all it's the biggest stage in the world with the most history; and players in those countries grow up hearing about the Yankees more than any other team. So, hopefully he's got his heart set on being a Yank and the negotiations will be about squeezing money out of them.

[397] thelarmis, imagine having to watch those postseason games in the heart of Boston - the night of Game 7 in 2003, when it was finally over, I ran outside on the balcony of my apartment and screamed 'eff you, Red Sox fans!' because we'd been hearing it all night from them, screaming and chanting "Yankees suck" every time something went against the Yanks. (I lived about a quarter mile from Boston College at the time, and was surrounded by BC and BU students.)

The next day, I've never seen Boston so dead. Literally everywhere you went, people were in some kind of funk. The day after 9-11 didn't feel as dead as that day.

Cliff, after a brief read through some proverbs all go with this one.
Advice should be viewed from behind. Swedish
It goes welll with baseball blog. I guess. : D

[385] Yeah I know he's a rookie, and I hope the Yankees killed his confidence for a long while. His stuff is too good.

[404] that is awesome!

[395] Worse yet, Coke will get the win. Pitching wins: worst. stat. ever.

[391] [398] [401] [408] [410] Don't jinx the game!!! If Rivera blows this, it's on you.

[396] I believe it's free on the website: WEEI.com.

[410] I don't think they're peaking, I'd worry about that more if this were mid-September. They're probably due for one more bad little stretch before October, which is fine by me as long as they make it in...builds character.

Bury them

[415] like this?

Okay... about this Hughes issue -- is warming up and facing ONE batter as taxing as working an inning? Rhetoric, yes, but seriously is that enough to justify him unusable the next night?

It is times like this that I thank God I live in RSN. Listening to the nonstop pain will be such a pleasure!

Boston Smackdown I.... 3 outs to go!
(Anyone remember we were 3 games back at the ASB?)

[397] It's funny because I may be a little less nervous in the playoffs. Part of that is because I really do value the division title. The other reason is because every loss in the regular season can hang over your head for the entire season. A loss in April can kill you in September.

Best weekend since August 18, 2006 or perhaps September 7, 1978.

[412] i could NOT imagine. i was on a gig downtown. we just finished and i was watching the tv with a billion other people. i was soooo happy after, i started tipping the bums outside 5 dollar bills!!! called my ex, who's from Worcester...

Mo is soooo calm. hope he's just setting up the DP...

i've been pretty relaxed about this weekend, but it ties and tears me up most of the time...

[411] Wait, so, over five years, you mean?

I think $50M over 5 years sounds plausible.

that was a great pitch. fuck you, blue!

[409] I agree that the unneeded warming of hughes and the single batter use is not strategically sound. I'm impressed with your and Cliff's confidence that Joe is really that bad. My instinct is that you are totally right, but my head says there's information we don't have. One thing I know for sure is that Girardi lies.

[426] Massacre Part 3?

It's not over yet...something about counting chickens.

the mood swings ’round these parts are hilarious in an unfunny kind of way

I disagree :)

Please keep the tying run in the on the deck circle. Thanks.

Boston Smackdown I…. 2 outs to go!

Mo is getting nothing

[430] Massacres happen at Fenway. So now, Smackdowns happen at the Stadium.

[429] I criticized two moves. I didn't make any generalizations about Girardi's bullpen use, which is, at the very least, far better than Torre's was.

The Bronx, where Smackdowns happen!

Sounds good.

[436] A very fair point.

The Boston Smackdown it shall be!

I really don't think Joe is bad at all at managing the bullpen. And part of that is in the results. Our bullpen has been fantastic. Some of that is most certainly due to how they are used.

man the Mitre/Rzepcyznski matchup I'll be at tomorrow sure will rival tonight in terms of emotion and excitement

[427] Yeah, I am not saying he'll get a $50 million signing bonus. Hell maybe he'll get $10 million to sign and then a 4 year incentive laden contract. Regardless, I want the Yanks to get him because if he's even 75% of as-advertised he'll be a difference maker for years to come. We're talking balance of power...

YEAH!!!!

Siddown, 'C'

GO MO!!!

run back to the bench and find your facemask

uno mas

Boston Smackdown I…. 1 out to go!

Papi's been sloppy!

I would love a K against this juicer.

[441] heheh

[440] I don't think he is bad at running the bullpen overall. I think he is awful at late game management.

That was fucking beautiful.
(My feed is way behind, maybe fifteen seconds, and just saw Tek strike out.)

Shaun P. Thanks for supporting the Proverb Truck. : D

You wanna always be right, don'cha, Steve?

please end the game right here and now.

Let him hit it Mo!

Don't even paint...down the middle!!!

[439] the Bronx Bludgeoning? The Bronx Beatdown?

i HATE the spit and slap bit

Shit.

Why? Why would they not just throw it down the middle? I don't get it. That's not Mo. Perplexing.

DAMN.
Getting Papi would have been a great way to finish.

D'oh. That was a waste.

crap. interesting is not good. end it quickly here. thank you, please!

[437] On further review (Cliff) my call has been overturned. my bad. Not sure where I got the impression from...

[450] Our modern world: apologizing in an instantaneous, world-wide discussion for seeing an image from another location on earth fifteen seconds late.

[451] I can't forget that, because it was so true, Just Fair. =) monkeypants is usually the one who goes on and on about Girardi's usage of Hughes - but I feel pretty much the same way. You capture those feelings perfectly.

Ellsbury up to hit? I'm not concerned.

7th walk of the season for Mo..not a good time...Ellsbury will not come through though!

SMACK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone please give credit for my brilliant presaging of a comeback win before the game even started. Okay maybe it was more like a request but still.

YES!!!! SWEEP.

How SWEEP it is!!! : )

6.5 games!!!

baby

wonderful, wonderful, wonderful

great weekend team -

All Rise. I'm exhausted. : )

I believe I shall bring my broom with me to work tomorrow, and ask people what they think about the Pats this year. Good night all!

FUCKING BEAUTIFUL!!

and just to top it off, giving them a sliver of hope in the 9th. Lovely.

I wasn't worried.

At all.

Serious.

Thanks be to Mo.

Hu-ahh! I need a smoke... (and I don't even smoke!) >;)

This team is going to the World Series this year, I can feel it!

Don't forget...the Yankees also picked up 2 1/2 over Tampa this weekend too. Perhaps in another week or two we can all start rooting for the Rangers.

We will look back in 6 weeks and say this is the day we clinched the division.

ZOMG!

Woo fuckin' hoo!

Winning Non Stop!

What a great series!

How sweep it is!

Have a great rest of your weekend folks!

[468] yeah hawk - i'll give you credit - you brought up the comeback - might as well have thrown a comeback into the mix

and joe morgan with the sterling imitation - somehow an appropriate way to end the night

[479] yeah, rays lost big today!

Start spreadin' the Brooms....Yanks are sweeping today.....

Ave Hawk, by the way!

Can we all listen to WEEI together?

our Run Diff has also soared above both the Rays & Roid Sox

[483] with kazmir getting rocked - i thought he might go on a nice run

[480] But I think we'll look back on that night in the ATL when Cash showed up as the time when the change occurred.

nice win! This really couldn't have gone better.

[482] Yeah, how bad do you have to be to make you wish for Sterling at this point?

Go Rangers!!!

I did flip on WEEI for a while, but it was so far ahead of my ESPN feed I couldn't do it.

The WEEI postgame show sucks. Dullsviille. But I will most definitely be listening tomorrow morning. That's going to be Meltdown Morning for RSN. God, I can't wait.

[489] Agreed, thats shaping up to be the true turning point of the season. Cash shows up, Joe gets tossed, Frankie goes deep...we haven't really looked back.

Frankly I think the fact that this team only took off after Michael Jackson died should count for something...

I think it is just amazing how good we have been for the past what 3 months? Best record in baseball and a huge division lead. Feels pretty good. Now I'm mostly worried about hitting the post-season in stride. Get our inevitable slump out of the way sometime in September.

Dear anyone on here that frequents all the blogs,

Do me a favor and post a link to the most pathetic boston blog you see tonight or tomorrow morning.

Sincerely,
Me

I live in Boston, and the moment of the night was hearing a dude curse Francona and all of his children for not getting Teixiera. I'm going to go have a beer.

[497] please get that on tape next time. hahaha

[496] [478] For me the sweetest part of all this, particularly if and when we win the world series,is that none of us are going to give a rat's ass about Boston come October. We'll be on here talking world series, experiencing the ups and downs of every pitch and ever at-bat, and we won't think twice about Boston. They'll be a distant memory and we'll be too busy celebrating to even visit one of their blogs. That's how I feel about it.

And I agree with Tokyo, this feels like a world series team to me....It really does. Just stay healthy, stay focused, win 2 of every 3, get Joba extra rest in September, win the ring, and sign Chapman in the offseason...

[496] Here's a snippet from the dirtdog game thread.
[QUOTE]Yankee trolls, when you come back for the next series, let me be the first to say that you are not welcome here. We still lead you 8-4, which is all I care about. I don't care about the division, as long as we beat them more than they beat us. Unless they do 8 in a row, I'm not worried.