The Yankees had a beautiful day for the opening of their new stadium yesterday. Unfortunately the game turned out to be their ugliest loss of the season thus far. Today the weather is even better (just as sunny, but warmer), and the Yanks hope their fortunes will respond in kind.
Joba Chamberlain makes his second start of the season. His first start, on Sunday in Kansas City, was a good one (6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K), but the bullpen (specifically Phil Coke) blew the game. The Indians counter with former Cardinals prospect, and fellow flat-brimmer, Anthony Reyes, who didn’t pitch as well against the Blue Jays on Sunday (6 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 2 K), but benefited from eight runs of support to earn the win.
Over parts of four seasons, Reyes posted a 5.38 ERA in 220 2/3 innings for the Cardinals, in part because of the 37 home runs he allowed. The Indians picked up Reyes at last year’s trading deadline for minor league righty reliever Luis Perdomo (last seen being claimed off waivers from the Padres by the Giants last week). The early returns on Reyes were excellent (five strong starts, a 1.83 ERA, and just two taters), but Reyes’s sixth start ended early due to elbow pain, an echo of the arm problems that plagued him at USC. Reyes butted heads with Dave Duncan in St. Louis because Duncan responded to his gopheritis by trying to get him to become a sinkerballer. Reyes got his way by getting out of Dodge, but he’s now 27 and has yet to have any sustained success in the majors (his five starts for the Tribe in September were undermined by a severe dip in his strikeout rate).
Reyes has never faced the Yankees before, though Nick Swisher did go 0-for-3 against him in an interleague game in 2007. This will be Chamberlain’s first start against the Indians, though he’s faced them seven times in relief, most famously in the “midge” game in the 2007 ALDS.
"Unfortunately the game turned out to be their ugliest loss of the season thus far."
Well... at least they "tried!"
Pfft!
I'm looking forward to Joba's first start at home! I hope he builds off of his game in K.C.
Joba, we don't want you to pitch like our current "bridge to Mo" guys.
Solo shots don't bother me. Multiple run innings however...
;)
Hey, Team. Once and for all, I want to resolve something about the mlb package, if anyone can help.
If I understand correctly, a subscription to mlb premium would *never* allow me to watch games as they are played because I am "in-market," is that right?
Since I live in YES territory and yet do not purchase cable to get me YES, I am punished by being allowed to watch games on the mlb package only after they have been completed, right?
I mean, motherfucker. How infuriating.
Back in my day, you turned on channel fucking eleven, period.
Or if you were out and about, you turned on 770 and actually got to listen to real broadcasters.
Grrrrr.
[2] I almost thought that read "midge to Mo".
[5] Hah, I'm not that clever this early in the day.
[4] Well Gameday audio is not blacked out, so there is that. Where are you located?
Way to go "offense"
[4] You could also use the (in)famous proxy system...
Looks like the offense is picking up right where it left off yesterday and last year, at least at home, in leaving everyone on base...
[7] I'm in New Haven, so I get the broadcasts on radio. Listening now.
whoa, not an awesome start for Jobs.
[9] Yeah, I heard about this "proxy" system. I might look into that, but that's way more techie than I am (which isn't saying much at all).
[4] How about getting the MLB package for your computer? Im not sure if they do the local blackout, but if so, you can do that 'foreign' IP thingy.
That was better
[13] Yeah, that's what I'm talking about, my computer. Oh, right, there's also an mlb cable channel, right?
Yeah, I'm talking about the internets. Reading the rules, it seems to me that they black out each and every Yankee game, whether home or on the road, until said game has been completed. Rat bastards that they are.
Way to go, Joba.
Anyone watching who can tell something about how Joba looks? Tentative? Commanding? Wild?
Here's Cano, come on, Robby!
[12] Its really not too high tech. Basically just putting an address into your computer that routes your internet traffic through that site and puts your location there. The real trick is just finding one that isn't painfully slow. You can certainly do a month of mlb.tv and test it out, and cancel it if it isn't worth it...
[16] He is throwing a TON of breaking stuff, seems to still lack complete control over the FB. Breaking stuff looks pretty good though, and hes hitting 95 with his FBs...
Reyes, on the other hand, seems to be one of those junkballers who torment the Yanks
Cleavland station is showing a picture of an appletini. Gotta agree with them that that just ain't right at a ballgame.
Ugh, Cody, please, please do something besides strike out or hit into a DP.
I am enjoying all the shots that blatantly show the empty expensive seats...
On the other hand, I am not enjoying the Yankees offense thus far at the new stadium...
[21] Just like you're watching a game in Baltimore or Toronto, eh?
Can we all now please see how much this team needs Alex Rodriguez?
[17] [18] Cheers!
Sterling: "Lead off walks usually score, unless they're followed by a double play."
[24] fantastic.
Does anyone else get the sense that Joba still has a ways to go in terms of "pitching," in the sense that he has great pitches, great "stuff," but hasn't quite mastered the ins and outs of it all. Obviously hes young and all that, but sometimes it just feels like he's just up there throwing, and a lot of his inefficiency and walks come from that. Does that even make sense?
[26] Yes. He knows how to throw certain pitches, but doesn't seem to have a strategy of how to pitch a game.
Thank God Gardner removed the GiDP opportunity for Jete.
Ugh, shaping up into one of THOSE games...
Weeping, you're in New Haven? Do you know about the section of town known as The Carter?
Yes!
That had to go out, as nice as he hit that...
It's gonna be a long day when even the hitters who belong in the majors can't get the ball out of the infield.
Oooh! I should talk up a little more, huh?
[33] I guess Damon and Tex didn't get that memo.
Thats two days in a row that a comment like that from me was followed by a HR!
And WOW, that was a BOMB by Tex!
God, how much would I pay to never hear Sterling say, "Back to back, and a-belly to belly!" I actually find it creepy, not just annoying.
[30] No, Will, I do not.
[33] A hit! A very palpable hit... (feel better?) >;)
[33] Yeah, I'm like two minutes behind on MLB.tv.... Damonic!
that cortisone shot seems to be working just fine.
[36] Where/what was the pitch?
Hey can any of you mlb.tv people use the nexdef thing? Its absolutely useless for me, totally choppy.
Ok, this will be a huge test for Joba. Can he make this hold up?
[41] Pretty much a straight and up fastball that Tex murdered to what would have been the old visitor's bullpen area in right-center, but probably past it.
Now maybe Joba can settle in.
[37] Good for you. My producing partner grew up in New Haven and tells me a lot of horror stories. I'd been there a lot when I was a kid and I know New Haven has it's very nice parts, but you wouldn't know hearing it from him.
[42] Do you mean the DVR/picture in picture capability? It works pretty well for me, but I've got broadband wireless at a university. It works well on digital cable at home too, though. I used the picture in picture a lot the other day when Wakefield had the no-no going, it switched pretty seamlessly.
I only had a brief, 25 minute window to watch the game today. I think I got my money's worth! Now hold em, Joba, while I go back to work!
[41] it was belt high out over the plate, whatever it was.
[42] i'm watching the HD mlb.tv feed. yesterday my stream was painfully slow. the indians had scored 5 or 6 runs before i could watch the start of that half of the inning. today seems to be better. good luck to you.
you can also adjust the quality of your feed by clicking on those green bars on the bottom of that window. could help a bit.
Dammit... that should be a dead ball.
It hit him. The guy is out.
Good for the umpires.
Whew.
[47] [49] Yeah, well, I mean just watching it on nexdef anyway. I have to turn it over to "normal" or whatever it is b/c unless I put the bar down to like 1 or two, its unwatchable. And thats with a very good internet connection. Some of it is prob. my computer, but I have seen in the forums that its a big problem that, not surprisingly, mlb refuses to comment on or be helpful at all..
I guess it'll be good to get April out of the way for the home games, so the starters can get used to pitching here...
[54] no. that isn't your computer. (i don't think.) when i drop down to 1 or 2 bars, the resolution is pretty terrible.
did cano not realize that the guy was no longer on 1st?
Is it just me or is this game going real slow.
Talk to him, Jorge; he's toying too much...
This is exactly what I was talking about earlier. Joba has him 0-2 and then messes around with four straight balls. Go after him and stop wasting pitches!
[60] Yeah, I was just about to ask. He just won't go to his fastball for the kill, is the thing?
I guess he has no confidence in it, but I wonder why? He's got velocity and movement, no?
Or maybe it's not that he doesn't trust the fastball but that he just wants to be slick.
CC was doing the same thing yesterday. Wtf??
Somebody should definitely have their arm around Joba and bending his ear when we come back..
Joba did have one of his first fastballs hit out by De rosa, but it was a belt high BP FB. But still, it does seem like he doesn't trust it, which forces him to work backwards and far less effectively than he could be...
Well would you look at that!
I think the new stadium is going to be very homer friendly.
Whoa, at least we're trying , huh? >;)
i feel incredibly bad for cody ransom. poor kid.
Ugh, Joba is doing his best to be annoying today, huh?
Grrrr.
BB to the #9 is unacceptable, let alone TWICE!
[67] Ooo-kay. Maybe we're trying, but our priorities are very mixed...
At the end of the year last year, someone mentioned that after years of watching guys like Mussina and Wells and Johnson and the like, Yankee fans are going to be in for a culture shock with all the walks the starting staff is going to hand out this year.
WTF, does Joba just lose his concentration throughout games?
[74] Maybe he's thinking "A cookie would be nice right now."
i don't have my sound on. i'm watching in a library.
has the crowd started asking for swisher yet?
He was safe. But damn, this looks like this game is gonna be unwatchable at this point.
This game is going to be infinitely more annoying to lose than yesterday...
Anything short of three wins and this series has to be deemed a failure. The Yankees really have to get three or four runs next inning.
CLE is scoring via walks. The Yanks are only getting it done via the solo-HR. I don't like how this is unfolding.
What a fucking disaster.
bangs head on desk
Yup, getting close to unwatchable. Indians get all their runners in, Yanks waste everything...Joba piddles away leads by not trusting his stuff and walking #9 hitters...
I really wanted this year to be different. Looks like we're in for another ~.500 season at the Allstar Break. Goodie.
[84] Yes... when I asked for "seven runs per game," this is not what I meant!
: /
And here the rest of the AL East is struggling too, sure would have been nice to have a decent April for once.
Speed!
WTF Derek?
This team sucks.
Fail, epic fail
Ugh, terrible
Oh, come on, people!
Derek swinging 3-0 and Damon first-pitch swinging to do zero.
Wtf?
This inning is totally indicative of both the 2008 and 2009 Yankees
Just what the doctor ordered...
Pfft!
With Wang going tomorrow, he really needs the added pressure of a "must win" on his back like a grand piano! As if he's not already got enough going on in his dome trying to take his stuff from the bullpen to the game, in addition to trying to make successful adjustments in a game...
These guys are terrible, "trying" or not!
: /
Ok, I think the new guy's going to get it done here.
A nice, clean single.
[93] Maybe Girardi will PR Molina at first so we can "score on a gapper!"
All right, 2-1.
Do it here, Nick.
[94] I was at Game 4 in 2007, I just remember Sizemore going yard off Wang before I had even settled into my seat.
Damn it.
Come on, Swisher!
Ah, just setting us up for the bases loaded popout.
Sure wish Derek hadn't wasted that 3-0 count
I was just told by the system that I was "posting comments too quickly, slow down."
Anyone know what the policy is on this?
Rats. Missed it by that much.
And they make close to the same play that Damon doesn't. Yup, sure is one of THOSE games...How many LOB are we up to now?
I really, really hate this fucking team.
[104] I lost count during the B'more series... ran out of fingers and toes...
: /
[104] Point taken but, in Damon's defense, that was a fly ball vs. a line drive. But, Damon's armlessness gave Cleveland 2 runs in the 5th regardless.
[107] Getting on Damon for having a weak arm is like complaining that Posada doesn't steal a lot of bases. He's always had a weak arm, its not gonna change, he still brings a lot of other stuff to the table and I'd rather see him play than Melky.
1 2 3 inning? What a great concept!
[107][108] Yeah, I don't care as much about the arm stuff, as we've been living with that, and I know it was a much harder play for Damon to make, but it does seem fitting for this game, no?
And Coke is great today, when they are losing. Coulda used that the other day in KC Philly!
Anyone else having trouble with MLB.TV? I keep getting "media error" and being disconnected.
Nice job, Robby.
Yankee Stadium 2.0 is quickly turning into the Phillies park.
[111] Mine is working, I'm on the YES-HD feed using premium.
Cody Ransom gets a hit! Now we have to win.
How can we lose a game when Cody Ransom gets a hit.
[115] jinx!
Excruciating game (hi all).
4 HR to go with six other base runners, but all the homers were solo. Meanwhile, Cleveland puts together four base runners in the fifth leading to three runs.
I do want to give Girardi credit for sticking with Coke today, though.
I thought this team could survive, even thrive w/o Rodriguez. Then Nady went down and I felt a little antsy. If Matsui is out, they need A Rod back now.
All right, top of the order, two out, tying run ISP.
Do you think maybe, just maybe we can eke out this run?
Or maybe I'm asking too much.
It appears that Girardi's "interchangeable BP assets" are more like a "box of chocolates"... because he neglected to define roles on the trip north.
At this pernt, I'll sign up for .500 ball until Alex returns and (gulp) like it? Anything less is another April failure... for me.
[120] This is the Yankees, were RISP go to die.
[121] Not sure what you mean, he's got Mo as the closer, Bruney as the primary set up man. The other roles aren't as well defined, but then its the second week of the season.
Wow, Jeets... wow...
[122] Argh were=where
Anyway, too much is made out of 'roles'. (Except for Mo.)
[121] Also, when you're starters only go 5 innings or less, its hard to set up a pen.
We currently have 4 HRs and 4 runs total. Fundamental baseball!
[122] Nooooo kidding.
Christ Jesus.
Oh God. Who is coming in?
[123] Well there really isn't a long man and there isn't a lefty specialist, as long as Marte and Coke keep facing righties. And I don't think Bruney was the setup man in B'more, until they got to Tampa. I could be wrong about that, though...
The thing about this season thus far is the team's most trumpeted asset, the starting pitching, has been shaky at best. Sabathia once, Wang twice, now Chamberlain have all coughed it up pretty badly. Take out two of those poor outings and we'd be in better shape.
Oh crap. Marte is warming.
[131] I'm not a big fan of the lefty specialist.
[133] Unbelievable. This is what really drives me nuts. Alba is pitching well. LET HIM PITCH. No more Bullpen Roulette.
because he neglected to define roles on the trip north.
It could be said that their role is defined as "get batters out."
Good pitching from Alby at least.
Agreed... however, "you're only as good as today's starting pitcher"...
I would like to add that Sabathia wasn't as sharp y'day, as he was in K.C., but he was still good enough to win. That's a good sign if they can be in the game with a chance to win while the starter doesn't have his best stuff.
[136] "It could be said that their role is defined as 'get batters out.'"
See also the rotation...
;)
[137] Yes both Coke and Alby looked solid... today...
Hello, all - is today better than yesterday? Only down by 1 run? Bullpen has thrown 2+ scoreless innnigs? I guess it is then!
SO many runners left on base - but some of them will come around to score. It is nice to see the team still getting runners on base. And I bet weeping is thrilled they have only 2 strikeouts so far.
Wow!
Amazing!
We can score if they throw the ball away.
What a team!
LOL @ getting back in the game like that! I wish that happened more often like it used to...
Well, that's one way
[111, 114] Weird. The answer was to get rid of my temporary internet files.
Now that the game is tied by the way, everyone is redeemed from before. 5 runs in 4.2 IP? Great pitching!
[145] "5 runs in 4.2 IP? Great pitching!"
LOL
Kept them in the game! heh heh
Haven't seen Posada move that fast in years
[147] Not since he "ran" to the top step in the "Petey point at the dome game"...
This is familiar.
That was scary.
I'm starting to warm up to Bruney
[151] I hope he continues to impress. He certainly did a lot of work to get to where he is now.
I don't understand why they don't put Matsui on the DL.
[151] I heart Bruney. In a guy to guy kind of way, that is.
Matsui does not look good.
I don't understand why they PH with Matsui of all people. He's not doing much better than Ransom, if he is at all.
[155] Agreed... that was Miranda's AB...
[155] Is Miranda with the team? I can understand the move from a "experienced veteran" POV.
Wow Jeet... Wow!
;)
I called that. To myself ...
Is this a Jeter bounce-back year?
Is NYS a bandbox?
a little quick on the draw... If Miranda's with the team, I do not understand why he isn't PH'ing in that spot.
[157] Yes... Robertson sent back down last night... Miranda called up...
Well I'm off to the Mudhens game. Let's go Mo!
Derek Jeter, your "True Yankee"™. Chicks dig the long ball.
I'd love another run here. Wouldn't you?
Yankee Offense = 5 solo HR + 1 unearned + 8 LOB = Ugh!
Pool for the next solo shot?
;)
[166] Somewhere Weeping for Brunhilde is, well, weeping.
Hmmm...this game is setting up to be a real gut-puncher.
...zzzz huh? we're winning now?
what... the...hell...was...wrong...with...that??
What the hell was it with the strike zone at the end there. Balls were strikes, strikes were balls ... Weird.
I've got a friend down at the game. When Mo closes it out, he's going to be very happy. Nothing like a come-from-behind win.
I really hope YS 2.0 is not a launching pad, though until YS 1.5 is completely removed, I don't think we'll know for sure.
Maybe I'm crazy but I liked both of those. The first pitch I thought might have been inside.....
One day they'll help me out and paint a strike zone on the screen like the first down marker.
wow. The umps are such tools in this series. I've not seen it this bad since Angel Hernandez/C.B. Bucknor were a tag team.
Love that make-up call! Way to go MO!
[167] You know it's going badly when Mo allows two hits during his save...
I'd have been weeping too, if he had to face Martinez with the bases full!
;)
[174] [175] There is almost nothing worse in baseball than an inconsistent strike zone... unless you get tobacco spit in your eye, or you swallow some...
;)
Yep, Alex, that was a make up call all right.
I missed the thread, watched the game on delay. It is pretty funny reading the comments from about 90 or so ... you guys have no faith! Remember, they are trying now! It makes all the difference.
But I actually agree with PJ (!) ....500 ball through April would be just fine. Above is bonus. Remember ... this team does NOT play .500 in spring. Sabathia starts slow, Tex starts slow, A Rod is not here.
I won't get to worried about Joba ... I think we somehow expected him to be lights-out all the time. He won't be. He should be a really good pitcher, and he's our fifth starter. That's very good news.
I don't like Joe Girardi.
Wow, see, I go away right as Cano hits his HR and come back and they've won. Clearly I have to watch games less often. The majority of that game was pure awfulness, but a W is a W!
Waking up to a 6-5 win is nice..but my main man Matsui..I wonder if the end is near for him? He's going to fight it all the way though so maybe he'll have half-a-season in him..
The Captain's "deadly accurate" 2009 PECOTA projection:
6 HR 56 RBI .383 SLG
LOL
[182] Tired of hearing about PECOTA too. Time for Sox-Orioles on tv here..whose more cooked, Matsui or Big Papi??
[182] Well, before we laugh too much, remember that Melky was leading the team in HRs into May last season. And we know how that turned out.
Then again, yeah, Jeter's looking a lot better than that projection now.
[183] Yikes, tough call.
Ortiz is doing marginally worse -- his OPS is under .500! On the other hand, I think it's more likely that he'll have, say, a very good June than it is that Godzilla will.
But then on the third hand, it's a much bigger loss to the Sox if Ortiz tanks this year than it is for us if Matsui does.
Wow, Brad Penny stinks. It's so awesome that we didn't hire him.
186 two runs walked in already, Markakis just hit a granny!!
Yes, it's a delight. I'm going to send Penny some fan mail.
Can you tell who the Red Sox have warming up in the bullpen?
And Jeremy Guthrie brilliantly walks the lead-off man after getting staked to a 7-0 lead. Ball one to Bay...
I feel much better about our pitching staff.
A Penny just ain't worth what it used to be, 7 ER in inning #2. Bay hits one. 7-2 O's.
Guthrie also stinks.
If the Sox get a few more, maybe Papelbon can get a Penny saved.
No word on who is warming up.
Guthrie letting them back in it..how do you pitch around Varitek now?
Good lord.
The Orioles just induce excruciating baseball, somehow. Both teams are horrible today.
The answer is that nobody is warming. Penny's going to pitch again.
Excruciating indeed! About to lose a 7-0 lead in the 2nd inning..Papi with bases loaded..
Interesting, Gameday says "Jacoby Elsbury singles on a ground ball to right fielder Ryan Freel." What actually happened was that Jones dropped a pop fly. Was that really scored a Hit? And then Dusty's squib to first is also a hit?
[196] Watching Dusty Spingfield Jr dive into first base made my spit up my mueslix..also, how can a 25yr old be so bald already? he looks older than me..
Yep, there he is. He keeps turning up like a bad Penny.
(Let's go for the record for awful 'Penny' puns, unless you have other plans, OK Jazz.)
Hunter Jones is up and throwing. (Red Sox fans are just throwing up.)
[198] See a Penny, sign him up, all season long you'll walk in runs...oh dear, I am no good at this game..
[200] That's fine. The worse the pun the better.
Looks like this is it, though. This Penny's spent. Came up tails this time. Keep the change.
The Sox still have the O if Drew is going to hit well..but Papi seriously looks done. And Varitek is awful! They should force him to remove that lame "C" from his uniform.
[202] Drew, yes, but what's the over/under on how many games he plays? And don't forget Youkalis, he's the best hitter (best player) on their team. So, yes, they can hit. And I heard a whole lot about their pitching staff before the season, it seems to me, but, hmm. Not impressed so far this year :-)
They've given up 8 to the Orioles in only 4 innings today..I really think it's Tampa we have to fear.
Btw, watching the archived game from the afternoon, The Stadium looked a bit empty..and very quiet..is it the acoustics?
I listened to the end of the game while on the way to the Mudhens. Even the Indians' announcers were confused by the strike zone. They figured Mo had struck out to end the game on the pitch before the last, which they called high and outside.
Cousy's gonna have some 'splainin' to do.
Weird stat of the night: Bottom of the fourth, batters hit
Homer, single (SB), triple, double, ROE.
Consecutive hitters hitting the cycle. Never seen that before.
[204] The Stadium was, in fact, a bit empty. There were over 7000 unsold seats!
Check out the bottom of the seventh, if you're skimming the archive. The Cano homer is something. His swing is so easy, it doesn't look like a home run swing.
45K tickets sold today.
However, Corporate types don't yell much... messes with their cell phone calls.
Boston has a very good O, but IMHO, not as good as ours when ARod is back. However, Matsui looks done. The entire winter to heal, and he has problems already after DHing in 75% of our games. So both Nady and Mats may be 'gone' for the season, so our depth in now on the field. We need another OF bat.
[201] A Penny craved is a Penny burned.
[202] The 'C' on his jersey now stands for "Can't."
;)
With so many seats being expensive season tickets, my guess is there may always be more seats 'sold' then in actual attendance.
Hm, the bottom of the seventh is also amusing -- I'd missed that and wondered later how Damon could have scored from first on Teix's tap back to the pitcher... now I know.
[202] Varitek needs to have the "C". It's how he remembers what position he plays.
[211] {rim shot}
I can just imagine him thinking, "What the hell do I have this damn mask for, anyway?"
Cano is my new hero, just love his swing!
8-5 O's now..but got to head out. Will watch the rest of the Yanks on mlb.com tonight.
[211] My lady and I have been hitting the sadtrombone.com all morning..too hysterical..
And the freakin O's blow the lead. UNREAL!
[215] Unearned runs, too.
I think the Yankees should offer to win that game, if neither of the two teams playing wants it. We could use the extra W.
We're 2:14 into the game now. By that time in last night's game (Wakefield pitching), the game was over.
Wow, the Sox take a 10-8 lead.
Mean while, Sheff pinch hits his 500th homer.
[218] Wow! I really don't think the Yankees can do what the Red Sox just did... not these days anyway...
Didn't they come back on Clemens years ago after he had an eight or nine run lead?
Jeter's slugging .500
I found it! It was a nine run lead. I thought they did that many moons ago during Clemens' salad days! Four hit night by Donnie! Here's the story and the Box! Enjoy!
;)
The Yankees Knocked Roger Clemens from the Box as They Overcame a Nine Run Deficit
The New York Yankees played host to the Boston Red Sox on Friday, June 26, 1987. The starting pitchers were Tommy John for the Yankees and Roger Clemens for the Red Sox. By the middle of the second inning, most of the 45,123 paying customers were ready to go home. Boston had scored 4 runs in the first inning and 5 in the second, staking Clemens to a 9 run lead. The big blows were a three run Dwight Evans home run in the first and a grand slam from Jim Rice in the second. The chances of the Yankees winning the game were slim and none, but a each team has nine innings to hit, and for the Yankees, the third inning was a charm.
Cy Young Award Winner and MVP
Trying to beat Roger Clemens with a nine run lead was like trying to pry a box of cookies away from a fat kid, but baseball is a wonderful game. Clemens was coming off a 24-4 1986 season in which he won both the Cy Young and Most Valuable Player Awards for the pennant winning Red Sox. The World Series was a different story as Roger was helpless to prevent the Red Sox from suffering one of the most agonizing defeats in World Series history. The Red Sox were leading Game 6, 3-2, when Roger, who at the time was considered baseball's second best pitcher behind the Mets Dwight Gooden, left after seven innings. The Mets staged a still unbelievable tenth inning rally to win, and then won the next game to become World Champions.
An Eleven Run Inning
The 1987 Yankees were trailing 9-0 in the bottom of the third inning when suddenly, things started to happen. Dave Winfield, who became familiar with World Series problems in 1981 against the Dodgers, touched Roger for a 3 run home run. Mike Pagliarulo singled home 2 runs to cut the deficit to 9-5, and then Mark Salas walked. Wayne Tolleson's singled batted home another run and knocked Roger Clemens from the box in favor of Steve Crawford. When the inning ended, the Yankees had scored 11 runs. Dave Winfield's second hit of the inning plated the go-ahead run, and the Yankees' eleventh run reminded fans of the 1986 World Series. Winfield had driven home Don Mattingly with a single to give the Yankees the lead, took second on the throw home, went to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a passed ball. Of course, the Red Sox usually make things interesting, and they tied the game in the fourth inning.
"You Don't Expect to Win Those Games"
The score remained 11-11 until Calvin Schiraldi walked Mike Pagliarulo in the tenth, Rick Cerone bunted him to second, and Wayne Tolleson singled Mike home with the winning run. Don Mattingly told reporters after the game, "Really, you don't expect to win those games, but you just stay in there and keep swinging the bats. We scratched a few hits here and there and all of a sudden we had a big inning on our hands."
"A Really Tough Loss"
Marty Barrett, the Red Sox second basemen, whose name had been put on the Shea Stadium scoreboard in the tenth inning of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series as the Series MVP, only to have the Red Sox blow it, said it best. "This is a tough loss, a really tough loss. You expect to take one like this to the bank. It's just one game. How many times is this going to happen? Maybe once every 100 years?" He was talking about the Yankees' overcoming a nine run deficit, but he could have just as easily been referring to the World Series the year before.
The Yankees finished 89-73 in 1987, which put them in fourth place, 9 games behind the division-winning Tigers, but 11 games ahead of the Red Sox. The Yankees would not make the playoffs until 1995, and they would not win the World Series until the following season, but from 1978-1995, the Yankees played some interesting games.
References:
By MICHAEL MARTINEZ (1987, June 27). Yanks, Down by 9-0, Win in 10 :Stop Red Sox, Boggs by 12-11 Yanks Battle Back. New York Times (1857-Current file),p. 47. Retrieved October 23, 2008, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2005) database. (Document ID: 115180321).
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1987/B06260NYA1987.htm
Has Billy Butler gained alot of weight? I don't remember him being this fat when he first came up.