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SMOKED MEAT

The Big Bad White Sox continued to beat up the Yankees at home last night, crushing the Bombers, 11-2. Actually, the Yanks didn’t get crushed, they were creamolished. David Wells took it on the chin, while Bartolo Colon shut the Yankees down with ease. Yankee pitching coach, Mel Stottlemyre had some cherce words for Boomer. According to The New York Times:

“He just needs to do more work,” Stottlemyre said. “He hasn’t been throwing in between starts, and I think he needs that. I think it’s showing. The last two games, at the same point in the game, he hasn’t made very good pitches.”

…”I don’t know if he has a bad back,” Stottlemyre said. “If he has a bad back and it’s bothering him, for the sake of the ball club, he should say it.”

…”I would say he’s not in as good a shape as he was early in the year, because he’s not throwing between starts every time,” Stottlemyre said. “The only reason I bring that up is because I feel that’s part of the problem.”

…”If he was pitching all right, I would never address this situation,” Stottlemyre said. “But it’s very unusual for him to make that many location mistakes. Boomer has very good control, the best control of anyone on the staff.”

Asked if he and Wells were at odds, Stottlemyre said: “We may be now, but we haven’t been. I’m normally pretty easy to get along with. Most of my pitchers have differing programs, and I usually go along with that until it doesn’t work. And obviously, it’s not working.

“I’m going to talk with him about it. If he does it, he does it. He’s got the ball in his hand. I can’t make him. He’s going to do what he’s going to do.”

Stottlemyre did not seek out the reporters he spoke to last night, but he answered the questions willingly. He only wished he could have talked to Wells first. “Actually, I shouldn’t even be talking about this before I address him,” Stottlemyre said, standing by a locker close to Wells’s stall. “But he isn’t here.”

Joe Torre took the game in stride:

“I can’t be angry at this,” Manager Joe Torre said. “These are just bad outings by our pitchers. If I felt they didn’t care, that’s one thing. But I don’t feel that way.”

While Jorge Posada tried to blame himself:

“I’m just angry,” Posada said. “I’m that kind of person. I just care; 11-2 and 13-2 are not scores you can go home with and think about. It’s tough on me. I’m calling the game and I’m making suggestions, and I’m getting hit.”

The loss cost the Yanks a game in the standings as Boston rallied to beat Doc Halladay and the Blue Jays, 6-3. The Yankee lead is down to four games (five in the loss column). The Bombers play an afternoon game today and look to Mike Mussina to end the hurt before heading up to Boston for a big, three-game serious this weekend.

I’m up to my ears in boxes here in the Bronx. I’m in the middle of moving, so I fear that blogging will be light over the weekend. Still, I’ll try the best I can to take a few moments to make a comment or two.

I was thinking last night about how much I enjoy writing about baseball on a daily basis. I want to thank the people who have been reading Bronx Banter this year. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the feedback and comments you’ve sent me as the season has rolled along.

On that note, I’d like to ask for some help. Anyone who has any impressions or thoughts about the Yankee-Sox games this weekend, please feel free to send them over. I’m going to have to rely on you guys, because I don’t know how much of it I’ll be able to catch myself.

Thanks in advance.

Alex

The Pirates finally moved Brian Giles to the Padres yesterday, in a long-rumored trade. The good news for the Pads is that they didn’t have to take Jason Kendell. The great news for the Pads is that they have Brian Giles! Think Pads fans are excited? Just ask Geoff over at Duck Snorts. Aaron Gleeman gives his take on the deal as well.

I don’t think they have a burning need for a shortstop, but I would love to see Miguel Tejada in a San Diego uniform.

There is a Blue Jay’s-based website called “Batter’s Box” that has an extremely well-done interview with Toronto’s general manager, J.P. Ricciardi. Ricciardi is clearly a bright and affable guy. I think he’s very interesting-looking too. There is something exaggerated about him that reminds me of an Al Hirshfield illustration. It’s his long, narrow face. Or he could be one of those slick-looking rodents, dressed in a zoot suit, that you’d find in an old Warner Bros. cartoon. It’s not that he’s ugly either, you can actually see that he’s handsome. But from certain angles, he’s all of a piece.

On top of all that, he’s a good interview. Kudos to the guys at Batter’s Box for a job well done.

I had a bad feeling about Roger Clemens before the game last night, and when I saw his little, ol’ mom throw out the first pitch and then clutch at her hulking son, shaking with tears, I figured it was going to be a long night for the Rocket (you know how emotional he can get). Or a short night, depending on how you look at it. The White Sox played like the Gashouse Gorrillas and handed Clemens one of the worst beatings of his Hall of Fame career, as the Sox pounded the Bombers, 13-2. Esteban Loaiza was nasty and showed the Yankees why he’s a leading candidate for the Cy Young award. He moved in and out, and spotted his pitches, all of which seemed to have a good deal of movement on them.

The Yankees welcomed Felix Heredia and Gabe White to the bullpen, and released Jesse Orosco. Jeff Weaver is headed to Tampa single A, mostly to work with pitching-guru (and the former Mr. Seka) Billy Conners. Weaver will be called up next week in order to make the post-season roster:

“A lot of things have happened this year that I wouldn’t have expected, but this is one year out of hopefully many,” Weaver said. “Hopefully, 10 years from now, I’ll say that 2003 was the year that built me as a player and as a person.

“I jumped to conclusions too much when things went wrong,” he added, “and flooded my whole approach with stuff that was basically useless. Maybe I’ve taken a wrong turn a couple of times, trying to get back. I’ve made too many corrections, too many adjustments.”

…”I have no problems here,” Weaver added. “They want results right away. I look at it as my fifth year in the league and the first one that I’ve struggled. I wouldn’t say I’ve been treated unfairly for what they’re trying to accomplish here.”

Since I had an inclination that Rocket might get spanked, I didn’t find the game upsetting, especially since Toronto jumped all over the Sox in Boston. Of course the Red Sox stormed back and made things exciting, but the Blue Jays were able to hold on for the victory, and the Yanks lead over Boston remains at five games (six in the loss). The A’s edged by the Orioles, 2-1 in extra innings and now lead the Sox by a game in the wildcard.

Whew.

I caught two funny moments in the game as well. Jose Contreras, the Yankees’ sleepy Cuban pitcher who is Delroy Lindo dark, was sitting on the bench in the fourth inning. His eye-lids were heavy and it looked as if he could barely stay awake. Why is he always so sleepy? I don’t know why, but I find it amusing.

Also, in the second inning, Bernie Williams was rounding second, when the bag jumped up and bit him. Bernie seemed to forget where the bag was I guess. He wiped out, flat on his face. A sympathetic Robbie Alomar tried to contain a smile. He was probably happy that it didn’t happen to him, and not surprised that it happened to Bernie. Williams smiled sheepishly at Willie Randolph at the end of the frame, and must have taken plenty of abuse from his teammates in the clubhouse later on.

The Yankees didn’t play a particularly good game last night but they came away with a win anyhow. Baltimore repeatedly opened the door for them, and they refused to take advantage. Andy Pettitte bull-dogged his way into the seventh and earned his 16th win of the year; the Yanks added a couple of runs in the ninth and beat the O’s 5-2.

Jeff Weaver relieved Jesse Orosco with one out in the eighth, and after getting the second out he served up a long home run, which cut the score to 3-2. But Lil Sori, who led off the game with his 10th lead-off homer of the season, had a big, two-run, two-out single in the ninth to seal the victory. Mariano pitched a flawless, four-out save.

Jason Giambi was plunked twice. The second time, he was pelted in the right hand on a 3-0 pitch. Giambi spun around and shook his hand in anger. Yankee fans held their breath. He eventually left the game. Initial x-rays were negative and Giambi said he’s 50-50 for tonight’s game. We’ll see. I’ll be nervous until he’s back in there swinging the bat again.

Lefty relief pitcher Gabe White has joined the team and the Yanks have also picked up another southpaw for the pen in Felix Heredia. Cashman picked him off waivers, blocking him from going to another team. This likely spells the end for Jesse Orosco. Another pitcher must go as well. Either Jeff Weaver will be demoted to the minors or Antonio Osuna could be released.

The Yanks start a three-game series vs. the streaking Chicago White Sox tonight. The Sox play Toronto.

Pedro Martinez continued to master the Mariners yesterday afternoon at the Fens, as Boston swept the M’s to end their grueling two-weeks vs. Oakland and Seattle in fine form. (Martinez might not be happy in Boston, but an angry Pedro is an effective Pedro.) They remain tied with the A’s for the wildcard—Oakland is now tied with Seattle for first place in the west—and trail the Yanks by five (six in the loss column).

The Ron Guidry festivites on Saturday afternoon were overshadowed by the announcement that Bobby Bonds had passed away. Bob Shepard, the voice of the Yankees, addressed the crowd immediately before the anthem played. The crowd gasped. Shepard listed Bonds’ accomplishments and then asked for a moment of silence. When he said that Bonds was only 57 there was another, deeper gasp from the crowd.

The Orioles then went out and handled the Yankees, behind a strong, complete-game performance from Rodrigo Lopez. The breaking ball was working and Lopez K’d 10 Bombers. Mike Mussina wasn’t awful, and he trailed 3-2 going into the ninth before the O’s scored four runs and put the game out of reach.

The Sox beat the Mariners in extra innings, surviving a blown save from B. Y. Kim.

On Sunday—which was even more beautiful than Saturday—the Yankees rebounded behind a stellar outing from Jose Contreras. There was a chill in the air that reminded me that fall is just around the corner. While the Yankee brass is crowing about the triumphant return of their soporific Cuban, I’ll wait and see how he does in Boston this Friday before getting too excited.

The Red Sox beat the Mariners for the third straight day too. The A’s crushed Toronto, and Tim Hudson looked just fine. Oakland and Boston are tied for the wildcard while the Sox trail the Yanks by five (six in the loss column).

Pedro Martinez will pitch this afternoon as the Sox go for the sweep.

It’s amazing how quickly fortunes can change. The night of the blackout last week the Yankees beat the O’s down in Baltimore and then they won six more in a row. In the meantime, Boston’s mighty offense was experiencing one of its few collective droughts of the season, and the Yankees put some room between the two teams. Going into Friday’s game, the Bombers led Boston by seven, eight in the loss column.

Buster Olney wrote in an e-mail this past week, “The Red Sox are fading, right on schedule. They’re like homing pigeons finding their way back to their cages; you don’t quiet understand how, but it’s absolutely predictable.”

The A’s are Boston’s cheif competition for the wildcard. After Oakland swiped the first two games in Boston this week, Red Sox Nation was ready to damn it all and jump off the bridge. Yes, the offense was back in the final game, and they pounded Rich Harden, who pitched in place of a bruised Tim Hudson (only been just about the best pitcher in the league this year). But they blew those two games. 17 men left on base!

Last night, the Sox beat the Mariners, 6-4 while the A’s faced a long night with Roy Halladay–the other guy who could be the best pitcher in the league. The Blue Jays beat the A’s 6-3, and Doc had his 17th win. The Sox and A’s are now tied for the wildcard spot.

But the fortune for Red Sox Nation gets better as Mark Mulder, one of Oakland’s Big Three, could be out for the rest of the year. (Mulder had to leave after three innings this past week in Boston.) In his Under the Knife column yesterday Will Carroll, the injury guru over at Baseball Prospectus, wrote:

The A’s pushed Mark Mulder onto the DL while he rehabs a strained hip. As with Randy Johnson’s knee, this is Mulder’s right (plant) leg, which understandably takes a lot of impact and torque in the pitching motion, even with great mechanics like Mulder. Mulder will miss at least two starts while on the list, but since he will be able to keep his arm loose, he shouldn’t need much work before jumping back into the rotation. Expect the A’s to be aggressive but smart with his rehab.

But it’s apparently worse than that (I’m sure we’ll hear more from Will in the next couple of days). According to the Associated Press:

A’s left-hander Mark Mulder has a stress fracture in his right hip, a startling injury that will likely sideline him for the rest of the season.

“Yeah, six weeks I think is unrealistic to expect that he’ll be in pitching shape,” A’s general manager Billy Beane said Friday night. “So yeah, we’re resigned (that Mulder is done for the year.)”

Oh, man this is brutal for the A’s. Somewhere, Michael Lewis is fuming. It reinforces just how much Oakland’s success has depended upon the healthy, durable trio of Hudson, Mulder, and Barry Zito. Forget the other stuff, it’s the Big Three or bust. They can still make the playoffs without the great offense, but it remains to be seen if they can do it without their top flight pitching.

I don’t know how many times Oakland has to play Seattle again, but I know the Sox get to play Tampa and Baltimore a whole bunch. With this sudden turn of events, the wildcard will be Boston’s to lose. They’ve got the advantage. I know Sox fans like Ed Cossette who have remained confident in this particular Boston squad throughout the painful losses and the slumps. Ed and his friends might have something to shout about in October after all.

Oakland’s chances rest on the fate of Tim Hudson. I don’t know how the hand injury will effect him, if it will slow him down any, screw with the way he throws certain pitches. He’s been remarkable all year and is the soul of thier staff. If he’s OK, and can bulldog his way through the next six weeks, Oakland will still be in it.

Meanwhile, the Yanks lost a close one to Baltimore in the Bronx last night, 4-3. The winning streak ends at seven. David Wells pitched well enough to lose, and Pat Hentgen threw a nice game for the O’s. The Yankees had their chances late. Bernie couldn’t do anything with two runners on in the eighth, and Nick Johnson had a chance with the bases loaded and two out in the ninth. But then he didn’t. The O’s brought in the ol’ southpaw Buddy Groom, so Torre countered with Ruben Ruben Sierra. Sierra had 5 hits in like 10 or 12 at bats against Groom so Torre went with the percentages.

But I’m sure I was not alone among those Yankee fans who instinctively groaned. Aw, man, don’t take Nicky Johnson out. Sierra looked at one pitch and he swung at that pitch. A strike-one fastball. Sierra swung late, and popped the ball to Gibbons in right to end the game.

The Yanks lead Boston by six games, seven in the loss column.

The other story of the night is that Brian Cashman finally traded Sterling Hitchcock to the Cardinals. The Yankees recevied two young pitchers in return. According to Newsday:

The Yankees received a pair of 23-year-old pitchers: righthander Justin Pope (4-11, 4.92 ERA for Class A Palm Beach) and lefthander Ben Julianel (4-2, 1.05 ERA, 9 saves, 78 Ks in 51 2/3 innings for Class A Peoria).

Hitchcock finally gets out of his penthouse prison and will get a chance to start meaningful games for a team struggling to make the playoffs. I wish him luck and am relieved, for him and for us, that he’s finally gone.

GATOR GETS HIS

Today is Ron Guidry Day at the Stadium. I’m going with my friend Mindy, and a couple of her friends. I went to high school with Mindy but we didn’t start to bond on the baseball tip until last season. Since then, we’re famous baseball pals. Mindy went to spring training earlier this year and actually got to meet Guidry. She said he was a real humble southern gentleman, and she had a great time talking with him.

I was seven years old when Gator had his amazing 1978 season and I suppose it’s the first memory in my baseball consciousness. I don’t really remember the ’78 season in any coherent way, but I was aware of the skinny little lefty who just killed it every time he pitched. I started following baseball in a deliberate, aware way starting the next year in ’79. So I have much stronger memories of the playoff sweep in ’80 by the Royals–George Brett’s Revenge!–and the disastrous 1981 World Serious than I do of Reggie’s homers or Chambliss’ shot.

Guidry was my favorite pitcher and second favorite player overall next to Reggie Jackson. Willie Randolph was my third favorite. I liked the skinny guys because I was a skinny guy. I was also drawn to the quiet disposition, the cool professionalism that both Wille and Guidry displayed. Reggie of course was a totally different animal, but that’s another story. You got to have a ying to your yang.

Anyhow, I’m going to enjoy giving the Gator his props in person today. I hope to have lots of casual conversations with fellow Guidry fans and get swallowed up in the collective memories of the crowd. That will be interesting. Should be a long-ass afternoon; we’ll arrive at 2:00 for the ceremony. The game doesn’t start until 4:00, so that’ll be close to six hours out there when it’s all said and done (sun block: check).

Fortunately, it’s a tremendous day here in New York. It’s one of those days that the radio calls one of the 10 best of the year. Absolutely perfecto. Hot, sunny, but not humid. With a cool breeze cutting the heat nicely. The city is dead, with everyone still on vacation, and I love it. This is usally my favorite time of year. When you can get great corn, and fresh tomatoes, and nobody is in New York. Couldn’t have a lovelier Saturday for a wedding or a tribute to Ron Guidry at the Stadium.

Jim Bouton is the author of perhaps the most famous baseball book of all, “Ball Four.” He also pitched for the New York Yankees, was a sportscaster and an actor, and also helped create “Big League Chew” bubble gum. Mostly, he’s an author and a motivational speaker. His latest effort, a self-published book called “Foul Ball” is about Bouton’s crusade to save a minor-league ballpark in the Berkshires. I had the opportunity to speak with Bouton last month. He speaks in a raspy, soft voice, and he laughs often. Here is our conversation.

Enjoy and have a great weekend.

Bronx Banter: In your new book, “Foul Ball,” you write that there have been two experiences in your life that youíve felt compelled to write about. One was your time as a player, which you wrote about in “Ball Four.” The other one was your campaign to save a minor league ballpark in the Berkshires, which resulted in “Foul Ball.” What drew you to this story?

Jim Bouton: Well it was a story I hadnít intended to write about. My partner, Chip Elitzer and I simply had a plan that we thought was a revolutionary plan to resurrect an old ballpark in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, with our own money, private money, and have a locally owned baseball team so that Pittsfield would never again be faced with the situation that theyíve always faced which is: Build us a new stadium or lose your team. Theyíve been running up against that for years. The people have voted three different times against a new stadium. So our plan to save Wahconah Park, we thought would be embraced by the community, and we would have a lot of fun. But then when we started running into opposition from the leadership in the community, not the people, who were a hundred percent behind us, but the leadership of the community, which is to say Berkshire Bank, The Berkshire Eagle

The Red Sox got a scare yesterday when Pedro Martinez was a late scratch with the flu. But the night ended well for Red Sox Nation as Cassey Fossum stepped in and the Red Sox creamed Oakland’s rookie sensation Rich Harden and the A’s, 14-5. The Sox now trail Oakland by one game in the wildcard race, and the Yankees by seven games in the AL East (eight in the loss column).

Meanwhile, Jose Contreras will start for the Yankees on Sunday, leaving Jeff Weaver’s immediate future up in the air. Tyler Kepner has a nice appreciation of the Yankees other famous import, the sure and steady Godziller Matsui, in the Times today.

The Yanks host the Orioles this weekend, while the Mariners visit Boston.

It’s that time of year again, isn’t it? The time when the Yankees get all the cherries while the Sox are stuck with the pits. The Bombers outlasted another iffy outing from Mariano Rivera, and edged the Royals, 8-7. The Yanks had led 8-3, but never count Tony Pena’s bunch out. KC hit four singles off Rivera in the ninth, and if Carlos Beltran didn’t make a base-running gaffe, things might have ended differently. Desi Relaford struck out to end the game instead.

The Red Sox watched the afternoon game before taking on Oakland again last night. Naturally, the talk in Boston is about the annual Sox swoon. Kevin Millar, for one, isn’t having it. Before the game he opined:

“The only thing I have to remind people is that there’s 37 games left,” Millar said. “Take your Yankee stuff and go have fun with your Yankee stuff and watch the Yankees win and all that stuff. It’s irrelevant.

“The bottom line is we’re trying for a world championship. We’re trying to make the playoffs. If we go 30-7, then we win the division. But the bottom line is we have to make the playoffs. If that consists of a wild card, it consists of a wild card and we’ll go from there.”

Then Boston went out and blew a 6-2 lead. B.Y. Kim allowed four runs in the eighth, and Oakland charged back to win, 8-6. It’s not as if the Sox didn’t have their chances; Boston left 17 runners on base. The frustration in Boston is mounting.

“We felt we had this game,” [Johnny] Damon said. “It’s huge. We could have pulled even. It’s not a good spot to be in.”

I wonder how Ed Cossette is handling all of this.

Still, they are a good enough team to make a run, so it’s tough to count them out yet. Just ask Mr. Millar:

“You guys are going to be standing here in October saying, ‘Wow, what a run,’ ” Millar predicted. “We’re going to win. We’re going to have fun. We’re going to the playoffs.”

The Yanks are now 7 1/2 up on the Sox. It’s too early to get excited; let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Still, it’s nice to see the Yanks put a streak together.

Jane Leavy, author of last yearís smash hit, “Koufax,” is on a roll. Not only is “Koufax” due out in paperback this September, but Perennial (a division of Harper Collins) has issued a paperback edition of her 1990 comic novel, “Squeeze Play.” The novel follows the adventures of a woman sportswriter, A.B. Berkowitz, who happens to cover the worst team in baseball. The New York Times Book Review noted that the novel, “does baseball mythology proud

Andy Pettitte pitched another solid game, and the Yanks survived a three-error to defeat the Royals, 6-3. With the Yanks cruising 6-0, Alfonso Soriano made two errors in the seventh; Nick Johnson made one and the Royals scored three times. But the bullpen held the lead, and the Yanks were propelled by home runs from Soriano, Bernie Williams and Karim Garcia.

Jason Giambi did his best Rickey Henderson impression in the sixth. Leading 5-0, Giambi walked. Kevin Appier wasn’t paying him much mind, and the Royals didn’t hold him on the bag, so Giambi swiped second. Yeah, that’s right. Standing up. He then came around to score on Godzilla Matsui’s bloop single to center.

Garcia crushed a first-pitch breaking ball off the upper deck facade in right field, and has provided nice pop during the last three games. The Yanks recalled Juan Rivera to play right and face right-handed pitchers today. But between Karim Dellucci and Juan Sierra, the Yanks have a four-headed right field platoon that is similiar to the left field rotation they’ve had in recent years.

Derek Lowe and the Red Sox were holding the A’s down for much of the game last night in Boston, but the bullpen couldn’t close the deal. Two walks and a Ramon Hernandez dinger later, the A’s walked away with a dramamtic 3-2 win, which moved Oakland a game ahead of Boston in the wild card race. The Sox now trail the Yanks by 6 1/2 games.

Another night, another f-ugly win for the Yanks. Tell George Vecsey I ain’t complaining. Jeff Weaver wasn’t awful, but he was far from impressive. Weaver received a decidedly mixed reception when Joe Torre took him out of the game, but I think there were more cheers than jeers.

Weaver’s counterpart, Jose Lima, was his usual animated self. He couldn’t spot his fastball, and his change up could only take him so far. The Yankees blasted him, and were able to hold off K.C. for a 11-6 win. It’s hard not to be taken with the Royals. Not only do they refuse to die easily, but they maintain their sense of humor whether they are winning or losing.

Carlos Beltran killed the Yanks and looked like the star we know him to be. Raul Ibanez was the hard luck player of the game, hitting two long foul balls that narrowly missed being homers (in the 4th and 6th innings). Nick Johnson had three hits for the Yanks; Jorge Posada and Karim Garcia added home runs.

There were a couple of freeze-frame moments during the game that caught my atttention. You know those slow-motion, suspended-in-air flashes where time suddenly halts; the kind that the highlight shows love.

In the third, Derek Jeter hit a shot to deep right-center field. Carlos Beltran was there in plenty of time, but he jumped too early and the ball glanced off his glove. In mid-air, Beltran braced himself to hit the wall. But it didn’t come as quickly as he anticipated, and he just floated for a moment, stuck in time, until THUD, he smacked up against it.

In the following inning, Bernie Williams raced home trying to score from second. But his slide came up short, and instead of sliding through the plate, it was as if he was sliding into third. Bernie’s lead foot (the left one) stopped just shy of the plate, and as his body straighten, the force of his momentum carried him off his feet entirely and he tumbled over the plate and the catcher. It looked like a startled cat, leaping out a tub. But once Bernie was in the air, time stopped again, and all Bernie could do was enjoy the ride and pray that he would land all right.

The Yankees survived another dubious night of pitching, and everything was all right in the Bronx. The Sox had the night off. New York’s lead is now 5 1/2 games.

Jeff Weaver starts against Jose Lima tonight at the Stadium. This one could get ugly early. I hope Lima pulls some of his high school Charlie horseshit, just to piss the Yankees off. Then, hopefully, Jason Giambi will plant a couple in the upper deck.

Mike Mussina gave the Yankees just what the doctor ordered: a three-hit, complete-game shut-out. Mussina had his entire portfolio of pitches working, and dominated his former team as the Yanks pounded Baltimore, 8-0. (By the way, Sunday was Jorge Posada’s 32nd birthday, and not Saturday night, as I had originally reported.)

Earlier in the day, the Bombers designated Todd Zeile for assingment.

The Yankees win, coupled with the Red Sox 3-1 loss to the Mariners (who says Freddie’s dead?), puts New York five games ahead of Boston, six in the loss column. (It is the largest lead of the year for the Yanks.) Boy, does Rafael Soriano have a live arm or what? He could effectively do what K-Rod did for the Angels last year. The Sox went 3-4 in Oakland and Seattle. Dan Shaughnessy says the Sox potent offense needs to regain its form in order for Boston to keep up with the Yanks.

For one day, there was nothing to fret about, although according to George Vecsey in The Times, that won’t last long. (I stand guilty as charged.)

The Bombers are back in New York tonight for a three-game series against the Royals.

I have a few moments to myself this morning, and I’ve been enjoying Sean Foreman’s indispensable Baseball Newsstand. How did we ever live without it? I love cruising around, and checking out papers from all around the country for Sunday baseball articles.

Here are some links that I thought I’d pass along:

1. Joe Torre’s critics must have been circling like sharks last night after he forgot to protest the O’s batting out of order in the first last night. (Larry Mahnken has a great write-up on the ruling and the game.) It could have cost the Yanks the game, which had one of the wildest finishes I’ve ever seen. Torre’s response? He was as accountable as ever:

“I slept,” Torre said. “It’s inexcusable. It was totally my fault.”

2. Keith Law, the erstwhile Baseball Prospectus writer, who now works for the Blue Jays, wrote a letter to the New York Times addressing a recent column by William Rhoden.

3. Jack Curry has a long piece in The Times today about bunting, and how the sacrifice is regarded in the contemporary game.

4. Not wanting to take any chances, the Reds have shut down Brandon Claussen’s season.

5. As always, Gordon Edes’ Sunday Notes column in The Boston Globe is a must-read. Today, he talks about the changing fortunes of the Cubs and Red Sox.

6. Aaron Gleeman weighs in on the fielding prowess of Andruw Jones. Lengthy as usual, but informative and thorough.

7. Mike C takes exception with Jayson Stark’s recent article on Barry Bonds. Quelle suprise, eh. David Pinto offers his take too.

8. Don’t miss Christian Ruzich’s excellent interview with former MLB prospect, Phil Hiatt over at The Cub Reporter.

9. Don’t miss Rich Lederer’s latest piece on Frank Thomas. Don’t like The Big Hurt? Tough. He’s only one of the best offensive players in the history of the game.

10. Finally, a team of Baseball Prospectus all-stars pen a good piece about the greatest young starting rotations in baseball history.

Hope everyone has a great afternoon.

Bottom 12

Jeff Nelson is the new pitcher for the Yanks. Tony Batista leads off for the O’s; he is one of the rare right-handed hitters who does well against Nellie.

Slider outside, 1-0. Fastball, fouled back, 1-1. Another slider, outside, 2-1. Batista hits the next pitch on the screws, but it is right at Matsui in left.

One out.

B.J. Surhoff pinch hits for Fordyce. He swings and misses at a slider in the dirt, 0-1. Another slider, coming from a side-arm angle, right over the plate, 0-2. The next pitch is a heater right over the plate. Chalk up a backwards K for Nellie.

Two out.

Jack Cust is the pinch hitter. Slider, taken for a strike. Fastball, fouled back, 0-2. Fastball up and away for a ball, 1-2. Slider on the outside corner, misses, 2-2. (There are tons of Yankee fans making noise.) Slider on the outside corner. But it’s low. Nellie hops off the mound, but the count is full. Slider way outside, ball four.

Now the Orioles fans counter and make some noise of their own.

Looks like a lack of concentration on Nellie’s part there. He got a little ahead of himself. Mel comes out to talk.

The first pitch to Larry Bigbie is a slider inside for a ball, 1-0. The next pitch is a fastball, down Broadway, taken for a strike, 1-1. Fastball, outside corner, strike two. He nails the pitch into right center field for a single.

Cust comes rounds third and heads for home. But he falls. Soriano takes the cut off throws and throws low to Boone at third. The ball almost got away. Boone chases him home and throws to Posada. Jorgie runs him back to third and throws back to Boone. Boone then moves towards Cust, but nobody is covering home. Nellie is not there!

But Cust falls again! Only feet away from home, he stumbles again; Boone falls on him and makes the tag and the game is over.

Holy Christ I think I just wet myself.

To paraphrase a famous football call, “Jack Cust must be the sickest man in America.” Oh, baby. That’s some good ol’ fashioned dumb luck.

The Yanks escape with an another ugly win, but remain four ahead of the Sox.

Top 12

Nick Johnson is 0-3 with two walks on the night. He walks on five pitches.

Jeter bunts the first pitch in the air!!! (Gasp.) But it falls foul. (Sigh.) The pitch was a heater, up and in. Boy, you don’t see that too often. He swings and missed at the next pitch. Johnson is running. The throw goes through to second, and they pick Johnson off first on a close play.

Good grief.

Ball low, to Jeter. The next pitch is high. Jeter spins away, 2-2. He pops the next pitch, foul and out of play behind the plate. Slider, low, and the count is full. Dag, that one was close. Yeesh. Fastball, low and inside. Jeter waves at it for the strike three.

Fastball high to Giambi, 1-0. He smashed the next pitch into the center field bleachers and the Yanks take the lead, 5-4. The big guy stood at the plate after he hit it; he knew it was gone. How do you say, Jimmy Jack? It’s his 35 homer of the year, and his 94th RBI.

Bernie takes a slider for a strike. Ball, outside, 1-1. Fastball outside, 2-1. Another fastball; this one is fouled off to the left side. Fastball right down the middle, strike three.

Bottom of the 11th. I’m starting to feel nautious. Hell, I’m up now. But I want to be able to get some sleep tonight.

Dave Roberts bunts for a single.

Cruz sets to bunt and looks at two straight balls. Then he swings wildly through a change up, 1-2. He bunts the next pitch to Johnson who goes to first for the first out. Roberts heads to second.

The Orioles are up in the dugout with white towels on their heads, trying to work the rally magic.

Matos, Baltimore’s hero of the night is up. He flies out to deep right field; Roberts tags and moves to third.

Jay Gibbons is next. He’s 0-4 on the night, and Mel Stottlemyre comes out to talk with his pitcher.

Gibbons skies the first pitch to Bernie in center to end the inning.

Hector Carrasco comes on to face Boone. Now, will Torre have Boone bunt? I would think so. Carrasco spins, and throws to second. Bernie slides back. The throw is off; a good throw would have made the play close. Boone bunts the first pitch down the first baseline. The play is to first and the runners move up.

Ruben Sierra pinch hits for Dellucci. Why? David is a lefty, and would have likely been walked. Instead Sierra is given the intentional pass and the bases are loaded for John Flaherty. Karim Garcia pinch runs for Ruben Ruben, and Jorge Posada pinch hits for Flaherty.

Will it be a birthday knock or a birthday double play?

The first pitch to Posada is high for a ball, 1-0. The next pitch is rocketed foul down the first base line, 1-1. Fastball, low; Posada is late, and fouls it off to the left side. He’s now down, 1-2. Fastball, way upstairs, and the count is even. (YES just flashed a chart: Posada is hitting .472 in the last ten days.) The next pitch is fouled back. (A fly ball to the outfield would do…) Slider, swung on and missed, strike three. Good pitch.

Happy fuggin boitday.

Here is Soriano, who is 0-5. He looks at a ball, low, 1-0. Fastball on the inside corner, 1-1. Ground ball to third. Batista steps on the base for the final out. The Yanks are 1-6 with runners in scoring position tonight and if I wasn’t typing, I would throw this damn machine out of the window.