Rain on the weekend is always a bummer. But with a kid getting used to his arm in a cast, I wonder if it's a blessing in disguise. Maybe it won't suck so much for him if we're all in there playing board games and popping popcorn or whatever.

i'm playing a big and important outdoor gig tonight.

let's all hope the rain holds off down here! i'll have just about ALL my gear outside...

GO YANKS!!!

Missing the only game I will get to watch all weekend tonight. But it's for a great cause:
http://www.bendbrewfest.com/

[3] Wow, that looks like fun.
I'm back home, and I'll be watching on NESN tonight (I think the weekend games are on FOX and ESPN).

But yeah, it's not even gonna be that much fun to win. Or all that painful to lose -- it would be like losing to the Twins or something.

Wouldn't mind seeing the look on Bobby V's face as the Yankees sweep the Sox.

5) Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I could also see a disaster, Sox sweep and have life.

Teix out with a sore wrist... probably will miss Saturday too. Let's really hope this is not a major issue.

7) Hmmmmm....

[5] I'm curious about the sources that are leaking all the inside turmoil in the RS clubhouse; if that much is known, they also have to know who the "mutineers" are and have been devising ways to extract them from the team during the off-season. Those issues aren't going to go away by themselves, especially if Bobby actually is slated (and chooses to) go into season 2. Huh, the way John Henry and Co. were portrayed in Moneyball, you'd think they'd have seen this coming (apparently Theo did, not that he's all that better off right now)...

[9] It depends on who the malcontents are.
They want to unload Beckett and Crawford, even at the cost of a big chunk of salary, but they expect to have a lot of trouble doing it (although there's some talk of doing a Burnett with Beckett).

Shit, it's raining.

Uh, so, will it stop? I assume they wouldn't have started if there was virtually no chance of playing the game.

Crap, rain. Is Derek Lowe available tonight?

[10] And we have to factor in all the spin from the parties.

That's a beaut, Swish!

Smile, you flake!

Swish swat!

Now let's get the legal 4.5 innings in.

NESN just showed the two managers in quick succession as Swisher rounded the bases. It was cinematic genius.
Remy and Orsillo are monotonous, though.

Russell would like the tarp to come out now.

TIme for my my weekly "Let the Pitcher catch the fucking pop up for fuck's sake" shout.

Why are they playing in this rain?
[17] I got NESN on today too..it's nicer in the background.

RIYank, the summer High School Baseball Tournament is on now here in Japan. I'm down in Osaka at the moment near Koshien Stadium where it takes place, also home of the Hanshin Tigers. The other day this kid struck out 22 in one of the qualifying games, then 19 in the next one. He should be due for a huge posting fee then Tommy John surgery in aout 6 years.

The change-up is fooling the Red Sox. Phil looks as good as he has in weeks.

[20] Heh.
22 and then 19! Man. I assume those are nine-inning games.

Buller homer indeed. Nice.

Good work, Curtis!

I wonder if they were told to just swing for the fences. Get the game over with faster.

Curtis with the long ball!

And Russell with the muscle!

This is fun. I'm not sure it's baseball, exactly, but I like it.

Belly to belly!

Whoo hoo. Home run derby!

AT&T Trivia Question from NESN:

Who is the only member of the 2004 Red Sox to go on and win a WS with a different team?

29) too easy. Johnny Heartbreaker.

Oh, nice job, Phil.

That's terrible. Just terrible.

[30] Yeah.

Fuck, it should be two down, bases empty. I guess the ball was wet or something.

Crap.

I hate that fucking midget. Nice work, Phil. His location blows.

Phuckin' Phil.

You could so see that coming, esp. after the walk.

fuggin' batting practice pitch to Pedroia.

What time does the Varsity game start?

Whoo, Rob hit it hard.

Ugh. That's back to back just missed its.

Yeah, sure, now.
Can't get over that botched DP ball. Grrr.

Listen to Coney, droppin' the SABR!

Huh, perfect positioning on that. I thought it was a hit for sure.

Captain. What a season!

Good. I wouldn't want anyone else to tie the game, or any other way. Perfect.

Cap'n!

Wow ... Jeter's 9th on the Yankees' homerun list?

I'd never have guessed that.

[48] Overrated. Bill James says so. :P

It sure is nice to have a utility infielder who doesn't make you hold your breath every time a ball is hit to him ...

I'd now like to see an all homer/no singles win just for kicks.

[51] Their isolated power is impressive tonight.

Oh, the utility infielder spoils the all-homer game.

Don Orsillo: the ball somehow eluded Granderson.

Dammit McGehee! Well, win anyway I say.

LOOOOOOOOOOOONG single.

Hey, how about a pinch hit for Bodie here?

A three run shot here would be nice.

I smell a GIDP, though....

3-1. Hit and run.

That is some piss poor pitch recognition.

Horrible swing from Martin there. Just awful.

FUCK YOU Martin.

That was terrible.

See [57]

Bollocks!

Couple of ball fours there.

Lovely. That's how it is done! : )

NIX!!!

O.K. I'll take that.

They both swung at the low-away pitch, but Nix got some of it.
Lucky > good?

That was great reaction from Morales. Too bad, dude.

[69] I wouldn't say it was luck at all. Martin tried to pull an outside slider and swung over it, Nix went with the pitch and dumped the ball into RF.

That's approach, not luck.

Short hook with Hughes ... short hook with Hughes ...

If ifs and buts were candy and nuts Hughes would be going into the 8th with 1 unearned run and about 85 pitches. Damn you fucked up double play! Damn you to hell!

Now RoSo

SWISH SWATS!!!

Man, Cornflake has totally taken to the 2-Hole!!!

I hit 'em from the left, I hit 'em from the right. I hit 'em all night long.

[73] Exactly.

[71] Still lucky, though. Nix could try taking that pitch to right twenty times and he'd only slap it into grass 5 times. (Or something like that.)

[78] Maybe. I guess my point is that when Martin isn't going well (which really describes like what, 3 out of his last 4 years?) he couldn't hit an outside pitch with a freaking boat oar, because he's always. trying. to. pull. every. fucking. pitch.

It's really, really tedious. And it's his approach, not his luck.

Man the skies are about to explode out here. Black, thunder. I guess we are gonna get your rain.

Now that???

That was luck.

Kick ball!

Alright, Hammer ... nail this rat-faced fuck.

Phew!

Back to the stable. No multi homer game for you!

Where art thou, my Hammer?

[79] when Martin isn't going well (which really describes like what, 3 out of his last 4 years?)

More like 4 out of his last 4 years, except for April and August 2011.

Maybe a little more insurance?

[71] I agree 100%. Good approach doesn't mean you will bat 1.000, but you WILL bat better than bad approach. He put the bat on the ball, which means there's a chance something good will happen. Swinging strikes rarely lead to anything good.

Man Bobby V does not look well.

[90] I don't think he returns next year.
Dang, almost more.

[89] I'm hoping the Yankees have higher ambitions than "there's a chance something good will happen." I think you've been watching the Red Sox too much.

[89] Of course, Reggie Jackson and Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth swung and missed a lot...

; )

[93] It's an interesting approach to advocate on Five Solo Homer Night. Just sayin.

When you hit the ball so hard it goes over the fence, there's a really really really high chance something good will happen.

Okay, I got it out of my system now.

[94] Yes, but the go ahead run came on a single. Let's keep everything in perspective.

Let's get this thing untucked.

[95] But it's never certain. In fact, there is only one certainty: you just can't predict baseball.

Very nice win. Good catch by the Irishman! : )

Untuck!

Good night all.