Last night’s series opener was the most important game the Yankees have played all season. With the pitching match-up firmly in their favor, a loss, which would have pushed them to 0-9 against Boston on the season, could well have set the tone for the remainder of the series, opening up the possibility of yet another Red Sox sweep. With the win, however, they got of the schnide and reinforced their belief that they’re a different and better team than they were during those first eight games. And they didn’t just win, they crushed the Sox, 13-6.
The Red Sox are too good a team to let one lop-sided win get in their heads, but one could just as easily see a Yankee sweep today as one could see a Red Sox sweep yesterday. After all, the Yankees just keep rolling. Last night’s win extended their current winning streak to four games and also put first place out of reach for the Sox in this series (even if the Sox take the last three, they’ll leave town a half game behind the Yankees in the AL East).
The catch is A.J. Burnett, who has exceeded my (admittedly low) expectations thus far this year with one glaring exception: he’s been awful in his two starts against Boston. One of the selling points for Burnett over the winter was the fact that he’d dominated the Red Sox in four starts last year (2-0, 2.60 ERA). This year has been a different story. Staked to a 6-0 lead at Fenway Park on April 25, he coughed up eight runs. Then, on June 9, he failed to get out of the third inning, allowing five runs on five hits and five walks in just 2 2/3 innings. The Red Sox hit .382/.512/.765 against Burnett in those two starts, and though he followed the last with a string of eight quality starts (6-1, 1.68 ERA), he seems to have run out of magic just in time to rematch with Boston, having allowed seven runs in 4 2/3 innings to the White Sox in his last start.
Curiously, both of Burnett’s starts against Boston matched him up against his former Marlins’ teammate Josh Beckett, who is once again his mound opponent tonight. Beckett was equally awful on April 24, but pitched well in his two starts against the Yankees since, combining for this line: 12 IP, 11 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 13 K, 1 HR. Beckett had a rough April, but since then has gone 11-2 with a 2.28 ERA and a 4.39 K/BB over his last 16 starts.
The Yanks have their work cut out for them tonight, but thanks to last night’s win, a loss today would only mean the battle’s on, not that the battle’s over.
Ramiro Peña replaces Anthony Claggett on the Yankee roster while the Yankees run out their standard lineup. The Red Sox have designated Billy Traber and, get this, John Smoltz for assignment. They’ve been replaced by 23-year-old Japanese rookie right-hander Junichi Tazawa and former Yankee camper Chris Woodward, the latter claimed off waivers from the Mariners. Josh Reddick, who was recalled yesterday when Rocco Baldelli hit the DL, is in left tonight with Victor Martinez at first base, Kevin Youkilis at third, and Mike Lowell on the bench.
The Yankees acquired 26-year-old Louisianan righty Chad Gaudin from the Padres yesterday for a player to be named later. Given the Yankees’ lack of fifth-starter candidates, Gaudin’s a good guy to have on hand as something of a Darrell Rasner-type. He throws in the low-90s with a strong slider, which has been enough for him to overcome some of the game’s biases against short-right-handers (Gaudin is listed at 5-foot-10). That said, there may not be much there. Gaudin was rushed to the majors by the then-Devil Rays at age 20, then traded twice before he turned 23. He seemed to finally find a home with the A’s (4.00 ERA in 22 starts and 18 relief appearances), but proved just valuable enough to get shipped to the Cubs in the Rich Harden deal. In his year plus in the NL with the Cubs and Padres, he’s really struggled (5.36 ERA in 19 starts and 25 relief appearances). He gets his strikeouts, but he also walks too many guys (4.3 BB/9 career) and gives up a lot of hits, leading to an ugly 1.52 career WHIP, which, combined with the fact that he’s pitched in some pitching-friendly ballparks in Oakland and San Diego, belies what otherwise looks like a roughly league-average career ERA. I’d rather have a 26-year-old like Gaudin around than a decade-older retread like Brett Tomko, but for the remainder of this season, there may not be much difference between the two. Gaudin will arrive on Sunday and start his Yankee career in the bullpen. Here’s hoping Sergio Mitre can pitch well enough to keep him there.
Here's the lowdown on Smoltz being DFAed ....
http://tinyurl.com/l2d3wm
[0] Welcome back Ramiro! Let's see some stellar play from you again so this time thay really can't send you back down!
[1] I'm wondering if Smoltz would have been better served pitching out of the bullpen exclusively. His stuff wasn't that horrid, but he did get gassed relatively easily. It seemed to me he just lacked a bit of arm strength because he could pump them in there on occasion...
Too bad really. He was my favorite of Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz if I had to pick one.
: )
Meanwhile, the Jays placed Alex Rios on waivers, and another team put a claim in on him .... hmmm
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4384253
Good Morning, Banter Land! Another hot and humid weekend here, and unfortunately I will miss most of the game!! I faith in AJ though, he's been a killer in the past against the BoSox...but just in case, let's hope he can channel some of the energy that Herbie and the boys bring here and put the team on his back!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy0qsrny58I
Looking forward to catching up on 700+ likely comments later tonight!!
[3] Fascinating. The Jays would do well to let him go given the ridiculous contract he's under. With Lind and Snider around to man the corners, they should move one of Rios or Wells anyway, but both have what seemed to be prohibitively expensive contracts that bore little relation to their actual production. Now they have a real chance to clear some of that money and try to build something quickly around Lind, Snider, Hill, Halladay, and Romero.
schadenfreude
[3] I think you're confusing Rios with Wells. Rios' contract isn't that bad. Especially when compared to Wells.
[6] Yes, it appears the sky is falling in Boston
Chris Woodward (47 OPS+), Nick Green (71 OPS+), and Angel Berroa (5 OPS+) found gainful employment, I don't know what the big deal was with Cody Ransom wearing pinstripes...
[7] They're both bad for what they contribute on the field. And I agree on Ransom.
Speaking of the sky falling, I haven't checked out Boston Dirt Dogs in, well, a dog's age, but taking a look today felt like old times. Uberchadenfreude.
It does feel good to see them struggling but they're still leading in the WC and can be a very dangerous team in the playoffs with Beckett and Lester. The heart of the lineup continues to send shivers with pedroia, martinez, and youkilis, and even though he's struggling, Ortiz is very dangerous.
The yanks should take advantage of these games (although the match-ups favor the red sox in 2 of the next 3 games), and gain some more games.
looking ahead before their next series, the schedule is better for the yanks. they should take some distance
well melky followed up his cycle with hitting the shot that helped contribute to smoltzie being dfa'd.
i also think it might have made sense to pitch smoltz out of the pen. and yeah i really like him a lot too.
rios' contract is too much for what he does, but it is not obscene like wells'. i think rios is better than his nosedive this season suggests. though i am an alex rios fan, partially for reasons that have nothing to do with baseball.
anyhow - let's get to beckett early and often and hope that douche doesn't plunk somebody defending the honor of dusty
[10] If the Yankees were smart, which they are not, Burnett should get the first plunk in very early to get the bench warnings out of the way, protect his lineup, and tighten the zone for Beckett.
I'm just sayin'...
: )
yeah why wasn't that melky's ball?
Hey, Team. Listening to Ma and Pa. Did Swisher botch that popup?
Also, it's sad to see Smoltz go out like that.
aj please walk fewer people tonight than joba - okay, thanks.
[13] nah - the ball was sort of in no man's land
Here we go
good - needed that dp
Wow @ Yankees and the strike zone!
Uncanny, really...
i don't think i can take this again
k hv.cj j c juchc v
thank the lord big fatty is so slow
Good thing Tubby never hustles
Plate Tectonics are faster...
what is it with the walks!! they seem to be trying to break a record.
now, let's get some offense
generous zone there
[25] Disgusting, that. I'm sick of other teams getting calls at The Stadium!
it was generous, nasty pitches though.
c'mon aj, strikes
I almost strangled Cano just then. I mean in the top of the first. I think had they not gotten the out at first, trouble would be afoot. Though it may be anyway. Burnett seems to be having trouble with the strike zone ... I think these righty Yankee pitchers are all scared of The NEW Yankee Stadium ...
This might be my least favorite player in baseball.
It's funny how these two pitchers' pitches reflect each's delivery.
Parse that and get back to me.
who c-tek or this goofy (yet fast) kid reddick?
[31] is for [29] mattpat
[30] hard to say - but i got you - nice observation
The thing about Burnett is it's actually somewhat likely that he could match or even do better than Beckett. When he's on, he's untouchable. It's just a question of which AJ we get.
[29] I hate that chicken shit, mask wearin' while he's fightin', non-catchin', non-throwin', non hittin', strike beggin', million time mound visitin', schlub of a "Captain," too Mattpat!
: )
[32] Captain Facemask
[33] To clarify: There are three Burnetts. Dominant Burnett, Meltdown Burnett and the mysterious Gritty Burnett.
[32] Thanks
ARod needs a day off... badly.
Beckett's gonna throw a perfect game
It's nice to see an ace on his game. : ( grrrrrrrrrrrr
[34] [35] he really is an epic ass of an douchenozzle
never fear melky is up next inning :}
beckett looks good but I like the approach by the yanks. at least they are not helping him swinging at balls
thankfully nick green came back to earth - him being good just didn't seem right
[36] and you can get the three of them during the course of one game...
damnit why are you walking dusty?
Trying to throw strikes is like when Bill Veeck hired the midget
way out! woo!
Out by alot
Eat some dirt, Dustbin.
scamper back to the dugout dusty!!
wait a minute - mk indicated the only red sock that really steals is ellsbury - but i thought they were young and athletic, not like the yankees
lead off walks are terrible but two-out walks with the bases empty are a common cause of heartburn
way to go robbie - no longer have to worry about a perefecto!
End of the bat. I thought Cano smoked that one. We'll take it.
robbie!
at least they gave o'nell shit for saying shmoltz
i'm surprised he didn't call that one a strike
This ump is confusing me. Jesus. That 1-2 pitch was right down the middle.
what an at bat from swish!
nice ab swisheroo
Let the Melk swing.
I just want everyone to know I called that DP before Nicky Squishy got on base.
cripes
[60] that was the risk though. hard to put on a play with two of the worse baserunners on base though.
[52] How sad is it that that was an actual concern. I was thinking the same thing ...
Well, they're making him work.
i would have been ok with jeter knocking becket on his ass there.
damn - well made him work, but damn a leadoff double and no runs
[63] yeah the first 6 hitters looked clueless against beckett
Another blown strike call. Bollocks.
papi is pathetic
seriously. Matsui just had surgery on his knees and he runs way better than Papi.
You would think with how shitty Mami is playing, that he could at least run a bit harder.
Again, I thank David Ortiz for never, ever hustling.
[65] LOL! That's the last thing you will see him do, Seamus...
[69] Matsui tries
bottom of the 4th. our inning. the lead will be ours
Some Score Trucking for the Yankees would be nice right about now...
Not a fan of stirke 3 looking. Especially on fastballs.
I hate the fact that O'Neill is giving Beckett and his attitude credit, but I love the fact that the underlying theme is so obviously "Beckett is a dick" ...
Hold on a minute, I have to watch A Rod strike out
Reverse jinx almost worked.
Did I say "Score Sucking" a few comments ago?
Just checkin'...
[72] oh too true. sometimes there is a gap between what I would like to see and reality.
Why does the Rios thing have to be a mystery?
A lot of contact vs Burnett tonight. Makes me nervous.
[81] because omar minaya is mysterious bwaaaaaaahhhahhhhh
(not that the mets put in a claim - but that would be funny)
yeah i don't know - but for some reason it always is - i think it is part of the cba
[80] Yeah, that gap is merely 30 years of time. Back then, Beckett would have been knocked on his ass by Piniella...
: )
least the ump is generous for both teams
nails
[84] now that would be awesome!
[81] Because interest in MLB is waning?
I'd laugh if it was the Pirates...
That kid has very low knees.
[87] Now, he gets a hug from Jeter...
: /
whew - made it through - i though that had dp written all over it
damnit - why weren't they tagging?
The anti-Angels can be reeeeeeaaaaalllllly frustrating.
when is baserunnung boot camp scheduled?
[94] Yeah, wtf?
[94] Next March...
: /
That's the 3rd k looking at a fastball. sigh.
Geez... WAYYYYY outside
I'm so tired of Beckett.
captain facemask to the mound - what a surprise
this ump sucks
3-1. Send the runners. Why not?
there was no way melky would lay off 3-1
Please, Derek. Pleasepleasepleaseplease.
melky has really grown up as a hitter.
need a hit here derek (or a walk)
Motherfucker.
fuck
[105] Indeed he has.
I have a bad feeling about this top of the sixth
Jeter's not looking too good at the plate lately. I had zero confidence there, but that still was weak.
[105] yeah i knew he would try to tee up the 3-1 pitch but i actually faith that he would not swing at bullshit on 3-2 and he didn't - good for melky - i'm happy for him and us
[110] Me too, Mattpat. It's that "Every time they fail with good opportunities..." feeling.
There you go. Walk Nick Green on four pitches.
why, nick green, why
beckett mouthing it at the end of that inning.
this better be mysterious gritty burnett - not that 3rd one
UNFU$%INGBELIEVABLE.
Yup.
burnett is not much of a fielder from what i've seen
Wow!
catcher's interference - wtf?
time to get professinal hitter victor to ground into a dp
Did the bat/swing hit Po's glove?
[124] yeah
0-2. Get nasty.
ugh put your helmet back on
yes sit your ugly ass down ugly
Whoo-hooo. Exhale.
Now make them blink first!
man po makes those interesting
how about a different approach this time damon?
damon has looked bad all night.
feels like this is a definite winnable game v beckett. aj has been outstanding!
nice time to go yard alex
Buzz a 95 mpg heater on the inside black. WTF.
It's like Pedro vs. Mooooooooooose.
Oopsies for Little Mami.
did ken singleton just "he gone"?
so how long until big pedi is run out of boston?
Big DP makes 12.5 million next year. Will the Sox just drop him and eat it?
[139] I was just thinking that. His Good Will bank account is quickly getting overdrawn.
[140] That would rank right up there with Detroit paying $14M for Sheff to "go away"...
: )
despite a few bs walk - aj has been the MAN tonight - let's get the score truck out for him
I wonder how many MLB games have gone this far with 0 runs and 4 hits total?
Hey all!
Just tuned in (I saw the top of the seventh). AJ is dealing, huh?
he has to go out to the 8th, but on a short leash
Funny, Last year, Mami's salary was a great deal. How many players have crashed and burned this far and fast?
[145] hi riyank - you back stateside yet or still in kangaroo court?
yeah aj has been dealing - almost no good swings off of him
Hiyas RIY! Both are throwing gems. Couple of innings of trouble for both, and they got out of it...
Are you back home now?
I'm so sorry I'm missing this game. Just listening in and out to Ma and Pa. Sounds like a fabulous game.
Someone needs to just take Beckett yard.
Pretty quiet here tonight. I'd hate to think other Banterers have lives.
[148] "Kangaroo court!" Heh he heh heh heh heh.
[148] Still hoppin'! I'll be home in a couple of days.
no red sox has touched 3rd base, right?
the yanks have had 2 with 2 outs
[154] Is that the tie-breaker? In case they play six extra innings and nobody scores?
Show, don't tell, Pa: "It's an unbelievably great chess match."
Don't tell us it's a chess match, describe the chess match. Make us feel the chess match.
[155] :) Works for me.
[153] oh good - continued safe travels
[156] what an ass - just what a colossal ass
Get on and let's see a pr.
[153] I hope you haven't made the tragic mistake of trying to out drink those blokes!
They are practically as bad as the Welsh!
: )
nice at bat from Matsui!
nicely done matsui
Now Ma and Pa are going on about how well the Yanks and Boston know each other (specifically, the catchers knowing the batters) because they play so much, as if we play Boston more than Tampa Bay or Baltimore or Toronto.
Does it really make a difference if you hit ball four for a single? That really seems to be a lateral move.
[160] Oh, god, no.
Also, only wine, no beer.
Now THAT was just a great, great at-bat. Fantastic.
[159] wow no pr
Where's PENA????
I thought I just heard a Yankee Score Truck engine revving...
[165] Over the last decade or so, AUS has really burst upon the worldwide wine stage. Enjoy some for us!
: )
time to shine robbie
What's a pr?
[171] pinch runner
[171] Oh, duh. Thanks.
[171] Public Relations
Heh heh
Shouldn't Robbie be looking to go to left?
Pena. Pretty please with sugar on top.
Oh, Lord.
Where/what was that pitch?
...
damn i hate the outcome but good call by girardi. cano never strikesout swinging.
According to gameday it was right over the dish.
Damn.
Is that it for Beckett?
[173] just don't let those aussies turn you into a drongo :}
Shit. I would not start Matsui there with only 1 out and Becketts pitch count at 115. SHIT!
Holy cow, Matsui's a bad baserunner. Okay, his knees are shot, but he wasn't even close to the base there.
i understand the logic, but i wouldn't take the risk sending mats there
I guess Joe plans on using Pena for Swish, Damon, Jeter, Teix, or A-Rod since they are all less fleet of foot than Matsui. : /
I thought cano would win it there.
liked the call but with a different runner
[183] [185] I think I would have, actually. Cuts down on GIDP, and getting Matsui to third on a single with one out is a big bonus.
Whew!
fuck off mk - that ball was quite foul
oh my. heart attack. noone has hit AJ like that all night.
Don't throw that again.
Well that was a heart attack.
[190] :)
damn that kid is fast
Jesus.
AJ with a high pitch count is going to be a little scary.
Why is Hughes up?
Shouldn't it be Mo, then Hughes?
[198] Uh. no.
Hughes pitches the eighth. Mo pitches the ninth.
You new here?
[195] Yes, very Ellsbarian...
: )
yes - nice k there
The whiffle ball fastball. Nasty.
Good pitching, good pitching.
I'm strangely relaxed!
[199] :)
Who would have thought Theo would have so many scrappy speedy spunky gritty players on his team?
No walks please...
The Score Truck better show up, because I'm going to have to leave. Damn, frustrating.
If I see the Score Truck driving on the wrong side of the road, what should I do?
[203] I'm not. feel like playing with fire here with aj and a high pitch count
Uh oh.
That's the first I've seen of that 1st inning hit. meh. Good on ya', AJ!!
Bravo, AJ Burnett. Bravo.
Sorry I called you a bum that time.
nicely done aj (besides the walks) - but great stuff tonight
[206] I blame you.
Okay. Now Phil needs to come in for some midget tossing
[207] Truck-jack the drunk fuck!
: )
So, I figure Hughes pitches until a run scores. Make sense?
[207] Flash your lights and then give 'em the finger. : O
[209] hey man, good to see ya!
[216] yeah. or two innings.
[216] Yes, preferably, that run will belong to us.
Man, Dustbin swinging from the heels at the 95+ heater is going to be nervewracking.
AJ get a huge ovation?!
[207] wave to the truckie
Oh, fuck fuck fuck fuck.
Posada couldn't throw me out.
he is OUT!
obviously the steal.
bear down phil!!
Fuckiity screw fuck. OUT!
that was a blown call. that last replay showed it clearly.
Come on, Phil, get this fuck.
[22] yeah thelarmis - big ovation
One and two.
[213] Hey, I said "please"...
Who are you going to blame for that piece of shit blown call at 2B?
Why would you disrupt him with a 1-2 count?
Wow. What was the clock on that pitch?
Wow. You mean Pedroia didn't swing at a pitch where the catcher was set up eight inches outside? How could this plan have failed?
yes!
Pfew.
Well done, Phil Hughes. Well done.
yeah!!! swing away dusty
Midget tossed.
This is one amazing game.
didn't look like beckett was coming back out
Atta boy Hughesy!
Yow.
Well, any way we can get 'em. Good job, Phil.
"Waah... At Fenway, that one is on the highway. Waah."
See, Joe. You coulda had a guy on 2nd if you had Pena steal. But wait, you kept him on the bench and had Matsui wobble on a hit and run. That play is really going to bug me if they lose.
Hey, thelarmis!
Okay, folks, I have to leave. I'll see if I can send that Score Lorry directly to the Bronx.
And I'm predicting a walk-off win this game.
See youse!
[241] i'll be in B'ham/Bessemer tomorrow...
[245] Oh, for fuck's sake.
Great game. Want a win, but I'm going on record right now - great game.
Girardi shouldn't have had Matsui run,but on the other hand he took AJ out at the perfect time.
Melky was nice to put us at ease by waving his arms before the catch. Otherwise I would have worried it might carry out. Thanks, Melk!
[247] Cheers, RI!
[247] Cheers mate!
: )
Mo is warming now?
Wtf?
mk, you mean to tell me there is another ml club with only 1 lefty in the pen and the world hasn't exploded?
this ump is something else - and i know both pitchers have benfitted
I don't know. Do you have Phil pitch the 9th in case the boys don't win in the bottom half????
[241] Bessemer has a good BBQ joint called "Bob Sykes" but B'ham's got Dreamland ribs...best ribs on EARTH! Holler at me if you want to eat lunch....oh, and if you want to see Rickwood field let me know. It's AMAZING
Damon or Teix'll have to end this thing with one swing.
I hate using Mo in a tie game!
Remember when we could have had Okajima and got Igawa?
I'd let Phil go the 9th. This game could go on a while.
[256] I'd think you'd have to, no? Why use him for just one out?
damnit
[257] i won't have any time, unfortunately. playing a big gig at the Civic Center. drive down, load in, set up, soundcheck, gig, pack up, load out, drive back to Atlanta...
Hughes best start the 9th!!!
[260] puzzling why okajima is good. he looks extremely hittable
Try to yank one Derek!
If Derek somehow gets on, Damon'll hit it out.
[260] Remember when we got Teixeira and they didn't?
: )
[257] hey ee - dreamland -mmm - i haven't had their ribs in quite some time.
[260] igawa and matsuzaka could be in aaa together!!
Sigh.
LAME
[271] You can say that again.
[268] Just figured now would be a good time to remind everyone that the Yankee decision makers leave a lot to be desired.
[260] but I kinda like Kei Igawa....
ughhh we need some runs!!
alright shut em down phil (i'm assuming)
[264] oh well next time...Rickwood really is the bomb.
Cuz I'm uneasy..............uneasy like Friday evening...........
I'd hate to lose another bullpen game to the Sox, just cause I don't wanna hear about their superior bullpen, even if it's true.
so you bring jh jr in for defense and take swish's bat out of the lineup but you won't pinch run for matsui - wtf?
Damnit. Should have left Hughes in. Bringing Rivera in speeds up the clock on Robertson coming in.
That's the stupidest fucking shit I've ever heard in my life. Unless Hughes has some ailment that limits him to one out, there's no reason to waste him like that!
Why not bring in Mo for that out and the ninth (and maybe the tenth) and *then* bring in Hughes?
Anyone, anyone?
christ. hughes for one freaking batter?!?!?!
I disagree with bringing in Mo here. One of Girardi's bows to orthodoxy ... For god's sake Hughes faced one batter!
between pulling hughes after one damn batter and putting hairston in now instead of using him or pena as a pinch runner - this is bullshit!!!
where is william to add to the outrage?
This could be a 'Girardi Loss'
[284] UNACCEPTABLE!
Really dumb to bring in Mo. They still have Papsmear ready. Who pitches the 10th for us?
[286] Hear, hear.
[287] Phil Hu--oh, never mind.
That was nowhere near the glove.
hahahahahahahahahahahahhah
just sit the fuck down ugly!!
oh ugly whines!
[287] Someone who will walk two of the first three hitters.
I'm not gonna give Youkilis shit about that - it was a Mariano rep strike. Plus Kevin was cool about that called strike three last night. He pisses and moans sometimes but then he just took the high road and walked away before the ump even called it.
hairston played that well - quite possible swisher would have kicked it into rf - still not going to give joey joe joe credit though
Hooray!
Someone end it.
if we don't win now, gotta send Mo back out.
Girardi must know something we don't. Something along the lines of Papelbon imploding asap.
I want Girardi fired for burning Hughes on one batter, win or lose. Actually if it's a loss, I want Girardi fired and blacklisted. How 'bout that?
okajima probably just pitches to damon - end it here jd
[300] Well he was so good as the 8th inning guy. So they turned him into the 2 out guy. That worked out so well he became the 1 out guy. Soon he'll be in just to throw 1 pitch and scare the piss out of everybody.
If the yanks win it in the 9th, girardi is a genius for using his best pitcher v the heart of the order with his heart of the order coming up
Damn.
I would have liked to win already, but I have no problem beating Papelbitch
Bard.
where's papelbitch?
Come on, Teix, be a hero. You know you want to and you know Alex can't. It's on you, Teix!
Do it.
[303] I disagree with this notion that you bet everything on your team winning in walk-off fashion. I don't care if George Herman Ruth is due up.
one of those games, the ideal end would be a-rod taking papelbon deep.
Comes in 100 mph, goes out 200 mph. Come on Tex
Damn.
That was brutal.
Sit on a curve.
[308] I agree with you, what I'm saying is that managers are comfortable with the thought process because in theory they won't lose at home with their best pitcher sitting in the bullpen
[312] Don't tell A-Rod that. Please.
Nice 2-0 swing, Alex.
A little long, but good swing.
Well done, Alex--how are your legs feeling?
Anyone know the last game we went into extras at 0-0?
[314] SIngle. : O
i meant a-rod will hit it to deep short.
This conversation is getting lewd.
Nice.
Come on, Hideki. Nice and easy. Just make contact.
oh wow - tension mounting even more
Oooooh.
Damn, that was close.
WOW. Tough take.
ok. rather matsui walk than swing at abad pitch.
Let's Go PO!!!!!
Good cut, Jorgie.
Ha!
WHOO!
wow a balk
He doesn't know what he did.
Do it again
move em up!
wow
Just throw one to the backstop, rook.
Fuck, that was close too!
throw one right past captain facemask
That was his pitch
nice 'n easy, jorgie. c'mon buddy!!!
ugh
argggghhh - bullshit
motherfucker
Motherfucker.
Damn damn damn damn damn.
I'll never in a million years understand how Jorgie can look so good and so bad in the space of a single ab.
It's baffling.
Well, at least he swung. I was sure he was going to go down looking
oh, boo. : (
[343] Yeah, I kind of thought so too.
petey says aceves in
Wow that last swing by Po was ugly!
meh, bah. Bollocks. Shite. Crap.. Rats. Damn.
[317] 1976, reports mk.
that's it for Mo? Ace in?! jesus. we better win this fucking game!!!
[345] Strike two was Posada's Pointless Take of the At Bat (TM)
I'm getting a bad feeling about this. The pitching favors the Sox. Yankees have used their two best relievers, the Sox still have their number one guy. Just not good.
Does Joe have his head up his ass or is he just smoking crack?
Or is he on the take?
Why?
Who is doing all that screaming on the grounders?
I can't believe we only get 4 batters and burn both Phil and Mo. Girardi with a MAJOR fuckup.
[355] Five batters. Don't short change Joe
[351] When you're looking fastball you don't swing or adjust to the curve. At least Posada doesn't..
damn robbie is smooth
Ortiz: The ball was on the ground and the kid RAN? I need to have a talk with him.
[358] Yes he is.
Somehow Chris Woodward is going to beat us
Girardi gambled and loss. Methinks he's doing the whole lose the battle win the war stuff. And simply hoping one of his guys will end it with one swing.
[355] have to disagree there. this is not game 7. there's a game tomorrow and you're leading the division by 3.5. marathon thinking
dammit!!!
Tito is not afraid to send his fast guys.
[362] Gambled on what?
You mean that he could get away with using Hughes for one out so he'd be nice and fresh for tomorrow?
[363] I'd be floored if he hasn't already made the decision to send out the Sunday lineup in one of the next two games. Its imperative we win this one.
[366] That the Yanks would win in the bottom of the 9th.
alright do not let this get past dusty
shit!!!! get outta this...NOW!!!
There's only so many times we can do this.
keep swinging from the heels to lf dusty -
YEAH!!!!
Aces High!!!
[371] yeah but the red sox too for that matter
Goodamn. PHEWWWWWWW
[366] I thought about it way back when [265]
That's why I think it was a gamble. : )
Is anyone else getting real superstitious? I am starting to adjust my behavior to the game.
Also: That fly ball from Pedroia scared the crap out of me. I'm getting jumpy.
[368] Yeah, but what's the upside? Keeping Hughes fresh for tomorrow AND winning tonight. That's the gamble, right?
I guess at least that makes sense, but Hughes can be used in back-to-back games, no? He wasn't used yesterday.
o'neil loves pedroia
Whassup, people; just popping in to wish the team some good luck in the bottom of the tenth. Can't stay as my roommate is chasing me off now. Good luck, folks... >;)
Ok, I've had enough of this. Robbie, hit it out. No one's on base, no pressure...
francona refusing to use paps in the tie game
Hey, Will!
[379] My roommate used to...entertain with me home.
we REALLY need to win it here.
anybody know what's up w/ Papelbitch?
[363] What? Phil couldn't go 1.67 IP without sacrificing the future?
Wonder if Paps hurt himself? RSN will be going crazy if they lose and he doesn't pitch.
[384] Francona saving him for if/when the Sox get a lead (Torre school).
[385] Heh heh heh. Hear, hear.
Did Cano break his bat there?
Have the Yankees hit a ball hard, fair or foul?
Hey, that's O'Neill's song!
let's go hinske - might as well continue to be this summer's folk hero hr hitter
Hinkse with Teenage Wasteland. Wasn't that Tino's jam? Why do I know this? : D
that was ball 3 eric
If Hinske gets on, do we send Pena in to steal?
[393] I don't recall it from Tino, but Paulie used it and I think Giambi did too.
Red Sox strategy involves putting the absolute slowest guys on base.
[395] And so he does. And...
Looks like no.
Come on, Melkster.
Be a hero, Melkius.
Let's Go LECHE!!!
no bunt? can melky bunt?
[393] Baba O'Reilly. It's called Baba O'Reilly.
[396] Sounds like O'Neill. : )
OH, YESSSSSS!!!!
FUCK YES!
[397] it's a brilliant strategy - billy beane should write a book about it
no need for a pinch runner. :)
That's how Hinske runs?
[401] Yes it is. Pet peeve, eh? :)
PENA!!!! Ooooh. Got my first posting too quickly notice. D'oh.
passed ball to win it
Damn it.
Come on, fucking Derek.
PLEASE!
Jeter is due
really need jeter to come through here
Damn it.
Here comes that fat bastard.
I'd be happy seeing Ramon Martinez emerge from the bullpen.
win the game, Captain.
Nice. Let's go, Cap. Drag one down the 3rd base line just to really stick it to 'em. : )
It's gratifying to see Papelbon come in the game, actually.
Jeter could line one off Pap's shin to win it perhaps ....
Fuck.
Good cut, Derek.
You talk too much, mk.
Interesting use of Papelbon.
Another good swing.
[420] yeah god damnit just stfu every so often
shit
I'm going to cry.
Never had any doubt.
Blasts.
hmph.
[423] "It's not a save situation, but he's trying to save the game from not going into the eleventh inning."
those googly-eye geico money stacks are getting pretty tiresome
Cushing. Now Aceves vs Martinez, Youkilis, Ortiz? Yikes.
Great hack there, buster.
great pitch from Aceves there.
[429] Michael Kay hates dead air.
[430] Those googly eyed zeroes on the scorboard are something else, though.
Sit down, troll.
No bullshit here, Ace. Get that 3rd out now.
So who pitches next inning... Swisher?
[434] If only he'd recognize that listening to natural sound is NOT "dead air."
You rock, Teix.
Vulture!
I'm sorry, I have to get this off my chest: friggin' Papelbon.
Let's get a run here, boys!
[429] he must have mentioned the palpable tension 34 times
This is one of those games that someone is going to make a [X] Classic, without realizing how much is loses without the tension of not knowing how it ends.
Also, thank God Ortiz refuses to run.
Hughes threw FIVE pitches this game.
ACES HIGH!!!
10 ME-1O9's outta the sky!!! : )
[Iron Maiden reference...]
[438] girardi burned swisher as an option too by taking him out for jh jr whom he promptly pinch hit for
Wow, phenomenal inning. Shut me up good. Thank you Ace.
[445] yeah, i'm still pissed about that...
heart of the order.
must. WIN!!!
All right, Damon. Yank it out.
wait paps got 1 out - shouldn't he be out of this game?
[449] at this point I don't think it really matters, does it? mariano would have pitched the 10th
Wish I re-upped Extra Innings right now...
[453] Doing what he did moves things closer to the walkers at the end of the bullpen.
[445] Seriously? Dammit. I didn't realize he had even come in, was tending to the kids. And I've been listening to the game on low volume, because Dave Roberts shockingly sounds almost like Michael Kay. It was giving me the heebeejeebees.
OK Alex, time to end that homerless streak. Nice and easy.
oh why couldn't that be the one?
Oh, fuck me.
Fuck.
Off the bat, I really thought...
Fuck.
Michael Kay should be fined every time he screams at a medium depth fly ball that the outfielder clearly has a beat on.
[454] i bet - damn sorry man
[459] I wonder if Sterling taught that to Kay, or vice versa.
This must be the lowest scoring/hits games between these two team in many, many years.
[458] totally fooled me. i got that rising feeling in my gut. then that dropping sinking feeling.
[459]
Only if we behead Sterling for the same thing first ...
[461] sterling => kay
kay has gotten progressively worse this year with that bs
[462] at 0-0 it'd have to be.. hehe
[463] Yup.
Papelbon will have to miss severely on location for something good to happen. He is all over the inside corner.
Fuck.
That was his pitch.
Fuck you, Bubba.
ARod REALLY needs a day off.
damn - paps can't go in the 12th can he?
I think a-rod needs multiple days off. i know others have said it. but now i'm saying it. :)
We're inching dangerously close to boring.
I hope Aceves doesn't take the bottom half too lightly here.
Longest 1-0 Sox/Yankee game (at least per B-R.com)
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS196909240.shtml
yeah arod definitely needs some time off as does jeter who looks a bit worn down now too - maybe with pena back up they can get a breather
but paplebon is throwing some good stuff tonight
[473] no way. This is an awesome game. But it would really suck to lose this one.
[473] Tension on every pitch. Yawn indeed. : )
This game is absolutely maddening...I am kind of surprised we're at 473 comments....was it 2006 during that double header against the sox that we got close to 1,000?
oh del carmen - things may be looking up
nice brutal change aceves!
Another weak hack.
Nice job, Ace.
[478] At no point did I think any of the Yankees last four hitters were going to get a hit. Its been longer since the Red Sox threatened anything.
Was Drew's AB as nice in real life as it was on GameCast?
[479] I mean 473+ comments seems a little low in a 12 inning game on a friday night....
c-tek with the drag bunt attempt?!? bwahhhhhhhhhhaaa
[485] it does. that much i don't get.
I figure the Sox will pull Pabs now and we'll win in the bottom of the inning...If they dare pitch him again he can't be available tomorrow.
[486] i know. too much!
oh be you ti f ful
eat that facemask!
[484] It was.
[479] Yeah, that was the Boston Massacre Part 2, right? I think you're right.
I too was surprised by the few number of comments, especially given how tight the game has been.
God bless Aceves, he's a marvel.
[483] So it's your fault. : O
Any one of these ugly doucebags could get one good swing on a bad pitch. I'm dying.
[487] I do think we hit over 1,000 on that double header day in 2006 at the beginning of the massacre.
[484] yes - the one to tek was even better though
If we get to the middle of the 14th, please tell me they won't subject us to another playing of "God Bless America"
All right, change low and away, here it comes...
the comments were really slow to start this game - seems like a good number of people are out tonight too
AWESOME!!
[497] oh my, could you imagine? I'm so with you Diane!
Vulture!²
Nope.
Fastball low and in.
Good enough, though.
Player of the game, Aceves. At least, based on exceeding expectations.