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Fool For Your Lovin' Nomo
2005-06-21 14:08
by Cliff Corcoran

The Yankees' Tag-Team Champions, Randy "Big Unit" Johnson and John "Flash" Flaherty, look to go 3-0 tonight against Hideo "The Tornado" Nomo and Toby "Or Not Toby" Hall. With Hall and Casey "Playing" Fossum having won the night before only because the umpires failed to disqualify Fossum for hitting Kevin "Mr. Nasty" Brown in the back with a folding chair, forcing the Yankees to replace him with Sean "Just Say" Henn, this is sure to be a grudge match on par with the British Bulldogs taking their revenge on the Dream Team after Greg "The Hammer" Valentine stole their mascot Mathilda.

Comments
2005-06-21 15:08:47
1.   Simone
Tony Womack is hitting 2nd AGAIN! Do you know his OPS after last night's game? .549. There are pitchers in the NL have higher OPS. Clemens' OPS is .613! How is this possible? How? How can Joe hit Womack 2nd, game after game? How? Why isn't Cashman saying anything? I don't know if I can take much more of this. My head is about to explode. I just know it is.
2005-06-21 15:11:43
2.   atc
Wasn't The Dream Team Hulk and The Macho Man?
2005-06-21 15:39:50
3.   Loogy
atc,

Cliff in correct with "The Hammer". His teammate was Brutus Beefcake.
A quick search on "wwf dream team" will get you more info. than you ever want to know.

2005-06-21 15:49:21
4.   atc
Loogy, my bad - I was thinking of The Mega Powers
2005-06-21 16:26:51
5.   Simone
They'll baaack. You know, the RJ who gives up home runs to AAA hitters and the Yankee offense who can't hit for crap. After this game, we should go over/under for how many loses this time.
2005-06-21 16:34:12
6.   Bill
If you just relax and accept the fact that this is 1965 all over again, your stress level will decrease.
2005-06-21 16:53:04
7.   Paul in Boston
But sometimes it feels like 1966 ... even worse.
2005-06-21 16:53:22
8.   tocho
Who are you, and what did you do with Randy Johnson?!
2005-06-21 16:54:35
9.   Simone
Wow, not much to say. So what if Womack is in the line up, if the starting pitching is going to stink like this. What has happened to Randy Johnson. Is he tipping his pitches?
2005-06-21 16:59:18
10.   vockins
I have to believe that Randy Johnson does not want to play with the Yankees. The entire Devil Rays order is hitting him solidly. This is insane.

The Devil Rays.

2005-06-21 17:01:26
11.   billyfrombelfast
To change the pace away from The Horror on display, were my ears deceiving me or did John Flaherty really step up to the plate to a bagpipe version of Mull of Kintyre?!?!?!?!?
2005-06-21 17:02:08
12.   tocho
Man, I really dislike Nomo... I think I would hate him even if he pitched for the Yankees.
2005-06-21 17:02:59
13.   Marcus
The irony won't allow me to get upset by this; it's just too funny. RJ has given up 3 home runs (so far) to likes of Damon Hollins, Kevin Cash, and Jonny Gomes?!?! I'm chuckling at that every time I repeat it in my head.
2005-06-21 17:06:31
14.   Marcus
When did Scott Proctor get brought up? Is RJ hurt?
2005-06-21 17:30:16
15.   uburoisc
Until Tony Woemack sits or is off the roster entirely, I'm hoping that Joe Torre is replaced. He is well aware that Woemack has the worst numbers in baseball and shouldn't be anywhere near the 2 spot but does it anyway. I'm entirely at a loss, and I don't buy the idea that he has no choice; a manager with as much influence as Joe can pull Woemack if he genuinely wanted to.
2005-06-21 17:36:20
16.   Mike Z
Here is a frustrating statistic - the three players that RJ gave up home runs to had 15 career homers before this game - combined between them.

I've been saying that I don't think that Torre should be fired, but after this, I don't think I care what happens. Just DO SOMETHING.

2005-06-21 17:47:28
17.   Marcus
Sheff was pissed. Just like that the Yanks are back to being only 5 runs down!
2005-06-21 17:51:57
18.   Mike Z
Don't look now, but Matsui is hitting .400 in the month of June
2005-06-21 18:06:18
19.   singledd
I don't know if Torre talks to players in a key situation, but if Cano had just stood at the plate, he would have walked. In a situation like that, a Giambi (walk) is what you want. Freaks out the pitcher and brings Jetes to the plate.

Cano is a good guy, but you have to know when a pitcher is wild and take a walk.

2005-06-21 19:18:59
20.   rilkefan
Anybody understand why Torre's lineup has Matsui/Giambi/Bernie instead of splitting the lefties with a switch-hitter?
2005-06-21 19:22:14
21.   Marcus
It's been a while since I've seen anyone on the Yankees hit a triple. It's nice to see Bernie Williams do it whilst clearing those loaded bases. This game is weird. And awesome.
2005-06-21 19:22:32
22.   Mike Z
Oh my. For the first time this year, I am speechless.

Wow.

2005-06-21 19:23:49
23.   rilkefan
... and judging from today's game, they should be batting 3-5 not 5-7. RJ didn't see a lot of comebacks like this the last few years...
2005-06-21 19:23:53
24.   vockins
Holy shit.
2005-06-21 19:25:12
25.   Simone
Unfuckingbelieveable! Did you see Bernie react to Lou's disrespect? Bernie was pissed and flung the bat after he hit the ball.
2005-06-21 19:25:54
26.   Simone
Oh btw, Jorge padding this stats again. LOL! I'm so happy. It's a rollercoaster ride being a Yankee fan this season and hate those rides.
2005-06-21 19:29:28
27.   Marcus
This is silly. This game is completely silly. Do any of you remember when the Yankees were down 10-2? I'm not even scared to call a Gary Sheffield home run right here.
2005-06-21 19:31:25
28.   Marcus
I swear I didn't type that before it happened.
2005-06-21 19:32:11
29.   Mike Z
You're good, Marcus.

When they're on, they're on. Lets hope we see more of this.

2005-06-21 19:32:16
30.   KJC
I knew the Devil Rays sucked, and that you can't count out the Yanks -- even these Yanks of late -- when they're down by a lot of runs. But this is ridiculous! 11 runs in the 8th...and the inning's not even over yet?!
2005-06-21 19:32:56
31.   Marcus
Have mercy Lou! TAKE HAFNER OUT!!!
2005-06-21 19:33:34
32.   rilkefan
I told my wife we could go get some ice cream after this inning. Guess there's no point waiting any more.
2005-06-21 19:37:33
33.   Simone
Lou is an ass for leaving in Harper to take this beating.
2005-06-21 19:38:07
34.   tocho
I'm not complaining but Lou is a sick SOB, why do that to a pitcher?
2005-06-21 19:40:44
35.   chris in c-bus
i respect lou but it looks like he has quit on his team and that is weak...he is just trying to get fired at this point...
2005-06-21 19:43:46
36.   Upperdeck
WTF!

Back to back to back. I feel bad for Harper.

2005-06-21 19:46:16
37.   seamus
I feel real bad for Harper. I mean that kid should have been taken out for mercy. It was batting practice for the Yankees. Ridiculous. I've never been a huge Lou fan but that really angered me. Don't do that to your players...
2005-06-21 19:49:38
38.   jedi
Last thing I would post tonite is how I feel sorry for the devil rays right now. after they have literally owned us this year, this was sure sweet.

What's up with russ johnson...what a loser...come on now...how could you not keep the streak alive and hit that back-to-back-to-back homerun. Womack could have done that seeesh

let's ease off the yanks with the criticism the rest of the night (RJ and Womack)...because they sure shut us (fans) up for at least a couple of games.

2005-06-21 19:55:42
39.   stephen1wt
Lou you made your point.Watching him just sit there was was surreal.I think he has done irreversable damage to his team...That was nuts...
2005-06-21 20:06:52
40.   BklynBomber
I gotta pull out the record book for this one! I felt a comeback early on, but this was off the charts.

Sorry, jedi, but I get the feeling that the pinch hit move for Womack was key. Sierra grounded to 2B, but it was a 'productive out', which I have zero confidence Womack would have delivered at that point. But yeah, you're right — let's bask in the afterglow of one incredible night in The Bronx!

2005-06-21 20:29:31
41.   singledd
A big win.
A BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG WIN!
Sox and O's are hot.
Its gonna be a fight.
3 out of the wild card.
2005-06-21 20:41:05
42.   Simone
"Sorry, jedi, but I get the feeling that the pinch hit move for Womack was key."

Exactly. Lifting Womack was the key move that allowed the Yankees to sustain the rally. This tells me that Joe knows that Womack is a detriment to the team so why is he constantly hitting him 2nd?

2005-06-21 21:58:25
43.   brockdc
Classless behavior on Lou's part. If I were playing for the D-Rays I would completely resent him for his sophomoric dugout rants and outright disrespectful attitude toward his players and coaches. Leaving that kid out there in that maelstrom was truly despicable.

Torre has his faults, and God knows I've complained my ass off about them, but at least he treats people like human beings, for f**k's sake.

As a teacher, I guess I'm hypersensitive about this incident. You don't abuse a kid when he makes a mistake - you use the situation as a "teachable moment," an ideal moment for instruction and reflection. Also, as a teacher (which is what a good manager ought to be), you don't always get to pick your pupils. Some are proficient, others require extra attention.

I'm gratified with the victory but mortified by Pinella's behavior - and thankful that he doesn't manage the Yanks as some on this blog would prefer.

2005-06-21 22:00:13
44.   brockdc
Stepping down from my soapbox now.

Why were we pitching around Eduardo Perez like he were Jeff Cirillo or something?

2005-06-21 22:29:50
45.   murphy
i am disappointed in you all. no one even bothered to give cliff a shout out for working a whitesnake lyric into a post. right on, cliff-bot!!! way to slide it in! ;)
2005-06-21 23:25:33
46.   BklynBomber
Regarding Pinella leaving Harper in there for the duration of the carnage, maybe this was his way of saying to ownership "You want to do this on the cheap, well — here you go. Here's a good look at what you're giving me."

Which is a terrible thing to do to Harper. I really hope this wasn't the case. You're right on the money, brockdc. Hell, have your utility infielder or any non-pitcher throw at that point.

2005-06-22 04:58:08
47.   Alex Belth
I can't agree with the anger directed at Lou for leaving his pitcher in there. I don't think it was a sign of him quitting on the team. The guy has a day game today and doesn't want to burn another pitcher--even by warming him up, especially considering that he might need every arm he has.

The guy wasn't trying to teach the kid a lesson or show him up, he expected the guy to get ONE LOUSY OUT. Those last three dingers came with two men out. Yeah, I felt badly for the guy, taking a beating like that, but I had no issues with Lou leaving him in there.

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