Daily Archives: July 3, 2003

EL BRUHO

Ed Cossette had a great post yesterday about El Bruho, Ramiro Mendoza. The Sox will try Mendoza as a starter. Ed wants Dozie to do well in the worst way, and I can’t blame him. Mendoza was one of my favorites when he was with the Yankees. I hope he does well too. Just not that well, and not against the Yanks. Dozie will face Rocket Clemens on Saturday.

Here is an exchange Ed and I shared today:

Edward,
I agree with the Globe that one of the most impressive features of the 2003 Sox is their ability to shrug off seemingly devastating loses, and comeback and win the following game.
But against Tampa? Dammit, you are supposed to beat those scrubs.
Still, this Sox team has the makings of one of those cinderalla stories like the Angels last year.
A couple of things have to go down for that to happen:
1) They need to fix the pitching. The pen could right itself, and so could the starting rotation with one key addition, which looks like it’ll happen one way or another.
2) They need to stay healthy. The fact that the offense has been so healthy thus far brings back memories of ’78, and how injuries killed during the second half.
3) They need to the Yanks to fall off.
Actually, I really think the Sox could win the division even if the Yanks don’t implode. I understood the analogy you made in your piece today about the Yankees endless surplus of money and talent, but I’m not sure the Sox-Cuban angle fits. The Sox aren’t exactly the A’s or the Twins in terms of money now are they?
Anyhow, the anticipation is killing me already. I hope the Yanks win 2, and if they could win 3 I’d be elated. I have no feeling for what will happen, but I agree that no matter how many tough games the Sox lose, it doesn’t seem to deter them. That is a mark of something good, and that is a scary thought for Yankee fans.
Alex

Here is Ed’s reply:

The Yankees will most likely sweep the Sox. No point in dreaming otherwise.

At this point, they are just another Red Sox team like the 30 or so other Red Sox teams I’ve followed over the years. We’ll see where they are on Labor Day and then I’ll start to get excited if they are still in it.

You missed the most important point about shrugging off the losses. It’s more difficult to shrug off a loss to Tampa Bay, a team you’re supposed to beat, then it is to shrug off a loss to a team that is good.

Last year, Tampa Bay came back in the second game of a double-header in the 9th in late July and that was fucking that. Sox dropped 8 straight afterward and it was Season Over.

So last night’s win was HUGE.

Hmmm.

Good point. I stand corrected.
If you were anyone but a Sox fan, I’d curse you for jinxing the Yanks, saying that they’ll sweep…
Still, you are crazy if you don’t think you guys are going to creamolish wack ass Andy Pettitte on Sunday. The guy is a crazy Jesus freak and never pitches well on the Sabbath.
Word.

How do you like my nerve, going head-to-head with a Red Sox fan in the gloom-and-doom department? Can’t say I lack chutzpah, right?

Oh yeah, Ben Jacobs’ Universal Baseball Blog (linked on the left) can be counted as a Red Sox site of sorts. Ben will be in New York for one of the games. He also happens to write an exceedingly well-balanced and informative blog that is well worth checking out.

I don’t know if I’ll be posting during the weekend, but I’ll have the wrap up on Monday morning. I hope that everyone has a happy and safe holiday weekend.

NERVES

I don’t know about you, but the tension of a Yanks-Red Sox series leaves me emotionally drained. And that’s before the damn thing starts. It’s the only time the Yanks play a team where I look for ways to avoid watching the game. I don’t take much comfort in the history of the rivalry which says the Yanks will always come out on top. Instead, I always figure since the Yanks have usually won, it’s about time the Sox turned the tables. But hey, I’m a pessimist by nature when it comes to these things. Especially when the Sox field as dangerous a team as they have now.

Fortunately, I’m not alone. Here is a portion of an e-mail Brian Cook, who runs the excellent Red Sox Nation blog:

I too am nervous about the series this weekend, because a Yanks sweep means 7 or 8 back going into the break, and that’s going to be tough to overcome. I’m more nervous about the Sox players getting too hyped for this and squeezing sawdust out of the bat handles. The Sox always get overhyped for this rivalry – what is really like the rivalry between the hammer and the nail – and don’t seem to ever play loose against the Yanks (except in 98 and 99).

Isn’t this supposed to be fun? What are you kidding? Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit smoking.

Don’t forget to check out the Yankee and Red Sox blogs I have linked on the left hand side of the page, for all the varying perspectives on this classic rivalry. I can promise you, it won’t be dull.

WILLIE, MICKEY AND THE DUKE

Jane Levy, who wrote the insightful and poignant biography of Sandy Koufax last year, is working on a new book. Actually, before I get to that, Ms. Levy has a novel about a female sportswriter who loves the Yankees called Squeeze Play that is due out next month. (A Bronx Banter chat with Jane is in the works.)

Ms. Levy is currently doing research for her next project, a book about Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Duke Snider, and is looking for all the help she can get, so she asked me to pass along a request. Ms. Levy is looking to speak with anybody who was at the famous Bobby Thompson “Shot heard round the world” game; the second game of the ’51 World Serious (when Mantle tore up his knee on an exposed drain pipe); Mantle’s first pre-season exhibition game vs. the Brooklyn Doders; the game where Duke Snider twisted his knee, as well as anyone who might have ever seen the Say Hey kid playing stickball in the streets of New York.

If anyone out there was at any of these events, or perhaps knows somebody who was, you can contact Ms. Levy at NYCF8@aol.com.

Good looking out.

ALOMAR TRADE HAS A NICE RING TO IT

The Mets finally moved disgruntled future Hall of Famer Robbie Alomar two days ago. He was sent to the Chicago White Sox for three minor leaguers, including a left-handed closer named Royce Ring. I spent most of my idle time dreaming up backpage headlines for Ring yesterday. The move mericifully ends the sad stay of Alomar in Shea. I always enjoyed and revered Alomar when he played for Toronto, Baltimore and Cleveland and was excited when he came to the Mets. But he was a bad fit for them and vice versa, and after awhile I just wanted to him to go away, for the his sake and the Mets sake. His play was depressing, and I want to enjoy his game again.

The White Sox added Jurassic Carl Everett too as they make a push in the central.

WARSHED OUT

The Yanks got an unexpected break before the big serious in the Bronx against the Sox this weekend, as yesterday’s game in Baltimore was rained out (it will be made up on August 14th). They have an off day today. Brandon Claussen will not start on Saturday after all. Instead, Boomer will pitch Friday, followed by Rocket, Pettitte and then Mussina. Couldn’t Claussen pitch instead of Andy? Nah, I guess that’s not going to happen. Too bad, cause I figure the Sox will torch Pettitte.

Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus had some interesting comments regarding Claussen in his Under The Knife column a few days ago:

What Claussen is doing–returning to competition at just over a year post-surgery–is not only amazing, it’s unprecedented. Not only has the new rehab protocol gotten him back more quickly than anyone, the return of his control is even more astounding. I have some theories on what was different and hope to have more facts for you soon. Claussen is clearly a medical marvel and perhaps as important a Tommy John patient as we’ve had since, well, Tommy John.