Comments on: Second Place Blues

By: Jon DeRosa

Jon DeRosa — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 20:10:33 +0000

[27] if you sell out completely for the bunt, the shortstop can make in plenty of time to get to the bag for a tag. it’s not like it’s a footrace right? jeter starts running before the pitch, the baserunner has to wait until the bunt is down.

if the bunt & run is on, which it wasn’t, the runner would race the shortstop, but that would be very risky given the situation. a pop bunt and you run yoursoelf out of the inning.

By: Fuller R

Fuller R — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:36:16 +0000

[25] Yeah, my point is there was no “other coverage” in that situation last night. I would have been shocked if they had called the wheel play with Scutaro running and no force at 3rd. Even if Jeter were able to outrun Scutaro, he would have probably had to take the throw on the fly & then apply a tag.

Either way, I think they were simply anticipating that Ellsbury would put down a good sac bunt and their only play would be at first.

By: Jon DeRosa

Jon DeRosa — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:36:29 +0000

[25] The shortstop covers third on a “wheel play” where the third baseman charges and the shortstop vacates his position to make it to third ahead of the runner. The other coverage for that play is as you suggest, that Nunez stays at home and Mo covers the thrid base side and the first baseman charges hard to cover his side.

In the ninth last night, the Yanks did neither of those things. As you correctly point out, Scutaro could have just stolen thrid since nobody was there. That suggests a blown play, but whether it was on Nunez, Jeter or the bench for not sending in a play, we don’t know.

By: Fuller R

Fuller R — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:18:01 +0000

[0] Jon, there’s no way Jeter was supposed to cover 3rd on that play. Once Nunez charged in, Scutaro was going to 3rd regardless of whether the ball was even put in play. What should have happened (if they wanted the lead runner) is they should have had Nunez hustle to the bag, with Mo in charge of any bunted ball from the 3rd base line to the mound (sparking another memory of the 9th inning of game 7, 2001 WS – oh, if only Brosius had thrown to first for the DP…) I think what happened last night was they wanted to make sure they got the out at 1st, not even thinking that Ellsbury would bunt it right back to Mo.

By: Sliced Bread

Sliced Bread — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:21:59 +0000

21) fuck them is right, but I’m more bothered by the reality of second place than how Red Sox fans perceive CC and Mo.

By: Marek

Marek — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:58:26 +0000

[22] Yeah, the announcers were so deep in the Red Sox’ back pockets that [insert scatalogical reference here]. Scutaro’s a hero but Nunez is lucky? W/E!

By: flycaster

flycaster — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:39:13 +0000

I have always been certain that Mo would never again throw up and in to Scutaro after that walk-off piece he hit, what, 5/6 years ago. I guess he was trying down and away but just missed? Anyway, after a loss like that, little things annoy me. Like the way Vastergian (sp?) went on and on about how cheap Nunez’s home run was, but no comment on Scutaro’s wall-skimming pop-up.

Starting to get the sense that Soriano’s a really strange cat…

By: Alex Belth

Alex Belth — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:34:46 +0000

15) Wait ’til October. Fuck those guys. I don’t give a shit if they are scared or not.

Those who laugh first laugh least not last.

By: RagingTartabull

RagingTartabull — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:04:34 +0000

Worst loss of the year?

Worst loss of the year.

By: The Hawk

The Hawk — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:50:20 +0000

Very disappointing game. The fact that they somehow had a lead going into the bottom of the ninth after Garcia was on the mound was amazing. Sort of predictable Mo would blow it, I’m not sure why, though I don’t buy that Red Sox fans are sure the Sox can “handle” Mariano. I know historically he’s a bit worse vs them but I still have every confidence in him at the end of the game. My impression is he had a rough patch against the Sox a few years ago but kind of straightened it out. (Though maybe this year is a return to those sad days.)

Sabathia, too – I really don’t believe the difference between the Sox and the rest of the league is that stark. Frustrating to watch of course but I think it’s mostly coincidence.

By: rbj

rbj — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:27:31 +0000

4 hours for a 2-1 game? Yeesh. Had a bad feeling about the game before it started. Which is why I turned off the computer and just did a bunch of channel surfing.

By: Raf

Raf — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:25:56 +0000

[15] On the flip side, I don’t think Yankees and their fans feared the Red Sox, nor their starters (Beckett, Lackey, Bedard). Fans were more concerned with the Yankees starters than the Sox starters.

By: Raf

Raf — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:22:54 +0000

[14] Tongue planted firmly in cheek

By: Sliced Bread

Sliced Bread — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:17:35 +0000

I was talking to a small group of friendly Red Sox fans at my neighborhood lake on Saturday afternoon before the second game. Remember back then when it seemed like the Yankees might win a series against the Red Sox again? Long time ago, I know. Anyway my friendly neighborhood Red Sox fans, despite having been knocked back into second place for a minute, were laughing about their team’s exploits against CC and Mo. They weren’t gloating, or disrespecting our best pitchers. They respect them, but they don’t fear them at all. They were confident the Red Sox would be able to handle our best, and win the series. They were right, of course, and this bothers me very very much.

By: Raf

Raf — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:15:45 +0000

[7] Soriano’s the 7th inning guy.

By: Boatzilla

Boatzilla — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:42:58 +0000

[9] Grandy had 3 walks though. At least he contributed.

By: Boatzilla

Boatzilla — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:40:34 +0000

[11] Huh? Who on the team is sulking and discontent?

By: Marek

Marek — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:23:08 +0000

Freddy did well, the offense was terrible. But hey, the Yankees have developed the next Jeff Weaver!

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 09:46:41 +0000

[9] Yep, that too.

By: OldYanksFan

OldYanksFan — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:44:33 +0000

We were 0 for 10 with RISP.
Jeter, Grandy, Teix, Cano and Swisher a combined 2 for 20.
Not much offense tonight.